Wednesday Whimsy

By: Caelrona

Heya fellow geeks! It is Wednesday again, which means I’m back with another geeky blog for ya’ll. Nothing exciting has been going on this past week; well nothing exciting that I haven’t already covered like a hundred different times. New Walking Dead, new Vikings; but I’ve talked about those things already. So anyway, I thought that this week I would talk about something new. I went over my old posts and I noticed that I’ve seemed to totally skip over something I love to do; read. I mean, I’ve posted about manga, but that’s about it. So this week I thought I’d bring you some great and geeky books. Some of these I’ve loved for a long time, and others are recent reads that really caught my attention.

The Harper Hall Trilogy

The Harper Hall Trilogy was written by the amazingly talented Anne McCaffrey. It takes place in the world of Pern, and ties in with her Dragon Riders of Pern series of books. However, this trilogy breaks away from the Dragon Riders a bit, instead giving us a perspective of Pern from someone who is not a Rider, but more or less a normal person. The entire trilogy is brilliant, but then I am a huge fan of Anne McCaffrey. I literally learned to read with her books, and I truly believe that they played an integral part in my love of literature as I grew up. Her world is so beautiful and vivid, her characters so real and the stories so full of emotion and life that I will finish a book feeling like I’ve truly lived another life. It isn’t just the Dragon Riders series that I love; Anne McCaffrey was truly a talented woman and her other works (such as The Ship Who Sang, or The Rowan,) and those of her son Todd McCaffrey are excellent as well. If you’re into fantasy or science fiction then you should check her work out. I can guarantee that they will not disappoint!

Rot and Ruin

Rot and Ruin is the first in a series of four books by Jonathan Mayberry. They take place in a world 14 years after a zombie apocalypse ravaged the planet. People have banded together, cobbled together small towns and learned to live with the undead. So far three of the four books in the series have been released, though I have only read the first one, Rot and Ruin. It is a really excellent book if you are in to zombies, which I totally am. The world Mayberry creates of a post-zombie-apocalypse is really close to how I would picture it actually being. The different people, the towns and outposts, the paranoia and cult-like belief following that sort of disaster are really believable. I am really looking forward to reading the rest of this series, and if you are a zombie lover like me then I highly recommend this series.

Harry Potter

Harry Potter was written by the brilliant J.K. Rowling, but most people already know that. This 7-book series became so amazingly popular that it spawned 8 movies, countless video games and even a theme park! While I’m not particularly impressed with the movies (blegh, the second one was so bad I couldn’t bring myself to watch anymore) the books are incredible. There is a reason that these books have developed a cult-like following, and if you’ve not read them then I highly suggest you give them a chance. I re-read these books at least once a year, usually in a 2-day marathon that leaves me exhausted, but it is totally worth it.

Reading is something that I am really passionate about. I really enjoy reading because reading is not only a great way to learn and grow as an individual, but it can take you to so many places and be anything you want to be. It is a really fantastic way to expand your mind, and to escape reality and do things you may never get the chance to in real life. I read a lot of different things, even though I pretty much focused on Fantasy-fiction and Science-fiction works with this blog. In particular, I also read a lot of romance, but I figured that wasn’t quite geeky enough for a blog (although for those geeks who do like romance, try Gena Showalter, Christine Feehan and Jayne Castle. Their paranormal romance books are awesome!) Anyway, I’ll see you next week!

Until next time,

Caelrona – signing off! ❤

My Days Off: Movies

By Geeky Gem

I feel the natural conclusion to these blogs is to tell you about some movies I have watched on my days off in recent weeks. Now I havent been to the cinema since The Hobbit came out shocking I know, I will fix that. So most of the movies I will talk about here will be ones I have seen on DVD or Blu-Ray at home.

Total Recall (2012)

Now I am a fan of the original Total Recall so I was a bit unsure of this movie. When you sit down to watch and you have seen the other one the one thing you have to keep in mind is that this is not a remake but a re-working og of Philip K. Dick’s book. We’ll remember it for you wholesale, is the book this movie is based on and I have to admit I liked it a lot. It’s a great action movie and perfect if you like that genre.

Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil

I found this little gem on Netflix and only started to watch it as I love Alan Tudyk. Its comedy horror where Tucker and Dale go into th words to do up their cabin so that they can spend summers their fishing and what not. However things do not go as planned when some teenagers show up and think that Tucker and Dale are there to kill them. It’s a funny little movie and worth a watch.

Skyfall

Did you really think I wasnt going to buy this on Blu-Ray when it came out. It was brilliant on the big screen and loses nothing coming from your smaller screen a brilliant end to the trilogy. Fantastic acting and an awesome story is what makes Skyfall one of my favourite all time Bond movies.

The A-Team

I love this movie as it based on one of favourite shows as a kid, as you can tell by now I love a good action movie. There is nothing wrong with this, yes at first i was a bit like really your making an A-Team movie please don’t ruin this. They didn’t but it didn’t make a lot of money hence no sign of a sequel. If you havent seen it check it out.

Harry Potter

These movies are my default if I fancy nothing else. So you will find I watch these at lest a few times a year. I wont tell you how much I love them as you should know from other blogs I have done.

There we have it just some of the movies I have watched on my days off.

Geeky Gem’s Day At Hogwarts

By Geeky Gem

As I had been a very good girl in 2012 for Christmas Santa* gave me two tickets to The Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour in Watford. Now Santa being Santa picked a date in February so I had to wait  very long time to go on this adventure with my boyfriend. Bless him he drove us all the way from Cardiff to Watford it’s not that far to be fair. Anyway he got us there safe and sound and then the fun began.

As you can tell I took this photo outside of the studio, I wont post to many as I don’t want to spoil all the wonderful things you get to see once you enter sound stage J and sound stage K. See what they did there. Any once inside you are greeted by a lovely waiting area. Which some lovely pictures hanging on the wall of the cast, and  few things hanging from the ceiling like this little unknown car.

You also get to see the Ford Anglian again later in the tour, you can sit in it then along with a few other items in the back lot tour which you can sit in and walk across which is all good fun. There is so much to see I spent two hours looking at everything I could see. If you take the audio tour which is narrated by Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) the tour can take you up to 3 hours, which to me really is worth the entrance fee. You even get to go and buy a cup of Butterbeer from a stall in the back lot part of the tour and it is amazing.

There are loads of things to see, you get to walking in the same foot steps as the cast of the movies and that to me really brought out the geek in me. Walking in the Great Hall was mind-blowing and I wont post a photo of that as you really have to see it for your self.  However I will treat you to a photo of me outside  Dumbledore’s office.

As you can see I am wearing my home-made Hufflepuff jumper, I would later fix this is in the shop by buying a real one. Your just get to see so much and find out how thins works and interact with sets which is a lot of fun. BlitsEvo’s favourite part was the creature workshop. Where you get to see Goblin masks and many other things. One thing in there is this –

This my friends, in case you don’t know is Fawkes the Phoenix from the movies and he beautiful, I had no words when I saw Fawkes he is one of the many things to see inside the creature workshop. Now the tour ends with Hogwarts Castle model which BlitzEvo took 20 pictures of for me as we walked around the whole thing. I really want to post a picture of that for you but it really is something you have to see up close.

 There you folks that is all I can bring you from the tour, if you have only ever seen the movies then you will enjoy this just as much as some one who has read the books and seen the movies.

*Santa = My Parents

My Love of Blu-Ray

By Geeky Gem

As many of you know I have a huge love for movies and I love nothing more than being able to add to extensive DVD collection. However in recent time I have started to convert my DVD’s to this lovely thing called Blu- Ray.

I started off with just one Blu-Ray which I brought not long after I got my PS3, it happened to be 300 which I love. Since then I have added many more movies to my collection and will no doubt add many more. I think the reason I love them so much is there is just so much more detail to be seen in the picture and ear in the sound of te movie.

My most recent addition to the movies that I own was a birthday present from my boyfriend and it replaced some of my favourite DVD’s. The Blu-Ray’s make these movies look so amazing that I feel the need to watch them all again but I must not as I did just that to my DVD’s and some got damaged. I am of course talking about Harry Potter.

