Thanksgiving: The Annual What?

It's so strange for me to think that a year ago, I was doing this same thing. My blog had just started, people were just tuning in, I had already almost given up hope on being good at this stuff. I almost scrapped this altogether.
But that didn't really happen,
And thank the Lord it didn't! I've gotten to express so many wonderful opinions and original stories, and landmarks in my life, though I haven't done it very much lately, and I'm starting to feel the freshness I once had slip between my fingers as I type on this clunky keyboard.
So, to start with, I'd like to thank you, whomever you may be, for reading this, and actually caring about what some random seventeen-year-old has to say.

Now let's get to what I'm really trying to say.

Thanksgiving has officially been skipped. "What?" You say, "Why, I just had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner yesterday!" That may be true, but how much did you really appreciate that day? What thankfulness did you share besides over grace at the table with family? Even in my own home, with a family who is usually excellent at this, we failed to ask each other what we were truly thankful for. And that makes me quite sad, because this year, I think I've had more to be thankful for than any previous year. Let's make a short list:

• I've discovered the thing I want to do for the rest of my life, and that's quite rare for a man at my young age to say
• I've got the most loving, caring, brilliant family one could ask for. Even if my brother is a moron most of the time. (Love you homie)
• Speaking of homies, I've got the BEST homies. Ones that come from all walks of life, race, nationality, personality. We are squad, and squad is the best.
• I've been given creativity, and this past year has been the climax of my artistic career. I released a single with my man Charlie this past September, I wrote Tan Jacket, which I consider my greatest piece of writing. I've been several wonderful roles in even more wonderful shows, and was even nominated for my role as Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast. I was Tevye. I don't want to even start there because I'm already choking up just typing those words.
• I've worked with the best. Not the BEST best, like you may think of. But the best that changed my life. Mr. Nesseth, Mr. Struyk, Mrs. Melugin, Sarah Portz, Ben Olson, the Gronowskis; just to name a few. Each of these people have left an enormous impact on my life, and I cannot wait until I work with them more.
• My parents are incredibly successful. I love being able to say that my dad runs a school, or that my mom has won SEVERAL awards for excellence in her field, including Rep of the year from InFocus, and Shure. They are successful, wonderful, intelligent, caring, BRILLIANT people, and my life would not live without them and their support.
• I have an amazing girlfriend, and although we've only been dating for roughly three weeks, she means the world to me, and I know I mean the same thing to her. 

There's more. And I am BLESSED to say that there is more. But I'm saddened at the fact that this is being overlooked, or overshadowed by the infamous Black Friday, and the glorious Christmas.
I don't like the idea that the day after we give thanks we rush out at 1 a.m. to buy things we don't have.
I don't like the idea that sales run all week for Black Friday
I don't like the idea of overshadowing a wonderful human emotion, one that many of us lack lately.
I don't like the idea of Black Friday.
I don't like Black Friday.

I like Thanksgiving.
I like giving thanks, and not just posting that I'm thankful for so that you don't look like a bad person. That I truly reflect on my life and what I overlook daily and reap them in to a pile of amazing grace, love, and joy.

I like thankfulness, and I know you do too.
Trust me, I messed this up too.
Next year, let's both promise to not forget the thing that keeps us grounded.

LET'S PLAY ~ Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut Part 1

This game makes my soul happy. I took a break from FNAF2, and decided to play some classic Sonic. Being rejuvenated in this game, it makes me ponder what my favorite games are, and why they are so. Keep an eye out for a list coming soon!

This video also has an important announcement that will effect the rest of the channel.

LET'S PLAY: Five Nights at Freddy's 2 - Night 3 - ATTEMPT 2

Yet another night of terror leaves me screaming at Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria. These guys kick my butt. Again.

Leave a like and subscribe!

If you have any suggestions about games I should play or stuff you want to see from me, leave a comment!

Five Nights at Freddy's 2 - Night 3 - ATTEMPT 1

Here's another FNAF2 video for you guys.

Night three went a little nuts.

Who am I kidding? I died. Twice.

Get a laugh out of my pain and take a watch.

Five Nights at Freddy's 2 - Night 2

I made a second one! I'm hoping to get through night five on recording, so be on the lookout for more videos!

Let's Play: Five Nights at Freddy's 2

I just uploaded my very first gameplay video! I worked with Five Night's at Freddy's 2, and it was a blast! I hope to make a ton more in the future with my good buddy Biznatha, so enjoy!

Cee-Jay

I'm so pumped to announce that I've not got a band. My good buddy Charlie and I have become Cee-Jay (a band name surely going to change), an artsy, coffee house group who has just released their first single on Bandcamp! You can download the song for free, but we would greatly appreciate it if you put some money towards our group. Here's the link, and soon we'll have Charlie's solo EP, Distance, up in the site too. 

https://cee-jay97.bandcamp.com

Thanks a ton. We really hope to go places with this, and we really appreciate your support. 

5000. Wow.

If you haven't been on here for a while, (and neither have I, so it's no big deal) you may not have noticed that the pageview count has reached over five thousand, and that is not including my own views. To me, that's nuts. It is also the anniversary of my blog. That's weird. That my work has been viewed 5,160 times, that I've been doing this for a year, it just baffles me that people are actually interested in what I write, or what I have to say about stupid things. I have to thank you, my readers for taking an interest in what I've developed. Thank you so very much. And to celebrate here is an excellent Nick Cage doge meme.

Tan Jacket: A Short Story

The brisk wind blew over the bench, sending a shiver down my spine. I pull my jacket tighter over my shoulders and put the Styrofoam cup of hot cider to my ever-chilled lips. It’s March, yet it’s still freezing. It shouldn't be this cold anymore. Weather in the thirties is for January, not March. That train of thought quickly derailed as soon as she sat down. She was gorgeous. Light blonde hair that fell in a slight curl to her sides, though her deep blue eyes met only the concrete. She was without a jacket, wearing only a black and white striped long sleeve shirt with a very thin floral scarf to match. She looked absolutely freezing.

                “Hi.”

I barely uttered the word, almost as if I had surprised myself. Her eyes met mine meekly, finally breaking their gaze held by the ground.

“Hi.”

She responds with an almost sad smile. I muster up the courage to say, “You uh… You seem pretty cold. Would you like my jacket? It’s rather warm.” Her gaze said she wanted to, but was afraid to accept. Her eyes met the stone once more, “Oh no, I couldn't do that. Then wouldn't you be cold?” She was as humble as a scared child, wanting to know that the nightmare was all over. It made me pity her. Not in the selfish kind of way, but the way that makes you want to help.

“No it’s alright, see, I have a second jacket in my backpack, so it’s really no trouble to me at all. Are you sure you don’t want it?” She looked at me again. Her cold blue eyes matched her frigid body language as she shivered. She uncrossed her arm and began to reach for it, but then stopped. She looked back at the ground, shook her head, and crossed her arms again in a futile attempt to keep warm. I retreated back to myself, and we sat there for a few silent moments. I decided to do something bold. I picked up the jacket and slid down to the middle of the bench. She jumped a little, startled at my sudden movement. I reached my arms around her, laid the jacket on her shoulders, and slid back to my original spot.

