Month: March 2017

How To Preserve Brain Function

Posted on by T. Maxwell-Harrison

Inside your skull is a network of billions, no, trillions of little cells called neurons. All firing at every second, they all keep you alive, and they all serve an important function. But with great responsibility comes a downside, these cells are constantly dying by a process called apoptosis, and constantly regenerating, a process that causes ageing over time.

Your brain is one hell of a hungry machine, consuming the most energy in the entire body, and it needs a constant supply in order to function well.

Now, the brain is extremely protected from damage and from toxic substances and pollutants. But sometimes, the brain becomes overwhelmed with the constant overload of poison we put into our bodies, in turn we need to take a step back and try to clear some of that junk out and in turn aid the healing process. Otherwise, we are possibly subject to brain fog, headaches, memory anomalies, confusion and even degenerative diseases such as dementia. So follow some of these tips to keep your brain healthy!

1) Avoid Drugs, Alcohol and Caffeine.

This should be common sense, but these 3 things are not only detrimental to brain health, but also to the entire body when consumed regularly. When I say drugs, I am referring to those things such as cannabis, cocaine and tobacco, all of which mess with brain chemistry, creating a viscous addiction, and once hooked you cannot simply stop, because you have programmed your own brain to want and need these things. Think about it, it will cause you to become depressed without them, and possibly delusional with them. Not very good for mental well being, a key factor in preserving brain function.

2) Reading & Writing

Do you read a book often? When was the last time you actually read anything substantial? You need to use the meat in your head if you want to keep it, that means reading, and doing it regularly. Just the simple act of sitting quietly and focusing on a story is a form of meditation, a good way to relax and unwind and in turn lower stress. Incorporate some crosswords and write letters rather than typing emails, as you engage more parts of you brain by using a pen. Both these things help maintain cognitive sharpness and improve memory, as you read more you will find it easier to remember details about the story and everything else in your life.

3) Cardio 

Every time you walk, run, swim or jog, you are increasing your heart rate and boosting blood flow to the brain. This is when more nutrients and oxygen are delivered, because as mentioned before the brain needs a constant supply of energy, and even more energy is needed for exercise. During a run, your brain releases a concoction of chemicals. Some of these are endorphin’s, which give you a runner high, and provide stress relief. But a greater benefit is that neurogenesis is increased during the run as well, where brain stem cells are created more easily. This is the perfect reason to exercise, it guarantees your brain will have an extra edge, and it will have more neurons!

4) Herbs

For thousands of years people have used mother nature to heal themselves, but as time has gone on, we have moved – it seems – almost entirely towards modern medicine, which has some very questionable practices and usually, the medications have dangerous side effects. If you have herbs regularly, then make them the right herbs, as these have definitive benefits for the entire body: Turmeric – this is bright orange in colour when ground and has been shown in studies to reduce amyloid beta collection in the brain, the deposits responsible for Alzheimer. It has also shown to increase neurogenesis in rats. Cayenne – this stimulates the heart and blood vessels to ensure a healthy circulatory system, this in turn can prevent heart attack and stroke. Ginger – the substance Gingerol is responsible for the health benefits, ginger has been shown to potentially lower LDL cholesterol, the main type that is said to increase risk of cardiovascular disease. It also helps nausea and indigestion. Green tea – the caffeine content is low, and green tea has shown promise for the following  : Diabetes, Heart Disease, Esophageal Cancer, Cholesterol, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, Tooth Decay and Blood Pressure.

5) Fasting

By fasting you force your body to enter a state of burning fat, and once this process starts you begin to heal from within. If you constantly eat or constantly eat too many carbs, then you will feel great after even a short 12 hour fast. During the fast, your brain relies on ketones to function, and it can function very well on them, despite the claims that we need constant carbs otherwise we die. While it is true that the brain needs constant energy, the energy can be sourced from the liver when we need it. The same changes that occur in the brain during fasting mimic the changes that occur with regular exercise — both increase the production of neurotrophic factors, and promote the growth of neurons, the connection between neurons, and strengthen the synapses.