These movies are truly stunning the HD picture is brilliant and the sound is great as well, which makes watching these ones fantastic. Movies are not the only thing I own on Blu-Ray having just brought my first Television show on the format for Christmas. This so is fantastic ad has some amazing story lines and a great cast. I havent watched my box set yet but I had seen them on the television in HD and even then I fell in love. Oh Game of Thrones I love thee.

When I saw Game of Thrones on the Television for the first time in HD I was taken aback it was just such a good show and it was brilliant. I cant wait to watch it again and then move onto to season 2 hopefully in time for season 3 which has just been giving its UK air date of April 1st and will be returning to Sky Atlantic. Such a good show and amazing in HD.

I guess that’s all I have to say about my love for Blu-Ray’s I have not doubt that my collection will get bigger as time goes on.

My Days Off: Gaming

By Geeky Gem

On the days when I not working I love to kick back and either read a good book or comic. When I am not doing that I am gaming and yes Kirkiechick is not the only gaming girl here at All Geek to Me. I like nothing more to sit down and lose hours in a good game. Some of favourite games are the Lego ones.

At the moment I am playing two different ones, Harry Potter year 5-7 and Pirates of the Caribbean. However today I am going to talk to you about just Harry Potter. If any of you know me you will know I love Harry Potter and I have just finished reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. So when I got my X Box one of the games I got was Harry Potter years 5-7. I love these games, they can really have you addicted.

In years 1 – 4 you play through the first four Harry Potter movies and each of the key parts within the movies and books, you even get to play Qudditch during the first ear at Hogwarts. You get to brew potions and take on enemies from with in the movies. Watching the key story parts played out in Lego is not only really funny but really good as well, these games are planned out with fun in mind.

The first 4 years are all leading you to something big that comes up in next art of the story but if you have seen the movies or read the books you know what Harry must face.

Then you move on to the following year 5-7 with even more fun to be had as you race to save Hogwarts from Lord Voldemort, and did I mention there is a dragon. A Lego Dragon folks.

This one is harder but still as much fn as the other one. The thing I love about these games is that you have so much to do and so many things to collect that you get to play them over and oer again if you want to get all the extra things with in the game. If you have never played them but like the movies and te books then give them a go they really are fun.

Pottermore

By Geeky Gem

For most of last year you would have read my page vs picture blogs, all of which has included one set of books. Harry Potter that comes from the pen and mind of J.K Rowling. Pottermore is a website from J.K Rowling and Sony where you get a whole new reading experience.

There are so many wonderful things that you can do on Pottermore from brewing potions to dueling other players. You can explore each book and each tab and collect things from around the world of Harry Potter. Things like chocolate frog cards to Berty Bots Every Flavour Bean, you even find exclusive new parts written by Rowling just for Pottermore that add to the details of certain parts of different books. So for you can only explore up to the first few chapters of Prisoner of Azkaban.

You start off just as the book does and you get you letter telling you have been expected to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, you then go on to shop at Diagon Ally. Where you can get your wand and then on the Hogwarts Express and on the Sorting Hat. Where you answer a series of question in order to find out which Hogwarts House you should be placed in.

When I answered the questions from the Sorting Hat I was unsure which House I would like to be place in. Any Harry Potter fan more than likely wants to be placed in Gryffindor, or you have a feeling for another house. I didn’t have any of theses feelings however I was sorted just like every ne else and the Sorting House thought I should belong to Hufflepuff.

When you get Sorted you can not go back and this is the house you will stay in for all of you Pottermore life. I like Hufflepuff but never thought I was one, turns out I am more like a Hufflepuff than I think. Pottermore is a great experience for fans of the books it gives you a whole new level of Rowling’s world to enjoy. There are so many things to do and enjoy at theis website and it is ony going to get better as more and more of the chapters and books open for people to enjoy.

