#i think the actress does a fantastic job with the role--for what there is of it

[velvetstreets]

Can I request a Jack Harlow imagine where him & the reader (who is a famous actress) are broken up & in an interview that she does she hints how Jack is still the love of her life & later they see each other at a red carpet & he asks her about that & asks her out again & they start rekindling things. Smut is very much welcomed if you’re comfortable with that :)

A/N: girl you sent this so mf long ago, im so sorry for getting to this so late! But I loved this concept and didn’t wanna let it go. Hope I did this justice <3

None of the people in my writings portray the actual people I write about! It’s all a work of fiction, I have no idea how they are/act irl.

Warnings: lovers reuniting, drinking, swearing, smut!, oral sex (f! recieving) penetrative sex (f!receiving), creampie, mushy ‘i love you’s 

————————

It had been a little over a year since your public relationship with Jack ended. You both loved eachother dearly, but at the time, your lives were going in separate ways. He was constantly busy with performances and touring, flying all over the world; and your acting career had taken off, being dragged all around the country for filming. In the end, you barely saw eachother, and it just wasn’t working for either of you, so you both amicably agreed to end it. 

The heartbreak tortured you for a few months. You threw yourself into your work, wanting to cloud your mind with anything but Jack, yet somehow it made you think of him more. With some time and comfort from your friends and co-workers, you had felt the pain less and less, until one day you woke up and finally felt like your old self again. As much as you loved him, keeping him at arms-length via social media was too much for you. You’d send eachother ‘happy birthday’ dm’s and ‘congratulations’ texts for eachother’s accomplishments, but that was it. You didn’t allow yourself to keep up with him, only hearing things about him via industry talk and the radio of course. That was the one thing of him you allowed yourself to keep; his music. It was your guilty pleasure, something to remember him by. Though the heartbreak was agonizing, you were eventually grateful for it. Not only did it help you grow in your personal life, but it helped your work life as well. The performances you gave became critically acclaimed, earning yourself an Emmy and a Golden Globe. Because of this, you were offered more exclusive roles, bought a new apartment, and were finally feeling happy again; the first time in a long while. 

Currently, you were seated on a set, being interviewed by Vogue about your life and your upcoming projects; amongst other things. 

“So the rumors are saying that you might be starring in the next season of Euphoria. Is that true?” the interviewer asked. 

“I can now finally confirm, that that is true!” You said as she cheered and the two of you laughed together.

“How was it working with Zendaya?” 

“She’s absolutely phenomenal. As an actress, as a person, as a friend, she’s just the best. Super super sweet and down-to-earth, and fantastic at her job. It was an honor working along side her and the rest of the cast.” 

“That sounds fantastic. We all can’t wait to see you join the story. Now just a little side-step from work; are you dating anyone? Maybe someone by the name of Mr. Omar Apollo perhaps? Or Drake? We’ve seen those cozy flicks of y’all together, are y’all just friends or maybe something more?” She pressed. 

“Oh no, I’m not dating anyone. I’ve kinda left the dating world for a little while, just focusing on me. Omar and I are good friends, nothing else. And Drake is like my older brother! I’d never date him, especially since he’s good friends with my ex as well, I could never do that.” You answered honestly.

“Speaking of Jack Harlow.., what happened, how did that end?”

“Let me put it this way; we both agreed to end things. Our respective careers were taking off, and we both agreed that it was just best for us at the time to not be together. It’s all love though, I think he’ll always be one of those people for me - I could never not love him. He’s a great person and was a great boyfriend to me, definitely showed me that I was capable of loving someone, as well as capable of being loved. And I’ll always be grateful to him for that.” You said, forcing the lump in your throat down. You felt hot after belting your heart out a little too loudly, but you pushed your anxious thoughts away, getting back to the interview at hand. 

--

It was now a month after the interview had aired, and you had let it wash off your shoulders. You were proud of your genuine honesty, and continued to focus on you. Currently, you were getting ready to attend the Billboard Music Awards as a plus one, courtesy of your close friend SZA. You were excited to let your hair down a little, as well as overjoyed at the possibility of SZA winning a few awards for her album SOS. 

SZA was dressed in a sleek black halter dress with a thigh-high slit, which accentuated her minimalist aura. You were styled in a black Mugler dress which had a plunging neckline, and different cutouts down to your hips - similar to that of Megan Fox’s. It showed a little more skin than you were used to, but it was absolutely gorgeous; and SZA declared she wouldn’t leave to the event if you didn’t wear it. So here you were, downing a couple of glasses of champagne in the back of an SUV with SZA, trying to calm your anxiety while singing and rapping along to her ‘get lit, get rich, make u wanna kiss’ playlist with her. 

“Are you sure about this? I could just sneak in the back and meet you in there-” you started to nervously ramble. 

“Bitch, are you kidding me? You look fucking phenomenal, ain’t no way in hell I’m letting you sneak off. This is a ‘need to be seen’ outfit, and you’re gonna be seen! It’s gonna be just fine, we’re in this together. Anxiety can’t get to us if we’re a team baby.” She reassured you. 

You smiled at her before bringing her into a hug; you knew she was anxious about the interviews she had to do on the carpet, and she knew red carpets always made you anxious, with all the pictures and yelling that there was.

“Love you.” You said holding out your hand to do your little friendship handshake you had with her.

“I love you more.” she replied, doing the handshake. “Now drink up girl, these events take forever so it’s more fun to be a lil’ drunk.” she winked at you. 

You cheered together, and continued vibing until you turned to corner and pulled up to the carpet. You got out and SZA took your hand, leading you to the carpet. She held your hand the entire time, poking at you and whispering jokes and comments to you, making you giggle and forgetting about the anxiety you had. You made your way down the carpet, pausing to be photographed every few feet, some alone, and some together with SZA. She did a few short interviews with you by her side, and you chimed in every so often a question or comment was directed to you. 

You were finally feeling a little more relaxed, and then you saw it. 

Small brown curls belonging to a tall figure making their way down the carpet; you couldn’t see them yet, but you knew who they belonged to. You heard the screams of his name from the paparazzi and fans, the flash of the cameras going off, and finally, a path cleared and you saw him in the flesh. 

He wore a sleek black suit and shoes - Prada most likely, his diamond encrusted PG ring gleaming in the lights, KY chain peeking out, and his dazzling smile. 

You felt like you were going to pass out. You weren’t ready for this, you had expected to bump into him at one of these industry events at some point, but it still caught you off guard. Your heart was pounding out of your chest at this point, and you felt panicked. You felt someone squeeze your hand, bringing you back to reality, and SZA gave you a knowing smile. 

“Just breathe, Y/N. I got you. Don’t forget you’re the motherfuckin’ prize. Whether or not he had you once before, you stay being the prize.” she told you. You looked and nodded at her words. “I’m the prize.” you reiterated and she nodded and smiled. “Keep that in mind, cause he’s coming over here now.”

‘Oh fuck. Okay, here we go.’ you thought. 

“Y/N?” his sultry Kentucky accent flooded your ears for the first time in a while. 

You turned around with your head tilted upwards, familiar with his height, and met his eyes. 

“Jack. It’s good to see you.” You said warmly with a soft smile. He bent down for a hug and you embraced him before pulling apart; his hands stayed curled around your wrists. 

“It’s good to see you too, been a while. You look beautiful.” he admired. 

“Thank you, so do you. No glasses?” You joked, noticing his favorite Prada glasses were nowhere to be seen.

He laughed and shook his head with a smile. “Nah, not this time. Felt a lil’ douchey of me to wear ‘em today. Plus, now I can admire the beauty more clearly.” He said, admiring your face and its features. You blushed, internally screaming at the warm feeling that erupted in your tummy. 

“Well it was nice seeing you, we should head inside-” You spoke, turning a little, insinuating to leave. 

“Yeah, I’ll see you in there. Maybe we can catch up a little.” He said hopefully. 

“Yeah, yeah for sure.” You said, smiling before saying goodbye and heading into the venue with SZA.

She gave you a teasing knowing look. 

“Shut up, don’t say shit.” You tried to hold a grin back from her.

“I ain’t say nothin!” She laughed at you. You rolled your eyes and laughed, giving her a small shove. 

--

SZA had won the three awards she was nominated for, and you couldn’t be more excited and proud of her. It was a true accomplishment, and you wanted to celebrate, so you told her you were getting her a fuck ton of drinks. She tried to stop you, telling you you didn’t have to, but you were set in your decision. 

You headed to the bar and ordered a bottle of champagne and a few shots. You checked your phone as you waited, until you heard a voice behind you. 

“I saw your interview.” Jack’s voice spoke. You turned around and saw him leaning against the bar.

“Oh you did, did you?” You asked. 

“Yup.” He said with a smile. 

“And what’d you think?” You asked, heart pounding against your chest. 

“Can’t believe you forgot to mention what a great chef I was too, besides a great boyfriend.” He joked. 

“Your peanut butter chicken says otherwise.” You giggled.

“I stand by that recipe! It’s a classic, your tastebuds just weren’t on my side.” he chuckled, stepping a little closer to you. 

“No but for real, I thought you were amazing - as usual of course.” He smiled at you. “I’ve missed you. Like alot.” he said fiddling with your fingers. 

“I’ve missed you too, Jack. Like alot.” you repeated his sentence. 

“I’ve done alot of growing since we broke up, had time to focus on my career and tour and all that stuff, and I know how to handle it better now.” He stated. “But I haven’t been happy. Not like when we were together.” 

“Jack, you just won two awards tonight.” You reminded him. 

“And I’m still miserable.” He countered. 

“M’not gonna ask you to just jump into a relationship with me again, that wouldn’t be fair. But, if you’re willing, I’d really like to take you out on a date. Privately, just us; I wanna show you the kind of man I am now. Show you what you deserve. And we can see where things go.” He said, eyes gazing into yours, his hands now in yours. 

You let the shy grin spread across your face. “I’d really like that, Jack.” you said, his face lighting up. He engulfed you in a big hug, kissing your forehead. You smushed your face against his chest, your hands gripping his back as you sighed deeply. You had missed this. Missed him. Missed his smell, how he felt, his voice, all of it. The two of you stayed like that for a little while before you pulled apart. 

You silently stared at eachother, re-familiarizing yourselves with one another. Your eyes gazed over the freckles that adorned his face, his perfectly trimmed beard, his soft brown curls that perfectly framed his face. 

“Fuck it.” you whispered, and pulled him into a kiss. Maybe it was the alcohol, or the butterflies in your stomach that gave you the courage, but you didn’t care at this point. You had missed him so much, and clearly so had he, so why deny yourself the simple pleasures in life?

You felt Jack relax into the kiss, one of his hands coming up to cradle your face as the other one was set on your waist, pulling you impossibly closer to him. He hummed in relief, soft lips parting and meshing, parting and meshing, like he had been deprived of the meal that was you - which he had been. 

“Thank fuck, I’ve been thinking about this all night -  all year really-” Jack said inbetween kisses. You giggled, letting out a “me too” before kissing him again. 

