Movie: Rebel Moon; Part 2: The Scargiver (2024) Caution: Spoiler Alert

 Rebel Moon Part Two The Scar Giver

Came out; 2024

Time; 2 hr 2 Min

Watched: Netflix

Rated: PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, brief strong language and suicide

IMDB Rating; 5.2/10

Caution; Spoiler Alert

Staring;

Sofia Boutella as Kora

Djimon Hounsou as Titus

Ed Skrein as Atticus Noble

Michiel Huisman as Gunnar

Bae Doona as Nemesis

Ray Fisher as Bloodaxe

Anthony Hopkins as Jimmy (Voice)

Story Line;

Kora returns to Veldt with the farmer Gunnar and the warriors Titus, Nemesis, Darrian Bloodaxe and Tarak. Titus commands the defense of the farmers and asks them to harvest the grains and use them to protect their homes. While waiting for Atticus Noble and his men, they disclose their pasts waiting for the showdown with the mother world's force.

Thoughts:

I will watch bad movies so you don't have to.

This movie was terrible yet visibly stunning. Weird considering that 2 of the people involved are good known actors.

I swear it went ½ hour without dialog, like no words what so ever.

I got lost in this story because it was slow, out of order, without backstory or current story, just blah and bland.

Also, they fight with light sabers, which is a blatant copy of Star Wars.

They plan to make a few more and I plan to not watch them

CAUTION; Major Spoiler Alert

Veldt was a human colony and peaceful until the gaze of the Motherworld fell upon it. Admiral Noble looked at Veldt as a granary for the Motherworld and demanded more than the moon could give. So, Kora and Gunnar set forth from the village, to gather warriors to stand against Noble's dreadnought. On Neu-Wodi, they were joined by Tarak, and in the mines of Daggus, by Nemesis. They picked up General Titus from the Colosseum of Pollux. On the planet Sharaan, they picked Darrian Bloodaxe and his lieutenant Milius. On the floating docks on Gondival, the rebels ambush Noble and Kora triumphs. Unknown to Kora, the Imperium had picked up Noble's body and resurrected him under watch from Cassius (Alfonso Herrera) a warrior from Noble's Dreadnought. Noble orders Cassius to set a course for Veldt to confront the Scargiver.

Kora (Sofia Boutella) (a former Imperium soldier) and the surviving warriors return to Veldt (a moon circling the gas giant Mara), believing that Kora had successfully killed Admiral Noble (Ed Skrein) (an admiral and Balisarius' right-hand man) and prevented the forthcoming assault on the planet to claim its food supplies. JC-1435, 'Jimmy' (Anthony Hopkins), is the last member of a race of mechanical knights who now refuses to serve the Motherworld.

Cassius contacts his soldier Aris on Veldt and informs him of Noble's orders. Aris (Sky Yang), a Motherworld soldier working as a double agent for the village people, informs them that Noble is alive, and the dreadnought ship will arrive in five days. The fighters join the small group of villagers to harvest the entire grain supply in three days, so the flour can be used as leverage to prevent the Motherworld forces from simply bombing the village from orbit; over the remaining two days, Titus (Djimon Hounsou) (a former general of the Imperium recruited to lead the fight against the Motherworld) intends to train the villagers to fight.

Kora and Gunnar (Michiel Huisman) (a farmer) become lovers, and she admits that Regent Balisarius (Fra Fee) (Kora's adoptive father who seized control of the Motherworld) compelled her involvement in the assassination of the Motherworld's king, queen, and young Princess Issa, with Kora herself shooting the princess. The Royal family came to the christening of the Peacemaker, the last dreadnought class battleship marking the end of the age of expansion. Balisarius murdered the King and Queen, and Kora pulled the trigger on Issa. Balisarius had seen that under Princess Issa, the King was ending the Motherworld's age of expansion. Balisarius did not want to stand by as the Princess dismantled the war machine that the soldiers sacrificed their lives for. Balisarius had then attempted to frame Kora for the coup, but she had instead fled to Veldt in a Motherworld shuttle to hide from the law.

