#robin ballantine | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

if-you-fan-a-fire · 4 months

Text

BOOKS I READ IN 2023 Here's what I read in 2023. What has now become an annual tradition of sorts!

An unusual year in reading for me. The first half of the year was very slow, and I mostly finished two long books I've been trying to finish for years by William Morris and Robert Musil. Then the PSAC strike, and more time to read. After that, I made a reading plan and stuck to it, trying to read every day at least a chapter of a book on the list. I also ended up re-reading several books this year - transcribing notes at first, I ended up going over the entire book a second time. I also tried to take extensive notes on every new book. I also snuck a few theses I read onto the list - it feels weird not to include a several hundred page work I went over with a fine-toothed comb. Mostly academic books, germane to my own research and writing, but some strong forays into topics I don't normally think about much. Plus some genuinely good 'amateur' history, too.

Re-reads are marked by a plus sign and my most enjoyable or interesting reads are marked with an asterisk.

First Row:

Jesper Vaczy Kragh, Lobotomy Nation: The History of Psychosurgery and Psychiatry in Denmark (2021)

William Morris, The Well at the World's End (1896, Ballantine edition 1975)

Robert Musil, translated by Sophie Wilkins, The Man Without Qualities (1930, Picador edition 2017)*

Gavin Walker, ed., The Red Years: Theory, Politics, and Aesthetics in the Japanese ’68 (2020)*

Garrett Felber, Those Who Know Don't Say: The Nation of Islam, the Black Freedom Movement, and the Carceral State (2020) *

Robin Jarvis Brownlie, A Fatherly Eye: Indian Agents, Government Power, and Aboriginal Resistance in Ontario, 1918-1939 (2003)

Second Row:

Steve Hewitt, Riding to the Rescue: The Transformation of the RCMP in Alberta and Saskatchewan, 1914-1939 (2006)

Maeve McMahon, The Persistent Prison?: Rethinking Decarceration and Penal Reform (1989)+

Rebecca McLennan, The Crisis of Imprisonment: Protest, Politics, and the Making of the American Penal State, 1776–1941 (2007)+

Anne Guérin, Prisonniers en révolte: Quotidien carcéral, mutineries et politique pénitentiaire en France (2013)+

Anson Rabinbach, The Eclipse of the Utopias of Labor (2018)

Scott Thompson & Gary Genosko, Punched Drunk: Alcohol, Surveillance and the LCBO, 1927-1975 (2009)

Third Row:

Erin Durham, "In Pursuit of Reform, Whether Convict or Free: Prison Labor Reform in Maryland in the early Twentieth Century." (2018 thesis)

Chester Himes, Yesterday Will Make You Cry (1998)*

Harvey Swados, Standing Fast: A Novel (1971, 2013 Open Road edition)

Charles Upchurch, "Beyond the Law": The Politics of Ending the Death Penalty for Sodomy in Britain (2021)

Barry Godfrey, David J. Cox & Helen Johnston, Penal Servitude: Convicts and Long-Term Imprisonment, 1853–1948 (2022)

W.J. Forsythe, Penal Discipline, Reformatory Projects And The English Prison Commission, 1895-1939 (1991)

Fourth Row:

Neal A. Palmer, To the Dark Cells: Prisoner Resistance and Protest in Nineteenth-Century Britain (2008)

Frances H. Simon, Prisoners' Work and Vocational Training (1999)

Meera Nanda, Science In Saffron: Skeptical Essays On History of Science (2016)*

Gene Wolfe, The Book of the New Sun (four volumes, 1980-1983, Folio Society edition 2021)+

David J. Rothman, Conscience and Convenience: The Asylum and Its Alternatives in Progressive America (2002)+

Kathryn Cooper, "The Infamous Convict Museum Ship Success : an Archaeological Investigation of Material Culture and Identity Formation Processes." (2014 thesis)

Fifth row:

Barry M. Gough, Gunboat Frontier: British Maritime Authority and Northwest Coast Indians, 1846-1890 (1984)

Edward Jones-Imhotep, The Unreliable Nation: Hostile Nature and Technological Failure in the Cold War (2017)*

Larry A. Glassford, Reaction and Reform: The Politics of the Conservative Party under R.B. Bennett, 1927-1938 (1992)

Don Nerbas, Dominion of Capital: The Politics of Big Business and the Crisis of the Canadian Bourgeoisie, 1914-1947 (2013)

James Naylor, The Fate of Labour Socialism: The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and the Dream of a Working-Class Future (2016)

Michael Martin, The Red Patch: Political imprisonment in Hull, Quebec during World War 2 (2007)

Sixth Row:

Ruán O'Donnell, Special Category: The IRA in English Prisons, Vol. 1: 1968-1978 (2012)*

Ruán O'Donnell, Special Category: The IRA in English Prisons, Vol. 2: 1978-1985 (2015)*

Cheryl D. Hicks, Talk with You Like a Woman: African American Women, Justice, and Reform in New York, 1890-1935 (2010)*

Clarence Jefferson Hall, A Prison in the Woods: Environment and Incarceration in New York's North Country (2020)

Scott Thompson, "Consequences of Categorization: National Registration, Surveillance and Social Control in Wartime Canada, 1939-1946." (2013 thesis)

H.V. Nelles, The Politics of Development: Forests, Mines, and Hydro-Electric Power in Ontario, 1849-1941 (2005)+

Seventh row:

Chief Thomas Fiddler & James R. Stevens, Killing the Shamen (1985)

Ashley Johnson Bavery, Bootlegged Aliens: Immigration Politics on America's Northern Border (2020)

Patrick Brode, Dying for a Drink: How a Prohibition Preacher Got Away with Murder (2018)

Hamish Maxwell-Stewart & Michael Quinlan, Unfree Workers: Insubordination and Resistance in Convict Australia, 1788-1860 (2022)*

Victor Serge, translated by Ralph Manheim, Last Times (1946, 2022 NYRB edition)

Christopher Cauldwell, Studies in a Dying Culture (1938)

#books #reading #books 2023 #year end list #2023 reading list #canadian history #prison history #academic quote #academic research #academic books #australian history #british history

6 notes · View notes

movies-to-add-to-your-tbw · 6 months

Text

Title: Batman: Year One

Rating: PG-13

Director: Lauren Montgomery, Sam Liu

Cast: Ben McKenzie, Bryan Cranston, Eliza Dushku, Jon Polito, Alex Rocco, Katee Sackhoff, Sara Ballantine, Jeff Bennett, Steve Blum, Roark Critchlow, Grey DeLisle, Robin Atkin Downes, Keith Ferguson, Danny Jacobs, Nick Jameson, Liliana Mumy, Pat Musick

Release year: 2011

Genres: action, crime

Blurb: Wealthy playboy Bruce Wayne and Chicago cop Jim Gordon both return to Gotham City, where their lives unexpectedly intersect.

#batman year one #pg13 #lauren montgomery #sam liu #ben mckenzie #bryan cranston #eliza dushku #jon polito #alex rocco #2011 #action #crime

1 note · View note

theimpossiblescheme · 5 years

Photo

Even More Overlooked Bat Ladies with @ummmmandy piccrew, inspired by the series by @dykecassandrawayne

barbara, charlotte, lucy, rocky, sonia, rochelle, tina, and tris

#dc #barbara wilson #charlotte gage-radcliffe #lucy quinzel #rocky ballantine #sonia alcana #rochelle wayne #tina sung #tris plover #And yes that is Barbara from 'Batman and Robin' because I am nothing if not thorough. XD

26 notes · View notes

velvet-cupcake-games · 4 years

Note

What are your writing inspirations? Love the demo!

