Aaron Denius's Blog, page 5
January 8, 2015
TV Review: Galavant
Starting today I intend on writing TV show reviews for all the new shows I watch. The reviews will only cover the pilot episode and will be rated on a 4 level scale: Must Watch, DVR Worthy, Take it or Leave it, & Meh.
I will also post reviews occasionally on existing shows or old shows I discover. I hope you enjoy!
Galavant
I first became excited about this show when I read the pilot script over a year ago. I remember rooting pretty hard for it when the networks were announcing their pilot pickups. Though it wasn’t picked up for its regular schedule, I was definitely happy to see that ABC opted to still shoot it and turn it into a 4 week miniseries or event or whatever it is they call it.
The show stars Joshua Sasse as Galavant as he seeks revenge on King Richard (Timothy Omundson) for stealing away the love of his life, Madalena (Mallory Jansen). The plot is fairly simple and straightforward.
What makes this show fun is that it’s a musical comedy. A self-aware musical comedy. They often make note of how the song is wasting precious time or that it’s revealed a piece of valuable information. With songs like “Hero’s Journey” and “Maybe You’re Not the Worst Thing Ever”, you will be watching this show with a smile on your face and find yourself humming along.
It is a show that fits quite snuggly into the niche category that “Monty Python Search For The Holy Grail” and “Princess Bride” reside in. Though there were a few eye rolling moments, I did find myself enjoying it and laughing frequently. One scene in particular had me slapping my knee laughing (I really did slap my knee). That scene was the joust. If you saw it, you know what I’m talking about. If you didn’t, its worth seeing for that scene alone.
I could easily see this show gathering a cult following.
“Galavant” airs on Sundays at 8pm on ABC
My rating: DVR Worthy
January 5, 2015
My Top 10 Films of 2014
So here is my top 10 list for the films that I saw in 2014. Though I saw nearly 50 new movies, there are quite a few that I didn’t see that might have made the list. So without further ado:
1. Boyhood - All the feels. Groundbreaking.
2. The Grand Budapest Hotel - Wes Anderson’s best and a giggle fest. I rhymed on purpose.
3. Gone Girl - Who knew Ben Affleck could act?
4. The Lego Movie - Everything is awesome!
5. Guardians of the Galaxy - Did you buy your dancing Groot action figure yet?
6. The Theory of Everything - I had no idea that Stephen Hawking had such a healthy libido.
7. Birdman - I’m still not sure I understand it, but I’m pretty sure I liked it.
8. The Imitation Game - Dbo zpv efdjqifs uijt dpef?
9. Edge of Tomorrow - Action Groundhog Day
10. Captain America: The Winter Soldier - A villain named Bucky.
Best Crowdsourcing Achievement in Film
Wish I Was Here - Zach Braf asks for your money
Best Guilty Pleasure Film
Godzilla - Did you see when he spit fire????
Special Category
Young Adult Dystopian Films (I liked them all)
1. Divergent
2. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay
3. The Maze Runner
Films that might have made the Top 10 if I had seen them: The Fault in Our Stars, Selma, Wild, Foxcatcher, Nightcrawler.
Do you agree?
What will make the cut in 2015?
My Top 10 Films of 2013
I plan to blog more this year. Especially as I embark on a giant journey. (Details to come next week).
Let’s kick it off with my Top 10 of 2013:
1. GRAVITY - Sandy sees dead Clooney…In Space!
2. HER - Do you love me SIRI? “Yes, but I’m also a whore”
3. THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER…
My Top 10 Films of 2012
I promised myself I would write more in this blog this year. So I am expanding to include film and TV reviews. To start; here are the Top 10 movies that I watched in 2012—
1. Beasts of the Southern Wild - A Hushpuppy in a Bathtub. Best performance by a kid I have ever seen.
2. Life of Pi - 2 hours to tell one version of the story, 5 minutes to tell the other. Which was the real version?
January 1, 2015
Resolutions: What they should be.
Every year people close out one year and start the next by giving themselves resolutions for the coming year. Time and time again, they fail to fulfill this resolutions, thus falling into a habit of making empty promises to themselves each year. So I want to offer up two alternative meaning to the word resolution that are easier to achieve and a much better way to live.
First, the definition of the word as most people use it on New Years.
Resolution: n. a decision to do something or to behave in a certain manner
Now for the definitions you should use.
1. Resolution: n. something settled or resolved.
This is a very important definition because if you live by it you can bring closure to the things that hold you back. On the 1st of each year, instead of saying “This is what I’m going to do in 2015” say “This is what I did in 2014 and now that’s over”.
This definition gives you the ability to start the year with a clean slate. Everything from the past year is resolved and you will carry forward no baggage.
2. Resolution: n. the number of pixels per square inch on a computer-generated display; the greater the resolution, the better the picture
This definition is obscure, sure. But when it comes to referring to our TV’s or computer screens, A higher resolution means better clarity. So use this definition to strive to gain more clarity in your life. We live in a world of forced ADD and we take little time to appreciate the beauty around us and within us. Take moments throughout the year to focus on yourself and on the world and find clarity in who you are.
I can’t promise you that you will be happier if you follow these definitions instead, but what I can promise you is that you will live differently.
December 31, 2014
2014: A Review
As I sit here eating my cream of wheat reflecting on my year, the first thing that pops into my head is that my year has been full of almosts. The word of the year this year has definitely been patience. A quality that is typically very strong in me, but this year it was challenged.
2014 will be remembered as the year I wrote my first novel. The biggest accomplishment of my life to date and a fulfillment of a dream I have had since middle school. Without a doubt it will trump anything else that happened during the year, good or bad.
Writing this book was one of the most challenging experiences I have ever had. The longest piece of work I had written prior to this was about 120 pages. This 360 page journey took me 7 months and the entire process was enjoyable.
