I've been lazy, but hell, now it's summer and I've been writing lots of material with all the free time I've gotten. But anyway, will be back on the blogging grind, and also, moawr wootness for Dead Island as it's set to get released on September 6, 2011 with E3 and other blog updates on a special edition with an exclusive arena and a blue print to assemble a special weapon.
None the less, I'll be vibing out to this brilliant theme.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Review: Rammbock (Siege of the Dead)
Still somewhat trying to find the spark to really get Willford up and going again, but at the moment, I am partaking in an array of different media outlets that are pertaining to zombies/automatons/undead and the relating ilk. Here I stumbled upon a movie from Germany that's actually really good.
The original title is Rammbock, but so far the only English outlet it has been released in at the moment (United Kingdom) has dubbed it Siege of the Dead. While the latter title is more accurate, I love the formers because it's already a simpler title to remember, foriegn or not and it doesn't give off the stench of trying to relate to Romero's Dead Trilogy like so many films have used in their titles.
When Michael arrives in the city to visit his girlfriend, he soon realises that a terrible virus has spread across the city, turning people into mindless homicidal maniacs. Trapped in his girlfriend's [apartment], he teams up with Harper, a teenage plumber, as hordes of infected zombies begin to swarm the building. [Synopsis from UK site]
The film clocks in at a meager sixty minutes, barely scratching a full-fledged feature billing, but this is where it's actually a good thing. In a sub-horror genre that's already been done to death, sometimes trimming the fat is what helps make a body more lean and better. The movie does retread on familiar territory that the genre has covered many times already, but the time it takes for this movie to move and how the events unfold, the creators behind this film nail everything almost right to make it a quick thrilling adventure.
Gone are the prolonged drama of that one token character having to fuck things up because they're too up in themselves to give attention to the other surviving others who've probably helped each other survive longer than they would have alone. There's also no time that the film meager between actions as the original title's literal translation in English sets itself as a literal battering ram that keeps on trudging till breaking through to the end. Even if it's partially unrealistic to have an Odyssey sort of deal happen in real life where the next move to progress the story comes in right after the last hurdle. It's a movie first and foremost, not a documentary. This is something the viewer will have to accept as the protagonist goes from his ex-girlfriend's apartment room towards the roof top in twenty minutes.
The best thing about this film is that it keeps you on your toes. Again, reiterating the short running time, it helps, especially for safely assuming a number of well-seasoned zombiholics who might be eyeing this after finishing [REC 2] or another viewing of Shaun of the Dead. I actually liked how this film handles their take on the zombie/infection mythos. Following the rabies trend that has been made popular from 28 Days Later and Dawn of the Dead 04, they add in a plot device that makes the film all the more enthralling to see what happens next if the virus gets agittated within the victim. Not much else to say for this shortie, but it is a must-see to notify to all. Rammbock will satisfy anyone with a need for a good quick apocalyptic/epidemic horror.
9/10 Official UK site: http://www.siegeofthedead.com/
Friday, February 18, 2011
OOC: Dead Island
Well, I know Willford has been dead (not literal) for awhile, but yaw, got lazy and had a shit time registering new semester classes and dealing with other chores at hand. Also, since season one of The Walking Dead finished, I wanted to take a break from zombies, but after seeing this trailer, I think I found my muse to write about the undead again.
This is probably one of the most well done trailers yet and the graphics are just so lush even for a CGI scene cut. The music as well as the events unravelling are just pure moving brilliance. Really interested on this game coming out, and apparently film rights have already been snatched up by IGN's reports. Anyway, coming back soon with regular stuff...
This is probably one of the most well done trailers yet and the graphics are just so lush even for a CGI scene cut. The music as well as the events unravelling are just pure moving brilliance. Really interested on this game coming out, and apparently film rights have already been snatched up by IGN's reports. Anyway, coming back soon with regular stuff...
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Holiday with the Strange Folks
Thanksgiving has come and gone, and now it seems all attention not already gobbled up by all the zombies is being directed to Christmas coming up. To date at the moment, it's been months and since our lovely Thanksgiving dinner of canned soups and I was certain a pie that was spoiled graced us, our supplies have been rationed to the point of having to eat one meal a day.
The woman finally gave birth the day after that would have been Black Friday to a baby girl of five pound. It was a good thing there was no complications. They're currently held up in their room as they tend to the newborn child. On my end, I've been having a bad sore on the lower-right side of my back and my ankle feeling numb. I've so far been able to get out of work for awhile, but it's been a painful annoyance.
