Join Shield Today! (For Real!)

Okay, maybe not for REAL, but a close as you're ever gonna come, sucker!

Check out http://www.joinshield.com/?ef_id=BrJNf-x5cFIAAIuv:20110512213529:

This super cool website is part game, part commercial, part movie promotion, and part contest. This is everything Web 2.0 should be: An interactive integration of medias and purposes, woven together to form a very dynamic experience.

Essentially, the concept is this: You're joining shield and there are a series of missions you go on. The website design is such that it appears to be a high tech spy set-up. At one point it asks you for fingerprint verification (holding down a key). There are videos, documents, audio, and more for each mission. Each mission is a game that rewards you with advancement in Shield rank, unlocking content, and a chance to win prizes such a movie tickets or a car. Along the way, you're given info about the Thor movie and Acura (the sponsor). Everything is presented 100% in the world of Thor and the other Avenger films which is very cool.

All in all, it's pretty darn slick. You're recruited, Agent! March on over to www.joinshield.com and report on the double!

Movie Review - Superman II

In my ongoing quest to take the true measure of the Superman films, I've rewatched Superman II several times recently. Filmed simultaneously with Superman: The Movie, this film should have been a slam dunk success. Instead, it got bogged down in studio hijinx. In the middle of production director Richard Donnor was fired and replaced, bringing on massive script revisions. You know that whole "turn back time" thing from the first movie? It was ACTUALLY supposed to be in THIS movie! We're talking major rewrites here.

First, the good. Christopher Reeve is once again a brilliant Clark Kent AND Superman. The return of Gene Hackman as Lex along with his two idiotic sidekicks Otis and Miss Teschmacher are classic Superman. Hackman steals the movie with his interactions with Zod. Also, it's nice to see Superman fight actual superhumans that can challenge him physically. Zod is an amazing character. He has some great lines such as calling Earth, "Planet Houston" and responding to "Oh, God!" With, "ZOD." Ursa's outfit is sexy and she exudes a certain cockiness. Non's inability to use heat vision is comedic gold. And the moment when Superman returns after his absence is what the film is all about. Amazing.

Next, the... odd. This film is filled with many odd moments that make the viewer say.... huh? For example, Superman and the other Kryptonians seem to have powers we never knew about before. Assuming that Superman flies using telekinesis, this film extends that idea to other objects (such as a policeman's shotgun). Superman wraps up a villain using his chest insignia as a weird net. Superman also appears to be able to create illusions of himself at will, throw his voice, and teleport. Not to mention being able to erase or alter someone's memories by kissing them! Oh, and perhaps you can add telepathy to the list of powers. How else can you explain how the Phantom Zone Kryptonians can both hear the astronauts speak in their space suits and speak back to them in the void of space?

The film seems oddly fixated on landmarks - The Eiffle Tower, Niagra Falls, Mr. Rushmore, and the White House all make appearances in this film. Someone else that makes a return appearance is John Ratzenberger (Cliff, from Cheers). The cameo is just enough to make you scratch your head a little. Especially since Marlon Brando DOESN'T make a return, being inexplicably replaced by Superman's mother... wait, what's her name again? I don't know and I'm guessing you don't either. This is compounded when later in the film a human Clark calls for "Father!" who hasn't been in the film at all.

It's a little odd that Superman, the man who "never lies," wins by tricking his enemies through manipulation and deception. He lies to Luthor knowing that he will pass along that information to his enemies. And then, to defeat a powerless Zod, Non, and Ursa Superman could have simply picked them all up and flown them to jail as he does Lex. But instead, Superman apparently feels like killing the helpless mortals by throwing them into the frigid arctic waters. That doesn't seem very Superman-like to me. Likewise, at the end of the movie Superman must have been feeling a little vindictive to smash up a diner taking out some petty revenge on a human bully.

And then there's the super-breath from Zod, Non, and Ursa. I timed it. It goes on for TWO MINUTES AND THIRTY SECONDS. During that period of time, you witness such important plot points as a man rolling backward on roller skates and a man struggling with an open umbrella (wait - was it raining?).

The whole opening sequence is a bit far fetched. Terrorists with a nuclear bomb? Let's send Lois in! She may die but I hope it's not before she turns in her story! What's the best way to get that story? Ride on the underside of an elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower where the bomb and terrorists are! Wait... how does that get you a story again? And then the bomb explodes in space where Superman takes it... and the force of the explosion causes waves that free the Phantom Zone villains. Wait... what? What waves of force? SPACE IS A VOID!

