Just Gettin' Warmed Up | Review - Captain Amercia: Civil War

The story of Captain America is one that should conceivably speak to many types of people. A scrawny kid from Brooklyn named Steve Rogers with pennies to his name - not even enough for an actual pair of shoes - enlists in the Army in hopes of protecting his country but, more importantly to him, make the world a better place.

Fast-forward about 7 decades or so. There's been an Awakening. (lel) The First Avenger finds himself in a strange and vast and DENSE new world armed only with his shield and sensibilities. But with power comes responsibility: including the responsibility of the dozens (possibly thousands) of innocent deaths at the hands of The Avengers' brand of super-powered justice.

Before the Opening Sequence is even complete one must ask themselves, "When was the last time collateral damage was mentioned in a super hero movie? If ever?" Far too often you see one end of the spectrum or another in regards to this. Transformers' all-too-convenient lack of humanity; Man of Steel's problematic disregard of humanity. Both ends are lazy and unimaginative, but with Civil War we have the complex middle ground. Characters who want to stay true to their duty, but also struggling to reconcile the brutal realities of their work.

One such reality is the ever-expanding reach of Governing Bodies. Not just Uncle Sam. Well over 100 countries around the world have lined up at the UN to help put a leash on The World's Most Powerful Heroes. Understandably, the people are spooked by the prospect of a Super Soldier, a Demigod, a man with a Billion-dollar Battle Suit and a Big Green Monster Man under one roof.

The question then:
Does one sacrifice a bit of their professional pride and privacy to win the hearts and minds of the people, OR does one stay true to the only feelings and convictions they've ever known despite how ugly it looks on paper? This question becomes the engine behind the main conflict between our two main characters: Capt. Steve Rogers and Mr. Tony Stank Stark.


Dawn of Justice was a masterclass...of what happens when you aren't allowed to have fun in a comic book movie. Take for example the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. (Yes. A comic book adaptation.) People have different thoughts about the different versions. Live-action or animated; 90's or 00's. Everyone has their favorite version. You enjoyed yourself. You had fun watching them on that level. I had never been in a comic movie before where there was no fun to be had. Not even an unintentional laugh. No matter where you rank in knowledge or experience you are a fan at the end of the day. It's the reason you are in the theater. Certain movies forget this at times, but thankfully Civil War didn't.

Civil War knows it's own endgame. We've been building up to this showdown between Cap and Iron Man since Iron Man 2.

The disrespect

Even before he was thawed out, there was shade. Tony had to listen to his magnate father go on and on about how he knew Captain America. Speaking about him more as a son than he would to his own son. Imagine having to live up to a legend? A war hero, even. Respect and disdain are not mutually exclusive.

Tony and Steve are associates, but Steve and Bucky are best friends. Yet another hurdle to climb when it comes time to reason with the WWII veteran. It would be one thing if one side or another had the clear idealogical advantage. Unfortunately, the way it works out, both sides make a legitimate and compelling case. "You know what guy, you're totally right! Oh, but you kinda have a really good point, as well. Hmm. This is difficult. Glad I don't have to make a decision."

And how glad I was that the movie didn't cut corners in that regard. We see characters make those tough decisions and, for the most part, stick by them. (Double agents not withstanding.) And indeed there are consequences. Those that were heralded as heroes in the previous adventure are instead arrested as criminals. Which reminds me: there are a lot of heroes in this film.

All the returning Avengers. The Winter Soldier. War Machine. Semi-Retired Hawkeye. Even Ant-Man joins the fun. Conspicuous by their absence are Thor and Hulk, clearly doing something more important than playing footsies with the United Nations. But perhaps the most important attendees are the newest arrivals.

Prince T'Chala - Heir to the Throne of Wakanda - is the man who would be The Black Panther. As the King of his People, Black Panther is responsible for their protection and survival. When it is made to believe that The Winter Soldier has bombed an embassy, resulting in the death of T'Chala's father, the new King sets out on his own mission for justice. It easily could have been hackneyed and retread as most revenge arcs go. However, as the story resolves itself, T'Chala is perhaps one of the few characters to truly glean anything from his adventure. Perhaps the first of many leading roles for Chadwick Boseman.

Oh, and there's this guy.

I know you're not dumb and Marvel Studios knows this as well. So, instead of meeting a punk kid from Queens with little to no remarkable abilities, Tony Stark meets a punk kid from Queens who is six months into his super hero career. He's a good hero and a good person, but he's also 15-years-old and a total greenback. He has potential but he needs time.

He needs a teacher!

Sorry. Wrong cataclysm. What he needs is training. And what better way to train than with other heroes against other heroes that won't actually try to kill him - probably. Due to licensing issues we've never seen Spider-Man interact with even one of these characters before. Making it so very cool when the kid from Queens meets the kid from Brooklyn.

Shout-outs to young Tom Holland for playing a believably young, lovably earnest Peter Parker. I fully support him as my Spidey for the next 5-7 years. And Marisa Tomei is his more reasonably aged Aunt May. So...perhaps there is someone looking out up there. Good work.

Now that the Captain America Trilogy has been completed it seems fair to start thinking about where it ranks with other great movies all-time. I've heard talk already about these movies versus The Dark Knight Trio of films. Civil Wars' theater life has only just begun and it is still a bit early to see how history will look back on The Dark Knight Rises. To speak personally, I really liked this movie. In fact, I liked all of Captain America's movies. There wasn't one that I disliked, which is saying something seeing as the first three Spidey movies weren't even as lucky. Completion. Consistency. Constant improvement. Not unlike Captain Rogers himself. See this film. Then see the first two. Then see this one again. Enjoy the ride while it lasts.

