Myself

New Purpose for This Blog

Sunday, September 7th, 2008

As you can probably tell, this blog hadn’t been updated in well over a year. That is about to change.

I’ve decided to start writing about entertainment.

I will inject a few personal things from time to time. Perhaps some religion, perhaps some politics, but for the most part it’ll be all video games, movies, tv, DVD and the like.

I’ve been wanting a place like this to have as an outlet for writing about my interests for some time now, and I’m looking forward to sharing that with people in the months to come. A lot of things have happened in the last year or so, and I’m hoping to write about some stories that have, perhaps, been written about to death, but simply because I am interested in those topics.

Look for new topics on Star Wars, Ghostbusters and more very shortly.

Star Wars

Tuesday, April 5th, 2005

Time for a general entry. Not to say that this will be a boring entry by any means. I was having a conversation with my friend Deb, when I realized something simple, yet profound.

I know what it is about Star Wars that made like it more, and makes me love it. My mom once told me that my Grandpa loved Star Wars, and loved talking about the spiritual elements of the films, and how much fun it would have been, talking to him about the new ones. She also said that he would have LOVED talking to me about the Lord of the Rings.

My Grandpa was a convert to the Catholic Church, a Father of nine, and the Doctor for a small town. He passed on when I was 12.

Somehow, I feel a connection to him, through Star Wars. I realize now, that is why I defend the prequels, and part of why I enjoy them. I look beyond the surface, of what people would consider a “bad” movie, to the things that I think my Grandpa and I would have talked about. We would have had some mighty good discussions about both of the new films.

Now with the third film coming out, people are scared that they’ll be let down, again. I’ve got no fears about this film. While Episode I is a flawed film, it’s not without its’ moments. The same goes for Episode II. I’ve felt they could have covered the material of Episodes I and II in film one, the clone wars in film two, and the third film to be, well, pretty much what it is: The purging of the Jedi, the rise of the Empire, and the birth of Darth Vader.

I’ve got here, two review samples. The first, is of the Novelization of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, by a man named LargeFarva, on FilmRot.com:

At least, in print, it does appear that the movie will tie together all of the plot threads successfully. The major issues most fans have speculated and dared Lucas to explain are included in the novelization, from Qui-Gon Jinn’s non-disappearance, to Kenobi’s claims that Yoda was his master. There is even strong evidence that a few characters in the original trilogy knew quite more than they let on, and with plenty good reason. Also, it is true that the first character to speak in the original trilogy has the last line of the prequels. Finally, after reading the epilogue, I’m finding it hard to continue laughing at Lucas’ claims that Sith is “a real tear-jerker”.

I’ve read the other novelizations and this is by FAR the best, the one we’ve been waiting for since the announcement of the prequels.

I’m predicting that most fans of the [Original Trilogy] will consider there to be four films-the [Original Trilogy] and Ep. 3 is the single prequel to them.

This is very promising news. Another review, is of the Screenplay, now available as an ebook, by Bill Hunt, Editor of TheDigitalBits.com:

I have to tell you that I was awfully uneasy as I began reading the script. The first third of Revenge of the Sith feels very much like parts of The Phantom Menace… and I don’t mean the good parts. There’s a lot of Anakin and Obi Wan bantering back and fourth as they fight scores of battle droids, and the dialogue is pretty bad. BUT don’t despair, because once you get past this, the film gets a lot better. About a third of the way in, the Sith lord’s nefarious plot really starts unfolding… and it’s all dark and intense action from there on out. The script finishes well, setting up A New Hope beautifully. There are a couple of great surprises, and the plot threads all tie up nicely. You’re going to be left with a strong sense of “Wow… so THAT’S how it all happened.” I’ve heard from people who have seen most of the film that the action and visuals are astonishing – the best yet from Lucas. Add to that John William’s final score, which you KNOW is going to kick ass, and I think the vast majority of Star Wars fans will enjoy this film. If Lucas pulls it off, it’ll easily be the best of the three prequels. Whatever you think of them so far, there’s nothing like a strong finish. When I get the chance to SEE this film, you can be sure that I’ll post a review.

Both of those reviews sum up pretty much all I know about the movie, save for the footage I’ve seen in the trailers, commercials, and some of the music I’ve heard on the official site, StarWars.com. And from what I know, we’re in for a real treat.

Go into this movie expecting it to be just what it was meant to be. Entertainment and the origin of Darth Vader. This is how it happened folks.

I’m not looking for comments on this post to talk about whether or not you’ve seen Star Wars, or if you think the prequels suck, or that this one will suck. Any comments like that will be deleted, no questions asked.

I want to give this last Star Wars film a shot at being a great film, and to expect anything less from it, would be contrary to what it very well could be. The third film of any trilogy should justify the first two. However, this film isn’t meant to end the story, it’s to set the stage for the beginning of the original trilogy, and to build the arc that puts Darth Vader right where he’s always been: the main character and centerpiece of all six Star Wars films. The Fall and Redemption of Anakin Skywalker. Redemption is the theme, folks, but redemption from what?

“Do what must be done, Lord Vader. Do not hesitate, show no mercy.”

