Thursday, December 20, 2012

Kludwika's Arts & Craps

I have added another link to my "Sites to Visit" links. That is to the etsy shop Kludwika's Arts & Craps . The shop is run by a good friend of mine. revrezner and my tree has a bunch of the ornaments from the shop on our tree.

The items are poop related so if you're childish like me you'll enjoy them.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

jtrc: Elementary (Part 1)

I begin this two parter by talking about adaptations.

Monday, December 17, 2012

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Title: An Unexpected Journey

Series: The Hobbit

Director: Peter Jackson

Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, and Richard Armitage

Rated: PG-13

Released: 2012

Personal Rating: 3.5/5

Oscars: N/A

Plot:  A younger and more reluctant Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, sets out on a "unexpected journey" to the Lonely Mountain with a spirited group of Dwarves to reclaim a their stolen mountain home from a dragon named Smaug.
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Beginning Scene Went On Too Long
I can understand that Peter Jackson wanted to tie The Hobbit Trilogy (starting with An Unexpected Journey) into his Lord of the Rings Trilogy. So when Bilbo started giving some backstory needed for this Trilogy, I didn't mind. It was nice seeing Bilbo, I won't deny that. But then it just on for way too long. I don't care about tying this up to the beginning of Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring to the point where Frodo mentions that he's going to surprise Gandalf. I went to see The Hobbit and not Lord of the Rings. This is a scene that needed to be shortened since it really adds nothing to the film as a whole (except the backstory given by Bilbo).

Gollum is Creepier
I can't believe that Gollum got creepier. I really don't know how that's possible since he is always creepy. The only reason I can think of that Gollum is creepier is due to the fact that he is in his element. Besides that, I really have no idea why Gollum creeped me out this time more than in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

The Misty Mountain Song
This was my favorite piece of music in the movie. I admit I'm biased towards music with lyrics. But it is really the vocals that makes this song so good. The atmosphere the song creates is wonderful to behold. The first time you hear it (the second time being during the credits) is when the dwarves are in Bilbo's house. What makes it seem to take on an even sadder tone during this scene is what Bilbo is going through. So hearing the song is both a reminder of what the dwarves have lost and the guilt Bilbo is experiencing.

Final Thoughts
I  went into this expecting a bad film. I have been angry for awhile that The Hobbit is being split up into three films (due to me seeing this as a blatant money grab thing). So with that low expectation, the movie was better than I was expecting. There wasn't a moment that I was bored during the entire movie. For those wondering, I haven't seen it in 48fps and saw it in the usual 24fps.

First Thoughts (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, 2012)

Warning: There be spoilers here!

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Let's Play Mario Kart Wii: Getting Gold (Parts 11-13)

I continue to try and get first place in all the cups.



S&N: The Rule of Logic 6

The room was of a moderate temperature and somewhat comfortable to humans. However, no one in the room took comfort in the temperature or the furniture. This wasn't surprising as what was to be discussed wouldn't be pleasant.


I turned to my left and looked at Samara. Nothing had seemed to happen when her and Mark had gone to investigate Playful Ballet. Samara was no closer to being Mark's lover than she was before.


Looking around the room I noticed Martha and Rebecca sitting closer than normal. I didn't blame them as they had recently nearly been separated. Mark was looking at both Samara and myself, as if his look would change our relationship. Stewart was looking calm as always. I scanned him and was reassured when it turned out that he was still human.


Elemental Earth Kered was lying on the couch as he had insisted on not holding a meeting in Sam's room. I didn't see the need to carefully move him as Sam's room would've held us all comfortably. But, humans being humans, held importance about a bedroom. I probably would've given the bedroom more importance if I had still been human.


As it was, I waited for Mark to start speaking. If he could get over his fear of speaking in front of an Elemental.


"Earth, Mark and Samara have a plan to deal with the Playful Ballet problem." I said when I felt Mark had spent too long remaining silent. Kered nodded and we all turned to face Mark.


"As you know," Mark said. "My team was called in to help Samara Crichton and Nazilla with Playful Ballet. Recently, Crichton and myself went to a Playful Ballet convention to explore options."


I kept silent and didn't say that him taking Samara was purely for his benefit. He wanted to take her out on a date and the only reason I hadn't stopped him was that Kered had been captured.


"We have found a way to take the front out." Mark continued and a faint smile formed on his lips. The fact that Kered hadn't interrupted him seemed to give him courage.


"The heads of the front will be gathered soon." Samara said. "Martha has already set a plan in motion to make sure the front won't be able to start up again once the leaders are killed."


"I still don't think we need to kill them." Martha said.


Kered sighed and everyone in the room tensed up. "Those who work with The Net aren't really people anymore." He replied. "Even Nazilla is more human than they are. The only sure way to stop them is to kill them."


"Unless they need to be tortured first for information." Samara added and had to hold back a look of revulsion.


Martha's only reaction was to nod.


"How soon will the attack on Playful Ballet be ready to execute?" Kered asked Mark.


"Two weeks." Mark replied and Kered responded with a nod.


"Can't wait to get The Net back for what they did." Rebecca said and pointed to her knee.


"The Net didn't capture me." Kered said and everyone but me looked confused. I felt confused but my body didn't show it. "Logic did."


"Logic?" Stewart asked.


"We have a new enemy." Kered continued. "Logic is a secret organization in The Net made purely up of Machines. Specifically, every Machine besides the M-3s and M-4s."


"Is it possible they are evolving themselves?" I asked. "When we went to rescue you, Kered, some of the Machines I scanned gave me an odd reading."


"What do you mean by odd?" Stewart asked.


