It's such an vacant world inside a vacuum

Talking Shop part 2

2013-03-27T23:38:00.001-05:00

Writing is organized ramblings. Or, at the very least, can feel that way when the train starts running away from your grip, the rail ahead is out and the mechanical beast is racing towards a path not quite suitable. I've heard from more than a handful of well known authors, handful lesser known, how ideas begin, how they nurture them, and ultimately how they end them. My method is not too far off that table, ignoring, if you will, that LNFW took 3 drafts, 5 full read thru edits (the fifth being, essentially, another draft), and then a, how you say, spruce up.

The "spruce up" draft is a course correction. See, it took me this long to realize my biggest fault. I censor myself. A nice gift if you're out dining on fancy cuisine, mingling with the upper class, attempting at high brow sophistication, but writing, this kind of writing, is none of those. I had to free myself from the cage that I thought was necessary; another little gift Mr. Jericho and the cast of LNFW have bestowed upon me. This is probably about the time I lose my audience as the echoes tend to drift in and out of focus:

"So? You're uncensored? What does that even mean?"

To me, it now means everything, for before I was simply a narrator, a yes man in the crowd, a sculptor trying to create a big gray box out of big gray clay; I was ineffective at portraying anything beyond what happened. [Redacted for later date]

Think of it like this, you never remember, word for word, the story your friends tell you; you remember how they explain it, gesticulating like mad men or as caricatures of the Italians; you know why its funny or sad because you know them, as individuals, as layers of experience or lack thereof; and you sit there, nodding your head, waiting to see where this all goes, and then, nothing. Style isn't everything, if the punchline ultimately revolves around how your buddy stuck a hot dog up his own ass; it's not very funny, not very pleasant.

That's why, to me, an ending is everything. But you cannot have a strong ending without a strong beginning. And you cannot have a strong story without strong characters. Trying to find the line between good and bad is a tough one, then trying to find a way to straddle both sides as not to create black and white scenarios takes the utmost time and care. I don't know yet if I've mastered this subject. But the snow-flaking I've done in LNFW has blurred some lines, for better or for worse.

I've done a lot of talking about Late Night Flame War as if anyone on this blog knows even a smidgen of information. I apologize for that, I'm a terrible synopsis writer.

I will, however, try to offer a bit more info on the subject in the coming days, for now though, I hope my increased communication has offered a little insight into the ways I've changed up the game (so to speak). My game, that is, not writing in general as I try and follow most grammatical structure. Though I no longer constrict myself strictly to any Strunk and White's philosophy, as it's a tether that chokes rather than blossoms.

Your future rambler,
Rossini

Eff that, let's talk shop.

2013-03-20T05:18:00.000-05:00

No, I am not dead. No, I am not a deadbeat writer. And no, I do not like stringing you... well... along. Although technically that is the job of a writer. Build ideas, build sentences, paragraphs, chapters, build character (that's a big one), build an infrastructure, lay some traps, then watch as the hapless little mice roam to their deaths. Oh yeah, and you gotta create some suspense. Conflict everything with everything, sprinkle nonsensical illusions with abstract thinking, LOGICALLY, then you run. As far and as fast as you can. Just run, don't look back, I can tell you what's back there.

I imagine by now you really want to know. What is back there Rossini? Is it a monster capable of tearing me limb to limb in the matter of blinks? Or is it nothing like it always is? Nothing but the blank blackboard of all's perdition led around by the noose with a taut hand clutching a ruler the size of a lamppost. Boy howdy is it. See, there are two similarities I've found nestled between LNFW and AVW, you want to know what they are in big bold words?

Effing Doubt.

It's amazing how crippling fear can be, this coming from a man who's fear consists mainly of getting clipped by domestic cats, and sometimes cyclists. Pain I don't actually care about, it's the mess and the messed time that absolutely screws with me the most. Lose an hour, fine, lose a day, **** you, cause my rhythm is gone. And mind you, I've read up and down, and sometimes sideways, those pesky little self-help books.

Just write, mother ****er

Al Davis was right when he said: "Just win, baby". Right because winning solves all sorts of problems. The very same as "just write, mother****er" because in the end you'll never win a knife fight with doubt; all you can hope to do is out-write it and hope for the best.

The good news? Very, very soon (which I mean this time) I will be sending a revised draft into Amazon, post some chapters here, and we'll see how bad I actually did.

Fingers crossed,
Rossini

Oh and sorry for the 2012 drop off. If I can, I will try updating/reviewing again.

The post previous to this has been delayed

2012-10-20T06:54:00.002-05:00

You ever notice the world gets a whole lot more vacant in the waning warmth? Its like the posts just up and disappear, and what's left is... well empty space.

Silence.

Where am I going with this you ask?

"Where I always go!" I say.

To infinite and beyond.

"Trademarked? Damn, I was this close too."

Ahem...

I'm coming back home, in the very near future. I would like to try my hand at this once more. Try and see if I can make a block of words each day, or every other. See if you like what I have to say beyond my rhetorical nonsense.

"But where is that story you promised!" you ask.

Next post - promise, swear, cross my heart and hope to die, etc - I will introduce you to where my brains been at and why oh fucking why it can't stand still.

Or stand a moment.

Curiosity

2012-08-06T01:13:00.000-05:00

By now the world has woken to the news that NASA has successfully landed the Curiosity Rover inside Gale Crater on Mars. Whether you stayed up all night like me, or found out from twitter, or Facebook, or wherever the news came from, the feeling of satisfaction was instant.

