Hype is a beautiful thing. It gets people into things and they don't even realize it. How much hype does it take to make a movie good? Not a lot actually. It takes a few people being a little bit creeped out telling other people how creeped out they were. Things get blown out of proportion and soon you have a blockbuster film.
Stephen Spielberg himself is sad to have been unable to sit through this film during the night. I honestly am wondering why. I've personally experienced worse things than some of the stuff in that film. The mood was poorly set. I understand this was low budget film but mood is set by lighting and music. I once rode Indian Jones with no music, it was the worst experience of my life, when it comes to rides. Music is the life blood of movies. With Paranormal Activity I was aware every second that something was about to happen because of the sound. I realize it was suppose to be this creepy ominous sound all it did was prep me for the scary thing around the corner. I'm honestly debating taking a camera a couple of friends and making a film now that might actually top this film. It's so high on the charts because of the hype. I'm sorry to those of you who are horror fans and loved this film, or those of you who aren't and wet your pants. I'm going to be sleeping soundly tonight (after NaNoWriMo kicks my butt).
I give this movie a 2 out of 10 for scare (it only gets that because the ending was a surprise and creeper than the rest of the entire movie combined).
Edit: As a side note I did get this up on the 31st so Happy Harry Potter day!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Last minute thoughts before bed
So I'm about to go to bed and into my head pops an idea. As all ideas do. Appear out of no where and just sit there and make your brain hurt until you flesh out the idea. This idea then suddenly disappears right before I can really get into it... So I'm just going to go with a news update!
When I say news I mean my life...
When I say my life I mean NaNoWriMo...
You've seen a prequel for the story I intend to write for NaNo and NOW a random excerpt!
Liz wrapped the thick towel around herself as she mused about her situation. A knock on the door brought her out of her own head.
"Yes?"
"I brought you some dinner." The voice was quiet and feminine.
"Ok come in." She double-checked the towel. The door opened and a small girl came in. Her dark hair framed her heart shaped face and even darker eyes looked past long lashes. The girl was pretty and Liz suspected would be beautiful one day. Liz was unaware that the girl was a changeling human brought in to serve the fairies, that the girl's life would slowly drain from her making her a caricature of a human. Liz quickly pulled her pants on high school P.E. style, she turned her back to put on her bra and shirt. Before Liz could pull the shirt on though the girl gasped and dropped her tray. "What's wrong?" Liz spun around expecting a giant spider or something similar.
"You are of the Nuada clan! Lady Genwen will want to know." The girl bolted from the room. Liz grabbed her shirt and pulled it on as she ran after the girl.
When I say news I mean my life...
When I say my life I mean NaNoWriMo...
You've seen a prequel for the story I intend to write for NaNo and NOW a random excerpt!
Liz wrapped the thick towel around herself as she mused about her situation. A knock on the door brought her out of her own head.
"Yes?"
"I brought you some dinner." The voice was quiet and feminine.
"Ok come in." She double-checked the towel. The door opened and a small girl came in. Her dark hair framed her heart shaped face and even darker eyes looked past long lashes. The girl was pretty and Liz suspected would be beautiful one day. Liz was unaware that the girl was a changeling human brought in to serve the fairies, that the girl's life would slowly drain from her making her a caricature of a human. Liz quickly pulled her pants on high school P.E. style, she turned her back to put on her bra and shirt. Before Liz could pull the shirt on though the girl gasped and dropped her tray. "What's wrong?" Liz spun around expecting a giant spider or something similar.
"You are of the Nuada clan! Lady Genwen will want to know." The girl bolted from the room. Liz grabbed her shirt and pulled it on as she ran after the girl.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Current thoughts
I should just leave this page blank really. What am I thinking? Not much right now. I'm sad, I have no reason to sit here and complain to you my dear reader about why I am sad...So I wont!
What I'm going to do instead is tell you a story. Not a long one, not one that has anything to do with anything, but it is there itching to be released.
Liz was a normal student. She did her school work like a normal kid. She loved her parents and they loved her, even though sometimes her mom looked deep into Liz's eyes and felt that maybe just maybe the hospital had made a mistake and gave her another woman's child. Liz didn't see the sadness in her mom's eyes when she thought that, she just went on with life.
It was a normal day at school. Liz was bundled up humming Jingle Bells. The school bully laughed at her. Liz ignored him like usual and continued building her sand castle.
"Don't you know anything Elizabeth?" He kicked her sand castle. She just sighed and continued to ignore him. "Santa isn't real." This cut deep. Her eyes grew wide and she looked up shocked at the boy.
"Don't say that! He is to real!"