Thanks, and thank you for the awesome question!

I’ve always been a reader, so there are a ton of authors who have inspired me over the years. As a teenager I consumed a ridiculous amount of classic British literature, including your Austins and Brontës and such. I still have a great deal of fondness for writers from the UK, so apologies to North Americans who encounter the occasional fun word like “barmy” in Made Marion. I can’t help myself!

Beyond classic literature, I’m a huge fan of fantasy fiction. I grew up in the ‘80s when there weren’t nearly as many well-known female authors in the genre as there are today. I owe a great debt to authors like Robin McKinley, Jennifer Roberson, Sharon Shinn, and Barbara Hambly for inspiring me as a young woman. Robin Hood fans might be particularly interested in McKinley’s The Outlaws of Sherwood, which I adored and has definitely influenced Made Marion.

Other fantasy authors of particular note in my history include Charles de Lint, Tad Williams, Phillippa Ballantine, Lois McMaster Bujold, Emily Gee, and Patricia Briggs. I’ve also been inspired and educated by a slew of authors who gave me an anti-racist education: Audre Lorde, Gwendolyn Brooks, Michael Harriot, Roxane Gay, Toni Morrison, and many more.

Finally, my education in the social sciences has greatly influenced my world-building and the themes of my work. I majored in sociology and anthropology as an undergrad and learned a lot about the amazing diversity of humanity and how “common sense” thought about society is often devastatingly wrong. I got my MA in immigration and settlement studies here in Canada, which in particular influenced my desire to write about characters who bridge cultures, like John, Will, Meissa, and Geoffrey.

I could probably talk about books, writing, and learning cool stuff all day. Thanks again for asking!

18 notes · View notes

www-islandofsodor · 3 years

Text

Perfect Sodor U.S voice cast (anyone not featured on this list will remain in the role as they were):

Yuri Lowenthal: Thomas

Sam Vincent: Percy

Christopher Daniel Barnes: Toby

Jeff Bergman: Eustace

Billy West: Howard

Dwight Schultz: Dwight

Sam Riegel: Derek the Paxman Diesel

Jeff Bennet: Billy & Duck the Great Western Engine

Mark Williams: Toad the Brakevan

Jennifer Hale: Mavis

Danica McKeller: Rosie

Jim Meskimen: Henry

David Kaye: Edward

Tom Kane: Mr. Fergus Duncan

Colm Feore: Willory the Furness Engine

Martin Freeman: William

Lucy Montgomery: Marigold the Quarry Crane (Merrick’s genderbent counterpart)

William Salyers: Dolgoch

Eddie Perino: James the Red Engine

Minty Lewis: Molly

Will Friedle: Bill

Jason Marsden: Ben

Clancy Brown: Boco

Jonathan Wilson: Patrick the Cement Mixer

Andrea Baker: Isabella the lorry

Jamie Watson: Bulstrode

Joe Pingue: Whiff the Garbage Engine

Jodi Benson: Old Slow Coach

Travis Willingham: Gordon the big engine

Troy Baker: Spencer the Private Engine

Rick Wasserman: Byron The Bulldozer

Josh Keaton: Jack the Front Loader

Lester Loren: Alfie the Excavator

John DiMaggio: Buster the Steamroller & Lord Callan

Mark Hamil: George the Steamroller

Pierce Brosnan: Murdoch

Thomas Middleditch: Stanley

Kevin Micheal Richardson: Max & Monty

Roz Ryan: Rosetta (Flora’s tram coach)

Kate Micucci: Flora the Great Waterton Steam Tram

Micheal Rosenbaum: Bernie the Bus (Formerly Bertie)

Sara Ballantine: Ali the bus (Formerly Algy)

Tom Kenny: Peter Sam

Jason Spisak: Sir Handel

Bob Joles: Bertram

Mike Judge: Hank

James Arnold Taylor: Dennis

Kari Walhgren: Emily the Sterling Engine

Kate Higgins: Pip & Emma

Susan Eisenberg: Kelly the Crane (genderbent)

Trevor Duvall: Smudger

Phil Lamar: Skarloey & Terence the Tractor

Dee Bradly Baker: Rheneas

Stephen Stanton: Fearless Freddie

Maurice LaMaurche: Mr. Hugh

Maria Canals-Barrera: Risty (genderbent/non-binary Rusty)

Frank Welker: The Duke of Boxford

Ted Atherton: Mighty

Danny Smith: Mac

Kath Souice: The Duchess of Boxford

Joe Swash: Stepney the bluebell engine

Steve Purcell: Cromford the bluebell engine

Michelle Aang: Bernice the GW Lemon drop engine

Mark Oliver: City of Truro

Alan Cumming: Lachlan

Neil Crone: Splatter

Kevin Frank: Dodge

Vanessa Marshall: Andrea the Narrow Gauge express engine

Colin McFarlane: Bert the diesel & Richard the new express engine

Greg Whalen: Duncan

Fred Tatasciore: Bear

Bill Hillfager: Ned the Steamshovel

Bob Golding: Eric

Grey Griffin: Bertha

Scott Thompson: Elizabeth

Tony Nappo: Cranky the Crane

Keith Scott: Diesel 10

Eric Roberts: Devious Diesel

Taliesin Jaffe: Arthur The LMS Engine

Christian Bale: Paxton

Jonny Harris: Oliver the Great Western Engine

Carlos Alazraqui: Douglas

Hank Azaria: Old Bailey

Tress MacNeille: Lily

Eddie Deezem: Fergus

David Tennant: Neville

Dominic Monaghan: Donald

David Menkin: Jeremy the Jet Plane

Nolan North: Porter

JB Blanc: Arry the diesel

David Foley: Mr. Percival

Siobhan Flynn: Miss Jenny Packard

Nicola Stapleton: Sydney the forgetful diesel (genderbent)

Danielle Judovits: Ivy (genderbent Ivo Hugh)

Cam Clarke: Orlando the Excavator

Emma Thompson: Gwen (genderbent Den)

Leigh-Allyn Baker: Colleen the Wharf Crane (genderbent Colin)

Jess Harnell: Nelson

Erica Lindbeck: Franny (genderbent Fred the diesel)

Greg Cipes: Ryan

Ashley Johnson: Rebecca

Laura Bailey: Annie & Clarabel

Aries Spears: Horrid Lorries

Gary Anthony Williams: Jem Cole

Rupert Degas: Trevor the traction engine

Rob Paulson: Reverend Charles Laxly- Vicar of Wellsworth

Henry Ian Cusick: Harold the Helicopter

Paul Dobson: Duke the lost engine

Tara Strong: Nancy (a conductor’s daughter)

Jules De Jongh: Maya Sarrengato (mayoress of Great Waterton)

Scott McNeil: Rocky the Crane

Joe Mills: Jock

Peter McNicol: Spamcan

Mick Wingert: Flynn the Firetruck

Olivia DeAbo: Olivia the Arlesdale tank engine

Robin Atkin Downes: Cyril the Arlesdale diesel & Boxhill (Stepney’s twin brother)

Rob Rackshaw: Frank the diesel

Sara Cravens: Audrey Balsinde (deputy mayoress of Great Waterton)

Jaime Pressly: Caroline the car

#planetsodor #thomas and friends #fancast #us voice actors #perfect casting

2 notes · View notes

sallyhasopinions · 3 years

Text

Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman

Today I was trying to ease myself back into this whole process after skipping a day by choosing a shorter movie than average, the 2003 direct-to-video Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman. This was a mistake, as it took me in the neighborhood of four hours to watch it and take notes. This movie is an hour and fifteen minutes in length, but I take notes like I’m going to be tested later and I had to keep pausing to catch up. It’s animated and filled with superheroes, so the pacing was faster than I was prepared for.

