Not Dead

[Sroth]

I have no idea if word ever really got around. I kept meaning to just post about what's been going on, but it always got put off. The short version:

Our dog Cheyenne passed away back in spring (cancer). My Dad and I immediately wanted another dog. I wanted a beagle, he wanted another golden retriever. We got another golden, her name is Brigit. I've basically become the dog's caretaker/trainer (wish I'd gotten my beagle, though), so I spend a lot of time taking care of and raising the dog.

I haven't really played much since I left GW2. I played a couple things here and there, but never got into another MMO (still hoping EQN will be good). I tried to get back into board games, but space (and time) to play games quickly vanished. Lately, I tend to stick to things I can do while dog-sitting: lots of anime and youtube. Being that this is October and I love horror, I decided to start watching a bunch of horror movies I keep meaning to see but never get around to, as well as some I'd never heard of but sounded interesting.

So far I've watch "The Awakening" (a british ghost story, pretty good, excellent acting, story hung to a couple tiresome tropes though), Ju-on "The Grudge" (classic J-Horror; some wobbly acting here and there, but a really good 'creep you the f**k out' movie), and "Cabin in the Woods" (I was kind of 'meh' on. I liked the idea, but the execution left me a bit cold. I would go into more detail, but it's very spoilerific). I'll be making my way through the "Paranormal Activity" movies and some other J-Horror on disc, but on streaming I've also got "Ju-on 2", "Devil's Pass", the second Silent Hill movie, and a bunch of others lined up.

So I'm not dead, just watching movies with dead people. How goes Saga? Where goes Saga these days?

[Allen]

Good to hear from you, Sroth.   
It is good to be not dead as opposed to undead, I suppose. 
I think Saga is all spread about--Star Wars, Wild Star, ArcheAge, and Landmark for the most part.

[Sroth]

As long as everyone's having fun. Forums seem a bit quiet (at least this week from looking at unread recent posts).

Saw another horror movie this evening, Devil's Pass. It... wasn't particularly good; overall maybe 'okay'. Found footage style, and like most of those it really doesn't make sense or work well as a found footage movie. The story gets really silly towards the end and the CGI isn't that good. It's about a documentary being filmed about the Dyatlov Pass incident, a historical mystery that's far more terrifying than the movie managed. I don't even want to go into the details in case some one plans on sleeping after reading this.

[Pedekele]

I'm alive if that helps  there's not much interesting stuff to play atm and i dont have much time to play, there's also not much to post about.
have you seen The Skeleton Key? -i liked that one.

[Talon]

Ugh. "The Skeleton Key" kept me thinking and creeped out for weeks. I still think about it occasionally. Great movie. Very well done.

I'm one of the Star Wars people (don't tell anyone I have only started playing it this year). I've heard the stories are great and I'm working through some. There's also an expansion coming out so that's something to look forward to as well.

GW2 is still there. They update with Living Story occasionally and we pop back and play through it, grinding our teeth around the new companion team. My goodness they are irritating children. I feel like a babysitter not a hero sometimes.

[Sroth]

GW2 is still there. They update with Living Story occasionally and we pop back and play through it, grinding our teeth around the new companion team. My goodness they are irritating children. I feel like a babysitter not a hero sometimes.

Sounds like GW2 lore characters in a nutshell. 

I vaguely remember seeing Skeleton Key a long time ago, but I don't really remember much. It's not available for Netflix streaming, only on disc, so I might rewatch it, but it'll have to wait a while. I watched Wake Wood last night to try and replace the subpar memories of Devil's Pass, but I think it might have been even worse. Complete lack of atmosphere (and proper pacing), mixed with lifeless characters, a silly script, and a rather non-story that ends with too many questions (and not the good "what does it mean" kind, the "What? How does that even work?" kind). Worth noting, it has the guy that plays Little Finger in Game of Thrones. The Awakening was also the debut of the boy that plays Bran. I wonder how many other GoT actors have dabbled in horror (I know at least a couple others have).

[Pedekele]

haha, i watched all the alien movies again and noticed Roose Bolton in alien 3 in a main role, so funny.

[Talon]

Sounds like GW2 lore characters in a nutshell. 

Alas.

I wonder how many other GoT actors have dabbled in horror (I know at least a couple others have).

Horror? Really. Well there you go. I'd have guessed porn before horror. Or, failing that, a soap opera. 

[Sroth]

Horror? Really. Well there you go. I'd have guessed porn before horror. Or, failing that, a soap opera. 

