Saturday, February 28, 2015
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Daily Dose of Awesome: Limp Bizkit/Seinfeld Mashup
Apparently, Limp Bizkit's "Break Stuff" syncs up perfectly with the theme from Seinfeld. It's an unlikely pairing to be sure, but it is rather amusing to listen to. I should note that this video doesn't use a radio edit version of the song or anything to that effect. As a result of the profanity, it isn't really safe for work; but it is good for a laugh
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Daily Dose of Awesome: The Ecstasy of Gold
I'm going to be honest, I've never seen The Good, The Bad and The Ugly in its entirety. I know, it's a classic and all, but it never grabbed me. I've tried, several times. The beginning is too slow for my tastes and when I try jumping in from the middle, I have no idea of what's really going on so I lose interest.
That being said, I freaking love The Ecstasy of Gold. It's a great piece of music, not only in terms of the Western atmosphere, but just in general. It's so awesome that Metallica opens all of their live shows by playing it. That's pretty cool.
I'm a sucker for a good instrumental piece, especially when it's off of a movie soundtrack. This is a prime example as to why. I don't know how you can listen to this and not be struck by its triumphant awesomeness.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
"Project Nemesis" by Jeremy Robinson book review
While I'm not the biggest "kaiju" (giant monster) fan, I do enjoy the Godzilla movies and really liked "Pacific Rim". It isn't a genre that has really made it to the world of books, which gave author Jeremy Robinson the chance to fill the void while also paying homage to the sort of movies that he clearly enjoys.
I had heard a lot of good things about this book, so I was excited. I wouldn't say that I was blown away, but it was a good read.
The prose is simple, but as the book is heavier on the action, it works to the book's advantage. It makes for a fast and gripping read that keeps you engaged from the first to the last page.
The characters are likable enough, but they do feel a bit flat. There's enough there for you to root for them, but I wouldn't have minded seeing a little bit more development for them.
If there is a weak spot in the character roster, it's Sheriff Ashley Collins, the female lead and eventual love interest. I can't fault Robinson for wanting to make a capable female character, but he really overcompensated.
She excels at just about everything. I can see her holding her own in a fight (she is a cop after all) but she goes toe to toe with a highly trained ninja assassin and is even able to hold her own against a deranged army general who has been turned into a monstrous hybrid as a result of the experiments that created the titular "Nemesis" monster even though it was established that said hybrid was impervious to just about everything. Her back story justifies some of it, but it still strained credulity. The term "Mary Sue" wouldn't be an out of place descriptor in this case.
One unique thing that the book does is tell parts of the story from the perspective of the monster. It's an interesting concept and I really would have liked to see more of that. The monster had an interesting psychology and delving into that would have been fascinating to read.
I remember when "Cloverfield" came out, the producers talked about how the monster was supposed to be a lost baby looking for its mother. While I liked the movie, we're not given any hint that this is the creature's thought process. It looks like a rampaging monster, which is OK as it's a movie about a rampaging monster, but if you're going to throw out a character hook like that, it would be nice to see some evidence of it.
This medium, however, is able to better convey the thoughts of the monster and give us an idea of how it perceives the events that are unfolding around it. It works out rather well and puts a nice twist on the genre.
We do get an origin story of sorts of how this monster came about. I don't want to go into too many spoilers, but it involves an ancient alien creature and a young girl.
It makes for a tragic back story which gives the monster a bit of pathos. One thing I would have tweaked was to have the origins of the girl revealed at the end. I can understand wanting to tell the story chronologically, but I think it would have packed more weight for the reader to discover what happened along with the characters. Knowing the origin ahead of time also telegraphs the monster's motive to a certain extent.
On the flip side, I kind of wanted to learn more about the original alien. We're given enough information to get by, but I would be interested to learn more about where this thing came from and why it came to Earth. I guess it just makes more fodder for sequels, but I am curious about it.
I'm torn on the ending. After all of the action, just having the monster walk off seems anti-climactic. It does make for a sequel hook (and there is a sequel called "Project Maigo" so really the creature's survival was all but guaranteed) and plenty of kaiju movies do end with the monster retreating to a lair of some kind, but it may throw some readers off.
It may be the literary equivalent to a popcorn flick, but that doesn't mean it isn't entertaining. It's fast paced, is chock full of action, and adds a bit of humor to the mix. It isn't without its flaws, but the pros outweigh the cons. If you're a fan of the genre, this is certainly worth a read.
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I had heard a lot of good things about this book, so I was excited. I wouldn't say that I was blown away, but it was a good read.
The prose is simple, but as the book is heavier on the action, it works to the book's advantage. It makes for a fast and gripping read that keeps you engaged from the first to the last page.
The characters are likable enough, but they do feel a bit flat. There's enough there for you to root for them, but I wouldn't have minded seeing a little bit more development for them.
If there is a weak spot in the character roster, it's Sheriff Ashley Collins, the female lead and eventual love interest. I can't fault Robinson for wanting to make a capable female character, but he really overcompensated.
She excels at just about everything. I can see her holding her own in a fight (she is a cop after all) but she goes toe to toe with a highly trained ninja assassin and is even able to hold her own against a deranged army general who has been turned into a monstrous hybrid as a result of the experiments that created the titular "Nemesis" monster even though it was established that said hybrid was impervious to just about everything. Her back story justifies some of it, but it still strained credulity. The term "Mary Sue" wouldn't be an out of place descriptor in this case.
One unique thing that the book does is tell parts of the story from the perspective of the monster. It's an interesting concept and I really would have liked to see more of that. The monster had an interesting psychology and delving into that would have been fascinating to read.
I remember when "Cloverfield" came out, the producers talked about how the monster was supposed to be a lost baby looking for its mother. While I liked the movie, we're not given any hint that this is the creature's thought process. It looks like a rampaging monster, which is OK as it's a movie about a rampaging monster, but if you're going to throw out a character hook like that, it would be nice to see some evidence of it.
This medium, however, is able to better convey the thoughts of the monster and give us an idea of how it perceives the events that are unfolding around it. It works out rather well and puts a nice twist on the genre.
