Okay, enough with the puns already and on to the movie.
I found if really enjoyable to watch! Much moreso than the Lord of the Rings movies. When I watched those I always had the feeling: "Where is that iconic scene? Why did they leave it out? Why are there elves at Helm's Deep and where the fuck is Tom Bombadil?" With The Hobbit it is a lot more of a "Hey, they also put that in!" feeling. Maybe that is because I last read the Hobbit a long time ago.
What I liked about the movie:
The Look
Seriously, the Shire looks like I imagined it, there is the Dwarven city of Erebor, which is gorgeous (though there is a serious lack of railings), Dol Guldur looks like a proper evil fortress, or ruin thereof, Rivendell looks cool (also lacking railings). We visit the Goblincity in the Misty Mountains (what's your fetish with falling to your death, guys?) which looks a bit like Moria, but less like a mine. (Hah, a mine he calls it!)
The costumes are great, the weapons look awesome. (where can I get a replica of that dwarven sword Thorin wields?)
And to make the whole package complete there is New Zealand's beautiful landscape. The only thing looking out of place is Hugo Weaving as Elrond. The guy simply does not look like an Elf
Martin Freeman
Playing the part of Bilbo Baggins, Martin Freeman is spot on. From the first conversation with Gandalf, during the arrival of the dwarves, to the contest of riddles with Gollum, he just fits. Just like in Sherlock, he gets roped into things.
Sylvester Mccoy
Having been a Timelord, Sylvester Mccoy plays Radagast the Brown as a more wacky, hippie version of Gandalf. Even though I have only watched the new Doctor Who series, I can certainly imagine him a the Doctor. Best line: "These are Rhosgobel rabbits. I'd like to see them try!"
Putting things in context
They really want you to know about what is happening in Middle Earth. There's Gandalf and Saruman holding council with Galadriel and Elrond at Rivendell about the possibility of Sauron returning.
A lot of time is spent showing the fall of Erebor and Thorin's Vendetta against Azog is explained. We alo get to know why he is called Oakenshield.
Songs
It has songs! Catchy ones! Sung by dwarves! No pseudo-elvish moaning by Enya.
What I did not like:
Comic relief
Radagast is at times too ridiculous. The trolls are gross, for the sake of comedy. And Bombur is funny because he is fat. What a hoot.
Inaccurate Swords
Sting glows blue when in the presence of orks and goblins. Except when it does not. So do Glamdring and Orcrist. But they forgot to add it in the postproduction, apparently.
Suddenly, Eagles!
With the movie explaining so much why certain things are happening the way they are, there is absolutely no explanation for the eagles to turn up at the end of the movie. Sure, Gandalf and Gwaihir the Windlord are buddies, but Gandalf just talks to an insect, eagles turn up, save the party and the simply disappear. What?
So, in total it is an enjoyable movie, but I highly recommend reading the appendices of the Lord of the Rings and you should have read the Hobbit anyway.
Final Verdict: 10 out of 13 Dwarves.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
The Hobbit and an unexpected journey
Today, I saw The Hobbit. Well, actually yesterday. Review is planned for this week or whenever I feel like it.
I must say I enjoyed it quite a bit.
However the day ended (or started, depending on your viewpoint)with a giant "screw you" from the KVB. Because the film was so long, we had to take the last train home. And because a new cable had to be laid somewhere along the line, it took us only half the way back. Maybe they thought I would just summon some eagles to fly us home. Guess what, I'm not a Maiar.
But my superior navigation skills (aiming for the DHL tower and trudging ownward) saved the day.
Did I mention that it was -6°C?
Now I'm siting here with tea and mead demonstrating how to write a blog post. Also I might be a wee bit drunk.
Yes, I made up an entire blogpost out of an atrocious pun.
Fenris
I must say I enjoyed it quite a bit.
However the day ended (or started, depending on your viewpoint)with a giant "screw you" from the KVB. Because the film was so long, we had to take the last train home. And because a new cable had to be laid somewhere along the line, it took us only half the way back. Maybe they thought I would just summon some eagles to fly us home. Guess what, I'm not a Maiar.
But my superior navigation skills (aiming for the DHL tower and trudging ownward) saved the day.
Did I mention that it was -6°C?
Now I'm siting here with tea and mead demonstrating how to write a blog post. Also I might be a wee bit drunk.
Yes, I made up an entire blogpost out of an atrocious pun.
Fenris
Monday, December 31, 2012
New year, meh.
Edited version
In about six hours the clock will tick over and 2012 will be history. I could write a lengthy looking back post, but I won't. It'll only devolve into a rant.
Instead I will not promote a webcomic, cause it has turned into crap.
Happy New Year or Guten Rutsch.
Coming up next year, my new years resolution, my favourite minis and a Cyberpunk story.
Vowing to bring about world peace, cure cancer and bang more supermodels than last year.
