Season 1, Autumn 2013, Movie Review #4: How To Train Your Dragon

   Well, Autumn has just completely dismantled Summer in a matter of days, and the wind is blowing full force around the house even now, which means I have less than two months to use the term 'Season 1'. Then come the bleak, cold days of Winter. And speaking of cold, today I'm taking you to an island twelve days North of hopeless and a few degrees South of freezing to death.
   This, is Berk.


PART ONE: THE PLOT

 

   Dragon fire blazes on the small Isle of Berk, set like a jagged spike in the midst of the great North Sea, where Vikings dwell. And only a Viking would be brave, or stubborn enough to stay.
   Besieged and stolen from by wild and deadly Dragons of vast varieties and numerous abilities, the Vikings of Berk have fought this war for centuries. Hundreds of Vikings, thousands of Dragons have fallen, yet the conflict shows no sign of ending.
   That is, until a hiccup occurs. No, literally, a Hiccup. Given the name reserved for Viking weaklings and shorties, young teenager Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III isn't exactly a comfortable topic on Berk, especially not for his father, Stoick the Vast, the bitter and powerful village chieftain.
   Brilliant and inventive, but unappreciated, Hiccup's deepest desire is to please his father and his tribe, which by societal norm means he must slay his own Dragon.
   But when he shoots down a legendary and mysterious Night Fury Dragon, which is never seen, but never misses, Hiccup discovers that everything his people have ever known about Dragons is wrong.
   Suddenly caught between man and Dragon, Hiccup finds himself opposed by a foe more deadly than even his father realizes, and faced with a choice that will rock both Dragon and Viking's worlds forever.

PART TWO: THE REVIEW

     One does not simply dislike this movie.
When I first watched it in 2010, I was so inspired by it that I wrote a 65-page research booklet about Vikings. Betcha didn't know they never wore horned or winged helmets, didja?
   The main character, Hiccup, is immediately lovable, a character whose insecurity, struggles and own agendas can automatically be related to. Plus, he's brilliant, inventive, witty, hilarious and brave, so it's impossible not to like him.
   The other characters are also hilarious or cool in their own way: Stoick, despite his frustration at his son's uniqueness, longs to relate with his son, and is an epic, powerful warrior with nearly no fear--the picture of a true Viking.
   Then there's Gobber, the witty Viking with a missing hand and leg, who trains the young teen Vikings, Fishlegs, a nerdy character, Snotlout, a rough, smooth-talking character, the rowdy twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut, Astrid, the beautiful but tough, strict Viking girl, and of course, the Night Fury, who Hiccup names Toothless.

    The conflict between Hiccup and his father Stoick, both polar opposites, one with a totally hatred towards Dragons, the other with sympathy towards them, one a rough and powerful Viking chief, the other a small, insecure teenager, is the main element driving the story, while the war between Dragons and Vikings is just the cloud of doom making us appreciate it.
   But without the deep, sincere friendship between Hiccup and Toothless, there would be no story, and no possibility of change.
   Ultimately, they are the only solution to the war.
Other than being a great story idea (Vikings vs. Dragons, but with a twist), this movie is also a fun ride that can be enjoyed by all ages (I know a twenty year old college student who LOVES this movie). There are no cheesy or cliche lines that I can think of, and the depth of the story, pacing, action and breathtaking animation all mix to make a very endearing-on-an-epic-scale movie.
   I admit that I was never a huge fan of Dreamworks movies until this movie came out, but the creators of this story turned a page for the company, I believe, proving they don't have to make gross comedies and cheesy stories (e.g Shrek films) to be successful. In other words, Rise of the Guardians and The Croods have stayed true to the great storytelling and awesome animation, taking the studio to new heights.
   As Dreamworks' next big movie franchise, I for once am actually very excited and hopeful for a good How to Train Your Dragon sequel--one that may even exceed its predecessor, if the rumors are true and the new, awesome teaser trailer for #2 are any guide.

                             

PART THREE: CONTENT REPORT

   The characters occasionally say things like 'Oh gods' or 'Thor almighty!' and there is one use of the H word. Violence between Dragons and Vikings occurs often--there are large scale battles and smaller training sessions against them, although no blood is shown and the action is obviously animated. Dragons are shown knocked out of the sky by catapult boulders, Vikings are lifted away, village houses are burned, ships are destroyed and minor characters are killed, but this is not often shown.  Hiccup accidentally wounds Toothless very badly, partially crippling him.
   The main enemy of the movie might be scary for younger children--huge and very dangerous--the equivalent of a breathing atomic bomb.
   A comedic scene between Hiccup and his father shows Stoick giving Hiccup a helmet made from his mother's breastplate, which he awkwardly calls 'breast hat'.
   Hiccup unintentionally lies to his father, and Stoick is very harsh to his son in one particular scene. The movie is rated PG for sequences of intense action and some scary images, and brief mild language.

 PART FOUR: RATING AND CONCLUSION

   Five stars. That's how big a nerd I am for this movie. I've been obsessed with both Vikings and Dragons for years, so of course I freaked about a movie with both in it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and, as aforesaid, am impatiently waiting and dreaming of June 13, 2014, the day How to Train Your Dragon 2 will finally be released.
   The age of Shrek is over. The age of a great story is here.

   So, hopefully you found this review helpful, and if you enjoyed it, feel free to return for more upcoming media reviews!
Peace.
Matt~                                              

      

Season 1, Autumn 2013, Movie Review #3: After Earth

   As the second part of today's back-to-back posts, I'm reviewing the one and only, the mighty and glorious..*Drumroll*...After Earth! *Wild applause*. So, that's my opening welcome, take it or leave it. Now that's done and dusted, I hope you enjoy the rest!


