Can Hermione Be Black?

There is currently a Harry Potter stage play in the works taking place 19 years after where the series ended, though it is not being written by JK Rowling it is based on her story and recently they've announced the cast and the big controversial casting is that Hermione Granger will be played by Noma Dumezweni, so yes, a character who used to be played by a white actress is now being played by a black actress. Now i'm not all too familiar with Ms Dumezweni's work apart from an appearance on Doctor Who, so i don't really know how good of an actress she is, for all i know she was so perfect for the role it would be a crime not to cast her. And while this "black washing" (If that's even a thing) has received some negative feedback from a vocal minority, she has received the support from JK Rowling herself and Emma Watson, so the writer and original actress to play Hermione are both okay with it. The other important point is there is nothing in Hermione's canon to suggest that she is white, with that being said there is plenty to imply that she is white just based on her background, personality and a drawing JK Rowling did of her, but nothing definitively part of her character to suggest her skin colour absolutely has to be one or another. So there is no technical problems with the casting at all.

Personally...I don't have a problem with it either, hell, if anything it might make even more sense. One of Hermione's traits and subplots is that there is a prejudice against her because she's muggleborn, to suggest she's subhuman by wizard standards, isn't as worthy or skilled as other wizards because of her origin, even going as far to have a degrading insult designed specifically for people of her culture. Or would that be too obvious? But let's be honest, whether intentionally or unintentionally, the people in charge of casting must have known this would stir up some controversy and will use it as a springboard to put the play in the public eye, because despite being an insanely massive Harry Potter fan i completely forgot this play was in production, but now, i ain't gonna forget about it anytime soon.

-Danny 

Baccano's Blurb is Brilliant

Don't let nobody tell you there's no future in a life of crime, because some rackets can last forever. But we'll get around to all that immortality jazz later. A mafia turf war is raging on the mean streets of the Big Apple, a place where regular joes bounce between backdoor booze joints and the breadline. But this caper ain't about a simple gangland brawl. It's abut hoods who can't seem to die proper after catching a bullet or five between the eyes. Sadistic hitmen and the dames they love, mad bombers going boom, monsters going bump and soul sucking alchemists bootlegging an elixir of eternal life. Just remember, Baccano! ain't about beginnings and ends. It's about the twists and turns, bub. Paths don't cross in this story - they collide. Every Dick and Jane plays the lead and it's gonna be a bumpy ride.

This is may just be the best blurb written for a story, ever! Baccano is not an easy show to describe, damn impossible to do it in a sentence and still difficult with a paragraph. Where do you start? How much do you reveal? So summarizing the show is a bit of a challenge, so when trying to summarize it they just decided "Eh, why bother?". The description actually tells you very little of the plot apart from the fact it's an ensemble, the mafia is involved and there are immortals; but what it does give you is a tone. From this text passage you instantly get what kind of show this is, it's a fast paced, gangster fantasy adventure that will be told in a simple manner. The flow of the words, the alliterations and almost poetic nature of the piece makes it a work of art on its own and more importantly, it does its job of making me want to watch the show.

P.S. Thankfully the show is awesome too.

-Danny

Best Years in Gaming

The end of the year approaches but really the gaming world ends around November time, and people have been referring to 2015 as one of the best years in gaming and i always think "Really?" I mean it was a good year, definitely better than 2014, but one of the best years ever? That's a pretty bold statement which got me thinking "What are the best years in gaming?" So that's exactly what we're going to be taking a look at today. Now keep in mind when i say best years in gaming i'm not just including years that had one or even two iconic games come out, but the year as a whole for variety, business practises and quantity of quality games.

1987
The first great year of gaming is...actually the only year i would refer to as dated. This year is remembered mostly for it's releases and the beginning of so many popular franchises. Metal Gear, Megaman and Final Fantasy were all introduced to the world this year. Though the reason why I say it's dated is because these games are not very good today in my opinion and all of the franchises have made better installments in later years. The Legend of Zelda was finally released in the US and Europe, the very first game ever to have a save feature and good god where would we be without that and Japan had just released The Legend of Zelda II, so yeah, big year for Zelda.

1992
1992 was the first true year of gaming (to not be dated) to have not just one iconic videogame franchise to be started, but three. Wolfenstein, Kirby and Mortal Kombat were all initially released in 1992 and these are franchises that are so popular that they are still going on today. Though Kirby's games aren't necessarily best sellers the character is one of Nintendo's most iconic and this is where he got his start. A similar deal for Wolfenstein, the initial game isn't talked about that much but MechaHitler is one of gaming's most iconic villains. It's also funny to think that Mortal Kombat was considered controversial and graphic back in the day, i mean it still is, but the idea of a videogame being controversial for this level of blood and gore is kind of silly with today's practise standards. Alone in the Dark also got it's release in this year though being honest this is a franchise that doesn't hold up particularly well, especially the original. Some already well established franchises that continued their success in this year was Sonic The Hedgehog 2 which is often considered by many to be the best of the franchise and Super Mario Kart, a franchise which still gets rehashed and released every couple of years. So overall this was a damn good year in terms of quanitity of games that stand the test of time and multiple franchises saw their birth in this year.

