Popcorn List

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Sorry for not posting for the past couple days.  I've been on Fall Break and my internet back at home is not exactly the best.

ANYWAY :D

Here is a list of five really good movies I've watched recently that I believe everyone should watch (: Take note that this is not a ranking list; it's just some good movies that I recommend you go out and watch :)

5.
The Legend of Tarzan

The IMDb website gives this description:
Tarzan, having acclimated to life in London, is called back to his former home in the jungle to investigate the activities at a mining encampment.

The movie was awesome.  I actually had very low standards for this movie, but it far surpassed my expectations.  This movie occurs many years after Tarzan leaves the Congo.  It then goes a little bit in depth with how the Belgian King had been mistreating the people in the Congo - enslaving them being the worst of his crimes.  I thought that was a cool part to this movie - that it actually played off of some historical facts.

I was happy to see Christoph Waltz star in this movie, as well as Samuel L. Jackson.  Anything these two actors are in is generally a good movie.

Here is the trailer:

More information on IMDb's website here

4.
Independence Day: Resurgence

IMDb says:
Two decades after the first Independence Day invasion, Earth is faced with a new extra-Solar threat. But will mankind's new space defenses be enough?

So this was another movie that I believed would be a serious disappointment - especially because I loved the 1996 Independence Day movie.  This movie however far exceeded my expectations.  I loved how they brought back many of the actors from the first movie to play a role in this one - and of course, Jeff Goldblum is in it (I love the characters he plays - his witty and sarcastic responses are great).

Here is the trailer:

More information here.

3.
The Jungle Book

 IMDb says:
After a threat from the tiger Shere Khan forces him to flee the jungle, a man-cub named Mowgli embarks on a journey of self discovery with the help of panther, Bagheera, and free spirited bear, Baloo.

Again this was one of those movies that I thought would be awful.  At of all the previous movies, this was the one that I thought would be the worst.  Nope.  This actually is probably the best one that I watched out of these films in my opinion.

This movie works as if it has been taken from the Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling itself.  This movie has an amazing story to tell.  It also has an unexpected death around the middle of the movie, to which I am both surprised and happy that Disney allowed it to happen.  (: Surprised because Disney has a bad habit of killing characters and bringing them magically back to life; but happy because in order for a plot to fully progress, I believe there needs to be some sort of tragedy that spurs the protagonist onward - this movie does that beautifully :)

Another awesome thing about this movie is how it brings multiple well known actors into this movie to voice the different animals in it.  I loved that Bill Murray voiced Baloo and Ben Kingsley voiced Bagheera.  I also think that Christopher Walken's portrayal of King Louis was perfect.   

Overall, I believe this was a great movie, and I think that Disney has a good chance at making their future live action movies really good.  I can't wait until the Lion King live action movie comes out!! 

2.
God's Not Dead 2


Now I know what you are thinking.  Why would I put this movie on my list of must sees?  As a Christian I feel like I should put this one on here.  But also as someone who loves plots and stories, I also feel like this one should be on here.  More importantly as a future history teacher, the subject of this story hits home for me more so than other things.

IMDb says this:
When a high school teacher is asked a question in class about Jesus, her response lands her in deep trouble.

Now granted, most Christian movies - for whatever reason - are normally very cheesy and even I disagree with a lot of them - especially on a realistic story/plot.  However there are a few exceptions that pop out every once and a while.  Like this one.

I loved this movie far more than I liked the first one.  This movie really dug deep into First Amendment - and you can just imagine me cringing as the prosecutor, who was against Christianity, twisted the United States Constitution - the Living and Breathing Document of our Land - to achieve his own ends.  IT DISGUSTS me when people do that.  If I lived back in the early years of US History, I would probably be a Federalist - someone who believes the Constitution should be followed to the letter, without a loose interpretation.

Overall I thought this was a good movie and recommend it to anyone who would be interested.

 More here

1.
The Magnificent Seven

Now in case you didn't know, I am a big fan of the Western Genre.  I love those old Clint Eastwood's and John Wayne movies.  So I don't exactly have the good, the bad, and the ugly with this movie.  This movie has a great cast - Chris Pratt is awesome like normal :).  It has an awesome story line with actually deep characters that you can get attached to.  The Magnificent Seven was awesome.

