Monthly Archives: August 2014

Twelve: True Blood Sucks (See what we did there?)

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We discuss the record $3.2 million dollar sale at Ebay auction of “Action Comics #1”.  We are not Collector Geeks but if we had a billion dollars…. still probably not.

Seen:
“True Blood” Series Finale is decent and discussion of the series as a whole ensues.  It stayed too long at the party.

“The Leftovers” is TREMENDOUS.  We find it really really hard not to spoilerize it.  But we didn’t.
Patrick hopes for another season of “Legend of Korra”.  Don’t cancel it Nickelodeon!

Read:
Andrew gives his honest opinion on Batman Eternal #20.
Christopher is digging on Book#1 of the “Powder Mage” trilogy.
Patrick will rest his brain and heart for a while after he finishes “A Feast For Crows”.

Played:
Andrew is thoughtful and plays nothing so Patrick can speak at length about “Diablo III: Reaper of Souls” for the Xbox 360
Chris plays lots of games.  He’s a gamer.

EPL update:

Chris’s Tottenham Hotspur are top of the table… for now.

Trivia:
The Boys are challenged to name two of the four “Outstanding Drama Series” with four wins.
They succeed!
“Hill Street Blues” “LA Law” “the West Wing” and “Mad Men” are the answers

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The Leftovers “The Garveys at Their best”

the-leftovers-tease-5-stages-of-grief-in-new-poster-and-promo

 

By Christopher Schmaltz

 

“The foot feels the foot when it feels the ground.”

That is a quote focused on, and slightly puzzled over, in the most recent tremendous episode of The Leftovers. This will be a spoiler free comment, so if you are behind in watching the show, no worries. I was struck by this quote and its usage in this current episode, and its commentary on the show as a whole.

So let’s examine the quote first. It suggests that a thing isn’t aware of itself except in relation to something else. Going further, it offers the viewpoint that the thing, namely “the foot,” needs feedback from an outside force or resistance in order to be that thing. This concept seems totally contrary to the “I think, therefore I am” classical philosophical proposition by Descartes. Or is it? The fascinating use of the “foot” quote in the context of this show continues the show’s deep exploration of emptiness, loss, and the meaning of existence.

How does it do that? IMO, the whole show to this point has been a close examination of the people who remain, and their response to the void that is created (it too remains) when they have lost someone to this unexplained event. It is the existential crisis of all existential crises. A person (or multiple people) that helped define who you are abruptly vanish. The serious theme being examined here is that the people who have lost loved ones (via the event, or because of it in its aftermath) are struggling to come to grips with themselves. The absence of their familial feedback has set them adrift. That void, contradictorily enough, provides strong feedback too. Is the absence of the “ground” also feedback for the foot, when it expects feedback from the ground, or “remembers” the feedback?

“I think, therefore I am” is about knowledge, awareness. It isn’t about feeling/being/living. Knowing you exist and existing are 2 very different things. The show continues to effectively explore that difference. But to what point? Navel gazing for its own sake is a feedback loop to nothing. The payoff is in growth – we’ll see if The Leftovers manages to communicate growth for some or all of the characters by the end of this season.

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Eleven: Palate Cleansers for Your Frontal Lobe

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We remember the great Robin Williams, “Mork and Mindy”, “Aladdin”, ‘Dead Poets Society”, “Good Will Hunting” and “Jumanji” all showed us his wild genius
Seen:
Christopher discusses lighter fair this week, he has started “Legend of Korra” as he has realized how dark most of his viewing choices are.
Patrick and Andrew talk “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”, decide its just stupid fun.
Read:
Andrew is current with “Batman Eternal” and “Invincible”.
Christopher is finishing “The Strain” Book One.
We encourage Patrick to finish “A Feast for Crows” simply because “A Dance with Dragons” is so good.
Played:
Christopher geeks out and builds a car from a crap movie on “Forza 5”
Patrick plays “Diablo” with his buddies
Andrew plays more Spartan Ops.  All agree crushing crawlers with a Mantis foot is good clean fun.
Barclay’s Premier League returns this weekend.  Patrick’s Manchester City is defending League and Schmaltz Cup Champions.

Trivia.
Boys attempt to name the top 5 Animated films in terms of Box Office.  They get very close.

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Ten: Andrew Actually Plays a Game!

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We discuss Marvel’s Studio’s new film “Guardians of the Galaxy”  Try to place it the Pantheon of Marvel Cinematic Universe Films.

Which is better Avengers or GoTG or C.A. The Winter Soldier?

Seen:

The Leftovers is all three of our choice for most compelling show

True Blood needs a stronger villain

Read:

Chris is the only one who is current with “Batman Eternal”.  We are all committed  just slacking.

Andrew will finish “Storm Front” and continue the Dresden Files.

Patrick and Andrew are going to read “Ready Player One”  Chris thinks this is a good idea.

Played:

ANDREW PLAYED A HALO 4 SPARTAN OPS MISSION!  Discussion ensues of Halo franchise greatness.

Chris plays Forza, solves his Divinity issues with a “hack”  MK8 is still great fun

Patrick plays GTA, does crime, flies a helicopter gunship, is a mass murderer.

Trivia:

List all Marvel Cinematic Universe Films in order they are released.  Both Chris and Patrick get achievement.

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