Latest Posts by loycspotting - Page 5

Jesus Christ, OP you're killing it with these edits! This one hits hard and gave me a new song to check out!

.Trainspotting (1996).

[Song: Weird Fishes/Arpeggi - Radiohead]

basic "I wish Qui-Gon had trained me" Anakin moment that Obi-Wan hears that the fandom loves but he says it near Windu or Plo Koon, and they just respectfully rip him to shreds for it

"Skywalker, Obi-Wan has been more successful raising you than Qui-Gon ever was with any of his Padawans. He took a chance on you when no-one else would and I don't believe you are stupid enough to forget that."

Or, considerably worse

"Youngling, you're lack of respect and faith are why he is so unwilling to share with you his Padawan years. Obi-Wan suffered to reach the end of Qui-Gon's training. He is not underestimating your skill, he is trying to spare you the Padawan training he received."

Beautifully done. Wow.

.Trainspotting (1996) + T2 Trainspotting (2017).

[Song: How to Disappear Completely - Radiohead]

For the Ewan character ask game:

Q17 + Alex Law.

He’s my bbygirl 💚

17. What's a ship for this character you don't hate but it's not your favorite that you're fine with?

Well, this is an interesting question for Alex because, from what I recall, there are only six named characters beside him in Shallow Grave. The few other characters he interacted with are nameless and/or have no speaking lines. Plus, I don't think I actually ship Alex with anyone. So, I guess I'll say Cameron. He seems really sweet and maybe they could make up and start over.

Thanks for the ask!

Ewan Character Ask Game

Obi-Wan Kenobi + 8. What's something the fandom does when it comes to this character that you despise?

Oh yeah, Pal we're going there. I choose violence! Lol

Oooooo we’re going there. Ok.

I hate when Obi-Wan is portrayed as cold and unfeeling. The most emotionally charged moments of the prequels come from Obi-Wan (Qui-Gon’s death and Mustafar’s “you were The Chosen One!!!). He does show his emotions: sadness, grief, irritation, annoyance, pride, to name a few. He’s affectionate towards Anakin. He hugs Dex.

Just because he’s not creepy stalker flirting levels of professing his love or slaughtering villages in his grief doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel them.

He has emotions but he’s the example of what a Jedi should be - not ruled by them.

Back for another: Lincoln 6-Echo, (The Island) 25. What was your first impression of this character? How about now?

I rewatched The Island not too long ago and honestly my impression of Lincoln has stayed the same. He's very intelligent for someone so innocent and oh my GOD, absolutely adorable. Truly pure of heart.

Ewan Character Ask Game

Cole Ainsley (Zoe) + 1. Why do you like or dislike this character?

Oh Zoe was a Ewan movie that took me by surprise by just how much I enjoyed it. I love Ewan’s character in it! Cole feels deeply, is empathic, and is just so sad. I spend the whole movie just wanting to wrap him up in a hug and make him feel better. He’s smart and his smile and the way his eyes light up when he’s excited is just too adorable. 💕 must protect at all costs

Alex Law (shallow grave) 12. What's a headcanon you have for this character?

Okay this is gonna be long-winded lol

So Alex tends to be talked about in the context of the movie during his present timeline but I don't see people talk about Alex post events.

I think Alex would become a shell of the man he was. He wouldn't still be loud, extroverted, and confident. That would all be left behind on the bloody kitchen floor. I think he would become paranoid, highly anxious, and ultimately reclusive. The people he loved and trusted most tried to /murder/ him. I don't see him bouncing back from that with his same bravado from the beginning of the movie.

What I really like about this headcanon is that he would realize he needs therapy. He needs to talk to /someone/. So, he joins a discussion group! And in a cruel twist of irony, he DOES end up meeting his new best friend/partner for his life there! 😁

Wow, yes, I agree. I see this commonality in you and Oliver as well. 🫂💜

Thank you for playing, my dear friend!

Oliver Fields (Beginners) + 6. What's something you have in common with this character?

Oof, that's tough. I think part of why he feels sad is because he's waiting for something more—something that will suddenly make everything better. I can relate to that: to waiting for the "lion."

Hal: ...let's say since you were little, and... and you... you always dreamed of... of someday getting a lion, and you wait and you wait and you wait and you wait, and the lion doesn't come. Then along comes a giraffe. You can be alone, or you can be with the giraffe.

Oliver: I'd wait for the lion.

Hal: That's why I worry about you.

Obi-Wan Kenobi + 5 🎶

What's the first song that comes to mind when you think about them?

Easy! "Alone and Sublime" by Mother Mother. This song was MADE for my poor Obi

(Ewan) Character Ask Game

This character ask game is from @epickiya722

Rules: Send a Ewan character + one of these questions for me to answer in my ask box. In turn, I will send YOU a Ewan character + question in your ask box.

1. Why do you like or dislike this character?

2. Favorite canon thing about this character?

3. Least favorite canon thing about this character?

4. If you could put this character in any other media, be it a book, a movie, anything, what would you put them in?

5. What's the first song that comes to mind when you think about them?

6. What's something you have in common with this character?

7. What's something the fandom does when it comes to this character that you like?

8. What's something the fandom does when it comes to this character that you despise?

9. Could you be roommates with this character?

10. Could you be best friends with this character?

11. Would you date this character?

12. What's a headcanon you have for this character?

13. What's an emoji, an emoticon and/or any symbol that reminds you of this character or you think the character would use a lot?

14. Assign a fashion aesthetic to this character.

15. What's your favorite ship for this character? (Doesn't matter if it's canon or not.)

16. What's your least favorite ship for this character?

17. What's a ship for this character you don't hate but it's not your favorite that you're fine with?

18. How about a relationship they have in canon with another character that you admire?

19. How about a relationship they have in canon that you don't like?

20. Which other character is the ideal best friend for this character, the amount of screentime they share doesn't matter?

21. If you're a fic writer and have written for this character, what's your favorite thing to do when you're writing for this character? What's something you don't like?

