tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284294422024-03-07T10:51:42.986-07:00Eternal Nightmare Studio BlogA Sci-Fi and Horror BlogKevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.comBlogger485125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-39386215330153541212011-12-27T08:14:00.002-07:002011-12-27T08:14:58.172-07:00REVIEW: Alan Moore's NeonomiconI'm a big fan of Lovecraft's writing and tend to enjoy Moore as well, so when I came across this book I figured it would be an entertaining one.<br />
<br />
Although it takes place in contemporary times, Moore manages to craft a Lovecraft style story that is original while also being a good homage to it's origins. There was also some clever usage of Lovecraft's character names and places throughout the second story. Some of it's blatantly obvious while some is a bit more obscure hardcore Lovecraft fans will enjoy.<br />
<br />
At it's heart the two stories are Lovecraftian in theme and style. The use of FBI agents fits in well with Lovecraft's more intellectual/investigation style of protagonists. Yet, Moore isn't a copy cat and he defintely spices things up with plenty of blood/gore and unlike the asexual writing of Lovecraft, there's some very graphic sex and sodomy here. However, Moore uses this not as a juvenille excuse to get his rocks off, but instead it plays on the background/fears/issues of Merril which any good writer of horror would do. I like the fact that Moore doesn't play nice with either of his main protagonists.<br />
<br />
If you're conservative or easily offended you want to skip this book.<br />
<br />
The artwork in the book is fantastic as is the gallery section. I felt the artwork was a bit stronger in the second story. The layout of the pages in both books made for an easy read while remaining interesting visually.<br />
<br />
I think that Lovecraft fans will get the most out of this, but only if they do not have hang ups about bizarre sex. I think certain sexual scenes could be the make or break point for a lot of people. I give Moore kudos for having the courage to do this sort of thing since horror should be exactly that - horror - and human sexuality has long been a part of horror.<br />
<br />
Although it is a lot shorter then his other works, Moore still manages to develop his main protagonist very well by the end of the book. Again at the end Moore manages to put an unique spin on the old mythos. I found the ending to be great - in a disturbing manner. <br />
<br />
I'd recommend this to Lovecraft fans that are open minded enough to except new ideas and twists on Lovecraft and his mythos. Although Moore's tales may be unconventinal when compared to Lovecrafts, they still stay true to their origins.Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-73419997035881401522011-11-19T14:17:00.001-07:002011-11-19T14:17:01.032-07:00The Other 99 Percent<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Hi,</span><br />
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">I have put up a new drawing online called The <i>Other</i> 99 Percent. You can check it out via this link <a href="http://kevinh.jalbum.net/PaintingsDrawings/slides/TheOther99Percent.html" target="_blank">http://kevinh.jalbum.net/<wbr></wbr>PaintingsDrawings/slides/<wbr></wbr>TheOther99Percent.html</a></div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">This is my temporary website until I get a new one set up cause the other one was costing too much money each month.</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Thanks,</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Kevin</div>Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-78479085097368222002011-10-27T18:10:00.000-06:002011-10-27T18:10:16.289-06:00Website Gone - New Site SoonMy old site, eternalnightmare.com is no longer active for various personal reasons I won't bore you with the details. I am in the process of setting up a new site for my art/comics that I will announce here in the near futureKevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-52663063259861134332011-09-18T10:17:00.000-06:002011-09-18T10:17:41.933-06:00New Art UpI have added a couple new pieces to my website. You can check them out via this link: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.eternalnightmare.com/PaintingsDrawings/index.html">http://www.eternalnightmare.com/PaintingsDrawings/index.html</a></span><br />
<br />
Thanks for checkin' them out!Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-33187960203921951962011-06-12T12:01:00.000-06:002011-06-12T12:01:13.944-06:00Way of the Renegade Update - Pg 17&18As the memories of his past battles fade, Vincent Carson awakes to find himself facing a new enemy, and an ambigous plot against him. Determined not to go along quietly, Vincent does the one thing he know best...<br />
<br />
<br />
Check it out right <a href="http://t.co/FPzZMHb">HERE</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Thanks!Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-91241804419080519002011-06-07T18:36:00.002-06:002011-06-07T18:38:40.590-06:00Way of the Renegade Update = Page 16I have recently added another page to my webcomic Way of the Renegade.<br />
