trouble seldom sees what she leaves behind
27 Aug 2025 02:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
musesfoolI have had this happen repeatedly recently, and then instead of just going on with my work easily, I have to email back and ask for a version in a program that I can edit. (If I don't need to edit, I will sometimes just print it as a PDF so I can attach and send it to people, but that is still an extra step I have to take because someone else couldn't put their work in a work-appropriate format.)
Personally, I get not wanting to share a linked document - I do it but I kind of hate other people in my documents because of version control issues (...or maybe just control issues? đŹđŹđŹ) - but anything is better than a useless JPEG pasted into the body of an email when what I ASKED FOR was a list of attendees for a meeting I may need to sort, or a purchase requisition that I will need to update.
As a related item, stop with the QR codes! Our HR department sends emails about training opportunities or other events and is like, "Use the QR code to register!" Like, how about no? And certainly not when it's an event to which we are inviting board members, some of whom are LITERALLY in their 90s and not tech-savvy. What is wrong with a nice LINK to a FORM on a regular WEBBED SITE?
I guess I am feeling very Abe Simpson yells at clouds today, but come on. These are not things that make work easier! (Well, maybe it's easier for the people who do this, but then they have to deal with my annoying follow up emails, so is it really easier for them???)
In other news, my younger nephew got a promotion that required him to move to California in a hurry, so he flew out last night. I will miss him! Who will I call now when I need a tall person to do things in my apartment??? (Just kidding! It's a great opportunity for him, and he is some kind of regional manager now with a region that includes Hawaii, so my sister and I are already like, "let us plan a trip to visit him IN HAWAII!" [note: I will likely never be able to afford a trip to Hawaii, but a girl can dream.])
*
PSA: The "Meta" thread about the subreddit's heavy-handed moderation tactics
27 Aug 2025 05:43 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
reddittrackers_feedThe post many of you may notice is gone now was removed by /u/AutoModerator - and not by our hand, out of spite or censorship.
This was already done once, early on, when a report threshold was met. I reapproved the post because I was hopeful that SOME solutions would come out of it.
Instead, it was just a bunch of narcissistic, entitled ranting and beligerant name-calling.
The threshold was THEN met again, total reports for that post are now 8.
Due to the second /u/AutoModerator removal threshold being met, I will not reapprove it. That post was going nowhere constructive, and it was basically OP talking shit to anyone who disagreed.
His downvotes speak for themselves; you can go check out his double-digit downvotes in the comments if you wish here and the harassment and toxicity he was swimming in like a cool pool on a hot day.
We allow (and encourage) constructive criticism, and had this post provided any solutions or guidelines to improve our moderation tactics we would have been happy to entertain the conversation and even change our policies if required.
Iâve learned a lot just in self-reflection and other usersâ thoughts amidst his tirade. Myself and /u/OHAITHARU have been, and will continue to be, discussing paths forward - but just to be clear, here are a few facts that got lost:
This entire month, bans have not been issued for breaking rule #1 or #2 (invite begging/requests), and users have been admonished and simply added to a watch list that gives us a chance to see their posts in our mod queue. This does not prevent their posts at all - merely shows us them for auditing.
Rule #2 has been discussed in the last sticky post I made. We cannot facilitate finding copyrighted content in any way. Other subs may risk this sort of thing, but we donât want to. This is unanimous amongst the mod team and not up for discussion. There are certain niche posts that we do allow - we do this to try and help people, not because itâs something users are entitled to, and citing âoh but they have this post allowedâ is an excuse that will fall on deaf ears.
Finally, the biggest thing that has spawned moderation (in the sense of removal of posts/comments) is toxic behavior. The meta post made was an absolute dumpster fire, and we tried to coax a constructive discussion about a solution, but the individual would rather harass, argue, belittle, and generally spread toxicity.
To put it another way, we may not be perfect. We are always open to discussing things via modmail or constructive and civil posts.
The cherry-picking of half a dozen posts that were removed out of the well over 300 posts that have been removed thus far this month is disingenuous (this is my just MY, opinion).
Iâve spoken directly with tracker staff, both from the cabal and mid-tier, and they have nothing but good things to say about the direction the sub has been heading over the last few months. Some even claim that it was unbearable before, and now they feel as though they would consider posting here if necessary.
On another note, weâre very close to revamping the entire wiki so that new users donât have to post simple and obvious (to the initiated) questions. We do more than just sit here and click âspamâ and âremove postâ - and I get that itâs not readily evident to everyone, but going on assumptions and attacking people on a personal level is not the way to go about change.
Thatâs all for now. Feel free to comment if youâd like, but please keep it civil, as Iâm already fed up with the toxicity weâve experienced over the last 48 hours from that poster.
Thank you all for the support and understanding during this situation.
Original Thread, feel free to check out the downvotes on comments
[link] [comments]
Exchanges and things
27 Aug 2025 11:25 amsnickfic![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
ficinabox," I said, and then promptly wrote most of a letter. I now have a request I can match to and spent the morning making a list of other requests that I could swap for. I've submitted a swap request, maximum two swaps of 2k each, but there's time to change my mind before swaps close.- The Kinktober prompts are out. I have managed to write like one kinktober fic ever, plus October is the WORST month for this when I'm also working on FIAB and Yuletide treats and watching all the horror movies, and yet. You know what ship I want all the kinks for, all the time? It's Gallaghercest. I've made a list of all the kinks from this year that I think would be the most fun for them, and I think maybe I will try to post... one a week? That seems like something I could do.
- Speaking of the Gallaghers, I have almost 7k of reunion... vignettes? At this point there are enough of them that maybe it's just a story, lol. I keep pecking away, and words keep happening.
Deathstalker remake trailer unleashes the last great Warrior King
27 Aug 2025 06:06 pmjoblo_feedBack in 1983, legendary producer Roger Corman brought the world a sword and sorcery film with an awesome title: Deathstalker. It was so successful, it paved the way for three sequels: Deathstalker II: Duel of the Titans (1987), Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell (1988), and Deathstalker IV: Match of the Titans (1991). The franchise went dormant for more than thirty years, but last year we learned that itâs being revived by filmmaker Steven Kostanski â whose previous credits include Manborg, Fatherâs Day, The Void, Leprechaun Returns, Psycho Goreman, Frankie Freako, and episodes of the short-lived Day of the Dead TV series. Kostanski is writing and directing a Deathstalker remake that has Daniel Bernhardt (John Wick) playing the title character⌠and now the trailer has dropped online! You can watch it in the embed above.
Shout! Studios will be giving the film a theatrical release in the United States on October 10th, while Raven Banner does the same in Canada.
Hereâs what the Deathstalker remake is about: The Kingdom of Abraxeon is under siege from The Dreadites, a mysterious horde of warriors, whose sudden appearance is rumored to foretell the return of Nekromemnon, an ancient sorcerer long thought dead. Such times of chaos are times of fortune for men like Deathstalker who, having broken ties with all guilds and banners, now ekes an existence from the spoils recovered in the wake of Dreadite attacks. Our story begins when Deathstalker unknowingly recovers an enchanted amulet from a corpse-ridden battlefield, and finds himself cursed by an arcane magick. Now pursued by a monstrous clan of assassins at the behest of the Dreadite scourge, Deathstalker is forced into a perilous quest to reverse the curse and rid the realm of evil. Death is just the beginning⌠of great adventure!
