movies & tv

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5/24 - My Living Doll

I spent a few nights exploring the 60s sitcoms Tubi has to offer, because there are a few that I see referenced a lot and I wanted to see them for myself. After watching the first season of I Dream of Jeannie, it recommended a show called My Living Doll, which sounded too terrible to be true. Somehow both shows center a man working in aeronautics who encounters a supernatural/superhuman woman who is mostly dependent on him and can be shaped to his desires?

My Living Doll is worse, though, because Jeannie at least has a personality and her own wants, and that guy protag has a little natural charm. This guy sucks. He says outright that he wants to shape the android character to be the perfect obedient woman, and imposes all his ideas about what that means onto her. It's really gross.

But I guess this where that Borg character in Star Trek gets her name from? That's an interesting reference. And Julie Newmar plays the robot and injects the character with a little bit of presence and individuality through her performance, so good for her.

5/22 - After Yang

This has been on my list for a while, so seeing it available for free was the little push I needed after a long time of feeling emotionally unprepared for it. I'm still thinking about what the relationship between the themes of transracial adoption and what it means to be human is. There's also something horrific about a future that lifts from Asian cultures in fashion and architecture and also literally sells androids for their Asian appearance and cultural knowledge.

It's an interesting idea soup (or tea blend), and I'll have to think about it more. Robots and androids with feelings always get to me emotionally, though, so despite not "getting" everything on first watch, I was moved.

5/17 - I Dream of Jeannie

The real question is, would they play the gong for my entrance? Maybe at half volume

5/7 - Moonstruck

It took me a while to get into the tone of the movie, but once I saw Nic Cage's performance and noticed the moon motif, it made sense. It's an opera! Heightened and romantic, with a fairy-tale feel. Also, Nic Cage and Cher are so beautiful in this? Like, if I was them, I'd feel eternally satisfied to have those moments of my life committed to film. That close-up of Cher's face against her dark hair at the opera? Yeah. I also love that it was shamelessly sentimental and totally corny. Romance isn't usually my thing, but it believed in its vision and I love the commitment.

4/16 - Fraggle Rock

I've been watching Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock for the past week, and I think it's really lovely. I haven't seen the original, but I think it captured the sense of humor and respect for kids' agency and individuality that I've come to expect from the Muppets or Sesame Street. Plus it has a sweet environmentalist, community-oriented angle. The characters are also so darn cute... I think I was wired to have the reaction to puppets that we're supposed to have for babies.

...and BEEF

I had to take a lot of breaks while watching this (including Fraggle Rock palate cleansers). I even had to pause mid-episode once or twice because it was too much. Still getting my thoughts together. I really loved the imagery of the ground from Amy's therapy session, though. Not sure if I can articulate why it makes sense, but it feels right.