Alright, HW Hildy quests done, now it's time to do the Scholasticate quests and become absolutely UNHINGED about Leigh again

Hi! I’ve been reading a bunch about your new batch of oc’s (it’s really cool how they’re all super distinct from each other—that’s pretty hard to pull off, but you do it so well!) I was wondering (only if it’s ok!) to ask/req about how your new batch would react to a mouthy/sassy s/o who’s really not interested in a relationship? Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day!

merci!! ;w;

Leo

"I love you too much to let you push me around."

he may be domesticated, but there's no way he'll let your mouth run him away. he hates how much your laughter pisses him off in this moment, how it reminds him that you don't take him seriously enough to even consider his confession. nobody else makes him so crazy, so angry, so needy like the dog he's accepted that he is. you can barely collect yourself, and it's humiliating. it's all he can do to keep himself from baring his teeth and sink them into your neck to take you down and show you your place.

"are you serious, Leo?"

your voice cuts so deep into his chest, deeper than any knife of the most dire sharpness.

"this has to be a prank. you're not my type, puppy, and you know that."

you reach out to ruffle his ears, you think it's all just a joke at his own expense. you won't even look him in the eyes long enough to see how dark and cold they've become. if you don't see that he loves you now...

well, he'll just have to make it clear to everyone, so you'll never doubt him again.

Mel

"Mh? Is that an attitude I sense?"

it is. undoubtedly. but it's of little importance to him--he knows how to play this game, and he'll play it better than you ever will. you mouth off like you've never been shut up before, that much is very clear, and he didn't mind so much at first. thought it was just a little teasing back and forth, which isn't unnatural considering his personality.

but you don't wanna be his, and that's not allowed! haven't you realized by now that you're special? what the two of you have is rare, impossible even--he loves you so much he would give up his own life, and he knows you would do the same if you just admit it to yourself.

but you're so closed off. you serve back every flirtation with sass, get mouthy with him when he tries to be real and honest with you about anything, much less those times that you've been alone together and he tries to tell you how he feels.

this isn't how things are supposed to be. he won't let you shy away from the most passionate love he'll ever let you experience.

Noel

"Please, just listen to me....I love you."

how could you do this to him? just stop, pause, and stare right into his soul....and give him attitude? you're gonna make jokes like he didn't just pour his whole heart out to you?

what else can he do, now? he feels so lost, and for once your smile can't comfort him when you're holding back saying something rude to him. he doesn't want to cry, he wants to be strong, but the tears spill down his cheeks whether he wants them to or not.

"c'mon Noel, you know I don't want to be with you. is it really such a surprise?"

oh, now you've done it. his tears will abide soon, but only because he's realized what you're doing now.

you're just trying to string him along. test him to see if he's worthy enough to deserve being yours. and with that in the back of his head, he can find the strength to smile through the pain in his heart--because nobody has more patience than he does, and you'll understand just how much of your abuse he'll endure for the sake of your love.

Vivi

"So feisty, so cute! That's all I need to hear. You're mine."

it's adorable how you think a little brattiness will get you off the hook. don't you realize she's the master of this little game you've got going on? a few little scathing remarks aren't gonna make her run with her tail between her legs--in fact, quite the opposite. she loves the chase, after all.

"yeah right, Vivi. I don't think so, but thanks anyway."

aww, are you getting a little scared? she can see the twitch of your fingers against your arm, that look in your eye that befits an animal of prey. you couldn't get rid of her if you tried, and even if you did it would just end up pissing her off. so you keep hiding behind that wall of words you always put up to protect yourself, but she's gonna tear it down in seconds and take you for herself if you're not careful.

oh, dear. she didn't just say all that out loud, did she? your eyes are really struck with terror now...but it's such a cute look, isn't it? it really suits you more than all that attitude you like to give.

"just be still, darling." it'll hurt a lot more than your words ever could, otherwise.

Avi

"Settle down, little red. Don't make me bite you."

he's always liked playing with his food, but you bring a whole new meaning to that. you distract him with your little remarks and snarky comments, sometimes so much so that he forgets how perfect you would look with his teeth against your throat. he could choke you down and spit you up, churn you up from the inside out and leave you wanting more, absolutely ruin you so nobody else would even think of picking up such a filthy little pet.

and you still give him the best view of that pretty little mouth of yours. just that one comment alone has you giving him lip like your life depends on it, but all he can see is your energy wearing down bit by bit, your breaths getting slower with every passing word you spit back at him with more sass than you should be allowed. maybe he'll suit you up with a muzzle if you get this mouthy on your way back to his place.

just wear yourself out, he thinks to himself. you can't keep up the chase forever, little red.

Leigh

"I think you need to wash your mouth out."

does it not sound as serious when it comes from him? you laugh like you think he's joking, but he couldn't be more sincere. you like to tease him but this is different, this stings right in his heart and you know exactly how to twist the knife so it'll hurt the most. he can already imagine the expression you'll make when he grabs you by the jaw, fingers digging into your cheeks so you'll open up and he can squirt a bit of soapy foam on to your little pink tongue. just so you know he's really serious...but he can't stop thinking of sticking something else in there too, something that will really show you how serious he is.

he doesn't remember every little comment or ill-spirited jab, but the pang in his chest when you brush off his compliments and flirtations is enough for him to know it happens more often than it needs to. you're just being difficult for attention, and that's okay. you just need more of it, that's all, and who better to give it to you than him?

who better, darling? he'll wait for your answer, as long as it'll take to hear his name on the tip of your tongue.

Thorn

"Are you sure you wanna play this game with me?"

it's less of a question, more of a test. Thorn likes to drop these little riddles into your lap, and stand back to see how you'll react when he does. it's field research.

"you're gonna lose anyways, so what does it matter?"

oh, how cheeky. you always surprise him no matter what he throws at you, and this is no different--but this time he's just sick and tired of the answer. it's always the same no matter which way you phrase it, like unwrapping a candy and finding each one to be your least favourite flavour. there's always a part inside of him that thinks you're gonna change your mind one day, as if by a magical transformation--but no, you refuse, and to be honest it's really starting to irritate him.

you really don't know how good you could have it, do you? you don't understand how much he's been doing out of sight, and for you out of mind, just to ensure your happiness. you're royalty, and you don't even know it even when your prince is staring you right in the eyes, begging for the smallest scrap of your attention.

but you'll be the one begging soon. he knows it for sure.

Ilya

"That's enough out of you."

you may find it funny, but he doesn't think the same about you mocking him. sometimes he dreams about slapping that stupid little smirk off your face, but he's swiftly reminded that that may garner him the opposite reaction that he wants. people don't often take kindly to violence, that's right....but oh, you make it look so tempting. perhaps one day he'll get the chance to feel your throat bend beneath his palms, and listen to those sweet cries sputtering off your lips as you gasp for air....but you have to accept his love first, and you've promised him that it's never going to happen.

don't you realize how it breaks his heart? that your rejection time and time again is enough to make him feel like he may just die without you? why do you always do this to him?

he just has to collect himself. breathe. remember that your constitution is much weaker than his--you can't keep up this fight forever, and once you realize that he has no intention of letting you be loved by another soul on this earth, that's when he'll swoop in and claim you all for himself.

Book recs: Similar to but less sad than TSOA

Hello everyone! @lordeteams requested some book recommendations that are not as sad as The Song of Achilles so here we go. I read a lot of books and since 2019 I've kept a running list of what I've read so honestly I'll take any excuse to subject people to my interests🤗 List is below the cut, not in any particular order (except from the first entry which is my current favorite), and includes NA, YA, and adult fiction. If you're curious about the distinction I'll refer you to this (sadly, now-deleted) tweet from Maggie Stiefvater:

One Last Stop (Casey McQuiston, NA): This one is brand new and instantly became a favorite. F/F romance in which August Landry, newly transplanted to Brooklyn, meets Jane Su on her morning commute. Turns out, Jane is stuck on the train and has been since the 70s, but has no memory of how it happened or of her old life. Part romance, part time-travel mystery, but entirely a love letter to queer communities everywhere. Found family trope abounds with August's roommates and coworkers, which include drag queens, people of every flavor of queer, and a real life psychic, all of whom are ready and willing to help solve the mystery of why Jane is on the train and how to fix it. In the process, August learns things about her own family, as well as events in American queer history that few people remember today. I really cannot express enough how much I love this book. Please read it.

Red, White, and Royal Blue (Casey McQuiston, NA): Odds are, if you've heard of Casey McQuiston, it was because of her first book (this one). M/M romance about Alex, son of the first female US President, and Henry, prince of England. Enemies to friends to lovers, featuring queer self-discovery, coming out, PR/corporate closeting (hello, larries!) and just a delight. This is a very different queer story from OLS - OLS is a romance, but more plot-heavy and the romance isn't the entire focus. In RWRB, the romance is the plot and it reads like fanfiction which is very fun.

The Raven Cycle (series, Maggie Stiefvater, YA): This series is a character-driven, coming-of-age, found family story about a bunch of weird-ass teenagers (affectionate), magic, prophecy, and Welsh kings. This is the rare story in which every single main character plays a critical role in the plot and grows and changes with the story. You will fall in love with all of them and their relationships with one another. Plus, the worldbuilding is incredible and has such an intricate mythology that you'll want to reread just to get the details. Followed by the Dreamer Trilogy, of which two books have been published, but I've only read the first one so far.

All for the Game (series, Nora Sakavic, YA): This is the series that got me back into reading for fun five years ago and as such it holds a special place in my heart. The plot is wacky and convoluted - college athletics, a made-up sport, a kid on the run from his mob boss father - but don't let that discourage you. Hella found family. (Are you seeing a pattern?) I will warn you, this deals with some pretty heavy stuff, including torture, abuse, addiction, sexual violence, and more. Here's a comprehensive list of trigger warnings, with detailed descriptions at the bottom. It's intense, but the friendships and romances make it worth the read imo.

Grishaverse (series, Leigh Bardugo, YA): This is actually three series: the Shadow and Bone trilogy, the Six of Crows duology, and the King of Scars duology (which I haven't yet read). If you've seen Shadow and Bone, the S&B trilogy covers the Alina storyline, while SOC covers Kaz, Inej, Jesper, Nina, and Matthias. S&B is a chosen one/coming of age story, while SOC is found family committing heists. It's great.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Benjamin Alire Saenz, YA): Coming of age M/M romance. Set in the 1980s in El Paso, it describes the friends to lovers journey of Ari and Dante over several years, as well as Ari's journey of self-discovery. It is the most beautiful book and one of my comfort reads. There's some themes of homophobia and violence, but with a happy ending.

Carry On (Rainbow Rowell, YA): This is basically Harry Potter fanfiction, but better because (a) it doesn't take itself too seriously and (b) the author is not a violent transphobe. Seriously, this book is so fun. It's a twist on the chosen one trope because Simon, said Chosen One, is just spectacularly bad at what he is supposedly destined to be. Plus you have an enemies to lovers storyline, which is my personal favorite trope. Followed by Wayward Son, which is literally a road trip AU, and Any Way the Wind Blows, which will be released next month.

The Queen's Thief (series, Megan Whalen Turner, YA): Fantasy series centered on Eugenides, who is very proud of being a great thief but also wants to be famous, two goals which are not really compatible. This series is interesting because every novel is told from a different character's point of view in an increasingly zoomed-out lens such that you're seeing how Eugenides' influence grows over time and space. The setting is vaguely based on the ancient Mediterranean region, but with a mythology all its own.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (Taylor Jenkins Reid, adult): This is a frame story in which aged Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo, famously tight-lipped about her personal life, hand selects a young journalist, Monique Grant, to finally tell her story. Evelyn tells Monique all about her life - how she became an actress in the mid-twentieth century, how she got involved (and uninvolved) with all seven of her former husbands, and who was the true love of her life. There are some sad moments for sure, as it's a retrospective on the very long and very full life of an actress at what she knows is the end of hers. But it's such a good story and worth the bittersweet tones.

This Is How You Lose the Time War (Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone, adult): Sci-fi novel told by Red and Blue's letters to one another across time and space. They are on opposing sides of the Time War and as they perform their respective missions, they leave letters for the other to find. Their letters start out as "I'm coming for you, you better run" but then eventually turn to friendship and then love. Ultimate enemies to lovers. It's a short novel but you'll read it again and again to pick up more details. It's so good.

The House in the Cerulean Sea (TJ Klune, NA): This book feels like a warm hug. Linus Baker is essentially a child protective services worker, overseeing the orphanages housing magical children. He is then assigned to the most remote orphanage in the system, in which six dangerous children reside, to determine whether any or all of these children are capable of bringing about the end of the world. Once more, with feeling: FOUND FAMILY. Also nice because it's a metaphor for queerness that also features canon queer characters.

His Salvation ~ A John Winchester One-Shot

Summary: Based on SPN, S1, E21 “Salvation”. John gets threatened by Meg the demon if he doesn’t give the Colt to her. Meg threatens him, and harms Leigh while still on the phone. John tricks Meg by handing over a fake Colt. John, thinking Leigh (who’s the only woman to help him with hunting, with the boys, with coping with the loss of Mary, and also the woman he loves) is dead, goes to give Meg the Colt. On the way there, he gets a call from the hospital saying his wife has been involved in an accident. It takes him a minute to realize that Leigh’s actually alive since their secret code was to call each other husband and wife if they ever got in trouble. The search for the demon that killed Mary is put on hold. There’s never the car crash that happens at the end of S1, so John doesn’t need to make a deal with the yellow-eyed demon to save Dean. 

Warning(s): Language. Angst. Threats - spoken, unspoken, well known, good,  and bad. Violence. Fluff. Leigh’s a badass. Not beta’d, so...there’s that. I only have Grammarly used on this. 

Author’s Note(s): Hey, y’all! I know it’s been a really long, hot minute since I last posted an update. Writer’s block is an absolute demon. Depression too. And with everything else going on this year, it’s just been crazy! But, here’s a John Winchester One-Shot! If I get enough feedback for it, I’ll do a part 2! But y’all gotta let me know! Hope everyone’s staying safe, staying negative from COVID, and that y’all have a Happy Holiday season! As always, I’m here, so feel free to reach out! 

Word Count: 3,828 words

Relationship(s): John Winchester x Leigh Sullivan (OFC) [romantic]. 

Characters: John Winchester. Leigh Sullivan (OFC). Dean Winchester. Sam Winchester. Demon!Meg. Mary Winchester (Mentioned).

Taglist: @negans-network @prettyboynegan @mychemicalimagines @spnnnxangelsx @rockinkel21 @misskittycat02 @band--psycho@ofxallxwexlost @iron-halt @thamberlinawrites @ravenwings73 @lettherebepink @stoneyggirl @sebs-padawan @cladd716

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Story Time:

John’s P.O.V. ~ Salvation, Iowa - 2006

“Meg.” Sam says into his phone, shock lacing his voice.

My head jerks up from where I’d had it resting in my hands after arguing with the boys, well Dean really, ‘bout them not being able to get me to answer the phone. I know I suck at phone calls. To be honest, I really can’t stand phones...they’re just too confusing for my 51-year-old ass, even if you’d never know that’s how old I am since I look like I’m in my late 30s, maybe late 40s. 

I’d much rather use a landline than a cell phone. It’s a miracle the ones I do have even stay charged. I have Leigh to thank for that. She’s been my saving grace, my salvation for well over two and a half decades. Hell, maybe even longer than that. She helped me raise the boys after my wife, Mary, died when Sammy was six months old, even though she was just barely outta her teenage years herself.

She was 15 when we first met 25 years ago and she became Dean’s babysitter and later Sammy’s. After Mary died, Leigh was right there, willing to help me with the boys as I set out on the mission to find Mary’s killer. I’d never wanted to get her dragged into the lifestyle of a Hunter, but she insisted, saying someone needed to help take care of the boys.

And...after rescuing her when her parents were killed by a werewolf a few years later, she stuck ‘round even more. By that point, she was 22, and made it clear she was an adult and could do whatever she wanted which just so happened to stick with the boys and I. So, I did what I had to, and we learned the ropes of being a Hunter together.

After Sam went to college a few years ago, it was just Dean, Leigh, and I. We continued on hunting. Sometimes, Dean would go on his own hunts, but Leigh would always stick right by my side, hunting with me. Somewhere around the time that Dean was in high school, Leigh and I ended up together.

I was hesitant at first, considering I’d known her since she was a teenager, but she pointed out that she was only 10 years younger than me and had always had a crush on me. So, after a rough hunt and a night of patching each other up, we’d fallen into bed together. From that point on, we were together. 

The boys approved even if Dean had been a little hesitant at first; he didn’t want anyone to take his mom’s place. No one would ever take Mary’s place, but there was no denying the role Leigh had in all of our lives. She’d been the one to calm me down after Sam left for college, something I’d always wanted for my boys, but after being a Hunter for so long, I was only worried ‘bout their safety.

That was why I didn’t want Sam to go to California, to Stanford. I felt if he were there, I wouldn’t be able to protect him as easily from the things that go bump in the night. But, Leigh calmed me down, telling me that Sam was an adult now, and could make his own choices as well as being able to protect himself since we’d taught the boys a lot of what we knew.

The only reason Leigh’s not here, with us, with me, is because she went to see our friend and fellow Hunter, Caleb up in Lincoln, Nebraska, and help him with a case. The boys and I are working a lead that, hopefully, brings us closer to finding Yellow Eyes, the man, well, the demon responsible for Mary’s death. 

