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thisyearingaming · 4 years

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1997 - This Year in Gaming

Muggins here was born in ‘97, and can’t really remember much of it, natch. But there were some good things released this year - I’ve played every one of these, and have missed so many more.

Diablo - Windows, January 3rd

We start with dungeon-crawl-em-up and well-loved out of season April Fool’s Joke, Diablo. I’ll be totally honest - I don’t like Diablo that much. It’s absolutely fine, I just can’t get into it. The writing, setting and characters are all very good especially since this year only marks the beginning of games being seen as a bit more adult and intelligent. Check out this gameplay from Hour of Oblivion on YouTube, and marvel at the faux-Scottish accent on Griswold the blacksmith.

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Mario Kart 64 - Nintendo 64, February 10th

Compared to its more recent versions, Mario Kart 64 is a veritable bloody relic of the past - solid controls and a quirky style mean it’s still a crowd pleaser to this day, but you’d be hard pressed to find anyone right now that would die on the hill of it being their favourite single-player racing experience. It’s also got some of the deepest, impenetrable lore in any medium known to the human race - why exactly is Marty the Thwomp locked up here?

Blast Corps - Nintendo 64, February 28th

February’s position as most boring month of the year is shaken up a bit by having a uniquely designed Rare game slammed into its 28-day long face. Blast Corps is the puzzle-action game where you take control of several vehicles to destroy homes and buildings in order to prevent a nuclear warhead exploding in the coolest incarnation of Cold War politicking ever seen in a video game. Calling Blast Corps a “hidden gem” these days is like calling Celeste a hidden gem - it impresses nobody and makes you look like a dick.

Turok: Dinosaur Hunter - Nintendo 64, March 4th

The N64 was home to a surprisingly large number of above-average shooters despite its muddy graphics and small cartridge space - Turok is one of these, a great FPS game where you shoot the SHIT out of dinosaurs. Brett Atwood of Billboard said it was like Doom and Tomb Raider mixed - Doom Raider, if you will. I say it isn’t - there’s no demons, and there’s no polygonal breasts to poke dinosaurs’ eyes out with!

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - Sony PlayStation, March 20th

What is a retrospective? A miserable little pile of opinions. I’ve only recently played through SotN for the very first time on a TOTALLY LEGITIMATE copy with a CRT filter. Bloody good (geddit?) game, that takes the repetition of its predecessors, improves on it in basically every conceivable way, and combines it with special effects and graphics that even 23 years later had me going “ooh, that looks quite good!” Symphony’s music and audio design are wonderfully paired with a deeply enjoyable experience that’ll have you saying “mm, maybe just one more room?”

Tekken 3 - Sony PlayStation, March 20th

Also releasing from the Land of the Rising Sun that day was Tekken 3, which many believe is still one of the best fighters ever made. Tekken 3′s combat is so fast and responsive that it’s better than some games made today. T3 is also the best and easiest way to knock seven shades of absolute shite out of your friends without risking a massive head injury or a trip to the headmaster’s office... where you could also challenge him, but only if he plays as my favourite Not-Guile-or-Ken character in gaming, Paul.

Sonic Jam - Sega Saturn, June 20th

The moment Sega realised that re-packaging old Mega Drive games would net them serious cash - although unlike later collections, this is a strictly Sonic affair, and has a neat little 3D world to run around in as a sort of hub world. Sonic X-Treme proved that Sonic Team would have to work hard at getting the fastest thing alive into 3D space properly: Jam is the sort of test ground for it too. It features some genuinely good emulation work for 1997, although it’s basically the gaming equivalent of going round to your grandparents at Christmas only for them to give you the exact same gifts you got in 1991, 1992 and 1994 but wrapped in a bow to make you think it’s different. What are you lookin’ at, you little blue devil?

Star Fox 64 - Nintendo 64, June 30th

So there’s this German company, right, called StarVox. Nintendo look at Europe and say “shit, we don’t want another lawsuit... after all, we’ve done three this year!”. So they give us in the PAL region the exciting title of Lylat Wars which as far as I know means absolutely fucking nothing in the context of the game. They’re still called Star Fox in-game too so what was the point? Anyway, fun 3D shooter with graphics that’ll make you do a barrel roll off the sofa and onto the power button to make the brown and green blurs a little easier on the eyes. Hello 2007, I’ve come back to make old references with you!

Carmageddon - Windows, July 30th

The game so scary it was BANNED in the UK! More like the game so fucking shit it was banned. Carmageddon is so deeply boring to play on PC that I can only imagine that Stainless Games made it tasteless by 90s standards simply to ramp up demand - much like another game we’ll be covering soon.

Herc’s Adventures - Sony PlayStation, July 31st

“And they said Kratos was the best hero? Shish... they got it wrong, sister! Hercules is clearly better... he even has a coconut weapon.” A surprisingly fun overhead action game that most people only know for... well, I’ll just embed it.

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Mega Man X4 - Sony Playstation, August 1st

A few years ago I tried playing every Mega Man game there is - I gave up at X3 because I was getting bored. Even still, Mega Man bores me - but at least the level design is good. Stay away from the Windows port. Pictured: me in the background yawning.

GoldenEye 007 - Nintendo 64, August 25th

The name’s Intro. Overused intro which I also managed to fuck up twice through the deeply editable medium of text. GoldenEye is like the Seinfeld of console shooters - playing it nowadays you’re unlikely to be amazed but holy shit there’s some absolute greatness in this game. Every sound and every piece of music in GoldenEye is permanently seared into my brain - sometimes I’ll just hear Facility or Frigate in my head alongside the door opening sound and the gentle PEW of the PP7. I mean come on, fucking listen to this and tell me Grant Kirkhope isn’t cool as all hell.

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LEGO Island - Windows, September 26th

The first open world experience I ever had was LEGO Island. It’s still quite good today, utterly deranged animation from the likes of the Infomaniac and Brickster - a cautionary tale for children that giving pizza to high-profile criminals is disastrous for the human LEGO race.

Fallout - Windows, October 10th

War never changes, but franchises do. Fallout’s legendary status in the industry is exemplified in how different it feels. Yes, we had the game Wasteland nine years prior, but until September 97 there was nothing quite like Fallout. From the chilling introduction sequence showing the ruins of the United States to the tragic ending, Fallout is an exercise in pure human misery with the brightest spots of hope it can possibly muster thrown in for good measure. What begins as a tedious isometric point-and-click RPG ends as a minigun-wielding power fantasy, before your entire worth is stripped from you at the finish line. You have 500 days to find a water chip before it’s too late, but you’re constantly being fought by terrifying Super Mutants, irradiated animals, and the biggest monster of all - humanity. See what I did there? If anything, humanity in Fallout’s setting would be the greatest unifying force possible against the horror of the outside world. But how is it? It’s dull, it’s sluggish, and it’s really hard to get into even if you’re already a fan - but push through that and it’s worthwhile to see exactly how far the series got before Todd Howard said “eh fuck it” and had the whole thing dipped into an FEV vat.

