Name One

[ccoa]

If you could recommend just one movie/book/tv show/comic/etc, what would it be? Why should we drop everything and go read/watch/play it?

Book: A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin

Martin doesn't just bend fantasy tropes, he actively subverts them. Be prepared to be swept away to this grittily realistic medieval fantasy setting where the politics are deadly and the people are grey. Move over Tolkein, Jordan, and Goodkind. You guys don't hold a candle.

Game: Okami

A stylized world that is practically art, amazingly fun gameplay, engaging storyline, and great charactarization. Okami is everything an action RPG should be. Gameplay has the unique element of being able to "draw" on the screen with your celestial brush, creating effects from wind to lightning to aid you on your way.

TV Show: Firefly

C'mon, it's about space cowboys. What could be better? But seriously, Firefly was one of the best shows ever to come to the small screen. Great dialog and characterization, an intriguing world, government conspiracies, and a cute girl who knows waif fu. At 14 episodes and a movie, this gem ended too soon. Curse you, Fox! You can currently see the episodes on Universal HD, or the episodes are available through iTunes or on DVD.

[Mac]

Nice idea ccoa.

Book: Spongebob Squarepants Annual

Come on, its spongebob!

Game: Eternal Sonata

I've never played such a beautiful game in my life, so well detailed, music is perfect, battle system is perfect....only down point is voices but even so they aren't too bad. The story is about the other side of life that dives into this surreal afterlife. This game represents whats good in the world.

TV Show: Bleach

Well it's always a mix up with animes atm....but Bleach seems to have come through the most so far....they are out of the fillers and onto the arrancar saga....and i have to say so far every episode has been very amusing....this is closely followed by Naruto Shippuden.

[psgels]

Book: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
I usually don't have the patience to read books, but when I read this one, I loved it. Especially at the time it was written, it provided an interesting look at human nature. I'm also still surprised at how much Hollywood managed to screw up this novel.

Game: Rayman
Those who've known me from way, way back know the first avatar I used to have: Globox, a character from the Rayman franchise. It's proven to be a very addictive adventure-game concept, with each of the three installments proving to be different and unique.

TV Show: Baccano
While it may not be my favourite series, it's one of the best-scripted anime I've ever seen. I just finished it, and it still amazes me how well it combines action, drama, comedy, a huge cast of characters and four different timelines in just thirteen episodes.

[GubiD]

Book: Dictionary... Do you realize how many words you can add to your vocabulary!

Game: Vandall Hearts 2(PSX) I loved the game and it had an interesting battle system.

Show: House.. I am sorry, but everytime that guy insults someone it makes me feel good.

[Cup o' Wisps]

Book: Lone Wolf and Cub

Meh, I don't know if "Graphic Novel" sounds as bookish as a dictionary, but why not. I'm not big on the samurai deal, but when you have a mercenary just going around taking up odd jobs and eventually toppling a massive house, all the while bringing his baby son around in a baby carriage that ends up hooked up with immense guns, where can you go wrong? Funny how it's actually very realistic and focuses a lot on the interactions of the child including a woman who lost her son and needs to breast feed to alleviate her pains, a brain damaged youth who is jealous yet decides to protect the babe, and even whores and fellow assassins trying to kill his father.

Game: Joust

I've been playing it a lot recently. I can't stop. I'm in love with that game. Back story? No clue. Character development? No clue. Big fancy shiny thingamajigie? No clue. Just fun all round game play.

TV Show: Pound Puppies

I couldn't think of anything. It's sitting in a case of old VHS I've had since I was a kid, I'm not sure. Don't ask. Sorries.

[JakeyZombie]

Book: White Oleander

Well, I could simply say it was added to Oprah's book club, but there's a lot more to it than that. Janet Fitch has each character that the reader encounters well thought out, each possessing dynamic personalities that you're typically able to empathize with. I sat down and read it straight through, and every chapter impressed me. Meh, read it, you'll see.

Game: Phantasy Star 4

My very first RPG. I like everything about it, the characters are all unique, it has a really interesting setting. It's one of the first games that I've seen kill of a main character so well. I just liked it, what can I say? I swear to God, I've beaten it probably 20 times, at least.:x

TV Show: Sailor Moon

I don't watch TV. This is all I can think of.

