Virtual Tourist - Dues Ex: Mankind Divided 9/25/16

Morning all!

The Chaos continues. Every time I think it is about to let up - BAM! More chaos!

Anyway, upgraded my video card as I was having issues with the videos in the game. Started over to see those bits and also discovered that the images themselves became even more awesome. So retook a few. :P

Airliner crash in the news. Caused by an aug with PTSD - or so they believe.

Our virtual news reporter is back!

That hairdo is killing me! :P

The abandoned hotel in Dubai. Really would have been impressive if they'd finished it. 

Mac - he doesn't like me much. Feeling is mutual. Though I do like to poke at him. 

The Boss - Miller

Our approach in.

I took this same exact image the first time! Freaked me out when I saw that this morning. lol.

So much more detail! Ooooh!

That sandstorm really looks scary, doesn't it? :P

Got day 3 of Fencon this morning. So gotta run!

Movie Review - Storks

Storks

Starring: Andy Samberg, Katie Crown, Kelsey Grammer, Jennifer Aniston, Ty Burrell, Anton Starkman, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Danny Trejo, Stephen Kramer Glickman, and more.

Directed by: Nicholas Stoller and Doug Sweetland Written by: Nicholas Stoller Cinematography by: Simon Dunsdon Music by: Jeff Dana and Mychael Danna

Premise: Storks used to deliver babies to expectant parents. But that is a function they've not provided for almost two decades. They now deliver packages worldwide. And Junior's been told he's about to be promoted to "Boss". All he has to do is fire the human - Tulip. The storks are responsible for taking care of her ever since her failed baby delivery 18 years before. Now that she's come of age, though, she's no longer their problem and Hunter wants her out. Junior can't bring himself to fire her outright though. And through a series of events, Tulip inadvertently activates the baby factory.  Due to a messed up wing, Junior must have Tulip's help to deliver the produced baby before Hunter finds out about it and his chance to be the "Boss" is ruined. (Rated PG)

Review:

1) Voice Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Andy Samberg and Katie Crown play off each other well  as Junior and Tulip. Kelsey Grammer was awesome as the head stork, Hunter. (The whole "Bossssss" sequences are too funny!) Anton Starkman was adorable as the lonely and ignored Nate Gardner. Jennifer Aniston and Ty Burrell as Nate's over achieving parents were a hoot. And I adored Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele as Alpha and Beta Wolf. (The wolves rocked!)

2)  Artwork/Animation - Total Thumbs Up: Warner Brothers Animation did a great job on the film. The texture for the feathers, especially when ruffled, looked great. They also seemed to have had a lot of fun playing with Tulip's hair. (Her bored scene and changes in hair to pretend to be other people was too funny!)

The baby at the crux of the problem is beyond adorable. And the babies later on are an overdose of cuteness!

The wolves were such a fun treat! Not only funny, but they have mad skillz! ROFL. Animating their antics and making them look believable definitely deserve some well earned kudos.

A lot of subtext in the art with regards to buildings and working environments. And the Titanic reference was priceless!

Loved all the cool inventions, too. The fully working baby factory was awesome! :)

The Ninjago short before the main film was darn funny and looked great. The Chicken vs. the Master. (Since hubby's been killed by a chicken on an MMO, it made this even funnier! heh heh)

3) Plot/Story - Total Thumbs Up: A simple premise filled with a lot of deep issues and themes. Storks are not the only way to get babies. They did mention this important detail for when we're informed they stopped delivering kids - lol. Junior seems to be living the dream, rising quickly to the top. But as the story unfolds, we get bits and hints showing all is not as wonderful as everyone thinks they are.

The same is true for Nate. His parents are go getters. They run a successful house selling business from their home, but they've lost their way. They've forgotten that by only craving success they've left something even more precious behind.

Lots of interesting characters and bizarre personalities!  Pidgeon Toady is a little scary. :P

Family, responsibility, denial, and allowing oneself to care for others than money - these are just a few of the themes explored. If you've ever been a parent, you'll see a lot in there that will make you nod. You'll know exactly what they're experiencing because you've been there. lol.

Conclusion: Storks is an adorable and surprisingly deep film. Lots of unexpected and cute bits. And the power of the pack! Go Wolves!