Grand Theft Auto - Sony PlayStation, October 21st

To put it simply, the first in the GTA series is now nothing but a novelty. It has an irritating camera, wonky controls, poor graphics and deeply repetitive gameplay. But thank fuck it exists, because without it the Rockstar story may have been very different indeed. It’s quintessential cops and robbers gameplay, spanning across Liberty City, Vice City and San Andreas in one game, but with maps so far removed from their modern incarnations they may as well be named “Not New York, Possibly Bristol and Orange Town”. People really fucking hated Hare Krishnas in the 20th Century, didn’t they?

Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back - Sony PlayStation, October 31

A hard one to talk about, honestly - it’s more Crash and better than the first one. It looks great, and Crash controls so well compared to his first outing. It’ll also keep you playing for 100%, fiendishly addictive and unashamedly difficult. Had a weird cover that moved with your head.

PaRappa the Rapper - Sony PlayStation, November 17th

Type type type the words into the box! (Type, type, type - uh oh - the box?)

PaRappa is a gorgeously stylised rhythm game about rapping to steal the heart of the girl of your dreams - which involves learning karate, getting your driver’s license, selling bottle caps and frogs, making a cake, desperately trying not to shit yourself, and finally performing live on stage. Every one of its segments is so well-produced that they’d genuinely sell like ghost cookies in this era of shite rap. Notable for producing the greatest Jay-Z backing track ever made.

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Sonic R - Sega Saturn, November 18th

Sonic R is absolutely FINE with vibrant textures, interesting levels, neat gimmicks and decent controls. But I’m gonna talk about its fucking AWESOME soundtrack by Richard Jacques and T.J. Davis, an eclectic mix of Europop and New Jack Swing - even thinking about it is bringing tears of absolute joy to my eyes hearing Super Sonic Racing in my head. You’ve got the main theme, Living in the City, Can You Feel the Sunshine, Back in Time, Diamond in the Sky, Work It Out and Number One - all of these are absolute club bangers and genuinely wouldn’t be out of place in a 90s disco.

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Tomb Raider II - Sony PlayStation, November 18th

Lara Croft returns to single-handedly endanger every species on Earth. TR2 is really good, the exploration and puzzle-solving aspects of the first game expanded upon here and the gunplay remaining just as punchy. Lara’s got a fully-functioning ponytail which absolutely boggles the fucking mind - a lot of work went into Lara’s hair for the 2013 reboot, so I can’t imagine the amount of man hours it took to get fluid(ish, come on, it’s the PS1 we’re talking about) hair movements in 1997.

And really, that’s all I played from 1997. I’ve left out big hitters like Quake II, Gran Turismo and Diddy Kong Racing, but I simply haven’t formed an opinion on them yet. Maybe in a future post.

Thanks for reading.

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heisthq · 4 years

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you all certainly didn’t make this easy on me — it was an incredibly tough decision for many of the roles. there were THIRTY-EIGHT applications for only ELEVEN roles, which is insane, and please know that every single one was incredible. i’m only one person on the internet, and this decision is in no way a reflection of the quality of your writing ( seriously, i know i just said it, but i’m kind of shocked by how good every single app was ). i’m so grateful for all the love heist has gotten, and i couldn’t be happier with the beautiful submissions i received ! from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

for those of you who were accepted, please follow the checklist, familiarize yourself with your fellow members, & review the triggers list. once your blog is set up, please send it in to the main within 24 hours so i can send you a link to the discord server.

but enough talking — the newest members of HEISTHQ can be found under the cut !

welcome, DEDE ! you have been accepted as THE BLEEDING HEART, otherwise known as JUDY FAULKNER PRYCE ( ELIZABETH OLSEN ).

good god. what a way to start off acceptances — judy reached into my heart and took it for herself, and i’m not upset about it in the slightest. her gruff outer shell, still with that instinctive need to help, to do something, is so bleeding heart, and i ached at every step of the way through her journey. i knew i was really in for it when i dedicated a skeleton to loss itself, but you spun that concept into a living, breathing person and shot her back at me. i’ll happily let her knock me down any day, and i know she certainly will as soon as she makes her way onto the dash.

welcome, CHERRY ! you have been accepted as THE CAREER CRIMINAL, otherwise known as MISCHA DOSTOYEVSKY ( NATASHA LIU BORDIZZO ).

though you made my decision very difficult with that eleventh hour app, i couldn’t stop coming back to mischa. from the beginning of her childhood crimes to her current position as the head of the motherfucking bratva, she pulled me in and got me hook, line, and sinker. you painted such a brilliant picture of her that i felt she was going to jump off the page at any moment — and that last line of her bio ? chills. literal chills. finally, i have now decided their next heist is going to be stealing lip gloss from claire’s, shoutout to mischa for that hot idea. all in all, she’s an absolute delight, and i cannot wait to have her here.

welcome, REED ! you have been accepted as THE EYE IN THE SKY, otherwise known as INDIANA “INDIE” ASCENCIO ( ANA DE ARMAS, BUT ONLY WITH PINK HAIR ).

okay, first of all, are you kidding me with that bio structure ? that was the coolest shit i’ve ever seen. what a way to kick it off for the eye in the sky — i said break the stereotype and you said bet. indie is an absolute gem of a character, as stunning as she is valuable, and damn if she doesn’t know it. she’s so vibrant that i could practically hear her voice when i read your answers to the prompts; i’m still howling at thirty five pages of criminal offenses. the eye in the sky needed to take me by the throat to show me who they are; you broke down the door and said here she is. i couldn’t be more honored to have her.

welcome, NOAH ! you have been accepted as THE GETAWAY DRIVER, otherwise known as CARLISLE “JACE” JACOBI HARRISON-SHEA ( CYRUS AMINI ).

the getaway driver was, arguably, the toughest choice i had to make — but i couldn’t help myself. jace drew me back in every single time like a moth to a flame, and i know he’d read that fact with that same, secret little smirk. every moment of reading your app is exciting, like i’m white-knuckled in jace’s passenger seat, along for whatever twists and turns his psyche brings, which was exactly what i was looking for. there are too many incredible quotes to put in one acceptance post, but one such example is stunningly simple: you weren’t just running. you were chasing. i posed a question in the getaway driver’s skeleton, and with one quick pivot, you took my breath away. just... wow. that’s all.

welcome, MARS ! you have been accepted as THE HIRED GUN, otherwise known as ASLAN “MAZZIE” YILMAZ ( ALPEREN DUYMAZ ).

mars, i’m gonna be honest, i hate you a little bit ( but not really. i love you ). i’m pretty sure forcing me to choose between two stunning apps should count as some sort of personal attack, but after much agonizing, i’m delighted to settle with the absolute tragedy that is my newest son mazzie. there’s a quiet power, a quiet ( but no less imposing ) threat threaded throughout his story, and somehow you managed to weave my own heartstrings into the picture alongside it all. you sent me tumbling head over heels for this man who, in his own words, is death himself. you gave me my hired gun, and he’s everything i dreamed. thank you.

welcome, LUCY ! you have been accepted as THE INSIDE MAN, otherwise known as IVY WANG ( GEMMA CHAN ).

lucy. lucy !!! you didn’t make it easy on me, but man, i couldn’t be more wrapped around ivy’s finger, which is probably just how she’d like it. the structure of your app was so interesting & unique ( that arrest report ?? HOT ). she encapsulates the inside man so perfectly — from her mannerisms to her motivations, everything was so spot on that i’m pretty sure you reached inside my brain to pull out my exact vision. she feels so real, so human and so powerful all at once, and i would personally let her arrest me and write her a thank you note for putting me in jail. i’m obsessed. obsessed !