22. If you're a fic reader, what's something you like in fics when it comes to this character? Something you don't like?

23. Favorite picture of this character?

24. What other character from another fandom of yours that reminds you of them?

25. What was your first impression of this character? How about now?

26. FREEBIE QUESTION!!

@crazyfoolish This is the one I was thinking of when you said "hand in trousers" for some reason 😅

He's so stupey! 😆 What could this have possibly been for?! Lol

why this pic makes me laugh...sorry

SOMEONE will advocate for you

Vent Post

TW: Suicidality

Life is changing around me and I can't stop it. Not only can I not stop it, I can't keep up! I can't keep up! I'm falling behind! I'm being LEFT behind! I'm stuck. I'm such a failure. I don't know what to do. I relate to Alexander in A Gentleman in Moscow. I sympathize with him because he's been holding on so tightly to the past as his one last comfort until reality gives him no choice but to face the hard truth. That how I feel now. There's no more faking it until I make it. Adapt or die. Those are my options. But I can't adapt so instead I'm dying! I feel so lost. It was never supposed to be like this. This wasn't supposed to be my life. Like Fantine says in Les Misérables, "I had a dream my life would be so different from this hell I'm living...now life has killed the dream I dreamed." I don't see a way out of this. It almost seems prideful to continue living. For what? To say that I've won? I beat life? I will be a footnote in my family's history and that's if I'm lucky. I don't...have anything valuable to offer anyone...I know this is a dangerous path my thoughts are taking me. I truly don't see the point anymore. It's not that the world, my loved ones, wouldn't care if I died. It's that it wouldn't matter if I /did/. My absence doesn't matter now. It won't matter if it was permanent. I feel so far away.

Honestly I was gonna scroll past this until I saw the "I'm doing my part" addition. The propaganda did its part so now I'm doing mine 🫡

please no halloween posts just yet. there’s still 2 months left

refseek.com

www.worldcat.org/

link.springer.com

http://bioline.org.br/

repec.org

science.gov

pdfdrive.com

Hello!

I feel your sadness and agree. Luckily, I have some info that will hopefully brighten your spirits! Ewan actually did two more musicals after Moulin Rouge!

In 2005, he performed in the stage musical "Guys and Dolls." Unfortunately, I haven't come across a bootleg of the full play but here's a link to him singing "Luck be a Lady" https://youtu.be/yigcJ3OCa-s?si=I70lyYBb6H6ra1Gf

Then in 2017, he was in Disney's live action "Beauty and the Beast" as Lumière. Now, he's a CGI candlestick for 99% of the movie, but he does sing twice that I can recall!

Finally, here's a list of Ewan movies after 2001 that aren't musicals but he does sing in for one reason or another:

Down with Love - 1 end credit song (absolutely gorge)

Miss Potter - 1 song (serenades the main character midway through the movie)

T2 Trainspotting - 1 song midway through the movie (not a serious song at all but still fun)

Bleeding Love - 2 songs (1st in the middle of the movie for fun and 2nd during the end credits as a duet with his daughter)

If you'd like a list of movies pre-Moulin Rouge I can do that too!

Sometimes I think about the fact that after Moulin Rogue, Ewan Mcgregor never did another musical and it makes me sad for the world.

Which Ewan character should I make a headcanon alphabet for next? I want to write and I'm not feeling inspired.

EVERYONE STOP SCROLLING AND READ THIS NOW!

Bestie, this is everything I could've ever wanted. You mind! You're beautiful mind! I don't know what to say. This was food for my soul. You've inspired me to study film analysis. This breakdown blew me away! 🤯 I'm just rambling cuz I'm genuinely floored. Wow!

Queer Text/Subtext in Shallow Grave (1994)

CW: BLOOD, STABBING, MURDER, NON-SEXUAL NUDITY, DRUG USE

I guess I wrote a rough essay... about the queer subtext in Shallow Grave... Here... have the rough draft if you'd like...

Overt references to queerness:

When we look at contemporary movies, we often have a knee-jerk reaction to dismiss any “funny” references to queerness or sexuality to be taken as jokes and nothing further than that.  Unfortunately, this has become all too common, and does a disservice to the films we watch. So I will be taking every moment of referenced or implied queerness as serious, even if it is delivered in a humorous way. Especially because this movie is not meant to be a comedy (despite some humorous moments).

Furthermore, references to queerness in movies should be taken seriously because they establish not only the existence of queerness (in universe, as one might say), but can also demonstrate the character’s attitudes towards queerness.  Its important to notice that at no point in this movie are any references to queerness played for a laugh – they might be humorous, but we are not meant to laugh at the character for being queer, which indicates that queerness is taken seriously within the universe of the movie (or at least between the characters).

The first overt reference to queerness is when Juliet asks an interviewee if he is having an affair with a man or a woman and the man is not given screen time to answer. This same man bursts into tears after Alex, a man, says, “When did anyone last say to you these exact words, ‘you are the sunshine of my life’?” (this is a reference to the Stevie Wonder song of the same name). While it is technically (according to the script) said by Alex to a different interviewee, the arrangement of the shots does not indicate that, as it cuts directly from Alex asking the question to the man crying. This could imply a number of things.

The second overt reference to queerness comes at the charity ball, where a Scotsman says, “ladies and gentlemen, and those of you who are neither or both,” which is then met with a drumroll. Alex immediately responds, offended, “where did they dig him up?” implying that Alex finds the joke to be outdated and, perhaps, distasteful.

The third overt reference is when Alex dresses in drag. He also appears in the same scene, on the tape recording wearing some rather flamboyant costumes.  The fact that Alex is in drag is not addressed by any of the other characters, nor by Alex, indicates that this is either a usual occurrence, or, for some reason, entirely unremarkable to the characters.  Specifically, it is interesting that David does not comment on it, as he walks into the scene unsuspecting.

The fourth, and final, overt reference to queerness is when, upon being told of Juliet and David’s relationship, Alex says to Juliet, “I’d do exactly the same thing except I don’t think I’m his type.” If the line is interpreted sarcastically (which I think most viewers will) then we can assume that he is jealous of David for being with Juliet. If it is interpreted as earnest, then we can assume that he is jealous of Juliet for being with David. It also could be an ambiguous combination of both.

Queer Subtext:

Now let us dig into the subtext, which I actually find to be much juicier....

