One cannot begin to comprehend the complexity of a futuristic novel without actually reading one. George Orwell’s
1984 is one of those futuristic novels. Set in London in what is believed to be 1984, the times as we knew them have drastically changed. Capitalism has been destroyed, replaced with a totalitarian-like state with the omnipotent Big Brother. Winston Smith, member of the Outer Party and Orwell’s main character, follows everything the Party (the name given to the new makeshift government of Oceania) has ever created and said. Every day he goes to work falsifying documents of the past, erasing anything and everything that does not fit in with what the Party thinks should fit in. In a nutshell, the Party is erasing the old history, rewriting everything as it sees fit.
Smith has known the corruption of the Party all along. They create false documents, arrest people that they think committed
thoughtcrime (
thoughtcrime is a Newspeak word, the official language of Oceania, meaning to have betrayed the Party in ones own thoughts) with the intent to kill them, and wage war. The Party suggests the following:
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
Smith soon begins to question everything that the Party ever mutters. Emmanuel Goldstein, leader of the mysterious Brotherhood (the organization whose goal is to take down Big Brother and the Party), wrote a book (which Smith later receives) that outlines everything the Party has done, what it believes, and what it plans to do in the future. Smith hopes of the existence of such an organization (later realizing it actually exists) and tries to find other people in the Party that believe the same as he does. Walking through the corridors, he catches discreet glances at the faces of his coworkers, looking for the slightest abnormality in their facial expressions and features. He finds such a man, named O’Brien.
While Smith is looking for other people who believe the same as he, he begins writing in a diary. Everything that was ever written down in that diary was
thoughtcrime, and he sincerely hoped it was never found. He bought it in a small shop in the proles (human beings who are not “intelligent” enough to become members of the Outer Party) sector of London, which Party members did not usually attend. On his second visit there, he found he was being followed by a woman who worked in the Fiction Department at his work building. Smith believed her to be a member of the Thought Police (a group of people who denounced those around them who have committed
thoughtcrime) and intended to kill her. However, days later when she slipped a small piece of paper into his hand, he found out he loved her.
That is where it all started to go downhill. Love and sex was something the Party frowned upon. There was no need for sex, and therefore no need for love. The continuation of humanity was done through artificial insemination with the thought that the act of sex, even to procreate, was a dirty, vile act. However, when Winston and Julia (as he later learned her name) actually got a chance to be alone, the two had sex, as well as throwing in the occasional conversation.
They knew they could not continue like this, however, and what was described as years later they did get caught. Smith and Julia both ended up being taken to the Ministry of Love, a tall building in the heart of London that had no windows. Most people who ended up in the Ministry of Love were never seen again, and if they were, they were a totally different person than they had been when they were taken. Smith spends what has to be months down in one of the underground cells before he begins his “re-integration.” It turns out that O’Brien is actually the enemy, having toyed with Smith the entire time. There is such a thing as the Brotherhood, but they will never conquer the Party. Using unique torture methods, O’Brien turns Smith into a believer in everything the Party stands for. Big Brother is the all-powerful ruler of Oceania, Oceania has always been at war with Eastasia, and two plus two equals five. Why? Big Brother said so.
Orwell ends the novel with Smith back into society, a drunkard in the working world. He still has a job within the Party, though his position is higher up and he receives more pay. In the end, Winston Smith loved Big Brother and two plus two did indeed equal five.
So what are you waiting for?
1984 really is an enjoyable novel. Pick up your copy today!
Once again the reader delves into a world where the future has taken over and the world as we now know it changes. In Ray Bradbury’s
Fahrenheit 451, new experiences come into play that readers across the globe have never encountered. The main character, Guy Montag, is a firefighter in this futuristic world, though the job entails actions never thought about. Each and every building in this new world is essentially fireproof, impervious to flame. With no real need for the firefighters to actually fight fire, their job takes a full 360 degree turn. Now, in a future without books, firefighters are designed to be the book burners. When a call comes in, they suit up and head out, and when they arrive at the scene, they proceed to burn all books and anything that may get in the way.
This is what Montag has done for the past ten years. However, when a strange new neighbor moves in named Clarisse McClellan, Montag begins to change his view on his profession. The man begins to wonder why they really are burning books and what the books hold inside. One day, with this new thought racing around in his head, he gets called out with the rest of the team to a burning. When they arrive, they find an old lady. Her stubbornness leads them to burn her with the books she was hiding. This new development for Montag puts him in a state of confusion, and he stays home the next couple of days “sick.”
With a book hidden under his pillow, Montag has a talk with his fire chief, Captain Beatty, at his home. Montag is informed that each and every firefighter goes through a phase like this at some point in his career, but he has to move past it to be able to see what really is going on. Beatty says there is nothing in books worth reading that cannot be figured out in one’s own life. In the end, Montag agrees with Beatty and returns to work, though he still has that thought on his mind about the books.
