Geeky Girl Tuesday: Guilty Pleasure Movies

It's time for another edition of Guilty Pleasure Movies!

Today it's another movie from my childhood.  It's one that I'm convinced helped spur my love of books and reading, along with a slightly unhealthy belief that a good portion of what I was reading just might be true.

It's The Neverending Story, a great fantasy movie that celebrates imagination, discovering confidence, and finding your purpose.

Geeky Girl Tuesday: It's Free! (Sort-of)

You may or may not remember my ravings about DC Universe during the ABC Challenge.  I've been quiet about it for a while, because I stopped playing.

There were some issues that I had with the game: 1) low server population, 2) the monthly fee.

You see, when there aren't many people playing a cooperative game, it makes it very hard to achieve some of the higher level gameplay.

As for the monthly fee...well, let's just say student loans took precedence.

But now, DC Universe has made a couple of great decisions.  They've merged a lot of the servers, so there's a higher population, and

They're free to play!


Sort of.

You still have to buy the game (if you haven't already), but starting today, you can play without a monthly subscription.

There are now three levels of game play:

Free--A entry level view of the game, with limited character slots.
Premium--If you spend $5 on DLC (downloadable content) or inventory slots, you get to create more characters and have more benefits.
Legendary--If you pay the $14.99 a month fee, you get the top tier of gameplay, with all the bells and whistles that came with the original game.

It's a great game for casual players (no hour long raiding nights like with another MMO we all know), and now that it's free to play, I hope that it gets the attention it deserves.

Geeky Girl Tuesday: Geek up your Halloween

The Halloween season is officially upon us (regardless of the tempting candy isle being around for about a month).

If you're like me, trick or treating is too much work when you can stop down said isle and treat yourself whenever you want.  So instead of costume ideas or things like that, I'm going to recommend some movies to turn to when the sugar crash hits.

Beetlejuice
Ahh, the 80s.  When Tim Burton's style was still new and refreshing and Michael Keaton was still making movies.  A fun movie, with what is undoubtedly the best random musical number ever.



Whatever Happened to Baby Jane
A classic that is only fun if you can fully embrace the camp of an aging Bette Davis AND Joan Crawford.  Now that I come to think of it, a Davis & Crawford themed party would be awesome!  Prepare yourself for unabashed drama and scenery-chewing that could only be handled by these two.


 
Anything with Vincent Price
No really, anything with him.  He is the high grand master of Halloween in my mind.  Fun, cheap scares, and one of the best voices of any actor.

DC relaunch pt 3

This is it for the number ones, guys!  I haven't read all of the New 52, but overall, I think it was a successful experiment.  I'm excited to see how some of these are going, and hope that DC is successful.

Check out Part One and Part Two of my reviews.

Don't forget, DC is issuing reprints of these that you may have missed, and you can always go buy an electronic copy.  If you have the choice, though, go support your local comic shop.

All Star Western #1
I went into this one without any expectations.  I think that might have been a good thing from what I'm hearing about it online.  Jonah Hex, the most famous of DC's western stars is in Gotham hunting down a vicious killer.
Artwork: 4/5--Interesting use of really heavy inking. Some really visceral stuff here, and violence galore.
Story: 2/5-- I found the writing style a little wordy.  Part of that is from the narrator of the story, but this one actually seemed to drag by.
Potential: 2/5--I think it's an interesting premise, but not a whole lot grabbed me.
Overall: 2.6/5 I'll give this one a bit more of a chance, but definitely not one of my favorites.

Aquaman #1
If you ever thought Aquaman was lame, please, please, please check out this book.  You will love it.  And if you thought Aquaman didn't get the respect he deserved, you'll love it too.
Artwork: 5/5--Aquaman has never looked better!  Some great splash pages.
Story: 5/5--We get a general character sketch of Aquaman in several short scenes.  There were a lot of great nods to his less-than-stellar record as a superhero, and an answer to the question of if he talks to fish.
Potential: 5/5--Definitely has me hooked with the clever writing style and the nice artwork.  I'll be sticking with this one.
Overall: 5/5--Hands down one of my favorite of the new 52.  One I hadn't even planned on picking up, but got on a whim.

