Guardians of the Galaxy Trailer

The first Guardians of the Galaxy trailer premiered last night. If you haven't seen it you need to! I'm very excited for this movie. Actually it takes a lot of shitty for me not to be excited about a comic movie. But I won't go into that now.

CHECK THIS SHIT OUT!

Paul Rudd is Ant-Man!

I just read that Paul Rudd will play the main character in Marvel's Ant-Man movie! I personally like Paul Rudd and think it was a great decision! I haven't read many comics with Ant-Man in it but I've enjoyed the ones I have.

I think it'll be weird to see Paul Rudd in a more serious role as opposed to the comedies you usually see him in.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2013/12/19/paul-rudd-ant-man-movie/4137165/

Updating the Future

I've neglected my poor old blog for almost two months now. Everything has been so crazy with wedding stuff and work and cars deciding not to work and all that fun stuff that we call life.

I'll be getting back into this more often now. Because honestly does it not take only a few minutes to write a quick post? Perhaps a bit longer for a more detailed post, such as a review (I'll have one of those up within the next week.) I've also started playing Dungeons and Dragons again (or will be soon). So expect to see posts of that nature too.

I've also been getting back to writing. And, well, yeah. That's self-explanatory. I'll be posting a bit of this and a bit of that perhaps. Ideas, progress reports, snipets of chapters, etc.

I also plan on just giving my thoughts on things. TV shows (old and new), Movies (old and new), games of all sorts (table top, pen and paper RPGs, board games, video games), anything tech related that I come across, anything science related, etc, etc. They most likely won't be an episode by episode reviews like I've done before (for TV) or even opening weekend movie reviews (I didn't see Man of Steel until two weeks after it opened). So basically I'll be doing reviews here and there as I come across and experience things. Mostly nerdy things as is happens to go.

One other thing that I've been doing lately is world building. Back in the day my friend and I had attempted to "catalog" a whole fantasy nation. Meaning this: we each drew a map, combined the two maps to make one land, placed landmarks (mountains, forests, etc) and then cities. We had a hard cover sketch book in which we would pick a city and draw a city map for it. Then on the following pages we would go through and draw the floor plans for each shop and building. Labeling what was in it. Who owned it. Etc, etc. I think we put stats for DnD too. But over the years the book has disappeared but I recently purchased a new one and we already have the land map drawn up. Expected updates on that too!

And I'll be posting wedding updates too as that nears (2 months away and we have a TON to do!)

Thoughts on the Hunger Games and other semi-related things

I have this strange quirk (if that's even the right word) in which I lose all interest in something that I feel is over hyped. This happens all the time. For now I will use the recent Hunger Games movie release as an example.

About a year ago my boss had finished reading the books and recommended them to me. This was the first time I had ever even heard of Suzanne Collins and the Hunger Games. After awhile I got the books on my Kindle but never read them. Fast forward a few months and stuff about the movie is out. Ads, trailers, etc, etc. And all of a sudden it seems like everyone and their grandma is the biggest Hunger Games fan ever. I saw it on facebook all the time. People "rereading" the books to prepare for the midnight showing of the movie. I just found it strange that these people were such huge fans but have NEVER once before mentioned this book they are so in love with. 

I understand that everyone wants to be part of something big. I understand that there are people who will jump on the bandwagon just to be part of it. (just like with the whole Kony thing. Everyone was posting that video saying "blah, blah, blarh". Yet as soon as the frenzy died down you hear nothing from these people who supposedly cared. As far as I know they dude hasn't been caught. So why isn't everyone still spreading the word and video?) I guess it just really gets to me when people do this kind of thing. I know in 10-15 years after all the movies are done and over with that nobody who was just a huge fan will probably ever mention them again. I mean everyone is swearing by these books. Shouldn't that warrant frequent rereading? Down the line shouldn't there be occasional mentions of how great this book still is? I suppose my point is something along the lines of: Be yourself. Don't follow the trends just to follow them. Or just to fit in with the current "happening" thing. Simply put don't be a bandwagon-jumping conformist asshole.

But anyways. Though I said I wasn't going to watch the Hunger Games, I did. It was a good movie. The story was good. The action was good. Jennifer Lawrence was phenomenal. I liked the feel of the movie. How they really showed how different District 12 was from the Capitol.

