Limitless Ramblings

Then, on July 6, 2009, with the promise of a third album in the works, the band split up due to Ross and other band member Jon Walker embarking on a musical excursion of their own. The split was amicable, but heartbreaking none the less. The third album would never see the light of day... or so was the mentality. But, on February 8th the tumblr community was alive with buzz about new Panic!, and it seemed to good to be true. Sure enough, however, the band - now composed of Urie and drummer Spencer Smith - released the music video to their new single, "The Ballad of Mona Lisa" and while the style was vastly different from that of Pretty. Odd. (and sounded more like a lost track to A Fever You Can't Sweat Out), it was promising. The question remained, however, as to whether or not Panic! at the Disco could survive without the brilliant lyrics of Ross... rumor was, with Ross gone, Urie was penning most of the songs.

The album was officially released on March 22, 2011 (A full three years after the release of Pretty. Odd.) and gave birth to another question: Why wasn't Urie penning the songs all along? There are more hardcore fans that will disagree, and I'm sure your opinion will have to do with what sort of sound you preferred from Panic!, but in my opinion, the album far exceeded my expectations. I adored Pretty. Odd., and I have no qualms about saying Vices & Virtues is better. Ross is a talented individual, and his work on Pretty. Odd. is unmatched, but Urie has more than proven himself on this album.

Unlike Pretty. Odd. - which sounded like a collection of songs by a great band - Vices & Virtues seems to tie together, each song a piece of a larger story (like Daft Punk's Discovery). They've gone back to the pop-like sound, but have established themselves in it, utilizing horns like they did on Pretty. Odd., as well as some magnificent string arrangements. The songs are stories within themselves, boasting some of the most beautiful and poetic lyrics I've come across in my 23 years. But the crown jewel of V&V's presentation is the same thing that made me stick around six years ago: Brendon Urie's vocals.

Urie has this strange ability to convey his every emotion with his voice. If a song is particularly close to his heart or is inspired by some painful memory, you hear that... to the point of actually feeling it. Coupled with the horn/string arrangements and poetic lyrics, Vices & Virtues serves to be a rather moving tale... a book without pages; a movie without pictures. It grabs your heart and invigorates your imagination.

The standard version of the album contains 10 tracks, and can be streamed here, but if you purchase one of many versions of the album (via their webstore, Hot Topic, or iTunes), you can get your hands on a number of the six bonus tracks available, each of which is fun and amazing, but nowhere near as amazing as Vices & Virtues is as a whole.

If you're a fan of Panic! at the Disco, or you're just looking for some new music to kick off your 2011 year, I strongly suggest looking into Vices & Virtues. Again, you can stream it here, or buy it here, here, or here. It is also available at Best Buy for a limited time for only 7.99$.

TRACK LISTING:

1. The Ballad of Mona Lisa
2. Let's Kill Tonight
3. Hurricane
4. Memories
5. Trade Mistakes
6. Ready To Go (Get Me Out Of My Mind)
7. Always
8. The Calendar
9. Sarah Smiles
10. Nearly Witches (Ever Since We Met)

"But It's Better If You Do" Official Music Video



"The Ballad of Mona Lisa" Official Music Video

I'm not sure, but I don't think I've written up my preview post for the movie PRIEST yet... odd, considering it 1. has Karl Urban, 2. has Paul Bettany, 3. has Christopher Plummer, and 4. is the only movie I want to see in 2011.

It was supposed to be out around August of last year... but it kept getting pushed back further and further, and now it looks like it's pretty set on a May 13th release. Finally. Because I really want to see this movie.

The movie is loosely based on a graphic novel series by the same name. There are certain traits taken from the GNs to the movie - like the villain, the main character, etc. - but the overall concept is vastly different. Which is fine... the appeal of the GNs for me was the fact that they read like a western. They involved vampires and other creatures and warrior priests, but all in all, the PRIEST series was a western, in the style of 3:10 to Yuma, Tombstone, etc. Everything I've been hearing says they've carried that over to the film.

If you haven't heard of PRIEST, and don't get a whole lot from the trailer, the idea is basically this:

Paul Bettany is a warrior priest who rebels from the faith when he is forbidden by the higher ups to track down his niece (who was kidnapped when the supposedly extinct vampires attacked her family). Together with a female priest who is sent to kill him and a sheriff (?) sworn to help him, they uncover a deadly secret: Black Hat (a fellow priest turned God of Vampires in the first war) has helped the vampires replenish their ranks, and they're now stronger than ever.

Words do not express how excited I am... no joke. I just... I can't wait. I can't. I love the GNs and I love every actor in this movie. May cannot come fast enough!

The novel is told from the perspective of three characters: Aibileen Clark, a middle-aged African-American maid who has spent her life raising white children and has recently lost her only son; Minny Jackson, an African-American maid who has often offended her employers despite her family's struggles with money and her desperate need for jobs; and Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, a young white woman who has recently moved back home after graduating college to find out her childhood maid has mysteriously disappeared. These three stories intertwine to explain how life in Jackson, Mississippi revolves around "the help"; yet they are always kept at a certain distance because of racial lines.

I started off my 11 in 2011 with Katheryn Stockett's The Help, and it was simultaneously the worst and best decision.

WHAT'S GOOD.

It's a bit more difficult to break books into categories of what's good and what's bad because they strike me as far more complex than movies, especially if you get a good one. And The Help is absolutely a good one. Mrs. Stockett does a fantastic job of ripping you out of your comfortable post millenia bubble and thrusting you into the Jackson, Mississippi of the 60's. What's more is, she writes each of the three characters so well, it feels like you're reading actual memoirs, as opposed to a work of fiction.

The book speaks to your emotions. It's frustrating to keep quiet as you read about the way Aibileen and the other ladies are treated, how Ms. Skeeter is treated once her "secret" is out. In the back of your mind, you are constantly whispering this is so, so wrong. 

The relationships between characters are also very real. Some make you so angry you could spit, others make you cry with laughter, still others make you weep at how selfless they are... and some just plain rip your heart out. Each man, woman, and child is so real that you can almost touch them... but at the end of the day, you're glad you're only reading about it. Furthermore, they are so easy to relate to, despite the fact that they were living out their lives 40 years before today; before I'm living out mine. They had flaws, fears, critical parents, snotty brothers, peer pressure, unruly children, friends, enemies, flawed marriages, broken hearts... and while it made you connect and thus emmerse yourself in the story, it also makes you realize that all the racism was ridiculous. We aren't that different at all.

I also love that, after reading all of that, you find out that Mrs. Stockett herself grew up with a maid, and that she wrote this partly because she realized she never thanked her own help as a child. It makes everything ring a little sweeter.

WHAT'S BAD.

There isn't a whole lot. Some of the situations can make you quite angry, but honestly, the "worst" thing about it is, once you read it, it's difficult to find another book to follow it with. It is just so good and well written that anything you read will be lacking, simply because it's not this.

I've found it very difficult to get into my second book for my 11 in 2011 challenge...

CONCLUSION.

I recommend The Help to anyone and everyone, regardless of whether or not you like to read. It is a quick read - you will not be able to put it down - but also engaging and thought provoking. It will open your eyes to a lot of things, and at the very least, make you thank the stars we were born today, and not back then... that we are living in a time where people who treat others like lesser beings are the ones frowned upon, not the other way around. And it is a beautiful window to a time when black women were good enough to raise your children, but not to sit and eat with you.

If you haven't read this, pick up your copy today! Also, be sure to check out the movie, due in theaters this coming August. 

