I used to sleep like I was the world champion of slumber. If I wanted 8 hours, I did so easily and without interruption. Every so often on a day off, maybe I’d get ten if I felt so inclined. And, every so often I’d get 4 or 6 hours, and still handle things just fine.
Those days are over. For the past few years, I’ve battled to get a functional level of sleep, and I have tried seemingly everything to get back to the refreshment I used to experience every morning. Was I just getting older? New life circumstances? Mental stress? I had no idea, but it nearly broke me in the process of figuring it out. Sometimes I couldn’t get to sleep, other times I’d wake up and couldn’t fall back to sleep, tossing and turning all night. Other times I’d be up urinating multiple times, then lay there while frustration set in, further impairing my ability to sleep. So now, after battling this for several years and testing every conceivable variable under the sun, I’ve finally returned to an approximation of the sleep I used to get, so I thought I’d write this article in case anyone else needed help with their sleep patterns. I won’t be addressing mental issues such as depression or stress,(see other articles) so I’ll stick to mostly physical and environmental issues that can negatively impact sleep. Here is the first thing you need to understand: Good sleep has multiple variables. It is unlikely that any one thing will outright fix the issues you’ve had, so there are many things that need to align in order to get you that restful sleep you desire. That’s why this article is called the Sleep Equation, sometimes it feels like tweaking an algorithm messing with one area of your sleep without messing .up in another. So without any further delay, here’s the list of all the things I’ve tried that finally helped me, and I hope helps you. 1. Temperature: My ability to fall asleep and stay comfortable improved dramatically once I started setting the thermostat from 66-69. 2. Snug factor: Coupled with the cooler temperature, I introduced heavier blankets, which I believe made a difference in my level of comfort. Feeling snug under piles of blankets helped a great deal. 3. Less meat at dinner: This one was a shocker. I normally eat massive quantities of meat in general, so I never considered that it might be a problem. One day I skimmed an article about vegan pro wrestler Tyler Bate. In it, he mentioned that once he went vegan, he slept considerably better. Now, I’m not going vegan, no way in hell, but I thought maybe reducing protein could help. Turns out, that was right on the money, and I found an article (which I can't find now) confirming just that. It seems the body can’t relax properly if it’s processing too much meat, at least in some cases. This is an example of “not every body is the same.” For me, once I dropped down to quarter portions, it made an immediate impact. 4. Cereal before bed: I used to do this all the time my good sleep days, but never associated it with being a reason I was sleeping so well. Turns out after some research that some level of simple carbs are good before bed to spike serotonin levels, making for more restful sleep. Which leads me to my next, and most significant one. 5. Low carb diets wrecked me: Everyone is different, and there are those for whom this diet worked wonders. For me however, this was a nightmare. I slept poorly, and never felt good in general. I will never try this diet again, or at least not at the near zero carb levels I was doing. 6. Supplements: I tried every supplement under the sun. GABA, various blends of Zinc, Magnesium, and Melatonin, none of which really got the job done consistently. I also took some over the counter testosterone products that contained stuff like tribulus, which produced far worse sleep as well. I never wanted to use actual sleep meds (such as Ambien), since I felt like that was only obscuring, rather than actually fixing the problem. 7. Comfort: Should be obvious in accordance with the Snug Principle mentioned above, but try to get a comfortable mattress, sheets, and pillow. This might take some doing, for me the pillow was the hardest one to find, and highly specific to the individual’s sleep patterns. The tricky part is not getting frustrated while you make incremental adjustments daily. 8. Citric Acid and Carbonation: It is impossible for me to overstate what a revelation this was. I used to urinate at insane levels, as there would be times I’d go 4 or 5 times in a hour. The culprit? Acidic and/or carbonated drinks. Worse still, nearly everything has one or the other. The little Mio flavorings I used were wrecking my bladder, and it took years to figure it out. I just always assumed that’s just how it was, that I urinated a lot. Turns out, citric acid is in all of the stuff I like to drink. What used to really nuke my bladder was Monster Energy Citrus. These drinks have a lot of adverse effects, so keep an eye on your consumption. These can have adverse effects on your bladder and consequently, ruin a good night of sleep. 