Tumgik
#silly Evil solomon my beloved
justgotham · 6 years
Link
Gotham is swiftly hurtling toward the finale of its fourth season, and the stakes are higher than ever for the good (and bad) guys of Gotham City. The great news for fans is that the show is more fun than ever; the bad news is that the show has not yet been renewed for a fifth season. Now that Fox has started renewing series, the time has come to start crossing fingers and hoping that Gotham scores another season on the airwaves. Why? Because Gotham is the best and cancelling it after four seasons would be a huge mistake.
Superheroes are all the rage on the large and small screens nowadays, and Gotham is truly unlike any other comics-based project on the market. In fact, it doesn't even feature any conventional superheroes. Rather, Gothamis an origin story for some of the most notorious and beloved characters of DC Comics fame. Since it's unconnected to the DC Extended Universe, the Arrow-verse on The CW, or any other movies or series based on DC Comics, Gotham isn't beholden to the continuity other projects. Gotham has its own Bruce Wayne and its own Jim Gordon and its own Joker...maybe. Superhero fatigue doesn't apply with a show that is so outside of the box as Gotham.
The fact that Gotham isn't connected to the DCEU or the Arrow-verse or any other DC Universe has given it the freedom to borrow from a variety of DC projects to create something truly unique. The trailer for the next couple of episodes points toward Gotham adapting elements of the notorious Killing Joke story for Bruce Wayne, and all signs point toward Gothamadapting aspects of the unforgettable "No Man's Land" comic arc. A Season 3 episode staged a scene for Selina that looked like a glorious homage to Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman in Batman Returns.
The new Jeremiah looks like the Joker walked right off the page of a comic but his origin story on the show couldn't be more different than any Joker in any other adaptation. The show can pull aspects from other Batman stories and create entirely unique arcs that are fun for longtime DC fans and newbies alike. Thanks to Gotham's ability to go in a whole bunch of different directions with different characters, the show has produced stories that might have been ridiculous if they weren't handled so expertly. Gotham not only pulled off an evil twin scenario with the Valeska brothers, but it used the evil twin scenario to keep its promise that Jerome isn't the Joker while introducing Jeremiah as an even more dangerous Joker-esque villain.
Solomon Grundy's introduction was straight out of the pages of DC Comics, but who could have seen Penguin falling in love with Riddler, jealously killing the doppelganger of Riddler's dead ex-girlfriend, and then engaging in an elaborate back-and-forth battle for revenge? And then there was the transformation of art gallery owner Barbara Kean into a crazy Babs who received the powers of the Demon's Head! Bruce Wayne is fighting crime before he's out of his teens, just got a proto-Batmobile, and is a couple of weeks away from what looks an awful lot like the first Bat-Signal. It's impossible to guess what exactly is going to happen from week to week, and that's not something you can say about every TV show.
Gotham is also able to tackle a variety of genres and tones within episodes. It can be silly and it can be scary. It can be totally bonkers and brutal and complicated by an ensemble of characters with shifting motivations. This is a show that is never boring, especially considering a big chunk of the main characters are villains whose loyalties shift as quickly as their goals. There's mysticism, realism, and resurrections. Gotham is never dull because you never know what mood the characters are going to be in per episode, and hilarity often ensues. Viewers aren't asked to take the show entirely seriously, which makes the show an awful lot of fun.
The cast of Gotham is also fantastic. Cameron Monaghan is always dependably psychotic as the Valeska brothers, and we can be sure that nobody on television can laugh quite as maniacally as he can. Robin Lord Taylor as Penguin and Cory Michael Smith as Riddler are never more hilarious than when they're bouncing off of each other, and Drew Powell as Butch Gilzean/Solomon Grundy has gone through all manner of changes. Ben McKenzie has been a rock from the very beginning, and young David Mazouz and Camren Bicondova turned out to be great fits for their roles. Casting Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle as kids who would grow up to become Batman and Catwoman had to be tricky, given that there was no guarantee that they would fit their roles as they got older. Who could possibly argue that Gotham didn't nail it?
If all of these aren't enough reasons why Gotham needs to be renewed, we have to take into account the fact that a fifth season of Gotham would allow it to hit the 100 episode milestone. 100 episodes is a big deal for any show and could potentially lead to syndication in the future; surely Fox could let Gotham reach that milestone with a Season 5, right? Yes, the ratings aren't exactly the best on television, and Fox would undoubtedly like a bigger audience, but Gotham has so much going for it that elements beyond ratings should be taken into account.
We can only wait and see if Fox does give the renewal order for Season 5 of Gotham. Given that my only complaint about the series is that nobody has yet produced a web series of Penguin and Riddler in pseudo-marriage counseling with guest appearances from the rest of Gotham's rogues, I know I'm crossing my fingers for more Gotham. Be sure to stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest in Gotham news, and definitely check out Fox on Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET for new episodes.
116 notes · View notes
dfroza · 3 years
Text
“You are like that illuminating light.
Let your light shine everywhere you go, that you may illumine creation...”
A line from Today’s reading of the Scriptures for Sunday
[Matthew 5]
Now when He saw the crowds, He went up on a mountain (as Moses had done before Him) and He sat down (as Jewish teachers of His day usually did). His disciples gathered around Him.
And He began to teach them.
Jesus: Blessed are the spiritually poor—the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Blessed are those who mourn—they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek and gentle—they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness—they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful—they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are those who are pure in heart—they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers—they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness—the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
And blessed are you, blessed are all of you, when people persecute you or denigrate you or despise you or tell lies about you on My account. But when this happens, rejoice. Be glad. Remember that God’s prophets have been persecuted in the past. And know that in heaven, you have a great reward.
You, beloved, are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes bland and loses its saltiness, can anything make it salty again? No. It is useless. It is tossed out, thrown away, or trampled.
