186: A Smile in Your Eye

[thefourthvine]

My brain continues to spin violently under the influence of a truly massive fan fiction overdose - the fannish holidays should come with a warning label, seriously; I am still trying to catch up. Not that it's not fun! It's just like drinking from a really fun firehose, is all. So, while I wait for approximately four thousand awesome new stories to settle in my head, I'm going to rec some more non-story fanworks. This time, vids! Vids that make me happy! Vids that will make you happy! Possibly so happy you'll burst something with some of these. I am in no way responsible for joy-induced injuries, though; blame the vidders, not me.

The One That Shows Clark Being Absolutely Terrified of Boobs, Thus Proving That He Really Does Come from Comic Books. I Kissed a Girl, by bop_radar. Smallville.

This vid is brilliant for three reasons:

1. It takes the rather irritating concept of exhibition lesbianism and transforms it into the entirely awesome concept of exhibition heterosexuality. Frankly, I am behind this with all my force and will and might.
   
   
2. And if there's anyone whose heterosexuality is for display purposes only, that person would be: Clark. I have not seen a man so clearly frightened of women since, I don't know. Hercules? West Hollywood? Maybe Hercules in West Hollywood. (Note to everyone: this is not a made-for-TV movie we need to see. Oh my god no.) This vid so perfectly and joyfully collects all the shots of Clark looking like he would rather eat kryptonite than kiss a girl, and frankly, I can laugh at that all day long. (Clark, tiny hint: if kissing scares you that much, you're DOING IT WRONG. Just go back to the boys. You're happier there. And you are not fooling anyone, sugar.)
   
   
3. It totally reclaims this song. Once, I hated it. No more. I will never, never hear it again without thinking of Clark's petrified OMG girlflesh RUN! face. (And, oh oh oh, Clark in that wet t-shirt when she's blithering on about how girls are all soft and shit. Clark will SHOW you magical skin, honey pie. He is very proud of his magical skin. He moisturizes.)

(And, as a total and complete bonus, this vid makes possibly the best use I have ever since of Lex's pissy face. Oh, god. Lex, jealousy is your look. Lavender and green green jealousy: Lex's colors this season. Every season since he hit Clark with his car, really.)

The One That Proves That Arthur Knows Only One Sword Maneuver, but He Works It. Keep Right on Working Your Sword, Arthur Honey. A Night at the Opera, by such_heights. Merlin.

This vid single-handedly drew me into this fandom. I watched it and said, basically, Okay, yup. I'm in. I was searching for fan fiction before the vid was entirely over. This vid brought me such joy - the ending, oh god, the perfect perfect ending! - that I cannot think of this fandom without smiling a little.

But that is not why I'm recommending it. No, I'm recommending it because norah recently disclosed to me that she has not seen it. This cannot continue. norah, this is a vid you MUST SEE. Not just because it's Merlin. Not just because it's awesome. Not just because it's funny. No. It's the song choice.

For everyone else, a little background: norah once attempted to watch Highlander (the movie). Now, I watched that movie a lot in the days when my sister and I rented videos together, and experimentation since that time has proven that while my sister was watching the actual movie, I was just making stuff up in my head. It was before I knew how to watch movies, and they didn't make much sense to me. (This was the era when I watched Blade Runner and came to the conclusion that it was a light romantic comedy type movie, to give you some idea.) So I had kind of...my own story of this movie, and I, in all innocence, encouraged norah to watch it. "It's pretty good!" I said. "From what I remember!"

Afterwards, she was shaken, not stirred. And the particular line that summed up her whole dislike of the movie was: "It's a kind of magic." I agree with her that this is not the ideal line for Highlander.

But I think you will agree with me that is a perfect line for Merlin. And it's here. norah, watch this vid. It won't just make you happy. It will reclaim Queen's entire oeuvre for you.

And even people who have no issues with Queen should watch this. Isn't being made happy - deliriously happy, particularly in the bit with the dragon, oh dear god, the bit with the dragon - enough for you?

The One about the True, Doomed Love of a Puddlejumper and a Cactus. It's Like Shakespeare. 2 Atoms in a Molecule, by zoetrope. Stargate: Atlantis.

I have one thing to say about this vid, and one thing only: John's manpain is SO ADORABLE.

I mean, I think we've all encountered this guy. If we haven't dated him, we've been friends with him. He's all, "Oh, love is so hard and I always get hurt and I suffer much and I have no choice but to go stand in the rain wearing all black and not even try. I'll lead people on, but I won't commit, because of my TREMENDOUS PAIN." In real life, my response to this is, "No, it's because you're a tremendous tool."

Somehow, this vid makes that cute. Not just cute, but funny. I find myself wanting to squeeze John's little woeful cheeks and say, "Oh my god, you are so adorable when you're all emo and pathetic. I'm going to buy you a beret!"