PART ONE: THE PLOT

      Hypothetically speaking, pollution is bad for the environment, right?
News flash: global catastrophes, terrible pollution, and now we have to leave our home world.
   Hypothetical THAT. 
One thousand years in the future, after Earth has been abandoned and humanity has found a new home in the planet Nova Prime, the peacekeeping soldiers, the Rangers, are faced with a new and far more terrifying dilemma: we are not alone in this galaxy.
   Arriving on Nova Prime only very recently, the aliens have dropped terrifying, blind monsters called Ursas that can literally smell human fear and kill them with ease.
   That is, if you have any fear on you. Which is why Ranger general Cypher can stand in front of an Ursa and take it out without breaking a sweat. Literally fearless, he is invisible to the Ursas, an event others call 'ghosting' and so has taken on a very major role in the war.
   His son, Ranger cadet Kitai, is another story. Having seen his own Ranger sister Senshi killed by an Ursa at a young age, Kitai isn't what you'd call the fearless type.
   When his quiet, stern father returns home from long deployment, and he fails the test that would make him a full-blown Ranger, Kitai is excited to be invited on a long space trip with his father, who he barely knows but desperately wants to.
   Things get complicated, though, when their ship crash lands far away from Nova Prime, on a class-1 quarantined planet called Earth. To make matters worse, Kitai and his father are the only survivors. Worse still is the fact that the tail end of their ship containing the only working distress beacon, is over one hundred kilometers away through deadly jungle and monstrous creatures.
   But worst of all: An Ursa was on the ship before it crashed, and it could even now be wandering the waste in search of its human prey.
   With two badly broken legs and a slight head wound, Cypher isn't exactly fit for a 100+ Km hike, so Kitai must undertake the journey alone, or father and son both are going to die.
   On a planet given over a thousand years to evolve towards humanity's extermination, tracked by a relentless Ursa and haunted by traumatic memories, Kitai must find the strength and courage to save both himself and his father, and return safely to Nova Prime.


PART TWO: THE REVIEW

  WHO told Jaden Smith to adopt that strange accent?
   Well, besides that silly accent, I was impressed with both Jaden and Will Smith's performances. Will Smith totally pulled off the stern, quiet, very military countenance and personality of Cypher.
   Though not exactly the most colorful or lively character, he was still well performed by his real world counterpart. But in my book, it's Jaden who gets the bigger round of applause.      
   More talkative, more relatable, and more lively, Kitai is a character you can relate to: a young man on the brink of manhood, desperately trying to please his father, overcome his past, and find courage and worth in himself at the same time.
   I thoroughly enjoyed the locations, cinematography and effects in the movie, along with the simple but cool backstory about Earth and humanity. I laud the acting, despite the large lack of dialogue, and the whole father-son story of acceptance and forgiving was not disappointing.
   I liked the idea of Earth evolving for the sole purpose of being able to kill humans. Despite not agreeing with that possibility, it's a good plot element, and that's what matters.
   The beginning is a bit slow, but there are emotional scenes including animals, flashbacks and key father-son moments as it progresses that make you want to finish. I did not like how quiet the movie was--not just because of Cypher, but because of the lack of music, and sometimes lack of all background noise.
   Also, even with the volume cranked up, it's hard to understand what Cypher is saying sometimes.
But other than that, I enjoyed the movie and still think it's worth watching, and if you're an aspiring author like me, you might even gain some inspiration and concept ideas from it.
   As far as positive family messages go, Kitai and Cypher both take their turn at raising their voices at each other, but at the same time desperately want to know each other better, and both express grief at Senshi's death and love for Faia, Kitai's mother. Cypher, even though badly wounded and incapacitated, tries with everything in him to help his son by guiding him via communicators through difficulties, even refusing to take painkillers that would make him drowsy and impair his vision.
   Ultimately, like I said, it's about Kitai and Cypher coming to grips with and learning to understand and admire each other.
   The phrase 'Danger is real, fear is a choice', along with the other wise things Cypher tells his son are also bonuses to the movie.


PART THREE: CONTENT REPORT

   For language, the d word, g word and the slang 'sucks' are used. The Ursas are actually quite scary creatures, big and multi-legged, with sharp pincers, acid spit etc., and they can track you by the pheromones and chemicals you secrete when afraid.
   They even make grisly scenes of death to frighten humans, such as hanging and impaling crewman up in trees, tearing apart a throng of baboons and leaving them in a gross bloody pile, and more. One Ursa kills Kitai's sister Senshi in front of his eyes at a very young age.
   Kitai has a dream where he's talking to Senshi and she looks normal, but then as she yells at him to 'wake up', she turns away and turns back to reveal the side of her face gashed like when she was attacked by the Ursa. The moment she is killed is shown, but from a distance and not in detail.
   The movie is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence and disturbing images.
One scene that gave me the heebijebees was a part where Kitai runs through a river and comes out to find a massive leech-like creature attached disgustingly to his hand, and it very nearly paralyzes him before he saves himself with a medical kit and fling the parasite off.
   But maybe that's just me. I'm the guy who always checks myself coming out of bodies of water for leeches, so...Yucky!
   Another part shows Cypher performing a fairly bloody medical procedure on his broken leg.

PART FOUR: RATING AND CONCLUSION

   I give the movie three and a half or maybe, maybe four stars. It's worth seeing, it has a few thrills, scares and cool fights etc., but the often irritating quietness and the slowness of the beginning, along with the fairly poor dispersion of action and lack of dialogue, make it a movie I wouldn't watch over and over again. Just once all the way through and another time to skip to the final battle.
 
   I hope you've enjoyed this review and found it helpful! Be sure to check out my other blog posts and watch for more coming in the days ahead!
Peace.
Mat~

Season 1, Autumn 2013, Movie Review #2: The Croods

   Well, it's been a while since I posted any media reviews--that bothersome thing called 'life' distracted my attention for a bit, but I'm making up for that by posting not one but two movie reviews today, back to back, starting with one I saw two days ago, The Croods.


