Watching: The Suicide Squad

Another fun movie night with my best friend last night. This time it was my choice and of course my excitement lead me to choosing ‘The Suicide Squad’. I knew the day before that this is what I wanted to watch and I’m very proud of my choice.

Looking at this poster, everything you need to know about this movie is right there. It was so much fun to watch. To my surprise, the same night my boyfriend texted me that he was watching this with his sister. I know he hasn’t seen any of the other movies related to this which is why I was shocked. This movie is definitely a stand alone so it didn’t matter. But, I was also excited cause I had already told my best friend I was going to watch this with her that night.

One thing this movie did was further increase my crush on Harley Quinn.

Harley’s growth is something I think everyone’s been talking about that’s seen the movie. She’s owned by no one and she saves herself and becomes more free in who she is as a person and I adore this for her! Every scene she was in was gold and watching her on the screen made me so happy. She’s witty and unpredictable and so strong and wild and free and one of the most amazing heroes in this film. I love her.

I now want a rat named Sebastian. This little guy I loved from the very beginning. He’s so adorable and has such a big personality. So many of the funniest and quirkiest moments in the film included him. I would die for Sebastian.

Rat catcher and Bloodsport had some of the most wholesome moments in the whole film. I wanted to give them both a hug so many times. I just adored them.

King shark a.k.a sharky boy or just sharky to me gave me so many laughs. I loved every moment he was on screen. He also caused some of the most gruesome deaths, but the balance he had as a character made me forgive him. I loved him too.

I thought at the beginning I wouldn’t care much about this character, but I did. His mom being everywhere was hilarious. Plus his power was so awesome looking. He was so fun to watch.

All in all, I absolutely had a blast watching the suicide squad. It’s a delightful film with dumb humor that was perfect for my heart. I’m definitely going to be rewatching in the future for the pure enjoyment of it.

THANK YOU ALL FOR READING! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below! 

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The Incredible Hulk: A Discussion

One of the few Marvel films I had seen previous to my start of this Marvel movie journey was The Incredible Hulk.

Again I was going to write this post without having rewatched the film and it just didn’t feel right to me. Even this film, the one that has no real bearing on the Marvel Universe and is widely ignored and even disliked felt worthy of a rewatch for me.

What I came to find out was I actually remembered a lot of this film. It was familiar in a way that even Iron Man had become much less so. And there was something even more peculiar, I realized that the child I once was when I first watched this really loved and enjoyed the film. I remember the feelings of being a much younger version of me watching this and thinking how cool it was and how sweet it was that a women was the key to tame this great green beat that was angered by everything else. I can see now that I’m older that it could be seen as a point of contention. Especially with the whole cave man sort of ‘I Angry’ ‘I Smash’ mentality Banner has when he is lost to The Hulk, but the kid in me saw something empowering in the thought that a woman could see the child in the man and calm him through gentleness and understanding while all the men would shoot at the big green guy expecting him not to get angry.

I know now that it can be degraded to a guy being distracted by a beautiful woman and that any sort of love can be taken out of the equation, but rewatching the film I don’t really agree. I think that anyone in a hard situation would want to lash out and be angry. Humans tend to do/say things out of anger that can and do make beasts of us, but the second you stop in your tracks and stop placing blame on another and speak calmly and rationally instead of escalating the situation the anger in the other disappears. But, another point to make is that I as a woman no matter what is happening, if one of my loved ones is getting hurt in some way I step in. I don’t care if the other person I’m protecting is a man or a woman. If I love you I want you to be safe (even if I am terrible at protecting myself).

Another important distinction to make is that this is in no way shape or form talking about abusive relationships. There is no excuse for that. There is no excuse for abusing a significant other physically or mentally. As far as the relationship in the movie goes Banner is shown to be protective of Betty and even as The Hulk he is gentle with her.

One of the other things I was surprised about was how much I remembered of Abomination and that final battle.

