The fourth practice commission that I made! The background was supplied by my friend Chavid (the piece was also for him).
-MJ
-MJ
An interview with Adam Harum of Transolar Galactica.
They achieved their Kickstarter goal, and now the world gets more of their award winning sci-fi comedy!
Showing posts with label tv show. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tv show. Show all posts
Friday, October 31, 2014
Friday, August 8, 2014
Outlander - First Episode Thoughts
After years of being a fan of the 'Outlander' books, and after a full year of high anticipation of the show premiering, the first episode has come and gone. Simulcast across multiple platforms, for free, courtesy of Starz, one week ahead of time (to draw in new viewers and subscribers, I'm sure, but it was still nice of them), I can finally breathe a sigh of relief having seen the show.
But, how do I feel? What did I like? What didn't I like? How does the casting fair? Was the production value, costuming, and acting really as good as Twitter and Facebook hyped it to be?
The short answer is: yes.
But here's the long one!
It is a beautiful, thoughtful adaptation. As with most TV show pilots, it was slow paced and not particularly action packed. I'm not bothered by it, and no one else should be either, because it's important to establish setting, story, and characters before you launch into the exciting madness.
What did I like?
An opening shot from S01E01 of 'Outlander'.
The cinematography was gorgeous. It is thrilling to have the show set in Scotland! Every shot is pure art. And the actors are all completely wonderful. Many of them are nothing like I pictured in my mind but that sort of thing I don't feel is worth even a passing thought. There is literally no way that they could resemble my imagination. What's important, though, is that the casting department obviously put in heavy consideration - they are near perfect emodiments of Diana Gabaldon's writing. Basically I liked practically everything.
What didn't I like?
If I had to pick something, it would be the opening credits and some of the music. I feel that the images in the opening credits are lovely, and I think the song is pretty, but their combination as the opener to 'Outlander' displeases me. I don't feel that it captures, or prepares the viewer for, the immense excitement, adventure, and visceral feel of the story. To me, the opening feels far too flowery and ethereal, like some sort of early '90s high fantasy made-for-TV movie. It's really my only complaint, and I don't plan on bringing it up ever again.
As for the music... I know that a lot of people were very excited for Bear McCreary's compositions, but I'm left feeling wishy washy. There are one or two thrilling moments in the premiere episode that required upbeat/fast paced music, and I feel that he rose to the occasion wonderfully! The bagpipes kicked in and it was awesome. But some other parts were slow, quiet, and soft, and something about his choices just rubbed me the wrong way. It's similar to how I feel about the opening credits: it didn't "fit" in my mind. Of course, I don't know what I would have done differently, and this simply my opinion. It's also not going to ruin the show for me.
Production Value
A flashback to Claire as a nurse in WWII. Note the gory, open leg wound.
As far as I can tell, they pulled out every stop possible! The sets, the costumes, the makeup, the blood! The beginning of the episode shows us Claire in bloody action during WWII, frantically working on a man with a torn up leg. It was gruesome, and horrifying, and amazingly done. In addition to being necessary for the audience to get a feel for what Claire is capable of, it was a fantastic preview of what's to come (because 'Outlander' is chock full of gory, medical goodness).
While we didn't get prolonged or well-lit views of the attire of 1743, the kilt-y bits that we saw in the darkened forest were incredibly detailed. Based on the stills that Starz has released, and the praise from the actors, I am in high anticipation of fabulous period-accurate clothing in upcoming episodes.
Final Feelings
It is a GREAT time to be an 'Outlander' fan! With the recent release of the 8th book in the series (Written in My Own Heart's Blood), the premiere of the show, and the graciousness and interactvity of the stars and producers of the show (not to mention the author!) on Twitter, we have a lot to be pleased about and thankful for.
The premiere left me happy, satisfied, anxious for more, and highly approving of everything that was added that wasn't in the book. Ronald D. Moore was clearly the perfect choice for a TV series, and I thank him from the bottom of my fandom heart.
Now go watch the premiere! What are you waiting for?!
-MJ
*header photo source
But, how do I feel? What did I like? What didn't I like? How does the casting fair? Was the production value, costuming, and acting really as good as Twitter and Facebook hyped it to be?
The short answer is: yes.
But here's the long one!
"I'm going on an Outlander adventure!"
It is a beautiful, thoughtful adaptation. As with most TV show pilots, it was slow paced and not particularly action packed. I'm not bothered by it, and no one else should be either, because it's important to establish setting, story, and characters before you launch into the exciting madness.
What did I like?
An opening shot from S01E01 of 'Outlander'.The cinematography was gorgeous. It is thrilling to have the show set in Scotland! Every shot is pure art. And the actors are all completely wonderful. Many of them are nothing like I pictured in my mind but that sort of thing I don't feel is worth even a passing thought. There is literally no way that they could resemble my imagination. What's important, though, is that the casting department obviously put in heavy consideration - they are near perfect emodiments of Diana Gabaldon's writing. Basically I liked practically everything.
What didn't I like?
If I had to pick something, it would be the opening credits and some of the music. I feel that the images in the opening credits are lovely, and I think the song is pretty, but their combination as the opener to 'Outlander' displeases me. I don't feel that it captures, or prepares the viewer for, the immense excitement, adventure, and visceral feel of the story. To me, the opening feels far too flowery and ethereal, like some sort of early '90s high fantasy made-for-TV movie. It's really my only complaint, and I don't plan on bringing it up ever again.
As for the music... I know that a lot of people were very excited for Bear McCreary's compositions, but I'm left feeling wishy washy. There are one or two thrilling moments in the premiere episode that required upbeat/fast paced music, and I feel that he rose to the occasion wonderfully! The bagpipes kicked in and it was awesome. But some other parts were slow, quiet, and soft, and something about his choices just rubbed me the wrong way. It's similar to how I feel about the opening credits: it didn't "fit" in my mind. Of course, I don't know what I would have done differently, and this simply my opinion. It's also not going to ruin the show for me.
Production Value
A flashback to Claire as a nurse in WWII. Note the gory, open leg wound.As far as I can tell, they pulled out every stop possible! The sets, the costumes, the makeup, the blood! The beginning of the episode shows us Claire in bloody action during WWII, frantically working on a man with a torn up leg. It was gruesome, and horrifying, and amazingly done. In addition to being necessary for the audience to get a feel for what Claire is capable of, it was a fantastic preview of what's to come (because 'Outlander' is chock full of gory, medical goodness).
While we didn't get prolonged or well-lit views of the attire of 1743, the kilt-y bits that we saw in the darkened forest were incredibly detailed. Based on the stills that Starz has released, and the praise from the actors, I am in high anticipation of fabulous period-accurate clothing in upcoming episodes.
Final Feelings
'How you doin'.'
It is a GREAT time to be an 'Outlander' fan! With the recent release of the 8th book in the series (Written in My Own Heart's Blood), the premiere of the show, and the graciousness and interactvity of the stars and producers of the show (not to mention the author!) on Twitter, we have a lot to be pleased about and thankful for.
The premiere left me happy, satisfied, anxious for more, and highly approving of everything that was added that wasn't in the book. Ronald D. Moore was clearly the perfect choice for a TV series, and I thank him from the bottom of my fandom heart.
Now go watch the premiere! What are you waiting for?!
-MJ
*header photo source
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Ten Reasons to Watch Sword Art Online
Sword Art Online is an anime about the world of virtual gaming in the year 2022. Akihiko Kayaba, the developer of the Nerve Gear (the equipment used by the player to enter the virtual world), has released a highly anticipated game, "Sword Art Online". The show is told from the point of view of "Kirito" (his chosen in-game name). Kirito was one of the lucky 1000 players to be chosen for the beta testing for Sword Art Online, so he already knows his way around. What he wasn't expecting, however, was for Kayaba to appear and announce to all the players that they cannot log out. Instead, they are stuck in the game until all 100 bosses are defeated. Until then, the Nerve Gear will fry each person's brain if the equipment is removed. Also, die in the game, die in real life. Although Kirito is a "solo" player, he does team up with Asuna, another strong player (and of course, his love interest), quite a lot. Together, they make an unstoppable duo.
So if that description wasn't enough to convince you, here are ten reasons why you should watch it!
