What to Watch: Instant Netflix

It's winter in Minnesota.  When it's 20 below outside, you tend to have a little more down time.  If your settled in for the night, the last thing you want to do is to get in your car and drive to blockbuster or go wait outside for the redbox line to dissipate.  While I love instant netflix, it can be a real bother finding some of the higher quality movies and tv shows among the sheer staggering amount of garbage.  So here is a list of my quality approved entertainment that is just one click away.

Star Trek
I'll admit I'm not much of a Star Trek guy, but it really doesn't matter with this J.J. Abrams reboot.  It has great action, characters you can care about, and surprisingly is very funny.

True Grit

One of my favorite films from 2010.  It is a top notch film in all aspects.  Also, you can check out the original with John Wayne, which is also on instant netflix.

IP Man

I can't tell you the difference between kung fu, tae kwon do, or jiu jitsu, but I love seeing well made martial arts films, and IP Man is one of the best I've ever seen.  If you watch IP Man, and want some more from Donnie Yen, check out Ip Man 2, also available on instant netflix.

Memento

There is a pretty decent chance that anyone reading this post has seen either The Dark Knight, or Inception.  Both films are from director Christopher Nolan, who is one of my personal favorites.  The quality of his films rarely disappoint, and this is definitely the case with Memento.  It grabs your attention from the first frame, and has that amazing ability to make you want to re-watch it the moment you finish it.  If your loving everything Christopher Nolan, you might as well check out his full length feature debut, Following, also available on instant netflix.

Hellboy

I love this movie.  If the name alone doesn't turn you off from watching this movie, I think you will love it too.  If you do, check out the animated Blood & Iron for some more of the big red guy on instant netflix.

Lost

Lost could quite possibly be both my favorite tv drama of all time, and my most hated tv drama of all time.  The first couple seasons may be unmatched in mystery and awesomeness.  While I would love to recommend to you just to watch the first few seasons, I know you will not be able to stop there, and that is a testament to the addictiveness of Lost.  While there are acquaintances of mine who don't abhor the finale of Lost as much as I do, I recommend with hesitation.  It is still one of the greatest journeys every provided via television.  I apologize in advance.  

Have a great weekend,

Fenster

Top 5 Matrix Kung Fu scenes

#5.Truck Crash. This scene from the Matrix Reloaded takes place on a semi truck, while driving down the freeway, at speeds probably close to 70 mph...which is why it's so awesome! Morpheus takes on an Agent in order to protect "the Key Maker" in a kung fu fight that could only happen while in the Matrix. Check it out here. or watch it below.

#4. "I know Kung Fu" was a quote I repeated many times in the halls of my high school, as my friends would attach me kung fu style while I was trying to get to class. This scene is when we first really realize how cool it would be to be able to get plugged in and learn things with the press of a button. Neo's first fight is in a sparring program that was created for kung fu training, Morpheus takes Neo to school. Check it out here, or watch it below.

#3. The Burly Brawl. There's only one reason why this scene didn't get first or second place in my mind, and that is because as soon as it switches from live action to CGI, it's very noticeable to me, it looks like a cartoon. I almost didn't even put this scene in my top 5, but because of the awesome live action stuff, it made it.  This scene has more kung fu moves in it than the entire first Matrix had, and one of the most known kung fu scenes in entertainment history.

#2. The Chateaux scene, Neo vs the Draculas. Easily one of my top 5, the choreography is simply amazing, combined with the sound effects and sweet round house kicks makes this scene absolutely mind bottling. Check it here, or watch it below.

#1. My favorite kung fu scene from the matrix, when Neo begins to believe, he finally figures out he has what it takes to be the One, and faces Agent Smith. This scene may not be the most flashy kung fu scene in the trilogy, but it the source of many karate chops to the throat in high school, and the beginning of one of the greatest Trilogy's created. Check it out here or watch it below.

-Oliverdark

I've got 3 words for this, Chuck Norris.

or check it out here: 

-Oliverdark

5 Memorable Moments in Gaming

I don't remember lots of details from games I have played over the past years.
There are lots of names, situations and story lines that have long since grown foggy in my mind.
There are however some moments that will forever be engrained in my memory.
Here is a list of 5 of those instances, in no particular order.