The kisses started to get a bit heated, so you pulled away, reminding the both of you that you were at a public event. 

“Let’s get outta here.” Jack murmured, kissing and nipping at your neck a little. 

“Jack, you’re still up for another category, and I’m here with SZA, I’m not gonna just ditch her.” You huffed. 

“I don’t care, I’ll have someone accept it for me, just wanna be with you. Plus, looks like she already knows.” Jack nodded in SZA’s direction. 

You turned around, and saw SZA, now with Lizzo sitting next to her, the both of them smirking and winking at you. You grinned, and turned back around to Jack. 

“Stay here, I’ll be right back.” you told him, grabbing the drinks you had ordered. 

“Go do your thing, I ain’t goin nowhere without you, baby.” Jack said, unable to stop grinning. 

You bit your lip, smiling at him before turning around and heading back to your table. 

“Hey girlfriend.” SZA and Lizzo said simultaneously, with a teasing tone in their voices. 

“Hey y’all-” you responded, setting the drinks down on the table. 

“Soo-” you started before SZA cut you off. 

“Girl we already been knew, go ‘head, get your man back.” She squealed at you. You laughed and hugged them. 

“Take the bottle too, have fun.” she told you. 

“No! I bought that for you! It’s your night-” You tried to reason with her, but she wasn’t having none of it. 

“I got my awards baby, I’m good. Now go get that man!” She urged you. You told them you loved them and said your goodbyes, champagne bottle in hand as you made your way towards Jack. 

“Ready?” he said, taking your free hand in his.

“Mhmm.” you looked up at him and he gave you a kiss before leading you out the venue. 

The two of you snuck out into an SUV, which would take you to Jack’s hotel a few blocks away. Jack popped the champagne open and gave you a sip before taking one himself. 

“Missed you, my lil’ Movie Star.” he said caressing your leg, leaning into your side.

“Missed you too, sweet face.” You smiled, kissing his cheek a few times, making Jack blush. 

--

Jack was on you the second the elevator doors closed. He quickly lifted you up in his arms, setting you on the small steel railing of the elevator, pressing you into the corner to hold you up as he attacked your neck. 

“Fuck Jack, so good-” you sighed, wrapping your legs around his hips, bringing him closer to you. 

“God, I’ve missed this so much; missed you so much-” he groaned, grinding his hips into yours. His mouth was everywhere, on your lips, your neck, your cheeks, your breasts, he couldn’t get enough of you. 

The elevator dinged, signaling you were at his floor. He reluctantly got off you, and you whined. 

“More-” you pleaded before he sat you down, heels hitting the floor.

“We’re almost there princess, cmon.” Jack took your hand in his and lead you out the elevator and down the hall to his room. He struggled with getting his room key out his suit jacket as you kissed his neck, licking and sucking, wanting all his attention. He finally pulled it out and opened the door, letting you in first. 

As soon as the door slammed, he was on you again in a flash. Your back was up against the wall as he kissed you; it was needy and passionate, just how you liked it.

“Cmon, cmon, bed sweetheart, bed.” He said, lifting you in his arms again, giving your ass a smack, and you squealed, laughing with him. 

He gently dropped you on the bed, and you laid there for a few seconds as he took in the sight of you. 

“So beautiful.. so fuckin beautiful, and all mine.” He said before climbing onto the bed, slotting himself between your legs, kissing you. Every kiss felt electric, like the second you were apart felt like you were losing energy, but when he kissed you, you were refilled again. 

“Jack, please, I need you.” You moaned. 

“Okay baby, I got you.” He promised.

He swiftly got you out of your dress, and got out of his suit. He gently hung your dress on the back of his door, after you pointedly told him to be careful because ‘its Mugler’. Jack walked back to the edge of the bed, and knelt down, his arms sliding under your thighs and pulling you closer to him. 

“God your pussy smells fucking delicious, can’t believe I’ve gone a year without her.” He groaned before leaning down and licking a stripe up your folds. 

“Oh fuck-” you squirmed in delight. 

He attached his lips to your clit and began sucking and licking, making a wet mess of you. 

“Missed this sweet pussy, you taste so good, Y/N.” he rambled. You whimpered at that, eyes squeezed shut in pleasure, biting your lip so hard you didn’t understand how you hadn’t drawn blood yet. 

“Louder. Let me hear you, baby.” Jack ordered before going back to making out with your pussy.

You did as he wished, letting your moans free from your throat, completely falling into the feeling he gave you. 

“Attagirl.” He growled, nuzzling his face further into you. 

Your eyes rolled back when he finally fucked two fingers into you. The stretch of his girthy digits rubbing against your walls threw you into the deep end. 

“Fuck, yes! S-so close Jack, please, please l-let me...” you cried out. 

“Cum for me, cum for me pretty girl.” Jack commanded. 

That was all it took before you felt the tidal wave of your orgasm crash over you. You felt your legs shake, and writhed around in the sheets before your comedown approached. 

It was silent except for your heavy breathing, but you felt Jack move up into the bed next to you. 

“I wish you could see how you look right now.” Jack broke the silence. 

“How do I look?” You said panting, one eye opening and peeking up at his boyish face. 

“Ethereal.” he sighed softly before pressing a kiss to your lips. “Like an angel. My angel.” he said. 

He stared at you for a moment, and you could tell he was holding back a little, he wanted to say something, but was a little nervous about it. 

“You can say it. Tell me, Jack.” You reassured him. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m here to stay. You won’t scare me easily.” you smiled at him, kissing his bare shoulder. 

He took a deep breath before looking at you again. 

“I love you.” he confessed. “I love you, haven’t stopped loving you since we broke up.”

“Wanna know something?” You asked him, scratching his beard lightly, just the way he liked it. 

“Mhmm.” Jack purred, urging you to continue. 

“I love you too.” You said with a grin. “Never stopped.” You whispered before pulling him into a loving kiss. He hummed into the kiss, and you felt him smile as he rolled over onto you. 

“I love you, I love you, I love you.” he told you, kissing you deeply. 

“I love you, I love you, I love you.” you repeated back to him. You felt a weight off your chest now, reveling in the shared love between the two of you. Everything felt right again. 

“Off-” you whined, your foot digging at the elastic band of his boxers. 

“Anything, for you.” He declared, sliding his boxers off. 

Jack laid back down between your legs, and wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him back into a sweet kiss. Jack started to grind his dick against your folds, tip hitting your clit over and over again. The room filled with moans and gasps, your slick completely coating his cock. 

“Jack, please, I need you, please put it in already.” You whined desperately. 

“Okay baby, okay.” he kissed you. 

He leant his hips back a little before slowly thrusting into you, his thick tip stretching you out deliciously. You let out a sigh as he bottomed out, and your mind went fuzzy. Jack stayed like that for a minute, letting you readjust to him as he kissed your neck and face, humming to himself and whispering ‘I love you’. He started to move, groaning at the way you squeezed him. 

“Fuck, you feel so good.” He praised, as he slowly thrusted into you. 

“God Jack, you’re so big- f-fuck..” you moaned, clawing at his back. 

“You take it so well; so fucking well. Breathe. Breathe with me baby.” he encouraged you, leaning his forehead against yours.

“Let me see those eyes. C’mon baby, let me see you.” He begged in his raspy voice. 

You opened your eyes to meet his, full of love, nudging his nose against yours before speeding his thrusts a little. 

“Fuck, just like that, yes Jack-” you cried out. His tip was hitting that spot in you, and you were close. 

“Good girl, I can tell you’re close Y/N, squeezing me so fuckin’ tight.” he coaxed. 

“This is yours, all yours, you deserve this.” he kept babbling. Your eyes rolled to the back of your head at his praise, he always knew the right things to say. “Cum for me sweetheart, give it all to me.” He told you. 

You cried his name out as you felt your orgasm crash over you again. A tear slipped from the corner of your eye as you laid in the euphoric feeling. You could tell Jack was close as his thrusts were starting to falter, and he started to babble more. 

“Who’s pussy is this? Hmm?” He said, grip on your hip tightening as he pounded into you, brows furrowing in concentration. 

“S’yours, daddy. S’your pussy.” you gasped, encouraging him.

“It’s daddy’s pussy? S’daddy’s cunt, yeah?” Jack asked, tugging at your lip with his teeth. 

“Yes, all yours Jack, m’all yours-” you told him, keeping the eye contact. 

“Fuckfuckfuck, m’gonna cum-” He told you.

“Cum in me, Jack. Want you to cum in me.” you whispered, to which Jack let out a growl, his grip on you tight as he finally came with a broken groan of your name.

You stayed like that for a few minutes, heavy breaths and sweaty bodies, completely engulfed in eachother. Peaceful, that’s what it was. You felt peaceful as Jack left soft kisses up your neck and jaw, and you raked your nails against his scalp, making him purr. 

“I love you.” He finally spoke. 

“I love you.” you responded.

He kissed you once more before finally pulling out, and you let out a gasp as you felt his cum leak out of you.

Jack had a prideful smile on his face as he watched it happen. “So fuckin’ hot.” he smeared his cum against your clit, making you whine from the sensitivity. 

He laughed and got up, peed, and then came back with a warm wet washtowel. He cleaned you up, and kissed your knee whilst doing so. 

“C’mon, go pee.” He tapped your thigh, pulling at your arms to sit up in the bed. 

“Mmmm, tired.” You said, leaning your head against his shoulder, and he put his arm around you.

“We’ll cuddle after, I promise.” He said kissing your hair. “C’mon.” he said. 

You tried to stand but your legs buckled, much like a new born giraffe, and you fell back into his lap. 

“Oops. Sorry bout that, lemme help you.” he laughed, carrying you in his arms as he brought you to the toilet. He sat you down and you peed, cleaned up, and then he picked you up again, carrying you to the bed.

Jack wrapped the two of you up in the sheets, and snuggled with you, letting out a content sigh. 

“So much for taking it slow.” You giggled. 

“Don’t care, you’re mine again. Slow, fast, I don’t care however we do this, I’m not letting you go this time.” He laughed beside you, pulling you closer into him. 

“I love you.” He said. 

“I love you too.” you smiled at him. 

“I can’t get enough of you saying that. Love it.” he gushed. 

“I love you, I love you, I love you, Jack.” you nudged his nose with yours, kissing him softly. 

“I love you, I love you, I love you, Y/N.” he repeated back to you, giggling and cuddling until you both drifted to sleep. 

------------------------------------------

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#anon #jack harlow #jack harlow concepts #jack harlow imagine #jack harlow x reader #jack harlow x you #jack harlow smut #jack harlow fluff #jack harlow fanfic

[jazy3]

Wonka (2023) Movie Review

I went to see the new Wonka movie over the weekend and I highly recommend it! First off, it’s a musical! The marketing for the movie here hasn’t been making that clear at all which is a shame because it’s delightful! The movie made me cry and laugh out loud right off the bat. It’s the first movie that’s made me feel like that in a while. If you loved the original Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory with Gene Wilder you’ll like this one! It’s got the same vibe and spirit to it and the characters feel like ones you’d find in a Roald Dahl novel. It’s a great movie to take your kids too as well!

