Wings of Water

My friend it is quite clear, when people look around
They see not what is here.
Money and success, they strive to have more,
But in doing so they’ve made life nothing, but a simple plain bore.
While important the sciences are,
Without a little imagination
You simply shall not go far.
Knowledge is a lock and art the key,
Simply open our eyes to realize
What in front of us…we can see.
The Earth without art, she simply will not last
For in a world without imagination
The good times, unfortunately, have past.
The time has to finish this rhyme,
But the Lesson is learned
Hopefully shall it love on…
For all time…
In our minds…has it been burned

Okay, this is not going to be an easy post, but here it is.  Pardon the poor formatting by the way, I’m writing off the cuff

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, a Brony even.  What a lot of people do NOT know is my personal struggle with myself.  I’ve written a post about that before so this will not really focus on that, but it will touch on aspects for focus.

For the longest time I never really thought much (or anything) of myself.  I didn’t really have many friends…I knew people and I would joke around but I never really felt close to anyone.  Maybe it was just me.

Not long ago I remember seeing all this stuff on the internet about My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and my initial thought is actually not what many would think…what the flip was this non sense?!  I mean…My Little Pony….that cartoon from the 80’s that was for little girls to sell toys.  I guess it was just coming back.  I’d heard about these people called Bronies, men, my age who were huge fans and I honestly thought they were the most ridiculous people I’d heard of.  I mean what grown man watches a show about ponies (Yes…the irony will arrive soon)  I kept being told about it from people online and I made a promise (see lied entirely) that I would watch an episode.  And that was pretty much how I first heard of and learned about the show.  Now what you expected right?  Well…that’s the beginning, but not the end.

If you’ve ever seen me in person the words shy, not confident, insecure…you see where I’m going…they probably wouldn’t be the first words you’d think of.  However that was the truth for a very long time, it still can be sometimes.  But one day something kinda magical happened.

I want to say that I’m watching the amazing Brony Documentary while writing this  http://www.bronydoc.com/Brony/MAIN.html this is the site and it’s really inspired me to share my story of Friendship.

Back to the show…

One day something magical happened.  I was flipping through channels on my tv (no that’s not it) and nothing was on that interested me (no, neither is that =P just wait) until I found myself on the HUB and low and behold…probably not a year since I lied about watching an episode of My Little Pony with an open mind…I found it playing on my tv…I figured what the heck…why not?  This way I’ll fulfill my promise and could then honestly say I hate it and want nothing to do with it…

It was episode 22 of season 1 A Bird in the Hoof

It was maybe about half way through but I figured that would work.  Instantly I actually started to enjoy the animation and voice work.  Needless to say by the end of the episode I realized that I had actually enjoyed the show and it had made me happy.  I decided I was going to look into this My Little Pony thing and figure out what it was all about.

I kept it all a secret though because let’s be honest, I had no idea what my friends or even my family would think…this was a show for little girls and I actually really enjoyed it.  I was scared, I didn’t know how people would treat me, knowing how I used to think of it.  Then something else happened…I kept watching the show and every episode…I learned something about myself.  I wasn’t this small, insignificant thing that didn’t matter.  I had friends.  Twilight Sparkle would discover a lesson about friendship, have her assistant write a letter and I swear it was like I was writing it myself.  I started watching from the first episode and went all the way through the first two seasons in one day pretty much…I just couldn’t get enough.  I saw these ponies going through so many things, learning so much about themselves and in turn teaching me again.  I found myself connecting with them, but I was still so scared to be public about this…

There was no big moment I did, but let me tell you…when I started telling people about it…I was ridiculed, made fun of and lost quite a few friends over it.  Gotta love how life deals you these things.  At the time I as feeling so high I was suddenly thrown so low.  But!! I discovered I really wasn’t alone.  The fandom was there to just be a friend.  They understood and it really helped.  I was more cautious about being a Brony…people who mattered didn’t understand and didn’t mean to hurt me with their actions and words…but they did.  Then, something happened.  People saw that I was serious about this, that it meant so much to me and even a few started to check it out and embrace it themselves.  I got to see some of my friends open up and being able to fully understand this whole thing and share in it.  

