Another Video Game-Related Meme: Yes Please!

Samuraifrog did this meme and it looked like fun.

1. Your very first video game.

I vaguely remember playing Donkey Kong at a convenience store when I was about 5.

2. Your favorite character.

I think it would be Sgt. Cortez from the Time Splitters games. Hope they make a new one soon. Etna from Disgaea is pretty cool too.

3. A game that is underrated.

Naval Ops: Warship Gunner 2. In fact, just thinking about it makes me want to play it. And The Peace Keepers on the SNES was also an underrated gem in my opinion (any game that has a stage named after Snake Plissken can't be all bad, can it?)

4. Your guilty pleasure game.

I liked Duel Masters. There, I said it.

5. Game character you feel you are most like (or wish you were).

I want to be Sly Cooper.

6. Most annoying character.

I am not picking a particular character. I am picking a specific type of character... anyone who you have to escort, especially if they don't have self-preservation instincts.

7. Favorite game couple.

Rydia and Edge in Final Fantasy II/IV (because you know that they hooked up after that game).

8. Best soundtrack.

The soundtrack for Chrono Trigger is pretty sweet.

9. Saddest game scene.

There is a particular non-player character in Persona 3 who you meet midway through the game... a young man who is dying of an incurable genetic disease named Akinari Kamiki and as you get to know him, he starts to be a little more optimistic about life and finds peace. And then he dies after giving you a notebook with a story he had been working on. Oh, and all this is happening while the world is coming to an end. After you finish the game, you can go back to where you used to visit him, and you will encounter his mother who will tell you that before he died, he had not only thanked her for giving him life and taking care of him in his infirmity. She then asks you if her son gave you the notebook with the story he was writing in it. When you tell her you have it, she doesn't want to read it. She wants to wait until she dies so that her son can tell her the story himself and she wants you to keep it because you had meant so much to him in his final weeks. Looking it up on the net, I started getting a little misty eyed again. Picking a saddest moment from this game is like shooting fish in a barrel since it is full of downbeat and tragic events.

10. Best gameplay.

The Katamari Damacy series is still engrossing.

11. Gaming system of choice.

Playstation 2.

12. A game everyone should play.

Katamari Damacy.

13. A game you’ve played more than five times.

Well, I beat Dynasty Warriors 4/5 a number of times.

14. Current (or most recent) gaming wallpaper.

I used to use a Katamari Damacy one with a tree.

15. Post a screenshot from the game you're playing right now.

16. Game with the best cut scenes.

Again, Persona 3.

17. Favorite antagonist.

Kefka from Final Fantasy III/VI was just so good. An insane clown of a character who destroyed the world because he could. Does that sound like anyone else?

18. Favorite protagonist.

There is a lot of overlap in this. Sgt. Cortez.

19. Picture of a game setting you wish you lived in.

20. Favorite genre.

I really enjoy open world/sandbox type games.

21. Game with the best story.

I know this is going to sound like a broken record but again, Persona 3.

22. A game sequel which disappointed you.

I loved Final Fantasy III/VI... I hated Final Fantasy VII.

23. Game you think had the best graphics or art style.

I liked the cell-shaded art style of No More Heroes and the Sin City-type graphics of Madworld.

24. Favorite classic game.

River City Ransom

25. A game you plan on playing.

Too many to list.

26. Best voice acting.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas had a great cast and script.

27. Most epic scene ever.

The drop from Brothers In Arms: Road to Hill 30 is pretty memorable.

28. Favorite game developer.

I like Pandemic.

29. A game you thought you wouldn't like, but ended up loving.

I hated SOCOM II, and then I played SOCOM 3, and it totally changed my opinion of the series. SOCOM III ended up ranking highly on my top 25 list.

30. Your favorite game of all time.

Super Dodge Ball

Fun With Twitter: Machete Facts

Sometimes you have a bit of a boring afternoon, so you just start riffing. I had such an afternoon today.

In my case, I just decided it would be fun to start spouting Machete facts on Twitter, and since I know that some of my readers don't follow me on that site, so I thought I would share them here, along with a few that wouldn't fit in 140 characters.



The reason Machete wasn't in The Expendables is he would have killed the bad guys in the first 5 minutes, and then there'd be no movie. #machetefacts

Machete performed his own caesarean, and then sewed up his own mother before allowing himself to cry #machetefacts

Machete don't Twitter. If he wants you to know something real quick, he'll carve it into a bad guy and send it your way #machetefacts

Machete has a wrinkle for every man he's killed. #machetefacts

Machete doesn't have tattoos. His skin is filled with grains of awesomeness which have identifiable shapes. #machetefacts

Machete plays Danny Trejo, much like Superman plays the role of Clark Kent. #machetefacts

Machete Beat Battletoads. Not the game. The actual Battletoads. #machetefacts

Machete has Chuck Norris and Jack Bauer buried in his basement. #machetefacts

And my favorite one:

Machete once drank a mixture of gasoline and kerosene just so he could use his stream of urine as a flamethrower. #machetefacts

So, can you come up with any Machete Facts?

Tags: machete, danny trejo, battletoads, clark kent, superman, gasoline, chuck norris, jack bauer, caesarean, expendables

All Your Memes Now Belong to Us

I grabbed this meme from Samuraifrog, and it seemed up my alley. It is all about video games.

1. My favorite genre of game
Beat em Up/Hack n Slash games. Loved them as a kid, and I love them now. Yes, I was seduced by the power of open world games, but that was an affair, not a marriage.

2. Favorite Games
God Hand, River City Ransom, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Super Dodge Ball, Disgaea, Urban Chaos: Riot Response, Guardian Heroes, Unreal Tournament

3. My hated game(s)
My disdain for Raiders of the Lost Ark for the 2600 is legendary at this point. Bring up E.T. for that same console, and I will launch into a diatribe about Raiders.

