Mahitoi

“Two of the same”

"Why can we not love who we want to? The thought of having to come out makes our bones tremble and leaves our stomachs in an appetite less pit.

They say that love is beautiful. But tense at the love of two of the same. Where is it written that you cannot love someone despite their gender?

Love is beautiful, love is kind, and love shouldn’t be trapped in a box.

The “I do’s” of man and woman never needed a law to allow it to happen. The secrecy behind “gender” appropriate clothing just so Karen’s don’t bash you down.

Yet love is beautiful, and love is kind. And it is most certainly trapped in a box.

Where is the open world of the ever so loved romance in heartstopper? They’ll share, “Happy Pride Month! Love is Love!”

But bully those that are openly passionate about love of two of the same. Love is most certainly love, It comes from our beautiful beating heart.

The heart does not depict which gender it chooses to love. It picks based on personality, and that strong warm feeling of comfort.

The gender you love, does not define your worth. It also does not make it mean any less, even when fighting for the marriage of two of the same."

Chelsea James (She/Her)

Everything Everywhere All at Once

Movie | Jared Ipsen (He/Him)

Now, I never in my life thought I would find myself sobbing on the couch to a movie scene featuring two rocks with fucken googly eyes on them, but that’s exactly where I found myself last Sunday afternoon. This movie was fantastic. Oh, and the themes - so many themes! The futility of nihilism, intergenerational trauma, the ups and downs of marriage, queer love, grief, not living up to your potential, what if your fingers were made out of hot dogs?, and the Lovecraftian nightmare that is the ‘everything bagel’ - good Lord almighty.

I don’t want to give too much away because it’s one of those ‘go in blind’ joints, but suffice to say this is the movie that Marvel Studios and the Wachowskis could only dream of making. Ke Huy Quan’s acting absolutely broke me towards the end, and when my wife woke up from her nap she was very confused as to why I was crying about how happy I was to be ‘folding laundry’ with her.

The only thing I didn’t like was that it felt a little over-long toward the end, I kept thinking it was finished and then something else would happen - kind of like in Twin Peaks where that dude turns up with the glove and punches BOB and you’re like oh, okay, fuck, is that it then? And then it really isn’t it at all.

Fionn O’Shea (who plays Eddie) is adorable, Lola Petticrew (who plays Amber) is fantastic, and the Irish accents make me feel some kind of way. It is not uncommon to find films about first loves and bad dates, but very few actually speak to those of us who aren't straight and white. Dating Amber is a fresh take on the classic ‘rom-com’, feel good movie, that isn’t a straight love story following Hugh Grant and Renee Zelwiger; Kate Hudson and Mathew Mcconahay; Katherine Hiegal and Seth Rogan; or Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum. It is a little bit stereotypical in some regards, I’ll admit, but that shouldn’t be your main focus.

Dating Amber is a genuinely sweet film about overcoming societal expectations and finding your own path in life. With Eddie and Amber, familiar feelings are given a fresh perspective. The film showcases the importance of platonic love and caring for our friends beyond what may be expected. I am a sucker for platonic relationships, so it made me so happy to see it so beautifully portrayed on screen. This movie is great. It’s not a cinematic masterpiece, but it made me feel something. I would watch it, but probably not more than twice.

88%

Dating Amber

Movie | Eilidh Huggan (She/Her)

70%

Crush

Movie | Libbie Gillard (They/Them)

“Crush”, released on Hulu and Disney+, is the perfect feel good movie. It’s horrendously cheesy and makes you cringe in all the best and worst ways. It has teen drama, it has laughs, and it has a love triangle. Really, it is everything that a coming-of-age romantic comedy should be. And yea, it’s a coming-of-age, not a coming-out story.

This film has an absolutely star-studded cast led by Rowan Blanchard from “Girl Meets World”. Blanchard’s love interests are played by none other than Isabella Ferreira from Love Victor, and Auli’i Cravalho, the voice of Moana. For a fun casting bonus the in-your-face token straight best friend is actually played by a gay man, Tyler Alvarez.