4.5 Stars out of 5

KD Wolf: Spitting Out the Demons

Recently I read a book.

This book to be precise.

[Oh, by the by, some of you might not find this subject matter terribly pleasant. However, in the ever decreasing interest of my ever decreasing sanity I need to get this done, There are other things pulling at my attention that aren't nearly as self-involved.]

It's a book that came along at a peculiar time if only because a previous version of myself might not have understood exactly what this old and foreign book was trying to say. This current version of myself, however, is taken aback as he sees a novel, seemingly, written of his own thoughts and exploits.

This current version realizes - as the protagonist Harry Haller did - that there is little to be found at any advanced age, especially one of independence, that isn't indicative of some form of loss. To think of even just the superficial things that have been lost. Birthdays are a bore. Christmas is a pointless exercise of needless tension and consumption. The very idea of any kind of jewelry or accessory, even a simple watch, seems laughable. For the longest I've pondered and lamented as to how and what could lead to such a temperament. I didn't even know what it was exactly: confusion or general discontent. But in my research I came across this. A passage of explanation from a Mr. Allen Hackworth:

Haller also becomes a symbol of all people who suffer a particular neurosis, a neurosis which "by no means attacks the weak and worthless only but, rather, precisely those who are strongest in spirit and richest in gifts."(24)

This neurosis includes: a sense of despair and chaos, an inability to find meaning in one's life, and inability to solve the riddle of human destiny, an inability to reconcile various opposition including sensuality versus spirituality, time versus eternity, the human versus the divine, self-acceptance versus guilt.

It's not to say that I'm in any way strong or blessed with any gift to speak of. All I can say is this. I believe the people who can describe themselves as truly sane are merely ignoring the very basis and realities of our mortal and human existence.

There's nothing wrong with that, of course. We all have our vices and distractions to get us through the day. Why worry your pretty little head about the possibility of the atmosphere disintegrating and frying under the exposure of a bright and yellow star when you can instead read about the stars of Tinseltown you will likely never meet. Running errands and drinking coffee and picking up their kids just like you!

Another One

What if I told you that the only difference between The Batman and The Joker was a simple chemical imbalance. Both men were unfortunate victims of circumstance. Both men who lost everything they ever held dear. Both men who had the worst day of their life for no apparent or discernible reason. One man dedicated his life to making sure no one else would feel the way he had that day. The other, in turn, dedicated his life to making sure that no one else would live without feeling the way he had that day.

Mental Breaks

If I haven't before, let me explain. Sometimes - when things become too much and I can find no solace in existing in such a brutal and senseless world - I retreat into myself and indulge in what I call brooding days. Brooding days are an odd mix of meditation and loathing. I haven't been clinically depressed in some time but every now and then I require some time to gather myself. It's never more than a day; the one rule I've given myself. I sit quietly either in my room or in nature. Always alone and out of view. I sit and wait silently for some form of understanding or even comfort to come. Sometimes it does. Other times my brooding is simply ended finitely.

And then I see outrage over bombings in Brussels. While seeing no mention of the two car bombings in Turkey. I think of the Syrian woman I spoke with some time ago whose family must live with the anxieties of feeling unwelcome in their own hometown, the pain of seeing their childhood memories reduced to rubble and ruins, and the fear of never again returning to their homeland.

I recoil yet again.

I've been alone for a time now. Sometimes searching, often simply wandering. In my search for understanding I came across the various teachings of fearsome samurai warriors of centuries past. Stories of war and discovery and love and destruction. Similar in ways to our own follies. The more I knew, the less I understood. Until I found something.

According to the Hagakure, inevitable death must be meditated on daily. Death being the only certainty - certainly for the true warrior - one must be prepared to lay down his life for the fief. One must prepare. So I did. One day, as I meditated, I stopped. It wasn't my death that struck me. I looked up and saw the Sun. Bright and everlasting. Except not. The Sun is a star. A star that will one day expend its energy. Considering that the human race doesn't destroy the Earth first or simply destroy themselves, the Sun will implode in on itself, the resulting shockwave ripping through the Solar System and vaporizing the known worlds. Everything that is, was, or will be will have no purpose. So what has brought us to this point? From the molten sludge of creation to the world we know now why has this species - every species - fought so hard for prolonged survival? I stood from my seat and left. Finding the answer to this question was the next step of my journey.

I could never quite understand people who thought of themselves as the center of the picture. Granted, it's 2016 and we've apparently picked up the Round/Flat Earth debate for a redux but is honestly no one else willing to imagine any other possibility than the one in their face? I'll present this. An idea not of my own volition yet no less potent.

The are but two possibilities in our known Universe. Either we are alone, or we aren't. Each outcome is equally terrifying.

Freaky, right?

I know people like to talk all the time about their so-called faith in humans or, perhaps their lack thereof. Me, I never lacked in faith of humans. Not completely. In fact, it's the tenacious drive of humans that partly inspired this piece of introspection. Rather it is life itself I take issue with.

With each passing day and each tragic occurrence and each presidential stump speech a picture becomes clearer in my mind of the Universe pointing and laughing. "Look at the silly creatures!" it exclaims. "Look at them struggle with even the most basic of operations! Look at how much energy they must expend to make through a single day! Why must they bother so?" Why indeed.

Some people worry about how well their lawn is kept. Others like my younger sister simply want the strength to hold her head up to look at her friends when they speak to her. It upsets me because the one thing I've wanted out of life is comfort and knowing I can never truly give that to her pains me more than these puny words can say. There's no sour grapes here, but I'm allowing myself to be upset this once because if I don't these thoughts and feelings will fester into something all too tangible. Did it once already. Not ever again.

