Saturday, February 28, 2009
Poster of the Week #8
Ever heard of this movie, "Warriors of the Wind"? Wow, what a cool 80s sci-fi b-movie flick, I tought! So I browsed on the net to find out more about it and...
Guess what! It's actually THIS MOVIE:
Guess what! It's actually THIS MOVIE:Studio Ghibli's "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" O_O
And here's what Wiki says about it:
A heavily edited and English dubbed version of the film was released theatrically in North America, shown on HBO and released on VHS by New World Pictures in the 1980s as Warriors of the Wind. According to Nausicaa.net, the voice actors and actresses were not even informed of the film's plotline and more than 30 minutes of the movie were cut from the film because New World felt that "the parts were slow moving". As a result, part of the film's narrative meaning was lost; some of the environmentalist themes were diluted as was the main subplot about the Ohmu, altered to turn them into aggressive enemies. Most of the characters were renamed (for example, Nausicaä became "Princess Zandra"). The cover for the VHS release featured a cadre of male characters, who are not even in the film, riding the resurrected God Warrior — including a still-living Warrior shown briefly in a flashback. It was released around the world under various different titles, such as Sternenkrieger (literally "Star Warriors") in Germany. It was rumored that June Foray provided the voice of Zandra, though this has been proven as untrue.
Many fans of Nausicaä, along with Miyazaki himself, dislike this version; Miyazaki suggested that people should put it "out of their minds." Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki have asked fans to forget its existence and later adopted a strict "no-edits" clause for future foreign releases of its films. On hearing that Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein would try to cut Princess Mononoke to make it more marketable, one of Studio Ghibli's producers sent an authentic katana with a simple message: "No cuts".
Geez!!
Short of the Week #8
Made in 2007 , Nominated for Oscar 2009 (best animated short) and Another 3 wins
Directed by Julien Bocabeille, François-Xavier Chanioux, Olivier Delabarre, Thierry Marchand, Quentin, Marmier, Emud Mokhberi
Gobelins: http://www.gobelins.fr/
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Music #29
Clint Eastwood and Jamie Cullum - Gran Torino
So tenderly
Your story is
Nothing more
Than what you see
Or
What you've done
Or will become
Standing strong
Do you belong
In your skin
Just wondering
Gentle now
The tender breeze
Blows
Whispers through
My Gran Torino
Whistling another
Tired song
Engine humms
And bitter dreams
Grow heart locked
In a Gran Torino
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
Realign all
The stars
Above my head
Warning signs
Travel far
I drink instead
On my own
Oh,how I've known
The battle scars
And worn out beds
Gentle now
A tender breeze
Blows
Whispers through
A Gran Torino
Whistling another
Tired song
Engines humm
And bitter dreams
Grow
Heart locked
In a Gran Torino
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
These streets
Are old
They shine
With the things
I've known
And breaks
Through
The trees
Their sparkling
Your world
Is nothing more
Than all
The tiny things
You've left
Behind
So tenderly
Your story is
Nothing more
Than what you see
Or
What you've done
Or will become
Standing strong
Do you belong
In your skin
Just wondering
Gentle now
A tender breeze
Blows
Whispers through
The Gran Torino
Whistling another
Tired song
Engines humm
And bitter dreams
Grow
A heart locked
In a Gran Torino
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
May I be
So bold and stay
I need someone
To hold
That shudders
My skin
Their sparkling
Your world
Is nothing more
Than all
The tiny things
You've left
Behind
So realign
All the stars
Above my head
Warning signs
Travel far
I drink instead
On my own
Oh
How i've known
The battle scars
And worn out beds
Gentle now
A tender breeze
Blows
Whispers through
The Gran Torino
Whistling another
Tired song
Engines humm
And better dreams
Grow
Heart locked
In a Gran Torino
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
So tenderly
Your story is
Nothing more
Than what you see
Or
What you've done
Or will become
Standing strong
Do you belong
In your skin
Just wondering
Gentle now
The tender breeze
Blows
Whispers through
My Gran Torino
Whistling another
Tired song
Engine humms
And bitter dreams
Grow heart locked
In a Gran Torino
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
Realign all
The stars
Above my head
Warning signs
Travel far
I drink instead
On my own
Oh,how I've known
The battle scars
And worn out beds
Gentle now
A tender breeze
Blows
Whispers through
A Gran Torino
Whistling another
Tired song
Engines humm
And bitter dreams
Grow
Heart locked
In a Gran Torino
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
These streets
Are old
They shine
With the things
I've known
And breaks
Through
The trees
Their sparkling
Your world
Is nothing more
Than all
The tiny things
You've left
Behind
So tenderly
Your story is
Nothing more
Than what you see
Or
What you've done
Or will become
Standing strong
Do you belong
In your skin
Just wondering
Gentle now
A tender breeze
Blows
Whispers through
The Gran Torino
Whistling another
Tired song
Engines humm
And bitter dreams
Grow
A heart locked
In a Gran Torino
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
May I be
So bold and stay
I need someone
To hold
That shudders
My skin
Their sparkling
Your world
Is nothing more
Than all
The tiny things
You've left
Behind
So realign
All the stars
Above my head
Warning signs
Travel far
I drink instead
On my own
Oh
How i've known
The battle scars
And worn out beds
Gentle now
A tender breeze
Blows
Whispers through
The Gran Torino
Whistling another
Tired song
Engines humm
And better dreams
Grow
Heart locked
In a Gran Torino
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
It beats
A lonely rhythm
All night long
Monday, February 23, 2009
Human Pride in Gulliver's Travels
Well, my exam session is over, and seems like I passed everything, so here's my Restoration Literature term paper. I was fortunate enough to write on Gulliver and not some bobbery bullshit 17th century softporn soap comedy crap. Maybe someone will find it useful :)
A critical analysis of the Third Book of Gulliver’s Travels, paying special attention to the treatment of human pride. Why is pride the object of so much criticism?