And you, beloved, are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden. Similarly it would be silly to light a lamp and then hide it under a bowl. When someone lights a lamp, she puts it on a table or a desk or a chair, and the light illumines the entire house. You are like that illuminating light. Let your light shine everywhere you go, that you may illumine creation, so men and women everywhere may see your good actions, may see creation at its fullest, may see your devotion to Me, and may turn and praise your Father in heaven because of it.
Do not think that I have come to overturn or do away with the law or the words of our prophets. To the contrary: I have not come to overturn them but to fulfill them.
This, beloved, is the truth: until heaven and earth disappear, not one letter, not one pen stroke, will disappear from the sacred law—for everything, everything in the sacred law will be fulfilled and accomplished. Anyone who breaks even the smallest, most obscure commandment—not to mention teaches others to do the same—will be called small and obscure in the kingdom of heaven. Those who practice the law and teach others how to live the law will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you this: you will not enter the kingdom of heaven unless your righteousness goes deeper than the Pharisees’, even more righteous than the most learned learner of the law.
As you know, long ago God instructed Moses to tell His people, “Do not murder; those who murder will be judged and punished.” But here is the even harder truth: anyone who is angry with his brother will be judged for his anger. Anyone who taunts his friend, speaks contemptuously toward him, or calls him “Loser” or “Fool” or “Scum,” will have to answer to the high court. And anyone who calls his brother a fool may find himself in the fires of hell.
Therefore, if you are bringing an offering to God and you remember that your brother is angry at you or holds a grudge against you, then leave your gift before the altar, go to your brother, repent and forgive one another, be reconciled, and then return to the altar to offer your gift to God.
If someone sues you, settle things with him quickly. Talk to him as you are walking to court; otherwise, he may turn matters over to the judge, and the judge may turn you over to an officer, and you may land in jail. I tell you this: you will not emerge from prison until you have paid your last penny.
As you know, long ago God forbade His people to commit adultery. You may think you have abided by this Commandment, walked the straight and narrow, but I tell you this: any man who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery in his heart. If your right eye leads you into sin, gouge it out and throw it in the garbage—for better you lose one part of your body than march your entire body through the gates of sin and into hell. And if your right hand leads you into sin, cut it off and throw it away—for better you lose one part of your body than march your entire body through the gates of sin and into hell.
And here is something else: you have read in Deuteronomy that anyone who divorces his wife must do so fairly—he must give her the requisite certificate of divorce and send her on her way, free and unfettered. But I tell you this: unless your wife cheats on you, you must not divorce her, period. Nor are you to marry someone who has been married and divorces, for a divorced person who remarries commits adultery.
You know that God expects us to abide by the oaths we swear and the promises we make. But I tell you this: do not ever swear an oath. What is an oath? You cannot say, “I swear by heaven”—for heaven is not yours to swear by; it is God’s throne. And you cannot say, “I swear by this good earth,” for the earth is not yours to swear by; it is God’s footstool. And you cannot say, “I swear by the holy city Jerusalem,” for it is not yours to swear by; it is the city of God, the capital of the King of kings. You cannot even say that you swear by your own head, for God has dominion over your hands, your lips, your head. It is He who determines if your hair be straight or curly, white or black; it is He who rules over even this small scrap of creation. You need not swear an oath—any impulse to do so is of evil. Simply let your “yes” be “yes,” and let your “no” be “no.”
You know that Hebrew Scripture sets this standard of justice and punishment: take an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say this, don’t fight against the one who is working evil against you. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, you are to turn and offer him your left cheek. If someone connives to get your shirt, give him your jacket as well. If someone forces you to walk with him for a mile, walk with him for two instead. If someone asks you for something, give it to him. If someone wants to borrow something from you, do not turn away.
You have been taught to love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you this: love your enemies. Pray for those who torment you and persecute you—in so doing, you become children of your Father in heaven. He, after all, loves each of us—good and evil, kind and cruel. He causes the sun to rise and shine on evil and good alike. He causes the rain to water the fields of the righteous and the fields of the sinner. It is easy to love those who love you—even a tax collector can love those who love him. And it is easy to greet your friends—even outsiders do that! But you are called to something higher: “Be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
The Book of Matthew, Chapter 5 (The Voice)
Today’s paired chapter of the Testaments is the 2nd chapter of Ezra that documents the people who returned to Jerusalem:
These are the people from the province who now returned from the captivity, exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried off captive. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his hometown. They came in company with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.
The numbers of the returning Israelites by families of origin were as follows:
Parosh, 2,172
Shephatiah, 372
Arah, 775
Pahath-Moab (sons of Jeshua and Joab), 2,812
Elam, 1,254
Zattu, 945
Zaccai, 760
Bani, 642
Bebai, 623
Azgad, 1,222
Adonikam, 666
Bigvai, 2,056
Adin, 454
Ater (sons of Hezekiah), 98
Bezai, 323
Jorah, 112
Hashum, 223
Gibbar, 95.
Israelites identified by place of origin were as follows:
Bethlehem, 123
Netophah, 56
Anathoth, 128
Azmaveth, 42
Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth, 743
Ramah and Geba, 621
Micmash, 122
Bethel and Ai, 223
Nebo, 52
Magbish, 156
Elam (the other one), 1,254
Harim, 320
Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 725
Jericho, 345
Senaah, 3,630.
Priestly families:
Jedaiah (sons of Jeshua), 973
Immer, 1,052
Pashhur, 1,247
Harim, 1,017.
Levitical families:
Jeshua and Kadmiel (sons of Hodaviah), 74.
Singers:
Asaph’s family line, 128.
Security guard families:
Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai, 139.
Families of temple support staff:
Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,
Keros, Siaha, Padon,
Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub,
Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan,
Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah,
Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam,
Uzza, Paseah, Besai,
Asnah, Meunim, Nephussim,
Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,
Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,
Barkos, Sisera, Temah,
Neziah, and Hatipha.
Families of Solomon’s servants:
Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,
Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,
Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-Hazzebaim, and Ami.
Temple support staff and Solomon’s servants added up to 392.
