*giggle*

It's been one of those days. Which is why I'd like to end it with this:

Also, there is a bottle of bacon flavored syrup in my house. Not maple syrup with bacon flavor, but pure bacon syrup, made for cocktails and lattes. I really don't know what to make of this, but I think a shot of it is in my future.

Horror Movie Horrors: Fright Night (2011)

 The Fright Night remake wasn't really on my radar as far as must-see-movies were concerned. I have a long standing love of the vampire genre, but most of the films tend to disappoint me. From the trailers I saw (which, granted, were brief and infrequent) it looked like your oh-so-predictable teen flick that I felt I could summarize without even seeing: the virgins and/or drug users will get killed, the kid will find out about a vampire but no one will believe him, his parents will be unwitting obstacles to what he needs to accomplish, he will seek advice from an unwilling or unreliable Van Helsing, his girlfriend will be in peril and he'll figure out a way to save the day. Roll credits.

And this is without having seen the first film.

The first act of the film unfortunately played into my expectations - it seemed incredibly slow because I knew what was most likely going to happen and therefore no tension was built up. It wasn't bad, I just felt like I was watching an episode of a tv show I'd seen before.

Yes, I'm talking about you.

If I wasn't a fan of the genre and hadn't seen many films like this, the first act probably wouldn't have bothered me. It really establishes the main characters and the environment they live in. I just felt that, at times, the pacing was a little slow because I was waiting for the main character to know what I was already told in the trailer: Your neighbor is a vampire, try not to get eaten.

But things really picked up for the better in acts two and three. Without giving too much away, it was refreshing to see a vampire really take initiative and really pursue those who pose a threat to him rather than do nothing while the main characters stew and fret over the situation. The way the main character's mother was written was also a nice change. At one point, she is put into a situation in which she is asked not to answer the door. She has no reason to believe that she shouldn't, but because her son pleads with her to trust him and do as he says, she leaves the door unanswered. Rather than falling back on the same-old-same-old storytelling of automatically pitting the skeptical parent in the way of the teen protagonist, they subtly showed that their relationship is more realistic and complex than the average cardboard cut-out that we often get as parents in a teen flick.

Without gushing too much or going too fan girlish: this was the main reason I saw this film:

Totally going to be my new desktop wallpaper.

To anyone who doesn't recognize him: that is David Tennant doing his best Russel Brand impersonation. I really have to give both him and the screenwriter credit for how his character is introduced: as our unwilling Van Helsing, he initially comes across as shallow, selfish, and a bit of a prick. However, while our main character gets his first chance to talk to him one-on-one, he slowly sheds the physical facade of his stage persona: he removes his wig, fake piercings, and starts wiping away the "tattoos" that cover his neck and chest. I could be reading into this, but it really seemed like a brilliant but subtle way to tell the audience that Peter Vincent is a more developed and meaningful character than your first impressions would indicate. (Note, the following clip is trimmed down for time.)

I felt like everyone gave great performances in this film. It wasn't campy like I'm told the first Fright Night was, but the film didn't take itself too seriously. It was very genuine about the whole situation: what do you do if you're put in such an unbelievable situation - especially when lives are at stake?

It doesn't over-romanticize vampires: there is definitely a sex factor to Colin Farrell's character, but sex and attraction is used as a ploy to lure in victims. The film consciously responds to the Twilight version of vampires and makes it clear that this is taking us back to the vampires that made you hide under the covers as opposed to the ones who just stand there and watch you sleep because they're possessive  obsessed  "romantic".

Speaking of sex, I also liked how teenage sexuality was represented here. Rather than having the hot girl who wants to have sex be represented as a slut, talking about whether or not to have sex is simply a part of being a teenager in an intimate relationship. There isn't really any pressure whether or not to have sex- it's expressed at one point as just a "let's get under the covers and see what happens" situation. And when sex is going to occur for the first time, talking about whether or not they really want to is represented, albiet briefly. I just feel like this is more realistic and therefore makes it seem more genuine. From personal experience, and what I've heard from just about any one else I've talked to about sex, many teens/young adults feel they were a bit duped by how people fly passionately into each other's arms and sex simply happens rather than a couple deciding, whether through a long conversation ("Do you really feel you're ready for that sort of thing?") or a short one ("Wanna have sex?" "Sure.").

