Cancel Watch: Disney

 It seems like every other day something new is being Canceled.  In this new series we will be looking at some of the things, and people, that have been arbitrarily canceled that past week.  Let's see what this week the Internet has decided has something wrong with it.  Since this is the first week of this series let’s go back a week or so and talk a little bit about Disney.  

Disney+ 

While Disney+ didn’t actually ban, or remove, these movies completely they removed several beloved classics from children’s pages and put a warning label on them.  These labels say that they acknowledge that there is offensive material in these movies and that their parents need to decide to let their children watch.

Peter Pan

Disney decide that this beloved classic was not only offensive but as not acceptable for children to choose to watch without their parents permission.  A movie that is literally rated "G" and acceptable for anyone and everyone.  So, basically Disney (and the Woke Mob) have took it upon themselves to decide that Motion Picture ratings no longer mean anything and they know what’s best for you and your children.  

The issue they have with Peter Pan are the scenes that showcase the Native American tribe, and characters.  They will tell you that these depictions are offensive and discriminatory towards Native Americans.  

While I don’t think that it would be acceptable today to show these depictions in new movies, because standards change and time goes on.  However, this movie was made in the 50’s and the standard was different.  This does not excuse actual racism, but I truly don’t believe this is what is happening here.  First, when I say actual racism I mean “the belief that groups of humans posses different behavioral traits...based on the superiority of one race over another.”  Superiority, hatred, mocking.  These are all words that reflect a racist thought or action.

I don’t think Peter Pan is actually being racist because I don’t think the way Native Americans are portrayed have anything to do with superiority or mockery.  If you really think about it, Neverland is especially a little boy’s imagination and play land.  When a child plays imaginary games they think in the most general and overstated views of what they are playing.  Whether that is pirates or cowboys and Indians.  Which is exactly what we see with Neverland and the characters that the Lost Boys interact with.  I think that the portrayal of the Native Americans in this movie was the representation of a little boys imaginary game, and not racism.  But try convincing the Woke Mob of anything. 

Fantasia

This movie is all about music, and the beautiful images and pictures that can be seen and made real through music.  The Mob will tell you that there is a point in the movie were you see a group of Centaurs paid off male and female by colors and this is supposedly both racist and homophobic.  Again this was the 50's.  Plus, as it pertains to the colors, Fantasia is all about the way images relate to music and colors coming together in a symmetrical way is exactly the point, and has nothing to do with racism.  At least in my opinion.  Not everything is racist just because someone on the internet says so.

What's Next?

What will be the next movie that Disney decides isn't "acceptable" for children.  Will someone soon be saying that Winnie the Pooh is sexist because the only female is Kanga, who is a mother?  If that happens I would say that these characters are those of a little boy who is more likely to be friends with other boys.  It's not sexism just realism.  What about Pocahontas?  Will that be demeaned racist because of its depiction of Native Americans, like Peter Pan?  Or the fact that it’s not an accurate look at Pocahontas’ life? What about Sleeping Beauty?  You know she didn’t consent to that kiss that woke her up.  And have you read the original Grimm Fairytale it’s based on?  She got way more from the Prince than just a little kiss, if you know what I mean.

I guess the real question is, “Where will this actually end?”

Till Next Time,

Words by Ali

Is Stockholm Syndrome Supposed to be Sexy?

So, I finally read the first book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J Maas.  The first book is titled the same as the series itself.  If you just look at the title of this post you are probably thinking that I didn't really like the series, but that would not be the case.  Read my previous post about Cancel Culture for my thoughts on the importance of context.  I think that Maas is an excellent writer.  She creates amazing and fantastical worlds; with magic, faeries, and she creates these worlds in such a way that you can visualize them in your mind.  I give this books as a whole a 7/10, and since I've only read the first one I can't speak for the series as a whole.  That being said it's definitely worth a read.  Especially, if you like fantasy.

***Spoilers Ahead***A Court of Thorns and Roses and Throne of Glass***

The Problem

Than what is it I had a problem with?  As the title itself says, it was with the romantic relationship between our two main characters, Feyre and Tamlin.  The author has made mention that their relationship is supposed to be reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast, with Faerie Tamlin as the Beast.  While I haven't read the rest of the series yet, I do know who Feyre ends up with and it's not the relationship from the first book.  Which makes me feel a little bit better going into this, because I have too many objections to their relationship to ship the two of them together.  It's also one of the reason I don't like a certain main ship from Throne of Glass which I will speak on later.

