#chick flick

Legally Blonde

My favourite thing to do is put this movie on, open my door and put the volume to 100.

This movie made me, and probably thousands of others, want to be lawyers. Honestly I still do but I just don’t want to do the work. I also just don’t do well on exams.

I relate to Elle so much.

I really want to watch her new show but I’m scared it’ll be like what Young Sheldon is to The Big Bang Theory. I’m scared it’ll be more popular and people will ignore the original source. Of course Legally Blonde is way bigger than The Big Bang Theory but my point is clear. You know what I would’ve preferred? A wlw Elle x Vivienne series set after the second Legally Blonde movie where Vivienne is her divorce lawyer.

This is a perfect girly movie and I think everyone should watch this. It’s genuinely interesting and a fresh perspective that still hasn’t represented seen in years even though this movie came out more than two decades ago.

It’s also weirdly inclusive for a 100% white cast. 4/5

i am going to try actually blogging somewhat alongside the gaming shtuff <3 i need routine, so everyone tells me.

imma talk about anything. in fact, imma talk about movies: the ones i've watched this week. had a crap week (month, year, decade), so i obvi turned to movies, and it made me think

i need a mega-list (i frickin love lists) of the most fabulous movies i love, fashion, camp, drama, the works. something to emulate the sort of life i want. i want to be a girlboss woman i think. so hopefully these movies whip me into shape heh. i also have some witchy stuff because i kinda just really dig it

no order. just list. lets go

the devil wears prada (and its sequel) ocean's 8 cruella polite society the dressmaker last night in soho pride and prejudice (1995 and 2005) clueless wild child easy a she's the man 10 things i hate about you mean girls john tucker must die the first wives club bride wars legally blonde a cinderella story bride and prejudice drop dead gorgeous romy and michele's high school reunion bride wars do revenge stardust beauty shop tragedy girls jennifer's body heathers the craft practical magic the love witch the witches of eastwick bring it on girls trip deliver us from eva the guernsey literary and potato peel pie society little perfect find think like a man (and its sequel) 27 dresses what men want sparkle emma (2020) last holiday crazy rich asians little women the secret life of bees bridesmaids he's just not that into you sweet home alabama upgraded what's your number? empire waist almost christmas ella enchanted the help bend it like beckham mona lisa's smile cinderella (1997) the incredible jessica james the best man holiday the intern (this totally counts) hidden figures the house bunny death becomes her (and its musicalllll) confessions of a shopaholic mamma mia! waiting to exhale lisa frankenstein the princess diaries (and you guessed it, its sequel) wild target

okayyy that's it from me i think, i've run dry, and it's a pretty long list. i hope future-me benefits from this list, she could put it in a generator and spin for a movie instead of scrolling foreverrrrrrrrrr

perhaps in a year's time i'll update the list. there've been some decent releases actually, and i'm sure there're tons of movies i've not gotten to see yet

Alright, so one important thing about me is I love playing interactive romance novels. It is so fun to customize a character and roleplay as someone else. In fact, these games give me inspirations for characters in the books I am working on. A lot of my Episode couples are woven into the stories I write. But you know what bugs me?

Watching favorite games get scrapped and totally re-written. Love Island the Mobile game was amazing! Amazing as it was cheesy sit-com slop that I could sit back and play. You always start off as the "Bombshell" whether you like it or not. Based on the reality t.v. show named "Love Island", your MC shows up on the island to find the following:

1.) The One.

2) A Lil Summer Fine.

3.) We're Just Vibing.

Season one, although nubile and budding it's developer wings, was all about grafting (essentially flirting) and coming on top on the romance-turned-reality show. Regardless of the season, you get to customize your MC, get a vibe check on the couples, and figure out who you'll be shacking up with. Alright, so season one lacked diversity. Everyone was cookie cutter unless you are a non-white character.

Unfortunately, that came with a lack of diversity in body structure, hair, and skin tone. Now, say you're LGBTQ+. There was only one or two options back in the day if I remember right. Meaning: you have to play the storyline to have access to a wlw candidate. This is where hetero-normativity can ruin such a great game concept. Again, I played Love Island for fun - which can confuse feminist readers.

You can totally be a feminist without buying into toxic patriarchal standards. We are allowed to have fun without bashing ourselves. At the end of the day? We can all agree reality t.v. shows are problematic. Back to the tea.

Season 2 of the game was so wild. In an absolutely amazing way. Yes, you still had to play the straight romance plotline before unlocking the wlw options. However, the highlights? Graphics got better. There was a bit more diversity in personality, plot, and character design. Yet, here is the interesting part! You could have friendly relations and bond with other people.

Your relationships didn't have to be locked depending on whom you bonded with. Throughout the gameplay, a lot more (admittedly) male contestants get added to the game. I genuinely enjoyed how much depth they put into the characters. It still operated as a cheesy, "girl" show. Except, that's what made it awesome. You could dive into their backstories while retaining that Love Island baddie energy.

Now, season 3? A lot more diversity in race/nationality. The wlw option is available from the get-go. Yet, customization is a bit less diverse and the play-through starts to turn into a buy-to-win. The developers have started to play around with different body sizes and protective hair styles. However, the game almost loses it's luster. I felt like we lost out on a lot of potential for alliances, frenemys, and interesting love interests.

Now, the new version of Love Island? You can hardly customize your character. While they've added more skin tones, eye shapes, and tattoos, there is not a lot of hair, clothing, or body modification options. You start off with a hefty amount of diamonds - but a lot of the customization features require you to doll them out. It's the classic - do I make a bomb character or spend my diamonds on special scenes?