PART ONE: THE PLOT

   
   Kill circle! Never, not, be, afraid!
Sloping foreheads, a stunning lack of curiosity and ideas, and bare feet: the Croods, a family of Cavemen barely surviving in a day in, day out exercise of hunting and fleeing back to the home cave.
   There's Grug, the protective father and head of the family, Ugga, his wife, Thunk, their goofy son, Sandy, their tenacious, violent little girl, Gran, Grug's mother-in-law, and last but not least, Eep, their oldest daughter on the brink of womanhood.
   Unlike the rest of her family, Eep has a little dangerous thing Grug calls 'curiosity'. Longing for something more than the dark and empty existence inside the home cave, Eep leaves it against her father's command and meets a handsome stranger, Guy, who serves only to intensify her curiosity.
   But when their home cave is destroyed, the Croods find they need far more than their raw strength, and must rely on Guy to lead them to a mystical place called 'Tomorrow', far away through foreign terrain and countless obstacles to survive the coming end of the world.


PART TWO: THE REVIEW

   I have to admit, when I saw the trailer for this movie, I was not interested--I thought it looked like some kind of weird Flintstones rehash.

   But I was very wrong.
Reminiscent of the breathtaking animation and touching storytelling of How To Train Your Dragon,
The Croods far exceeded my expectations. I wish I could tell you what my favorite scene of the movie was, but that would be a spoiler, and obviously on this blog there are No Spoilers Allowed. But I can tell you the things I loved best about it.
   As a huge ancient history reader, I've always wondered what it must have felt like to be that lonely caveman making paintings on stone walls, like Grug, or to be the man who led mankind to 'Tomorrow' like Guy. Both of those curiosities were aroused and then satisfied while watching this movie, and the rest was even better. Eep's wild, curious personality, Grug's over-protectiveness and lack of said curiosity, matched with Guy's personal agenda for innovation make for a fun ride! A wild lot, it's almost pointless to say it's hilarious watching how the Croods relate when stuck together in a dark cave or on a long, arduous trek across country, filled with deadly creatures, cute little pals (My two favorites are the multi-color saber tooth and Belt, Guy's sloth pal and, er...Belt) and a whole lot of adventure.

  But despite their shortcomings, the Croods all show a very serious loyalty towards each other, working together to solve every problem that crosses their path and mostly enjoying each other's company along the way. Grug's instinctive and deep love for his family is shown over and over again, and more than once he puts his life on the line for his family. But ultimately it comes down to the classic triangle between father, daughter and boy, and from there stems the conflict keeping the story going and bringing The Croods to life.

PART THREE: CONTENT REPORT

   The end of the world is nothing to be tampered with, and that is a pervasive overhanging threat in the story. Cataclysmic precursors of continental divide occur sporadically throughout the movie, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions etc. and ultimately the divide itself. The Croods family wield weapons (of sorts) use traps (of sorts) and engage in battle with the potential meals they hunt, whacking and shoving each other to get at the prey. The violence in the movie is pretty tame, shown in a sort of cartoonish way (example, Grug gets smashed under a boulder and is totally fine afterward). Stories and oral retellings about death, real or fictional, occur, and the as aforesaid the characters face death time and again as the nearing catastrophe threatens their existence. One scene involves a flock of birds eating through land-whale meat like a chainsaw, though nothing is shown, and another shows the Croods accidentally catching fire to everything in sight.

PART FOUR: RATING AND CONCLUSION

I give it....Four and a half stars, shying from five only because of a few tiny cliches and cheesy lines. Other than that, I love the movie. Like I said, it feels a lot like How To Train Your Dragon, probably because it's the same creators, and that movie is WAY high up on my favorites/top ten list. My mom called it cute, and my dad laughed and liked it, so I think it's safe to say it's a good movie for all ages.
   So if you're hesitating to see it because you think it looks like the Flintstones, think again, and go watch this movie.
   Thou shalt like it, I do believe.
So until then,
Peace.
Matt~

Season 1, Autumn 2013, Book Review #4: Halo: The Thursday War

   Hi again! I JUST finished reading Halo: The Thursday War, the sequel to Halo: Glasslands, by Karen Traviss, so I thought it appropriate to write my review on it while it was still fresh on my mind. Before silly things like food distract my attention.
   So, here's Halo: The Thursday War. Enjoy.


PART ONE: THE DESCRIPTION

 
   Sangheilios threatened by civil war. Human colony worlds laying desolate, glassed by the very warring Sangheili who now must be stopped from rising again. The Forerunner Shield World Onyx-Trevelyan, a treasure trove of Forerunner technology is now being harvested and plugged into a high-security project called Infinity, a Human warship nearly six kilometers long that is only now reaching completion.
   Admiral Margaret Parangosky, head of the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), is itching to test Infinity out for a Thursday War, an early practice session that will test the ship's combat capabilities on the Arbiter's enemies.
   Meanwhile, black-ops team Kilo-Five, led by Parangosky's protégé Serin Osman, searches for their friend, civilian Professor Evan Phillips, on a Sangheilios ripping itself to pieces. Invited to Sangheilios by the Arbiter, Phillips has narrowly escaped a deadly encounter between the Arbiter's archenemy, Avu Med 'Telcam, and a Brute terrorist unit.
   Saved from an enemy bullet only by the damaged AI BB's fragment chip, Phillips searches Forerunner artifacts and temples for anything pointing to remaining Halos, while outside the war between 'Telcam and the Arbiter explodes into action.
   On an entirely different front, the terrorist Human colony of Venezia prepares for the perfect moment to strike a killing blow to Earth and the UNSC, allying with former alien soldiers and building up a supply of ships and weapons from the corners of the galaxy. And at the head of this terrorist nation is a man with an all-too-familiar name: Staffan Sentzke, father of Spartan Naomi-010.
    Adding to the chaos threatening to consume the galaxy, held captive on the Shield World Onyx-Trevelyan, the Sangheili rebel Jul 'Mdama plots revenge on Humanity, and uncovers a Forerunner secret that could turn the tide forever.