We do get an origin story of sorts of how this monster came about. I don't want to go into too many spoilers, but it involves an ancient alien creature and a young girl.
It makes for a tragic back story which gives the monster a bit of pathos. One thing I would have tweaked was to have the origins of the girl revealed at the end. I can understand wanting to tell the story chronologically, but I think it would have packed more weight for the reader to discover what happened along with the characters. Knowing the origin ahead of time also telegraphs the monster's motive to a certain extent.
On the flip side, I kind of wanted to learn more about the original alien. We're given enough information to get by, but I would be interested to learn more about where this thing came from and why it came to Earth. I guess it just makes more fodder for sequels, but I am curious about it.
I'm torn on the ending. After all of the action, just having the monster walk off seems anti-climactic. It does make for a sequel hook (and there is a sequel called "Project Maigo" so really the creature's survival was all but guaranteed) and plenty of kaiju movies do end with the monster retreating to a lair of some kind, but it may throw some readers off.
It may be the literary equivalent to a popcorn flick, but that doesn't mean it isn't entertaining. It's fast paced, is chock full of action, and adds a bit of humor to the mix. It isn't without its flaws, but the pros outweigh the cons. If you're a fan of the genre, this is certainly worth a read.
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Daily Dose of Awesome: Wonder Woman's Retractable Pants
A few years ago, DC Comics tried to revitalize it's line and bring in new readers by relaunching the whole DC Universe. Every comic went back to issue number 1 and many characters were reverted to their younger selves.
Along with retconned characterizations and personality traits, so too did the costumes be getting tweaked to really show how different things are now.
One costume change that got a lot of attention was Wonder Woman's. DC decided to forego her iconic wears and try out something else, specifically, pants. Naturally, comic fans complained as it didn't look right, it wasn't iconic blah blah blah.
DC decided to listen to its fan base and, while they kept some of the changes, they went ahead and gave her the star spangled panties again. Naturally, comic fans complained as it's cheap fan service, it's anti-feminist, blah blah blah.
As a way to have their cake and eat it too, DC decided to split the difference and announced that the pants are retractable.
I have no idea how that works, but it's freaking hilarious. This is the sort of thing that you could only pull off in comics. It'll be interesting to see how this is executed. To be honest, I'm rather unimpressed with the story announcements made so far concerning the reboot, but this one has piqued my interest, if only because it's such a bizarre thing to have. We'll have to wait and see how that goes, I do believe the relaunch happens in September, but you might want to double check that.
You can read more about it here.
Along with retconned characterizations and personality traits, so too did the costumes be getting tweaked to really show how different things are now.
One costume change that got a lot of attention was Wonder Woman's. DC decided to forego her iconic wears and try out something else, specifically, pants. Naturally, comic fans complained as it didn't look right, it wasn't iconic blah blah blah.
DC decided to listen to its fan base and, while they kept some of the changes, they went ahead and gave her the star spangled panties again. Naturally, comic fans complained as it's cheap fan service, it's anti-feminist, blah blah blah.
As a way to have their cake and eat it too, DC decided to split the difference and announced that the pants are retractable.
I have no idea how that works, but it's freaking hilarious. This is the sort of thing that you could only pull off in comics. It'll be interesting to see how this is executed. To be honest, I'm rather unimpressed with the story announcements made so far concerning the reboot, but this one has piqued my interest, if only because it's such a bizarre thing to have. We'll have to wait and see how that goes, I do believe the relaunch happens in September, but you might want to double check that.
You can read more about it here.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
"William Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back" book review
While I found "William Shakespeare's Star Wars" to be an amusing read, I wasn't sure whether or not the whole trilogy should be covered. A part of me wanted to see the sequels done, both because they are stronger works, but for the sake of simple completion as well. At the same time, by the end of the first book, I found that the bit was wearing thin and wasn't sure whether it would hold for two more volumes.
As it turns out, my fears were misplaced as "The Empire Striketh Back" turns out to be a solid read in its own right. It should come as no surprise as the source material has plenty of character fodder to work with. There's love, loss, shocking revelations, and betrayals. It gives Doescher a lot more meat to chew on in terms of dialogue and inner turmoil.
As the first "Shakespeare's Star Wars" book did for the first movie, this one follows the plot of "The Empire Strikes Back", but this goes a step further and explores characters who weren't given a whole lot to do. Boba Fett gets lines and is able to showcase his competence (not to mention his ruthlessness) to a greater extent (it will be interesting to see how Doescher reconciles this with what happens in Jedi), Lando's emotions about turning in Han are elaborated upon, and even one off aliens like the Wampa and space slug get some character development as they get a few lines before the plot moves on without them.
Honestly, I think those were the highlight for me. It adds a little extra incentive to those who have seen the movie dozens of times and aren't as pulled in by presenting the dialogue in a different style. It was rather amusing seeing beastly creatures using fancy speech patterns to implore the audience not to hate them too much as they were just looking for food. It gets taken to a rather ridiculous extreme when even the AT-AT walkers speak, but it is still an interesting and amusing addition.
I was a little perplexed at the scene where Vader speaks to the Emperor. It goes along the same lines, with Vader convincing his master that Luke Skywalker would be more valuable as an ally than as a target, but it also shows that Vader had no idea that Luke was his son. I kind of feel like he would have. I guess it depends on how common a name "Skywalker" is in this universe. You'd think that his connection to the force would have clued him in, but that's speculation on my part. It's a nitpick, but it stood out to me.
This book, more than the last, has a lot of soliloquies. The author notes that he did this as a way to convey action without having the chorus do it. It also adds to the aforementioned character development. It is Shakespearean, but can be frustrating at times as you want the characters to just get on with it already.
I also found the lines describing what the characters were doing to be a little odd. Again, it's true to the form that Doescher is emulating, but it doesn't sound natural.
As this is essentially just a script, the movie's major action beats fall flat. There's really nothing that can be done about that, but it does undercut some of the movie's set pieces like the battle on Hoth or the duel between Luke and Vader. The best you can do is imagine the scenes from the movie in your head as you read the lines of dialogue. There are some well done illustrations peppered throughout the book, which helps to some extent, but it still only captures a fraction of what happens.
