More of what's been going on.
Monday morning came early but not bright. Dark clouds hung over the University of Chicago campus and the entire city, sending students and other pedestrians scurrying along, lest they get caught in a sudden downpour. The weather was typical for the middle of October, though, and Jo casually strolled along to her classes. She had a few things to think about and consider, the top on her list being the Science Fiction Project's offer to her.
Madison wanted to make parts of John Ringo's There Will Be Dragons real. In John Ringo's book, technology had enabled the human race to become just about anything the person desired, from people with wings to clouds of dust. The technology had become so advanced, women didn't even carry a child within them. They were, quite literally, test tube children. She wanted to enable people to become the very creatures they so admired and desired to be, and she wanted help for the process. No, she didn't just want help. Madison needed the help. There was no way Madison could accomplish her dream on her own, and she had realized that fact. Aimee and Mel had been recruited to help her, and Jo had no doubts the two girls believed in Madison's cause. Jo knew Madison was not stupid, not by a long shot. Neither was Jo. She knew Madison had recognized her limits simply by Thursday night's confession alone.
What aided Madison were the subjects she, Aimee, and Mel were studying at the university. Aimee and Mel were chemistry and biology majors respectively. They complimented Madison's genetics program in many, many ways because all of them were sciences. Jo understood as much and truly admired her friends for even attempting the task they were aiming to obtain. The three of them would go far.
Jo, however, couldn't figure out where she came in for Madison's plans. She wasn't as interested in the sciences as her friends were. Her program was for the fine arts, specifically theater and drama, and she had opted for a minor degree in communications. Unless her friends were planning to use Jo as their first test subject, Jo was not a vital element to Madison's plans. It made no sense to her, and it bothered Jo.
What Jo knew she needed was more information. She had to find out what her friends had in mind for her and why they needed her if she decided to stay with the Science Fiction Project and help them out. She'd thought about what her grandmother had said, about weighing all of her options, and Jo had come to a rather terrible and heart-wrenching realization. Jo stood to lose more if she obtained wings on her back. She knew it. She'd lose her privacy, her freedom, and her access to her family. Even if her grandparents and mother accepted what she'd done, there was no way anyone would let her see them. She'd become a test subject for the government, and Jo did not want that. If she had more information from her friends, only then did she feel she could make the right decision.
As she walked to her first class of the day, Jo glanced at the overcast sky then drew her cloak about her. It felt like a good day to Jo, despite the grey and black clouds overhead. In a strange way, Jo had a very strong feeling some kind of an important event was going to happen that day, something that did not have to do with the Science Fiction Project or its goals. Why she had that feeling, Jo didn't know and she couldn't say, but it remained real to her all the same.
"That's a nice cloak you're wearing. You got it from Fantasy Fashions in Philadelphia, right?" a soft-spoken, melodious male voice inquired. Jo blinked the moment she heard his voice for it truly wasn't like anyone else's voice on the campus.
The guy who had spoken to her had an accent, a Japanese accent. Jo knew he had to be from Japan, or at least had lived there for several years, because her great-grandmother had been born and raised in Japan. The way he spoke also stood out from the way Jo was use to hearing others on campus speak so his accent had caught her attention quickly. It was probably mostly because his accent reminded her of her late Grandma Mitzu. She had loved the woman dearly, after all, and it had been a long time since she'd heard a Japanese accent. As a result, Jo turned her head to see who had spoken to her. The sight that greeted her was enough to shock her and render Jo somewhat speechless.
The young man behind her stood a little over five feet tall, had almond-shaped eyes, a lightly tanned complexion, and his raven hair had large sections that had been dyed a dark, almost royal blue colour. He wore a simple black t-shirt, a pair of torn up jeans, and black mock combat boots. A black, leather bracelet with some silver and diamond studs adorned his right wrist, and a matching choker was around his neck. What had caught Jo's attention was the way he had dyed his hair and how the shades had accented the colour of his eyes, eyes that shimmered a deep amethyst. A bright and kindly smile graced his features as he stood a few inches away from Jo. It was such a friendly smile that Jo found herself returning the gesture with a smile of her own.
"Thanks," she murmured. "I think that's where it's from. I don't know. My grandmother gave it to me for Christmas several years ago, I'd wanted one like hers so bad. My name's Jo, by the way. Jo O'Connell."
"Jo O'Connell?" His smile grew even brighter. "I am Hiroshi Miyamoto. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Jo laughed a little as he spoke. She couldn't help herself, really. Hiroshi had such a polite, charming, and friendly demeanor that she found to be quite endearing. She wanted to get to know him. He also had a pleasant and melodious voice, too. Jo had no doubts he and Mel could create quite the musical sensation if they were to ever sing together.
