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Remember back to the good ol’ days when women had to be married by the time they were, oh, say, 23, or they were referred to as rude names?

Well, Twitter user Sophia Benoit does! The writer took to Twitter to share some interesting points about the idea of a ‘”spinster” and what it means to still be unwed when you’ve passed the ages set by society (the patriarchy).

Omg I just found out that spinster used to be reserved for women 23-26 and that after you turned 26 if you were unmarried you became a…. THORNBACK. How fucking great is that name!?

— Sophia Benoit (@1followernodad) March 13, 2019

While being called a spinster sucks—because it is sexist, outdated, and frankly ridiculous—I’m personally proud to have moved passed spinster-dom into my life as a thornback. Come one and all, welcome yourselves to the life of a thornback!

Brb opening a bar called Thornbacks and we only play Rom coms and the bachelor on tv

— Sophia Benoit (@1followernodad) March 13, 2019

“Thornback” with its old-fashioned connotations is still an archaic way of looking at women (because there is just the term bachelor for men, right? I can’t think of anything else) but it is fun if we reclaim it. Reclaiming my time, reclaiming my age, reclaiming the use of the word thornback! “Thornback” has a powerful energy just waiting to be channeled into 2019.

(source: Twitter)

Here are some other things we saw today!

• Everything is Goose the cat and nothing hurts!!!! The cat wrangler from the set of Captain Marvel talks about the moment that made our beloved Flerken cat a hero. (via Vulture)
• Speaking of some of our Marvel favorites, there is finally a director set for Shang-Chi, the studio’s first project with an Asian lead, and it’s Destin Daniel Cretton! Cretton has a history directing MCU stars like Brie Larson and Michael B. Jordan. (via The Hollywood Reporter)

• The Music Man. Broadway. October 22, 2020. ⁦@MusicManBway⁩ pic.twitter.com/th4NVkpk6h

  — Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) March 13, 2019

• A dad turned his daughter into Captain Marvel and no, I’m not crying. You’re crying so it just LOOKS like I’m crying. (via The Huffington Post)
• We may miss the Mars rover Opportunity with all of our hearts, but we’re still getting a look at some of the images that it captured. Like this panorama of Mars. (via Engadget)

Did we miss anything good out there today, Mary Suevians?

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—The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—

After the less-than-stellar reception of the special effects in the teaser, Disney’s Aladdin is back with a full length trailer! It’s got more song and characters in it, sure, but is it enough to win over the fans? Amy sees all in today’s Nerdist News!

The post Does the New Aladdin Trailer Have Fans Back on Board? appeared first on Nerdist.

Source: WENN / WENN

I’m hoping that during what is supposed to be a joyous time of her life, Meghan Markle is avoiding the foolishness and b*llshit that has been exhibited in the British tabloids since the Duchess announced her pregnancy.

Since that time, the tabloids, some of which claim to celebrate women, have talked about her “weird” body language, there are rumors that she’s difficult and doesn’t get along with her sister-in-law Kate Middleton.

Many suspect that this criticism has a lot to do with the fact that the British community is racist and with Markle being biracial, is looking for something to attack.

A fellow Black woman came to her defense recently.

Tony award winning Broadway star Audra McDonald posted a throwback video of herself at eight months pregnant in support of Markle. She pointed out how uncomfortable she was at eight months pregnant and still having to remain gracious and poised for cameras.

View this post on Instagram

Me at about 8 months pregnant. The reason I’m posting this is because of #MeghanMarkle. I cannot believe what this woman has had to endure from social media and the press. Then today to read about how “weird” her body language is by a supposed women’s magazine that supposedly prides itself on celebrating fierce, independent, strong women who can do anything and have it all?!? Do better. When I was 8 months pregnant I touched my belly all the time because it was MY belly and it was MY baby(usually as active as this video) inside, had crazy emotions ranging from elation to depression to rage to uncontrollable fits of laughter. I was a swollen, hot, sweaty, enormous, flatulent, in search of my feet, hot fudge sundae junkie, nervously excited, pudgy faced, waddling goddess. The thought of having to go through all of that plus having a million cameras in my face, bullied left right and center, and still be gracious, elegant, gorgeous, and full of purpose in front of the whole world is unimaginable. Do better. Leave her alone.

A post shared by Audra McDonald (@audramcdonald) on Mar 9, 2019 at 6:22am PST

Later, when she appeared on “Today,” McDonald shared why she felt so compelled to stand up for Markle.

“You’ve got a body growing inside of you. And so, I just felt like, you know, someone needs to cut this girl a break, you know? And I said, you know, leave her alone.”

McDonald also admitted that being the mother of two biracial children likely spawned her feelings of protectiveness for Markle.

“Maybe it’s because I have a biracial daughter as well and so something about Meghan Markle. I feel oddly protective of her.”

See what McDonald had to say in the video below.

It’s said that the opposite of love isn’t hate. It’s indifference, that feeling of just not giving two shits about something, like an annoying ex or cardio. That same indifference surmises the overall sense around Captain Marvel, 2 full hours of convoluted dribble that is good enough to not be bad, but not bad enough to be memorable. So, why is Marvel Studios’ penultimate film in a whopping 10-year, 22-movie arc leading into Avengers: Endgame, so damn dull?