PART TWO: THE REVIEW

   Five things I learned about the Halo universe are:

>The motivations and events leading up to Jul 'Mdama's transformation of a simple Sangheili to the leader, 'The Didact's Hand' of the cultist Covenant Remnant present in Halo 4.

>A taste of what AI Rampancy is like, described by BB.

>The intentions and history of Dr. Catherine Halsey leading into Halo 4's story-lines, though she is only interacted with once in the book's duration.

>The backstory, creation and debut of the UNSC warship Infinity, and why it plays such an important role in Halo 4.

>More understanding of the Forerunners and the Huragok Engineers.

   The book picks right up where its predecessor left off, carrying on the Human-Sangheili Arbiter-'Telcam wars, bringing them into further development, along with continuing the story of Naomi, the daughter of the terrorist leader Steffan Sentzke. Steffan resorted to terrorism as a vengeful move against the UNSC, who he rightly assumes kidnapped his daughter, cloned her and gave him the short-living clone back as a substitute, while his real daughter was turned into a super soldier.
   Hence the reason why a lot of people hate the UNSC, Humans included.
As a good sequel should, Halo: The Thursday War brings more action and furthers the war between Humans and former Covenant factions. Whereas the first book has two or three small firefights, its sequel has several, bigger ones, including a shootout and a huge Sangheili vs. Sangheili siege taking place in the capitol of Sangheilios--Vadam Keep.
   As with the first book, I enjoyed the well described battle scenes, well-developed characters, intricate, complicated plot lines all cleverly connected, and the deep style of writing. I was also happy with how it literally starts on the same day as the last chapter of the first book, leaving no empty space to figure out 'what happened here?'

 I was also happy to finally see the story of Jul 'Mdama unfold in earnest this time around. The first book told his beginnings, but this sequel tells about his transformation from a concerned Sangheili warrior to a vengeance-thirsty hater-of-Humanity.
   Another noteworthy change to the story is how Admiral Margaret Parangosky takes over the 'bad-to-the-bone old lady' role that Dr. Halsey primarily occupied in the first book, seeing things from her view and never seeing things through Halsey's even once. Parangosky is the true example of a sin-eater.
   Guilty for the terrible things she's done or has had to do, she is no less determined to keep doing the dirty, behind-your-back tricks again and again for Humanity's dominance, not caring who she has to fire, execute, annihilate or imprison to achieve it. As much as I would not care to meet or know her if she was real, I have to admire her total self-confidence, determination and intelligence.
   Though most of the other characters do have their own rough side, they all have their good side--particularly the members of Kilo-Five. Osman expresses remorse at having to do certain things, like destroy a ship from long range while hers is invisible, and also wonders if she is cut out for, or wants the title of Admiral, which she could very well inherit from Parangosky.
   Vaz, despite looking like a Russian mobster and not giving a darn if every alien dropped dead, still has a tender, almost fatherly affection for Naomi, trying his best to help and comfort her as she comes to grips with the reality of her terrorist father.
   Probably the best of the bunch, though, is Professor Evan Phillips. Clever smart-aleck personality aside, Phillips is the only character who shows any remorse or feeling for the deaths of Sangheili. He has spent much of his young life studying Sangheili language and culture, and now he is seeing it actively destroyed by the very people he has to work with. Reckless and quite the dare devil, Phillips shows deep concern for the damaged fragment of his AI friend BB, and tries to comfort him, while at the same time helping out Sangheili females keep other Sangheili warriors out of their keep. Like the others, he is willing to see the Sangheili die out, but unlike the others, he has no desire or taste for it.
   Even Jul 'Mdama shows a bit of a good side, hating on Humans every step of the way, but worrying for his wife and children and trying with everything in him to return to them at the same time.
   As with all of Karen Traviss' work, I enjoyed seeing the presentation of multiple viewpoints, angle and perspectives going on, along with the great character and story development, and the heightened sense of reality and threat pervasive in the book that keeps you hooked.

PART THREE: CONTENT REPORT

   As with the previous book, Halo: The Thursday War has a great deal of language, ranging from d word to d word to g d word--leaving only the f bomb unused. There is a good bit of violence, more than the predecessor, including a shootout, a terrorist bomb strike, a long, bloody siege battle and several smaller firefights. Obviously because of explosions etc. People and aliens are blown up, dismembered or shot. Most of the Sangheili believe the Forerunners to be Gods. Vaz jokes to Naomi about a lady that was 'unfaithful' to him. One Human scientist creates a Genetically Modified crop that has the potential to wipe out Sangheilios, while Parangosky goes the more direct approach and blows Sangheili forces to smithereens with Infinity. Parangosky fires and imprisons a scientist for a mistake.
   As is always the case with ONI, deception is used freely and dirty political tricks such as arms dealing to another side or controlling a war occur. I suggest the book for mid to late teens and adults. The author herself has said the books are not for kids, so as should always be the case, I recommend parents check into the book before letting their children read it.

PART FOUR: RATING AND CONCLUSION

   Five stars. It's an exciting book with clever, funny or deadly characters, all well developed. There's loss, gain, defeat and victory, emotional struggle and the threat of more to come from both sides of the war that makes up the story and fills in the missing four years between Halo 3 and Halo 4. There are cool fights, complex political and military strategic maneuvers, and aliens.
   As a Halo fan, I could not be more happy. Karen Traviss, my favorite author, making a trilogy about my favorite sci-fi universe=awesomeness. My only complaint is that I now have to wait until January of 2014 to read her next installment, 'Mortal Dictata'.
   So do yourself a favor and read Halo: The Thursday War!
Until then, I hope you've enjoyed this fourth book review on No Spoilers Allowed!
Peace.
Matt~    

Season 1, Autumn 2013, Game Review #1: Halo 4

   As may be evident by the recent review I wrote on Karen Traviss' Halo: Glasslands, I'm a Halo fan. I started playing Halo games about five years ago or maybe a bit earlier, beginning and ending with Halo 2, until I was given an Xbox 360 and Halo 4 for Christmas last year. I've been playing it since then.


