Creativity With an Affinity for Darkness
The Dark Opera
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5 Things You Must Know About Buying Movies

12/30/2011

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Movie Collecting isn't always as easy as searching kijiji, your local pawnshop, or favourite store for what you like and picking it up. Beyond hunting for a bargain, there are some things to consider about the DVD/Blu-ray/VHS before you purchase, here are 5:
#1  Format

Many movies these days will come with the option of widescreen or full screen built in to the same disc... some won't, leaving you to decide which to spend cash on. Consider this: while a full screen version will fit the contours of an older T.V, it's at the cost of having been "formatted from its original version". This means that at times, parts of the picture may have been cut out or edited differently to make that full screen fit. The added cost is that this sometimes means altering your experience. This might be less of an issue with a comedy like dumb and dumber, but might make more of an impact with say, Star Wars. If you're not accustomed to the black bar lines of widescreen, it does take some getting used to, but it's the closer thing to the theatre experience the director envisioned for the movie you're about to watch.
#2 Features

Some of the fun about the movies is watching the special features. If that kind of thing isn't for you, then you'll have less to think about when selecting the copy to go home with. If special features are your thing, then consider how some of your favourite movies have been re-released time and time again under various different labels (like extreme edition, platinum edition, 20th anniversary edition, etc...). What's the difference?

Sometimes the picture quality and/or sound have improved. Sometimes there is claim that they have but really they haven't... at least not to an easily discernable or important degree. Beyond that, there are the inclusion and exclusion of special features. Take for example: Terminator 2. It has been released with an extreme edition, ultimate edition and skynet edition. Amongst these are some differences in features and interface. While many would consider the ultimate edition to be the most bang for your buck, there is also the alternative to buy all editions in one special edition terminator skull.  The point is that if features is a criteria for movie purchase (especially if it's one of your favourites), then it might be worth searching the internet forums for consumer reviews on the various releases.
#3 Rental Copies

On the topic of special features, you should know that some local movie rental stores carry what's known as rental copies, adorning the label: rental copy, rental exclusive or some other indicator. Such a copy usually means that the movie has been stripped of the special features you would otherwise receive if you bought it new. This is mostly the case for DVD. What some have found of rental store Blu-ray copies is that where there ought to be extra discs for special features, there aren't any.

If getting the barebones edition doesn't bother you, it's less of a hassle. But if it does, a suggestion would be to check for if you're buying a rental copy. Also, it might be worth checking the back jacket for the number of discs included and then verifying to make sure that they are there.
#4 Availability

With advancing technology and the push from VHS to DVD to Blu-ray (...and digital copies), your old favourites are getting a much needed overhaul. Some gems however, get missed. Have a hard time finding an obscure oldie at the store? It may be because it's only available on VHS or only available in another format in another region. Too, some DVD versions have not seen transfer to Blu-ray yet... some won't. Research here is key in obtaining that highly sought out piece of childhood nostalgia. As well, keeping an open mind to searching across video formats can mean discovering movie treasures you otherwise might have missed.
#5 Other language movies

Sometimes, the little bits of information on the back jacket of a DVD are essential in preventing post purchase (or even rental) frustration. This applies to the wonderful world of foreign movies, dubs and subtitles.

There are great movies out there that aren't available with English dub (and some with dubbing that are still better to watch with subtitles). Expanding into other language flicks can be a great experience... but a rather annoying one if you are unknowingly thrown into it. Though I can't say I was fooled into thinking "Pan's Labyrinth"  was an English ;language  movie,  I must admit that I did fall victim to picking up a subtitleless DVD version of "Amelie" .

Here, things could have been clarified by scanning the DVD back jacket, specifically in the small area near the bottom that reads "Languages".

 
Happy Hunting!
 
- Josh


For more tips on Movie Collecting, see also:
25 Tips To Expand Your Movie Collection
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Add These Movies as Must See in the New Year

12/27/2011

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I may have been off on Christmas vacation but I have definitely not missed some exciting trailers that have been coming online! In case you missed em, I've included some of them below. Take a look and see for yourself.

First up is the Prometheus trailer. you just watched it? doesn't it look great? I already can't get enough of it. Gotta say though that the beginning really gave off a Metroid vibe for me for some reason. anyone else? 

 
Next up is another pretty big trailer release for the Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. IMDB has also listed what looks like a follow up entitled the Hobbit: There and Back Again.       

I want to be excited about this but t didn't think there was a whole lot of content in the trailer to be excited about . Right now, I kinda wanna see Prometheus more, but am looking forward to more news on the Hobbit.

Here is the trailer for Christopher Nolan's third and apparently final contribution to Batman movies. It's probably expected that this is gonna be awesome, but will Bane be consistently hard to understand? May need subtitles.

And here's a no brainer action movie sequel with added Van Damme and Norris... the buzz alone is likely to ensure we see this become a trilogy.

And lastly...

Ha! I just had to include the new Japanese Trailer for Battleship. I still can't believe that they made this movie.

-Josh


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Emerging Game Saturation Syndrome. Slew of Awesome Game Releases to Blame?

12/8/2011

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With Skyrim’s drop in November, many red eyed, sleep deprived gamers have been showing up to work – or not – and have seen their game play impact on their wakefulness in different aspects of their life.

An engrossing gaming experience such as the above mentioned epic isn’t the only problem however. What’s far more alarming is the number of those immersive games that dropped recently. In effect, a gamer’s “to finish” pile is stacking up and the results aren’t pretty.

It’s an epidemic. The condition: Game Saturation Syndrome or G.S.S. It is too many games to play in too little time.