Both Dean and I stare at Sam as we listen to his conversation with Meg. A woman who’d befriended Sam when he and Dean had a spat outside of a small town in Indiana a while back. She made her true colors show when she’d tried to have them killed. Only...she ended up falling out of a seven-story window.

There’s no way a human could’ve survived a fall like which means...she’s not human...she must be...fuck. She’s a demon. I get pulled outta my thoughts when I hear Sam’s voice and feel his eyes on me.

“My dad. I don’t know where my dad is.” He says.

I raise a brow, running a hand over my face and letting out a sigh. I stand and walk over to the motel window, looking out of  it for a moment before turning back to Sam in time to see him holding his phone out to me. I sigh again and take it.

“This is John.” I say, my voice deep and empty of any emotions.

“Howdy, John. I'm Meg. I'm a friend of your boys. I'm also the one who watched Jim Murphy choke on his own blood…”

My heart tightens in my chest at her words. Jim was a close friend, fellow Hunter, and a priest. He was also murdered yesterday. I found out from Caleb when the boys and I were heading up here to Salvation, Iowa. Jim’s death...hit hard. It wasn’t ideal to get close to anyone, not in our line of work, but sometimes it couldn’t be helped.

“...Still there John-boy?” Meg’s voice cuts through the phone again.

“I’m here.” I ground out.

“Well, that was yesterday. Today, I’m in Lincoln.” 

My heart tightens again.

“Visiting another old friend of yours.” 

My lungs stop working. 

“She wants to say hi.”

My knees nearly buckle as my stomach drops to my chest. No. No. God-fuckin’-dammit! No! I take in a breath, trying not to give away the turmoil currently going on inside me. ‘Specially not when I hear her voice through the phone. 

“John, whatever you do don’t give…”

I hear Meg shush Leigh and my heart breaks. 

“Leigh?” I let out in a deep breath, trying my best to keep my emotions from being relayed to Meg.

The boys both jerk their heads up and look at me, worry and confusion on their faces. I blink and close my eyes for a second.

“You listen to me.” I tell Meg. “She’s got nothing to do with anything. You let her go.”

“We know you have the Colt, John.” Meg replies, her voice even.

“I don’t know what you’re talkin’ ‘bout.”

“Oh. Ok. Well, listen to this.”

My brows furrow and a moment later, my whole world comes crashing down. The sound of a knife or something equally sharp slashing through something followed by the sound of Leigh gasping and clearing drowning in her own blood fills the phone. I slump against the wall, my knees barely holding me up at this point.

“Leigh. Leigh!” I somehow manage to yell, nearly crushing the phone against the side of my face.

“Save the boys, husband.” I hear the love of my life croak out as she bleeds to death.

My heart breaks at the title, something I’d dreamt ‘bout hearing her call me for the last few years, but hadn’t happened, and was really just our code word we’d use when we were in a tough situation and wanted to let each other know everything was gonna be ok. Except. This time. It wouldn’t be ok. 

Not as I hear the sounds from Leigh slow.

“You hear that?” Meg taunts. “That’s the sound of your friend dying. Now, let’s try this again. We know you have the Colt, John. Word travels fast. So, as far as we’re concerned, you just declared war. And this is what war looks like. It has casualties.”

I growl. “I’m gonna kill you. You know that?”

She laughs. “Oh, John, please. Mind your blood pressure. So, this is the thing. We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing. And your friends, anyone who has ever helped you, gave you shelter, anyone you ever loved. They’ll all die. Unless you give us that gun.”

I take in a deep breath, not saying a word as I listen to her words and try my damndest to hear any sign from Leigh. Something to tell me she’s still alive. But I know...I know it’s not possible. Leigh’s dead. The love of my life. The first woman I’ve let myself love since Mary. The woman who helped raise my sons.

The badass woman who I was gonna ask to marry me once I’d ganked the evil son of a bitch that killed Mary. The only woman who had somehow broken down all the walls I’d built up. She was dead and I’d failed her. Failed to protect her. Failed to...fuck. I’d failed her. And I couldn’t fail her anymore by letting Meg and her demon friends kill more of mine and Leigh’s friends or any other innocent person.

“I’m waiting, Johnny.” Meg says. “Better answer before the buzzer.”

“Okay.” I sigh.

“Sorry? I didn’t quite get that.”

“I said okay. I’ll bring you the Colt.”

                                                             ***

Leigh’s P.O.V. ~ Lincoln, Nebraska

After Meg slit my throat, and I managed to croak out a few words to John, everything got darker with each passing second. By the time Meg hung up the phone with John, I’m barely holding on. I can feel my heart barely beating and breathing is almost impossible, but I refuse to give up. I refuse to die like this.

So, I make it seem like I had. This ain’t the first time I’ve faked my death. But it is the first time I’ve faked it while being alone. Meg being in the room doesn’t count. I mean being alone by not having the Winchesters nearby. Just barely holding on, I hold my breath and keep my eyes open, staring right at Meg.

I want her to think I’m dead and for her to stare right into my eyes as she does. I watch, not moving, not blinking, barely conscious, as she tosses the phone on my lap, and sneers at me.

“What the hell are you looking at?” She hisses before walking outta Caleb’s office.

I wait for a solid 15 seconds, even though it feels like an eternity, to make sure she’s truly gone before I force my thumb to press five buttons on my phone, hoping it’s right. A second later, I hear the call connect as it starts ringing, the noise amplified by the speaker. Another second passes before I hear the call truly connect.

“911. What’s your emergency?” The operator asks.

“Ambulance.” I croak out. “Now. Please.”

“Ma’am? I’m sorry. I need you to repeat that. Can you speak up?”

“Ambulance. Now.” I try to say louder.

“Ma’am? What’s your location?”

I try to get the address to Caleb’s out, only hoping the operator can make sense of it. I know my GPS is turned on, so hopefully, she can trace it. 

“Ambulance.” I manage to get out once more.

It’s a miracle I’ve managed to hang on this long, let alone get this much out. But, of course, every miracle ends at some point. As soon as I get the word, everything goes black.

                                                            ***

I come to, briefly, to bright lights, loud noises, and a bunch of people standing over me. 

“My husband. John Winchester. Call him.” I say, hoping it’s loud ‘nough.

One of the people standing over me says something, but I don’t hear him. Everything goes dark again as I pass out again.

                                                            ***

John’s P.O.V. ~ Lincoln, Nebraska

Getting outta my truck, I answer my phone without looking at the caller ID. I don’t care who’s calling me. Not anymore. Everything’s numb. Yes, I have my sons, but for the second time in my life, I’ve lost the woman I love. The boys warned me that this was a suicide mission. There’s only one reason Meg would want me to come alone with the Colt, but I told them I didn’t care. 

Sam looked at me with understanding in his eyes since he knew what I was going through from where he’d lost his girlfriend, Jess, a few months ago. Dean tried to argue with me, but I just gave him a look and he shut up. We arranged for me to bring Mega a fake version of the Colt in order to buy the boys some time so they could finish out the hunt and finally kill Yellow Eyes, once and for all.

I flip the phone open and press it to my ear as I stare up at the warehouse where I’m supposed to be meeting Meg.

“What?” I say into the phone.

“Is this John Winchester?” The man on the other end says, making me tense up.

“Yes. Who is this and how did you get this number?”

“Your wife. Your contact was in her phone.”

I furrow my brow. “My wife?”

“Yes, sir. Your wife. I’m sorry to tell you that she’s been attacked, but she’s at Bryan Medical Center West Campus.”

“Wait. What? My wife? Attacked? She’s alive?”

“Yes, sir. She is. She’s in surgery now.”

“I’ll be there soon!” 

With that, I hang up my phone, feeling my heart beat faster in my chest.

“She’s alive.” I whisper to myself. “My fuckin’ badass girl. She’s alive.”

I glance around, spot a water tower on the roof of the warehouse, and after checking my pockets for the rosary beads, I head up there. I bless the water, turning it into holy water. If Meg’s a demon, she’s gonna fuckin’ pay even more for what she put my girl through. After blessing the water, I head inside the warehouse.

I make my way to one of the large, empty rooms, knowing that’s where Meg’ll be. Guess I’m early. She’s not here yet. Fuck. I just want to get this over with. Looking around, I realize I can rig something up to put the water lines on a makeshift timer. So, I do. Then, I scrawl out a note, telling Meg how sorry I am I missed her, even though it’s not true, and that I hope she rots in hell. 

That part’s true. 

Once I have the note written and the timer set up, I lay the Colt on the floor with the note, and then book it back to my truck. Even if this isn’t how I wanted things to go with Meg, I don’t give a shit. Even though I haven’t slept in two days, and am running off of straight caffeine, I don’t give a shit. Leigh’s alive, and I’m not gonna waste another minute not by her side.

I tear outta the warehouse parking lot, rushing to the hospital. As I drive, I call Dean.

“Dad?” He asks. “How’d it go with Meg?”

“She’s alive.” I blurt out, talking ‘bout Leigh.

“Meg? You left her alive?!”

“No! I didn’t see her. Something came up. I left her a note. She might come for y’all…”

“Left her a note? Why? What came up?”

“I got a call from the hospital. Leigh...Dean...Leigh’s alive.”

“She is?!?! What? How?”

“Yes. She is. So, I’m heading to the hospital. I’ve got to be by her side. But. I wanted to let you know. In case Meg shows up.”

“We’ll keep an eye out for her, dad. Don’t worry. You stay with Leigh. We’ll come as soon as we’re done here.”

“Thanks, son.”

Our conversation ends a few moments later. I pull into a parking spot at the hospital a few minutes later. As soon as I’m parked, I have the keys outta ignition and in my pocket as I rush outta the truck and into the hospital. I take a deep breath once I’m inside, trying to calm my nerves. The last thing I need is to appear even more outta it than I already am.

I run my fingers through my already messed up hair and then down my face, taking another deep breath in. When I’m done, I walk over to the nurse’s station.

“Excuse me, miss?” I say in what I hope is a soft, non-shaky tone.

The young nurse looks up from her computer. I give her a small smile.

“Yes, sir?” She asks, blushing a little.

“Hi. I got a call. My wife...she was attacked...they said she was here?”

“Wife? What’s her name?” Her fingers resting on her keyboard.

“Leigh Sullivan.”

She nods and quickly types my girl’s name into the computer. Whatever she sees on the screen has her eyes widening more than the Grand Canyon. My heart falls deeper into the pit of my stomach. 

“What? What is it?” I ask, my fingers gripping the edge of the counter so tight that my knuckles turn white.

“Nothing, sir. I just...your wife, sir…” She starts.

I swallow deeply, expecting the worst. “Yes?”

She looks up at me. “Sir, your wife is one of the most badass women I’ve ever heard of. To survive having her throat slit and still making a 911 call? I respect her.”

I let out a deep breath. “So she’s still alive?”

“Oh! Yes. I’m sorry. She is. She’s outta surgery now too.”

“Thank fuck. Can you tell me what room? I got a badass woman to see and tell her she’s loved.”

The nurse smiles. “Of course, sir. She’s in room 214.”

“Thank you.” 

I give her another smile and then head to room 214. Standing in front of the door, I urge myself to try and calm down. The last thing Leigh needs is to see me panicking. Slowly, I open the door and step inside. As my eyes adjust to the darkness of the room, I take everything in. The Hunter in me looks for anything unusual.

Seeing nothing outta the ordinary, the normal part of me focuses on the figure lying in the hospital bed. My heart breaks as my feet shuffle forward. Leigh’s lying there, hooked up to a bunch of different machines with a thick band of gauze ‘round her neck. Aside from that, she looks like she’s peaceful, almost as if she’s just sleeping.

I slump down in the chair next to her side, and immediately take her small hand in both of my much larger ones. Bringing it to my lips, I kiss her knuckles, not paying attention to the tears rolling down my cheeks. It’s been years since I’ve cried. I haven’t allowed myself that luxury. But now...I can’t stop it.

I don’t want to. I thought I’d lost Leigh, but my girl...she’s a fuckin’ fighter. I hold her hand tightly, not wanting to let go.

“Leigh? Baby, I’m here.” I tell her, my voice shaky and full of emotions. “Wake up for me? I wanna see those beautiful eyes, that stunning smile, and hear you tell me that I’m a fuckin’ dumbass. So, wake up? For me? Please?”

When she doesn’t respond, I place another kiss to her knuckles. I didn’t really expect her to wake up. Not right now at least. She’s been through hell. She needs her rest. Hell, I need my own rest too, and I end up falling asleep in an uncomfortable hospital chair, Leigh’s hand in mine, and my head by her hip.

                                                            ***

Over the next week, I stay by Leigh’s side. The boys eventually show up a couple of days later, looking just as exhausted as I do. Dean tells me that he killed Meg, says it was payback for what she’d done to Leigh. Sam stays by Leigh’s side, holding her other hand. Four days after the attack, Dean looks at me.

“Dad?” He starts.

I look up at him. “Hmmm?”

“You should go shower, get something to eat, get some actual sleep.”

“I’m not leaving her, Dean.”

“I know, Dad. But, you need to take care of yourself. You haven’t really been sleeping, and I know for a fact that you haven’t taken a shower in nearly a week. You’re starting to stink. We both know that Leigh wouldn’t want to see you like this.”

I sigh. “I’ll take a shower in the bathroom there.” I point to the bathroom attached to Leigh’s hospital room. “Can you go get my bag from my truck? The one with the clothes, not the guns.”

Dean nods. “I’ll do that. And I’ll run out and get some food too, while you shower. Sammy can stay with Leigh.”

I run a hand over my face, nodding. “Fine. But I won’t take a long shower. I don’t...I just gotta be here when she wakes up.”

Both of my boys nod in understanding. Dean leaves the room while I stand and look at Sam.

“I won’t leave her side, Dad. Go shower. You stink worse than that hunt we were on when all the showers in the town stopped working ‘cause of the monster.” He says.

Unable to stop the small, soft chuckle that escapes my lips at his words, I nod. I lay a hand on his shoulder, a silent gesture of comfort before I lean down and place a soft kiss on Leigh’s forehead. 

“I’ll be right back, baby. Your old man’s gotta go get cleaned up so you don’t ditch his ass when you wake up.” I whisper, half jokingly.

She doesn’t respond, but I don’t let it crush my hopes. Not any more than they’ve already been crushed. I make my way to the bathroom, and turn the shower on. While I’m in there, Dean cracks the door.

“Dad? I’m putting your bag by the door here.” He says.

“Thanks, son.” I call out as I wash my hair and beard.

He just let out a grunt in response and the door shuts once again. Dean’s always been more of the silent type unless he’s being a smart ass, but when it comes to him hurting, he’s always been more silent instead of letting his emotions completely show. After I’m as cleaned up as I can be in a hospital shower, I step out, dry off, and tug on a pair of semi-clean jeans, an old tee, and one of my plaid button-up shirts that Leigh loves the most.

I open the bathroom door and glance toward the bed. I see beautiful hazel eyes staring back at me.

“Leigh.” I rush over to her side. 

I lean down and gently capture her lips with mine. After a few seconds, I pull away and look into her eyes. 

“I love you, Leigh.” I whisper.

She smiles slightly with droopy eyes. Even when she’s like this, she’s so fuckin’ beautiful. 

“You don’t have to say anything but I wanted you to know.” I smile widely. “I’ll say it forever if you’ll let me. Get some more sleep. I’ll be right here when you wake up.”

I kiss her forehead as her eyes close. Yep. I’m definitely proposing soon.

Messages and Curiosities

Alana had not shown up for class in nearly a week. Nora was sent from the Black Tower with a note stating that she was sick and would be staying home and keeping correspondence for her classes strictly in email.

Rayan Zaidi had spoken to Alana casually on a handful of occasions. At the beach, they established that it was okay for them to call each other by their normal names. She had even notified him why she preferred to be called “Alana” over “Melody” around campus. But he was still curious to know more about her...

One night, as he’s walking out of the Art Building, Rayan checked his phone and noticed a message from Alana’s email, and a conversation began.

“What did I miss in class today?”

“Just a lecture on Oscar Wilde.”

“Ah, so nothing that applies to me.”

“Apparently. How are you feeling?”

“Better. I should be coming back to class next week... But I’ve lost my voice.”

“Don’t you just have a common cold?”

“Yes, but my immune system isn’t the best... And every time I get a cold, I lose my voice.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, my mother isn’t the only one who gets sick easily.”

“You don’t talk about your mother... May I ask why?”

“Every time the topic of my mother gets brought up, and people are forced to think of me as “Melody Roster” rather than “The Grim Reaper” or “Alana”, I get pitied or underestimated.... I hate that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Melody Roster is expected to be Lynne’s responsible, docile, elegant, daughter. That is what has been forced upon me by mom’s fans, and the rest of society. But, ever since mom got sick, especially now that she’s better, when people realize precisely who I am in that form, they pity me because I was the one who gave up everything to go make sure she wasn’t alone.”

“I had no idea.”

“You wouldn’t. You read mom’s books, you know I’m both “Melody Roster” and “The Grim Reaper”... But, while you do look at me with curiosity in your eyes, you don’t look at me with pity or fear.”

“I see no reason to. You are a fascinating young woman. You don’t talk much at all, and when you do, its only to a very select few.”

“I have my reasons behind that.”

“May I ask what those are?”