1. Virtual Reality
The portrayal of virtual reality in this show is honestly beautiful. The Nerve Gear (a helmet), which basically serves as the console, uses microwaves to connect to the player's brain, thus giving the player the ability to move their in-game body. So, pop the Nerve Gear on, start the game, and you're in a whole new body. Now, normally, if you died in-game, your character would just regenerate in a new spot. No pain felt, no harm done. Of course, this isn't the case in SAO (Sword Art Online).
Consider the possibilities! Actually running around, exploring a whole new world, fighting bosses, treasure hunting, using spells and magic...the list goes on.
If I could play Skyrim as an actual avatar, I would just shit myself from joy. source
2. The (eerily) Realistic Portrayal of Human Nature
Because this game is literally a fight to the death, most people trapped in Sword Art tend to shy away from any type of violence. The dynamics of society begin to lean towards survival the way we know it; some people join the military and fight on the front lines, and the rest of the population stands back and builds a life for themselves while they can. Oftentimes, the only thing that keeps Kirito and Asuna motivated to continue fighting is the thought that they are fighting for all of those in the game that cannot fight for themselves. After all, consider the facts: there are many people playing this game who do not have the strength to fight. Their only intention upon logging in to SAO was to play a game...you know, for fun. Imagine attending a paintball fight only to find out the guns are filled with bullets and not paintballs. Kind of takes the fun out of it.
That isn't red paint. source
And on the subject of death, let's talk about the mentally unstable. There are those in SAO who kill people. There are also murdering guilds, like the Laughing Coffin. If it were any other game, this wouldn't be such a big deal. People wouldn't actually be getting killed. But in SAO, you die in the game, you die in real life. And because it's easy to kill someone (there's no mess, no body to deal with) there is usually zero remorse. It's like that movie The Purge; given the opportunity and with zero consequences, humans may or may not begin to kill each other. It's truly terrifying to consider. But it's damn good TV.
3. The Sappy Love Story
I know, I know, why does every anime have to have some kind of cheesy romance plot? Because it's realistic, you jerks. Seriously. If you were trapped for two years fighting for your survival, side by side with a strong, attractive man or woman, wouldn't you start to fall in love? It goes right back to human nature. It would begin as companionate love; two people experiencing the same life-changing events, synchronizing combat techniques, having only each other to entertain and take care of. Then it would blossom into something much more than that. How can you go back from something so disturbing, so frightening, without maintaining the relationships you built while you were there? It's only human to fall in love with someone who has seen you at your worst and still chooses to stick around.
And a collective squeal was heard throughout the world. source
4. The Avatar
Akihiko Kayaba is a sick man. But he's also brilliant. Hear me out! I'm not condoning what he did. I'm just saying the man is a genius. Not only did he develop the Nerve Gear and the program that controls whether the players live or die, but he really got in to the mental aspect of it. When Kayaba makes his announcement to the players of SAO, one of the first things to happen is the stripping of their customized avatars. Suddenly, everyone looks exactly like they do in the real world. With some players, like Kirito, this doesn't make a huge difference--he only made himself look slightly older. But with others, it made all the difference in the world. You can choose your gender, age, body type; whatever you want. So having that taken away and revealing your true self has a major impact on your confidence. Imagine playing the game with an avatar that was seven feet tall and three hundred pounds; then you are forced to play out the game as your own five-foot-five one-hundred-twenty pound self. Not the most intimidating. Plus, you lose all that potential strength. Kayaba truly wanted the players of SAO to battle for their survival. He couldn't create that in real life, so he forced it on the people in the virtual world.
Keanu? source
5. The Boss Fights
Of course, another genius creation of Kayaba would be the multiple bosses that need to be defeated in order for the players to escape SAO. He announces there are one hundred bosses to be defeated, one per floor in his creation, the Aincrad Arc. The players must first find the lair of the boss, and then team up to beat it. A lot of these monsters have surprises in store, however, and occasionally it's too late by the time they're realized. Kirito and Asuna must learn what they can about these boss fights to improve their skills for the next boss, to defeat the game and survive.
Fuck this thing. source
6. Making Friends
Kirito and Asuna could not fight this fight on their own. They need friends. Luckily, they have plenty of wonderful people by their side, willing to do whatever they can, even die, just to make sure they survive. Kirito meets Klein right at the beginning, before they even realize that they cannot log out of SAO. Klein is a strong, yet lighthearted, guy who always has so much confidence in Kirito. Agil is another friend of Kirito's. He runs a shop in Aincrad, but also fights on the front lines when he's needed. Lisbeth is a friend of Asuna's, a blacksmith. She soon becomes Kirito's exclusive blacksmith. Silica is a spunky "beast-tamer" with a small dragon named Pina whom Kirito helps her save. Kirito's love for Silica stems from her similarity to his little sister in the real world. Without these wonderful friends they've gained, they could not have made it through many battles. It's important in a good story line to have friends in multiple places; otherwise, you probably wouldn't get very far at all. These characters also provide good comic relief, which is always necessary in a dark plot. Not only that, but these are real people too, just like Asuna and Kirito. We see their struggles and pain, and we root for them as well. Personally, Klein is one of my favorite characters. He has a very legitimate personality as a geeky gamer in his twenties, but still has a head on his shoulder and wants to kick ass and log out.
I'll be there for youuuu, 'cuz you're there for me tooooooo source
7. The Black Swordsman and The Flash
Who are the Black Swordsman and the Flash? Why, Kirito and Asuna, of course! These are badass nicknames they've earned in-game for their incomparable skills and power-leveling. Kirito is a dual-wielder (sorry, bit of a spoiler, but also sort of not), a skill unique to him. Mostly he doesn't use this skill, because other players will see it and get angry that they can't have that skill as well. In a fight to the death, being unable to attain a certain skill becomes more than just a petty annoyance. Kirito fights with heavy, durable weapons, and perfects his techniques by training tirelessly. He's extremely fast, but not as fast as Asuna (aka The Flash, or "Lightning Flash" in the English dub). Her speed is unlike any other player's. Her small size and strong sword-fighting skills make her the perfect companion to Kirito's surprise attacks. These two are legend within SAO, and for good reason. Watching them fight is beautiful and incredible. They are truly the perfect match.
Gives new meaning to the phrase "power couple". source
8. Plot Holes? What Plot Holes?
So what are those bodies in the real world up to? Akihiko Kayaba doesn't want everyone dying of thirst within the week, so he made sure to make his plans public in the real world as well. He even instructed people not to remove the Nerve Gear from their loved ones. Asuna mentions at one point how a lot of players went offline, sort of into a coma, for a bit while their bodies were being moved to the hospital. Kirito mentions how the Nerve Gear has an internal battery, so even if the device was unplugged, it would remain logged in. And so all the people in SAO are being kept alive in hospitals in the real world. In one particularly emotional scene, Asuna and Kirito discuss how they wish they could just stay in SAO together; but then Asuna reminds Kirito that their real bodies will not survive very long on life support in the real world, and they need to continue fighting if they want to live.
A (sort of?) easy way to grow your hair out. source
9. Always a Cliffhanger
Warning: this series is highly addictive. Every episode leaves you wanting more. I'm finished with season one and I'm frothing at the mouth waiting for season two! I am currently re-watching it with Zach, since he's never seen it before, and we can't ever just watch one episode at a time. He always wants to watch more. When we're not watching it, we'll start to discuss it. Zach will tell me what he thinks will happen next, or he will ask me a question to help him fill in the blanks. It's a really good show, and watching it with a friend or significant other makes it even better!
What? No...wrong cliffhan--uh, nevermind. source
10. Life After Sword Art Online
I won't go into much detail here, other than to tell you that yes, there is life after SAO. And no, virtual reality is not banned. It still exists. More and more games will be released for virtual reality consoles. That's all I'm going to say. You'll have to watch to find out more!
Wait, what the hell is that? source
Season one of Sword Art Online is available on Netflix right now! If you haven't already watched it, please start now!
Have you already watched it (or read the manga)? Tell us what you think!
-Rachel
*Teaser image source
Friday, April 4, 2014
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
How to Keep Up: Fandoms & a Busy Life
It's no easy task being a fan girl. The lists of shows and movies I want to watch, as well as books that I want to read and games that I want to play, are near never-ending. With a full-time job, a relationship to maintain, and a cat that needs attention, how can I be expected to keep up with my fandoms?
With a little bit of planning.
What my calendar currently looks like.
