Archive for the ‘PRAISES AND REVIEWS’ Category

Batman: Death of the Family

Posted: February 17, 2013 in PRAISES AND REVIEWS
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Promotional image, from Wikipedia

If you’re not a comic book fan, shut up and listen anyway. I’m not a frequenter of the genre, but my love of all things Batman and Joker made the “Death of the Family” story arc unmissable. I promise not to include too many spoilers in case you decide to pick up / download anything.

So here’s how this one worked: the main story happened in the Batman comics (#13-17) and the supporting story (tie-in) happened in Catwoman and Suicide Squad (Harley Quinn, Joker’s on/off-again girlfriend, is a member), as well as Batman and Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Teen Titans, Red Hood and the Outlaws, and Detective Comics (featuring members of the Bat-family). You could theoretically read only the Batman issues and get the full story, but the tie-ins bring the whole thing home, and I recommend reading most of them. I say most because some of the issues were lacking and even seemed irrelevant to the overall event, but the character revelations are generally worth reading (notably Catwoman).

Now here’s the basic story (minor spoilers): the Joker returns to Gotham City after a year-long absence and targets Batman and his allies. Previously, Joker had cut off his face (what the hey-dilly, right?), and now he comes back to claim the skin that was his face, which he wears over what can only be some nasty scar tissue. He then goes after everyone Batman holds dear, claiming that Batman has become too reliant on his allies, and that his “family” is holding Batman back from being the brilliant caped crusader of old. What’s even worse is that Joker claims to know who everyone is underneath their mask, which means that no one is safe, not even Alfred.

This event broke my heart on numerous occasions. First of all, after reading a few issues, it was clear that this was not the same Joker that I had fallen in love with. Granted, I’d grown accustomed to the Mark Hamill Joker, but compared to that and previous incarnations, this Joker was meaner, crazier, and much less likable. Pain in my chest cavity. I went from highly anticipating seeing the Clown Prince of Crime to hoping I could get a break from the maniac (while also wanting more).

Overall, things just go from bad to worse to bloody hell, and you never get a break. It’s very draining, but you can’t stop reading. I thought I could buy a few issues every now and then, and I ended up buying them all almost at once. Guess I won’t be eating for a while (worth it). By the end of it all, I had so many mixed feelings, heartbreak and all, that I was left breathless and unsure of myself emotionally and physically.

Character development and revelations: Yes, yes, and amazing, but first, let me say that Nightwing got shafted. I wanted more Dick Greyson (the original Robin) and less Teen Titans (featuring Red Robin, the third Robin). Also, thanks to the 2011 reboot of the DC franchise, Barbara Gordon (aka Batgirl), former paraplegic at the hands of the Joker, can kick crime’s saggy butt again as Batgirl, and the reappearance of the Joker her chance at revenge.

(By the way, in case you didn’t know, there are four Robins: Dick Greyson was the original, who is now Nightwing. Jason Todd replaced Greyson, but now he’s Red Hood. Todd was replaced by Tim Drake, who is now Red Robin of the Teen Titans. Finally, there’s Damian Wayne, Batman’s son and current sidekick.)

Everyone has some marvelous things that happen to them, that force them to confront who they are and what they believe, and the things that come out of their perils are so satisfying that I’m willing to overlook the sometimes long segments of comic that I have zero love for.

The dialogue was sometimes kind of terrible, and the artwork in some issues was definitely inferior to others, but whoo doggy, was it all spectacular at times. Specifically, I wanted to see Joker’s former face deteriorate as the story unfolded, and the artists delivered to my satisfaction. It was grotesque and sublime.

I’d love to talk in more depth about the happenings towards the end of the event, especially in Batman #17, but I will refrain (just in case). However, it is absolutely worth reading this story arc, tie-ins and all. Find a comic book store near you or download the DC Comics app and buy, buy, buy! At the very least, google search the promotional images for this event because they are incredible.

 

Glenn Close: magician of the mind

Posted: February 3, 2013 in PRAISES AND REVIEWS
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In Disney's 1996 live-action remake of the ani...