 

So, try to use these tips to keep sharp, and if you have anything you personally use, then feel free to comment.

 

A E I O U

Posted on by T. Maxwell-Harrison

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/abstract/

via Daily Prompt: Abstract

‘Existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence’

This could sum up the entire universe, literally the entire universe is abstract and just a thought in a sense. It’s just consciousness as millions of people believe. But when abstract art comes out, people consider it terrible and to an extent, it is.

What is abstract art? It could be a painting, a poem, a movie or a personality. But it isn’t a normal one, it is usually very strange and very unique. It is what one might call, mind garbage.

Alice in wonderland is a very abstract book, and very peculiar film, both the animated and live versions. It is loved by millions. Picasso is a well known abstract painter, his work is loved by millions. What do they have in common? They are based on an idea that can only be represented by something so insane that you cannot possibly comprehend the meaning. So it leads us to the meaning by showing us something abstract that might aid our journey. Most of the time though, the art is meaningless in nature and as I said, mind garbage.

Make sense? No, I didn’t think so.

Best Zombie Survival Games

Posted on by T. Maxwell-Harrison

It’s the one genre of gaming that everyone loves, I know it’s one of those types of games that will definitely lack on graphics and maybe character movement, but will make up for it in story line and in game action. The main things a good zombie game will have are: weapons – in particular, huge guns, heavy swords and axes and golf clubs. Without them, the game isn’t anything more than strategy, and probably won’t even have zombies. These games are ones I’ve played, and so the list isn’t reflective on the amount of games available.

1) Left 4 Dead : 1 & 2

The most intense survival games with zombies, the games stick to a basic system, get from a to b with a few set backs along the way. All you have is 3 teammates, a health pack and a weapon and flashlight. This entire game is focused clearly on teamwork, without it, you won’t last 5 minutes in a horde. The player revive system is great too, rather than players dying, they are simply incapacitated until another player can revive them. The addition of the special infected – the hunter, smoker, boomer, witch and tank make for a terrifically terrifying game. The second game sees the addition of the jockey, the charger, the spitter and a female boomer, taking the game to a whole new level, with larger maps and more zombies than the first. The games are re-playable, and the online is where most players are nowadays, enjoying the ability to join a session, grab a gun and start shooting. It’s easy and fun, making them the best out of the lot.

2) Dead Island

The clear highlight of this awesome game is the massive campaign and huge maps, coupled with an amazing in game weapon customization system – no doubt copied from dead rising. The huge amount of side quests will see you exploring a massive island battling some very difficult dead, and special infected. The impressive graphics and player interactivity make it one of the most ambitious games to ever launch. You want to just kill zombies all day long? No problem, because it is essentially a free to roam game and there is no obligation to complete the missions. But in order to unlock other parts of the island, you need to complete them. Team up online for a more intense experience.

3) Dead Rising

The series with a great story, you play someone who is dropped in a mall, and whom decided to investigate the zombie outbreak. The cut scenes and amount of zombies is baffling, making it very difficult to survive. The major downside to this game, was the fact that if you died, you had to start the game from the beginning. This was the worst feature of a game ever, and it essentially meant you had to play the entire game in one sitting to get it done, if you ever did. But the fun of exploring and dressing up and using every object as a weapon was huge fun, and spawned a further 3 games, with improvements to the saving system.

4) State Of Decay

The game that really brought the zombie apocalypse alive, it has an amazingly simple campaign, base building, survivor recruitment, and a sophisticated player interactive menu and skill building. It really does cover everything, but as with all things good, the downside was the lack of freedom in base building and play ability, being limited to exploring and scavenging a limited resources map. The game has special infected and a hard to survive map. It is one of those games where hiding in a bush is better than running, because you can quickly run out of stamina, and without snacks, you are dead, never to return. If the sequel – state of decay 2 – incorporates the elements of the first and expands on them, rather than removing them, then the game will meet good reviews.

