Carl Alves's Blog, page 38
May 21, 2015
The Avengers: Age of Ultron
Avengers: Age of Ultron had a pretty high bar set on it since The Avengers was the best Marvel movie ever made, in my humble opinion. This movie had the dubious fete of trying to match what was a fantastic movie, something that many sequels fail to deliver. So, how did Age of Ultron fare?
Without having a comparative starting point, this movie was enjoyable. It has a great cast of actors, and they matched them up with a great villain. Ultron presents a problem for the Avengers that they can’t just smash their way through. Ultron is an insidious android of artificial intelligence that can self-replicate, is super-intelligent, and can wreak havoc not only in the physical world, but also in the virtual world. Ultron has a good bit of personality to boot.
As usual, the Avengers have to overcome their internal differences and their massive egos in order to work together. They don’t always get along, which is fine since it creates additional tension. Besides the cast from the first movie, there are some new superheroes—the brother and sister pair of Quick Silver and Scarlett Witch. I enjoyed their inclusion in this movie, and both characters brought a lot to the table. In addition, Hawkeye and Black Widow have an expanded role in this movie. I think the love angle between Black Widow and Hulk worked well as well as the interaction between Tony Stark and Bruce Banner. With these additional characters plus the expanded roles of the two aforementioned characters, somebody had to take a back seat, and those somebodies are Captain America and Thor, which annoyed me since they are my two favorite characters in the series.
The movie had great action, a good storyline, and well developed characters. So where does it fall short? The movie lacked much of the humor of the first movie. The dialogue and the humor was what really made the first movie in addition to the great action and characters. This movie was more serious and had a darker tone. In the end, this was an enjoyable movie, but definitely not at the same level as the original.
Without having a comparative starting point, this movie was enjoyable. It has a great cast of actors, and they matched them up with a great villain. Ultron presents a problem for the Avengers that they can’t just smash their way through. Ultron is an insidious android of artificial intelligence that can self-replicate, is super-intelligent, and can wreak havoc not only in the physical world, but also in the virtual world. Ultron has a good bit of personality to boot.
As usual, the Avengers have to overcome their internal differences and their massive egos in order to work together. They don’t always get along, which is fine since it creates additional tension. Besides the cast from the first movie, there are some new superheroes—the brother and sister pair of Quick Silver and Scarlett Witch. I enjoyed their inclusion in this movie, and both characters brought a lot to the table. In addition, Hawkeye and Black Widow have an expanded role in this movie. I think the love angle between Black Widow and Hulk worked well as well as the interaction between Tony Stark and Bruce Banner. With these additional characters plus the expanded roles of the two aforementioned characters, somebody had to take a back seat, and those somebodies are Captain America and Thor, which annoyed me since they are my two favorite characters in the series.
The movie had great action, a good storyline, and well developed characters. So where does it fall short? The movie lacked much of the humor of the first movie. The dialogue and the humor was what really made the first movie in addition to the great action and characters. This movie was more serious and had a darker tone. In the end, this was an enjoyable movie, but definitely not at the same level as the original.
May 19, 2015
Game of Thrones: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken
Things are looking bleak for a great many of the characters in “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken”. There were a couple of unexpected twists in this episode. Time to the break it down.
Arya Stark
Arya is none too happy these days in the House of Black and White. Not that I blame her, as she demanded to know what is being done to the dead bodies after she washes them. That alone seems to be a pretty revolting task, but the mystery behind it only makes things worse. She gets a nocturnal visit from Jaqen H’gar who asks her about her life story. Every time he detects a lie, he lashes her. The most interesting aspect of this was when she talked about how she left the Hound for dead and that she hated him, for which Jaqen repeatedly lashed her. She could try to deny it all she wants, but she had an affection for The Hound. In a scene that was like a flashback to The Walking Dead and the Governor with his room full of zombie heads, Jaqen leads her to a room that is filled with heads of the deceased. I’m guessing this is what allows the Faceless Men to change their identity. Whatever the case, that was a pretty repulsive scene that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Tyrion Lannister
Just when it seemed like Tyrion and Ser Jorah Mormont were starting to get along, they were surprised by slavers, who took them as slaves. I absolutely loved Tyrion’s justification of why they couldn’t just chop off his manhood in order to sell it to some rich, eccentric dude. Once more, Tyrion used his quick wit to save his life, and in this case, Jorah’s as well when he brought up how good of a fighter Jorah is. Now it looks like both of their fates are tied to how well Jorah does in the fighting pits. Jorah has already shown himself to be a capable fighter, but he is going to go up against younger, stronger, faster opponents. My guess is that he will do well for himself and attract Daenerys’s attention, which will save both him and Tyrion.
Cesei Lannister
Cersei is playing a seriously dangerous game. First, she dismisses out of hand Lady Olenna, who wanted to bargain with her in a way that she would with Tywin Lannister, but Cersei is no Tywin. When Littlefinger warns her about the danger of what she’s doing with Ser Loras Tyrell’s arrest, she dismisses him as well. At Loras’s trial, Queen Margaery winds up being arrested. King Tommen shows himself to be a weak little fool as he does nothing while his wife is arrested. I think this will ultimately backfire on Cersei. For one thing, giving these fanatical religious types so much power is a horrible idea especially when she has three children born of incest with her brother. Second, she’s in for a world of trouble openly going against the Tyrells like this. They are about as rich and powerful as the Lannisters, and with Stannis breathing down her neck, she can’t afford this type of war.
Jaime Lannister
I have to say it was ridiculously unbelievable that Jaime and Bronn arrive to retrieve Myrcella at the exact same that the Sand Snakes go to kill her. Granted, this sets up a nice battle scene, but come on. I’m only willing to suspend disbelief so far. The fight scene between Jaime and Bronn and the Sand Snakes was pretty cool. My guess is that Prince Doran won’t go too hard on Jaime since he was trying to protect his daughter/niece.
