I did stand-up last week!
And it kind of looked like this:
Actually, it was exactly like that.
July 08, 2011
March 16, 2011
KILLZONE3 & BULLETSTORM
2011 has been off to a slow start. I've only been concerned with two other game releases, Little Big Planet 2 in January and Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 in February. Come to think of it, there was only one cd and movie I was interested in each month also. It doesn't help that I've been unemployed all this time and limiting my spending because of that. The good news is I got a new job the same week Killzone3 and Bulletstorm were released, and to celebrate I rented them both.
Bulletstorm was the first target of my celebration. It's not a cover based FPS like most recent games of the genre, but plays more similar to Halo. The big gameplay change that sets Bulletstorm apart is it's "skill kills," which involved using an electric leash and your foot to push and pull enemies in slow-mo and kill them in creative ways. I had fun playing the game but I wouldn't recommend it for more than a rental, unless you really love FPS or racking up highscores.
Killzone3 was more interesting for me as a Playstation Move owner, but on my first playthrough with a standard controller was oddly disappointing. I'm pretty good at most games and while I enjoyed most sections of Killzone3, there were a few major gun-fights that I found incredibly frustrating. Not to mention the story rang completely hollow, its supposed to be this huge inter-stellar war against this unstoppable enemy but you generally feel like there is little at stake. My favorite games balance being challenging and enjoyable, but Killzone3 was too hard for me to really enjoy. With the Move, amazingly, all that changed. Well not the story, but the gameplay and control mechanics make this a must own for anyone with a Move.
Bulletstorm: RENT
Killzone3: RENT w/Move: BUY
Read more about each after the break.
January 20, 2011
Top 10 of 2k10: Music
So I know this is a bit late, 2010 is almost a month gone, but I really wanted to take my time and write out a finite list that I will be satisfied with for at least a few weeks. The year in music was ridiculous and the plethora of options makes it hard to write out a top 10 overall, If could do like a top 5 for every genre that might seem more realistic. I'm only judging music I listen to, so no Janelle Monae or Robyn or The Tallest Man on Earth (they made some other bloggers lists) and even limiting it by that left me with near 30 awesome albums to consider. I managed to whittle that down to 20, and then put that 20 in order. So here's my top 10:
10. Sleigh Bells - Treats
09. Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record
08. Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
07. Yeasayer - Odd Blood
06. MotionCity Soundtrack - My Dinosaur Life
05. Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - The Brutalists Bricks
04. LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
03. Black Keys - Brothers
02. Broken Bells - Broken Bells
01. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Instead of just writing excerpts with each album I thought it might be fun to make up some superlatives, and that way I can mention some of the other great albums that were in competition with these. Also, I'm just gonna make these up as I go along so sorry if any or redundant. And hey, maybe I'll use them next year.
Best Album of the Year: Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Favorite Album of the Year: Broken Bells
Whoa, I'm Way Behind On This Award: Ted Leo, Black Keys
Guilty Pleasure (This Album Just Makes Me Feel Good): Sleigh Bells - Treats, Matt & Kim Sidewalks
Best Album to Party to: LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening
Honorable Mention: Mark Ronson & The Record Collection - Record Collection, Ratatat - LP4
I didn't think I would Like This But then I totally did: Broken Social - Forgiveness Rock Record, Yeasayer - Odd Blood
Honorable Mention: Vampire Weekend - Contra, The National - High Violet, Marnie Stern - Marnie Stern
Best Hip-Hop Album - Kanye West - MBDTF
Honorable Mention: Ghostface Killah - Apollo Kids, The Roots - How I got over, Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot
Best Punk/Emo Album - MotionCity Soundtrack - My Dinosaur Life
Honorable Mention: Alkaline Trio - This Addiction, Against Me! - White Crosses
Best Soundtrack - Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
Best Mixtape - jj - Kills
January 15, 2011
Top 10 of 2k10: TV
Let me just say this up front, 2010 was a ridiculous year for television. I tuned in to around 25 different shows throughout the year, and most were great, which made it really hard to whittle that list down to a top 10. Let me just take a second to mention a few shows that didn't make it, one sentence each.
