Vidder: Ryan Deffley
Musical artist: Five for Fighting
Pairing: Clark/Lois (unrequited)
Vidder on LJ: vyperman7
Vidder's website: On YouTube
Why this vid kicks ass: It broke my heart to be able to only rec one Superman movieverse vid. There are many great ones out there, especially for this song. But this vid stands out amongst the rest for the excellent quality of its editing (both audio and video) and the poetic storytelling. It's all about longing and, right through the conclusion, it will draw you into Clark Kent's viewpoint on being the "man in a silly red sheet".

It's Not Easy (LJ post)

Vidder: Michael Laufert
Music: “Vicarious,” by Tool
Pairing: none
Vidder on LJ: unknown
Vidder's website: On YouTube
Warnings: Major series spoilers, including WKLP and the finale
Why this vid kicks ass:

First of all, because it exists. Aside from a FWWM/Enya fanvid I saw on a bootleg DVD of the pilot, I didn’t think there were any vids for this fandom. I’d resigned* myself to reccing P.R. Zed’s multifandom opus set to the Electric Six song “Gay Bar” (which contains a three-second clip of Denise Bryson’s first appearance) when a final search through YouTube revealed this almost-eight-minute gem.

The music in David Lynch projects tends to fall into three categories: dreamy, sometimes threatening jazzy/loungey/atmospheric tracks from composer/collaborator Angelo Badalamenti; pop songs from the fifties and sixties; and barn burners from the likes of Trent Reznor and Rammstein. The song used for this vid fits the third category, and the vidder did a fantastic job assembling and editing clips that both fit the tune and sum up the darker, stranger elements of the show.

Finally, I think there’s a meta element: the vid can also be read as a sly dig at Twin Peaks fans, who are, after all, enjoying a story predicated on the torture and murder of a teenage girl.

Vicariously

* Actually, “resigned” is the wrong word because this is awesome. I particularly love the clips chosen to accompany the line “I’ve got something to put in you!”

Vidder: ladama
Musical artist: Justin Timberlake
Pairing: Michael & Dwight (with Jan/Michael, Dwight/Angela and ensemble appearances)
Vidder on LJ: --
Vidder's website: ladamania.com
Why this vid kicks ass:

(Er, so, this song has already been recced today, but this one is so awesome I can't not post.)

This has everything I love in a vid: quick, smart cuts, lyrics that match up hilariously perfectly with what's onscreen, and lots of footage of all the dancing and general jumping around in this universe. Razorsharp editing and a wonderful feel for the source material. Michael and Dwight are bringing sexy back, or... not.

Michael and Dwight: SexyBack

It's actually Friday here already, and I won't be online tomorrow, so here's my final rec for Anthropomorfic.

I've had a blast with this rec set, and I hope you've all enjoyed the ride too. See you all in January, when I take a turn at the wheel for NCIS.

Happy New Year!

Vidder: Jason Wishnow
Musical artist: Blake Neely
Pairing: Oedipus/Jocaster
Vidder on LJ: None
Vidder's website: The New Venue
Why this vid kicks ass: The disclaimer for this vid reads, "This movie contains scenes of vegetable sensuality." Seriously, how can you resist that? It's a triumph of epic cinema, not to mention a classic of the tragic-potato genre, and you should already be off to look at the site and right-clicking and saving.

The Story of Oedipus, in 8 Minutes, Performed by Vegetables

Fandom: YU YU HAKUSHO
Characters: The Kuwabara siblings
Author on LJ: not that I know of
Author Website: Her FF.net profile
Why this story must be read:

It's short, it's simple. The exact nature of the Kuwabara family can vary greatly from one fanfic to another. In the anime, we never see Kazuma and Shizuru's parents. In the manga, we get a brief mention that Kuwabara's mom doesn't as a lot of questions (they were trying to stash a dead body in his bedroom at the time) and later we see their father briefly. In both canons, it is mentioned that the Kuwabaras have some association with Genkai, but that's about it. Either way, they don't seem to have a deep involvement in their children's lives, and the fanfic writers often take that and run with it.