Sansa Stark
Even though Sansa is my least favorite character in the show, I couldn’t help but to feel sorry for her, marrying a psychopath like Ramsay Snow. This episode started to show the first signs of Reek/Theon Grayjoy beginning to break. First, with him giving away Sansa at the wedding and acknowledging that he is indeed Theon. Then with Ramsay forcing him to watch as he takes Sansa against her will as he takes her virginity away on their wedding night. It was a really disturbing and uncomfortable scene that I could have done without. My guess is that something bad will happen to Sansa (worse than this episode), and Theon will turn against Ramsay to save Sansa. I still don’t get what Littlefinger was thinking here. He usually has his fingers on the pulse of everything going on, so it’s hard to imagine he didn’t know Ramsay was a sadist. It’s hard to say at this point if he actually cares about Sansa or if she is just a pawn in his greater schemes.
This episode wasn’t quite as good as the last couple of weeks, but there was definitely a lot to sink your teeth into.
Arya Stark
Arya is none too happy these days in the House of Black and White. Not that I blame her, as she demanded to know what is being done to the dead bodies after she washes them. That alone seems to be a pretty revolting task, but the mystery behind it only makes things worse. She gets a nocturnal visit from Jaqen H’gar who asks her about her life story. Every time he detects a lie, he lashes her. The most interesting aspect of this was when she talked about how she left the Hound for dead and that she hated him, for which Jaqen repeatedly lashed her. She could try to deny it all she wants, but she had an affection for The Hound. In a scene that was like a flashback to The Walking Dead and the Governor with his room full of zombie heads, Jaqen leads her to a room that is filled with heads of the deceased. I’m guessing this is what allows the Faceless Men to change their identity. Whatever the case, that was a pretty repulsive scene that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Tyrion Lannister
Just when it seemed like Tyrion and Ser Jorah Mormont were starting to get along, they were surprised by slavers, who took them as slaves. I absolutely loved Tyrion’s justification of why they couldn’t just chop off his manhood in order to sell it to some rich, eccentric dude. Once more, Tyrion used his quick wit to save his life, and in this case, Jorah’s as well when he brought up how good of a fighter Jorah is. Now it looks like both of their fates are tied to how well Jorah does in the fighting pits. Jorah has already shown himself to be a capable fighter, but he is going to go up against younger, stronger, faster opponents. My guess is that he will do well for himself and attract Daenerys’s attention, which will save both him and Tyrion.
Cesei Lannister
Cersei is playing a seriously dangerous game. First, she dismisses out of hand Lady Olenna, who wanted to bargain with her in a way that she would with Tywin Lannister, but Cersei is no Tywin. When Littlefinger warns her about the danger of what she’s doing with Ser Loras Tyrell’s arrest, she dismisses him as well. At Loras’s trial, Queen Margaery winds up being arrested. King Tommen shows himself to be a weak little fool as he does nothing while his wife is arrested. I think this will ultimately backfire on Cersei. For one thing, giving these fanatical religious types so much power is a horrible idea especially when she has three children born of incest with her brother. Second, she’s in for a world of trouble openly going against the Tyrells like this. They are about as rich and powerful as the Lannisters, and with Stannis breathing down her neck, she can’t afford this type of war.
Jaime Lannister
I have to say it was ridiculously unbelievable that Jaime and Bronn arrive to retrieve Myrcella at the exact same that the Sand Snakes go to kill her. Granted, this sets up a nice battle scene, but come on. I’m only willing to suspend disbelief so far. The fight scene between Jaime and Bronn and the Sand Snakes was pretty cool. My guess is that Prince Doran won’t go too hard on Jaime since he was trying to protect his daughter/niece.
Sansa Stark
Even though Sansa is my least favorite character in the show, I couldn’t help but to feel sorry for her, marrying a psychopath like Ramsay Snow. This episode started to show the first signs of Reek/Theon Grayjoy beginning to break. First, with him giving away Sansa at the wedding and acknowledging that he is indeed Theon. Then with Ramsay forcing him to watch as he takes Sansa against her will as he takes her virginity away on their wedding night. It was a really disturbing and uncomfortable scene that I could have done without. My guess is that something bad will happen to Sansa (worse than this episode), and Theon will turn against Ramsay to save Sansa. I still don’t get what Littlefinger was thinking here. He usually has his fingers on the pulse of everything going on, so it’s hard to imagine he didn’t know Ramsay was a sadist. It’s hard to say at this point if he actually cares about Sansa or if she is just a pawn in his greater schemes.
This episode wasn’t quite as good as the last couple of weeks, but there was definitely a lot to sink your teeth into.
May 17, 2015
Less Than Hero by S.G. Browne
In Less Than Hero, S.G. Browne presents an entirely different take on the superhero genre than anything I have ever read before. Typically, superheroes have cool powers like the ability to fly, or super strength, or speed. In this novel, Lloyd and his band of heroes do things like put people to sleep, make them develop rashes all over their bodies, and blow up like human version of the Goodyear blimp. Not exactly an astounding array of powers. Not to mention the way they obtain their powers is quite odd, being the guinea pigs of pharmaceutical company clinical trials. And what would a superhero novel be without supervillains to counter them? In this case, the villains can steal people’s memories and create hallucinations. One thing is certain, Browne will never write a novel that isn’t entirely fascinating and interesting to read.
As usual, Browne writes in an easy going and professional manner. It’s always a breeze to read his books, something I appreciate. The premise is full of intrigue. I like the development of the characters’ powers and how they go about using it. These are unconventional heroes so it’s fitting that they should have an unconventional way of developing and using their abilities. There’s a lot to like in this novel. One area that I thought it falls short is that there is a lot of social commentary about the role of pharmaceutical drugs and how they are used in society. I don’t have a problem with that, but I did think it was a little heavy handed, and it often took me out of the story because those sections were lengthy. This is a cool novel that you will want to read.
As usual, Browne writes in an easy going and professional manner. It’s always a breeze to read his books, something I appreciate. The premise is full of intrigue. I like the development of the characters’ powers and how they go about using it. These are unconventional heroes so it’s fitting that they should have an unconventional way of developing and using their abilities. There’s a lot to like in this novel. One area that I thought it falls short is that there is a lot of social commentary about the role of pharmaceutical drugs and how they are used in society. I don’t have a problem with that, but I did think it was a little heavy handed, and it often took me out of the story because those sections were lengthy. This is a cool novel that you will want to read.
