This blog talks about movies, TV, anime and cartoons. You'll laugh with me, argue with me, disagree with me, but you'll love reading all of these. Check it out!
Remember the days when playing a video game was just simply popping a quarter into a machine and trying to finish a level? Whether it was playing Donkey Kong, Spy Hunter or Arknoid, people had fun with arcade games before it moved in the home with Pac Man, Super Mario Bros and Sonic the Hedgehog leading the way. Let's just say things have evolved since then. Now video games are well-written narratives that engross their player into a story -where some even evoke an emotional response- all tuned to music from a full orchestra written by the same guys that write the scores for blockbuster motion pictures. Hollywood is trying to get more video games on bigger screens than your flat screen at home. However, these stories haven't been able to be adapted to the big screen. Why? Were their casts not good enough? Did they not have top notch directors? What went wrong?
For starters, look at the facts. Despite making about $678 million worldwide during it's series, the Resident Evil movies have been mediocre at best. Their Rotten Tomatoes score never broke 34% so critics and audiences didn't like it too much despite what box office grosses have to say. Part of the problem to the hardcore RE fans is that the addition of Alice changed the story completely. The RE game was about a special OPs team that was dropped into a strange situation, only to discover that one of their own agents assisted in creating the ultimate biological weapon. The movie... went another way. It begins with the incident and turns into a bizarre retelling of "Alice in Wonderland". Does that sound like the same story? Of course not, but somehow this spawned THREE more movies and a fifth coming in September. In spite of low quality of these films, it keeps making money. Guess that proves movies don't have to be good, just slapped with a brand name.
The fundamental part of the video game storytelling is gone when put on screen. Plug in your console and pop in a random action game. Usual formula now is cinema scene (tutorial maybe) and then a task that leads to the expanding story. A film needs to introduce the character and have an inciting incident to draw the viewer in. A video game already has the viewer and the experience expands the story, whereas a film has to tell the story. Hence why a game like "F.E.A.R." works well, but if made into a film wouldn't using the exact same formula would be dreadful. Take "Gears of War" (always rumored in production) uses a 5 act structure. There's only three acts in a movie. So right away there's two acts that needs to be removed and that's not including that the original Gears game focused on Marcus Fenix without explaining E-Day. It wasn't until the second story that Gears developed Dom's story and the history of the War. "Gears of War" cannot do that if they make a film, especially if the producers want the trilogy.
Part of the problem with video game films is that the player is meant to be in a game for several hours. A film is meant to hold you for 2 hours. Now, how do you just remove bits of story without hurting the overall experience your audience has already enjoyed? Take "Super Mario Bros" -the first video game movie- which made up a story about plumbers who travelled to another dimension to take on Koopa, who is a crime boss and not a giant turtle-like creature. This film was doomed from the start. Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo as Italian plumbers? Really? None of the film embodied it's more successful namesake and what's worse is that it proved what not to do with a video-game-movie. At least "Double Dragon" didn't make the same mistake... oh wait.
The other way around is true as well, look at "Street Fighter" and "Mortal Kombat" which were two games that had minimal story and yet were expanded to make 90 minute movies. The result was two films with weak storylines and characters you weren't sure if you wanted to root for them in the first place. A fighting game doesn't really have a hero. It has heroes. So there's no clear person to root for and what if your favorite characters was Ryu and Johnny Cage and the film centers around Guile and Liu Kang. Seriously, did anyone think Raiden was a good guy?
Now, it is possible to make a good video game movie. If you consider "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within" as one. Instead of making a film about their highly successful "Final Fantasy VII", Square Soft told another story with new characters. This film featured the voices of Ming Na, Ving Rhames, Alec Baldwin, Donald Sutherland, Steve Buscemi and James Woods. It was the highest rated video-based film... that was not based of a game. "Silent Hill" and "Prince of Persia" focused on their stories a little bit more and lead to a better product, but there still hasn't been a "Citizen Kane" for video game films. There were rumors of John Woo being attached to "Metroid", but there still hasn't been any activity from Nintendo with rumors that "The Legend of Zelda" will never find it's way to the big screen. One good thing came from the failure to make "Halo", Peter Jackson ended up using Neil Blomkamp to make "District 9" when they couldn't get a script for the game.
Maybe Hollywood gets it right sometime soon. They're going to have plenty of opportunities coming up. Internet rumors have up 20 games being optioned to become features, but will they ever be the same quality as the comic book films that have come out in the last decade. Hard to tell, but don't let this ruin you from popping back in your favorite game and playing it again.
