Shades of Fear ~ 7 - Rejected

     You don’t usually focus on the quiet while walking on the Black Road.  Mostly you either focus on the lamp posts casting weird shadows in the rocks along the roads, the stars above being hidden by swirling clouds that could rain any moment in a dark water, or listen to the creatures that hide behind the rocks growl and getting ready to pounce at you for not paying attention to the dangers around you.

     But while walking with Asmodias and his soldiers, it was the only thing Captain and his group could do.

     Captain continued to walk silently as he stared behind Asmodias and his two soldiers carrying the box.  As he looked at the box, a cool stiff feeling was going through Captain that he couldn’t understand…

     “You seem kind of pale,” said Doc Jay as he walked up next to Captain.

     Captain broke his concentration from the black box and looked at the old man staring at him with concerning eyes.  “Yeah, sorry.  I’m just feeling odd about that box.  Salric and I were warned by Horace about these soldiers and that box, but…”  Captain looked at some of the soldiers and motioned Doc to come closer.

     “It felt like something was picking through my memories,” Captain confessed. 

     “Fascinating,” Doc said with interest. “I don’t feel anything from it, but it does seem odd for them to treat something like that with chains if it wasn’t special.”

     “If I can get you close, can you take a look at it?”

     “Well as much experience I have with the supernatural, it’s not really my forte.  But if I can get close without those cut-out copies punching my head off, I’ll take a look.”

      “Fair enough.  Stay here and stay alert.”  Captain slowed his pace and caught up with Tusk and Brant, the later looking bored while Tusk tossed his hand hammer without a care.  “How you two doing?”

     “Fine,” said Brant.

     “Pretty quiet, Captain,” said Tusk.

     “Well keep on your toes, there could be a blackout at any moment.  Or worse, rain.”

     “Blackout?”  asked Brant.

     “Rain?” asked Tusk.

     Captain pointed to one of the road lamps, “The lamps can flicker sometimes, hard to tell when it happens.  But when it happens, it’s the best time for the creatures to attack.  But the rain is just this muddy looking black water.  It puts out any fire, and what’s worse is that it dims the lamps.  We might as well pull our pants down and bend over for the creatures for them to chew our asses off when that happens.”

     Brant gulped and stayed silent, but Tusk smiled. 

     “We’ll be aware, sir.  No worries from us.”  Tusk gave a small salute with his hammer.

     Captain nodded back.  “Good man.  Keep an eye out for those soldiers too, while you’re at it.  Don’t want to get any surprises from them either.”  

     “We’ll keep an eye on them like a… like a…” started Tusk.

     “Hawk,” said Brant.

     “Yeah, that.”

      Captain nodded and slowed his walking pace down more before he could hear Tusk ask Brant what a hawk was.  He caught up with Salric, who was bringing up the rear with his rifle slung over his shoulder in a position for him to use quickly.  He nodded to Captain and the two started to walk side by side.

     The two silently walked together, looking at the group ahead.  A few minutes passed by like that, a simple peace that seemed familiar to the two.

     “How you feeling?” asked Salric.

     “Tired.  It’s something about that box… you remember what Horace was saying about it… well, I had this flashback from a few months ago, when you and me took down Tusk at the Blood Road.”

     “Yeah?”  Salric asked, but he seemed distracted.

     “And the more I try to remember, the more I get the feeling that something was… poking around in my memories.”

     Silence came back as they continued walking.  A few more minutes passed.

     Then Salric asked, “You remember how we first met?”

     This caught Captain by surprise. “Eh?”

     “Do you remember how we first met?”

     “Well, yeah about a few miles from here.”

     “Right, and do you remember your name?”

     Captain hesitated, not seeing where this was going.  “Um… no?”

     “Exactly.  Concentrate on the mission and let’s finish this as soon as we can.”  Salric gave a quick pat on Captain’s back and moved forward. 

     Captain stayed still for a moment, taking in the view of the group walking and the silence.  But then he turned towards the rocks and saw the shadows start moving closer to him.  He quickly rushed passed Salric and the rest of the group to walk close to Asmodias at the front of the group, who didn’t make any recognition. 

     “Hey,” said Captain.

     Asmodias stayed silent.

     “Can you talk?”

     Still silence.

     “Just like to listen to your own voice, eh?”

      Asmodias didn’t even look back at him.  And when Captain started to smell more heat coming from the suit, he stared to back away. 

      But then Asmodias stopped and looked toward the side of the road.  The shadows started to darken around the rocks, staying away from the lighted road but staying close enough to grab anyone who got close enough to the edge.      

     Captain stopped and asked, “What, you see them too?  What are you…”

     But before Captain could even finish, he watched Asmodias raise his unclenched hand and a black tube slid from under his wrist.  He moved towards the rocks and…

     Black oil shot out in a steady stream and with a spark from his fingers, a red flame started down the black sludge.  It hit the rocks and spread around the ground, causing the creatures to scream and flee.

     Asmodias laid his hand back down, and still without looking at Captain, continued walking.

     Captain froze.  And a pale sweat came from his forehead as he watched the rocks on fire.

     Doc rushed forward as the rest of the group caught up.  Doc looked over Captain quickly and then asked, “What’s wrong, Captain?”

     Captain stood silently, still stunned.  Not many people could remember what happened seven years ago, from the disappearance of the Shadow King.  But for Captain, he would always remember the first thing he saw when he woke up from the wreckage. The great Pride Castle was set on fire by the Burning Man. 

      It was the same blood red fire that Asmodias used.

      As the group went along the Black Road in silence, Captain had plenty of time to clear his head.  They let the soldiers and the box go ahead of them for a bit, while Captain shared his thoughts.

     “The Burning Man’s fire?” asked Tusk.

     “Yeah, this could go down pretty badly if we aren’t careful.  Doc, how close do you need to get to the box for you to check it out?”

     Doc pulled a crystal amulet out of pocket and twisted a metal band near that turned it into a bright blue.  “Give me at least a few feet.  If this turns black, we shall know it’s cursed.  I usually use this for people, but it should work on items.”

  

     “It’ll have to do,” said Captain.

     As more time passed silently, the road started to thin.  The rocks started to drop off into a canyon and the valley took a sudden drop into an abyss. 

     Then the soldiers and Asmodias stopped, as the road became a foot wide and above a pit.  At least a hundred feet long, and with no direct light nearby.  Captain passed the soldiers without saying a word or looking at Asmodias, but had to stop at the cliff and the lack of road.  He didn’t need to look down to see if it was bottomless, he did that the first time was on the Black Road.

     Tusk, however, did look down into the darkness.  “Long drop.” He said.

     Salric patted on his back, giving Tusk a sudden jump back away.  “Close, but it’s called the Thin Drop.”  He pointed to the light post, where in scratched writing could make out the words-

 

      Tusk read the words and replied, "Well at least they warned us."

      Salric ignored that and turned to Brant and asked, “Can you get the flares?”

