Category Archives: Film/Television/Broadcast/Radio

Final Fantasy Summon Origins: Leviathan

A strange sight caught Cecil’s eyes as the boat sailed across the waves. There was a swirl forming, just a few yards from the port side, gaining speed and broadening. The ship tipped as it slowly sucked in. Cries of panic surrounded Cecil and his companions. Unable to do anything, Cecil watched as the water engulfed the sky.

Just before the sea swallowed the boat, Cecil saw an immense serpent coiled beneath the surface. “Leviathan!” yelled a crewman.

Summoning is often one of the strongest and most visually appealing forms of magic in the Final Fantasy series. First appearing as a summon in Final Fantasy III in Japan, Americans did not get introduced to Ifrit and pals until Final Fantasy 4 hit the SNES. Since then, these powerful beings have become icons, often being envisioned in many creative ways for each installment.

While there are many summons to elaborate on, there are a few that could use a bit more discussion. For some excellent insight into other summons, check out Gaijin Goomba’s series on Youtube:

Leviathan’s character is a simple design, a massive sea serpent that summons tidal waves to drown enemies. However, his size and immense power is better described in his origins. Sea serpents have been showing up in literature ever since the days of the Nordic folk. Even the Bible references this massive creature said to be immune to all weapons.

Destruction_of_Leviathan
“Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?” – Job 41: 1

Interestingly enough, this same passage mentions befriending the creature or at least making a pact with it. Considering in Final Fantasy X, many summoners create bonds with their Aeons, this could be a potential influence to Leviathan being created as a summon.

“Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?” – Job 41: 4

There was actually a Final Fantasy IV novel in Japan! Wish it would translated one day. . .
There was actually a Final Fantasy IV novel in Japan! Wish it would translated one day. . .

The first Leviathan in Final Fantasy III showed a simple design and concept. He’s just a regal serpent with long whiskers that summons weather forces. However, in Final Fantasy IV, he becomes a king of beings called Eidolons. The Eidolons are powerful elemental beings that live in a separate plane of existence. It’s here that Rydia (the summoner of Final Fantasy IV) gains her mastery of summoning, also creating an interesting parental connection with Leviathan and his queen, Asura. Both of these royal beings offer rough battles, but end with the prize of being able to call on them.

It’s also interesting that Leviathan’s human form in Final Fantasy IV is that of an old man. He appears frail and wise, sporting a long beard like many of the other sages in the series. In many mythologies, higher beings often have the power to shape shift. For instance, Zeus regularly transforms into animals such as an eagle or a bull, usually to carry away maidens and sometimes young men for, well,  coitus.

This remedy can also be self applied if buy cheap cialis cute-n-tiny.com you have the understanding, nonetheless when very first attempting this method it is finest performed by a physician who will insert a gloved finger into the rectum to feel for an an enlarged prostate. Strong Aphrodisiac For Men Muira puama otherwise “potency wood” is most recognized for its aphrodisiac or “sexual cialis generic no prescription interest improving” effects in men. Sleep restriction: this prevents daytime prescription viagra online naps to promote nighttime sleep. Common details are discount cialis http://cute-n-tiny.com/cute-items/crochet-hot-chocolate/ from particular natural aphrodisiacs like Tribulus, Ashwagandha, and Shilajit and so on. Leviathan’s human form could have connections to Proteus, son of Oceanus of Greek mythology. Proteus could call upon great storms and change his shape, one of which was a snake.

Proteus-Alciato

As far as his design goes, Leviathan does not see much change until Final Fantasy IX. In this game, he is given wing-like fins that give him a more imposing appearance. His color palette also expands to include many shades of purple to accent his blue skin. Also important to note is Leviathan is a female. This makes sense, as summoning is a feminine power used only by Eiko and Garnet. That same motif is carried into Final Fantasy X by Yuna.

Leviathan_FFIX_Art_1

Both MMO Final Fantasy games retain Leviathan’s wings, neither changing the design too drastically. Unfortunately, Leviathan has been absent in true form in later console games. The Sea King lives on in name as an airship and as a plaza.