Likewise, Lois discovering Clark's secret is a bit clunky. She jumps into the river rapids to prove Clark is Superman... and Clark nearly lets her drown. "Sorry Lois, but you found out my secret identity so now you've got to die! Unless, that is, I can save you by happenstance without confirming that I'm Superman." Then five minutes later he intentionally reveals his secret identity to her. The whole romance between Superman and Lois is odd as well. Superman jumps into the sack with her literally on their first date. Then when he gives up his powers there's this moment when Lois is like, "I love Superman, not Clark but you just threw away Superman so now I'm stuck with loser Clark! Thanks buddy!" You get the idea that had Clark stayed human Lois would have quickly lost interest.

Despite my nit-picking and minor gripes, I thorough enjoy this film. It's a very strong entry into the Superman film franchise. So strong that when Bryan Singer took control of the franchise he kept Superman: The Movie and Superman II in continuity. Which is just odd because at the end of Superman II Superman says to the President, "Sorry I've been away. I won't let you down again," and then at the beginning of Superman Returns we discover that Superman's been away for five years. That's you're first clue about Superman Returns.

ICv2 - Batman Arrested

ICv2 - Batman Arrested

My First Computer

IT'S BACK !!!

My very first computer growing up was the Commodore 64 with a tape (cassette player). I wish I still had it. I did later upgrade to a Commodore 128. Those were the days.

Link to CNN article

Thor Movie A Flop?

Why the movie Thor was a flop.
To begin with I saw Thor, I saw Thor twice, I loved Thor and think it is one of the best comic book movies ever made. Also to be clear, this is my opinion and I am only talking DOMESTIC numbers. I am an ‘expert’ on domestic movie revenue not worldwide movie revenue.
Thor made $65 million on its US opening weekend (with midnight showings). This SUCKS and this is why I call the movie a flop. If you are a summer blockbuster, you MUST make $100+ million dollars on your opening weekend or you have failed.
WOW, that’s a lot of pressure you say. Yes it is but these movies are known as summer blockbusters for a reason. Let’s look first look at the top 10 grossing movies of 2010, 2009 and 2008:

2010
1 Toy Story 3 $415,004,880
2 Alice in Wonderland $334,191,110
3 Iron Man 2 $312,433,331
4 The Twilight Saga: Eclipse $300,531,751
5 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 $295,001,070
6 Inception $292,576,195
7 Despicable Me $251,513,985
8 Shrek Forever After $238,736,787
9 How to Train Your Dragon $217,581,231
10 Tangled $199,700,971

2009
1 Avatar $749,766,139
2 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen $402,111,870
3 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince $301,959,197
4 The Twilight Saga: New Moon $296,623,634
5 Up $293,004,164
6 The Hangover $277,322,503
7 Star Trek $257,730,019
8 The Blind Side $255,959,475
9 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel $219,614,612
10 Sherlock Holmes $209,028,679

2008
1 The Dark Knight $533,345,358
2 Iron Man $318,412,101
3 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull $317,101,119
4 Hancock $227,946,274
5 WALL-E $223,808,164
6 Kung Fu Panda $215,434,591
7 Twilight $191,465,414
8 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa $180,010,950
9 Quantum of Solace $168,368,427
10 Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! $154,529,439

So judging historically a movie is going to need to generate at least $150 million dollars to break the top ten for the year. Will Thor hit this mark? NO. My guess is that Thor will crack the $100 million mark and probably stretch to about $125 million. Not bad, but for a summer blockbuster it’s a flop.

Let’s look at a different set of numbers:

Do you think $66 million was a good opening weekend? Well it’s not, let’s look at why.

2010
Iron Man 2 – This was a sequel so it already had a following. Even though the sequel wasn’t as good as the first movie Iron Man 2 raked in an impressive $128 million on its opening weekend.

2009
X-Men Origins – Wolverine – Again this was an established character and opened the same weekend as Thor but made an impressive $85 million.

2008
Iron Man – very similar to Thor, in that this was the first movie in the franchise and the opening weekends were similar. Iron Man made $98 million opening weekend.

But $66 million is respectable.
No it is not. Remember ticket prices in 2011 are up 20% from what they were in 2008 and 2009.

Will Thor make money?
Yes, reports have the production of Thor costing $125 million. I know that doesn’t count the $20 million in advertising expenses that went into the movie and all of the other money for distribution (both domestic and overseas). But at the end of the day yes, Thor will probably make money. Does that mean Thor is not a flop?, probably. But I still think if you are a summer blockbuster and you are opening for any less than $100 million then you have problems.

Let’s wait and see how Green Lantern, X-Men, and Captain America do.