What made this so hard to write was the ultimate necessity. Having been in a stupor for several days, I could seldom hope to get anything of consequence done until these specters had been purged. In my darker moments, I wish I didn't have these thoughts at all. How sweet life would be as another mindless drone! To sift through the days and months and years and years with no regard to any purpose. To be seated on the couch like a potted plant, flipping the proverbial Krabby Patty for 40 years until I die.

And yet the moment never comes because of my one rule. Always spit out the demons. My roommate in college was at least vaguely aware of my depression. Unable to give much advice he told me, "Never let yourself get too low." Had I listened, perhaps I could have salvaged some sort of normal millennial experience. But all of that is done. It doesn't matter now.

The Way of the Warrior is to disregard the Past as nonexistent and the Future as irrelevant. The only thing of substance is the here and now. I might not have the answers to why right now, but I do have purpose right now. My co-workers need me. My siblings need me.  My goddaughter needs me. That's enough for right now.

I struggle with that, too. Understanding why people like me or if they like me at all. It's where some of the difficulty with publishing this comes from. Most of you reading these words will never know the person behind the screen that crafted them. All well and good, but even more people will read this that I know personally and even went to school with. Will those that tolerate me find even these thoughts to be too dark and nihilist to sit through? Will those who didn't like me to begin with confirm their suspicions of me being a freak? Will everyone stop reading as soon as they see me piss on Christmas?

Take what you will from this information. It is not my place as an author to say what you should and shouldn't feel. I worked into the morning light with the hope that some of this weight would be lifted. My mind will likely still be racing with ideas and possibilities but if someone else's shadows have been sated I feel I've done my part.

Don't be ashamed of your shadows. Remember that you aren't alone. I have fought your fight. Am fighting your fight. The path to true enlightenment is a journey, not a destination. I may never find mine, but it is my sincere wish that my words can make your Path less tumultuous.

Such is the way of this Steppenwolf.

~KDG

[If you're seeing this, thank you for your time. Feel free to view the sequel here. A journey, not a destination.]

KD's Option Select | The Starting Lineup: Weighing in on Super Smash Bros. & Street Fighter V