1994
A similar year to 1992 in terms of why it's one of the best but it expands it's roster even more. Donkey Kong, World of Warcraft and Tekken all saw their initial release in this year and i don't need to expand on the fact that they were successful games. Another franchise premiered in 1994 is System Shock, a series that isn't remembered for much now but many consider the stepping stones to a spiritual successor Bioshock, i'm sure you've heard of that franchise at least. As well as the arrival of Earthworm Jim, a cult classic  Then not one but two games which are considered to be two of the greatest videogames of all time got their release in this year, Super Metroid and Earthbound (Mother 2), Super Metroid is remembered for it's stellar gameplay and is often considered to be one of the best action games of all time, while Earthbound i honestly didn't think was anything special until that final level...seriously that's one of the most fucked up/disturbing final levels of a videogame ever, i freakin love it and so does everyone else apparently. Then there was Final Fantasy VI, not as popular as the next game in the FF franchise but still a beloved franchise.

1996
Tomb Raider, Super Mario 64, Pokemon Red/Blue, Crash Bandicoot, Resident Evil. I don't think I need to explain anymore. Okay I guess I will, because this was the start of the 3D era in videogaming, true there were 3D games before...kinda, but the 64 bit era had begun and with it, gaming took a massive leap. The Playstation being released the prior year was getting major traction and well, i don't think i need to explain how far that took off.

1997
Geez, two great years in a row? Wow the 90's were spoiled with great games. This year saw Final Fantasy VII, to this day considered one of the greatest videogames of all time, certainly the best in the FF franchise...i've never played it so...i don't know if it holds up. This also saw the release of GoldenEye 007, one of the best movie videogames of all time (Even if i personally think it's overrated) and is still played by thousands all over the world. Star Fox 64 got it's release and is a game that holds a significant place in pop culture, after all, what gamer hasn't heard the phrase "Do a barrel roll!". Cult classics Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee and PaRappa The Rapper, while not beloved at first have received more attention over time. Finally the famous racing franchise Gran Turismo dawned its head around this time (In Japan). Overall this was a very diverse year in gaming and in my opinion is one of the best.

1998
Ya know, i don't look ahead when writing up these lists, but hot damn the late 90's were on a role! Again, this is a year of both iconic franchises and cult classics of a wide variety of genres to the point where i'm not even gonna give detail, just list them off, they speak for themselves. Keep in mind, i obviously haven't played all of these, but i am aware of their success atleast. Banjo Kazooie, MediEvil, Metal Gear Solid, Grim Fandango, Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped, Half-Life, Sonic Adventure, Spyro the Dragon and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. 3 of these are considered some of the greatest games of all time, and they all came out in the same year. Jeez, i wonder if '99 will be just as good.

1999
Hot diggity damn! They did it again! Super Smash Bros & Mario Party sailed Nintendo through a good year, Silent Hill and Ape Escape gave Playstation a good year and finally we saw Tony Hawk Pro Skater hit the airwaves, does that saying still work in this context? So yeah, less than other years but damn if it still wasn't another great year. By the way, if you've never played Ape Escape: Play it!

Ya know what, there are so many good years for videogames that i'm gonna have to split this off into two parts and some time soon i'll talk about the 2000's of gaming.

-Danny

2015 For Me

You know one of my dreams if to one day write an autobiography, of course my life isn't nearly interesting or popular enough to write one of have anyone read it. Regardless I like to think of these end of year look backs as sort of a mini-biography chapter on what i did with my life. To sum it up in just 2 words: Fuck All. I've said before how i'm in an awkward stage of life, i'm at university but i would just like to go into a career already but i don't have the qualifications, hell i'm studying film & screenwriting, i'm not going to have any useful qualifications by the end of this, and that's still a year off. This hasn't just been a year where nothing much happens, but less happens than normal. Me and my best friends live in different cities and even when we are all back home we can never hangout either because of jobs or they still live too far for walking distance and i don't have a car anymore because my dad sold it, i mean fair enough it was his car and no one was driving it while me and my sister were away at university. But even still, now we hangout even less because it takes so much hassle and money and my friends were never the most organised of people to begin with. But i'm getting ahead of myself.