I'm not really into action movies. With the exception of a few very stellar movies, action movies tend to sacrifice character development and actual plot in favor of explosions, scantily clad women and... more explosions. What's worse, the action always seems to be unrealistic to the point of absurdity (see the Charlie's Angels movies). Until a little movie called Smokin' Aces came out, I was 100% against action movies. Since then, however, I've been more willing to give them a chance and I was actually excited to see the RED trailer.

I wasn't completely on board though... which is strange because I'd read most of the graphic novel and was absolutely in love with the idea, and the cast was fantastic (Helen Mirren and Morgan Freeman... need I say more?). I think I was still hurt over the train wreck that was Watchmen, and the fact that while it was great in graphic novel form, RED was still going to be a movie of the action genre. In the end, I went because I was suffering from Karl Urban withdrawals.

WHAT WAS GOOD:

For a graphic novel adaptation, it was probably one of the best I've seen. Each actor really captured the character's attitude and made them all very likeable. Hellen Mirren's character is so delightfully nonchalant about the fact that she was once a hired assassin, Bruce Willis is so absolutely pathetic that you can't help but root for him the entire time. Karl Urban's antagonist is also done in such a way that you can't completely hate him... or even at all, and half way through the movie you're not entirely sure who you want to come out on top. By far the best performance of the movie was John Malkovich as Marvin Boggs, a retired CIA agent that was given daily doses of LSD for 11 years. Boggs is like a dog that's been stung on the nose one too many times, and everyone thinks he's lost his nose when in reality, he just points at things with his tail. When you meet him, your first impression is that he's senile and paranoid... but you quickly learn that he's probably the best agent out of all of them.

As far as the plot goes, I liked it. They don't mention it too much, which is fine because the story is driven more by the characters, but it's actually a nice little conspiracy theory movie. And I'm not sure if it was just because I was too distracted by Karl Urban and his cute hair, but I didn't realize who the main antagonist was until right before he was revealed.

WHAT WAS BAD:

I'm willing to forgive them this transgression seeing as it was a GN adapted to a movie, but there were some action sequences that were less than believable, namely the one from the trailer when Bruce Willis steps out of the spinning cop car. However, his actions in the entire sequence are so BA, it's easy to overlook the "yeah like that abides by the laws of physics" mishaps.


The following "gripe" will be whited out because it contains spoilers. If you have seen the movie or don't mind having something (rather large IMO) spoiled, simply highlight the following portion to read the text.


FINAL SAY:

Ignoring the small gripes I had with the movie, it was a fairly well rounded film. It was great fun, and honestly it's probably one of my absolute favorite GN to movie adaptations. If you like great acting, conspiracy theories, BA characters and some pretty fast paced action, then I recommend RED.

So, a little while ago, I put together a winter reading list, because I felt I hadn't been reading enough. I read a total of 2 1/2 of the books on it, but one of them was The Running Man by Richard Bachman*, and I really enjoyed it.

It's one of those books set in a dreary world, stuck in an unofficial cast system. The rich and privileged are very much so, while the poor and unfortunate souls are all but ignored. And no one tries to change the status quo, because - while it isn't full blown - the world TRM is set in is a pre collectivist society. They're all zombies... harmless, but zombies none the less. And sometimes, just sitting on your rear end can do more damage than trying to pry someone's brain out of their skull.

But I digress. The upper class offers the lower class one chance at redemption, one way to break out of their poverty and finally live the high life: A series of games. An organization called "The Network" puts on games for people to win however many new dollars they can manage... but these aren't normal games. Each game pits you against some sort of weakness. For instance, people with heart disease or asthma would compete in Treadmill to Bucks, where they basically run on a treadmill until they have a heart attack. The longer they go, the more money they win.

The largest viewed game on The Network is The Running Man, where the competitor literally runs for his life, while being hunted. Viewers are told to view the contestant as a criminal, to turn him in whenever they find him, or even kill him if they can. And sightings and/or killings result in cash prizes for the killer. The risk is high, but the payout is even higher, which is why we have the story to begin with. Ben Richards has a sick daughter and needs the money, and so he competes.

I was really really impressed with the book. The pace is quick, it isn't bogged down by a lot of slow background introductions. It hits the ground running, and is full of surprises. What's most intriguing about the book, however, is that none of the characters are completely likable. Each and every one leaves a bad taste in your mouth, and at times you don't know who you should be rooting for. But that doesn't make you want to stop reading. It's done in such a way that, even though you may hate the protagonist at times, you hate the antagonists so much you want to see that they get theirs.

The ending was one of the best I've ever read. Bachman wrote the book to tell the tale of the guy that doesn't win, who doesn't walk away with a happy ending, and he does it very well. There is such a mixture of emotions when you finally close the book, that you really don't know what to do with them all. You're sad, you're happy, you feel mildly triumphant - even if you personally didn't do anything - and you feel as though you wasted your time. But you don't mind having wasted that time. It's satisfying in a really empty, tragic way.

And when things like this start popping up, it makes the book fairly terrifying.

All in all, a very good read. Quick, interesting, and very well written. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes the collectivism, small-guy-trying-to-beat-the-man type stories, but I warn that it isn't a cushy, fluffy, happy go lucky book. There is never a moment where your heart gets excited, never an instant when you get a warm fuzzy. It's written in a way that makes the reader feel like they're on the run as well... it's stressful and intense and always on. But I guarantee you, it is well worth the read**.


*Richard Bachman is Stephen King... but the writing styles are completely different, so when referring to works King wrote as Bachman, I will use Bachman's name. They are the same person, but they aren't, and it's easier for me to refer to them as two different people.
**You can pick up a copy at your local bookstore or Target, as well as purchase it online here.

Alright so... today's story was a bit longer and took a few hours to write, so instead of giving a big meaty post, I'm just going to link you all to the post I wrote for my friend Justin over at his blog.

The Apple iPad: The Missing Link...?

Now, for today's DADC, this is basically a "what would happen if" that continues from an episode from S3 of Heroes. The story takes place after Pinehearst explodes, and centers around 1 specific Heroes character, as well as 1 other that isn't in Heroes, persay. It was a prompt given to me, so I hope I fulfilled it satisfactorily... lol. Is that a word? XD Anyway, enjoy!!

Everything Ends: Chapter 1

It scored a 9.5 out of 10 rating from Playstation. Nabbed the game of the month title. More importantly than that, it has officially become my favorite game.

Ever*.

Assassin's Creed 2 did what only one other video game sequel has done before: It succeeded its predecessor in so many wonderful ways.

I discovered the original Assassin's Creed mere months before the trailer for he second one was released, but I tore through it and quickly fell in love with it. So much that I awaited the release of the second one eagerly. I didn't pre-order it, because I didn't plan one buying it when it came out but, when I picked up my copy of Left4Dead2, I couldn't help myself.

I wasn't sure what I expected. The fact that it turned the first game's "decent reviews" into "universal acclaim" coupled with Game Informer's 9.5 rating and all the talk of it having fixed all the problems of the first one, I have to admit, I was pretty excited to start playing it.

The Story: There are two arcs to this game: Desmond Miles (present day) and Ezio Auditore (1476, Italy). Like the first game, you start as Desmond, present day assassin forced into the Animus to live out the memories of his ancestors.

Only this time, you've broken free from Abstergo. Following a gutsy move by Lucy, you end up with a team of assassins that have in their possession the Animus 2.0. Using that, and the memory core Lucy swiped from Abstergo, you access the memory of a common ancestor you share with the mysterious - and now deceased - Subject 16.