In the end, everything falls apart for Montag. He shows his wife, Mildred, a secret stash of books he has had in their house for quite a while, and it’s her that eventually leads to his downfall. She makes a call to the captain, who watches Montag for days before making a move. Then, one night, the team gets a call and responds, only to end up at Montag’s house. His wife is leaving and he is told to set fire to his house and, essentially, his life. When he comes out, he is placed under arrest. The scene ends after Montag literally burns Beatty to death and turns on the run from the life he once knew.
The rest of the novel focuses on his escape. Now with a bum leg, he is running, running away from the life he once knew. Montag meets up with a group of old scholars on the railroad tracks and goes over the fascination he now has with books. He holds a part of the Bible in his head that he ends up sharing with everybody. At the end of the novel, the city where Montag has spent his entire life is blown up (a few days before this, the country had entered a war) and everything Montag has ever known was destroyed. All he and the other outcasts had to do was to move onto another city…the slow walk of the ones who oppose everything society stands for.
This is yet another book you want to get your hands on!
The Inkheart trilogy
From the moment I read
Inkheart's first chapter, I knew I was about to embark onto an adventure unlike any I'd ever read of before. I am going to review the entire series, which includes Book 1:
Inkheart, Book 2:
Inkspell, and Book 3:
Inkdeath. And I can honestly say that they were some of the best books I have ever read.
Not only are these books first rate, they are beyond their genre as well. They are fantasy fiction, yet the story is so fantastic that it HAS to have a genre of its own. I can personally guarantee you that this story is unlike any you have ever read before.
Inkheart
I have to admit when I picked this book up for the first time I was quite skeptical that it could deliver what I was looking for in a good story: plot, dialog, diction, and most of all, that certain page turning quality that surrounds every classic.
The main characters of this book are Mo, Meggie, and Dustfinger. Our charming Mo has the ability to read things out of books. The particular book, Inkheart, which he read Dustfinger and two villains, Capricorn and Basta, out of, is a supposed magical land of wonder and might.
There are several plot twists and betrayals, and many different characters tie in together, from the cold Capricorn to the tan and thievish Farid, every character is sure to hold it's own in your heart. This book is rich in detail, and the pages practically turn themselves.
Inkspell
Usually, when one has a sequel with a hype to live up to, they may mess it up and it end up being even worse than the first book. That isn't the case with
Inkspell, where our heroes find themselves into the world of Inkheart. With just one copy of the book left, most anything can happen, and a brand new evil cast comes into play! With such a medieval-festival feel to it, this book is sure to please. This was a thrilling tale that kept me on the edge. How were they to stop the Adderhead, or even live through the world that is constantly changing? When a ruler approaches that fears death and wishes for a way to conquer it, there isn't much left to do than to conspire in his death.
Continuing with the saga,
Inkspell delivers extreme action and utter fear engulfs the reader as they see the twists and turns unfold before them.
Inkdeath
After giving us a chilling and threatening wait, Cornelia Funke approaches us with her final volume in the
Inkheart trilogy. Not content with making her fans read a book that is only as good as the last two, Funke bumped up the "readability" a scale or two in this thrilling conclusion to the three book saga. Weaving together fact and story like an expert seamstress, she concludes a classic fairy tale story that is sure to please. I was so excited at so many points, I couldn't believe some of the twists! Cornelia Funke definitely knew what she was writing.
Some books, like
Twilight, appeal to the emotions. They are great stories, but are by no means a timeless work of art. The
Inkheart series, however, stands above those books. Its unique take on reality and unreal view on realism put you into the book, wondering if your own life even is a book!
To top it all off, the first book is being made into a movie that is to be released in 2009. How incredible. I give this book a whopping 10 out of 10 for not only originality, but having the qualities every good book needs. This is a classic that deserves every award a book can get.
Starring: Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly
Director: Adam McKay
Do you like comedies? If you do, this movie is perfect for you.
at one point the hype was about Adam Sandler. If you pay any
attention to the movie industry, that hype has switched over to
Will Ferrell, and for very good reason. Step Brothers proves that
over and over again, no matter how many times you watch it.
Two spoiled guys you still live with their parents, Brennan Huff
(Ferrell) and Dale Doback (Reilly), are on opposite sides as
their parents meet, and fall in love. Realizing that their biggest
thing in common is letting their grown son's still live at home,
they force them to share a room. though that doesn't settle
too well with the 'guys'.
Their constant fighting finally gets their parents to a breaking
point, and they enforce a new rule; get jobs, or move out.
Teaming up after an incident that brings them closer, both
Dale and Brennan go on their job interviews together and do
rather poorly. after a sleep walking issue, the boys' parents
wind up getting divorced and blaming them.
The movie contains very, very humorous parts, and it's a
'watch it, to get it' kind of movie. Don't just take my word.