So, at the beginning of the novel Feyre is hunting a deer to feed her family.  The deer is being chased by a wolf, and in an attempt to get the deer for herself she kills the wolf.  Now Feyre does contemplate whether or not the wolf is actually one of the Fae, but ultimately she has no one of knowing and she kills the wolf.  She is even told later when selling the wolf's pelt that it was just a regular wolf.  That of course isn't actually the case, and it turns out that she did kill one of the Fae.  Which leads our Beast, Tamlin to show up at the door of her family's hovel.  Being completely clueless of this fact, she is made aware that the price for a human killing one of the Fae is death.  

Essentially, Tamlin bursts into her family's home looking for his friend's killer.  When she willingly chooses to go to her fate to protect her father and two older sisters, Tamlin offers her a choice.  She can either live for the rest of her life in Faerie with him, never to see her family again, or to be eviscerated on her front steps (his words not mine).  No, no issue there at all.  This dude literally breaks into her home telling her that she is going to be killed, unless she comes to live with him.  Riiiiiiight, I'd totally fall in love with that guy.  Is that really what we find to be attractive in a guy these days?

And that's not even taking into account the the supposed "Life for a Life" Rule wasn't even true.  It was a lie crafted by Tamlin to get Feyre to Faerie because she may be the only one who can break the curse befalling his entire Court.  Just the fact that he sent his friend out into those woods in the literal attempt that he will be killed by a mortal girl.  There's also nothing wrong with that either, right?

Can't Hate Him

Having said all of that above, I also can't hate Tamlin as a character.  In this first book Tamlin's character is very complex.  There are a lot of layers to him, ultimately leading him to the love and responsibility he has for the members of his Court, and then for Feyre as he begins to fall in love with her.  While he does some pretty messed up things in an attempt to free his people from the curse (including setting up the death of a friend, and abducting and manipulating a mortal girl) in the end he does them for the right reasons.  He comes to love Feyre so much that he is willing to give her up, and sacrifice his people, to protect her.  Despite that I'm aware that in coming books he does some very selfish things in regards to Feyre, and it is ultimately why she chooses someone else.  But I don't want to spoil the fun too much for myself with the plot so I won't read into it further unil I get to those books.

I still think he is a great character, and despite some majorly stupid decisions I think he deserves to find that someone who is going to love him.  That someone who he is going to be able to love in a purely unselfish way, and we all know that that person is clearly not Feyre.  Usually, I am always on the Team of the first love, but in this case I'm so glad that she does end up with someone else.  This is the case of my feelings with Throne of Glass.  I loved Chaol and Celaena together, and while in the latter books I can see why her and Rowan work together as a couple I don't approve of their beginnings like with Feyre and Tamlin. 

Throne of Glass

A lot of the issues I had with the beginning of Feyre and Tamlin's relationship are very much the same as why I do not like Aelin and Rowan as a couple.  Even though I do love Yrene, I still secretly wish that Celaena and Chaol had ended up together.  Why don't I ship Aelin(Celaena) and Rowan?  Because of the way he treated her when they first met.

So, real quick what was it that I didn't like about Rowan when Aelin first met him?  First, the first book in the series is one of my favorites.  The series as a whole I give a solid 8/10, and the book I give a 9.5/10.  Now back to Rowan.  The way that he treats Aelin when they first meet, and he is training her, is actually pretty disgusting.  He both mentally and physically abuses her because he thinks she is some useless pampered would be Queen that he wants to have nothing to do with.  He only feels bad about the way he's treated her, and apologizes, after he sees the scars on her back from her time in prison.  So, if she hadn't of gone through what she did in the prison would he have ever taken any sort of interest in her?  I guess we will never know.

Thanks for taking the time to read all of my thoughts on these two ships, but mostly Feyre and Tamlin.  Alright,

Till Next Time,

Words by ali

Will Cancel Culture Ruin the World?

The world that we live in today has reached a level of madness, when it come to Cancel Culture, that is unrivaled.  We are seeing people, books, music, movies, and beloved cartoons (characters) being cancelled for things that are both trivial and insignificant when placed next to the real issues that are going on in the country and round the world that are being ignored for Cancel Culture's next victim.  

To think that our society, and Cancel Culture, are more offended by children's books and cartoons created in the 50's than the violence, drugs, sex and murder that permeate every aspect of the society that we currently live in is absolutely ridiculous.  We are seeing people being cancelled, and loosing their jobs, for things they said a decade before, or thoughts and opinions being taken out of context.  That's the real problem isn't it?  Context.