These are those who came from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer. They weren’t able to prove their ancestry, whether they were true Israelites or not:
Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda, 652 in all.
Likewise with these priestly families:
Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai, who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and took that name.
They had thoroughly searched for their family records but couldn’t find them. And so they were barred from priestly work as ritually unclean. The governor ruled that they could not eat from the holy food until a priest could determine their status with the Urim and Thummim.
The total count for the congregation was 42,360. That did not include the male and female slaves, which numbered 7,337. There were also 200 male and female singers, and they had 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.
* * *
Some of the heads of families, on arriving at The Temple of God in Jerusalem, made Freewill-Offerings toward the rebuilding of The Temple of God on its site. They gave to the building fund as they were able, about 1,100 pounds of gold, about three tons of silver, and 100 priestly robes.
The priests, Levites, and some of the people lived in Jerusalem. The singers, security guards, and temple support staff found places in their hometowns. All the Israelites found a place to live.
The Book of Ezra, Chapter 2 (The Message)
my personal reading of the Scriptures for Sunday, march 7 of 2021 with a paired chapter from each Testament of the Bible, along with Today’s Psalms and Proverbs
A post by John Parsons that takes a look into the inner room of the Tabernacle and Temple, just as the inner room of the heart (inside, Anew)
So much depends on how you look at things... Take the Tabernacle, or "Mishkan," for instance. Compared to the glories of the Egyptian pyramids, the Sphinx, the enormous temples at Thebes and other places, the Mishkan must have seemed unimpressive and a bit underwhelming. The Holy Place structure, for instance, measured just 20 x 20 cubits in size - a modest area covered in animal skins and curtains. Inside the tent structure (ohel) was placed the Menorah, the Shulchan (table), and the relatively small Golden Altar used to burn incense. The tent was further divided by a curtain (parochet) that cordoned off the Holy of Holies, a 10 x 10 cubit square section that contained the most sacred ritual object of all, namely, the Ark of the Covenant. All in all the Mishkan seemed to be a rather humble dwelling shrine when compared to the opulent structures of Egypt.
And yet it was here, hidden in plain sight, that the very Shekhinah Glory of the LORD was manifest, and it was here, in the midst of the darkness of the Holy of Holies, that the sacrificial blood was placed over the Ark that held the tablets of the law, representing our atonement in the Messiah. In the midst of the dark cloud, with the plume of incense rising, the High Priest offered up the blood "la'Adonai," designated as the Lord's, to heal us from our separation from his love and truth. And all this was a "pattern" to demonstrate the greater reality of the sacrificial death of Yeshua given on our behalf.
As the Book of Hebrews argues, Yeshua is the High Priest of the New Covenant of God, ordained of after the "order of Malki-Tzedek," the one who bears the office of High Priest not based on the Torah given at Sinai, based as it was on the weakness of the flesh, but by virtue of the power of the everlasting oath and the power of Almighty God (Psalm 110:4). As such Yeshua has made the New Covenant (הַבְּרִית הַחֲדָשָׁה) with those who trust in his sacrificial death offered for their sins. Those who belong to Him have a new altar not based on the temporary provision of the Levitical priesthood (Heb. 7:11; Heb. 13:10). And just as the humble tabernacle disguised the Divine Presence from the eyes of the proud, so the humility of Yeshua our High Priest was hidden. First he was born in obscurity and in poverty. He emptied Himself of regal glory to become “God with us,” one who would bear our sorrows. For the cross at Calvary was the Altar by which His sacrificial blood was once and for all offered to secure for us an everlasting atonement (i.e., καταλλαγή, literally place of exchange: "life for life"). The cross of Messiah appears as "foolishness" to the proud eyes of this world, but to those who are saved it is the power of God (1 Cor. 1:18). Shabbat shalom chaverim! [Hebrew for Christians]
Tumblr media
3.5.21 • Facebook
An email from Glenn Jackson:
March 7th
* The Incarnation was the union of Deity and humanity in the Babe of Bethlehem. It was love's intrusion into the realm of selfishness. The long anticipated had at last arrived. God was united with humanity. The intrusion was not with an army...it was in the form of a dainty babe. They called His name Jesus. That name has filled the ages with songs and melodies. It has brought courage to the defeated; liberty to the slave; strength to the weak; healing to the sick; and eternal life to the world. That Babe who gave Mary her first great joy in that little town of Bethlehem, restored to woman the crown that she lost in the Garden of Eden. She was man's help-meet, she became his "slave" after the Fall. Jesus gave her hope, equality, and made her the queen of the heart of the New Creation.
...."The Lord gives the command; The women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host".... Psalm 68:11 NASB
Today’s message from the Institute for Creation Research
March 7, 2021
There Is a Fountain
“And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” (Revelation 21:6)
Christian hymns were often written as deeply moving poems and later added to music. We dare not exegete hymns to discover spiritual truth, but we can use them as spiritual aids to help focus our scriptural study. One such old-time poem is the favorite “There Is a Fountain” sung in churches today. Its five verses can inspire Christians. Verse one reads:
There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains.
Before Jesus came, His unique birth was foretold by an angel and prophesied in Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel,” meaning “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). He referred to Himself as “a well of water” (John 4:14) available to all.
The true understanding of the communion table, couched in the symbolic, precious words of Scripture (and our hymn), undergirds a lasting memorial to the work of Christ. “This cup is the new testament [i.e., covenant] in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance [i.e., a memorial] of me” (1 Corinthians 11:25).
The blood that was shed applies to believers, blessedly taking away our sin, for “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18). A blessed truth indeed! JDM
0 notes
Text
Things about 13x08 “The Scorpion and the Frog”
Alright, since I am awfully late with watching the episode and I don’t think anyone really needs a ton of my rambles on my live watch, I figured - also since I didn’t find much noteworthy to meta or talk about while watching - I’d just make one bigger “impression” post on the episode.
