Unpopular Opinion: I don't like La La Land

Okay, before we start let me say a few things: this is just my opinion, film is art and as we know art is subjective; if you like this film that’s great and I definitely don’t want to spoil it for you. Also, I don’t hate musicals, in fact some of my earliest and fondest memories of the theatre have been musicals. And lastly, I don’t necessarily dislike this film just because everyone else seems to love it. There have been high rated films before I was first sceptic about but did like in the end (e.g. The Theory of Everything). Okay, so let’s get going about what I liked (yes of course there are also good things) and didn’t like.

What I liked about La La Land:

- The colours are amazing! The colours are bright and glowing and just overall very nicely arranged and combined. Both the sets and the costumes go together very well and you probably will find yourself thinking more than once “yeah, that looks really nice.”

- The costumes are pretty. Again, the colour scheme here is great and almost anything that is worn in this film is some sort of eye catcher or looks at least quite decent. 

- This whole old school 50s vibe is a nice touch. It has this sort of nostalgia of classic (musical) films and gives the story an overall pleasant look and feeling that also fits the music.

- The cinematography and the way it’s filmed. The film knows how to present its aesthetics and its music. The editing and the transitions run smoothly and you don’t get this feeling of “okay, that was weird…”

- Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling do a decent job with the material they were given. Their dancing looks rather neat and there singing is not necessarily perfect but it doesn’t have to be, it fits the film quite well actually. 

- The music and dancing was good. Not “wow!” but it was at least something you could watch and move your feet to. So, it could’ve been worse.

- The ending is nicely done and at least against this cliché happy ending.

Things I disliked about La La Land:

- The story is flat and almost nothing happens! If after 45 minutes I start checking my watch every ten minutes to see how long it’s already been: that’s not a good sign. Aspiring artists fall in love, break apart because of their different successes and meet again years later. It’s nothing new and they also don’t really add anything to make it seem new or more interesting. 

- There are only two characters and both of them aren’t that interesting. I get that the story is about Mia and Seb, but couldn’t there have been at least one proper side character to have some more and different interaction? The characters of Mia and Seb are also nothing new in the world of film and, to me, there was nothing memorable about them. I found myself rooting for neither of them and honestly didn’t care if Mia was gonna get the role or not.

- The whole relationship felt forced and weird to me. Yeah, I get that this is a love story but at least show me how and why the characters fall for each other. The two meet, he’s rude. They meet again months later at a party, not really knowing each other and have a kind of sarcastic, slightly passive-aggressive conversation. They go home and dance on a hill and bum! they are in love. Like, what?! Then the whole “she doesn’t like jazz thing”. That was fine until they of course have to write that he shows her how great the music actually is and what she’s missing and that she eventually comes to like the music. That would have made a nice contrast, why could she simply not dislike jazz? And then they break up for, to me, very stupid reasons. Every relationship has its ups and downs, but they never really talk about things or apologise or message each other when things are about to go differently. So of course they have to break up! No!

- The music is okay but not “wow!”. It’s entertaining and yeah I tapped to the beat now and then but there was nothing memorable about the music. The only song that kinda stuck out to me was the concert song and even of that I couldn’t recall the melody right now. There isn’t this typical one song of a musical everyone keeps in mind and has heard of. The music is good, but not special. 

- The lack of diversity which also goes hand in hand with the no-secondary-characters-thing. Sure, the very first song of the film is basically a boom of ethnic diversity and we see (apart from our two main characters of course) only black people in the jazz clubs. It’s like they thought that with that first song they could cover diversity for the whole film and then forget about it. I also find it a little weird that we have only black people in the jazz scenes as if no one else enjoys that music. And for the huge amount of black people we see in the jazz scene, there’s only one of them who gets focus for like five minutes (the music group guy) and then he’s somehow badly connotated. Some people also said that the film is racist because a white man safes the music of the black community (“white saviour” discussion). I wouldn’t necessarily agree with that though I have to say that something still felt off to me, though I can’t quite pinpoint it. Also, not to necessarily go with the stereotypes, but a musical film in 2016 and there’s not one queer character? Come on!

- The song the girls sing when they’re getting ready for the party is somehow very cringy to me and just weird and uncomfortable. For once, just once, when a character says “I’d rather stay home tonight, I don’t feel great” can friends please understand that instead of forcing them to go? And of course Mia turns around in the end and gets fancy to get to a party she doesn’t even really enjoy that much in the end. (Only to meet Sebastian)

Okay, so those are my main issues I have with La La Land. It’s not necessarily a bad film but to me it would definitely not deserve the Oscar for Best Picture. An Oscar worthy film has to be more than just look pretty and have some fancy music. Visually the film definitely deserves praise, no doubt about that and the costumes are gorgeous as well. But for me the pretty looks don’t make up for a boring story, flat characters and an overall mainstream appealing romance film. Like I said, if you liked this film that’s great. This is just my opinion on a film that I think is worth checking out but unworthy of all the fuss and Oscar praise.