Jonathan Swift’s “Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World, in Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of several Ships” or just “Gulliver’s Travels” as most of us know it was published in 1726 and since then it has never been out of print. John Gay said in a 1726 letter to Swift that the novel "is universally read, from the cabinet council to the nursery" and he was quite right. “Gulliver’s Travels” is largely regarded as a book for children or a parody of the "traveler’s tales" literary sub-genre, sometimes even viewed as a proto-science fiction, but it is also a strong satire on human nature. Swift uses the adventurous and fantastic story as a vehicle of ideas. He comments on complex topics such as politics, religion, universal morals, and the so called “civilization” - in particular European society during the Age of Reason (but I feel that the same context can be applied to present-day conditions).
Much of his criticism Swift aimed at pride. He had plenty of reasons to do so - Irishman by birth, Swift was a vocal critic of the cruelty his compatriots suffered under British rule. Swift was better able to cast a critical, cynical eye toward the monarchy and the bloody political changes which blossomed throughout the Age of Reason. But superiority executed with cruelty and arrogance was present not only in the British/Irish relations - more and more Europeans traveled to the New World and imperialism traveled with them. Colonial society was practically based on slavery and the conquest of native. The ever so proud Western civilization was resting on perceived superiority over the "dark" continents.
After being attacked by pirates in Part III Gulliver is marooned somewhere near India, but soon “taken aboard” the flying island of Laputa - a name that indicates Swift’s opinion of the Age of Reason. Gulliver explains to us what he believes Laputa to mean, but his speculations are wrong. The name Laputa comes from Spanish and means “the whore.” Swift makes a reference to Martin Luther’s famous description of reason: “That Great Whore, Reason!” Luther became infuriated with reason because some of his opponents were using it to deny the Lutheran emphasis on faith. Swift being a Protestant minister himself was sympathetic to the Lutheran adherence to faith and the system of morality built upon it. By naming the island Laputa, he warns his readers that he is deprecating those rationalists and abstract reasoners who are antagonists of faith.
The first thing Gulliver notices about the population of this astonishing place is that the minds of these people are so taken up with intense speculations, that they neither can speak, nor attend to the discourses of others, without being roused by some external taction upon the organs of speech and hearing. Soon he finds out that they are completely incompetent in practical affairs and don’t even notice that their wives are notoriously unfaithful – another reference to the name of the island. Swift warns the readers that immorality accompanies abstract, proud reason. The reasons for this can be found if we look closer to English politics from that time - this part of his book relates to Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, a Whig who was first elected in 1701 and served during the reigns of George I and George II. The woman who runs away to live with a slave in Chapter II has reference to the stories that circulated about Walpole’s wife – “a great court lady, who had several children, - is married to the prime minister, (and Walpole is regarded as having been the first Prime Minister of Great Britain) the richest subject in the kingdom, a very graceful person, extremely fond of her, and lives in the finest palace of the island, - went down to Lagado on the pretence of health, there hid herself for several months, till the king sent a warrant to search for her; and she was found in an obscure eating-house all in rags, having pawned her clothes to maintain an old deformed footman, who beat her every day, and in whose company she was taken, much against her will. And although her husband received her with all possible kindness, and without the least reproach, she soon after contrived to steal down again, with all her jewels, to the same gallant, and has not been heard of since.”
But Swift doesn’t stop with just the Prime Minister, he mocks George I himself. Laputan’s king’s hospitality to Gulliver is an allusion to George I who was notorious for filling his administration with illiterate Germans from Hanover. The tailor’s mistake in calculation applies to Isaac Newton, who suffered ridicule because a printer made a mistake in one of the figures Newton used in computing the distance of the earth from the sun. Swift, however, had yet another quarrel with Newton who recommended a scheme to debase Irish coinage that Swift believed was immoral and callous. Newton was a convenient model for Swift, who believed that he incorporated the essence of the immoral, abstract reasoning scientist. Swift also makes satirical use of the Laputan anxiety about the health of the sun and the comet theories. Many of his contemporaries were so interested in astrology, Swift believed, that they might worry over a comet and not notice their wives’ infidelity.
