During Christmas 2014 (or possibly 2013), I was given a copy of The Wolf Among Us by my brother on Steam. I had no real idea what it was or what it involved. At first, I thought it was possibly something to do with the social activity known as Werewolf, but no idea other than that until I decided to install it. I was amazed, it wasn’t that. What it was, was a story driven game made to look like an American TV Drama Series and set in the world of the Fables Comics by Bill Willingham and published by Vertigo (the comics, not the game; that was published by Telltale Games).
For those of you who are unaware, Fables is a comic series about the characters and creatures from Fables and Folklore who have been pushed into our world after being forced out of theirs. I have not read the comics myself. The first time I had heard of them was in an episode of The Big Bang Theory. Since then I have tried to read them, but was not spurred on until I played this game. I have since bought a copy of the first few in a volume collection, but have not got round to reading it yet, my reading schedule has been busy with me reading several un-interesting books that I was far too into that I could not simply stop reading. Anyway, that’s what the Fables Comics are.
The game mentioned above is set in the above mentioned comic series and soon after receiving it from my brother, I played it; and couldn’t get enough of it. I wanted to keep on going, and when I was not at my computer, there was nowhere I would rather have been than behind my computer playing another episode. I liked everything about it; the ideas, the characters, the setting, the actions, the story, the themes, even the opening sequence (which at times I still cannot get out of my head). I absolutely positively enjoyed and loved every minute of it. I was at the time positively certain that I had found my new favourite game.
Since then though, there has been a problem. You see, despite classing it as my favourite game (quite possibly); I almost could never play it again. For a game where your decisions affect play and what happens within the story, it still felt like I had already watched it (sorry, played it) and that because it was story driven that if I played it again, it would still be the same no matter what I did. Anyway, a few weeks ago, I threw caution to the wind and decided to play it again, and you know what, it feels the same even if I do things differently. I know what is going to happen, it’s like reading a book again, and I just don’t think I will be able to continue with it. I could still play it, but I may have to wait a long time (I don’t know, maybe 5 years) before I can, just so I can properly experience it again, like I had before.
What this really all comes down to is this; I need a second season. The internet is awash with other people who think so, and there are constant rumors that one might be coming, but given Telltale’s current schedule, it looks more and more like if it is to come out, it won’t be for a long while, that is also, if at all. I want another season, why wouldn’t I want to play more and discover more of what is possibly my favourite game of all video games.
Now, I know this won’t spur Telltale on to make another one, or at least I don’t think so, what with them already making loads of new seasons and shows of some other story based games and franchises like Game of Thrones, Borderlands and of course The Walking Dead, however, with some time and patience (most of which is being used to wait for Godzilla 2018), I am sure that the overall popularity of the game and pressure from fans may force Telltale’s hand in the right direction. In the meanwhile, I do have a copy of Tales from Borderlands I can get into, and see what that is like, I might enjoy it more than The Wolf Among Us, maybe not, but if it’s as engrossing, at least it will be able to fill some time of mine, and once that is done, I suppose I can play another game of theirs……….for the time being.
GENEPOOL (I sometimes imagine myself as Bigby in the Opening Titles, walking alone through the streets).
“I know that it’s January!” Anyway; I am not all that big a fan of horror films. I like the ideas of horror films, plus have the real understanding of how a horror film should work. It’s not about blood and guts, it’s about being scared, receiving a frightful shock that makes you jump out of your chair, or not able to go to bed that night. The only Horror films I have seen so far are films like Battle Royale, The Purge, Aliens, bits of Predator and AVP. But the idea of taking such a happy time as Christmas and then subjecting the setting to an awful situation that leads to kidnap and possibly death is an interesting idea, plus also why I wanted out to point out that I know its January but am reviewing a film that is set during Christmas.
Released in 2015 by Legendary Pictures and Universal, and Directed by Michael Dougherty; Krampus is a Christmas themed horror film based on the folklore legend of Krampus. Personally I never heard of the character of Krampus until this film came out. According to Wikipedia:
“In Austro-Bavarian Alpine folklore, Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure who, during the Christmas season, punishes children who have misbehaved, in contrast with Saint Nicholas, who rewards the well-behaved with gifts. Regions in Austria feature similar figures and, more widely, Krampus is one of a number of Companions of Saint Nicholas in regions of Europe. The origin of the figure is unclear; some folklorists and anthropologists have postulated a pre-Christian origin for the figure (see Germanic paganism).”
Anyway, that’s what/who Krampus is according to folklore; I just thought I better mention some form of knowledge before I start.