<br />
You can view by clicking<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> <a href="http://bit.ly/h6XBT3"><b style="background-color: red;">HERE</b></a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<b>Thanks!</b>Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-53539386924079151392011-06-05T07:56:00.001-06:002011-06-05T08:03:45.593-06:00REVIEW: Cold StorageIt has been a very long time since I've seen a horror movie worth watching on dvd or OnDemand. Yet I managed to stumble upon quite possibly the most hilariously good and disturbing movie I've seen called Cold Storage. The plot is one that's been done before, but what made this one entertaining is the characters, the humor, and the slight twist in the whole obssesion/abduction theme. Pretty much all the characters are exagerations and the humor is a bit over the top but the style of the writing keeps it from feeling out of place. The plot is realitvely simple in that a young actress is in a car accident late at night, and found by a redneck living out in the woods. He takes her back to his shack and is convinced she's a 'gift from God', unlike a lot of other horror films with this theme Cold Storage manages to take it in another direction which is disturbing/bizarre and oddly humorous at times. The movie also manages to crank up the suspense/tension several times, showing a more serious side of the movie which is great entertainment. <br />
<br />
In terms of gore/violence the opening sequences which takes place 30 years earlier is brilliant. It shows how twisted and psychotic the lead is, but unfortunately I never learn why he became this way. The physical special effects are great in this movie, and they don't go over board with the violence/gore. It's used sparingly but extremely effectively. There's a scene at the end that gives a whole new meaning to 'eye candy'.<br />
<br />
The acting in the movie is very good. Especially, the lead character. There are times where the expression on his face is truly inhuman. His acting ability really makes the character and the movie. If it weren't for him I think this movie would've been horrendous. The rest of cast is good in their supporting roles. The sheriff in particular was one of the funniest satires of a inept cop ever, and has one of the best one liners at end of the climax. Despite the campiness and satire of the movie the actors clearly took their roles seriously and the end result was an entertaining performance.<br />
<br />
Cold Storage doesn't rely upon cheap scare tatics, little Asian kids meowing like cats, or torture porn. If that's your preference in horror then move along and see something else. Instead it is heavily based on character and then plot. There are scenes that are creepy/disturbing but that it is done by the great acting and the physical sfx/set designs. Although it is goofy and a B movie Cold Storage is still a very good horror movie worth checking out if your looking for something other then yet another slasher or torture porn horror movie.Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-70239544448970018782011-05-14T14:05:00.001-06:002011-05-14T14:05:41.274-06:00Page 15 of Way of the RenegadeI have recently updated my web comic Way of the Renegade, and you can check out the latest page by clicking here: <a href="http://www.eternalnightmare.com/Renegade/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Renegade</span></a><br />
<div>Thanks for your interest and I appreciate any constructive feedback.</div>Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-84021693926634980412011-05-01T11:48:00.000-06:002011-05-01T11:48:21.174-06:00Way of the Renegade Update, Pages 13 and 14What exactly is this 'girl' that has wandered into the middle of the fire fight between Vincent's squad and the Canadian forces? Pages 13 and 14 of Way of the Renegade reveal her true nature, and the fate of Vincent's squadmates. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> <a href="http://www.eternalnightmare.com/Renegade"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Click HERE to check it out!</span></a></span>Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-89457551911179989262011-04-11T21:25:00.003-06:002011-04-11T21:26:01.915-06:00Way of the Renegade UpdateI've updated my webcomic Way of the Renegade with pages 10, 11, and 12. You can view these new pages, and the rest of the webcomic by clicking <a href="http://www.eternalnightmare.com/Renegade"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">HERE</span></a>Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-29728732839432367642011-03-07T16:52:00.002-07:002011-03-07T16:58:25.617-07:00REVIEW: Superman/Shazam! :Return of Black AdamAlthough Superman and Captain Marvel/Shazam! share the cover art and title of the dvd it does not focus solely on those iconic DC characters. Instead the Warner Brothers/DC disc is a show case of four animated shorts. Besides Superman/Shizam: Return of Black Adam the dvd includes shorts featuring The Spectre, written by Steve Niles, The Green Arrow, and Jonah Hex. <br />
