So some quick updates since I'm too wrapped up in holiday cheer and
relaxation (also flooring and driving issues, but you don't want to hear
that shit, we all got problems).
Christmas Haul:
We had a "secret" Santa thing this year where we
each got someone else in the family by drawing a name (I wasn't there
for the drawing due to some complication I forget, might have been the
company Christmas party at the start of the month) , and bought that
person the gifts they asked for with a $30 cap.
My mom and I had each other, so I got her some polka-dot socks, a
Black and Decker coffee maker and a $10 Burger King gift card. Sounds
incredibly simple? I thought so too, but she asked for the first two
items and actually seemed like a kid at Christmas. I really don't
understand her sometimes, but I was glad she was happy.
In return, I got Mockingjay, the third book in the Hunger Games trilogy (I still need to finish Catching Fire, I'm only on chapter 6), The Dark Knight Rises, and the newest CD from the band Of Monsters and Men (My Head is an Animal).
I asked her how she'd stayed in budget, and she told me she did. Not
sure how, I was expecting a couple CDs and a gift card, but the
diversity in what I got was pretty much awesome to me. So I had a very
good Christmas. Also got some money from my aunts, and a lottery ticket
that got me $3, which is what it costed so I broke even I guess. Getting
two ends to trilogies and $3 didn't help my superstitions about the #3.
My brother got my dad some Cowboys themed golf set from the stadium.
He works at Cowboys stadium for those of you new to my blog. My dad got
him Ace Combat for 360 by mistake... well, actually, the local
Gamestop's mistake. Apparently an older guy there told him the Ace
Combat my brother asked for was a PS1 game, and initially they weren't
even going to give my dad a case for the disc! My brother said, and I
agreed, that is the cheapest thing he'd ever heard. Anyway, my dad got
them to give him a plain black case for it, and it was exchanged for a
proper PS3 disc in the morning after Christmas. I forget what else they
had got each other.
Then of course, we had Christmas dinner. I'm counting calories and
wasn't going to get a chance to exercise that day, so I didn't have as
much as usual, but there was delicious ham, potatoes, sweet rolls,
butter, asparagus, etc. to be had. Despite indulging from time to time,
I've gone from 218 to 208 lbs from Dec. 5 to today, so I'm sticking with
my calorie counting no matter how girly it sounds! Well on my way to
being 195 lbs as I was when I exercised regularly in college. Crazy how
much a couple months of saying "fuck it" can do to your physique.
Street Fighter X Mega Man
On Christmas morning, I beat the 8 Street Fighters and got past the
first ... Castle level? The map for the "castle" part is a map with M.
Bison atop it.
It's a very fun game, if a little easy. I'd say it's about the level
of Mega Man 2 on "Normal." Music is great, levels are fairly inventive
if a bit short, bosses are a decent challenge, and it's not like there's
a reason to tell you this cause it's a free download on a platform you
have to own to be reading this. Go to capcom-unity.com and do yourself a
solid. And no, you don't need a gaming laptop, my D620 handles it fine.
Life of Pi
I still prefer 2D no matter what the movie, but the 3D in this is
impressive. I absolutely loved the first part, which was a study on the
importance and implications of religion. I don't want to get into it,
but if you've read the book, I'm more aligned with the dad of the main
character, but I understand and admire where the main character is
coming from.
The middle, once they get on the life boat is... a bit slow. The
movie was directed by Ang Lee, who also directed the 2004, Eric Bana
Hulk, and he loves to take his time. This movie makes a little more
sense to have the pacing it does, but I do feel like it could be
shortened without losng anything.
The acting and cinematography are worth it though. It's a great
experience, even if it needs a bit of editing.I chose to see it over The
Hobbit with my mom cause I figure Hobbit will be out for a while, but
Pi was already limited to one theater we were nearby where we were
shopping.
Arthur Christmas
Recently rented this one, and it's really funny and inventive. It's
about the day of Christmas being an almost military style execution
mission run by the Clause family and an army of elves. Well, at least
Arthur's top-heavy brother Steve runs things that way, aboard the giant
S-1 Spaceship that his dad, the current Santa Clause uses for delivering
presents.
At the end of the mission, there's a speech where Steve is expected
to replace his dad as the next Santa, because after all he does all the
work, but his oblivious dad thinks he did everything and doesn't pass on
the position. It's later revealed that they missed a kid, so it's up to
Arthur, his crazy Grandpa, and a wrapping elf to save the day with the
old magic sleigh, and not all this newfangled S-1 businees.
I know I gave you a description, not a review, but all I can really
say is, it's charming, it's British humor, and it's a good holiday
family movie. Definitely a feel good rental, and I'm very glad I saw
it.Favorite character is the nutball old man.
ParaNorman
Just rented this from Red Box and watched it earlier tonight, and
it's not as funny as I was led to believe, but I liked it. It's a stop
motion movie, but it moves as quickly as 3D animation because of some
camera trick or something. I read something from Cracked.com earlier
about it (in their Movies section in Cracked 64 for 2012) but I forgot
exactly.
It teaches a good moral about mob mentality, acceptance, and there's
quite a shock about the jock character at the end. It's the Halloween,
irreverent, American answer to Arthur Christmas's Christmas, British,
sincere goofery. I'm more of a fan of Christmas, so I like Arthur more,
but Paranorman is pretty good, too. My ex girlfriend's favorite holiday
was Halloweeen, so she'd like it. Actually, I think she might love it
the way I love Arthur Chritmas.
Arbitrage
Rewatched the first part cause mom rented it, and it's still a great
movie, but I just couldn't get through it the second time cause I was
too tired. It's one of those movies that leaves an impact on you, but
you can't really watch it again, at least I had trouble... with the
curve.
Trouble with the Curve
Watching it now. It's ok. Amy Adams is still an amazing actress,
Timberlake still kind of annoys me when he's not on SNL, Eastwood is
still an asshole/badass old man, and the movie is pretty much exactly
what I expected. Parents wanted to see it, so there you go. Also, it
made me realize you're supposed to be as old as Eastwood to have the
problems he's having at the very beginning of the movie. Makes me feel
old... moving on.
More movie speak to come when I watch the rest of the movies I want
to this year and do my 12 best movies of 2012 blog. And of course, still
need to do my Christmas pasts of Gaming blog, but this will have to
tide you over for now while I make New Year's Eve plans with some
visiting friends. Company I freelance for is going to Django Unchained on Jan 3, so might see that with them, and find some way to see Hobbit, Les Miserables, and Zero Dark Thirty.
Happy New Year, if I don't blog agan before then!
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