Month: May 2023

This year, it will be a full decade since 2013. Yes, you read that correctly. Because of the fact that we live in a time where time seems to fly faster than even the Flash himself, it has been ten years since 2013. I’m as baffled about that fact as you are but the truth is the truth. Of all the things that I look back on about the year 2013, the main thing that really stands out for me was how great of a year it was in terms of video games. No matter what your favorite genre or series of games are, there was a good chance you were satisfied with what you got from them in 2013 (unless you’re a Pac-Man or Sonic fan).

I honestly believe there’s a strong argument to be made that 2013 was perhaps the best year of gaming of the 21st century thus far. There was way too many bangers released at the same time that it was so hard to chose which ones to play at the time they came out and which ones to hold off of until the hype had died down. I can’t imagine how hard it must’ve been for gamers everywhere to make a top 10 list of their favorite games that year. As we look back on gaming in 2013, I want to celebrate by naming my top 15 favorite games that came out in that exact year.

I do want to make a couple of disclaimers. Firstly, I never did own a PlayStation 3 or a Wii U. So any game that was made exclusively from those consoles and never got ported anywhere else will NOT be on this list. Secondly, this lists ONLY include games that I’ve actually played. So, don’t expect to see games such as DmC: Devil May Cry, The Stanley Parable, The Wolf Among Us, and Pikmin 3 on this list. Gaming is expensive and I only purchase games that I’m actually interested in playing and believe will give me my full money’s worth. Thirdly, as is with any list I post on here, this is strictly my opinion. I shouldn’t have to say that but since this is the internet, I think you know why I should mention that.

Anyways, now onto the main list.

15.) Batman: Arkham Origins

Batman: Arkham Origins gets a bad rep. Whether it’s due to not matching up to the quality of the Rocksteady games or the misleading marketing of it, this is considered to be the black sheep of the series. However, when you actually look at the game for what it is and not strictly for what it isn’t, there’s plenty to like here. The gameplay is still fluid and fun, seeing Bruce Wayne in his younger, more reckless stage as Batman is engaging, and it hands down has the best boss fights in the entire Arkham franchise. You can definitely argue that this is a “filler” game but as “filler” games go, this is about as good as these kind of games can get.

14.) Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag

I’m not the biggest Assassin’s Creed person out there but I would be foolish to ignore how enjoyable Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is. The open worlds are gorgeous and fun to explore, there’s plenty of content and side missions to keep you distract while completing the main course, and I can’t recall a game in recent memory that gave you the most satisfying experience as being a pirate. Only a forgettable story and too many tailing missions prevent this from being even higher on the list. Even if you are not a fan of Assassin’s Creed, I would say give this a shot because it’s one of the better entries in the series.

13.) Injustice: Gods Among Us

What did you get when you basically have DC’s answer to Marvel vs Capcom and Mortal Kombat, you get Injustice: Gods Among Us. This is a fighting game that can basically appeal to anyone, whether it’s hardcore gamers, casual gamers, or die hard comic book/superhero fans. You get access to anyone of your favorite superheroes throughout DC Comic’s history and pit them all against each other. Throw in a compelling story of Superman losing his powers and going full dictator with an impressive rose gallery of any notable DC hero or villain, Injustice: Gods Among Us is able to deliver exactly the kind of fighting game that it sets itself out to be with nothing convincing you that you won’t get your full money’s worth out of it.

12.) Luigi’s Mansion Dark Moon

I’ve never played the original or even the third game but this game along with the series itself makes for a very intriguing one for Mario’s lovable younger brother, Luigi. There’s something so genius about creating a game where Luigi has to navigate through a haunted mansion and face his greatest fears, that being ghosts. Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon makes for one really entertaining action-adventure game all around that provides a very unique spin to the Mario franchise and giving Luigi the perfect spotlight to shine.

11.) Rayman Legends

For those looking for a good and well-made platformer that is able to be challenging and frustrating in the best of ways, look no further than Rayman Legends. This has the looks, feels, and creativity of an very effective platformer that will always kick your ass but you will always feel eager to play through it until you beat it regardless. With a bunch of surprises thrown in, beautifully colored background, fair difficulty spikes, and overall fantastic level design, Rayman Legends is about as good as 2D platformers can get and in some respects, is even better than that.

10.) Super Mario 3D World

I didn’t get to play this game until it came to the Switch in 2021. While this is not the best Mario game ever made, Super Mario 3D World is easily one of the more “fun” ones. This is the one Mario game that would introduce one of the most satisfying power-ups in the series with the catsuit allowing you to climb walls and use a scratch attack. It’s also nice to have Princess Peach be a playable character this time around who joins Luigi and Toad to save the day and not just be a simply damsel in distress once again. Yes, it’s certainly not the hardest game ever made but for those that just want to kick back and relax with a straightforward Mario game, this will definitely do the job for you.