Overall, I have to say - while this wasn’t one of the best episodes ever written - I did not mind the episode. I can’t say I adored it or liked it massively, but I certainly didn’t dislike it as I did with the previous two. I actually found the episode entertaining somewhat. The pacing was alright and I did enjoy the characters introduced in the episode - even though they felt too close to certain other beloved already deceased characters, which kind of left a bad aftertaste imo. In general though and despite it’s silliness, I think the episode worked as a true one off and filler (and I usually tend to say fillers don’t exist, but with this one to me it truly felt like filler - and yes, despite the fact some of the big themes were worked into the episode - but I’ll go into that in a bit).
Alright, here are some aspects I feel like commenting on a bit more.
First of all there is the title - one I think worked pretty well in relation to the context of the episode, because the fable the title is inspired by, I suppose, is explored directly within the episode by the characters and all their “deal making with the natural enemy” that like Dean said right in the beginning usually never works out for them. And of course we saw that ending up being the case with Alice (though in the end she was freed), but most of all Barthamus (who I did enjoy - he was kind of cross between Balthazar and Crowley to me - though tbh seeing him just made me miss Crowley so much more than anything else) and Luthor Shrike as well. More than how the title related to the episode’s arc however it is important to see it in relation to the overarching theme of the season of “nature vs. nurture” especially considering it was the lead up episode to the mid season finale which features Jack heavily, who is the main character through with the whole “fighting against your ~nature”-theme is explored by. If the fable is anything to go by and it’s dark moral then it would allude to Jack going dark side (even though he has been taught and socialized differently) as this is simply part of his “nature” as Lucifer’s son. In this regard it feels also noteworthy that Aesop (which Dean has read) wrote a similar tale about a “Farmer and a viper” where a farmer finds a snake freezing to death and takes pity on it and warms it in his coat - revitalized by that the snake ends up biting the farmer and kills him), which feels even more fitting in relation to SPN lore and how Lucifer is seen as the “serpent”.
Then there is the whole talk on Solomon and him keeping tabs on the Queen of Sheba, which reminded me that earlier this season we had a scene featuring the “Song of Solomon”, which makes interesting, if Solomon ends up popping up a third time this season I’‘d call it a pattern and it’s probably interesing to di into all of that history a bit further.
As for the episode’s characters. I actually liked Grab, he was a kind of “one off”-demon - he wasn’t plain stupid or over the top cringeworthy evil like demons (and angels as well tbh) have been portrayed a lot on SPN the past seasons. I wouldn’t have needed to see him again as a character, but he was enjoyable for the time of the episode. I also liked Barthamus and how the actor played him, but in general to me just no one can in any way replace Mark Sheppard and Crowley so that’s that. And lastly there’s Alice. She was alright (the actress did an okay job), though tbh, to me she felt too much like a clichè and too much like Charlie 3.0 (seriously, they even had to give her a line featuring “Charlie”? Sorry, but… meeeh, I’m not a fan). Hell, they even sent her off with a bus scene and her showing the “victory”-sign. I mean…. how much more blatant can you be?
Now let’s move on to Luthor Shrike. I personally felt reminded of Magnus/Cuthbert Sinclair a bit with his collection of artifacts and such (forever disappointed they never picked Magnus as a big bad, that guy would have worked as that imo). Especially as he was described as “doing anything and everything to add to his collection”. Tbh though I did find him a bit stupid tbh. I fully believe he has his entrance video trapped (he just seemed like that kind of guy) so he must have seen Sam walking in an out of the devil’s trap and then when he hands Sam a shot of gin he hadn’t mixed holy water into that to test him? Seriously? That just seems to me awfully stupid for a 200 year old immortal being. Which brings me to the other character I had to think of aside from Magnus with how he lived secludedly: Cain. Like Cain, Luthor also seems to have drawn away from socitey after losing a loved one. And yes, of course the parallel to John giving his life for Dean and Dean then later dying was prettyy apparent, but I suppose it was alos meant as a possible moment of foreshadowing for Lucifer and Jack’s story. Will Lucifer in the end maybe sacrifice himself to save his son? While I really don’t need or want a Lucifer redemption arc, I’d take it if that meant we’d finally be rid of that character lol. In visuals also to me Luthor was aligned with Cain who was also immortal and got stabbed by the demon killing knife and then later died like Magnus by beheading.
And last but not least on to the Winchesters. I have to admit if Jensen wasn’t as good as an actor as he is the “compass hand thing” as well as the “paw thing” would not have worked. They were silly yes and once more Dean was used as comic relief, but Jensen delivered it. So I didn’t mind those a lot. What made me a bit moody was when the “Nerve damage”-scene rolled around, because it captured so much with nothing much said, but only “I lived off of that stuff when I was a kid, What is it like 10 times the legal amount of caffeine?”. Yeah, nice callback there to how Dean never was a child from 4 onwards and literally ran on coffeine to make it through. Like… how is that not yet another example of how friggin awful Dean’s life was and how much he had to shoulder at a way too young age? Aside from that I found it rather interesting that Grab called Dean a “hand puppet” - of course that as due to the spell he had cast on him, but I can’t help but rather think of that comment in a much broader sense with Dean as a vessel - yes, I am still stupidly hoping that someday Dean as Michael’s vessel will be rendered of import by the narrative again. Silly me…
And now truly lastly, the ending scene with the burning of Bart’s bones and the spell and how slow the Winchesters were there and how Bart just stands watching in slow mo almost when Alice patiently picks up the lighter after he just said he is sooooo quick was just… eye roll worthy imo. Also, lol, Bart saying Sam is the smart one? Apparently not when it comes to keep something from burning. ;P I mean, come on Sam, you blew on that? Really??? Bahaha.
Anyway… So yeah, that’s kind of all I have to say. Not much stuff for meta, but a few very pretty eye candy moments, so maybe I’ll try some editing. Anyway overall verdict: Alrightish irrelevant episode. Score: 6 out of 10.
