That Yokai Post Is Coming...I Swear!

So I really love Yokai. So much so that if I come across any game/manga/anime/book that features them, I have to own it.

I plan on posting a nice little piece about where Yokai appear in various forms of entertainment, pretty soon.

Until then, above is a picture of a Karakasa.

Obsessions

This being an adult thing sure is rough!
Sorry I haven't updated in quite a while. With long work days, the never ending job that is Parenthood, and all those awesome things in the world that continue to contribute to my severe case of adult A.D.D., I really have been neglecting this blog of mine.
So now that I have a moment to spare, here is a list of the current things that gobble up my free time:

• Instant Noodle Review - I really love imported instant Ramen. It's cheap and really good. This site has made it easy to pick out the good ones when venturing out to the Asian Markets.

• Smodcast - Kevin Smith has a whole network of podcasts that help my workdays fly by. I guarantee you will laugh out loud and your coworkers will think you are crazy.

• Asian Horror Cinema - It's October, usually I get in the mood for Halloween by watching nothing but horror movies, leading up to the big day. This year, they just happen to be mostly Asian flicks.

• Halloween Candy - There is candy and then there is HALLOWEEN CANDY. Those limited time sweets that are only available this time of year. My current Favorites are Pumpkin Spice and Candy Corn Hershey's Kisses.

• Puzzle Quest - I finally gave in to the hype and have been playing the first game on my PSP, and part 2 on PC. This game has a way of making you feel stupid when making the wrong move. I just can't bring myself to stop playing it...

• Minecraft - It looks like crap, it kind of plays like crap, and I really have no idea why I continue to play it. If you haven't played it or even heard of it, go see what all the geeks are talking about.
  

Obsessions

A list of my current favs:

• High School Of The Dead
• Rebel FM
• Persona 3 PSP
• Japanator
• Blue Underground DVDs
• Yokai
• PSX Games
  

A Real Love Story

Well Women always say that guy's never like the idea of someone falling inlove with someone the first time they meet and basically would do anything for each other. Well Ladies I am here to tell you that we have our answer to chick Flicks and it's called "Dick Flick" though it sounds like a rather interesting sexual act, it is true and well The Ultimate Dick Flick would have to be the Tony Scott Directed, Tarantino written film

TRUE ROMANCE (1993) (US)

Clarence Worley is what your typical Nerd with great taste would be (Elvis Fanatic also). Just that he is played by a Good Looking Leading actor in Christian Slater but still it is shown that he is basically what at the time Nerds would always see themselves as (A Bad Ass who lives in his own world and not apologizing for it). It is then that he meets "by chance" Alabama a beautiful Blonde Bombshell played by Patricia Arquette who after taking this role in my opinion became my ideal woman (Watch the movie and you will see why.)

After a night of enjoying some Triple Shots of Sonny Chiba they go out for pie to find out more about one another and it seems that these two are just a match made in Heaven. All it takes is Clarence to explain to Alabama a deep meaning of a Sgt. Nick Fury comic (which I use to have :-D) they share a night of passionate love making.

After the blue lit intercourse Clarence wakes up to find Alabama gone out the window, he follows her to see that she is crying, it is revealed that their meeting was not by chance but by scheduled appointment from Clarance's boss who decided to give him an amazing birthday gift (wish my employers were that awesome but then again I wish I worked at an awesome job like Clarence) But Clarence being so cool just says that he had a great time despite knowing the truth about Alabama and she seems to respond with the same feelings but with a little more to it than just Like, The Two are married due to mutual feelings that one IS the others Soul Mate.

Our story does not end here cause well then that would just make it seem a little too easy, All I can tell you is that it later involves a Pimp, a Film Producer and a Hotel I ain't gonna reveal to you everything this movie has to offer but I will tell you that this movie basically has everyone in it.

Brad Pitt, Val Kilmer, Sam Jackson, Chris Penn,Tom Seizmore, Gary Oldman, Dennis Hoopper, James Gandolfini, Jack Black (Deleted Scene) and Balki Bartokomous.

