Saturday, February 25, 2012

Adventures on Netflix--Shaolin Soccer



I’m always checking Netflix for a new family night movie.  My kids already know that I am going to try to find something off the beaten path (“culture” as we say), and last night I stumbled across a film from 2001 made by one of my favorite actors from Hong Kong, Stephen Chow.
The film….Shaolin Soccer.
A lot of folks will dismiss the movie simply because of its title, but if you take a few moments to research the movie (Metacritic, Rotten tomatoes, Wikipedia), you will learn that this is a hidden gem in the sea of Netflix mediocrity.    
(Relatively spoiler free movie discussion)
Stephen Chow plays Sing, a Kung Fu master down on his luck who is trying to figure out how to honor his deceased master and spread Kung Fu to the world.  As you can guess, he is very unsuccessful until he meets an old man named Golden Leg.  Golden Leg was a former soccer star now with a bum leg whose life was ruined when he threw a championship soccer game as a younger man.  One of his teammates named Hung was the true mastermind behind this and had Golden Leg’s leg broken so that he could never play soccer again.  Hung became the best soccer player in Hong Kong and is now an evil business man and owner of Team Evil, the best soccer team in the country.
Golden Leg convinces Sing to apply his Kung Fu skills to the game of soccer, but Sing needs a team.  He seeks out his brothers from the Shaolin temple to join him.  Each of them have forsaken their Kung Fu training and are living a miserable existence in society, never fulfilling their potential.  All of them have lost their confidence.  While trying to reunite his brothers, Sing meets Mui, a shy, awkward young woman with severe acne, who makes delicious mantou by using T’ai Chi to prepare the dough.  Like Sing’s brothers, Mui has never reached her full potential and truly embraced Kung Fu as the center of her life. 
Without spoiling the plot too much, Sing and his brothers (Iron Head, Hooking Leg, Iron Shirt, Empty Hand, Mighty Steel Leg, and Light Weight) eventually form Team Shaolin and enter the Golden Cup Tournament.  Their skills and honor will be put to the test as they progress through the tournament and face Team Evil.   Redemption will be found, sacrifices will be made, and true love will be realized.
To summarize:
Action...check.
Romance...check.
Special effects...check.
Humor...check.
Occasional bad English translation...check.
Awesome Kung Fu...check.
Fun for the whole family...check.
This movie starts a little slow as the characters are introduced but is well worth the wait as you progress to the soccer scenes.  I wish all sports movies could be as exciting and fun as this one.
My kids laughed and cheered throughout the movie.  There’s good reason for this.  The movie is great.  For many years it was the highest grossing movie in Hong Kong, until it was surpassed by another Stephen Chow movie. 
If you haven’t ever seen a Stephen Chow movie, then I am sorry.  You are missing out.  Watch Shaolin Soccer.  Then go track down Kung Fu Hustle.  You won’t be disappointed.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Retro Gaming with the Family--Atari 2600

There’s no hiding the fact that my favorite console of all time is the Atari 2600 (my first real console as a kid).  I had so many fond memories of playing my Atari that I have tried on many occasions, unsuccessfully I might add, to share my love of this great console with my family.  No matter how hard I tried, something on the XBOX, Wii, or DS seemed to hold my kids’ attention better than the classic gameplay of the Atari 2600.    
This last weekend, the weather was abysmal, so I decided to try one last time to get the family interested in the old wood-grain box in my closet.  I set up a retro gaming weekend for the family and decided to hide the controllers to any modern system in the house.
Despite some initial grumbling about no Mario, XBOX, etc., I ended up with several volunteers willing to play “Dad’s old piece of junk.”
This time, however, I stacked the deck.  I pulled out the best of the best of my collection (sorry Human Cannonball; I loved playing you as a kid, but you didn’t make the cut).  Space Invaders, Pitfall, River Raid, Berzerk, Asteroids, Yars Revenge, The Empire Strikes Back, Kaboom, Atlantis, Frogger, Night Driver, Centipede, Defender, Vanguard and many, many more were served up to a family trapped in the house by Mother Nature. 
The kids were captivated with the gameplay, and the choice of games.   Two games, however, were played more than all the rest and became the favorites of the group—Warlords and Combat.  
Single player games, and high scores are one thing, but destroying your friend or family member and earning temporary bragging rights of dominance is another.  That’s why multiplayer games were invented, and why Warlords and Combat excel. 
I thoroughly enjoyed watching my family fire up Combat and try virtually every variation of the game.  We fought tank battles, invisible tank battles, three on one dogfight, invisible dogfight, one on one jets with and without clouds, etc.  The short time limit per game allowed multiple turns and set a frenetic pace to rack up the kills on your opponent.  Although my sons put up quite a fight, experience with the joystick helped one middle-aged gamer keep up a pretty good win streak.  When you are old, you will take any bit of help and competitive advantage you can get. 
As for Warlords, that will be for a different blog coming soon.
This weekend was definitely a success.  My sons have asked me to hook up my Atari (no longer called “Dad’s old piece of junk") in their room.  They can’t wait until we play it again.  Over the span of a few hours, my family helped me relive a little bit of my childhood, and my kids gained a better understanding of the history of video games.  I have to say it was a weekend well spent.  Thanks Atari.        

