24: So good it gives me nightmares.

About a month ago I wrote a post claiming that 'Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)' is the best song ever written. The skeptical reader might wonder how long I thought about staking this claim. I can assure you I had been thinking about it for years; challenging myself and other people to name a better song based on the case I had presented. So it goes with 24. I didn't pull this out of my hat. I didn't just get bored one afternoon and decide to proclaim 24 the best show ever broadcast. So it is after great deliberation that I present my case that 24 is the best show ever shown on tv (this includes both cable and broadcast programming).

The show is about Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) and his exploits as a government agent specializing in preventing terrorism. He has an on-and-off relationship with The Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU). The gimmick (and the source of the shows title) is that the events of each episode elapse in one hour, in real time. Therefore each season is one twenty four hour day from start to finish.


Don't shoot! I'm on your side Jack!

24 is shot mostly with handheld cameras, which helps to add to the suspense in the same way it would in a horror film. It also updates the spy-movie cliche of having multiple scenes, in frames, on the screen at once. The trademark of the show is the digital clock which appears on screen before and after commercials, and at the end of each episode. The ticking of this clock is more iconic (and way more important) than Law & Order's gavel drop (also known and the "donk-donk").

I have to admit I was late to the party as far as 24 is concerned. During late weeknights with my housemates during season five I really started to get hooked. To be honest, depending on what day of the week it was, it could have been a toss-up between 'Lost' and 24. I ended up being drawn to 24. I'm lucky it was during season five because this is widely regarded (including by me) to be the show's best season to date. I can remember yelling "RUDY! RUDY!" at the screen with my housemates whenever Sean Astin was on the screen, but little did I know that the seed was planted, and I was soon to be the ultimate 24 fanatic.


I named one of our cats Chloe O'Brian. She rules.

In short order I purchased seasons 1-4 on DVD and watched them with great frequency just to get all caught up. I decided to rewatch season five ("RUDY! RUDY!") via the Internet and it was at about this time I realized the 24 universe was invading my life a little too much...

One night, before Eileen and I were married, we were slumbering together in my apartment in my full-sized bed. In the middle of the night I sprang from a deep sleep and grabbed my future wife by the throat with my left hand (I'm right handed). It all happened in an instant, and I realized what was happening before she even woke up. There was no going back. I was a CTU agent.

After season six, something really bad happened: the writer's strike. To many fans, season six was underwhelming, and although I thought it was up to par with some past seasons, I was worried that a long break would be detrimental to the show in general. So far, halfway into season seven, I can happily say that I was wrong.

Season seven opened with Jack being questioned by a senate committee for his questionable tactics while on the job. As it has always been, the show is again on the cutting edge of the cultural zeitgeist. As our real-life president plans to shut down the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba and recently stated that "America does not torture," in the 24 universe the once untouchable Bauer is about to face the music for doing what was necessary to keep the country safe. Lucky for us, he is pulled out of the hearing by FBI agent Renee Walker, and the action begins.

It didn't take long for 24 to start affecting my sleep again. Last week I had terrible nightmares for three nights after the show aired. I rarely have dreams of being chased, in my nightmares I am the killer. So far I haven't tried to choke my wife to death, and I might miss anyway since we have a kingsized bed now.

For anyone into tactical special-agent type action with some political intrigue mixed in, this show is for you. If you like suspense by any measure, this show is for you. If you have eyes and ears, this show is for you.

If anyone sucessfully uses the 24 defense for attempted murder on his/her husband/wife, let me know.

Game Informer Top Five

Each month I receive Game Informer. A one year subscription of this mediocre video game magazine, which is nowhere near as good as Electronic Gaming Monthly, comes with membership to the Gamestop Edge. The Edge card costs twenty dollars, is good for one year, and can be used for a ten percent discount on used games. It can also be used to store trade-in credit. Even though I never trade in my games, the card usually pays for itself via frequent use of the ten percent discount.

As I mentioned, the Game Informer (GI) magazine is pretty lame. Among other things it features a section profiling the top players of particular games, because one should absolutely give two shits about the top jackass playing "Mirror's Edge." It is also rife with pointless lists, for example: Top 10 Video Game Bromances. I guess this is supposed to be funny. Above this list is a clever caption "Lists...Everybody Loves Lists..." Well perhaps not as much as your editors, GI.

The list I love the most is the "Top Fives" list. "Favorites From Industry Pros and GI Readers." Again, I really care so much about this stuff. Thank you GI for letting me in on what some no-name freshman coder and some zero of a reader consider their top five games.

There are no criteria given for these lists. Favorite games of all time? Favorite games right now? Favorite games to play while eating a cheeseburger? Who knows?

I'm so excited about the mystery and potential of these lists that I've decided to submit my own. As you will see, I've put a lot of thought into this list, which you can only read here (the magazine simply prints the titles and the platform they are on). I'm going to take the practical route and put together a list of my top five favorite games of all time. I really hope I get printed so the other readers of GI can see my stupid face and scoff at the games I love. Here we go.