9.) The Last of Us

It’s certainly a hot take to have this one rated this low on the list. I imagine everyone and their mother and their grandmother has this in their top 3 at least. From the engaging narrative to the air tight gameplay to the groundbreaking graphics to the impressive sound/voice work, there’s a lot to love about The Last of Us. What holds it back for me is how there are times throughout the game where it feels like it’s trying to be more of a movie or tv series than an actual game (which is ironic considering this would eventually be adapted to a tv series). I’m also not a fan of the completely abrupted ending and the clickers are the most annoying enemy in any video game I’ve ever played. Still, from a technical, narrative, and even gameplay standpoint, The Last of Us is immensely impressive but it’s just not a game that I go back to a lot. It’s an experience that feels very one and done for me but it’s no doubt an experience that is worth experiencing.

8.) Deadpool

The critics were harsh on this one when it came out. While many praised the fourth-wall breaking humor and the meta-filled plot, major criticisms was filled at the gameplay being too dull and repetitive, being compared unfavorably to the Batman: Arkham series. However, speaking as someone who is a big fan of the character, I found Deadpool to be every bit as fun as the Batman: Arkham games. Yes, the gameplay itself is simple and straight forward but it never grew that tiring to me because of how fun and creative the combat was along with containing plenty of amusing quips and laughs throughout that really pulls it through. Nolan North is perfect as the character of Deadpool and I enjoyed all the callbacks, Easter eggs, and references to all the other Marvel properties. It’s not high art by any means but for those who are in need of a good Deadpool fix, this game should do you nicely.

7.) Pokémon X/Y

The ultimate Pokémon game for the 3DS is no other than Pokémon X and Y! It’s able to make use of the 3DS feature completely by added in new gimmicks and features that never hinder the experience. There hasn’t been a Pokémon game quite like that is able to find the right balance of all these different elements into something grand and making it a cohesive whole. It’s able to bring in the things that fans of the previous games have loved about the franchise while also adding in new elements that will appeal to newcomers. When comparing X and Y to the rest of the games in the series, it makes for one of the most consistent and socially-connected Pokémon adventures yet!

6.) Metal Gear Rising Revengeance

And while we are talking about games that’s pure unapologetic, over-the-top fun, how about Metal Gear Rising Revengeance, a game that takes the obscurity of Metal Gear and cranks it up to 11. Whether you are looking at this game as a slashing action-packed adventure or even as the game’s overall story about modern politics that unironically predicted the future of America ahead of time (And I’m not just saying that because there’s a character that literally utters the line, “I’ll make America GREAT AGAIN!”), there is something in here for any kind of hardcore gamer. Add in a really rocking soundtrack, fun boss fights, and all the hashing and slashing imaginable, Metal Gear Rising Revengeance makes for one entertaining adventure in the Metal Gear canon. Yes, Solid Snake is not present this time around but that does not ruin the game whatsoever and shows this series can have an identity without him.

5.) Grand Theft Auto V

I know this game has been overexposed and re-released as much as about any video game ever has. However, if you can close your eyes and imagine yourself back to 2013 when this game came out, then you have a Grand Theft Auto game that is the absolute complete package. Whether you are playing the main campaign, going through online modes, or even messing around and causing chaos just for the sake of getting the police force up your ass, there’s nothing here that won’t keep you entertained whenever you are playing it. This is a game that basically lets you do whatever you want and there is nothing stopping you from trying out whatever you like. Has the hype and success around this game along with Rocksteady continuing to remaster it over and over again diminished the reputation of it a bit? Absolutely! But when looking back on it without the hate-filled glasses on, Grand Theft Auto V is no doubt a game that is a must-own for any gamer to add to their collection.

4.) The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

We all love a good Zelda game but for me, the best kind of Zelda games are ones that feel the most relaxing and comforting to play. Before Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom perfected that relaxing and comfort level for me, A Link Between Worlds was able to accomplish that with great wonders. Taking the familiar overworld of A Link to the Past and able to reimagine it greatly for the 3DS, this is one of the most pure fun games in the series and possibly the best experience that Link has ever had in 2D form. Add some impressive 3D visuals, highly entertaining puzzles, a new, revised item-collection system that adds to the gameplay experience, and a terrific open world to explore, you got one of the best Zelda game of all time with A Link Between Worlds.

3.) Tomb Raider (2013)

Talk about how to a serious reboot of a series right! While undoubtedly taking a page from the Uncharted, the modern update of Tomb Raider is able to embrace everything that fans have loved about the character of Lara Croft over the years while also being able to stand by itself perfectly as it’s own unique thing. The graphics are breathtaking, the gameplay contains the perfect mix of combat, platforming, and exploring, the set pieces are terrific and never make you forget you are playing a video game, the voice acting all around, especially with Camilla Ludington as Lara Croft herself, is outstanding, and Lara herself has never been a more compelling and engaging character than she has ever had. While I can flip a coin as to whether this or it’s sequel Rise of the Tomb Raider is the better game, Tomb Raider (2013) is no doubt one of the best gaming reboots to date and one of my personal favorite action-adventure games.

2.) Fire Emblem Awakening

There was not a single game in 2013 that I put in more time and hours in than Fire Emblem: Awakening. This is easily one of the most addictive RPG games that I’ve ever played and possibly even my favorite game on the 3DS. Whereas most games of this genre tend to get bogged down in insane difficulty spikes, dull-looking maps, and muted graphics, Awakening is able to be much more welcoming to those not familiar with the genre and also be more rewarding at the same time. The story itself is engaging, the character themselves are compelling, the lore and world building is intriguing, each power-up, level-up, and weapon upgrade of each character you control is addicting, and by the end, the whole experience is immensely satisfying. Whether you are a newcomer to the series or not, this is a huge recommendation for those that own a 3DS.