She sat there for a while, looking at me, beautifully confused.

“Thank you.”

I had let my gaze fall to the ground, afraid to see her take it off in rejection. I looked up, and she smiled at me again. “No problem,” I say softly. The jacket looks quite good on her. My slim build helps match hers so it doesn't look super baggy, but baggy enough that it’s kind of adorable. The light tan coloring helps accent her scarf, making the whole ensemble just work, like she had been obviously missing the coat the whole time. We sit in silence as the cars zip by, in all shapes and colors. I wish I owned a car, but I don’t, so that’s why I’m sitting here at a bus stop alone with this gorgeous woman. My apple cider is gone by now, leaving me with a warm mouth, and a sweetly sour aftertaste. Wanting to continue the conversation, I break the silence.

“I uh… never quite caught your name.” Her eyes return from spacing and refocus on me and my question.

“Oh. I’m… Jenna.” Jenna, a beautiful to match a beautiful girl.

“Hi Jenna,” I extend my hand to shake, “I’m Mark.”

She reaches for my hand and grasps it with a surprising firmness. Her hand is cold, pale, and peeling a little. “Are you still cold?” I ask, still holding her hand. After a quick moment, she nods, almost reluctantly. She pulls away. “Would you like me to get you a hot chocolate or something? There’s a Starbucks just across the way, and my bus doesn't get here for like twenty more minutes.”

“Are you sure? You really don’t have to.”

“It would be my pleasure Jenna.”

She blushed as I said her name; I think I saw the hint of a smile as well. “Thank you Mark,” she said, “you’re a nice man.” I must have blushed as well, because as I turned to walk away I heard her giggle a little bit. Her laugh was adorable. I think it warmed my insides with joy.

Ten minutes have passed and I’m back with the hot chocolate, but there’s a bus there, and she looks to be standing. I rush over there just in time to catch her before she takes of my jacket. “Is this your bus Jenna?”

“Yeah,” she seemed disappointed, “yeah it is. Here’s your jacket back.” I stopped her while she was halfway done with taking off the coat. “Keep it. I think you need it more than I do. Oh and here’s that hot chocolate.” I handed her the cup and then slid the coat back on her. She looked up at me, and we stared in to each other’s eyes for a moment, then she pulled my head down to her level and she whispered,

“Thank you, Mark. I won’t ever forget what you've done for me today.” She kisses my cheek, and then walks quickly to the bus. I stand there, mouth agape, in awe of what just took place. My eyes follow her as she crosses the bus and finds a seat. I wave semi-awkwardly as her bus rolls off.

The rest of the day I could focus on nothing but Jenna. My boss yelled at me for getting behind today, I nearly got hit by a car walking home from the bus stop, and I almost forgot to feed my pug, Gerald, but I didn't really care. I was infatuated with this woman I had only met once, and was dearly hoping I’d see her again soon. The next day I wake up normally, and I had finally gotten her out of my head, convincing myself that I may never see her again. I turn the corner to the bus stop, and see my bench, and my jacket, and my blonde. I’m not sure I've ever smiled bigger.

The Last of Us Review

It's a Long Way Down

I'm going to cut right to the chase. The Last of Us is the greatest game I have ever played. Not only that, but the greatest story I've had the chance to follow from beginning to end, as well as introducing me to my favorite character duo of anything I've ever seen, played, or read. The Last of Us is a master blend of intricate storytelling, technically excellent gameplay, and an immersive atmosphere.

The Last of Us tells the story of An older man named Joel, and a fourteen year old girl named Ellie, following their journey across the country twenty years after a virus outbreak ravages humanity. Watching their relationship grow from a mutual dislike to a loving father-daughter relationship.  For the longest time, I thought Nolan North (who is also in TLOU) was the king of voice acting ranging from Nathan Drake, Deadpool, and a fantastic optional voice in Saints Row IV. This is no longer the case. The new king and queen are Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson. When you listen to their conversations, you cannot help but be engrossed in all of Ellie's witty quips, and Joel's evasive answers. Ellie quickly becomes the star of TLOU, and her questions about what the world was like before the outbreak, her sarcastic remarks, and her loyalty to Joel make her an incredibly in-depth character unlike any other I've ever seen in a game. Much of this effect is thanks to excellent sound design; guns have a satisfying kick and pop, the sound of a looming clicker in the dark is rightfully terrifying, and realistic voice effect across rooms make everything feel real. 

TLOU's graphics are also unparalleled, showing us once again that no one has better graphical chops than developer Naughty Dog. Textures are incredibly detailed, character models are the most realistic I've ever seen, lighting is hauntingly real, everything is just... Real. That's the best word I can use to describe The Last of Us, real. 

The Last of Us doesn't feel like a game, it is an experience. I didn't want it to end, just before the credits rolled I was hoping so dearly that there was more of Ellie and Joel for me to experience. This review is shorter than they normally are, but there is absolutely nothing to critique about this game. I find no flaws, and that is immensely for someone with a critic's eye, such as myself.
 If you own a PS3, there is absolutely no excuse for you not to own this game. It's a ride unbelievably worth taking, and once I get a PS4, I will have no problem getting the Remastered edition. 

Well...

Hey. 

It's been a while. 

I've taken a long, needed, break from writing. 

But now I'm back, so it's ok. 

Within the next two days I'll be releasing two reviews:

1.) Titanfall

2.) The Last of Us

Maybe one for Guardians of the Galaxy, but I have to see it first.

I'm glad to be back!

Mario Kart 8: Review

Ultimate Fun for Everyone

Mario Kart has been around for a VERY long time; it first released in 1992 on the SNES. It was an instant hit, and 22 years later, we've been blessed with the existence of Mario Kart 8, my favorite in the series so far. 

Everyone likes Mario Kart. No matter how old you are, what era you played, ya like Mario Kart. And it's easy to understand why! Charming visuals, high-speed thrills, beating your friends, bragging rights, tight controls, chaotic, Mario themed antics; it's a blast! Everything is accessible to players of any age, with four buttons for use. It's fun! So many other games now are so focused on having a hardcore, dramatic experience, and that's great. Games like The Last of Us, and the Fallout franchise have become huge successes from this mindset, and that's great, and I love those games. Though so many now forget that games are meant to entertain, and that's what Mario Kart does best, letting you sit down with a group of buddies and spend hours tossing shells and bananas at each other, and it never gets boring. 

Now that I'm done ranting about the excellence of Mario Kart as a whole, let's focus on Mario Kart 8. Now I know what you're thinking non-Wii-U-owners, is it worth buying a Wii U for Mario Kart 8?

I'm happy to say that yes, Mario Kart 8 made owning a Wii U worth my while.