In Disney’s 1996 live-action remake of the animated film, 101 Dalmatians, and its 2000 sequel, 102 Dalmatians, Cruella was played by Glenn Close. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I don’t know what it is about Glenn Close, but she is probably the most brilliant actor I’ve ever seen (and my family knows how absurdly picky I am). I fell in absolute love with her after watching “Dangerous Liasons” and seeing the close-up moment where she gives the slightest smirk regrading her plans with John Malkovich’s character. She said nothing, but you knew EVERYTHING. It was sheer orgasm of the mind. In “Damages”, she was amazing in season 1 (everything after that was a bit downhill for her character, though they tried in the final season, they really did). And “Albert Nobbs”, anyone? Yes, yes, yEs, YeS, YES! I’m watching her now in “101 Dalmations” and I can’t stop loving her.

The Marquise de Merteuil (Glenn Close) and the...

I don’t know if other people can do this, but I like to think my actor training allows me to see past a performance into what the actor is doing (the actor’s “acting”). Normally when I see this, it upsets me and completely destroys the moment and most of the movie (a good story forgives a lot of errors, writers, but don’t get penis-y because poor execution can obliterate a good story), but there’s something about Glenn Close’s process that keeps me involved. So involved, in fact, that as I’m trying to play Arkham City, I get sucked into this movie whenever she appears. That’s right, my love for Batman is distracted by my love for Glenn Close. Hold the mother-appreciating phone.

AlbertNobbs-FrontMeryl Streep (the over-valued queen of acting) has nothing on Glenn Close. When I watch Meryl, I see a lack of effort, but when I watch Glenn, I see process. I want to see process. If I want lack of effort, I watch Angelina Jolie (who I also LOVE). She doesn’t need to try because she’ll be in my heart forever. Glenn Close doesn’t need to try either, but I love her because she puts her all in there no matter what. NO MATTER WHAT.

English: Glenn Close at the Cannes film festiv...

Glenn Close, everybody. You’re welcome.

Arkham City: Batman’s Jamz

Posted: January 16, 2013 in PRAISES AND REVIEWS
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Batman : Arkham Asylum

Batman : Arkham Asylum (Photo credit: psygeist)

The year was 2009, and the video game world was being rocked by a game called Batman: Arkham Asylum. For the general public, this was a departure from the reality of the Christopher Nolan reboot and even further from the absurdity of the Joel Schumacher films. It was a Batman they’d never seen before. He resembled the Batman from the animated series, and much of the character design seemed based on or at the very least influenced by the show. This, however,  was a gritty, dark, horror-filled world that Batman lived in, and worse, he was placed at the mercy of his greatest foes when he was trapped in Arkham Asylum overnight. Anything could happen, and anyone could pop out at you. Batman: the Horror Movie. Holy awesome game, Nightwing.

Batman Arkham City

Batman Arkham City (Photo credit: bhautikjoshi)

Fast forward to 2011, to the release of Asylum’s sequel: Arkham City. This game’s environment was more than twice the size of its predecessor’s, and to match the playing field, the story was bigger, the number of villains included was ridonculous, the gadgets and abilities were just what you’d hope and wished for, and the soundtrack was amazing. Never before has a game brought me to near tears, and never have I encountered a game with this much replay value. A number of downloadable content packs were released, including a small expansion called “Harley’s Revenge” in which you get the opportunity to play through the expansion story as Robin (let me also add that never has Robin been so awesome, and that this is also exactly what I wanted after playing Arkham City the first time.)

Over the past decade, the gaming studios have paid increasing attention to a vital part of any game: the soundtrack. The soundtrack may not have the ultimate power to make or break a game, but it can definitely bring a gamer to the brink of playing something else. At the same time, it’s hard to imagine some games without thinking of their soundtracks (Zelda, for example). The main theme of Zelda was simple and extremely catchy. It was also repeated…a lot. Most games used to be underscored from beginning to end…with generally forgettable “music.” But thanks (I venture to guess) to Hollywood’s ever-growing influence, the trend of creating games that looked and felt like movies exploded. Synthesized tunage was no longer acceptable (kiss success goodbye if you try to put that crap in one of today’s game. Maybe if it’s a highly conceptual game, but that’s a major risk). Gamers of today need more from our game soundtracks, and Arkham City delivers.

