Musings of a Fanboy: HOENN CONFIRMED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HEY EVERYONE!

TODAY, I AM SO FREAKING EXCITED! (takes a deep breath)

Ok, so, as many you know, I'm a fairly huge fan of the Pokemon video game series.  The games, the cards, and the television were all important pieces of my childhood and, in a strange or unfortunately way, (depending on your point of view) my adulthood as well.  I think it definitely takes an adult to realize we can't give up on our childhood.

Anyways, Nintendo announced today that a 3DS remake of Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire will be released in November 2014 and I'm having a hard time thinking about anything else.  Just a note here: the following rant will have a lot of Pokemon jargon in it so, if you are not familiar with the series as a whole, prepare yourself for my true fanboy to come out screaming.

Whew, ok.  My thoughts right now are going at a mile a minutes, so BULLET POINTS!

• This November is a quite soon release date seeing as Pokemon X and Y came out less than a year.  Seeing as Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire seem to be created with the same graphics engine and art style, this means Game Freak has probably has been working on this project simultaneously with X and Y, perhaps even Black 2 and White 2 since there didn't seem to much work done between the two Fifth Generation games.  Maybe that's just me.  I just hope this doesn't mean Game Freak is just squeaking out this game to appease us fanboys.  Please Nintendo, make this worth the wait!
• I freaking cannot wait for the updated musical score for the Third Generation games.  The Hoenn  soundtrack relied super heavily on trumpets and brassy sounding music and a fully orchestra revamp would sound absolutely fantastic.  Pokemon has made such leaps and bounds in score quality since 2003, with X and Y being the amazing pinnacle of that effort.  The music for Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire is going to be a nostalgia-fuelled trip to Pokemon nirvana.
• The trailer (here) mentions "an adventure in a brand new world" which is either just fancy trailer jargon or subtle hint to something more that will make an appearance in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.  Will an old region be added on?  Will a new region be added on?  I have no idea how long Game Freak has had to develop this game and therefore have no idea the depth of content that will be in this game.  I personally hope to see an updated version of the Battle Frontier that includes a Pokemon World Tournament-like battle system in which the player battles Gym Leaders, Elite Four members, Champions, and protagonists from previous games.  It would be fantastic to see my favorite characters from past games in full 3D sprites... holy cow, I'm hyperventilating... give me a sec here...
• Mega Evolutions!  In Pokemon X and Y, a whopping 8 out of the 29 Pokemon able to Mega Evolve originated from the Hoenn region, including the special Speed Boosting Blaziken.  Ever since they revealed that Blaziken would be available in X and Y, many have speculated a Hoenn remake game would soon follow and, with Omega Red and Alpha Sapphire on the horizon, I want to see some more Mega Evolutions for my favorite Gen 3 Pokemon: Sceptile, Swampert, Breloom, Wailord, Sharpedo, Flygon, Slaking, Metagross, Salamence.  I'm begging you Game Freak.  Do well by us!
• Finally, while Pokemon Yellow was my first Pokemon game, the original Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald were the games that honed by love for the Pokemon series and I would full-heartedly choose Hoenn to be my home region if were able to.  I can't even describe how excited I am for this November.  It almost overshadows my excited for Peter Capaldi's first season as the Doctor this August.  Almost.

Thanks for reading everyone!  And for all you Poke Fans out there, I'm dying to talk to people about this so hit me up!

Nostalgia Goggles: This is the Reboot

Hey everyone!

Ever notice that Hollywood loves to play with our childhood?  Everything from Transformers to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is getting a gritty and realistic remake.  (That's right: there have been almost four movies about realistic talking robots from space.  Michael Bay everyone.)  GI Joe.  Alice in Wonderland.  Batman.  All victims to the gritty reboot.  I think that the magnificence of the Christopher Nolan trilogy and the fact that the Batman comics read like a Game of Thrones novel has made us forget that Batman started with some fairly campy and family friendly origins.  Remember, the Joker used to just be a clown.

It kinda makes me think where Hollywood will go next.  What sections of our childhood have remained untouched by screenwriters?  Here are some ideas of what gritty and realistic movies based off of things from out younger days that should in production right now.