PART ONE: PLOT

   "Wake up, John."
After four years adrift in cryo on the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn, the Master Chief, Spartan John-117, is awoken by Cortana, his Artificial Intelligence companion. Orbiting a giant Forerunner Shield World and being beamed by a high intensity sensor scan of unknown origin, Master Chief seeks answers, only to find a Covenant fleet standing between him and freedom.
   Interrupting the fight, a gravity well from deep within the giant metal Shield World pulls the Dawn and the Covenant fleet crashing down onto its surface, the shipwrecked Chief and Cortana must find a way to return to Earth in hopes of stopping Cortana's Rampancy, the state of hyper-thinking that AI's go into before they ultimately die of it.
   But when Master Chief unwittingly unleashes an ancient evil on the galaxy, he must choose between his loyalty to Humanity or his love for Cortana. And there isn't much time left....

PART TWO: THE REVIEW

   I've always been a Halo fan. Even more so than with Star Wars, much to the chagrin of some of my friends. I started playing the games with Halo 2, a game my sisters, friends and I have spent countless hours playing from about 2008 to 2012.
   The story has always been a fresh, new sci-fi tale, filled with brave Spartan super-soldiers, duty-bound Marines, the fanatically religious and genocidal Covenant, and the all-devouring parasite, the Flood. But Halo 4's story plot has completely knocked all the other games' plots out of the park.
   Cortana is dying. She has been the Chief's only constant friend and companion through four games and longer, but now she is succumbing to Rampancy, the state in which AIs literally think themselves to death at the end of a seven year life span. Cortana is still trying to suppress Rampancy at eight years. But it's a losing battle, and she knows it.
   In previous Halo games, Master Chief has always been a man of very few words and very little emotion, shown killing countless hordes of aliens and space zombies with scant remark. Granted, he is a genetically, physically and mentally augmented Human, kidnapped at the age of six and made into the ultimate killing machine, but we hardly know the guy. Until now.
   When he learns of Cortana's Rampancy, a flood of emotional development unfolds. And when he has to choose between her and Humanity, even more so. Despite Cortana's advice: "Don't make a girl a promise you can't keep," Chief stops at nothing to return her to Earth, to Dr. Catherine Halsey, the woman who created her, and who alone can save her.
   Chief and Cortana show deep feelings of friendship and loyalty towards each other throughout the game, but despite how most people talk about them being romantic, I don't feel like they are. First of all, Cortana is an AI (Not that that affects her personality). Second, they never profess love toward each other. The closest thing to an expression of love is a small moment when Cortana 'touches' Master Chief's chest armor.
   So no, I don't think they LOVE each other, but I do think they (Lowercase) love each other, having been through so much together. And I like that better than a romance: two aging friends facing the threat of goodbye forever and fighting to stop it happening.
   Anyway, I've never sympathized and been able to get into Master Chief or Cortana's heads better than now, and I am amazed by the incredible, emotional storytelling involved in a video game of all things.
   The game controls will be familiar enough for any previous Halo players, with a few tiny tweaks.
   Also, a great new element in the game are the new alien/robot enemies, called the Prometheans, who are both a unique and a tough new force to be reckoned with.                                
   The Campaign/story mode is pretty short level-wise, featuring only eight levels in comparison to older Halo games that had up to fourteen levels, so it can get boring if you've played it as many times as me, but the cutscenes are amazing, and keep you immersed. I've beaten the story mode on the highest difficulty three times already, and I still like it.
   The Multiplayer mode is another story. 343 Industries, the company newly made in charge of Halo's future, has changed the Multiplayer a good bit, and I'm not totally sold yet that it's for the better. Instead of all players starting with the same weapons and charging for the most powerful weapons on the map, 343 has set up a new Class based way to play, meaning everyone can start out with any weapon but a power weapon, which changes the former Arena Style Shooter feel dramatically--meaning they've made it more like Call of Duty, a Class Style Shooter.
   Additions to gameplay such as Weapon Markers (marking weapon placements), Grenade Indicators (indicating a grenade coming at you), Armor Abilities (Jet pack, shield, etc.), Tactical and Support packages  have very much changed the way Multiplayer plays. But playing against other players online or offline is still a lot of fun.
   The game mode 'Spartan Ops', a smaller scale story mode taking place after Halo 4's events, is a great addition, adding more replay value to the game, allowing players to earn XP and level up their Spartan, along with getting to shoot a lot more aliens on the way. Unfortunately, to play online multiplayer or Spartan Ops, you need an Xbox Live Gold membership, which I sadly don't have as it costs some cash.
   Players can still Forge (A Halo-exclusive map-editing game mode), and better and more efficiently than ever, with a larger Forge budget and larger selection of materials.
   I would change some things about the game, mainly making the campaign longer and Spartan Ops available offline, but other than that, I really enjoy playing this game and hope to be able to play online soon.

PART THREE: CONTENT REPORT

   There is a little language in the game, but the only words I've heard are the d, b and h word, the b word only used once and the others very occasionally, but the Marine troops can talk, too, and although I haven't heard them curse, there may be a few instances of them doing so.
   When playing online Multiplayer, if you have an Xbox headset, you can hear and chat with other players, who often will curse a lot using every word in the vocabulary, or talk about inappropriate/offensive yucky stuff. Which is why I don't have a headset.
   The game is a violent shooter game, rated M for Mature, and you spend its entirety shooting aliens and robots. There is blood: red from humans, blue, purple, orange or black from aliens, but it isn't exaggerated or splattered everywhere. It stays pretty tame.
   Last and probably most concerning is the fact that the AI Cortana appears nude. Though there is no vivid physical detail, and she is a blue, glowing Artificial Intelligence, she stays looking rather short of clothing through the game. No characters react, remark or make note of her lack of clothing, not even Master Chief. You can avoid looking at her by skipping cutscenes with her in them, looking up, down or away when you insert her matrix chip into consoles, or walk around and find something else to shoot while she hacks the enemy ships' mainframes and all that lovely stuff that AIs do.
   As it is an M rated game, suggesting players 17 and up, it would be a good idea for parents to preview the game before allowing their younger gamers to play it.
   As is the case with all media.