 

Do you have any game ideas you would like to see in a game? I’m sure you do, because I have so many I’d be struggling to fit them all in! Please leave a comment and let me know!

Cell : Review

Posted on by T. Maxwell-Harrison

Cell is an apocalyptic horror novel published by American author Stephen King in 2006. The story follows a New England artist struggling to reunite with his young son after a mysterious signal broadcast over the global cell phone network turns the majority of his fellow humans into mindless vicious animals.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_(novel))

Based on the novel of the same name, the director takes on an ambitious project with the help of Stephen King himself. The star studded cast, with John Cusack and Samuel L Jackson is sure to make a haunting and memorable movie, right?

Not this time, nowhere in this film did I personally have my mind blown. The film starts off with a heart racing scene in the airport, something that you would be quite frightened to witness, but John Cusack just doesn’t deliver in his acting – I’m not personally a fan because he doesn’t seem to show any emotions in any film. The story is not explained properly and we are dropped into the action straight away, as if we are all meant to have read the book. The special effects were not great for a blockbuster either, the plane crashing through the terminal was extremely laughable. Soon though the story sees Samuel Jackson introduced, whom is a great actor, but doesn’t come close to showing it sadly. Yet again, we are supposed to understand things that are just introduced with no explanation. The characters also seem flat and are seriously underdeveloped.

Along the way to find his son, the pair are frequently met with strangers along their road trip. These appearances actually seemed to show an improvement in the story, especially the scene where they burn the people in the stadium. But still, more questions are asked and little is answered. So up to now, we have the entire population of people turned into mad killers, and no explanation as to why, and a group with no character.

It soon gets even more tense though as they battle their way closer to a mysterious signal tower, where the killer people are apparently being controlled from. The appearance of the the man in the red hoodie is good, but doesn’t – yet again – explain anything. He appears multiple times until the end where there is some kind of stand off. The climax is not very good, and the ‘zombie’ like people can be seen moving in a clearly computer animated way (CGI), which is so poor I wanted to cry. It then sees the father and son united, and seem to walk off after destroying the tower, only for a cut scene of Cusack walking among the crowds of zombies to show. It is all very confusing.

I want to write about the film in a good light, so will give credit to the road trip style throughout, and the sudden moments of terror, and perhaps to the opening scene and subsequent stadium scene. Other than that most of the film is forgettable, sadly. The story was poorly explained for an adaption, the acting wasn’t great – even from so-called expert actors – and the action and CGI were very limited. Considering King himself worked on this project, I cannot understand why he didn’t have the characters lives explained, or their background.

Therefore I award the film :

2.5/5

Ruminate

Posted on by T. Maxwell-Harrison

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/ruminate/

I stop and think once in a while, it clears things up and breaks things down. Don’t let it carry you into the abyss though, because sometimes thinking can become overwhelming, to the point of a melt down.

It can be said that we need to observe ourselves in order to improve, but it isn’t often said that overthinking and over correcting can be all to dangerous to our mental health. Quieting the mind from stress and not worrying about something that hasn’t happened yet is a great way to live in peace.

Ruminate only when you have time to procrastinate because it is the same thing in a sense, all the time spent thinking about it could be spent doing it, or better yet, enjoying life!

I want to go to the city for a day out, but I do not know where I will go or whom I will go with. I keep thinking and researching and texting people to get ideas, my whole plan is flawed. But wait, I don’t even need to go yet, and when I do, I don’t think about it, I just do it.

Keep living in the moment and try to limit your expectations because they are most certainly wrong.