The film begins with a scene of people shopping for Christmas Presents, in a similar hysteria and mad panic that people get involved in during Black Friday. After getting into a fight in the store, young boy Max (Emjay Anthony) along with his sister Beth (Stefania LaVie Owen) and their parents Tom (Adam Scott) and Sarah (Toni Collette) return home where Tom’s mother known as Omi (Krista Stadler) is busy making Christmas cookies. Max still believes in Christmas traditions and hopes for Christmas to be as close as that could possibly be, but the house is in chaos, and gets worse with the arrival of Sarah’s sister Linda (Allison Tolman), her husband Howard (David Koechner), their children Stevie (Lolo Owen), Jordan (Queenie Samuel), Howie Jr. (Maverick Flack), their baby daughter, and Linda and Sarah’s Aunt Dorothy (Conchata Ferrell)…oh, and their dog too. The chaos at home rises as the two family’s thoughts and beliefs begin to clash, and end with Stevie and Jordan taking Max’s letter to Santa Claus and reading it out loud during dinner, resulting in a fight. Tom tries to comfort his son, but Max decides to rip up his letter to Santa and throw it to the winds. At that moment a snow storm arrives and causes a power outage throughout the whole area. The following morning, the family struggle with the loss of heat and power, while Max is wondering about a snowman that has appeared in the front garden. A delivery man arrives with presents for the family, as well as a sack which is just left by the door. Beth decides to visit her boyfriend’s house to see if he has power; on the way though she spots a tall horned entity standing on a house rooftop. She runs away but is pursued by the strange being. She hides underneath a van, and watches as a creature with hooves walks around her. It soon leaves, but Beth is then attacked by something inside a Jack in a Box.
The family grows worried for Beth, so Tom and Howard go outside looking for her. They find it strange that there are no other people in the area, no cars, nothing, other than for a snow plow. Back at the house, everyone else hears strange noises coming from the roof. Upon reaching Beth’s boyfriend’s house, Howard and Tom notice how much devastation around them there is, with the chimney split, and hoof prints on the floor. Upon leaving Howard is attacked by a snow monster. Tom saves him and drags him back home, telling the family to board themselves up inside. Omi, who has begun to act really strange, tells Tom to keep the fire burning. During Howard’s watch however, he falls asleep and the fire dies. While everyone else sleeps, a hook with a Gingerbread Man attached comes down the chimney. Howie Jr reaches for it and takes a bite, only for the Gingerbread man to suddenly come to life, wrap him in chain and drag him up the chimney. The family tries to save him, but is unable to do so. Omi then tells the family what is going on, and that they are being attacked by Krampus (Luke Hawker and Gideon Emery). When she was young, Omi lost her faith and hope in Christmas due to her poverty-stricken life in the village where she lived. As a result the ‘Shadow of Saint Nicholas’; Krampus came to town and took the whole town with him to the underworld, leaving Omi behind, with a Krampus Bauble to remind her of what happens when one loses their love of Christmas. Howard refuses to believe her, and goes outside where the whole garden is full of Snowmen and maliciously laughing creatures. He goes back inside. Tom forms a plan for them to try and run for the Snow Plow and find help. Meanwhile the sack of presents upstairs begins to rattle and shake. Stevie and Jordan hear Beth’s voice in the attic and go looking for her. Upon hearing the two girls scream, Tom, Sarah and Linda go into the attic and find a giant Jack in the Box creature swallowing Jordan whole. They are then attacked by the Jack in the Box and some other Christmas toys, while Howard is attacked by a trio of Gingerbread Men in the Kitchen. They are just able to fight off the creatures, but back downstairs a horde of Dark Elves burst into the front room and take the Giant Jack in the Box, Howard, Dorothy and the Baby with them. Krampus is then heard landing on the roof and descends down the chimney. Omi stays back at the house to give the retreating family some time to escape. Krampus seemingly recognizing her unleashes his monstrous, demonic toys on her.