“Take the people you know that are around me... The ones you spend the most time with... Leigh, Rosalaya and Melody. I have great disdain for the girls and a neutral feeling towards Leigh.”

“Why?”

“I’ve always been better friends with Leigh’s brother, Lysander. Leigh has always been either “Lysander’s brother” or “Rosa’s boyfriend” to me. We don’t talk much. Rosalaya used to be one of my best friends... And, well, you saw what happened at the beach when I slapped her.... That was simply the straw that broke the camel’s back. As for Melody.... I’ve given her enough rope to hang herself with multiple times over the time we’ve known each other and she’s hung herself ten fold.”

“And the others that you talk to?”

“Care to specify?”

“That rock star?”

“Cas? He’s part of the old High School group. He and I are friends.”

“That woman who runs around dressed up as a fairy?”

“That’s my aunt, Agatha. She’s my mom’s little sister. I can always talk to her.”

“What about that blonde boy who is constantly causing trouble? You talk to him a lot.”

“Nathaniel is a special circumstance. I enjoy talking to him for many reasons.”

“Special circumstance?”

“I’m going to tell you the same thing I told the Director a couple of weeks ago... My dealings with Nathaniel Jacott is my business. Please don’t pry on that note.”

“My apologies.”

“Did you know? Because of our handful of conversations, there is a rumor that you and I are together?”

“There are a lot of rumors surrounding you. Why are you bringing this one up?”

“Because this one has been brought to my attention by various people and I feel the need to address it.”

“I am aware that this rumor has been circling around the campus...”

“Are you interested in me?”

“You do realize its wrong to ask your professor that.”

“You do realize that, while you are my professor, I outrank you by society’s standards because of my R.D.R rank. So, in fact, it’s perfectly okay for me to ask you that.”

“Alana...”

“Don’t make me ask again, Rayan. I hate repeating myself.”

“It would be better for me to discuss my feelings in person.”

“That, dear sir, would only emphasize the rumors.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because, the only place I can properly communicate with people is the Tower. Unless you’d like my response strictly by text while you talk to me. So, inviting you to into my home while you discuss your feelings for me would emphasize the rumors simply because someone always has their eyes on the Tower. Its widely known that I’m the only student at Anteros who lives there. So, everyone knows that you’d be there to see me. So, please, answer my question.”

“With what you are, how would emphasis on the rumors cause trouble?”

“While I am a high ranking person in society, whose organization funds Anteros’ Engineering program, I am still your student. I am still ten years younger than you. A professor being interested in me doesn’t affect me, personally. In fact, sparking people’s curiosity is expected. I don’t even have to be around to do that. But it does affect you. You are not allowed to show interest in your students, in that form. You know that, you’ve been made aware of that on multiple occasions. You could still, very well, lose your job.”

“And if I am interested in you?”

“For multiple reasons, I’ll have to turn you down.”

“May I inquire as to those reasons?”

“Rayan, while I do find you fascinating and physically attractive... I cannot be with you. I’m sure, by now, you’ve heard the rumor “The Grim Reaper broke her own heart to protect the one she loves most.”, right?”

“I’ve heard it multiple times, yes.”

“My enemies have been neutralized. I intend to restore my heart.”

“So, it’s true.”

“Yes.”

“May I ask, who it is?”

“You already have the answer to that. All you have to do is let your powers of observation guide you.”

“Do you think they’ll accept you back?”

“After traversing through the dimensions of demons, all I can do is hope they will.”

“And if they don’t?”

“Then I am doomed to walk through this world alone. For I can love no one else.”

“Alana, you know that’s not true. You’re still young.”

“Rayan, I have loved him for years. Much longer than I’ve even been “The Grim Reaper”. I have fought, bled, and nearly died on multiple occasions to get to the point where I have the freedom to even try to get him back. I am not going down without one hell of a fight.”

“I’ll admit, I do envy him. But if he hasn’t come back to you yet, he must be blind. Women like you don’t appear every day.”

“He’s tortured, not blind. Don’t insult him. And I am the only woman of my kind.”

“I didn’t mean to insult him. I meant that if I were in his position, and you came to me, I’d take you back immediately.”

“Would you? An ex breaks up with you for a reason that you can’t possibly believe because that person would never fall in with a crowd like that, only to come back about four and a half years later with a skyscraper full of proof of what they were doing and that they weren’t lying to you... You’d take them back so easily?”

“Logically, I would.”

“You and I both know logic and reason don’t entirely apply when it comes to matters of the heart.”

“You’re right. But I have a point.”

“A lot has happened to him and me in the last four and a half years. I have to walk through Hell again to reach him.”

“And you’re willing to do so?”

“He’s worth it.”

“I really do envy him.”

Alana’s eyes had begun to get heavy. She checked the time and noticed it was getting late.

“Well, sir, it was nice talking to you this evening... But I’ve grown tired and I really should get some rest.”

“It’s always a pleasure talking with you, Alana. Goodnight and sweet dreams.”

“Goodnight Rayan.”

During the conversation, Rayan had managed to walk to his apartment. He opened the door, took off his blazer and vest, grabbed a glass and a bottle of brandy, poured himself a drink, sat down in the armchair by the window, stared at the Black Tower, took a sip of his drink and thought for a minute. Suddenly, his eyes grew wide and he sighed.

“That Jacott boy had better realize what he has before him.”

THE BEST MOVIE MOMENTS OF 2018:

HONORABLE MENTION:

The Opening/Closing Credits from BUDDIES

I’m putting this as honorable mention because this is an older movie recently rereleased.

The first film about the AIDS Crisis, Buddies strikes at the heart with its opening credits with a typed list of AIDS victim up to 1985. Set to a mournful score by Jeffrey Olmstead, the never ending list of lives cut short puts you in tears.

Alex Honnold faces Boulder Problem in FREE SOLO

Most thrillers can only wish they could be as gripping as in the moment when Alex Honnold maneuver’s his way through the most challenging section of El Capitan Wall without rope in this Documentary.

Ray Offers Wisdom from Mid90s

“If you looked in anybody else’s closet, you wouldn’t trade your shit for their shit.”

Ray (Na-kel Smith) and his friends may not be the best role models for the impressionable Stevie (Sunny Suljic), but in this moment, Ray teaches him a lesson in perspective.

Glenn Close’s performance in THE WIFE

I’m not referring to any moment. Just Glenn Close’s acting. She speaks more volumes with her face than most actresses could with dialogue.

10)        The Beach Scene from ROMA

Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio) is an extraordinary woman. Sure, her life hanging towels and cleaning dog poo doesn’t seem like anything special. But like many lower working-class people, she endures. Boy does she endure a lot of shit in this movie. Not only does her deadbeat boyfriend ditch her to practice martial arts, but her baby is born dead. Despite all this, she not only continues her work, but she shares a close bond with the family. She showcases this bond and her strength when a fun day at the beach goes horribly wrong.

When Paco (Carlos Peralta) and Sofi (Daniela Demesa) swim too far out, Cleo walks into the ocean to save them despite not knowing how to swim. We watch in dread as she faces severe waves to find the kids, the camera always close to her.

This scene also contains a beautiful scene of the family hugging Cleo when she tears up over losing her baby. Seeing them all huddled together in front of a bright white sun captures the heart.

9)         “A Place Called Slaughter Race” from RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET

Admit it, it’s fun to take pot shots at Disney Tropes. Hell, even Disney gets in on the fun. And boy do they seize on every moment to mock Princess tropes when Vanellope Von Shweetz (voiced by Sarah Silverman) encounters the Disney Princesses. Of course, it helps that Director Rich Moore and Head of Story Jim Reardon creates some of the best episodes of the Simpsons. Though there are many hilarious moments[1], none can hold the candle to Vanellope’s “I Want” song.

As she reflects over a puddle, Vanellope sings about her longing to be in the gritty game “Slaughter Race.” Seeing this little girl perform this lighthearted musical number over a background of riots and dumpster fires is comedy gold. Nearly every element of this number elevates the comedy, from singing shark (with cats and dogs in its mouth) to the creative lyrics (“Am I a baby pigeon spreading wings to soar?/ Is that a metaphor?/Hey, there’s a dollar store”). And the number still finds time to emphasize Vanellope’s fear of hurting Ralph (John. C Reilly).

Kudos to Alan Menken for mocking the trope he (and the late Howard Ashman) introduced to Disney. Just as deserving of Kudos is Silverman, who faced to task of singing in Vanellope’s high pitched voice.

8)         Charlie Loses Her Head from HEREDITARY

With her unusual hobbies, connection to her late grandmother and that clicking sound, you’d assume Annie’s (Toni Collette) daughter Charlie (Milly Shapiro) would be the centre of the whole film.[2] Boy, were we in for a surprise.

Spoilers!

When Charlie suffers a peanut allergy reaction, Peter (Alex Wolfe) races her home. On his drive, he sees a mysterious figure in the middle of the dark road. In his attempt to dodge it, he doesn’t see Charlie hanging out the window. Seeing her head slam right into a pole leaves us as traumatized as Peter is. To see them kill off a main character so early in the film is downright shocking. With this death, predictability goes right out the window and we are left uncertain of what direction this film will go.

7)         Neil Armstrong Soars in the X-15 Rocket Plane in FIRST MAN

It’s funny how the most exciting scene in this film isn’t the moon landing. Don’t get me wrong, the scene’s still breathtaking in its realism, but it’s surprising how thrilling the opening scene.

Damien Chazelle hits the ground running with Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling) soaring the atmosphere in an X-15 Rocket Plane. He soars higher and higher into the skies until he flies out of earth’s surface and gets stuck in space

Albeit, you know he will be back on earth in time for the moon landing. And yet, I found myself on the edge of my seat, wondering how he’s going to get back to earth. Most of it is thanks to the visual effects, which contains some of the most believable since 2001: A Space Odyssey. The effects leave CGI in the dust with practical effects that look so real, you’d think Gosling was actually flying into space.

6)         The Ferris Wheel Scene from LOVE, SIMON

High School Movies are home to many unforgettable romantic scenes. There’s Samantha (Molly Ringwald) and Jake (Michael Schoeffling) standing over a birthday cake in Sixteen Candles. There’s Patrick (Heath Ledger) singing to Katarina (Julia Stiles) on the bleachers in 10 Things I hate About You. And who can forget Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) blaring Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” outside Diane Court’s (Ione Skye) in Say Anything. Be ready to include the closing scene of Simon (Nick Robinson) waiting on the Ferris wheel for online pen pal Blue from Love, Simon.

After being outed by a student, infuriating his friends for deceiving them in his attempt to stay closeted and abandoned by Blue, Simon makes a plea to meet with Blue face to face on the Ferris Wheel at a carnival. As he rides on the Ferris Wheel, he, fellow classmates and the audience wait in anticipation for Simon’s happy ending.

5)         The Book Heist from AMERICAN ANIMALS

When Spencer Reinhard (Barry Keoghan) and Warren Lipka (Evan Peters) plotted to steal extremely valuable books from the Transylvania University library in Kentucky, they thought they had the perfect heist. With the help of their friends Erick Borsuk (Jared Abrahamson) and Chas Allen (Blake Jenner), they thought they pull off a heist as smooth as Oceans 11.[3]

But reality hits them like a sledge hammer when they try to pull off the heist. Unlike their dreams, Librarian Betty Jean Gooch (Ann Dowd) doesn’t get knocked out with one taser jolt. It also isn’t easy to lug a six-foot book down a flight of stairs. Then there’s the fact the basement has no exit. That’s just a few of many problems they never consider. From then on, we witness them pay a huge price for their hubris and lack of real-world understanding.

Only youths as smart as they are to come up with such a stupid plan.

4)         The Mutant Bear from ANNIHILATION

Biologist Lena (Natalie Portman) and her team find themselves in a quite a bind. After entering the Shimmer, physicist Josie Radek (Tessa Thompson) has barely survived an attack from a mutant alligator and Anthropologist Cassie Sheppard (Tuva Novotny) has been attacked by a bear. Now paramedic Anya Thorensen (Gina Rodriguez) has gone mad and has tied up Lena, Radek and Dr. Ventress (Jennifer Jason Leigh). But when they hear Sheppard’s cries for help, they will soon find Anya is the least of their worries.

Their journey delivers many grotesque, nightmare inducing visuals (especially the slithering intestines.) But the most memorable moment in this film was the image of the helpless crew trapped in a cabin with a mutant bear. Bears are scary enough on their own, but a faceless one is pants spitting meeting. And then you hear it imitate Sheppard’s screams and suddenly you need a new pair of pants.

3)         The Great Snap from AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR

The whole Marvel Cinematic Universe had been leading up to this moment. The fact that nearly every character had a moment to shine in this one movie demonstrates the astounding direction of the Russo Brothers. But despite all the epic fight scenes, everyone agrees that this film’s greatest scene is the heroes moment of defeat.

Despite every effort made to stop in, despite outnumbering Thanos and despite Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) sacrificing Vision (Paul Bettany) to destroy the mind stone, Thanos still got all the infinity stones. And with a single snap, Thanos succeeds in wiping out half the universe’s population. One by one, we watch many of our heroes vanish into dust while others watch in helpless horror. But none are more heartbreaking that the moment when Spider-Man (Tom Holland) falls into Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) arms, crying “I don’t want to go.” All because some characters couldn’t make the sacrifice needed

Yes, we knew he was going to succeed in the end.[4] And yes, you know most of the heroes won’t stay gone.[5] And yes, their return will likely involve the surviving heroes sacrificing themselves.[6] But the ending still feels powerful despite this knowledge.

It all concludes with Thanos sitting near a cottage, content in his triumph. If the MCU ended here, it would have been a perfect ending. But I’m still curious to see how this will go.

2)         The Closing Close-Up in CAPERNAUM

The closing image of Zain’s (Zain Al Rafeea) face will haunt you beyond the closing credits. Throughout the film, we’ve seen this kid struggle through hell on the streets of Lebanon, trying to protect his sister from their resentful parents and helping an Ethiopian Migrant Worker take care of her son. But when he’s sent to prison for assaulting a pimp who bought his sister, he decides to sue his parents for the crime of bringing him into this miserable world. Writer/director Nadine Labaki never looks away for a second to the brutality of Zain’s world and how it brings out the worst in Zain.

When the film freezes to the image of Zain smiling for a Passport photo, your heart breaks for him as Khaled Mouzanar’s haunting score plays out.

1)         Tish and Fonny’s Walk Through the Park in IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK

No other opening scene has done a better job of putting its audience under its spell than when loving couple Tish (Kiki Layne) and Alfonzo “Fonny” Hunt (Stephan James) stroll through a park holding hands.

There’s beauty in every element of this scene, from Nicholas Britell’s romantic score to the warm looks in the character’s eyes. But what really sells it is James Laxton’s lush cinematography. The colours pop through the yellows and blues on the couple’s clothes and the green of the grass. You are as in love with this couple as they are for each other.

Then the film cuts to Tish visiting Fonny in prison, this time the yellow is the prison, the blue is Fonny’s jumpsuit and the green is on Tish’ outfit. From then one, we know why their love is worth fighting for.

[1] Mostly at the expense of Ariel (Jodi Benson)

[2] Especially when she appears so prominently in the advertisements.

[3] As indicated by a fantasy sequence.

[4] Since we know this was going to be a two parter.

[5] Especially when there are already planned sequels to Black Panther, Spider-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy. After all the money Marvel’s got from Black Panther? They’re not going to give up that meal ticket.

[6] What with Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans retiring their characters.

Queer Book Recs

Are you as frustrated with fandoms as i am? I got you! Here are some queer books i’ve read recently, and more under my book recs tag. This list is too long already, so i’ll put in summaries instead of my own comments.

Broken by Nikola Haken When Theodore Davenport decides to switch his mundane job for a career, he walks into Holden House Publishing with enthusiasm and determination to succeed. As he settles into his new role, makes new friends, and dreams of making it to the top, everything is going to plan. Until he meets James Holden, CEO of Holden House. James Holden hasn’t been able to stop thinking about his encounter with the timid man he met in a club bathroom last week, and when he discovers the one haunting his dreams is an employee, he can’t seem to stop himself from pursuing him. Just a little fun - that’s what James tells himself. He can’t afford to care for someone who can never reciprocate, not once they find out who he really is. James believes nobody deserves the burden of being attached to him. He’s a complicated man. Damaged. Difficult. Demanding. Broken. Is Theodore strong enough to confront James’ demons? More importantly, is James? Please note:This book contains scenes of self harm, mental illness and suicidal ideation which may be uncomfortable for some readers.

The Rules by Jamie Fessenden When Hans Bauer, a college student in New Hampshire, accepts a job as a housekeeper for an older gay couple, he soon learns the reason they've hired someone with no experience is that professional agencies won't work there. Thomas is a successful businessman whose biggest goal in life appears to be giving his husband anything he wants. Boris is a writer who immigrated to this country from Russia, and suffers from depression and PTSD because of the things he endured in his native country. He also refuses to wear clothes—ever. While Hans is working alone in the house with Naked Boris all day, things start getting a little weird. Boris gets flirtatious and Hans backs away, not wanting to come between him and his husband. So Boris calls Thomas at work and asks permission. At that moment, The Rules are born—rules about touching and kissing and pet names that the three men use to keep jealousies at bay, as they explore the possibilities in a new type of relationship.... WARNING: This story deals with themes of sexual assault and past abuse. The Law of Attraction by Jay Northcote When a professional relationship turns personal, it’s impossible to resist the law of attraction. Alec Rowland is a high-flying lawyer in a London firm whose career is his life. He doesn’t have time for relationships and his sexuality is a closely guarded secret. After picking up a cute guy on a Friday night, Alec’s world is rocked to its foundations when his one night stand shows up in the office on Monday morning—as the new temp on his team. Ed Piper is desperate to prove himself in his new job. The last thing he needs is to be distracted by a crush on his boss. It’s hard to ignore the attraction he feels, even though Alec’s a difficult bastard to work for. Both men strive to maintain a professional relationship, but tempers fray, passions ignite, and soon they’re both falling hard and fast. If they’re ever going to find a way to be together, Alec needs to be honest about who he really is because Ed won’t go back in the closet for anyone.