12 Movies of Christmas: Look to the Sky

By Geeky Gem

I know today marks the release of what I am hopping to be an awesome movie, yes folks today is Hobbit Day. No I was going to write about the Hobbit today but seen as I wrote about it back on movie of the month I think I have said all I need to say. So today I shall be taking you through a list of other creatures I think could pull Santa’s slay.

Pegasus – Clash of the Titans

I think Pegasus is awesome and would look great helping Santa on his busiest day of the year. How cool would this look, alright it may not be able to land on your roof but it would look amazing.

Toothless – How To Train Your Dragon

Did you really think I would miss a dragon off this list. Of course I went for one of the nicer ones, Toothless can be trained but Santa would need Hiccup in order to help him fly. However who cares it’s a freaking dragon.

Flying Monkeys – The Wizard of  Oz

Now I am unsure how useful a flying monkey would actually be but I thought Santa could always give it a go. I mean he could get them to pull the slay at least, he would just have to keep them out of sight as they look a bit scary.

Buckbeak the Hippogriff – Harry Potter

Now Beaky is one the most beautiful creatures on this list, but he is also really cool. Buckbeak could totally help Santa and would get all his delivery done in record time I bet. Only problem is you would hae to leave a dead ferret out for him instead of a carrot.

Thestrals – Harry Potter

I know Thestrals are not the most good-looking of creatures and yes it is another Harry Potter animal but I think they would do an awesome job of helping Santa. Plus you wouldn’t be able to see them.

Well there we have just some of the creatures I think could hep Santa come the 24th of December.

My Reads This Year 2012

By Geeky Gem

As many of you know I like to read and I don’t mind what I read so long as I have at least one book on the go at any one time. Last year I read 53 books, how I hear you ask? well I didn’t have a job so had very little else to do, this year so far I have only read 38 a big drop and this is more than likely down to the fact I have a job now and beside’s doing my job and writing for you lovely people I have little time to do much else. However I catch the bus a lot so I have time to read on my journey’s which is nice as I can usually get a big chunk of a chapter on my way to work. I thought I would let you in on some the books I have read this year, and some I cant wait to read that are waiting for me to open.

Dead Until Dark

Now I did star reading this book just before True Blood started on FX but at the time I just couldn’t get into it. That being said at the start of the year my cousin said I should try again so I did and I read the whole thing in a week, I havent moved onto the other book in the series yet but I have now doubt that I will. This was really good and different from the show but I did like it. If you like the show and havent read the book why not give it go.

Percy Jackson

With this one I had seen the movie some time ago and meant to read the books but never did, however this year I suddenly remembered them and thought go on then lets give them a go. I like any thing to do with Geek Myths so these books appealed to me. I picked up Lighting Thief and was done within in a couple of days,  wont lie to you I read all 5 books inside of a month. I just couldn’t put them down, they are really good and well worth your time.

Superman/Batman

Comics count ok, besides I read a few comics this year. This one was by far one of my favourite in this series Batman and Superman team up to fix things that are going on. In this one I have pictured it to help Super Girl come to terms with landing on Earth and how she can live her life amount humans. It’s a really good series of comics, if you Superman and Batman, your you just like on you have to give this cross over a go.

Kick-Ass 2

I loved the first Kick-Ass and I have been wanting to read this part for a while so last week, I picked it up and read it in oe go. It takes pace just after the events of Kick-Ass, however Hit Girl is no longer allowed to speak to Kick-Ass she has to be a good girl Kick-Ass however has joined a league of Superheroes and is running around town fighting crime with his new friends. That is untill Red Mist shows up and starts making trouble. If you havent read these and like comic then give them a go they are really good.

These are just some of the book si have read this year, I am also still reading a few. I am currently still reading City of Bones and I am re-reading the Harry Potter series. Both of which I am enjoying very much but it’s finding the time to sit down and give them a good few hours attention. I also have a copy of J.K Rowlings first book for adult’s called The Casual Vacancy which I am also looking forward to starting.

Well untill next time happy reading.