If you liked the first book, I think you'll enjoy this. It does kick things up a notch and changes things up enough that it doesn't come off like a rehash. If you weren't crazy about the first book, I don't know if this will do enough to sway you. Even if you are of the opinion that "Empire" is the best of the trilogy, if you weren't feeling the bardic style before, than this probably won't change your mind.
I, myself, enjoyed it. It's a quick read and an interesting interpretation of a beloved series of movies. I could see these books as being helpful tools either at home or in school to help get kids into Shakespeare's style. Younger kids who are still new could get something of a primer that would prepare them for when they dive into his own plays. I'm getting ahead of myself, though. Long story short (too late), this was a fun read. If you like Star Wars, Shakespeare, or both; I think you'll get a kick out of this book.
Click here to join our Patreon campaign
As it turns out, my fears were misplaced as "The Empire Striketh Back" turns out to be a solid read in its own right. It should come as no surprise as the source material has plenty of character fodder to work with. There's love, loss, shocking revelations, and betrayals. It gives Doescher a lot more meat to chew on in terms of dialogue and inner turmoil.
As the first "Shakespeare's Star Wars" book did for the first movie, this one follows the plot of "The Empire Strikes Back", but this goes a step further and explores characters who weren't given a whole lot to do. Boba Fett gets lines and is able to showcase his competence (not to mention his ruthlessness) to a greater extent (it will be interesting to see how Doescher reconciles this with what happens in Jedi), Lando's emotions about turning in Han are elaborated upon, and even one off aliens like the Wampa and space slug get some character development as they get a few lines before the plot moves on without them.
Honestly, I think those were the highlight for me. It adds a little extra incentive to those who have seen the movie dozens of times and aren't as pulled in by presenting the dialogue in a different style. It was rather amusing seeing beastly creatures using fancy speech patterns to implore the audience not to hate them too much as they were just looking for food. It gets taken to a rather ridiculous extreme when even the AT-AT walkers speak, but it is still an interesting and amusing addition.
I was a little perplexed at the scene where Vader speaks to the Emperor. It goes along the same lines, with Vader convincing his master that Luke Skywalker would be more valuable as an ally than as a target, but it also shows that Vader had no idea that Luke was his son. I kind of feel like he would have. I guess it depends on how common a name "Skywalker" is in this universe. You'd think that his connection to the force would have clued him in, but that's speculation on my part. It's a nitpick, but it stood out to me.
This book, more than the last, has a lot of soliloquies. The author notes that he did this as a way to convey action without having the chorus do it. It also adds to the aforementioned character development. It is Shakespearean, but can be frustrating at times as you want the characters to just get on with it already.
I also found the lines describing what the characters were doing to be a little odd. Again, it's true to the form that Doescher is emulating, but it doesn't sound natural.
As this is essentially just a script, the movie's major action beats fall flat. There's really nothing that can be done about that, but it does undercut some of the movie's set pieces like the battle on Hoth or the duel between Luke and Vader. The best you can do is imagine the scenes from the movie in your head as you read the lines of dialogue. There are some well done illustrations peppered throughout the book, which helps to some extent, but it still only captures a fraction of what happens.
If you liked the first book, I think you'll enjoy this. It does kick things up a notch and changes things up enough that it doesn't come off like a rehash. If you weren't crazy about the first book, I don't know if this will do enough to sway you. Even if you are of the opinion that "Empire" is the best of the trilogy, if you weren't feeling the bardic style before, than this probably won't change your mind.
I, myself, enjoyed it. It's a quick read and an interesting interpretation of a beloved series of movies. I could see these books as being helpful tools either at home or in school to help get kids into Shakespeare's style. Younger kids who are still new could get something of a primer that would prepare them for when they dive into his own plays. I'm getting ahead of myself, though. Long story short (too late), this was a fun read. If you like Star Wars, Shakespeare, or both; I think you'll get a kick out of this book.
Click here to join our Patreon campaign
Friday, February 20, 2015
Thursday, February 19, 2015
The Rewrite (2014 movie) review
I had no knowledge of this movie going in, so I wasn't sure what to expect. In some ways, it is the better way to go, but it isn't an opportunity that presents itself very often.
The movie follows Keith Michaels (Hugh Grant), a down on his luck screen writer who is forced to take a teaching job to keep the lights on. While he has a successful movie under his belt, he is not a likely candidate. He is quite upfront about his lack of respect for the profession and is rather blunt about the fact that talent can't be taught.
The character allows Grant to play on interesting twist on his usual character archetype. He usually plays people who are awkward due to being so painfully shy. Here, he's still awkward, but it's more curmudgeonly. He doesn't get along well with most people and it leads to the movie's funnier moments.
Michaels does have a definitive arc, which works to the movie's advantage. In taking the job, he manages to help his students and reawaken his love of the craft. It could easily come off as corny (especially when Michaels comments that his students ended up teaching him) but it was well handled.
By and large, this is Hugh Grant's movie, but he does have a strong supporting cast that manages to give life to characters that don't have a whole lot of screen time. As always, J.K. Simmons is fantastic, but we also get strong performances from Chris Elliot, Marisa Tomei, and Allison Janney.
Sadly, Tomei's character is a bit underdeveloped. Her primary role is to be the more optimistic foil to Grant's cynical protagonist. It leads to some nice biplay, but the romance isn't as strong as it could have been.
While the movie has a run time of only an hour and 40 minutes, I did feel like it dragged a bit at points. That run time is hardly excessive, but they probably could have shaved a few minutes off of that to streamline things a bit.
The movie isn't uproariously funny, but the dialogue is quick and snappy. You will find yourself laughing rather frequently, so it succeeds in that regard.
Overall, I found it rather enjoyable. It has its faults, but the strong cast, humor, and clear character arc made this a movie that I would recommend checking out if you have the chance.
Click here to join our Patreon campaign.
