Awesome Games in 2011

From foreseeable hits like Portal 2 to surprises like Deus Ex: Human Revolution, I take you on a tour of Awesome Games in 2011.

The Most Awesome Horror Movie Moments of 2011

Another year gone and another year of awesomeness to come. In celebration of 2012--a year that will bring us Prometheus and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive--here are some my favorite moments that 2011 brought to the horror genre. 

A Better Tomorrow (2010) Is Awesome

A Better Tomorrow was the first Hong Kong Woo Fu Opera I had the grace of seeing. I think I bought it in a bargain bin at K-Mart, because it said "from the director of Face Off on it. I've always held the film dear because it opened me up to my favorite genre of action: the Hong Kong Opera.

Chillerama's Diary of Awesomeness

Chillerama is a schlocky horror anthology. It's comprised of four midnight movies, all jam-packed with raunchy, over-the-top, gory, cheesy, offensive humor. Today, I'm here to talk about the most awesome of these dastardly concoctions of cinema: Adam Green's The Diary of Anne Frankenstein.

These Guilty Feet Have Got Some Rhythm

Sometimes you just have to get that George Michael out of your system. 'Faith' used to be my staple, now it is the Sexy Sax Man.

Veteran of a Thousand Dungeon Crawls: Diablo's The Butcher

TERRIFYING!

Diablo. Not Diablo II. The O.G. Diablo where you had to walk in town. That's right kids, there actually is a Diablo 1. And it was mind blowing. My true love for RPG's and dungeon crawling started when I was twelve years old.  I rolled a wizard and journeyed beneath the plagued Tristram. My fire balls scorched zombies and skeletons alike just to hear that loot hit the cold cobblestone of the catacombs. A ring here, a broken buckler there, and sometimes even a staff with more than 15 charges of chain lighting(a item worthy of duping).

The Cabin in the Woods trailer is here

Becky and I have been wondering about this flick since Joss Whedon started planting outlandish kudos to the film all over the interwebs. The Cabin in the Woods has been on many horror fans' radar for a few years now. After seeing the first poster I became even more interested, but now with this trail that feigns "formulaic early 90s horror film," then goes batshit crazy; I can't wait for the movie to come out.

Check it out:

Awesome Albums of 2011

Just wanted to throw together a list of some of my favorite albums of 2011. Enjoy!

I Present to You "Aliens On Ice"

I think my favorite part is when one of the Aliens charges through and blasts a marine with silly string. Also the rendition of Newt's character is flawlessly done. Kudos to the awesome cinefile culture in Austin, TX for this beauty.

Read more about the production here.

Beers Not Bombs

This really speaks for itself. But here goes anyways!

If you are a beer lover who believes that war is fundamentally wrong. This is the perfect bottle opener for you.

Hate peace but love beer? Give it to your pussy liberal friends as a sarcastic jab at their dope smoking nature.

This holiday season give in to your good nature and spread the joy of a beer opener with style that reminds us all that the future could be brighter with a few more beers.

Get yours at the Beers Not Bombs store.

The Kindle Fire is Awesome

Wow! That was close. I felt like such a sheep after I almost cancelled my Kindle Fire order because of this Wired article. Thank goodness I didn't. I love the thing so far!

Insights from Junger's WAR

War has always fascinated me. I love reading firsthand accounts of combat and heavy psychological analysis of what it's like to feel the thrill and ugliness of war. Sebastian Junger’s book War, tackles the raw feeling and inner of combat veteran's inner psyche. If anyone has a passing interest in the experience of combat or the historical/social significance of the war in Afghanistan they should read the book and watch Junger's documentary Restrepo.

Attrition In Resident Evil Code:Veronica

Resident Evil has been a large part of my life since I had a white knuckle ride through the second installment. My nerves were strained as every "opening door" load screen teased me with blackness behind it. I used to hold the aim button just so I knew I was ready to fire on the other side.  I got the experience this experiment in survival horror all over again the past few weeks. Recently Resident Evil Code Veronica received an HD upgrade on the PS3; obviously I was playing it the second it was available.

A Fistful of Hagar in Red

Sammy Hagar has been a part of my musical and philosophical life, since I was able to talk understand music. If I am the world's second biggest Hagar fan my father is first. My dad would play album after album of Sammy's, even stuff that no one has ever heard like Nine on a Ten Scale. Whether my love for Hagar is a matter of choice or conditioning it is hard to say, but no matter what; I stand behind Sammy's music as anyone close me knows. I have been in many heated arguments over the legitimacy of Hagar's superior leadership of Van Halen and his lyrical prowess compared to David Lee Roth's meaningless songs. Needless to say I was stoked to see Sammy release a autobiography.

A Fistful of Pumpkins

Nothing says Fall like a pumpkin. Synonymous with crisp air, gray skies, and Halloween festivities, this orange (usually) vegetable serves not only as an edible ingredient to themed foods and drink, but also as a key decorative element to the change of seasons. Join me in this loving account of the Sayers' 2011 pumpkins, as I recount their tale from patch to pitched.

Fistful of Noodles at Ruzhen Mongolian Grill

    The Seattle area is rich with Asian foods. A part of this lush culinary environment is Mongolian grills. If you have not had the graces of a good Mongolian grill, here's the scoop: You wade through a stir-fry ingredient buffet with a bowl to slam dunk the ingredients in. Then the bowl is handed off to a few dudes/dudettes(but usually dudes, no offense ladies) with huge spatulas and a round iron grill. They graciously cook it and slap it on a plate for you.

Insomniac Blues: Particles and Waves

4am. I contemplate the nature of all things that exist based on waves of energy. My brother-in-law Daniel L. Bauer is a master engineer, Donkey Kong master, theologian, and in his free time serves college students coffee and smoothies. Mr. Bauer explained some quantum mechanics to me. It went like this: let's say you have a particle of energy, well a particle is just a stagnate point that energy turns into when it is observed by humans. 

This Dubstep Dance Will Blow Your Mind

Sometimes you run across things so damn cool there really doesn't need to be an explanation.

If you are feel especially skeptical today watch the traffic in the window's reflection.

Remembering Rammstein

Once in a great while these people we call Germans come to America to blow things up and spread their fascist derision to the masses. On May 15th, 2011 Germans came to the Seattle area in the form of Rammstein. After WWII Germany was cast underground only to thrive as a subterranean culture, hellbent on steel works, mining, petroleum disposal, and nuclear waste burning. Rammstein is a musical expression of this dwarven-like culture that has been tricked into appearing onstage for Americans to show us the vast dangers of fucking with people like Patton, Eisenhower, and Churchill.

Metro 2033

First Person Shooters usually aren't known for having a dynamic tone. It is usually a militaristic setting, where the player is some sort of soldier and some mission goes wrong that challenges your twitch reflex. The tone is usually set by fancy set pieces and characters who think they were cast in an Aliens remake. Metro 2033, while a flawed game, has specific tone that not many games (let alone films) have been able to pull off. The tone is sadness spawned by a dead world. Sounds emo, but I assure you, it works.

Introduction to Awesomeness

You will like this blog if...

• You remember blowing into SNES game cartridges
• You liked Chuck Norris before he could cure cancer
• Your idea of dinner and a movie does not involve expensive wine and Hugh Grant
• You've entertained the idea of hiring H.R. Giger to design your house for at least a minute
• You think an over-the-top gorefest is funnier than a Judd Apatow movie
• Your musical tastes in no way align with the selections of an MTV award show
• You've discovered that the best restaurants usually don't have valet parking
• You'd rather talk about your favorite band than make fun of American Idol contestants