COD4 Modern Warfare - All Ghillied Up 
This mission from the original Modern Warfare still holds up as the most memorable of any military FPS in my opinion. Every aspect of it pulled you in and kept your hands sweating profusely. With every shot I took, I felt both powerful and terrified. Every time I held my breath on screen for the perfect shot, I think I was holding my breath in real life. Since the release of COD4 in 2007, I've gone back several times to relive this amazing mission.
Check out the video here.

Metal Gear Solid 1 - Psycho Mantis 
I love the Metal Gear Solid franchise, but honestly when it comes to story lines and characters, there isn't a whole lot that sticks with me.  The exception was this segment from Metal Gear Solid, which pitted you up against Psycho Mantis.  After a demonstration of his "power" in which he would tell what games you've been playing by reading your memory card, the screen went black, which was terrifying.  You then had to switch your controller from port 1, to port 2, in order to avoid having your actions read by psycho mantis.  To this day I haven't come across a game that messed with my brain the way this segment did.
Check out the clip here.

Resident Evil 4 - The Village
I can't quite put my finger on why exactly this moment was so exhilarating.  The rest of the game is filled with amazing, action packed, tension filled moments (the boat sequence is another favorite), however this opening level was the cherry on top of the deliciousness that is Resident Evil 4.  While making your way down a dirt path, still getting used to the total revamp of controls and look of the game, you are plunged head first into utter chaos as an entire town of crazies attempt to send you off in style.
For a taste of the crazy, check out the video here.

Red Dead Redemption - Riding into Mexico
This is a very different moment from the rest of those on this list.  After spending some quality time in the world of Red Dead Redemption the story brings you over the border into Mexico.  The mood that was set on this ride impacted me instantly.  The beauty of the landscape, the adventure of a whole new land to explore, and the awesome music "Far Away" by Jose Gonzalez, made you feel like you were experiencing something totally fresh and engaged you on a different level than most games do.
Check out the video here.

Condemned - The Mannequins
This entire game, from start to finish was tense and terrifying.  It would take me 5 minutes just to get up the courage to open the next door, not knowing what was waiting for me on the other side.  But the one sequence that was simply too much for me to take was the one including the mannequins in an abandoned department store.  Simply put, I had to stop playing for the night, and resume playing in daylight.  To this day my friends can mention "mannequins" and I immediately think of this.
For better or worse, watch a portion of it here.

What are some of your favorite gaming memories?
Happy Holidays
-Fenster

Minimal Movie Posters

Sometimes less is more.  Take a look at these minimal movie posters for some of my all time favorite films.  

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Happy Holidays!
- Fenster

Power of the Tongue

Hey everyone.
Today we have for your viewing pleasure,  a video that we made a few years back called,
"Foot in Mouth".  It explores the dangers of the tongue, with snazzy Halo 3 game footage!
Check out the video here, or at the end of this post.

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 18:21

-Fenster and Oliverdark

Top 5 Favorite Sniper Scenes from film

5. 

The Losers is a great flick if you want some action, laughter and...angry romance? Christ Evans stars as the character “Jensen” and in this scenes he's using his “telekinetic powers” to get out of the building.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=C3niiTcVqTI 

4.

The US Marines get things done. Here's a scene from “Generation Kill” basically showing how to take care of business, nothing flashy, just getting the job done.  WARNING, it's bloody, and some bad language.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as_gpcmyg4w

3.

The Hurt Locker, easily my favorite movie about the Iraq war, it's not political, it's just an incredibly suspenseful movie, and I loved every moment of it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXrpFrbxBAk

2.

Enemy at the Gates, in this scene Vassili Zaitsev, (played by Jude Law) a real life Soviet sniper who has approximately 400 confirmed kills during WWII, and 149 kills during the battle of Stalingrad alone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVDc8UlSBPQ&feature=related 

1.

Now days, Vin Deisel would have taken that bullet to the chest, jumped in his muscle car, drove it off a cliff, parachute out of it into the church tower, and break the neck of the sniper...but this is 1944. Saving Private Ryan, could have had a different title, but the movie is amazing. This is my favorite sniper scene of all time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu4IPL9kCLU&feature=related 

- Oliverdark