Gloria Oliver's Blog, page 67
March 15, 2014
Movie Review - 300: Rise of an Empire
300: Rise of an Empire
Starring: Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, Lena Heady, Hans Matheson, Callan Mulvey, David Wenham, Rodrigo Santoro, Jack O'Connell, Andrew Tiernan, Igar Naor, and more.
Directed by: Noam Murro Screenplay by: Zack Snyder and Kurt Johnstad Based on the Graphic Novel by: Frank Miller Cinematography by: Simon Duggan Music by: Junkie XL
Premise: Starting before the events of the "300", Queen Gorgo tells the story of Themistocles and his inadvertent triggering ten years before of events which drove Xerxes to wonder the dessert and absorb pure evil to become a God King with only one goal, the complete destruction of Athens and all Greece and everything they represent. (Rated PG-13)
Review:
1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Sullivan Stapleton did well as the tactician and guilt burdened Athenian Themistocles. Being made to follow the more intense King Leonidas (as portrayed by Gerard Butler in the original "300"), placed a major handicap on Stapleton's performance, as viewers can't help but compare the two, especially as Leonidas is mentioned several times. Lena Heady reprises her role as Queen Gorgo, and she makes it incredibly easy to believe she is a true Spartan Queen. Eva Green was great as the violated and vengeful Artemisia. She exuded both competence as a tactician and general and a poisonous sexuality that was enthralling.
2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: While the original "300" stuck to battles on land, "300: The Rise of an Empire" is filled with sea battles and close hand to hand combat. The recreations of the ships and execution of attacks looked amazing. Creative blood splatter and appendage removal populate the film throughout. In the beginning, the audience is given an unusual treat, by seeing first hand why helmets and other armor are quite important during battles, despite not seeming so in most movie combat. Helmets and armor/shields can definitely make the difference, even if later on helmets grew out of favor. (Hollywood has always appeared to believe that if you can't see an actor's face, the audience will think less of the film. Anyone who's watched "Dredd" with Karl Urban, can testify that not seeing the actors full face can actually work very well.)
The only thing that could have been done better with regards to the special effects and CGI would have been the introduction of certain details which were eventually revealed in later battles, but would have made the experience so much better if they'd shown them straight from the beginning. For example, the manner by which the Greeks kept their place on deck during ramming maneuvers, or the fact they too were using rowers to power their ships.
3) Story - Thumbs Up: Like the "300", "300: Rise of an Empire" clings to the general history of the period, then spices it up with a little mysticism for added flavor. The timeline pulls back to before the "300" then works up to it and beyond. The most fun was the fact they kept the tactics of several of the sea battles of the time, which were a lot of fun to watch being carried out.
Artemisia was indeed a female naval general in the navy of Xerxes, and she was deemed quite capable and intelligent, but the rest of the information imparted about her in the film is not accurate, although it did make for some great motivation for wanting to destroy Greece. From what I read, it was Xerxes who ordered the naval attacks against the Greeks in open water, while Artemisia had counselled against them, already aware of the Greeks prowess on the water.
4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: The film has a beach side battle and many sea battles with close hand to hand combat. Several of these get the slow motion treatment, making their savagery beautiful. The shield and helmet use showed clearly why they were such necessary articles in warfare of this type. Outstanding choreography on all the battle sequences.
5) Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: The visuals close up were great, and so were the far off shots showing a burning Athens, the fields of ships poised for battle, and other locations. When the Greeks first go against the Persian's in the sea, just seeing the view of the hundreds of masts, then the giant waves bringing the ships down right on top of them was an awesome visual.
Conclusion: "300: Rise of an Empire" does not reach the heights of the original "300" but offers a lot to enjoy regardless. Seeing the sea battles and cool tactics employed was a definite treat. Getting to watch the Athenians battle with their shields offensively and defensively? Priceless.
Rating: 3.75 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)
Starring: Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, Lena Heady, Hans Matheson, Callan Mulvey, David Wenham, Rodrigo Santoro, Jack O'Connell, Andrew Tiernan, Igar Naor, and more.
Directed by: Noam Murro Screenplay by: Zack Snyder and Kurt Johnstad Based on the Graphic Novel by: Frank Miller Cinematography by: Simon Duggan Music by: Junkie XL
Premise: Starting before the events of the "300", Queen Gorgo tells the story of Themistocles and his inadvertent triggering ten years before of events which drove Xerxes to wonder the dessert and absorb pure evil to become a God King with only one goal, the complete destruction of Athens and all Greece and everything they represent. (Rated PG-13)
Review:
1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Sullivan Stapleton did well as the tactician and guilt burdened Athenian Themistocles. Being made to follow the more intense King Leonidas (as portrayed by Gerard Butler in the original "300"), placed a major handicap on Stapleton's performance, as viewers can't help but compare the two, especially as Leonidas is mentioned several times. Lena Heady reprises her role as Queen Gorgo, and she makes it incredibly easy to believe she is a true Spartan Queen. Eva Green was great as the violated and vengeful Artemisia. She exuded both competence as a tactician and general and a poisonous sexuality that was enthralling.