 It's been a long while. Nevermind how long since I've played competitively – I have been playing Super Smash Bros. since I was a child. The love of the game has never waned and I learn new things everytime I play. Never once though did I stop to think of how high I could go. How much could I elevate my play? It's a question I find both exciting and scary at once. Add to that the prospect of possibly learning a whole new game entirely. It's been a thrilling year for the video game community and the season is only halfway done. And I'm willing to open up about the different strategies and characters I'm looking to use; if for no other reason than to expose people to new things. Also, chances are good that someone could use the knowledge better than myself.

~~~

I've always been a Melee kind of guy. Fox dittos aside...

20XX confirmed

And anyone who knows me was already aware of this. I love the pace; love the feel. I love the way it plays for lack of any better term. Those who don't know would have to play it to understand. It's always fun to see the teens who grew up on the Brawl version pick up Melee and experience it. “Wait, you can L-cancel?” “Tech chases, you say?” “Edge guards, really?”

You see, Melee has combo videos. Many of which are incredibly difficult given Smash Bros. has some crazy inputs. You have a jump button, a jab button, a special button and a block button. Realistically, it shouldn't be much more than a mindless button-mashing party game - and in many occasions it is – but the dexterity and imagination of players like Mango, Armada and Leffen have elevated it to a much higher level. Super Smash Bros now has global tournaments with hundreds of entrants big cash payouts. Apex 2015 had an online audience of 50,000 on the final day of events. That's a bigger live audience than some professional football teams.

It's also one of the only games where your play is affected by how far you tilt the joystick. It's what makes the game so special, but also quite difficult playing on a more serious level. To give you an idea: I've been playing Melee for about ten years now. My consistency and intensity has been up and down throughout that time but the passion has not waned. And still after all this time I'm still learning new things about this game. I'll stop just short of saying I suck because I'm solid enough but compared to other top players – not even in the world but just my region – the gap is still pretty noticeable. I'm certainly not discouraged. If anything I'm more intrigued now with just how far I could take this.

With the other versions of the game, it mostly comes down to exposure. I didn't own a 64 as a boy, so OG Smash is not exactly my forte. I never got the chance to own a Wii, either, as I hadn't yet moved out and had no real source of income for myself. The most practice I got in Brawl was a 30-minute Iron Man match with my good friend on a neutral stage: my Sonic versus his Mario. After that match, my playing time dwindled ever so gradually until the game became unrecognizable. So...no more Brawl in comp. But if you want to bop me in casuals, feel free. I'll humor a game or two.

The latest title for Wii U is a new story altogether. The gameplay is more mentally intensive than any of the titles I've played previously. Unlike Melee where any movement in the general direction gets you in for free. In Smash Bros 4, you need the right read, a good reaction and a follow-up in mind, and maybe you'll get some damage. It makes decision-making all the more important and that's why I like it so much.

And Sonic is Top 5? The struggle is almost not real!

I mostly use Lucina. My goal is to get her to the point to which I can be more secure in that choice. I had a match some time ago in Western Missouri with a great Donkey Kong player. The set went the full three games; me winning the first with Lucina and losing the next. For all intents and purposes I should have switched right to Captain Falcon. It's the better match-up and given my experience with him there's no doubt I know it better. But I stuck with Lucina because I wanted to be for sure, and even though I lost it didn't feel like a failure. I learned a lot from the fight. Whether I got too aggressive with a react-and-counter type character I can't currently say, but regardless of that the most important thing I learned was that I have a future with this character. Maybe I'm not making it easy on myself by choosing her, it does seem that Lucina is my best shot to make some noise in Smash 4 and I'm more than eager to see how far I could take it. With the proper amount of practice I don't think being the best Lucina in the business is too preposterous.

Such is the plan, anyway.

Speaking of practice, I referenced my time with Sonic in Brawl. Having played around with him in the years since I've picked him up as a solid secondary character as he's received some good improvements from the third game. The hardest part for me thus far playing this game has been knowing when to use what characters when. Do I start with Lucina then ride it out? Do I switch in the second game? Do I use Sonic or Cap from the start? How many characters should I learn? I guess that's the thing about any fighter: there are so many ways you could take your game. Street Fighter 4 players like Momochi from Japan and Infiltration from Korea have no less than 6 characters they have mastered. You run the risk of spreading yourself thin; you also have the chance to counter every possible situation:

As far as Street Fighter goes: I think this is the year. This is the year I finally learn how to play. The fifth game is released next Spring. I've lost count of how many hours of Street Fighter 4 I've watched since it's release about 7 years ago. I don't have enough time to do anything crazy with the latest version, but I really feel like I need to extend myself now. With what I've gained just by observing others play at the highest level I feel like my I.Q. Is above average. Can that be translated to actual execution? Maybe. Maybe not. But I really want to find out.

This isn't to say Smash Bros. No longer challenges me, or that I've lost my passion for it. If anything, Smash 4 has given me more hunger than before. I just want to create more opportunities for myself. I learn so much with every game I play. Even just meeting other players and seeing their process teaches me so much, but I can only learn so much by staying in one scene. It's past time to branch out, and I look forward to the challenges that face me.

Included, but not limited to, the awesome psycho power.

Some people tend to shy away from the tournament fighters like Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat. The reasoning is different depending on who you ask. Most just don't care for the multiple buttons and combinations that you have to master. Just looking at the command list for one character can be intimidating. For me, though, it's really not the combos. Combos in most fighters are simply a string of normals. It's really all about the special moves. Not so much remembering how to do them, but remembering when to use them. There's a certain psychology in any game about when and where to use certain abilities. Using them at the wrong time can lead to unfortunate consequences. Learning the spacing and selection of when to use them will be the most challenging task.

