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yumeka-sxf · 10 days

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Thoughts on Spy x Family CODE: White

My thoughts on CODE: White will likely be different from most people since I knew pretty much the entire plot beforehand. I'm a spoiler fiend when it comes to my hyperfixations like SxF, so I read the novelization of the movie back in January and kept up on all the promotional videos and images that were released. But when it was finally time to see the movie for myself, did that ruin my enjoyment? Not at all. For me, it actually made me enjoy it more because 1) I knew what to expect so I wasn't disappointed, and 2) I found myself looking forward to seeing all the scenes I only read about or saw short clips of.

With that said, yes, I enjoyed the movie so much! If you're a Spy x Family fan, or even just a casual enjoyer of the series, it's a ton of fun. It has all the elements we love about the series: clever humor, sweet family moments, and spy action/drama. And because it's a movie, we get to see all of this with a movie animation budget instead of a TV series budget, which is another plus!

One thing to keep in mind with these original, stand-alone anime films based on series is that they're meant for a more general crowd than just fans of the series. Since theaters attract a wider audience than late-night TV and online manga chapters, movies like this serve as a means to introduce the series to people who may only have a vague idea of what it's about. That's why these movies contain a storyline that can fit mostly anywhere in the series chronology and don't have anything canon-altering.

CODE: White is an interesting mix of plots that, for the most part, blend together well. There's the main plot that continues throughout, which is saving Operation Strix by having Anya learn how to make the meremere for the cooking contest, but then there's the Yor jealousy plot B which is resolved in the first half, but is then replaced by the next "plot B" in the latter half of the movie, which is saving Anya from the military.

A lot of people didn't like the "Yor gets jealous" subplot when it was first revealed before the movie even came out, since it seemed to be a rehash of her being jealous about Fiona. I personally didn't have a problem with this since I don't think it's unreasonable for her to get jealous a second time, especially when she thinks she sees Loid doing something extreme like kissing another woman (as opposed to just talking). But the way it was resolved could have been a bit better in my opinion. The ferris wheel scene in the movie very much mirrored the bar scene from the series, but the reason the latter is so effective is because we get to hear Loid's inner thoughts during it; we know he's going full Twilight-mode and isn't being sincere, and that's why Yor kicks him. But then at the park, he talks to her much more genuinely and they work things out. But in the ferris wheel scene, we don't get to hear his inner thoughts so we don't get any indication as to whether his repeating of the marriage vows, etc, is him being sincere or not. Then she smacks him, they insist they aren't fighting when Anya brings it up, and that's the end of it.

I do like the fact that Anya reads their minds and seems happy with what she "hears" in their heads, but I still think the subplot would have felt more complete if it ended after Yor realized her mistake rather than have Loid do the ambiguous Romeo act again. Or it could have been brought up one more time later in the movie, for example, Yor apologizes for hitting him, he talks to her more sincerely, etc. If you're gonna rehash the bar scene, at least rehash the scene that brought it closure, which is the park bench scene. Again, I'm totally fine with the jealously subplot overall, just thought it could have been wrapped up a bit better.

Other than that, there were just a few little issues I had, like how was Anya able to afford what was probably an expensive liquor? (was she really packing that much dough in her little bag? She went straight from the bedroom out the window so it's not like she "borrowed" any money from Loid). Also seemed weird that she didn't pick up on Yor's infidelity worries until last minute. A few things stretched the line of believability a bit far too, like Loid's ability to make perfect masks so quickly, and Anya just happening to hit her head on the button that conveniently opened all the windows on the bridge. Also something here and there that didn't align with the manga, like Yor not having any reaction to sharing a room with Loid, whereas she has a totally different reaction to this in chapter 94. Maybe a bit more resolution for the fates of the villains too. I guess Luca and Dmitri survived the crash, but what about Snidel? Did Loid actually kill him or just knock him out? And if it's the latter, Snidel seems like the type who would want to get revenge. A quick cameo of what happened to them in the end would have been nice.

Speaking of the villains, normally I wouldn't like the fact that they're pretty one-dimensional and not that interesting, but for a movie like this where most people just want to see the Forgers being themselves in fun and exciting scenarios, taking time away from that to make more developed villains who likely won't be seen again in the franchise, would have not been the best choice, lol.

But even though I had some criticisms of the movie, all of them are minor and not enough to overshadow everything else that was enjoyable about it. Besides all the humor, of which there was plenty, there were so many cute "awww" family moments that perhaps didn't lend anything to the plot, but were still important to establish the characters and their relationships, and thus make us care about what happens to them. Like the scene of Anya, Yor, and Bond playing at the hotel...it could have been skipped without anything seeming out of place, but it reveals so much about the characters without being blatant about it: how Yor wants to please Anya despite being a bit embarrassed at first to take part in her game, and then how Anya's eyes light up with happiness when Yor starts playing with her...for a series like SxF that's character-driven rather than plot-driven, scenes like this are so important and I'm glad the film creators realized this too!

There were also so many cute, subtle scenes as well, like when Loid and Yor smile at each other after chiding Anya, as if they're happy to share this moment of exhausting yet satisfying parenting; when Anya reads Loid's mind after he saves her but doesn't reveal what he's actually thinking yet we can imagine what it is based on her expression; Loid showing feelings of comradery with the restaurant owner because their pasts are so similar; Anya quietly and sadly hugging Bond in the bedroom; and in the ferris wheel after Yor feels so embarrassed about misunderstanding what happened with Loid and the woman but then can't help but smile with motherly love when she sees Anya waving at her...the movie is filled with moments like this that are like little love letters to fans who know the true heart of SxF isn't so much the action and spy drama as it is the family relationships.

And of course, as I mentioned before, the animation of the movie is fantastic! Not just the action scenes, which are great by the way, especially Yor's fight with Type F, but the character expressions as well. Anya's always had the most varied and hilarious faces of all the characters, but the movie goes even harder with her expressions, especially when she has to hold in her stool! Her faces were making me both cringe and laugh at the same time! The animators did such a good job making me feel sorry for her but also laugh at her.

I'm not a fan of potty humor, but I was confident SxF would make it funny, and I was right! The poop god sequence in particular was as equally cringe as it was hilarious!

To conclude, CODE: White is a must-see for anyone who likes or loves Spy x Family. I can't say it's a cinematic masterpiece or anything, but for what it's supposed to be - a fun and enjoyable film for those who like the series, it definitely delivers! Can't wait to see it at least two more times during its showing in the US...and more times in the future!

#spy x family #sxf #spy family #spyxfamily #loid forger #yor forger #anya forger #bond forger #sxf code white #spy x family code white #sxf movie spoilers #sxf movie #sxf spoilers #sxf manga spoilers

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astraltrickster · 1 year

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Saw a post about gacha addiction earlier and I didn't want to Get Into It with the OP because I fundamentally don't disagree with them but it left me raging internally at the counterproductive approach.