Abomination is grotesque. The contrast between him and the Hulk make him very memorable. The fight between them and in general the fights in this movie are ‘no holding back’ and ‘no fucks given’ kinda fights. They are wild and even barbaric. They illicit that kinda carnal destructive war cry kinda energy of a young kid. It’s not at all gory or even grossly brutal. It really is one of those kinda fights that the kid inside you cheers for. Which is also part of the criticisms of the film when The Hulk is the hulk he is no more then a cave man persona. Even the way he speaks is the same as what we typically associate with cave man language. Which triggers many to say that it makes the story lack depth.

However, I think that this movie was created for that purpose. To illicit that sort of innocent fight mentality that kids possess. It’s not meant to make the sort of commentary that the depth of character of superheroes like Iron Man and Captain America have. It’s for the inner child and sometimes stories like that are worth giving a watch too.

The Incredible Hulk may not be one of those films that gets praised for its depth, but it made the girl I once was smile. Some stories and even characters don’t have to be complicated. Sometimes they can just be fun to o watch.

Thanks for reading! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below.

-Till next time!

Fresh Ink: A Review

Fresh Ink by Many Authors

My Rating: 5 Stars!

Cover Rating: 5/10 it’s an ok cover. A bit generic. I think they could have done something really cool with graffiti art showcasing some really great art of people of all colors, shapes, and sizes. I think it was a missed opportunity.

Publisher: Random House Children’s

Publish Date: August 14th, 2018

Number of Pages: 208 pages

Received: Netgalley provided an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis:

“In partnership with We Need Diverse Books, thirteen of the most recognizable, diverse authors come together in this remarkable YA anthology featuring ten short stories, a graphic short story, and a one-act play from Walter Dean Myers never before in-print.

Careful–you are holding fresh ink. And not hot-off-the-press, still-drying-in-your-hands ink. Instead, you are holding twelve stories with endings that are still being written–whose next chapters are up to you.

Because these stories are meant to be read. And shared.

Thirteen of the most accomplished YA authors deliver a label-defying anthology that includes ten short stories, a graphic novel, and a one-act play. This collection will inspire you to break conventions, bend the rules, and color outside the lines. All you need is fresh ink.”

Musings:

Eraser Tattoo by Jason Reynolds

““I love you.” It slipped easily from his lips. Like breathing. Like usual.”

This was a sweet little story. I didn’t realize that eraser tattoos were a thing. It was a pretty little slice of life and I loved it. The writing of this little short story was beautiful. It really drew me in!

Meet Cute by Malinda Lo

“Tamia cocked her head at Nic. “Is gender-flipped Sulu gay too?””

This was another really cute little story about the art of subtle.. yet not so subtle communication. I thought it was cool to see the curiosity of meeting a prospective love and wonder if they were of the same sexuality as you on top of wondering if there is actually any interest in the first place. I also loved that this took place at a comic-con.

Don’t Pass Me By by Eric Gansworth

“He glanced down at my paper. “I see. Hubert. But you know, the assignment wasn’t a self-portrait.” “It was, if you’re white,” I said.”

This story is one of my favorites. I so enjoyed seeing race depicted in this way. A lot of thought went into this. I could see in my mind very clearly what this would have looked like as it played out. Very well-written.

Be Cool for Once by Aminah Mae Safi

“He pulled out a Chap Stick and swiped it across his lips. Like he’d decided to draw shining arrows to all of Shirin’s favorite parts.”

I loved this short story! Shirin and the way she thinks of the guy she’s been crushing on is exactly me. I really loved how her thoughts were written.. with that dramatic flavor of a girl in love. It all put a huge smile on my face.

Tags by Walter Dean Myers

“BIG EDDIE works hard at his tag, which is the letters spelling out smoke sitting on a bed of flames.”

This story was oddly powerful to me. It felt so real. Which is something because it was set in the afterlife. I liked the style of it, written like a play. It reminded me of the sad reality of gang violence. The lives that are lost and for what? It’s a culture of kill or be killed that should never have had to been a part of reality.

Why I Learned to Cook by Sara Farizan

““You don’t apologize for who you are. I’m an old lady now and perhaps that doesn’t mean much in the world we live in, but I exist and I shouldn’t have to be sorry for that. As a woman, you have to know that. Don’t ever apologize for who you are,””

Another super sweet little story. This one made my heart all happy. I loved seeing so much cultural influence in this story. The food and the places it all felt rooted in a experience totally different from my own and I loved that.

