Elsa and Anna: Not the First

A note to my followers- A review of The Fault in Our Stars will be posted soon! I was just too busy crying my eyes out the first time around to review it properly, so I'm going to re-read it.

So. Anyway. You've probably heard the hype about "Frozen being the first Disney movie to show girls that you don't need a man to save you".

But honestly, I don't get it.

I love Frozen. Love, love, love it. It's one of my favorite Disney movies. Just clearing that up.

But... It certainly isn't the first of its kind. We're forgetting quite a few amazing Disney heroines here. How do you think they feel about it? So I'm going to list them here. Hopefully, that way, they'll get a bit of the appreciation they deserve.

Note: Please feel free to discuss your feelings on this in the comments! I'd be very happy to listen to your viewpoints, too.

Mulan. What the heck?! It's been a while since I last watched Mulan (Like, as in several years), but I'm pretty sure the whole message of the story is "you don't need a man to save you". Mulan enlists in the army, fights the Huns, and kicks some serious butt while doing so. It's even got some Twelfth Night- style romance in it, okay? So don't forget Mulan. Please.

Eilonwy. I suppose we can give poor Elionwy a pass, seeing as her movie isn't the most popular of Disney's (The Black Cauldron, in case you're wondering). But don't just totally toss her out the window. Please.

Megara. Okay. Megara isn't an official Disney princess. So what?! Megara saves Hercules. But what's more, she shows that it's okay if you need to be saved now and then. And another thing. She isn't very physically strong, but she is smart. She isn't the stereotypical wimpy-princess. But she also isn't the stereotypical femme fatale. Yet everyone seems to forget her.

Merida. My feelings on this are the same as my feelings on Mulan. Isn't the whole point of the movie that she doesn't need a man to save her? And it isn't like Merida is little known princess... This one is another what-the-heck worthy moment.



So. Those are my thoughts. Opinions, anyone?

A Writing Tag

Found this from Musings From Neville's Navel, and it looked like fun. So... here goes.

Magic Violinist's Questions

Fantasy or Sci Fi?
It depends. I prefer writing fantasy and reading sci-fi. The world building is so much fun! But sci-fi is a lot of fun to read too, especially if the author is talented.

Male or female protagonists?
I definitely prefer writing female characters. With writing, I'm a bit more flexible.

Epic Adventures or simple, small town life?
Epic adventures. I prefer reading about dragons and warlocks and such to... high school and friendships. After all, I get to experience those in real life. Reading transports me to a new world.

Which book would somebody have to pay you to read?
Twilight. Need I say more?

What book have you read the most?
The Harry Potter series wins by a landslide. I think I'm on my ninth re-reading now.

Do you buy used books? Why or why not?
It depends. Sometimes, old books tell a story, and not just with words. They have... history. But sometimes, I want a new book to record my own history.

That probably sounded a bit odd. Oh well.

What genre would be wildly outside of your comfort zone to write/read?
For writing- Romance. I can handle romantic subplots, but as a genre... just no. I don't understand how to weave a whole story out of it.
For reading- Horror. As a rule, I don't read horror- but I do enjoy writing it.

First drafts or editing?
First drafts. I enjoy watching my writing improve through editing, but the best part is the initial flow of words, and getting them onto paper. It makes me feel like I can do anything I want.

What is your biggest source of inspiration?
Science. I enjoy twisting the amazing world around us into something even more amazing.

Do you base stories on real life experiences?
No. I do pull emotion and character traits from real life, but not stories.

Nevillegirl's Questions

What kind of music do you like to listen to while writing?
Soundtracks. They affect the mood of my writing quite a bit.

What kind of music do you not like to listen to while writing?
Anything but soundtracks. It's too distracting, especially if it's a good song.

Who or what was the inspiration for the first character you ever wrote?
I don't even remember the first character I ever wrote, so I'll go back to the first one I remember. I believe she was inspired by one of my best friends.

Do you ever have romance in your stories?
Yes, as a subplot.

What authors do you think you write like?
I don't know myself, but I've been told that I write like Margaret Atwood and Chuck Palahniuk.

Are your stories usually funny or serious?
As Joss Whedon said, "Make it dark, make it grim, but then, for the love of God, tell a joke." I think that describes my writing pretty well.

