Toronto International Film Festival 2014: First Time For Everything

This year's Toronto International Film Festival was special for numerous reasons. It was the first year that they closed a portion of king street for a street festival that celebrated... well, the festival. It was a year when there were so many big premieres that they couldn't stay contained to the first few days of the festival. But more importantly, it was this year that I actually got to go to TIFF.

I've been wanting to go for years. Hell, I've wanted to go since I first heard about the festival when I was 12. But for one reason or another (not living in Toronto, not having time to go, not having money, being surrounded by sharks) I haven't had the opportunity to go to any TIFF screenings. However, this would not be another year that I would simply stand by and watch films at their major release. I could finally go see films, see famous people, be a part of TIFF. But I couldn't jump right in a get a package to commit to a bunch of random films, I have a job and other commitments. So I bought two single tickets to see Before We Go, and Kingdom of Dreams and Madness, and thought that this was an ok introduction to the festival... and maybe next year I'd have a better sense of my schedule.

Fast forward to September 6th and I'm getting up at 6am to go stand in the rush line for an hour and a half to get tickets for The Tale of Princess Kaguya. When I tell people this portion of my festival experience they either look at me like I'm crazy, or they're impressed by my "dedication". While it doesn't really compare with people who take time off to see 26 movies over the course of the festival, there was something so exciting and satisfying about getting up that early to see a movie that I couldn't wait to do it again. Even getting tickets to see The Imitation Game at an extra screening with hundreds of other people was wonderful. The line was around the block and nearly did a lap of it. But again, totally worth.

While not all the films I saw were masterpieces, they were all very good. But what I take away from my time at TIFF 2014 isn't the movies, but the act of going to see these movie. Maybe next year I'll become a member and see even more movies. Maybe I'll even take time off so I can spend days enjoying an art form that I love. Here's hoping that TIFF 2015 will be even better, because my first taste has left me wanting more.

Bravely Default and Final Fantasy's Future

While the demo has been out for a few weeks, Bravely Default's upcoming release has generated a lot of positive buzz for the game. But more than anything, what most people are talking about is what a wonderful bit of nostalgia the game is providing to fans; specifically Final Fantasy fans. Besides the wonderfully awful name and a unique battle system, the Bravely Default is basically a Final Fantasy title. Like the 4 Warriors of Light, Bravely Default is another title inspired by Final Fantasy III & V's stellar job system with a unique twist. But since this game is practically another final fantasy title, why isn't it named such. The answer is simple, the name Final Fantasy has a stigma attached to it. As many have pointed out in other blogs, Final Fantasy's recent outings haven't lived up to the reputation that the series tries to associate itself with. But then I thought about the future of the series in general and thought that maybe it isn't as bleak as everyone says it is. With A Realm Reborn doing pretty well considering its terrible start, Bravely Default and Lightning Returns shaping up to be solid games in their own right and Final Fantasy XV looking amazing, Final Fantasy's shine may not be gone yet.

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet

Red rose... I mean mage in action

As I mentioned before, Bravely Default is basically a wolf in sheep's clothing (but in a good way). The classes, monsters, themes, and even the spells are of the Final Fantasy universe. And based on the demo that I've become a little obsessed with, I'm looking forward to the finished product. The Brave & Default battle system is an interesting high risk high reward form of combat that adds a lot of strategy to even basic battles. It's vaguely reminiscent of the battle systems implemented in the first two episodes of the Xenosaga games with their stock features. but not just the core gameplay, but the music is fantastic and the art style is amazing, especially if you're like me and loved the art and design of the remade Final Fantasy III. So I'll definitely be picking it up when it comes out on February 7th.

But is the name change necessary even with the clear ties to its parent franchise? Well I think even if it is a simple name change that it's a welcome one. It's wonderfully weird and I think the beginning of what could be a killer franchise in itself. After all, look at how popular Persona has become in comparison to it's main Shin Megami Tensei brothers. Bring on Bravely Default, and if it does well enough in North America its planned sequel Bravely Second (like I said, wonderfully weird)

P.S. I'm unfortunately obsessed with the main battle theme


Lightning strikes thrice

Another demo that was released recently was Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. Now the main question is why on earth do we need another Final Fantasy XIII game, especially when for so many people this is the game that they like the least. As someone who thought XIII was ok (only ok, but the music was amazing) and XIII-2 was a big improvement, I'm looking forward to this 'final' (pardon the pun) instalment in the Lightning saga. Playing the demo has definitely strengthened that feeling, although I wish I got more time to play around with the battle system more, as it's definitely shaping up to be the best combat of the three games. But only when the full game comes whether or not this is going to be redemption enough for Lightning's troubled series. Maybe third time's a charm?


