DIVERSITY IN SUPERHERO FILMS/ TV

October 10, 2017October 9, 2017 ~ Ellyn ~ 6 Comments

Hey guys, today I want to chat with you guys about diversity in superhero films. Last month there was a bit of talk about this on Twitter and it really got me thinking. I am constantly ranting to my friends about the lack of diversity in film in general, but especially in the superhero films. In fact, one of my friends actually doesn’t go to see superhero films anymore unless she is 100% interested, or the cast is actually diverse (Wonder Woman, Black Panther, Thor).

Anyway, so I kind of touched on this last month in another Tv Chats ( I have been writing a whole lot of these lately #sorrynotsorry) but the movies that we’re seeing at the moment all seem to be the same, white American man saves the day, yay and that’s pretty much it, I also talked about the movies I would actually prefer to see, if you want to check it out.

Think about it, how many diverse superheroes can you think of in film?

Here, I’ll do it with you. We’ve got Black Panther, Luke Cage, Aquaman, Cyborg and Storm. This took me a good half hour to come up with and I couldn’t even count them on both hands.

LET’S TALK ABOUT SPIDEY BEING CONTRACTUALLY STRAIGHT I HAVE RAGE

A couple of months ago there was this big discussion on Twitter and I thought I might talk with you guys about it. A few authors put in their two cents and a bunch of actors talked about it too. I find that this is a big issue, especially nowadays when people are so aware of diversity.

I think this is most obvious in the recent movie; Ghost in The Shell. It was based off an anime and starred Scarlett Johanson. I honestly don’t understand why she felt like it was okay for her to take the role but hey, this is Hollywood.

I have two notes for this post. Mainly I want to talk about Spider-Man but, before I get into that I also want to quickly mention something that has been bugging me since the first Avengers film. Hawkeye. Now, don’t get me wrong I love Hawkeye (Let’s all ignore Age of Ultron) but in the comics he was deaf and as a deaf person it’s extremely offensive that he doesn’t even have a hearing aid in the films.

What I think we need more of in film is actors like Ed Skrein, he actually turned down a film because he learned that the character was mixed Asian. [THIS ARTICLE SHOULD EXPLAIN EVERYTHING]

Anyway, so a couple of months ago, there was a whole lot of chat, probably derived from the discussion from the Hellboy casting. Anyway, so people were talking about how Peter Parker (Spidey) is contractually obligated to be straight and white. It was revealed in a bunch of leaked Sony emails and honestly, I am so disapointed. [ARTICLE]

Adam Silvera also got into it on Twitter [LINK TO TWEET], saying that he was asked to write a super-hero novel but he bowed out because he couldn’t write the character as queer.

This is a huge problem because it shows that Hollywood and Publishing companies are not wlling to branch out. I already love superheroes, and I already love books, so when I find out that companies are refusing to allow non-straight characters a thing in thier books and it really doesn’t make me want to pick up their books.

Obviously I still want to read Wonder Woman and Batman, but really the lack of willingness to allow diversity in novels, especially about superheroes, who are already so straight and white, is really worrying.

How do you feel about diversity in film? What’s your stance on the issue?

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Anne Season 1 Review and Thoughts!

July 16, 2017March 19, 2020 ~ Ellyn ~ 8 Comments

Anne Review: Season 1:

Rating: ★★★★☆

No. Episodes: 7

Rotten Tomatoes: 86%

Censorship Rating: PG

Cast: Amybeth McNulty – Anne Shirley, Geraldine James – Marilla Cuthbert, R.H. Thomson – Matthew Cuthbert, Dalila Bela – Diana Barry, Corrine Koslo – Rachel Lynde , Aymeric Jett Montaz – Jerry Baynard, Lucas Jade Zumann – Gilbert Blythe

Anne Shirley

Different Anne than we’ve seen before – Anne has PTSD
She’s come from a long history of abuse, you see this, not only in the flashbacks but in the way she reacts to the things people say and how she acts around others.
She still holds some of the same similarities to the Anne we all know and love (Imagination, language, nature) – she can come off as a bit of a ditz when she’s looking off into the clouds but then bam then she’s using all these 25 cent words, as Diana put it and you’re like, shit this kid’s actually smart. Unless you’re Marilla, because then you’re like, damn, someone shut this kid up.
Love the actress – she plays the character SOO well

Gilbert Blythe

I will always love Gilbert Blythe no matter what adaptation he’s in (that being said I’ve only watched this and the movies).
He gets a slake smacked over his head and his first thought is to smirk and have an awesome middle school come back.

