Movie Review Monday: Olympus Has Fallen

Welcome everyone to another edition of Movie Review Monday!

Our film this week is Olympus Has Fallen, the 2013 action film starring Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, and Morgan Freeman.

* A quick caveat before we begin, this isn't going to be as much of a hard recommendation as I usually give, but in an attempt to keep a diversity of reviews coming, I checked out this movie this past week. It is a fine film but it is certainly not great. That is all.

Last year, two White House centric action movies came out that were very identical in their premise; White House + Die Hard = White House Down & Olympus Has Fallen. I saw the former as well, and it is a PG-13 comedic action romp with Channing Tatum and Jaime Foxx, while the latter is a hard R, with as much blood, explosions, death, and expletives as they can fit in the course of the movie. This is the only major difference between the two films. Otherwise, their plots are the same; dude gets stuck in the White House and has to save the day from terrorists and betters himself in the process. Neither are going to stimulate the noggin but they are fun rides.

So speaking mainly about Olympus Has Fallen, since it is the one available to stream on Netflix, the movie isn't bad but it isn't great either. I guessed the plot turns before they happened so I wasn't surprised and everything just seemed cliche in the wake of five Die Hard films. I feel like I'd rather just watch the original Die Hard (which is a modern classic if you ask me). I can't say much bad specifically about Olympus other than it seems unoriginal and redudant, which as someone who watches a lot of movies and television, is a major turnoff for me. With that being said, it is something good to put on and have some simple fun with. Gerard Butler is a capable action lead (which I feel like he needs to do more often and he seems to be listening based on his IMDB page) and the rest of cast does adequate jobs. The action scenes are well done, but there are some spotty special effects. The pacing is good enough, and the movie definitely doesn't hold back punches (a lot of nameless soldiers, guards, etc. die in this movie). It is just crazy enough to work and won't challenge any notions you have, so take it as you will.

With a sequel in the works (really?) for next October, check out Olympus Has Fallen for some simple, fun, action on Netflix ready to stream into your eyeholes.

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 05/23/14

Hey everyone! Here is my week in geek!

• X-Men: Days of Future Past

I'm getting more excited for this movie as the buzz becomes overwhelmingly positive. It is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes (click above) with impressive marks from critics and audiences alike. I was worried it was going to be too busy and fall under its own weight (like Amazing Spider-Man 2 started to do), but this movie seems to get the complex story right. I'll be seeing it this weekend so I look forward to sharing more detailed thoughts later.

• Graduation

I just have to share briefly this milestone (which I'll delve into deeper with a separate post) that I recently graduated with my Master's of Education in College Student Affairs from Rutgers University. It was the final ceremony for a week full of good vibes with convocations and commencements for myself and my partner. It is always really great seeing excited graduates and proud families at all of these events. Never fails to put a smile on my face! Cheers to all the other graduates out there this year!

• Delaware

So I was originally born in Maine but I consider myself more from Delaware, since I grew up there for 20+ years. I went to school there (college included), made a lot of memories there, and always like to go back when I can to either visit my brother or swing by the University of Delaware. My partner and I had the great idea to take a long weekend down here for my birthday and our graduations, so I am currently enjoying some sun by the beach in Delaware. I got to see my Mom (who is visiting from Maine) and my brother, which is a rare treat and I am very happy! I encourage you all to check out the "First State" and let me know if you need some recommendations. It is a small but mighty state that I know you'd have a good time at if you're looking for a quiet, relaxing time away.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend!

Awesome New Guardians of the Galaxy Trailer!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUMAGs3u_dM] Sharing this awesome new trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy in case you missed it recently. August can't come soon enough! My curiosity and anticipation for this movie continues to grow.

Movie Review Monday: Trek Nation

This week's movie is the 2010 documentary, Trek Nation.

Echoing the spirit of last week's movie, Trek Nation is a love letter to the geek community. It chronicles Gene Roddenberry's son, Eugene Roddenberry, on his journey to connect with his late father and the universe he created, and why people connect with it so much.

Eugene goes to conventions, speaks with the stars from all of the series and films, and even interviews George Lucas about the effect Star Trek had on Star Wars, which I greatly appreciated. I also just never get enough of seeing how a simple piece of entertainment can help people on a personal level, and help people connect to each other. Star Trek or any geeky thing can bring friends, families, and a world together in a tight bond of the unifying message behind it. Star Trek has an optimistic view of the future, and I enjoy it for that.

In the end, there is an immense beauty in Eugene's exploration as it culminates with him connecting with his famous father more after Gene's death than they ever did while he was alive. It reinforces the importance of being thankful for the time we have with those we care about and making sure we tell them how much we care.

Trek Nation is available to stream now on Netflix! Check out their site for some additional information.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 05/16/14

Howdy y'all! Welcome to a television centric iteration of what I'm geeking out about. With all of our favorite shows wrapping up for the season, I wanted to highlight some gems I enjoyed this week.

• Agents of SHIELD Season 1

This show has been much debated in the nerd circles since it had a lot to live up to. I feel like it has finally found its footing late in its first season, and is in a good place moving forward. The characters are being developed a bit more, the action is always on point, and the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe is being pulled in more. I would personally like to see more super-powered antics on the show, but as long as they keep with solid character stuff, I'll be satisfied. Looking forward to what the second season has to offer!

• Arrow Season 2

With a solid season under its belt already, Arrow has definitely found its way even more this past year. While no show is perfect, and Arrow has its faults, it is consistently awesome, which is more than I can say for other shows lately (ahem, New Girl). I feel as though this show would have been amazing with a shorter episode order to keep the story concise, but even so, I'm very engaged with this show every week and appreciate the universe they're building within their own show, and even to spinoffs. Which reminds me...

• The Flash

...The Flash just dropped an extended trailer (click above). It looks really good and I am convinced Grant Gustin will make a great Barry Allen. It looks like this show will bring in more of the super-powers Arrow has been lacking, as well as all of the same great stuff that makes Arrow awesome. I also appreciate the sort of mentoring going on between Arrow and The Flash eluded to in the trailer. I can't wait for some team up, crossover episodes in the future! Also, we need these two in the darn Justice League movie!

That is all for this week. Thanks for stopping by everyone and enjoy your weekend!

Why You Shouldn't Be Afraid of Social Media

I've been wanting to write a brief post on this for a while now. I'm a big fan of social media and totally advocate for its usage and implementation (in moderation of course). I previously shared Erik Qualman's awesome video about how social media is changing the world, so it is not just some passing fad, it's here to stay.

Why I love social media is because it makes the world more tightly knit, easily accessible, and allows for cool stuff to get noticed by the world. In essence I feel like it democratizes the world in a sense, and on a personal level, it allows for one to put themselves out there and find their voice. I know it has helped me in that way.

What frustrates me currently on this topic is how afraid some people are of social media. While it could be warranted with the slew of scandals brought about by social media, this is only by those who act unethically and with poor judgement. When one takes a positive perspective to social media and does due diligence to know what they post and why, there can be a windfall of value brought to your organization, event, or even just yourself and your reputation.

When done properly, social media is able to highlight all the good stuff you do and bring it to the top. People get afraid since they think social media will only highlight the negative. As long as you're behaving yourself and not posting inappropriate content, you'll enjoy the benefits of closer connections to your constituents, instant updates of new initiatives, and the possibility of dramatically growing your audience in a fun, authentic way through social media.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and be sure to follow my blog to keep up with all of my new posts.

Thanks for stopping by!

The Invisible Benefits of Gaming While Male

I've gamed for my entire life. I remember having an original Nintendo Entertainment System and I've kept with it since today, playing video games to varying extents throughout my life, mostly enjoying to play single-player adventures that I can really sink my teeth into. Multi-player games have never been my forte for the most part, mostly because of the sort of behavior that happens in the community. The language and bullying is reprehensible at worst and at best, you still have to face the lack of diversity in games.

A recent article a friend shared took a keen eye to the bias non-white, non-male, queer identified gamers face daily. It has a long list of incidents they face whether or not they are jumping online to enjoy some friendly competition. There is a lack of heroes for them to look up, voices in the community to echo their concerns, and multiple incidents of bias every day when all one wants to do is relax with a favorite video game. A major point the article makes is that a big first step for us here is awareness of the issue, which I highly agree with. We need to not tolerate or support the types of behavior from each other that makes fellow gamers feel less than. We should be having conversations about acceptance and respect for diversity, and just focus on having fun with our favorite video games.

This was an eye opening article for me and I hope that it can positively influence others, since even though I have enjoyed the benefits of privilege in this space, doesn't mean I can't do all that I can now to help remedy its effects.

Thanks for stopping by.

It is Never Too Late To Geek Out!

I wanted to share a blog post that a friend recommended. It captures the spirit of it never being to late to find new things to geek out about and enjoy wholeheartedly. We all have something we geek out about and we should be able to be proud of how we enjoy our favorite things. It's never too late to go back to your local comic book shop for something to read, to go to that local convention, or to reignite your passion for your old hobby.

Live long and prosper, my friends.

Movie Review Monday: Done the Impossible

Howdy!

This week's movie is Done the Impossible (2006) about the renewal of the beloved series Firefly for the one-off movie Serenity, all due to the fervent fan support to get some resolution for the show.

This documentary chronicles the story of how Firefly came to be cancelled and the beginnings of the Browncoat fan movement that ultimately resulted in Serenity being made, unprecedented at that time for the entertainment industry. Seeing such an awesome community of fans and my geeky brethren is something I never get tired of. It reinforces my belief that when we all come together, we can do amazing things!

The show Firefly is a personal favorite of mine; a unique sci-fi adventure with awesome characters and story. If you haven't watched it or Serenity, check them out, they're both on Netflix, and then watch this behind-the-scenes documentary to see how it all happened. You'll have a full day of awesome Joss Whedon entertainment to enjoy.

Check out their site for additional information & stream this movie today!

Come back next week for another movie to enjoy.

Enjoy your week and thanks for stopping by!

TV Show Renewals! Who Will Stay?!

It is that time of the year...TV show renewal time! We get to see which of our favorite shows are sticking around, which are riding off into the sunset, and what new shows we'll see next year. I found a pretty comprehensive article that is keeping up to date with all the developments, which you can check out here.

Personally I am excited that Agents of SHIELD is coming back, as well as Arrow, and Parks & Recreation. I have been cooling to New Girl but I'm still interested to see where it goes, so I'm glad it will be coming back. As for new shows, I'm intrigued to see what Marvel does with the Agent Carter series that has been in the ether for a while now, as well as The Flash series that will be coming as a spinoff of Arrow.

Let me know what shows you're excited are coming back, the ones you're sad to see go, and the new shows you're excited to premiere!

Thanks for stopping by!