9. Water Retention: I take a lot of supplements that cause excess water retention such as Creatine and Citrulline. Even if you drink nothing for half the day, you are likely to still urinate a lot in the middle of the night due to your body purging excess water. If you are retaining water, you are more likely to have to get up to urinate in the middle of the night. 10. Work out: I hope this is blatantly obvious, but if not, here it is. Even if all you do is walk, get some level of physical activity and motion. So there you have it, years of trial and error boiled down into one article. Hopefully this helps, and if you know anyone with sleep issues, please share this and hopefully we can all sleep a little better at night. Steve Mager If you enjoyed this article, please share it and follow me on social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/StevenAMager Twitter: https://twitter.com/StevenAMager Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steve_mager/ Get my book, Forging the Iron Mind: [https://amzn.to/2uxRvCs]
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Hot take: The Dark Knight isn’t the classic it’s made out to be. Now that you’ve likely closed this internet window and blocked me on social media for such heresy, let me explain. I remember leaving the theater thinking I just saw the greatest movie of all time, but after viewing this movie dozens of times I came to realize one thing: We got tricked into thinking we saw a great movie because of an iconic performance of one of the greatest villains of all time. Heath Ledger was so good as the Joker, that he convinced us we saw a better movie than we did. Having re-watched this film many times, the plot and sequencing make absolutely no sense, and the choreography and cinematography are well below any modern Marvel movie, and there are ridiculous plot devices everywhere. Such is the power of compelling villainy. Arguably the most iconic portrayal of one of the greatest villains of all time sold us all on the greatness of the film. It could even be argued that the entire reason Batman as a character is even good is the caliber of his rogue’s gallery, many of which are more compelling than he is. So before I get into the list of the best villains of all time, let’s look at some characteristics that go into making a great villain, many of which I drew upon for my work, The Witchbreaker Saga. 1. Motivation: It is not enough to be generically evil. One can get away with this as Tolkien and Rowling did if everything else is completely bulletproof, but most cannot. 2. Perspective: Every great villain believes they are the good guy. There needs to be REASONS they do what they do, that make logical sense to them. 3. Challenge the hero: Ideally, the villain should make the hero question themselves, and reflect upon their own values, and even in defeat leave a lasting impression, irrevocably changing the hero forever. 4. Be a legitimate threat: The villain has to get a win at some point, otherwise they aren’t credible. If the villain never gets a big one over on the hero, are they really a plausible threat? 5. Intellectual Roots: It helps if the villain’s motivations are rooted in legitimate philosophy, giving intellectual depth to their characters. 6. Over the top: You can get away with having few of these traits as long as you go sufficiently over the top on any one or two of them. One note villains can work, if they are sufficiently outrageous. There are only a handful of villains I know of that check every single one, and I’ll go over them at the end. Now, with these qualities in mind, let’s look at the best of the bad. 10. Cersei Lannister: In terms of machinations, I’m not sure there’s a better modern female villain than Cersei. Even though several characters from GOT such as Ramsay Bolton or even Joffrey could make this list, it’s Cersei who pulls the strings from beginning to the end. 9. Dr. Doom: Despite poor showings in two movies, comic fans know the real deal. Capable of outsmarting heroes on multiple levels, running an entire country and using diplomatic immunity lands the good doctor at the forefront of legendary comic villains. 8. Darth Vader: As far as badass villains go, I’m not sure you can do any better than Vader. I will say however, I love what they are doing with Kylo Ren, he is so different from the original badass, yet still compelling. Vader’s presence is so intimidating, he doesn’t need a philosophical lesson or intellectual superiority to land near the top of any pantheon of villains. 7. Professor Moriarty: It always helps if your villain is the intellectual equal of the hero, and very few adversaries have become more legendary than Sherlock Holmes’ rival and math genius, Moriarty. Sherlock Holmes’ deductive powers are near supernatural, so without the dark mirror of Moriarty, perhaps Holmes would not have become as legendary of a character. 