Saturday, August 19, 2017

Annabelle:Creation REVIEW

Ill be the first to admit that i dont know why i even saw this movie.  Never really cared or enjoyed the original,  so why was it necessary to create a prequel to a prequel/origin film? Dont get me wrong,  Annabelle is a very creepy doll,  by hollywood standards, that is, but put into the creative hands of James Wan and you get the next best thing to a nightmare fueled overdose. In case you didnt know, the actual annabelle doll is a ragedy anne doll and,  just like in the Conjuring,  Annabelle has been locked in a glass box ever since the Warrens discovered she possessed evil entities.
That was the definite thing missing in this film,  James Wan.  He and Leigh Whannel created the Conjuring universe and you can always tell what has their creative touch and this movie lacked it by the masses.
Horror movies,  nowadays have managed to melt into one another. The scares are cheap, the story is dull and your main antagonist becomes more of a joke by the third sequel. Horror icons havent been what they use to be. When Freddy Krueger or Jason Voorhees made their mark, back in the day, it was memorable and new. The "killer doll" persona has claimed victory by the likes of Chucky or Fats the dummy,  if you remember that Anthony Hopkins movie.
This movie wasnt very fascinating or moving or memorable. It was just dull and followed the regular status quo that horror movies tend to follow. The only shining moment in this film was the main actress. Most young actors make a film cringeworthy because they simply cant act and they dont have the years of experience to draw from for emotional scenes. Thisbyoung woman was charming and intimidating especially when it came to her scenes of trying to kill.
One thing i felt this movie tried doing was force a new spin-off down our throats. As some may know,  in the near or distant future,  THE NUN,  which was a big part of the conjuring 2, is having a movie made. In Annabelle:creation, they made sure that you knew that it was coming.  It was almost a piggy back ride to another spin-off that will probably be less that perfect.  Aside from that, i wasnt at all moved by Annabelle. She belongs as a subtle part of the conjuring movies.  A little reminder of her existance, nothing more.

