5 fandom friday

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Five Fandom Friday: My favourite sequels

Last week I sat down to watch Army of Darkness for the first time.  About ten seconds in, I realised that it was, in fact, a sequel to The Evil Dead.  So I quickly switched over to watch that instead.  But after the tree-molestation scene I was ready to give up.  I decided to just watch Army of Darkness anyway, and in the end it worked out fine because it was really funny and didn’t relate too closely to The Evil Dead.

 

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So I’ve been thinking a bit about sequels this week and I thought it would be a good time to do the 5 Fandom Friday tag: My Favourite Sequels.

  1. Addams Family Values

The cast of the 1990’s Addams family films was flawless.  Anjelica Huston was the perfect Morticia, and Raul Julia was ideal as Gomez.  You couldn’t ask for a better Wednesday than Christina Ricci and Christopher Lloyd is unrecognisable in the role of Uncle Fester.  This film brought together this incredible cast for a second helping of kooky fun, adding in the incomparable Carol Kane as Grandmama (the only role that was recast for the sequel).  The second instalment had just as many laughs and tongue-in-cheek jokes as the first film, and it also features the glorious tango scene- my favourite part from both films.

2. D2: The Mighty Ducks

As a child of the 1990’s I spent a fair chunk of time watching The Mighty Ducks.  Of the three films, I think that the D2 is the strongest.  It introduced some fantastic new characters, such as Julie Gaffney and Dean Portman (Bash Brothers forever!).  Additionally, this movie was less focused on Charlie Conway than the original, which I thought was a blessing because he always irritated me. There was a stronger rivalry between teams and bigger stakes that made D2 a more exciting film than it’s predecessor.

3. Toy Story 3

I went into the cinema to watch Toy Story 3 fully prepared to hate it.  I felt that 10 years was too huge a gap between Toy Story 2 and 3 and I wasn’t sure that it was going to have the same feel as the originals.  Five minutes in and I had completely changed my tune. I thought it was genius that, rather than pretending that no time had passed, Pixar embraced the time lapse and showed us Andy as a young adult, dealing with the dilemma of letting go of his childhood.  It had some emotional moments, and I choked up over and over.  But thankfully there were plenty of laughs as well (the part with Mr Tortilla Head always has me giggling).  Toy Story 3 was so clever and managed to keep the spirit of the original films while still feeling fresh.

4. The Dark Knight

There are not too many sequels that are vastly superior to the original, but this is undoubtedly one of them.  With superhero movies, the first film tends to be on the slow side, because you have to establish an origin story.   But Batman Begins was excruciatingly tedious.  The Dark Knight saved the franchise by introducing us to Heath Ledger’s Joker, a villain who is simultaneously fascinating and piss-in-your-pants terrifying. In my opinion, The Joker is the best part about this film, and his mad plots and creepy voice never fail to capture my attention.

5. The Golden Age

The Golden Age is another sequel that was made a long while after the original film.  It was released in 2007, nine years after Elizabeth.  Elizabeth was the film that kindled my fascination with the Tudor period, and I always felt a bit disappointed that the story ends just as Elizabeth really begins to come into her own as Queen.  So I was delighted when The Golden Age was announced.  As the name suggests, this film tells of the greatest period of Elizabeth I’s reign.  The first film showed us Elizabeth as a young queen, dealing with the question of marriage and struggling to rule as a woman in a man’s world.  In The Golden Age, we see Elizabeth as a confident, competent ruler.  She has already established her image as The Virgin Queen and is about to unfurl some of her greatest triumphs.  The Golden Age shows another side of Elizabeth, the vulnerable woman behind the white mask, struggling with impossible decisions and deep, personal disappointments.  Although I love both films, I feel that The Golden Age beautifully captures the strong spirit of one of England’s most impressive monarchs.

 

What are your favourite sequels?  Are there any on this list that you also love, or any that you’d like to add?

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5 Fandom Friday: Ways I evolved in 2016

So, the “official” FFF prompt for today was “My goals for 2017”.  But as I already made a list of my new years resolutions earlier in the week, I thought I would skip back a week and write about the ways I evolved in 2016.