Everyone seems to be mad at Robin Lord Taylor...

So there's been an interview with Robin Lord Taylor about his role on Gotham and a lot of people were very angry about his phrasing of the Penguin's perception of love:

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/on-air/as-seen-on/Robin-Lord-Taylor-Talks-_Gotham__New-York-410542755.html

Okay, I’m gonna say this first so everyone knows where I’m starting from: I love both Robin and Oswald as persons and to me Oswald’s love for Edward is genuine and real, but I’m also not gonna be all out furious about what Robin has said/has been saying about Oswald’s character in connection with love and relationships. I can very well understand why a lot of people are angry with the way Robin phrased his views and I certainly don’t want to discourage those people. Normally I also try to stay away from stuff like this; yes, also as a huge fan there’s just some stuff I’m not getting myself into because it simply doesn’t (maybe shouldn’t) concern me or anger me (wow, that sounds weird but I hope you get what I mean). But since Gotham, especially Oswald and Edward have become something very much important to me and I see people being angry about this, I just feel like giving out my view of the whole thing. Because I’m always trying to see everything in an objective way, even with stuff that enrages me or makes me happy, I’m always trying to see both sides and be fair about everything. You can take from this whatever you like, that’s just me thinking out loud and you’re very much welcome to talk to me about this whether agreeing or disagreeing. This is probably gonna be quite long so bear with me. Okay, let’s do this... 

I watched the interview this morning after hearing all the turmoil about it and my initial reaction was: “Okay, yeah, I wouldn’t say it like he did but seriously: that’s what everyone’s going crazy about?” It’s important to note that I don’t always fully agree with what Robin has said (now and in the past). To me Oswald’s feelings for Edward are genuine, honest and come from a good intent. However, I can also see where Robin’s point of view is coming from and I can even agree with him on some of those aspects. And after all, it’s Robin’s character and his perception; he’s just as much an interpreter of the character as we are so he also has a very different understanding of Oswald.

Thinking about what has happened to Oswald it would be generally wrong to say that he isn’t a fucked up person, he doesn’t have a normal understanding about a lot of things (or at least not anymore). This is a man who has had everything and nothing; a man who saw both of his parents die in his arms; he has lost the only two people who have shown him love and for whom he felt the deepest kinds of emotions; Oswald has had people taken from him, and he has been betrayed, it’s not always easy for him to trust someone 100% or to invest in someone emotionally. In season 3 he is (after a long time) back on the top of his game after having his father taken from him, killing the murderer of his mother (again) and encountering Fish Mooney. He frees Edward from Arkham because they’ve grown very close over the past months and they obviously do care for each other to some degree.

Now, skipping forward to the episodes in which the statue of Gertrude gets destroyed, people are being bribed to vote for him while others try to overthrow him. The statue being destroyed might not be a big thing but to someone like Oswald it obviously means a lot, it hurts him, it reminds him of his mother; and at the same time he has to deal with a gang that tries to kill him and is led by someone knowing Oswald. Oswald is a man with a broken character, he gets upset and enraged by things most of us would find very strange or not so important; he is a man who deep inside is probably fighting big demons every day, a man who is desperate AND depressed to some degree. And in such a time there’s this one guy, Edward Nygma, the one guy who (apart from his parents) has ever shown genuine, honest interest and affection for Oswald and helped him simply because he wanted to. So of course Oswald holds on to that, he’s alone and broken and there’s this man who keeps encouraging him and who’s nice. In those sad moments of Oswald’s life there happens to be Edward and in those moments of deep, intense emotions and desperateness Oswald sees what Edward does for him and of course he doesn’t want to lose that. He’s never gotten that kind of love from anyone else, he’s always been alone most of his life especially in those desperate times.

So, (without trying to be mean or discouraging or anything like that) of course Oswald’s feelings are confused to some extent in that regard because he’s never been in such a state. This is both new and intensely difficult for him. Love is something very complex, problematic, rare and messed up for Oswald. His perceptions of such feelings have been shaped in a very fucked up way. I’m not saying he’s completely incapable of feeling love, but in such situations as described above, it wouldn’t be too wrong to say that his feelings are basically all over the place and going crazy and maybe not functioning in a way we’d consider “normal”.

