Posted in: Brain Blasters by David Annandale on February 29th, 2008
One of the most devious, and delightful, films I’ve encountered in recent years is Incident at Loch Ness, a film that, if it isn’t the subject of a cult, should be. I mean, my gawd, it has Crispin Glover in a microsecond cameo. The real brilliance of this fake documentary is having Werner Herzog in the lead, a man whose filmography reveals a constant violent collision between fact and fiction, with the relationship not always moving in the direction you might think. Anyone wanting to see just how utterly bizarre things are in Herzogland should look no further than My Best Fiend, his 1999 documentary about his working relationship with actor Klaus Kinski.
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on February 27th, 2008
The Last Nail on the HD-DVD coffin, Bad people in MMO's and Banks that won't pay the WoW cash cow - Welcome to the column that is like an automatic payment for those pills you have to take because of that trip to Haiti known as Dare to Play the Game.
Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. As luck would have it, three more levels and I'm up to level 26 with my Rogue in World of Warcraft. I have discovered poisons this past week since I finished the appropriate quest. I had been lazy in finishing this quest since it involves quite a decent arch. First, I had to go to this guy and salute him, then I had to go pick pocket a key from a goblin who was only a few yards away. Then after killing three separate mobs of everything from patrolmen to mutated drones I get to the top of this tower and face off with a 23rd level elite.
Posted in: Brain Blasters by David Annandale on February 22nd, 2008
As everything under to sun sooner or later makes it do DVD, hope turns again to those films that are long, long overdue for the deluxe treatment. Consider this another installment of the Wish List, but with an asterisk. The film in question in Seven Footprints to Satan (1929). I’ll get to the asterisk in due course.
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on February 20th, 2008
ET: The Urban Myth, Free Quake, and Critics show to be the cheating bastards they are - Welcome to the column that promises not to cheat as long as you don't include the Contra code (Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right B, A; ha!) known as Dare to Play the Game.
Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. In World of Warcraft this week I have moved up to level 23. 3 levels a week seems to be my number. The highlights of my week had to be actual use of my blacksmithing skill. Before I was just leveling it to level and producing items for auction house or vendor trash. Finally I made something I could use, Bronze Darts and a Pearl Handled Dagger (off-hand).
Posted in: Brain Blasters by David Annandale on February 15th, 2008
Having just watched 30 Days of Night again in order to review the DVD, I find myself thinking about vampires. They are, of course, among the most frequent of horror movie monsters (perhaps only zombies, in their various forms, offer stiff competition in this regard). They also take up far more than their fair share of shelf space in the horror section of your bookstore, thanks to the likes of Anne Rice, Laurel K. Hamilton, and their legions of imitators. A brief scan of the literary and celluloid incarnations of the vampire reveal to principle archetypes. The first, and by far the most common, is the vampire as sexy beast. The other, is the vampire as beast, pure and simple. Interestingly, both cinematic versions, it seems to me, find their models in the first adaptations of the same novel: Dracula.
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on February 13th, 2008
The Force is not strong with this one, The NFL extends its deal with the dark side (EA), and Attack of the Genos? - Welcome to the column that has Han Solo underoos and a warrant out for the arrest of Jar-Jar Binks known as Dare to Play the Game.
Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. The magic number is 20th, 20th level in World of Warcraft. As mentioned last week, I had a fascination with lockpicking; well that is up to 92 now (still meager I know). However, my new thing; cooking. Yes cooking in a fantasy MMO. I could kill goblins and raptors but I choose to cook some Strider Stew or Boiled Clams.
Posted in: Brain Blasters by David Annandale on February 8th, 2008
This may be a bit perverse, but I’m going to talk about a film that not only is not currently available on DVD, there is no release date for that format as yet. Fear not, though, as it will surely not be long in coming. The film is Guy Maddin’s Brand Upon the Brain!, and it is currently on tour, proving that there is still enormous creative life in the silent film, especially presented when presented in the fully live format. The DVD, inevitably, will be a reflection of the theatrical experience, and while that won’t be as optimal as the live version, it will still be essential viewing for all lovers of the brilliantly bizarre.
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on February 6th, 2008
The Devil May Cry over installation, Stop smashing my Poker, and downloading from Xbox Live could make you a winner? - Welcome to the column that thinks that DLC is something you might want to change your pants afterwards known as Dare to Play the Game.
Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. Level 17, ding ding ding. Okay so I'm still playing World of Warcraft (I still have a strange inclination to call it Whorecraft, cause I feel like a dirty dirty one). My new toy has to be the lockpicking skill. I already got it up to 62 which I know for non-noobs is nothing but I'm digging it. I'm completely fascinated by the pick-pocketing skill too.
Posted in: Brain Blasters by David Annandale on February 2nd, 2008
Every few years, word arrives that the much-lamented Hammer Studios will shortly rise from the ashes. Back in the 90s, for instance, Richard Donner was supposed to be behind a resurrection of the Quatermass films. Well, the word has arrived again, and the revived Hammer has gone at least as far as releasing a teaser trailer and a set visit for its first production in decades: a vampire tale called Beyond the Rave.
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on January 30th, 2008
Wii equals gimmick, PS3 overtakes 360, and could a Bear stop piracy? - Welcome to the column that lives in a tiny little farming community called bizzarro world but known to the gaming community as Dare to Play the Game.
Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. Level 13 is the magic number for my Troll Rogue (Lantanador) in WoW. I've spent most of the last week improving my mining & blacksmithing skills. I'm just happy that I can make a Copper Short Sword all by myself. Too bad my rogue uses daggers and other small weapons.