 

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  1. I became more confident about interacting with people.

I am notoriously shy around other people.  Not so much people I’m really close to, but with people I don’t know well I tend to shrink into the background and never speak until spoken to.  This year I started attending gigs with my boyfriend and I fell into the same trap of waiting for other people to interact with me.  During one particularly awkward show, I was sitting in an armchair at a pub in a room full of people.  I was lamenting at how boring I must be and generally beating myself up for being such a goober.

It was in that moment that I realised that nobody was talking to me because nobody knew me.  By keeping my lips zipped until someone asked me a question, I wasn’t giving anyone a chance to get to know me.  Even though it’s difficult for me, I’ve really tried to make an effort to open up, participate in conversations with new people and actively seek out interactions.  It’s done wonders for my confidence and has helped me make some awesome friends.

Additionally, I have pushed myself to reach out to some of my friends whom I would like to know better.  I always feel worried that I’m bugging people if I get in touch with them, or that they’ll be creeped out by me.  But the reality is that if they don’t want to talk to me, they don’t have to respond to my messages.  So I’ve really made an effort to check in with my friends more often and reach out to new friends who I’d like to be closer to.  And so far, not one of them has responded negatively.

2. I switched to a vegan (ish) diet

In mid November I made the decision to try a vegan diet.  I watched several documentaries about plant based diets, sustainability and health and they really had an impact on me. I was appalled by the way that animals are treated when they are farmed for food and I felt quite mad at myself for keeping my head in the sand about this issue.

 

Initially I thought I would just give veganism a go and see how I felt.  I had a lot of concerns and I thought that taking a “let’s just try and see” approach would be best.  And it worked well.  I made lots of big changes to my diet and tried loads of new foods. I learned about adapting traditional recipes to make them vegan and I had a blast cooking.

 

At this stage, I’m eating what I call a vegan-ish diet. Because my family and my boyfriend aren’t vegan, I will occasionally eat a non-vegan meal with them because I’d rather enjoy their company than make a fuss over what food is served to me.  I have also found that very few restaurants in town have any vegan options available, so when I eat out I just try to choose something as close to vegan as possible.  I’m not aiming for 100% perfect veganism, I’m just trying to do the very best I can without stressing myself out.

3. I got serious about minimalism

Minimalism is kind of a buzz word at the moment, but I feel it accurately describes my current mindset.  I have started to feel overwhelmed by the amount of “stuff” in my life.  My flat is full of clutter, my to-do list is overflowing and I have been spending so much time maintaining and acquiring more things that I don’t have time to enjoy myself. In October I began a serious overhaul of my belongings and habits.  I’ve been systematically cleaning out my belonging.  I’ve focused on developing better shopping habits and eliminating mindless spending.  I’m attempting to spend my time doing things that bring me joy, things that are useful and productive and letting go of those things I feel I “should” do.

4.I settled into my job

I’ve been at my job for two years now, and it’s only in the last six months that I’ve realised that I’m feeling confident and settled in what I’m doing.  I rarely have to ask for help, and I’m finding that my daily routine at work has a smoothness to it.  I finally feel as though I know what I’m doing. I no longer feel like “The New Girl” and I’ve learned loads in the past two years.

5.I let go of some hang ups about sex.

2016 was the year I really got passionate about sex.  I started to feel more comfortable talking and writing about sex.  I wrote several blog posts about sex toys and BDsM.  I attended Kink Fest and have made several kinky friends.  I started asking for the sex I wanted and tried several new sexual experiences.  I became passionate about learning about sex and sexuality from a variety of sources.  I feel as though 2016 was an extremely sex positive year for me.

 

How did you evolve in 2016?

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5 Fandom Friday: 5 geeky clothing items I need in my wardrobe immediately

My wardrobe would be extremely bare if I didn’t own any  fandom or geeky clothing.  I adore peppering my outfits with references to my favourite TV shows, films and books.  I’m always on the look out for fantastic fandom items to add to my wardrobe, and today I want to share 5 things that I’m currently coveting.