Batman: The Dark Knight #1
Yup, I know, another Batman title.  By this point even I am having a hard time keeping track!
Artwork: 3/5--Pretty standard comic book artwork.  A couple of really good splash pages of villains, but everyone else looks overworked to me.
Story: 3/5--The first half of the book was a bit dull, as it didn't really add anything new to characterization and seemed to drag a bit.  But the second half picked up and ended with a lead in for a good second one.
Potential: 3/5--This was my least favorite Batman title, but I'll still give it a try for a while and see how it goes.
Overall: 3/5--Straight middle of the road for me.  Worth picking up if you're a big Batman fan.

The Flash #1
A good solid comic, but one that fades in the background of some of the better ones this week.
Artwork: 5/5--A fun, slightly animated style that fits the Flash.  Some great, unusual uses of panels and nostalgic touches here and there.
Story: 4/5--A good job setting up an interesting story and introducing us to The Flash.
Potential: 3/5--While I enjoyed it, it just didn't do much for me.  Maybe it was because I enjoyed Flashpoint (the huge game changing series that brought about the relaunch and centered on The Flash) so much that this felt like a bit of a letdown.
Overall: 4/5--One that I'll keep following. Hopefully it pulls away from the pack soon.

Justice League Dark #1
This was an impulse buy.  I hadn't really planned on buying it, but I'm glad I did.  Several of DC's magical characters are getting together to fight the forces that only they can conquer.
Artwork: 5/5--Good solid artwork all the way through, with some especially vivid (and creepy) images.
Story: 4/5--Another team comes together storyline.  This one's well handled, with everyone getting a moment or two to shine.  I also like how they justify the need for a magic based league.
Potential: 4/5--While I'm still a little fuzzy on some of the characters, I enjoyed this one and will definitely stick around for a while.
Overall: 4.3/5--Good comic overall, but would be hard to pick up if you were completely unfamiliar with the characters.

The Savage Hawkman #1
I literally know nothing about Hawkman besides what I've seen in a handful of Smallville episodes and DC Universe Online.  But, I've been told it's a good thing, as this is a complete overhaul of the character. Even if it might be a good thing, I was still a little lost on this one.
Artwork: 3.5/5--A slightly abstracted painterly style that may alienate some.  The jury's still out for me, but the Bear loved it.
Story: 3.5/5--An interesting story, and definitely sets up for a good series, but I felt a little lost in this one. 
Potential: 4/5--There's enough good going on here that I want to stick around.  Hopefully I start to feel a little less lost with each issue.
Overall: 3.6/5--A good comic, that has some flaws that it'll hopefully overcome.

Superman #1
Where Action Comics is Superman at the start of his career, this is after he's well established.  We get to see that there are some major changes going on at the Daily Planet.  And Lois...what's going on with you?
Artwork: 5/5--Don't let the cover fool you, there's some good solid artwork in here, and an amazing first splash page of the new uniform.
Story: 4.5/5--There's not a whole lot you need to know about Superman to enjoy this issue.  My only caveat was that Clark got a little creepy at the end. Could have gone without the stalker-y vibe.
Potential: 5/5--Definitely one that I'll keep reading.  I enjoyed this much more than Action Comics.
Overall: 4.8/5--One of the titles you should definitely be reading.

Teen Titans #1
Another title that I have limited exposure to, but I didn't feel lost.  We get to see the first two members of the Teen Titans come together (if rather reluctantly).
Artwork: 4/5--Another solid, if typical comic book art.  Only one really stand out splash page, but good work overall.
Story: 5/5--A good setup for a common enemy, some interesting characterization of Red Robin and Wonder Girl (although don't call her that), and a really great teaser for the next issue.
Potential: 5/5--Even though I don't know much about the Teen Titans, this book definitely drew me in and left me wanting more.
Overall: 4.6/5--Another great title that you should pick up and give a try.

Well, that's it for the regular #1s. Look out for a special Green Lantern edition some time soon and for me to highlight some of my favorites every now and then, in a blatant attempt to try and bring you over to the dark comic side.

Who would have ever thought that Aquaman would win this one?

Geeky Girl Tuesday: DC Relaunch, pt 2

So for the next couple of weeks, I may sound like a broken record.  Until the end of the DC relaunch, Tuesdays will be devoted to reviewing the ones that I've read and really enjoyed.

For more info on the relaunch and a view of what I've read so far, check out part one.

This week, it was (mostly) all about the ladies. I was really excited about several of these, and for the most part they didn't disappoint. 

Good news: if you've missed any of The New 52, DC is issuing reprints each week, so there's still a way to get your hands on a physical copy (or if you don't mind, DC is selling digital copies as well).