2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: While the original "300" stuck to battles on land, "300: The Rise of an Empire" is filled with sea battles and close hand to hand combat. The recreations of the ships and execution of attacks looked amazing. Creative blood splatter and appendage removal populate the film throughout. In the beginning, the audience is given an unusual treat, by seeing first hand why helmets and other armor are quite important during battles, despite not seeming so in most movie combat. Helmets and armor/shields can definitely make the difference, even if later on helmets grew out of favor. (Hollywood has always appeared to believe that if you can't see an actor's face, the audience will think less of the film. Anyone who's watched "Dredd" with Karl Urban, can testify that not seeing the actors full face can actually work very well.)
The only thing that could have been done better with regards to the special effects and CGI would have been the introduction of certain details which were eventually revealed in later battles, but would have made the experience so much better if they'd shown them straight from the beginning. For example, the manner by which the Greeks kept their place on deck during ramming maneuvers, or the fact they too were using rowers to power their ships.
3) Story - Thumbs Up: Like the "300", "300: Rise of an Empire" clings to the general history of the period, then spices it up with a little mysticism for added flavor. The timeline pulls back to before the "300" then works up to it and beyond. The most fun was the fact they kept the tactics of several of the sea battles of the time, which were a lot of fun to watch being carried out.
Artemisia was indeed a female naval general in the navy of Xerxes, and she was deemed quite capable and intelligent, but the rest of the information imparted about her in the film is not accurate, although it did make for some great motivation for wanting to destroy Greece. From what I read, it was Xerxes who ordered the naval attacks against the Greeks in open water, while Artemisia had counselled against them, already aware of the Greeks prowess on the water.
4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: The film has a beach side battle and many sea battles with close hand to hand combat. Several of these get the slow motion treatment, making their savagery beautiful. The shield and helmet use showed clearly why they were such necessary articles in warfare of this type. Outstanding choreography on all the battle sequences.
5) Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: The visuals close up were great, and so were the far off shots showing a burning Athens, the fields of ships poised for battle, and other locations. When the Greeks first go against the Persian's in the sea, just seeing the view of the hundreds of masts, then the giant waves bringing the ships down right on top of them was an awesome visual.
Conclusion: "300: Rise of an Empire" does not reach the heights of the original "300" but offers a lot to enjoy regardless. Seeing the sea battles and cool tactics employed was a definite treat. Getting to watch the Athenians battle with their shields offensively and defensively? Priceless.
Rating: 3.75 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)
March 12, 2014
Picture Kaleidoscope 3/12/14
Morning!
Godafoss Sunrise by Erez Maron at Earthots.org - Beautiful!
Erez Maron has even more amazing work at his site. Lovely!
Even Though For Once You're Shining by JP Benante at Earthshots.org
JP Benante has more funky titled photos at his site. :) Nice!
Looks almost like a company logo, no? Heh heh. Great Egret in Breeding Plumage by Ronald L Day at Earthshots.org
Oh! That's adorable! Ronald L Day has it going on!
Gotta run! Enjoy!
Godafoss Sunrise by Erez Maron at Earthots.org - Beautiful!
Erez Maron has even more amazing work at his site. Lovely!
Even Though For Once You're Shining by JP Benante at Earthshots.org
JP Benante has more funky titled photos at his site. :) Nice!
Looks almost like a company logo, no? Heh heh. Great Egret in Breeding Plumage by Ronald L Day at Earthshots.org
Oh! That's adorable! Ronald L Day has it going on!
Gotta run! Enjoy!
March 10, 2014
Mind Sieve 3/10/14
Another Monday is upon us! o.O
Fan Fun
From the Key of Awesome - Shakira - Can't Remember To Forget You (Rihanna Parody) So weird! But sort of catchy! Hah!
Sin City: A Dame To Kill For Official Trailer - Ooooh I love me some Frank Miller!
Star Wars The Clone Wars: The Lost Missions - Waaaaaahhhh? Had not heard of these. Look awesome! Same group and voice actors as the TV series. Hopefully the script writing got bumped up again.
Grace of Monaco Trailer - looks interesting.
The Box Trolls Official Trailer #3 - this is going to be a fun one!
Jinn Official Trailer - Supernatural Thriller - Oooo!
Social Media/Author Platform25 Tips Fir Speaking To Other Humans On The Internet by Chuck (NSFW) Wendig. Great advice!
How To Create Visual Social Media Content by Patricia Redsicker at the Social Media Examiner. A ton of links to even more info and hints too! Dang!
Writing AdviceCould We Be a Good Editor? fab post by Jami Gold. Truly great info if you're looking to become a good editor. Wish I could just do better editing myself! lol.