"The readings from the scan said they were M-4s but something was off." I replied. "I can't explain it any other way."


"It is possible." Kered said. "Also, your rescue was probably made easier so that Logic could get knowledge of itself out. So that Karma would be in fear of being beaten on two fronts."


"I had heard mention of Logic before." I said, regretting that I hadn't picked up on the information sooner. "Before I escaped from Netty, I had heard a comment about Logic but just brushed it off."


"It wasn't your fault." Samara comforted me. "There were other things on your mind."


"Do you know how many things I can think of at once now?" I asked. "Because I was thinking of other things is no excuse for me to let something like that slip."


"Crichton, you can discuss Nazilla's failure with her later." Kered said and Sam turned her gaze back to Kered quickly.


A few minutes later the meeting ended and dinner was prepared. Since Kered was with us, I stood behind Samara and didn't pretend to actually be interested in food. I also remained silent as the conversation started.


The only piece of conversation I put any thought into was one of Kered's comments, "Never trust a Machine. Those things don't feel or think like we do. They don't care about us. Even if one helps you, don't trust it."
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Sunday, December 2, 2012

Let's Play Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (Parts 60 & 61)

I go to a pawn shop and meet up with Delilah.


Let's Play Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (Parts 57-59)

I go through the mall area.



S&N: The Rule of Logic 5

What did Kered's ramblings mean? I added that to my list of things to put in the background until Kered was at Sam's house. I turned to Rebecca and we shared a glance. I could tell that she was more than happy for the rescue mission to be half-way done.


I stepped out of the cell and just as my foot exited it, an alarm went off. Rebecca tensed up and then relaxed. It seemed like now that there was a threat she was used to, she could calm down.


"We don't have much time." Rebecca said with a smile starting to form on her face.


"Yes." I replied and followed Rebecca as she started to run. I was worried about the safety of Kered and that the mission would fail because there was only a human protecting me. The other worry at the moment was if I were to be reprogrammed by Netty that I would bring danger to Karma and Samara.


Three M-3s came to investigate us before we got out of the building. While they got out a few shots, Rebecca was able to shoot them down very quickly. This gave me hope that our mission would be successful.


A few seconds after that thought was formed, Rebecca was running through the building and shooting at the Machines that started shooting at us. After minutes of running through the building and nearly getting killed, we exited the building. As anyone could've guessed, there were other Machines out there too.


Yelling out run was illogical since what was to be done was obvious.


"Run!" Rebecca yelled and showed her humanity. I ran after her as shots followed us and she fired back.


I dodged fire and took the hits that I couldn't dodge. I was being very careful not to get Kered hit. Finally the car could be seen in the distance. Stewart was in the driver's seat with Martha riding shotgun.


Rebecca yelled out in joy about seeing the end of the mission, but then the yell of joy turned into a cry of pain. She fell down after being shot in the knee and Martha's mouth opened in anguish.


Finding a fallen comrade to be more important than this particular Elemental, I was about to run to help Rebecca when she waved me to go to the car. I nodded and ran as fast as I could. I turned back to see Rebecca limping at a pretty good pace.


When I reached the car I put Kered in a seat, buckled him up, and took out a gun and shot at the Machines pursuing Rebecca.


"Get in the car, Nazilla." Stewart ordered and I just continued to shoot the Machines trying to kill Rebecca.


As more fire hit me I started to think that protecting a fellow soldier was illogical. Just as I put my gun away Rebecca jumped into the car. I quickly followed her and shut the door as Stewart drove away.


The ride back, after we were away from the Machines, was very quiet. The only sound was the car and Kered's repetition of 'The Net' and 'logic'. Stewart seemed to be staying quiet because he was angry. Rebecca was out of breath and Martha was recovering from nearly losing her sister.


Upon reaching Sam's house we exited the car and entered the home. Mark and Samara had not yet returned. I took Kered up to Samara's room, put him on the bed, cleaned up his wounds, and stayed by his side.
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Saturday, December 1, 2012

Safe (2012)

Title: Safe

Director: Boaz Yakin

Starring: Jason Statham, Catherine Chan, and Chris Sarandon

Rated: R

Released: 2012

Personal Rating: 3.5/5

Oscars: N/A

Plot:  Mei, a young girl whose memory holds a priceless numerical code, finds herself pursued by the Triads, the Russian mob, and corrupt NYC cops. Coming to her aid is an ex-cage fighter whose life was destroyed by the gangsters on Mei's trail.
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The Body Count/Action
This movie has a pretty decent body count. And by pretty decent I mean a bunch of people seem to go down every scene. What makes this body count good, for me at least, is the action in this movie. The action keeps you on edge of your seat with enough downtime for you not to fall off.

Jason Statham
This movie is Jason Statham kicking a huge amount of ass. And boy does he do it very well in this movie. His sole companion (besides his badassness) is a little girl called Mei. Luckily she doesn't hamper him (except for giving away his position at one point in the movie) and even helps to kill a guy at one point.

A Little Complicated And A Little Simple
This movie is both complicated and simple to explain. It's simple to explain since all it really is about is Statham protecting a little girl (Mei) from different groups of people who want to use her to open a SAFE. It gets a little complicated when you take into account how Statham is related to the groups. There is the Russian Mob that have it in for Statham, the crooked cops that Statham used to help, and I guess Statham isn't connected to the Triads.

Final Thoughts
This movie is a fun movie to sit back and enjoy. Not every movie has to be philosophical to be good and this movie proves it. Safe knows what kind of movie it is and thrives in itself. If you want another movie where Statham beats the crap out of people, here is that movie.

First Response: Safe (2012)

I give my first thoughts on Safe (2012) starring Jason Statham.