May 13, 2015
Game of Thrones: Kill the Boy
The dragons were back in full force in “Kill the Boy”. We also got our first glance at the Stone Men. Let’s get right to the breakdown.
Daenerys Targaryan
The show starts off with Daenerys looking over the corpse of Ser Barristen. I got this part totally wrong figuring Ser Barristen would survive and Grey Worm would bite the dust. What an inglorious way to die. Daenerys has her back against the wall and is lacking sound advice. Sounds like she just might need Tyrion to help guide her through. What she opts to do to solve her problem is to unleash the dragons on the head of one of the prominent families in Meereen. I’m not going to criticize this maneuver since I always enjoy seeing dragons torch a dude and eat him up. What I didn’t get was her quasi marriage proposal to Hizdahr zo Loraq. What would make far more sense if she has aspirations for the Iron Throne would be to marry someone from a prominent family in Westeros to sew up that alliance.
Sansa Stark
Sansa finally gets to see Theon, now known as Reek. Prior to that, she finds out that she is not alone as people in Winterfell are still behind her, and she has Brienne watching her back. Ramsay came off as a complete creep as he made Theon apologize for killing Sansa’s brothers. My guess is that at some point Theon will tell her that he didn’t actually kill them, and they still may be alive. As terrible as Sansa’s lot in life is, having to dine with the people who murdered her mother and brother, I just can’t feel sympathy for her. I don’t know if it’s because her character is terrible, which it is, or that the actress is so dull and emotionless, which she is.
Dragons
Dragons totally rock. I loved that scene where they fly over Tyrion and Ser Jorah in their boat.
Jon Snow
I continue to be impressed with Jon’s leadership skills. He seems to be the only one other than Stannis and Melisandre who truly realize that winter is coming, and all of the political ramblings won’t matter once the White Walkers come beyond the wall and start attacking. That was why he entered into an uneasy alliance with Tormund, even if it meant that he had to go with them on ships beyond the wall. I could tell that Stannis continues to have a growing respect for Jon, even if he doesn’t voice it. By the way, Stannis needs to get himself a new wife. She has a personality that is a combination of vinegar and acid.
Tyrion Lannister
Some really cool interaction between Tyrion and Jorah Mormont. I love Tyrion’s sharp wit and quick tongue, and Peter Dinklage is a terrific actor. Jorah was reluctant to engage him in banter, but he showed that he is quite capable as a fighter when the Stone Men attacked them by jumping into the water and into their boat. He rescues Tyrion from drowning, but as everyone’s favorite imp tells him, he wouldn’t have to be saved if he wasn’t kidnapped to begin with. Cool ending where Jorah reveals to the camera that he has in fact contracted Greyscale. I’m not sure what this means for Jorah since we know that Stannis’s daughter has managed to cope with her affliction, but it can’t be good.
Despite missing Arya, Jaime, and Bronn, this was a top notch episode. More dragons please.
Daenerys Targaryan
The show starts off with Daenerys looking over the corpse of Ser Barristen. I got this part totally wrong figuring Ser Barristen would survive and Grey Worm would bite the dust. What an inglorious way to die. Daenerys has her back against the wall and is lacking sound advice. Sounds like she just might need Tyrion to help guide her through. What she opts to do to solve her problem is to unleash the dragons on the head of one of the prominent families in Meereen. I’m not going to criticize this maneuver since I always enjoy seeing dragons torch a dude and eat him up. What I didn’t get was her quasi marriage proposal to Hizdahr zo Loraq. What would make far more sense if she has aspirations for the Iron Throne would be to marry someone from a prominent family in Westeros to sew up that alliance.
Sansa Stark
Sansa finally gets to see Theon, now known as Reek. Prior to that, she finds out that she is not alone as people in Winterfell are still behind her, and she has Brienne watching her back. Ramsay came off as a complete creep as he made Theon apologize for killing Sansa’s brothers. My guess is that at some point Theon will tell her that he didn’t actually kill them, and they still may be alive. As terrible as Sansa’s lot in life is, having to dine with the people who murdered her mother and brother, I just can’t feel sympathy for her. I don’t know if it’s because her character is terrible, which it is, or that the actress is so dull and emotionless, which she is.
Dragons
Dragons totally rock. I loved that scene where they fly over Tyrion and Ser Jorah in their boat.
Jon Snow
I continue to be impressed with Jon’s leadership skills. He seems to be the only one other than Stannis and Melisandre who truly realize that winter is coming, and all of the political ramblings won’t matter once the White Walkers come beyond the wall and start attacking. That was why he entered into an uneasy alliance with Tormund, even if it meant that he had to go with them on ships beyond the wall. I could tell that Stannis continues to have a growing respect for Jon, even if he doesn’t voice it. By the way, Stannis needs to get himself a new wife. She has a personality that is a combination of vinegar and acid.
Tyrion Lannister
Some really cool interaction between Tyrion and Jorah Mormont. I love Tyrion’s sharp wit and quick tongue, and Peter Dinklage is a terrific actor. Jorah was reluctant to engage him in banter, but he showed that he is quite capable as a fighter when the Stone Men attacked them by jumping into the water and into their boat. He rescues Tyrion from drowning, but as everyone’s favorite imp tells him, he wouldn’t have to be saved if he wasn’t kidnapped to begin with. Cool ending where Jorah reveals to the camera that he has in fact contracted Greyscale. I’m not sure what this means for Jorah since we know that Stannis’s daughter has managed to cope with her affliction, but it can’t be good.
Despite missing Arya, Jaime, and Bronn, this was a top notch episode. More dragons please.
May 7, 2015
Monster Mash Final Cerberus vs. Cthulhu
Cerberus
Cerberus, the three headed hound that guards the Greek world of the dead has a nasty demeanor somewhere between a pit bull terrier and a Rottweiler. In the twelfth labor of Hercules, he had to capture Cerberus. In order to prepare for his battle with Cerberus, Athena and Hermes guided him to the River Styx for a purification ritual. Charon, the boatman was so terrified of Hercules that he did not even collect his usual fee.