Rent it, buy it, borrow it. However you end up doing it, make
sure you get your hands on the latest Will Ferrell comedy.
It's worth it, and will leave you laughing for at least an hour
after the movie is over. I won't give away everything, so
watch it to fill in the blanks.
five out of five stars.
Basic InformationEpisodes- 49
Genre- Mecha, Sci-fi, Action
Rating- 4/5
Background Information and SummaryGundam Wing is one of the more classic anime now, since it first aired in the 90s on Toonami. It contains 49 episodes, and today can be very difficult to find in a complete set. However, anyone who manages to get their hands on this anime and watch it won’t be disappointed.
Unlike a lot of mecha anime, Gundam Wing doesn’t solely focus on the large machines that the pilots operate. As is the nature of the genre, it does play a key role, but there is much more to the plot than just that.
Gundam Wing, or GW for short, follows the tale of five young boys who are fighting to protect the space colonies, but from a third party interest that the colonies are unaware of. As the plot thickens and things really start moving, you’re drawn along and don’t actively notice the political struggle that is taking place unless you pay attention. It’s not long before the gundams go from being heros to criminals because of this reason. The main plot of the story isn’t about saving the colonies anymore, but ending a war that was foolishly started by men in power.
In GW there are two factions to start: The Oz Organization, and the United Earth Sphere Alliance. Both of these organizations are competing for control of the colonies, and neither have very good intentions.
This is when we meet the third faction; the gundams. The colonies, as stated before however, did not send them. There is a third party involved in this, who you meet later on in the series.
As you get deeper into the anime, The United Earth Sphere Alliance is forced back by Oz, but Oz is also having its own issues due to our fourth faction; the Romafeller Foundation. This eventually leads to a split, and Romafeller ends up with most of Oz, while a secret part of Oz, known as the Treize Faction, crops up.
In the midst of this we also meet our fifth faction; the Peacecraft family of the Sanct Kingdom who are gunning for total pacifism. For a while this seems to be the strongest faction of them all, because the gundams choose to help and protect here.
It can get very confusing at times, and missing an episode is not an option with this anime really. There are a few in the middle that are fairly useless as a review goes on, but that’s only if you have been watching it straight through over a short period of time. If you were watching this as it aired one episode a day, these episodes would also be crucial since there is a lot that happens and it can be difficult to remember over a long period of time. However, if you don’t miss any episodes and watch it in order, than you’ll come to find it’s a very in-depth anime with a lot of messages. And not as confusing as all the factions make it out to be.
What is interesting about this anime is how closely it parallels our world today. There are many similarities between the factions and government issues that are happening in GW to what is going on politically in the world. And it really goes to show you just what can be the consequence of blind faith and actions, not to mention when someone is a good talker and can just smooth things over to make his/her way through to their goal. It’s incredibly insightful to the point that it can be disturbing at times and you find yourself wondering if you’re watching an anime or a documentary of the current events and future. Still, it’s wonderfully entertaining and you do find that you enjoy it fully.
GW’s only downfall is the artwork. It’s a very unique style, and as some will notice, it has a certain roughness to it. It will not be the most beautiful thing you have ever watched in your life. And there will be the annoying characters as well. But if you can get past that to enjoy the story and plot, you will thank yourself in the long run.
So overall I’d give it a 4/5 rating, and highly recommend the series to anyone.
This review brings into light a unique and slightly strange anime known as Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru, also known as Otoboku, which translates roughly to 'The Maidens are Falling in Love with Elder Sister.' The plot is focused on the main male character Mizuho Miyanokouji who is forced to transfer into an all-girls' school by his late grandfather's will, dressing up as a female student and attempting to fit in.
Otoboku is an interesting anime because while it starts out strong with the plot and has an interesting theme that will likely keep many audiences interested, later in the series of twelve episodes it starts to look like an anime composed of entirely filler content. While every episode helps move the ever-fading plot along, most of the time there isn't really a point to them except to add dimensions to the already-present characters, furthering/beginning/ending relationships and otherwise showing off Mizuho's journey through high school pretending to be a girl.
Despite the fact that the plot seems to all but vanish, the anime is presented in a way that lets the viewers watch the episodes simply for entertainment, and the lack of a specific plot isn't all that bothersome. It is very comical and light-hearted, and despite its shoujo-ai'ish nature it can still be enjoyed by anyone who likes a good, fun anime.
The twelfth episode is, as anyone would expect, the end of Mizuho's school year, but it leaves a lot up to the imagination and plenty of room for speculation. The plot, or what's left of it, ties up quite nicely with an interesting little twist, and is satisfactory for those looking for a happy ending with a bit of comedy. The anime overall is light-hearted, comical and entertaining, but it would probably not be the best watch for those who enjoy deep plots.
There is also a thirteenth episode, a special episode if you will, which has no relation to the normal plot, and is best watched after the main series so everything is understood. It is completely random, but follows along with the comedy, and is a strange necessity to the anime itself.