There are about six buttons at any time you could press in one string, (more like four actually) and after so many times it becomes less about knowing the link than about the muscle memory behind the execution. The hardest part, by far, is the timing. In a fighter, even if you memorize every button it's not enough to simply mash out the input. Every combination of buttons has a unique timing that makes it work. Hit them too slow, your opponent drops out completely; do it too fast and the attack doesn't even come out. The price to pay for mashing in high level play is steep. Even if you're playing someone who's only halfway decent, you won't be able to get away with too many mistakes. This is called a punish, and learning how to do so and avoiding punishes yourself is key to elevating your game.

In Conclusion

I love video games of all sorts. But there's something about these fighting games. I couldn't say what precisely. I know I've been playing Smash Bros. For no less than a decade now. I know I've been studying Street Fighter for nearly as long. If nothing else they keep me sharp. Long after I've left school I still find myself in situations where I have to quickly decide what solution works best for a certain problem. It's only just now that the application of such as it relates to video games is becoming more tangible by the day.

It's honestly likely to come down to one thing in particular, specifically, in Street Fighter. I've watched so much tape. I've watched so many live matches. My knowledge of the games in question has never been higher than it is right now. The big question: can I execute? Right now?  I don't know. I've never lacked for confidence, and even in picking up previous titles that I had no experience in, the fundamentals seemed to have bled over. The hunger has, too.

This won't be the only one of these you see, because there are other games I'm interested in actually breaking down. I just wanted to get these initial thoughts recorded. I believe that fighting games are the future of eSports. It's the difference between "Good spell" and "Good roundhouse," which one really sounds relatable? I don't know if I'll ever be the guy, but I'm looking forward to where the journey takes me. If it takes me.

[Barz]

Crossing the Finish Line | A Look Back at the Basketball Career of Steve Nash

And What a Career it Was

Who would've thought it. Coming from one of the more un-basketball backgrounds – coming to us from the Canadian province of British Columbia by way of Johannesburg – a young Steve Nash was drafted No. 15 overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 1996 NBA Draft. The rest, of course, was to become NBA history and would span almost two decades. Players and colleagues alike have already offered their own memories and reflections; now, I humbly offer my own as fan of both the League and the player.

I haven't played serious competitive basketball in some time, but when I did I was a point guard. I knew from the start that's what I was. They taught us about posting up in camp and they saw fit to give us a refresher the following week at practice. I had completely forgotten this lesson because even subconsciously before I knew exactly what point guards were supposed to do, I knew that posting up power forwards was not something they would have much success in doing. It should also be said that Allen Iverson is my basketball hero. Before I saw him play, I figured that a guy my size wouldn't really stand much of a chance in a game dominated by bigger, faster players. He was the first to show me that it was even possible. But after I learned it was possible, credit Steve Nash for showing me just how far I could take it.

At a time in the National Basketball Association when highlight reels were dominated by men who played above the rim – a young King James had hardly begun his reign – Steve came into his own with his own play style. At a time when scoring was never more “in”, a man who made it cool to pass the ball. Imagine, if you will. A guard winning the MVP award. Being named the best in basketball. Twice? In a row? And not just a guard, a point guard. Whose job it is not only to find offense for themselves but, more importantly, create opportunities for their teammates.

It was as if my entire sporting existence had been validated. Because no matter how many dozens of people were in the stands yelling at me to take whatever shot may or may not have been open, my first instinct on the court was to find the teammate closest to the basket. “If you are open, I will find you,” I said and I meant every word. And I'm not the only one.

S/o to @SteveNash hanging it up for good! Inspired me to play the way I do and paved the way. Congrats on all your success and enjoy life!
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) March 21, 2015

That's a tweet from current best PG in the world, Stephen Curry. He's the leader of the new school of the current crop of 1-men who have elevated the game to levels that have never before been seen. He's one of many players that have been similarly influenced by Nash. And it's not just the little guys, either. This article from Pro Basketball Talk collects tweets and tributes from players of all positions, nationalities, levels and backgrounds.

Every professional in every field inspires at least one person who plans to pursue that path. Here is a man who inspired a whole generation of players to approach the game as he did. For the next 10-15 years the guards of the League will be playing at this high level, mostly because they grew up watching one guy. It's the ultimate compliment to have peers and colleagues regard you in the same way that fans do. So where does that leave him among the greats?

If not one of the Top 5 Point Guards in the history of the game he is without question one of the best foreign-born players at any position. To succeed in the NBA is to be at the top of the mountain. Steve Nash was a 2-time, back-to-back MVP so one could argue – if only for a time – that he was the king of that mountain.

The Best Player in the World

And at this point, maybe the best player without a World Title. I'm not sad really, just a bit disappointed on how it all ended for him.

Thinking about what was, 

what could've been, 

and what came to be.

I tried to keep this relatively short, not because any less appreciate or thankful of all the time that was put in to make it all work. I just feel like, at this point there isn't much more to say. The laurels speak for themselves and at the risk of heaping too much praise on one guy I'll stop short to say thank you. Thank you to Steve Nash. Thank you NBA for giving him and players like him a chance to thrive on the big stage. It was a supreme honor and privilege to watch you play all these years and watching the many players who learned under you carry on the movement will be just as rewarding. And with whatever venture you approach next, may it be equally as successful and rewarding. Be well.

~KDG

KD's Double Feature: The Thriller Episode | John Wick & Nightcrawler

So, full disclosure: this wasn't intended to be a 2-in-1 type post. I saw John Wick when it came out a couple of weeks ago. I stalled on posting because my queue already had at least two other pieces ahead of it that needed my attention. Next thing I knew, Nightcrawler - the next movie on my list - came out and I went and saw that. I had a pretty good time in both and now I have both reviews ready to go. So I figured why not kill two henchmen with one bullet and give you kind readers a look into the world of the Action/Thriller? A genre I still love that has seen slim pickings the past few years. Hopefully this begins the runback.

Her Name Was Daisy 
Review: John Wick

 Grieving is a process. And if you're familiar with my work, you know I've quoted Travis Touchdown on this numerous times so I'll spare you.