Come Back presents one possibility. The language is simple but clear, and while the story isn't really told from Kazuma's perspective, you still see a little of the child's confusion and lack of understanding. It's a fast read, and definitely worth it.

Come Back by Kitsuneko

Fandom: SANDMAN
Pairing: none
Author on lj: mydarkstar
Author Website: Twi's Fan Fiction
Why this fic must be read:

This is a really lovely interlude with an introspective Desire, thinking about Dream. I've always been facinated by Desire because s/he is so...mysterious. And this fic really caputres that elusiveness, that otherness. I love how it categorizes Desire's schemes, which, in the series, were always portrayed in a negative light. This shows Desire's perspective on his plots and, if it doesn't excuse them, it at least gives them a context.

Also, the last few lines kill me, each time.

Trick

Fandom: BAND OF BROTHERS
Pairing: Gen, Guarnere
Author on LJ: garnettrees
Author Website: Horizon
Why this must be read: I had a tough time choosing which fic of Meredith's to rec here; she's written a number of very good Winters/Nixon stories, and if you want more of her, you should definitely go take a look. But this stark, stylized story filled a gap that desperately needed filling, both in the fandom and in the canon: what, exactly, makes Bill Guarnere the way he is in "Day of Days" and beyond? What kind of a relationship did he have with his brother, and what did it mean? This story does an amazing job of interweaving past and present, dream and reality, so that Guarnere's childhood memories of his brother come to bear on his (very convincingly portrayed) relationships with the other men. Deeply, deeply satisfying.

( An excerpt )

Street of Dreams

Vidder: jedi_of_urth
Musical artist: Def Leppard
Pairing: Jack/Doctor/Rose, Jack/Torchwood Team (seriously)
Vidder on LJ: jedi_of_urth
Vidder's website: N/A
Why this vid kicks ass:

Jack in Torchwood is a man held prisoner by one moment in time. He doesn't really know for sure what happened on the Game Station but he knows enough. He knows they left him, he doesn't seem to know why, he has no explanation for what's happened to him and he knows the Doctor is still showing up (as evidenced by his little Doctor!Memorabilia collection)...he's got a thousand different questions and a thousand more get added with each passing day and he can't tell the others. jedi_of_urth weaves Torchwood scenes with Doctor Who scenes masterfully in the video to highlight just how ever present Jack's feelings for the Doctor (and Rose) are even when he's trying to do his job with Torchwood. With the episodes, we can get lost in the story of all of them and be side-tracked by Ianto's issues, Owen's, Gwen's, Tosh's...whoever and forget that underneath it all, Jack still has this going on and no way to really resolve it. The video is the best job of emphasizing that I've seen yet. It ties the team, the Doctor and Rose into Jack with absolutely beautiful work.

The video is hosted by anr on dot.net hosting as a part of a recent competition. You can find it under Competitions -> Music Videos -> Participants and my thanks to ness for giving me permission to post the rec.

Fandom: SUPERMAN
Pairing: Gen, Jason & Clark
Author on LJ: darth_stitch
Author Website: fanfiction tagged entries
Why this must be read: Jason's one of the new characters introduced in Superman Returns and he occupies an important role in many relationships. Here it's the unacknowledged father and son dynamic that plays so well off of Clark Kent's alienation. Jason's a kid, being a kid, and Clark just can't resist a chance to connect more closely with his son. This story takes that moment and runs with it in a way that will tug at your heartstrings.

( Extract )

The Invisible Man

Fandom: BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
Pairing: Jack Twist/Ennis del Mar
Author on LJ: theswearingkind
Author Website: theswearingkind
Why this must be read:

This piece takes the summer Jack and Ennis spent on Brokeback Mountain and distills it into two hundred and thirty five brilliant words. Not a one is misplaced or wasted; every syllable is used to full effect. They all weave together to paint such a true portrayal that I have a hard time describing it.