Fenris
In about six hours the clock will tick over and 2012 will be history. I could write a lengthy looking back post, but I won't. It'll only devolve into a rant.
Instead I will not promote a webcomic, cause it has turned into crap.
Happy New Year or Guten Rutsch.
Coming up next year, my new years resolution, my favourite minis and a Cyberpunk story.
Vowing to bring about world peace, cure cancer and bang more supermodels than last year.
Fenris
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
The sorry state of German television
Rant inbound. Be aware.
If you watch German television you know that gamers are a strange breed of people, at best socially inept in a comical way, but mostly mentally damaged, hyper-agressive and on the brink of the next school shooting. And no, I'm not talking about the crap-spouting, brain-frying channels in private hands like RTL, but the actual national television. Any actual gamer, will know what I mean after one Codeword: "Frontal 21" (Yes, gamers have codewords. Spooky, isn't it?)
But there is something much more sinister out there!
Bad journalists and pseudo-scientists that want to steal all your money!
Oh, no wait. That was gaming companies. (They are the devil!)
What follows is a piece of garbage made up of semi-truths, quotes ripped out of coherency and actual, blatant lies. Including a 71 year old, self-professed gaming expert, a kid paid to read a moronic script, who I'll bet will use the money to buy videogames/electronics) and a lot of cheap tricks to make the gaming industry look like villains.
Guess what, game developers want to make money with their work! Just like DRUG DEALERS! (and everybody else...)
You can watch this piece of garbage >here<, but you shouldn't. Instead you should watch >this<. Beginning at 7:40 is a detailed look at everything that's wrong with what the ZDF calls "investigative journalism".
While I was just chalking this "documentary" up as the usual BS dumb people come up with, there is actually a purpose behind this. (apart from blatant fearmongering).
The good people from the KFN Institute, which produced this travesty in jorunalism, want to protect your money from evil game designers so you can give it to them via taxes, so the state can control the age restrictions on games. Which it already does in Germany. (ba-dumm-tssh!)
But the money goes to the USK, which occasionally do dumb things, like making every English version of a game 18+, because the game is totally different, when everyone in it speaks German. However the USK actually shows a bit of competence in rating games.
And to make the rant complete, Frontal 21 produced this with money from the GEZ. Basically all german television viewers paid for a fearmongering commercial. Glad I'm not among them.
Which reminds me. Could I maybe get British television instead of German? Not both, JUST the British channels. (Ohai, geographic pun!)
The times I actually switch on a TV (at my parents) I tune in to BBC. Or I watch BBC documentaries on the Internet.
I'd even pay a bit extra for that, if I had a telly.
Hell, I'd even wear a Top hat and drink tea while watching it.
I felt a bit polemic today
Fenris
If you watch German television you know that gamers are a strange breed of people, at best socially inept in a comical way, but mostly mentally damaged, hyper-agressive and on the brink of the next school shooting. And no, I'm not talking about the crap-spouting, brain-frying channels in private hands like RTL, but the actual national television. Any actual gamer, will know what I mean after one Codeword: "Frontal 21" (Yes, gamers have codewords. Spooky, isn't it?)
But there is something much more sinister out there!
Bad journalists and pseudo-scientists that want to steal all your money!
Oh, no wait. That was gaming companies. (They are the devil!)
What follows is a piece of garbage made up of semi-truths, quotes ripped out of coherency and actual, blatant lies. Including a 71 year old, self-professed gaming expert, a kid paid to read a moronic script, who I'll bet will use the money to buy videogames/electronics) and a lot of cheap tricks to make the gaming industry look like villains.
Guess what, game developers want to make money with their work! Just like DRUG DEALERS! (and everybody else...)
You can watch this piece of garbage >here<, but you shouldn't. Instead you should watch >this<. Beginning at 7:40 is a detailed look at everything that's wrong with what the ZDF calls "investigative journalism".
While I was just chalking this "documentary" up as the usual BS dumb people come up with, there is actually a purpose behind this. (apart from blatant fearmongering).
The good people from the KFN Institute, which produced this travesty in jorunalism, want to protect your money from evil game designers so you can give it to them via taxes, so the state can control the age restrictions on games. Which it already does in Germany. (ba-dumm-tssh!)
But the money goes to the USK, which occasionally do dumb things, like making every English version of a game 18+, because the game is totally different, when everyone in it speaks German. However the USK actually shows a bit of competence in rating games.
And to make the rant complete, Frontal 21 produced this with money from the GEZ. Basically all german television viewers paid for a fearmongering commercial. Glad I'm not among them.
Which reminds me. Could I maybe get British television instead of German? Not both, JUST the British channels. (Ohai, geographic pun!)
The times I actually switch on a TV (at my parents) I tune in to BBC. Or I watch BBC documentaries on the Internet.
