BrunoTheThird

I think there are enough cultural and technological differences between what the world was like in the trilogy's era and now to at least be somewhat positive that a new Matrix could be interesting again in new ways.

The worry that it'll feel like another leather and sunglasses '90s romp is a valid one to have, but I seriously doubt it'll be that, because that was a specific era within the simulation. It will probably be our current era within that simulation, with the 'real world' and Zion being very different, or something else entirely. If Neo is somehow reborn and re-dons the late '90s/early '00s garb, and no one bats an eye, my brain will detach itself from my spinal column. I expect a very modernized take on that style.

The thing that makes me skeptical and not excited in the least, though, is that 85% of the Wachowskis-helmed movies were swings and misses for me.

I think Wander's arduous grind through a land of colossi, willing to do absolutely anything to revive the girl bundled in his arms through rain, mud, fire and whatever the hell else it threw at him, was so inspiring to me as a youth. The similarities with Atreyu are obvious, but you didn't see that sort of hardcore, heroic selflessness very often in games, with barely a word spoken. That guy!

I must've seen a thousand obscure movies, yet I've never seen arguably one of the most famous films ever, Schindler's List. I finally amended that today, and it was a unique viewing experience to say the least.

I'm not going to review it or anything, most people know its quality of performances, framing, etc., even if they've only seen clips, but there were some things that really stuck out to me:

For one, I expected/worried this film would be reliant on music to portray the emotional richness as much as the acting, but the complete opposite was true. When it's there it isn't 'sad' music per se, and it's not loud in the mix like a lot of dramas are guilty of. It's appropriate and beautifully integrated without being overt. Good for them.

The other thing that struck me was how the blase physical brutalization and murder of the Jews wasn't even the most disturbing part of the film. Far, far more disturbing to me are scenes such as the one where a little girl is shouting "Goodbye, Jews!" over and over with a look of deep glee on her face, holy shit.

Another scene that almost broke my brain was where Amon Goth is trying to execute the older gentleman that makes hinges in the metal workshop and the gun keeps jamming. It was so crazy to see a -- I don't want to say comedic -- but clumsy attempted murder. It was like something from Goodfellas, it was fucked up. I had my head in my hands every time that hammer clicked unsuccessfully.

There were plenty more: the scene where Amon happily listens to the female prisoner who was an engineer begging the officers to redo the foundations that would surely fail on the building they were working on, has her killed, then green-lights her request!

Anyway, it's a great movie. I almost wish I didn't like it just so I'd have a more interesting take on it, but I did, so I don't...

A+

I'm always about the ambient trip hop, but especially when I'm in study mode. The Silent Hill 2 + 3 OSTs really do it for me.

@nutter: Signs is great; I've always had a soft spot for it, and the performances are so human and not actor-y. Mel and Joaquin are such a great duo, but the kids' acting really blew me away at the time. I'm not a fan of "it was all meant to be" films often, but it was handled so thoughtfully and with pure intentions in Signs, like it's saying hey, those bad things that happen were always going to happen, but when they do, you will find something to get you through it. It is definitely an invasion film, but the more I re-watch it, the more I realize that is just a popcorn metaphor for life's bullshit.

Now and then, when I'm struggling with anxiety or something, I think of the 'swing away' line, kind of like a snap-out-of-it mantra. It's surprisingly effective.

New Opeth track is sick, been blasting it for the last week. If the album is anywhere near as good as Heart in Hand, it'll be their best in a while.

Heaven's Vault, so far. The writing is as rich and detailed as its art and etymology-based gameplay; the characters are interesting, unique and have their own distinct ways of looking at the world and you; each world you visit in your boat has its own flavour and role in the empire you're so determined to demystify. It never stops poking at that little section of your brain that needs to absorb info or open that door at the end of a hall to see what lies beyond. It paces that stuff so well, too, dropping a breadcrumb trail or morsel of historical import whenever it dares to drag for a moment. It really feels like the developers played it over and over and said, "it's too quiet here, and if they're traveled from a far off moon, it'll be silent for minutes. Write some spontaneous dialogue," all of which is great. I love your robot assistant, especially, he has some witty zingers.

Finding artifacts and decoding their inscriptions is so deeply satisfying to me, it's borderline addictive. I think I've been playing it for twelve hours straight, which hasn't happened to me in a long time. I feel so engaged with what's happening at every junction, every interaction, every obstacle, every stone turned. It's really something. The music is also magnificent.

I'm in love, what can I say.

• Viewtiful Joe
• Killer 7
• RDR2
• Hotline Miami 1 + 2
• Marc Ecko's Getting up

I would lose my mind if JSRF was remade with extra music, more tricks, special tricks, open world, etc, but in terms of what I think other people might want besides myself...

1. Vice City would be pretty great with modern visuals and mechanics. Just the Miami night scene and '80s vibe with Rockstar's current tech could be really stylish and something people would happily revisit for fun. Too much work, though, it'll probably never happen.
2. Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver could be a candidate that'd interest me as someone who played it for the first time a couple years ago and liked what I played, but struggled to overlook its creaky bones before giving up.
3. Tenchu. Always appreciated the name and respected its classic/semi-classic status, but found the games clunky and unable to immerse me half the time.

Unlikely candidates I'd enjoy:

The Warriors. Loved the shit out of it. Running around '70s Coney Island/New York with modern open-world game design would really scratch my itch, although the original's biggest issues were arguably technical ones, not design ones. That aspect kinda holds up in the same rough way the movie does.

I would buy Russian nesting dolls with the East and West crew inside the bomb, getting smaller and smaller 'til we reached a teeny Dan at the end.