The common ancestor is named Ezio Auditore, born 1459 in Florence, Italy, to Giovanni and Maria Auditore. You step into Ezio's shoes when he's a naive 17 year old, picking fights with other neighborhood boys and causing trouble with the young ladies. He knows nothing of the Assassins or Templars. He learns quickly, however, when his father and brothers are kidnapped, betrayed, and executed. Giovanni's brother, Mario, takes Ezio in and tells him about the Assassins. He teaches Ezio a few skills and sends him to assassinate the men responsible for his father's death. As in the first game, the more people you kill, the more secrets unravel. You follow Ezio through nearly 23 years of his life as he travels across Italy, makes new allies, and continues to unravel the conspiracy that got his father and brothers killed.

WHAT'S GOOD:

Assassin's Creed 2 has none of the problems its predecessor had. As great of a game as AC was, it was not without problems. AC2, however, is. The lush landscapes are easier to navigate, the absurd tunnel-sound dialogue is gone, there missions are not nearly as repetitious, and you don't learn the Templars plan after the first assassination. Not to mention, there have been a ton of improvements:

• Ezio does not posses Altair's super drowning ability and can, in fact, swim. This is a break through, not just for AC gamers, but gamers in general. Finally a game where a fountain isn't deadlier than a 10 story drop.
• Vigilantes that tugged on and tripped up guards have been replaced with hireable thieves that can steal money from guards and lead them away, and mercenaries that will help engage guards in combat. Both can follow you a considerable distance along rooftops.
• Ezio has an all new arsenal of techniques, including the ability to toss out money when a minstrel gets in the way, which is a much better alternative to the "punch the begger in the face and hope the guards don't see" technique from the first one. You can also steal weapons from guards and use them against them.
  
• Ezio is supplied with a number of new weapons, including a poison blade, smoke bombs, and a gun.
• A number of systems have been revamped, including the noteriety and blend systems, and subtitles have been added for those few people who don't speak Italian**.
  

The character development is actually there. While Giovanni Auditore's story is more explained in the mini-series "Lineage", you get 23 years of Ezio's life layed out before you. This caused me to favor Ezio over Altair, even though Altair was the better assassin.And there seems to be so much more to Ezio, as well. At 17, he is a complete and total Dbag. He's a playboy, and extremely cocky. But you learn quickly that he loves his family, and has something in him that is worth respecting. And as you follow him through the years, you find out that there is actually some dignity to him. He hurts over the loss of his father and brothers, he wants to protect his sister and mother. And a part of his dbaggery makes him absolutely loveable and badass***. There's something to be said about a game that explores a character so deeply, and develops them so well (Ezio keeps his playboy status while somehow maturing and becoming a man that demands and deserves your respect).

I also really liked the subtle touches they added to Ezio as he grew older. As the years went on, his voice deepened, and by the end of the game, he has quite a bit of facial hair. Just touches I wouldn't have missed if they hadn't been there, but ones I can appreciate because they are.

AC2 offers more objectives, but delivers them in a less daunting way. Along with the seeking revenge aspect of the game, AC2 offers a side storyline, presented to you by the mysterious subject 16. He has hidden symbols all through out Ezio's world, and you are required to find them. Each symbol unlocks a piece of "The Truth", something that will really get your brain thinking. You are also required to collect 6 assassin's seals to unlock a special suit of armor. Feathers are scattered through out the world, much like the flags of AC, but collecting all of these will actually gain you a reward. Other objectives are presented to you (compete for a golden mask, restore a villa, save the world), but out of all the tasks that must be completed, there is no sense of panic. You don't feel overwhelmed, because you don't have to go out of your way to rescue citizens or complete all tasks in one district. Everything flows together quite well. You still have to do a bit of puzzle solving and symbol searching, but it's a lot more fun because it doesn't seem so daunting.

The supporting cast is phenomenal, and they twist history in a very interesting way. While Altair had a few assassin friends he could pal around with, Ezio hangs with the likes of Leonardo daVinci, Machiavelli, and the Pope. There is a bit of artistic liscence taken with each character, of course, but each character is very likeable. This game made me a bigger fan of daVinci than I already was! Beyond that, they seem to rewrite history, but in a rather plausible way, listing people like Hitler as Templars and people like Tesla as Assassins. While it isn't authentic enough to make you question what you know, it is extremely interesting, and very well done.

The soundtrack. Just... the soundtrack. You just have to listen to it. The music makes the scenes. Jesper Kyd really captures each and every emotion. The use of "Venice Rooftops" when Ezio finds his father's assassin armor was genius. Try not to get excited during that scene, I dare you.

WHAT'S BAD:

You don't get to know what happens to Ezio. I kind of had this same problem with the first game with Altair, but it was more of a problem with Ezio, because of the vast amounts of character development. This game really let's the gamer connect with Ezio, and once you really start to like him, they snatch him away. Which would be fine, if there was some sort of montage to let you know what happens to him after we stop following him. There's just this sense of loss when you spend an entire game connecting with someone, only to cut them off cold turkey. I didn't even get to say goodbye properly.

I'm just kind of attached to Ezio right now, and the one problem this game didn't correct from the first one was the cut off from the main ancestor. You never really get to have a satisfying goodbye, you're just done.

Overall, I give it a 10. The story is well rounded, the characters are amazing, the landscapes are to die for, and the puzzles are just tricky enough. The ending is a lot more satisfying, as well. There are still cliff hangers, though not as bad as the first game. Now all that's left is to wait as best I can for the Assassin's Creed 3 trailer. It's not easy to replace Halo as my favorite game, but Assassin's Creed 2 did everything right, and more than deserves the title.

Well played, Ubisoft. Well played indeed.

Seeing The Princess and the Frog was kind of a big deal for me. Not because she's the first African-American Disney Princess... I don't really care about stuff like that (did we make a big deal when Jasmine or Pocahontas hit the scene?). It was a big deal because - excluding computer generated movies - it was the first animated Disney movie I've seen in the theater since 2002, and the first musical Disney movie I've seen since 1994.

More so than that, I'm not a Disney Princess person. Ariel and Belle are the only ones I really like. Other than that, I really could not get into them*.

Tiana, however, is easily the most awesome Disney Princess created, and the movie was amazing.

The Story: The Princess and the Frog is loosely based on the novel "The Frog Princess" by E.D. Baker. Disney's interpretation tells the story of Tiana, a young New Orleans girl who vows she will never need a prince and will instead open a restaurant with her father... something easier said then done. Obsessed with her dream, Tiana becomes the very definiton of "all work, no play", working 2 jobs and pulling double shifts to afford a down payment for her restaurant.

It seems her hard work finally pays off when her best friend - Charlotte LeBeouf - pays her big bucks to cook at a ball she is holding in honor of Prince Naveen. Little do they know, the 20 year old, superficial, gregarious prince was tricked by the "Shadowman" - a local voodoo/palm reader - and turned into a frog.

Tiana's world is turned upside down when she is tricked into kissing the frog version of Prince Naveen, and is turned into a frog herself! Naveen and Tiana then head deep into the Bayou in search of Mama Odie to have the curse reversed. While on their journey, they encounter many characters like Louise - an alligator that plays a mean jazz trumpet - and Ray, a firefly that is in love with a bright star he's named Evangeline. Naveen and Tiana also learn a lot, not only about each other, but about themselves, and ultimately learn the difference between what you want, and what you need.

WHAT'S GOOD:

There is so much about this movie that made me love it.

The New Orleans setting was absolutely to die for. Something about the accents made me love the characters that much more... and the characters themselves were so loveable! Naveen very much reminded me of Ezio Auditore... a huge play boy that you hated, but couldn't help but love at the same time. Tiana was perfect as well. You felt all her pain, wanted so badly for her to succeed, since she was working soooo hard. The Shadowman was a very classic Disney villain, very much like Scar or Ursula. He was delightfully dastardly and and wonderfully wicked. Louise and Ray were both wonderful additions to the cast as well, and for some reason I found myself connecting very much with Tiana's father. Even Charlotte was great... annoying in a loveable way.