Honorable Mentions: Dramas:
House - This is one of my favorite shows on television, and it didn't make it in to the top 10, too bad it only got good late in the season with the arrival of Masters.
Parenthood - Sentimental dramas aren't really my thing, but the characters in this show are so well written and acted it's hard not to watch.
Dexter - I've been reluctant to finish this season because I don't really like Julia Stiles, not to mention she has to follow John Lithgow's amazing performance last season.
Weeds - It was nice to see the Botwin family on the run, they returned to the family dynamic that made the first few seasons so great.
Honorable Mentions: Comedies:
The League - This show is ridiculous, some of the best jokes of the year have come from The League, and it's not really about football.
Archer - H. Jon Benjamin is one of my favorite voice actors and he's hilarious as a spy, watch this on Netflix.
East Bound & Down - I was kind of late on watching this show, but Danny McBride is brilliant as Kenny F'in Powers.
Like I said, lot of good shows and that's not even the best of the best. Honestly, isn't having honorable mentions a cop-out? At least I kept them to one sentence...lot of commas though...no semi-colons, so there.
Anyway, Top 10:
10. The Office
The last season with Steve Carell as Michael Scott, and what a note to leave on. This has honestly been one of the funniest seasons since the series started, I live for the cold opens. Oddly enough Erin is becoming my favorite thing about the show, I thought she was annoying at first but now nearly everything she says or does is hilarious.
Favorite Episode: Costume Contest
9. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
Most people will admit that Sunny hasn't been the same since season 2, but I feel like season 6 is back to form. Generally the episodes are all one shot storylines so it was weird to see some overarching plots through the season but I think it worked well to develop the characters some. Honestly what really made Sunny great was the writing, it's simple enough but I found most of the jokes funny in every episode.
Favorite Episode: The Gang gets stranded in the woods
8. Lost
THE FINAL SEASON, how many times did you have to see that on ABC? Really, season 1 is the best season of lost ever. Although, It was nice to see the story wrap up and finally have most questions answered. Were they? I don't know, Lost was a complicated show and its hard to wrap up a series like it in a way that satisfies everyone but I liked the ending...mostly.
Favorite Episode: Its hard to pick one because of the story so I'm going to go with Favorite Character: Desmond! (Aye, brotha.)
7. The Walking Dead
AMC, the movie channel mind you, is getting really good at making tv shows. I haven't read the comics so I can't compare the two, but I really like the story in Walking Dead. It might not be the most original thing ever, but its good.
Favorite Episode: Vatos
6. 30 Rock
Can I just express alarm at the fact that at one point 30Rock was my favorite show on television and now its number six for the year. Thank you. As Liz Lemon would say, "What the what?' It was actually a pretty good season too, its just that there were so many good shows.
Favorite Episode: Live Show (I know its not the best of the season, but seriously, they did a live show just because. How awesome is that?)
5. Modern Family
Modern Family is like Parenthood but funny, which sucks for Parenthood because MF is really funny. I still don't love all the characters but most have grown on me. I don't care for the goofball humor of Phil and Luke, but Cam and Mitchell (the gay couple) really make the show great.
Favorite Episode: Unplugged
4. Parks and Recreation
That this show has been on hiatus since early 2010 is a crime, the only bright side to which is that season two is on Netflix. I wasn't really sold on Parks&Rec after season one but I stuck with it and boy am I happy I did. This is one of the funniest shows on tv and thats not hard to believe given the cast.
Favorite Episode: (Limiting myself to ones that just came out in 2010) 94 Meetings
3. Community
There's not too much to say other than, COMMUNITY IS THE FUNNIEST SHOW ON TV AND IF YOU'RE NOT WATCHING IT YOU SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO HAVE CABLE. Also: I'm in love with Alison Brie, I'm in lust with Gillian Jacobs. Donald Glover should have been the new Spiderman.