We did it!

Artist's conception. Taken from Los Angeles Times / Getty Images

Congratulations NASA,
To those who spent 8 plus years working on this project
To those that watched nine months ago as their baby ascended to the heavens.
And to those everywhere else, working out of this country and the next,
Congrats, this day is for you.
Thank you.

-Rossini

Oh, and good luck Curiosity. Find us some evidence!

Where we're at, where we'll be #Endoftheweekupdate

2012-07-27T01:14:00.004-05:00

Just an update.

Last week was slow, depressing, and aggravating. Work was done, but as reduced pace. About 30% less if you're into numbers.

Majorly, or minorly, what this means for me and you? My estimation is off slightly. It was calculated for a 120-150% week workload which didn't occur. In simpler terms I figure two weeks, probably less, from today will be needed to finish this draft. I need about another week, give or take, to finalize edits. Then we'll take the time to shop.

From my end, Late Night blah blah, should leave my hands mid August. That means it can hopefully (fingers crossed) be posted soon thereafter.

I hope you enjoyed this update.

-Rossini

P.s. I apologize in retrospect for any post-titles that may be viewed as inappropriate in the following days or hours after post. That just sucks... %$^king damn...

Birthday Blackout

2012-07-19T16:08:00.000-05:00

Some may call me the Grinch for I have dismissed time of celebration.
Where the power goes, we go. No further, because we understand that a connection is everything.
It is universal.

Time is like birthdays, they fold over themselves one sheet at a time; the stories all combined into one progressive piece. The world sees each narration as an individual and the lump as a single combination. It is no more than numbers our brain fails to forget. It is our attachment to this world and inevitably to the thereafter.

Connection to my words: your ears, yours eyes, your mind; see these worlds as they are, but realize time is fleeing. We mustn't forget. We mustn't drop that proverbial ball. See the work, the day, the dawn, the sun and the moon. See the invisible flow, the webbing of the undercurrent as it streaks by.

I can feel the day grow long, time short. Thunder is everywhere. Thunder is always everywhere.
My shadow is elsewhere by now.

The world lights the darkness with strobes of many; cracks and grooves between door and walls bleed this light to the sunken halls where darkness lay. A bead behooves; it is everything. A bead is must. A bead guides; it shows me the secrets lost.
There is another.

I let the worry creep in. It surrounds me. It engulfs me, locks my muscles in place. I am forced to watch somewhere between the realm of consciousness and unconsciousness as the glow of the candle remits its fame.

Quick I shudder, quick I cover my eyes; it's too late, I see everything. The entire narration blinked, and for one brief second, I fail to breath.

Light, power is back; the glow corralled to a fixture where dances electricity. I wipe my brow dry and realize the day is not over; it has yet to begin.

They should shoot that guy...

2012-07-17T02:42:00.001-05:00

Predictions are like a pot of gold.

Nothing like a box of chocolates.

Gold.

Okay so that last post was way off in la la land. There was some Mass Effect 3 news at E3, but it was nothing to do about nothing. And the epilogue more or less came out of nowhere. And the summer isn't even over yet.

I still believe that big news is coming with that franchise (or I hope so that I don't look so foolish) but it remains to be seen.

UPDATE TIME!

I'm going to try and update the blog a little better (I say this every year, I know). The only thing that's holding me back is free time and lack of shtick to talk about. Well... that's not entirely true. And yes this is becoming more or less the breeze factory where I lay my breezy writing while waiting for the breezy bus. But I do have some inane conversations from time to time. Full disclosure, most of them take place in my head.

WHERE IS VACANT SOMETHING AND THE OTHER THING?

I hear ya. Well not really because you aren't making any noise. That's just me wailing against the empty backdrop of space. Not literal space like up there in the non directional sense, cause that'd be stupid. And I wouldn't be able to breathe.

Vacant something is as it has been: waiting approval.

"The other thing" (LATE NIGHT FLAME WAR) draft three was completed in June (as expected). A quick fix draft was enacted sometime after. We're a little over half finished and at this pace will be completed by the month's end.

Look forward to posting updates soon.

Have an idea on how to deliver both stories if procedure falls through.

Something something, look over there!

-Your [un]faithful companion

Rossini

I miss the cat picture.

Pr'E3'diction (Post insomnia edition) -Rubbish

2012-06-04T07:54:00.002-05:00

Mind the slanted hat, the sagging frown, the troubling canter, and remember, we are all someone's prediction.

While I had hoped to speak about this in a rather long drawn out segment, I'm posing a single prediction for the upcoming gaming conventions (me forgets which is what and where they're at sometimes). What I meant to write about was Mass Effect and it's 'ending', since the uproar was all the rage.
But I forgot.
Well... Here's my stupidly bold (or boldly money oriented) prediction (and I promise, I will write it up and explain my direction) that no one should take with more then a grain of salt, or with alcohol. As I have no proof.

Something will be shown before the DLC ending is made available that will breathe 'reason' into the 'ending'. IE another game (ME 4) or a spin off.

I'm sure that sounds either silly or brain dead simple logistics, and I do apologize for my lack of promise, but I thought it would be interesting to throw out there... and then in a couple of months I can mock myself as I like to do.