For everyone else: please note that the process is unique to each individual, and that it is not the best idea to interrupt that process. Certainly not if the bereaved happens to be a legendary hitman-for-hire whose emotional stability is at most a suggestion. But so the story goes as we find the titular character in mourning of his recently departed wife who fell to an illness of unknown origin. As a parting gift to her husband, she sent to his doorstep a dog – a Beagle named Daisy.

Who totally called shotgun.

A pet for him to look after and care for in her absence. Things are good until his home is invaded by Russian thugs looking to lift his prized '69 Mustang. Add the death of his dog – the last piece of his wife he had left – and the pot has been successfully stirred and your piping hot Revenge Stew is ready to serve.

But John Wick is much more than just a revenge story. Much in part of the efforts of Keanu Reeves who for the longest had shied away from from these action-centric roles so he could spend more time in the art house. Whether to polish himself up or air himself out I couldn't say, but he is indeed in rare form. The jumps he takes from cool and calculated hitman to fast-paced man of action are what keeps this from being yet another mindless shoot 'em up. And shoot 'em ups have their place (Clive Owen's Shoot 'Em Up for example) but when a movie looks like this, there needs to be another layer.

This is why you should never overlook the importance of the character actor. You know the ones. Those actors you see in every other movie; many of this week's TV shows. People who never got their chance to carry the ball but still have the chops to keep things grounded. Willem Dafoe was excellent in the minimal screen time he was given and I was pleasantly surprised to see John Leguizamo who I hadn't seen since he got wrecked in Kick-Ass 2. Also, let's talk about this guy here.

This guy is Michael Nyqvist and he plays the father of the man who attacked John in the first act. He's also responsible for a hefty bounty put on John's head. Now, I'm not outright saying or even suggesting we should get this guy in Star Wars: Episode VIII but, c'mon JJ, look at this guy. Even when he's smiling, there's an air of menace around him. This guy would make Dooku think twice.

Corporal Punishment

After I see a movie, I usually don't start writing about it until after I've slept on it. It especially helps when I'm on the fence about something but in this case the time simply increased my favor. The film isn't without it's faults, however. As good as some of the characters are, there are others that simply revert to type. The third act in some ways feels like a bit of a deflation but at just over 90 minutes it never lets you think about it for too long. Also, this movie simply just looks cool.

At the end, your enjoyment will depend mostly on just how much you are behind the main character and his mission. Do you buy his reasoning for waging war on a crime boss and family that he once had close ties with? As several characters say, “It's just a fuckin' dog!” While that's true, I like to get myself into the head of characters such as these. One look at this man and you understand. It's not just the fact that they killed an innocent dog. The man's name is John Wick. As in the wick of a fuse; he's literally a time bomb. These poor bastards just happened to be the match that lit the fuse. Sometimes you can't win for losing.

3.5 Stars out of 5

Other times, though, you find a way to win just enough.

If It Bleeds, It Leads (Brah)
Review: Nightcrawler

So it's no secret where the state of the media is. The last legitimate newsmen where Walter Cronkite and Robert Frost. That was decades ago. So framing a film arond freelance news in post-Recession LA is hardly, well, news but where Nightcrawler succeeds is where its main character succeeds. The key word is ambition.

Jake Gyllenhaal takes the lead in a very innovative role as Louis Bloom. He is an unemployed man with an unknown history, questionable morals and unmistakable motives. He describes himself as persistent and man, from a guy who knows how to get what he wants he really undersells himself here.

As the movie opens, we see he is scraping by on a meager living provided by stolen scrap iron. It's not desirable and it's not sustainable and Lou knows it. Which is why he's always looking to get his foot in the door - any door, really. So when he comes across a crew filming what's left of a fiery accident on a night lit freeway, his eyes glimmer with opportunity. For the first time he has hope. It just so happens that his hope lies in the hopelessness of others.

Nightcrawlers - or stringers as they're called – are camera jockeys for hire who primarily sell their footage to local news stations as part of their top-of-the-hour crime report. Controversy creates cash and fear is the greatest motivator; stringers in this film are hired to remind you how safe you aren't. They have a police scanner to locate, a GPS system to navigate and a camera to document. As Lou notes, if you see one of them, you probably aren't having a great day. This theme becomes very important as we sink deeper into the seedier side of broadcast journalism.

Again, none of this is exactly groundbreaking. Every other think piece on countless other blogs you've read about that had anything to do with the pitfalls of media at large or “by any means” capitalism has already said what this movies aims to say. But none of those pieces had a voice like Lou Bloom to propel it. Jake Gyllenhaal said in an interview that he memorized every line of this script and it shows in a good way. Every word spoken by Lou is done so in a trance-like robotic wonder. Never quite monotone, but still outside of being human. One must think that the same sensation a person might get from a basket of newborn puppies is the same he gets from a 3-car pileup.

Double homicide! All across the 109!

Even better are the almost Shakespearean soliloquies that he goes into. There are only about 2 or 3 in the whole movie but for the handful of minutes that they last you have no choice but to be sucked into a world that in no way could exist in your own. Lou knows this, too. That his greatest strength is his intelligence and quick wit. As long as he has just one chip to bargain with, he still has a chance. It plays with ones emotions well. You want to see this kid succeed where many others haven't, but the whole time you're thinking, “Not like this.”

Nightcrawler is a thriller at the end of the day and it succeeds in being that. However, there are certain other elements that stood out to me even before I saw the movie in full. Specifically in the vein of black comedy. I had my first thoughts as I watched the redband trailer and saw clips of squad cars getting smashed up to the righteous tunes of Kendrick Lamar. These suspicions were confirmed as the movie progressed. At times the score would appropriately be dark and sinister. Other times, when Lou happened upon a crime scene or even beat the police to a crime scene it would becoming sweeping and orchestral despite the fact that we were looking at possibly multiple fatalities. With the slick little one-liners and the classic Los Angeles greeting [Who the fuck are you?] there are many moments of laughter: unintentional or otherwise depends on how you view it.

In some ways, your enjoyment of Nightcrawler may depend on your opinion of Lou and the means to his end. Are you looking for any comeuppance or do you appreciate a mixed bag? I lean towards the latter in this instance. I don't know if Mr. Gyllenhaal will be nominated for this performance. I don't know if this is his best work. Whatever the case I wish more leading actors had the guts to take a role like this. He more or less transformed entirely to get into this role.