My recommendation -- if you've got time in your schedule for a random series, pick it up and enjoy. Odds are good you'll enjoy this one, unless of course, like I said, you enjoy deeper plots and longer series.
Basic InformationBooks- 11 so far
Genre- Fantasy, Romantic Comedy
Rating- 5/5
Background Information and SummaryChibi Vampire sounds like a very childish manga when you look at the title alone, but really nothing could be further from the truth. The premise of the story is about a vampire, who instead of drinking blood, releases it. And if she doesn’t, then she has a bloodbath of a bloody nose. Really, you won’t find a funnier nosebleed anywhere.
Our main character, Karin Maaka, is a regular high school girl from appearance; however behind that she is actually a vampire. A very failed vampire from a large family. And her brother Ren never lets her forget it, when he’s home. Not only can Karin not drink blood, but she still can survive in the light and instead gives blood to humans—or ends up with massive nosebleeds. Karin has neither grace, nor the attitude of a vampire either. It’s her younger sister Anju who normally has to help her out of the sticky situations she gets in.
Karin lead as normal of a life as she could, until the transfer student Kenta Usui shows up and flips her world upside down. Like girls who menstruate, Karin has to release her blood once a month—or so she thought. When Kenta shows up, suddenly she is reacting and bleeding far too often. And she has no idea why!
I won’t tell you anything more, so that you’re able to enjoy the series fully, but I’m sure by the genre you can guess some of what will happen. However I will tell you this, it’s not a cliché love story. Nor does it come with cliché plot twists either. Yuna Kagesaki outdid herself with coming up with a very unique and very entertaining story.
The only thing she could really be called on for in her story are a few Mary Sue issues with the characters if you were to get picky, but even so she made them work. It’s not over the top, and so it blends nicely to give them a bit of uniqueness at the same time.
When it comes to the art though, it’s difficult not to like it. It has a grace to it while still being very fun and practical. And the character designs clearly define who is who so that you don’t get confused, even between two very similar characters!
So far eleven novels have been released, and the series is still ongoing. You can pick it up at your local bookstore, and it runs about $9.99usd a book, plus tax. Be careful though to get the manga, since there is also an actual novel being released of it at the same time by the same author. There are some differences between them which are noted in the little author panels of the manga, but since I have not gotten a hold of the novels yet I can’t note them in here. From what I can tell though, both are worth the purchase if you’re interested.
Chobits is a well-known anime and manga series by CLAMP, the story of a college student who comes to Japan and finds a persocom (a human-like robot) in the garbage. The plot revolves around these two characters and the secrets behind their pasts.
Hideki Motosuwa comes to Japan for schooling, and in this alternate present-day universe, he comes across what are known as persocoms, personal computers in human form. He wants one, but is too poor to afford one. However, while coming home one night he sees an abandoned persocom lying on a sidewalk by the garbage, and decides to take it home. The female-looking persocom is eventually called 'Chi,' as that is the only word she can speak at first, and the rest of the story is devoted to the explorations of Chi's past, after it becomes apparent that it was no mere stroke of luck that she was left lying outside.
This story is light-hearted and comical, however as it progresses it has its serious moments and becomes very deep. While there are a few chapters that are used for filler, the majority of chapters in the volumes (of eight total) further the plot and deepen the mystery behind the main characters, and even a majority of the secondary characters. Everyone plays a role, and while there aren't too many sub-plots or arcs to distract the reader, it still gets very deep, but at the same time, ends up very nicely with all the loose ends coming together.
While it has a shoujo style to it, it never really goes anywhere, and this manga can be enjoyed by pretty much anyone who picks it up, combining a satisfying set of plots, deep characters and history with comedy and fun.
Basic InformationStarting Year- 2005
Link-
vampirates.comicgenesis.com/Author- Jones in Space
Genre- Fantasy, Comedy, Action, Shoujou-ai
Update Schedule- Sunday, Wednesday, Friday
Rating- 4/5
Background Information and SummaryVampirates was started back in 2005, and is probably one of the most amusing stories going right now. Fans do often find themselves getting restless though, since poor Jones has had a lot of trouble with her update schedule as of late due to life issues. She is down to only updating twice a week, with the days varying sometimes, but the story is good enough to stick with it.
At her warning, all readers are notified in the beginning that this story contains the following: Vampires, Canadians, Pirates, Violence, Offensive Language, Canadians using Offensive Language, Boy-Touching, and Traces of Nuts.
To be honest, it’s not as X-rated as that makes it sound, nor homo-erotically disgusting. There is
one point where you are made aware of a homosexual encounter, however, it is done completely tastefully and it is not the main focus of this story at all. For the most part, the (likely) homosexuality of one of the characters is actually used more as comic relief than anything else.