After the harvest, the villagers gather together for a night of feasting and community, all of which is witnessed by Jimmy from afar. Over two days, Titus, Nemesis (Doona Bae) (a cyborg sword-master), Tarak (Staz Nair) (a nobleman-turned-blacksmith), Milius (Elise Duffy), and Kora train the handful of villagers in combat, preparing a plan involving digging trenches and tunnels in the fields, laying explosives, and preparing Kora's shuttle (which had been sitting idle in the mountains for over 2 seasons). The grain is moved all over the village, so it cannot be destroyed without losing the harvest. Kora and Aris fix the shuttle and Kora is able to fire it up. The group also reveal their pasts to each other, but Kora declines to share her involvement in Issa's death. Titus reveals that he was ordered by Balisarius to hover over the parliament of Sarawu, in his battleship. This was to force the parliament to vote against independence from the realm. Sarawu voted for freedom and Titus was ordered to open fire on the Capitol. When Titus refused, his ship was shot down and his men slaughtered. Milius came from a farming world who was too afraid to fight against the forces of the Motherworld. Due to this, the whole population was scattered in labor camps all over the Universe. She was liberated by the resistance when Darrian attacked the mines where she worked. She became a rebel. Nemesis was in a fishing village which was slaughtered by Imperial forces. Nemesis cut her own arms to get the Cyborg implants and became a warrior like her ancestors. Tarak was a royal on his planet, when the Motherworld killed his father who went to them with a peace treaty. The Motherworld invaded his planet and Tarak lost his mother in the attack. He was smuggled off-planet and hidden in a refugee transport, headed for the nearest bright star. He is determined not to let another world be destroyed by the Motherworld. Kora says that she is a war orphan. She was brought up by Balisarius and only found family when she arrived on Veldt.

Jimmy meets Kora. Kora helps Jimmy understand that they have both been programmed to fight for the Motherworld, but their worst nightmare is for them to join forces. Jimmy knows this but says that they have no hope of winning. When Noble arrives with the dreadnought, his forces scan the village, identifying where the women and children are hiding, protected by Nemesis and Aris, and send forces to capture them to force Kora out. Kora offers Noble to take the grain but leave the village, but Noble won't leave without Kora as presenting her to Balisarius would gain him a seat on the Senate. Noble plays on Kora's insecurity when he promises the destruction of the village in her name. Kora attempts to surrender to him once Noble promises to spare the village, but Gunnar triggers the ambush anyway. Titus and Tarak lead the villages in successfully repelling the first wave, though Nemesis is killed defending the women and children.

The large contingent of heavily armored and mechanized second wave of Motherworld troops pushes the few remaining defenders back, destroying much of the village, but Kora and Gunnar use the shuttle and stolen uniforms to infiltrate the dreadnought, laying explosives on the engine. The engine room reports the infiltration to the bridge, where Noble orders Cassius to wipe out the village, and he heads to the engine room to capture Kora himself. As Noble confronts Kora, Gunnar hears their conversation from the shuttle, which is their escape route. Jimmy arrives to help the village defenders push back the assault, and the explosives bring down the dreadnought. Gunnar rushes out to help Kora and engages Noble. In the process, Gunnar kills Noble but later dies from his injuries. Devra Bloodaxe (Cleopatra Coleman) (Darrian Bloodaxe's (Ray Fisher) sister and the leader of a band of insurgents opposing the Motherworld) and her rebel forces arrive in ships to destroy the remaining Motherworld troops, leading to victory.

In the aftermath, the village mourns the dead, and Kora admits her past, which Titus reveals he already knew. He also reveals that Issa is secretly alive and in hiding, and the assembled group declare their intentions to find her and restore the royal lineage to the throne in order to depose Balisarius.

Chronic Pain Thoughts; Volume 29

 Dear Reader,

I no doubt suffer from medical trauma. There have been so many times where I've been dismissed, ignored and told things weren't “a big deal”. Once it almost cost me my life.

I know I'm not alone in my struggle with getting care. I'm not alone in my struggle on going in to get care.

I used to paranoid that something was wrong. I used to call into the doctor to talk to them and it usually ended up in an appointment in which “everything is normal”. My good friend at the end time accused me of having munchausen's. She was toxic and I've since come to realize this. BUT with this on top of being dismissed, ignored and shut down I've stopped trying to figure it out.

My new pain provider asks me every appointment if I've had childhood trauma. Every time I tell him “No, but I have medical trauma”. Guess what?! He shrugs it off with a soft smile. This response makes nothing better.

