A Mini Review of Every Film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

During the past month, I've taken the time to rewatch every single film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Now that I've seen them all, I'd like to take the opportunity to provide a brief summary of my thoughts on each one. Admittedly these aren't so much reviews as they are little summaries of my histories and interactions with each. Regardless, enjoy...

Iron Man

The one that started it all! Believe it or not I had little to no interest in seeing this when it came out back in 2008. It wasn't until years later that I caught up with the inaugural film in the MCU. It's amazing just how far we've come since this one. These days it's hard to think of Robert Downey Jr. as anything less than a huge Hollywood star, but when this film came out it was considered risky to have him in the lead. He played Tony Stark perfectly in this film and the rest is history.

The Incredible Hulk

Alright, I gotta be honest here, I didn't own The Incredible Hulk until I purchased it for this movie marathon. It's... fine. Not really one I have much desire to come back to again and again. I hadn't actually seen this one all the way through until a few years ago. Edward Norton give a solid performance as Bruce Banner, but I definitely like Mark Ruffalo's take on the character better.

Iron Man 2

This one always seems to get a bad rap but I think it's better than most give it credit for. Sure the S.H.I.E.L.D. stuff is kind of slapped in there and this is probably Black Widow's worst showing, but there's still plenty of fun to be had in here. The suitcase Iron Man suit has always been one of my favorite versions of the armor. Also I love how the Stark Expo channels the 1964 World's Fair. (They even got Disney Legend Richard Sherman who wrote music for the fair to do music for this movie!)

Thor

Chris Hemsworth's eyebrows have seen better days. It's funny to go back and watch this one afterwards to see how Thor's look has evolved. The wig and bleached eyebrows were thankfully removed from future appearances. I do have to say that I love the dynamic between Thor and Lady Sif and the Warriors Three here. They had such a fun friendship in this film that you don't really see as much in the other Thor films.

Captain America: The First Avenger

This was the first MCU film I ever saw so it will always be very special to me. I think that this is one the MCU's most underrated gems. People always label this as the worst of the Cap trilogy (and to be fair, the other films are spectacular) but I think it deserves more love. The World War II atmosphere is really fun and different for the MCU and little Cap's special effects are really well done. This film also has a great supporting cast as well, with Hayley Atwell's Peggy Carter being a major standout. (The Agent Cater TV series was fantastic and deserves more seasons!) Alan Silvestri's score for this film is also one of my favorites in the MCU. (Plus, another Disney Legend, Alan Menken, wrote a song for this film!)

The Avengers

A landmark film for the Marvel Cinematic Universe and probably movies as a whole as well. This one was my favorite of the bunch for a long time. The thing that this movie does so well is the interactions. Seeing how the different Avengers talk to each other, argue, and work together is what makes this movie for me. Not to mention Tom Hiddleston's Loki in one of his best MCU appearances and the tease of Thanos as well! Additionally this film has one of the best scores from a Marvel Studios film and the main theme is always gets me hyped up. This film is an absolute treat from start to finish. Anyone want some shawarma?

Iron Man 3

Another one that I think deserves more love than it gets. A nice ending to the Iron Man trilogy and a film that really sees Tony grow as a person. Also I know there's some controversy about the Mandarin twist at the end, but it never really bothered me and Ben Kingsley is great in the role. I also love all the different suits of armor at the end. A good time for sure.

Thor: The Dark World

Well, Thor: The Dark World certainly did happen. It's fine but if there ever was a paint by numbers Marvel film this is it. Avengers reference? Check. Villain who we'll never see again? Check. Infinity Stone? Check. That being said, there's still some fun stuff in here like Loki as Captain America. This is also the first movie where they stopped using a wig for Thor and switched to hair extensions and it's a big improvement.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

This is a popular pick among many for favorite MCU movie and it's easy to see why. This film feels very different from its predecessor but it really works. It's fast paced and exiting. Having Nick Fury and Black Window in this film was such a great film. Not to mention the best twist in the MCU. There was a very strong "you gotta see it" feeling around this one and with very good reason. A real game charger for the MCU and one of its best.

Guardians of the Galaxy

It says a lot about the folks at Marvel Studios that they could take such bizarre source material and make it into a massive success. This could so easily have been a train wreck but they pulled it off so well. Also a fun hometown connection with this one as director James Gunn is not only from St. Louis but also went to St. Louis University High School like me. (So did his brother Sean who also went to DePaul University like me as well!) What else can you say except: I am Groot!

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Avengers: Age of Ultron is a fine film but I always feel like it just a stepping stone to something bigger. At this point, it was very clear that Thanos was on the horizon and this film very much felt like it was just laying the foundation for what's to come. Not to say that it doesn't have its moments. The scene of everyone trying to lift Thor's hammer is wonderful and as far as killer robots go, Ultron's pretty fun as well. Additionally, Hulkbuster scene is excellent. Also nice to learn more about Hawkeye. It's the weakest Avengers film but that doesn't mean it's bad.

Ant-Man

I think Ant-Man is one of the MCU's more underrated heroes. Paul Rudd is always a treat to watch in the role. This is another film with a great supporting cast of characters who are often just as fun to spend time with as the main character. The scenes where Scott is just trying to be a good dad are really sweet. Also one of the best finales in the MCU with the tiny battle. 

Captain America: Civil War

One of the MCU's best. After having spent years with these characters, it's exciting to see them duke it out against one another. The battle here is both physical and ideological as Steve and Tony quarrel over accountability and regulation. I really like that the problems that the heroes face here feel very real and you can understand why each character believes what they do and see their side of things. Not to mention the new characters introduced here. Black Panther jumps onto the scene here an instantly sets himself up as someone exciting. But the real story here is Spider-Man. The fact that Marvel Studios and rival Sony Pictures were able to cut a deal that makes for better movies all around is huge and benefits us as an audience more than anyone. I'll talk about it more in my Spider-Man: Homecoming review, but I love Tom Holland's Peter Parker. Such a great film.

Doctor Strange

Another solid origin story. Benedict Cumberbatch is a great pick for the title role. I really appreciate how well he plays all the different aspects of Strange, from his arrogance as a doctor, to a desperate man after the accident, to a budding sorcerer. This film also deserves mention for introducing the current Marvel Studios logo. It's a nice evolution from the previous logo and always gets me hyped up for the film to follow.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

I'll never forget the little burst of excitement I felt when the word "Missouri" appears on screen at the beginning of this film. I guess if you're from New York or California this sort of thing is pretty common place, but those of us here in Missouri don't usually get to see films with scenes set in our own state, much less big blockbuster films. And even though director James Gunn had confirmed that Peter Quill hailed from St. Charles, MO before this film came out, it was still great to see it on screen. Beyond that, Vol. 2 is a great film. Everything is done so well here. Kurt Russell is especially fun as Ego and Yondu's story is really touching. I think most people like Vol 1. better than this one, but I think Vol. 2 is my favorite of the pair. Really looking forward to seeing what James Gunn does with Vol. 3.

