rebekah writes stuff.

Tag: Blogging

  • I finished The Hunger Games trilogy

    I finished The Hunger Games trilogy

    I finished Mockingjay, the final book in The Hunger Games trilogy, and I wanted to write about it. Obviously big spoilers ahead, so if you haven’t read the books, or want to, then click off now.

    I volunteer as tribute

    In this future world, The Capitol governs and controls the 12 Districts of Panem, each of whom must provide two tributes to participate in The Hunger Games; a violent, televised spectacle where tributes must fight to the death. Whoever is left standing is crowned victor and gets to live a life free (mostly) from The Hunger Games, with wealth and benefits for themselves and their home District.

    When the 74th Hunger Games is announced, Katniss volunteers in her sister, Prim’s, place, and Peeta is the male tribute for District 12.

    However, as in Katniss and Peeta’s case, winning wasn’t the one-way ticket to a life of peace as they thought.

    During the games, The Capitol tell the tributes that they will be accepting two winners from the same District. Katniss finds Peeta and works hard to keep them both alive. When they are the only remaining tributes, their victory is short-lived, when The Capitol announces that they have changed their minds and would only be accepting one tribute as winner. Left with an impossible decision, Katniss and Peeta threaten to commit suicide with nightlock berries and the Capitol intervene, crowning them both victors.

    Caesar Flickerman, as portayed in the film adaptation. Caesar Flickerman is The Capitol’s interviewer and talk-show host of The Hunger Games.

    Katniss and Peeta’s act of defiance against the rule change sees their newfound freedom quickly taken from them.

    President Snow announces the upcoming Quarter Quell, a special version of The Hunger Games held every twenty five years. The Quarter Quell marks the anniversary of The Capitol’s defeat of the Districts. During his announcement, he declares that tributes will be selected from the pool of previous Hunger Games victors, which ultimately throws Katniss and Peeta back in to the games.

    When an uprising occurs during The Quarter Quell, Katniss is rescued from by the rebels, and becomes the symbol of the rebellion against The Capitol: The Mockingjay. Through warfare, televised propaganda and the eventual overthrowing of The Capitol regime, Katniss and the rebels win, but it comes at a terrible cost.

    The Aftermath

    In the end, The Hunger Games are abolished and, in the epilogue, we are given a glimpse of Katniss’ future. Katniss lives a life of peace with Peeta and her two children, the pair still coming to terms with their trauma. However, while they might have won, it wasn’t victorious or triumphant.

    Katniss, and the people of The Districts, lived their lives in fear of The Capitol. The popular slogan of the games; “May The Odds be Ever in Your Favour!” is ironic, for The Capitol created the odds. The Capitol changing rules at the drop of a hat, showcased that the tributes, and the Districts, never had control, not even in the arena.

    A new regime of peace begins, but Katniss lost her sister, and many of her friends. Peeta was mentally tortured by The Capitol. Katniss lost her childhood and endured trauma, so much so, that her special place in the woods no longer provides the sanctuary it once did.

    It parallels Frodo from The Lord of The Rings. Sauron was defeated, Aragorn takes his rightful place as King and there was peace. Frodo got to return to The Shire with his friends, but it was never the same. Frodo too endured great trauma on his journey to destroy the ring in Mount Doom, hence he left with Gandalf to Valinor (the Undying Lands), where he could heal.

    “We set out to save the shire, Sam, and it has been saved … but not for me.”

    Frodo, The Lord of The Rings: The Return of The King (2003)

    Final Thoughts

    I genuinely really enjoyed this series. I couldn’t put it down and I thought the themes of reality tv, war and power were really interesting. Suzanne Collins’ pacing and world building are exceptional. The saga reflects the impact of war, the trauma and loss. I would highly recommend this series.