From Kristen Lamb - Is Fear Driving You Forward or Dragging You Under?
Hope you have an awesome week!
Fan Fun
From the Key of Awesome - Shakira - Can't Remember To Forget You (Rihanna Parody) So weird! But sort of catchy! Hah!
Sin City: A Dame To Kill For Official Trailer - Ooooh I love me some Frank Miller!
Star Wars The Clone Wars: The Lost Missions - Waaaaaahhhh? Had not heard of these. Look awesome! Same group and voice actors as the TV series. Hopefully the script writing got bumped up again.
Grace of Monaco Trailer - looks interesting.
The Box Trolls Official Trailer #3 - this is going to be a fun one!
Jinn Official Trailer - Supernatural Thriller - Oooo!
Social Media/Author Platform25 Tips Fir Speaking To Other Humans On The Internet by Chuck (NSFW) Wendig. Great advice!
How To Create Visual Social Media Content by Patricia Redsicker at the Social Media Examiner. A ton of links to even more info and hints too! Dang!
Writing AdviceCould We Be a Good Editor? fab post by Jami Gold. Truly great info if you're looking to become a good editor. Wish I could just do better editing myself! lol.
From Kristen Lamb - Is Fear Driving You Forward or Dragging You Under?
Hope you have an awesome week!
March 9, 2014
Virtual Tourist - Thief 3/9/14
Morning!
3 out of 4 people at the house are currently playing Thief now. Heh heh (I take credit for this! As I was the one who introduced them all to the original years ago and we've loved first person sneakers ever since. Woot!)
There are so many things I am LOVING about this fourth incarnation. There are also a few things I am HATING about it. Luckily the love is winning by a large margin!
The Watch is everywhere.
Beams and vents and all sorts of places to get in trouble with. Fog permeates everywhere, which is weird.
New for Thief 4 - collectibles! There are different types. What's cool is that as you gain them and go back to the tower, they get displayed there. This one is Client Loot
Unique loot. There's several others. You're also collecting newspapers, documents, snake bracelets, plaques, and other weird stuff.
It is a very gritty city now.
Cool avenues off the ground you can use to get around the city. Though the whole place is something of a maze and the higher level stuff even more so. Can get a little frustrating.
My home is in the clock tower.
Isn't it awesome? Though super dusty because I have been gone for a year!
Collectibles and paintings go over there in that corner.
Garrett - still with the two colored eyes. :)
The sky is amazing.
Basso, he's good for giving me jobs and information. You can buy a bond to secure his loyalty and a price cut.
Even better look at Garrett's eyes. :)
The store (a guy outside of Basso's place). Some tools are not available till you complete certain chapters. Blunt arrows are your best friend! Water and rope arrows a total must. There's also lock pick upgrades. And several new tools that will be must haves as they become available - wrench (for all the awesome ducts), wire cutters (cause there's traps to kill you with!), and a knife fur cutting out painting from their frames.
Basso lets me know I can get some info from the Queen of the Chapel.
She's the one that tells me I've been out of it for a year. Knows nothing about what may have happened to Erin.
Pic of the lock picking screen. You use the mouse and the E key. Woot! 3 tumblers to 5 so far.
I probably should do a Likes/Dislikes Top 10 list or something. Hmmm.
3 out of 4 people at the house are currently playing Thief now. Heh heh (I take credit for this! As I was the one who introduced them all to the original years ago and we've loved first person sneakers ever since. Woot!)
There are so many things I am LOVING about this fourth incarnation. There are also a few things I am HATING about it. Luckily the love is winning by a large margin!
The Watch is everywhere.
Beams and vents and all sorts of places to get in trouble with. Fog permeates everywhere, which is weird.
New for Thief 4 - collectibles! There are different types. What's cool is that as you gain them and go back to the tower, they get displayed there. This one is Client Loot
Unique loot. There's several others. You're also collecting newspapers, documents, snake bracelets, plaques, and other weird stuff.
It is a very gritty city now.
Cool avenues off the ground you can use to get around the city. Though the whole place is something of a maze and the higher level stuff even more so. Can get a little frustrating.
My home is in the clock tower.
Isn't it awesome? Though super dusty because I have been gone for a year!
Collectibles and paintings go over there in that corner.
Garrett - still with the two colored eyes. :)
The sky is amazing.
Basso, he's good for giving me jobs and information. You can buy a bond to secure his loyalty and a price cut.
Even better look at Garrett's eyes. :)
The store (a guy outside of Basso's place). Some tools are not available till you complete certain chapters. Blunt arrows are your best friend! Water and rope arrows a total must. There's also lock pick upgrades. And several new tools that will be must haves as they become available - wrench (for all the awesome ducts), wire cutters (cause there's traps to kill you with!), and a knife fur cutting out painting from their frames.
Basso lets me know I can get some info from the Queen of the Chapel.
