marguerite_krux: (Default)
marguerite_krux ([personal profile] marguerite_krux) wrote2010-01-27 02:37 pm

I ask for so little, just let me rule you...love me, fear me, do as I say and I will be your slave

Happymaking List of Win.

#1. OMG OMG OMG. I renewed my account for another year and just found out I got five userpic spaces! I totally forgot about the bonus userpics, this is so awesome! Just in time for me to express my love for my new fandom, too! *giddybounces*

#2. Ha, I think I've come across a term that near-accurately describes my taste in ships: Foe Yay. *gigglesnort*
Foe Yay implies that there are certain sexual emotions that have been sublimated by the characters, in this case, two nemeses. The idea being that because of their defined roles, the two characters must fight, but would subconsciously rather be doing something else that starts with an "F".
Okay, so that's more applicable to anime and comic books where the hero/villain battle it out for ten million seasons, but it does address my OTPs' initial interactions very well- I do adore shipping two people that seem to absolutely loathe each other at first. :D Every single ship of mine has started off snapping and snarling at each other before ultimately deciding they do kinda have a thing for one another.

Mulder/Scully- 'I was under the impression that you were sent to spy on me'

Sam/Jack- 'Just because my reproductive organs are on the inside instead of the outside doesn't mean I can't handle whatever you can handle' *g* Oh, that line has haunted Amanda ever since!

Hermione/Snape- 'Put your hand down, you silly girl'. From the taunts in the classroom- 'insufferable know-it-all'- and her wilful defiance of his rules, not to mention participating in schemes that were directly or indirectly against him, these two clashed for a number of years! I do adore the idea of them trying to forge a relationship beyond mere teacher/student dynamics, it's so complicated and messy and yet so thrilling and entertaining!

Janeway/Chakotay- um, the fact that she was sent to arrest him? I always thought they glossed over that too quickly, everyone played Happy Families after like, two episodes. Where is my delicious tension? Where is the badass Maquis renegade? *sighs*

Jarod/Miss Parker- holy crap, the epic angst and love-hate of these two! Mother never understood it and I did a terrible job explaining, 'Well, she's sent to capture him...no, she's not a bad person, really- okay, well, she is trying to return him to the people that treat him as a lab experiment...but she does care about him, even if it's buried deep, deep inside her frozen heart...it goes back to their childhood, you see, they were friends but then she got brainwashed and he's trying to free her from the shackles of the Centre, mainly by foiling her cunning plans and playing practical jokes on her...um?'

Roslin/Adama- bwahaha! The fact that they competed for the loyalties of his son and pseudo-daughter as well as fighting for control of the Fleet, ending in a gods-damned MUTINY during which he IMPRISONS HER...well...
---

#3. Saw Up in the Air the other day.



It was supposed to be just the adult women, but I guess mother took pity on me and let me tag along with her, Ma and my aunt. Aren't I special? *preens*

Okay, well, the first thing I have to get out of the way is that I am so disappointed. I loved this movie all the way til the end- when we find out that Alex is married with kids. *headdeskwallfloor*

I turned to mother and muttered, 'Of course, it wouldn't be nominated for an award if it had a happy ending.'

The next second, Ma turns to me to say, 'It wouldn't have been nominated if they lived happily ever after.'

Lol! The two Annie's are in sync. We spend wayyy too much time together...*eyeroll*

I just think the art of the happy ending has been lost. People think it's against their artistic integrity or something to let the characters be satisfied in a loving, rewarding relationship. It's always gotta be angst and heartbreak and frankly, I'm sick of it. I mean, this movie Precious? Up for a ton of awards and it's about a girl that's abused by her mom and raped by her father and has to deal with a baby-by-incest. How cheerful, just exactly the kind of thing I'd love to fangirl and get all squeeful about, oh yes. *eyeroll*

I think it'd be less predictable if Ryan and Alex had ended up together, I totally guessed that she was involved- though the kids were a slap in the face, after her conversation earlier about what she looks for in a man, acting like she wasn't with anyone. I think if it wasn't a big deal, why did she hide her family from him? She acted like it was his fault, he was too immature to be given a chance at a real relationship when maybe he wouldn't have been involved with her if she had told him upfront what the deal was. Maybe he'd've slept with her anyway, I'm not under any illusions about his character, but at least she wouldn't have led him on like she did- going to a wedding as his date?! What kind of impression did she get from that? Meeting his FAMILY, FFS. *rage blackout*

So yeah, that totally ruined the whole movie for me.