When you first open up Mario Kart 8, any fan of the series will sense the familiarity of it, though the streamlined menus make getting ready to go race simple and fast. There's a large roster of characters to choose from, now introducing people like Metal Mario and the Koopalings. Characters unlock quickly, and so do kart customization items. Taking Mario Kart 7's great kart customization system, feeling like a cartoonish vehicle engineer is a great joy. Mixing teddy bear bikes with sponge wheels is funny, and actually effects how your kart handles. It has tons of categories and sub-categories on how your kart handles, whether it's what character you choose and their weight class, or the kart, wheels, and glider you use and their stats. It's a simple concept that's more complex than at first glance,

When I opened up the very first track of Mario Kart 8, I was taken aback at its gorgeous visuals. The game uses the Wii U at full power, and it looks stunning. I can't think of a more colorful and vibrant game I've ever played. Once I started driving, the first thing I realized is that there isn't an automatic drift option anymore, now you have to learn how to jump/drift and learn to experiment with that for each of the different customized karts you create. The controls are tight, on both the Gamepad and the Wii remote and Nun-chuck. The gamepad itself, pretty much does nothing besides basic controls. On the screen, there's a horn button, a list of race standings.... and that's about it. But, you can't really touch the Gamepad anyways while your driving with both hands anyways. There is a gyroscopic function for motion steering, but I preferred using the analog sticks and buttons to kick my rivals butts.

The tracks, new and old, are some of my favorite of Mario Kart ever. Most of the tracks are just so outstanding, the ones that would shine in previous versions, feel like a letdown because all the others feel so polished and fun. A few that stick out to me: Donut Plains 3, Royal Raceway, Bowser's Castle, both the new and N64 versions of Rainbow Road, and Sunshine Airport. Most tracks feature zero gravity sections, but they are used so little, and so interestingly, that zero gravity never becomes a bore. 

The soundtrack is incredible. If you have the option, pump your surround sound to listen to this jazzy soundtrack and experience it's awesomeness fully. All old themes have been revamped to a new jazzy style set. The Royal Raceway track really stood out to me due to the brilliantly subtle guitar and ever present drum solos. It's beautiful overall and to nothing but make a great experience even more memorable. 

Now, all good things must come to an end, and such is so with Mario Kart 8's online features. Social restrictions are ever present in Nintendo mama bear style of online play. Group chat is only available when playing in a friends-only lobby, and in the lobby alone. You can't hear your buddies scream angrily at you hit them with a red shell and over take them, and they can't hear you laughing maniacally at their pain. Also, in my experience, connection was spotty all the time. I play with one buddy online, and there were times where we could rave multiple times, and then there were times that we couldn't even finish races due to connection errors. Another thing that bugged me was the amount of baby sized racers. They almost outnumber the normal sized people and it's weird. 

Mario Kart 8 is a prime example to non-believers that Nintendo can still create things original on tried and true experiences. The graphics are absolutely gorgeous, the game play is masterfully done chaos, it's an unparalleled party game, and the soundtrack is one of the best I've heard in a video game. Though the online features are restrictive, it can't hold this polished kart racer back. Mario Kart 8 exceeded my expectations, putting it just under the N64 version in my mind. 

Score: 9

+ Awesome Racing

+ Stellar Track design

+ Customization options

+ Incredible Soundtrack

+ Stunning Visuals

- Restrictive online features

- Little Gamepad use

The Shadow that is the Tree

The darkness consumes the life around me

For why? It's easy to understand

A tree isn't really a tree

While the stars sit in my hand

These trees are really just shadows

That's all there is to see

Or that's all the darkness shows

The darkness consumes the life around me

The stars repel the night around me

The ones that sit in my hand

Reveal what there is to see

Through the darkness over the land

Which is true? A matter of perception

The darkness, the light

Not the eyes, the mind of reception

The brain wrapped quite tight

The darkness consumes the life around me

The stars repel the night around me

Which one can it be?

I can only see

The shadow that is the tree

ללא חלל

There are a lot of people who dread weekends like this. Going to church, twice, then having to see family who they don't even like. Many don't want anything to do with Jesus, let alone their own family. There's only one way I can put this. It sucks. It sucks a whole freaking lot. Hating interaction with those who love you, even though sometimes they may seem like they don't. I'm glad I am not one of those people, because I don't know what I would do with my family, blood or not. My immediate family is something that I couldn't be happy without. All of my aunts and uncles and cousins each have a special place in my heart for different reasons, and without them there, there would only be a void, and that void would suck away all the happiness I experienced with them. And I know that's true because it has happened once before.
For those of you who don't know, I had an Uncle Steve, and he was a wonderful man. He grew up happy, joyful, and he walked with the Lord. He was a maestro on the guitar, and his voice reminds me a lot of my own, but with less of a Montanan accent. He had many excellent dogs as well, and the only one I can remember was Charlie, a big ol' German Shepard with nothing but love to give. I remember running a path around the pool so I could jump in and he would catch me when I was no more than four. One of my parents' fondest memories of him is one night when they sat around a lake and he sang and played Harvest Moon by Neil Young, and they still say that too this day it's some of the best music they've ever heard. Though he certainly had his flaws, and one flaw in particular became his downfall.
He was an addict. He became addicted to alcohol early in his adulthood, and went through rehab five or six times. Just when we thought he was free, he was chained back up, right where we didn't want him to be. He lost his wonderful wife and two amazing young daughters when he lost control of himself. She didn't want to be around him when he was in that state, and she didn't want their children to remember him as a drunkard. There were many times that we had no idea where he was, and my grandfather always had people keeping tabs on him, just so we knew he was safe. There was one month where he was AWOL, no where to be found, but this had happened before, so we were less than terrified.
We don't really know how it happened, but we found him, down to nothing but bone and muscle, in the woods of northern Michigan. The only way we could identify him was by his wallet, which had his ID in it.
Just rewriting what I know is bringing tears to my eyes, because I miss him. And I don't know what I'm going to do when I start losing the rest of my family as well. But I'm going to have the best moments I can with them now, so I don't have to regret not having them later. All this goes to my extended family as well, and by my extended family, I mean my close friends. And I have a LOT of close friends. Kane county Spotlight is an entire family of its own, and then I can break that down in to smaller families that I'm a part of. I love you all. But there's one place in my heart that I've always had, that even though at one point, I should have had a void there, but I didn't, and that is for Jesus.
Jesus has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember being upon this earth. And every time Good Friday comes around, and I watch the gut-wrenching crucifixion of Jesus Christ, I really don't feel very sad. Yes, of course it's depressing to watch the Son of God get obliterated by the ones he came to save, but I don't think I've ever cried watching these things, and I think I know why.
I know Jesus died to save our sins, but that's pointless without the resurrection. I know that when Jesus dies, he comes back in three days time. I know that Jesus lives. I don't just know that in my mind, I feel it in my heart. I feel his love telling me, "Dude, it's all good. I'll be back. I promise. If I can deal with this, you can deal with what you're going through." I remind myself that every day. No matter what is going on around me, that I can't have suffered more than the Son of God did.
I know that Easter dinner is most likely over for many of you, so I just ask that (if you believe) you thank our savior for the punishment he faced, so that we don't have to, but also to thank him for rising, so that we know that we can rise over whatever feels like death to us.

Have a happy Easter friends.