She's the one that tells me I've been out of it for a year. Knows nothing about what may have happened to Erin.
Pic of the lock picking screen. You use the mouse and the E key. Woot! 3 tumblers to 5 so far.
I probably should do a Likes/Dislikes Top 10 list or something. Hmmm.
March 7, 2014
Movie Review - Mr. Peabody and Sherman
Mr. Peabody and Sherman
Starring: Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Ariel Winter, Lauri Fraser, Guillaume Aretos, Allison Janney, Zach Callison, Stanley Tucci, Patrick Warburton, Mel Brooks, Steve Valentine, Stephen Colbert, Leslie Mann, and more.
Directed by: Rob Minkoff Screenplay by: Craig Wright Additional Dialogue by: Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon Based on the Series Produced by: Jay Ward Original Series Segment Created by: Ted Key Music by: Danny Elfman
Premise: While Mr. Peabody attempts to smooth over an incident with Sherman at school, Sherman tries to prove to his tormentor that he's not a liar by revealing to her the secret of the WABAC machine. Unfortunately, once she goes with Sherman traveling, Penny decides she's not coming back. So, Mr. Peabody must leave the dinner party and go with Sherman to try to convince her to come back. Things, however, do not go exactly as planned. (Rated PG)
Review:
1) Voice Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Dreamwork's casting for this film was outstanding. Ty Burrell had just the right voice for Mr. Peabody. Max Charles was adorable as Sherman. Ariel Winter showed her lovely range as Penny. Allison Janney made her character glow with malicious evil.
2) Artwork/Animation - Total Thumbs Up: Dreamworks always pays a great amount of attention to detail, and their work on "Mr. Peabody and Sherman" was no exception. Their renderings of the historical locations they traveled to were exquisite. Mr. Peabody's lab, the time tunnel, the WABAC itself all looked amazing. What was even more fun, however, were the bits in the art that seemed to be paying homage to other films or shows - the giant statues in the sphinx shaped like cobras, the WABAC's interior looking a lot like the bridge of the 1960's "Star Trek", a couple of other spots mirroring scenes from "Dr. Who".
That they included art bits in the ending credits of the original "Peabody's Improvable History" was a perfect touch. This was definitely a work of love.
3) Plot/Story - Total Thumbs Up: "Mr. Peabody and Sherman" is based on a 1959-1964 segment which appeared as part of the "Rocky and His Friends" and "The Bullwinkle Show" called "Peabody's Improbable History". The main points in the original segments were how the two of them would travel to important points in history and the off the wall way they would make things work out, and that all would eventually revolve around a pun or two. These traditions were definitely kept in the film.
What's most impressive about "Mr. Peabody and Sherman' is how Dreamworks took this bizarre concept of a genius dog and his adopted son who travel in time and infused it with real parent and children relationship issues, as well as several current topics pertaining to education and other agencies. Mr. Peabody may be the most accomplished dog or human of his day, but parenting doesn't always work as straightforward as science. I think many parents will resonate with the trials and feelings Mr. Peabody showed.
Puns and wordplay, as well as visual gags, are everywhere as well as an infusion of serious topics for parents and children alike to contemplate. There's even history to learn as many important events get explored, all seeded with accurate information as well as the 'not so much' kind the original segment was famous for.
4) Music - Total Thumbs Up: Danny Elfman did some marvelous music work on this film. While it carries his unique signature, it also lent itself quite engagingly to each of the times the group visits. Even better, there were riffs scattered here and there from other films and shows - "Stargate", "Lawrence of Arabia", and "The Matrix" to name a few.
Conclusion: "Mr. Peabody and Sherman" is a fun film. It gave homage to the original as well as to many other science fiction shows and did so verbally, visually, and even musically. It is a fan paradise for bits of homage, in-jokes, as well as nostalgia. Yet, the fast plot and smart script will keep both adults and kids thoroughly entertained. The short before the film called "Almost Home" is hilarious.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (Son-in-law and Daughter Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)
Starring: Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Ariel Winter, Lauri Fraser, Guillaume Aretos, Allison Janney, Zach Callison, Stanley Tucci, Patrick Warburton, Mel Brooks, Steve Valentine, Stephen Colbert, Leslie Mann, and more.
Directed by: Rob Minkoff Screenplay by: Craig Wright Additional Dialogue by: Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon Based on the Series Produced by: Jay Ward Original Series Segment Created by: Ted Key Music by: Danny Elfman
Premise: While Mr. Peabody attempts to smooth over an incident with Sherman at school, Sherman tries to prove to his tormentor that he's not a liar by revealing to her the secret of the WABAC machine. Unfortunately, once she goes with Sherman traveling, Penny decides she's not coming back. So, Mr. Peabody must leave the dinner party and go with Sherman to try to convince her to come back. Things, however, do not go exactly as planned. (Rated PG)
Review:
1) Voice Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Dreamwork's casting for this film was outstanding. Ty Burrell had just the right voice for Mr. Peabody. Max Charles was adorable as Sherman. Ariel Winter showed her lovely range as Penny. Allison Janney made her character glow with malicious evil.