Spoilers below; you’ve been warned.

I took fifteen pages of notes for this plot description.

Note - In the interest of relative brevity I am going to assume that readers have at least a passing familiarity with Batman.

The film opens on a seemingly innocuous car hauler and following car driving through the night before being intercepted by a mysterious Bat~woman~, who interferes with the disguised cargo, revealing it to be weaponry, and battles the men in both vehicles. This fight draws the attention of Batman and Robin, coincidentally cruising by in their jet, who interfere to save the lives of the truck drivers and make note of this mysterious woman who is totally jacking their brand.

As Bats stresses over who could possibly be behind the mask, the Penguin is visited by criminal colleagues Thorne and Duquesne, who break the news about the ruined shipment and the newest Bat on the block. The Batwoman also appears on the news, and Commissioner Gordon even questions Batman directly about who she is, though he has no information.

At Wayne Tech, Bruce sits through a presentation by clumsy employee Dr. Roxanne (Rocky) Ballantine, where she demonstrates a new alloy of “programmable” metal that can be made to take different shapes. Bruce invites her to dinner, but their evening is interrupted by the appearance of the Bat-Signal.

Commissioner Gordon, along with detectives Sonia Alcana and Bullock, have recovered the weapons destroyed in Batwoman’s battle and identified them as high-tech plasma rifles of unknown origin. Batman deduces from the distinctive keychain holding the truck’s keys that they have come from a business owned by the Penguin, Thorne, and Duquesne.

Investigating the shady business, Batman and Robin find Batwoman already there and causing trouble. The boys step in to help when she is surrounded by thugs, only to find out from her that she has rigged bombs in the rooms below them, and they all need to make their escape. As the building is destroyed, she explains that they were manufacturing weapons for illegal export. Batman demands to know who she is, but she tells him he’ll have to figure it out himself and escapes. He tracks her to Duquesne’s home, where he gets into a tussle with some bodyguards and Duquesne himself demands that Batman leave his property.

Now suspecting Duquesne’s daughter Kathy to be the Batwoman, Bruce and Alfred spend the next day tailing her as she goes on a shopping spree. She incidentally recruits Bruce to help her escape her bodyguards in a shopping center, and he agrees. The two of them speed off in her car and she tells him about herself, her mother, and how she blames her father for her mother’s death before they are located by her bodyguards and she agrees to go home.

Batman immediately passes on his suspicions about Kathy and her potential motive of revenge for her mother’s death to Commissioner Gordon, Sonia, and Bullock, and shares the information regarding the Penguin’s illicit weapons factory. The police put a tail on Kathy while Bruce researches her on his own.

Batwoman breaks into Thorne’s office to photograph evidence from his files as Thorne and the Penguin decide their next steps in completing their arms deal in light of the destruction of their factory. She is discovered, but escapes after a scuffle with the men. Later, Kathy overhears her father Duquesne raging as he discovers that the Penguin, with Thorne’s support, has called in additional help to complete the deal.

At Wayne Tech, Rocky shows Robin how to reach a game’s bonus level. Bruce reminds him that Alfred is waiting for him. Rocky tells Bruce she has been working late, but their casual chat is interrupted by the arrival of Kathy Duquesne, who has dressed up and come to ask Bruce out that evening.

Sonia and Bullock follow Kathy and Bruce to the Iceberg Lounge, a club owned by the Penguin and filled with Duquesne’s associates. They are greeted warmly by the Penguin himself. Bruce asks Kathy about her intentions in bringing him to a place full of her father’s associates that are sure to report to him, and she takes offense to his tone and excuses herself from their table. Meanwhile, the Penguin takes a telephone call from his new associate, who has agreed to assist with their arms deal and will meet him at the club shortly. Batwoman, lurking in the shadows of the Penguin’s office, is spotted as he completes his phone call. She restrains him with a metallic device and begins questioning him about his new associate, but the Penguin manages to push a panic button under his desk, causing two of his lackeys to come to his aid just as he reveals that it is Bane who will be helping to facilitate the arms deal.

The fight that ensues sends Batwoman through the office wall and crashing onto the club’s dance floor, causing immediate chaos and confusion. Sonia and Bullock outside the club call for backup as patrons flee the continuing battle. Just as the Penguin has Batwoman cornered, Batman swoops in to prevent him from shooting her. Batwoman is able to escape and as she flies away, Batman sees that Kathy is standing in a nearby doorway - she cannot have been Batwoman. Distracted by this revelation, Batman is caught off-guard by a chair to the back and is knocked into the pool at the center of the club. The Penguin starts shooting into the water as Batman sets up an underwater explosive to destroy the pool and serve as a distraction to allow him to slip away.

Bruce escorts Kathy safely home, where they exchange apologies about the evening at the door. They nearly kiss, but are interrupted when one of the bodyguards enters and tells her that Duquesne is looking for her. Kathy leaves with the bodyguard once again.

Batman and Sonia discuss the information they’ve uncovered at the lounge. Sonia points out that Kathy must not be Batwoman as they were seen at the lounge at the same time. Bruce provides Sonia with a piece of the restraining device that Batwoman had used on the Penguin as a piece of potential evidence. Sonia intimates that Batman saved her life nine years prior, during an arson fire set by Thorne’s lackeys, and that this incident is what led to her becoming a detective. Working in the batcave, Bruce identifies the material used in Batwoman’s restraining device as the same programmable alloy that Rocky was working with at Wayne Tech.

Rocky goes to prison visitation to see her boyfriend Kevin, who has been serving the past four years after being convicted of a crime actually committed by the Penguin. She tells him she is trying to get someone who works for the Penguin to talk, and Kevin expresses his displeasure that she is putting herself in danger by spying on known criminals. Kevin breaks up with her, telling her not to waste her time when it will be another five years before he will even be eligible for parole. She returns home and finds Batman waiting for her. He accuses her of being Batwoman, explaining he is aware that her boyfriend was framed and that he has found her more advanced designs for her alloy on her home computer. Rocky denies that she has done anything illegal, and Batman warns her about the dangers of continued vigilantism as Batwoman.

Thorne and the Penguin meet up with Duquesne to go meet with their new associate, tailed by Batwoman. After discussing the terms of their agreement, Bane and the Penguin go over their plans to transport the weapons that night, sailing them out to international waters onboard a luxury cruise ship. Batwoman listens in.

Batman abruptly realizes that he knew Rocky’s whereabouts during one of the previous Batwoman sightings, thus she cannot have been Batwoman either. Alfred passively remarks that she can’t be in two places at once unless she has the power to duplicate herself, causing Batman to consider that Kathy and Rocky could both be using the Batwoman persona. He asks Robin to investigate any possible link between the two women and goes to search for further evidence himself.