"Nope. He's a lie as big and fat as him. Just like the Easter Bunny and the tooth fairy."
"That isn't true!" Liz's eyes at this point had started to water.
"None of that silly kids stuff is real." Lucky for Liz the bell rang and she escaped the bully to her class and work. Unluckily for little Liz though she started to brood on it. That night she asked her mom to be completely honest.
"Do faeries and Santa not really exist?" Her mom didn't know how to explain to little Liz the "truth" Liz saw the hesitation and burst into tears. That night she refused to hear a bedtime story instead she just cried herself to sleep.
The next morning Liz was ill. She had a fever and a cough. Her mother kept her home and took care of her the best she could. Nothing helped. To Liz's mom Liz was just getting worse. She promised herself that if Liz wasn't better in the morning that she'd take her to the doctor. The morning came and Liz wasn't better, she was worse.
The doctor couldn't find anything wrong with Liz. Test after test showed nothing wrong with her. The days past and Liz got worse and worse. The doctor decided to admit Liz into the hospital. The machines they hooked her up to hurt her and made her cry. Her mother's reassurances were the only reason Liz stayed patient. The hours marched on. Her liver stopped working, and slowly the rest of her body followed. The nurses fretted and prayed. They knew she wouldn't make it through the night.
Kim was making her normal rounds around the city. Keeping an eye out for trouble. When on the air she sensed the death of a strong magic. Following it she found the hospital. She sneaked in. The trail of dieing magic led her to the children's ward to a room with a little girl all hooked up on machine after machine. The cat at Kim's heels looked at the girl and then quite clearly said "She's fay. They are killing her."
"Not if I can help it." Kim went over to the girl. She moved some machines and soon with a couple flicks of her hands had them thinking they were still hooked up to the girl. "Little girl. Answer me. Why are you sad?"
"They don't exist." Liz was bleary eyed as she whispered her sadness.
"Do you mean the faeries?" Liz nodded. "Let me tell you something little girl. I know that they exist. I've met one of their queens. She's a rather nice lady. She loves the new blossoms of spring and has a laugh like bubbling soda." Liz's eyes lit up for the first time in days.
"Really?" She asked hoarsely.
"Really. If you pull through little girl I know one day soon you'll meet her. She'll kiss you on the cheek and wish you a merry day. Do you think you can pull through to meet a Queen?"
"Will you take me to her?"
"I'm afraid not, but when the day comes to meet her it'll be the strangest day of your life. The rule though is to believe in them no matter what anyone tells you ok. Promise me you'll never stop believing in them." Liz could only nod as she drifted off to sleep.
The next morning despite all signs pointing to her imminent death Liz sat up in her bed and laughed with the nurses. Slowly machine after machine was removed from her room. Soon she was back at school. When the bully said that faeries didn't exist she did nothing but shake her head and smile slightly.
What I'm going to do instead is tell you a story. Not a long one, not one that has anything to do with anything, but it is there itching to be released.
Liz was a normal student. She did her school work like a normal kid. She loved her parents and they loved her, even though sometimes her mom looked deep into Liz's eyes and felt that maybe just maybe the hospital had made a mistake and gave her another woman's child. Liz didn't see the sadness in her mom's eyes when she thought that, she just went on with life.
It was a normal day at school. Liz was bundled up humming Jingle Bells. The school bully laughed at her. Liz ignored him like usual and continued building her sand castle.
"Don't you know anything Elizabeth?" He kicked her sand castle. She just sighed and continued to ignore him. "Santa isn't real." This cut deep. Her eyes grew wide and she looked up shocked at the boy.
"Don't say that! He is to real!"
"Nope. He's a lie as big and fat as him. Just like the Easter Bunny and the tooth fairy."
"That isn't true!" Liz's eyes at this point had started to water.
"None of that silly kids stuff is real." Lucky for Liz the bell rang and she escaped the bully to her class and work. Unluckily for little Liz though she started to brood on it. That night she asked her mom to be completely honest.
"Do faeries and Santa not really exist?" Her mom didn't know how to explain to little Liz the "truth" Liz saw the hesitation and burst into tears. That night she refused to hear a bedtime story instead she just cried herself to sleep.
The next morning Liz was ill. She had a fever and a cough. Her mother kept her home and took care of her the best she could. Nothing helped. To Liz's mom Liz was just getting worse. She promised herself that if Liz wasn't better in the morning that she'd take her to the doctor. The morning came and Liz wasn't better, she was worse.