1.) Bioshock Infinite

When it came to games released in 2013 that surprised me, entertained me, impressive me, and kept me engaged the whole way through with no notable flaws to be had, I can’t think of a game that hit those bullet points to me as hard as Bioshock Infinite. This game gives you everything you can possibly ask for when it comes to a first-person shooter. The shooting gameplay itself is immensely fun that never wears out it’s welcome, there’s so many unique weapons to choose from that always adds to the experience, the graphics are out of this world, the art design is perfect and matches the Bioshock world completely, the storytelling is some of the best in any video game I’ve played, the mature themes the game provides still resonates with me a full decade later, the voice and sound work is absolutely superb, and Booker and Elizabeth has to be one of the most engaging pairing in not just video games but in any work of fiction that I’ve ever seen. Call of this high praise hyperbole if you want but there was not a game in 2013 that satisfied me more than Bioshock Infinite. I’ve already beating this game five times before and I would be more than welcome to do it all over again. Bioshock Infinite is not only my favorite game of 2013, it’s one of my favorite FPS games to date and one of my personal favorite games period. I can not praise this game enough!

It’s been just over one month since Major League Baseball has kicked off in 2023! In a year where there were rule changes designed to speed up the clock and get more action in the game, there has been plenty of things that folks did not see coming to start the year. There’s the Tampa Bay Rays who won 13 games in a row to start the year, the New York Yankees that had been severely bit by the injury bug and then some, the Chicago White Sox’s supposed championship window that has been multiple years in the making has blown up in their faces, and of course the Pittsburgh Pirates of all teams are in sole possession of 1st place in their own respective division. However, I don’t think there hasn’t been anything as shocking, flabbergasted and even amusing to watch from the rest of the baseball world than the abysmal start of the St. Louis Cardinals. With the exception of fans of the Oakland A’s who will now be forced to watch their declining team depart for Las Vegas in the coming years, there has not been a fanbase in baseball that has suffered quite as much this season than that of the St. Louis Cardinals.

After today’s 11-7 defeat against the Los Angeles Angels, the Cardinals are now at a dreadful record of 10-22, the worst record in the National League and only behind the Kansas City Royals and Oakland Athletics for worst record in all of baseball. It’s their worst start to a season since 1973, literally 50 years ago, and the first time they’ve finished 12 games under 500. since 1999, the year which saw the movie releases of The Matrix, Fight Club, Toy Story 2, and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.

The Cardinals has been a fairly consistent and successful franchise since the beginning of the 21st century, having only one losing season to speak off which occurred in 2007, a year after their 10th World Series title. Unless they are able to pull a devil magic fueled run out of their butts for the remainder of the season, this will likely be the first losing season since then. While the Cardinals being this bad at baseball might be surprising (and even delightful) to the rest of the baseball world, if you were to ask fans of St. Louis, this is honestly something you could almost see coming from a mile away.

Despite the Cardinals coming into the season as favorites to win the NL Central for the second straight year and were even dark horse candidates for a World Series run by some, they had some glaring issues that their front office refused to address in the offseason that could hold them back. They had a starting rotation that was projected to be one of the worst in baseball with no ace or notable top pitcher to speak off, they had to deal with a much more balanced schedule and not having as much games against weak division opponents, the banning of shifts which aided them the last few years with their stellar defense backing up their pitch-to-contact starters, and the notable retiring of two faces of the franchise with Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina. And all that President of Baseball Operations, John Mozeliak and crew had to response to those issues during the offseason was the signing of the best free agent catcher on the market in Willson Contreras and literally nothing else. Even with those glaring flaws not being addressed, the Cardinals still believed themselves to be contenders for 2023. After all, they had six starting pitchers, according to Mo himself!

Needless to say, putting blind fate in a severely flawed rotation and expecting the offense to mash their way to six or more runs per game has backfired severely for the Redbirds. This was something that Cardinals fans going into the season were well aware of but for whatever reason, the front office and management were either unaware of or just didn’t care to address. However, this had been a notable problem for at least the last few coming years. I’ve already address the main things that St. Louis was going to be without coming into the season but let’s go over some of them one-by-one to show how the “success” the Cardinals have had in recent memory may not be as impressive as one might think and why their dreadful start seemed like it was years in the making.

A More Balanced Schedule

As much as the Cardinals have had a winning record for the last 16 years, one has to wonder how much of that is credited to how bad the others teams in their division has been and not just how good St. Louis has been. Yes, the Cardinals were able to make successful playoff runs in the early 2010s where they were a legit threat to other teams but how about in recent memory.

Since their early postseason exit to their longtime rival Chicago Cubs in the 2015 NLDS, the Cardinals have only won one playoff series and lost 11 of the 15 playoff games that they have played in, including losing 9 of their last 10. Which again, begs the question of how much of those playoff appearances mostly came from wining enough games against weak division opponents such as the Reds, Pirates, and other teams that weren’t trying to win for the past few years, and not because they are actual legit competitors.