Adding another few lumps to the crapfest of that ending was Natalie quitting because her delicate sensibilities were too wounded by her job. O. M. G. The poor little female was just too fragile to handle the pressure of her job- so she comes up with this innovative, game-changing idea and now they're going ahead without her, because she couldn't cope. WTF. I hated that so much. You'd never find a guy who quit for those reasons, it's so bloody sexist.

I did like the letter that Ryan wrote as her recommendation, it was very sweet, and guys, I know it won't come as any surprise, but I totally wanted these two to hook up. For all Anna Kendrick's protestations that it was a relief not to have to deal with the stress of a romance with George Clooney, I think it would've been so cool. But anyway.

I really like Anna's role in New Moon- I think she was Jessica? She was so funny and vivacious and her sarcasm slayed me dead with laughter. I wouldn't mind her as the star of that franchise, she's so much more interesting than Bella and has far greater range than Kristen. *ducks and runs from the howling fangirls* I hope she succeeds in the industry, she has so much promise and I'd love to see her move on to even bigger and better things- though what could beat working with George Clooney, I don't know!

Gotta say, much as I like Anna, I really loathed the scene where she started wailing post-breakup. It was adorable seeing Ryan so flustered and unsure how to comfort her, but still, those shrill hysterical sobs made me want to shred her vocal chords out, pissed me off so much. >:[

But the interaction between her, Ryan and Alex was great. Before I realized she was evil, Alex was such a great character and she was so funny as the sympathetic maternal figure, playing mom to Ryan's dad as they deal with Natalie's shredded ego. Getting drunk and crashing parties...novel approach, but so much fun!
---

#4. Sense and Sensibility. Pretty decent movie, though I admit I'd never pay attention to it were it not for Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon. I always thought his relationship with Marianne got shortchanged- one minute, she's mooning over the dastardly Willoughby, the next she's with Brandon. Imagine my delight at stumbling across Colonel Brandon’s Diary by Amanda Grange.



I have to say, my first reaction was ‘who is the dude on the cover and why is it not Alan Rickman?!’



Because I am utterly lacking in bias when it comes to my choice of cover model, lol.

I skipped the first half of the book, because I had no interest in Eliza and wanted only to learn more of the relationship between Brandon and Marianne, since it is pitifully lacking in the movie and, I believe, the book. [Because the author couldn't think of a way to make it believable, according to snide dissenters who were outraged she didn't get a fairytale romance with the asshat that took advantage of a young girl, oh yes, prime husband material]



I mean, honestly, we see one scene where they’re out in the garden together before they're married. *scoffs*

Though I do admit to feeling like my heart would burst of happiness listening to him read poetry to his beloved, and then her flattering dismay at the news of his departure. 'You will not be away long?' D'aww! From barely being able to tolerate his presence to wishing he would stay by her side and never leave!

I never believed she deserved him, after judging him on his age alone ['when is a man free from such wit if infirmity does not protect him?] and callously dismissing him all throughout the movie. Ma and I were casting rude aspersions upon her character and intelligence the whole time. Oh, how I cringed in sympathy every time she slighted him. *winces*



But then when we saw the wedding scene, I was all ‘Aww!’ and Ma was like, ‘That’s nice, he got the girl in the end’. Make no mistake, I don’t approve [I secretly believe he and Elinor make a better couple] but he wanted Marianne, she makes him happy and so I was glad for his sake.

On the whole, I prefer the movie, I think. Yes, the novel has some sweet exchanges between them- not least a discussion where they finally make their relationship official...

x:x:x:x:x

Friday 11 September

Elinor and Edward were married this morning.

As they set out on their wedding tour, Marianne said, ‘You are a good friend to all my family, Colonel. Without you, Elinor’s marriage could not have gone ahead, for she and Edward would have had nowhere to live.’

‘I hope that, one day, you will see me as something more than a friend,’ I said to her.