Despite injuries, the security decided to take me with them to practice shooting. With fewer men on their hands that are able to fight or just work a firearm, they've been teaching me the basics to handle a gun and aim like a pro. The first few times firing were nerve racking, but after awhile I became a novice.
Lesser numbers of zombies have been showing up at our gates, but it's managble for our numbers. The doctor thinks that they know we're too well gaurded at the moment to take, so most of them are probably scouting other places like for the gang we still do not know of. Holidays are coming, and a lot of the hotel residents are planning to center the holidays on the newborn child as a sign that God still probably has faith in us, despite being delt with hordes of the living dead wanting to feast on our flesh. I'd just kill for another Hot Pocket versus the stuff we're trying to farm where the palm trees use to stand in the dining area.
The woman finally gave birth the day after that would have been Black Friday to a baby girl of five pound. It was a good thing there was no complications. They're currently held up in their room as they tend to the newborn child. On my end, I've been having a bad sore on the lower-right side of my back and my ankle feeling numb. I've so far been able to get out of work for awhile, but it's been a painful annoyance.
Despite injuries, the security decided to take me with them to practice shooting. With fewer men on their hands that are able to fight or just work a firearm, they've been teaching me the basics to handle a gun and aim like a pro. The first few times firing were nerve racking, but after awhile I became a novice.
Lesser numbers of zombies have been showing up at our gates, but it's managble for our numbers. The doctor thinks that they know we're too well gaurded at the moment to take, so most of them are probably scouting other places like for the gang we still do not know of. Holidays are coming, and a lot of the hotel residents are planning to center the holidays on the newborn child as a sign that God still probably has faith in us, despite being delt with hordes of the living dead wanting to feast on our flesh. I'd just kill for another Hot Pocket versus the stuff we're trying to farm where the palm trees use to stand in the dining area.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Another Bloody Monday
It's only the middle of the afternoon and I'm tired as hell. Been two weeks since I've updated my little journal. Essentially the TV downstairs gets nothing but screen cards displaying "Please stand by" while the radio plays the same thing over again through a recorded monotone voice. Vic's laptop has been going on the fritz and pretty much the Internet is starting to fall apart with less people being able to access computers in the outside world. The pregnant woman a couple floors below has been announced 'expectant' by the doctor. I tried to steer clear of the doctor from assisting him again since I've seen enough blood for awhile. Due to our unexpected rouge gang attack from last week, we decided to highly buckle down and conserve what we got, even with the baby coming this week.
One good thing to come out of that attack was them drawing some of the undead away from our area and having less break ins. Not as many corpses to clean out and not having to move around more barb-wire and concrete blockades is nice on the muscles. Still, what little security left has been organized to stay on patrol 24/7 just in case of any revenge battles due to one of us taking down one of their bikers.
Aside from the dramatic carnage, it's so far been another day like any at the hotel. Mondays have no meaning since the beginning, and what better way to prove that than to drink ice tea down in the pool area just gossiping and laughing about whatever use to make us stressed before. It's been like a very long unpaid vacation with some walking corpses thrown into the mix and not knowing when you're actually gonna be able to work again.
At times I feel like running away and leaving everyone behind. Maybe I could probably make it like Vic did if he survived, or maybe I could just end it here and now and not have to keep on living this reality. Despite long breaks between gruelling tasks involving mutilating a corpse or having to venture out for supplies, is this all we've set ourselves up to do for the rest of our lives if this doesn't get any better?
Will I actually be able to enjoy what I unknowingly had so good before shit hit the fan?
Is there maybe an island or a far country unaffected by this?
Is there a reason why this is happening and why we're continuing on?
One good thing to come out of that attack was them drawing some of the undead away from our area and having less break ins. Not as many corpses to clean out and not having to move around more barb-wire and concrete blockades is nice on the muscles. Still, what little security left has been organized to stay on patrol 24/7 just in case of any revenge battles due to one of us taking down one of their bikers.
Aside from the dramatic carnage, it's so far been another day like any at the hotel. Mondays have no meaning since the beginning, and what better way to prove that than to drink ice tea down in the pool area just gossiping and laughing about whatever use to make us stressed before. It's been like a very long unpaid vacation with some walking corpses thrown into the mix and not knowing when you're actually gonna be able to work again.