Medical Trauma Definition: Medical trauma is the experience of traumatic stress as a result of interactions with the medical system, which may include procedures (i.e., surgeries), new diagnoses (i.e., cancer), and professionals in healthcare settings

If you've ever experienced this or feel like, know that you are NOT alone and there are good providers out there who actually care about their patients.

Movie: Hit Man (2023) Caution Spoiler Alert

 Hit Man

Came out; 2023

Time; 1 hr. 55 Min

Watched: Netflix

Rated: R for language throughout, sexual content and some violence

IMDB Rating; 7/10

Caution; Spoiler Alert

Staring.

Glen Powell as Gary Johnson

Adria Arjona as Madison Figeroa Masters

Austin Amelio as Jasper

Retta as Claudette

Sanjay Rao as Phil

Story Line.

Gary Johnson is the most sought-after professional killer in New Orleans. To his clients, he is like something out of a movie: the mysterious gun for hire. But if you pay him to rub out a cheating spouse or an abusive boss, you'd better watch out, he works for the cops. When he breaks protocol to help a desperate woman trying to flee an abusive husband, he finds himself becoming one of his false personas, falling for the woman and flirting with becoming a criminal

Thoughts:

This movie was pretty good, it was a little slow moving without much action. I wanted to know what happened with the investigation into the ex-husband and Jasper's death.

This said it was based on a true story, which they always take liberties in that so it's hard to tell what's true and what's not.

The acting was good, and the story line was fun, I love Rhetta, she is a fun actress to watch.

CAUTION; Major Spoiler Alert

Gary Johnson is a professor of psychology and philosophy at the University of New Orleans, while also working undercover with the New Orleans Police Department to assist in undercover sting operations. When Jasper, a fellow cop who portrays fake hitman to solicit murder-for-hire confessions and payments from "customers," is suspended, Gary is unwillingly ushered into the role. Gary quickly finds himself to be a natural in garnering solicitations, going so far as to research suspects in advance and tailor a unique persona for each one.

Gary adopts the persona of a man named "Ron" to garner a solicitation from a discontent married woman named Madison, who is trying to have her controlling husband killed. While conversing with her, Gary quickly becomes both sympathetic and attracted to Madison; when Madison attempts to pay "Ron", Gary refuses the money and suggests that Madison use that money to restart her life, much to the disappointment of Gary's coworkers.

Gary begins a relationship with Madison but maintains his "Ron" persona with her. Madison reveals she owns a gun, and Gary shows her how to use it and instructs her to shoot someone in the heart should she need to kill. One night shortly after clubbing, Gary and Madison have a heated encounter with Ray, Madison's ex-husband, which ends with Gary pulling a gun to back Ray off. Later that night, while outside at a restaurant, Gary and Madison encounter Jasper, who is suspicious of the two being together.

Furious with Madison, Ray attempts to have her killed, unknowingly contacting Gary. Unable to research his suspect, Gary walks into the encounter blind, and improvises having their conversation with backs to each other. However, he reveals himself to Ray at the end of their conversation; Ray rushes out and proclaims that he will kill her himself. Gary attempts to move Madison out of her house out of fear, but Madison doesn't believe Ray would do it

Gary is later called into work to discuss Ray's murder, much to Gary's shock; after hearing that he was shot in the heart with bullets belonging to a gun like Madison's, Gary deduces it was her, while his coworkers believe it was either her or a botched drug deal. Gary meets with Madison to discuss Ray's murder, to which she admits to; this prompts Gary to reveal to Madison that "Ron" and the hitman persona were made up, and that Gary was worried she would prefer the "Ron" to Gary.

After being kicked out by Madison, Gary returns to the police, who reveal their evidence on Madison is building after discovering Ray increased his life policy before he died. Jasper suggests that Gary tries to solicit a confession out of her using the "Ron" persona, to which he agrees. Gary arrives at her house and pretends to interrogate Madison while giving her acting cues typed in on his phone. The two convince the police to leave Madison alone, but Jasper camps out and waits for Gary to return. Jealous that Gary took his job, Jasper demands Madison's newly inherited money from the life policy. However, he quickly begins to pass out from poison given by Madison, while Gary suffocates him with a plastic bag. After planting the body to appear as a suicide, the movie skips several years ahead to depict Gary and Madison's new life as married and with kids.