All you had to do was look at the St. Louis Cardinals last year. Despite having an impressive record of 93-69 during the regular season, they were 34-38 (34-40 if you count the playoffs) against teams with winning records and just 47-41 facing teams outside of the NL Central. Which is why their two-game sweep in the playoffs at home against the Philadelphia Phillies should not have been as shocking as it was. Heck, even I mention that the Phillies shouldn’t be underestimated back last October since they have more experience against competitive teams such as the Braves and Mets in their divisions last year and I was right.

Regardless of what you could say about the Cardinals last year, they were no longer gonna be able to beat up on as many crappy teams for 2023 as they’ve done before, due to a more balanced schedule where everyone has to play everyone. It was their chance to prove to the world that they have been real competitors all this time instead of pretenders. Unfortunately for them, they are surely looking like pretenders.

The Banning of Defensive Shifts

I’m honestly shocked this wasn’t talked about more during the offseason than it was as a potential downside for this team in 2023. For a team that had a rotation filled with pitch-to-contact guys and had been relying on gold glove caliber defense to win games, the removing of the shifts was gonna play a HUGE factor to this season. And the Cardinals have SUFFERED as a result.

You would be hard pressed to have seen a team this year that has suffered from giving up hits that always manage to sneak pass the defense because they can’t shift, bloop hits that bounces in the least likely spot possible, and constantly failing to put away hitters when they are down to their last strike within an at-bat. Not having any notable swing-and-miss starters was going to put the defense to the test and that team has not been up to the task whatsoever.

The defense has been one of the Cardinals’ greatest strength for the last few years, most notably in 2021 where the team won a combined total of five gold glove awards, the first team in MLB history to accomplish that. However, one can’t wonder if that had more to do with the defensive shifts being included in prior years that than their actual skills on defense. That’s not to discredit the defense as a whole but they were gonna have to be WAY more affective than they are now to be able to back up their pitching staff.

Losing Legends

It was always going to be a tough hole to fill with longtime faces of the franchises and future hall of famers in Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina heading into retirement after last year. Even when Albert departed in free agency after 2011, the Cards still had Yadi front and center as being an exceptional catcher and leader to carry them ever since then. However, they are now gone and a good chunk of that leadership that was able to carry the team for nearly the past two decades would be gone. Even with the other beloved Cardinal veteran in Adam Wainwright deciding to return for one last season, who has provided great leadership over his career in St. Louis, it was going to be much more glaring than anyone realized.

To give the front office credit, they did go out and get the best possible replacement for Yadi in the offseason with the addition of Willson Contreras, who left the divisional rival Cubs. While his framing of pitches and calling games would be much to desire, his strong arm and elite offense should be enough to overcome these obstacles. It wouldn’t be Yadi but at least it seems like his successor would be a legendary one. However, that does not seem to be the case whatsoever. While the offensive numbers from Contreras have been solid to start the season thus far, his framing pitches, calling games, and chemistry with the pitching staff has been far from it.

Again, it’s hard to hell how much of this is actually Contreras’s fault and more of how Cardinals have just been spoiled by Yadi for the past 18 years. The Cardinals has had a similar pitching staff for years now but they’ve never been as bad as they are now. Is it just that Yadi was just a once in a generation catcher that was so masterful at framing, calling games, and carrying the pitching staff for so long that anyone that follows him was gonna look bad in comparison? Is it that Contreras is just a bad catcher whose only notable strength is his arm and bat? Is it just that this starting rotation was as ever bit as weak as it was projected to be for this season? Regardless of what your answers are to any of these questions, the absence of Yadier Molina has left an enormous impact.

While the noticeable lack of Yadi can be found with what goes on in play on the field, it has also greatly affected what goes on off the field as well. Manager Oli Marmol had a successful rookie season as manager in 2022 by winning 93 wins and winning the Central division. However, with how bad the Cards have been to start the year, how much of last year’s success can actually be contributed to his managerial skills. A big portion of the blame for St. Louis poor display of baseball can be contributed to Marmol’s questionable in-game decision making, outspoken comments on particular umpires, calling out his own players, most notably Tyler O’Neill, and having little to no feel for the game. It makes you wonder how much of last year’s success could be contribute by the veteran leadership from the likes of Albert and Yadi than it does with Marmol.

Even taking away losing two veteran leaders and future hall of famers, this is mostly the same Cardinal team from last year that won their division with only notable differences being the addition of Wilson Contreras and the subtraction of Jose Quintana. Not to mention, Molina had been gone for a good chunk of his final season and Pujols didn’t really take off his swan song surge until after the All-Star break. Even if you take in the fact that they will have less games to beat up on the Reds and Pirates (who they are currently behind in the division), it’s baffling how a team that is mostly young with a handful of well-known veteran players still present could be this bad. Which again goes back to the manger Oli Marmol.

Did Marmol ever form a connection with the players in the past year or was it just the veteran leaders who were on their goodbye tour that motivate the players to play their butts off? Was it actually Albert and Yadi that the players was playing for and not the manager himself? No one has an definitive answer for it but once again, the lack of their presence has made results quite noticeable.