<br />
Overall, the animation, voice acting and production values are the high quality that I've come to expect from the WB/DC dvds. Each story could easily be extended into feature length, but at roughly 20-24 minutes a piece they do a good job with their brief tales. Whether you're a diehard fan or a casual viewer there's something to be enjoyed in each story.<br />
<br />
The first short features the origin of Captain Marvel, and although it has the standard epic fights of most Super Man stories which border on absurdity what saves the story is the dilema Captain Marvel faces between revenge and justice. Given it's brevity the story can't go in deep as a feature film would, but it does raise an interesting point. I think could've spent more time tossing each other into the sides of skyscrappers and more time dealing with the moral issue at hand, but what do you expect from capes and tights? Overall, it was a good origin story and well voice acted and animate. <b>Score: 3 out of 5 skulls.</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
The second short features The Spectre and is written by Steve Niles. The feel of this short is a lot darker both visually and storywise then the previous one. They even go so far as to add dust spots and other blemishes to the animation to give it a grittier/older feel which is fairly effective. I also felt that the chose of sound track gave it an older/grittier atmosphere. The story movies quickly, a movie mogul is killed by former partners jealous of him and then the suspects are systematically killed in gruesome fashion. Unlike your traditional superhero stories The Spectre has a supernatural horror element to it, and is a bit more graphic in terms of violence - at least for most DC animation. The story is tightly written and despite the shortness of it, the story is interesting and it does a good job at introducing the viewer to The Spectre. Out of all the shorts on this dvd I think this could easily be expanded to something longer. <b>Score: 4 out of 5 skulls.</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
Next up is a story featuring The Green Arrow. Honestly, I'm not too familiar with him, but after watching his story I ended up liking him. I'm not hardcore about tights and capes any more in comics, but he was entertaining. The story is very well written with fast paced action and an intriguing storyline. It begins with Green Arrow showing up at a local airport to pick up his girl while debating whether or not he should propose to her and let her know who he feels. Luckily, the soap opera stuff gets put to the side for the moment when he spies an enemy at the airport as well. Soon after he discovers a member of a royal family is arriving at the airport. An assassination attempt occurs and Green Arrow steps in to aide the princess. What I liked is that the story unfolded along side the action yet there was no extended monologues or heart felt confessions. It was brief and concise dialogue which revealed the reason for the assassination attempt and a bit more about each character. Since I'm not familiar with the Green Arrow the arrival of some apparent enemies later on didn't phase me much, but I'm guessing if you're a fan of Green Arrow it could be an 'oh shit' moment. Although short this story was intense and held my attention the entire time. Defintely one of those 'edge of your seat' stories which could've easily been expanded into something longer. <b>Score: 4 out 5.</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
The final short on the dvd is one about Jonah Hex. I like Jonah Hex a lot. Probably because I live out West and have an interest in the ''wild'' West and supernatural elements as well. Plus, Jonah is a great loner/anti-hero. Compared to the other stories in this collection, Jonah's is fairly simple and seems to go by quickly. It revolves around a tavern in which a 'lady of the night' coerces men into her bed only to pull a devious 'trick' on them. All is well for her and her thugs until Jonah shows up looking for one of her 'johns'. The story is resovled quickly, but I loved the poetic justice at the end. The use of colors that are almost entirely sepia tone and the fonts in the opening credits do a great job at creating the Western feel. Compared to the other stories on the dvd, this one is the most 'mature'. There's some lightly sexuality and morbid stuff. Nothing hardcore, but it does have a harder edge then the other stories which is something I enjoyed. <b>Score: 4 out 5</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
After watching this I felt that it was a great showcase for DC Comics' various characters that the hardcore fan and the casual audience can enjoy. I watched it online courtesy of Netflix on my PC, but it is also available on dvd and Blu-ray. From what I can tell neither have any elaborate special features or extras, but this doesn't lessen the entertainment value for me.<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b><br />
