I go into one crazy Nightmare level.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Saturday, February 2, 2013
The Wind Through the Keyhole (Stephen King)
Title: The Wind Through the Keyhole
Series: The Dark Tower
Author: Stephen King
Released: 2012
Rating: 5/5
Basic Plot: Roland's group finds shelter during a deadly storm. Roland takes time to tell a story about his younger years as well as a childhood story his mother used to tell him.
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The Multi-Story Novel
This novel is told with the three stories interconnecting. It starts off with the ka-tet (long story short: it's Roland's group he travels with throughout The Dark Tower series) finding shelter from a deadly storm called a Starkblast. Once they are sheltered and the Starkblast has started, Roland ends up telling a story about his childhood. This second story opens up to the third story when Young Roland tells a faerie tale to the boy. The third story takes up the majority of the novel's length. When the third story ends it goes back to the second story and finally to the first one. I'm only explaining this at length because it's a little confusing going from story to story. Also I assume, you like me, are wondering how the three stories fit into this novel.
'The Wind Through the Keyhole'
The title of this novel comes from the story Roland's mother used to tell him. In the first story Roland remembers it because the ka-tet are in the way of a Starkblast. I assumed that a Starkblast would be a big part of the title story, but it was only a little part. The majority of the story dealt with a boy finding out about his father's death and how he reacts. While the story is very good, it makes me think that those in Gilead have a very different view about childhood if they tell their kids those kinds of stories.
The Dark Tower Series
So you're probably wondering if you should read the other Dark Tower books before reading this one. Good news, you don't have to. Stephen King is kind enough to give you the little information you need to know (to get you caught up to speed). If you're a reader of The Dark Tower series you can put this inbetween books 4 (Wizard and Glass) and 5 (Wolves of the Calla). So don't be afraid if this is your first Dark Tower book you pick up.
Final Thoughts
One of the things I had to grow used to was the language that's used in the book. The dialect that's used is hard to grasp at first and then grows easier as time goes on. On The Dark Tower wiki they bought out a few errors in the novel. One is about what happens to Roland after he kills his mother and the other is what he knows about the Crimson King. As for the latter, it's revealed during the third story so I didn't find it too hard to think Roland didn't think of that particular fact.
Series: The Dark Tower
Author: Stephen King
Released: 2012
Rating: 5/5
Basic Plot: Roland's group finds shelter during a deadly storm. Roland takes time to tell a story about his younger years as well as a childhood story his mother used to tell him.
---------------------------------------------------------
The Multi-Story Novel
This novel is told with the three stories interconnecting. It starts off with the ka-tet (long story short: it's Roland's group he travels with throughout The Dark Tower series) finding shelter from a deadly storm called a Starkblast. Once they are sheltered and the Starkblast has started, Roland ends up telling a story about his childhood. This second story opens up to the third story when Young Roland tells a faerie tale to the boy. The third story takes up the majority of the novel's length. When the third story ends it goes back to the second story and finally to the first one. I'm only explaining this at length because it's a little confusing going from story to story. Also I assume, you like me, are wondering how the three stories fit into this novel.
'The Wind Through the Keyhole'
The title of this novel comes from the story Roland's mother used to tell him. In the first story Roland remembers it because the ka-tet are in the way of a Starkblast. I assumed that a Starkblast would be a big part of the title story, but it was only a little part. The majority of the story dealt with a boy finding out about his father's death and how he reacts. While the story is very good, it makes me think that those in Gilead have a very different view about childhood if they tell their kids those kinds of stories.
The Dark Tower Series
So you're probably wondering if you should read the other Dark Tower books before reading this one. Good news, you don't have to. Stephen King is kind enough to give you the little information you need to know (to get you caught up to speed). If you're a reader of The Dark Tower series you can put this inbetween books 4 (Wizard and Glass) and 5 (Wolves of the Calla). So don't be afraid if this is your first Dark Tower book you pick up.
Final Thoughts
One of the things I had to grow used to was the language that's used in the book. The dialect that's used is hard to grasp at first and then grows easier as time goes on. On The Dark Tower wiki they bought out a few errors in the novel. One is about what happens to Roland after he kills his mother and the other is what he knows about the Crimson King. As for the latter, it's revealed during the third story so I didn't find it too hard to think Roland didn't think of that particular fact.
Elementary "The Red Team" Review
MacGuffin ahoy!
Friday, February 1, 2013
The Eternal Heart: New Recruit 2
While lying in my bed I thought about John. The perfect John Connor. At least that's how he appeared to me. If it weren't for him I would be dead. The only upside to being dead is that I would never know what I really was. Finding out that I was a hybrid had been bad enough, but finding out that I had been working for Skynet had been worse. And could John ever love a machine? Even if he wasn't already married?
As I ran through those thoughts in my head, I faintly heard knocking on my door. Coming back to the present I got off my bed and opened the door. A disinterested human face greeted me in my doorway.
"What is it?" I asked the woman.