"The pleasure is all mine," she replied. "I'm very pleased to meet you as well."
They then stood there for a few moments, each silent and staring at the other. The smiles they wore on their faces had yet to disappear, and Jo didn't mind in the least. He was rather cute, in her opinion, so she didn't mind gazing at him.
"Do you like science fiction and fantasy books?" Jo inquired, the thought striking her without a warning and really from out of nowhere. It felt like such a silly and trivial question to ask -- he had, after all, commented on her cloak and knew where it may have come from -- but, to Jo, it was an important question to ask. The reason for the inquiry remained elusive, though, and she found she couldn't be bothered with why just yet.
"Like science fiction and fantasy books? More like I'm obsessed," Hiroshi said with an embarrassed laugh. "I think I have nearly every book by every famous science fiction and fantasy author that ever lived. I even have some obsure stuff. I like steampunk novels as well, and it drives my father crazy. He doesn't really understand the appeal. Why do you ask? Are you obsessed, too? With the science fiction and fantasy novels, I mean."
"You could say that," Jo replied. "I don't collect just the books, though. I have all sorts of figurines and knicknacks. What's your schedule like, by the way? I kind of have to hurry to my next class, but I'd love to meet up with you again, later. If that's okay, that is."
"Of course."
They both had to do some adjusting and rummaging in their book bags, but the managed in the end to find some scrap pieces of paper. The two of them exchanged their class schedules and their contact information, and Jo was delighted to find his courses were around the same time as hers. He also happened to live in the same residence hall as she did, which would make it easier for them to find each other later on. As she walked towards her class, Jo felt like she'd accomplished something important, and she found herself stil smiling, though she couldn't say why.
I hope everyone is enjoying this story so far. I know I've been having a blast writing it. :)
--
"It sounded like a good idea at the time." -- Ryan O'Connell
--
Before I forget, I feel I should mention we've had a limited number of gaming systems in my house. We've had the original Nintendo System, a Super Nintendo, a Sega Genesis, a PlayStation (on loan from my brother) and now a PlayStation 2. We also have a few GameBoys. Game reviews are going to be rather limited. I don't play very often, and I really don't take recommendations. I'm rather particular about the games I want to play as I'm into fantasy-settings and role-playing. So please, no game recs. Thanks in advance!
Now on with the review
I like this game. I haven't beaten it yet but I do like it. The graphics are nice, and it has a rather easy storyline to follow. Basically, a "Save the World from Dark Forces" type feel. Only it's a Genie that's wreaking havoc on the world.
I've gotten as far as the Desert Boss before my game was erased . . . and I was playing it at my best friend's house. I've had to restart it since I bought my own copy of the game.
What I like about this game: the hints of realism to it. You have to repair your weapons or you lose them with the exception of your starting weapon. If you don't keep yourself hydrated, you pass out. And you can upgrade your weapons with all sorts of neat things. Oh, and you can rebuild villages almost anyway you want! And get stuff for free!
The flipside: When I was playing the game at my best friend's house, her oldest daughter was telling me how to play the game. It's rather annoying to have an eight-year-old tell you what to do next when you want to find out for yourself. >_<
Overall, I do recommend this game. If you have little ones in the house, it's sure to keep them entertained for a while!
--
"No one believes me anymore," Shuichi murmured.
"No one believes you?" Eiri echoed, raising an eyebrow at Shuichi's quiet confession. "What are they not believing?"
"That it's truly over between you and me," Shuichi said, letting out a sigh. "Every time I have an off day, it gets blamed on you and it's driving me nuts. Everyone keeps telling me to get over whatever's happened between you and me, and to move on. They're tired of our fights affecting my work, and they don't believe me when I say I haven't spoken to you. It's like I'm talking to a couple of brick walls."
Eiri had to refrain from making a biting remark about Shuichi's dilemma with his bandmates. He didn't really give a damn if anyone believed things were over between he and Shuichi or not. Their opinions didn't matter all that much to the novelist anyway, and he also felt that, if they chose to ignore the tell-tale signs -- Shuichi no longer lived with Eiri and hadn't for several months. Last Eiri had heard, Shuichi now lived with his former brother-in-law -- then it only showed just how truly idiotic they were.
However, Shuichi was not Eiri. A biting, scathing comment could reduce the singer to a fountain of tears. Shuichi needed approval, validation for everything he did and from those closest to him. Eiri understood that as did Hiro, Shuichi's best friend.
Or where they now? Eiri couldn't really say. It had been five weeks since he and Shuichi had last spoken to each other, and Eiri found he didn't know about his former lover as much as he used to know. It wasn't unusual, really, but they'd kept in contact better than what they probably should have. Their last few months together had not been pretty.
