What’s Up Week 2: Everything in Progress

Week 2 has definitely slowed down from the previous week. Mostly work and overtime has consumed a lot of my life and then there’s the whole getting sick part which zapped a lot of my energy, motivation and concentration. With that said, the weekend was a lot of trying to catch up with stuff and get things back on track. It is inevitable to have slow weeks here and there and this is definitely one of them.

On the note of structure of What’s Up in terms of written and video, I’ve decided to do a monthly video wrap-up which means it’ll be like a month look back and what I did and highlight the stuff that I thought stood out. At the same time, it’ll give me time to sort out some more in-depth video content probably like adaptation compare and contrast or something like remake and original comparison, etc. It really depends on what I find fun and if research is required, gives me time to put something together as well.

READING

• The Penultimate Peril (A Series of Unfortunate Events #12)

Currently reading: The End (A Series of Unfortunate Events #13)

I’m really close to finishing The End of A Series of Unfortunate Events however, I’m still working through the last few chapters of the book. However, it has been quite a fun read. Its nice especially since I get to compare and contrast to the TV series and I have to say that it might be a nice approach to talk about how the changes benefits (or not) when I finish.

PLAYING

Currently playing: Tsioque

Gaming has been a tad slow. It is to be expected as games take time to finish and I don’t usually sit down for hours playing them anyways. However, I am working through some back catalogue of keys we got that needs to be reviewed so I went ahead and started playing this point and click hand drawn animated game called Tsioque (pronounced “chiock”) and its surprisingly fun. Really looking forward to getting back to it and finishing it up.

WATCHING

• Blade
• Bone Tomahawk

I’m starting to prepare for the next Movies and Tea episode despite our previous one still in editing. However, I personally feel to look at Blade 2 would require watching the trilogy from the beginning so that is what I’m starting to do since I’ve never actually watched further than the first movie anyways so its a good opportunity to get that done. After that, we went ahead and finally watched Bone Tomahawk. My husband was sold on the Western, horror and Kurt Russell elements so that is how that choice was settled. Its a pretty good one. I’m not much for the Western film pacing so that was my main issue with a part of it. The review for that is coming up soon.

BINGING

Currently binging: Who’s the Murderer (Season 4); Meteor Garden (2018) rewatch; My Little One (Season 2); My Amazing Boyfriend (2016); The Singer 2019; Ugly Delicious (rewatch)

I’m refraining from finishing anything new until I get some TV binges together. However, all the currently binging stuff is pretty straight forward. Who’s the Murderer will have their final episode next week, I believe. The just did part one of the final case and its pretty mind-boggling and fun to decipher. Definitely looking forward to part 2 this week. My Little One (Season 2) and The Singer 2019 will be my focus in terms of variety shows since they are new and pretty fun to watch. One talks about family and communication and society perspectives in China towards girls and the other is a singing competition between known singers. I only have 5 episodes left to finish off My Amazing Boyfriend so thats definitely moving along at a good speed and I’m enjoying it quite a bit while I took a slight break on Meteor Garden last week (and most TV stuff) to just catch up with other things in life. I test run a few new series but can’t say that I’m at the starting it officially point yet so not including those here. In terms of rewatches, I started up Ugly Delicious again as I realized that I never wrote the binge for that one.

That’s it for Week 2 recap!
Mostly everything is just in progress and not much has been done. With anything like this, next week should look much more inspiring. 😉

Graphic Horror Blogathon: Blade (1998)

If some of you are unaware, all March long over at Flights Tights & Movie Nights is Graphic Horror Blogathon month where you can review movies based on graphic novels or even choose a movie that you feel be great as a graphic novel.  Thats a really awesome idea, right? There’s been some really great posts thats gone up.

Now, I love awesome ideas so even if I’m not much of a graphic novel connoisseur, I’m always down to check out (or rewatch) movies.  My choice for Graphic Horror Blogathon? Blade.  I’ve only watched snippets here and there of this one before, but I love vampire flicks and I’ve owned the trilogy for a long time.  There’s just always something that catches my eye more. This past weekend, I sat down, wrapped myself in a blanket and fought off the losing an hour because of daylight saving time adjustments and watched Blade.

Let’s see how it was, shall we?

Blade (1998)

Director: Stephen Norrington

Cast: Wesley Snipes, Stephen Dorff, Kris Kristofferson, N’Bushe Wright, Donal Logue, Arly Jover

Vampires live among humans however they preserve a certain set of rules to make sure that they do not make themselves too visible.  In the shadows, Blade makes sure that they keep their order. Being half human and half vampire, he can walk in the daylight but tries his best to control his thirst for blood while trying to protect the innocent mortals from vampires while trying to get rid of them all.  One night he saves Dr. Karen Jensen after she has been bitten and tries his best to stop her change with the help of his friend, Abraham. At the same time, this is just the beginning when change is about to happen to shift the balance between vampires and mortals if fellow vampire Deacon Frost succeeds in carrying out his plan.

Lets start with a few facts about me, so this review makes a little more sense.  First, I love all things vampire (except Twilight.  No sparkling vamps, thank you).  Second, I’m not a fan of Wesley Snipes.  I couldn’t finish Demolition Man.  I didn’t even get through half of it for all I know.  Third, I have not read the graphic horror novel that this is based on. I’m quite new to this term so while I know what it generally is, I really just think its a more stylish comic book.  With all that info about me, lets get this review starts.