Batwoman returns to her secret lair with the details of the criminals’ plans in hand. Rocky appears from the shadows and says that Batman is onto her and will surely ruin their plans. As she worries, Kathy also enters the scene and agrees with her that Batman has been catching on too quickly. Batwoman points out that he thought Kathy was Batwoman only two days before and was now accusing Rocky, so he would probably move on to suspecting someone else soon. Removing her mask, Batwoman - revealed to be Sonia - assures them that she would know about it if he had any new theories. They are too close to success to quit now, and just have to stop the shipment tonight.

Batman breaks into Kathy’s room and begins searching for evidence that might tie her to Rocky or the Batwoman persona. As he stands in her art studio, flipping through her sketchbook, Robin contacts him to report that he has found no connection between them. Batman, however, recognizes one of the sketches, and tells Robin that the two women just needed someone to introduce them.

Kathy and Sonia review their plans to infiltrate the cruise ship carrying the weapons. Rocky provides Kathy with a bomb to destroy the weapons onboard, and Kathy sets out as Batwoman to disrupt the shipment. She boards just as the ship is leaving the harbor and successfully reaches the weapons cache, but as she is preparing to set the explosive she is suddenly attacked by Bane.

Thorne, the Penguin, and Duquesne are waiting for word of their success when the telephone rings. Bane has called them to report that he has captured the Batwoman and is waiting for them in the harbor. The three men hurry to leave.

Sonia is watching the ship from a rooftop when Batman joins her and accuses her of knowing Kathy. He shows her the drawing from Kathy’s sketchbook - a younger Sonia - and says that the two of them took art classes together. He then accuses that she also knows Rocky, Sonia attempts to deny this, but Batman knows that they were roommates as college freshmen. He continues his accusations by identifying her as the mastermind of their Batwoman scheme. Sonia, obligingly, delivers her Motive Rant about her desire to get revenge on Thorne for having ruined her parents’ business with his arson fire. As they stand in a moment of tension, Sonia’s phone rings. Rocky has called to report that something has gone terribly wrong with their plan, and asks Sonia what they are going to do.

The Penguin, Thorn, and Duquesne take a speedboat to rendezvous with the cruise ship in the harbor. Unknown to them, Batman and Robin follow via submarine. Onboard the cruise ship, the trio meet with Bane, who has captured Batwoman. Bane explains that he called them once he figured out who she was, and removes Batwoman’s mask, revealing Kathy to her father and his associates. Thorne and the Penguin immediately accuse Duquesne of duplicity, while Bane shows them the bomb she intended to plant onboard.

Duquesne and Kathy argue bitterly about their mutual feelings of betrayal. The Penguin realizes that he also saw Kathy and Batwoman at the club at the same time, and thus she must have accomplices. He threatens her with toxic gases, much to the dismay of Duquesne. Bane restrains Duquesne while the Penguin continues interrogating her, only to be interrupted once again by the arrival of Batman, who disarms Thorne and begins to battle Bane. Kathy, her hands cuffed behind her back, manages to kick the Penguin away and get her shackled hands in front of her before Batman grabs her mid-Tarzan Swing. They flee as Thorne shoots one of the plasma rifles at them, causing large amounts of destruction.

Bane contacts the crew to have them begin sailing out towards international waters as quickly as possible. Robin tails the cruise ship in the submarine, while in-costume Rocky and Sonia fly in, awaiting a signal from Batman. Thorne and Duquesne argue, while the Penguin notices that the bomb is missing, causing Bane to threaten Duquesne. Batman and Kathy have escaped to an engine room, where he removes her handcuffs and informs her that her friends are here to rescue her. Kathy plants the bomb, warning him that it can’t be removed without detonating and they now have two minutes before the explosion.

Thorne and the Penguin retreat to the speedboat, where they are spotted by the other Batwomen, who disarm them and demand to know Kathy’s location. Kathy and Batman escape to an outer pool deck, only to discover a chained and beaten Duquesne being swung above the pool by Bane. Bane tosses Duquesne into the pool, and Kathy dives in after him while Batman meets Bane. Underwater, Kathy attempts to unchain her father while Batman and Bane fight. When Bane is knocked from the higher deck of the ship while tangled in his own chain, Duquesne and Kathy are both rapidly pulled out of the water. Batman manages to ensure that they are on the deck before the bomb detonates, knocking him off the higher deck.

There are several inexplicable explosions that follow the bomb blast. Fire rapidly overtakes the weapon stores, which leads to another, larger explosion. The crew abandons ship. Rocky is seen flying with her cape and cowl on fire, which she removes. Sonia has been knocked into the water by the blast. Rocky swims to rescue her, but the Penguin spots her from the speedboat and attempts to run them over. Robin deflects the speedboat with the submarine, and takes Sonia aboard, leaving Rocky free to pursue the speedboat.

Bane and Batman continue their battle, which Batman, outmatched and injured, attempts to flee. Kathy is dangling by her cape from a piece of debris over a crater in the damaged ship. Duquesne looks over the ledge above her, sees her in this predicament, and crawls away. Her cape begins tearing, and she struggles to hold onto it, until a life ring is thrown down. Kathy grabs onto the life ring and Duquesne hauls her up to safety.

Thorne and the Penguin lament the sinking ship as they depart on the speedboat, commenting that at least it will take some Bats with it as it sinks. Rocky suddenly grapples onto the back of their boat from her rocket glider. Thorne attempts to shoot her down, but she uses the cable to entangle a buoy, which jerks the speedboat to a sudden stop and throws Thorne and the Penguin into the harbor.

Batman and Bane continue to fight, with Batman deploying a restraint device much like the one previously used on the Penguin by Batwoman. This manages to incapacitate Bane long enough that Batman can grapple himself away just before the ship strikes a bridge and runs aground. The impact causes Bane to fall into a pit of fire that is entirely without context. Batman dangles from his grappling device attached to the bridge, injured by Bane and struggling to hold on. Sonia, on her own rocket glider, manages to rescue him before he falls into the flaming debris below. Rocky and Sonia, Batman in tow, both confirm that Kathy and Duquesne are secure on another boat. Firefighters attempt to extinguish the blazing wreck as Commissioner Gordon and Detective Bullock observe the scene from a police boat. Sonia, unmasked, flies over to them to deliver the injured Batman to Commissioner Gordon.

At police headquarters, Sonia packs up her desk. Batman appears and expresses his belief that the city is losing a good cop with her exit. She reminds him that she is lucky she is not being prosecuted for her actions. Batman gives her an envelope, which he explains contains exculpatory evidence that will allow Rocky’s boyfriend Kevin to be released, and leaves.

Rocky and Kathy loiter outside the prison. Kathy explains that she used to hate her father, but now feels sorry for him since he’s been locked up. She inquires about Bruce, who she says has not been in contact with her since their disastrous date. The pair are interrupted by Kevin, freshly released. He and Rocky embrace, apparently no longer broken up. Kathy leaves them, only to find Bruce leaning against her car, waiting for her. The two of them drive off together as the credits music begins.

Do I even have the energy to review this?

It’s now been seven hours since I started watching this movie, which I was neither over- nor underwhelmed by. Consider me demiwhelmed maybe. The scene at the Iceberg Lounge includes an inexplicable pop song called Betcha Never which is performed by a cartoon cameo of the actual artist, Cherie, who was not to my knowledge even remotely recognizable or notable to the target audience of animated Batman films at the time. Overall it has not aged super well.

The Metrics:

Bechdel Test: Failed. The three women don’t get a ton of screen time together, and when they do, they are exclusively talking about men.

