"What if it snowed in San Francisco?" - thought-provoking words from Jonny Moseley

This is why they call me Dr. C-LOS

• 30Sep 08

  The Doctor's Prognosis: Lego Batman + Medieval Times + MORE~!!

  Hello my peeps! Welcome back to the Doctor's Prognosis! I am your host, Dr. C-LOS.

  Been a litte over a month since my last blog and yes I am still alive. I have been really busy with work and school. Especially school. I am taking a film editing course and our first task is to take an unedited film and create a short movie with it. That's right... cutting and splicing film ourselves. Many of us were hesitant to begin cutting. Anyway, whatever we have left after the first film will be used to create another film. So really we have to create two films.

  I spent a lot of time in the editing lab doing some hard work making sure the edits were good but in a way it was also fun. I guess the challenge actually kept me interested as I rarely feel challenged in school.

  Now that you know why I have been scarce around here, I will get into some stuff I wanted to talk about.....

  My Birthday

  Yeah so I just turned 28 recently and my mom decided she wanted to take me and my brother (I have a fraternal twin which means we don't look alike) to Medieval Times near her place. I thought it might be boring but it was really fun. They had a bar there so I decided to have a few drinks.

  They give you crowns which represent the knight you will be cheering for during the dinner show. What made it so fun was the drunken loud people in my area, the yellow area. Our area was the most vocal and even my grandmother got into it and was waving her flag for our knight. She even had a drink or two.

  After the dinner show, the knights gathered around the bar to relax. The rest of us got to go talk to them and take pictures. Not to mention the drinks and they actually had a sort of dance floor along with some music though it was just for a short time.

  We all had a lot of fun and now my bro and I are interested in renaissance festivals. Well we were always interested but this just gave us a reminder. Hopefully we will be able to visit one of these festivals soon.

  I have a picture I wanted to show you but I need to figure out how to scan it on this computer. Also my bro took it to his girl's house and forgot it. Next time for sure.

  I instead leave you with the Knights that put on the show for us instead.

  

  Go Yellow Knight! Or as the drunken guys behind me were yelling... "Yeeeeeeelloooooowww!!!"

  Lego Batman

  

  Yes I bought it. And yes I still haven't finished Bioshock after a whole year. I wanted to buy Too Human first but I have little money at the moment and this game is cheaper. With my Best Buy discount it's only slightly above $40.

  I am glad I got this game. Very simple gameplay but very fun. Even my bro picked up the other controller and played some two-player with me for awhile.

  After you finish the levels in Story Mode, you can return and play in Free Play Mode where you can switch on the fly with any characters you've unlocked. This makes it much easier to get whatever you missed the first time through. I hope Batman: Arkham Asylum is at least as good as this. It's not perfect by any means but fun for Batman fans. That's a thumbs up from me.

  Shazam!

  

  Ok so one last thing. I recently bought hardcover graphic novel Shazam!: The Monster Society of Evil by Jeff Smith. Yes... Jeff Smith of Bone fame. I only recently found out about this book and I loved it. It has that great art and simple but engaging story that is suitable for all ages. Just like Bone. It's got magic, humor, and political subtexts. Good stuff.

  If you are a Jeff Smith/Bone fan like me then I highly recommend this book. It introduced me to Captain Marvel for the first time in comic form and I really liked it.

  I can now see why Captain Marvel was more popular than Superman in the past. I think the character is more relatable as Captain Marvel inhabits a little boy which fulfills many a man's dream as a kid. Makes me wonder why Warner Bros. and DC wouldn't make a film based on this franchise. It appeals to kids and adults. This book certainly made a fan out of me.

  Cosplayer of the Blog

  Since it's been some time I reward you with more than one pic this time. Some of my readers were very enthusiatic about the cute girl dressed like Samus so I decided for more of her. I found some pics of the same girl.... in Samus' Zero Suit. Very nice.

  

  

  

  

  Thanks for making another appointment with The Doctor's Prgonosis! Hopefully they won't be so far between for the following blogs.

  See you next time!