The first thing to do is figure out which title is at the top of each list. For instance, Game of Thrones and Star Trek: The Next Generation are at the top of my TV lists. The 'Outlander' book series is the top priority for reading, and Final Fantasy 8 along with The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds are my gaming top picks.
So now you know what to focus your attention on, the next question is WHEN. This second step is to make categories and create a time for each one.
Books:
I've chosen to re-consume the 'Outlander' series in audio format and I listen almost exclusively in the car. My work commute immediately became more enjoyable and I have found that I no longer mind taking quick trips to the store because it means I get to progress in the story. If people have jobs that allow listening to music, or a commute that's at least ten minutes long, then I definitely recommend this route! It's quite nice killing two birds with one stone. Does anyone else feel like driving is a huge waste of time? I could be doing so many other things! But I digress. I've buzzed through three of the seven books in the series over the past two months and it leaves a lot of time open for the many other forms of media that I plan to consume.
The more common way to make sure a book gets read is to do so right before bed. That is my practice if I don't have access to an audio version! Obviously some people don't like audiobooks and in that case, this option isn't for you. Some of the ways I schedule TV shows and video games might be, though!
TV Shows:
I'm currently watching both Game of Thrones and TNG with other people: TNG with my boyfriend, and Game of Thrones with two of our friends. This makes it a bit harder because it requires planning multiple schedules. In our instance, TNG can happen nearly every evening because both my boyfriend and I have evenings off. We watch probably three nights a week, usually one episode at a time. This is easy to work around dinnertime, too. As for Game of Thrones, we have Sunday nights specifically set aside to watch one episode. Juggling four different schedules means we all had to be willing to commit to the one evening that we *knew* we'd all be available. If all parties are in, then this is the best way to go. So far this has worked out quite nicely for us! It creates a lot of suspense for the show and has the added bonus of making sure we see our friends at least once a week. Pick at least one day and stick to it no matter what! Exceptional circumstances aside, that is.
This method can apply very nicely to movies, too. We were doing movie nights on Sundays but decided to switch to watching Game of Thrones!
Video Games:
Playing through Final Fantasy 8 has not been an easy task. I no longer have hours upon hours of free time to bury into an expansive RPG and as such this has proven to be the most challenging fandom/hobby to incorporate. I play it with my boyfriend, which means he watches me play and gets to re-live the story for the first time through my eyes and reactions. It's his favorite game of all time (evidence) and is a great bonding experience for the two of us. For me it's very nice that it's another thing that we can do together in spite of the fact that it's a single player game. For these extended play excursions I choose sleep-in days off when there aren't other plans. That doesn't happen often which is why this has proved to be the hardest to keep up with.
Tackling A Link Between World's is kind of easier and harder at the same time. It's for the 3DS which means portable, anywhere/anytime play, but it's also Zelda which means that once I start playing then I want to be able to get into the game! I keep my 3DS with me at all times and utilize lunch breaks at work, and more often, the half an hour or so before I fall asleep. Many people use the time before they fall asleep to read (see above), but since I'm going with the audio format I can use this time to save Hyrule yet again.
Many of my hobbies involve spending time with other people, but I do have interests that are singular (writing for this site and paper sculpting for starters) and I also have TV shows that I watch by myself. About once a week my boyfriend and I have "separate" time where he'll catch up on, say, Sons of Anarchy, and I'll watch New Girl! I'm fortunate to have a boyfriend and friends that I love spending time with above all else, and the "downside" is that I don't have much time leftover for 'me' activities. What a problem to have! ;)
The final step is to stick to your schedule! I'm a big fan of planning.
How do you keep up with your hobbies? Do you plan a lot, or go with whatever feels right at the moment?
-MJ
*header image source
*preview image source
With a little bit of planning.
What my calendar currently looks like.The first thing to do is figure out which title is at the top of each list. For instance, Game of Thrones and Star Trek: The Next Generation are at the top of my TV lists. The 'Outlander' book series is the top priority for reading, and Final Fantasy 8 along with The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds are my gaming top picks.
So now you know what to focus your attention on, the next question is WHEN. This second step is to make categories and create a time for each one.
Books:
I've chosen to re-consume the 'Outlander' series in audio format and I listen almost exclusively in the car. My work commute immediately became more enjoyable and I have found that I no longer mind taking quick trips to the store because it means I get to progress in the story. If people have jobs that allow listening to music, or a commute that's at least ten minutes long, then I definitely recommend this route! It's quite nice killing two birds with one stone. Does anyone else feel like driving is a huge waste of time? I could be doing so many other things! But I digress. I've buzzed through three of the seven books in the series over the past two months and it leaves a lot of time open for the many other forms of media that I plan to consume.
The more common way to make sure a book gets read is to do so right before bed. That is my practice if I don't have access to an audio version! Obviously some people don't like audiobooks and in that case, this option isn't for you. Some of the ways I schedule TV shows and video games might be, though!
The very real dangers of reading before bed.
TV Shows:
I'm currently watching both Game of Thrones and TNG with other people: TNG with my boyfriend, and Game of Thrones with two of our friends. This makes it a bit harder because it requires planning multiple schedules. In our instance, TNG can happen nearly every evening because both my boyfriend and I have evenings off. We watch probably three nights a week, usually one episode at a time. This is easy to work around dinnertime, too. As for Game of Thrones, we have Sunday nights specifically set aside to watch one episode. Juggling four different schedules means we all had to be willing to commit to the one evening that we *knew* we'd all be available. If all parties are in, then this is the best way to go. So far this has worked out quite nicely for us! It creates a lot of suspense for the show and has the added bonus of making sure we see our friends at least once a week. Pick at least one day and stick to it no matter what! Exceptional circumstances aside, that is.
This method can apply very nicely to movies, too. We were doing movie nights on Sundays but decided to switch to watching Game of Thrones!
She doesn't want to hear about why you missed last week's episode. Just don't let it happen again.
Video Games:
Playing through Final Fantasy 8 has not been an easy task. I no longer have hours upon hours of free time to bury into an expansive RPG and as such this has proven to be the most challenging fandom/hobby to incorporate. I play it with my boyfriend, which means he watches me play and gets to re-live the story for the first time through my eyes and reactions. It's his favorite game of all time (evidence) and is a great bonding experience for the two of us. For me it's very nice that it's another thing that we can do together in spite of the fact that it's a single player game. For these extended play excursions I choose sleep-in days off when there aren't other plans. That doesn't happen often which is why this has proved to be the hardest to keep up with.
Tackling A Link Between World's is kind of easier and harder at the same time. It's for the 3DS which means portable, anywhere/anytime play, but it's also Zelda which means that once I start playing then I want to be able to get into the game! I keep my 3DS with me at all times and utilize lunch breaks at work, and more often, the half an hour or so before I fall asleep. Many people use the time before they fall asleep to read (see above), but since I'm going with the audio format I can use this time to save Hyrule yet again.
If you get too tired these things will be more than happy to wake you.
Many of my hobbies involve spending time with other people, but I do have interests that are singular (writing for this site and paper sculpting for starters) and I also have TV shows that I watch by myself. About once a week my boyfriend and I have "separate" time where he'll catch up on, say, Sons of Anarchy, and I'll watch New Girl! I'm fortunate to have a boyfriend and friends that I love spending time with above all else, and the "downside" is that I don't have much time leftover for 'me' activities. What a problem to have! ;)
The final step is to stick to your schedule! I'm a big fan of planning.
How do you keep up with your hobbies? Do you plan a lot, or go with whatever feels right at the moment?
-MJ
*header image source
*preview image source
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Ten Moments of Solid Proof Joss Whedon is a God
Okay, so maybe my title is a bit dramatic--so what? Joss Whedon is, in my opinion, the geek to surpass all geeks. You're probably thinking, "Uh, what about Stan Lee? George Lucas? Alan Moore?" and yes, okay, there are a plethora of geeks to choose from for the role of THE geek god. But hear me out; Joss Whedon is it. He is the final frontier. This man is our pop-culture geek Messiah, and with this top ten (of about a MILLION) list of his greatest moments, I will make a believer out of you.
SPOILERS ARE PRESENT WITHIN THIS ARTICLE! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
10. Toy Story
Did you know Joss Whedon co-wrote Toy Story? You do now. That's right, he is partly responsible for what I'm sure is one of your favorite childhood movies. And, although it's very different from the genres he normally sticks to, there's definitely still that same quirky, realistic dialogue present in the script that JW is so well-known for.