‘A second attachment for both of us,’ she said. ‘I do not know exactly what happened in your past, only that you had an unhappy love affair…do not speak of it if you do not wish…’

But I found myself telling her about it, ending with Eliza’s death.

‘She died in your arms,’ said Marianne. ‘To think, I judged Willoughby on his handsome face and engaging manners, believing him to be a romantic hero because he carried me home when I sprained my ankle. But beneath his smiles and teasing he was a wastrel. And yet I dismissed you entirely, though you were ready to elope with your love when your father forced her into a hateful marriage, and you sought her out and protected her when she needed you most, caring nothing for the fact that she had fallen into disgrace. You looked after her daughter, fighting a duel in order to protect her honour, and then brought her here, where she could be happy. You have loved and suffered, and yet it has not made you bitter, for you have the courage to love again. it is you who are the figure out of romance.’

‘Marianne,’ I said. ‘I have no right to hope. You have your life before you…’ I became suddenly tongue-tied. Now that the moment had come I was unaccustomedly nervous. ‘But if you ever- if I might- if you think- I am putting this badly- but if you should ever want my hand as well as my heart, it is yours.’

‘You have given me so much already that I should decline, but I cannot deprive myself of such a gift,’ she said, her face turning toward mine until our lips met.

At last we parted, and she blushed.

‘Am I to take it that you will?’ I said.

‘Yes, thank you, Colonel-’

I smiled to hear that word, for the last time, on her lips.

‘James,’ I said.

‘James,’ she said. ‘I accept.’
x:x:x:x:x

...but I think that the movie had greater highs and lows that aren't included in the book, which sort of plateaus, while the movie swings crazily from one extreme to the other.

For instance, I love the scene when he lifts her up in his arms and brings her in from the rain, and then angsts moodily ['What can I do? Anything, or I shall run mad'] while she languishes on her deathbed. *kicks her* [Although I am amused that no hero ever slings the woman over his shoulder, even though it is much more convenient and less of a strain on the back- because it's not romantic]

But the 'diary' makes the relationship more realistic- they have discussions on their mutual interests and his experiences while traveling, Marianne comes off a lot more compassionate and sympathetic rather than the shrill, self-absorbed brat she is in the movie, and I actually like her in print rather than the way she was portrayed by Kate Winslet. If they only had expanded on the romance a little more in S&S, it'd've been so much cooler. *sighs wistfully*
---

#5. How do you disable author alerts on ff.net? I think I should, before I get into more trouble. *facepalm*

Apart from the annoyance of getting messages for fics you're not interested in, there's the threat of being taken over by a new fandom if one isn't careful- and I am so weak that way. I kept getting random emails about some author posting Labyrinth fics- I deleted each one, but the name imprinted on my brain, and now and then I'd wonder what the big deal was about this Sarah and Jareth [it was his name that caught my eye, since it reminded me of Pretender's Jarod] and why the hell that author wasn't writing for the fandom I put them on alert for, right?

The other day, I wiki'd it, figured 'oh, teenage girl takes on Goblin King in epic fantasy quest to save her brother from his evil clutches'. Hmm, it has potential, why not? I was intrigued, since it's so rare for fantasy movies to be made these days starring girls, let alone letting them be the sole protagonist instead of sharing the limelight with an undeserving, less capable and immature guy. *coughHARRYPOTTERcough*

And now...I am hopelessly enchanted. I haven't seen the movie yet, but dear god, the fanfic is incredible. I am so in love!



I adore the fact that she gets to be the hero of this grand adventure. She faces danger and overcomes obstacles on her own, she befriends potential enemies and gets them to help her when they should be hindering her, she displays ingenuity and competence...it's really quite marvellous. Indeed, there's only one fact I absolutely can't stand...



...I totally want to beat the writers over the head for making Sarah a kid- fifteen years old, wtf? WHY THWART SHIPPERS THIS WAY?

I mean, it wasn't that they wanted her to be too young for any romantic spin on the movie, because by god, they encouraged it. The dialogue, the interaction between them, the way their scenes were staged...