Now, going from the fictional world to the real world. And mind you this is gonna be quite difficult because I couldn’t possibly say what Robin is really thinking, I don’t know him and none of us have any idea what’s actually going on with him or what he really wanted to say or what he could tell us about Oswald and upcoming stuff on the show.

First I just want to say that we should take into account that Robin is allowed to have his own interpretation of the character; art isn’t objective so everyone sees things differently and I’m pretty sure there are also some people who would agree with what Robin said in that interview. Maybe that really is Robin’s perception of the Penguin’s psyche, we don’t know. It’s an opinion (maybe a strangely formulated one but hey), it’s Robin’s opinion and we should know better than to discourage and ignore it. Sure, it might not be an opinion we agree with and it’s hard to hear it from Robin himself but we should still be able to accept it if it’s truly what Robin’s thinking.

Robin isn’t in an easy position here. He’s the main star of the show, a lot of people look up to him and pay very close attention to what he says. He’s an openly gay man who portrays a very famous comic book character who falls in love with another male iconic character. That’s some big stuff going on, we have all seen the comments on the whole Nygmobblepot relationship and Robin knows about those too. He wants to make this good, Oswald obviously means a lot to him and as a member of the LGBT+ community it’s probably safe to assume that Robin cares about that story-line for his character.

Robin has had personal experience with hate for the LGBT+ community and he’s been known to support gay rights openly. Now, Oswald is a broken, fucked up super villain and murderer, who kills the girlfriend of the guy he loves and that’s only one of the many bad things Oswald has done. The Penguin has done some horrible things and it’d be wrong to ignore that, Oswald isn’t/can’t always be the cute innocent bird we like him to be. As a gay man Robin would obviously want the people to not get a wrong picture of the gay community, it could very well be that he’s afraid of people getting encouraged in their homophobia so he’s somehow trying to make the best of it. And maybe that didn’t turn out the way he wanted it to. It can happen, we all make mistakes, Robin’s phrasing wasn’t the best and yes it isn’t very nice to listen to (especially as an Oswald fan and/or Nygmobblepot shipper). I’m honestly not thinking that it came from a place of homophobia (seriously, how could it?), maybe it’s simply difficult for Robin to explain what exactly he means, maybe he’s trying to make it right for everyone but doesn’t know how to  and thus ends up in situations like this one right now.

Okay, I’m somehow trying to wrap this up now. I’m not trying to discourage or disagree with those who are angry with Robin, in fact I very much understand that. Again, I myself don’t really agree with him, to me Oswald’s love is genuine and real. But I’m not gonna hate on Robin now, even if his words also upset me a little, because I know that I have my opinion and he has his and I know that I don’t have to be angry with him just because he happens to be the man who plays my favourite character. In that regard he’s also simply another man voicing his opinion of the character so I just do what I always do whenever I encounter someone who says something I don’t agree with (no matter who it is): I acknowledge the other view, still stick to my personal opinion and move on. Yes, personally I’d also say that maybe someone should call Robin out on his way of phrasing but I’m also saying that you should try to see both sides of the argument and not get too caught up and full mode furious about all of this.

I know I might have upset some people now and I would totally understand that. As I said in the beginning, you’re welcome to discuss the issue with me, this here is simply what I think about the whole affair. If you made it this far, thanks for reading. Feel free to comment, like, hate whatever, I don’t care. After all: we all have the possibility to voice our opinion.    

Jessica Jones x Kilgrave - Jessigrave/Kiljones

(Source: http://media.comicbook.com/2015/11/jessica-jones-159074.jpg)

Okay, I’m going to say this once and once only.

Anyone who has a problem with me shipping Jessica and Kilgrave and isn’t able to tolerate that can unfollow me right now!

You know why?

Because I don’t fucking excuse Kilgrave’s actions! I’m fully aware of what he did and I wouldn’t anyone like this to be in relationship with myself or anyone. I’m interested in the relationship, the dynamics the two of them have. I’m not saying “Abuse and rape is romantic.”, I’m saying “I’d like to explore the interesting dynamic between Jessica and Kilgrave” 

Everyone who ships those two is fully aware of Kilgrave’s actions, no one tries to justify what he did! When we imagine Kilgrave and Jessica in a relationship, it’s either in an AU version in which he’s different or tries to be a different/better person or in a version where he finally gets punishment and sees what he did wrong. We’re not supporting rape and abuse, we’re simply exploring this very fascinating connection/dynamic Jessica and Kilgrave have which has this kind of psychological and dark appeal.