The movie follows Keith Michaels (Hugh Grant), a down on his luck screen writer who is forced to take a teaching job to keep the lights on. While he has a successful movie under his belt, he is not a likely candidate. He is quite upfront about his lack of respect for the profession and is rather blunt about the fact that talent can't be taught.
The character allows Grant to play on interesting twist on his usual character archetype. He usually plays people who are awkward due to being so painfully shy. Here, he's still awkward, but it's more curmudgeonly. He doesn't get along well with most people and it leads to the movie's funnier moments.
Michaels does have a definitive arc, which works to the movie's advantage. In taking the job, he manages to help his students and reawaken his love of the craft. It could easily come off as corny (especially when Michaels comments that his students ended up teaching him) but it was well handled.
By and large, this is Hugh Grant's movie, but he does have a strong supporting cast that manages to give life to characters that don't have a whole lot of screen time. As always, J.K. Simmons is fantastic, but we also get strong performances from Chris Elliot, Marisa Tomei, and Allison Janney.
Sadly, Tomei's character is a bit underdeveloped. Her primary role is to be the more optimistic foil to Grant's cynical protagonist. It leads to some nice biplay, but the romance isn't as strong as it could have been.
While the movie has a run time of only an hour and 40 minutes, I did feel like it dragged a bit at points. That run time is hardly excessive, but they probably could have shaved a few minutes off of that to streamline things a bit.
The movie isn't uproariously funny, but the dialogue is quick and snappy. You will find yourself laughing rather frequently, so it succeeds in that regard.
Overall, I found it rather enjoyable. It has its faults, but the strong cast, humor, and clear character arc made this a movie that I would recommend checking out if you have the chance.
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Daily Dose of Awesome: Little Caesars Bacon Wrapped Pizza
Yesterday, Little Caesars announced the unveiling of a new product, a pizza that was wrapped in bacon. Continuing the pattern of trying to add something to the crust for extra flavor (though I've found that leaving a bit of the pizza is a good trick to remedy this), the chain will be wrapping it in 3 and a 1/2 feet of bacon. If you love bacon (and who doesn't?) this should certainly intrigue you. I'd say that if you split it up among a family, it will lessen the blow to one's arteries, but it is still a hot and ready, which can generally be eaten by one person. I suppose the person could only eat a couple of slices at a time and make several meals out of it. In any event, I can't wait until they start doing this to stuffed crust pizzas. Didn't Pizza Hut have a stuffed crust pizza that had pepperoni as well as cheese in there? You could go for the trifecta and do all three. For now, though, we have pepperoni pizzas wrapped in over a yard of bacon and that's nothing to sneeze at..nothing at which to sneeze? Whatever, you know what I mean.
You can read more about the story here.
You can read more about the story here.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Daily Dose of Awesome: Spoony-Wan trains his puppy in the ways of the force
A couple of years back, the renowned web critic known as "Spoony" posted a video where he dressed up like a Jedi knight and swung his toy lightsaber around while his incredibly cute puppy "dodged" the "attacks". The result is hilarious and adorable. If I have one complaint, it's that the runtime is a bit too long. As silly and aw inducing as it is, the bit does start to wear after 3 minutes. Shaving 30-ish seconds off might have helped. Even so, this video is fun to watch. If you need a quick and nerdy pick me up, I imagine this will do the trick.
Monday, February 16, 2015
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters movie review
You can read my review here.
Pros
- The fight sequences are really well done and very well choreographed.
- The movie does try to be tongue in cheek. It does know what it is to an extent.
Cons
- Acting that veers between really wooden to really hammy and not in a particularly entertaining way.
- Really flat script that doesn't allow for much in the way of character development. Even the two siblings don't really seem to play off each other particularly well and show little personality.
- Even at just 90 minutes, the movie does drag quite a bit.
Overall
I'll admit, the movie has more going for it than I thought it would. I could have easily seen this being an entertaining Summer popcorn movie if it had tried a bit harder, but while the action sequences are solid, there isn't enough here to warrant more than a rental. Even then, you could find other movies in which to invest your time.
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Daily Dose of Awesome: Valentine's Day Mega-post
Yes, it's February 14, Valentine's Day, the supposed bane of single people's existence. I used to be one of those people who dreaded it, but I've grown to the point of indifference. It always ends up being just like any other day, so there's no real reason to get all worked up over it.
However, due to the fact that I really am a sappy wuss, I thought I would post some romantic stuff for those of you who are in a committed relationship. So, here you go.
See, sappy wuss.
However, due to the fact that I really am a sappy wuss, I thought I would post some romantic stuff for those of you who are in a committed relationship. So, here you go.
See, sappy wuss.
Friday, February 13, 2015
Daily Dose of Awesome: Greensleeves
OK, so this song randomly popped into my head the other day and I figured, what the heck? I'll share it. As I was listening to this, I noticed that it was more sad and haunting where I recall it being more upbeat and whimsical. Admittedly, I prefer the latter, but in either case, it's still a wonderful piece of music. The version presented here gives us a mix of both, so no matter which iteration you prefer, you get a little sample of the melody that you enjoy.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Stephen King bibliography: Gerald's Game
You can read my review here.
After Needful Things, this was a refreshing read. It was engaging and tightly plotted. It has more than its fair share of squick, but it put the main character through a tough trial and allows said character to grow as a result of said trial.
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Pros
- A plot hook that is surprisingly terrifying in its simplicity. While there isn't a clear antagonist until the final 30ish pages, there is still plenty of tension to be wrought as the main character fights for her survival in a helpless situation.
- Said main character is fleshed out over the course of the novel through a combination of flashbacks, psychological issues, and her predicament. She is also a strong, intelligent female protagonist, which should satisfy many readers.
Cons
- The way events in the first chapter played out reeeally annoyed me. It's well written, but it invokes tropes that had me constantly rolling my eyes.
Overall
After Needful Things, this was a refreshing read. It was engaging and tightly plotted. It has more than its fair share of squick, but it put the main character through a tough trial and allows said character to grow as a result of said trial.
'The Adventures of Superman' review
As a fan of Superman, I couldn't help but be curious when MeTV started airing this decades old series. I'm a huge fan of the Adam West Batman show and even Lynda Carter's Wonder Woman was surprisingly solid, so I figured that the last of DC's big three should fare alright.