</b>Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-81745038419754209322011-03-06T17:01:00.004-07:002011-03-07T19:20:35.508-07:00Way of the Renegade Pages 1-8I have uploaded pages 1-8 of my new sci-fi/action/horror webcomic, Way of the Renegade. It will be updated twice a month. Pages will be published on the second Sunday and the last Sunday of each month. In between published pages I will be putting up some background history blog entries or character sheets and etc.<br />
<br />
You can read pages 1-8 by clicking on this link <a href="http://www.eternalnightmare.com/wayoftherenegade"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>www.eternalnightmare.com/wayoftherenegade</b></span></a><br />
<br />
Thanks!Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-20300639939833941722011-01-02T09:01:00.000-07:002011-01-02T09:01:38.085-07:00RENEGADE: A New Web Comic Coming Soon...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSsPoPBIp3E9XbCFNVXu6tGmygSA9aYClaGHcsYpvUL6ifzdNCw8qdfC1zvka1ANuYyLdFMLk7dJbP3GKYQwc2u733EEwyyZlIF54OsrdoL7Y50OymI0iUvUOmUI5u3suiQMi/s1600/P1010055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSsPoPBIp3E9XbCFNVXu6tGmygSA9aYClaGHcsYpvUL6ifzdNCw8qdfC1zvka1ANuYyLdFMLk7dJbP3GKYQwc2u733EEwyyZlIF54OsrdoL7Y50OymI0iUvUOmUI5u3suiQMi/s400/P1010055.JPG" width="258" /></a></div>Vincent Carson headed West hoping to escape the horrors of war. Instead when he arrives in the remote town of Vigil, Colorado Vincent discovers that Fate is leading him down a twisted path. Is it taking him to his damnation or redemption?<br />
<br />
A monthly webcomic coming later this month.<br />
<br />
Supplemental articles, maps, and etc will be posted periodically via <a href="http://eternalnightmare.com/renegadehistory/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Dr Leopold's North American History 101.</span></a>Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-60164287217702869412011-01-02T07:34:00.001-07:002011-01-02T07:38:21.169-07:00Night Of The Demons (Remake)I recently watched the current remake of the B movie 'classic' Night of the Demons via Netflix's s online streaming feature. Going into it I didn't expect anything special, perhaps some good gore-hound effects and a cheap escape for an hour and a half.<br />
<br />
The premise of the movie is that a Halloween party/rave is held at an old mansion that is the scene of a possession/suicide that happened many years ago. As is usually the case those darn meddling kids (this time a drug dealer, a trio of over sexed bimbos and your stereotypical straight laced girl next door type) invoke the 7 demons in the basement. The kiddies spend the night trying not to get possessed via kinky sex acts and hope to make it until dawn. If the 7 demons possess the 7 kiddies then all Hell breaks loose. Clearly, this was written by a Pulitizer Prize nominee.<br />
<br />
Overall the movie did not disappoint in terms of gore - although it takes a bit to get to it when it appears on screen it is surprisingly well done. Not on the level of Stan Winston's Studio, but at least it was better then your typical low grade slop. Acting wise it was surprisingly better then most B movies. No Oscar considerations here, but at least the actors stayed in character and weren't too annoying.<br />
<br />
The movie also fulfills the prerequisite of copious amounts of half naked women and the token lesbian scene - which is expected when Shannon Elizabeth is in it. Although after the 'whiskers' scene in the bathroom you'll never look at a woman or a tube of lipstick in the same way...<br />
<br />
Whether it was intentional or not there are some hilarious one liners in the movie. There's also a scene where the 'girl next door' slams the door on the head demon while it is in the middle of its stereotypical villain diatribe. There are a few scenes that are rather clever in terms of how the demons get into a warded room that main characters are hiding in. I think that if the movie amped up the cleverness and humor in a few scenes it would've made for a better experience. <br />
<br />
The thing that kills this movie is the way that the conflict with the demons is resolved. It's a rather half assed ending in terms of both the writing and the way it was filmed as well as the stunt/special effects. I think that they should really be given an award for pulling off this hat trick of half ass-ness. I suppose they were trying to be clever but writing a script and huffing paint never works out well in the end.<br />
<br />
<br />
So, if you like boobs, blood, and crappy music like Type O Negative you'll like this movie. If you like all those things but have a brain that grasps plot and logic you'll probably wonder what the fuck just happened but at least it'll be mildly amusing. Like a beer truck and a pizza truck hitting head on the highway.Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-8041174712678225112010-07-24T14:56:00.000-06:002010-07-24T14:56:47.373-06:00The Book of EliThe other night I watched the Denzel Washington/Gary Oldman opus, The Book of Eli on dvd. Besides the caliber of the aforementioned actors what attracted me to this movie is the post-apocalyptic settings and the fact that conflict centered around a book. Growing up in the 1980's with the Mad Max movies I also was interested to see how the Hughes Brothers would envision this type of world in comparison to Mad Max's fuel injected wasteland.<br />