[J.D. Slasha]

Book:

Twenty Love Songs & a Song of Despair by Pablo Neruda.

If you a poetry fanatic, this lil' book will do you good. Written by a political activist, these poems suprisingly have such depth to them, you'll get caught up in the intensity of Neruda's poems. I read this as a senior in high school like three years ago and I still read it once in awhile. A definite must buy in my honest opinion....

Game:

Heavenly Blade (PS3):

Now it was hard for me to pick a single game, but right now I've been watching my girlfriend play this little number and I think it's worth buying (or atleast renting). They did a really good job with this one; the world's environment is pretty immerse for an action game, usdually something you'll find in bigger known RPG's. I haven't been able to play it myself (except for the demo) but it looks like a winner to me.

Show:

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Alright, alright. I could've mouthed off some random anime, but this my friends, is actually not an anime (to my surprise when it was first released) but an American made animated series. What captivates me time and time again about A:tla is the fact that the world it's set in is so well done that there are many elements set forth in both the story and setting that will keep you wanting more... (I mean Flying Bisons, beautiful scenery... what more could you want?!) The story's pretty captivating as well, watching the destiny of the world's hero unfold and watxhing his more human elements makes for a good show. Definitely check it out when you get the time.

[Ryuk]

Book

Pretty much anything from Terry Pratchett. I love escapism, Terry Pratchetts discworld novels allow just that. They are funny, witty and very entertaining as it is a completely imagainary yet captivating world that has been created.

Show

Deathnote
I know what most will say...blah blah how predictable, but this show seemed to have a mega influence on me. Once the series ended i felt quite empty and found myself watching it again from the start. I recommend to any who hasn't yet seen the series that they give it a try at least once!

[Kettlehead]

Book:
Hmmmmm, maybe A Scanner Darkly. Intense super-paranoid sci-fi about... Really paranoid people on drugs. It's posititvely metaphysical.

Game:
Bahamut Lagoon. I can't seem to stop talking about this game. It has just about everything you might want from a game, except a sequal.

Movie:
Tough one... I really like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Possibly the Ice Storm, which is sort of like American Beauty but better in my opinion. Ghost in the Shell, if we can talk anime.

[Lunarea]

Book: The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub

It has been over a decade since I first read this book, and it still remains my favorite. It's the very first book that has made me cry. Up until that point, I didn't think that just words could leave such a powerful and lasting impression. Despite its 1000+ pages, I've re-read The Talisman a couple times per year since I purchased it.
The plot is one of a fantasy-like adventure mixed with the harsh modern reality of our waking world. It's an incredible journey to follow. I really hope that you all give it a try.

Game: Valkyrie Profile

I've a huge interest in mythology, so I was pleasantly surprised to see a game that deals with the Norse pantheon. The game is an action-based RPG with quite a cast of characters.
My favorite part, however, is that the focus of the game is on character development. While there is actual story premise and a plot, the story of the development of each character is what intrigued me the most.
The themes revolve around death, knowledge, justice and grief.
I haven't tried the PsP version (at least I think it was PsP), though I hear it includes more movies.

TV Show: Eureka

Sci-Fi Original, Eureka is about a small town with big inventions. The greatest mind of the U.S have been gathered to live in the technologically advanced town of Eureka. Here, they test their theories, create new products, and of course, get into trouble.
We follow as an ordinary (intelligence-wise) sheriff moves to this great little town and begins to deal with the problems that occur. Of course, more often than not that involves saving the town/country/the world from disaster and utter annihilation.
It's interesting both for its comic element and because the scientific discoveries/theories/products are not that far off into the future.

[Draken]

Heavenly Blade (PS3)
You mean Heavenly Sword, right? Which is a fantastic game might I add. It's quite easy, until the final boss which is hard as fuck!

Book: Eragon and/or Eldest

Chritopher Paolini is a fantastic writer, and I love these books so much, they're a wonderful read if you want to immerse yourself in a fantasy world with all the usual stuff, with some added spice of course (I'd steer well away from the movie though, it failed... horribly).