2) Artwork/Animation - Total Thumbs Up: Dreamworks always pays a great amount of attention to detail, and their work on "Mr. Peabody and Sherman" was no exception. Their renderings of the historical locations they traveled to were exquisite. Mr. Peabody's lab, the time tunnel, the WABAC itself all looked amazing. What was even more fun, however, were the bits in the art that seemed to be paying homage to other films or shows - the giant statues in the sphinx shaped like cobras, the WABAC's interior looking a lot like the bridge of the 1960's "Star Trek", a couple of other spots mirroring scenes from "Dr. Who".
That they included art bits in the ending credits of the original "Peabody's Improvable History" was a perfect touch. This was definitely a work of love.
3) Plot/Story - Total Thumbs Up: "Mr. Peabody and Sherman" is based on a 1959-1964 segment which appeared as part of the "Rocky and His Friends" and "The Bullwinkle Show" called "Peabody's Improbable History". The main points in the original segments were how the two of them would travel to important points in history and the off the wall way they would make things work out, and that all would eventually revolve around a pun or two. These traditions were definitely kept in the film.
What's most impressive about "Mr. Peabody and Sherman' is how Dreamworks took this bizarre concept of a genius dog and his adopted son who travel in time and infused it with real parent and children relationship issues, as well as several current topics pertaining to education and other agencies. Mr. Peabody may be the most accomplished dog or human of his day, but parenting doesn't always work as straightforward as science. I think many parents will resonate with the trials and feelings Mr. Peabody showed.
Puns and wordplay, as well as visual gags, are everywhere as well as an infusion of serious topics for parents and children alike to contemplate. There's even history to learn as many important events get explored, all seeded with accurate information as well as the 'not so much' kind the original segment was famous for.
4) Music - Total Thumbs Up: Danny Elfman did some marvelous music work on this film. While it carries his unique signature, it also lent itself quite engagingly to each of the times the group visits. Even better, there were riffs scattered here and there from other films and shows - "Stargate", "Lawrence of Arabia", and "The Matrix" to name a few.
Conclusion: "Mr. Peabody and Sherman" is a fun film. It gave homage to the original as well as to many other science fiction shows and did so verbally, visually, and even musically. It is a fan paradise for bits of homage, in-jokes, as well as nostalgia. Yet, the fast plot and smart script will keep both adults and kids thoroughly entertained. The short before the film called "Almost Home" is hilarious.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (Son-in-law and Daughter Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)
March 5, 2014
Picture Kaleidoscope 3/5/14
Running LATE!
Bavaro Dreams by Matt Anderson at Earthshots.org. Isn't this totally surreal looking? Love it! Lots of lovely pics at this site as well.
Wildlife Camera Captures Cougar Cubs and Their Mom Feeding On a Dear by DL Cade at PetaPixel.
Fighter Pilot Takes Truly Epic Selfie While Firing An Air-to-Air Missile in Training article by DL Cade. Nice!
Gotta go!
Bavaro Dreams by Matt Anderson at Earthshots.org. Isn't this totally surreal looking? Love it! Lots of lovely pics at this site as well.
Wildlife Camera Captures Cougar Cubs and Their Mom Feeding On a Dear by DL Cade at PetaPixel.
Fighter Pilot Takes Truly Epic Selfie While Firing An Air-to-Air Missile in Training article by DL Cade. Nice!
Gotta go!
March 3, 2014
Mind Sieve 3/3/14
Icemageddon 2 is upon us! We were just in the 70s a day or two ago!
Eek!!!
Fan Fun
Let It Go (Disney's "Frozen") Vivaldi's Winter - from the Piano Guys (Was a perfect fit for today! lol)
Goodbye World Trailer - Ah yes, such cheery thoughts. heh heh.
In the Blood Trailer - action film with a female kick-ass who actually looks like it~! Sweet!
Godzilla Trailer - Oh YEAH! You get a peak at him! Love them ridges. Heh heh.
The Art of the Steal Trailer - never even heard of it. Can't tell if it's been delayed or went straight to DVD. Looks like a comedic version of Ocean's Eleven. Heh heh
Transformers 4 The Age Of Extinction Trailer - A dragon transformer? Oooo!
Social Media/Author PlatformLinked-In Member Blocking: This Week In Social Media at the Social Media Examiner. Article by Cindy King.
That "Friend Zone" Bullshit from Chuck (NSFW) Wending. It includes a nice excerpt from one of his books, which so totally nails the point. lol. (Please take the NSFW part seriously!)
Writing AdviceFrom Kristen Lamb - Is You Subconscious Mind Setting You Up For Failure? Very interesting post!
