ZeusianProphecy's blog: "The Cerebral Catacombs"

   Well, I thought I had my entry for the day, but I was viewing the Escapist Magazine forums, when I stumbled across this thread. Actually, I was watching Yahtzee blithely discuss Saints Row 2 on Zero Punctuation, and happened to chance across the thread by the following title: "Google Criticized as 'Anti-American' For Tetris Logo".

    Obviously, my interest was piqued, and I scrambled (i.e. right-clicked) to have a look. I was met with the following article, written by Andy Chalk:

Google has been criticized as "anti-American" for using a Tetris-style logo to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the famed videogame rather than marking the 65th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy.

Political leaders gathered in France this weekend to mark the 65th anniversary of D-Day, the largest amphibious invasion in history that set the stage for the eventual end of the Second World War. Google, however, chose to commemorate a somewhat more nerdy birthday that just happened to fall around the same date: The 25th anniversary of the creation of Tetris, one of the most popular and enduring videogames ever made.

But Google's whimsical choice has left some observers unhappy. "Here we are on June 6, 2009 and, in its inimitable way, Google has decided to memorialize the important occasion by adding an image on its homepage depicting... the computer game Tetris," conservative columnist Warner Todd Huston wrote on NewsBusters.org. "Yes, it's far more important to Google to celebrate the anniversary of the invention of the video game Tetris than to memorialize D-Day. It just warms the heart, doesn't it?"

"I have to say, though, that this is no departure for Google, a firm that finds it nearly impossible to post images celebrating any American holidays or important milestones in American history," he continued. "So, what we have here is just one more example of Google's essentially anti-American policies."

Google also took heat from WorldNetDaily writer Drew Zahn, who said that Google has "a history of ignoring major American patriotic and religious holidays." He further noted that while company representative Sunny Gettinger said in 2007 that the special logos "tend to be lighthearted and often scientific in nature," Google has in the past used poppies to mark Remembrance Day and honor the war dead of Canada, Australia, Ireland and the U.K.

   After reading over this article, I couldn't help but feel nauseated by the blatant ignorance displayed by the two mentioned columnists. This got me thinking about the concept of "holiday priorities". Should we really have a preference over what is honoured/celebrated/remembered? Is it wrong to show a preference? Or, more specifically, is it wrong in this case that Google chose to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Tetris, over the 65th anniversary of a bloody battle in France? For me, it might be a little obvious where I stand; but my reasoning is simply thus:

   For 64 years, we have honoured those who died and fought on D-Day. We've remembered and given thanks. But Google has decided to show the same respects to a Quarter Century celebration of a game that was a landmark in the entertainment/gaming industry. It's not only a game, but an evolution in personal, group, and international socialisation. It was one of the cornerstones of the gaming industry's Genesis (along with Pong and Space Invaders).
   That isn't to say that D-Day is not important. Au contraire. D-Day marked the beginning of the turning of the tide during World War II. The success of the entire operation opened the doors for the Allies to begin their triumph over the Axis forces; and serves as a keystone of the entire war. But, is it really un-American to "skip out" on ONE year of "celebration" in favour of another milestone?
   Are the achievements Tetris made really that much beneath American history that it absolutely MUST be shoved to the back in favour of an American "holiday"? Especially one that celebrates death and destruction (albeit important and vital to the stability of the world at the time)? Are there more "important" achievements as per each "holiday" or "celebration" or "anniversary"? What are these qualifications to make one meritous of acknowledgement over another? Or even at all?

   It seems to me that this isn't so much about being "American" as it is more of a egotistical need to have everything about our nation's history at the forefront. See, Tetris is actually a RUSSIAN video game. Hmm, to me (while it being a very Strawman correlation) it seems that the real conflict isn't so much the denial of a major "holiday", insomuch as it is a denial of American culture over a foreign culture (despite that culture actually reaching well into the international forum).
   Coinciding with it also being about a video game versus a global conflict, makes the entire thing feel even more insulting. There's also the insinuation (subtle as it may be) that video games are "unimportant" to national, or even international society. Despite the obvious connectivity that the internet and online gaming has not only supported, but helped prosper, it seems that some people are still in the mindset that games are "wastes of time".