The almost aspect of this has come after the book’s release. Sales have been slow and, though it seems like there is a lot of genuine interest and the feedback has been overwhelmingly good, the sales haven’t picked up. I know however, that I need to be patient.
This book was born because my TV writing career has been slow. Another instance of my needing to be patient. I wasn’t going to let not getting on a new show discourage me, so I opted to do something for myself, and that was write the book.
On a side note, I did book a commercial photoshoot as an actor/model. So that was a fun bonus.
Hopefully next year will be the payoff for all this patience!
December 27, 2014
Reviews for my book "Gene. Sys."
I wanted to share some of the blogger reviews for my book “Gene. Sys.”
You can get my book here: bit.ly/GeneSys
My Book Nook
"From the start I was completely enthralled. The author created a world and scenario and characters that were real and believable."
" I read this in one sitting. And I really enjoyed this book, and it was upsetting when my nook reached the last page and I couldn’t turn it anymore. I want a book 2. I want to keep going."
Book Geek
“I adored this novel and I’m so disappointed it ended and I honestly, hand on heart, hope that there is a follow up because I want to see how the Gensys get on after the end of the world.”
“I couldn’t put this book gown it honestly captivated me and hooked me in a way that I didn’t think it would or could. I am so glad that I was offered this opportunity to read it.
Now please tell me there will be a book 2!”
Books and Opinions
“A spectacular YA novel, this Dystopian story will have you waiting anxiously for the next book by Aaron Denius Garcia.”
December 26, 2014
Movie Review: "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies"
So rather than retell what happens in this movie (A lot less walking than in the first two), I’m going to talk about an observation that I made regarding Gandalf.
*Spoilers ahead*
Gandalf is insanely useless as a wizard and the dwarves and Bilbo would have been better off had they befriended that animal wizard Radagast. In this movie alone, Radagast saves the day twice. He swoops in to save Gandalf from ghosts and then he brings the animals in during the final battle to turn the tables and give the dwarves the edge. Meanwhile, Gandalf smokes his pipe and tells Bilbo not to do anything. Oh, and he rides a horse to warn the humans, that guess what? Radagast gave him.
Hell, even in the Lord of the rings, Radagast send the eagle to save Frodo and Sam. Imagine if Radagast had helped Frodo in the beginning. They could have flown the eagle from the start and just dropped the ring into the volcano. It also would have spared us about 20 hours of movie time watching dwarves and hobbits walk.
* * 2 out of 5 stars
December 23, 2014
Movie Review: "Exodus: Gods and Kings"
I watch so many movies each year, I figure that I really should write reviews. So here goes.
*Spoilers Ahead*
Most people are pretty familiar with the story of Moses. This movie, Directed by Ridley Scott, however, had quite an interesting take. Moses (Christian Bale) starts off as somewhat of a gladiator with no problem killing people. He actually starts off by killing more people than Ramses (Joel Edgerton), who is portrayed as a bit of a pussy.
Blah, blah, blah. Shit happens with a lot of talking and some guy offering Moses some homoerotic pleasure. Moses turns him down, so the guy tells Ramses that Moses is a Hebrew. Ramses banishes Moses, so Moses wanders the desert growing a beard. He meets a woman and has a kid who both tell him not to climb a mountain because God said so. So Moses of course climbs.
While climbing, a rockslide occurs and Moses hits his head. Then, while buried in mud, he hallucinates a burning bush and some kid that tells him he needs to go free the Hebrews from Ramses. Moses doesn’t question it because hey, the kid spoke eloquently.
His wife says, “don’t leave me, what about our vows?” Moses says, “bitch please, some kid claiming to be God said that if I stay here with you I will never amount to anything”
So Moses goes and kills some more people in an attempt to liberate his people. The God kid gets frustrated with Moses’ slow progress because he wants vengeance and he wants it now! (This is very close to what was actually said). The God kid tells Moses to sit back and watch what he can do because he wants to make the Egyptians suffer just as they made the Hebrews suffer. Definitely not a turn the other cheek moment.
The plagues come. Starting with the thrashing of crocodiles akin to a cheesy sci-fi horror movie. Finally Ramses gives in and flings some child doll in Moses’ face and tells him to make like a tree and leaf. Moses leads his people, but oh no, the Red Sea is in the way and Ramses is chasing because he’s thirsting for blood. So what does Moses do? He gives up and throws his sword into the sea.
You all know the rest of the story from here. The Red Sea parts, blah, blah, blah.
The moral of this movie is, if you go against your wife’s wishes you can accomplish great things.
Other notes: The accents were horrible, sometimes comical. The special effects were ok and sometimes looked like the movie was made in the 1940’s
* * 2 out of 5 Stars
December 18, 2014
You Need a Hobby
One of the most surprising things that I tend to come across through my endeavors with other artists, is the lack of hobbies each one has. Specifically artistic hobbies.
Art is the way the heart, soul and emotions communicate. But what happens when art is your career?
Most people who do not pursue an artistic career tend to have artistic hobbies. It’s what balances them in their lives. They might be a lawyer, but they like to draw on the side. They could be an accountant, but they also play the bass.
As artists, we tend to take these things for granted. We still need that emotional creative release. Sure, our careers can aid in this emotional release, it’s our muse, it’s what motivates us. But if this is your only output for said emotions, you risk being overwhelmed and burned out. So look for a separate outlet. Mine are painting and playing the bass. Sometimes I even sew. Doing these things always helps me distance myself from my current project, if only for a brief moment. So when I return to my project I am refreshed and not emotionally stressed because of some stupid shit that might have happened.
The added bonus to having a hobby is that you will learn to appreciate other forms of art and you will increase your artistic knowledge. Therefore becoming a stronger artist in your career pursuits.