Spider-Man: Homecoming

This is easily my favorite Spider-Man film. A lot of that has to do with the fact that this film has my favorite Spider-Man. Tom Holland perfectly nails every aspect of Spider-Man. He nails both the neediness of Peter Parker and the fun quippy hero of Spider-Man. Also, he's actually a teenager! Ignoring the fact that the pervious Spider-Men didn't really look like teens, their high schools never felt real and they never really acted like teenagers much. The high school in this film feels real. From the school TV to the way that the kids act, it feels authentic. Even beyond all this, the film manages to take a goofy villain like the Vulture and turn him into a real scary character. The twist that they throw in for him is brilliant as well. It makes me so happy that they got this character so right on the massive stage that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Thor Ragnarok

Ragnarok completely reinvents what a Thor film is and in doing so becomes the best one. Hiring Taika Watiti and turning this film into a full on comedy was a brilliant move on Marvel Studios's part. This is another film with an excellent supporting cast. Hulk, Valkyrie, Korg, Miek, Grandmaster, Dr. Strange, and Loki are all so much fun. Every scene is a treat. Even with all the comedy, the film manages to throw in some serious stuff as well and does so really well. When this film was announced I was not super excited for it and now it's one of my favorites in the MCU. I only hope Taika Watiti returns to a directors chair in the MCU soon.

Black Panther

You can't talk about Black Panther without talking about what a cultural icon it became. This film really connected with audiences in a big way. It also became the first MCU film to win an Oscar and be nominated for Best Picture. And yeah, it's great. Wakanda is such an exciting, wondrous place and learning more about it as the film goes on is a lot of fun. Additionally, this is yet another film with a great supporting cast who are just as great to watch as T'Challa himself. The soundtrack here is also excellent (It did win an Oscar after all.) and I love all the drums used here. It always reminds me of Adventureland in the Disney Parks. This one is going to be talked about for years to come.

Avengers: Infinity War

With how long Infinity War has been hyped up, you'd have to wonder if it would be able to live up to the lofty expectations that had been set. And yet Avengers: Infinity War delivers 100%. Thanos arrives and is a gargantuan threat. Everyone is there. The stakes have never been higher. One of my favorite things about The Avengers is seeing all the characters interact and meet each other and this film delivers on that as well. The team ups here are perfect and no one feels misplaced. Also, one of the best scores in the MCU that really brings the drama, emotion, and thrill. And that ending... I was never completely sure if Marvel Studios would have the guts to pull it off, but they did. The atmosphere in the final scenes is so perfect and so haunting. I think that this and Endgame are jointly tied for my #1 Marvel film.

Ant-Man and the Wasp

This is another film that I think I might like more than the original. It takes the premise and goes further with it. Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly are great together and bring a lot of fun to the movie. The car chase sequence is a real blast and makes such great use of the shrining mechanic. This was a nice palette cleanser after Infinity War and does a nice job of tying into that film at the end as well as preparing for the next one.

Captain Marvel

Captain Marvel is a fun throwback to the early days of the MCU and a reminder of just how far we've  come with Avengers: Endgame on the horizon. Brie Larson is great as Carol Danvers is a lot of fun to watch. The de-aging work done on Samual L. Jackson is incredible, in both quality and duration. It's also great to see Agent Coulson back on the big screen after so many years. Including the Skrulls was also really fun and I hope we see more of them in the MCU's future. And of course, Goose is a lot of fun as well. The 90s atmosphere and jokes are really well done and give this film a unique feel. I'm looking forward to seeing where Captain Marvel goes next.

Avengers: Endgame

It's hard to think of a better way to conclude this chapter of the MCU than Avengers: Endgame. It places all our heroes in their toughest challenge yet and delivers on providing an all encompassing finale. Something that really surprised me was how different this film was willing to go. Things are really shaken up and this film continuously did thinks I wasn't expecting. I won't dare spoil it here, but this film's finale is the MCU's best, delivering an epic and perfectly handled conclusion. Watching this for the first time, I flailed about in excitement at each big scene, cameo, and reveal. As mentioned earlier, this one's tied for my #1 spot. See it on the biggest screen you can.

And that's all of them! The MCU's been one crazy ride and as we stand on the verge of a largely unknown future, I can't help but wonder what things will be like when the next chapter wraps up. If it's anything like we've seen so far, it should be one entertaining ride.

Rogue One Thoughts

This weekend, the first of the Star Wars spinoff films, Rogue One was released. Being a big Star Wars fan myself, I figured I'd share my thoughts on it like I did with Episode 7 a while back. So, let's jump on it. Oh and by the way, SPOILERS FOLLOW.

Did I mention that there are spoilers below?

A Long Time Ago...:
So let's talk about the opening of the film. Oh no, not the scene where Krennic comes for Galen. I'm talking about the first few seconds there. When I saw The Force Awakens, I was surprised at how OK I was with there being no 20th Century Fox fanfare and how I enjoyed the silence that accompanied the Lucasfilm logo. The same goes for here. However that's old news. Yes, the crawl is gone and I'm glad it is. This being the first Star Wars spinoff film, I'm glad to see that there was a conscious effort here to distinguish the spinoffs from the main series. While I love the crawl, I'm happy to keep it exclusive to the main series. What I am happy to see back is "A long time ago in a galaxy far far away..." I wasn't necessarily expecting to see it at the start of the film, but it was a welcome surprise. While the spinoffs are definitely different from the main films, this is a nice way to tie everything together and remind us that these films, while different, all take place in the same world.

K-2SO:
Probably my favorite new character of the film (my favorite Star Wars character is in there but we'll get to that later), K-2SO was a treat. He had a lot of the more humorous lines of the film and was always a treat when he was on screen. Even though he was totally CG, it didn't really distract or detract from him at all. He was a lot of fun.

The Death Star: 
Boy does the Death Star look great in this film. It has a wonderful massive looming presence and looks fantastic. That shot of the Super Laser being installed is wonderful and such a cool moment. The interior is recreated so faithfully and looks great as well. Seeing the Death Star fire was such a fascinating experience. Obviously no planets were destroyed but I'm glad we got to see it in action again. Seeing it fire with 2016 special effects was kind of bizarre. The shot of the laser going down the tunnel in particular really stuck out to me. Obviously it was pulled right from A New Hope but it's wild to see it redone like this.