  • 2024 Wrapped

    2024 Wrapped

    Spotify Wrapped is here again and it has inspired me to share my top players, not only in music, but in books and movies. Let’s start with Spotify…

    Top Artist: Post Malone

    Yup, Posty’s put on his cowboy boots and I’m here for it. To be fair, I’ve enjoyed all of his albums, but his newest country style is particularly infectious. Don’t believe me? My Top Song was “I had Some Help” by none other than Postie and Morgan Wallen. It’s fair to say I’ve had this song on replay since it got released – I don’t know, there’s just something about it that makes me feel happy and carefree. Give it a listen here!

    Top Book: 127 Hours

    What would you do if you got your hand stuck under a boulder weighing 360kg (800 pounds)?

    This is the exact conundrum that outdoor enthusiast Aron Ralston grappled with (literally). You may already be familiar with the famous story, but for those of you who aren’t …

    In 2003, Aron was scaling rocks in Bluejohn Canyon (Arizona, USA) when a boulder dislodged and fell – dragging Aron down with it. What’s worse is that, during the fall, Aron’s hand got trapped under the rock. He was alone, had little food or supplies and had told nobody where he had gone.

    With such a grim premise, you might think “why on Earth would I want to read about such a horrible ordeal?”. Well, because he survived.

    This is a book that will inspire you, amaze you and make you cringe. You will feel like a fly on the wall in that dusty canyon and, at times, you will feel just as helpless as he felt. I guarantee you that his quest for survival, the human spirit to never give up, is what makes this book an absolute winner in my eyes. In those moments of suffering and sadness, there is also light and laughter.

    I could hardly put 127 Hours down – you can check it out right here:

    Top Movie: Kung Fu Panda 4

    As a huge fan of the Kung Fu Panda franchise, I didn’t know what to expect from yet another Kung Fu Panda sequel. However, I was pleasantly surprised and I ended up seeing it multiple times at the cinema. I genuinely didn’t mind this movie at all. [Spoilers ahead duh].

    We’re back in the Valley of Peace, where Po isn’t quite ready to give up being the Dragon Warrior, despite Master Shifu’s badgering. In one final hurrah, he sets out to defeat the Chameleon with a crim call Zhen. A skilled sorceress, The Chameleon sets her sights on the past with her vision to conquer the future. When Po is outsmarted by Zhen, The Chameleon is granted access to the Spirit World, where she harnesses power from fallen Kung Fu masters.

    Not only is there a banging Britney Spears cover by Tenacious D, but a pretty cool Boss Battle (not quite as epic as Tai Lung in the first Kung Fu Panda, but still). Not bad Dreamworks – Skadoosh!

    What were your top picks of the year? Let me know below in the comments or on my instagram @rebekah_writes_stuff 🙂

  • When Will the Live Action Remakes Stop?

    When Will the Live Action Remakes Stop?

    When I saw the trailer for the How to Train Your Dragon Live Action film, I was shaking. That’s it, I thought to myself, NOW that’s the final straw.

    What is the appeal of Live Action?

    The expression ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ springs to mind when I think about the relentless onslaught of Live Action remakes being released. Where perfectly good animated films are being given the Live Action treatment and are then spat out into theatres. These films rely on people’s nostalgia and the awe-factor of CGI.

    Someone please answer this for me. What does making all these perfectly good stand-alone films into Live Action do for the world? What is to be gained?

    Below are a couple of movies currently in production and it’s fair to say that reviews are … mixed.

    Lilo & Stitch Live Action

    Lilo & Stitch Live Action is set to release in 2025. Did anybody actually want this? Serious question.

    I just don’t understand how we got here. What was deemed so bad about the original that they felt a Live Action would somehow improve it?

    Also exasperated at the influx of soulless Live Action Remakes is writer Keith Pinney Brown. In his May 2024 article, he had this to say about why movie studios turn away from beloved animation, to Live Action remakes:

    Anything in this style is seen as a “cartoon” or a “kid’s show,” and adults turn up their noses. Live action remakes serve to fuel this perception. They attempt to improve classic films with the use of live actors and CGI …

    I can tell you for free that CGI does not turn everything to gold. And as far as relying on popular films of the past goes, again, is Hollywood’s imagination department really that skint?

    How to Train Your Dragon Live Action

    I just … It’s just the same movie again but in a different texture pack.