--- Slightly impaired,
Rossini

p.s. fun fact about yours truly. I hate numbers used for words. It's moronic. No seriously I know what you're thinking. Also, single letters used as words. Fucking hate that too. True story.

Postmortem Update #1

2012-04-25T23:48:00.000-05:00

Clumsy wall, why do you stand?
Clumsy world, why require land?
Clumsy face, why do you leak?
Clumsy mask, why have a beak?

.....
.....

Update from the land of the dead of tomorrow, today!

....
....

Vacant World (editing) was finished at the beginning of the year. The delay? Readers, editors, and a lack thereof. Posting.... Posting failure.... time table.... Soon.

Late Night Flame War (LNFW), yes this is a real story and yes it is now 2nd draft complete. Target date for 3rd draft is end of May.

More information unavailable. Request more information when visiting Lucentis. Remember, tomorrow is actually today which in turn is actually yesterday!

Clumsy ass, break the silence
Clumsy joke, why such violence?

-The latter part of Rossini's virus

There are some thoughts
I wish to say,
but do not pray,
I am fine.

For every moment
that I stay,
is another I cannot play,
instead this will soon be read.

And in the end,
there are many things I wish to share,
if not this week then do not despair,
next week perhaps,
I will do the dare.

-Rossini's shadow

Got to get the something

2012-04-19T07:30:00.002-05:00

The corruption has grown far. The walls, dark. I can feel it crawling, its power surging. It wants me to listen, but I resist. Wants me to bow down and compels a ear to hear the words of whisper.

"Something's coming"

I raise my eyes to the sun. She's not there. The moon replaces the warm glow with a blotted darkness, a circular silhouette.

I realize the updates are coming back, slowly but surely. Adverbs be damned.

- Rossoruption

"Soon we will have our answer"
(Check the blog for "fire")

"We've made changes"

- The shadow of Rossini's ghost

Registry error, installation incomplete.

2012-03-26T18:06:00.000-05:00

Dorothy...

Late Business

Lack

the

error

Lack

the

error

Corrupt data.

end of transmission.

If this blog could walk

2011-11-23T03:00:00.001-06:00

Then it would probably grow a beard and look a little bit like me, without a beard... err.

The last time I was here (before I got sick again) I was again about to start reviewing more. Then I realized I hated my reviews. I wrote one or two (One on the movie Super 8 that'd I seen at the end of summer) but realize I need a fresh look. To get one I would have to give up some of my story time and, well, I like my story more.

Speaking of which, I am moving forward on the publication. While I never expected a third full rewrite... it happens. As I've said in the past, it fills in the wobbly parts, cements the good (hopefully), and offers a little bit more to a conclusive meaning. All in all, the third rewrite is head and shoulders above the second draft and miles beyond the lackluster suckfest that was posted so very long ago here. Granted that will be soon erased and I hope everyone enjoys it.

So... I guess that's it for now. Don't look for any major updates for a bit; Thanksgiving and such. I'm a little fuzzy on when I'll get acceptance or denial from Amazon. Worst comes to worst, if nothing else, come back at the end/beginning of the year. The blog should have something newsworthy by then.

Fingers crossed.

(Happy Turkey Day everyone)

-Rossini

I'm a terrible liar

2011-09-09T01:53:00.002-05:00

Or at the very least: an inept one.

Ignoring this past week (summer's last flu), I thought I could leave it alone. Be happy with what is was and not be angry by what it wasn't. The truth? That is something somewhere stuck in the middle.

When I last posted, and I do apologize for the absence, I spoke of a third revisit not happening. And now? Well I'm not sure. See I hated saying that I wouldn't run through the columns once more because it sounded like I didn't want to; that, possibly, I didn't care enough.

Again, the truth is far different then what I thought or even made it out to be. I wanted something of a third rewrite that was paragraph based IE take, prod, and rewrite a few sentences here and there. Not rewrite every sentence again.

After that post I thought about the work as a whole. The beginning sections (1-3) had only been rewritten once and then only done so a year previous. Why does this matter? Well I feel that from inception to where I am now, I've grown some both in knowledge and style. I've done some legwork. Some brain work. Hell I'm perusing the basics just to get better.

But what does this all mean overall? Will I ever write and publish a story or will I flail about whilst I only speak of betterment and not ever show it?

I'm still fully behind publishing A Vacant World as soon as possible. But as I've recently learned, there are flaws that can be fixed. They won't take as long as this whole trial has. And, well, I've already sort of started.

I rewrote those early sections again. Fixed some nagging issues and fulfilled what I wanted. Now to do this with the other ten or so misaligned sections....

In the meantime, and I don't expect this all to take too long, I will begin again to work on reviews. I know they aren't as interesting or sometimes are repeating, but I don't want to leave the blog empty. No matter how ironic that may be.

- Rossini

Soon, I promise, I will take one last good stab at this. Reviews starting next week.

Chronicling the past

2011-08-19T03:51:00.000-05:00

Let's get caught up with our own.

I began work on a little short story codenamed "Traveling through a vacant Oasis" in June 2010. On the fifteenth day of that month I began something that would grow larger and larger for more then a year. On May 21st, 2011, I officially announced my completion of the first draft of what would now become "A Vacant World".

Then for three long months I did something I thought would be nigh impossible. I rewrote the entire damn thing. From page one, the prologue, to page 124 (still not official), I worked on it a handful of hours each day. Each week I clocked anywhere from 10-20 hours and that was only the official time keepers. Anything in between, the brilliant (subjective word) breakthroughs I had when eating or taking a shower were the blood and the matter.