Game: The Orange Box

Not so much of a game, but a compilation of 5, all for £20 (Around $40). The pack includes Half Life 2, Half Life 2 Episode 1, Half Life 2 Episode 2, Portal and Team Fortress 2. This quenches both your thirst for single player and multiplayer action, and if you're sick of ye olde FPS shooters, try out Portal, which is a fantastic puzzle game which puts you in control of a gun which shoots portals.

Movie/Show: Transformers: The Movie

Shia LeBeouf gives a outstanding performance in this action thriller, he improvises most of his lines and is just a plain great actor. The effects are amazing and it's mostly edge-of-your-seat stuff. Really enjoyable.

EDIT: ccoa, considering Firefly, they're making the movies into a trilogy I heard.

[Doctor]

A book: The trilogy of the Thanatonauts (Deathtrippers in English, I think) by Bernard Werber. A masterpiece of litterature uniting the genres of science fiction, fantasy, action and philosophy. The novels follow the adventures of a group of scientists who wish to investigate the world's last mystery: What is after death.

The second volume, Empire of the Angels, follows the same group as they observe humanity from "infinitely high above".

In the final volume, The Cycle of Gods, Student-Gods learn to become proper Gods, while trying to answer the unthinkable: "What is beyond God?".

Anyway, great books, the kind you read in one reading.

A game: Dance Dance Revolution. For those who need exercise.

A movie: The Simpsons Movie. When a tv series is adapted to cinema, the movie is usually disapointing. Not this one, I haven't laughed so hard in a long time.

[Venetia]

Book: I don't really read books much ... I agree w/ Jakey in that White Oleander was a good read, but rather depressing. The Stand by S.K. was his best work, if you've never read the unabridged version, you're missing out. Gets kinda preachy at the end but the first half is awesome.


Game: The NEW Super Mario Bros. (that's the name, capitals and all) for the DS. I couldn't put that game down, it was so incredibly addictive.

Oh Sixty I love Joust too. I'll never understand why it's about knights flying around on magic ostriches and I don't think it's possible to beat it but it's such a fun game.

And to those who haven't played it, play Shadow of the Colossus. Such an incredibly gorgeous and cinematic game, and somehow it pulls off having memorable characters and amazing action sequences, even though there're only like 10 things to fight in the whole world and only like 10 spoken lines.


TV Show: I watch HEROES religiously, although I wish it wasn't cutting off early December because of the stupid strike. Other than that ... Hm, seen the Sarah Silverman Show yet on Comedy Central? I usually don't find comediennes very funny but that show is pretty hilarious ... You have to have a really easy sense of humor and iron skin toward offensive material, though ^_^.

Movie: I don't really watch a whole lot of movies and nothing more recent than 300, but I'd recommend Run Lola Run to anyone who hasn't seen it. It's German, subtitled. Anyway it was really well done and insightful, and fairly action-packed, even though nobody physically hurts anyone else :')

[ccoa]

Book: Eragon and/or Eldest

Chritopher Paolini is a fantastic writer, and I love these books so much, they're a wonderful read if you want to immerse yourself in a fantasy world with all the usual stuff, with some added spice of course (I'd steer well away from the movie though, it failed... horribly).

Um, are you serious? O.o Paolini shows potential as a writer, but his prose is weak and the idea is a mish-mash of cliches and even some outright theft from other authors. It was like Star Wars meets Tolkein meets The Dragonriders of Pern, except take only the "cool" ideas and leave behind anything that gave those works meaning/depth. The only books I've ever read that were more blatently derivative are Goodkind's Sword of Truth novels.

[HawkZombie]

My wife loves those books as well...but hated the movie too :P

Either way, none of it interested me one little bit.

[missingno]

Draken if you think that the Eragon books are good, then I'm a bit worried for you, man. Spend an hour or so reading this site, seriously: http://www.anti-shurtugal.com

Anyway...

Movie: Citizen Kane
Must-see. Considered by many people to be the greatest movie ever made, and it lives up to its reputation. Some people might have a hard time settling into the black-and-white, but after fifteen minutes you should get used to it.