An Experience of a Lifetime: Imagine Dragons, Nico Vega, and The Naked and Famous LIVE

This post is incredibly overdue, but the whole experience has been hard to formulate in to words until I actually look back on it in retrospect. It was a night of confusion really; it was my very first concert. When we got there, Maggie and I had no idea what we were doing or where we were going, because neither of us were very familiar with the whole "concert experience". We had VIP passes, so we got to enter in through backstage. The only problem with that, is that we were lost almost immediately. We tried about four different ways to go, and we finally found our way in to the arena. We were there really early. In the whole arena, only about thirty seats were filled. The front was packed almost immediately upon entering. Everyone wanted to be as close to the stage as humanly possible, and they did just that. So did we.
In the beginning of the concert we were about thirty-five feet from the stage to the right (if you can vaguely envision that). We waited there for a good hour, just chilling out, waiting for the show to start. To be perfectly honest, I felt quite claustrophobic in the small amount of people that were there, and I feared that later on, we would be moshing. But then eventually we started to talk to the people around us. There were a couple of short, pretty girls there. I remember noticing the older one specifically because of her fantastically pink hair and thinking that their mother looked like my Aunt Julie who lives in Australia. The older one with the pink hair was (if I remember correctly) Zoe, and her sister was Hannah. She started off our first conversation by exclaiming, "Man, I hope there's moshing here tonight.", and I just laughed and responded, "I have a feeling there's going to be moshing here tonight, so don't worry." And the four of us just kind of hit it off from there. We talked schools, boys, celebrities, girls, our mutual interest in bands, etcetera. They were quite fun to be around. I made short jokes, Maggie made Jon jokes, all three of them made boy jokes; we just had a blast.
After what seemed like an eternity, the opening act, Nico Vega, finally marched on and started to play. I've loved Nico Vega for a while now, and I felt like a total hipster, because for once in my life I knew an indie band that all these music junkies didn't. I was very happy to find that they rocked live as well as on recording, and it made me even happier to hear the people around me saying things like, "Why haven't I heard of these guys before? They're good!" or "I'm looking them up later." Nico Vega ends, and there is an overly long thirty minute wait for The Naked and Famous to appear as the second act of the night. Was it worth the wait? Sadly, no.

As The Naked and Famous took the stage, I immediately pointed out that they looked like they were trying to be super hipster, and I was SO right. The guitarist had that Macklemore style, short on the sides, long on top, hairdo, but just a tad longer; the pianist and female vocalist had a more slicked back version of the former. They also dressed as hip and new as possible. Their whole vibe just bugged me; I felt like they thought they were better than us. The music they played was alright. It did not make me want to run and but their album. I liked how much bass they used though. Those of you who know me well enough have probably heard me say that my soul is made of bass, so this pleased my soul. But other than that, The Naked and Famous felt more like that awkward church band that tries to be super cool and mix things up but always ends up falling flat.

Then, on the eighth day, God created Imagine Dragons.

That's obviously not how it really worked, but the the sound of ultimate indie rock glory filled my ears  and kept me entranced once the two (or so) hour performance began. They began with an opening riff while a huge jumbotron-like sphere displaying a moon rose, and since then, it's been a blur. I don't even remember all the songs they played, I only remember Radioactive, Monster, Tiptoe, and Top of the World, even though there were so many more than that. All of their songs sounded BETTER live than on recording, and my biggest fear when seeing a band live is if they suck live. That is not the case with Imagine Dragons. Each member played their part skillfully and the only stuff that was backtracked was some of the multilayered synth stuff because there was only one keyboard dude who also played a ton of other instruments. One thing I'm happy to remember distinctly was when Imagine Dragons played one of the greatest rock songs ever written, Tom Sawyer by Rush.

Imagine Dragons
Played a Rush song
And they did it really freaking well.
I CAN'T EVEN

Imagine Dragon's drummer, Daniel Platzman, was sick behind that set. He obviously doesn't have the Neil Peart drum cage, but he made due with what he had, and he made due well. The lead guitarist Wayne Sermon and bassist Ben McKee both had their own solos, and brothas can JAM. Sermon had some of the tastiest licks I've heard from any guitar. He's going to go places. See, I can't even formulate professional sentences anymore because my fire for Imagine Dragons has been rekindled.

I'll end here, but I have to thank a few people first. I have to thank Shure first off, and their artist relations guy, C. I can't name him by name, but I hope he gets to read this and know how grateful I am that he could make this happen. I have to thank my best friend Maggie, for accompanying me to one of the most spectacular nights of my life and for being there when others weren't. I have to thank Imagine Dragons, even though they will most likely never read this, for being my favorite band and for killing it. I lastly have to thank my mother, who went through all the trouble of talking to Shure and making sure that I represented them well, and for all the hard work she has ever done for me and will do. Words will never be enough to explain how much I appreciate you mom, but I'll do my best to show it more in the future.

So bottom line, Imagine Dragons rules.


FUN FACT: Did you know that Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons is married to Aja Volkman of Nico Vega and they have a kid? Probably not. I didn't know until I researched the bands a bit.

Review: The LEGO Movie

EVERYTHING IS AWESOOOOOOME! EVERYTHING IS COOL WHEN YOU'RE PART OF A TEAM!
This song will be stuck in your head for a long time after seeing this instant animated classic, and for good reason. In The LEGO Movie, everything IS awesome. In a mostly bland sea of animated movies (save for the Disney empire), The LEGO Movie is a refreshing movie that has excellent visuals, great voice acting, and a surprisingly touching and bitingly funny plot. While not perfect, it is a great way to open up the 2014 movie season, and one of the best animated movies I've seen in recent memory.
One thing that really stands out about the film is its eye popping visuals. It's almost entirely stop motion, and it's really freaking fantastic. Every color flies off the screen, and the intensity of battles shows off incredible detail and technical prowess. For being an animated movie, it's really not all that animated.
The performances also add to this monumental movie to celebrate the monstrosity that is LEGO. Chris Pratt really shines as his run-of-the-mill, pretty-much-a-nobody-until-he-suddenly-becomes-somebody Emmett. He's funny, like laugh out loud funny, and his endearing enthusiasm never wears thin as the movie's run time progressively shortens. Wildstyle is your stereotypical punk girl, being as cool as cool can be, while being incredibly quirky and never too tough for her own good. Though the biggest star of the show is Batman, played by Will Arnet. Almost every other line is a Batman pun, and Arnet delivers them skillfully with the perfect blend of coolness, cheesy darkness, and overall jerkiness. He's incredibly funny, and even though he plays one of the most iconic characters in character history, you never lose that classic Will Arnet charm that shows in all of his shows and movies. And then there is Morgan Freeman, I don't think I've ever laughed at a Morgan Freeman performance. He's so funny here, and there's definitely a comedic side to him that I desperately want to see again. Sometimes he just spews random words of "wisdom" that really means nothing, or he'll just casually walk across the ceiling, or he'll keep watch while being completely blind. The laughs never stop.
One thing that this film does expertly is bridging the gap between age groups. Never have I seen (save for Disney) an animated movie that's so classically funny, that anyone can watch it and have a good time. It told a wonderful story, one that surprisingly touching, and has a whole lot to say on the "everyone is special" topic, and not in the way you'd expect. I expected the ending to be cheesy, light-hearted, and one that would really end the movie on a good vibe, but The LEGO Movie hits it out of the park. The way Chris Pratt ends one of his monologues with Will Ferrel towards the film's finale is really well done, and seems as real as it can get while still being portrayed through the classic LEGO minifigure. It's really something to behold, and is an ending I will hold future animated movies to in the future.
Now, as with almost all movies, there are a few downsides to this wave of praise.
While it's filled with great laughs, many of the characters make a brief appearance, leave, and make no impression on you except "why are they here?" Yes, the film is used to celebrate everything that is LEGO, and the many trademarks it has at it's disposal, but it sometimes just feels like a hodgepodge of super names. Now, the core group of protagonists do actually leave a mark on your viewing experience so we can count them out. But people like Gandalf, Dumbledore, Abe Lincoln, Superman, Green Lantern, and Han Solo, really have no substantial impact on the plot or anything that has to do with the plot.
Though stuffed to the brim with stitching puns and dry humor, quite a few of the jokes fall flat. Leaving you with the feeling that they just tried too hard. These are both minor complaints, but still make a serious impact on the viewing experience.