And now, August 19th, 2011 I've come full circle. I am tidying the sheets and correcting the spelling/grammatical mishaps. I am purging the useless. I am finishing my story.

I know the journey has been long. I know it has been full of what ifs and whatever/whenever updates. I've tried to fulfill a promise not only to myself but to my readers. I think, in some small possible way, I have done so.

I am posting this still without date. That I know is impossible to think. And I know it is impossible to want such an explanation. But I can tell you this without lie or dissatisfaction. I will not be rewriting this for a third time. I got what I wanted. It won't be perfect but it will be better then what I had originally.

So I ask, please be patient just a little longer. I have it almost there ready to go and I will begin to post the ending and set up the publication. As always I will try to bridge the information as it becomes real.

- Rossini

[Date - TBD - but I'm still shooting for an august release. It may not be possible but I'm trying.]

It's been two weeks and (almost) two days

2011-08-15T02:46:00.002-05:00

And I'm still not here it appears. I've had some minor setbacks. Some tiny battles and frustrations to contend with. I'm working wearily but hard on delivering a better product. I even had my first taste of of reaction and it wasn't terrible. Still have some lingering issues but I'm hoping a final run through/pass nets the hideous and the adverb.

The other reason I've been so quiet? Outside of time's infernal grasp I've been quite literally fighting some new infection. Nothing major or unsettling, just demoralizing.

I was going to post a review instead of this but I'm not quite looking to change mindsets right this minute, and well, I needed to update the blog/readers to where and what is going on. I will start getting back to reviewing thing soon.

As for release information. I'm fixing some issues (as mentioned) and having another possible person read it. I'd like to make sure I don't let slip any silly mistakes. I know nothing is perfect but I should have another opinion by week's end. Hopefully it's a bit better this time around.

[Just a FYI. I'd love to release this thing any day. As soon as it seems finished or is close enough I will do so. I promise it will be very soon.]

As always thanks for reading,

Rossini

Not missing

2011-07-29T16:44:00.000-05:00

While I've been back a bit longer then what appeared, I am officially back in written word form. There is a ton to blog about, review, etc, but this update is merely a formal progress update. When I last broached the subject I was nearing completion within the grasp of three segment rewrites and an epilogue. As it stands those numbers remain the same but the words have drastically changed.

While this is not accurate to the letter due to cuts, chops, rewrites, etc, but I am within the final three pages of my rewrite. Epilogue still remains...

Even so I want to forecast publishing the work very soon. Updates will follow.

In between that time I am having it "looked over/Edited" by a "non professional" but very intelligent individual. I believe that will take place this weekend or next. I know all this squeezes every time frame I've ever posted and I do apologize for that. I really should've been more aware of my ability and the time investment.

As for reviews, I have a couple in mind but I also may just do an actual compilation/short list.

-Rossini

Taking a short break from the blog (July 19-26)

2011-07-19T07:52:00.000-05:00

Only for a week while I get my affairs in order. Taking some time for my birthday and other sad celebrations. I reckon I won't be home very much anyways.

When I last posted I mentioned a conclusion. It is still a work in progress. I'll admit the seven page/about 2000 page rewrite I did on Thursday spurred on a lot of positivity. It didn't all carry over into the weekend but I did get a segment and a half finished. I'll speak more on this in the coming week.

Till then, adieus Vacant World. I'll see ya in a week.

-Rossini

Almost finished (A-V-W Story)

2011-07-15T02:08:00.003-05:00

I apologize that I may have went movie crazy recently. Never was my intention just trying to keep the blog updated. Since that doesn't really appear to always matter or help anything I figure I'll at least drop another pertinent update (IE story relevant) and go from there.

Rather then offer any more percentages I will now just say this. I'm literally THREE rewritten segments and a epilogue away from finishing what should be the total overhaul. Granted I know there are a couple mistakes I must rectify but all in due time. I feel that one good weekend (such as this one coming) and I'll have it wrapped up.

I also realize that trying to maintain this blog may be self defeating towards this project. I'm seriously feeling the need to possibly drop it for a couple days/week in order to finish this work and then come back with the good news. I've not yet decided if that is what I will ultimately do but it is possible and probably warranted.

Also I know I dropped the ball with my 999 game review. That is absolutely unacceptable and I apologize for that. I really haven't went back to finish the "good" ending thus why I didn't feel like I was ready to flesh out an opinion. But it is just that. An opinion. And its a damn fine game. I recommend it to everyone, even dogs if they could play/comprehend the material.

Thanks for hanging in there. I hope the wait was worth it and will look forward to after this weekend, I WILL have a solid date of TOTAL COMPLETION/PUBLISHING. I'm actually looking forward to all the hate I'll receive over this one. I'm very reluctant to believe it any good. But at least I rest easy knowing its better today then it was yesterday and for that, we're all thankful.

-Rossini

(Minor side note. I feel that my Genetic review post may have come off strongly one way or another. I'm sort of afraid that the opening paragraph may affect or have affected viewership. Understand the review clears up those words pretty quickly so for anyone who hasn't read it and thought I gushed, read it. I didn't. As for those who felt I was too harsh. I didn't feel it. I truly didn't. I enjoyed it but I didn't feel it like some folks. Again just a matter of opinion and I felt compelled to express those thoughts.)