What is the best thing someone has ever said about your writing?
My creative writing teacher made predictions for the future occupations of everyone in our class. She said I would be a writer, living in a flat in Soho. That was pretty cool.

What is the worst thing someone has ever said about your writing?
I honestly don't know. I don't really pay attention to negative comments.

Why are all these questions about writing?
You tell me.

Would you rather own a castle or all the chocolate in the world?
A castle. If I owned all the chocolate in the world, that would mean nobody else had any. I'd be like the Dictator of Chocolate, and that would be horrible.

On Lunar Eclipses

10:58 Nothing... Still nice outside, though. I like being outside in the dark.
10:59 There's a bit of a shadow on the corner of the moon!
11:01 The missing chunk is getting bigger.
11:03 This is going by so slowly, but it's worth it. The chunk is taking up about a sixth of the moon now, and there's a red haze around it.
11:04 Mars is quite visible too. Mars is fun to look aat- it's got a reddish tinge and is usually easy to spot.
11:05 If only we were somewhere quieter... The moon is still pretty, though.
11:08 We can also see the star Spica. Spica is a binary star, and the biggest and brightest star in the constellation Virgo.
11:09 Many ancient cultures were afraid of these types of eclipses. The Inca believed that a Blood Moon was caused by a jaguar swallowing the moon, and the Egyptians thought it to be a sow. Some Native Americans thought that it showed that the moon was sick, and they would sing to heal it. More recent beliefs think that this blood moon signifies the beginning of the end.
11:13 It's chilly, but I'm warm and it feels relaxing. I like the cold.
11:14 A bat flew in front of the moon just now.
11:15 Our cat is watching the moon, and I can hear birds in the distance.
11:16 A dark colored circle surrounds the moon, and a lighter line crosses through it.
11:19 I really should do this more often... It's nice out here.
11:20 Now the chunk covers a quarter of the moon. I'm craving hot chocolate.
11:21 Something is running around in the bushes...
11:23 The moon is almost half covered now! There's a blue line between the missing chunk and the moon.
11:25 Apparently a lunar eclipse is cause when the earth's orbit crosses between the sun and the moon. Sunlight can no longer reflect off the moon, so it goes dark.
11:27 The moon is halfway covered now.
11:28 I wish we could see more stars, but it's too cloudy.
11:30 I want to go camping and eat s'mores under the moon.
11:31 Eclipse- related book recommendation: Every Soul a Star, by Wendy Mass.
11:32 I can't believe I've been out here a whole half hour... It seems like it's going by much more quickly than that.
11:34 Our cat is still watching. She has a longer attention span than my brother.
11:37 The covered part of the moon is a weird brownish color now. You can hardly see the craters.
11:38 On a second thought, knee socks and shorts probably weren't the most practical of ideas. I'm cold.
11:41 The orange tinge is almost gone now.
11:46 The orange glow is back, and brighter than before.
11:47 Five sixths done!
11:48 Some more stars are visible... I can see the Big Dipper!
11:49 Now to watch and wait... I'm tired and can't keep my thoughts straight.
12:13 The eclipse is over now. Not as cool as I'd expected, but still fun. The moon is a lot darker than usual, and sort of brownish colored.

Why Gertude Yorkes Needs a Bit More Appreciation

Okay. So, I just finished Volume Six (Parental Guidance) of Runaways last night, and, well... My. I haven't had this many feels since Reichenbach. So, that being said, this post is in honor of Gertude Yorkes.

1. Gert is the only superheroine I've ever heard of who looks as if she weighs over a hundred pounds. Now, Runaways does quite a good job at beating back the skinny, scantily clad cliche, but look at Gert next to say, Karolina, and you'll see what I'm talking about.

2. She has a pet dinosaur, for crying out loud. Fancy suits of armor and superhuman powers are all well and good, but you can't beat Gert when it comes to 'powers'. Need I say more?

3. She's smart. On the Marvel wiki, Gertude was rated a four out of seven on intelligence. Although not quite a genius, she even rivals Ultron's 'son' when it comes to smarts.

4. She realizes that not everyone is perfect, but doesn't let that impact her relationship with them. Even though she doesn't act like it, Gert is one of the most compassionate members of the Runaways. She helps Molly get past the fact that her parents are supervillains, and she gives her life to save Chase.

