ShyPie

Some news on the new Marilyn Manson album. Due out on Jan 19th and titled "The Pale Emperor". It's a cool title and I'm looking forward to it. "Born Villain" was a superb album and I'd hope this new one continues being as good, having said that I thought the single released so far was kind of bland.

Seen Interstellar today. It was quite good, not really great or anything though. I was actually falling asleep through the first 40mins or so, but I thought it got better once they got off Earth. But it still felt like all the stuff at the start happened really fast and was incredibly rushed to get to that point. There were some nice ideas and a decent surprise or two, but it was all lacking a bit at times. The film went on way too long, nearly 3 hours, when it really didn't need to and I would've preferred it if it had ended when Nolan kind of proves again though, that he's absolutely terrible at any concept of "romance" and should just stay away from it entirely. There was very little given to suggest/build to Amelia Brand's supposed love for that guy on that planet whose name I don't remember, and then at the end to suggest that was really tacked on. Not to mention the random kiss from Murphy on Topher Grace's character, reminiscent of, but not as bad as, the same random moment between Joseph Gordon Levitt and Ellen Page's character in Inception. It's a decent film though, with some nice ideas, like I said. But the fact it's currently sitting with a 9 rating on IMDB is insane.

Machine Head are streaming their new album in full on their youtube page. I gave it a listen last night, it's really quite good.

I'm absolutely hating the new UI for this year, and don't think that many of the new features really add anything. I think it's gone a bit backwards this year...but I'll keep playing anyway.

I've been feeling a bit lonely lately. I haven't been on a date since my last relationship ended back in April and it's starting to get to me a bit. I'm thinking about even all the small things being with someone else brings and that it'd be nice to just feel really wanted just now, to have someone who wants to spend time with me. Doesn't help that my best friend is in a good relationship just now, that is basically the kind of one I want where the two people are just happy to be with one another. I'm not angry/overly jealous or anything...but I can get a bit annoyed with myself/sad when I'm tagging along with them as a third wheel.

Latest news is that DC/WB are eyeing up Jared Leto for a role in the Suicide Squad movie...and they reckon it's as The Joker. I was hoping the movies stayed away from The Joker for a while, but that was never going to happen in all honesty, so my next scenario was that in some geeky world that since Batman is being portrayed as older we'd get a good older Joker to go with him, namely get Mark Hammil to play him. I think it would've been fantastic to see Hammil actually looking like The Joker to go along with his fantastic voice, and with Hammil actually back in movies again with the new Star Wars I think this move would've interested a lot of people. But if they are casting Leto as Joker then I think they're just trying to get someone Ledger like again, at least looks wise. I was hoping for something a bit different when they done him again. I'm also questioning how he fits into Suicide Squad? There's no way he'll be part of the team, only possibility I would see is that it's more of a cameo than anything for the film. Maybe we see Harley with him in a scene, just so that people who don't know who Harley is can understand her connection and it then gives everyone a glimpse of The Joker to get excited about in future movies. I'd like it if they kept The Joker away from the next Batman solo flick and instead used him for Justice League as the villain the heroes have to unite against, but considering they're doing Darkseid for that I guess that theory's out the window.

My immediate reaction this morning when I saw this was :okiedokielokie: really quite annoyed. I don't think there's any need for another film, the 3rd was a perfectly crafted ending, and the trilogy itself played out perfectly thematically: moving from Andy being a young kid to on the verge of being a teen beginning to grow out of his toys, until he eventually does as a young adult going off to college. We don't need to see Bonnie and the Toys going through the same journey we've already seen them on. Sure, they could have the new film have absolutely nothing to do with growing up/child's journey and just have the toys in some wacky hi-jinx instead, but that's a definite level below what the other films have been operating at. You'd be taking something that's not only been entertaining, but thought provoking and beautifully crafted and just turning it into mindless garbage, regardless of whether it ends up entertaining or not. Just the sheer amount of sequels that Pixar are peddling out now is ridiculous, people used to laugh at Daddy Disney for their cash grab straight to video sequels, but Pixar is just becoming more and more like their parent. Who knows, this is possibly a Disney decision forced upon Pixar, but I don't really see that being the case. Are we going to get a sequel to Up called Down? In which a young boy ties a bunch of rocks to a house to sink it under the sea and they travel to an underwater kingdom thought long forgotten.