4. My favorite minion enemies
I always enjoyed killing slimes in the Dragon Warrior/Quest games... and nailing the ones that run away all the time was particularly satisfying. I also enjoyed shooting/tasing gang members in Urban Chaos: Riot Response.

5. My Most Hated enemies
When I read this question, a lot of the minor enemies in Odin Sphere came to mind, because you can hit them, and it doesn't stop them from moving, and there is a lot of them (and it is a game which slows down when there is a lot of enemies on screen), so while I may come up with a better response if I think about this, this seems like a good answer now.

6. My Favorite Enemies (Bosses)
Harvey Volodarski in No More Heroes, The End in Metal Gear Solid 3, Lavos in Chrono Trigger, Lucha Gorilla in God Hand.

7. My Most hated Enemies (Bosses)
Mizuchi and the other SNK-type bosses in fighting games. I hate this cheap douchebag SO much.

8. Most Loved Good Character
I've always been partial to Solid Snake and Sly Cooper, though Samus Aran is high on that list too... she's just awesome. The Prince from the Katamari games is pretty cool too.

9. Most hated good-character
I am taking this to mean protagonist. I was never very fond of Claude in Grand Theft Auto III, which might seem like a shocking pick based on my love of San Andreas.

10. Most Memorable Game
I rented Bubble Bobble once when I was kid... once. The theme song has been floating around my head since then. And there was an arcade game called Xain'd Sleena that I couldn't get enough of back then.

11. Least Memorable Game
There are a lot of Nintendo and Super Nintendo games that I know I played through, but for the life of me, I can't tell you anything about them.

12. Favorite segment of a game
You know when you are playing a game and you've encountered a challenging bit... and you have that moment where you have not yet beaten it, but you are at the point where a breakthrough has been made and you are going to finally beat it. That's elation right there.

13. Least favorite segment of a game
I hate grinding... hate it with a passion.

14. Most loved storyline
Well, I've always been partial to Final Fantasy II. San Andreas and Persona 3:FES rank highly as well.

15. Favorite secret/easter egg/cheat
Two of the classics: The Konami Code, and the warp pipes in Super Mario Brothers.

16. How many games you've think you've played in your life
With Arcade, PC and all the consoles I've had combined, it would easily top 1000.

17. How many games do you (think) you own?
I have around 600 games.

18. Favorite Weapon
Unreal Tournament's Redeemer.

19. Favorite spell/power
I love confusing/controlling enemies, so I tend to abuse those kinds of spells when they work.

20. Hardest boss you've ever beaten
This is a tough one, because I am sure there are some from my NES/SNES days which were brutal that I can't remember now. I beat a lot of games as a kid.

21. Easiest boss you've ever beaten
Oh, Bordin in Urban Reign. I mean, if you avoid getting shot, he goes down in 2-3 punches.

22. Favorite System
Playstation 2

23. Favorite gaming controller
Dual Shock 1/2

24. Best Level Design
There was an early level in the PS2 game Ghost Hunter which had you exploring an eerie mansion, which was just full of all this creepy imagery... and then there is a point where you encounter a painting which is a view of that same mansion... and to progress, you have to walk into it, and it is like walking into the past, while you can still see the room you were just in through it.

25. Console or PC
Console. You know that the game you are playing has at least been superficially tested and designed for that hardware in mind.

26. Scariest moment in gaming
Games don't really scare me. I get tense though. Though when I was a kid, the first time I saw the Giant Baby in Zombies Ate My Neighbors, I got freaked out.

27. Most suspenseful moment in gaming
I remember playing the original Driver, and there was a particular mission in Los Angeles where I ended up almost destroying the car I was driving, and then I had to drive all the way back home to my garage. The police also wanted to talk to me because of my wreckless driving, and if I got into a chase, well, I couldn't drive too fast with that busted up engine, and my car would most likely explode if I hit anything. So I drove that wreck as carefully as possible across the city, and I had to be careful not to be seen by the police. At one point, I ended up wedged into a small area between the sight lines of two cop cars, and I was fortunate that the one in front of me drove past before the one behind me saw my car. But I did make it back.

Tags: disgaea, god hand, urban reign, raiders of the lost ark, e.t., 2600, grand theft auto, san andreas, no more heroes, beat em ups, hack and slash, river city ransom, super dodge ball, unreal tournament, urban chaos, riot response, slime, dragon quest, final fantasy II, odin sphere, the end, metal gear solid 3, mizuchi, snk boss, driver, zombies ate my neighbors, ghost hunter, playstation 2, konami code, persona 3, fes

Christ, What An Asshole Redux: Verse Edition

I've been infatuated with this whole "Christ, What an Asshole" phenomenon ever since I heard about it, and after writing about it myself last week, well, I started thinking what else could you apply it to.

It had to be something relatively short that the addition of that phrase or variation there of would have a good impact on the final meaning.

Then it hit me. Of course, it could be done with poetry. So, I thought of a few poems off the top of my head to try it on, and here are the results.

The first poem that immediately sprang to mind when this little experiment popped into my head was "Footprints" by 1 of 70 different people. We've all heard it before in one form or another, and I think the addition of that phrase brings something new to the experience.

One night I had a dream--
I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord
and across the sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints,
one belonged to me and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that many times along the path of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest
and saddest times in my life.
This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you would walk with me all the way,
but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life
there is only one set of footprints.
"I don't understand why in times when I needed you most,
you should leave me."
The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child,
I love you and I would never, never leave you
during your times of trial and suffering.
"When you saw only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."
And I replied "Christ, What an Asshole."

Now wasn't that lovely.