IMDb says this:
Director Antoine Fuqua brings his modern vision to a classic story in The Magnificent Seven. With the town of Rose Creek under the deadly control of industrialist Bartholomew Bogue, the desperate townspeople employ protection from seven outlaws, bounty hunters, gamblers and hired guns. As they prepare the town for the violent showdown that they know is coming, these seven mercenaries find themselves fighting for more than money.

But yes to top this list off, I recommend popping some popcorn and watching this movie!! :)

More here


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Star Wars the Clone Wars Review

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For over a thousand generations 

the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic.  

Before the dark times.  Before the Empire. 

- Obi-Wan Kenobi

Sorry for these late night posts but here is my TV show review of Star Wars the Clone Wars

So I talk a lot about the TV series called Star Wars the Clone Wars, but I never really explain why it is such a good TV series.  So I'm gonna talk about some of the awesome things from each of the seasons of the Clone Wars. 

To get you into the mood:

So for starters, you need to watch Star Wars Episode 2 - even with all of the bad writing and such, trust me; you need to watch Episode 2 again.  

Now the Clone Wars series - the first couple seasons are actually out of order.  You've heard me say that in a couple of my earlier posts.  But I'm going to talk to review the Clone Wars as they came out. So for starters, there is the Clone Wars Movie:

So this movie was the very first thing that Dave Filoni and his team ever did with Star Wars stuff.  So yes, it had some more problems than the rest of the TV series, but it is still in important movie.  The movie follows the Jedi Knights trying to find and save Jabba the Hutt's son from the Sith.  The more important thing that this movie does is it introduces two new amazing characters in to canon - 501st Legion Captain Rex (Anakin's Clone Commander) and Anakin's new official Jedi Apprentice, Ahsoka Tano.  Yep that's right, Ahsoka Tano is Anakin Skywalker's apprentice.  Yes Obi-Wan is still considered Anakin's master, but Anakin has achieved the rank of Jedi Knight - which means he can have an apprentice.  The movie may not have been that good overall, but it opened the doorway for the amazing TV series that was about to unfold.

Season 1

 

 

Star Wars the Clone Wars season 1 was interesting to say the least.  Like most first seasons - especially in Fantasy/Sci-Fi shows - it introduces multiple character in gives them their own backgrounds.  The first season brings back multiple nameless characters from Star Wars Episode 2 Attack of the Clones, including the villains.  It starts to go a little more in depth with the whole political system of the Galactic Republic.  However, the first season focuses more on Anakin and Ahsoka and what they were doing during the beginning of the Clone Wars.  It also starts turning the Clone Troopers into actual humans; rather than mere droid like humanoids that Star Wars Episode 3 depicts them to be.  It shows you the connection that the Jedi had with their Clone Troopers - not just the commanders but the regular troopers as well.  Of course the two clones it focuses on the most is Obi-Wan's Commander Cody and Anakin's Captain Rex, but the first season does give a little focus on a squad of Clone Troopers (Domino Squad) and gives them their own story.  The season finale is a perfect cliff hanger that is connected to the Star Wars the Clone Wars movie and goes right into Season 2.  The best part is that this season starts to make the character not so much of a lame character, but the cunning warrior that Obi-Wan Kenobi talks about in Episode 4 when he talks to Luke.

Season 2

The Second Season of the Clone Wars takes off where it started it ended.  It goes a little more in depth with answer the question of how do the Jedi find new potential Jedi.  It also shows probably one of the best three part episodes in the series, which involves the Second Battle for Geonosis.  The Season continues to build on the connection and friendship that the Jedi have towards their clone troopers.  It also talks about General Grievous a little bit, which is awesome cause Grievous is my favorite villain in the show by season 2.  More importantly the show introduces the new character Duchess Satine, who has an important connection to Obi-Wan - and who doesn't love a good Obi-Wan story line?  The rest of the season goes a little more in depth with the politics of the Galactic Republic.  More importantly this season focuses more so on the Bounty Hunters of the Star Wars Universe. 