How Can We Identify a Good Editor? by Jami Gold - a MUST READ. The line she highlights is probably the most important one. And even small publishers run into people like this. (Have been doing editing sessions with one of my publishers the last few weeks and it truly is humbling to see all the red, but I am so grateful for it! I apologized for making her work so hard, but she said I was easy, especially compared to some of the authors who fight her over every word. Eek!)
Stay warm all!
Eek!!!
Fan Fun
Let It Go (Disney's "Frozen") Vivaldi's Winter - from the Piano Guys (Was a perfect fit for today! lol)
Goodbye World Trailer - Ah yes, such cheery thoughts. heh heh.
In the Blood Trailer - action film with a female kick-ass who actually looks like it~! Sweet!
Godzilla Trailer - Oh YEAH! You get a peak at him! Love them ridges. Heh heh.
The Art of the Steal Trailer - never even heard of it. Can't tell if it's been delayed or went straight to DVD. Looks like a comedic version of Ocean's Eleven. Heh heh
Transformers 4 The Age Of Extinction Trailer - A dragon transformer? Oooo!
Social Media/Author PlatformLinked-In Member Blocking: This Week In Social Media at the Social Media Examiner. Article by Cindy King.
That "Friend Zone" Bullshit from Chuck (NSFW) Wending. It includes a nice excerpt from one of his books, which so totally nails the point. lol. (Please take the NSFW part seriously!)
Writing AdviceFrom Kristen Lamb - Is You Subconscious Mind Setting You Up For Failure? Very interesting post!
How Can We Identify a Good Editor? by Jami Gold - a MUST READ. The line she highlights is probably the most important one. And even small publishers run into people like this. (Have been doing editing sessions with one of my publishers the last few weeks and it truly is humbling to see all the red, but I am so grateful for it! I apologized for making her work so hard, but she said I was easy, especially compared to some of the authors who fight her over every word. Eek!)
Stay warm all!
March 2, 2014
Virtual Tourist - Thief 3/2/14
Morning, all!
(Overslept today! Nooooo)
As a player of the original Thief and all its incarnations, me and mine have been super pumped about getting to play Garrett again. Woot! (I've been totally jealous of my husband and daughter, they've been playing since Tuesday! I had to wait - to much to do! Waaaahhh) First person sneakers for the win!
A look at Garrett's city.
You start out in the middle of a robbery. The guy over there is only asleep. Luckily C (crouch) is something I am well acquainted with. Heh heh.
My first look at the city streets.
The night sky.
They've now added birds to the game. Too much movement makes them squawk/sing.
Sunrise.
The opposite side of the bay.
You get some instruction as you go along. Rope arrows are BACK! Just can't really use them often.
Garrett's old pupil. She's way insecure and somewhat blood thirsty. Competitive too.
View looking through key holes. The lock picking interface is kind of fun.
Citizens of the fair city.
Garrett himself.
Erin and I have a mission at the church
Here on the left you can see the tracking bubble (only 1 quest tracks at a time), and the darkness, health, and possibly focus meter. Noise is a factor too, just like in the original games. Oh yeah. On the right is an icon for water arrows. YES! They brought all 4 arrow types back - rope, water, fire, and moss.
Erin is looking down into the machinations below as we near our goal.
Meet the crazy dude.
Where they keep the jewel we were sent to get.
Yeah, things aren't looking good here.
Nooo definitely not.
Tried to leave before things got too weird, but she was having none of it.
She fell through.
Right into the middle of the chaos.
Guess who falls in after her...
Then I wake up here. Yes, inside a cart pulled by two guys who've definitely seen better days. The city has changed. Disease is rampant. Abuse of power, too. Later I find out I've been missing an entire year...
I also find out I can do something I could not do before - Focus - which makes certain things glow or lets me concentrate.
The city as it looks now.
My current goal, the watch tower, my home.
So far we've been enjoying the game a lot. The art style is good, though kind of rough looking for people. Lots and lots of play with light. Looking forward to seeing how more of it is! And they have collections! Bwahahahaha!
(Overslept today! Nooooo)
As a player of the original Thief and all its incarnations, me and mine have been super pumped about getting to play Garrett again. Woot! (I've been totally jealous of my husband and daughter, they've been playing since Tuesday! I had to wait - to much to do! Waaaahhh) First person sneakers for the win!
A look at Garrett's city.
You start out in the middle of a robbery. The guy over there is only asleep. Luckily C (crouch) is something I am well acquainted with. Heh heh.
My first look at the city streets.
The night sky.
They've now added birds to the game. Too much movement makes them squawk/sing.
Sunrise.
The opposite side of the bay.
You get some instruction as you go along. Rope arrows are BACK! Just can't really use them often.
Garrett's old pupil. She's way insecure and somewhat blood thirsty. Competitive too.
View looking through key holes. The lock picking interface is kind of fun.
Citizens of the fair city.
Garrett himself.