(John would look awesome in a beret, I tell you what. I bet he's worn one, too. I bet there was a five-week period when he was, like, sixteen, and he'd just had his heart broken for the first time. He thought he was going to go to Paris and starve in a garret on the West Bank and write really moving poetry (and sleep with lots of cute boys). And he wore a beret and tried hard to take up smoking and bought some turtlenecks. And then he realized that a) his father was really really rich and it'd be more Common People than the Lost Generation b) he'd need a really rich father to live in Paris, because it wasn't 1920 anymore and c) that he sucked at berets, smoking, and especially poetry. Still. I bet there's photographic evidence. I bet Ronon stole it when they went to John's father's funeral.)

My point is: this vid is John's emo woe made into effervescent joy. I can't think of anyone who doesn't need that.

The One That Shows Us That the Doctor's Travel Agency Is Maybe One You Don't Want to Sign up with, Unless You Just Like Hot Sexin' Adventures for Some Reason. OMG!, by obsessive24. Doctor Who.

Here is a true fact: this vid has possibly the best and funniest use of music in the whole history of ever. It sets a mark so high that I am not sure it can ever be equaled.

Here is another true fact: I would probably love if it even if it had used a different version of this song. (Although this version makes it, oh my god, seriously. "I'm just talking over this to prevent bootleggers": AWESOME.) The more I explore Doctor Who - which for me means Doctor Who fanworks, since I continue to ride on the success of having seen the whole first season of New Who (minus one episode) - the more I realize that for me, this is a show about the people around the Doctor. Oh, yes, I love the Doctor, but he's sort of ineffable and unknowable. I don't even want to know him; that would pretty much ruin it. He's a 900 year old superpowerful space alien with a big blue flying box: he's supposed to be distant and weird and kinda twitchy. You would be, too, if the last time you lost your cravat you inadvertently wiped out a galaxy.

But his companions (in which set I include the TARDIS, who is obviously his first and best and truest and shiniest companion) - those folks are. Well. More human, for starters. (Yes, even the TARDIS is more human than the Doctor; that's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. Look, if you want a rec that makes sense, write your own.) Makes it easier to relate to them, you know? Plus, with every new companion, you get to experience the wonder all over again: holy shit, time travel! Holy shit, infinite variety! Holy shit, this Doctor guy is fun, but kinda crazy!

So I love this vid, because: companions.

And then there's the shiny. And the music. And - well, obsessive24 has been impressing me with her vids since I first watched her Hikaru no Go ones, lo these many years ago, and she just continues to amaze me. This vid is no exception. There is brilliance here. And awesomeness. And talking over this to prevent bootleggers. <3!

Comments

[athenejen]

Oh, these are awesome recs! I haven't had a chance to watch the vids yet, but I can already tell they will bring me lots of glee. Thank you!

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

You are entirely welcome! And I do indeed anticipate an uptick in glee in your sector. These are life-enhancing vids, is what they are.

[geeklite.livejournal.com]

Oh, Clark!. Seriously, I had stuffed my fist into my mouth with glee at that vid. Just... go save your boyfriend and leave those girls alone.

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

Yes, precisely!

Of course, as soon as I had this post written, Best Beloved and I began speculating on the many, many men who look terrified of women in our fandoms. Hercules! Clark! Fraser! John Sheppard!

Now I want a multi-fandom OH NOES GIRLFLESH vid. *yearns helplessly*

[khaleesian.livejournal.com]

Ah, your recs sets are always a joy. Just reading them makes me excited. Yet they almost raise more questions than they answer, e.g. what did Ronon do with the beret?

I think we need fic for this.

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

I agree, we need the story. *eyes you thoughtfully* So, are you busy?

But here's what I think happened with the beret: at some point, Nancy sized up Ronon, thought, so that's why John always seemed a little...off in bed, and took him in to show him some photographs of John as a kid. "You'll like these," she told him.

Ronon went along because that's what you do when you're off-planet, make nice with the locals, but secretly he was really really afraid that she was going to hit on him. He was already preparing his, "My people have strict codes of behavior, and I'm sorry, but..." speech.

But, really, Nancy just wanted to show him the photos. She knew Dave never would, and showing the new boyfriend childhood photos is kind of tradition, right? Plus, okay, she wanted to get back at John, just a little.

And so Ronon looked at baby John naked on a rug, and John going off to boarding school, and John in an unfortunate outfit on a yacht. And then he saw John in this weird flat hat. Wearing dark stuff around his eyes.

"What's that?" Ronon said.

"Oh, it was a phase, from what I hear," Nancy said. And then she looked at Ronon and laughed. "You know, I bet the hat's still around here somewhere. I bet John would love to have it."

Which is how Ronon ended up going back to Atlantis with a suitcase full of embarrassing mementos of John's teen years. He's still not sure what to do with them. Earth people are weird.

He does like the little flat hat, though. Maybe he'll wear it some movie night.

[juliet]

This vid single-handedly drew me into this fandom.