We talk about forgiveness a lot, and it is one of the hardest things to ask for, and the hardest things to do for others. This story is about one man who fell, and for years walked a dark path, and finds forgiveness in people that weren’t even there when he fell. That is a testament of how we should live our lives for others. Forgiving everyone, everything, NOW! Not WASTING TIME holding onto hatred or anger. There’s just no point. Save the anger for true evils.

Patience and Impatience

Sunday, February 6th, 2005

Sometimes we do things because we feel the need for companionship, when really it could be any number of things. Perhaps it’s a longing you feel to be near God.. perhaps you need someone to talk to.. perhaps you need a friend to laugh with, to play a game with, or to just be a goof with.. it could be anything. Maybe you want to go to Meijer for a midnight run and buy a Sobe, a pack of Baseball cards, and some chewing gum.. or gummies. Who knows? But either way, yes, a lot of times there can be frustration with impatience. Just have to strive for the patience that you need, because God will show you the way when you least expect it. God is the only one that won’t leave you high and dry, and will ALWAYS be there to lean on and to trust. Granted, we have friends that are willing to do anything for us, but even our friends can let us down. No one loves you the way He does.

On Patience

Monday, December 6th, 2004

The world to day is very now. Give me this information, NOW. I want this NOW, I need that NOW. Patience is something that I struggle with sometimes. When it comes to certain things, I get in a mode where I will stop at nothing to have it.

And there are other things, more fragile, delicate things, that I have a yearning for, a desire for, but I need to find the balance. I need to have the patience to wait. You may think I’m talking about one thing, but you’d be wrong. Patience in that area is very easy. Patience is very trying.

When you don’t know what to talk about or what to say, patience leaves you to your thoughts. That can be a very scary thing, or a very soothing thing. And getting mixed signals, and you don’t know what they mean. Are they little tests? Are you failing each one? Are you making yourself look a fool?

Only fools rush in. I want to have the strength to be patient. But I also want to know how patient I need to be. The problem comes in knowing. What do I know and not know. Why is it so hard to ask and find out? Because of inopportune moments. Time. Because of the risks that may be associated with it. Because you are putting the other person in complete control of your feelings and emotions. You like where things are at, and don’t want that to become spoiled.

You, however, like where things are at so much, that you would like to experience more of that. That for every one moment you want another, and every moment spent makes you long for more. You see possibilities, but that scares you.

You just need to know a few things, and perhaps you can move forward.

Perhaps now is not the time, but soon may be.

Where am I going with this? Who is this for? What am I eluding to? Well, I know, and a few people that read this will know. Perhaps it is for one of those people to read. Perhaps it’s to help them to feel that they are not the only ones with these feelings. Perhaps it’s to help someone realize that they need to have a little patience.

Maybe it’s for me.

About my Name

Friday, December 3rd, 2004

Paul: From the Roman family name Paulus, which meant “small” or “humble” in Latin.

Michael: From the Hebrew name Miyka’el which meant “who is like God?”. This was the name of one of the seven archangels in Hebrew tradition and the only one identified as an archangel in the Bible. In the Book of Revelation in the New Testament he is portrayed as the leader of heaven’s armies, and thus is considered the patron saint of soldiers. “Who is like God?” is St. Michael’s battle cry!

Martin: Warlike. Origin is Latin.

Therefore: I am a humble soldier of God.

On being the Center of Attention

Thursday, December 2nd, 2004

Many things get in my path that force me to make decisions. I’m not a decision maker, because I like to take into account the effect that my decision has on others. I don’t want to let anyone down, and fear losing friends over bad decisions. Being the center of attention scares me, and yet I crave it. I enjoy being noticed. I enjoy it when people compliment me. Mainly because I didn’t have a lot of that growing up.

So when someone new comes along that is suddenly the center of attention, I feel I have to do something about it and risk overcompensating.

I’m not a public speaker and I’m not all that funny. But I can talk in public about things that I know about, and I can make jokes or point out the obvious sometimes, and make a situation funny.

I was never the popular kid, and still get crap because I am strong in my Catholic convictions. Should my being a virgin at 24 be so surprising to people? Which is sadder: that people are shocked, or that there is a REASON that people are shocked?

I can’t do a lot of things, and I can’t be there for everyone all the time. I can promise to do my best for those that I care about. My best is all that I can give. I will fail, but that’s why I need the help of my friends to keep moving forward.

I have a lot of friends. More, sometimes, than I even know how to deal with, or handle. I have always been good at making friends. Sometimes I question what it is that makes me a good friend to people. Why am I your friend? What is it that makes you want to call me friend?

What makes it hard is when I want to talk to one person, and don’t know what to talk about with them. I don’t know what they’ll find interesting, or what they enjoy talking about. Perhaps I should ask that. Perhaps I should just keep plugging away, learning about their family, and other interests, and let the rest come with time. Why am I so impatient sometimes? Why am I so shy, yet outgoing at the same moment? Why can’t I be outgoing when I want to be? What is it that I’m afraid of? Being the center of attention to this one person?

Which brings us to where we started. What’s it mean, then, to be the center of attention?

Finally.

Saturday, November 13th, 2004