Favorite Episode: Nope,
Top 5 Episodes of Community:
5.Aerodynamics of Gender
4.Mixology Certification
3.Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas
2.Conspiracy Theories and Interior Design
1.Cooperative Calligraphy - "Well tell your disappointment to suck it! WERE DOING A BOTTLE EPISODE!"
2. Louie
I can only call Community the funniest show on tv because Louie is so complicated I sometimes consider it a drama. Just like Louis C.K.'s stand up Louie will make you laugh out loud or look introspectively at what your beliefs, either way it and he are brilliant. Not to mention the show is remarkably well produced.
Favorite Episodes: Poker/Divorce or Pilot for laughs. God for life changing from an FX show.
1. Mad Men
Mad Men really had me going for a minute, it seemed like the plot had no direction. And yet, this season had some of the most interesting character development of the series, which is astonishing for a character driven show this far along in its series. Of course Don's dilemma of what direction to take his life after his divorce is interesting, but I really enjoyed seeing Peggy and Joan rise among the ranks of Sterling Cooper Draper Price.
Favorite Episode: The Beautiful Girls (whoo! Girl Power!)
January 10, 2011
Top 10 of 2k10: Movies
2010 was kind of a weird year for movies, generally it felt like there weren't that many great movies released this year. It seems like all the best movies came out at the end of the year, but even so some of my favorite movies were released this year. Anyway, on to the list:
To be honest I haven't seen Black Swan, I'm not sure if I will. I don't really like scary movies, not that this is a scary movie, but from what I've heard I won't be able to stomach certain aspects of this film. But my own issues aside, I've hear this is an amazing film so I've made the 10 spot an acknowledgement spot of sorts. This list might be totally different if I actually got around to seeing: Black Swan, Exit through the Gift Shop, A Prophet, or The Fighter.
So yeah, this movie isn't going to win any awards....probably. But If I go to a movie thats two hours long and I don't do anything other than laugh for those two hours, I say thats a great comedy. Also, this had to be the most interesting use of 3D since Avatar, and how often do you get to mention James Cameron and Johnny Knoxville in the same sentence?
Like the books, the Harry Potter movies have gotten better as the series progresses. As good as this half of the Deathly Hallows is it really just sets up the second half to be EPIC.
I don't know how, but The Kids Are All Right is the only indie film on my list...how'd that happen? This is a great film if only for the way in which it depicts women on the big screen. Not that that's all there is to this film; it's well acted, we written, and beautifully produced. Did I mention it's also pretty funny when it's not being overly sentimental.
Hey look, its a bunch of toys coming to terms with adulthood. I can relate to that.
I'm still not sure that this actually came out in 2010, but wikipedia says it came out in February 2010. Anyway, how many films can Leonardo DiCaprio put out in a year that leaves you questioning the films ending? Two, apparently.
One of my favorite comics adapted by Edgar Wright (one of my favorite directors) and starring Michael Cera? Yes, please.
I don't really like westerns, but this film one me over. Everyone in it is amazing at their roles and the Coen's direction is amazing as always.
2. The Social Network
1. Inception
Top 10 of 2k10: Videogames
More like Top 5 of 2010. I'm not sure if it was just a slow year, or maybe I didn't play as many games because of insufficient funds but I can only recall playing a few great games released this year. Mass Effect2 is absent only because I haven't played it yet, but as far as I've heard it's great. I'd also like to mention that it was a pretty good year for downloadable content; Limbo, Scott Pilgrim the Game, and a lot of great game expansions were released. So even though it might not have been the best year for major releases it was a good year in gaming, and it looks like the lapse in 2010 will fuel 2011. The release schedule for 2011 makes my wallet cringe. Anyway, Top 5 Games of 2010:
I had mixed feeling about Halo, of course I enjoyed it but I don't know that its single player campaign is worthy of the praise it received from many reviewers. But honestly, I still play online multi-player all the time and that's what Halo is best known for. This game is the pinnacle of the series, it takes all the successes of the prior games and fine tunes them to a degree thats unrivaled.