You don't create a character that is dangerously seductive and whose job it is to DISTRACT SARAH THROUGH FLIRTATION if you want to avoid any sexual implications. That ballroom sequence [oh-so-pretty!] is about her struggle between her emerging desires, the temptation to accept what he's offering even if she's a little too innocent to fully understand what that is, and finding the strength of will to pull away and continue on the rescue of her brother.



He pleads with her to love him, FFS, to stay with him and he'd do anything for her- I'm pretty sure the writers weren't exactly OBLIVIOUS to the messages they were sending with that. *raises eyebrow*

But at least you understand why he might be intrigued by her. I usually roll my eyes at the whole immortal falls for ordinary human girl storyline, especially for the flimsiest, most ridiculous of reasons [FREESIA SCENTED BLOOD! *rofl*] but Sarah's character is rather impressive- she braves the perils of the Labyrinth and with every obstruction she comes up against, she emerges triumphant.

Well, except for that hideously poofy-sleeved dress. *facepalm* One problem she couldn't solve, lol.



Still, despite the handicap of that ballgown, I think Sarah carried herself off well and she's so compelling to watch that I kinda forget that fashion travesty. I'm itching to rip her sleeves off now, though.

I just really wish she'd been old enough for there to be a suitably romantic end to the movie, but at least it was left open-ended.

And fandom abhors a vacuum, meaning there is a plethora of fic dealing with the two of them meeting a few years later, when a relationship is more appropriate.

My faves so far:

Dryad13- Into the Rose Garden
Ergott- Dramatic Orchestrations
Knife Edge- What You Wish For
Scattered Logic- The Enticement

Also! Amusing but kinda-wrong icons...by iconzicons. Lol.



And I must quote this hilarious and much more eloquent review of the movie:

x:x:x:x:x
I don't know what it was about this movie that attracted me as a young pre-teen...



..but I remember being so upset that Jareth and Sarah didn't end up together. It was so obvious to me that he was in love with her (three words for you people: the. ballroom. scene). Of course at the time I didn't know that there were laws against a fifteen year old being with a middle aged man. Today, we call that gross, but to my twelve year old sensibilities it was luv.

I always appreciated that even though Sarah was whiny and sometimes annoying, she didn't need to be rescued. She defeated the Goblin King, she got her brother back, and she even turned down an offer from Jareth to let him be her slave. I love my brother, but if David Bowie/The Goblin King/his crotch asked me to fear him, love him, do what he says, and he'll be my slave I'd be on that so fast.
x:x:x:x:x



I'm full-on obsessed with these two now. It might be wrong for so many reasons, but it's right for me and I adore it.

But yes, I fully realize that my ships have officially become creepy. woodchoc_magnum and I were talking a while back about 'appropriate age-differences'; she was for them, I was...how do I put it so that I don't sound like a perverted sicko? Um...more open-minded, shall we say?

And on the bright side, doesn't this make Hermione/Snape look more normal in comparison? :P No? I'm just twisted, end of story? Righty then...

---
30 Day Meme: snurched from labrt2004.

Day 03 → Your favourite television programme

I'm gonna go with Castle. I love having a show-approved ship, instead of fighting against TPTB, it's such a relief when they agree that my couple is meant to be. I would have said Mentalist just a few months ago, but I love that the whole team gets to shine here, with Beckett actually cracking cases along with Castle instead of standing back and admiring his genius the way Lisbon's forced to, plus as mother says, 'There's a lot more blatant UST'. *g* I love it when my mother talks like a fangirl!

---
Vidspam:

This was the first Labyrinth vid I saw, and convinced me that I definitely needed to join in the fandom. It's so very well constructed, especially considering the limited amount of material to work with, and it's so full of emotion and thrills and excitement, I love it!


[identity profile] weird-fin.livejournal.com 2010-01-27 10:54 am (UTC)(link)
More icons!! Yay!

Like the pairings. and Castle!!
That movie, reminds me of Pan's Labryrinth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan%27s_Labyrinth) which I saw some of in a month ago. I wanted to watch more.

Foe Yay?Vampire Academy- I might add Christian/Rose, Dimitri/Rose if you think so, and Adrian/Rose if you must...