We’re not justifying Kilgrave’s action!

We know that Kilgrave is a rapist!

We don’t support an abusive relationship!

We’re simply exploring this dark and fucked up connection/relationship between two characters!

So, if you’re still having a problem with me or any other Jessigrave shipper, or think you can send abusive messages yourself to those shippers, you can piss off right now because I don’t have to listen to your ridiculous talk,

(Source: http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/jessica-jones/38042/jessica-jones-episode-8-viewing-notes-aka-wwjd)

Concerning the criticism of “Zoolander Transphobia”

Some people, and especially the trans community felt not very excited when they saw the trailer of Zoolander 2 in which Benedict Cumberbatch appeared as an androgynous/non-binary model called All. People felt offended and see it as another step towards the discrimination of trans/non-binary/gender-fluid community. Just read this article if you don't believe me:
 http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/nov/24/zoolander-2-trans-people-step-backwards-for-us-all?CMP=fb_gu

HOWEVER!!!

I am transgender myself and I feel the need to speak out some thoughts regarding this whole discussion which some people might forget:

1. Have we even seen the whole movie yet?

Answer: No, so we don’t really know how Benedict’s character is actually portrait. Perhaps the character and the gender identity of All will be explained to the characters in the movie who don’t know better about gender issues.

2. Why do people, especially trans people, feel offended by this clip?

Answer: I personally don’t know, and mind you, I’m transgender myself and had no problems whatsoever with Benedict’S character. Again: we don’t even know yet what happens in the movie. 

3. “I think he’s asking whether you have a hot dog or a bun.”

Answer: I kind of see the problem with that question since I myself am not very comfortable talking about what’s down there. But think about the way the two main characters appear: they don’t seem to be the most educated people especially not on gender issues. Perhaps the protagonists in the movie don’t know better and they still have to realise that it’s not about the genitalia for trans/non-binary people. Once again: we don’t know yet what they will do in the movie!

4. Where’s the humour?

Answer: It’s there but apparently some people are unable to laugh about the jokes in all their seriousness! Humour shouldn’t know any boundaries and people shouldn’t always be so serious and protective of every little thing. Sure, political correctness is important but sometimes you also have to get down from your high horse. I thought the scene was very funny and I also didn’t feel insulted as a trans person.  

5. Why did they not cast a trans person for this role?

Answer: We don’t even know if All identifies as transgender; it was never mentioned! And maybe they will address it in the movie and perhaps they won’t, does it really matter? And you cast an actor/actress for a role when this person is the best for the job! To cast a trans person simply because it’s about a trans character is ridiculous! That same discussion is also going on about “The Danish Girl” and I find it quite stupid and unnecessary. You hire someone who cares about the character they play and who portrays them in the best and most convincing way possible. And Benedict is a fantastic actor and also a thoughtful and intelligent man. He’s most certainly aware that a gender issue surrounds his character and he’s an educated man who’s one of the last people that would offend/insult a social/cultural/minority group.

So stop bitching about the movie before you have even seen it and at least give it a chance. After you have seen it you can still complain but then you have at least a basis for it. 

Benedict's happy day

It might be late in the evening but it is still the 19th of July which means there is still a young man out there whom I have to congratulate. 

Benedict Cumberbatch turns 39 years old this very day!!!

(Source: Facebook)

Well, what is there to say about this wonderful man? Too much to mention everything in one day. This man is now 39 years old an still looks ten years younger but his handsome and intelligent face is not the only reason why we love this man. 

First of all we love Benedict as an amazing actor. I still remember the first time five years ago I saw him for the first time. It was the first episode of "Sherlock" and the moment I saw Benedict on screen I just knew that this man could make me interested in every story and that this is such an intriguing man I just want to follow. But not only the famous detective Benedict has become for us. He has so many faces and has shown us so many sides of his (actor) personality. He is our Alan Turing, our Smaug, our Khan, our Christopher Tietjens, our Rory Slippery, our William Pitt, our van Gogh and soon he will be our Hamlet as well. Benedict's acting skills are simply admirable and wonderful, he has portrait so many fascinating people and we followed every single one of them. With his work he has inspired so many people, myself included. Since the day I have seen Benedict act, I just knew that one day I want to be an actor like him.