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Pay Full Price to See Again)

Movie Review - Sully

Sully

Starring: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney, Valerie Mahaffey, Delphi Harrington, Mike O'Malley, Jamey Sheridan, Anna Gunn, and more.

Directed by: Clint Eastwood Screenplay by: Todd Komarnicki Based on the Book by: Chesley Sullenberger and Jeffrey Zaslow Cinematography by: Tom Stern Music by: Christian Jacob and the Tierney Sutton Band

Premise: After landing flight 1549 on the Hudson River in NY, Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger finds his life turned upside down. Immersed in a surreal environment; he must deal with PTSDs and self-doubt. But also fans, and several agencies hoping to prove his water landing was a mistake rather than a miracle. (Rated PG-13)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Tom Hanks continues to amaze with his developed acting skills. He's a master at taking a average people and surprising you with unexpected depths of feeling when you least expect it. Laura Linney gave a wonderful performance as Sully's wife. Aaron Eckhart, who played first officer Jess Skiles, did an amazing job as well. All the acting was top notch.

2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: I loved the subtlety of the special effects on the film. The nightmares as well as the actual landing looked real. Cool engine explosions as well. 

A ton of kudos for actually using an interior of a plane that is realistic! Narrow aisles and all! lol. The deployment of the emergency equipment and the slow flooding and sinking of the plane looked amazing!

3) Plot/Story - Total Thumbs Up: The film starts in the middle of a nightmare - giving the audience their first hint of Sully's PTSD's and stress as he waits to meet with the different agencies to discuss the events of January 15th, 2009. As the story unfolds the audience is taken back and forth to learn more of the man and also the day of the event.

One thing I liked about how they told the story is the inclusion of the lives of others. While a standard film tactic in disaster films, it worked even better in this context. 

We see the captain's own doubts and fears as the media and other agencies try to wear him and his family down. And as the day gets relived in the film, we get to see the events unfold from all sorts of angles. A nice well rounded look at an amazing event.

One neat thing I realized later about the film is how they subtly acknowledged how the successful landing touched the lives of New Yorkers. This is a city that less than a decade before, had suffered a major disaster at 9/11. The fact Sully was able to avert another disaster from staining the city visibly touched the souls of those around him. The Manager at the Courtyard by Marriott shows this unspoken feeling more aptly than words ever could. 

4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up:  The chaos inside the plane, people jumping into freezing water or shooting down wet slides, showing the jobs of rescue personnel - the stunt crew did a great job on all of it. It is the efficiency of those doing their jobs as they would on any given day that makes the acts even more amazing.

Conclusion: "Sully" is a fascinating look at the man, the people and the events of flight 1549. The deed is easy, it's the aftermath you have to look out for.

Rating: 4 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)

**After you see the film or if you're not going to see it, check out this cool website called 208 Seconds. 208 seconds is the interval of time from takeoff to landing in the Hudson. Mind boggling!** 

Virtual Tourist - Deus Ex Mankind Divided 9/4/16

Morning!

Deus Ex Mankind Divided
Mission One

The approaching sandstorm is getting closer!

Look at the size of that thing!

Oh my!

Things are about to go from bad to worse. (I so should have taken more pics before this point. I got too involved in playing. lol)

Our inside man, Singh.

This is what death looks like. Sigh. My video card was struggling in this insane melee.

But I did disable the chopper! Booyah! Hubby had found somewhere that there was no way to meet either objective. That was WRONG! Bwahahahahaha! (Man, I really will have to upgrade...Wah!)

One of the mysterious figures pushing matters around for their selfish agendas.

Another of those involved in the shadows.

Holographic meetings for the win! :P

Not all the players feel things will go smoothly in the US.

Letting the young whipper snapper move his plan forward.

The game is about to truly begin.

A week after the mission, Jensen is meeting an old friend in Prague.

Lovely, isn't it? :)

Have a good one!

With the release date of 10/4/16 for Charity and Sacrifice looming near...

I just found out Charity and Sacrifice (published by Uncial Press) is now ready for pre-order!

Kindle

Kobo

And should also be in the IBook store!

So if you're so inclined - order your copy today! :)