The Half Wolf by Jay Northcote Mate, family, pack, home… can Quinn and Kellan have it all? Quinn grew up feeling out of place in the small town he calls home. Yearning for something he can’t name, he’s always felt different but never known why. Kellan is part of a nomadic shifter pack. When they set up camp in the woods near Quinn’s town, the humans are unwelcoming and suspicious of the newcomers. The moment Kellan catches sight—and scent—of Quinn, he knows Quinn is special. But for the first time in his life, Kellan can’t trust his instincts. Quinn is human, and Kellan is a wolf shifter, so how can they ever be mates? Their bond is instant and exhilarating. It breaks Quinn’s heart to know their relationship can only be temporary. Love isn’t enough when pack law forbids shifters to mate with humans. Tension explodes between pack and humans, and when Quinn discovers a shocking truth about himself that changes everything, he fears he’ll have to choose between the only life he’s ever known and the man he loves. 

Step by Step by K.C. Wells Jamie’s life is one big financial mess, and it really isn’t his fault. However, the last thing he expected to find in the library was a Good Samaritan. He might have been suspicious of Guy’s motives at first, but it soon becomes apparent that his savior is a good man who has been lucky in life and is looking to pay it forward. Guy being gay is not a problem. Jamie’s not interested… or so he thinks. Guy is happy to help Jamie, and the two men get along fine. But when Jamie’s curiosity leads him from one thing to another, Guy finds himself looking at the young man with new eyes. What started out as a hand up is now something completely different…. His Convenient Husband by Robin Covington  NFL football player Isaiah Blackwell lost his husband three years ago and is raising their teen son alone. He lives his life as quietly as his job allows, playing ball to support his family but trying not to draw unwanted attention. His quiet life is shaken up when a mutual friend introduces him to Victor, a visiting principal ballet dancer who is everything Isaiah is not. Brash and loud, Victor Aleksandrov has applied for political asylum to avoid returning to Russia, where gay men are targeted and persecuted. He’s been outspoken about gay rights in his home country, and if he doesn’t get asylum, going back to Russia is a death sentence. Their one-night stand turns into a tentative friendship, a relationship they both agree is temporary... until Victor’s denied asylum. Isaiah can’t offer Victor a happily ever after, but he can propose something that’ll keep Victor in the US and safe... marriage He just doesn’t expect his new husband to dance away with his heart. Finding Home by Garrett Leigh How do you find a home when your heart is in ashes? With their mum dead and their father on remand for her murder, Leo Hendry and his little sister, Lila, have nothing in the world but each other. Broken and burned, they’re thrust into the foster care system. Leo shields Lila from the fake families and forced affection, until the Poulton household is the only place left to go. Charlie de Sousa is used to other kids passing through the Poulton home, but there’s never been anyone like his new foster brother. Leo’s physical injuries are plain to see, but it’s the pain in his eyes that draws Charlie in the most. Day by day, they grow closer, but the darkness inside Leo consumes him. He rejects his foster parents, and when Charlie gets into trouble, Leo’s attempt to protect him turns violent. When Leo loses control, no one can reach him—except Charlie. He desperately needs a family—a home—and only Charlie can show him the way. Long Macchiatos and Monsters by Allison Evans Jalen, lover of B-grade sci-fi movies, meets the far-too-handsome P in a cafe while deciding whether or not to skip uni again. When P invites them along to a double feature of Robot Monster and Cat Women of the Moon, Jalen can hardly believe that hot boys like bad sci-fi, too. But as their relationship progresses, Jalen realizes P leaves him wondering if they're on the same page about what dating means, and if that's what they're doing. [NB protag!] Dirty Mind by Roe Horvat Alexander Popescu is a university lecturer in a quiet German town. He’s a respectable man in his thirties who stays fit, has a decent career and travels alone—his only vice is an occasional greasy meal. And beer. And violent computer games. Nobody has to know about the other Alex—the acclaimed porn writer. His ingenious erotic fantasies earn him good money and keep his capricious mind harmlessly entertained. When his young friend and protégé Christian transfers to Freiburg for medical school, Alex is overjoyed…and terrified that Christian will find out about Alex’s indecent alter ego. The time they spend together, as lovely as it is, could overturn Alex’s carefully balanced life. Suddenly, the writing is not good enough, his hair seems to be thinning, his careful hookups leave him unfulfilled, and his dreams are haunted by the innocent young man he’s vowed to protect. However, Christian is not a boy anymore. He’s a grown man of twenty-one, clever and deadly attractive. And he’s hiding some secrets of his own.

perspective

this is for @ivory-leigh with special thanks to @onemuseleft for her help with the idea

i super didn’t mean to write this tonight but the idea was SO GOOD and i’ve really been jonesing to write

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In the weeks following what they're calling The Battle of New York, Bruce settles into the Tower with an incredible ease.

The floor Tony designed for him is shockingly well-suited to his tastes and needs considering how Tony likes to claim he's not a team-player. Bruce suspects each floor is equally well-designed and perhaps that's why they're all able to slip into a routine so quickly.

It feels like something missing has slotted into place and Bruce can tell just by looking at the others' faintly bewildered expressions when they look around at the space they share that they feel the same.

Still, Bruce never looks toward Harlem.

He's...content right now, but it's only a matter of time before Ross decides to try again or his teammates are reminded that he's a barely-restrained monster, not their friend.

Even Natasha seems to have forgotten, despite the fact that she still can't walk on the ankle he caused her to injure.

“Knock knock, anybody home?”

Bruce startles, Tony's voice coming from right behind him.

He covers his heart and turns to glare. “Are you still prodding at my fault lines?”

Tony raises his eyebrows. “A) You have no faults, Brucie, B) of course I am, and C) it wasn't actually on purpose this time, I called your name like ten times and you didn't answer.”

Bruce gives him a wry look. “So you thought you'd just come in anyway?”

Tony gasps softly, like Bruce has mortally wounded him. “You could have been bleeding on the floor for all I knew.”

Trying not to smile, Bruce gets to his feet and brushes off his pants before turning a look on Tony. “No, I couldn't've.”

Tony looks back. “Nah, probably not.”

“Why are you really here?”

Tony's shoulders hop in a too-casual little shrug. “Just wanted to see what you were up to.”

“Mhm.” Bruce waits.

He watches in amusement as Tony starts to wander, nudging anything within reach with his fingertips. He fiddles with a lampshade and moves a coaster, fans out a stack of books on one of the side tables so he can see portions of the covers. Finally, he says, “So have you gone through your fanmail?”

Bruce is surprised and the question stings a little. Tony teases but he's careful to avoid rubbing salt in Bruce's wounds. It hurts to have him do it finally.

Swallowing, Bruce says as evenly as he can, “I don't get fanmail.”

Tony looks up, frowning. “What? Of course you do.”

Bruce's hands clench into fists and he manages to choke out, “It's not funny, Tony—”

“I'm not joking,” Tony replies, still surprised and incongruously serious. “At least, not unless I'm hallucinating the bag of mail in the living room that's starting to overflow.”

When Bruce just stares at him, Tony beckons him with two fingers and walks off.

Not sure what else to do, Bruce follows.

They ride the elevator up to the communal floor and Bruce hesitantly follows Tony out into the main space, feeling like he's being set up for one of those prank shows or something. Steve is lying on the couch with a book and he glances up at their entrance. “Hey, fellas.”

“Your shoes are on my couch,” Tony says, in lieu of a greeting and Steve flushes and swings his feet off the couch, sitting up.

“It's our couch.”

“Our couch,” Tony amends agreeably. Then he waves a hand with a flourish. “See?”

Sure enough, sitting in the corner next to a few other half-full bags of mail labeled with the others' names is a sack labeled BRUCE.

Bruce isn't quite sure what he feels at the sight of it, but it fills his throat. He shakes his head after a moment. “I don't think I want to know what's in those letters.”

“Yes, you do,” Steve says, voice gentle and earnest. “I've gotten some really nice ones from kids in Brooklyn.”

Bruce takes a step back and shakes his head again. “Mine won't be like that.”

“Wrong,” Tony replies and reaches into the bag. The envelope he pulls out is already open and it's got a rainbow sticker on it. Tony shakes out the piece of paper inside and clears his throat. “Dear Hulk,” he reads, “You're green. Green is my favorite color. I love you. Love, Gina.”

The fullness in Bruce's throat only gets worse when Tony gives him a look over the top of the letter as if to say, How do you like them apples?

“It really says that?” Bruce croaks.

“Look for yourself,” Tony says and turns the letter around, holding it out.

Bruce accepts it, hand only trembling a little.

The letter is written in green crayon and Bruce stares at it, reading it over and over. Green is my favorite color. I love you.

I love you.

Tony is watching him, expression soft, when Bruce looks back up. “They can't all be like this.”

“Can and are,” Tony replies, breaking eye contact and crouching to take a few more out of the bag. “The shitty ones go elsewhere.” He pulls a folded up piece of paper out of a pink envelope and peels it open. He smiles. “Look at that.”

What he shows Bruce is a drawing of a green blob with an orange scribble on top of the head. A bit of the green blob is separated and there's a green circle at the end with a bunch of green lines extending upward. Those are topped with big loops of purple and red and pink.

“Is that the Hulk with flowers?” Steve says and Bruce can hear him smiling. It is unmistakably that, even crude as it is. “How about that.”

Bruce takes a few steps forward and takes that one, too. Ann is scrawled in one of the corners in huge letters. One of the ens is backwards.

Tony starts reading again. “Dear Mr. Dr. Banner, When I grow up I am going to be a scientist. My girl friend thinks I should be a fire man. I have decided to get a new girl friend. Your fan, Trey.” By the time he's finished, Tony and Steve are both laughing. “You're a homewrecker, Banner,” Tony says between fits of giggles.

Still smiling, Steve joins Tony by the bag, picking one out himself. While he opens it, Bruce sits down on the floor next to Tony to get into the letters himself. The bag is bulging, there must be hundreds of them.

“Dear Hulk, Do you know Santa? You are both famous, so I think you do. Tell him I want an Xbox for Christmas. Love, Greg.”

“Oh my god,” Tony says, delighted. He elbows Bruce. “Hey, can you get me in with Santa, too?”

“Shut up,” Bruce says, but he's smiling.

“There are a lot of terrible things about being famous,” Steve says, carefully folding the letter and putting it back into the envelope, “but this is one thing I really get a kick out of.”

“Aw, hey, are you guys doing fanmail without us?”

Bruce twists around to see Clint and Natasha on their way in. Clint has an entire gallon of ice cream under one arm and he's eating right out of it.

“Clint, how many times have I gotta tell you, use a bowl,” Steve says, voice thick with exasperation.

“This is a bowl. A disposable bowl,” Clint replies.

“Give it up,” Natasha advises Steve. “He's hopeless.” She folds her legs and sits next to Steve, bumping her hip against his as she settles. It makes Steve duck his head and smile, which is good to see. They've been fighting to get Steve to stop trying to draw lines between himself and them and it looks like it might finally be working.

“Here,” Tony says, putting a letter in Bruce's hands. “Read this one.”

Bruce glances at him, but he's still focused on the bag, so he takes it and pulls out the letter. This one is written on college rule notebook paper and the handwriting's better. It looks like it was written by a middle or high schooler maybe. “Dear Dr. Banner,” Bruce reads, “I was...” His voice chokes off when he finishes the line.

Dear Dr. Banner,

I was in Harlem in 2011. One corner in our apartment got knocked out when something smashed into it that night. It was my bedroom. It scared me a lot. I had nightmares after that night because I thought the green thing was going to come back.

But then last month the aliens attacked. My mom and I were going to hide when I looked out the window and saw the big green thing again. One of the aliens was headed straight for our apartment and he grabbed it and smashed it on the ground.

You are the big green thing I saw. You saved my apartment and my mom and me. You protected us and now I'm not scared anymore.

Thank you,

Neil

He's clutching the letter so tightly it's crumpled and Bruce reads it three more times before someone carefully extracts it from his grip and replaces it with another. He reads letter after letter from children and preteens and there are even a few from adults thanking him.

Bruce knows he's breathing too shallowly, but what—how—

“God,” he croaks and his voice sounds wrecked, “they think the Hulk is a hero.”

Someone touches his knee.

“He is a hero,” Clint says quietly.

Bruce sucks in a sharp, wet inhalation, his vision blurring even as he stares down at a drawing of a brown haired man in glasses and a big green man in purple pants and a little boy in a red shirt holding hands.

Through their eyes, he doesn't look like a monster at all.

Atypical: Quite Typical

3/5

The trailer itself was a refreshing change from the comedy, action and nostalgic lineup that Netflix has been offering lately. I can’t say I was waiting to see it upon its release, but I’m glad I did. 

Have you ever had a dish that is so perfectly balanced in flavors, that even though it doesn’t necessarily blow your mind, it leaves you more than satisfied, and considering seconds? That’s exactly what Atypical is. A well balanced dish.

Atypical doesn’t underdeliver or overdeliver. It’s not preachy and is efficient in investing focus on its character arcs and sub plots within a mere 8 episodes. 

The story follows Sam, an 18 year old high school kid in the autism spectrum, and his quest for “love”. Many have criticised the lack of focus on the disorder, and the absence of genuine autistic actors. However, the autism really just serves as an abstract narrator for the story. Sam is not the official representative of kids in the spectrum and his issues are something anyone can relate to. His inability to understand women, love, sex and companionship are simply problems that every guy has, and Sam is a representative for them. Keir Gilchrist does a decent job, but he fails to grab the sympathy of the audience. Nevertheless, he successfully fulfills his role as the humorous oddball that really dominates the comedic element to this dramedy. 

The parents played by Jennifer Jason Leigh and Michael Rapaport are so beautifully normal that you feel like a part of the family. Both characters got you to invest in them emotionally, as you see them figuring themselves out as partners and parents. In most versions of films and TV about a special needs kid, the mother’s role is all about the struggle of being a mother to such a kid. While that is the underlying premise for Elsa (Leigh) it does not dominate the character’s personality, which is a refreshing change. It is a challenge to be a mother to an autistic kid, but she doesn’t make it about that. Her struggle is her mid-life crisis, where she’s got two high school kids and no life of her own. She is a typical mom. The twist in the tale is also that Elsa is the one cheating on her family, while the father becomes the responsible parent, even though both are on the same playing field with regards to Sam’s autism. Yes, Doug (Rapaport) supposedly left his family when he first heard of Sam’s diagnosis but his character more than makes up for it. 

The real winner for this show, and my favorite character is Casey, Sam’s younger sister. Brigette Lundy-Paine’s portrayal of the affable track star/ sardonic daughter/ sister is the real gem of the show. Her character arc is more interesting than anyone else’s, with manifold dimensions. We see Casey in her sophomore year, discovering her girly, romantic side, whilst pursuing a fancy track career, in addition to being a protective sister to a boy in the spectrum. She is the perfect characterisation of any teenage girl. She’s not over the top like most portrayals of high school girls. She ends up being the real driver of the story, with her growing discoveries of her family’s dynamics. She is the glue to the Gardners. 

Her chemistry with Evan (Graham Rogers) was very much appealing. Rogers has a history of playing douchebags with a touch of nice-guy, but this time round he was an out and out amazing guy, and really won my heart as Evan. I appreciated the writers for not adding any unnecessary drama in his relationship with Casey. He was like Casey’s catalyst in helping the story move forward. So their pairing was perfect and their roles well defined. 

Julia, the therapist, played by Amy Okuda, while important, didn’t really make a lasting impression. Her storyline just seemed out of place and irrelevant. By the end of it, even with the cameo by Michael Rady as her fiance, all I could think was, “Who cares?” 

To summarize, Atypical is a slice of life from the Gardners’ perspective. Each character is relatable and well founded. This is a show to watch because it dared to be typical. In a world where everyone is trying to be different and find a USP, this one doesn’t try too hard. It is what it is and I respect that. The ROI for this show won’t leave you disappointed. 

Data 3 - Organisation Meeting

After Sabrina creating this based on the skills and preferences that we emailed her about, we had a meeting to discuss our concerns, ideas and general informing each other. It was organised and everyone's’ voices got heard. Every one seems ready to work and has some interesting ideas.

