Of "Happy Holidays"

Merry Christmas! And, to the jews, Happy Hanukkah! And, to those who celebrate it, Happy Kwanzaa! Usually, I don't like the term 'Happy Holidays', all things considered this time of year is predominantly about Jesus Christ and his birth. Not, as some believe, about Santa's birth. So, saying 'Happy Holidays' sounds overly PC, so as to not leave anybody out whereas, in actuality, it is christmas. Making it a Christian-holiday. So, like Stan Smith, when somebody wishes me 'Happy Holidays' I tend to be like "You mean, Merry Christmas, right?" or something along those lines. However, I'm capable of acknowledging the obvious existence of numerous holidays also celebrated around this time of year, and so I deliver a sweeping, "Happy Holidays" to you all and I hope that you all had a great Christmas today. 

I got quite a few cool things, most of which I asked for. It's at a stage now where Christmas isn't exciting anymore, due to the obvious lack of mountains of new toys/surprise gifts, etc. I'll never forget coming out of my room for Christmas when I was a kid in Hong Kong, seeing a sheet covering the toys, taking it off to reveal the Ninja Turtles sewer lair all set up for me by my dad, with an additional bit he created himself attached. Fucking ace. Ditto for the Ghostbusters Apartment HQ. That was fucking sweet.  I'll probably post some pictures of my gifts at some point, though the highlight without question is a gift my sister got me: a WWE replica belt. Granted, it's plastic. Not the all out, much money costing, version you can get online. AND it's the spinner belt, created by the loathsome John Cena. But, whatever, it's a belt. And it's mine. And my sister got it for me, it's probably one of the best gifts she's given to me in years. If ever!

That's it for this blog. I'll be compiling a list soon of my favorite things concerning '08 soon, before the New Year comes around, so look forward to that, oh, you non-existent-readers you!

And so, Happy Holidays! 

PS: If you direct your attention to the "I Would Love You Forever..." segment, I've added a PS2 game called Fire Pro Wrestling Returns. I've done a lot of research on this game today, as I've grown quite bored of kicking ass at Smackdown vs Raw 2009. It looks challenging, fun and incredibly deep! However, it never got a EU release outside of Italy, for some unknown reason. I mean, if you wanted to release it in one European territory, why the hell not England? You already had the english dub, with the USA release, so why not England? Hell, you can buy the game in Italy, the box and manual are in Italian, but the game is still in English. What the hell!? 

Okay, so I tried to order it today. Got through to the final part and was about to make payment when I noticed the price had shot up from €24.99 to like €59.98, all because of import tax or P+P or whatever the fuck. I haven't paid £50/60 for a game since the N64 era, and the idea of paying that much for a limited game that's been out in Japan since 2005, for the PS2 no less, is ludicrous to me. So, fuck you to those Italian gaming sites, you're ridiculous prices lost you a potential customer. And, to the developers, if you're going to release a game in one European region, do it in a region that might actually help you make a profit. Apparently, the reason they didn't was because of poor sales in the States. So, release it here! There are plenty of wrestling fans over here!! Even more who were stupid/dedicated enough to actually import at those prices! The fact the game costs like 15 bucks in the states makes this whole thing an even bigger joke. 

EDIT: I caved. Fuck it, I know. But I caved. I didn't spend the ridiculous near-£60 that one site was asking for but, thanks to a hook up I have in Italy, I should be able to get ahold of a copy. Hopefully for a whole lot less than what they were asking, which was pretty much the equivalent of 'THAT' scene in Deliverance. "Squeal, boy." No, I don't think I will. I'll just get my fix through other means. 

Big shout out to Luane for helping me out with something that, I'm sure, she finds kind've lame, and to her boyfriend, Andrea, for being the man on the inside! You guys are the awesome!

Of 'PlayStation Home'

First off, I can't really say this will be a 'real' review, solely due to the fact that PlayStation Home is still at an open Beta stage. Not the final thing. Although, from the opening messages and disclosures, it sounds like this Beta is pretty much the final thing with Sony adding and tweaking here and there in the future without any major overhauls. I read recently that Aaron Greenberg, Xbox 360 Group Product Manager, claimed that Home feels like "2005 tech in 2008" which, after playing it, I have to disagree with. The only thing that feels 2005, in places, is the concept and, even then, it's a concept that still holds up today, this idea of a social network; look at Facebook, Myspace, et al. This isn't a case of Sony jumping on a band wagon with avatars, a la Microsoft, this tech has been in development since 2005! JUMP!