A Stranger at the Bochinche by Daniel José Older

“Gather, my children, I have a story.”

I feel like this story could have been made into a much longer one. It was packed with great description and full of adventure. I really liked it!

A Boy’s Duty by Sharon G. Flake

“Slaughtering pigs and wringing chicken necks did as much to chase me toward books as any teacher ever did.”

Again I could see this being a whole book. I really liked the character and I loved seeing how he dreamed. This was a really cool historical set short story!

One Voice: A Something in Between Story by Melissa de la Cruz

“I wanted everyone to see the truth—that even Stanford wasn’t free from this kind of hate.”

I loved this story. It made me feel like going out there and spreading my truth in such a beautiful way. It made me want to stand up and hold hands with people of all kinds and show that in my mind we are all valid, worthy, and wonderful people. Every day I see people of all kinds. The community I live in is so diverse and I think that if the diversity wasn’t there it would be colorless. I would feel empty from the lack of beauty. Hate is out there, but the more we choose to stand against it the more it weakens. That’s what I loved most about this story.

Paladin/Samurai by Gene Luen Yang, Illustrations by Thien Pham

“Aaand I’m Japanese.. hm, I wonder what a Japanese Paladin is called? Wait lemme think…That’s right we’re called Samurai!”

This was such a fun read. It made me laugh and it made me feel happy to see people standing up for what they believed in. It was super short, but I loved the drawings especially the fantasy parts!

Catch, Pull, Drive by Schuyler Bailar

“I used to dream of getting breast cancer.”

This was my favorite one. I can say wholeheartedly that this is the story that pulled at my heartstrings the most. It was so real and so full of the emotions of what it is to live life in the body of someone who you aren’t. That line above tore me up.. I love to hear stories from the trans community. To me they have a struggle that is one of the hardest because they are just trying to show themselves and the world who they are inside and be strong when there are people from all communities and walks of life standing against them. I have mad respect for the people of the trans community they have some of the toughest armor out there.

Super Human by Nicola Yoon

““I won’t hurt you,” he says. Which is ridiculous, because that is the whole point of her being here. He is going to hurt everyone.”

Wow… just wow. I don’t have the words for this one. It gave me chills. This was such a beautiful heartbreaking story. I wanted more.. so much more and yet it was perfect in its length. So.. so good!

Final Thoughts:

Our stories matter. All of our stories matter. I am so tired of living in a world where we look at each other and our difference is all we see. We all feel. We all love. We all are trapped in the same cells of bodies that we must walk with everyday. We all have issues. We all have dreams. Every book store. Every library. Every show. Every movie. Every piece of art. Should be filled with the experiences of all of us. With all of our passions. So many of us feel forgotten by the world. So many of us feel like we don’t matter. But we matter. We all matter. I am tired of living in a world where it’s all about just pure survival. I am tired of living in a world that for many compassion is forgotten. A lot of the time the weight of it all just makes me tired. Yet, still everyday I wake up and I try. I get so angry at some of the stories I read sometimes. Stories where people get so full of themselves that they lack basic respect for fellow human lives. Where they judge like their opinion is the only one that matters. Like how they were wronged is the only thing that matters. It makes me so angry and so so very sad. Sometimes I want to shake people and tell them to open their eyes.. and see.. look at these people.. look at how they dance.. how they laugh.. how they cry.. how they celebrate…how they kiss.. how they hug.. how they scream and shout for what they believe in.. and show them don’t you do the same? Don’t you laugh and cry and celebrate and work and keep taking every day step by step… don’t you see that them living their lives the way they want to does nothing to make your life any less. Reading Fresh Ink reminded me of that chip in my soul that angers for all the wrong. That just wants to see the world be a place where we could all be peaceful and happy. That even if I can’t do much on my own.. I can work to be compassionate. That maybe, if I could inspire one other person to do the same (all the time not just some of the time) that it would all be worth it. We need more anthologies like this. More inspiring works. More words that shake the people who read them and remind them of what they are fighting for.

Thanks for reading! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!

-Till next time!