101 Alternative Uses for D&D Fortune Cards (#4)

Dungeons and Dragons has jumped the shark with Fortune Cards.
We have a new 'comedy bit' called 101 Uses for Dungeons and Dragons Fortune Cards. Check out the photo gallery on the right of this page to see how we are putting our crappy fortune cards to better use.

Home for Sale (Alone)

Want to buy this 2,450 square foot home in a Chicago suburb for $2.4 million?



Well, get in line. Sure, this house normally wouldn't be worth NEARLY that much, but this is the house featured in the movie Home Alone. Purchased in 1988 for $875,000, this property apparently appreciated considerably when Home Alone was shot there in 1990.

What's ironic? In the movie robbers were trying to rob the residents of the home, but in real life the residents of the home are trying to rob you! If you want to learn more, check out http://homealonehome.coldwellbanker.com/.

Here's a video of the interior. Does the railing on the stairs look familiar to you?

KGS Podcast - Episode 00022b - Thor Movie Review (Spoilers)

KEYSTONE GAMING SOCIETY REVIEW
MOVIE:	THOR
THE RATINGS:
SCOTT:
OLD BRIAN:
DAVE:
SAM:

The Great Gatsby: The Video Game

You know, sometimes even reading the CliffsNotes is too much effort. Rejoice, high schoolers everwhere! I present to you: The Great Gatsby: The Video Game! How do you turn a literary classic into an 8-bit video game? Who knows. WHY would be a better question. Check it out at http://greatgatsbygame.com/. Below is a screenshot:

What's crazy is that this isn't the first Great Gatsby video game! THIS is:



You could play these games and try to pass the test in class but I strongly suggest you actually read the book. It really is a classic for a reason, you know.

Lone Wolf Multiplayer: Radak's Revenge Adventure Review

WARNING! SPOILERS! 

Radak's Revenge, a Lone Wolf Multiplayer adventure from Signs and Portents #88, is a fairly decent adventure. The storyline is that an evil druid has set a trap for the party, luring them with false information. 

I ran this adventure with a group of five players playing a Kai Lord, Knight of the White Mountain, Magician of Dessi, Drawven Gunner of Bor, Border Ranger of the North. 

First, the good... 
1) This adventure really gives different classes time to shine. I liked how it included a ship so any Buccaneers could show off their skills. 
2) The adventure is nicely paced. Lots of action, but it is balanced with tons of role playing opportunties. 
3) The adventures allows for clever heroes to avoid combat through using their disciplines. 
4) I liked how the other passengers on the ship were notable NPC's in character classes. I just wish (see #3 below)... 
5) This adventure does a nice job of "directing" the heroes without making it seem as if they don't have choices. 
6) I also liked the options for the heroes to heal up in the middle of the adventure and do some shopping when they get to Seroa. 

Finally, the bad... 
1) The plot is a little obscure. There really is no way for the heroes to every truly understand the backstory of the Druid. Also, the threat seems to be a little great (killing all magic users in Magnamund) to send novice heroes on this adventure. Also, isn't there any easier way to capture a single magic user than this elaborate plot? 
2) Simply put, if you run this adventure as it is written, you will kill your party. It is advertised for 4-6 players and says if you have more or less than that you will have to make adjustments. Having 5 players, I kept the numbers the same and I killed three player characters. Several things up the lethality considerably. 
a)Shakara's wildfire - Doing DOUBLE a random number roll, this potent mixture could do anywhere from 2 - 18 damage to EVERY TARGET IN A TEN FOOT RADIUS. I believe I got a middle number (7x2=14) and this came directly after the brutal Storgh combat. Considering most heroes have somewhere around 25 HP TOTAL, this is WAY too much damage. 
b) The ambush. At one point, there is an ambush of TEN Beastmen. In the first round of combat they attack with bows. This combat alone could be a TPK! What makes it worse is Shakara, if not previously discovered, chooses this moment to attack! 
c) The Cener Druid in the final combat has eight beastmen AND a ranged attack that does double or triple damage. YIKES! Triple damage alone could kill a player character in a single round! 
3) I wish that the NPCs were more fully fleshed out as far as disciplines. The adventure says Shakara is an assassin, but she looks like a buccaneer. Ulnic and Mulnic are Knights of Illion. Radak is a Cener Druid. But none of these characters are presented with the disciplines their classes should provide. What rank are they? The captain also seems to need a little bit more fleshing out. Sure, the DM can make this stuff up but it would be nice if it came with the adventure already. 

Overall, I feel as if the problems with this adventure can be overcome with some advanced planning and work on the part of the DM. I give this adventure a recommendation- 7 out of 10.