April Geeky Faves

This is a new little end-of-the-month series I'm hoping to start - a collection of things I did over the past few weeks. I didn't realize it was May already! Crossing my fingers this will help me keep a better track of time. Here's some things I did in April. What did you do last month?
Read Me Before You - It may be obvious a little but I'm obsessed with the book, and a little more importantly, the movie coming out this summer. Finishing it actually helped me reach good ol' number five out of sixteen books for this year's goodreads challenge.

Went Bowling - For my sister's birthday we went bowling. We actually haven't done it in years. If a few pins were knocked down, we'd be pretty happy. My goal was to get at least one strike, and I did! But my poor sister, it was one gutterball after another. I'm only a little sorry to say (she's older and beats me at everything), I scored highest. Love ya sis!

Enjoyed Blue Skies - Here in Florida we seemed to skip winter and spring entirely this year and just move straight into summer. I definitely enjoyed some blue skies and sunshine.

Worshiped Agent Carter - With Captain America: Civil War yet to be released in the U.S. I found other ways to get excited. Around the Ol' Blog we celebrated with a blog challenge and artwork . And, of course, continued my worship of Agent Carter. I actually watched the whole first season of her spin-off (shall be making a post soon!) and can't wait to start the second after Civil War.

"Visited" a Museum: My sister performed in her first play this month - a five minute hilarious one act. But we got to the theater a little too early before her performance. With nothing to do inside the theater, we wondered to the museum across the street (which was closed) and spent some time in the garden.

Watched Shall We Dance: The original lovely Japanese film has been on my radar for...I don't know how long. I finally managed to watch it and loved every minute. A review of this film shall be posted in May too. It's a definite can't miss movie.

Plans for May: survive the Captain America marathon, see Captain America: Civil War three times (Challenge accepted MettelRay!), read The Martian, celebrate Twister's 20th anniversary, avoid Walking Dead filming spoilers, finish X-Files Recap (OMG, I'm so far behind), and try Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans.

Favorite Captain America Tumblr Posts

Tumblr is a pretty amazing epic blog space for everything and anything you're a fan (or hater) of. So this post doesn't even scratch the surface of Captain America awesomeness you can find on there from gif sets to artwork and meta.

I couldn't resist putting together just a smidgeon of my favorite posts. (Credit links are available where I could adequately find them!) Follow an awesome Steve Rogers / Captain America tumblr I should know about? Feel free to leave a link in the comments!

Celebration of Marvel's Peggy Carter and Steve Rogers

I love Peggy Carter and Steve Rogers. They might be one of, if not, my biggest OTP. With Captain American: Civil War coming soon, there's no way we can't celebrate this amazing realtionship. It's too complex and touching for words.

From gifs to illustrations, here is some incredibly heartfelt artwork of the life they shared in the films (and could've shared beyond them). Hope you enjoy and that I don't break your feels!

Captain America: Civil War Blog Challenge

You're facing an epic battle against five extraordinary fictional opponents - all with superhero, magical, or supreme physical powers. You have your pick of partners-in-crime (justice, vengeance, etc.) to stand by your side and help you win. Who's on your team?

Since Civil War is rapidly approaching, I thought it'd be fun to do a related blog challenge. Pick any five fictional characters you would want on your team. They can be from any book, movie, tv show or comic - doesn't have to be from the Marvel universe. What would they bring to the team and how would you lead them to victory? Be as creative as you would like!

Below are my personal picks! If you want to take part in this challenge, feel free to make a post of your own (and send me a link) or comment! I'd love to read your picks!

Captain America
Sure, he has the body proportions of a Dorito. But nobody can really argue that he is one hell of a leader. He shows tact and diplomacy when voicing his opinion. People, superhuman or not, aren't perfect, and that's what keeps him human and grounded. He'd be a great voice of reason, fighter, and always has his friend's backs. Did I mention I was Team Cap all the way?

Ginny Weasley
Movie!Ginny is pretty cool, but Book!Ginny is 100x more complex. Next to Harry Potter, she suffered pretty heftily from Tom Riddle's destruction and managed to persevere almost unscathed. She survived the Dark Lord possessing her for a whole school term! That shows some insane resilience. She's outspoken and a capable warrior in battle and Quidditch. Ginny all the way!