"Katherine Connor orders you to come to Sickbay." She replied. Her voice somehow conveying both hatred and boredom at once.
"Are you going to walk me there?" I asked. For some reason I liked the way she looked and wanted to ask her to stay in my room for a little bit. But I couldn't because I had to show John that I was faithful. He had seemed to look past me being a hybrid and that I had been a pawn of Skynet. Not being faithful would be asking too much of him.
"No, I think you can find your own way." With that the woman walked away and I was left to walk to Sickbay myself.
I left only when I had gotten myself properly dressed. While walking to Sickbay I thought about why John would've married Katherine. While she was loyal, dedicated, and intelligent I couldn't see anything special about her. And when someone decided to marry, shouldn't the object of their affections be special?
Katherine was tending to a wounded soldier. I had to stand in the doorway for a few minutes before she even acknowledged me. It wasn't until after she had finished with the soldier that she said, "Jash, do you have any medical experience?"
The soldier got up, thanked Katherine, and then walked out of Sickbay.
"No," I replied as soon as the soldier had left. "I don't think Skynet had any need of me fixing any humans up. I mean, they never planned on a party for the Resistance. Not really that close."
"It probably wanted you to be a good killer, which means you had to know anatomy." Katherine said and walked to a table, ignoring my sarcastic answer. Things had been set up to look like a makeshift classroom.
Those were the last words that were spoken before I was getting tested on my medical skills. The testing went on for hours and it seemed like Katherine was being too hard on me. Of course it could just be that I was worn out from the distrust the Resistance had shown me so far. Or Katherine was being hard on me because she wanted to make sure of what I knew.
After the testing she gave me very basic medical training for the next two hours. When all of that was finished I leaned against the wall. While nothing physically draining had happened, the fact that I had been making sure not to say the wrong thing had worn me down.
"You did a better job than I expected." Katherine finally said.
"Thank you, Mrs. Connor." I said to show my gratitude and that I knew that John was her's. At least for the time being.
"One more thing before I let you go, though." She said and I could see that she was trying to control her hatred.
"What is it?" I asked.
"John Connor, my husband, is a very loyal man." Katherine said. "He won't let temptations get the better of him. No matter how much he wants them to. Do you understand me?"
"Yes." I reply and Katherine signaled me to leave. I did so with a happy thought in my head. The thought that Katherine felt threatened by me.
------------------------------------------
The Eternal Heart Blog aka The Wars Against Skynet
The Eternal Trilogy Facebook Page
The Eternal Heart Tumblr
As I ran through those thoughts in my head, I faintly heard knocking on my door. Coming back to the present I got off my bed and opened the door. A disinterested human face greeted me in my doorway.
"What is it?" I asked the woman.
"Katherine Connor orders you to come to Sickbay." She replied. Her voice somehow conveying both hatred and boredom at once.
"Are you going to walk me there?" I asked. For some reason I liked the way she looked and wanted to ask her to stay in my room for a little bit. But I couldn't because I had to show John that I was faithful. He had seemed to look past me being a hybrid and that I had been a pawn of Skynet. Not being faithful would be asking too much of him.
"No, I think you can find your own way." With that the woman walked away and I was left to walk to Sickbay myself.
I left only when I had gotten myself properly dressed. While walking to Sickbay I thought about why John would've married Katherine. While she was loyal, dedicated, and intelligent I couldn't see anything special about her. And when someone decided to marry, shouldn't the object of their affections be special?
Katherine was tending to a wounded soldier. I had to stand in the doorway for a few minutes before she even acknowledged me. It wasn't until after she had finished with the soldier that she said, "Jash, do you have any medical experience?"
The soldier got up, thanked Katherine, and then walked out of Sickbay.
"No," I replied as soon as the soldier had left. "I don't think Skynet had any need of me fixing any humans up. I mean, they never planned on a party for the Resistance. Not really that close."
"It probably wanted you to be a good killer, which means you had to know anatomy." Katherine said and walked to a table, ignoring my sarcastic answer. Things had been set up to look like a makeshift classroom.
Those were the last words that were spoken before I was getting tested on my medical skills. The testing went on for hours and it seemed like Katherine was being too hard on me. Of course it could just be that I was worn out from the distrust the Resistance had shown me so far. Or Katherine was being hard on me because she wanted to make sure of what I knew.
After the testing she gave me very basic medical training for the next two hours. When all of that was finished I leaned against the wall. While nothing physically draining had happened, the fact that I had been making sure not to say the wrong thing had worn me down.
"You did a better job than I expected." Katherine finally said.
"Thank you, Mrs. Connor." I said to show my gratitude and that I knew that John was her's. At least for the time being.
"One more thing before I let you go, though." She said and I could see that she was trying to control her hatred.
"What is it?" I asked.
"John Connor, my husband, is a very loyal man." Katherine said. "He won't let temptations get the better of him. No matter how much he wants them to. Do you understand me?"
"Yes." I reply and Katherine signaled me to leave. I did so with a happy thought in my head. The thought that Katherine felt threatened by me.