10 Awesome Games Worth Playing

Posted on by T. Maxwell-Harrison

Welcome gaming enthusiasts, new and experienced alike! Today, I hope to post some really interesting games that I personally recommend to anyone who has the capability to play them. Luckily, I have had access to many games, over many years. No, I am not someone who plays them everyday, but I have enough experience to be able to tell a good game from a terrible game. It’s easy to name newer franchises, but for the sake of keeping it real I’ll be mentioning some old school classics, some of which provided the very nostalgic playground for many teens during the early 21st century. So, here it goes, let’s count down:

10) The Saboteur

An absolutely terrific alternative to the popular grand theft auto series! This one off game essentially gives players an open world map set in Nazi occupied France during world war 2. Players complete the campaign in their own time and can spend the rest of it blowing up guard towers, stealthily killing Nazi generals, and fighting with the resistance to take back Paris. Side quests can be completed and there is a wide choice of military style weapons including snipers and pistols. Players can also buy vehicles or hijack one off the street, return it to their garage and essentially pimp it out. The player can free run across buildings and climb like a ninja, much in the style of assassins creed. So check it out!

9) Call Of Duty : Modern Warfare 2

This call of duty deserves mentioning, because it is one of the best in the series, and there won’t be anything like this one again. The campaign is certainly one of the more adventurous of the series and can be played over and over without becoming bored, I’ve done it. The online gaming is where the best game play is at, and players have literally hundreds of weapon customization’s and camouflages available to them once they complete the challenges. It’s the kill streak rewards that make it so enjoyable, being able to call in harrier strikes and nuclear bombs was a step in the right direction. Shame the series went downhill after this.

8) Call Of Duty : World At War

This game stands out with such awesomeness! It was amazing how the design team managed to create such realistic graphics and detailed maps, and awesome character movement. The highlight of this game is the Nazi zombies, the very first map was on this game, and it was fantastic, had all the things you could want. Sadly, the Nazi zombies also went downhill after this game. It offers a challenge and I’d say the campaign is more difficult than it’s follow up. Tag that in with the awesome online, battling in the infamous Reich headquarters or Banzai is certainly something!

7) Grand Theft Auto 4

The game was a giant leap forward for Rockstar developers and the game superseded its predecessors with ease. The game map was huge and fans were somewhat blown away at the time of its release. Although GTA 5 had more roaming land than GTA 4, the game at the time was the landmark in gaming. Nico was the Russian who came to the land of the free, and also a very entertaining character, along with his cousin Roman and steroid pumping friend Brucie. The wide variety of missions and constantly changing environment allow the players to immerse themselves fully in the game without becoming tied down or bored.

6) Resident Evil : Operation Raccoon City

The resident evil series is huge and has millions of fans. This little gem for me was one of the series best games, despite the fact it was less mainstream than say resident evil 5. Rather than having the usual awkward controls it went back to easy controls so to speak. The game has some strong graphics, a solid campaign that is not so easy, and also artificial intelligence team mates! Yes, rather than battling the dead alone, you get help, and that is what made it so extraordinary.

5) Conflict Desert Storm : 1 & 2

The games that really brought the gaming experience to life for me were these two, released for the original Xbox. Set during the Iraq war, the game pits players in a team of 4 – you being anyone of them – against dozens of enemies as you battle your way through missions and then to the LZ. The best part of these is that you could switch characters, have them cover you and then switch back, along with having the ability to give commands, which was just simply awesome! The stealth required on certain levels was hard, and the added feature of enemy tanks made it all too difficult sometimes, but hey, that’s gaming for you!

4) Dead Island

An action/adventure zombie survival game that sets you on an exotic island during the beginning of the zombie apocalypse. The game had huge publicity before its release but didn’t really live up to the hype. It is however, a brilliant and huge game. The mission side of it is astoundingly massive, with something like 50 or 60 main missions and tons of side quests. Creating custom weapons and being able to drive make the game fun, especially when running down a horde or two! There a different areas on the island and to access them the player must complete missions. This is a fantastic way to put more in a game, by splitting the sections up. The jungle is particularly grueling, so beware!