Of "Why You Shouldn't Fall Asleep On Trains"

Hey, just a quick update as I've got Eleanor around to keep company and entertain, etc. Two things really:

1) DON'T fall asleep on a train if you  smell like the food you ate for lunch, food that you somehow failed to get in your mouth (Somehow! Somehow this guy managed to miss food going into his mouth!) Are overweight, and snore like a motherfucker. Which this guy did. So I took his picture because, as annoying as it was, especially during rush hour, he did look like a big, fat, bald baby. And that was funny. 

2) Playstation launches it's Home service today at some point. I've been to work and come back and it's still not there. I hope it comes up before too late! Considering I'm now on a 1:30-10:30 shift tomorrow, I won't get a chance to play it if it doesn't come out before, like, 11 tonight! 

I've also officially upgraded my PS3 harddrive from 60GB (reality: 55GB) to an awesome 320GB (in reality: 296GB!)!! Awesome! I was surprised with how easy this process was, it took me less than 5 minutes to do and is totally worth it. On top of which, I ordered an external HDD case and now have an additional 55GB harddrive for...things! NICE! I still need another external for really backing up my Big Mac and my MacTop and, at some point, one dedicated solely to comic books. Because comic books are fucking awesome! Don't believe me? Go read Y: The Last Man, start reading the new Dead Pool series, pick up Runaways, then try and tell me it's kid stuff. 

Anyway, that's it. Quick update done. I'm going to see if Home is on my XMB (Cross Media Bar, for the Playstation uninitiated) yet, here's hoping!

Of 'Uncharted: Drake's Fortune'

First, a little background story. Back when I was trying to decide which, now-current-gen, console to add to my collection (having already gotten a Wii, the gloriously pretty paper weight it is) I was torn between the Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360. As I mentioned in my rant in a previous post, I don’t like fanboys and their ways. I wasn’t going to side with one side for the purpose of choosing a side, that’s just so redundant really. No, the choice lay specifically on which console I believed would provide the most compelling game play/narrative choices. You see, and this will sound like a tenuous reason to purchase a console, I was writing my dissertation paper on the link and influence between video games and movies, namely mainstream blockbusters....JUMP!

Of "Now This Is Progess!" (Now With Additional Fanboy Rant! Awesome!)

Hey! So, I've had a day off work today and decided, instead of just doing nothing like usual, I would try and actually attempt to write something. You know, so I can move forward in trying to be a writer! 

I've written a new 6 page script that I think is pretty good. Reading it cold, you may wonder how it could be a comedy, but the comedic elements are definitely there. The problem with reading a script sometimes is that the writers intended delivery of lines, or actions, tend to get lost by the reader who is too focused on just reading and interpreting it in their own way, usually not how the writer intended. It isn't until a second read that they can really get a feeling for the flow of the script and the believability of the dialogue, etc. I don't think I've ever really had a problem with dialogue, thankfully, but finding an appropriate ending for this script was tough at first. I've got one now that, like the short itself, just kind of works. 

The script, which isn't named yet (not even a working title), isn't as funny as 'First Date' but is still pretty funny! Not 'LOLZ'/'ROFL'/OMGZ!' funny, but funny in an observational kind of way. I'll redraft it in the next few days and post some of it up here. Hell, seeing as it's only just 6 pages, I may as well post the whole thing when I'm happy with it. 

The story is only set in one location, with two characters. So it's as minimal as can be, like I wanted it to be. The entire short is just predicated on these two people (Jeff, a name that may change, and Dahlia) talking and discovering that the way we perceive people isn't always the way those people actually are. Intrigued? How about if I were to tell you they also talk about blowjobs? Aaaah, now I've got you! 

I was intending to redraft 'First Date' again today, but I'm happy with what I've done. I'm going to go through some of the feedback I've gotten recently and take the notes that ring true about my script before redrafting so I can make some decent changes to it, etc. 