And I would be remiss if I didn't mention William Carlos Williams, who had a brilliant career as a free verse poet. Let's go with "This Is Just To Say".

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

you are likely
thinking
Christ
what an asshole

My, that was educational, and so minimalist. But I think I can go even more minimal.

How about, "In a Station of the Metro" by Ezra Pound

The apparition of these faces in the crowd;
Petals on a wet, black bough.
Christ, What an Asshole.

Yeah. Now, what about something longer. Let's go with "Chicago" by Carl Sandburg

Hog Butcher for the World,
Tool maker, Stacker of Wheat,
Player with Railroads and the Nation's Freight Handler;
Stormy, husky, brawling,
City of the Big Shoulders:

They tell me you are wicked and I believe them, for I have seen your
painted women under the gas lamps luring the farm boys.
And they tell me you are crooked and I answer: yes, it is true I have seen
the gunman kill and go free to kill again.
And they tell me you are brutal and my reply is: On the faces of women
and children I have seen the marks of wanton hunger.
And having answered so I turn once more to those who sneer at this my
city, and I give them back the sneer and say to them:
Come and show me another city with lifted head singing so proud to be
alive and coarse and strong and cunning.
Flinging magnetic curses amid the toil of piling job on job, here is a tall
bold slugger set vivid against the little soft cities;
Fierce as a dog with tongue lapping for action, cunning as a savage pitted
against the wilderness,
Bareheaded,
Shoveling,
Wrecking,
Planning,
Building, breaking, rebuilding,
Under the smoke, dust all over his mouth, laughing with white teeth,
Under the terrible burden of destiny laughing as a young man laughs,
Laughing even as an ignorant fighter laughs who has never lost a battle,
Bragging and laughing that under his wrist is the pulse, and under his
ribs the heart of the people,
Laughing!
Laughing the stormy, husky, brawling laughter of Youth, half-naked,
sweating, proud to be Hog Butcher, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat,
Player with Railroads and Freight Handler to the Nation.
And Christ, What an Asshole!

Now, let's shoot some fish in a barrel: "The Suicide Kid" by Charles Bukowski

I went to the worst of bars
hoping to get
killed.
but all I could do was to
get drunk
again.
worse, the bar patrons even
ended up
liking me.
there I was trying to get
pushed over the dark
edge
and I ended up with
free drinks
while somewhere else
some poor
son-of-a-bitch was in a hospital
bed,
tubes sticking out all over
him
as he fought like hell
to live.
nobody would help me
die as
the drinks kept
coming,
as the next day
waited for me
with its steel clamps,
its stinking
anonymity,
its incogitant
attitude.
death doesn't always
come running
when you call
it,
not even if you
call it
from a shining
castle
or from an ocean liner
or from the best bar
on earth (or the
worst).
such impertinence
only makes the gods
hesitate and
delay.
ask me: I'm
72.
And Christ,
what an Asshole.

And let's end this with some rhyme and form. Rudyard Kipling's "If-"

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master;
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run--
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--Christ, what an asshole you'll be, my son!

So are you can see, this thing can go a lot wider and a lot deeper than merely a funny little alteration to a comic strips everywhere. I may be back with a further use of this little trick sometime in the future.

Tags: christ, what an asshole, meme, poetry, william carlos williams, this is just to say, carl sandburg, charles bukowski, suicide kid, in the station of the metro, ezra pound, footprints, i carried you, rudyard kipling, if, chicago, carl sandburg, verse, free verse, poetry

Tracey has put me Over the Top

Tracey from over at Quiet Paws tagged me with an Over the Top award, and while I am really reluctant to do these kinds of things when tagging is involved, Lee did it without tagging people, so I felt ok about doing the same...

The rule is I have to answer the following questions with one word answers. Of course, I am a verbose person, so narrowing things down to a single word is a tough task... I am all about the weaselly words. But it seemed like the perfect kind of post for a Friday.

1. Where is your mobile phone? Dead
2. Your hair? Receding
3. Your mother? Retired
4. Your father? Tired
5. Your favorite food? Stroganoff
6. Your dream last night? Awesome
7. Your favorite drink? Vodka
8. Your dream/goal? Television
9. What room are you in? Office
10. Your hobby? Gaming
11. Your fear? Shame
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Famous
13. Where were you last night? Bed
14. Something that you aren’t? Courageous
15. Muffins? Cookies?
16. Wish list item? Schema
17. Where did you grow up? Windsor
18. Last thing you did? Walked
19. What are you wearing? Jeans
20. Your TV? SD
21. Your Pets? Vibrant
22. Friends? Few
23. Your life? Meh
24. Your mood? Ambivalent
25. Missing Someone? Always
26. Vehicle? Well...
27. Something you’re not wearing? Lipstick
28. Your favorite store? Video
29. Your favorite colour? Green
30. When was the last time you laughed? Presently
31. Last time you cried? Weeks
32. Your best friend? MIA
33. One place that I go to over and over? Mailbox
34. Facebook? Crowded
35. Favorite place to eat? Home

You know, I feel a little sad now.

Tags: tracey, lee, quit your day job, quiet paws, over the top

A Little Bit Listy Today: Movie/Game List Comparisons

It seems like a lot of people in the blogging village are having some fun with the list that Rotten Tomatoes put together of the worst movies to be released in the 2000's, and I thought I would join in, though with my own special twist on the matter.

You see, marking movies off on one list might be fun, but making selections a more than one at once seemed like the way to go for me. So I went through 4, encompassing both movies and Playstation 2 gaming.

In a way, I am sort of embarrassed by the second movie list because there were so many I had to admit that I hadn't seen (I could have lied, but then where is the fun in that). At least I am giving people something to rag on me about.

But anyway on with the lists.