Grand Moff Tarkin: 
Perhaps no part of Rogue One is as talked about as Grand Moff Tarkin, brought to life once again by Peter Cushing through the magic of CGI. When I first saw Tarkin in one of the TV spots I was pretty sure they'd keep his involvement in the film light. In the TV spot, we only see the back of his head. I wasn't expecting much more then that in the film itself. Then when we see his reflection in the film, I was pretty sure that would be the most we saw of him. And then he turned around. This was somewhat of a shocking moment to me. It's sort of like the film makers were breaking the rules. It felt like we had been seeing as much of Tarkin as we were going to see and then suddenly, BOOM there he is. It was a really surprising and really neat moment.

Now as for the CGI itself, I'd say it ranges from pretty darn good to ehhhhhh... In some shots, Tarkin looks perfect. In others I could definitely tell that something was up. Is it a perfect effect? No I don't think so. Despite that though, for what it is, it's amazing. To think that they were able to recreate an actor to this level of detail is pretty spectacular. There's a lot of hard work and attention that went into this and you can tell.

While I am pretty impressed with the effect I feel like perhaps Tarkin should have been used a little less in the film. Like I said, I don't think the effect is completely perfect and using him a little less would have helped to mask this a bit. Either way, I am glad that he's in the film. A story about the Death Star (especially one this close to A New Hope) without Tarkin would feel wrong and I'm impressed that the film makers went to such extreme lengths to make sure he was a part of it.

Rebels References:
I can't say I really caught any of these in the film but seeing all of the Star Wars Rebels references in the film really does my heart good. While I can't say I really caught any during the film itself, I'm defiantly looking forward to seeing them upon my next viewing. Seeing such a close connection between the show and the film makes me really happy as I feel that it makes the whole world of Star Wars feel that much more connected. It's easy to forget sometimes that the events of the animated show exist in the same world as the films and Rogue One does a great job of connecting the dots. It's the kind of connection that I've been wanting from Marvel for years and I was so happy to see it done so well here.

R2-D2 and C-3PO:
Oh man. I was not expecting these two to show up here. Sure it takes place so close to A New Hope but I still didn't think they'd pop up. Boy was I happy they did. Sure it was just a quick cameo, but it was one of my favorite surprises of the film. I love R2-D2 is my favorite Star Wars character and C-3PO is defiantly up there as well, so getting a chance to see them on the big screen again was a treat.

Scarif Battle:
In my opinion this was easily the best part of the film. It was exciting, action packed, full of great easter eggs, and just a whole lot of fun. Every moment of this battle was absolutely thrilling and I loved every minute of it. It was so great, I'm gonna break it down into a few subtopics.

Red and Gold Leader:
That little bit at the beginning of the battle checking in with the ships was such an awesome, classic Star Wars moment made even better by the surprise appearances of Red and Gold leaders. The fact that they used original archival footage is really cool especially because they were able to make the effect so seamless.

Hammerhead:
I mentioned earlier how much I loved the Rebels references but really didn't catch them in the film. Well I definitely caught this one. Seeing the ships from the show on the big screen and knowing their backstory was defiantly cool, but the whole ramming the Star Destroyer bit was fantastic. I've always thought that those ships had a nice design and I was super happy to see it getting put to perfect use here. Simply wonderful.

Admiral Raddus:
Seeing another Mon Calamari heading a ship was really neat and I enjoyed Raddus a lot. It was cool to see Admiral Ackbar again last year but I really enjoyed seeing another Mon Calamari at the head of a ship again. It reminded me of some of the best parts of Return of the Jedi. Shame he doesn't have any lines as memorable as "It's a trap!" though.

The Death Star Plans:
I really appreciate the little details here. Having the plans sent as multiple transitions ("Several transitions were beamed to this ship by rebel spies.") and having that wireframe animation of the Death Star with the super laser in the wrong spot were great little touches that perfectly tied this film to A New Hope.

Everyone Dies:
I'm really glad that our main cast is completely wiped out at the end of the film. Not to say that I didn't like them, but I thought that it needed to happen to emphasize how treacherous of a mission this was. (Plus they don't show up in A New Hope or any other films.) Special props to the upper management at Lucasfilm/Disney for letting them go through with this. Also I was really glad that Jyn and Cassian didn't kiss at the end. I would have been super easy for them to go that route (and it almost looked like they were going to) but they held off and I'm glad they did. A last minute romance like that would have been kind of stupid.

Darth Vader:
Oh man, how about Darth Vader? First of all, a castle on Mustafar? Awesome and great way to tie in the prequels. I know some people were a bit put off by the whole "choke on your aspirations" line but I liked it. When Vader started to choke Krennic I started to fanboy a bit. When he said the line I started to chuckle a bit, still in awe of seeing Vader choke someone again. Speaking of lines, it was wonderful to hear James Earl Jones as Vader again. It was great hearing him again on Star Wars Rebels last season and to hear him again on the big screen was simply fantastic. Of course the real Vader scene that everyone is talking about is that last one. Dang. The shot of the dark corridor with the lightsaber igniting was spectacular. I remember as that shot started, I was so giddy because I knew what was about to happen. Man, the music, the action. It was perfectly done. I could watch that scene all day.

Princess Leia:
Some people have given this effect flack but I think that it looks perfect. What a cool moment to have the Princess appear and what a great way to tie things in to A New Hope. The sight of the white corridors of the Tantive IV combined with the music from the first moments of episode IV was a wonderful throwback. And man, when Princess Leia turned around I could barely believe it. It was amazing to see such an accurate and detailed Princess Leia up on the big screen. They absolutely nailed it. Now I would be remiss if I didn't talk about the elephant in the room. When I first saw the film, Carrie Fisher was still alive and well. Even when I first started writing this blog post she had not died yet. (Yeah I know, I'm quite the procrastinator.) That being said, I'm glad that to hear that she got the opportunity to see the finished product before she died. Having Leia in the film really is a loving tribute to Carrie Fisher and her iconic performance.

Overall, I had a blast with Rogue One. It was a unique take on galaxy and provided us with something very new and unique as well as a touching tribute to the one that started it all. I eagerly await the next Star Wars Anthology film.

Inauguration Reflection

Even though I've had quite a bit of time to think about what to say today, I still find myself at a loss for words. There's a part of me that thinks I should know exactly what to say after all this time but there's another part of me that realizes there's no way to ever truly know what to say.

All my life, I have been proud of my country. Not only is the United States my home but also a place whose ideals I really believe in. Even in our darkest hours I have been proud to be an American.

Today however, I find myself asking, "Am I truly proud to be an American?" It's a question I've really struggled with recently. For years the answer has always been yes but suddenly, things aren't so obvious.