Hercules crossed the River Styx and made it to the Gates of Tartarus. Hercules wanted to make a sacrifice of cattle at the gate, but the herdsman would not allow it. A struggle ensued, and Hercules was about to crush the man, when Persephone intervened. When Hercules declared that he was here to retrieve Cerberus, Hades told him that he could do so, only if he didn’t use weapons. Hercules subdued Cerberus by wrapping his arms around all three of its necks and choking the hound. When he brought Cerberus out of the underworld, the hound became sick after seeing sunlight for the first time. His bile created the first aconite plant (aka Wolfsbane). This completed the final labor of Hercules.
Cthulhu
Things you always wanted to know about Cthulhu:
There was a 2007 movie with a limited release entitled Cthulhu, directed by Dan Gildark that was loosely based on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story "The Shadow Over Innsmouth". Alas, it wasn’t well received by Rotten Tomatoes, but what can you expect with a movie that Tori Spelling stars in.
R’lyeh is the city that Cthulhu inhabited. It is located in the Pacific Ocean and sunk to the bottom of the sea where Cthulhu still lies imprisoned today, but will undoubtedly rise.
Recently Cthulhu has embarked on a campaign for the presidency. Why choose the lesser of two evils? He certainly has my vote.
Cthulhu lives on today in various forms including plush dolls for kids and the Call of Cthulhu horror roleplaying game. You just can’t keep a good elder god down.
Well, this is it. The finals of the third annual Monster Mash to celebrate March Madness. I have a soft spot for Cerberus. He’s got a great look and a great gig. Who wouldn’t want to guard the underworld? He did have a tough run in with Hercules, and I can’t imagine he would do much better against Cthulhu. The Elder God will rise from the ashes of R’lyeh and travel across the River Styx. Charon will be powerless to stop him. Once there, he will engage in an epic confrontation against our furry friend, Cerberus. Alas, Cthulhu will prevail and once again become the champion of the Monster Mash. Why indeed choose the lesser of two evils?
Cerberus, the three headed hound that guards the Greek world of the dead has a nasty demeanor somewhere between a pit bull terrier and a Rottweiler. In the twelfth labor of Hercules, he had to capture Cerberus. In order to prepare for his battle with Cerberus, Athena and Hermes guided him to the River Styx for a purification ritual. Charon, the boatman was so terrified of Hercules that he did not even collect his usual fee.
Hercules crossed the River Styx and made it to the Gates of Tartarus. Hercules wanted to make a sacrifice of cattle at the gate, but the herdsman would not allow it. A struggle ensued, and Hercules was about to crush the man, when Persephone intervened. When Hercules declared that he was here to retrieve Cerberus, Hades told him that he could do so, only if he didn’t use weapons. Hercules subdued Cerberus by wrapping his arms around all three of its necks and choking the hound. When he brought Cerberus out of the underworld, the hound became sick after seeing sunlight for the first time. His bile created the first aconite plant (aka Wolfsbane). This completed the final labor of Hercules.
Cthulhu
Things you always wanted to know about Cthulhu:
There was a 2007 movie with a limited release entitled Cthulhu, directed by Dan Gildark that was loosely based on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story "The Shadow Over Innsmouth". Alas, it wasn’t well received by Rotten Tomatoes, but what can you expect with a movie that Tori Spelling stars in.
R’lyeh is the city that Cthulhu inhabited. It is located in the Pacific Ocean and sunk to the bottom of the sea where Cthulhu still lies imprisoned today, but will undoubtedly rise.
Recently Cthulhu has embarked on a campaign for the presidency. Why choose the lesser of two evils? He certainly has my vote.
Cthulhu lives on today in various forms including plush dolls for kids and the Call of Cthulhu horror roleplaying game. You just can’t keep a good elder god down.
Well, this is it. The finals of the third annual Monster Mash to celebrate March Madness. I have a soft spot for Cerberus. He’s got a great look and a great gig. Who wouldn’t want to guard the underworld? He did have a tough run in with Hercules, and I can’t imagine he would do much better against Cthulhu. The Elder God will rise from the ashes of R’lyeh and travel across the River Styx. Charon will be powerless to stop him. Once there, he will engage in an epic confrontation against our furry friend, Cerberus. Alas, Cthulhu will prevail and once again become the champion of the Monster Mash. Why indeed choose the lesser of two evils?
May 5, 2015
Game of Thrones: Sons of the Harpy Review
“Sons of the Harpy” was loaded with fight scenes, some political wrangling, and some hints of things to come. It was action packed and good fun. What does it all mean to our favorite characters?
Sansa Stark
In this episode, it starts to become clear that Little Finger has all along been plotting the demise of the Boltons. For all of his lust for power, the one thing that stands above that is his love for Catelyn and then Sansa after her death. He wants revenge for her death, and this is his first move toward getting that. He wants Sansa to marry the loathsome Ramsay and have Stannis crush the Boltons and rescue Sansa. Once more, she’s a marriage pawn in a grand scheme of the men around her, but then again Sansa brings little to the table, so it’s only fitting that she would be a pawn. There was also a lot of mentioning of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryan. When Rhaegar, who was married to Ilia Martell, took Lyanna away, who was betrayed to Robert Baratheon, it started the war that led to the Targaryan’s demise. This figures to be a big plot point going forward.
Cersei Lannister
Oh boy, the claws were out in this episode. Cersei is like the proverbial cornered animal. Faced with losing the power and authority she so badly covets, she has come out swinging in a big way. First, she sends Mace Tyrell as far away from King’s Landing as he can possibly get with Meryn Trant (a possible assassination here? I think so). Next she militarizes the High Sparrows. Just looking at our own world history, militarizing a religious group is never a good idea. Although they satisfy some of her short term needs, this sounds like doom in the long run. After all, she had three children from an incestuous relationship with her brother, and the king is a bastard born of incest. This thing is doomed to backfire on Cersei. I also like that Margaery is sending in for reinforcements in the form of Lady Olenna, her grandmother, who is the true brains of the family.