Sometimes you can take time to sit down and praise the films out there that amaze you. Then again, there's films out there that make you wonder where you're time went. Here is the short list of the worst of 2011:
Transformers: Dark of the Moon: Despite being better than the second installment, Transformers completed their trilogy where nothing resembled anything from the Transformers stories of the 80's. In fact, the Transformers series is known pretty much for slow motion shots of Megan Fox and... the other chick while something blows up. You'll feel dumber watching it and sadly, this movie borrowed lines from Star Trek.
Green Lantern: As Warner Bros/DC went all-in with a 2/7 off-suit and got hammered EVERYWHERE. It's hero was scorned by the traumatic death of his father... for some reason... Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) becomes the Green Lantern and appears places that he has no idea there's danger. The characters just kind of do things without rhyme or reason. If not for Mark Strong, this movie would have been completely unwatchable. Somehow, even Peter Saarsgard couldn't save this movie.
No Strings Attached: Another film where the characters just kind of appear and do things without any purpose. That is all the time I'll save for this. I will say, how could a movie directed by Ivan Reitman with two oscar winners (Kevin Kline was the other one, not Ashton Kutcher) be SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO bad?
In Time: This film had some potential then became a class struggle film, where you never really can connect with any of the characters because since they're all 25 (which few are in this film). To say the plot went nowhere is an understatement and you end up rooting against the characters in the end. The cherry on top was the subplot about Justin Timberlake's father that comes from nowhere about 45 minutes in. This film was doomed from the start. I don't know if you can blame the actors at all.
Worst film of the year:
MONEYBALL: It's amazing that facts escape this film and that it was nominated for Best Picture. Moneyball is actually a well made, well written, well acted film until it goes through fact checking. For starters, this is probably the first sports movie where the key moment was trading for a situational left-handed reliever. The next most dramatic moment was a homerun hit in extra innings after blowing a ten run lead. Oh and the whole season hinged on Scott Hatteberg? Really? There was ZERO mention of the Mark Mulder, Tim Hudson, Cy Young Award winner Barry Zito, AL MVP juicing Migel Tejada, but there was plenty mention of the not-sliding-ridiculous Jeremy Giambi. Apparently, the trade of Giambi and addition of middle reliever Chad Bradford made the A's the best team in baseball. This film is actually pretty ridiculous in the end since the A's don't win, but Billy Beane is still a genius because the Red Sox followed his philosophy... not have a $130 million payroll and Manny Ramirez roided out of his mind.
Unlike 2010, last year was full good films. The only problem was that the cream didn't rise high enough. There's plenty to debate about on this list, but these are my top films of the year.
Limitless - Bradley Cooper's best work in a film about a blocked writer who is given a drug to unlock the full power of his brain. Believe it or not, this film did not fall into the cliches and stayed pretty true. Cooper carries the film and DeNiero plugs just enough tension in to let the story flow.
Captain America - Chris Evans stars as Marvel's World War II super-hero and doesn't make him look like a tool. It also helps when Joe Johnstone directs it perfectly with a villain that really makes the people trouble. Hugo Weaving's Red Skull is among one of the best villains to come along in a while and he hit every note. It's a fun story with the charm of the WWII era all wrapped into it.
Super 8 - JJ Abrams tribute to the older monster movies of the day is a well directed film about a group of teens filming a zombie movie when an air force train crashes. During the crash, a big freakin' alien creature escapes. The cast of kids somehow manage to outshine the performances of their older co-stars, but that is not an insult in anyway.
Crazy Stupid Love - The Rom-Com genre is dying, but Crazy Stupid Love is a reason to think there's still hope. Ryan Gosling and Steve Carrell headline a talented cast in a story about a man coping with his wife's betrayal. At the same time, his younger friend becomes infatuated with a woman who resisted his charms. A mutli-tiered story that eventually leads to an heartwarming conclusion.
Horrible Bosses - A hilarious romp about three friends that want to whack their bosses that make their lives a living hell. They plan a Hitchcock-like criss cross killing that goes horribly wrong and the craziness that ensues will make you cry in laughter. Still Jennifer Aniston as a sex-crazed dentist seems like every guy's dream.
The Muppets - Part nostalgia, but The Muppets was one of the funniest films of 2011. Muppets worshiper Jason Segel co-wrote a great homage to Jim Hensen's most popular creations with cameos from several of Hollywood entertainers both young and old. If there's any other reason you should she this movie, Chris Cooper rapping is enough to split your sides.
