Seventeen of Fifty-Two

Movies

Tangled

Is it weird that I absolutely love this film?
Not just the story either, the characters, the songs - yes I own the album - the art style, the voice acting, the animation, the pacing, hell I even like the annoying animal characters that usually peeve me in movies like this.

I don't know what it is, I guess it's a mix of all of the above, but I just can't get sick of it. At this point I must have seen this film about a hundred times and it's only been out on dvd since late march 2011.  From it's detailed and funny cast of characters down to it's slow played romantic story arc, it's just a brilliant take on the rapunzel story.

 This version follows Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, a thief who accidentally came across her tower as they travel across the country so that Rapunzel can see the flying lanterns that she's watched from her window every year on her birthday, and so that Flynn can get back the crown he stole from the royal castle.
Through a series of adventures the pair grow close and a romance blossoms between the two of them, only to seemingly be shattered as Rapunzel's 'mother' manipulates two men that Flynn screwed over into trying to kidnap her while making it look like he gave her up to them and tricking Rapunzel into thinking that Flynn betrayed her, as she said that he would.
Flynn is arrested and sentenced to death and Rapunzel returns with her mother to her life in the tower, only to realise that she is actually the princess of hte kingdom, stolen at birth by her 'mother'. While this is happening Flynn realises what's happened and breaks out of jail to rescue her.

It's odd that I just told you the majority of the film and yet refuse to tell you the conclusion. All things considered you won't guess it... or will you? huh? Well, regardless you should go watch it!
Like... now.

Why are you still here? seriously? go watch it now.

Looks ok i guess-video
- James

Sixteen of Fifty-Two

Comics

Ultimate Comics; Doomsday

Ultimate Doomsday is a multi-series cross over from the Ultimate Marvel Universe involving Ultimate's versions of the Fantastic Four, Spider-man, Spider-woman, Ice man from the X-men, the S.H.I.E.L.D. side of the Ultimates (many marvel fans know them as the Avengers) in which a number of near simultaneous attacks occur on science institutes and seemingly unrelated people, including the should-be-dead Nick Fury, the home of Reed Richards, the home of Peter Parker and the home of Jessica Drew, Peter Parkers female clone, Spider-woman.

The comic follows several paths that lead to the same end, the fantastic four, now the Fantastic three when Reed Richards is seen to die in his home, mourn their loss while Ben Grimm goes into some sort of comma while his rocks fall off, eventually freeing him of his rock cocoon. Spider-man and Spider-woman attempt to infiltrate Roxxon science division to discover if they were involved in the attacks, though their sleuthing gets Jessica in more hot water than she had expected. Finally S.H.E.I.L.D. work every angle they can think of reacting to everything and trying to get ahead of the game.

The comic shows all the characters at their best in the middle of such a monumental disaster as they are pitted against an enemy that they never thought they'd have to face.

Of course in the end the three groups come together to out-wit their latest adversary, but they don't manage to do away with him. They are most certainly going to have to face off against him again at some point. I'm not going to tell you who it is, but suffice to say I didn't see it coming.

There were some great things abotu this comic collection that I think take reading them to understand, but I'll say them anyway; I love the interractions between Spidey adn Spider-woman. They work SO well toghether. I'd say it's like seeing peter parker talkign to himself, but she's his clone so it's kind of redundant. There really isn't enough going on page stuff goign on with Jessica Drew.
If I could ask for any one thing to happen with the Ultimate universe... well it'd be Peter Parker coming back, but I can't really see that happening any time soon (though I have a great plot line to make it happen, but you'll have to wait for the Ultimate Spiderman review for that). But if I could have anotehr wish it'd be to put Jessica Drew in her own comic. It was nice to see her confronting her past, facing off agaisnt Doc Oc and inevitably giving in to Peters morals and saving his life. Jessica is a fun, lively, intelligent, entertaining and witty character and we need see more of her.
Another thing I loved was a short cameo of Hawkeye, in which he turns up for five minutes to torture an alien creature that nobody can get to talk. He is a legendary agent and suffice to say, the alien talks... in about 30 seconds.

Really though, its a great read. Smart, excting, funny and surprising. it makes you think, its emotional and it has some sensational art. Go read it now.