  • Posted Sep 30, 2008 6:33 pm PT
  • Category: Editorial
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• 24Aug 08

  The Doctor's Prognosis: Batman Game + V + MORE~!!

  Welcome to another edition of the Doctor's Prognosis! I am your host Dr. C-LOS.

  I meant to do this blog sooner but I have been sick for like 2 weeks. It's my fault though because I was feeling better and went out with friends even though I wasn't 100%. So I got worse again.

  Anyway, let's get on with the show! Random stuff today with novels, movies, and games...

  Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth

  

  Another graphic novel I read recently. It's VERY dark stuff. Even for Batman. It's more like a psychological horror story than anything else. Joker and the other inmates get loose and have only one demand: to meet with the Batman. Very good read and part of the inspiration for the new Batman game that was recently announced. The artwork is amazing. Very surreal and portrays the insanity of the story and characters very well. Highly recommended.

  V for Vendetta

  

  I just saw this movie for the first time and I thought it was amazing. Poetic at times and I was surprised how well it fits with what is going on with the U.S. political climate at this time. Especially with what many are afraid of where the country might end up. We may one day pray for a masked man to fight for our liberties. Now I really want to read the original graphic novel which was written by Alan Moore, who also wrote Watchmen. Big thumbs up.

  Lego Batman

  

  OK so after the grim Dark Knight film and the creepy Arkham Asylum, we are soon getting the upbeat Lego Batman. And believe it or not, I am excited for this game. It may not be very gritty but it has most of your favorite Batman characters and the gameplay has been consistently good in these Lego games. I will probably be picking this one up. Look for it on Sept. 23rd. Just two days before my birthday!

  Batman: Arkham Asylum

  

  This was recently announced and looks amazing. Check out more shots here. The plot revolves around Batman turning the Joker into the asylum but he soon gets loose. Joker got caught on purpose in order to get his hands on a serum at the asylum that is supposed to cure people but has some nasty side effects. Now Batman has to fight his way out of the asylum.

  The game runs on the Unreal 3 Engine which is why it looks so great. The gameplay is 3rd person combat but will involve stealth-like elements that the developers call "Predator gameplay." For example, you might run into some guards and you can take them out one at a time in various ways until maybe one is left. The great thing is there is a fear element too. The remaining thug will become scared and begin shooting at nothing. Making it easier for Batman to take him out.

  Combat also yields experience points where you can level Batman up and then use skill points to spec Batman how you want. So there are some RPG elements as well.

  Furthermore, Batman gets to use cool CSI type gadgets to look for clues like fingerprints so you can really act like the "World's Greatest Detective." Hopefully this element will be used well and will make you actually use your head.

  The game also seems to work similar to Metroid, Zelda, and Castlevania in that you will run into areas that are inaccessible at first but that you will come back to later as you advance in the game.

  There are also supposed to be cool boss fights that you must approach differently depending on yor enemies strengths and weaknesses. Some are even supposed to be as big as you see in Zelda. Killer Croc might be one of these bosses as he can be seen in the screen shots. And boy does he look scary. Huge and scaly, Croc looks similar to a Locust from Gears of War.

  The game is being developed by Rocksteady who are largely unproven. Their only game is Urban Chaos which got a decent score from Gamespot. Since this game isn't being rushed to tie in to anything, and because what I have read and seen looks so good, I am cautiously optimistic about this. Keep an eye out for this game which is slated for next year. Make it good Rocksteady! I'm keeping my eye on you!

  Cosplayer of the Blog

  This time we get a trifecta of the same cute girl dressed as 3 different characters. I have no idea who they are but who cares?

  

  The new semester begins for me next week so I will be on here much less. I will try to be on here as much as possible but please don't be upset if I am unable to read or comment your blogs as often. My blogs may be fewer and farther between as well... because they are so consistently posted now....

  Anyway, see you on your next appointment with The Doctor's Prognosis!

  • Posted Aug 24, 2008 7:33 pm PT
  • Category: Editorial
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• 13Aug 08

  The Doctor's Prognosis: Out of Boneville + Batman + MORE!!

  Welcome to another edition of the Doctor's Prognosis! I am your host Dr. C-LOS.