9. The Avengers: The Cunning Black Widow
JW's involvement of Black Widow in 2012's The Avengers was no different than his portrayal of any strong female character: a bad ass, hard-working woman with an agenda. Natasha Romanoff is a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent with particular talent in undercover work. In this film, we're treated to plenty of scenes where she shows us how well she matches up to the rest of the boys, including battling The Hulk and flying an alien spacecraft to help stop an invasion. My personal favorite, however, is her first scene, where she completely destroys some less-than-gentlemanly Russian mobsters.
8. Cabin in the Woods: The (Intentionally) Campiest of All
2012's Cabin in the Woods is a brilliant take on the generic horror film genre that we're all too familiar with. The jock, the (slutty) cheerleader, the deadbeat/stoner, the good guy, and the virgin, all thrown together in either a very empty suburb (where are all the adults?) or--well, a cabin in the woods. Enter: the villain. Could be a murderer with mommy issues, a demon, zombies, a ghost, any number of things, really. Kids go into the woods to have sex (why?) and are murdered. The rest are picked off one by one, leaving the virgin for last, who will inevitably destroy her sanity by having to murder the murderer, and thus the movie ends with a very pretty girl covered in blood and weeping.
JW, like us, wanted a film that analyzes the horror films we all know; and Cabin in the Woods was born. We see a behind-the-scenes view of where this repetitive, generic horror plot originates: in a lab, full of employees who monitor the victims (who are under surveillance) and control the monsters, hormones (explains all that forest sex), locked doors, and any other convenient plot device. Why? To appease the Gods, of course. Sigourney Weaver will explain it all to you, don't worry.
7. Dollhouse: Apocalypse Now
This particular episode (officially titled, "Epitaph One") of JW's conspiracy-theory science fiction series came literally out of no where. In the finale of season one, we are thrown into an apocalyptic future, where the imprinted and non-imprinted are at constant war. There is complete anarchy abound, and we are left to guess that the "Tabula Rasa" technology of the Dollhouse has gotten loose and taken over the world. This episode stands alone until its second part in season two, confusing the viewer, but making it no less intriguing. Joss decided to hook us in that future plot early on, perhaps as a way to tease us: was it all a nightmare, dreamed up by Echo or Topher? Or are we actually getting a glimpse of the future? Joss doesn't leave questions unanswered, but there was a period of uncertainty until season 2. Well played, Joss.
6. A True Feminist
In May of 2006, Joss Whedon delivered a speech for Equality Now. In it, he addresses the issues of equality as it is seen in pop culture. He presents a question that he's been asked "over and over and over" again, "Why do you write these strong female characters?" Out of the numerous and wonderful answers he provides, the final answer is my favorite (and perhaps the thing that convinced me to worship this man): "Because you're still asking me that question."
Here is his entire speech, I highly recommend you watch it:
5. Serenity: River's Turn
If you read my last article (and if you did not, here it is), you know River Tam from Firefly is one of my favorite characters of all time. In the feature film Serenity, fans get a long-awaited continuation from the single-series run of JW's space cowboy science fiction magnum opus. In one of the final scenes, River proves that her brain-washers may have turned her into a killing machine, but that doesn't mean they've turned her into an evil one.
4. Nominated for an Emmy: Hush
Okay, this is my least favorite episode of Buffy, not because it isn't good (it most certainly is among the best, actually), but because it scares the living shit out of me. Hush is a brilliantly written (heh) episode about a new kind of monster; they are called the Gentleman, and they're assholes. They glide around town stealing everyone's voice, then glide into your bedroom in the middle of the night, and cut out your goddamn heart. All with perfect gentlemanly poise. Congratulations, Joss, you've managed to give me nightmares for the rest of my life. (I still love you).
Obviously, since their voices have been stolen, almost the entire episode is acted without any lines. The characters have to figure out how to communicate with each other and defeat the Gentleman. This episode is brilliant, beautiful, and hilarious. So it's no wonder why it was nominated for an Emmy in the category of Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series (ironically).
3. Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
Written during the 2007-2008 Writer's Guild of America Strike, Dr. Horrible has received high praise and reviews, and plenty of awards to accompany them. A genius, heartbreaking musical about a man with aspirations to be a super-villain, this web-series is a fun, hilarious, and quirky addition to Whedon's ever-growing list of brilliant material. But the best part of the series? This scene, when Nathan Fillion makes his gloriously handsome entrance:
2. "You can't take the sky from me"
When Firefly was canceled, JW and everyone involved was crushed. Fox didn't have enough faith in the show because it didn't have enough viewers to survive another season, even though it received endless praise from reviewers. Not hours after he got word of the show's cancellation (while they were still filming an episode--the nerve) Joss was on the phone with the president of Fox. In an interview on the fan-made film "Done the Impossible" (a wonderful film, available to stream on Netflix), Joss describes the simple interaction in which he thankfully gained the rights to his space-cowboy baby.
"I talked to the president of the network and all I said was, 'Will you let me take it somewhere else?' She said, 'Yes.' That was our entire conversation. I believe it was our last. And they did, very graciously, let me take it somewhere else. And so it did not die, but it was close." Source
1. Death Scenes
This isn't just one moment, because there are multiple deaths involved in the Whedonverse. But allow me to explain: Joss knows how to convey real grief. His most gut-wrenching, heart breaking character deaths are those that happen so suddenly and naturally within the chaos of science fiction. These deaths come out of no where, like most in the real world. Sometimes someone is shot by some dickhead with a gun; sometimes, someone is impaled through the heart; and other times, someone died in their sleep from a brain tumor. These deaths are Joss's way, I think, to keep us checked in; the story is taking place on Earth, with humans. Humans are not immortal. The monsters and aliens and Gods he writes may be, but humans are humans. That grief, while devastating, gives us strength; it gives us the fuel we need to fight the enemy as one. Like Phil Coulson says in The Avengers, "This was never going to work...if they didn't have something...to..."
Like I said, this list is really endless, but I tried to pick the top ten most unique ones that stuck out for me. Are there any Joss Whedon moments you'd like to add? Let me know in the comments!
-Rachel
header image credit
teaser image credit
SPOILERS ARE PRESENT WITHIN THIS ARTICLE! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
10. Toy Story
Did you know Joss Whedon co-wrote Toy Story? You do now. That's right, he is partly responsible for what I'm sure is one of your favorite childhood movies. And, although it's very different from the genres he normally sticks to, there's definitely still that same quirky, realistic dialogue present in the script that JW is so well-known for.
9. The Avengers: The Cunning Black Widow
JW's involvement of Black Widow in 2012's The Avengers was no different than his portrayal of any strong female character: a bad ass, hard-working woman with an agenda. Natasha Romanoff is a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent with particular talent in undercover work. In this film, we're treated to plenty of scenes where she shows us how well she matches up to the rest of the boys, including battling The Hulk and flying an alien spacecraft to help stop an invasion. My personal favorite, however, is her first scene, where she completely destroys some less-than-gentlemanly Russian mobsters.
8. Cabin in the Woods: The (Intentionally) Campiest of All
2012's Cabin in the Woods is a brilliant take on the generic horror film genre that we're all too familiar with. The jock, the (slutty) cheerleader, the deadbeat/stoner, the good guy, and the virgin, all thrown together in either a very empty suburb (where are all the adults?) or--well, a cabin in the woods. Enter: the villain. Could be a murderer with mommy issues, a demon, zombies, a ghost, any number of things, really. Kids go into the woods to have sex (why?) and are murdered. The rest are picked off one by one, leaving the virgin for last, who will inevitably destroy her sanity by having to murder the murderer, and thus the movie ends with a very pretty girl covered in blood and weeping.
JW, like us, wanted a film that analyzes the horror films we all know; and Cabin in the Woods was born. We see a behind-the-scenes view of where this repetitive, generic horror plot originates: in a lab, full of employees who monitor the victims (who are under surveillance) and control the monsters, hormones (explains all that forest sex), locked doors, and any other convenient plot device. Why? To appease the Gods, of course. Sigourney Weaver will explain it all to you, don't worry.