Trinity
Let's just forget about her romance to Neo and her silly fate in The Matrix series. Trinity is awesome. The first movie opens up with her kicking butt all on her own. She proves to work well on a team and on her own. A computer hacker, skilled martial artist and fighter, weapons specialist, and can slow down time to kick ass and take names. Sign her up to my team!

Belle
She's a little bit of an out-there choice, but am I gonna need someone who is good at researching and thinking outside the box? Who knows! Belle (Once Upon A Time version) knows how to dig deep to find the answer. Trinity can handle any and all computer hacking while Belle looks through any kind of print archive, books, maps - you name it. She's more than the idealist adventurer people peg her to be and is totally capable of handling herself against mean beasts.

Poe Dameron
Poe is a decorated X-Wing pilot and rebel fighter. He's one of Leia's most trusted operatives. He was raised by his rebel-fighting parents to defeat the dark side. It's great to have some man and woman power on the ground, but the open skies need to be covered too. How awesome would it be to see a starfighter soar overhead in victory? Go team go!

10 Times Women Ruled The Box Office

Audiences and critics alike have been clamoring with more women-centric casts in movies. It's not that casts with a superior male cast are in the wrong. Their films have done well for the past 100 years of cinema. But there simply not just one type of hero's journey people want to see all the time.

From the Sony hack emails to the constant fight by industry insiders to get women in an equal position of power, it's not a secret that Hollywood struggles putting women in diverse movies and roles.

Since the beginning of film-making, women like men have proven their worth not only in money but versatility. From princesses to warriors, and in genres from comedies to action, leading women have racked in millions to almost billions of dollars in ticket sales.

Hollywood has plenty of talented actresses, directors, and writers "at their disposal". The issue isn't that they aren't available or that audiences don't want to see them or they aren't critically acclaimed. The big movie studios just don't think that women can pull in the box office numbers.

Here's the thing: They do.Countless films with complex female leads have been successful in terms of pleasing moviegoers, critics, and making good bucks. Taking a closer look at the numbers, here are ten examples when women ruled the box office.

Demolition (2016) can't fix its own foundation

Photo Credit: Demolition / Fox Searchlight Pictures

Workaholic Davis Mitchell (Jake Gyllenhaal) struggles to express his grief after his wife dies from a tremendous car accident. Unlike his in-laws, or his own parents, even co-workers, Mitchell just can't connect with his loss. Suppressing his pain seems to be the immediate answer. He throws himself into work and then is caught up in a friendship with a customer service agent Karen (Naomi Watts) he started writing letters to when the vending machine at the hospital didn't work.

In 2014 director Jean-Marc Vallée's exquisitely adapted author Cheryl Strayed's Wild to explore the weight of her mother's death as she hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. Just two years later with a similar premise, Demolition is simply a weaker version of its predecessor.

Vallée's second take on bereavement focuses on a protagonist realizing the cage he felt trapped by in his marriage - almost like he wouldn't realize how much his life was in shambles until she was gone.

Mitchell and Karen's connection breaks open up an honesty about why he doesn't handle his spouse's death like the people around him. Did he really love her, or did his life just fall into place without conviction on his end? Nuisances he didn't pay attention to like a leaking refrigerator slowly explodes into him taking down entire houses. It's a subtle exploration of his own psyche to take life apart and put it back together.

However, Mitchell's escapades resonate from shock or denial at first. Weirdly, as Mitchell blasts and bulldozes his way forward, sympathy for him loses its steam. Julia simply doesn't have any layers to her as his wife - the center of his turmoil. She is merely a ghostly backdrop, and eventually, becomes one big cliche. Halfway through the film, knocking down everything in his path becomes repetitive rather than having something profound to say.

To his credit, Vallée knows how to design an incredible atmosphere. He splendidly uses music to explore Mitchell's gradually intense memories he can't let go of. Cinematography and editing by Yves Bélanger and Jay M. Glen, respectively, is vivid and polished. All three make the film extraordinarily smooth. And, Jake Gyllenhaal delivers another memorable performance. So does other established cast like Chris Cooper, Naomi Watts, and the blazing introduction of Judah Lewis. However, for all the emotional and physical dis-assembly Mitchell undergoes, the film has glaring cracks in the foundation that can't be fixed.