The Genetic Review

2011-07-13T19:29:00.002-05:00

Occasionally there are certain movies/books/games/albums/etc that radically change the playing field. When one finds these holy relics they tend to cling to said object of creativity and never let go. Well the same can be said of another type of story. Such a story that legend of its name is only famous to those that dwell within its shadow. And those who don't strike it down as an infamous pile of crap. As such reviewing Cult movies can be treading upon thin line.

Repo! The Genetic Opera is (supposedly) such a tale. Not quite sublime, not quite terrible. It stands between. And here I feel it is best observed.

The Premise is simple. An epidemic of organ failure arises in the not so distant future. A company, GeneCo, singlehandedly cures this plight by developing and offering replacement organs. However there is a catch. If you default on your contract they'll send out a Repo-man who will recover GeneCo's property one cut at a time.

Both stylized in a cross between "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and "Blade-Runner" with a dash of "Saw" ultimately results in a mesh of glorified cleaved intestines and rock opera. The visualization itself is dramatic and deliberately morose. While I wouldn't quite call it unique in scope or picture (think any old sci-fi movie and then mix in some old world thought/sights) it does prove to be a great contrast different then the modern mainstream. And most importantly these scenes of a dismal future work great within the context of the movie.

Being a musical (Rock Opera) as it is, dialog is at a premium. Obviously the story and presentation is mostly drawn through song but at other times Narration can be provided by a single character or through what looks to be a comic book.

     Thankfully most of the music in the movie is quite good offering memorable lyrics that will easily outlive the movie's one hour forty minute run time. But there is one down side. While the songs do provide much needed levity to situations they also tend to drag depending on the actor/actress. For example, I personally found some performances (Paul Sorvino, as GeneCo's unscrupulous president, sounded like he was sing-talking at times, Bill Moseley, as one of his two scheming sons, was just so-so) to be lifeless and/or boring such as the case when Alexa Vega (Shilo) does her youth revolt solo.

I'd say eighty to ninety percent of the music was worth hearing. Sarah Brightman (Blind Mag) and Anthony Head (Nathan/Repo-man) steal most of the spotlight. The Grave Robber (Terrance Zdunch) does his thing adding narration and catchy tunes along the way. Even Paris Hilton doesn't totally **** up her role, albeit the small vain role that it is.

      Still, I feel the truth behind this opera's curtains that compiles most of the movie's presentation (be it narration, song, look, story, etc) is neither as original (as presumed by followers) nor is it as fulfilling as believed to be. Too much of the screen time feels like exposition, too many of the characters feel flat or useless and (although certainly intended) one dimensional with absolutely non existent growth. Furthermore I felt hard pressed to be actually interested in any one character enough to care about their future. Yes I felt bad for Nathan and his daughter Shilo but certainly never to the degree that the conclusion would have you tearing hair out in suspense. Which, among other notable things I forgot to mention, the story is fairly predictable.

       In the end I feel as if from the very onset I was trying to see something in Repo! that simply was either not there or I didn't grasp the lens to fully see it. Still, I do strongly feel that everyone interested in alternate tales or movies in general should see this film. It does provide an enjoyable tale of love, hate and revenge amongst other more obvious things. I should however warn anyone whose stomach is queasy around the sight of blood that this one has scenes of "intense gore". Not necessarily on par with your B rated slasher or craptastic Saw seven hundred and forty two but fairly heavy gore nevertheless. Prepare accordingly.

---------------------------------------------------
3/5 stars (Above average)(Recommended)
---------------------------------------------------

There will be no updates today (July 12th)

2011-07-12T18:28:00.001-05:00

Shortly after the posting yesterday my house lost power. Its since been down till about now and I've just not the energy or time to bother trying to fix a half broken review. It will sit in drafts until tomorrow. I apologize for this inconvenience but thankfully there is always tomorrow to look forward to.

And yes I did continue editing on the story during the outage. It was done with pen and pencil on lined sheet paper. Very relaxing method indeed. No electronic distractions. Course word processors are much easier to use thus why we love them.

Thanks for dropping by and I'm sorry about the mishap. See you tomorrow,

-Rossini

Tiny update (July 11th)

2011-07-11T05:30:00.001-05:00

Nothing special to post yet. Just an update on the work for now. After a great weekend I'm nearing about 85% completion. Will keep informed as we move into the week ahead. Will post another review either later today or tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Thanks,
-Rossini

Ninja Assassination (review)

2011-07-08T01:17:00.003-05:00

I remember as a kid that I'd trot though the shadows with the best of them. Silent was I as I snuck between my prey's vision. Only did I ever get caught once as I lunged forward with the grace of a cat. But (sub)urban fatalities can only pose so much interest. I wanted to be the best thus I would need to hunt the best.

When I'd gotten older I found that tricks I once thought paramount were no longer. Ideas I loved no longer held company inside my head. And Ninjas were just a fading memory. A rising balloon set against the blue backdrop. Distant it ever became as the sun engulfed its sight.

         Ninja Assassin is no more then a child's delight. A whimsical fantasy brought to the big screen by a well versed director (James McTeigue) of the arts. But before we dissect the movie let us forbid one ever distant thought from creeping back up upon us. Ninja Assassin is no Shakespeare.

The story is entirely superficial. It merely guides us along and fits into place as needed. There are no -gasp!- moments of shocking revelation. No twist ending. No analogies or fluff. There are ninjas, their actions to and against, and some intermission/prelude where pointless side characters talk amongst themselves while the real meat hides inside the shadows. Waiting.