When Gulliver finds himself in Balnibarbi Swift discredits the kind of intelligence that is interested in the way things work without considering the ends to be attained. All the projects that Gulliver describes are parodies of undertakings seriously advanced by English scientists. Swift warns the reader of the results of the pride that comes with discovery and knowledge. Man feels superior, now that he has a better understanding of nature he can control it – but those who listen to the “projectors” and the scientific experimentalists cause their land to become barren and desolate.
One of the most obvious and harsh critics Swift makes is the use of science for the means of warfare. This part of the book questions progress and the way science is used. Pride of scientific achievements makes the people of Laputa feel superior and they don’t hesitate to use their knowledge to terrorize the world below. The flying island can be viewed as a metaphor for a closed snobbish society, out of touch with reality. They use their island to block the sun and the rain, to crash on towns and villages… And what’s more the method of throwing rocks at rebellious ground areas also seems the first time that aerial bombardment was conceived as a method of warfare.
As centuries later, when we have atomic bombs and biological weapons, another great writer, Michael Crichton would say: “Scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should”.
A critical analysis of the Third Book of Gulliver’s Travels, paying special attention to the treatment of human pride. Why is pride the object of so much criticism?
Jonathan Swift’s “Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World, in Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of several Ships” or just “Gulliver’s Travels” as most of us know it was published in 1726 and since then it has never been out of print. John Gay said in a 1726 letter to Swift that the novel "is universally read, from the cabinet council to the nursery" and he was quite right. “Gulliver’s Travels” is largely regarded as a book for children or a parody of the "traveler’s tales" literary sub-genre, sometimes even viewed as a proto-science fiction, but it is also a strong satire on human nature. Swift uses the adventurous and fantastic story as a vehicle of ideas. He comments on complex topics such as politics, religion, universal morals, and the so called “civilization” - in particular European society during the Age of Reason (but I feel that the same context can be applied to present-day conditions).
Much of his criticism Swift aimed at pride. He had plenty of reasons to do so - Irishman by birth, Swift was a vocal critic of the cruelty his compatriots suffered under British rule. Swift was better able to cast a critical, cynical eye toward the monarchy and the bloody political changes which blossomed throughout the Age of Reason. But superiority executed with cruelty and arrogance was present not only in the British/Irish relations - more and more Europeans traveled to the New World and imperialism traveled with them. Colonial society was practically based on slavery and the conquest of native. The ever so proud Western civilization was resting on perceived superiority over the "dark" continents.
After being attacked by pirates in Part III Gulliver is marooned somewhere near India, but soon “taken aboard” the flying island of Laputa - a name that indicates Swift’s opinion of the Age of Reason. Gulliver explains to us what he believes Laputa to mean, but his speculations are wrong. The name Laputa comes from Spanish and means “the whore.” Swift makes a reference to Martin Luther’s famous description of reason: “That Great Whore, Reason!” Luther became infuriated with reason because some of his opponents were using it to deny the Lutheran emphasis on faith. Swift being a Protestant minister himself was sympathetic to the Lutheran adherence to faith and the system of morality built upon it. By naming the island Laputa, he warns his readers that he is deprecating those rationalists and abstract reasoners who are antagonists of faith.
The first thing Gulliver notices about the population of this astonishing place is that the minds of these people are so taken up with intense speculations, that they neither can speak, nor attend to the discourses of others, without being roused by some external taction upon the organs of speech and hearing. Soon he finds out that they are completely incompetent in practical affairs and don’t even notice that their wives are notoriously unfaithful – another reference to the name of the island. Swift warns the readers that immorality accompanies abstract, proud reason. The reasons for this can be found if we look closer to English politics from that time - this part of his book relates to Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, a Whig who was first elected in 1701 and served during the reigns of George I and George II. The woman who runs away to live with a slave in Chapter II has reference to the stories that circulated about Walpole’s wife – “a great court lady, who had several children, - is married to the prime minister, (and Walpole is regarded as having been the first Prime Minister of Great Britain) the richest subject in the kingdom, a very graceful person, extremely fond of her, and lives in the finest palace of the island, - went down to Lagado on the pretence of health, there hid herself for several months, till the king sent a warrant to search for her; and she was found in an obscure eating-house all in rags, having pawned her clothes to maintain an old deformed footman, who beat her every day, and in whose company she was taken, much against her will. And although her husband received her with all possible kindness, and without the least reproach, she soon after contrived to steal down again, with all her jewels, to the same gallant, and has not been heard of since.”