Bridesmaids - Kristen Wiig was always a funny actress, but most of the time she was a supporting player. Not in this movie that she co-wrote about a failed baker that is the maid of honor for her best friend's wedding. Adding on a competitor to be a maid of honor and a supporting cast that just makes the movie a non-stop laugh-a-thon. Wiig gives a thorough performance where she's funny and touching as the girl who everything hasn't worked out for while her friends' lives have, but Melissa McCarthy steals the movie. This also teaches us that food poisoning and bridal shops don't mix.
50/50 - "I can't have cancer... I work out. I recycle," recants Joseph Gordon-Levitt in a film about a guy in his twenties facing death. He soon finds who is the right support and the wrong support. Whether it's a friend (Seth Rogen) who treats it as a pickup tool for girls or a cheating girlfriend (Bryce Dallas Howard) who didn't sign up for being a caretaker. Through it all, Gordon-Levitt encounters a roller-coaster of emotions and his counsellor (Anna Kendrick) start to become involved. Gordon-Levitt continues his string of great performances since (500) Days of Summer.
The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo - David Fincher's remake of the Swedish series was right in his wheelhouse from "Zodiac" or "Se7en". Daniel Craig is his usual reliable self, but Rooney Mara's Oscar Nomination was well deserved as the title character. She gives a performance both funny, odd, straightforward, tormented, sadistic and clever. She's one of the oddest protagonists you'll find yourself rooting for.
X-Men: First Class - Though this film took some liberties with the X-Men stories, it also paid tribute to the franchises other films. Taking place in the early 60's before the Cuban Missile Crisis, Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) come together and try to put their different approaches aside to stop a Sebastian Shaw from starting a nuclear war that would destroy mankind. In the process, they find that their war is only beginning.
The Help - This isn't a story about the people that live in the gray areas of white and black in 60's Jackson, Mississippi. The story is about maids that fight racism and the employers who don't seem to see the problem with it. In a film littered with great performances by Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard, it causes Emma Stone to go unnoticed. The film will make you laugh as well as move you- especially at the very end.
The Artist - Who says a silent movie still can have an impact in the modern world? "The Artist" proved just that. Taking the charm from the old Charlie Chaplin films, it stars two relatively unknown actors (Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo) to US audiences and fills out his cast with very capable known physical actors like John Goodman and James Cromwell. The film is about the end of the silent movie era and an artist who never really spoke much at all when it mattered. Dujardin and Bejo deliver outstanding performances of a lost art. This film is as delightful as it is original.
Best Film of the Year:
The Descendants - George Clooney is likely to get an Oscar for this performance of a man who's wife is dying and his life is coming apart. Due to a boating accident, Matt King's wife is in a coma and will be taken off life support. As he gathers his family, his daughter tells him that his wife was having an affair, which eludes to a journey to meet the other man. If there's a scene that is most memorable, it's when Clooney has a closed door argument with his comatose wife. For a guy who is the personification of suave, is anything but that in this film.
This year Marvel Studios will re-boot their most lucrative franchise "Spider-Man", which will be directed by (500) Days of Summer's Marc Fields and starring Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. The first thought of many is, "Why?," but look at another film franchise that was rebooted this decade and see that the idea may not be so bad. Christopher Nolan rebooted the "Batman" franchise with Batman Begins in 2005 and it received well by the public and the critics. The franchise is releasing it's third and final installment this summer as well and it could use some advice from the previous "Spider-Man" series.
First what would "Spider-Man" say to "Batman":
For starters when it comes to your third installment, the standard sequel formula needs to be thrown out. The first movie usually sets up the second, but the story is pretty closed off in each of these franchises. Here's a few points:
Be True to Your Characters: So go bigger, but beware of going too big. "Spider-Man 3" was the only film of the series to employ the multi-villain method and it didn't go so well. Now "Dark Knight Rises" is going to bring in Bane- one of Batman's fiercest villains that was relegated to a brawny moron in "Batman and Robin". Call this Christopher Nolan righting a Schumacher wrong, but he's also bringing out Catwoman who was personified by Michelle Pheifer in 1991. Will Catwoman fit in the story with Bane? Hard to say, but the first two installments blended it's villains together well. In "Spider-Man 3" the mix of Venom, Sandman, Peter's battle with the black suit and Harry's Green Goblin mixed like rum and dry vermouth. Even though you could pour them together, it leaves a sour taste in your mouth. Marvel did a poor job with the Venom character by changing him completely and the heart-strings pulling by Sandman seemed forced. Plus Harry's amnesia didn't help matters, one minute he's a villain, the next he's a friend, then right back to an enemy. The audience didn't connect with this installment because too many cooks spoil the stew.
