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Autumn 2021 - Week 6
Crazy busy day at work. I kinda want to die! But at least it went quickly because there was... so very much to get done. That I got done! Despite putting up with IT guys renetworking my entire workspace for a solid hour! The sun is down, I have less than three hours to freedom, have one last SPOILER ZONE.
FILMS
The Angel Levine (1970): I think I might be too far removed from anything remotely Jewish to really get this movie, but it's good enough that I want to keep trying. Since I didn't spend the whole thing confused this time around, several bits in particular are really sticking with me afterward.
Bonjour Tristesse (1958): Another movie I got more out of this time around, in a way closer to how I enjoyed Margaret earlier in the month (horrible teenage girl is maybe not as bad as I initially found her); holy FUCK I hated Cécile the first time I saw this and like, she's still selfish and shitty and awful, but also it's only because her dad ruined her because he wanted her as a pal? And as much as what happens to Anne is utterly heartbreaking, she actually came across as pretty preachy and judgmental this time around. And anyway, Raymond's the one who actually cheated no matter how Cécile nudged him into it, EVERYONE SUCKS HERE. I really just want a happy ending for these two frivolous assholes once a little more time has passed, man.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021): This was like if The Rise of Skywalker had been good. That isn't a compliment, but I mostly really liked it. It was fun as heck, and more of a lighthearted family adventure than a comedy, which I have come around on as a good idea. You're not gonna be as good a comedy as Ghostbusters, so why even try! Just do your own thing! And for the most part, this did that! Some of the elements tying it to the original are a little boring (how many times can we mention the book of revelation?? did we really need the total rehash of the keymaster/gatekeeper thing? though paul rudd with a flower in his hair may have been worth it), but the original cast wasn't overused and never pulled the focus from the family at the center of it all, so mostly it's just a good fun time (OLIVIA WILDE WHAT) and I wouldn't mind seeing more of the endearing ghostbusting moppets who will be adults in approximately five minutes ago anyway. I wonder if they had to go back and re-edit the scene where the year appears on the wall; I would assume so, they never actually SAY 2021. Anyway, the part where I only mostly really liked it is a shoutout to CGI Ghost Ramis, which was TACKY AS FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK, oh man I hated that so much. I liked Egon's presence throughout the movie a lot, it was a real nice throughline/tribute and I maybe could have stomached a spectral hand on a proton pack or something when the guys finally come together at the end, but OOF they went all in and he just sticks around forfuckingEVER and it made my skin crawl, ugh. In conclusion, I would die for Phoebe even as I hate that this feels like a movie made specifically to placate the worst dudes on the internet. Ghostbusters: Multitudes
The Out-of-Towners (1970): I think I'll just watch this movie whenever I get depressed about not travelling anymore (I really need to get my passport and go on a goddamn proper vacation, though).
SHORTS
The Fall of the House of Usher (1942): A very queer child made this.
The Female Lead: A Selection of Portraits (2017): Decently compelling assortment of talking heads, all JUST short enough not to ever get tedious. Made me want to check out the rest of the project.
Fragment of Seeking (1947): A very queer teen made this.
Passionless Moments (1983): I guess... it's accurately named? A neat idea, if not SUPER entertaining in execution.
Picnic (1949): A very queer young man made this.
TELEVISION
Jessica Jones 3x12/3x13: And so endeth the Netflix Era of the MCU. JJones goes on the side of Daredevil and Punisher in terms of getting to end on a reasonably satisfying note; lots gets set up and character arcs are incomplete, but at least everything isn't completely in fucking flux like they were where Luke and Fisty left off, so I'll take it. These shows and characters all got done so fucking dirty in the name of homogenizing Marvel's offerings and bringing it all under Disney's roof, though, and I still hate it for the record! I touched on this in my Eternals review (are these reviews? that feels like a stretch, my Eternals wall of text), but as much as I love the MCU proving that comic book superheroes don't have to be grim 'n' gritty to succeed, not all of life is squeaky clean family fare, and the sprawling nature of the franchise means that the areas they DON'T touch on start to feel noticeable and pointed in their absence, and these shows were a nice, needed counterpoint to that aspect of the movies. Hopefully heroes are allowed to fuck again post-Eternals, since while I don't need to see the good guys go all Trish Walker and start murdering people in the name of moral dilemmas, and while I certainly don't need the graphic sex scenes that an R-rating buys, and while I LOVE that they've finally moved away from every single movie needing a random love interest no matter what just cuz, the COMPLETE sexlessness of the modern blockbuster is... kinda fucked up, actually? Photogenically kissing while music swells or talking about having kids is not representative of actual experiences, it's like we've gone backwards to the golden age of Hollywood in this one thing alone, at least where tentpole films are concerned, because all quadrants must be made as frictionlessly pleased as possible at all times. Most people get horny! Most people have sex! Let heroes be fully-rounded people! They're all so very, impossibly hot, let them be appropriately horny for each other! Let most of them fuuuuuuuuuuck!