6. Dracula: Hundreds of incarnations over the years, and yet we never tire of one of the original horror icons. Few villains combine history, brutality, romance, and survival necessity the way Dracula does. Vampires have become an iconic villain type, so the king of vampires reigns supreme at the top of the list. 5. The Joker: Gotham’s resident chaos agent has come in many forms over the years, and he does a few things really well: He is an over the top legitimate threat that is the perfect parallel to the hero. He doesn’t just cause havoc; he’s killed many over the course of his career. You will not get a deep philosophical lesson from him, but his theatrics and homicidal attitude score him a place among the best of the best. 4. Thanos: One of the very few to tick nearly every box. His Malthusian philosophy coupled with the fact that he won and wiped out half of humanity means he exists in rarified air among villains. Brains, brawn, and badass equals a foe that required the entire Marvel universe to bring down. 3. Anton Chigurh: One of the few to actually give me the creeps. Javier Bardem’s iconic role as the cold instrument of fate in No Country for Old Men displays not only Terminator like aggression and brutality, but intelligence and toughness. As far as unenhanced humans go, they don’t come more cold and calculating than Chigurh. Unlike the Terminator, Chigurh succeeded and killed everyone, even people unrelated to the central conflict, simply because he promised to do so. 2. Magneto: Again, another that ticks nearly every box you want in a villain. Magneto sees the oppression of mutants as the same situation as the Holocaust he experienced as a child, giving his character a history and gravitas nearly unmatched among villains. In addition, he has defeated the X-Men many times, and it could easily be argued he’s justified in many of his actions. For years, I thought he was the most compelling villain ever created. Until the next one. 1. Ozymandias: "Do it?" Dan, I'm not a Republic serial villain. Do you seriously think I'd explain my master-stroke if there remained the slightest chance of you affecting its outcome? I did it thirty-five minutes ago.” The masterstroke at the end of Watchmen was one of the greatest acts of villainy ever put to page or screen. And, it could be argued that it worked exactly as planned in uniting the entire world in peace. The best villains are not only smart, strong, and cunning, but believe 100% in what they do. Ozymandias beat everyone, and in the ultimate ends justify the means moment, executes his plan and fulfills every criteria listed above to arrive in the hall of fame of villainy. Interestingly, many of these plans involve ushering in world peace or achieving a noble end through horrific actions others are unwilling to execute. So, with all of this said, who did I miss? Let me know on social media! Steve Mager If you enjoyed this article, please share it and follow me on social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/StevenAMager Twitter: https://twitter.com/StevenAMager Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steve_mager/ Get my book, Forging the Iron Mind: [https://amzn.to/2uxRvCs] “When people ask if I consider myself a horror director, I’ll be quick to respond with a very clear no, absolutely not. Because there are so few horror films that for me live up to what the genre can do.” - Ari Aster, writer and director, Hereditary and Midsommar.
I consider myself a horror connoisseur. Movies, books, poems, TV, haunted houses, you name it, and I’ve likely experienced it. Be it the classics of Poe, Lovecraft, Shelley, and Stoker, or the sickening devastation of Martyrs and Cannibal Holocaust, or the TV series such as Channel Zero, Hannibal, and AHS. You can even read my articles on modern horror here. I’m as jaded as they come, and it is nearly impossible to shock, disturb, or frighten me, especially through a work of fiction. Then I saw Hereditary, Midsommar, and the Witch. These are the films that elevate the genre to a level it rarely reaches: that of cinematic parity with other high end works. I’m all for a good jump scare, gross out scene, or classic slasher flick, but what I really want to be challenged in some fashion. Present me with complex ideas I have to think on, mythologies with depth, and scenes that instill a sense of foreboding before punching me in the gut. I want to dwell on your film days after it’s over and discover new things each time I watch. I want every scene to ask and answer more questions, and present no easy answers to those questions. I went to see Midsommar with a friend whose horror credentials outstrip even my own, and at the end, both of us were in a state of shock at what we’d witnessed. For multiple days we discussed nuances, scene details, folklore, meanings, foreshadowing, and yes, disturbing scenes. I can’t stress enough how difficult it is to shock us, and yet Hereditary and Midsommar delivered, unloading soul crushing displays that resonated even within the most jaded. One trip onto the internet will show threads hundreds of replies long dissecting every nuance of these films. So what did these films do that made them so effective? 5. Vast mythology, but not at the expense of the film. The depth of the folklore involved in these films is unparalleled. Nearly every scene has some hidden (or overt) reference to the lore of the film. Midsommar, in nearly every frame, had some piece of art, rune, or ritual, and most times was never explained. As a fan of norse mythology, the use of the Elder Futhark runes piqued my interest, so I translated a few when I got home and discovered some interesting tidbits I won’t spoil here. Suffice it to say, these movies are complex, but don’t get bogged down in the muck for extended periods. The filmmakers show us enough and create mystery without ruining the film. I’m looking forward to a second viewing of Midsommar to check out many of the dozens of paintings and their symbolism. 