Not only is he a fantastic actor but also an amazingly charming and smart man. He is not the ordinary Hollywood person that is too busy or unable to answer deeper and intriguing questions. No (!), Benedict is such an interesting fellow, just watch his interviews and you will see that he has not only interesting thoughts on his mind but always a witty answer as well. This is what I love about him: he is simply who he is and he does not change that for his fame or his career. Benedict is an honest man, someone who thinks about life and us people in it. We only have to remember the handwritten signs he showed to the journalists during the filming of "Sherlock" season 3. Not ever had I seen an actor, a man of fame and public doing such a thoughtful, frank and selfless thing. It proved that Benedict is not an ordinary man who wants to do his work and be left alone but someone who cares about the people who look towards him, the people who admire him and that in the world we live in, not everything can be taken for granted.

So, this is what I have to say to this wonderful man. He is such a wonderful human being who loves the people round him and inspires us to do great things and to care about the world. Surely he is not just a charming man for his many fans but also for his wonderful wife Sophie and their new born child whose name we will hopefully hear soon. If I ever get the chance to meet him or if he ever reads this blog (^_^), I just want to say to him: thank you for being such a wonderful, smart, funny and honest man who has enchanted us with nearly twenty years of superb acting and with just being himself. The world would be a better place if there were more men like you and I am so happy to have you and your work in my life because you have helped me to discover my secret love for acting and you cheer me up when I feel down.

Thank you, Benedict Cumberbatch and Happy Birthday!!!

(Source: http://oochami.tumblr.com/post/124469933882/happy-birthday-benedict-1-you-lovely-potato-3)

Happy Birthday Andrew Scott!!!

Today one of our most beloved actors celebrates his 38th birthday. Say happy Birthday to our Consulting Criminal: Happy Birthday Andrew Scott!!!
Andrew has been one of my favourite actors since I have seen him as brilliant Jim Moriarty. After this I have caught up with a lot of his work and his interviews and have to say that Andrew truly is one of the most fantastic people I have ever seen! He really is one of the best actors I have seen on screen and also as a person he seems to be an awesome guy. After seeing some of his interviews and works he has become one of the actors that animated the wish in me to become an actress myself one day. I hope that one day I might have the opportunity to meat the great Andrew Scott himself. As long as this moment is still away: Andrew, just stay the awesome guy you are, you are loved by all the Scotties out there ^_^

 

Starting school again (twice), a Doctor's appointment and putting my trust into a genie

Ah, well it has been quite a while since I did some proper blogging. What has happened, what is new, what people did I meet, what kind of new TV shows and movies I have recently fallen in love with, 'new' fandoms new people and things to swoon over... Well, I believe you get the idea ^_^

I have been back to school now for a week and to be honest: I'm already now tired of the whole school thing again! I've had six weeks of summer holidays and it doesn't feel like I have been away. Already now I get a headache in class, have problems understanding stuff and fall asleep in the middle of the lesson (no kidding, I really do that!). And it is also my final year at school, my 12th year and then I'm graduating (hopefully) so I get my degree for university. I'm so freaking nervous about my final exams and have no idea if I can cope with the stress, the pressure and the nervousness. The thing with me is that I don't want to finish school because I can't imagine a life after school, going to work, live alone etc. Yeah, university might still be a bit like school but even there everything is a bit different, more complicated and self-organised. And every teacher reminding you of now concentrating on your final exams and your plans for what to do after school doesn't make it much better for us students...
Well, but there has been another 'school' that started again and I was glad to see coming back: the TV show "Big School" is back on screen for a second series about which I am very glad! For the ones who don't know the show: it's about the life of (mainly) the teachers at a small school with bored and not the smartest children. Mostly you follow the life of French teacher Sarah Poston who is played by Catherine Tate (yes, it's Donna ^_^). She tries to make French interesting for the students and has to deal with the odd behaving of her colleagues, especially the flirting attempts of overenthusiastic and (too) nice Chemistry teacher Mister Church and the gruff and (slightly) perverse Physical Education teacher Mister Gunn. The show is definitely worth a watch because it is so lovely made and very funny. Every teacher is well played with his/her own special personality which may some of us remind us of our own teachers. The show isn't very long either (six episodes a 30 minutes in the first series) so you get through with it quickly and get some funny and loveable entertainment for an afternoon.