But Swift doesn’t stop with just the Prime Minister, he mocks George I himself. Laputan’s king’s hospitality to Gulliver is an allusion to George I who was notorious for filling his administration with illiterate Germans from Hanover. The tailor’s mistake in calculation applies to Isaac Newton, who suffered ridicule because a printer made a mistake in one of the figures Newton used in computing the distance of the earth from the sun. Swift, however, had yet another quarrel with Newton who recommended a scheme to debase Irish coinage that Swift believed was immoral and callous. Newton was a convenient model for Swift, who believed that he incorporated the essence of the immoral, abstract reasoning scientist. Swift also makes satirical use of the Laputan anxiety about the health of the sun and the comet theories. Many of his contemporaries were so interested in astrology, Swift believed, that they might worry over a comet and not notice their wives’ infidelity.
When Gulliver finds himself in Balnibarbi Swift discredits the kind of intelligence that is interested in the way things work without considering the ends to be attained. All the projects that Gulliver describes are parodies of undertakings seriously advanced by English scientists. Swift warns the reader of the results of the pride that comes with discovery and knowledge. Man feels superior, now that he has a better understanding of nature he can control it – but those who listen to the “projectors” and the scientific experimentalists cause their land to become barren and desolate.
One of the most obvious and harsh critics Swift makes is the use of science for the means of warfare. This part of the book questions progress and the way science is used. Pride of scientific achievements makes the people of Laputa feel superior and they don’t hesitate to use their knowledge to terrorize the world below. The flying island can be viewed as a metaphor for a closed snobbish society, out of touch with reality. They use their island to block the sun and the rain, to crash on towns and villages… And what’s more the method of throwing rocks at rebellious ground areas also seems the first time that aerial bombardment was conceived as a method of warfare.
As centuries later, when we have atomic bombs and biological weapons, another great writer, Michael Crichton would say: “Scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should”.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Short of the Week #7
The Mysterious Explorations of Jasper Morello
Steampunk silhouette short by Anthony Lucas.
A must!
Steampunk silhouette short by Anthony Lucas.
A must!
Poster of the Week #7
After teh Land and the People that Time Forgot, I bring you back "One Million Years BC", the 1966 Hammer remake of a 1940 adventure movie.Starring Raquel Welch...
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... Cavegirls will never be the same!
Intro of the Week #7
Years before Jean Michel Jarre and Kraftwerk, there was The "Doctor Who" Theme - the very first season from 1963 :)
Brilliant!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Star Wars: The Clone Wars - The Way of the Jedi (Decide Your Destiny #1)
Преди седмица си поръчах свежи Star Wars заглавия от нета, между които беше и
Когато гледах за първи път Mighty Morphin Power Rangers преди 15-тина години си казах: Уау! Кой гений е успял да вкара всичките ми любими неща в едно филмче?! Динозаври, роботи и извънземни, че и нинджи в добавка! Чувството сега е нещо подобно - дива детинска радост ме е обзела, че някой се е сетил отново да обедини две мои толкова любими неща като Star Wars и книгите-игри! И какъв съм късметлия, че си имам тая книжка :)
Всеизвестна е моята носталгия по доброто старо време, когато книгите-игри бяха в зенита си и постоянно излизаха нови и нови заглавия, както родни, така и чужди. Мога дълго да говоря по темата, но ще се постарая да не се отплесвам. На родния пазар благодарение на "Плеяда" се появи "Легионът на Отмъстителите" от Джордж М. Джордж (ака Георги Миндизов), която е откровен Star Wars rip-off. Години по-късно "Мега" до колкото знам имаха някакъв договор със "Слънчо". "Слънчо" пускаха романизации по популярни филмови заглавия, а "Мега" по някакъв полу(не)легален начин взимаха някакви права или нещо от сорта и пускаха стратегически игри. Така се появиха двете Mortal Kombat (Смъртоносна Битка) игри, две игри за Батман, една за Пришълеца... както и Star Wars: Космически Завоеватели (отново на Джордж М. Джордж). Играта нямаше мвого общо с филмите, терминологията, имената на планетите, оръжията, дроидите, корабите и всичко останало бяха тотално изсмукани от пръстите, но все пак отгоре пишеше Star Wars и на корицата беше Вейдър! Картите, пионките и всичко останало бяха откраднати едно към едно от PC стратегията Star Wars: Rebellion. Другото попълнение към жанра е направо апокрифно - книга-игра по "Нова Надежда", която двама мои приятели бяха написали и... програмирали! Разпространяваше се от ръка на ръка на 5,25'' дискета. Започваше с рисунка на Люк Скайуокър, която беше невероятно сполучлива за нещо нарисувано с клавиатура на допотопен графичен редактор под DOS! Играл съм я десетки пъти и искрено се надявам дискетата все още да е жива и здрава някъде в кашончето до отдавна изключения "Правец 8", който събира прах под леглото на село...