I’m a little half and half with Blade.  Why? I didn’t like that it was so slow.  The pace was horrible and it wasn’t even that long of a movie.  Maybe a little long at around two hours.  The acting is also something I’m not too huge on but then I think it makes it feel a little bit more comic-y and it constantly reminds me that I’m watching a movie adapted from a graphic novel.  I’d say, on that level, it succeeds rather well.

What does work is that this is violent and stylish.  The action scenes are done really well and they are frequent enough that its only parts that made me more anxious to watch it.  When its just talking and whatever, that’s when it felt a little dragging out and never-ending.   Normally, I’m okay with talking a lot when its intriguing but it really wasn’t.  Its a comic book movie and Blade is somewhat of a hero of sorts so even in the most dangerous situation, you know he’ll break out and save the day in one way or another.

So, maybe here’s where I get to confuse you all a little.  As much as I don’t quite like Wesley Snipes, he fits the role of Blade extremely well. He doesn’t give off a serious vibe to begin with and he can pull of minimal dialogue, quiet and mysterious but still feel like its not all that serious while pulling off some great action sequences.  It works out for him.  Trust me, I’m surprised that I actually enjoyed him a little more than usual.

I don’t have all that much to say about Blade, maybe thats what its taken me so long to get this review up. Blade is a mildly entertaining movie because of Wesley Snipes being Blade and the action sequences that the movie adds in.  The other parts is not exactly intriguing or interesting.  However, what it does succeed is that it always reflects that it is based on a graphic novel and reflects well with its dialogue.  Its could be a good fun guilty pleasure.  Not exactly mine but I did enjoy myself a little so that’s good with me.

Have you seen Blade? Do you like Wesley Snipes? 

Tug of War: Marvel or DC?

I’ve been pretty busy this week so I haven’t dropped by to The Matticus Kingdom to check out your answers but I just did a quick skim and there’s been a lot of comments which is fantastic.  If you haven’t read THIS post, asking you join into The Offical  Matticus Kingdom Tug of War, well, you probably should head over HERE to check it out instead! This should spark a pretty interesting tug of war 🙂 If you are into the DC universe, well, go ahead and tug hard and well, if you want Marvel to win, pull back with all your might.

The question we are tugging for in this war is: Which universe of superheroes (and villains) is superior: Marvel or DC?

Now, the big question here is which side did I pick? I could’ve just answered in the comments but you know, I like to talk and ramble 😉 I’ll try to keep it short, ok?

Just in case you are unfamiliar, because I’m a mega beginner.  I only know about either of them because of movies.  Here’s a poster for each of them.

So, which side am I going to pull with all my force, right?

Its really funny actually.  For all of today before I sat down to write this and search up those images, I was thinking I’d back DC comics because hey, there’s Batman, Catwoman, The Joker and some pretty impressive heros and villains.  I haven’t experienced the apparent awesomeness (from what I’e heard) of Arrow yet so it wouldn’t be fair to include that.

But, as much as it pains me to say this, lets get those apologies out there. I’m sorry, Batman, I had to let you go. I can’t defend DC Universe. If one of my really good friends read this, she will give me a lesson also, but still…

*sigh of relief* Now that thats out of the way. I’m joining all of you tugging for Marvel.

Now, hear me out, ok? I had to pick a side and not just a hero.  If it was a hero, Batman would win hands-down but I took a good hard look at DC Universe and what its had to offer (in terms of movies).  Other than Batman and Catwoman, Green Lantern was a disaster and not to mention a snoozefest. Watchmen was a mega weird one and still so boring (but apparenlty I’m the minority who thinks that), and well, I didn’t see Jonah Hex because Megan Fox was in it and I don’t really want to watch it. Call it a lack of exposure to other DC universe characters but they aren’t winning over my heart right this moment.

Isn’t this concept art poster so cool?

With that said, Marvel has done a great job.  All the characters are fun.  Wolverine and X-men kicked some ass along with Cyclops and Rogue and the whole bunch.  Even the villains were pretty bad-ass.  I mean Xavier to Magneto, epic! 🙂 Then, just look at The Avengers. Would you want to mess with The Hulk? I wouldn’t.  I mean, thats one of the reasons, I would not choose DC either.  I mean, Joker is pretty nasty but some big-ass green dude can probably crush me.  Look over at the positives: Thor is just fantastic, I mean, he’s a demi-god. I think that says it all.  Ironman is not godly but he is quite torn and broken but pretty powerful in his own way.  And then, we have Hawkeye who is a great archer and Black Widow is a femme fatale right now.  A great team right there! Oh and how can I forget, Blade is in this mix also.  Who doesn’t love a vampires? I know I do!

What wins it for me has to be Spiderman though.  I mean, it was pretty much a battle between Spiderman and Batman in the first place.  I’m not very much Tobey Maguire Spiderman as opposed to Andrew Garfield but Spiderman is quite Amazing in itself.  There’s a god, a few superhumans and some pretty awesome fighting capabilities in this mesh and I’d say Marvel is the winner, for me at least 🙂

Do you agree? Maybe you disagree and you’re more of a DC Universe supporter? Head on over to the Matticus Kingdom HERE.  If you don’t want to do a post, then just leave a comment so that you can make sure that you give a bigger chance to your side.

Keep on tugging! Tomorrow is the last day to help out your side! 🙂