TV Series: The L Word
Currently one of the best shows on television. A little heavy on the sex and nudity, but it's all relevant. The story follows a group of characters (most of them lesbians) in their lives in Los Angeles. A lot of it is very modern/liberal, but beyond some of the more blatant stuff it's a wonderfully well-written and acted series. I am eagerly awaiting the fifth season.

Book: Watchmen
Just read it. Seriously.

Game: Pokemon (main series- any recent version)
The pinnacle of video games. Very high replayability and customization make them eternal, and the basic games are deceptively simple and hde an incredibly deep metagame when playing over the internet with other humans. Worth sinking hours into moreso than any other game I can think of.

[Draken]

To be honest, I don't care, I still find it to be a good read and enjoyed reading it. The guy wrote it when he was 15 D:

[missingno]

No, he didn't. I linked to that website for a reason. It debunks myths like that.

[Draken]

I had a quick read-through, And I'm quite surprised at how similar it is to Star Wars etc, but in my opinion It's still a good book, and it's worth having a read.

[HawkZombie]

Not to detract, but that is a rather interesting site (Would have been nicer to link directly to the age debat article, Des XD)...and I honestly thought he wrote the first book when he was 15, only to have it picked up around that time and revised, etc.

Who knew he was 19 when a first offical printing happened. (18 if you count the self-published, which I'm inclined to do...the stigmata surrounding self-published works is deserved, but harsh at times).

[ccoa]

You can count the self-published version as the first time he was published, but it underwent almost a year of editing after that. The version everyone here has read probably doesn't bear too much resemblence to that one.

And what was the excuse for Eldest?

[Elijah von Böse]

Book: Foundation Series -
The amount of universal depth spanning the series is absolutely astonishing - it represents the dawn of true, deep, meaningful science fiction. Incorporating believable characters & scenarios, not only does Foundation provide an interesting read as a single entity, but the entire series projects a view that is incredible.

Game: Might and Magic II: Gates to Another World (Sega Genesis Version)
I grew up on this, it exposed me to what an RPG should be. It brought concepts that have been copied, stolen, modified, and paid homage to over the years - and even some features that are absolutely brilliant, that have not been recreated. The game itself is entertaining, but mind-twistingly difficult at times, as you have absolutely no direction. It's a premature, smart Elder Scrolls.

Movie: The Fountain
Hugh Jackman plays three roles in three different timelines that all converge into one psychedelic, touching experience. Need I say more?

[HawkZombie]

You can count the self-published version as the first time he was published, but it underwent almost a year of editing after that. The version everyone here has read probably doesn't bear too much resemblence to that one.

And what was the excuse for Eldest?

I'm sensing ccoa is a tad bit bitter XD

[Lene]

Book
Seed to Harvest by Octavia Butler (http://www.amazon.com/review/product/0446698903/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_helpful?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=&showViewpoints=1&colid=&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending\)
This is a anthology made up of four novels--Wild Seed, Mind of My Mind, Clay's Ark, and Patternmaster.

Personally I think the summary printed on the back of the book does it a disservice. The first protagonist, Anyanwu, is not some demigod. She is a human, with an extraordinary ability and she is merely trying to live the best life she can until a stranger, with an extraordinary ability of his own, darkens her doorstep.

Octavia Butler knows how to write characters that are dynamic and three-dimensional. If that is your thing, you will definitely love reading this book.

As for me, I was ranting like a maniac while reading:

Lene: *walking through the house clutching the book like a lifeline* I hate you I hate you I hate you! You're such a bastard! *gasp* But omg, why can't I quit you! Why!?
Lene's Mother: Oh no, she's finally lost it.
Lene's Father: Why couldn't she become addicted to something less self-destructive, like cigarettes?

Also, if you like the show Heroes, this is the same sort of idea.

TV Series: My Name is Earl. (NBC, Thursdays)
I've always thought that comedy has gone downhill in the present time. I hated Friends and I thought Seinfeld was retarded, so basically a lot of Comedy didn't appeal to me. Until I came across this show. Please try to find the first season on DVD. You will be laughing like a maniac.