Listen. Gacha addiction is real. It's fucked, the companies that pioneered the softcore gambling-lootbox-gacha model straight up bragged about how effective it was. If you have never spent money on gacha, ideally you really shouldn't start, because the only way to determine whether or not you'll get addicted to any specific thing is to fuck around and find out even if you know for a fact that in general you do or do not have an addictive personality. The most dangerous gamble to take is the first. If you DO decide to spend money anyway, you should have a comprehensive strategy in place to keep it from slowly consuming your entire budget. Also, even if you don't spend real money it can still become a problem, because it can also end up consuming all of your time - any game can do this, any hobby in general can become toxic in fact, but gacha games in particular have the FOMO factor of "I have to keep grinding so I can save enough for my blorbo's next banner". If you play gacha games - even on a free-to-play basis - you should be aware that you are taking a risk and you should be willing to admit to yourself if it's become a problem. If you find your gacha budget creeping upward despite your income not doing the same, or you find yourself regularly trying to grind out pull currency even when it's overall not fun anymore, you should take a hiatus from the game/s, and call a therapist or gambling addiction hotline if that proves to be difficult.

And if you have concerns about other people developing gacha addiction...shaming people or downplaying what they like about the games or characters helps literally no one; if anything it only sends them further into denial for your smug sense of superiority.

Thing is? Gacha games are games. Most successful ones, despite the obvious comparisons, are a lot more than just slot machines to fill out a gallery of blorbos to rotate on your screen instead of in your head. They tend to have genuinely compelling lore and characters and enjoyable gameplay - the gacha is not the game itself; it is a recruitment and power-up system in an actual game. This only becomes more true as the market becomes more competitive - like, FGO shows its age with its slow start; you can really tell it launched at a point where all one needed for success was to tie to an existing big fandom and give you a little new content with your faves, but even then the appeal was the lore and the characters far more than it ever was the summoning system, and it's kept up as time goes on, intensifying both the story and the strategy as it's come into a life of its own. Genshin Impact, at 2 years old, is as "real" of an action RPG as a Kingdom Hearts game, with intense strategy elements involved in team building. Arknights is a tower defense that I'd love to play were it not for my medical phobia because what I know of the setting and lore is some POWERFUL social commentary that is right up my alley.

I could list more examples, but it's not really the point. The point is that gacha games are real games, with real lore, and real characters. These games don't have playerbases composed exclusively of victims of predatory monetization unless you REALLY stretch the definition; in order for a game to be a good gacha game, first it does need to be a good game. It's easy to say "oh, they don't really care about the story or characters or gameplay, it's just an elaborate ad for the slot machine, it's just a cash grab" - but...even accepting that as true (which is debatable), so what? What's the difference between that and the latest big studio movie? The latest Netflix original series? The latest "conventional" "one-and-done" AAA game? Do you think the CEOs greenlit those out of nothing but the love of art and storytelling?

People are going to get attached to these stories and characters, and mocking them over it isn't ~taking a brave stand against predatory marketing strategies~, it's not ~waking people up to the fact that they've been duped~, it's just being a fucking asshole.

#media #gacha #serious tag

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lets-try-some-writing · 3 months

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Hi! I see you've been writing some stuff for Tfp humans and because I'm a Tfp human enjoyer I thought I could request something:)) (I personally cannot write so yeahh)

Fell free to do it and feel free to not do it if you don't feel like it :))

So,

How about an AU where June and Fowler (due to some relic to stuff) get aged back to when they were 16/17. They were probably wildly different than their adult versions and seeing kids interact with 80's teenagers would be fun (I personally hc Fowler & June to be in their late 30s like 39 so if Tfp is in 2011 yeah they would be teens in the 80s)

Also,here are some of my personal hcs for teenage June & Fowler which you can use but if you feel like they would be different feel free to do that too :))

Fowler was kinda the high school jock/a chad as one could call it. Also probably smoked even though he was under age lol. Probably a rock fan who plays the guitar to impress girls lol

As for June,I see her to be a rebel who wanted to be in a biker gang/generally into motorcycles. Probably like Miko but more reserved :)).

Also have my teenage Fowler doodle as an add on cause it's relevant

Sorry that the ask is so long btw I feel strongly about tfp humans 😭

Feel free to take anything/nothing into consideration for the main scenario :))

EXCELLENT ART!!! SORRY THIS TOOK TEN BILLION YEARS TO GET TO!!!

━━━━━━ ⊙ ❖ ⊙ ━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⊙ ❖ ⊙

Relics are not known to mess with age. The few that have such properties do little to harm a mech aside from possibly get rid of a beloved mod or engraving. As such, the team left one of their various collected relics just... laying on Ratchet's workbench. It wasn't particularly dangerous, and Optimus's memories of the archives stated that it had slight rejuvenation properties. That was all. It was essentially a small healing device meant to be applied to minor wounds.

But of course, anything minor to Cybertronians tends to be definitively less so to humans.

June and Fowler were left to keep a vague eye on the relic while the team performed other tasks. They chatted and overall relaxed, but at some point, Fowler noticed the relic was a little too close to the edge of the table for his liking. Sure the thing was almost as big as he was, but in his mind, with the help of June, they could push it back onto the table proper and rest easy knowing there would be no surprise clank to startle them or upset Ratchet. Their attempt to be helpful very quickly ended with a flash of light, every living being in the base hurrying toward two sets of screams, and gasps of horror all around.

June and Fowler were younger, WAY younger. Upon analysis, both were in their late teens biologically. Ratchet and Optimus argued over what to do, and upon seeing the relic, the overall consensus was that the two rejuvenated humans would have to remain at base until Ratchet could figure out a way to reverse the effects. It was not ideal, but a few calls later, things were organized enough. The military would cover for the loss of both Agent Fowler and June for the time being, and the team would get to work.

The team got busy and went about their work and June and Fowler stayed put... mostly. Despite having memories and experiences to match their adult selves, both teens had opinions and feelings regarding things. All three of the kids collectively decided they did not in fact enjoy these younger versions of the adults they knew within... about two minutes.

Fowler was a piece of work. He paraded around like he was in charge, but had the unfortunate habit of shoving Jack around for the kick of it. He didn't mean it maliciously, but the constant shoving did get on nerves. It did not help that Fowler used his spare time to work out now that his back was not murdering him every two steps. A definitive six pack most certainly did not endear him to Jack with his twiggy body. Fowler tried to get along with them by playing the adult, but being young again put a certain spring in his step and before long, he was off to cause problems. Lifting weights and wearing absolutely cringe worthy headbands, Fowler took off gleefully. The children avoided him like the plague, especially when he tried to rope them into his terrible 80s workout video exercise routine.

