Thoughts on Feed

Spoilers ahead

I just finished Feed by Mira Grant, I don't know how to feel

I know that I wanted to like it, I know that I should have liked it. I'm usually a pretty bad critic of anything because I usually find some good in most things I read-with the literary pariah, Twilight as the usual exception- but the book has left some doubt in me, and checking online has shown, that my feelings of doubt aren't widely shared amongst the rest of the population

Feed, to start off has an amazing premise. A completely original look at the zombie apocalypse. The zombies do rise, but due to humanities knowledge of Zombie lore, society stays in tact. This story follows a group of bloggers on the presidential campaign showcasing the rise of the importance of bloggers in the future, and also zombie attacks. Great premise, but there were a few too many flaws within the book that kept it from being the star it should have been.

I feel like Grant was telling me who the characters were, they weren't doing it themselves. They didn't feel like real people to me and I had a hard time visualizing them in my head. Whenever Shaun and Georgia, the main characters, made jokes, I felt awkward as if it was the author making the characters seem witty, not them doing it themselves. This book had a lot of death, which I'm fine with, I am a Joss Whedon fan after all. But the death that affected me most was Lois the cat. That's probably partially due to the fact that nothing upsets me more than a cat death, but I still should feel more than I currently do for the characters. Georgia's death did affect me, but not so much for the character, more so for the fact that they killed off the main character in the first book. I wasn't expecting that and major props goes to Grant for having the balls to do it. Now we have a new narrator in Shaun, and I don't really have an opinion if that's a good thing, because I still don't really know who Shaun is. I can't feel the connection he and Georgia share, the one that was supposed to be so important throughout the book. Not like I could in the superior Wind on Fire trilogy which has a similar brother/sister bond theme. After 500 pages I should understand the main characters, but I don't, and it shouldn't have to take another 500 for me to do so. 


My other big problem was the conspiracy a.k.a the plot. It was disappointing for me as a reader to find out the big bad was the person who looked most like they'd be the big bad. I kept trying to pay attention to other characters with thought that they might become the villain, but it ended up being the mean Governor who hated the main character, and apparently the tobacco company. Also the fact that the conspiracy was over religion, had a been there done that feel to it that couldn't stem my disappointment. I love shocking twists in books, I felt like I was robbed of one here. The only shock I received was George's death, and a shocking death is not a replacement for a good plot.

Hopefully the conspiracy will be fleshed out more in the second and third book, I will give the sequel a chance. Maybe it reads better as an entire series. The main theme of the novel is the importance of truth, and the truth is, this series isn't off to the best start.

2011: Movies In Retropsect

Every year I make a most anticipated movie list, as many people do. The obvious thing about anticipating movies is sometimes they live up to hype, and most of the time they do not. So I thought I'd review my list from 2011 and see what I got it right, and what I got it oh so wrong.

10. X-Men: First Class

I had so much apprehension about this movie when it was announced. It was scheduled to come out in under a year, and starred many random X-Men such as Banshee, Angel(not that Angel), and Havok. I had basically written off this movie, but then the trailer came out and it was pretty awesome. First class was probably my favorite superhero movie of the year, so I was definitely wrong putting it so low on the list.

9.The Muppets

The Muppets was hands down my favorite movie of the year. I've seen it 3 times in theaters with a planned fourth on the way. It's a musical masterpiece that fits so well within the Muppets mythology, which you should know, because if you haven't seen this movie you are dead to me. Again I screwed up on this list because The Muppets placed number 9 which is way too low for this gem.

8. Sucker Punch

Haven't seen it, and from what I've heard I'm not missing that much. I'll catch it on Netflix. It looked like a beautiful movie(with the very beautiful Jon Hamm), but there just wasn't enough substance to get my money. Plus I can only handle so much slooowwww moottiooonn fast motion slooowww mootttiioon action.

7. Cars 2

There's a first time for everything, and the release of Cars 2 was the first time in my life I didn't see a Pixar film in theaters. I love Pixar, but releasing two sequels in a row was a bit much for me, especially if it was Cars which isn't exactly anyone's favorite movie. After Cars 2 I'm even more excited for this years Brave.