As the credits roll, an intertitle card dedicates the film to the real Gary Johnson, praising his accomplishments as a war veteran, college professor and being responsible for 70 undercover arrests, ending with a note that he never murdered anyone (they made that part up).

Movie: The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024) Caution: Spoiler Alert

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

Came out; 2024

Time; 2 hr

Watched: Amazon

Rated: R for strong violence throughout and some language

IMDB Rating; 6.9/10

Caution; Spoiler Alert

Staring.

Henry Cavill as Gus March-Phillips

Alan Ritchson as Anders Lassen

Alex Pettyfer as Geoffrey Appleyard

Eiza Gonzalez as Marjorie Stewart

Babs Olusanmokun as Heron

Cary Elwes as Brigadier Gubbins

Story Line.

Billed as a true story about a secret British World War II organization: the Special Operations Executive. Founded by Winston Churchill, their irregular warfare against the Germans helped to change the course of the war and gave birth to modern black operations.

Thoughts:

I am not big on 'war” movies, but this was more of a spy type movie. It was decent and started off really strong.

The visual portion of this movie was really good, the small details were off as they didn't make sure to be historically accurate.

This isn't a movie that I would make efforts to watch again but one that I'm glad I saw once

CAUTION; Major Spoiler Alert

In late 1941, during World War II the United Kingdom is struggling to halt Nazi Germany's attempts to take over Europe, with London regularly suffering bombing runs at the hands of the Luftwaffe. With their supply and aid ships constantly sunk by German submarines, Brigadier Colin Gubbins, with the indirect backing of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, prepares to initiate Operation Postmaster, an off the books black-ops sabotage mission intended to disrupt the Nazis' U-boat resupply operation on the Spanish-controlled island Fernando Po. While SOE agents Marjorie Stewart and Richard Heron depart by train, Gubbins enlists Gus March-Phillips to assemble a ground team to destroy the Italian supply ship Duchessa d'Aosta and two tugboats attached to it.

Using the neutral Swedish fishing trawler Maid of Honor, Gus and his allies, Graham Hayes, Freddy Alvarez, and Danish naval officer Anders Lassen (the only non-British subject to be awarded the Victoria Cross), begin the slow sail to Fernando Po. Upon discovering that SOE saboteur Geoffrey Appleyard, whom Gubbins had sent ahead on the assumption that Gus would show interest in wanting him on the team, was captured by Gestapo agents, they divert course to a Nazi-controlled section of the Canary Islands for a rescue mission.

Meanwhile, arriving early on Fernando Po, Marjorie and Heron use the latter's 'illegal' gambling hall to recruit backup for Gus' team while Marjorie seduces Heinrich Luhr, the SS commander in charge. Upon learning that the Duchessa intends to depart three days ahead of schedule, Gus has his crew sail through a British naval blockade of Nazi-occupied West Africa despite knowing they'll be arrested should their unauthorized mission be discovered.

On the night of the intended raid, Marjorie and Heron learn that Luhr has had the Duchessa's hull reinforced despite the Italian attache's reservations. Barely warned of this in time, Gus and Appleyard decide that their best course of action is to hijack the ships and use them as a bartering chip after a mole in Gubbins' staff reveals the mission to senior command. Although Luhr eventually catches on when Marjorie's act begins to 'slip', the raid is ultimately successful, and Marjorie shoots Luhr in the head. Delivering the boats to a British fleet outside Lagos, the team is nonetheless arrested. While waiting to be court-martialed, they are saved and recruited by Churchill as part of his 'Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare', as their actions have not only severely damaged the Nazis' naval strength, but also have allowed the United States, who recently entered the war following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, to join the European theatre.

A montage of details before the end credits reveal the post operation activities of several protagonists: Gus became a war hero and would helm several similar raids during the war before marrying Marjorie at the start of her acting career; Appleyard would receive several commendations for his role in the mission, much to the king's amusement; Hayes would go on to become a highly accomplished spy notable for surviving a year of Nazi torture without breaking; Lassen would go on to take part in raids outside the group until his death in 1945; Ian Fleming, who had been part of Gubbins' inner circle during this time, would use Operation Postmaster as the inspirational basis for his James Bond novels.

 

Chronic Pain Thoughts: Volume 28

 Dear Reader,

The power of words. Words have the power to build people up and bring them down. We all have the power over the words we choose to use.