SPOILERS AHEAD!

In the film, Willy Wonka is an aspiring magician, inventor, and chocolatier. He arrives in Europe to establish his chocolate shop at the Galeries Gourmet. Armed with nothing but a hatful of dreams, he manages to change the world, one delectable bite at a time. He arrives in Paris and after using up his meager savings is coerced into staying at Mrs. Scrubitt's Boarding House by a man named Bleacher who turns out to be her henchman.

After falling into misfortune, he hatches an escape plan and with the help of his newfound friends finds a way to finally bring his chocolates to the masses and free himself and his friends from captivity and oppression. The movie is designed to be a prequel to the 1971 Classic but set in Paris and depending on your interpretation either pre-dates Wonka’s arrive in England or is set in an alternative timeline or universe.

This movie pulled on my heart strings and made me genuinely cry within the first few minutes. It also made me laugh hysterically! The comedic timing was great, and Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa was hilarious! I loved the back story they created for the Oompa Loompas about how they came to work for him and why they’re so loyal. It was way funnier and a lot less offensive than I was anticipating. I was worried they’d create a back story for them that would come across as prejudice and offensive, but they didn't. They found a way to make the interactions between Wonka and Hugh Grant’s character funny without being offensive.

What really makes the movie work is Timothée Chalamet’s performance. It turns out he’s a surprisingly good singer and you definitely buy him as Wonka! He brings the same sort of mischievous spirit and kindness to the role that Wilder did but puts his own spin on it. Calah Lane, the actress who plays Noodle, his main collaborator in the film, was excellent! She’s definitely one to watch! The movie featured Colour Blind Casting similar to how characters in the Shonda Rhimes universe are cast. So think Bridgerton meets Whimsical Musical. Speaking of which, Abigail the giraffe totally stole the show! An excellent addition to be sure!

The supporting cast was fantastic! Jim Carter, best known as the Butler from Downton Abbey plays an Accountant; Rowan Atkison, best known as Mr. Bean, plays a corrupt chocaholic priest, and Mathew Baynton from Horrible Histories plays a chocolate shop owner who’s a member of the city’s chocolate cartel. Fellow Horrible Histories alum Simon Farnaby plays Basil, a bamboozled Zoo security guard, Colin O'Brien from Dear Edward plays a young Willy Wonka, and Sally Hawkins plays his mother.

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith does an excellent job of playing a police officer with a conscience working in a corrupt system overrun by chocoholics! Keegan-Michael Key plays the corrupt and totally inept Chief of Police, and Olivia Coleman rounds out the cast as the despicable Mrs. Scrubitt! Part of the reason the characters feel so authentic to Dahl’s work is because they are based on characters from other stories of his. Paul King, the Director, worked closely with the Dahl Estate, and Dahl’s grandson Luke Kelly served as a Producer. The trio of villains known as the Chocolate Cartel were inspired by Boggis, Bunce, and Bean from the Fantastic Mr. Fox and the character of Mrs. Scrubbit was inspired by Dahl's short story The Landlady.

Some of my favourite lines of the film were:

“Judgement has come in the most unexpected way!”

“It's a ruined castle.”

“That does defy explanation.”

“Shouldn’t we be focusing on all those unsolved murders?”

“He doesn’t even work here!”

I thought the movie did a really good job of depicting Parisian culture and how expensive everything is! In real life Paris is beautiful but there are so many things that the movies get wrong about what Paris, France as a whole, and French culture is actually like. In real life, things in Paris are very expensive, you have to be warry of pick pockets, and you have to be careful as many of the people you’ll see have an angle or are trying to get something from you or make money off you. I loved that they found comedic ways to show that while also highlighting just how beautiful and charming the city can be.

I found the back story as to why Wonka hates Slugworth so much and their rivalry really interesting. I wasn’t expecting it and I was pleasantly surprised. The implication from the film, if you take it to be a prequel, is that while Slugworth’s co-conspirators Fickelgruber and Prodnose were finished for good after being exposed he eventually rebuilt his empire which is why the rivalry between himself and Wonka continued. I did find it strange that when they went looking for Noodle’s mom, they just went down the list of people with that name instead of starting with the librarians and book shop clerks in town when they know she was a bookworm based on what Slugworth told them.

I loved the castle building sequence at the end! Although I was a bit disappointed as I thought we were going to see how Wonka expanded his operation to London at the end. FYI there’s a cute little bonus scene soon after the credits start so stick around for that! I loved the epilogue song and them taking the time to tell us that there was going to be bonus content and a post-credits scene right after the bat so you didn’t have to sit and wait for it. If you like musicals and loved the original movie I really recommend this one!

Until next time!

#wonka 2023 #willy wonka #wonka movie #wonka #wonka spoilers #oompa loompa #willy wonka and the chocolate factory #gene wilder #timothée chalamet #movie review #hugh grant #film review #opinion #thoughts

[romancomicsnews]

Who should play Supergirl in the DCU?

One of my favorite characters in the Superman mythos is Kara Zor-El AKA Supergirl. She embodies the values of the El's in a way Clark can't because, well, she was there. She knows Krypton, she has seen it destroyed, and is more of an immigrant to Earth than Superman.

Supergirl is a character built on loss, loss of a home, loss of time, loss of her culture. But she is also built on finding hope after, and becoming something greater than she could've ever imagined because of her losses.

The last daughter of Krypton is set to make her DCU debut in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, based on the comic of the same name. I'm excited to see David Corenswet and whoever takes on the role be my favorite cousin hero duo.

I thought I would give my choices on who should play the Girl of Steel, what characteristics I want to see, and who they should emulate from the past.

Past Live Action Depictions

While I know she has depictions in film from Helen Slater and in Smallville by Laura Vandervoort, I don't have strong opinions about either performance. So I will be pulling from some others.

Melissa Benoist

Melissa Benoist is Supergirl.

She has the right balance of kindness and strength that a El needs to work. More than that, Benoist was inspiring like a Supergirl should be. I don't think we've gotten a better live action look at the Els than her and Tyler Hoechlin.

I also loved that she wasn't an entire retread of Clark. Yes she was also a reporter, but she wasn't a bumbling fool. She was cute and charming and Kara, and just a different type of confident as Supergirl. We need someone who can be confident, charming, and believable as both.

Kara also brought the pain of Supergirl, the loss, just as much as she brought the comedy. We need a real talented actress who can do it all.

While her fighting could've been more believable (it's the CW so it's tough), I think this is a fantastic version of the character, and should be the blueprint.

Sacha Calle

While I was not a huge fan of The Flash film, Sacha Calle was a delightful surprise. Of the 3 leads (4 leads I guess cause Ezra twice? Great job DC), she is the least utilized, but with what she is given, she is very good.

While we don't get the hope, we definitely get the trauma and pain, and you feel it through her entire performance. While she doesn't feel like Supergirl we typically know, she does feel like the version that would be Henry Cavills cousin.

She also has a brutality to her that I'd like to see more of in live action. I like the idea of when she gets there, it may be harder for her to hold back given all her trauma. I'm not sure if that's the intention, but that's what I picked up.

While she wasn't an exact Supergirl, I think she captured the spirit of the character, and if they decided to bring her back for Woman of Tomorrow, I would not be against it.

Stipulations

Our Supergirl should be younger than our Superman, David Corenswet, who is currently nearly 30. While Supergirl tends to be 15-16, I think making her in her early 20s would be beneficial. That way she has been on Earth for a while, has seen her cousin grow up, and is finally donning the cape.

Much like in the DC Universe, the S means something in our world. Because Superman is such an icon, I think we can swing for a bigger named actress for Supergirl.

While Kara is Kryptonian, she does need to look like David Corenswet's cousin, who is white. However, she could be mixed.

Kara also is typically blonde, but we have dye these days so anyone can be blonde.

I am looking for an actress who can lead a movie, feel like a mentor to Superman in some ways and a mentee in others, with dramatic acting skills, in their 20's to early 30's, and who hasn't been known for a superhero role before.

Let's get started.

3. Anya Taylor-Joy

Starting off strong with an actress with range, Anya Taylor-Joy has done it all. From hit shows like Queen's Gambit to films like The Menu, Split, and Last Night in Soho, Joy is constantly proving she is one of the best actresses working today.

What often is not talked about is her choices. Unlike other huge actors, Joy is willing to have some fun. She was Peach in Super-Mario, Magik in the New Mutants, and Brea in the Dark Crystal. She is no opposed to sci-fi or more out of this world roles.

And Yes, she was in New Mutants, but no one remembers that movie or cares.

I can see her as a constant in the DC universe, pulling off the drama, pain and kindness easily.

My only concern is whether Joy can pull off Hope in the way some of the others can. Can she convince a people to go to war? Can she bring up the Man of Steel when he is at his lowest? I am not sure, but I'd love to see her try.

I think she is a fantastic pick, and can really make the character her own.

2. Natalia Dyer

Known primarily for her role in Stranger Things as Nancy Wheeler, Natalia Dyer has great Kara energy.

While she has been in other projects like Velvet Buzzsaw and Yes, God, Yes, showing off both her drama and comedic sides, it's Nancy Wheeler that truly is just a great Kara audition.

She has seen horrible things, but takes lead, kicks ass, and remains hopeful for the future.

She tows the line between cute hopeful person and someone who would absolutely destroy you if need be.

I think Natalia is a great pick and could use a big role other than Nancy to show what she is capable of. Sadly, she's one of those castings that I think I found someone just a little bit better.

1. Elle Fanning

What can I say, she's Great (see what I did there?)

Known for roles in Maleficent, The Girl from Plainville, and The Great, Elle Fanning is a fantastic actress with the range we need.

While all three actresses have the necessary skills needed for the role, I think much as David Corenswet looks like Superman, Fanning looks like Supergirl. She's just got it. Blonde, big smile that can turn into an intense fearsome hero. It's too good.

And as much as Nancy Wheeler is an audition for Kara, Catherine the Great is an even better one.

She is a new leader of her people, forced into a terrible marriage with a terrible man, and must find ways to be hopeful, charming, and kind in a horrid situation. While the marriage is an add on, it's similar trials that Kara has to face.

As Catherine, she must play the dotting wife and the rebel leader, which can easily translate to doe eyed reporter to warrior.

While the show is fantastic and has its fans, Fanning doesn't really have a role she can attach her acting career to yet as big as Supergirl. I think she is in the right stage of her career where she's a big name but feels fresh.

Elle Fanning would make the perfect Supergirl.