The rest of the family reach the snow plow, but then Tom, Linda and Sarah are all sucked into the snow by the Snow Monster from earlier. Max with Stevie in tow tries to start the plow, but it doesn’t work, and Dark Elves arrive and carry off with Stevie. Krampus then lands in front of Max, and gives him a bauble, wrapped in his ripped up letter to Santa, revealing that it was Max who caused all this to happen. Back at the House, Krampus, his minions and a chained up Stevie prepare to leave back to the Underworld, when Max shows up, throwing his bauble at Krampus and demanding he fixes everything. A pit of Lava opens up, and Max tearfully pleads for Krampus to return his family, and take him instead. In a silent moment Krampus sees Max Tears, but then begins laughing. Stevie is thrown into the pit, and Krampus drops Max in too. The following morning, Max wakes up in bed. Thinking it was all a dream, he sees the neighbourhood as it should be, heading downstairs to see his family is alright. They begin to enjoy their Christmas, when Max opens a Present with a Krampus Bauble inside, to which the whole family falls quiet. The camera then pans out to reveal the house is inside a snow globe, along with many others inside Krampus’s Workshop.
Terrifying and Enchanting, that’s the best way to describe Krampus. It’s a term I have used since about 5 minutes after leaving the cinema (I didn’t walk out if that’s what you’re thinking). Krampus is a very clever film and one that sticks to both the modern Christmas life and the folklore legend that inspires it. It tells a story, but also teaches one; plus values. It opens up with scenes resembling the over commercialized Christmas holiday scene, with people rushing into a shop, tripping over and fighting one another in the hope of getting a present, then goes into the troubled Christmas family life with tensions between family members plus the arrival of the inappropriate and offensive in-laws. It makes the start of an over-promising Christmas family comedy film (which given by this evidence doesn’t usually work out). But then things begin to take an ugly turn, as the horrid in-laws begin to upset the family more, which instigates an unbelievable situation, which leads to horrible consequences, with each family member one by one getting picked off and killed by a supernatural entity and his minions. It begins with the over commercialized view of Christmas, but develops into teaching the true values of Christmas. It tells the story of a boy wanting the best for his family, but once is made fun of by his horrible cousins, loses his spirit for the holidays. This then leads to their terrible situation and shows that while there is heat between family members, there is still love, and once said members are lost, they are missed. So while the family life may not be paradise, there is still more value in it than any gift wrapped up in paper. The telling of this story then is much like how most good films work, it revolves around change, change from where you started from, and learning to bring about something much stronger. Even if it takes such a horrid situation to make people realize this. But then Krampus does something very clever. It does revert the narrative back to a normal life and make the idea that it was all just a dream and that everything is fine. But to prevent them returning to their old, miserable, horrid habits; they are presented with a reminder. A reminder that is true to everyone, not just one person, that what happened, was real, and that it can be done all over again just as easily. This makes both the family and audience think, and remember to take Christmas and the beliefs surrounding it more seriously in the future, because just like the film, it can all be taken away so quickly…even at this time of year.
Krampus sticks very closely to its Christmas traditions and to its folklore legend. I mean that though into how Krampus as an entity works. Krampus is a horror film, and a very scary one at that, but the use of Christmas iconography to deliver these frights is very well done. For many who see this film, Krampus will remain a very mysterious figure that will require some access too to fully understand who he is and what he means. Krampus as a creature is more a man with creature like attachments, possibly more like a faun, but his great bulk and size, plus his two horns continue to present a monstrosity, than anything else for most of this film. For the meantime, it’s through the aforementioned use of iconography well known at Christmas time to deliver the first few frights. Things like Gingerbread Men coming to life (a scene which reminded me of the living cake scene in the Young Sherlock Holmes), traditional Christmas toys attacking the family residents, snowmen in the garden. Ok, I don’t know where Dark Elves come from, but for the most part, it comes down to Christmas traditions. Other things too like Krampus coming down the chimney (“sound familiar?”), snow globes, a giant jack in the box, a teddy bear, an angel, and even a robot, all these things work together to take the happy, joyous setting of Christmas and turn it around to create nothing but pure frights. This continues throughout most of the second act, but then come the third; it’s pretty much all reserved for the film’s titular character.