Not the most faithful adaptation – there’s one scene in episode 2 (I’m pretty sure) where Matthew (who I love btw) chases Anne frantically, against time and reason – this was actually never in the book so it took me for a loop at first but I actually really enjoyed the episode. With this added plot we also got to see just how resilient and strong Anne is on her own.
This adaptation thrives off tragedy – Anne has her horrible back story and later on Gilbert becomes an orphan. They also created an entirely new backstory for Matthew Cuthbert. WHAT. He’s a painfully shy and light hearted farmer, who just wants to tend to the farm and listen to Anne chat for hours on end. And there’s nothing wrong with that so why the heck have they given him a show-invented dead brother???
Alsoooooooo, he tries to commit suicide??? Like, please in no world would Matthew Cuthbert, who travelled on horseback and in the back of wagons just to get Anne back, ever abandon his sister and Anne. It’s completely ridiculous!
Oh Oh Oh but I do have to say that I really enjoyed Jerry, he was a lot of fun and I really liked how much the Cuthberts came to enjoy his presence.
However, despite all of these things, I did rate this 4 stars for a reason, Why? Because I loved it, it’s not completely faithful but I loved Anne and I loved Gilbert ( SO MUCH HOW IS HE SO PRETTY SOMEBODY HELP ME) and so the show was a plus for me and I really hope we get a season 2.

Have you watched Anne? Do you prefer the book or the show?

asdAS

[TV Review] Gilmore Girls: A Year in The Life // Winter – Fall

December 22, 2016March 19, 2020 ~ Ellyn ~ Leave a comment

SPOILER REVIEW

I wrote each review separately after watching each 2 hour episode, there will be spoilers, you have been warned.

Winter

Okay, first things first, Rory and Logan.

I’ll say it now, I am, and have always been team Jess. However, I’ve always said that if Rory wasn’t going to be with Jess I’d rather she was with Logan. In this episode we learn that Rory and Logan are in an open relationship, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. I’m still not too chuffed about how they portrayed the new-found relationship between the two, I mean what about all of Logan’s character development in the original series? Didn’t Rory learn her lesson with the fiasco with Dean?

Speaking of Rory’s love life, what’s up with Paul? This poor guy seems to really like Rory, hell, he’s met the family, been out on the boat with Luke, had family dinners and advised Lorelai about her laptop software, of all things. This guy has done all of the right things, he’s nice and kind and everyone just forgets about him? I honestly just thought his part of the plot was pointless. What are the writers trying to get at? Is Rory just a terrible girlfriend? I mean, they’ve already made it clear that she’s a serial cheater. She kissed Jess while she was dating Dean, she slept with Dean while he married, for God’s sake. And now she’s sleeping with Logan while she’s in a two year long relationship with Logan, or Didi as Lorelai knows him.

The small things I enjoyed from the episode were the little things that really brought the old show to life were Kirk and his new project, Ooober and his insistence that it was an original idea. I know that a lot of people hate Kirk, which I totally understand but personally I really love him and think his little bits in the show are some of the best!

Another small (it felt major to my GG heart) thing that they did was bring back Paul Anka (the dog, not the man). He’s kept up with his fussy diet and is still as amazing as ever!

Spring

Emily and Lorelai are now going to therapy together. Oh, joy what a great idea! Te things is, it actually is a great idea but because if their complicated past and both of the girls’ stubbornness nothing is accomplished in these sessions. The poor, poor therapist.

Rory is a bit lost. She’s out of a job and doesn’t know quite what she’s going to do next. It will definitely be interesting to see if she thinks she’s below the internet job or not.

