The Incredible: LIFE IS STRANGE

I have been putting off writing this review until my emotions finally settled down.  I have had some amazing video game experiences in my life, but most of them pale in comparison to LIFE IS STRANGE. 

This title by DONTNOD entertainment with the help of SQUARE ENIX has revolutionized my expectations for future games.  I fear I will always be looking for that next game that will take me to the places this one did.  It may never happen again. 

LIFE IS STRANGE is all about hipster teens…until it isn’t.     I am endeavoring to keep this review spoiler free.  It is just such an excellent game that to spoil it would be a terrible disservice.  This will make my review much shorter than normal. 

Let’s just say that every episode made me feel like I was Max.  I was so caught up in the story that I feel like I lived this game.  It is still raw inside my mind.  I feel the emotions that I felt while playing it when I remember certain things that happened.  When I hear a song from the FANTASTIC musical score, it can bring feelings of nostalgia or even grief to me.  Yes, folks, the game is that good. 

This is a living world that I wish I could return to, but I am not sure that I can knowing what I now know.  This makes replay value very small unless you are an achievement hunter.  However, the game is reasonably priced so this should not be an issue.  I purchased it for around $11 dollars on Steam.  It was worth $100 or more.  It took me around 18 hours to complete it over several days.  I found myself thinking about it at work, as I lay in bed waiting for sleep and many other times.  Just play it.  You will see why. 

As a Christian, I need to note a few things about the game itself.  This could be considered a mild spoiler. 

You have been fairly warned. 

There is a lot of cursing in the game.  There is drug use in the game.  There is violence in the game.

It is also possible to play Max as a lesbian.  If you wish to avoid that, you need only to not choose kissing Chloe if it ever comes up and to choose to kiss Warren when it comes up.  That will take care of the lesbian possibilities, and they will not manifest in the game.    I played my Max as straight, and the relationship she had with Chloe was simply a powerful friendship filled with love and concern.  Whatever your choice, there are NO graphic sex scenes.  The relationship between these two characters is powerful and a thing of beauty.  Life is indeed strange sometimes, and this game hits a home-run.  It is like playing a movie.   It is possibly the best game I have ever played.  

An Amazing JOURNEY

JOURNEY might be one of the greatest gaming experiences I have ever had.  This game is a work of aching beauty that almost feels like a journey towards spiritual edification.  I know that seems an odd thing to say about a video game, but that is exactly the way JOURNEY makes you feel.    I have played games since the Atari 2600.   I have even played the original PONG on the original machine so long ago.  I am an avid PC gamer and play many MMO games.  The point I wish to make here is that JOURNEY is hands down the most emotional, moving and powerful experience I have ever had in a virtual world.    I am honestly a joyous wreck over it.  It made me smile for hours.  I rarely have an expressed emotional response over mass media.  I do cry occasionally over film.  Babylon 5’s final episode and Battlestar Galactica’s final episode made me tear up.  (Honestly, Babylon 5 made me weep.)   The episode from Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Inner Light makes me choke back sobs every time.  My point is that it is a rare thing for me to cry in a movie or during any other media presentation.   While I did not openly cry when I finished JOURNEY, I easily could have.  The best way to describe it is the unrelenting sense of awe and utter joy the game brings.  I am not certain how the developer managed this.  I do not know if they used psychology or subliminal persuasion, but the game just leaves you with a feeling of rapturous wonder!  The music is so utterly beautiful that it carries you away to the land you are in.  The fact that from time to time you encounter another solitary figure on his or her own journey and the sense of companionship that those meetings bring is sheer brilliance.  You can not talk or type but only communicate through single but varied musical tones.  It works perfectly and calling to one another to solve a puzzle or at a discovery gives the game a sense of true companionship.  It feels like the other entity you have encountered understands what you are seeking and the fellowship between the two of you is intimate and truly consuming.   At the end of the game, every player that you journeyed with has his or her id displayed in the credits.  This game literally creates memories that will last for years or even a lifetime.  I simply can not explain it.  Your traveling companion stays just long enough to be interesting and is not a constant presence. You send much time in solitude.  It is in this quiet time that you are truly immersed in the game.  The landscapes are simplistic but jaw dropping beautiful.   The game play itself is so peaceful it would be an excellent choice to play before bed time.