The Rotten Tomatoes List of the Worst Reviewed Movies of the past Decade. (Bold means I've seen it).

100 Whiteout (2009)
99 Glitter (2001)
98 Cheaper By the Dozen 2 (2005)
97 Boat Trip (2003)
96 All About Steve (2009)
95 Lost Souls (2000)
94 The New Guy (2002)
93 A Sound of Thunder (2005)
92 Babylon A.D. (2008)
91 Surviving Christmas (2004)
90 Dragonfly (2002)
89 Basic Instinct 2 (2006)
88 Kaena: The Prophecy (2004)
87 Testosterone (2003)
86 Pavilion of Women (2001)
85 Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector (2006)
84 Thr3e (2007)
83 Doogal (2006)
82 Supercross: The Movie (2005)
81 Extreme Ops (2002)
80 Big Momma’s House 2 (2006)
79 The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002)
78 Deck the Halls (2006)
77 Date Movie (2006)
76 Johnson Family Vacation (2004)
75 Son of the Mask (2005)
74 Envy (2004)
73 Gigli (2003)
72 Broken Bridges (2006)
71 College (2008)
70 New Best Friend (2002)
69 The Cookout (2004)
68 Yu-Gi-Oh: The Movie (2004)
67 The Hottie & the Nottie (2008)
66 The Fog (2005)
65 Swept Away (2002)
64 Corky Romano (2001)
63 Yours, Mine, & Ours (2005)
62 Serving Sara (2002)
61 Good Luck Chuck (2007)
60 The Perfect Man (2005)
59 88 Minutes (2008)
58 Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
57 Godsend (2004)
56 Because I Said So (2007)
55 The Celestine Prophecy (2006)
54 Harry And Max (2005)
53 Modigliani (2005)
52 The Bridge of San Luis Rey (2005)
51 Fascination (2005)
50 Dirty Love (2005)
49 In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale (2008)
48 BloodRayne (2006)
47 Soul Survivors (2001)
46 Material Girls (2006)
45 My Baby’s Daddy (2004)
44 Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009)
43 Darkness (2003)
42 House of the Dead (2003)
41 Zoom (2006)
40 Down to You (2000)
39 Miss March (2009)
38 Happily N’Ever After (2007)
37 Code Name: The Cleaner (2007)
36 The Whole Ten Yards (2004)
35 Deal (2008)
34 The Haunting of Molly Hartley (2008)
33 Delta Farce (2007)
32 Deuces Wild (2002)
31 The Covenant (2006)
30 Fear Dot Com (2002)
29 Bless the Child (2000)
28 Rollerball (2002)
27 Battlefield Earth (2000)
26 Kickin’ It Old Skool (2007)
25 Meet the Spartans (2008)
24 Texas Rangers (2001)
23 The In Crowd (2000)
22 Disaster Movie (2008)
21 Epic Movie (2007)
20 Crossover (2006)
19 Half Past Dead (2002)
18 The Master of Disguise (2002)
17 Twisted (2004)
16 Daddy Day Camp (2007)
15 Alone in the Dark (2005)
14 Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (2009)
13 Constellation (2007)
12 Killing Me Softly (2002)
11 Merci Docteur Rey! (2002)
10 Witless Protection (2008)
9 Redline (2007)
8 3 Strikes (2000)
7 Strange Wilderness (2008)
6 Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 (2004)
5 National Lampoon’s Gold Diggers (2004)
4 King’s Ransom (2005)
3 Pinocchio (2002)
2 One Missed Call (2008)
1 Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever (2002)


The Top 100 movies as scored by the user base at the IMDB. (Bold Means I've seen it).

1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
2. The Godfather (1972)
3. The Godfather: Part II (1974)
4. Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo. (1966)
5. Pulp Fiction (1994)
6. Schindler's List (1993)
7. 12 Angry Men (1957)
8. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
9. The Dark Knight (2008)
10. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
11. Casablanca (1942)
12. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
13. Star Wars (1977)
14. Shichinin no samurai (1954)
15. Goodfellas (1990)
16. Rear Window (1954)
17. Cidade de Deus (2002)
18. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
19.Fight Club (1999)
20. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
21. C'era una volta il West (1968)
22. The Usual Suspects (1995)
23. Psycho (1960)
24. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
25. Sunset Blvd. (1950)
26. The Matrix (1999)
27. Memento (2000)
28. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
29. Se7en (1995)
30. North by Northwest (1959)
31. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
32. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
33. Citizen Kane (1941)
34. Léon (1994)
35. Apocalypse Now (1979)
36. American Beauty (1999)
37. American History X (1998)
38. Taxi Driver (1976)
39. Forrest Gump (1994)
40. Vertigo (1958)
41. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
42. Up (2009)
43. WALL·E (2008)
44. Paths of Glory (1957)
45. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
46. Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001)
47. Double Indemnity (1944)
48.Alien (1979)
49. M (1931)
50. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
51. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
52. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
53. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
54. The Shining (1980)
55. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
56. The Departed (2006)
57. The Third Man (1949)
58. The Pianist (2002)
59. Das Leben der Anderen (2006)
60. Chinatown (1974)
61. Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001)
62. City Lights (1931)
63. Aliens (1986)
64. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
65. L.A. Confidential (1997)
66. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
67. Das Boot (1981)
68. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
69. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
70. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
71. El laberinto del fauno (2006)
72. Raging Bull (1980)
73. All About Eve (1950)
74. The Maltese Falcon (1941)
75. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
76. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
77. Modern Times (1936)
78. Rashômon (1950)
79. Some Like It Hot (1959)
80. District 9 (2009)
81. The Prestige (2006)
82. Rebecca (1940)
83. Der Untergang (2004)
84. Gran Torino (2008)
85. Nuovo cinema Paradiso (1988)
86. The Apartment (1960)
87. Amadeus (1984)
88. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
89. The Elephant Man (1980)
90. La vita è bella (1997)
91. The Great Dictator (1940)
92. Metropolis (1927)
93. Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
94. Back to the Future (1985)
95. Full Metal Jacket (1987)
96. Ladri di biciclette (1948)
97. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
98. The Sting (1973)
99. The Great Escape (1963)
100. Braveheart (1995)