How is context a problem?  That's because anything, literally anything, seen out of context can be looked at in a way that is unbecoming, angry, or hateful.  Let me give you an example:

                    - I hate TV.  These days it seems like all television programs are either unoriginal, 

and show the same things, or are boring and not entertaining.  

I mean how may medical or cop shows do we need.  That's not to say

that there aren't well written, fun, funny, and amazing shows out there.  It's

just harder to find them among all of the unimaginative drivel.

Now what if someone only showed...

- I hate TV.  It's unimaginative drivel.

 Now if someone were to quote me as saying only the second option you would think that I don't watch TV, and that I think that I hate everything that's currently on.  That of course couldn't be further from the truth.  There are some truly amazing shows currently on air, or previously on air.  But my thought on TV taken out of the context of my full opinion gives people the wrong impression of my thoughts on the subject.  Really any statement that is an opinion will always have missing context.  That's because there will never be 100% agreement on anything.  And that is a fact.

Well, that's it for this post.  Stay tuned for future posts where I share my thoughts and opinions on things that are going on in the country, or world.  You may not always agree with what I have to say.  Your comments are still welcome, because I don't understand why people these days can't have differing opinions and still have a respectful, honest, and intelligent conversation.  Getting offended just because you disagree is really just silly.

Till Next Time,

Ali 

How Does a Good Book Get Turned Into a Bad Movie?

This seems to be a common thing these days. Mostly with teen novels. Hollywood is trying to find the next big thing with the young adult aduience, but that can't seem to do it right. Personally, I think if the novel is really good then the movie should be just as good right? Obviously, something gets screwed up in translation, and the movie people can't seem to get it right.

Of course sometimes just because the mass public doesn't like a movie doesn't mean wasn't actually a good movie. Sometimes its public opinion that gets things wrong. But I digress.

The book/movie that I'm thinking of is Vampire Academy. The first book, of the same name, by Richelle Mead was more than just good. The story was enteraining, the writing was well done and engaging. And the characters were well rounded and likable when meant to be, and unlikable when also meant to be.

The movie, on the other hand, while mildly entertaining is not something I would recommend to others. While the plot doesn't for the most part follow that of the novel I feel that those making the movie were trying way too hard to make another Twilight and fell flat. Although, my low opinion of the Twilight Saga is a whole other story, and a matter for another day. The movie was riddled with jokes that more often than not didn't hit their marks. Both the fight scenes and the romance were more cheesy than realistic, and I found the way that the movie portrays Dhampir, Rose, as able to see into her best friend Vampire, Lissa's, head as awkward at best. They also employ voice overs way to often in the movie to give the complicated backstory. In the movie these voice overs and some long winded dialogue is more than a little info dumpy. But in the book this complicated history works very well to build the world of The Vampire Academy, but doesn't come across the screen the same way.

I will say despite the way that the overall movie turned out that they did an amazing job casting. The young group of actors in the movie were above average in a less than average movie. Although, it seems that the good talent was wasted on this attempt of a movie, a shame. This movie, after reading a great book, could have been amazing but the attempt failed.

I did say that I found the movie mildly entertaining, and think that is because I enjoyed the novel so much. For fans of the novels I think the movie will be better than those who are going into it cold.

Hollywood you need to work hard to make better movies out of these amazing books that we have out here.

TNT,
Words by Ali




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Teddy Talbot Jr. Is An Amazing Character

Rectify and Teddy Talbot Jr.

My favorite Tv show that Clayne Crawford has been in would have to be Rectify.  Rectify was an amazing show from Sundance that was on the air for four fantastic seasons.  Next to the main storyline, of Daniel Holden just reacclimating to the world outside of prison, Teddy's story is my absolute favorite.  Of course there wouldn't have been a show without Daniel, but it would have been much less interesting with out Teddy.

There are so many people out there who have seen Rectify who say, "Nobody likes Teddy."  And my response to that, just like Clayne has said in an interview in response to this same remark, "I love Teddy."  Teddy Talbot Jr. is one of my favorite characters on the show.  And for someone to say with such finality that "no one" likes him, is just an out right lie.  They have to know that that can't possibly be true.

Teddy is such a complex, complicated, and misunderstood character, that to be completely honest, it's hard to actually not like him.  Teddy is just so real, and Clayne's superb acting gives his already complex character even more depth.