Given how much praise I have for the screenplay, it should have come as no surprise that it came from Marti Noxon - a writer/producer who I've loved for quite some time for her work with shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and others. Also, for her cameo in the musical episode "Once More With Feeling":

All-in-all: Go see Fright Night. It's well written, well directed, and the performances are more than you would normally expect to see from your average teen horror flick.

Unscheduled Detour

Just wanted to take a moment to say the following:

Life is hectic, stressful, and exhausting and can often feel like an endless list of things you need to do followed by an equally long list of obstacles - and it is wonderful, all the same. I think we often get so bogged down in our day to day struggles that we don't necessarily take the time to breathe and think about the good things that we have as opposed to the good things we want but can't yet acquire. Even simple things - like having a job, even if it is not the job that you want, or having a place of your own even if it's a little shabby around the edges.

It brings me back to something I was thinking about the other night - where I currently work, I get to do a lot of people watching and many of the people I see are tweens and young teenagers. I know that at that age, you never want to be told that you are still a child because it feels like it completely dismisses you as an intelligent being able to make your own decisions and rationalize about a situation. In simpler terms, it makes it sound like the adults around you think you're stupid. But many times, when adults tell you that you're still a child or that you shouldn't want to grow up too fast, it's not meant as an insult. It's simply because we can look back at ourselves at that age and recognize that we were not nearly as grown up as we thought we were - and we feel as if we can never go back to the way we felt as children. We can't go back to a time where we can lay out in the grass and feel the sun on our faces and not have to fight the urge to think about the bills we have to pay or the errands we have to run or that jerk in accounting.

I was always told that I was very mature for my age as a young teen (and to a certain extent, I agree). Even as I generally avoided the social dramas that seemed so important to many of my peers that I recognized as fleeting moments of overreaction, I still look back at myself in retrospect and think of how much I have changed in such a short amount of time. I wonder if I'll feel the same way in the next few years...

In any case, this was more of a free-flowing entry and is not really sticking to the theme of geekery, but I felt an urge to write it down. Even as I sit here, exhausted from a long day and thinking about all the work I'm going to have to do on my day off tomorrow, I'm glad that I can make a place in my mind to quietly think about the craziness of my life and how I would hate to miss a minute of it, good or bad.

Gen Con: A Love Story

I was blessed with a pass into Gen Con Indy this year. In between shifts at my job nearby, I've been doing my best to check out everything I can from the Con and report it back here, particularly since I was there in part to help Josh do some networking and fact finding for Game Gavel. I feel a level of obligation in reporting about the Con and all it's wonders, but I am now starting to second guess myself in exactly how I want to go about doing it. See, I could just list off the many events and things to see, but simply seeing an itinerary of Gen Con could give you all of that, in more detail than I may be able to provide. Instead, I feel like I really want to communicate what Gen Con is (at least in my experience). I know a number of people who are passionate about their conventions, many of whom have never heard of Gen Con. It compels me to try and capture some of the atmosphere as best I can.

I'm honestly surprised that some people disregard Gen Con as if it was some small get together of nerdy Midwesterners who happened to crawl out of their basements for a change. It's the nations largest annual consumer fantasy, sci-fi and adventure gaming convention. In gaming events alone, this year saw over 250,000 event tickets sold - and getting time at the tables is only one aspect of what one can do at Gen Con.

First off, Gen Con is really well located. It is within easy walking distance of many of the places downtown and is directly connected to Circle Center Mall (where I have my second job. It's nice how that worked out.) The parade of cosplayers that wander past the store fronts seeking the Food Court is quite a wonder to see. There are some stores in the mall that definitely fit the interests of some of those attracted to the Con (Teavanna has been seeing a constant stream of anime-themed cosplayers this year) and it's a relaxed atmosphere in which the initiated can let their freak flags fly among the general public. Knowing glances of people recognizing their common bonds based on t-shirt logos and intricate costumes gives a real sense of community: of being a part of the in-crowd. To really geek out: it's like being a wizard walking around muggles, most of whom have no idea why there are so many brightly colored wigs and guys walking around in full plate armor around every corner of downtown Indy.