6. The Hangover 2

I was speculating this to be the R-rated comedy of the year last January, I hadn't even really heard of the actual best comedy, Bridesmaids yet. Hangover 2 doesn't even win second place because Horrible Bosses takes the coveted silver medal in that category.

5. Captain America

My 2nd favorite superhero movie of the year. It was a great mix of a superhero movie and a war movie without me having to see violently severed limbs and gunshot wounds, which is great for me. Plus it had one of the greatest random musical montages. Star Spangled Man for an Oscar nom!

4.Super 8

I finally got something on my list right for putting Super 8 so high. I loved it. It felt like watching E.T or Close Encounters in theaters for the first time, which is something I missed due to the whole not being born thing.

3.Thor

Thor was a mostly fun ride, with some pretty humorous moments. Also Chris Hemsworth is hot as hell which helps. But it wasn't as great as Captain America or X-Men. But Loki really was an excellent villain which is quite exciting for the Avengers.


2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

This was the only movie that stayed where I placed it on the list. It was my 2nd favorite movie of the year and a bittersweet farewell to one of my favorite franchises. Plus for going to the midnight showing I got awesome Harry Potter 3-D glasses. What did you get me Hangover 2???

1. Green Lantern

:( That is all.

The Music of Zelda: Prelude

Tomorrow is the day Zelda fans have been waiting for. It's been six years since a console release and even though there's been two pretty good DS games to help me get by, this is what I've been anticipating ever since I finished Twilight Princess. Tomorrow on my break I will go and get my pre-ordered copy of Skyward Sword, and then finished what will most likely be the longest shift of my life. With Skyward Sword is a 25th anniversary orchestra CD, which I am equally excited for. I've been wondering what songs could be on the CD and here's some of my favorite's which I hope will make the cut. I'll extend this list soon, think of it as a teaser. A teaser to great music, and who knows with Skyward Sword out I might have some new favorites within a week.

Legend of Zelda Theme
Anyone who doesn't include this song on a list is only doing to seem cool and different. This one is an obvious pick so I thought I'd throw it out there first. It's a classic it's been there from the beginning, it makes me want to stab a Octorok and ride around on a horse. It's awesome.

 The Song of Healing
 I am not a Majora's Mask fan. I might go into the details why another time, but lets just say it scares the crap out of me. Even though I don't enjoy the game, it has one of my favorite songs in the series. The Song of Healing haunts you, which makes sense when you're looking at what game it comes from. It can be nice and calming if you try to forget that you played it before taking the image of a dying Zora. I also think it's funny that it's Saria's song backwards since that would be on the list of my least favorite LoZ songs.

Temple of Time 
I associate this song with the first time I realized just how big Ocarina was. I was pretty young when I played it and thought reaching the temple with the three Spiritual Stones was pretty much if for the game. Anyone who has played the game can get how wrong I was.It was just the beginning. Temple of Time is the song that sticks out in my mind when I exited the temple seven years older with a brand new mission. Which means I associate it with seeing the ReDeads for the first time. Even with that I still love the song.

Ballad of the Wind Fish
I don't know what makes this song stick out so much.Probably because it makes me feel depressed due to the whole island fading away deal. You gather the instruments and save the day, but is it really a win? That island had a Chain Chomp for god sakes!

Fairy Fountain
It's not so much the song itself, but what it represents. The next time most fans will hear this tune is when they put their new game into the Wii. The Fairy Fountain represents the beginning of everything. The start of a journey into a new world, a new addition to Zelda's history, new friends, new foe's, new weapons, a new sidekick and a complete loss of one's social life. Enjoy fellow fans. Enjoy.

Mass Effect/Mass Effect 2: The Comparison

Mass Effect and its sequel are both amazing, but as someone who played the games one right after another it’s safe to say that they have some distracting differences. I wanted to take a look at the both of them, compare some major changes and the versions I like better. These are the biggest changes that affected me, and hey, maybe Bioware will incorporate the ones I prefer into the third game! A girl can dream.  