Wednesday Whimsy

By Caelrona

Hiya all! Caelrona here.. but wait, it is Wednesday! For those of you who skipped the last Wednesday post, the short of it is that HMS has given up his Wednesday slot and passed the torch, so to say, on to me. That’s right; from now on I’ll be handling the Wednesday posts, and although I can’t be promising it’ll always be whimsical I shall do my best! HMS did a lovely little intro for me last week, which I encourage you to read if you’ve not done so already. As HMS has done, and dear GeekyGems did the week before last, I shall attempt to tell you about random geeky goings-ons from ‘round my way. Not entirely certain I’ll be any good at that sort of thing, and I will probably end up blathering on until you’re quite ready to swat me but we shall give it a go! Anyway, on to the post!

Recently I’ve found myself with an awful lot of time on my hands. Since I’m more or less am done with my PS3 for a while (I had some sort of skin reaction to the controller. What? My PS1 never did that! Different plastic maybe?) I’ve moved on to random computer games. I’m on hiatus from World of Warcraft, even though I seriously am wanting to play with the new Pandaren race (So much) and I managed to burn myself out on Sims, even with the new Supernatural EP and all my mods. What does that leave me? Don’t laugh, but it’s left me Minecraft and Maplestory. Not really a combination most people would consider, but I’ve been splitting some of my free time betwixt the two and have been thoroughly enjoying myself. Want cutesy adorable gameplay? Maplestory it is! Want to fight zombies and have my wits scared out of me by the creepers (and damn them anyway, stupid hissing noise!)? Minecraft it is!

But alas, even those cannot fill all my spare time – indeed, I’ve played neither for nearly a week thanks to a combination of unpleasant circumstances. For one, I lost my internet connection for a good while, which is why you’ve not seen me posting here at All Geek To Me. I shall spare you the boring details of attempting to restore settings to a nearly 10 year old router and get it to working. That nightmare was enough to put three very tech-savvy people into fits of rage that only geeks can manage in the face of uncooperative technology. Finally, I broke down and got a new router, which after a small hiccough, has been performing admirably well. The second setback is that I’ve been physically unable to play videogames – or, in fact, type particularly well. I’ve sprained my left hand rather badly and after three weeks of putting it aside I’ve been forced to visit a doctor about it, who wrapped it up quite well and set me to resting it. I feel like I’ve grown a flipper in place of a hand, and I’m sure you can see how this is quite the disadvantage for someone who wishes to type or play video games. I must admit, I’ve removed my bandages just to type up this post because typing one handed is incredibly bothersome.

Aside from all that, there are quite a few things I can do even with a bandaged flipper for a hand. Once such thing just happens to be one of my other favorite past times – reading. Among other books, I re-read the Harry Potter series this past weekend, and I must say; dearie me but it has been too long. I should really take a weekend to read them more often. Of course that sort of made it all the better. I couldn’t remember exact details; only my love – or hate – for certain characters and a general remembrance of the plot line. Thusly events were fresh and new for me when they happened, causing all the same (perhaps worse?) emotions and wrenching feelings that reading through the very first time brought to me. Of course not much has changed – I still find myself agreeing with James and Sirius that Snivellus – apologies, Professor Snape – was a despicable, whiny, pansy-assed, mean-spirited git who should’ve grown a pair of balls. I also still find myself mourning the loss of most of the characters you’d expect – Sirius, Dumbledore, Fred, Remus, Tonks and the like.

Luckily for my poor strained eyes there is something else besides reading that doesn’t require the usage of two good hands. That would be watching television. Not something I do very often, admittedly, but when I do I make it count. Recently I’ve been watching the new season of Walking Dead, which is quite excellent. Mostly I love how Lori is getting treated like dirt because I never particularly liked that skinny little cheater anyway. Every single episode something happens and I hope she’ll get bitten, but does it happen? Of course not. However, I have to say I’m super excited about the possibility of a zombie baby – Holy cow wouldn’t it be amazing if it ate its way out of her stomach?! – but I have a strong feeling that the series won’t be going that direction. Not only because it would be wonderfully morbid, but also because the graphic novel doesn’t go there. Although it certainly wouldn’t be the first diversion the TV series took. Carl is turning into a disrespectful little pervert, but I suppose that is what happens when you go through puberty during the zombie apocalypse with Lori for a mother. I’m also enjoying the way Carol’s character has developed – the weak simpering crazy lady from the comics is much improved in the television version.