И ето на, след толкова години - една от детските ми мечти се сбъдна :)
Имам си книга-игра по "Междузвездни Войни"!
Няколкото изречения на задната корица са достатъчни за да ме запалят окончателно:
Have you ever wanted to be a Jedi Knight? Well, here's your chance. From the chambers of the Jedi Temple you can travel to the forests of Kashyyyk and fight alongside the mighty Wookiees, or you can fly through space and battle bounty hunters in your starfighter. With dozens of paths to choose from, and over twenty-five different endings, there will be a whole new adventure waiting for you with every read.
Автор е Jake T. Forbes, който има опит с ролевите игри, а е също така и автор и на "Jim Henson's Return to the Labyrinth" - официалното манга продължение на култовия филм "Лабиринт" с Дейвид Бауи и Дженифър Конали.
Свършил е чудесна работа! Книжката е лека и увлекателна, напълно придава духа и атмосферата на Star Wars (напомня ми доста на поредицата "Ученик на Джедая", която за жалост Егмонт така и не довършиха...). Вкарани са достатъчно специфични имена, термини и пр. типично Star Wars-овски неща за да те накарат да се пренесеш неусетно в една далечна галактика. Приключението не е нещо епично и огромно, а просто една от многото битки по време на Войната на Клонингите, така че без проблем би се вписало някъде върху Star Wars timeline-а и би се превърнало в част от канона. Единствения недостатък е пълната липса на илюстрации.
Wookiepedia има подробна статия за книжката: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_The_Clone_Wars:_The_Way_of_the_Jedi
А ето и ревю в TheForce.net: http://www.theforce.net/books/reviews/r_wayjedi.asp
Както можете да видите книжката е first appearance за няколко доста интересни герои, които може би тепърва ще се развихрят из Expanded Universe :)
Е, какво да кажа за финал, освен че си пожелавам в най-скоро време да последнат още книжки от поредцата и да ни зарадват с нови приключения!
p.s. btw Гореспоменатата манга между другото е доста сполучлива, при все че артът на корицата е доста по-добър от този вътре в самата книжка. Историята се навързва по интересен начин с филма, и има куп препратки към оригинала. Бих я препоръчал на феновете :) Можете да си поръчате volume 1 от тук: http://www.knigomania.bg/product_info.php?products_id=865414
Star Wars: The Clone Wars - The Way of the Jedi (Decide Your Destiny #1)
Когато гледах за първи път Mighty Morphin Power Rangers преди 15-тина години си казах: Уау! Кой гений е успял да вкара всичките ми любими неща в едно филмче?! Динозаври, роботи и извънземни, че и нинджи в добавка! Чувството сега е нещо подобно - дива детинска радост ме е обзела, че някой се е сетил отново да обедини две мои толкова любими неща като Star Wars и книгите-игри! И какъв съм късметлия, че си имам тая книжка :)
Всеизвестна е моята носталгия по доброто старо време, когато книгите-игри бяха в зенита си и постоянно излизаха нови и нови заглавия, както родни, така и чужди. Мога дълго да говоря по темата, но ще се постарая да не се отплесвам. На родния пазар благодарение на "Плеяда" се появи "Легионът на Отмъстителите" от Джордж М. Джордж (ака Георги Миндизов), която е откровен Star Wars rip-off. Години по-късно "Мега" до колкото знам имаха някакъв договор със "Слънчо". "Слънчо" пускаха романизации по популярни филмови заглавия, а "Мега" по някакъв полу(не)легален начин взимаха някакви права или нещо от сорта и пускаха стратегически игри. Така се появиха двете Mortal Kombat (Смъртоносна Битка) игри, две игри за Батман, една за Пришълеца... както и Star Wars: Космически Завоеватели (отново на Джордж М. Джордж). Играта нямаше мвого общо с филмите, терминологията, имената на планетите, оръжията, дроидите, корабите и всичко останало бяха тотално изсмукани от пръстите, но все пак отгоре пишеше Star Wars и на корицата беше Вейдър! Картите, пионките и всичко останало бяха откраднати едно към едно от PC стратегията Star Wars: Rebellion. Другото попълнение към жанра е направо апокрифно - книга-игра по "Нова Надежда", която двама мои приятели бяха написали и... програмирали! Разпространяваше се от ръка на ръка на 5,25'' дискета. Започваше с рисунка на Люк Скайуокър, която беше невероятно сполучлива за нещо нарисувано с клавиатура на допотопен графичен редактор под DOS! Играл съм я десетки пъти и искрено се надявам дискетата все още да е жива и здрава някъде в кашончето до отдавна изключения "Правец 8", който събира прах под леглото на село...
И ето на, след толкова години - една от детските ми мечти се сбъдна :)
Имам си книга-игра по "Междузвездни Войни"!