The Squash Scene and the Car

Directly after the interviews have concluded, we are given a scene which helps frame the relationship between the three characters as one built on dynamics of domination and submission and gives us a baseline to understand each of the character’s roles within this dynamic. This scene takes place on the Squash court.

There is a deviation here between the script and the film, as several lines have been cut, but I will include them as they add some context to the scene.

In the above text, Alex indicates that he sees this game of squash as a struggle for dominance. In this case, the game between Alex and David is won by Alex, who then, despite having called David a “bad loser,” demonstrates that he is a sore winner when he gloats over David by saying, “defeat, defeat, defeat – sporting, personal, financial, professional, sexual, and everything.”

David is clearly annoyed by this and storms off. This scene sets up the ongoing power dynamic between Alex and David in which Alex is the dominant one in the relationship. It also is the first time that we see David being emasculated by Alex, which will continue occurring for the first half of the movie.

Immediately after David leaves the court, Juliet takes his place to play a match against Alex.  In this scene she is wearing a rather masculine outfit which is similar to that of the two male characters. She also sports short hair throughout the movie, but this is the scene in which she appears the most “boyish.”  When she enters the court to play, Alex begins to make the same statement (“Did you know squash is-”) that he made (in the script) earlier, to David. Thus he is using this exercise as a way to exert dominance, not only over David, his male sexual rival, but also over Juliet, thus implying that she is on equal footing – therefore also a sexual rival. However, Juliet cuts him off and tells him, “Alex, just serve.”

The action of cutting off Alex denies him domination in that moment, thus establishing that the two of them are on much more equal footing, or possibly that Juliet is in fact the dominant one between the two of them.  This scene serves to establish that typical gendered dynamics are somewhat blurred between these three individuals, and that David, instead of Juliet, takes on the most feminine/passive role in the group.

The next scene once again highlights the complicated gender and power dynamics within the group.  Juliet drives the car (masculine) while Alex and David bicker with one another from the back seat and passenger seat, respectively.

In this scene, addressing Alex’s win, David says, “Victory is the same as defeat – it’s giving into destructive competitive urges,” which distances him from competition, and could be interpreted as him rejecting the masculine urge to dominate.  Alex, in return, emasculates him by belittling his reliance on a “discussion group,” (implied to be therapy). During this scene, Alex and David are looking at one another, however, the rear-view mirror blocks both of their eyes. This symbolizes their unwillingness to see “eye-to-eye and perhaps a certain level of repression between the two of them.  Also in this scene, Juliet physically dominates Alex by elbowing him in the chest, and attempts to emasculate him verbally by implying that a woman that he is interested in hates him. She does this specifically in response to Alex’s emasculation of David, thus establishing that while Alex might be dominant over David, she is dominant over him.  During this exchange, however, in her attempt to protect David from Alex, David is further emasculated because he relies on someone else to defend him.

Discovering the Body / Three Friends, Three Bodies

When the trio discovers Hugo’s body we see some more of this interesting dynamic.

David stands by shocked while Alex ransacks the room searching for paraphernalia, while Juliet (the doctor among them) attends to the body.

Hugo’s nude corpse in this scene represents male vulnerability. He is prone and exposed on the bed, having overdosed on heroin, and can do nothing while his privacy is violated (by the dominant, Alex).  The injection of drugs into the body, in this case, could also be said to symbolize emasculation - the breaking of the body barrier through penetration of a syringe (phallus). This exemplifies a significant cultural fear at the time – death of the male body via penetration, which had become a major concern due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. (If I was writing this essay for real, this is where I would insert articles that demonstrate horror’s preoccupation with AIDS and gay stuff during the 80s and 90s, but this is just for fun)

David, of course, is enamored by this display of the fragility of the male body. I would suggest that he identifies with Hugo’s vulnerability in death, and that the treatment of Hugo’s body by Alex and Juliet mirrors the way that they treat David. While Alex takes advantage of Hugo’s vulnerability in death by violating his privacy (thus dominating it), Juliet emasculates Hugo’s corpse by tending to it.  In one shot, we also see Juliet’s fingers dangerously close to penetrating Hugo’s mouth.

We can also expand upon this by recognizing that the two male characters that are pursuing Hugo and the trio in search of the money, are parallels to Juliet and David.  The two men are able to dominate Juliet and Alex through violence, only then to be killed by David. Thus, the three bodies that the trio end up burying are parallels to the trio themselves.

David Overcomes Emasculation, Alex Becomes Emasculated.

Alex’s emasculation of David continues throughout the first half of the movie, culminating in David being forced to dismember Hugo’s body (the very body that he identifies with).  When this occurs, he becomes the violator/aggressor/dominator.

This occurrence proceeds the change in the group dynamic. Around the midpoint of the movie (during the charity ball) we see David transition into a dominant role in the trio, while Alex becomes submissive.

This is demonstrated first by Juliet dominating Alex while they dance. Alex falls to the floor, drunk, and Juliet takes that moment to step on Alex’s mouth, forcing him to lick the bottom of her shoe.  He then willingly kisses her ankle, meeting her eye contact submissively. It is made clear through his facial expressions and laughter, that he finds joy in this act, thus embracing the emasculation (whereas David had always responded poorly, rejecting it).

Alex then attempts to re-exert control over David by forcing him to toast when he doesn’t want to. David eventually concedes after Alex yells at him, demanding that he toast to “love and happiness forever.”  (Alex also humiliates and emasculates Cameron in this scene).

David finally exerts control when Brian McKenly (a man keen on pursuing Juliet) interrupts their conversation. David responds by standing on level with Brian and stating, “If you want to talk to my girlfriend, you talk to me first. If you want to dance with her, you apply in writing three weeks in advance or you end up inside of a fucking bin bag. You didn’t apply – so you don’t dance!”

While David shrinks a bit afterwards, admitting that he found the interaction stressful, both Juliet and Alex embrace him, in high spirits (one might say… aroused…). Alex exclaims, “He [David] was really good – fucking bin bag – I really liked that. You really explored your maleness to the full there! You were magnificent.” This statement indicates that Alex, who has rarely had an encouraging word for David over the course of the movie, is invigorated upon seeing that David has stepped into a dominant role, exerting his masculinity onto others. Immediately following this, Alex is assaulted in the bathroom by Cameron (who he had emasculated twice prior) and two other men, who beat him quite badly, thus emasculating Alex.