5. Speaking of that, she has one of the saddest death scenes in the Marvel Universe...

6. And her and Chase also have one of the most adorable relationships.

7. She's critical of society, and a deep thinker. Even Spidey says so, which is saying something.

8. She has pink hair. I think that's pretty cool, don't you? And she would also be quite fun to cosplay.

Thoughts on 'Fangirling'

Fangirl

Noun; fan-girl

Informal, derogatory; An obsessive female fan

--

Some people would call me a fangirl. Most, actually. Why? I'm a girl, and I enjoy nerd culture.

But why does that make me a fangirl?

And why is okay to be a fangirl, but not a geek girl?

After all, 'geek girls' are being called out today, for cosplaying and wearing the costumes that the very men shaming them designed.



Yet nobody is calling out the thousands of 'fangirls'. Why?

Because it's okay to idolize an actor for his portrayal of a character in a movie or TV show that happens to belong to nerd culture.

But enjoying the actual comics? Or the movie, simply for its quality? Or cosplaying your favorite character?

No. That's not okay, in today's society

And that needs to change.

Because it's okay to like an actor. Being a fangirl is just fine. But it's not okay to also enjoy nerd culture for something other than certain British men.

And that's just wrong.

Now, why do people assume that any girl who enjoys nerd culture is a fangirl?

Am I, a teenage girl, incapable of enjoying something, simply for its content?

No. I'm not.

Maybe I do on occasion think 'Oh. He's cute."

But I'm not a fangirl, and I'm sure there are plenty of other people like me.

People who are sick of being stereotyped because of the things they enjoy.

Review: Runaways, Vol. 4: True Believers

Runaways, Vol. 4: True Believers by Brian K. Vaughan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



So, this one was by far my favorite of the Runaways books. Full of plot twists, brilliant character development, and some excellent artwork, it certainly deserves my five star rating.


THE ART

Not my favorite, but still excellent. The darker, rather subtle colors fit the mood of the book very well. Molly looks quite a bit older than usual, and it seems as if they slimmed down Gertude a bit, but aside from that I liked it.


THE WRITING

One doesn't usually expect excellent writing in a comic. But True Believers was quite good. Perhaps not right up there with Harry Potter, but it still beats some novels I've read. Not many, but some.

The characters, as usual, were quite well developed. I like the budding romance between Gert and Chase; as Nico says, they're "made for each other." I also like the Karolina/Nico/Alex love triangle. I don't usually enjoy love triangles, but I do like this one. Molly at times seems very immature for her age, but I felt like in True Believers, she grew up a little.

Now on the plot twists. I don't believe I've encountered this many plot twists before in a single book. Victor's past, for example. And the ending... What was with that? Has Alex returned from the dead?

OVERALL

So, that being said, I LOVED True Believers. It's one of my favorite comics so far, and certainly worth a read.



View all my reviews

My Camp NaNo Novel!

So. You remember how I mentioned possibly making a post about my Camp NaNoWriMo novel? Well, here it is, under my new pen name... Bridget Gillman!

Charlotte Herris has everything she could ever want. After all, she's the daughter of a millionaire and a genius, Charles Herris. Her father runs the Herris Corporation, which has recently branched into genetic sciences. While working with her mother in the lab one day, her sister Katie lockd them in the testing chamber. Her mother didn't survive, but Charlotte did- and she was left with superhuman speed and reflexes. Charlotte now lives a double life- flirtatious daughter of a millionaire and smart-mouth masked vigilante.

Melanie "Mel" Brooks never wanted to be a hero. She was a popular girl at school, and had just finished her Freshman year with flying colors. But when she's kidnapped by her best friend Charlotte's sister Katie and used for genetic experimentation, she wakes up with wings and enhanced eyesight. After defending Charlotte from Tiger, another experiment gone wrong, she takes up the mantle of the Hawk and decides to defend her city, no matter what the cost.

Asha Brown is the Bluebird, like her mother, and her mother's mother. The fact that she has powers comes as no suprise to her. Her powers give her the ability to turn invisible, leaving nothing but tiny blue sparks where she walks. She uses her powers for the good of the city.

Sharon Baker is an oddball. She's a bit of a nerd, and always has her facts straight, which makes her a bit of a smart aleck. The fact that she has precognition- the ability to see the near future-doesn't help much. The only other problem? She doesn't do 'superhero'.

She-Hulk Says: WE CAN DO IT