As for the film’s cast, it is sort of filled with hits and misses. They all have their own major perks, but some are better presented than others. You do of course have the Tom and Sarah as the strong willed parents having to take care of the family. While there is a minor level of tension between them, the situation does bring them closer together. For the most part they are really strong and favorable characters who get sucked into a horrible situation, but are still level headed enough to keep their heads above the snow…as it were. While she may only appear very briefly, Beth is a pretty cool character. Playing the average teen at Christmas, more concentrated on her boyfriend than her own family, but is strong and caring enough for those around her. She is the first one at this event to see Krampus, and possibly the first victim too, but her death is a strong death and is just a taster for the misery to come. Then you get the in-laws, a miserable bunch of inappropriate. Linda is ok, but I don’t feel like she comes out all that strongly enough except for when her children are in Danger closer to the third act. Howie Jr. plays the role of a fat little kid who can’t stop eating, very much so representing the idea of gluttony during the Christmas period. He is quiet all the way through, and it is through his gluttony that he gets caught by Krampus. He is the first of a few comedy characters for this film. Jordan I feel doesn’t have much of a presence in this film to talk much about, other than being one of Howard’s very masculine like daughters. As for the comedians, this comes in the form of Howard and Dorothy. Howard is like the stereotypical, hard as nails Texan with a shotgun. His first answer is always his gun and is far more inappropriate than appropriate. A man who obviously wanted boys over girls, and enforces masculine like tendencies on his two elder daughters. He however has a redeeming quality in that he becomes a hard fighter during the fight against the monstrosities, and a worthy ally in such a situation, sort of making up for his attitudes in the films earlier scenes. Aunt Dorothy meanwhile is full on comedy, a character who just doesn’t really change. She is the negative aunt, the character who only really cares for herself in any situation, and pretty much ends hat way, but like everyone else falls silent during the end. Her role though in this is mostly just for laughs.
Omi I find quite an interesting character as her place in the film is almost like a connotation or tribute to old American Monster Movies. Omi is someone who has experienced the wrath of Krampus before and instantly knows what’s happening and is consistently trying to prevent what is going on while everyone remains oblivious to this. She knew how it happened last time and knows what to do from that experience this time. Then she explains that its Krampus that is causing all this to happen. My mind keeps jumping to old American monster movies with her role, because she is a lot like the expert, or the scientist; the character who walks in half way through and explains the origins of the monster attacking the city, just to cover the science background and explain in detail what is really happening. I therefore feel like that towards Omi as she does just that but in a different role and context. I don’t have any problems with it, I actually quite like that and think it’s rather clever, it covers all basis and fills the audience in more with the details of the ancient legend. Then there is Max, the one who, while not the lead exactly, is the one the legend has come for. He starts off the film with belief and desire to continue the traditions of the Christmas and family, but things take an ugly turn when this is used against him by Stevie and Jordan, who use this as a ploy to have some fun. From that moment Max loses his belief in the Christmas spirit, and therefore Krampus comes calling. Throughout the film, Max plays a very strong and caring role, looking out for and trying to protect his family, even those he doesn’t like, as best as he can, but is of course the main target for Krampus, and so has to watch helplessly as his family is taken away from him. But then, as he is about to be left alone by Krampus, Max comes back, to try and get his family back, even so far as going to try and save Stevie, the instigator. While this in the end doesn’t really work out well for him, this courage and strength make him not just some weak crying kid, but a nice change with a strong one instead; and in some way is the film’s narrator too. Stevie meanwhile I find as something of a breakout role. While she does start off as this horrid instigator (and personally I think the real reason for why this is happening), I am sort of drawn towards her as a character. She remains tough most of the way through and changes herself much like everyone else, and in somewhat ironic way is the last one to be taken, despite it really being all her fault. However, despite all that bad stuff, Stevie is a really great character and I think Lolo Owen who plays her does it really well. I can see (but also hope) that Lolo Owen gets more roles in the future from her performance in this, because I think she really deserves it.
The lead role though is of course the big guy – No, not Godzilla – Krampus. Just one quick thing firstly. I love the Dark Elves in this film. I didn’t know how they were going to be done when I first read about them, but the use of costumes and wonderful masks really do make them a fun, yet still terrifying, inclusion in this film. Anyway back to Krampus. The film is of course all about the titular character, the film title suggests so, and the shadowy figure in the film’s poster makes it so. For most of the early parts of this film, Krampus is merely just a suggestion, his figure is seen, but doesn’t really act. However I think this is Krampus at his best, because his legend is merely a shadow of Saint Nicholas, and so his presence is mostly just that, and I really like it. You see this monster, bigger than a man with some of the most magnificent horns (oh, and don’t forget the hooves) you have ever seen. He is like an army general leading his men from the sidelines, but then enough is enough, and here comes Krampus. His minions running to one side, following orders, and enjoying the prospect of watching their great leader getting his hands dirty. This shadowy like approach to Krampus is really rather fun and builds up magnificently to the point of where you finally see what he looks like. His character then comes out, followed by a malicious laugh later on. It’s really creepy and the buildup is so enjoyable. Despite all this though however; there is some disappointment.