This summer: five have been summoned.  Fueled by a burning curiosity and driven by a need for adventure, this small collection of people have answered the call of a strange creature as it towers above them, promising wonders beyond the imagination.  Will they follow the leader?  Will they sing to his tune?  Or will they realize that everything they believe is just a figment made by years of idle television and substance abuse?  From the creators of Shutter Island comes this summer's newest psychological thriller: Barney and Friends.

Every year, there comes a movie that asks you: what lengths will a man go for love?  Will he overcome many dangerous obstacles?  Does he have the skills to hammer his opponents and the speed to reach the top?  Will he have the strength to finally defeat his beast?  With the life of the love of his life on the line, one man will have to push himself to his limit and hope his quest isn't just a pipe dream.  Coming to theaters next month: Donkey Kong.

Alex Forbes is not having a good day.  His wife is missing, his daughter has been kidnapped, his son has just been revealed to Soviet double agent, his mom has just wrecked her minivan, his dad just discovered bike shorts, and, you know what, he stubbed his toe on the coffee table this morning.  He's pissed off, he's out for blood, and ready to make the people responsible pay dearly.  Alex is sick and tired and he is ready for a bit of revenge.  This Halloween, Liam Neeson is Alex Forbes in Alexander and Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. 

The only way to survive in the world is to be the biggest, fastest, strongest, and fiercest.  Every day is race to be the eater and not the eaten.  In order to survive in this brave new world, a group of friends will have to team up into to make it through the day.  However, the sun will soon set on this land and our heroes will be history.  This summer, travel back to a time when the only thing you don't have is enough time.  It's The Land Before Time.  Time.

Thanks for reading everyone!

Rain Dance in Traffic: I Heart Controversy

Hey everyone!

I spent a bit of time looking for something to write about today.  I wanted to write something that has been in the music news over the last couple weeks.  I found a lot of interesting articles that would make interesting blogs, but there was an interesting thread running through each.  The music community loves controversy.  Music reporters love publishing it.  Music fans love expounding it.  Music websites love to keep them going for weeks after they should've faded away.

Here are some I've run across:

http://flavorwire.com/453477/cultural-appropriation-is-the-last-resort-of-the-lazy-pop-star

The music business is a fast moving game.  Many artists find themselves with their heads under the water when the moment before they were bobbing safely above the surface.  There is a distinct opinion that popularity is survival and obscurity is death.  The unfortunate reality is that many has-been artists will reach for controversy as a way to stay relevant instead of more traditional means.  Avril Lavigne's public flop of a music video is still an act of desperation, but her actions may not have been so unintentional.  Her image, like that of Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry, is based off of the idea of controversy.  She is supposed to be rebellious and make the parent nervous about their kids' music.  Avril has not lived up to that ideal in many a year so, the next best thing she can do is start a controversy.  Her recent music video might not have been a smart move on Avril's part, but it certainly wasn't an unexpected one.

http://thequietus.com/articles/15031-record-store-day-2014-problems-distribution-vinyl

I respect the vinyl-buying community like the way I respect the thrift stores that sell them.  They are trying to preserve a part of the past that is very important them.  I can't fault them for that and I know for sure I have done things in the ilk without a second thought.  However, I just don't understand them.  I am by no means tossing my own hat into this controversial argument because I simply do not have enough of a grasp on the independent music world.  However, from an outsider's perspective, this whole controversy seems a little nitpicky.  Record Store Day this year did exactly what it intended to do and any unintended side effects are simply that, unintended.  If trying to revive a dead medium of music is the goal, what's the problem of stores and artists making money?  Are we that intent on making the sharing of music a free enterprise that we criticize any attempt at a profit?  Just food for thought.

Thanks for reading!

Branches and Roots: Onwards and Upwards

Hey everyone!  I'm not really sure what I will write about tonight, so please stand by while I ramble nonsensically about stuff.

'K?  Good.

I like this picture.  I've always been a sucker for cool aesthetics and symbolic imagery.  Plus, I think it really sums up the idea of "branches" that I'm kinda going for on this blog.  Branches reach up, right?  They are a metaphor for growth and moving forward.  A "spread your wings" kind of thing.  This blog is in a small way the first of my "branches" reaching out.  The words I write here are not just for myself anymore.  They are going to a place where they can't be ignored.  They are out in the open.  My words may not be very unique or interesting, just like a branch of tree isn't very distinguishable from the next branch or the branch of the next tree.  However, the words of the branch, no matter how plain, make the ideas they carry reach further off the ground than ever before, like leaves on a branch.

