Andrew's Weekly Video Game Musings

Hello everybody!

Since I have become a little more pro-active on the video gaming scene, I decided I'd make a sister-blog for the blog you're reading now. It's called "Andrew's Weekly Video Game Musings", and here I'll be talking and reviewing... well, you know how this sentence ends (you do know, don't you?)

Check it out here, and whilst you're at it, why don't you follow it?

Hiroshi Inagaki's "Samurai Trilogy", and "Star Wars, The Clone Wars: Jedi Alliance"

Whilst on holiday here in the Catskills, I was fortunate enough to find that the married couple who live in the house have a large collection of classic movies on VHS. Among them were "It's A Wonderful Life", "Best Years Of Our Lives", "Malcolm X", and "Scream", but by far the most unusual movies I found were in a box set and simply titled "The Samurai Trilogy". I've known about these films, but had never seen them. I thought I'd watch them.

The first in the series is named "Musashi Miyamoto", and is about how the brutal peasant Tazeko transforms into a graceful, elegant, and genteel man. He states his dreams about becoming a legendary samurai, and at the end of the film, ventures to complete the rest of his training. After watching the film, I could not help but think and wonder about Toshiro Mifune's heart stopping performances. He delivers such emotion in the role of Tazeko. Others may know him from his collaborations with Akira Kurowsawa, namely "Seven Samurai" and "Throne Of Blood".

The second in the series, "Duel At Ichijoji Temple", is about how Musashi Miyamoto finishes his samurai training, but learns that a samurai must have compassion against his enemies. This film also introduces his life-long nemesis, Hiroji Saseko, another legendary samurai. The film features a brilliant and grueling fight against 80 evil ninjas. Whilst the film slightly failed with character development, the film more than makes up for it with brilliant photography and action packed sword fights. I'd say it was as good as the original.

The third film in the series, "Duel At Ganryu Island", is about Miyamoto's final showdown with Saseko, and is the most emotional and violent of the series. This last film has it all: tragedy, romance, gory sword fights, and, of course, another legendary performance from Toshiro Mifune.

The entire series makes up a brilliant whole, and is a rare experience that nobody should miss. Even if you don't expect character development, there is plenty here. Although I am not familiar with Japanese films, and did not have any previous expectations, all these films will be in your top 10 if you ever watch them.

Other than that, I've been reading and harbouring a love for Star Wars. I've just bought a Nintendo DS exclusive video game named "Star Wars, The Clone Wars: Jedi Alliance". It is a brilliant video game, and another experience that should not be missed. All the action takes place with the stylus, so there's no more button mashing in this video game. You can play as Anakin Skywalker, Ashoka Tano, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, Plo Koon, and Kit Fisto. For me, the highlight of the video game are the spectacular "Jedi Action Sequences". I won't tell you anything about them, you'll have to play it. And, surprisingly for a video game, there is plenty of video to advance the story. If you will, it makes it's own movie with these videos, and they are all fun to watch.

So, what have you been doing? I bet you couldn't write an entry as long as this!

Greg Mortenson's and David Oliver Relin's "Three Cups Of Tea"

How many of you fellow readers consider yourself charitable? Perhaps you've donated money in the past, went to an Oxfam shop and bought something, or perhaps even lent a pencil to someone in class or at work? Well, prepare to meet one of today's greatest humanitarians- Greg Mortenson.

Some of you may already know the name through the news media, but, if you do know his name, you will probably know it from a no. 1 New York Times Bestseller, "Three Cups of Tea". The book details the turbulant life of Greg Mortenson, starting from early 1993 to 2003. Greg Mortenson, in 1993, attempted to climb the worlds highest peak, K2, to honor his sister's memory, who had recently died of an epileptic fit. He fails, and wanders into a small village in the Karakoram (the mountainous regions of Pakistan) named Korphe. He was inspired by the uneducated children living there to build a school for them.

What started as one school has so far climbed to over sixty schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where children can get a non-extremist schooling that has propelled them to greater heights than anybody could ever have guessed.

If you'd like to make a donation, visit www.ikat.org, the homepage of Mortenson's company, Central Asian Institute. If you'd like to find out more about Mortenson's work, I'd suggest reading his book "Three Cups Of Tea", as it is not only informative, but is a great read and a life-altering experience as well.

"Marvel Noir" Covers

Marvel has recently released a series of new mini-series in which the different Marvel characters are recreated- not just a little, like the Ultimate series, but completely- in 1930's crime ridden New York City. The series has a visual style similar to that of 1930s and '40s crime movies. They are truly brilliant. They stray away from the superhero factor, and more to a detective/thriller story.

For those interested, I thought I'd share some covers with you. So far, there are four miniseries- "Spider-Man Noir", "Daredevil Noir", "X-Men Noir" and "Wolverine Noir". The series don't just change the characters a little- they change practically everything about them. Essentially, they create new characters.