Mako Mori Test: Failed. Each of these women is motivated solely by a desire to act against men who have wronged them, and do so whilst partially usurping the identity of another man. One of them is acting against a man who wronged another man and not herself.

Representation, etc:

For a movie that’s nominally about three women it’s kind of a shitshow in how it perceives and portrays women, even aside from the issues of their motivations mentioned above. Kathy is a major victim of this in particular.

Early on in the film, Alfred makes a reference to the Rudyard Kipling poem The Female of the Species. This is a fairly common cultural reference, but a sexist poem espousing sexist views.

Kathy Duquesne is shown to be an avid and frivolous shopping enthusiast. At one point, while shopping, she says “Worst thing that could happen is I’ll need a size eight,” which is one of the most disturbingly open instances of body-shaming I’ve ever heard in media meant for CHILDREN.

Kathy is catcalled repeatedly by men who are presumably associates of her FATHER at the Iceberg Lounge, and this is not treated as harmful or even particularly bothersome to her.

Kathy’s father literally raises his hand to backhand her and tells her to shut up after she has been unmasked. This is, again, children’s media.

Bruce receives a brief call from Barbara Gordon in which she behaves jealously about the idea of a Batwoman and is openly flirtatious with him. Bruce appears to be in his 30s, Barbara is away at college and presumably no older than 21. Bruce gets out of this conversation by rustling papers and pretending his cell signal is breaking up.

All three female characters have essentially identical body models and extremely similar facial features. It would be extremely difficult to tell them apart if they weren’t designed as a white/black/latina trio.

When Rocky rescues Sonia who is at risk of drowning in the harbor, the way they are drawn and physically interact seems very much a creation by and for the male gaze. They also somehow manage to float in the water at about lower ribcage level, keeping those breasts well above the surface in clear defiance of the laws of physics.

There’s a ~fun~ little nugget of homophobia at one point when Rocky and Bruce are chatting. Rocky mentions that she is working late, but her boyfriend is very understanding. She then asks, “what about yours?” Before Bruce even reacts, she panics and corrects herself, clarifying that she meant girlfriend. Bruce, to his credit, responds that he doesn’t have anybody special.

Final Scores:

Deaths: Batman doesn’t like killing people, so probably none. Bane did fall in that weird pit of flames though.

Smooches: None. Nearly one, interrupted.

Sex: None; this is for kids.

Substance Use/Abuse: Nope.

Violence: Moderate to heavy by kids standards, but I’d say about average for the superhero genre.

Profanity: None.

Watch with Kids: I have real problems with the way women are portrayed in this and I probably wouldn’t let a child watch it.

Watch with Parents: Nothing in here is NSFP.

Sally Says: This is probably for DCAU/Batman fans only. Y’all, it’s been over nine hours since I started watching this freaking movie. It’s technically tomorrow for me now.

#movie review #film review #movies #films #dcau #review #bechdel fail #mako mori fail #batman mystery of the batwoman #sally has opinions

1 note · View note

dduane · 5 years

Note

What would be on your recommended reading list for someone who wants to write epic fantasy?

Oh, gosh. That’s a tall order, and there’s a barb in its tail: what works as effective fantasy reading material for one reader isn’t necessarily going to work for another. But sampling as many “flavors” as possible -- of fantasy in general, before drilling down to the “epic” level -- seems like a good goal.

I would go back to works of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and work forward. The classic paperback Ballantine Fantasy editions (available used, though out of print, and/or shelved in a lot of libraries) are a good way to do this. I would pay special attention to: Lord Dunsany, Clark Ashton Smith, E. R. Eddison, William Hope Hodgson, William Morris, James Branch Cabell, Hope Mirrlees, David Lindsay, Thorne Smith, Sylvia Townsend Warner, Selma Lagerlof, E(dith) Nesbit, Abraham Merritt, and Edgar Rice Burroughs. Among them, though all these writers are idiosyncratic, the common theme of what starts looking like “epic fantasy” -- big sweeping stories with wide scope and large-ish casts of characters -- is taking shape.

Closer in time to us, material that would be widely accepted by most people trying to define the term “epic” gets a little easier to find and pull into the classification. I would recommend reading Ray Feist, Roger Zelazny, Elizabeth Moon, Robert Jordan, J. V. Jones, Clive Barker, Patricia McKillip, Jim Butcher, Julian May, Patrick Rothfuss, Jack Vance, Glen Cook, Robin Hobb, Guy Gavriel Kay, Stephen Donaldson, Garth Nix, Susan Cooper, and Dave Duncan.

Hope this helps!

149 notes · View notes

sadbi-hours · 4 years

Photo

Here it is! Finally! My Stranger things’ Fanfic Rec list I’ve put off for months yooo! Anyway, I hope you find something to read and enjoy y’all :)

(Oh, the * at the front of the fic title means they are my favorites!)

* objects in the mirror by Snickfic (Complete)

Jonathan has no f**king idea why Nancy and Steve gave him the Nikon. He doesn't know why they're so insistent on seeing the pictures he takes, either.

why you should read it?:one reason: you can’t tell me that Jonathan doesn’t have a thing for taking pics during sexy times! you just can’t...and this fanfic is the reason why!

And you understand now why they lost their minds and fought the wars Series by Drhair76 (WIP)

The many adventures of Steve, Jonathan and Nancy as they figure out their relationship. (feat. Robin, the kiddos and a heck ton of parental figures.)

why you should read it?: Because Steve/Nancy/Jonathan’s relationship is the cutest thing in this little series...but it’s also very real in a way that’s not supernatural. Just go read the series! Warning: It does get a little angsty in later parts!

Emotion Sickness by Shypt (WIP)

After the Battle of Starcourt, Steve struggles with the damages that the Russians left behind. In dealing with the aftermath, with the help of Robin and the Party, he uncovers a larger conspiracy at hand than just re-opening the Gate.

why you should read it?: Post s3 fic, where Robin and Steve are left with powers after the Russian’s experiments...and how they deal with that and the large conspiracy at behind why.

* it's a risk, it's a gamble by nondz (pinkjook) (Complete)

“I think we should pretend to date,” Robin says.

"What?" Steve answers.

why you should read it?: read this post and all my feelings will be revealed...or aka the emotionally sweet stoncy fic where Robin and Steve pretend to be each others beards... that might have made me weep silently a few times haha!

* Strike from the Records (it's not over 'till we're done) by SylphofScript (Complete)

If there’s one more thing Steve should have walked away with after so many incidents with the otherworldly, it’s to never trust the slow points.

They were only ever a blanket of lies, covering up a brewing storm.

Too bad Steve never learns.

why you should read it?: A long connective fic, where each character is common or not so common whamp trope! So beware, it gets super angsty in parts!

Have Happened by cortexikid (Complete)

"I overheard you. You were talking in your sleep.”

Steve's heart fluttered nervously.

“It was a little funny at first,” Nancy admitted, her tone a mix of teasing and apologetic, “you were moaning my name and I thought it’d be kinda funny if Mike accidentally overheard you having a sex dream about his sister—”

Steve couldn’t control the guffaw that escaped him.

“But then you said Jonathan’s name. Right after mine. All in the same breath.”

why you should read it?: You know, why not! I’ll admit, this story doesn’t entirely work for me anymore since the monster hunting trio had grown so far from their s1 characterizations, but it’s still a fic worth reading! So i am rec-ing it!