The doctor couldn't find anything wrong with Liz. Test after test showed nothing wrong with her. The days past and Liz got worse and worse. The doctor decided to admit Liz into the hospital. The machines they hooked her up to hurt her and made her cry. Her mother's reassurances were the only reason Liz stayed patient. The hours marched on. Her liver stopped working, and slowly the rest of her body followed. The nurses fretted and prayed. They knew she wouldn't make it through the night.
Kim was making her normal rounds around the city. Keeping an eye out for trouble. When on the air she sensed the death of a strong magic. Following it she found the hospital. She sneaked in. The trail of dieing magic led her to the children's ward to a room with a little girl all hooked up on machine after machine. The cat at Kim's heels looked at the girl and then quite clearly said "She's fay. They are killing her."
"Not if I can help it." Kim went over to the girl. She moved some machines and soon with a couple flicks of her hands had them thinking they were still hooked up to the girl. "Little girl. Answer me. Why are you sad?"
"They don't exist." Liz was bleary eyed as she whispered her sadness.
"Do you mean the faeries?" Liz nodded. "Let me tell you something little girl. I know that they exist. I've met one of their queens. She's a rather nice lady. She loves the new blossoms of spring and has a laugh like bubbling soda." Liz's eyes lit up for the first time in days.
"Really?" She asked hoarsely.
"Really. If you pull through little girl I know one day soon you'll meet her. She'll kiss you on the cheek and wish you a merry day. Do you think you can pull through to meet a Queen?"
"Will you take me to her?"
"I'm afraid not, but when the day comes to meet her it'll be the strangest day of your life. The rule though is to believe in them no matter what anyone tells you ok. Promise me you'll never stop believing in them." Liz could only nod as she drifted off to sleep.
The next morning despite all signs pointing to her imminent death Liz sat up in her bed and laughed with the nurses. Slowly machine after machine was removed from her room. Soon she was back at school. When the bully said that faeries didn't exist she did nothing but shake her head and smile slightly.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Happy Birthday Webster!
So you probably don't know, but today (OCT 16 1758) is Noah Webster's birthday. His first dictionary was published in 1828. So in honor of this I am posting a few really awesome websites that are all about words!
Most importantly the dictionary itself!
http://dictionary.reference.com
Second a really awesome list of common errors in the English language. Can't remember which to you want? Can never remember which its gets the apostrophe? Here is your friend.
http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/errors.html#errors
A similar site, but this one specializes in words like effect and affect.
http://www.confusingwords.com/
This one talks about grammatical problems that are regularly seen in today's published works.
http://www.jpschoemer.com/MostCommonErrors.html
Since today's theme seems to be all about writing I will give a special link! This one isn't for words or grammar or anything like that. It's just a good resource if you are just starting out writing (or have been for years!).
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/fifty-50-tools-which-can-help-you-in-writing.html
I hope this list is really useful to you. I has been for me. I've looked up effect and affect a ridiculous amount of times. It took a friend of mine, who is a 6th grade teacher, explaining it to me like he does for his kids for me to finally get it.
Edit: Due to some problems I am unable to get the hyper-link to work so just copy and past the link into your browser. Sorry for the inconvenience I hope to fix this in the future.
Edit2: Hyper-links online! Yay!
Most importantly the dictionary itself!
http://dictionary.reference.com
Second a really awesome list of common errors in the English language. Can't remember which to you want? Can never remember which its gets the apostrophe? Here is your friend.
http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/errors.html#errors
A similar site, but this one specializes in words like effect and affect.
http://www.confusingwords.com/
This one talks about grammatical problems that are regularly seen in today's published works.
http://www.jpschoemer.com/MostCommonErrors.html
Since today's theme seems to be all about writing I will give a special link! This one isn't for words or grammar or anything like that. It's just a good resource if you are just starting out writing (or have been for years!).
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/fifty-50-tools-which-can-help-you-in-writing.html
I hope this list is really useful to you. I has been for me. I've looked up effect and affect a ridiculous amount of times. It took a friend of mine, who is a 6th grade teacher, explaining it to me like he does for his kids for me to finally get it.
Edit: Due to some problems I am unable to get the hyper-link to work so just copy and past the link into your browser. Sorry for the inconvenience I hope to fix this in the future.
Edit2: Hyper-links online! Yay!
Friday, October 9, 2009
Zombieland review
I just got out of the movie theater with my friend Neinone. We went and saw Zombieland. Let me tell you, this is geek persons movie. The main character played WOW (pre-zombieland time). It's pretty amazing. There a ton of little random references to geek stuff. At one point I happily said to Neinone "Hunter." One of the zombies was running around with a dark hoddie, you couldn't see his face or anything and he leaps onto a building! It was kind of amazing. It was around this time that I realized that the zombies were climbing and such, being really confused since I'm used to the zombie mythos having zombies incapable of climbing I brought this point up to Neinone he just whispered "Left 4 dead the zombies can climb" we later had a conversation about how much L4D has changed the zombie mythos.