"The only one who really believes me is Tohma."
"Naturally," Eiri said, trying to control his emotions. "You're living with him, aren't you?"
"Yeah . . . We are, and I think that's the only thing that helps anymore." Shuichi let out a sigh. "He's the one who insisted I go talk to someone about what's been going on. Or at least take a break and get my bearings back. He knows about my apartment . . . like you do."
~tbc~
--
Books, books, books! I love books. It is my dream to one day have a big ass dictionary on a pedestal.
Yes, I'm a dork. XD I love every minute of it, too!
Today's book review centers on the very first book I'd ever read that had been based upon a series of gaming sessions. I first read Dragons of Autumn Twilight when I was sixteen. My ex-boyfriend, Craig, had introduced me to the series. He's an avid role-player, and he'd been the one who introduced Dungeons and Dragons to me and my brother. He also loaned me his copy of Dragons of Autumn Twilight.
Dragons of Autumn Twilight is the first book of the Chronicles trilogy by Weis and Hickman. It's also their first collaborative effort together. The book starts out with a reunion between three friends -- Tanis Half-Elven (if you can't guess his heritage, you're in trouble), Flint Fireforge (a dwarf), and Tasselhoff Burrfoot (a kender -- kender are the replacement for halfings in the second edition of Dungeons and Dragons. People were sick of them for some reason) -- on the outskirts of a village called Solace. They're there to meet up with several other people who they had traveled with several years before. It's at this point that all the reader knows is they went their separate ways ten years prior. How this group of people got together and why they decided to part ways for ten years is an unknown.
Before they can head into Solace and to the Inn of the Last Home (it's actual name, no lie!), they're ambushed by a group of hobgoblins. The ambushers are looking for a staff, a blue crystal staff, and claim it has been stolen. They speak in their native tongue when they see Tanis, Flint, and Tasselhoff do not have it, but are not aware the trio know a little of the hobgoblin language. The three friends quickly dispatch the group, send the leader running, and head for Solace.
It's in Solace where everything begins. One member, Kitiara Uth Matar, does not show up. She has obligations to a new Lord. The rest of the Companions, however, do show up, and one brings with him two people who set into motion events that will change Ansalon once more.
The rest of the book details the Companions' journey into an abandoned and forbidden city where dragons spring from tales and myth back into reality. Relationships and loyalties are tested, and a Goddess is revealed. The people of Krynn are in for a wake up call.
In some ways, Dragons of Autumn Twilight is reminiscent of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, an epic quest to seek or get rid of a great treasure. The Companions are of a great variety, too. Half-elf, dwarf, kender, and human. It has tragedy, romance, comedy (via the interaction between Flint and Tasselhoff. They're forever antagonizing each other but quick to defend), and, best of all, dragons!
The similarities end there, however. Because the book is based off of several role-playing sessions between Weis, Hickman, and a few friends, the races are vastly different. The Elves of Krynn are, at time, just as greedy and as ambitious as humans, and quite confident of their superiority over other races. Tolkien's Elves are rather indifferent towards humans and halflings, but tend to be cynical when it comes to Dwarves. There are different kinds of dwarves as well, the most hated being gully dwarves. Gully dwarves are nasty creatures and quite stupid. (One gully dwarf told the Companions the gully dwarves' leader was quite smart. Him eat whole book once.) Dwarves also don't like gnomes, but more on gnomes in the next review.
Dragons of Autumn Twilight is a very enjoyable read, especially for those who love science fiction and fantasy novels. I definitely recommend it, especially if people can get their paws on a copy. ^_^
--
Now, I'm going to reach back in time for my movie review. I don't expect many people to have heard of it, not unless they're a huge Bangles fan, like me.
The AllNighter debuted in 1987. It was co-written, produced and directed by Tamar Simon Hoffs, and starred Susanna Hoffs, Dedee Pfeiffer, and Joan Cusack. The catch phrase for the movie was, "Who says you can't do it all in one night . . ."
The AllNighter was filmed during the Bangles hey day and is basically a college-students-gone-wild/romantic comedy-style flick. Vocalist/guitarist Susanna Hoffs plays the lead role as Molly, a young woman who is graduating at the top of her class. However, Molly doesn't feel like she's accomplished everything she's set out to do when she first started her college career. Her biggest regret is she hasn't found the right guy to have the right kind of romance with, though she does have someone in mind. She tries to tell him, but things don't exactly go as she'd have liked. It takes the entire movie (as is the way of movies) for her to tell the guy she likes that she likes him and they have sex before their graduation ceremony.