Няколкото изречения на задната корица са достатъчни за да ме запалят окончателно:
Have you ever wanted to be a Jedi Knight? Well, here's your chance. From the chambers of the Jedi Temple you can travel to the forests of Kashyyyk and fight alongside the mighty Wookiees, or you can fly through space and battle bounty hunters in your starfighter. With dozens of paths to choose from, and over twenty-five different endings, there will be a whole new adventure waiting for you with every read.
Автор е Jake T. Forbes, който има опит с ролевите игри, а е също така и автор и на "Jim Henson's Return to the Labyrinth" - официалното манга продължение на култовия филм "Лабиринт" с Дейвид Бауи и Дженифър Конали.
Свършил е чудесна работа! Книжката е лека и увлекателна, напълно придава духа и атмосферата на Star Wars (напомня ми доста на поредицата "Ученик на Джедая", която за жалост Егмонт така и не довършиха...). Вкарани са достатъчно специфични имена, термини и пр. типично Star Wars-овски неща за да те накарат да се пренесеш неусетно в една далечна галактика. Приключението не е нещо епично и огромно, а просто една от многото битки по време на Войната на Клонингите, така че без проблем би се вписало някъде върху Star Wars timeline-а и би се превърнало в част от канона. Единствения недостатък е пълната липса на илюстрации.
Wookiepedia има подробна статия за книжката: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_The_Clone_Wars:_The_Way_of_the_Jedi
А ето и ревю в TheForce.net: http://www.theforce.net/books/reviews/r_wayjedi.asp
Както можете да видите книжката е first appearance за няколко доста интересни герои, които може би тепърва ще се развихрят из Expanded Universe :)
Е, какво да кажа за финал, освен че си пожелавам в най-скоро време да последнат още книжки от поредцата и да ни зарадват с нови приключения!
p.s. btw Гореспоменатата манга между другото е доста сполучлива, при все че артът на корицата е доста по-добър от този вътре в самата книжка. Историята се навързва по интересен начин с филма, и има куп препратки към оригинала. Бих я препоръчал на феновете :) Можете да си поръчате volume 1 от тук: http://www.knigomania.bg/product_info.php?products_id=865414
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Честит Трифон Зарезан!
Ха, честито! По-добре късно... Всъщност то за такъв повод никога не е късно :) Нито рано. Наздраве!!
btw Johnnie Skywalker си е лично мое произведение от ученическите години, отрих си го из необятните дебри на харда тия дни, не би могло да се случи в по-подходящ момент :)
Jedi Drinking Song (Star Wars parody)
Click here to download it!!
From: Brobdingnagian Fairy Tales
words and music John Ryan of the Dust Rhinos
(hear it in this video)
I had one pint of beer, and one shot of scotch,
I had one bottle of wine, and bourbon on the rocks
I had one lassie on me right, another on the left,
I looked that puppet in the eye and said give me the test
A long time ago, in a pub far away,
I sat on a barstool, just drinking away,
I couldn't hold it down, I guess I had too much
I felt a tremor in the force and then I lost my lunch
I woke up in a desert land, feeling hot and sick,
I saw a bearded man, he looked like some kind of hick,
He slowly waved his hand, and my pain was gone
He said let's go see Yoda, and I'll teach you this song.
So we got on a starship, and flew off into space
He said his name was Obi-Wan and there is no time to waste,
I have to get you trained before it is too late,
He said drink this bottle of whisky, and don't give in to hate.
My training went on, and I'd drank most of the bar
We stopped for supplies on the nearest Death Star
I learned to control my fear, and hold my alcohol
Soon I was able to stand even when Obi-Wan would fall.
[Star Wars theme song]
I sat down beside him and looked him in the eye
He broke the silence, said you judge me by my size
Obi-Wan said careful, for Yoda is the best
I said ok shorty, bring on the test
Well I could tell you how it ended, I could tell you some lies Let's just say, on that night the force was on his side
I got all riled up, and they threw me in jail
I said I don't believe it, Yoda said that's why I failed
btw Johnnie Skywalker си е лично мое произведение от ученическите години, отрих си го из необятните дебри на харда тия дни, не би могло да се случи в по-подходящ момент :)
Jedi Drinking Song (Star Wars parody)Click here to download it!!
From: Brobdingnagian Fairy Tales
words and music John Ryan of the Dust Rhinos
(hear it in this video)
I had one pint of beer, and one shot of scotch,
I had one bottle of wine, and bourbon on the rocks
I had one lassie on me right, another on the left,
I looked that puppet in the eye and said give me the test
A long time ago, in a pub far away,
I sat on a barstool, just drinking away,
I couldn't hold it down, I guess I had too much
I felt a tremor in the force and then I lost my lunch
I woke up in a desert land, feeling hot and sick,
I saw a bearded man, he looked like some kind of hick,
He slowly waved his hand, and my pain was gone
He said let's go see Yoda, and I'll teach you this song.
