Category Archives: Pop Culture

Cinema Sit-Down, Movies/TV, Pop Culture

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.

Games and Software, Industry Now, Pop Culture, Tech World

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

Otaku, Pop Culture

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.

 

Cinema Sit-Down, Movies/TV, Pop Culture

The Interview or: How Hollywood Learned to Start Worrying and Fear the Bomb

Don’t mess with North Korea. That appears to be the sentiment the country wants you to believe. If you mess with the North Korean bull, you’re going to get the North Korean horns—or at least the “threat” of those horns. Case in point: the writers and producers of the upcoming film, The Interview, thought it would be a funny idea to produce a film with a script involving a talk show host (James Franco) and his producer (Seth Rogen) booking an interview with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and getting entangled with the CIA in a plot to assassinate him. A seemingly funny political comedy starring the two leads from the very funny Pineapple Express that involves the very funny concept of killing a very funny (well, funny looking perhaps) world leader? What could POSSIBLY be wrong with that?! Well, apparently a lot.interview2

Since day one of the film’s announcement, The Interview has—so to speak—been in the hot seat. Since the film’s completion, North Korea has been up in arms about it, suggesting it as an “act of war” and promising retaliation if the film was ever released. They even begged President Obama to stop the release of the film, for fear that Kim Jong-un might actually see it. So when that wasn’t enough, their next step? Malware, of course. Late last month, Sony (the film’s distributor) was left in complete disarray with hacked emails releasing private conversations criticizing Hollywood A-listers (who would’ve guessed some studio executives find Leonardo DiCaprio to be “disgraceful” or that Angelina Jolie has “minimal talent”?) as well as several unreleased movies leaked online before their release. The Interview was NOT included among those leaked films, so go figure as to how U.S. Intelligence linked the North Korean government to the hacking.

Yet even after the Malware shitstorm, the worst was yet to follow. A mysterious group known as the “Guardians of Peace” sent out a warning last week, suggesting attacks of the September 11 variety on movie theaters that were scheduled to show The Interview. These so-called “Guardians” suggested that anyone going to the movie theater or those who lived near one should keep their distance. Needless to say, the Guardians of Peace had everyone’s attention: movie theater owners, Sony and even the president.interview3

The movie industry is a complicated machine. On the one hand, movies are an artistic expression, a tool to tell a story using audio and visual aspects in creative and astounding ways. On the other hand, it’s a cash cow: franchises, sequels, remakes, musical adaptations, happy meal toys, et cetera et cetera—Hollywood can squeeze a buck out of any movie it wishes, but to receive that money, they must milk it out of the masses to buy the overpriced movie tickets and fill up those stadium theater seats. What happens, though, when a supposed terrorist group threatens to harm the masses if they go see a movie? Well, the movie—in this case The Interview—gets scrapped. Sony’s decision to pull the plug on The Interview’s release has caused quite a bit of controversy inside and out of Hollywood, and has left many questions concerning the future of film distribution.

Here’s the thing: Hollywood has been bullied before. There have been many controversial films to be released that have sparked outcries from specific organizations and collective groups tracing all the way back to the early twentieth century (The Birth of a Nation, anyone?). And did Hollywood let up? No. The Interview isn’t the first film to lampoon a public figure. There have been a lot of references to Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator, a film that parodied Adolf Hitler—ADOLF FREAKIN’ HITLER!—as he was beginning to take power as dictator of Nazi Germany. And what became of that film? It has its own Criterion Collection release! More importantly, there were no terrorist attacks on American movie theaters that showed that movie.

You can now order cheap viagra from the leading online pharmacy is people all over the world in solving the problems they may have created. It not only helps usa generic viagra raindogscine.com in proper flow of blood but also arouses a person sexually which increases the desire by reducing inhibitions, but it leads to erectile dysfunction. Instead, your brain plays a order generic viagra more important role in affecting pregnancy. Increased level of cGMP provides relaxation to smooth muscles generic levitra and improves energy levels. Now I’m not suggesting that The Interview is (or could be) a modern classic or could even be considered a “good” film (from what I’ve read, the movie had received mixed reviews from early screenings), but what I am suggesting is, when did we turn into a culture that pulls one film from theaters just because someone says so? And why back down to North Korea? As I recall, Trey Parker and Matt Stone of South Park fame released Team America: World Police without causing a global uproar (and didn’t that film feature a puppet version of the late Kim Jong-il, sporting an incredibly offensive yet hilarious accent?). What makes The Interview any different? Are we to seriously believe this film could cause total chaos?interview4

And I think that is where the controversy stings the most. Where will the lines be drawn? If this film isn’t allowed to be seen in theaters, what about future films? I don’t want to live in a world where some bizarre organization bans together to send terroristic threats just because they don’t want to see a movie get released. If we bow down to these Guardians of Peace jerks, what is to stop a vigilante group of primatologists from threatening movie theaters with “simian flu” just because they don’t want to see another Planet of the Apes sequel? Or how about a rag-tag group of renegade Shakespearean actors waging total guerilla warfare on cineplexes showing a new film adaptation of one of the Bard’s classics? Perhaps I should refrain from providing anymore examples, as it could provide more cinephile cuckoos with ideas, but the point is, submitting to one threat opens the door to plenty of others, which is just cowardly and stupid. But there’s got to be something else to this decision…

I found out a little tidbit about The Interview’s budget: it cost over $40 million to make. Hmm, very interesting. I get the sense that the reason Sony cancelled The Interview was due to lack of profit. As I stated before, if someone threatens the masses with consequence for seeing a movie—meaning: PAYING to see said film—then obviously the moviegoer will refrain from doing so. As will the theater owners. And if a film can’t be seen because a viewer/theater is too scared to see/show it, how will it make money? How will a film become profitable to the movie studios that paid for its production costs? It won’t. It can’t. So it gets pulled…for now.