As for JavaJunkie (Luke and Lorelai), they are lying to each other again, Because that worked out so well last time. NOT! This is gong to hurt the relationship, and I am already exhausted just thinking about the fight that is inevitably going to happen.

I’m not 100% sure how I really feel about this yet. I’m half way through and so far I’m not overly impressed. Does it feel like Gilmore Girls? Yes. Do I enjoy the new episodes when I watch them? Yes.

You know that feeling when you have a show that you love soo much that as soon as an episode finishes you have to tell someone about what just happened? I’m just not getting that so far, the show feels like Gilmore Girls and that’s good but is it too reminiscent of the original seven seasons?

Luke and Lorelai are lying to each other again. Wasn’t that what split them up in the first place? Their lack of communication has always been a problem for them and is clearly going to be a big thing for them in the next two episodes.

Summer

Jess is back! Thank God.

There aare only a few main things that I’m really going to go intofor this episode because it’s getting pretty late and I’m tired.

01 The book. Jess came back (finally, where has he been??) and helped Rory out (as usual) telling her not what she wanted to hear but she needed to hear (as usual). Rory then told Lorelai that she wanted to write a novel about their lives together growing up. It really bugged me how against the idea Lorelai was – okay yes you don’t want the world to know you left your kid in a bucket at the shops, but oh well, that’s in the past you brought up Rory Gilmore and you did a pretty good damn job!

02 In this episode we get to see Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, two young girls who have influenced and have played a significant role for young girls everywhere. And what are they doing you may ask. They. are. Body. Shaming. Not cool, ASP, not cool. Also, there are children fanning them? Don’t even get me started on that!

03 Rory and Lorelai are fighting! Oh, joy of joys. Because that is definitely what I signed up for. They’re both fighting with eachother because of the book ad I am honestly just so done with this.

JavaJunkie are fighting about the secrets. Luke always follows Lorelai, is that really a good thing?
Is Logan endgame? She calls him whenever she needs to vent and he’s been in all of the episodes so far. They’ve “broken up”, will they have a rush get together in the next episode?
Lorelai is now going on a hike to find herself. Oh, please. She’s going to take one look at the outdoors and be like “lol no, going home now”.

Fall

This part is just going to be bullet points because I only have a short period of time to write this review.

Jess taking care of Luke. It’s good to see them hanging out.
Logan’s group came back! I love them, that whole scene was amazing, the outfits were so cool, the whole college gang was back together. It was amazing! I forgot how much I had really enjoyed the scenes involving Colin, Finn and Robert!
It was so sad when Rory and the boys had to say goodbye!
Lorelai called her mother! Oh my gosh soo many emotions! I started crying.
Luke’s speech to Lorelai, I love him! His speech was heartbreaking because she wasn’t even going to leave and he just needs her so much! But I did have some minor problems with it, he seems completely dependent of Lorelai these days, long gone are the days when Luke was able to live as a competent and self-reliable adult!
One scene with Dean. Thank god, I hated him in the original series. However, even from that one scene we did get to see that he has moved on with his life and is very much a non-cheating (unlike someone we know) family man.
Sookie is back! Like with Dean she only had a small appearance, understandable because the actress is soo popular these days but it was sad to see she wasn’t even there to see Luke and Lorelai elope, I mean come on Michel was there. It was weird to see the trio so incomplete. Although, speaking of Michel, I hadn’t fully realised how much I had missed the trio until Michel started yelling at Sookie. It was like a breathe of fresh air, Like coming home.

Elope

Jess! Oh my heart and soul, I am gone from his world. He still loves her, I am so far gone by this point. I am still in shock from the ending.

The ending seemed a little rushed, we didn’t hear the vows or see the dance mob.

Overall Thoughts:

Episodes one and four were the best.

Seasons seven left us with so many questions we didn’t know what to do with ourselves, we were all unsatisfied and confused. But with the revival we were meant to get closure, but did we? I think for some things we did, but will Rory ever find a true happy ending? Will she finish her book? Who will she end up with, Jess or Logan? Did Logan even go through with the wedding?