    Live Action Remakes are not exclusively Disney’s doing – DreamWorks is also on the bandwagon. I ask the studio: what is the point? Seriously, what is the point?? What does this add to the movie that it didn’t have before? And don’t you dare say say real people. Having human actors in a movie does not automatically make it better. Plus Toothless just looks the same, oh god I can’t.

    How To Train Your Dragon is up there in my top movies. It’s a brilliant story and the animation is fantastic. Why do this?

    Live Actions remakes are full steam ahead

    Just take a look at the list of live actions on the way – and this is just Disney.

    Everyone knows my thoughts on Mufasa, but just look at the sheer quantity of films. Clearly movie studios have no intention of halting their Live Action productions.

    What are your thoughts on Live Action remakes? Let me know in the comments below!

    Also @rebekah_writes_stuff is on insta, so definitely give a follow to keep up to date 🙂

  • Stuff I thought would flop but didn’t

    Stuff I thought would flop but didn’t

    Avatar: The Last Airbender

    Ok, before you make a b-line for the unsubscribe button, you’ll be happy to know this show is among my favourites. It truly is a work of art – but I didn’t get to experience the beauty of this show without some convincing.

    Like many people, I was dissuaded by its cartoonish style and, no shade to Nickeloden, but I figured it was a kid’s show. How could this be relevant to me? I hadn’t grown up watching Avatar: The Last Airbender (ATLA) and it was a show I wasn’t all that interested in watching. When people desperately begged me to watch it, I was never that keen, no matter how amazing they said it was.

    I thought it was just a cartoon.

    Left to right: Momo, Aang, Sokka, Toph, Katara

    Eventually, I did give it the chance it deserved and my perceptions were sorely wrong. Each season became richer and the stakes kept getting higher and higher. I was hooked and it blew my expectations of a kid’s show out of the water.

    Why? In a war-torn world, these tweens and teens are pushed into the roles of adults, not unlike many youth who stepped up in World War I and II. Our protagonists sacrifice their childhood to be warriors, leaders, and, in Aang’s case, to be the saviour of the world. This bildungsroman, or ‘coming of age’ story, shows us how each character navigates their way in an unforgiving world. Indeed, the themes of war, genocide, oppression, politics and power shape the narrative. It breaks the mould for what can be included in a kid’s show and, for this reason and boldness, ATLA has been praised and received countless awards.

    It’s so much more than just a cartoon, and I highly recommend you watch it.

    Being an early bird

    I’ve never been a morning person. I never thought it could be for me. There was zero appeal in seeing the sun rise, leaping out of bed and pursuing a life that started before 10:00am. It baffled me that people could have so much vim and vigour that early in the day.

    I admit, I am a bit of a bear. I enjoy my sleep and love a good lie in. If it was an olympic sport, I’d have many a gold medal. I thrive in the evening, where most would start to dip in energy. But the world isn’t designed for sleepy bears like me and, eventually, I had to swap my sleepy ways and join the hordes who wake up early.

    And wouldn’t you know, I actually don’t mind it.

    The peace of the morning is unmatched. You get more out of your day. Sure, the inertia after waking up feels terrible, but give it five minutes and boom, it’s actually bearable. Yup, even a sleepy bear like me can change their sleep schedule – with the help of the snooze button and a bunch of alarms.

    Art by Jennifer Thermes

    If you want to wake up earlier, but think it’s not for you, I’d honestly say don’t knock it til you try it.

    Wonka

    I didn’t even want to see this movie, I had my mind so fiercely made up. I didn’t see the point of adding yet another Charlie & The Chocolate Factory movie to the world. It’s a cash grab, I would say. I stood so strongly with Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Willy Wonka that nobody could move me.

    When I was forced along to the movie, I sat with my arms folded, enduring the 1 hour 56 minutes. But I didn’t endure it. I actually left the movies in a state of shell-shock. While my mum and my sister spoke excitedly about how much they’d loved it, I was speechless. I couldn’t believe how horribly wrong I’d been about this movie.