Vampirates is a story of a renegade vampire who is also a pirate, and is out to seek revenge on the captain that has wronged him, and apparently others as well. With his vagabond crew of friends, children, and enemies; he is off to meet up with and destroy this man. Although, he’s not too good at planning sometimes, and tends to make messes that need to be cleaned up—or so it seems.
Jones uses a lot of literary elements to help keep the story moving, and to keep the readers interested. And just when you think the story is going to get bad and you won’t want to read it anymore because of a particular plot twist, she turns it into something you actually really enjoy. What’s wonderful though is just how unique everything is, how believable all the characters are, and just how much you really enjoy all of their personalities. And to top it all off, the story flows well so that you can keep things straight and won’t get lost as to what is going on.
As if the wonderful writing and plot line weren’t enough, she is a magnificent artist with a lot of skill. The pages she produces are of high quality, and if she so chose they could be published in a printed format and sold as-is. So it’s an easy read and definitely not hard on the eyes. That can be very difficult to find out here in the vast internet-cesspool of stuff.
So overall, the only real problem with this online manga is its update schedule, which will hopefully be straightened out soon enough. I encourage everyone to read it, and to enjoy. You’re sure to have a good laugh, and enjoy a good, ongoing story.
For anyone who has enjoyed the .hack// anime and game series, this OST is the one for you. While this soundtrack comes from the game series for the Playstation, its music is also found in some of the anime itself (though there is a distinct lack of Yuki Kajiura, who is a must).
A lot of the music has a techno style, though there's a mix of other styles as well, much of it being soft listening, and of course, the battle-style music that comes along with the RPG-style game/anime world. It gives a nice combination of strings, winds, vocals and pretty much anything else you can think of.
It's a great soundtrack for those game and anime enthusiasts, and even for those who don't know the songs' origins it make a great listen.
Ctrl + Alt + Del, or CAD for the sake of things, is a webcomic created by Tim Buckley, a comic that came onto the scene based around mainly gaming. Starring main characters Lucas and Ethan along with other additions later on such as Lilah and Zeke (an XBOX turned into a sentient robot) the comic is updated every few days, dishing out satire, entertainment and nonsensical jargon to a large audience, as it has for years now.
While CAD can be a serious comic at times, the majority of the comics are comedic and sarcastic, largely centered around the life of Ethan and Lucas (and later Lilah) though it can have some completely random strips that often have nothing to do whatsoever with the loose plot line the strip may be carrying at the time. For the most part they are spread out far and few, though at times there can be a small, separate plot arcs that require a little more deviation from the main characters.
Early on in the life of this comic it was almost completely centered around games. Still with most of the same characters it has today, it was all about gaming humor -- consoles, operating system battles, gaming geeks and more. There was just enough of a plot to satisfy the readers, though even without the story the comics alone were probably enough to keep anyone entertained. Aimed at a gaming community, naturally, it might not be readable to anyone who doesn't understand the basics of COD or the story behind WoW.
However, recently CAD began to broaden its subjects and created a few large, separate plot arcs that many times had nothing to do with gaming, but instead looked to be like a large soap opera. One of the most recent arcs being the relationship between Lilah and Ethan, the drama aided by an old acquaintance who nearly stole Lilah away from Ethan during a competition between the two males, ending much later with an interesting twist and a marriage and honeymoon. While satisfactory to the point of getting a closer look at all the characters and their personalities, it was so much of a change from the norm, and in such a strange way, that after a while it seemed to get a little repetitive, and the lack of the humor and sarcasm that readers were so used to started lacking in satisfactory content.
As a whole CAD is a great webcomic with three-dimensional characters, good stories and excellent humor and randomness. It isn't perfect, and can sometimes get very carried away in its story lines, but there's a reason it's so popular -- it knows how to appeal to its audience.
Ben Stiller was born in New York on November 30, 1965 and is an American comedian, actor, film producer and director. He is the son of veteran comedians and actors Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. He displayed an early interest in film making, and at age 10 began shooting films on his Super 8 camera. So far, he has starred in two films with his wife of eight years, Christine Taylor: Zoolander and Dodgeball, and eight films with friend Owen Wilson: The Cable Guy, Permanent Midnight, Meet the Parents, Zoolander, The Royal Tenenbaums, Starsky & Hutch, Meet the Fockers and Night at the Museum.
Stiller made his big screen debut in Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun in 1987, and appeared in films such as The Cable Guy and Happy Gilmore in 1996. He starred in There's Something About Mary in 1998, and went on to solidify his position as a comedy film star throughout the 2000s with films such as Meet the Parents, The Royal Tenenbaums and Zoolander. While Meet the Parents was a box office success, Zoolander was considered a flop. Despite this, Zoolander gained a cult following with strong DVD sales and plentiful showing on television.