MetaCritic's 100 Top Rated PS2 Games (Bold for games I own, Bold/Italics for games which appeared on my list of the top 25 PS2 Games I have Played)

1 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
2 Grand Theft Auto III
3 Resident Evil 4
4 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
5 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
6 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
7 Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec
8 Madden NFL 2003
9 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
10 Devil May Cry
11 Madden NFL 2002
12 Madden NFL 2004
13 Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
14 NCAA Football 2004
15 God of War
16 Virtua Fighter 4
17 Burnout 3: Takedown
18 Pro Evolution Soccer
19 God of War II
20 SSX
21 SSX 3
22 Okami
23 World Soccer Winning Eleven 6 International
24 NFL 2K3
25 Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution
26 Pro Evolution Soccer 2
27 World Soccer Winning Eleven 7 International
28 Soul Calibur II
29 SSX Tricky
30 NHL 2002
31 Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
32 Final Fantasy XII
33 Pro Evolution Soccer 3
34 Final Fantasy X
35 Guitar Hero II
36 Pro Evolution Soccer 5
37 ESPN NFL Football
38 Guitar Hero
39 Madden NFL 2001
40 Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil
41 Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal
42 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater 2004 91
43 Twisted Metal: Black
44 Shadow of the Colossus
45 NCAA Football 2003
46 Dead or Alive 2: Hardcore
47 Madden NFL 2005 2004 91
48 World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International
49 Pro Evolution Soccer 4
50 Ico
51 Tony Hawk's Underground
52 NBA Street Vol. 2
53 Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
54 ESPN NFL 2K5
55 MVP Baseball 2004
56 Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
57 Burnout Revenge
58 NCAA Football 2002
59 Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4
60 TimeSplitters 2
61 Viewtiful Joe
62 Rayman 2: Revolution
63 ESPN NHL Hockey
64 Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
65 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004
66 NBA Street V3 2005 89
67 NHL 2K3
68 NBA 2K3
69 Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2
70 Ace Combat 4: Shattered Skies
71 Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
72 Pro Evolution Soccer 6 2006 89
73 Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES
74 World Soccer Winning Eleven 9
75 Gran Turismo 4
76 Silent Hill 2
77 NBA 2K2
78 ESPN NBA Basketball
79 NBA Street
80 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005
81 Madden NFL 06
82 Winning Eleven 8 (JPN Import)
83 Medal of Honor Frontline
84 Tekken 5
85 Ratchet & Clank
86 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003
87 Red Faction
88 NCAA Football 2005
89 Sly 2: Band of Thieves
90 FIFA Soccer 2003
91 NASCAR Thunder 2004
92 Fight Night Round 2
93 SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs
94 Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
95 NCAA Football 06
96 Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory
97 Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening Special Edition
98 Jak II
99 Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance
100 World Series Baseball 2K3

IGN's recent list of the 25 Best PS2 Games of All Time (Bold indicates I own the title, Bold/Italic indicates that the title appeared on my own list of the 25 Best PS2 Games I have Ever Played).

25. Grim Grimoire
24. We Love Katamari
23. Jak III
22. Disgaea: Hour of Darkness
21. Guitar Hero II
20. Silent Hill 2
19. Okami
18. Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution
17. Final Fantasy XII
16. Resident Evil 4
15. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES
14. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
13. ICO
12. Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
11. Gran Turismo 4
10. Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening Special Edition
9. Kingdom Hearts
8. Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
7. God of War
6. Burnout 3: Takedown
5. Final Fantasy X
4. Shadow of the Colossus
3. Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
2. God of War II
1. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Tags: top 100, top 25, ps2, playstation 2, movies, imdb, rotten tomatoes, metacritic, ign, comparison, meme

Friday Favorites: Things I miss from childhood

When I mentioned this article a few days ago when I was writing my post on toys I covet, and I thought it was worth sharing in full again at some point, and well, there seems to be no better moment to do so than now.

--

I was thinking about a few of the things that I miss from childhood or even the recent past and I decided to put together a short list of 15 things that I miss now that I am an adult.

Some of these things are no longer around, some of them I outgrew and some of them are very niche items. Note: Some of these items may be widely available where you live(particularly food items), so take some of these in the spirit in which they are written.


1. 2D Fighting games... 3D has some selling points, but I grew up on River City Ransom, Double Dragon, Street Fighter and Samurai Shodown.

2. Video stations that actually showed music videos. Canadian stations have followed MTV/VH1's example.

3. Tahiti Treat and strawberry flavored sodas. They both remind me of my grandmother.

4. The online soap operas of the 1995-7 era. The Spot, where art thou.

5. Radio programming not determined from a formula. DJ are supposed to be taste makers dammit.

6. New episodes of the recent Disney animated shows(Filmore, Recess, the Weekenders)

6a. The older Disney cartoon series based on their classic properties(Duck Tales, Talespin)

7. Frankenberry Cereal. I still remember the taste.


8. Little green plastic soldiers. I SO outgrew them.

9. Bags of Swedish Fish. I loved them as a kid as penny candies.

10. Puppets and models in movies... I recently watched Close Encounters again, and you know what... that ship still looks pretty damn good. And well done puppetry has an organic warmth to it that will always stay with me.