The following day, Alex’s emasculation is made complete when he dresses in drag and spends the day in debauchery with Juliet. The framing of his and Juliet’s bodies during this scene is also worth noting, as they are often visually indistinguishable from one another – with Alex being noticeably more feminine than Juliet in several shots due to his makeup, jewelry, dress, and rather delicate shoulders.

(Notably, during the entirety of the ball scene and much of the drag/video scene, Alex is often pictured smoking a cigar instead of his usual cigarette, which could be said to stand in for a phallus.)

From this point on, David is almost always dominant over Alex. (One notable exception is one moment where Alex leans in close to David during dinner and orders, “now swallow,” while making very intense eye contact. David regains control by reminding Alex that David was the one who dismembered Hugo’s body.)

After this point it is clear that David is undergoing some extreme psychological stress, and has become paranoid and aggressive.  His shift in demeanor is most clearly symbolized by this shot, where he calls out of work so that he can begin making plans to protect the cash.

The Wickerman

During one scene, an injured Alex lays on the couch and watches the final scene of The Wickerman (1973). 

The Wickerman tells the tale of a conservative Christian police officer who goes to a Scottish isle to investigate the disappearance of a girl, only to discover that the locals are practicing a form of paganism that involves human sacrifice. The police officer discovers that he is in fact the sacrifice.  It is implied that he is the sacrifice because he is a virgin and a heterosexual, and he is unwilling to have sex with Christopher Lee’s character.  Christopher Lee was most well known at the time for playing the lead in Dracula (1958) – another movie with extremely well documented queer subtext. The audience of The Wickerman would have been aware of this.

During this scene, the drumbeats of the pagan ritual, where the police officer is being marched to his execution/sacrifice, synchronizes with David’s steps overhead, a sound that the characters and the audience come to associate with surveillance and dread.

Honestly this scene has me a bit stumped. Who does Alex identify with in this situation? The heterosexual victim? – is the ending subverted because his submission culminates in… the penetration of Alex's body… thus making him queer? Idk it's been a long day.

Surveillance

During the second half of the movie, David moves into the Attic and rarely comes down when his housemates are home.  He is protecting the money, both from his housemates and from the men who eventually come looking for it. While Alex and Juliet are brutalized by the men, David is the one who has set a trap for them, and is able to kill them. He also leads the trio to dispose of the bodies, and drives the van (whereas Alex had driven the van the first time they disposed of the bodies, when he had been the dominant one in the relationship).

During his time in the attic, David drills holes in the ceiling so that he can spy on his housemates. He is literally in a dominant position over them, looking down on them while they go about their daily tasks. In one scene, he spies on Alex and Juliet while they are sleeping. In this scene, he is shown first to be watching Alex. David is also in a state of undress that we have not seen before, implying a certain sensuality to the observation. We do not get to see Alex in a state of undress, but the scene finishes with Alex putting his shoes on, the camera looking down from above, implying David’s Point of view, and that he had watched the whole time. After Alex leaves, David moves to watch Juliet, in a scene that is much longer and more explicitly inappropriate and sexualized, especially because we come to understand that David’s temporary attic bed is located directly over her bed. However, before she begins undressing, he looks away and holds his head in his hands.

This scene simultaneously offers us a leveling effect between the two objects of David’s gaze (Alex and Juliet), while simultaneously prioritizing the heterosexual coupling. However, the implication that there is shame associated with the heterosexual gaze, complicates the situation.

Penetration with the Drill (Phallus)

When Alex goes into the attic to look for the money (and finds it in the water tank), he climbs back down the ladder only to be confronted by David, who is holding a drill (phallus) as a weapon.  Alex’s hands are wet from the water, and he frantically wipes them on the seat of his pants, behind his back, visually placing his hands as a barrier to his anus. The Drill makes contact with Alex's head and breaks the skin in an act of penetration (the body barrier is broken). This is the first scene in which David directly engages in domination (and penetration) of Alex.

David’s Glasses and Alex’s Photo

Lenses, mirrors, and portals/doorways are deeply significant visual aids in this movie, but I want to highlight the one that stood out to me the most. When Juliet and David have (implied) sex, at which point they solidify their status as a couple, David removes his glasses, and places them on Juliet’s bedside table.  Underneath the glasses is a photo of Alex in costume, a cigar in his mouth, framed through the lens of the glasses.  The photo was taken on the day in which we see Alex at his most feminine, at a point where he had been thoroughly emasculated (beaten in a bathroom by a man that he had emasculated multiple times). The framing of the photo, through the lens of David’s glasses implies that this is how David sees Alex – costumed, emasculated, and with a phallus in his mouth.

This photo is also shown once more in the film; David holds the photo of Alex as he lies in his attic bed, and he pins it above his head so he can look at it. The scene cuts to Alex, also in bed, who then gets up. It once again cuts back to David, who also gets up, and we see that Juliet lies asleep next to him. This follows a pattern of shots that we’ve seen before in the film (see the Surveillance section), where we see David watching Alex in what could be interpreted as a sexual or romantic way, before the camera reveals Juliet and lingers significantly. The implication is that whatever there is between David and Alex always gives way to the relationship between David and Juliet.

Returning to the glasses - the final time that we see them is during the climax of the movie. The three characters are struggling against one another, and David’s head is forced into the refrigerator so that Alex can try and smash him with the door.  He manages to throw Alex off, but not before his glasses are caught on the shelf of the refrigerator, thus knocking them off his face.  Having David’s glasses be knocked off would not typically be significant in a fight scene such as this, however the camera goes out of its way to linger on this shot, indicating that the symbolism here is important.  The other time that we have seen David remove his glasses has been before he has (implied) sex with Juliet. In this case, the removal of the glasses occurs just before David pins Alex in his final act of domination, which then culminates in the ultimate symbolic act of sexual penetration – David stabbing Alex with a knife (phallus).