Christina Orjalo (Murdoch Mysteries) stars alongside Bernhardt as Brisbayne, who sets off on a journey to rid the magic amulet of its powers with Deathstalker. Nina Bergman (Hell Hath No Fury) also stars as Grendul, âa confident, tough leader of the Abraxeon Thieves Guild who has a history with Deathstalker.â Plus, the one and only Patton Oswalt will be voicing one of the characters, so keep an ear open!
In addition to this film, thereâs also going to be a Deathstalker comic book series from Vault Comics. Kostanski is on the comicâs creative team with writer Tim Seeley, artist Jim Terry, and Slash of Guns Nâ Roses. Slash has also collaborated with composer Bear McCreary and Deathstalker II composer Chuck Cirino to come up with the new filmâs theme song.
The Deathstalker remake is coming our way from Hangar 18 Media. Pasha Patriki, Michael Pazst, Andrew Thomas Hunt and James Fler are producing the film, with Slash listed as one of the executive producers.
What did you think of the Deathstalker remake trailer? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
The post Deathstalker remake trailer unleashes the last great Warrior King appeared first on JoBlo.
joblo_feedCraft services will need more bananas on the rider when production for Season 2 of Vince Vaughn’s dark comedy series Bad Monkey begins because John Malkovich (In the Line of Fire, Opus, Con Air) is joining the cast. Malkovich joins Bad Monkey as Spencer, the head of a prominent South Florida criminal organization, and a series regular.
The first season of Bad Monkey is based on Carl Hiaasen’s New York Times bestselling novel, while the second is an original story.
Here’s the official description for Hiassen’s novel:
Andrew Yancy -late of the Miami Police and soon-to-be-late of the Monroe County sheriff’s office â has a human arm in his freezer. There’s a logical explanation for that, but not for how and why it parted from its shadowy owner. Yancy thinks the boating-accident/shark-luncheon explanation is full of holes, and if he can prove murder, the sheriff might rescue him from his grisly Health Inspector gig.
But first -this being Hiaasen country- Yancy must negotiate an obstacle course of wildly unpredictable events with a crew of even more wildly unpredictable characters, including his just-ex lover, a hot-blooded fugitive from Kansas; the twitchy widow of the frozen arm; two avariciously optimistic real-estate speculators; the Bahamian voodoo witch known as the Dragon Queen, whose suitors are blinded unto death by her peculiar charms; Yancy’s new true love, a kinky coroner; and the eponymous bad monkey-who just may be one of Carl Hiaasen’s greatest characters.
Vince Vaughn plays Andrew Yancy in the series adaptation, with L. Scott Caldwell, Rob Delaney, Meredith Hagner, Natalie Martinez, Alex Moffat, Michelle Monaghan, Ronald Peet, Jodie Turner-Smith, with special guest star John Ortiz and guest stars Zach Braff, Ashley Nicole Black, Scott Glenn, and Charlotte Lawrence joining Vaughn for the first season. It is unclear if anyone from the original cast will return for Bad Monkey Season 2.
John Malkovich is a workaholic. According to his IMDB page, he has a staggering number of projects on deck, including In the Hand of Dante, a crime drama from director Julian Schnabel, revolving around a handwritten manuscript of Dante Alighieri’s poem “The Divine Comedy” which makes its way from a priest to a mob boss in New York City, where Nick Tosches take it after he’s asked to verify its authenticity. The upcoming film stars Jason Momoa, Gerard Butler, Al Pacino, Martin Scorsese, Gal Gadot, Oscar Isaac, and Malkovich.
Are you excited about John Malkovich joining the cast of Bad Monkey Season 2? Let us know in the comments section below.
The post John Malkovich swings onto the cast of Vince Vaughn’s Bad Monkey Season 2 as a series regular appeared first on JoBlo.
Check-In Post - Aug 27th 2025
27 Aug 2025 07:07 pmbadly_knitted posting in get_knittedHello to all members, passers-by, curious onlookers, and shy lurkers, and welcome to our regular daily check-in post. Just leave a comment below to let us know how your current projects are progressing, or even if they're not.
Checking in is NOT compulsory, check in as often or as seldom as you want, this community isn't about pressure it's about encouragement, motivation, and support. Crafting is meant to be fun, and what's more fun than sharing achievements and seeing the wonderful things everyone else is creating?
There may also occasionally be questions, but again you don't have to answer them, they're just a way of getting to know each other a bit better.
This Week's Question: Share your favourite crafting tip, if you have one.
If anyone has any questions of their own about the community, or suggestions for tags, questions to be asked on the check-in posts, or if anyone is interested in playing check-in host for a week here on the community, which would entail putting up the daily check-in posts and responding to comments, go to the Questions & Suggestions post and leave a comment.
I now declare this Check-In OPEN!
Slimer is at it again.
27 Aug 2025 05:00 pmghostbustersreddit_feed  | submitted by /u/SaberiusPrime [link] [comments] |
From season 4 adds Julia Doyle as a series regular
27 Aug 2025 05:23 pmjoblo_feedThe fourth season of the MGM+ sci-fi horror series From is currently filming in Nova Scotia, aiming for a 2026 premiere – and Deadline has reported that the show is getting a new series regular character for this new batch of episodes! She is Sophia, a sheltered and vulnerable pastorâs daughter, and she’s played by Julia Doyle, whose credits include Hell of a Summer and Astrid and Lilly Save the World.
Written and created by John Griffin, From is described as a âcontemporary sci-fi horror seriesâ. The show aims to unravel the mystery of a nightmarish town in middle America that traps all those who enter. As the unwilling residents fight to keep a sense of normalcy and search for a way out, they must also survive the threats of the surrounding forest â including the terrifying creatures that come out when the sun goes down.
The cast of From includes Catalina Sandino Moreno and Eion Bailey as married couple Jim and Tabitha Matthews, who are âstruggling in the aftermath of a personal tragedy and suddenly find their family trapped in the town. Together they must find a way to keep their children safe, struggling to come to terms with this new reality even as they desperately search for a way back homeâ; Harold Perrineau as Boyd Stevens, âthe sheriff whose Draconian rules have held the fragile town together, even as he searches for a way to escape this seemingly inescapable nightmareâ; David Alpay as Jade, âa brash, entitled tech hot shotâ; Elizabeth Saunders as Donna, âthe earthy, strong leader of Colony House -the townâs separatist factionâ; Corteon Moore as Ellis, âthe estranged son of Sheriff Boyd and a resident of Colony Houseâ; Hannah Cheramy as Jim and Tabithaâs adolescent daughter Julieâ; Shaun Majumder as Father Khatri, âwho cares for the spirits of the townsfolkâ; Simon Webster as Jim and Tabithaâs son Ethan, who is gravely injured during the story; Ricky He as Sheriff Boydâs deputy Kenny; Elizabeth Moy as Tain-Chen, Kennyâs mother and operator of the town diner and supply depot; Chloe Van Landschoot as town medic Kristi; and Pegah Ghafoori as Fatima, who considers Ellis to be the love of her life.