Keep your tone: "Spider-Man 3" varied the tone too much. Funny, sad, heart-warming, heart-breaking and a couple of dance numbers in the middle. That pushed the audience away instead of drawing them in. Now, Nolan won't make Batman dance, but will the Bruce Wayne/Selena Kyle relationship mess up "Rises"? Will "Rises" make the same mistake?
Where do we go from here?: In each of the sequels, there was a huge action sequence that left the audiences dropping their jaws. In "Spider-Man 3", the opening/closing stunts were... eh. The action was mediocre. Where do you go from a runaway train or a tractor-trailer being flipped over? Just make sure the stunts pull the audience in. In each sequel the stakes are raised on the stunts. If you need proof, check with the Indiana Jones series.
What advice does Batman have for Spider-Man Tell a new story: Batman never had an origin story, so that's why "Batman Begins" had freedom. Deciding the villains was a little easier by using two good ones that weren't touched. "The Dark Knight" recycled two villains and used them a different way. Now "Amazing" is going to feature the Lizard, possibly one more (IMDb lists the Proto-Goblin). Sounds good right? Remember the rum and vermouth. The trailers for the movie show a retelling of the origin of Spider-Man. Problem, the audience saw it years ago and -unlike Batman- multiple writers didn't write the backstory over. Supposedly, this will answer what happened to Peter's parents.
Villains- New or Improved: As stated before, right the wrongs of villains previously messed up. "Rises" will attempt to redo Bane. Venom will certainly fit this category. Use of the Lizard is a must to do since he hasn't been seen on screen. Spider-Man has other villains that haven't been seen by audiences (Craven the Hunter, Scorpion, Carnage), but that'll need some more exposition. Marvel's choice here was a slam dunk. Now "Dark Knight" chose to recycle it's most popular villain -Joker - but that could have back-fired. It didn't, but would repeating the Green Goblin or Doctor Octopus be a good idea?
Have a Good Cast - How do you replace Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker? Garfield maybe an equal to Maguire, but Stone's advantage is that she's replacing a forgettable character- Gwen Stacy from "Spider-Man 3." Unlike Bale's Batman, Garfield has to deal with one other actor to play Peter Parker, but did it three times and well. Bale's Batman was up against Michael Keaton's success and Val Kilmer and George Clooney's failures. Not that they were to blame for it, as Clooney told a hilarious story on Inside the Actor's Studio about Schumacher's direction. Still kind of funny that Kirsten Dunst was a blonde playing a red-head. Emma Stone is a red-head playing a blonde.
So this summer, good luck to the "Amazing Spider-Man" and hopefully "The Dark Knight Rises" won't fall into the trap of "Spider-Man 3". Learn from each other and don't repeat the mistakes of the past.
Let's face it, this year has been an OFF-FIELD story driven year. From the Penn State/Syracuse Scandal to the BCS debacle insulting college football fans, there seemed not to be as much to cheer about on the field. That is until you think about these games that glued viewers to the screens, fans to their seats, left people talking about the game for days after.
12) Rangers/Capitals Game 4 - The Rangers took game 3 of the first round playoff against the Washington Capitals, but the headline going into the game was Coach Bruce Boudreau saying MSG is "not that loud". After the Rangers blitzed the Capitals for a 3-0 lead, the Garden crowd chanted, "Can you hear us?!" Only to see the Capitals rally and force overtime, which didn't disappoint for drama and featured Henrik Lunqvist stopping Alex Ovechkin on a breakaway. The end of the game was cruel and unlikely as Rangers star Marian Gaborik accidently poked a loose puck from Lundqvist and into the crease for Jason Chimera to poke it in and give the Caps a 4-3 win.
11) Michigan/Notre Dame - Under the lights for the first primetime game at the Big House, Michigan supplied a classic game for their already historic rivalry. Forget the previous 58 minutes -which were amazing- with 1:12 remaining in the game, Michigan completed a 17 point comeback when Vincent Smith caught a 21 yard Denard Robinson pass, giving the Wolverines their first lead of the night. Game over? Nope, Notre Dame drives down and Tommy Rees hits Theo Riddick for a 29 yard score, taking the lead right back? Game over? Think again. Michigan drives down and Robinson hit Roy Roundtree with 2 seconds remaining.