Battle System

It took me forever to get used to the battle system in the first game so jumping into a different one was pretty devastating for a gun rookie. I preferred the overheating to the bullets but after a while I stopped noticing. My one main concern was with the way Shepard would die. The whole veiny red screen as you get hit more addition was the most infuriating. I know this is a staple of many shooter games because it’s “more realistic” or whatever, but it really caused me to die a lot more than I would have without it. Plus I’m not looking for 100% realism in a game with aliens and space travel. Let me see the screen! Also I was really bad at pressing A twice, which would cause me to jump over whatever I was hiding behind which would mean I’d get shot a lot and my screen would go red and I’d die. This has caused me to say many bad words. I have made baby Jesus cry more than once.

Romance

Mass Effect 2 wins this one for sure. Not only because you have the ability to romance more than 1 male and 1 Asari, but because you can go after Garrus. If there is one solid awesome factor in the ME universe it’s Garrus. Though I’m sure ME3 will have an awkward Kaidan vs Garrus moment I’m not looking forward to. 

Uh 3 way?

Mako

All I can say is na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey goodbye.

Achievements

The original Mass Effect went a little overboard on replay when it came to their achievements. They had some great achievements like the weapons based ones and the ones you get for killing enemies, but there were also ones that made you replay the games three times(four for me because I didn’t get the ally achievements on the first go). In no way do I want to play with Ashley Williams, she annoys the hell out of me, but to get the gamerpoints I have to play the game with her. The entire game.

The second Mass Effect lightened up on the difficulty of receiving the achievements. You could get most achievements on your first game if you ported you character from the first Mass Effect. My only problem with the achievements in the 2^nd game is Tactician and the Specialist ones. I would use the same methods trying to incinerate armor and warp barriers but it only seemed to work once in a while. Pretty frustrating. This is probably my fault but I’ll blame the game.

My favorite change is the ending. You have the ability to actually continue your game after completing the story. My poor past self didn’t realize that the whole Citadel would get destroyed, thus making it pretty impossible to scan the Keepers. At the end of Mass Effect 2 no planets with assignments on them get destroyed thankfully, so I’m able to keep working on the achievements I need without starting a new game with the same character.

Death and Spider-Man

Spoilers for Walking Dead, Y and Watchmen, but if you haven't read them I pity you. 

There are only two mediums where death is looked at as an inconvenience. Soap Operas and Comic Books, and since I know absolutely nothing about Soaps I’m going delve into my least favorite aspect of comic deaths. For most it’s the longevity of death. The fact that the character you’re watching bleed out will be ready for action in a year or two. For me, it’s the fact that we need 5 months of previews, 4 tie in comics, 3 press releases, 2 national headlines, and a partridge in a pear tree to announce the death of a character, before they even die.  

Death, especially in the Marvel and DC comic universe has lost any and all impact it originally held. When a story arc is called “The Death of Spider-Man” the surprise is kinda ruined. Telling us that a character is going to die ahead of the time not only ruins the story the author is creating, but it also takes away any emotion we should feel from the loss.

When I found out Spidey was next to hit the bucket I distanced myself from him emotionally. Which isn’t fair to the character or Bendis who has shaped him to be the great guy he is. I’m not saying that writers should rely on the shock of a death to form a good story, but I’m not denying that good shocking death used in the right context can propel a story to the next level.  

This is why comics that fall out of the direct line of Marvel and DC have me gripped. In Walking Dead there is no way that Kirkman was going to tell you Tyrese was dying months before it happens. When I picked up the issue, I didn’t know, and I had to watch the slow agonizing process knowing he wasn’t coming back from a good solid decapitation. Comics like Walking Dead, Watchmen, Y:The Last Man, and many more have impacted me greatly with character death, when they weren’t even my favourite characters, but when ultimate Spidey, one of my all time favourites died, it didn’t feel the same at all.

Sure part of it was because they weren’t coming back, but it was mostly due to the fact that their death wasn’t shoved in my face beforehand. It happened out of the blue. It felt real. 

For Marvel and DC death is a gimmick, and I’m usually okay with gimmicks. Whatever keeps my favorite industry in business I’m up for, but when it ruins the experience for the fans that have been supporting the industry for years? I’m less sympathetic. 

Nothing stays on the brain like a shocking unexpected death. This is true in real life and it’s also true in fiction. No big lead up. No huge event crossover. No blatantly telling me. If you’re going to kill something I love. Do it right. 

yeah, like that