The Walking Dead: Season One (Video Game - 2012)

Developer: Telltale Games

Writers (according to wiki): Sean Vanaman, Mark Darin, Gary Whitta

Whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Beware! Once you start, it's hard to put the controller down!

This is kind of like Mad Libs TV (if you remember the Mad Libs word game) and I love it! I do wish that the programmers got hard core and created ten times as many scenarios and outcomes. There is one PS3 in the house and my roommates and I often watched each other play so we could see what happens when different decisions are made. Sometimes different decisions would have pretty different results, but more often than not - the same thing would happen.

For example, early on in the game there is a woman in your group that shoots someone else in your group and it's up to you at that point whether or not to leave her behind. Whether or not you choose to leave her behind right then and there doesn't matter for long because ten minutes later in the game she leaves on her own. Sure the group has different opinions about you depending on the circumstances, but I thought it could be even better if that woman stayed even longer. The same is usually true for when a character dies also. Sometimes you can choose to kill a character, but whether you do or don't - that person is still going to die real soon.

I know all these decisions change how the people in your group feel about you, but it never gets to the point where the story changes. I wish the story could change! When you start Season One, it will end in the same way for you that it does for everyone else. I thought it would be way more cool if there were 7 to 10 different routes the game could go.

Now, I know the end of Season One matters because of the way Season Two begins, but I think among those different stories/paths you chose to follow, I think they could all still end in such a way that Season Two could pick up where it needs to.

I could see the counter argument being - if you chose a different path, then you wouldn't have experienced the full-circle and cinematic ending (spoiler alert - because that's what happens) but I like options yedig. I wanted to play a zombie game where I could actually do what I would want to do in those circumstances. For example, I would have liked to try and re-fortify a place to survive, similar to how Rick and the gang stay in the Jail in the real Walking Dead.

Anyways - I didn't get to play season two yet, but I do know that (SPOILER ALERT) you play as Clementine, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. I'm sure it will still be pretty damn awesome, but one of my favorite parts about the game is that you are responsible for this little girl the whole time. For me, that raised the stakes a lot.I'm sure I will eventually get to season two, until then:

PLAY THE WALKING DEAD SEASON ONE!

Dororo (2007)

Directed by Akihiko Shiota

I saw this a while ago on netflix and I forgot to make a note of it. Therefore - I don't have a detailed memory of it, but I remember liking it for all the wrong reasons (whatever that means).Anyways - the dude has fucking swords for limbs - if that's not enough of a reason to watch a movie, then perhaps you're taking movie-watching-advice from the wrong person.

I like the concept a lot, but the demons were usually corny and made me laugh because the special effects were pretty terrible. The two main characters and their relationship with each other was pretty priceless too. The woman and her high energy was hilarious, and she had a small drum that she would use to add to her enthusiasm (you see it in the trailer).

I did find one thing on youtube tho that I thought was pretty cool. I found this youtube video that is a cartoon of Dororo. It's black and white and it's twenty-six 30 minute episodes. I found it because I forgot what the title of this film was, so I searched 'samurai who must fight 48 demons to get his body parts back' - Dororo came up right away and I found out that it was a Japanese Manga series before it was a movie, and I found the black and white youtube videos. The first video I found was only the first 7 minutes of Episode one, and then I found the full version of episode two, and that's what I'd start you on:

It's kind of slow, but what do you expect from a 1969 black and white Japanese cartoon where a guy  has swords for limbs, and must battle 48 demons?

I plan on eventually watching all 26 episodes, but in the meantime - stop being an amateur and check out the feature on Netflix!

Death Note OR Desu nôto (2006-2007)

Directed by Tetsuro Araki (and five others, but he directed 34 out of 37 episodes)
Written by Takeshi Obata and Tsugumi Ohba (and two others, but these guys wrote 37 episodes)

I cheated on this show a bit. I missed episodes 7 to 14 ish and 22 to 28 ish I think.. I had to get some shit done and my roommates were watching it, so I was still half in. I missed (Spoiler Alert) when L was revealed, and I missed when Light gave up the book the first time, came back right around when he got it back and stuck thru to the end.