At times I feel like running away and leaving everyone behind. Maybe I could probably make it like Vic did if he survived, or maybe I could just end it here and now and not have to keep on living this reality. Despite long breaks between gruelling tasks involving mutilating a corpse or having to venture out for supplies, is this all we've set ourselves up to do for the rest of our lives if this doesn't get any better?
Will I actually be able to enjoy what I unknowingly had so good before shit hit the fan?
Is there maybe an island or a far country unaffected by this?
Is there a reason why this is happening and why we're continuing on?
Saturday, November 13, 2010
OOC: What have I seen?
Yeah so I usually have a jonesing for a new zombi/zombi-ish film/show and I have a horrible time keeping track of what I've seen to date. To make sure I don't get recommended the same stuff/crap I've seen already I've decided in no order (since I will be including generally panned zombi films in the mix as well as not really remembering when I saw which at what time) here's what I've seen so faaaaaaar... and it will be updated whenever I remember to or remember that I made such a list :p? = not sure if year is accurate
Night of the Living Dead(1968)
Night of the Living Dead (1990)
Night of the Living Dead (2008?)
Dawn of the Dead (1979)
Dawn of the Dead (2008?)
Day of the Dead (1985)
Land of the Dead
Diary of the Dead
Survival of the Dead
Dead Set
[REC]
Resident Evil
Resident Evil: Apocalypse
Resident Evil: Extinction
Resident Evil: Degeneration
The Zombie Diaries
Return of the Living Dead
Return of the Living Dead II
Return of the Living Dead III
Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave
Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis
Zombie Strippers
Beyond Re-Animator
Braindead/Dead Alive
Undead
Dead & Buried
The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue/Let Sleeping Corpses Lie
Zombi 2
The Beyond/Gates of Hell
City of the Living Dead
House by the Cemetary
Automation Transfusion - Currently stands as WORST zombi film I've ever seen X_x
House of the Dead
House of the Dead 2
28 Days Later
Burial Grounds
Burial Grounds
Zombi Holocaust/Dr Butcher MD (Medical Deviant)
Shaun of the Dead
Flesh Eaters
White Zombi
King of the Zombis
Outpost
The Plague
Children of the Living Dead
Boy Eats Girl
All Souls Day
Evil Dead 2
Army of Darkness
Days of Darkness - overtly religous boy was homosexually repressed
Pontypool
Dead Snow (Dod Sno)
Deathwatch
Fido
Forest of the Dead
I Sell the Dead
Night of the Creeps
Pet Sematary
Pet Sematary II
Planet Terror
Quarantine
They Came Back (Les Revenants) - this film would even make the undead weap in sorrow ;(
They Came Back (Les Revenants) - this film would even make the undead weap in sorrow ;(
Scooby-Doo on Zombi Island
Severed
Slither
Versus
- Yeah so that's probably just a tip (and by tip I mean a thumbtack on the iceberg that mobbed the Titanic) of all total zombi films in existence I've seen. I still know a good deal of zombi films that I've yet to see or even see released at all (ie: Worst Case Scenario... soooooo wanted to be one of their zombiz when they still had that sign-up) Anyway, thanks to The Walking Dead currently airing, I'll be held over till I get to see [REC]2 and The 4th Reich :B
Monday, November 1, 2010
After Halloween Hell report
By how my luck has played out yesterday, least I missed out on the Halloween night everyone was throwing inside the hotel. Sometimes I love/hate my brain, but from what the hell I was thinking yesterday morning, we're on non-speaking terms for awhile. Since the usuals for the reconnaissance team wanted to spend the day decorating the hotel for the holiday, I decided to jump in since this would be the first time I'd left the hotel grounds since day one.
I woke up at a painful 5am seminar with three other volunteers being drilled on what to expect and what to do if the unexpected occurs (and non surprisingly it occurs more than we all imagined) After a two hour training session to make sure that if we somehow survive this reconnaissance mission, we would probably be put on-call if someone bit the dust or called off. Being fitted with some padding and a bulletproof vest and helmet, we looked like a bonafied swat team ready to whoop ass. We got loaded into the metal bank trucks that were outfitted to carry weapons, supplies we'd fine, and people. The security controlling our group got us huddled inside as quickly as they yelled at us.