7. Dollhouse: Apocalypse Now
This particular episode (officially titled, "Epitaph One") of JW's conspiracy-theory science fiction series came literally out of no where. In the finale of season one, we are thrown into an apocalyptic future, where the imprinted and non-imprinted are at constant war. There is complete anarchy abound, and we are left to guess that the "Tabula Rasa" technology of the Dollhouse has gotten loose and taken over the world. This episode stands alone until its second part in season two, confusing the viewer, but making it no less intriguing. Joss decided to hook us in that future plot early on, perhaps as a way to tease us: was it all a nightmare, dreamed up by Echo or Topher? Or are we actually getting a glimpse of the future? Joss doesn't leave questions unanswered, but there was a period of uncertainty until season 2. Well played, Joss.
6. A True Feminist
In May of 2006, Joss Whedon delivered a speech for Equality Now. In it, he addresses the issues of equality as it is seen in pop culture. He presents a question that he's been asked "over and over and over" again, "Why do you write these strong female characters?" Out of the numerous and wonderful answers he provides, the final answer is my favorite (and perhaps the thing that convinced me to worship this man): "Because you're still asking me that question."
Here is his entire speech, I highly recommend you watch it:
5. Serenity: River's Turn
If you read my last article (and if you did not, here it is), you know River Tam from Firefly is one of my favorite characters of all time. In the feature film Serenity, fans get a long-awaited continuation from the single-series run of JW's space cowboy science fiction magnum opus. In one of the final scenes, River proves that her brain-washers may have turned her into a killing machine, but that doesn't mean they've turned her into an evil one.
4. Nominated for an Emmy: Hush
Okay, this is my least favorite episode of Buffy, not because it isn't good (it most certainly is among the best, actually), but because it scares the living shit out of me. Hush is a brilliantly written (heh) episode about a new kind of monster; they are called the Gentleman, and they're assholes. They glide around town stealing everyone's voice, then glide into your bedroom in the middle of the night, and cut out your goddamn heart. All with perfect gentlemanly poise. Congratulations, Joss, you've managed to give me nightmares for the rest of my life. (I still love you).
Obviously, since their voices have been stolen, almost the entire episode is acted without any lines. The characters have to figure out how to communicate with each other and defeat the Gentleman. This episode is brilliant, beautiful, and hilarious. So it's no wonder why it was nominated for an Emmy in the category of Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series (ironically).
3. Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
Written during the 2007-2008 Writer's Guild of America Strike, Dr. Horrible has received high praise and reviews, and plenty of awards to accompany them. A genius, heartbreaking musical about a man with aspirations to be a super-villain, this web-series is a fun, hilarious, and quirky addition to Whedon's ever-growing list of brilliant material. But the best part of the series? This scene, when Nathan Fillion makes his gloriously handsome entrance:
2. "You can't take the sky from me"
When Firefly was canceled, JW and everyone involved was crushed. Fox didn't have enough faith in the show because it didn't have enough viewers to survive another season, even though it received endless praise from reviewers. Not hours after he got word of the show's cancellation (while they were still filming an episode--the nerve) Joss was on the phone with the president of Fox. In an interview on the fan-made film "Done the Impossible" (a wonderful film, available to stream on Netflix), Joss describes the simple interaction in which he thankfully gained the rights to his space-cowboy baby.
"I talked to the president of the network and all I said was, 'Will you let me take it somewhere else?' She said, 'Yes.' That was our entire conversation. I believe it was our last. And they did, very graciously, let me take it somewhere else. And so it did not die, but it was close." Source
1. Death Scenes
This isn't just one moment, because there are multiple deaths involved in the Whedonverse. But allow me to explain: Joss knows how to convey real grief. His most gut-wrenching, heart breaking character deaths are those that happen so suddenly and naturally within the chaos of science fiction. These deaths come out of no where, like most in the real world. Sometimes someone is shot by some dickhead with a gun; sometimes, someone is impaled through the heart; and other times, someone died in their sleep from a brain tumor. These deaths are Joss's way, I think, to keep us checked in; the story is taking place on Earth, with humans. Humans are not immortal. The monsters and aliens and Gods he writes may be, but humans are humans. That grief, while devastating, gives us strength; it gives us the fuel we need to fight the enemy as one. Like Phil Coulson says in The Avengers, "This was never going to work...if they didn't have something...to..."
Like I said, this list is really endless, but I tried to pick the top ten most unique ones that stuck out for me. Are there any Joss Whedon moments you'd like to add? Let me know in the comments!
-Rachel
header image credit
teaser image credit
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
10 Badass Female Characters to Take Lessons From
Amongst many pop culture icons, I feel there are a few that stick out more than the others. Batman, Iron Man, The Doctor, Captain Malcolm Reynolds...the list goes on and on. But compared to the men, there are a very small number of women in that list. They are no less influential, however, and I want to take a moment to focus on these ten particular femme fatales that have influenced me personally.
1. Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Just a regular Californian teenage girl, Buffy Summers was living out her glory days as a popular high school cheerleader, until a strange man approached her and told her she was destined to hunt and kill vampires and demons until the day she died. Needless to say, getting Buffy from cheering to staking was an arduous process. Nonetheless, she trained and fought and patrolled tirelessly, day after day. She died (and came back to life) twice. She had her heart broken countless times. She has had friends and family members die as a direct result of her own destiny as a Slayer. This girl has been through quite a lot. She is a saint, a badass, and a wonderful person to boot.
2. Leeloominaï “LeeLoo” Lekatariba Lamina-Tchaï Ekbat De Sebat (The Fifth Element)
The “fare” that fell into Korben Dallas’s lap: 5’9”, blue eyes, long legs, great skin. You know, perfect. Korben had no idea that what fell into his cab that day was literally the perfect being: The Fifth Element, to be exact. LeeLoo is a being thousands of years old, whose main purpose is to maintain peace in the universe. She is fragile, yet tough as nails; beautiful, yet terrifying. As old as she is, she is never jaded. Brushing up on Earth’s history, she weeps at all the pain and terror humans have endured. At the end, the love of one man is enough to convince her that life is worth saving.
#1 Badass Moment:
3. Hermione Granger (Harry Potter)
One of the smartest students to ever roam the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hermione Granger had humble beginnings as a part of a very normal, very non-magic British family. When she was accepted to Hogwarts her parents were proud, and knew that their brilliant daughter would succeed in the world of magic. And succeed she did. Hermione’s staple move is eagerly throwing her arm into the air, ready to spit out the exact answer to whatever question is asked. SHE LITERALLY TRAVELED IN TIME TO TAKE MORE CLASSES. Constantly reading, learning, and loving her magical education (what smart muggle wouldn’t?!) is Hermione’s absolute joy. Other than her obvious intelligence, Hermione is brave. That is a quality that stuck out from the beginning, and most likely the main reason the Sorting Hat placed her in Gryffindor. From her first year as a Hogwarts student and the years beyond that, she helped Harry defeat the Dark Lord, amongst many other brave and selfless tasks.
#1 Badass Moment:
4. Donna Noble (Doctor Who)
Donna always knew she was smart; smarter than most, actually. She is an in-charge woman with a holler that can make a wild dog heel. She became the Doctor’s very best friend, and ultimately, his savior. She always knew when to make the Doctor stop, pay attention to his surroundings, and re-evaluate his decisions. She never hesitates to speak her mind; she is passionate, kind, brave, and loyal. As brought to our attention in the episode “Turn Left”, Donna Noble is the most important woman in the universe.
#1 Badass Moment:
5. River Tam (Firefly, Serenity)
River is a fugitive on the run, protected by her brother, Simon, and eventually the crew of Serenity. Little did they know, River would end up protecting them. This young woman, through no fault of her own, was brainwashed into becoming a super-assassin. She was chosen by a prestigious academy for her exceptional mind, and instead, she endured endless torture at the hands of greedy Alliance scientists, ultimately leading to Simon arranging an elaborate rescue mission. With the exception of a subliminally triggered attack on a crowd of innocents (and some well-deserved slices at a less-than-charming crew member), River is not a violent being. She is tortured by the pain and screams of the dead, and has no concept of weaponry--only the turmoil it can cause in the hands of the wrong person. She is selfless; constantly afraid, but rushing to the aid of those in need.