4. Proper use of foreshadowing. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, you get foreshadowing EVERYWHERE. It is impossible to view these films once and catch all the nuggets strewn about each scene. Even on multiple viewings, I’ll still have someone point out something I didn’t catch. This also helps with twists in the story. If you have a twist, it needs to be properly foreshadowed, or the audience feels cheated. Even better, if you have them searching for clues after the film, you’ve elevated your craft. 3. Cinematography After I left Midsommar, I mentioned that it appeared Ari Aster binge watched Kubrick films then sunk himself into ancient folklore. The comparisons are undeniable with the late, great Kubrick. Using symmetrical framing, geometric proportions, and lighting all gave me a very Kubrick vibe and reminded me of not only 2001 but the most obvious comparison: The Shining. Hearkening back to Kubrick’s impeccable Overlook Hotel, both Aster and Eggers take special care to craft each scene in a stunning and memorable fashion. 2. Set up the brutality. If you’ve seen these films, you know the scenes I’m talking about. These scenes were not necessarily gorier or more brutal than others, but they hit harder because of the investment created before the incident. He sets us up with just right amount of character development to get us invested, then crushes our souls. Another thing that is expertly done is the sound. Allowing the actors anguish to shine as opposed to some background music sears the events and heartbreak into our brain. 1. Treat the folklore with care. For many of these folklore based movies, one must take great care to present the beliefs with absolute seriousness. The Witch is especially well done in this regard, handling New England witchery with the depth and care necessary to make us believe that the characters believe in these things. Using the appropriate dialects and customs immerses us in the world and ensures that we can suspend our disbelief. I could go on and on expounding on the greatness of these movies. As a long time horror fan, for many years the genre has failed to live up to its potential, but it is great to see a new generation pushing the envelope of what a horror film can be. Given that talent such as Aster and Eggers are early in their respective careers, I can only hope they have a lot more legendary horror films in store. Steve Mager If you enjoyed this article, please share it and follow me on social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/StevenAMager Twitter: https://twitter.com/StevenAMager Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steve_mager/ Get my book, Forging the Iron Mind: [https://amzn.to/2uxRvCs] MINOR SPOILERS
Revenge movies have been a dime a dozen for decades. The original “patient zero” in the revenge genre was 1974’s Death Wish, starring Charles Bronson. This movie spawned copycats by the dozens for decades, all seeking to improve on the formula of X person dies, X person gets revenge by killing a whole truckload of people responsible. Stories of revenge go back as far as literature itself, even to The Count of Monte Cristo and The Iliad, so it’s incredibly difficult to iterate on the formula and bring something new to the table. Yet, John Wick did just that, and succeeded beyond all other modern revenge movies. The question is, why? What storytelling mechanisms did the Wick series use that allowed it to succeed where others failed? How did this “simple” action-revenge movie become such a box office success? Let’s look at a few of the reasons. 1. The Dead Significant Other Trope: This is the template for every revenge movie or story. Kill someone, usually a significant other, and set the protagonist in motion. This time though, the significant other happened to be a dog. Not just a dog, but a puppy, given to him by his just deceased wife. We have become so desensitized to the killing of actual people, that no one even blinks an eye at a movie death of someone’s wife or husband. A puppy, however, is the personification of innocence. Killing a dog in any movie is gut wrenching, but to tether it to a dead wife and THEN kill it, is another level entirely. It takes the dead significant other trope, and doubles up, immediately placing us on John’s side and engendering a level of sympathy we wouldn’t have for just a single person. 