<br />
Overall, I enjoyed The Book of Eli. The plot moved quickly and got Eli involved with other characters which kept things rolling. Sometimes movies about lone wanderers or survivors like I am Legend can spend too much time with just that one character and despite the actor's abilities it can get a bit dull. The movie also does a decent job at explaining the war, and Eli's and Carnegie's quests via the characters rather then a narration or lengthy exposition that stalls the story. <br />
<br />
The action sequences were excelent. There are several times when Eli is out manned by great odds. It's during these scenes that the fight choreography really shines. It's nice to see combat handled in a fairly realistic manner. <br />
<br />
Visually, The Book of Eli is what you'd expect from a post-acolyptic setting. Charred cars, broken bridges, and crumbling buildings. The only thing that annoyed me slightly is that the characters' clothing was in good condition. No frayed cuffs, patched knees, or haggard apparell. It was all a little too neat and clean. Not a major issue, but still I wonder why there's such a lapse in attention to detail here when it doesn't exist in the environment.<br />
<br />
In terms of the story it may go over some people's heads or they may dislike it simply because it involves some Christian elements. Personally, I enjoyed the story a lot. The movie handled it well without being too heavy handed either way in my opinion. Despite his quest Eli was not without his flaws, and this made him more believable to me. Carneige was an archtype that you can point to throughout history and even current events. Yet he was very human at times, and in some ways I could relate to him or at least understand his motivations - although I never agreed with them.<br />
<br />
The Book of Eli to me was a good movie that balanced the elements of action with a good story about Faith and Evil. There is a bit of a twist toward the end which some people will have a knee jerk negative reaction but if you sit back and pay attention and think for yourselves as well as pay attention to some very subtle clues the twist works very well. At the end it appears the Hughes Brothers are prepared to make a sequel or 'part two' yet Eli's story is wrapped up in a realistic and satisfying manner. <br />
<br />
For me The Book of Eli is a welcomed addition to my personal collection. If you like sci-fi that is more then ''pew pew'' and metal bikinis then check it out.Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-68225761477169824922010-01-21T20:27:00.003-07:002010-01-21T20:35:43.100-07:00ScreamersThe other night I watched the movie Screamers. It's one of those movies I've seen on the shelf or listed on Netflix for years, but never picked up. Since it was a freebie via onDemand I decided to give it a shot. The fact that it based upon a Phillip K. Dick short story intrigued me. Overall the acting was decent and I liked the stop animation used for the creatures. It held my interest for the entire time and did a good job with the suspense. <br /><br />However I think they could've played up the paranoia (who's human vs who's a machine?) as well as the political subterfuge (Is this meeting really an attempt at cease fire or an ambush? Is the leader really dead? Is there a new war starting on another planet?). All which is the meat and potatoes of PKD story. Unfortunately, the movie decides to visit these themes very little, and instead goes for the action shoot 'em up. They also feel compelled to throw in a very cliched love interest. <br /><br />Overall, Screamers wasn't horrible, but rather predictable. I think it had potential to be a thinking persons sci-fi but fell short of that mark. <br /><br />I was somewhat surprised to see that there's a sequel that came out not too long ago. I'm playing on watching it to see if they expand on PKD's ideas or simply resort to more of the same. At the very least seeing Lance Henrickson will be fun.Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-89398561740704646382009-11-08T09:35:00.002-07:002009-11-08T09:56:33.491-07:00Dragon Age: OriginsI've always been a fan of role play games. It began with the original D&D back in the day, and gradually made it's way up to PC games. Neverwinter Nights by Bioware was one of the first I played on PC and one my favorite games ever. Since then I've been a fan of Bioware. Recently, I fell in love with the uber goodness that is Bioware's sci-fi epic Mass Effect. <br /><br />Then on Tuesday of this week I picked up their latest epic Dragon Age: Origins. After having put in numerous hours into the game, and tried several of the different races/classes I am impressed by DAO. The meat and potatoes of a rpg is the story, and Bioware has proven over the years to be the masters of storytelling. Without giving anything a way I will just say that the story in DAO is on par with any epic Hollywood could produce. Perhaps