A Little Bit of Background Knowledge

For those of you out there that, like me, want to know how things come about in storylines, look no further than Zombie Fallout 3.5: Dr Hugh Mann, a perfect short story installment in the Zombie Falloutseries by Mark Tufo, zombie genius extraordinaire.

This one doesn’t follow Mike Talbot, but rather gives us an incite into how the zombie virus came about. It turns out, as in any good zombie apocalypse book, that the virus was going to be used by the government to destroy a huge population of the Earth so that there are more resources in the control of said government. Only things go horribly wrong, as they so often do under the penmanship of Mr Tufo.

At first the virus is discovered by scientist Dr Hugh Mann, who soon realises that it is not a good thing, so tries to hide it, knowing that if the government get their hands on it, it would be used for their own gains. However, it seems that they did get their hands on it because it is soon being tested as a weapon in an underground military base, a weapon to win the second world war. But when the devastation it can create becomes clear this particular experiment gets shut down, possibly because it was seen as too inhumane for America’s enemies in the war. But then the virus is stolen again and finds its way into the hands of the people who want to basically take over the world.

So we are all screwed.

This is another brilliant read by Mark, and really shines a light on things. Plus it’s a perfect tale of greed…everyone’s favourite type of story .

Things Are Hotting Up

Series two of Supernatural kicks off with a bang, with a near death and an actual death in the first episode alone, which follows on directly from the last episode of series one, which of course ended on that pesky cliff hanger.

This season sees Sam finding out the plans that the yellow-eyed demon has for him, all of which leads up to a fantastic, unforgetable two-part series finale, in which another death of a main character happens, only for another to sacrifice their soul to allow them to be resurrected. Do you like my subtle attempt at trying to not reveal too much to you guys, just in case you haven’t seen it? Don’t say I don’t treat you guys with kindness now .

So what can you expect other than death in this series? Well, your usual, plus more plot twists, gruesome gore, tension and jumpy moments than you can shake…something you wanna shake. You have your ghosts and demons, a werewolf, a djinn, a virus that makes people violent, more vampires, but good ones this time around, another shapeshifter, and even a trickster, a demi-god that likes to cause trouble. Hell even the police are after the boys in this one! Tut! 

And then there are the tear-jerking scenes, scenes which seem to make me closer to crying each time I watch them. I am screwed for some scenes in series three then!

Another amazing storyline for a show-stopping TV series that deserves the credit it gets and more. A perfect follow up to the fantastic opening series. Makes you want more and more!

Hold On, Your Brains Are About To Be Melted.

I finished the first series of Supernatural a little while ago and basically didn’t think to write about it! So, after nearly finishing the second series, I thought I would keep up to date.

For a Supernatural fan such as myself it is truly strange to re-watch the first series after having watched all the series up to the end of series six, because the brothers look really young! But they are still loveable characters.

So the first series sees the brothers journey begin with their dad missing, and Sam’s girlfriend dying, which sends him on a hunt for their father. They encounter all kinds of supernatural creatures including ghosts, demons, a shapeshifter that turns into Dean and frames him for murder and then you have your legends like Bloody Mary and the Hook Man. Plus a killer scarecrow, some scary shadows that rip you apart and a scary portrait who’s occupant comes to life and slits your throat with a razor. Oh and then there are vampires too. Phew, think I mentioned everything.

The first series is a brilliant way to start  such an amazing storyline that will have every viewer on the edge of their seats. I still jump at some of the jumpy bits and I have seen all the episodes twice, hell some episodes I have now watched three times. And the gore can make your stomach turn at points too.

The plot is so intricately woven that it really is hard to stop watching the series, particularly if you own it on DVD and even if you have watched it all before. And the series even ends on a cliff-hanger. All I can say is that I’m thankful I started watching this amazing show around when series five came out as otherwise I would have had to wait for series two to come out to find out what happens!

So thank you Eric Kripke for creating this amazing show, and thank you to Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki for bringing the main characters to life with such amazing clarity. America, you rock!

Still Going Strong

So I finished Zombie Fallout 3: The End a couple of days ago, and I would have posted about it then, but our internet has been a bit dodgy, so I’m sorry for the wait.

Anyway, I can say this with pure conviction: I have never read a zombie genre book, series or otherwise, that has been so down to earth and made me think so much about morals. I know I have mentioned this before in the other two blog posts regarding Mark Tufo’s work, but let’s just say that his third installment in the series does not fail to amaze in this area, or in area for that matter.

And yes you have your gore, death, loss of some main characters and a fantastic twisted plot that would put a sailor’s knot to shame. I thought that Mark Tufo couldn’t possibly get any more imaginative…and I was so wrong. He really twists the boundaries of the whole genre in this one, and without giving too much away let’s just say that the evil Eliza has humans working for her now! And the plot still thickens further with Tommy…

And then you have your comical moments, like zombies on ice, Mike’s many distracting thoughts and ventures into his past, plus we finally get to meet Mike’s side of the family. Which leaves me with little else to say about the plot without giving stuff away. Crap.