Krampus bolsters some terrific special effects for a film that was made on a relatively small budget. This lack of budget however did not seem to turn the filmmakers away. Most of the film’s special effects come in the form of costumes and puppets. The toys in the attic, the dark elves and even Krampus himself are all more like costumes and suits than CGI, and this is how most of the film’s special effects are done, however on 2 occasions at least there is also some brilliant CGI work too. The earliest of these is from Beth getting chased by Krampus, which is rather quick, but then comes the Gingerbread Men. Bringing these dastardly creatures to life is done really well, and really freaks you out when they come to life and then start attacking everyone. It’s a haunting sight, and one that will make you think twice before eating one ever again (and don’t forget their devious laugh too). There is one disappointment though I feel, and it’s the same one as mentioned at the end of the last paragraph. You see, despite all the great effects, done any way possible: either be the CGI gingerbread men, or the Dark Elves costumes, I feel like it’s a real shame that the face of Krampus is so lifeless. The film has been building up to this point for a long time, just seeing this great shadow like figure in the area, and now he finally shows us his face, and it’s a bit disappointing. The face of Krampus looks like a big mannequin face, wide mouth, but is just so dead. No movement, no life. The only thing seen moving really is the eyes, close up. Where is this great monster we have been looking forward to? Sure, he may be more human than monstrosity, but even Father Christmas has facial movement. It just feels like a wasted moment and can bring down with ease, what we have been waiting for. It sort of puts a real sour note to both this film, and this character.
As for a soundtrack (composed by Douglas Pipes) to this film, it’s hard to really think about it, as for the most part I don’t remember hearing much in original music made specifically for a film sense. That doesn’t necessarily mean though, that there is a lack of music. The film instead makes great and ironic use of traditional songs and pieces that have become so well-known during Christmas. They’re used in some of the most ironically funny ways, such as the theme “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” which is used to depict the mass crowds running into the shopping Centre, and chaos enveloping in the last Christmas shop rush. There are a lot of instances like this taking place all over the film. The most powerful piece though I think is used during the end credits. Now for years I recognized the piece (Carol of the Bells) as a song used in Family Guy when Peter works in Burger King; but through the end credits, it was used to talk about the legend of Krampus. Now if that is what it was originally made out to be for, then it’s great to finally hear it as such, and since then leading up to Christmas, I couldn’t stop singing a sort of version of that with Krampus in the lines. It is a really nice thing to wrap the film up with, but still present a level of haunting and non-existent peace in the film’s final credits.
Terrifying and Enchanting, I used that term earlier and have since to describe Krampus the film, and I still hold to it. What I have stumbled upon here is a true Christmas cinema gem. There are many Christmas films out there, and every year like clockwork another one is released, but it’s fair to say that producing a Christmas based film is rough, because there are so many bad ones out there. What do you do for a Christmas film while still maintaining the theme of Christmas all the way through? It’s a hard thing to do because that’s what you’re setting out to do. Through the cracks of the good and the bad, every blue moon, one comes out that just shakes up the scene and becomes a legend within cinema goers during that time of year, and Krampus is one of them. It’s a film packed with laughs, frights and shocks. It’s set in a very believable setting and begins with very believable situations before developing into something else, something magnificently terrifying. It’s got a story, characters and monsters. It’s there for those who at Christmas want to see something else and while it may not be the greatest or even the scariest horror film out there, it’s definitely one of the best Christmas films. “You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I’m telling you why; KRAMPUS IS COMING TO TOWN!”
GENEPOOL (I’m surprised Lordi wasn’t asked in helping out with the soundtrack).
When I was young, much younger than I am now, roughly about 20 years ago at least; but when I was young, when it was Christmas or my Mam’s Birthday, I would usually go and buy her some Coffee from the Coffee Shop. A specific one most of the time in Lancaster’s own J. Atkinson & Co. Ltd, which is to coffee what Ollivander’s is to wands in Harry Potter. Anyway, I would always buy coffee from them for my Mam for Birthday’s and Christmas. I used to love going in there, picking a coffee, having a smell and then having it ground up and given to Mam as a present.
One time however my Dad suggested that we go to a coffee shop in Kendal. Can’t remember what it was called, I was about 7/8 at the time. Anyway we went in and bought some coffee, and I think had a drink in the café too. While we were there though, I spotted something which I was immediately drawn too. My favourite colour back then (and for some part today still is) was green, and I liked the name of the coffee/tea that was displayed across the side of the large tin. It was called Green Gunpowder. Never knew what it was or what it looked like or anything. But that name remained inside my head because I liked the sound of it.
