Participation Needed!

Two posts in one day.  Yeah, I know the next post wasn't supposed to come until Wednesday, but I have a really amazing reason for this!  Simply put...

I was very pleasantly impressed with Pacific Rim, even so far that I would easily put it in my Top Ten Most Favorite Movies...Ever list.

Well, that's great, right?  But what's with the title of this post?

The deal with the title is that (long story short) I'm going to be doing a podcast review of Pacific Rim... and I need your help to make it awesome.

Do you remember last December when I did a review of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey by answering questions you guys asked me about it?  Well I thought that was a lot of fun, so I'd like to do it again.

So what can you do to help this review be great?

Ask questions!

Ask all sorts of things!

If you've seen the movie, ask me about specific scenes, characters, or whatever.  If you haven't seen the film, ask about anything that you'd like to know more about it.  Specifics, generalizations, even statements.

Anything goes.  Everything is game.

But in order for this to become reality, I really need you guys to ask questions.  If I don't get any questions then I won't be able to do this, but I know I can trust you guys.  =)

You can ask your questions by commenting on this post or by tweeting me @EdessaCarrick, and you can ask as many as you want.  No maximum.

The only thing is that your questions have to be in by this Friday (the 13th) at 5:00 p.m. CST in order for them to be included in the podcast.  All questions posted before then are guaranteed a spot in the review.  Any posted after that deadline likely won't get in because I'll be recording it on Saturday.

So let those questions rip, guys!  I'm excited to see what you'll come up with!




 - Edessa, signing off

"Riddick" Boosts the Box Office

The weekend directly following Labor Day is usually pretty slow.  This week last year had The Possession at the top of the box office, but it only managed to rake in $9.3 million.  This time we have a post-Labor Day box office that's 26% healthier.

You can thank Vin Diesel for that.

Diesel stars as the title character in Riddick, the third film in the Chronicles of Riddick franchise which follows the adventures of an intergalactic alien criminal.  The film - which was independently funded by Diesel and writer-director David Twohy after Universal initially refused to finance it - earned $18.7 million domestically in its first weekend, which is up from the first movie and down from the second.  Pitch Black debuted in 2000 with $11.6 million, and The Chronicles of Riddick debuted in 2004 with $24.3 million (Star Tribune).

While not debuting as well as its predecessor, Riddick did manage to knock Lee Daniels' The Butler out of its three-week streak as number one.  It also helped to boost the post-Labor Day weekend box office totals by 26%, compared to last year.

But this Friday is the 13th, and there's a horror movie sequel - Insidious: Chapter 2 - releasing that day.  It could be an "unlucky" day (if you believe in that kind of thing, which I don't), or it could be just the thing Insidious needs to terrify the number one box office spot from Riddick.  I don't know about you, but I'm really interested in seeing the box office numbers next week.

Here are the estimated ticket sales for the weekend of Friday the 6th through Sunday the 8th in the U.S. and Canada (numbers courtesy of the Star Tribune):

1.  Riddick - $18.7 million

2.  Lee Daniels' The Butler - $8.9 million

3.  Instructions Not Included - $8.1 million

4.  We're the Millers - $7.9 million

5.  Planes - $4.3 million

6.  One Direction: This is Us - $4.1 million

7.  Elysium - $3.1 million

8.  Blue Jasmine - $2.7 million

9.  Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters - $2.5 million

10.  The World's End - $2.3 million

 - Edessa, signing off

"RoboCop" Trailer

Hopefully you guys saw my last Tweet, which explained that I wasn't able to blog until now due to papers and other college stuff that needed dealing with.  Honestly, I was hoping that these first few weeks of college wouldn't be intensive, but that just doesn't happen when you're a Junior.  I'll be making adjustments to my schedule to accomodate for more homework time and less social time...but that's boring to talk about, so let's discuss something a whole lot cooler.

A few months ago, I wrote a blog post about the upcoming RoboCop remake.  Now - a long time later - the first trailer for the film is now out.

The original RoboCop (made in the 80s) is a movie I've always wanted to see but haven't yet because of it's heavy violence and R rating.  Maybe I'll get around to seeing it sometime, but I'm really excited about this remake.  Not only are the special effects much better than in the original, but it's also being slated as much less violent than its three predecessors.