Starring in no less than six films in 2004, it was a hit and miss year. The hits being Meet the Fockers, Dodgeball and Starsky & Hutch. All of these films demonstrate Stiller's comedy prowess superbly, even his cameo in Anchorman is extremely amusing. Along Came Polly was disliked by critics, claiming it to be formulaic and forced. Even so, Stiller still manages to roll out the laughs, and making double its budget, it is considered a success. But in contrast, Envy was in danger of going straight to video in America. It was branded a disaster by critics and fans alike, and due to its poor performance in the US, it was released straight to video in Europe and Australia.
Stiller's recent successes include Night at the Museum and Tropic Thunder, both performing extremely well. Having appeared in 50 films to date, Stiller shows no signs of stopping. He is a consummate comedy actor and is always a joy to watch. I especially enjoy films in which he stars alongside Owen Wilson, as they work so well together.
Night at the Museum 2 and Little Fockers are both due for release next year, and are going to be ones to watch.
This review is a bit unique because instead of reviewing a standard CD, this is a review of Within Temptation's Black Symphony, a live recording of one of their concerts. The majority of their performed songs come from albums such as The Silent Force and The Heart of Everything, however they perform songs from other albums as well.
Within Temptation is one of the popular bands performing with the new symphonic metal-style genre, related to the more popular band known as Nightwish, however they are quite unique. Lead by singer Sharon den Adel, the six-member band performed at The Ahoy to create this spectacular live recording.
What makes this performance unique from other live recordings of symphonic metal performances is that, instead of using recordings of the orchestra, Within Temptation decided to bring their entire orchestra [Metrople] out onto the stage with them along for the performance. There is little to no recording played back to aid the band, aside from a little vocal aids -- but apart from that, it is all completely original.
Sharon den Adel has one of the best performance voices I have ever heard. Unlike many other bands, she sounds fantastic when singing live, and combined with the stage and crowd effect it was a much better listen than the actual studio recorded music. Her band members were also great players; the guitars, vocals and effects not being drowned out by the base and percussion. The music in general was fantastic, and was performed very well.
However where the music was wonderfully performed, the stage presence itself left a little bit to be desired. While Sharon's extravagant wardrobe impressed many, her extravagant hand movements and style of dance proved to be more of a distraction, and in some cases slight annoyance, than actually in rhythm with the music. The keyboard, base and guitar players seemed to be more at the back of the performance, only getting small bits of action in the spotlight, as opposed to it being more rounded out. The interaction with the crowd seemed forced instead of smooth, but it wasn't by any means terrible.
Overall, for those who like Within Temptation and the genre of music they perform, Black Symphony would be something I'd recommend to anyone. The performance, aside from the actual stage presence, is exemplary, well organized and shows off the band members' true talents away from the editing of the studio recordings.
Replevin or Courts and All Their LegalitiesViva La Vida, Coldplay’s immensely successful album, has found itself in the spotlight for myriad reasons. However, its latest media feature has been anything but positive; Joe Satriani, famed guitarist, has filed a lawsuit against the band. This lawsuit, simply put, states that Coldplay used the same melody— from his song, “Learning to Fly” —as an integral part of “Viva La Vida,” title track from the aforementioned album.
It is irrelevant as to whether or not Coldplay plagiarized the music at this point in time. While it is an issue, it is not the focus of this column; the focus is that this was inevitable. The thought that mainstream media is beginning to sound more and more alike is more than a thought— it is the truth. With a nearly endless amount of bands creating music, it was only a matter of time before a band used a sound, melody, or phrase similar to that of another artist or group. It is impossible to hear every last bit of music in the world— how, exactly, could a songwriter or a producer know?
There is an old idiom that states if a person locks a group of monkeys in a room with a typewriter, they will eventually produce the works of Shakespeare. It is a bit of a stretch to apply that here, but it does state the issue well. Given time, music will sound homogenized and melodies will sound similar. It will not be intentional; it is just a result of the laws of probability.
This is by no means a defense for Coldplay or Satriani. The courts will decide who is in the right in this matter. However, consider that music artists sample other artists’ music for their own; that much is intentional. Coldplay states that the guitar melody in question in “Viva La Vida” is product of a wholly unintentional and uninfluenced design. How is it, then, that one can prove what is or is not unintentional? How can one prove that the work was not influenced by something else in this era, what with all of the music in the world in play?
The more cars on the road, the greater the chance for a crash.
Dissidia: Final Fantasy is to the Final Fantasy brand as snow is to the Sahara— it just doesn’t sound right. How else could one begin to understand this radical take on one of gaming’s most revered franchises? Hot Cloud-on-Firion action: under most circumstances, this would constitute a healthy purging of the Cookies folder. Not in this case, though; unlike unsavory writs, this is a welcome idea.
Dissidia: Final Fantasy is unlike most
Final Fantasy games that have come before it, as it shuns the idea of traditional role-playing gameplay in favor of fast, intense fighting action. Yes, this
Final Fantasy is a brawler— and an impressive looking one at that.