Dang, what a confused and mixed metaphor that was...

All that being said, most of the time I feel like the tree and the branches in the picture above.  I fully expect my words and ideas to take my branches and my leaves upwards.  Elevating them, bettering them, making them stand out from the pack.  However, my branches don't always go up.  They slant, droop, and go about every which way but up.  These unexpected twists and turns my ideas take are not always a bad thing.  In fact, the way in which my branches almost never take me upwards gives me more of a reason to keep writing.

I can't always expect every step I take to move me forward in life.  We all like to think that each triumph and mistake is taking us closer to person we were meant to be, like steps on the yellow brick road of life.  Isn't it possible that where we are right now in life, with our branches all twisted sideways, is the exact position we should be in right now?  It's not wrong to think forward, but our branches miss out on so much of the world if they only grow skyward.  So for now, I will ne content that I'm not growing upwards.  There is a lot of space to explore to my left and my right that I'm sure I will be the sorry that I missed.

Thanks for indulging in my random nonsense today everyone and May the Fourth be with you!

Top Ten: Joss Whedon Characters

With a backlog and career path such as his, it's really no surprise that many people wait ever so impatiently for Joss Whedon's next project.  Nearly everything that he has put his name on has transformed into the subject of a cult following.  His writing, filled with snappy dialogue and tons of metafictive fun, touches viewers in such a profound way and never fails a defying any convention it comes across.  Needless to say, there are a lot of fantastic and unique characters from Joss Whedon's shows and movies to pick from, but I'm going to attempt to pick a tentative top ten.

Just so there is no confusion: I'm only including characters from shows, movies, and seasons I have seen.  So sorry to any Dollhouse or Angel fans that might be reading.  I might make an updated list later when I've seen more of Joss Whedon's catalog.  But, for now, enjoy my current list!

THE LIST

10. Phil Coulson

Let me start my list with an exception to my own rules.  SHIELD Agent Phil Coulson is not technically a Joss Whedon character.  While he first appeared in Jon Favreau's Iron Man, I think we can all agree that it was Whedon's Avengers that solidified Coulson as pop culture phenomenon.  Actor Clark Gregg continued his role as Agent Coulson in the Whedon-produced Marvel's Agents of SHIELD television show, so I think that gives me the go ahead to put him on this list.  Coulson himself is an earnest and often hilarious character that exemplifies the human side of the cool and collected SHIELD spy agency.  His willingness to bend the rules and put himself on the line for the betterment of all mankind makes Coulson rise above the rest of his comrades.  At the same time, his quirks, such as a pension for straight-faced sarcasm and a fanboy obsession with Captain America, make him a likable and endearing hero that doesn't need superpowers to prove himself one.

9. Jayne Cobb

The cast of Firefly is a diverse bunch of misfits that transcend the traditional character stereotypes and find their own niches.  Jayne, the Serenity's own shoot-first-ask-questions-later security expert, keeps up a thick facade of a meat-headed simpleton that is only in it for the money.  However, as the show's single season progress, the layers of Jayne's character are peeled back revealing a loyal and honest man that can't hide his true feelings for his fellow shipmates.  Jayne's slow and subtle transformation, not to mention an impeccable sense of humor, makes him one of Whedon's most likeable characters, and Firefly certainly wouldn't be the same show without him.

8. Xander Harris

The world of Buffy is filled with superpowered heroines and undead monsters, so you can imagine how hard it would be to be the "normal guy" amongst the supernatural and superhuman.  However, Xander Harris pulls it off with incredible aplomb.  Xander begins the show as the unlucky-in-love friend of Buffy who strikes out with not only Buffy but with his best friend Willow and first girlfriend Cordelia.  He feels lost and useless among his superpowered friends who sometimes see him as a liability.  However, as the show progresses, Xander finds his own as the heart of the Scooby Gang, helping Buffy soothe her dark side and giving her the confidence and purpose she needs to save the day.  "The Zippo," a Xander-centered episode from the third season of Buffy, is my favorite episode of the show, as it shows what Xander does while Buffy and the team are off fighting evil.  The fact that Xander is as memorable a character as he is without superpowers or magical abilities shows how fantastic of a Whedon character he really is.