The sense of the spiritual must be on purpose in this game.  I am Christian and I think of it in this way.    You are on a journey in a strange land, you free other creatures, from time to time you meet others of your kind and you journey together, there are dangers and difficulties, you must persevere, and the ending……oh the ending is such an intense moment of  rapturous beauty that I would not dare ruin it.   You simply have to experience it to understand what I mean.  The game takes a few hours to complete depending on how you go about it, but it is the perfect length.  If you play it, you will know.  The replay value is excellent.  For the cost of $14.99, you get a $10,000 dollar experience.  As I close, I can say with confidence, that this game is a gift to gamers.  I think adults will benefit more than younger kids because of the rest this title brings.  The adult mind and those who think as I do, in symbols and allegory, will be emotionally devastated (in a good way) by this haunting and astonishing game. It is simply the most amazing gaming experience I have ever had. 

Hanna

I had no idea what to expect when I sat down to watch Hanna last night. The movie truly began in the white bleakness of the wilderness and only lead to the bleakness of civilization. The film itself is well done. It has many of the typical “spy” or “action” thriller clichés, but the movie makes use of solid characters to pull off a very sleek film. The film is clearly framed from the beginning to the end with a classy, yet somewhat predictable, opening sequence that is echoed at the end of the movie. However, the movie is just plain fun to watch, and the lovely Saoirse Ronan is just outstanding as Hanna. She is able to pull off the innocent yet honest portrayal of this dangerous character. There are moments of humor and plenty of action. There are a few holes and questions I have but far less than the typical action movie. The story is engaging and well written. There are a few other things that Hanna’s father should have taught her before unleashing her on the world, but these are forgivable as they build the innocent side of the character up. At the very least, Saoirse Ronan’s excellent acting will have me clamoring to see anything else she appears in. I have been impressed by this young lady’s talent since The Lovely Bones and am excited to watch her career unfold. She certainly chooses wonderfully suited roles. Hanna is a fun action movie but has many images of violence and death. I would avoid letting the kids see it.

Let the Right One In

Every now and then a horror movie comes along with such a sharp intellect that it leaves me a fan for life. Let the Right One In is an example of such a film. It has been some time ago that I was able to watch this movie, and it has taken me this long to truly figure out what I want to say about it. I still see the imagery in my mind and will never view falling snow the same way again. Every time I see it in the future, I will be transported to the opening scenes of this film. It is such a strange thing to say that violence has the quality of beauty and poetry. Most of the time violence is clumsy and stupid. Yet, somehow, Let the Right One In manages to harness violence and make it a work of art. The entire film is a comment on bullying and oppression. It is innocence that is not innocent. It is a paradox that I have a hard time resolving and the conundrum it creates in me disturbs me greatly. I simply did not expect what I saw when I sat down to watch the movie in the middle of the night this summer. I expected to see a typical vampire movie and all the expected formulas play out of the screen. Let the Right One In literally breaks the mold of the traditional vampire story. I think the fact that the writer of the novel was allowed to write the script made the film ring true. The film is creepy, scary, nurturing, and warm all at once. The vampire in question is despicable and sympathetic. She is the hero and the villain. Honestly, she is one of the most complex characters I have seen in a long time. She is certainly the most complex vampire to ever grace the silver screen. I won’t spoil anything for those who have not seen the film. Suffice it to say that the ending of the movie is worth the entire experience. It horrifies and makes you want to celebrate simultaneously. It is the most fantastic use of “mind” horror I have seen since the opening of Jaws. It certainly has gore, but most of the horror is thought driven. It is poetic and graceful. It gives me shudders of dread and delight at the same time. I plan on watching the remake Let Me In soon but fully expect it to not measure up to the original. Not for kids, gore and terrifying imagery.