The music is easily my favorite in Disney history with, of course, a few exceptions**. I love jazz, and am greatly impressed with how they kept the magic of the music alive while still supplying the audience with the showtune-esque numbers Disney is known for. Such gems as "Dig A Little Deeper", "Almost There", and "When We're Human" are all shining spots in this movie. But most noteable is The Shadowman's number, "Friends On The Other Side". This song could hold its own against such numbers as "Be Prepared", "Poor Unfortunate Souls," and "Kill the Beast".

But the best thing about this movie, in my opinion, is the message it sends. Unlike a number of older Disney films, the love story (stories?) in this one is much more pure*** and the life lesson is a far better one to follow. It stresses the difference between what you want in life, and what you need. It teaches you that you can't get what you want simply by wishing on a star, that if you want your dreams to come true, you have to put in a bit of old fashioned hard work.

WHAT'S BAD:

The one downside to this movie is the Shadowman is a little too dark and evil, to the point where he's scary. I'm 21, and some of the shadow creatures he summoned freaked me out, I can't imagine what they do to the kids. There are a number of scenes that can freak kids out, from the end of "Friends On The Other Side", to the shadow creatures, to the talking with the Voodoo Masks. There's just a lot of dark, evil, scary things that may scare children.

So, overall, I give it a 9.5 out of 10. Wonderful wonderful movie, but the scaring children potential is kind of silly, seeing as it's directed at children.




*I've said before that Pocahontas is my favorite Disney Princess, and that's true, she is. But only because she's an Indian like me. I don't care much for her movie. Like I discussed with someone today, tell the children all the little fairytales you want, but don't dork up history.
**The exceptions of course being The Lion King and Mulan... it's really hard to beat Mulan.
***SPOILER ALERT! BIG SPOILER ALERT!

Tiana and Naveen fall in love with each other while they're frogs. Naveen has been cut off from his inheritance due to his party all night lifestyle, and Tiana is a waitress trying to make ends meet. They have virtually no money. And they fall in love as frogs!! Not to mention, Naveen realizes he's in love with Tiana when Mama Odie tells him to dig deep and find out what he needs in life. He feels like he needs her! And he's willing to marry Charlotte to get Tiana the money for the restaurant and thus help her realize her dream, because he loves her so much. Call me a hopeless romantic, but I love love LOVE that. And how Tiana abandones her dream when she realizes that Naveen loves her, and that she loves him... so beautiful. "My dream won't be complete without you." *tears*

The most amazing thing to me was when they decided to stay as frogs, that it was okay because they were in love, and would be alright as long as they could be together. There hasn't been a Disney love story that pure since Beauty and the Beast.

If you're a regular at my blog, or know me in person, you know that I love zombies. If not, you'll soon find out. I love them. A lot.

I've read the literature, seen the movies. I know where to go when the zombies attack. I know what foods will last the test of time. I know what things I can take with me, and what things will need to stay behind. I have a zombie survival kit and a ZPEP.

I've even written a 10 Step "make your own ZPEP" Guide for the zombielliterate.

I think it's safe to say, I'm ready for the zombiepocalypse.

However, even the most prepared zombie slayer needs a little practice.

I know what you're thinking. How on Earth would someone practice for something that hasn't happened yet?

To which I say: the government is really good at covering things up... but you needn't worry about that now. No, if you're looking for an everyday way to practice for the impending Zombiepocalypse, then I have one word for you: VIDEOGAMES*.

On August 1st, 2009, I introduced my readers to Left4Dead**, Valve's first epically successful attempt at a zombie video game. Succeeding where others had failed, Left4Dead provided gamers (and aspiring zombie slayers alike) 4 playable characters, 4 challenging campaigns, and horde after horde of zombies.

It was amazing. It was not, however, the end of the line for epic zombie games. On the same day, I gave my readers a sneak peek at Valve's next installment of the Left4Dead series, cleverly titled "Left4Dead2". Due out just a few days shy of its predecessor's 1 year anniversary, Left4Dead2 seemed to be nothing more than a glorified expansion pack, and many gamers claimed Valve was trying to pull a fast one by charging full price for it.

Well, as an experienced zombieslayer AND gamer, I'm here to tell you that is not the case. I may not get paid to review video games and movies***, but that doesn't mean I'm not qualified to make such a claim. I played the first game to death, taking part in everything it offered, be it online play, campaign co-op, single play, versus, or survival, and I picked up my copy of Left4Dead2 the day it came out.

I have only completed 2 campaigns in the whole thing, and I can already tell each and every one of you: it is so much more than an expansion pack.

Normally for these sorts of things, I'll approach it from the "things I like/things I didn't like" angle, but I have to be honest with you. There is not a single thing I don't like about this game.

The concept is easily my favorite since the Halo games. Set in a post apocalyptic Georgia, Left4Dead2 takes place right after the zombie infection has hit critical mass. Your 4 main characters just barely missed their evac choppers, and are now forced to fight their way to safety, with only each other to depend on. Official instructions: shoot all sunsab****es.

Love it.

Left4Dead2 takes everything the first game was good at, and makes it better. The movie-like campaign play is expanded on, supplying the gamer with 5 new, continuity-based film campaigns. Each one is reminiscent of things you went through in the first game, but not so much that it feels like you're playing the same game. There are more puzzles, more zombies, and they are far more challenging. And your director is on his game this time around. In the preview, I mentioned that the director throws new twists at you every time you play a campaign, but after playing, I found that it's more like every time you die.

Nothing is ever the same. This guy prepares you for everything, so be on your guard. Did you check that bathroom last time? Well, check it again. There very well could be a horde hiding in there. I kid you not. A horde. By the time you finish a campaign, there probably isn't a single zombiefied scenario you haven't dealt with.

How awesome is that?

Left4Dead2 also excells in the playable character area. While the 4 characters in the first game were likeable and easy to control, the 4 new ones are far more interactive. Even during solo campaign mode, you feel like you're interacting with the members of your team, and they tend to respond more to the decisions you make. Team building skills FTW.

As far as zombies go, they went all out. Fan favorites from the first game have all returned, but that wasn't quite enough for Valve. So far, I have encountered 5 new breeds of specialty zombies:

• Jockeys - think Hunters were bad in the first game? Wait till you get a load of this undead pain in the neck... literally. Jockey's are fast and small. They do not snarl or growl or roar. They sound like normal crazy zombies... but they are far from it. A normal zombie is content with flailing their undead arms around and slapping you, hoping to incapacitate you so they can stomp on you until you die. Jockeys like to break up teams. They crawl through hordes, out of bushes, behind buildings, and sneak up on you. Once close enough, they jump onto your shoulders and force you away from your teammates, all the while pounding on your head. Yeah. I know what you're thinking, and I agree. I suddenly like Hunters a lot more now.
  
• Spitters - These things are annoying as hell. They look a lot like normal zombies, so you don't really realize you're in the presence of a spitter until she's covered you - and the ground around you - with green acid spit. Yes, Dane Cook fans, you heard me right. Acid spit. and once these things spit, you had better get moving, because their burning green saliva covers quite the surface area.
• The Charger - also known as the "FML" because, well, if you get caught by one of these, that's all you'll be able to say. Chargers are rather lopsided zombies that are easier to take down than Tanks, but just as powerful. They use their one huge arm as a type of plow as they run at you, carrying you as far as they can before stopping, gripping you, and pounding your dead ass into the ground. I say dead because, well... that's what you'll be if you let one of them get you.
• Hazmat Zombies - I spotlighted these in the preview, but just a recap. When the zombie infection first hit, the government sent in a ton of people in hazmat suits, thinking it would keep them safe from the infection. They were wrong. What it ended up doing was creating zombies that were impervious to fire. These guys will charge right through any blaze, and typically need to be bashed in the face, then pumped full of lead before they decide to leave you alone.
  