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Keep Going

Above, is a picture of yours truly. On my back and to my side are my children, Elijah and Lila. It's amazing what you get to experience as a parent through the eyes of your children. I learn more and more about the fragile fabric of life we all have been given. However, this appreciation was nowhere to be found just shy of four years ago.
Before I found out i was having my first born, I had actually split with his mom. We had treated each other poorly in our relationship and were better off apart than together, but a week into her pregnancy, she told me she was expecting. Not knowing what to do with the news, we decided to rekindle the relationship for our child. Sure things were never really the same after the split, keep in mind this wasn't the first time this has happened, but we wanted to see if we could be happy together through our child. He was born in March 23rd, 2014. Four months later, we realized that keeping the relationship wasn't ideal for him so we, agreeingly, seperated, for good. The relationship didn't end in fire and flames, it just ended. This should've been a great p forward in being a mature adult, but I took the break up with everything I had. Her and I had been together for two, going on three, years and that fist moment of living alone was heart breaking. I had my son every other week which helped full that silence, but the other weeks were devastating. I eventually decided that being alone wasn't an option, but never really wanted to fill the void of love. I started smoking both cigarettes and pot, which were a big "no no" in my previous life because my mom raised me better, but it helped null the sound and numb the pain. I made any sexual encounter obvious, that every encounter was strictly physically and never emotional. Most of the women were surprisingly okay with that notion.
It wasn't until I realized that my own self worth was very low. I threw myself at any women who'd have me and drowned out the remainder of my days with a dash of drinking and alot allot of smoking. No longer did I recognize the person I had become. I wasn't the only one who saw this downward transformation. My son's mom, who has known me, inside and out, for years took the proper precautions to protect our child and kept him from me. She never did it out of spite or hate, but concern for me and our child.
Most things that alot of broken couples, who have children, forget to do is make sure the child is always happy, safe and provided for. Once a couple has a child, it becomes a custody battle of who is better than the other. That's not the correct environment for a mentally safe child! If one parent is verbally bashing the other parent in front of the child, just because they don't agree on a little thing aside from the Child's well being, they are inadvertently teaching their child how to hate the other parent. Something my son's mom and I understand is, this is no longer about us. We decided to create a life and we are going to do our best in making sure he lives that life to the fullest and best. I still love my ex, as a person and as the mother to my son. I could never wish any ill feeling on her or her family. Yes, she and I are both married to two separate people and have children with those individuals. The four of us get along swimmingly. We even help one another when it comes to the kids. I have watched their daughter and they have watched mine. We are ALL FRIENDS. The past is the past and our children are the future!
I'm getting off track.
After the excessive amount of women and the drowning of pain, I knew that this was it. This was where I knew my story ended. I sat down one evening and write out a note to all those who I felt were the closest to me, explaining my every thought and every concern for what will come after this note. I wrote to my son, my parents, my siblings, my close friends and finished simply "reality is a lovely place, but I wouldn't wanna live there", a quote from the song "The Real World" by Owl City.
Following the note's sign off, I went to my bathroom and swallowed anything I could: pain relievers, sleeping pills, you name it and slowly shifted my feet into my bedroom where I physically believed would be my resting ground. I pulled out my phone ans gave a social goodbye to my friends on Facebook, fell back and went to sleep.
To my unwanted surprise, I woke up in the hospital, a dozen different messages filled my phone and my mom was sitting bedside while a doctor explained that I failed to overdose due to my excessive weight. Yes, that's right. I was too far to die.
Since I had been checked into this hospital with attempted suicide, i had no choice, but, by law, spend seventy-two hours in a stress unit, which I did and met some very simple minded, beautiful and hurtful souls. The food, however was fantastic as well.
Once I paid my dues, I got out and that same depressing feeling crept back over me. I had to do something about it. Thankfully, for my cousin, who offered me company and a place to stay, I got on the right track. It was a slow start, but living with him was the exact boost I needed to get everything in order. I eventually met my wife, a good paying job and our first apartment and ultimately had our daughter and got married. It's a short story, believe me, but it's for another time.
The moral of this story is obvious in its title: Keep Going. Life gets rough and outside forces are going to drag you down, but know that your e life has more worth than what is reflected in the moment. Your family, your friends, your children have to also live with the consequences. Even if you're not struggling, look for someone who is. More times than not, those people just need someone to listen and to understand and know that they are not alone in this world and that they are not the only ones carrying this burden. Depression is a serious thing and should NOT be taken with a grain of rice.
If you are reading this, please know that this isn't the end. This is just the beginning. Once one door closes, another one opens. Who knows what or who is on the other side. I appreciate and give all my love, accordingly to those for my uphill struggles. Without them, I wouldn't be living the life I have today with the wonderful things I have and I certainly wouldn't be the father I am without their wisdom and support.
One last from, again, Owl City, the band who helped me through life's ups and downs come from a song simply and appropriately titled: "This Isn't the End"
"When the rain falls down, when it all turns around, when the light goes out, this isn't the end"
Take one last breath, look around and feel hopeful for the days that follow.
Keep going, my friends

