I love how the body structure and the decor of the larger bone fairy creates a nice area of concentration that leads the viewer’s eye towards the tooth fairy. This, aside from the obvious glow and design contrast, help direct the attention where needed and is a brilliant move by the artist.
I went to the artist’s website and they are the same one who made this:
Signing walkies for a deaf dog
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
After taking a spontaneous trip to the Johnson City AMC theater, something I rarely do because of the theater’s previously lackluster atmosphere, I discovered two things: The JC theater now features comfortable reclining chairs within the theaters, which was a pleasant surprise, and “Toy Story 4” may be one of the few “fourths” in a series to match the energy of its three other predecessors.
I stepped into the theater completely unaware of what to expect with low expectations for the fourth sequel of a series I have adored since my toddler years. I didn’t want to disappoint myself, a feeling we’ve all felt when watching the sequels to other childhood favorites, namely “Ice Age” and “Cars.”
I was delightfully surprised to see the plot take a different direction with Woody’s character. For the most part, I thought the plot of “Toy Story” would eventually fall flat in this fourth sequel. In a sense, the fourth movie combines the thematic aspects of the other three movies. Perhaps to some that seems repetitive and a cop out to inventing a new plot thread, but while we see a few familiar archetypes, we really get to see the peak of Woody’s inner dilemmas: Isolation, fear of being unwanted, waywardness, feeling he has no clear purpose, so in other words, depression.
These feelings manifest themselves through Woody’s actions and drives the plot. While his inner turmoil is finally expressed and resolved, there are other problematic qualities Woody possesses that nobody addresses with him.
Lately, Disney-Pixar has worked to include more progressive media representation by writing in empowered female characters, women of authority, queer couples (one of which two moms make a cameo in the first few scenes). In the last decade, Disney-Pixar has presented messages to kids that underlines socially important concepts. For “Frozen,” it was the sacred bond of sisterhood. For “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” it was a warning against toxic relationships and the empowerment of female autonomy.
“Toy Story 4” presents issues of Woody’s male authority, particularly in his blatant disregard for female authority and his insistence on talking over his female peers. These two flaws Woody embodies consistently reappears throughout the plot but never gets addressed.
If Disney-Pixar intends to create a positive message with female empowerment at its core, which this film clearly and proudly does throughout, there seems to be a missing link between female empowerment and male accountability. Without both, the film means to say Woody’s behavior is acceptable.
Though Woody has been the main star of the “Toy Story” series and a pivotal point for each plot, Woody’s character has been nothing but admirable in his sense of loyalty and his clear path of morality. Here, in the fourth sequel, Woody’s character has to overcome the issues he’s been facing since the first film. None of the characters address his override of authority against his female peers, all of who are leaders in their own right, and their experience clearly outranks Woody’s ignorance and naivety.
Though, I won’t just focus on the sins of man. In spirit of true feminism, I will uncover the double standard against men’s consent. One of the major external challenges of the plot was Gabby Gabby’s intention to forcibly steal Woody’s voice box to finally receive her choice child’s love and affection. Woody manages to avoid this from happening, but towards the climax of the film, Woody realizes he’s out of options. He loses his friend’s support and finds himself cornered in a dark room with four larger ventriloquist dummies blocking his path as Gabby Gabby manipulates Woody based on his insecurities to coerce Woody to consent in giving up his voice box.
Gabby Gabby’s plan is successful, but doing in so, reveals a much darker theme to the “Toy Story” series. Consent has become a major hot topic, not only in sexual interactions but in everyday relationships among people. Respect to a person’s autonomy and the autonomy of their bodies has been another human rights issue. In this film, Gabby Gabby physically takes something from within Woody, though it never gets addressed as a violation of Woody’s security.
Instead, the film provides the obvious plot justice when Gabby Gabby does not gain the affection of a child. She is immediately discarded, despite being physically “complete,” which further proves that changing one’s self for another person is not a pure form of love; physical insecurities should be challenged with bold self-love; and stealing something from another does not promise joy. None of these statements are made, but instead Gabby Gabby’s finds a happy ending. Woody does not receive his voice box back, does not criticize Gabby Gabby for her actions, nor does he explain the important of the above themes preferred when confronted with these issues. Again, no character is being held accountable for their actions.