As of now, its unknown what sort of role summoning will have in Final Fantasy XV. Will the tides rise with the revival of Leviathan? Or will he merely remain a memory? At least, early trailers suggest he (maybe she) will be a massive boss.

FFXV_-_Leviathan

Thus Leviathan remains as a staple for those wanting to add some water to their magic repertoire. His role in the story of the series has been grand and subtle, but one thing is certain, Leviathan is an icon of Final Fantasy.

Drop by next week for a look at everyone’s favorite Celtic warrior gone toxic monster, Cúchulainn.

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Top 10 Best Movie Taglines

Hollywood studios spend millions of dollars on promotional campaigns for their movies. They invest in trailers, TV commercials, billboards, and product tie-ins. However, it’s often something as simple as a tagline that gets people to buy overpriced tickets to the latest blockbuster. Many taglines have become so iconic, they transcend the movies they were meant to promote. Some are even better than the films themselves!

So, without further ado, here’s my list of the top 10 best movie taglines

10. The Truman Show: “On the air. Unaware.”

Image courtesy of www.impawards.com.

Before reality TV became a thing, this film arguably showed the oxymoronic “genre” taken to its logical conclusion. Jim Carrey plays a man whose entire life, starting from birth, has been part of an elaborate, high-budget TV show, all without his knowledge. The tagline rhymes, creating a good pneumonic device, and gives a vibe that has tinges of both humor and Orwellian fear.

 

9. The Muppet Movie: “More entertaining than humanly possible.”

Image courtesy of www.impawards.com.

When those zany Muppets made their big-screen debut, they stepped up their game and produced a hilarious and heartfelt film. The tagline tells the audience they will be entertained more than they might expect, but it also reminds them that most of these characters aren’t “human,” per se, but puppets. Perhaps that’s how they could get away with non-stop puns and shmaltzy sentiments.

 

8. Blues Brothers: “They’ll never get caught. They’re on a mission from God.”

Image courtesy of www.impawards.com.

While many a zealot have used this as an excuse to do horrible things, it’s arguably true for the title characters. Jake Blues (John Belushi) reassembles his old band to save the Catholic home in which he and his brothers grew up. If ever someone needed a blessing from the Almighty, it’d be the Blues Brothers.

 

 

 

7. X-Men: “Trust a few. Fear the rest.”

Image courtesy of www.siamvillage.com.

What makes this tagline effective is it could apply to both humans and mutants. Some, but not all, humans are hatemongers. This is understandable since Magneto’s (Ian McKellen) Brotherhood is made up of mutant terrorists bent on wiping out humanity. On the other hand, there are heroic mutants like the X-Men defending humanity. It’s a double-edged sword.

 

6. Highlander: “There can be only one.”

Image courtesy of www.collider.com.

Let’s be honest: the Highlander franchise—which is all about immortals fighting and killing each other to gain their foe’s power, until only one remains and becomes all-powerful—started as a borderline B-movie, albeit an entertaining one. It took the TV series to elevate it. Through it all is this famous tagline, which has undoubtedly been quoted by many a gamer while playing online. Admittedly, it seemed like Connor McLeod (Christopher Lambert) was the only immortal left, but then a long series of retcons in the awful sequels kept the series going. Too bad this line couldn’t be number one on this list. (Hopefully, it won’t decapitate me for putting it lower).
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5. The Fly (1986): “Be afraid. Be very afraid.”

Image courtesy of www.impawards.com.

This phrase has seeped its way into the common vernacular, and I always wondered where it came from. Little did I know it was the tagline for the 1986 version of The Fly, starring Jeff Goldblum. It tells the audience they should not only be scared by this film—which, considering it was a remake of a 1950s B-movie, might’ve been seen as a stretch—it insists that they should be terrified. And they were.

 

4. Jaws: The Revenge: “This time, it’s personal.”

Image courtesy of www.moviepostershop.com.