Sadly, it isn't the case. I knew from the get-go that there wouldn't be any Brainiac or Lex Luthor, but even without the rogues gallery, they could have done better. You can't put Superman up against gun toting gangsters; it doesn't work. While Kryptonite does come in from time to time, it is used sparingly. As a result, you very rarely feel like there is any real danger. To be fair, I think it's good that Kryptonite didn't pop up all over the place, but it does level the playing field to some extent.
I never understood how people saw Superman as boring. Seeing this, I can see where they'd get the impression. The show doesn't give Clark much personality and Superman is usually absent up until the show's final act when he swoops in to save the day. Later episodes remedy this a little, but for a show about Superman, Superman isn't in it a whole lot.
Instead, the focus is put on Jimmy, Lois, and Perry White. I somewhat understand the logic here, as they have to get into trouble to have Superman save them, but it feels more like the adventures of Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane guest starring Superman.
For what it's worth, Jack Larsen's Jimmy Olsen is one of the show's major highlights. He really sells the character as a dough eyed, good natured goofball. He has the most heart and does get some rather funny lines over the course of the show.
Lois is OK. She was played by two actresses over the course of the show and while I prefer the first, Phyllis Coates, Noel Neill did a decent job of it.
The show also does a decent job of addressing the "why doesn't anyone figure out that Clark is Superman?" question. Yeah, they look the same, and are never seen in the same place at the same time, but it's strongly implied that both Lois and Jimmy have pretty much figured it out, they just don't have any real proof.
It's surprising as this iteration of Clark isn't too good at keeping his secret identity. He slips up quite a bit early on and makes several comments where he says he'd have to be Superman to do something. I also found it odd how he kept leaping out of the window of the Daily Planet. You'd think someone would find that bizarre, but given how tight Superman is with the staff there, you could hand wave it that way.
Overall, I found this to be a letdown. I guess nostalgia plays a part in the love for this iteration. It hearkens back to a simpler time, but I think it's good that Superman has evolved and developed a better backlog of stories and gallery of rogues because this leaves a lot to be desired.
Sadly, it isn't the case. I knew from the get-go that there wouldn't be any Brainiac or Lex Luthor, but even without the rogues gallery, they could have done better. You can't put Superman up against gun toting gangsters; it doesn't work. While Kryptonite does come in from time to time, it is used sparingly. As a result, you very rarely feel like there is any real danger. To be fair, I think it's good that Kryptonite didn't pop up all over the place, but it does level the playing field to some extent.
I never understood how people saw Superman as boring. Seeing this, I can see where they'd get the impression. The show doesn't give Clark much personality and Superman is usually absent up until the show's final act when he swoops in to save the day. Later episodes remedy this a little, but for a show about Superman, Superman isn't in it a whole lot.
Instead, the focus is put on Jimmy, Lois, and Perry White. I somewhat understand the logic here, as they have to get into trouble to have Superman save them, but it feels more like the adventures of Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane guest starring Superman.
For what it's worth, Jack Larsen's Jimmy Olsen is one of the show's major highlights. He really sells the character as a dough eyed, good natured goofball. He has the most heart and does get some rather funny lines over the course of the show.
Lois is OK. She was played by two actresses over the course of the show and while I prefer the first, Phyllis Coates, Noel Neill did a decent job of it.
The show also does a decent job of addressing the "why doesn't anyone figure out that Clark is Superman?" question. Yeah, they look the same, and are never seen in the same place at the same time, but it's strongly implied that both Lois and Jimmy have pretty much figured it out, they just don't have any real proof.
It's surprising as this iteration of Clark isn't too good at keeping his secret identity. He slips up quite a bit early on and makes several comments where he says he'd have to be Superman to do something. I also found it odd how he kept leaping out of the window of the Daily Planet. You'd think someone would find that bizarre, but given how tight Superman is with the staff there, you could hand wave it that way.
Overall, I found this to be a letdown. I guess nostalgia plays a part in the love for this iteration. It hearkens back to a simpler time, but I think it's good that Superman has evolved and developed a better backlog of stories and gallery of rogues because this leaves a lot to be desired.
Daily Dose of Awesome: Labradors
I love dogs, they are great pets. While you can't go wrong with a vast majority of breeds, I have a soft spot for labs. I grew up with a black lab and have known several people who have owned labs, whether they be black, chocolate, or yellow. In every instance, they were amazing dogs. They were friendly, loyal, and entertaining as all get out.
Look how cute they are!
Seriously, these guys are adorable.
OK, I think that's enough gushing for one day. In conclusion, Labradors are awesome. Dogs in general are awesome, but Labs are especially awesome.
Look how cute they are!
Seriously, these guys are adorable.
OK, I think that's enough gushing for one day. In conclusion, Labradors are awesome. Dogs in general are awesome, but Labs are especially awesome.
Monday, February 9, 2015
Daily Dose of Awesome: Taylor Swift/Nine Inch Nails Mashup
I'm not a huge fan of either artist, but this mashup is rather entertaining and works far better than it has any right to.
Sunday, February 8, 2015
'Skyfall' movie review
When it comes to Bond movies, I run a bit colder than most. I want to like them, but I find myself struggling to keep my interest in even the classics. That's not to say that they're bad, but I'm not the most avid of fans.
As far as the "reboot" is concerned, I rather liked 'Casino Royale' but fell asleep during 'Quantum of Solace'. At the time, I chalked it up to exhaustion as I was working the graveyard shift and had been awake for a rather lengthy period of time. As it turns out, it had a similar effect on people even if they had gotten a good night's sleep.
I had heard generally good things about the third entry, 'Skyfall' but hadn't built up a lot of personal hype for it.
As it turns out, it is a rather entertaining movie. It gives James Bond something of a character arc (which is rare) as he deals with his old age and puts some personal demons to bed.
It's a little weird that Craig's Bond is already being labelled a dinosaur of sorts seeing as he was supposed to be a rookie agent just a couple of movies ago. It works really well, though.