Season 3

Season 3 starts off by refocusing on the Clone Troopers as a whole, making them more dynamic characters, rather than the dull ones seen in Star Wars Episode 2 or 3.  It also gives a little more spot light for Ahsoka as her Jedi Training with Anakin continues.  One of the more overlooked episodes involves Ahsoka and Padme speaking with members of the Separatist Council - many of which are reasonable people, but just have lost faith in the Galactic Republic.  Then there are a few episodes that focus on Asajj Ventress - who up till these episodes is more of an annoying thorn in everyones side throughout the series.  These episodes develop her character more and help her plan her revenge on those who betrayed her.  Enter Savage Opress - an monster of a force-sensitive who will end up having powerful connections by the end of the series.  By mid-season most of the main characters get a different look.  Obi-Wan and Anakin lose their battle armor and start wearing their plain Jedi Tunics.  Ahsoka begins to look older and even gains another lightsaber, becoming a duel wielder.  Some of the best episodes in this season involve a three episode arc that focuses on Anakin, and what it means for him to be the chosen one.  It talks about the force as a whole as well.

Season 4

During the events of Season 4 things begin to get a little darker as the Clone Wars hits the midway point.  The show begins to bring some things from Anakin's past back to the show - things that begin to shake his trust in the Jedi Order.  One of the new cool things is that the clone troopers are introduced to the Phase II armor, giving all of the clone troopers a new look.  The biggest thing that this season shows is that the Republic didn't win all of their battles - and that the Jedi aren't always able to come out alive.  It also shows that all are able to be corrupted by the Darkside.  Then of course, there is entire four episode arc centered around Obi-Wan; again, do I even have to say it was an awesome episode arc?  The end of the season brings back Asajj Ventress and the Nightsisters fighting off the armies of the Separatists under General Grievous.  The season finale was such an unexpected event, bringing back a villain that we believed to have been dead for many years at the hands of an awesome Jedi.

** WARNING OF MAJOR SPOILERS!!!**

Season 5

Oh season 5.  Prepare for an emotional journey where many of the plot lines come crashing to a tear filled end.  Just as the bottom picture shows, this season easily becomes one of the darkest of the series.  The Clone Wars is almost over, and the unexpected Villain - who everyone thought to be dead - is back in full force.  Darth Maul and his Sith Apprentice Savage Opress are about to really screw up everything and be unleashed upon the Galaxy - bringing out the true Dark Lord of the Sith from the shadows to end their attempt at a power grab.  The season also shows that the Jedi are suffering from many loses and are losing more Clones than can be made.  So they begin training the inhabitants of different planets on how to fight back - one character introduced in this is actually going to make his cinema debut in Star Wars Rogue One movie coming out in December.  There are also a few episodes that focus on the younglings of the Jedi Order, and their training despite there being a war going on.  And then of course there is an entire arc about R2-D2 and some other droids going on a mission to stop a major Separatist attack on the Republic Fleet.  The season ending is incredibly hard to watch.  I'll basically say that Ahsoka leaves the show in one of the saddest ways possible.  She leaves the Jedi Order, and this affects Anakin in such a way that not only makes him really question the Jedi Council, but also himself.  But undoubtedly the worst/saddest part of the season and maybe even series is what Darth Maul does to Obi-Wan...and Satine.  Ugh!! It is horrible.  

Season 6

Oh Season 6; oh how Disney screwed all of us out of probably one of the best seasons by ending its production to begin work on Star Wars Episode 7...
But Season 6 started on the sad note that season 5 ended on.  The season brought forth the issue of Clone Contingency Protocol 66 (Order 66), and talked about how it all worked.  The episode arc ended with the heartbreaking death of a Clone Trooper that you more likely than not get attached to as the series goes on.  His death is heartbreaking because the episode arc explains that when order 66 is executed, that the Clone Troopers have no choice - at all - but to follow the order (to execute their Jedi Generals).  Now the series did an excellent job of making the viewer realize that the Clone Troopers are far more than a piece of machinery used for war.  It makes an incredible and successful effort to make these Clones as human as possible.  It also loves to focus on the relationships that the Clones had with their Jedi Commanders.  Which only makes that scene in episode 3 all the more heartbreaking as almost all of the Jedi across the Galaxy are wiped out.  The 6th season also talks about how Palpatine entered into the final stage of his plan to achieve almost complete power over the Republic - by control of the Galactic Bank.  The final episodes of the Clone Wars series focus on Master Yoda.  It explains how he learned the path to immortality, which he tells Obi-Wan about at the end of Episode 3.
The unfortunate thing is there were supposed to be more than 13 episodes in the season - but Disney killed the series in favor of Episode 7.  The series was supposed to end right where episode 3 begins - even bringing Ahsoka back.  But Disney pretty much deprived all of us of that lovely ending to this great show.  Season 6 and the Series ends with Yoda's Journey and realization that the Sith are far more powerful than they originally thought.  More importantly - the end of the Clone Wars is near.

