Watchmen!

You may have seen the pins, a classical yellow smiley with an arrow of blood in the top left corner, or heard the phrase, “Who Watches the Watchmen.” The pin and phrase, originating from the graphic novel, recently resurfaced as viral marketing for the blockbuster, Watchmen. Zack Synder, director of 300, brought the Watchmen graphic novel to the big screen. After about a 20 year struggle, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon’s comic came to life.

The pin that many hold is prevalent in the story as soon as it starts. The time period is during the cold war, and with everyone’s heightened fear of nuclear annihilation, a group of vigilantes arise. There are six: Nite Owl II, Dr. Manhattan, Rorschach, Silk Spectre II, Ozymandias, The Comedian, and Dr. Manhattan, the only superhuman among the team. This team, Crimebusters of 1966, followed the original team, the Minutemen of 1939.

The events take place after the Keene Act of 1977, banning costumed heroes. Nite Owl II and The Comedian are retired, Dr. Manhattan and Silk Spectre II work for the government, Ozymandias, proclaimed world’s smartest man, enjoys life as a billionaire, and Rorshach continues his vigilante activities. The Comedian is murdered and as he lie dead, his famed pin lies next to him. Flashbacks, like in LOST, allow past events to be seen and give important back-story. The opening credits show alternate universe that of the Watchmen, where Americans easily win Vietnam War with the help of Dr. Manhattan, all overlaid with Bob Dylan’s 1964 The Times They Are a-Changin'.

It clocks in at a lengthy 162 minutes, and keeps one hooked throughout. One drag, although maybe intentional, is the music. In a flashback, Dr. Manhattan is seen annihilating Vietcong while with Ride of the Valkyries plays inappropriately. Watchmen is rated R.

Watered Special: Go Ninja Go Ninja Go

Vanilla Ice, famous for his one-hit-wonder Ice Ice Baby
did other songs as well. The other notable song of Vanilla Ice, a quite humorous one, is the Ninja Rap. It is music video for the classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 movie back in '91. Check it out.



AND, You have been the first to be Ninja ROLLED!!

I haven't disappeared...

I know I have not posted anything in a week. But, I have a review of Fallout 3 on the way. Plus, analysis of all the major Holiday games. While you wait enjoy!

What if the Matrix ran on Windows?

Fable 2: A Bogey, Birdie, Or Somewhere in Between?

Fable 2, brainchild of Peter Molyneux's Lionhead Studios, is the sequel to the action RPG (role playing game) exclusively for XBOX and later for Windows and Mac OS X.1 Fable 2 follows in the steps of the original but, larger. Fable 2 was released last Tuesday, October 21, 2008.
The character begins at a young age developing the story and takes place after the first Fable. As the character is released into the world the expansion grows beyond belief and as OXM says, "...those pesky fences that leashed you to a path in the first Fable? Now you can easily hop over them. 2" Opinion on the story is very wide. Some say the story is amazing while others call the story 'crap.' The fact is the story clocks short, and Gamespot calls "[the] story and characters lack[ing] depth.3" But, adding to the main story is side quests, 1UP says, "[there is] clear line between its primary quests and its side quests. 4"

An addition to the game is man's best friend. The dog follows your character around and, "...[a] furry metal detector, barking excitedly whenever he spots a treasure. His need to alert you of hidden goods before you have a chance to find them for yourself...3" But, as 'cute' as the dog is, he takes away the thrill of discovering. But, when he leaves to find an easier way you may feel anxious for his return.
Other interactions include people. Your character can interact without speaking using gestures and actions. You can trade with other interesting people. People's opinions change about you and you can marry other women in the game as well. But not all people are friends, some you must fight.
Don't bring a sword to a gun fight!
The combat system is an essential part of a RPG and is a strong point in Fable 2. In Fable 2, not only can your character wield a sword but also the character can use a gun.
Another key RPG element included, morality system, is a high point. Unlike the first Fable the character could be good or evil, which is very limited. Now, in Fable 2, the character can be good, evil, or somewhere in between.
Fable 2 adds a multi-player feature for both local and on-line possibility. The problem, the feature is not as great as hoped. Multi-player allows a friend to be the main character while the friend is the henchman, but the friend joined will not be able to transfer all of the weapons and the character from the other. The great point of on-line is when you play single player you can see your friends playing and where they are with a green orb.

Some cool Fable 2 'things' include a nifty master chief available in the limited edition version. And, Gamespot calls Fable 2, "Laugh-out-loud funny.5" But, the game is short, and some believe the game gets over fast. Fable 2 sadly ends up becoming a bogey. I recommend holding off until a price-drop. Fable 2 is available exclusively for the XBOX 360 and is rated M.
+Funny
+A man's best friend is the name!
+Expansive!
+Characters fun to talk too.
-Short
-On-line not up to par.
-Story's opinion varied
?Why stop at a dog? Why not a cat?
RUMOR: Fable 3 is currently in development and possible DLC for Fable 2 soon.

Shoutout: The Pit

Recently, I checked out a blog named adequately "The Pit". It is named "The Pit" because "Anything can fall into a pit...[the blog could] get pretty random." It has already had a nice array of posts including a very humorous, yet oddly disturbing Youtube video, a Large Hadron Collider update, and a review of Fable II. Check it out!

It's Halloween! (Part 1)

The Scariest Pumpkin EVER:
The SECOND Scariest Pumpkin Ever (On bottom right EEK!):
Obama!!!!!!

In all seriousness though, this guy is amazing at Pumpkin carving!

Do you want to believe?

1
UFOs one of the several wonders of the world. People claim to have spot them, others call them mad, shows such as UFO Hunters are built around the idea. But, are UFOs real? Britain recently started a three to four year program releasing 160 UFO files open to the public. 1 Inside the files include many claims such as a man ordered to fire at a unknown spectacle, a UFO. But, before the man fires the unknown speedily flees, "[he says]... it was absolutely death defying." Read more of the files at the source.