The story is about a man named Earl Hickey who has done bad things. When he gets hit by car, he has an epiphany and decides to improve his karma--by making it up to all the people he has wronged.

Oh and Heroes is also a good show too.

[ArtBane]

Game: Portal

I am sure a lot of people have heard about this great nugget of gaming already. Not only is it an interesting new way to play a FPS and solve puzzles but it features some of the funniest writing I have heard in a game since Psychonauts. It is short but every part of it is memorable. Really I recommend the entire Orange Box (Half Life 2, HL2:Ep1, HL2:Ep2, Portal, and Team Fortress 2) but if you had to play one game from it this would be the one.

Movie: Casablanca

Citizen Kane is a great movie but this trumps it. It is ridiculous how many memorable quotes come from this movie. Ex. Here's looking at you kid. An excellent cast with an interesting plot in an interesting setting. This is a true classic that everyone should see.

TV Series: The Office

My favorite show on NBC's Thursday night lineup. I never saw the original British series but from what I heard this one trumps it. Very funny and entertaining show. It does take a little time getting used to Michael (Steve Carell's character).

Book: Battle Angel Alita

Great manga series. My first manga and one of the few I have continued reading after I went through my must read/watch every manga/anime series phase back in college. A real fun main character with an interesting sci-fi plot. They re-released the first series of the manga so it should be pretty easy to find.

[2-D]

TV Series: The Office

My favorite show on NBC's Thursday night lineup. I never saw the original British series but from what I heard this one trumps it.

Sorry dude, gunna have to disagree. The British version of that show shines through as the better version. Something was lost in translation :/ (which is odd for something in the same languauge :P)

[ArtBane]

That's cool. I can't really argue since I haven't seen it. I am sure there will always be people that will prefer the original.

[Draken]

Without Ricky Gervais, The Office becomes an instant fail.

And ArtBane, I already recommended the Orange Box

[ArtBane]

Yeah but I recommended Portal. The Orange Box is more a collection of games than a game in itself. I wouldn't even consider it for game of the year as it wouldn't be fair. It definitely is the deal of the year though.

[Draken]

Funnily enough, I've still to complete Portal. I got to the last level and for some reason stopped playing it. I need to get it for the PC, and then when I get the updated SDK, expect some new Portal maps :D

[ArtBane]

Portal was the first thing I played on the disc. Even though I greatly enjoyed Half Life 2 and the episodes (I am playing through them again with commentary on) and play TF2 almost every night, I have a special appreciation for Portal for being something that thoroughly entertained me. My first playthrough was the best three hours I spent in gaming this year.

[Draken]

You should try out Narbacular Drop, it was the original game before Valve took on the students to create Portal. The puzzles are quite different and relatively easy, but just as fun! :)

[Atemu]

I'm sensing ccoa is a tad bit bitter XD

Wouldn't you be? The guy can't write for shit and he gets published because mommy and daddy said he was perfect. Meanwhile the people that are actually good are struggling just to get someone to READ their work.

[Lene]

Honestly, Eragon is the standard fantasy novel that's everyone read before if you are a fantasy fan in any way. And it's not very well written, so then what is the point of wasting your time with reading it? I find that if you like Eragon, then you probably need to read more fantasy books.

Although, please to be reading this review by the lovely mistful from lj (who has just gotten a publishing deal for six figures...and judging by that I'll probably be hearing all about the book before it even comes out... :D )

V. Eragon by Christopher Paolini (I'm Sorry, But This Cup of Tea Is, In Fact, Mud)

I read this in sheer fascinated horror, to see if the book could possibly be as bad as the movie.

It was.

I mean, if we wrote when we were fifteen (and I did) we wrote like this (and I did). A book is going to come out stilted if you're that young, unless you are a Super Genius In Style of Mozart. And a book is often going to come out - uncannily reminiscent of other books this young writer has read. (See: Tolkien's and David Eddings' Secret Lovechild In the Attic.) And I do admire all the energy Paolini put into promoting the novel.

It's just the fact that the book was sent out into a cruel world and not put in the famous trunk under the bed that upsets me.