Language is how we communicate. When someone is constantly gaslighting you or making you feel like you don't matter, can't do something or must follow them it can really take a toll on you.

Toxic People, Doctor's and even the people you love the most can say things that stick with you.

When I was younger, I wanted to go into law enforcement, although I'm glad about with my chronic illness I never pursued it, I was always told “No one will take you seriously” because of my size. It was now, at 44 years old that I have finally decided, I will show them. It's not law enforcement, but it's something.

The most recent doctor who told me “Your back isn't really that bad” should know the power of words. Most people I know go to medical school to help people, not tear them down. How do you deal with a doctor who has poor bed side manner? You find a new one.

Don't let words hurt you, don't dwell on them or believe all of them. Self Esteem is so important and when you have a chronic illness you can feel torn down by your own body.

Wax: Athame + Alchemy June 2024 Order

 Vendor; Athame + Alchemy

Web; Home | athame + alchemy (athameandalchemy.com)

Facebook; (3) athame + alchemy | Facebook

Owner; Kimberly Gonzalez

Dulcerias De Miami: Cinnamon, Sugar, Butter, Coconut Flakes, Crunchy Pistachio, Fluffy Vanilla Cake

Teddy Bear Picnic: Sticky Pecan Waffles, drizzled with butter and maple syrup. Little Lemon cakes with Buttercream icing and Cold Iced Tea

Emotional Larceny: Woodsy Vetiver, Bergamot, Lemon Peels, Warm Amber Resin, Black Plums, Cherry Juice, Sandalwood and Cracked Black Peppercorns.

Whimsy Goth: Dark Musk, Incense, Amber, Cedar, Bamboo & Fruit Loops

Bakasana: Palo Santo, Lemon Blossom, Cashmere, Butter, Toffee, Buttercream, Fluffy Vanilla Cake and Cedar Wood

Goodnight Moon: Lavender, Oats, Almonds and a Warm Cup of Milk

Extra “Love” received

Incense Cones

Now is in the Winter of our Discontent: Vanilla, Peppermint Candy, Green Leaves, Musk, Dry Wood and a Patchouli

Cottage Hearth: Warm Bread, Cobblers and Pie.

Overall Order Thoughts:

I needed some wax and while going through my internet vendor file I found this one. I know I've ordered once before that I know of.

I don't remember if I liked them or if they worked good in my house.

I do not like this packaging. I understand why they do it but I prefer the zip bags.

Everything smells good on cold, which is what counts in the end!

Chronic Pain Thoughts: Volume 27

 Dear Reader,

I always thought it was “only me” who dealt with weird things. It's not, there are so many others who are the same. It's great to have the power of the internet to connect with people.

I had a friend, who also suffered from chronic pain, I would talk to her about these things, and she would make me feel like it was my fault. Like I was lazy and couldn't try and fix myself. Don't be like this and if someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. People can change but toxic people don't want to.

It's almost been 1 year since I ended up with emergency surgery, in the ICU and suffering for 10 more weeks after. It's been 1 year since I've spoken to the person who I thought was my friend. I need support and someone to vent to that wasn't my family and yet she wasn't there. Someone unexpected was. She reached it because it wasn't just me, she had been through the same thing. I've been thinking a lot about it lately. Here are the other things that aren't “Just me”.

I always thought that my arms getting super tired while trying to do my hair was just me. It's not, millions of people who suffer from fibromyalgia also feel the same thing.

I always thought it was me that no matter what I did, I couldn't get my upper body strength up, it's not just me.

I always thought it was just me who's stomach would get upset if I got too excited, or ate the wrong thing, it's not just me.

I always thought it was just me who would hurt so bad after walking, trying to exercise or sometimes even walk to the bathroom. It's definitely not just me.

I thought I was the only one who hurt themselves after trying to work out. I tore both my labral in my hip and meniscus in my knee on the right side after walking on the treadmill. It's not, so many others have had exercise related injuries.

I have so many other examples of this, it's eye opening. I always I was quirky because of these things happened to me. I was also told by doctor's it was normal or not that bad. I would just continue trying to live life.

It's been this way all my life, but it wasn't until after I had my 4^th child that things just weren't getting better, I could no longer ignore it. Trying to get treatment has brought me down a 10-year rabbit hole that I haven't been able to get out of. I don't ever want to feel alone, and I hope that no one else does either. It's a scary lonely place to be.