I really don’t know how an author can so easily balance love, death and humour, but it has been done. I bow before you oh great zombie genius.

I’m gushing and therefore I apologise. But in all seriousness: READ THE BOOKS! Meanwhile I’m going to go enjoy the Zombie Fallout short story, 3.5, along with a nice cup of tea because I’m British like that. Man if the world does end with the undead I sure as hell am going to miss drinking tea…

Entertaining the Aliens

I have been revisiting my love of Doctor Who recently, in the form of parodies. Youtube is amazing, let me tell you!

These parodies are just amazing, not just because they’re funny, but because the guys acting in them can act and sound like the Doctor himself, and they can’t be much older then me!

They also do serious episodes too, which are also amazing, but as a lover of comedy I do prefer their micky-takes of the episodes. So let’s give you a taster. The first video features Tony Coburn playing Christopher Eccleston’s Doctor and Thomas-Rees Kaye playing both Davis Tennant’s AND Matt Smith’s Doctors (not at the same time). Warning contains strong language. This one is really funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y96yf1lKTBM&list=FLSvC1erPGiV5dHFMTKSRyuA&index=9&feature=plpp_video

And this second video features Tony as the 10th Doctor and Tom as the 11th. The acting is so good in this that if you close your eyes it’s like listening to the Doctors themselves. It is also funny of course, and contains strong language also.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAk27Jj0Kp0&list=FLSvC1erPGiV5dHFMTKSRyuA&index=12&feature=plpp_video

These guys should play the next Doctors, just saying.

The Beginnings Of Something Amazing

30 Seconds To Mars in their early days…

Anybody who knows me well will know of my absolute adoration for the band 30 Seconds To Mars, and my idolization of the lead singer, Jared Leto, who is also an actor.

As you may have guessed this blog post is indeed about the band, who have inspired me since I was 14 years old (which means I have been a fan for 5, nearly 6 years, in case you were wondering). It was their song The Kill that I first heard and fell head over heels in love with (actually the first I saw of them was the very end of their From Yesterday video, but I don’t think that counts considering the music had finished).

I then listened to their second album A Beautiful Lie, which is bloody amazing and then I of course thought they couldn’t get any better. I am pleased to say I was proven wrong with their third and recent album This Is War. And yet it was their first album that still remained a mystery to me, the beginnings of this most ethereal band.

By this point I had heard three songs off the album: Edge of the Earth, Capricorn and Oblivion, all of which I enjoyed as much as the rest of their stuff. And yet I had not bothered to listen to the rest of the album…until recently. It wasn’t so much that I was hesitant to listen to it, so much as that their two proceeding albums were keeping me happy.

But I am so glad that I finally got round to it. The songs on the first album are as amazing and inspiring as all the other 3o Seconds To Mars songs so far. And it helped me fall head over heels in love with them all over again (not that I have ever stopped loving them of course).

…and the band now

To conclude these are my favourites 30 Seconds To Marssongs, my favourite one from each album:

 Fallen (self-entitled album)

The Kill (A Beautiful Lie)

Closer To The Edge (This Is War)

I’d easily give the first album a ten out of ten, but then I love this band to smithereens. And with the fact Jared and co are working on a forth album I can hardly contain myself, but for the sake of all things holy I will do my best.

 

Does Comedy Go Too Far?

It’s often said that comedians go too far in this day and age, all for cheap laughs and to see how far they can go, or to even raise the bar of what is morally right to joke about.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m up for a little riske comedy, but even I find myself thinking: ‘can I laugh at that? Is that stepping outside of my morals? Do I even know what the boundaries of my morals are?’ You get the point.

So what is it that I find isn’t funny, or even that I find uncomfortable? Well I don’t find disability jokes very funny, particularly since doing work experience with a disability charity. I also find most racist jokes uncomfortable, along with sexist jokes. But that’s because I’m a person who appreciates equally and hates getting looked down at by men (no offence dudes).

I think Frankie Boyle is one of these contreversial comedians who many would say has stepped over the proverbial line many a time. And I would be inclined to agree. For the record, I do find him funny, but just every now and then I think he overdoes it. It’s a shame really, because he is so funny already. Why does he have to go further than necessary?

I’m not saying I hate him, just that he really should be a lot more careful before he gets locked up or banned from comedy or something.

Jimmy Carr can also be quite contreversial, and yet he is one of my more favourite comedians. I think he is the riskiest comedian I would completely like, if that makes sense. Having said that, there have been quite a few jokes that have made me go ‘oooo, should I laugh at that?’ (see above for full speech on questioning my humaneness).

So I guess it’s just a matter of morals and what you think is funny at the end of the day. But just every now and then there is going to be a comedian who over-steps the line of most people’s moral boundaries I think, and the debate will start up all over again.

Now, let’s have some toddler humour from the wonderful Russell Howard!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTndFHN-oi0&feature=related