Saturday, July 22, 2017

I'd like to not talk to you about Jesus

I understand that religion is a strong point with most people, whether they use it as a crutch to make themselves feel better about what might happen when they die or they truly believe in a life after death because they have given their full devotion to a higher power. I am not here to tell someone that their beliefs are wrong or shame someone for the same reason, but I'm stating my opinion that the idea of a higher power is beyond my comprehension. The thought or "story" that we are all taught during Sunday morning mass or whatever you may call it, sounds beyond bogus. I had no recollection of life before me being put on this earth, but I'm supposed to think that there's something after death? No, it's lights out when my hour glass runs out of sand. My family and friends will put me in a box and put me 6 feet in the ground. Sure, it's a sad thought, but that's the thing that makes the most sense to me. I wasn't "blessed" with the limited skills I possess as a human being, I practiced the things I enjoyed to better them. I wasn't "blessed" with a good job, one to help me financially to help support myself and my family, I went out, applied and received it. My wife's womb wasn't "blessed" to have our daughter, we had sexual intercourse...the explanation for that is simple, pay attention in child development in high school. The same process took place to have my son. ALL these things were not of some greater power, but of my own doing. If you wish to argue and say these things happen because of an unknown force, I know exactly what you're referring to and I'm not buying it. If that WERE the case, explain the scenario where I committed suicide? Was THAT an unknown higher power controlling my thoughts and emotions? No, because you're  told that committing things like suicide is a sin and it's ONLY in this case where i am the selfish one. I survived the incident, but here's where its then reversed once again and called a miracle of god...no, I distinctly remember hearing the doctor say i didn't overdose because my body mass was too large. I didn't die because im fat!
Believe what you want, follow what makes you feel good and comfortable with the one life you have been given, but don't screech and bitch at me both because im not on the same page as you. After all, i believe I have had a disagreement with people and my disapproval of homosexuality.
It's all a choice.
Chew on that, world.

Jigsaw Trailer REVIEW

It's Christmas in July, my friends!!! We have been graced with the first trailer for the next installment in the SAW series, properly titled, JIGSAW.  When it comes to modern day horror, this series wins, by far, in my book at least. I love the story and character of John Kramer/ Jigsaw. It has been 6 or 7 years since we had been given Saw: The Final Chapter and let's be honest, true fans know that wasn't going to be the final resting point.
Now, 10 years after the death of Jigsaw, bodies are piling up with evidence pointing directly the man himself, John Kramer.
My initial thoughts about this trailer is full nostalgia. In high school, these movies were my go to thing to look forward to each year. One, it always came out a week before Halloween  and two, my birthday is October 23rd, the fourth movie was actually released on my birthday that year. These were always a birthday gift to myself.
Now, this movie also looks like they are trying to reamp the series and take it in a new direction while also continuing the story from its original material and I find that bit of knowledge fascinating. It's exactly what this series was needing for fans who started dropping off. Nonetheless, I will be first in line for preview night.

Thursday, July 20, 2017

USFamilyguide.com

Excited to start my journey into the vast and wonderful things this blogging website has to offer. Everything here has something I can offer my kids, from concerts to movies. Thank you for the opportunity to allow me to grow with you.
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Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Cult of Chucky Trailer 2 REVIEW

For those who are not aware, my favorite slasher from the 80's is and always will be, Chucky, otherwise known as Charles Lee Ray. I own both a Chucky and his dashing Bride, Tiffany dolls and I unfortunately have yet to get my hands on their love-child Glen/Glenda. Chucky has been around for years. This year, 2017, we will have yet another installment in the Chucky/Child's Play series titled CULT OF CHUCKY. The thing I love most about the chucky movies is the originality that each installment brings. Each film follows the original storyline and keeps adding layers to this killer doll. Over the last decade, chucky took a turn into the comedic genre with a dash of horror, but, to me, it wasn't a far stray from its source material. I've come to love each installment as their own as well as a whole in the series.
Now, in CULT OF CHUCKY, we have a film following the events from CURSE OF CHUCKY. Nica, played by Fiona Dourif and is also real life daughter to the voice of chucky himself, Brad Dourif, has been institutionalized. Through therapy and a rough coping process, she is to believe that she is the one responsible for the death of her family members set in the events of CURSE OF CHUCKY. Which, in reality, Chuck is the one who single-handedly killed her family. Eventually, in group therapy, her group therapy mentor brings out a good guy doll to help lead the group to feel comfortable with a story that was previously terrifying. From there, the rest is history.
This movie reunites a ton of original cast members from the Child's Play series, including Alex Vincent, the actor who originally played Andy Barclay in the first 2 child's play films and then briefly in an after credit scene in CURSE OF CHUCKY. We also have Jennifer Tilly reprising her role as Tiffany/Herself.
There are alot to speculate from this trailer. My biggest fear is this film will take the turn that the original Child's Play was meant to be. Most people never knew that the original Child's Play was meant to be a psychological film revolving around Andy and his split personality and decent into madness. Andy himself was the one responsible for killing the victims in that film and managed to convince a few people that it was his good guy doll. Fortunately, a test audience thought it was carp and loved the idea that chucky was actually an evil possessed doll.
I hope this method and story isn't poured into CULT OF CHUCKY. This trailer leads me to believe that and puts me a little on edge. Every aspect they are treating Chucky like a figment of everyone's imagination. It would be a side story explaining a bin full of loons coping with ones story, but if they are trying to convince us, the audience, that chucky hasn't been real this entire time or no longer will be, I will have lost respect for Don Mancini and this entire creative team. I, however, have hope that they won't screw us over like that and CULT OF CHUCKY will be extremely superb.
Wanna Play?