As is often the case, it is the villain that steals the show. Javier Bardem turns in a great performance as the bad guy and he's really fun to watch.
From what I've read, the writers modeled him after Ledger's Joker. It isn't a direct rip off, but there are some nods, specifically a part where Silva (Bardem) lets himself get captured only to escape later.
One of the criticisms I've read is that the movie does sort of turn into "The Dark Knight" for a while as Bond is constantly two steps behind his adversary. Honestly, I didn't mind it. There are certainly worse movies to emulate and this did a good job of keeping the tension throughout.
The movie has also been compared to 'Home Alone' as one sequence shows Bond and a few other characters booby trapping his house to defend themselves from oncoming enemies. I'm not going to lie, that thought popped into my head too. It is just one scene though, so I don't think it's a major strike against the film.
The big problem for me was projection. A lot of the actors seem like they're mumbling their lines. It makes them hard to understand when they're conversing. It gets better by the second half, but it was a problem. It makes it harder to get invested, but even going by broad strokes, you shouldn't have a problem knowing what they're going on about.
While the movie isn't as action heavy as other Bond films, the action that was there was well done. The fights were incredibly well choreographed and you don't even have to put up with the quick cut shaky cam that has been setting fight sequences back for a few years now.
I really recommend this movie. Even if you're not crazy about Bond films, this one is rather entertaining. I found it to be quite a bit of fun.
As far as the "reboot" is concerned, I rather liked 'Casino Royale' but fell asleep during 'Quantum of Solace'. At the time, I chalked it up to exhaustion as I was working the graveyard shift and had been awake for a rather lengthy period of time. As it turns out, it had a similar effect on people even if they had gotten a good night's sleep.
I had heard generally good things about the third entry, 'Skyfall' but hadn't built up a lot of personal hype for it.
As it turns out, it is a rather entertaining movie. It gives James Bond something of a character arc (which is rare) as he deals with his old age and puts some personal demons to bed.
It's a little weird that Craig's Bond is already being labelled a dinosaur of sorts seeing as he was supposed to be a rookie agent just a couple of movies ago. It works really well, though.
As is often the case, it is the villain that steals the show. Javier Bardem turns in a great performance as the bad guy and he's really fun to watch.
From what I've read, the writers modeled him after Ledger's Joker. It isn't a direct rip off, but there are some nods, specifically a part where Silva (Bardem) lets himself get captured only to escape later.
One of the criticisms I've read is that the movie does sort of turn into "The Dark Knight" for a while as Bond is constantly two steps behind his adversary. Honestly, I didn't mind it. There are certainly worse movies to emulate and this did a good job of keeping the tension throughout.
The movie has also been compared to 'Home Alone' as one sequence shows Bond and a few other characters booby trapping his house to defend themselves from oncoming enemies. I'm not going to lie, that thought popped into my head too. It is just one scene though, so I don't think it's a major strike against the film.
The big problem for me was projection. A lot of the actors seem like they're mumbling their lines. It makes them hard to understand when they're conversing. It gets better by the second half, but it was a problem. It makes it harder to get invested, but even going by broad strokes, you shouldn't have a problem knowing what they're going on about.
While the movie isn't as action heavy as other Bond films, the action that was there was well done. The fights were incredibly well choreographed and you don't even have to put up with the quick cut shaky cam that has been setting fight sequences back for a few years now.
I really recommend this movie. Even if you're not crazy about Bond films, this one is rather entertaining. I found it to be quite a bit of fun.
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Daily Dose of Awesome: Amazon Wishlists
People like buying things, but they also like looking for things that they plan to buy in the future. Sometimes they'll find something that they have no real need for, but like the idea of purchasing at some point down the line. While browsing for goods used to require you to go out to a mall or plaza, the internet has brought the browsing experience to your home.
Craigslist and Ebay work for some people, but I'm partial to Amazon myself. I love the wishlist function, which allows you to save items that you plan on buying so that you don't have to go searching for it later. It also allows others to potentially buy something for you as a gift as long as you provide shipping information.
My wish list has grown to over 1000 items and is dozens of pages long. That's the downside of the wish list. It's easy to let items pile up, and when one thing is added, you'll often find 10 more things that you want. Knocking the list down, however, is a far more difficult matter.
The good thing is that you can often derive enjoyment just from scrolling through your list. It can often act as incentive to work harder or to find a way to pay down bills so that you can afford all of the things you want.
As fun as it is to scroll through my own wish list, I find myself also enjoying scrolling through other people's wishlists. It's sort of similar to people being fascinated by other people's movie or book collections.
I have an account over at Expotv, though I haven't posted any videos yet. One of the rewards they offer is Amazon e-certificates, up to $250. I like going through wishlists thinking of things I could get that person with that much in gift cards. While I could go an an awesome spree with that, putting a rather large dent in my own list, there are other people who have things that they want and as it's not really putting a dent in my account, I wouldn't mind treating someone else to some free swag.
Amazon itself is a great site as you can often find whatever it is you're looking for at a lower price, and you don't even have to go anywhere to get it, but the wish list feature is a major selling point and one of the things that I like most about the site. Not only is it fun to build up, and scroll through, your own wish list, but you can take a peak at what other people are interested in buying. It's good times all around.
Craigslist and Ebay work for some people, but I'm partial to Amazon myself. I love the wishlist function, which allows you to save items that you plan on buying so that you don't have to go searching for it later. It also allows others to potentially buy something for you as a gift as long as you provide shipping information.
My wish list has grown to over 1000 items and is dozens of pages long. That's the downside of the wish list. It's easy to let items pile up, and when one thing is added, you'll often find 10 more things that you want. Knocking the list down, however, is a far more difficult matter.
The good thing is that you can often derive enjoyment just from scrolling through your list. It can often act as incentive to work harder or to find a way to pay down bills so that you can afford all of the things you want.
As fun as it is to scroll through my own wish list, I find myself also enjoying scrolling through other people's wishlists. It's sort of similar to people being fascinated by other people's movie or book collections.