In an Epic Battle between Good and Evil, the Good Guy (tipped off to the Evil by the Evil Guy's habit of cackling manically and murdering people in the Great Hall - he was as cunning as he was evil, obviously) Shows the Bad Guy Mercy. The Bad Guy Responds (shock! horror!) with Treachery.

In fact, he (and I quote) 'smote him in the fork of his legs.'

I cried laughing.

Plus, at one point we come to a whole village massacred by - totally not orcs. Sadly, Garion (I mean, Eragon) observes that mothers tried to protect their children, and lovers each other. He also notes, with no sense that this in any way invalidates points previously made, that the bodies have been heaped up in front of the village, with a murdered baby on top.

This gives me a hysterical image of the orcs setting up an Artistic Tableau.

ORC DIRECTOR: Maurice! Make sure that woman is cradling her lover. We've got to pile them up for Maximum Tragic Effect!
MAURICE THE ORC: How do we know he was her lover? Maybe they'd never even met-
ORC DIRECTOR: Dude, it's not like the kid's going to know, now is it? Armand! Careful with that baby, it's going to be my centerpiece! Oooh, it is the Tragic Cherry on my Woe Cake. I've got such an eye for these things. God, I love my job!

[Draken]

That ORC DIRECTOR bit made me cry of laughter.

[Lene]

On that note:

Blog: Feels Totally Naked Without a Margarita Shaker (http://mistful.livejournal.com/)
I came for the Harry Potter fanfiction, but ended up staying for the occasional blog post. Maya, or Sarah as she has recently revealed, is an excellent writer and every blog post is a great read. Her recaps/reviews of various movies and books are hilarious.

Recently a publisher had decided to pick up her trilogy called The Demon's Lexicon and so she has been posting about her experience in dealing with everything publishing, from getting an agent, to selling international rights. It's really informative...and entertaining.

Maya Sucks at Interviews

INTERVIEWER: You're very bubbly for someone who wants to work in a library.
MAYA: It is true. I bubble. I froth. Uh, not at the mouth. I am not rabid!
INTERVIEWER: ... that's always good news.

INTERVIEWER: There'll be less interaction with the patrons of the library because of self-service.
MAYA: What a shame, I love interacting with the library patrons!
INTERVIEWER: Also, people are needing less help with the internet.
MAYA: What a shame, I love helping people with the internet!
INTERVIEWER: Also during story hour, you're not allowed to touch the kids, because of the law.
MAYA: What a shame, I love touch - er. Er. Can we try this again?


Heheh...

ETA: One more because I can
But the process of moving to America is madness, y'all. A few vignettes from recent weeks:

SPECIAL PHOTOGRAPHY SHOP:
MAN: Don't move your face! America requires photographs with your face right there!
MAYA: oh.
MAN: Don't smile!
MAYA: Ha ha.
MAN: I'M SERIOUS. AMERICA DOES NOT WANT YOU TO SMILE.
MAYA: oh.

EMBASSY INTERVIEW WITH MOST EVIL OBJECT IN THE WORLD.
MEOW: Why do you think you can do this job better than an American?
MAYA: Well... I was chosen?... Because I was the best... qualified...?
MEOW: Why are you taking a job from an American?
MAYA: Well, I mugged an American and found the job in their handbag, and I thought I kind of looked pretty in it.
MEOW: ...
MAYA: ...
MEOW: How do we know you don't want to move permanently to America?
MAYA: Are you kidding? You people have to pay for college! And your writers get taxed!
MEOW: Why haven't you graduated yet?
MAYA: We have the graduation ceremony in December.
MEOW: Why is that?
MAYA: Because that is how Ireland works.
MEOW: Why is that?
MAYA: Well, it takes a while to get all those goats for our pagan celebrations, you know?
MEOW: ...
MAYA: This interview may go better if you accept the fact I have Trying To Be Funny Tourette's when under stress.
MEOW: Any medical condition should be on your forms.

[Euphony]

Book(s): The Sangreal Trilogy by Amanda Hemingway (Jane Siegel)
The book titles are The Greenstone Grail, The Sword of Straw/The Traitor's Sword, and The Poisoned Crown. A really fantastic trilogy, it's like real-word, sci-fi, fantasy, and myth all rolled into one, with very lovable characters and a really interesting concept behind it. Sadly, they seem to be really underrated, as my local Borders has yet to even restock any of them after I bought them (and I bought them all at different times!). They're hard to find in stores, but really worth it.