I'm not saying that Teddy is perfect, in fact he is anything but.  He even at several times throughout the course of the show acts like a complete and total asshole.  See, everyone has the ability to act like an asshole, it's just that Teddy isn't afraid to let his out where others would keep it in.  And that right there is why I think people don't like his character.

Yes, Teddy gets upset easily.  Yes, he gets frustrated to the point of yelling.  Yes, he lets his own problems get in the way of his relationships.  But does that really make him a bad guy?  No, I don't think it does.  Teddy is trying to deal with what Daniel has done to him, in the best way he knows how, and it's killing him to see his wife being nothing but Daniel's champion.  
He's dealing with some real and serious issues, that he has never dealt with before, and he doesn't know what to do.  When it comes down to it I believe that Teddy loves his family, and his wife, and I think that is the heart of what drives Teddy.  He is trying to do what is right, not just for himself, but for the people he loves.

If you are a Clayne Crawford fan, come check out this new community of mine for fans of his movies and tv shows to get together.  It is through the Amino app.  If you have the app come check out the community here with this link http://aminoaps.com/c/ClayneCrawfordAmino.  I hope to see you there.

Till Next Time Friends,

Words by Ali

A Book Better as a Graphic Novel

I know what you're thinking, because I'm think the same thing. Is that even possible? Can a graphic novel be better then a book? A week ago I would have said an absolute no. It's not possible and can never be possible. But know I stand corrected.

The first Twilight book, of the same name, by Stephanie Meyer was turned into a graphic novel. Since I couldn't stand the novels themselves. I have read them so I can say that they are not as good as the world says they are, and the writing is slow, simple, and has a lot of terrible grammatical problems. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and the above is mine.

Anyway, I never planned on reading the Twilight graphic novel. I was at the library looking for something else, when I saw both of the volumes of the story. I decided to check them out. I started reading and it was much faster to get into the story. The plot wasn't bogged down by excessive prose, and consisted of 95% dialogue. The dialogue moved the story along quickly, and before I knew it I was done with the first volume of Twilight story.

What originally took me six months to read only took me two days in graphic novel form. It held my interested, and oddly I wanted to keep reading. I always felt that the story itself could have been really good. It just got messed up in the translating to the novels. What the graphic novel does is take the story's most basic elements and put it in a form that even an ardent hater of The Twilight Saga can enjoy.

Although, the fact that the vampires sparkle in this, and ONLY this, vampire story is just as creepy on the picture page as it is on the television screen. There is no way anyone could ever make that any less creepy than it is.

TNT,
Words by Ali


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

The Haunting of Sunshine Girl

I have recently discovered all things The Haunting of Sunshine Girl.  I first found it in the bookstore.  It is a paranormal teen fiction novel, about a 16 year old girl who moves into a haunted house and must solve the mystery of it before the worst happens.  It's a well written and interesting story that leaves the reader wanting to read the next installment.

Now the interesting thing about this book series is the fact that it is based on the YouTube channel of the same name.  When the YouTube channel was created it was posted as if a real teenage girl calling herself Sunshine was dealing with a haunted house.  After a few years of posting to the channel Sunshine told the world that her real name was Paige McKenzie and The Haunting of Sunshine Girl was really a fictional show being posted to YouTube.  

Seeing as how I was introduced to Sunshine Girl through the book I knew going into the YouTube channel that it wasn't actually real.  I found both Sunshine and her mother to come across as real and believable, when watching it as if it were really happening.  Although, 90% of the extra people added to the show, such as Creepy Lady/Victoria and the medium Alistair, to be completely fake and unbelievable in the real world.  All in all if you like teen fiction and watch YouTube than I recommend that you watch The Haunting of Sunshine Girl YouTube channel.  And of course you must, must, read the book.

That is all, for now.

TNT (Till Next Time),
Words by Ali

A Review of the Final Jessica Darling Novel 'Perfect Fifths' by Megan McCafferty

I'm going to tell you why the final Jessica Darling novel Perfect Fifths is just that, perfect. There are plenty of people out there who will disagree with my opinion and tell you how they hated it, and it was pointless, but I'm here to tell you why I think it's the perfect ending.

Anyone who has read the first two books in the series know that Marcus and Jessica's relationship has never been one for convention. They have always been messy, neurotic, and at times incomprehensible. At times Perfect Fifths finds itself being all these things, paralleling Marcus and Jessica's tumulus relationship throughout the years. The dozens of pages of non-stop dialogue, the haikus, and the way both Marcus and Jessica are blind to anything but each other after a chance airport meeting, show the crazy and sometimes hard to understand love that they have.