To me, the comedy of this movie comes in when Molly's roommates, Val and Gina (Pfeiffer and Cusack respectively), are arrested for prostitution and taken to jail. The two are trying to rescue Molly from a serious blunder (Molly tries to seduce her favourite rock star at a hotel where a sting is in progress) when they're led to the hotel room the hookers are working from. (You'd have to see it to really understand it.)
What the critics thought: They clobbered it. If anyone couldn't guess, the director, Tamar Simon Hoffs is Susanna Hoffs' mother. Despite the fact Susanna was twenty-six when she starred in the film, Tamar was accused of borderline child abuse for directing her daughter in a sex scene. Plus, at the time it was released, there were already numerous college-students-gone-wild movies out there. This was just one of many.
Thoughts from the Jade Warrior: This is a cult classic for any Bangles fan or a follower of Dedee Pfeiffer or Joan Cusack. The acting is very good. It isn't the greatest, but lines and actions aren't exaggerated. The storyline is relatively weak but I've also seen worse done in other features. All in all, it's a good movie and probably one of the only "chick" flicks that I own. ^_^ Since I know this movie isn't for everyone, I recommend finding a place that has a copy for renting. DVDs aren't cheap when trying to find something new to watch and flat out buying them can be quite a gamble.
The AllNighter is rated PG-13 and runs for approximately 95 minutes.
--
I'd heard of Gackt from a few people long before I ever bought my first album by him. spinshadowmentioned him in a few of her LJ entries, a college friend gushed about him to me, and paganpoet encouraged me to give him a listen. In November of last year, I finally caved and bought Crescent off Amazon.com.
The first time I heard Dybbuk and Gackt's voice, I couldn't get into the music and I wasn't sure if I entirely liked his music. However, the CD cost me a little over $38. I wasn't going to send it to someone without a bit of a fight. Or at least without giving the album a proper listening. I'm glad I did.
Initially, Gackt's voice threw me for a loop. He has a rather deep-sounding voice, and he's a rather effeminate looking guy. In other words, his voice did not fit his appearance. Strange to hear it said, I know, but it is quite startling when you're expecting one thing and you get another. This, however, was a nice surprise. :)
Anyway, the first track off of Crescent is Dybbuk, and the verses are rapped. Yes. Rapped. I guess Gackt was experimenting with musical styles when he wrote this particular piece. It also isn't unpleasant, either. The song does rock for the chorus, and it's great for long drives.
--
And now to fuss over some anime. I'm an anime fan so . . . why not? ;)
There really isn't much I can say about the Gravitation anime. It is cute and it is quirky, but in some ways it's mindless.
Quick overview for the non-Gravitation fans on my f-list.
The Gravitation anime is based off of a popular manga in Japan. It's artist is Maki Murakami, and the story is basically about two guys who meet and end up in love. Or at least very attracted to each other. ~_^ The main character, one Shuichi Shindou, wants to be a famous rock star. He and his best friend, Hiroshi Nakano, set out to accomplish that dream, but one thing happens to get in the way. I should say, one man. Romance novelist Eiri Yuki.
I'm not going to go too into detail with this. Just know there are comedic moments, and dramatic ones as well as some romantic interludes and what's known as crack in fiction writing. ;)
I read the manga first, thanks to a friend (the same friend who talked about Gackt), and watched the fansubs of the anime over at her house. We were rather excited about the anime being released in the U.S. We had even discussed who we thought would make excellent voice actors for some of the characters. The only character I had a concrete decision on was for Eiri. Since we'd been exposed to Saiyuki (as released by ADV), I was hoping like hell for Sanzo's voice actor to claim Eiri.
Talk about a disappointment. I cannot watch Gravitation in English. The voices, to me, are WRONG. Very, very wrong.
Anyway, back to the anime itself. It definitely keeps a lot of the light-heartedness from the manga, and the romantic interludes are still there. It's also nice to have voices to go with the characters. I just have a problem with the characterization of Shuichi Shindou.
He comes off as two-dimensional and as an idiot. Yes, in the manga, he's an idiot, but he's also displayed a lot of wisdom and inner strength. There's only one instance in the manga where that happens, and it's a scene that involves Taki Aizawa and some thugs. (Not going there.)
Overall, it's rather fun to watch and gets rid of some the crack elements the manga contains. (Seriously. A flying mecha panda? Has the world gone crazy?!) Definitely not for anyone under the age of 13!
--
I'm going to skip over the About Me for this entry. I'm going to forget about it PERIOD. I think I'm a rather boring person anyway when it comes to stuff like that.
For the next entry:
Chapter Eight of the Science Fiction Project
more of Black and White -- Reading Between Blurred Lines
Book Review: Dragons of Winter Night by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
Song Review: Make Me Lose Control by Eric Carmen
Game Review: Dragon Warrior (the game that started it all! Nintendo System)
Movie Review: How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey)
Anime Review: Speed Racer
and whatever else I can think of to cram into an LJ entry.