Though I had a few problems with it:

1. Why did that dude have such a stupid looking beard? It distracted me from what was happening in the movie. I'm sure in the book (no I still haven't read it) Suzanne Collins didn't frequently go on about it. So it shouldn't have been so stand-outish.

2. Just to get something straight: The purpose of the Hunger Games is to punish the people (presumably relatives of the uprisers, as this was the 74th Hunger Games) by forcing them to send their children to murder each other why they all watch? That just seems a teeny bit much don't you think? Like "Hey your great grandfather partook in a riot 75 years ago. You must now kill your fellow children! MUAHAHAHAHA!"

3. Related to the last point. Why are people so into this when 75% or more of the movie is children brutally murdering other children? I know people are messed up but damn. I guess you could say people today are the people who live in the Capitol. People today enjoy the hell out of this movie about kids killing kids. The people in the Capitol enjoy the hell out of watching kids kill kids. From what I gathered the Capitol is full of bastards.

4. In preparation for the Hunger Games to begin they had Woody Harrelson going on about having to impress people in order to gain sponsors. Do this and get some sponsors. Because sponsors have the good stuff. Like bows and water. AND BOWS! But I don't recall there ever being anything more to these "sponsors" other than that. They didn't mention who, if anyone, got sponsored. I don't believe anyone got anything special from said sponsors. So what was the point of mentioning them at all?

Random thoughts: I seriously thought that at the end we'd find out people really didn't die. Just for a second. Because apparently they can make shit come out of the ground. Like that dog thing. And then they added more like that *snap*! How'd they even do that? I guess I'll read the books. Maybe. I have more pressing things to read. But I feel that the president (or what ever he is called. Donald Sutherland.) is going to eff stuff up for Katniss and that dude. Because he is pissed that they both got out alive. So I'm sure that's what the next to books will consist of. But yeah I thought it was a pretty great movie!

Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace 3D

On 2-10-12 I was one of the many people who attended a midnight showing of Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace 3D. And like most people I found there to be pros and cons about the movie. But I'm going to write this as level headed as I can and definitely be a lameo just because one little thing was changed (you still need to get over it).

This was my first 3D movie experience. So I don't have anything to base my opinions on. But overall I enjoyed the movie. I mean, come on, it's a chance to see Star Wars in theaters again. No way I can complain about that!

I didn't mind paying the $11+ for the ticket or the fact that some 3D parts of the movie were really just added depth. It was an experience that I got to share with my brother, friend, and nephew. It was another opportunity to see Darth Maul rage on the big screen. A chance to see all the glory and awesomeness of Episode I!

Yes I say awesomeness and I mean it. I love the prequels. I like them more the the original trilogy. There is more action, better action, better fight scenes, better acting (I admit there is some parts in the prequels that seem forced), and they are just more visually pleasing.

Now don't get me wrong I love the originals too. But they have their own “feel” to them. And its just not something that can compare to Episodes I-III for me. But anyways this is about the 3D movie!

Overall it was fun and I had a blast. Like I said I have no previous experience with 3D movies so I don't know where this stacks up but it seemed weak in spots. The best parts were the open space shots. They should have just skipped 3D and just released them again!

Disappointment about Eragon (the movie)

So after finishing the final book in the Inheritance Cycle I decided to watch the Eragon movie from 2006. (I hadn't seen it since it was in theaters.) Though now I wish I hadn't. On it's own, with out the books, it might have been a good movie in my opinion. But knowing how the book is and how the series goes it made me cringe the entire time.

Here are just some of the inconsistencies I noticed (and some of them could be wrong. It was 4am at the time)
- They called Saphira's egg "Galbatorix's Stone" and he was like "I suffer without my stone". I understand they don't want to go yelling about it being a dragon egg. But they should have just cut all that out and it wouldn't have changed a thing.

- Horst's sons were being "recruited" into the king's army. I don't remember any recruiting. Or even the king's soldiers being in Carvahall. Especially not Horst's sons.

- Eragon's leather vest looked more like fake, plasticy, plastic than leather. It looked too new as well. It would have been more worn and dirty. Or at look like it had been used. Or real.