Stake Land: A Road Movie With Bite

Stake Land is a fantastically fun romp that I did not expect. The recent flux of poorly made vampire movies has left me wanting something more. Stake Land is just that movie. The premise of a vampire apocalypse that went world wide has been done before, and most of the elements in Stake Land have been used elsewhere. However, Stake Land is a cut above because of the way it uses these situations. The film is shot in a masterful way and the plot is full on exciting. The strongest point of the film is the characters and the narration is so perfect, that I found the movie easy to “believe.” The use of voice over is so powerful and uncanny that it truly makes the film. In all honesty, this is a frontier road movie that depicts the truest danger as human beings more so than the depraved vampires they must navigate. Of course we have a warped religious fanaticism running amok, but this film also shows an individual with a true sense of Christian faith. This is a rare thing. It was refreshing to see a Christian portrayed as “normal” and “moral” instead of a depraved loon. All in all, Stake Land is a fine film with an excellent musical score. The solid acting combined with the richness of camera work and use of color make this film a special event. I certainly can’t wait to see what the director does in the future. Not for kids; there is some cursing, gore, and disturbing violence to wade through.

A Tale of Two Sisters

A Tale of Two Sisters is a perfect movie. Hands down this the best ghost story, or pseudo-ghost story, I have ever experienced. This movie is a masterpiece. It is difficult to describe the film as anything other than a feast for the eyes and senses. It is visually stunning with camera work that rivals anything I have ever seen. Those interested in cinematography will be masterfully impressed. The acting is Oscar quality, something that is rare in many foreign films. The musical score is wondrous. The writing is tight and is so subtle that the revelations that the script brings slowly broadsides the viewer. It drags us kicking and screaming into the dark world that emerges. The film has a creepy quality worthy of Lovecraft, a visual quality worthy of only the finest directors, and a story that is so character driven that I found myself riveted to the screen for the entire film. The horror that unfolds is a metaphor in reality for so many things. In a sense the film almost has a “Cinderella from Hell” quality. The sins of the characters are played out in such a psychological manner that the ghostly elements seem almost plausible. It is important to note that ghosts do not scare me. I do not believe in hauntings from the dead. Yet, this film is so rich that I was able to completely dispel my sense of disbelief and allow it to carry me away. The sense of loss and horror makes this film stick with you. It works its way into your subconscious, and honestly, had me very disturbed at its conclusion. I watched it in the daytime. It would be best enjoyed in total darkness in a chilly room with a pal or a date. I have purposely stayed completely away from plot details because the discovery of this masterpiece should come naturally and without warning. Suffice it to say that of the many films I have seen and reviewed, (I would guess thousands)this movie now sits in my top ten list of all time. For me, it is a rare thing when a movie unseats a film from my list. A Tale of Two Sisters does just that. Yes, folks, it is that good. I do not have a single criticism. The film is flawless. See it with fear and trembling, and be awed by the inspired way it goes about its task. It is a work of complete perfection. Not for kids as it contains frightening imagery and disturbing elements.

Three Things

Everybody needs therapy. I don’t mean the “lie down on the couch and tell me your problems” type. What I mean is the type of therapy that goes straight to the soul and gets us through the days when we all wonder why we continue to try. I’m talking about the type that helps us, as the Bard said, to look on tempests without being shaken. How is it in a world where we have all these things to make our lives easier that they have become harder? Why is it that we have self esteem issues, financial issues, martial issues, and all these other things that make us get headaches? Have we walked the path so long that we have lost our way back to what is really important? Who erased the chalk marks on the wall? How do we find our place once more? I’m not sure how you do it, but I’ll tell you how I do it. I focus on three things. These things are odd, but I am an odd person. They are not cliché. I do not mean to talk expressively about family and friends, religion, or my job. Those things are truly at the core of all human beings and are far too complex for this essay. What I mean to write about are the simpler things that make the more complex things come into focus. It is about looking to the simple for higher inspiration. And with that, I submit to you my three things.