Check out the game’s epic main theme:

You don’t get that quality from many games!

The entire soundtrack has become an obsession of mine, a lasting one at that. It’s been over a year since I started playing this game and I’m still playing it 3-5 times a week and I listen to the soundtrack multiple times daily. An obsession worth having. Like Star Wars. Star Wars and Batman: Worth the Time, Every Time. The obsession was increased today when I was walking through sleet on the way to work, listening to my jam, as usual, and suddenly I was transported to Gotham City in the winter. The music sounds like a freezing, frenzied wind-blown snow, which is great considering the game takes place in the winter, amongst freezing, frenzied wind-blown snow. Nick Arundel has composed a truly brilliant score to a truly brilliant game, and if you don’t watch or play the game, you should at least check out some more of the songs. Do it, or miss out on life. It’s that serious.

Inspiration or Obsession: Spotlight on Chuck Wendig

Posted: January 13, 2013 in PRAISES AND REVIEWS
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Promo alert! If you haven’t heard of the writer Chuck Wendig over at Terrible Minds, now’s your chance to get familiar with him. He’s my new favorite thing (can I say that if I’m not Oprah?) Straight off his website, here’s a description of him:

Chuck Wendig is a novelist, screenwriter, and game designer. This is his blog. He talks a lot about writing. And food. And the madness of toddlers. He uses lots of naughty language. NSFW. Probably NSFL. Be advised.

He’s got a trough full of writing advice books and even more advice on his blog, which is how I found him. He’s found a near perfect combination of potty humor, metaphor, and inspiration to get you laughing, crying, wanting to write, and feeling bad for not dropping everything to do the very thing you’re so passionate about.

But wait, there’s more! If you’re not in to reading advice books, he’s got a few short stories for free on his website, and a few more electronic device-compatible books available on Amazon (yes, that’s a link to his stuff on Amazon, he’s getting that much free publicity from me). His big ticket item right now is his book Mockingbird, the sequel to Blackbirds, about a woman who can peer into the future and see how you die.

When I’m feeling particularly lazy about writing, I just pop over to his site to get my inner creativity running and hopefully put some words on a page. I can motivate myself, sure, but my success rate is pretty low and I usually end up playing video games and drinking instead of writing. When someone else is my motivation, I’m much more successful at getting things done. I’ve attached a person to every major project I have going on right now, and it is for that person that I’m doing what I’m doing. It doesn’t matter if they know this, or if they even know me, what matters is that things are getting done.

So I found a person who inspires me. Wonderful! Everything is not all giggles and rainbows, though. The great thing about inspiration is that it moves you in a new direction; it gets your square tire rolling. The hardest part about finding someone who inspires you to such a great degree is making sure you don’t copy them. Let’s say I start using more metaphors in my writing. Great. Metaphors are good. Let’s say I start cursing more. Who doesn’t like to swear? Now we add in some fun examples of how crazy my toddler is. Hold the phone, I just went too far (because I don’t have children). To be less extreme, if I start to notice my writing is imitating the Wendig’s, it’s probably past time to evaluate whether I’m writing in my own voice or trying to steal his. Guess who has to fight not to steal things (you should guess me, because that’s the answer.) I don’t want to be someone else, and I don’t want to write like someone else. I’m a writer because I have things to write. Other writers have their own things to write (and they’re doing a good job of it, so I’ll let them keep at it.) I’m still finding out who I am as a person and a writer, but I know I’m not Chuck Wendig. I can happily settle for reading his work and shoving his words in your face so that you’ll read him too.

That being said, Chuck Wendig is a major motivator for me to write and to be better at writing, and I want to formally invite you to check him out. You’re welcome.

REVENGE OF THE PENMONKEY: Wallpaper #2

REVENGE OF THE PENMONKEY: Wallpaper #2 (Photo credit: curious_spider)