Whitewash encapsulates to its very poetic essence what falling in love means and really brings light to the idea (now clichéd in this fandom but given a fresh perspective here) of what a force of nature these two are. In my not-so-humble opinion, theswearingkind is the one of the best (if not the best writer) that this fandom has to offer, and I purposefully saved this rec for last. Don’t take my word for it—go read for yourself :)

Whitewash

Vidder: Heuradys
Musical artist: Jem
Pairing: Buddy French / Carol French
Vidder on LJ: heuradys
Vidder's website: Heuradys Collected
Why this vid kicks ass:

This vid kicks ass because it is bittersweet and touching and I have such sympathy for Carol in it. It is an exploration of Carol and Buddy individually as well as the their relationship and its troubles. I really love the way the clips are edited so that the connection between the behavior of one feeds into the confusion or misbehavior of the other. It creates a tight, sharp mood that takes the song choice to the next level.


The vid is a little ways down the page under the Wilby Wonderful heading:

Just A Ride

Fandom: THE OFFICE
Pairing: Jim/Jan
Author on LJ: honey_wheeler
Author Website: office fic tag
Why this must be read:

Jim/Jan is one of those things that nearly everyone suddenly saw in Casino Night, but I think this is the best I've seen it done in fic. The sex is just as hot and angsty as you could want, but more than that it's full of sharp, believable insights into both characters, and an interesting exploration of their age difference. Plus the conversation at the end!

"'Jan. Hey.' He pushes his fists into his pockets, stretching the fabric of his pants over his knuckles. He studies her face. His own is drawn and tired, like he just lost an argument."

heart machine

Hi. We're looking for drivers for Angel and Buffy this month. Starting next month, we'll also be looking for drivers for SG1 and X-Men. Please help keep the good stuff rolling. ;)

This will be my final rec this month. I know I haven’t posted much, but as I said, the fandom is incredibly small. It was great being a driver for once and I’d very much like to do it again sometime!


Fandom: THE EQUALIZER
Pairing: Robert/Control
Author on LJ: n/a
Author Website: Joram's FF.net profile
Why this must be read:

So I began with Joram and I’m ending with Joram. This piece, much like Memories, is a contemplative fic in which Robert thinks about Control and their relationship. This one, however, is extremely sad and emotional as Robert contemplates all this while sitting by a dying Control’s side. I’d definitely have tissues nearby for Seasons.

Seasons in the Sun

Vidder: Stuck Here With No TV
Musical artist: Justin Timberlake
Pairing: Gen
Vidder on LJ: unknown
Vidder's website: unknown
Why this vid is awesome:

Because The Pretender is here on crack_van as a small fandom, I knew that the vid choice was important. This vid is the only one that will ever be recced here for The Pretender, and yet there are so many awesome vids to choose from. The problem was finding a vid that demonstrated many of what I feel are the important elements of The Pretender. The bizarre relationships, the wackiness of The Centre, and the underlying fun in every adventure were the things I thought were important in this single vid.

There are maybe two or three people currently making Pretender vids: I recommend every single one of Stuck Here With No TV's vids. This vidder has an amazing sense of timing, and always selects the best clips for the vids. As a result, picking just one vid was incredibly difficult, though I narrowed it down to two.


Sexy Back



If you're interested, the other one I really really wanted to rec was Everything About You, by the same vidder.

Subject Line: VID REC: Fandom - Song Title

Vidder: HFP
Musical artist: Ray Parker, JR
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: not that I know of
Vidder's website: Hot Fudge Productions
Why this vid kicks ass:

Because it's Yu Yu Hakusho to the Ghostbusters theme song. Holy crap, how is that not awesome? This is a fun, entertaining vid, totally accessible to those who aren't familiar with the YYH fandom. The quality is great and the vidder did an excellent job of putting the vid together.

Hot Fudge Productions. Ghostbusters is the second video on the page. You have to right-click on the link to download.

Or can just play the video on Youtube here. The video quality isn't as good, however.

Fandom: NEWSIES
Pairing: Jack/Spot
Author on LJ: yeats
Author Website: lah
Why this must be read:

This is a really lovely mood piece, so much so that it feels more like a sunset than it does a fic about two boys watching a sunset.

He leans back on his legs and closes one eye, counting the smokestacks on the choleric steamships, the church spires in the distance. The sun is setting over Manhattan, spilling onto the water as it sinks below the edge of that island.

Train Under Water