#1 Badass Moment:
6. Barbara Gordon/Batgirl/Oracle (Batman)
-Because there are many, many universes in which Barbara/Batgirl/Oracle exist, and each one has slightly different story lines, I will save us the trouble of being specific and just tell you about the reasons each one of her identities is collaboratively badass.-
Barbara Gordon is the daughter of Police Commissioner Jim Gordon, and is too smart for her own good. She seems to constantly get into tiffs with her father, who wishes she could keep out of public affairs, for fear of her safety. Her intelligence and curiosity drive her to become an assistant to the world’s greatest detective, Batman. For a while, she goes as far as becoming Batgirl, a female counterpart to Batman, patrolling the streets of Gotham and cracking cases with the Dark Knight. When she is brutally shot by the Joker, she becomes paralyzed from the waist down; but that doesn’t stop her. She may not be able to fly across rooftops and beat down the baddies, but she will remain stationed in front of her computer, helping Batman solve crime using the best tool at hand: her brain.
#1 Badass Moment:
7. Caroline Forbes (The Vampire Diaries)
Caroline started out as a control-freak teenager, focused on conquering high school and eventually the world beyond; so far, she was succeeding, because there’s nothing she isn’t good at. However, she was not anticipating becoming a vampire before she even got the chance to graduate. But, just like I said, Caroline is good at everything, even being one of the undead. She’s pretty much a perfect vampire. She is admired by everyone around her because of her perseverance, her selflessness, her love, her enduring faith in the importance of life and friendship. Not to mention, she is a force to be reckoned with. She will go to no end to defend the ones she loves and defeat those who may hurt them.
#1 Badass Moment:
8. Martha Jones (Doctor Who)
Martha Jones remains one of the most loyal and dedicated companions in Doctor Who history. Martha literally cared for the Doctor during the most vulnerable months of his life, traveled all over the Earth, by herself, just to tell his story, and continued to help defend Earth against whatever might harm it, all in the name of the Doctor. She is the epitome of a brave, loyal soldier, with a heart of gold and a brilliant mind. After everything she’s been through, she will still weep at the death of even the most seemingly unimportant being, because she will always have love and compassion for others.
#1 Badass Moment:
9. Éowyn, House of Eorl (Lord of the Rings)
A shieldmaiden of Rohan, Éowyn is a noble woman in a war-torn world. Her land, her family, and her people are infinitely loved by her, and she would fight to the death for them. Although her uncle, King Théoden, does not want her to join the battle against the Nazgûl, she dresses as a man and rides anyway, taking Merry Brandybuck (also denied the glory of battle because of his small Hobbit size) with her. Éowyn speaks her mind whenever she feels the need; passionately defends those who need defending; fights just as hard as she loves.
#1 Badass Moment:
10. Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)
An archeologist/vigilante/treasure hunter will always have my vote; especially one as classy as Lara Croft. The daughter of a Lord, she had all the wealth and opportunity at hand to become a very prominent member of aristocratic society. Instead, she chose to explore the world, fight the bad guys, make historic discoveries, learn every language she could, keep in touch with her spiritual side, and write all about it in the meantime. She’s what every tough, free-spirited female might aspire to be, a feminist counterpart to Indiana Jones. Not only that, she still gets to come home to the manor she inherited from her father, complete with loyal staff and a kick-ass wardrobe.
#1 Badass Moment:
What are some of your favorite characters (female or male...or neither)?
-Rachel
header/teaser image via http://martanael.deviantart.com/
1. Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Just a regular Californian teenage girl, Buffy Summers was living out her glory days as a popular high school cheerleader, until a strange man approached her and told her she was destined to hunt and kill vampires and demons until the day she died. Needless to say, getting Buffy from cheering to staking was an arduous process. Nonetheless, she trained and fought and patrolled tirelessly, day after day. She died (and came back to life) twice. She had her heart broken countless times. She has had friends and family members die as a direct result of her own destiny as a Slayer. This girl has been through quite a lot. She is a saint, a badass, and a wonderful person to boot.
#1 Badass Moment:
2. Leeloominaï “LeeLoo” Lekatariba Lamina-Tchaï Ekbat De Sebat (The Fifth Element)
The “fare” that fell into Korben Dallas’s lap: 5’9”, blue eyes, long legs, great skin. You know, perfect. Korben had no idea that what fell into his cab that day was literally the perfect being: The Fifth Element, to be exact. LeeLoo is a being thousands of years old, whose main purpose is to maintain peace in the universe. She is fragile, yet tough as nails; beautiful, yet terrifying. As old as she is, she is never jaded. Brushing up on Earth’s history, she weeps at all the pain and terror humans have endured. At the end, the love of one man is enough to convince her that life is worth saving.
#1 Badass Moment:
3. Hermione Granger (Harry Potter)
One of the smartest students to ever roam the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hermione Granger had humble beginnings as a part of a very normal, very non-magic British family. When she was accepted to Hogwarts her parents were proud, and knew that their brilliant daughter would succeed in the world of magic. And succeed she did. Hermione’s staple move is eagerly throwing her arm into the air, ready to spit out the exact answer to whatever question is asked. SHE LITERALLY TRAVELED IN TIME TO TAKE MORE CLASSES. Constantly reading, learning, and loving her magical education (what smart muggle wouldn’t?!) is Hermione’s absolute joy. Other than her obvious intelligence, Hermione is brave. That is a quality that stuck out from the beginning, and most likely the main reason the Sorting Hat placed her in Gryffindor. From her first year as a Hogwarts student and the years beyond that, she helped Harry defeat the Dark Lord, amongst many other brave and selfless tasks.
#1 Badass Moment:
4. Donna Noble (Doctor Who)
Donna always knew she was smart; smarter than most, actually. She is an in-charge woman with a holler that can make a wild dog heel. She became the Doctor’s very best friend, and ultimately, his savior. She always knew when to make the Doctor stop, pay attention to his surroundings, and re-evaluate his decisions. She never hesitates to speak her mind; she is passionate, kind, brave, and loyal. As brought to our attention in the episode “Turn Left”, Donna Noble is the most important woman in the universe.
#1 Badass Moment:
5. River Tam (Firefly, Serenity)
River is a fugitive on the run, protected by her brother, Simon, and eventually the crew of Serenity. Little did they know, River would end up protecting them. This young woman, through no fault of her own, was brainwashed into becoming a super-assassin. She was chosen by a prestigious academy for her exceptional mind, and instead, she endured endless torture at the hands of greedy Alliance scientists, ultimately leading to Simon arranging an elaborate rescue mission. With the exception of a subliminally triggered attack on a crowd of innocents (and some well-deserved slices at a less-than-charming crew member), River is not a violent being. She is tortured by the pain and screams of the dead, and has no concept of weaponry--only the turmoil it can cause in the hands of the wrong person. She is selfless; constantly afraid, but rushing to the aid of those in need.
#1 Badass Moment:
6. Barbara Gordon/Batgirl/Oracle (Batman)
-Because there are many, many universes in which Barbara/Batgirl/Oracle exist, and each one has slightly different story lines, I will save us the trouble of being specific and just tell you about the reasons each one of her identities is collaboratively badass.-
Barbara Gordon is the daughter of Police Commissioner Jim Gordon, and is too smart for her own good. She seems to constantly get into tiffs with her father, who wishes she could keep out of public affairs, for fear of her safety. Her intelligence and curiosity drive her to become an assistant to the world’s greatest detective, Batman. For a while, she goes as far as becoming Batgirl, a female counterpart to Batman, patrolling the streets of Gotham and cracking cases with the Dark Knight. When she is brutally shot by the Joker, she becomes paralyzed from the waist down; but that doesn’t stop her. She may not be able to fly across rooftops and beat down the baddies, but she will remain stationed in front of her computer, helping Batman solve crime using the best tool at hand: her brain.
#1 Badass Moment:
7. Caroline Forbes (The Vampire Diaries)
Caroline started out as a control-freak teenager, focused on conquering high school and eventually the world beyond; so far, she was succeeding, because there’s nothing she isn’t good at. However, she was not anticipating becoming a vampire before she even got the chance to graduate. But, just like I said, Caroline is good at everything, even being one of the undead. She’s pretty much a perfect vampire. She is admired by everyone around her because of her perseverance, her selflessness, her love, her enduring faith in the importance of life and friendship. Not to mention, she is a force to be reckoned with. She will go to no end to defend the ones she loves and defeat those who may hurt them.