Score: 9

+Great performances
+Awe-inspiring stop-motion animation/CGI blend
+Celebrates the brilliance that LEGO has created
+Everything Is Awesome
+Bitingly funny...
- ... But sometimes tries to hard
- Flash in the pan characters 

Review: 12 Years a Slave

I've just finished watching this film. It is 9:33 PM, Sunday, March 9th, 2014. The film is about Solomon Northup, who was a slave for twelve years, from 1841-1852. In the two and a half hours I spent watching this marvel of a film, I still shake, still hold my breath, and still pray that this sickness that is slavery will never return. Those of you who know me rather well know that I love Andrew Ryan, a character from Irrational Games' Bioshock. In the game, he says something that has impacted my decisions for a long time now.
"A man chooses, a slave obeys"
Six words, yet they define so much of history. Back in the revolutionary war, we could have stayed the figurative slave of England, but we chose to be free, just as in the time period that this film is based on, Solomon obeys, and later on, he chooses. He chooses to no longer stand victim to the claims that he is less of a human than any other white man.
"A man chooses, a slave obeys"
I could go on for a very long time on why slavery was such an irrefutable evil, but that's not what I am here to write about. I'm here to write about the masterpiece of a film that is 12 Years a Slave. Those of you who watched the Oscars this year, or even heard about them, knew that this picture won the Best Picture award, and rightfully so. Lupita Nyongo was nominated for her role in this film as Patsy, and won, deservedly so. Michael Fassbender was nominated for his supporting actor role, and lost to Jared Leto. Chiwetel Ejiofor was nominated for best actor, but lost to the powerhouse that is Matthew McConaughey. It was even scored by the brilliant Hans Zimmer, who's pieces have graced the screens many times. He was also nominated, but did not win. All this hype adds up, and did it disappoint? No, I assure you, it did not.
The film follows closely the true life story of Solomon Northup, once being a free black man, then kidnapped and sold in to slavery. The change of events is quite abrupt, and can be a little confusing at times because, early on, he flashes back to the life he once had. Though this abruptness it met with gruesome violence, almost immediately after you realize what has really happened. This movie is violent, dark, and malicious, in the same vein as Schindler's List, and The Passion of the Christ. Though to some it may seem overdone, I assure you, it was in no interest of being violent just to be violent; it accurately portrays what these people suffered through.
Each actor, whether big or small, plays a very large part in the overall scheme of the film, and each outspoken character is displayed with passion. Much of the film, Michael Fassbender held me the entire time. The corrupt, evil, quick-tempered man with no need for a filter or a stayed hand let loose every time he was on screen. He terrified me. And that's not something I can say about most actors in this vein. The last person I believe I can say truly terrified me with their performance was Heath Ledgers Joker, and since his appearance on screen, no other Joker has been able to meet the exceptional standard he set for them. Epps (Michael Fassbender) was brilliantly portrayed in his crooked smiles and whipping hand, and is one of the best acting performances I've seen to date.
Now, with this much praise, I do have a few flaws that need to be pointed out. There are a few moments in the film that the cinematography goes in a completely different direction than what is shown most of the film. One that stands out to me is towards the end. Solomon looks out in to the distance, and just kind of sits there, for a good five minutes. It pulled me out of the experience for a moment, but I didn't want to be pulled from it. There are quite a few other moments like this as well. Also, this film is portrayed in media ray, meaning that it starts somewhere that isn't the beginning, throws you back to the beginning, and then halfway, meets up with where it began. In 12YAS, it doesn't work that well, and left me feeling rather confused. They are minor complaints, but still those worth pointing out.

12 Years a Slave is a masterpiece, and if you have the stomach to experience it fully, it's a must see.

Score: 9.5

+ Awe-Inspiring Performances 
+ Historically Accurate
+ Thought-provoking
+Disturbingly realistic
+Michael Fassbender
- Some cinematography issues
- Media ray proves to be confusing here

My Ten Favorite Video Games Ever #6 Bioshock

Bioshock

Bioshock is truly something special. It was one of the few games I've ever played that I didn't care about how much fun I was having, but more about where its wicked, disturbing, roller-coaster of a plot was going to take me next. It's this plot, the one that gripped my tightly from start to finish, is what made the game so spectacular and made it stand out from many other first person shooters. The same exact thing happened to Half-Life 1 and 2.

Throughout the game, you have little sense of who your main character is. All you know is that his name is Jack, and he's crashed in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, somehow surviving the terrible plane crash. He's the only one alive, and he finds a lighthouse. A few (extremely horrifying) moments later, you're in the underwater utopia of Rapture, one of the most iconic places in all of gaming history. There's reason for such a statement as this. Rapture is beautiful in every sense of the word. Or was. It's now a decaying Eden, filled with addicted men and woman with super genetic powers, and little girls who steal peoples "ADAM" followed by hulking and nearly indestructible Big Daddies. Sound disturbing? Indeed it is. 

As you progress through the game, you earn loads of different abilities and weapons, giving you limitless options of how you want to annihilate your foes. This is what sets Bioshock apart from other first-person shooters aside from its incredible story. It lets you play any way you want, giving you full control over any situation without making the game any less difficult. It also strays from Metroid style gameplay by letting you choose what plasmid or weapon you want, when you want it. Bioshock's combat stands tall above others in its genre.