June was arguably worse in that while she wasn't outright cringy, she did have a few... habits. Her haircut was enough for even Miko to look away in shame. June's choice of clothing prompted three in sync face palms. And to add to it, she was absolutely determined to continue being the adult in the room even upon immediately getting distracted with video games and Fowler himself. Her use of 80s slang and her determination to ignore the rules just enough to be annoying quickly got on the nerves of everyone, especially the kids. Don't touch that? Oh she didn't touch it, she just got really REALLY close to it while making direct eye contact. Don't bother Ratchet? Well guess what, Ratchet gets a few dozen questions anyway.

Both were menaces to society just by existing. The team personally didn't mind all that much. What difference did personality shifts in small squishies mean to them? However even Bumblebee cringed internally as he watched the various scenes with the duo play out. Arcee for her part got several pleas from June to let her try Arcee's alt mode. Fowler may or may not have also tried to get Bulkhead to let him use the forklift to play lob ball, kind of.

Chaotic monsters all around.

Jack could do nothing but pray for the team to work quickly for the sake of his sanity. Miko is enough trouble on her own.

#transformers #maccadam #transformers prime #team prime #miko nakadai #rafael esquivel #jack darby #june darby #agent fowler #alternate universe #de aging #relic bs as usual rearing its head

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son1c · 4 months

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as much as i prefer larger episode counts, because they allow time for character growth and other fun interactions, i really think sonic prime would've benefited from a 12-14 episode count. 24 was just too many for the story they decided to tell, and left a lot of room for repetitive fights and padding.

but at the same time, i can easily see the 24 count being utilized better? like, it didn't HAVE to feel like filler.

there's so much left unexplored about the shatterworlds that they could've filled that time with but just didn't. new yoke is the most fleshed out, but boscage and no place have basically no history to speak of. maybe if they'd delved into it a little more, we as the audience would've cared more when they were being destroyed by nine's hubris.

similarly, i don't think the worlds were populated enough. i understand that 3d models are expensive, but reusing the same 2 background characters and offering no more civilian characters makes the worlds feel very small. such is the cost of the medium...

overall i do think "part 3" was better than "part 2". this batch of episodes had way more frequent and enjoyable character interactions than the last batch, which is always a good thing. it made the fights feel less tiresome, if nothing else.

the ending is clearly sequel bait, but ignoring that, it feels very... sonic 2006? funnily enough. it's unclear whether shadow remembers what happened or not, but sonic being the sole remember-er is very reminiscent of the 06 timeline being rewritten. idk. i always expected the status quo to be restored, but i can't help but wish there was at least a whisper, or maybe a post credits scene, implying that what happened during the show... mattered at all?

cuz we can ASSUME the other shatterspaces retained the events of the show, but we can also assume they didn't, and were reset back to before the prism was broken, just like green hill.

there was also some missed opportunity with a sonic prism form. i was SO sure they were going to go all the way with that, after having a pseudo form in "part 2," so when it didn't happen i was left feeling disappointed. but hey, there's always next time, right?

as some ending notes i think the music slayed and the sound effects slayed and the animation and voice acting and quips all slayed. like despite my problems with it it was still enjoyable to watch. and i love love love that sonic had a complete character arc... it was a breath of fresh air. ok. ciao <3

#sonic prime spoilers #text heavy #this is not an invitation to argue on whether or not you personally liked the show i am simply posting #my thoughts on my blog and tagging it with spoilers as a courtesy so if you hate the show #and are fishing in the tag wanting to start a fight then get lost. <3 thanks

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dragon-snoots-a-boopin · 5 days

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I recently play Batman: Arkham City, a game that I first played back when it came out on the PS3, and so now I just want to talk about my recent experience with the game as it's been so long that this felt like the first time I played it.

Things I Liked:

The true feeling of being Batman

The sound effects they added when you're beating on criminals really puts weight into every single punch and kick.

The gadgets that also add to making you feel like Batman. There are so many different ways you can use them in any situation that the game throws your way.

Zipping and/or gliding around is such a fun feeling.

Really good enemy progression. You have basic melee thugs, thugs with guns that you shouldn't approach from the front, thugs wearing body armor that you have to stun first, thugs with edged weapons that require a special dodge, bigger thugs that require the ultra stun a few times, thugs with nightvision goggles that didn't really help them, thugs that place mines, bigger thugs with shields that require a different kind of stun and so on. The enemy progression is done so well.

The few boss fights were not as bad as I was expecting, with the exception of one.

The free flow combat just works so well. Having Batman just float from enemy to enemy in groups is just so nice.

The Catwoman sections were really nice as she plays so much different from Batman, it was nice having her sections breaking up the Batman sections.

Getting to play as Robin in the beginning of the Harley Quinn's Revenge DLC was very fun.

Things I Did Not Like:

The Trials Of The Demon. I absolutely hated this because of the going from doing a dive bomb to having to pull up because sometimes the controls just fought me and I died over and over in this part. Easily the worst part of the game for me.

The many times of having to be grappling or gliding around playing hot or cold with a variety of things. Whether I was tracking a signal or tracking the coldest part of Gotham to locate Mr. Freeze. It wouldn't be so annoying if it happened like twice but, it happens like four or five times and just got annoying. It honestly felt like padding the game's run time with how much they make you do this.

The final fight against Clayface was really frustrating because of the fact that in the second phase, Clayface has an attack that happens so fast after another attack that there is no possible way to be able to dodge it. I think that it's not fair that you are stuck taking this damage because it's not avoidable.

Overall, Arkham City is a classic and is a must play for anyone, especially if you're a Batman fan. Arkham City is a good an enjoyable game that is definitely worth playing.

#the dragons speak #DC #dc comics #batman #batman arkham city #video games #rocksteady

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rebloggedsunsox · 6 months

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HOLD IT!!!

SPOILERS FOR THE FNAF MOVIE UNDER THE CUT!!! PLEASE GO WATCH THE MOVIE IF YOU HAVEN'T AND WANT TO BEFORE READING!! This is your given warning!

Thoughts I'm scrambling together as fast as I can just off the top of my head. Im back from the cinemas, and I first off can't say anything other than wow.

That post I made earlier about waiting a week to talk about it? I lied I'm talking now I can't not talk about it I can't wait the brainrot is far too strong LMAO so heres my ramble.

• The movie actually didn't feel out of place or too mashed together with series and new content at all. Some choices were definitely confusing from a game and lore background knowledge standpoint, but in its own universe and continuity it didn't hinder the overall quality of the movie. Still an extremely enjoyable time that didn't leave me frustrated or unsatisfied! And s big mention also to the fact that I went to see it with 2 friends - one who knew the lore like me, and one who didn't. The latter loved it as much as the former and I, no problems in understanding either! Lots of questions on what we knew afterwards, but no complaints all around!