Batman #1 

I know, I've already written about one Batman comic.  Batman is the largest franchise DC has, so there are actually several featuring Batty himself...but this one has Robin too, (and in one scene Robins-yup more than one). Less gruesome than Detective comics, and probably more along the lines of what most people expect from Batman.

Artwork: 4/5--Some good action scenes, and great title page.  Very angular characters (Batman's huge chin will probably start to get on my nerves).
Story: 4.5/5--Some good groundwork, a nice introduction to all of the main players and a twist at the end that has some interesting potential for the rest of this arc.
Potential: 4.5/5--While I still liked Detective Comics better, this one is still a heavy contender and one I'll keep following.
Total: 4.3


Birds of Prey #1

I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this one since so many of the players have changed.  But we still have Black Canary, and I'm very interested to see how they'll work Poison Ivy into being a heroine.  Another "getting the team together" title, which is good since the average person won't know all the people on the final team.

Artwork: 3.5/4--I tend to prefer the rougher look of a more hand-drawn style as opposed to the slick air-brushed look of Birds.  The figures are all well done, and aren't so over the top sexualized, which was nice.
Story: 4/5--I'm all about starting in media res, and I liked the action of this one, but I felt that Starling was left out in the cold a bit.  I still know nothing about what makes her tick.
Potential: 4/5--I'll keep following this one at least until the team's together.  If the characterization is still a problem, I'll probably let this one drop.
Total: 3.8

Catwoman #1

Being such a fan of Gotham City Sirens (alas, I barely got to know them), I was really excited about this title. Not so much of a story as a character sketch of Selina, it's still a good one to pick up.  Plus it's got some seriously sexy pages for those lonely nights.

Artwork: 5/5--Sexy, violent, and at times funny, the artwork is a perfect reflection of the character.
Story: 4.5/5--I have no real feeling for where the story is going, but it was a great introduction to a character that many may just know as Eartha Kitt or Michelle Pfeiffer.
Potential: 4.5/5--If nothing else, you'll want to know what happens the morning after.  Definitely one I'll keep following.
Total: 4.7



Supergirl #1

I'll be honest, I've never followed Supergirl before, and my only real exposure was the 1980s movie. But with the relaunch, I wanted to support as many female characters as I could, so I picked it up.  A great place to start as it is a traditional origin story, no back knowledge needed.


Artwork: 4.5/5--I'm still not in love with the cover, but the inside is great.  The redesign of her costume fits with the uniform idea thrown around.  The final splash page is a real treat as well.
Story: 5/5--I love how you're thrown into the confusion of Kara as she wakes up on this strange world and discovers her powers for the first time.  No happy bunny exploration though, this is a chaotic discovery.
Potential: 5/5--I can't wait to see where this goes from here.
Total: 4.8



Wonder Woman #1

The one that almost got away, there were literally no copies to be had in town on release day. Luckily we were able to go online and order it and still read it opening week.  Not as good as I had hoped, but still a good title.


Artwork: 3.5/5--I was worried as soon as I saw the teaser cover.  The artwork inside is very Saturday morning cartoon.  However there are a few panels here and there that I really loved.
Story: 4/5--While I really enjoyed it (and all the Greek mythology thrown in), it could be hard to follow if someone didn't know much about Diana or her ties to Greek roots.
Potential: 5/5--What can I say, I'll stick with this no matter how bad it gets. But, the story looks promising, so I'm keeping my hopes up.
Total: 4.2



Have you picked up any new comics lately?  Which ones interest you?

Geeky Girl Tuesday: Guilty Movie Pleasure #1

You know those movies that you love, but that you are hesitant to share with others?

Well, welcome to Geeky Girl Tuesday's Guilty Movie Pleasures!

And first on the list, is one of my favorites from childhood (long before I got the lesbian subtext), that glorious example of 80s cinema and mullets:

It's a terrible movie, I know.  Just about any -ist you can list, but for some reason, I still love it.  Terrible accents and all.  Just watch this trailer and tell me it doesn't make you feel like a kid again (if you were a kid of the 80s that is).

Geeky Girl Tuesday: DC Comics Relaunch & Reviews

If you didn't follow me during the A to Z Challenge, you might not realize it, but I'm a comic book fan.  Specifically DC comics.  While Marvel definitely comes out with better live-action movies, DC has them beat when it comes to comics themselves.