Now now, I'm pretty sure only one actor was a porn star prior to GoT. That I know of.

I started Mine Games (also known as The Evil Within) earlier today. I stopped after maybe 30-40 minutes. Basically hits all the slasher cliches, but there's no slasher; it was trying to be psychological. But with all the usual, annoying, and boring cliches of young attractive college kids going for a 'camping' trip complete with the typical stereotypes, expected jump scares, and obvious fake outs.

I then watched The Possession, which was basically the Jewish version of the Exorcist. It wasn't too bad. Some of the scares were a bit obvious, including more fake outs, but pretty well acted and with enough creepy moments to keep the atmosphere relatively steady.

[PinkRose]

I have nothing to contribute to this discussion.
I don't watch scary movies.
A) I can't even handle the Annabelle Trailer.
B) I did watch The Nightmare Before Christmas if that counts.

[Rumze]

If you liked the nightmare before Christmas - youll love the Book of Life
Awesome movie!

[Azzerhoden]

Ugh. "The Skeleton Key" kept me thinking and creeped out for weeks. I still think about it occasionally. Great movie. Very well done.

I'm one of the Star Wars people (don't tell anyone I have only started playing it this year). I've heard the stories are great and I'm working through some. There's also an expansion coming out so that's something to look forward to as well.

GW2 is still there. They update with Living Story occasionally and we pop back and play through it, grinding our teeth around the new companion team. My goodness they are irritating children. I feel like a babysitter not a hero sometimes.

I actually started playing as well.  My grandson wants to play, so I fired up a free account for him, and I re-subbed my own account.  Now I am alternating between SWTOR (both sides) and LIF-YO.

[Sroth]

Finally saw the PA movies. I thought the first one was pretty good, second was okay. Third had some good moments but overall seemed a bit silly (some goofy scares), and the fourth was pretty much nothing new with lots of dead air (pun unintended).

One movie I'd recommend is The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia. You can ignore the first, they have nothing to do with one another. This one had a pretty good cast, mostly good scares, and a solid story. I forgot how awesome Katee Sackhoff is.

The Legend of Hell House is an older film, but pretty good. It does have a bit of the ye-olde camp that just comes with the era, but a nice forgotten flick.

Troll Hunter isn't really horror but was really good. It's a found-footage style documentary about a guy that hunts Norwegian trolls for a living. Which sounds kind of silly, and the trolls do look the part, but it's done with a grounded seriousness. Very recommended, especially if typical spooks are too much for you.

After a bunch of other very questionable movies, I started focusing on J-Horror. Ju-On 2 was really good, Ringu is another J-Horror classic that I highly recommend. Stories of Apparitions is a group of shorts that all have to do with "ghost photos"; a couple weaker stories, but overall pretty good (a bit low budget). And Tormented (aka Rabbit Horror) was fantastic. Really well acted, a damn good story, and a variety of creeps and scares. Only flaws would be some poor CGI (not too much at least) and a mostly weak musical score. Highly recommended.

What'd you guys all do for Halloween.

[Talon]

It's not generally celebrated here, culturally, but a good excuse for a theme party.

I went to such a party. As a Sith.

I have been meaning to upload a photo but it's just so fiddly I haven't manged it yet.

[Sroth]

I guess it makes sense. After all, I bet half of all candy down in Australia is venomous. And probably most of the neighbors!

[Jasyn]

I went to such a party. As a Sith.

You've come such a long way.  I'm so proud.  Not necessarily because of the whole evil, bad, Dark Side thing, but would you have imagined this happening just 2 years ago? 

[Talon]

Thank you, Jasyn. That fills me with pride.

No, I would never have imagined I'd feel this inspiration back then. Thank you all for opening me to the ways of the Force.

And finally got around to it: EVIDENCE!. Alas, I do not have the skills to add a better background or lightning. Oh, how I spent all night longing to fire lightning from my fingers. *sigh*

(It need not be said, I'm sure, but I will say it anyway: Please note that said evidence is in the private, veteran's area for a reason and please keep it that way.)

[Auren]

(It need not be said, I'm sure, but I will say it anyway: Please note that said evidence is in the private, veteran's area for a reason and please keep it that way.)

Sad... I don't seem to have access to that.  I'd totally figure out how to shop some lightning into the image.

[Talon]

I thought you'd be able to see it, Auren.

PMing it to you.

[Cyrian]

I'm also sad, I no see awesome costume