rebekah writes stuff.

Tag: Blogging

  • Disney, why did you change the story?

    Disney, why did you change the story?

    If you don’t know already, Disney is in the production of Mufasa, a new live action film about Mufasa – Simba’s dad. When I saw they were bringing out a Mufasa movie in 2024, I was initially very excited. I love the Lion King!! It’s one of those childhood films that I hold so dear to me. Plus, big cats are my favourite animals, so an entire film dedicated to lions is a winner in my books.

    However, and it’s a big one, with the release of teasers and extended trailers, my heart has slowly been sinking. It’s now at the pit of my stomach. Why? You’ll see.

    The Trailers

    The Teaser Trailer, released April 20 2024, gave us our first glimpse of Mufasa. It was only 1 minute 32 seconds long, and it dropped this bombshell:

    “A lion was born without a drop of nobility in his blood.”

    Red flag #1.

    The Official Trailer dropped just 4 days ago and said this:

    “Long before they became legends, Mufasa, and the prince, who would come to be known as Scar, became brothers.”

    Did you pick up on that? Not were brothers, but became.

    Red flag #2.

    Incase you’re still wondering what I’m going on about, the significance of that sentence has sent a shockwave across The Lion King cinematic universe and community. Scar and Mufasa, according to this new film, are… how do I say this? Not blood brothers. Mufasa is portrayed as an orphan. Why is this so shocking, you may ask? Well, because it’s simply not true.

    A well established backstory

    If you aren’t a hardcore Lion King fan, allow me to enlighten you.

    Mufasa and Scar (Taka) are blood brothers. They are the cubs of King Ahadi and Queen Uru. How do I know this? Uru and Ahadi are characters in the Disney story A Tale of Two Brothers published in 1994, among the other six adventures. We’ve known that they’re siblings since the 90’s!

    While we know what Ahadi looks like, Uru’s description is less concrete. Fans depict her with a brown coat, not dissimilar to Taka.

    Oh, and another thing, Mufasa doesn’t just have one drop of nobility in his blood – it flows through his veins! He comes from a long line of lion kings. His grandfather was Mohatu, a king! Even Taka has royal blood, but he is not in line for the throne, as we know from The Lion King.

    Why Disney?

    I don’t understand. Why wouldn’t you want to make Mufasa’s backstory true to the fans and to the books? It would still appeal to a new generation of Lion King fans! Imagine if a new Frozen prequel came out which revealed Elsa and Anna weren’t actually sisters. People would notice. Same for if Luke and Leia Skywalker weren’t twins.

    Why wouldn’t you want to do justice to The Lion King’s Mufasa, and do it right? It baffles me that Disney went in this direction, and it pains me to see people actually believing that Mufasa is an orphan.

    Final thoughts

    I could go on and on about this. Mufasa releases in theatres 20 December 2024. Am I going to watch it? Of course. Am I disappointed? Yeah, for sure. The writers have essentially taken Mufasa’s beloved backstory and tossed it out the window. Stay tuned for a review in December and let me know your thoughts on this!

  • Saddest Disney Deaths

    Saddest Disney Deaths

    I love Disney movies and you better believe they’ve made me cry. Why Disney? Why do you do it? Without further ado, here are just some of the saddest deaths that Disney has come up with. Let’s get into it:

    Bambi’s mum

    This is up there as one of the saddest. The pair flee a hunter, but Bambi’s mum is shot. Bambi only realises his mum isn’t behind him when he reaches a safe spot. Bambi calling out “mother” into the howling wind is heart breaking. Lost in the storm, he meets his father, who tells him, rather stoically, “your mother can’t be with you anymore”. :((((

    Tarzan’s parents

    Tarzan is one of my all time favourite movies – they just don’t make them like this anymore! Before becoming Tarzan, king of the apes, Tarzan is a defenceless baby. Luckily, he has his two parents to protect him. They have seen their fair share of tragedy. Clearly, they are a quick thinking and innovative pair, as they build a treehouse high up in the African jungle in order to survive. But as we see when Kala, Tarzan’s adoptive gorilla mother, enters the treehouse, Tarzan’s parents were no match for leopard Sabor.

    Tadashi

    Disney has this habit of creating wonderful, caring and gentle characters that the protagonist loves dearly and needs, all to be taken away too soon. Every time! Tadashi, from Big Hero 6, is one of those characters. He and his younger brother Hiro lost their parents and live with their Aunt Cass. Hiro is a genius but has lost his way, entering bot fights and narrowly avoiding trouble. Tadashi steers Hiro onto a better path – and frankly a better use of his big brain: The San Fransokyo Institue of Technology. Hiro is inspired and, after a successful presentation, he is offered a place. But then there’s a fire and Tadashi dies in the explosion. WHY??

    Mufasa

    Yup, I’m sure you were waiting for this one to come up. This scene will never not make me cry. Mufasa is King of the Pridelands. He is an enormous lion with an even bigger heart. He is wise, brave and fun-loving. He is just such a beautiful character, why Disney? Why did you have to do it? As one of my fave films, this ranks among the top for me on the sad scale.