Just from watching the trailer, the film feels mostly like a generic blow-things-up-and-kill-things action feast.  Through all the explosions and gunfights, though, there are very important questions being asked:

Can a machine control a man?

Is a cyborg still human?

What happens to the rest of the family when the father is fused with a robot?

Hopefully the film will actually flesh out these questions and answer them well.  Too many action films start to ask good thought-provoking questions but then get distracted by really cool weapons, big explosions, and aliens.  With that kind of stereotype, I wonder how the new RoboCop will address particularly the issue of family.  Will they actually explore the situation in depth, or will they blow it off like a case of dynamite?

2014 will tell.

What do you think of the trailer?  Have you ever seen any of the three original RoboCop movies?  Do you have any hopes or fears for this remake?

Speaking of action movies, last Sunday I finally went to see Pacific Rim with two guy friends of mine.  Cutting to the chase, it was pretty epic and I loved it despite its generic moments.  I'd like to do a review of it, but I'm not sure exactly which way would be best.  This is where your opinion will be most invaluable to me

So would you guys prefer to have me write up a review of Pacific Rim, do a generic sort of audio review, or would you like to have me answer your questions about it (like how we did for The Hobbit: And Unexpected Journey)?  Or do you have another idea that you think would be a bazillion times better?

Either way, let me know what you think, and I'll get on that review ASAP.  Also, if you're interested in reading my earlier post about RoboCop, you can click here to check it out.

I think I want that robo-suit.




 - Edessa, signing off

A Wedding Day Ramble

Due to the fact that I need to finalize a list of upcoming games/movies to blog about (I'm a little behind on that), this particular post will be a Saturday Ramble.

Two of my friends from Youth Group are getting married to each other in less than four hours, and I'm so very excited for them.

But at the same time, it also feels a little...weird.

I don't know.  When I look at and hang out with my friends and family, I just kind of subconsciously assume that they'll stay the way they are for the rest of their lives.  I know that's totally impossible and won't ever happen, but I think like that anyway.  Maybe it's because I just don't like change.

This will be a big change.  These two friends have been dating each other for over three years, so it makes sense that they'd get married eventually.  Now it's happening, and if it feels surreal to me (whose only job in the wedding is to run the tech aspects) I can't even imagine how it must feel for the bride and groom.

Part of the issue - undoubtably - is that I don't like change, and even though I'm not extremely close to these two friends it's still going to be an adjustment.  The other part is probably a little, nagging tinge of... longing.

I'd like to get married one day (no matter what I said when I was five), and when I go to weddings I always feel a little bit sad.  I see other people with their dates and then the bride and groom together, and I wonder if I'll have the opportunity to be in that situation as well.  Right now it doesn't seem like it'll ever happen.  "Forever Alone" and all that.  It makes me feel a bit jealous sometimes.

It drives me crazy that I think like that.  I mean, really, it's not right to be envious of anyone, and it seems even worse right now because this is supposed to be a happy, celebratory day.

But I do think like that at least once at every wedding I've ever been to.  I'm thinking about it right now, just two hours before I have to go for the final rehearsal.  It's probably better to get it out of my system now rather than be self-pitying while I'm there.  Even so, I wish I wasn't envious at all.

It's so annoying.

At the same time, though, I know that God's got a great plan for me.  And if that involves getting married, then WOOT!  And it if involves being single for the rest of my life, then WOOT!  I know I'll be praying today that all I think about is how happy I am for my friends on their wedding day.  Being envious is just so selfish and rude and won't help anyone in the long run.

Besides, I get to dress up and get free cake.  What's not to love about that?

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to run an errand at the bank before I "get dolled up" (as my Grandma puts it).  It'll be fun, and I'm looking forward to it.

Don't let me think of myself, God.  It's not worth it.

 - Edessa, signing off

Bring Back Boba

So I'm breaking my Monday, Wednesday, Friday posting schedule, I know, but this is too important to pass up.

There's a petition going on for the creators of the new Star Wars Rebels animated show to keep Boba Fett (still as a teenager/young adult) as a regular, recurring character.  Daniel Logan - the man best known for playing young Boba - has expressed great interest in being part of Rebels, and there's already a Bring Back Boba campaign going on all over the Internet.

If you want to see Daniel Logan as Fett in Rebels, show your support by liking the official Facebook page and tweeting with the tag #BringBackBoba.  If you're a blogger, podcaster, vlogger, or anything similar, please also consider getting your opinions about the topic out there to encourage more supporters.

