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shadowkat1. Ugh, trying to find spoilers for X-men comics is giving me a headache.
So will stop.
Spoilers are your friend - when it comes to long-running serials. It's the only way you get fair warning - when the evil writers decide to kill off your favorite characters for the upteenth time. Or torture them. It's actually not that bad when they torture them - means they get a storyline. Happy characters are sidelined, barely seen characters in serials. (Did I mention the writers are evil?)
Marvel is very liberal, as are the writers of the X-men, unlike DC which is, ahem, less so? Anyhow, as a result - we get a lot of heavy handed themes about fascism, and AI, and racism, etc. Also, in recent years, LGBTA and Women's Rights (which is always a bit odd considering how lopsided things are gender wise.)
I'm not a fan of heavy handed political messages or themes. It's one of my difficulties with broad political satire. I need it to be subtle. I like to figure it out, and have some sense of innuendo. I don't like being hit over the head with it. If I want to be preached to? I'd go to church - not go to a movie or read a comic book.
The problem with doing that in comics, novels, movies, etc - is that you are mainly preaching to the choir. The congregation doesn't always stick around to listen, or goes to sleep on you. It's best to be subtle, and do a sneak attack. (I know a lot of conservatives - trust me, it works better.)
2. Site Tour went better than expected considering it was 101 heat index (we had 91 but with 75% humidity - it felt like 101). So we kept it short. All we did was walk across a bridge - a bridge in desperate need of replacement. It was a wrought iron bridge with a grate.
It was actually nice to get away from the office for a bit. This is the only project and project team that's not making me crazy at the moment.
3. I don't know when or if I'm going to see Oppenheimer and Barbie. I told mother that tickets for the 70 mm Oppenheimer were sold out for weeks on end, and going for about $1400 a ticket.
Mother: WHAT? You're kidding me.
Me: No. I was shocked to.
Mother: Do you really need to see it in 70 mm or Imax?? (She saw it on Standard)
Me: Probably not, but I would prefer a comfortable theater - otherwise, I can just wait and see it at home.
On the fence about Barbie.
Me: An acquaintance from church posted on FB that she went into Barbie a mid-middle aged existential angst, and came out crying her eyes out, and felt her soul had grown a little from the experience.
Mother: What? You are kidding me.
ME: On the other hand it does feature one of my favorite songs.."Closer to Fine" - albeit from the trailer - in a satirical manner (so maybe not?)
It's gotten interesting responses. Kind of runs the gamut. Another one of those movies you either love or hate apparently (note I'm talking about folks that agree with the message. I've been ignoring the conservative reviewers.)
Well according to <ahref="https://variety.com/2023/film/box-office/barbie-box-office-crosses-200-million-oppenheimer-100-million-1235679593/">Variety ...good news:
“Barbenheimer” fever continues to sweep the box office.
After five days of release, the inextricably linked “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” have reached notable theatrical milestones, with ticket sales for Greta Gerwig’s fantasia romp crossing $200 million and Christopher Nolan’s somber, three-hour biopic “Oppenheimer” surpassing $100 million.
“Barbie” added another $26 million on Tuesday, bringing its North American tally to $214.1 million. At the domestic box office, “Barbie” has already taken down “John Wick: Chapter 4” ($187 million) as the seventh-highest grossing movie of the year and will soon outstrip Marvel’s “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” ($214.5 million) as the sixth. Of course, it’s only going to rise and rise in the coming days and weeks.
The PG-13 fantasy comedy, featuring Margot Robbie as a stereotypical version of the famous doll, has also exploded overseas with $200 million. So far, “Barbie” has grossed more than $400 million globally. It’s a stellar turnout for the Warner Bros. film, which cost $145 million before the marketing campaign seen round the world.
“Oppenheimer,” meanwhile, is one of only 19 movies this year to hit the $100 million mark. It’s a significant milestone for a historical drama that unfolds largely in dreary rooms of fast-talking scientists and politicians. The film added $12 million on Tuesday, bringing its North America haul to $107 million.