NOTE: David is also pictured without glasses at the beginning of the film, where he is lying on his back, and halfway through the film, after he has dismembered Hugo in a symbolic act of violence against his own vulnerability.  In the first scene we hear his monologue; “I’m not ashamed, I’ve known love, I’ve known rejection. I’m not afraid to declare my feelings. Take trust for instance, or friendship. These are the important things in life. These are the things that matter, that help you on your way. If you can’t trust your friends well, then what then? What then? This could have been any city, but all the same.” It is unclear until the end, but it seems that the first time that we see David, right at the beginning, we are actually seeing him postmortem in the morgue. Meaning that the monologue is a lament on his life... (You're not ashamed of what, David? Being a bit gay, perhaps?)

Penetration with the Knife (Phallus)

At the climax of the movie, after David’s glasses have been removed, we arrive at David’s final act of domination over Alex.  David pins Alex to the floor by sitting on his stomach, with Alex’s legs pinned underneath his knees in a position that could be interpreted as sexual.  He then holds Alex by the throat, and stabs him in the shoulder, slicing clean through and penetrating the floor.  The act of stabbing (penetrating) a victim with a knife (phallus) is one often noted in analysis of horror films, as having sexual implications (again – I’d find some article about it here if I was a serious writer lol).

Before David can stab Alex again with a second knife, David is stabbed with a knife through the throat from behind by Juliet.  Thus Juliet, who has been a dominant character throughout the movie, is symbolically penetrating David with a phallus. Furthermore, the location of the stabbing in the throat and from behind, implies that David has now suffered, once again, an emasculation, just as he had just preformed on Alex.

David collapses and dies, just as Hugo did, from emasculation through the body barrier being broken from penetration. Thus, David’s identification with Hugo’s corpse and the vulnerability that it represented, is complete in this moment.

Juliet then kneels over Alex, taking up the same position that David had just occupied, and places her hand on the knife in Alex’s shoulder, pressing on it, thus taking David’s place as the one to dominate Alex.  She then removes her shoe, and in an act that mirrors the scene from the charity ball in which she dominated Alex by having him lick her shoe/foot, she uses her shoe to hit the knife three times, driving it deeper into his shoulder, further penetrating him.  Thus, in her final interaction with both David, and Alex, she has penetrated them.

As she puts her shoe back on, we can see inside of the refrigerator, where we once again see David’s glasses, recalling once again that this scene is coded as sexual in nature through the movie's visual language.

As the movie closes, we discover that Alex is alive (probably), and that he has hidden the money underneath the floorboard. In the ultimate irony of the movie, the character that spent the second half of the movie being coded as the submissive (homosexual receiving) partner, has come out on top, despite the other two character’s attempt to dominate (and kill) him.

Uhhh the credits roll, and they're all shown as they were in the first scene of the movie, smiling, laughing, and the love song "Happy Heart" plays...

The Ewan McGregor character I think you are is…

Alexander Rostov (A Gentleman in Moscow)

This is probably a recency bias because I just watched the final episode, but stick with me. You are observant and detail oriented, quietly taking in the details of the places and people around you. Like Alexander, you have experienced isolation and loneliness but thrive when you find your place amongst your people. You care deeply and are loyal to your friends and loved ones.

Pal, I'm actually tearing up 🥹 Also, I think there's something poetic about me reminding you of the ONE character that I do not know! No more putting it off. I'm going to watch the first episode of A Gentleman in Moscow tonight! Geez, Pal, I'm so honored that you think of me at all. I hope I don't sound arrogant, but this is such an accurate read! I'm genuinely flattered and just bubbling 😊 This is the written equivalent of a hug fr fr 🫂💓💓💓

Ask Game!

I'm always wanting to talk about Ewan McGregor so I came up with an idea for an ask game! This is my first time making one of these so it will be a learning experience 😅

Reblog this post if you want me to tell you what Ewan character I think you are in your ask box! It might be based on your blog, your personality (if we've interacted before), or just plain vibes!

Update

Over this weekend, I've been thinking hard about the pros and cons of leaving Tumblr and what other options I have. Well, last night, I was reading old letters I wrote to myself from several years ago. A regular theme in these letters was loneliness. I didn't feel like I belonged anywhere and came to the conclusion that I never would. Reading these letters of my younger self made me realize that I can't leave this hellsite. I've spent so many years looking for the community that I finally found here and by god I'm not ready to give it up.

I'm staying, baby!

Unfortunately, I still don't know why what happened on Thursday happened, nor do I have reassurance that it won't happen again. I've accepted that my best course of action is to export my account and have another way to keep in touch with mutuals if I go dark again. I'm also going to keep @loycspotting-thee2 as a backup account. Other than that, I can only hope that incident never repeats itself. My dad always said that the experience of others is the best teacher so I beg you to please use my experience as a learning opportunity. I would never want anyone to go through what I did. Thank you everyone for your love, support, and patience throughout this ordeal. I love y'all and am so thankful to stay in community with you. ❤️❤️❤️

Leaving Tumblr (Update Below!)

Last night, my account was terminated. I don't know why. I was in the middle of using the site when suddenly I was locked out. No warnings. No announcements. Nothing. I was an absolute wreck. I couldn't eat or sleep. There was no word from Tumblr's management team. I could only explain what happened and sit on my hands. I felt utterly helpless waiting and hoping for a miracle. I had a home here. I had friends who became family. People that I love. Fandom that was my absolute joy and honor to participate in. It was all ripped away for no reason at the drop of a hat. My work. My mutuals. My home. Gone. Just like that. I couldn't say goodbye. I didn't know if or how I'd be able to find my moots again. I was able to create a second account called @loycspotting-thee2 and wracked my brain trying to remember my friends' usernames while terrified that that account would disappear too. I couldn't focus on anything. I was completely distraught. Thankfully, a miracle did happen and my account was magically reactivated. Again, no warning. No one reached out and explained what happened. One moment it was here, gone the next, then here again. In all my years of being on social media, I've never feared that a platform would kick me off like that until last night. I stayed up reading story after story of people who have used Tumblr, some of them holding accounts for YEARS with thousands of followers, logging on just to find it wiped from existence on any random day. This is a serious and repetitive issue, but not apparently to Tumblr. I may not have been a Tumblr user for long, but this incident has irrevocably broken my trust. No amount of saving and cataloging and backing up my account will protect me from being a victim of this website's carelessness. I would always have to worry if I'd be the unlucky user of the day that got their account deleted with no guarantee that it would be reactivated. I cannot and will not live in fear that everything I've created and the home I've found will be taken from me again against my will. Therefore, I have decided that the best option for me is to deactivate my account and say goodbye on my own terms. I am absolutely heartbroken to come to this decision. This has been the most unreal online space. I loved it here! It was everything I've been looking for and I only regret not signing up the first time I heard about it all those years ago. I love being in the Ewan McGregor fandom! Where it's not just a fandom. It's a fanhome 😁. I found my voice here, as well as people who heard me. People who understood me. This was my absolute favorite place to be, bar NONE. I felt fulfilled writing and reviewing. There were so many more things I wanted to do and experience with you guys. It was you who encouraged me. You listened, reblogged, commented, and messaged. You accepted me. From the bottom of my heart I love my mutuals. Even if we don't follow each other, if we've talked or interacted with each other's posts I love you too. I love the passion and creativity flowing through this site. I don't know what will happen with the Ewan McGregor Screentime Percentage project. I'm not ready to quit just yet. Maybe I'll start a Reddit or letterboxd account. Of course, for the writing, I can consider joining Ao3. If you want to keep in touch, then I implore you to message me so we can work something out. The friendships I made here are paramount to everything else. I'm going to leave this up for 9 days (or until I'm terminated again 🙄) to give myself time to get things in order. On September 1st, I will say goodbye.