PART FOUR: RATING AND CONCLUSION

I give the game four stars. I highly applaud the storytelling and the path 343 is taking the tale of Master Chief, and the gameplay is very fun. However, because of my iffiness about the new Class based Multiplayer and my frustration at not being able to play Spartan Ops offline, along with a short campaign and a bit less replay value, I'm giving it just four stars, for  'very good' not 'perfect'.
   But despite that, I'm still playing the game almost a year after its release and having a great time with it. I strongly recommend it to sci-fi fans, familiar Halo fans, or gamers in general. It's fun, it's Master Chief and Cortana, and the graphics and story have had a HUGE facelift.
   So go ahead and buy it--and tell me when you beat the Campaign on Legendary. 'Till then, my gamer tag is 'Headshothank117'. I'll see you on the virtual battlefield.  
   

 

Season 1, Autumn 2013, Book Review #3: The Boys of '76

I've already written two blog posts about highly popular and well known franchises such as the Hobbit and Halo, but I don't want to restrict myself to popular media like those. Instead, today I'm going to review a much less known, small little book called The Boys of '76. I hope you enjoy!


PART ONE: THE DESCRIPTION

   
   Alarm! Alarr---umm!
It's the warning of the Minute Man riding at top speed down the dirt road next to the home of Elijah, a young man with no former intention of joining the War of Independence. But when his father, an aging member of the Minute-Men moves to join the fight, Elijah takes on the responsibility for him and hurries to Concord with the other militia men, three among them being his young friends, Dodifer, Esek and Nicholas, who are there under similar circumstances.
   Swept from one deadly fight to another, Elijah and his friends find themselves scattered across the Thirteen Colonies and fighting on nearly every front of the war for American Independence.
   From Bunker Hill to Saratoga to Yorktown, this accurate account of the American Revolution captures in vivid detail the men, women, strategies and courage that echo over two hundred years later in a world changed by them forever.


PART TWO: THE REVIEW

   Did I want to read another book on the American Revolution? No. I was thirteen and tired of reading about Paul Revere and George Washington. But did I and do I enjoy reading this book? Heck yes!
The story begins on the day of the Battle of Concord, just after the massacre at Lexington, with a teenaged boy named Elijah who volunteers to take his aging father's place alongside the Minute-Men, and is quickly swept into a full out war with Great Britain that will challenge he and his friends, Esek, Dodifer and Nicholas to their limits. 

The book focuses mainly on the battles and the war itself, spending minimal time with the characters and at some times departing from the characters altogether to explain an important battle that is affecting the course of the war elsewhere. However, I was still hooked enough by the colorful, exciting storytelling that even at thirteen I blazed through it and now read it every year on July 4th to get my 'Patriot' on.   The book is very historically accurate and explains some battles and events that I still have never read explained elsewhere, such as the Battle of White Plains or the horrible massacre at Fort Griswold, which is the biggest example of violence in the book. 
   Despite that, though, if you're like me and love the history of America and the Revolutionary War, you will love this book and learn a lot from it. And maybe you'll even be inspired to read more about the war, like I was. 
   Charles Carleton Coffin explains the battles vividly and goes into detail about the strategic moves, positions and decisions that shaped the course of the war, but doesn't write it in a bland textbook form. 
   The characters, Elijah, Esek, Nicholas and Dodifer are not extremely well developed--no more than they have to be, as they are just simple country boys who give heartfelt farewells to their families and enter the war, in it to win it. 
   So again, if you're like me, and don't mind picking up your musket and charging bayonets for liberty, read it. You will not be disappointed.

PART THREE: CONTENT REPORT

   There is at least one instance of cursing (Disperse, ye ---- Rebels), and the book is almost exclusively about the battles, highlighting brutal war violence (Not described gruesomely) throughout the duration. It retells the entire process of Benedict Arnold's betrayal, too, though I found that very interesting. Other than that, the book is flawless.

PART FOUR: RATING AND CONCLUSION

   Twinkle, twinkle, twinkle, twinkle, twinkle. Five stars, all a-twinkling. Despite the occasional departing from the characters, I love this book and highly recommend it for its educational value and fun retelling. I would suggest it for early-late teens and up. 
   So there you have it, The Boys of '76, written by Charles Carleton Coffin. 
If you've enjoyed this review and ONLY if you have, comment, share and follow No Spoilers Allowed for more media reviews!
Peace.
Matt~

Season 1, Autumn 2013, Book Review #2: How To Fix Your Novel

   As my profile shows, I am an aspiring author, with one main story in the works right now and a whole treasure trove of other story ideas sketched out and storyboarded on paper, waiting for the day they'll be written. Which is why I thought it would be appropriate to review a book that has totally changed my writing process and helped me improve my writing in every way.
   And it's time to share this magic elixir with you.
Enjoy!


PART ONE: THE DESCRIPTION

   Guess #1: You are an aspiring author, stuck in a miry pit of writer's block and confusion. Your story characters are not acting the way you want them to, your plot is a befuddled mess, and what's the point of this story anyway? You have exciting ideas and passions you want to see accepted and enjoyed by other people. But how to get there?
   That's what How To Fix Your Novel is all about.
Acting as an effective First-Aid-Kit, How To Fix Your Novel does just that--it fixes your novel, and introduces you to the best writing buddies you will ever have:

-The Three Act, Nine Checkpoint Story Structure.
-Scene and Sequel.
-Viewpoint and Tense.
-The difference between Plot and Story.
-The Story Elements, Passion, Theme, Flaw and Premise.
-How to Publish and Market your novel.