I kind of guessed that - when I was told how hard it was to get tickets. People went nuts over it. Helped by the positive word of mouth. If either film had been horrible - this wouldn't have continued. But there are repeat viewers in there, and folks loved it so much they are telling everyone else to see it too.
4. I keep forgetting to mention Sinead O'Connor's death which kind of blindsided me yesterday when I heard about it on FB.
She died at 56. Same age as me. Literally just a few months older - she was born in December 1966.
I had her albums in my 20s. I adored her. And today...her voice came into my earphones from my phone, and it was her protest against capitalism and the Catholic hierarchy - which is right after her rendition of "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina - Instrumental" and only on the album. The protest that got her into so much trouble. In it she declares..."can you really say you aren't in pain? Like me? Are any of us not living painfully?" and at another point? "To live you have to die." This was when she was 21. She was filled with rage - at her abusers, who had abused others, and her inability to obtain Justice, no matter how loudly she railed and pleaded against them.
Here's a video of one of her songs...
I was wondering lately what happened to her...and then discovered she had died, and at 56. In my mind, she'll always be 21.
So will stop.
Spoilers are your friend - when it comes to long-running serials. It's the only way you get fair warning - when the evil writers decide to kill off your favorite characters for the upteenth time. Or torture them. It's actually not that bad when they torture them - means they get a storyline. Happy characters are sidelined, barely seen characters in serials. (Did I mention the writers are evil?)
Marvel is very liberal, as are the writers of the X-men, unlike DC which is, ahem, less so? Anyhow, as a result - we get a lot of heavy handed themes about fascism, and AI, and racism, etc. Also, in recent years, LGBTA and Women's Rights (which is always a bit odd considering how lopsided things are gender wise.)
I'm not a fan of heavy handed political messages or themes. It's one of my difficulties with broad political satire. I need it to be subtle. I like to figure it out, and have some sense of innuendo. I don't like being hit over the head with it. If I want to be preached to? I'd go to church - not go to a movie or read a comic book.
The problem with doing that in comics, novels, movies, etc - is that you are mainly preaching to the choir. The congregation doesn't always stick around to listen, or goes to sleep on you. It's best to be subtle, and do a sneak attack. (I know a lot of conservatives - trust me, it works better.)
2. Site Tour went better than expected considering it was 101 heat index (we had 91 but with 75% humidity - it felt like 101). So we kept it short. All we did was walk across a bridge - a bridge in desperate need of replacement. It was a wrought iron bridge with a grate.
It was actually nice to get away from the office for a bit. This is the only project and project team that's not making me crazy at the moment.
3. I don't know when or if I'm going to see Oppenheimer and Barbie. I told mother that tickets for the 70 mm Oppenheimer were sold out for weeks on end, and going for about $1400 a ticket.
Mother: WHAT? You're kidding me.
Me: No. I was shocked to.
Mother: Do you really need to see it in 70 mm or Imax?? (She saw it on Standard)
Me: Probably not, but I would prefer a comfortable theater - otherwise, I can just wait and see it at home.
On the fence about Barbie.
Me: An acquaintance from church posted on FB that she went into Barbie a mid-middle aged existential angst, and came out crying her eyes out, and felt her soul had grown a little from the experience.
Mother: What? You are kidding me.
ME: On the other hand it does feature one of my favorite songs.."Closer to Fine" - albeit from the trailer - in a satirical manner (so maybe not?)
It's gotten interesting responses. Kind of runs the gamut. Another one of those movies you either love or hate apparently (note I'm talking about folks that agree with the message. I've been ignoring the conservative reviewers.)
Well according to <ahref="https://variety.com/2023/film/box-office/barbie-box-office-crosses-200-million-oppenheimer-100-million-1235679593/">Variety ...good news:
“Barbenheimer” fever continues to sweep the box office.