About a month ago I bought a few games off the PS store and decided to finally make a start on them today. One of them was Slender: The Beginning, based of course on Slender Man. I couldn't play it I was actually just a bit too creeped out to sit and play it by myself...and nothing had even happened in the game yet! I'd just been slowly walking about searching a house for about 10 mins and I just felt so uncomfortable. I'm such a total shitebag when it comes to horror games Just now I'm waiting until it hits midnight so I can get the newest version of Football Manager and then spend the next year wasting absolutely countless hours playing it, whilst simultaneously cursing it and declaring it the worst game ever.

Went out for a friend's leaving do last night and despite the fact it was 2 days after halloween and no one else was doing it, I decided to dress up. I'm meant to be a male version of Harley Quinn crossed with The Joker.

Went to see Fury and Nightcrawler this week. Both absolutely excellent and tow of the best films released this year. Fury felt so exhausting for the characters, a real emotional battering on a trip through the depths of hell. And Nightcrawler was one of the best performances ever from Jake Gyllenhall, he was super creepy and I loved a lot of the black humour in it. Thought I'd watch a couple of horror movies last night. First up was A Tale of Two Sisters. It was just really quite dull and anything but much of a horror, it got a bit confusing at times do, though this might've been to do with the fact that I just didn't care about it at all. Then I watched The Host (the Korean film not the Stephanie Meyer thing). Well, I tried to watch it, I only made it 40mins in it just didn't grab me at all. If it had been a kinda exploitation monster movie, and just been really obviously over the top I might've got into it, but it didn't seem to know if it was being serious or not.

I'm looking forward to the Wonder Woman film too, a female superhero movie hooray! Plus, it's apparently going to be set in the 1920s, so that's interesting. And I can't wait for Shazam...purely for Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam The thought of that man, one of the best wrestling heels, finally playing a villain on the big screen just makes my heart a flutter. I have no clue what Sony are planning for Spidey. Overall I think they've treated him terribly, I haven't enjoyed any of the Spider-man movies made up to this point. There's all the talk of they're giving him a soft reboot with their planned Sinister Six movie, but the better and more exciting idea is that they realise they've messed up badly and might be willing to do a deal to give him back to Marvel...Spidey joining the avengers and getting really good movies would just make my day. I'm actually kinda hopeful on the Green Lantern reboot. I like Ryan Reynolds, but absolutely hated that movie and he really wasn't that good in it sadly But Green Lantern has got so much potential for the kind of stuff I like so it would be nice to see it done right, and probably with someone else in the role. Let's just have Reynolds stick to Deadpool from now on, ok

They both share very similar ideals: that everyone be treated equally and offers a contribution to society, with a dictatorship ruling in the people's interests. Of course that last part means it's not completely at the final stage of communism yet, wherein the people rule themselves. But it is still part of the communist cycle...Either that or Equestria is on the verge of a communist revolution from the proletarait pony masses to overthrow the borgouise Royals that currently rule them Lots of people always want to bash communism as being something evil, but when you look at the actual ideals of it I think most would agree it's a good thing. But as I always say, good in theory, terrible in practice. Mainly because people are greedy. Of course, some people think that The Smurfs is actually a communist work, which again is supported by the shared ideals of everyone being equal, having a contributing role to their society, etc.

