Adventures of a Relative Unknown

Iron Man 3

Sun, 12 May 2013 14:57:25 -0400

Short Version: I really liked It.

Not-so Short Version: I really liked it and wouldn’t mind paying for it in theater again. Yeah, that good.

Long Version Which Contains Spoilers, So Turn Your Back If You Care About That Sort of Thing:

Iron Man 3 was what I feel like many of the Marvel movies have been pushing towards and only a few have successfully pulled off: a good character movie that’s also a good story.

Iron Man 1 & 2 got by mostly because we will never tire of RDJ as Tony Stark as RDJ, the long lost cloned baby of Tony Stark. Or however that goes. Seriously, we as geeks, we as a movie going audience can’t be any more in love with this charming list of character defects in one man. He carried one movie handily and the second one showed its seams, but I like that kind of thing so IM2 got a bit of a pass for me because I like risk-taking.

Iron Man 3 simultaneously took risks and played it cleverly safe. The risks were in letting RDJ continue to push the envelope on what it means to be a superhero who is just a really smart guy in a really impressive tin can. I’ve seen a lot of superhero narratives that dwell or incorporate the aspect of the hero questioning just what the hell he’s gotten himself into, but nobody has pulled it off like Robert Downey Jr. has with Tony Stark.

He is haunted, he is neurotic, he is funny and most of all, he is human. Brutally, unflinchingly human. The story that unfolds, in a noir-esque detective story that has superhero elements, really allows the actor and the character to play out on screen how messed up they are while showing how heroic they can be. Tony is a guy who walks the line and the fun is seeing him toe it and step over to the angels, often with more blood and bruises than he needed if he was just a straight-up good guy (like the good Captain Rogers).

The story itself is a delight where it, basically, is a noir detective story. You have a guy who has it rough, some jackhole starts poking around in his area and hurts a friend so that guy gets in the game and starts uncovering the jackhole’s little web of danger and such all the while fighting his own personal demons. Only rather than heavies with brass knuckles, you have super soldiers who can melt things- a considerable threat for a guy ostensibly in a suit of near-indestructible armor, and your big action sequences aren’t just shoot-outs and running from tough guys but massive set pieces with all kinds of explosions and superhero moments and HOLY SHIT QUOTIENT.

There is a twist, which is actually in keeping with noir- the sucker punch that throws the detective off his game, but he rallies to overcome and I liked it. Loved it even. In this media saturated gotta-find-the-twists culture, I’m kind of amazed Marvel pulled it off.

What made the twist even better is you got heavy hitting actor Ben Kingsley, made to be this uber bad-ass, and charming bag of awesome RDJ in the same scene only Tony’s just got a gun and The Mandarin is Trevor Small Time Stage Actor Slattery and he makes Hunter S. Thompson look like a nun of sobriety. Two great actors bounce off each other and I swear Kingsley was having the time of his life with this role, as he should have because it was one of my favorite things.

Speaking of favorite things, let’s get to the murky bits. Namely, Pepper.

Much as I loved Pepper putting on the boots in this movie, the fact that RDJ had to fight to get her in the script shows. She really only takes over for some key action points and that’s about it.

Yes, she gets the great scene in the bedroom where we see just how fucked up Tony’s life has gotten thanks to going through a wormhole and nearly dying and how Not Cool he is with that. Yes, we get a pass on the Bechdel Test (even the 60 second version) because Pepper and Mia, Other Girl in the Movie, talk about personal aspirations and the plot and not necessarily the guys they wanna get with or are ostensibly already with. Yes, she kicked nine colors of ass when the chips were down.

But it all came across as very shoe-horned.

Shane Black is not incapable of writing good women. See Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang with Harmony as a riff on the Dame or Long Kiss Goodnight with the central bad-ass and complicated character Charly. However, something went wrong in the building of this film and Pepper feels like an add-on. A good add-on, a welcome one that is a pleasure to include, but unnecessary, which is a shame after seeing the vital and well-executed Maria Hill and Natasha Romanov of Avengers.

And Mia? Just… They really didn’t know what to do with her up until they shot her. The movie was already pretty long and I could tell what they were trying to do with her, but she didn’t have enough room and felt like she was holding onto the tail end of the plot for dear life.

Guy Pearce was a good villain. The hidden, biologically altered-on-purpose chessmaster to Tony’s in-your-face public persona of tech head. Jon Favreau had some good scenes, Don Cheadle was underused (again), but maybe they can give him a War Machine spin off because Rhodey needs to be in more things. And the kid they brought in was actually not that bad when he could have been one of “those” kid inclusions.

Iron Man 3 was great. Really good popcorn fun that I’m going to happily add to my DVD case one day because I like good fun. Just remember that it’s still a Boys Club film. Though a few of the boys tried to stumblingly let the girls do their thing and I’m desperate for any steps forward these days.