• I think it's really good that they blatantly established that the animatronics, as kids and not when they were controlled by Afton, were just that: kids. They liked pictures and play and never wanted to hurt their new friend Abby. Golden Freddy is definitely a seperate problem that I'll get into, but they were all so cute together it warmed my heart so much :']]

• Mike was played very well by his actor (except for that one scene with Vanessa and the dry delivered "What are you scared of?" line), and I did grow to enjoy his character in the end. Definitely took me a while to get there though. I don't think his emotional connection with Abby was established very well in the beginning, but I think it was still remedied enough to be satisfying after everything had happened.

• The Balloon Boy bit was hilarious. He absolutely is that goddamn creepy, and they somehow MADE HIM CREEPIER in the film! I'm glad that he didn't end up posing an actual threat and stamping over the terror of the main 5, but I was definitely considering it in the back of my mind.

• Wow. Golden Freddy was intense. All the way through. From the phenomenal work of the child actor who played him throughout most of the movie, to the TERRIFYING animatronic who made its mark without even being in the movie that long? Wow. I'm definitely still confused about where the movie was trying to take the plot point of Golden Freddy's existence since a lot was left out and not really explained, but again, overall didn't make understanding the movie much harder. Just leaves me curious as to why they went with what they did. That scene at the very very end of Golden Freddy closing the door on Afton convulsing in the back room? Chilling. That actor played the part perfectly.

• CAMEOS!!!! Claps and cheers for Cory and the very brief Employees cameo! My theatre erupted into screams so loud that when MatPat was on screen in the diner, I kid you not I have 0 idea what he even said. Gonna have to rewatch it and see for myself. My friend who had no idea who he was got jumpscared by the theatre crowd itself and it was very, very funny.

• THE SONG!!! THE song for the end credits!!!! I broke out into singing so fast man, literally the best feeling and a wonderful way to bring the movie home right back to those who had been waiting for it for so long.

• The animatronics were incredible. Just amazing. All practical effects, fully built they were for most of that, right? Regardless, they really took my breath away in that movie. From their movements to expressions to their funny "haha uhoh robot moment" scenes. So so awesome.

• Vanessa's whole deal was probably where I was left the most confused. My whole crowd audibly gasped when she outright said that William was her father. So, the problem that I came to was,,,, basically all of it. Vanessa was told, by Afton, to make sure that Mike never found out what was happening at the pizzeria and to kill him if he got to close. Why hire him there then? Because he wanted to kill him himself? In order to get him to take Abby there to kill her? But non of that would have been something he was going to make happen if not by chance like how it did! She had no problem with Abby being there and playing with the animatronics one moment, and then made Mike ensure she was never going back the next. And the whole "I wont be much use to you if I go with you" said by Vanessa. I was assuming it was a Vanny mind control type sitch, but literally nothing happened? They argued, she shot him, he strangled her, he stabbed her, basically end of confrontation between them. She didn't do anything to hurt Abby or Mike at all? And her somehow knowing about Mike believing his dreams could change the past. Her connection was to Afton, not really the kids, right? Someone please tell me how they interpreted that whole thing, I really couldn't nail it down. Again, weirdly didn't damage my experience much? I guess I'm just used to some things not being understandable within the fnaf lore, huh. Im also just not hugely invested in Vanny/Vanessa's deal in the games either, so maybe that's why lol.

• Abby handing Bonnie the heart, and then Bonnie showing it to the others was the single sweetest thing oh my god. So adorable.

• It's me on the mirror. Glitching in the training video to show Golden Freddy. Mwah chef's kiss. Don't really know how the Its Me bit ties into this version of the lore but I really don't mind. The callouts made me giggle.

• That whole scene with the men trashing the place and getting murdered was madness. The tension was so thick, I love the atmosphere and how they really nailed it where it mattered in that part of the movie. The girl(Max?) Getting literally chomped in half was so unexpected. Poor Max, I can't believe she got roped into it. Also the???? Auntie said nothing about the disappearance of any of them either??? What???? Im only just realising that???? Why was she at all those court discussions with the lawyer again????

• No Honk Freddy's Nose bit. How dare they.

I'm gonna be thinking about this a lot, but thats all the points I have to make right now! I'll definitely comb over all my thoughts again, maybe post about them some more, we'll see. Really good all round, can't wait to watch it again when I get my hands on a copy of it!!! Id love to hear everyone elses thoughts on it too, and the possibility of a sequel? Thank you for reading!!

#everyone loved my cosplay I went in! I went as Bonnie in a human outfit wig and cardboard made Bonnie ears and everyone was really lovely #me and the only other person in costume (young kid in a fully decked out freddy getup) complimented each other and that was so sweet too <3 #FNAF #fnaf #five nights at freddy's #fnaf movie #fnaf movie spoilers #five nights at freddy's movie spoilers #we're tagging everything man I hope everyone who's going spoiler free has these blocked #sox speaks #if you also needed the disclaimer these are just my personal intial thoughts. if you dont like them all you gotta do is scroll on by bud :]

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yooniesim · 2 years

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I'm not sure what simblr's general opinion on this is, but peeking back in after my long hiatus, I have a lot of thoughts...

In my opinion, Patreon killed all of the momentum that ts4 simblr had pre-2020. I think we all know a lot of the bigger issues- permanent paywalls, creators doxxing and bullying, cliqueing up and sharing info- but I mean even besides that. I mean specifically early access, two to three week delays for releasing cc, the version of paywalling that most people (including myself) accepted.

It's good that creators were able to get paid for their work, especially during the pandemic. But I think, unfortunately, it had other effects too. I remember back then, being disappointed at how much was eacc, and that was only like 25% of the cc coming out, and it (almost) always was popular creators with high quality work. But slowly but surely, nearly everyone moved to patreon (which I've noticed has caused a lot of cc to be forever lost once patreons were closed/deleted) and 99% of the time it was early access or even exclusive. Many people started blogs with early access cc from the get-go, without having a presence beforehand, and those blogs seemed to be some of the most focused on blocking anyone that shared their cc. The cc varied in quality- it could be simple mesh edits that were still mostly ea, or recolors, or even just patterns sourced from other sites. It didn't matter what it was, it was just content for money, anything to pad out the month and keep patrons. Creators would do early access and then link the cc through adfly or to TSR or simsdom/simsfinds, one by one, even if it was supposed to be a pack. It wasn't bad enough to call out, but it was purposeful.