So we got on a starship, and flew off into space
He said his name was Obi-Wan and there is no time to waste,
I have to get you trained before it is too late,
He said drink this bottle of whisky, and don't give in to hate.
My training went on, and I'd drank most of the bar
We stopped for supplies on the nearest Death Star
I learned to control my fear, and hold my alcohol
Soon I was able to stand even when Obi-Wan would fall.
[Star Wars theme song]
I sat down beside him and looked him in the eye
He broke the silence, said you judge me by my size
Obi-Wan said careful, for Yoda is the best
I said ok shorty, bring on the test
Well I could tell you how it ended, I could tell you some lies Let's just say, on that night the force was on his side
I got all riled up, and they threw me in jail
I said I don't believe it, Yoda said that's why I failed
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Poster of the Week #6
Yesterday was Friday the 13th, today is St. Valentine's day... And this poster has elements of both :)
p.s. Still haven't seen the new Friday movie...
Intro of the Week #6
And just to keep up with all the pink and red and fuzzy hearts and stuff, so typical for this day, here's something from my childhood :)
Remember these guys - The Care Bears? :))
Remember these guys - The Care Bears? :))
Short of the Week #6
Happy St. Valentine's Day!
Produced by Ishikawa Pro (independent anime studio), Mahou no Chocolate (Magical Chocolate) - and I've always enjoyed small independent shorts, done not on a budget but on enthusiasm. It took Ishikawa Pro 5 months and 1,700 cels to complete this anime. Enjoy!
And if you like it, you can get it from their official web-site - http://sammena.sakura.ne.jp/anime/mahocho/mahocho.html
Produced by Ishikawa Pro (independent anime studio), Mahou no Chocolate (Magical Chocolate) - and I've always enjoyed small independent shorts, done not on a budget but on enthusiasm. It took Ishikawa Pro 5 months and 1,700 cels to complete this anime. Enjoy!
And if you like it, you can get it from their official web-site - http://sammena.sakura.ne.jp/anime/mahocho/mahocho.html
Friday, February 13, 2009
Young_Jedi @ Star Wars: The Clone Wars #4
Петък 13-ти започва страхотно :)
Ставам си, проверявам РС-то, охо, новия скан на Clone Wars се е дръпнал... И веднага "отгръщам" на страницата с писмата, като тайничко се надявам... ДА!!! ДААА!!!
Ставам си, проверявам РС-то, охо, новия скан на Clone Wars се е дръпнал... И веднага "отгръщам" на страницата с писмата, като тайничко се надявам... ДА!!! ДААА!!!
Read my Clone Words :)
Вече официално съм увековечен на страниците на Star Wars комикс - половин страничка си е моя! :)
Наистина се надявам, че ще успея да се сдобия с книжката и на хартия. Както пише GreenGiant на всеки скан - Like it? Buy it! , но в моя случай трябва да се добави... if you can!
Eager-е, казвай сега кога отиваш пак да вземеш брой 3 и 4 ;)
Monday, February 09, 2009
Quotes #25
“Personally I am very pessimistic. But when, for instance, one of my staff has a baby you can't help but bless them for a good future. Because I can't tell that child, 'Oh, you shouldn't have come into this life.' And yet I know the world is heading in a bad direction. So with those conflicting thoughts in mind, I think about what kind of films I should be making.”
Hayao Miyazaki
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Short of the Week #5
Star Wars: DUALITY
I saw it years ago when it came out and I was greatly impressed. It's was the firts Star Wars fan-film for me to see and I still consider it one of the best.
Intro of the Week #5
I'm looking forward for Season 2.
"Merlin" is the best new TV show that's around, with really great actors on board, and impressive sets and sfx. It's like Merlin's Smallville, and maybe it deviates a bit from the classic Arthurian legends, but it's a cahtchy and refreshing approach to the story. And I love the main theme :)
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Top 8 of the 80s movies with a remake/sequel announced in 2008
2008 is ancient history. And as usual people look back and sum the highlights of the past year. Top something best/worst whatever of 2008... The same goes for the movies that came out. Well, I decided to give you something different, and it's about movies that came out like 20 years ago and movies yet to come! I give you...
Young_Jedi's
Top 8 of the 80s movies with a remake/sequel announced in 2008
written bu Chris Columbus, produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Richard Donner!! It's the ultimeate 80s movie, it even has Short Round from "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom"! It's actually like the kids veriosn of Indiana Jones! Hell, it even has a Cyndi Lauper song! And the video for the song has like almost all the wrestlers from the 80s in it! Even Steven Spielberg himself is in teh video! Geez, this movie is so great that it hurts me to put it on Number 8, but the reason for this is that the Goonies Sequel is not official yet, but there are rumors circulating around for ages...
