Sunday, 14 April 2013

GUMPTYR Alfred Hitchcock and Film Endings

Okay I'm hoping this isn't just me, but being a pretty big fan of hitchcock and his movies its always bugged me that his movies a lot of the time have terrible endings to the greatness that came before. Now in saying this I have seen like 9-10 of his films and will give examples

1. Psycho
The suspence is so well built up and the ending is kind've silly with the reveal and subsequent exposition overload


2.North by Northwest
After a thrilling chase and final scene, he picks her up, they're in the train, the end. It happens to quickly and doesn't give me a movie ending feel. Though the train entering the tunnel metaphor is pretty funny


3. Strangers on a Train
Over the top much, though I still enjoy it quite a lot



 

4. Shadow of a Doubt
He falls off the train... that's it... really, this was building up to be such a great movie and really wanted it to go in a different direction 


5. Vertigo
This is the worst of the bunch, mainly because it is a VERY, VERY good movie. It builds to an extremely good climax, Jimmy Stewart acts his ass off going up those stairs at the end, and after all this seductive build up and she falls cause the nun enters, rings the bell, the movie ends
My friend Ethan summed it up very well when I watched it with a group of friends,
"ARE YOU *beep*ing SERIOUS! WHAT?"


That being said Vertigo is in my top 40 movies, but those last 15 seconds are so damaging that it ruins an almost 10, it was so close. Also Psycho and Strangers on a Train are two little favourites of mine, Psycho being one of the first great films I ever watched as a child.  Anyway that's my little rant, tell me what you guys think, my favourite film by Hitchcock is Rear Window, and I haven't seen the birds in ages, I remeber loving the ending though.


Also everything about Saboteur is awful, its an awful movie

Monday, 18 March 2013

GUMPTYR: My 20 Favourite Albums (2013)

 Enclosed are my top 20 albums. A lot of this is subject to change at any given time.I'll probably do full reviews on a lot of these later. Also aside from the top 5 which is pretty solid the rest are a bit slapped together so could be subject to change as early as tomorrow, except for as stated the top 5, which is pretty solid and akin to my fantastic taste in music.

1. The Wall (Pink Floyd)

I saw this live, very nice! Also why the movie no have Hey You. This album has more nostalgic value than any of the others and is a favourite from a fantastic band
2. The Velvet Underground and Nico (The Velvet Underground/Nico)

It makes me very upset that the Velvet Underground come off so indie in appearance. Oh well, Lou Reed and John Cale for the win!
3. Exile On Main St (The Rolling Stones)

Exile on Main St! I love this album so much I have a shirt of it, though I have a shirt of the above two albums as well, but I think I got this one first!
 
4. Highway 61 Revisited (Bob Dylan)
I want Bob Dylan's shirt! Speaking of which I need a Highway 61 shirt
5. Fun House (The Stooges)

There's something about Iggy riding through the hellish Maelstrom that gives me hope

6. Beggar's Banquet (The Rolling Stones) 

Mick Jaggar does the southern drawl better than Americans do, what can I say

7. The Doors (The Doors)

The Doors of perception man! But in all seriousness this album is the essence of cool

8. The Clash (The Clash)

I used to like the UK version more, but than I discovered the US one had White Man (in Hammersmith Palais), so I combined them to make a mega album. In short its really fucking awesome

9. Horses (Patti Smith)

Took me ages to get this one, but once I did, while not changing my life like it did many people, I love it a lot and Patti Smith has a sexy as fuck voice. And is occasionally pretty hot stuff too, here's a picture


Granted having your soul eaten turns you on of course

10. Sticky Fingers (The Rolling Stones)

Music straight from Mick Jaggar's penis to your heart with not a faulty song inside

11. Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd)

Has my vote for best album cover

12. Doolittle (The Pixies)

So I have no idea what most of it is about, Debaser's about an awesome avand garde film! Luis Bunuel and The Pixies! Good little album this one, replayed it quite a lot over the last couple of months

13. London Calling (The Clash)

Why did Joe Strummer have to die, it was so selvish of him! Now I never get to see The Clash live. Some consideration would have been nice. :)

14. Ok Computer (Radiohead)

Seems quite wanky and not user friendly when you look at it, and typically avoid the crowd associated with this kind of music to an extent. But this is such a solid album! It may be higher next year, it probably should be higher now, but meh

15. Physical Graffiti (Led Zeppelin)

I have arguments with a friend with this one all the time, he argues 3 is the best LZ album, but I think this one takes the ticket and is the last great album in the bands catalogue

16. Unknown Pleasures (Joy Division)

Just cause you like the album doesn't mean to dedicate your life to being miserable and eventually killing yourself.