------------------------------------------
The Eternal Heart Blog aka The Wars Against Skynet
The Eternal Trilogy Facebook Page
The Eternal Heart Tumblr
Dead Space 3 -- Story Trailer [HD]
Here is a trailer of the upcoming game Dead Space 3. I am a fan of the Dead Space series and am very happy that there is going to be a fourth game released in this franchise.
Dark Shadows (2012)
Title: Dark Shadows
Based On the Soap Opera: Dark Shadows (1966-1971)
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Eva Green
Rated: PG-13
Released: 2012
Personal Rating: 3/5
Oscars: N/A
Plot: An imprisoned vampire, Barnabas Collins, is set free and returns to his ancestral home, where his dysfunctional descendants are in need of his protection.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Werewolf Reveal
This is the thing that pulled me out of the movie the most. Looking on imdb, it seems that there was some foreshadowing but when I watched it I didn't get it at all. Everything imdb mentioned either didn't concern the character directly or wasn't supported by enough evidence. So when the reveal happens I was just wondering what was going on. The character's dialogue, when the reveal happens, seems to be telling the audience to just shut up and accept it. Then, to add insult to injury, there is some backstory of how this character became a werewolf. Why do I say it adds insult to injury? This backstory was never even hinted at earlier. I checked and I can confirm the character in the original show was a werewolf. But it makes no sense for her to be one in this movie.
Angelique Bouchard
This character was one of the highlights of the movie. Like a good villain, her motives were very simple. They were one of a wronged lover whose sense of revenge was grand and extended far beyond her main target. Truth to be told, though, she was really a lover of Barnabas Collins whom was never intended for the long term. Barnabas never pretended Angelique was anything other than a booty call. It was only her that could never get over that fact. I like that backstory.
The 'Sex Fight Scene'
This scene is mentioned on imdb as the 'sex fight scene' which is really a misnomer. There is no sex in it. Not realistically since their pants and undies stay on the whole time. There's not even a little shot of their undergarments being thrown off. The fighting part of this scene I'll agree on. But just a little. As the whole scene should be labeled as 'rolling around everywhere and breaking stuff scene'. I spent the entire scene trying to understand what I was watching.
Final Thoughts
This movie was one I had hesitation watching but I gave it a chance. There were scenes that I thought were very well put together, but overall the movie was meh. I liked the dark tones of some of the scenes but other parts were just stupid. Such as when Barnabas looks at a McDonald's Arch and says, "Mephistopheles." I think even my blu-ray player found this stupid as it froze on that part for a few seconds. I have never seen the original series so I did not compare this movie to the series because of that.
Based On the Soap Opera: Dark Shadows (1966-1971)
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Eva Green
Rated: PG-13
Released: 2012
Personal Rating: 3/5
Oscars: N/A
Plot: An imprisoned vampire, Barnabas Collins, is set free and returns to his ancestral home, where his dysfunctional descendants are in need of his protection.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Werewolf Reveal
This is the thing that pulled me out of the movie the most. Looking on imdb, it seems that there was some foreshadowing but when I watched it I didn't get it at all. Everything imdb mentioned either didn't concern the character directly or wasn't supported by enough evidence. So when the reveal happens I was just wondering what was going on. The character's dialogue, when the reveal happens, seems to be telling the audience to just shut up and accept it. Then, to add insult to injury, there is some backstory of how this character became a werewolf. Why do I say it adds insult to injury? This backstory was never even hinted at earlier. I checked and I can confirm the character in the original show was a werewolf. But it makes no sense for her to be one in this movie.
Angelique Bouchard
This character was one of the highlights of the movie. Like a good villain, her motives were very simple. They were one of a wronged lover whose sense of revenge was grand and extended far beyond her main target. Truth to be told, though, she was really a lover of Barnabas Collins whom was never intended for the long term. Barnabas never pretended Angelique was anything other than a booty call. It was only her that could never get over that fact. I like that backstory.
The 'Sex Fight Scene'
This scene is mentioned on imdb as the 'sex fight scene' which is really a misnomer. There is no sex in it. Not realistically since their pants and undies stay on the whole time. There's not even a little shot of their undergarments being thrown off. The fighting part of this scene I'll agree on. But just a little. As the whole scene should be labeled as 'rolling around everywhere and breaking stuff scene'. I spent the entire scene trying to understand what I was watching.
Final Thoughts
This movie was one I had hesitation watching but I gave it a chance. There were scenes that I thought were very well put together, but overall the movie was meh. I liked the dark tones of some of the scenes but other parts were just stupid. Such as when Barnabas looks at a McDonald's Arch and says, "Mephistopheles." I think even my blu-ray player found this stupid as it froze on that part for a few seconds. I have never seen the original series so I did not compare this movie to the series because of that.
Let's Play Mario Kart Wii: Getting Gold (Parts 14-16)
I tackle the Star Cup on the easiest difficulty setting.
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