Years went by, and eventually I stopped getting Coffee consistently for my Mam, I don’t know why, I just did, and with it, I did not venture inside Atkins or any other coffee shop since, other than places like Starbucks and Caffé Nero obviously, and best of all; Esquires, well it’s the culture now isn’t it? I can remember when a tourism advert was published in a newspaper in London which said this country had over 300 castles but only 6 Starbucks. How times have changed.
Well last week, because I was on the very street of Atkinson’s, and spotted the shop, I decided to venture inside just to have a look around, and on the shelf I could spot Green Gunpowder, so I asked if I could have a look just to satisfy my age-old question. It wasn’t much to look at, it was a tea that was sort of green in colour, don’t remember much about the smell; but for simply being able to finally find out what it was, made my morning. Still won’t drink it though, I don’t drink Tea or Coffee, more a Hot Chocolate man myself.
With Christmas just around the corner (have you just noticed, seriously?) I thought I would make a series of posts giving you ideas about what you should buy. Now I originally thought of doing this like a top 10 but then I decided to just give you some ideas of what to buy. Rating them in a top 10 may suggest which is better and in some way I would put it in that order but right now I am trying to recommend all these present ideas to you and so putting them in a top 10 list may not be such a good idea under the basis you may ignore whatever number 10 may be even if it is the 10th best Christmas present in the history of Christmas. Now I will be using the same format for all the other posts in this series, this also allows me to talk more about the films instead of just reviewing them.
This series will also include such topics as Board Games, Video Games and as you can read by the title, films. I will also be doing a list of monster movies too. This way I can suggest more than 10 films as well as give movie ideas for those who do not like Monster movies (which is a shame because they really are missing out) as well as ideas for those who do like Monster movies. I may also do some other topics for present ideas if I can think of any, maybe TV shows on DVD, maybe. One final thing, all suggestions will be available to UK residents, because I live in the UK and almost all my friends live in the UK and I am recommending the ideas to everyone which of course includes them. Anyway, onto the films.
Seven Samurai – From Legendary director Akira Kurosawa comes the best film I have seen this year, which is surprising seeing as it came out 58 years ago. It tells the story of a group of Samurai who are hired to protect a village who are attacked by a group of bandits every year. The film is one of the most highly acclaimed films in cinema history featuring in several top films lists as well as being one of only a few films to achieve a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (take that Lord of the Rings). Six years later the film would be remade in America as TheMagnificent Seven. Starring Takashi Shimura the Great Toshiro Mifune , This is truly one of the Greatest films in the history of cinema and anyone who disagrees simply has not seen it. I am telling you to watch it, WATCH IT NOW, FORGET SEEING THE HOBBIT, IT WILL ONLY DISAPPOINT YOU, SEVEN SAMURAI WON’T, I GUARANTEE IT, JUST WATCH IT, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, WATCH IT.
The Hunger Games – The second best film I have seen this year and the best film I have seen this year if you do not count Seven Samurai which was released in 1954 and not 2012. Anyway, The Hunger Games is based on the book of the same name by Suzanne Collins (which I also recommend along with the other 2 books in the series, I am halfway through Catching Fire). The story follows Katniss Everdeen who is forced along with 23 other children to fight to the death. While it may sound gruesome, don’t knock it until you have seen it (and read it), the story explains it a lot more in detail. Each way, it’s fantastic. Featuring Jennifer Lawrence in the title role along with stars including Josh Hutcherson and the Great Donald Sutherland. Much like I stated for Seven Samurai (and all the films in this list So I don’t have to repeat myself), WATCH IT, WATCH IT, WATCH IT.
13 Assassins – from Takashi Miike (Ichi the Killer and Audition) comes the best period piece since Seven Samurai. The film follows a group of Samurai who have been hired to kill someone who if he comes to power will cause chaos for the people of Japan. The film is a lot like Seven Samurai with warriors in the group like Hirayama who is a lot like Kyūzō. A fantastic Film with Great Scenes, Great Music and a Great Story that needs to be watched. I think you get the point now, WATCH IT, WATCH IT NOW.
Unstoppable – From the Late Great Tony Scott (Top Gun and The Taking of Pelham 123) comes a film based on a true story. The film follows Chris Pine and Denzel Washington as they attempt to stop a runaway train. The film contains a huge amount of action which only gets faster and faster and does not stop until the film ends and no matter how many times you watch it, it does not get boring (I guarantee it). An action packed thrill ride from one of cinemas greatest Action Directors (Tony Scott, We Miss You). GET DOWN TO THE SHOPS AND BUY IT, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, GO AND WATCH IT.