3) Driver 3

Another classic by Atari for the original Xbox worth mentioning. The game was the equivalent to grand theft auto, but in my eyes, it was better! You played a cop in south beach Miami, undertaking missions and travelling to Nice and Istanbul as you work your way through the story. Free mode allowed players to select one of 3 maps, choose a car, and then unleash chaos! The freedom of the game allowed players to do as they please, along with the option to take part in the in game mini games, and also record their drives – a feature that was revolutionary in gaming.

2) Tropico 4

The city building game in the Caribbean, where anyone can be anything and do anything! Want to be a master of the economy? The buildings and interactive side of the game are a bundle of joy and provide hundreds if not thousands of hours of game play. Build your city and provide for your people, how hard can it be? Very hard, especially when there is rebels and tsunamis to deal with, not to mention the foreign powers and military coups!

1) Left 4 Dead

Valve ambitiously released this legendary game to great success. The game pits players in third person with 3 team mates against the dead, in point to point focused campaign missions. It went back to basics, grab a gun and shoot the dead. No fancy interaction and no overly complicated story lines, just good old fashioned run and shoot. You can choose your character, Bill, Louis, Francis or Zoey, and choose your weapons, but don’t forget your health pack! The game introduced the special zombies, the boomer, the hunter and the smoker with the addition of the witch! These features left players playing campaigns over and over and with the awesome ability to play as the special infected, it really went up and over the expectations gaming enthusiasts had. This is one that people can come back to anytime, anywhere, because it never gets old.

 

Creating Memories

Posted on by T. Maxwell-Harrison

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/vivid/

The word vivid is something that conjures up powerful comprehensions. Is there any time left now to create a truly vivid memory? Have you seen something so amazing but didn’t stop to admire it because of time? I think we are all guilty of letting these precious moments pass by. Perhaps though, there is indeed time to stop and think, feel and see it before it’s too late.

Most people might recall a memory from their childhood that seems particularly pleasant, or a rather splendid holiday from their teens or early twenties. I think the best ones would be holidays, the stress free time spent on the beach, surfing, eating crab cakes and smoking a pack a day while hitting the free bar every night. That is sure to make you euphoric. Others might see that as not so good. They might consider a day with a relative a vivid experience, especially when they pass, as it’s those memories that remain forever.

Unfortunately, memories aren’t always good. There are painful experiences, and again it’s sad but they are usually the ones that stick more than the better ones. Things like neglected  childhood can be traumatic, as can grief caused by losing somebody close. That is the extreme end of vivid. The lighter ones might be disagreements or arguments, the things that are basically forgotten after a week, only to flash up every time you see the other person.

In order to balance the good and the bad memories, we need to consciously take the time to observe and let the environment and scenery set in. Learn to live in the moment and you can guarantee that your memories will be pleasant. Passively observing without a care in the world might lead to a lot of subconscious junk, and in turn, potentially damaging imagery.

 

 

Top Tips To Boost Productivity

Posted on by T. Maxwell-Harrison

In the 21st century it seems 90% of the first world countries are battling with constant stress and constant workloads. Most people are overloaded but not getting much done, either because they are tired and fatigued, or simply fed up. I have seen the result of this, and it isn’t very nice. I don’t believe in statements such as ‘I don’t have enough time to plan’ or ‘I do it as it comes’.

Here are some of my top recommendations to beat stress and boost productivity!