22 notes · View notes
jillmckenzie1 · 4 years
Text
Be Excellent To Each Other
Bill & Ted Face the Music is streaming on Prime
Let’s talk about trilogies. Specifically, how unbelievably hard they are to pull off. It’s difficult enough to pull off a good movie, considering you need a strong script, solid direction, and competent actors. To pull off a decent sequel, you need to build on the world you first established and go in a new direction yet one that’s not so new it undoes the first film. To do all of that, and add a third film wrapping up everything? It’s easier to climb up Mount Everest blindfolded and naked.
Even the most prestigious and profitable franchises have trouble with this. Consider that:
  All three Star Wars trilogies have problematic entries. Return of the Jedi is only two-thirds of a good movie, Attack of the Clones is a nightmare, and The Rise of Skywalker stinks up the joint like bad sushi.
The MCU has the hastily tacked together Iron Man 2, along with the barely there Thor: The Dark World.
The Matrix is a flat-out science fiction classic. The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions lurch between ponderous speeches and not quite as cool as they should be action sequences.*
The Godfather and The Godfather: Part II are literally two of the greatest films ever made. The Godfather: Part III isn’t.
Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins finally makes Bruce Wayne a compelling character, while The Dark Knight gave audiences a terrifying Joker and a hero breaking his own moral code. The Dark Knight Rises, on the other hand, takes big swings and has big misses. Also, a bad guy that sounds like Sean Connery locked in a bathysphere.
  Years of merciless bludgeoning at the hands of greedy, incompetent, or misguided filmmakers has taught us that the third entries of a series usually blows chunks. When a film comes out that defies the odds…well, it can be a little breathtaking. The insane part isn’t just that Bill & Ted Face the Music is a trilogy-capper made with intelligence and deep silliness. No, the insane part is that it’s the end of a trilogy that gets better with every entry. This trilogy never drops in quality.
To bring you up to speed, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure concerns Bill S. Preston, Esquire (Alex Winter), and Ted “Theodore” Logan (Keanu Reeves) a pair of high-school himbos living in San Dimas, California. To pass a critical history test, they get their hands on a time-traveling phone booth, gain a futuristic mentor in Rufus (George Carlin) and meet a wide variety of historical personages. A few years pass, and in Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, the guys are killed by their evil robot duplicates, sent to Hell, befriend Death (William Sadler), and learn their true destiny; to write a song capable of uniting humanity.
So much for that. Years have passed, and the guys have failed to write The Greatest Song In The History of The World. Their fame has flagged, and they’re reduced to playing weddings. Their marriages to the princesses Joanna (Jayma Mays) and Elizabeth (Erinn Hayes) are also in bad shape. An amusing scene in marriage counseling shows us that Ted & Bill** need to be together constantly, even during therapy.
There’s good news and bad news, though. The good news is that, somehow, the guys managed to procreate. They’re the proud papas to Billie (Brigette Lundy-Paine) and Thea (Samara Weaving). The bad news is that since Bill & Ted’s band Wyld Stallyns failed repeatedly in writing The Song, reality itself is beginning to collapse. Kelly (Kristin Schaal) is the daughter of Rufus, and she arrives from the future to tell them that now would be a good time to get in gear and write The Song.
Only…it’s hard. Really, really hard. So hard that Bill & Ted come up with another idea. They’ll “borrow” the time machine, travel to the future, and “borrow” The Song from their future selves. It should be simple. Only it’s not. There’s the part where they learn that their future selves live increasingly miserable lives. And the part where Billie and Thea “borrow” another time machine to put together a supergroup of the greatest musicians in history to help their dads, but run into a little snag. And the part where the princesses “borrow” a time machine and learn their futures with Bill & Ted might not be most triumphant. And the part where Bill & Ted are being hunted by Dennis Caleb McCoy (Anthony Carrigan), a murderous robot that really just needs friends.
Bill & Ted Face the Music never leans hard into nostalgia. It never feels like a cheap cash grab. Instead, it’s like getting snuggles from a dopey Golden Retriever. The dog might not know his name or what the word “sit” even means, but he’s a sweetheart who’s all about wanting to show you how much he loves you.
Each of the three films in the Bill & Ted trilogy was helmed by a different director.*** Of the three of them, Face the Music’s Dean Parisot has made the most polished installment. As the director of the second-best Star Trek movie of all time, Galaxy Quest, Parisot has the skill to make this kind of tomfoolery look good. While the pacing drags just a little in the first half-hour, once the film gets going, it moves at a breakneck pace.
You have to be very smart to write characters that are this kind of dumb. Screenwriters Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson are, and as the writers of all three films, they know exactly when to go up to the line. Their script is gloriously silly. Multiple characters travel through numerous timelines at the same time, but Matheson and Solomon always make sure we know what’s happening and when. Better yet, the script is infused with infectious optimism. The idea that friendship and a kickass song can save the world never feels cheesy. Instead, it feels right. Along with that blast of hope, there’s a blast of self-awareness in this script. Bill & Ted are two guys told over and over in the first two films that they were special, beautiful and unique snowflakes. In Face the Music, they have to reckon with the fact that their life plan didn’t work out. Instead of doubling down and trying harder, we see their perspective shift. They grow and change. That’s what good writing is all about.
With 29 years between installments, you can be forgiven for wondering if Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves can smoothly step back into these iconic roles. A great deal has changed for them. Reeves has become the greatest action star in American movies, while Winter has made a number of outstanding documentaries. Winter’s return is a little smoother as Bill, and he’s just as goofily charming as ever. Reeves is a bit stiff as Ted, but he’s just as game as ever to get ridiculous. Perhaps my favorite performances were Samara Weaving and Brigette Lundy-Paine as Thea and Billie. They go beyond imitating Reeves and Winter and are an effective comic duo in their own right. Speaking of which, William Sadler returns (and very nearly steals the show again) as Death. Sadler has such a willingness to do absolutely anything to make us laugh. He’s so good at comedy that I wish he’d do more of it. Kid Cudi plays himself, and his comic timing is precise and perfect. There’s not a false note in this cast and everyone shows up to play.