This movie will have you Laughing, crying and just plain out saying "What The Fuck?"

If you feel the need to tell your girlfriend you wanna watch something that you think she is gonna like then you just need to tell her some of the names on that list and basically teh first 20 minutes of the movie.

So Ladies when you feel like telling a guy that he has no soft side to him then you better be ready to take a lap nap on the meat pillow because you are gonna see the greatest love story ever written.

Today's Revenge: Open Origins

VIGILANTE (1983) (US)

If you think about it any revenge flick can be an origin story especially if the continuation is brilliant - decent. But many times it is really not called for especially if the Hero kills everyone who was involved in the first place. But this particular title was something I think could have had a great sequel to if done right like this one was.

Vigilante was brought to us by William Lustig, the man who brought us classics like "Maniac", "Maniac Cop", "Relentless", "Maniac Cop 2", ect.). Many people would consider this to be a better version of Death wish. Do not get me wrong I love Death Wish and the developing stories of Paul Kersey, but Vigilante is a movie that gave you characters that you wanted to see more of. Robert Forster is billed as the head star of the flick but Fred "THE HAMMER" Williamson steals the show from the very start of the film with an amazing speech to the citizens tired of all the crime in the streets that seriously can beat any cliche' sounding speech put in today's cinema. (This speech was used as the selling clip to fund the rest of the movie). If there was anything that went together about this movie was that is had the feel of a modern (at the time) Spaghetti Western, hell even the theme song made it seemed like an urban western LISTEN!



GOD!Doesn't that shit just make you wanna put on whatever game you got and just blow away suckaz? Anywho I feel like I am getting off subject.

Well Forster is a family man who you can totally tell by the tender moments with his family at the start of the flick is gonna end real bad. Once it does he tries to take the crook through the system which of course is always of no help, especially since they are under the payroll of the criminals and also the defense is led by the Late Great Maniac himself Joe Spinell. After a short sentence given to the suspect involved. Forster loses it and snaps at the court which lands him in contempt. But while in Prison he has nothing but built up rage along with some problems on the inside to deal with. Outside Forster's Buddy played by Williamson is out cleaning the streets with his crew to try and find out some more information on who was responsible for the attack on Forster's family.

This movie ends on a note that this might not be the last time you see the characters that maybe one day there will be a sequel. (But like I said only if done properly please enjoy the opening speech from Vigilante and pick it up from Blue Underground DVD. You will be glad that you did.

Mask Of The Fantomas

In the Today's Revenge post I added a fan video to the band's version of the theme from Cape Fear but I wanted to share with you some of their other movie theme covers from their album "The Director's Cut". If you wanna hear more then please pick up this album right away. But for now take a look and a listen to the Faith No More front man's other band (one out of many more amazing projects) Fantomas!

Today's Revenge: Making Up For Lost Time

CAPE FEAR (1991) (US)

Keep in mind Revenge is something for the Wicked and not the Good. If you don't believe that statement then you obviously must not have even heard of the word at all in your life. The idea of finding someone that wronged you and doing the worst thing you can think of to make them realize the pain they put You through can only be executed by the demons inside of us all. Well I decided that the past 3 posts on the subject at hand have mainly been about a person who didn't deserve to be wronged but today I am gonna cover the other side of it. I will be covering the re-make which is usually not my style but I will explain why.



Meet Max Cady A Good Ole' Boy who was put to trail for the assault and rape of a young girl and sentenced to a nice lengthy 14 year stay in prison. It was brought to Cady's attention that the reason he was put there was not because of the Defense's efforts but cause of a helping hand by his own lawyer Sam Bowden. Bowden a family man (well a dysfunctional family man) is trying to get through his life dealing with his own problems, the growing adolescence of his daughter, constant arguing with his wife and the desire to have an affair with a co-worker until his past comes back to haunt him, this being the release of one Mr.Max Cady.The former client seems to have been keeping in good shape not just physically but mentally.