7. Kaywinnit Lee Frye

While Xander is the heart of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Kaylee is the heart of Firefly.  She is positive, honest, and always willing to see the best in everyone she meets.  Whedon, instead of making her a jaded example of the dangers of being trusting, makes Kaylee's intuition an amazing creedence.  Everything that Kaylee believes is true in the world of Firefly, from her beliefs about Mal's motivations and her intuitions about Simon and River.  Jewel Satire's performance is charming, joyful, and never fails to make me smile, proving that Whedon has an incredible knack of finding the right roles for the right actors.  No one will play Kaylee like Jewel and her performance is one of the many reasons that Firefly is so rewatchable.

6. Angel

Amongst all of the memorable supporting characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel is the only one to get his own spin-off show.  That, if anything, should be a sign of how memorable of a character Angel is.  He is a vampire that was cursed with the regaining of his soul, giving himself back his consciousness and guilt for his actions as a vampire.  Cursed with eternal youth, Angel is placed in Sunnydale to be the protector of Buffy and, surprise, ends up falling for her.  However, his attempts to form a permanent relationship with Buffy end in tragedy, forcing Angel to run to Los Angeles and find a new path for himself.  The incredible range of David Boreanaz's acting is what sells the role of Angel, as he flirts between broody and mysterious and devious and devilnare.  Even when his storylines fall into the realm of soapy nonsense, the character of Angel is as intriguing and original as Buffy the Vampire Slayer gets.

5. Buffy Summers

Joss Whedon knows how to write main characters.  They aren't always perfect and they are not always necessarily heroes.  However, Buffy Summers is Joss Whedon's best hero.  She struggles with self-doubt and loss of innocence while always kicking absolute butt in every episode of the show.  Sarah Michelle Gellar's incredible athletic abilities add so much to the kinetic and fervent energy of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, bringing the show a head and shoulders above the typical high school or supernatural drama.  Buffy's life is a rollercoaster ride of tragedy and triumph and every inch of it is incredibly entertaining.  Her transformation from flighty cheerleader to gritty vampire slayer is a sight to behold.

4. Billy/Dr. Horrible

Joss Whedon's process of writing memorable heroes is nearly the same for his memorable villains.  He builds up a character as a hero and then tears them down to the level of villainy, and there is no better example of this than Dr. Horrible.  Played flawlessly by the incredible Neil Patrick Harris, Dr. Horrible's tragic journey from redeemable rouge to flat out supervillain is one that has left quite a bad taste in many of my friends' mouths.  Whedon breaks all convention with Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog's not-so happy ending, which betrays our avid cheering for Billy's redemption with his full-on transformation into evil.  It almost seems unfair how much Whedon get us to like Billy while clearly stating he is the villain of the tale.  Any character that can illicite the reaction that Dr. Horrible does certainly deserves to be on this list.

3. Spike

While Xander, Angel, and Buffy are all fantastic characters, my favorite character from Whedon's vampire-slaying classic is James Marsters' Spike.  The main villain of the second season of Buffy, Spike is a dramatic vampire who wants nothing more than to live life his way.  However, as the show progresses, Spike, and Marsters' performance, blooms into something incredible.  As evidenced by the fantastic "Lovers Walk" episode in which he helps Buffy and Angel discover that not everything is as doomed as it seems, Spike's character is dynamic and undeniably larger than life.  James Marsters steals the spotlight in every single scene in every single episode that he is in, outshining even Buffy as the show's interesting character.  When Angel leaves the show, Spike begins to fill his shoes as the show's main vampire.  Spike will always be Marsters' iconic character and is further proof that Weldon's directing brings out the best in his actors.