Ah, but it pains me to write this (no, seriously =P ) this post must be coming to a close now. Hopefully by this time next week I’ll have my bandages off for good and regained full usage of my poor hand.

Until next time;

Caelrona – signing off! ❤

Page Vs Picture

By Geeky Gem

Over the last 5 page vs picture articles, i have taken you deep into the wizarding world of Harry Potter and today is now different as we near the end of time with J.K Rowlings wonderful boy wizard and his friends. I am currently re-reading Prisoner of Azkaban and I have to say I am enjoying it as much as I did the first time. however this is not the book we came here to talk about today, today we reach the penultimate book in the series. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Now as with all the book so far this one picks up where the last book left off, Lord Voldemort has returned and his wrath has been felt in both the Muggle (non-magical) and Wizarding worlds. This where dark secrets are revealed and the death of one of the biggest characters had people all over the world in tears. Such is the impact of this book, that people didn’t even see it coming and that is a testament to Rowling as a writer. This again was one of the books I just couldn’t wait to get my hands and the day my pre ordered book came I think I disappeared for a few good hours and yes its sad to say I booked the da off work for it.

A lot of the characters return for this book as well with Snape making the Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa (Draco’s mother), that he will assist and protect Draco. But what has the Dark Lord asked Darco to do? And who is the mysterious Half-Blood Prince that Harry is learning some magic secrets from, through a book he found. These are not all the questions you ask yourself as you read this book, What is Slughorn hiding from Harry and everyone else at Hogwarts? All these questions and more will be answered as you read the book. This is the year Harry will earn more about Voldemort than he has ever known before an all because Dumbledore feels Harry is ready. Its taking a long time for us to come to the point where we start to find out the truth and everything starts to tie up nicely in this book as things are about to kick off in Deathly Hallows.

The one thing that you find out more about in this book is the Pensieve that Dumbledore keeps in his office, this allows you to look at memories of people, in this case they are all about Lord Voldemort. We also, as does Harry about some very dark magic called a Horcruxes. In which a person can split their soul in place them in objects, in theory helping them live on as long as the objects do. At the end of the book Harry decides he will not be going to school foe his final year but will hunt for the other Horcruxes. This ended left me speechless, and I all I could think are you made Harry. However I was also super excited to read the next book. Shall we move on to the movie?

 

The movie version of Half-Blood Prince came out in 2009 and marked the begging of the end of the movie franchise. David Yates was the director behind this one with writing credits going to Steve Kloves as it has been for all the movies in this series. To be honest I think he does a cracking job on all the movies, he has a way of putting in everything you needed to know from J.K Rowlings books without leaving feel like he missed a big chunk out. Ok, yes some things are different they always will be.

Many of the same cast return again with very few changes, they are however joined by Jim Broadbent as Professor Horace Slughorn and guess what he doesn’t teach Defence Against the Dark Arts, that job has finally gone to Snape. Slughorn is the new Potions teacher, Harry takes his class as he dreams of being an Auror when he leaves Hogwarts.

The reason I like this movie, as with the book you start to learn more about Voldemort and why he became the dark wizard that he did, you also start to see Harry grow up in a way that you never thought. For a moment in time he is fueled by ure hatred and revenge as a character that means a lot to him dies. This is yet another blow to Harry and his world becomes red and anger as he takes off after the murderer. A tense battle with Draco also happens and this is also a dark moment for Harry that is not to say that a Harry v Draco battle hadn’t been coming for a while as it had. It was brilliant, i don’t know what else I can say. This movie and book where both fantastic and the epicness of it all is just to much. However there can be no draw in page vs picture.

So this time my pont goes to book, bringing the score up to Book – 4, Film – 2. Sorry film your losing here and that’s not good. I do have loads more of these to be done so maybe film can bring it back. Why not come back and see.