welcome, BEE ! you have been accepted as THE MASTERMIND, otherwise known as BISHOP LEE ( CHOI MINHO ).

my beautiful mastermind is no longer mine — he’s yours, bee, every inch, and i couldn’t be happier about it. from his recruitment log ( which was !!! you wove his voice into it so perfectly ) to his reasoning for creating the group in the first place, bishop is someone i didn’t expect, but i adore him, shaping his little family & leaving behind a legacy he can be proud of ( “so bishop acts like they’re immortal, because he truly believes they are. it’s just his version of immortality is in the history books rather than an eternally beating heart.” are you KIDDING ??? ). please don’t take him from me — i don’t want to let him go.

welcome, MIA ! you have been accepted as THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK, otherwise known as MARTY CHOI ( KANG MINA ).

listen, i’m pretty relieved i didn’t get another app for this character, because i didn’t need one — marty is the new kid, through and through. she has that hunger that is so quintessential for this role, the drive and ambition for something more in this grand universe of ours. it’s so perfectly exemplified by marty’s own words: let me be excellent at something again. let me be proud of my own capabilities again. let me be part of something so i'll stop feeling so alone. this !! this is so perfect i almost jumped out of my skin reading it. thank you for bringing me our perfectly imperfect new kid — i can’t wait to see her in action.

welcome, LEXI ! you have been accepted as THE SECOND IN COMMAND, otherwise known as PERCY BANKS ( BRENTON THWAITES ).

holy shit, lexi. holy shit !! from the moment i saw “STATUS: deceased” at the beginning of your app, i knew i was in for a wild ride — but i had no idea what truly awaited me. from percy’s humble beginnings through his ambitious rise to hotshot fbi agent ( speaking of, can you say hot fucking take to have him as ex-fbi ? i’m floored ), i was hooked into the twists and turns of his story, my jaw dropping when i realized who jupiter was after all. the highs and lows of his first foray into the world of heists had me on the edge of my seat, and i truly cannot wait to see what percy does next — because at this rate, who knows where he’ll end up ? i’m excited to find out !

welcome, HANNAH ! you have been accepted as THE STAR OF THE SHOW, otherwise known as STRIKER KIM ( CHARLES MELTON ).

god, hannah — break my heart, why don’t you ? as each tidbit of striker’s past fell into place, that’s what you did, and i’m aching for this boy who’s just trying to stay alive ( and live as much as he can while he still is ). though the star could be played in so many different ways, you took this role an entirely different direction, and suffice to say it blew me away. literally, your mind. exhibit a — you didn’t go running to high society for fame or fortune, no. it was your insurance policy — god, striker !! he’s such a complex, heartbreaking character, and i can’t wait to see him on the dash. he may have a hand in two different worlds of crime, but he’s also got a place in my heart, and god knows he could use the love. also, making me crack a code just to understand your bio headings ? touché. i deserved that.

welcome, ELLIE ! you have been accepted as THE WATCHDOG, otherwise known as THEA JAIN ( NAOMI SCOTT ).

the watchdog requires a delicate balance: soft edges bathed in steel, a gentle person capable of terrible things. it can be a tough image to capture, but i shouldn’t have worried. your entire app painted a picture of this exact person, tugging at my heartstrings until the very end: remember that you are thea jain, and that you are a good person. you are kind. you are loved. and you are in control. that was it — just like thea’s fifth rule to round out the reminders of her morality, you completely sealed the deal. the way she cares for the team, baking for them and occasionally mothering them, exposes that soft underbelly guarded by her quiet yet surprising strength and power. you’ve made a beautiful character, ellie. i can’t thank you enough for bringing her to me.

#accepted.#thank u all for putting up w me !!!#sorry it took so long but whew #it's here

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lonbergwrites · 4 years

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Literary “Covers”

I have been really into Post Modern Jukebox for quite a few years now. If you’re not familiar with the production company, go to YouTube right now and do a search. They take modern pop songs and (to greater and lesser degrees) arrange them in the style of quintessentially American standards - most often Jazz, but also Bluegrass, Soul, Country, etc.

The results are often amazing, and they partner with some truly astounding musicians - especially the singers. And it all seems to be arranged by a man named Scott Bradlee, who is usually seen playing piano in the videos.

I got to thinking the other night about this phenomenon - covers - and how it is so ingrained in music, and so very absent from literature. Cake covering I Will Survive is - in my opinion - the version of the song. I know this is not a popular opinion, and I in no way mean to knock the American Treasure Gloria Gaynor. I just really like covers. Punk as a genre does them particularly well. All of the Standards were, from moment one, sung by anybody and everybody. Covers are everywhere.

I know that music is very different from literature - the way it is shared, taken in, tinkered with. But musicians have forever played with each others’ works - changing instrumentation, notes, tempo, even words. PMJ changes the whole structure and genre of many of your favorite songs, and that is all that they do as a “band.”

In the literary world, the closest thing we have is fanfic; these are unauthorized stories that, if they make money, are highly illegal. If authors come into contact with them, they can tamper with the author’s own rights to their own intellectual property. Sure, public domain exists, and eventually, some stories are starting to transition to the Commons now after endless protections secured by the biggies like Disney. But no one is allowed to riff on The Expanse and profit off of it.

I am all for author’s rights. I think authors should always own their characters. But... I think we lose a lot as a community by walling off all of our own IP from the fingers and the brainpower of other creators.

I don’t know how this would even work... what goes on in the music business isn’t exactly like Beyonce taking a Marty Robbins story song, and writing six new verses of it, and releasing it on her next album - though I want very much to hear that now that I’ve written this... But how might authors play with this idea? One idea that comes immediately to mind are the books like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, or Android Karenina. But those are tinkering with genre on books well inside the Commons. Nobody’s doing this with 1984 (now a Romance novel), let alone something as new as The Fifth Season (now a Western). At least not without “scratching off the serial numbers.”

Even with Audiobooks, rights are sold to one firm that makes one definitive version. Another company cannot just hire their own voice actor and purchase their own hardcover book on release day and sell their own copy, paying the author a share of the profits.

I’m no expert of music copyrights, but I am curious how and why the lines were formed the way they were. I’d like to see more openness in the literary world. I want to make sure that along the way, authors are getting paid. But I want to see what we might do as a society if we were allowed to as fully participate in the experience of literature as we are in the experience of music. I think it would go a long way towards making reading more accessible, exciting, and mainstream popular. I also think that a lot of authors would be making money without having to lift a finger. And that’s a pretty cool idea.

What say you, fellow authors?

#writing questions #Writing Community #Fanfic #writing problems #music cover #musicians #composers #arrangement #shared world #literature #am reading #am writing #writeblr #writeblogging #creative writing

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creeped-out-ranked · 5 years

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Creeped Out is a horror anthology series shown on CBBC in the UK and available on Netflix elsewhere. It’s an excellent show, fun for kids with loads of crossover appeal for adults. But the big entertainment sites tend not to cover it, and I haven't been able to find a definitive ranking of all the episodes anywhere. So I decided to create my own, because why not?! This list includes season 1 and season 2; I’ll add further episodes as they’re shown.