While "paying his dues" in the correctional facility he brushed up on his reading mostly the Bible of both Law and Religion. As he first meets up with Bowden he let's him know that he is free, he has served hard times and most of all is gonna make life a living hell for the Attorney at Law by parting off with the words "You Gonna Feel My Pain".Bowden at first thinks nothing of it but just a minor threat, until he notices that Cady is everywhere he is but is simply not harassing him the way they law would consider it thanks to Cady's enormous understanding of man made law's.

Oh keep in mind people that this revenge is not just mind games it Violence as well. Especially this version. The reason why I chose this is because it shows you the brutality of the situation not just by telling you but also showing you. I loved the original but this version is by far the most terrifying one. From the classic theme song to the final seconds of the credits where all you can hear is the waters of Cape Fear splashing together which just leaves you with shivers. If you have not seen it then please do yourself a favor and check out the re-make which is by far one of the best DeNiro performances hands down. Now I won't show you the trailer but for those of you who have seen it please enjoy this music video fan made to the music of the Mike Patton side project "Fantomas". See Ya Next Time, Counselor

My Favorite Game Intros

Who can't forget the first time they played Ocarina Of Time?
Firing up the N64. Hearing the galloping of Epona's hoofs as the melancholy, yet beautiful tune begins to play as Link, on steed, rides into the dawn.
It was magic.

Game intros can leave leave a lasting impression on you, whether you realize it or not. First impressions can really be everything. Especially when dealing with that good old feeling of video game euphoria.

Here are some of my favorites...

Today's Revenge: Suburban Vigilante

DEATH SENTENCE (US)

My favorite kind of Protagonist is The Everyday Man. Because just a simple canvas of a character can be painted into such a bloody picture. Based on the sequel novel to Death Wish, This movie is far from being a sequel but is it's only little piece of Americana gone wrong. Kevin Bacon plays Nick Hume, a successful businessman with a great family and a nice house in the Burbs (no not where Tom Hanks lives). Well one day while returning home from a Hockey game along with his son Brenden who played in the game he decides to stop and get gas in the very very wrong side of town. Brenden goes inside to get a drink but is met with a gang of hooded thugs who have come in to rob the place blind but also to initiate a new member at the expense of Brenden's life and throat. Nick overhearing the robbery witnesses the brutal demise of his son and manages to get a look at the one who delivered the deadly blow but is in shock such a hideous act has happened causing the thug to get away, well.....sorta.

Once the Street trash is apprehended by the authorities Nick identifies him as the killer. But brought to Nick's attention by his attorney that he is the only eye witness of the scene and that the suspect would only get a small amount of time in Prison. Hume decides it is not enough and retracts his identification of the crook, causing the case to be dismissed but this is not the end of Nick Hume's Vengeance.Later on that night he follows the murderer home and dishes out his own brand of justice.

Nick is filled with satisfaction but still is left with the sadness of wanting his Son back, but is just happy that the whole ordeal is over....too bad it isn't. Word gets around to the newly deceased criminal's older brother who find out about the ordeal and also manages to track down Mr.Hume.

I don't wanna give too much away but what I can tell you is that this movie is a reminder that Revenge is one of the best kinds of plots a movie can have especially if done right. I admit to not caring for the film too much when I first saw it but watching it again years later I found a great appreciation for it and long to make a huge return to the Revenge genre. Great performances, camera angles (Especially an onfoot chase scene in a parking structure that is 1 continuous shot.) and the grittyness that a revenge movie is always known for.Chocolate Chip Kudo's to Director James Wan. heres a trailer to this great Revenge Flick. Check it out and remember do not fuck with Kevin Bacon cause if you do I can promise you that he will find out about it from someone who knows someone, who knows someone, who knows someone, who knows someone, who knows someone that worked with or actually know Kevin Bacon and he will Punch Dance Your Soul.

Champagne and Chili-Doggy Style

Random post I wanted to do, If there are two things that go together like Champagne and Doggy Style it is Good Music and Anime. Please Bare Witness to these few videos that Prove my point.I posted 2 for Afro Samurai 1 cause it goes really well with score from the actual Series and another one that totally reminds me of an MTV AMP/ MTV Raps kinda vibe.