2. Hoban Washburne

There are very few things to dislike about Wash.  He's funny, he's likeable, he's dynamic, clever, loyal, and Serenity's never-flinching guiding light.  His relationship with Zoe grounds the crew in a family-like dynamic, keeping Mal and Zoe's relationship from getting tangled in a heavy-handed love triangle.  From the very first moments that the viewers get to see Serenity, the connection between Wash and the ship is clear.  The ship is not meant to be a transport vessel, just as Wash is not meant to be an outlaw circling the Outer Planets for whatever jobs the crew can find.  However, through a loyal to Zoe and to Mal, Wash finds a purpose on the Serenity that is beyond anything that he was meant to do.  His story and character arcs are charming and unforgettable.  Wash is also, without a doubt, Alan Tudyk's signature role as no other role in TV or film has been able to showcase his scene stealing as well as Wash. 

1. Malcolm Reynolds

I would call Mal, the fearless captain of the Serenity, Joss Whedon's best hero, but, simply put, he is not one.  His moral compass twists and turns too much for a hero's title.  However, this very quality makes Malcolm Reynolds Whedon's most iconic, most memorable, and most dynamic character.  The entire show of Firefly is anchored on Nathan Fillion's electrifying portrayal of Mal and his unpredictable nature reflects the unexpected twists and turns of the show that keep the viewer locked into and waiting for some kind of resolution.  Mal will surprise you with the choices he will make, one minute willing to put himself on the line for Simon and River and, the next, kicking some goon into Serenity's turbines.  Everything you feel about Firefly and all the tremendous cult show status that the show sustains is all due to Mal in one way or another, whether it's the intensity he brings to the show or they way he inspires those around him to fight for what they believe in.

Thanks for reading everyone!

Screen Time: Police Squad

There's is always something fascinating about television shows that last only one season.  They have a definite start and a definite ending.  They exists as a snapshot of exactly what the creators and producers intended, not at all influenced or altered by popular and critical opinion.  Usually, there is a reason why the show had only lasted a single season.  Many shows aren't of a quality that was promised and many shows simply don't find an audience to sustain itself.  And some shows just are too ahead of their time.  Police Squad is definitely one of those show and it definitely deserves some of your Screen Time.

Starring Leslie Nielsen and Alan North, Police Squad is a high concept parody show that brutally mocks the gritty cop shows of the 60's and 70's.  Each episode of the show's six episode run is filled to the brim with Airplane-style humor that range from completely random to completely genius.  Leslie Nielsen is at peak form and is drop dead hilarious using his straight laced persona in dealing with a variety of ridiculous situations.  He is supported by a zany cast of supporting characters, including a giant officer whose face is never shown, a strangely perverted lab technician, and a shoe buffer with infinite knowledge of everything.

Although Police Squad barely has three hours of show time to its name, I cannot give a higher recommendation to a one season show.  Well, besides Firefly.  Duh.  Police Squad's humor and its ingenious writing offers up some instantly classic TV moments that are still being recycled as GIFs today.  I don't want to mention too many specifics because it would ruin a lot of the craziness you are in for if you choose to watch Police Squad.  But trust me when I say you will be giving Police Squad a fantastic recommendation to your friends too.

Thanks for reading!

Once Upon a Blog: Show and Tell

Everyone Rebecca knew had asked she at one time or another if she regretted the choice she had to make.  She had been teaching the first grade for three years now and there hadn't been a single day that she would've done over again.  Of course, there were days like today that certainly gave her a run for her money.  As the residual smoke from the open window of the school building turned and twisted past her face, Rebecca silently remember how innocently the day had started.

She had, like most days, been excited to step through the door to her classroom where the smudged and smiling faces of her little students would be waiting.  On top of that, today was the annual Show and Tell Extravaganza and the kids' desk would be filled with colorful toys, shaggy pets, and glimmering family photo albums.  Looking back, she must have seen that Zach Parkin's desk had been empty.  It must have stuck her as a little bit odd.  Rebecca couldn't imagine that anything she could've thought of could have lived up to the true reason behind Zach's empty desk.

The sharp crack of another support beam inside the school succombing to the fire brought Rebecca out of her reminiscing.  From across the parking lot, she could see a man in a dark suit wading his way through the crowds of confused school kids and worried parents towards her.  By his clothing, Rebecca was sure he wasn't another police detective or arson inspector and he certainly wasn't one of the firemen.  As he approached, Rebecca could see the man's eyes were slightly red and sniffed his nose lightly as if he wasn't acclimated to the smell of the fire.

"Miss Dennington?" asked the man in the dark suit, leading his head down to see through her open car door.