21. Ewan McGregor Movie Review: Down with Love (2003)

Genre: Comedy/Romance

Rating: PG-13

Director: Peyton Reed

Starring: Renée Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, Sarah Paulson, and David Hyde Pierce

Synopsis: Aspiring author, Barbara Novak, trades her small-town life for the Big Apple in order to promote her new book, "Down with Love." The book stirs up controversy with its message to help women achieve equality by saying no to love and yes to sex. When Catcher Block, resident playboy and New York's #1 journalist, is personally affected by this shift of the sexes, he plots to expose Barbara Novak as a fraud by getting her to fall in love with him.

Ewan Review: Ewan plays the character Catcher Block. Catcher is famous for being THE socialite of New York City. Women want him, men want to be him, and he's highly respected in his field as a journalist. Yes, life is perfect for him...until Barbara Novak shows up out of the blue and turns society on its head! His pride and reliance on the status quo can't bear to see this happen. So, he does what any logical man would do: wage a battle of the sexes! Ewan surprisingly speaks in his Scottish accent for this role! He also speaks in a southern accent which isn't any good, but I'm going to give him a pass this time because of the context. He has two shirtless scenes and LOTS of kissing scenes. I'm talking straight up making out, y'all. There are sex jokes galore and he gets to make his fair share of them. He doesn't have any sex scenes but he does have an implied erection scene. Lastly, he has a stellar song and dance number. His acting performance is incredible. I also just want to add that he is outlandishly handsome in this movie. I don't know how to explain it, especially because he's handsome in practically all his roles. He's a naturally handsome guy, but the way his attractiveness was amplified ten-fold in this movie did not go unnoticed by me. Please tell me if you understand what I'm talking about.

Screentime Percentage: Ewan is on screen for a grand total of 47/102 minutes making his SP 46%.

To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is the movie worth watching for Ewan in general? 1000% YES! Is it worth watching in general? Yes!

Where to Watch: "Down with Love" is available for rent on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and Google Play Movies and TV. You can watch it for free on soap2day.

Closing Thoughts: This movie is an homage to the sex comedies of the 1960s and is played out like one. It takes place in 1962 and the way it transports the audience back to that time is nothing short of fantastic! The costumes, editing, set design, manner of speech, soundtrack, everything down to the last detail was dripping in nostalgia and it was a blast! I feel the need to stress though that this is a SEX comedy. It's about sex. It's all the characters talk about, it's the driving force of the movie, and dirty jokes/sexual innuendos are the foundation of it. Just think it over before popping it in for family movie night.

Calling all Alex Law Fans!

If you're a fan of Alex Law from Shallow Grave, I need your insight!

I had a riveting conversation with a moot last night about Alex. We discussed this snippet of Danny Boyle's interview about the movie:

So, I've always seen people talk about Alex being bisexual and I never knew why. Fun fact about me: I'm not good at recognizing sexuality 😅. Now, I'm curious! If you're in the "Alex is bisexual" camp and willing to talk my ear off about how you picked up on the signs, then consider this your invitation to jabber with me! 😁

P.S. I got the snippet from BOMB Magazine on Pinterest. Here's a link to the full interview: https://bombmagazine.org/articles/1995/04/01/sundance-danny-boyle/

Leaving Tumblr

Last night, my account was terminated. I don't know why. I was in the middle of using the site when suddenly I was locked out. No warnings. No announcements. Nothing. I was an absolute wreck. I couldn't eat or sleep. There was no word from Tumblr's management team. I could only explain what happened and sit on my hands. I felt utterly helpless waiting and hoping for a miracle. I had a home here. I had friends who became family. People that I love. Fandom that was my absolute joy and honor to participate in. It was all ripped away for no reason at the drop of a hat. My work. My mutuals. My home. Gone. Just like that. I couldn't say goodbye. I didn't know if or how I'd be able to find my moots again. I was able to create a second account called @loycspotting-thee2 and wracked my brain trying to remember my friends' usernames while terrified that that account would disappear too. I couldn't focus on anything. I was completely distraught. Thankfully, a miracle did happen and my account was magically reactivated. Again, no warning. No one reached out and explained what happened. One moment it was here, gone the next, then here again. In all my years of being on social media, I've never feared that a platform would kick me off like that until last night. I stayed up reading story after story of people who have used Tumblr, some of them holding accounts for YEARS with thousands of followers, logging on just to find it wiped from existence on any random day. This is a serious and repetitive issue, but not apparently to Tumblr. I may not have been a Tumblr user for long, but this incident has irrevocably broken my trust. No amount of saving and cataloging and backing up my account will protect me from being a victim of this website's carelessness. I would always have to worry if I'd be the unlucky user of the day that got their account deleted with no guarantee that it would be reactivated. I cannot and will not live in fear that everything I've created and the home I've found will be taken from me again against my will. Therefore, I have decided that the best option for me is to deactivate my account and say goodbye on my own terms. I am absolutely heartbroken to come to this decision. This has been the most unreal online space. I loved it here! It was everything I've been looking for and I only regret not signing up the first time I heard about it all those years ago. I love being in the Ewan McGregor fandom! Where it's not just a fandom. It's a fanhome 😁. I found my voice here, as well as people who heard me. People who understood me. This was my absolute favorite place to be, bar NONE. I felt fulfilled writing and reviewing. There were so many more things I wanted to do and experience with you guys. It was you who encouraged me. You listened, reblogged, commented, and messaged. You accepted me. From the bottom of my heart I love my mutuals. Even if we don't follow each other, if we've talked or interacted with each other's posts I love you too. I love the passion and creativity flowing through this site. I don't know what will happen with the Ewan McGregor Screentime Percentage project. I'm not ready to quit just yet. Maybe I'll start a Reddit or letterboxd account. Of course, for the writing, I can consider joining Ao3. If you want to keep in touch, then I implore you to message me so we can work something out. The friendships I made here are paramount to everything else. I'm going to leave this up for 9 days (or until I'm terminated again 🙄) to give myself time to get things in order. On September 1st, I will say goodbye.