1) Start Waking Up An Hour Earlier 

If you want to get on top of your work, and your life, it is imperative to make the most of the day you are given. There is a reason the sun rises so early, it’s because you are meant to rise with it. Yes, it is hard, and an extreme sport for some people. Just the thought of getting up 10 minutes earlier is painful, especially for the limus pigris of us. But in doing so you benefit from tons more than just extra planning time. It makes you feel great, boosts energy believe it or not, and gives you no excuse to miss breakfast! If you rise at 8 usually, then start getting up at 7, have your planner filled and your checklist set, do any emails, eat breakfast or even workout! It’s also a good opportunity to spend time with children or family, depending on if they are awake…

2) Get More Exercise 

Exercise is a most crucial thing to human health. Walking, running and swimming are the most beneficial forms, offering the strongest boost to metabolism. It benefits every organ and system within, especially the cardiovascular system. It doesn’t take much, maybe 10 to 20 minutes a day, and you can add a few more years to your life. What’s more, is running at a moderate intensity for just 10 minutes boosts endorphin production, the chemical responsible for making us feel good. So naturally, by getting more exercise, we become more productive. It’s most likely due to the fact work is depressing, and the exercise combats this better than medication can. It also ties into the first, if you get up an hour earlier you can fit in the morning walk or run.

3) Learn To Plan An Entire Week

You have a day planner, which lasts the year, but don’t use it. Well, why get it then? The entire purpose of the thing is so you can plan everything out in the entire week, month and year! Students usually have one, but most probably seldom use theirs. When you go to bed on Sunday, get the planner and write the entire weeks appointments out, don’t leave it till Monday or whenever you see fit. By doing so, you can also plan your free leisure time, your family time, and more importantly the work time you need. It greatly improves time managements as well. One day you could be working 10 hours, then have a free night with no work. Whereas another might be 8 hours working and 2 hours working at home. Having these in a planner makes it so much easier and you don’t go around asking yourself whether you have time to do this and that, and you don’t worry about ‘what I am doing tomorrow?’ Don’t forget the unexpected problems that most people have, such as deadlines being moved forward and covering for sick work colleagues.

4) Cut Out Television

This is ambitious and undeniably difficult for absolutely everyone in the developed world. It’s hard to cut something out which you are used to watching around 4 hours a day, or 5 hours, or more. It’s almost an addiction. The reality is that there is nothing productive about the box, even documentaries and so-called educational shows are just mind garbage. In order to really feel free and lighthearted and able to work harder than ever, you must either a) cut the television out entirely, or b) cut down considerably. You might want to limit the time to 10 minutes in the morning of watching the news before heading off to work, or limit it to 1 show a night. Whatever you choose, know that your mental health will improve immediately because you aren’t masking your emotions by living in a fake reality most of the time. All the time spent watching TV could be spent with family, friends, and doing the work you are probably behind on.

5) Socialize more 

It’s a good feeling to spend time with friends and family, but often underrated when it comes to being more productive. You need to socialize in order to maintain a sense of well being, and also to gossip and debate and sometimes just to talk drizzle. It helps to wind down from stress, and that is the most important element of this point; by reducing stress we automatically become more productive and happy. You might struggle if you have children or other hard hitting commitments, but if not then there is no real reason to not socialize! Go out after work with colleagues and spend time watching some football, eat a meal or play golf! Best times would be after work and weekends of course, but don’t limit it to a Friday or Saturday, be the guy or girl in the office who likes to head out midweek to the opera or concert and take someone with you!

 

So, there you go. Try incorporating these 5 awesome tips into your life and hopefully you can reap the benefits yourself. If you have any suggestions please feel free to comment!

Good luck!

 

John Wick 2: Review

Posted on by T. Maxwell-Harrison

Legendary hitman John Wick is forced back out of retirement by a former associate plotting to seize control of a shadowy international assassins’ guild. Bound by a blood oath to help him, John travels to Rome where he squares off against some of the world’s deadliest killers.

Rotten tomatoes – ‘Average Rating: 7.2/10′ (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/john_wick_chapter_2/) 

Imbd – ‘8.2/10′ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4425200/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1)

Keanu Reeves is back, and bolder than the first as he takes to the streets and underground of Rome. The film certainly delivers on the action and stunt front, but leaves a lot to be asked about the character development and story line itself, which seem hollow and lacking in depth. It’s hardly a masterpiece to use the theme of revenge in a movie as the main drive for the protagonist, which has been done countless times. It exercises no part of the actor’s ability, nor does it show any real skill from the director. Although the reviews have been largely positive, I can’t help but feel it’s due to the degrading of the film industry standard, which is now nothing but violence and bad acting.