[Edit] I think I got ahead of myself there with The Science Fiction Project. Oopsie.
Madison wanted to make parts of John Ringo's There Will Be Dragons real. In John Ringo's book, technology had enabled the human race to become just about anything the person desired, from people with wings to clouds of dust. The technology had become so advanced, women didn't even carry a child within them. They were, quite literally, test tube children. She wanted to enable people to become the very creatures they so admired and desired to be, and she wanted help for the process. No, she didn't just want help. Madison needed the help. There was no way Madison could accomplish her dream on her own, and she had realized that fact. Aimee and Mel had been recruited to help her, and Jo had no doubts the two girls believed in Madison's cause. Jo knew Madison was not stupid, not by a long shot. Neither was Jo. She knew Madison had recognized her limits simply by Thursday night's confession alone.
What aided Madison were the subjects she, Aimee, and Mel were studying at the university. Aimee and Mel were chemistry and biology majors respectively. They complimented Madison's genetics program in many, many ways because all of them were sciences. Jo understood as much and truly admired her friends for even attempting the task they were aiming to obtain. The three of them would go far.
Jo, however, couldn't figure out where she came in for Madison's plans. She wasn't as interested in the sciences as her friends were. Her program was for the fine arts, specifically theater and drama, and she had opted for a minor degree in communications. Unless her friends were planning to use Jo as their first test subject, Jo was not a vital element to Madison's plans. It made no sense to her, and it bothered Jo.
What Jo knew she needed was more information. She had to find out what her friends had in mind for her and why they needed her if she decided to stay with the Science Fiction Project and help them out. She'd thought about what her grandmother had said, about weighing all of her options, and Jo had come to a rather terrible and heart-wrenching realization. Jo stood to lose more if she obtained wings on her back. She knew it. She'd lose her privacy, her freedom, and her access to her family. Even if her grandparents and mother accepted what she'd done, there was no way anyone would let her see them. She'd become a test subject for the government, and Jo did not want that. If she had more information from her friends, only then did she feel she could make the right decision.
As she walked to her first class of the day, Jo glanced at the overcast sky then drew her cloak about her. It felt like a good day to Jo, despite the grey and black clouds overhead. In a strange way, Jo had a very strong feeling some kind of an important event was going to happen that day, something that did not have to do with the Science Fiction Project or its goals. Why she had that feeling, Jo didn't know and she couldn't say, but it remained real to her all the same.
"That's a nice cloak you're wearing. You got it from Fantasy Fashions in Philadelphia, right?" a soft-spoken, melodious male voice inquired. Jo blinked the moment she heard his voice for it truly wasn't like anyone else's voice on the campus.
The guy who had spoken to her had an accent, a Japanese accent. Jo knew he had to be from Japan, or at least had lived there for several years, because her great-grandmother had been born and raised in Japan. The way he spoke also stood out from the way Jo was use to hearing others on campus speak so his accent had caught her attention quickly. It was probably mostly because his accent reminded her of her late Grandma Mitzu. She had loved the woman dearly, after all, and it had been a long time since she'd heard a Japanese accent. As a result, Jo turned her head to see who had spoken to her. The sight that greeted her was enough to shock her and render Jo somewhat speechless.
The young man behind her stood a little over five feet tall, had almond-shaped eyes, a lightly tanned complexion, and his raven hair had large sections that had been dyed a dark, almost royal blue colour. He wore a simple black t-shirt, a pair of torn up jeans, and black mock combat boots. A black, leather bracelet with some silver and diamond studs adorned his right wrist, and a matching choker was around his neck. What had caught Jo's attention was the way he had dyed his hair and how the shades had accented the colour of his eyes, eyes that shimmered a deep amethyst. A bright and kindly smile graced his features as he stood a few inches away from Jo. It was such a friendly smile that Jo found herself returning the gesture with a smile of her own.
"Thanks," she murmured. "I think that's where it's from. I don't know. My grandmother gave it to me for Christmas several years ago, I'd wanted one like hers so bad. My name's Jo, by the way. Jo O'Connell."
"Jo O'Connell?" His smile grew even brighter. "I am Hiroshi Miyamoto. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Jo laughed a little as he spoke. She couldn't help herself, really. Hiroshi had such a polite, charming, and friendly demeanor that she found to be quite endearing. She wanted to get to know him. He also had a pleasant and melodious voice, too. Jo had no doubts he and Mel could create quite the musical sensation if they were to ever sing together.
"The pleasure is all mine," she replied. "I'm very pleased to meet you as well."