Again, hetero-normativity plays a role in this game. There's really not much room to make friendships with the other guys or girls. You're the bombshell - the ideal prize. All the guys want you. Meanwhile, the girls do not give a damn. You're the competition and no matter how many times you select the nice option... they don't give a shit.

Alliances are out and the drama is sub-par. There's no real back stories to go off of or bonding. You have to play several chapters before Lisbeth becomes an option. And yet? She still sticks by Ethan... or is it Evan? He both hates and love you for stealing his girl, btw.

All in all, the limited fashion and hair choices drives me insane. The colored hair options are not always flattering. At least season two gave you some nice starter jewelry and swim suits. It is so hard to save up diamonds to buy a new wardrobe in comparison to season 2.

Wait up, I got more tea.

So, there are two girls who are seemingly "Alt" or "Goth" coded. As a Goth, this frustrates me. The looks were cute, don't get me wrong. But how the heck do we have two black-haired ladies rocking lace and leather? Hello, one of them is a vintage shop owner?!

It's the safe Alternative coding that gets me. One of them is almost the equivalent of an E-Girl while the other has a Dominatrix. ice-cold persona. And she's bi. Talk about stereotyping. The designs are cute, but I still have my hair stand up as Goth and Alternative women are dangerously fetishized.

Devil Wears Prada is one of my favorite all time films. However, watching it again in my mid-twenties got me thinking. Did Andy actually change? Or was she growing into the person who she really was? Let's take a deep dive into Andrea Sachs personality.

Andy Sachs, in the movie, is a promising former college grad looking to make it big. Her goal? Survive the magazine line and create her own name. Except, here's the problem: she's working for one of the biggest tycoons in fashion... and Sachs doesn't have much style. Throughout the movie, it is pointed out that she is too big, very un-stylish, and extremely incompetent for the job. Even Miranda Presley herself cuts Andy down a size or two.

Except, here's what is interesting about Andy. She has ambition - lots of it. The amount of articles she's written, especially the ones about the janitorial bust, demonstrate Sachs' passion. Out of her friend group, she is the quintessential ball buster. Runway is our heroine's ticket to the top. Because a million girls would kill to have her spot.

Somehow, with all the jabs and ill-intended quips, something clicks. Andy unravels from a "boring" future "Emily" to being on par with the models garnered throughout Runway. She chucks the practical sweaters and the clam chowder after Nigel does a work up on her.

The clincher?

It works. Changing for the job is what people will argue that got Miranda Presley's eye. However, I disagree. Andy has always been clever. People forget she's not showing up out here without experience. Her shrewdness is what gets Sachs points about the other assistants. What fuels this audacity? Andy can be spiteful and petty.

But for all the right reasons. Looking back at the film, her boyfriend is a piece of work. One minute, he's all for his girlfriend's career woman trajectory. Except, it's very superficial. When she refused to quit the job, he pouts about her new glamorous look and clothes. I seriously think Nick was a misogynist happy to keep his woman down.

When she wasn't just "plain old" Andy, he turned cold. You don't dish out on your girl's new look because she made a big girl decision about work.

And this is what kills me. From day one, Andy's friends are framed as quirky misfits. The scene where they are throwing the phone? Complete asshole behavior. Yes, you shouldn't be married to the job. However, how many male figures have you seen wedded and bedded to their careers? If this was Nick's story rising to become a sous chef, he'd have the whole theatre applauding and pitying him.

But because it's fashion. It's models, clothes, and a female legacy. Andy is part of the Y2K girlboss era. Although problematic, Andy is the "sweet and naive" protagonist we needed. Which comes to the next aspect. Andy is relatable because she is genuine and only bites back when it is deserved. She puts up with all of Miranda's demands, the biting comments about her weight, and the constantly absent boyfriend.

I think her friends were comfortable when she was considered ordinary. Because an aspiring writer in a chartreuse sweater and loafers is easy to swallow than a "Glamazon" spouting Runway terms, totting expensive presents, and taking a serious turn for herself. Andy is villainous for being the "it girl". Yes, missing Nick's birthday was absolutely crappy. But as someone who has been the breadwinner? Realistically, you plan this shit out and know work won't give you the day off.

Understandably, movie logic needs us to have this conflict so it can portray Miranda as an unreasonable "dragon-lady" and show how a career can change you for the worst. Except, personally, I didn't see Nick consistently make room for Andy. This is the boring part about real life but pertains to my argument. Nick was seen cooking one grilled cheese sandwich for her and that's it. Andy is the epitome of selflessness throughout the entire movie - but a reckless one.

Not because she doesn't think. Her head is in the game. Runway stripped away the darkest facade of Andy so she could shine. She is selfless so she can maneuver people and maintain one's job. Furthermore, Andy has proven she cares so much. Yes, Sachs relies on her instincts to survive. As the movie progresses, she pieces together a scandal and runs to warn Miranda. As always, Miranda is ahead.

Amongst the shithead friends, absentee boyfriend, and a draining job, Andy became brilliantly and organically herself. My opinion? Runway made her and she would have made the industry.

Which is why I am so excited to see the sequel!! I think Runway is Andy. Especially an Andy Sachs navigating a modernized version of the fashion business.

Chick flick vibes

but it's lowkey weird cause when I started watching it I thought of cher and josh as siblings, bc they were fighting in that sibling kind of way, and so when they kissed and got together...yeah