Oft-repeated statements highlighting the similarities of horror and comedy in terms of their emotional requirements and polarizing nature aside—there is something they have in common. Something only someone who experiences them a lot would know, or, at least, would know intimately. Continue reading
Category Archives: Movies and Tv
Year Two Christmas Collection #6: Favorite Movie Review! “Review: Paddington”
(Originally Posted February 11th, 2015.)
This movie is:
- Charming
- Cute
- Whimsical
- Beautiful
- Heart-Warming
- Uplifting
- Lovable
- Poignant
- Imaginative
- Brilliant
- Cuddly
and perhaps most of all: incredibly British. Continue reading
Too Much Content!
“You can’t have too much of a good thing” is a bullshit statement. And as opening sentences to my articles go that might be the most jarring one I’ve done in a while. But, it’s true—so very true. I am inundated with stuff I want to watch and read and experience and do. I realize, like a lot of the stuff I talk about online, that this is a first world problem. But, hey, I am being more open, and this is what I am dealing with. My problems, shared by others, may not actually matter much in the long run, but that doesn’t mean they are not valid in the immediacy of strong emotion. Continue reading
The Battle For Books
Being a writer in 2017 is not easy. We have competition and not just from our fellow wordsmiths. How can a book compete with Netflix and Hulu and movies? I mean, I love books, duh, and I read a lot of them, but even I am a lover of movies. How could you not love movies? They’re so good lately. Continue reading
The Strange Appeal of Rick and Morty
Some media makes sense, some does not. Rick and Morty is in the latter camp, almost all the time. It is madness…and yet…
And yet, it is amazing. Adult Swim’s content lineup has never contained a huge draw for me until now. I never could get into the headspace of the stoner comedy, or enjoy strings of sexual and violent things someone calls a show. I cannot get behind just shock humor. Now, that’s not to say I don’t occasionally enjoy shock humor, but I just do not understand how I am supposed to find the stuff they put in their shows “funny.” Continue reading
In Defense Of Video Games
Video games have inherent worth. To claim otherwise, would suggest that books, movies, songs, television shows, and paintings all have no inherent worth. Continue reading
Art Things I Do Not Understand
In life, we must all admit we are not perfect. So here I go: I am not perfect. In other news, the sun is hot, it’s cold in Chicago during the winter, and I write about fucked-up shit.
But I have a point beyond trying to be funny. I use this blog partially to offer advice to writers and artists. In fact, often when I come across an artist in real life who is having a problem, I end up verbally referencing one of my own articles.
But that does not mean I possess the answers to everything in art. Far from it. And in the interest of being open, I will do the opposite of offer advice, and instead talk about a few questions I just do not know an answer to—stuff I could attempt to puzzle out, and might someday understand, but, for now, I’m basically clueless.
So, here we go! Time to admit fault. Time to eat my crow with a slice of humble pie. Time to prove I am still a dumb, dumb human—no matter how pretentious and studious an aura I may try to project. Continue reading
Fine Internet, I Like Stranger Things
Okay, you got me internet: I like Stranger Things.
Now, to add context to that statement, I only finished the show today, and I watched it over a large chunk of time (a couple of months). And I never felt the need to binge the whole thing in one marathon. I never got fanatical.
In fact, up to the last episode, I just thought it was okay. Decent.
But then…dammit, Stranger Things got me. Continue reading
Brandon’s Favorite Things: A List
The subjective nature of art, and the changing of a person’s personality as time goes by, adds up to it being desperately hard to nail down a favorites list. Media shifts as we do—at least from our perspective—and thus we will respond differently than we had minutes before. But, as a creator, and a consumer, and dare I use the pretentious word: “connoisseur” of creative things, I do feel it necessary to try to understand my taste in media, and since this is the internet, the natural tendency is to try to put it into an easy to read list.
So, here we go. I am going to, based on my opinions on this day 2/6/17 (which is when I wrote this…you’ll see the edited version on Wednesday) list out my favorite creation in each form of media I can think to include, along with a short reason for why. Though, to keep the word count reasonable, I’ll keep to only a few short sentences each.
So, here we go. My current all-time favorites. If I had to grab something for entertainment and run, these would be my choices. Continue reading
My First World Writer Problem
The expression “First World problems” is interesting. It serves as a reality check for certain complaints. To get someone to examine all the comforts of their life they may take for granted.
It’s a common enough thing in America. I am certainly guilty of overinflating my grievances. Of being dramatic.
This is one of those times. Continue reading
Flash Fiction: Guilt
I awoke to the smell of ash, and the taste of rot, and the whispers of nightmares. At the foot of the bed was a shriveled corpse, with a blue jacket laid over it.
“Well, did it work?” came a voice from the walls.
I pushed off the blanket and it slid onto the floor. Next to me, by my head, the window blinds covered up a sight I was sure I did not want to see. I focused on my center and spoke in a calm, collected voice. Continue reading
Stuff I Will Not Shut Up About
If you ever met me in person, you would know that I am fond of long conversations about various topics. And if you brought up any of these topics, minutes may turn to hours.
Everybody needs to have things they are passionate about, so here’s a list of some of mine.
Gen Urobuchi!
Who’s my favorite writer of all time? Tough question. Who’s my favorite Japanese writer? No question. It’s Gen Urobuchi. Nicknamed the “Urobutcher” for his nihilistic, dark, and shocking creations, he’s a massive inspiration for the kinds of stories I like to write. Continue reading
Flash Fiction: My Fingers Are Cold
My fingers are cold. So I rub them together and hope for friction. Me breathing on them is the only sound for miles and miles. And the ash spreads across my knuckles.
I pull my jacket tighter to my body, and walk towards the shell of a building. My feet leaving prints in the soot.
I hold out my hands and hope for some warmth from the wreckage. But it’s as cold as everything else in this world.
I tuck my hands underneath my arms and hope for my pits to offer something close to heat. I keep my head down when the wind picks up.
It sounds like someone talking. Saying over and over again the word that graces my lips every few minutes. “Cold” it says. And I can almost see the wreckage of a man whisper it through a shattered jaw bone and fleshless grin. Continue reading
Trailer Talk: Goosebumps
It’s Halloween time boys and girls! So just like last year, I’m going to be doing a bunch of spooky articles. And what’s more spooky than a child-friendly horror movie?
Plenty of things actually. But in any case…
It’s Trailer Talk time!
Dammit, the marketing-inspired, nostalgia-fueled, remake-everything-from-the-90’s trend finally got to something I like. And what’s even worse is that I’m going to fall for it. Continue reading
Monthly Mentions: September 2015
A bit late I know, but here is the (hopefully) beloved…
…Monthly Mentions!
Favorite People:
- Collin Pearman
- Dylan Alexander
- Jerry Banfield
- Michael The Comic Nerd
- Pulsatilla Pratensis
- SuperGoof Media
- Zeony
Coolerbs Writes 