loss

Sometimes You Need to Step Back

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Hello Friends, Family, and Fans,

A little while ago my need to be precise got me in trouble. Someone was complaining on the internet, and I clarified what was going on. That person accused me of attacking them and then someone who I once respected compared me to an abuser.

Being neurodivergent means I don’t always understand what’s going on until later with social interactions. So the whole thing confused me and made me angry.

Thinking back on it, I think I can see that the person’s interactions were coloured by their own trauma. I wish they’d explained to me why they were upset instead of attacking me but that’s not what the world is like.

Over the past couple of decades, I’ve noticed that we as humans are really bad at looking outside ourselves and even neurotypicals have trouble understanding others.

I’m always trying to understand people, and here are a few things I’ve learned:

I probably should have handled the situation differently. I wanted to correct the assumed accidental misinformation, but once the other party started getting defensive, I should have disengaged.

I understand that the two of them are working through stuff and that I must have triggered some bad memories. However, that’s not a good reason to start making personal attacks. (Your trauma doesn’t excuse being cruel to others.)

A friend recommended I lay low for a while, and knowing that I wouldn’t be able to stop correcting bad information, I left the social media groups related to those two people. It’s frustrating because it feels like I’ve been chased out of places I thought were safe.

If anyone feels like I’m attacking them, please contact me privately and we can talk about it. I try to never attack people but correct misinformation. I can see where that could be taken as the same thing, but before you start insulting me in public, talk to me. Please!

Stay safe, and be kind,

 Éric

Haunted Mansion (2023) – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2023 film Haunted Mansion.

Story

The story leans heavily into the feel of the ride and it’s expansive lore, but grounds it in a powerful story about grief and loss. It’s well constructed and everything is wrapped up nicely. There are no unwanted surprises, but lots of good ones.

Score: 1

Characters

It’s hard to give a large cast proper character development, but the movie makes sure to give each of them those little moments of depth. The cast is superb and has amazing comedic timing that balances the scary bits really well.

I really like the parallels between the characters growth and how it revolves around grief. It’s easy to forget what makes the idea of real ghosts sad and scary is dealing with our own loss.

Score: 1

Dialogue

They only used the word “Quantum” once in the movie and I’m glad for that.

Beyond that, the dialogue is a wonderful mix of silly, weird, and deeply moving. Each of the characters have their own style and tone, so much so that they could be from different times or movies, but somehow it works.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

The movie is completely saturated with references to the ride and expanded lore. It’s both glorious and at times makes you spend more effort looking at the backgrounds in fear of missing something. Which might not be an issue for casual viewers. That being said, it’s a beautifully shot movie with great visuals.

The music is a great mixture of New Orleans jazz, creepy music, remixes from the ride, and originals that fall into all three.

Score: 1

Fun

The movie is fun, but we’re all big Haunted Mansion fans in our house. Everyone loved it, despite a few screams. I’m going to want this movie and its soundtrack.

Score: 1

Overall

A must watch for anyone who loves the Haunted Mansion ride or creepy family friendly scares. The movie has heart and depth that is surprising and touching.

Final Score: 5 Stars out of 5*

*A 5 star review doesn’t mean the movie was perfect nor that it is perfect for everyone but it is a movie I believe is as close to perfect as possible.