    Sitka

    This might be a lesser known Disney character’s death. Brother Bear is the story of three boisterous brothers; Sitka, Denahi and the youngest Kenai. In a nutshell, Kenai is presented with his totem, but he is disappointed. Adding fuel to the flames, Kenai finds the salmon basket, that he was responsible for tying up into a tree, has been found by a bear. Embarrassed and angry, he goes after the bear and provokes it. It escalates to where the brothers are fending off the angered bear on top of an ice shelf. In a moment of peril, Sitka sacrifices himself to save the others. He drowns in the calving ice shelf. Another beautiful character who left too soon.

    Have any of these made you cry? Which ranks the saddest for you? And if you have anymore I’ve missed out on, let me know and I’ll do a part 2!

  • Let’s have a Q & Hey!

    Let’s have a Q & Hey!

    Hey blogsters! Bloggeroonskiis – it’s April! I thought I would answer a few questions. I haven’t done something like this before, so let’s get into it!!

    Image by Storyset on Freepik

    Why did I start a blog?

    I started blogging for a bunch of reasons: I wanted to practice writing, I wanted people to read my writing and I wanted to be more confident (especially posting my writing!). I definitely struggled getting posts out when I first started and perfectionism really blocked my flow. I worried a lot about what people would think of my writing. Plus, physically setting up a blog seemed so daunting! I’m glad I just decided to give it a go. It took a few tries on different platforms, and now I’m pretty happy with my WordPress blog.

    Interestingly, the less I worried about what people might think and whether my writing was perfect or not, the better the words flowed. I’ve realised that the more I blog about stuff I enjoy, and because it brings me joy, the easier it is to press publish!

    What’s my favourite blog post so far?

    I think my favourite blog post is the thing with spicy food. It was genuinely a lot of fun to write and such a funny concept. I’m not great with spicy food – a mild curry is about my limit – and it made me think lol this could be a fun and relatable post to write about. Everyone has an opinion on spice, you know? They either love it or hate it!

    How’s your creative writing journey going?

    Yeeeeeah, it’s fair to say I haven’t even looked at my novel drafts in well over six months. It’s hard when you’re busy! I spent a while working on my novels and they say it’s good to take a break and come back with fresh eyes – and I will! Besides, blogging is fun and a good way to keep the writing muscle ripped.

    I would definitely like to talk more about my writing and any tips I’ve learnt along the way and hear about your guys’ writing journeys too!! Are you an aspiring novelist like me? Do you want to be traditionally published or self published? Or are you already published?? Let me know!

    What advice would I give to new bloggers?

    Just wing it! As a new blogger myself, I’m still getting my head around it! It can definitely seem quite daunting. I think it’s helpful to remember why you wanted to start a blog in the first place: i.e to write about whatever it is you are passionate about or that you enjoy or think is interesting! Pizza, movies, cooking, whatever! I write about pretty much anything I think is interesting because I enjoy it!

    Don’t get too bogged down about views and statistics. It’s easy to look at some blogs and accounts and compare. Remember, you’re just starting out! Sometimes I feel disheartened when I don’t get many views on a post or followers on instagram – but so long as my stuff is out there and I’m writing, I honestly don’t really care too much! It’s a win when I publish a post! And when I do get a like or a new subscriber or a follower, it always makes my day. I appreciate my little community!! Shout out to you who is reading this! 🙂 So yeah, as a relatively new blogger, just focus on actually writing and getting your stuff out there and the little wins along the way.

    Thinking face cartoon on Freepik

    You got this!! Hope you enjoyed this lil Q&Hey!

    rebekah writes stuff. is on insta! @rebekah_writes_stuff

  • Looking for a disaster movie to watch tonight? I’ve got you covered.

    Looking for a disaster movie to watch tonight? I’ve got you covered.

    Hi new subscribers! Welcome back to everyone already subscribed! And hello new readers – welcome to the blog 🙂

    Who doesn’t love a good disaster movie? Now, I know there are some bomb alien and zombie movies, but let’s stick to natural disasters today. These are my top picks!

    Are you in the mood for shifting crust, a GIANT wave and secret government shenanigans? Then 2012 is for you.

    I don’t care what people (and rotten tomatoes) have to say. This movie is hugely underrated. Sure, it’s a bit long but it’s pretty epic and never fails to give me goosebumps. Plus we all thought that 2012 was the year the world was going to end, remember?

    The movie is centred on Jackson and his family, but there’s a whole host of characters all over the world – scientists, government officials, you name it. If you want to strap in for an epic-holy-sh*t-thrill-ride with volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, famous landmarks collapsing – the visual effects though, can we talk about the budget 200 million USD!! – then get the popcorn and strap in for 2012. Also it’s the same guy who directed Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow soooo I’ll just leave that there.

    Are you looking for peak cinema and a modern day ice age? Then The Day After Tomorrow is for you.

    This movie cannot be topped. It’s not your classic natural disaster where there is fire and destruction. Nope, it’s a different kind of enemy. It’s the cold.

    The Day After Tomorrow made its mark as a top tier disaster film starring baby Jake Gyllenhaal. Climate change AND an ice age?? It’s unconventional, epic and it mostly centres on a group of teens on a school trip, as well as other scientists, and their survival. This movie rules. 4 words for you – eye of the storm. That’s all I’m going to say.