After a lot of thinking and internal debating, I finally settled on an answer: "Yes."

Why?

Because America is better than this:

Because America is better than this:

Because America is better than this:

WE are better than this.

He does not represent what America is. He represents the hate, fear, and anger that has ripped this country apart. He may be the President, but he is not what America is.

As we enter a dark time for the country, I'll keep fighting for the America I know and love. The America that is already great.

Now more than ever, God bless America.

A Reflection on the Election

It's crazy to think that we're only a few days away from the 2016 election. All of this buildup and we're finally here. Months of campaigning and debating are finally about to come to an end. I know that many, including myself, are looking forward to having election day behind us as things can finally "get back to normal." A wonderful thought isn't it? The idea that once November 8th is behind us, things can go right back to the way they were before all the fuss of this crazy election started. (So early 2015 then I guess?) I know that I for one am looking forward to the time when I'll be able to check Facebook and not see anything political for a bit. However, as we've gotten closer and closer to the big day, I've gradually started to realize something: There is no going back.

Allow me to explain my point. Back before the election began (and even in its early stages) I really didn't care too much about the political opinions of those around me. Some were Republicans, some were Democrats, but either way I generally didn't take too much issue with who they supported. Aside from a few issues that I really felt strongly for, I wouldn't take much interest in the political postings of my peers. Then the 2016 election started to heat up. As it became more and more clear that this was a very different election, and as the discussion involved in it became more and more volatile, I started to take note who said what and who supported who.

And here we are now, just on the edge of the grand finale. It's clear now that no matter what side of the election you're on, now is when the desperate moves are made. Now is when the true colors are on display. (If they weren't already.) This goes for both the candidates and their supporters. Despite all the craziness now, in a few days, it'll all be over right?  Well, you don't need me to tell you that this is not a normal election. While I believe that it's nearly impossible to have a perfect candidate and that sacrifices will almost always have to be made while voting, this election has kicked things up to the max. No matter who you're voting for, you're more than likely making a sacrifice of something you believe in. So when November 8th has passed, do we forget those sacrifices? Can we forget those sacrifices?

This election has drastically altered the way I view the two main candidates. I went from having very undeveloped thoughts about them to very strong opinions on them. However, at the end of the day, my opinions on them haven't really altered my life too drastically. One thing that has been altered however, is how I view the voters in this election. Not the populous in general, but the people I know. The friends and family. While I've made my choice in this election, I've seen others make theirs as well, often quite vocally. In several cases, these choices have changed how I view these people. Despite spending a significant amount of time with some, I feel as if I'm just getting to know them for the first time. Where they draw the line, what they see as most important, and what they're willing to sacrifice. I find myself appalled by people I once thought I knew. This happens almost every day. At first I told myself that this would all go away after the election. I thought that once this was past, these appalling situations wouldn't be an issue. However as time has gone by, I've come to realization that things can not simply go back to normal. I'll remember the choices these people made when November 9th rolls around. I'll remember those choices on January 20th. I'll remember those choices long into the future. I don't think I'll able to view these people the same way again.

I've known that I wanted to write a blog post before the election for quite a while now. Most of that time, I wanted to write a post urging people not to vote for one particular candidate. However as election day drew closer and closer, I started to realize that it would be a waste. At this point, pretty much everyone has made their decision and nothing, NOTHING is going to change it. It would be a waste of my time. From that realization came this post.

I voted via absentee ballot the other day. While I'm not necessarily completely happy with who I voted for, I am confident that I made the right choice, a choice that hopefully hasn't changed the way people view me. Whatever your choice, be sure to get out there and vote.

"When You're a SLUH Boy"

Now that it's been a year and a day since good old Senior Follies, I thought that it would be fun to revisit the parody song I wrote for the show "When You're a SLUH Boy." Ever since I saw The Addams Family at The Muny in the summer of 2014, the idea of incorporating one of its songs in Follies was always in the back of my mind. It wasn't until seeing the show again in the spring at Notre Dame High School did I finally commit to it. "When You're an Addams" was my default pick to adapt as it was my favorite song from the show. (If I had to pick a second, it would be "Full Disclosure".)

When writing, my key focus was always the key line "When You're an Addams." I knew that if I could find a suitable SLUH replacement, I could write the rest easily. My early attempts focused around the English department. The story would be that a new teacher was joining the department and everyone was explaining what it meant to be a SLUH English teacher. Ultimately I could never find a satisfying hook. I did most of this brainstorming while bringing in carts at Dierbergs, typically at night when the lot was empty and I didn't have to focus on cars driving around as much.

Only after settling on "When You're a SLUH Boy" did I sit down and actually start writing. Most of the lyrics were cranked out in one afternoon. I submitted the song on the last possible day and found out that it was in the show for sure the next day.

Seeing the whole thing come together was an absolute blast. Choral and dance practices were a joy. I was especially happy that I was able to perform in the number myself. It was a thrill from beginning to end and I'm so thankful for everyone who helped bring it together!

Below is the extended version of the lyrics which features an additional section that was cut from the show due to time. I hope you enjoy!

Reflecting on Donald Trump in St. Louis

St. Louis is in my DNA. It is where I was born, where I was raised, and where I call home. While I have always loved St. Louis, in recent years I have grown to appreciate the city even more. My time at St. Louis University High School is largely responsible for this. Being a part of a more expansive group of classmates helping me to see St. Louis in different ways. Learning how to drive and commuting each morning gave me a greater appreciation for every building and street. Most importantly, the SLUH Staycation Club helped me to appreciate every aspect of my hometown on a level that I had never imagined before. Even though I find myself away from St. Louis more often these days due to school, the city remains on my mind and in my heart everyday.

A photo from the wall of my dorm room in Chicago of myself and the SLUH Staycation Club on one of our first outings in Downtown St. Louis

Today Donald Trump spoke in the Peabody Opera House. The Peabody is a 3,100 seat theater that opened in 1934. It is a beautiful theater that has played host to a wide variety of events from concerts to musicals to my very own high school graduation. It is that graduation that makes Trump's rally more appalling than usual to me. I will forever associate the Peabody Opera House with SLUH and fond memories. I will remember taking picture with all my friends, greeting family members, not climbing on the bears with Connor, no one obnoxiously cheering when my name was called, the awkward expressions on everyone's faces when the Battle Hymn of the Republic was being played, laying eyes on my diploma for the first time, listening to speeches, reflecting on the past four years of my life, the huge Billiken on the ceiling, processing in, talking with my teachers, making side comments to Hap, looking really fancy, flipping through the program a bunch, waiting in the back, and wrapping up many years with Michael as a classmate.