It's Mother's Day

Sun, 12 May 2013 11:41:24 -0400

Which is a bag of cats.

I have two moms. Not in a gay way, just the divorce and re-marry way.

Bio-mom I’m kind of looking forward to talking to since I haven’t called in a few months. It’ll be a chance to catch up, shoot the breeze, be adults if a bit tense on a few subjects.

Stepmom I’m not looking forward to seeing at all. Since she actually lives close to me, I’m putting in a physical appearance. This is mostly to ensure I don’t have to deal with catty sniping should I see that part of my family in the future. If I’m VERY lucky, she’ll be busy all day and I can just drop a card and some flowers and phone it in.

Both are fine. Because that’s life.

Happy Mother’s Day.

An Average Day in Domesticity

Sat, 11 May 2013 13:03:17 -0400

Me (via text): A vagina has appeared on our bathroom door.
My Lady: ??????
Me: I can't explain it any clearer. I get out of the shower and it's like the Virgin Mary decided to show her twat instead of her face.
My Lady: I'M TRYING TO RUN A SHOW HERE, WOMAN!
Me: Hang on, I'll take a picture.

I dreamed of JohnLock

Wed, 08 May 2013 09:55:33 -0400

Which is a shame really, because I’m not an active fan of it. I have nothing against it, nothing for it either- it’s just part of the fandom landscape to me. So, I don’t know why my subconscious supplied me with a dream that should have gone to a more deserving fan.

Especially one who could have put up with Sherlock’s crap. Seriously, by the end of the dream I was about to beat him with John.

I now have a chapter that I will forever point to as the point when I leveled up as a writer. Where...

Tue, 07 May 2013 00:21:08 -0400

I now have a chapter that I will forever point to as the point when I leveled up as a writer. Where I got a little closer to having a voice I knew and where I felt I was ready to share my ideas.

I wouldn’t have gotten there without fanfiction.

How about that?

Photo

Sun, 05 May 2013 19:16:09 -0400

rufftoon: katsallday: suicunesrider: baby-tooth-on-redbull: d...

Sun, 05 May 2013 18:54:00 -0400

rufftoon:

katsallday:

suicunesrider:

baby-tooth-on-redbull:

digitonicelectronic:

Sometimes I remember this is a thing that actually happened and I am glad

IT WAS A PHASE

their REACTION AHAH

Oh, my god! Someone did it!

YESSSS!

*cackle*

thefingerfuckingfemalefury: byleistrs: morrissarty: stupid-lem...

Sun, 05 May 2013 18:31:41 -0400

thefingerfuckingfemalefury:

byleistrs:

morrissarty:

stupid-lemon-eater:

#the set designer motto for this movie was when in doubt add more glitter

it’s funny because it’s true

#AND LO IN A CLOUD OF GLITTER AND SYNTHESIZERS HE DOTH APPEAR #DAVID FUCKING BOWIE

This wasn’t even scripted this is just what happens whenever David Bowie enters a room anywhere

The above is a scientific fact.

Oh, Dude. I snuck into you on a ticket for Man in the Iron Mask....

Sun, 05 May 2013 18:09:19 -0400

Oh, Dude. I snuck into you on a ticket for Man in the Iron Mask. Worth it.

feels-like-fire: ellevish: Disney Characters as Modern College...

Sun, 05 May 2013 17:47:04 -0400

feels-like-fire:

ellevish:

Disney Characters as Modern College Students by Rubén (hyung86 on dA)

SHRIEK

Oooo, preeeetty.

bijou1986: A Mom went to have dinner with her son who lives...

Sun, 05 May 2013 17:24:46 -0400

bijou1986:

A Mom went to have dinner with her son who lives with his roommate.
During the course of the meal, his mother couldn’t help but notice how handsome his roommate was. She had been suspicious about her sons sexuality but being a good mother she felt that he would let her know if and when the time was right but seeing the two together just made her more curious.

Over the course of the evening, while watching the interaction between the two she wondered even more if there was more here than meets the eye. Her son, sensing his mothers watchfully eye volunteered, “really Mom, I can tell what you’re thinking and you can just get it out of your mind, we are just roommates and nothing more”.

About a week later the roommate remarked, “ever since your mother was here the silver serving platter has been missing, do you think she took it?”

He responded, “Well I’m sure she didn’t but I will email her and ask just to be sure” he sat down and wrote:

Hey Mom
I’m not saying you did take the silver platter from the house and I am not saying you didn’t take it but the fact remains that it has been missing ever since you were here for dinner.
Love,
Your Son.

A couple days later he got a response from his mother:

Dear Son,
I am not saying that you do sleep with your roommate and I am not saying that you don’t sleep with him and you know I love you and could care less either way but the fact remains that if he was sleeping in his own bed he would have found the platter under his pillow.
When are the two of you coming for dinner?
Love,
Mom

Well played, mom, well played.

supermortalwhopotterlock: #and he never forgave #and he never...