EDIT: Ooh, also East of Eden by John Steinbeck, but only pick it up if you're in for some serious long-haul reading. Great for studying character development. Can't believe I forgot about mentioning it. >.<

TV Series: The Office
Going to have to agree with Artbane, it's a brilliant show. I'm pretty much obsessed with it, as it's the only show that I actually make a point to watch each week. The dialogue, acting, and style of humor are all great. (And before anyone even thinks it, please do not get into an argument with me about which version is better. Everywhere you go as an Office fan is full of that same old dispute. They're both awesome in their own different ways, so of course not everyone is going to like both.)

Game: Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
So, it got really overshadowed by the other great Gamecube RPG of the time, Tales of Symphonia, but it's still one of my favorites. Some people despise the voice-acting, but I don't mind it at all, and the story starts off kind of slow, but it gets amazingly good and it has some crazy plot twists. Not to mention both the graphics and the music are beautiful and very inspiring. Plus there's a buttload of astronomy themes which is always cool. Just thinking about the game is really nostalgiac for me.

Movie: Pan's Labyrinth
Fascist Spain meets fairy tale. How is that not awesome? Okay, it's not for everyone, but I personally thought it was fantastic. And it's in Spanish so you get your reading time in with the subtitles, which I find actually draws you into the story more.

[Atemu]

Book: Wicked by Gregory Maguire
I was pretty much sold on it on the second page, with the Wicked Witch of the West catching Dorothy's troupe of misfits speaking ill rumors of her. I'm still in the process of reading it, but it's easy to see that the story is well worth all the hype (and a Broadway play to boot).

TV Series: Law and Order
I will always, always, always love the original Law and Order. I've watched it since I was little, and continue to do so today. The other shows are good too, but nothing can top the first series, especially back when Jerry Orbach was alive. I can watch reruns I've seen a million times and not care so long as he's on.

Game: Shadow Hearts
Probably one of the more original RPGs I've ever played. Shadow Hearts is a creepy gothic horror game set before WWI, and actually made battles more enjoyable by making them interactive using the Judgment Ring System, a feature that was later improved upon in later games. The graphics were amazing as well, especially for Yuri's later transformations. Definitely a game I would recommend to anyone.

Movie: Red Eye
I've watched and enjoyed so many movies that I can't settle on just one, but I will recommend the one I just watched. While the film is largely just your adverage thriller flick, it worth watching just for Cillian Murphy. He is downright CREEPY, more-so than he was in Batman Begins. People who are familiar with him know what I'm talking about; he has this just utterly calm expression on his face, but he'll be talking about horrible things like assassinating the Secretary of Defense. CREEPY.

[ccoa]

TV Series: The Office
Going to have to agree with Artbane, it's a brilliant show. I'm pretty much obsessed with it, as it's the only show that I actually make a point to watch each week. The dialogue, acting, and style of humor are all great. (And before anyone even thinks it, please do not get into an argument with me about which version is better. Everywhere you go as an Office fan is full of that same old dispute. They're both awesome in their own different ways, so of course not everyone is going to like both.)

You know, everyone keeps recommending this show. I watched an episode out of curiosity (the British version, it seems) and it just wasn't funny at all. I don't think I cracked so much as a half smile the entire episode... Huh.

[ArtBane]

You should try watching it this week. It's on Thursdays at 9 on NBC. I think this may be the last new one for awhile since Steve Carell won't go past the picket fence. I know I got Raven hooked on the show the first time she watched it.

[Lunarea]

TV Show: Scrubs
My husband and I have watched this show so much that we can quote entire portions of it. In fact, some of the lines have become our own private joke - much to the dismay of his family who looks at us like we're insane when we laugh hysterically at a one-liner one of us mentions.

It's a 'medical' show that revolves around the lives of a few dysfunctional friends. Add in a crazy janitor, weird patients, daydreaming galore, and prize dialogue and you've got half an hour of entertainment.