...And a whole LOT more (Literally. Trust me on this)!
From start to finish, How To Fix Your Novel guides you, step-by-step, through the writing process, and hands you the keys to successful writing, batteries included.
    You'll start at your Passion, discovering what personal ideas and feelings you want to convey through your story, which manifests as the Theme of the story, the sweet after-taste that your reader will carry with them long after they've set the book down. But what will convey that Theme? Why, your protagonist, of course! And what better way to show the Theme than by giving your protagonist a Flaw that directly opposes it? The Premise gives you a single question to play with: What if..? And from that stems the Story.
   Insert Nine Checkpoint, Three Act Outline.

-Hook.
-Backstory.
-Trigger.
-Crisis.
-Struggle.
-Epiphany.
-Plan.
-Climax.
-Catharsis (Ending).

With these tools alone, How To Fix Your Novel solves the great writing puzzle for you and sets you on a clear course for success. What story will you tell?


PART TWO: THE REVIEW

   I had the privilege of attending two online writing classes by the author of How To Fix Your Novel, Steve Alcorn (By the way, I highly recommend his class Write Like a Pro, along with Advanced Fiction Writing, both of which can be found on ed2go.com). There is nothing like having real correspondence with Mr. Alcorn, but truth be told, he answers every question in his book.
   It's all there. Everything you need to know about writing, every question you have, every tough equation is solved. Honestly, I would call it the Writer's Bible. Yeah. Go ahead and laugh. You're the one who'll regret it later. Trust me.
   Mr. Alcorn writes in a vivid, detailed and fun way, explaining perfectly every topic he introduces. To me, it feels like you're having a conversation with him while reading it, and learning all you need to know from him. Like Frodo and Gandalf. Or something like that.
   I have applied everything I've learned from How To Fix Your Novel to one of my stories and am well into writing the first draft now. I haven't gotten bored with my story, asked myself where it's going, or struggled to find inspiration for it since I read this book. I really do feel like I've been handed the keys to writing 'Big and Writing Well' as he describes it, and I look forward to applying everything I've learned to every new story I write in the future! So just as a shout out to my fellow writers: Start right here, and stop looking for help!


PART THREE: CONTENT REPORT

   Steve Alcorn uses sections of his favorite books to show his teachings applied to them. One in particular contains a short sentence of inappropriate description in it, and maybe one or more contain a mild curse or slang word. Other than that, the rest is sheer learning. I recommend the book for mid or late teens and adults.

PART FOUR: RATING AND CONCLUSION

   By the way I've described How To Fix Your Novel, I bet you've guessed I give it five stars. And...You'd be exactly right. Good guess. And speaking of guesses:

Guess #2 (And last): I guess (And am willing to bet) that you will learn all you need to know about writing and then some, and that from here on out, you won't ever worry about where your story is going or what it's about.

   So, with that being said....What are you waiting for? Go get a copy, and watch your writing talent explode!
Peace.
Matt~

          

Season 1, Autumn 2013, Movie Review #1: The Hobbit, An Unexpected Journey

After watching and drooling over the newest Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug trailer today, I decided it was a good time to review one of my favorite movies, the first movie of the trilogy--The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Hope you enjoy the read!

PART ONE: THE DESCRIPTION

   Erebor. It wasn't always the Lonely Mountain. Once it stood as the diadem of Dwarven might, the crowning jewel of all Middle Earth, filled with the wealth of countless generations, not least of these being the divine Arkenstone, the Heart of the Mountain, the gift of the heavens. There dwelt Thror, King under the Mountain, who all people of Middle Earth paid homage to: Elves of Mirkwood,  and Men of Dale, the City of Bells. The name of Erebor meant safety, honor, and the promise of a wealthy future.

   But a promise can be broken, broken by a single choice. And such was the choice of Thror, who left his realm to watch its own back while he worshipped his own god: Gold. 

   The watchful nights came soon, and darker days closed in on the Lonely Mountain as Thror's love of gold replaced his love of Erebor. 

   And then he came. 

He was a fire Drake of the North, a king among Dragons, and his love of gold was no weaker than Thror's. The wind of his wingbeats shook the mountainside. Bells tolled in Dale. The young prince Thorin prepared the dwarves for a desperate defense while his grandsire fled to the treasury. Dale fell first, bathed in rivers of flame, ashes rising from the ruins of its bell towers, and Human screams filling the air. But Dale was not the Dragon's prize, for where the gold lies, there, too, will a Dragon. 

   The gates of Erebor exploded, wreathed in fire, and the mighty Dwarf warriors, famed for their military prowess, were flicked aside and trampled underfoot like so much chaff. Smaug had come to Erebor. 

   Thorin, cast aside by the Dragon, raced to the treasury, but Smaug was already there, and despite Thor's screams of grief, the Arkenstone was lost. And so, too, was Erebor. The cries of fleeing refugees, wounded, young and old, man and woman, echoed off the barren mountain. Thorin attempted to rally his people, but their fear overcame them, and many were lost. 

   The Elves of Mirkwood saw the smoke rising from their greenwood, but when they had finally arrived in force, their King, Thranduil, turned away from the people of Thror, abandoning them to their own fate despite Thorin's plea for help.

   

   The refugees of Erebor and Dale wandered, homeless and alone in the wilderness, searching for a place of safety, led by Thorin, who alone of all his kin had kept his wits in the chaos. 

   Years passed, and the people of Erebor assimilated into the colonies of Men, fallen from their noble heritage and left to their own devices. 

   When Thror tried to lead his people to the ancient Dwarf realm of Moria, they were met with the army of Azog, the giant Pale Orc and ruler of the abandoned halls. Thror and his army met in battle with the Orcs, but Thror was beheaded by Azog, and Thrain fled in crazed terror, leaving the young prince Thorin to lead a losing fight. 

   Thorin, enraged by his grandsire's death, charged the Pale Orc in a suicidal attempt to turn the tide of the battle. Azog disarmed the prince and cast him down in moments, but Thorin would not be defeated so easily. 