10) Lightning/Bruins Game 7 - A trip to Vancouver was on the line for two underdog teams. The only question was which one? The Lightning took out the Penguins and #1 seed Capitals, whereas the Bruins fought off their rival Canadiens and Flyers. This series was back and forth, Game 7 was not. It was a game that every inch of ice was hard to come by and two goalies that gave nothing for shooters. With the game scoreless midway through the third period, Bruins winger Nathan Horton deflected the puck behind Lightning Goalie Dwayne Roloston to give the Bruins the only goal they'd need. They'd only need that lone goal because Tim Thomas was stellar. He stopped 24 shots including a sprawling stick save on Dominic Moore. Later, Thomas would win the Conn Smythe and the Stanley Cup.
9) VCU/Kansas Elite 8- At the beginning of the NCAA Tourney, all the critics were calling out the NCAA selection committee for selecting VCU. The committee claims that VCU "passed the eye test". Two weeks later, VCU shut their critics up by beating the #1 team in the nation in Kansas. VCU sprinted to an early 18 point lead, which Kansas cut to 2 with 13:11 minutes remaining. However, the slipper was on Cinderalla's foot as VCU went on an 11-3 run immediately and put themselves in the books as one of the biggest Final Four upsets of All Time.
8) Heat/Mavericks Game 4 - The storylines for this game were simple. Heat win and they can backup their promise for a championship. Mavericks win and they continue one of the best underdog stories in NBA history. With everyone in the country outside of Miami rooting for the Mavericks, the Heat and Mavs went back-and-forth in the third quarter, but the Mavericks -led by a flu-ridden Dirk Nowitzki- kept the "Heatles" close until the closing minutes of the game. Nowitzki hit a lay-up with 14.4 seconds left, capping his 10-point fourth quarter. It would also be a game that started a theme for the series- poor Fourth Quarters by the Heat, especially LeBron James. The Mavs surged with a 21-9 run to end the game and leave the Heat sweating. The Mavs would win their first NBA Championship five days later and spark many LeBron jokes. By the way, he can't change a dollar because he won't give the fourth quarter.
7) Rory McIlroy at the US Open - Not a game, but a performance that was as unexpected as any other this year. If you did a soap opera style "Previously...", you would have seen Rory McIlroy at Augusta National choking away his lead and finishing with an embarrassing round for an amateur. Fast forward to June at the US Open where McIlroy did the unthinkable. He shot FOUR subpar rounds on the "Golf's Toughest Test" and set or tied 12 records including the largest win with a 16 shots under par. McIlroy's highs and lows are well documented in 2011, but his high was a memory for the ages.
6) USA/Brazil Women's World Cup - In one of the most thrilling games in the history of Women's sports, USA loaded with talent, took on Brazil -which was considered to be their greatest obstacle. Brazil proved the Analysts right when they tied the game at 1 late in the second half. In extra time, their star Marta would break the tie and assure Brazil victory. That is until time was winding down, seconds ticking off the clock, Megan Repinoe kicked a soccer-style "Hail Mary" toward the net where Abby Wambach was sprinting to the right post. She headed the ball into the empty net and sent the game into penalty kicks. Hope Solo made two saves and moved the Americans on. Had the US won the World Cup, Wambach would be synonymous with Mike Eruzione.
5) Butler/Florida Elite 8- The NCAA tournament features several exceptional games a year- usually a first round upset. This year Florida and Butler played a classic game that said who'd go to the Final Four. Midway through the second half, Butler -2010 finalist- were down 11 to the Gators and Billy Donovan. Butler started to chip away and to tie in regulation, take a 3-point lead in overtime until Florida's Kenny Boyton made a three pointer to give the Gators the lead right back. After a foul, Butler tied the game and then came the unbelievable. On back-to-back plays at the end of regulation, Florida's Erving Walker hit a 3-pointer which was followed by Butler's Shelvin Mack hitting a three to tie. Butler would outwork Florida and win the game at the foul line, but it was a classing game for an already rich history of the NCAA.
4) Jets/Patriots AFC Divisional Playoff - Second Straight year the Jet improbable win makes the list. This game was a shocker for many reasons. The Jets were playing in Foxboro, where their last visit ended 45-3 with them on the short side and the Patriots haven't lost at Foxboro since 2008 (not counting playoffs). On the Jets side, the Patriots haven't won a playoff game since 2007, when they advanced to the Super Bowl. Despite falling behind 3-0, the Jets would back up their talk. Mark Sanchez threw touchdown passes to LaDanian Thomlinson and Brayon Edwards to make it 14-3. Sanchez would fling it to Santonio Holmes to give the Jets a ten point lead that Shonn Greene would add to with a 16-yard touchdown run. The win would send the Jets to their second straight Conference Final and Bart Scott would be remembered for saying, "Can't Wait!"
