Greetings 21st Century Terrans. My name is Patrick Fitzroy, 7th emanation of the Atlas Tree. When the site administrator asked me to do a blog post, I considered my options carefully. I wanted to focus on my love for literature, but at the same time, I didn’t want to convey the impression that my literary ambitions are a solitary pursuit. Nothing is a solitary pursuit for a Cu’enashti. Then I had a brilliant idea: I would ask the other members of my literary circle to join me in a sort of movie review. I didn’t want something too polished; I preferred a raw, real-time response to a film that we were viewing together. So I chose the film, and then gathered up my fellow commentators: Cillian, Evan, Dermot and Lorcan. What follows is a transcript of what occurred. If you want to watch along with us, you’ll have to go to the YouTube link Amazing Plants since the Smithsonian Channel disabled embedding. I suppose they were afraid of someone dodgy getting hold of the video and damaging their respectable image. A little paranoid, if you ask me. Nevertheless, I’ll do my best to screenshot the most exciting aspects of tonight’s feature.
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Patrick: The film is entitled Amazing Plants. It’s produced by the Smithsonian Channel. As I understand it, the Smithsonian is a research institution of notable reputation, so I expect something highbrow and elucidating. Let’s get started.
Lorcan: You haven’t tried surfing the net yet, have you? I don’t think this culture entertains the concepts of highbrow and elucidating.
Evan: Can we not argue before the credits have even rolled? I’d prefer to keep an open mind.
Cillian: Wait, G-rated? Doesn’t that mean there’s no sex or violence? I’m going to be bored off my roots.
Dermot: It looks like some kind of a medical drama. I wasn’t expecting that.
Patrick: The nurse has brought the mimosa plant into the operating room. Interesting. I was under the impression that medical care for plants was very poor in this era.
Lorcan: Wait, she’s not performing a medical procedure on that mimosa. She’s drugging and torturing it. This is a much better flick than I expected.
Cillian: If any bitch poked at my leaves like that, I’d [expletive for animal procreation deleted] kill her.
Evan: Did she just cut that leaf? For no apparent reason? I feel ill.
Dermot: Wait, what’s this about carnivorous plants? There are very few carnivorous plants. Is this some kind of sleazy anti-plant propaganda?
Cillian: Holy compost! Did you see that bladderwort eat that flea?
Lorcan: The camera work is brilliant. I love the added sound effects of the squealing fleas and the little chomping noises the bladderwort is making. Complete artistic license, you realize.
Evan: It’s a good thing we don’t sleep. I’d have nightmares after that. Wait, that pitcher plant isn’t real, right? This must be a horror film.
Dermot: Jamey says it’s real. Monsters like that were never brought to the Domha’vei in the gene banks.
Cillian: Look at the ants drowning in the digestive fluid. It’s like a Hieronymus Bosch painting of hell.
Lorcan: “Every pitcher is a slippery death trap.” You know, it reminds me a lot of Jonathan Edwards’ “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”: “Their foot shall slide in due time.”
Evan: I don’t think I can stand to watch any more. I thought this was rated G.
Dermot: And now strangleweed. This is a hate-filled screed. If it were shown on Dolparessa, there would be a mass outcry.
Patrick: Are you okay, Evan?
Evan: That poor tomato. I can’t watch.
Cillian: Evan, you might want to look now. We’ve gotten to the porn.
Evan: Oh, my word!
Tommy: Did someone say porn?
Cillian: Hey, you’re not in the literary circle. Who invited you?
Tommy: I know more about porn than all of you put together. If anyone’s qualified to be a critic, it’s me. Pass me a beer.
Cillian: Um, is that wasp humping that orchid?
Dermot: The narrator said that the orchid produces a scent that smells like wasp pheromone, and the fur feels just like wasp fur.
Tommy: Like one of those expensive Japanese sex dolls. Wow, this is some kinky hard core stuff you’ve found, Patrick.
Cilian: It’s an orgy! That skunk cabbage is having an orgy. Look at that pollen!
Lorcan: Apparently it smells like rotting flesh and excrement. So there’s a scatological angle here, too.
Tommy: Whoa. WHOA. Did you see that stamen? I feel so inadequate. Let’s not show Tara this movie.
Evan: We are never, ever showing Tara this movie.
Dermot: Well, this next section about the acacia seems a bit brighter. The acacia seems to have formed a working relationship with those ants.
Evan: Yes, it’s quite inspiring…AAAAAAAAGH!
Cillian: That dude just came out of nowhere and maimed that tree. This is severe.
Dermot: It’s making me very uneasy about what humans will justify in the name of science. I think we’ll need to have a long talk with Cuinn.
Evan: Oh oh oh. I don’t care if I don’t sleep. That will definitely give me nightmares.
Patrick: Dermot, I’m coming to the conclusion that you’re right. Listen to them vilify that tobacco plant: “the evil weed.” All it did was defend itself from being eaten by those caterpillars.
Cillian: I think humans have got a grudge against tobacco. The lung cancer thing.
Patrick: Well, all it did was defend itself from being smoked by those humans.
Dermot: That erodium seed has a really good design philosophy. Like an automated corkscrew! I think Owen would be interested in that.
Cillian: If we wanted to make sure our seeds got planted, that is. But I’ve got enough on my hands with one kid already. I’m going seedless the next time I fruit.
Tommy: Look!!! Did I just see that?
Cillian: Holy compost. A [expletive for ejaculation deleted] shot in a G-rated flick?
Patrick: They’re repeating it again. The squirting cucumber.
Tommy: I think I gotta take a cold shower now.
Cillian: I’ll join you.
Patrick: Me, too.
Dermot: And that wraps up the movie night.
Evan: Where is everybody going?
Lorcan: I thought you didn’t want to watch the movie.
Evan: Well, it was starting to get interesting…