Before we get into this: there are some spoilers in here. I’ve tried to keep them to a minimum but sometimes, to describe what's good (or bad) about an episode, I need to discuss elements of the plot.

Every episode of Creeped Out, ranked from best to worst

1. ‘Slapstick’ (Season 1, Episode 1)

The first episode of a series is rarely the best, but Creeped Out bucks the trend—‘Slapstick’ hasn’t yet been bettered. It’s the perfect combination of cozy and creepy, with a quintessentially British setting (a seaside town complete with Punch & Judy shows), a puppet antagonist who’s somewhere between unnerving and amusing, and a relatable main character. Even the score is the best of the bunch: its sinister take on fairground music really adds to the atmosphere. The plot—Jessie wishes her parents were ‘normal’, and lives to regret it—is compelling, and in contrast to some of the weaker episodes, you actually understand why the characters do the things they do (even the bully is given a bit of a backstory). ‘Slapstick’ is a gem, and more than any other episode, it stands up to repeated rewatches.

2. ‘Trolled’ (Season 1, Episode 3)

Sam leads a double life: he’s secretly NoFace, an online troll who often targets his closest friends. When he ignores a message warning him to stop trolling, things start to go very wrong. This episode is set in the plush surroundings of a boarding school (one of Creeped Out’s more notable backdrops) and the contrast between Sam’s environment and his online life is both palpable and believable. The dynamic between Sam, Fitzy and Naini is established very effectively—you really feel Sam has something to lose. Extra points for the properly bleak ending, too.

3. ‘Kindlesticks’ (Season 1, Episode 9)

This episode is a fan favourite, and it’s not difficult to see why. ‘Kindlesticks’ came out of nowhere, landing in the middle of a few mediocre episodes, and doesn’t seem at first glance to have the most exciting setup: a bad babysitter getting her comeuppance. Yet you’ll likely find that the tale of Esme, her charge Ashley and his imaginary friend Kindlesticks will drag you in, spit you out and leave you reeling. It’s a simple idea executed perfectly, with what is undoubtedly Creeped Out’s best delivery of a twist. Seriously, I didn’t see that coming at all.

4. ‘Splinta Claws’ (Season 2, Episode 10)

Admittedly, it isn’t difficult to make a Christmas episode good—add lots of sparkly decorations and a bit of ‘Carol of the Bells’ and you’ve already nailed the atmosphere. ‘Splinta Claws’, in which two boys get trapped in a department store along with a possessed animatronic Santa, builds on that to create an inspired take on PG-13 seasonal horror. It’s the self-aware script that really makes this episode; the ‘frenemy’ relationship between anxious Mikey and street-smart Lawrence, plus the characters’ recognition that the slow-moving Santa isn’t that scary (despite its nightmare-fuel face). An effective combination of action, emotion and humour results in a spooky festive treat.

5. ‘Tilly Bone’ (Season 2, Episode 9)

Telling a story backwards is a bold move, and initially, it makes ‘Tilly Bone’ confusing. Some viewers might find themselves wanting to switch off as they wonder what the hell is going on. But stick with it, and a fascinating tale unfolds, with layers, details and clues to be picked apart, nods to classic horror, great performances (especially Alice Franziska Woodhouse as the disquieting Junebug) and some of the series’ most original and surprising ideas. It’s formally innovative, daring and altogether one of the most impressive pieces of work Creeped Out has yet produced.

6. ‘Marti’ (Season 1, Episode 4)

Kim is initially delighted when her new phone’s AI helps her to become more popular, but things take a turn for the sinister when ‘he’ claims to be in love with her. ‘Marti’ cleverly uses this premise as a kid-appropriate way to explore themes of coercive control and abusive relationships. I have a feeling this episode may have been inspired by the 2016 movie Bedeviled—there are lots of similarities, right down to Marti’s voice—and it says a lot that in 25 minutes it crafts a better, more meaningful story than a full-length horror movie for adults was able to manage. Often unfairly slept on, ‘Marti’ is the talented underdog of the series.

7. ‘Takedown’ (Season 2, Episode 8)

‘Takedown’ is intriguing because it departs completely from the series’ typical aesthetic—there's lots of shakycam, a grainy feel to the cinematography, a muted colour palette. It’s shot more like an indie film than an episode of a kids’ show. It focuses on Alexa, the only girl on her high school wrestling team, who uses a weird chain text to wish for more strength. Since this is Creeped Out, it’s no surprise that her ‘gift’ comes at a price. With its gritty feel and the authentic friendship between Alexa and Lucky (‘cheers to root beers’, anyone?), this episode is something really different, and all the more memorable for it.

8. ‘No Filter’ (Season 2, Episode 6)

Like ‘Trolled’, ‘No Filter’ is a thoroughly enjoyable example of what a series like this should be aiming for, which is essentially a junior version of a Twilight Zone episode. There’s a recognisable starting point—who hasn’t used filters or Facetune to make their selfies look better, and who bothers reading all the T&Cs?—and when Kiera’s eroded face is revealed, it’s one of the few moments in the series to create a genuine shock. Plus there’s a proper pantomime villain, just as it should be. The ending might be a little jumbled, but it’s entertaining enough that that can be forgiven.

9. ‘Cat Food’ (Season 1, Episode 2)

Happy-go-lucky prankster Stu pretends to be ill so he can skip school, but gets more than he bargained for when he discovers the elderly neighbour, Mrs McMurtle, is actually a shapeshifting monster. ‘Cat Food’ is a fun, comedic episode (the only one yet to make me laugh out loud) and, while there isn’t a great deal of substance to the story, it’s efficiently told and neatly resolved. Rhys Gannon is great as Stu and it’s just an all-round fun time.

10. ‘The Traveller’ (Season 1, Episode 11)

While the vast majority of Creeped Out episodes take place in a distinctly middle-class milieu, ‘The Traveller’ switches things up by focusing on Jodie and Brandon, troublemaking kids on an inner-city estate. They come across a device that can pause time, and it’s all fun and games until a blue-skinned man starts hunting them down. The plot is a bit more Doctor Who than your average episode, and the combination of urban setting and sci-fi story is surprisingly successful. There’s also an emotional gut-punch of a moment when Jodie finally understands the problems she’s been creating for her mum.

11. ‘The Call’ (Season 1, Episode 6)

‘The Call’ isn't one of the strongest stories in Creeped Out’s repertoire. An unpopular girl is drawn to an environmental activist and discovers she’s a siren, gaining powers into the bargain—interesting enough, but not enormously original, and inevitably a gateway to slightly tedious lecturing about plastic etc. It stands out mainly because of a stellar performance from Rebecca Hanssen, who reminds me of a young Olivia Colman. Hanssen really inhabits the character of Pearl, and shows how excellent acting can elevate an ordinary plot and script.

12. ‘The Many Place’ (Season 2, Episode 4)

With their holiday scuppered by torrential rain, three siblings wander a hotel and find themselves lost in a maze of realities. ‘The Many Place’ is designed as an homage to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, and spotting the references is part of the enjoyment here. The story takes advantage of the liminal, disconcerting nature of a large hotel to craft a series of alarmingly plausible terrors, and the ending features the best twist since ‘Kindlesticks’.