SFW Alphabet: Catcher Block (Down with Love)

shoutout to my bestie @hellsalad for being a listening ear, helpful guide when I got stuck, and general inspiration for me to keep writing 💞

A - Affection (How affectionate is he? How does he show affection?)

Catcher is very affectionate and not afraid to display it publicly. He likes walking arm in arm or with his arm around your waist. When you hold hands, he periodically kisses your knuckles making you feel like royalty.

B - Best Friend (What is he like as a best friend? Where does the friendship start?)

Being best friends with THE Catcher Block means that you can truly say that you have friends in high places. He has the hookup for all the best restaurants, sports games, and nightlife entertainment. There's always something new to do when you're with him. He's a very fun and energetic person to be around. Your friendship began at the Know Magazine office. You were a junior journalist and had the great fortune of being paired with Catcher (much to his chagrin at the time) as your mentor. The friendship had a bit of a bumpy start but you showed a lot of promise in the field and impressed him. Now, it's hard to imagine never being friends!

C - Cuddles (Does he like to cuddle? How does he cuddle?)

Absolutely! He likes when you lay your head on his chest with one leg over his. He holds one of your hands with his and his other is wrapped around you rubbing your back. He's not really into spooning as he likes to see your face.

D - Domestic (Does he want to settle down? How is he at cooking, cleaning, etc?)

He's not eager to settle down preferring instead to enjoy the relationship one day at a time. It being the 60s, he most definitely doesn't ask you to move in with him before he puts a ring on your finger. He's not a good cook and mainly eats out or has the occasional TV dinner. He hired a maid to clean his bachelor pad but still keeps things tidy on his own.

E - Ending (If he had to break up with his partner, how would he do it?)

He would take them out to dinner and rip the bandaid off. He would try to spare their feelings by saying the cliche "it's not you it's me." or get them to to think that breaking up is their idea. He doesn't want the breakup to be nasty so that the door's still open for "sex a la carte" in the future. He's not heartless though, and if the relationship was a deep one then he'd mourn the end in private just like anyone else. (Ice cream and sad movies included).

F - Fiance (How does he feel about commitment? Does he want to get married?)

Catcher avoids commitment like the plague. He likes having many lovers to choose from like a buffet and being tied down would ruin that. He's one of the most desirable and eligible men in New York so he wants to have fun while he still can. Marriage isn't something that ever interested him until he met you. He can't help but feel like the two of you could make a beautiful life together. He's not yet ready to admit these feelings to you but giving up his lifestyle of rotational lovers in favor of exclusivity with you is a start.

G - Gentle (How gentle is he both physically and emotionally)

He's a gentleman so is very gentle physically. Of course he doesn't want to hurt you and loves pampering you at every opportunity. As far as emotional gentleness, he still has some learning to do. It's not that he enjoys hurting your feelings; far from it! But he's brash, arrogant, and used to getting his way which causes him to be insensitive at times especially to things he doesn't understand.

H - Hugs (Does he like hugs? How often does he do it and what are they like?)

He's not really much of a hugger unless you consider his embraces while making out "hugs." Catch doesn't hug often but when he does he usually opts for a side hug or a brief front hug if it's a friend.

I - I Love You (how fast does he say the "L" word?)

"I love you" falls off his lips easily....a little too easily. During his philandering days it wasn't an issue for him to say it to get what he wanted. Now, getting him to say it and mean it is a whole different ball game. Vulnerability is not one of his strengths. While the love he feels for you is genuine, it's still a new feeling for him. Be prepared to wait awhile to hear him confess his love.

J - Jealousy (How jealous does he get? What is he like when jealous?)

Catcher is a jealous man through and through. A bit ironic considering his background. He keeps his cool though and doesn't make a scene. He doesn't need to. Everyone knows who he is. A steely gaze and a snide comment is enough to send a suitor packing. When the two of you go out, you're practically joined at the hip and he makes sure everyone knows you're an item with his public displays of affection.

K - Kisses (What are his kisses like? Where does he like to kiss you? Where does he like to be kissed?)

Kisses with Catch are very heated and he loves making out anytime, anywhere. He likes to kiss a trail from your mouth, down your jaw, to your neck where he lavishes you with tender kisses and gentle bites. He likes to be kissed around his ears. It's a major weakness for him. His whole suave persona crumbles when you kiss the shell of his ear. Give him a nip and nuzzle and he's putty in your hands.

L - Little Ones (How is he around kids?)

Catcher says he wants a big family one day but how he acts tells a different story. Simply put, children and Catcher don't mix. Occasionally, a young boy who looks up to him will ask for an autograph and he'll oblige. Otherwise, he's content to not interact with them. It's in the best interest of his suits after all.

M - Morning (What are mornings like with him?)

Since Catcher started his "New Man" era, he knows that he can't spend the night with you as the temptation to *ahem* get to know you "all the way better" would be too strong. Therefore, on weekdays, your mornings together start at work. If he's not traveling, you share a pot of coffee in his office before starting your hectic workday. You guys chat about how your evening was, how you slept, etc. On weekends, he picks you up to go out for breakfast or you attempt cooking together which is always a fun experience.