It's not nearly as drastic as others have been, but it fits the character and that's the goal here. Will Smith had his chance to be the loveable anti-hero in Hancock and threw it away after the first act. Now the hero is on a shortlist of franchises no one wants to see continued. Louis Bloom is frankly a bit of a sleaze.

There's not much redeeming about him other than his enthusiasm but that's what gives you the rush when you find yourself rooting for and against him in the space of one scene. Too many leading men are afraid to be unliked and I believe we should celebrate the ones who aren't. Say what you want about Lou. You don't have to like him. Just remember:

"I'm just doin' my job!"

4 Stars out of 5

NBA 2015: The One Where No One Wanted To Play the Hornets

Free agency! How does it work?

I don't usually talk about Free Agency online. Because, usually everyone else has for me. I didn't feel like I needed to talk about you-know-who, nor did I feel the need to talk about who was gonna overpay for Carmelo Anthony's services. I wasn't particularly interested in Houston's future and I knew the Lakers were screwed either way. I was more than fine with being silent on the issue. Then, Friday June 11, 2014 comes around and I have to say something! What a fascinating turn of events we had. So many things happened! Not just with the heavy hitters, but with the building blocks as well. And now that all the dominoes have fallen I'll go down the row and discuss what I think of each move from a basketball standpoint and mentally prepare for what is sure to be an interesting, if not entertaining, 2015 season.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

I won't go on about you-know-who going you-know-where. From what I read of his essay it was a very personal decision and it was apparently going to be made at one point or another. Perhaps maybe a little earlier than some had forseen, but the writing was on the wall it seems. He was ready and I respect his choice. Just like any other choice he would have made. I've known the true character of this man all along and never doubted for a second. Be well, sir.

MIAMI HEAT

I will talk about his former team, however, because Miami is in an interesting position. After four straight Finals appearances and back-to-back titles they are in retooling mode. It's not a bad place, either. With the acquisition of Luol Deng, their line-up next year looks like this:

1. Mario Chalmers 2. Dwayne Wade 3. Luol Deng 4. Josh McRoberts 5. Chris Bosh

And with Danny Granger coming off the bench (and perhaps a look at Mike Scott from Atlanta) Miami could complete their current rotation of the Big Guys Who Can Shoot All-Stars. Continue to develop Norris Cole. Make sure to show Shabazz Napier the ropes. I don't know if Miami is a contender, but with most of their roster back they are every bit a playoff team.

HOUSTON ROCKETS

I'll hop to Houston next. Since that was where Bosh was thought to be going before The Decision came down. It could have been a good fit, too. Bosh gets to play Power Forward – his true position – and spread the floor with his improved perimeter shooting. Houston would have gotten one of the best off-the-ball players in the league today. Not to mention a battle-tested world champion and perhaps even someone to knock down shots when James Harden goes cold in the playoffs.

Now they don't get any of that. Oh, spoilers, they're not getting Carmelo either. Which sucks for them because one thing holds true in free agency no matter who is involved: if you aren't willing to shill out for your guy, there is someone, somewhere who just found his number on their list. Houston made a mistake early by burning their bridge with Jeremy Lin. Hijacking his number for a Photoshopped banner to lure The Melo Man to The Lonestar State. He didn't feel like moving but Jeremy Lin did, being traded to the Lakers not days after the initial controversy.

"Good thing we didn't telegraph that, right guys?"

They also went so far as to rub Chandler Parsons the wrong way by not offering what he felt was market value. This is tricky. Sure you could argue that maybe Parsons isn't worth $15 million or more, especially on a team where he's the third option at best. On the other hand, he single-handedly helped extend their First Round playoff series against the Portland Trailblazers that they were going to lose anyway. But whatever you believe, he's off to a team in Dallas that has a need for him and he has more value for. It's a cold world in Houston, though. Losing two of their young, talented players their immediate future sees them jobbing out to Portland. You know, seeing as how they still have no answer for LaMarcus Aldridge, one less answer for Nic Batum and even less answers for Damien Lillard. Have fun, Clutch City.

CHICAGO BULLS

We're in Texas and not too far away so let's swing it up to the Second City. Lots of questions for Chicago. Questions that include but aren't limited to:

Why didn't Melo sign?

Can they score?

Will D-Rose make it to December before disintegrating like Sandman?

Can Joakim make it to December without devouring the rookies?

Substitutions. How do they work?

    Jimmy Butler [Minutes Per Game]

I'm only halfway kidding with some of those. There is much uncertainty when it pertains to the Chicago Bulls. They had the worst offense in the NBA last season and lost badly to an upstart Washington Wizards team (who would have swept if they weren't such a terrible home team) in the first round of the playoffs. Nobody knows when Derrick Rose will return and to what capacity. The window is shrinking. Yes, even in this piss poor incarnation of the Eastern Conference. Why would any man - let alone a legit Top 10 player – take less money to have Coach Thibs run your knees into pixie dust unless you were 110% sure you would get a title?

I was not-so-secretly hoping the Bulls would give a kind “Screw You” to both of the big dogs on the table and just overpay for Lance Stephenson, who deserves a team who will appreciate his ear-blowing greatness. They didn't though, and instead settled for drafting Doug McDermott and saving-uh, I mean, signing Pau Gasol from the Lakers. The bigger question for me however, is Coach Tom Thibodeau himself. He must have felt he was coming into a favorable situation, and he was at the time. Now several years later and we must address the elephant in the room Bulls fans. What if Derrick Rose can never be Derrick Rose? How long does he stay, then? There is interest in the market for him. Rumors already have him going to Memphis at some point. Maybe it's for the best, though. Perhaps the Bulls could use a coach that won't rely on his backup Point Guard as Option No. 1.

LAKERS

BUCKS

JAZZ

NETS

76ERS

PISTONS

SUNS

DALLAS MAVERICKS

Okay, okay for real this time. Back to Texas where upside is the word of the day and no, for once we won't be talking about the Spurs. As was referenced above, the Rockets' loss is the Maverick's gain in Chandler Parsons to the tune of 3yr/$46mil. The Mavs get a young Small Forward with potential room to grow and a nice piece to help take some minutes away from Dirk who himself resigned to a 3-year deal. Don't sleep on the Mavericks next year, folks. On top of being one of the best teams to watch in the regular season they'll also be a tough out again in the playoffs. And it will be solely because of the sudden and shocking brilliance of Monta Ellis in the Point Guard role. We'll see how next year goes for them, but if I were one Mark Cuban, I'd think long and hard about keeping this kid on long term. Fast don't lie.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