We follow Blanchard’s character, Paige Evans, as she navigates her final year of high school while trying to get into the school of her dream, CalArts. Paige is hopelessly infatuated with Gabriela Campos (played by Ferreira). In an attempt to spend more time with her, an unathletic Paige joins the track team. Gabby and her sister AJ (played by Cravalho) are the track team captains, and so, the love triangle begins. AJ trains Paige and they start to fall for each other but Paige can’t quite let go of Gabby. Eventually Paige and AJ kiss in a beautiful scene that makes me swoon every time, and all is well.

My one minor ick with the movie is the track scenes. Watching sport in films is so painful and director Sammi Cohen doesn’t seem to know how to make track look good, but it’s passable. The cringe dialogue was also a bit eek on first watch but after additional viewings, I realise it’s part of the charm.

Finally, I’m back in my element… kind of. The TV show “Conversations with Friends” is a show I probably never would have discovered if it weren’t for Jak’s recommendation. However, unlike the album he recommended last week, I am happy that I watched this show. But just because I said I’m happy I watched it, doesn’t mean I like it.

Based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Sally Rooney, it follows Frances and Bobbi, students in their final year at Uni in Ireland. They form a deep connection to writer Melissa, and her husband Nick, who Frances starts to have an affair with. That’s essentially all I can say without spoiling anything.

Honestly, the show isn’t really my style. I prefer things with more action in them and I found that “Conversations with Friends” was very slow, which I think is its biggest flaw. The plot didn’t get interesting until episode five, but it was also very predictable (I foresaw a lot of what happened after watching the first episode). In terms of the characters, I found a lot of them to be very flat and not have much emotion or depth to them, especially Frances who was meant to be the main character. It is trying to be artsy and since this is meant to be a romance-drama, I will provide a censorship warning for those who want to watch it.

Conversations with Friends

TV Show | Caitlin Walters-Freke (She/Her)

点评 / AROTAKENGA

NEXUS 80%

60%

Don't quote me

“i'm sorry i'm not coming to texas for tour. my ex lives out there”

- Living his truth, Lil Nas X is me whenever asked to go to Tāmaki

“Are you Gay?”

- Sarah Schauer is all of us on dating apps at 1am.

“But i also love being a hawwwr”

- Peach Prc Just expressing herself in the only way she knows how.

“Pollen came with brass knuckles this year cause DEUM!!!”

- Cardi B, I don’t know anymore.

Crush of the week

Natasha Lyonne

Here’s the thing with Natasha Lyonne, she should be the crush of the week EVERY WEEK. While not inherently lesbian, she’s been a huge part of the LGBTQIA+ community and has been one of the greatest allies.

Basically this is a celebration of her successes with Russian Doll season 2 and just being an all-around good bitch. We love you and we see you sis.

Pop off.

Clickbait Moodboard Twitter Treading

Diminuitive Post

1Parents are arguing that their kids aren’t in first place Nexus reports an overheard kōrero between two parents seen folding their arms and watching their kids get their first year grades back. “Only a b? The lecturer is failing him because they’re intimidated by his talent and intellect” Little do they know, little Josh was seen at Backbar on ket instead of finishing his MRKTG101 reflections essay.

2Open Day Blunders Last week's open day seemed to have caused some confusion as the riffraff from Tāmaki Makaurau and all their money thought they could add an 8th property to their portfolio. Somehow their peabrains didn’t realise that the word open isn’t synonymous with homes for purchase.

3You’re a Witch Harry Locals living in Beaumont reported noises and sightings of a young woman on a broom floating above the rooftops, allegedly sprinkling some unknown substance atop the inhabitants. Bro this tab isn’t even kicking in yet, I swear it’s weak as. But yeah, wizards and shit man.

Top 10

Celebrities who’ve come out this year

10.

Anna Paul - The fun aunt of TikTok doesn’t give a fuck about gender.

9.

Janelle Monáe - Non-binary master, doesn’t adhere to such basic labels.

Jerrod Carmichael - Gay asf, but still hella funny. It comes hand in hand.

Ava Phillippe - Reese is one of those pride flag waving mums, forsure.

Peach PRC - TikTok songstress is one with Girl in Red.

Ozzy Lusth - He’s a Survivor, he’s gonna be gay.

Jasmine Kennedie - FUCKING

Bosco - TRANS

Willow Pill - EXCELLENCE

Kornbread ‘The Snack’ Jeté - BITCH