greater. The brilliant voice acting really creates both beviablity and immersion into the story. Without this the game would fail. The story has a great sense of humor, but also balances the darker and more mature content well. This is a game made for adults, not your 8 year old. Between this game and Mass Effect I am pleased to see game developers coming out with content that appeals to adults without subcoming to mindless violence, nudity, and vulgarity. Rather they're dealing with personal issues and complex conflicts that appeal to some one that's interested in more then 'uber loot'. I also like the fact that you have to work on your relationships with the other characters in your party. You have to EARN their loaylty and/or romantic interests through your own actions and words. It's also an open ended world, not only in regards to where and when you go or do but also you have choices on how to handle situations. Do you let a prisoner free, kill them, or have them join you? That type of freedom is great.<br /><br />In terms of graphics I have everything set on medium and it looks great and runs smooth. The cutscenes are rather striking with their use of lighting and facial detail. Bioware is not known for earth shattering graphics, but I am very pleased with the detail and quality of the graphics and animations.<br /><br />The music in the game is brilliant and fits the feel of the world perfectly. I am glad they didn't use the heavy metal music in game like they used for the promos.<br /><br />Overall, DAO is a fun game. There are some things I don't like - such as the lock picking system for rogues. Yet even with that DAO is a very fun game. I won't consider it the greatest game ever, but one of the best. Between the release of DAO this Fall, Mass Effect 2 early 2010, and their first mmorpg Star Wars: Old Republic I think Bioware is poised to kick some ass and give gamers some fantastic experiences.Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-65569497038881968062009-10-29T23:45:00.002-06:002009-10-29T23:53:24.603-06:00Dreaming of a white Halloween<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKANV6SnIb10V7aofAy1kYEdwRJLrJBk4B-EUU5ysma21A5U8_2STl8JiAEgxf0xVs3IqyI4Abe14ufLTosiUNm-AdYeDRM_Kz8_M9Vgs_zQgg4IDFULvOGvVRt7dl8GNv7H8R/s1600-h/P1010016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKANV6SnIb10V7aofAy1kYEdwRJLrJBk4B-EUU5ysma21A5U8_2STl8JiAEgxf0xVs3IqyI4Abe14ufLTosiUNm-AdYeDRM_Kz8_M9Vgs_zQgg4IDFULvOGvVRt7dl8GNv7H8R/s400/P1010016.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398266868967489218" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWeqkbI9qJcYEZ2SEHCI60EWvQRNxmavNKfFMJEXuF7pHtVkqg-cJMrS0gAuP0HtOAnqjFwLjLJpfLa11-8OTQaa6SXaCZQGHNVssUBEyC7nJpC0gncsNEZs6iqCOPMS7KSme/s1600-h/P1010014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWeqkbI9qJcYEZ2SEHCI60EWvQRNxmavNKfFMJEXuF7pHtVkqg-cJMrS0gAuP0HtOAnqjFwLjLJpfLa11-8OTQaa6SXaCZQGHNVssUBEyC7nJpC0gncsNEZs6iqCOPMS7KSme/s400/P1010014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398266859721426434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5hdbf5ERg4z7_m25eKbFMBqDew7vjNIv9rMVo2Oc6jZsMLnYFFCJ9Vq9uzFmDUhbo0WYnxxR8Nj4nhJwB6JC8esGs9jIHw6u-0haxdlrb8VBia74AkHIhJJ9j1qxWpzEXk6T/s1600-h/P1010012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5hdbf5ERg4z7_m25eKbFMBqDew7vjNIv9rMVo2Oc6jZsMLnYFFCJ9Vq9uzFmDUhbo0WYnxxR8Nj4nhJwB6JC8esGs9jIHw6u-0haxdlrb8VBia74AkHIhJJ9j1qxWpzEXk6T/s400/P1010012.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398266855028445682" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Starting on Wednesday we were hit by a major snow storm. It's rather tradition for it to snow on Halloween out here in Colorado but usually it is only an inch at the most. After Thursday my neighborhood ended up with 14 plus inches. Other areas in the foothills got between 3 and 4 feet. <br /><br />I was scheduled to be off work anyways, so yesterday I got my snowshoes on and trekked about my neighborhood's paths and park. Never had done that before since we don't get much snow in the metro area. Every few years though we get dumped on like this storm. I'd expect it won't be the last snow we see this winter but may be the most.<br /><br />The irony is that it'll be in the high 50's and low 60's a week from now in the metro area. Though it'll stay cold up in the high country. I'm going to try and go somewhere tomorrow to snowshoe and maybe head up north to Rocky Mountain National Park next Tuesday. Normally snowshoeing doesn't start until late Nov or early Dec and there's not this much snow until late December. Crazy - in a good way.Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-38590306278545667902009-10-17T01:25:00.003-06:002009-10-17T01:56:05.088-06:00Nut Up Or Shut UpFriday night I saw the movie Zombie Land. I enjoyed it because it had a good balance of comedy, over the top gore, and action. I also liked the spin they put on the overly cliche situation that every zombie movie has in it involving a family member being bitten. <br /><br />I was surprised by the cameo of a certain Hollywood icon, and the short story line involving him. <br /><br />I felt that the film was well cast and well acted. The story is more of an ensemble piece rather then a Woody Harelson vehicle. Nothing against Woody, he's great.