CC on tumblr became a business in a way it hadn't before, even with other paysites in sims history. And while some people are happy to donate to creators they like now and again... most people either can't or won't. Many simmers are children, and many simmers are adults with strict budgets, especially during the pandemic. And truth be told... they probably got bored. Because it's all terribly boring. CC shopping isn't fun anymore. It's the briefest serotonin seeing something interesting on your dash and then instantly flying away when you see you'll have to wait almost a month for it. And if it wasn't a creator I really liked, I forgot about it instantly after that... sometimes even if I really liked them. Motivation dropped. People stopped being excited, and stopped playing.

Nowadays, it seems even worse. Because the amount and variety of cc and creators has dropped drastically. I'm shocked to see 2-3 cc posts per day, if that, most of them paywalled. It isn't just cc posts either- used to you couldn't look in the s4cc tag for cc, it would be so crowded with non-cc sims posts, but now it's depressingly easy... and empty. Lookbooks, edits, gameplay, cc, it all seems more sparing. And you don't see the same creativity, the same fun random little items, stuff that was interesting even if it wasn't necessarily perfect. Or wild ideas or cc that would appeal to certain small niches. Because that isn't profitable, is it? When you need to create a certain amount of items per month at a certain quality to keep patrons and therefore income, you have to strategize, for good or for bad. Some people are able to do that, and while good for their business model, it limits what they can create and how much energy they can spend on each item. Some people aren't able to do it, and burn out and leave. Either way, creativity suffers. Enjoyment suffers. Creators leave from the passion being sucked out of their hobby; non-creators leave from frustration and boredom. And you're left with a handful of creators still going by their cc business playbook, month by month. But how long can those few sustain themselves?

It's natural for communities to ebb and flow, or even completely die out, but ts4 simblr had been going strong for years before this overall, even if it was in waves. In the pandemic, it should've flourished the way other many other communities did, especially gaming focused ones. But, it didn't. Instead it slowed down, more people left than the amount coming in, the engagement died down, and it seems like as a whole custom content hasn't advanced at all. Maybe it would've happened anyway, but I honestly think patreon contributed a lot. Also, ts2 and ts3 communities weren't affected in the same way, afaik, which makes me think it was paywalls even more.

Can it be fixed? Maybe. If paywalls weren't as much of a thing anymore- and I don't mean completely gone, but just a fairer ratio- I think it could. But now that it's become a standard, I doubt that will happen. I think most people have moved to other places where they don't have to deal with it, like discord servers, and simblr will continue to lose momentum.

It's good for creators to have the option of getting some income for their work, but I guess I'm just saying... at what cost? Beyond the monetary? If you're not super popular, are you even making enough for the added stress to be worth it? If you are, is this going to be satisfying and maintainable long-term, without burn-out/effects on your mental health? Who will pay for it when the number of players keeps dropping? And will this continue on to the Sims 5 community in the future? I honestly hope not.

#text #ceci speaks #delete later #ts4 #sims 4 #the patreon issue #this may be unpopular #especially with other creators #and i could be wrong since i havent been around for a bit #but this is what it feels like to me #long post #im just disappointed #and a little nostalgic #no one asked ceci #sorry creators that are actually great #and need the income #its all just sad

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thekingofwinterblog · 8 months

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What do you think of the people you can romance in DAI? Who is the best in your opinion?

I honestly don't have a good answer. For all my time playing Dragon Age Inquisition, for good or bad, it's romances are something I've mostly left untouched simply because unlike Origins, and even DA2, Inquisition doesn't lend itself all that well to replaying the game with a different origins.

A Kossith Mage Herald is unfortunately not nearly as different compared to playing as anything else as it should be. The only exception is playing as an elf, and unlike Origins, that only opens up all the cracks and flaws to the Inquisitor as a character.

The end result is that i effectively only have two Inquisitors I use, and as a result, i have only two romances i've gone through.

With that in mind, i can only comment on those, and what i've seen in other's playthroughs.

Josephine

Josephine is a good character, and if you go her romance, it does feel like you forge a connection... But the game unfortunately does not let you delve into her deepest secrets on such a route the way it should.

One common thing I've seen is a big problem with all the romances is that because Bioware didn't want to touch any of the inquisitors pasts in any meaningful way, it's impossible to open up to anyone about one's past, and get their take on it all.

Josephine tells you of her past, her family, siblings, etc. But you cannot really do the same.

Do the inquisitor have siblings? How do they feel about their parents? Have you had previous relationships? I have no idea.

If the Inquisitor was written as an actual in game person, defined by their background like hawke and the Warden, then the game's way of handling romance would have hit way harder and better. Because there is good stuff here, as I know just going through two romances.

The best highlight of Josephine's romance of course is her personal romance quest where you decide to engage in a duel for her hand, a very, very antivan thing to do, and a display that goes more to flesh out the actual Antivan culture than almost anything else in the games.

This kind of open, grand, romantic displays is what actual antivan society is all about, far, far more than it ever is about the tiny minority of assassins that are their most famous part to the world ever was...

And subsequently, it's excellent to showcase how Josephine differs greatly from other Antivan noblewomen. Rather than be taken in by it all, or swept of the feet, she is angry, and terrified, a results of her own history as a failed bard in the monstrosity that is the great game.

But if the Inquisitor choses to just anounce their love then and there for all to hear(also a very antivan thing to do), she is ultimately swept off her feet, and the lord you're fighting also choses to back down as he realises it's an actual duel for love, while he merely wanted a challnge and the honor of having dueled the inquisitor.

Again, this is a very great way of showcasing actual Antivan culture.

Overall i would say that though there is nothing wrong with Josephine's romance, and i do like the way it's a departure from previous ones by being all about courtly love, it didn't exactly wow me by being outstanding the way Morrigan's and Alistair's did in Origins.

Cassandra

Cassandra's romance meanwhile is both better, and worse than Josephine's.

Better in that you have a much, much more defined and in many ways more nuanced relationship with her, which can actually have some real weight depending on your choices. Like if you decide to actually make her divine... And she no longer feels she can have a relationship with you, despite how much she wants to, because she feels it would not be proper.

I would also say i greatly do like how the game handles the fact that Cassandra's an older woman, who is also a romantic at heart, but not very experienced in such matters... Which leads to an intentionally corny, but very enjoyable wooing scene after setting up a romantic date.

Subsequently, if you are a woman, i do like how she actually does go through a moment where she intentionally turns you down due to incompatible orientations. It's a small moment that shows her awkwardly fumbling as she usually does, but showcases that she is a good girl at heart, as she tries to let you down gently.

Now to the bad stuff.

Namely if you woo her off her feet as an elf... Like I did.

Now there is the core of something good here... But it's not fleshed out at all.

As i've said before, cassandra's biggest issue as a character is that like most of the companions, there are aspects of her personality you are not even allowed to change, and in this case, it's her less than flattering opinions on Elven religion(which even if completely true in the end, it doesn't exactly paint her in the best light).