In essence, while “Toy Story 4” impressed me with its design and caliber to stay ahead of audience expectations, by ignoring these social factors of gender equality and gender violence, Disney-Pixar falls short of delivering the important messages within this film. Not much can be done now, but in future, I should hope Disney-Pixar lives up to the pinnacle of equal representation and social cognizance it markets itself to be.
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
Despite what NPR’s critics are saying about this movie on their Pop Culture Hour podcast (which you should definitely check out), “Spider-Man: Far From Home” was a delight to see and the movie we needed following “Avengers: End Game.” This movie was filled with emotion, not only in terms of teenage romance, but for Peter Parker, who still grieves for Tony Stark.
After watching “End Game,” Stark’s funeral was the cue we needed to finalize Stark’s death. Robert Downey Jr. have been hinting at his own retirement, at least from Marvel, after having been the first Avengers movie to be released in 2008 with “Iron Man.” After two sequels of “Iron Man,” his showcase rivalry with Captain America in “Captain America: Civil War” several “Avengers” films and his role as mentor in “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” Stark has become one of the most integral characters in the Marvel universe. It was time he died, and it was time for the original Avengers team to move on in order to make way for the other superheroes within the Marvel universe, namely: the Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, Black Panther and Captain Marvel.
Following Stark’s death, while all of his friends and newfound family would be grieving, Spider-Man was the mentee to Stark’s legacy. Before Stark had a kid, for a moment I thought Spider-Man would be the son he never had in the same way that Stark would be the father figure in Peter Parker’s life. To be frank, Peter Parker lacks a father figure in his life. Now that he’s lost Stark, Peter Parker is emotionally vulnerable and desperate to fill Stark’s place. We see that most in his relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal’s character, Mysterio.
Mysterio is a seemingly new superhero. He gets the balance between the hero life and a normal life; he’s cool and empathetic, and a little funny too. He’s a quirky and relatable guy that seems qualified enough to fill the hole in Peter Parker’s life. In the midst of his grieving, Spider-Man doubts his ability to be the hero Stark wanted him to be. He doesn’t consider himself as one of the Avengers and references the other heroes within the universe as more qualified than the “local neighborhood Spider-Man.”
It becomes rather evident that Gyllenhaal’s character is just too good to be true, especially so soon after Stark’s death, and Mysterio becomes a manipulative person and the evil villain. His relationship with Peter Parker actually mimics an abusive relationship, one that bases itself on bias and trust, emotional manipulation, fake sympathy, and fake apologies. In the end, Spider-Man sees through Mysterio’s ruse and is able to grow more confident in himself as a hero.
Something else I loved was the political focus in this movie. “Far From Home” dropped a lot of great lines in reference to the media’s role in the public’s life: fake news, objective truth, and how a narrative can be spun based on the images released. Mysterio’s manifesto somehow became, “They’ll believe anything,” meaning the public will believe anything they see on TV.
Though this film doesn’t include an “Avengers-sized threat” to put people at the edges of their seats, I truly enjoyed “Far From Home.” This movie was laxer than Marvel’s previous films, despite its politics, and honestly depicted a 16-year-old superhero battling the emotional delicacy teenagers must navigate. It was also rather funny, and typically I think Marvel’s humor misplaces the seriousness of the movie in exchange for a cheap laugh. “Far From Home” did well in managing the audience’s reprieve from the extravagant showcase of the “Avengers” series to a well-balanced movie about a kid learning to grow up as a superhero.
just saw a flat-earther tweet “need me a thick girl with curves” is that allowed ?
Here’s Circle of Purity, an anti-magic Druid subclass devoted to cleansing “impure” magic and artifice from the world! It took a lot of inspiration from “Naturalize” type magic from Magic the Gathering. Feel free to leave me any criticism, comments, or suggestions! I’m going to try and get a new Wizard subclass out next week, so keep an eye out for that!
early to bed early to rise
burger king meal with burger king fries
Do you ever eat popcorn out of the palm of your own hand with such ardent desperation that you feel like both a wild horse and the gentle schoolgirl feeding it treats to gain its affection
this is the funniest thing i have ever read
Drugs are bad mkay
Unmute !
Pokemon idea: Giant strips of grass that move and act like snakes. Ground/Grass. Name them ENVELAWN and CONSTRICTURF.
this is such a good idea i
Love these but feel like names are wrong way round. envelop > constrict; lawn > turf
Artist: Maria Panfilova Title: Dragon and mouse “Dragons are lizards? My dragon is mammal :3″ I think they are friends =) Very nice…