I have an account over at Expotv, though I haven't posted any videos yet. One of the rewards they offer is Amazon e-certificates, up to $250. I like going through wishlists thinking of things I could get that person with that much in gift cards. While I could go an an awesome spree with that, putting a rather large dent in my own list, there are other people who have things that they want and as it's not really putting a dent in my account, I wouldn't mind treating someone else to some free swag.
Amazon itself is a great site as you can often find whatever it is you're looking for at a lower price, and you don't even have to go anywhere to get it, but the wish list feature is a major selling point and one of the things that I like most about the site. Not only is it fun to build up, and scroll through, your own wish list, but you can take a peak at what other people are interested in buying. It's good times all around.
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Friday, February 6, 2015
Daily Dose of Awesome: Tazer Ball
I used to watch Sportsnation a few years back, and in one episode, they showcased a clip from something called "Tazer ball". It's pretty much what it sounds like. You have a sport with the simple premise of "get the ball into the other team's goal", but the players are all armed with TASERS which they can use to shock each other into submission. Oh no, it's real, look.
Now, I was hesitant to discuss this, as the idea of people doing that to each other doesn't really appeal to me. On the contrary, it seems like its one step closer to those ultra-violent sports you see in dystopian future movies. So, why am I posting about it here?
Because it's so ridiculous and stupid, really. I mean, look at it. You'd almost think that this was a joke. Hell, maybe it is, and I'm just getting played by it. If it is a joke, then I will preemptively admit that this is pretty funny. If it is serious, well it's still funny, but only because it's so stupid.
Now, I was hesitant to discuss this, as the idea of people doing that to each other doesn't really appeal to me. On the contrary, it seems like its one step closer to those ultra-violent sports you see in dystopian future movies. So, why am I posting about it here?
Because it's so ridiculous and stupid, really. I mean, look at it. You'd almost think that this was a joke. Hell, maybe it is, and I'm just getting played by it. If it is a joke, then I will preemptively admit that this is pretty funny. If it is serious, well it's still funny, but only because it's so stupid.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Daily Dose of Awesome: Avatar the Last Airbender
Who would have thought a cartoon on Nickelodeon would be this good? This show surpassed the hype for me. I was worried that it would fall into the same trap as so many other things, where the hype is built up so high that you can't help but be disappointed. On the contrary, this show may even surpass said hype.
I watched this through Netflix's instant watch and loved every second of it. The characters are well written and come off as real, likable people. The story is epic, while still giving us self contained episodes that are easy for the newcomer to follow. The soundtrack is very well done, the voice acting is solid, and the animation style grows on you as you watch it.
The best part of the show is the humor. Unlike other shows where awkward and clumsy "comedy relief" is shoved in, the humor here works through the dialogue. I found myself laughing quite frequently, more so than I would if I were watching a modern day sitcom. I was a little worried when Momo, the group's flying lemur (and second team pet) was introduced, but he doesn't get in the way too often, and when he is brought in, it results in a decent gag.
I did also love whenever the show went meta-physical. Anytime Avatar Roku showed up, I knew it was going to be awesome. He just had a certain gravitas that had me enthralled anytime he spoke.
Clancy Brown and Mark Hamill both play villains. The beauty is that they both use their Lex Luthor and Joker voices respectively, but it still works perfectly. Sadly, the Joker laugh isn't heard here, but it would sound out of character for the villain that Hamill is playing.
Also surprising for a Nickelodeon show is how many heartbreaking moments there are. Sokka's romance in the first season finale was very well handled and I found myself invested in what was going to happen. Appa's Lost Days, an episode in the show's second season that follows the group's flying bison after he gets kidnapped, also puts the viewer through the emotional wringer.
Not only are there sad moments, but some surprising bits of nightmare fuel as well. I don't want to give away too many details, but Hama is one of the most horrifying things you'll see in a cartoon. When Aang, the show's main character, goes into his Avatar state, it can also be very creepy. I was glad to see that I wasn't the only one who thought Aang's voice sounded nigh demonic when he demanded to know what Appa's kidnappers had done with him. It's creepy enough that it will give older viewers the heebie-jeebies, but it doesn't go so far as to alienate younger viewers or become inappropriate for it's targeted demographic.
This probably ranks in my all time favorites as far as not only animated series, but shows in general. I'm not sure what spot it would take exactly, but it's up there. I can't recommend this show enough. It was a joy to watch and I look forward to going through it again at some point.
I watched this through Netflix's instant watch and loved every second of it. The characters are well written and come off as real, likable people. The story is epic, while still giving us self contained episodes that are easy for the newcomer to follow. The soundtrack is very well done, the voice acting is solid, and the animation style grows on you as you watch it.
The best part of the show is the humor. Unlike other shows where awkward and clumsy "comedy relief" is shoved in, the humor here works through the dialogue. I found myself laughing quite frequently, more so than I would if I were watching a modern day sitcom. I was a little worried when Momo, the group's flying lemur (and second team pet) was introduced, but he doesn't get in the way too often, and when he is brought in, it results in a decent gag.
I did also love whenever the show went meta-physical. Anytime Avatar Roku showed up, I knew it was going to be awesome. He just had a certain gravitas that had me enthralled anytime he spoke.
Clancy Brown and Mark Hamill both play villains. The beauty is that they both use their Lex Luthor and Joker voices respectively, but it still works perfectly. Sadly, the Joker laugh isn't heard here, but it would sound out of character for the villain that Hamill is playing.
Also surprising for a Nickelodeon show is how many heartbreaking moments there are. Sokka's romance in the first season finale was very well handled and I found myself invested in what was going to happen. Appa's Lost Days, an episode in the show's second season that follows the group's flying bison after he gets kidnapped, also puts the viewer through the emotional wringer.
Not only are there sad moments, but some surprising bits of nightmare fuel as well. I don't want to give away too many details, but Hama is one of the most horrifying things you'll see in a cartoon. When Aang, the show's main character, goes into his Avatar state, it can also be very creepy. I was glad to see that I wasn't the only one who thought Aang's voice sounded nigh demonic when he demanded to know what Appa's kidnappers had done with him. It's creepy enough that it will give older viewers the heebie-jeebies, but it doesn't go so far as to alienate younger viewers or become inappropriate for it's targeted demographic.