From comes to us from Midnight Radio and AGBO. Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec, Scott Rosenberg, Mike Larocca, and showrunner Jeff Pinkner serve as executive producers alongside Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo, plus John Griffin and Jack Bender, who directed the first four episodes. Adrienne Erickson is co-executive producer.
Are you a fan of From, and are you looking forward to seeing Julia Doyle join the cast in season 4? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
The post From season 4 adds Julia Doyle as a series regular appeared first on JoBlo.
Fly Trap, by Frances Hardinge
27 Aug 2025 10:46 amrunpunkrunThis does a neat job of reminding the reader of the events and personages of the previous book, Fly By Night, while introducing a whole new city and its dark underworld. I enjoyed it even more than the first book. It's tense and inventive and the story doesn't let up for a second, with always something meaningful at stake.
Recommended! Though you'll probably want to read the first book first.
Contains: childbirth; incarceration; children in peril; rigidly enforced class system.
My latest Guardian fanworks
27 Aug 2025 07:31 pmfacethestrange posting in sid_guardianAll Things Warm (200 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: éé | Guardian - priest
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Shen Wei (Guardian), Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: Bloodplay, Blood Drinking, Scratching, Enthusiastic Consent, Tenderness, cntw because it is blood but it's not violence, Established Relationship, Shen Wei Needs A Hug (Guardian), Double Drabble
Summary: "I could justâ Not stop."
In Bloom (228 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: éé | Guardian - priest
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shen San/Shen Wei (Guardian)
Characters: Shen Wei (Guardian), Shen San (Guardian)
Additional Tags: Bittersweet, Fluff and Angst, Implied/Referenced Sex
Summary: Wei looks up at the branches and sees himself and Kunlun under a completely different tree â infinitely larger, completely bare, growing in the darkness that is the King of the Gui's real home. That used to be his home until Kunlun gave him this.
Tell Me I'm a Problem (250 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: éé | Guardian (TV 2018)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Shen Wei (Guardian), Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: Episode: e008 Zhao Yunlan Fails at Impressing Shen Wei, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, the congee morning but Da Qing didn't come and Shen Wei didn't leave, Frottage, Non-Explicit Sex, First Time, Zhao Yunlan Being Zhao Yunlan
Summary: Zhao Yunlan should know better than try to talk nonsense when Shen Wei is moving against him like this, effortlessly undoing him, but he can't resist.
Taste by facethestrange
Fandom: éé | Guardian (TV 2018)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Zhao Yunlan, Shen Wei (Guardian)
Additional Tags: Fingers in Mouth, Comeplay, Come Eating, Hand & Finger Kink, this is Shen Wei's hand obviously, No Nudity, Explicit Sexual Content, (simultaneously), Fanart, Drawing
Series: Part 2 of Giving Zhao Yunlan more things to put in his mouth
Summary: Shen Wei putting more things in Zhao Yunlan's mouth.
Wednesday Reads the Side Catalogue
27 Aug 2025 10:23 amradiantfractureI liked both of these books a lot: they seemed to me to feature Muir's strengths without some of the excesses of the Tomb books.
(I am aware that these excesses are precisely the source of delight for fans. I appreciate the meticulous artistry of the series; it's just that the particular qualities of deferral, substitution, and abrasion that are the formal and tonal preoccupation of these books, and that Muir wields so expertly and so persistently, are just not quite my tempo.)
The first book was Muir's 2022 novella, Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower.
This is a revisionist princess-in-the-tower story, so the pleasure comes not from a surprise twist but from seeing how the genre is executed. Very well, I thought.
(That said, there were two or three times I did exclaim out loud, "oh no!" etc. So it's not twistless.)
I liked it enough that when it was done I felt wistful about not being with the characters any more.
(Not in a sentimental way. Or yes, in a sentimental way, but not in a cute way. Or yes cute, but not cozy. Difficult and heartbroken and ridiculous. That way.)
The second was a long short story, or maybe novelette? called Undercover, blurbed thus (in part): "A fresh-faced newcomer arrives in an isolated, gang-run town and soon finds herself taking a job nobody else wants: bodyguard to a ghoul. Not just your average mindless, half-rotted shuffler, though. Lucille is a dancer who can still put on her own lipstick and whose shows are half burlesque, half gladiator match."
What's more, I think it is better that that sounds.
sabotabby, I felt like you might enjoy both of these. Like you might start out thinking "Why did Frac think I would like this?" but then fairly rapidly think "OH" instead.Anyway, that appears to be most of Muir's non-tomb catalogue, which is too bad. I wish there were more.
§rf§
Wednesday the underdesk exercise thing arrived (but needs putting together)
27 Aug 2025 06:08 pmoursinWhat I read
Finished A World to Win, and decided not to go straight on to next.
Read Anthony Powell, The Soldier's Art (Dance to the Music of Time #8) (1966), which is a very different angle on WW2 as Nick Jenkins is stuck in a backwater with Widmerpool. A particularly grim episode in its much quieter register.
Started Elaine Castillo, Moderation (2025) which started out fairly strongly, then hit a saggy point, and then I discovered I'd been a bit misled over its genre position, and anyway didn't feel much like continuing.
Picked off the shelf Susan Kelly, And Soon I'll Come to Kill You (Liz Connors #5) (1991), from the period when I was reading a lot more crime novels like this. It's not bad - at least Our Heroine has a plausible reason for getting mixed up in criminal matters, as a journalist specialising in crime reporting, but she has the almost obigatory for period/genre cop boyfriend. This one was probably a bit atypical of the series as a whole as it involved someone with a grudge against her (there are several suspects for Reasons to do with past reporting etc) stalking her with malign intent.
Andrea Long Chu, Females (2025), because I'd found Authority interesting and read something about this but while I am all for rediscovery of the out-there voices of the 'second wave', riffing off V Solanas was just a bit niche.
Laurie R King, Knave of Diamonds (Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes, #19) (2025) - Kobo deal at the weekend - seriously phoning it in - scraping the bottom of the barrel -
On the go
Val McDermid, A Darker Domain (Inspector Karen Pirie #2) (2008) for some reason Kobo were doing a serious promotional deal on the McDermid Pirie series at the weekend so I thought, why not?
Up next
New Slightly Foxed perhaps.
Chris Columbus doesnât fully see the point of the Harry Potter TV series
27 Aug 2025 05:10 pmjoblo_feedThe Harry Potter franchise is getting rebooted as a TV series at HBO, and it was recently announced that production has commenced on the series, with filming taking place at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, UK. The press release noted that the series âwill debut in 2027 on HBO and HBO Max where itâs available, including in upcoming launch markets Germany, Italy, and the UK.â While Chris Columbus executive produced and directed the first and second Harry Potter movies, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and stuck around as producer on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, he is not involved with the TV show – and during a recent interview, he even admitted that he doesn’t see the point of the series.