• SWAT Zombies - similar to the Hazmat zombies, these zombies must be melee'd to death. Their uniforms render most ammunition useless.
  

In addition to all of these, there are also clown zombies. I know. I cried, too. They aren't specialty zombies but... they should be. I mean... they're clowns.

But do not fear, for along with these new zombies, they also threw in some new weapons! There are now a plethora of guns to choose from, as well as special incendiary ammo sprinkled throughout the campaigns, which is most helpful and quite fun to use. There are also some cool upgrades for your guns, like lazer sites so you can be even more accurate with your headshots.

Along with the new gun selection is the option to carry around Melee Weapons. At the time I wrote my preview, there were only 4 melee weapons available: the bat, the axe, the frying pan, and the chainsaw.

Honestly, who needs more than that? But apparently, the kind folks over at Valve felt that someone might want more, so they gave it to us. Now, along with those 4, you are supplied with electric guitars, nightsticks, crowbars, flat paddles, and katanas, each of which deals quite a bit of damage to any zombie unlucky enough to step within your swing zone. Really helpful for the moments when you're covered in Boomer Bile.

Speaking of Boomer Bile, there are also a number of throwable and explosive items that help you in your endeavor to survive. Gas cans, propane tanks, molotovs and - my personal favorite - pipe bombs have all made a triumphant return, but the kind people at Valve have also supplied us with viles of boomer bile that, when thrown, will either A. create a puddle and attract the zombie horder, pulling them out in the open for you to shoot at your leisure, or B. cover a zombie and cause all the other zombies to attack said zombie, while still pulling them out into the open for you to shoot at your leisure. This is extremely helpful when used on a Tank.

Now, these are all things that I've found out within the first 2 campaigns of the game. There are still three more campaigns I have yet to venture into so I ask you naysayers... does it still look like a glorified expansion pack?

Because, from where I'm standing, it seems like the last word in zombie games. I have nothing bad to say about it. The biggest problem you may have is if you prefer inverted controls over conventional. It is just a very well rounded game, and a great way to practice for the fateful day when our loved ones decide that six feet is too deep, and they'd rather walk the earth in search of brains.

8 out of 10. Bravo, Valve...

I only wonder how you plan to outdo yourselves next year...


*there is no space. Technically, one word. So there.

**This doesn't necessarily mean my readers had never heard of the game, or that it was the first time I played it. It was just the date that I introduced it to my blog.

***Though, let's be honest. I think we all know I SHOULD get paid. Haha. I'M KIDDING.

I recently read an article about the top ten best summer movie moments, and was delighted to see that the entrance of Bones in the new Star Trek movie was number one. I read through the list and found I agreed with most of the choices, especially the honorable mention. This summer's movies were better than most of the movies we've had in a long time, and all of them had memorable moments that I absolutely loved. And that got me thinking, what are my favorite movie moments of all time? I began to write them down and found out that I have quite a few... so this is going to be broken into parts so as not to overwhelm you, and not to drive me crazy.

These are in no particular order, though the first one I know is one of my favorites. So sit back and enjoy

Lauren's Favorite Movie Scenes (Part 1)



Scene: "The Claw"
Movie: Toy Story, 1995
Starring: Tom Hanks & Tim Allen

I absolutely love this scene for so many reasons... but the reason I go to it first is because I've seen a LOT of movies, and this scene has still stuck with me.

I think I love it because it's a real turning point in the movie. Up to this point, the movie was basically about getting back to Andy. But, this scene turns Woody and Buzz's journey home into a life and death situation when they are won by Sid.

More so than that, I loved the aliens. They were very much like Buzz, unaware they were toys. Instead, they thought they lived in a world ruled by an all mighty claw that chose who stayed and who left. If the claw chose you, it was a great honor. There was always just something fantastical about that, and this scene has always stuck with me.



Scene: "I Can Fix That"
Movie: Star Trek 2009
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Eric Bana


I love this whole movie, but this scene in particular is my favorite. It ranges from the moment Bones gives Jim the "bovarian mud flea" vaccination, to the moment Jim runs onto the bridge. That entire course of events made me fall in love with the movie, because it was so reminiscent of the original series. In those moments, I really felt like I was watching Kirk and Bones, not so much Chris Pine as Kirk and Karl Urban as Bones.

I love it also because it's a very overlooked scene. The saving of the Enterprise is attributed to Kirk, but in reality, it was Bones' actions that saved the ship (in all fairness, credit should also go to Sulu and Chekov for the part they played).



Scene: "Ice Cold Rita"
Movie: Flushed Away 2006
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Ian McKellen

I don't remember much of this movie, but I remember this scene. The song was so ingenious!!! I find myself singing it often, and whenever I need a pick me up, I can just remember the line "Poor, poor Roddy, flushed down his own potty." Gets me smiling every time.

And it's Hugh Jackman singing! Doesn't get much better than that!



Scene: "Do you know the Jacksons?"
Movie: The Price of Milk, 2000
Starring: Danielle Cormack & Karl Urban

If I'm being biased, I'll say that Karl Urban's best role was Leonard McCoy in the most recent Star Trek movie.

If I'm being honest, I'll say it's Rob from the Price of Milk, the role that got him cast as Eomer in The Two Towers. This movie is amazing, and I'm not just saying that because Karl Urban is in it. It is in my top 5 favorite movies of all time, and I recommend everyone see it. It frustrated me in a Pride and Prejudice sort of way, but was easier to swallow, because it was manipulation that kept the two main characters apart, not unjustifiable pride.

I picked this scene because, in my opinion, Urban far outshines Cormack in this movie (though Cormack does a phenomenal job), and this is one of the only scenes in which they are equally matched. Urban plays Rob, a character that is extremely nice and never yells. So, when Lucinda (Cormack) sells his cows, he gets so angry and yells so much that his voice disappears. What follows is a series of scenes in which he tries to speak, but only utters a bunch of squeaks and whispers. When he leaves Lucinda, she tracks him down and finds him living in a friends barn, steeped in depression and refusing to take care of himself. She then begins to take care of him in secret, and he begins to think the imaginary "Jacksons" are the reason behind his good fortune. The scene is full of love, comedy, and a sweetness that I've found I absolutely adore.



Scene: Famous Last Words
Movie: Thir13en Ghosts, 2001
Starring: Tony Shalhoub, Matthew Lillard, JR Bourne

Thir13en Ghosts is one of my favorite scary movies ever, and it happens to contain one of my favorite deaths in any scary movie.

I love this death for the soul purpose that the character totally had it coming. I won't say who the character was, but he was a total jerk. After making a crude remark to a scantily clad ghost, two glass doors are shut on him and he is sliced completely in half. It was so sudden that I screamed, but I cheered very soon after. It's been a while since I've seen the movie, and I can still see that scene clear as day.



Scene: The Plants are Ringing
Movie: The Ruins, 2008
Starring: Joe Anderson, Shawn Ashmore, Jena Malone

I wasn't originally going to see this movie (my friends and I joked every time we saw the trailer "Snakes in a Cave!" or "The Runs!") but ended up watching it at a scary movie night and loved it.