Snow White and the Huntsman – based on the classic 200-year-old fairy-tale, Snow White and the Huntsman follows the story of Snow White as she escapes with the help of a huntsman from the Evil Queen who wants to drain her beauty to be the fairest of them all. Starring an all-star cast including Kristen Stewart (Twilight Saga) in the title role along with Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Charlize Theron (Monster) and Ian McShane (Deadwood), Bob Hoskins (The Long Good Friday), Ray Winstone (The Departed) as 3 of the seven Dwarves (there are seven in total, don’t worry). Beautifully crafted and beautifully written, this is a film the whole family can enjoy. So, WATCH IT, WATCH IT, WATCH IT NOW.
Prometheus – If you have children and want them to behave over this festive season, buy them Ridley Scott’s Alien. If you have children and want them to behave over the festive season without scarring them for life buy them Prometheus which happens to have also been directed by Ridley Scott. The story is set on a distant planet as a group of astronauts try to find the beginning of mankind, what they however could spell the end of mankind. Starring Noomi Rapace (The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo), Charlize Theron (Monster), Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class) and the Fantastic Idris Elba (Thor) While it is a prequel to Alien, the film has its own mythology and the only real connection to Alien is within the story of this film. There you go, two Scott films in this list, BUY BOTH OF THEM AND WATCH THEM.
Rashomon – From Legendary Director Akira Kurosawa (the same man who did Seven Samurai) comes the film that revealed Japanese Cinema to the world. The story is a real who done it mystery as a crime has taken place and each witness to the crime gives a story that contradicts the previous, it’s not until the truth is revealed that everything comes clear. Starring Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura, Rashomon would go on to be the inspiration for films including The Usual Suspects, Vantage Point and Hero. With great use of Weather techniques and a story that will get you thinking, WATCH THIS FILM, WATCH IT, TWO FILMS BY AKIRA KUROSAWA, HOW ARE YOU NOT GETTING THIS, WATCH IT NOW.
Ice Age – With Christmas being in winter and Snow usually coming down (well at least for some people) why not combine all that with the first film in Blue Sky Studios Ice Age series (and you thought it was DreamWorks or Pixar, well you were WRONG). In my opinion, the best(CGI) Animated Film to date. The story follows a Ground Sloth, a Smilodon and a Mammoth as they try to re-unite a baby with its family. It would be the start of a series that would span over 4 (and possibly 5) films and become the 11th most successful film series to date grossing well over 2.5 billion dollars. For me this is the best in the series. A great combination of characters, cast, story, animation and music to make a film THAT YOU SHOULD WATCH, DO YOU LIKE ANIMATED STUFF? WELL WHY HAVEN’T YOU WATCHED ICE AGE YET? (No offense to those who have watched ice age, you have made a wise decision).
Pan’s Labyrinth – From one of the only true visionaries left in Hollywood, Guillermo Del Toro, comes a film filled with fantasy. A small girl comes into contact with a Faun who tells her that if she passes 3 tests she will take her place in the fairytale kingdom that she came from. Set in post-civil war Spain, the film is filled with action and many interesting and some terrifying creatures from the world of Fantasy. With stars including Sergi López, Maribel Verdú and Ivana Baquero in the lead role, go and make your dreams come true BY GOING DOWN TO THE SHOPS AND BUYING IT, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, WATCH IT.
The Lost World: Jurassic Park – The sequel to the Mega film that was Jurassic Park with Steven Spielberg returning to direct. The film follows a group of people travelling to the breeding ground for Jurassic Park whose job it is to document all the species on the island before a greedy business man can use them for his own selfish needs. Starring Jeff Goldblum returning from the previous film to lead the explorers alongside the Late Great Pete Postlethwaite (No rhyme or pun intended) playing the part of African hunter Roland Tembo (look out for him, all his scenes are brilliant, that’s a fact). With Great Special Effects that not even Avatar could beat, this is a definite must see, SO THERE IS NO REASON WHY YOU SHOULDN’T, GO AND WATCH IT, IT CAME OUT IN 1997, YOU HAVE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO WATCH IT BY NOW, GET YOUR CREDIT CARD OUT AND DRIVE TO HMV NOW.
So there are some films I highly recommend you watch, and when I say that, you know it’s true, SOW HAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, YOU COULD HAVE ORDERED THESE FILMS OFF AMAZON BY NOW, BUY THEM, WATCH THEM, BUY THEM, WATCH THEM, BUY THEM, WATCH THEM, WHY ARE YOU STILL READING THIS, WATCH THEM, WATCH THEM, WATCH THEM NOW.