I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many amazing and talented people because of a little show about Ponies.  It’s inspired me to return to my first love in life, acting and writing.  I’ve gotten to meet and know people who are here today because of the charity of the community.  Young kids named Grey, Soarin, Kiki…and so many more.  Even the voice actors and talent that I’ve been so blessed to meet even made me feel so special!  Tara Strong and Andrea Libman two of the voice actors of the show made me feel so awesome when I offered them the artwork I’d drawn for them that was inspired by the kindness and friendship I’d been shown because of the show…even asking me to sign it for them.  

This is a little story of how I became a Brony…how a show about little ponies helped me come alive.  I feel with so much hate and sadness lately that anything positive is a good thing to have.  I guess you could consider this my letter to Princess Celestia (or Luna in my opinion…sorry Tia…but Luna is best Princess) a letter about how maybe we shouldn’t judge something before we actually understand it (Rainbow Dash…) about facing our fears and learning to just laugh sometimes (Pinkie Pie) about being honest…and maybe not lying about watching a show when you don’t mean to (Applejack) about the kindness one can find if they just look around them (Fluttershy) about generosity and giving to others who may be in greater need than you (Rarity) and even learning about the amazing and awesome Magic of Friendship (Twilight).

I know some people don’t accept it, and you know what…that’s okay.  But of the smiles and tears I’ve had three words I know for certain…thanks to a bunch of ponies with pictures on their butts….Friendship is Magic.

Okay, I will do my best to avoid spoilers, but I’m just gonna say, they may be abound in this review. Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.  Also pardon the terrible formatting and pretty much all typing, I’m tired, oh so tired. 

After hearing the “interesting” reviews of Silent Hill: Revelation, I promised I would see it myself and try to make sense as the rabid fan of the games that I am.  So to get it out of the way, despite the flames I’ll get, I actually enjoyed the movie for what it was.  It was a fun time to sit down and see a new take (even if a sequel) into Silent Hill.

To start off, the bad: Jon Snow/Kit Harington…needs to NEVER attempt an American style accent again…EVER!  There were times I actually heard his real one leaking through.  Just come up with a flipping back story for why he sounds that way…just…UGH.  As well, dude had way too many coats on…this isn’t the Wall, Winter isn’t coming dude, you can dress down.  

Yes, the acting was pretty damned atrocious at times, but at other times it was not terrible, considering this IS a game adaptation at heart.  I did not lower my expectations, but nor did I raise them.  I pretty much had none coming in as the previous Silent Hill movie (while very enjoyable) strayed so far from the game that I had to just try and kill the fan boy inside me.

This brings me to my next point, the games…..AHHHH the games, sorry fan boy moment.  This movie actually felt like a closer adaptation to the games than the first, but that is also the reason for it’s downfall.  Michael J. Basset is CLEARLY a fan of the series, almost as much as I am.  The small exposition scene to connect the two movies and help the viewer understand more of the lore of Silent Hill was fairly well and actually came very close to the references of SPOILERS (This one I know I’m doing lol) Valtiel, Metatron, the Multiple Silent Hills and such from the games.  I apologize to those that were around me in the theatre as I squealed like a little school girl at some scenes and flat out…uhh…laughed -_- at others.  The little Easter Eggs thrown in as well were VERY satisfying as a fan, connections to other games, even very recent ones were at times well thought out and other times felt like they were just tossed in for fan service….service accepted!!

But as I said, this is it’s greatest downfall.  For those who have not played the games, or even seen the previous film, none of this is likely to make sense…Why did Malcolm McDowell *BLANK* that *BLANK* into his *BLANK* so that he could *BLANK* into a *BLANK* and then *BLANK* could *BLANK* *BLANK* the *BLANK* from *BLANK**BLANK**BLANK*…only a few will get that ;)  Enjoy it!  But yes, a promise to explain.