It contains one of the most amazing twists... one you kind of see coming but not quite. A group of hikers get stranded on the top of a structure, because the natives won't let them leave. Desperate and trying to get help, they lower themselves into the structure, lured by the sound of a ringing cell phone. They search for the cell phone, in hopes that they can call for help, only to find that the plants have lured them down there by mimicking the sound of a cell phone that had rung previously. It chilled me to my bone marrow to see the flower petals shaking and mimicking the sound of the cell phone. Creepy as all get out.

Evil plants. Take notes, M. Night.



Scene: "You Don't Have to Prove It"
Movie: Homeward Bound, 1993
Starring: Michael J. Fox, Sally Field, Don Ameche

Homeward Bound was watched constantly when I was a child, as well as it's sequel. But this scene is my favorite, because it's full of my favorite insults. This one sticks with me, because I still say it now and then.

Bulldog Chance is trying to get food at the wedding and can't, so he asks Siamese Cat Sassy for help. Sassy tells him that he can get food by pretending he doesn't want food. Chance replies that that's stupid, to which Sassy says she'll prove it. Chance's response?

"Oh, you don't have to prove it. I believe you're stupid." I've always loved that line, and even now, it still makes me laugh.



Scene: "Rohirrim! To the King!"
Movie: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, 2002
Starring: Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortenson, Hugo Weaving, Orlando Bloom

This one should actually be ranked right after The Claw one. Helm's Deep is, in my opinion, one of the most amazing battles ever to grace the big screen. Peter Jackson did a great job capturing the hopelessness, honor, pride, and strength of the Edorians that sought refuge from the horde of Uruk-hai behind the walls of Helm's Deep. While this entire battle, from start to finish, is a favorite scene in the movie, one particular part near the end of the battle brings me to tears every time I see it.

As Helm's Deep begins to fall, Aragorn convinces King Theoden to ride out with him, to meet the Uruk-hai and defend his people while he still has breath. They do so, knowing they will most certainly die. But, as they fight their way through the horde, the White Wizard appears to the west as the sun rises. "Theoden King stands alone," he says.

"Not alone," Eomer replies as he steps out from behind the wizard. He then raises his spear and cries out, "Rohirrim!" Hundreds of riders come up behind him, and he bellows "TO THE KING!" The Rohirrim then tears down the shelf, toward unbeatable odds, to assist their king and people. When I originally read the book, I honestly did not see Gandalf and Erkanbrand coming to Theoden's aid, and when they did I cried. A bright spark of hope in a hopeless situation. In the movie, it had been changed so that Eomer was coming to the King's aid, and it was so sudden and again, unexpected, that I squealed in the theater! The mixture of Aragorn's strength (I love the words he and Theoden exchange before riding out), followed by Eomer's loyalty (When he stepped out and said "Not alone" it awoke such a great pride in me, as well as a feeling of triumph and a relief for those in the wall that I cheered loudly, despite my feelings toward Urban at that point), and mixed with Howard Shore's score brought me to tears again.



Scene: Sealed Cans
Movie: Ghost Ship, 2002
Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Julianna Margulies, Emily Browning

Steve Beck does it again with Ghost Ship. I enjoy this movie almost as much as Thir13en Ghosts, but the scene in this one that freaked me out the most was the sealed food scene.

The salvage crew takes a break and sits to eat some food... the food is sealed in cans, so they don't really think about it. However, a few bites in, they realize that the food has suddenly become infested with maggots.

That scene made my skin crawl, seeing as I have a fear of the eyeless wriggling things. I was extremely paranoid about what I ate for a long time, and I still won't eat anything within a few days of the expiration date. I'm also extremely paranoid when using flour, or any other powder, for fear the creatures are hiding in there, waiting for me to cook and eat them. *shudders* It was just one of those scenes where you know it's a movie, but you still can't help but be paranoid.



Scene: Ending
Movie: Reservoir Dogs, 1992
Starring: Tom Roth, Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, Steven Buscemi, and Quentin Tarantino

There are a number of movies that really get me in the ending... a number of them will be listed in future variations of this blog... but Reservoir Dogs is going to take the cake for this one.

This is one of my favorite Tarantino films, mainly because the ending is so epic. The entire movie, I remember asking myself, "how are they gonna get out of this? How are they gonna get out of this?" And the ending just kind of hits you, to where you can only say... "oh, that's how."

Reservoir Dogs, in it's entirety, is a masterpiece, but the ending has every thing and epic piece of cinema needs, and I'm certain that - had I not enjoyed the movie - I would still own it because of how it ends.

Hi there!!!

Maxii here, or Stephanie as I'm known on Stalkbook. (Facebook for those that aren't hip with the new lingo) You've probably seen me around commenting on most of Lauren's stuff, especially her yummy pictures. Mmm Karl Urban.

Posting is a little early today.. well not nearing 5 mins to the deadline, I guess because I work later and there are 4 pretty fires threatening to burn my city down. I think someone gave Lauren matches and she went a little nuts. Bad girl.

To tell you the truth I'm not an avid blogger. I'm a writer, so my posts (how few) over at my blog, Harmonized Insanity, consist of writing talk and fics. (What? I learnt all the plugging from Jordan!)

Today's topic is about the show Supernatural and my favorite recent obsession Angels.


Supernatural is a show on the CW about two brothers, who battle everything you're littl mythology and urban lore brain can think of. Vampires, werewolves, wendigos, Rugaroos, spirits, demons and most recently angels have been added to the mix.

I do believe Dean says it best about the appearence of angels in the show.

The angels are far from what most people imagine: comforting men (so to speak) with a harp in hand, creations of God perched on our shoulder to be at our whim when needed. Instead they are true warriors, fierce proud soldiers bent on preventing the next apocolypse, and they will do anything, sacrficing anyone to meet their goals.

The most forefront angel is Castiel:


Castiel is the angel who pulled Dean from hell, and is the one who interacts with the brothers the most. Castiel is the obedient solider, following orders to the letter, never questioning. But as he spends time with the boys he realizes that something is wrong and he begins to have doubts, to question the orders. He turns from a mindless drone into something with a concious...

The angels, who inhabit bodies beacuse their true form blinds us humans, are even willing to start a civil war among themsevles (much like the first fall) to achieve their goals. What starts as mindless beings obeying orders becomes a war among everyone as they feel, and learn what it's like to be human and they are plauged by the same tempations we are met with every day.

As the book of Revelations starts to unfold in the series, and the brothers play a part to either prevent or perhaps indirectly help push it forward, the angels are there. A glowing force no longer just behind the curtain but now center stage.

And every Thursday I'll be there, hacking the internet from the cold city of Moscow, watching for my pretty angel. Shallow, I know, but the prospect of angels, mixed with pretty boys are too much for me to resist.


Goddess Maxii, out.

P.S. Someone tell Lauren to hurry up and get back. I'm so lonely at night. I need my no-sleeping-at-night buddy back!

"It started out cheesy, which is perfect for the type of show it is. I feel bad for peeps that didn't stick with it!"

That was a friend's take on Harper's Island, and I couldn't agree more! It did start a little cheesy, but by episode 3, it's pretty amazing!!!! I'm trying to decide what kind of review to give you, and it's hard to decide. I mean, I've already told you how I feel about the show, what it's about, what the plot is, all that jazz... on the other hand, however, an episode-by-episode break down would take FAR too long to write, because it isn't the type of show you can just summarize, and I'd have to go into detail about each episode. I also can't go into each and every character because, as stated before, there are 25. That would also take too long.

So, I guess the best thing to do is give you a spoiler-filled "What I liked/didn't like" review. That way, I'll give you more of an insight to the show, without repeating too much of what I've already said. I also feel it appropriate to give the finale it's own pro/con section.

WARNING!! TREAD LIGHTLY! SPOILERS AHEAD!

