October, A Time to Change, Reflect, and Review.

So I have been through some different times recently.  confusing, and now I believe I have my head on straight.  I have a few things to cover, so let's get started.

As I sit here between my two dogs, I reflect upon the last couple of weeks, how I have changed myself so I can be the best I can be.  I am still trying to determine what I wish to major in, and what to pursue for the rest of my life.  I have a few leads to follow on how to determine what I should do, so something should pan out soon.

I have watched a "new" movie, This is the End.  Staring James Franco, Seth Rogan, and Jonah Hill, the story follows how six actors in Los Angeles survive the apocalypse.  Actually, the Apocalypse, the entire biblical event.  Now, imagine the guys who did Superbad and Pineapple Express doing another zany movie, especially about being trapped in James Franco's house, during the Apocalypse.  Warning, there is copious amounts of the F-word, so the movie is not exactly appropriate for everybody.  As a final hint, be sure to keep your eyes open as to what other actors are in Franco's house.  Rating this movie, I would put This is the End at a 7/10.  This is because though most of the jokes are funny, some are more of "insider" or "on set" that have made their way into the movie.  Definitely pick this one up if you want a quick laugh.

Another film I saw this month was The Great Gatsby.  Based on the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, this movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Toby McGuire, and Carey Mulligan.  I know the novel is supposed to be excellent, but I have never read it.  Both are centered around a love triangle between Gatsby, his former love, and her new husband.  Showing the dedication of one man, The Great Gatsby is a great film.  The film score itself is a topic of discussion. Produced by rapper Jay-Z, the score does not seem out of place for the time when the movie was produced.  Now, there are party scenes, with some bumping dance tunes mashed with 1920's jazz music.  The meld allows  for people The overall presentation of the film is awesome, and I would give it a straight 10/10.

Moving away from films, I have been playing some different games.  Two have really stood out as must-buys.  First, triple-a producer of sandbox games Rockstar debuted Grand Theft Auto Five in the middle of the month.  Gamers stepped into the shoes of three protagonists in the sprawling city of Los Santos (based on Los Angeles).  The three join forces to perform heists, thwart crooked federal officers, or, if the players wish, create complete mayhem in the city.  Heavy in the extremes of politics, publicity, and general life, one will see and hear many interesting characters which parody modern life.  Like previous entries in the "series" (they have no relation to one another), players are free to do as they will within the city.  Hijacking cars, raiding armored cars, and killing every police officer in your way.  Oh yeah, there is a lot of violence in the game.  Any non-important character is a target for stray bullets, rockets, punches, or cars.  this also means you can be stopped by the legal system, with police, federal, and military forces, if your rampage is going well enough.  But overall, the game is spectacular, with movie-quality voice acting and scenes, a plot that draws one into the shadowy underworld, and immersion I have never really seen in a game this year.  I give it a complete 10/10.

A second game I have been playing has been Civilization V.  Wow, lots of fives this post.  Different than what I mainly play, this is a turn-based strategy game.  The key to this game is to advance your civilization of choice from the beginning of man to the future ages.  Victory can be achieved by conquering all other civilizations, becoming an economic powerhouse, or having the best relations with the other civilizations.  I enjoy strategy games, and this one provides a different aspect to the genre, other than the real time strategy (RTS) games that flood the market.  I have yet to find a flaw with the game, but i wish i could play it on a more powerful PC.  I haven't started building my super PC yet, but I want to.  Someday.  I will keep dreaming, ha ha.  I would give this game an 8/10, only because I know I have yet to unlock the game's full potential.

Well, that's all I have for you beautiful readers tonight.  I appreciate any comments you have, either on my Facebook page or below.

Until next time.