So to sum it up, Star Wars the Clone Wars is one of the best Star Wars related show/movies out there.  It is epic and has opened a very big doorway.  I believe it is because this series - filling in the multiple year gap between episode 2 and 3 - is the reason why they want to make more individual story movies like Rogue One - because this series was a huge success - despite Disney's gigantic blunder in cancelling it before it could truly end.

But yes, If you really want to understand Star Wars better - watch this series; because it goes in depth with a lot of the stuff that happens in Episodes 1, 2, and 3, making the Prequels even more interesting.  And then of course, there is the new series made by the same creators of the Clone Wars called Star Wars Rebels.  This series does the same thing as the Clone Wars except it tries to fill in the gap between Episode 3 and 4 - and I hope it will end directly when Rogue One begins.

But anyway - Star Wars the Clone Wars

So finally, to tie this all up watch this one final trailer to sum where all of this series was pointing to:

OH YEAH.  ALMOST FORGOT!  THE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER TO WATCH THE SERIES IS HERE!!

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Thursday's Short

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The short story is still like the novel's wayward younger brother, we know that it's not respectable - but I think that can also add to the glory of it.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/short_story.html

"The short story is like the novel's wayward younger brother, 

we know that it's not respectable - 

but I think that can also add to the glory of it." 

-Neil Gaiman

Alright so I'm gonna write one of the first short stories for my fantasy world and post it on here.  This is gonna be a little bit about the Lycanthropes that live in the Realm.  So bear with me on this, cause this is the first time I've done something like this.  I'm sure one day I'll do something more with but here it is.  Hope you enjoy:

Music to listen to as you read :)

They are afraid of me.   I don’t blame them. I am afraid of myself too. 

I never know when I’ll lose control.  When I’ll be taken from those I love.  When the beast from within, will burst out.  

And it’s not like I choose to be this monster.  It was inherited.  A power forced upon me.

And tonight is a full moon.  The skies are clear and the stars are shinning.  The monster within calls to me.  It begs me to let it out.

My parents once taught me that our kind had a purpose.  That we were meant to be the protectors of mankind; to protect man from the undead monsters who feast upon their blood.

Our leaders, the Alpha’s, made a deal with Kyyja, the Goddess of Lust and Rebellion – a Dark Dragon.  It involved the eternal destruction of our enemies – those who threatened mankind. 

But we were deceived.  All magic comes at a price, and Kyyja never told us what that was.  It wasn’t until the deal was struck that she told us that it was her who had created our enemies in the first place.

Yes, our enemies were defeated.  But their evil was embedded inside of our souls.  And we became cursed…

When the full moon rises we lose control of our bodies.  What was once our greatest strength, bringing hope to all, became our greatest weakness.  From this deal, we spread fear to all, including ourselves.  We became the very thing that we sought to destroy.  

And now, the crimson moon rises.  The beast within calls out.  I howl in reply to Lunar’s call.  And I fall into darkness…

****

Alright so the point of this is to show that the Werewolves - Lycanthropes - were once made the protectors of man.  They were actually created by Silous, God of the Hunt and Nature.  Silous created them to protect mankind from the undead monsters called Vampyres - the undead who seek the destruction of Mankind.  The Vampyres were planning on blotting out the sun for all time, allowing the two moons - Lunar and Constella - to shine upon the world.  