How-Spider-man-should-have-ended
- James

Merry December

Welcome to December, the month of yule cheer and Christmas tidings. Knowing that I'm an atheist as many of you do, you'll probably be either confused by this statement or wary, but fear not for I mean it.
I'm not here trying to tear down your holiday. I'm not here trying to demand that Christmas trees be taken out of government sanctioned areas - though I understand the point of those people, I think they're wrong.
I love Christmas, so to all you readers I say this;
Merry Christmas One and All.

As an Atheist I don't celebrate Christmas for the same reasons that Christians do. I don't believe that it was the day that Christ was born, partially because based on the information given in the bible Jesus wasn't born in the winter, but mostly because I don't believe in Christ.
I subscribe to the sentiment of Christmas not the Christian meaning. Kindness, giving, good will to all. This is the Christmas I subscribe to. I have a Christmas tree, I give gifts, and I celebrate family and togetherness.
I don't say grace, go to mass or thank the son of god, who is also god for sacrificing himself to himself.

I believe that Christmas has evolved past its Christian origins just as it evolved past its pagan origins and its Egyptian origins.
I believe that Christmas is a holiday the world over that encompasses a feeling of happiness, a time within the darkest, harshest season of the year that everyone gets together to remind themselves of the good things in their lives. Be it family or friends, a job or a hobby, Americans have thanks giving to figure out what they're thankful for, but for me it's Christmas.

You know I have a routine for Christmas; it's the same routine that me and my family have had for the last 25 years? Probably slightly less.
We go to my aunts for Christmas eve as it’s my cousin’s birthday, then we rush home before midnight, watching for Santa out the car window the whole way. We go to bed and wake up the following morning, rush down to the living room where Santa’s left our stockings (yes we all have stockings, me my mom my dad and my sister. No none of us are under 20) We open up our stockings together, while photos are taken and then (after my dad’s made the mandatory joke about leaving our main gifts until after Christmas dinner and we shoot him down) someone makes coffee and we move onto our main gifts. After we've had our main gifts we all collaborate in making Christmas breakfast. We then go our separate ways, my mother (with occasional help from other family members) prepares a turkey dinner and we all play with our gifts. At two-ish we have Christmas dinner together before retiring to the living room to watch a DVD. Everyone but me falls asleep and I slink away to carry on playing.
At seven we watch Doctor who Christmas special and then go our separate ways until Boxing Day when we spend the whole day at my nans house getting more gifts and enjoying the company of others.

So that's my Christmas tradition, what's yours?

Merry-ricky-gervais-the-happy-atheist-christmas
- James

Fifteen of Fifty-Two

Books

Night Angel Trilogy

Ok, so I loved this series, as you can probably tell from me putting it in my top fifty two things of all time. I read through it while I was in university, during a time when I wasn't reading much and had pretty much given up on my writing. A friend recomended it to me, explaining it as 'badass' if I recall - though I might be just saying that because I recently completed Mr. Torgue's Campaign of Carnage.

The book is the globe spanning story of Kylar, a wetboy for the underground. With it's interesting take on magic, to its expansive history and future, the book is hard to put down. Dark and gritty terrifying in places, the Night Angel trilogy is both relatable and too fantastical for words.
Kylar was an orphan, he comes from the street, he came from nothing and started training under the greatest Wetboy to ever live, a thoroughly mysterious man named Durzo Blint.

You may be wondering at this point - considering my vague review - if I've actually read it. The answer is yes, but I read it four years ago.
I remember it being a brilliant book where a young man takes the power he has and faces off against a god king, politics, a nation of darkness an actual god and, with the help of his friends and the allies he meets along the way, ultimately triumphs.

It had a lot of interesting and cool characters, including the sarcasticly funny Ka'kari that only Kylar could hear.

Since I'm clearly out of practice with this and I don't want to make the book sound bad (cos it was great) I'm just going to copy paste a wiki-entry now;

The Night Angel Trilogy is a fantasy series written by Brent Weeks. The story follows the life of Azoth (later Kylar Stern) as he struggles as a guild rat to become the ultimate wetboy (an assassin with magical talent, such as the ability to muffle sound or to block an attack), but then tries to leave it all behind and finally becomes the avatar of retribution: the Night Angel.

It is well worth a read. Go buy it now.

YoutubeVideo-can't stop watching far cry vids
- James