Another photo from my dorm room wall. This one is from my graduation at the Peabody Opera House.

And now Trump. Trump is there. The same place where all those memories took place. The same place where I felt so much joy now plays host to anger, hatred, conflict, and violence. It sickens me. All of those happy memories and an abomination. Trump has infiltrated what I hold dear. He brought the worst our country has to offer together in a place, a city that I associate with the best of memories. He promoted hatred and discrimination on the same stage where I proudly concluded four amazing years of my life. He brought the city's worst to the place I associate with the city's best.

St. Louis is bigger than Trump. St. Louis is better than Trump. St. Louis is beautiful.

Mr. Trump, get out of my city, get out of my home, get out of my country.

A Letter to the Switch Bar

My dearest Switch Bar,

How I long to be with you again. Although only a year has passed since our last adventure, it feels as if we have been apart for a lifetime. I long for the for the days when we spent our afternoons together, dishing out drinks and keeping watch over the quiet halls. You were the center of attention during Activity Period, drawing students from all corners of the school for a bottle of ice cold Fitz's or Ski. Few could resist your allure. You kept me working hard, but I never minded. Another second with you was another second of pure joy. Every mixed drink brought a smile to my face. Drinks weren't your only specialty though. From blueberry pancakes to back massages to shaved ice to live music, your charm knew no bounds. You were unlike anything SLUH had ever seen.



As much as you did for me, you did more for others. You may have started out as just a Gadfly sketch, but you evolved into something greater. A bar for others. You drew our community together and helped raise money for the less fortunate. Your tip trophy wasn't just a literal trophy, but a beacon of hope. From Homeboy Industries to Honduras, you helped to unite students for great causes. You've become more than I ever dreamed you would be. I am proud to have been a part of all you've done.



I hope that this letter finds you doing well old friend. As another Mission Week wraps up, I have no clue what you've been up to, if anything. Whether you find yourself at Dooley Week or not, know that your legacy lives on dear Switch Bar. No matter what happens to you, you will always hold a special place in my heart. Until we meet again...

Sincerely yours,

David

What It Was Like Watching Episode 7 for the First Time

It's been two months, if you haven't seen it, you probably don't care about spoilers.

Even though December 2015 is in the rear view mirror, I still thought it would be fun to recount what it was like to experience Star Wars: The Force Awakens for the first time. This isn't so much a review as it is a recap of emotion. Without further ado, let's go!

The Opening:
First, let me say that I really really enjoyed how the logos were handled for this film. The 20th Century Theme is a piece that I have always associated with Star Wars. Even though Fox's role in the films was largely just distribution, their logo has always been an essential part to the opening of every Star Wars film. I was expecting quite a void when the film started without Fox's logo. I was surprised with just how much I enjoyed the replacement. As the saying goes "Silence is golden." Without any fanfare to open the picture, I thought that the Star Wars theme itself was much stronger. The silence only built my anticipation for the beginning of the film. It flowed beautifully and I loved it. There will always be a place in my heart for the 20th Century Fox theme, but I really do love the new logo opening.

Seeing "EPISODE VII" on the big screen was also a special moment. A seventh Star Wars film has literally been a lifelong dream of mine. My friends and I created our own little fan films when we were younger to fill in after episode six. They were a defining part of my childhood and helped to shape my love for video editing. As a result, seeing the real episode seven was the fulfillment of a childhood dream for me.

"Luke Skywalker has vanished." These were the most powerful words in the crawl for me. It was in this moment that I realized that I was truly seeing the next Star Wars film. A burst of new info on a classic character. The first piece of a new trilogy. The an introduction to new world. No more secrets. Just Star Wars.

As the the crawl faded into space, I began to realize what was happening. I was being reintroduced to the world of Star Wars. After 30 years, what was a galaxy far far away like? It was the same world, but a completely new one at the same time. I was absolutely hooked.

Meeting the New World:
Seeing the Star Destroyer cross the screen at the beginning of the film was a powerful world moment. Not only was it a very cool shot to watch, but it also gave the First Order such a sinister presence. This was enhanced by the troop transports leaving the ship. The whole thing gave was reminiscent of the openings of both episodes four and five. Watching the transports arrive on Jakku was genuinely terrifying. It was like something out of a nightmare.

Meeting the New Characters:
I thought that the introduction of all of the film's new characters was handed extremly well. Kylo Ren's in particular really stood out to me. Watching him stop the blaster fire mid shot was incredible. You immediately got an idea of just how strong he was. I was worried going in that Kylo Ren wouldn't be able to compete with the already impressive line of Star Wars villains, but this moment eased my concern. I also enjoyed seeing Rey go about her day. It gave a good sense of who she was and what her life was like while demonstrating what the galaxy was like following the Empire. (Side note: Seeing the ruined Star Destroyer in the second teaser was an incredible reveal leading up to the film.)
It's also worth noting that I love BB-8. You get the same sense of personality that R2-D2 offers. Also I am really happy that BB-8 performed as a practical effect on set. There is never any doubt in my mind that he is really there, an it allows his personality to really shine.

Meeting the Old Characters: 
I was lucky enough to see this film with a really great audience. They were incredibly invested in the film and had real respect for the material. Whenever an old character would return they would applaud, but did not get obnoxious. (Luke's return at the end was met with no applause, keeping the moment intact.) The Millennium Falcon had the best reveal, with the perfect combination of humor and nostalgia. Seeing Han and Chewie together again was powerful. It's worth noting that the line "Chewie, we're home" had the potential to be used rather poorly, but made sense the way it was executed in the film.

The Falcon's Escape from Jakku:
This scene was filled to the brim with wonderful Star Wars action and effects. It was an absolute joy to watch. Seeing the Millennium Falcon in action again was breathtaking especially as this was my first time seeing it on the big screen. Speaking of big screen, I experienced the film in IMAX for my first screening. This scene was special as it was filmed with IMAX cameras. The results were a breathtaking, giving the film a massive scale that felt perfect of the action on screen. It was phenomenal.

Han and Chewie:
What a partnership. It was wonderful seeing these two back at it. Even after all these years, their friendship felt just as strong as it always had. Moments like Han firing Chewie's bowcaster and "Oh really? You're cold?" brought a smile to my face. It was classic and brand new all at once. (A bit of a theme with this film.) It will be interesting going forward to see how Chewie deals with the loss of Han. Although we saw a solo Chewbacca in episode three, we have yet to see a post-Han solo Chewbacca. (See what I did there?) I'm going to miss seeing them work together.