Of course I got my teeth also into some TV shows in the last time and I believe I have found a/two new fandom(s). I bet some of you know the TV show "Life on Mars" and its sequel "Ashes to Ashes". "Life on Mars" concentrates on the story of policeman Sam Tyler played by John Simm with whom you should be familiar as he played the Master in Doctor Who. This time however he plays the decent cop Sam who is involved in a car accident and when he wakes up he finds himself back in the year 1973. There he is the new DI in the department of DCI Gene Hunt, a tough, smoking, drinking and violent cop like you would imagine the head of a police department in the 70s. Sam meets all sorts of people and has to find his meaning in this new life and needs to work out if he ever can come back into his old life in the year 2006. The sequel that follows Sam's adventures, "Ashes to Ashes" is mainly with the same cast as in "Life on Mars", only that we this time follow the adventures of profiler Alex Drake who gets shot in the year 2008 and after waking up finds herself in the year 1981. She also works under Gene as new DI and tries to find out what has happened to herself.
I can only recommend and tell you to watch these two TV shows because they are a jewel of British television. These aren't just some ordinary crime shows as we are used to see on telly, no! Every case these people work on is different, in 40 episodes you will never get the feeling "Haven't they done something like that before?". The fact that the two shows are set in the 70s and 80s also gives them a special taste. The people who worked on these shows did all they could to make it look as authentic as possible and they really have succeeded with that! Fashion, music, looks, political views, society matters are getting a different kind of view that also let the audience think about the difference between now and then. The best thing, however, is probably the perfect character-writing and performances of all the different police characters. Every character in the police department is different and an individual and has her/his own way of thinking, talking and reacting to situations. And every single actor and actress in these two shows play their parts brilliantly and with so much passion and conviction that you will find yourself fallen in love with them from the very first moment.
Especially (that's now my personal opinion) the though DCI Gene Hunt is the one you will find yourself adoring after a few minutes the most although he's not always the nicest and fairest person in the room. Gene is a hilarious guy who's never afraid of saying what he thinks and punching the criminal scum, he takes off the road, if they are being stupid or don't want to talk. Gene Hunt is played by the awesome actor Philip Glenister who not only has the perfect looks for a guy like Gene but also portrays this cop with so much passion that you will never forget that Philip Glenister is/was the Gene Genie ^_^ I've also seen Glenister in other movies and shows and can also recommend to you everything he has ever done because I personally think that Philip Glenister is one of Britain's finest actors who makes every role you see him in likeable for you. So I found a new fandom and a new brilliant British actor I can be obsessed with. Hurray!

The other big thing that has been going on are the further adventures of the new Doctor number 12! I can't say that much about it because there is actually just one thing I would like to make clear: I bloody love the 12th Doctor!!! He is funny and serious and is somehow a mixture of Doctor number 9 (and some of the classic Doctors) who was a bit more serious but still sassy and the childish Doctor number 11. In all three episodes I think the new Doctor has been brilliant, he gets better with every new adventure and I personally have to say that 12 already now probably belongs to my favourite Doctors ^_^

Okay, that is my blogging done. Just some little advice at the end: go and watch the movie "Fright Night", it's awesome! That is how a good and decent vampire-horror movie should be! The original from 1985 is really good and the remake from 2011 is bloody awesome and has David Tennant and Colin Farrell in it. That's my little advice for your next movie night so go and have a look and don't forget "Life on Mars" and "Ashes to Ashes". They are all worth a watch, believe me. Trust the Gene Genie ^_^

P.S.: Today is Martin Freeman's birthday by the way! Our cute Hobbit and loyal army-doctor turns 43 today. Happy Birthday, Martin ^_^

Peter Capaldi comes and everyone forgets the other Doctors

I have just read an article about Peter Capaldi's new Doctor that comes very soon on August the 23rd. They are all making a big fuss about him what I can understand but what actually bothers me a bit is the fact that they treat Capaldi's Doctor as if there has never been someone like him in the whole time!I love Peter Capaldi as the new Doctor and I'm really looking forward to see him being again a more serious Doctor but I get the feeling that many people are forgetting Doctor Who's history.

 

They say that the Doctor has finally grown up, he's now all serious and not flirty and he's a darker person and wears almost just black. They all describe it as if that's some big new thing in the Doctor Who history but it's really not! Apart from the fact that there has never been any big flirting in Classic Who and there most of the Doctors were a bit more serious, also in New Who we have such a Doctor: Christopher's alias Doctor number nine! He came from the Time War, wore a black leather jacket and jumpers and was very much like a grown up who could get very angry. And he also wasn't one of the flirty kind with whom every woman in the room immediately feel in love with. Nine was like an adult who could be serious and dark and emotional when it came to his past. But he had not lost entirely his humour, we all love the sassiness of Nine ^_^ He's like an adult who hadn't lost  his sense of humour.

 

They also see it as a new thing now that the new Doctor will speak with a Scottish accent. I do love a Scottish accent but it's also not new that the Doctor doesn't speak RP. Nine had the gorgeous accent of the North! And after realising that also David Tennant could have kept his wonderful Scottish accent I also think that this is not entirely fair.