    Are you looking for a giant volcanic eruption movie with Terminator lady and James Bond? Then Dante’s Peak is for you.

    Dante’s Peak looks over a small American town. This movie breaks down the volcanic eruption, from the lead up to the aftermath. I believe it was inspired by the Mt. St. Helen’s eruption in 1980 that happened in Southwest Washington USA. This trailer is from 1997 – it doesn’t do the movie justice at all. Dante’s Peak is a banger disaster film. If you want to know more about volcanic eruptions, then Dante’s Peak is the one to choose.

    Are you looking for a MASSIVE tornado meteorologist adventure? Then Twister is for you

    Fun fact, I actually wanted to be a storm-chaser when I was a kid after watching this movie haha.

    For this rag-tag group of meteorologists and scientists, storm chasing is just part of their 9-5. However, testing out new tornado alert technology is not without its risks. Set in Tornado Alley (USA), Jo and Bill, who are on the verge of finalising their divorce, team up to trial Jo’s new tech. As the wind and tornadoes get bigger, so too does the drama. Again, another classic 90’s natural disaster movie. Give it some love!

    Now, which one do I watch?? What are your top natural disaster movies? What do you think of my choices?

    rebekah_writes_stuff is on insta! Follow to stay updated 🙂

  • Things in life you (probably) take for granted everyday

    Things in life you (probably) take for granted everyday

    Before I was even born, humans had created some of the most important, life changing inventions, from the car (1886), the lightbulb (1879), penicillin (1928), to the internet (1983), the polio vaccine (1955) and, dare I say it, plastic (1907). Yup, these are just some of the many clever ideas which have changed our world.

    But what about the inventions that are overlooked and less in your face? I can guarantee there’s at least one or two you take for granted everyday – I know I do!

    Roads

    We don’t have to dig out the spades when we head out to the supermarket (get it, dig out?). You don’t have to cut your way through bramble and bush. You don’t even have to think twice when you’re pulling out of your driveway and heading to work. All that back breaking work has literally been done for you. Sure, potholes suck and rain is becoming a bit more of an issue with climate change, BUT you must admit that roads are incredible. Next time you go for a drive or you get stuck in traffic, be grateful that someone in Mesopotamia 6,000 years ago decided to lay down a path – and that the trend caught on.

    A road in a modern city by evening_tao on freepik

    The indoor toilet

    Need I say more?? Did you know that Thomas Crapper wasn’t actually the first person to invent the flush toilet? As disappointing as it is, Sir John Harrington actually beat him to it in the 16th century. Despite this, most toilets weren’t inside. Roughly 100 years ago, most UK houses didn’t have an indoor toilet. Indoor plumbing is pretty recent and still not the status quo across the world. Think about it. You don’t have to brave the elements for a midnight pee. You don’t need to put on shoes or light a lamp and look for rats outside. Indoor toilets are the sh*t.

    An outside toilet (1978-1979), Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museum

    Toothpaste

    9 out of 10 dentists will agree that toothpaste is pretty awesome. I shudder to think about how bad everyone’s breath would stink and just how many of us would lose teeth and need surgery. A breath mint will only get you so far.

    Oral hygiene has an interesting history. Most cultures had their own toothpaste remedies, but it didn’t come out of a tube. The Ancient Egyptians, for example, mixed oxen hooves, pumice, myrrh, egg shells and just a splash of water. That did the trick. People of Ancient Greece, Rome, China, India – different variations of toothpaste existed long before modern toothpaste. Doesn’t say people’s teeth were in a good state though. Did you know Tudor Queen Elizabeth brushed her teeth with honey? She hardly had any teeth in the end. Mr Peabody and Colgate, I owe you one.

    Sunglasses

    Sunglasses didn’t actually do what they said on the tin for many years. Sure, they were fashionable and protected people’s eyes from Michael Bay-esque lens flares, but apart from that, they had no sun protection whatsoever. It wasn’t until the 1930s that protection from UV rays was integrated into the design of sunglasses. Edwin. H. Land invented polarised lenses in the late 1930s and Ray Ban’s Aviator sunglasses became renowned for their utility and style during World War II. Where would my sensitive blue eyes be on those hazy, cloudy days without my sunglasses?

    The Barcode

    Imagine carting your big shop up to the checkout. The checkout lady stares at the heaped trolley and gives a sigh as you start loading your stuff onto the checkout belt. She picks up a box of cereal and manually types in the number on the back. She does the same thing for the chicken breasts, the chocolate, the washing powder, the pasta sauce. This monotonous routine continues and, by the time she’s reached the bottom of the trolley, the chicken’s gone off.

    Yup, those little black lines are a godsend. The barcode revolutionised shopping and stock take forever. Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver invented the very first barcode in 1952. However, the barcode was ahead of its time and when technology finally caught up, the barcode was integrated into supermarket software. The first barcode scanned at a checkout was a packet of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit in Ohio, 1974. The rest is history!

    Aren’t you just bursting with gratitude? There’s definitely more I could write about!! What other inventions would make your list? Let me know below! 🙂

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