- When Saphira's egg hatched everyone seemed to know instantly. Brom, the King, Arya. How would that even be possible?

- I don't know if this is accurate. But the king's giant map has Farthen Dur on it. I thought it was hidden or else he would have attacked long ago. Or maybe he just can't find it exactly? or how to get it?

- Horst and Sloan look nothing like I remember. Horst in the books was a big guy. I always pictured him as tall, very muscular, with a epic beard. Not a scrawny, sickly, balding man. And Sloan I pictured as a little guy. Not a twig but not like the massive guy who played him in the movie. And he wasn't rude enough to Eragon.

- I remember this bothering me immensely in the theater. Saphira's rapid growth. She could barely fly. Then apparently went through some magic clouds because seconds later she was massive. I'm sure this was done for the movie. To get to the point of her being fully grown quickly but no. Just no.

- Also the Urgals had no horns. That is like their most distinguishing feature.

Sigh.

That is all that I wrote down before I wanted to cry. I don't think the acting or anything was bad. I actually enjoy a lot of the actors/actresses that were in it. It was just the script/story/how they translated from the book to the movie. They mashed stuff together. Durza killed Brom? The whole thing with the Ra'zac killing him was HUGE in the book. And the dwarves looked more like men with beards. Murtagh was played well but they didn't give him much screen time. By played well I mean the actor not his lines or anything. And Angela was in Daret? I don't recall them ever going to a Daret and she most definitely wasn't there. The fortune she told was weak and not very accurate. AND they didn't even show Solembum at all! How could they not? He is a chief character and adds a load of mystery with just like two lines.

Overall it was just rushed, and crammed, and badly done. If they didn't have the resources to make a decent adaptation they shouldn't have attempted. Why ruin such an amazing story?

I had huge expectations for this movie. Now after 5 years and finally getting to read the entire series I am really, really, REALLY hoping they will find someone to make four epic movies. Let Peter Jackson give it a go. He does epic.

New Movies, Dr. Jones, and Zombie Caterpillars

This is going to be interesting. As a fan of the original stuff I hope its good!

http://screenrant.com/three-stooges-release-date-plot-details-sandy-131204/

I think Arnold is a beast! I love all the movies he has done. Especially the older ones. Multiple "mistresses"? HA! That won't stop the Govenator!

http://screenrant.com/schwarzenegger-captive-movie-sandy-131221/

Indiana Jones comic? Interesting. Always wanted to see more Indy adventures!

http://io9.com/indiana-jones/

Now this article is just WOW! Zombie... caterpillars? YES!

http://io9.com/genetics/

Writing Software and A Strange Day At Work

No photo of the day today. I never really had the chance to snap a picture. Oh wells.

Last night I downloaded both yWriter5 and Storybook. They are both pretty similar so far. I haven't actually put any real story stuff into them yet. I was only testing them out. But they look like they could be pretty helpful in keeping my story organized. I think is Storybook that has the drag and drop feature which allows you to place characters, locations, items, etc. into any scene and chapter. I'll definitely have a more in depth post about them after I use them some more.

Other than that I just worked today. I got hit on by a guy while I was there. Is was awkward. Well really I got a weird vibe from him while he was in the store. And like ten minutes later I got a page for dairy/frozen. So I answer and it was that guy. And he asked if I would be interested in getting drinks sometime. Like I said it was awkward. When I told him that I wasn't he was cool about it and wanted to make sure he didn't offend me. (which he didn't). It was just weird actually being put in a situation like that. I mean you see it in movies and what not.

I'm going to be lazy and watch movies now. And mess with the writing software I got. G'night! :D

Webcomics!

I've never been one to read webcomics but I started reading a couple. And they are pretty interesting so far. One is called The Zombie Hunters. I'm sure you can guess what it's about. The zombie apocalypse. Well more specifically a group of "zombie hunters" I guess. The humans live on an island. Between 5 and 6 thousand are on there. I know there is a military type thing and leaders and stuff. And groups go over to the mainland to get supplies. This group of "zombie hunters" is one of them. I'll mention one other thing. The virus can also be dormant. In a human. And they will function just fine. Though they can infect others I think. And if that dormant infected die, they regenerate as zombies. I don't think I've ever seen a zombie story with a dormant version of the virus. Pretty cool

The other is Darths and Droids. It's Star Wars and role playing mixed. They take stills from the Star Wars movies and put talky bubbles over them. But it's not what's in the movies. It's actually a group of people playing a table-top RPG. From what I got the Star Wars story line doesn't exist. And the talky bubbles are what the players and GM are saying. It's very entertaining. Some of it won't make sense if you don't or haven't role played. So far they have made it up to halfway through episode 3.