Before shark movies flooded the walls of video stores, Universal pumped out unneeded sequels to the 1975 Steven Spielberg classic. By the time the fourth film rolled around, it was the mid-‘80s, and slasher movies about seemingly immortal psychos were the rage, so they turned the infamous Great White into one. That alone tells you the filmmakers ran out of good ideas after writing the tagline, which has since become one of the most used movie-trailer lines ever, either as a joke or because it was stolen by schlock film producers.

3. Superman: “You’ll believe a man can fly.”

Image courtesy of www.nerdspan.com.

The modern superhero film wouldn’t exist if not for this groundbreaking classic starring Christopher Reeve. Superheroes were relegated to B-movies or low-budget film serials before this. The idea of seeing someone fly in a movie and making it look believable was unheard of. Director Richard Donner proved it could be done. The Marvel Cinematic Universe and Christopher Nolan owe him a debt of gratitude.

 

2. Star Wars, Episode 4: A New Hope: “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” 

Image courtesy of www.thinkgeek.com.
Image courtesy of www.thinkgeek.com.

George Lucas set himself for life when he crafted this classic line, which is probably a variation of the fairy opening: “Once upon a time …” It’s been featured in every Star Wars film and most of its tie-ins; however, is it figurative or literal? If it’s the latter, it begs a multitude of other questions. That alone makes it one of the best taglines in the history of cinema.

 

1. Alien: “In space, no one can hear you scream.”

alien-poster

Rarely does a tagline tell you everything and yet nothing. Ridley Scott’s Alien was an enigmatic film before its release, and this only deepened the mystery. Little did anyone know they’d be getting a horrific twist on what is arguably a 1950s B-movie plot, but one with a monster unlike any seen before. This was the era of flashy, upbeat science fiction films thanks to Star Wars, but Alien was the opposite, being both gothic and realistic. The tagline illustrates that, reminding audiences there is no sound in the vacuum of space. It implies isolation and helplessness, but without being on-the-nose obvious. Indeed, most people were speechless when the famous xenomorph appeared on screen—by bursting out of a man’s chest. This tagline was great in 1979, and it still sends chills down the spines of anyone who quotes it. Seriously, try saying it without shivering.

Honorable Mentions:
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie: “They’re here to save the planet. But not for free.”

Killer Klowns from Outer Space: “In space, no one can eat ice cream.”

Alien vs. Predator: “Whoever wins, we lose.”

Hardware Wars: “You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll kiss three bucks goodbye.”

 

 

The Grand Budapest Oscar Nominations

It’s about damn time. Wes Anderson and his dedicated crew have finally achieved the recognition they deserve with this year’s nine Oscar nominations for The Grand Budapest Hotel. I can’t say that I’ve been a life-long follower of Mr. Anderson, but in the few years that I have been following his career it makes me so happy to see his work get the attention it truly deserves. The Grand Budapest Hotel has already won the Golden Globe for best motion picture in a Comedy or Musical, and now it is up for nine Oscars including Best Picture, Cinematography, Costume Design, Directing, Film Editing, Makeup and Hair, Music, Production, and Best Screenplay.

57557813If you aren’t already familiar with this film, The Grand Budapest Hotel tells the story of a young man named Zero (Anthony Quinonzez) who lands a job at the prestigious Grand Budapest Hotel and also becomes the protégé of the hotel’s concierge, M. Gustave (Ray Fiennes). The film is set in a fictional country in Eastern Europe in the 1930s, during the time between the two world wars. As you can imagine, the costumes are just as amazing as one could hope in a Wes Anderson film. They are incredibly intricate and colorful and assuming you’ve seen his other films, there are all of his usual camera tricks: the quick pan, tracking shots, close-ups of handwritten notes/characters’ faces looking directly into the camera. The only Anderson trope missing from the film is the ever present Kinks or Rolling Stones songs littered throughout the soundtrack. Instead, the soundtrack is comprised of entirely original/instrumental songs. Don’t worry. If you were hoping for a consistently Wes Anderson- style film, The Grand Budapest Hotel is your movie.