Then there's the characters. Oh the characters of Bioshock. Many memorable moments from video games stem from Bioshock. Atlas, your buddy, your pal, the one you never meet in person until the very end, is a sob story of a loving father who asks you to say his wife and child. His story also unravels to reveal one of the greatest plot twists in all of story history. This plot twist involves one of my favorite characters (of any story medium), Andrew Ryan. There are many things I love about Andrew Ryan. He is so fully realized in the universe of Bioshock and all that inhabit it. He's in self denial, but also full of prospect, hope, and ambition. He set out to create a world that lived fully free, and he did it. No other person in any story I've read took his personal wealth and made an underwater world where the economic and social aspects of life could be run freely and without loopholes and tons of rules. I don't want to divulge any more details about one of the greatest characters ever, so read the game's epic prologue, Rapture, and then play the game. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Though Andrew Ryan takes most of the story credit in Bioshock, one of the most interesting encounters I've had in any video game is with the savant Sander Cohen. He loves his art. And no matter what form it's in, he still loves it. You go around this level taking pictures for the madman, and hanging them on a portrait made up of frozen splicers. It's haunting, and I still think about some of it's moments to this day. Sander Cohen is like Arkham Asylum's Scarecrow, he's not the main event, but he's one heck of an opener.

Another thing that sets Bioshock above and beyond most stories (notice how I didn't say games) is it's sense of atmosphere. A deep, tense, dark, horrifying, twisted atmosphere. The underwater once-utopia is stunning to look at, and it's six years old now! Each character is uniquely dressed, but really it's hard to notice when you're too busy not dying. Rapture is a dark, glorious masterpiece, and remains as one of the best story universes ever.

Bioshock redefined the first person shooter, and the world has been better off for it. If you haven't played it, do so immediately. It deserves this spot on my list.

Tasty Jam of the Day: Happy by Pharrell Williams

This song has become the new anthem for my life. Those who know me well know that I try my very best to be happy everyday, all the time, and it has done nothing but wonders for my life. Having a positive outlook in all matters of life does much more than most people think. Happiness is the truth. It seems that I'm not the only one who realized this. Pharrell Williams, best known lately for his compilations with Daft Punk and Robin Thicke, has released this song with the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack. And it is just fabulous. A poppy back beat with some four part harmonies rounds out this head bopping, toe tapping, smile extravaganza. Take a listen. I guarantee you'll feel better.

Flappy Bird Review

I spent about five minutes with Flappy Bird, and that's all you really need to be able to judge the full game. And what I found was not remotely interesting.

The image to the left fully describes the depth of Flappy Bird. In the game, you play as this odd, fish-like, thing with one wing, one eye, and some seriously puffy lips. All you have to do is tap the screen to keep Flappy Bird afloat. if you touch the pipes you die, and it asks you to play again. That's it. That is Flappy Bird. Many games are like this, but all of them have done it so much better than what's on display here. Flappy Bird has the WORST hit-boxes I have ever seen. That picture to the left? I've had several instances where I died in that position, literally directly in between the pipes. THERE'S NOTHING THERE FLAPPY BIRD WHY THE HECK DID I DIE. The game causes nothing more than sheer frustration. The graphics are 16-bit and bland, completely ripping off Mario's classic Warp Pipes without even trying to say that it wasn't his design. The only thing I can give Flappy Bird credit for is it's addictive nature. I will admit, dying at 5 point sucks, and you want to continue trying to beat that, when there is really no point. In the end, Flappy Bird is technically imbalanced, boring, monotonous, frustrating, and a terrible one trick pony. Flappy Bird was taken down today by it's developer, and the App Store/Google Play Store is better off without it.

SCORE: 2.0
+ Pointlessly Addictive
- Technically Imbalanced
- Boring
- Monotonous
- COMPLETELY frustrating (may cause phone throwing)

The Sonnet Requiem

This is a sonnet I wrote, my first ever attempt.

The Sonnet Requiem

As I gaze in to her eyes

I cannot help but feel pain

My heart forevermore tries

To stray from feeling feign

One day, she will die

The terribly sad truth

The only thing I can ask is why

As I sit, alone in a restaurant booth

These thoughts drive me insane

I try to clear them from close memory

Though they never really leave my brain

And effect all my emotions, sensory

Love of mine, someday you will die

And fear not, for I’ll be close behind

The Five Best Live Performances I've Ever Seen (In Person)

If you haven't already figured this out by reading my previous posts, I like lists. It helps me sort out what I truly like and what I just kind of enjoy. Here's another one, this one was hard because I've seen many live performances but these take the cake.

5. RED- Winter Jam 2012
I went to Winter Jam of 2012 on a whim, and expecting no more than a good time with some great Christian artists, I was stunned by the quality of performance the heavy rock group RED put on for us. A steam-punk themed, fire blasting, head banging set-list, RED left nothing behind. Toting heavy pyrotechnics, the band played with mass amounts of ridiculous fire, making it a sight to behold. I'm usually not a fan of metal bands, Christian or not, but RED turned me in to a believer, and definitely made for some of the best time I'd had in years.

4. The Taming of the Shrew- The Shakespeare Theater 2013
In Mrs. Nolan's English, during the 2012-2013 school year, we had a unit on poetry and Shakespeare including the ever-classic Macbeth. Our class took a trip during the school day to go see this done live in a very intimate theater with excellent acoustics. Thanks to Mrs. Nolan's teaching, I understood nearly every word when spoken in old English, and I enjoyed every last bit of it. I laughed hysterically, I held my breath in tense moments, and the actors did an excellent job at portraying the characters they played. It gave me a new appreciation for Shakespeare's work after that excellent day.

3. Kayla Nicosia- The White Witch- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe- 2013
Narnia was full of excellent actors, and included in all that was one of the best experiences I'd ever had. But there was one person who stuck out to me the most throughout the whole show, and that was Kayla. I've seen the White Witch played quite a few times, and none quite compared to this unorthodox version of the character. The only thing I can compare the performance to is Heath Ledger's Joker, in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight. Masterful in every sense of the word, as well as chilling to the bone. In rehearsals, I would always try to get a glimpse of the artist at work, completely straying from her normal kind-hearted self. The best way I've heard it described was by our own choreographer, "When she looked at me, I truly thought I was going to die."
Well said Rachel. Well said.

2. Bye Bye Birdie- Spotlight Northwest Cook- 2013
I could not stop laughing. That's pretty much all I have to say about the show and you should still know that it was incredible. And not just that it was funny, but also very well done. In most shows I've seen, there's usually that weak link that you kind of just point out later, but this was not the case with Bye Bye Birdie. Each and every actor displayed true and utter joy on stage, and it shone brilliantly through excellent choreography, stellar voice work, and brilliantly conveyed jokes. To this day, it remains the best Spotlight show I've seen, and it will be a very hard one to top.

1. River Shierdan- Marius- Empty Chairs and Empty Tables- Les Miserables- Spotlight Rockford- 2013
While the show was great, I wasn't in love with all of it. In fact, I was bored at times by some of the more mediocre performances and numbers. While he was excellent throughout the entire show, a true standout over the entire cast, it was Empty Chairs and Empty Tables that held my attention, heart, and soul captive for an incredible amount of time, and I never wanted it to end. River and I had just recently become friends at that point, so it's not like I had any really close attachment to him (we've become much better friends since then, but that's not the point), and that is also what helped make the performance so masterful. Throughout the show I saw Marius as River, until this song came along, then I saw him as a whole different entity. As he hobbled across the stage, full of injury from battle, examining the place where he once sat with his friends he loved so dearly, you could feel the passion in his voice, even before the song began to pick up. By this point I was all in, engaged and ready to be wowed. He did not disappoint. Marius belted his feelings out in a display of vocal prowess, and as his friends' corpses rose and haunted him, you couldn't help but feel his pain. Marius's friend's had left him, in body and spirit, and he collapsed. His knees bashed the floor, creating a sickening thud. He screamed, "My friends, my friends!", crying, painting his emotion over the audience. Marius's feeble body tried to rise, hurting from injury, he continued, leaving everything on the stage. By the end I was a complete wreck. I have never once cried during a live show, and I was not afraid to show it now.
And then I realized, Marius isn't real. This is a man playing Marius.