#1 Badass Moment:
8. Martha Jones (Doctor Who)
Martha Jones remains one of the most loyal and dedicated companions in Doctor Who history. Martha literally cared for the Doctor during the most vulnerable months of his life, traveled all over the Earth, by herself, just to tell his story, and continued to help defend Earth against whatever might harm it, all in the name of the Doctor. She is the epitome of a brave, loyal soldier, with a heart of gold and a brilliant mind. After everything she’s been through, she will still weep at the death of even the most seemingly unimportant being, because she will always have love and compassion for others.
#1 Badass Moment:
9. Éowyn, House of Eorl (Lord of the Rings)
A shieldmaiden of Rohan, Éowyn is a noble woman in a war-torn world. Her land, her family, and her people are infinitely loved by her, and she would fight to the death for them. Although her uncle, King Théoden, does not want her to join the battle against the Nazgûl, she dresses as a man and rides anyway, taking Merry Brandybuck (also denied the glory of battle because of his small Hobbit size) with her. Éowyn speaks her mind whenever she feels the need; passionately defends those who need defending; fights just as hard as she loves.
#1 Badass Moment:
10. Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)
An archeologist/vigilante/treasure hunter will always have my vote; especially one as classy as Lara Croft. The daughter of a Lord, she had all the wealth and opportunity at hand to become a very prominent member of aristocratic society. Instead, she chose to explore the world, fight the bad guys, make historic discoveries, learn every language she could, keep in touch with her spiritual side, and write all about it in the meantime. She’s what every tough, free-spirited female might aspire to be, a feminist counterpart to Indiana Jones. Not only that, she still gets to come home to the manor she inherited from her father, complete with loyal staff and a kick-ass wardrobe.
#1 Badass Moment:
What are some of your favorite characters (female or male...or neither)?
-Rachel
header/teaser image via http://martanael.deviantart.com/
Monday, January 27, 2014
Friday, August 16, 2013
Kentucky Fried 'Justified'
OK, so that's a ridiculous title, but bear with me! Two weeks ago I was in the Ohio/Kentucky area for a family reunion, and part of the trip involved visiting Kentucky because Morgan here is a huge fan of the show 'Justified'. I asked if he'd be willing to guest write a little something for you all, because I've never seen the show but I hear that it's good. If you already watch the show then you should leave a comment telling us your favorite part or character! If you don't watch it yet, then get ready to hear about how fantastic it is!
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'Justified' follows the story of Raylan Givens, a US Marshal who, after justifiably taking the law into his own hands to the displeasure of his superior, is sent back to his hometown of Harlan, Kentucky as a form of "lay low" punishment for his vigilante-esque actions. Once home, he's welcomed by the local law enforcement and quickly settles in to rounding up the local flavor.
Through the first season, we see Raylan struggle with being back in the home that he deliberately left; reasons include an ex wife, a hated father, and a general round of ignorance. The persona of Raylan has a strong sense of right and wrong, and knows what he should do, but also constantly struggles with his own anger and his desire to pretty much kill everyone who does something wrong. His own safety, and the safety of others, tends to override the law. All the same, he's not above calm conversation! In the first episode we see him talk down a dim-witted shotgun wielder, and later in the show he warns an offender that one more step means getting shot. He's a bit of an anti hero that you don't feel badly about rooting for.
The counter point to Raylan is Boyd Crowder, an army vet and white supremacist who, after the first episode, will become your favorite character. Once the show finds its groove, the dynamic between Raylan and Boyd takes center stage in a fascinating exchange of law versus criminal. While Raylan aims to uphold justice, even if that means a shooting spree, Boyd is a criminal who manages to do good in the name of God.
A large draw of 'Justified' is the fact that it's set in Kentucky. It wouldn't be nearly as appealing if it were a cop show in a city such as New York or Los Angeles. In a large city setting a lot of the dynamic, story, and characters would have to rely on cell phones, street signs, and an overload of modern life in general. Since Raylan is in his home town, he relies on life-long knowledge of the area, as well as rapport with people he's known since he was a child. They don't necessarily like him, but they know him, so they are ocassionally willing to help. Shows set in the city are cliche personality wise, not just cop type roles, but also the citizens. You know what you'll get to an extent in the South, but it's a different avenue; one not seen nearly as frequently. The variety is appreciated amidst the usual sea of gritty dark streets.
The feel of the show is mostly drama, but there's a generous serving of comedy as well. It's not the normal comedy you'd think, but the special kind that springs from dire situations. They happen to run rampant in 'Justified'. It's more serious comedy though, adult comedy if you will, which is to be expected from an FX aired TV MA show. The best part is that it doesn't take the normal route of most scripted shows. For instance, you might be able to predict what will happen in a season, but you won't be able to predict how you get there. The routes and the paths to the destination, no matter what it might be, are very random and new. The writers have specifically stated that they are 100% willing to change direction at the drop of a hat, which makes it more realistic than other shows because that's how life is. If they have an idea that they think works better, they'll adandon whatever they were going to do and just run with it.
Season four just wrapped in April of this year, and season five is due to air in January or February of 2014. Now is a great time to dive in if you're searching for a lesser traveled cop/sheriff/law what-have-you show. Oh, and it stars Timothy "The Elephant" Olyphant, so that should be a big draw for most people.
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So what do you think? Will you be adding 'Justified' to your TV roster anytime soon?
-MJ
*Header image source
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'Justified' follows the story of Raylan Givens, a US Marshal who, after justifiably taking the law into his own hands to the displeasure of his superior, is sent back to his hometown of Harlan, Kentucky as a form of "lay low" punishment for his vigilante-esque actions. Once home, he's welcomed by the local law enforcement and quickly settles in to rounding up the local flavor.
Through the first season, we see Raylan struggle with being back in the home that he deliberately left; reasons include an ex wife, a hated father, and a general round of ignorance. The persona of Raylan has a strong sense of right and wrong, and knows what he should do, but also constantly struggles with his own anger and his desire to pretty much kill everyone who does something wrong. His own safety, and the safety of others, tends to override the law. All the same, he's not above calm conversation! In the first episode we see him talk down a dim-witted shotgun wielder, and later in the show he warns an offender that one more step means getting shot. He's a bit of an anti hero that you don't feel badly about rooting for.
I'm sure this is someone's OTP. Source.
The counter point to Raylan is Boyd Crowder, an army vet and white supremacist who, after the first episode, will become your favorite character. Once the show finds its groove, the dynamic between Raylan and Boyd takes center stage in a fascinating exchange of law versus criminal. While Raylan aims to uphold justice, even if that means a shooting spree, Boyd is a criminal who manages to do good in the name of God.
A large draw of 'Justified' is the fact that it's set in Kentucky. It wouldn't be nearly as appealing if it were a cop show in a city such as New York or Los Angeles. In a large city setting a lot of the dynamic, story, and characters would have to rely on cell phones, street signs, and an overload of modern life in general. Since Raylan is in his home town, he relies on life-long knowledge of the area, as well as rapport with people he's known since he was a child. They don't necessarily like him, but they know him, so they are ocassionally willing to help. Shows set in the city are cliche personality wise, not just cop type roles, but also the citizens. You know what you'll get to an extent in the South, but it's a different avenue; one not seen nearly as frequently. The variety is appreciated amidst the usual sea of gritty dark streets.
Look at that glorious background foliage. Source.
The feel of the show is mostly drama, but there's a generous serving of comedy as well. It's not the normal comedy you'd think, but the special kind that springs from dire situations. They happen to run rampant in 'Justified'. It's more serious comedy though, adult comedy if you will, which is to be expected from an FX aired TV MA show. The best part is that it doesn't take the normal route of most scripted shows. For instance, you might be able to predict what will happen in a season, but you won't be able to predict how you get there. The routes and the paths to the destination, no matter what it might be, are very random and new. The writers have specifically stated that they are 100% willing to change direction at the drop of a hat, which makes it more realistic than other shows because that's how life is. If they have an idea that they think works better, they'll adandon whatever they were going to do and just run with it.
Season four just wrapped in April of this year, and season five is due to air in January or February of 2014. Now is a great time to dive in if you're searching for a lesser traveled cop/sheriff/law what-have-you show. Oh, and it stars Timothy "The Elephant" Olyphant, so that should be a big draw for most people.
Big draw. Source.
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So what do you think? Will you be adding 'Justified' to your TV roster anytime soon?