Rebecca poked her head out.  "Yes?"

"Miss Dennington, can I please have a word?"  The man's eye, while red, sparkled in the fading light of the day.

"Of course you can," said Rebecca, standing up and stepping out of her car, "I've already given a statement to the police though."

A firm smile touched the man's lips.  "I'm not with the police, Miss Dennington."

Rebecca stood and tilted her head in curiosity.  "FBI?  CIA?  MIB?"

The smile remained unmoved.  "I do work for the government ma'am."  The man quickly flashed an official looking badge, but the identification had only fluttering in front of Rebecca's face long enough for her to read the name "Agent Wesley King" across the top.

"Well," said Rebecca, "What would you like to talk about, Agent King?"

Agent King stuffed the badge happily back into his breast pocket and then turned to look at the smoldering school building to his right.  "Quite the day you've been having here."

Rebecca followed his gaze.  "I assume you are talking about Zachary Parkin."

Agent King turned back to look at Rebecca.  "Tell me about show and tell today Miss Dennington."

Rebecca let out a quiet little breath.  "Well, everything had been going smoothly, much more smoothly than other show and tell days.  No screaming about who gets to go first, no dogs pooping on carpet.  Zach was one of the last of my students to go.  He didn't even seem excited."

"Well," said Agent King, "He certainly caused some excitement."

"It's not really his fault."

Agent King crossed his arms at Rebecca's words.  "Now, why would you say that, Miss Dennington?  Numerous eyewitnesses, including a teacher assistant, a visiting parent, the school's principal, and your entire classroom of students, say that this was all in fact Zachary Parkin's fault."

Although she wasn't sure why, Rebecca's hand shot out and grasped Agent King's folded arm.  "You aren't taking him away, are you?  I'm sure he had no idea what was going to happen when he..."

Rebecca paused.

"When he showed the class that he had the ability to shoot flames three feet high from his palms,"  Agent King finished for her.

Rebecca hung her head and dropped her arms to her sides.  "It's not his fault that he couldn't control his powers, Agent King.  He's too young.  He's couldn't have known."

Her mind flashed back to the movement that the flames had sprung from Zach's small, glistening palms.  There was an immediate sense of panic that had swept over the room, replacing all feeling of excitement and happiness.  She could remember the feeling of the licks of heat that spread over her cheeks and she could remember the look of fear on Zach's face as the flames in his hands grew out of his control.

Agent King cleared his throat and sniffed a few more times.  "Well, Miss Dennington, I am not actually here to talk to you about Zachary Parkin."

Rebecca looked up at the man in the dark suit.  "You're not?"

Agent King looked back at the school once more.  "No.  I'm here because seven of your students claimed to have seen you put out most of the fire with an icy blast of wind from your hands."

Rebecca's face whitewashed.  "I, I don't know what you mean, Agent, Agent King.  The imagination of kids, kids at that age.  It's truly amazing."

Agent King's firm grin return again.  "The principal gave me the security tapes, Miss Dennington.  There's no denying what I saw."

Rebecca's eyes fluttered past the man in a panicked attempt to find a way past him.  Agent King chuckled deeply and placed a hand on Rebecca's shoulder.

"Don't worry Miss Dennington, you aren't in trouble."

Rebecca furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.  "I'm not?"

"No, no," said Agent King, "I explained to your principal how what he saw on the video was just a sort of camera trickery and that what looked like fire coming from Zachary's hands was actually a magic trick gone extremely wrong."

Rebecca nearly hugged the man.  "Really?  He bought that?"

"Hook, line, and sinker," said Agent King, "The badge helped too, of course.

"Why?" asked Rebecca, "Why would you do this?"

Agent King dug a hand into his back pocket before responding.  "I am here, Miss Dennington, on the behalf of a friend.  A friend that is very interested in you and young Mr. Parkin."  He handed her a small white business card and began to walk away.

"Give him a ring sometime, Miss Dennington," said Agent King, "He's expecting your call."

Rebecca looked down at the card with curiosity.  It read in simple and elegant lettering:

Charles Xavier

School for Gifted Youngsters

1407 Graymalkin Lane, Westchester County, NY, 10461

(542) 555-0993

Prompt