Today is Christmas day. I don’t know how many people will read this on Christmas day because several people will be eating Turkey and Opening Presents. Well as a special gift I am going to share a few things with you that you may enjoy. As part of the Christmas tradition it is a good thing to have a Christmas Tree well in Japan they have A Christmas Tree that I would Like
In the Aqua City OdaibaShopping Mall in Japan there is a Giant Christmas tree in the shape of Godzilla. It has red eyes and shoots out Steam from its mouth. OK, it would not fit inside my house but I would still quite like one.
As part of a Competition on Good Old Games.comI had to write out a song about Activision in the style of Christmas Song. So I went for the 12 days of Christmas and re-named it the 12 Days of Activision. Have a read and see what you think.
12 Days of Activision
On the first day of Activision Gog.com gave to me; a Tony Hawkunder the pear tree
On the second day of Activision Gog.com gave to me; 2 Dj Hero’s, and a Tony Hawk under the pear tree
On the third day of Activision Gog.com gave to me; 3 Bomberman Tournaments, 2 Dj Hero’s and a Tony Hawk under the pear tree
On the fourth day of Activision Gog.com gave to me; 4 Goldeneye’s, 3 Bomberman Tournaments, 2 Dj Hero’s and a Tony Hawk under the Pair Tree
On the fifth day of Activision Gog.com gave to me; 5 Call of Duty’s………., 4 Goldeneye’s, 3 Bomberman Tournaments, 2 Dj Hero’s and a Tony Hawk under the pear tree.
On the sixth day of Activision Gog.com gave to me; 6 copies of Heavy Gear, 5 Call of Duty’s………., 4 Goldeneye’s, 3 Bomberman Tournaments, 2 Dj Hero’s and a Tony Hawk under the pear tree.
On the seventh day of Activision Gog.com gave to me; 7 copies of Blur, 6 copies of Heavy Gear, 5 Call of Duty’s………., 4 Goldeneye’s 3 Bomberman Tournaments, 2 Dj Hero’s and a Tony Hawk under the pear tree.
On the eighth day of Activision Gog.com gave to me; 8 HyperBlade’s, 7 copies of Blur, 6 copies of Heavy Gear, 5 Call of Duty’s………., 4 Goldeneye’s, 3 Bomberman Tournaments, 2 Dj Hero’s and a Tony Hawk under the pear tree.
On the ninth day of ActivisionGog.com gave to me; 9 Prototype’s, 8 HyperBlade’s, 7 copies of Blur, 6 copies of Heavy Gear, 5 Call of Duty’s………., 4 Goldeneye’s, 3 Bomberman Tournament’s, 2 Dj Hero’s and a Tony Hawk under the pear tree.
On the tenth day of Activision Gog.com gave to me; 10 copies of Rampage, 9 Prototype’s, 8 HyperBlade’s, 7 copies of Blur, 6 copies of Heavy Gear, 5 Call of Duty’s………., 4 Goldeneye’s, 3 Bomberman Tournaments, 2 Dj Hero’s and a Tony Hawk under the pear tree.
On the eleventh day of Activision Gog.com gave to me; 11 Sky Odyssey’s, 10 copies of Rampage, 9 Prototype’s, 8 HyperBlade’s, 7 copies of Blur, 6 copies of Heavy Gear, 5 Call of Duty’s………., 4 Goldeneye’s, 3 Bomberman Tournament’s, 2 Dj Hero’s and a Tony Hawk under the pear tree.
On the Twelfth day of Activision Gog.com gave to me; 12 MechWarrior’s, 11 Sky Odyssey’s, 10 copies of Rampage, 9 Prototype’s, 8 HyperBlade’s, 7 copies of Blur, 6 copies of Heavy Gear, 5 Call of Duty’s………., 4 Goldeneye’s, 3 Bomberman Tournament’s, 2 Dj Hero’s and a Tony Hawk under the pear tree.
While I am talking about Song’s, it is this time of year when people will be buying singles and to see what will be the Christmas Number 1 this year. So here is my choice for christmas number one from the BBC3 show Mongrels.
While it is a time for giving and receiving gifts it is more important t to remember that christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ who came into this world to save us from our sins. That is what Christmas is about. So while you are receiving presents and Eating Turkey do remember who made all of it possible and remember the great gift he gave us by sending a child into the world to save us from sin.
“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.” Matthew Chapter 1 vs 24-25.
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