-MJ
*Header image source
Friday, August 2, 2013
Starz ‘Outlander’ Series in 2014
At the end of June, Starz announced they would be doing a 16 episode TV series adaptation of Outlander, an internationally popularbook series written by Diana Gabaldon. As an avid fan of this epic, seven-book-going-on-eight-book-as-soon-as-the-next-one-releases, time traveling, science fiction, historical fiction, romance adventure series (what a mouthful!), I immediately freaked out. In a good way.Whenever I meet a self-proclaimed book lover or reader I tend to immediately suggest that they read the Outlander books.
Most might be all trepidation in the face of a TV adaptation of a beloved book series, but in light of the brilliance and success of theHBO/George R. R. Martin masterpiecethat isGame of Thrones, and the fact that Ron Moore (of Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek: TNG fame) is at the helm, I am feeling more than optimistic and excited. So much so that I created a tumblr dedicated to all things Outlander! Feel free to follow it if you want to stay in the loop on as much information as I can find about the show, in addition to quotes, fanart, and other Outlander-type tidbits!
Many times over the years Gabaldon has spoken publicly regarding movie versions of her series. She generally says that if the stars aligned and the right producers, offers, and actors came together then that would be great. However fans never seemed to be in favor of a movie release. I know that at the first mention of an Outlander film I thought to myself, "Surely they jest, this would need to be a TV show!"
Well, the time has come! Filming is set to begin in Scotland this coming fall, with an anticipated airing date of Spring 2014. The part of Jamie Fraser, one of the two main characters, has been filled by Sam Heughan(pronounced hew-en). He's a strapping young Scotsman with a background in theatre and a fantastic sense of humor. He can be found joyfully interacting with fans on Twitter and posting selfies on Instagram. The Outlander fanbase is currently frothing at the mouth wondering who will be cast as Claire, the protagonist of the story.
It is Claire that we follow in this intense and epic tale.We find herin1940s Scotland while vacationing with her husband Frank. One day while picking medicinal plants, she falls through a cleft in a standing stone circle atop a hill and becomes mysteriously transported to1743 Scotland. This time travel is completewith all of the dangers and problems one might expect to find in the 18th Century. It is here that she meets Jamie. And then all hell breaks loose and it is amazing.
If you're looking for an involving, deep, thoughtful, and beautifully written new book series, then I suggest you pick up Outlander. Now is the perfect time to dive in! Book eight of the series, Written In My Own Heart's Blood, is due out next year, in addition to the launch of the TV show! I sincerely hope that the 16 episode run is a success; I can only assume that would mean they'd continue and make a season for each of the books! Then I might just fan-squeal myself to death.
-MJ
*header image source
The Outlander series, books one through seven, including the Companion book, the Lord John series, and other spin off titles. Source
Most might be all trepidation in the face of a TV adaptation of a beloved book series, but in light of the brilliance and success of theHBO/George R. R. Martin masterpiecethat isGame of Thrones, and the fact that Ron Moore (of Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek: TNG fame) is at the helm, I am feeling more than optimistic and excited. So much so that I created a tumblr dedicated to all things Outlander! Feel free to follow it if you want to stay in the loop on as much information as I can find about the show, in addition to quotes, fanart, and other Outlander-type tidbits!
Many times over the years Gabaldon has spoken publicly regarding movie versions of her series. She generally says that if the stars aligned and the right producers, offers, and actors came together then that would be great. However fans never seemed to be in favor of a movie release. I know that at the first mention of an Outlander film I thought to myself, "Surely they jest, this would need to be a TV show!"
Well, the time has come! Filming is set to begin in Scotland this coming fall, with an anticipated airing date of Spring 2014. The part of Jamie Fraser, one of the two main characters, has been filled by Sam Heughan(pronounced hew-en). He's a strapping young Scotsman with a background in theatre and a fantastic sense of humor. He can be found joyfully interacting with fans on Twitter and posting selfies on Instagram. The Outlander fanbase is currently frothing at the mouth wondering who will be cast as Claire, the protagonist of the story.
Heughan obligingly dyed his hair red for fans, seeing as Jamie is a firey ginger in the series. Source
It is Claire that we follow in this intense and epic tale.We find herin1940s Scotland while vacationing with her husband Frank. One day while picking medicinal plants, she falls through a cleft in a standing stone circle atop a hill and becomes mysteriously transported to1743 Scotland. This time travel is completewith all of the dangers and problems one might expect to find in the 18th Century. It is here that she meets Jamie. And then all hell breaks loose and it is amazing.
If you're looking for an involving, deep, thoughtful, and beautifully written new book series, then I suggest you pick up Outlander. Now is the perfect time to dive in! Book eight of the series, Written In My Own Heart's Blood, is due out next year, in addition to the launch of the TV show! I sincerely hope that the 16 episode run is a success; I can only assume that would mean they'd continue and make a season for each of the books! Then I might just fan-squeal myself to death.
-MJ
*header image source
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Friday, May 25, 2012
NBC replaces Harmon as showrunner of ‘Community’
You've all heard the news that NBC has replaced Harmon, yes? What gives NBC the right? How can they think that replacing Dan Harmon makes sense? What, they just looked at the success of Community, saw that Dan Harmon did the writing, renewed for season four and then went, "Hey, we don't need this guy. It already has a following now! WE can make the show from here on out!"
A creative asset isn't something that is easily replaced. Harmon isn't some register biscuit, desk jockey, fresh-out-of-high-school game store employee. He's a force all his own, and his unique brain is what drove Community into the hearts of the viewers.
Where will it go without him? What will happen to the universe and characters without his loving, eccentric hands at the helm? What's going to happen when the cocky big wigs who think that their suits give them all-encompassing powers drive the show straight into the ground? They are the replaceable ones. The world is chock full of arrogant, over-confident douche-canoes who believe that creative heads aren't necessary. It's nauseating.
And what is with them not even telling Harmon? Is there no such thing as consideration or courtesy in the television world? Are basic human kindnesses non-existent in there? Why are contracts written without polite clauses? The more questions that I ask, the more I want nothing to do with the business world.
OK OK, business contracts probably don't say this. And if they do, then it's that stupid tricky language. Either way, I don't like it!
Community is an amazing show. It's wacky, ridiculous, over-the-top, hilarious, realistic, UNrealistic, poignant, relatable, clever... so, so very clever. That all comes from the writing, which Harmon was responsible for.
Dear NBC,
How the hell do you think you're going to write with Harmon's brain without Harmon? You're not. You're not going to have the same show. The characters will not continue to develop. You've completely shot yourself in the foot. Congratulations, you are complete jackasses.
Dear Mr. Harmon,
You're insanely clever, and it sucks what NBC has done to you. I have my fingers crossed that you'll have Community back in your ever capable hands in the very near future.
TELEVISION STATIONS, please stop ruining everything!
-MJ
Image of Harmon from here
Community image from here
A creative asset isn't something that is easily replaced. Harmon isn't some register biscuit, desk jockey, fresh-out-of-high-school game store employee. He's a force all his own, and his unique brain is what drove Community into the hearts of the viewers.
Where will it go without him? What will happen to the universe and characters without his loving, eccentric hands at the helm? What's going to happen when the cocky big wigs who think that their suits give them all-encompassing powers drive the show straight into the ground? They are the replaceable ones. The world is chock full of arrogant, over-confident douche-canoes who believe that creative heads aren't necessary. It's nauseating.
And what is with them not even telling Harmon? Is there no such thing as consideration or courtesy in the television world? Are basic human kindnesses non-existent in there? Why are contracts written without polite clauses? The more questions that I ask, the more I want nothing to do with the business world.
OK OK, business contracts probably don't say this. And if they do, then it's that stupid tricky language. Either way, I don't like it!
Community is an amazing show. It's wacky, ridiculous, over-the-top, hilarious, realistic, UNrealistic, poignant, relatable, clever... so, so very clever. That all comes from the writing, which Harmon was responsible for.
Dear NBC,
How the hell do you think you're going to write with Harmon's brain without Harmon? You're not. You're not going to have the same show. The characters will not continue to develop. You've completely shot yourself in the foot. Congratulations, you are complete jackasses.
Dear Mr. Harmon,
You're insanely clever, and it sucks what NBC has done to you. I have my fingers crossed that you'll have Community back in your ever capable hands in the very near future.
TELEVISION STATIONS, please stop ruining everything!
-MJ
Image of Harmon from here
Community image from here