   Wielding nothing but an oak branch as a shield, he kept the Pale Orc at bay. Azog struck and battered the stiff oak branch time and again, and brought the prince low, but when his final blow was thrown, Thorin rose up and struck his own blow, stopping the Pale Orc for good. 

   Outnumbered and dispirited, the Dwarf army took heart again at the sight of the young prince's bravery, and drove their enemy back. 

   But there was no celebration. No cry of victory. For the loss was beyond measure, and the few who survived could not retake Moria alone. Thus were the Dwarves of Erebor ousted, and thus did Thorin Oakenshield become their king. 

   But far to the west, in a land of simple comforts and even simpler folk, there lived in a hole in the ground, a Hobbit. Smaller than Dwarves, unknown and ignored by the rest of Middle Earth, the Hobbits are an honest, cheerful people, unadventurous and content to be left to their own warm hearths and delicious (Very large amounts of) food. 

   Such a Hobbit is Bilbo Baggins. Despite being one of the 'strange, adventurous' Tooks on one side of his family, Bilbo has no interest in adventure, change, or discomfort. And who would? He is a Baggins, after all--not some blockheaded Bracegirdle from Hardbottle! 

   But a sudden and unexpected visit from the wizard Gandalf changes all that. Gandalf is planning a quest, you see, and is looking for someone to share in an adventure. Despite Bilbo making it very clear he is not interested in such an enterprise, Gandalf arranges a party at his home without his knowledge, and appears with a company of thirteen Dwarves on his doorstep, all of them ravenously hungry and rather mannerly-illiterate. 

   There are Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Ori, Dori, Nori, Oin and Gloin, Dwalin, Balin, Fili, Kili, and, to Bilbo's chagrin, the ousted King Thorin Oakenshield, who is no more interested in Bilbo's participation than the Hobbit himself is. 

   But Gandalf insists that he has chosen Bilbo Baggins as the fourteenth member of the company and the lead 'burglar' for the job. The quest: Return to the Lonely Mountain Erebor and reclaim it before anyone else makes such a gamble. It is believed the Dragon Smaug has died or left the Mountain, and that the incredible wealth of Erebor lies unguarded. And Gandalf so happens to have a map and key to a secret backdoor.

   Despite Gandalf inciting the resurgence of Tookish spirit in him, Bilbo refuses to go on such a wasteful quest, being uninterested in lacerations, evisceration and incineration by Dragon. But in a moment of sudden and insatiable Tookish thirst for adventure, Bilbo decides to undertake the journey with the traveling company, and soon finds himself swept away in a dangerous trek across Middle Earth, past squabbling Trolls and Goblin Towns, over and under deadly mountains, and away from ruthless pursuing Orcs. And in the midst of it all, Bilbo uncovers a certain Ring of Power that is tied to Middle Earth's destiny in more ways than he can imagine. 

   But what fate awaits the Company at the end of their Unexpected Journey?

PART TWO: THE REVIEW

   It's fun. It's exciting. The characters are pretty well developed, and the ones that aren't quite as well developed have unique peculiarities that set them aside from each other (Oin uses a horn as a hearing aid, Bombur is highly overweight, Bofur has a wicked Scotch/Irish accent, etc.). 

   I've read the book as well, so I know where the movie errs from the traditional story. I think the changes Peter Jackson made to the book were needed for movie adaption, considering there was a lot going on in the background of the book that it didn't describe that we get to see now. 

   The story keeps the whimsical, fun feeling of the book, which I like, but also has some touching character scenes and epic battles. So duh, I'm happy. I've heard a lot of people have complaints about the 48 Frames Per Second it was filmed at, but here's a little secret: most theaters across the globe didn't really show it at 48 fps! Besides, most of the complaints I've heard about it have been about how 'it looks hyper real' or 'really fake' or 'too colorful'. But none of those have anything to do with frame rate.

The color can be a bit vibrant, and some things (to me) can look a little fake, like some shots of Azog (I think mainly because he's so white). But again, those things aren't frame rate. Those are effects.

   The script was great in some places, but there were a few cheesy cliche lines in it, such as when Azog says 'drink their blood!' Never heard that line before! Actually, that one line is pretty much the only big thing I don't like about the movie. Cliches clutter up scripts and writing, so why use them?

   The plot was engaging and you could really sympathize with the characters (Gandalf's awkwardness and slight lack of self confidence, Bilbo's reluctancy, fear, humor and homesickness, and Thorin's anger at the Elves and desire to reclaim his homeland). My personal favorite scenes are the unexpected party at Bilbo's house, and the battle of Azanulzibar in Moria.

   There's humor, there's action, there's plenty of story plot, and the acting and filming was incredible!

   All in all, I really enjoyed this movie, and despite there being a few things I didn't care for, I look forward to seeing the next two installments, and getting to finally judge the movies according to the whole of the story, and not its three separate parts!    

 

PART THREE: CONTENT REPORT

   The movie has epic battle scenes full of violence and swashbuckling moves. Thror is beheaded, things are burned and destroyed, Smaug pretty much is the equivalent of a nuclear bomb in measure of destruction and death, and the Company kill their share of Goblins, Orcs and Warg Wolves. Also, it is insinuated that a certain character living underground named Gollum eats goblins and pretty much anything and anyone he can get, shown by the fact that he attempts to kill Bilbo with the intent of eating him. Gollum and all the other villains could be scary for younger kids. 

   I don't personally think this counts as content, but Ori uses the slang word 'jacksie' once.

           

PART FOUR: RATING AND CONCLUSION

    I give it four and a half stars, simply because of a few small, cliche lines. Other than that, I love it and am SO super excited for the next two movies (Insert drooling rainbows pic)! If you're a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien and/or Peter Jackson, or if you just like fantasy, you'll definitely want to watch this movie!

   So that's two reviews now! I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it, and hopefully it was helpful! Now go watch the movie ASAP!

Peace.

Matt~