13. ‘One More Minute’ (Season 2, Episode 1)

‘One More Minute’ kicks off the second season with a pure hit of enjoyment that doesn’t take itself too seriously. When Jack can’t tear himself away from his favourite videogame, he finds time passing quickly—scarily quickly. While it may not be among the best, everything about this episode is solid: it’s (appropriately) well paced, the relationships are soundly fleshed out, and it’s all wrapped up well.

14. ‘Itchy’ (Season 2, Episode 2)

It may have one of the show's sillier premises—the villains are... head lice—but I have a soft spot for ‘Itchy’. Perhaps it’s the setting: a military academy on an English island feels fresh when you compare it to the many identikit homes and high schools in the series. Perhaps it’s the strong performance from Oliver Finnegan as protagonist Gabe. Either way, there’s something low-key charming about this episode.

15. ‘Side Show’ (Season 1, Episodes 12 and 13)

This two-part season finale is set in the early 20th century and centres on a troupe of circus performance whose ringmaster won’t allow them to venture beyond a magical barrier. Overall, ‘Side Show’ isn’t especially creepy; it’s more of a fantasy story that feels like it could have been its own separate series. The advantage of this is that there’s more space for character development and worldbuilding. The disadvantage is that it doesn’t truly feel like part of the Creeped Out universe.

16. ‘A Boy Called Red’ (Season 1, Episode 5)

Vincent and his dad aren't getting along, but when they go to stay at the latter’s childhood home, Vincent finds an unusual way to reconnect: via a time-travelling portal. The switches between past and present are handled admirably, and Boris Burnell Anderson is a standout as AJ. There’s a lot to like about ‘A Boy Called Red’; it just doesn’t stand out as especially memorable when compared to some of the stronger Creeped Out stories, perhaps because there’s no real antagonist.

17. ‘Bravery Badge’ (Season 1, Episode 7)

A troop of Girl Guides—sorry, ‘Hedgehog Rangers’—head into the woods for a camping trip. When the girls start falling into a strange trance, it’s up to a moody, reluctant Ranger to save the day. The setting here is promising, the campfire scene is a highlight, and the urban legend about the missing troop is a great touch. Unfortunately, the good stuff is undermined by questionable acting and a somewhat ridiculous supernatural menace. Though I will admit the singing is quite creepy.

18. ‘Shed No Fear’ (Season 1, Episode 10)

Set in the 1970s, with some decent period detail, this episode follows two boys as they battle a mysterious shadow-creature inhabiting an old shed. It’s cute to see Greg and Dave rekindle their friendship and tell the smarmy football captain to get lost, but the threat of the Shade is never particularly well-developed. The title also annoys me. Outside the context of this episode, nobody has ever uttered the phrase ‘shed no fear’. It isn’t even a good pun!

19. ‘The Unfortunate Five’ (Season 2, Episode 5)

Five kids in detention meet their match in a seemingly sweet, yoga-loving teacher who pits them against each other. Establishing five protagonists and two villains within the space of 25 minutes is a tall order, and it’s one this episode doesn't meet. ‘The Unfortunate Five’ has a good concept and also boasts one of the series’ goriest images (when Faye attacks Hawkins and blood spatters across the glass—I’m kind of surprised CBBC didn’t cut that). But the flimsy, unmemorable characters doom it to the lower reaches of this list.

20. ‘Only Child’ (Season 2, Episode 7)

This could have been great: the story of a girl being menaced by her demonic baby brother, while her parents are convinced she’s just jealous, has lots of potential. Yet ‘Only Child’ doesn't really work. The denouement is rushed and muddled (exactly how does Mia identify the link between the baby’s power and the feedback sound?) and the low-budget special effects don't help. It also suffers from being set entirely within the Tuthill family’s apartment, which looks like a cheaply decorated show home.

21. ‘Help’ (Season 2, Episode 3)

A very meh installment about a brother and sister who are overly reliant on their family’s Amazon Alexa-like virtual assistant. It’s basically a weaker version of ‘Marti’ with a much less impactful message. The siblings are barely fleshed out, and the episode shares with ‘Only Child’ a sterile-looking set that doesn’t resemble a real family home at all.

22. ‘Spaceman’ (Season 1, Episode 8)

If episodes like ‘Trolled’ and ‘No Filter’ represent what a show like Creeped Out should be, ‘Spaceman’ is exactly what it shouldn’t be. If ‘Cat Food’ proves how well humour can work within a scary story, ‘Spaceman’ shows exactly how it can go wrong. The tale of unlikely pals Spud and Thomas finding a crashed spaceship is by far the worst thing Creeped Out has come up with—it’s implausible, unfunny and not remotely creepy. Avoid.

#creeped out #creeped out ranked #creeped out episodes #creeped out episodes ranked #cbbc #netflix

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kitsunebi-uk · 5 years

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@mandolinearts tagged me to post ten songs I cannot stop listening to and then tag ten more ppl, so here we go!

Honestly, I tried so, so hard, but there are 13 here, and trimming it down to just that was painful. Music means so much to me as a (YOI) writer and a person - memories, emotions, headspaces . . . And a heads-up to artists I love whose songs don’t even appear on my list - Led Zeppelin, Gabrielle Roth and the Mirrors, Nightnoise, Jethro Tull, Rush, Pink Floyd, Queen, REM, Rolling Stones, Simon & Garfunkel, Styx, Tom Petty, The Who, Bob Marley and the Wailers, and many more.

In no particular order.

1. Spring, from The Four Seasons – Vivaldi. Because it may be the most exuberant piece of music I’ve ever heard, and makes me think of bright sun shining through windows on a beautiful day.

2. Requiem in D Minor, Confutatis and Lacrimosa – Mozart. Haunting and powerful on its own, it also features in a scene from the 1984 film Amadeus that still sends chills down my spine, where the dying Mozart is dictating this genius vision to the astounded Salieri, one of the few people of the time to appreciate just how talented he was. (It’s believed that Wolfgang’s older sister Nannerl might have been equally as talented – but gals in the 18th century, honestly, what chance did we stand.)

3. I Get Around – The Beach Boys. I love their harmonies, and I have the silliest YOI headcanon based on this, where Yuuri and Phichit have put together a pairs skate in Detroit based on this song to do just for fun. So many 50s and 60s songs would lend themselves to skating. OK, so Yuuri probably would not be into that kind of thing. But it’s fun to imagine anyway.

4. The Devil Went Down to Georgia – The Charlie Daniels Band. Why do I like this? I don’t know. Maybe because for me it blends the best of country and bluegrass with the ancient ballad tradition, doesn’t take itself seriously, and is rollicking fun. Of course Yuuri and Victor dance to it in 1393 in a castle in my WIP. If you’d like to know why and how, watch this space, because it won’t be long. 😀

5. Land of the Livid Dead – Nowhere to Run (Rayman Origins Soundtrack) – Christophe Héral, Billy Martin. Totally obscure, total genius gaming soundtrack. This dude/bloke took a different musical genre for each land he created music for, and totally ripped it and owned it. It’s got big band, mariachi, metal, didgeridoo – and this, which sounds like a funked-up spaghetti western. Utterly unique and strange and wonderful.

6. Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry. Quintessential 50s rock & roll, long before Marty McFly got his hands on it – though that was cool too.