Think Transformers (as the contrast) except with less Shia Lapuke and more ninjas.

        What happens, how it happens, why it happens, all truly pointless in the eyes of destruction. And believe you me these ninjas destroy with vengeance. The main character, Raizo, played by pop artist "Rain" (see his other work for comparison such as Chan-Wook Park's "I'm a cyborg, but that's OK") has all the right tools (literally) to dismantle foes with ease. Being orphaned as a wee child, adopted by a family of strict assassins and then outcast just as quickly, Raizo wages a one man (/ninja) war against the clan that bore him.

As I said, it works and you ain't here to see no story telling perfection.

                  You're here for the fight. Nothing else. And needless to say what a fight Raizo puts on. From the expected ninja assassinations (such as the one in the early going. Step into shadow/blade comes out, etc) to the outdoor chase scenes, to the warehouse cluster****. The choreography is flawless alongside the swift cameras/special effects. Visually the movie stands out fairly well.

I said earlier this movie is like a "child's delight" but make no mistake this is no children's movie. The gore is constant (well... except the hiatus the movie takes right after the beginning) and brutal. Folks get sliced and diced in many differing angles and leave four, five, maybe six buckets of blood for every tiny gash.

Which walks me back into my final point. While the film is gory (there is no denying that) most is portrayed with almost comical amounts of ketchup that is at best somewhat silly looking CGI. Think Three Hundred and then multiple the silliness. I mean the actual content is wince worthy but the blood is simply outrageous. (Read: this is not a complaint or a bad thing. Merely an observation)

                  Ultimately Ninja Assassination completes what it sets out to do. It has its illogical or magical attributes (literally). And the story is about as well groomed as a Michael Bay flick but it all works out in the end. You enter for entertainment of blood and leave satisfied. Don't expect the Matrix because -o.m.g. The Wachowski name! - this is not. And to another point, stop gushing to the point of no returns. Speed Racer was a good movie also bearing such a banner but it simply was overlooked (like McTeigue) because some people simply cannot get past themselves. Hell V for Vendetta was another (actually helmed by McTeigue) that was well captured on screen (although the book still remained better me thinks).

But I digress. If you search for anything else (then explicitly stated), don't bother, disregard this review and go back to your original programming.
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3/5 Stars
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Thank you and goodnight,
-Rossini

I'm positively fickle

2011-07-07T01:43:00.000-05:00

When it comes down to my writing. Up in the morning, up at night. I'm a little coo coo for cocoa puffs if you catch my drift. See, everyday that I awake and tussle open my eyelids, is another day that I remind myself that I am here. Err let me explain that one again.

As I awake I tend to overhear one very quirky line. Only it isn't me that speaks. Its a voice inside my head filtered through that of a character I once created a very long time ago. He speaks to me at times but only when I am alone. His dry, unrefined dialog creeps out like that of a robot.

"Welcome back"

For a brief moment that is all I hear. His voice slithers back into the shadows of my foggy mind and I slowly realize that I've awoken to a new day. I'll roll over in bed, glance at the three, sometimes four, red digits leering back at me and understand what it is I was told.

Then, out of nowhere, I begin to visualize a world not my own. A world encompassed by very ugly things. In it I begin to wonder why I am here, why I would create such a monster, and why it would haunt me day in and day out, morning through night. Was it possible that my brain had become so ruined that I'd not the clue as to what it was doing?

In retrospect I realize that I was simply too attached to my training wheels. When I was a child I loved the idea of not falling down. I figured if I stay upright then I'll never get hurt. Never gash my knees or break an arm. Hell I'd beaten gravity. It should've been the greatest day of my life.

Now and then is so much alike. Past and present. Future and Past. Present, past and future all knead into the same doughy ball. What becomes of it I've no idea. But I can't wait to take off my training wheels. I can't wait until this story is finished; crash and burn be damned. For when I complete my task I will have released this hold. And when I do I'm bringing back an old character I once thought dead.

To him I'll say.

"Welcome back old friend"

-Rossini

[News and notes: Will update soon. Nothing too immediate to report. Possible second update later today]

My biggest gripe(s) with DLC

2011-07-05T23:31:00.001-05:00

Okay before we begin let us please set aside our virtual axes, pitch forks and logs of fire. We aren't about to burn the house Microsoft/Sony/Nintendo has built on their respective Home Console systems. We'll ignore their bitter cousin for a moment (PC) and simply examine the main trouble I that run into with each and every game/game addon every other day.

Issue #1

Ownership. Yes the number one issue with downloading a game is actual ownership. Again we'll ignore the fact that numerous phones/tablets to date (IE Apple Iphone) get away with charging real money and in return offer you something that is not only invisible but impossible to touch.

But this is common sense. Everyone in the world knows it yet I still hear the complaint. Is it valid? Yes. Is it alterable in any way? No, probably not. So what can developers/producers do to soften the blow of our real money being eaten by a virtual monster?

Well, for starters, looser restrictions on DRM is the obvious choice. Steam has already paved the way for the digital distribution highway. But let us peer deeper into the hole and realize how they've done it.

Promise

By now, anyone who has ever downloaded, used, or even been to Steam's website has more then likely seen the most important reason they've succeeded on the PC market. Physical computer games are not coveted as is their offspring the console games. And with rampant pirating, torrents, and other means of theft, owning a PC game in a case/box is like owning a music CD.