Once inside they shut the doors and got into the cab to start up. The roar in the engine bellowed out loud enough to rile up the roaming undead by the fences. Hearing the commotion, I wasn't sure if we were even going to get off the grounds. I tended not to try and look out of the back windows like some of the other volunteers did as in a few minutes I started to feel consistent turbulence just go through the truck hard. I tried to grip on my seat and not wobble as violently, but one hell of a ram through probably five corpses sent my head ramming into the edge of the metal seat opposite me. Luckily the helmet helped or else there would have been bait for them to use to occupy the zombies running in their way.
It felt like hours as we only traveled some miles from the hotel and mainly through alley ways to bypass the congested streets.
Once we finally stopped, we waited for the team leaders to unlock the doors and rush us into a building they hoped wouldn't be too filled up with the damn things. The doors opening wide opening they pulled at us to run into the grocery store through the broken glass doors. Rushing inside in an instant, one of them got back into the cab to park the truck behind the store. Once everyone was accounted for inside, we blocked up the broken doors with metal shopping carts and items we wouldn't take.
Spending a good hour in the store, we took some carts and started moving around and inspecting what we should take and what was still good. Half of the perishables like meat and frozen items were either gone or had gone bad. What was mainly left in the store was pet food and canned soup and vegetables which was gold to us. There were still plenty of candy bars as well as medical and other remedial supplies. Once we were done at this store, we were soon forced to move the carts back into the truck and rush back inside. It was stated that they had planned for two more places that looked promising.
The second place ended up getting passed since it had been overrun, the third place would actually be on the outskirts of the city so it took us half a day to get through more back roads as well as two gas stops to fill and stock. It was excruciating and tiring.
Finally making it to the third stop, we repeated our first stop routine and ran into another grocery shop to look for anything good. Taking another set of carts we paroled the place. Finding plenty of more stuff than the last place, we were worried on having to take two trips. We were soon informed by one of the main security that there was a delivery truck with the keys still in the cab. Making sure there was nothing in the back, we stocked all of our stuff inside and collected back into the bank truck with three being left to maintain the other truck.
With two vehicles and a wealth of supplies now in our grasp, we decided to gun back towards the hotel since it would be five pm by the time we'd get back through our route. Since we had the bigger delivery truck with us now, it seemed we would have to spend time finding ways that the truck could fit through but most alleyways were just too narrow. We decided to try and make our luck through one of the bigger roads.
Finding one not as densely crowded, the drivers decided to stomp full speed to knock over what was in front of us. Feeling the vehicle just rumble through the debris on the road, we felt home free... but in an instant, we heard a large clang right above us. We thought a corpse might have landed on top of us from one of the buildings, but suddenly we felt getting pelted with things around us. One of us got up to see what was going on outside.
Looking up above, there seemed to be a small group of people throwing empty glass bottles at us. Waving their arms to try and get us to stop, we just kept driving away as their pleas look to grow down with defeat. It wasn't soon till we started getting bombarded with flaming Molotov's. Out of nowhere, an army of bikers started driving beside us just banging on the truck's walls just spouting obscenities.
We kept going full speed as they did too, probably hoping to find out where we're holding up. One bike drove behind us and in front of the delivery truck. The passenger behind him loaded up their revolver and tried to shoot at our rear window. Being gorilla glass, it had no effect. The delivery truck decided to speed up and ram them right behind us. Pressing up against our back doors for a minute, I only saw their bewildered faces for a minute before they got sucked under the delivery truck's bumper and the bike being tossed in front of another.
Seeing what had happen to one of theirs, they all quickly backed off and drove the other way to regroup. We didn't know who they exactly were, but we did know that they either wanted to join us, or take what we got.
Making sure no one else was following us, we continued on by heading into a street that was much more dense than we were on, but it headed directly towards our base. Once we were clear, the security leaders reported our new biker friends as possible threats and/or allies. The rest of us just unloaded supplies and took what we earned. I got back to my room and my mates just quickly started raiding the box I had laid on the table. I plopped on the couch bed just looking at the lamp. My legs were sore and my brain was pounding badly. Everyone was getting ready for the Halloween party while I just slept to rest for the next day...
PS: A lovely photo I took with Sara's camera during our trip. Sad, who knew journalism would have actually been the death of him...I woke up at a painful 5am seminar with three other volunteers being drilled on what to expect and what to do if the unexpected occurs (and non surprisingly it occurs more than we all imagined) After a two hour training session to make sure that if we somehow survive this reconnaissance mission, we would probably be put on-call if someone bit the dust or called off. Being fitted with some padding and a bulletproof vest and helmet, we looked like a bonafied swat team ready to whoop ass. We got loaded into the metal bank trucks that were outfitted to carry weapons, supplies we'd fine, and people. The security controlling our group got us huddled inside as quickly as they yelled at us.
