Swamp Thing

Swamp Thing | Author: Scott Snyder | 2012 | Site I had wanted to try out a few of DC’s new 52 comics but I have never been a huge super hero comic book fan. When I saw Scott Snyder (American Vampire, Severed) was writing Swamp Thing I knew I had to give it a try. I am hooked now and can’t help but get excited every other Wednesday when it comes out. Snyder’s Swamp Thing delves into the history of the “Swamp Things”. To the point it begins with the elders expecting protagonist, Alec Holland, to be the savior of the Green. This story is a fight of balance and love. The rot is what Swamp Thing is fighting and trying to keep from taking over the world. Snyder’s writing never ceases to draw me in. Swamp Thing is fantastic and I think giving it a try Snyder will get you hooked like me. Publisher: DC | # in Series: Ongoing Swamp Thing #1 Cover

Bronson

Bronson | 2008 | Director: Nicolas Winding Refn | Site | IMDB Bronson is a semi-biographical film about Great Brittan’s most “violent” prisoner, Michael Peterson a.k.a. Charles Bronson. Michael Peterson was sent to prison in the seventies for robbing a post office of less than fifty dollars and because of his violent, reckless anti-authoritative behavior has spent over 30 years in jail, mostly in solitary confinement. Director, Nicolas Winding Refn (Driver and Valhalla Rising) does an amazing job bringing to life the alter ego of Bronson

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim | RPG, First Person, Adventure | 2011 | Site Skyrim is a fantasy, first and third person open world, RPG that allows and encourages you to do almost anything. The civil war plot and dragon resurrection storyline are very meticulous and fulfilling to complete. The overarching story is great but you will get lost in wondering around, leveling skills, talking to people and taking up side quests. Some of the most fun you can have with Skyrim is talking to someone else that has played it and comparing stories. It is amazing how different your story can be. My girlfriend and I started playing at the exact same minute and once gameplay started it took about 10 minutes before we started encountering different people, places and things to do. I can’t say enough good things about Bethesda; they have created a work of art. Skyrim is one of the best games in the past ten years and, in my opinion of all time. Currently I am a level 48 Dark Elf with a focus on magic, one handed combat, smithing and enchanting. (Side note: Another one of the highlights in Skyrim are the books. If you haven’t started playing yet, you are bound to pick up and read every books you encounter. Capaneus has done everyone a favor and compiled all the books of Skyrim into one digital bound volume located here – capane.us) Skyrim is one of my favorite games. It was my #1 pick of 2011 and it is in my top 5 all time favorites. I am a big fan of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas, also developed by Bethesda. I never played Oblivion, only having been gaming more intensely since moving to Chicago a couple years ago. I tried Skyrim knowing I would probably like it and ended up loving it. Everything about this game is amazing. It is so huge, over 300 hours of gameplay. You can create your character and level up in the areas you are interested in. At the moment I am a level 38 Wood Elf with a focus on magic and archery. Developer: Bethesda Softworks | Bethesda Softworks Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC Skyrim Trailer

Melancholia

Melancholia | 2011 | Director: Lars von Trier | Site | IMDB Melancholia is a planet newly entered into Earth’s orbit, threatening to collide and destroy it. More so it is the story of two sisters and their strained relationship.  Melancholia is my choice for best film of 2011. Beautiful, dark, romantic and perfect really… It would be hard to pick a more cinematically beautiful film. The first few minutes are the most beautiful and moving in any film I have seen in recent years. The score is matched with precision. It is beautiful, creepy and emotional. This movie starts out with such a happy moment in many people’s lives and reflects it as intolerable sad. The disintegration of the two amazing female characters draws you in. Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg are magnificent. The cinematography is always stunning in Lars Von Trier’s films, but this movie is exceptional. I highly recommend this movie; especially not being a huge Kristen Dunst fan I was surprised. Melancholia Trailer

Audition

Audition | 1999 | Director: Takashi Miike | IMDB How can you not love this movie? It is a modern horror classic with a huge payoff ending for horror lovers. This is one of my favorite Miike movies of all time. A nice slow burn of a film leading you in one direction then a perfect gore filled, life-changing ending. You will not forget this movie whether you like it or not. I like it