 

I don't want to spoil Capaldi's arriving as the new Doctor, actually I'm quite excited and a fan of him, but they shouldn't forget the Doctors that have been there before David and Matt came with their brilliant hair and their cheeky smiles.  

 

Here the link to the above mentioned article: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/07/doctor-who-s-deep-breath-the-2-000-year-old-time-lord-grows-up.html 

 

 

An old love found again: David Thewlis

The last few days I have, out of fun, re-watched all the Harry Potter movies and was so happy when I came to my favourite one "Prisoner of Askaban" because that's where my favourite character comes in: Remus John Lupin. I'm so in love with this character also because he is played so brilliantly by the amazing David Thewlis (actually David Wheeler). And since I'm not a normal girl and can be obsessed and fall in love with men who are 20 or 30 years older than me, it's only natural that I've started to catch up with everything about David Thewlis.

What I have to say is: go and watch David's other movies, he's so awesome!!!! He became famous with the film "Naked" from 1993 and also got many awards for playing the part of Johnny so brilliantly. And I can only agree to that. Johnny might have some serious problems (he rapes women) and is not always the nicest person in the room but he is a very clever young man who has something of a philosopher. And David plays this really well, he's able not just to give his sometimes really thoughtful text a face and a voice you want to listen to but also manages it to make this statements his own ones so they don't just sound like something that's re-told from a book. But David also plays the vulnerable side in a stunning way so you can be able to understand what exactly is the character's problem although it wasn't really put into words in any way. In this movie David Thewlis makes it possible that you go with his character Johnny and that you think about what he says although Johnny can be quite cruel.

Yesterday I've seen the movie "Dragonheart" from 1996 and apart from the fact that this movie is actually really good and so funny David also does a great job in this in playing the bad guy. And you can really see he's the bad one, not just from the awful haircut but also from David's ability to use his presence and his look to make you see at first sight that he really is this spoiled grown-up teenager who's only interested in himself. And the movie is also worth a watch because I bet you've never seen David Thewlis having a sword fight!

The wonderful thing about David's acting is that even when he plays a guy who's actually bad you still get interested in him and sort of grow attached to him. For example in the movie "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" he plays a father in the 1940's in Germany who is a Nazi. Because of David's acting and the good original writing from the book you always see more the father than the terrible Nazi soldier. And no matter whom he plays or for how long he's actually in the movie itself, David Thewlis always plays every role with a lot of character and emotion that you will have the feeling that he's really at that moment that specific person.

His latest movie you can see him in will also delight a lot of you because he has also a part in "The Fifth Estate" in which Benedict Cumberbatch plays the main role. Though it not an easy issue the movie deals with and you really have to pay attention to what is happening, you will get a fascinating movie with a perfect cast including David Thewlis, Benedict Cumberbatch, Peter Capaldi and also two of Germany's best actors, Daniel Brühl and Moritz Bleibtreu. (Since I'm from Germany you can believe me when I say that ^_^). And that movie shows again that David Thewlis can pull over every kind of character and no matter how big the part is, you can always be sure that David Thewlis does some really amazing acting!

Happy Birthday Benedict Cumberbatch!!!

Today is the day! The 38th birthday of the man himself: Happy Birthday Benedict Cumberbatch!!!!!
I hope he has a wonderful day and can have some rest with his friends and his family today. He has done so many things in the last few years, entertained us and made us laugh. He is such a wonderful guy and gives us so many wonderful chances to say a brilliant man doing some brilliant acting! And of course I have a little present for the our Benny-boy ^_^ : I made a Fem Sherlock Cosplay video, specially for this day and hope that you and maybe also Benedict will enjoy it ^_^

Link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r6XPLNCNPA

Matt Smith being a homosexual and a clone

We all have our first times seeing our most beloved actors. And often we start to associate them with the first film or TV show we see them in. Benedict, Martin and Andrew with "Sherlock" and Christopher, David and Matt with "Doctor Who". But some day we start to wonder what they are like in other projects so we look up their filmography. After doing this for all the aforementioned actors except Matt I've also finally found the curiosity to look up his works and I found two very interesting movies.