  1. I.T. Crowd button

Badge from The Square Penguin

I’m a sucker for a hilarious quote on a button, and this one is a doozy.  It references an episode of The I. T. Crowd that never fails to crack me up.  I’d love to wear this pinned to a jacket or on my jeans.

 

2. Tudor Wives charm bracelet

Bracelet from Tudor Dynasty Jewels

I’m a total nut for Tudor history, and I’m particularly fascinated by the wives of Henry VIII.  This bracelet, with a charm for each of Henry’s six wives, would make the perfect addition to my wardrobe.

3. Walking Dead/ Love Actually mashup tee

Tee shirt from Nude and Loitering Tees

What could be better than referencing one fandom on your teeshirt?  Referencing two!  This awesome tee shirt is a fantastic mashup between The Walking Dead and Love Actually and it’s so cleverly done.

 

4. Alice in Wonderland “Um” dress

Um costume dress from Deconstructress

Stepping completely into the world of fantasy now, I can only imagine how fabulous it would be to flounce about in this amazing dress.  When I first saw Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, I was blown away by the costuming.  In particular, I fell in love with the dress fashioned for Alice out of the Queen of Heart’s curtains.  I adore the detail in this dress, right down to the curtain-cord belt.

 

5. Harley Quinn “Puddin” choker

Choker from Light the DynamiteChoker from Light the Dynamite

This delicious choker appeals to my adoration for Harley Quinn and my love of BDsM.  Her collar speaks of her devotion and submission to Mr J.  I imagine wearing this with a black dress and heels, or dressing it down with a fun tee shirt and sneakers.

 

Do you have any geeky items that you are currently coveting for your wardrobe? Are there any of mine that you’d snaffle for yourself?

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5 Fandom Friday: 8 Gateway fandoms that made me who I am today

I haven’t done a Five Fandom Friday post in months, and when I went to check the list of prompts, I noticed that there aren’t any new ones.  So I thought I’d go way way back to the beginning of the list and do some of the prompts that I missed.

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Today I’m casting my mind back to some early fandoms that got me hooked on a geeky concept or realm and pulled me into a swirling vortex of fangirly fun.

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  1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

    As a five  year old,  I was obsessed with the Ninja Turtles.  I would race to the television every afternoon at 4pm and wait for Family Feud to end so that I could catch up with the latest antics of my beloved turtles.  The first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film was the first movie I ever saw at the cinema, sparking a lifelong love for going to the movies and experiencing films on the big screen.  Now in my thirties, I’m still smitten with those lean, green fighting machines and enjoy watching new incarnations of the Turtles and revisiting old ones. So many of my friendships have been cemented by bonding over conversations of our favourite turtles.

2. The Young Ones

Teenage Ness was seriously into the Young Ones.  Although only 12 episodes ever aired, I was happy to watch those same 12 episodes over and over, memorizing every joke.  The Young Ones were my introduction to British comedy, a love which soon spilled over into Monty Python, Blackadder, French and Saunders, Fry and Laurie and Mitchell and Webb. My slightly absurdist sense of humour and adoration of a dry one-liner meant that I was instantly drawn to British comedy, which appeals to me in a way that American humour never has. I consider myself a pretty funny person, and I think that my personal sense of humour is very close to the likes of those British comedians that I’ve enjoyed since my teen years.

 

3. The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz remains to this day my favourite film of all time.  I’ve watched it more times than I can count, and I can sing every song by heart.  I’ve also done The Dark Side of the Rainbow so many times that I now can’t listen to The Dark Side of the Moon without thinking about which scene should be playing during each song.  The Wizard of Oz sparked a love of Judy Garland, which in turn sparked a love of classic Hollywood films,  which blossomed into an adoration for vintage clothing.  The Wizard of Oz had a domino effect, sparking one fandom and interest after another.  So many of my favourite things can be traced backwards to an early love of The Wizard of Oz.

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4. Tank Girl

Tank Girl was my first introduction to the world of comic books.  She provided a talking point that sparked a 10-year romantic relationship with an awesome man.  She was my first ever cosplay costume.  The Tank Girl soundtrack introduced me to Bjork and Veruca Salt.  I have a lot to thank Tank Girl for.