The movie as all proper funny movies didn't take itself seriously. Best thing Bill Murry does a cameo in the movie. Overall the movie was pretty awesome. With tons of funny bits. I almost fell out of my chair laughing at one part. Good character development and a good ending.
If you go see the movie watch the entire credits, it's worth it.
The filming was good. The makeup was amazing. The acting (not the best ever) was good. The story even was good. For a movie that shouldn't take itself seriously this is a must see.
The movie as all proper funny movies didn't take itself seriously. Best thing Bill Murry does a cameo in the movie. Overall the movie was pretty awesome. With tons of funny bits. I almost fell out of my chair laughing at one part. Good character development and a good ending.
If you go see the movie watch the entire credits, it's worth it.
The filming was good. The makeup was amazing. The acting (not the best ever) was good. The story even was good. For a movie that shouldn't take itself seriously this is a must see.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Last note for the night
Visit this picture because well it's true
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs217.snc1/8420_165904241417_571726417_4022515_1327875_n.jpg
I do not own this picture I do not know who does, but I approve of this message.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Twilight (Fair warning adult language used)
I knew I'd get here eventually, my Twilight rant. I have a lot to say about this book. I have read parts of the series and have attempted to watch the movie. As an avid book reader this book appalls my sense of what a book is. Yes it qualifies as a book, but that does not make it quality. Hundreds of books that (may be) quality are ignored everyday. This was not. Again adult language used. Do not read if one you like Twilight and don't want to read about my dislike of it or two you don't approve or are too young to read inappropriate language. Thank you.
1. Vampires do not sparkle in the sun like a thousand diamonds. They burn up into pillars of amazing fire and die horrible deaths at the mere brush of the dawn light on their sensitive skin. Hundreds of reasons why this is (I like the World of Darkness theory. Go Helios burn those heathens)believe whatever one you want. The sun and Vampires do not get a long.
2. Teenagers do not act like that. I was a teenager (recently actually) and yes I believed I had found my true love. I sure as heck didn't wait for us to get married to consummate that relationship. Even Romeo and Juliet weren't that perfect. That just doesn't happen (that often) anymore. Especially when a Vampire is involved. Half of feeding for Vampires is sexual.
3. Vampires cannot have kids. It is physically impossible. Want to know why? They don't have blood to activate that little part of their body to create life. Life comes from life. Does not happen when there is no action going on down there. Anne Rice said it herself, she failed to keep true to that, but at lest she admitted it from the beginning.
4. Vampires cannot be "vegetarians" doesn't work. They need human blood after a while. Animal blood temporarily sustains them (if at all). Edward would have fed off of Bella the first time they had sex no matter what. The control that he fought so hard for while stalking her would have gone out the window once the got that close (not that he would be able to even get it up). Ignoring that. He would start to fail and would eventually go into tourper (not actually sure if that is spelled right since I've never seen it written down sorry) from lack of nutrients. He needs blood just like I need protein. Animal blood will not suffice for extended periods of time.
5. Jakob (Jacob?) Rule 9 of the litany. Need I say more? I don't care if you didn't know it was true or not. You should have been taught properly from a young age you do not talk about that outside of the family. You lifted the veil you should have been punished.
6. To Stephanie Meyer: If you are going to write a genre book, look at the other stories from said genre. I'm not going to write a military sci-fic without reading some Heinlein, Carr, Turtledove or Webber (not in any particular order...except how quickly I could find the names (I don't read these guys ever (except Heinlein "Stranger in a Strange Land" Awesome book totally recommend it))). So what I'm trying to say Meyer is you don't just go writing a story willy nilly you look into established myths of that genre. Ok I admit Military is a lot different than the vampire genre in that is a real thing (no offensive if you believe vampires actually exist). If I wrote a military book I better have done my research because some Seal would come knocking on my door and probably hand me my book and it'd be full of red pen marks like high school all over again...which brings me to my next point.
7. HIGH SCHOOL SUCKED! I wouldn't do it over again if you paid me to. No way no how. College ok fine. Sure why not have the kids go to college that's awesome. High school really? Or did you just want to fulfill some Mary Sue fantasy?
8. I bring up the Mary Sue comment because Edward can read minds (viable not arguing that) I'm arguing that Bella was the ONLY person who he had never been able to read the mind of ever I don't care who you are, but that is a Mary Sue point.
