Film Review: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

As Starkid productions on YouTube stated - "Hufflepuff's are particularly good finders"

With the release of FBAWTFT, Hufflepuffs are getting a lot of attention, and rightly so. Despite being a proud Gryffindor myself, I have always considered Hufflepuff's to be an amazing and diverse house. After all, every single one stayed at the battle of Hogwarts AND have been shown to be the most loyal and friendly house, not just to their peers, but also to their "rival" houses.

~ Spoilers ahead ~

Fantastic beasts and where to find them features the Hufflepuff Newt Scamander in New York 1926. With him he brings a very special suitcase filled with magical beasts and creatures. There is a prominent Muggle by the name of Jacob who gets pulled into the whirlwind of chaos that arises once the suitcase is opened. The released creatures are not the problem however. In the series there is a magic called an obscurial; this is where a young witch or wizard represses their magic completely until the magic reaches a point where it explodes violently out of the child, usually killing them. Reveal Credence Barebone, that poor boy, adopted into an abusive home of magic hating muggles, beaten and repressed, he develops an obscurus.

The creatures themselves were amazing, visually and despite being computer generated, each one had its own unique personality, I think the animators for this film did an AMAZING job and deserve all the recognition. One of my favourite things they did was produce the obscurus itself. It was fascinating to watch the magic rip out of Credence and lash out at those who "threatened" him (be it he was just scared, angry or just trying to get away), it was flawless how they managed to include Credence himself inside the obscurus in what was obviously a very traumatic experience for him. He deserved a better ending.

Now to talk about the cinnamon roll himself: Newt Scamander. EDDIE FREAKING REDMAYNE did a fantastic job portraying this character, gentle and ultimately kind. My friends and I have dubbed Newt the "Steve Irwin of the Wizarding World". The way he genuinely cares for his creatures was beautiful to witness and calling himself "mummy" to some occamy's almost made me cry. The majority of the audience has agreed that Newt shows clear signs of Autism, at first this did not occur to me. I merely thought that Newt behaves like this to beings who don't quite trust or understand him; he is perfectly capable to look his creatures in the eye despite some being potentially dangerous to the outside world. Overall, Newt Scamander is an incredibly interesting character and is probably one of the most genuinely caring characters I've ever had the fortune to witness.

Now, to vaguely sum up, even though I could probably keep writing but then this post might get a bit long... The movie itself was entirely new, new content for the wizarding world, new characters and references to ones we know. However, this wasn't some action packed, or intense mystery type of film; this film made me feel ultimately nostalgic. Despite being a completely new story (based off a textbook no less), the way it was produced felt wonderful, almost like coming home. Which I suppose is the point, I grew up with the wizarding world and Harry Potter, and while this film had a distinct difference of tone, the overall theme and Newt particularly made me smile and genuinely feel happy.

9.5/10 - Taking off half a point cause Johnny Depp was so out of place in that film. Seriously.

Catch you later! xox
Taz

Red Queen or Queen of Hearts?

'Alice's Adventures Underground' was always one of my favourite books. I have also fallen in love with Tim Burton's movies. I have memorised the Jabberwocky poem, but... I have not read 'Through the Looking Glass'...


I have dressed as the Queen of Hearts and called her the Red Queen for short. I see millions of people refer to the Queen of Hearts as the Red Queen, so from a young age I assumed that she had been referred to as the Red Queen in one translation or retelling...
Basically I thought they were the same person.



I was wrong.
The Red Queen and the Queen of Hearts are two completely different characters!

The Red Queen is from 'Through the Looking Glass' and is a chess piece who advises Alice on how to move after inviting her to play. This is where we also meet the White Queen.

The Queen of Hearts is of coarse the classic, murderous monarch we all know so well.

So I learnt that I need to go back and read some more classics.
Catch you later xx

Of cosplays, new experiences and downright laziness

Honestly, I feel this year has not been the most productive for me, and yet I have made a tonne of new friends, had new experiences and just recently I purchased my first sets of contact lenses for my cosplays. I've made costumes, helped my friends in times of need and even met some amazing people in the field I wish to pursue as a career. Overall one could say I've had a pretty successful year so far.

However...

My writing has fallen severely behind, I've gained more weight than I care to admit and I lack any real motivation to be productive. Its a miracle I managed to pass this year's schooling. I am disappointed in myself.

There's only one thing to do now: Make next year better.

Get ready, xox

Taz

DESTROYED BY BOOKS

Do not even get me started on books. TOO LATE.