1. "Daredevil Noir"
   http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/marvel_comics/daredevil_noir
2. "Spider-Man Noir"
   http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/marvel_comics/spider-man_noir
3. "Wolverine Noir"
   http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/marvel_comics/wolverine_noir
4. "X-Men Noir"
   http://www.ifanboy.com/comics/marvel_comics/x-men_noir

I hope some of you check out these miniseries. Two have been released in complete hardcovers- "Spider-Man Noir" and "X-Men Noir". They will be shortly followed by more hardcovers, and some new miniseries are on there way: "Luke Cage Noir" and "Punisher Noir".

"Spider-Man Noir" Sequel

When I was in England, I read a short graphic novel named "Spider-Man Noir". It was a complete reimagining of the character in 1930s crime-ridden new york. The visual style of the book borrowed heavily from many noir films, like "On the Waterfront" and "The Third Man". I liked it so much that I decided the story should be taken further.

I'm currently writing a sequel named "Spider-Man Noir II: Carnage and Tragedy", and it is set two years after the rise of Spider-Man and the fall of the Goblin's crime group. The story deals with the rise of a new criminal mastermind, named Cletus Kassidy, alternatively known as "Carnage"- and how the events that transpire break Spider-Man and his soul.

It's going to be a lot darker than the original miniseries, and of course, this Carnage is the Noir version of the classic Spider-Man villain Carnage. But don't worry, there will be no symbiotic relationship between him and an alien, like there was in the comics. I was much more interested in the serial killer side of the story.

Anyone who wants a copy of the story once it's finished can get it by requesting it via email.

Green Day's "21st Century Breakdown"

So, as you guys probably already know, Green Day has just released their new album, "21st Century Breakdown". It is their second Rock Opera/Concept Album (their first was "American Idiot") and their eighth studio album.
At first, I was skeptical. I am quite a fan of Green Day, and I do like their stuff, but I thought before listening that the album was going to be garbage. They don't need to make good music now to have a bestselling album- they're Green Day! But, after listening to the album, my opinion has changed. It is their best album to date, and if you look carefully at each song, you will tear up when you realize what the story is.
The album is split up into three acts, with a small prologue ("Song of the Century"): "Heroes and Cons", "Charlatans and Saints", and "Horseshoes and Grenades". The album follows two legendary figures, Gloria and Christian. They are lovers, and the story is their experience and emotions during the reign of Bush. Gloria is an idealistic person, very light and happy, whilst Christian is moody, and simply wants to destroy everything. Although their is not a clear storyline per se, the album deals with their issues and emotions rather than their physical presence.
The story is told through 18 relentless assaults of songs that, at times, evoke such strong emotions that it is hard to hide them. Songs like "21 Guns" and "Restless Heart Syndrome" evoke sad, longing emotions, whilst "Song of the Century" and "Christian Inferno" speak and evoke emotions of rebellion and happiness.
All in all, Green Day has outdone themselves. Although it may be hard to compute, "21st Century Breakdown" is Green Day's masterpiece. If you thought that "American Idiot" was their best, you will be pleasantly suprised that you are wrong. The story of "American Idiot" is easy to disect: Jesus of Suburbia travels around, wanting to be free and happy, and meets St. Jimmy and Whatsername, whom represent opposite ideals. St. Jimmy represents destruction, whilst Whatsername represents happiness and contentness. "21st Century Breakdown" is different in the fact that it talks to us about emotions and feelings, rather than a storyline.
Imagine the greatness of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and The Sex Pistols all combined into one album. More or less, "21st Century Breakdown" is the end result, and one that everybody will be roaring about for millenia.

"The Glass Castle" by Jeanette Walls and Dracula

Last Tuesday, school ended. Even though the school year was incredibly stressful and full of work, I found that it has been one of the best school years of my life. Part of the reason for this is my English and Social Studies teacher, Mr. Theisen, who, unfortunately, won't teach me again.

When we are on our summer holiday, we have to read three novels for school. This year, we have to read "The Glass Castle" by Jeanette Walls, "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson, and "When Asia Was the World" by Stewart Gordon. Although I was not particularly looking forward to reading any of these books (all of them are filled to the brim with disturbing and graphic images), I must admit that I am enjoying "The Glass Castle".

I won't tell you anything about the book, other than it is a memoir. I have only gotten up to page 19, but already I am in it's infamous grip! The writer's style is very open, and you really get the feeling that you are on to something when reading it.

Other than that, all I plan to do this holiday is make my own documentary. I chose to do one about Dracula, and his influence on modern culture. I am currently downloading the film "Bram Stoker's Dracula", and I have already downloaded "Nosferatu", "Horror of Dracula", and "Dracula", starring Béla Lugosi. I am using the films for footage which will be included in the documentary. For example, the title sequence is primarily composed of sequences from "Dracula".