Spiderman: Homecoming REVIEW

Managed to see SPIDERMAN: HOMECOMING which should probably be renamed SPIDERMAN: THE PIGGY BACK EASTER EGG HUNT.
don't get me wrong, there was a lot about this movie that I was over the moon about, but I can't help feel that this movies main driving force wouldn't exist had it not had iron man in it. It almost said, we can't do this movie without him and that left me feeling cheated out of telling a good spiderman story. Every time peter would do something, good or bad, iron man would show up, or happy hogan, in this case, and fix or comment on what just happened. You almost start to side with Tony stark on how annoying peter is being and how much trouble he is causing.
Aside from that, it's villain was on point. They could've trashed this character like marvel usually does, but instead they had Michael Keaton doing what he does best and kicking ass. Nothing to complain about there.
Peters friend, ned was the worst friend and character in the movie. I, personally, couldn't stand his screen time. I understand you need a humanistic ego to your SUPERhero and that part was being played by ned, but damn it, if I was spiderman I would've webbed his ass in some cocoon and hid him far away from humanity, where he belonged.
Overall, it's nice seeing spiderman play along with other marvel characters. It's good, too, to see him back with the marvel family. I just hope that in his next solo outing that he proves he can bring in the bucks on his own. Can't wait to see how he fits into infinity war.
Cheers!!

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Super Mario Odyssey FIRST LOOK

"LET'S-A-GO!"
This week at the 2017 E3 conference, Nintendo brought a ton of new things to the public eye, everything from new additions to beloved series and DLC expansion packs for things like THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD, all new titles for both of Nintendo's latest consoles, the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS and a small bit of Nintendo WII U, but the thing I was interested in was "what can I expect or look forward to with Super Mario Odyssey?" We got a first look trailer a few months back and it only gave us the idea that this was another Mario sandbox game. We hadnt been given a great free-roam game since Super Mario Sunshine. You could argue and say we had Super Mario 3D Land, but that was still a game that had a designated path from start to finish with each level having a common goal and that was the final flag pole and the collection of 3 large gold coins. A sandbox game allows players to venture from the initial story line and do a side mission or two. you were never fully bound to one goal. This was also displayed in Super Mario 64. the player had free roam of the mushroom kingdom and each level, within different paintings, were different goals and stars to collect. This time around, Nintendo has graced us with, what seems to be the LARGEST, Mario game to date. What we have been able to see, so far, is this vast open world that Mario can play and explore in. One particular example is the "New Donk City" world, basically a rip off of New York City FILLED with Donkey Kong references. This map is gigantic in comparison to other Mario maps and levels. It's also filled with so many different things to play with and do! This is only one amongst many worlds to explore and tinker with.
There is a few new features to this game that haven't been seen in Mario games before. One being the capability to throw your new found ally, Cappy, a ghostly spirited top hat that takes form as Mario's classic hat to aide him in his journey, onto almost any living or inanimate objects and posses, including enemies. That's right, if you ever felt like playing as Mario wasn't fun enough, you can toss your hat to the nearest koopa or goomba and literally become them. This is a new feature that allows so many new possibilities within the original story. The second, being the capability to change your outfit. Many people who are familiar with the mustached plumber are the original blue overalls, red shirt, white gloves and emblem hat. Odyssey allows the player to dress Mario up as they please. In the Nintendo Treehouse segment at E3, we got to see 2 examples of this. In the TOSTERENA map, you're able to dress Mario up in classic mariachi attire, sombrero and all. It doesnt stop there, in the rainforest map (Im unfamiliar with the name at this time) you can dress him up as an explorer, a steve irwin lookalike if you may so call it.
I've always liked games that allowed customization to characters. It gave the feel that this was YOUR game and no one elses. Odyssey gives you that feel. It gives you the possessing feeling that YOU alone are playing with Mario and not just following the italian plumbing, coin jumping status quo that every other player in the world was doing. This excites me on so many levels! I have hope that this game is going to be challenging and ultimately endless in its game play and history. I feel that it will, most definitely, stand up against it's predecessors and make it's mark in gaming history.
So far, i'm excited and absolutely can NOT wait for October 27th.
GAME ON, MY FRIENDS!!!!