17. Meddle (Pink Floyd)

Underrated and I like it a little better than Dark Side of the Moon so I went with this instead. Echoes is amazing, but so is Fearless and One of These Days

18. Piper at the Gates of Dawn (Pink Floyd)

It's like a drug tripped fairy tale, but GUMPTYR that's Alice in Wonderland. To which I reply, no, gentle reader, you are regretably wrong in this regard. Alice in Wonderland is about the absurd nature of advanced algabra. This is drug fairy tale

19. Something Else (The Kinks)

I love the kinks a lot, this album has a lot of resonance for getting me into them and is an awesome album in its own regard. Waterlou Sunset fine's my good sirs of the internet

20. Plastic Ono Band (John Lennon)

Haha  Beatles fans! HAHAHHAHAHAH! I do like this album a lot though. Abbey Road is my favourite beatles album by the way

Well this has been fun,
GUMPTYR

Friday, 15 March 2013

JUMPTYR: My top 10 video game protagonists




Here it is, the first post of the mighty Jumptyr (otherwiseknown as Chris) this’ll be a top 10 on MY favorite video game protagonists ofall time, some of my choices will be completely nostalgic and some are justamazing characters.
Coming up with my first post I want to show you some of themany characters that I find amazing in one way or another due to their courage,strength,  and even sometimes “style”.
Don’t forget that this will be completely based off my opinion;I’d rather hope I get no comments such as “Gordon freeman for the win!” or “wherethe fuck is Mario?”
oh and don't forget there are most likely some spoilers in here so beware uneducated gamers.

10: Isaac Clarke (Dead Space)

Isaac Clarke suffers from having a case of terrible luck
Issac Clarke is the main protagonist of Dead Space working for CEC as a systems engineer, he is sent to the USG ishimura, and during this time he ends up watching his crew get ripped apart by necromorphs, witness the death of his girlfriend and get attacked countless times by necromorphs and after this he still pushes on, through three games Isaac Clarke goes through all kinds of hell and still finds the strength to go on, to me this makes for a strong protagonist.

9: Leon S. Kennedy (Resident evil 4)
Well known as the bad ass rookie cop of resident evil 4
Agile, skilled and deadly with his pistol Leon always finds a way to take out his foes and save the incredibly annoying Ashley Graham, his foes are no match to his witty dialogue and gorgeous hair, Leon made a complete transformation from a clumsy rookie (resident evil 2) to a gorgeous deadly master of all weapons in resident evil 4, from battling ogres, lake monsters or even dodging lasers coming at him full speed Leon has done it all.

8. Frank West (Dead Rising)
Photojournalist Frank West gets the job done killing zombies with everything, literally everything.
As the lead protagonist of Dead rising Frank starts out by hurling himself into a mall infected by zombies and not only saving multiple survivors from the hordes of undead, he battles many psychopaths and even has the time to take photos of the whole ordeal.
Ever since i was young I've always had a sweet spot for zombies, maybe it was the constant fear that one day i would wake up to an apocalypse filled with zombies, what frank did for me is hold out his hand, dressed in a full mega man costume and say "lets go fuck some shit up", master of all sorts of weapons Frank West is a master of killing not only the undead but psychopaths too.