This probably ranks in my all time favorites as far as not only animated series, but shows in general. I'm not sure what spot it would take exactly, but it's up there. I can't recommend this show enough. It was a joy to watch and I look forward to going through it again at some point.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Stephen King bibliography: Needful Things
You can read my review here.
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Pros
- Leland Gaunt makes for a solid villain
- The finale is a rather entertaining spectacle
Cons
- Weak, shockingly one dimensional characters in whom the reader has no investment
- The length works against the plot as it becomes something of a chore to read through.
Overall
Sadly, Needful Things did not deliver the goods. I found this to be the weakest King book I've read so far. You can skip this one as you really aren't missing much.
Daily Dose of Awesome: Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
I'm not an ardent Silent Hill fan. I saw a little bit of SH3, played a bit of Homecoming, saw the movie, and that's about it. I liked what I saw, but I never really got into it the same way others have. In addition to the atmosphere and psychological aspects of the game, I really liked the instrumental score composed by Akira Yamaoka.
I discovered, thanks to Atop the Fourth Wall that the recent games had included some vocal tracks as well, many of which were sung by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, who is probably well known as a voice actress, but has made a name for herself as a singer as well. Actually, I came across all of these songs thanks to the aforementioned web show. I have, however, enjoyed all of them a lot and listen to them quite frequently.
The first McGlynn song I came across was called One More Soul to the Call.
This is probably still my favorite of the bunch, though the others are starting to grow on me as well. I don't know how many times I've listened to this song, but it never gets old and it rocks.
The second song I came across was called Hell Frozen Rain.
As you can see, this song also rocks your socks. This is another one I've listened to repeatedly. More so than One More Soul to the Call, I think this song shows off McGlynn's vocal abilities and lets you know that she really has singing chops.
The next two songs are relative newcomers to my musical repertoire. They've earned their spots on this post, however, as they too are awesome and highly enjoyable.
The first is called When You're Gone. It also has an old school rock feel to it and it's a toe tapper. I defy you to try and listen to this without bobbing your head; it can't be done.
The final song takes a different tone and moves away from the rock feel of the previous tracks. I would argue, however, that this song (called Acceptance) is the closest to the type of music you're used to hearing in Silent Hill. It's eerie in a lullaby-esque way. I'm sure that doesn't make sense, but hopefully, once you listen to the song, you'll know what I mean.
I discovered, thanks to Atop the Fourth Wall that the recent games had included some vocal tracks as well, many of which were sung by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, who is probably well known as a voice actress, but has made a name for herself as a singer as well. Actually, I came across all of these songs thanks to the aforementioned web show. I have, however, enjoyed all of them a lot and listen to them quite frequently.
The first McGlynn song I came across was called One More Soul to the Call.
This is probably still my favorite of the bunch, though the others are starting to grow on me as well. I don't know how many times I've listened to this song, but it never gets old and it rocks.
The second song I came across was called Hell Frozen Rain.
As you can see, this song also rocks your socks. This is another one I've listened to repeatedly. More so than One More Soul to the Call, I think this song shows off McGlynn's vocal abilities and lets you know that she really has singing chops.
The next two songs are relative newcomers to my musical repertoire. They've earned their spots on this post, however, as they too are awesome and highly enjoyable.
The first is called When You're Gone. It also has an old school rock feel to it and it's a toe tapper. I defy you to try and listen to this without bobbing your head; it can't be done.
The final song takes a different tone and moves away from the rock feel of the previous tracks. I would argue, however, that this song (called Acceptance) is the closest to the type of music you're used to hearing in Silent Hill. It's eerie in a lullaby-esque way. I'm sure that doesn't make sense, but hopefully, once you listen to the song, you'll know what I mean.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Hulk vs. The Thing
I don't understand this rivalry. Both comics and fans seem to be under the impression that this would be some epic fight that could go either way. I hate to be the screen door on your submarine, but it isn't. It really isn't.
Who would win in a fight between Hulk and the Thing? Hulk. Hulk wins. That's it. Hulk can go toe to toe with Thor and Superman. When has the Thing come anywhere close to being that strong?
Even if the two started off on an even keel, everyone knows that the angrier Hulk gets, the stronger he gets. Unless Thing can pull off some sort of Mike Tyson-esque immediate knockout early in the fight, he'll lose ground against his adversary the longer the fight goes on.
Daily Dose of Awesome: Barack Obama sings "Born This Way"
I'm not a big Lady Gaga fan. It's just not my thing. Nevertheless, I was emailed a link to this video, that compiles footage from many of the President's speeches, cuts out snippets, then arranges and edits them to form the lyrics of the song. If nothing else, you have to admire the time it took to sift through all of those speeches to find the needed words and then edit them together in sequence with the tune of the song.
Monday, February 2, 2015
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Daily Dose of Awesome: Super Bowl!!!
Really, could today's topic have been anything else? It's the freaking Super Bowl, the culmination of 5 months worth of football. It all leads up to this, having the two best teams go head to head to determine the champion for this year.
It's such a ratings titan that every network just throws in the towel because the networks know what people are going to be watching. It's one of the few things on TV where people actually look forward to the commercials. Heck, some people watch more for the commercials than the game itself!
Now, as a Ravens fan, I don't really have a dog in this race, but it should be a good game. These two teams have developed something of a rivalry as of late and both the Seahawks and the Patriots are capable of taking the other one down, making this a hard game to predict.
It's always sad to see the football season come to an end, but it least it goes out with a bang in one of the biggest sporting events of the year.
It's such a ratings titan that every network just throws in the towel because the networks know what people are going to be watching. It's one of the few things on TV where people actually look forward to the commercials. Heck, some people watch more for the commercials than the game itself!
Now, as a Ravens fan, I don't really have a dog in this race, but it should be a good game. These two teams have developed something of a rivalry as of late and both the Seahawks and the Patriots are capable of taking the other one down, making this a hard game to predict.
It's always sad to see the football season come to an end, but it least it goes out with a bang in one of the biggest sporting events of the year.
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