As much as I love the film, it’s not perfect. It takes some time to really get into the groove, and it’s hampered by some problematic pacing. Speaking of problematic, let’s talk about the character of Grom. She’s a cavewoman, and she’s played by Patty Anne Miller, a wildly talented drummer who’s worked with Beyoncé and CeeLo Green. Someone with the chops that Miller has should absolutely be celebrated. The film choosing a superband with a majority of POC (Jimi Hendrix, Louis Armstrong, Ling Lun, and Mozart, along with Grom.) is cool. But having a Black woman play that particular role, a cavewoman? Eh…not a good look. Swap her out for someone like either Sylvia Robinson or Sister Rosetta Tharp, and you have something excellent.
Bill & Ted Face the Music is more than a skillful way to close out a beloved franchise that doesn’t quite get the respect it deserves. It’s a guitar riff of delightful, positive energy that had me smiling for nearly the entire run time. While there’s a lot to be cranky about these days, Bill & Ted reminds us that we can face the future with a cheerful grin.
    *Though the freeway chase in Reloaded is genuinely cool.
**Isn’t it jarring to read it like that?
***Stephen Herek directed the first film and went on to a long and steady career as a journeyman director. Peter Hewitt directed the second film and immersed himself in family films, for the most part.
The post Be Excellent To Each Other first appeared on The Denver Guide.
from Blog https://ondenver.com/be-excellent-to-each-other/
0 notes
viggletips · 5 years
Text
Here’s what is coming to Netflix in May.
Also, what’s leaving on May 1.
Avail. 5/1/19 Knock Down The House — NETFLIX FILM This rousing documentary follows four extraordinary women—Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Amy Vilela, Cori Bush, and Paula Jean Swearengin—who take on the congressional establishment by mounting grassroots campaigns and building a movement during a time of historic volatility in American politics.
Munafik 2 — NETFLIX FILM Haunted by terrifying visions, a Muslim healer finds his faith tested when he helps a woman locked in battle, body and soul, with a diabolical leader.
Angels & Demons Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Casper Chasing Liberty Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion Part 1 & 2 Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat Dumb and Dumber Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Gosford Park Gremlins Hairspray (1988) Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay Her Only Choice Hoosiers Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer: Season 2 John & Yoko: Above Us Only Sky Just Friends Revolutionary Road Roswell, New Mexico: Season 1 Scarface Scream Snowpiercer Taking Lives The Da Vinci Code The Dark Crystal (1982) The Matrix The Matrix Reloaded The Matrix Revolutions To Rome With Love Wedding Crashers Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Zombieland
Avail. 5/2/19 Colony: Season 3
Olympus Has Fallen
Avail. 5/3/19 A Pesar De Todo — NETFLIX FILM After their mother’s death, four sisters learn a shocking family secret and embark on an adventure to discover the truth about their genealogy.
All In My Family — NETFLIX ORIGINAL From documentarian Hao Wu comes a heartfelt portrait of how he created a thoroughly modern family in America, only to face the dilemma of introducing his same-sex partner and their children to his deeply traditional parents and relatives in China.
Alles ist gut — NETFLIX FILM A woman sexually assaulted by her new boss’s brother-in-law tries to move on as if nothing happened, but the night weighs heavily on her mind and body.
Cupcake & Dino – General Services: Season 2 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL The brothers are back for more adventures in the limitless world of general services, where no job is too big, small or silly for this dynamic duo!
Dead to Me — NETFLIX ORIGINAL A dark single camera comedy about a powerful friendship that blossoms between a tightly wound widow and a free spirit with a shocking secret.
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile — NETFLIX FILM A chronicle of the crimes of Ted Bundy from the perspective of Liz, his longtime girlfriend, who refused to believe the truth about him for years.
Flinch — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Faced with various frightening and uncomfortable events, contestants in this game show had better not flinch — or they’ll suffer painful consequences.
Jo Pil-ho: The Dawning Rage — NETFLIX FILM On the run from a dogged internal affairs agent, a corrupt cop reluctantly teams up with a defiant teen to unravel a conspiracy — before it’s too late.
The Last Summer — NETFLIX FILM Standing on the precipice of adulthood, a group of friends navigates new relationships, while reexamining others, during their final summer before college.
Mr. Mom
Supernatural: Season 14 True and the Rainbow Kingdom: Mushroom Town — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Do-gooding True can solve any problem, from a runaway boaty-float to a sideways sleepover, and a sticky mess at her very own birthday party!
Tuca & Bertie — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Two bird women — a carefree toucan and anxious songbird — live in the same apartment building and share their lives in this animated comedy.
Undercover — NETFLIX ORIGINAL A major ecstasy producer living in luxury on the Dutch-Belgian border faces big changes with two undercover agents begin moving in on his operation.
Avail. 5/4/19 Like Arrows
Avail. 5/6/19 Abyss — NETFLIX ORIGINAL A prosecutor discovers that she’s been reincarnated into a different person after getting into an accident — and also learns she’s not the only one.
Avail. 5/7/19 The Heat: A Kitchen (R)evolution
Queen of the South: Season 3
Avail. 5/8/19 Lucifer: Season 4 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL As Chloe struggles to come to terms with Lucifer’s disturbing revelation, a rogue priest sets out to stop a long-rumored prophecy.
Avail. 5/9/19 Bathtubs Over Broadway
Insidious
Avail. 5/10/19 Dry Martina — NETFLIX FILM An odd encounter with a fan and a tryst with that fan’s ex-boyfriend leads a sexually adventurous singer on an escapade in Chile.
Easy: Season 3 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Diverse characters fumble through the modern maze of love, sex, technology and culture in Chicago.
Gente que viene y bah — NETFLIX FILM After her partner cheats on her, an architect returns to her hometown to reassess her life with the help of her eccentric family. Based on the novel.
