The Truth - Revisited

Currently Listening What Are You Waiting For? By FM Static Hey Now.... see related

There and back again,...

How funny it seems that after almost a year, I find myself again posting on here,.. to tell a world who I barely know, a few things from the inside. 

School started a few weeks ago, i'm struggling to find enjoyment in it.  Classes are rough, somewhat unexpected in some ways.  I'm not entirely familiar with people in them, unlike previous years, and that can be an experience at times that I don't wish to contend with.  I'm also feeling the strain of new roommates, as I have 4 entirely new people that I live with, as opposed to last year.  This is probably one of the largest areas I am currently trying to keep from causing insanity,... broken dishes, dirty rooms, people putting clothes away at 2 am when classes are in only 6 hours, homework being done with the light on until 5:30 when i'm trying to sleep,.. lack of respect for personal space and items,.. all of it can suck at times, and is royally growing heavier on my already burdened shoulders.

It gets better, hold on tight.  My sister recently decided to date a 38 year old.  That's fine and all.  (Not).  He's twice divorced, a recovering alcoholic who (because of a DUI) cannot drive,.. he's also a recovering smoker.  He has kids, though not in his custody.  My sister is 18.  ....see any problems?  I do.  She's pushing away family, friends, churchmates, and all those who care about her, for a guy who shows no respect for women, for her, for boundaries, for God, and for anything that really matters in her life. 

Not everything is going bad, of course.  I'm still playing World of Warcraft.  I've been level 60 for some time now, and have been runnin' with a new gang of guys, in a guild called Defiant.  If you play the game, we're Alliance on the Burning Legion server.  (My character's name is Alariche, if you wanna say Hi!).  I'm enjoying the new body of friends, though i've been a part of it for a few months now. 

I'm also enjoying new music.  New movies.  New stories in my noggin' which are on their way to the paper.  I'm excited that Jessica and I are still dating, 9 months later... (yeah,.. she's still putting up with me..).  I'm happy to see that God still thinks I can walk when my shoulders are so heavy. 

I won't lie, this won't be a daily post, probably not weekly.  Sorry if I don't get back to your comments, or view your site.  Sadly, i'm simply too busy to do much beyond post for what I hope is your enjoyment, if not, only my enjoyment then.

Junior Year, Week 3, still living.