11. The old funny commercials for FedEx, Wendy's and Alaskan Airlines they used to show in the 1980's... and are largely the basis for Commercial Crazies

12. Good Teen comedies in the theatres. John Hughes, you made an era.

13. The period where Travolta was a punchline and not a leading man.

14. Cajun Spice Ruffles. I didn't appreciate them as much then as I would now. I can take the heat, and I want them back in my kitchen.

15. Action figures that are meant for kids to play with. What is with this keeping crap in the box? Toys are meant to be played with.

So, what do you miss from childhood?

Tags: frankenberry, action figures, toy soldiers, cajun spice, ruffles, commercials, frankenberry, alaskan airlines, comedies, puppets, models, swedish fish, mtv, vh1, 2d fighters, samurai shodown, street fighter, river city ransom

The 20 Men I Admire Meme

Weeks ago, Samuraifrog tagged me with this meme, and sometimes it takes me a while to get things together for something like this.

The title basically says it all.

Here are the rules:

1. Link back to the blog that tagged you.

2. Link back to the originator of this meme, which is The Dino Lounge.

3. Create your own list of 20 men that you admire and post them on your blog.

4. Tag 5 other people to participate in this meme.

5. If you like, please let The Dino Lounge know that you've participated in this meme so he can check out your posting and comment on it.

And here is my list:

James Joyce


Niccolo Machiavelli


Charles Darwin


Otto Von Bismarck


Terry Pratchett


Samuel L. Jackson


William Carlos Williams


Penn and Teller


Patton Oswalt


George Carlin


George Clooney


The Coen Brothers


Ennio Morricone


Bob Ross


Mr. Rogers


Will Durant


Roger Ebert


Salvador Dali


Now you know I don't tag people, so if you want to do this, then just run with it.

Tags: charles darwin, otto von bismarck, machiavelli, james joyce, penn and teller, dino lounge, terry pratchett, samuel l jackson, william carlos williams, patton oswalt, salvador dali, george carlin, george clooney, coen brothers, fred rogers, bob ross, roger ebert, will durant

What 12 Films Would You Choose for a Film Festival?

I got tagged twice (by both Burbanked and Electronic Cerebrectomy), for this meme, and so two people get some credit for me doing this.

Basically, the gist of this is that as a blogger, you are tasked with putting together 12 movies that would comprise a film festival. Here are the rules which I am following for this little exercise:

1) Choose 12 Films to be featured. They could be random selections or part of a greater theme. Whatever you want.

2) Explain why you chose the films.

3) Link back to Lazy Eye Theatre so I can have hundreds of links and I can take those links and spread them all out on the bed and then roll around in them.

#4 involved me tagging people, and you all know that I am not big on the tagging.

So, here is what I came up with for my film festival:

Monday-Tuesday - Animation: In paint and in clay

Allegro Non Troppo: An Italian parody of Fantasia, which I will always remember for the strange yet moving version of Ravel's Bolero as the backdrop to the evolutionary process (the beginning of which is the intro clip I've selected above).

Chicken Run: What do you get when you combine Aardman animation with a story of a group of chickens trying to escape an English farm in the 1950's? Pure magic, and a loving tribute to 1963's The Great Escape.

Wednesday-Thursday - Veracity: Documentary Film

Comic Book Confidential: Even though I don't follow comics, this documentary by Ron Mann released in 1988 is a fascinating look at not just the evolution of comics in both book and strip form, including the disastrous implementation of the original Comics Code Authority. Subjects featured in the documentary include Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Frank Miller, Art Spiegelman, Will Eisner and Harvey Pekar.

The Fog of War: Robert McNamara, the Secretary of Defense for the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, discusses the Eleven Lessons he learned during his life. Filmed with a device dubbed by Errol Morris "The Interrotron" which makes it seem like the subject is talking directly to the audience.

Friday-Saturday - The Western Through Non-American Eyes

El Topo (Midnight Screening): One of the first Midnight Movies, Alejandro Jodorowsky's epic combined elements of Spaghetti Westerns with sheer oddity and religious overtones to create a truly stunning film. It is a very weird Mexican movie.

Once Upon a Time in the West: Sergio Leone's refashioning of the entire Western genre, with the help of then film critics Dario Argento and Bernardo Bertolucci, became a movie that influenced generations of filmmakers and has been widely hailed as one of the first postmodern movies ever made.

Sunday-Monday - The Chinese Empire: Beginning to End

The Emperor and the Assassin: The story of a tyrant, the King of Qin, and the forces that ally against him in China c. 230 BC, starring Gong Li amongst others. A historical epic which works well as a companion piece for Hero.

The Last Emperor: The tale of Puyi, the last Qing Dynasty Emperor of China (born 1906) Starring John Lone, Joan Chen and Peter O'Toole, directed by Bernardo Bertolucci and winner of 9 Academy Awards, it is a lush modern historical epic.

Tuesday-Wednesday - The Dystopic Future (1970's version)

Soylent Green: I read the book that was the partial basis for this film (Make Room, Make Room) many years ago, and somehow despite the fact that the movie went in directions that the original novel didn't, but those elements may have been what took this one over the top. The movie takes place in 2022 in a world that is ravaged by global warming, a lack of resources and overpopulation. Charlton Heston is a New York City Detective investigating the death of a high-ranking executive of the Soylent Corporation.

Rollerball: The year is 2018, and the world is controlled by a small number of large corporations. War has been abolished and there is but one sport: Rollerball... a game designed to entertain the masses with bloodshed while giving the audience the clear message that success can only be won through group effort. Can an individual succeed in a game meant to destroy men?

Thursday-Friday - The Unconventional Musical

Phantom of the Paradise: A campy rock opera written and directed by Brian DePalma, featuring elements of Faust and Phantom of the Opera. Starring Paul Williams, Gerrit Graham, William Finlay and Jessica Harper.

