AgentJ (Level 13)
From my limited PAX experience, the show seems to follow a pattern of lulls and highs, and this year is most certainly a high. I'm struggling to keep track of all the amazing gam ared to knock Duke off of his broad, muscular shoulders? Blasphemy!
THE GAMES:
Assassin's Creed: Revelations
Batman: Arkham City
Mass Effect 3
Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
Ghost Recon: Future Soldier
Rage
Halo 4/Anniversary
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Counter Strike: GO
Dead Island
In this pre-dawn daze, i'm not thinking of all that's coming out, so if I'm forgetting something major, TELL ME. I'll do my best to get to it.
es that will be on the show floor today, but I'll try to list as many as I can below anyway.
Each day I'll be posting a new blog detailing what I played that day, what impressed me, disappointed me, or surprised me. The lines will be longer than ever, so I'll be sort-of be crossing my fingers, hoping to get to everything. If there's another "Duke Nukem Forever" my whole schedule could be thrown off, but could there possibly be something prep
ALL HAIL BALL!
Far from being as grandiose as it sounds, this is just a way for me to blow off my ranking steam, and for all of you to tell me how wrong I am.
LOTW: Top 5 Miyazaki Films
Hayao Miyazaki is well known as the best animation director of his age. His works have become classics around the globe, and earned him countless filmmaking honors, including an Academy Award. Miyazaki has become synonymous with Anime, the same way Disney did for western animation. He continues to release instant classics despite continually threatening retirement.
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1. Kiki's Delivery Service
A classic coming of age tale, focusing on the titular young witch and her sarcastic scaredy cat Jiji. In the film, "Kiki" runs an emotional gauntlet, portraying perhaps the most "real" character of any of Miyazaki's creations over the years. Kiki's Delivery Service is far and away my personal favorite Ghibli movie and in my top five list of movies all-time. |
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2. Castle in the Sky
Could one call "Castle in the Sky" the quintessential Japanese fantasy movie? As the first of Studio Ghibli's projects, this film instantly created a new standard by which all others would be judged. A girl that needs rescuing, an evil organization to best, and ancient ruins to explore; all the trappings of a true classic. To tell the truth, it has been years since I've seen "Castle", but the iconic sky island, and its android, stand out so strongly, so vividly, even through the better part of a decade. |
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3. Princess Mononoke
Princess Mononoke was the first anime to get a wide-spread theatrical release in America, and is credited with being a big part of the subsequent anime boom in the west. The audience follows honest-to-a-fault Ashitaka after he is cursed and banished from his village. Eager to find the source, Ashitaka sets out on what can only be called an epic journey to find the curse's source. While it isn't the first Miyazaki movie to use environmental themes (nor was it the last) his feelings on pollution and the movings of men come through strongest in "Mononoke". It was also in many ways a departure from Miyazaki's norms, with more gritty realism and grand battles than any of his previous flicks. |
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4. Spirited Away
Is it possible that the first and only Anime to win an Academy Award could be left off of such a list? No, it isn't. Spirited Away hit the states in what was arguably the strongest time for anime in the states. The story about a young girl forced to work in a fantastic bathhouse after being separated from her parents is strong in japanese lore, and is perhaps overshadowed only by the superb visuals. Miyazaki returns to his character-developing days of "Kiki", as the lead Chihiro is the most fleshed-out girl since the "Delivery Service" days. |
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5. Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind
Direceted before Miyazaki co-founded Studio Ghibli, Nausicaa is based on Miyazaki's own self-created manga series, which began in 1982, two years before the movie, and ended in 1994. Nausicaa laid the groundwork for many ideas that would later become Miyazaki staples, including the strong female lead, environmental messages, and the evils of war. |
BBWWAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
The graduation ceremony was kind of tedious though, and under-represented; Couldn't we have had more members of the SSS there? What were their dreams and aspirations? Why was Shiina a ninja for heavens' sake? What is TK like as a child? (AWESOME, I'm sure). DAMN IT ANGEL BEATS! YOU'RE THE BIGGEST TROLL EVER!
As with High School, I'll post some overall thoughts on a separate blog post later tonight, but right now I need to make some preparations for my 21st birthday tomorrow. If I die between now and then, at least I'll have regret and go on to that crazy afterlife, where I'll know exactly what to do.
There really isn't a lot to talk about here. The kids have set off alone yet again, with the hope of reuniting with more family members. An EMP was launched, though I don't really understand what the thinking behind it was. The zombies aren't using cell phones and pocket bombs, and if it was some sort of retaliatory attack, it wasn't well thought out. We had some touching moments between Takagi and her parents, as they finally made clear how proud of her they are, and put her in the care of Hirano. Soichiro gives some man-to-man advice to Takashi, to stick to his guns and be decisive.
I loved the touch in the final scene, as it zooms out to show the gang walking by a board filled with their own photos (an extension of the ending credits). But who was that guy that walked in front of it first, with the long-ish hair and glasses? And HOW CAN THOSE PICTURES BE UP THERE ON THAT BOARD?!?! PLOT HOLE LOLZ! But I digress.
I'll post a series-wrap up blog in the coming days, along with a poll on what I should do next, if anything at all. But this is one that I'm glad I picked.
The few goodbyes we were granted in this episode were not as poignant as suggested by the closing moments of the previous episode. The girls of our favorite band, along with the leader of the guild, got in some parting words before simply vanishing into thin air, not really being "fulfilled" at all. I suppose all the worthwhile sayonaras will be exchanged in that final episode. We got perhaps the best action scenes yet thanks especially to Kanade, who used her wings and out-of-place hand sonics to completely demolish all enemies standing in her way.
I don't really have much more to say on this episode that really shouldn't be held on to until the finale, so thats that for now. I'll probably have episode 13 up later today, so i'll see yall again then.