But still, games we own and games we rent/borrow (or possibly steal) are never the same as our own. What Steam provides is a legitimate way for honest folks to purchase and own (to some extent) content without the worry that one day things will vanish. They do this with a very simple promise. Well actually it is a behemoth sized promise that, if anything ever occurs, could be catastrophic nightmare. Not for players, their purchased content will be safe and able to re-download for a good while. No it would ultimately turn out bad for producers/developers who use Steam to promote sales, independent work, etc etc.

So what else is there but promise when dealing with ownership?

Price

Yes the old nickel and dime scheme repackaged and shoved down our throats in every facet of life. Taxes, finance charges, etc etc. Your cost of living can be nothing short of depressing at times. However our media doesn't have to be. Physical games have been dropping in price for last the few years, most hitting between forty to fifty dollars within a week or two. Majority of stuff will now hit rock bottom within a year. The only games that don't would be more exclusive (Nintendo/Sony) or online focused (CoD).

But what I hadn't discussed above is the second principle of Steam. And that my friends is sales. Real cost reductions, not some silly thirty percent a year later shtick you'll catch on the console market. Games can go for as little as a buck during these sales and please argue that you wouldn't buy Braid for two fifty or Company of Heroes for three just because you'll never see their box art.

The truth is that aside from a promise, price is the major contributor moving forward. For example. On the PSN right now you can purchase the original Prince of Persia Sands of time trilogy for a hefty forty dollars. Or you just finger stroll yourself to Amazon search PoP and grab the set for a few dollars cheaper.

Rule one in this war should be: Virtual games should never equal or surpass the price of Physical media. Period.

While we're on the subject a major disservice has evolved at our thumbs. Content made BEFORE the game ships being cut out and delivered as DLC. And Content made AFTER the game ships being overpriced and stagnant.

We all know how the old saying goes. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.

Day One DLC

I'll tackle the first one real quickly. The truth is video game creation is a business. There is no true argument that can pierce holes into the walls of theft that we experience at the hands of these major players. Day one DLC is a joke. It is a serrated stick that is jammed between our butt cheeks as we hold our collective breath and pray. Project ten dollar from EA also falls into this category because, quite frankly, I feel they've been slicing some content in favor of a war they can't hope to win.

So let us move onto more pressing issues that can and must be resolved. Add-on content pricing.

Day Two DLC Pricing (after game ships)

I've heard the argument before that a movie at the theater costs forty dollars for a family of four and that because of this, anything you can buy for fewer then forty dollars now can be instantaneously justified. This is wrong. What people do and how they do it is their own business not mine but referencing one thing and comparing price of another does not an argument make.

See, if I were to compare equal components, I'd start at the source. Compare for a moment a game you love to its add-on. Let's go out on a limb and say you paid anywhere from ten, twenty, to thirty dollars for said game. For sake of time I'll just use Splinter Cell Conviction which I purchased last year at around Christmas time for a slim ten picking.

Okay so I crack open my ten dollar game, removing the plastic and carefully withdraw the disc, and slide it into my system. I play through the campaign (in this case about 5-8 hours long) and grab a bud and sit down for some co-op frenzy. Then I notice to my delight there is down loadable content. Joy! I scream. But upon opening the menu I find only misery. For you see, my ten dollar game has ten dollar DLC.

Let us use another example real quick.

Dante's Inferno, which I also purchased around the same time for about thirteen dollars, has content on the marketplace set at three, three, and five. What you receive in said packs are, one relic/one magic, one relic/magic, an extra character/trial runs/trophies respectively. So for eleven dollars without tax (if charged) you will get two extra relics (gimmicks) two extra magic spells (gimmicks) and a new character/trial runs (somewhat gimmicky).

I paid thirteen dollars and got four, possibly more, times the content that I will receive from this said add-on content. Why? Because add-ons are unfortunately priced to move as a percentage of their big brother/sister. In this case, the sixty dollar price tag. But remember when I said that tag never stayed for very long?

The worst part about this is that for the same price of content for either game I can go purchase one, or two games (if on 50% sale) from the same store that I would purchase the add-on. And believe you me, you'll find more in Beyond Good and Evil HD then you will in that miserable Dante's content.

[Edit: I forgot to mention Online Content as I've no interest in anything for or against it. Due to their innate re-playability cost here is covered by interest. If you like it, its ridiculously good. If you don't, it sucks. Simple as that.]

Day Three Content (As the years pass)

Covering both phases I think it is necessary for me to acknowledge game content that has passed the yearly cycle but still remains the same price. I mean have you ever put in an old game and clicked the blinking button (DLC) and witnessed the albatross that is peering back at you? Would it be so difficult to reduce this content, especially older unused stuff, every so often? I bet if nothing else you'd create more sales.

I'll go one step further and vehemently suggest that this content should slowly depreciated every year upwards to a dollar.

Price Overall

I think that the digital movement on games (actual arcade games. Not games on demand IE stuff that is both physical and digital) is fine. Five to ten dollars for an actual piece of work is great value. Fifteen dollars is a bit steep in my opinion and really should only be held as an absolute price when necessary (IE if you were delivering a mammoth sized game). Price on the actual content is a joke where its at right now. I think realistically, two to five dollars should be the most ever slapped onto such content that isn't a full blown expansion pack (See Oblivion/Dragon Age). Doing so would provide a much more receptive environment (at least in my opinion).