After five days of release, the inextricably linked “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” have reached notable theatrical milestones, with ticket sales for Greta Gerwig’s fantasia romp crossing $200 million and Christopher Nolan’s somber, three-hour biopic “Oppenheimer” surpassing $100 million.
“Barbie” added another $26 million on Tuesday, bringing its North American tally to $214.1 million. At the domestic box office, “Barbie” has already taken down “John Wick: Chapter 4” ($187 million) as the seventh-highest grossing movie of the year and will soon outstrip Marvel’s “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” ($214.5 million) as the sixth. Of course, it’s only going to rise and rise in the coming days and weeks.
The PG-13 fantasy comedy, featuring Margot Robbie as a stereotypical version of the famous doll, has also exploded overseas with $200 million. So far, “Barbie” has grossed more than $400 million globally. It’s a stellar turnout for the Warner Bros. film, which cost $145 million before the marketing campaign seen round the world.
“Oppenheimer,” meanwhile, is one of only 19 movies this year to hit the $100 million mark. It’s a significant milestone for a historical drama that unfolds largely in dreary rooms of fast-talking scientists and politicians. The film added $12 million on Tuesday, bringing its North America haul to $107 million.
I kind of guessed that - when I was told how hard it was to get tickets. People went nuts over it. Helped by the positive word of mouth. If either film had been horrible - this wouldn't have continued. But there are repeat viewers in there, and folks loved it so much they are telling everyone else to see it too.
4. I keep forgetting to mention Sinead O'Connor's death which kind of blindsided me yesterday when I heard about it on FB.
She died at 56. Same age as me. Literally just a few months older - she was born in December 1966.
I had her albums in my 20s. I adored her. And today...her voice came into my earphones from my phone, and it was her protest against capitalism and the Catholic hierarchy - which is right after her rendition of "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina - Instrumental" and only on the album. The protest that got her into so much trouble. In it she declares..."can you really say you aren't in pain? Like me? Are any of us not living painfully?" and at another point? "To live you have to die." This was when she was 21. She was filled with rage - at her abusers, who had abused others, and her inability to obtain Justice, no matter how loudly she railed and pleaded against them.
Here's a video of one of her songs...
I was wondering lately what happened to her...and then discovered she had died, and at 56. In my mind, she'll always be 21.
no subject
Date: 2023-07-28 05:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-07-28 05:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-07-28 02:12 pm (UTC)You'd think that with all the revelations about child abuse by American priests (and the Church's role in covering it up), you'd think there would be some understanding here of her viewpoint. But from that point on, she disappeared from the American press.
Morrissey, of all people(!)--taking time out from ranting about immigrants and foreigners in general--scalded the press for lionizing her as a "truthteller" in death while ripping or ignoring her in life.
What can I say? Asshole had a point.
no subject
Date: 2023-07-28 04:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-07-28 10:29 pm (UTC)In 1999, O'Connor was ordained as a priest by the Irish Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church, an Independent Catholic sect that is not recognised by the Roman Catholic Church.[17] She consistently spoke out on issues related to child abuse (including her 1992 Saturday Night Live protest against the continued cover-up of Catholic Church sexual abuse cases), human rights, racism, organised religion, and women's rights. Throughout her music career, she spoke about her spiritual journey, activism, socio-political views, as well as her trauma and mental health struggles. In 2017, O'Connor changed her name to Magda Davitt. After converting to Islam in 2018 she changed it to Shuhada' Sadaqat, but continued to record and perform under her birth name.
Per Wiki..
no subject
Date: 2023-07-28 06:51 pm (UTC)Yeah, that tracks. If you asked me what it is about, I would say 'trying to live as a woman* under the patriarchy'.
Definitely worth watching.
*or any kind of minority, but most specifically women
no subject
Date: 2023-07-31 09:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-07-31 10:32 pm (UTC)