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#dc universe #dc comics #james gunn #dceu #dcu #justice league #superman legacy #superman #my adventures with superman #supergirl #supergirl cw #melissa benoist #kara zor el #helen slater #sasha calle #the flash 2023 #kara danvers #supergirl woman of tomorrow #fancasting #fancast #fancast friday #anya taylor joy #elle fanning #the great #natalia dyer #nancy wheeler #stranger things #david corenswet

[variousqueerthings]

also did in fact get to watch the west end cabaret, and i did enjoy it (i live in a world where my mum occasionally visits and takes pity on a poor soul and so we go watch a musical) but i think all of what i was concerned about with it was correct. so pros and cons. or cons and pros, hm... pros and cons...

pros:

sally bowles was spot on -- cara delevigne is currently playing her, but not when i was watching, which im kind of relieved about. im sure she does a good job, but a-list hollywood star and model cara delevigne is going to have to work double-time to convince me she's a struggling overwrought undertalented average british woman (while still belting out those higher notes and being the most captivating character on the stage). i liked the actress who played her A Lot, she tapped into all of that perfectly, and i liked that she took the seemingly impossible middle-ground between a liza minelli and a jane horrocks and was both punky and able to convince me that she wasn't that good at performing in the story, while still giving an actually amazing set of performances

the whole kit kat bar Gang so to speak was amazing, i enjoyed every one of them. they were all fantastic and vibrant, while giving a modern-married-with-classic queer feel in their outfits and introductions that updated the visuals in the opening number to a more overt genderfluidity than ive seen before

the pre-show + interval immersive experience was probably my favourite part of the whole thing. entering down a side entrance into a cellar and seeing performers as you wander through various sections, and then during the latter part of the interval the performers bringing some of the more daring audience members onstage and interacting with the various rows. made it feel like not just a musical, but an actual club

frau schneider and herr schultz were great throughout, my other favourite performances of the show. the place where it found its realism most effectively and of course where the politics is most at the forefront, wonderfully depicted by the two actors

cliff bradshaw is the most thankless role in any iteration, so shoutout to making him pretty likeable -- my guy will never be memorable, but that of course is not the point. he's the camera

cons:

the marketing of being "the most exclusive club in town" was giving a whole vibe of elite, difficult-to-gain-access-to, rich, that just... isn't correct. and i mean, the tickets are fuckn expensive so, it really is all of those things, which was my immediate kneejerk reaction to the show long before i ever watched it: is this show for a queer audience, or is it for people to gawk at queers? (but make it musical theatre and polished, no messy realistic queerness). and you can never know if an audience is majority queer or not, but i will hazard a strong... not. and also a strong "very few people under the age of 35 who would have to really save up to watch this show" as well

to add to this point -- i was watching with my mum, her boyfriend, and my godfather (all middle-class and middle-aged straight people in their own right, but youknow. i suggested the show), and during the interval i asked them about how they felt about the tone so far, mentioning that i found it interesting in contrast to the 1993 version, which was quite grimy-looking, and my godfather said that yeah, it was sultry, but it wasn't cabaret clublike -- and i just. if he noticed that. everything was a bit too polished, and too pretty (with, in my opinion, the exception of the portrayal of sally). i just think it's a fundamental misjudgement of who cabaret is about (club performers and sex workers with no money) and also, in my opinion, who it ought to be for

the emcee... ohhhh the emcee. i mean, okay. i took an instant dislike back when it was edd*e r*dmayne, everyone who knows me knows i think that guy has the charisma of a wet sponge and needs to stop poking his fingers in seminal queer narratives, but the fucking... party hat. this show definitely made it clear that it's not just the actor, it's the way it's put together. funny thing was, one of the ensemble performers (played bobby) took charge during the interval (when the actual emcee is presumably off having a big costume change), and i thought, "now that's the emcee," and it wasn't actually any of the performers' fault. i dont think the emcee actor had the look, but that aside, this show had no idea what to do with the character, it's like they didn't give him any kind of grounding at all. a series of nonsensical costume-changes, popping up haphazardly outside the cabaret (but not with any kind of consistency) a sort of... wheedling, un-directedness to the whole thing. he was disconnected from any kind of time (20th century or today), any kind of place (club, stage, in or out of the cabaret), any kind of anything, and it was the costuming, the way he'd been directed, and the lack of consistency for when he appeared. he was almost meaningless to the story

the politics -- speaking of the emcee -- were really weirdly stripped. the big points are there, it's berlin, people want to party and ignore the nazis, and then two big Moments happen (the engagement party, the rock through the window) that indelibly remind people that antisemitism cannot be ignored, and that this is coming, whether you want it to or not (and eventually it's coming for the denizens of the kit kat club too). but other than that, nothing in the way this was put together felt very cognisant of wanting to either get into the idea of nazism of the 1930s or fascism today. there was a kind of vague effigy performance of "tomorrow belongs to me" with figures that looked like they were saying something about conformity, and at the end of the play everyone is dressed in the same, somewhat bland suit, so the message is... idk. conformity makes the world worse, i guess. beyond that single scene with the swastika revealed at the engagement party, we never see one again, which may have been an attempt to point out how people hide behind the idea of "just politics," but with the way the whole thing was staged (this rich, luxurious location) came off to me like it was letting the audience off the hook -- it's still a story, we're telling it to you as gently as possible. it just felt so timid! all the imagery -- like the emcee himself -- is beautiful and un-grounded, only just enough about something to tell the story without being too disquieting

good example is the money makes the world go around song. the emcee comes up in a goth "harem-like" outfit, with a sort of shiny, rib-cage looking harness, clown make-up, black stormtrooper-esque helmet, loooong shining nails -- there's 5 different things going on here, none of which are grounded, they're just... pretty. give a nod to ideas about wealth, and starvation, and nazis, and (hopefully intentionally) appropriation/exotification, and something queer-esque. look, a man with bedazzled nails singing about how money makes the world go around, at a show where the tickets are fuckn expensive, but he's not singing about that, he's not singing about today, or the past, and in fact the number is so overproduced (all the other performers have taken off their homage-costumes to the 1920s/30s and are now in a generic wavy dress outfit, and they're all over the stage, doing the most, distracting from the words) that you can't take in of the words with what's happening onstage

i hated hated hated those conformist suits at the end. what were they on about???? conformity takes the glitter out of things idk?? fascism. talk about modern day fascism. or hell, lean hard into a story about 1930s fascism if you're not comfortable confronting this audience properly, but just... don't be generic

which also, minor gripe time now, but there's this whole plotline in the musical that's deliberately set up at the beginning -- sally has a beautiful coat. the metaphor of trying to polish up her life on the outside, of refusing to acknowledge the deeper issues, not just with the world, but with herself, that she's poor, she's not entirely sure how long she'll last for or what's coming next, so hey, make it a party and look beautiful... that whole setup is important for when she sells the coat to get an abortion! and they have the setup in this version, but then seemingly forget all about it at the end? the coat they reference isn't the beautiful, expensive fur coat she walks in with in the first act, it's this random suit-coat she's been dressed up in for the finale, it misses the whole point. i say minor gripe, but it does feel like a microcosm of so much of this show. it refuses, ironically, to go any deeper. it still fundamentally wants to make sure the audience is comfortable by defanging as much as possible all the little things that add up to one great big picture

gosh it was long. it was -- with interval -- two hours, forty-five minutes. maybe that's why it felt like it lacked purpose, it seemed like it wanted to pack in every version of the story into one, and again, sally at the centre really makes this obvious, because as much as i think the actress was pitch perfect, i definitely saw the ways this particular version repeated sentiments about her over and over so that she became softer, sweeter, like the rest of it palatable. the most uncomfortable she makes you is during her first performance and everything beyond that is just showing how sympathetic she fundamentally is, how hard done by, feel sad for her. like a victorian morality tale, rather than a 20s portrait of complex, flawed people, and it goes on and on and on with that same tangent

think it was a mistake to fire her at the beginning and thereby take her out of the kit kat club -- disconnects the club from the story, so we're just randomly going there sometimes for a song, and then back to the more grounded narrative, then back for another song that loosely comments on the scene we just watched. again, this goes back to the emcee being kind of nothing and sally being taken out of the club, so that there's barely any blend between the plot and the cabaret setting, either through interference of a godlike emcee, or by sally just going to work

this a bit vague, and not quite sure if i mind or not, but cliff was played by a black actor, and the thing is of course that in the story cliff is targeted by a nazi as a guy he can trick into smuggling illegal materials for the nazi party from paris into berlin (until cliff catches wise and tells him to go to hell). and i felt like there's an added ickiness to all of that if cliff is black, that is never really explored in this iteration (nor the fact that he's being hit on by a slew of white men and women). obviously this isn't the original text, so whether or not to bring that forward in this version, to comment (subtly or not) on racial attitudes of the 20s/30s as another form of mirror to today, is very much up to the show. then again, maybe this time isn't original to the text either and they included that as well, so could have been an opportunity if they really wanted to change something up for this specific iteration

In conclusion: really, very beautiful show, with great performers, that ultimately rang pretty hollow and didn't attempt to interact with the material from a modern lens beyond the trappings. save me from generic upscale "queer" imagery made palatable for non-queer audiences. clown emcee can't hurt me, he isn't real

#to taaag to taaaaag #ah fuckit #cabaret #this is for me to find again after all

[klc-archive]

“I almost cried with laughter when I read the first script and then I met Keith-Lee Castle, who plays the Count and just looks like a rock star, and I knew it was going to be cool.” -  Donna Grant (Magda)

Daily Record interview with Donna Grant (Magda) By Samantha Booth.

Sinister, calculating and scheming is how Scots actress Donna Grant describes her character in the BBC’s new kids’ show Young Dracula. In fact, vampire mum Magda sounds quite despicable - but that’s exactly why the 30-year-old actress from Inverness was so desperate to play her.

The mum-of-one said: “I just couldn’t resist playing her because she is such a fantastically nasty character. She is a vampire and like all vampires she thinks she is better than everyone but Magda really does take it to another level. She is just so brilliantly evil.

The show is about Count Dracula’s move to Britain with his two children after his wife, Magda, has run away with a werewolf. And in tonight’s episode Magda returns to her family - although I am not saying if they welcome her back or not because, not only is she not the best mother in the world, she also broke the Count’s heart.

"But he loves her for her evil - so in a way she can do no wrong.”

Donna was intrigued by the role of Magda from the minute she heard about it and as soon as the show’s producers set eyes on the Scot, the role was hers.

She said: “I think it was a combination of me getting into the part  and because they thought I had the right look. They offered me the part on the spot.”

Since then Donna has been filming the show in the Brecon Beacons in Wales and has thoroughly enjoyed every minute if it. She said: “I almost cried with laughter when I read the first script and then I met Keith-Lee Castle, who plays the Count and just looks like a rock star, and I knew it was going to be cool”

"And it really has lived up to all of my expectations.

"The show has been great fun to film and some of my outfits have just been fantastic - I have a wedding bouquet with dead bird skulls in it.

"I know it is meant for children but I really think some adults will love it too.

"It is incredibly well written and because the whole Goth thing is pretty cool at the moment I think it could be a huge success.”