One moment that baffled Columbus was when he got a look at images of Nick Frost as the character Hagrid, and he looked exactly the same as the character looked in Columbus’s movies. During an appearance on the The Rest is Entertainment podcast, Columbus said (with thanks to The Hollywood Reporter for the transcription), “I looked online and there are photographs of Nick Frost as Hagrid with the new Harry Potter, and heâs wearing the exact same costume that we designed for Hagrid. Part of me was like: âWhatâs the point?â I thought everything [on the HBO show] the costumes and everything was going to be different. Itâs more of the same. Itâs very flattering for me, because Iâm like: Thatâs exactly the Hagrid costume that we designed. So part of it is really exciting. Iâm excited to see what theyâre going to do with it. Part of it is sort of dĂŠjĂ vu all over again.“
The cast includes John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Nick Frost as Hagrid, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell, Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch, Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, Johnny Flynn as his father Lucius Malfoy, Bel Powley and Daniel Rigby as Petunia Dursley and Vernon Dursley, Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley. As minister for magic Cornelius Fudge, we have Bertie Carvel. As Hogwarts students Seamus Finnigan, Parvati Patil, and Lavender Brown, the show has cast newcomers Leo Earley, Alessia Leoni, and Sienna Moosah. There’s Rory Wilmot as Neville Longbottom, Amos Kitson as Dudley Dursley, Louise Brealey as Madam Rolanda Hooch, and Anton Lesser as Garrick Ollivander, plus twins Tristan and Gabriel Harland will play Fred and George Weasley, with Ruari Spooner as Percy Weasley and Gracie Cochrane as Ginny Weasley. Newcomers Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout star as Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley.
Each season of the Harry Potter TV series is said to cover one of J.K. Rowlingâs novels, for a total of seven seasons. While the movies were able to fit quite a lot in, there were plenty of moments cut from the novels that the TV series will finally be able to bring to life. Last year, HBO released a statement saying, âEach season will be authentic to the original books and bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and beloved films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally.â The first season will be filming for ten months and is expected to consist of either eight or six episodes. The series is said to be, like the novels, set in the 1990s.
The synopsis for the show says, âThe franchise follows the life of a young wizard, the titular Harry Potter, whose parents died under mysterious circumstances when he was very young. He was forced to live a life of misery and servitude to his aunt and uncle and their awful son before he was freed from his gilded cage when Hagrid extended an invitation that changed his life forever. The adventure begins as Harry and his magical friends Ron and Hermoine become students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, who come of age in a time of extreme turmoil where the threat of war looms close.â
Successionâs Francesca Gardiner serves as a writer and showrunner on the series, while Mark Mylod signed on to executive produce and direct multiple episodes. The project was originally developed solely for HBO Max but made the leap to HBO last summer.
Do you understand the point of the Harry Potter TV series, or do you have dĂŠjĂ vu like Chris Columbus? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
The post Chris Columbus doesn’t fully see the point of the Harry Potter TV series appeared first on JoBlo.
joblo_feedWildbrain will serve a hefty pile of nostalgia alongside the infamous cafeteria mystery meat when its documentary, Degrassi: Whatever It Takes, brings fans of the Canadian high school drama franchise back to the hallowed halls of yesteryear. In today’s Degrassi: Whatever It Takes trailer, Wildbrain invites creators, superfans, and stars from across the eras, including Aubrey Drake Graham, Kevin Smith, Shenae Grimes-Beech, and more, to delve deep into all things Degrassi!
Produced by WildBrain and Peacock Alley Entertainment, the TIFF 50 Official Selection makes its World Premiere on September 13!
Degrassi: Whatever It Takes dives into the behind-the-scenes truth of the Degrassi franchiseâraw, real, and sometimes troublingâwhile celebrating the powerful legacy of a show that made teens everywhere feel seen.
Whatever It Takes celebrates the groundbreaking legacy of Degrassi. This fearless teen drama tackled taboo topics and changed TV forever, while uncovering the behind-the-scenes tensions and personal sacrifices that shaped Canada’s most iconic franchise.
If you grew up obsessing over shows like My So Called Life, Saved by the Bell, Dawson’s Creek, A Different World, and Beverly Hills 90210, you should know that Degrassi helped lay the genre’s foundation. Though not always perfect, Degrassi spoke to generations of disaffected teens by tapping into the culture, fashion, and social pressures of the 1980s and beyond. While many studio execs were afraid to tackle taboo subjects, Degrassi went there, and television owes the groundbreaking show a debt of gratitude.
Produced by WildBrain and Peacock Alley Entertainment, and directed by Lisa Rideout (Sex with Sue, This is Pop), Degrassi: Whatever It Takes features interviews and insights on the show’s legacy from creator Linda Schuyler, executive producer Stephen Stohn, superfans, including filmmaker Kevin Smith, and cast of the Degrassi universe, including Dayo Ade, Stefan Brogren, Amanda and Maureen Deiseach, Aubrey Drake Graham, Shenae Grimes-Beech, Jake Epstein, Shane Kippel, Miriam McDonald, Stacie Mistysyn, Melinda Shankar, Amanda Stepto, Jordan Todosey and more.
Rideout said: “Degrassi changed the landscape of television with real, unvarnished storytelling and did it unapologetically from a teenage perspective. I was inspired by how fearless the series was in tackling issues that others wouldn’t touch. This documentary celebrates the iconic Canadian franchise while revealing the impact it had on the people who made it and the audiences who loved it.”
Carrie Mudd, Executive producer for Peacock Alley, said: “Degrassi is more than a TV showâit’s a time capsule of growing up, full of heart, honesty and every ‘first’ experience you can think of. Nothing then, or now, has captured the teenage experience in a more raw, authentic or unfiltered way. Degrassi is one of Canada’s biggest cultural exports, which helped shape four decades of TV and touched multiple generations of kids around the world. Telling its story felt like honouring a piece of the Canadian identity.”
Regarding Degrassi‘s 40-year legacy:
Always tuned in and never afraid to speak the truth, Degrassi is one of the most enduring franchises in the history of youth programming. For over four decades, watching Degrassi has been a rite of passage for teenagers everywhere, providing a mirror on their passions, struggles and triumphs as they navigate high school and the road to selfhood. Always at the vanguard of inspiration, education and entertainment, Degrassi has been unafraid to tackle even the most challenging stories, from teen pregnancy to racism to gender identity and more. Degrassi has been recognized with dozens of awards, including two International Emmy Awards, two Teen Choice Awards, and a Peabody.
Is Wildbrain’s Degrassi: Whatever It Takes trailer taking you back to when days were golden? Considering how difficult high school was for some, I doubt it. However, it’s great to be back with the Degrassi cast members. Hearing their personal stories and revelations should serve as a powerful time machine and show us how far we’ve come as people, taking life one day at a time.
The post Wildbrain’s Degrassi: Whatever It Takes trailer takes us back to when Canada ruled the high school drama genre appeared first on JoBlo.