     “Yeah.”  Brant nodded and with one arm, lifted his backpack that was twice the size of himself off and placed it in front of the group.  He opened one of its many pockets and pulled out long orange tubes and handed them to the group.  He took his foot long knife from his side, sliced the top of one of the tubes like a Champagne bottle, and bright silver light shot out from the tip like a rocket.  He pointed the flare towards the others and set the others of as well. 

     Doc asked, “Who’s first?”

     Brant responded, “Preference.”

     But Captain shook his head, “I’ll go.  Once I’m over I’ll wave you to cross.  Until then, keep an eye on ‘you know who’ and ‘you know what’.” 

     Before he could raise his flare and start down the thin path, Salric passed his torch to Tusk and stepped forward.  “I’ll be right behind you.”

     “Like old times?”

     Salric answered by cocking his rifle, expanding its body to the size of a watermelon.

     Captain nodded, looked quickly at Asmodias and his soldiers standing still, and started down the path.  

     With a steady pace and a cautious step, Captain made his way across with the flare raised up and without looking down.  Salric walked silently behind, his rifle aimed below and to the sides, watching for anything to move.  Luckily, they saw nothing.

     They made to the end without any struggle.  With a sigh of relief and in the light of the street lamp, Captain turned and waved at the others while Salric stood near the edge, keeping his rifle pointing into the darkness.

     Doc started off slow, with his flare shaking slightly as he inched his away across the road.  As soon as he got halfway, Doc increased his speed and rushed to the other side with a heavy breath of relief.  He smiled at Captain and said, “Next.”

     Brant started with his large backpack on the pathway, with Tusk behind him looking down into the canyon without hesitation.  He whistled and continued behind Brant until they made it to the other side.  Tusk took another look down and with an outreached arm, dropped his flare into the darkness.  There were no visible monsters as the flare fell, but soon the light became a small dot like a single star in the night sky.  And then, it was gone.

     Tusk said, “Yeah, I can’t wait to do that again.”  Captain still couldn’t tell if he was serious.

     Salric came close to Captain and reported, “Seems clear.”

     Captain nodded, “Yeah, good luck for us.”  He then looked back at Asmodias, his eight soldiers, and the black box.  They were standing still, as if frozen in place.

     “What they waiting for?” asked Tusk.

     “Hesitating,” replied Brant.

     “Maybe they are frightened by something?” said Doc.

     “Or waiting for us to be bait,” replied Salric.

     Captain stayed silent, but continued to watch. 

     After a few moments, Asmodias turned to his troops and started to move his hands, one still enclosed with whatever Abbadon gave him.  After a few gestures, he moved in his usual pace on the pathway. 

     As he moved, he extended his arms to his sides and red fire erupted from his hands.  Shadow creatures that were nearby in the canyon shrieked out and scampered away as the fire spread into the canyon corners.  The oil stayed alit as Asmodias crossed to the other side, but quickly disappeared as it burned into nothing. 

     Asmodias turned around, still not saying a word, and watched as his six free soldiers crossed over in a single line, marching like a synchronized army.  They crossed but didn’t look back.

     Then the two with the plank started to cross.  And Captain felt his hair on his neck starting to rise.

     “Do you feel that?” asked Tusk.

     “Prickling?” replied Brant.

     Doc grabbed his arms, “Yes, I feel it too.” 

     Salric stayed silent, and readied his rifle.

     Captain spoke, “Something’s wrong.”

     The soldiers started out the same as the ones before, but the closer they got to the middle, the slower they became.  After each step, it seemed to Captain as if what they were carrying was getting heavier and heavier.  And then they stopped, both soldiers with their body armor and masks looked like they were hurting, in pain.

     And then Captain heard it.  It started out like a deep echo, a whimpering from far away.  But it bounced in Captains head, almost vibrating his teeth like the roar of an animal that was in his face. 

     “No.  Stop it.”

     The soldiers shuddered as they heard the voice.  Even the ones behind Asmodias seemed affected.  But Asmodias stood his ground, unmoved as if he heard nothing.

     “Did you hear that?” asked Captain.

     “Yeah,” replied Salric.  The others nodded in agreement.

     Then the voice said, “Let me go.” 

     The soldiers started to shake, and Captain could hear the wood plank they were using make creaking noises.  He could see the chains starting to shake as well, loosening and tightening as if it was breathing.

     Brant twitched and put his hand to his head, “Headache.”

     “Me too, like a drill is going through my ear,” said Tusk.

     And then, like a screaming roar, the voice said. 

    “LEAVE ME ALONE!”

    

     The board exploded, and the chains spun around like a whirlwind, knocking the two soldiers away, one hitting into the cliff and sliding away into the darkness, while the other fell straight into the canyon, only to be snatched by an large creature with long thin tentacles that dragged the soldier away without much effort. 

     The box swung the chains to the ground of the thin pathway and flew up into the air towards Captain and his group.  It landed hard, the chains crashing on the road with a loud clash.  The box rolled a few feet, before it stopped, its hole facing Captain. 

     And Captain could see the white in the crack.  The eye looked at him and…

.

.

.

     Captain turned and looked at Evita, sleeping soundly next to him.  She was crying in her sleep again, with tear stains down her face.  What sort of nightmares do you have, he questioned to himself.  He reached out to touch her, and winced from the movement. 

     She slowly opened her bright green eyes, and wiped her tears while smiling into Captain’s face.

     “Does it hurt again?” she asked in a sleepy voice.

     “Not too much.” Captain tried to say softly, but it came out strained.

     Evita touched Captain’s face gently and sighed.  “I wish we knew what happened.”

     Captain didn’t speak, but smiled gently back to her.

     She moved slowly, revealing her smooth skin under the covers of the bed.  She stared to say, “Here, turn around and let me look…”

.

.

.

     Captain pointed his revolver to a ragged man kneeling down on the Black Road.  The ragged man was wrapped in a dirty clothe like a thin corpse forced to walk.  He was bleeding from the shoulder and holding it tightly with his thin hand.  His face looked older than his eyes, which gave an intenseness that gave the man a frantic look. 

     Captain said, “I don’t want to do this, but if you don’t come back with me, I won’t have any choice.”

     The ragged man clenched his teeth, and replied, “Go fuck yourself.” 

     Captain looked slightly surprised, but kept a calm voice when he said, “You can talk?”

     “No, you’re just hearing things.”

     “You know sarcasm too, I see.  Do you have a name?”

     The ragged man looked angrier, but answered with a rough tired voice.

     “Salric.”

     Captain frowned, “I would think they give you ‘Walkers’ numbers instead of names.”

     “They did.”  Salric started to breath heavier.  “If you’re going to shoot, then do it quick.”

     “I rather not carry your body back if I do.  Too much work for the amount they want to pay me.”  Captain voice sounded hesitant, but his gun didn’t move.  “It sounds like you want me to pull the trigger though… what’s up with that?”

    And Salric, as angry as he looked, suddenly looked extremely tired.  It was if years of age had suddenly fallen upon him with a tired anger that only comes with the truly desperate, and his fierce eyes looked almost pleading as he spoke.

     “Please.  End it now.”

