There goes my hero.

The newest quiz found on the escapist. I get to be a hero.

Here you come to save the day!

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On a side note, I really wish there was some way to tell your TV that you have already decided who you will vote for. Once you've done this, even if you have to lie, you will no longer have to suffer through all of the campaign commercials. Who's with me on this?

The Line in the sand.

I like video games. Anyone who knows me or reads the Crane regularly will know this. Some games are amazing visual or story driven pieces and are great to play. Journey comes to mind. Others, however, fit the bill in the visual and story departments but aren't fun. At least not in the conventional sense. Spec Ops: The Line falls into this category.

Don't get me wrong Spec Ops is a great game, but it does its level best to truly make war horrible. And, despite what Call of Duty & Battlefield may have you believe, war is no game. It is a terrible thing full of harsh realities and even worse choices.

This is where I get a little spoiler-y. At a certain point in the game you are given no other option but to use white phosphorous mortar fire on your "enemies". Yes, that is in quotes for a reason. Afterwards, as you walk through the battlefield, the game forces you to see what your handiwork has wrought. Yes... forces. You cannot run or sprint across the battlefield. You... must... walk. Following that there is a cut-scene, rather graphic I might add, showing more of your victims.

After a fashion I shouldn't be surprised. The game is loosely based on Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. This may be recognizable as it is the same work the film Apocalypse Now is based.

Overall I enjoy the game and feel that its story has merit. Perhaps all the more merit because of the other war games that are populated with epic set pieces. All the while forgetting the true horrors of war. If you enjoy shooters (TPS or FPS), and want a mature story then you owe it to yourself to try this game. Read Heart of Darkness too while you're at it.

NOTE: If you are at all squeamish DO NOT Google images of white phosphorous... it won't end well for you.

Not as left handed as you would think.

As promised I am here to present my "review" of the movie Sinister. I will preface this with the statement that I generally don't go for horror movies.
I enjoyed it, but feel that it loses something at the end. To explain, the writers created a mythology just for this film and they work with it to build tension. However, as the movie comes to its conclusion they drop the tension in favor of a few jump scares. That isn't to say that jump scares are bad, but it seemed to break the flow of things.
The story works well; a true crime writer who hasn't had a hit in ten years or so moves his family into a house where a family was murdered. While there he starts hearing and experiencing strange things. The deeper he delves into the mystery, and learning about other murders across the US, the more strangeness he experiences. His son begins having night terrors again and things start to become (more) strained with his wife. We, along with the main character, find out about a pagan deity that seems to be linked with the murders in some capacity. About this time things begin to speed up and things begin happening. We see visions that, apparently the main cannot see, and get a little more insight into what is happening.
And this is where the jump scares really kick in. In actuality there are only a few of them but, as I said, they serve to diminish the tension already built. The ending is sorta, okay quite, twisted.
All things being equal I do recommend it, but just remember the ending of the movie takes something away from the journey (not much though).

And Nick, there is no possession anywhere in the movie. So it is safe for you...

Finally to explain the title of this post grab a dictionary and look up the word sinister. You'll get it then.

This post is... Sinister

Allright, so I have been away for a few days... Largely because I have nothing to post (yet). However, I am going to see Sinister this afternoon and will have something to say about it afterwards (I always do). In case you're wondering what Sinister is, here is the trailer;

Otherwise things have been kinda quiet around here. I did start reading the book Service: A Navy SEAL at War by Marcus Luttrell recently. I am greatly enjoying it, and have a greater appreciation for the men and women of the Armed Forces.
And that is it for now. My (semi)review of Sinister will be up before the weekend is over.
Thanks all,

Cool story bro.

Okay the other day I went to a friends house to just hang out with her and her son. On the way over I swung by the Colonel for some chicken. While she was digging through the bucket I made the statement "I can't tell a breast from a thigh." She started laughing at me. It took me a few moments to figure out why.

And now I have shared this tale with the whole of the internets.

What's in a name?

So I have been thinking of names recently. No I'm not pregnant. Anyhoo, I have always wanted to name my son, assuming I ever have one, Spartacus. Spartacus Brown just has an awesome ring to it. But at the same time I can't help but remember a name idea that someone I used to go to church with had. His idea was to name a son William Joseph James Robert. A mouthful yes, but it is the only logical way to have a name that can be shortened to Billy Joe Jim Bob.

And so for now I leave you with that.
David

Perhaps it should be Dead and Alive

I recently commented on the impending release of the video game Dead or Alive 5. Well it came out on the 25th of September and, as I said I would, I picked it up. The reviewers would have you believe that it is the epitome of mediocrity. And it sort of is. The fighting mechanics aren't bad, but the character designs... well...
Jim Sterling said it best in this weeks Jimquisition (warning NSFW).

The best concept I can come up with is that they stuffed a bra with jello and had someone wear it while doing the motion capture.
I'll just let that sink in for a moment (remember once you see it, it can't be unseen).

The characters seem lifeless (except for their jello bewbs). And the story is beyond pointless. Two people meet, one of them is wearing shorts. This is enough justification for them fighting.
Overall I do enjoy the game. But it is enjoyable because of how absurd it is. If you like fighting games I recommend picking it up.

Bye,

Space Zombie

I just took this quiz on the escapist magazine website. Not too sure what the results say about me.

In space, no one can hear you munch on brains.

Take this quiz
I'll have more later, but now I'm off to work.