Studios do listen to their audience.  The more people who support this, the stronger our voice will become, and the more likely that the production studios will greatly consider our proposal.

Get on the campaign and show your support not only for the greatest mercenary this side of Coruscant but also for the amazingly talented Mr. Logan.  There isn't anyone in the galaxy who does Fett better than he does.




 - Edessa, signing off

Podcasts, Buttons, and Scheduling, oh my!

After a very long (but extremely fun) orientation at my new college, classes have finally started today, the Internet is working again, I've been watching way too many Star Trek episodes with Borg (if that's at all possible), and we are back, back, back.

This particular post is a basic overview of things that have happened and what's to come.  Hopefully it will contain things you're all looking forward to, both here and on the Holocron site.


Firstly (since we're on the topic of the Holocron), two new podcast episodes have been posted on the site: a two-part commentary of the special extended version of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.  It's pretty crazy talking through a film that long, I know, but I'm such a geek that it was simply inevitable that this would happen.  Plus, it was crazy fun.  So if you like LOTR and/or like hearing me talk (that sounded slightly stalker-ish...), then you should totally check them out.  It's great fun.

Secondly, HNED has recently had a little work done.  Robyn Lindenmayer (check her out, folks.  She's awesome) created some sweet new social icons for the site so you all can navigate to my e-mail, the Holocron, my Pinterest, and my Twitter just like that.  She also adjusted the margin layout so it looks a whole lot better.  I'm excited about how awesome it looks, and those icons are still totally cute.  I love them so much!

Thirdly, since college just started today, I've created a schedule to live by that also includes designated blogging times.  You can expect HNED updates every other day (starting today and not including Sunday) sometime around 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. Central Time.  The Holocron will be updated once a week (usually on Saturdays), but occasionally I will probably have to update that particular site every other week depending on my work load.  I'll also be posting a new updated podcasting schedule for the Holocron by the end of the week (though likely sometime late Friday afternoon).

Added to all that, I would like your help with something.  If you notice that I haven't blogged for a fair amount of days and seem to have dropped off the planet entirely... please, please, PLEASE don't hesitate to bother me about it.  Spam my inbox, my Twitter and Facebook pages, stand on your rooftop and scream at me, whatever it takes to get me back on track.  Procrastination is probably my worst fault, and I want to break it like Bane snapped Batman's back.  But in order to do that, I need to have accountability partners to yank me back on the path when I start to stray.

Long story short, I'm literally begging you to please bother me incessantly if I disappear without notice.  I would sincerely, honestly appreciate it.


That's all I have for now, but I think that's a pretty good start.  So check out the Holocron, admire those pretty buttons, check up on my Twitter and Pinterest if you're interested, and let's kick this new schoolyear off well (and keep it kicked off).

God bless you guys!




 - Edessa, signing off

Come to the Pork Side, We Have...Pigs

If I asked you to name a popular app, which one would come to your mind first?  Or if I said "angry," would "birds" be the next thing you'd think of?

Lucasfilm Ltd and Rovio Entertainment Ltd are hoping so.

Following the huge success of the Star Wars version of Angry Birds, these two companies are coming together again to offer a sequel.  According to starwars.com, "Angry Birds Star Wars II will follow the story of the three prequel Star Wars movies, including the introduction of never-before-seen Angry Birds Star Wars characters."  One of the biggest changes to highlight is that you don't have to just play as Angry Birds.  You can also play villainous Pigs like Darth Maul and General Grievous.

Pork Side, anybody?

The original Angry Birds Star Wars has been downloaded over 100 million times since it debuted, and it has some pretty good ratings in various app stores.  Lucasfilm and Rovio are hoping that adding new characters (like young Anakin, Mace Windu, and Darth Maul) will continue the appeal of the sequel.  Plus the new game will also come with TELEPODS, an interactive system from Hasbro that works a lot like the Skylanders game for Nintendo: place a physical toy representation of one of the characters on the phone or tablet camera to scan it in, and then play as that character in-game.

Angry Birds Star Wars II will be released on September 19th alongside an expected storm of new merchandise, and if you went to San Diego Comic-Con this past week you likely saw the first demo of the game in one of the exhibit halls.

Watch out, Angry Birds.  The Pigs have Sith Lightning.




 - Edessa, signing off