Growing up in Inverness with her mum and grandparents, Donna always wanted to act. She had an idyllic childhood, spending a lot of time out riding on her family’s horses, but when she left school as a teenager she was desperate to get out into the world and, in particular, she had her sights set on London.

She said: "I absolutely loved growing up in Inverness and, if I could, I would bring my own daughter Scarlet up in that way too – but I have to be in London just now for my work.

"But when I was 17 I was just desperate to get out and get started living and working. "I didn’t even want to go to university. I just wanted to get stuck right in.”

Luckily for Donna, some photographs she’d had taken by an Inverness photographer found their way into the hands of a London talent scout. The next thing Donna knew, she was being invited down to the city for a meeting with a top agency.

She said: “It was always acting I had wanted to do but modelling found me, so what could I do? The agency liked me and before I knew where I was, I had moved down to London and was thrown into this mad world of modelling.

"At the time it was the easy option but I quickly discovered it also meant I could make lots of money, travel and meet really interesting people so I wasn’t going to walk away from it in a hurry.” Donna did every kind of modelling, from catwalk to billboards.

She worked for a time in Japan and Germany, shot ads for Agent Provocateur and Baileys and appeared in several television commercials. BUT just because she was finding a certain level of success as a model, it didn’t mean Donna had forgotten her dream of becoming an actress.

And in 2001 she finally got her first acting job in a film called Is Harry On The Boat?, following the loves and lives of a group of young holiday reps in Ibiza and co-starring Danny Dyer and Davina Taylor.

Donna said: “It was brilliant fun to film and I’m still friends with a lot of the people I met out there in Ibiza.”

It wasn’t long until Donna found herself having to take time out from acting to have her baby daughter Scarlet, who is now three years old.

A bit of a rock chick at heart, she met Scarlet’s dad Chris McCormack, guitarist in hard rock outfit 3 Colours Red, when his band at the time, Grand Theft Audio, were supporting The Cult in concert at the Brixton Academy in London.

The pair had a whirlwind romance, married and had baby Scarlet. Donna said: “I have always been into my rock music and through modelling I did hang about with a lot of rock types at the time. So I was instantly attracted to Chris and we ended up having a whirlwind romance. Sadly, things just didn’t work out and we are now in the middle of divorce proceedings. But we really are still best friends.”

Donna now lives a much quieter life with Scarlet in north London and loves nothing better than the chance to return to Scotland to see her family and get out into the hills.

She said: “I love coming back up to Scotland and I am so excited because I just booked my tickets for Christmas so I’ll be spending the holidays at home.

"Drinking wine, eating lots of nice food and going for walks in the hills - it will just be wonderful. My life is a lot quieter now than it was a few years ago but that’s the way I like it. Where I live in London is a bit like a village so I do get the best of both worlds down there and I do like it, but nothing beats coming home.

However, I don’t think I would have settled down as well now if I hadn’t had my wild time when I was younger. It was a load of fun at the time and I met loads of amazing people. I even met some of my heroes, such as Joe Strummer from The Clash, although my most star-struck moment came when I met Chris Morris from Brass Eye. I really admire him and think he is so funny and clever but when I met him I just didn’t know what to say. I mean, because of my modelling, I am quite used to meeting famous people but when I came face to face with him all I could do was make a bit of a whimpering sound. I just thought that he is so witty and cutting he’s just going to chew me up and spit me out whatever I say. Can you imagine what he would have said to me if I had said I really liked his work? And I know I said I lead a quieter life now but my uncle has just opened up a new venue in Inverness called The Ironworks and we have Dirty Pretty Things playing there at New Year - so I might not be able to resist digging my rocker gear out once again. Especially as I will have my mum on hand to babysit.” A rock ‘n’ roll loving mum in rocker gear … Magda would be proud.

#Keith Lee Castle #Donna Grant #Magda Young #Young Dracula #Interview #Samantha Booth #Daily Record #TV #2006 #Count Dracula #The Count

[blues-valentine]

The little mermaid was amazing!!! In ur opinion, what are your favorite Disney live actions???

I don’t remember how many Disney live actions there have been and I haven’t watched them all so I will rank some of them from best to worst, giving my personal opinion on them:

The Little Mermaid (2023):

A beautiful adaptation of a classic, captures the magic of the original while feeling updated. You can tell a lot of effort and heart was put into this movie. Halle as Ariel was breathtaking. She feels like an animated princess come to life. Her vocals are show stopping and casting someone that actually sings makes a big difference. The visuals and that tail design were beautiful. The overall cast was also fantastic and the songs feel very theatrical, except for one song, but it’s short and not enough to ruin the movie.

2. Cinderella (2015):

I think it’s a solid adaptation. The few changes are good. It feels boring at times but it’s enjoyable and charming. The overall cast was pretty outstanding and on point. Lily James was a good choice as Cinderella and so was Cate Blanchett, but the reason why it’s so high on this list is because it easily has the best Disney princess dress. That blue dress was just too magical so props to their department.

3. The Lion King (2019):

A bit unpopular but I found it enjoyable. It had beautiful visuals and great design but it lacked some heart. It would’ve benefit from some changes since it feels like the exact same animated version just less magical. However, I don’t think it was that bad and it’s still one of the best Disney animated movies so it was never failing in my book. I just wished it had something more to make it surprising.

Now...after this it gets trickier so bare with me.

4. Maleficent 1 (2017):

This is a huge unpopular opinion but I actually like this movie. Angelina Jolie as Maleficent was one of Disney's best casting choices and she does a fantastic job. She just got that intimidating presence. Elle Fanning wasn’t bad as Aurora. She was sweet and charming. I think the movie does the job and the meaning at the end being more about mother-daughter love than just the love of a prince was great. The sequel was bad but the first one was great.

5. Beauty’s and The Best (2017):

Another unpopular take (or maybe not) but Emma Watson wasn’t a good choice for Belle. It was clearly a stunt casting and wasn't based on the ability to portray the character. I will always have a soft spot for her because of Hermione but she isn't a very good actress. For Belle, she lacked emotion and charisma. The auto tune in her voice was very evident while watching the movie and they needed to hire an actual singer. Emmy Rossum was reportedly in the running so the fact she lost this role is insane. The actor playing Beast was okay. But Gaston and Lefou were the only memorable things of the movie. A big let down was that ugly yellow dress. It made the scene extremely underwhelming. Evermore is a good prince song, second just to Prince Eric with Wild Uncharted Waters.

6. Aladdin (2019)

You see, this movie is very confusing to me and It's not my place to speak on this but I agree that the casting should've focused on arab actresses for Jasmine. Naomi is a great singer but I don't think she should've been casted for this because Arab culture is very important for the world of Aladdin. The actor playing Aladdin wasn't great (and is a nasty person). And he wasn't a singer which lowkey ruined A Whole New World and had Naomi doing all the work. And overall, the movie had great visuals and some interesting changes for Jasmine but it fails to create that extravagant spectacle I associate with the animated film. Will Smith tries to be a good genie but it lacks and I don't know if it was the direction or the script. It had the material to be excellent but just wasn't that. Speechless is a great new song, thought.

7. Mulan (2020)

It breaks my heart this movie was disappointing because Mulan is one of my favorite animated movies but it had a lot of problems. I won’t talk about the cultural inaccuracies because that’s not my place but there’s a lot of videos on that. Sure, the visuals were beautiful but it doesn’t feel like Disney. They gave Mulan super powers which removes the impact of her being an ordinary person doing grand things. They also removed the songs from the movie and Mulan has one of the best Disney soundtracks. They also removed Li Shang because “strong women can’t have love interests”. They should’ve advertised this as a movie about the legend of Fa Mulan, the real thing, and not as a live action of the Disney animated movie version.

8. Cruella (2021)

It was bad. Emma Stone is a great actress but not for this role and the script was not good. Not every villain needs a sob story to justify their actions but I feel this movie didn't even try. It feels like a joke or a bad constructed comedy. But, my biggest pet peeve about this is how bad the fashion is. Cruella is the type of character you can allow yourself to be extravagant and over the top with. In the live action, there's not those huge big fur coats or those elaborated hats, not enough animal print or punk rock. It feels so boring. The 90's gave her better fashion and it didn't have half the budget. The movie was bad, not needed at all.

#disney movies #the ​little mermaid #the little mermaid movie #the little mermaid 2023 #cinderella #the lion king #aladdin #cruella #maleficent #the beauty and the beast #Mulan #movies #text post #animated movies

[leona-is-free]

My Love/Hate Relationship with Rhaenyra Targaryen

AKA I really wanted her to be the Daenerys of the show

TW for SA talk

——————-

Alright, I admit it. I haven’t read the books. I’m a TV asoiaf fan.

The reason for that is honestly, especially after the rampant s*xual violence shown on GOT, I didn’t have much interest in reading a book about the systematic oppression of women and non-nobles (aka white people) that was written by a white guy.

YEAH I ADMIT IT. It gets tiring as a DV survivor having someone born with privilege tell those stories.

But there was one person (okay three people) kept me hooked on the story.

Watching Daenerys’s struggles, growth and eventual victory was incredibly cathartic for me. By the start of season 8 I was about in awe of her as I was of Jon Snow.

We’re not going to talk about season 8 today. That’s for another wall of text lol.

I wanna talk about Rhaenyra. Specifically, Milly Alcock’s Rhaenyra vs Emma D’Arcy’s Rhaenyra. I’m not sure if this was done purposely. It may just be the consequence of two different people playing the same role. But to me there really is a tragedy in the character when you examine the two actresses.

After the first episode I immediately knew Rhaenyra was my favorite character. This had nothing about her actual story, and everything to do with Milly’s portrayal of her.

She’s a free spirit trapped in a stifling, patriarchal world. She was given the title of heir despite of tradition, and she wore it proudly on her chest. She wasn’t going to let anyone, even the Queen Who Never Was, tell her anything different.

She offered advice during the council as cupbearer on the Stepstones conflict. And while her father was annoyed, she received a nod of respect from Corlys. When Otto faces off with Daemon and Dragonstone, they are literally at each others throats ready to strike when she randomly shows up ON A FUCKING DRAGON AND STOPS A CIVIL WAR.

And let me remind you that she was the only one who held NO FEAR of Daemon. NONE. Milly made a strong female lead out of Rhaenyra. I really believed that she was going to be the wheel-breaker of the show. She would do what she wanted, not allow herself a political pawn, marry who she wanted to marry (cristoncolecristoncolectistoncoleakdhfkas) and be the strong queen of the seven kingdoms that Daenerys wanted to be.

Now let’s talk about Emma D’Arcy’s Rhaenyra

That’s it. That’s the whole argument.

I kid I kid, but I’m also not kidding.

This is not a slight on the actress herself. In fact, I think Emma is doing a fantastic job of portraying the reality of Rhaenyra’s story - fantastic potential that ultimately became tragedy.