Dammit. I think it may have done so for me as well. Dammit.

Also I love the suggestion of 16-yr-old John in a beret. Hee. (And that vid is great.)

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

It's a really persuasive vid, isn't it? I'm already wondering why I don't have any Merlin icons.

Also I love the suggestion of 16-yr-old John in a beret.

Suddenly, I am saddened by the lack of John's Unfortunate Teenage Years stories. And I need John in a beret fic. *mopes*

[hannahrorlove.livejournal.com]

That's a pretty good way to describe the Doctor, actually. It's even more pronounced as the series goes on - or goes back, if you want to spend time watching some of the older Doctors' stuff, which gets really crazy. There are high-speed escapes in wheelchairs and near-tentacle rape, for example - back on the BBC in the 1970s.

Have you, er, rewatched Blade Runner now that you know how to watch movies? The director's cut is really, really good.

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

There are high-speed escapes in wheelchairs and near-tentacle rape, for example - back on the BBC in the 1970s.

...The BBC had a really good drug supplier back then, didn't it? I'm envisioning him making daily deliveries to all the writers' offices. Anything to keep the crazy flowing!

Have you, er, rewatched Blade Runner now that you know how to watch movies? The director's cut is really, really good.

I have. It was mostly an exercise in cognitive dissonance. There's nothing like believing you know all about a movie (although my confidence was greatly diminished by Best Beloved's stunned expression when I shared my interpretation of the movie with her) and realizing you, um, had no fucking clue at all. It was hard for me to enjoy the movie because I was kept thinking, but when do the romantic comedy hijinks start? I know they're in here! Confusing, is what it was.

[adbaculum.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU, OMG, for showing me the I Kissed A Girl vid! I wasn't going to watch it because my dislike of that song is so strong, but then you said it was good, and there was wibbling, but then I watched and it was so worth it. \o/ I finally have a way to listen to that ridiculously stupid song and not want to gag. It is a glorious day. Oh, Clark.

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

Everyone needs to see that vid. EVERYONE. I am extremely glad you watched it. Because, yes, that song is enough to make me want to bite someone (and not for display lesbianism purposes, either), but this vid rehabilitates it completely. Oh, Clark! Your scared little FACE.

I am so happy you liked it!

[juliet]

McFly did a cover of That Song which makes it better, as well:
youtube link.

[such_heights]

*dies laughing* Okay, that's hands-down the best rec anyone's ever written about anything I've done, thanks so much! And your write ups for 2 Atoms and OMG! are spot-on and so funny, hahahaha. Oh, John Sheppard and his TREMENDOUS PAIN. <3 I think I am going to subscribe to your newsletter (as it were) now.

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

Well, it was an awesome vid, so thank you.

And John Sheppard's great pain will just always bring me joy. This may make me a bad person, but there it is.

Welcome to the newsletter! There's, um...stuff. Sometimes.

[josika.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Today you absolutely save the-thing-I-use-instead-of-sanity. Real life behaves like bad fanfic, but I am going to download these into my player and be happy!

[liddle-oldman.livejournal.com]

You have to remember -- the thing about Clark Kent is, if he ever tries to have sex with anyone, it will end very very badly.

[saffronhouse.livejournal.com]

You have just fixed a monday! I laughed all the way through your reviews and I haven't even watched the vids yet (just wanted to say thanks before i get swept out to the sea of glee and forget). Thank you!

[cellia.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the recs! Especially good for fandoms I only have a passing interest in, so I can often miss the latest awesome thing.

[norah.livejournal.com]

HEY! It's a kind of magic!

Awesome vid. Now I must go read some fanfiction before I am eclipsed by my bedtime entirely...

[bitter-crimson.livejournal.com]

Holy crap something has partially redeemed that awful song (I kissed a girl) for me! o_O

[http://users.livejournal.com/_whiskers/]

oh my sweet lord, I haven't lurked in smallville fandom for *years*, and bop_radar's vid had me dying of laughter. Thanks so much for reccing, that was awesome!

It also almost (but not quite) makes me want to catch up on some of the canon I've been missing (but really I think all I want are the vidders highlights). Hmmmm, clex, I've missed you so - time to reread? Time to hunt down the best fruits of the modern era of fanfic? Or maybe just succumb to the inertia of all the merlin popping up all over my friends list. Sigh, decisions...

[amarin-rose.livejournal.com]

I adore your vid posts. I only download vids to keep if I like them enough to re-watch them, and now instead of sifting through many many awful vids, I just wait for your recs, and get lots of keepers!

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

Fantastic post, as always.

[shadowspinner.livejournal.com]

You realise you are now partially responsible for my growing obsession with Merlin, right? D:

[montglanechess.livejournal.com]

The "I Kissed a Girl" video is seriously the best thing I have ever seen regarding SGA vids. *dies of laughing* Exhibitionist Heteronormativity FTW. It fits the song so much better.

*rolls around in this rec*