Wow, never have I been so mad at a book... that is a lie. I always get mad at characters and occasionally authors for killing off characters I happen to love. I wont say who or what book but the fact of the matter is I get so damn invested in these figures that it physically pains me when these things happen.

I have been known to:

• throw books across the room into a beanbag (never at the wall, that could actually damage the books!)
• Start actually bawling and sobbing, becoming a blubbering mess
• Stomp out to my mother and start ranting like crazy for hours
• Start frantically texting a friend I KNOW has read the book, lots of swearing, even more capitals.

These are just a few of the more major things I do when confronted with a plot that wrecks me. I have to hand it to the authors though; if they can cause a reaction from me that intense, they clearly know their stuff. If an author can pull my heart out of my chest, cause adrenaline to course through my bloodstream or even make my anxiety play up, I personally think it is well written. 

I found a few photos that may explain how I'm feeling around now:

Yup, that's about it... xox!

Taz

Updates and change

A lot of things have changed...

Over the past month or two, I implemented a few changes in my life. Some were conscious decisions, and some random occurrences. Honestly, its been kind of a roller-coaster ride but I have survived and hopefully, things are just going to get brighter from here.

• I quit my old job
• I got a NEW job yesterday, which is an interesting story for another time
• I cut my hair short into a pixie cut
• I attended my first ever convention
• I volunteered for the first time at a convention
• I am currently doing two university courses externally and am unsure whether I am even doing it right?
• I was in a short film (thanks for the experience Tabby)
• I now occasionally play Pokemon Go! on my mum's phone ahah (Team Instinct bruh!)

And one last thing...

• I don't blog enough.

Honestly, with Uni and life, I have not been in the right mindset to write.

Love and xox!

Taz

The Hospital...

EVERYTHING IS FINE!!!!!!

And nothing bad EVER happens!* Right, short films require various locations, and Tabby directed this weekend, I just had to yell and look guilty and scared. Simple enough.

I cannot really talk much about the events of this weekend, they are Tabby's to share, but I will say, I had a tonne of fun and am excited to see the end product!

So today I am back at Uni, just had a pretty good seminar on textual interventions where a new friend and I wrote a horror script based on a concept we came up with about a love totem... Kinda freaked out the class but the concept was AWESOME and now I want to film it. Tabby, you might have started something...

Side note: How To Cake It on Youtube is amazingly interesting and are complete goals. SO many ideas! So little Talent!

*Casual RWBY Chibi reference, Yasss Nora, Bodyroll Ren!

Anyway, I'm tired, so I am going to have a nap.

Chibi Pyrrha is me when asking for food from my boyfriend...

Casual random thoughts.

Catchya Later! xox

Taz

WOLFSTAR: The interview

SO there was a thing...

All the footage I got of AVCon 2016 occurred in one night, the first night, and it's less than three minutes in total... Pitiful yes, but I was way too busy and tired to film a bunch of things!

Anyway here goes;

You are all welcome

Sweet Dreams! xox

Taz

Tabby's AVCon 2016 Vlogs

Preview

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

AVCon 2016 (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

My fourth AVCon! It was a week ago, sure...but I've been sleeping nonstop, seriously I slept an entire week away consuming hot chocolate and watching Parle Productions on YouTube.

Friday
I finished my Saturday cosplay and painted my face with red eyeshadow and lipstick for Circus au Marinette. My school friends and I were supposed to meet at 4, and another at 3 but I was the only one to show up on time. They didn't contact me so I hung out with Tobias, Kim, Amy, Cassie and Taz and had way more fun. We sung 80s and disney songs, down Rundle mall and got doughnuts from Crispy Creams!
 















Saturday 
I covered myself fake blood and met up with Cassie at the bus stop, where we got an uber. She borrowed my wig for her gorgeous NoFlutter Steampunk Ivy. We went to the maid cafe where Anastasia and Nikki were working and had hotdogs and cheesecake.  Then we raided the Artists Alley where I spent most of my money. Cassie wanted to go to the Good Game Unplugged and after we met up with Kim and Amy.
We then went to Amy, Kira and Kims hotel so they could change into Marauders for AVCon after dark - complete with dancing and vodka. Eventually we dragged ourselves to the pancake kitchen for dinner at 1am. 
Since the buses stupidly stop at midnight (damn you adelaide metro!) Cassie and I were planning on getting a uber but someone decided not to come to AVCon last minute and so Kim, Kira and Amy had a spare bed.