Yes, you can also argue that superstars Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado could be considered veteran leaders as well but they haven’t really been known for having success in the playoffs nor have they come close to winning a ring. Not to mention, they have been on several losing teams over the years with their previous teams they were a part off. While the Cardinals are never comfortable with losing, Goldy and Nolan have been for quite some time during their time with the Diamondbacks and Rockies. After being a part of a bunch of bad seasons with their previous teams, how’s another one going to hurt for them?

It’s not fair to blame it all solely on Goldschmidt and Arenado but it does make you wonder if the two are as quiet and stoic off the field as they are on the field. While there’s a strong argument that those two will be future hall-of-famers due to the success in the regular season, their lack of credible leadership has not made this start for the Cardinals any better whatsoever.

It Was All Leading Up To This

In all hindsight, this honestly feels more than just an ordinary bad season like the Cardinals’ last losing season in 2007. At least, that team was coming off of a World Series win and playoff runs in six of the last seven years. A down year after a championship victory was easier for fans to swallow. Unfortunately, now that we basically live in the age of “What have you done for me lately?”, the 2023 Cardinals have no recent success to look back on that they can be proud off. It’s been 12 years since the team’s last World Series title, 10 years since the team’s last World Series appearance, and even 9 years since their last actual National League Championship series victory. Since then, they haven’t really come close to another successful playoff run and it’s looking like they will not have another one anytime soon. This is mainly because the problems that the Cardinals have right now are ones that have been incredibly obvious in this organization for the past several years, from top to bottom.

Thus far, the 2023 season basically feels like a tribute to every screw-up and mistake this front office has made since the 2011 title. From the awful free agents signings to the dreadful talent evaluation to the poor development of prospects to the inexperience coaching/management to the lack of a plan, vision, or any accountability from the higher ups, reality is finally starting to settle in for the Redbirds. Dread it, run from it, destiny arrives all the same!

The only difference with this season is that there will be NOTHING that can bail them out this time like it has done in previous years. They no longer have weak division opponents to beat off of because they have now improved over the years. They no longer have defensive shifts to back up their pitch-to-contact filled pitching staff because the shifts are no more. They no longer have proven winning veterans that can guide the team through tough stretches because they are now long gone. And I’m fairly certain that there’s NOT gonna be another historic 17-game winning streak or collapse on par with the 2011 Braves and 2021 Padres that will be able to get them in the playoffs because they no longer have the heart, identity, or so-called “pixie dust” they have had over the years. The baseball gods have at long last stop giving the Cardinals their blessings, now it’s payment time. And that payment has resulted in the franchise’s worst start in 50 years and as the season goes on, could be one of the worst seasons in this franchise’s massive history.

Can They Turn It Around?

Of course, some will argue that it’s still early and that there is five more months of baseball left to play. After all, this is a team that just two years ago were able to pull an historic 17-game winning streak to get into the playoffs. You can also look at teams in recent memory that were able to make impressive World Series runs despite having terrible starts to their seasons such as the 2019 Washington Nationals or last year’s Philadelphia Phillies. While that is still technically possible, I just don’t see that happening because of all the faults that are present with this roster that can’t be fixed with a soft patch, most notably the starting pitching.

The 2019 Nationals had a starting rotation filled with Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin (at least when he was good), and Anibal Sanchez. The 2022 Phillies had arguably the best #1 and #2 punch in all of baseball in Zach Wheeler and Aaron Nola. Aside from maybe Jordan Montgomery (who will be departing in free agency at the end of the year), the Cardinals have absolutely no one even close to the level of the pitchers mention. The starting pitching has range from inconsistent to just plain awful and that will likely not change.

They do have Adam Wainwright who is expected to come back soon and perhaps young top prospects such as Matthew Liberatore or Michael McGreevy might add a bit of a spark to the rotation but I don’t think that’s going to be enough. With the lack of a true firearm, swing-and-miss starter, or a notable ace of any kind, any chance of a resurgence like previous teams mentions is incredibly unlikely. And please don’t bring up the 2011 Cardinals, that drum has been beat FAR too many times for nearly the past decade.

Unless there’s a big change in the front office and management or the roster that has underachieved for the first 32 games is able to MASSIVELY overachieve for the remaining 130 games, I do not sense a turn around coming anytime soon. At best, they might finish in 3rd or 4th place in the division and just beat out from being in the bottom 10 in baseball but that’s about it. The glaring flaws from the organization from top to bottom can no longer be controlled and there isn’t enough proven talent that can overcome them the way they have done in the past. If the 2022 Cardinals was the equivalent of writing a bike with training wheels, the 2023 Cardinals is the equivalent of writing a bike for the first time without them and crashing hard into a tree as a result.

The End Of A Dream

As I’ve suffered watching this team consistently finding ways to lose game after game, it doesn’t have me thinking of what’s gonna happen for the rest of the season but more what’s going to happen to this team in the future. And I can’t help but thinking that this season is just a start of a long, rough road ahead. This is basically what has been in the makings for several years now and it’s finally caught up.

As of right now, there is no ace-caliber pitcher in the system, no reliable or proven outfielders, no notable leaders, no proper face of the franchise, and they no longer have as many bad teams to beat up on as they’ve done in the years past. These aren’t problems that can be fixed over the course of a season or off-season, these are problems that are going to take YEARS to fix. I’m talking fresh new philosophies in the hitting and pitching department, experienced coaching and managing that know how to develop their talent and use analytics properly, and a new front office that knows how to observe and evaluate the talent they have without letting an Sandy Alcantara or Randy Arozarena slip away. Unfortunately, that looks like that won’t be the case anytime soon.

