All posts by Kev Brock

I'm a musician, singer/songwriter, blogger, writer, poet, bodybuilder, movie lover, music lover, video gamer, history/political buff, conservative/republican, etc. I like to do a lot of things.

Book Review: “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”

So I just finished reading the book, “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” by Seth Grahame-Smith.

This book is actually a biography of Abraham Lincoln, except there’s a little mix of vampire fiction thrown in. While this is a fictional book, there’s still a lot of Non-fiction real life history into it, too. The book begins from Abe’s childhood all the way up to his assassination. The book surprisingly has everything about Abe’s history. It’s all there. His marriages to Anne Rutledge and Mary Todd is there. Everything about his political career. The Gettysburg Address, the Emancipation Proclamation, the 1864 re-election, the assassination (which he was murdered by John Wilkes Booth), etc. Yep, the book pretty much covers Lincoln’s entire history.

As for the fictional material, the book focus’s on Abe being a vampire hunter. Abe has a huge hatred for vampires and vows to kill every one of them. The stories are told in journal form by a vampire named, Henry Sturges, who is the only “fictional” character in the book. In the book, it wants to make Abe look like a tough guy hunting down vampires with an axe. The axe was Abe’s only weapon to kill vampires as you see on the cover of the book above. The book is of course, violent and a little gory.

I thought the author of this novel did an amazing job mixing in fiction and non-fiction all in the same book. That had to be very difficult to do with a lot of research. The book is pretty twisted and sick. It’s also silly and goofy. It made you feel like watching the History Channel and a Evil Dead movie at the same time.

Do you know what’s even more funny, that since I finished this book today, I just realized that today is Abe’s Anniversary death. This is one of the best horror novels, I’ve read in a long time. So I shall be looking forward to “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” film when it hits theaters. This is an entertaining read. If you like reading history, politics, and horror, this is the book for you.

Kev

RANT: Why TNA Impact is better than WWE…

I’ll admit that the WWE’s new direction is kind of crap. It’s getting worse. I don’t like how the WWE is ignoring wrestling and turning it into an entertainment business myself. I’ll always respect Vince McMahon and his superstars, but WWE shouldn’t be “Entertainment” for kids. The WWE started off as “wrestling” in the 80’s and early 90’s but in the 2000’s years, the company changed, big time. WWE really became childlike.

WWE doesn’t like calling their performers, “wrestlers”, they call ’em “superstars”. They don’t like calling wrestling matches, “matches”, instead they call ’em, bouts. Those are just examples of how WWE is trying to ignore wrestling completely.

A lot of fans are complaining that WWE is not wrestling anymore and that’s why a lot of them watch TNA Impact instead. It is why TNA Impact is getting more popular and bigger because fans want more “wrestling”. TNA’ s goal is not only to compete with WWE, what they are doing is that they want to give us wrestling that WWE doesn’t do anymore.

So why is TNA Impact better than WWE??? I can think of these reasons at the top of my head:

  • Wrestling – TNA’s main focus is on wrestling. Since WWE isn’t wrestling anymore, TNA vows to keep it wrestling. They are committed to giving wrestling fans what they want.
  • Better story lines – TNA has more impacting story lines than WWE, in my opinion. There is more intensity in the story lines than WWE would have came up with. Still though, the TNA story lines make true “wrestling” and staying away from the entertainment side.
  • Better main events – You don’t see John Cena and Randy Orton hogging up the main events in TNA do ya? No. That’s because TNA has a lot of main eventers over there, from AJ Styles, RVD, Sting, Ken Anderson, Kurt Angle, Matt Morgan, Samoa Joe, etc. We see different main events in TNA. It’s not always the same main events like WWE is known to having the same boring main events all the time.
  • TNA allows swearing, blood, and violence – There’s plenty of swearing, bloody matches and hardcore violence in TNA. Something that WWE would never have again.
  • Hotter women – TNA has way hotter women than WWE. More cleavage and more skin. Plus, TNA doesn’t call ’em Divas.
  • Better promos (or mic skills) – TNA wrestlers can pull off better promos and in ring speeches than WWE could ever do. All those guys are pretty amazing on the mic, I especially have been impressed with Ken Anderson lately. AJ Styles has great mic work too, same with Bully Ray.
  • Better backstage skits – You know how in WWE when a superstar is being interviewed by a WWE backstage reporter, and then they get into drama with other wrestlers? It’s not like that in TNA. TNA doesn’t do backstage interviews where they ask the wrestlers questions about what happened out there in the ring. TNA wrestlers just do their acting on camera continuing their story lines throughout the show.