Monday, June 12, 2017

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe REVIEW

Now that I have had some time to play around and get the feel of what the NINTENDO SWITCH can do and is capable of, I was ready to actually have some fun and whats more fun than racing with our favorite multi-talented italian plumber, Mario? I bought my copy of MARIO KART 8 DELUXE and really havent put it down since. What MK8 has is a lot more than what it's original title had, which was released on the NINTENDO WII U and that's every unlockable character, every track and every circuit (50cc-Mirror and 200cc) This game is also the first game I've personally enjoyed playing online. I'm not a huge online player, but when it came to Nintendo and their online games, it was usually disastrous and lagged almost every time. This game also has what it's original does not and that's the online battle mode which is my favorite on this title, more specifically, coin runner or bob-omb battle. It's a great add-on and addition to the Super Mario universe and Mario Kart family. Next in the Mario universe is the reported Mario and Rabbids Kingdom Battle followed by Super Mario Odyssey. One of those I'm over the moon excited about, the other...I'm slightly confused, BUT nonetheless, should be a fun and entertaining experience.That's for another time. Buckle up, shift into maximum effort and overdrive (Yes I made a deadpool reference) and go for gold with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe!!!

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 REVIEW

Everything marvel touches turns to gold...unlike the golden people in Guardians of the galaxy volume 2. There has only been one marvel series that had always out done itself with each instalment and that was the Captain America trilogy, each film delivered more action and story than the original. Now, finally, we have a new champ. GOTG was always a surprise to me because I'm not a sci-fi kind of guy. Space and things like Star Wars were never an interest to me, but here comes Guardians. The original blew me out of the water because I initially entered the movie with very low expectations since I had no idea about it and it was a brand new entry and universe in the MCU. Needless to say, I was very impressed and expectations were surpassed in this sequel. My only question or concern was the heavy sexual innuendos and borderline adult language. Not that it mattered much to me, but it's a superhero movie directed towards a younger audience. I understand the original audience, who have been watching since iron man, are much oldet, but it's not a bad thing to keep things a bit on the cleaner side. You don't need language to sell tickets.
Overall, guardians kicked so much ass and has definitely put their own roots firmly into the MCU...and by roots, I mean cute, teenie tiny baby Groot roots. That little guy almost steals the show.