7. Mega Man (Mega Man series)

super bad ass robot that will steal yo weaponry
Mega man lab assistant turned bad ass robot by his creator Dr. Light is the only protagonist I've found to not only brutally murder his foes (turned evil by their creator) but also steal their strength, as mega man goes through the game i can't help but think "but mega man couldn't you just disable them and get Dr. Light to fix them?" of course mega mans reply would be along the lines of "fuck that i'm mega man i need their powers!".
with that I've decided that mega man is a bad ass and takes shit from no one, i mean come on he has a gun for a hand!.
6. Dante (devil may cry)
This guy has style
Now do you remember when i said "style" in the intro?, well this is the guy that caused me to say it, bastard son of Sparda a powerful demon, Dante is a mercenary/ demon hunter that possesses demonic powers beyond that of any human.
with "rebellion" his blade by his side Dante brings both comedy and badassry to the scene as he destroys all kinds of demons in the search for the demon that killed his mother.
super strength, demonic powers, kick ass sword, whats not to like?

5. Simon Belmont (castlevania)
original bad ass vampire hunter
As the most recognized vampire hunter of the Belmont bloodline, Simon grew up hearing stories of the mighty Belmont clan slaying Dracula each time he was reincarnated, as Simon is passed on the mighty vampire killer he goes on to slay Dracula, as his bloodline is cursed to do so.

4. Argo (shadow of the colossus)
along with wander his trusty human companion Agro goes on to be the greatest animal protagonist the gaming industry has ever seen
Argo is the most loyal and courageous animal protagonist in gaming, during the game wander has been given a quest to slay 16 colossi for the possibility of his beloved being resurrected and though the whole  journey Argo never fails to show courage and loyalty, from riding into colossi to sacrificing herself for you, Argo shows that sometimes the side character takes the glory.

3. Cecil (final fantasy IV)
2 sides of the knight Cecil

one of the only protagonists within the final fantasy series to change their class from the mighty dark knight to holy paladin, Cecil constantly questions his actions, as the first final fantasy character within the series to go through drastic changes not only in appearance, but also personality, Cecil carries the game on his back.

2. Samus Aran (Metroid Series)
who doesn't like a bad ass bounty hunter chick? 
Holy shit Samus is the pinnacle of bad ass bounty hunter, bounty hunter Samus Aran is the lead protagonist of the metroid series being able to weird all kinds of weaponry with her arm cannon and adapt to all kinds of environmental conditions in her suit Samus takes on all kinds of baddies and always comes out on top.
when a women has the ability to contort into a ball, you know the sex will be good.

1. Link (Legend of Zelda Series)
Fuck yes
Now all you Mario and gordan freeman fan boys can go to hell cause link is where its at, as the legendary hero of time link has conquered all kinds of baddies and come out on top all through time, though link isn't the same in all the games he carries the same will and courage, some call him a silent hero but every now and then he lets out a shout to show you he's ready (unlike gordan freeman).
with his trusty master sword in hand link will always be the greatest hero of all time period.

So anyway there you have it my top 10 favorite video game protagonists of all time i hope you liked my decisions and if you haven't heard of some of my choices i hope you check them out i'm sure you'll like them

Thanks for you time,
Jumptyr



Thursday, 14 March 2013

Jumptyr Gumptyr

Hey there guys, I (being Brodie not that anyone reads this) am joining up with a friend to give this blog the regular life it deserves, so therefore Chris and I shall be known as JUMPTYR GUMPTYR (pronouned Jump-ter Gump-ter). I am Gumptyr and Chris is Jumptyr and I hope you enjoy the changes and the blog in general

Yours truly
GUMPTYR

Friday, 8 March 2013

GUMPTYR: Top 10 Favourite Video Games


What the hell let's do it, ten to one to make it hard on myself, so this is subject to change somewhat or entirely. I hope you enjoy my selections and remember its my opinion not yours and based more on gaming experience and memorys rather than the quality of the games themselves. I have only included games that I have played enough of the qualify as a complete gaming experience. I have played several hours of Bioshock and rather enjoy it, but do not count it as I have not played enough of it. Next year I will do a revised version of this list and hopefully it will be less nostalgia based and more based on the quality of the games themselves.