I'd also mention World of Warcraft as a great game, but I think that the whole experience depends entirely on your social network in there. We happen to have an amazing guild that (although small in size) does a lot of things together. Not to mention that the people are the friendliest and funniest bunch around. I can think of a dozen times when we would be cracking up on Ventrillo to the point of needing to use the bathroom. Like the one time I found a 'translated' version of Tunak ... I swear, I had tears coming from my eyes for an hour ...
Anyway ... As it is with any social/community-based games, it's amazing when you've got great people with you. If this sounds appealing, grab a friend and join in! Or, like our guild does, hook in your mother/wife/husband/sister/nephew/next-door-neighbor. They'll never leave :-P

[ArtBane]

I also want to give my full recommendation for Scrubs. As my friend put it, "It's the comedy show for people with ADD".

[Lene]

You know, everyone keeps recommending this show. I watched an episode out of curiosity (the British version, it seems) and it just wasn't funny at all. I don't think I cracked so much as a half smile the entire episode... Huh.

I'm not the only one! I didn't really find it funny and I watched the American version. I tend to think it's because I've never worked in a traditional office environment so maybe I'm missing all the inside jokes. It seems like the show is one of those shows where I can get where the joke is coming from, but there's a disconnect and I'm not laughing.

Skyla-Law and Order is the bomb. But I'm of the opinion that everyone has watched that show. LOL. It's on USA or TNT 5 hours a day, and I remember one year where NBC had three different versions of the show going on at once (that Jury one that I think got cancelled, CI and SVU). That show really gets a lot of mileage.

Oh and Scrubs is funny...although I just realized they added a new season? I thought last season was the last season? Eh who knows? (But My Name is Earl is still the best show on that Thursday comedy block.)

Also I think NBC.com has episodes of The Office, Scrubs and My Name is Earl online if you want to watch them.

[ccoa]

I don't know why it wasn't funny to me. I work in a traditional office environment. I thought Office Space was hilarious. But The Office just didn't seem to do it for me. It just seemed stupid.

[Euphony]

I don't know why it wasn't funny to me. I work in a traditional office environment. I thought Office Space was hilarious. But The Office just didn't seem to do it for me. It just seemed stupid.
If you watched one of the really earlier episodes, then I can see where that would come from. Those episodes--the pilot in particular--are kind of shaky, but if you keep watching it, it might grow on you. That's what happened to me at least. The second season, which starts with the seventh episode, is hands-down my favorite season of any tv series ever.

EDIT: Nvm, this is referring to the U.S. version, so if you watched the British version, I don't know what to say, as all I've seen is portions of it. But maybe it's the same way--it has to grow on you first. There's a certain structure to the writing and the characters that makes it hard to just jump in and expect to be really entertained...it's not like a typical sitcom.

And Office Space is really good, but it wasn't like laugh-out-loud funny for me. I also have a problem with it because my old history teacher looked like Milton, so I've heard about a million stapler jokes since then. Once people starting repeating jokes from a movie over and over again like that, it takes away from it. XD

[ArtBane]

I don't know why it wasn't funny to me. I work in a traditional office environment. I thought Office Space was hilarious. But The Office just didn't seem to do it for me. It just seemed stupid.

I felt the same way about Scrubs the first few times I walked in on it. It wasn't until my friend got into it and showed me episodes from the first season that the show grew on me. Comedy shows can seem stupid on the surface but once you understand the subtleties of the show they can become very hilarious.

If you watched one of the really earlier episodes, then I can see where that would come from. Those episodes--the pilot in particular--are kind of shaky, but if you keep watching it, it might grow on you. That's what happened to me at least. The second season, which starts with the seventh episode, is hands-down my favorite season of any tv series ever.

Yeah my friend agrees that the first season is pretty unwatchable at this point. It is from there on that the show really hits its stride.

[Draken]

You know, everyone keeps recommending this show. I watched an episode out of curiosity (the British version, it seems) and it just wasn't funny at all. I don't think I cracked so much as a half smile the entire episode... Huh.

Possibly because you're not british, you might not some of the jokes, because it's based on a pure british working environment.

It's the same with me for some American shows :3