*Spoilers Flying in like F-16s*

Written by indie writer/directors Anna Bolden and Ryan Fleck, and co-writer Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Captain Marvel stars Brie Larson as Vers (pronounced “verse”), an alien Kree woman and member of their armed forces – or so she thinks. In reality, Vers is Carol Danvers, a human US grounded fighter pilot (women weren’t allowed to fly combat in the 90s) from the planet earth who somehow wound up on the Kree homeworld with no memory of her former life, strange dreams of another world, and the ability to shoot proton blasts from her hands. Her amnesia takes center stage when she’s kidnapped by shape-shifting Skrulls, the Kree’s mortal enemies, who then scour her subconscious in search of information from Vers’ past. After an excitingly daring escape, Vers crash lands into a Blockbuster store in Los Angeles circa 1995 and meets a young two-eyed Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). From there, the occasionally dynamic duo takes us on one of the most mediocre buddy cop action flick rides since Rush Hour 3 (I said what I said. Argue with your granddaddy.).

Captain Marvel’s biggest letdown is its inability to see a theme through to an emotionally satisfying conclusion. The best superhero movies – and movies in general – are stories that are about something. The Oscar-nominated Black Panther, a film that elevated the superhero genre, was about the social and geopolitical effects of colonialism on the African diaspora. Wonder Woman was about stepping out of the familiar to embrace one’s destiny. Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice was about… I dunno, women named Martha? The point is, the protagonists start a journey in one place, but end it in another after some goal is achieved and/or lost by the time the credits roll. Captain Marvel doesn’t really have that, other than Vers/Carol regaining her memories and discovering a secret.

When we first meet Vers, she’s sparring with her superior, Yon-Rogg (Jude Law), who lectures her about thinking more with her head and less with her heart. Corniness aside, Yon-Rogg’s pompous “advice” establishes Vers as an overly emotional recruit who will have to learn how to channel her emotions to ultimately unlock her past and her full powers by movie’s end. However, that aspect of the story never really materializes. There are no flashes of anger or bouts of insecurity that Vers has to overcome. She’s fairly confident, self-assured, and basically the best version of herself in the beginning, middle, and end of the movie. With an exception or two, no one ever really makes much mention of Vers/Carol’s emotional state until the waning 20 minutes of the movie. By that point, there’s little to no satisfaction in the completion of that supposed internal struggle.

The themes of sisterhood and friendship, while present, also get short shrift in Captain Marvel. While Vers tries to piece together the puzzle of her former life, the majority of her memories are of her best friend and fellow pilot Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch) and mentor Dr. Wendy Lawson (Annette Benning). Unfortunately, both characters are woefully underdeveloped and serve as barely-there plot devices. While it’s hinted that Maria was devastated by the supposed death of her best friend, there aren’t any scenes prior to their reintroduction in the film’s 2^nd act that highlight Maria’s grief. What was clearly meant to be a cathartic moment between long lost friends at Maria’s dinner table ends up ringing hollow. And while Brie Larson’s performance at times feels as wooden as Maria’s 1990’s home décor (all oak everything?), one can’t help but wonder if the Oscar winner could’ve pulled off a stronger performance with meatier material.

Then there are Captain Marvel’s powers. At the top of the film, the Supreme Intelligence, the Kree’s governing Artificial Intelligence, repeatedly tells Vers that the Kree gave her her wicked cool photon blast powers, but that they can easily take them away via an implant in her neck. Vers never really questions this or why she is the only member of her squadron to be given such power. When she finally learns the truth, her fully manifested powers aren’t much more impressive than Thor’s. Like him, she can fly, shoot concussive energy blasts (lighting for Thor), and is strong enough to push a missile midair (though we never know where she gets the idea that she can even attempt this). That makes Captain Marvel valuable in the Avengers’ upcoming battle against Thanos, but she feels more like a compliment to their arsenal rather than the secret weapon. Considering that Captain Marvel is one of the strongest heroes in the Marvel multiverse, that’s kind of a shame. She really kicks some serious ass in the comics.

But Captain Marvel isn’t a bad movie by any means, and it’s not without its bright spots. Samuel L. Jackson shines as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Nick Fury, adding a healthy dose of fun to the film. As Captain Marvel is a prequel of sorts, Fury isn’t quite as jaded as we’ve come to know him, and it’s refreshing to watch him go from mistrusting Vers/Carol/Captain Marvel to them becoming a true team. Plus, even the man’s momma calls him Fury. Imagine how badass a Momma Fury cameo would be (hint, hint Marvel)!  

And while Captain Marvel does very little in terms of personal growth, she does represent a certain female fearlessness that is wonderful to experience. She’s not worried about a love interest or pining for something or someone. She’s about business, be that kicking some Skrull ass or uncovering major government conspiracies. While the inevitable montage of Carol Danvers getting back up after every fall are obvious and ring hollow due to her lack of character development, it is nice seeing her and her fellow heroines unafraid to own their power.

So, while the fight scenes aren’t anything to write home about and the many, many, many nods to 90s technology are (mostly) funny, is Captain Marvel worth your hard-earned coin? If you’re looking for mind-numbing explosions and standard, cookie-cutter superhero fare that’s barely a step above genre films from the actual 90s, then Captain Marvel is worth seeing during a matinee or discount day at your local theater. You can use the extra money for snacks when Avengers: Endgame comes out in April.

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The post “Captain Marvel” Flies, but Doesn’t Quite Soar in Marvel’s First Women Led Feature appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.