The show is awesome! I love the concept, and the struggle between the idea of what is right and what is wrong throughout the entirety of the show - it's brilliant.

The question is - who would you kill if all you had to do was write their name in a book?

:)

Check out the show - There are a million Japanese Animated shows on Netflix and you never know which one to watch - watch Death Note and think about how to fix the world without killing everyone in it. If you figure out how to do that - run for president (I'll vote for you) and wear a bullet proof wig every damn day.

Working in West Texas

I've got excuses for days it seems - here's the newest one - I was in West Texas working on a feature.

It was hot, there were a GANG of flies, and IT WAS FUCKING AWESOME!!

I grew a love for West Texas and I plan to go back fo sho!

There was a mini ramp on set, and one day during a lunch break I skated it - someone got a photo of me, and the next day it was on the back of the call sheet:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)

Directed by Jonathan Liebesman

Saw it in Theater. I don't want to talk about it.

Don't get me wrong - check it out - it's just not the Ninja Turtles that I remember, and I'm wondering if that means I'm getting old or if it means the characters were not developed well enough .. ? I wonder if the other people who say there was no character development thought to themselves .. or maybe I'm just an old fuck?

Or am I biased because the director is South African? 

Anyways - The set piece where the semi truck slides down the snowy hill - FUCKING AWESOME

whatever bye.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Directed by James Gunn

SAW IT 3D IN THEATER DUH  !

FUCKING DUH !

THIS WAS THE BEST MARVEL MOVIE I'VE SEEN SO FAR !

I SAW IT TWICE !

FUCKING HALDUKKEN MAFAKAAA !!!

Lucy (2014)

Directed by Luc Besson

Saw it in theaters - pretty awesome!

The story/plot wasn't mind blowing, but I did leave the theater thinking mad hard about life. That is the best reason to see a movie if you ask me. People were complaining about plot holes, weak action, how we actually DO use %100 of our brain, and blah blah blah ... whatever. I like to think about space and time and weird shit, and I also like to think that there is always room for humans to be smarter and stronger - so this was right up my alley.

Check it out, hopefully it will make you think.

Marfa Girl (2013)

Directed by Larry Clark

Saw this over in west Texas in a bar called the Lizard Lounge that was in a Ramada Inn (pretty awesome setting).

It was pretty cool. The only other movie I've seen of Mr. Clark was Kids, and that was a long time ago. This movie was waaaay different. Marfa Girl was like a 'slice of life' ... although, thinking about it now, I guess Kids was kind of like that too. Anyways, it's a Larry Clark movie so I'm sure you will have an idea of what you're info when you sit down to watch Marfa Girl..

WHICH YOU SHOULD BECAUSE IT WAS GOOD

and for those of you who care - the end is not nearly as depressing as the end of Kids.

Watch it - if you can. (I heard it's hard to find)

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Directed by Bryan Singer

Sickest part of the movie was Quicksilver FO SHO

Finally saw one in 3D and it could've been way better - where's the sparks and smoke and stuff guys? that's easy stuff

Maybe second best scene - Magneto lifting the baseball stadium !!!!

Wish Wolverine was a little more badass, but that's my only complaint I think

check it out only if you've already seen Captain America 2 !

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

Directed by Marc Webb

Saw it in theaters - duh , failed on the 3d thing again -_- wish i could've warned you to SEE IT 3D

Fuck all the haters - I was pumped on this shit! I heard a lot about how the dialogue was cheesy, but I was kind of expecting that going into I think. Also heard that peeps didn't see enough of Rinoman or whatever, but c'mon guys - that dude is weak, why do you wanna see more?