  I haven't been very active lately for trying to finish Bioshock before the year anniversary for the game's release, and before Too Human comes out. I really want to give that game my full attention. I have also been a little under the weather so I haven't done a new blog as timely as I would have liked to.

  Anyway, since watching the Dark Knight, my brother and I have been on a graphic novel kick. I recently read some great stuff so I thought I'd share them. They are mostly Batman but there are some other gems as well.

  Batman: The Long Halloween

  

  This is to many one of the best Batman stories. It's a detective story that focuses on Batman trying to determine the identity of a serial killer that only kills on one holiday for the month. The story begins and ends on Halloween so it's basically 13 chapters put together. This is one of the novels that Nolan based his characterizations of Batman, Gordon, and Dent on for his film so it's highly recommended.

  Batman: Year One

  

  This novel was written by Frank Miller of Sin City fame. It covers Bruce Wayne in his first amateur vigilante outing and when he first becomes the Batman. It also features Gordon when he shows up in Gotham City for the first time. Great story for those new to Batman. Interestingly, some elements were taken from this story for Nolan's Batman Begins including the budding friendship between Gordon and Batman, and the inclusion of the mobster Falcone.

  Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

  

  Also by Frank Miller, this is Batman's omega as an aging Bruce Wayne returns to fight crime in an increasingly dangerous Gotham City. This is probably my favorite Batman graphic novel featuring many older variations of the familiar Batman cast with a great appearance by Superman himself. Any Batman fan should check this out.

  Batman: Hush

  

  This is one of Batman's more recent graphic novels featuring many appearances by various villains as Batman tries to figure out who is manipulating them before he ends up dead. Quite a few surprises are in this one. You can find it in two volumes.

  Bone: Out from Boneville

  

  Written and illustrated by Jeff Smith, this was quite a surprise. It has quite a cartoony look to it but I found it endearing. It was also hilarious at some points. I found it addicting and read the entire first volume in one night. It is very much set in a fantasy world with dragons, rat creatures, and odd little white men from a place called Boneville. The characters are what makes this so great. They all have their own personalities and their interactions make for some funny moments. Especially between cousins Fone Bone, Phony Bone, and Smiley Bone. I can't wait to finish this series. Highly recommended.

  The Metabarons

  

  This is an awesome series with great art. It's actually the art that attracted me to the novel in the first place. But the story kept me coming back for more. It's a science fantasy epic that chronicles the lives of the 5 generations of the dynasty of perfect warriors known as the Metabarons. I believe it was originally published in French but they have been available in English for a few years now so I highly recommend this if you're into science fiction fantasy type settings. It's like a space opera with Greek tragedy elements. Big thumbs up.

  Watchmen

  

  What can I say about this work of art? It's written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons. Watchmen is the only graphic novel to win the Hugo award which is an award for excellence in science fiction or fantasy. It's also the only graphic novel to be featured in Time Magazine's 2005 "100 best English language novels." It's set in an alternate history 1985 where costumed vigilantes are real and nuclear war with the Soviet Union is an ever present danger. What further sets this novel apart is that the superheroes are presented as real people battling personal problems and ethical dilemnas. I highly recommend reading this soon. At least before the film comes out next year. Even if the film is good, I doubt it can be anywhere near as good as the novel. It was thought to be unfilmable because there is just so many layers to it. It really takes advantage of the graphic novel format in a way that would be difficult to reproduce in any other way. That would include film and non-graphic novel. I give it my highest possible recommendation.

  Cosplayer of the Blog

  I can see Mai winning a lot of matches based solely on the fact that her oufit is very distracting....

  

  This is distracting but in the wrong way.....

  

  Yikes....

  Anyway, I hope you got something out of my graphic novel blog. I highly recommend checking those titles out.

  You may see me less on here as school is rapidly approaching and my retail job gets more hectic as Christmas rears it's ugly head. I will try to get on here as much as possible.

  So I will see you all on your next appointment with the Doctor's Prognosis!

  • Posted Aug 13, 2008 4:42 pm PT
  • Category: Editorial
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