Slide Over Here by empathieves (Complete)

Nancy says Jonathan's name instead of Steve's two weeks after the Monster Hunting Incident. Steve says it instead of Nancy's name a month after. They don't talk about it until two months after, when it's become increasingly hard to ignore that Jonathan Byers has become a part of their sex life without even being in the room.

why you should read it?: Another post s1 fic, where Nancy and Steve slowly start bringing Jonathan’s name into their sex life...and how they eventually act on their desires!

Searching For Your Heart by cali-chan (girls_are_weird) (Complete)

One of the world's biggest action movie superstars is coming to town, and every kid in Hawkins High is determined to win MTV's back-to-school scavenger hunt and get a face-to-face meeting with their idol. Mike and his friends are sure they've got this in the bag— until the contest throws a wrench in their plans and their only shot at winning is partnering up with Mike's longtime crush, El Hopper.

why you should read it?: I’ll admit I didn’t finish this story...I was a little too fluffy for my tastes, but It’s still a cute story worth reading!

Bad at Love (Can You Blame Me for Trying) by GeoffsEightGreatestMistakes (Complete)

He liked to think the world was done throwing him curveballs. He’s had to kill the Demogorgon, get his face punched in by a crazed stepbrother, listen to his drunk girlfriend tell him she doesn’t love him, and tell his best friend that he’s a piece of shit. He thought he had somehow managed to catch enough curveballs for a lifetime. He was wrong. The newest curveball may be the hardest one yet.

why you should read it?: It’s Stoncy and my fav romantic angst trope: (not so) unrequited love/Pining!

* every night my mind is running around her by magneticwave (Complete)

In which Nancy gets married, Lucas gets hot, and Dustin gets to give lots of people advice that he’s only moderately qualified to dispense.

why you should read it?: This was my first ever ST fanfic! I had to add it on principal...of it being absolutely amazing lol!

* Ducks on the Pond by The Stephanois (ballantine) (Complete)

Steve Harrington knows two things to be true: the St. Louis Cardinals are the best baseball team in the world, and Nancy Wheeler is far too amazing for him to hog all to himself.

why you should read it?: It’s one of my all time favorite stoncy fics, it combines two things I absolutely love into one story: Poly relationships and Baseball (I won a MVP trophy in HS for Pitching) ...and also uses the age old euphemism of bases for sex;)

Across the Many Miles by FeoplePeel (Complete)

Nancy packed her bags and moved out West for Caltech. Jonathan’s East at NYU. Steve’s in the middle, Hawkins, Indiana and separated from the only people who understand by a seemingly endless stretch of land on each side. The story doesn't start there, but it doesn't end there, either.

why you should read it?: It’s actually been so long since I’ve read this one...and bruh is it long...so it’s definitely not a causal read, but it’s very very good read if you have the time for a long, long story.

* let this pass you by CallicoKitten (Complete)

Steve’s not entirely sure at which point in his life he became Dustin Henderson’s personal chauffeur. Okay, maybe that’s not entirely true. Maybe he can pinpoint the exact moment it happened and it honestly keeps him awake at night more than the demo-dogs or the Demogorgon or any of the insane shit that’s happened in Hawkins recently.

---

the kids drag steve on a trip to chicago to find El's sister, steve figures some shit out in the process

why you should read it?: It’s stoncy, the party, and a road trip all rolled into one...what more can you ask for haha?!

Talk Me Down by anomalation (Complete)

Nancy knows what she wants: Steve and Jonathan both, and maybe a fight. Steve knows he'd do anything for these dorky kids. Jonathan doesn't seem to want anything, but he'd also never ask them. And none of them are interested in forgiving Billy.

Featuring: some D&D, a Christmas party, a lot of relationship negotiating, no excuses for shitty behavior, and yet also the firm belief that nobody deserves abusive parents.

why you should read it?: Another really long, long fic that I completely enjoyed the one time I read it...and It had a nice and real redemption arc for Billy that I liked.

* For the Three of Us by brokenpromisesandhope

5 times Jonathan loved Steve and Nancy and one time they loved him back.

why you should read it?: The summary pretty much says it all...

* decide on me (decide on us) by mjolnirbreaker (Complete)

Robin could very well die tonight in her stupid work uniform, and honestly she doesn’t want to dwell on it. So she’s going to make it her personal mission to figure out what’s up with Steve’s romantic life, and hopefully they don’t die before she solves the puzzle.

why you should read it?: It amazes me to this day...just how close to canon this author had gotten for Robin’s characterization and her relationship with Steve!

* fly me to the moon by bleuboxes (Complete)

It's a Saturday night; he's watching one of those Star Wars movies with Robin - who won't shut up about how hot Leia looks.

Steve mentions something briefly about how he likes Han’s hair, rugged tough guy appearance, and general aloofness. Robin rolls her eyes, mutters an 'of course you do', then throws popcorn at his face.

why you should read it?: Okay, I related way too well to this story! Han Solo was one of my bisexual awakens too...and I didn’t realize until years later lol! It’s also a sweet story about how Robin slowly helps Steve through his awakening like a real BFF should.

God Help the Outcasts by willwrite4coffee (Complete)

Robin Buckley's always been a little different, but to her, that's never been a bad thing.

She's been on the outside looking in, an outcast, but she'd rather spend her evening with Sousa than at a kegger.

Being an outsider has never been a bad thing.

(also known as, why does no one know Robin in such a small town like Hawkins?)

why you should read it?: A cute little story about Robin and Steve’s friendship directly after the events of s3...and how the party and Nancy and Jonathan slowly begin to accept Robin into the fold.

Oh, and anything by @trulyalpha! Here’s the Ao3 link!

#stranger things #fanfic rec list #i am completely sure that i am missing some #but i've read a lot of st fanfics #so there is more than likely to be a part 2 #so yay...i guess lol #none of these works are mine....and if you want your tumblr link at the end #just dm me #image not mine

12 notes · View notes

thedeaditeslayer · 5 years

Photo

Bob Dorian, actor and magician who introduced classic films on AMC, dies at 85.

While we are late in sharing this, we would like to share our condolences to the friends and family of Bob Dorian, the original professor Knowby. Sam Raimi had actually paid him only $100 to record his lines for The Evil Dead. He will surely be missed. You can read the article below.

Bob Dorian, an actor, magician and avuncular movie buff who presented more than 10,000 classic films, B-movie serials and pre-Code Hollywood gems as the first prime-time host of American Movie Classics, died June 15. He was 85, although he often said he preferred to give his age by way of film history, declaring that he was “born between ‘Flying Down to Rio’ and ‘Top Hat.’ ”

His daughter Melissa Dorian confirmed the death but did not say precisely where or how he died, noting that the family prepared only a two-line obituary in keeping with his desire for privacy.

Mr. Dorian performed on the stage, radio, television and occasionally on film, appearing in two movies by one of his favorite contemporary directors, Woody Allen, and lending his voice to Sam Raimi’s 1981 horror classic “The Evil Dead” as an archaeologist whose tape-recorded readings from an ancient text summon demonic spirits to a cabin in the woods.

Bespectacled and bushy-browed, he began acting at 14; dabbled in stand-up comedy and trapeze-catching at the circus; played the bass in a New York jazz group, the Four Dimensions; and performed mind-reading tricks and other illusions as the Amazing Dorian, sometimes incorporating his wife and three daughters into his act.