Owner Bill Dewitt Jr. is clearly on John Mozeliak’s side every step of the way and has provided him with more job security than the President of the United States. At best, it will take multiple disastrous seasons such as this for there to be a massive change from the people responsible for the construction of this team. And that does not sound like a team that is pleasant to watch whatsoever.

Because of all that and more, this is the first time I can recall as a fan that I just don’t have any hope or interest in this team going forward. They clearly have no plan or vision for the future and have been relying on blind luck to carry them to over 82 wins and wild card clinches since 2016. Now, that luck has officially ran out and as everyone in baseball can now tell, they have no answers or solutions to any of the problems presented. If the people in charge of this mess don’t know or care how to fix this, then why should I bother spending my time with it.

I will always have plenty of memories from this team to fall back on that can never be taken away. I’m grateful to have see this team win multiple times and witness a couple of World Series championships before my very eyes. However, I think now might be a proper time to take a long break from the team. Say for next month where I may or may not go with my family to watch this team on the road against the Texas Rangers, I have no desire to attend another game until something big changes for the future. Everyone involved with the Cardinals FO have had undeniable successes in the past but they have long past their expiration date and it’s time to move on from them. If not, then prepare for seasons such as this one for the foreseeable future, Cardinals fans. We have one dark future ahead of us.

Do you remember when the Guardians of the Galaxy were the underdogs? Do you remember when no one aside from hardcore comic book fans knew of their very existence? Do you remember when this was an untested property that was for sure to fail simply because it wasn’t another traditional installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, back when it was simply just Iron Man and his amazing friends? Well, here we are now nearly a full decade later and these a-holes are still around.

Not only is Guardians of the Galaxy one of the more beloved series within the MCU but it’s also one of the only remaining properties left from Marvel to be a guaranteed financial hit based on the name alone. And with Vol. 3 set to be the conclusion to this iteration of the Guardians, they are about to lose another one. While that might be a negative from a business standpoint, it is surely a positive from an artistic and creative one. Not only does it give director/writer James Gunn the chance to end his Marvel run on a high note before he departs full time to course the upcoming DC universe, it’s able to provide something that very little comic book movie trilogies have nowadays, an actual definite ending.

Make no mistake, there is nothing that is on Gunn’s mind throughout Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 than given the trilogy that he started a truly satisfying conclusion with the characters that he loves from the bottom of his heart. There’s no concern with setting up other movies, there’s no attempt to get you interested in whatever comes next, and it’s not even trying to be the so-called “savior” of the MCU. The only goal it sets for itself is to give a good and proper farewell to what is arguably Marvel’s most surprising franchise yet. In all of those regards, it succeeds entirely.

While there is some flaws to be had, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is simply fantastic. It’s every bit as good as the first two, and in many regards even better, it instantly joins the list of some of the very best work in the MCU, and it will no doubt satisfy audiences that are just craving for one last adventure with their favorite band of galactic misfits. It’s far in a way the most mature of the Guardians movies, every character gets a meaningful arc or moment to shine, it’s themes around family and friendship are more meaningful than ever before, and even some of the shortcomings of the more recent entries (mainly the CGI and VFX work) are actually some of the very strengths of the film. While there will certainly be plenty that will be put off guard with how different it is compared to the first two Guardians movies in regards to tone and feel, it’s clear that nothing in this movie is included without purpose. James Gunn knew exactly the movie he set himself out to make with this one and he accomplishes it greatly.

(Warning: The following premise might contain some mild spoilers for the movie. The reason I say this is because there is a certain subplot/element that the trailers have not touched upon. It’s not a huge spoiler as it’s revealed early on in the movie but for those that want to go into this movie completely blind, be warned.)

Plot Synopsis: Taking place after the events of The Holiday Special, we see the Guardians adjusting to life on the planet Knowhere, where Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) is still grieving over the lost of Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and constantly getting flat-out drunk in the process. One night, a powerful golden A.I. created by the Sovereign named Adam Warlock (Will Poulter) is sent to Knowhere to find Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and bring him back to High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji), the mad scientist responsible for making our favorite trash panda the way he is now. While Warlock fails his mission to retrieve him after encountering the other Guardians members, Rocket is left badly wounded and on the verge of death.

The team tries to heal Rocket until Nebula (Karen Gillan) explains that any attempt to operate on him will trigger a fail-safe device inside of him that could potentially kill the raccoon. It’s then that the Guardians team of Starlord, Nebula, Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), Mantis (Pom Klementieff), and Groot (Vin Diesel) set themselves on a mission to retrieve the code that will turn off the fail-safe device that is inside Rocket in order to save his life. Of course, they can’t do it themselves as they also seek the help from Gamora, who once again is the Gamora from 2014 and not the one that Peter fell in love with, who is with the Ravagers, led by Stakar Ogord (Sylvester Stallone) and also has Kraglin (Sean Gunn), Yondu’s second-in command, who is still around.