Jon Snow
Although Jon Snow has a history of having a thing for red-heads, Melisandre’s attempt at seducing him was shot down in flames (pun somewhat intended). As it turns out, Jon still has a thing for Ygritte, and hasn’t forgotten her so soon. This episode also started hinting at a widely held fan theory that Jon Snow is the love-child of Rhaegar Targaryan and Lyanna Start, not Ned’s bastard. How this figures into the grand scheme of things will be interesting. I love the scene between Stannis and his daughter. Stannis, who has always been so cold and emotionless, finally showed a little humanity by standing by and loving his daughter, when others would have given up on her and sent her away. Finally a reason to care about Stannis.
Tyrion Lannister
I enjoyed how Tyrion taunted Jorah Mormont on the boat. Jorah is no great thinker and is hopelessly outmatched in a battle of wits with the imp. Much like Tyrion, I suspected Jorah was going to take him to King’s Landing. That he’s going to Daenarys makes life easier for him.
Jaime Lannister
Jaime and Bronn, two swashbuckling fools trying to rescue a princess. Good exchanges by these two and an excellent fight scene to boot. I like how Bronn took down the guard on the horse for Jaime to fight him. I also like how he used his fake hand to help him slay the guard. Also, in Dorne, we are finally introduced to the Sand Snakes. Prince Doran may not feel the need to seek vengeance for his brother, but these four women certainly do. Another headache for Cersei.
Daenarys Targaryan
Things are not going well for the Mother of Dragons. After a nice exchange between her and Ser Barriston about her brother and how he was more of an artist and singer rather than a fighter, all hell breaks loose with the Sons of the Harpy as they go on a killing rampage. The end result is an epic battle scene between them and the Unsullied. We’re left wondering if Grey Worm and Ser Barriston are dead. I’m thinking Grey Worm has met his demise but Ser Barriston is still alive. This can only mean one thing—unleash the dragons. Oh yeah. Looking forward to that one.
Really strong episode. Things are shaping up nicely.
Sansa Stark
In this episode, it starts to become clear that Little Finger has all along been plotting the demise of the Boltons. For all of his lust for power, the one thing that stands above that is his love for Catelyn and then Sansa after her death. He wants revenge for her death, and this is his first move toward getting that. He wants Sansa to marry the loathsome Ramsay and have Stannis crush the Boltons and rescue Sansa. Once more, she’s a marriage pawn in a grand scheme of the men around her, but then again Sansa brings little to the table, so it’s only fitting that she would be a pawn. There was also a lot of mentioning of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryan. When Rhaegar, who was married to Ilia Martell, took Lyanna away, who was betrayed to Robert Baratheon, it started the war that led to the Targaryan’s demise. This figures to be a big plot point going forward.
Cersei Lannister
Oh boy, the claws were out in this episode. Cersei is like the proverbial cornered animal. Faced with losing the power and authority she so badly covets, she has come out swinging in a big way. First, she sends Mace Tyrell as far away from King’s Landing as he can possibly get with Meryn Trant (a possible assassination here? I think so). Next she militarizes the High Sparrows. Just looking at our own world history, militarizing a religious group is never a good idea. Although they satisfy some of her short term needs, this sounds like doom in the long run. After all, she had three children from an incestuous relationship with her brother, and the king is a bastard born of incest. This thing is doomed to backfire on Cersei. I also like that Margaery is sending in for reinforcements in the form of Lady Olenna, her grandmother, who is the true brains of the family.
Jon Snow
Although Jon Snow has a history of having a thing for red-heads, Melisandre’s attempt at seducing him was shot down in flames (pun somewhat intended). As it turns out, Jon still has a thing for Ygritte, and hasn’t forgotten her so soon. This episode also started hinting at a widely held fan theory that Jon Snow is the love-child of Rhaegar Targaryan and Lyanna Start, not Ned’s bastard. How this figures into the grand scheme of things will be interesting. I love the scene between Stannis and his daughter. Stannis, who has always been so cold and emotionless, finally showed a little humanity by standing by and loving his daughter, when others would have given up on her and sent her away. Finally a reason to care about Stannis.
Tyrion Lannister
I enjoyed how Tyrion taunted Jorah Mormont on the boat. Jorah is no great thinker and is hopelessly outmatched in a battle of wits with the imp. Much like Tyrion, I suspected Jorah was going to take him to King’s Landing. That he’s going to Daenarys makes life easier for him.
Jaime Lannister
Jaime and Bronn, two swashbuckling fools trying to rescue a princess. Good exchanges by these two and an excellent fight scene to boot. I like how Bronn took down the guard on the horse for Jaime to fight him. I also like how he used his fake hand to help him slay the guard. Also, in Dorne, we are finally introduced to the Sand Snakes. Prince Doran may not feel the need to seek vengeance for his brother, but these four women certainly do. Another headache for Cersei.
Daenarys Targaryan
Things are not going well for the Mother of Dragons. After a nice exchange between her and Ser Barriston about her brother and how he was more of an artist and singer rather than a fighter, all hell breaks loose with the Sons of the Harpy as they go on a killing rampage. The end result is an epic battle scene between them and the Unsullied. We’re left wondering if Grey Worm and Ser Barriston are dead. I’m thinking Grey Worm has met his demise but Ser Barriston is still alive. This can only mean one thing—unleash the dragons. Oh yeah. Looking forward to that one.
Really strong episode. Things are shaping up nicely.
May 3, 2015
Monster Mash Round 2 Werewolf vs. Cthulhu
Werewolf
Werewolves, which also go by the name lycanthrope, become wolves under the right conditions such as being bit by another werewolf or having been cursed. The concept of the werewolf originated in Europe, but can be found in legend throughout the world. Their vulnerability to silver or silver bullets is not found in legend but come from fictional accounts of werewolves. In Europe, werewolves are often tied to magic, whether by transforming into wolves through a magical device or through an incantation. Werewolves were also thought to attain their current state as a result of a punishment from God. They have super strength and agility, along with the fighting prowess of wolves and the ability to take significant damage.
