Breathe Some Fire into Your Gift Selection
Every year when my younger cousin’s birthday rolls around, I struggle to figure out what to get him. It’s not that I’m not familiar with his interests – to the contrary, I know all about his hobbies. He’s the prototypical geek, although I mean that in the nicest sense possible. He spends hours at a time online playing World of Warcraft, and I’ve also overheard him talking about getting together with friends to play Dungeons and Dragons.
For three years in a row I got him expanded editions of the Lord of the Rings on DVD, but lately it’s been tough to come up with a new angle. Luckily I happened upon a site that specializes in nerd t shirts. Purchasing something marketed specifically to “nerds” may sound counterintuitive, but I know he’ll love the Dragon’s Lair t shirt I got him.
Star Wars Junkie Finds True Love!
I have never fit in with the mainstream crowd. This has always been sad for me, not fitting in that is. The only comfort that I have had over the years is my love of Star Wars characters. I could sit and play with my Star Wars action figures all day. In fact, I used to pretend like I was the Princess Leia figure and wore Star Wars t-shirts to school everyday.
I never thought I would find someone to share my love of Star Wars; I never thought there was someone out there that appreciated a life that consists mostly of action figure play. Low and behold – I did. I met the love of my life at a Star Wars convention. I guess there’s someone out there for everyone.
The WoW Legacy
When World of Warcraft was released, it was a game requiring a high amount of skill and commitment to progress to the upper echelons of dungeon and raid content. The casual player who didn’t even own a WOW t-shirts (from our video game t shirt category) had no place in high end raiding, even in the first raid dungeon of Molten Core. The Burning Crusade continued this trend to a lesser degree, and still made it difficult for most guilds and players to progress to a higher level of play. This all changed with Wrath of the Lich King that feels a lot like the Coke Zero of what WoW used to be. No longer are there barriers from casual players enjoying all the content in the game. There is little to no commitment involved in the whole game, as the needs for farming, raid preparation, and even research have been dumbed down to a severe degree.
WoW, which was once like Frodo journeying to conquer the Dark Lord Sauron that was Everquest, is now like Frodo had he been consumed by the greed of the One Ring. MMORPGs that have been made in recent years can’t stand up to WoW both in scope and design. Blizzard simply has too much money. It is now greed that drives them to continue to release content for an MMORPG that has been discarded by the original players who worked so hard to conquer it. Blizzard may have gained more casual players with the release of WOTLK, but in doing so they’ve also lost some of those hardcore players who made the game famous.
Novelty Tee Shirts
Show your personality with the clothes you wear. Novelty t shirts have become popular due to the wide variety of designs and slogans printed on them. Some are funny, some thought provoking and some even have—gasp—racy words. They come in numerous colors that are sure to be a hit to young and old alike.
Novelty tee shirts are further unique in a way because the designs are sometimes so outrageous and out-of-this-world that those who have just met him or her would not easily forget the wearer. Make your own fashion statement. Wear a novelty tee shirt that can express thoughts you are afraid to say aloud. You even have the option of having your own photo printed in front with a personal quote you want to share with people you meet.
A New Breed of Superhero Movie
Even people who had become disenchanted with the Batman franchise have been impressed with what Christopher Nolan has done with the latest installments of the series. Casting Christian Bale as Batman, many people finally got what they felt was missing from some of the previous Batman movies. They had a hero that could pull of both Bruce Wayne and Batman. The two very different personas had stumped previous actors such as George Clooney (an admirable Wayne but a faltering Batman) and Michael Keaton (an amazing Dark Knight but a bumbling Wayne).
The new films also boast a much darker feel and have fans donning Batman t shirts once again. These certainly aren’t happy go lucky films intended for comic-loving kids. The villains aren’t caricatures of lunatics. They’re just lunatics, and Heath Ledger was even awarded a posthumous Oscar for his twisted and unsettling portrayal of the Joker. And that is what’s so fantastic about this new breed of superhero movies. They stand alone on their own right. While we can all praise Ledger for his amazing turn in the film, it takes nothing away from the iconic way that Jack Nicholson portrayed the goofy grinned gangster.