Rating: ★☆☆

Have you seen Demolition? What are your thoughts?

Good Ol' Patriotic Artwork of Marvel's Captain America

Courageous, diplomatic, and a team leader, Captain America is one of the best superheroes around. It's just as well that he would garner amazing artwork from around the web from artists and fans around the world. I browsed as much of the internet as possible searching for creative interpretations of Marvel's hero. Here is some incredibly patriotic artwork of the freedom fighter Steve Rogers in all his good ol' USA glory. Hope you enjoy!

The Walking Dead S6x16 Last Day On Earth

Before we dive into the massive season finale, I just wanted to take a personal moment to thank everyone who reads these recaps. We survived season six! You survived my recaps! I survived writing these every week. This is my first time completing a full season of recaps. Congratulations all around! There's no going back now. In the same way that Oprah loves bread. NEGAN. IS. HERE.

Below includes spoilers of the series so far. You've been warned but hope you enjoy!

Reasons I'm Excited for Captain America Civil War

Captain America: Civil War hits theaters in less than a month! Ya'll excited? Since he is my favorite Avenger, and overall superhero next to Batman, yes, I am!

This place will be in full red, white, and blue swing throughout April - you've been warned!

There are so many reasons why I can't wait for this epic showdown between Tony and Steve to go down. Here are just a few. Let's do this!

The Walking Dead S6x15 East

Photo Credit: The Walking Dead / Gene Page

After barely catching a breath back at Alexandria, two crucial members of the community decided to leave: Daryl races out to trail Dwight in revenge for Denises' death, and Carol who is unable to stay with Team Family. Jettisoning off into danger, the safe zone is divided. Below includes spoilers of the series so far. You've been warned but hope you enjoy!

Allegiant (2016)

Imperfect human nature resorts to chaos. Chicago's remaining leaders Evelyn (Naomi Watts) and Johanna (Octavia Spencer) wage war to protect the remaining population's best interests left behind by Jeanine's violent ruling. Tris and her co. venture outside their city's barricades and discover the truth behind the faction system: the Bureau of Genetic Welfare uses pure test subjects like Tris to correct human weaknesses and fortify a perfect genetic disposition. All is not what it seems in this "safe haven".

The next leg of the Divergent franchise journey plants us further way from the prequels than anyone could've imagined. Unlike the first two series where Tris was challenged to find out what it means to be Divergent and how it's a blessing, here she simply lacks drive. More incited wars don't outrage her. A new nemesis's dubious priorities fail to illicit alarm. She's more inviting to settling down outside of Chicago without real motivation to do so. Tris has suffered and sacrificed in the face of her city's adversity. Yet in her own biggest hour of need, she surprisingly isn't passionately engaged to the outside world or its lasting ramifications. Shailene Woodley doesn't do a bad job, but she is capable of giving a deeper performance. Considering the premise hinders on her to look beyond what society expects, the film's fault is Tris not conquering anything memorable.

While Tris isn't the starring player in this third installment, her counterparts are. Four is the one responsible for all the action and emotional turmoil. In recognizing his home falling apart at the seams and knowing instinctively the Bureau is not what it seems, he goes on his own quest without Tris (but for her) and it's still interesting. Theo James has natural charisma and turns a typical muscle head/love interest into a vulnerable and bad-ass male lead.

In addition to Four's solo mission, family, friends, and rivals gain more layers too. Though Tris isn't a force of nature like she was in the past, her friends have room to seek redemption, deepen friendships, or lead a revolution even if it's not the best choice.

Allegiant isn't all bad. Even in favoring the films much more than the books, major plot threads were mashed together with successful pacing. The script may not satisfy book loyalists. But I was surprised by how much of they original material was kept in tact. The film seamlessly splits between two main characters and locations, which keeps the story refreshing. Like its predecessors, the production design remains inventive. Utilizing special effects to tie the futuristic Chicago to its deserted surroundings, the film is still eye-catching.