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My to-do list:

-read manual

-come up with concept ideas and a personal vision for “no borders”

-look into innovative but realistic versions of brand books

-look at my old brand book to make sure I know which topics need to cover

-research zero waste

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For brand book I need to remember the following headings:

-intro

-vision

-mission

-values=central, expressive, functional

-target group/tribe

-graphic design elements=explanation of colour, logo and typography

***IDEA!!*** borderless book --> clear pages, pages linked to each other where each page links to the next, e.g. folds out

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First associations for concept:

-Ska=Jamaican, 1950s, rebellion, emerging from poverty and exclusion (hope), upbeat, rhythmic, rude boy style (black and white), union

-Mustang Nepal= Nepal, 14th C, preservation, wary of change, red and black colours, sheepskin and linen, forbidden kingdom

-No Borders=gender, race, religion - equality, not promoted just the norm, sharing clothing, not afraid to talk about anything, interracial, blended cultures, reversible clothing (day to night, casual to dressy) 

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Zero waste research:

1. A globalised fashion industry helps collect unwanted clothing

Unwanted garments tossed into clothing bins have traditionally faced an ignominious future as filler material for insulation or stuffing for toys. But the globalisation of the fashion industry is giving our old clothes a second chance. Lewis Perkins from the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute says that a wide international network of facilities and mills producing clothing for global consumption also means the fashion industry has greater ability to move reclaimed textiles to partners who are able to turn those fibers, yarns and fabrics back into new material. Perkins predicts the growth of schemes such as I:CO (I:Collect), a global Swiss-based firm that collects, sorts and recycles garments. But, he adds, more investment is needed.

2. Designers play an important role in creating a ‘closed loop’ system of production

According to Leigh Mapledoram, programme area manager for textiles and public sector at Wrap: “Design plays a critical role as it has an effect on all process steps, from raw materials to end of life. Designers themselves work in conjunction with other functions from technologists, suppliers and buyers to create the finished garment. It is really about education of all parts of the chain and Wrap research shows that to reduce the impact of clothing, focus should be on extending the active life of clothing.”

3. Will recycling fabrics change the production chain?

Rien Otto, founder and creative director of Dutch aWEARness, believes recycling fabrics will disrupt the current production chain. Instead of working only with a production company, the retailer and the customer, Otto says his company now works with many other players – the yarn maker, the cut, make and trim factory, and the dyeing house. Otto says that, because they all need guidance to recycle fabrics and work in a circular economy, this changes the role of outsourced factories. They have to be transparent about their production processes.

4. We can’t rely on major brands to drive change by themselves

Perkins says the industry needs more collaborations and industry partnerships to create the better materials needed and to recruit the facilities, mills and other producers in the supply chain to innovate. “Of course consumer demand and legislation helps push change, but we need to get the systems in place. Let’s prove the model can work,” he says.

5. Technical elements of fashion recycling remain a challenge

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Current mechanical methods can’t deal with blended fibre garments, points out reader CircularC. But as Phil Townsend, sustainable raw materials specialist from M&S, explains, an important part of the innovation process is to work with suppliers to find new ways round some of the technical restrictions. Brands have a major role to play in changing the negative connotations that still exist around recycled materials, he says. It’s time to look at them in a very different way, as desirable and premium instead of tired and unwanted.

6. There will always be textile waste

A zero-waste fashion industry seems unlikely. But Anna Crawley, creative director of the Fara Workshop – a social enterprise designing one-off fashion pieces made from donations – hopes with big companies such as H&M getting involved it will encourage more people to donate their clothing back rather than throwing it in the bin.

Mapledoram believes the answer is to invest in fashion that is timeless and can be adapted and updated to change with the times. He says it offers the biggest opportunity to reduce the environmental impact of clothing. “If the average life of clothes could be extended by just nine months it could reduce carbon, water and waste footprints by 20-30%.”

7. Fast fashion is making it hard to find the best materials

Crawley says we over dye fabrics and clothing, but the quality of recycled garments depends on the kinds of materials you use. Otto describes how many years ago Dutch aWEARness tried to recycle a pair of cotton jeans to a new pair of jeans. The result was a pair of jeans, he says, but it had a very low quality.

He explains how together with its partner in Austria, they developed a special kind of polyester that is fully recyclable. They are conducting research and development on making clothing from miscanthus grass and bacteria as well, as these can be fully recyclable.

8. Developed nations need to lead the way in ethical fashion

“One of the major issues many emerging nations have with our developed world ‘noblesse oblige’ attitude and mandates on environmentalism, renewable energy, and social practices, is that have had the last several 100 years to get it right while we prospered under older and less clean and positive models,” Otto says.

“It’s important we become the model and help the emerging systems by-step less ‘clean’ practices. Some emerging countries are advocating for the right way to produce products and yet resources are limited and the demand for better practices is not always there. It’s a journey for sure.”

9. There will be a time when ‘bring back bins’ are fashionable

Perkins predicts there will be a new generation of consumers who think about where their stuff goes next and that will spark a revolution among retailers. He doesn’t expect to see M&S or H&M providing collection bins in every store; rather, consumer will be given easy access to a location for everyone to send used materials for upcycling. Retailers will still have to compete with online competitors and Perkins believes it could be a win-win scenario – education for consumers and economic drivers for the retailer.

10. We need to change the image of ethical fashion

In order to achieve a circular economy in the textile industry, we need to change the role of the designer and the consumer, says Otto. “Ethical fashion still somehow suffers from a green, dull image, whereas it needs to move to long lasting, highly fashionable [image] that is still quite affordable.” Crawley adds: “Exciting, innovative and fashionable is how I see sustainable fashion.”

11. In the future, sustainable fashion will be the norm

The design of clothing is as important as the ethos behind it. The more desirable the piece of clothing the better, says Crawley, who believes that in the future, ethical and sustainable fashion will be the norm in the fashion world.

https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/sustainable-fashion-blog/2015/jan/14/10-things-learned-zero-waste-fashion-industry

What Is Zero Waste?

Zero Waste simply means a product or process that eliminates waste materials.  The term can be applied to many different industries, and can even encompass a “way of life”. Within the fashion industry, a zero waste garment is systematically designed to avoid and eliminate wasting materials so that no textiles are disposed of.

Just like the theory behind “circular economy”, the concept of zero waste is one where everything is re-used and nothing is discarded. It is the antithesis of the “build, buy, bury” model – a one way ticket from raw material to factory, to user, then landfill. The circular economy has the potential to completely transform the way in which businesses operate, and resource-intensive industries like fashion are at the heart of the debate.

Why Zero Waste Fashion Design?

Waste is a major contributor to global warming. Solid waste landfills are the single largest man-made source of methane gas in the United States. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that is 23 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than the most prevalent greenhouse gas—carbon dioxide. For me, Zero Waste is all about addressing waste as a primary root cause of global warming. A zero waste strategy supports all three of the generally accepted goals of sustainability – economic well-being, environmental protection and social well-being.

https://theswatchbook.offsetwarehouse.com/2017/04/26/zero-waste-fashion-design/

When I think about zero-waste fashion, I like to think of it in relation to jigsaw puzzles. We’ve all done jigsaws right? Some of us love them, and some of you reading this will hate them. I loved them as a kid, and I think the puzzle aspect of zero-waste fashion plays off that childhood love of mine. You see, thinking about how to use fabric in a way that isn’t wasteful is like creating your own jigsaw puzzle.

https://www.thecreativecurator.com/zero-waste-fashion/

Lol sorry guys...

Not that I have many followers to start, but those that I do have I love dearly!!! And those of you may have noticed that I have gone on a slight Leigh Bardugo craze… And by slight I mean extreme… So, I would like to take this moment to apologize, but also to discuss the amazing masterpiece that is the Grisha Trilogy and the beautiful soul that is Leigh Bardugo.

I pressed the text post button with gazillions of things I wanted to say about this series sitting in my head, so I will begin with my sudden never-ending love of Leigh, and go from there!

I read these books in 4 days. I began, and I could not stop. I bought the first one, read it the next day in one sitting, bought the other two the next day, and read them in the following 2 days. I devoured them whole. The artistry. The literary magic. The plot twists that I did NOT see coming. The effortlessly beautiful and casually placed LGBT secondary characters who no other character batted an eye about. The amazing brother sister relationships. The love story I did NOT see coming??? The multiple unbelievably well-done (and lack there of) love stories I did not see coming. Unbelievable pain in the form of my beautiful child Nikolai. The unrelenting complete destruction and death of characters, that many authors are afraid to accomplish. (Lol this is going to be a long ass post as I cover each of those topics #sorrynotsorry…) The amazing feminists and glorious female characters who easily went head to head with the men. The low key shade thrown on religion and the fanatics of the supposed Saint. I loved every second of the beautifully well-defined world this amazing woman created. And I cannot express that enough.

One of the things that has been difficult for me to wrap my head around is the general lack of fan art in this fandom, I feel like? I come from the Sarah J Mass and Rick Riordan squad of decorative pillows and official rings and candles and fancy tattoos of quotes, on top of piles and piles of fan art, so what feels like the lack of that for the Grisha Trilogy is strange? Or maybe it’s just me and I’m not finding it?? Idk, that’s kind of irrelevant, but maybe someone else has some input???

I REALLY want to talk about the plot twists, but I don’t know how to without spoiling them, but I will try my best? But just in case, be aware, spoiler alert! I did not expect a single one of them, to start. Where I did expect plot twists, there weren’t any. And where I didn’t, BAM there they were. The only time I expected it was in the second book when Alina and Mal returned to their small inn and the owner guy was being really shifty and I had a feeling he had totally given them away, but did not expect the Darkling himself to be there and I 100% did not expect the roof with the shadows. I also knew Mal would follow Alina in Shadow and Bone when she Ran away, but I didn’t expect her to actually run. Literally EVERY other plot twist, 100% was shocked. There are also the plot twists I expected to happen that didn’t?? I was 100% ready for Alina to be proven to be related to the Darkling. I was ready for her to be super special and keep her powers somehow and defy logic. I was ready for Mal to die. Literally from the first book I was ready for the Darkling to pull a Warner (from Shatter Me) and prove to have been a misunderstood good guy all along and for Alina to end up with him, or for Alina to give herself to Nikolai in the end, or for her power to be the thing to 100% fix Nikolai, and literally none of that happened??????? And what did happen both infuriated and pleased me because while yes childhood friends being together is cute, I was 100% team Nikolai all the way not gonna lie… He is my everything, and he understood her in a way I feel like Mal never can. Same with the Darkling. From the very beginning it was very clear that her and Mal were VERY different. And while you can say opposites attract, or they belonged together from the beginning, or they got each other because they both lost pieces of themselves, or if your argument is “psh whatever, he was willing to die for her” I feel like none of that cuts out for me? There’s opposites attract and then there’s literally being completely different people with entirely different purposes and world views. And of course, the entire concept of the novel is “Like calls to like,” of which Alina and Mal have nothing in common, other than attraction and upbringing. And you can say they belong together from the beginning, but just because they have known each other the longest doesn’t really mean they’re meant to be?? Also the fact that they both lost pieces of themselves is kind of moot, because Mal’s piece wasn’t really something he felt on the same level as Alina’s Grisha power? Only the Darkling matched her and understood her in that sense and he was right about the fact that Mal would never truly understand. Like calls to like. On top of that, there is Nikolai. The perfect Prince, who always had the right retort, who was always more friend than lover to Alina, but who she would have been the perfect Queen for. Grisha and otkazatsy'a (preeeetttyyy sure I spelled that wrong) would have been united as Alina and Nikolai took the throne. He understood the darkness that took hold in her and she understood that in him. She connected to him. He knew her when he was in his darkest form, he recognized her, he fought his instincts to spare her. They were drawn together. And instead, she chose Mal. And you can say it was because he was willing to sacrifice everything for her. But to be honest, there were hundreds of people willing to do the same. He was not special. He was not unique, in that sense. If the twins had been the amplifiers, if it had been Genya, or any of the Soldat Sol, or pretty much anyone else in Alina’s squad, honestly, they all would have died for her. So for me, idk, I just didn’t see Mal coming, and for me, he wasn’t the logical choice. But, I loved their banter, and I liked him, and I cried when I thought he was going to die, and his sadness broke my heart, and every single line of his declaring love for Alina definitely made me long for a love like that, but realistically, I don’t know, I still feel like Nikolai was the better choice? I don’t know :/

Tamar and Nadia was everything I needed and never knew I wanted from this book, and how easily it was added and how easily everyone accepted and moved past it and treated neither of them differently, and how neither of them died, oh my god I love these books for it. So so so so amazing and important and wonderful. So comfortably and casually added and just Aaahhhhhhh so precious I love them dearly.

Speaking of those two wonderful ladies, both of their relationships with their brothers were just so unbelievably wonderful and sweet and wholesome and as a sister to a younger brother (who is also currently reading these books) I loved every minute of it. I love these siblings’ undying support and love of one another. Tolya and Tamar’s banter and never ending trust and faith in one another and distant protectiveness. They begrudgingly split but knew when it had to be done and had faith in each other, and that hug when they reunited in the freaking third book made me cry because they are so precious. Also Nadia’s support of her brother, and her control when his arm was being cut off, and that kid’s bravery, and the fact that he saved them when the cave in occurred, I loved their relationship so much as well.

I already addressed the fact that I didn’t really see Mal and Alina coming, partly because I didn’t really expect the love square to end that easily, as Alina stayed with the guy she started with in the beginning, but it did?? And I just addressed Tamar and Nadia which I LOVED. But I want to take a sec to talk about David and Genya. Which just. I could go on and on about this duo. But I just want to say I loved it. Because they have barely anything in common. All of David’s interests lie in engineering and science. And Genya’s not all that about that life? And she was beautiful, and then she was scarred. But he didn’t see that. He did not worship her beauty, he did not pity her pain. He loved the gentle yet strong unyielding woman beneath, and I love him for it. And I love her for loving him. She could have had anybody. Picked anybody. Gone for anyone else. But she chose him. And when it came to his strangeness, his shyness, and his undying love of learning, she loved him all the more for it. And I just loved that. That complete acceptance from both parties was just incredibly beautiful.

As far as the “lack thereof” goes, I was really happy to see Zoya single. Not in like a “ha ha suck it I hate you” way, because I actually really really liked Soya in the end. In the sense that, she didn’t need a man. She chose who to be with. She had offers that she didn’t want. She was strong. She was beautiful. And she was perfectly okay being her own person. And she was also a great ally, and turned into a great friend (oh god that scene in the After of the last book killed me), and all of that happened as she stood on her own, a great beauty contained by no one and content with herself, and I loved that. She had standards and she was strong and she was just lovely.

I loved the girls. I loved Genya, and her fierce destruction of the king. I loved Nadia and her role with her brother and with Tamar and as a powerful squalor and her strength I just loved her. I loved Zoya and her sass and her strength. I loved Tamar, kicking ass and taking names and giving no apologies for who she was. I actually had mixed feelings about Alina if I’m being honest, but in the end, I felt like she also had mixed feelings about herself, and I appreciated that. I loved that she had no fear when it came to punching both of the royal princes and going toe to toe with the king and the Darkling. I loved the Darkling’s mother, who was just the ultimate sass master. I loved them all and their unflinching strength and bravery and aaahhhhhh strong women, man, 10/10.

I both loved and hated how many people died? I will say that it takes a strong and brave author to kill as many characters as unrelentlessly as Leigh did. But I can’t say I enjoyed it, for obvious reasons, because my precious babies died and almost died waaaay too much (don’t even get me started on the hell I went through with Nikolai). However, in the end, it was amazing. The sacrifice of the Darkling’s mother. The death of Ivan. Of Marie. The impact on Sergei. The death of Sergei. The deaths of sooo many others in the armies and soldiers. The deaths of those hung on the tree by the Darkling. The sacrifices made. The death of the Inferni whose name starts with an H and that I will 100% butcher if I try to spell it actually really pissed me off. Not because I was so mad he was dead, but because he didn’t even get an actual full death that we got to see, he was just gone. And I get it, it makes sense, it’s a war and people die and faces blend together and that was part of all of the death, the misery and the pain and the impact and all we got of him was the leftover cat from a death we didn’t even get to see, and that was part of the whole image of how awful it all was, but it just ugh man it bugs me he deserved more than to be some metaphor, some body in a pyre. But, that’s probably the point of it all in the long run.

I also forgot to mention Misha but like shout out to that kid, loved him so much, what a precious little puppy, he was just a cutie pie I adored him!!!

Last but not least, I kind of really appreciated how this book low key took a pretty big dump on religion, in my opinion. The concept was hope, was the people believing in something even though it wasn’t real, because they needed to and wanted to, and in the end, receiving their martyr, as they watched a fake Sankta Alina die, and I loved that. Because Alina changed history based on how it was convenient for her, and that’s the story that will be told, it’s how the saint will be remembered now that she’s dead, except she never died, and she was never a saint, and people would cry and touch her and hold her and get their tattoos on their faces and part of that was happening while she didn’t even have powers, it was all just nice parlor tricks done in a derelict, thrown-together kefta, and I loved that. I loved that blind ridiculous faith being called out and brought forth as countless people died for the Sankta Alina who just wanted to chill with her friends and acquire more power and was honestly no saint at all. I loved the selfishness of the Apparat and his ability to persuade people into whatever he wanted and his convenient decisions that staying underground and protecting people was what was best for everyone because it was best for him and I loved his manipulation of Alina in “the name of her safety” and just the complete destruction of religion in this book, intentional or not, just really rung true with me. Because I have always been someone who felt like faith was a silly thing. Because there is proof Alina existed, and in the end Nikolai was definitely alive, but how Alina died, what Nikolai was, and everything that happened in between, was conveniently erased and forgotten, and that can JUST as easily be the tale of a lot of our own history, and religion and I just really really appreciated the seeds of those concepts in this book.