Sunday
Cassie and I dragged our butts out of bed and went home to get our cosplays and come back. But my family was looking after a dog who ate my Kiki bow so I put on Ai Shindou. On the bus Cassie was painting on her veins for Silent Hill Nurse Sailor Mercury. I'd left my camera at the hotel room and Cassie needed to finish her makeup so we picked up redbull and chocolate on the way there. Kim met us there while Amy was volunteering and saw my cosplay predicament and let me wear her hufflepuff cloak, shirt and pink wig so I was Tonks.
At the con we met up with a few others and took photos. Kira and I snuck away to the Artists Alley so I could get a commission (which wasn't finished so it'll be sent to me). 
I bought $10 worth of those sweet and sour candy licorice sweets and shared it with everyone while Lucas took photos of Kim and Amy. 
After the closing ceremony we hung out at maccas.

This AVCon was amazing and I miss it so much...There are so many things that happened that I cannot possible write down. Long after I've forgotten the words, I'll remember how everyone made me feel.

Catch you later xx

AVCon 2016

AVCon 2016

So I attended my first ever convention, and yes, it was quite a few days ago now, and no, I am no good at keeping up with updates...

ANYWAY, lets talk about my time at AVCon 2016!

Friday

Had a very nice sleep in actually. I wasn't registered to set up AVCon with the other volunteers so I didn't turn up to the convention centre till around midday and when I got there? MAYHEM! The con had not even begun and the showbags were having problems. I threw on my volunteer shirt and spent the next 3 hours helping to fix things. 
Oh well, at least I got to watch the opening ceremony right in front of the stage with new friends. Watch Tabby's AVCon vlog on youtube to watch the dance/fight scene during the tragically short ceremony. As well as everything else that happened that night. An interview with WOLFSTAR is soon to come.

Saturday

WOKE UP LATE! Had to do my eyebrows on the bus, My hair was sticking up so I threw a wig on it, grabbed my labcoat and ran out the door. I was almost late to my first volunteer shift which consisted of... Babysitting. Although technically I was babysitting a room, not the children because their parents were not allowed to leave without them.
CUT FORWARD to me walking down artists alley in the four hours I had left till I had to leave for a birthday dinner and this was the result:

That is my face, yes.

SKINNY MISTER you made me look so cute! (Find him on facebook) I feel kinda bad for wearing a black shirt though, his pen was running out a bit... BUT he was dressed as Tem from UNDERTALE, so awesome!. After that I went to the birthday dinner, slept through most of it and worked on my cosplay untill there were only the finishing touches left.

SUNDAY:

COSPLAY DAYYYYYY!
Started the day late for my shift, whoops I stayed up too late and overslept once again, then I missed my bus so I was half an hour late for a shift I got pulled out of anyway. This turned out to be a blessing because I was thrown into the group that helps out when more people are needed... Then I got to be Pikachu!

That is me, beside a random poketrainer. Seriously though the first thing that happened was a poke ball to the face. Then it was all trying not to walk into small children, dancing around, having people throw their arms around me and eventually, photos were taken. I am scouring the internet to find said photos because I couldn't get ANY!

After leaning down to small children and vehemently saying NUUUU to being captured, I finished my shift and went to go quickly finish my cosplay with the help of a friend in a nearby sandwich shop... 
 Lets finish this con off with a Yang! ;) 

Boom, nuff said.I think I look pretty good, and I am proud of what I managed to accomplish with a certain amount of help in making patterns, gauntlets and the finishing touches. There are some things I would tweak but overall? Solid attempt in my opinion.

Night Guys! xox

Taz

Where is my brain?

Writer's Block got me like WHHAAAATTTT?

Seriously, I have no idea what to write about these days and I could try blaming Netflix (House is addictive! season 6 currently). It is Wednesday today and yesterday I visited our state's Maritime Museum. I got to play around on an actual ship; running around with my boyfriend and his brother, climbing into the tiny area where the cook sleeps. Funnily enough only myself and a couple small children also in the museum could fit, and only one at a time.

BOOM! Idea: Maritime art!

Pretty sweet huh? Who's idea was it to paint awesome pictures of ships on the ocean? Genius.

NIGHT! xox

Taz

Let's get down to disness

So for my English assignment I get to make a blog on Disney Animation History.
I get to explore different Disney film's histories, pop culture and other fun facts.
While thinking of design aspects and titles I looked at a lot of Disney puns...

Puns are a literary device and the reason we all roll our eyes, so enjoy...

SO......

Because disney obviously love them...

Catch you later xx