<br />Although it is a simple plot and rather short for a feature film I liked the fact they did short flashbacks to each character's life prior to the outbreak. However I do think they could've given a bit more of Witchita and Little Rock (the nicknames of the two girls). Yet, the flashbacks did do a good job giving a rationale to Woody's character Tallahassee.<br /><br />The character Columbus is keeping a list of survival tips during the course of the movie. In a clever movie the makers of the movie add these tips in relevant scenes via cgi. For example at one point Columbus is running from a zombie and via CGI they put Tip #3 Cadio on the pavement they're running across. <br />There may be holes in the logic of the plot, but it is not meant to be over anaylzed by pseudo intellectuals and eggheads. Overall, Zombie Land delivers the goods in entertaining and fun zombie flick. A good movie to unwind and let go with.Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-71404279796577840402009-09-15T18:38:00.002-06:002009-09-15T18:40:32.684-06:00RIP Jim CarrollNormally, I could care less about celebrity deaths. They have on impact on my life.<br />However people like Jim Carroll are the exception. Not only was he a great writer and influential on punk rock he was someone I could relate to. <br /><br /><a href=http://shar.es/1oYcV>RIP Jim Carroll</a><br /><br />Posted using <a href="http://sharethis.com">ShareThis</a>Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-53401025860239354612009-09-13T16:50:00.002-06:002009-09-13T16:52:22.469-06:00Any Given Sunday...Some people say football is too formulaic and predictable. It's all about 'the system'. I'll agree with that to a certain extent, but then things like this happen which clearly exemplify the X factor...<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wBiUTXNEmRQ&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wBiUTXNEmRQ&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Gotta love it when one of my teams pulls it out at the end.Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-75363521079530974762009-09-03T13:03:00.002-06:002009-09-03T13:30:38.250-06:00The End Of The Paper Trail?Lately, I've been reading on a lot of blogs and web sites about the potential changes in the publishing industry. The main focus is what impact the digital media will have on it. Digital media has already had an impact on how we get our news and in part caused the demise of some print newspapers. <br /><br />Some people out there seem rather hysterical over the idea of digital e-readers like Amazon's Kindle or Apple's iPhone. As if it spells the death of literature. Personally, I don't see it that way at all. Does the written word have less impact if it is on a screen then in an old dusty hardcover tucked away on a back shelf of some library? <br /><br />You can go with the aesthtic appeal of the hardcover or trade paperback. The feel and aroma of a book is unique and appealing to a lot of people. Going into a bookstore and being greeted by the scent of paper is something comfortable and reassuring. Something that the screen can never capture. An old dog earred copy of a favorite book isn't the same as a book marked pdf or blog.<br /><br />On the plus side of technology digital books allow greater distribution and is also cheaper. Especially when it comes to rare or out of print books. True this can also be a con on the side of technology since every body and their brother can distribute their book regardless of quality. <br /><br />I am not opposed to digital books. I put it on par with Guttenburg's press. Prior to his invention books were written and bound by hand by scribes and monks. Their distribution and content were controlled and limited. When the printing press began that is when political, social, and religious progression began. It helped bring thought and ideas to the People. I'm sure there were members of society opposed to the printing press then as there are those opposed to the digital book today. Whether or not digital books will stir up the burning embers of a new revolution is highly debatable, yet it has the potential.<br /><br />Other then books there is talk of how the computer will soon replace pen and paper when it comes to comic books, and possibly in the proffesional artist arena. I am not opposed to digital art, and in fact like quite a bit of it. I can see how it is a time saver in comics and animation and graphic design and typography. Yet, I do not see for a moment any proffesional painter or sculpter or printmaker dropping their traditional tools altogether to pick up the optic mouse. When photography started gaining ground someone once claimed that Painting was dead. Regardless, the field of painting in the traditional means is very much alive. The truth of the matter is that both Painting and Photography have influenced each other. Whether it be cropping of an image or perspective or use of lighting and color the