     Captain raised his gun to Salric’s head and…

.

.

.

so…nearly…free…

     

.

.

.

     “What the hell was that?!”, yelled Tusk.

     Captain shook himself awake, and quickly remembered where he was.  He looked at his group, who seemed to be quiet shaken.  Tusk had his hammer in his hand and had his other one on the hilt of his sledge hammer, looking around in case something else was to happen.  Brant held his head as if it was in pain, and Doc was checking on him even though he seemed hurting as well. 

     But Salric looked heavily affected.  He gave a look that even though he was masked, Captain could tell he saw something. 

     Through gritted teeth, Brant said, “Shit.” 

     It seemed to be what everyone was thinking.

     Captain said, “Now you believe something’s wrong with that box?”  The group was silent, still recovering from what happened.  Salric gave Captain a harder look and motioned him to head away from the rest.  When they were far enough, Captain asked first, “What did you see?”

     Salric said with a strained voice, “The memory of you pointing a gun in my head.”

     Captain smiled. “Good times.”  Captain didn’t say anything about Evita crying, but it seemed that was only from him.  It still felt as if something was poking around, grabbing at certain things. 

     Salric asked, “Was that what happened in the city?”

     “Yeah.”

     “What was that?  It felt like…”  Salric couldn't say, but instead moved his finger around his head.

     “Yeah, I wish I knew.”  Captain though, aloud.

      And then Captain had an idea.

      He turned back to the group and put a hand on Doc.  “Hey, can you get close to it now?” 

     Doc looked at the box hesitantly.  “I don’t know.  After what just happened I’m not sure…”

     “Pick up the box.” 

     It was a voice that sounded like it was said on an intake of breath, covered by something that dulled it to a wisp of a sound.  But the words echoed in Captain’s head like a cavern.  He turned to Asmodias, who was staring at him with an intense heat. 

     Captain started to ask, “Did you just…?”

     But the voice came again from Asmodias.  “Pick up the box.  We can not touch it.”

     “You could talk this whole time?  Why didn’t…”

     Asmodias ordered.  “Pick up the box, now.”

     Captain stood up straight, as his anger started to rise.  “If you think you can…”

     But Asmodias stepped in front of Captain and stared him down. 

     “Now.”

     Captain wanted to say something else, but he couldn’t think of anything.  He looked back at the box, its chains on the road like limp appendages.  Captain didn’t gulp, but he took a step forward.

     “Wait.”

     Captain was surprised to hear it come from Brant, his face pale and his nose evident of bleeding but with an angered determination that couldn’t be stopped.  He put down his backpack, and cracked his knuckles and neck. 

     “War.”

     Brant walked over to the box with an anxious look, and with a sudden jolt grabbed the box…

     And lifted it with little resistance.   

     Brant and the group looked surprised.  And after a few moments of waiting, nothing happened. 

     “Huh.  Didn’t expect that,” replied Doc.

      Asmodias nodded, turned, and started to walk away with his remaining troop, seemingly unaffected by the loss of two men.

     Captain gave a harsh look towards Doc and said, “How about now, Doc.”

     Doc looked surprise, “Oh, yes, I guess I could now.”  He pulled the crystal out, which was still glowing blue and came close to Brant and the box.  Brant held it out with one hand, the chains dangling off it without much movement.  Doc held the crystal out, waiting for it to change or react, but it still glowed blue.  Finally, the crystal touched the box. 

     But it never changed color. 

     Doc brought it back, with a confused look, “Well it doesn’t seem to be curs…”

     The crystal exploded in Doc’s hand.

     Doc cursed loudly, and Captain and the group gathered close to make sure things weren’t that bad.  Captain started to yell at Asmodias, but saw that he was staring at him.  He didn’t need to say anything, because Captain could feel what he could say. 

     Asmodias was telling him to hurry up.

     Doc pulled his flask and poured some in his hand, wincing a bit before he quickly started to wrap his hand with a makeshift bandage. 

     Brant said, “Rejected.”

     Captain looked at Brant with annoyance.  “What the hell does that mean?”

     Brant didn’t answer, but with help from Tusk, he put his backpack back on and wrapped the chains around the box.  And then with another crack of his neck, he started to walk down the Black Road again.  Tusk shrugged at Captain, and followed behind Brant for extra security.  Salric helped Doc finish the wrapping, and with a small nudge, motioned Captain to keep moving.

     “He was right,” Doc said quietly, as if deep in thought.

     Captain held back his annoyance but was too tired to hold back his anger, “Say that again?” he asked with more heat than he meant to.
     Doc ignored his anger, and started speaking.  “Brant was right.  The amulet was rejected, like a bad transplant for a patient.  And I can only think of two reasons that it did that.  One is that two extremes, such as a curse or a blessing are mixing around that thing and the crystal couldn’t handle the two opposites, causing a reaction that could only lead to it overreact.

     “The other, I’m afraid is a little more terrifying.   It could be that the box is so cursed that it’s gone beyond our ways of seeing, an extreme case.  Think of a curse so powerful it over exceeds our basic thoughts and becomes something…”  

     Doc trailed off his theory and had an intense look of concentration.   

     “Something what?” asked Salric.

     Doc looked at the two with a pale look, but quickly took a swig from his flask and gave a small cough.  “Different.” 

     Captain gave a dark look to Salric, and then looked at the darkness off the Black Road.  Yeah, thought Captain, or maybe we can hope that amulet of yours was just a bad reject.  

End of Part 7 ~

Shit's getting real, yo.

And it's the beginning of it getting dark.

And it will just keep getting darker.

Until...

But that's for later.

Lots of things going on, but I keep on going.

But for fun, I've started watching Fringe.

Liking it so far.  It has some problems (like some of the writing), but I really like Walter.

Also trying to work on a new art project.

But I have to work on a sketch for the model.  It involves...hmm.

I'll probably do more reviews first though.

We shall see.

Later~

Previous Chapters -
Part 1 - Unease
Part 2 - Disbelief
Part 3 - Bargaining
Part 4 - Paralyze
Part 5 - Recognition
Part 6 - Denial

Guardians of the GALAXY!!! Part 2

So no go on Turtles.  I'll have to throw my towel at it though, because when I went to go see it, it was packed with 7 year old children and younger.  But I heard it's not good. 
Better than Transformers, but more focus on April and not on the Turtles.
And what did I say-

"But do I want her to be a main focus in the movie?
No.  I want Turtles.  I want Ninjas, and I want fighting.  
I don't care about April."

And what did they do?  Make it about April.
Fuck...



BUT!
At least I have Guardians of the Galaxy to soften my blow. 
Because it paid off on that being a good movie! 

So what was I talking about... oh yeah.

Side Characters

Another thing that bothers me is that they have these big name actors for these minor characters. 

The Nova group, with Glenn Close and John Reilly, have a minor role in the flick even though they are the main people to be saved.  I also feel kinda bad for Benicio del Toro as the Collector because he was only in it for 5 minutes.