   This is also despite the fact that games such as Unreal Tournament, Halo, Half-Life, Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and even oldies like GoldenEye and DOOM have created flourishing international conventions, gaming tournaments; and each having their own subculture; modding, followings, and updating alike. Or the many psychological studies that have proven correlations between motor-skill advancement, and increased brain functionality and Video Game usage (1; 2; 3; 4). When are people going to finally recognise the power, potential, and benefits of video games; both socially and economically?
   And when are Americans going to stop shoving our damn history down other people's throats? We're really not that great. But we sure are that arrogant.

   After all, Google is INTERNATIONAL. Not strictly American. Isn't it?

  For my first review... I thought about doing some sort of video game review... but I decided against it once I got the chance to see this movie. I can't recall exactly where I'd first heard of it, but the name alone stuck in my mind until I got my grubby little hands on it: Tokyo Gore Police.
   The title says it all. So does the promotional poster.

   

   Right away, it should be obvious what you're in store for: Excessive amounts of gore. What you might not be prepared for, is a properly put together movie that combines the excessive cheesiness of most modern gore flicks, with the campiness of early 80's slasher flicks, to a superbly acted (though shittily dubbed) cast of characters.
   Those with an eye for Japanese actresses (they don't ALL look alike, trust me) will notice right away the main character is played by none other than Eihi Shiina whose previous work includes "Dog Food", and her internationally recognised role as Asami Yamazaki in Takashi Miike's cult hit film: "Audition".

   Keeping in her tradition for landing bizarre female lead parts; the character of Ruka in TGP is an extremely anti-social, self-harming badass. This element (self-harming) is played out in what is the cheesiest, and highly blood-soaked intro of any movie, ever. She hates herself, and everyone around her; which may be due to the death of her father (outlined in the beginning as well). Amazingly enough, Ruka never falls prey to the "Damsel In Distress Syndrome" that most "badass" female characters fall into during progression of the movie. She stays a consistent force to be reckoned with in each scene.
   Her stoic attitude, and almost lack of compassion makes her one of the best leading female characters in movie history; at least in my opinion. Her character turn later on in the film is a bit of a shocker, but then again, this movie relies heavily on shock to get the point across.

   The movie opens with a series of images of various types of flowers. The setting is peaceful as the credits roll; and a soft, yet haunting tune plays in the background. Children are at play on swings, and on a carousel at a carnival/park. The main character, Ruka, narrates as a young child: "My dad is the best. He's a police officer and he loves me very much! He's kind; strong; and ALWAYS gets the bad guy! Just like a superhero!" The movie comes to a shot of Ruka's father, waving and saluting in full police uniform. A smile is on his face, and we can see there's a parade of sorts going on about him.

   

   "My dad's always helping people. Like when they get lost or something. Everybody likes him because he's such a great guy! I'd like to become a police officer; just like my dad." As she continues to narrate, we watch her father; a man to be admired. That is... until his head is blown apart in an extremely gory (and excessive) fashion.

  Enter adult Ruka; TGP's protagonist. She's on the scene of a hostage situation in a high rise building. Cops are storming around and inside the building in an attempt to apprehend what we can assume to be a highly dangerous criminal. There's plenty of exposition here that sets the tone for the rest of the movie (as if Ruka's father's head exploding wasn't enough of an indicator already!).
   A woman begins to announce over the radio the name of the criminal and his crime (Koji Tanaka; kidnapping, assault, and murder). As in the spirit of the Video Girl from "Battle Royale", the APB Announcer is a spunky, bizarrely constructed woman with 80's hair and a bubbly attitude. The comical nature of the character sets the secondary tone for the movie; thus establishing the dark comedy nature of TGP.

