100th Post: Linkin Park & The Cinematic Art of Video Games

 
So, it's been a little over two years, I think, since I started this blog and I'm proud to say that this will be post number 100!

Way back when I started I never thought that I would make it this far, but I continued to blog about all kinds of stuff that interested me or caught my attention. I ranted on just about anything that mattered to me, spoke words of encouragement or sadness to push myself forward. And, even though I say "me", in honesty I also include you, the internet surfers and readers that have either followed me here to this point or stumbled upon it.

Thank you for being the anonymous readers that you are.

Creativity is nourished by what we are exposed to. For me, it comes from my hobbies, talents and emotions. And believe me, that creativity comes from somewhere. It has a voice that speaks and it claws its way from the depths of my inner most mind to become a reality through my genre fiction writing or onto this blog.

Alright, enough of my preaching or rambling! Let's get on with this 100th post!

I thought I'd do something unique by sharing what gets my vibes pumping and my blood flowing with the excitement and thrills that spark my creativity. Most of you know that I'm a gamer. Have been for years. I love playing Dead Space, Resident Evil, Super Street Fighter 4, Gran Turismo 5, etc. I love being immersed into the story of a good game, just like a book, and fighting my way through to the end.

But more importantly, I love the cinematic art that these games have presented over the years. They're majestic, gritty, brutal and beautiful, and sometimes, they capture the tone and climax of storytelling better than actual films. I get so caught up in them that they leave an impression on me which later sparks an idea that morphs into something uniquely my own.

However, that impression is never left alone. Music also adds an extra flare or ingredient which allows it to further take shape into the thing I want most out of that idea. I've been a fan of Linkin Park since their first album Hybrid Theory and many of their songs have hit me on a personal level. Their songs know me so well, and understand my thoughts and feelings.

I appreciate Linkin Park and their music for that.

Okay, before I go on forever. I present my Top 5 Linkin Park & The Cinematic Art of Video Games countdown. I searched through Youtube and went through many GMV's to find these and I most say that I give total applause and credit to the creative visionaries that put these together.

You Guys or Gals ROCK!

[5]. Linkin Park - By Myself, featuring: various games
Well, I needed to start with something that grabs immediate attention, and what's better then cars and hot nuns with guns ready to shoot the shit out of you.



[4]. Linkin Park - Numb, featuring: more various games
Soaring eagles, Assassins influencing the American Revolution, Final Fantasy, and Robocop? Yeah, enough said.



[3]. Linkin Park - New Divide, featuring: Prototype
I love this song. A nice blend of emotion and destruction which compliments the song's lyrics and the narrative story behind Alex Mercer. Check out the second verse and at 2:45. When Mercer tears those soldiers apart, it grips me with intensity. Sometimes I like to pretend I'm Mercer, ha!



[2]. Linkin Park - Lost in the Echo, featuring: Resident Evil 6
What can I say about this? It's Resident Evil 6, man!!! Linkin Park's song almost provides a narration for the action sequences and makes it that much more effective to watch. With Ada Wong lurking behind the scenes the story may finally come full circle. I can't wait for this game!



[1]. Linkin Park - Burn It Down, featuring: A Majestic Ensemble of Games
Another great song! This was a tough one. It came down to two videos with the same song, but this video proved a more glorious effort by the creator to match visuals with lyrics. It's simply beautiful. I won't even try to describe it, just watch.


Well, that's my Top 5 Linkin Park & The Cinematic Art of Video Games countdown. I hope you all enjoyed looking into a small piece of what makes my mind tick.

Again, I want to give credit to the creators of these videos because they have put together unique gaming visuals that capture lyrical emotion. Each, in its own way, is an inspiration to me, and I hope to you all as well.

Until the next countdown or something, ha!

The Dark Knight Rises: Podcast Movie Review

 
It's the Dark Knight! Batman!!!

Yeah, you all knew this was coming!

Jose and I have seen Christopher Nolan's final entry to his Batman series, and we have stuff to say about it!

My overall opinion? I really liked it! Primarily because of Bane, but it did have it's moments that were truly genuine. Of course, it did also have it's flaws but that did not deter it from being an adequate close to the franchise.

Anyway, there are some spoilers ahead! Wait, honestly, everyone and anyone reading this post should have seen this movie by now so nothing should catch you off guard. Still, just in case--you have been warned.

Enjoy our ramblings!



Well, that's it for now!

Until next time!

Get Ready For The Resident Evil Overload!

 
Well hello there folks!

Yes, I've been on hiatus since my last post about a month ago, but here I am to drop some movie news, trailers, whatever that interests me. On that note, it should interest you as well!