2. An Insanely Dedicated Actor: It’s not an overstatement to say Keanu Reeves poured everything he had into these movies. Watching the documentary on the filming, he trained for months to pull off the ridiculously complex sequences required for the film. The director deserves credit here, because if you notice, there are fewer camera cuts versus other action movies to allow us to see Keanu himself pulling off these action sequences, be them hand to hand or driving, they show us it’s actually him in these scenes. Interestingly, he has trained so hard and long for these movies and others, he would probably be a legitimate threat in real life. 3. The Bullet Ballet: Choreography is a tricky beast. You can script the most elaborate set of moves imaginable, but if they aren’t filmed correctly, no one can really appreciate the complexity. In watching a play, or a ballet performance, the audience is pulled far enough back to see the whole performance. In John Wick, the director pulls back enough to let us see the performances, and cuts fewer times to make the sequencing more impressive. The museum scene in Wick 2 is a perfect example of showing us intricate movement while retaining the ability to see the actors performing them. I can barely comprehend the complexity of filming the “doggie-jui-jitsu” scene in Wick 3. Elaborate gunplay is difficult enough, but then sequencing it around dog attacks as well? That’s a level no one else is operating at. And my the way, there’s no CG in those scenes, those are real dogs. 4. Mythology: It’s one thing to show an average person in the real world taking revenge on someone that wronged them. It’s another matter entirely to create an entire complex mythological underworld to support that revenge story. Everything from the Currency, Markers, the High Table, to the Continental, to the rules associated and governing these people, places, and items have a level of care and crafting that sets them beyond other movies in the same category. 5. Guns, Lots of Guns: I consider myself an action movie connoisseur. I don’t think there’s a single action movie of any quality I’ve not seen. Be it The Raid, Dredd, Rambo, Die Hard, you name it, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen all the greats. John Wick, by a mile, has the finest gunplay ever put to film. How then is this different from choreography mentioned above? Technique. Let me give an example, because there are techniques in this movie that make even military personnel raise an eyebrow. In Wick 2’s museum scene, there’s a sequence where he kills a couple of guys, then in a second, twists his wrist to eject a magazine, reloads, then flicks the gun up, catches it in one hand and cranks the slide back to check the chamber. This movement happens so fast, and will go unnoticed by all but an infinitesimal percentage of viewers, but takes insane practice to pull off in the heat of a scene. The way he quad reloads a shotgun is flawless and also takes tremendous practice. In other words, this is one of few action movies to portray not only an incredible array of weaponry, but undeniable technique in their use. 6. Substance and Style: We know from the above items that the substance is there, but in addition the Wick series makes it all look super cool. From the various lighting tricks, shadows, and color play, all of this high end technique and sequencing is shown in the slickest and coolest manner possible. Even the blood sprays are done exactly correctly, as a friend of mine who studied forensics pointed out. So there you have it. In case anyone was wondering why Wick became such a phenomenon there’s a few reasons why and some lessons we can apply to our own storytelling. As a bonus, be sure to check out The Raid series, which is just as good in many ways, and Hard Boiled, arguably the most influential action movie of all time. Steve Mager If you enjoyed this article, please share it and follow me on social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/StevenAMager Twitter: https://twitter.com/StevenAMager Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steve_mager/ Get my book, Forging the Iron Mind: [https://amzn.to/2uxRvCs] Father Time is undefeated, so the saying goes. While true, it doesn’t mean we can’t put up one hell of a fight before we go down. The problem is, many lose the fight prematurely, based on their own perceived limitations of what getting older entails. Now sure, human potential gets worse as we age. You will not play in the NFL or NBA at fifty-plus years old, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be damn impressive for a fifty-year-old, or that you should throw in the towel. The idea for this article began to gestate when I saw someone on Twitter who I won’t name here saying the following (paraphrased):
“At 48 years old I won’t ever look like Captain America, and I’ve stopped giving a fuck what people think about my dad bod.” Now look, if someone is truly fine with the way they look and have no desire to change, I will not shame or make fun of them. It’s their life. However, I will attack the premise here, and that is that there’s some reason you can’t be in awesome shape at over 40 years old. As a matter of fact, Captain America himself, Chris Evans, is 38, not exactly a spring chicken. Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, arguably the best physique in movies of the past 10+ years, is now 50. If you take nothing else away from this article, understand this: There is no physiological reason you can’t be in exceptional shape at 40, 50, 60, or even 70 plus years old. For years, we were all told that you will lose tons of muscle mass past 40, and that fat burning processes grind to a halt, thus giving people the excuse they needed to slack off. Turns out, new studies have shown that’s a crock. Even without the studies, if you’ve been bodybuilding for any length of time then you know every gym has multiple people, both men and women, that are over 50 and jacked. Case in point: My gym has multiple people in their 50s and higher who are in better shape than I am. Let’s focus on one guy, who I’ll call Jim. Jim is over 50 and squats 475 lbs, and dead lifts near 600. Every day, I walk by, and someone is telling Jim he shouldn’t be lifting that kind of weight, and each day Jim is setting PRs. What’s happening here is that others are imposing their own mental constructs and limitations onto Jim. They believe he should be weaker at his age and watching him squat 450 for 15 reps is inducing cognitive dissonance and reflecting their own mental prison they’ve imposed on themselves. Yet, Jim doesn’t care, he just grinds forward and crushes these lifts. George Hood, a retired marine who is over 60 years old, once broke the world record for the plank exercise, holding it for an astonishing 10 hours. These mental limitations we impose on ourselves don’t just relate to age, but also injury. This is one I can relate to, because I’ve had both of my elbows reattached. For many years, I told myself, “well, no more lifting for you.” Now here I sit at age 42 with two repaired elbows, in better shape than I was at 25, lifting multiple times a week, because I got past my own mental limitations. Yesterday, I watched wrestler Eric Bugenhagen dead lift 760 lbs on a surgically repaired knee, a feat not only superhuman physically, but mentally as well to even believe such a thing is possible after devastating injury. My own journey through breaking mental prisons was a large reason why I wrote my book, Forging the Iron Mind. I used getting older as an excuse for even the slightest of physical ailments. Whenever my back or neck issues started, I told myself that I was just getting old, and that I had to accept these things. Turns out, my back and neck problems were alleviated almost instantly by better stretching and flexibility, and had nothing at all to do with age. The point of this article is to help people understand that your limitations to a large extent are what you believe they are. If you believe a goal to be unattainable, you will find ways to make it true. Sure, Father Time will beat you at some point, but don’t just lay down for him, make him go the full 12 rounds. This applies to not only aging, but all of life. Self-fulfilling prophecy can either be your greatest enemy or your best friend, as you manifest into reality what you believe to be true. Recalibrate your mind by seeking inspiration from others, such as 82 year old Ernestine Shepherd, one of the oldest bodybuilders in the world. She isn't superhuman or magical, she just believes in herself to such a degree that it literally makes what was once thought to be impossible, possible. If she can do it, why not you? Steve Mager If you enjoyed this article, please share it and follow me on social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/StevenAMager Twitter: https://twitter.com/StevenAMager Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steve_mager/ Get my book, Forging the Iron Mind: [https://amzn.to/2uxRvCs] *MASSIVE SPOILERS AHEAD* It’s hard to overstate how much these films have meant to a significant portion of the population. Many of us literally grew up with these larger-than-life icons as a new pantheon of gods, not to be worshipped, but existing as a heightened form of aspirational achievement. Many of us grew up thumbing through pages of colorful comics, watching as these heroes fought fantastical battles against gods and humans alike. As a child of the 80s, only a handful of the most iconic heroes received even the most cursory glance from the mainstream, as only Superman and Batman possessed enough cache to achieve mainstream cinematic appeal. For many of us, an Avengers film was only a pipe dream, as only Spiderman on the Marvel side had enough muscle to break into the mainstream in the 90s. That all changed in 2008. I remember standing in CompUSA, a now defunct computer store, and watching the trailer for the original Iron Man movie. Even in that moment, an actual Avengers movie seemed like a near impossibility given all the moving parts involved. In addition, my favorite character in the comics, Captain America, had virtually no mainstream credibility, and had only been seen in the most ridiculous of B-Movies, with most people not having any idea who Steve Rogers was. And now, here we sit, more than a decade later, and what we once thought impossible has happened. Marvel has not only strung together an unprecedented level of quality across 22 films, but ended the entire saga in the most fulfilling way possible. Endgame is the culmination of over 70 years of Marvel storytelling in the comics, and more than a decade in film. That such an ending could ever hope to live up to the hype seemed absurd, and yet here we are, by all accounts having likely witnessed the greatest arc of movies in history, brought to a satisfying conclusion. For this review, I need not harp on the greatness of Robert Downey, Chris Evans, or Josh Brolin and the