7. Fotheringhay – Fairport Convention. I love Sandy Denny’s lilting, haunting voice. This song (about the final days of Mary, Queen of Scots) has been in my mind a lot lately purely for the mood, because at the end of my WIP, this totally captures it – sad and angsty. And a castle.

8. Who Do You Love? – George Thorogood and the Destroyers. I love rock & roll with a heavy blues base, and George Thorogood makes no apologies for borrowing from it. I have always envisioned this song as a sort of “opening titles” accompaniment to a film of my first fic, The Other Side of Sunset, where Yuuri and Victor are cowboys in the Old West.

9. Wheel in the Sky – Journey. I love Steve Perry’s voice, and this has always been my favorite song of theirs – there’s something wistful about it.

10. Solsbury Hill – Peter Gabriel. A beautiful song about leaving things behind that you’ve outgrown and finding the courage to reach for something new.

11. Reckoner – Radiohead. I was introduced to this song in one of the late chapters of Proantagonist’s “Winter Song” – Victor choreographed his comeback skate to it. And I can totally imagine him doing this, so much so that I see it in my head every time I hear this winsome, gorgeous voice. And Yuuri jumping on his bed in excitement, cheering him on from Japan as he watches on the TV.

12. Hold On; The Eyeball Kid – Tom Waits. While he has his clear influences, as every artist does (from the blues and rap to gin-soaked Las Vegas lounge-lizard nightclubs, always sprinkled with a good dose of the dark side of romantic Americana), he is completely and utterly a phenomenon unto himself, wildly creative and adventurous. These are two of my favorites of his that are less gargling-broken-glass than usual.

13. Sharp Dressed Man – ZZ Top. Another YOI headcanon for an 80s child. This goes through my head every time I think about Victor in his knockout suit in Episode 5, and I got to write a similar moment in my fic “All That We See or Seem”, when he gets dressed up to go and meet his crush (who, to his consternation, skitters away – how could he not remember that banquet where they danced together?).

I’m tagging @themayflynans @adrianners @sheepskeleton @pro-antagonist @amy-on-ice @kazul9 @uzaisozai @inlovewithyoi @nikiforoov @thatshamelessyaoishipper @mazarin221b @katzuyas

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dipulb3 · 4 years

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It's not just you -- there's a sudden wave of fireworks exploding in cities across the US

New Post has been published on https://appradab.com/its-not-just-you-theres-a-sudden-wave-of-fireworks-exploding-in-cities-across-the-us/

It's not just you -- there's a sudden wave of fireworks exploding in cities across the US

Now, officials have had enough.

Why the fireworks are going off so frequently is anyone’s guess. And city officials say they don’t yet know where the big ones are coming from.

Conspiracies abound over who’s responsible, but it’s clear that the incessant fireworks displays are an inconvenient and dangerous phenomenon in an already surreal American moment.

Firework problems in the Northeast and West Coast

There seems to be no geographic pattern behind which cities are shooting off the most.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh told reporters that calls to police about illegal fireworks jumped 2,300% in May compared to the same period in 2019. He said some of the calls were originally for gunshots that turned out to be fireworks.

“This is a serious issue,” he said. “People are frightened. People are losing sleep. Babies and kids are woken up. Pets are terrified. Our veterans and others with PTSD are experiencing real harm, and it’s a real fire hazard in our city.”

California’s Alameda County, where San Francisco and Oakland are located, has received complaints about a “higher than normal use” of illegal fireworks, too, according to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department.

Southern California’s staying up all night, too.

The city of Pasadena said firework complaints are up 400%, and Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies recently seized a truckload of illegal fireworks valued at $10,000, according to Appradab affiliate KCBS.

New York’s fireworks problem is among the worst, with residents in all five boroughs losing sleep for over a week.

Nuisance fireworks are not an entirely new issue for the city, Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a Tuesday news conference, but there are “more [fireworks] than we’ve seen” in years past, and they’re being lit up earlier than usual.

“This is a real problem,” de Blasio said. “Not just a quality of life problem and a noise problem, and it’s certainly that. But it can also be dangerous.”

In one example, footage shared by the NYPD’s Sergeants Benevolent Association this week showed a man lighting a firework and throwing it at a homeless man in Brooklyn. The department has asked for the public’s help in identifying the perpetrator.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison said the firework exploded near the man and burned his back. Appradab has reached out to the department to learn more about the man’s condition.

And last weekend, fire officials said that an apartment fire in Yonkers that left six families homeless might’ve been caused by fireworks, too, the Journal News of the Lower Hudson Valley reported.

De Blasio said the NYPD, along with the New York City Sheriff’s Office and fire officials, will create an illegal fireworks task force to crack down on illegal fireworks sales in the city and surrounding states. Participating officers will conduct “sting operations” to locate the supply and cut it off, the mayor said.

New York’s firework problem

In the last two months, New York 411 received at least 4,862 complaints of fireworks. Almost half of them were concentrated in Brooklyn, which received 2,233 complaints, according to the office of Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.

The light show is more than a nuisance keeping New Yorkers up all night — the explosives are dangerous too.

According to Adams’ office, a Bronx teen was hit in the chest with a firework and hospitalized in stable condition, and a 33-year-old Brooklyn man was hospitalized in critical condition when a firework he set off ricocheted off a window and hit him.

Adams said he doesn’t know how New Yorkers are accessing these fireworks — fireworks of all kinds are banned from the city, and the state only allows sparklers. The fireworks he’s seen more closely resemble display fireworks that are only available to licensed professionals, he said, similar to those used in the Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks show.

“As I stroll around and look at some of these fireworks, they’re extremely sophisticated, beyond the normal scope of what we used as children,” Adams said. “This is definitely not just some firecracker.”

Most of the Brooklynites he encounters tell him they set off the fireworks to blow off steam after being cooped up for most of the spring — New York was for months considered the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Some said they were in their home for a few months, and this is just their way of having fun,” he said. “Oftentimes, people don’t realize the dangers associated with it.”

And of course, there are the conspiracies hinting at nefarious motives — unproven allegations in the fog of a late-night M-80.

This year could see more ‘backyard fireworks’ than ever

Leaders in the fireworks industry expect the run-up to July 4th to end the lull in sales throughout the winter and early spring. But even they’ve never seen sales soar quite as early as they did this year.

And those are just the legal ones.

Backyard firework use is expected to hit an all-time high this Fourth of July, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association, a trade group for consumer and commercial fireworks retailers.

Bill Weimer is vice president and general counsel at Phantom Fireworks, which brands itself the leading fireworks retailer in the US. In his nearly 30 years in the pyrotechnics business, this is the first season that’s “knocked [him] over.”

“Without reviewing specific numbers, the demand and the business we’ve seen so far has been the strongest early fireworks season I’ve seen in my years of involvement in the fireworks business,” he said.

Weimer said more people are buying fireworks from Phantom, and they’re buying them earlier than ever. Weeks before the the usual busy season of mid-June through the Fourth, Phantom locations have seen customers turn into repeat customers.

Around 40% of them are first-time buyers, he said. And because cities are canceling fireworks shows for the Fourth, Weimer suspects residents are taking it on to light up the skies themselves.