5. Starfox 64 - Nintendo 64. I really loved the first Starfox game on the SNES, but this one was leaps and bounds over the original. Let's first point out that this game came with the rumble pak! Vibrating controllers have been a standard feature with almost all consoles since, and we mostly have Starfox 64 to thank for it. The game itself features pretty good graphics, a barely-there story line, and linear gameplay (it's a 3-D shooter). Where the game excels and becomes infinitely replayable is in the gameplay itself. The controls are perfect, the levels are action packed, and the scenery and objectives change frequently enough to keep the player interested. The thing I love the most about this game is that I can turn it on and beat it in about an hour, that is if I want to. Through the choose your own route level system, the game can be as difficult or easy as the player wants it to be.


If you say so, rabbit.

4. Kirby's Adventure - NES. No 2-D platformer is as much fun. This game was released near the end of the NES' life and for this it is somewhat overlooked. The game couldn't be simpler. You are Kirby, and pink cream puff with the power to fly and swallow your enemies to take on their powers. Though it is known for being childish and colorful, I actually think it could have been even more colorful, even for the NES. There are a lot of pale colors, but this does not take away from the experience.

3. NBA Jam: Tournament Edition - SNES. There were actually a few old SNES sports titles that could have made the list for their ability to facilitate camaraderie between friends. Madden '94 and NHL '95 came to mind, but NBA Jam: TE edges them out for its presentation value. Everybody knows this game, and as I discovered about two weeks ago, playing it is like riding a bike. Finding the hotspots and powerups is like a reflex, so is screaming "Pass it to me! I'm on fire!!"


"BOOMSHACKALACKA!"

2. Resident Evil 4 - Gamecube and 1. Metal Gear: Solid - PS1. These games are actually very similar, though each superior in its own way so I'll take them on at once. MGS was the first game of the 3-D generation which I played all the way through, and it was such a rewarding experience. By today's standards it is a very short game, but I remember countless long nights plodding through the plot heavy story just trying to see what would happen next. The sequels that have come out continue the saga in a satisfying way, but nothing can compare to the original experience.


That guy is fucked.

Seven years later, Resident Evil 4 was unleashed on the world. For fans of the series such as myself, this game was the ultimate gift. Capcom fixed every problem long time players had been suffering through for years. The slide show-like screen changes were replaced with full 3-D scenery, and the infamous "tank" controls were replaced with an over the shoulder third person view, making aiming way more intuitive.


DAAAMMMNNNN!!!

As stated above, MGS and RE4 share many similarities. Both games feature inventory systems which must be carefully utilized. Both boast excellent and engaging story lines with likable characters. Both encourage replay through the game by rewarding the player with weapons and upgrades after each completion. I have played through both of these games a few times each. The main difference of course, is that MGS encourages nonviolent stealth tactics, while RE4 encourages shooting the shit out of everything. In the end, they both rule.

If Game Informer actually has the sense to publish this incredible list, I will post a scan here on Half Of A Wing.

The Wrestler

I had initially seen only one commercial for this movie and went into it with an open mind and certain level of trust in Darren Aronofsky's work. The Wrestler is a gritty look into the lifestyle of a has-been wrestler from the 80's called Randy "The Ram" Robinson. The movie plays somewhat like a documentary. The audience follows The Ram (Mickey Rourke) through a lot of behind-the-scenes scenarios which open your eyes to what these guys put themselves through, both emotionally and physically, to make an entertaining performance for wrestling fans. It's shown like it is and it can be cringingly brutal at times.

The raw, handheld camerawork does a good job of almost fooling you into thinking you're watching a real biographical documentary even though it's fiction. You learn that The Ram previously had a successful career and is struggling years later with what little he has left in terms of money, health, and relationships. There are some things about Randy that are quite likable and respectable, and then other aspects of him that are very tragic and disgusting. Mickey Rourke does an excellent job in playing such a multidimensional character. I'm not entirely knowledgeable on Rourke's past experiences but I've heard that this story loosely parallels elements of his personal life and career.

Overall it left me feeling enlightened, moved, and a bit depressed. It's not nearly as morose as Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream, but will probably be just as memorable and talked about. I don't feel you have to be a wrestling fan to appreciate it either. I haven't even seen a single wrestling match in my life...unless you count watching friends battling in the ring on Super Nintendo.

Bring the Spring

Shawn here. For the last few weeks, especially when it was extremely cold the past few days, I have been obsessively looking forward to the springtime. Constantly daydreaming, longing for those days when a t-shirt is just enough in the daytime and a nice light sweater is perfect for the evening.

Everything I do is in preparation for the upcoming season change. Clean the basement so we can get the grill out. Fix the screen doors. Wash the patio furniture. Pick up some citronella candles. Find a lefty baseball mitt for Eileen. Tune up the mongoose.

It surely is possible that I go through this every year, but I don't remember it ever being this intense. Perhaps that is because last year we didn't even use our grill. Perhaps it is simply that I hate the winter in every way (seasonal affective disorder? no such thing).