Lucky number XV

If there's anything that has me more hopefully in the future of the franchise it's Tetsuya Nomura's opus, or rather what I hope Final Fantasy XV will be. The game was announced 8 years ago, and I believe has been in on and off development for the last 10, though in the last few years it has been worked on heavily.  But even with full action combat, incredibly amazing graphics and what appears to be an incredibly epic and interesting story, who knows if it will actually translate to what the Final Fantasy franchise needs more than anything, an absolutely stellar title to go up their with the other staples in the main numbered series. After all, that's what I thought Final Fantasy XIII was going to do with that amazing, but sadly pre-rendered E3 2006 trailer.

One can dream...

There's only so much rebranding and remaking this franchise can handle, and while it won't be gone for a while, any more problems could be... well, problematic for the franchise's and the studio's continued existence. But here's hoping that with what appears to be a clear and appealing new direction for Square Enix to go, there won't be a "final" Final Fantasy just yet.

Sherlock Series 3: Thoughts On The Empty Hearse & Sign of Three

Warning: There are Spoilers, so if you haven’t watch this series yet, you shouldn't even be here you should be watching it right now.

While I was excited as the next Sherlock fan for the new series, I was; as I often am when comes to things I hold dear to my heart, incredibly nervous of what was to come. How on earth do you top the awesome spectacular that was Series 2 with both Irene Adler; played by the astounding Lara Pulver, introduced to the Sherlock universe and Andrew Scott’s award-winning and absolutely brilliant performance as Jim Moriarty. Series 2 was also for many what helped make Sherlock a huge international sensation, heck when I watched series 1 apart from a strong following in the UK there didn’t seem to be this massive global following that there is now. So many things could have gone wrong with this series, and with one episode left, there still is a chance that we all might flip the metaphorical table in rage, or more appropriately pull an Anderson and start tearing stuff of the walls.

So with two absolutely fantastic episodes out of the way and the finale upon us this upcoming Sunday, it is time to summarize my thoughts on the series so far and consider what we might see in the next episode.

Acknowledgement of the Fanbase

 A minor caveat, Moffat has never actually acknowledged in writing the craziness that is the Sherlock Fandom. But there have been several moments in the last two episodes that feel oddly like fan service. As odd as it sounds, I feel like a lot of what has made the last two episodes so enjoyable are the moments of sheer insanity that in many ways could only rival some crazed fan girl’s fan fiction. The theory of how Sherlock survived by one girl in “The Empty Hearse” that ends in Moriarty and Sherlock kissing is right out of something on Archive of our own or live journal, not exactly something I pegged for Mark Gatiss or Stephen Moffat to come up with. Followed by what I think is worthy of more exploration… Sherlock and Watson Lightweight Drunken Adventures was a refreshing and wonderfully charming way to make these characters even more interesting and fun (Especially the bit where Sherlock and Watson trying to work a case while drunk). There’s a lot more in these episodes that feels a giant thank you to the fans, but still in a way that is their own and not actually pandering to any group. Keep up the good work writers.

Sidenote: buzzfeed has a hilarious summary of what happened on tumblr after the series premiere. It is quite a joy to read… to say the least

The Magnanimous Mary Morstan

Probably one of things I was the most nervous of was the introduction of John Watson’s wife, Mary Morstan. Time and time again, television and movie adaptations often don’t do this character justice and often end throwing her in as the third wheel (but shouldn’t be) to the Holmes and Watson dynamic. So I too thought that this was not going to end well for anyone

Boy was I never so glad to be wrong

Not only is Mary Morstan a fantastic addition to the series, she’s possibly my new favourite character. She’s not some clingy fiancé, she seems to truly understand how both these men work and seems to want them to still be besties (pardon the term) despite John and her beginning a new chapter in their lives together. Plus her intelligence, wit, and humour are so refreshing for a show where the recurring female characters seem a bit overshadowed and one-dimensional (although Molly is now an even greater pleasure to watch, as she isn’t just some simplistic, shy pathologist)

Now my current fear is that either this all too good to be true or something truly terrible is going to happen… as is often the case with Sherlock finales.

End of an Era

Now we approach the end of the series and our new main villain, Charles Augustus Magnussen. Now while many Sherlock fans are already attempting to piece together what’s going to happen based on the references in characters and title of the finale “The Last Vow”; based on “The Last Bow”, I just know that in typical fashion of Sherlock, shit will probably hit the fan. And with Mary’s apparent pregnancy also now a factor, who knows what could go horribly, horribly wrong. All I know is that it will probably break my heart again and I will still love every minute of it. That, and it will probably change things up considerably for the next series, that is if there is even going to be a series 4 with the way the show has been going. Since there was a cameo of Irene Adler in the last episode, I’m hoping that she comes back somehow in a bigger role, but maybe that was just another red herring in a show that can sometimes be full of them. Here’s hoping it’s another hat trick for the third series. The final episode of the third series airs on Sunday January 12^th on BBC One.