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg Jacques Demy directed this French musical featuring Catherine Deneuve and Nino Castelnuovo. Every piece of dialogue is sung, giving the film an odd quality because it is just dialogue and not poetic lyrics being sung. It is a little surreal.

So what do you think of my pairings?

Tags: rollerball, soylent green, phantom of the paradise, faust, umbrellas of cherbourg, last emperor, once upon a time in the west, el topo, fog of war, comic book confidential, allegro non troppo, great escape, samuraifrog, burbanked, film festival, lazy eye theatre, emperor and the assassin, fantasia

A Movie a Year: A look back

Both Lee from Quit your Day Job and Samuraifrog did this meme they picked up from the Onion's AV Club. Basically the gist is that you select a movie from every year that you've been alive that you would call a favorite.

Now, I've always preferred hamburger to steak, so let's just say at times my choices may not exactly be prime rib. And since the AV club version had alternates, well, I decided to include a couple of runners-up for each year.

I am prepared for the wholesale mocking I am about to receive for some of these choices.

1976: Network. I just watched this last week, and it still holds up remarkably well in a creepy, creepy way. Runners-Up: Assault on Precinct 13/All the President's Men

1977: A Bridge Too Far. I've expressed a great affection for this movie in the past, and I still feel it got gypped in terms of Oscar nominations. Runners-Up: The Spy Who Loved Me/Star Wars

1978: Dawn of the Dead. A movie that inspired so many, and when I saw it as a kid, I was traumatized, but man, it has some staying power. Runners-Up: Animal House/Halloween

1979: The Warriors. This one was a toss-up, with the tie breaker being mainly based on the fact that if given a choice most days, I would watch the one I chose. Runners-Up: Alien/China Syndrome

1980: Caddyshack. I'm all about the 'shack... Bill Murray, Ted Knight, Rodney Dangerfield... all I have to say. Runners-Up:The Empire Strikes Back/The Shining

1981: Raiders of the Lost Ark. Do I really need to explain this choice? Honestly, I don't think I have to. Runners-Up: Escape from New York/Thief

1982: The Thing. Another one of my favorite movies. To me, this is the alien-related movie of 1982, even though the other one made me cry... it just hasn't held up the same way for me. Runners-Up: Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid/The World According to Garp

1983: WarGames. I watch this movie every time it is on. It is silly, but I like it. Runners-Up: Trading Places/Monty Python's Meaning of Life

1984: Beverly Hills Cop. A great action/comedy, and a movie that balances those two aspects well. Runners-Up: Ghostbusters/Revenge of the Nerds

1985: Silverado. Until I tried putting together this list, I never realized how many movies I loved were made in 1985. I am sort of surprised that Silverado ended up at the top of this year for me, but through the "what would you rather watch?" game, it prevailed. Runners-Up: Remo Williams/Better Off Dead

1986: Night of the Creeps. I'm not going to defend it at length. It is just good, writhing fun, what can I say? Runners-Up: Tampopo/Ruthless People

1987: Raising Arizona. A Coen Brothers comedic farce over a balls-to-the-wall, tricked out action satire? This was the closest year for two movies to take #1 for me... the margin was hair thin. Runners-Up: Robocop/Princess Bride

1988: Die Hard. John McClane kicks serious ass while getting chewed up by the rigors of an action movie. Talk about a legend. Runners-Up: Comic Book Confidential/Bloodsport

1989: Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. After seeing this again recently, the elements of the plot hold together really well, especially for a time travel movie, and the two leads are still likable. Runners-Up: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade/Uncle Buck

1990: Quick Change. I think this is one of the most underrated movies ever made. Snake Plissken had an easier time escaping from New York than these three hapless bank robbers. Runners-Up: GoodFellas/Robocop II

1991: Silence of the Lambs. Even though Anthony Hopkins does ham it up a bit, I've always felt that this movie was a great atmospheric thriller. Runners-Up: Terminator II/Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey

1992: Wayne's World. It is a goofy movie that realizes it is such and plays to those strengths with a wink. Runners-Up: My Cousin Vinnie/Manufacturing Consent

1993: Gettysburg. An epic battle deserves an epic movie. It was perhaps Jeff Daniels' finest role to date. Runners-Up: The Sandlot/Last Action Hero

1994: Pulp Fiction. I went with the easy choice... Sam Jackson, Bruce Willis, Ving Rhames. I can't deny their combined star power in this movie. Runners-Up: The Paper/True Lies

1995: Babe. It makes me weep more every time I see it. Runners-Up: Goldeneye/Die Hard with a Vengeance

1996: The Long Kiss Goodnight. I wrote about this movie as one of my first Remembering columns, and I still think it is one of the hippest and most quotable little action movies to come out in the past couple of decades. Runners-Up: Matilda/The People Vs. Larry Flynt

1997: L.A. Confidential. A taut cop procedural with corruption, Hollywood vice and an all-star cast. What is not to like? Runners-Up: Starship Troopers/The Fifth Element

1998: The Big Lebowski. Was there any doubt that this would be my choice for 1998? Runners-Up: Ronin/Babe:Pig in the City

1999: Fight Club. I still laugh every time I see this movie when I picture Janeane Garofalo playing Marla Singer. A great big swig of Fincher style. Runners-Up: Galaxy Quest/Payback

2000: O Brother, Where Art Thou?. Good Actors. Check. Good writing. Check. An Allusion to another work of myth/fiction that I love. Double Check. Runners-Up: The Whole Nine Yards/Snatch

2001: Ocean's Eleven. I like a good con, or a good scheme, and what plays out in this Steven Soderburgh remake is exactly what I am talking about. Runners-Up: Series 7: The Contenders/Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back