A Ghibli thread and all anyone talks about is Miyazaki. No love for the traumatising Grave of the Fireflies? To be fair though, Miyazaki's work is the best of Ghibli's output, although I don't think he, or the studio themselves, have made a good film since Howl's Moving Castle. For me my favourite is probably Princess Mononoke or Spirited Away, a very close call between the two. I absolutely love it when Miyazaki works with a good plot (and doesn't just rely on whimsy) and some mature themes, he's moved further and further away from this as his career has gone on. I'll echo all the love for My Neighbour Totoro, Nausicaa, Laputa Castle in the Sky and Kiki's Delivery Service, a slew of amazing films from him. I don't much care for Castle of Cagliostro or Porco Rosso though. And I hated Ponyo. The Wind Rises was ok at best. For more non-Miyazaki Ghibli love people should watch Grave of the Fireflies, Only Yesterday, Whisper of the Heart and The Cat Returns.

After the absolutely huge announcement last night of Marvel's Phase 3 I thought it'd be handy to have a single big thread where we can all talk about the latest news and our thoughts on all the goings on in the Superhero movie business...Yes, I think it's a business unto itself now separate from the rest of the film industry, or about to devour it all. Anyway, after last night's announcement I'm pretty stoked. We knew Dr Strange was happening and Black Panther was likely, but to see everything finally up there and confirmed is just amazing. Those are the two I'm most looking forward to I have to say. A Captain Marvel movie is interesting too, and nice to see Marvel finally getting the diversity they needed. No casting announcements for Captain Marvel or Dr Strange, but Bennedict Cumberbatch is believed to be in final negotiations, for what that's worth *see Pheonix, Jaoquin*. I was kinda holding out hope that Keanu Reeves might get that one, just cause I've a bit of a soft spot for the guy. Black Panther casting was announced though, with Chadwick Boseman landing the gig. Not really familiar with his work, but will see him soon as James Brown in Get On Up, so can't say I'm overwhelmed by this yet. Hulk isn't getting a solo movie but will be appearing in quite a few of the other films apparently (best theory I've seen is Planet Hulk is happening, but with appearances in Marvel's cosmic films; Gaurdians of the Galaxy 2 and Inhumans, instead of as a singular film and then all tying into Avengers Infinity War I/II.) After all these announcements from Marvel and DC in recent weeks, the crazy schedule of superhero films now looks like this: If you like superhero films then this is a great time for you, if not...well, you're really not going to be pleased for the next 5 years, at least.

Fifa 15, not that I'm enjoying this year's version much at all...but still playing it (on PS3, UrasawasMonster, if anyone ever wants to play). Just started Zelda Windwaker for the Wii U. Only ever owned 1 Zelda game before (Phantom Hourglass I think it was) so not got a lot of connections to the series. Pretty decent though, a nice easy going rpg. Recently finished South Park Stick of Truth which was just so good.

I'm a Max fan and I have to say this is easily the most interesting thing he's done since Dark Ages. I think it's key that he's not the one solely creating and controlling it because his stuff can get a bit repetitive at times so having other opinions and influences in the band is obviously a big plus here. I don't think you can overstate the difference Andreas Kisser made working alongside Max in Sepultura to when Max was doing his own thing in Soulfly.

New Slipknot album is decent I think. It's not great, but it's definitely not bad. I'd maybe rank it above All Hope Is Gone, but I'd need to give it a few more listens before deciding (and listen to All Hope Is Gone again, ages since I listened to that). There's some good songs, I like The Negative One, Devil In Me, Sarcastrophe and I thin Custer is one of the best songs they've done in a long time, it's got such an old school Iowa feel to it (Iowa is my favourite Slipknot album). Tonight I'm off to see American Head Charge and Soil. Don't really care about Soil, but I'm looking forward to AHC. They were such a cool band and put out 2 really great albums, imo, and then split up. Glad they're back and the song, Sugars of Someday, off the EP they made is really cool, if a bit of a different sound for them. It's very alt rock I feel, but has a fantastic groove to it. Hope they get moving on a new album soon. Also bought tickets last week for the super Slipknot and Korn tour coming next year...and tickets for Neil Diamond! Dude's, metal as hell.