Saturday, June 10, 2017

Adam West 9/19/1928-6/10/2017

Holy shark repellent, Batman!
Today marks another day for the unfortunate passing of an icon. Today, the talented, gifted and self-proclaimed funny man, Adam West has passed away. Most younger people know Adam as the voice of Family Guy's Quahog Mayor, who plays an off-beat version of himself. Other people, and people, universally know him as the billionaire vigilante Bruce Wayne/Batman. The Man was given the task of bringing the comic book character to life on screen for the first time in the characters history. Of course, HIS version of Batman was very cartoony and campy, but TRUE die hard Batman fans see him as the one and only Bruce Wayne. We can all agree to disagree, however he is a prominent staple in Batman history and will be missed by fans alike. Rest easy.

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales REVIEW

Another pirates adventure has come and sailed away again...and in my own personal opinion, for good.
I had a date night with the wife and saw the latest in the Pirates of the Caribbean series subtitled, Dead Men Tell no Tales and I was thoroughly pleased with the outcome. Most of the time when a movie gets 5 entries deep, it starts to recycle alot of old characters or drags on the story longer than its original welcome. Somehow, PIRATES manages to always come up with a fresh tale to capture audience's attention. DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES is no exception with its new character additions and storyline. The one thing this movie managed to do is put to rest a lot of open plot holes or character arcs. I won't say much about it, but one climax in the finale mimicked Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 a bit almost to a tee, but it didnt distract me from its meaning and purpose to the storyline, however I did feel like it was rushed and was something that was needed to create a quick connection to two characters while giving a bit of depth to another. It was too much in such a short period of time without a clear reason why this character did what they did...oh well.
Johnny Depp is always great as Captain Jack and I hate those who think he is becoming a mockery of himself. He's just a fantastic character actor. Captain Jack is always a staple in the movies who never needs any type of introduction or development, although we saw a small glimpse of the young Jack sparrow in a brief flashback.
This movie has everything needed from the ones it followed to help make a great time for pirate fans. Definitely a good time and definitely a great addition to the series. Considering how it ends, I hope this series stops here, not because I don't want it to continue, but simply because I'd hate to watch a good thing die off so slow and sadly.
Enjoy.

Wonder Woman REVIEW

Wonder woman was, dare i say, wonderful! I realize DC has struggled in critic and fans eyes with making a good film within their new shared film universe. While i, personally have enjoyed each installment, starting at MAN OF STEEL, to BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, and most recently SUICIDE SQUAD, I can see where most people are left with a little sour taste in their mouths. They haven't been Marvel movies where almost each addition is absolutely outstanding and stellar or at least acceptable for the film universe's sake, but they've just started and are still on their baby feet. Wonder woman is a great turning point for great things in the future. My one problem with the storyline was the motivation at the climax of the film that was off putting and unsettling for the origin of this character. I won't spoil any part of it for anyone, but if it was a subtle thing somewhere WITHIN wonder woman's character arc, I would've classified this film as a perfect origins movie for the character. After all, this was the characters first stab at a big screen adaptation and aside from that little tid bit, it was incredibly solid and exactly what DC needed to move forward with future installments. The supporting characters were even interesting to watch and chris pine, who played Captain Steven Trevor, was a great opposite to gal gadots Diana Prince.
The next thing we can look forward to comes out this November with the first part of Justice League which is shaping up to be an excellent follow up to wonder woman.
This is the part where I usually feel okay with my quick review, but I'm having a hard time wrapping this one up. I'm going to take that as a good sign.
I'm under the enchantment of the lasso of truth: this movie has been the best ive seen so far this year next to guardians of the galaxy volume 2.
enjoy

Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie REVIEW

What a fun trip down nostalgia lane. Just got out of Captain Underpants: The First Epic movie and I was so so soooooooooo beyond pleased with it. So far, 2017 has been a great year for film and I'm hopeful that it just keeps getting better.
There's nothing too serious about this movie that I really need to break down, because it is exactly what it is, it's a captain underpants movie, enough said. I was initially worried because it had the voice talent of Kevin hart, who I feel is just so over the top in his acting that it even shows in voice over work, like The Secret Life of Pets, but this movie is intentionally corny and silly that he actually blended in well with its surroundings. I couldn't think of anyone better to voice George Beard. Ed Helms was a spot on Principal Krupp/ Captain Underpants. I had no complaints at all about this. I went in with hope that DreamWorks wouldn't destroy an innocent thing that I enjoyed as a child, but they did the opposite and reminded me why I loved these books and their crazy off-beat stories and characters. I obviously took my son who enjoyed it just as much as me, if not more. There comes a great time in a father and son movie experience when you're laughing at the same potty jokes. I wouldn't trade those moments for the world.
If you don't know who captain underpants is, take the kids and fill their minds with this tremendous ride and laughter.
Enjoy.

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Making a SWITCH


THE NINTENDO SWITCH
If you're a gamer and you are not very familiar with the above image, then you're either a SONY or MICROSOFT nut or you have been living under a rock with Patrick Star. THIS, is the Nintendo Switch, a sleek new handheld and home gaming console from the people who probably made your childhood the best it could be. Nintendo has been the original heavy weights when it comes to their gaming consoles and products in general. In a nut shell, if you've never played a Nintendo product, you still might know who Super Mario is or maybe even Donkey Kong or Link. Nintendo has inadvertently made an impact in your life in some way shape or form. Nintendo always seems to be the first gaming company to be new or fresh and never seems to rehash any of their old console designs. They take what was good and make it better or in other cases, they take something they might have been a little lackluster about and improve where they went astray.
Let's start where things became imaginative and worlds were divided by levels (World 1-2). For me, I have always been a fan of the Italian plumber who manages to find himself in outlandish scenarios just to find a princess who probably could care less about him from a mutated turtle king.
I'm trailing away from the point, the NINTENDO SWITCH. I got my hands on one of these beauties and it's definitely a beauty. Everything about the SWITCH's display and controls and layout is super easy, something very new and different from the WII U whos layout and menu options were scattered and hard to understand.
The option of going from home console to handheld is obvious the big driving factor to the SWITCH's features and it's one of the smoothest features a console can have and the best ever! Who would've thought of combining two of the three forms of gaming? Those two being handheld and home gaming, the third being online.

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD
One of the few titles that launched with the NINTENDO SWITCH was the highly anticipated OPEN WORLD game "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the LARGEST game to date with a map that almost seems endless. Now, I'm not biased at all when it comes to Zelda cause I'm simply not a fan, never have been growing up and I'm still not crazy about it now, but this game blew my mind wide open a d as I sat in my brain juices, I explored the vast new world of Hyrule. It's definitely one of those games for die hard Zelda fans that really drives it home with excitement and adventure from start to finish as you build Link from the bottom up with weapons, clothing and armor. This game is also a solid starting point for anyone like me who have never set hands on any previous version of Zelda.
At this point in the game, I haven't been able to experience much with the switch, but I'm in nerdy love. GAME ON, MY FRIENDS

Friday, May 12, 2017

And the next American Idol is...on NBC

American idol is returning to television next summer, but it will find a new tv family through NBC instead of Fox. Now, producers and creators are trying to repeat history by bringing by original host, Ryan Seacrest who, most people will know, took a full time gig as co host next to Kelly Ripa on the morning talk show "Live with Kelly and Ryan". It sounds like he is more than likely out of the question. Producers obviously tread on dangerous territory when they asked Simon Cowell to return as a judge. That man shot it down faster than they could ask.
Now, the question stands like this: Who would be a good host to take over American Idol duties and who would be great judges to find Americas next singing idol?
My picks
Host: Daniel Tosh
Judges: Bruno Mars
Jennifer Hudson
Michael Buble
What are your thoughts or what are your picks?