    The storyline was original and heart warming. The songs were catchy and we proceeded to blast them as soon as we got home.

    I went back to see it again and the tone was completely different. I actually let myself enjoy it – I had the movie experience I should’ve had the first time. I laughed, I bobbed my feet and saw Wonka in a whole new light.

    It’s easy to get protective over our favourite movies and the constant reboots and poorly written sequels (Mufasa, for example). I’m glad I went, because I would’ve missed out on such a sweet gem of a film.

    Have you had any similar experiences? Let me know below in the comments!!

  • The Creepy world of Cryptids

    The Creepy world of Cryptids

    What’s a cryptid I hear you say? Coming from the Latin word for ‘hidden’ or ‘secret’, cryptids are creatures which are alleged to be real, but their existence is shrouded in mystery and conspiracy. A bit like Big Foot and aliens. The ‘are they?’ or ‘aren’t they?’ is the fuel that keeps the cryptid fire burning.

    I was first introduced to cryptids through the game Poptropica. This was quite possibly the best and one of the most imaginative levels the game had come up with. Essentially, you arrive at Cryptids Island and it’s up to you to prove the existence of a select number of cryptids for a lucrative 1 million dollar reward. Sounds easy enough, right?

    Cryptids Island

    As Halloween approaches, let’s dive in to the fascinating world of cryptids.

    Nessie

    By far, one of the most famous cryptids, is the Loch Ness Monster. Hailing from the mists of Scotland’s Loch Ness, the legend of a fearsome water serpent has captured the interest of local and international media for decades. Encounters with the enormous water monster date back as early as 565 AD, where Irish Missionary, St Columba, came face to face with an enormous serpent-shaped monster.

    Most of us will know of Nessie’s most famous photo, taken by Robert Wilson in 1934. However, the gentle giant was nothing more than a long-necked, plastic submarine hoax.

    Speculation around Nessie’s existence still continues to this day, with research groups taking to the water, intent on being the first group to find unequivocal evidence. So far, nobody has seen Nessie, not even with our new fangled technology. It begs the question: wouldn’t such a huge water-dwelling creature have been seen by now? Supposedly. Or does she stick to the depths? Even blue whales have to come up to the surface! But that’s cryptids for you. Their appeal is in that grey area.

    The Chupacabra

    El Chupacabra is a Latin-American cryptid which translates to “goat sucker”. Reports of livestock mysteriously being killed in Puerto Rico in 1955 were attributed to this terrifying, vampirish beast. However, others were not so convinced. The appearance of the chupacabra in general is mixed. Some say it is a large dog with spines along its back. Others depict the chupacabra as a kangaroo-like creature that stands on its hind legs. Most recently, it’s thought chupacabras are actually just coyotes infected with mange. Either way, the legend of the chupacabra remains a mystery and one that has found its way into popular culture.

    The Yeti

    The myth of the yeti has been around for what seems like an age. According to legend, the yeti is a giant ape-like monster. It has white hair which helps it blend into its snowy environment of the Himalayan Mountains. It’s also been called the Abominable Snowman, with cousins the Sasquatch and Big Foot living in America. According to Monsters Inc., he also has a penchant for making lemon flavoured snow cones.

    The Jersey Devil

    By far the creepiest cryptid I’ve ever come across is the Jersey Devil. To understand its origins, let’s have a read of the letter they give you in Poptropica:

    Let us travel back in time 300 years to the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. On a dark, moonless night, Mother Leeds gave birth to her thirteenth child. A hideous creature emerged with feathery wings, a long tail, horns and a head like a horse. It let out a terrible cry and flew up the chimney…
    people still report hearing its unearthly cry in the woods late at night.

    That still gives me the chills! American folklore depicts the Jersey Devil as a goat-like creature with large wings and a long tail. Among the many hoaxes, the Jersey Devil is likely a story made up by early settlers to entertain (and definitely scare) folks by candlelight. I know for a fact I wouldn’t sleep for weeks.

    What’s your favourite cryptid?? Let me know if you’d like to see another blog post on these fascinating figures of legend!