  

   The criminal is a man who kidnaps women and eats them. And he's currently chewing away at his latest victim as the police force moves in on him. Through establishing shots, we learn that he's a robber, convicted of numerous assaults; and really loves chainsaws. The police continue to set up fortifications as Ruka sits in the police car; cutting her arm up in an extremely bloody (albeit cheesy) sequence.

   After the expositions are done, the police move in on the position and attack Koji. Unleashing a torrent of bullets on him; filling him with holes of lead and somehow managing to shoot off his right arm. Koji drops to his knees, and begins to strain and writhe in pain as his body undergoes a dramatic change.
   Soon, his arm regrows, with a chainsaw attached to it. The chainsaw, is also attached to a long chain which can be detracted and retracted at will. Koji begins to slaughter the police by slicing through one officer's neck.

   "Ruka! He's an ENGINEER!" the APB Lady announces, and Ruka finally exits the vehicle with a katana on her back. Cutting back to the police, they're being brutally cut apart by Koji. Again, we return to Ruka; who pulls a rocket launcher out from the back of the police car, and stares up at where Koji is currently situated. As Koji moves in to kill the last remaining police, Ruka jams the end of the launcher onto the ground, and literally ROCKETS up to where Koji and the police are.
    And yes, it's as badass as it sounds.

  

    Ruka lands and deflects Koji's chainsaw which ends up getting the edge of the blade caught in one officer's mouth. A scene that is extremely gory, and ends up painting the entire area (camera included) in the campiest looking blood imaginable. The police finally run, leaving Ruka to face Koji alone. She picks up his old chainsaw, and the two begin the best chainsaw duel in cinema history (to HELL with Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2!).

  

   Ruka manages to dismember Koji's new right hand (the chainsaw), and wields her new prize as Koji sprays immeasurable (and inhuman) amounts of blood around the area.

  

    Ruka proceeds to randomly dismember parts of Koji (an ear... for instance). Upon feeling that enough is enough, Ruka drops the chainsaws and unsheathes her Katana in one of the sexiest "Female Brandishes Weapon" sequences IMAGINABLE.

  
    I got serious chills just from the way Eihi moves throughout this scene.

   Ruka slices Koji in half, and re-sheathes the katana as the title credit slams onto the screen.

 

   This intro sums up the remainder of the movie. Rather than spoil it for you, you have to get yourself a copy. I will say that the remainder of the film follows Ruka as she unearths the secrets behind the Engineers (people who can regrow lost limbs [body segments] as weapons), how her father died (it really happened in the movie), and comes to terms with her destiny.

   What I can comment on, is that this movie promises buckets of gore, sex, violence, and the most bizarre story since Ichi The Killer's. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that TGP is on par with ANY Miike flick in terms of story-telling, acting, casting, and setting. However, the cinematography in TGP is extremely haphazard and schizophrenic. The camera will dance all across the screen, causing a lot of action scenes to look like nauseating exercises in futility. I found myself straining to watch certain parts of the screen just to catch some of the action. However, this isn't prevalent throughout the entirety of the film, so it's not too much of a hassle.

   The sets are well put together, the gore scenes are hilarious, shocking, and entertaining; and the story is well written (for a gory, schlocky flick that is).

   I strongly recommend watching this movie in original Japanese, with Subtitles; as the English dubbing is some of the worst heard since 4Kids brought One Piece to America. :shudders:

  I give Tokyo Gore Police 4 stars. It delivers everything it promised, and in a way that isn't ridiculous or annoying (Hudson Hawk)

  

A strange question to post for my first blog entry on this site; I would sumrise. A couple friends of mine had been talking about this place, and I was pretty intrigued. They'll tell you I was clinched on it when I saw nudes, but they're full of shit. So don't listen to their odious manufacturations.

Why am I here? I guess to see what this place is about? To see what new networks I can summon up; or friendships I can accumulate. Testing the virtual waters for contacts of all shapes and sizes.

And praying this isn't anything like Myspace. God help us all.

I could post some factoids about myself; or I could just update my profile. Frankly, I'm just feeling fucking lazy. So, take this entry as a small glimpse ino the crypts of my mind. My... cerebral catacombs.