“Women, cars — you name it and I’ve floated it,” he told The Washington Post in 1991, describing his powers of levitation. A magic performance he once gave in Saudi Arabia, he added, drove his audience from the room because “they thought I was doing the devil’s art.”

[He’s an expert, yes, but first, he’s a fan: Bob Dorian at AMC]

Mr. Dorian appeared in a 1976 television special alongside magicians David Copperfield and Carl Ballantine, but became far better known as the principal host of American Movie Classics, later shortened to AMC. The network launched in 1984 as a premium-cable showcase for old films, presenting movies without cuts or commercials a decade before the creation of Turner Classic Movies, the channel’s main competitor.

Although he was later joined by daytime hosts Gene Klavan and Nick Clooney, Mr. Dorian was “the heart and soul of AMC,” Los Angeles Times journalist Susan King wrote in 2002, about one year after Mr. Dorian left the network. His departure coincided with sweeping programming changes at AMC, where old movies were replaced with contemporary films and, eventually, original series such as “Mad Men.”

During his tenure, Mr. Dorian introduced movies with a two-minute segment filmed at a living-room set, where he roamed between bookshelves, a black Maltese falcon statue, and portraits of stars Jean Harlow and Hedy Lamarr.

Regaling viewers with Hollywood history and behind-the-scenes trivia, he explained how the filmmakers of “Casablanca” wrote the script as the movie was being made; how Bette Davis landed the lead role in “All About Eve” only after Claudette Colbert suffered a cracked vertebra while filming “Three Came Home”; and how no fewer than 188 actors had played the roles of Sherlock Holmes and his assistant, Dr. Watson.

While TCM host Robert Osborne was an urbane film historian, Mr. Dorian insisted that he was little more than a movie fan. “We never use tape-overs,” he told the Dallas Morning News in 1994, explaining his process. “If I make a mistake, we leave it in. I want to seem like a human being who enjoys movies, not a superior professor talking down to an audience.”

He recalled that he got the AMC hosting job in large part through chance, when he met a producer in the early 1980s after being cast as Dracula in a television ad for a video game. “It was a very long two-day shoot, with most of my time spent in a tight coffin filled with way too much smoke,” he told GoFatherhood, a parenting blog. “Lunchtime usually lapsed into long conversations about all those great old movies the producer and I enjoyed when we were growing up.”

The producer, Norm Blumenthal, later helped start AMC, and asked Mr. Dorian if he would be interested in serving as an announcer. Executives were considering “two Broadway actors, a well-known TV film critic and a few others who were more involved in writing as a profession,” Mr. Dorian said.

After Mr. Dorian was suggested as half of a Siskel-and-Ebert-style duo, one executive purportedly had a breakthrough. “Wait a minute,” Mr. Dorian recalled his saying. “The critic might not be too crazy about some of the films we’ve brought in. This guy Dorian likes everything!”

Indeed, he favored classics such as “Citizen Kane” and “King Kong” as well B-movie serials such as “Zombies of the Stratosphere,” encouraging viewers to give the 1952 science-fiction film a try — if only because it featured Leonard Nimoy, who later played the pointy-eared Spock, in a supporting role as a Martian.

Mr. Dorian was born in Brooklyn in April 1934, two months after the release of “It Happened One Night.” He rarely discussed his upbringing, aside from recounting the Saturdays he spent evading matrons at local movie theaters, where he watched three or more films for the price of a dime.

He later worked as a theater usher, a job that enabled him to catch 86 screenings of the swashbuckling 1950 film “Cyrano de Bergerac,” and appeared in television shows such as “Suspense” and “Studio One,” according to one Washington Post report.

Mr. Dorian performed in the Allen movies “The Curse of the Jade Scorpion” (2001) and “Hollywood Ending” (2002), along with an independent Civil War film, “The Last Confederate” (2005). He was also a mainstay of regional theater productions — including at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, N.J. — before retiring to Florida in recent years.

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Jane Dorian; three daughters, Melissa Dorian, Robin Dorian and Jane Dorian; and two grandchildren.

Mr. Dorian likened his work at AMC as that of a historian or archivist, keeping old films alive for younger generations. But he seemed to find equal — if not greater — delight in his theatrical performances, notably in a 1998 touring production of “The Wizard of Oz,” during which he served as the understudy to the wizard, played by Mickey Rooney, and began the show as Dorothy’s Uncle Henry.

“Then we go through the tornado scene,” he told the New York Times , explaining his transformation into a new character. “I’m upstairs becoming a citizen of Oz, and I come out a little bit later when the Winkies are working for the Wicked Witch. I’m the head Winkie. We hired a line of Broadway ensemble dancers to be the Winkies, and I kept saying, Couldn’t you put me behind these people?”

#Bob Dorian #The Evil Dead #Evil Dead

13 notes · View notes

ao3feed-harringrove · 5 years

Text

A Total Eclipse of Something, All Right

http://bit.ly/2UeDNyF

by The Stephanois (ballantine)

Steve is wiping down the back counter when Bonnie Tyler tells him to turn around.

Words: 2721, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Steve Harrington, Billy Hargrove, Robin (Stranger Things)

Relationships: Billy Hargrove/Steve Harrington

Additional Tags: Shopping Malls, Gratuitous Use of Bonnie Tyler, food service

read it on the AO3 at http://bit.ly/2UeDNyF

#IFTTT #ao3feed #fanfic #harringrove #billy hargrove #steve harrington #billy/steve #stranger things

5 notes · View notes

peanutty · 15 days

Text

a lil slice of life lately for the ballantines

#ballantine 1 #postcard legacy #postcard legacy challenge #the farmer #ts4 gameplay #ts4 legacy #sims 4 #ts4 #simblr #willa ballantine #andy anderson #bunny ballantine #fox ballantine #robin ballantine

69 notes · View notes

words-writ-in-starlight · 6 years

Note

Personally, I like the line where they refer to Tam Lin as her PREY. :D

God, yeah, okay, listen, I’m extremely weak to any narrative where the plot is “and then a fragile human looked at a creature that could definitely kill them and went ‘yeah, I’ll take that’” and that weakness has led me down some questionable roads in terms of literary quality, sure, but I also stand by it and Tam Lin has my back. I particularly like that kind of plot when it ends with the fragile human taking a couple levels in badass and the creature being like “Hm, it’s possible that I’m afraid of them, I’ll take that.”

I would recommend The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black if you’re into that, although the creature in that one is not actually the love interest, as well as Sunshine by Robin McKinley (which you know), although the creature in that one is a little Complicated, Geist by Philippa Ballantine, and the Iron Fey series by Julia Kagawa, which is probably the closest to what I specifically want from a novel in this instance. Also, as ever, the Kencyrath are good, although it’s kind of “a number of fragile humans looked at a creature that could definitely kill them, went ‘yeah, I’ll take that’, and then suffered the consequences” from the perspective of the creature.

My point here is that I want a version of Tam Lin that spends a lot of time and attention on the fact that Janet basically rolls up and goes “Mine now” to the roses and Tam Lin both without regard for the fact that the roses have thorns and the fae could DEFINITELY murder her, and then just brings pure raw stubbornness to bear on the situation until the world conforms to her preferences.