And things as they were, I didn't even get into the whole Capcom DRM/DLC policy/Paying for useless things like costumes/avatars/clothing for avatars/hats for avatars/and of course, naturally I leapfrogged around paying for benefits (PSN) and the ability to play online (XBL). Those are things that are best kept to the individuals who believe in them. Conversely, I can always come back and rant about such services at a later date.

Just a quick rundown of the services:

Xbox live: Microsoft's digital system can be, at times, what we expect when we speak of strict, almost dictatorship like use of their content. What began with funny money evolved into user restrictions. Granted you can re-download anything as long as they host the servers and you can reclaim property over your content downloaded to different consoles once a year. And everything is tied to your login so migration isn't too troublesome. But things that once were on the marketplace eventually can and will disappear as legal battles, licenses expire, etc, create bubbles in the network. Add in financial pressure and even PC freebies get turned into a pot of points (money) and you soon realize why this growing age is a daunting one.

However Microsoft's network is the most reliable, fastest, and most intertwined (website usage/etc) thus making it very powerful and overall a very good service.

PlayStation Network: Ignoring glaring security issues, the PSN has the most flexible use of content out of the big three. With up to five systems able to register a single account, people have (add or subtract bias opinion regarding the matter) abused such a system for their own gain. But it is the right step forward regardless the opinion as it offers a customer more control over their console/multiple consoles. Whereas MS forces me to keep my gamer profile on a memory stick if I ever want to travel. Plus I can use real currency!

Nintendo Virtual Console/WiiWare: is a joke. Seriously let us just skip past this mess and continue on. No? Well...

Overpriced content? Check.
Sales? Never.
Login tethered to Console. Good luck migrating.
Memory? It was very little till they allowed us usage of a memory card. Now its "ok".
Payment? Well unlike PSN's real currency and MS's funny money, Big N opted for an easy to understand point system. That's a plus I guess.

Final thoughts:

I guess my point is that online content unlike physical content must be more ready to move, not sit there and grow stagnant waiting for a random sale. If any store acted as such they'd be permanently closed for business upon opening. But as I said. Folks are buying these things. They fuel everything with their most prized voice.

Their money.

-Rossini

/.Hopefully I covered everything I intended to./

*Content edited: Snide remarks about Politics/NFL Labor issues/Laws and regulations.
Reason: No reason given.

Sucker Punched

2011-07-04T04:12:00.000-05:00

          From the movie's onset we open with a song, a montage where the "main character" Baby doll is thrust into one unfortunate circumstance after another ultimately leading her to a mental institute by decree of a murder charge. Once there, things seemingly go from bad to worse as her abusive caretaker (step father) supersedes any right to her freedom and upon his wishes, will use this newly found prison to his discretion. Facing an end of life as she knows it, Baby Doll is given just five days to escape.

Most of the plot isn't quite entirely original. Think something similar to Pan's Labyrinth, Coralline, or Alice in wonderland where the characters would create/find alternate realities where they themselves could rule and oversee their future as something of wonder rather then the incarceration they've been emplaced within. But interestingly enough this doesn't really turn out to be the case right away as she correlates the horrors of the mental ward as a vile brothel. A brothel she has neither entire control over her actions nor the captors/captured. Or does she?

Whereas most of those tales who've proceeded have had their two alternating worlds (A main and fantasy reality), Sucker punch manages to pull one more out of the hat. Another subconscious dream world that unlike the main two is one hundred percent imagination. To enter such a world she must first perform an exotic dance which captivates and thereby stuns a room full of detainees, the club's personal, and other onlookers. What follows is both real and figurative. To overcome the oppressiveness forthwith she must discover and use a power within herself. A power that will set her and four accompanying girls free.

    But to achieve such a lofty feat Baby Doll and friends will need five things. A map, a knife, fire, a key, and a fifth unknown, veiled as a "deep sacrifice".

    The movie will often question freedom, escapism, and reality. Perhaps not as well or as clear as certain films (Inception comes to mind for clarity sake at the very least.). It often reserves itself to fulfilling both a thought provoking response and a fetish for action/women in suggestive wear. But I truly think that observing the movie in such a way (as a fetish) is missing the point and quite frankly the reason reviews have suffered and opinions vary. It is a very polarizing movie. A love it/hate it affair.

Sucker Punch's visual repertoire draws life from many references before it. You have your kung-Fu, sci-fi, steam-punk and manga to name a few. And quite frankly visuals are reason enough to see the movie. While not able to carry it from beginning to end (as I expect so many would assume) the range of the movie's distinct dreamscape offer most viewers a vantage point they may tend to avoid.

     Sucker Punch is a film about a great many things. While the movie is a dramatic charmer, at its nestled heart it tries to live up to its assumed action status. It never coasts directly on either. As such it can often be vexing to some, gratuitous to others as it deals with skimpy skirts and tons of (seemingly) nonsensical action/set pieces, or even an endearing tale of true conviction for freedom of the shackles of reality. Its not perfect. The acting is good but never steps out and the character development is low (but not necessary). But the visuals are spectacular. Easily on par or better then any Zack Snyder film to date. And if you let the story swim around in your head, you'll find it much more rewarding then what appears at first glance.
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4/5 Stars
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Happy Independence day! And/or Happy Monday!