As much as I liked Allegiant, it does suffer the same fate of many young adult first-parters. One book provides enough material for one adaptation. But the studios are obsessed with making a cash grab and split a book into two parts. Like The Hunger Games' Mockingjay, they want to lure audiences to wait for the "good or better stuff".  It would be best if studios utilized all of what a book offers and throw it full force into one worthy epic conclusion. Ultimately, we have one more movie to go. Ascendant is completely unknown yet exciting territory. Hopefully the series rises victoriously over the finishing line, not limping across it.

Rating: ★1/2☆

The Walking Dead S6X14 Twice as Far

Photo Credit: The Walking Dead / Gene Page

We're back at home in Alexandria, but there's really nothing to do but try to settle in. Feeling safe behind the walls makes Team Family antsy. A war coming their way is not enough. So let's go further, beyond the walls, twice as far as we've ever gone before just to survive. Below includes spoilers of the series so far. You've been warned but hope you enjoy!

5 Signs Your Favorite Character Might Die

From Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Pretty Little Liars to Lost and True Blood, a character's death is something all fans have experienced.

Episode after episode we tune into where our favorite hero or baddie is headed next, or we're interested in an extra floating around in the background. Our love and curiosity beckon us to ask: What will become of them?

Unfortunately, most of the time it's an inevitable death. One day a television show writer is playing Pin-A-Plot on a Character. An intriguing anti-hero or conflicted sidekick or mysterious henchman faces something more terrifying than the True Death, a machete, or a stray bullet: it's the stroke of a pen or a tapping of the keyboard. Through the power of Lady UnLuck and the writers' trying to drive us crazy, someone we love/love-to-hate has gotta say good-bye, au revoir, adiós, sayonara!

To save geeks some heartbreak, here are five signs our favorite characters might die. 

1. They Have an Opinion
A conflict arises. The good guys or baddies deliberate what to do next. Our favorite character suddenly has a minimal vote and gives an opinion. It lasts for more than one line of dialogue, gradually moves into logic reasoning and pleading for their voice to be heard. Oh my gosh, we realize: he or she walks, talks, is actually a human being and not an ignored extra. Well, they might as well not have spoken at all. They're not disposable but not immortal either. As they ride off into the sunset, the writers usually just wrote off their amazing storytelling potential.

2. They are Given a Monologue
Every once in a while our chosen favorite interacts with a main cast member. It may be to swap a joke or two. Until they suddenly have a monolog. We learn about how they were raised and if they were a single child, or how to load a weapon (before said character is hit with a 'stray' bullet'). For five minutes they may actually have a human-to-human connection with someone; we start shipping and thinking of meta, and is that the sound of canon? Next thing we know, all hell breaks loose - the bad guys invade the good guy's territories. Our favorite gets stranded in the wild to be pigeonholed into their demise. That monolog sends our feels into a tizzy and makes us wonder what could've been.

3. They Want to Contribute
The story is heading into a dark zone. Characters are threatened by outside forces or their own personal inner demons. A light's gotta come through their bleak future somehow. Enter our character, and he or she wants to contribute - they want to be a respite from emotional turmoil and create positivity in the collective miserable whole. ADIOS, happy helper. Thanks for your kindness and generosity, but no thanks - sadly, you're not gonna be around long enough to see how much you had an impact on your friend's journeys.

4. Their role is actually reduced
Very few and rare reasons call for a character's involvement to suddenly lessen. Some reasons include an actress is pregnant or a personal emergency for the actor arises. But also, there is just a plain and simple truth that the writers or actors lose interest. A character pops up time and time again. We may even know a thing or two about their actual personal history. But suddenly they'll re-emerge in a flash and do one or a combination of the things above. Try not to get too attached; the writers could just be setting us up for a dose of reality - nobody is safe.