Harvey Girls Forever!: Season 2 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL The hardworking Harvey Girls are back, making new enemies in the form of older siblings, finally meeting their boy-band idols — and more!
Jailbirds — NETFLIX ORIGINAL At the Sacramento County Jail, incarcerated women fight the power and one another as they try to make the best of life — and love — on the inside.
Pose: Season 1
ReMastered: The Lion’s Share — NETFLIX ORIGINAL ReMastered: A long form documentary series of high profile, in-depth stories about music’s impact on society, as told by critically acclaimed directors, with each episode revealing surprising insight beyond the expected or commonly known. Lion’s Share tracks South African journalist Rian Malan’s journey to find the original writers of the legendary song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” which earned over 15 million dollars in royalties for American groups like The Tokens, Pete Seeger and the Weavers. Malan discovers the original writer, a black South African named Solomon Linda, whose family currently lives in poverty in the slums of Sweto. Driven by his own guilt that his uncle was one of the architects of apartheid, Malan goes after fat cat businessmen in the US music industry to force them to pay their fair share to Linda’s family.
Shéhérazade — NETFLIX FILM Fresh out of prison and forced to fend for himself on the streets of Marseille, 17-year-old Zac falls in love with a young prostitute Shéhérazade.
The Society — NETFLIX ORIGINAL The Society follows a group of teenagers who are mysteriously transported to a facsimile of their wealthy New England town without any trace of their parents. Their newfound freedom will be fun… but it will also be very dangerous. As they struggle to figure out what has happened to them and how to get home, they must establish order and form alliances if they want to survive.
Wine Country — NETFLIX FILM During a vacation to Napa Valley, a group of longtime friends reunites and revisit past choices in this hilarious and heartfelt comedy from director Amy Poehler.
Avail. 5/12/19 Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj: Volume 3 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Hasan Minhaj’s Peabody Award-winning series returns with new episodes, bringing his unexpected comedic perspective to current global events and pop culture.
Avail. 5/13/19 Malibu Rescue — NETFLIX ORIGINAL When a long list of shenanigans lands Tyler in hot water, he’s forced to suit up and spend his summer training for an elite junior lifeguard program.
Avail. 5/14/19 revisions — NETFLIX ANIME When Shibuya time-warps to 2388, high schooler Daisuke and his friends are conscripted by AHRV agent Milo to fight the hostile cyborg race, revisions.
Still LAUGH-IN: The Stars Celebrate — NETFLIX ORIGINAL The stars come out for this special tribute to “Laugh-in,” the revolutionary sketch comedy show of the 1960s and ’70s.
Weed the People
Avail. 5/15/19 Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed!
Avail. 5/16/19 Good Sam — NETFLIX FILM When a mysterious good Samaritan, aka “Good Sam,” leaves $100,000 cash on seemingly random doorsteps, New York City TV news reporter Kate Bradley (Tiya Sircar) sets out to discover Good Sam’s true identity and motive, turning her personal life upside down.
Take Me Home Tonight
Avail. 5/17/19 1994: Limited Series — NETFLIX ORIGINAL 1994 is an hour-long 5 episode investigative documentary series that will tell the story of one of the most critical years in Mexico’s history.
Chip & Potato — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Chip is a little pug going through life’s firsts with the encouragement of her secret mouse-friend, Potato.
It’s Bruno — NETFLIX ORIGINAL A digital series that follows a man and his beloved dog Bruno strolling around his neighborhood.
Maria — NETFLIX FILM A woman whose parents were killed by a gang when she was a child grows up to be a hired assassin. Unfortunately, trying to leave that past behind is proving to be more difficult than it seems.
Morir para contar — NETFLIX FILM Seeking answers after a life-changing incident in 2012, filmmaker Hernán Zin interviews other war reporters about the personal toll of their work.
Nailed It!: Season 3 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Nicole and Jacques are back to judge the chaos in the kitchen, from half-baked doll cakes to delightfully creepy edible clowns.
See You Yesterday — NETFLIX FILM Two Brooklyn teenage prodigies, C.J. Walker and Sebastian Thomas, build makeshift time machines to save C.J.’s brother, Calvin, from being wrongfully killed by a police officer.
The Rain: Season 2 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Trapped in the Zone, Simone and her friends must find a cure for the virus Rasmus is carrying before it kills him — and the rest of humanity.
Well Intended Love — NETFLIX ORIGINAL A third-rate actress with leukemia becomes entangled with CEO Ling because she needs him for treatment. In order to receive bone marrow transplant sooner and to continue her career as an actress, Xia Lin enters into a secret marriage with Ling Yi Zhou, the CEO of a company. Despite the conspiracies and misunderstandings they encounter, the two find true love.
White Gold: Season 2 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL After forcing Walsh out, Vincent’s headaches include answering to a gangster boss and a new rival salesperson who’s scooping up all the best jobs.
Avail. 5/18/19 The Blackcoat’s Daughter
Avail. 5/20/19 Prince of Peoria: Part 2 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL While Teddy works toward finishing his application for MIT’s summer robotics program, Emil tries to squeeze even more fun out of his time in Peoria.
Rosario Tijeras (Mexico Version): Season 2
Avail. 5/21/19 Arrow: Season 7
Moonlight
Wanda Sykes: Not Normal — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Emmy Award-nominated actress and 30-year comedy veteran, Wanda Sykes, delivers a sharp-witted and hilarious critique on the state of the world in her first Netflix comedy special, Wanda Sykes: Not Normal. The one-hour special addresses the comedian’s perspective on the current political and cultural climate, which she can only describe as, well … not normal!