Han and Leia:
I thought that this relationship was handled perfectly. With who these character are and how we've seen them act, it makes sense that they had a far from perfect relationship. Their first moment of interaction in the film in particular was a truly perfect moment for me. Every line was perfectly true to character. There was a sense of both tragedy and affection. Leia reaction to Han's death was also well done. It was a moment that reminded us of her strength wit the force as well as her love of Han (even if he is a scoundrel).

New Characters:
I found Poe interesting and likable and I'm really excited to learn more about him in the upcoming films. Poe seems like the kind of guys you want to be friends with, talented and witty, but also kind and friendly. He and Finn fit together perfectly.

Speaking of Finn, I really enjoyed how awkward he was at the beginning. That's not something I usually say about characters. His background as a Stormtrooper adds a unique layer of depth to him that we've never really seen before in Star Wars.

Out of the new characters, Rey is my favorite. (OK, probably a tie with BB-8 in reality.) She's smart, strong, and spectacular. I was extremly excited when it was revealed that she was strong with the Force. She's a wonderful character before the reveal and having the Force only makes her better. I am thrilled to watch her become a Jedi as the series progresses.

Han Solo and Kylo Ren:
This relationship really added a lot of depth to both of these characters for me. First of all, it solidified Kylo Ren as a great Star Wars character. Second, it really showed the evolution of Han Solo. The Han Solo we see here is not the Han Solo we meet on Tatooine, yet everything felt right.

Watching Han's death scene, a million things were running through my head. I always knew what was going to happen. As soon as Han and Chewie went to place the bombs. "This is their last time together," I thought. I kept expecting something to go horribly wrong: a faulty bomb, a misfire, a bad step. The moment Han sees Kylo Ren walking across the bridge and makes an expression, I knew it was coming. Despite this, I spent the rest of the scene in denial. "No. They wouldn't. Would they? Will they kill Han? Could they kill Han? How could he escape? Maybe Kylo Ren will show mercy." Seeing Han die is both sad and yet fulfilling. On one hand, Han has come so far. He's more than just the smuggler we met in a cantina, he's a hero, he's a father. Responsibility is not something that is typically associated with Han, yet he takes responsibility as Ben's father. One the other hand, Han Solo is dead.

At the end of the day, I'm sad to see Han die, but I'm looking forward to how this will shape Kylo Ren. RIP.

The Final Battle:
What a fight! First, I adore the atmosphere for this battle. The snowy woods of Starkiller base were breathtaking and make me really want to go camping. My favorite part here is Rey. Seeing her pull the lightsaber out of the snow was a huge moment, one of my favorites in the film and makes me even happier that she is strong with the force. What a battle it was. I don't know if we've ever really seen two novices dueling it out in Star Wars, but it was a blast none the less. I'm sure we'll see a rematch in the future, but I don't know it we'll ever get such a thrilling backdrop again.

R2-D2:
R2 is my favorite Star Wars character. It was good to see him again but we need more R2. I'm glad he was important to the plot and came to save the day in the end (that's sort of his thing) but I want more R2 because I love R2. That being said, I loved seeing him, BB-8, and C-3PO together. I hope that we see more of this trio in the future.

Luke:
What an ending. I thought that this part really shined. First of all, the landscape was gorgeous. I really want to visit this island, mostly just to reenact this scene, but also because it looks brilliant. Even though I knew that Luke was waiting at the top of the island, it didn't make the reveal any less thrilling. Luke is a legend now, and it was cool to see him come alive again. I thought the scoring here was perfect. So much nostalgia and yet such a set piece for the future. I can not wait for episode eight.

Music:
John Williams. Need I say more? Excellent as always. Watching the film itself, the track that stuck out the most was "The Jedi Steps" but since then I've also taken a liking to "March of the Resistance" and "Rey's Theme". The new music is strong and the revisiting of old themes was always perfect. Excellent. Though all the Star Wars films, nothing has been as consistently good as John Williams.
Leaving the Theater:
Ask anyone who was with me, I was a giddy little boy. I haven't gotten this excited in a long time (ago in a galaxy far far away). I was off the hook and unleashed. I had just seen Star Wars episode seven. EPISODE SEVEN. Unreal. As a testament to the excitement, my friends and I spent the next few hours discussing what we had just seen at Steak 'n Shake.

Watching The Force Awakens was an experience, which isn't something I can say for most films. It was an absolute blast and easily the best time I have ever hand in a theater. December 2017 can not come soon enough.

Why I Love Rhythm Heaven

Back when I first got to blogging I wrote a piece based off of a "Gadfly Recommends" article I wrote. Now it's time to revisit my second recommendation from just last May.

I have yet to meet another person who has played Rhythm Heaven. Granted, I don't go around asking people if they play the game, so I may very well know someone who has, but it has never really come up in normal conversation. And that's a shame because Rhythm Heaven is amazing.

Rhythm Heaven was a Nintendo DS game developed by Nintendo themselves and released in 2009. It is played exclusively with the DS's touch screen and the system turned on its side. (Book style) First and foremost, Rhythm Heaven is a mini-game collection. There is no story, no main objective, no central character. It's just a bunch of small games. But it's the best bunch of small games I've ever played.

The core of Rhythm Heaven is the music. Each game has a song. Gameplay is based around the music. You tap, flick, and swipe to the beat of each song. For example, in the first game, you flick the stylus at the end of a melody. On the screen, this action is represented by a machine creating small widgets with the music. One of the best things about this style is that the game could easily be played blind. The music tells the player everything they need to succeed.

All of the games follow the same style of images that go with music. In one game you're a farmer harvesting crops by stomping the ground. In another, you're a scientist performing experiments. There's a lot of variety in the games. If you're familiar with Walt Disney's Fantasia then you'll understand what this game is like.

It's important to mention that the music is excellent. A game based around music with poor music would not be a very fun game. All of Rhythm Heaven's tracks are original to the game, so you won't be hearing any familiar tunes here.  Some tracks such as "Build to Scale" (The game in the image above.) are simple but still enjoyable.

Others are more complex and frantic such as Blue Birds 2. (A harder variation of Blue Birds, a mini-game also in Rhythm Heaven.)

Some of the most fun games are the remix stages which combine several previous mini-games into one continuous challenge. I enjoy these levels the most due to their clever mixing and seamless transitions.

And naturally there are songs that will get stuck in your head.

There's a lot to love here.

It's worth noting that the games are the same every time you play them. Some games have higher difficulty settings but that's it. To some this may detract from the replay factor of the title. For me, I don't care. The games are all so fun and enjoyable that I don't mind playing them again and again. Those looking for a challenge will be happy to know that the game has a reward system for players who can earn a perfect score on the games. This adds an extra level of challenge and replay for the most dedicated players.