Life at university has been decent, i finished my first year back in May and i would have to describe it as one of the most uneventful years of my life, i didn't make any good friends, acquaintances at best, the 10 or so people i shared a flat with i haven't spoken too since i moved out and i doubt i even learnt all that much to begin with. The most eventful thing that happened in my entire time in the first year at uni was that i finally started to drink alcohol. £9000 well spent. In September i went back for my second year at university and even within just 4 months it's already been a better experience. My new flat is much smaller, i only live with 2 other people and it is near perfect, they're quiet, i barely ever see them and the kitchen is rarely messy, i have a nice view and it's much closer to my university than the last place. Socially things are better, i joined a couple of societies, Sci-Fi & Fantasy and Harry Potter, because i'm a nerd like that, thankfully these are nerds that like to drink, so it's all good. Oh and the actual university part is going well i guess.

For me personally not a whole lot has changed, still don't have a job, actually i did get my first proper job this year, i was a bartender for York Racecourse, it is probably the worst thing i've even done in my life, i only lasted for two days before eventually quitting, and by quitting i mean i just stopped showing up and they eventually stopped texting me. Thankfully I was one out of 1000 bartenders so i doubt they missed me. But even still, i'm still looking for a job, so far, i've been rejected over a dozen times. Honestly the most positive thing to happen to me this year is that i joined a gym and finally started to lose weight. Now i am still fat and being home for Christmas is most certainly not going to help that, but i've lost over a stone and i am enjoying going, for the first time in my life i don't hate my body and that's always swell.

And...that's actually it, like i said it was very uneventful year, it's this awkward waiting phase, not quite an adult, not quite a teen, it's a void state of life. Happy Holidays!

-Danny

My Favourite Characters - Kamina

"He takes the blazing sun in his bare hands and endures the searing heat. A man's man sustained by strength of will. When you hear of the great Kamina they're talking about me! You'd best remember that!"

*Spoilers Ahead*

Kamina is the second main character of the Gurren Lagaan series, he's the older bro of the main character Simon (Not actually related) and the founder of Team Dai Gurren, a group of mech riding freedom fighters for the human race, he inspires the rest of humanity to follow his lead and to break through the heavens, go beyond the impossible and kick reason to the curb, just who in the hell do you think he is? He's the mighty Kamina!

Kamina is of course a great pilot when it comes to Mech Gunmen, especially when co-piloting with his bro Simon, and he's just a good fighter in general, but that's not where the charm of Kamina comes from. What makes Kamina one of the best his is naturally inspiring leadership. He's a man who even before he had the slightest hint of greatness always had faith in himself, and faith in Simon that they were both destined for greatness, and once that opportunity arose, no matter how small, he took it, he held it tight and he never let go, no matter how much everyone else tried to beat it out of him. When Kamina has his eyes set on a goal, no matter what challenge he has to go through, nothing can deter him from acheiving it, giving 110% both physically and mentally. He's an unstoppable idealist, in a world where robots are powered and fixed by will power, he's a man with an unlimited source. He's a man who the character Yoko described as having "Unlimited Stupidity" but really there is thought behind all of his goals, he makes the impossible possible and walks away a winner in the end.

It's never just for his own benefit either, he inspires people, not just because they believe in him, but because he believes in them. Even Simon who seemingly has no talent of skill, Kamina has undying faith that he is meant for greatness, he believes everyone in Team Dai Gurren has greatness in them. Even after his shocking death that doesn't stop him from influencing them, they now fight for the world Kamina believed possible, the man who believed humanity deserved freedom and a chance to decide their own fate, no one can decide your limitations for you and it's always possible to break them, that is the man Kamina was. Someone who made his way to power through pure stubbornness alone and used that power to bring out the best in everyone else.

"Just don't be distracted by the what-ifs, should-haves and if-onlys. The one thing you choose yourself. That is the truth of your universe"

This man is like an anime version of Shia LaBouf's "DO IT!" Speech.

-Danny

Star Wars The Force Awakens - Cheap Thoughts

It was really really good.

-Danny

Creed - Cheap Thoughts

Rocky is a franchise that I don't love but i'm quite fond of, there is a charm to it and i've never really felt like i was let down by any of the films, each one game me something to enjoy, even Rocky V which people often consider to be the worst of the films I still found enjoyments from parts. Creed is the newest film in the series directed by Ryan Coogler, a very talented director, Michael B Jordan, someone whom i'm a fan of, and was receiving critical acclaim left and right, people calling it as good as the original Rocky. It was okay. Creed follows the story of Donnie Creed, the son of Apollo Creed who is now trying to make his own way to become a boxer and make a name for himself and in doing so he enlists the help of Rocky Balboa played once again by Sylvester Stallone.