influences of each medium is there. Digital art is different in that it imitates other mediums. Whether trying to pass itself off as watercolor or pen and ink it has no true voice of it's own. It's always trying to be something it is not. As the younger generations grow up with computers and programs like Photoshop in existance and constantly improving I think that digital art will eventually develop it's own voice. What that voice and style is I am not sure, but I think that eventually it will be it's own. No one will confuse it with a charcoal drawing or digital photo. Perhaps I will not live long enough to see this come about, but the progression and emergence of a new medium is an interesting one to see develop. <br /><br />In the end there will always be paper books, just as there is style vinyl records being pressed. Comics will still appear in print but not as often and limited quantities. You cannot eliminate the niche of collectors from the comic book industry. The allure and obsessive quest to have a mint condition #1 issue of whatever or double gate alternative cover Art. Traditional Art will always have a place in galleries and museums and personal collections because despite our advances in technology we still are flesh and blood. We still crave the physicality and tangibility of canvas and paint. The presences of marble and chisel. <br /><br />The day we loose touch with this is the day we lose touch with our humanity resulting in an empty existence which values nothing other then the latest technological marvel.Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-87690397385749695772009-08-30T01:31:00.002-06:002009-08-30T01:33:43.768-06:00Sketch Before Bed<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDtUD8FW12AFe7Av-VYmbrIbBhLTR84iCL1XIeSMtkrtQ5L2WiCq5Ac-vE6v7b1CZALfMWD-cUCCriKOobYEWWzfuCPODSJY_kvsxknnk_ghknrqHjxdoG63qjle-eJKEuVqE/s1600-h/image0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 354px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDtUD8FW12AFe7Av-VYmbrIbBhLTR84iCL1XIeSMtkrtQ5L2WiCq5Ac-vE6v7b1CZALfMWD-cUCCriKOobYEWWzfuCPODSJY_kvsxknnk_ghknrqHjxdoG63qjle-eJKEuVqE/s400/image0.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375656290130310962" /></a><br /><br />This a rough I did a few minutes ago of a creature I've had stuck in my head for the past day or two. One of those things that won't go away until on the page. Actually, it is part of a triptych I'm going to be working on.Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-68175892485722225772009-08-29T18:32:00.003-06:002009-08-29T18:34:08.063-06:00Two New Pieces Of ArtI recently put up two new pieces of Artwork on my website. You can find Domestic Life of Demons and After The Hunt under the Paintings and Drawings section of <a href="http://www.eternalnightmare.com">Eternal Nightmare Studio.</a><br /><br />Thanks for checking them out. C:Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28429442.post-22225506093429059372009-08-22T14:32:00.004-06:002009-08-22T14:54:48.632-06:00Hype or Hope?A trailer for James Cameron's opus <a href="http://www2.avatarmovie.com/">Avatar</a> has recently appeared online as well as a sneak peak of 16 minutes at theaters the other day. I've seen the trailer numerous times, and even read a synopsis about the storyline. Considering the amount of time Cameron has spent on it, 6 years since conception I think, and the obscene amount of money it's cost I am not impressed. Cameron is the man responsible for Aliens and Terminator both of which were revolutionary sci-fi films. Now, he gives me blue elves running around a rainforest filled with rejects from Jurrasic Park? Some genre media types have proclaimed Avatar as being a milestone and revolutionary movie in the genre. Yet with the same tired old storyline of earth men saving alien civilizations, I'm not impressed. Yes, I get the geek factor of the Avatars being controlled by humans' minds. It just doesn't impress me much.<br /><br />Avatar will be in 3-D when it hits theaters this December. Apparently, that is part of the buzz surrounding the movie. Some claims are that the detail in the CG will make this unlike any other 3-D movie. I suppose it does have the potential to be a very immersive experience. Hi-def CG and surround sound in a theater does have that potential. Yet a major part of immersion into a movie for me is the storyline and acting. It can have all the bells and whistles of the latest technology but miss the mark in story/acting and I won't finish watching a movie. <br /><br />Not a lot has been released about this movie when compared to the amount of hype on genre web sites and forums. So, it is possible I'm premature in my opinion about Avatar being high on eye candy and low on content. Yet first impressions made by trailers are what draw audiences more then critics' accolades especially in the genre of sci-fi/horror/fantasy. My impression right now is that Cameron has lost his ability to tell a story in exchange for the glitz of special effects and novelty of 3-D.Kevin_Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12764861571880588260noreply@blogger.com0