incredible depth they brought to their characters across this entire saga. Marvel’s casting has been impeccable and remains so here. LAST WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD It’s incredible that this movies use a mechanism I hate with a burning passion and still succeeds: Time Travel. I absolutely despise when storytellers undo having written themselves into a corner by whipping out the old time travel trope and fixing everything. I started to hate it in this film as well once I realized that was the direction things headed after the early, shocking demise of current timeline Thanos. I still don’t buy their repeated explanations for quantum realms, divergent timelines and the like. Yet, this is the only storytelling mechanism I can think of that would allow for a suitably epic finale. Thanos retired and destroyed the stones, completely within his character. Any attempt to bring him back into the war after this action would have seemed fake and out of character. No, in order to bring forth armies and a final battle worthy of this film, only one thing could do it without poisoning the characters: time travel. So, for the purposes of the movie, one must set aside the obvious paradoxical scenarios that these situations bring about, and just have fun. One staggering scene after another, we see the characters lurching back and forth through time in alternate angles of scenes from the older movies. I couldn’t categorize the sheer amount of call backs and fan service moments if I had to, so suffice it say that each of these scenes is a joy to watch as they live through events from previous movies at different angles in an attempt to undo Thanos’ snap and bring back the half of the population he disintegrated. This all leads to numerous time bending shenanigans, which results in likely the most over the top insane battle ever put to screen. As expected, the CG effects and cinematography are top-notch, which leads me into the small criticisms of the film. They use the CG so heavily that it appears slightly synthetic, but given the scale of events that’s a serious nitpick. I already voiced my general displeasure with time travel, so I won’t belabor the point despite being able to pick out many timeline and sequencing problems. Another issue I had was with the appearances of Captain Marvel. She shows up as the ultimate badass in the first ten minutes, then disappears all the way until the finale where she shows up at the exact moment necessary to wreck Thanos’ plans. Another criticism that one might level at the film is that it’s too “fan-servicey” and by that I mean the film would be almost unwatchable to anyone not already invested in these characters and events. My last criticism would be on the portrayal of Thor. I can’t say I was a huge fan of turning him into trembling fat guy, but I guess the logic is that he’s experienced so much loss it finally broke him failing to stop Thanos. Despite a couple of characterizations I wasn’t a fan of, I couldn’t have been happier with the portrayal of both Tony Stark and Steve Rogers. The two were responsible for the biggest moments in the film, with the latter’s stellar moment producing an eruption of cheers in the theater. As a fan of Cap, I couldn’t have asked for a better send off than what he got, kicking ass, living happily ever after, and passing the shield on to the next generation. Tony’s arc was equally satisfying, starting out the MCU as the arrogant playboy prima donna, all the way up through alcoholism, and finally giving his life to save the world. They sent both of the iconic Avengers off in spectacular fashion, and it will be interesting to see how they are replaced going forward. Downey and Evans set the bar incredibly high, and I wouldn’t mind a few more time travel shenanigans to get the two back in the game at some point. While I’m here, I’ll address the big moment of Captain America lifting Mjolnir, Thor’s hammer. There seems to be some confusion how that was possible so I’ll outline it briefly. The enchantment specifically says: “Whoever wields this hammer, if they be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.” So, the question of whether the hammer can be lifted becomes one of worthiness. We saw in Age of Ultron that Steve could shift, but not lift, the hammer. This leads to two conclusions: 1. He wasn’t worthy at the time given he still held onto the secret of the death of Tony’s father at the hands of Bucky. Once absolved of that secret, his worthiness was clear. 2. He was worthy, he just elected to not show off and bruise Thor’s ego in front many people at the party. Either way, this was a moment I was sure would happen, given he’s wielded the hammer multiple times in the comics, but it still came off as an incredible moment. All in all, if one is a fan of the Marvel universe, and given how much money it’s making that’s looking like an ever increasing colossal number, then this is the greatest finale possible for this arc. As a matter of fact, I have difficulty even imagining them topping Endgame, but then again, I can imagine quite a bit, especially with 70+ years of comic stories in the tank. Steve Mager If you enjoyed this article, please share it and follow me on social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/StevenAMager Twitter: https://twitter.com/StevenAMager Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steve_mager/ Get my book, Forging the Iron Mind: [https://amzn.to/2uxRvCs] My next-door neighbor took his own life three days ago.