I think that pretty much covers it. That’s why I watch TNA every week now because they focus on the “wrestling”. It really is sad to what WWE has become. I’ll still watch RAW and “Wrestlemania” of course, I just don’t watch WWE ppv’s too much anymore.

Kev

Would I ever make a professionally made music video someday???

This seems to be pretty popular with unsigned and indie bands these days. Making professionally MTV/VH1 styled like videos. So the question you maybe wondering is, would I ever make one? I’ve said it before a long long time ago, no. I don’t think I’ll ever make a music video to my songs. Why? Simply because I hate music videos. I only liked music videos in the 80’s hair metal and 90’s grunge music era’s, but other than that, music videos are just silly and pointless. I never understood bands acting in a music video, lip synching to your own singing like if it was a staged musical or something.

If you wanted my music on video, you would see me video taping my “live” performances. I don’t need to feel like a rock star with a MTV/VH1 styled video, do I? I don’t live in this rock star fantasy world. I just want to play music as a passion, that is all.

A lot of Albany bands seem to be making these kind of videos these days, so I thought I would rant about it. They maybe nice material to get your music heard and get your name out there, but honestly, you don’t need music videos to get your name out there. I always saw music videos as a way to feed in your ego even more.

Just let your music speak for itself. I’ve never been a hit “single” kind of guy.

Kev

Report: Faora will be the leading villain for “Superman”? Plus, planet Krypton revealed and other Superman news…

The Latino Review leaked a little bit of “Superman” plot points a little early. These are just “rumors” so don’t believe it as of this moment. Faora will be the main villain for Superman. Planet Krypton will NOT be a crystal planet like you see in the beginning of “Superman: The Movie”. Warner Bros., Christopher Nolan and Zack Snyder are all interested in Daniel Day-Lewis for the role of Jor-El (Superman’s biological father). You will see both Jor-El and Lara (Superman’s kryptonian Mom) in the beginning of the film. The story of “The Man of Steel” will be an origin story much like, “Batman: Begins”. The story will cover everything about the life of Superman from his birth on Krypton all the way to how he became Superman in Metropolis.

Read the full story, here.

So General Zod may not be the film’s leading villain then, Faora will be the leading villain? Zod will only get a small role? For those who don’t know much about the Faora character, read more about her, here.

If you read Faora’s wikipedia, you can see that she was a very important part of Superman’s history, that Donner’s “Superman: The Movie”, never used. So it does make a lot of sense to use her and I’m glad they’re using a different villain this time. She was never used in any of the films.Well Faora was used for the TV show, “Smallville”, but not the movies.

While it must be frustrating and annoying to fans that they are using another “origin” story for Superman. They have to. Like I said Warner Bros./DC are at war with the Seigel heirs. They need to do the origin story fast because they’ll lose it all in 2013. Please try to understand that. Plus, how else are you going to start a Superman story when they are going to reboot it? Might as well start all over again.

Yes, I’m sure Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan’s version of “Superman” will probably start on planet Krypton, then they will go to Smallville where Clark Kent grew up to become Superman, and all the Metropolis stuff at the end of the film. I just think Christohper Nolan’s version of the Superman origin story will be much better. I trust both him and Zack.

Warner Bros. will probably make another casting announcement this Sunday because they seem to be announcing a new cast member every Sunday. Who will it be this Sunday? Will they announce who will be playing, Faora? I bet Faora is next, if possible. Maybe Lex Luthor will be next to be casted. Then they need to cast someone for Lana Lang (if they use her), Perry White, Jimmy Olsen and Superman’s real mother, Lara.

I support them in this project, 100%. I believe it will be a great movie. Hopefully they keep the John Williams score, though. That’s important, I hope they don’t ignore that legendary opening theme song.