10. Age of Empires 2: Age of Kings


Okay I'll admit, this is a last minute throw in option. But really I didn't want to put a nostalgic title that's probably crap now and I also have played this game on and off (on and off meaning like 2-3 year gaps) for a very long time and it is very very fun. Not a huge fan of strategie games or it could be I haven't played many but I enjoy its simplicity and epic battles. The 200 population cap can suck a dick though

9. Red Dead Redemption


I love westerns. I love Rockstar. This game is an awesome game that let you dwell in an awesome world. The story was very good for a change too, usually video game stories; to put it lightly, are horrendously terrible, sorry. But I liked this one a lot and often times I'd be eagerly awaiting a cut scene. John Marsden could be in my top 10 game protagonists as a mature and adult character creation.

8. Prince of Persia: Warrior Within


This one is pure nostalgia as I fucking loved this game as a kid. Yeah the tone and such was much too emo and over the top but the atmosphere of the temple and the insanely fun gameplay made me fall in love with it. It's been a long time since I've played it and pray it holds up. Also I really need to buy and play Sands of Time as I sadly never owned that one. I probably missed out there, screw it! Warrior Within is awesome

7. The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion


My introduction to the world of the Elder Scrolls and is was definately a toss up between this and Skyrim but Skyrim even with its advanced combat and improved spell crafting  doesn't quite seem to match up to the creativity and originality of the fourth entry in the series. Hate fetch quests I'm sorry, send me in another cave and I'll put on another game, I swear it.

6. Grand Theft Auto Series


I know I'm technically cheating and if at gunpoint I'll say San Andreas cause of teenage memories with the thing but 4 is probably the best, though Vice City has an awesome soundtrack and hilarious missions. You see my conundrum. But I play every GTA for the same reason, to kill innocent civilians and have myself a fun time. And GTA games are soooo much fun

5. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater


Last nostalgia entry, but still an awesome game. I'm playing one for the first time so standby if that changes the order in the next year. I loved this game so much and how epic it was, how amazing the boss battles were, the world, the action, the bad translations, the stealth, it was an amazing experience of a very good series of games in which I've enjoyed all of, just the solids, not much for spinoffs I'm afraid.

4. Half-Life 2


Half Life 2 is a fantastic sequel to an amazing game. It is hard to describe my feelings towards this game, I find it an extremely immersive experience and some of the best sound design ever. The characters and story give the feeling that you in far more than just a shooter

3. Shadow of the Colossus

Shadow of the Colossus is a spectacular game that everybody should play. It plays as a peice of mythical art or an epic poem. And I would say the game is epic but that would be an understatement, its truly colossal and everything about it is perfect. Plus best animal character ever, Agro for the win

2. Fallout 3


I love the 50s style in this game, love roaming the apocalypse collecting bottle caps and killing people as a superman black cowboy of the wastelands. And have been on and off this game since it came out. love the bloody thing!

1. Half-Life


HALF-LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have so much fun whenever I play this motherfucker, such a good game. I like that you never have any idea what you're gonna be doing next, and some of the best fun has ever been had. A crowbar at a time

0. TETRIS

Because nothing is as great, not even breathing to the glory that is tetris

Well this has been fun,
GUMPTYR

Friday, 15 February 2013

GUMPTYR: Thinkin' Bout the Government

Enclosed is part of the first song I had ever written with lots recently added, in fact the first verse is the only thing remaining from the original song. Enjoy though



Thinkin’ bout the government and all the dreams we had
Even walkin’ down the street gets me kinda sad
The woman that I love, she’s getting married
To some other guy that I don’t like

Oh how mother sighs her whole life’s gone by
She wants the best for me, she wants me to be free
Then there’s Daddio, and he says to go
To a university, get myself a degree

I don’t want love but I wanna be loved
I don’t want love, I just wanna be loved
I want to hear the screams and I want to hold the seems
I want to be singer and I want to be a winner

I gotta away and I gotta leave today
My body’s pumped from pain that my heart can’t explain
I wake up with the chills and so I grab a few pills
My palms are growing hair and there’s no woman anywhere