Bruce Willisâ wife on the âhardest decisionâ so far in his health battle
27 Aug 2025 04:43 pmjoblo_feedThe family of Bruce Willis has been quite transparent in the actorâs health, sharing words and pictures through social media and interviews that provide updates on his condition, having been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in early 2023. Once again, his wife of six years, Emma Heming Willis, is offering insight into his life and how he is holding up.
Emma Heming Willis recently sat down with Diane Sawyer where she expressed just how scary the progression has been. âFor someone who was very talkative and very engaged, he was just a little more quiet, and when the family would get together, he would kind of just melt a little bit.â
As time moved on, Willis said Bruce âfelt a little removed, very cold. Not like Bruce. He was very warm and affectionate. To going the complete opposite of that was very alarming and scary.â At a certain point, it was decided that Bruce Willis would be moving into a second home for around-the-clock care. âIt was one of the hardest decisions that Iâve had to make so far. But I knew first and foremost, Bruce would want that for our daughters, you know, he wouldnât want them to be in a home that was more tailored to their needs, not his needs.â She added that this home is one âthat is filled with love and warmth and care and laughter.â
Expectedly, the family of Bruce Willis has worked with him in efforts to make his life easier, even if he doesnât realize everything that is going on around him. âWeâve learned to adapt and we have a way of communicating with him which is just a different wayâŚWe still get those daysâŚWe get moments. Itâs his laugh, right? He has such a hearty laugh and sometimes youâll see that twinkle in his eye or that smirk. And I just get transportedâŚâ
We here at JoBlo.com continue to hope for the best for Bruce Willis, who remains one of our favorite actors ever and whose on-screen presence remains nearly unmatched. Join us in sending good vibes by doing so in the comments section below.
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Lloyd Kaufman, Macon Blair and Jacob Tremblay talk Toxic Avenger!
27 Aug 2025 04:03 pmjoblo_feedThe original Toxic Avenger is one of the most insane films that’s ever been made. I still remember watching it as a teenager and constantly going “What on earth is happening?!” So it was surprising to see a reboot on the way, but with Peter Dinklage in the titular role! Then add in phenomenal actors like Kevin Bacon, Elijah Wood, and Jacob Tremblay, and you’ve got the recipe for intrigue. That’s a great way to pique the interest of anyone who may not know what they’re in for with this insane Troma-inspired venture. And it’s honestly a ton of a fun that is sure to, like the original, gain a following.
I was fortunate enough to talk to original Toxie creator (and Troma founder) Lloyd Kaufman about his cult classic getting the remake treatment. Remake writer/director Macon Blair and I get into why physical media is still so important (we can thankfully expect a full commentary track from him with this film), as well as why it took so long for us to get it. Then, Jacob Tremblay gets into why the set was such a blast to be a part of and why Macon is so special as a director. Genuinely, these are some of my favorite talks I’ve ever had with JoBlo, and I can’t wait for you to see the full interviews. Check out our review HERE!
The Toxic Avenger plot:
When a downtrodden janitor, Winston Gooze, is exposed to a catastrophic toxic accident, heâs transformed into a new kind of hero: The Toxic Avenger. Now, Toxie must rise from outcast to savior, taking on ruthless corporate overlords and corrupt forces who threaten his son, his friends, and his community. In a world where greed runs rampant⌠justice is best served radioactive.
THE TOXIC AVENGER IS PLAYING IN THEATERS ON AUGUST 29TH, 2025.
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joblo_feedAt the world premiere of Terrifier 3, franchise writer/director Damien Leone said there will be a Terrifier 4 â and he later said he thinks that will be the last entry in the franchise, because he doesnât want it to wear out his welcome. (Although he has also said that Terrifier 5 might be required to properly wrap up the story.) Weâve heard that Leone plans to reveal Art the Clownâs origin in the new sequel, with the character’s backstory being told in the first 15 minutes. Now, Leone has admitted that he’s worried about revealing too much about the slasher.
Leone told Collider, “I worry about everything. 90% of my day is worrying. Thatâs a huge concern. I love the mystique. Thatâs the most important part, even if people donât realize it because theyâre just so hungry to know what his deal is. I think a lot of people donât realize the reason he works so well is because of the mystique. If you pull the curtain back too far, and you lose that mystique, itâs over. Youâre not supposed to see the wizard behind the curtain. Itâs almost always a disappointment. So, I think thereâs a way with his origin to have my cake and eat it too, but weâll find out. I am taking a bit of a risk, but Iâm very well aware about losing that mystique at the same time, so weâll see if it plays out. I think the majority of people are going to be very cool with it.“
Leone had a budget of around $55,000 to work with on his breakout horror film Terrifier, and a budget of âa little overâ $250,000 for Terrifier 2, which was a massive hit when it was released in 2022, earning $15.1 million at the box office. Terrifier 3 has a substantially higher budget; a âcouple millionâ went into that one â and it paid off, as the film raked in over $76 million at the box office. So we can probably expect Terrifier 4 to have a larger budget behind it as well.
What do you think of Leone’s plans to tell the backstory of Art the Clown in Terrifier 4? Do you think we need answers, or should Art be left a mystery? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
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joblo_feedThe Nicolas Cage resurgence as of late has interestingly mostly found him in more abstract kinds of films as opposed to his more commercially appealing blockbusters of yesteryear. While many have pined for a National Treasure 3, Cage has been partaking in indie films like Pig, Mandy and Dream Scenario. However, he would also mix in a couple of mass audience projects like The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent and Renfield. It was reported last year that Cage was set to star in The Carpenterâs Son, a horror tale thatâs based on the rarely-told childhood of Jesus Christ.
Magnolia Pictures has now released a very ominous teaser trailer of The Carpenter’s Son, which you can take a gander at in the embed above.
The official synopsis for The Carpenterâs Son reads,
âThe Carpenterâs Son tells the dark story of a family hiding out in Roman Egypt. The son, known only as âthe Boyâ, is driven to doubt by another mysterious child and rebels against his guardian, the Carpenter, revealing inherent powers and a fate beyond his comprehension. As he exercises his own power, the Boy and his family become the target of horrors, natural and divine.â
Cage stars alongside FKA Twigs, who was previously seen in the recent remake of The Crow, as well as Noah Jupe and Souheila Yacoub. The movie will be helmed by Egyptian-American director Lotfy Nathan. Per Deadline, âNathan has taken inspiration from the apocryphal Infancy Gospel of Thomas for the screenplay. Dating back to the 2nd Century AD, the text recounts the childhood of Jesus.â Cage is said to be playing the titular Carpenter, Twigs as the Mother and Jupe will be playing the Boy.
Meanwhile, Cage may venture into the television world soon. It was reported that the actor is nearing a deal to play one of the leads in the new season of True Detective. Issa LĂłpez, the showrunner/writer/director of True Detective: Night Country, is returning. Deadline has a few more details, adding that Cage would play Henry Logan, a New York detective tackling the mystery at the core of the new season. The actor has reportedly been considering the part for a while, but itâs not a done deal. The anthology crime drama has always attracted top-tier talent, with Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams, Taylor Kitsch, Vince Vaughn, Mahershala Ali, Carmen Ejogo, Stephen Dorff, and Jodie Foster taking center stage in the first four seasons.
