I decided that for my last post of 2016 I would do something a little different. Normally December is filled with top ten lists. Everyone does them for everything, and they are endless. I find them quite entertaining, but I really didn’t think I could fill a top 10 list for games, books, films, and TV.
Instead what I decided to do was to pick ten things that I enjoyed in 2016. They aren’t in any order of priority, they aren’t based on anything other than the fact that I discovered them in 2016, and I enjoyed them. There will be some books, films, games, TV shows, and maybe even something else. This has been a shit year for planet earth, and humanity, but there’s been some good things. Let’s get to it shall we.
Archives for December 2016
Video Game Movies Need To Change
Video Game movies are cursed. Every time a new one comes out we have the same discussions. Will this one break the curse? Will this one be good? Will this one be the one to show the world it can be done right? It seems that the answers are always, no.
Even when the biggest IP’s in the world give it a shot, and throw millions of dollars, and big stars into the project, they still manage to end up being a disappointment. This year we’ve had two of the biggest video game movies ever released. One of them I reviewed Here on this very site.
Despite most of them having some good qualities, like fan service or great CGI, none so far have set the world alight, if rotten tomatoes is any indication. Today I want to talk about what I think the real problem is and how we might go about fixing it. We all want good video game adaptations, so just for fun, let’s talk about how we might get one.
Rogue One: Full Metal Prequel
It’s 1 AM. I’ve just got back from the Imax after watching Rogue One. I want to sleep; I should sleep, but I can’t sleep. I’ve just watched a new Star Wars film, and I have to get my thoughts down. First off, if you haven’t seen this film already, stop reading and go watch it. Seriously, you don’t need to read about what I think. This films is 100% worth your time and money, go watch it.
Now if you’re still reading it then I assume you’ve already seen this movie. That’s good! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Now I’m not saying it was a perfect movie, and I’m not saying it’s the best Star Wars movie since Empire, but I am saying that it was one hell of a ride, and I think it fills an important gap in the Star Wars timeline. This was a story I’m glad they decided to tell, and I’m glad they got people involved who told it with passion, style, and a whole lot of pew pew.
The Reckoners Series
I’ve wanted to talk about these books for a while now. I decided though, to wait until the first trilogy finished before I did. It’s no secret that Brandon Sanderson is one of my all time favorite authors. I love his writing style, his variety, his characters, and perhaps most importantly, his world building.
When I discovered that Sanderson was tackling a story about super heroes I was sceptical, but curious. We all know that the realm of super heroes is the comic book. There are few novels that deal with super heroes, and even fewer that are any good. I think it’s hard to translate what makes super heroes loved in the comics to book format. With that in mind, I dived into the series excited to see what an excellent storyteller like Sanderson did with the concept. [Read more…]
Expat Diary #2: Snow, Supermarkets, and Smoked Meat Sandwiches
Happy December everyone! My second week here is almost over. Lots of things have happened as I continue exploring a new country. The first week was a mad rush of introductions, sitting in waiting rooms, and having no money. I feel like week two has been my real start here.
That’s not to say there hasn’t been a lot of learning this week. I moved out to Quebec right on a seasonal transition for one. I’ve also been starting to return my life to normal, which meant shopping for groceries, viewing apartments, and trying to pick up the language. But it has mostly been about snow…