Meanwhile, as Rocket is on his potential death bed, he has constant flashbacks to his time with the High Evolutionary, where he was experimented and tortured along with his friends. The High Evolutionary is a sinister monster who has a goal of trying to make everyone and everything “perfect” while creating a new Earth that is filled with nothing but perfection. The Guardians of the Galaxy find themselves facing their biggest challenge yet, not only to save the galaxy from the High Evolutionary but also saves their own well-beings.

When reading that plot synopsis, you might think that sounds quite dark for a movie about the Guardians of the Galaxy along with taking place within the MCU. And you would be right! This story plays out as grim and somber as you would imagine that certainly earns it’s PG-13 rating (and that’s not just because it’s the first MCU movie with a f-bomb added to it). By diving into the past sins of the Guardians along with flashback scenes about how Rocket Raccoon got created the way they did, Gunn leaves no stone unturned and isn’t afraid to have his audience witness these bleak events along with these characters.

To be sure, the movie still contains the typical humor and comedy that the Marvel movies are known for with plenty of amusing gags and quips throughout that adds enough light to the bleakness of the story. However, unlike with most other MCU movies, the humor serves a purpose and adds to the characters themselves. They aren’t simply joking around because they are in an MCU movie, they are joking to hide from that sense of sorrow that they are feeling deep down and it’s just who they are. It’s manages to be the darkest of the Guardians movies while also the funniest of the Guardians movies without it ever coming across as too jarring.

The biggest hook with the Guardians of the Galaxy other than the weirdness and sci-fi elements is with the characters themselves. At this point, James Gunn basically assumes you love these characters to death and are willing to go through any journey with them. After going through their own movies where they save the galaxy and the crossover movies where they (somewhat) save the entire universe, here we see the Guardians saving themselves….along with a handful of others. It’s not only their raccoon friend that’s dying, it’s their emotional well-beings and the thought how the next mistake they make could be the last one. And if that is made, did they do what they wanted to accomplish for themselves or do they need to fight for that second chance to do so?

Did Peter Quill need to make amends with his grandfather to feel whole again? Does Mantis need her own identity aside from being a servant to Ego or a member of the Guardians? Does Gamora need to be the Gamora that the family remembers to be accepted? Does Rocket really need to run towards the monster who made him instead of running away from him to fulfill his destiny? Can Nebula turn her sister the way she did to herself? Can Drax serve a purpose that doesn’t involve sacrificing himself to be with his family again? Can Groot say anything other than I am groot? All those questions in more helps showcases just how far the Guardians are willing to go to save themselves because at this point, they all know that they love each other just as much as the audience loves them.

What really helps here are the performances of the main cast that certainly give it their all and deliver their finest performances to date. Chris Pratt is able to deliver the emotional beats as well as he has ever had as Star Lord, so much so that the moments where he’s being quippy can be seen as coming out of nowhere even when it’s what the character has been doing all along. Zoe Saldana finds even more depth to Gamora, where she basically has to play a character that is not the ones that was with the Guardians with the first two movies and Infinity War, and is able to absolutely sell it. Karen Gillian is great at helping showcasing just how far the character of Nebula as come since her somewhat extended cameo in the first movie. Dave Bautista and Pom Klementieff are just as lovable, funny, and charming as they’ve been in the previous movies as Drax and Mantis. Will Poulter as Adam Warlock, despite always appearing in and out of the film whenever the script needs it, blends well with the rest of the cast as well as Linda Cardellini as Lylla, Rocket’s female friend. The other returning cast members from the previous movies such as Sean Gunn’s Kraglin, Sylvester Stallone’s Stakar, and Elizabeth Debicki’s Ayesha are recognizable but still enjoyable to see.

The two biggest standout performances however comes from Chukwudi Iwjui as the main bad guy of High Evolutionary and Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon. High Evolutionary makes for hands down the most HATEABLE bad guy in the entire MCU, one that you absolute love to LOATHE for all the sinister things that he has done and his bats*it crazy plan. This all makes it the more better with Iwjui’s performance who strikes a fine line between going full ham and being a legit threat at the same time. When it comes to Bradley Cooper as Rocket, this might go down as the very best performance in the entire MCU. Although he plays less of the sarcastic, wise-cracking raccoon, he’s able to give an emotional and vulnerable performance of being a little fella that’s on life support. Cooper has proven to be a great dramatic actor on occasions but I don’t I’ve ever seen him tackle a role quite like this.

In terms of production, this is a huge step-up from previous MCU movies. While there’s is obvious CGI and effects added to the picture, it never feels jarring or out of place. This is a beautiful film to look at because of how clear the vision of James Gunn is on screen. I don’t know if it’s because there was more time added to this than other MCU movies or because Gunn is just a more experience director but this is still a visually dazzling film that never becomes unpleasant to look at. The action sequences, while a bit few and far in between compare to the other Guardians movies, are quite good with one extended, one-camera sequence in the climax being the clear standout of the picture. These scenes are cut, clean, and easy to follow/enjoy while they are happening. And of course, the music choices are just as inspired as the previous Guardians movies and the original score by John Murphy might just be the best of the trilogy.

In terms of downsides, there are times to where the movie does move too fast to get from one emotional beat to the next, which mostly involves characters talking about their past mistakes much faster than they should even if the situation they are in calls for it. There’s also the subplot involving Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock that makes sense thematically but feels disconnected with the rest of the movie in terms of story. And there’s also a plot element that’s introduces during the third act that feels tacked on and seems to only exist to add more tension towards the second half of the climax.