I'd even pay a bit extra for that, if I had a telly.
Hell, I'd even wear a Top hat and drink tea while watching it.
I felt a bit polemic today
Fenris
Friday, November 30, 2012
Mustering the Steel Phalanx
A little work in progress shot of the first ALEPH model for Infinity. Meet Lieutenant Helena of the Steel Phalanx.
The original idea for this colourscheme came from the PC game Tribes Ascend and it's Diamond Sword faction, which my brother and I play quite excessively.
Speaking of brothers and Vidogames, we managed to snag this little achievement in World of Tanks twice in a row.
I think we took out half the enemy team in a close-ranged knifefight in the first one. Can't really remember the second one.
What never ceases to amaze me how people can stand the long grinds in World of Tanks. My KV-1S tank was a bloody useless piece of scrap metal waiting to be turned into a smoking heap of broken steel at the enemies earliest convenience.
Then I got the longbarreled 122mm gun and suddenly I can get into a scrap with a tank above my weight and punch their faces in. (if only rarely) But anything in my class better beware when the 122mm shells come flying.
Oh, and at least 80% percent of the players are utter, mouthbreathing morons with the IQ of slightly stale gouda cheese.
Holy crap, I'm turning into Totalbiscuit
Fenris
I think we took out half the enemy team in a close-ranged knifefight in the first one. Can't really remember the second one.
What never ceases to amaze me how people can stand the long grinds in World of Tanks. My KV-1S tank was a bloody useless piece of scrap metal waiting to be turned into a smoking heap of broken steel at the enemies earliest convenience.
Then I got the longbarreled 122mm gun and suddenly I can get into a scrap with a tank above my weight and punch their faces in. (if only rarely) But anything in my class better beware when the 122mm shells come flying.
Oh, and at least 80% percent of the players are utter, mouthbreathing morons with the IQ of slightly stale gouda cheese.
Holy crap, I'm turning into Totalbiscuit
Fenris
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Big Draconic Gribblies
The promised Scythean to accompany Vayl got finished today. I like big eyeless beasties, they are easy to paint.
Blight-bred by Everblight (say that out loud) during the days, when he made his lair under the Iosan city of Issyrah, they are the perfect killers, needing no light to see int he tunnels and caverns.
I am unsure how you swing giant scythe-claws in a tunnel, but then I am not a dragon beastie and that is what lore says.
Ingame it brings two POW 17 attacks to bear, fueled by Legions excellent Fury management. (You can push you beasties as much as you want, but sometimes they need a hug to not flip out and Legion is best at hugging.)
It also brings a Chain attack to the table. If it hits with both initial attacks, it can do a swipe at everything unlucky enough to stand before it. I doubt that this will remove lots of models, because who will cluster his Infantry around something big enough to take two hits from a Scythean?
Then again smacking something big with a third, free attack is always welcome.
Also it looks bloody awesome! All evil, spiky dragonmantis!
This has been my first plastic Everblight kit. It was much easier to assemble and feels quite light. Nothing like the solid block of pewter my Carnivean is. I tried to magnetise it, but finally was too lazy, so I now have a bunch of additional arms and heads lying around. Those should come in handy for an eventual Typhon conversion or to upgrade the Carnivean from the two player box.
Finally a groupshot of my painted Legion stuff.
Cheers
Fenris
 |
| Rawr! |
I am unsure how you swing giant scythe-claws in a tunnel, but then I am not a dragon beastie and that is what lore says.
Ingame it brings two POW 17 attacks to bear, fueled by Legions excellent Fury management. (You can push you beasties as much as you want, but sometimes they need a hug to not flip out and Legion is best at hugging.)
It also brings a Chain attack to the table. If it hits with both initial attacks, it can do a swipe at everything unlucky enough to stand before it. I doubt that this will remove lots of models, because who will cluster his Infantry around something big enough to take two hits from a Scythean?
 |
| *generic Dragon noise* |
Also it looks bloody awesome! All evil, spiky dragonmantis!
This has been my first plastic Everblight kit. It was much easier to assemble and feels quite light. Nothing like the solid block of pewter my Carnivean is. I tried to magnetise it, but finally was too lazy, so I now have a bunch of additional arms and heads lying around. Those should come in handy for an eventual Typhon conversion or to upgrade the Carnivean from the two player box.
Finally a groupshot of my painted Legion stuff.
Cheers
Fenris
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Can't sleep, post minis
So have some Pirates:
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| Gunpowder Mary and Spitfire |
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| Matelot aka "That Black guy that dies first" |
Finally something for my Legion of Everblight. You can't see her awesome ice-base, because she is wearing such a big mantle. Apparently she is the essence of Legion play. I have no idea about that, but her spells and model looked cool. She is soon to be joined by a Scythean warbeast.
The better my Paintjobs get, the worse my photos seem to turn out.
Fenris
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