Once inside they shut the doors and got into the cab to start up. The roar in the engine bellowed out loud enough to rile up the roaming undead by the fences. Hearing the commotion, I wasn't sure if we were even going to get off the grounds. I tended not to try and look out of the back windows like some of the other volunteers did as in a few minutes I started to feel consistent turbulence just go through the truck hard. I tried to grip on my seat and not wobble as violently, but one hell of a ram through probably five corpses sent my head ramming into the edge of the metal seat opposite me. Luckily the helmet helped or else there would have been bait for them to use to occupy the zombies running in their way.
It felt like hours as we only traveled some miles from the hotel and mainly through alley ways to bypass the congested streets.
Once we finally stopped, we waited for the team leaders to unlock the doors and rush us into a building they hoped wouldn't be too filled up with the damn things. The doors opening wide opening they pulled at us to run into the grocery store through the broken glass doors. Rushing inside in an instant, one of them got back into the cab to park the truck behind the store. Once everyone was accounted for inside, we blocked up the broken doors with metal shopping carts and items we wouldn't take.
Spending a good hour in the store, we took some carts and started moving around and inspecting what we should take and what was still good. Half of the perishables like meat and frozen items were either gone or had gone bad. What was mainly left in the store was pet food and canned soup and vegetables which was gold to us. There were still plenty of candy bars as well as medical and other remedial supplies. Once we were done at this store, we were soon forced to move the carts back into the truck and rush back inside. It was stated that they had planned for two more places that looked promising.
The second place ended up getting passed since it had been overrun, the third place would actually be on the outskirts of the city so it took us half a day to get through more back roads as well as two gas stops to fill and stock. It was excruciating and tiring.
Finally making it to the third stop, we repeated our first stop routine and ran into another grocery shop to look for anything good. Taking another set of carts we paroled the place. Finding plenty of more stuff than the last place, we were worried on having to take two trips. We were soon informed by one of the main security that there was a delivery truck with the keys still in the cab. Making sure there was nothing in the back, we stocked all of our stuff inside and collected back into the bank truck with three being left to maintain the other truck.
With two vehicles and a wealth of supplies now in our grasp, we decided to gun back towards the hotel since it would be five pm by the time we'd get back through our route. Since we had the bigger delivery truck with us now, it seemed we would have to spend time finding ways that the truck could fit through but most alleyways were just too narrow. We decided to try and make our luck through one of the bigger roads.
Finding one not as densely crowded, the drivers decided to stomp full speed to knock over what was in front of us. Feeling the vehicle just rumble through the debris on the road, we felt home free... but in an instant, we heard a large clang right above us. We thought a corpse might have landed on top of us from one of the buildings, but suddenly we felt getting pelted with things around us. One of us got up to see what was going on outside.
Looking up above, there seemed to be a small group of people throwing empty glass bottles at us. Waving their arms to try and get us to stop, we just kept driving away as their pleas look to grow down with defeat. It wasn't soon till we started getting bombarded with flaming Molotov's. Out of nowhere, an army of bikers started driving beside us just banging on the truck's walls just spouting obscenities.
We kept going full speed as they did too, probably hoping to find out where we're holding up. One bike drove behind us and in front of the delivery truck. The passenger behind him loaded up their revolver and tried to shoot at our rear window. Being gorilla glass, it had no effect. The delivery truck decided to speed up and ram them right behind us. Pressing up against our back doors for a minute, I only saw their bewildered faces for a minute before they got sucked under the delivery truck's bumper and the bike being tossed in front of another.
Seeing what had happen to one of theirs, they all quickly backed off and drove the other way to regroup. We didn't know who they exactly were, but we did know that they either wanted to join us, or take what we got.
Making sure no one else was following us, we continued on by heading into a street that was much more dense than we were on, but it headed directly towards our base. Once we were clear, the security leaders reported our new biker friends as possible threats and/or allies. The rest of us just unloaded supplies and took what we earned. I got back to my room and my mates just quickly started raiding the box I had laid on the table. I plopped on the couch bed just looking at the lamp. My legs were sore and my brain was pounding badly. Everyone was getting ready for the Halloween party while I just slept to rest for the next day...
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