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Farewell King Size Snickers Bar



Today, Mars Inc., the fine folks who make such great products like Snickers and Twix bars, announced that they are going to stop selling their products with more than 250 calories in them by the year 2014.

This great idea is “part of an ongoing effort to improve the nutritional value of its products and to sell them in a responsible way.”

Really….

Has anyone ever seriously thought that a chocolate candy bar was a responsible or nutritional snack?

A Snickers bar is meant for enjoyment not health (seems like I said basically the same thing in my Pepsi blog). A Snickers bar contains no nutritional benefits. If you want something healthy, then Jamie Lee Curtis recommends Activia rather than a Snickers bar. You do have a choice. 

I have mixed feelings about this announcement. I should be happy that companies are trying to fight the obesity epidemic, but I don’t think removing the king size chocolate bars will make much of a difference. Last time I checked I could buy two regular sized bars if a king size isn’t available.

Farewell King Size Snickers bar. You will be missed…. and eventually replaced with two regular sized bars full of political correctness. Yum!!!!!



For the full story, click here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/16/mars-chocolate-idUSL2E8DG06320120216

Monday, February 13, 2012

Lessons learned--Skyrim



For the first time in many months, the stars aligned, and I was given a few hours to attack the pile of shame. There were many games to pick from, but there was one at the top of the pile staring at me, daring me to play.

Skyrim

It’s going to take me about 50 years to finish this game, so don’t expect a review any time soon. There are tons of reviews out there if you need to check one out. For me, I am going to chronicle a few things about my time in Skyrim. I am saving the kingdom, albeit slowly, but learning a lot along the way.

Lessons learned (5 hours in):

1.  Save often.
2.  If your character is at level 3, don’t try to kill a giant. Really, don’t. Just wait awhile.  If you try, you will be impressed with your ability to fly.
3.  If your character is at level 3, don’t try to kill a giant’s mammoths. Seriously, don’t. Maybe you will have better luck killing a chicken in the village.
4.   Leave the chickens alone. Killing one will get you in a lot of trouble. Who am I kidding? Avoid mammoths and chickens. Do some leveling up first.
5.  Whenever the prompt comes up to steal something, don’t do it in front of someone, even if you are carrying a large axe.  It never ends well. 
6.  Don’t step on ornate floor tiles in caves.  Look but don't touch.
7.  When stealth is required, give squatting a try.  Squatting down seems to make you invisible to the world.
8. If your character is at level 4, oh never mind.  See lesson 2.

If these lessons don’t make a lot of sense, pick up the game. You’ll see I am right, and no matter what happens, avoid killing chickens. You’ll thank me for that advice.


Minor Spoiler--youtube video of someone fighting giants



Friday, February 10, 2012

Parenting 101--Where did we go wrong?

“By the Power of Greyskull…..I have the POWER.”
It was early Saturday morning 1 week ago, and I was sure that I was dreaming or having some sleep deprived flashback to my childhood.
Then I realized I wasn’t dreaming or imagining things.  I clearly heard a very familiar sound…the roar of the mighty Battle Cat, He-Man’s faithful companion. 
After getting out of bed, I instinctively went to my sons’ room to watch He-Man, only to find them on the floor playing marbles.  Their TV was off.
I heard it again, the sound of He-Man battling the cackling, evil Skeletor. 
Now completely awake, I followed the sound to find something totally unexpected…my 5 year-old daughter in pink cupcake pajamas watching He-Man put the boots to a group of Skeletor’s henchman (Beast-Man, Mer-Man, and Trapjaw). 
She was cheering He-Man and punching along with our hero.
My daughter then admitted that she turned on the TV and the Roku box to get to Netflix (this should have gotten her in trouble but on this day I just couldn't bring myself to get on to her).  She found He-Man on there and started watching it.  Now she’s hooked.  In an explosion of excitement she said,  “Dad, he punches the bad guys….a lot.  It’s awesome.  I want fabulous secret powers.  I love Cringer.” 
Please keep in mind that my daughter isn’t much of a tomboy.  Everything in her room is pink.  She is all girl, all the time.  Almost all of her activities involve Barbie, My Little Pony, Disney Princesses, Hello Kitty, Strawberry Shortcake, etc.  He-Man doesn’t quite fit the pattern of her existence.
Yet, there she was watching one my favorite childhood shows.  
When I told my wife, she laughed and said, “Where did we go wrong?” 
Instead a grin came across my face as I replied,”No…..where did we go right?”
Daddy-daughter TV time is about to get a lot more exciting…

Monday, February 6, 2012

Pinterest....What is a "Pinterest?"