I also finished replaying Uncharted: Drake's Fortune yesterday and, fuck me, that game is still as awesome as I remember it. It's probably one of only a handful of games I've felt compelled to replay within a year of buying it. I normally beat a game and let it sit on the shelf for a few years so that it'll be fresh when I come back to it. Notable exception is The Monkey Island trilogy, which I try to play at least once a year due to it's unbelievable awesomeness. Those games really are just awesome in a bottle, if you will. I may review Uncharted later tonight if I have nothing better to do. Which, as it's only 5:35pm, seems like it'll be the case. 

Considering I've written a new script, made a few changes to it, and am currently blogging, having already watched this weeks TNA iMPACT!, I'd say I've done quite alot with my day! I also watched the first hour of 'Sold out: A Threevening With Kevin Smith'. That dude can really tell tell a story! He took the first guys question and managed to deviate for about an hour before coming back on track! Regardless of the fact it was a story I'd heard before when I saw him at the Prince Charles cinema in London last April (I believe), it was still funny as hell. Doing Q+A's looks like so much fun and I can only hope that I'll be in a position one day where people will pay to ask me stuff! That'd be rad.

I got GTAIV through the mail this morning, well it actually came at about 2:40 (!). Maybe I'll bust that out and play it, see what the big deal was all about for this game. I also got Bioshock but it's one of those deals with my sister where you buy your own gift, they give you the money back and it's essentially from them. So I've got to wait til the X-Mas to play that. 

Quickly back onto the film making side of things,

one of my friends from Uni is currently working on a short web series. He sent me the script for the first episode, which was a-ight, and is currently in the middle of pre-pro, which makes me feel as though I'm falling behind pretty rapidly haha! I got some good feedback from him and am hoping to move forward with either of my scripts now. Like I mentioned in my previous post, I'll probably try and shoot the 6 pager first before 'First Date', but we'll just have to see how it turns out. He believes that 'First Date' is just too damn long for a film festival. Maybe true, depending on what festival, but some of our grad projects were pushing 20-25 minutes (others fell well short of that) and I don't think it'll be any longer than that, personally. Again, we'll see. 

Incidentally, does anyone else hate it whenever you try and talk about your project/s and the other person doesn't seem to want to comment? Makes me feel as though it's no good, etc. I'm yet to truly develop the rhino skin (hence the picture!) needed for this business, especially as a writer. I mean, as long as it's constructive, I don't really have a problem. When it's blasting little things for no other reason than to poke holes into your project, then I have a problem. But, in fairness, I don't think I've ever been good with criticism! 

Also, can I just add that, before all the X-Bots (as they've been lovingly coined) strike up in, hypocritical, joy...no. No, the picture below is not in reference to Metal Gear Solid coming to the 360. At least, nothing has been confirmed. And a lot of devices use that specific power icon. Such as, oh I don't know, Apple. Apple iPhone no less. Interesting. 

I love the hypocrisy of fanboys. 360 owners, on forums I lurk in and browse, have bashed MGS to death, hating on it, etc, etc. Claiming it's just an extended cut scene/movie, etc. And yet, now, when there's a possibility it could come to 360 (which has been rumored MANY times) they're all for it. It's stupid really.

To be honest, I dislike fanboys all 'round, there's no prejudice here! Those who are short sighted enough to ignore the fact that great games exist on all platorms....well, they're not truly gamers. I have a few friends who are diehard fanboys, be it PlaySlave, X-bot or Wiitard (all valid terms of definition!) and it surprises me how vehemently they denounce other consoles and games having neither owned the console, nor played its game. 

One friend in particular has really struck me. Having bought 'x' system, he is now a diehard 'x' fan. I can't help but get the feeling that if he'd bought system 'y' then he'd be a diehard system 'y' fan. Surprisingly enough, it really does seem to be the case! Pathetically enough. I mean, if that is how the, theoretical, battle lines are drawn then a lot of this fanboy culture comes down to simple monetary spending. Xbox 360 = cheaper than PS3 (even Wii right now!) so, using the above logic, it creates more X-bots because of the simple fact that it's the console they could afford, so it's the console they bought, so it's the console they support. Blindly. I'm probably coming across as a fanboy myself, to degrees. Yes, I love my Ps3. I honestly think it's been a fantastic console, and more to me. It really is an entertainment hub for  me. BUT, as mentioned earlier, I still want a 360. There are enough exclusives now that warrants a purchase when I get the cash. Unless you people want to donate some to me? That'd be great! Anyway, back on point...