But I do say that John Reilly is a good minor character, with enough development for you to care about.  Shame he's probably going to die.
...oh...yeah.  Er... He's playing the equivalent of the Green Lantern Alien giving the ring.  
Yeah, they could go that rout. 
It's a Nova thing.

But the shining gem in this movie is Michael Rooker.

Rooker plays Yondu, a bandit leader with a very special arrow.
Now, besides the design, the whole time I was watching his scenes I was wondering who he was and what the pay off with the arrow was going to be. 

The payoff was worth it.  Sweet glorious payoff...

But I kept wondering who he was, so I looked him up.

Remember that picture I put up in the first part?  The one of the Guardians of the Galaxy in 69?

You see that blue guy with the red Mohawk and with the bow and arrow.
That's Yondu.  The alien version of Hawkeye and Turok.
SO... HE WAS AN ORIGINAL GUARDIAN!!!
That smile at the end has a whole new meaning doesn't it?
Makes you kinda like it more?

Also, Knowhere.  Amazing!  Looks so much better than the comic but just as cool~

Also Stan Lee as a Xandarian ladies' man.  Cool. 
And Lloyd Kaufman as an inmate... what?  The guy who directed and made this?!

I'm also told that Nathan Fillion and Rob Zombie did cameo voices. 
And Seth Green did The Duck.
Which I won't talk about...


Seriously, no I won't.


Villains

 Now this is my major draw back.  I wasn't completely set with Ronan as a villain.  He felt like he was either to serious or not serious enough.  It seemed that a lot of stuff was cut out for his story and he was just a very bland villain.

However~
Matt had made a point to me that I have to share.
"You don't need to know this villain.  He is an asshole child and family killer extremist terrorist.  I don't want to know his story, I don't want to know his past.  He is scum and he needs to die.  They kill him, they move on.  No back story, no development, just a bad guy."

That... I have nothing to say to that.  That was a brilliant answer, and I had to share it. 


Also, the Doctor Who girl make a nice villain, but she seems to be just sequel bait. 


Also, I like Josh Brolin as Thanos.  It's not overdone, it's just the right amount of intimidation.

But with that in mind, we get to the~


Story

I like the story, but if you simplify the story, taking out the character developement, this is the main story-

Main character steals item for bad guy. 
Female comes in to steal item main character. 
Other character come in to take in Main character. 
Chaos in sues, they all get arrested.
They escape jail with item and go to place to sell item.
Find out what item really is and debate on doing right thing. 
Villains come and steal item back.
Main characters talk and decide to fight back.
Bad guy almost wins.  Then they almost lose.
Then main character gets item back.
Good guy wins.

...that's it.

But the character development is the best. And that's where the writing shines.

Definitely worth re-watching.



So what do we have to look forward to?  In the Marvel Universe?

Looks good!  I mean how could this go wrong?

Oh...
oh.........
ooooooooooooooooooooh...................................

Later~

Will

Guardians of the GALAXY!!! Part 1

SO I was going to do a comparison of 2 movies, but it looks like I shot myself in the foot again...

So let's talk about Guardians.
It's a good movie.
Like really good movie.
It's not perfect, but it's still a good movie.
...well, the characters are great.  And that makes up majority of the movie, so yeah, it's good movie.





But I will say this~

IT'S BETTER THAN 

THE F*CKING AVENGERS! 

Blasphemy I hear!  How could I say that!!

Well, it is.

The movie is based on the comic that started in 1969, but I only found out about the series 3 years ago.

As I said before, I don't read comics very often so my main source of information of Marvel stuff comes from the TV and cartoon shows.  Guardians rarely made an appearance... like, as in never to my understanding until recently.  So how did I find them?  From a little game called Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 were you get to play as Nova and a certain Raccoon.
Now, Nova I knew, but I reacted the same way most people did when hearing about Rocket...
"Who the fuck is Rocket Raccoon?"
So I looked him up and found the Guardians.

Now, reading the comic is... how should I put it... almost impossible.  You've heard that any comic could be someone's first comic, so you have to make it so that they can read it without reading anything previous.  Well Guardians makes that almost impossible.  They introduce so many characters that you have to read the first of the series to even understand who these people are.

But the movie is more based on the 2008 edition, with the characters of Star-Lord, Rocket, Gamora, Drax, and Groot.  And how did it go?
Very well.




So I won't warn you about spoilers because you should have seen this by now.
Seriously, I said it was better than Avengers, go see this now.


You back?  Good.
You didn't go?  You're own fault.



The best thing about this movie is the characters and their story, so lets first talk about them.

Main Cast Characters

Chris Pratt as Star-Lord, Peter Quill 

I could tell this movie was written by a women.
That's far from being a bad thing, but hearing a line like this kinda being a big hint~



No man would pull a Footloose reference.  NO MAN.
But that's what makes this movie with Chris.
His 80's idioms and references put a old style verses the new age space look.
Compared to the comic version, it's a mix bag... 
The more recent comic makes Peter too serious.  He's also a jerk at times.
But the movie makes sense, connecting a dark beginning with the death of his mom and abduction with just a sense of doing the 'right thing'.  With him becoming the leader, it's stunning how much of a guy like that becomes someone you want to root for, someone who puts the memories of his past above his well being.

Do I like the changes they made?  Yes.
But I am disappointed they never talked about his guns.



Zoe Saldana as Gamora

So the Blue Avatar/Star Trek Lady is now green.

...I see nothing wrong with that.

Character wise, not much different.  They use her mostly as a plot device for Star-Lord to get his shit together and save the galaxy.  She's tough and I love her fight scenes...
But that's about it.
I do like her, and she is a strong character.  But unfortunately she kinda gets overshadowed by 2 other characters.

(BTW - I never saw that above scene in the movie.  They cut it out!)


Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer

Gamora and Drax are the 2 characters I know the least about, in which I learned about them from a friend of mine.  Drax is downplayed in this a bit, and really doesn't show any powers except that he fights well.
But Dave Bautista plays him as the straight man in a comedy act and that is hilarious.
He is still impressive in the fighting, but he seems to be saved up for the sequel that is now on it's way.


And then we have -

Bradley Cooper as Rocket and Vin Diesel as Groot

Now, I told my friend if Groot didn't sacrifice himself, it's wouldn't be a good movie.
...guess what the joke is.

Groot is a very simple character and very emotional.  Most people bitched at Vin playing him, but I on the other hand, thought if you needed to emote a character with saying as few words as possible, how about using the guy who made kids cry from just saying one word.

Not to mention, I teared up during this movie.
I can name 2 scenes.  One was with Groot during his saving speech. 
You know what it was.

The other was with Rocket.
At the end.
When he was reaching for Drax hand.
...
...
It was a good scene.

Bradley Cooper was perfect for this character.  Enough comedy and drama and badassness...
I really don't know what to say except that he is the Heather Ledge Joker in the Marvel Universe.
He's that good.


And then we have~
Side Characters


But I'll get to them when I get back.
Because it seems I'll have to eat my words again.

Sigh...