However, all of that said, the romanticism of Tsarist Russia by other fans is kind of ridiculous??? Anyone who wants to step into the world of Racks is kind of fundamentally wrong, in my opinion??? I know that in interviews Leigh has said that she’s happy people want to step into her world, but seriously guys???? I am Bulgarian, and I speak Bulgarian, which is a Slavic language, and I know the Cyrillic alphabet, and I took 4 years of Russian and was obsessed with Anastasia and the Romanovs, so to see Russian culture, and to understand the language and where it came from in the books, and to appreciate it and feel a connection to it was really really cool for me, and I loved connecting to it in this way. But Tsarist Russia was a time of poverty, and serfdom, and suffering, and on top of that in Leigh’s version you add evil monsters, a crazy dictator, an absolute trash king, a country divided in half, and even in the best case an aftermath of destruction, with orphans at every turn and death all over, and THAT is the world you want to step into?? And if your argument is “yeah, but I could have special powers,” at what cost????? The Grisha went to the Darkling, and by the end of it all the likelihood is you would have been dead, or severely traumatized. Post Ruins and Rising Ravka, maybe. Maaaaaaybe it’d be tolerable. But personally, everyone praying to Sankta Alina would probably drive me insane, if I were to step in now, knowing everything I know as a reader. So, in conclusion, all of you saying you want to step into this world, I feel like you missed the point? And I definitely feel like you’re seriously lacking some information regarding Tsarist Russia.

In the end, I loved these books. I loved their characters, I loved their concept, I loved their setting, I loved their twists and turns, I loved their deaths (even when I hated them), I loved their artistry and how brilliantly they were crafted, and I love Leigh. I love the adorably kind-hearted queen who put them all together. Who takes time out of her day to answer fan questions and run her own tumblr blog. Who is just precious, in every interview I read. I discovered her and her world literally less than a week ago but I swear to god I already want to be her best friend forever and ever and hold each other while we cry over dear sweet precious baby Nikolai who is too good for this world :’(

Leigh, a million thank yous for the magical world you have opened up for me, and I’m really sorry I would 100% rather not step into it…

Lol guys really this post was really long I am so sorry and I am also really sorry that it’s only going to get worse because I’m going to buy Six of Crows tomorrow… oops… also really sorry about any typos, 0 effort was made to edit this really long post…