#tam lin #robin mckinley #kencyrath #other relevant tags #now the real question: IS THERE A DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST FANDOM ON THIS BLUE HELLSITE #HAS ANYONE ELSE READ THAT BOOK #IT'S A GREAT BOOK #IS THERE FIC ON AO3?????#so yeah my point here is that i have yet to find a novel that PRECISELY fills this void #so i guess i'm just going to write it my own damn self #and also honestly i want a novel that takes full and complete advantage of the fact that anything immortal is going to #uh #move right on from gender norms and sexuality limitations pretty darn quick #so LISTEN if there was ever gonna be a golden opportunity for me to do a nonbinary mc THIS IS THE MOMENT #so i'm not guaranteeing anything because that's not how i really...work with original novels #but i am really serious about wanting this novel to exist so #idiot teenagers with a queue #definitelynotscott #asked and answered

20 notes · View notes

phantom-le6 · 2 years

Text

Film Review - Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (Batman: TAS tie-in movie #3)

To complete my reviews on Batman: The Animated Series while also starting off my between-show film reviewing interlude, I’m now going to take a look at the one DCAU Batman film not included as part of the Blu-ray boxed set of the show, Mystery of the Batwoman…

Plot (as given by me):

Batman is concerned when a new costumed crime-fighter named Batwoman shows up in Gotham, taking out a shipment of illegal arms disguised as cars on a car transporter. Not only does Batman have no idea at first who Batwoman is, but she doesn’t display his restraint with regards to tackling criminals, risking their deaths multiple times. Barbara Gordon later calls Bruce about this, hinting that she has romantic feelings for her mentor, something Bruce is teased about by Tim Drake and Alfred. Meanwhile, the weapon shipment is part of a larger order being handled by the Penguin, organised crime boss Rupert Thorne and gangster Carlton Duquesne. Penguin is worried as they’ve already spent the money they were paid to manufacture the weapons, so if Batwoman destroys anymore shipments, the trio will be in serious trouble with their buyers. Penguin orders Duquesne to eliminate Batwoman, as he was brought in on the deal to provide muscle.

As Batman begins to investigate Batwoman, three women cross paths with him that each might be Batwoman. First is Kathy Duquesne, a talented athlete is also Carlton Duquesne’s daughter and blames her father for her mother’s death, the result of a botched hit on Carlton. Second is Roxanne “Rocky” Ballantine, a clumsy young woman working for Wayne Enterprises as a metallurgist, whose fiancé was framed by the Penguin for smuggling. Third, and finally, GCPD Detective Sonia Alcana, whose family was torn apart after one of Thorne’s protection rackets torched the home and business of Sonia’s parents. Each, however, has an alibi for one of Batwoman’s appearances, seemingly ruling each of them out. Ruling out Kathy is of particular delight for Bruce, who meets and falls for Kathy in his time as Bruce Wayne.

After a couple more incidents, Penguin decides they need additional help to ensure Batwoman won’t disrupt their main shipment. To this end, Bane is hired to deal with the issue, arriving in secret just as Batwoman disrupts an evening at Penguin’s club. Unbeknownst to the villains when they later meet to finalise the operational details, Batwoman is spying on them. Eventually, Batman comes to a realisation about Batwoman; she isn’t one of his suspects, but all three. Kathy and Rocky met via Sonia, and all three brought something to the scheme besides their motivations; Rocky’s scientific expertise, Kathy’s wealth and Sonia’s concept and will. He goes to confront Sonia, just as Kathy fails to report in from trying to blow up the final gun shipment.

The guns are being sneaked out of Gotham aboard a luxury cruise liner, where Bane has captured Batwoman and insists the others join him on board when he discovers her identity. Carlton is shocked that his own daughter was Batwoman, but Penguin remembers Kathy still being at his club as herself the night Batwoman accosted him. He presses Kathy for the names of her accomplices, joining with Bane to use her father as leverage. However, Batman arrives in time to interfere. During the ensuing escape, Kathy insists on planting an activating the bomb she brought to sink the ship. While Batman battles Bane and Kathy and her father save each other, Penguin and Thorne try to escape. However, the other two Batwomen stop Thorne and Penguin with an assist from Robin, while Batman delays Bane until the ship crashes due to damage from the bomb explosion.

In the aftermath, Sonia is forced to resign from the GCPD after her role as one of the Batwomen is revealed, and Batman gives her evidence for Rocky that will prove the innocence of Rocky’s fiancé. Later, as Rocky picks up her newly freed fiancé from prison, Kathy is picked up by Bruce Wayne, who claims to have fallen for her based on her wild girl antics. While Kathy states she wants to live a more settled life than she has been able to live before, she hints that she is still a bit of a wild girl as Bruce drives her away.

Review:

I suspect the reason this film wasn’t included in the Blu-Ray boxed set for Batman: The Animated Series like its predecessors were is two-fold. First, this film wasn’t produced by Bruce Timm, who was a producer on the series and the first two tie-in films. Second, it’s not entirely consistent with the wider DCAU. More specifically, this film is meant to occur between the end of the Batman series and a flashback sequence in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. That sequence shows Batgirl and Robin as younger than they are in this film, which to a degree makes sense since the Batman Beyond film was about 2-3 years earlier in its release.

To my mind, going by the fact that the Justice League series in this continuity show-cased parallel realities, this just means there’s a split in the DCAU timeline; timeline 1 plays out as per Batman Beyond, timeline 2 is where this film and subsequent DCAU-style stand-alone films fit. That headache of rationalising an inconsistent continuity aside, this is a pretty good film overall. For one thing, it’s a far better use of characters like Penguin and Bane than their previous outings in Batman Returns and Batman & Robin, and we get a great original take on Batwoman prior to eventual re-invention in the comics. The plot is well thought out, the animation well done as ever, and of course the voice cast is the usual high quality one expects from a DCAU production.

For the most part, the same actors from the series reprise their old roles, but we also get a few new additions. Notable voice actor Kevin Michael Richardson steps into the main new villain role of Carlton Duquesne, while on the old villains’ front, notable actor David Ogden Stiers took over the voice of the Penguin from series regular voice actor Paul Williams. The film also swaps out Bane’s regular voice actor from the series Henry Silva for Hector Elizondo, among whose past film credits are included the likes of Beverley Hills Cop III, The Princess Diaries and Runaway Bride. In addition, the film’s one song of note, “Betcha Never”, is a single by French singer Cherie, and this is performed by her both within the film and during the credits. It’s a good song, and it’s quite a rarity to find any song in a film be performed by the same person both in story and credits (I think the only other time I’ve seen this is when Phil Collins has done soundtracks for the Disney films Tarzan and Brother Bear).

Continuity rationalisations aside, the only other flaw I can find in this film concerns Barbara Gordon. Unlike the Batman and Mr Freeze film, however, the issue is not her lack of agency in the film. Indeed, Batgirl is kept to the side in this film and only has one scene. Unfortunately, that scene involves her hinting at her being romantically interested in Batman and Bruce having to duck the issue. Honestly, she’s the daughter Batman’s best mate and the ex-girlfriend of his original protégé; how bloody inappropriate can you get? It’s this kind of thing that effectively spoilt the film adaptation of Batman: The Killing Joke. To my mind, DC and Warner Brothers need to make sure this idea of a Bruce-Barbara romance is dead and buried for all future productions, unless it becomes some kind of Elseworlds set-up where the pair of them are of similar age and there’s no Dick Grayson around.

So anyway, in summation, a good film that could have been great, if they’d not stuck in the hint at a creepy Batgirl-Batman romance and sorted out the continuity better. Overall, I give this film 8 out of 10.

1 note · View note