To be continued in Part 2

Vegas and Penn & Teller 2014

I've returned from my Vegas trip.
Felling refreshed and full of ideas...
...at least for my stories.  Life is still busy with other things.

But let me step away from that and talk more about what I saw~

And as I was there with Matt and Melinda, we went to go see a Vegas show.
One I haven't seen in since ten years ago.

 Penn and Teller have been my favorite magicians since I was a kid.  Even learned how to do some of their card tricks -

Mostly known for their shows, like Bullshit, they have done their own magic searches around the world, written their own books, and have talked in length about some strong opinionated beliefs.  

But the artwork they do in their tricks is what affects me.
I've seen some other magicians preform up close, but they don't hold the same message that P&T can make.
As a tribute, to both their work and to my memory, I would like to show you some of their stuff.

My memory of that show, as I can call it now, was something like this~

Box trick ( Great start )
Cell Fish
Metal Detector
Guest Trick Joke
"It's done with thread" Red Ball Trick
Tea pot trick
Trashbag Escape
Guitar, Physics, and Cards ( They said this was a new trick, but still alright)
Cow Toy Trick
Teller's Trick to fool Penn 
Cutting Women in Half...
Goldfish and Coins  ( Second trick in the video, I think I saw this 10 years ago too )
Nail-gun Memorization ( This was a Penn stand alone, but still good )
American Flag
Rose's Shadow  ( My personal favorite )
Final - Double Bullet Catch

There are many more tricks that they do and have done.
And if you are ever in Vegas, make sure this is one of the shows you go see.

And now, I got to keep writing.
Later~
Will.





.
.
.
P.S.  This is what Teller sounds like.

Shades of Fear ~ 6 - Denial

     Captain shook his head and looked around.  The vision he saw was from six months ago, back on the Blood Road, but it felt like it was yesterday, like a fresh memory.  It left him feeling uneasy and dizzy, as if suddenly forgetting where he was.  He looked around at his companions.

     Tusk was dressed simply in a thin t-shirt with ripped sleeves, with loose jeans and army boots.  His olive skin muscles were larger than a few months ago, but his hair was now cut short.  His hand hammer hanging loosely on his jeans and on his back was a giant sledge hammer, the newly minted 'Finisher Fourteen', which seemed to be a large piece of lead that had been covered with so many other melted metals that it looked like a flattened candlestick.  

     He gave a grin with his large teeth that Captain was used to, and nodded in recognition.  

     Next to Tusk was Brant, who had layers of loose clothes on that it was hard to recognize him, with his blonde, straw like hair barely covered his eyes.  But behind him was a backpack that was easily twice his size, covered with ammo strands, wraps, and cooking utensils.  He silently nodded to Captain.

     Doc Jay still looked the same as he did months ago, with his white hair and dirty white coat.  He had a small bag, which Captain knew contained a few bottles of herbs and glue, bandages, and a kit with needle wire.  Captain also knew of the two automatic pistols that were underneath his coat and a flask of alcohol in his back pocket that he used as a disinfectant more than occasionally taking a swig from.  

     Salric... still looked like Salric.

     With black leather straps wrapped completely around him, and an ammo belt wrapped around his chest, he looked no different since after the first time Captain met him.  He was leaning on his rifle though, which reminded Captain of a ‘reversed’ blunderbuss with the bottom of the barrel big and the point being thinned out, giving Captain a look of concern. 

     Or at least, as much concern that could be seen through strips of black leather.

     Salric asked again. “Captain?”

     “Did you see that?”  Captain replied.

     “See what?”

     Captain could hear the worry in his voice.  Tusk stopped grinning to give a concerned look, Brant tilted his head quizzically, and Doc Jay raised an eyebrow.

     With the looks he was getting, Captain shook his head to clear it again and said, “Never mind, let’s gets this over with.” 

     He turned back to look at the Red Bull Mask Soldier and the two black and white soldiers carrying the box.  Now that he was actually looking, he noticed that the two soldiers looked exactly alike except for their colors.  They both had breathing masks, but no tubes, and where armored like Abbadon and this Red Bull Mask Soldier, but if Captain could imagine pure white snow dipped in ink or black asphalt painted white, that is what they would have reminded him of their color scheme.  

     The box was exactly how Horace described it.  It was a dark wooden box, around two by two feet, chained down to a plank that was being carried by the two clone soldiers.  Near the middle of one of the sides, was a jagged shaped hole. 

     Captain deliberately turned away from the box, trying not to show any rush or purpose and stared at the Red Mask Soldier.

      “So, what’s up with you?”

     The Soldier didn’t respond, but its look intensified a bit with more heat.

      Captain was about to respond with a nasty comment, until he saw Abbadon walk up to the group with six more soldiers behind him.  All of the soldiers more clone copies of the two carrying the box. 

      Now without wearing the cloak, Abbadon was appeared even more gigantic.  His body armor of copper and brass showed no openings of flesh, and looked almost mechanical in nature.  There was still a ticking that could be heard as he walked closer.  In one hand, he held the speaker that was used by Ms. Hekate and in the other…

     It was closed, but covered in drying blood.  Captain couldn’t tell what it was, as it had to be pretty small, but he was still holding it.  

     From the speaker, he heard Hekate’s voice.  “Hello, Captain.  Glad to see you and your group have made it.”

     Captain replied, “And I see you brought a group as well.  Care to explain the extra support?”

     “They are for you and your group, actually.  I would have thought you would like the additional protection on such a dangerous trip?”

      Not if it’s from you, thought Captain silently.  He said aloud, “How kind.  What’s in the box?”

      Even though she couldn’t be seen, Captain could imagine he heard her smile.  “It’s an additional request for you.  My soldiers are taking this along the way and I was wondering if you would be so kind and help Asmodias and his men transport it.”

     Captain looked back at the Red Mask Soldier and still felt the heat coming from him.  So, thought Captain, your name is Asmodias.  Where do they come up with these names?

     “That wasn’t part of the deal…”  Captain started.

     Hekate interrupted, “Your deal is still what we discussed, this is just… a coincidence of traveling.”

     Captain huffed, “Coincidence.”

     “You can still back out, if you believe it is too much for you.”

     Captain looked back at his group, who all stood straight with attention and without a look of defiance.  “No, that’s fine.”

     “Good.  Safe travels then.”  And the speaker went silent.

     Abbadon put the speaker somewhere behind him and gestured to Asmodias to follow him.  Captain watched silently as the two metal soldiers stared at each other without saying a word.  Abbadon lifted his bloody closed hand and Asmodias opened up his to receive whatever was inside.  Captain couldn’t see exactly what it was from his point of view, but it looked almost coin shaped.  Asmodias looked down into it with no reaction, looked back up into Abbadon’s face, and closed his hand around it.  Abbadon nodded and walked away from the group as Asmodias returned.

     Tusk spoke up.  “Not coming with us?” 

     Abbadon didn’t even register that anything was said to him, and disappeared into a dark alley.

     Captain looked around at the traveling company and counted.  With him, Salric, Tusk, Brant, and Doc Jay there was five.  With Asmodias and his group of eight soldiers, there were now fourteen.  Should be enough for now, thought Captain.