SO - without further ado:

The "Cal/Chloe/Sully" relationship. It wasn't a love triangle...I feel I should say that first. When I say the "C/C/S" relationship, I merely mean that those character relationships were my favorite. Sully/Chloe not so much... Sully was clearly only focused on scoring with Chloe, but what I liked about that aspect of the relationship was how faithful Chloe was. Her character always struck me as kind of a sleaze, and that was mostly because she was a blonde bombshell. I think that's what the writers were trying to get with that... stereotypes. I decided I didn't like Chloe from episode one because I thought she'd be the typical blonde... and I absolutely thought she'd get with Sully, because he was so hot. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that Chloe not only stayed faithful to Cal, but had no interest in Sully what so ever. It became clear that what Chloe and Cal had was love.

The Cal/Chloe relationship is COMPLETELY about love. Geeky british guy with a beautiful american blonde... it's incredibally unlikely and at the same time, an awesome underdog story. But I wasn't as impressed with the fact that they WERE together, as I was with the fact that they stayed together, and the numerous displays of absolute twitterpation with each other. The relationship was just refreshing... I couldn't point out exactly what I liked about it, but I really liked it.

The Sully/Cal aspect was my favorite... their friendship was absolutely unlikely but portrayed amazing development in each of their characters, especially Sully. Sully is the typical good looking bully type character. He thought he could snatch Chloe away from Cal simply because Cal was a geek, and Sully was a looker... but as the show rounds out, Sully begins to respect Cal. He sees what Cal and Chloe have and realizes that he wants a relationship like it. One of my favorite scenes in the whole series was when Sully tells Cal to take care of Chloe. It was very touching, showing that not only does Sully respect Cal and their relationship, but he actually has feelings for Chloe that are more than just a booty call.


The Parrallel Mystery: Harper's Island centers around 2 story lines, the first being the murders happening on the island, and the second being the John Wakefield murders from the past, and how Abby dealt/is dealing with them.

HI is not the first show to deal with more than one story line, but I felt it was the first I've seen in a long time to handle BOTH story lines well. And, on top of that, both story lines were mysteries. I constantly found myself trying to figure out not only who the present murderer was, but wanting to know more about the Wakefield murders of the past, and if Abby's dad really killed Wakefield.

Neither of the storylines/mysteries gained presidence over the other, either... When Wakefield is revealed as the murderer, you think both mysteries would be solved... but HI does a great job of keeping the mystery alive. Does Wakefield have an accomplice? Did he have a child? Is it Abby? How did Wakefield stay alive? Why did he murder the woman he loved? The entire show keeps you guessing on BOTH storylines, right up until the very last scene.


The Wakefield Twists: The "Wakefield is still alive" twist was a tad predictable, but not much. The entire show, you are being thrown on different paths, like a bloodhound with a broken nose. You find something plausible, but then, OH WAIT! This is plausible, too! You think you know who the killer is, and then, in a glorious and epic - and I mean EPIC - reveal, you find out that the murder is, in fact, ONCE AGAIN, John Wakefield! I had my hunches, but the show did SUCH a great job of throwing me off, that when it revealed him, I didn't see it coming. I was completely blown away and caught off guard. It truly was amazing.

Furthermore, the "Wakefield has a kid" twist was VERY well executed. At first, you think it's there to put doubt on Abby's character, then as a motive for her father to be the killer. Right before the amazing Wakefield is the killer reveal, you're lead to believe the whole thing was a lie, that Wakefield didn't have a child, that it was merely the ramblings of a crazy man in jail... only to find out he DOES have a child, that Wakefield found him, he's a son, and is probably Wakefield's accomplice in the present day murders. WHOA... take a minute, take a breath, and digest that plate of crazy. Then you spend your time obsessing over who it could possibly be. The show wants you to believe it's Jimmy, but by this point, you've stopped trusting the show. My money was on Sully, I thought it was him for so long... but holy crap, it's none other than Henry Dunn. HENRY FREAKING DUNN! He's Wakefield's son!!! WHAT? Wow. Chew on that. Now, I didn't trust Henry ever since J.D. was killed, but still... it was so well executed, I was shocked and blown away. The Wakefield twists are some of the best twists I've ever seen in anything, and they were expertly executed.

Henry Wakefield-Dunn: Loved him. I could go ON AND ON about why I love Henry Dunn, but this note would be much longer than I want it to be, so... I'll stick with a few things. Henry Dunn was my favorite character. I loved that he was a small deck hand who came from nothing... I loved that he got the girl. I loved that he was strong and stood up against Trish's father. I loved that he was so in love with Harper's Island, and I loved the relationships he had with all his friends. And he was just CUTE. Cute and charming. He was sooo sweet, and had a great smile, and was simply... perfect. Even when he was a bad guy, I loved him. His character fit everything very well. There wasn't a single characteristic that seemed out of place or out of character. He was the all American Boy, and gosh darnit, people liked him. But he wasn't annoyingly so... Part of that was probably Chris Gorham's doing... he's a great actor, and gave Henry lovable subtleties, and didn't overact any aspect. His freak outs weren't overly acted, his sadness not obnoxiously so. The character was in Gorham's capable hands, and he proved himself a fine actor with it.




It was only signed on for one season (AKA Everyone dies). Part of the draw of Harper's Island, at least for me, was that it was only signed on for one season. That's cool and all, but after watching it, after being pulled in... after falling in love with the characters, I wish there were more seasons in store. I wish that others could return to the island, that there could be more mysteries. I understand why it wouldn't work, the plot would get old, it would fizzle out... HI is better off if it stops while it's ahead... but it's heartbreaking that everyone had to die, and it's bittersweet knowing something so awesome is over so fast.


Untapped Potential. HI had so many subplots that, had the season been longer, could have been explored, and made amazing. They probably wouldn't have added anything to the story, but it would have been nice to seen certain things explored, like Roger's affair, or Malcolm's corrupt...ness... or even Mr. Wellington hiring Hunter. All of those would have been fun to explore.


Useless Characters. There weren't a lot, but characters like Shae and Madison tended to get under my skin. Shae's only purpose seemed to be sitting in a chair, crying, and Madison's seemed to be getting into trouble. Characters like that bother me, and I felt they pulled from the story. Especially Madison. She's an idiot. Not to mention, she was very stereotypically creepy.





The Pace. I loved how the pacing was in the finale. Very fast, but not too fast. Full of suspense.

The "Out of nowhere" twists. There were a lot of twists in the finale. Not so many that they were ridiculous, but a lot to keep you interested. Enough to keep you on your toes. And each and every one was very well executed.

The video at the very end. I thought this was an amazing and beautiful touch. The ending leaves you VERY empty inside and, while it doesn't make the depressed empty feeling go away, the home video at the end does provide a sort of closure. And it's simply beautiful. Seeing everyone talking to the camera as they were before everything went to pot, seeing characters that were long since dead one last time, hearing voices you thought you would no longer hear... and just the innocence of the video... the feeling that they had no idea what was awaiting them, even Henry... it made me cry. I was fine through most of the finale, but that last little video made me cry. It was what the episode needed. I was wondering how they were going to leave us hanging, how they were going to end it, and it was absolutely perfect. It gave the feeling that this was over. This is where we started, and this is where we are. What a week we've had. It was, as I've said before, simply beautiful.