So, the first movie in which I saw Matt Smith for the first time is called "Christopher and his kind". It's based upon a autobiography of the same name by Christopher Isherwood. Basically it's about Christopher (played by Matt) who moves from his home in England to Berlin in the year 1931. There he meets his old friend who takes him to a special places that relatively early makes clear that Christopher is a young, book-writing homosexual. The film now shows Christopher's life in Berlin where me meets other British people and falls in love with other men. As it can't be prevented in such a story you also see men kissing and having sex but one has to say that they don't overdo it in the movie with showing love scenes. And who doesn't want to see Matt without his clothes? ^_^ Okay there was the fangirl speaking. - Christopher meets a man called Heinz with whom he really seems to be in love. He wants to be part of his life and always stands by his side. You can see that Christopher cares for him because at the time the Nazis and Hitler take over in Germany Christopher recognises they have to leave because their sexuality will not be accepted. So of they go in a future which is never quite clear.
The story itself is a very interesting one especially if you think about the fact that the life of Christopher Isherwood has really happened. I find the topic itself very fascinating and since I'm also German it was interesting to see how the gay community was in the thirties. Another great part for me in this movie is the fact that you get Matt Smith speaking German what for me was obviously great fun to watch. Though I have to say, since I know it's difficult to speak German if you're a native English speaker, his German was quite well to understand. There were only a few sentences which were funny to listen to but he did a good job with his German parts. But then you also have to say that the Germans English in the movie is also not always the best, especially when some of them try to pronounce Christopher's last name ^_^ One has to say that you will not get thrilling action or big discussions but I personally think the movie doesn't need that. I have to say that maybe some people who will watch the movie are just sitting through until the end because Matt Smith is in it but if you're open for an interesting and well-staged biography you will get a good story. The characters are written brilliantly and you find yourself clinging on to them and thinking about their situations in such a difficult time. And every actor and actress did a great job even if they just had a small part. Matt Smith, as nearly always, gives a great portrait of his character in this movie. He doesn't play Christopher as a stereotype gay man, he plays him naturally, emotionally and also very seriously if needed. You get a very good portrait of Christopher Isherwood because Matt Smith gives him a honest and believable character and you don't get the feeling that Matt has any problems with the role of Christopher.

The second movie I saw today has the name "Womb" or "Clone" (it has been changed for special DVD stuff). It focuses on the story of Rebecca and Tommy. They have been best friends when they were young but then Rebecca had to go to Japan to live with her mother. The two don't see each other for twelve years. Rebecca comes back to their old home and finds Tommy who still likes her very much. Rebecca and Tommy restart their relationship and are again spending much time with each other. One day they are taking a trip to Wellness Centre because Tommy's activist group is panning something there. They stop for a second because Rebecca needs to pee. Tommy gets out of the car as well but gets hit by car and dies still lying on the street. Rebecca and Tommy's parents are having their saddest days ever but Rebecca doesn't want to accept Tommy's death. She explains his parents the possibility of bringing Tommy back if they take his DNA from his dead body and let her have a baby, a new Tommy. The mother objects but the father gives in and Rebecca gives birth to a second Tommy whom she raises as her son. And so a sometimes difficult life begins for Rebecca and Tommy. Especially after some years when Tommy is older and near the age "Tommy 1" died and has a girlfriend the relationship and understanding between him and Rebecca becomes more difficult with every day.
This movie follows a brilliant and fascinating idea because you see yourself also confronted with the rules of society. Rebecca, played by Eva Green, is played brilliantly and you feel yourself put into her character. The movie manages it to portray this difficult and rather unusual scenario in a very emotional and serious way that you really want to know how Rebecca is going to handle the relationship with Tommy. You will catch yourself hoping that even though Tommy is Rebecca's son that the two of them could just be together as Rebecca remembers it but at the same time you fell sorry for Tommy because for so many years he doesn't know who he really is and has a, maybe for him, unexplainable close relationship with his mother. Matt Smith plays Tommy in a astonishing honest and emotional way. This role shows again how brilliantly Matt can play a characters who is actually a happy man but then over time has his dark and very serious even furious times. Especially in the discussions and conversations with the character of Rebecca Matt manages it to make the audience put into his situation. While watching this movie you always feel very attached to the two main characters because both Eva Green and Matt Smith play them very, very well and emotionally.

Both movies are definitely worth a watch through my personal favourite of the two is "Womb". You get brilliant acting of Matt Smith in both stories though he plays two very different characters. And you will notice again that the personality of Matt himself never gets lost in the movies because there are always the little moments where you have this young man with a bright smile behaving sometimes somehow childish and full of happiness. Matt Smith is a great actor and I hope that after his brilliant acting in "Doctor Who" he will get more new roles so he can finally expand his talent more and give us many awesome portraits of interesting people.

"Christopher and his kind": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hjidIaTYiE
"Womb": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r_kkK9yCqY