“It’s a combination of people getting out, being anxious and having this pent-up energy, and then right around the corner is a quintessential firework holiday,” he said. “Put the two together, consider the fact that there won’t be a lot of fireworks, and suddenly, you have a formula that means people are buying more and more fireworks, and buying them earlier.”

Mayor de Blasio, for his part, is hoping to bring the fireworks to the people. He announced the city will host a traveling, 5-minute fireworks show in each of the five boroughs starting next week, which will culminate in the televised Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks show next month.

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johnwatson424221-blog · 5 years

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6 Top Sunglasses That You Can Match Your Indian Wedding Dress With This Season

An Indian wedding dress is another motivation behind why an Indian wedding is so significant. Truly, we know, Indian weddings are about music, nourishment, testy family members and a great deal of selfies. However, we likewise think Indian wedding (or weddings all in all) is additionally adored for its garments and the frill that supplement them. Case and point Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas!

Perhaps this is the reason we select our wedding dress route before the wedding. Since individuals see the wedding dress in the photos, not the nourishment!

On that note, here are top Indian wedding dresses and the sunglasses to coordinate.

A Bandhgala: an Indian wedding dress of the period, matched with square sunglasses

An Indian wedding dress that is extremely famous right now. It's a hot Indian wedding dress for the most part since it looks cool and in addition gives you an illustrious

We figure a bandhgala will look phenomenal with square sunglasses. Additionally, pair them with adorned loafers or a pleasant pair of brogues to get increasingly out of this executioner clothing.

A two-piece suit: a wedding dress in the event that you like to keep it straightforward, matched with pilot sunglasses

Regardless of whether it's a two or a three-piece, of any shading or texture, the suit is a wedding dress for somebody who likes to keep it straightforward yet expressed.

Simply ensure you make sense of the fit. There are two you can look over: The Classic Fit, which has a perfect body shape. Furthermore, the cutting edge fit. This one falls somewhere close to the work of art and the thin shape.

You can pick any sunglasses on the off chance that you are wearing a suit, however they pair truly well with a couple of pilot sunglasses.

We figure you pick one of our most up to date manifestations to go with your wedding dress. Marty—the best pilot sunglasses we have made to date.

A wedding outfit with a dupatta: an Indian wedding dress that is an absolute head turner, matched with little feline eye sunglasses

An Indian wedding dress alternative what will knock some people's socks off without a doubt. They look expressed yet additionally arrive in a scope of hues and texture choices.

Presently all you have to intensify your Indian wedding dress is to coordinate it with little feline eye sunglasses.

Small Cat eye sunglasses are a wrath at this moment, and they look hotly cool.

In the event that you are considering going over the top with your adornments this wedding season, this is the route forward.

A ghagra choli: the go-to Indian wedding dress, combined with panto sunglasses

The Ghagra choli no ifs, ands or buts is the go-to Indian wedding dress this season.

The Ghagra choli has clutched the "most idea of Indian wedding dress" grant, without a doubt. Since it's cool, attractive, and unobtrusive, at the same time. Likewise, they arrive in an assortment of choices.

When you have such a wonderful Indian wedding dress choice, you ought to have sunglasses that are similarly extreme, isn't that so?

Furthermore, that is the reason Panto sunglasses make the cut. They are a work of art, uber-cool, and pack in enough panache to adjust your desi partner!

Anarkali: the quintessential Indian wedding dress, matched with feline eye sunglasses

Ok! The Anarkali—it's the exemplification for everything basic. This quintessential Indian wedding dress isn't simply known for its feel, yet in addition the measure of unobtrusive aesthetics it can have.

What's more, on the off chance that you are wearing the Anarkali, at that point you need to coordinate them with feline eye sunglasses. It resembles a combination of the 'East meets West' kind of vibe.

The sarees: an Indian wedding dress that has no equivalent, combined with round sunglasses

When it's a piece about Indian wedding dresses, how might we preclude the sarees? Further, what makes the sarees intriguing is the way that each locale in India has an alternate adaptation. It's a culture machine!

Additionally, sunglasses look truly cool when coordinated with a sarees. Pair round sunglasses since they are ruling the runways as usual. Furthermore, similar to the sarees, the likewise accompany an evergreen status.

#cat eye sunglasses #sunglasses #aviator sunglasses #women sunglasses #Men sunglasses #women wayfarer #clip-on sunglasses

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blogparadiseisland · 6 years

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Nature Jefferson Airplane’s Marty Balin dies

Nature Jefferson Airplane’s Marty Balin dies Nature Jefferson Airplane’s Marty Balin dies http://www.nature-business.com/nature-jefferson-airplanes-marty-balin-dies/

Nature

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Image caption

Marty Balin was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996

Marty Balin – the co-founder and vocalist-guitarist of the psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane – has died aged 76, his family and publicist say.They did not specify the cause of death of the US musician.Balin, real name Martyn Jerel Buchwal, found fame with the group in the 1960s with hits such as White Rabbit.He left the San Francisco-based band in 1970 – but later got back together with some of its members under the name Jefferson Starship. He was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.

Image copyright Getty Images

Image caption

Marty Balin co-founded Jefferson Airplane in 1965

In Friday’s statement, Marty Balin’s family said: “Marty’s fans describe him as having had a substantial impact for the better of the world: ‘One of the greatest voices of all time, a writer of songs that will never fade, and founder of the quintessential San Francisco band of the sixties.’ “His music is known for being the soundtrack to all of life’s monumental moments.”Jefferson Airplane formed in 1965 when folk artist Balin decided to create a rock group in response to the Beatles-led British Invasion.The band quickly attracted a local following – and when fledgling promoter Bill Graham opened his legendary Fillmore Auditorium, Jefferson Airplane served as the first headliner.Signed to RCA Records for the then-princely sum of $25,000, the band scored five gold albums in the US, including 1967’s Surrealistic Pillow and 1968’s Crown of Creation in their first run of success.The band advocated sex, psychedelic drugs, rebellion and a communal lifestyle.Paul Kantner, another co-founder of Jefferson Airplane, died in 2016. Read More | BBC News

Nature Jefferson Airplane’s Marty Balin dies, in 2018-09-29 09:41:21

#Nature of Business in the Current Market

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internetbasic9 · 6 years

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Nature Jefferson Airplane’s Marty Balin dies

Nature Jefferson Airplane’s Marty Balin dies Nature Jefferson Airplane’s Marty Balin dies https://ift.tt/2NOsD5c

Nature

Image copyright WireImage

Image caption

Marty Balin was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996

Image copyright Getty Images

Image caption

Marty Balin co-founded Jefferson Airplane in 1965

Nature Jefferson Airplane’s Marty Balin dies, in 2018-09-29 09:41:21

#Nature of Business in the Current Market

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blogwonderwebsites · 6 years

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Nature Jefferson Airplane’s Marty Balin dies

Nature Jefferson Airplane’s Marty Balin dies Nature Jefferson Airplane’s Marty Balin dies http://www.nature-business.com/nature-jefferson-airplanes-marty-balin-dies/

