Hayden Wiseman's Blog, page 2
January 5, 2015
The Best 5 Movies of 2014
I saw a lot of movies last year. Some of them were pretty good. Here are my favorites.
5. Interstellar
The new Nolan movie was loud. Not in that the volume was too high (even though it was) but because it resonated with me in a way other Nolan films haven’t. I know the film was probably supposed to inspire hope for the human race and space travel, but afterwards I was just kind of sad. I thought about all the fighting going on in the world. Then I looked out the window, up at the sky, and felt… distant.
That’s why it’s number five on this list. It’s a great movie, but I prioritize fun in terms of enjoyment.
4. Guardians of the Galaxy
I loved this movie. Some of my favorite films come from an era where most films were probably fueled by rampant cocaine consumption. I can’t imagine some of the films from the 80s being made otherwise. I picture some balding studio exec sitting up from his desk, nose still caked with white, saying, “A fuckin’ talkin racoon? Yeah, okay. Great idea. I’m on it.”
Probably the same studio exec who raised his head from his desk decades ago when asked if he’d fund They Live or Big Trouble in Little China.
“Aliens you can only see with special glasses!?” he says as he rubs his nose with sweaty hands and adjusts his aviators. “It’ll be the next Citizen Kane.”
Guardians is such an awesome blend of imagery and weird that I can only compare it to those 80s films. I think we all know it got made, not because of cocaine, but because of the MARVEL logo. It still evokes that era.
Because I mean really… Howard the Duck? Yeah. Cocaine made that.
3. Edge of Tomorrow
I reviewed this one, comparing the film to the version of the story told in the novella. I meant it when I said it was better than the book. Of the book adaptations I saw on screen in 2014 it was the best.
I saw Gone Girl, which was on a rough draft version of this list and probably would have occupied this spot if it hadn’t made me sick. While it was engaging it wasn’t a film I would watch again.
Edge of Tomorrow is on here because it’s a fun movie. It reminded me of Starship Troopers and it made me feel a lot like I did when I saw Guardians of the Galaxy. I was happy to be at the theater enjoying films in a genre I love so much.
Plus, you know, Tom Cruise gets hit by a truck.
2. John Wick
The American “Raid” if ever there could be a thing. Yes, I know The Raid is getting remade here in the states, but I don’t think it should be. John Wick is that film.
Of the films on this list John Wick has the best style. The fight scenes and the way Keanu Reeves utilized his guns were great. For most of the film, with one exception that I can think of, he didn’t fire a gun unless it was guaranteed to hit someone. It was realistic in a way other action films aren’t. I don’t recall the film having the same issues of “endless ammunition” that other action films have either.
Too bad it didn’t have the best action I’d seen this year. It could have been number one.
1. The Raid 2
Nothing hit harder or was more intense than this film. Where the first Raid was an over the top martial arts film with a simple story, The Raid 2 is The Godfather with even more brutal murder.
The film was criticized some for its pacing and the fact that the “crime story” was convoluted, but I didn’t think it was that bad. It was pretty standard fair for a crime film, but blending that kind of story with the kind of high-octane violence found in the previous Raid made the fight scenes all the more intense.
I’m still not entirely sure how it was only rated R and I don’t know how Gareth Evans can top this film, but I’m on board for whatever happens next.
December 17, 2014
Cannibal Dwarf Detective Review Round Up
I’m surprised by the reception Cannibal Dwarf Detective has been getting. Six five star reviews? Really!?
When Hunter and I were writing it I figured it would be good for a laugh, but I didn’t expect people to enjoy it. Not in the way that I enjoy it anyway.
Hunter keeps telling me about conversations he’s had with friends who’ve read the book. While those conversations don’t count as reviews, I am grateful for the feedback.
As for reviews that have actually been written on Amazon, here are a few:
“It’s filled with characters, locations, and situations that are as strange as they are funny. It’s a fanciful romp through a colorful adventure with some real meaning and implications under the surface. I always got caught up in the twisting story and sat and read it for long stretches of time. A great book, it never stopped surprising me all the way to the end.”
“This book is WTF-AMAZING! I don’t even. It has spoiled me. I can never read another work of fiction again. Bravo!”
“Truly the Tale of Two Cities or Atlas Shrugged of our generation. Pulitzer material.”
That last one is probably my favorite. Definitely a quote I’ll put on the back or front cover of the next book.
December 8, 2014
Quick Update
Hello!
I haven’t blogged in almost a month. Maybe longer. I’m not going to look at a calender or count the days.
The important thing is I’m back to writing! On here. I never stopped writing. I just didn’t put it on here.
I participated in and won my first NaNoWriMo and I’m letting that draft kind of settle before I work on it again. I’m planning on self-pubbing it.
In the mean time I’m working on the second Cannibal Dwarf Detective with my brother Hunter and biding my time until school starts again in January. I haven’t talked much about that on here, but I got into PSU’s Criminal Justice program and I’m looking forward to learning more soon.
November 11, 2014
October 31, 2014
NaNoWriMo 2014 Update
NaNoWriMo 2014 starts tonight at midnight. I’m excited and a bit nervous. I’ve never done this before. Luckily I’ve prepared a bit. I have a title and a synopsis of my book to get me started as well as some ideas for major plot points.
I just have to figure out how to get my inner editor to shut up and let my brain work without stopping. 1667 words a day? Pfft. No biggie.
I hope.
Anyway, my title is [TITLE REDACTED]. No that’s not a joke. That’s the title.
Here’s my synopsis:
“A sword-wielding vigilante is killing criminals by the dozen.
The traditional police force are doing their best to find the killer, but the government has given corporate-owned rent-a-cops power to police the police; the investigation is being hindered.
“Inkwell”, a journalist and self-proclaimed hacktivist dealing with censorship at work, finds herself caught in the chaos.”
I’ll post the occasional update on word counts as the month goes on. Maybe even excerpts if I don’t completely hate it.
Wish me luck!