She decides to take her uncle’s advice and play the game. She does what her father wants. Agrees to a political marraige while finding comfort in someone else. In her misery, she becomes part of the wheel. She also makes reckless decisions - aka having sons with Harwin. If Laenor truly was sterile, she could have petitioned for an annulment and marry someone else. But I think at that point, she was so miserable that she didn’t even care about sabatoging herself. She was no longer living true to the Rhaenyra that Milly had showed us.

I honestly look forward to Emma’s acting when the Dance actually begins. We’re going to see a dark ruthlessness in Rhaenyra that we haven’t seen yet.

By the time she finally does return to herself, it’s far too late. The Dance of Dragons had already been set in motion.

Not only that, but Rhaenyra is not that young girl full of promise. She’s bitter, she’s paranoid, and she’s angry. Angry that the road she took did not lead her to the crown.

She betrayed herself for absolutely nothing.

The promise of that strong, just queen we see in the first episode was just that. A broken promise. It’s SUCH A FUCKING TRAGEDY.

And unfortunately, for dreamers like me, the tragedy is the story.

#no readmore break because you people need to hear this #I NEED TO BE HEARD #I almost lost this draft and about shit myself #hotd discourse #house of the dragon #rhaenyra targaryen #hotd fanfic #I tagged fanfic because I just feel like I’m writing fanfic at this point with the character analyses #milly alcock #emma darcy #daemon targeryan #alicent hightower #criston cole #viserys targaryen #game of thrones #a song of ice and fire #asoiaf #danaerys targaryen #jon snow #Leonas HOTD analysis dump

[bemusedandconfused-blog]

Claire watches Asian Dramas - Korean Fox edition

Goblin -the Lonely and Great God (2017)

Fantasy romance drama, with a great cast! 16 episodes at about 70 minutes each, plus 3 making-of specials. The story focuses on the Goblin, cursed with immortality until he meets a prophesied “Goblin Bride” who can remove the sword from his chest and release him from his torment. The secondary storyline about the Reaper (and his great hat), Sunny, and supporting character of a spoiled chaebol heir who does errands for his immortal employers, weaves together with the main storyline very well. I watched this one on Viki.com 

(Confession, it’s been awhile since I’ve watched it, so these are my lasting impressions rather than specific call-outs)

Pros:

Strong cast, everyone has a dramatic moment to shine

The scenes between odd-couple roommates Goblin and Reaper are comedy GOLD

Beautiful set pieces for the Goblin’s house and Reaper’s tea room/afterlife lobby

Love the mythology around the reapers and the afterlife transitions

Fun ghost characters!

Has a happy ending for all the couples if you don’t mind a time jump! 

Cons:

I couldn’t get past the age difference of the main leads. I’m not a fan of the grown-man looking character having a relationship with a highschool-age looking character. Not my bag. 

The “villain” is a cartoon baddie. And not that interesting, ultimately. 

Edited to add: the product placement in this one is extremely silly. Just FYI.

Tale of the Nine Tailed (2020)  구미호뎐

My new favorite Korean drama! Lee Dong Wook was so good in Goblin, I looked up what else he was in and found this fantasy romance drama, where he has the lead role as a 1000+ year old Nine Tailed Fox (gumiho) who serves as a kind of bounty hunter, capturing other immortals who break the rules, while looking for his reincarnated love. 16 episodes, about 70 minutes each, plus a making-of special. (Watched this one on Viki.com as well - I actually bought a subscription so I could watch it, after they hooked me with the first three episodes!)

Pros:

The female lead is awesome and competent! She is my favorite non-powered heroine from any of these shows so far, I think. 

Lee Dong Wook. What else do I need to say?

Great Found-Family ensemble cast. 

Actually, all the supporting characters are fantastic. There’s a Bear character (immortal spirit, like the foxes) who is in like one episode and I want to write fanfic about him. 

They call out tropes and avoid them as much as possible;

Cool action sequences

Love the mythology, and the set design of the Afterlife Immigration Office

Has a happy ending, at the very, very end! 

Cons:

We only get to see Lee Yeon’s tails once. ONCE. 

That’s all I can think of right now. I might edit this post later if I think of anything else. 

Touch Your Heart (2019)  진심이 닿다

No fantasy element to this one, just a standard workplace romance dramedy. Once again, the promise of watching Lee Dong Wook be stupidly handsome and talented drew me into another show. I did not have high expectations, as the summary described it along the lines of “spoiled, ditzy actress takes a job at a law firm to save her career, butting heads with the firm’s ace lawyer, a stern, demanding attorney”. I was expecting a bossy alpha type lawyer who was abusive until he learns to love the girl, and instead we got a charmingly awkward Mr. Darcy type, who is only stern because he cares about justice and doing things the right way. 16 episodes, about 70 minutes each. I liked this one so much more than I thought I would! It’s gonna be on my rewatch rotation, I think, which is easy since it’s on Netflix! 

Pros:

The female lead grows over the course of the show! She’s really only annoying for the first two episodes!

The main couple’s relationship is actually really sweet and wholesome, not unhealthy at all! 

It’s a very funny show, plenty of slapstick humor from the supporting cast.

Personally, I really enjoy the show-within-the-show storylines, so I enjoyed that we get to see a bit of her life as an actress

Playing with rom-com tropes with a wink and a nod; so good! 

No car accidents or comas! 

Happy ending! 

Cons:

Once again, Cartoon-Bad-Guy syndrome strikes. Stalkers are a real threat, but it’s harder to take them seriously when they’re mustache-twirling caricatures. 

I would have liked to see our heroine be more physically assertive and stand up for herself, but she learns to be brave in other ways! 

Edited to add: Product placement kind of disrupts the episode flow in a couple places. But not as bad as other shows I’ve seen. 

Last thoughts:

Half the show takes place in a different genre, as prosecuting attorney  Kim Se-won (male lead‘s best friend) and his prosecutor ex-girlfriend (Yoo Yeo-reum) are in a serious workplace drama across town; 

Lawyers probably shouldn’t watch this show unless they have a strong stomach for tv-lawyer speak. 

It’s a paint-by-numbers rom-com, but performing at the highest level of the genre, IMHO!

#Claire watches Asian dramas #goblin great and lonely god #Goblin #Tail of the Nine Tailed #touch your heart #Gong Yoo #Kim Go-eun #Lee Dong-wook #Yoo In-na #Kim Bum #Jo Bo-ah

[heizelnutlatte]

💬 Harper's Bazaar [041222020]: Kwak Sunyoung Interview on Hospital Playlist

Interview with Actress Kwak Sunyoung on Her First Fashion Photoshoot

Hello! Upon entering the photoshoot, Kwak Sunyoung spoke in a Tanaka accent, just like what we saw in her audition video for "Hospital Playlist."

TROIKA

Hello! Entering the set, Kwak Sunyoung used a Tanaka accent as seen in her audition video for "Hospital Playlist." Her speech was deliberate and refreshingly cool. "Ah, I really do that, don't I? I actually didn't know. I'm quite shy. I think I unconsciously adopt that mannerism to overcome awkward or unfamiliar situations. I've seen that video too. I wondered why I went that far, but even today... (laughs)."

"Hospital Playlist" achieved high viewership and showcased the charm of its actors. Among them, Kwak Sunyoung, a name once unfamiliar, has become well-recognized. Immediately after the drama, she returned to the stage for the play "Lungs," having been a theatre actress for 13 years. "It's a two-person play full of continuous dialogue, allowing me to fully immerse in my acting. I poured everything into it and then rested well." The shooting for "Hospital Playlist 2" is already approaching.

Iksun is strong, humorous, and cool. She creates a pigeon with her hands while bleeding profusely in a hospital bed and engages in a rap battle with Ikjun, played by Jo Jungsuk, the embodiment of comedy. When asked by her lover for a memorable photo, she sends one with camouflage cream and a fierce expression. Kwak Sunyoung, naturally cautious and needing time to warm up to people, learned the 'humour' inherent in Ik-sun's character through the script. "I stuck to the script. I didn't try to be funny, but the situations were set up to naturally provoke laughter. The pigeon scene was my first shoot, and I finished it without a single NG (no good take). It was something that would come naturally to Iksun, so I had to make it a part of me. I practised a lot."

Kwak Sunyoung considers making people laugh and taking on challenging roles as part of her job. When looking at scripts, she prefers characters with clear goals or backstories, believing that a person's past and desires drive their actions. This approach helps her convey the character's intentions and life direction through her acting. Over the past two years, she has portrayed a variety of roles including a sexual assault victim, a tsundere secretary, a working mom, and an army major, leaving a unique impression in each project thanks to her natural acting skills.

What does she do when not acting? She doesn't even have the typical Instagram account to peek into. "I don't feel the need for it. I just like being at home. There's so much to do at home. I'm too busy! (laughs) Right after waking up, I need to water dozens of plants. Recently, I started doing French embroidery, making coasters to give as gifts to people around me. It seems I like doing things with my hands, using my fine motor skills. I also read a lot. The last book I read, Nietzsche's 'On the Genealogy of Morals,' was fantastic." Kwak Sunyoung believes in Nietzsche's idea that it's important to live happily and enjoy life to the fullest, and she feels that this year has been filled with enough joy and happiness.

|| Kwak Sunyoung for Harper's Bazaar Korea, 2020

#kwak sunyoung #hospital playlist #harper's bazaar korea #interview #kdrama #korean drama

[getmemymicroscope]

I'm not sure this really qualifies as a "black comedy," despite what the internet might want one to believe, because it is really lacking in the comedy.

I mean sure, the characters are laughing (for a bit) and maybe there's a random joke or two that hit - but they hit the way a gut-punch does. Because, from the start, you already know the truth that is being hidden - and you know that our main character is already seriously flawed. And then, as the movie unfolds, you start to realize that almost no one in this 'friend group' is without flaw - and hell, it's not even that great of a friend group. I mean, sure, we're only catching them on one (really bad) day, and maybe it just happens to be the day that all the selfishness comes out, but you walk away very uncertain about the friendship. (Of course, at the end, after they've taken a drastic step in the name of friendship, you have to wonder if there is any actual friendship left - if they'll even meet again, ever.) And the extra people there on top of the core group - obviously they were just there to add more characters, give a reason for Chhaya to show up, and stoke some fires before leaving.

Or maybe I was just put into an 'off' mood early on when that Paro lady, who shows up and essentially throws a fit when Malti is like "he's sick, maybe we should cancel," starts literally telling everyone to "break the door down" (this isn't your house, lady!) when the guy has been in the shower for "too long." Right at that point, I already knew I wasn't going to be a huge fan of this friend group - and sure enough, as the night passes, everyone grates on each other's nerves - and your nerves too. And that is probably the point of this movie, but it also does make it a bit hard to watch.

And we see it all: the over-drinking; the breakdown of Ranvir's psyche; the selfish interactions (Cyrus talking to Rajat about his publishing deal being a failure on the happiest day of Rajat's life); the overreactions (the whole money thing while playing cards); the poorly-timed jokes, if it was in fact a joke (Joshi to Paro); the awkwardness (Kalki's character; Manoj Pahwa & wife showing up unannounced).