Some of the earliest werewolf stories come from Greece and Romania. In the ancient Greek story by Ovid, the King of Lycaeon was visited by gods. The King of Lycaeon did not believe them to be actual gods so he served them human flesh to slight them. Angered by this, the gods turned the king into a werewolf.
In movies, werewolves change during full moons, however in werewolf mythos there is little to link werewolves to full moons. Most can change their shape voluntarily. Also, in werewolf mythos, the person turns into an actual wolf and not a really hairy human.
Cthulhu
Cthulhu is part of a larger overarching mythology that H.P. Lovecraft created involving extraterrestrial creatures whose existence is beyond human understanding. Cthulhu is the most famous of Lovecraft’s creations. He is believed by some to be the monster in the movie "Cloverfield". In the story “The Call of Cthulhu”, the characters in the story only see him through dreams or artwork. Cthulhu once ruled the Earth and is destined to rule it again. He was trapped in the ocean after a massive earthquake sunk the city he lived in. Although there are variations on the way his name is pronounced, the most popular pronunciation among Cthulhu fans is "kuh-THOO-loo." Cthulhu is also able to telepathically communicate with creative or insane people.
Although Cthulhu is the most popular of Lovecraft’s characters, he has created a number of other characters in the Cthulhu mythos. Lovecraft's central deities are Azathoth and Yog-Sothoth, both representing opposing cosmic principles. Azathoth lives in the center of the universe, whereas Yog-Sothoth, exists in all places and all times. Shub-Niggurath is next in the pantheon, and is sort of a pagan fertility god. There are numerous Other Gods in Azathoth’s court. They are mysterious beings that dance mindlessly around Azathoth's throne in cadence to the piping of a demonic flute. Nyarlathotep, who is their avatar and messenger, is the only being that can interact intelligently with human beings and often takes human form.
Werewolves have an amazing strength and agility combination. Also in their favor is their blood thirsty nature. They are known to devour people in the woods travelling at night (not necessarily during a full moon). They are among the fiercest supernatural creatures. Having said that, I wouldn’t like their chances against Cthulhu, a massive supernatural being with godlike powers. In this fight, Cthulhu would rise from R’lyeh, come out of the ocean, and devour the werewolf. In a blaze of glory Cthulhu advances to the final of the monster mash tournament.
Werewolves, which also go by the name lycanthrope, become wolves under the right conditions such as being bit by another werewolf or having been cursed. The concept of the werewolf originated in Europe, but can be found in legend throughout the world. Their vulnerability to silver or silver bullets is not found in legend but come from fictional accounts of werewolves. In Europe, werewolves are often tied to magic, whether by transforming into wolves through a magical device or through an incantation. Werewolves were also thought to attain their current state as a result of a punishment from God. They have super strength and agility, along with the fighting prowess of wolves and the ability to take significant damage.
Some of the earliest werewolf stories come from Greece and Romania. In the ancient Greek story by Ovid, the King of Lycaeon was visited by gods. The King of Lycaeon did not believe them to be actual gods so he served them human flesh to slight them. Angered by this, the gods turned the king into a werewolf.
In movies, werewolves change during full moons, however in werewolf mythos there is little to link werewolves to full moons. Most can change their shape voluntarily. Also, in werewolf mythos, the person turns into an actual wolf and not a really hairy human.
Cthulhu
Cthulhu is part of a larger overarching mythology that H.P. Lovecraft created involving extraterrestrial creatures whose existence is beyond human understanding. Cthulhu is the most famous of Lovecraft’s creations. He is believed by some to be the monster in the movie "Cloverfield". In the story “The Call of Cthulhu”, the characters in the story only see him through dreams or artwork. Cthulhu once ruled the Earth and is destined to rule it again. He was trapped in the ocean after a massive earthquake sunk the city he lived in. Although there are variations on the way his name is pronounced, the most popular pronunciation among Cthulhu fans is "kuh-THOO-loo." Cthulhu is also able to telepathically communicate with creative or insane people.
Although Cthulhu is the most popular of Lovecraft’s characters, he has created a number of other characters in the Cthulhu mythos. Lovecraft's central deities are Azathoth and Yog-Sothoth, both representing opposing cosmic principles. Azathoth lives in the center of the universe, whereas Yog-Sothoth, exists in all places and all times. Shub-Niggurath is next in the pantheon, and is sort of a pagan fertility god. There are numerous Other Gods in Azathoth’s court. They are mysterious beings that dance mindlessly around Azathoth's throne in cadence to the piping of a demonic flute. Nyarlathotep, who is their avatar and messenger, is the only being that can interact intelligently with human beings and often takes human form.
Werewolves have an amazing strength and agility combination. Also in their favor is their blood thirsty nature. They are known to devour people in the woods travelling at night (not necessarily during a full moon). They are among the fiercest supernatural creatures. Having said that, I wouldn’t like their chances against Cthulhu, a massive supernatural being with godlike powers. In this fight, Cthulhu would rise from R’lyeh, come out of the ocean, and devour the werewolf. In a blaze of glory Cthulhu advances to the final of the monster mash tournament.
April 30, 2015
Monster Mash Round 2 Manticore vs. Cerberus
Cerberus
Cerberus is the hellhound that guards the land of Hades, the Greek underworld, similar to Garm from Norse mythology. He was originally portrayed as having fifty to one hundred heads, but this was later changed to three heads in later depictions. With Cerberus guarding Hades, new spirits were allowed to enter the land of the dead, but none were allowed to leave. Besides Hercules, who subdued the beast as one of his twelve labors, Orpheus was able to put the beast to sleep and sneak past it by playing his lyre. Hercules engaged in physical combat with Cerberus. He basically choked him out and kidnapped Cerberus before bringing him to the land of the living.
In Greek vampire mythos, the souls of vampires are held in a container in the land of Hades. Hades made a deal with the first vampire that vampires are allowed to enter the underworld since they are dead, but are not allowed to leave.
Because of Cerberus’s extreme dedication to Hades, the ruler of the underworld allowed him to retain a human immortal form and live among the humans using the name Naberius.