Sun, 05 May 2013 17:02:43 -0400

supermortalwhopotterlock:

#and he never forgave #and he never forgot

*cackle*

We just showed a friend Eleven’s appearance. There was...

Sun, 05 May 2013 16:40:43 -0400

We just showed a friend Eleven’s appearance. There was much giggling through the post-Ten tears.

pocproblems: lesbianese: daniellemertina: mscoolcat: machista...

Sun, 05 May 2013 16:18:14 -0400

pocproblems:

lesbianese:

daniellemertina:

mscoolcat:

machistado:

thepoopqueen:

thisdayandaige:

il-tenore-regina:

I love this woman.

And this is why I have the up-most respect for her.

she’s like a really sweet supportive mom

Actually, people don’t give her enough credit. Instead, they assume she’s “stupid” because her costumes and makeup used to be pretty out there. She is so obsessed with education that her fans will show up to meet her just so they can impress her by showing their grades on their report cards or their diplomas or degrees. She makes a really big deal out of it too, especially when they understand how and why education is important for them personally and isn’t just a means to an end.

It’s kind of amazing that for some people, they managed to find enough resources such that their love of a celebrity inspired them to find alternate paths for themselves where our education system failed them. And yeah, that celebrity also performed “Stupid Hoe.”

I’d always liked Nicki’s music and badassery but the moment that made me really like her was after seeing the Ellen episode where she meets the British girls, Rosie and Sophia Grace, and she was so amazing. She offered to take them shopping for school supplies and told them to follow their musical dreams but to also stick with school. When she sang with them, she cleaned up the language of the song (they were 8 and 6, I think). I was blown away. She is so kind and gentle and graceful. I will always appreciate Nicki Minaj.

I love her so much. She’s beautiful. She’s smart. She’s kind. She’s talented. She’s bad ass. She’s perfect!

everyone who hates on Nicki Minaj can go straight to hell because she’s way more there for other women than almost any other female musician except for Beyonce.

I have so much love for her

Okay, Nicki Minaj. You won me over.

weatherall: ahandsomestark: geekquality: hydecodesigns: ihave...

Sun, 05 May 2013 15:56:12 -0400

weatherall:

ahandsomestark:

geekquality:

hydecodesigns:

ihavecake:

educatingcharlene:

pixystitches:

shorm:

raptorific:

Pros-and-cons of Sherlock and Elementary, rebloggable by request

This is a REALLY good list.

This is a really, really good list.

I really want to see Elementary, but not managed it yet because we don’t have Sky. :(

All of this is correct.

“On CBS”

Excellent list!

on CBS is legitimately my biggest complaint.

ON CBS.

*cackle*

Nicely done, Mr. T-Pain.

Sun, 05 May 2013 15:33:53 -0400

Nicely done, Mr. T-Pain.

themarysue: vaitranquillo: Guillaume...

Sun, 05 May 2013 15:11:43 -0400

themarysue:

vaitranquillo:

Guillaume Singelin

http://kibla.over-blog.com/kate-kane

Kate totally would have done MMA fights in the army. Or out of the army.

This art makes me blush and feel funny.

sifu-kisu: CLEAN YOUR KIDNEYS Years pass by and our kidneys are...

Sun, 05 May 2013 14:49:20 -0400

sifu-kisu:

CLEAN YOUR KIDNEYS

Years pass by and our kidneys are filtering the blood by removing salt, poison and any unwanted entering our body. With time, the salt accumulates and this needs to undergo cleaning treatments and how are we going to overcome this?

It is very easy, first take a bunch of parsley or Cilantro ( Coriander Leaves ) and wash it clean
Then cut it in small pieces and put it in a pot and pour clean water and boil it for ten minutes and let it cool down and then filter it and pour in a clean bottle and keep it inside refrigerator to cool.

Drink one glass daily and you will notice all salt and other accumulated poison coming out of your kidney by urination also you will be able to notice the difference which you never felt before.

Parsley (Cilantro) is known as best cleaning treatment for kidneys and it is natural!

PLEASE SHARE :) To SAVE this recipe, be sure to click SHARE so it will store on your personal page.

For more healthy recipes, tips, motivation and fun, join us here: Radiantly Beautiful with Crystal Weight Loss Support Group

My kidneys feel pretty wrecked at this point, so why not.

anindoorkitty: - John realizes his purpose. Why do I feel like...

Sun, 05 May 2013 14:27:09 -0400

anindoorkitty:

- John realizes his purpose.

Why do I feel like I’ve seen My Lady make John’s expression in the second gif? Often?

dr-napkin-face: David Tennant and horrible puns? I may just...

Sun, 05 May 2013 14:04:51 -0400

dr-napkin-face:

David Tennant and horrible puns? I may just swoon.