Yeah, I'm expecting some backlash for this one. I'm not flaming anyone, or even trying to insult anyone, just posting a few opinions... and I'm sure everyone here knows what happens when the wrong people get the wrong idea about those.

I'm hoping the wrong sorts don't find this until I've gotten it buried behind a few more journal updates.


Opinion the first: Why I don't like the new(er) Lord of the Rings movies.

Call me a purist, but if someone makes a movie based on a book, shouldn't it follow the book? I can understand some missing parts, (especially with those books - if every part of the books were used, they'd still be filming Two Towers) but not blatantly changing them.

Elves at Helm's Deep? Not that I remember. Frodo meeting a wyvern rider face to face? Nope. Frodo and Sam being brought back over the mountains by Faramir? Not there either.

General rule of thumb: If it's not your story, don't change it. Peter Jackson fails. Yes, I said that, it wasn't a mistype or a typo. He fails.

"It's been said that they were the old books as retold/rewritten by Jackson."

He had no business doing that, even if someone from Tolkein's estate were there as an advisor. It wasn't his story to screw with. Tolkein wrote it a specific way, it was meant to be told a specific way.

Other than the twisting of the script, it was pretty good. I will give him that. He should have just left his creative liscencing at home.

"But aren't you taking creative liscencing with your LotR RPG story? How is that any different?"

I'm not retelling the original story. Nor any other story of Tolkein's. Not even anything from the Silmarillion or Lost Tales I and II. I'm just playing in his sandbox.


Opinion the second: Pirates that aren't pirates.

Is anyone else tired of scriptwriters romanticizing pirates? They weren't the 'noble rogues' or what have you the movies would have you believe. They were murderers and thieves that happened to "ply their trade" on the water. If they felt threatened by local law enforcement or navy, the moved on, possibly came back later.

They wouldn't tolerate more then one captain on a ship. One would end up dead as soon as he showed a single sign of initiative, assuming he'd last that long. There wasn't much appreciative respect on a pirate ship. It was almost entirely fear that kept the sailors in line.

Are there any movies that have gotten it right in the last 20 or so years? Possibly. I don't watch many movies, but even though Disney goofed with this in Pirates of the Caribbean, the did get a bit closer with one other series: Peter Pan.

Yeah, that's another bit that's likely to get me flamed: Captain Hook trumps both Sparrow and Barbossa. I'm sure you all know it's true deep down inside, too.


Opinion the third: Greatest game ever?

Not Super Smash Brothers. Any of them. It's my firm belief that anyone that thinks so simply hasn't played Halo or Oblivion. Or even Frequency.

"Let's make a combat action game featuring a slew of G-rated equivalents and let people think it's a true fighting game!"

Yeah, sure thing, Nintendo. You want me to give you money directly (more or less) for a 'fighting game'? Release a fighting game. No, the inclusion of Solid Snake doesn't change anything. He just makes the whole thing even more ridiculous.

"Have you even played it? It's teh roxxors!"

Yes, I have played one of them - Melee. And no, it wasn't. I played long enough to earn Falco through the 100 Man Melee. I was hoping he would make it more interesting. He did - for a few battles. Then I finally admitted that the guides were right about him being a faster, weaker Fox with a few slight differences otherwise. There are more differences between the two in Star Fox: Assault.

"I agree, Smash Brothers isn't the greatest ever. Guitar Hero/Rock Band is!"

No, no it/they aren't. Sure, they're adding a few more genres with each game, but none of them match the variety of Frequency. (I'd add Amplitude, but I haven't seen the track list yet.)

"But... guitar controller!"

But... overly large, non-essential, gimmicky peripheral that makes people look dumber than they might be otherwise. Honestly, those 'instrument controllers' make people look far more mentally inhibited (not necessarily challenged or handicapped, but certainly inhibited - they had a choice to look like that, and could have prevented it) than the DDR dance pads. At least with DDR people can use their agility and dexterity to make it look impressive. When can we do with the guitars? Tilt them? I'll pass.

"Frequency gives me motion sickness!"

You are forgiven, and can enjoy your gimmicks without fear of my harassment. Frequency is not for everyone, even I've gotten rather queasy during some of the faster songs of Normal or higher. If this is your reason for liking the others, I cannot fault you. Just stop pressuring me to play it with you.



I think this is the first time I've ever gone off on one of these rants here. Usually it happens on my World of WarCraft guild's forums... wierd. I wonder if they've heard this one yet....

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