Oh Lyanna holds the key and ol’ billy’s teasing me
The locksmith is counting; 6, 5, and three
And the dog is biting in the warm blood flowing
My mind is going and my wheelchair’s slowing

Down the road a pace to my favourite place
And I’m on my way to an early grave
With booze and decay and the promises I made
My life’s in the skids, so no, I don’t want kids

I gotta get away but I can’t get away
Feelin’ so tied down but to no home town
The wall got my hands blood and now I’m spewing up mud
Writin’ up my will keeps me livin on still

And the woman that I love is marrying a great big bug
A great big bug

Well this has been fun,
Yours truly,
James Baxter

Wednesday, 13 February 2013

GUMPTYR: Ten of My Favourite Album Opening Lyrics


I love albums, but it's hard to get into them sometimes. Sometimes it takes time to get into the groove of things, to get the point of it. But sometimes an album opens with a strong line and you know you're in for a glorious time. So I decided I'd list ten of my favourite album opening lines, please note this is not my top 10 album openers, just lines. Though some would be the same if such a list were to exist. Well anyway without further ado...

"A-ho let's go"
Blitzkreig Bop
Ramones,
Ramones

Perfect rev up to a killer call to arms and is almost guaranteed

"Jesus died for somebody's sins... but not mine"
Gloria: In Excelsis
Horses
Patti Smith

 I love horses so perhaps I'm bias but when I hear that opening line all I can think is FUCK YEAH! And greatness follows, this woman is awesome!

"Please allow me to introduce myself"
Sympathy for the Devil
Beggars Banquet
The Rolling Stones

Do I really have to explain this one. Also BB is in my top ten albums :)

"There's something happening here"
For What It's Worth
Buffalo Springfield

Okay so its not that great of an album, though Buffalo Springfield Again is an awesome album. But its such a good song and if not a perfect start to an album than a perfect introduction to the protest movement. I don't care its my list!

"Standing by your window in pain, pistol in your hand, and I beg you dear Molly girl, try and understand your man the best you can"
Across the Great Divide
The Band
The Band

I've always loved this song and the opening verse just makes me have to listen to the whole song and time and time again the whole album. I may have cheated slightly though. Sue me

"Ground control to major tom"
Space Oddity
Space Oddity
David Bowie

Perfect album opener and opener to Bowie's whole career in general

"They call me Dr. John known as the night tripper"
Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya
Gris-Gris
Dr. John, the Night Tripper

Such a good jazzy intro into an awesome album. Very groovy and cool

"So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show"
In the Flesh?
The Wall
Pink Floyd

The Wall is a beautiful album that means a lot to me and shaped a lot of my youth and taste in music. I usually put it as my number one album, though The Velvet Underground and Nico is very close. So of course I had to go with In the Flesh?

"Sitin' in the mornin' sun and I'll be sittin till the evenin' comes"
(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay
The Dock of the Bay
Otis Redding

Otis Redding is a beautiful, beautiful man

"Mother, mother, there are far too many of you crying"
What's Going On
What's Going On
Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye is also a beautiful, beautiful man

I hope that you enjoyed this and bothered to listen to these great albums and marvel at their opening songs. Or don't! It's a free country!!! FUCK!

Well this has been fun,
Yours truly
James Baxter

Sunday, 10 February 2013

GUMPTYR: My 10 Favourite Television Characters


Hey there again, as a sign of nothing better to do I have decided to compile a list of my ten favourite television characters, this is of course an extremely bias list and of course has only one character per show, which was very hard to do with some shows, and thinking on it there's probably 20 more characters or so I like as much or just a smidge less than these. Well with all that intro underway let's get started

In no particular order we have


 Charlie Kelly, It's Alway Sunny in Philadelphia

Probably not what you would consider a typical choice but I feel he is my favourite character in an extremely underrated show. Even in a bad episode you get the sense that Charlie is a very funny person. He is a character long stuck in a arrested development and is exploited as the idiot manchild of the group, his high pitched yelling and creation of the song Dayman are particular highlights. Also the storline of his long running love for the waitress is a particular strong point of the show that is always entertaining.