Beginning this September, DC has streamlined its list of comic titles to 52, relaunching all of them back to number one.  (Check out these CNN and NPR articles for a better breakdown).  DC is also launching digital downloads of comics available the same day as print ($2.99, same price as printed) or back issues for $1.99.

This is a pretty huge deal for some of these comics that have been around since the 1940s.  There's lots of hints that there are some big changes down the pike for some of the most iconic characters in American Comics. 

Now is a great time to get into the comic scene if you've been hesitant before.  Don't forget, shop your local comic scene first, but if all else fails, there's always the digital downloads if you just can't find some of these.

Here's a quick and dirty breakdown of the #1s that I've read so far:

Justice League #1
This was a great way to initiate the reboot.  Lots of humor in the form of Green Lantern and angsty-darkness in the form of Batman.  From this book, we'll get to watch as the league slowly comes together one by one.

Artwork: 5/5--crisp lines, great action panels, and really great final splash page
Story: 5/5--Great world building, hints at future issues
Potential: 10/10--One I'll definitely keep reading
Overall: 5/5

Action Comics #1
Less Truth, Justice, and American way and more attitude, arrogance, and . . . jeans?  I have to say this one didn't quite do it for me, even though I'm glad Superman is less of a boyscout than he usually is.

Artwork: 4/5--some of the faces and people were less than stellar (I'm looking at you chunky Lex), but the final climax and splash page was really good
Story: 3/5--It seemed like a lot of pomp and circumstance.  There's not really a feel for where this one will go
Potential: 3/5--I'll keep reading, if only until he ditches the jeans and work boots
Overall: 3.3/5

Detective Comics #1
As creepy and intense as we've all come to expect from Batman.  Warning, this one is not for the faint of heart and includes some pretty intense violence.  Not your Saturday Morning version of Batman.

Artwork: 5/5--If the ending splash page doesn't stick with you, you've seen way too much in your lifetime.
Story: 5/5--Sets up some good groundwork for later in the series.
Potential: 5/5--I'm a sucker for Batty, so I'll definitely be sticking around with this one.
Overall: 5/5

Batgirl #1
Barbara Gordon, the original Batgirl is back in action.  This caused a bit of an uproar in that for years she's been a paraplegic.  I think the switch over is handled well, and we can see that even if she can walk, she's not really fully healed yet.  Written by the first lady of comics herself Gail Simone.

Artwork: 4.5/5--After an amazing cover, some of the panels and proportions were a bit awkward
Story: 5/5--This is why I <3 Gail Simone.  In just one issue, we have groundwork laid perfectly and a really clear sense of who Barbara/Batgirl is
Potential: 5/5--I'll definitely be sticking around to see how this one unfolds
Overall: 4.8/5

Justice League International #1
You've probably never heard of Booster Gold, and that would really hurt him.  Watch Booster (notorious fame whore) try and build an international team of superheroes.  They feel a bit like the Bad News Bears now, but with time I have a feeling they'll pull it together.

Artwork: 3/5--Standard comic book artwork.  Consistent and nice, but nothing outstanding
Story: 5/5--No centralized villain yet, but good character groundwork.
Potential: 4/5--This one could go either way, based on future issues, but for now, I'll be sticking with.
Overall: 4/5

Batwoman #1
Thank God this one's out finally.  They've been teasing it for over a year and decided to hold it until the relaunch.  Before this I knew virtually nothing about Batwoman, other than she's one of the first gay superheroes.

Artwork: 5/5--At once beautiful and unsettling, the artwork in this book is completely unique
Story: 4/5--They try to fit a lot of backstory in this one, and it left me more confused than enlightened.  Good central villain/conflict groundwork, though
Potential: 4/5--I was disappointed in this one, but that may be because I know so little of her story and was left out.  I'll stick with it a bit longer
Overall: 4.3/5

Suicide Squad #1
I'll admit, the only reason I picked this one up is because of Harley Quinn. I've always loved her crazy and really dysfunctional character. The Suicide Squad is a group of Belle Reve Penitentiary's finest, who've been chosen for only the most dangerous missions.

Artwork: 4/5--Some really intensely creepy scenes that are skillfully drawn, but then turns more standard as it nears the end.
Story: 4.5/5--Another "meet the team" book, but I found that not all the characters really interested me that much (looking at you shark-guy)
Potential: 3/5--Not digging the really sexualized Harley, but I'll stick with it a while before giving up on it
Overall 3.8/5




Let me know if any of these peaked your interest.  And since these are all monthlies, you still have time to find a copy of the first issue to catch up.