1. Going Barefoot:

It is a simple thing isn’t it? Taking off your shoes and just walking or sitting or playing “footsie” with your wife/husband is far underrated. Have you ever stopped to think about what the world has done to you with regards to this issue? Let me see if I have you pegged: You wake up in the morning, get out of bed, take a shower, get dressed, go to work, come home, get undressed, go to bed…..rinse and repeat. Have you stopped to think that your feet literally never touch the ground? Yes you walk on carpet, but you are never rooted to the dust from whence you came. There is something to be said about feeling the ground, the real ground, underneath your feet. Grass, or dirt, gives us that connection to creation that makes me remember why I’m here and just how fleeting my life is. It makes me feel real and absent from the artificial. It makes me remember that I came into this world barefooted, and that I’ll go out of it barefooted. It makes me remember the first steps of my daughter. It makes me feel a little more at home in a world that I don’t feel at home in at all. This is not some “bra burning, hippie” thing; it is about roots to the creation. It extends to everything we are and speaks to our core being. The next time it snows, try walking out to your mailbox with no shoes. If that doesn’t make you feel alive, you are truly beyond help.

2. Smiling in the Mirror

So many of us look in the mirror and don’t like what we see. We see fat people, ugly people, old wrinkly people, unhappy people or inadequate people. Some of us look and see how pretty we are and get eaten by vanity. I see all these things from time to time too, but I do something a little different. I smile at myself in the mirror. I do not do this out of insanity or vanity. I do it because the fellow in that mirror could use a smile. Have you ever randomly smiled at a stranger? What happens when you do? They usually smile back. When I smile in the mirror, the guy in there always smiles back. Do we truly understand that some people never see a smile? Sometimes the smiles I give to people are the only ones they have seen all day. I know how it makes me feel when someone smiles at me. With that said, what better thing to do for yourself than to smile into the mirror. I look Tom right in the eye and smile at him because I have a sense of self worth and acceptance. The fellow in there has flaws both physical and spiritual, but as a whole I see a guy who is trying his dead level best to be a good Christian, father, step-dad, husband, man, mentor, teacher, friend, comedian, writer, singer, leader, photographer, business owner, expert MMO player, grill master, artist, deacon, lover, and human being. Of course I sometimes see an ugly, fat, sinner, but I am reminded that the earth is a sphere. East is always East. West is always West. North turns into South, and South turns into North if you keep going far enough. I smile because we are told that God will cast our sins as far as the East is from the West if we ask him. He didn’t say North or South for a reason. I’ve asked Him to do this for me. It gives me a reason to smile at myself in the mirror. It helps me to know that I never have to double back on my own mistakes. I can let them go and smile.

3. Basking in Silence and Solitude

Silence and solitude are both odd things for me. They are my reset button. I revel in them. I recharge in them. Some would see the things I do as crazy, but I wonder how many others do the same things but fear to admit to them. 3:00 AM will often find me roaming the darkness of my home. Sometimes I’m up and I cruise the rooms of my house. I go to my children’s rooms and look at them. I make sure they are breathing, safe, and warm. I look at my wife and trace the line of her jaw gently with my fingers. Then, I listen to the house. I listen to the immense silence that rises up at this time of day. I bask in the lonely darkness, and I recharge. Solitude must be had to appreciate community. Even Superman had a fortress of solitude. It is in these moments that I can hear my heart and feel the thankfulness rise up in me for all that I have. I have a home, simple as it is, filled with stuff I really don’t need but filled with people that I really do. I sometimes go look at the stars and tremble in awe at the sight of them. I’m so small, yet there is only one of me. The piercing clarity of these moments creates a sharp pathway straight to my soul. It lets me take things out and examine them in ways I can’t do any other time. It is like Mr. Life just comes and visits me at these times and brings his friends Appreciation and Humility with him. Solitude only speaks in silence. It is in this moment that I understand what: “Be still and know that I am God.” really means.
And then….I can face the music.