Read More
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Mario Bros. On the Accordian... why not?

12/6/2011

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Here are 3 guys jamming with their accordions in the shade of a tree. They’re rockin’ out a surprisingly gleeful rendition of a very popular Mario bros. song. It’s really something to watch. It has like, sweeping camera movement and everything!
Speaking of production value, if you haven’t seen the Vibrant Zelda Medley or the Cello Star wars duel. Here they are!

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Ultimate Hot CHocolate Recipe is a Must Try This Holiday Season

12/6/2011

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The Ultimate Hot Chocolate
Serves 3 – 4
2 cups of 3.25% milk
¼ cup of evaporated milk
1 tablespoon of cocoa
½ tablespoon of vanilla
1 100g Hershey “Special Dark” chocolate bar
2 28g squares of “Baker’s” semi sweet chocolate
Garnish with a “Pirouline” wafer for good measure

For an ultimate hot chocolate you will not regret making:

Melt the “special dark” and baker’s semi sweet chocolate in a saucepan on low – medium heat.

Mix them to make sure they don’t burn. Then, when the blend has become a mouth-watering chocolate sauce, add 2 cups of hearty 3.25% milk.

Whisk the contents of your saucepan until you get a uniform mix.

Continue to whisk, all the while adding the ¼ cup of rich evaporated milk, the cocoa and vanilla.

When what you got is a smooth looking chocolate treat, turn up the heat to medium – High.

Heat it up so that steam is rolling out the top of your pot, but don’t boil.

Serve while hot, the recipe is so chocolaty that it will thicken if it cools.

Add the crispy “Pirouline” stick as garnish. When partially submerged it will become coated with your ultimate hot chocolate – a perfect complement to its taste. Enjoy.



Head to the home page, like this page on facebook and/or follow it on twitter if you like what you see, and love what you end up tasting! Pass it on!

-Josh

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Horror Movies That Have Birds Faceplant Into Force Fields

12/5/2011

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Here's a trailer for upcoming movie "The Cabin in the woods", a part of which is also referred to in the trailer as the "killing floor"... lovely. It looks to be a collection of tired old horror movie clichés, but wait... "you think you know the story... the place?" the Trailer asks... then sends a soaring bird face planting into a honeycomb force field. Take a look.
Truth is, though it feels like I'm watching bits of "wrong turn", This movie doesn't look all that bad. That it's got some self awareness with it's " We have to stay together...this isn't right... let's split up" wins over some points. And it's "do we want to go down?" does peek some interest. I mean, of course we want to go down deeper into the bunker. And so the hopeful search for the next great horror movie continues.
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Hitchcock for the holidays

12/5/2011

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I stumbled upon this awesome box set today while I was at Future Shop and thought I'd share it.

In collecting some of Hitchcock's work, I found it hard to find certain pieces. Often times I had to special order and that can get kinda pricey. The goal, believe it or not, was to collect and watch all five of these highly rated movies (essential collection indeed!).

Now you can save yourself or a friend time and money by buying this set for a pretty decent price of $45 canadian. It would make a great gift!

-Josh 
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What You Need To Know About Goal Setting

12/3/2011

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Goal Setting – There’s a life skill most everybody knows about but few really use to maximize their time in a day. Bring on the:

“Don’t leave for tomorrow what you can get done today”

“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else”

“If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time”

It’s about purpose. About direction and grabbing hold your life and taking control of it. Here’s what I know and share about goal setting that might be helpful:

Write down your goals, committing them to paper is helpful in increasing your likelihood of success.

On Your list, leave room for checkmarks or cross off accomplished goals as you go. You’ll get a fair representation of what’s left to do but also will see what you actually DID to work towards your goals. 

Make a list. Seeing what lies ahead not only helps with organisation and time management but can also take weight of those “things to do” thoughts floating around in your mind. You know those things that keep some up at night. 

Prioritize! What needs to get down first? how important is this? Ability to prioritize in itself is a life skill to be developed and mastered.    
    
Break your goals down. Really get down to step by step if you have to. 


Tell people about your goals. Key here is that this is helpful in motivating because it makes you accountable. It’s not useful if there’s no accountability.


Challenge yourself, but be realistic. Success gives you momentum; failure will drain you if you’re not careful, especially when you’re just getting started.

Make your goals specific and time sensitive, that is that, you should know ahead of time what it means to succeed or fail.


Define your success in terms of behaviour. It’s what you DO, not whether or not it was well received, or how you felt or thought about it. 

Celebrate success

Add Incentive

Make your challenges important; make them stepping stones in achieving what it is you want in life.

Examine conditions leading to failure. Grow. Allow yourself disappointment, (its only normal to feel it) but concentrate your effort to focus on gleaning information about yourself that you need to move forward. Often times there are patterns begging to be corrected (Like patterns of procrastination). Correct them.




There are a number of conditions and states, both physical and mental that can add extra challenge to achieving your goals (e.g. ADHD, Depression, Sleep deprived, malnourished, prone to procrastinate, and perfectionist to name a few). Explore what added challenges are unique to you. Own them and develop skills tailored to you. Ask for help if you need it.

Oh, and if you procrastinate and/or are a perfectionist (including if you’re wondering whether you are either of those two), Check out these modules for self betterment at the “Centre for Clinical Intervention” via Google, or:

“Perfectionism in perspective”
http://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/infopax.cfm?Info_ID=52

“Put off procrastinating!!!”
http://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/infopax.cfm?Info_ID=50

Pass it on.

-Josh


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