     “Let’s head out then.”

     As they started down Main Street, the crowd got more crowded.  Even with the intimidating soldiers and Captain’s men, the crowd was too busy watching entertainers and shop keepers.  Some of them did recognize that they were heading for them, and pushed others away so they could have room, but the crowd was so packed it didn’t do much good.

     As they started to reach the Main Gate, the crowd got less packed and then thinned down to no one around.  The yells and hoots from the crowds started to quiet down, but as soon as Captain crossed the Main Gate and onto the Black Road, the roar of the crowd disappeared in an absolute silence.

     It was still as Captain remembered it, a black asphalt road with white lines down the middle.  On the sides were the cliffs of the mountains that surrounded and separated the rest of the pathways around the city.  A few paces to Captains left side was one of the lamp posts.  It was wooden, with wires that were cut and ripped out from its top sides, but the lamp still glowed with a yellow light that seemed to cover a good distance, like a fire in complete darkness.  Down the way, another lamp post shown brightly, and another past that one for as long as the eye could see.

 

     A different feeling came unto the Captain and his group.  "Wh.." started Tusk, but stopped when Salric covered his mouth.  They moved forward in silence. 

     After a while, Captain raised his fist to stop the group.  "I think our ears have gotten use to it now.  You can talk now."

     "What happened?"

     "We're in the Shadowlands, it's not as noisy as the city.  Your hearing can be damaged badly from the sudden change of silence and noise, and that’s all it will take for ‘them’ to come and attack while you are weakened.”

     “I thought the creatures didn’t come this close to the city?” asked Doc Jay.

     “Can’t be too careful about that,” replied Salric. 

     Captain took another look around the group and noticed a change.  The light from the lamp and the darkness from the road gave everyone a more sharp edge.  The shadows from all their clothes and weapons darkened like an outline.  However, on the road Captain, Salric, and Tusk showed no shadow.  Even though in the city, you could sort of see a shadow from the clothes and other items, the road itself showed none.  But Doc Jay and Brant could clearly see that they still had their shadow. 

     Captain wasn’t too surprised about this.  Doc Jay came to the city months after the Burning Man came, and Brant never talked about his past.  But there were still some people in the city that had their shadow.  Mostly newcomers unknown from one of the roads…

     For a brief moment, Captain also realized that none of the soldiers produced a shadow either.  But the box did, giving an almost black look to it that would make it look like it was melting into the road.  In that moment, Captain looked at the box hole again and…

     He blinked and saw nothing.  He could have sworn he saw something white…

     “Is everyone ready?” Salric asked, noticing that Captain was staring at the box again.

     “Ready,” said Brant, adjusting his pack and cracking his knuckles.

     Captain focused again, and then motioned everyone to move forward.

     After silent minutes of walking down the road, the cliff walls started to expand further out until they went into the dark reaches of the land and disappeared to show a dark desert like landscape, with rocks and pebbles randomly lying around the plains.  The light from the lamps made shadows move in an eerie way…

      Or at least, Captain hoped they were just shadows.

      And then he motioned to stop the group as they came across a line.

      There, on the surface of the Black Road, was a hand drawn line that went from one side of the road to the other.  As much a people tried, no mark could ever stay on the road itself, but with multiple marks and cuts, the traveler’s of the road had made a line that was good enough.  It looked like it started off as chalk, but after so many times it washed away and someone tried to scratch with some sort of sharp weapon.  Someone had even tried marking it with blood… but nothing lasts. 

      Captain went to the side of the road next to a lamp post and grabbed a handful of graveled sand.  He followed along the line, like a tradition for past surviving travelers, and started to pour the sand.

     The group watched this in silence, except for Tusk.  He asked, “What are you doing?”

     “I’m marking the line to the Petrified Forest.”

     Tusk looked out towards the empty road, which looked the same as they had been traveling for the last half hour.

     “What forest?”

     Captain ignored Tusk’s question and pulled out his revolver.  He did a quick load of five regular bullets for the gun, and then added one of the four special Dragon Fire bullets into the sixth chamber.  Captain turned to Salric, who was already preparing his rifle.  “You sneak on ahead and support us.  Doc, follow close to me.  Brant and Tusk, you…”

     Tusk growled in aggravation for being ignored.  “I said what forest?  There is nothing here, so why are you acting so upti…” 

     He took a step forward and disappeared completely.

     Captain pointed his gun towards the empty road and cursed.  “Shit, if he doesn’t come back in the next two minutes, we’ll have to go in for him.  It’s always harder getting out than in.”  Salric aimed his rifle, Doc gripped his automatic under his coat, and Brant pulled his Gatling gun from his giant pack.  Asmodias and the soldiers… did nothing.  But they all waited.

     In his mind, Captain started counting.  What felt like an eternity, but was only about fifty seconds, Tusk reappeared, with a torn shirt and breathing heavy.  His hammer was in his hand, covered in muck.

     He yelled out, “WHAT THE FUCK?!” 

     Doc went over and checked Tusk out.  “Nothing serious, just a few scratches.”

     Brant sighed, “Dumbass.”

     Tusk yelled out again, “WHAT THE FLYING FUCK WAS THAT?!”  And then, as panicked as he was, his eyes started to go dim and his head suddenly dropped.

     Doc replied, “He’s falling asleep.  It must be Nightcap.”  He pulled his flask from his back pocket and took a swig.   

     “Yeah, I noticed,” replied Captain.  He holstered his revolver and grabbed Tusk by whatever was left of his collar.  “What did you see?”

     Tusk focused on Captain and answered, “It… it was a forest.  This large tree suddenly appeared from out of the darkness, covered in these glowing purple flowers… but it couldn’t have…”  Tusk’s eyes started to look unfocused.

     Captain double slapped him not hard on his cheek to wake him up, “Focus!  Being in denial won’t help.  Keep talking, what did you see?  What did you feel?”

     As soon as Captain said ‘feel’, Tusk’s face went pale.  “I heard a whisper and felt something like claws come across my sides.  I turned but didn’t see anything… then I started to get drowsy.  My eyes grew heavy and I tried to step back, to find my way back to you guys, but ever step I tried to take, I kept slipping down.  And the more I slipped, the more the claws came.  So I got mad, and started swinging.  Then I came back here.” 

     Tusk’s eyes started to droop again, but Doc passed his ‘wake up’ juice from his flask and made Tusk take a swig.  After a shudder and his eyes widening to the size of egg, Tusk got up with renewed energy and had a look of sudden attention as he stood over by Brant, who elbowed him in the ribs for being a dumbass.  Captain knew that this time, Tusk wasn’t going to question the Road anymore.

     “It’s just like Tusk and Doc say.  The forest is full of Nightcap.  Try not to breathe in too much unless you want the creatures to have an easy meal.  Salric, you’re up.” 

     Salric nodded and with a tap on his wrist, started to fade.  And then with a few steps, he disappeared completely. 

     “Will he be alright?” asked Doc Jay.