Kev

To those that are fans of my music…

To those readers out there who are actual “Fans” of my music, true fans (haters not allowed), please join my facebook fan site, here.

I’m coming back to music. I plan to play a couple of shows this Spring/Summer.

I’ll also be doing Ustream live acoustic home performances more too. Yep, time to make a comeback to music. Write some new songs and play them out there.

Kev

Cool Video: “The Rise of the Planet of the Apes” trailer is finally here!

As a huge fan of the original Planet of the Apes movies, I’m actually very excited for this new one. This new movie sounds killer. As you should know, this film is a prequel to the original film. It explains how Apes took over New York City. “The Rise of the Planet of the Apes” looks very impressive. I’m definitely seeing this film. Enjoy.

Kev

BREAKING NEWS: Sally Field set to star as Mary Todd for Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” movie!!!

Just announced today, Dreamworks revealed the big news that two time Academy Award winner, Sally Field is set to play the wife of Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd for Steven Spielberg’s, “Lincoln”, biopic. Steven and Sally never worked together before.

Deadline, reports.

I’m very excited for this “Lincoln” movie now. Both Daniel Day Lewis and Sally Field are very talented. I’m sure this film will land Steven Spielberg back in the Oscars again. It smells Oscar all over it. Surprisingly enough, Steven hasn’t had a Best Picture nomination since “Munich” which never won. He won for Best Picture/Director for “Saving Private Ryan” in 1999. It’s been a long time since you’ve been in the Oscars, haven’t you, Steve?

Kev

 

Report: Michael C. Hall to star in independent big screen film, “Love, Scotch & Death” after he finishes “Dexter – Season 6″…

“Dexter” creator, James Manos Jr. will re-team with Michael C. Hall again, after they wrap up “Dexter” Season 6 this year. James and Michael will do an independent big screen film titled, “Love, Scotch & Death”. Actress Vera Farmiga will star with Michael in the film. The film will be written & directed by James Manos Jr.

The movie “Love, Scotch & Death” will be about a man just returning home from a stressful vacation, he learns that his parents died of natural causes and is forced to navigate his way past an unsympathetic funeral director, his children, manic wife, an eccentric priest and over-sexed neighbors.

Deadline, reports.

While the movie sounds good, I’m more excited for Season 6 of “Dexter” coming. It quickly became my favorite TV show and I’m already addicted. I just started Season 2 on Netflix. I will be buying 3 & 4 on DVD soon. Will watch Season 5 on Showtime on Demand since Season 5 is not out on DVD yet. I want to catch up before Season 6 comes.

I’m not sure why Netflix removed Season 3 & 4. Maybe Netflix will soon stream Season 3, 4, and 5 since “Season 6” is coming.

I love “Dexter” though. “Dexter” and “The Walking Dead” are both great horror shows. We need more horror TV shows. Don’t get me started on “True Blood” ’cause I always hated that show.

Kev

BREAKING NEWS: Catherine Zeta Jones turns herself in for treatment on bipolar disorder…

This is pretty shocking. Actress Catherine Zeta Jones and the wife of actor, Michael Douglas, turns herself into a mental health treatment center for bipolar disorder.

TMZ, reports.

Catherine always seems like a good person and a normal woman. This is weird. Michael Douglas wasn’t enough to help her? I’m pretty sure he tried to help her, but if she turned herself in, then there must be something wrong. I hope her problems aren’t as serious and I wish her well. She is a talented actress, I’m a fan of her work.

Kev

Woman drives van into Hudson river, killing self, three kids and 10 year old escaped alive…

This is a shocking and sad story that hit the national news today.

Check it out, here.

First of all, those stupid idiots that call her a good Mom in this article. She was never a good Mom at all, if she’s going to commit suicide and bring her kids along with her. If you’re going to kill yourself, leave your kids out of it, but this stupid woman didn’t do that for whatever reason. What she did, was a murder-suicide thing. If you don’t like kids, then don’t have ’em. Period.

Secondly, that boy that escaped alive, is smart and did a great thing. That had to be pretty fucking scary for him. He’s brave to escape like that. That boy is never going to forget this tragedy. I feel sorry for him and the father.

It’s obvious that woman was mentally ill and had a lot of problems. RIP to the other three dead kids. This is terrible.

Kev