I don't know if Jamie Foxx was the best for the role, but I liked the musical element to his character A LOT

And for the record - the dark ending made up for everything for me !

iTunes it or something you bastard

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo

Psh - in your face for not seeing it in Theaters - in my face for not seeing it 3D

Haldukken - get it on iTunes right now if you haven't seen it - cancel your damn plans and let badassness engulf your puny life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saw it a while ago - I'm playing catch up right now so I don't have anything detailed except for watch it.

The winter soldier is a great villain and the computer man villain - love it !!!!!!!

Commercial Homework

Ran into this commercial listening to music on Youtube and I didn't want to click 'skip ad':

Here's an 18 second cut-down:

One point to advertising today - touché you .. I can't type anything mean with clifford looking at me..

Unsettled in Los Angeles

It's been four months since I've been posting - MY BAD

I could list some excuses, but really I'm just failing at time management. I'm sure you are failing at time management right now by reading my non-sense, so I hope you can understand and forgive me!

Soar Into the Sun (2012)

Directed by Dong-won Kim

ORIGINALLY CALLED: Al-too-bi: Riteon Too Beisue (R2B - Return to Base)

I posted it with the title 'Soar into the Sun' because I think that's how you'll find it on Netflix. Unfortunately for this movie, the confusing title situation is why you've never heard of it probably. That, and it seems they removed it from Netflix, I just checked.. damn..

I watched this movie a while ago and it was pretty awesome. The action is pretty cool and when that's not happening, the scenes are pretty damn funny. Granted - it's probably more funny if you don't understand Korean.. but I'm pretty sure my two fans don't speak Korean (so I'm talking to you two)

The dramatic stuff isn't so great, but that's where humor will carry you.

I wish I had more to say, but I watched this movie many moons ago :(

I'm calling this the Korean Top Gun - Check it out !

Last Meal

Kind of creepy/interesting/sad:

Last Meal

Winter's Bone - 2010

Directed by Debra Granik

This movie was eh.. There is a lot of great acting and imagery.. not enough gangster ass shit for me I guess.. The thing is, I don't have a lot to say about it.

It's a good movie, it's well done and has an interesting enough story - you should watch it probably.. Unless you have hardcore ADD or ADHD, then you might have some trouble with this one.

Note to self - MONEY for character/lifestyle research

Skyfall - 2012

Directed by Sam Mendes

He directed 'American Beauty' , 'Road to Perdition' , 'Jarhead'  ... niccccccceeeeeeee....

Skyfall was alright.. Daniel Craig was for sure a bad ass mother fucker and kicked a shit load of ass - that was pretty awesome.. My friend later argued that the movie might be about the fact that he (007) is indeed a 'human' and not a 'robot' and that was also a major theme in the film. That was the most optimistic opinion I heard in defense to my initial reaction of 'are you fucking kidding me?' to just about everything that happened in the movie.

by that - I'll start with the beginning (which the title sequence was FUCKING SICK by the way) when Bond is shot and falls off the train into the water ... he survives - I can let that slide because I did that to my character in 'Static' to make him seem super-human - but I was mad at the woman that shot him.. you are a fucking top agent for England's top security corp. and you can't hit a target????????????????????????????????????????

Ok - they were fighting, on a moving train, that's hard - I get it.. then 10 minutes down the line, MI6 gets fucking bombed AND hacked ??????????????????????????????????????????

Insert argument - but choonoo, they are human, they make mistakes...

THEY ARE FUCKING MI6 !!!!!!

Sorry but if I was the Queen of England and you guys were making that many consecutive mistakes, I would have fired the whole team. M and Bond and the whole fucking team would have to be working out of M's garage because I would have pulled a Donald Trump and fired all their asses. Within the context of the film - you could argue I'm wrong because the old team did get the bad guy (duh) but I might have to argue - Javier Bardem's plan would've never fucking worked if I was the Queen of England because he wouldn't have the old team there doing what he planned them to do because they'd be gone because i'd have fucking fired them! win.

By the way - Javier Bardem was the best character in the movie. I know people are saying that he was a stupid villain because he couldn't have predicted this and that and blah blah blah.. whatever - Javier was a fucking awesome bad guy in this movie.