Henry's Insanity. I loved the "Henry is Wakefield's child" twist. I thought it was very well crafted... however, I didn't like that they took Henry completely over the cliff. I didn't like the "I'm in love with you Abby, even though you're my half sister" thing, and I didn't like the crazy. I think the story would have been perfectly fine if they had let it be... it would have worked out perfectly if Henry had been found by Wakefield, discovered he was his father... Wakefield then told him that Abby's mother was his mother, that she had given him up for adoption. Henry, in response, gets angry... feels abandoned. What kind of woman would give up her own child??? Not to mention, he had grown up with her, and she never said a thing. Understandable. That would supply him with the motive to kill. He could have then, in turn, decided to keep Abby alive still, and turn on Wakefield. After all, Abby was still his best friend. They had grown up together, she was like a sister to him. She couldn't have possibly been held at fault for what their mother did, she hadn't been born. He still could have wanted to live with her, as her family... all doable without making him crazy.

BUT - in defense of the finale, that was the ONLY thing I didn't like about it.



I loved this show... I can't wait till it comes out on DVD!!! I encourage EVERYONE to see it, no matter WHAT. :)

I have a fairly interesting DVD collection... it's not huge, but it's got some GREAT selections in it... ranging from summer blockbuster smashes to movies people have never even heard of. Movies I'D never even heard of, until I purchased them.

Blockbuster is to blame for this... I have this little problem where I'll buy anything under 4 dollars, even if I haven't the slightest idea what it is, and Blockbuster CONSTANTLY has used DVDs for sale under 4 dollars. (Or they pull this 4 dvds for 20 bucks crap...) So, I frequently build my dvd collection with used dvds. Movies I've heard of, and movies that just capture my fancy.

Movies that just capture my fancy... that one phrase is responsible for my owning movies such as Black Sheep, The Irrefutable Truth About Demons, Bottle Shock, and See This Movie.

That's right, it's actually the title of a movie. My blog title was not meant to tell you to go see a movie that I absolutely adored, it is merely the title of the movie I bought at Blockbuster yesterday. Why? Well... there are 4 reasons.

1. It was under 4 dollars. Like I said, it's a sickness.
2. It was called "See This Movie". I'm serious... when I saw the title of the movie, I was like... okay. If you say so, sure, I'll see this movie. Come on, it was under 4 dollars, so it wasn't like it was going to cost me a lot to comply!
3. It has Seth Meyers and John Cho. I've only ever seen John Cho in Harold & Kumar and Star Trek, so I thought it would be nice to see him in a different role. To see how good of an actor he really is... and I totally have a crush on Seth Meyers... he's a big reason why I watch Weekend Update so much... he's a cutie patootie! He's like a mix between Frankie Munez and Tom Cruise... before Tom Cruise went crazy... Top Gun Tom... lol.
4. It was a festival film. It won awards at the Malibu Film Festival and the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival... which means it's a festival film... and I LOVE festival films. I feel they're done MUCH better than huge blockbusters, probably because they don't have as big a budget, so they can't rely on special effects and have to rely on that little forgotten thing called plot, and his best friend character development.

Needless to say, I bought the movie, my plans fell through, and I ended up watching it... and I really liked it!!!!

The Plot:

"See This Movie" is a mockumentary about... film making. Jake Barrymore (Seth Meyers) sees himself as an amazing movie maker... a fact supported when he graduates at the top of his class from a three day film school with best friend Larry Finkelstein (John Cho). While celebrating their graduation, Larry spots Jake's ex girlfriend in a magazine, discovering that she's a programmer for the Montreal Film Festival. Thinking this could be his big break, Jake pulls some strings with his ex, scoring a spot in the program for his revolutionary, ground breaking, controversial film. The only problem? He hasn't made it yet. Jake and Larry now have 3 weeks to make a film that will live up to the hype, or risk going down in history as the worst filmmaker/producer pair ever.

The Characters:

Jake Barrymore - Director/Lead (Seth Meyers):

Jake is, for lack of a better word, an idiot. He knows absolutely nothing about filmmaking, but operates under the pretense that he does after his short film "which way hollywood" was chosen as the "Student Film of the Class" in his 3 day film school. He is arrogant, naive, stupid, and self centered... his only drive for making his film seem to be making himself look cool, and becoming famous.

There is no depth the Jake... that's not to say his character isn't well written. On the contrary, he's VERY well written... but a guy like Jake has no depth to him at all. Even during his character's huge turn around, he's still a jerk. Meyers does a WONDERFUL job pulling him off, taking a perfectly unlikeable character and making him slightly likeable at the lowest possible level. You don't fall in love with Jake Barrymore, but it's impossible to hate him. Especially when his idea just *might* work.

Larry Finkelstein - Producer (John Cho):

Larry first comes off as the stereo typical best friend. Then he appears to be as big an idiot as Jake. Further into the movie, he comes off as the stereo typical shy guy, the one everyone pushes around. Still later, he seems like a person that just knows not to argue with idiots and, seeing as that's all he's surrounded with, he just keeps quiet. However, as the movie ends, you realize, Larry is just a REALLY good producer. He says what needs to be said, does what needs to be done, and keeps his mouth shut when he deems it necessary. He lets Jake push him around because his reputation as a producer relies on this film being a hit, and pissing off the director won't get that done. He is Jake's polar opposite - Larry's character has so much depth to him, you don't even get all of your questions about him answered.

I've never seen Cho in a more adorable role. To be honest, I don't care much for Harold & Kumar, and while I love him in Star Trek, Sulu is more of a serious character. However, Cho's portrayal of Larry is absolutely ADORABLE. He is the exact opposite of Jake - you love Larry, you want to hug him half the time, defend him the other half. He's just a likeable guy, and many of Cho's mannerisms add to that. 1 of the reasons I'm glad I saw this was to see cho in a different role, to see him in something other than Star Trek and respect him as an actor, and Larry did that for me.

Martin Hughes - Editor/Lighting (Jim Piddock):

Martin is an interesting goose. His character is likeable, than unlikeable. You hate him, you feel sorry for him, you hate him again, you cheer for him, and then you're just weirded out... right before cheering for him again.

Martin is a bit of a mentor for Jake, even though there's no real reason FOR him to be a mentor. Like Jake, he's looking to make it... he's not exactly THRILLED that he's been teaching a 3 day film school for a large portion of his life. After a bit of convincing, Marting agrees to accompany Larry and Jake on their trip to Montreal, even though the idea of advertiseing a film that hasn't been made is nothing short of madness in his eyes.

Annie Nicole - Programmer/ex-girlfriend (Jessalyn Gilsig):

Annie's reputation - and career - weighs heavily on Jake's film being good... a fact that she isn't too excited about when she finds out Jake lied to her to get his spot in the festival. She spends most of the movie frantically trying to track down Jake's non existant film to view before it is premiered in front of her bosses and collegues. Little does she know she's on a hunt that won't yeild any spoils is Jake doesn't get his arse in gear...

What I Liked:

Almost everything. The film was very well paced, had a perfect balance of everything absurd, and was executed famously. Even the humor was fairly clean, though the language was a bit strong. The plot was somewhat predictable, but also had a number of twists that you didn't see coming... as well as a few that you kind of saw coming, then didn't see coming, then kicked yourself for not catching. The ending is slightly predictable, yet not quite, and ultimately satisfying. It rounded out to an extremely likeable film.

What I DIDN'T Like:

There wasn't a lot I didn't like... and nothing to glaringly comes to mind... for the most part, I was a little peaved by a few questions that were left unanswered. For instance, they never explain why Jake has a camera crew following him around wherever he goes... they never explain exactly when he's filming and when he's not... and why no one else is ever weirded out by the fact that Jake has camera people following him, even though they acknowledge the cameras all the time.

I also didn't like the Sam the Drug Dealer thing... that didn't really strike me as well written or necessary, and it kind of took away from the movie.

Finally, there's one question at the end about Larry that you don't really get answered, and I wish we would... other than that, it was a very good movie.

So - I guess the bottom line is, See This Movie!