It doesn't matter that they not only ended the relationship, and haven't seen each other in, three years. They've always had a love that didn't conform, even if they had tried. Which is why I feel this novel was not pointless. For the love that they have, on and off again, is one that never truly goes away, even if the breakup appeared so final.

Some of those who didn't like this book say that it wasn't an ending, and that's one of the reasons they don't like it. But, having read not just Perfect Fifths but every Jessica Darling book in existence I feel like any real final ending would have been the wrong move. I would love nothing more than to read more about adult Marcus and Jessica's further relationship, I would read it in a heartbeat. That of course is beside the point. Their relationship over the years has been one beginning after another, after another. Which is why Marcus and Jessica's new beginning is a perfect ending. The ending for us was a beginning for them. And until I read otherwise it may be the final beginning.

I know that not all of you will agree with my opinion, because nobody will ever agree on everything. I understand that my opinion is not law, but conversely neither are yours. I've read some reviews of this novel that make anyone who disagrees with them, those who liked the novel, seem stupid and don't know good literature. I respect all other opinions that don't like this novel, but you all should respect others opinions too.

My opinion is if you are a Jessica Darling fan than you should read the entire series. Even if you don't end up agreeing with me, it's better to have read and not liked it then to have never given it the chance at all. So, read Perfect Fifths and form your own opinion. I've read some novel that I wish I hadn't, but at least I can form my own opinion of them, and not someone else's. And you should to. If you love reading, than read.


TNT,
Words by Ali

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

What Makes a Good Book?

I'm sure people have been wondering this for as long as there have been novels to read. And honestly it's an answer that changes based on every person that answers it. But I think there are certain things that are universal for all good books.

1.) An interesting and engaging plot.

2.) Well designed universe and developed characters

3.) Good writing

Now if a novel has ONE of the first two it may cancel out the good writing. At least in the world of popularity. In the world of avid quality readers it needs be be all three. Not to say that if you like a novel that doesn't have all three that there's anything wrong with your tastes. It's all a matter of opinion, after all. And this is my opinion.

So, let's start with number one. An interesting and engaging plot. We've all read a novel that once finished you think that the plot was so predictable and overdone that you wonder why you kept reading. It's the plot of the story pulls the reader in and keeps them there. Without that pull the reader looses interest so fast they may stop reading before giving it a chance.

Second we have a well designed universe and developed characters. Even if you have an interesting plot but the world is one dimensional and unbelievable it's going to pull the reader out of the story. That goes the same with stick figures characters. A character needs to be three-dimensional and well rounded to be engaging. A character should jump off the page, and be someone that could easily be set in the real world. Leading characters need to have more than one facet to them, like real people, otherwise no one would believe the things they say and do in the story.

Thirdly, and lastly, we have good writing.  Without the novel being well written the avid reader will loose interest fairly quickly.  I know that I have several times.  I find myself reading a novel that has a great idea and even an engaging plot, but because the writing doesn't hold my interest I get bored.
Now, as I mentioned earlier in the post, bad writing doesn't necessarily break a book.  I have read books that are considered bestsellers that have an abundant lack of good writing.  What people latch onto in these underwritten books is the good plot, and story idea.  I won't name names here, but if you know me then I'm sure you know which books I may be referring to here.

Enjoy your reading

TNT,
Words by Ali

In What We Do

Not only has it been a while since I've posted anything on my blog, but it's been just as long that I've had anything to really say.  I've felt that if I don't have anything real to say then I probably should refrain from saying things that don't really mean much.

But here I am, back.  I want what I have to say to mean something.  It doesn't necessarily have to mean anything to you the reader, but for me personally.  Of course I'm not saying I don't want it to mean anything to you, in fact I hope it does.  But I know that not everyone will feel the same way about the same things, because we are all different and unique people.


Last night was the first time I had stayed through the whole message at church in I don't remember how long.  The message was about those who heard Jesus' message and found it too hard to follow.  They heard something they didn't like and left.  Or, they pretended to believe but they didn't really believe.

I found myself listening to the message last night and wondering if I had been one of those who went through the motions, but didn't actually have my heart in it.  I may have been that person, but I don't want to be that person.

I want God to make me a better disciple.  To make me into what He wants me to be.  Do you feel that way too?  Unmotivated and lost?  Well you're not alone, and that doesn't mean God isn't there.  He is, and waiting for us to come back to him.

TNT,
Words by Ali