If it's not clear, you should play Rhythm Heaven. Right now. Go. Do it. It's wonderful. You can find it on Amazon for $30 or less. It is one of my all time favorite games for the DS. Heck, it's one of my favorite games of all time. Go see for yourself.

Filler Content

It's been far too long since I've posted anything. I'll write something eventually, but until then, occupy yourself with this quiz.

Sadness

I think we've all had at least one moment in our lives where we've wished that sadness did not exist. There's not much worse then feeling worse. Even as bad as our own sadness can be, sometimes watching others suffer can be even more terrible. It goes without saying that sadness is no fun.

Why must sadness exist? Why can't we be happy (or at the very least, content) all the time?

Happiness is the best, but why? When we are at our most happy, all seems right with the world. We smile. We laugh. Happiness is special, because we do not have it all the time. When we do, we celebrate it. We throw parties. We spend time with friends. We tell the world. All this, because happiness does not always exist for us. 

As unlikable as it may be, we need sadness for happiness. Each can exist only with the other. Even our saddest moments, the ones where we feel as if nothing we ever be good again, even these moments are important and necessary. You feel joy because something good has happened to you, not something bad. Emotions are built on contrast. 

I still wish that no one ever had to be sad ever. However, at the same time, I know that I need my sadness more than I want to admit, especially when I am sad. Whether happy or sad, we never want to admit the importance of the other. 

Right now I am sad. You may be sad too. When I'm sad, I often think a lot. I hope that this reflection has helped you to do some thinking too. I seriously doubt that this reflection will make your sadness go away, but hopefully it has given you something. 

Good luck.

Profile Pictures and Paris

Lately I've seen a number of posts on Facebook about profile pictures. To clarify, not posts of people changing their profile pictures, but rather posts regarding that topic. While Facebook posts about Facebook are nothing new, the topic deals with the tragedy in Paris. I've seen some discussion on the matter, so now I feel that I should share my thoughts.

First and foremost, I believe that I should speak a bit about Paris. It goes without saying that what happened last Friday was a terrible tragedy. No one should have to experience what the people of France did. I felt compelled to write something for this blog that evening, but I did't know what to say. My thoughts and prayer have and continue to be with the people of Paris.

Moving on to the main topic, anyone who has been on Facebook the past few days, has surely taken notice of the French flag profile filter that Facebook has added recently. As myself and many of my Facebook friends altered their profile pictures in the wake of the tragedy, I noticed a vocal minority of people who made the decision not to follow in the footsteps of their peers. Each took the time to explain why they left their profile picture alone. I did not see a single person who took the time to explain exactly why they changed their profile picture. Now I'd like to take a moment to explain why I changed mine.

As sad as it may be, tragedy is an everyday occurrence in our world. There is never a day where everyone on Earth is completely happy. Everyday someone has bad luck. Everyday someone is lonely. Everyday someone loses a loved one. Everyday someone is killed. It is a harsh reality, but a true one none the less. Despite all of this, in a way we have all become numb to the everyday tragedy of the world. We have become used to it. It is everyday. If we were to linger on all of these everyday tragedies, happiness would become a rarity. As such, we don't linger on these things. We acknowledge that they are saddening and terrible, but we don't let them stick with us. We don't want them to stick with us.

When I first heard of the attacks in Paris, I did what I always do with tragedy. I felt sad briefly, and then brushed it off and continued my day. At the time, I didn't quite realize what had happened. As the day went on, I became more aware of the attacks. Slowly, I began to realize the events that had transpired. By the end of the night, I had turned the TV to CNN, listening to the report, listening to the stories. Yet despite all of this, I still felt distant. I couldn't see it with my own eyes. The world around me did't seem changed. I didn't feel it. I wanted to care more, but there was nothing I could do. In a way, Paris seemed like an everyday tragedy.

If you want a simple and brutally honest reason why I changed my profile picture, I can give it to you in one word: impulse. I saw the button and I tapped. It was a way to support Paris and an opportunity I jumped at. The longer answer is a bit more complex. Why did I change my profile picture? To provoke thought. Despite my mental acknowledgement of the severity of the Paris attacks, my emotional acknowledgement was weak. Forcing myself to feel more sad for the people of Paris is something that I'm not quite sure is possible. At the very least, I can prevent these attacks from becoming an everyday tragedy in my mind. I use Facebook everyday. Everyday I look at my own profile picture more than anyone else's. It is a window into some of the happiest times in my life. Placing the image of the French flag above my own, forces me to think of Paris when I think of myself. Not just Paris, but everyday tragedies everywhere. Think and pray. Even if I can't force myself to feel sadder for Paris, the least I can do is not to forget them along with all of the world's everyday tragedies. A profile picture is meant to identify a person to others. For Paris, it helps me to identify with others.

It does not matter who changes their profile picture or not. To change a profile picture is not to say one supports France in the same way as not changing a profile picture is not to say that one deplores France. My story is mine. I am not trying to force anyone to follow in my footsteps. Some may see my profile picture and think and pray just like I do. If you can connect with my story then that's great, if not, no problem. No matter what you choose, at the very least, keep the everyday tragedies of the world in your thoughts and prayers.

My profile picture will only last for a week, but I hope that my thoughts will last longer.

Why I Love Tweetbot

One of my favorite columns to write for in Gadfly was "Gadfly Recommends." In this section of the magazine, a group of writers would each recommend something that they recommend to readers. For the "Gadfly Recommends" I wrote about an app called Tweetbot. It's been a few years since then and in that time Tweetbot has grown and changed. I still use Tweetbot on a regular basis. Now that I have this fancy little blog, I figured now would be a good time to revisit and expand upon my original recommendation.

First of all, what it Tweetbot? Tweetbot is a Twitter client developed by a small company known as Tapbots. It is an app that allows users to use Twitter. While Twitter provides their own means of using Twitter, Tweetbot offers its open approach to using the service that, in my opinion, is far better than Twitter's official means. Tweetbot is available only on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

By biggest problem with Twitter these days is that they are trying very hard to turn themselves into Facebook. (Look no further than their recent switch of "Favorites" to "Likes".) Personally, I have always appreciated Facebook and Twitter for their differences. What I love about Twitter is its simplicity. All of the posts are always there, always in chronological order. I still don't fully understand how Facebook decides what goes where in the timeline. I like to read (or at least look at) each and every post. Thing is, Twitter makes this hard to do. The timeline always starts with the most recent, but that's not ideal for me. I want to continue exactly where I left off. Additionally I want to be able to use Twitter on many different devices and pick up from the same place on each one. Tweetbot lets me do both of these. The app remembers your place every time and keeps it in sync across all devices. This is a really simple feature, but it makes using Twitter much easier and simpler. As an added bonus, Tweetbot keeps ads out of the picture,

Another thing I like is the wide variety of settings that Tweetbot offers. Twitter's official fare leaves you at their mercy in terms of design. Tweetbot is another story. Want a darker look? Done. Round icons not your thing? No problem. Want easy access to your tweet stats? Consider it done. The large variety of options lets me use Twitter how I want it, which is key.