3) USA/Japan Women's World Cup - How could the USA/Brazil game be topped? Even for the biggest male chauvinist would have to say this game was outstanding even if the game ended the wrong way for the USA. Alex Morgan gave the US a 1-0, only to have Japan tie the game on a USA goof that Aya Miyama capitalized on. Unlike the Brazil game, Abby Wambach didn't wait till the closing seconds of extra time, when she headed in a crossing feed, but Japan wasn't done. Playing for their country that has been ravaged by natural disasters in the last year, the Japanese women fought and tied the game when Homare Sawa managed to redirected a ball past Hope Solo. Japan would win in penalty kicks, but the argument is clear that with the World Cup on the line, this game was the best of the summer.
2) Baseball's Final Day - This isn't a game, but a collective of moments from several games of baseball's final dramatic day. With the Wild Card spots on the line in BOTH leagues, the Braves/Cardinals battling in the NL and the Rays/Red Sox in the AL. Early in the evening, the Yankees did their best to help the Red Sox (I know, weird) by taking a 7-0 lead. In the meantime, the Sox were leading 2-0 over Baltimore, but the Rays would burst out with a 6 run eighth inning. All this built to the ninth, when Jon Papelbon was on the mound trying to save the game in Baltimore, Dan Johnson was down to his final strike against Cory Wade. Johnson would strike Wade's pitch off the foul pole to tie the game as Papelbon blows the save in Baltimore almost simultaneously! Evan Longoria would hit a homerun and punch the Rays ticket to the Wild Card. In the National League, Chris Carpenter and the Cards shut out the Astros while the Braves fell in extra innings to the Phillies. BOTH the Red Sox and Braves completed collapses that saw them leading by 10 games or more in the final week of August.
GAME OF THE YEAR:
1) Cardinals/Rangers Game 6 - In a series that will be held up against the greats, Game 6 put itself on a level with 1993, 1990, 1986 and 1975. A back-and-forth game where the Rangers took and early lead to the Cardinals striking back, but starting with the seventh inning, the game took on a new life. With the score tied at 4, Adrian Beltre hit a go-ahead home run to give the Rangers the lead, but Nelson Cruz hit a towering shot over the leftfield wall right after him. Ian Kinsler would add an RBI single to make it 7-4. The Rangers felt confident with their vaunted bullpen that they would close the game out. The Cardinals had other ideas. In the eighth, super-sub Allen Craig hits a solo home run to close it to 7-5, but in the ninth inning, David Freese struck a Neftali Feliz fastball to right field that eluded Nelson Cruz. That didn't kill the Rangers resolve. "The Natural" Josh Hamilton hit a two-run home run to right, seemingly to write a climax to his comeback story. The only problem was that the Cardinals didn't want to quit. Ryan Theriot had an RBI groundout, then Lance Berkman singled to center off Scott Feldman to tie the game at 9. It was the second time the Cardinals were down to their final strike of the SEASON. The following turn at bat for the Cardinals would force Game 7. David Freese -the eventual World Series MVP- would take a Mark Lowe offering over the centerfield wall as Joe Buck re-created his father's home run call from Kirby Puckett's 1990 Game 6 winning home run, "We'll see you tomorrow night." The Cardinals would not falter at home in Game 7, completing one of the most improbable runs to a championship in baseball history.
These are my games of 2011. I'm kind of shocked that I have two WOMEN's games on here, but gotta hand it to the US Women. They certainly entertained this year. If you have others, please leave a comment here or my Facebook.
Every time Nintendo puts out a Legend of Zelda title, gamers dig in and delve into the land of Hyrule. As gamers play through the game, they may not realize they're getting good morale direction from the game's protagonist- Link (though you can give him any name). The reason is simple, if you weren't a noble-do-gooder than the game would end quickly. However- in directly- Link teaches people many things they may not realize.
Sacrifice for the Greater Good - A theme in most Zelda games is that the characters (not just Link) put themselves at great risk. Whether it's Zoran Princess or the Gorons in Ocarina or Zelda (repeatedly) putting their own lives on the line to stop evil, only to be rescued later. The point is that Link isn't just trying to do good alone. There's others trying as well.