Though, honestly, hopefully most friend groups don't have secrets this large or parties this fucked up. And also, like, if you go to a friend's party and they're like "he's sick, maybe we should cancel," I feel like saying "it's Diwali" is not a valid reason to overturn that and force your way in. Not that that justifies any of the events that happen after, but like, what sort of friend are you if you're like "fuck that, I want a drink" and barge in, and then threaten to break down their bathroom doors?

That scene where they bring the chest out from the room is very reminiscent of Hitchcock's Rope (also reminiscent - very grating characters).

The worst, if you will, 'red herring' (or whatever you want to call it) is Ranvir constantly thinking he's smelling something (admittedly, could be the fracturing of his psyche, plus also opening the chest a couple of times) - but then Malti's aunt is like "I have a sharp nose that can smell anything" and yet, despite sitting right next to the chest for a good portion of time, she never smells/says a thing. Like, why throw that line if it isn't going to lead to something...

The star-cast contains a lot of Rajat's usual folks (no Neha Dhupia this time, though), and they're excellent as usual.

The actress playing Malti and Ranvir Shorey have the biggest roles and do fantastic jobs - in fact, Malti might be the only character you really feel for as things progress (and, eventually, end). And as, when the bombshell drops, everyone loses their mind (and even show their lack of humanity, as one of the characters quickly points out) before banding together to pick 'status quo' and 'keep more trouble out of my life,' you find yourself hurting a bit for Malti. Sure, maybe she was partially in the wrong by agreeing to the cover-up, but of everyone, until that final bit, she was probably the most sympathetic character - if only because you knew the truth (I'm sure it'd be different if this movie was told from, like Rajat Kapoor's character or Tara Sharma's character's point of view).

I can't in good consciousness say that I "liked" this movie, because all of the characters were grating by the end (even Kalki Koechlin and Manoj Pahwa, ever-so-slightly, in smaller roles; and many of the characters honestly were grating from the moment you met them) and you never really get to the point of liking most of them (you're happy for Rajat when he breaks his news, but everything sorta implodes after that), and I definitely didn't laugh nearly enough to call it a comedy, but it's by no means a bad story or even a bad movie. People have secrets, people are flawed - and this movie lights a match (metaphorically), throws a bunch of such friends into that fire hazard, and lets us watch the events unfold.

#movies #gmmm does bollywood #movieblr #gmmm does movies

[themovieblogonline]

Daredevil Movie Director Admits Backlash On Kingpin Casting

Did you know that a live-action Daredevil Movie exists? Daredevil is enjoying its 20th anniversary this year! That's right, Daredevil had it's opening way back in 2003 to great fanfare. You are forgiven if you never heard of it but it seems the movie is a hot topic. The movie stars Ben Affleck as the lead character Matt Murdock AKA Daredevil. The movie also stars Jennifer Garner as Elektra, Colin Farrell as Bullseye, and Michael Clarke Duncan as Wilson Fisk AKA The Kingpin. Director Steven Johnson is sitting down with Yahoo Entertainment to reflect on the movie and talk about his experience making Daredevil. I like the interview because the director seems to be pretty open to discussing his regrets. Daredevil did 'ok' at the box office and went on to generate a spinoff movie for Elektra actress Jennifer Garner. The director mentions  regrets and challenges from making the movie and one of the comments is a bit... well, you tell me: You cast the late Michael Clarke Duncan as the movie's other villain, the Kingpin, who has traditionally been depicted as white in the comics. That kind of color blind casting is more common now, but ahead of the curve then. Did you get any blowback from comic fans? Oh yeah, I got a lot of blowback. It's the strangest Catch-22, because you want to have opportunities for everybody. You say, "I'm not going to pay attention to race: I'm just going to cast the right person for the role." But then you get killed for that who say: "The Kingpin should be white" or "He's not my Kingpin" and all that kind of stuff. So I definitely got heat on that, but I don't regret the decision at all. Michael was fantastic. It's hard to find a guy who is that big and also that formidable, and Michael was definitely that guy. God bless him. Were you sorry that casting tradition didn't continue with Netflix's Daredevil series that's now coming to Disney+? Not at all. I think Vincent D'Onofrio is wonderful as the Kingpin. It's all about finding the right actor for the character, you know? Vincent is a great Kingpin and Michael was a great Kingpin. And the show is terrific. It's fun, because everybody gets to have their imprint on it: You don't own the character, you just get to be the steward for a short time and then pass it on for someone else to do something with it. That's why it was so fun to see all the different Spider-Men come together in the last Spider-Man movie. Seeing all those different versions from different decades and different filmmakers coming together was such an exciting moment. Kudos to Steven Johnson for his casting choices. I don't find it surprising at all that he got blowback and that sort of casting would get a strong reaction today. There's a very large audience who does not like race-swapping of characters and there are some that don't mind. I think Michael Clarke Duncan did a fantastic job as The Kingpin. I remember being really excited about his casting, especially after his string of hits like The Green Mile. Sadly the actor didn't get to reprise his role for a sequel so that one film will remain his only outing as The Kingpin. I get apprehensive to talk race-swapping in these sorts of roles. I think it can work at times but I also have seen it backfire badly. Have you seen the original Daredevil? What do you think of MCD's portrayal and what do you think about this topic? That's all for this one... Read the full article

[consumeronionbulletin]

The Flatshare (2022)

The book this is based on is one of my comfort reads. I have read it multiple times and I feel like this is a good adaptation, though kind of an okay TV show. I think the choices they made are interesting, which is why I'm talking about it...

The first big question: How were they going to make the arrangement seem believable? Because the premise is bonkers.

The short answer is that they completely hand-waved it. They started the series about a week into it, and never bothered examining any of the practicalities. This makes sense as an adaptation choice, no one watching probably cares about the logistics, but I don't know how this would play for watchers who are going in cold.

Another big question: How were they going to handle the whole Justin thing? Because the way Tiffy slowly unwinds herself from that toxic relationship is the most interesting and believable part of the book, and it's also so tonally different that it would almost have to feel like Kevin can F-- Himself where there is a scary drama playing out side-by-side with a sitcom.

The answer is that they put enough in to make viewers dislike Justin, but they toned down the seriousness of the situation. Again, this works as an adaptation, but it does make the book seem more fluffy in places than it actually is.

There were other changes to the overall plot, but they were mostly harmless and made sense and I had very few issues with them.

The lone exception being **Major Spoilers**: The Death of Holly. Which happens offscreen and is a complete WTF moment for me. Tonally, it brings down an entire episode. Leon--strangely--never talks about it after that. And it just feels completely pointless.

I mean, I know why they did it (what if there's a second season, and the actress aged out of the role). But she could just move to Spain or something. Maybe not Spain the way Leon's brother "moved to Spain", but you know what I mean... It was frustrating.

The Performances

The two leads are charming. Jessica Findlay may not be the "Tiffany" I pictured in the book, but she's enjoyable enough and the series avoids making her a manic pixie dream girl which was one thing I was worried about because the character in the books is definitely pixie adjacent. At least on the the surface level.

Anthony Welsh is a slightly less awkward version of Leon from the book, but he's otherwise pretty spot on and I liked the way he was portrayed.

Alis Waters, who played the child Holly in her debut role was a surprising star. The character felt a little too adorable in the book, and I loved how they made the Holly more thorny and manipulative while still making her feel like a child. And the actress did a fantastic job with this.

The rest of the cast: they did a good job. I think most of the places where they felt flat were due to writing and directing choices rather than the players themselves.

TL; DR:

This is a good adaptation, but the book is mostly better than the series. The changes they did made sense (with one glaring exception). I think the problem is that the easiest and most successful way to do the adaptation also makes the story a little too safe and fluffy. Which may mislead potential readers. Though, to be fair, the book does have alot of comfort going on. So it's not a total shift from the novel.

#not a kdrama #the flatshare #tv not the book #justice for holly

[kubrik-was-a-c-nt]

I have a bit of a dissenting opinion on the issues surrounding the Mario movie, but I feel like a few things have to be said.

There are certain types of movie that are notorious for not doing well at the box office, two of those are musicals, and video game movies. When a studio decides to tackle one of these things, they will often cast big names in acting to star in order to bring in as many ticket sales as possible. For example, people wouldnt have been as interested in seeing the Les Miserables movie if they heard that Norm Lewis would be playing Javert (as hes completely unknown to mainstream audiences), but the fact that they cast Russell Crowe in a role that required him to sing all his lines made people curious.

This is a big reason why professional voice actors are often passed over for movie roles: if they arent a mainstream actor, production companies believe that they wont bring in audience numbers like live action actors do. If the average person cant immediately recall seeing another movie that person was in, they're not worth putting in a movie. That's why Scarlett Johansson was in a lot of movies in a short amount of time, because she was in a few big hits recently and was likely to bring in more audience members who didnt even care about what the movie was about, they just wanted to see her. She got Ghost in the Shell for this exact reason, despite there being a ton of Asian actresses who could have been the lead, her face was everywhere and would bring the best numbers.

Chris Pratt has done a lot of recognizable work and is now a well recognized actor, so it makes sense that in order to put a lot of star power into the movie the executives at Illumination put him in as the top billing. They're trying to cast a wide net to bring in audience members who dont even know anything about Mario to watch it.

That's the issue with movies like that, marketing is a HUGE factor for the opening weekend and big names need to be put to a project. I bet you most people on this website didnt know Charles Martinet's name until the voice casting was announced for this movie. And that's also true for most voice actors, they're job is so sound different for every character so you're not supposed to recognize then (unless you're Vic McNuggets). Its natural that no one thinks about how the animated Joker has the same voice as Fire Lord Ozai, or how Timmy Turner is also Harley Quinn.

I guarantee you that if they cast everyone with regular voice actors, the box office wouldn't be as big as casting everyone with recognizable stars. Ticket sales would primarily be children and gamers, which aren't the biggest audiences to shill to.

I also feel like people are giving this movie the same treatment as the Aladdin live action movie did, they saw one picture of Genie and freaked out. Little did they know that Will Smith would carry that whole movie. I'm not saying Chris Pratt is going to be fantastic and you're all being mean, but we've heard very little of him as Mario as of yet. He does deserve the criticism of being a shit person, that's a completely different matter. And Illumination should have thought twice before casting him considering some recent controversies involving him.

But I do want to state that I am aware of the issues voice actors face, particularly the stunt Crunchy Roll pulled. They do not receive the credit (or pay) they deserve and need to be taken more seriously than they are. Voice acting can be a make or break part of a movie/TV show/video game/whatever, and all that hangs on these peoples shoulders. If companies want to make a quality product, they need to treat the voice actors who work with them with respect.

Tl;dr, hollywood casts big names to make money, chris pratt might make an ok mario but hes still a jerk, voice actors need to be paid more

Also Jack Black was so good as Bowser, i wouldn't have recognized his voice if i didnt know ahead of time!