 

5. Disney

Disney was probably my earliest fandom.  I recall sitting at my great-grandmother’s house at the age of four or five, marvelling at her massive collection of Disney VHS movies.  It was in her loungeroom that I first watched Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid and The Aristocats.  Disney set off a lifelong love of animation, magic and wonder.  The Disney cartoons fed my sense of humour while the films nourished my need for adventure and excitement.  I’m still a huge lover of Disney, even though I’m 30 years old now, and I get as much enjoyment out of those films as I did as a child.  I believe that I genuinely need that dash of wonder on a regular basis to stay sane, and Disney well and truly provides that.

 

What fandoms do you consider your “gateway fandoms?”

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Five Fandom Friday: Fandoms you hold dear that nobody else has heard of

Oooooh, the world of lesser-known fandoms.  This is honestly one of my favourite geeky topics.  I think we all have those weird things that we’re really into, that it seems like nobody on the planet has heard of.  But what’s awesome is that when you find another human who not only has heard of, but loves the same thing as you, it’s like *BAM* instant friendship!  There’s nothing like having someone recognise the obscure reference on your shirt, or bust out a quote from that weird film you adore.  So today I’m taking time to celebrate 5 of my lesser-known fandoms.

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  1. Hercules Returns

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4437BxAHB4

Hercules Returns is a hilarious Australian film about a dude who quits his corporate job to run his own cinema.  His former boss sabotages the opening of the cinema’s premier screening of Hercules by substituting the audio reel with the Italian version of the film.  Disaster!  Luckily the hero and his two mates step in to dub over the entire film.  The rest of the movie is the dubbed-over version of Hercules.  It’s crude, it’s stupid and it’s utterly hilarious.  I was crazy excited when I found that this film was available on DVD, and it’s always the perfect pick-me-up when I’m having a rough day.

 

2. Heavyweights

Heavyweights was one of those movies that I watched over and over as a kid, and was a little bit scared to see as a grown-up in case it had lost it’s magic over the years.  But when I did finally check it out again, it was just as hilarious as I remembered.  It’s a Disney film starring many of the kids from the Mighty Ducks films about a fat camp.  It holds a special place in my heart, because my best friend growing up was a fat kid, and it was one of the only films from our childhood where the fat kids were the heroes of the story.

 

3. Freaks and Geeks

OK, so in the Netflix age, Freaks and Geeks isn’t as obscure as it used to be.  But for years it was one of those shows that I was hard-pressed to find another person who had seen it.  Only the first episode aired in Victoria, and I watched it, went bonkers over it, and then was heartbroken when the Ten Network didn’t show any more.  It’s only one season long, but it stars baby-faced versions of Seth Rogan, James Franco and Jason Segel.

 

4. The Young Ones

 

When I was in high school, my best friend and I used to spend most of our weekends re-watching The Young Ones and eating scrambled eggs and chocolate chip cookies (the two best dishes we’d learned to make in home ec).  None of the other kids at our school had seen The Young Ones, which made it pretty easy for us to rip off the comedy stylings of Adrian Edmonson  in our drama class without getting caught out.  Even now, I get so excited when I find someone else who likes BBC comedy from the 80’s and will bust out a chorus of “Dr Marten’s Boots” or “The Young Ones” with me.

5. Clone High

My friends Kath and Evan introduced me to Clone High.  Incidentally, Kath and Evan are such fans of the show that they have Clone High quotes engraved on their wedding rings.  I immediately loved the show, which is about a high school populated by the clones of various historical figures.  It’s pretty freakin’ hilarious.

 

What are your favourite obscure fandoms?

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5 Fandom Friday: Geeky Tattoos I want

I’m playing catch-up on some of the 5 Fandom Friday posts that I missed.  This one in particular struck me because I adore tattoo art.  Although I don’t have any tattoos, and have no plans to get one, I enjoy coming up with clever tattoo designs and flipping through pictures of other peoples tatts.  So while I don’t intend to ever get one of these images inked onto my skin, they are all designs that I think are gorgeous.