Silent Hill was a town founded on cursed land to summarize greatly.  The Nightmare/Hell that you experience is that which you bring with you.  There is no ONE Silent Hill, but one for every person that is brought into it, yes, it brings you because of who you are. The monsters seen the movies were mostly taken from Silent Hill 2, which is still the best of the series and one of the greatest horror games of all times…that so has nothing to do with being a fan boy 0_o…so that is understandable as they are not only some of the coolest (Pyramid Head) and deadliest (….Pyramid Head) and *ahem* sexiest (Pyra…no The Silent Nurses) but most recognizable.  The problem though is that the “monsters” are actually physical, or metaphysical manifestations of the protagonists own sins, or guilt, or what have you.  Though I will admit that digging further into SH2 the game it is revealed that Pyramid Head actually very well could be the only real demon/creature to exist within Silent Hill.  I’m kind of torn though as it was so well written into SH2.  Another view is that the mutations/creatures (I use different words, because really there’s no real one way to see it) are either not real, or simply other people caused to look different to the player/protagonist.  This leads to the mannequin monster, the whole Malcolm McDowell scene, and the finale.  The only sense and explanation that can be given is that it’s Silent Hill and sometimes shit just doesn’t make sense.  Like a bunny suit coming to life.

To sum up, I would recommend Silent Hill: Revelation in 3d, it wasn’t terrible 3d, BUT if you have not played the games (Shame on you!) or seen the first one (I’ll excuse that one) then approach it with a VERY open mind and just accept that some things will not make sense. Yes…coins going in will make more coins coming out.  Sadly many will not do so (not of their own fault mind you, more of the film and it’s writer sadly) and this will cause Silent Hill: Revelation to fall to the wayside.  Final words…Silent Hill 2 is still one of the best games ever!

I predict this post will be short, though already long overdue. ;)  I have no idea what to say again but I know I NEED to post.  I’m facing huge changes in my life and they are coming fast.  If I am honest, I’m a little nervous and well, the word I’ve not wanted to use yet is scared, but that’s natural.  Change is scary, and that’s not a bad thing, because change is at it’s core unknown, and it’s natural to fear what is not known.

What is NOT natural is to let that fear take over and control you.  Instead you should take that fear by the shoulders and give it a good knee kick to the groin.  You can’t live life being afraid, or worrying what might be, or what might happen, because if you do…guess what!  NOTHING will happen, and by that I mean you will do nothing.  You have to take that step, forget that…take that LEAP into the dark unknown and experience life to the full, don’t look back, don’t fear what might have been or could be, but embrace yourself in the hear and now, because guess what, that’s all you have and that’s all you can really control. 

I’ve done a lot in my 25 years on this planet so far, more than some and not nearly close to that of what others have done.  Never the less, I’ve done a lot.  I’ve taken chances, gotten messy and made a lot of mistakes, but I would not for one moment take any of them back, because they have made me who I am today, and if I were to change one iota of anything that I’ve done, then I wouldn’t be me anymore…and that’s just not cool.

Wednesday, November 2nd is going to be a big day for me, one way or another.  I’ll tell more when IT happens.  I’m both very nervous and very excited to find out what’s in store, as I know that those who know what’s going on are as well…ya know? 

The short sweet and simple of this post for you the reader (I may not know exactly who is reading it, but I promise that anything I write I keep you in mind, because you are the inspiration for what I say and what I bare out here) is live, and to each that defines it’s self very differently.  There is no one way formula or a 12 step plan for living life, you just do…and the first step is looking at yourself, looking in yourself and figuring out WHO you are…because if you can’t even tell that, well…then it’s just nothing special. 

I’ve been slacking greatly on my posting here.

Today has been very interesting, full of ups and not really any downs, but stressful sometimes.  I had another interview and hopefully I may be getting a better job soon which is awesome.  I may even be able to graduate with two bachelors, one BA in Classics and a BA in Anthropology (with a concentration in Archaeology). 

I was reminded tonight of a lesson I learned a lot as a kid, be who you are, because that’s all you can be and that’s all anyone expects of you =)  I need to get some sleep, so I will be definitely posting more soon on here.  I have big plans in store, and we shall see just how they come to fruition!  Til then, peace, love and bacon!

I leave you with a favorite Latin phrase of mine “Aut viam inveniam aut faciam”  I will find a way or I will make one!