You see, secretly Kyyja worshiped Lunar and wanted him to return.  So she created him servants, made from darkness - from the light of the moon that Lunar's essence was trapped inside of.  And from it the Vampyres were created.  They were made to destroy the one thing that the Creator God Viius loved - Mankind.  Kyyja was jealous of mankind, and knew that Lunar was far more powerful than her.  

The Vampyres were nearing victory when the leaders of the Lycanthropes - the Alpha's - struck a deal with Kyyja, unaware that she had created the Vampyres.  The deal destroyed all the Vampyres from existence, but came at a terrible price.  The Lycanthropes were cursed.  They could turn into their forms at will for the most part and control it; but when the full moon rose, they were forever cursed to lose control of their bodies.  They would kill without mercy those who came across their path.  They were known for killing whole villages in the region of Orethas, Bruqon, and Appitope.  This curse drove many Lycanthropes into isolation, not wishing to harm any more humans.

Thus, this little short story was created haha

 ***

Whelp that's pretty much it haha.  Hope you enjoyed.

It'll be interesting to see if I ever get the time to create an actual story based on this.

Have an awesome day!!

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New Abatral - Illum Story Update

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"This is how you do it: you sit down at a keyboard 

and you put one word after another until it is done.  

It's that easy, and that hard..." - Neil Gaiman in regards to writing

Here's some music for ya to listen to while reading :)

I really need to come up with a title for this story haha. (since I refer to it as Abatral - Illum Story)

If you have suggestions leave a comment; always open to new ideas :)

So basically today I'm just gonna give a story update.


I currently have eight chapters with 14,309 words.  I'm pretty much at the halfway point for this story. 

Commander Waryon

I've noticed that the story is kind of slow.  Remember that "What makes a Hero?" video I posted in my "Writing a Story" post back in August (http://ctg96.blogspot.com/2016/08/writing.html); well, pretty much the entire first book is setting up the characters who will be in the next two books.  Also, since it is the first book in this world, this story is world building a lot.  The end of the book is where the call to action is. 

(: New drawing of Illum in Aidis' Armor :)

The gist of the first story is that the Protagonist - Illum - and his two friends - Perseus and Randle - are trying to seek sanctuary/safety from the clutches of Yurid, the King of Abatral (Human Kingdom) who desires to have Illum captured.  Many believe that Illum is the leader of the rebellion in the Kingdom, and that that is the reason Yurid wants Illum captured.  Yurid sends the leader of his assassins - Yarmik - to go and capture Illum.  The problem is, Illum was mentored/trained by Yarmik, so he knew how to avoid Yarmik.  So pretty much the entire first book, it is Illum and his friends running away from Yarmik and his assassins called the Black Hand.

Prince Maollan

Illum is also the captain of a ship - The White Torch - which they use to travel around most of the world in the first book - starting from the Aona Islands, to the Elvish Kingdom, to Viius' Temple, and ending in the Goryon Kingdom.

King Yurid

The main conflict is Illum dealing with the pressures of becoming a leader.  Pretty much it is Illum trying to figure out who he is and what his role in the world is.

Yarmik

Now beyond the story, I have also been writing the history of the world.  I've focused on the Aidis - this being who basically inherits the spirit of a god and has more magical powers than most.  In doing this I have created a basic history of every culture in this Fantasy World - Abatral.  Eventually I plan on going back to create the individual histories of the different civilizations - I'll probably end up doing short stories for them.  World building is so much fun!!

Grand General Roland

Whelp, that is pretty much it.  Have an awesome Wednesday!!!!!

Map of Abatral

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Picture 2: Part is http://www.wallpaperup.com/uploads/wallpapers/2014/01/02/213382/d91318a7a2bbc4d61756621e818626cf.jpg and the rest are my drawings


All other pictures are drawn by me

 

Tuesday's Joke!

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"Life is worth living as long as there is a laugh in it." - L.M. Montgomery

So today I decided to just find a couple funny pictures; maybe a video or two.

Have an awesome Tuesday!!  Hope this brings a smile to your face!!

Music makes things better :D

Enjoy!!

(: The best part is that this is a historical fact - this actually happened :)

(Arron Burr was an evil man by the way)

(: All the time :)

Have an awesome day!!

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