A Quick Apology

I apologize for not posting recently. I know there may be a small number of you out there that look forward to my posts, and I am sorry that I have kept you waiting for so long. My last post was almost three weeks ago, not acceptable in my book, and I RUN the dang site. Sorry I took so long, so here's a special treat. A list of my favorite songs, why that it is so, and a few honorable mentions. Take a look.

My Top Ten Favorite Songs (and why)

I listen to a lot of music. And I mean a LOT of music. So over the years I've gotten a taste of pretty much everything there is to listen to, and here are my favorite songs covering all ages and genres.

10.  Exile Vilify by The National
This one holds a special place in my heart for two reasons. 1.) I learned my love for the art of Cinematography through the application of this song in a movie me and my friends produced. 2.) It is featured in Portal 2, my favorite game of all time (spoiler for a later post). The song is simple, the words are powerful, and it puts me in a very meditative mood. I love this song, and so should you.

9. Sail by AWOLNATION
No, my caps lock was not on, that's really how his name is spelled, I promise. This song is just one of those songs that just about everyone knows. Used in countless jokes about boats and sailing, the song is an easy opportunity to break out in to epic song. My friend Zach Harbaugh described this song in one word, and it has always stuck with me, "Classy". It took me a long time to figure out what it meant, and now I understand. I'm not going to tell you what it is I mean, but that doesn't matter. Sail is a masterpiece in its own right, and it deserves more light than it is given.

8. Someone by Future of Forestry
This song was brought to my attention relatively recently, and Future of Forestry has become my favorite band ever since. This song constantly reminds me of my best friend, and the song describes our relationship down to a tee. It's all about trust, see? It's the fact that you can trust someone with anything, therefore, they become someone you care about indefinitely. Someone is a sentimental song for me, as well as a song my falsetto loves to sing.

7. What a Wonderful World by Louie Armstrong
Let's be perfectly honest, who doesn't like this song? Truly? This song is the best when I'm driving in my car, whether rain or shine, I can look outside and feel the earth glowing in beautiful harmony. Sometimes my car's blinker will click in time with the track, making my drummer brain in full harmony with what is going on around me. This song brings back my hope for humanity. Way to go Louie, you restored our hope in humanity more than fifty years later.

6. Changing of the Seasons by Two Door Cinema Club
Featured as one of my Tasty Jams of the Day, this song rocks. Two Door's techno-punk feel makes this song come alive, and it's some head bopping, toe-tapping fun. I could listen to this song over and over again, and it won't be boring. This song is in no way a masterpiece, but I love nothing more than an amazing jam to rock out to, and there's not one better in my opinion.

5. Ticking by Elton John
If I asked for an example of an Elton John song at my high school, I would get two answers. 1.) Crocodile Rock or 2.) Who's Elton John? The latter would result in an immediate facepalm, but that doesn't matter. Ticking is about a murderous rampage led by Charles Whitman in a New York bar. Elton John did his research for this song, because he knew that if any part of it was incorrect, it would be his head. It details him as a young child and all of his quiet tendencies, and how well he did in school. The song details him growing older and spiraling out of control, until he finally snaps, gun raised in a New York bar, telling them all to stay on the ground. The seven and a half minute song ends with the police pumping him full of rifle shells. A true masterpiece. If you haven't checked it out, do so now.

4. Car Radio by Twenty-One Pilots
This song is the song I use when I'm having a rough day and I just need to blow out my rage. It reminds me that here is always music, and whenever you need it, it's there. Now, this isn't a heavy sounding song by any means, but it's the true story of the lead singer's stolen car radio. It may sound downright ridiculous to make a song for, or be set as number four on my ten favorites list, but it goes much deeper than what it appears to be. It goes in to the reflections you have when you are in your car in silence, and how there's now no sound to hide behind when there isn't a radio to provide it. It explains the implications that being alone in our car can have on us. I remember a time where I really needed to think, and I decided that music would not be the best thing to help me focus at that time. After a while, my head got to me, and I began to cry. So much so that I had to pull over in to a McDonald's parking lot to be able to pull myself together. I then understood what the song was conveying.
"Because somebody stole my car radio, and now I just sit in silence."

3. What Sarah Said by Death Cab for Cutie
Sarah is dying. The song begins with a man in an ambulance, describing the despair around him in the form of medical equipment. The song is mostly describing the scenario he is in, and how much Sarah means to him. The song climaxes with five words. Five words that have forever changed my view on love.
"Love is watching someone die."
Enough said

2. Adam's Song by Blink-182
There are Blink-182 songs, and then there is Adam's Song. The song was written by Mark Hoppus when he was in a state of depression. Though the ending message was that everything was going to be okay, that's not how the basis of the song ended up. The band received an email with an attachment, a letter. The letter was written by a young boy to his parents, the note he wrote to them before he committed suicide. His name was Adam. The song echoes deeply what the letter spoke of, and whenever I listen to it, I can't help but feel joy that there is nothing so bad that suicide is the option. Mark wrote this song in a depression, Adam's Song got me out of a depression. Thank you Blink-182, I owe my personality to you.

1. Deathbed by Relient K
The eleven minute epic that is Deathbed is a story I will never forget, and one I refuse to push from memory. The song details a man dying of lung cancer in a hospital bed, alone. It goes through his life, and all the things he wants to redo, and also remembering the things he never wants to change. It tells a fully despairing story, a story with little hope, little love, and little reason to go one. Until Jesus shows up. All worship songs tell of Jesus' love for us, and they do it well I guess. But I have not ever (nor will I ever) see a better example of Jesus' true love shown through redeeming the irredeemable. The bridge's symbolism about the wolf and the lamb makes me cry every time. The song is truly an epic, and deserves a high place in any music library. If you have not heard the song, I recommend an immediate purchase. There is no other song that should have topped my list.

Honorable Mentions:
We're Going to be Friends by The White Stripes
Tighten Up by The Black Keys
Butterflies and Hurricanes by Muse
Dirty Paws by Of Monsters and Men

(If you were offended in any way by the Blink-182 album cover, I take no responsibility. That's actual cover of the album and I was going to stick with my album covers)

Awesome Video of the Day: Drop It Like It's Hot President Obama Edition

I've seen plenty of YouTube videos in my day, maybe more than I'd like to admit, but this one takes the cake as my favorite YouTube video ever. The famous Barack Obama impersonator, Alphacat, released this video on December 23 verifying the "Obamacare" Legislation. It's witty, well thought out, and a great, clean take on the original Snoop Dog version. Check out this slice of epicosity. 