ANYWAY. Jessica Jones never managed to reach the heights of that first season again, but few things do, so. These shows all deserved better.
Star Trek: Discovery 4x01: HOORAY, WE CAN DISCOURSE AGAIN!
Wrestling
AEW Dark 3x49
AEW Dark: Elevation 1x37
AEW Dynamite 3x46
AEW Rampage 1x15
Before the IMPACT 1x40
IMPACT Turning Point 2021 Preshow
IMPACT Turning Point 2021
IMPACT! Wrestling 18x46
New Japan Pro-Wrestling 1x50
NJPW Strong 2x46
NJPW XTRA 1x01-1x03
NWA PowerrrSurge 6x03
ROH Week By Week 2x46
ROH Women's Division Wednesday 1x30
ROH Wrestling 13x46
We are STARDOM!! 2x24/2x25
TJPW It's Time to Go
TJPW Wrestling Joraku
FILMS
The Angel Levine (1970): I think I might be too far removed from anything remotely Jewish to really get this movie, but it's good enough that I want to keep trying. Since I didn't spend the whole thing confused this time around, several bits in particular are really sticking with me afterward.
Bonjour Tristesse (1958): Another movie I got more out of this time around, in a way closer to how I enjoyed Margaret earlier in the month (horrible teenage girl is maybe not as bad as I initially found her); holy FUCK I hated Cécile the first time I saw this and like, she's still selfish and shitty and awful, but also it's only because her dad ruined her because he wanted her as a pal? And as much as what happens to Anne is utterly heartbreaking, she actually came across as pretty preachy and judgmental this time around. And anyway, Raymond's the one who actually cheated no matter how Cécile nudged him into it, EVERYONE SUCKS HERE. I really just want a happy ending for these two frivolous assholes once a little more time has passed, man.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021): This was like if The Rise of Skywalker had been good. That isn't a compliment, but I mostly really liked it. It was fun as heck, and more of a lighthearted family adventure than a comedy, which I have come around on as a good idea. You're not gonna be as good a comedy as Ghostbusters, so why even try! Just do your own thing! And for the most part, this did that! Some of the elements tying it to the original are a little boring (how many times can we mention the book of revelation?? did we really need the total rehash of the keymaster/gatekeeper thing? though paul rudd with a flower in his hair may have been worth it), but the original cast wasn't overused and never pulled the focus from the family at the center of it all, so mostly it's just a good fun time (OLIVIA WILDE WHAT) and I wouldn't mind seeing more of the endearing ghostbusting moppets who will be adults in approximately five minutes ago anyway. I wonder if they had to go back and re-edit the scene where the year appears on the wall; I would assume so, they never actually SAY 2021. Anyway, the part where I only mostly really liked it is a shoutout to CGI Ghost Ramis, which was TACKY AS FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK, oh man I hated that so much. I liked Egon's presence throughout the movie a lot, it was a real nice throughline/tribute and I maybe could have stomached a spectral hand on a proton pack or something when the guys finally come together at the end, but OOF they went all in and he just sticks around forfuckingEVER and it made my skin crawl, ugh. In conclusion, I would die for Phoebe even as I hate that this feels like a movie made specifically to placate the worst dudes on the internet. Ghostbusters: Multitudes
The Out-of-Towners (1970): I think I'll just watch this movie whenever I get depressed about not travelling anymore (I really need to get my passport and go on a goddamn proper vacation, though).
SHORTS
The Fall of the House of Usher (1942): A very queer child made this.