     Captain replied, “Nightcap doesn’t work on Salric, not even to make him groggy or tired.”   He could only wish it did, Captain thought to himself.  “When you hear the signal, I’ll be going in first.  Doc, you follow close to me.  Tusk, you next and Brant, you follow up behind.”  Captain turned to Asmodias and his soldiers, “You’ll stay here till we clear it out, then we’ll signal again and you follow.” 

     Asmodias made no movement, nor recognition of anything being said.

     Captain thought of saying something else, but left it at that.   He pulled his revolver again, and watched as Tusk put away his hand hammer and pulled his large sledgehammer. 

     With a look of readiness, Captain ordered, “Get ready to run.”

     They waited again, this time without the counting. 

     And then they heard it.  A rifle shot. 

     Captain rushed pass the line and into the sudden forest.       

     The darkness crashed into Captain like a wave, but he moved forward without slowing.  Using the light from the Nightcaps, Captain rushed passed the army of trees and looked down to try and find any hint of a road under the mounds of roots, dirt, and gravel. 

     Running while trying holding your breath was hard enough, but then the creature came.

     They didn’t really have a standard shape.  Some were thin and spiky while others were wide and slimy, but what they all had in common were teeth and claws.  And hunger.  How many where there?  Eight?  Twelve?

     Captain aimed his revolver, but before he pulled the trigger, one of the creatures head exploded and warm air passed close to Captain’s face. 

      “Damn it, Salric!  Give me some warning before you do that.”  Captain yelled aloud as he continued running.  Captain inhaled the sweet flowery smell of the Nightcap and started to relax, but anger and adrenalin from running away kept him sharp and awake.  He kept running forward, firing his revolver with accuracy, until he finally started to run on road again.  The trees started to not be so dense, and a light from a lamp post started to show the end of the forest. 

     Captain flashed forward and saw Salric kneeling down behind a rock, handling his rifle with steady hands.  Captain quickly turned around and looked back for Doc and saw the old man firing his automatic into the body of a creature that was about to stab his face.

     Salric aimed his rifle at the creature in the forest and fired again.  Captain watched as the big end of the rifle compressed and flattened for a second, and a thin jet of flame spit out of the end and disappeared.  A small pebble sized ball shot out at a ridiculous speed and hit the creature in the head, piercing all the way through and into three petrified trees.

     “That was my warning,” Salric commented as he pulled back the bolt and the rifle expanded again.

     Salric’s rifle, Dragonlung, was just as you would expect from having a name like that. 

     Doc shook off the creature’s body and rushed over to join Captain, his gun pointed to the forest as well.

     A thunderous crash came from the forest, and Tusk appeared with a fierce grin and a now slimy hammer.   Behind him, a large backpack came out of the forest, with Brant behind it firing his Gatling gun while walking backwards.

     And with that, the gang grouped up again.

    “Well that was fun,” said Tusk. 

     The gang couldn’t tell if he was joking or not.

    “Everyone ok?” Captain asked.  Everyone nodded.  “Well, we have to go back in and finish…”

     There was another crash in the forest.

     And then inhuman screams.  It was to Captain’s horror that it was from the creatures.

     The gang aimed at the forest, and watched as a red flame exploded within the forest.  It didn’t set anything on fire for long and soon turned dark again, but smoke started to come out from the trees.

     Asmodias walked out without any rush or look of struggle.  His hand was still clasping whatever he received from Abbadon and motioned his soldiers.  Behind him, his eight clones and the box came out without a scratch. 

     Captain suddenly shuddered, getting a horrible feeling as he watched Asmodias walked pass him without looking.

     “Shit.” Brant said in a quiet voice. 

     Tusk nodded.  “You said it.  I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

     Captain didn’t say anything, but reloaded his revolver and followed the soldiers.

End of Part 6 ~

Now it starts on the journey.   What paths will this follow?
We shall soon see.
...Hopefully.
On Vacation right now, and using the peaceful time to get stuff finished.
But I'm also trying to see Penn and Teller with Matt and Melinda.
So...
Later~


  
Previous Chapters -
Part 1 - Unease
Part 2 - Disbelief
Part 3 - Bargaining
Part 4 - Paralyze
Part 5 - Recognition

Oldboy - The Review P.1

Over a year ago, I talked about my involvement with Oldboy after I saw the trailer for the American Remake.
And back then, I had hope that they would make it more accurate to the books...
Well I was wrong.
Spike Lee and Mark Protosevich fucked it up.


.
..
...
I guess I could give a more detailed explanation of this explanation.

It's hard to explain without going into the original story.

After 10 years of being imprisoned in a hotel room, with no knowledge of why or who did it, a man simple going by "Mister" is released into a world that he doesn't know anymore.  But his ten year imprisonment wasn't in vain, as he took his time training his body and mind so that he could find out who imprisoned him and why.  But is he in control of his choices, or is he still imprisoned by the one who put him there?  If he wants to find out, he'll have to play "His" game.

 I read the original story a couple of years before in college.  I found it slow paced and the ending made me upset because it was so anti-climatic. 
Compared to the Sopranos and Lost... this ending was worse.
But now, as I have grown older (and have compared it to the movies) I have found it fitting.  The slow pace actually part of a theme... waiting.  It does match the feel of waiting for answers and the feeling impatient.  It must have been torture for the ones waiting for the comic each month.

In fact. my mind went like this ~

First 3 books - Slow paced and full of waiting.  Most of the movies follow these first books (like the release, the girlfriend, and hunting down his jailers), but it also shows "Mister" getting back into the world.  It's revealed in book 3 that Mister's full name is Goto Shinichi.
Book 4 - Reveals the school, Goto finally meets "Him", theme of time and waiting, and the challenge made.
Book 5 - Discussion of the difference of waiting and doing yourself.  Of doing it right.
Find out "Him" is  named Takaaki Kakinuma.  Of Doubt.  And of more games.  
Book 6 - Goto, with doubt, loses the game of saying Takaaki's name.  Revealed of the want for revenge from something humiliating in school.  Noticed a lack of focus on Eri (the girlfriend) since book 4 and focusing on a teacher.  Music class?
Book 7 - Something about a song.  This is when it started to get weird for me.  The hesitation of him remembering the song and even singing it.  A lot of focus on the teacher.  Reunion with Eri.
And then... we go into hypnosis.  
Last Book 8- This I remember is when it gets shitty...or at least anti-climatic.  With the forced meeting of Eri and Goto, we go into the final game and find the reason.  But the problem with it is that it left too many questions, like it was rushed to end.  The post ending is actually thought provoking.  And the whole theme on waiting brings a dread as if we are still trapped.



I'll get back to the ending in a bit, but from here on out, I'll be talking about the movies...
Which are bad.
One being bad for it's depressing DISTURBING story... and one just being more bad.



Spoilers below.
...
But truthfully you should be thanking me...  Don't watch these movies.



In each version, the main character "Oldboy" has a different name.