Young_Jedi's
Top 8 of the 80s movies with a remake/sequel announced in 2008
#8 - The Goonies
written bu Chris Columbus, produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Richard Donner!! It's the ultimeate 80s movie, it even has Short Round from "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom"! It's actually like the kids veriosn of Indiana Jones! Hell, it even has a Cyndi Lauper song! And the video for the song has like almost all the wrestlers from the 80s in it! Even Steven Spielberg himself is in teh video! Geez, this movie is so great that it hurts me to put it on Number 8, but the reason for this is that the Goonies Sequel is not official yet, but there are rumors circulating around for ages...#7 - Friday The 13th
We get a lot of crappy remakes of 80s slashers, and nobody seems to care much. But now it's Jason Voorhees and he's been around ever since he came out of the lake at the end of the first Friday. The movie spawned like nine sequels, one cross-over with Freddy and tons of comic books. And instead of doing another sequel, they decided to remake it? And gave it to Michael Bay?! Why?? Well... we'll see next week - the reboot will premiere on (yes, that's right) Friday The 13th.
Somehow I have the feeling that this movie's gonna suck splattered sludge. It's here cause I'm still curious to see it. And they were also talking about remaking the Nightmare on Elm Street without Robert Englund, and crap ideas like that... I dunno who comes up with these things.
#6 - RoboCop
Part man, part machine. All cop.
The metalic Frankenstein of the Future story directed by Paul Verhoven is another cult 80s classic. Till now it has been continued by two movie sequels, live-action TV series, TV mini-series, two cartoon shows and tens of comic books and video games. In March 2008, however, RoboCop was mentioned in an MGM press release regarding franchises it would be focusing on in the future. An MGM poster displayed at the Licensing International Expo of June 2008 read, "RoboCop coming 2010". Who's gonna direct it is still unclear.
#5 - Short Circuit
After Pixar's huge success with "Wall-E" it's no wonder that someone over there came up with the idea to bring back Wall-E's granpa, Johnny 5! Dimension Films aquired the rights to do a remake. This is exciting enough, fans need more input, more input! But why remake? Can't they just make Short Circuit 3 and bring back good old Number 5? He's still alive!
#4 - The Dark Crystal
It was announced some years ago, not in 2008, but it just deserves to be here. Jim Hanson and Frank Oz directed "The Dark Crystal" in 1982. After 25 years the movie still has faithful followers and in in 2007 Tokyo Pop published vol.1 of a spin-off manga series "Legends of the Dark Crystal". (by the way they also published "Jim Hanson's Return to the Labyrinth", a sequel to the Labyrinth movie). The much anticipated sequel "The Power of the Dark Crystal" is planned to be released in 2011 and it's supposed to be directed by Genndy Tartakovsky (famous for his work on "Samurai Jack" and "Clone Wars"), though there are some rumors that he's no longer involved with the project.
One of the funniest kids adventures ever, it's like the juniour high version "Big Trouble in Little China" :) Chris Columbus sure knows how to deliver! How in the world they plan to make a sequel 20-something years later, without any member of the original cast, without the origional writers and directr... Bets me! I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that Disney won't ruin the Further Adventures in Babysitting.
#2 - The Last Starfighter
When John Carpenter's "Halloween" chilled the blood the teenages at the endof the 70-s nobody could ever imagine that a few years later maniac killer Michael Myers would write "Escape from New York" for his director, let alone that he would direct his own movies! The man behind the iconic repainted Captain Kirk mask was Nick Castle, and in 1984 his sci-fi adventure "The Last Starfighter" hit the screens. And what do you know - the Starfighter will hit again in 2010!
#1 - TRON
Absolute cult classic and fan-favourite 1982 TRON already had a sequel - the PC game TRON 2.0. Maybe they were testing the market - do we still like TRON? You bet! And so on the San Diego Comic Con last year Disney screened some brand new CGI test footage... TR2N is sceduled to premiere in 2011 and Jeff Bridges will return as Kevin Flynn! It will be directed by Joseph Kosinski and IMDb tells us that he's also remaking the anti-utopia "Logan's Run" (which would deffinitely be on this Top 8 if it wasn't from the 70s ;))
Monday, February 02, 2009
Short of the Week #4
Sandy Collora's "Batman: Dead End" is by far one of the best fan-films I've ever seen. I can't wait to see his next project "Hunter Pray"
Intro of the Week #4
I guess that not many people remember this show, "Paciffic Blue". But I do - I used to watch it every noon at home, while having my lunch before going to school. Cops on bikes fighting crime, hot chiks in tight uniforms... and the opening song that I still enjoy :)
Poster of the Week #4
This week we have a double-feature, two posters by George Akimoto for the 1975 movie "The Land That Time Forgot" - if you ask me one of the most appealing and captivating movie posters ever!
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