Movie Review Monday: Star Trek - Generations

The film this week is the seventh iteration in the Star Trek film franchise; Star Trek: Generations (1994), starring two Enterprise captains, William Shatner as Captain Kirk and Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard. I'm going to just start off by saying I wasn't a huge fan of this film. I'm trying to watch, at least, all of the Star Trek films, having just wrapped up The Next Generation's (TNG) TV run recently. I've seen a few of The Original Series' (TOS) films also, having enjoyed Wrath of Khan especially. I had high hopes for this movie but it fell apart quickly for me. There were many sub-plot threads that seemed needless, the stakes weren't that high, the action was lackluster, and it just overall seemed like an overinflated episode of the show. If this movie was a typical episode of the show, shortened down and focused, it would be great, but with a roughly two-hour run time, it just was a bit of a bore.

Star Trek at its best is when it is able to have stories about ethics, morality, loyalty, values, friendship, and diversity. This movie had none of the above. It does seem that all of the Star Trek movies I've seen tend to just default to sci-fi action movies, which can be fun, but never really capture what makes the television show so special and beloved, and that's saying a lot from a diehard Star Wars fan.

This is a rare negative review so I recommend you pass on Star Trek: Generations. Just go watch Star Trek Into Darkness on Netflix if you want a better Trek flick that's streaming right now.

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 06/13/14

Good day to you! Here is what I've been geeking out about this week (mostly with my lovely partner)!

• Orange is the New Black, Season 2

This newest season of the Netflix Original gem just premiered this past Friday but my partner and I decided to watch it together so we were finally able to start with the first few episodes this week. I just love how good of quality this show is since it is essentially just a web series. It will surely pave the way for other amazing original content to make its way online, like the slate of Marvel shows coming to Netflix, which I am very pumped for!

• Edge of Tomorrow

I saw this movie last night with some friends after warming to it after initially not really giving it any thought. This sci-fi action film stars Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, who both are great in this movie. It is essentially Groundhog Day meets Halo, with Cruise repeating the same day over and over where he is part of a botched military invasion that is trying to repel an alien threat. The movie has fantastic action sequences, is funny, and has some great personal moments that explore human nature and how someone would react to having this happen to them. I will say that I did not like the ending at all. It doesn't ruin the experience and after seeing how the book, All You Need is Kill, which this movie is based upon, ended, I can't say I would have wanted that ending either. Perhaps there was a conclusion somewhere in the middle that would have been more satisfactory. Nevertheless, I'm glad I saw this gem of the summer movie season that I feel like got easily written off by most people.

• Arrested Development

My partner just starting watching this classic TV comedy at mine and others' behest. While we haven't been sitting down to watch every episode with each other, I've been re-watching a few with her and I am still chuckling at this great show. If you haven't watched it yet, please binge through the series. It is a short watch and you'll be thankful for it. Plus, you'll probably get those references your friends make and you don't understand.

As always, thanks for stopping by! All the best and have an awesome day!

Hack Your Life & Make The Most of the Next 30 Days

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnfBXjWm7hc] I was just talking about this video and sentiment the other day, in the context of my personal wellness journey. While I'm not quite where I want to be (I need to get a more consistent workout routine), I'm much better than I was a few years ago, mostly with better eating habits.

A major way I changed some of my bad habits was by undertaking several "30-Day Challenges", which are detailed in the short, engaging, fun video above. Whether you want to start going to the gym or stop drinking soda, write every day or stay off social media, doing something for 30 days is just about the right time to form a habit and pattern in your life. At the very least you'll sort of do a cleanse if you don't imbibe in junk food for a month, for example, and you can sort of ween yourself back in so you don't feel like you're depriving yourself.

Making small, incremental, sustainable changes in our lives is how we're able to become more healthy, productive, and positive. A line I like to say is that you can't get fit in a week, but you also can't get unfit in a week. Change takes time so get out there and start working on your goals, whatever they may be, since, like the video says:

"The next thirty days are going to pass, whether you like it or not. So why not think about something you have always wanted to try, and give it a shot, for the next thirty days."

Book Review: American Nerd

The 2009 book, American Nerd: The Story of My People, written by Benjamin Nugent, is an exploration of the history behind the word "nerd" intermixed with stories from Nugent's past. It reads like a long blog post or magazine article on the subject, covering the wide breadth of the issue of bias toward nerds. I just finished reading it and I found it to be a light, engaging read on the subject, a tad different from my previous review of Nerds by David Anderegg. Anderegg is an academic and Ph.D, while Nugent is a writer, which definitely benefits the latter in the feel of the book. They cover very similar territory but where American Nerd differs is in the personal stories and a more thorough delving into the history, where Nerds goes more into why the bias against nerds is bad by extrapolating about what it means for our future.

I found Nugent's anecdotal stories from his past to be spot on of my own experience with fellow young nerds back in the day. The reasons why people are "nerdy" are highly complex and diverse. It might be an escape or it might be a bonding mechanism, both of which can take varying shapes. Nugent also gives a nice overview of different aspects of nerd culture for those who may be unaware, which I appreciate since it allows for this book to lean towards a wider audience.

This book is great for simply existing and expanding the conversation of the issues facing the geek/nerd community. I'm excited to keep engaging in the literature behind the debate so that I can be the best informed I can be. I definitely recommend this book as a great place to start for anyone interested.

Check back soon for another review! Thanks for stopping by!

Movie Review Monday: Much Ado About Nothing

This week's movie is the 2012 adaptation of the classic Shakespeare play, Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Joss Whedon and starring Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof. First off, this movie took a little catching up for me since it is literally adapted from the Shakespearean text. It is simply in a modern setting. All the characters speak the play as it was written so I was taken aback at first but I eventually caught up. The movie is also shot in black & white, which adds a nice artistic flair to the film (why, I don't know, it just does). Pretty much all the actors are from some sort of "Whedonverse" property or at least something Whedon has been associated with in the past. It has a very simple elegance to it, where the focus is on the timeless story of Benedick and Beatrice's will they or won't they romance.

I will admit, since I'm not a huge theater buff or reader, I hadn't been exposed to the story before so I came in fresh and it was a very fun ride. The bickering between Benedick and Beatrice as well as the scheming by the other characters to get them together was brilliant. All the actors really bought into the dialogue and gave great performances.

For any fans of Shakespeare, romance, Joss Whedon, or just well crafted film, check out Much Ado About Nothing, streaming now on Netflix!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 06/05/14

Salutations! Here's what I'm geeking out this (busy) week!

• Drunk Ron Swanson

If you love Parks & Recreation (which you all should, it's great), you'll love this forever looping GIF. I wasted a solid few minutes on it. You're welcome.

• How Did This Get Made

I've been binged on a few episodes of this great podcast lately during my string of travels. It has comedians Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael, and Jason Mantzoukas (all of whom you may know from the many things they have done, much of it together) chatting about movies that are so bad they're good. I've listening to episodes ranging from Green Lantern to Battlefield Earth, Fast Five to Superman III, and of course, the competitive arm-wrestling classic, Over the Top. It's a lot of fun and they have some great guests on to help with the hilarity, so definitely check it out if you're looking for a new podcast and love movies.

• Screen Junkies

So this is another movie centric thing I'm into (obviously I love movies). This YouTube channel has been around for several years but it has really hit its stride with all of its great, original segments, and their beloved Honest Trailers. I always find myself engaged with their content so I wanted to give them a shout out and encourage you to check out their channel.

Thanks for stopping by! Have an awesome weekend!

Movie Review Monthly: May 2014

Greetings movie fans! In an ongoing effort to serve up my delicious content to you, here is a monthly wrap-up of my reviews from the past month, all available to stream on Netflix! Enjoy!

• Don Jon
• Done the Impossible
• Trek Nation
• Olympus Has Fallen

If you have any recommendations for movies I should watch that are available on Netflix, please let me know, just leave a comment here or tweet me! Thanks!

What I Was Geeking Out About: May 2014

Hello fellow geeks and nerds! In an ongoing effort to better serve up my delicious content to you, here is a monthly wrap-up of all my recent geek outs! Enjoy!

• May 02, 2014
• May 09, 2014
• May 16, 2014
• May 23, 2014
• May 30, 2014

Have an awesome week!

Movie Review Monday: Stuck in Love

This week's movie is Stuck in Love (2012), starring Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Connelly, and Lily Collins. And, pardoning the pun, I just have to say I loved this movie. Stuck in Love is essentially Crazy, Stupid, Love with more drama and heart. I enjoyed CSL very much as well (and own it) but I enjoyed this movie for totally different reasons. The story revolves around different members of a family dealing with the complex nuances of love. Where CSL succeeded with comedic moments, I feel like it lost when it came to connecting more with the characters and story on a deep, personal level. I can admit I got emotional when watching Stuck in Love at times. I didn't know what to expect from this movie, so I was very pleasantly surprised.

All of the folks in this film do a great job with their characters. Each of them is going through something unique and everyone has a very real personality that deals with the conflicts in the film. I was engaged throughout the film, wanting to know what happened next to these characters I was invested in.

I highly recommend this film as a solid romantic drama that has a lot of heart. It is streaming now on Netflix!

Enjoy!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 05/30/14

Hello friends! Here is what I'm geeking out about this week!

• Bioshock Infinite: Burial at Sea - Episode II

I (finally) finished this bonus mission the other day, completing my time with this game that I have written much about. To say it simply, I love this game and the Bioshock universe. This final episode ties together the universe beautifully while revamping the gameplay to keep the entire thing feeling fresh. If you haven't played it yet, I recommend getting the core game, and both Burial at Sea episodes. You won't be disappointed, especially if you have played the original Bioshock (if you haven't, shame on you, and just get the PS3 version, which comes with the original game included).

• Community...Renewed?

Community is one of my favorite comedies of all time. It's up there with The Office and Parks & Recreation. I still rewatch old episodes and enjoy them multiple times through. The story above details the latest in the developing story of it coming back on Hulu, since there is a previous relationship there with the entire series streaming exclusively on the site. I'd be really happy to see the show just get to the pinnacle of #SixSeasonsAndAMovie that the show's avid fanbase has galvanized around. I'll be sure to post any new details as they come through.

• Edgar Wright Leaves Ant-Man

I am a big fan of Edgar Wright. I appreciate his originality and creativity when it comes to entertainment, whether it is his early work with the TV show Spaced, his cult favorite film Shaun of the Dead, or one of my favorite movies of all time, Scott Pilgrim VS The World. I looked forward to what unique qualities he would bring to a big Marvel Studios movie, but alas, they did not seem to share that optimism. I'll be interested to see where this project goes and if it turns out to be a success in the end.

Keep on geeking on & have a great weekend!