Heavy Rain is less of a game and more of an interactive movie experience. The game follows the case of the Origami Killer, through four different characters each with their own storyline which is effected by your gameplay decisions. Their are sections that play like a normal game, but much of the player interaction occurs as quick time events in video sequences. The game has amazing graphics and really shows of the PS3's capabilities, but what really sets it apart is the story of the Origami Killer. The game is also releasing a patch that will make the game compatible with the new Playstation Move.
I've been looking forward to GT5 for a long time. Gran Turismo has set the standard for racing games with each iteration, and GT5 doesn't disappoint. The graphics are insane, the level of rendering is the closest to reality of scene from any game. Of course, there is a multitude of cars to drive and all seem to handle realistic, not that I'd know how a Lamborghini Gallardo really handles. The only problem with the game is its confusing menus, their laid out horrible and its a pain to navigate from race to race. Thank god, once you hit the track everything runs like a well oiled machine.
Brotherhood is a direct sequel to Assassin's Creed 2, and continues the story of Ezio Auditore. The story is fine but it's the gameplay that hooks you. The missions aren't very diverse, but the assassination mechanics make it ridiculously fun to complete many of the missions. Along with completing the main storyline, you can also rebuild Rome and train your own league of assassins who will aid you with your missions. The multiplayer is pretty fun too, and there are few games that play similar (if any). Brotherhood is just a fun all around well made game.
Red Dead Redemption is the sort of game you think when making an argument for games as art. Red Dead is the story of John Marsten, an outlaw who's been given a chance of redemption after being hired by the Fed's to hunt down his old gang. The story is incredibly well written, and the production quality is top notch. All games should be this good, and its not just fun to watch it's a great game to play. I spent my first couple hours of the game riding around the wilderness hunting deer and taming horses just because it was so fun. I didn't get into the multiplayer very much, but the main campaign provide hours of great gameplay which is still being expanded with DLC.
January 09, 2011
Top 10 of 2k10: Comics
In 2009 I started reading comics thanks to KICK-ASS and Scott Pilgrim, and 2010 saw my obsessive compulsiveness blow throw a bunch of money as I dove head first in to the world of modern comics. I've toned it down now but I have read a lot of comics this year and here are my favorite series:
JLI is a 26 issue series which has made it a bit over half way through it's run in 2010. Its one of my favorite superhero series that I read, and I was first turned on to it by another blog Everyday Is Like Wednesday. None of the main cast are really major players in the DC universe, and that allows for a little more liberty to be taken with the relationships between them. It gets a little soap opera like at times but its nice to see superheroes with a more human side.
A short series published by Wildstorm, DV8 drew itself out with slow release schedule and numerous cliff-hangers. In the future, a group of teenagers are given super-powers that mirror their strongest personality trait. Then they are dropped on an under developed human-esque world, where the locals treat them as gods. A few team up, others take charge of individual clans of natives, and eventually the clashing ideal of the different groups lead to a world war with the teens as figureheads. Its a short read but quite interesting thanks to all the questions it raises, though it doesn't answer many. The last issue makes it sound like there will be another short series that will continue this story, so I look forward to that in 2011.
It's hard to tell people you like Power Girl and not have them look at you like you're a pervert. I mean look at that cover. Whats the first thing you notice? You're probably wondering where two women found a seamstress who could fashion a garment strong enough to contain their...um...bountiful assets. But seriously, PG is my favorite DC character (that's not Batman) mainly because she's an alternate version of another character who has a sense of humor. She is some other earth's version of Supergirl, but something happened and now she's stuck in our world or something. But she makes the most of it and has developed a sense of humor as a coping mechanism to deal with the fact that shes not supposed to exist.The first 12 issues of the series were especially good, and while the series is still okay its mainly my love of the character that keeps me reading. But ignore that and read the first 12 issues.