9. Relationships focused around the two people and only ever them don't work. The tension gets to be too much and it will break. People need outside (of the relationship) activities. Friends that they don't share (maybe don't even know each other) it doesn't really mater as long as they have someone to complain about his nervous nail biting habit because he can't eat her neck (don't actually know if he does this, but I would be if I were him), or her inability to have full conversations, or that she puts too much softener in the wash. I don't care what it is, but it is there waiting (I learned this from "Ella Enchanted" way before it was going to even become a movie because it was a good book with actual depth to the main characters).
10. I specified main characters there just now because the side characters had more depth. Like the girl in the wolf pack who had a crush on one of the other guys she has more depth than Edward and Bella together.
Just so you know I haven't even tipped the ice burg on what I have to say about this series. I'm half tempted to read it just to have more ammo. When I'm not up late with a stuffy head I'll post more about this because I'm far from done. Thank you for putting up with me and my rant for the...week(?) have a nice day. :)
1. Vampires do not sparkle in the sun like a thousand diamonds. They burn up into pillars of amazing fire and die horrible deaths at the mere brush of the dawn light on their sensitive skin. Hundreds of reasons why this is (I like the World of Darkness theory. Go Helios burn those heathens)believe whatever one you want. The sun and Vampires do not get a long.
2. Teenagers do not act like that. I was a teenager (recently actually) and yes I believed I had found my true love. I sure as heck didn't wait for us to get married to consummate that relationship. Even Romeo and Juliet weren't that perfect. That just doesn't happen (that often) anymore. Especially when a Vampire is involved. Half of feeding for Vampires is sexual.
3. Vampires cannot have kids. It is physically impossible. Want to know why? They don't have blood to activate that little part of their body to create life. Life comes from life. Does not happen when there is no action going on down there. Anne Rice said it herself, she failed to keep true to that, but at lest she admitted it from the beginning.
4. Vampires cannot be "vegetarians" doesn't work. They need human blood after a while. Animal blood temporarily sustains them (if at all). Edward would have fed off of Bella the first time they had sex no matter what. The control that he fought so hard for while stalking her would have gone out the window once the got that close (not that he would be able to even get it up). Ignoring that. He would start to fail and would eventually go into tourper (not actually sure if that is spelled right since I've never seen it written down sorry) from lack of nutrients. He needs blood just like I need protein. Animal blood will not suffice for extended periods of time.
5. Jakob (Jacob?) Rule 9 of the litany. Need I say more? I don't care if you didn't know it was true or not. You should have been taught properly from a young age you do not talk about that outside of the family. You lifted the veil you should have been punished.
6. To Stephanie Meyer: If you are going to write a genre book, look at the other stories from said genre. I'm not going to write a military sci-fic without reading some Heinlein, Carr, Turtledove or Webber (not in any particular order...except how quickly I could find the names (I don't read these guys ever (except Heinlein "Stranger in a Strange Land" Awesome book totally recommend it))). So what I'm trying to say Meyer is you don't just go writing a story willy nilly you look into established myths of that genre. Ok I admit Military is a lot different than the vampire genre in that is a real thing (no offensive if you believe vampires actually exist). If I wrote a military book I better have done my research because some Seal would come knocking on my door and probably hand me my book and it'd be full of red pen marks like high school all over again...which brings me to my next point.
7. HIGH SCHOOL SUCKED! I wouldn't do it over again if you paid me to. No way no how. College ok fine. Sure why not have the kids go to college that's awesome. High school really? Or did you just want to fulfill some Mary Sue fantasy?
8. I bring up the Mary Sue comment because Edward can read minds (viable not arguing that) I'm arguing that Bella was the ONLY person who he had never been able to read the mind of ever I don't care who you are, but that is a Mary Sue point.
9. Relationships focused around the two people and only ever them don't work. The tension gets to be too much and it will break. People need outside (of the relationship) activities. Friends that they don't share (maybe don't even know each other) it doesn't really mater as long as they have someone to complain about his nervous nail biting habit because he can't eat her neck (don't actually know if he does this, but I would be if I were him), or her inability to have full conversations, or that she puts too much softener in the wash. I don't care what it is, but it is there waiting (I learned this from "Ella Enchanted" way before it was going to even become a movie because it was a good book with actual depth to the main characters).
10. I specified main characters there just now because the side characters had more depth. Like the girl in the wolf pack who had a crush on one of the other guys she has more depth than Edward and Bella together.
Just so you know I haven't even tipped the ice burg on what I have to say about this series. I'm half tempted to read it just to have more ammo. When I'm not up late with a stuffy head I'll post more about this because I'm far from done. Thank you for putting up with me and my rant for the...week(?) have a nice day. :)
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