Erin and I have a mission at the church
Here on the left you can see the tracking bubble (only 1 quest tracks at a time), and the darkness, health, and possibly focus meter. Noise is a factor too, just like in the original games. Oh yeah. On the right is an icon for water arrows. YES! They brought all 4 arrow types back - rope, water, fire, and moss.
Erin is looking down into the machinations below as we near our goal.
Meet the crazy dude.
Where they keep the jewel we were sent to get.
Yeah, things aren't looking good here.
Nooo definitely not.
Tried to leave before things got too weird, but she was having none of it.
She fell through.
Right into the middle of the chaos.
Guess who falls in after her...
Then I wake up here. Yes, inside a cart pulled by two guys who've definitely seen better days. The city has changed. Disease is rampant. Abuse of power, too. Later I find out I've been missing an entire year...
I also find out I can do something I could not do before - Focus - which makes certain things glow or lets me concentrate.
The city as it looks now.
My current goal, the watch tower, my home.
So far we've been enjoying the game a lot. The art style is good, though kind of rough looking for people. Lots and lots of play with light. Looking forward to seeing how more of it is! And they have collections! Bwahahahaha!
February 28, 2014
Movie Review - The Wind Rises (Kaze Tachinu)
The Wind Rises (Kaze Tachinu)
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Martin Short, Stanley Tucci, Mandy Patinkin, Mae Whitman, Zach Callison, Jennifer Gray, and more.
Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki Screenplay and comic by: Hayao Miyazaki Music by: Joe Hisaishi
Premise: As a boy, Jiro always dreamed of planes and flying. But Jiro is nearsighted and will never fly. Yet in his dreams, Giovanni Caproni, the famous Italian aeronautical engineer, encourages him not to worry about flying, and instead to ride the wind and create beautiful flying machines instead. Having found his calling, Jiro strives toward his goal while also living through several major moments in Japan's history. He even finds love along the way. (Rated PG-13)
Review:
(This review is of the dubbed version of the film. Depending on your area, you can find "The Wind Rises" playing in the original Japanese with subtitles at the local art theaters.)
1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Walt Disney picked a great cast for the dubbed version of the Studio Ghibli film. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was very convincing as the voice of Jiro Horikoshi, very reserved yet deeply passionate in both his dreams and his goals. Emily Blunt brought some nice depth to Jiro's love Nahoko. By far, however, the character that will make the most impact is Mr. Kurokawa, played by Martin Short. Between the visuals of the man and Martin Short's portrayal of Jiro's boss, the character was a lot of fun.
2) Artwork/Animation - Total Thumbs Up: Studio Ghibli was in top form with this film. With Miyazaki directing it, it couldn't be otherwise. Strangely though, the longer the film went, the more beautiful it became. The characters themselves are in Miyazaki's signature style. The watercolor backdrops were gorgeous. The rooms, clothing, and machinery were all rendered in amazing detail.
Where the animation truly shines is in the sequences where reality and fantasy merge. As we head toward the climax it isn't the dream anymore showing the world, but the world being swept up by the dreams. As the film's title denotes, wind plays a metaphorical and physical part in events. The theme of wind even stems from the early days of Japan when a 'divine wind' saved the Japanese people from the invading fleets of Mongols. More ironic is the fact that the 'divine winds' or 'kamikaze' also played a part with the very planes Horikoshi developed for the Japanese navy.
3) Plot/Story - Total Thumbs Up: While this is a heavily fictionalized biography of the life of Jiro Horikoshi, Miyazaki imbued it with a lot of passion. It's also a great way to experience the lives of the Japanese during the years between World War I and World War II.
Miyazaki incorporated subtle touches of Japanese mythology into the work as well. The Great Kanto Earthquake and several other moments in the film had what can only be described as the sounds of the spirits which inhibit the land of Japan. These sounds added an extra layer to the world, and made it all the richer for it.
"The Wind Rises" is an adult film, one that builds over time, so there won't be much there for the younger viewers. The guys will love all the planes (Italian, German, and Japanese) as well as the engineering, while the gals will enjoy the beautiful vistas as well as the love story woven around it. (I heavily encourage taking tissues to this one.)
There are a lot of themes in the film, many of which are quite subtle - sacrifice, invention, looking to the future, living in the moment, the power of dreams.
Conclusion: "The Wind Rises" is another great film by Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki. Beautiful and intriguing, it is a film for adults rather than children. The film is rather sedentary, so don't expect a lot of action. But definitely bring some tissues...just in case.
Rating: 4 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Martin Short, Stanley Tucci, Mandy Patinkin, Mae Whitman, Zach Callison, Jennifer Gray, and more.
Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki Screenplay and comic by: Hayao Miyazaki Music by: Joe Hisaishi
Premise: As a boy, Jiro always dreamed of planes and flying. But Jiro is nearsighted and will never fly. Yet in his dreams, Giovanni Caproni, the famous Italian aeronautical engineer, encourages him not to worry about flying, and instead to ride the wind and create beautiful flying machines instead. Having found his calling, Jiro strives toward his goal while also living through several major moments in Japan's history. He even finds love along the way. (Rated PG-13)
Review:
(This review is of the dubbed version of the film. Depending on your area, you can find "The Wind Rises" playing in the original Japanese with subtitles at the local art theaters.)
1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Walt Disney picked a great cast for the dubbed version of the Studio Ghibli film. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was very convincing as the voice of Jiro Horikoshi, very reserved yet deeply passionate in both his dreams and his goals. Emily Blunt brought some nice depth to Jiro's love Nahoko. By far, however, the character that will make the most impact is Mr. Kurokawa, played by Martin Short. Between the visuals of the man and Martin Short's portrayal of Jiro's boss, the character was a lot of fun.
2) Artwork/Animation - Total Thumbs Up: Studio Ghibli was in top form with this film. With Miyazaki directing it, it couldn't be otherwise. Strangely though, the longer the film went, the more beautiful it became. The characters themselves are in Miyazaki's signature style. The watercolor backdrops were gorgeous. The rooms, clothing, and machinery were all rendered in amazing detail.
Where the animation truly shines is in the sequences where reality and fantasy merge. As we head toward the climax it isn't the dream anymore showing the world, but the world being swept up by the dreams. As the film's title denotes, wind plays a metaphorical and physical part in events. The theme of wind even stems from the early days of Japan when a 'divine wind' saved the Japanese people from the invading fleets of Mongols. More ironic is the fact that the 'divine winds' or 'kamikaze' also played a part with the very planes Horikoshi developed for the Japanese navy.
3) Plot/Story - Total Thumbs Up: While this is a heavily fictionalized biography of the life of Jiro Horikoshi, Miyazaki imbued it with a lot of passion. It's also a great way to experience the lives of the Japanese during the years between World War I and World War II.
Miyazaki incorporated subtle touches of Japanese mythology into the work as well. The Great Kanto Earthquake and several other moments in the film had what can only be described as the sounds of the spirits which inhibit the land of Japan. These sounds added an extra layer to the world, and made it all the richer for it.
"The Wind Rises" is an adult film, one that builds over time, so there won't be much there for the younger viewers. The guys will love all the planes (Italian, German, and Japanese) as well as the engineering, while the gals will enjoy the beautiful vistas as well as the love story woven around it. (I heavily encourage taking tissues to this one.)
There are a lot of themes in the film, many of which are quite subtle - sacrifice, invention, looking to the future, living in the moment, the power of dreams.
Conclusion: "The Wind Rises" is another great film by Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki. Beautiful and intriguing, it is a film for adults rather than children. The film is rather sedentary, so don't expect a lot of action. But definitely bring some tissues...just in case.
Rating: 4 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)
February 26, 2014
Picture Kaleidoscope 2/26/14
Howdy all!
Ladybugs by Marko Zamurovik - at Earthshots'org wow that's a ton of ladybugs. In the bigger pic the red just kind of goes "BAM". :) His website is filled with all manner of pics.
Sunrise at the Pier by Michael A Blanchette at Earthshots.org Almost looks like a pastel painting, doesn't it?
Michael A Blanchette has a lot of lovely pics at his site. Love the angle and the sun coming through the far end. Nice work!
A Dad's Labor of Love: Beautiful Wedding Photos of Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head - article by Gannon Burgett at PetaPixel. Photography by Chris Thornton. Cool stuff - so imaginative. From his website it looks like he really does do a lot of weddings. Heh heh
Convicts Share Words of Wisdom With Their Younger Selves in Powerful Photo Series - article by Gannon Burgett at Petapixel. Photography by Trent Bell. The article is fascinating and a little scary in a way. Trent has architectural and interior photos at his website that were fun to look at as well.
Have fun looking at everything! Till next time. :)
Ladybugs by Marko Zamurovik - at Earthshots'org wow that's a ton of ladybugs. In the bigger pic the red just kind of goes "BAM". :) His website is filled with all manner of pics.
Sunrise at the Pier by Michael A Blanchette at Earthshots.org Almost looks like a pastel painting, doesn't it?
Michael A Blanchette has a lot of lovely pics at his site. Love the angle and the sun coming through the far end. Nice work!
A Dad's Labor of Love: Beautiful Wedding Photos of Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head - article by Gannon Burgett at PetaPixel. Photography by Chris Thornton. Cool stuff - so imaginative. From his website it looks like he really does do a lot of weddings. Heh heh
Convicts Share Words of Wisdom With Their Younger Selves in Powerful Photo Series - article by Gannon Burgett at Petapixel. Photography by Trent Bell. The article is fascinating and a little scary in a way. Trent has architectural and interior photos at his website that were fun to look at as well.
Have fun looking at everything! Till next time. :)