Manticore
Although manticores are Persian in origin, they were believed to be real animals during the Middle Ages in Europe and were found in bestiaries of the time. Because of the etymology of its name, some falsely believed that the manticore was a combination of a man and a tiger. In 1688, Randle Holme described the maniticore as having the face of a man, a mouth with three rows of teeth, the feet of a lion, red in color, and a tail of a scorpion.
Manticores had poisonous quills that they could shoot at their foes. They can leap great distances and devour human flesh. Its voice sounds like a melody coming from pipes. In addition to Persia and Europe, references to the manticore can be found in India.
This is a compelling matchup in the second round of the tournament. Both creatures are vicious killers steeped in mythology and feared by many. The manticore has a stinger that can do serious damage. They would both be formidable in close combat. You might look at Cerberus’s two defeats, but Hercules was a seriously tough dude, and I don’t think the manticore is going to lull it to sleep with a lyre. If Cerberus can keep in check all of the baddies entering the Greek underworld, I have to imagine that he is up to the task of defeating a manticore. Therefore, I have to go with Cerberus a win by split decision or perhaps tearing out the manticore’s spine.
Cerberus is the hellhound that guards the land of Hades, the Greek underworld, similar to Garm from Norse mythology. He was originally portrayed as having fifty to one hundred heads, but this was later changed to three heads in later depictions. With Cerberus guarding Hades, new spirits were allowed to enter the land of the dead, but none were allowed to leave. Besides Hercules, who subdued the beast as one of his twelve labors, Orpheus was able to put the beast to sleep and sneak past it by playing his lyre. Hercules engaged in physical combat with Cerberus. He basically choked him out and kidnapped Cerberus before bringing him to the land of the living.
In Greek vampire mythos, the souls of vampires are held in a container in the land of Hades. Hades made a deal with the first vampire that vampires are allowed to enter the underworld since they are dead, but are not allowed to leave.
Because of Cerberus’s extreme dedication to Hades, the ruler of the underworld allowed him to retain a human immortal form and live among the humans using the name Naberius.
Manticore
Although manticores are Persian in origin, they were believed to be real animals during the Middle Ages in Europe and were found in bestiaries of the time. Because of the etymology of its name, some falsely believed that the manticore was a combination of a man and a tiger. In 1688, Randle Holme described the maniticore as having the face of a man, a mouth with three rows of teeth, the feet of a lion, red in color, and a tail of a scorpion.
Manticores had poisonous quills that they could shoot at their foes. They can leap great distances and devour human flesh. Its voice sounds like a melody coming from pipes. In addition to Persia and Europe, references to the manticore can be found in India.
This is a compelling matchup in the second round of the tournament. Both creatures are vicious killers steeped in mythology and feared by many. The manticore has a stinger that can do serious damage. They would both be formidable in close combat. You might look at Cerberus’s two defeats, but Hercules was a seriously tough dude, and I don’t think the manticore is going to lull it to sleep with a lyre. If Cerberus can keep in check all of the baddies entering the Greek underworld, I have to imagine that he is up to the task of defeating a manticore. Therefore, I have to go with Cerberus a win by split decision or perhaps tearing out the manticore’s spine.
April 28, 2015
Game of Thrones: High Sparrow Review
There was a lot going on in “High Sparrow”, moreso than in the previous two episodes. Although some might consider this episode to be too busy, there wasn’t a dull moment to be had. Things are heating up in season 5, so let’s break down what it means to our favorite characters.
Sansa Stark
Out of everything that happened in this episode, this was the most confusing. Why in the world would Sansa ever accept a marriage to a Bolton after the Red Wedding? It seems preposterous. The fact that it’s Ramsay Bolton is all the more perplexing. I’m no fan of Sansa, but Ramsay is a completely sadistic monster. I am also perplexed by Little Finger setting the marriage up. I was certain that he wanted to keep Sansa for himself. Does he realize just how psychopathic Ramsay is? It’s obvious Little Finger is power hungry, but his one weakness always seemed to be Catelyn and then Sansa after her death.
Arya Stark
Not a whole lot seems to happen in the House of Black and White, but Arya certainly manages to keep it clean. After all of the tragedy Arya has gone through, it appears that she is looking for more out of life and hopes the Faceless Men can provide it to her, although Jaqen H’ghar won’t give her what she’s looking for unless she let’s go of her past. That happens when Arya tosses her clothes and coins into the river. When this was going on, I was yelling at the television screen to convince her not to get rid of Needle. She did exactly what I would have done—hide it in a safe place where no one can find it, but have it available in case she needs it again.
Brienne
Brienne showed a little more humanity in this episode in her conversation with Pod and how she came into Renly’s service. I liked this exchange between the two characters, and it gave me more reason to care about her after her poor performance in recent episodes.
Cersei Lannister
I was quite amused with the gamesmanship between Cersei and her new daughter-in-law, Margaery, who are battling it out for control of Tommen, the new king. Tommen is the polar opposite of Joffrey, who was a kindred spirit to Ramsay Bolton. Cersei is trying to control Tommen through sentiment, and Margaery is trying to control him through sex. Sorry Cersei, you’re fighting a seriously losing battle. And what’s up with the wedding between Maergery and Tommen? Nobody died? How utterly disappointing.
Jon Snow
Jon Snow showed what kind of bad ass leader he’s going to be. First he stands up to King Stannis, showing that he’s going to be his own man and will not bend to the will of the king. Then when Janos Slynt defied his order, Jon beheaded the bastard. This was the first semi-shocking moment of the season. Just when I thought Jon was going to show him mercy after Janos was begging for it, he chopped off his head with one swipe. That was a great Game of Thrones moment.
Tyrion Lannister
Oh, Tyrion. Why didn’t you just listen to Varys? Of course, somebody was going to recognize him. In this case, it was a totally down and out Jorah Mormont. My guess is that Tyrion will convince Jorah that if he brings him to Daenarys, that she will take him back into her inner circle. Tyrion will outbattle Jorah in a battle of wits any day, so I’m guessing he gets himself out of this little mess.
Good episode. This one found me wanting more.