They then stood there for a few moments, each silent and staring at the other. The smiles they wore on their faces had yet to disappear, and Jo didn't mind in the least. He was rather cute, in her opinion, so she didn't mind gazing at him.
"Do you like science fiction and fantasy books?" Jo inquired, the thought striking her without a warning and really from out of nowhere. It felt like such a silly and trivial question to ask -- he had, after all, commented on her cloak and knew where it may have come from -- but, to Jo, it was an important question to ask. The reason for the inquiry remained elusive, though, and she found she couldn't be bothered with why just yet.
"Like science fiction and fantasy books? More like I'm obsessed," Hiroshi said with an embarrassed laugh. "I think I have nearly every book by every famous science fiction and fantasy author that ever lived. I even have some obsure stuff. I like steampunk novels as well, and it drives my father crazy. He doesn't really understand the appeal. Why do you ask? Are you obsessed, too? With the science fiction and fantasy novels, I mean."
"You could say that," Jo replied. "I don't collect just the books, though. I have all sorts of figurines and knicknacks. What's your schedule like, by the way? I kind of have to hurry to my next class, but I'd love to meet up with you again, later. If that's okay, that is."
"Of course."
They both had to do some adjusting and rummaging in their book bags, but the managed in the end to find some scrap pieces of paper. The two of them exchanged their class schedules and their contact information, and Jo was delighted to find his courses were around the same time as hers. He also happened to live in the same residence hall as she did, which would make it easier for them to find each other later on. As she walked towards her class, Jo felt like she'd accomplished something important, and she found herself stil smiling, though she couldn't say why.
I hope everyone is enjoying this story so far. I know I've been having a blast writing it. :)
--
"It sounded like a good idea at the time." -- Ryan O'Connell
--
Before I forget, I feel I should mention we've had a limited number of gaming systems in my house. We've had the original Nintendo System, a Super Nintendo, a Sega Genesis, a PlayStation (on loan from my brother) and now a PlayStation 2. We also have a few GameBoys. Game reviews are going to be rather limited. I don't play very often, and I really don't take recommendations. I'm rather particular about the games I want to play as I'm into fantasy-settings and role-playing. So please, no game recs. Thanks in advance!
Now on with the review
I like this game. I haven't beaten it yet but I do like it. The graphics are nice, and it has a rather easy storyline to follow. Basically, a "Save the World from Dark Forces" type feel. Only it's a Genie that's wreaking havoc on the world.
I've gotten as far as the Desert Boss before my game was erased . . . and I was playing it at my best friend's house. I've had to restart it since I bought my own copy of the game.
What I like about this game: the hints of realism to it. You have to repair your weapons or you lose them with the exception of your starting weapon. If you don't keep yourself hydrated, you pass out. And you can upgrade your weapons with all sorts of neat things. Oh, and you can rebuild villages almost anyway you want! And get stuff for free!
The flipside: When I was playing the game at my best friend's house, her oldest daughter was telling me how to play the game. It's rather annoying to have an eight-year-old tell you what to do next when you want to find out for yourself. >_<
Overall, I do recommend this game. If you have little ones in the house, it's sure to keep them entertained for a while!
--
"No one believes me anymore," Shuichi murmured.
"No one believes you?" Eiri echoed, raising an eyebrow at Shuichi's quiet confession. "What are they not believing?"
"That it's truly over between you and me," Shuichi said, letting out a sigh. "Every time I have an off day, it gets blamed on you and it's driving me nuts. Everyone keeps telling me to get over whatever's happened between you and me, and to move on. They're tired of our fights affecting my work, and they don't believe me when I say I haven't spoken to you. It's like I'm talking to a couple of brick walls."
Eiri had to refrain from making a biting remark about Shuichi's dilemma with his bandmates. He didn't really give a damn if anyone believed things were over between he and Shuichi or not. Their opinions didn't matter all that much to the novelist anyway, and he also felt that, if they chose to ignore the tell-tale signs -- Shuichi no longer lived with Eiri and hadn't for several months. Last Eiri had heard, Shuichi now lived with his former brother-in-law -- then it only showed just how truly idiotic they were.
However, Shuichi was not Eiri. A biting, scathing comment could reduce the singer to a fountain of tears. Shuichi needed approval, validation for everything he did and from those closest to him. Eiri understood that as did Hiro, Shuichi's best friend.
Or where they now? Eiri couldn't really say. It had been five weeks since he and Shuichi had last spoken to each other, and Eiri found he didn't know about his former lover as much as he used to know. It wasn't unusual, really, but they'd kept in contact better than what they probably should have. Their last few months together had not been pretty.
"The only one who really believes me is Tohma."
"Naturally," Eiri said, trying to control his emotions. "You're living with him, aren't you?"