~Chris

Currently Listening One X By Three Days Grace see related

This is going to be my Review post.

~~~~~~

1.  Falling Up - Dawn Escapes. 

This album is full of amazing lyrics, the titles are very fitting due to the nature of each of the song, and the band has shown amazing growth in the music produced.  With every song they play, I want more.  I especially am impressed with the fact that unlike many Christian bands out there, they based every track off of a verse, (of which they state beside the title of every song), and therefore it adds that much more to every song.  This album is uplifting, spiritually empowering, soul-searching, and deeply wonderful.  Check it out, I love it.  (Personal Favorite Song: Fearless)
Lyric Sample:
"Lights from the waters have swept me away
 So say your goodbyes now, this will say
 Drink from the water that swept me away
 So say your goodbyes now, this will say"

2. Demon Hunter - The Tryptch.

So i've been a fan of Demon Hunter since their first album, and though at first I thought it was a little kooky to mix the bone-crunching sound of bands like Mudvayne and Slipknot, with the melodies of bands like Kutless,... it was definitely a sound I loved.  Their second release, two years ago, Summer of Darkness, showed improvement with the organization, and the implimentation of their wonderful ideas and lyrics.  The Tryptch however shows that they can scream their way even harder, and be even more melodious, while not missing a beat in getting acrossed the need for Christ in a shattered world.  Every track is both mysterious and wonderful, in that the lyrics aren't all blatant.  Poetical and grand in the almost 'start a war' mentality, it's a great album I highly suggest giving a shot, even if you don't like screamy music.  (Personal Favorite Song: Deteriorate)
Lyric Sample:
"I need a heart that carries on through the pain
 When the walls start collapsing again
 Give me a soul that never ceases to follow
 Despite the infection within"

3. Smallville - All.

Yeah, i'm a nerd.  I have definitely been sucked in.  The first season was kinda .. popish, with very shallow and corny themes, though they showed us some sweet special effects.(I'd like to add,.. special effects that don't look dumb like the movies did).  However, the important thing to do, is not stop watching after Season 1.  Season 2 elevates the series, bringing in much more serious themes, and a growing sense of humanity in Clark as he continues to become the Superman we know he will be.  (In case you don't know, Smallville is the TV show showing how Clark Kent dealt with gaining and using his Superman powers as a teen.)  It's very difficult to divulge how serious it can get at times, crossing the lines into flat out Action stories, then switching into nearly Horroriffic episodes, alongside Dramatic and sprinkled (not overly mushy) Romantic areas.  The writers have done a fantastic job with the show, and i'm very impressed with it, and i'm a very critical viewer.  I highly advise you take the show for a spin, and don't stop with Season 1.

4. Serious Sam 2

This is the sequel to a PC game that I loved way back in the day, first playing the first game around 6 years ago.  I absolutely loved the game due to the rediculously fast-paced action, insanely fun levels, and hilariously weird bad guys (and stupid storyline too).  The levels are fun and bright, the characters strange and humorous, and the gameplay solid and slick.  From the get-go, it's clear the game engine is running well, when you first are encountered with 50 or so guys rushing you while you man a turret to slaughter them.  It's odd.  This is shortly after riding a Raptor(yeah, a dinosaur), that shoots fireballs out of it's mouth, and shortly before hopping into a bubble sorta thing with spikes, that you simply roll over guys with.  The game is a blast, and while very difficult at times, it's harshly addicting, and you desire to beat the level for the high satisfaction that comes with it.  The system requirements aren't that high, so you won't need an amazing computer to run it, and it'll run well too.  The only negative, is that it's rated - M (Mature), due to violence.  It earns this rating well, so if you don't like that sort of thing, stay away.  Else, it has no sex junk, and little swearing. 

5. Unleashed

This movie, is essentially about Jet Li's character, Danny, who is a dog, owned by his gangster-style Uncle.  From the previews, I expected a martial-arts extravaganza, (it has the same choreographer as The Matrix 1-3, and Kill Bill 1-2.).  And it was amazing to watch.  The punches hurt to see, and some of the moves were fantastic and you cringed when the sound was heard.  However, this movie was much more than punches and kicks. 

First of the many things that make this movie stand far above any other martial-arts movies, is the quality of directing.  Strange to notice, I realize, yet the subtle effects, like scene transitions and camera angles add an almost beautiful feel to the movie.  The second part of the movie that blew me away, was the many times when the tension was so high, I nearly crushed my Coke can.  I've seen many many movies, played many many tension-filled video games, and done plenty of tension-related activities, and this was no laughing matter. 

Very very tense scenes add to the movie in ways I wouldn't have imagined.  The next thing to note, was the wonderful storyline.  Danny was raised from childhood much like a dog, brought up, treated like, living as, and being trained to be a dog.  A dog who turns into a killing machine after his collar is removed.  He then encounters a family who shows him what it is to be human, which opens the movie into the questions that it has Danny asking, about who he is, and who he should be.  Lastly, the soundtrack, characters, and dialogue adds worlds of effect to the movie, bringing in questions of morality, spirituality, and even deeper into wondering whether the characters represent something, or someone...

All in all, with the dazzling fighting, amazing directing, wonderful script/dialogue, fantastic score and excellent level of tension/intrigue it creates, the ending is a complete mystery until you actually watch it, it literally had me on the edge of my seat.  I give it 12 thumbs up.

(NOTE:  There is gratuitous use of the 'F' word, and a few very brief, scenes of a woman topless.  Else, the movie has violence, and plenty of it.) 

~~~~~~~

That's all for this edition of Chris' reviewing. 

What's been up with me?  My car hit 288,000 miles, I am now level 54 in World of Warcraft, my Laptop broke, we burned holes into our linoleum (in the kitchen) with our vaccum, and I successfully enraged my Chemistry teacher.  That's about all.  Maybe i'll post some pictures of stuff in the next post,.. like the things we did to Luke when he slept, maybe a photo of my wonderful car,.. perhaps some pictures of my dorm?  Who knows, i'm a weird guy.

Currently Listening The Triptych By Demon Hunter see related

I don't know if I can really describe what is going on inside of me right now,.. so I thought i'd just let you read a poem I wrote to help explain it.

The Truth

As though the world continues to spiral,

Again I walk alone along the stone path,

Heavier than my heart, my feelings feel,

I want to share, I want the truth revealed.

Every step becomes robotic with vigor,

Even my thoughts have lost their hope,

My world again tainted by the present,

But nothing will catch me when I fall.

If I exit the present reality and escape,

I can ignore my situation and release,

Only when I forget, and fall into your eyes,

And allow your saving voice to speak.

I don’t know if I can tell you who you are,

To me, but if I keep you at bay,

I may lose you to a similar fate as me,

If only I could voice my emotion, I’d be free.

But instead I’ll continue to spiral alone,

I’ll continue my lonely climb up the path,

And when you walk by, I’ll miss a beat,

Hopefully before I fall, I’ll catch your eye.

Currently Watching Smallville - The Complete First Four Seasons see related