Even so, even when these movies are not perfect, they always feel right. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is able to successfully hit all the beats it needs to give fans and audiences a satisfying ending to it’s trilogy along with showing off how Marvel can still find ways to deliver quality entertainment, even when it might seem like they’ve reached their limits. It’s able to be funny, dark, sad, engaging, and deliver the highest and most personal stakes of all the three Guardians movies.

I don’t know what the future holds for the MCU or the team members that live to fight another day but at this moment, I don’t really care. All I wanted from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was for it to deliver a conclusion that felt definite and right. And if you ask me, it was no doubt able to deliver a famously huge third.

Other comments:

• Yes, there are two post credit scenes!

• And yes, I saved the worst pun for last!

• Btw, I’m not joking when I said this is the darkest and bleakest of these movies. Fair warning to children taking their kids to see this, there are some haunting flashbacks scenes with Rocket involving animal abuse and extermination. If you think that’s too much for your children to handle, then you might want to skip out on this one.

• How in the world do you give the MCU’s first F bomb to Chris Pratt and NOT Samuel L Jackson? Kevin Feige better answer for that!

• Nebula might honestly be the most developed character in the entire MCU! Her arc throughout these movies is just magnificent!

• I know James Gunn loves his friends and family but maybe cool it with the constant cameos off them for future DC movies. Or at least make them less recognizable!

• Love the shout-out to St. Charles, Missouri!

After being hinted at for a long while, it has finally happened. The writers of the Writer’s Guild of America has gone on strike once again. On April 18th, 97.85% of members of the WGA labor union of screenwriters in the USA agreed to go on strike if they fail to reach an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents the major film and television studios of Hollywood by May 1st. No deal was agreed upon and because of that, today officially begins the newest strike among the WGA.

Of course, this is not the first time a strike has occurred involving writers in film and television. No one could forget the strike that occurred from November 5th, 2007 to February 12th, 2008. Despite the strike only lasting for a little over three months, film and tv quite suffered the next few years because of it. With tv, it mostly involved talk shows with well-known people such as Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, Craig Ferguson, Conan O’Brien, Bill Maher, David Letterman, Jay Leno. With film, well…..let’s just say we got Michael Bay’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and leave it at that.

Just like that the strike that took place in the 2000s, the main talk shows that are more well-known will be affected by the current one that just happened. The shows of Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, and Bill Maher were all shut down immediately due to the writers of those shows taking part of the strike and will be cancelled until further notice. And I’m sure movies will take a huge affect by this with the coming years that will offer plenty of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallens for our viewing pleasures.

When looking at the way film is going now, a strike involving writers is the last thing that needed to happen. Theaters had been taking it a hit in the 2020s thanks to the global pandemic which pretty much encourages plenty of folks out there to just stay home and watch something instead of going out and spending their hard earned money to see it in theaters. Sure, there are a few exceptions such as Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar: The Way of Water but there’s not nearly enough experiences being made strictly for the big screens that have many people motivated to watch them outside of their own home. So much so, that more and more movies are now being release digitally as soon as possible in the hopes of being able to make the quickest buck imaginable before the said movie becomes out of the conversation. You don’t believe me, Evil Dead Rise is going to be available on digital next week, which would be just THREE weeks after it came out in theaters. Whether that’s due to the recent success of streaming services and studios feeling they can gain more viewership through is beyond me but no doubt it’s taking a hit.

That being said, the writers of the entertainment industry deserve all the credit and respect in the world for standing up for themselves because they feel like they are not being paid fairly. After all, these are the folks that are writing the scripts for the entertainment that we watch and consume. It’s only fair that they deserve a good portion of the credit whenever a certain show or film is a success. Yes, directing, acting, the visual work, and soundtrack are important things to a production but so is writing. If there’s anybody that deserves a fair wage to writing the scripts and screenplays to these successful and even non successful entertainment content, it’s the writers.

Despite it being the worst time for a writer’s strike, it’s also the most proper one. The Covid-19 pandemic has went on for over three years now and we have been slowly working out way to get things back where they used to be. There should not be any salary concerns for those in Hollywood since a good portion of the movies and shows affected by the pandemic have come out now. If there is, then I think that says more about the higher ups that refuses to pay the writers fairly than it says about Covid. If that is the case, then this strike is 100% warranted. And if AMPTP thinks it isn’t, then they better find a way to resolve it ASAP or else films and television will take a even bigger dive nose in quality than it did after the last strike.

Speaking as someone that inspires to be a writer, I 100% support the WGA entirely. They are far from perfect but they are undoubtedly the hardest working men and women in the entertainment industry and we would not get all these stories if it weren’t for them. Because of all that and more, they deserved to be paid properly. I hope the situation resolves quickly so this won’t affect the future of film and tv too badly but if it does, then the AMPTP and anyone else that supports them will have no one to blame but themselves with the dreadful aftermath that will come for this.

Nevertheless, the 2023 strike of the Writer’s Guild of America has commenced. This day, May 2nd, will be yet another important day to look back upon as the start of something big.