Sansa Stark
Out of everything that happened in this episode, this was the most confusing. Why in the world would Sansa ever accept a marriage to a Bolton after the Red Wedding? It seems preposterous. The fact that it’s Ramsay Bolton is all the more perplexing. I’m no fan of Sansa, but Ramsay is a completely sadistic monster. I am also perplexed by Little Finger setting the marriage up. I was certain that he wanted to keep Sansa for himself. Does he realize just how psychopathic Ramsay is? It’s obvious Little Finger is power hungry, but his one weakness always seemed to be Catelyn and then Sansa after her death.
Arya Stark
Not a whole lot seems to happen in the House of Black and White, but Arya certainly manages to keep it clean. After all of the tragedy Arya has gone through, it appears that she is looking for more out of life and hopes the Faceless Men can provide it to her, although Jaqen H’ghar won’t give her what she’s looking for unless she let’s go of her past. That happens when Arya tosses her clothes and coins into the river. When this was going on, I was yelling at the television screen to convince her not to get rid of Needle. She did exactly what I would have done—hide it in a safe place where no one can find it, but have it available in case she needs it again.
Brienne
Brienne showed a little more humanity in this episode in her conversation with Pod and how she came into Renly’s service. I liked this exchange between the two characters, and it gave me more reason to care about her after her poor performance in recent episodes.
Cersei Lannister
I was quite amused with the gamesmanship between Cersei and her new daughter-in-law, Margaery, who are battling it out for control of Tommen, the new king. Tommen is the polar opposite of Joffrey, who was a kindred spirit to Ramsay Bolton. Cersei is trying to control Tommen through sentiment, and Margaery is trying to control him through sex. Sorry Cersei, you’re fighting a seriously losing battle. And what’s up with the wedding between Maergery and Tommen? Nobody died? How utterly disappointing.
Jon Snow
Jon Snow showed what kind of bad ass leader he’s going to be. First he stands up to King Stannis, showing that he’s going to be his own man and will not bend to the will of the king. Then when Janos Slynt defied his order, Jon beheaded the bastard. This was the first semi-shocking moment of the season. Just when I thought Jon was going to show him mercy after Janos was begging for it, he chopped off his head with one swipe. That was a great Game of Thrones moment.
Tyrion Lannister
Oh, Tyrion. Why didn’t you just listen to Varys? Of course, somebody was going to recognize him. In this case, it was a totally down and out Jorah Mormont. My guess is that Tyrion will convince Jorah that if he brings him to Daenarys, that she will take him back into her inner circle. Tyrion will outbattle Jorah in a battle of wits any day, so I’m guessing he gets himself out of this little mess.
Good episode. This one found me wanting more.
April 25, 2015
Monster Mash Round 1 Big Foot vs. Cerberus
Big Foot
Big Foot is a term used for creatures belonging to a race known as Sasquatches. The earliest legends of Big Foot date back to 1860 in the Cascade Mountain range near present day Spokane, Washington. This area through the years have had numerous stories and sightings over the years of hominid, ape-like creatures. The first recorded sighting came from the diary of Elkanah Walker, a missionary pioneer in the Washington area. In his diary, he reported that these creatures steal men in the middle of the night, have a strong stench, and steal fish from the nets of Indians. There have been similar sightings of Big Foot type creatures in various areas around the world.
These creatures are reported to be between seven and ten feet tall and weigh in excess of five hundred pounds. They have massive feet and hands and are considered to be powerful. There is speculation that these creatures are part of a race of creatures known as Gigantopithecus, which originated in Asia and migrated to North America.
Cerberus
Cerberus was a massive three-headed hound, who guarded the gates of Hades. He was tasked with preventing the dead from leaving the underworld. Cerberus has a serpent’s tail, a mane of snakes, and a lion’s claws. For one of Hercules’s twelve labors, he had to fetch Cerberus from the underworld without the use of weapons.
According to legend, Cerberus was one of the monsters born from the union of Echidna and Typhon. Echidne was half-woman, half-serpent, while Typhon was the most fierce of all creatures. Their other children were other hideous monsters: Hydra, Chimera, and Orthrus.
Big Foot is basically a big scary ape. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t want to come across one of these creatures the next time I’m hiking in the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest, but Cerberus is massive, powerful, and could tear the ape apart. Granted, Hercules was able to best the beast, but trust me, Big Foot is no Hercules. Between the powerful jaws, jagged teeth, claws, and all of those snakes, Cerberus would eat Big Foot for breakfast. Sorry big guy, but Cerberus advances to the next round.
Big Foot is a term used for creatures belonging to a race known as Sasquatches. The earliest legends of Big Foot date back to 1860 in the Cascade Mountain range near present day Spokane, Washington. This area through the years have had numerous stories and sightings over the years of hominid, ape-like creatures. The first recorded sighting came from the diary of Elkanah Walker, a missionary pioneer in the Washington area. In his diary, he reported that these creatures steal men in the middle of the night, have a strong stench, and steal fish from the nets of Indians. There have been similar sightings of Big Foot type creatures in various areas around the world.
These creatures are reported to be between seven and ten feet tall and weigh in excess of five hundred pounds. They have massive feet and hands and are considered to be powerful. There is speculation that these creatures are part of a race of creatures known as Gigantopithecus, which originated in Asia and migrated to North America.
Cerberus
Cerberus was a massive three-headed hound, who guarded the gates of Hades. He was tasked with preventing the dead from leaving the underworld. Cerberus has a serpent’s tail, a mane of snakes, and a lion’s claws. For one of Hercules’s twelve labors, he had to fetch Cerberus from the underworld without the use of weapons.
According to legend, Cerberus was one of the monsters born from the union of Echidna and Typhon. Echidne was half-woman, half-serpent, while Typhon was the most fierce of all creatures. Their other children were other hideous monsters: Hydra, Chimera, and Orthrus.
Big Foot is basically a big scary ape. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t want to come across one of these creatures the next time I’m hiking in the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest, but Cerberus is massive, powerful, and could tear the ape apart. Granted, Hercules was able to best the beast, but trust me, Big Foot is no Hercules. Between the powerful jaws, jagged teeth, claws, and all of those snakes, Cerberus would eat Big Foot for breakfast. Sorry big guy, but Cerberus advances to the next round.