The best movies on Netflix: great films you can watch in Australia right now

http://www.internetunleashed.co.uk/?p=9110 The best movies on Netflix: great films you can watch in Australia right now - http://www.internetunleashed.co.uk/?p=9110 UPDATED: Your Name is one of the true anime masterpieces, and it's just landed on Netflix Australia — find out why you should watch the highest-grossing anime film of all time on page 5!If you're new to Netflix and want to find the best movies to watch, or you're tired of browsing the app for 30 minutes before finding something to watch, you've come to the right place. With thousands of movies at your disposal, it's easy to get stuck in binge-watching mode, but finding the honest-to-goodness best films can be a bit of a hassle.In an effort to determine the best of the best, we've put together a list of the greatest possible films you can watch – curated by TechRadar editors and backed up with ratings from IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes – so that you don't have to sift through the muck. We'll keep this best-of list up to date with the latest movies that are must-watch, so you waste zero screen time searching. Best Netflix TV shows: the top Netflix television series in Australia right now As tech enthusiasts, it's perhaps unsurprising that we're obsessed with science fiction here at TechRadar. From glorious space operas to mind-bending films that make you think, there's something for everyone on our list of the best sci-fi movies on Netflix Australia. Got a Stan account too? These are the best movies on Stan: a list of the top films streaming in Australia now Annihilation If you've seen writer-director Alex Garland's previous sci-fi masterpiece, Ex Machina, you'll know to expect a wild ride with his follow-up, Annihilation. Based on the highly regarded novel of the same name by Jeff VanderMeer, Annihilation follows a group of women who set off on an expedition into an environmental disaster zone where the laws of nature don't apply. Natalie Portman leads the pack as a biologist searching for her missing husband, and she's joined by Tessa Thompson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez and more. Though the film has only just been released in theatres in the US, Australia is lucky enough to be one of the countries getting the film on Netflix right away. Equally brainy and terrifying, Annihilation has all the makings of a modern science fiction classic.IMDB Rating: 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 87% Rogue One: A Star Wars story As the first Star Wars anthology film, Rogue One had some pretty lofty expectations to live up to. Rather than try to replicate the formula that made The Force Awakens such a smashing success, director Gareth Edwards delivered a proper war film, one that had more in common with Saving Private Ryan than The Empire Strikes Back. Remember in A New Hope when the Rebellion got its hands on the Death Star plans that would lead to victory at the end of that film? Rogue One is about the group that stole those plans. Yes, it is a Star Wars prequel film, but don't worry – there's no Jar Jar Binks in sight. IMDB Rating: 7.9, Rotten Tomatoes: 85% Edge of Tomorrow A terrific science fiction war film starring Tom Cruise, Edge of Tomorrow plays like a cross between Halo and Groundhog Day, where the Cruiser is thrown directly into an alien war only to die almost immediately and then forced to repeat the day over and over, becoming a little more battle-hardened each time. Joining him is Emily Blunt, playing a tough-as-nails soldier who helps Cruise figure out a way to close this never-ending time loop and end the war for good. Backed by a terrific script and some fine chemistry between Cruise and Blunt, Edge of Tomorrow is a fantastic special effect extravaganza that should please both sci-fi and action fans.IMDB Rating: 7.9, Rotten Tomatoes: 91% District 9 The film that put both director Neill Blomkamp (Elysium) and star Sharlto Copley (Powers) on the international stage, District 9 is an ingenious science fiction Apartheid allegory that puts marooned aliens in South African concentration camps. An anti-alien pencil pusher (Copley) has his whole world turned upside down when he is sprayed with some kind of liquid that is slowly turning him into an alien, and now he has to team up with one of the "prawns" he so despises if he has any hope of turning back to normal. Hilarious, action-packed and filled with flinch-worthy body horror moments, District 9 is an instant classic that rightfully earned a best picture nomination at the Oscars.IMDB Rating: 8.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 90% Midnight Special The kind of smart science fiction film that Steven Spielberg used to make in his 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' heyday, Midnight Special continually offers a sense of wonder as its story unfolds. Without spoiling too much, the film centres on Roy (Michael Shannon), a father who must protect his special son  Alton (Jaeden Lieberher) from both the US government and a cult after it's discovered that the boy has otherworldly powers. Along for the ride are Alton's mother Sarah (Kirsten Dunst) and Roy's close friend Lucas (Joel Edgerton). With surprises around every corner, you never really know where Midnight Special is going, though what you can expect are some truly terrific performances and a mind-blowing finale. Fans of Stranger Things should check this out. IMDB Rating: 6.7, Rotten Tomatoes: 83% Minority Report What if you could prevent murders before they've occurred? More importantly, what would you do if you were due to be sentenced over a murder you haven't committed yet? That is the premise of Steven Spielberg's spectacular sci-fi film, Minority Report. Loosely based on the Philip K. Dick story of the same name, the film sees Tom Cruise play the head of a futuristic 'Precrime' Division tasked with stopping murderers from carrying out their violent actions. They can do this thanks to the psychic abilities of three siblings known as 'Precogs'. But what happens when this trio of soothsayers predicts a murder carried about by Cruise himself? Spoiler alert, he runs! A visually stunning film that's filled with ingenious and forward-thinking technological ideas that will likely become a reality in years to come, Minority Report is intense and action-packed. IMDB Rating: 7.7, Rotten Tomatoes: 90% The Terminator While other films from the same time period have struggled to stay relevant, The Terminator remains as interesting and unique as it was 33 years ago. An undisputed classic of intense, unrelenting action, The Terminator kickstarted the career of uber-director James Cameron, who would go on to direct such classic blockbusters as Aliens, Titanic, Avatar and, of course, Terminator 2L Judgment Day. If you're looking for a retro masterpiece that holds up to modern-day cinema standards, you can stop searching – The Terminator is a must-see for any fan of science fiction, action and horror. IMDB Rating: 8.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 100% Star Wars: The Force Awakens A triumphant return to the screen for the Star Wars franchise, The Force Awakens sees the characters we love from the original trilogy, like Han Solo, Chewbacca and Leia, set off another adventure with a new generation of wonderful characters. Ironically, for a series set among the stars, Director J.J. Abrams brings the franchise back to Earth by dialling down the CGI that hobbled the prequel trilogy – this is a Star Wars movie that uses real locations and sets, as well as puppets and actors in costume, to recreate the spirit of Episodes IV through VI. Featuring thrilling action, incredible special effects and terrific performances, The Force Awakens is the best Star Wars film in over 30 years.IMDB Rating: 8.2, Rotten Tomatoes: 92% Gravity It took an agonising seven years for director Alfonso Cuarón to follow his masterful last film, Children of Men, but what an incredible follow-up! With Gravity, he sure did stick the landing (ahem) and hit this one right out of orbit (I'll let myself out). This nail-bitingly intense film, in which Sandra Bullock's character must use her wits to survive in space after a catastrophic shuttle accident, is a technical marvel – the kind of film that wows even the likes of James Cameron, who called Gravity "the best space film ever done." A perfect marriage of drama and special effects, Gravity is an absolute classic.IMDB Rating: 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 96% We all love a good scare (so long as we're safe and sound at the end of it), so with that in mind, we've taken the liberty of shining a spotlight on some of the best horror movies currently streaming on Netflix Australia. These freaky flicks are guaranteed to send shivers down your spine! It Get ready, fright fans — the highest-grossing horror movie of all time has made its way onto Netflix and is bound to make you terrified of clowns all over again. Based on Stephen King's classic novel of the same name, It follows a group of tightly-knit adolescent misfits known as The Losers Club as they investigate an evil force that's been stealing and murdering children in their small town for decades. With its late '80s setting and talented cast of young performers, It is bound to appeal to fans of Netflix's brilliant series Stranger Things (and not just because Finn Wolfhard stars in both). As far as Stephen King adaptations go, it's one of the very best, managing to strike the right balance between horror and heart. Simply put, It is the kind of crowd-pleasing scare film we'd like to see more of. We recommend watching It before the upcoming sequel, which takes place 27 years later and sees the kids all grown up and terrorised by Pennywise the Dancing Clown all over again. IMDB Rating: 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes: 85% Jaws The film that defined the term 'blockbuster', Steven Spielberg's classic fright film Jaws has swam its way onto the the service and is hungry for more viewers to chomp on. When an aggressive great white shark starts eating swimmers in the lead up to Fourth of July weekend, the mayor of a popular tourist destination sets a bounty for the shark's head. The town's sheriff (Roy Scheider), an oceanographer (Richard Dreyfuss) and a shark hunter with a grudge (Robert Shaw) set out on the seas to take it down for good. They're gonna need a bigger boat...IMDB Rating: 8.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 97% It Follows Considered a modern horror classic by many, It Follows sees a young girl (Maika Monroe) terrorised by a sexually-transmitted demon. This terrifying apparition looks different every time and will chase you relentlessly until you either pass it on by sleeping with someone else, or until it catches up to you and finishes you off for good. To make matters worse, if the person you pass it on to dies, it will turn its attention back to you again. Did we mention that it can only be seen by the people that have been 'infected', so your friends won't be able to help as much as they'd like to? Yeah, it kinda sucks. Stylish, atmospheric and with a terrific John Carpenter-inspired synth score, It Follows in an effective horror movie which may suffer a little from a few odd decisions by its characters, but is still well worth watching.IMDB Rating: 6.9, Rotten Tomatoes: 97% The Babysitter One for the horror comedy fans, the Netflix Original film The Babysitter, from director McG (Charlie's Angels), is an energetic and fun flick with some killer one-liners and a star-making performance from Aussie actress Samara Weaving (yes, she's related to Hugo), whom horror fans may remember from her role in the first season of Ash vs Evil Dead. The plot is simple: kid develops a crush on his incredibly cool babysitter, only to find out that she's sadistic, devil-worshipping killer with a group of equally psychotic friends, all of whom are planning to kill him. Though he's a total wimp, he must now fight back in order to survive. Gory and funny in equal measure, The Babysitter is a hell of a time.IMDB Rating: 6.4, Rotten Tomatoes: 71% Evil Dead One of the few horror remakes that fans of the original have embraced, The Evil Dead (2013) takes the outrageous series in an even gorier direction than ever before. Director Fede Alvarez (Don't Breathe) drops the slapstick comedy that was introduced in Evil Dead II, dialling up the gory grossness that made the original film an instant classic among horror fans. Sure, it lacks the winning charisma of Bruce Campbell, whose presence is definitely missed and cannot be replaced the mostly bland cast found here, but the film is still a slime-covered blast that puts its actors through hell regardless – just the way it should be. Groovy. IMDB Rating: 6.5, Rotten Tomatoes: 61% Documentaries offer unprecedented insight into the lives of real people and the extraordinary events that surround them. Fiction is great, but fact truly has the power to move and inspire people like nothing else. With that said, here are some of the best documentaries currently available to stream on Netflix Australia.  Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream An epic 4-hour documentary on the classic rock band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Peter Bogdanovich's all-encompassing opus follows Tom Petty and his band from childhood to 2007 and is packed with candid interviews with the band's members, as well as the people that helped them become who they are. Having tragically passed away at age 66, Tom Petty will forever be remembered as one of the best songwriters in rock and roll, and a pioneering artist for everyone who has come since. If you've only just become aware of Tom Petty following his untimely death and want to know more about his impact on rock music, Runnin' Down a Dream has you covered. IMDB Rating: 8.7, Rotten Tomatoes: 100% Amanda Knox Following the enormous success of its original docu-series Making a Murderer, Netflix has once again returned to the ever-popular 'true crime' well with Amanda Knox. The Netflix Original documentary tells the harrowing story of an American exchange student who spent four years in an Italian prison after being convicted for the murder of her roommate, Meredith Kercher. Forced to endure the prosecution's various character assassination tactics, including public slut-shaming, Knox maintains her innocence at all times, with her appeals eventually reaching Italy's Supreme Court. Amanda Knox is an effective and truly eye-opening documentary that is not to be missed.IMDB Rating: 7.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 85% Rubble Kings Thought the classic '70s film The Warriors was pure make-believe? You'd be surprised how much truth was actually buried under all the crazy costumes. Throughout the decade, the New York City borough known as The Bronx was teeming with gang violence; each gang with its own uniform, its own war-chief and its own piece of turf to fiercely defend against rival gangs – sometimes to the death. Rubble Kings documents this fascinating era, interviewing many of the key players and giving insight into the series of events that would eventually bring peace to The Bronx at the tail end of the tumultuous decade. Fans of The Warriors, The Get Down and Hip-Hop Evolution will adore Rubble Kings.  Okay, boppers. It's time to add Rubble Kings to your Netflix queue...IMDB Rating: 7.1, Rotten Tomatoes: 75% We love a good thriller, which is why we've narrowed down some of the best ones that are now available to watch on Netflix Australia. These films will have you on the edge of your seat in suspense, so sit back, try to relax, and enjoy. The Villainess Equal parts Oldboy and La Femme Nikita, The Villainess is a female-driven Korean revenge thriller with the most incredible and original action sequences this side of The Raid — seriously, the first-person knife fights and shootouts in this put Hollywood action movies to shame. Sook-hee (Ok-bin Kim) is apprehended after carrying out a killing spree that leaves dozens of gangsters dead. She's given a choice: train to become a ruthless assassin and receive freedom after ten years, or spend the rest of her life in jail. Obviously, she chooses the former, and before long it becomes clear to her that her rampage was spurned on under false pretences. Now, it's time to make everyone pay for what they did to her.IMDB Rating: 6.7, Rotten Tomatoes: 83% Gerald's Game 2017 has been a great year for Stephen King adaptations (ahem, The Dark Tower aside), and the new Netflix Original film Gerald's Game joins It and 1922 in the upper echelon. In an attempt to rekindle their marriage, Gerald (Bruce Greenwood) and Jessie (Carla Gugino) retreat to a remote lake house. When a sex game goes awry, Jessie is left alone and handcuffed to the bed and must overcome her mounting paranoia and deep, personal demons. Though the film mostly takes place within the one room, Gerald's Game remains thrilling from start to finish. It also features one of the best performances of Gugino's career. IMDB Rating: 6.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 90% Munich Though he's established a rabid fan base due to the success of blockbuster films like Jurassic Park, Jaws and Raiders of the Lost Ark, director Steven Spielberg is arguably in at his best when tackling more grown up fare – films like Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan can attest to that. However, there is one film in particular that is arguably the most complex and adult of his entire career, and that film is Munich. Based on the real-life tragedy that occurred during the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics, in which the entire Israeli team was taken hostage and then massacred by the Palestinian terrorist group Black September, the film sheds light on Israel's secret retaliation missions. Allegedly, these black ops saw undercover Mossad agents (played here by the likes of Eric Bana, Daniel Craig and Ciarán Hinds) track down and assassinate the men believed responsible in a rather public manner. Rather than take sides in the still ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, Spielberg questions the cost of vengeance on the conscience and soul of an entire country, asking whether it ultimately achieves anything other than more bloodshed. A riveting film that does not shy away from the story's more harrowing aspects. IMDB Rating: 7.6, Rotten Tomatoes: 77% Wake in Fright One of the most powerful and harrowing films in Australian cinema history, Wake in Fright forces audiences to take a good hard look at Australia's destructively macho drinking culture. Marooned in a small outback town while he waits for a train to Sydney, schoolteacher John Grant (Gary Bond) stops in at a local pub to pass the time. Sounds innocent enough, right? Unfortunately for John, a chance encounter with a pack of local louts sends him on an incredibly dark odyssey into the Australian heart of darkness. As shocking and menacing as any horror movie, Wake in Fright is an extremely confronting masterpiece that requires a strong stomach.IMDB Rating: 7.7, Rotten Tomatoes: 100% Drive Drive is the film that made it cool to love Ryan Gosling. Based on the novel of the same name by James Sallis, this pulpy thriller is one of the most stylish films of the last decade, having almost single-handedly revived the neon '80s synth-pop scene. Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn (Bronson, Only God Forgives), Drive sees Gosling play a nameless stunt driver who works as a shady wheelman by night. When a job goes horribly wrong, this 'driver' must dispense violent justice to make things right for those he cares for. The film's immense influence can be felt across all forms of media – the video game Hotline Miami, in particular, owes a large debt of gratitude to Drive. A loving ode to the early tough-guy crime movies of Michael Mann, Drive is essential viewing.IMDB Rating: 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 93% The Silence of the Lambs Simultaneously terrifying and mesmerising, The Silence of the Lambs is the film that catapulted the fictional character of Dr. Hannibal 'The Cannibal' Lecter to mythic proportions. This brilliantly psychotic serial killer, played with great menace by Sir Anthony Hopkins in the role won him an Oscar, has since gone on be the subject of several films, books and even a fantastic television series. But while his impact on The Silence of the Lambs is huge, the story belongs to Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), an FBI trainee who is given the task of consulting with the infamous man-eater in an effort to track down a deranged killer that's skinning his victims. Foster's role is less showy but more impressive, played with equal parts determination and vulnerability. We fear for her because we see ourselves in her shoes, but also because we get a real sense of what drives her character, both emotionally and mentally. These characters may have appeared in many other films, but The Silence of the Lambs is still the best by a long stretch. A true masterpiece.IMDB Rating: 8.6, Rotten Tomatoes: 94% We're serious cinephiles here at at TechRadar. It's not all about Star Wars around here – we enjoy a good tear-jerker, too. There are many sensitive drama films streaming on Netflix Australia right, and these are some of the best ones. So grab a hanky and get ready for a heavy night in.  Your Name A worldwide phenomenon, Your Name is the highest-grossing anime film of all time — that's right, bigger than any Studio Ghibli film or science fiction blockbuster. That a simple story about a young girl from a rural town switching bodies with a young man from bustling Tokyo hit such a cord with audiences is a testament to the heartfelt writing that helps bring these animated characters to life. Makoto Shinkai's film is the kind that will have you laughing one moment, then crying the next. A joyful and beautiful love story told in a unique and cerebral way, Your Name is one of the true anime masterpieces, sitting alongside the likes of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Grave of the Fireflies, Spirited Away and the legendary Akira.IMDB Rating: 8.4, Rotten Tomatoes: 97% Good Time Good Time stars Robert Pattinson in the type of performance that will make you forget all about his involvement in the Twilight saga. We're talking young De Niro good, here. When his mentally-challenged brother is snatched by the police after a bank robbery, Connie (Pattinson) sets out to do anything he can to free his brother before getting sent to the brutal Rikers Island jail complex. This sets off a night that spirals out of control extremely fast. There's pretty much no way of predicting what will happen next. Gritty and grimy, Good Time is an intense film with an incredible soundtrack and fantastic cinematography. One of the best films of 2017. IMDB Rating: 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes: 91% The Revenant The film that finally bagged Leonardo DiCaprio a much-deserved Academy Award, The Revenant is at once a stunning technical achievement and a gut-wrenching tale of survival in the harshest wilderness imaginable. Based on the true story of Hugh Glass (though fudged a little for the sake of added drama), a man who was left for dead by his fur-trapping party after a savage bear attack (amazingly realised here in one of the film's many single-take camera shots). Now, Glass must carry himself across 200 miles of snowy hell to track down down the man who killed his son (that part is made up) and left him to die alone, played here by a mumbly Tom Hardy. A powerful film with incredibly cinematography and exceptional performances, The Revenant is a must-see piece of cinema.MDB Rating: 8.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 80% Full Metal Jacket An astonishing work of immense power, Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece Full Metal Jacket examines man's innate desire to kill, memorably told against the backdrop of the controversial Vietnam War. The film is split in two halves – the first, which is set at boot camp, follows a young recruit who is pushed right over the edge by an abusive drill sergeant. The latter half focuses on a military journalist who watches in horror as Vietnamese people are killed indiscriminately by the soldiers he's following for reasons they don't even understand. Will they make a killing machine out of him, too? Essential viewing for war film aficionados. IMDB Rating: 8.3, Rotten Tomatoes: 95% Lawrence of Arabia (Restored Version) One of the greatest historical epics of all time, Lawrence of Arabia has arrived on Netflix in its recently restored form. Trust us when we say that the film, which won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, looks even more sublime now than ever before. Desert landscapes are vast and immaculate, skies (and Peter O'Toole's eyes) are the incredibly blue, and close-up detail is off the charts. Still, underneath all the eye candy on display, lies one of the most inspiring war stories of all time, all of which is based on true events in the life of British officer T.E Lawrence, who led the Arab tribes against the Turks in WWI. If you haven't seen Lawrence of Arabia before, we suggest you set aside a weekend (this movie is very, very long) and remedy that as soon as possible. IMDB Rating: 8.3, Rotten Tomatoes: 98% Beasts of No Nation As Netflix's first original movie, Beasts of No Nation had a lot to prove. The VOD scene had traditionally been associated with low budget indies and D-grade horror films, but with Beasts of No Nation, Netflix managed to convince people that high quality (dare I say, Oscar-calibre) films could be streamed at home and shown in theatres at the same time. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (True Detective season 1), Beasts follows the loss of a child soldier's innocence as he's forced to do unspeakable things. The film hits like a sledgehammer, never shying away from the brutality and horror experienced by this young boy (played masterfully by newcomer Abraham Attah). Equally powerful is Idris Elba's portrayal as the boy's remorseless and despicable commander. Though not what you'd call a crowd-pleaser, we hope that Netflix continues to bring us brilliant films like this.IMDB Rating: 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 91% Blue is the Warmest Color As soulful as it is erotically-charged, it's not hard to see why Blue is the Warmest Color won the highest prize at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival – its portrayal of two women who fall in love and allow each other to discover their true selves is truly special. Though Emma (Léa Seydoux) is a blue-haired free spirit, Adèle (Adèle Exarchopoulos) doesn't feel comfortable in her own skin. While Adèle's friends initially shun Emma due to her sexuality, she soon realises that Emma is the only person with whom she can express herself openly and bare her soul to. Together, the pair experience the ups and downs of a mature relationship, while also exploring social acceptance and their sexuality. A beautiful masterpiece that will take you on an emotional roller-coaster throughout its lengthy 3-hour running time, Blue is the Warmest Color is a film you won't soon forget. IMDB Rating: 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 91% Okja Korean director Bong Joon-ho (The Host, Snowpiercer) is an eclectic filmmaker, and his latest work, Okja, is in a genre all of its own. Is it an adventure film? Is it science fiction? Is it a drama? Is it a fairy tale? Is it satire? The answer is... all of the above. With a style that's somewhere between Spielberg and Miyazaki, the film follows a young Korean girl's quest to rescue her best friend Okja, a super-pig that was created by the multi-national conglomerate Mirando Corporation for the purposes of consumption. Flipping between heartbreaking and joyful at the drop of a hat, Okja is an emotional roller coaster of a film that may well have you reconsidering your dietary choices. IMDB Rating: 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes: 85% Schindler's List This is one of the most affecting movies that you will ever see. Based on the true story of Oskar Schindler, a factory owner who begins to help his Jewish workers during World War II after he sees them persecuted by the Nazi Germans, the movie is a study in brevity. Steven Spielberg manages to find the human stories in the atrocity of WWII without shying away from the true horror of what happened during the conflict. Winner of several Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, Schindler's List is a film you won't soon forget. IMDB Rating: 8.9, Rotten Tomatoes: 96% Selma A heartfelt and considered look at Martin Luther King Jr's struggle to gain equal voting rights, campaigning in racially-charged Alabama, Selma was one of the finest films of 2014 and was rightly nominated for a Best Picture Oscar as a result. It may have missed out on the top gong, or a Best Director nod for director Ava DuVernay, but David Oyelowo's performance as the civil rights leader is a powerful one, with a supporting cast recreating the inspiring story with great respect. With recent real-life events showing that racial tension is still as prevalent in 2017 as it was in the 1960s, Selma is more relevant than ever. Powerful and moving, Selma is a must see film about courage, determination and the fight for equality among all people, regardless of their colour. IMDB Rating: 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes: 99% Need a good laugh? Netflix Australia is home to some terrific comedies, with a number of hilarious movies ready to stream in an instant. Some are light-hearted, while others are pitch black. With that in mind, there's a comedy for everyone below.  Swingers The indie film that made stars out Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau, Swingers is a hilariously hip film (well, in the '90s it was) about friendship and moving on from a devastating breakup. Stylish and energetic, the film also made Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Edge of Tomorrow) one of the most sought-after directors in Hollywood. Worth watching for the hilariously-needy answering machine scene alone. Based on a winning script by Favreau (who would go on to huge success as a director with films like Iron Man and The Jungle Book), the movie is so, so money. IMDB Rating: 7.3, Rotten Tomatoes: 87% Coming to America Perhaps the most charming and endlessly entertaining comedy of Eddie Murphy's career, Coming to America takes the standard 'fish out of water' concept and weaves pure magic with it. Unhappy with the arranged marriage set up by royal parents, Prince Akeem of the wealthy (and fictitious) African nation of Zamunda sets off for America in search of love with help from his squire, Semmi (Arsenio Hall). Before long, Akeem falls for the smart and independent Lisa (Shari Headley), heir to the McDowell's fast food restaurant empire. Insistent that he win her affections with his personality and not his wealth, Akeem and Semmi pretend to be poor and acquire jobs at McDowell's. Now, the pair must contend with Lisa's over-protective father (John Amos) and her jerk boyfriend (Eriq La Salle). Full of heart and bloody hilarious, Coming to America is a comedy classic.IMDB Rating: 7.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 69% Fight Club You know what they say: black comedy is still comedy! While the first rule of Fight Club may be that you shouldn't talk about Fight Club, it's extremely hard to keep quiet about a film as provocative as this. Though its messages are based in extremely dark satire, David Fincher's film is as nihilistic and anarchistic as any major film studio has ever produced. Violent, gross and incendiary, Fight Club sees emasculated males bash each other's faces in to make themselves feel manly once more. While the film's themes are intended in jest (the film is basically Gen X's ultra-dark version of a Marx Brothers comedy), they certainly resonated strongly with certain fans, many of which would go on to start their own fight clubs. Despite being misunderstood by its biggest admirers, Fight Club is one of the must-see films of the late '90s.IMDB Rating: 8.9, Rotten Tomatoes: 79% Hot Fuzz Following the success of their classic rom-zom-com, Shaun of the Dead, director Edgar Wright, star and writer Simon Pegg and co-star Nick Frost teamed up once again to bring their hilarious sensibilities to the buddy-cop movie genre with Hot Fuzz. London super-cop Nicholas Angel (Pegg) is involuntarily transferred to a village in the English countryside for making his superiors look bad by comparison. There, he teams up with dim-witted (but well-meaning) cop Danny Butterman (Nick Frost) and together, the pair uncover a murder conspiracy. If films like Point Break and Bad Boys II are in constant rotation at your place, you absolutely owe it to yourself to grab a Cornetto and watch Hot Fuzz.IMDB Rating: 7.9, Rotten Tomatoes: 91% American Psycho It may look like a thriller, but Just like its main character, American Psycho is something entirely different under the surface. Quite frankly, most people don't expect this film to be as funny and endlessly quotable as it is. Director Mary Harron and co-screenwriter Guinevere Turner did the unthinkable when they took on the job of adapting Bret Easton-Ellis' hugely controversial and largely unfilmable book, American Psycho – they looked beyond the source material's horrendously graphic and seemingly never-ending violence to focus on the scathing satire of the greed-obsessed '80s buried underneath. Christian Bale solidified himself as one of the world's most exciting actors in the role of Patrick Bateman, the Wall Street yuppie with an insatiable lust for blood and dinner reservations. Both shocking and hilarious, American Psycho is a remarkably clever cult classic.IMDB Rating: 7.6, Rotten Tomatoes: 68% Though they live on the other side of the law, we as people tend to be fascinated by criminals. Whether it's the outlaw lifestyles they lead, or the fact that they live those lives on the edge and do things most of us wouldn't dream of, something about their stories makes them cinematic gold. Here are some of the best crime movies now streaming on Netflix Australia. The Wolf of Wall Street The characters in the fact-based film The Wolf of Wall Street may very be completely reprehensible with little-to-no redeeming qualities, but damn if they aren't freakin' hilarious. An adults-only tour through the real-life antics of white collar criminal Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio at his most unhinged), the film revels in the excess and debauchery of Wall Street in the 1980s, where thieving yuppies spent millions of dollars on drugs, hookers and extravagant lifestyles they did not earn. While the film's three hour runtime might scare off potential viewers, Martin Scorsese's energetic direction keeps the action moving at a lightning-fast pace. The film was also stars Margot Robbie's in her breakout role, playing Belfort's ever-suffering wife, Naomi. Jonah Hill is also incredibly funny as Belfort's partner in crime, Donnie. If you love Scorsese's classic film Goodfellas, chances are you'll enjoy this just as much. IMDB Rating: 8.2, Rotten Tomatoes: 78% Snatch A rollicking crime caper movie from Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels writer and director Guy Ritchie, Snatch takes everything great about that movie and dials it up to 11. Featuring a large cast of colourful cockney crooks, including Jason Statham, Stephen Graham, Dennis Farina, Benicio Del Toro, Vinnie Jones  and Brad Pitt (particularly memorable as an unintelligible Gypsy boxer), Snatch flies thick and fast with hilarious quotable lines and energetic performances. Whether they're chasing after a diamond the size of a fist, or betting on illegal bare-knuckle brawls, you can expect these characters to end up getting into all kinds of mischief. IMDB Rating: 8.3, Rotten Tomatoes: 73% City of God If you've blasted your way through both seasons of Narcos and want another South American crime epic to get stuck into, consider City of God as your next destination. Based on true events that took place over three decades in the favelas (slums) of Rio de Janeiro, the film accurately recreates the lively and energetic vibe of Brazil, but also counters it some truly harrowing scenes of devastating violence. In the 'City of God', children brandish firearms and kill each other indiscriminately over petty drug deals. While that might sound like too much to bear, the terrific filmmaking on display from Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund will keep you on the edge of your seat, as will the film's authentic performers and compelling story. One of the greatest films of all time, City of God is like Goodfellas scored to a samba beat.IMDB Rating: 8.7, Rotten Tomatoes: 90% Pulp Fiction Perhaps the most influential movie of the 90s, Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, the big prize at the Cannes Film Festival, and the hearts and minds of an entire pop culture-obsessed generation. Presented as an ingenious crime anthology with three interlocking parts, Pulp Fiction follows two hitmen as they go on a job and experience what may or may not be an act of God, a dinner date with the crime boss' wife which (almost) spirals out of control, and a boxer who accepts money from the aforementioned boss to take a dive, but opts to skip town instead. Violent, audacious and with little concern to the rules of cinema, Pulp Fiction is the kind of whip-smart classic that can be watched at the drop of a hat. The film may have seen its fair share of imitators over the years, but none of that has diluted Pulp Fiction's immense power. IMDB Rating: 8.9, Rotten Tomatoes: 94% Buckle up for some heart-pounding entertainment with some of the most kick-ass action movies now streaming on Netflix Australia. Adrenaline junkies will get a kick out of every one of the brawny movies listed below.  The Warriors Set in a heightened version of New York in the dirty 1970s, where the streets are ruled by violent gangs in crazy costumes, The Warriors follows one particular gang (we'll give you one guess as to what they're called) that's framed for the murder of a visionary gang leader during a city-wide midnight summit. Originally meant as a peaceful event, The Warriors must now make it back to their home turf at the other side of the city with every other gang in town out for their blood. Will they survive long enough to prove their innocence? And will the real culprits get what's coming to them? A fantastic piece of '70s pulp, The Warriors is a guaranteed great time. And while its vision of colourful gangs lording over the slums of NYC seems outlandish, it's a lot closer to the reality of the time than most people realise. To learn more about this bygone era, check out the documentary Rubble Kings, which is also streaming on Netflix (read more about it on Page 3). IMDB Rating: 7.7, Rotten Tomatoes: 89% Wonder Woman The DC Cinematic Universe has had a bit of a rough start in its attempts to catch up to competitor Marvel, with films like Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad unable to adequately please both fans and critics. That all changed with Wonder Woman, the first DCU movie to receive universal praise across the board. Perfectly cast as Wonder Woman a.k.a. Diana Prince, Gal Gadot breathes warmth and love into the world's most famous female superhero. Diana is swept into the wars of man when charming pilot Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) crash lands near the hidden island of Themyscira, home of the Amazons. Sensing that WWI is the doing of Ares, the God of War, Diana sets off with Steve into the world of man to end the war (and Ares) once and for all. One of the greatest superhero movies of all time, Wonder Woman is a triumph. Now let's hope we get more DC movies like this...IMDB Rating: 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes: 92% Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 The sequel to Marvel's 2014 phenomenon, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 finds the intergalactic heroes thrust into another adventure, one that could reveal the identity of Peter Quill's father. Even more spectacular than the first film, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continually aims to surprise the audience, with simultaneously keeping its action and comedy levels high. IMDB Rating: 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 83% Mad Max: Fury Road The world has gone to hell following a cataclysmic event, plunging headfirst into madness and chaos. All that remains is a wasteland governed by tyrannical men, populated by downtrodden hordes, and hopefully, rescued by mythical heroes. Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne) rules with an iron fist, doling out meagre amounts of water to the masses, while keeping a stable of wives for himself to breed future warlords. His most trusted Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) has betrayed him and freed these women from their lives of sexual slavery. Now, the chase is on, as Immortan Joe and his party of warboys set out to retrieve their "property". If Furiosa and co. are to succeed, they’ll need the help of Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy), a wandering road warrior in search of a cause. Director George Miller has crafted the most dynamic, vibrant and sensational action blockbuster of the decade with Fury Road. it’s an inventive, high-octane kick in the guts to a film industry that has played it safe for far too long. The chases and stunts in this film are unparalleled. Best of all, the film's cut-to-the-chase plot manages to sneak in a powerful and extremely timely rebuttal to patriarchy.IMDB Rating: 8.1, Rotten Tomatoes: 97% Boyka: Undisputed Fight fans raised on the likes of Jean-Claude Van Damme and Donnie Yen are no doubt familiar with Scott Adkins, the British martial arts sensation that has made a name for himself as a heavy in big Hollywood blockbusters (Doctor Strange, The Expendables 2, The Bourne Ultimatum) and as a leading man with a number of franchises under his (black) belt (Ninja 1 & 2, Undisputed 2 & 3). Now, Adkins has returned to what is arguably his best character with Boyka: Undisputed, which has been made available to stream on Netflix for the first time. For those who haven't seen the previous two Adkins entries in the Undisputed series, Boyka is a Russian prison fighter who entered the series as a villain in the second instalment, only to become the hero in the third film. In Boyka: Undisputed, we follow the beastly fighter as he tries to find redemption by helping the wife of a man he accidentally killed in the ring. Come for the phenomenally-staged, CGI-free fight sequences, but stay for the sincere story. IMDB Rating: 7.2, Rotten Tomatoes: N/A Marvel's Doctor Strange Marvel's first cosmic adventure film, Doctor Strange sees the talented surgeon Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) turn to the mystical arts in search of a cure for his mangled hands. More arrogant than the usual Marvel superhero (yes, even more so than Tony Stark), Doctor Strange must learn to get over his own ego before he can rise up and be the hero he was born to be. With trippy visuals and mind-bending twists that make the film Inception look tame by comparison, Doctor Strange is both familiar and incredibly unique among the superhero blockbusters that have been released so far. IMDB Rating: 7.6, Rotten Tomatoes: 90% Rambo Living off the grid in Southeast Asia, John Rambo is dragged back on to the battlefield once more when a group of missionaries is taken hostage by despicable war criminals in war-torn Burma. To get them back, he's going to have to blast through an entire army. Kicking the level of gruesome violence up to the extreme, Rambo is not a film for the squeamish. However, if you love the character and enjoy seeing irredeemable baddies get torn apart by 50-caliber machine gun fire and makeshift machetes, this is the movie for you – just don't expect high art (check out the disparity between the IMDB user score and Rotten Tomatoes critic score below).IMDB Rating: 7.1, Rotten Tomatoes: 37% Con Air One of the most entertaining action movies of the '90s, the Nicolas Cage vehicle (in more ways than one) Con Air has been added to Netflix Australia. After spending seven years in jail for accidentally killing a man while protecting his wife, newly paroled ex-con (and former US Ranger) Cameron Poe (Cage) is on a prisoner transport plane heading home to meet his daughter for the first time. Unfortunately for him, this is going to be one bumpy ride, as a group of death row inmates who are also onboard decide to hijack the plane in a last ditch attempt at freedom. Packed with colourful characters and terrific one-liners, Con Air is the kind of brawny action movie they just don't make anymore.IMDB Rating: 6.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 56% Captain America: Civil War Though Marvel Studios films are known for being visually spectacular, action-packed and epic in scope, the real reason audiences around the world have embraced the Marvel Cinematic Universe is because of its characters. While we may have our favourites, we've spent enough time with the likes of Iron Man and Captain America to know what these beloved heroes stand for – they don't always agree with each other, but this dynamic of differing opinions is the key to The Avengers successful. That's all well and good when there's a clear enemy to face, but what happens when these super-powered individuals fall on opposing sides of an issue that strikes at very heart of the team? Answer: friends and teammates will go to war with each other. Easily the Marvel film with the highest emotional stakes to date, Captain America: Civil War is a phenomenal entry in the ongoing Marvel saga, one that provides no easy answers. Neither side is wrong about its stance, yet we know that there will ultimately be only one victor. IMDB Rating: 7.9, Rotten Tomatoes: 90% Django Unchained Quentin Tarantino is loved and revered for his work in American cinema, and lately his takes on classic '70s movies. Like his take on Inglourious Basterds before it, Django Unchained deals with role reversal in a historically controversial time. The story of revenge and justice, Django (played by Jamie Foxx) and Dr. King Schultz (played by Christoph Waltz) set off to hunt down a gang of felons before the ultimate promise of setting Django free. Like other Tarantino films, it doesn't shy away from the grotesque and gory or mind going against the grain, making it easy to recommend and easier to watch time and time again. And, Netflix also provides QT fans with the ability to stream his classic films Inglourious Basterds and Reservoir Dogs.IMDB Rating: 8.5, Rotten Tomatoes: 87% Need some kid-friendly entertainment that will make the whole family happy? We've selected some of the best family movies that Netflix Australia has to offer. Each one of these films is guaranteed to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.  Beauty and the Beast An utterly enchanting and completely magnificent live-action adaptation of one of Disney's most celebrated animated classics, Beauty and the Beast absolutely nails the source material — maybe even betters it in some regards. Much of the praise can be bestowed upon Emma Watson, who plays Belle with grace and warmth. The same can be said about Dan Stevens, who spends the film injecting life into the computer-generated Beast. Luke Evans comes close to stealing the show, though as the vicious and vain Gaston. We're also pleased to report that all of the original film's songs are present and accounted for, so gather the whole family and settle in for a wonderful night singing, laughing and crying. IMDB Rating: 7.3, Rotten Tomatoes: 71% The Lego Batman Movie If you loved Will Arnett's hilarious take on the Caped Crusader in The Lego Movie, you're going to be over the moon to see him take centre stage in his very own block-filled blockbuster! In The Lego Batman Movie, all of the Dark Knight's villains are teaming up to take over Gotham City, and it's up to Batman and his newly adopted sidekick Robin (Michael Cera) to stop them! With an incredible cast of comedic superstars in tow, including Zach Galifianakis as the Joker, Conan O'Brien as The Riddler and Riki Lindhome as Poison Ivy, The Lego Batman Movie keeps the laughs coming for its entire runtime. Quite frankly, it's the best Batman film since The Dark Knight.IMDB Rating: 7.3, Rotten Tomatoes: 91% Moana Having achieved monumental success with its film Frozen, Disney had a lot to live up to with its next major 'Disney Princess' movie, and it still managed to blow away expectations with Moana – a visually stunning tale of an independent free-spirit (played by newcomer Auli'i Cravalho) who sets off on a journey to save her island from a devastating curse indadvertedly set by the selfish demigod, Maui (Dwayne Johnson). Though it follows all the familiar Disney beats that we've come to expect over the years, Moana is well written, wonderfully animated and terrifically acted. You may also find its many catchy songs stuck in your head for days after watching it. IMDB Rating: 7.6, Rotten Tomatoes: 96% Fantastic Mr. Fox Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Moonrise Kingdom) is a writer/director know for his whimsical and inimitable style, with characters who are fleshed out (regardless of whether they're actually people) and have warmth and heart to spare. With his first foray into family-fare, Fantastic Mr. Fox, the visionary filmmaker succeeded in creating his most accessible film to date. Based on the classic story by Roald Dahl, the film follows a wily fox (played with incredible charm and terrific comedic timing by George Clooney) who bandies together with his family (voiced by Meryl Streep and Jason Schwartzman) and friends (including voice work from regular Wes Anderson collaborator, Bill Murray) to fight off the mean farmers that plan to destroy their homes. Featuring wonderful stop-motion animation, Fantastic Mr. Fox is a heartfelt and hilarious film that's destined to become a family favourite. IMDB Rating: 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 93% The Iron Giant Criminally overlooked by audiences upon initial release, The Iron Giant is an animated film that has steadily grown in appreciation over the years, to the point where many traditional animation purists now consider it an undisputed classic. The feature-length debut of director Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol), and Set during the 1950s at the height of the 'Red Scare' period of America's history, The Iron Giant tells the story of a lonely boy named Hogarth (Eli Marienthal) who makes a new best friend in an enormous amnesiac robot (Vin Diesel). The robot eventually realises that he was actually built as a weapon, and before long, the authorities find out about him and set out on a quest to destroy the gentle giant. Now the boy and his metallic friend have to protect each other at all costs. A touching film in the tradition of E.T. the Extra-terrestrial, The Iron Giant deserves to be considered as not just a terrific animated film, but as one the greatest films of the '90s, period. IMDB Rating: 8.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 96% Back to the Future A time-travelling classic from director Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump) and producer Steven Spielberg (Raiders of the Lost Ark), Back to the Future sees 1980s teenager Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) race back to the 1950s to ensure that his parents meet during high school and fall in love – he better succeed, because if he fails, he'll be wiped from existence in his current timeline! To do this, he'll need help from Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) – an eccentric scientist who's built a working time machine in the form of a DeLorean sports car. A fantastic fish-out-of-water tale that leans heavily on 1950s nostalgia, great performances and terrific visual effects, Back to the Future can be considered a high-watermark from everyone involved.IMDB Rating: 8.5, Rotten Tomatoes: 96% Zootopia More than just a cute movie about talking animals, Disney's Zootopia cleverly sneaks messages about prejudice, tolerance, and even the war on drugs, into its animated take on cop movie procedurals. Though its characters may be bunnies, foxes and other wild animals, the idea of not judging someone by their race (or in this case, species) is more important than ever right now. Gorgeously animated with loveable characters and a hilarious script full of jokes that only adults will get (there's even a Breaking Bad reference at one point), Zootopia continues Disney's streak of incredible animated films. Now bring on Zootopia 2!IMDB Rating: 8.1, Rotten Tomatoes: 98% Source link