There is a moment where she questions a dalish inquistor about possible Synchronization between creator worship and Andrastian, but you are not allowed to go any deeper on the subject, either positively, or negatively.

Which sucks, because if it had been, this could have added some much needed peraonal growth for her on the subject, either if you affirm the idea that there is room for such(as we know from lore, you would not be the first dalish to think so) and through that maybe Cassandra might actually learn that Creator worship isn't quite as scary as she has been led to believe, or reject it, and she eventually grows to love you anyway.

Because that is one of the strengths of this romance playing as a dalish. For all the way she talks shit about the creator religion, she comes to both love the inquisitor, and respect them like absolutely no other, felling that they are force of nature, that can do anything. And she does that regardless of whether you convert, is an atheist, or remain steadfast creators worshipper, all the way to tresspasser.

Now, we could debate whether he actually does, but the important thing here is that she believes it.

There was room here to really make something really special by delving into this, as cassandra has a moment where she notes that in the future, she will either be recognized as the lover of a saint, or an elven madman.

It's a poignant moment, which is echoed by what happened with other historical elven related figures in the game, but unfortunately you aren't allowed to ask her the simple, yet extremely important question "Do you care what they think?", instead the closest being "I don't care what they think, what do you believe?" Which ultimately is there to affirm Cassandra's belief in the maker, and that she does fully believe you were chosen by god, rather than allow her to express that regardless of what other people might think, she does love you, and will stick by you to the very end.

That kind of thinking is obviously still there... But it's subtext, when it should have been the main thesis around which her character arc was built.

All in all, Cassandra's romance arc is good... But if you're playing as Dalish, there is a lot of jank that mirrors the way the game handles so much about a dalish inquisitor.

Sera

From here on I haven't actually played any of these, so this is more observation more than anything else.

Sera seems to be okay enough, if you like her brand of humor, and personality, but i've seen a lot of people who greatly dislike the fact that if youre dalish and you refuse to abandon the elvhen gods, she breaks up with you, and is another reason Sera is a terrible character.

I disagree heavily on that front. The fact that Sera refuses to compromise on her beliefs and accept a "pagan" partner is a character flaw... But it's a very human one, and unlike so much else, I would say it's a character aspect you should not be able to change.

Its something that makes her a fundamentally different person than Cassandra, and that is good... But if you hate her as a character already, this really doesn't help much with that.

Blackwall

From what I can tell, this romance doesn't really add much to his character... Though it does add much to the Inquisitor, by showing how badly she wants it, and is willing to play the part of the sub for some love.

Solas

Ah, the Solavellan Hell.

Cullen

I don't really have any bigger thoughts on this one, other than to note it seems to be a better told version of the blackwall romance. Also it tells us that Cullen is not into women who are either taller than him, or way shorter.

Dorian

The most interesting thing about this romance from a character perspective is how the romance quest brings out Dorian's Tsundere side, something not seen much elsewhere in the game.

You only briefly see it in his personal quest depending on your choice of words, and far more in his banter and relationship with The Iron Bull.

Other than that it seems a perfectly decent romance quest.

The Iron Bull

Now this one is interesting for a number of reasons... But by far the most facinating thing about it, is that while Bull is not being disgenious, tresspasser shows us two things.

1. That regardless of how he feels about you, you ARE second to the Qun in his eyes, and 2. The thing he truly, truly cares about more than both the Qun and You if you romance him, is his mercenary crew.

They are his true family, his home, his soul.

That adds a lot of interesting hidden subtext for his romance as far as I'm concerned.

Bull is facinating, because as Cole reveals if he betrays you, there is no malice, no hatred, nothing. This really was not anything personal. He really did like you... But you were essentially just a bond girl of the week to him, and him the great spy, the glamorous Bond, moving on from yet another conquest.

Of course bond doesn't tend to get brutually murdered by said Bond girl(or guy, Bull ain't picky) after the fling, so there is that.

That is a fascinating dynamic, and great and interesting way to handle a romance with a spy.

#dragon age #dragon age inquisition #josephine #cassandra pentaghast #solas #sera #blackwall #cullen #dorian #the iron bull #romance #meta #shipping #the inquisitor #the herald of andraste

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quietmonologues · 2 months

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I haven't finished the show yet (just need to watch the last episode) but so far, I'll give the live action adaptation of ATLA a 7/10.

Long post.

To start with what I like about it...

I think the VFX is spectacular. Omashu, the Water Tribes, the Fire Nation palace, all the bending effects and fights are stunning.

Seeing all the characters come to life. The Gaang, but also the past avatars, the mechanist and Teo, the freedom fighters, Bumi, Zuko and the family, even Mai and Ty Lee. Aesthetically, everyone fit really well.

I enjoy (most) of the acting, but especially Zuko. I feel like Dallas captures the character incredibly well and his scenes with Paul as Iroh have been very fun to watch. I enjoy seeing more of Azula and getting into her psyche early on, and seeing more of Ozai has been enjoyable as well. Daniel Dae Kim is great. Ian and Gordan also do a great job of playing Sokka and Aang, respectively.

Merging the Jet stuff with the Mechanist stuff is an interesting way to cram as much of the story as possible without being too convoluted. The re-interpretation of The Cave of Two Lovers episode was a change I was iffy about but I grew to appreciate it. Instead of focusing on a romantic love, I liked that it was about familial love (between Sokka and Katara). I wouldn't be surprised if people didn't like that change, and I understand, but I didn't mind it. It didn't feel like the live action was hinting at Aang's crush on Katara anyways (correct me if I'm wrong).

Love the emotional aspects. Iroh and Zuko, Aang and Gyatso...it can definitely get the waterworks going.

In terms of what I don't like....

Something feels missing in this adaptation, and I think it's the tone. There's still funny moments but it's definitely a bit more somber than the cartoon. On the one hand, the original show does deal with heavy themes and it makes sense for the live action to emphasize that seriousness. Like, it made sense for a cartoon geared towards children to have a "lightness" to it, to have moments of goofiness and sillyness. But on the other hand, that lightness being interspersed between all the serious moments made the story of ATLA what it was, and I do feel that that is missing in the live action. I guess that's the downside to limiting a 20+ episode season into just....8 episodes. But the live action did the best it could.

I feel the same about the characters. The Gaang seem a bit more serious. But it's not completely bad, Aang still feels like Aang and Sokka still feels like Sokka. Katara is the one who sticks out to me like a sore thumb because she just...doesn't feel like Katara. No idea if it's Kiawentiio's acting or how she's written, but whenever I watch her, she just feels really flat and demure. Katara is a kind and compassionate character, but I do remember her being a bit more fierce. We do get that fierceness near the end but...I don't know, it comes off as stiff. And that's why I think Dallas as Zuko is my favourite, because Zuko was always a serious and somber character in the cartoon, so his performance in the more serious live action adaptation fits really well (it still would've fit perfectly if the adaptation was more goofy of course).