Avail. 5/22/19 A Tale of Two Kitchens — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Two countries, two restaurants, one vision. At Gabriela Cámara’s acclaimed Contramar in Mexico City, the welcoming, uniformed waiters are as beloved by diners as the menu featuring fresh, local seafood caught within 24 hours. The entire staff sees themselves as part of an extended family. Meanwhile, at Cala in San Francisco, Cámara hires staff from different backgrounds and cultures, including ex-felons and ex-addicts, who view the work as an important opportunity to grow as individuals. A Tale of Two Kitchens explores the ways in which a restaurant can serve as a place of both dignity and community.
One Night in Spring — NETFLIX ORIGINAL When Lee Jeong-in and Yu Ji-ho meet, something unexpected happens. Or it just may be that spring is in the air — and anything is possible.
The Flash: Season 5
Avail. 5/23/19
Riverdale: Season 3
Slasher: Solstice — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Rampaging serial killers leave carnage in their wake as their next victims fight to stay alive in this honor anthology series.
Avail. 5/24/19 After Maria — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Short following families in Puerto Rico who are currently living in FEMA hotels around New York City. Their stories will unfold observationally over the course of the next month as they face the extreme situation of getting kicked out of the hotel or are forced to go back to Puerto Rico. Many people see these families as illegal immigrants and don’t want them here. We follow these families as they try to maintain their Puerto Rican identity, but assert their American citizenship.
Alta Mar — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Mysterious deaths aboard a luxurious ship traveling from Spain to Rio de Janeiro in the 1940s reveal secrets surrounding two sisters traveling together.
Joy — NETFLIX FILM Joy is a young Nigerian woman, caught in the vicious cycle of sex trafficking. She works in this merciless system of exploitation to pay off debts to her exploiter Madame and supporting her family in Nigeria.
Rim of the World — NETFLIX FILM Four misfit campers must band together and conquer their fears in order to save the world during an alien invasion.
She’s Gotta Have It: Season 2 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Romantic turmoil, artistic challenges and an eye-opening trip to Puerto Rico set Nola Darling on a new course.
The Perfection — NETFLIX FILM A troubled musical prodigy (Allison Williams) seeks out the new star pupil (Logan Browning) of her former school with shocking consequences in this elegant and terrifying suspense ride, the most buzzed-about movie at last year’s Fantastic Fest.
WHAT / IF — NETFLIX ORIGINAL A raw, voyeuristic examination of acceptable people doing unacceptable things. A conflict driven series of high stakes morality plays with a first season narrative focusing on two struggling newlyweds who accept a powerful woman’s ethically perilous proposition to secure a badly needed financial windfall.
Avail. 5/27/19 Historical Roasts — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Renowned “Roastmaster General” Jeff Ross’s new half-hour comedy series Historical Roasts brings together A-list comedians in period-appropriate garb to celebrate prominent historical figures of the past, from Presidents (Abe Lincoln) to Rockstars (Freddie Mercury) and everything in between. Based on the Los Angeles live show of the same name, the six-episode series is “teaching history a lesson” and honoring some of the most important voices of our time the only way they know how — with a searing roast. Launching globally on Netflix Monday, May 27, Historical Roasts features a stellar lineup of comedian guest stars including Bob Saget, John Stamos, Natasha Leggero, Jaleel White, Fred Willard, Nikki Glaser, Rachel Feinstein, Ryan Phillippe, Ken Marino, Gilbert Gottfried, Seth Green, Yamaneika Saunders, and Neal Brennan to name a few. The series is produced by OBB Pictures.
Outlander: Seasons 1-2
Avail. 5/28/19 Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
Avail. 5/30/19 Chopsticks — NETFLIX FILM An under-confident but talented girl, who is sidestepped at every stage of her life, seeks out an enigmatic con to help recover her stolen car from a goat-loving crazy Mumbai gangster and in the process finds her confidence and place in the sun.
My Week with Marilyn
Svaha: The Sixth Finger — NETFLIX FILM A minister who researches religious cults turns to his Buddhist monk friend for help investigating a new group with mysterious origins.
The One I Love
Avail. 5/31/19
Always Be My Maybe — NETFLIX FILM Everyone assumed Sasha and Marcus would wind up together except for Sasha and Marcus. Reconnecting after 15 years, the two start to wonder… maybe?
Bad Blood: Season 2 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Five years after the death of mob boss, there’s a new king of the Montreal drug trade — until a new breed of mafiosos arrives from Italy to wrestle the city from his grasp.
Black Spot: Season 2 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Major Weiss’s recovery prompts residents to question the odd circumstances she was found in, and how she survived injuries that would kill anyone else.
How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast) — NETFLIX ORIGINAL What if a teenager built up a drugs empire from his bedroom in Leipzig? Inspired by real events.
Killer Ratings — NETFLIX ORIGINAL The true-life story of a Brazilian TV host who literally killed for ratings — and used his crime TV show to cover up the grizzly truth.
When They See Us — NETFLIX ORIGINAL A four-part limited series from director Ava DuVernay that continues themes from her documentary 13th, her exploration of the criminal justice system through the true case of the Central Park Five – 5 young teenagers who were wrongfully accused and convicted of rape.
LAST CALL
Leaving 5/1/19 8 Mile Chocolat Cold Justice: Collection 3 Dances with Wolves Disney High School Musical 3: Senior Year Dr. No Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind For Your Eyes Only From Dusk Till Dawn From Russia with Love Godzilla GoldenEye Hostel Jaws Jaws 2 Jaws 3 Jaws: The Revenge License to Kill On Her Majesty’s Secret Service Sixteen Candles Sliding Doors Somm Somm: Into the Bottle The Birdcage The Dirty Dozen The English Patient The Lovely Bones The Notebook The Other Boleyn Girl Tomorrow Never Dies Watchmen
Leaving 5/11/19 Switched at Birth: Seasons 1-5
Leaving 5/15/19 Bill Nye, the Science Guy: Collection 1
Leaving 5/19/19 Disney’s Bridge to Terabithia
Leaving 5/22/19 The Boss Baby
Leaving 5/24/19 Southpaw
Leaving 5/31/19 I Know What You Did Last Summer West Side Story (1961)
0 notes