Edward's May 2012 Mix

Edward's May 2012 Mix

This has been another busy month, mostly watching DVD sets. I finally finished all of Seinfeld. Good stuff. I’ve been aggressively working out, trying to get the elusive “six pack” abs and bulk up the arms and chest a bit. It almost feels as if I’m playing tug of war with myself. I walk on the treadmill 35 minutes to burn calories, the very calories I need to build the muscle for my upper body endeavor.  I’m still trying to get my book out on Amazon, but I keep running into one stupid obstacle after another.

1. Six Feet Under on DVD:

Many critics regard this as the best television series ever created. I’m not sure about that, but I will admit is has some of the most profound dialogue I’ve ever heard. Allan Ball has produced a dark strangely comedic and morose compelling series based on a family run funeral home. I like the characters, but they sure do drop the f bomb a lot. And it’s too frequent to be effective, unfortunately, delving into the territory of the ignorant or uneducated, although these characters seem intelligent. I guess it’s my own catch-22. I’m working my way through season one, so far so good.

2. Alien Quadrilogy on DVD:

Just finished the third movie, Alien3. Effectively directed by David Fincher (Fight Club, Seven, and a thousand and some MTV music videos) the film returns to its horror roots. I think Sigourney Weaver displayed a broader range of acting capabilities in this, and the characters on the prison planet in which this movie takes place were cast well. From what I read about this movie it wasn’t a big commercial success. Personally, it’s been my favorite of the series. (So far.)

3. Thor by Wayne Smith on Amazon’s Kindle:

Still working my way through this unusually written horror novel. The movie, which has sort of a cult following came out in 1991 and starred Michael Parre as a werewolf hiding out in plain site by staying with his sister and her son. Thor, a German Shepherd, is the family pet. He was more of a minor character in the film. In Wayne’s debut novel Thor is the main character. The whole story is told through the eyes of a dog. It’s a gimmick that works, and Wayne pulls it off exceedingly well. I still find it mysterious that the book is out of print and sells used on Amazon for almost $160.00 but you can get if for under three bucks for the Kindle. Definitely a good read.

4. Syberia on PC:

I’m still tackling this adventure game on my laptop since it seems to run it just fine. Tackling might be the wrong word, since I’m basically “touring” this game. There is no way I could finish it without a web based walk through minimized on my desktop computer. Still, the storyline is compelling and Syberia’s strange and funky world of old trains and abandoned factories makes this trip worthwhile. I can see why it was PC Gamer Magazine’s Adventure Game of the year for 2001.

5. The Somme: Heroism and Horror in the First World War by Martin Gilbert:

The notion you have of machine guns, tanks, mustard gas and rolled barbed wire more than likely came from the bloodiest and bleakest part of World War I which occurred near the Somme River in northern France. This book details all aspects from the generals planning strategies on map covered tables to the lowliest private in the trenches chewing mud, blood and barbed wire. I’ve recently started this book and it’s already changing my perception of that terrible war forever.

6. Seinfeld: Season 9 on DVD: 

TV Guide declared this wonderful series as the best comedy on television of all time. I’m not sure I don’t disagree. It’s been a wonderful run, and oddly, looking back, it doesn’t seem like I watched a complete nine seasons. The old maxim holds true, time flies when you’re having fun. The way it ended with Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer getting what they deserved for being shmucks was a bit unexpected, but it was a fitting end nonetheless. I won’t watch it again, but this was a great series well worth my time.

7. Clive Barker’s Undying for PC:

This old school classic shooter may not be the scariest game I’ve ever played (not so far, anyway) but it is definitely dark and creepy. The whole dread mood thing going on may pale compared to newer games (Dead Space, Doom III) but playing it with the lights out and a good set of headphones can be a bit unsettling, especially walking through a long dark hallway with moonlight shining in through the windows and gossamer curtains dancing in the breeze, and then a ghost whisper pierces the quietude, “Looook around!”

8. A Perfect Circle: Thirteenth Step on CD:

I’m not a big Tool fan, and to be honest I’m just not that familiar with the band, but Maynard James Keenan’s side project which has pretty much become a lateral project, A Perfect Circle, has made a fine album. Most of the songs seem to be focused on addiction and redemption. I’m not in agreement with Keenan’s personal beliefs (he seems to be atheistic not out of scientific or philosophical self reasons, but purely out of anger) but this album is a great listen. I think “The Noose” is probably one of the most haunting rock songs I’ve ever heard.