I know the spring is a while away, but I'm determined to keep a positive attitude.

Sorry, we usually try to stay away from "dear diary" type posts, but this is really all I can think about lately.

All I Ever Wanted

Hello, this is Bryan speaking/typing. As Shawn mentioned I am now a part of Half of a Wing and hope to put in my two cents on a somewhat regular basis. For my first entry I wanted to talk about an album I received from both Shawn and his wife Eileen for Christmas. Throughout the past several months they've been mentioning to me how much I would appreciate Depeche Mode, and that Violator is their best album by far. I've heard a good portion of the band's radio hits, but never a complete album until now.

Some related info on my personal music-listening history: My first real favorite band was Nine Inch Nails. Early on in high school I didn't know anybody and I wore a lot of black (I often blame the prior 9 years of catholic grade school), so NIN was absolutely perfect for the "Mr. Self Destruct" kid that I once was. I still love Trent Reznor's music, however the anger behind most of the songs hasn't stuck with me over the years.

As I currently listen to Depeche Mode's seventh album Violator, it becomes evident that most of NIN's material holds some definite sonic similarities. In general they're both dark and synth-heavy. They both have material produced by Flood. They're both cool to listen to while driving at night. However, the main difference between this and NIN is it's more pop/melody and less insanity...which is something that appeals to me more nowadays.

This album makes me feel like I'm being transported to another dimension. It's dark, dancey, beautiful, and retro-catchy. It has a certain dated cheesiness to it which I feel only adds to how good it is. The passionate vocals are loaded with reverb. The synthesized instrumentation ties the whole album together but is different enough from song to song where it never gets boring. I immediately recognized the radio hits like Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence, and Policy of Truth. The other album tracks are easily welcomed upon the first listen. Some of the lyrics can be a bit melodramatic and cheesy (Takes me completely / Touches so sweetly / Reaches so deeply / I know that nothing can stop me), but you accept it for how original the overall production is and for how easily the songs will loop around in your head throughout the day.

If you have even the smallest bit of curiosity about Depeche Mode you'll probably appreciate Violator. It has been playing in my car regularly since receiving it for Christmas. The only gift that would have been able to top it is a Texas Instruments A-100 calculator (see previous entry).

Join The Calculator Cult

Last week I saw maybe the best Saturday Night Live sketch I have ever seen. John Malkovitch was the host, and there were a few Christmas themed skits as is the norm this time of year.

The point of this post is simple, watch the sketch so you get the joke when I say "We're getting a calculator!" I have been quoting this sketch with rediculous frequency lately. John Malkovitch and Fred Armisen are awesome, even (or espcially) when Malkovitch miffs the timing on the last "WHOOOAAAA!"

Merry Christmas. Hope you get a calculator.

Welcome Bryan and his Mix CD

First and foremost is an exciting announcement. My nearest and dearest friend Bryan will soon be joining Half Of A Wing as a contributor. I look forward to Bryan's views on music, movies, tv, fashion, pop culture, and anything else he wants to express.

I am a huge fan of the personalized mix tape/cd. They are like the perfect greeting card or thank you note or love letter. I have been making and receiving mixes from friends for as long as I can remember. Out of the ones I have received, some have been okay, some really good. Yesterday, Bryan gave me probably the best mix cd I have ever received complete with custom artwork and twenty one tracks of pure ecstasy (all except two I had never heard). I'd like to comment on a few of the highlights here.

Pants - Lemuria - Wow, what an incredible band, and a great song. Today is the first day I checked out this mix cd, but I can comfortably predict a longtime obsession with this band. A three-piece from Buffalo with those great female vocals that I love and great pop sensibility without being bubble-gum. Thumbs up.

Coin Operated Boy - Dresden Dolls - This is one of those bands where I've heard their name a million times but had no idea what they sounded like, and shame on me for that because they are great. Again, female vocals, but with a toungue-in-cheek delivery and lyrics similar to Folk Implosion's "Mechanical Man."

Here I Go - Syd Barrett - I have been a Pink Floyd fan since I was about nine years old. Though I have never touched a hallucinogenic drug I would argue that such is not necessary to appreciate the band's music. However, I only grew up with the Roger Waters/David Gilmour version of the band. I haven't heard a Syd Barrett song until now. Truth be told, I have been missing out.

I'd like to continue, but I am getting tired. I'll wrap it up with David Bowie, who enjoys two tracks on this mix, one of which is an awesome Pixies cover. I like things in threes, and David Bowie and Prince are two out of three in the trifecta of the most incredible musicians of all time who also broke into the mainstream. Who was the third? Shit, I can't remember. It was somebody good. Anyway...

A mix cd is like a gift. We can always ask eachother "hey, have you heard of xxxxxxx?" but the conversation may die at that moment. A mix cd (provided one makes the effort to put it into his/her cd player) ensures a true reccomendation will reach full fruition and I'll be damned if it isn't one of the most amazing forms of word-of-mouth procreation of musical culture that we have ever been part of.