N - Night (How are nights spent with him?)

Catcher takes you on a date somewhere new every night! He loves the nightlife and sharing new experiences with you. Sometimes, you like to have a more calm evening by enjoying an intimate dinner before slow dancing to his extensive music collection. He always walks you back to your apartment and you end the night with a lingering kiss.

O - Open (When does he open up about himself?)

When it comes to physical intimacy, Catcher Block is bar none. But emotional intimacy? Well, he's a tough nut to crack. His debonair persona, while flashy and alluring, doesn't have much substance. He is very keen on making sure that people only know about him what he wants them to know. It takes him several weeks to get there so it's very special when he does let his guard down and shares his heart with you fully. This vulnerability usually happens in the quiet moments of life together. Sitting on the veranda watching the sunset, reading together on a rainy day, or enjoying a quiet Sunday breakfast. Moments when he doesn't have to be The Man About Town™️, just your man.

P - Patience (How easily angered is he?)

99% of the time Catcher is cool as a cucumber. The 1% of the time he gets riled up is because someone insulted his sex appeal, journaling skills, or you. At that point you might as well step out of the way and let him do what he does best: destroy the offender with an exposé.

Q - Quizzes (How much does he remember about you?)

He's capable of remembering a lot about you, however, because he's had so many partners during his playboy days, he sometimes confuses an ex's info with yours 😬.

R - Remember (Favorite memory with you?)

Catcher's favorite memory with you is of the first time your bond began to form. You got to accompany Catcher to Japan while he worked on an article. It was there that you both were introduced to karaoke by the man you were interviewing. It would be offensive to turn him down so you nervously went through with it. Turns out, Catcher is actually a good singer! The two of you grew more comfortable as the night went on and even sang several duets! Catcher was impressed with your willingness to put yourself out there for the job. Belting his heart out with you by his side felt like magic.

S - Security (How protective is he?)

He's not super protective. He knows that you can take care of yourself. If you couldn't, then you wouldn't be in the cutthroat world of journalism. Of course, that doesn't mean he won't always have your back.

T - Try (How much effort does he put in?)

Catcher is a man who believes in going above and beyond. It's how he become the best journalist in New York after all. He applies this mentality to anything he sets his mind on. Or in this case, anyone. He pulls out all the stops when wooing you and even after you start going steady. Of course, he doesn't want to seem like he's trying since that would ruin his laid back persona. But in his heart, he's genuinely eager to please.

U - Ugly (What are his bad habits?)

Let's just say that putting others first is not second nature to him. It's not that he goes out of his way to be selfish, he's just never had to share before. He's used to going where he wants and doing what he wants whenever he wants. He hasn't had a relationship deeper than a fling so thinking about how his decisions affect you doesn't really cross his mind. This also leads to another bad habit which is assuming that what he wants is also what you want.

V - Vanity (How concerned is he with his looks?)

VERY! Never a hair out of place or a wrinkle in his wardrobe. He's sexy and he knows it and you best believe he flaunts it.

W - Whole (Would he feel incomplete without you?)

He would be heartbroken if your relationship didn't work out and he does miss you when you're apart. However, he would be able to bounce back eventually though you'd always have a place in his heart.

X - Xtra (Random headcanon)

He's not quick to cry but the song "Moon River" never fails to make him misty-eyed.

Y - Yuck (Things he doesn't like in general or in a partner)

Catcher is very open to new experiences. His motto is: "I'll try anything once, twice if I like it" (wink wink). Therefore, someone who prefers living in a set routine or refuses to step outside their comfort zone isn't going to last in a relationship with him.

Z - Zzz (What is a sleep habit of his?)

He's a wild sleeper. Limbs all over the place, tossing and turning, all that jazz. He's also a blanket hog.

20. Ewan McGregor Movie Review: Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

Genre: Family/Action

Rating: PG

Director: George Lucas

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, and Hayden Christensen

Synopsis: Ten years after The Phantom Menace, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker reunite with Padmé Amidala, now a Senator of the Republic. Their mission is to uncover who is behind the assassination attempts on her life. Anakin is sent to Naboo to act as Padmé's bodyguard and wrestles with his growing feelings for her as well as increasing visions of his mother. While Obi-Wan searches for her killer, he uncovers a secret plan to plunge the galaxy into war.

Ewan Review: Ewan McGregor returns to his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi, now graduated from a Padawan to a distinguished Jedi Knight and Master to Anakin Skywalker. Obi-Wan has grown into his role as a teacher to Anakin though the two often don't see eye to eye. He must learn to trust in Anakin and give him the freedom to prove himself. Ewan speaks in an English accent and has longer hair than in The Phantom Menace. He also sports a beard. He gets in a few fights and injured in one of them. He also gets soaking wet and tied by the hands twice. His screentime doubles from The Phantom Menace so you get to see more of Obi-Wan's personality which is appreciated. He's very sarcastic and quippy in this movie. His acting performance is very well done.

Screentime Percentage: Ewan is on screen for a grand total of 33/142 minutes making his SP 23%.

To Ewan or not to Ewan: Is the movie worth watching for Ewan alone? Yes. Is the movie worth watching in general? Yes.

Where to Watch: "Attack of the Clones" is available to watch on Disney+ and fuboTV with a subscription, Hulu, Sling TV, and YouTube TV with a premium subscription, and for rent on Google Play Movies and TV, Fandango at Home, and Amazon Prime Video. You can watch it for free on soap2day.

Thoughts: Attack of the Clones

I've been watching Star Wars Attack of the Clones and got to the scene where Anakin and Padmé are in the meadow. Anakin asks her about her childhood crush or something and she says "Are you gonna use your Jedi mind trick on me?" For whatever reason, her asking that made me wonder if Force-play is a thing in the Star Wars universe and if Padmé was into it. Like, do you think Anakin ever DID try to mind trick her in the bedroom per her request? Do you think that being such a powerful and commanding figure for practically all her life would make her interested in submission? To be able to just turn her mind off and allow someone else, someone she trusts above all others, to control her body? Make decisions for her? It's a thought I found interesting.

I have a new goal in life and it's to buy and wear this exact outfit

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