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joblo_feedDirector Yorgos Lanthimos is reteaming with his The Favourite, Poor Things, and Kinds of Kindness star Emma Stone for Bugonia, a remake of the South Korean film Save the Green Planet thatâs set to receive a special limited engagement in theatres on October 24th before opening wide on October 31st. We saw a teaser trailer for the movie a couple of months ago (that’s the video embedded above) and a full trailer is said to be dropping online tomorrow – and in the meantime, we have a poster to look at. You can check it out at the bottom of this article.
Described as an eccentric black comedy, the original Save the Green Planet followed a disillusioned young man who captures and tortures a businessman whom he believes to be part of an alien invasion. A battle of wits ensues between the captor, his devoted girlfriend, the businessman and a private detective.
Hereâs a longer synopsis:Â Joon-hwan Jang imagines the fate of the human race hinging on Byun-gu, a bitter, paranoid and eccentric beekeeper who, with the help of his tightrope walker girlfriend, Sooni, kidnaps a powerful and successful businessman, Man-sik. Byun-gu believes that Man-sik is an alien from the planet Andromeda, one of many hiding among us and plotting to destroy the Earth in a few days. Amphetamine-popping Byun-gu sees himself as the planetâs last hope, and sets about torturing Man-sik with relish, trying to convince him to contact the âRoyal Princeâ and call off Armageddon. A battle of wits and wills ensues, with Man-sik trying to convince his captors that heâs human and attempting to escape. Man-sik recognizes Byun-gu as a disgruntled former employee whose comatose mother suffers from a mysterious illness. It begins to seem that Byun-guâs true motivation may be personal, but heâs still ruthlessly determined to get Man-sik to confess and cooperate, even if he has to risk killing him. Meanwhile, a dishevelled detective, Chu, and his young acolyte, Inspector Kim, discover that the person who kidnapped Man-sik may have struck several times before, always with deadly results.
The original film, Save the Green Planet, was directed by Joon-hwan Jang, and when the remake was first announced over four years ago, it was said that Jang would be at the helm of the new take on the concept as well. But he ended up passing the helm over to Lanthimos. The Bugonia screenplay was written by Will Tracy, a writer on HBOâs Succession and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver who also co-wrote the genre film The Menu. Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe are producing Bugonia for Element Pictures, alongside Miky Lee and Jerry Ko for CJ ENM, Stone for Fruit Tree, Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen for Square Peg, and Lanthimos.
Are you looking forward to Bugonia? Take a look at the poster, then let us know by leaving a comment below.
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Back
27 Aug 2025 10:46 ammarthawellsMore later, but one of my favorite things was the really wonderful piece that N.K. Jemisin wrote about me for the program book.
***
Big thing I wanted to mention here: https://www.humblebundle.com/books/martha-wells-murderbot-and-more-tor-books
This is a 14 ebook Humble Bundle from Tor, (DRM-free as usual) and you can select a portion of the price to donate to World Central Kitchen.
joblo_feedPlot: A prequel series with an origin story that follows Ben Edwards throughout his journey from the Navy SEALs to the clandestine side of CIA Special Operations. The series is an espionage thriller that explores the darker side of warfare and the human cost that comes with it.
Review: What clicks with audiences is not always what connects with critics. When the first season of The Terminal List premiered back in 2022, I found it to be an overlong revenge thriller that would have been better suited as a feature film. Despite lukewarm reviews, Prime Video quickly renewed the series and developed a prequel. The Terminal List: Dark Wolf centers on Ben Edwards, the close friend of James Reece, who met his death at the end of the first season of the flagship series. Taking a step back several years before the main series, The Terminal List: Dark Wolf chronicles how Edwards went from deployed SEAL to CIA operative involved in off-book missions vastly different than field combat. Executive produced by Chris Pratt, The Terminal List: Dark Wolf is not a revenge drama like the main series, but an action-oriented espionage tale that incorporates a realistic military style to a story you would expect to see in Mission: Impossible or a James Bond film. More engaging than The Terminal List, Dark Wolf is an exciting and intriguing limited series that enhances the experience of watching the series’s first season.
While The Terminal List was based on the first novel in an ongoing series chronicling James Reece (Chris Pratt) and his revenge on those who murdered his wife and daughter, Dark Wolf has a limited scope of storytelling real estate that leads into where the main series began. The series is unique in shifting the focus from a supporting character to the central protagonist, something only effectively done in Better Call Saul or Loki. Pratt reprises his role as Reece, in a limited supporting capacity, with Dark Wolf giving Taylor Kitsch room to develop who Ben Edwards is. The series opens with Edwards and Reece deployed in Iraq, where we also meet Lieutenant Raife Hastings (Tom Hopper), Iraqi Special Operations Forces officer Mohammed Farooq (Dar Salim), and CIA contractor Jules Landry (Luke Hemsworth). During a mission that goes sideways, we see why Edwards was discharged from duty and how he ended up part of the CIA. Part origin story and expansion of the dynamic between Reece and Edwards, The Terminal List: Dark Wolf immediately grabbed me more than the previous series.
Set over seven episodes, The Terminal List: Dark Wolf quickly transitions from military action to clandestine operations across Europe. Edwards and Hastings find themselves recruited by spymaster Jed Haverford (Robert Wisdom) to engage in a mission to prevent Iran from gaining traction with their nuclear program. Both Edwards and Hastings have reservations about the mission, but join Haverford’s team, which reunites them with Landry and Farooq as well as two Mossad veterans: operative Eliza Perash (Rona-Lee Shimon) and tech expert Tal Varon (Shiraz Tzarfati). The team is deployed on missions connecting to the central Iranian target, including street-level operations in various European locales. In one early mission, Tom Hopper emulates James Bond in a tux, offering the series a brief moment of levity in an otherwise gritty and serious narrative. The cast all work well together with Dar Salim, Rona-Lee Shimon, and Shiraz Tzarfati getting great characters to dig into, while Luke Hemsworth plays a bit against the similar roles he has played in recent years. Best remembered for his significant role in HBO’s The Wire, Robert Wisdom is a solid Mr. Phelps-style leader in the unit.
Taylor Kitsch gets to dig into Ben Edwards quite a bit in this series, taking center stage compared to his limited time in The Terminal List. The opening credits echo his eventual fate in The Terminal List, but the subtitle Dark Wolf is fitting as Kitsch explores how Edwards deals with the weight of his actions against the greater good. Kitsch stole his scenes in the previous series and gets much more to work with here, including his chemistry with Tom Hopper as brothers in arms and a spark with Rona-Lee Shimon. The series never entirely stops and spends time with overwrought character development, and instead peppers in tidbits about everyone along the way. The moments where the series begins to get preachy about brotherhood, politics, and the perils of war, the dialogue borders on cheesy, but just barely. The action in The Terminal List: Dark Wolf more than makes up for it with some gnarly violence that keeps the adrenaline pulsing through every episode, leading to a very explosive final episode.