Monday, May 8, 2017

When Cheese Cried and Caliburs Exploded and lost the letter 'E'

CRYING CHEESE
When it came to being a teen adolescent, you think the oddest and most bizzare things are the funniest. In Middle School, my mom forced my siblings and I to attend summer school, regardless of our regular school year GPA. It was a way for my mom to have a sitter during the day and not worry about her children "wasting their summer away in front of a television screen". There was a silver lining to our summer school torture period. Each morning before school and each evening after, my cousin Henry was dropped off and picked up by his dad which meant basically, we spent five out of the seven days in a week with my cousin. Now, my cousin is not your average run-of-the-mill sibling. He's not even, technically our cousin. His dad married my aunt while we were all at a young age, so Henry and his siblings were always there to be apart of our family and was treated as if they were too.
Anyway, when you put Henry and myself in a room with the strangest and off-beat items, we tend to make the most of it. One evening, when Henry was waiting for his pick up, we went for our usual after school snack which was a slice of cheese or usually melting American cheese on tortilla chips (No we didn't live in a trailer park) This evening, we stumbled upon a bad pack of cheese. The top slice of the cheese cube had a small speck of mold growing on its surface. It just so happened that it was in the perfect shape of a tear drop. Long story short, that's how crying cheese came to be.

CALIBUR XPLOSION
In high school, I partook in almost every theatre production I could, starting from my first production "HONK!" To my final, "South Pacific" all four years of high school. Usually, every January of each school year, our theatre troupe would go to a local college or venue of sorts for a thespian conference. Thespian is technically a grown-up name for actor.
So, a group of us students and our theatre director went one weekend in January to this conference. This happened to be my first year attending. On the drive there, a bunch of the girls, who usually thought very highly of themselves, started giving on these cute little nicknames to their other peers, mainly the boys they thought were cute. I never adopted a name until halfway through the conference. I'm not a lady's man kind of guy. I love movies and comic books too much for women to be apart of that obsession.
One evening when we broke away for lunch in the mess hall of whatever college we were visiting. This college happened to have a small arcade area just off the main mess hall/cafeteria. One of the games that existed in this arcade was one of the Soul Calibur games. I'm fuzzy on which installment it was. Some of the same girls who were giving away nicknames stood near that game kiosk. I'd go on and assume they stood there to flirt with the little nerds who came to play because, well, they were college boys. I thought they were standing there to actually watch people play a good round of the fighting game, so I went up with full intentions of showing off. No doubt, I played a good game, so I thought I had their attention, little did I know they could care less about how well I played a video game. Instead of gaining brownie points, I basically looked like a nerdy kid who had one too many brownies.
Now, because I was good at the game, they labeled me as Calibur for the remainder of the trip. While they thought they were using a name to tease me, I was more fascinated with the idea of it. In theatre, my director soon labeled me the "Johnny Depp" of our group. I was great at what I did and I could be given any side or major character and transform entirely into that character. This lead to a bigger and honestly, obnoxious personality. Yes, I was that kid. The loud, in your face, "look at me" kid, an explosion of charisma and personality. I carried "Calibur" into the rest of that school year and tagged Xplosion to the end...thus now, giving you meaning behind the blog you're reading.
You're Welcome


Friday, May 5, 2017

In the beginning, there was man...in this case, me

The name has a story, the man behind it, does not, but that's for another time. My name is Corey Small and if you dare use the age old "Sand Lot" reference, I might just kill you. I like what I do, whatever that may be, in this case, it's film and the magic that is put together through its producers, actors and director(s). There's something so endless about film that it's ultimately timeless. There's categories that are originally one genre that over the course of time become solidified as classics or those individuals so secretly hidden from public eye, but are so well crafted they become cult-classics.
As far back as I can remember, I wanted to be a film director. I wanted to show the world the things I constantly see in my head, the pictures and storyline I created in the depths of my brain.
My basic goal with this blog is to gain and share knowledge from all things of different sorts whether it's the obvious with film or the latest bunch of phone technology that sweeps the millennial group.
Most of the time, I ramble on too long and often to no one at all so if I can find an online portal to the outside world willing to listen to me, Ill do my best to entertain.
Play nice with each other.