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  1. “Andy” tattoo on my foot.

I am a big Pixar fan, and I’m especially fond of the Toy Story films.  I’ve often thought that it would be cute to get the name “Andy” inked on the sole of my foot, in homage to that awesome collection of films.

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2. The Addams Family credo

The Addams Family has been one of my longest-lasting fandoms, as I’ve been into it since I was about six years old.  I think that years of tireless devotion to the family Addams should qualify me as an honorary member, and worthy to bear the family motto on my skin.  Mortica states that the family motto is “Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc” or, “We gladly feast on those who would subdue us”.  Not just pretty words, mind you, and I think an important message about individuality and not being beaten down by the crowd.

 

3. The Great A’Tuin

Terry Pratchett is my all-time favourite author, and since his passing last year I’ve thought several times about a way to honour the man whose work changed my life.  I think a small tattoo of The Great A’Tuin, the tortoise who is the vehicle for The Disworld, which rides atop four elephants perched on her back, would be just the thing.

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4. A pair of ruby slippers

To me, Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz are a very powerful symbol of self reliance.  As such, a constant reminder that I always have the power within me to get to where I’m going would be lovely.

 

5. Elvira pinup

I adore vintage-style pinup tattoos. But in order to put a geeky twist on an old classic, I’d like Elvira to be the subject of such a tattoo were I ever to get one.  She’s hilarious, ballsy and so darn sexy.

 

Do you have any geeky tattoos?  Are you planning any?

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5 Fandom Friday: My favourite ways to Netflix and Chill

I’m just going to come right out and say it, I’m a total Netflix addict.  For years I’d heard my US buddies ramble about the awesomeness of Netflix without knowing what on earth they were on about.  Y’see, Netflix wasn’t available in Australia until earlier this year.  But when it finally sprang up on the Aussie streaming scene, I was keen to check it out. Since signing up for Netflix in April, I’ve become a wee bit obsessed with it.  It’s just so great to have such a range of movies and shows to chill out with at the click of a button. Netflix has become one of my favourite ways to unwind.  And there are so many ways to do that.  So today, let me share with you my 5 favourite ways to Netflix and chill.

 

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  1. In bed with the cats

When it’s chilly and I’m tired of huddling by the heater I love to grab my laptop and head to bed.  I’ll prop the computer up, using the cat’s hammock to get it at the right height.  Then I’ll make a mountain of pillows, cuddle up under the doona and convince the cats to snuggle up with me.  This was the way I watched A Young Doctor’s Notebook and it was blissful.

2. In a pillow fort

Sometimes I suck at adulting.  When I want to bring out my inner child, a movie, some snacks and an epic pillow fort is the way to go.  You have to pick just the right film though, it needs to be something light and fun to compliment the soft, squishy environment of the pillow fort.  I chose Into the Woods the last time I hunkered down in my pillow fort.

3. Curled up on the couch with a pizza

There are times when I come home from work and the thought of doing any kind of energetic activity is eons from my mind.  On nights like this I enjoy ordering a pizza, throwing on some comfy pants and just chilling with a rad movie or a few episodes of a TV show.  Orange is the New Black was my most recent “forget the world with an epic show and a cheesy slice” selection.

4. With a cutie and a blanket

Ooooh, the ol’ ” Netflix and Chill Date”.  It’s a wonderful thing.  Imagine it, you’re relaxed and comfortable, you can chuck on a great comedy and giggle away to break the ice.  Maybe later you pull a blanket over you both and things start to get a little cozy, maybe hands touch hands, legs brush against each other, faces turn until lips are smooching and you’re not watching the telly any longer.  It’s blissful.  Brooklyn 99 is an awesome choice when you’re snuggling with your squeeze.

5. A marathon on a Sunday afternoon.

The best Sunday is a lazy Sunday, in my opinion.  And what better way to veg than with a marathon viewing of an awesome program?  Netflix is built for marathons, as one episode just starts playing once the previous one finishes.  For me, throwing on Jane the Virgin and having a crafternoon is the perfect way to re-charge before I head to work on Monday.

 

How do you like to Netflix and Chill?