Let me take some time today to talk about the 'Wolves. At the time this piece is being written they hold a tremendous amount of power in this year's free agency because they have on their roster one considerably talented player. I speak of Kevin Love and, yes, I will admit to his talent but I won't be so quick to admit to his value. Allow me to explain. Mr. Love is the centerpiece of two proposed trades that his current team is looking to make. One of which would see him going to Golden State; the other shipping him off to Cleveland. Not terrible on the surface. Until you see what the pieces are.

Bird forbid that say any team doesn't need LeBron James but I'm gonna say it anyway. The Golden State Warriors do not need LeBron James. They can win a championship right now. When they're healthy, they have the best starting five in all of basketball. Period. All they really need is a deeper bench, which they'll have if they develop the guys they've already signed. So when I hear the top brass want to trade Klay Thompson and/or Harrison Barnes for Kevin Love, I think I might pass out. You have a better team than Cleveland right now despite the fact they have their Prodigal Son. If you already know you don't need the best player in the world, why would you blow that up to get a guy who is at best No. 3 at his position?

Same thing goes for the Cavs. They want to trade the No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins? After three straight years of screwing up their draft pick they finally get one right and now they want to delete that with one signing? I get it, okay. Love is an upstart. And at 25 isn't even close to his prime yet. I like my big white guys who can shoot as much as the next [cc: Josh McRoberts] but however good you think he is, it's still not as good as Wiggins (who hasn't even played a damn game yet!) will be. I mean, look at this shit.

Man, this screenshot from 2K looks dope!

Granted, the athleticism might not always be there but the skills he learns as he goes along will more than make up for it. Even then, all he really needs is a consistent outside shot. Once he gets that, it's lights out. Don't you stand to gain more if you're Cleveland by having this kid learn from the best? You don't even need a Power Forward. You just signed Mike Miller! Miami's loss is your gain: two times over! Don't get greedy now.

All of that is assuming anything comes from these talks. As is typical of most free agencies it is more likely that nothing will come of it and Kevin Love will play one more half-assed year for the 'Wolves until he moves out West and they lose him to the Lakers for absolutely nothing. Poetic justice for the team that had two First Round draft picks and used them to pick two guards who both happened to be named Not Stephen Curry.

INDIANA PACERS

Oh you poor Pacers fans. I am so sorry. No Danny Granger, no Lance Stephenson; you guys don't even have Miami to pick on anymore. It was a collapse of massive proportions. Mostly because it happened in slow motion. From the end of February after the All-Star break to the end of the Conference Finals at the end of May, the Pacers were in free-fall. It was equal parts horrible and spectacular and it will be tough to pin down where it all started. Was Paul George not as good as we thought? Was Roy Hibbert as bad as Skip Bayless thought? Was the Pacers second unit worse than we all thought?

Whatever the reason(s), it's back to square one in Indy with one viable offensive threat [cc: David West] and no true Point Guard. The Evan Turner Experiment is over and Lance has moved on to a team who will pay and use him correctly. You know, probably. Which reminds me.

CHARLOTTE HORNETS

If you had told me this time last year that the Basketball Team from Charlotte would set themselves up to be the 5^th best team in the East...I might actually believe it after some coercing because it is the East but it would still take plenty of coercing. But after striking free agent gold last year with Center Al Jefferson and a breakout year for young Kemba Walker, the new-look Hornets are on the upswing. Add to that draft prospect Noah Vonleh and the newly acquired Lance Stephenson [3yrs/$9mil per] to start alongside Kemba in the backcourt; suddenly the Hornets have reclaimed their rightful place as that one team no one wants to play. A nasty surprise waiting for teams in the East this year.

NEW YORK KNICKS

Sigh. I don't have to talk about the Knicks do I? Do I?? Gah! Fine! But I'm doing it for you, America! The Knickerbockers were bad last year. Really, really bad. So bad I was forced to no-sell their games completely. Short of watching the Warriors play I refused to watch a Knicks game. There was no appeal to be found. You know, unless Hero Ball, poor guard play and lazy defense are your slice of cheese. Nevermind that Melo arguably had his best year as a pro, shooting nearly 40 percent from 3. Too bad no one noticed, as his teammates were too busy doing their best Washington Generals impression.

Ray Felton doing his best Ray Felton impresson.

The problem areas are numerous; one can't really pinpoint one particular place where everything went to crap. Perhaps the most pervasive problem was having a slash/create offense run by a guard who can neither slash or create.

But this is free agency and with one phone call even the Raymond Felton-sized anchor that held down Iman Shumpert last year can be lifted. And it was by way of a big six-man trade that saw Tyson Chandler and Felton both head to Dallas while the Knicks cash in on a bevy of guards: Jose Calderon, Wayne Ellington, and Shane Larkin. Not to mention the veteran big man Samuel Dalembert. With Carmelo reported as taking 5yrs/$124 mil from New York and Amare being off the books by next season at the latest there may be an outside outside chance the New York Basketball Knicks could attract some big time free agent like a Kevin Love or even a Russell Westbrook (the next MVP). Will they be better now? Could they be worse than they were?

MISC:

Really though, why all the fuss over Kevin Love? Why do this to yourselves? Just tank your final year, sign with Boston and put Bill Simmons out of his misery. Or, fly home to play for the Lakers and put Simmons out of his misery. Either way, really.

The one where the Hawks drafted Adreian Payne No. 15 and robbed the league blind.

With all the guys opting out this year, it was pretty cool to see Zach Randolph opt in to the Grizz. Great show of solidarity from your best player. Those fans deserve it. Now get some shooting.

Was disappointed in the Knicks head coach decision. Not because I don't like Derek Fisher, but because it confirmed my fears of Phil Jackson's thought process as President. All he had to do was get a guy who could coach. A leader of men who could be respected. Instead, he got a first-time coach to use as a hitch to run his own system because his first choice wanted to be a leader and not a lackey. They're even paying him the same $25 million that Steve Kerr is getting paid by Golden State. I'm not saying it's good or bad, but it rubs me the wrong way.

Why is Kendrick Perkins still on my TV screen?

Why is Scottie "Glasses Make Me Look Smarter" Brooks still a head coach?

I mean what I said about Russ. If he can manage to improve his outside shooting, coupled with his athleticism? There will be no one in the game that can stop him.

The Celtics drafted Marcus Smart. So when Rajon Rondo gets traded, the trending theme of poectic justice says it has to be either Miami or Brooklyn.

Shout-out to the Cavs for helping out the Nets even though they really didn't have to. Rest assured, they need Jarrett Jack more than you do right now. Oh, one more thing. Lance and I have a great idea for how you can welcome your boy back in style.