I think the revival and some time to think really did make me realise to things. One, that I never really liked Rory all that much. She’s a serial-cheater and she’s actually kind of annoying. I definitely like Lorelai more.

And, two, while I will always ship Literati (Rory and Jess) I really don’t think Rory deserves Jess, he has had so much character development (which, of course we didn’t really get to see). He is always there for her when she needs advice or even just a hug. He is her Luke, something I’m not entirely sure I’m happy about.

Also, just one more thing and then I’ll stop typing I promise. The last four words, you didn’t think I’d forgotten did you? That was how ASP had always pictured the show ending? When Rory was just about to head out into the real world, a promising career ahead of her and no romantic ties to hold her down?

Don’t get me wrong we got our revival and I am ever thankful for even getting that, but were we left with more questions than answers?

Gilmore Girls Book Tag

November 25, 2016November 25, 2016 ~ Ellyn ~ 1 Comment

Original

In honour of the revival for Gilmore Girls coming out tomorrow I thought a book tag was fitting.

01 Lorelai: A character with a witty or sarcastic sense of humour.

I had a bit of trouble thinking of an answer for this question and then I got all of these answers all at once but I think Skulduggery Pleasant is definitely the most sarcastic and witty character I’ve ever read about. He’s hilarious and quick witted and he makes the series so much fun to read!

02 Rory: Your Favourite Classic.

My favourite classic? Oh my, what a question. Fahrenheit 451? Macbeth? Pride and Prejudice? (too obvious?).

I’ve loved the three books mentioned above but there are soo many others out there that I still haven’t read.

03 Luke: A book you secretly love, but are afraid to admit.

What do you mean afraid to admit? Everyone who knows me personally knows how much I love Luke, he’s my favourite character.

A book I secretly love? I feel like the popular answer these days would be Twilight but I think that’s too obvious an answer.

However, I honestly don’t know that I have another answer to the question so I may have to go with this.

04 Lane: A musical character

Mia from If I Stay? I don’t think I’ve really read too many books with musical characters. I guess most of the characters I read about are too bust trying to save the world to play cello.

05 Dean: Your first book love (character or book you first loved!)

The thing is I never loved Dean. I’m still going to answer the question but I feel the need to point out that I hate Dean with a fiery passion.

Now, to answer the question. The first book or character I loved? Well, this is going to be a very obvious answer but, Harry Potter. I grew up with Harry Potter, I read the books non-stop and picked nothing else up for years.

06 Sooki: A book you’ve devoured

Sooki, oh my God she is a gift to this Earth.

A book I devoured? The first thing that comes to mind is Simon Vs The Homo Sapien’s Agenda but I feel like I answer that for every question like this so I’ll go with The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson.

07 Jess: A book you love, that gets the most hate.

Jess is my favourite of Rory’s love interests so it makes me pretty sad to see that a lot of people really didn’t like him, I mean his character development was amazing!

I think I’ll have to go with These Broken Stars, I loved this whole trilogy but apparently a lot of people don’t like these books.

08 Miss Patty: A book that was ruined by the hype

I don’t think that Patty is over hyped so I guess I don’t understand how she was “ruined”.

However, because of booktube and the amount of book blogs on the internet today, books are often hyped up. I have two answers for this one, Throne of Glass and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. The Throne of Glass series is one of the most popular series on booktube so of course I had to pick it up! I hated Throne of glass and honestly I will not be picking up the rest of the series, the further books sound really problematic and I honestly really didn’t like Celaena .

Earlier this year I read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz and because it was soo hyped up by pretty much anyone who read it I had extremely high hopes. Naturally, I didn’t hate it but I didn’t love it, that being said it was good enough that I read it all in one sitting.

09 Emily Gilmore: expensive book

Anything by Brandon Sanderson, honestly the amount of money I would have to spend to buy his books is ridiculous! Naturally, his most popular series’, Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive are both 10 book series.

10 Paris: An uptight character

Hermione Granger is the only character that comes to mind. She was definitely uptight at the start of the series but I think she got a lot better towards the last few books, especially in The Order of the Phoenix.