*Spoilers Ahead*

So let's talk about the best things about this movie, the acting and the directing. The direction of this movie was so expertly done, the long takes done in one shot, the brutality of the fight scenes, the great pacing and style of the film to give it this grounded and realistic feel, which is especially needed for a franchise that kind of went off the rails near the end of its run. Then there is the acting, now Michael B Jordan in my eyes is one of the best up and coming actors today, with Chronicle, Fruitvale Station and now Creed, this is a future Oscar winner if I ever saw one. The raw emotions he expresses, going through fits of rage to pure bliss when the fight is over, he doesn't care if he won or lost, he's just happy that he made it this far. Then there is Stallone who is giving his best performance in over 20 years, and never going overboard and becoming melodramatic, there's a lot of subtlety in his performance, his heath gradually getting worse and worse, always sounding tired and in pain, a man who has gone past the prime of his life and is now wandering with little purpose.

But then there are the two most important things about a movie, the story and characters, and they just ain't very good. Looking at the story overall it is just basically a retelling of the original Rocky, now Rocky itself isn't a very original film, but how it chooses to tell its story is what makes it stand out. It's a very personal movie about achieving one's personal goals and realising what's important in life, that's why at the end of Rocky, Balboa doesn't care that he lost, he cares that he fought. So when this movie is hitting those exact same beats it just seems repetitive. The relationship with the girlfriend that goes through trouble because of his fighting, the end of the movie not caring about winning or losing, just making it to the end, even down to setting the damn thing in Philadelphia again. But of course none of it is as effective as it was in the first Rocky movie because we've already seen it! The best way to describe it is to just look at the big 'Training climax' Rocky ended his by running up the Philadelphia Steps, Donnie ends it by...running down the street. Well if that just doesn't represent the relationship between these two movies perfectly.

Now some people might think it's unfair to judge this movie solely to Rocky, well i might not have if this movie doesn't constantly do it so much! Donnie's arc is supposed to be about creating his own legacy and not just ride the success of his fathers name but is constantly comparing himself and being compared to not just his father, but Rocky as well! He want to create a name for himself as a boxer, so his first thought it to go to the guy who trained his dad!? And then when he turns him down he goes to the guy who fought his dad!? The movie is constantly sending these mixed messages here of Donnie trying to create his own identity but always doing these things that mean of course people are going to compare the two! Even down to his fight, his mother sends him a gift with the card "Make your own legacy" and the gift is the exact same shorts his dad wore! How is he able to create his own legacy when he keeps being reminded he's Apollo Creed's son?! Even during the fight commentators keep talking about how he keeps fighting like Rocky, ya know, you never saw commentators in Rocky talking about how he fought like Mickey.

But then Rocky has a story in this movie, he gets cancer and refuses to get treatment until Donnie convinces him to. Now this is a good set up for a story, a man who though he isn't suicidal or depressed, he's lost everything that matters to him, now he's got a new family member in his life and the two can help each other in their problems. Where my issues come from is that his story is never resolved. Does he beat cancer? Does it kill him? I dunno, and we're never told. So yeah, that storyline ended up being a waste.

Then there is the supporting cast, which was just meh. The biggest supporting character is Donnie's girlfriend Bianca, a partially deaf musician, interesting enough set up, wasted character. In the end she's nothing more than just Donnie's girlfriend, someone there for him to date, break up with in the second act and get back together in time for her to be his cheerleader by the big fight. I've said it before and i'll say it again, this isn't a character, it's a character's girlfriend. And the antagonist of the movie, oh god could they have gone for something more stereotypical, he's just a standard jerk, no development, nothing interesting about him, just an obstacle for Donnie to fight, and despite the fact that he is an asshole for 98% of his screen time, by the end of the fight he decides he respects Donnie? Where the flying fuck did that come from!? Finally is Donnie's adoptive mother, who does nothing for the movie and just reacts to Donnie's actions. Which is another but much smaller problem of the film, in the climax he's fighting in Liverpool, England and she's watching back home in Los Angeles, and it's somehow night time in both cities. Okay assuming this film takes place at winter and even then we're still being generous, the fight would have to be taking place at 1am for it to be night time in LA. I know that may seem nitpicky-which it is-but for a film this technically well put together it's amazing that they missed something like that.

In the end, the movie was just simply okay, I was really looking forward to this film after a great first trailer and universal acclaim, but i don't chalk this up to the movie being overhyped, honestly that word gets thrown around too much for people to justify why someone was disapointed with a popular film. Sometimes a film is just okay because the things that appealed to a lot of people doesn't necessarily mean they'll appeal to others. 7/10.

-Danny