Employing a writing team of veterans of active military duty, The Terminal List: Dark Wolf was created by author Jack Carr and David DiGilio. Expanding on the novels in The Terminal List series, Carr and DiGilio wrote the first and final episodes of the series, with Max Adams, Jared Shaw, Hennah Sekander, Kenny Sheard, and Naomi Iizuka credited on the other five. Directing duties were shared between Frederick E.O. Toye (Fringe, Shogun) on the first two chapters, Liz Friedlander (Fallout, The Boys) on the next two, and cinematographer Paul Cameron (Westworld, Mayor of Kingstown) on the final three. Each episode connects to what came before, with only the first two chapters slightly disjointed compared to the other five. Nevertheless, the accurate portrayal of military training and operations adds an element to this series that is often missing from espionage and action shows. What the series lacks in some narrative nuance, it makes up for with consistent action. That action sometimes shrouds clarity about what is happening, but if you are along for the ride, you will overlook the weaker parts of the story.
When a spin-off can enhance the experience of watching the series that inspired it, that is a win. The Terminal List: Dark Wolf is more engaging and balanced than The Terminal List, adding to my experience watching the 2022 series. Taylor Kitsch remains one of the more underutilized actors working today, and getting a showcase that expands on a character he previously played is a unique opportunity that he digs into. This series does not teeter on jingoism like The Terminal List did. However, it still shows the dangers of playing politics and how the best of what the United States military industrial complex offers can still be easily corrupted. More fun than The Terminal List but every bit as gritty and violent, The Terminal List: Dark Wolf is an entertaining, action-oriented drama that will please fans of the original series and excites me for season two of the Chris Pratt-led drama.
The Terminal List: Dark Wolf premieres on August 27th on Prime Video.
The post The Terminal List: Dark Wolf TV Review: Taylor Kitsch and Chris Pratt reunite for an intense prequel series appeared first on JoBlo.
joblo_feedFor martial arts fans around the world, arguably two of the biggest names next to Bruce Lee in the genre are Jackie Chan and Jet Li. Both are men of undeniably entertaining martial arts action and while theyâre similar in many ways, Li and Chan have established their own identities with their resumes, and the film world was big enough for the two of them at their peaks, much like how American action cinema had both Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The dream, of course, was to get both Chan and Li in a movie together and see them fight â either side-by-side or face off in an epic rivalry. In 2008, that dream would come into fruition and both stars finally got to go toe-to-toe in a martial arts match. Today, we take a look at how the movie The Forbidden Kingdom put both icons in a fight scene that was years in the making.
Jackie
Jackie Chan rose to fame in the 70s when he and his Peking Opera brother, Sammo Hung, perfected their own style of action, which was majorly stylistic and acrobatic. Itâs how you think superheroes or Jedis would fight with seemingly quick reflexes and immaculate timing. Their style was also comedic. Jackieâs unique brand of action perfectly intertwined complicated choreography with Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin-like slapstick. Jackieâs 80s and 90s run is among the best in the martial arts action scene and he would finally have a mass hit in America in 1996 when New Line Cinema imported Rumble in the Bronx as a way to introduce him to a new generation of audiences. This would open the door for more Chan movies and other Chinese stars to come.
Jet
While Jackie was trained for performing in the theatre, Jet Li was a National Champion in the Chinese sport of Wushu. At age 11, Jet won his first Championship for the Beijing Wushu Team. This gave him the chance to come to America for the first time as the team performed for President Nixon. Jetâs notariety in the sport caught the eye of a movie producer and when he was older, Jet became the star of his very first movie, The Shaolin Temple, in 1982. His career was an instant success, but his major breakthrough would come in the early 90s when he portrayed folk hero Wong Fei Hung in the Once Upon a Time in China series.
Jetâs action scenes geared toward more over-the-top wirework use as opposed to Jackieâs. This is because a lot of Jetâs movies were in the Wuxia subgenre, which was fantasy-driven and characters possessed superhuman abilities. But it was the grounded intensity in Fist of Legend that captured him at his very best. In 1998, Jet crossed over into American shores when he played his first villain role in Lethal Weapon 4. Whatever the consensus for that movie is, itâs almost unanimous that Jetâs debut was the highlight, and it paved the way for his U.S. movies like Romeo Must Die.
The Forbidden Kingdom
The Forbidden Kingdom is a love letter to Chinese cinema and culture. The film is a fish-out-of-water magical journey story like The Wizard of Oz or A Kid in King Arthurâs Court. Here, a Boston teen, whoâs obsessed with martial arts films, gets transported to ancient China, where mystical characters reign. Jason, the main protagonist, is played by the star and director of the recent film Sacramento, Michael Angarano, and he would embark on a heroâs journey in this kung fu fable. Jasonâs joined by a drunken wanderer, Lu Yan, played by Jackie, and a Silent Monk, played by Jet. Theyâre also accompanied by a young female warrior named Sparrow. Sparrow, here, is played by Liu Yifei, who would later go on to star in Disneyâs live-action Mulan remake.
Next to Jet and Jackie, another major Hong Kong action star whoâs in this movie is Collin Chou, who plays the main villain, the Jade Warlord. Chou is an icon in his own right, and had already collaborated with Jet Li on a number of films. Also, he had recently faced off against Donnie Yen in the popular action film, Flashpoint, just prior to making this movie. American audiences may also recognize him, as he played the Oracleâs right-hand, Seraph, from the Matrix sequels.
Additionally, the film was also able to assemble a pretty incredible creative team. The Lion King director, Rob Minkoff, helms the film with John Fusco, writer of the Young Guns movies, Hidalgo and the Netflix Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon sequel, penning the screenplay. Fuscoâs script drew from many facets of Chinese culture, including history and mythology. There are also references to iconic kung fu movies, like Five Elements Mountain, the White-Haired Witch, Bruce Leeâs philosophy, the line âCome Drink with Me,â and much more. Both Jackie and Jet also go through the different kung fu animal styles when training Jason, which are usually the focus of many martial arts classics. The only thing that felt missing is dubbing everyone with the fun, cheesy voices.
Although The Forbidden Kingdom was an American product, Minkoff and producer Casey Silver were smart to get the best names in Chinese cinema to work on the production. Cinematographer Peter Pau, whose credits include The Killer and The Bride with White Hair, lent his talents to the film and gave it an authentic look. And of course, the filmâs dream team is completed with fight choreographer, Yuen Woo Ping, arranging the fight scenes. Woo Ping is possibly one of the most beloved choreographer in Hong Kong cinema with his immaculately put together exchanges. His work with Li in Fist of Legend is still celebrated to this day.He, then, achieved international attention when he was recognized for his work in The Matrix films, and then again when Tarantino brought him aboard for the Kill Bill movies.