2002: An Evening with Kevin Smith. While not a theatrical release, I still count it as a documentary, and it was one of the most entertaining and informative things I saw that year. Runners-Up: The Bourne Identity/XXX

2003: Kill Bill Vol. 1. I like Spaghetti Westerns, I like Kung Fu/Samurai movies, and I love revenge... so this one is a given. Runners-Up: The Corporation/Old School

2004: Kill Bill Vol. 2. See above. Runners-Up: Shaun of the Dead/Anchorman

2005: Sin City. Stylish, ultra-violent and just really good at what it does, this movie has stuck with me since I saw it. Runners-Up: Kung Fu Hustle/Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

2006: Casino Royale. I have been a James Bond fan since I was a kid (I was a Moore man), and this movie made me forget about the gimmicks and the half-hearted humor of those earlier films and see the character anew. To erase a 40 year legacy in one film and rebuild it just as quickly is something truly noteworthy. Runners-Up: Lucky Number Slevin/Cocaine Cowboys

2007: Hot Fuzz. A spoof and true homage to the entire police procedural/cop action movie ever made. I love what Pegg and Wright do, and I look forward to the last part of their Blood and Ice Cream Trilogy. Runners-Up: Shoot Em Up/No Country for Old Men

Now, I haven't seen enough movies from 2008 to actually make a choice at this moment, which I think is the best option at the moment.

So, let the mocking begin. And feel free to try this little exercise yourself.

Tags: av club, quit your day job, samuraifrog, electronic cerebrectomy, the thing, sin city, kill bill, quick change, movie meme, hot fuzz, ocean's eleven, fight club, big lebowski, l.a. confidential, long kiss goodnight, wayne's world, network, dawn of the dead, pulp fiction, gettysburg, night of the creeps, bill and ted, die hard, silverado

Make a band meme

Everyone has been doing this, and well, it seemed fun.


Let’s Make a Band:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first article title on the page is the name of your band.

2. http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four words of the very last quote is the title of your album.
(you might have to click new random quotes at the bottom)

3. http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days/
The third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

You then take the pic and add your band name
and the album title to it, then post your pic.

And I ended up with the USS Baltimore and the end of a Dorothy Parker quote, and thus this was born:

2007 Pop Cultural Regrets

• I bought the awful Just Cause instead of the much more interesting Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, and now I can't find the latter title.


• I lost an MP3 that I absolutely love, and a Broadcast CD collection that got me through some lonely nights.


• I didn't see Hot Fuzz, Grind House or The Simpsons Movie at the theatre


• On almost every list of the top 10/25/50/100 movies of the year, I haven't seen 90% of them


• I didn't publish a damn thing

Tags: ace combat zero, just cause, belkan war, grind house, simpsons movie, hot fuzz

My Favorite TV Characters Meme (tag-free)

Becca posted this tag free meme, and it was right up my alley.

Here were the rules:

a. Post a list of 10-20 TV shows you love (current or cancelled)
b. Have your friends guess your favorite character from each show
c. When guessed bold the line and write a little bit about why you like that character
d. Post in your own blog

And here are my 16 shows:

1. The Simpsons (minor character) Unanswered: HA HA! Nelson Muntz!
2. Alias Marshall Flinkman (Jeremy of Popped Culture) Small. Geekish. Friendly and overly chatty Q to Sydney Bristow's Super Spy. I'd certainly want his expertise on my side.
3. Futurama Dr. Zoidberg (Jen of Casual Slack) A humanoid shellfish with a mildly ironic personality and no shame... I say woop, woop, woop, woop.
4. 24 Unanswered David Palmer: I am really disappointed by this as a few days before this post, I had put up an entry discussing a Barack Obama T-Shirt I really liked.
5. Drawn Together Unanswered: Foxxy Brown.
6. WKRP in Cincinnati Les Nessman (Jen of Casual Slack):Les Nessman... little, naive, earnest and incompetent. It is a deadly combination in drama but gut-busting in a comedy.
7. Ugly Betty Betty Suarez (Paul of Gor[b]) Yes, as Paul noted, sweet nerdish Betty Suarez enchanted my heart.
8. Soap Benson Dubois (Becca of No Smoking in the Skullcave) Yes, he had his own series and everything, but Robert Guillaume made the role of the persnickety butler of the Tate household.
9. King of the Hill Bobby Hill (Mr. Fab of Pointless Drivel) I was the fat friendly kid... all I am saying.
10. The Larry Sanders Show Artie (Mr Fab of Pointless Drivel) Artie is such a wonderful prick... I believe a lot of older television executive producers are like him.
11. Prison Break Unanswered: Fernando Sucre
12. Dead Like Me Unanswered: Rube
13. 30 Rock: Liz Lemon (Jen of Casual Slack): Yes, it had to be Tina Fey and her semi-autobiographical take on a geekish head writer of a sketch comedy series. I am however surprised no one was giving Kenneth love in their guesses.
14. Spaced Tim Bisley (Becca of No Smoking in the Skullcave): Simon Pegg as a comic book artist, video game playing, pop cultural obsessed geek. That sound like a lot of people I know, doesn't it?
15. Daria: Jane Lane (AG of Techspace) When your title character is sarcastic, it is rare when their equal isn't also their nemesis. Daria and Jane perfectly complement each other as outsiders.
16. Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law Unanswered: The Bear

Can you guess my favorites? Every successful guess gets you some link love (If I can give it of course)

Tags: wkrp, daria, 24, soap, harvey birdman, spaced, prison break, larry sanders, 30 rock, dead like me, king of the hill, ugly betty, drawn together, futurama, alias, simpsons, meme, no smoking in the skullcave, becca