Geeky Girl Tuesday: She'll never have a chance. . . Geekery started early

So if you read my big "Hey, I'm not dead yet!" post a couple of weeks back, then you know that the Bear and I are expecting a little girl at the end of the year.

So along with reading all the standard pregnancy books and a lot of books on natural childbirth (with some lovely illustrations, btw), I've also been looking at all the paraphernalia that goes along with having offspring.

But, I can't just go with the standard buttons and bows.  Nope.  With parents like us, our kid has no chance of escaping the geekiness.  So, if there's no escape, why not embrace it?  Here are some of my favorite really geeky baby items:

 So babies are super right?  And your baby is the most super of them all, right?

Well, now you can show how super you think your baby is with a superhero onesie.  You can choose from the whole Justice League (well, except for Aquaman and Martian Manhunter, who everyone forgets anyway).  I bet you can guess which one we're getting first.

Check them out at ThinkGeek.com


These next onsies are both from the videogamedecals store on Etsy.  If you like these, make sure you check out the store, because there's a lot more goodies in there.

That's just the tip of the iceberg, too.  There's also cybermen, Adipose, and lots of Tardises (or Tardi?  Has anyone figured out the plural of Tardis?).

So what are your little geeky loves that you hope to pass on to the little ones in your life (or future, or of the type you can send home with someone else)?

Geeky Girl Tuesday: Bump in the Night

Today I'm doing a game review, but it's a different type of game review than I've normally done.

You only need the board and a group of friends to play this one.  Yup, we're going old school today.

We have a group of friends that periodically meets to play board games.  Sometimes it's the standards like uno, but most of the time it's something a bit more...exotic than the average Monopoly game.

This past week we played a game called Bump in the Night.  The premise of the game is that you're a group of monsters that lives in a haunted house.  A group of young girls has wandered in, and it's your job to scare the bejezzus out of them to the point where they pass out or run out of the house.

Sounds like a bit of guilty fun doesn't it?

Overall, I do have to say it was a lot of fun.

Once we got started.  The thing with this game is that the directions aren't always the clearest, to the point that people have gone online and written their own clarified rules.  You will have to end up creating some house rules on some of the more confusing rules, but once you have those in place you'll roll along pretty quickly.

The game can run very quickly or long, based on how vindictive your particular crowd is.  We didn't behave too badly, so the game lasted about an hour. 

It does take a little bit of strategy and thinking to get everything just right to terrify the girls, but the good news is that you can't really die.  So it's a pretty even playing field, and you don't have to worry about someone getting knocked out of the game really early.

This is a really fun game, that with some patience the first couple of times you play will really be a good group game.  Best for quirky groups that want to get together and play something beyond Sorry or heaven help us, Risk.

What types of group games do you play?  Board games like this or more traditional?

Geeky Girl Tuesday: Let's Kill Hitler

I thought with my inaugural post for Geeky Girl Tuesday, I would start off with what is one of my geekiest obsessions, but also one of the most successful blog topics: Doctor Who.

The newest season of Doctor Who returned after a summer hiatus this Saturday with the brand new episode "Let's Kill Hitler."

While trying to keep away from spoilers and reviewing the episode in general (there are more than enough more qualified people than I doing this out there on the web), I really thought this episode deserved a little spotlight on my blog.  This episode was a great example of why I think Doctor Who has really taken off in America under the current writing of Steven Moffat.

1.  An episode that can stand on its own two feet, but also involves the greater story arc of the season. (One of my major problems with the finales under Russell T. Davies' stint: they all just came out of nowhere).
2. Lots and lots of humor, but also some pretty strong emotions.  From putting Hitler into a cupboard to the near death of a main character, this episode had both sides of the spectrum.
3. Amy and Rory, who are quickly climbing the list of favorite companions.
4. Payoffs.  You have to give it to Moffat for giving us lots of little payoffs along the way in this season.  From the big reveal before the hiatus, to some pretty big moments in this episode, we're getting pieces to the puzzle all along the way.

If you're a Doctor Who fan, I'd like to hear what you think about how this season is going.  Do you like the big twists we're seeing along the way? 

If you're not a fan, check out episodes on Netflix or Amazon Prime and see what you're missing.  I promise your geeky side will thank you.