Successful Comic Book to Movie Translations
There have been hundreds of different comic book movies made over the years, but few movies pale in comparison to the depth and majesty of the original comics. The most successful comic books made into movies are those that draw little from the comic books other than the actual characters. Having a director with a love for the comic books and vision helps a lot too. For example, the first two X-Men movies are regarded as being quite excellent, with the directing of Bryan Singer. However, when Singer departed to make Superman Returns, the X-Men movie franchise turned bad with all haste and left those wearing X-men t shirts in dismay. Other good comic book movies made in recent years include Spiderman 2, Hellboy: The Golden Army, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and Iron Man. Three of these films were released in 2008, in a year that would see a comic book film, The Dark Knight, win the first Oscar for acting, a nod to the deceased Heath Ledger.
Despite a smattering of successful comic book films, the comic books themselves are still what fans turn to for the purest and most enjoyable renditions of the superheroes and characters that made the series.
‘The Big Lebowski’ Improves with Age
Some movies are so imminently quotable and frequently hilarious that they command a viewer’s attention the whole way through. The first time I saw “The Big Lebowski” in theaters back in 1998, I was somewhat confused by the on-screen spectacle. At the time, there’s no way I would have placed it among the top comedy movies of all time. In truth, I didn’t know what to expect from this movie. It certainly wasn’t anything like the Coen Brothers’ previous offering, the relatively straightforward “Fargo.”
As it turned out, repeat viewings allowed me to appreciate the movie for the comedic masterpiece it is. Jeff Bridges turns in perhaps his signature role as Jeffrey Lebowski (I don’t care if he did just win an Oscar), a down-on-his-luck acid casualty from the ’60s. The adventures of “The Dude” and his best buddy Walter Sobchak function as a witty subversion of hardboiled crime thrillers and shaggy dog narratives. The Big Lebowski used to be the quintessential cult comedy, but with people sporting Big Lebowski shirts like this one from our movie t shirt collection and annual gatherings to celebrate the film, it has certainly risen above cult status.
What Happened to Mario?
Over the weekend, I watched my sister and her friend playing Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii, and I have to admit that I was decidedly underwhelmed. While the graphics have never been the main draw to the Mario games, they seem identical to those of Super Mario 64. And in the couple of levels that I watched them play, it seems like the game development is lacking as well.
Maybe I was just easily enamored with video games when I was younger, but I can’t see what these new Mario games offer players. As someone who goes around sporting an old school video game t shirt on a regular basis, I am disappointed with what has become of the franchise. Although it may not be the low point that the live action Mario movie was, Super Mario Galaxy may be an indication that the rein of Mario is over.
Bob Marley: Legend
For many people, Bob Marley and his music are synonymous with pot smoking and stereotypical Jamaican life. While it is true that Marley’s melodies is popular in circles where cannabis is prominent and inextricably connected to Jamaican culture, there is actually a deeper message behind much of his music. As most people are aware, Marley was a Rastafarian, and his music promoted the religion’s message of peace and harmony.
In addition to his Rastafarian message, Marley was also an outspoken opponent to the IMF’s involvement in Jamaica’s distressed financial situation. Since his death, Marley has become a national hero in Jamaica for his rigorous efforts to gain freedom for Jamaica. So the next time you hear Bob Marley or see people sporting Bob Marley t shirts, try to see the true message through all of the smoke.
Star Wars: World’s Most Successful Franchise
While numerous science fiction and fantasy films leave a cult following in their wake, the ride is soon over when the films deteriorate or stop being produced. However, unlike most other media cults, Star Wars persevered for almost three decades before the series saw a revamp on the big screen. However, the first two new films were met with contempt from hardcore fans of the series. While characters like Jar Jar Binks appealed to children, adults who loved the original Star Wars movies found him pointless and darn near irritating.
When the second movie was released it was clear that director/producer George Lucas had lost some of his skill. The third movie, Revenge of the Sith, served as a suitable end to the series, but it still failed to instill the same magic that the originals had. Despite mediocre reviews, the movies grossed significant revenue. The most successful part of Star Wars however comes from the merchandising—from Star Wars t shirts to books and video games inspired by Lucas’ vision. Every year the revenue generated from movie-inspired merchandise keeps Lucas cranking out more.