The pacing at times is bumpy. I felt this especially in episode 4. There was just...way too many things going on and they decided to throw in a couple flashbacks too. Like I said before, I liked that we got more Azula, but I felt like some of her scenes didn't flow well with the rest of the episode (episode 6 i think). We were following a straightforward plot, and then we just have a scene or two of Azula doing her trials and shooting lightning. It just made the overall episode feel choppy and disconnected.

I don't remember how the whole Suki/Sokka/Yue thing went in the cartoon, but yes I do think it's very weird that Sokka and Suki kissed in episode 2, and then he's kissing Yue in episode 7. Maybe in the cartoon it wouldn't be "that deep" but in a live action, it's kinda strange to me lol. I don't know, that's a bit of a minor nitpick I guess.

To me, Book 1 of the original show is the weakest season and my least favourite (it's still good). But if Netflix renews this, then I'm hoping Book 2 (and Book 3) will be much better!

Okay that's it, off to watch the last episode.

(also I do think you're lying if you say the movie was better)

#just my thoughts and opinions #avatar the last airbender #atla #atla live action #atla spoilers #atla netflix #my posts

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madara-fate · 4 months

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Do you think naruto the last is a good story plot wise? I like the whole Toneri plot and all but I didn’t liked the fact that they made Hinata suffer bullying (something that was never in the manga) and Naruto and her meeting before, cause for me doesn’t make any sense! I would prefer another kind of development but it’s an okay story

I didn't really enjoy the plot of The Last to be honest, but that was much more due to my own personal gripes more than any objective criticism. I'm a huge NH fan so I enjoyed seeing their romance being focused on for a change, but I had other issues which bugged me. In case you haven't heard me say this before, I absolutely hate the damsel in distress trope, it's probably my joint most hated trope in all of anime, right up there with the double standard trope of unjustified female on male physical violence being acceptable and even considered funny. So unfortunately for me, Hinata was largely portrayed as a damsel in distress in The Last, and it very much hampered my overall enjoyment of the movie.

Hinata had to be saved from Toneri when she encountered him in the park.

Then she had to be saved again when she was put under Toneri’s control.

Then she had to be saved again when she was locked in a cage.

The cherry on top was how Naruto just had to carry her bridal style soon after she once again seemed helpless when the ground crumbled from beneath them as they were making their way back and Naruto had to catch her. It was cute, sure. But it only added to the prominence of that annoying trope.

There were obviously a few other inconsistencies in the movie, like how Naruto was effected by the genjutsu in the lake despite being a perfect Jinchuuriki, which obviously makes no sense according to Killer Bee, but I just really don't like the damsel in distress trope, so an inconsistency like that was just really tame in comparison for me.

#Hinata Hyuga #The Last: Naruto the Movie

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retro-watching · 2 months

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Star Trek TOS S1 Ep6 - The Enemy Within

I'm back! It's been missed for quite a few weeks due to poor physical and mental health but I'm back!

Too bad it was this episode

It's just not my favourite. It's not the worst thing I've seen but not the best either

The story isn't a horrible concept but Shatner's acting was....variable to be kind and shit to be unkind.

Frankly it only ranked as high it did in some categories because of unicorn dog.

The sexual assault scene was difficult to watch. I understand it's place in the story and I appreciate how they handled it and how they were not at all depicting it was a positive thing. Still fucking hated it though

So saying that, the scores:

Story: 7/10 - it's a Jekyll and Hyde inspired story and the added pressure of the crew on the planet needing to be saved was a decent story line

Acting: 5/10 - it's this high because mainly the other actors didn't deserve such a low score

Cheese: 8.5/10 - UNICORN DOG. Also the moment evil Kirk in intense eyeliner first turned to the camera with dramatic lining was really funny. Evil Kirk had a lot of funny moments

Enjoyment: 3/10 - not my fav episode at all

Effects: 3/10 - they couldn't get a double that at least looked a little like Shatner?

Charm: 4/10 - all of that is Unicorn Dog

Cringe: -8/0 - that one scene was awful. Also why do all evil entities in the galaxy hit on that one Yeoman?

Aged Like Milk: -1/0 - mostly the lighting, acting and directing choices

Overall ranking:

C grade

All credit to the unicorn dog

#retro watching #s1 ep6 #the enemy within #star trek tos

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radioactive-earthshine · 2 months

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thoughts on fake dating or soulmate aus??

Fake Dating: 2/10 I actively filter this out on AO3. Standard disclaimer that shouldn't need to be said but a worrying amount of people are incapable of critical and logical thinking - this doesn't mean I am saying this trope is bad. I just actively don't want to see it, or have anything to do with it. I don't get enjoyment from this trope no matter how many times its served to me.

The only time I do stomach this is in the case of a queer person needing a beard. Otherwise I am just not into it as a get together trope.

Soulmate AU: 5/10. Meh. It sort of gives me the creepies. I don't like predestined cosmic interventions of something out there dictating who your partner is as a whole. There are some instances that I do like this trope and it's fun to read but it's not something I am going out of my way for. I like the romantic symbolism of it of "I will find you in every lifetime" but the lack of choice in feelings just sort of rubs me the wrong way.

I have read a lot of stories that took a lot of care with the trope however that didn't push all the SIGH buttons. There are themes of soulmates in a lot of my favorite media (Tolkien and Star Trek for example) but overall how it's handled a lot of the time just sort of... meh.

It's in the realm of horror and not a lot of people bank on that.

Lightning rods however are sort of within that realm of soulmates however the lightning rod effect for Speedsters is something that happens once affection and love already grow, but a lot of the soulmate sub-tropes and themes are found in lightning rod rules, and naturally I love lightning rods.

Send me a fanfic/media trope and I'll rate and maybe tell you what I would do with it.