Goat Cast Steals The Show

A daring theater production staged a bold innovation — a goat cast live on stage! Royal Court Theatre, London, England, ran the play from November 24 to the end of December 2017. The play, entitled simply “Goats”, explored the controversial topic of propaganda and its effect on family lives. The novelty of including a goat cast in the list of actors captured the attention and hearts of audience and reviewers.

Six trained goats entered the stage and were free to roam and interact with cast members. Amelia, Beauty, Belle, Eek, Squeak, and Leigh are young, mixed dairy goat breeds who had been expertly trained and prepared for going on stage, meeting audiences, and performing with human actors.

Goat Cast on Stage

As the goats trotted onto stage, initially a little excited or nervous, they quickly settled down to various activities: exploring, playing, butting, greeting their favorite co-performers, nibbling the props, grooming, eating, resting, or sleeping. The human actors clearly enjoyed their attention and spent much time petting them. The goats’ unpredictable behavior amused the audience, often at rather inappropriate moments of the play. Their beautiful coats gleamed. Their adorable natures captured the audience, upstaging their human co-stars. Reviewers found the goats a welcome diversion in a serious and tragic play. And this was exactly the intended effect.

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The storyline depicts Syrian families fed war propaganda while their sons die in battle. Government officials celebrate fallen soldiers as heroes to mitigate the pointlessness of their deaths. In the desperate struggle, the casualties pile up. As a result, the government offers goats to grieving families in compensation for their lost sons. The endearing and engaging animals are a sop and a distraction in an absurd tragedy. Through her mordant and gritty script, playwright Liwaa Yazji explores viewpoints on accepting fake news or seeking the truth.

Ali Barouti, Ethan Kai, Adnan Mustafa, and goat cast live on stage, Royal Court Theatre. Photo credit: Johan Persson.

A Welcome Disruption

Then enter the chaos and light relief of adorable goats! They proved as distracting to the audience as the plot’s politicians hoped they would be to the grieving villagers. The goats’ docility and willingness to be led for feed reflected the passive acceptance of families lost in a blaze of propaganda. Reviewers debated whether the writer’s intentions were entirely effective. Audiences suppressed their giggles at the goats’ antics, being somewhat embarrassed to laugh during harrowing scenes. Many found themselves confused by the lengthy plot, the jarring images, the unnatural set, and amusing goat capers. But then as director Hamish Pirie commented, “I’m drawn to plays that are messy, odd, and weird.”

On the other hand, the goat cast was not distracted or alarmed by the screens of jumbled images, the bangs of simulated warfare, or by actors shouting passionately into microphones. Careful training and habituation enabled the goats to remain at ease within the noise, activity, and unusual environment.

Amir El-Masry with goat actor live on stage, Royal Court Theatre. Photo credit: Johan Persson.

Goat Training

The goat cast was supplied by Animal Actors, an agency that trains animals specifically for stage and movie productions. Positive training and animal welfare were high priority throughout training, rehearsals, the production, and at all times while caring for goats. The theater and agency followed expert advice and worked with respected national animal protection body, the RSPCA, as well as veterinary and livestock advisers.

Trainers took special care to select goats that would adapt well to the theatrical milieu. The goat cast had plenty of gentle handling from a very young age. Their Guernsey, Saanen goat, and Nubian goat roots give them a good genetic foundation for working with humans. In addition, they had careful exposure to the general public from early on and were used to friendly interactions with strangers.

Rehearsing with a Goat Cast

The goat actors joined rehearsals six weeks before the debut to thoroughly learn the set and to get to know their co-stars. They quickly adapted to their new environment and bonded with their human colleagues. The goats’ professionalism and personalities greatly impressed the human cast.

Isabella Nefar and Souad Faress rehearse with goat cast, Royal Court Theatre. Photo credit: Johan Persson.

“Because we’re not forcing them to be at certain points on stage, and they all have distinct personalities, no performance will be the same whenever the goats are on,” said actor Amir El-Masry.

Cheeky Personalities

It only took minutes for human and goat cast to make friends. Actor Ethan Kai described his co-stars as “cheeky” and “sweet”. He felt that they added extra excitement to the acting experience. The goats took their scene in their stride, quickly adapting to the setting and to their role. They only needed one practice of a task to master it, much to the amazement of Hamish Pirie. Although it was a little chaotic during the first run through the scene, by the third, the goat actors seemed as nonchalant as old hands.

Ethan Kai bonding with goat actor, Royal Court Theatre. Photo credit: Johan Persson.

Safe and Stress-Free Accommodation

The theater prioritized a stress-free environment for the goat cast, which included their own spacious green room of shelter and pen. They were carefully transported from their normal home near London by experienced handlers who supervised their stay. When the show was over, the goats returned to their well-appointed, free-range life at Animal Actors’ base. Safety was also top of the list, with investigative feet and probing lips to consider. Apart from being guided by leashes, the goat actors were free to explore the stage. The theater made doubly sure that the stage was goat-proof and that goats could not get into the audience.

Goats’ Professionalism Applauded

The goat cast charmed and delighted audiences and reviewers alike. They got even greater applause than the human actors! Hamish Pirie and the cast enthused about their experience of working with the goats. You can see just how quickly they bonded in this YouTube video.

The cool professionalism of the goat actors demonstrates how adaptable this species can be with appropriate training and good welfare. Many interesting new uses of goats are coming to light in our modern age. So apart from farming, why do people raise goats? Other than food, what are goats good for? It seems they excel in many therapeutic, rural, and leisure occupations. Examples include goat yoga, land management, agritourism ideas, pack goats, pulling carts or carriages, and grazing goats on a restaurant roof. These new uses give opportunities for goats to find their place in our society outside of farming.

Goats are Adaptable to Unusual Roles

Goats’ social nature lends itself to working with humans in therapeutic and entertainment scenarios. They have adapted to working at close quarters with humans over thousands of years, often very intimately, within the domain of dairy production. But the benefits of owning a goat encompass more than just the goat milk benefits. Are goats good pets? Most people who have worked with goats can attest to how enjoyable and therapeutic the experience can be.

Despite goats’ friendly nature, they remain a vigilant and nervous species, due to their even longer natural history of avoiding predators. Therefore they need careful acclimatization to new circumstances and unfamiliar people. In most cases, goat training must start when they are very young to enable them to deal with crowds of strangers, unusual places, and changing environments. Whatever role goats may perform, they will need expert training and goat-friendly facilities. When their behavioral and physical needs are met, these animals can lead happy and fulfilling lives while providing valuable services and novel business initiatives for people worldwide.

Originally published in the May/June 2018 issue of Goat Journal.

Goat Cast Steals The Show was originally posted by All About Chickens