If you only concentrate on outer aspects such as external skin care, you’ll never reach your potential as far get viagra overnight as looks is concerned. This will allow the blood to flow into the penis cosmos signs viagra cheap canada to origin an erection. When the blood rushes into the penile body, it gets recharge to function well and cause order cheap viagra longer erections sufficient for pleasing sexual intimacy. Once the fundamental theory is perfect, you can carry on – is Male Extra a scam lookup, sale cialis on other attributes. And while I am absolutely thrilled that this film is receiving so much praise, I have to say that I don’t really agree that this should be the project to be so successful. I remember the exact moment I fell in love with Anderson’s work; it was when I saw the opening credits for Fantastic Mr. Fox. I remember saying to myself within the first 30 seconds, “I must own this.” I had never seen an entire one of his films until Fantastic Mr. Fox. I was also going through what I will call a “breakup” with my former beloved director, Tim Burton (another director known for his unique style). There was an entertainment void in my life, and Wes Anderson’s meticulous filmmaking filled it. I had never watched any movie before FMF and felt that everything about it was perfect. The costumes, the casting, music, scenery, color scheme all fit together so amazingly, as they do in all of his films. And soon after watching FMF, I dedicated the next few weeks to watching Rushmore, The Darjeeling Limited, The Royal Tenenbaums, etc. Film after film, it was apparent that Anderson is dedicated to his very specific type of filmmaking, and while many of his films share the same themes (and essentially the same cast) there was something wonderfully unique about each one.

There isn’t anything terribly offensive about The Grand Budapest Hotel that makes me hesitate to quite jump on board this Wes Anderson Oscar-bandwagon. Personally, I just don’t feel the same emotional connection with it as I do with most of his other films. That being said, I must also admit that I will support this film wholeheartedly in the Oscar competition, because I believe that Wes Anderson deserves the recognition not only for this film, but for all his other work as well. It may have taken this long and is not the perfect film for it, but Anderson and his team have finally gotten the love they deserve.

Nintendo Direct: January 2015

Nintendo Direct videos are becoming one of the highlights of gaming news. The newest video to arrive featured some interesting news from Nintendo.

Nintendo 9
What’s with Link and going into impossible dungeons of water? Prepare to feel true anger again.

Software

Several previously announced games recieved more news during this event. The remake of the N64 classic Majora’s Mask will be making use of the New 3DS’ C Stick, allowing players to rotate the camera a full 360° around Link. While this may not seem substantial, this could completely change the way the game is played.

Another interesting feature comes from the folks behind Code Name STEAM, a strategy game that mixes action with traditional turn based combat. Fire Emblem characters can be unlocked via their Amiibo figures. Ike, Marth, Lucina, and Robin will all be available as playable characters with their own unique weapons and play styles.

Nintendo 4
In a game with assault rifles, aliens, and Abraham Lincoln, Ike actually fits pretty well with a unique approach to combat.

Nintendo also announced that Wii titles will soon be available for download on the Wii U. These games will no longer need to be played in Wii Mode for players to access some amazing titles. In fact, Super Mario Galaxy 2 should be available now, while the Metroid Prime Trilogy and Punch Out!! will be released in the coming months. Many games that were playable with the Wii Classic Controller will also be fully playable with the Wii U Game Pad. If this means Metroid Prime will finally be playable with two analog sticks, minds will be blown.

Nintendo 3
Arguably one of the best Mario games ever made. Now let’s hope it will be available for less than fifty bucks.

As far as new games, only a few were revealed. At the start of the event, a new Fire Emblem game was teased for the 3DS. Following on the heels of Fire Emblem: Awakening’s success, this isn’t a huge surprise. However, I expected the next Fire Emblem to be on Wii-U. Yet, they always seemed to be more popular on handhelds.

Nintendo 11
This dancer was one of the highlights of a gorgeous trailer for the new Fire Emblem. Expect cosplays next week.

A series that’s seen quite a bit of popularity in Japan is coming to the states in May. Puzzle and Dragons Z is a quirky puzzle game in the style of Bejeweled, combined with RPG elements. If that wasn’t enough, Nintendo is also packaging Puzzle and Dragons: Super Mario Edition with it. Both look like fun and addictive puzzle games.