The name
Final Fantasy evokes many memories; and its sounds, characters, and stories among the most highly vaunted in gaming’s pantheon. The franchise means so much to so many— and tinkering with the tried-and-true formula has yielded mixed results.
Dissidia: Final Fantasy looks to be one of the better takes on the
Final Fantasy lore, as its presentation and scenario appear to be just interesting enough.
The two prime powers in the universe, the goddess Cosmos and the god Chaos, seek to prove themselves. To do so, they assemble the greatest warriors that the universe has to offer in order to settle the conflict. When it comes down to it, it’s an excuse to throw representatives from the games in together and battle it out. Standard, really.
Being a fighting game, combat is the focus. Here, the combat looks sublime. Fast-paced, stylized battles are on display; they play out as something close to something seen in the
Advent Children movie. Though a fighting game,
Final Fantasy staples can be seen everywhere— the over-the-top attacks, flashy magic spells, and music (“The Battle on the Big Bridge” gets yet another fantastic edit) impress. It all meshes together to make a satisfying experience.
Of course, no
Final Fantasy would be complete without devastating super moves; the EX Mode allows for the most ostentatious attacks possible. Taken from the individual power attack systems from the games themselves (read: Limit Breaks from
Final Fantasy VII and the like), these showy assaults require specific button presses and combinations. (For example, Squall still uses the Trigger system for Renzokuken, and Tidus the timing mechanics for Blitz Ace.)
Dissidia: Final Fantasy has already been met with much acclaim; venerated Japanese magazine
Famitsu scored the game thirty-six of a possible forty points. Fans are already marking their calendars— this is one fantasy that seemingly will never end.
Wrath of the Lich King, the latest expansion in the immensely popular World of Warcraft online game has launched; players have had more than a month to acclimate to its new content and experiences.The world continues to turn. Four years have come and gone since Blizzard (now Activision Blizzard) first unleashed
World of Warcraft on an unsuspecting public. In that span of time, the game has gathered accolades upon accolades— as evidenced by a loyal fan base that is currently approaching twelve million players.
World of Warcraft, by all rights, is not so much a game as it is an experience in every sense of the word.
As with most games of its kind,
World of Warcraft allows the player to take part in an ever-changing game scenario by means of personal avatar and input.
World of Warcraft is no different; a bevy of races, classes, professions, and allegiances are available to the player. To expand upon that, the game offers an impossibly large amount of customization and choices to keep the player occupied for years on end.
An awesomely awesome guild.A significant portion of the player base has been with
World of Warcraft since its launch; they have had a great deal of time to immerse themselves in the environment and come to understand the world they partake of. These players are diehard and steadfast in championing the game— finding enjoyment out of every little nuance. However, most players felt that the previous expansion,
The Burning Crusade, was a step backwards for the game. It seemed to stray from all that made the original game beloved to its fans. Many felt let down by its future-space-fantasy design, as it was not what the game embodied. Many more felt betrayed by Blizzard’s choice to make the game more accessible to those players who were of a more “casual” audience. While Blizzard has addressed many of these grievances in this latest expansion, many remain largely unresolved. However, those that have are executed well.
The first thing that one notices upon his first steps onto the decaying soils of Northrend (the new continent that players at a high level can access) is the level of detail in the presentation. Even on a moderately-geared computer, the new graphic sets impress and the audio soars with fervor. Beyond these obvious upgrades, the ambiance and aesthetics of the presentation make immersion believable; the disconnect between player and game is anything but.
If the original
World of Warcraft and
The Burning Crusade could be likened to putting the player in a sandbox and giving them fantastic set pieces to work with, then
Wrath of the Lich King is the natural evolution of such— full integration and immersion into the rich lore and history of the franchise and not simply being an interacting (albeit somewhat important) other party. This can be seen in many of the quests in the new playable areas; the Death Knight area and the quest chain of the Wrathgate are perfect examples of such. Yes, this game now feels like a true continuation of
Warcraft 3’s magnificent story, and the Lich King Arthas (unlike Illidan and company in
The Burning Crusade) is prominently featured in almost everything the expansion has to offer.
Of course, no expansion is worthy of release if it lacks content;
Wrath of the Lich King does not disappoint. The aforementioned Death Knights make a grand entrance (as noted, their entry quests are absolutely fantastic) to provide more to the community. As the name implies, Death Knights are fallen warriors that have been resurrected into undeath by the Lich King; their powers take from ideas of death and destruction.
Lichborne warriors of death, the Death Knights are a new class.Beyond Death Knights,
Wrath of the Lich King offers many new ways to drain the time from any player. Inscription joins the list of professions available to the player; this profession allows the inscriptor to craft glyphs that enhance abilities inherent to the individual classes (for example, making a particular spell last longer and do more damage). Every profession has also been expanded upon, and craftsmen can now craft even better items than before.