'Sup.

Gen Con is, primarily, a gaming convention with a special focus on table top gaming. If you collect D20s like stereotypical women buy shoes, this is the convention for you. Events include RPGs, TCGs, card games, board games, LARPs, video games, you name it - they have it. Merchants sell virtually everything geek-related: pithy t-shirts, artwork, leather armor, corsets, handcrafted hats from all sorts of eras, foam weapons, potion pouches, every type of game imaginable... the list goes on.  

Medieval Collectibles = So awesome.

It's really no wonder that Gen Con is one of the largest and most promminent gaming conventions in North America when you consider it's history. It was started by the Great Gygax in 1968. (If you don't know who I'm talking about... I can only give you a sad look and point you in the direction of Google.) It really is a sizeable event, drawing in between 25,000 - over 30,000 attendees each year. This year it shattered it's previous records with a turnstile attendance record of over 119,707 over the course of the 96 hours of gaming, cosplay, music and more. While the exhibition hall (where I am, for the most part, limited to this year due to time constraints) has structured opening and closing schedules, there are games going on 24 hours a day during the 4-day event. I really look forward to being able to register for a game in the future - so far, that has been the one major aspect of Gen Con that I haven't been able to get my hands on. Even so, without getting a seat at the larger gaming tables, Gen Con gives all who attend a chance to get a hands-on look at the new games and products on display.

 And the gaming is really one of the beauties of Gen Con. Unlike Comic Con, which has gotten a lot of complaints recently about not really being about comic books anymore, Gen Con is for and by the gamers and the geeks. Nerds of every flavor get to come together and discuss their passions, in and out of the convention hall. For example, I had a pretty awesome conversation with a guy that started by me mentioning that a tea pot he was standing near in Teavanna reminded me of a TARDIS. Whether you're a dedicated LARPer or a part-time tabletop role player, or just excited about the gaming mediums on display, there is a genuine sense of community and acceptance there.  Sure, they have their celebrity appearances and seminars, the workshops and the tournaments, but in the end I think the best part of Gen Con Indy is the attendees themselves and the sheer joy they often bring to the table.

 Gen Con has also worked hard throughout the years to turn this celebration of gaming into positive change by helping children and educational programs through a number of charity events. This year, School on Wheels (a group that aims to help homeless children) was the recipient of over $18,000 through events like the Charity Speed Paint and Auction, Cardhalla (where participants build a city of stacked Magic cards and knocks them down on the last day with their donations), and an always-loved Jail and Bail, among others. 100 % of the proceeds went to the charity. Good Karma, guys.

"Gen Con Indy 2011 was simply the best Gen Con ever for us," said Adrian Swartout (CEO of Gen Con LLC)"We had such incredible support from our exhibitors, sponsors, event organizers and volenteers, and of course, the amazing businesses and people of Indianapolis. We are so thankful to have their partnership in crafting the world's finest experience in gaming. Next year, Gen Con has its 45th anniversary. We are too excited for words at the amount of fun we are already planning for next August."

And I can't wait to be there with bells on.

Hopefully I'll be able to get better pics of the steampunkery I threw together on Sunday.

For more information visit the website at www.gencon.com  . For up-to-the minute details, find us at www.facebook.com/genconindy and at www.twitter.com/gen_con .

Future Gen Con Indy Show DatesGen Con has been in Indianapolis since 2003 and has signed a five-year extension with the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association (ICVA) for 2011-2015. Below are the upcoming show dates.
August 16-19, 2012
August 15-18, 2013
August 14-17, 2014
July 30 - August 2, 2015

Next time Eventually, I'll give you a little more detail about the awesome folks who I got to talk to this year.