The Female Lead: A Selection of Portraits (2017): Decently compelling assortment of talking heads, all JUST short enough not to ever get tedious. Made me want to check out the rest of the project.
Fragment of Seeking (1947): A very queer teen made this.
Passionless Moments (1983): I guess... it's accurately named? A neat idea, if not SUPER entertaining in execution.
Picnic (1949): A very queer young man made this.
TELEVISION
Jessica Jones 3x12/3x13: And so endeth the Netflix Era of the MCU. JJones goes on the side of Daredevil and Punisher in terms of getting to end on a reasonably satisfying note; lots gets set up and character arcs are incomplete, but at least everything isn't completely in fucking flux like they were where Luke and Fisty left off, so I'll take it. These shows and characters all got done so fucking dirty in the name of homogenizing Marvel's offerings and bringing it all under Disney's roof, though, and I still hate it for the record! I touched on this in my Eternals review (are these reviews? that feels like a stretch, my Eternals wall of text), but as much as I love the MCU proving that comic book superheroes don't have to be grim 'n' gritty to succeed, not all of life is squeaky clean family fare, and the sprawling nature of the franchise means that the areas they DON'T touch on start to feel noticeable and pointed in their absence, and these shows were a nice, needed counterpoint to that aspect of the movies. Hopefully heroes are allowed to fuck again post-Eternals, since while I don't need to see the good guys go all Trish Walker and start murdering people in the name of moral dilemmas, and while I certainly don't need the graphic sex scenes that an R-rating buys, and while I LOVE that they've finally moved away from every single movie needing a random love interest no matter what just cuz, the COMPLETE sexlessness of the modern blockbuster is... kinda fucked up, actually? Photogenically kissing while music swells or talking about having kids is not representative of actual experiences, it's like we've gone backwards to the golden age of Hollywood in this one thing alone, at least where tentpole films are concerned, because all quadrants must be made as frictionlessly pleased as possible at all times. Most people get horny! Most people have sex! Let heroes be fully-rounded people! They're all so very, impossibly hot, let them be appropriately horny for each other! Let most of them fuuuuuuuuuuck!
ANYWAY. Jessica Jones never managed to reach the heights of that first season again, but few things do, so. These shows all deserved better.
Star Trek: Discovery 4x01: HOORAY, WE CAN DISCOURSE AGAIN!
Wrestling
AEW Dark 3x49
AEW Dark: Elevation 1x37
AEW Dynamite 3x46
AEW Rampage 1x15
Before the IMPACT 1x40
IMPACT Turning Point 2021 Preshow
IMPACT Turning Point 2021
IMPACT! Wrestling 18x46
New Japan Pro-Wrestling 1x50
NJPW Strong 2x46
NJPW XTRA 1x01-1x03
NWA PowerrrSurge 6x03
ROH Week By Week 2x46
ROH Women's Division Wednesday 1x30
ROH Wrestling 13x46
We are STARDOM!! 2x24/2x25
TJPW It's Time to Go
TJPW Wrestling Joraku
no subject
like, I think a lot about how my parents' approach, when I was growing up, was to let me see pretty much whatever, with them, so I could ask questions about things I didn't understand or they could explain things to me (or in a few cases, like, cover my eyes or fast-forward things that were particularly bad, like a couple of the songs in Hair or super graphic sex, without preventing me from seeing the media that contained that at all). and as an adult now, I think that's so healthy and it did so much for me? I wasn't without guidance, but it normalized a lot for me, too, and I think there's a good balance that could be struck there with media itself, too, instead of keeping things completely pristine. (there's also something to be said about the content that is alright while sex apparently isn't, those superhero movies are hella violent.)
anyway, random tangent of agreement!
also, uh, WHERE can i watch this fall of the house of usher short film, i'm doing that short story with one of my students so obviously i need to watch this
no subject
And I can't seem to find it online, which sucks because it's a TRIP, just this little 8mm thing made by Curtis Harrington when he was FOURTEEN that should absolutely be paired as a double feature with Usher, the remake he made in 2000 wherein he ONCE AGAIN PLAYED BOTH RODERICK AND MADELINE ALMOST SIXTY YEARS LATER IT RULES SO HARD. They're both expiring off the Criterion Channel at the end of the month, I wish I could find them elsewhere D: