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lordgeebsdom · 4 years

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1917. Soldiers win the war, Generals take the glory

War films have been part of the cinema landscape for over 75 years by offering audiences a first hand look at dramatized perspectives of humanity’s most destructive creation. Modern notables like “The Hurt Locker,” “Saving Private Ryan,” and “Dunkirk,” have added wrinkles to the genre through personally highlighting the pivotal micro conflicts within the larger scale battle that ended up changing the tide of world altering struggles. These films however all more or less followed a formula, and though they are all well made and entertaining to watch, Sam Mendes’s “1917” has not just raised the bar, but bent it like superman and tossed it aside while placing their own higher than any before. The uninterrupted story of Lance Corporal William Schofield is the ultimate display of balance: the juxtaposition of the horrors of war against the beautiful cinematography and locations, well known industry veterans being cast into smaller cameo roles while the heavy lifting is carried by unknown and younger talents (similar to real war). “1917” isn’t just a good war movie, it is a giant leap forward for movie making and especially one-shot sequences.

The film follows two young soldiers as they are tasked with delivering a message to call off a planned British invasion after new intelligence is gathered that suggests the 2,000 soldiers are walking into certain death. They’re given a seemingly simple task: traveling 6 miles to the coast and call off the attack. However things quickly go awry and from there the story unfolds into a harrowing, anxiety-inducing and continuous race against time to deliver the message and save thousands from an untimely expiration. The film keeps things simple by really focusing on these two early on and eventually just Schofield as he battles the elements, snipers, soldiers, traps and a litany of other hazards on his journey through war torn France.

A firsthand perspective really brings the horrors of trench warfare to life for modern audiences by intimately navigating muddy fields, decrepit and decaying bodies, destroyed machinery in the aftermath of battle and a pervasive sense of disorientation and futility. Almost every soldier shown throughout the film is no more than eighteen years old, many don’t even have facial hair or any discernible features to determine they are grown men and yet they stand with rifles ready like their real life counterparts did and continue today: a sobering reminder of all who die in these horrific conflicts well before their time. Every soldier, regardless of rank, seems to have their own ill-informed perspectives on the war ranging from anticipation of certain victory to desperate hopelessness, and that variance of opinion from men on the front lines only serves to highlight just how uncharted the murky waters of war can be.

Where “1917” changes the game however is in the one-shot cinematography of the whole film. There are only a handful of cuts (none of which are obvious) and the story is presented, in its entirety, in a single shot. I personally love this trend in Hollywood, especially famous scenes like the hallway fight from Netflix’s Daredevil season one or the shot that follows Michael Myers as he returns to terrorize Haddonfield in the franchise’s most recent semi-reboot sequel. “1917” however takes this technique to a whole new level and enhances the scale of the story and its place in the larger warfare in the process. History’s greatest conflicts are determined by smaller victories throughout the course of the war, but “1917” is the first to provide that perspective exclusively and shows audiences the ugly and thankless tasks placed on soldiers under unimaginably horrific circumstances and how they valiantly answer with nothing short of meritorious valor.

“1917” is timely, poignant and impactful; especially as news outlets push the fear of a looming large scale conflict similar to the Great War on display in this film. It celebrates the incalculable sacrifice of the soldiers involved and begs us to heed the warning of the futility and suffering that comes with the destruction war brings. The uninterrupted ordeal of Schofield and his comrades doesn’t appeal to a political side, but rather opts to show us the greater impact of saving lives as opposed to taking them. It isn’t a film that some should see, its something ALL should see. Whether you’re a fan of war films or you find them distasteful, there is an overriding message here about ordinary people rising to meet the call in extraordinary circumstances and it isn’t a bunch of meta humans in spandex fighting a purple alien from space, its an 18-year old tasked with saving 2,000 soldiers just like him with no back-up or safety net. Like any great soldier, give ‘em all the awards: they’ve thoroughly earned it.

#1917 SamMendes WarMovies

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lordgeebsdom · 4 years

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Kobe.

“Kobe,” I casually muttered, as I bricked a crushed water bottle off the edge of a counter in my kitchen, my aim being the recycling bin several feet below it. As the smashed Ozarka bottle rolled down onto the floor after missing my target, I walked over to rebound it and then prepared to head into a new part-time job to get some work done Sunday afternoon. As I stand in the garage and ready myself to head out, my phone vibrates: it’s my good friend, Patrick messaging a group-chat that we and another close friend are in. We’re always breaking news, talking about life, or sharing memes like many similar group chats: but even before I could open the message: I felt a sense that something seemed off. A strange vibration perhaps, a “disturbance in the force” as Star Wars fans would put it: I quickly opened the message and read something that made my heart sink

“I think Kobe Bryant may have just died in a Helicopter Accident.”

“What the hell?!” I exclaimed in disbelief. A wave of emotion hit me, but first I felt obligated to check sources and determine the truthfulness of my friend’s message. Was this a prank? Was Patrick trolling me like our mutual friend Alex Salvato often likes to in order to arouse shock?

A quick scroll through twitter confirmed his sincerity: Kobe Bean Bryant, one of the greatest athletes in the modern era of sports, had passed away in a helicopter accident along with nine other victims including his 13-year old daughter.

Driving into work, I found myself in a state of shock: this didn’t feel real. Less than 24 hours before, I had seen current Laker, LeBron James, pass Kobe’s all-time scoring mark to take his spot as third highest of all time in the National Basketball Association. A man that seemed full of life as he congratulated LeBron, and certainly had a lot more to contribute to the world of sports and beyond; how could he die in something as seemingly trivial as a helicopter crash? When I entered the building for work, the whole office was buzzing with whispers of “did you hear about Kobe?” and it was at this moment that the reality truly sunk in. The Black Mamba was indeed dead.

As a Celtics fan, I’ve spent most of my life…..not exactly cheering for Kobe and the Lakers, as they are historical rivals that defined the landscape of the NBA throughout the 1980’s. Kobe has been the face of that organization throughout my life, and as such, was a figure of ire for me in a sports sense. However, like Peyton Manning was a foil to my Patriots and Derek Jeter to my Red Sox, I always had a sincere respect for Kobe as an athlete and his accomplishments combined with an undying competitive spirit. When the Celtics had to play against him, I knew Kobe wasn’t going to give us anything, and that the victory would have to be thoroughly earned in the hardest way possible.

From his three-peat championship years with Shaq, to his 81 points against the Raptors, his comeback to win two more rings, and ultimately his triumphant return after a torn achilles: the Black Mamba truly was a living sports Legend. Kobe even somehow managed to leave the game he loved on his own terms, a dream that has eluded many professional athletes. In hindsight though, this shouldn’t come as a surprise to any of us: Kobe put in the work to make sure he would have that opportunity and the sports world, especially NBA fans are forever thankful that he did. His mentality of relentlessly working to achieve any and all goals he set was an inspiration to all, and that legacy transcends age, origin, creed or any other arbitrary social division we’ve created. A truly inspirational philosophy of determination that many people have and will use to do great things.

Kobe gave himself the Mamba nickname inspired by the assassin from Quintin Tarantino’s film “Kill Bill.” He likened it to an alter ego, similar to the way superheroes adopt a separate identity to become someone else when they’re out fighting crime. "I said, 'If I create this alter ego, so now when I play this is what's coming out of your mouth, it separates the personal stuff, right?' You're not watching David Banner -- you're watching the Hulk.” Kobe didn’t need an alter ego though, he acted as a hero on the court by constantly delivering in the clutch, in real life when he stopped to help a car crash victim in 2018, and to the world by providing a tireless work ethic and philosophy that he selflessly imparted on others with no expectation of personal gain.

There isn’t much new to say about the man, so I’ll conclude with some personal thoughts.

Kobe, as I mentioned earlier: I didn’t like you when you played, and I’m still a little salty about losing game seven in 2010 to give you that fifth ring. But you earned it, like you earned everything you did: five rings and two finals MVP’s along with countless other accolades throughout a legendary 20-year NBA career, an Oscar in retirement, and the numerous other projects in the works that now may sit forever unfinished. I may not have liked you as a Laker, Kobe, but damnit I always respected you. Rest in peace, Legend. For the shots we’ve taken, and those we’re yet to: “Kobe.”

#Kobe Bryant Mamba NBA MambaMentality

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lordgeebsdom · 4 years

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2019, a year in review: Superlative Edition

-Gareth Bill

Athlete of the year: Lamar Jackson - QB Baltimore Ravens. HM: Kawhi Leonard - SF Toronto/LA

Lamar Jackson came out of nowhere to light the league on fire in 2019 breaking Michael Vick’s all-time record for rushing yards by a Quarterback and redefining the position in the process. From his five touchdown performance in Miami to being the assumed MVP, there wasn’t a week where Lamar Jackson didn’t dominate headlines and he continues to show superiority as Baltimore has secured the Number 1 seed in the AFC. Honorable mention goes to Kawhi Leonard for producing the first ever buzzer beater in a game 7 in NBA history and for also bringing Canada their first NBA title. Even against a Kevin Durant-less Golden State Warriors team, Leonard stepped up and delivered when it counted most.

Song of the year: Lost Lately- San Holo. HM: Daemon Veil - EPROM & G Jones

Sander van Dijck, better known by his stage name “San Holo” surprised us with “Lost Lately” in June of this year. A melancholic and melodic ballad of discovery and feeling “lost in aftermath of a breakup” spoke to feelings of insecurity and extends a friendly hand to those in need. From an endearing marketing campaign featuring “lost” posters where fans could call a “helpline” to hear an exclusive sample of the song, to a music video taken straight from EDC: Bitbird executed an almost perfect build and drop for “Lost Lately.” Great followup work to last years “Album1” and I definitely am excited about his future projects for 2020. Honorable mention goes to the IDM monster “Daemon Veil” by EPROM and G Jones. Plain and simple, I loved this ear worm. There’s so much going on from the initial baseline drop to the stuttering minefield of drops and turns that follows before a calming conclusion. Every time I hear this track, I see it too: the flying snares, the zips, zooms and wubs, the story it tells me….its captivating and satisfying. While it isn’t as friendly for casual listening like my 2018 song of the year “Time” (also by G Jones), Daemon Veil is an IDM banger that I’ll continue to blast well into 2020 and beyond.

Album of the year: Good Faith- Madeon. HM: Hollywood’s Bleeding - Post Malone

This was a tough call for me, there was a lot of great albums that came to us in 2019 but Madeon’s “Good Faith” stands tall above the rest. From the initial singles of “All My Friends,” and “Dream, Dream, Dream,” to the unexpected bangers of “Miracle,” and “No Fear, No More,”: “Good Faith” makes a solid argument not just for album of the year but possibly even for the decade and I simply cannot recommend it enough. Honorable Mention goes to “Hollywood’s Bleeding” by Post Malone. Like many, I have thoroughly enjoyed the evolution of Post Malone from SoundCloud sensation to certified super-star, and “Hollywood’s Bleeding” continues to show us that this artist is just getting started. I loved “Goodbyes,” “Circles,” “Sunflower,” and many other tracks on that album, and I’m confident many others did as well. Rapper, Rockstar, Soul-singer and bro: best of luck in 2020 and beyond Post, we’re all eagerly watching.

Movie of the year: Its a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. HM: Avengers: Endgame

Easily the most contested category of the year and the hardest decision made in these superlatives. 2019 produced some awesome films but Tom Hanks’s take on Fred Rogers gave me chills that I hadn’t felt since seeing Christopher Reeve’s Superman as a child. Like Superman, his presence among adults and children alike would universally cause awe and calm, almost god-like tranquility through security. In a year that was defined by division, unrest, cruelty, and anger: Fred Rogers reminds us that there’s still a great deal of hope for humanity, and it all starts with being a good neighbor. Young, old and everyone in between can learn something from this deeply affecting story about humanity and connection. Honorable mention goes to Avengers: Endgame for managing to be the only major franchise ending this year (Game of Thrones, Avengers, Star Wars) that managed to do it with a consensus BANG! It was a 3 hour film that somehow felt like an hour and half, and when Captain America held Mjornir with every Avenger ever at his back and said “Avengers, Assemble!”, I couldn’t help but fist pump with a grin from ear to ear. Tony Stark’s dying words of “I am Iron-Man,” gave me goosebumps and Black Widow’s death made me feel genuine loss: The Marvel Cinematic Universe managed to execute a singular plan and vision over 23 films and that is truly exceptional.

Actor/Actress of the year: Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur/Joker. HM: Florence Pugh - Midsommar

Joaquin Phoenix’s long anticipated and controversial performance as Joker was the best singular work I saw this year. Authentic, gut-wrenching, thought-provoking, and anything but boring: Joker gave us the next step in comic book cinema and a new cultural icon in the process. Arthur Fleck is a poster child for mental illness, something that currently is at the forefront of our society and gave the general public a poster child for such conditions. Phoenix’s Joker will one day be recognized in the same light as we currently see Che: an underdog figure of resistance and revolution standing against a seemingly unstoppable status quo and inspiring the unseen masses in the process. Honorable mention has to go to one of my new favorites in Florence Pugh and her performance as Dani in “Midsommar”. Her pain, confusion, and ultimate triumph that unravels throughout a trip to a small village in Europe during their mid-summer festival is the stuff of “slow-burn horror” wet-dreams. There’s a scene early on where her character has to convey immense grief after suffering a personal tragedy and I can still hear that crying in the most haunting way. Pugh’s performance stuck with me in a year full of great ones, and I’m very excited to see her future work including “Black Widow” in May.

Television show of the year: Watchmen- HBO. HM: Good Omens - Amazon Prime

Watchmen blew my mind, and I the less I say about it, the better. A continuation of the story told in my favorite book of all-time, “Watchmen” managed to tie together many loose plot threads from that story while also moving the universe forward in new and exciting ways that matched the tone of the graphic novel. Regina King’s “Sister Night” was a complex, likable, and tragic protagonist uniquely qualified to walk us through this new chapter, and without spoiling things anymore than I already may have: YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS. Honorable Mention goes to Good Omens on Amazon Prime. To any familiar with the story or Neil Gaiman’s work in general, you know what to expect: deep stories, complex and likable characters, and witty dialogue that will make you pause and think or laugh feverishly in equal measure. Its only 5 episodes, so there’s really no excuse to not dive into this one and see how the world ends…..or rather was supposed to…

Game of the year: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - PS4/XboxOne/PC. HM: Apex Legends - PS4/PC/XboxOne

From Softwares’ “Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice” stands tall in a year that finally saw long awaited projects like Obsidian’s “Outer Worlds” and Kojima’s “Death Stranding” get long-awaited releases. An exciting and more stealthy evolution of the Dark Souls combat system made me feel like a real Ninja for the first time since Ninja Gaiden Black on my original Xbox. The demanding, but fair gameplay combined with a variation of environments including haunted Japanese forests, Sengoku Temples, Palaces and gory battlefields came together to give the most complete package I played in 2019. Just don’t be too surprised if the final boss gives you problems because that f***er can almost made me break a controller. Honorable mention goes to the game that managed to dethrone “Fortnite” as the most popular game for like a whole two months. Respawn entertainment developed the awesome Titanfall series that I personally enjoyed and rumors had been circulating for quite awhile that they were looking to expand Titanfall into the booming genre of BR or Battle Royale. Apex Legends is the answer to those prayers and still continues to push out new skins, content and weapons at a regular rate. Did I mention it is also completely free to play?

Story of the year: President Trump becomes the third President to ever be impeached 12/19

HM: Henry Nobrega wins the fucking BVN Football Fantasy Football title. 11/19

To be perfectly honest, this is the first category that really could have gone either way for me. President Trump becoming the third President in US history to be impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of congress was massive; regardless of how you feel about President Orangutan. His tenure as President has produced a number of newsworthy moments but this story stood out among the others for sheer importance and international embarrassment. Speaking of embarrassment, that’s essentially what my good friend Henry’s fantasy football team has managed to be every year that I’ve played with him. A perennial basement dweller that typically auto drafts due to some BS excuse, and a resident near the bottom of our power rankings but this year he flipped that script on its head. He managed to draft my Athlete of the year, Lamar Jackson, and the last great white running back in Christian McCaffrey. Not only did Henry surpass his preseason ranking of bottom, he managed to win both regular season and postseason titles and beat a solid team by Graham Heck in the process. I got love for you bro, but I’m still perplexed on how your season managed to be as dominant as it was. Sorry Greta Thunberg, but these stories had my jaw on the floor, maybe next year lil’ Queen.

Meme of the year: Baby Yoda of the Disney+ show “The Mandolorian”

Was there every really a doubt here? Baby Yoda or “The Child” as he’s known on the show is the biggest pop culture icon born on the internet in 2019. The gap between Baby Yoda and what I considered to be an honorable mention was so wide that he will officially stand alone in this category. Baby Yoda’s cuteness managed to melt even my stone cold heart this year and that is absolutely an achievement. What made this creature so endearing was the universal applicability though music, sports, culture, and food: Baby Yoda was everywhere and the internet found common ground and shared meaning through sharing little graphics everywhere prominently featuring him as the centerpiece. Well played Jon Favreau, we love this little guy and everyone thanks you for creating him.

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lordgeebsdom · 5 years

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JOKER 2019, My thoughts and a larger monologue on Mental Health.

I’ve been a fan of Batman my whole life. Some of my earliest memories are watching, role-playing and reading to learn about Batman and his vast mythology. Calling myself a fanatic would be modest, but I don’t want to over do it here, I am merely stating my credibility and familiarity with the character Joker. The idea of an R-rated villain case-study film first came to me in the form of Darth Vader, and unfortunately the whole story ended up just being early online rumors for the film that would eventually become Star Wars: Rogue One. Fast Forward to 2019 and Joaquin Phoenix and Todd Phillips collaborate to bring a grounded, brutal, and beautifully demented origin story of Gotham City’s Clown Prince of Crime to theaters with said desired R-rating, and right in time to face a society at war with an army of unseen caucasian incel homegrown terrorists.

Wait, what?

Joker is controversial, crazy, and a very good movie that pushes comic book cinema forward and should compete for award consideration based on Phoenix’s performance and the direction overall. It also confirms that DC films are at their best when they aren’t trying to imitate the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but inversely embrace darker tones and themes to tell gritty, dramatic stories.

Welcome to Gotham pre-Batman, in other words: one of, if not the worst city to live in fictional publication history. A place constantly ravaged by crime and sadism for no reason other than “WhY nOt?” Keep in mind, this is somewhere that even in the more romantic interpretations is portrayed as having more in common with the Sodom and Gamorrah than civilized contemporary society. Gotham is so socially imbalanced, and law enforcement so inept that a billionaire with severe PTSD in a military-grade bat-suit will one day be the line between order and chaos at any given moment. In this film however, Bruce Wayne is a mere child who’s parents are alive and well at a time where Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck could really use a silent guardian, and watchful protector.

Early on they make it clear that Arthur is not a reliable Narrator (a trademark Joker characteristic) but he’s in every scene, so audiences will be left to debate exactly what was real and what was fantasy. Fleck is a person who doesn’t know happiness, but the daily struggle of simply trying to exist and subsist. As Fleck states in the trailer, “My whole life, I didn’t know if I even existed, but it turns out, I do.” Phillips and Phoenix expertly explore a new twisted journey that it would theoretically take to cause one man to go from an ordinary citizen to a full blown super villain. This effectively gives us the inverse of the formula so well established in films such as Tobey Mcguire’s Spider-Man and Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron-Man crossed with Taxi-Driver on Steroids. Comic book cinema is darkly explored and evolves in a 1970’s/1980’s style Gotham City that Travis Bickle’s New York would tip its proverbial cap to in perverted admiration and depressing indifference.

This Gotham, much like our contemporary society, is plagued by indifference and widespread moral decay amidst the backdrop of political instability and income disparity. Arthur lives in a dilapidated project-style accommodation tattered in graffiti and filth with his sole company being his senile mother, Penny. By day he works as a clown for hire, and by night he obsessively tries to start a career as a stand-up comic, something that he cannot help but fail at despite his most sincere efforts (and the fact that his jokes suck). Arthur balances everyday life against his constant battle with his clearly evident but unspecified mental illnesses, something that he is desperately fighting a bloody battle within to keep buried. His mental illnesses are incredibly relatable in that early on they primarily manifest as romantic fantasies with unrequited lovers and delusions of grandeur in which he is appreciated and accepted.

In some way, that’s what makes Joker such a compelling watch in that this film is Arthur’s unwilling decent into madness, a battle that he only loses once every support system in his life fails all at once. In this sense, Joker is a critique against society that we really should make an effort to be nicer to one another, even in small and seemingly insignificant ways. There are a number of different people that could have positively impacted Arthur and prevented him from embracing the Joker persona.

The portrayal of mental illness feels as timely as it does harrowing. Phoenix’s work shows how helpless the victims of mental illness are against their ailment and how totally consuming the condition can be. I also believe that the film shows how thin the dam is that holds insanity at bay, and how quickly the flood of madness can wash away rational thought and leave nothing but destruction in its wake. It asks us all the uncomfortable proposition: what would we do if all the support systems in your life failed at once? Would you try to fight and hold on to your sanity or would your state of shock and instability lead you down a darker path?

The answers we all find in one way or another validate the existence of this film.

Now I want to directly address some of the more controversial perspectives of this film, especially the notion that it encourages gun violence. Let me be clear: the thing I love the most about this film is that Joaquin Phoenix is The Joker. The Joker is an evil, twisted and sadistic clown that would make Pennywise blush: an agent of chaos and some could argue “the Antichrist”. Instead of the “celebration of chaos” many critics have called it, Joker feels more like a horror film or reenactment documentary of how someone became a notorious serial killer, and it correspondingly feels more like an indictment than an endorsement.

Anyone who walked out of that theatre thinking that Joker is an instruction manual on how to execute domestic terrorism clearly didn’t pay attention to the setting or time frame. Joker exists in a period where cctv, metal detectors, cellphones and other obstacles that would prevent anything in this film from happening in contemporary society ever existed. If this were real life, someone with a cell phone would have snagged a picture of Arthur immediately following his first crime, and the cops would have apprehended him long before he was able to do any lasting damage, let alone start a social revolution. Remember, this is a comic book story and it should be treated appropriately as a work of fiction.

That being said, Joker isn’t just an awesome Batman-universe movie, its an awesome movie period. The themes it covers are timely, lasting and crucial. It asks us to not only examine and inspect the film, but to do the same to ourselves and the society around us long after the credits have stopped rolling. More than ever, Its important to try and understand the circumstances and nature of mental illness as it silently invades the unknowing minds of the masses. But as I also stated, it gives us a secret weapon to combat this through compassion and acceptance that eluded Arthur his entire life. These are lessons we’d be best off learning otherwise, we’re doomed to get exactly what Fleck’s Joker posits that we deserve.

And remember folks, that’s life. 🤡

#Joker Joker2019 JoaquinPhoenix ToddPhillips DCComics MentalHealth

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lordgeebsdom · 5 years

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Pet Sematary: Sometimes dead is mediocre? (Spoiler-Free)

So lets get one thing out there for necessary context: I have never seen the first “Pet Sematary” which gave me a very fresh experience walking into this film. I will not be comparing the two versions but rather judging this 2019 iteration on its own merits.

“Pet Sematary” is a tragic story of a family’s demise at the hands of powers beyond comprehension in a notably sinister part of the Massachusetts forrest area. Though not very gory, nor featuring any chills that stick with you after the credits, It does succeed in generating a freaky atmosphere despite some serious narrative shortcomings and a bloated run time.

Though I’m not a horror connoisseur, I’ve seen my fair share and definitely have an understand of what made some of the classics really stand out from the crowd

The highlight of this movie had to be the creepy cat, Winston Churchill, shortened to “Church” throughout. This evil feline prominently featured in trailers and promotional material doesn’t disappoint, and hard-carries the horror and general sense of uneasiness in many scenes around the middle part of the film. The matted hair, dried blood, piercing stare and growling purr all contribute to a very intimidating presence that only grows as the story moves towards its climax. I’m not personally a huge fans of cats, but I’m definitely a fan of Church.

The filmography is also very well done and it establishes the film’s more spooky environments as truly haunting visages. From the creepy and open woods of New England’s historic forrest, to the more intimate long dark hallways of the family’s house: the atmosphere is always ominous. For every great environment the filmmakers bring to life though, there always seems to be a very questionable character decision that soon follows to breaks the immersion in critical ways.

I firmly believe immersion or a sense of immersion is one of the hallmarks of great entertainment and especially movies. By immersion, I’m referring to the sense of feeling invested in the story or characters regardless of suspension of belief that the premise or plot may be when held to the standards of reality. Are we as the audience willing to forsake common sense to understand the actions of a character we’re watching, and are their motivations sufficient to warrant this action? Some of the best films ever made don’t break immersion throughout, and some of the worst cant stop. Immersion is also a mark of very solid writing in that if we can understand the characters, we’re able to form a deeper sense of appreciation for them, which can only enhance the work in question.

The lack of immersion through absurd plotting is one of the demerits holding “Pet Sematary” back from achieving the “classic” horror film status it is so clearly chasing.

We’ve all seen that classic horror trope where the characters advance the plot through making AWFUL decisions that are often the opposite of sensical. By this I mean the character does something that no reasonable person in similar circumstances would even consider, and will certainly result in their imminent demise. How any horror film in 2019 still thinks that they can get away with this poor writing is really beyond my comprehension. Instead of crafting interesting situations and motivations for characters to pursue, they settle for having them go against common sense and self-preservation and more importantly also against the explicit warning of a character that foreshadows the evil awaiting our protagonists.

In addition to the messy writing, this film is a very slow burn in terms of plot pacing. The first 2/3 of the movie felt like it dragged on with a story that at times even the filmmakers didn’t seem all that interested in telling. Once things finally start advancing much later on, the conclusion comes suddenly and without warning; like bad sex, you are left feeling pretty unsatisfied. The exposition that is told during the early movie runtime doesn’t really pay off in any meaningful ways either, outside of the plot regarding Church. In hindsight it feels like that film time could have been put to better use, especially in giving some characters a more fleshed out origin to justify some of the more questionable decisions throughout the film.

Though some of these remarks may come across as harsh, I’d say that I generally fall somewhere in the middle of this film, hence the score. There are some genuinely freaky moments and jump scares that surprised me, but the plot lacks the true chills of better horror classics, and the plotting is too frustrating to distinguish it from the ever-growing crowd. Truthfully, just wait until this one comes out on Blu-Ray or DVD as it didn’t offer enough to justify a trip to the theater. There are stronger offerings at your local cinema that will feel like a better use of your hard earned cash.

Reviewed on 4/6/19

Score: 70/100

-Gareth

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lordgeebsdom · 5 years

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Sekiro: If Shadows die one more time, I’ll need a new controller. A review and essay by Gareth Bill

On March 22, 2019, From Software released their latest signature Action-RPG Souls-Bourne game: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice which I picked up on Xbox One X, and is also available on PS4 and PC. Notoriously difficult, these games have distinguished themselves in the industry as the template for hard, but fair challenges that can only be overcome by mastery and skill. Sekiro puts its twist on the aforementioned formula through the added ninja style gameplay (more on that later) and new character mobility, and the titular hook of being able to twice, or three times, or personally more like 287 times....and counting.

I have completed all of the Souls games with the platinum trophy (100% game completion) on Bloodborne; additionally I have completed Nioh, Cuphead and several other notoriously difficult games. This is why I can say with absolute certainty, this is one of the hardest video games I’ve ever played and (thankfully) managed to beat. At the time of this writing, less than 2% of players have completed the Xbox One Version (no doubt due to that ludicrously over powered, 4 health bar final encounter that I wont spoil here). An unexpected ailment kept me out of the office for a week so we dove into this new classic while dealing with it. For those concerned: yes, I am better now.

The newfound difficulty this time around comes through a number of means, Specifically: an evolutionary shift of the combat system by eliminating the stamina bar, and allowing players to jump/parkour with new layers of verticality. From Software also adds a Batman Arkham-style grapple hook and expands Sekiro with opportunities and areas full of exciting collectibles and upgrades to find. The player can also now thin the heard of enemies through new stealth ninja-style executions from above and behind before engaging. This in particular is very important to avoid being outnumbered and quickly killed by the potent enemy AI.

Personally, the idea of this freedom was instantly bittersweet; as a veteran of titles from this developer, I knew they wouldn’t have provided me with such freedom without indeed expecting me to master it for their trademark insane boss battles.

Speaking of, the aforementioned set piece encounters are insane and range from massive demonic animals, to hulking Sengoku era soldiers and climax in one of the toughest final bosses I’ve seen in any video game. These fearsome looking, often monstrous and grotesque adversaries will consistently test skilled players, and can only be overcome through true mastery of the deflection technique and posture bar. This is mechanic replaces the stamina bar and if it gets too high, the posture of that character will be broken, leaving them or your character open for a killing blow. In the spirit of being hard but fair, each boss does telegraph their moves to some degree and all have the same limitations of posture as the player; but these animations are very small, and the punishment is almost always a swift death.

Only through mastering the deflection technique and by truly embracing “the way of the ninja” will players triumph over the many challenges that wait for them in Sekiro. For fans of From Software games, you’ve probably already picked this gem up and know exactly what I’m talking about; now for the new players or people unaccustomed: I wouldn’t exactly recommend without first watching a stream or some gameplay on YouTube. The very sharp and unforgiving nature of the difficulty, especially early, will inevitably turn some people off.

Everything must be earned in Sekiro, and ultimately that sense of satisfaction that comes after triumphing over a particularly troublesome boss or mini-boss is why I personally believe this game should come with an addiction warning. Maybe you’ll stand up and flex, or perhaps you’ll scream out a war-cry, but you will receive an adrenaline rush that’ll leave your hands shaking and pulse pounding. An unrivaled sense of accomplishment among video games has always been taking down big and scary monsters in these games and Sekiro has the goods!

It is worth noting that I did experience some noticeable FPS drop at a few points that seemed particularly graphically demanding on Xbox One X. I wanna be clear, the game held up at a steady 30 fps though during all fights where timing is key, so this shouldn't concern prospective players. Digital foundry has done a full graphics comparison on all versions that is freely available on Youtube for those curious about their particular console or even the PC version.

My Score: 90/100

Reviewed on Xbox One X, Also available on PS4 and PC.

-Gareth

TL:DR: This is a very fun but difficult game that will not be for everyone. If you are willing to learn the more complicated mechanics in the game and put in the time necessary to master them and the new bosses, a very rewarding and rich experience awaits you. If you prefer easier games with a more relaxed feel that don’t ask much of you: steer clear. I’ve completed it though and already started my run on NG+, don’t see myself getting tired of this one anytime soon.

#sekiro #shadowsdietwice

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lordgeebsdom · 10 years

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What the Hell Was That? One bro’s review of Dexter’s Series Finale (spoilers)

Before we get going I must of course remind that herein lay spoilers for those who have not finished the series or didn't read the above warning. Enjoy!

So recently, I was watching CNN, and they were covering the death of some boys who had been bombed down there in the Gaza conflict, the one that’s erupting and many of us who ACTUALLY watch the news are well aware of by now. It just seemed wrong. Like how could God, an ideally omnibenevolent, omniscient, omnipresent force allow such a thing? Like any other man I get somewhat angry about the whole situation, the downright injustice.

Makes me wish there was someone out there to take care of that problem. Like superman to watch over conflict in the middle east, or Batman and Robin to have saved the kids at Newton. Iron Man and Spiderman stopping the terrorists and saving NY from 9/11, it’s awesome to imagine if only for a second our childhood heroes intervening on behalf of the innocent to save lives where no other person could.

With Dexter, we get a semi-realistic incarnation of what it would be like to venture out as a modern day Vigilante/serial killer, on an ongoing quest to clear his city of predators. Murders, rapists, sadists, you will come to know Dexter’s table well.

For four seasons, viewers are led on an expertly paced adventure from Dexter and his spiritual Jiminy Cricket: Harry Morgan. Dexter, the serial killer who goes out and takes out the scum of his city after his mother was slain in a grisly execution courtesy of a Miami cartel. My brother once described Dexter as the “Only bad guy you actually cheer for…” He then paused before quickly adding “well him and Heisenberg.”

For six seasons, Dexter is the bay-harbor butcher. Well until Deb found out about him, freaked out, before one thing led to another…then another… and well. I’ll be honest, I never liked Deb much: she was a potty mouth, overly vulgar, and generally too melodramatic. However, she was a very significant character throughout the series; particularly where Dexter’s character balance is concerned. His relationship with her is very important to him, and the writers even manage to ruin this before the end of the series. They handicap her with romantic affections and jealousy for her brother and Hannah respectively, something that seemed forced, unnatural given her character during the rest of the show: and just weird.

The writers of seasons 6,7,8 should have to pay back the money they were given by the show. For example, in Season 6: so Colin Hanks has “fight-club” syndrome. He’s not only Travis, but the Professor as well, but before he me Dexter, Travis didn’t know he was bad. So why in the last 3-4 episodes of the season he’s just full time evil? Is sanity a switch like a light bulb that one can willfully turn on now? I can now submit to just doing whatever the hell I want and blame it on a dual personality? Dude, no.

Season 7 is just, well to use a popular contemporary phrase “I just cant even.” I could honestly write another few pages about everything wrong with this season and 8 but I’ll limit myself to the finale. So about the finale; first things first: Dexter killing himself only to somehow escape a certain death and appear in some remote location as a lumberjack? Hold on, that’s only AFTER, he drops Deb in the ocean after her ludicrous death. Yes, I understand blood clots happen, but they don’t happen to Deborah Morgan after surviving death as many times as she has in the past 8 seasons, that’s downright unacceptable as Deb’s fate.

Additionally, Harrison Morgan being left to Hannah. You know because everyone, especially someone as intelligent as Dexter would leave their son, whose mother was Rita Morgan, to a woman who poisoned you about ~two weeks ago (in show timeline). Yes, any person would certainly do something as reckless as that. NOT.

So in the end, after 8 patient seasons of anticipating how Dexter would or would not get away with the greatest murder spree of all time, we get this crap. Harrison will live in Argentina with a fugitive that we don’t really know that well nor trust. Deb gets dumped in the ocean like all of Dexter’s criminals? Yep, I’ll dump my beloved sister where I dump all the scum I’ve killed over the years thought Dexter apparently.

Wow.

It’s just disappointing how such a great series that has so much potential for spinoffs due to the significant potential created in its rich universe over those 8 seasons conclude in such an atrocious, and unacceptable way. Downright awful, in fact: unforgiveable. Put the writers on Dexter’s table!

It’s whatever.

Just know this, if you’re out there and you watch Dexter on Netlflix, and you inevitably see that ending; you are not alone. It was absurd, and you don’t have to accept it either! Peace out peeps, and beware the Nation.

-@GarethBill_I_am

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lordgeebsdom · 10 years

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"The Darkest of Knights".

-Anonymous

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lordgeebsdom · 11 years

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The Gamble at #1?

It’s Saturday, April 27, 2013. Day Tres of the NFL draft on ESPN. It’s been two days since the Chiefs ended their countless months of scouting, preparing, “big-board” constructing, and above all else certifying the plan in order to pick the best available player in the draft. We now know, their ultimate decision was to select OT Eric Fisher (Central Michigan) over assumed favorite OT Luke Joeckel (Texas A&M).

Let’s go back a bit and see how we got here. The Chiefs just had a season that epitomizes the importance of a sound coaching staff over a talented team. They had more players selected to the 2013 Pro Bowl (6) than wins (2). This earned them the dubious distinction of owning the number one overall selection in this weekend’s draft. There were a lot of places they could go with said pick, and many indications were that they would go with a quarterback. This notion shifted however when it was learned that the 2013 QB draft class was particularly weak, and the chances of striking gold with a RG3, Andrew Luck, or Russell Wilson simply wasn’t very likely this year.

Skip ahead here, we’re looking at only a few players worth the #1 overall selection, every major Draft analyst/expert are posting on their respective sites, and Luke Joeckel is the consensus favorite. People are boasting about his body of work: playing in both the SEC and Big XII. Scouts ranted and raved about how Joeckel “knows how to ‘hold’ in the NFL, … that’s a skill you need at the next level” –Mark Schlereth (ESPN Pro Football Analyst) “possesses exceptional understanding of pass protection” –John Gruden (Super Bowl winning Coach). Essentially this kid is supposed to be the hand’s down: “Best Pick Available”.

But like any good draft, there’s a kid that’s experienced a fairly meteoric rise over the off-season. This is a historically valuable period where draft picks can experience ‘superficial’ hype as a prospect in the NFL. There is always a guy, and there were quite a few this year, who sort of comes out and increases his draft value “just in time” for the draft. This year, that guy was Eric Fisher.

He played left tackle for Central Michigan, and has anchored the spot since his sophomore year in 2010. He earned all conference honors his junior and senior seasons, and has been on scouts radars since the beginning of the 2011 campaign. Standing 6’7” weighing in at 306 pounds, the guy is a physical specimen, and that’s an understatement. At the combine he ran a 5.05 second 40-yard dash, bench pressed 225 lbs 27 times, and had a 28.5-inch vertical leap (according to nfl.com). For those unfamiliar with positional measurements: these are very impressive numbers.

So what’s the problem? Well first, let’s look at the biggest red flag, which is the level of competition Fisher played against while at Central Michigan. During the three years that he played significant time/started, the Chippewas played only nine teams from major Division I programs. This wouldn’t be a huge deal, except when said aforementioned body of work is put up against that of Luke Joeckel’s; who played his entire career against Big XII and SEC opponents every Saturday. Add this to the fact that Joeckel also practiced against 3rd round draftee Damontre Moore, and pro-bowl pass rusher Von Miller during his time in college. So without a doubt, Joeckel’s resume stands above the modest offering from Fisher.

Fisher supporters often recite his dominant Senior Bowl performance as his defining achievement pre-draft. There’s no debating the fact that Fisher routinely shut down his competition both during practices and in the game at the Senior Bowl. This argument however doesn’t hold a great deal of promise historically. Recent Senior bowl’s “top performers” by year starting in 2005 were: Charlie Frye, Sinorice Moss, Tony Hunt, Matt Forte, Christian Ponder, Isaiah Pead, and E.J. Manuel. While there are some promising names in that list, there are also a few busts. Frye, Moss, and Hunt are no longer in the league, and with the exception of Matt Forte, and Christian Ponder, none of these guys really made an impact in the NFL (excluding Manuel of course). So in short, Senior Bowl success doesn’t automatically translate into a prosperous NFL career. Luke Joeckel was an underclassman and was ineligible to participate in the

Fisher also had an exceptional combine in which he was able to demonstrate his superior athleticism to other lineman. Obviously, this is almost a joke within itself since Offensive Lineman are typically not terribly athletic guys to start with. Fisher posted a 5.05 sec 40-yard dash, benched 27 reps, and had a 28.5-inch vertical jump. Since Joeckel is the main comparison here, he posted comparable numbers with a 5.30 sec 40-yard dash, 27-rep bench press, and a 28.5-inch vertical jump. Where Fisher distinguished his athleticism was in the 20-yard shuttle, and the broad jump. Joeckel only posted a 4.68 in the 20-yard shuttle to Fisher’s 4.44, and a 106-inch broad jump to Fisher’s 116-inches. This demonstrates that Fisher possesses a superior ability to change directions in space, and also shows greater lower body strength than Joeckel. This gives him an edge in a zone-blocking scheme, which ironically, is exactly what new Chief’s head coach Andy Reid runs.

In summary however, we’re left with really nothing. There’s no current way to measure if Fisher is the “right guy” until the season starts. With such high expectations, and risk of bust (JaMarcus Russell), there are many questions. Will he pan out? Will he be our starting OT for years to come? Will he perhaps be a Hall of Fame player? Or will Fisher go down as a huge bust and a set the franchise back for years to come? Perhaps Fisher’s career ends up somewhere in the middle? Some firmly believe that there this pick screams bust, while others believe that he’s the next Joe Staley. One thing is for sure: Go Chiefs, and good luck!

*Stats and information provided by ESPN.com, NFL.com, University of Central Michigan Chippewa Football website, Texas A&M football’s website.

**Quoted opinions are taken from interviews pre-draft via ESPN, ESPN 2, & ESPN 3 respectively.

***This document is a construct of my opinions & outsider information and should in no way be taken as official representation of the following: The NFL, The Kansas City Chiefs, their players, or other related intellectual properties.

****photo credit goes to google images, b/c they are the Sh*t.

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lordgeebsdom · 11 years

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so i was stumbling around pilsen, fucked up drunk. i wasn’t sure where i planned on going, but i remember that wasn’t much of a concern at the time. i was upset because my friends had somehow found a way to make cocaine notfun. this guy in a sleek black audi pulls over next to me and asks me if i...

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lordgeebsdom · 11 years

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The Season that Never Was

To put it bluntly, Kansas city football has certainly seen better days. The Kansas Jayhawks sit at a balmy 1-10 (lost 51-23 to Iowa State on Saturday), and all-but-certain national championship contender, BCS #1: Kansas State, got demolished by Baylor in waco. but these two stories, though tragic in their own right, pale in comparison to the debacle that has orchestrated itself through the first 11 weeks of the NFL season. I'm speaking of none other than the Kansas City Chiefs.

For a season that started with more promise than any in recent memory, What a terrible turn it has in fact taken. All the buzz in the preseason surrounded this "great" roster that the chiefs had assembled. Pickups like Stanford Routt, Eric Winston, Kevin Boss, Peyton Hillis, amongst others. In addition to this, fans welcomed the return of young contributors: Tony Moeaki, Jamaal Charles, and Eric Berry; all recovering from ACL surgeries. All of this, and defensive guru Romeo Crennel at the helm, who had inspired some late season magic from the chiefs featuring a win against the previously undefeated Green Bay Packers, and a thrilling final game victory in denver against NFL good guy Tim Tebow. Everything seemed to be coming together for a team that had served as a disappointment in 2011, struggling to replace key players, in addition to the firing of embattled coach Todd Haley mid-season.

Preseason rankings and predictions for the chiefs mostly saw them as a playoff team, and in worst cases: a solid squad in the tough AFC; and why not? All of the aforementioned, in addition to the growth of 2010 pro-bowl Quarterback: Matt Cassel, who was returning from a season-ending injury himself.

Then....the games actually started.

a misleading victory against the arizona cardinals in the preseason inspired a false sense of security amongst the red and yellow faithful; showing off all the new toys and looking fairly good in the first half. Then came a trip to St. Louis and in retrospect, this game really should have put up a few more red flags than it did. The offense couldn't get going, and the defense couldn't stop a weak rams offense that had won only 2 games in the year previous. Week 3 was an ass-whooping dished out by eventual (controversial) rookie break-out: Russel wilson and a solid seattle Seahawks squad at arrowhead. The chiefs would finish the pre-season with yet another loss, this time to the Green Bay Packers in Lambeau. But that was the preseason, and optimism was still sky high for the regular season, which would start off with a visit from the Atlanta Falcons and young Matt Ryan (Matty Ice).

for one half of football, the chiefs looked the part. They were tied 17-17 late in the second qtr, and went into half-time only down 20-17. I can remember sitting on my couch, enjoying an adult carbonated beverage discussing with my brother what we thought would happen in the second half. Both of us hoped for a big chiefs win to start the season, or should i say we did....

What ensued would be a demoralizing second half collapse, that unbeknownst to us, would manifest as a microcosm of the impending season. Turnovers, sloppy play, and an anemic offensive performance. Here's a stat for the chiefs season, through 10 games, they have a -21 turnover differential. In english, that means that the chiefs have given away 21 possessions. They lead the league with 16 fumbles, and 15 interceptions: a truly maddening ensemble of futility. Hell, the chiefs couldn't even get a lead in a game until last week against Pittsburgh. Their only win of the season came on the final play of the game in overtime.

Honestly, i largely blame the weak chiefs offense that has simply failed to consistently move the ball in any game this year. At first, I believed that the Chiefs were going through some growing pains in newly appointed offensive coordinator Brian Daboll's offense. Surely these issues would be rectified in time. But then, i did a little research, and what i found really disturbed me. This was Daboll's third stop as an offensive coordinator, in fact it was his third stop in 4 years. First, he ran the offense for the Cleveland Browns, which ranked 32nd in his first year, and 29th in his second. Then, he was moved to Miami where he ran an offense that was ranked 20th in the league and featured pro-bowl WR Brandon Marshall. The chief's scoring offense currently ranks dead-last in the league with a 15.2 point average. Considering that just two years previous in 2010 (AFC west champs) the team averaged 22.9 points against a harder schedule.

NOTE* In 2010, the Chiefs' offense was run by now University of Kansas head coach: Charlie Weis, who is a well-respected offensive coach in the NFL.

The biggest crime in all of this however, is the fact that the Chiefs' offense has shown little to no improvement over the course of the season (so far). through the first 10 games, they have only scored 20 or more points in just three contests (ATL, NO, 1st SD gm). Fans shouldn't JUST be worried about the giveaways and the lack of scoring though. There's also been an uncomfortably obvious lack of growth. The chiefs continue to make the same mistakes week after week that cost them. Any blind man could tell you this is a result of coaching. I guarantee that Bill Belicheck, Tom Coughlin, or any other good coach in this league would NOT continue to have these problems that are so easily fixed. Whatever the message is in the Chiefs' offensive locker-room and player meetings, IT'S NOT WORKING.

Then there's Matt cassel. Matt (excuse my language) FUCKING Cassel. When asked of Matt Cassel recently i found myself pondering the one word i can use to describe him: how. How can Chiefs' coaches continue to play him, How can one player be so bad, How does this clown keep his job week after week. Matt Cassel routinely manages to fuck up even the most trivial of plays. Simple proceudres such as handing the ball off to a running back become a dangerous display of Murphy's law once Matt Cassel is entered into the equation. For fuck's sake, the guy struggles to complete even the most basic of passes some times. I'm just gonna move on because frankly, i have nothing good to say about Matt Cassel. If I was leading this organization, I would cut him and it would be good riddance. The man simply cannot lead this team at a high level.

The defense isn't absolved of blame though. Romeo Crennel firing himself from defensive coordinator and appointing our linebackers coach to the same position is the same as breaking your arm and putting a band-aid on it. The chiefs' pass rush has been poor only earning 17 sacks on the year, and even fewer QB rushes. Rookie Dontari Poe has failed to impress with only 18 tackles this season and zero sacks. In fact, the defensive line is in dire need of an overhaul as a whole. Tyson Jackson and Glenn dorsey have continued to prove that they are big time busts, and Tamba has attracted double teams all year, limiting his effectiveness. I could go top to bottom on the chiefs defense because frankly, there are pretty serious problems at every level, but by far, the single greatest issue that faces the Chiefs, is getting off the field on third down. Game after game, drive after drive, the chiefs will get their opponents in third and long situations, and simply fail to stand their ground. Not being able to get off the field on third down can be a back breaker for the defense, and it has been all season.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out the Chiefs' have a lot of problems. Hell, i'm pretty sure a casual fan could have figured this one out. But why am I taking the time to write this article. There are MANY terrible teams to write about, my beloved Red Sox one of them. Well, it's because this city deserves better. Plain and simple. Kansas City Fans have supported this organization through thick and thin, and it's time to see some of that effort returned by the team, and it's management. Arrowhead is the loudest venue in the NFL, and the Chiefs' could sell it out every game. They are one of the few organizations fortunate enough to be able to make this claim. Chiefs' fans are some of the best and most loyal in the NFL, regardless of what that Asshole Eric Winston says.

But it doesn't take a genius to know that some pretty big changes are coming in Kansas City this offseason. If a rumored visit between marty schottenheimer and Clark hunt a few weeks ago is any indication, then sign me up! New head coach, new coordinators, and hell, maybe even a new GM. Let's start the wish-list with Oregon Duck's head Coach Chip Kelly. The man is an offensive guru and would definitely be able to improve the Chiefs god-awful offensive numbers in a very short amount of time. He has also fielded a talented defense to compliment his prolific offenses, so he presents a very interesting prospective candidate. Another guy that a lot of people have been throwing around is Mike Zimmer, defensive coordinator of the cincinnati Bengals. Admittedly, i don't know a whole lot about this guy other than the fact he singlehandedly fixed the Bengal's defense, which was jokingly bad in the seasons leading up to his hiring. He is widely regarded to be dedicated to the game, and an up and coming guy who a lot of current NFL head coaches strongly advocating he should get his chance to lead a whole team. Could it be the Chiefs in 2013?

Who will be the general manager of the Chiefs next season when Scott Pioli is (more than likely) let go? many fans are calling for a legendary coach to step in, but i'm not sure that this is the right call (see mike holmgren in cleveland). Names like Baltimore assistant-GM eric decasta, Colt's former GM & VP Bill Polian, and the New York Giants director of college personnel and scouting Marc Ross, just to name a few seem to be names to watch should Scott Pioli be replaced. Better yet, who will the chiefs take with the number one overal pick in the 2013 NFL Draft should the current order hold? The obvious answer would be a Quarterback, but as i just listed, our needs are quite numerous.

My parting message goes a little something like this. Sure, us Chief fans will suffer right now, and what choice do we have? Barring a miraculous, and i mean nothing short of divine intervention, stretch here to end the season, the chiefs will finish bottom of the AFC, and maybe in the NFL, and you know what, we'll all be there cheering and watching the whole way, because that's what we do. We hope, often in vein, week in and week out that maybe, just maybe, the Chiefs will surprise us with a win. Till then though

-Gareth

#geebsnation

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lordgeebsdom · 12 years

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Peyton Manning

Son of Archie, brother of Eli and Cooper, arguably the best qb of all time. So why is this man, who proved that he is the only irreplaceable player in the league this season, while not playing a snap, is being disrespected by both his owners and the media. ESPN has been happy to report for months that Andrew Luck will come in and take Peyton's job, leaving him to go elsewhere. The same man who won 1 super bowl, and fell one interception short of leading the colts to a second only a few years ago. As a patriots fan, i obviously have no love for Peyton. However, I respect the hell out of him, and don't let anybody tell you differently. I definitely support the notion that the game as a whole is better with Peyton than without him. Jim Irsay needs to pay the man who really IS the franchise. Without Manning, the Colts dropped their win total from 10 in the 2010-2011 season, to just two in the 2011-2012 season. The defense gave up huge numbers to opposing offenses, due to the fact that they were made to play with the lead, as opposed to actually fighting out a close game. The three QB's that the colts started in place of Manning last year had 14 total touchdowns. Manning threw 33 by himself in the 2010 season. Without a doubt, the Colts are a better team w/ Peyton than without. If Colt's owner Jim Irsay ends up drafting Andrew Luck and ditching Manning, it will be one of the biggest travesties to ever occur in sports. In addition to the fact that it simply doesn't make sense. Peyton Manning not only helped develop the offense in indy, he also calls a majority of the plays in the huddle, with his own list of audibles, and fake audibles. This makes it virtually impossible for anybody else to run it with the same precision and understanding that peyton has. Furthermore, let's not forget Peyton's sickening work ethic. He has been known to come early and stay late for film sessions and team meetings. He takes an active role in formulating the game plans, and in most cases serves as both a coach and a mentor to many of the younger players on the team. All of this along with being statistically one of the best QB's of all time. Honestly, it makes no sense why anybody would trade this guy. In professional sports, "locker-room guys" (people who really bring the team together, not always great athletes themselves) are a valuable asset, and with Peyton, the best of both worlds come together in a 6-5 230 lb rocket arm QB. I also blame ESPN for blowing a few aspects of this story wayyy out of proportion. Firstly, even though Andrew Luck is supposed to be the greatest thing since sliced bread (*honestly, he is pretty good), he is no sure thing. If anybody recalls a certain Ryan Leaf, or JaMarcus Russell, than you know what i'm talking about. Shit, if athletic success was based on hype and stellar college careers, why do we have Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, or even more recently: the Lin man himself: Jeremy Lin (LINSANITY). Additionally, if Indy drafts Andrew Luck, they are conceding themselves to the dreaded R-word in sports: Rebuilding. A team that is rebuilding is pretty much saying: "hey, we're gonna lose a fuck-ton of games, but we'll be better next year or the year after so just support us anyhow as we get better." I'm a VERY impatient person, and I feel like i can safely speak for all sports fans when i say rebuilding sucks dick. Rebuilding is actually anticompetitive in nature. The notion that it is OK to lose because "well, we're still getting there." NO, fuck that. In the case of Indianapolis, you are there!! Two years removed from a super bowl run, and a 14-2 record. Fans in Indy who even have a prayer in remaining competitive need to push for Peyton to be kept was the starter because with him gone, THEY ARE NOTHING. I know i may have to eat all these words one day if Peyton knocks my pats out of the playoffs again, circa the 2006 AFC championship, but dammit somebody needs to speak up for a living legend.

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