68, 87, a few updates

68, 87, a few updates

68. Go to a film festival premiere

I never dreamt I'd process this thought, but... Woody Harrelson is a genius. Seriously.

So a group of us got ahold of some tickets for what the SIFF was billing as "a midnight sneak peak at an animated film by..." blah blah mysterious (they were being relatively coy as for which film was going to be shown, with a few simple clues probably specifically designed to make us movie nerds feel smart... and in that they were successful). Turns out, it was Richard Linklater's A Scanner Darkly (based on Philip K. Dick's book).

Granted, this was not a world premiere or anything along those lines; apparently it was shown down at the LA film festival a week ago. But given that it won't even be in theaters for another three weeks (and I don't have a trip to Cannes or Sundance planned), it definitely qualifies as my "film festival premiere".

NOTE: I know you've seen this film, Paul, as I was there, so no whining about spoilers. Other people who might care -- well, if you really cared, you've had 30 years to read the book. I don't feel sorry for you. Nevertheless, in full pirate-accent, I warn you: Here thar be spoilers. Arr. (It is unknown why that warning needed to be typed with a pirate-accent. Sorry.)

As for the movie itself, well, we were still trying to figure out exactly what it was trying to say, on the drive home. To be fair, it was about 2:30am and we were collectively exhausted in the brain, but it seemed to lack a coherent message, per se. Drugs will mess you up? Sure sure, but that seems a little on the simplistic side. Big Brother is watching? Mmm yeah, that's in there, but... well, nothing really bad happened because of it. How much of what ol' Keanu saw was actually delusional, vs. some bigger dark conspiracy? I don't need everything wrapped up with a neat bow, but c'mon, gimme something to work with here.

Probably should just read the book. Sigh.

87. Beat 5 new video games

• Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones

Ahh thank goodness. I was afraid this was going to be as big a pain in the ass as The Warrior Within. Instead, it did a fantastic job of bringing things full circle, back to The Sands of Time, one of my all-time favorite games. It's been a while since I've played it (I really should've written these mini-reviews immediately), but I remember having next to no complaints. I think maybe the camera angles were a pain in the ass from time to time. But the inner dialogue between the Prince and the Dark Prince? Priceless. And mmm, Farah. Sweet, sweet Farah.

• The Punisher

Interestingly (for me, in any event), I enjoyed this game a lot more than I liked the film the first time I saw it. I've never really been a huge Punisher fan, but it seems like the game was a very fitting tribute to the character itself. Plus some of those special kills are fantastic.

• God of War

Really, what is there to be said about this game that every single review ever hasn't already said? Great game. And how 'bout that mini-game in the captain's quarters? How can you go wrong?

• Shadow of the Colossus

It's definitely nice to be able to play something different for a change. I have to say, that first time you come running around the corner, only to look up... and up... and up... and realize, "crap, I'm supposed to fight that?" Well, it's a great moment that immediately sets this game apart. On the other hand, I hate that fucking horse. There, I said it. But seriously, I hate it.

• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (extra credit: also, KotOR II

Very nice, as well. I'm getting kind of tired of writing about games, so KotOR is going to kind of get shorted, there. Liked a lot, though. I have to say, I was surprised that the entire rules basis for these games, it is the D&D rules set. And being intimately familiar with said rules, it was awfully easy to build an "uber-character" on the first run through. I ended up playing more for the plot and character interactions than anything else, so it's fortunate for me that they're so good. (KotOR II: eh. Just more of the same, but I don't get to play the protagonist I worked so hard on building, in the first game. BioWare/Obsidian/whoever, make note: pretend you're making Baldur's Gate and let me port in my old character from the previous game!)

As for a few updates here and there:

6. Vote
Registered! Waiting for something worth voting on. It may be a long wait.

17. Make it through my Netflix queue
Halfway there. I have a feeling this will be the summer o' Netflix.

21. Clean my apartment
Resist! (I find resisting very easy, actually)

36. Watch every episode of ST:DS9, in order (yes, even the Ferengi episodes)
Welllll... I just can't seem to muster up the enthusiasm here. I've seen most, of course (excluding aforementioned Ferengi episodes, judiciously skipped). Instead, I've opted to change this one, to something I can look forward to. Without further ado, I present to you:

36. Watch every episode of Stargate: SG-1, in order (at least, the MacGyver episodes)
DVDs on the way, courtesy of uber-cheap Deep Discount DVD!

52. Read 3 Non-Fiction books
One down, two to go. Finished reading David Remnick's Lenin's Tomb a little bit ago. Seriously, my brain actually feels bigger. There could actually be something to this whole "Non-Fiction" nonsense. In fact, I watched the film Everything is Illuminated a few days ago (which takes place mostly in the Ukraine), and it actually... gave me insight into the film. Effing weird. Not that the film really had much to do with Stalinism or the rise and fall of Communism (except in a relatively tangential sense), but I better understood the region. Next on the reading list: Rick Atkinson's An Army at Dawn. Soon I will know all there is to know about North Africa!

78. Get a new watch I like
Fucking Fossil. Grr. Want pretty watch! Fix your damn zip code database!

Blah blah talky blah. Long post. Sorry.