Always Do the Right Thing - It's not just Spike Lee who thinks that- Link does too. Whether it's to help a young girl find her chickens (Ocarina) to helping an old woman (who looks an awful lot like a witch he killed before) get back to her sister (Majora's Mask). Not that this isn't without reward... which will be covered later, but another good example is Link refusing to tell Ganondorf which way Zelda went after fleeing Hyrule Castle in Ocarina of Time. He refused and got a lightning bolt to the face from his adversary. Nice. Before you think, "Well duh, that was all in the moment," remember Link had a premonition of that moment in Ocarina's into. If I knew I'd get a lightning bolt to the face, you can have her, man. In fact, there's only one person Link really screws over in the Zelda series- the man that played the Song of Storms in Kakariko Village.
Someone may not like you... now - Zelda's stories are littered with Frien-emies. Take for instance Lido in Ocarina or Groose in Skyward Sword. Both characters hate Link in the beginning, but their experiences soon lead to a respect for Link. There's always the fairy from Majora's Mask or even Navi from Ocarina, but the chief example is Midna from Twilight Princess. She clearly is not a fan of Link's, but little by little, Midna grows to love her traveling companion, so much so that she thinks he falls in love with her upon seeing her true beauty. Even the majority of Zelda villains are "brainwashed" or "mistaken" creatures that try to kill Link, but come to their senses after Link defeats them. Funny how a little ass-kicking makes you want to befriend someone.
A Stranger is just a Friend You Haven't Met - Streetcar said, "You can always depend on the kindness of Strangers," but it's clear that you're the stranger in Hyrule that has to make everyone's acquaintance. Now Link meets some many colorful characters in his travels. In the first Legend of Zelda, Link meets an ogre who simply says, "Grumble, Grumble." Link brings him some meat and then the guy becomes so nice that he lets you proceed through Level 7. There's the old woman making stew in "Link to the Past" that you give a mushroom to and get back Magic Dust. I'd list the rest of these, but let's face it, I don't want this blog entry to go for days.
Proper Tools for Proper Work - Link's adventures could have been a game where you swing your sword around, killing ogres and bugs that jump around, but it isn't. Nah, Nintendo has supplied Zelda players with several items both necessary and baffling. Sure the bow is the most obvious need since Silver/Light Arrows are always needed to thwart Ganon(dorf), but there's boomerangs, hammers, bombs, magic rods that shoot fire or ice, candles, boots that allow you to hover for a second, boots that make you sink, gloves that give you epic strength, flippers, a raft, a ladder, invisible capes (yeah Harry Potter stole it), bug catching nets, books for translating, mushrooms for potions, candles to burn down trees... and more. There's many different shields, swords, tunics, rings and grappling hooks; all for Link to use for specific tasks which can be as important as saving the WORLD or as little as helping a person collect bugs. My favorite, the Ball and Chain from Twilight Princess- that thing was bad ass!!!
There's a Girl Out There for You - I know what you're thinking, "Zelda! D'uh!!" Not exactly. Since Ocarina, Link's been a bit of a chick magnet. There was Saria, Midna, the Item Check girl in Skyward. Heck, Zelda isn't even a love interest for most of the series. Skyward Sword is one of the games that spells it out for you, though it is possible for you to treat her like crap and still have her end up in love with you. Geez, I hope that's not a lesson...
Music Is Under-appreciated - Not just having the most iconic music in video game history. In the first Legend of Zelda, the old man tells you in Level 5 that Digdogger hates sounds of a certain kind. AH-HA! You should play this Recorder (or whistle) that four graders play and everyone finds annoying as well. However, it's uses didn't stop there. If you used the whistle later, a whirlwind will take you around all of Hyrule. Since then, music has played a role in Zelda. It unlocks worlds, drains lakes, cures curses and moves you into the netherworld. You've played a Flute, an Ocarina (two of them), a conductor's wand, the howl of a wolf and a harp in the series latest installment. Thank God the quests never required a piano. It's great that Nintendo has continued using music in the game, but if Link is required to use a DJ table then I'm done.
Take Time to Stop and Smell the Roses - As you travel around the world of Zelda, you encounter various new villages, lands, kingdoms and species. You can have several sides adventures in these lands, play various mini-games and save up for new items which helps the Hyrule economy from sliding into a depression. You may also see that some people have their own problems; a house of people turned into spiders, a giant whale stuck in a mountain or a demon that needs you to do more good deeds so he can become human. Some many people, some many lands, so much to do...