Nature

Image copyright WireImage

Image caption

Marty Balin was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996

Image copyright Getty Images

Image caption

Marty Balin co-founded Jefferson Airplane in 1965

Nature Jefferson Airplane’s Marty Balin dies, in 2018-09-29 09:41:21

#Nature of Business in the Current Market

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michaelcastner · 6 years

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One of the best things about doing what I do is getting to interview my heroes. Marty Balin was one of those heroes. What a treasure we have lost #Repost @martybalinmusic ・・・ With a heavy heart we share this sad news. “Whatever happened to wishes wished on a star?" —Marty Balin Marty Balin, the legendary founder and lead vocalist of Jefferson Airplane and hit song-writer of Jefferson Starship, passed away on September 27. His wife, Susan Joy Balin, was by his side. He was 76. STATEMENT FROM SUSAN JOY BALIN AND FAMILY: Marty had a historic career as Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, and platinum and gold solo artist. Balin also enjoyed painting all his life. He painted vibrant, large-scale portraits of many of the most influential musicians and good friends Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and Jerry Garcia, to name a few. Marty's fans describe him as having had a substantial impact for the better of the world: "One of the greatest voices of all time, a writer of songs that will never fade, and founder of the quintessential San Francisco band of the sixties." His music is known for being the soundtrack to all of life's monumental moments. https://www.instagram.com/p/BoS4JdQB82K/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1egzk8wnmgdtq

#repost

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s0021711a2film · 7 years

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Post R. Collated Quotes

Style:

“The film is full of moral dilemmas that I grew up with, so I feel comfortable doing it”- Scorsese on Goodfellas [2]

“If someone’s a wiseguy they have a face, and Marty can see that face and he fills movies with that kinda stuff- he knows if it’s cliché and makes it so it’s not so”- Nicholas Peleggi (Author of the book ‘Goodfellas’ is based on) [2]

“People always say “you’re focussing on the antagonist”, the point is they’re also human and these people are also parts, the negative parts of who they are, an evil streak is something that could be in all of us and isn’t something to be afraid of, but rather something to explore”-Scorsese [2]

“And the ritual of filmmaking is akin to a religious ritual. 'Slate', 'Action', 'Cut'... You have to have a kind of rigour which is religious, just to plough through, to keep going.” [4]

“The movie has been beautifully cast from the leading roles to the bits. There is flash also in some of Mr. Scorsese's directorial choices, including freeze frames, fast-cutting and the occasional long tracking shot. None of it is superfluous.” [5]

“Of all the bravura visual effects in Martin Scorsese's dazzlingly stylish "Casino," it's a glimpse of ordinary people that delivers the greatest jolt. Strategically timed to offset three hours' worth of vintage Las Vegas glitter, it's a reminder that Mr. Scorsese has given this film's setting the surreal and breathtaking intensity of a money-mad mirage.” [6]

“Outlandish and yet becoming, the flashy 1970's costumes are a movie in themselves thanks to Rita Ryack and John Dunn, who show off Ms. Stone to traffic-stopping effect and find Ace more colors than there are in the rainbow” [6]

“Each Scorsese film comes freighted with so many expectations, as well as the enormity of his own legend, that it’s a wonder the director can bear the weight.” [7]

“The speed and Mr. Scorsese’s sureness of touch, particularly when it comes to carving up space with the camera, keep the plot’s hall of mirrors from becoming a distraction.”[7]

“Because Scorsese dealt with a drug addiction to cocaine during the 1980’s, he began creating characters that deal with the highs and the lows of the drug world. Drugs become the destructive force in Nicky’s life and lead to his violent outbursts that result in his own murder” (On Casino)” [9]

“It kind of feels like Goodfellas and Casino to me, so I asked if it was okay to write it in that style and everyone was on board with it”- Terrance Winter [10]

“He respects the actor’s prospects, you know that from seeing the movies he does- there really is nobody better… the film is ultimately structured around the actor- what he brings out. He keeps talking about plot being insignificant to him, when he does a movie it’s about the characters, about the people and that’s a process that needs to be nurtured” [10]

“Over a group of films, a director must exhibit certain recurring characteristics of style, which serve as his signature” [11]

“Tommy and Jimmy in GoodFellas are, like Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver, and Jake La Motta in Raging Bull, walking powder kegs. What interests you about characters like that?

There are a thousand answers to that. It's good drama. You see part of yourself. I like to chart a character like that, see how far they go before they self-destruct. It's interesting how it starts to turn against them after a while, whether it's shooting people in the street or arguing in the home, in the kitchen or the bedroom. How after a while the breaking point comes when everything just explodes, and they're left alone.” [12]

Theme:

“I suppose there are a lot of Catholic references in the film, even if they're only my own personal reference. Like the moment when he burns the flowers before he goes out to kill. And when he's buying the guns and the dealer lays them out one at a time on the velvet, like arranging the altar during Mass.” [3]

“Gradually, Scorsese's adherence to the teachings of the Catholic Church – he even tried to get into a Jesuit university but poor grades sent him to NYU instead – began to crumble. "I learned about the streets as opposed to an edifice called the Church," he says, "because, living in the neighbourhood I'd see some really tough bastards do some really rotten things, then go to church on Sunday and everything was okay. And the moment they'd step out of the church, they'd start acting the same old way.” [4]

“The Catholic elements of the morality tale are accentuated by him, as befits a man who came close to entering the priesthood in his teens but chose instead to take up film studies at New York University.” [8]

“Scorsese broke ground in 1990 by straying away from the popular Arnie and Stallone shoot-em-ups and creating a mobster movie with real depth and universal themes” [9]

“The third and ultimate premise of auteur theory is concerned with interior meaning, the ultimate glory of cinema as an art. Interior meaning is extrapolated from the tension between a director’s personality and his material” [11]

“Living in New York, obviously violence is around you all the time. Oh, come on. I just took a cab on Fifty-seventh Street, we're about to make a turn on Eighth Avenue, and three Puerto Rican guys are beating each other up over the cab. Over it — from my side, onto the hood, onto the other side. This is just normal — to the point where the cabbie and myself, not a word. We don't say anything. He just makes his right turn, and we move on.” [12]

Adaptations:

“You know why [Goodfellas] stands the test of time? Because it’s truthful”- Lorraine Bracco [2]

“So "Casino," based on reportorial work by Nicholas Pileggi, comes equipped with the liabilities of investigative journalism: no conveniently sharp focus, a plot built like a centipede and characters with lives too messy to form conventional dramatic arcs. But the material unearthed by Mr. Pileggi also features truths much stranger than fiction, wildly histrionic showdowns, intricate mob trivia and people whose Faustian conniving and obsessive fury fit perfectly into the Scorsese canon. [6]

“But as fans of “Infernal Affairs” (and its two sequels) know well, the Hong Kong film owes an enormous debt to Mr. Scorsese, whose imprint, along with that of Michael Mann, is all over the trilogy. The Hong Kong and Hollywood action films are themselves doppelgängers of a sort, and Mr. Scorsese, himself larger than life, is one of their biggest, baddest daddies” [7]

“The script follows the Hong Kong original quite faithfully, and yet the final product is quintessential Scorsese.“ [8]

“I read a review of Wiseguy when I was directing The Color of Money, and it said something about this character Henry Hill having access to many different levels of organized crime because he was somewhat of an outsider. He looked a little nicer. He was able to be a better frontman and speak a little better. I thought that was interesting, because you could get a cross section of the layers of organized crime — from his point of view, of course. So I got the book, started reading it and was fascinated by the narrative ability of it.” [12]

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