5. Foreshadowing comes a knockin'
So our peeps are hanging out with the main crew. They speak their minds. They've had monologs. Their own arcs progress and they contribute to the progression of other arcs. Then we're watching an episode, and flashbacks are a central part of their story. It's like a whole episode is just for them.OUR DREAM COME TRUE. Then, we notice all the little details we've cataloged over the years coming back at full force. It's almost like a visual obituary of their time on the show, how the character's guilty conscience is trying to teach a lesson of reflection or change. Like a redeemed jerk or a good guy treading to the dark side (they have cookies after all). It's called foreshadowing. The pavement of their arc is gonna end at the edge of a cliff and the only thing we'll have left is Memory Lane. Good-bye awesome person. We love you.

*sobs wildly into the void where my beloved favorite characters have died*
The list is far too long.

Obvious Child (2014)

Photo Credit: Obvious Child / A24

An unapologetic comedian Donna Stern airing her personal obstacles in joke-form - everything from drunkenness, breaking up with her boyfriend, her unplanned pregnancy, and subsequent abortion.

In the leading role, Jenny Slate is entirely natural in giving a beautiful and unadulterated portrayal. She owns the show by exuding such a raw vulnerability with both comedy and when her character is in a true crisis. It's one of my favorite performances in recent history.

Matched with Jake Lacey as her more composed and quieted counterpart, their relationship is an oddity in the romantic genre. Their companionship takes their one night stand and gradually grows into an unexpected crossroads. They both have great charm and wonderfully easygoing chemistry.

The relevant debate on abortion, pro-life, and pro-choice aren't funny nor does the film make Stern's circumstances out to be humorous, though Slate is downright hilarious. The script and story aren't necessarily new, but the film is funny, thoughtful, and poignant while touching on a widely debated issue.

Not everyone will agree on Stern's choice, but many women will connect with her unplanned pregnancy and the choices afterward as well as couples and young adults. The story is approached in a personal, realistic, and unaffected way that makes the film memorable and light-hearted enough to be considered a comedy more so than a drama. In a very impressive feat, director and writer Gillian Robespierre successfully creates a much raunchier, slightly mature Juno for the 20-something crowd.

Rating: ★★☆
Have you seen Obvious Child? What are your thoughts?

The Walking Dead S6x13 The Same Boat

Photo Credit: The Walking Dead / Gene Page

Rick's group descended into murder territory with last week's No Way Out. After successfully wiping out Negan's compound, or one aspect of it, the group's ready to get some final answers out of one last survivor. Then, Carol and Maggie were kidnapped by more Negans. Good guys or bad guys, walking dead or alive - we're all in the same boat. Below includes spoilers of the series so far. You've been warned but hope you enjoy!

The Fandom Struggle is Real with Divergent

Since the epic finale of Harry Potter and Twilight, several young adult franchises tried to compete against the next-best phenomenon The Hunger Games. The list of franchises failing to get beyond a first installment is insane: Beautiful Creatures, The Golden Compass, The Mortal Instruments, Vampire Academy, Ender's Game, The Host, The Giver - to name a few.

A lack of interest by movie goers matched with negative reviews by critics is what has killed these potential series. Except for Divergent - the young adult series authored by Veronica Roth. Successfully making its way into a third installment despite less than favorable reviews is a major feat. Though it's not a universal favorite between reviewers and fans, and reached the same phenomenon level as Hunger Games or Potter, it's survived somehow.

I, for one, love the Divergent series. With the three-quel on its way to theaters, I realized how much my fandom for the series is quite ambivalent; a mixed bag of feelings towards the books and their adaptations.

The Walking Dead S6X12 Not Tomorrow Yet

Photo Credit: The Walking Dead / Gene Page

The Walking Dead is inching its way towards the sixth season finale. We're going come hell and high water - more specifically coming face to face with Negan and his compound. Desperate to make a deal to kill the cult leader in exchange for food, Rick and Alexandria lead a mission against their newest enemies.

My thoughts are behind the cut. Warning that gifs in this post contain a graphic nature and spoilers.

Awful Movies I Watched for a Celebrity Crush

When we love a celebrity, we put ourselves through real endurance tests. Us fangirls (or boys) go through a few stages. We tumblr, binge on every film, tv shows, interview, and special event he or she has ever been apart of, gif every youtube video or movie our crush has ever made their glorious presence.