The Main character in the comic is "Mister" or "Sir", but his full name revealed in Book 3 of 8 as Shinichi Gotō
The name translated for Korean Movie -  Oh Dae-su
Translated for Hindu Copy Movie (a ripoff I won't talk about) - Balajeet "Bala" Roy
And the translated name for the American Movie - ...Joe Doucett   

Did you get it...   

Joe / Oh       :        Doucett / Dae-su

 Ha.


It's hard to choose which one to talk about first.   I usually like to save the best for last, but I don't know which one is best. 

In this case, I'll go with the first movie and most famous one, the Korean one ~

In the beginning, we see a crazed man hold a man with a dog with his tie off of a roof top.  Simply asking for him to tell his story.  An intense opening... and then we see a young (supposed) him at an police station, drunk and with a bloody nose.  Right away we find out his name - Oh Dea-su. - "Getting through one day at a time?"  Wow, heavy symbolism for things to come.  He also reveals that it's his daughter's birthday and the he got her angel wings. Wings as a gift.  She's his angel.  Symbolism!
Actually, the cop scene is pretty funny. 
In fact the whole opening is better than that mess of an American version.
But I'll get to that later...
In a simple scene involving umbrellas, we see Dea-su wake up in a room.  No understanding why he is there and who did it.  His only connection to the world is basic cable TV and a picture on the wall.

Well that's lovely, I don't see how that could do any harm...

Ah... yeah.  15 years...
\
We find through TV that his wife was killed (and he being the culprit) and his daughter was sent to the orphanage.   They knock him out with gas to clean, trim his hair, and such... and ants?
Ants?  Because it was military knock out gas?  He hallucinating ants?
He tries to kill himself multiple times, but they knock him out and stitch his wounds.
In an last act of defiance, he starts writing journals with the names of whoever he has wronged and starts exercising and shadowboxing from the TV. 
As the years pass and he gets closer to escaping finally, after 15 years, he gets gased again and someone comes in to hypnotize him.
Ah yes... the thing I hate about this movie.
The hypnotism... I'll get to that later.
\
He gets released on top of a building, in a black suit and a crazed look.  He sees a jumper with a dog and basically molested him, the first person he has had contact with in 15 years.  And then we see...
...did he cum in the elevator?
\
Laugh and the world laughs with you.  Weep and you weep alone~   Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Yikes...   hard words there.  But it fits the movie.
He gets in a fight with some punks while he tries to have his first cigarette in 15 years.  He gets called "dickshit" and he's fascinated.  Television doesn't teach you swear words.  I guess if it's only cable....

Ah, there's a fight!  Did the training pay off.
The simple answer is yes, yes it did.
\
While examining the street and a fish store, a homeless guy comes by and gives him a phone and a stackful of money.  Part of the comic, but not really necessary.
He goes into a sushi store and talks to the girl working...
"You look familiar, but it's my first time here."  Weird wording...
Then the phone rings and he talks to "Him".
I like Oh Dea-su telling "Him" who he could be, but "He" just laughs it off.

An expert on Oh Dea-su.  Yikes.

Ah, the "eating the live squid part".  This part is one of the famous scenes in this movie.
You would find me jumping out of an airplane before I would do something like that...
Anyway, he passes out.
/
The girl "Mi-do" takes him to her house, and reads his journals. He realizes he probably got sick from a lack of Vitamen A and E because of no sunlight.  Good point.
And then we get an attempted rape scene?  Well it's kinda a mixed bag.  Both serious and funny.
I don't know how to feel about that scene... but compared to later, this is just the tip of the awkward iceberg.

She talks about the journal and people who are lonely have hallucinations of ants?
Symbolism???  I never heard of that.
Anyway, we see Dea-su is hurting from his imprisonment and losing his family, and is going mad trying to adapt to the world and find his imprisoner.
And then, just like the comic, he goes to Chinese food place to Chinese food place to find pot stickers, the same pot-stickers he was fed for 15 years.
After the 5th restaurant, he throws up and keeps going.
At least he isn't throwing up every time he eats pot stickers.  That would be dumb...
*FORESHADOWING*
/
Back at the girls place, we find out that "Him" had been e-mailing Mi-do and Dea-su can't fully trust her anymore.  From the comic, the feeling of mistrust is used to push away the main character.  Do I like that?  Not really.
And then he finds the pot stickers.
He follows the deliver boy to a building and finds it has a hidden floor (in between 7 and 8).   

Hammer time!

Do I like the dark comedy in this?  Yes, I'm twisted like that.
He ties down the owner of the floor and tortures him for answers... with a hammer and the owners teeth.
The torture scene in the American I personally like better, but the Korean is still good.
Why the cookie tin?  Small thing but still...
/
WE GET TO THE HALLWAY FIGHT SCENE.  25 VS. 1! 
ALL 3 MINUTES OF IT IN ONE TAKE!
SERIOUSLY, IT'S THE ONLY REASON TO WATCH THIS MOVIE~  In fact, just watch this part and nothing else.




After that bloody scene, we see him pass out outside, and a stranger helps him to a cab.  Before the cab pulls away, the stranger lifts his head and reveals to be "Him".  So close...
Dea-su is taken to Mi-do's place, where she treats his wounds.  He listens to the tape he received and hears the request.  This one has a 'gasp' moment for how long he is being held.  And even asks what did he do.
The only answer we get is that Dea-su couldn't keep his mouth shut, that's why "He" did it.
 /
 He goes to an internet cafe and meets an old friend. 

260 women?  Damn... No wonder he wrote journals.
He finds the code "Evergreen."  And with some more awkward Mi-do scenes, he finds where "He" is.
/
In another hotel room (like the one he stayed in) he meets "Him" and his guard.  There, the man offer's Dea-su a challenge.  In 5 days he has to find out who he is and why he imprisoned Dea-su, or he will kill Mi-do.
Dea-su almost kills him, but he offers that if he kills him now, he will never find out the full reason why he did it.  He would also give him...
A remote for his Pacemaker device?  What the...  Blah...
Basically, it leads to the simple choice of Revenge or Truth.
And Dea-su, leading by madness, wants the Truth.
We see... well I'll skip this part.  But basically, it's the guys he fought before getting back at him.

"You trust me now, you bastard?"  Mi-do screams...  Not really, but whatever.

Abusive relationship?  Song time!
/
Sigh...  As you near the end of this movie and mystery, it gets really messed up.
But the major hint is the date the game ends.  July 5th.   Back in 1979.

"Fighting for the truth, not revenge.  But vengeance is apart of me."


The ending... is bad.
Like not good.
Like the twist is do disturbing that it's known to scar people.
Like everytime I tell a person not to watch this movie, they tell me it's awesome until this part.
And if you don't know what it is, then stop.
Run and leave.
I know you are curious, but you have a choice.
Be a fool like I was and continuing will only lead to madness and self destruction.
...
Or...
Maybe it will show to you what NOT to do?

That I leave up to you.

But in the spirit of the comic, I won't tell you now.
You could look it up, of course.
But then, you wouldn't get my jokes.  Or thoughts.

And really, REALLY don't watch this.

You will be sorry.





Concluded in Part 2~