Today's Tasty Jam: Dirty Paws by Of Monsters and Men

This song was featured in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (and we all know how much I love that movie), and I have searched for it, only knowing that it was by Of Monsters and Men. I finally found the full song, and immediately fell in love with its mythical melody and wonderfully weird story. Here's the video for the song to the right, check it out.

My Top Ten Favorite Video Games of All Time: #7 Super Mario 3D World

(This article also serves as my review for the game)

Super Mario 3D World

This game is "unlike" any other platformer I've ever played. Besides, well, every other 3D Mario game in existence. It's nearly the same as all of its brethren, the only thing different is a new power up and cooperative system. But the fact that it IS the same as it predecessors makes it so enjoyable.

Even if you have never touched a video game in your lifetime, you have most likely heard of the Super Mario Brothers. They are those Italian plumber brothers who wear red and green as well as their signature hats, overalls, and brown loafers. And they jump. A lot. In Super Mario 3D World, Nintendo's latest Mario offering, you and three buddies jump, whip fireballs, throw boomerangs, dodge assortments of enemies (or destroy them), and prance around in crazy cat suits climbing walls.

Sound ridiculous? Be glad that it is exactly that.

Mario and friends each have their own special abilities that puts each at a slight advantage over the others, but they are so well balanced that no character felt substantially better than the others. Mario controls tighter, Luigi jumps higher, Peach can float horizontally for a short period of time, and Toad is the fastest. Roselina, from Super Mario Galaxy, can be unlocked after the main story and has her own special abilities as well. She is slightly slower than the rest of the group, but is the only Mario character that is built in with an attack other than jumping. Each character controls exceptionally well, and only once or twice throughout the whole game did I feel that I was cheated with death by controls that didn't respond properly. Props to Nintendo for keeping Mario as tight as ever, something that many other platformers seem to struggle with.

Each stage is staggeringly varied, and the overall game is much better off for it. In almost every other Mario game, each world has a specific theme of levels. While the first world mostly followed this pattern, the rest proved to be interestingly varied. All of the levels as superbly designed, right down to the very last flower that really has no meaning what so ever. Textures look great as well as the character models that roam each stage. It's about time Mario got a full HD makeover. The only complaint I have about the levels is that the first four worlds are much too easy. It isn't till the later fourth world levels that the game finally challenges you well. I understand that Mario games lean towards a younger demographic, but a bit of a challenge earlier on would have been nice. That being said, when the game turns up the heat...

Prepare to get burned.


I never once played this game without my younger brother Jake, and we had an absolute blast. Usually when we play video games with each other, some sort of argument breaks out. The only thing that broke out when we played was laughter, at each other, and the silly things we were doing. Super Mario 3D World is an exceptional game. This game beats other platformers of the same vein by leaps and bounds, and finally took the spot as my favorite Mario game, trumping Super Mario Sunshine. I never thought I would have a Mario game in my top ten, but Nintendo's latest offering of the dynamic duo made me think differently. Thanks for making Mario finally mean something to me again. 

Score: 10/10 (out of ten)

TWEET IT UP

I just reactivated my Twitter today, and I thought it would be fun to try out somethig new. I'm going to make an account for this blog. 

@theblckbrdjrnl

Follow the page for updates on posts on this site, and random tibbits of information and insight on life. I will also retweet things I find exceptionally funny, so don't be alarmed if the page follows you back. Also, if you want MY Twitter, it's @jonjonjovi223 

Don't judge.

I'll see you all in the Twitter-space. 

Tasty Jam of the Day Option 2: Chainsaw by Family Force Five (featuring Tedashii)

Our second option today is for the house/dubstep crowd out there. Chainsaw features some wonky beats and some grinding bass to pump the speakers in any subwoofer. Now I will admit, it's a tad odd, but I personally love it's crazy lumberjack bass style. Who knows, maybe Lumberjack will be a new style of music one day? The official video is down below. Warning: it's even weirder than the song alone.

Tasty Jam of the Day Option 1: Changing of the Seasons by Two Door Cinema Club

Today I give you two options on which tasty jam you would like to take a gander at today. This is for all of you Indie Band junkies out there, Two Door Cinema Club's single Changing of the Seasons. It has a natural paced electronic punk beat with mixed voice modulators and varied arcade synths. My favorite by TWCC, this song provides a hearty listen to get your blood pumping on this chilly day. Take a look at the music video below.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty: Review

I've seen hundreds of movies in my lifetime, and almost all of which I have truly liked, save a few. I also have an odd love for movies, and especially the ones that others don't have a taste for. Example: Scott Pilgrim VS. The World is one of my favorite movies, and you may be looking at this thinking, "I have never even heard of that." I've seen stories of redemption, and stories of defeat. Stories that aren't really have no real meaning whatsoever, and I've followed plots to great lengths to figure out what it all means. My top five movies include, in no real order; Dead Poets Society, The Godfather, Scott Pilgrim VS. The World, Forest Gump, and my newest addition: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

Ben Stiller shines in this adaptation of the beloved short story by James Thurber. I walked in doubting his directing skills, as I have only seen him in decent comedies and lackluster children's movies. I walked out wishing he had directed even more movies. Everywhere you turn, there is a little prize waiting for you. In video games, we call these things "easter eggs", and they are something that you wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't gone looking for it. My favorite of the movie (no spoilers) is a large cardboard poster of Ringo Star's head on the cover of LIFE Magazine, promoting the Beatles newly released album, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". In the next scene, Walter is seen walking across the street, and behind him is a little chalk drawing of a sun with the words, "Here Comes The Sun" surrounding it. Here Comes the Sun is one of the more popular songs within SPLHCB. I leapt for joy in my seat when my eyes feasted on this delight of allusion.

Walter Mitty is incredibly likable, and you can't help but root for him and his quest throughout the whole movie. He's an incredibly relatable character, more so than I've seen in most movies of this vein. You smile when he smiles, you laugh when he laughs, you are encapsulated in his daydreams as if you were having them yourself.  Walter is beautifully realistic, and I find many of his qualities inside myself. Ben Stiller was excellent, and I wish he had received more credit than he has. Kristen Wiig was also excellent. I'm used to seeing her on Saturday Night Live, and she's incredibly funny there. I'm elated to see her brought in to a dramatic light, and can now be considered as a serious actress. She was an incredibly well thought out love interest for Walter as well, and I don't think I would have liked her better played by anyone else. That includes Jennifer Lawrence, and I LOVE her.

The cinematography and sound quality is also something to be noted. Each scene is displayed in glorious detail, with artistic camera work every where you turn. It made the film feel less like a movie, and more like an experience. The soundtrack is a brilliant blend of modern and old-school pop songs, and the major theme of the movie, David Bowie's "Space Oddity", is the perfect medium for portraying is overall message. They display the songs message in two different lights, each with it's respective arguments. I hadn't ever thought about the song more than just being a great tune. I was delighted to have learned something about a classic which I thought I had known plenty about.

Go see The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. It's the best movie of 2013, and one of the best I've ever seen.


Score: 10 (out of 10)