True gamers recognize the fact a good game is a good game, regardless of what platform it happens to be on. Those who hate on Playstation 3 have clearly never played Uncharted or MGS4, etc. Those who hate on Xbox 360 must have never played (and, seeing as I don't have a 360, I'm included here. Though I'm pointing out these  awesome titles, so no fanboy tendencies here!) Dead Rising, Halo or Gears of War. Those who hate on Nintendo...well, with Wii Music it makes them fair game really. But Zelda: Twilight Princess, come on! That was awesome! I only have a Wii and a Ps3 out of the current gen, but I'm intending to buy a 360 for the aforementioned titles. There is no point in being elitist and claiming that other consoles haven't got any games worth playing, all you're doing is denying yourself a chance to play some GOOD games. Which, ultimately, is what we're all after as gamers, right? A good game? And guess what, to reiterate, they exist on ALL consoles. /rant.

Of "It's Been A While"

I read recently that, if you are an aspiring writer, it is best to have some sort of site/blog so, if they are so inclined, anybody who is interested can come and check out your writing style and, I suppose, get a better gauge of your personality. So, here it is - I have decided to restart this blog just in case a situation such as that may arise. I don't really expect it to, but just in case! I'll only really add to this blog when I have something to say, I hate the amount of blogs from people that chronicle their boring day,

"Woke up, ate something, did whatever, went to sleep." 

It's pretty boring really and it's something that I want to avoid. I'll probably end up reviewing a bunch of stuff that I find interesting, ranging from movies, to TV shows, to video games and comic books. I'm into quite a lot of geeky things and will probably be talking about quite a lot of otaku subjects because of it. If anybody is interested in the things I'm looking forward to, or am currently playing/watching, then all you have to do is look to the bar on the right and you'll see (now with handy pictures!)

I am currently in the process of writing a short movie, entitled 'First Date'. I am in the rewriting stages and am hoping to get it to a shooting stage by early next year. I am on the 4th rewrite and will probably redraft it, yet again, in the next couple of days. Any information on the movie will probably be blogged about on here, hopefully with accompanying photos, etc when the shoot starts. Whenever it starts. 

I also have another short idea, this one ALOT shorter than the aforementioned script, which is currently running at about 30 pages, though the running time would be no where near that if we are adhering to the 'one page = one minute screen time' theory. I'm aiming to write this at about 5/10 pages and have it set in one location with only a few characters, so I could shoot this quickly and easily. I would probably plan to shoot this before 'First Date'. It'll give me a chance to get back into the swing of directing and would probably boost my confidence about shooting a 30 page script. 

I'll be sure to post updates about both these projects as they occur, I'm hoping to move forward with these projects and go the festival route to, hopefully, make some sort of name for myself. I'm sure it won't happen, at least not straight away, but these things do happen, so why not to me? The least I can do is try. I mean, once the script is done it'll be a few more months before shooting would be completed, assuming the pre-production phase goes smoothly and quickly, but I've got good feelings about these projects. The feedback I've received from a few of my close friends has yielded some good notes and observations that I have taken on board for the script. They all seem to have enjoyed it to varying degrees but, ultimately, it's a simple and fun story in the vein of a Smith/Apatow flick. Once the final draft has been completed I'll put some pages up here for you guys and gals to have a look at and once the shooting starts I'll make sure to have pics and updates as much as possible. 

Anyway, this short post has ballooned somewhat. I'll make sure to try and update when I can, only with things, or subjects, that I find interesting or worthy talking about of course. There are such a wealth of blogs and opinions out there on this internets that I understand there is a real feeling of 'me too' whenever somebody starts a new one, but I'm hoping to avoid that. Anyway, I'm starting repeat myself - probably a side effect of trying to watch a movie (Stanley Kubrick's 'Lolita') whilst writing, so I'm going to go and focus on the flick. 

Later!

UPDATE: This was too good to pass up on posting here, it's got a little bit for everybody really, with plenty of star appearances. Also, can I just say, John C. Reilly is so fucking awesome! If you haven't, go watch Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, this is dude just knows funny! Anyway, enjoy; Prop 8 - The Musical! 

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die