It started sunny with a slight fog coming inland from the lake that gave the drive into work a beautiful ominous. Then once I got into work, I learned that someone within the company had passed away over the weekend. I wasn't in this person's department, but I'd see him around. He was a bit of an introvert and very much kept to himself, rarely making a sound. Now he's gone and very few people really knew much about him.
Now I'm a pretty shy guy. I feel horrible when I first meet a new group of people. But as I get older, I realize that you gotta get out there and get to know people. There are quite a few groups of friends I'm very glad and proud to know! And I wouldn't have that joy in my life if I continued to be the introvert I was back in my grade school and high school years.
It's another example of life being way too short.
This blog is sounding like an obituary column as of late. On to the geek stuff!
This weekend was just awesome outside! My gaming group made the best of it as we played SpyCraft outside with a good amount of beers and burgers to boot. The game itself was a quick, yet fun introductory game that had an NPC character that was described as looking like Jessica Alba! What wasn't there to love about a game like that? Fun as heck, I tell you! Props to our game master, Mad Mario!
I've been getting a chance to catch up on some movies I've missed out on within the last year or so. Are you itching to know how I felt about them? You Aren't? Too bad, suckers! It's my Blog of Geekdom. Deal with it! Here we go....
- The Fantastic 4 - Speaking of Jessica Alba, this was my first introduction to her as Sue Storm (aka: The Invisible Girl), 1/4th of the superhero team of the movie's title. Many a comic book geek awaited this film with baited breath, but when it came out, many were disappointed with the result. This is why when I saw it a week ago, I decided to have absolutely no expectations for it. This strategy worked in my favor since instead of seeing what should have been another, balls-out, rockin' action flick based on a Marvel comic book (much like the Blade and Spider-man movies), I saw a cute, fun, quick action movie. Nothing out of the park, yet enjoyable enough to kill a couple of hours with. Though the effects and set pieces were pretty good, the plot and story could have easily have been a made for TV movie. They've just released the sequel in theaters a week or so back and fan-boys are getting into it fair better than its predecessor. I think I'll wait for rental.
- Ghost Rider - Another Marvel comic to feature film action thriller staring Nicolas Cage (a closeted comic geek himself) playing the role of Johnny Blaze, a stunt motorcycle rider who has sold his soul to the devil and thus obtained unholy and otherworldly powers. Unholy and otherworldly meaning his head turns to a flaming skull, he can shoot fire balls from his hands and he can whip a flaming chain around. Now, I remember reading the comic book from the 1970's and I loved it, however the movie follows a more recent, updated version of the comic book which I didn't really get into. Though Nicolas Cage was his fun, quirky self, the special effects were good and Eva Mendez was the love interest, I ended up feeling the same way about this film that I did for F4. There was also some truly cheesy and corny scenes that had me cringing a bit. A cute, fun afternoon viewing, but nothing more. A good rental if you're a fan-boy.
- Children of Men - This grim, post apocalyptic thriller left me both numb and thinking. This is not a fun filled sci-fi romp that is "the Blade Runner of the century" as the ads for it touted. This is a dark, foreboding warning to the human race about what could bring civilization to it's knees. Both right wing and left wing extremism is studied here as the women of the world have all become infertile for the last 17 years. A fascist police state rules England while leftist terrorists tear apart what little is left of the country. The end of humanity is in sight until one unsuspecting man finds himself in the middle of the whole mess as he winds up escorting the first pregnant woman in 17 years to safety. Visually this movie is dark, but the view of future technology is quite believable. I enjoyed this movie a lot, but I doubt I'd own it in my collection. Too grim to view in more than one viewing, but it certainly should be viewed!!!!
- Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny - Any huge fan of comedic, acoustic, operatic Heavy Metal duo Kyle Gas and Jack Black were anticipating the release of this movie for a long time. This movie had loads of buzz about it within the geek community prior to its release. When it finally hit the big screens fans felt it didn't deliver anywhere as much as it should have, and after viewing it this weekend, I have to agree. There are a bunch of times that I found myself laughing out load throughout the movie, but not anywhere as much as I have in the past times I've seen them perform on television and video. There was something missing here and I can't put my figure on it. Maybe it's the lack on comedic spontaneity that they have in their live act. One disappointment was the fact that prior to the film coming out I heard that Ronnie James Dio had a role playing himself in the movie. I was stoked! But, he's only in the film for about 4.5 seconds sadly. Anyway, like most of the movies here, it was enjoyable, but not something I would have enjoyed as much had I plunked down the cash to see it in the theater or buy the DVD.
I'm also getting caught up on HBO's Deadwood. I just finished season 2 of this 3 season series. I'm hoping that sometime soon, after I view season 3, series creator, David Milch, gets his act together, and give us Deadwood fans the 2 two hour movies that are to tie up the series. This is one awesome show with a stand out ensemble cast and incredibly original writing that explores the many different aspects (both good and bad) of human nature... that and there's boobies.
I'll be quite busy in the weeks ahead. I'll try and stop on in here once during the 4th of July/Summerfest season. If I don't, have a good time with cook outs, beer, cigars and good friends! I know I will be!
See ya.
Zangz.
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