George Costanza, Seinfeld

 Why? Cause it's George
George is the funniest character IMO of one of the most classic television shows to grace TV. (though it definately had it fair share of shitty episodes; sorry). The storyline of the buildup to George getting married and his reaction to his mother catching him masterbate are prime classic George moments. He always makes me laugh through his extreme depression and makes you stratch your head as to why he gets so many hot babes


Rod Sterling, The Twilight Zone

This is a bit of a cheat but The Twilight Zone is my favourite show ever, each episode is like a great old black and white film, and most of the scripts written by Mr. Sterling and his narration giving the sense that this man is truly telling you the story. And what great stories he tells! Plus he is the essence of cool and the way he explains the themes and sets up the storylines is truly unimitable.

Simon Adebisi, Oz

Oz was one of the first great shows I have ever watched and I feel it ranks near the top in the HBO package (though I'm still yet to get around to The Sopranos). So with that being said Adebisi is definately my favourite character. He's just such a badass and commands the screen with how massive he and is booming with personality. Adebisi going through withdrawel is a strong highlight as well as his cafeteria battle with Peter Shibeta and friends


Omar Little, The Wire

Omar Little is the gay black robin hood of this Baltimore crime show and is literally almost everybody's favourite Wire character, including man. Every single scene with this guy is worth watching, I would like an edited version of the wire with just Omar scenes, that would be fantastic. The fear he strikes into a whole gang and crews is tremendous as he is only one man, with a shotgun, a whistle and a scar on his face. Long live Omar Little. Also the wire is such a good show


Louie C.K, Louie

I realize this one is kind of recent, but unlike Charlie which was a bias choice I truly believe Louie is fantastic. He writes, directs and acts in this show and has the true power of an autuer. The way he carrys the show entirely on his own back and turns it into a masterpeice is tremendous. He is overweight, depressed, cynical, but very funny and loving to his daughters. You really want this guy to catch a break


Gaius Baltar, Battlestar Galactica

Gaius Baltar has one of the most unpredictable and changing acts in a television show. He can go from hilarious to quite unnerving. His acting is top class, and his shared eroticism with Cylon #6 is truly captivating. Battlestar Galactica is one of my favourite shows and he is my favourite from it. That being said however, Adama, Number 6, Starbuck and Laura Roslin are all fabulous characters. Such a good show!


Spike, Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Spike is an awesome character. Buffy is a silly show that sometimes pulled through with some quality episodes (like the body, hush etc) but for the most part it was just a purely fun time. Spike was a mean vampire that loved to raise hell and disrupt things for everyone, and to his surpize and a chip in his head he found himself falling in love with the slayer


Walter White, Breaking Bad

Why is Breaking Bad not watched in theatres. I would go every week, that would be fantastic. Walter White is a great character with dynamite acting abilities. Even as he slowly morphs into a villian through the course of the show, you still route for him. He can make you feel so many different things, he is the one that knocks! A high school chemistry teacher that cooks and sells crystal meth, what could go wrong


Captain Malcolm Reynolds, Firefly

Another Joss Whedon character, yeah why not. The Captain is so cool, and is a bit like Han Solo if he hadn't joined the rebel forces and carried out his life as a transporter, only without the aliens, lazer guns and super powers. Mal is an easy to love character but a great leader for his men. And he's just an awesome time to watch. People are still sad about Firefly being canceled, but it was great for what we had, and that's more than enough sometimes

That's my brief list, the explainations were a bit rushed and not much of the characters was stated but perhaps that is a good thing. Just watch the shows and love the characters for yourself and heck, if you disagree with me that's fine. I'll happily have an opinated argument on the internet with anyone willing

Honorable Mentions;
David Brent, The Office UK
General Adama, Battlestar Galactica
Abed Nadir, Community
Gob, Buster, Tobias, Arrested Development (i couldn't pick a favourite for the top 10, this show works to well as an asemble)
Bender and Zoidberg, Futurama
Stewie, Family Guy
Bill, Freaks and Geeks
Cartman and Butters, South Park
Roy, Moss and Jen, The IT Crowd

Well this has been fun,
Yours truly
James Baxter