[identity profile] borg-princess.livejournal.com 2010-01-28 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
IKR?! *iz giddy* :D

Ohhh, I'm so glad I saw Pan's Labyrinth first and then this, because it just scarred me so badly, and at least I get the Labyrinth fluffiness to help me sleep better at night. I might've gone nuts if I saw it in reverse order. A so-called friend of mine made me watch it, and oh god, the guts, the gore, the tragedy! How far did you get with it? I don't want to spoil the ending, but I was rather confused...I think it's a good movie, but definitely not the type of thing I'd want to rewatch. *shudders*

VAMPIRE ACADEMY! *snuggles you* OMG, have you read all the books? I'm dying to read the next one, the last ended on such a cliffhanger, argh! Why does she do this to me?!

Christian/Rose...really? I saw the possibility, I don't deny it, especially because they were so cute when he was taunting her and she was all feisty and picking a fight, haha... But he and Lissa were sweet, at least, til it started getting all emo and angsty, but they reconciled, didn't they? They're like the golden couple, I don't ship them but it makes me feel better when they're together, like there's hope for the others.

Dimitri/Rose- bb, that is why I am so hung up on this series! I mean...check out my header, you saw my ships, OF COURSE I'm going to ship them two! It just broke my heart so badly when they finally got together and then he turned Strigoi, WTF? I nearly DIED FROM SHOCK.

Adrian/Rose- GOD NO. I really really hope Rose doesn't give in to his seduction because she feels hopeless and in need of comfort or anything like that, I will boycott this series if that happens. [It might hurt me worse than the author, but I have to take a stand on this issue *nodnod*]

Ooh, just checked out wikipedoa- the next book Spirit Bound is out in May, and apparently the follow-up is 'late 2010'. Two in one year, can it be?! :D

[identity profile] weird-fin.livejournal.com 2010-01-28 09:24 am (UTC)(link)
:D

Pan's Labryrinth is darkish, I only saw bits and pieces, the last bit I mainly remember was the girl running in the maze to get away from a one eyed freaky mummy thing! :S

YES! VAMPIRE ACADEMY! ^^ *snuggles* Yep, I've read all of them so far, did you meet Richelle when she was down here (under)? Whar part of Aus are you?

I have a soft spot for Christian/Rose, but I ship Lissa/Christian first and foremost.
Becuase I like Dimitri/Rose the best! Of course. I don't know why/how some people are so against them. And in turne prefer Adrian. Ehh? I think I missed something in his description that would have hooked me or something... I'd even go so far to say I'd prefer him with Lissa, even though he seems he still might be hiding his true intentions...

Agreed. Rose/Adrian NO. They play cute together, and if Adrian is really nice, I could see them being good friends (if he ever got over her that is). Or my personaly favourite Adrian uses all his life force and Spirit power (along with a little push of Spirit from Lissa) to help "restore" Dimitri to a somewhat liveable state and either dies or goes crazy from it. *i'm sadistic to him*

You didn't know that its May? Have you been following Richelle at [livejournal.com profile] blue_succubus? She's going to tour England next month. :)
I know! She's been very productive, I hope that they are good. ^^

[identity profile] borg-princess.livejournal.com 2010-01-28 10:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Dark-ISH? I tremble to think what you regard as fully dark. :O

And trust me, the one eyed freak isn't the worst monster she has to deal with. *quivers with fear*

NOOOO! Richelle visited the country? *facepalm* I'm in Geelong [Victoria]...just tell me she went to Sydney or somewhere like that where I wouldn't have been able to visit and see her anyway, it'll make it sting less...


I ship Lissa/Christian first and foremost.
Becuase I like Dimitri/Rose the best!


*squishes you* Excellent. I wouldn't strike you off my flist just for having different ships [considering the odd ones I have, I'd end up with no friends, lol] but it's very comforting to know we're on the same page here.

Dimitri/Rose is EPIC AWESOME. *nodnod* I was wibbling my way through the last book, it just broke me up so much inside, but damn Richelle for giving me hope that it might have a happy ending. If she'd declared outright that he was a goner for good, I probably would've given up out of sheer misery, but that teensy ray of hope...it keeps me tethered to this series. I can't get away!

I don't know why/how some people are so against them.

