Teabee's Adventures in Fabulosity

I think I’m in deep trouble.

As for the movie, I’d say it’s one enjoyable, self-aware, fun ride.

For a straight forward action movie there is a lot of commentary about movie tropes, themes and cliches, and it only makes it more remarkable since this film came out all the way back in 1993, back when this type of movie wasn’t the norm. It’s like Hollywood producing one of those videos made by parody websites, it’s really admirable.

You may notice I’m not giving away anything regarding the movie, and that’s because the less you know about it the more you will enjoy it. Just take this from me: Check it out.

Sketch to Lineart to Fully completed image!

Seriously though, this movie is actually really clever.

I love the idea of a secret invasion taking place, and how all these aliens/pod people have infiltrated everything from news channels to grocery stores. They are like Changelings, cunning, vicious and ruthless. I love it!

Besides the work of director John Carpenter always feels personal, original, and has a lot of punch. Even when the technical aspects are limited (the masks of the aliens are so obviously just masks) he manages to make it work so that it doesn’t break your suspension of disbelief. Also the acting is really good, especially from the two protagonists, Keith David and Roddy Piper, who have the most brutal and entertaining fist fight I’ve seen in a while.

It makes me a bit sad to say that I discovered this movie after Roddy Piper’s death, and it feels quite bittersweet to see his talent now that I know he’s no longer with us. But I guess that’s not really a bad thing. He is still in this movie, his performance will be remember, and his sentencing one liner will always be quoted.

Just something that’s been on my mind. Tumblr has this specific way of handling communities. These are just the ones that come by on my dash, I’m sure there are plenty more examples.

First they start out nice, tolerant, willing to listen and learn.

But they quickly become too nice and tolerant. Rather than simply accepting group X, they begin to overglorify them. They make them into something more special than people outside of group X, and coupled with their compulsive need to belong and feel special, desire to be a part of it too.

In comes the appropriation. If they can’t be a part of it, they’ll make themselves a part of it, one way or another. And is someone in group X not acting the way their fantasy version of them acts? Call them out on it!

They become so fanatical that they begin to talk over, or drive out the original people of group X.

And then finally they manage to become so hateful, their initial tolerance has turned into cold, terrifying intolerance. Calling gay/trans men privileged over white straight cis women, telling transsexual people to die, purposefully triggering people they dislike into panic attacks, defending Muslims to the point of calling the attack on Charlie Hebdo justified. And sending death threats to anyone who dares to disagree.

Being excluded from a group or community because you don’t belong there is not oppression.

It simply means that group does not describe or fit you as an individual.

If you can’t accept that, you have far deeper issues than your imagined ‘oppression’.