#chris pratt #mario bros #mario mario

[glowyjellyfish]

October Halloween Movie Fest Day 22:

Tonight I finished my little Sleepy Hollow mini-run with Tim Burton’s version, which has been a favorite of mine. Every time I watch it, I think I’m gonna get critical and nitpicky, and every time it’s just too damn enjoyable for me to care about the slight mess of a plot. It’s not a good adaptation so much as it’s a Goth Paranormal Murder Mystery AU, but it does an excellent job at what it is. The Tim Burton Style is used sparingly, and the muted color palette really works for it; it would clearly be more comfortable if it was set in the Victorian era but it still has some fantastic costumes and scenery; Christina Ricci is not a Period Actress but she does a great job anyway; and Johnny Depp has not yet gone off the deep end trying to be memorably weird in every role and does an excellent job at this skeptical anxious/terrified dork version of Ichabod. Oh, and Christopher Walken. Just Christopher Walken. The Disney version is the quality one, and if there’s a closer adaptation than Disney’s I haven’t bothered to find out, but this movie has tons of fun taking the story in a different direction.

Treehouse of Horror 22 (The Butterball and the Diving Bell/Dial D for Diddly/In the Na’vi):

Well, this one’s a load of meh. The intro was fairly good, if a little long, but the best segment was Diddly and that’s not saying a lot. The first one—okay, playing Grounded has made me very slightly a spider connoisseur, and why would your punny title reference diving bell spiders when you clearly designed a black widow. And it started off okay, not great, a little juvenile with the farting, but then I guess they ran out of plot and just went insane, and it wasn’t funny, either. The second segment had a great credits sequence, and some good Ned monologuing, but not much else, and the title making the same reference they made two seasons ago feels sort of insulting or at least lazy. And the third segment had some good parody set-up… but unfortunately was clearly a parody made by people still pretty dazzled by a fairly bland movie, and even worse, they packed it with alien sex jokes without like… aging up Bart or pretending he’s a mini-adult or something. That was just uncomfortable. It does get a point for an excellent pun title, credit where credit is due. The list is now 1, 5, 4, 7, 6, 3, 2, 20, 9, 8, 17, 16, 15, 19, 13, 21, 12, 14, 10, 18, 22, 11.

…I am considering illustrating or rating each later episode with a gif I can make from earlier years. For example:

(it’s not a great gif, but it’s definitely what I want to say to the writers for this episode)

#Halloween #Halloween movies #October movies #October Halloween movie fest #sleepy hollow #the Simpsons

[novelconcepts]

What are your thoughts about Charlotte Wingrave?

Sort of depends on the day and on how willing to be charitable I'm feeling. Usually I think she was a good-hearted woman doing her best, cursed to doomed romance by Viola Lloyd's gravity, but that she wasn't a terribly present figure at the house or for her children. I suspect her story with Henry is meant to parallel that of Jamie's mother--a woman left behind to wrangle children, looking for some measure of life where she can find it, even to their detriment. And, since most of our looks at Charlotte come through the lens of her very young daughter's memory or her illicit lover's, we never really get a clear picture of who the woman was outside of Mother or Mistakes. It makes her the least well-rounded woman in the cast.

I think the most we can actually tell of her comes from Hannah's flashbacks--where she seems well-meaning, but the sort of kind that comes with a don't look too closely tag on it. She wants to help Hannah, but she doesn't really seem to be seeing her or truly listening when Hannah speaks. It's sort of an "of course you'll move in here. of course you'll sell your house. of course" rich white woman mentality that doesn't take into account, really, how Hannah is feeling or what she actually wants. In a way, that almost plastic kindness is what traps Hannah in the gravity well. The show doesn't devote a ton of time to unpacking that, but it always leaves a weird taste in my mouth, how Charlotte handles that whole deal--that strange blurring of "you're my employee, but I'll call you family" vibe. That said, "He may not be dead, but nobody’s perfect, are they?" is one of my absolute favorite lines in the entire show. Impeccable delivery.

#ask #the haunting of bly manor spoilers #charlotte wingrave #i think the actress does a fantastic job with the role--for what there is of it #but she's basically a ghost to her family even before she's gone. dominic is the same. they mean well but they replace #present parental affection with talismans and phone calls #which is always interesting to think about. and terribly sad. to think these kids have been missing them much longer than they've been dead #sort of another parallel with owen and his mother in that way

[herorps]

shadow and bone and racism

shadow and bone just came out so i can now finally break my silence bc holy shit do they go ham on the racism and me being me, i just have to tell you all about it. possible spoilers and triggers for anti-asian racism and microaggressions.

to preface, i was very privileged to receive a screener for the entire first season last month and i was actually excited to watch it bc i have friends who love the books and the show piqued my interest since it was announced. and i also have to say that i never read the books and i probably never will ( tho i’ve been told i would like soc ) but i did like the show overall. 

i think sab is a good adaptation and that the fans will like this show. i thoroughly enjoyed it and as someone who had very little to almost no knowledge about the books, i didn’t have trouble keeping up with the fantastical world. 

however that doesn’t mean i can’t be critical of it. 

i think the show can actually benefit from people being critical about it because so far, it feels like they took a very tone deaf direction and ran a marathon with it. 

what i’m talking about, is alina starkov being half-shu. 

now, i said before that my interest was piqued for this show when it was announced and one of the major reasons is the casting of biracial actress, jessie mei li, in the role of alina starkov. i can’t tell you how happy i was to see that a half-chinese actress was cast as the lead in a series based on such a beloved ip, especially since the creators of the show consciously changed alina’s ethnicity to be half-shu before casting calls were even sent out. ( for those of you who are also non-book readers, shu is the race of people from the country, shu han, and is based off primarily mongolian and chinese cultures ) 

so i was endeared with the idea that this character, that is coded white, was deliberately changed to be coded asian ( and coded mixed race to boot ) because the producers wanted to include diversity into the show. i commend that, i love that, i support that. but i believe the way they handled it, shouldn’t have been the way they handled it. and it’s because alina’s race is constantly brought up. 

obviously of course race is going to be brought up at some point. alina in the show is surrounded by white people when we first see her, and her home country of ravka does have a hostile history with shu han----i get it. racism is going to play a part in alina’s story. but it doesn’t necessarily need to go so far as to constantly remind the audience that she is shu in almost every interaction she has with someone she meets. 

and that’s a big part of the issue, is that nearly everyone she meets will bring up the fact that she’s part-shu. and a lot of the time, it’s said with hostility. now i’m not exactly sure if i’m just being particularly sensitive because of certain recent events, but the anti-asian racism hits differently these days. idk. 

because that’s what it is, at the end of the day. it’s racism. alina is often the target of very hostile racism and it seems to mainly be directed at her character and her character only. 

and honestly, on a surface level it makes sense, i sort of understand what the producers are trying to do. ravka has a turbulent history with shu han and were involved in wars with them and they’re often seen as the enemy so obviously that would affect a shu-mixed person growing up in ravka, a very white country. but on a deeper level, it reminds me a lot of the anti-japanese sentiments during wwii. the production team even created a banner that i felt called back to those anti-japanese propaganda of that era. ( mind you it was shown multiple times, in main focus, and acknowledged by characters that were coded shu ) 

but on the other hand, they’ve done a considerable job to diversify at least the ethnic makeup of ravka. there are black and brown grisha at the school and there are people of different cultures ( noted by costuming, etc. ) in ketterdam and there’s even a shu-appearing trainer that teaches the grisha to fight. so my question is, why is this very hostile treatment primarily geared toward shu people and geared toward alina specifically? it just doesn’t make sense to me. 

and when i say it’s specifically geared toward alina, i mean that it’s very apparent that they’re targeting her specifically, because mal  ( played by a possibly mixed-race archie renaux ) is also coded to be of mixed shu blood. while it is not explicitly stated that mal is shu, it is heavily implied that he is mixed, but he is never subject to the treatment that alina is, and the only times he is subject to racism is when alina is also present. in scenes where we see alina and mal as kids, they are often both referred to as “mutts” or “half-breeds”. but when they are older, only alina is continuously called those things. 

this isn’t even touching the microaggressions she faces after she’s at grisha school and this one line that made my gut wrench so viscerally i had to pause the episode and replay the part so i could confirm what i heard. [ episode 3 spoiler warning ] i’m trying to avoid posting screenshots or from spoiling parts of the show but there’s a scene where alina is being cleaned up and made presentable by servants and one of them says “I’d start by making her eyes less Shu.” [ end episode 3 spoiler ] i don’t think i have to explain to anyone how offensive that is. and i understand that the intention was to show how racist this servant is, that the entire point of of this weird racism plot is to show how the people of ravka can be racist and ignorant, but to have that line be written by a white writer, approved by a white showrunner and said by a white character to the face of an asian actor/character feels very tactless. it feels like another antagonist alina has to go against is racism itself. 

what also turns me off about this scene is that jessie mei li revealed that this scene is what actresses had to audition with. “...the sides that they sent for the audition, like Alina is talking to Genya and they’re talking about her eyes and they’re talking about her Shu ancestry.” having actresses of mixed-asian ancestry come in and act out that scene for white producers doesn’t really sit right with me. and i know that there’s an argument to be had about how it’s important to show the minutia of what it’s like to be ethnic in a world ruled by white supremacy and that it’s important to show how alina’s race affects her story, but i don’t think that going this far is necessary to the development of plot or character. 

and i don’t personally know jml, i don’t know how she feels about the show apart from what she’s probably briefed to talk about in interviews, but it is perfectly valid for me to feel iffy about the microaggressions while she feels that it’s necessary for character development ( again, this is just an example, i have no clue what she thinks of the racism ). our experiences are different, our upbringings are different, but we’re both happy to see representation and i’m happy that she’s happy to see an actual mixed-chinese character on screen as the lead. 

i’m glad that the producers were open to diversity and were open to making the lead a person of color, but it’s things like the treatment of shu characters and exchanges like “Tell her...Oh, I don’t know...good morning.” “I don’t actually speak Shu.” and “I didn’t know the Zemeni had such talent.” “She’s Suli.”  ( zemeni is a race of “dark-skinned” people and suli are coded south asian/mena/wena so this exchange is just white people mixing the brown people up )  that remind me the majority of the writers and producers are white. 

now i’m not saying that you should boycott the show or that this show is the most problematic thing to ever grace my retinas, because i really enjoyed watching it and i want to see what season 2 has in store ( more crows content please ). but, i want you all to please keep all of this in mind when you watch the series and think critically of what kinds of unconscious biases these producers had. you’re allowed to have nuanced opinions, you’re allowed to be critical of the media you enjoy so long as you understand where some people’s criticisms are coming from---where my criticisms are coming from. i just hope in future seasons the treatment of alina gets better and that she actually learns to love her shu side because otherwise it’s just going to be problematic as the show continues. 

#shadow and bone #grishaverse #six of crows