As to be expected from
World of Warcraft, Northrend comes stuffed with a wealth of new lands to explore, enemies to conquer, factions to befriend, and dungeons to crawl. Unlike
The Burning Crusade, these feel fleshed out and not as an afterthought. Particular instances (dungeons that are custom-tailored for groups of players and separate from the rest of the lands) like The Nexus impress from a visual standpoint, and others allow for fantastic strategy in battle.
However, there are some issues with the expansion. Chief of which is the feeling of repetition and a sense of déjà vu— most players have been playing the game for years now and have raised characters to high level before, and the level grind is always a pain. Doing so usually results in questing for large chunks of level experience, and these quests suffer from the same complaints as always; quests usually consist of “kill X then talk to Y” and the like. While some quests have shunned this concept (examples include a minigun quest in Dragonblight, the myriad Death Knight quests), most remain steadfast in holding to the tried-and-true design. Even the weapons and armor suffer from this; while the items in Wrath of the Lich King look absolutely amazing, they are mainly swapped out for another by means of color palette. That is to say that the gloves you get early on in Northrend will be the very same ones you get at the end— just in a different color. Even the Dread Citadel Naxxramas suffers from this, as it was brought back for another end-level instance. Yes, recycle and reuse is the thought here, and it gets old quickly.
Of course, this is only a slight complaint and a small blemish on the overall product. This will not dissuade
World of Warcraft players, as many had been waiting for the expansion for months. Consider that the expansion alone sold millions within the first hours of release as a sign of brand loyalty. Players knew exactly what they were getting— new content, new areas, new treasures, and so much more. For them, it was only a matter of time. However, that is not to say that someone new to the game could not enjoy it;
World of Warcraft is as every bit exciting, enjoyable, and addicting as it ever was. Anyone with even the slightest bit of interest should invest a little time in the world of Azeroth— they might find that they wish to take an extended stay.
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King is not to be missed and is worthy of all praise.
Background Information.From the creators of Skate comes another title, not dealing with gunplay as much as body movement and physical limitations. Do you remember seeing people on Television or in life performing stunts on the sides of buildings jumping from one ledge to another? Off a wall to a high ledge instead of taking the stairs. All the while performing without protective equipment? Do “The Kamakazi’s” or Showtime mean anything to you? It should if you know the world of free running. In Mirrors Edge you are a free runner named Faith. You come back to the world of black market product running after a fall that took you out of the game for quite some time. Something goes wrong on your first mission back and you have to clear the name of your sister.
Graphics and Audio [4/5]During the game the visuals are very good, there are some instances that make you think “They could have tried a little harder on that”. Nothing too horrible, there are just little effects that could have been done differently. The cut scenes are just like a Japanese anime. Cartoon style cut scenes. It feels a little slap-in instead of taking the time to really put together a great visual package.
Game Play [4/5]Each level gets more and more difficult, but somehow your mind adapts and you think of solutions to the puzzling landscape quicker and quicker.
Replay Value [5/5]After you play the story you get to choose race mode. Which you try to “beat the clock” on the deliveries. Normal runs that you first take 2 minutes to do, you find you can do it a different way in under 30 seconds. Its all about changing your style.
Mirrors Edge is a great game. I don’t see a sequel from this game unless they somehow develop a map maker to challenge your friends. I would recommend everyone to borrow or rent the game. A little lower price and it's worth buying.
Nintendon’t has never sounded more appropriate.Nintendo has a rich history and many celebrated gaming franchises. This is the house of
Mario, after all; the entire industry owes its current existence to the portly plumber. Fans swear by Nintendo and uphold all it does— until recently, that is.
Nintendo’s ever-popular Wii system has ushered in a new way to play games, but at what cost? The machine caters to casual, family play, and has all but forgotten the fans that have put it up on the pedestal that it sits upon. Outside of the first few first-party Nintendo games released for the system, the company has released scores of simple, casual games in effort to capitalize upon the newfound market. While an intelligent business move, it has alienated many of the fans that so enjoy the company. What’s more, this trade practice has begun to take hold in other companies; Sony, Microsoft, and a host of third-party developers have begun creating these games to draw in those who would not normally give games a second thought.
On one hand, this is exactly what the medium needs: without this revitalization, the gaming scene would grow stagnant and similar. This was seen in the early console wars; the results were nothing short of disastrous. Attracting casual gamers allows for more growth and fresh ideas. However, it also results in catering to another gaming circle— doing so can distract a company from what it does best. Nintendo is doing this; instead of continuing to provide for its core audience, they are neglecting them in lieu of giving to this new casual crowd, and it is beginning to weaken the core base.
While the casual games deserve a place in a console lineup, disregarding the other genres will weaken the overall library considerably. That is the problem for the Wii— while there are many games for the system, most comprise of minigames or Wiimote gimmicks. While it will sell, it will cost so much more in the long run.
Forgetting what makes something great makes it forgettable in the end.
[herald=entrtain]
Kay
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