"Yeah . . . We are, and I think that's the only thing that helps anymore." Shuichi let out a sigh. "He's the one who insisted I go talk to someone about what's been going on. Or at least take a break and get my bearings back. He knows about my apartment . . . like you do."
~tbc~
--
Books, books, books! I love books. It is my dream to one day have a big ass dictionary on a pedestal.
Yes, I'm a dork. XD I love every minute of it, too!
Today's book review centers on the very first book I'd ever read that had been based upon a series of gaming sessions. I first read Dragons of Autumn Twilight when I was sixteen. My ex-boyfriend, Craig, had introduced me to the series. He's an avid role-player, and he'd been the one who introduced Dungeons and Dragons to me and my brother. He also loaned me his copy of Dragons of Autumn Twilight.
Dragons of Autumn Twilight is the first book of the Chronicles trilogy by Weis and Hickman. It's also their first collaborative effort together. The book starts out with a reunion between three friends -- Tanis Half-Elven (if you can't guess his heritage, you're in trouble), Flint Fireforge (a dwarf), and Tasselhoff Burrfoot (a kender -- kender are the replacement for halfings in the second edition of Dungeons and Dragons. People were sick of them for some reason) -- on the outskirts of a village called Solace. They're there to meet up with several other people who they had traveled with several years before. It's at this point that all the reader knows is they went their separate ways ten years prior. How this group of people got together and why they decided to part ways for ten years is an unknown.
Before they can head into Solace and to the Inn of the Last Home (it's actual name, no lie!), they're ambushed by a group of hobgoblins. The ambushers are looking for a staff, a blue crystal staff, and claim it has been stolen. They speak in their native tongue when they see Tanis, Flint, and Tasselhoff do not have it, but are not aware the trio know a little of the hobgoblin language. The three friends quickly dispatch the group, send the leader running, and head for Solace.
It's in Solace where everything begins. One member, Kitiara Uth Matar, does not show up. She has obligations to a new Lord. The rest of the Companions, however, do show up, and one brings with him two people who set into motion events that will change Ansalon once more.
The rest of the book details the Companions' journey into an abandoned and forbidden city where dragons spring from tales and myth back into reality. Relationships and loyalties are tested, and a Goddess is revealed. The people of Krynn are in for a wake up call.
In some ways, Dragons of Autumn Twilight is reminiscent of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, an epic quest to seek or get rid of a great treasure. The Companions are of a great variety, too. Half-elf, dwarf, kender, and human. It has tragedy, romance, comedy (via the interaction between Flint and Tasselhoff. They're forever antagonizing each other but quick to defend), and, best of all, dragons!
The similarities end there, however. Because the book is based off of several role-playing sessions between Weis, Hickman, and a few friends, the races are vastly different. The Elves of Krynn are, at time, just as greedy and as ambitious as humans, and quite confident of their superiority over other races. Tolkien's Elves are rather indifferent towards humans and halflings, but tend to be cynical when it comes to Dwarves. There are different kinds of dwarves as well, the most hated being gully dwarves. Gully dwarves are nasty creatures and quite stupid. (One gully dwarf told the Companions the gully dwarves' leader was quite smart. Him eat whole book once.) Dwarves also don't like gnomes, but more on gnomes in the next review.
Dragons of Autumn Twilight is a very enjoyable read, especially for those who love science fiction and fantasy novels. I definitely recommend it, especially if people can get their paws on a copy. ^_^
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Now, I'm going to reach back in time for my movie review. I don't expect many people to have heard of it, not unless they're a huge Bangles fan, like me.
The AllNighter debuted in 1987. It was co-written, produced and directed by Tamar Simon Hoffs, and starred Susanna Hoffs, Dedee Pfeiffer, and Joan Cusack. The catch phrase for the movie was, "Who says you can't do it all in one night . . ."
The AllNighter was filmed during the Bangles hey day and is basically a college-students-gone-wild/romantic comedy-style flick. Vocalist/guitarist Susanna Hoffs plays the lead role as Molly, a young woman who is graduating at the top of her class. However, Molly doesn't feel like she's accomplished everything she's set out to do when she first started her college career. Her biggest regret is she hasn't found the right guy to have the right kind of romance with, though she does have someone in mind. She tries to tell him, but things don't exactly go as she'd have liked. It takes the entire movie (as is the way of movies) for her to tell the guy she likes that she likes him and they have sex before their graduation ceremony.
To me, the comedy of this movie comes in when Molly's roommates, Val and Gina (Pfeiffer and Cusack respectively), are arrested for prostitution and taken to jail. The two are trying to rescue Molly from a serious blunder (Molly tries to seduce her favourite rock star at a hotel where a sting is in progress) when they're led to the hotel room the hookers are working from. (You'd have to see it to really understand it.)