The San Diego Comic Con happened a couple of weeks ago, and no, before you jump with curiosity, I did not go. However, the internet has been alive with news on all sorts of information concerning movies that I am ultra hype about!

Unfortunately, I will not talk about those films now as I do not have enough credible information, mainly video, to show so I rave about these other films. I know, booooo!

Fear not, however, as I will talk a bit about a certain franchise that will have a huge release during the months of September and October!

Know what it is? I kind of gave it away already. Doh!

Either way, those of you out there who know me very well, know what I'm getting at. Here's a hint.

That's right, Folks. It's Resident Evil. Now, I've been a huge Resident Evil fan since I played the original PSX Resident Evil over 12 years ago, hmm, it's probably more like 15 years ago. Ahh, I've lost count. Anyway, I've played them all - just about - but I've played every core game and side iteration that appeared of my all time favorite zombie and B.O.W. shooter.

So, with that being said, I'm really excited about Resident Evil 6 which will be arriving on October 2, 2012. There is a lot happening with this game that I am eager to try out and rest assured that I'll have something to say about it after I've maliciously neutralized zombies and whatever other mutated baddie that crosses my path.
 


The above trailer is an older version which shows the release date in November, but trust me it's coming out 10/2/2012. However, it does show the three primary campaign characters and the grand scale of each scenario.

Below is the Comic Con trailer. While it is smaller in length, it does show more of that creepy atmosphere we've enjoyed from the original games and the return of an old foe.


It's the Yawn from Resident Evil 1! The huge snake reappears in RE6; although he looks more menacing, it'll be fun to fight him again. I hope this means that maybe there will be a few surprise appearances by some old foes, namely: Hunters, Tyrants! Only time will tell.

I'm going into any detail about the gameplay mechanics here, but you can find it and more demo videos on the campaigns from Comic Con on Youtube.

Next, RE6 doesn't come out until October, but before that two Resident Evil movies will be released to keep us satiated until then.

Milla Jovovich returns to reprise her role as Alice in Resident Evil: Retribution 3D. I don't care for the 3D element, but it's good to see a new film in the RE movie franchise. By the looks of the trailer below, we're all going to get our heads turned upside down.


None of it was real! The events of RE1, Apocalypse, Extinction and Afterlife were implanted into her mind! Oh, man, I think we will all got mind-jacked or perhaps Inception reaches far beyond what Leonardo DiCaprio could have ever imagined. Either way, this new entry looks like it will definitely entertain and keep us on our seats. I mean, Leon S. Kennedy finally makes his screen debut along with the lovely and mysterious Ada Wong. I'm hyped I tell you!!!

The one element of the film that I'm a bit unhappy about is the fact that the trailer shows a big Licker causing mayhem. If you don't know what I'm talking about, look at the picture of the monster above. I can't tell you how tired I am of the Licker B.O.W. monster(s) showing up in every movie. Geez, Paul W. S.  Anderson, I know you wrote each of those scripts, but give some other monsters from the RE universe a chance to live on screen.

I'm hoping that since this film is taking the position that none of the other films happened then maybe we'll see some other monsters appear or reappear! A Hunter, Tyrant, Nemesis... a big snake or shark! Please!!

Anyway, I'm still hyped for Resident Evil: Retribution 3D which hits theaters September 14, 2012!

Finally, back in 2008, Capcom released a full-length CGI RE movie entitled Resident Evil: Degeneration. Despite the fact the movie had its flaws it was still enjoyable. Seeing a fully rendered CG Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield, two of the game series' most memorable characters, fighting zombies and monsters was pure bliss. Then two years ago, the internet world was feed a teaser trailer for a new CGI full-length movie. It showed Leon, again, this time in a crumbling city fighting against Lickers. Yup, dammit, even here!

Okay, before I lose it. At Comic Con they released a new trailer for upcoming sequel titled Resident Evil: Damnation.


Oh those Lickers. You just can't get enough of them even though I keep hoping that a Hunter will show up. At least, we get a fully CG rendered Ada Wong now! This movie will not hit theaters, but it will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 24, 2012.

Well, Resident Evil will own the months of September and October on both your home consoles and on the small and big screen.

I can't wait. I'm literally going to burst into flames from the sensory overload of Resident Evil goodness. Or, I'm going to fall ill from infection by the T, G, T-Veronica, Las Plagas, Oroborous or the new C virus! Damn how many viruses has Umbrella created?

Stayed tuned folks as I reveal more information surrounding those other film trailers that were showcased at Comic Con. When I get more news on them, or course!

And, keep your eyes pealed for my massive look into the Resident Evil game and movie franchises. Whenever I get around to compiling that beast.  