At first, John Wick seems to be enjoying his retirement, much the same as the first movie, so already there is the same story arc and boring predictable outcome. But only after an explosive opening sequence do we get to the main story line.

Wick soon bolts into action in one of the most intense car crash derby’s I have personally seen in an opening to any movie. It was however, hard to determine the relevance of this, as it does not in anyway relate to the rest of the film. The directors may have wanted to show of Wicks skills, but after the first movie, fans should be pretty aware of this, making the initial action practically pointless in terms of plot. It also threw John Wicks love for his car out the window, and had some close combat, but in terms of quality, it was something I’ve seen ten thousand times before.

After a slow start to the movie, taking something like 30 minutes to actually introduce the main mission, Wick is visited by his gangster type boss, whom blows Wicks house up because Wick refuses to be bound by a blood oath, something that is half crucial to the film. Unfortunately, the acting by Keanu Reeves was poor,and ultimately made it seem like a cheap b movie. The dialogue was mundane and the was Reeves pronounced it just sounded god awful, as if he was trying too hard. Thankfully, he wasn’t talking much and most of the movie was centered on shooting, with impressive accuracy, and some good fight scenes, showing the strength of the film – the choreography.

As Wick battles through the first half of the movie – to assassinate the sister of his boss – the film soon leaps into another explosive action sequence set in the underbelly of Rome. It was an intense and a somewhat unrealistic set. Wick appears to take multiple hits to the chest from hand guns and machine guns alike, and although the jacket is bulletproof, it takes absolutely damage, having no basis in reality. He is the equivalent of superman, and that in turn makes it impossible to die, and also makes his enemies redundant. This sort of thing is constant throughout the movie, so prepare for the most outright ridiculous survival situations. He can shoot enemies in the head with 100% accuracy, which makes you wonder why he shoots the torso first, why not just shoot them in the head first?

Soon he is escaping the underground, and finds himself in a long and drawn out fight against an equally skilled opponent. The fight itself is good, with good choreography and talent by the men involved. However, when they are fighting in close quarters on the train, the director must have fell asleep because the extras sitting on the train simply looked on, as a bloody fist fight broke out followed by a knife fight. That was not realistic, for one, they would have been cowering for life and phoning police. Instead, the train arrives at the station an it is empty. For a moment, you get the feeling he is human when fighting. The fight comes to a cease in the most politically correct manner and deters from the killer instinct of John Wick. Wick and his opponent casually have drinks in a bar, really bringing the mood of the fight to a sad  close.

Wick soon finds himself in the second part of the movie: the survival from the 7 million hit for which it seems 90% of the population can take part.

I won’t go into detail on the entire movie, but it concludes with Reeves battling it out in a very creepy all mirror reflection chamber. It has tension, it has reason, it does not though seem likely that Wick will survive the multiple assassins set on him. But Wick prevails and trails back to the hotel, where all the hit men women seem to congress throughout the film making it seem too administrative. It ends just as suddenly as it started. But sadly, his unrealistic skills and accuracy of shooting make the idea of a third film ridiculous, as no doubt he will kill everyone AGAIN.

The strong points in the acting were the appearances of Ian Mcshane and Laurence Fishburne, who acted very well but were let down by Keanu Reeves lack of emotion and character.

Overall the film delivers on only mindless violence and action, so absurd it is laughable. Couple that with Keanu Reeves terrible acting and lack of character development, and you have a one off film, never to be indulged again, unless you like to live in fantasy land and watch delusional directors direct garbage.

Action/fighting – 3.5/5

Acting – 2.5/5

Story – 2/5

Overall – 3/5