Pinterest…..

My wife starting doing this “thing” for the last several weeks, and it has grown into an obsession. Pretty soon I was able to see how the obsession spreads like gremlins with water on them (or a zombie outbreak if you prefer). Our email box is bursting at the seam with non-stop Pinterest excitement. Susie is following you on Pinterest. Mary just repinned your pin. It goes on and on.

Finally, last week, I broke down and had a serious discussion with my wife.

Me: What is a "Pinterest?"

Her: It’s a place where people virtually pin pictures of stuff they like.

Me: Ok...


The emails of all the Pinterest excitement continued to pour in, which lead to serious discussion number 2.

Me: What is Pinterest again, and why do they keep sending so many emails?

Her: It’s a social network. People make boards which have pictures and links pinned on them. Other people view the boards. It’s great.  Let me show you.

Me: Ok…why are there so many pictures of babies and food?

Her: That’s what a lot of people like to see.

Me: Ok….


Last Thursday, I finally got the itch to experience firsthand what Pinterest is all about. So I added the app to my iPhone and went to create an account.

Instead of the immediate gratification I was expecting, I was thanked on email for joining a waitlist and given  a promise that I would get an official invitiation to join the site later. What? Is Pinterest the country club of social networks where I have to wait to get in? Well, like most folks wanting social acceptance, I put my name on the list and waited with baited breath for my invite.

Today is the day, and I am proud to say that I’ve been accepted into the club.

I have no idea what I am going to do there. I’m not one of the cool kids, so I hope I can fit in. 

I’ve got a feeling I’m about to have another serious discussion with my wife about Pinterest. This time instead of "What is Pinterest" it will be "Can you show me how to do this thing?  Please."

For me, Pinterest is like stepping on the moon. Ok, maybe it’s not that dramatic but it’s a big step for me.

Pinterest, here I come!!!  Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of babies or food.

If anyone has any tips how to make Pinterest exciting for a middle-aged gamer, please type in the comments.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Thoughts on the death of my father

When I decided to start a blog, I didn’t plan to write anything serious.  I figured I would write about the video games I played, the movies I watched, etc.  I never planned to write out my innermost emotions and feelings.  I think I am going to take a quick detour from my original blogging plan for this one entry.
Lately, with my birthday approaching, I’ve noticed that I feel a bit empty.
I am not going through a mid-life crisis, and I haven’t traded away the family car for a Corvette.  I have pretty much anything one could ever want (an amazing family, a rewarding job, and a great church). 
However, this will be my first birthday without my father, who passed away in December.
It seems odd to “celebrate” without someone who was there your entire life.
I know I am not the first to ever have to go through this nor will I be the last.  We all only have a small amount of time on this Earth.  Knowing this still doesn’t get rid of the empty feeling.
After my father passed away, I was looking through some of his writings and notes.  A couple of years ago, my father began to help teach a Sunday school class.  When he prepared his lesson, he would brainstorm all of his thoughts on paper.  One thing he wrote really stood out to me. 
“You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.”
My father and I didn’t have a perfect relationship, but I did love him, and my world just isn’t quite right without him.
I know in time I’ll adjust, and the empty feeling will go away.  It just won’t be today. 
Dad, I love you and miss you.  My birthday won’t be the same without you.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Atari 2600 Catalogs

Today there is seemingly an infinite number of ways to promote video games (downloadable demos, websites, blogs, commercials, podcasts, youtube, twitter, facebook, etc).  Need a screenshot, video, or review?  No problem, they are out there on the web, en masse. 
It wasn’t so easy back in the days of the Atari 2600 though.  Back then you had……..(drum roll)……..a catalog.
Atari was well known for printing some amazing catalogs to promote their game library.  These catalogs would have exciting, detailed art work to advertise the company’s latest and greatest games. 
Catalogs were packed in with games when you bought them.  These catalogs weren’t small either.  Often times, they would advertise up to 50 titles. 
For me, these catalogs gave the opportunity to see what exciting adventure was out there, waiting for me to find and play.   It also served as a nice presentation piece to assist with formal begging.   There is no telling how many times I gave copies of the catalogs to my parents with all the games “I needed” circled with a red pen. 
In going through some things today, I found a couple of Atari catalogs from 1981 and 1982.  A lot of games were still circled in red ink.  Maybe my Mom will get me one for my birthday.  It still doesn’t hurt to ask…..


To see many of the classic video game catalogs, check out the following website:  http://www.atariage.com/system_catalogs.html