Speaking of puzzle games, Nintendo is apparently keeping tabs on the wildly successful Candy Crush Saga. Pokemon Shuffle is coming to 3DS in February and will feature limited moves, a timed energy system, and collectible Pokemon that effect how the game plays. The game will be free to play.

Nintendo 2
Gamers everywhere will soon be able to shuffle with the master for free, unless you get stuck and can’t take it, then you can pay Nintendo a dollar.

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While Nintendo’s main focus for this event was the New 3DS (I’ll get to more on that later) it did announce several new Amiibo Figures. In Spring, Nintendo plans on releasing a Super Mario series of toys to coincide with the release of Mario Party 10. Most of these figures are just different models of those already available (Mario, Luigi, Peach, etc.); however, Toad will be released for the first time and he will have compatibility with last year’s Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker.

Nintendo 7
Expect Ike to sell for way more than intended a month after being snatched up by scalpers. No Toy R’ Us is safe.

Amiibo collectors should also be happy that Nintendo isn’t ignoring desperate pleas and ridiculous purchases of Marth. For some reason, Marth is one of the rarest characters so far, selling way above 13 USD. Nintendo will be shipping more Marth figures soon, hopefully diluting the rarity and the feverish collection.

One of the main reasons for today’s post is the new 3DS. This system boasts more processing power than the rest of the 3DS family, alongside several hardware features that most gamers are already aware of. The console will be releasing February 13 alongside Majora’s Mask 3D.

This system will be compatible with NFC figures, so in theory Skylanders and Disney Infinity could be compatible as well without peripherals. Oddly enough, Nintendo revealed that the New 3DS will not be coming with an AC Adapter. Don’t worry, all previous adapters will work with the new system. Why they chose to do this is an obnoxious mystery.

Other than that, it’s strange that Nintendo is only releasing the XL versions of their new consoles. What bothers me is the Gamecube and Super Famicom models of the new 3DS are more appealing to nostalgic geeks and collectors like myself. Whether these are even coming to the states is a mystery, but it may have to do with their relatively low price point of 153 USD after conversion. Come to think of it the New 3DS LL is only 180 USD in Japan, while the suggested retail is 199.99 USD in the US.

Nintendo 5
But Nintendo, what if I want the cheaper, more nostalgic version?

The final bit of news is of two special editions of the New 3DS, one being the already leaked Monster Hunter 4 version.

The other version is none other than a beautiful, golden Majora’s Mask edition. Presumably these two 3DS systems will have their respective games loaded digitally, but that’s yet to be confirmed.

All in all, Nintendo continues to impress and baffle with their online press events and decisions. I’ve already planned on pre-ordering the Majora’s Mask edition of the New 3DS later today. What did you think of Nintendo Direct this time? Leave a comment below or on any one of our social media pages.

Until next time, stay cool.


Watch live video from Nintendo on Twitch

My Crunchyroll Is No Longer Crunchy?!

Why am I desperately slapping away at my keyboard for this one? Because it effects me and my viewing of great shows such as Fruit of Grisaia and Another—I like really twisted anime.

Similar to what present hackers left for many gamers this year, anime-centric service Crunchyroll is currently down due to a DDoS attack. If you don’t know what that is, it’s this terrible thing that makes online services unusable for an unknown length of time.

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Digital Attack Map explains this annoying  phenomenon.

What’s to learn of all these attacks on some of geekdom’s greatest entities?

There’s nothing we can do about it. I would recommend changing a password or two, but other than that there’s nothing to do. However, I wish these people would just leave things alone. Us geeks love anime and gaming. It’s what lets us escape from our crummy jobs and often dull lives for a bit. When our extracurricular activities don’t work, it causes a lot of stress and anger, which is often misplaced on the services we love so much.

Instead of sending a message of how you just can’t live without Destiny or how you must know what will happen to poor Naruto, think about the people behind those services.

Until Crunchyroll returns, I’ll be playing some single player games. Stay cool.