I would say - you should watch this - but I wouldn't haldukken you through a window for NOT seeing it... The way I might if you STILL haven't seen Breaking Bad.

The Counselor - 2013

Directed by Ridley Scott

Paid money to see a Ridley Scott movie in Theater, AFTER seeing a trailer that looked SICK.

TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY

Damn - I guess if you never dealt with death and want to go to a dark place of hate and confusion, then go watch this movie.

The only two good things about the movie - Javier Bardem and his whole character, and the scene where Cameron Diaz humps his car ... that shit was priceless.

I don't even want to write anything else about the movie because I hate it - maybe if you are not expecting to see an epic film (as I was, since it's Ridley Scott) you might enjoy it more... but if you have to lower your expectations for a movie to enjoy it - should you really be watching it?

Gravity - 2013

Directed by Alfonso Cuarón

Almost forgot about this movie - probably because I didn't have much to say other than DUH

If you did NOT see this IMAX 3D when you had the chance - YOU MISSED OUT.

I argued about this with someone around Halloween because he doesn't like 3D movies period. I understand that, but I just want to say that if you're in the 'biz' and you aren't watching 3D movies - then you are one step behind my people. He was an actor, and that is no excuse because 3D movies are going to effect how actors do their jobs too.

Either way - Alfonso ! This guy directed 'Y Tu Mama Tambien' (Haven't seen it - I know, shame on me) AND he directed 'Children of Men' (FUCK YEA)

GRAVITY WAS FUCKING AWESOME - Off the top of my head, it is now the Third best 3D movie I've seen I think, up there with 'The Amazing Spiderman' and 'Avatar' ... I know 'Star Trek 2' had a sick 3D opening sequence (when Spock is in the Volcano) but the rest of the movie was ehh.. when it came to the 3D - Gravity was 3D FUCKING AMAZING right up to the end.

Definitely my favorite shot in the film is when Sandra Bullock floats away from the space station and she is spinning head over heel and watching the earth and sun - we see her POV - and it was cool because I was recently studying the 'zoetrope effect' and researching other optical illusions, and this shot was a great optical illusion. Before you freak out - I know it was not 'technically' an illusion within the context of the film, because she actually IS flipping head over heel - but she calms down and if you are watching, you can focus and make it look like you (she) is standing still, and everything else is just moving around you - I think that is the realization she had that helped her relax (it's what helped me relax for god sakes) And I think that's why it was my favorite shot, because it really impacted me emotionally (gave me a damn anxiety attack almost) and that is what we go to the movies for right?

If you don't happen to see it IMAX 3D, try to see it anyways because it's space and space is fucking awesome!

Sharknado - 2013

Directed by Anthony C. Ferrante

Damn are you serious? I have seen bad movies, and a lot of times they are fucking awesome because you just laugh your face off watching it the whole time - there is a point in this movie when it achieves a level of retardation that is not funny, it's insulting. One specific example of when I was just straight offended was by the end of the movie when the editor would cut to these stock footage shots of sharks swimming around in the water... WE SAW THAT SAME FUCKING STOCK SHOT SO MANY FUCKING TIMES - CAN YOU SERIOUSLY NOT AFFORD AT LEAST 20 MORE DIFFERENT STOCK FOOTAGE SHOTS PLEASE !!!!!!!!

I do enjoy watching terrible movies as homework sometimes to see a good example of what NOT to do when making a movie, but this one in particular was just disgusting.

It is interesting for myself to note on a marketing level - this movie got hype because it was so terrible in the first place.

I won't lie - at first I was able to get past the lame acting, stock footage, and the audacity that tornados formed from water had sharks in them - I liked that idea actually because it's definitely something different in these times of remakes.. I imagine they might have come up with this idea the way that South Park said Family Guy came up with their jokes:

Either way - if I saw this in theaters I would have been furious, and if you want to watch it on Netflix, because you heard it's dumb and you want to watch something dumb and laugh - be warned, this level of dumb might exceed your expectations..