What the critics thought: They clobbered it. If anyone couldn't guess, the director, Tamar Simon Hoffs is Susanna Hoffs' mother. Despite the fact Susanna was twenty-six when she starred in the film, Tamar was accused of borderline child abuse for directing her daughter in a sex scene. Plus, at the time it was released, there were already numerous college-students-gone-wild movies out there. This was just one of many.
Thoughts from the Jade Warrior: This is a cult classic for any Bangles fan or a follower of Dedee Pfeiffer or Joan Cusack. The acting is very good. It isn't the greatest, but lines and actions aren't exaggerated. The storyline is relatively weak but I've also seen worse done in other features. All in all, it's a good movie and probably one of the only "chick" flicks that I own. ^_^ Since I know this movie isn't for everyone, I recommend finding a place that has a copy for renting. DVDs aren't cheap when trying to find something new to watch and flat out buying them can be quite a gamble.
The AllNighter is rated PG-13 and runs for approximately 95 minutes.
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I'd heard of Gackt from a few people long before I ever bought my first album by him. spinshadowmentioned him in a few of her LJ entries, a college friend gushed about him to me, and paganpoet encouraged me to give him a listen. In November of last year, I finally caved and bought Crescent off Amazon.com.
The first time I heard Dybbuk and Gackt's voice, I couldn't get into the music and I wasn't sure if I entirely liked his music. However, the CD cost me a little over $38. I wasn't going to send it to someone without a bit of a fight. Or at least without giving the album a proper listening. I'm glad I did.
Initially, Gackt's voice threw me for a loop. He has a rather deep-sounding voice, and he's a rather effeminate looking guy. In other words, his voice did not fit his appearance. Strange to hear it said, I know, but it is quite startling when you're expecting one thing and you get another. This, however, was a nice surprise. :)
Anyway, the first track off of Crescent is Dybbuk, and the verses are rapped. Yes. Rapped. I guess Gackt was experimenting with musical styles when he wrote this particular piece. It also isn't unpleasant, either. The song does rock for the chorus, and it's great for long drives.
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And now to fuss over some anime. I'm an anime fan so . . . why not? ;)
There really isn't much I can say about the Gravitation anime. It is cute and it is quirky, but in some ways it's mindless.
Quick overview for the non-Gravitation fans on my f-list.
The Gravitation anime is based off of a popular manga in Japan. It's artist is Maki Murakami, and the story is basically about two guys who meet and end up in love. Or at least very attracted to each other. ~_^ The main character, one Shuichi Shindou, wants to be a famous rock star. He and his best friend, Hiroshi Nakano, set out to accomplish that dream, but one thing happens to get in the way. I should say, one man. Romance novelist Eiri Yuki.
I'm not going to go too into detail with this. Just know there are comedic moments, and dramatic ones as well as some romantic interludes and what's known as crack in fiction writing. ;)
I read the manga first, thanks to a friend (the same friend who talked about Gackt), and watched the fansubs of the anime over at her house. We were rather excited about the anime being released in the U.S. We had even discussed who we thought would make excellent voice actors for some of the characters. The only character I had a concrete decision on was for Eiri. Since we'd been exposed to Saiyuki (as released by ADV), I was hoping like hell for Sanzo's voice actor to claim Eiri.
Talk about a disappointment. I cannot watch Gravitation in English. The voices, to me, are WRONG. Very, very wrong.
Anyway, back to the anime itself. It definitely keeps a lot of the light-heartedness from the manga, and the romantic interludes are still there. It's also nice to have voices to go with the characters. I just have a problem with the characterization of Shuichi Shindou.
He comes off as two-dimensional and as an idiot. Yes, in the manga, he's an idiot, but he's also displayed a lot of wisdom and inner strength. There's only one instance in the manga where that happens, and it's a scene that involves Taki Aizawa and some thugs. (Not going there.)
Overall, it's rather fun to watch and gets rid of some the crack elements the manga contains. (Seriously. A flying mecha panda? Has the world gone crazy?!) Definitely not for anyone under the age of 13!
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I'm going to skip over the About Me for this entry. I'm going to forget about it PERIOD. I think I'm a rather boring person anyway when it comes to stuff like that.
For the next entry:
Chapter Eight of the Science Fiction Project
more of Black and White -- Reading Between Blurred Lines
Book Review: Dragons of Winter Night by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
Song Review: Make Me Lose Control by Eric Carmen
Game Review: Dragon Warrior (the game that started it all! Nintendo System)
Movie Review: How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey)
Anime Review: Speed Racer
and whatever else I can think of to cram into an LJ entry.
[Edit] I think I got ahead of myself there with The Science Fiction Project. Oopsie.