*gigglesnort* Um, 'coz he's her teacher? In a position of authority over her? Some people find that squicky, can't imagine why...but for the same reason that I find it morally justifiable to ship Snape/Hermione [if these girls are old enough to die in a war to protect their society, they're old enough to choose who they can love, damn it] as opposed to say, Will/Rachel from Glee [mirrors real life, no mitigating circumstances, less maturity and life experience], I dismiss those petty concerns.

I'd even go so far to say I'd prefer him with Lissa, even though he seems he still might be hiding his true intentions...

Lol, I'd see him with Lissa before Rose any day. *shields Rose from his nefarious clutches* I don't trust him. I know he's helped them in the past and all, but still. *scowls suspiciously* I don't like interlopers threatening my ship.

Adrian uses all his life force and Spirit power (along with a little push of Spirit from Lissa) to help "restore" Dimitri to a somewhat liveable state and either dies or goes crazy from it.

*gapes* THAT IS THE BEST IDEA EVER!
It'd never happen, 'coz it's not like he and Dimitri are super-BFFs and why would he drain himself just to help the guy out, but still...I'd die happy with that ending!

Dude, I barely have enough time to keep up with my flist, let alone follow authors and stalk their schedules. I WISH I had the time to juggle all my fangirl duties, but sadly, I gotta pick and choose what I'm going to keep up with- good thing I have you, though, I'm sure your journal will keep me apprised of important info, y/y? ;D

[identity profile] weird-fin.livejournal.com 2010-01-29 04:33 am (UTC)(link)
Well I hadn't seen it all...but yes, it looked to be dark... :P

Geelong? Ah cool. I'm the other side of CBD. She came to *cough*Melbourne (one Dymock,the other Fed Square) North East Melbourne Glenwaverly way*cough* Brisbane and Sydney.

Yeah I know about that part, but there's some who just don't like Dimitri (which I kind of get but still just sayin') as a person. So prefer Adrian...

I know Adrian isn't friendly with Dimitri, but in my sotry he loves/casres for Rose so much he does it for her. In a glorious show of his affection etc. And he kind of knows he'd never get to gether with Rose even if Dimitri was killed.

LOL. I know what you mean. But I've friended Richelle on here (and i hardly go to her actual website) she gives great little updates and things. There's also a VA community now if you're interested. Its not super active all the time so that's good.
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Well I hadn't seen it all...but yes, it looked to be dark... :P

Geelong? Ah cool. I'm the other side of CBD. She came to *cough*Melbourne (one Dymock,the other Fed Square) North East Melbourne Glenwaverly way*cough* Brisbane and Sydney.

Yeah I know about that part, but there's some who just don't like Dimitri (which I kind of get but still just sayin') as a person. So prefer Adrian...

I know Adrian isn't friendly with Dimitri, but in my sotry he loves/casres for Rose so much he does it for her. In a glorious show of his affection etc. And he kind of knows he'd never get to gether with Rose even if Dimitri was killed.

LOL. I know what you mean. But I've friended Richelle on here (and i hardly go to her actual website) she gives great little updates and things. There's also a VA community now if you're interested. Its not super active all the time so that's good.
<ljuser= v_academy>
And there's some other ones linked to that community too.

But yes, if she announces anything extra special I shall give a word out to you. ;)

[identity profile] borg-princess.livejournal.com 2010-02-02 12:41 am (UTC)(link)
*facepalm* Oh, well. I probably wouldn't have been able to go, exams and such, yeah, I'm going to pretend that there was some obstacle in the way that would've prevented me from going to see her...*sniffles*

*baffled* People don't like Dimitri as a person? Wtf? Just 'coz Adrian's flashier and blatantly promotes himself as this rebel, oh wow, let me fall down and worship him. *snorts* I appreciate Dimitri's quiet confidence and ass-kicking skillz more than loud bragging and macho showdowns to establish credibility.

I know Adrian isn't friendly with Dimitri, but in my sotry he loves/casres for Rose so much he does it for her. In a glorious show of his affection etc.

DO YOU WRITE FANFIC?
This is begging to be fic'd, I'm just sayin'... :P

if she announces anything extra special I shall give a word out to you. ;)

Much appreciated! *huggles*

[identity profile] borg-princess.livejournal.com 2010-02-02 12:41 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks for the comm link, bb. *squishes*