A smaller bit about Tweetbot that I really like, is more something that they don't do. I stopped using the official Twitter app when Twitter started to take away features. Suddenly I couldn't see what client a user had posted a tweet with. Maps for location based tweets disappeared. Instagram photos were no longer supported natively in app. Tweetbot on the other had never removed these features. They're still there and I still use them today. Small things like this are some of my favorite parts of Tweetbot. 

Finally, Tweetbot is built to take advantage of the devices it runs on. A clear example of this can be found in the iPhone 6S's 3D Touch feature. In Tweetbot, everything in the timeline can be previewed using this feature. Tapbots were not only quick to add this feature but also made sure it was well implemented too. Even when I did have a bug with it on the first day it launched, Tapbots had a fix out within hours. (Their customer service is top notch as well.) All versions of the app are built to take advantage of the platform they run on as well. (The Mac version will be adding full screen and split screen support very soon.) Tweetbot makes the most of the hardware, which makes it feel like a great value.

Paying to get an app to use Twitter sounds pretty stupid in theory. After all, why not use the free apps Twitter provides? Tweetbot takes the things I love about Twitter (the things Twitter themselves shies away from) and makes them even better. To those who use Twitter, I can't recommend it enough. It is the best app I have ever purchased. (Mac) (iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch)

My Trip to Disneyland

Over the summer I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit the Disneyland Resort in California. As someone who has been a Disney fan my entire life, the opportunity to finally visit America's oldest and newest Disney Parks has been something I have been waiting for my entire life. Today I'm going to talk about my visit to "The Happiest Place on Earth" and my various thoughts on the experience. Brace yourselves, I like to talk.

Walt Disney has always been a man I've admired. From his stellar storytelling, world changing accomplishments, and commitment to technological improvement, he continues to be a source of inspiration and admiration. Disneyland has always had one thing that any other Disney Park will never have, Walt Disney's presence. Disneyland was the only park that Walt saw from conception to operation. As a fan of Walt Disney, I have seen plenty of pictures and videos of the man himself both discussing his park and visiting it. To actually stand where he stood and walked where he walked is something that is incredibly meaningful to me. To walk around the park and remember stories of Walt shaping the park is to step into history. It is as if Walt could just be around the corner, just walking about as he often did. Tributes to him can also be found in the park. The one that I love the most is the firehouse on Main Street. Above the firehouse is an apartment which Walt would use if he wanted a place to stay in his park. The apartment itself is inaccessible to guests as it is preserved exactly as it was when Walt last visited. However, in the window of the apartment, facing Main Street, a lamp is always kept lit, signifying Walt's presence in the park. This symbol really helps to signify to me the connection between the man and his park.

Not only is Disneyland the original Disney Park, but is also the original home of many legendary Disney attractions. Part of the thrill of Disneyland for me, is to experience these classic attractions in their original form. Take the Haunted Mansion for example. Many people have ridden this legendary and famous ride, often at Walt Disney World. For years, this was the only way that I had experienced it. Riding it in Disneyland however is something different. It isn't just the Haunted Mansion, its THE Haunted Mansion. There are Haunted Mansions around the world, but none of them have the historical significance that this one does. Even if the ride itself is largely the same, there's something magical about being at the original. A comparison would be the Mona Lisa. Everyone knows what it is like. Everyone has seen it. But seeing the original has a special sort of historical significance that draws people from all around. Disneyland is like that for me. 

Aside from the historical significance of seeing the original attractions firsthand, many have different variations from their counterparts. Going back to the Haunted Mansion for example, the ride recently added back the legendary Hatbox Ghost figure, which currently can only be seen there. Some attractions have larger differences, such as Pirates of the Caribbean, which is far superior to the Walt Disney World version, features a longer ride, bigger drops, and better scenes. Perhaps the biggest difference for me is Space Mountain itself. I have always enjoyed the ride on visits to Walt Disney World, but it has never been something that I've felt like I want to ride over and over again. Disneyland is different. I could ride Space Mountain all day there. I attribute this to two factors. First, better ride vehicles. I have always found WDW's version to have very cramped seating that was never very comfortable. DL is very different, the cars are bigger with lots of leg room and feel perfectly comfortable. They also have rows of two instead of the one person per row cars of WDW. The second and more important factor is the music. WDW's version just sort of plays some music in the background, no big deal. DL has special on ride audio and features a complete soundtrack that is synced up with the ride. The music is great and gives a very fun, energetic feel to the ride. I came off the ride impressed and wanting more. 

Another of Disneyland's strong points is its unique attractions. Rides that don't exist anywhere else. For me, the most prominent of these was Cars Land at Disney California Adventure. My favorite kind of film/television merchandise has always been the stuff that looks exactly like it did onscreen (Example: The Back to the Future: Part II USA Today Papers). Cars Land represents this concept taken to the ultimate level. It is Radiator Springs. Full size, photo accurate. It represents complete immersion into the world of Cars. Say what you like about the Cars films, this is impressive. The centerpiece of Cars Land is Radiator Springs Racers, a Test Track like ride in the world of Cars. As impressive as the land itself is, this ride really brings the characters to life. The first time that Mater rolls around to greet you is a stunning experience. This ride is incredible. Perhaps the more incredible thing is that this ride has plenty more than one truly amazing moments. Another spectacular ride found only at Disneyland is the Indiana Jones Adventure. Those who have ridden Walt Disney World's Dinosaur have an idea of what this ride is like, as Dinosaur uses the exact same ride system and layout as Indiana Jones. What Dinosaur doesn't have is the man himself. Indiana Jones Adventure feel like the movies: big, adventurous, and fun. There's a fantastic moment in the ride where you turn a corner into a massive temple room. As John Williams's score plays, you see another ride vehicle drive over a treacherous bridge as pillars of fire flare in the background. It is a sight to behold. All of this, only at Disneyland.

While it may be small compared to Disney Park standards these days, the Disneyland Resort is fantastic none the less. I had been anticipating my trip my entire life and I was not disappointed. Before my visit I was a bit worried that I would find myself underwhelmed compared to my many trips to Walt Disney World. Now I find myself slightly worried that I may find my next trip to Walt Disney World underwhelming. (Then again, Star Wars Land.) To any Disney fan, visit Disneyland. Walt's park is just as wonderful as intended it.