Until then.

Two Guys Talking: The Avengers - Movie Review

 
That didn't take long!

Here I am again with the newest podcast! Actually Jose and I recorded this some time ago, and I'm just getting to put it up.

Either way, it's new and it's on the hit Marvel film The Avengers!

By now all the hype is pretty much gone, but it's good to look back at what made it so good.

As I mentioned in my last post, these postcasts are now officially going under the title of - Two Guys Talking.

So hit the play button and enjoy! Oh, and I would still let Scarlet Johansson break a chair over my back.

I'm Back!!! Yeah, I'm Still Here, So Here's What's Floating Around In My Head!

Hey there!

Yes, it's me! The guy that runs this blog site; I know, I've been away for quite a bit, but I just want to let you know that I'm still alive and doing well.

Just want to drop all of you that read my blog a little update note. I'll be continuing this blog with new content in the weeks to come.

Firstly, the podcasts will continue and they'll be under the new title of "Two Guys Talking." Since it's just Jose and myself in these podcasts, the name seemed most appropriate. So There.

I don't know yet if I'll put up a new blog site just for the podcasts, so they don't interfere or conflict with what I put up here for my personal blog. Whatever I decide, you'll know.

Secondly, movie reviews will continue at some point, but not as often, or maybe I'll start doing them as podcasts instead of written posts.

I feel a weird and possibly funny movie commentary on the film The Wicker Man with Nicholas Cage coming up. Something about that and RE4 have been roosting in my head, so I feel the need to put it out.

Thirdly, game previews, reviews and commentary will be forth coming. This will include a massive post on the Resident Evil games and films. This will come at some point. I've been itching to do this and now, I feel, is the right time. Well, at least the right year!

Other stuff will follow as I decide the order that these projects will take, but you'll know, or see, when I finalize it.

Until then enjoy the things to come! Laterz

L'Arc-en-Ciel World Tour 2012 NYC

 
This past Sunday, March 25th, marked a first for me. I attended my first concert ever at Madison Square Garden.

Who did I see playing? Well the greatest Japanese bad, L'Arc-en-Ciel! I have followed their music for a few years and have grown fond of some of their songs. So, it felt only appropriate to go see them perform live.

What made this performance extraordinary was the fact that this concert signified the first time a Japanese band headlined Madison Square Garden. In short, not only did I attend my first concert, but I also felt a part of something historic.

Indeed, L'Arc-en-Ciel had been together for 20 years and during that time they have given us such great hits as "Ready Steady Go!", "Stay Away" and "New World" just to name a few, but their global popularity has finally landed them here on the greatest stage on the planet. I for one felt they deserved the honor to play here and in front of a nearly sold out crowd. I mean, it was a packed house!

I sat right on the show floor about 50-70 yards away from the stage and enjoyed every minute of it! The music started blaring and my ears took it. By the end of the night, my virgin ears came out in one piece with some minor soreness, but I cheered along with everyone else in attendance. It was great to hear my favorite songs: "Drink It Down", "Stay Away", "My Heart Draws A Dream", "Good Luck My Way" "Ready Steady Go!" and "Niji".

What would have made the night perfect was if they had also played "The Fourth Avenue Cafe" or "New World". Man, I was waiting for it, but neither came. Still, I wasn't going to complain. The feel of the energetic crowd and the loud screaming and singing made the night for me. It was an experience and one that I'm glad I got to attend and join in on.

Here are a few photos that I took.

What a great night that will stay with me forever!

Until the next one!

Summer Movie Trailers Mashup!!!

Well, Well, here we are once again bringing you another podcast filled with voices and people's thoughts about...stuff.

Yeah, man or ladies, you know we were going to tackle this topic. Summer Movies 2012!! I mean who, with a microphone or a computer, isn't talking about it? So we figured...why not?

Our voices and thoughts must be heard as well, damn it!!!

You know the ones too! Come on, you know you do! It's the ones you really want to see. Okay, maybe it's just us who are really psyched about the comic book movies that will dominate the theaters all summer long!

So, without anymore waiting hear us talk about The Amazing Spiderman, Marvel's Avengers: Assemble, The Dark Knight Rises and (though not a comic) Prometheus.

Disclaimer: One thing I want to point out is the fact that while many of the things we talk about are in the trailers, some of it is also speculation based on information found on the internet.



If you want to see which trailers we are referring too, check below!

The Amazing Spiderman


Avengers: Assemble


The Dark Knight Rises


Prometheus


Again, guys and gals, I hope you enjoy this and leave comments or thoughts about what we talk about!

Until next time!