The Apathy of the World - The previous point leads me to this- don't people ever notice that the world around them is going to shit. There's a black cloud over Death Mountain- which isn't a good name for a mountain you want to hike up one day- or that an entire kingdom is flooded, a princess is missing and maybe the fact that everyone in Hyrule Castle is the WALKING DEAD! Gee, you think maybe delivering milk seems kind of pointless if an evil sorcerer is making the people of the world into the same brain capacity of the Jersey Shore cast! Staying up late with the "All Night Mask" just to get a piece of a heart from the old storytelling woman can wait too. What about the fishing portion? Can't people see Link is busy! No, it's okay, because the idiot does the deeds thinking this falls under the "Do the Right Thing." Doesn't anyone notice the moon getting closer? What the fuck?!!!!
There's Greatness Inside of You - EVERY Legend of Zelda (don't count Link's Awakening) begins with a simple peasant boy that leads a simple life, but there's some act of evil that plunges him into the world where he is completely over his head. One adventure after another and Link discovers that he's armed with more than just his courage. He's been turned into a Wolf, dropped from the Sky, changed into a Fish, a creature made of wood and whatever a Goron is. He's been through the light world, the dark world, the desert, the sea, the sky, the shadow world and underground. Hell the Water Temple in Ocarina is reason enough to respect him. Why does he do it? Because there's alway more to him than being a simple peasant boy. A great hero that the world needs. There's so much more than a simple life.
Fact is that the Legend of Zelda show us more about ourselves than just trying to figure out when to play the flute in level 5. It shows us that we're never complete. There's always something we need to get to move us further in our stories. It lets us realize that there's always someone in need. That there's always a challenge to face, something to stand up for, something to fight for. So go home, play the game...maybe to escape into fantasy, help someone in need or maybe... just maybe... you can see that Link is really a part of you. The part that always wants to make the world a better place and always will fight for what's right.
On September 21st, 2001, I attended a baseball game unlike any other played before it. It was ten days after the attacks on New York City and Washington DC on 9/11 and was the first regular season game played in NY city since the attacks. It was the first time for many fans to return to normalcy. Some had their chance a few days earlier when the Rangers played the Devils in a preseason NHL game, but this game was much different. You see there were several storylines for this game. It was the first game in NYC after 9/11 for the Mets after rescheduling their series versus the Pirates to Pittsburgh. It was also a site where Mets players, brass and manager Bobby Valentine volunteered to help the victims of the attacks. It was the first time for many fans encountering the new security protocols that are normal today. It was a time to quell the hysteria of many after the attacks. It was a time to begin the healing. John Buck's words rang clear, "Should we be hear? YES!" The fans were treated to a pregame show where the NYPD, FDNY and Port Authority were all honored by the franchised and the admiring crowd. To honor them, the Mets wore hats from the members of these organizations. There was a 21 gun salute where Shea Stadium could hear a pin drop in the stadium filled to capacity. There was a change to the Mets scoreboard where the NYC skyline was mimicked. This night, and everyone after, a Red-White-Blue ribbon was attached to where the Towers were represented.
Not lost in this night was the importance of the game itself. However, the two hated rivals shook hands after the National Anthem. To them, we were all Americans. Unfortunately, the Mets were 4 games behind the Braves for first place and the series was critical. It was the reliable Braves rookie and Staten Island Native Jason Marquis against the Mets new addition Bruce Chen. In one of the most important games of the season, the Braves moved ahead late in the game. When in the eighth inning, Mets star Mike Piazza stepped to the plate with one on and took a Steve Karsay fastball over the centerfield fence for a two run homerun and the lead. If Hollywood wrote the script, it couldn't be more perfect! The home team star leads the team to victory in their darkest hour, but this day wasn't about baseball. It was nowhere near about it. It was about beginning the healing of many people. Honoring the loved one who made the greatest sacrifice. The men and women who climbed into a burning building not to return. The people who gave their lives in the hope to save one.
For me, the most memorable moment of the weekend was hearing my grandfather, a WWII veteran, sing along to the national anthem with a tear dripping of out his left eye hoping his grandson wouldn't see. He was a man who fought for his country and thought he'd never see this day. I thought of John Amarante who sang the National Anthem at MSG and wasn't interrupted as normally, but not this day. His tears on "God Bless America" almost didn't let him finish. Listening to my grandfather, I realized what being an American was. Here was man who gave his youth to keep my family free. He never heard of an attack on mainland America and his home was threatened. He did not take kindly to that. As Piazza's towering drive sailed over the stands, it began the resurgence to go back to our lives, but it wasn't complete. How could it be? War was upon and people would have to risk their lives for our safety. How could we repay them? How could we honor what they wanted to do? Simple. Today, hug a cop. Tell a fireman, "Thank you", and let a veteran of Iraq/Afghanistan know their fight is appreciated. Let them know you appreciate what they did for us. And most importantly, never forget.
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