Not much else going on. Storms started. Thunder and lightning. Making it hard to hear my movie. Which happens to be The Perfect Storm. Hmmm....

Crazy Hair!

Not a whole lot to talk about tonight. Vacation is officially underway. Yay for getting paid to do nothing! I'm going to watch movies and start writing tonight! Here is a picture of me with my crazy hair...

Little Notes Written on Bits of Paper

My sister decided she wanted to get me something for helping her out today with my nephews. So, knowing my obsession, she bought me a cloth covered journal. I totally don't need it. And she mentions all the time about me buying so many notebooks. But I like it. It's actually a nice journal. It has a pocket in the back for storage of little notes written on bits of paper. I think this is the first journal/notebook anyone has ever bought for me. So I may have to actually use it?

Other than that I play disc golf and saw The Hangover Part 2. I found it to be very hilarious. I was laughing almost the whole time. A few times I was laughing so hard I started to drool. O.o Then we ventured to Steak-N-Shake where I had a double steakburger with an egg and bacon on it. So if I stop blogging it's probably because I had a heart attack... (just kidding!).

Stuff

I'm sitting here and have had a new post open for an hour and nothing came to mind. Maybe it's the fact that I'm watching a movie. Grown Ups. Pretty funny so far.
Hmm what else? I've been writing and stuff. Reading the last book of The Ranger's Apprentice series. Very good still! Other than that its been movies, work, and sleep. Very exciting I know. Might play some MTG sometime soon. It's been so long.

I can't think of a decent title, so this will have to do...

Not much to talk about. Discgolfing was fun. It was windy and muddy and we actually kept track this time. Not too bad given the ridiculous winds. Watching more movies on Netflix.

I randomly started to think of the "??" and "?!". Now I think they have similar meaning but should be used in different situations. They are both used to show (having trouble wording this) emphasis. Or add emphasis. Whatever. But the "?!" is obviously used to show excitement when asking a question. Well I guess even when some one is flustered/annoyed they may answer "WHAT?!" But "??" is used to drive the question home. Showing your interest but not really being excited/overly excited about it.

None of what I just wrote makes much sense to me. But I'm not going to erase it. I mean who really reads this anyways? HA!

I was also just told that the earthquakes in Japan altered the Earth's axis which will cause Australia to have a colder winter. I call shenanigans on that. But I'll have to look more into it and then forget to follow up with a blog post. Because right now I'm watching "In The Electric Mist" because Tommy Lee Jones is an amazing actor. So yeah!

Movies!

I colored my hair again. Now I'm even more ginger than I was before! I recently purchased a bunch of movies. They are as follows:

Behind Enemy Lines - good

Behind Enemy Lines II - not so good

Patriot Games - good

Clear and Present Danger - good

Wrong Turn - good

Wrong Turn 2: Dead End - not so good

Wrong Turn 3: Left for Dead - not so good

Joy Ride - good

Joy Ride 2: Dead Ahead - not so good

Horror 4 Pack Volume 1:

Midnight Movie - so far not so good

The Attic - haven't watched

Carver - haven't watched

Outrage - haven't watched

Ferngully: The Last Rainforest - haven't watched in years. I remember it being good but idk

The Never Ending Story - haven't watched in years but I remember it being really good too. But we'll see...

I've noticed a trend there. The first movie was great and then as they keep making sequel after sequel they just keep getting worse. Hmmm.... I could make a better movie what most of these!

Other than that I've been playing Dragon Age: Origins Awakening and reading The Ranger's Apprentice series. (finishing book 3 tonight!) Not much besides that. I rarely have a "focus" to my blog. It's just what ever when ever I suppose. Hope that's been enjoyable to any readers so far! Any suggests are welcome!