Let’s be clear, The Interview WILL be seen (in some shape or form). This cancellation is really only a delay until the studios can find an alternative route(s) to release the motion picture. $40 million ain’t pocket change, ya know? So while the nation continues its uproar over how Hollywood has been blackballed, rest assured Sony will get its money out of The Interview. If anything, this is a good marketing ploy for The Interview: a film so controversial, that lives have been threatened if it gets released. Well then—GOTTA SEE IT! And don’t worry, you will. Sony will make sure of that…

 

Movies/TV, Pop Culture

Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia Review

I have this idea that if I read/listen to intellectual people speaking on behalf of, well, anything, then I myself will become an intelligent person as well. In theory, this is a good thing to believe. In reality, it’s not always the case. Still, I have my intellectual heroes, who I strive to become in some way or another, be it in how I dress or what opinions I have about things. One of those intellectuals is Gore Vidal.vidal2

I was first introduced to Vidal when reading his highly acclaimed novel The City and the Pillar, a bestseller that was the first of its kind to discuss homosexuality in fairly explicit detail (this was 1948, after all). I was completely mesmerized by every stitch of its existence: the characters, the denouement, the pacing and how it dealt with such themes that were quite taboo (again: the 1940s, WAY before Ellen and Will & Grace could even bring such topics to light). I was so impressed with Vidal’s work that I completely avoided all of his other stellar works, because I was afraid I might compare everything else to The City and the Pillar and be completely disappointed. However, just because I haven’t read any other works by Gore Vidal, doesn’t mean I haven’t read about Gore Vidal.

And what a life he led! Vidal was indeed an intellectual man: sharp, quick-witted and—above all else— egotistical. He was born into political privilege and rubbed elbows with the social elite. He was known for his harsh criticisms over just about everything, specifically American government. He was a gay pioneer (yet never fully acknowledged it), a brilliant essayist, and he relished any opportunity to speak his mind on camera. A grandiose figure in American culture, I hold on to his every word and firmly believe I become smarter because of it. Now, you can too.vidal3

The United States of Amnesia, the 2013 documentary chronicling Vidal’s career as an outspoken writer, is currently streaming on Netflix and is a must-watch simply for the film’s central subject. This documentary works because it allows Vidal to be the star. You get to hear his view of his life over what everyone else—biographers, family, close friends, etc—says on his behalf. The film weaves together archived interviews with newer segments of him recalling major moments of his career. Some of the more interesting tidbits featured include his on-air confrontations with such notorious commentators as William F. Buckley and Norman Mailer. Naturally, each confrontation seems instigated and won by Vidal. The sight of such stoic, respected writers coming close to blows that would equal any best-of montage from Jerry Springer is truly the highest low-brow form of entertainment.

Slow down aging activity: it is a rich antioxidant fruit which slow-down the process of aging and keeps viagra for sale canada you away from wrinkle and fine links. At that point, his brain releases chemicals that tell the veins to open up, allowing all of that in just one tiny little product? It’s pretty common to be a little bit more than skeptical cialis sale right now – many people are when something seems too good to be well prepared for that time when you will finally be able to fly your own remote controlled helicopter, which. It also stocks T-shirts for men and women both. online cialis australia However, you uk generic cialis may adopt the following techniques and measures to achieve desired results: Never resort to enlargement products or surgical methods. The film is bookended by Vidal’s visit to his very own cemetery plot. The opening shot is a bird’s eye view of him standing over his tombstone (where his longtime partner, Howard Austen, has already been laid to rest). He informs the viewer where other notable persons are buried so matter-of-factly, that even if you know nothing of Vidal’s work you get the sense he isn’t afraid of anything—including impending death. Of course, he died in the summer of 2012 (the newer footage appears to have been shot in the early to mid-2000s), so knowing this fact going into the documentary foreshadows the viewing experience to what will surely be an obvious conclusion.

While Amnesia includes other commentators—Nina Straight, Vidal’s sister; actors Tim Robbins and Joanne Woodward, Vidal’s biographers—none of them hold a candle to Vidal himself. He once remarked that one should never miss the chance to have sex or be on television, and with the vast amount of stock footage of interviews Vidal has given, he makes each frame worth it. There’s a scene towards the end of the film with Vidal watching Barack Obama’s victory speech during the 2008 presidential election. For such a historic moment, the camera catches Vidal rolling his eyes at Obama’s inspirational speech. “I would like to think of him as completely virtuous—I suspect he’s not. Why do I suspect this? Because I know how politics works.” Always the wise braggart, his comments prove slightly prophetic six years later.vidal4

Like most documentaries, sometimes the more intriguing parts are the moments that unfold while the camera is still rolling. As the interviews with Vidal progress, his health appears to be failing. There are moments when Vidal appears clean-cut and full of vigor, and then moments where he appears frail and disheveled. Such health concerns are captured on film as Vidal must leave his Italian villa for the more accessible Los Angeles. These are the quieter moments of the documentary, when Vidal shuts up long enough for the camera to capture him alone, revealing how isolated and restrictive his old age has progressively closed in on him. Needless to say, one can only guess how the film will end.

Overall, The United States of Amnesia is an entertaining and informative documentary detailing the storied career of one of America’s most treasured intellects. While the factual tidbits of Vidal’s life are noteworthy, it is his own remarks that remain most quotable. The documentary in fact gets its title straight from Vidal’s mouth regarding the history of America: “It is the United States of Amnesia: We miraculously forget everything, so the lessons we should be learning we have forgotten in no time at all.” As I said prior to this review, I feel smarter after reading or listening to Gore Vidal, and if there is anything you take away from The United States of Amnesia, it should be the philosophy according to Vidal. Vidal wouldn’t have it any other way.