Which means in our pursuit of trailing hotness, we have sat through some real duds; some stinkers that no abundance of reasoning or bad reviews convinced us not to watch the thing. To watch or not to watch is not even a question that comes across our minds. We live to watch all the things. We will sit through the great and the downright horrible.

Script, character development, and wasting our time be damned - we have to see our faves with puppies, or wearing suits / period clothing / grandpa sweaters / taking care of babies / dating so we can vicariously live through the other character / attend weddings and imagine ourselves as the bride/groom / kicking ass and taking names in tight superhero outfits and so much more.

Like any fangirl I've had some favorite eye candy and survived some real flops. Here are 15 that make me question my devotion and praise my perseverance.

The Walking Dead S6x11 Knots Untie

Photo Credit: The Walking Dead / Gene Page

Last week The Walking Dead took a bizarre turn of events. The show got all Dukes of Hazaard and romantic on us. It brought to life fan's long awaiting ship of Rick and Michonne, and made the return of ~sassy Daryl~. A new threat by the name of Jesus is on Alexandria's territory now in Knot's Untie. Below includes spoilers of the series so far. You've been warned but hope you enjoy!

Brooklyn (2015) sets up camp in your heart

Photo Credit: Brooklyn / Fox Searchlight Pictures

Brooklyn sets itself apart by bringing a focus to immigration with an uplifting coming-of-age journey. Life is moving too fast and not fast enough for Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan) whose gifted with the opportunity to migrate to the United States from her small Ireland town. Leaving her mother and sister behind to forge a new life across the pond, she tries to ward off homesickness while charting a difference course with a charming acquaintance Tony (Emery Cohen).

Finding kindness from strangers, love and her own maturity as a young woman, Lacy's story is about homesickness and coming into one's own. As a booming city and skyscrapers replace cobbled streets and small-town businesses, she acclimates to her surroundings and acquaintances. The story is wonderfully remarkable in how delicate and endearing her tale explores as immigration in the 1950s was no easy feat. The film is a touching love letter for those young hopeful settlers who anguished and dreamt of prosperous horizons in America, and braved leaving family behind in order to start somewhere else.

Two key players in making the film come to life are the Saorise Ronan and Emery Cohen. Both as individuals and a couple they bring an old-fashioned and much-missed romance between young lovers back to life. Ronan, who was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress, brings out a splendid display of a modesty and apprehension as Lacey realizes how her heart lingers back home. As she discovers more about the world around her and herself, she grows mended sense of self. Cohen as Tony puts forward one of the most charming performances as a leading male. He's beautifully naive and kind. His spirited Italian nature matches well to Ronan's hearty warmth, as her confidence expands.

Though their romance might be the centerpiece, Brooklyn also offers a strong variety of women working, finding marriage, and making friends. Staying at a boarding house with roommates much more firm or outspoken than herself, Lacey finds a stable community around her in lieu of separating from her mother and sister. The supporting cast offers plenty of support to Ronan's Lacey as well as humor and comfort: Father Flood (Jim Broadbent), Madge Kehoe (Julie Waters), a firm boss Miss Fortini (Jessica Paré), and giddy husband-hunting roommates Patty McGuire and Diana Montini (Emily Bett Rickards and Eve Macklin), and a plausible companion Jim Farrell (Domnhall Gleeson)

Contrasting typical Oscar-bait films, Brooklyn isn't bogged down with being dramatic or setting a political tone of how our country is a melting pot of cultures. Instead, the film is wonderfully bold and vibrant, almost like a dream. Every scene is an emotional and visual delight, even if it gives you tears of joy and sadness or the rich, colorful production of her surroundings. Brooklyn transports us back to another era of the world as well as film-making.

As much as the film is about being homesick, it's also about having the patience and perseverance of having a new place to call home. Lacey is connected to people and places from both sides of the pond. Faced with the conformity of her former homestead or possibilities of modern opportunities, she struggles to decide where her heart truly lies. It can be two places at the same time but deciding which one to stay with is the ultimate clash. How her heart tugs her courage in another direction makes Brooklyn so delightful and refreshing. It's set-up camp in my heart forever.

Rating: ★★★

Have you seen Brooklyn? What are your thoughts?