#im sorry i have nothing for these tropes

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baka-kayakopa · 26 days

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thoughts about physical 100 s2

includes minor spoilers abt the challenges themselves

overall i found it super enjoyable and i'm really hoping they keep it up. both season 1 and season 2 were incredibly watchable and fun

i know its CLICHE but.. competition, sportsmanship, giving it your all in respect to your opponent, the human spirit, camaraderie.. AUUGH

i feel like the skills that were tested were imbalanced this time around. they focused on like heavy strength & endurance so much, the disadvantage was huge for those who didn't have bigger bodies.

i feel like since its PHYSICAL 100 there should have been agility, flexibility, balance, calisthenics.. like a lot of potential was missed out on. the challenges for the top 4 was what i was looking for, they were balanced so much better (pulling own body weight, infinite squats..)

i wish we saw more of that small weightlifting woman

LOVE how the 1v1 for the ball came back. i personally think that we need to see that every time (since they did say there will be a 3rd)

the creativity of the stages were amazing, even if the creativity of the challenges themself could have been improved. the literal underground theme was so cool. i feel like next they could do a jungle or something so its like Survival and not just Repeatedly Pulling/Pushing/Carrying Big Weights like a Worker in the Mines

i really like how you still manage to stay attached to every competitor. the writers are smart by treating them kinda like a character (showing their motivations, personality, backstory) which really makes the audience sympathize and root for them.

i also really like how people from everywhere were able to fight. like didn't a cosplayer beat up a top athlete or something 😭😭😭

the redemption fight was cool as hell but i feel like it couldve been better balanced as well

i like how they dont really push unlikely narratives. even if youre an underdog everyone roots for, if you lose then you lose and they show the brutal truth. though i do believe that one team had so much potential if only the challenges werent ooga booga lift/push/pull big heavy weight like come on 😐

i like how its realistically unforgiving of errors in strategies or like small mistakes because thats life, if you make a mistake in the field then you fall behind

i dont like how when theres challenges with simultaneous equipment, there is a slight chance that its rigged on one end like the scandal in s1, but this time apparently the monkey bars on one side weren't giving? i don't know, but it really takes away from the core of the show if the equipment isn't effective and fair for everyone.

anyways that's some of my thoughts, am EXCITED AND HOPEFUL FOR SEASON 3 :))))

#physical 100 #physical 100 season 2 #diary #ramble #yap #physical 100 underground

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maskedguy7 · 1 month

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•Outside the window•

That night, the sky had decided to hide its precious heavenly bodies, ruthlessly abandoning humankind to a pitch-black void. Not even the rain clouds were visible, but the sound of their cry was proof of their existence. The Earth looked like a post-apocalyptic planet - desolate yet extremely peaceful.

I was in my parlor, lying on the couch and wrapped in my trusty red blanket to fight the cold air of winter. The dim light of the television illuminated the room, generating a cozy atmosphere. Unlike many people, I liked to be engulfed in darkness. It didn't scare me - quite the opposite, in fact; it relaxed me.

I was watching a thriller movie. The plot was interesting but, in my humble opinion, the pace was a bit slow; many scenes were superfluous, and they could have been removed without damaging the final result. Despite that, the soundtracks, the special effects and, most importantly, the acting pleasantly enriched the movie. Overall, it was really enjoyable.

When the credits appeared on the screen, I turned off the television. Darkness invaded the living room, but just as fast as it arrived, it went away when I turned on my phone. The light blinded me for a few seconds, but my eyes adjusted rather rapidly.

Once I was able to see again, I noticed a text message that I had received some minutes earlier from an unknown number; it just said "Hey.", nothing more, nothing less. Confused by the situation, I typed a reply.

"Hello, who is this?"

As soon as I sent the message, the stranger got online and texted me back.

"Who I am is not important; you don't know me anyway."

I furrowed my brows; I was perplexed. After reflecting for a while, I came to the conclusion that someone had decided to play a joke on me. It was the only reasonable explanation.

"Then how did you get my phone number?"

While I gave the mysterious person some time to answer, I made my way to the upstairs bedroom. I flopped onto the bed and let my body sink into the soft mattress. The sheets were redolent with the scent of lavender; they demanded that I close my eyes. My head emptied and all my worries vanished. I was in a state of total bliss. I would have fallen asleep if my phone hadn't buzzed.

"It was really easy. I can explain it to you, but only if you give me something in exchange. How about the rest of your life, deal?"

At that point, it was obvious that the idiot who was pranking me had no intention of stopping. I was a bit annoyed. I wanted to rest; I didn't like the idea of having to spend the night being ridiculed by a buffoon.

"No. Seriously, who is this? If you don't tell me, I'll go to sleep."

I didn't have to wait long; their response was immediate.

"Are you really that desperate to know?"

I rolled my eyes and sighed.

"Yes."

"Then look outside the window."

I froze. That last text made me anxious, but I tried to stay rational. They were just making fun of me; it was just a twisted but innocent prank. There was no way for them to know where I lived; they were just trying to scare me.

The storm in my mind disappeared when another message arrived. It was a voice message. I reluctantly pressed the play button. It was a man speaking; he had a deep voice.

"Haven't got the courage, darling? Don't worry, it's fine. I guess we will have to meet face to face."

I received a picture next, a picture of a guy wearing a mask and a black hoodie. He was right outside my house.

I felt like I was about to vomit. I started hyperventilating, my head was spinning. Tears clouded my eyes, I was violently shaking. Panic-stricken, I tried to call 911 but, for some reason, as soon as I typed in the number, my phone shut off.

As I was desperately trying to turn it back on, I heard someone unlock the front door.

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the-grindhouse-basement · 3 months

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Dr.Gore aka The Body shop (1973)

It has been a long time since my last review, So lets kick this comeback off with a bang. 1973's Dr.Gore aka The Body Shop aka Shrieks in the night (This movie has way to many retitles to count) This movie caught my attention while I was on the Phone with my Boyfriend randomly perusing the VHS sections of Ebay as one does, What Caught my eye was the price tag, 110 dollars USD for a fucking VHS tape and the words RARE 80s GORE in big bold letters I could not resist. But I wasn't going to pay that much for a singular VHS tape so I did some research and came to find that not only is this movie really actually a pain in the ass to find on VHS but also a pain in the ass to find online to watch, I finally found a copy of the movie under a different retitle called "Shrieks in the Night" for 35 dollars plus shipping and I bought it immediately. (I then ended up finding the movie online as well on Archive.org but that's neither here nor there I already bought the damn thing for my collection haha. Enough spouting off about everything surrounding my search and lets talk about the actual film. First I would like to say I adored this movie, Me and my Boyfriend were both enamored with the horrible acting Cheesy practical effects Strange musical and audio choices and terrible set designs but one thing that I think both me and him really didn't like was the pacing and story structure of the film itself. At one point in the film the Doctor in question ends up in prison and you don't even know why, Nothing is ever explained he just kind of ends up there and you are just sat scratching your head like WTF???? Overall I would say this movie is very strange, very endearing, terrible, but also extremely enjoyable and has now spawned a sort of routine where ill find a random VHS tape on Ebay that I have never heard of buy it and watch it with my Boyfriend just to see what kind of wacky shit we can find. (if you wanna watch it for yourself just find it on archive.org ;> ) ((The Second Picture is the copy of the movie That I bought along with another movie that I am very excited to have acquired considering Destiny was directed by Fritz Lang who Directed Metropolis and Considering I have like 7 copies of Metropolis its fair to say its one of my favorite movies of all time :3))

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