The Fight
So, letâs get to it. While the movie was an epic adventure that transcended time and reality, the biggest draw was that not only are Jackie Chan and Jet Li starring in a movie together, but they have a big fight scene in the middle of it. Hardcore fans, including myself, were holding out hope that there would possibly be more than just one, since this was a rare event â like it couldâve been possible that Jackieâs character would fall victim to mind control from the bad guys during the finale and they make him go against his ally in an even grittier fight to the death, until the spell is broken. I donât know. Iâm spitballing.
Unfortunately, thereâs just the one scene, but fortunately, they were smart enough to take their time on it. Usually, and especially in American productions, fight scenes last only a couple minutes. Obviously, in Jet and Jackieâs past films, they would exceed that time frame. But even as an American movie, The Forbidden Kingdomâs fight scene between the Jâs lasts for about six minutes.
Hereâs a bit of context. Jackieâs drunken wanderer agrees to help Jason return the Monkey Kingâs staff to Five Elements Mountain. One morning on their journey, a mysterious figure steals the staff. Lu Yan sees the figure riding off and follows him to a temple where he sought refuge. Now, up to this point, Jackie and Jet have had plenty of scenes in the movie, but both in their own story. I remember seeing the shot of Jackie entering the temple, then the camera lowering to get Jet into frame. When I saw this, I lost my mind for a bit. I couldnât believe they were in the same frame! This is definitely not like Heat, where you donât ever see Pacino and De Niro in the same shot.
So, letâs break it down. The fight can be seen as lasting a few rounds. At first, Jackie tries to take the staff back, but Jet keeps a grasp on it. Neither lose grip and we get them playing a kung fu tug-o-war before it gets stuck in a stone statue. Once their hands are free of it, the fists start flying and Jackie and Jet start doing what they do best. We get just a tiny bit of prop involvement with Jackieâs satchel, but he doesnât get to let loose like in his own movies. This is a good time to point out that for most of his career, Jackie and his team usually choreograph their own fight scenes. With Yuen Woo Ping on board, this is the first time in years where Jackie performed under someone elseâs action design. And itâs fitting too, as the last time he worked with Woo Ping, it was on the first Drunken Master, which sent Jackie into superstardom.
Speaking of which, in the next round, Jackie strikes his iconic drunken boxing pose and starts turning the fight in his direction. At this point, Jet goes old school as he breaks out Praying Mantis-style on Jackie. Then, Jackie counters with his Tiger Palm style and the next round becomes Mantis Fists and Tiger Claws, which happens to be the title of an old Wu-Tang film. The last round finishes things off with a bang with both getting increasingly aggressive â Jet uses his trusty back fist and Jackie breaks out a little Crane-style. The battle ends in a draw, becauseâŚhow do you even choose who wins this? However, if you wanted to judge the fight on points, Jet does seem to control it on a whole more than Jackie did. Itâs slightly disheartening, and it only furthers your desire for a rematch to see a Chan-dominant fight.
They join forces soon after when they realize theyâre on the same journey and the scene ends with a wholesome hearty laugh between the legends. While they donât fight again, they do have a fun love/hate relationship throughout when they clash as dual masters trying to simultaneously teach Jason kung fu. All the elements came together for this fight. Woo Ping and the crew truly made this scene like they would have in Hong Kong, and director Rob Minkoff said they way they shot this fight was like jazz. The team was improvisational with the choreography. They had the ability of two martial arts icons to work with and they did what they needed to make a shot work, even if it meant changing around the set during filming.
Jackie particularly found this scene to be a pleasure to shoot. As a perfectionist who indulges in a multitude of takes, heâs had a history of feeling tense with stuntmen not on his team and who donât know his rhythms. Itâs been shown how frustrated heâs gotten with skilled fighters with little experience in screen combat (Who am I?). Here, Jackie says that Jetâs timing was so on point, that they barely had any challenges filming the sequence and it had gone pretty smoothly. In fact, the only reason they would do more takes is when both of them were moving too fast for the camera.
Jackie and Jet have been wanting to collaborate for a long time. In an interview from April 2008, Jackie said he and Jet were trying to put plans in motion back in the early 90s while they were at the height of their powers, but studio politics prevented a project from happening. Then, as years rolled on, availability became a big issue for both stars, but things finally aligned for The Forbidden Kingdom. Cynically speaking, itâs a shame we didnât get a team up back in the 90s with a contemporary action story were maybe they were both cops, but The Forbidden Kingdom was a good celebration of their legacy and putting them in a periond film was pretty fitting.
Today, Jackie continues to crank out films and can be seen in the recent Karate Kid: Legends. Meanwhile, Jet moreso retired after being diagnosed with hyperthyroidism in 2010, and even after recovering from the illness, he now concentrates on charity work.
In 2017, Jet made an appearance in the short film, Gong Shou Dao, which also featured Donnie Yen, Tony Jaa, Jacky Wu and was choreographed by Sammo Hung, Yuen Woo Ping, and Tony Ching. However, they donât actually appear together and the short is more of a dream project by Chinese billionaire Jack Ma.
The Forbidden Kingdom may not be the balls-to-the-wall martial arts spectacular that fans hoped Chan and Li could do together, but itâs also far from âtoo little, too lateâ and it makes for a great audience-pleaser. GÄnbÄi!
The post The Forbidden Kingdom: We take a look at the fight that finally pit Jackie Chan and Jet Li against each other appeared first on JoBlo.
Wednesday
27 Aug 2025 07:54 amsusandennisI returned the other two yesterday and stopped by QFC to get a poke bowl. The raw fish counter is at the front of the store. It was as good this time as last. I do need to get some poke sauce. The sauce it comes with is too spicy hot for me. But, it's a winner for dinner for sure.
My new phone arrives tomorrow! I'm giving serious thot to no case. Naked carry. With the fancy insurance. The only issue is my Timber Ridge card. We have one card that gets us inside from some of the outside doors, into our apartments (I never keep mine locked so no need there) and, into some places outside of business hours - like the pool. Bam. So I have to carry it. It's now tucked between my phone and the case. But, I'm thinking, I'll glue a magnetic sheet onto it and slap it onto the phone. Or try a magnetic wallet. I've got ideas. But I also bought a cheap case just in case...
Today we have our quarterly Resident Update Meeting (RUN). All of the department heads report on what's been happening and what's planned. Mostly they just stand at the podium and read the words on their power point presentations. But, sometimes, you get a decent nugget of news. It's worth an hour.
John is still hanging in. Hazel was just here for an update. Things are kind of getting into a regular routine. And she got her hair cut yesterday so she even looks less frazzled.
Halloween production has begun.
[Prompt #457] BtVS / Buffy, Giles â At Odds
27 Aug 2025 05:28 pmveronyxk84 posting in 100wordsFandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Author:
veronyxk84Characters: Buffy, Giles
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: none
Word count: 100 (Google Docs)
Spoilers/Setting: Set in S7, after ep. 7x17 âLies My Parents Told Me.â
Summary: Buffy and Giles are at odds after the events of âLies My Parents Told Me.â
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction created for fun and no profit has been made. All rights belong to the respective owners.
Prompt: #457 - Guilt
Crossposted:
drabble_zone, emotion100, My journal, Sunnydale After Darkâ
( READ: At Odds )