I really like Sweet Tooth, but I'm forcing my self to read it in trade as those are released. I have to admit the wait but trades is horrible, the story is so good I just want to pick up every single issue of the comic and get caught up. The story is set in a post apocalyptic world where a mysterious disease is killing everyone, no one knows much about the plague other than the fact that its onset was marked by numerous children being born with a deformity. The children of the plague each have a different deformity, but all are part animal part human. The many story follows a half deer boy who we call "Sweet Tooth" as he leaves the safety of his home in the woods after his fathers death. He's accompanied by a man named Jeppard, whose intentions are never entirely clear. Sure post-apocalyptic setting isn't the most original, but the characters make this book great.
Like I said, this series is the reason I got in to comics. It'd be higher up, but this wasn't even my favorite of the series. That being said, it does finally tie up all the series plots. It was a great year for Scott Pilgrim; the last book was released, the movie adaptation was released, and a really sweet 8-bit beat 'em up videogame was released to coincide with the game. And the soundtrack...oh the soundtrack. I'd feel stupid putting a soundtrack in my top albums of 2010, but the original music by Beck as Scott's band Sex Bob-Omb is amazing.
American Vampire is a new series that garnered some attention because it was partially co-written by Stephen King, though his storyline isn't the best part of the book. King rights the origin story of one of the main characters Skinner Sweet who is criminal that is transformed by some European vampires into the first American Vampire. Apparently, your place of birth effects your blood stream, or at least how the vampire blood reacts with your human blood. So, European vampires are what you would think of as classic vampires, they hate sunlight and can be killed with a wooden stake. American Vampires on the other hand can walk in the day light and have no known weaknesses. The primary storyline follows Pearl, a struggling actress who finally gets her big break in a film when she's paired in a scene with the lead actor, who eventually invites her to a party with some very important foreign film makers. Needless to say, Pearl gets a little more than she bargained for and we get an awesome comic.
Not everyone is a fan of Grant Morrison's run on Batman and the assorted Batbooks but I am not one of those people. Now that I've read some more of Morrison's current work I can say that I'm not excited by his overarching goals for the Batman canon but I love the way he writes his characters and I'm excited by the prospect of Batman Inc. So that was super nerdy and if you're reading this I'm sorry, but I think its illegal to read comics and not have strong opinions on Batman and whoever is currently writing the series. Anyway, lets talk about this specific Bat-series. Dick Grayson is Batman and Damien Wayne is Robin, and the two work great together. Dick is enthusiastic and makes Batman fun, he enjoys it whereas Bruce always seemed burdened by the cowl. Damien on the other hand is an asshole, and it's hilarious. I mean just look at that cover, you can get a sense of their attitude just from that picture. The art is great through out the entire series, and they have consistently some of the best covers of any series.
I haven't mentioned the art of many other comics on this list but its hard to ignore in Orc Stain. James Stokoe writes and draws Orc Stain and it is amazing! The story isn't the most complicated but its fun and the protagonist One-Eye is pretty great. In a race of non-thinker, he is a thinker; One-eye understands that all things have a failing point and uses that knowledge to crack safes and wreak havoc on enemies. Issue 4 also introduces Bowie the Swamp Bamba who you see to the left, she's like a witch doctor...who kicks ass. It's hard to explain how awesome these characters are...but describing the interior are is even more challenging. The level of detail is miraculous and every issue takes hours to fully appreciate. I highly recommend this series, a trade collection was just released of the first 5 issues and everyone should buy it.
Every week I look forward to reading Chew, unfortunately it doesn't come out every week so I'm disappointed....a lot. Chew is incredibly well written, and the art takes some getting used to but once you reach a certain point you can't imagine it any other way. The story follows Tony Chu and FDA detective who's also a cibopath...or whatever it's called, when he eats things he can instantly sense their history. There was a plague, a variant of Bird Flu, that led to the ban of chicken. The FDA was turned in to a variant of Secret Service that enforces the poultry ban, and Tony is a lead detective. You can buy the first issue for a dollar at any comic shop, and that should be enough to reel you in.
1. KING CITY
January 08, 2011
Top 10 of 2k10: Books
More like book. I only read one book this year so it's automatically number one:
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