It was a crisp and sunny Friday, one of the nicest since the arrival of spring. I enjoy pacing around on my back deck and pondering, it’s where a significant amount of my writing emerges. I enjoy staring off into the quiet woods and contemplating, this time I was noting the explosive vegetative growth that had occurred in only a few short days. As I reflected, the siren of an ambulance interrupted, as it drove through my neighborhood and wove through the woods down the path to my neighbor’s house. During winter, I can see through the barren forest over to their house, but spring’s vegetation obscured everything but the flashing lights of the ambulance. Throughout the day, people came and went, and the police lingered for quite some time. I was sure that something gravely serious had occurred, but accidents are common out here in the country, perhaps he fell off the roof cleaning gutters. Turns out, he’d committed suicide. Just the morning before, I’d been out walking the dog and waved at him as he drove by in his pristine Corvette. He always waved and helped the neighbors and seemed to be fine. Often, we don’t always know the internal battles people wage with themselves, as people have become exceedingly adept at maintaining a stoic face while hiding severe inner turmoil. We have reached a point where I doubt anyone would deny that we have serious mental health issues in this country. Depression is an insidious parasite that starts small as a vague sense of unease and gradually grows and expands into an endless abyss. I’ve been there; and that’s why I’m writing this article. I can’t say I’ve totally beaten it, and I can’t say I have all the answers, but I feel I can help, as I’ve beaten back the darkness many times over. Let me preface this by saying that although I have a great deal of fitness, diet, and research experience, I am not a doctor, so consult yours, but understand that these are the techniques and tactics that have worked for me over many years, and are also supported by science. In the writing of my book, I conducted extensive research, and I will also link many articles throughout this blog. With the disclaimers out of the way, let me start with the central premise of this article: If you have depression, you must get help. However, anti-depressants are not enough. I’ve taken anti-depressants and I can say with a high degree of confidence, that they do work, but only to certain extent. They cannot solve underlying issues that poison your mind. Ask anyone taking anti-depressants if they are actually happy, and as I can attest, the answer is usually no. They blunt the edges of depression, but as long as the root issues remain, you will need additional help. There is only one way to truly combat depression and defeat it. You must wage a multi-front war on every aspect of your life, because it ALL matters in the fight. Let’s go step by step, first a few of the multitude of reasons for depression: 1. Brain chemicals cause depression. This is the predicate for every anti-depressant prescription. You have a chemical imbalance, and Drug X will fix that imbalance. Serotonin, Dopamine, Endorphins, Oxytocin, and others all contribute to your happiness and state of well-being. 2. You can become depressed by circumstances and stress in your life. Perhaps you’ve been abused, cheated on, or fired from your job. All of these can contribute to depression. 3. Nihilism and dissociation can cause depression. Perhaps you have a misanthropic view of the world. You belong to nothing, and believe in no higher purpose or entity, be it religion or any cause greater than yourself. This creates a sense that nothing and no one matter in the grand scheme, so why bother caring about anything? You may even have a combination of all three or something else, which makes solving the riddle of depression a daunting task. Now comes the difficult part: the truth. An anti-depressant, by itself, will not fix your mental health long term. To make sustainable changes, we must understand one critical piece that is left by the wayside in many of these discussions: We can, to a large degree, influence our own brain chemistry. Every action we take, from eating, to exercise, even just the act of getting enough sun, all influence the mix of chemicals swirling around in our head. We know exercise induces endorphins, and different foods and vitamins can influence serotonin and dopamine. Even just sitting in the sun can bring about more serotonin production. Earlier, I used the metaphor of a multi-front war. Think of your mindset as a battlefield. When a country goes to war, there isn’t just one type of unit or soldier, there are hundreds, that all comprise the theater of war. Used correctly and in conjunction, ships, soldiers, and planes all combine in a full scale battle plan. In the mind's battlefield, you must view each tactic as one piece of the strategy to win the war. With this in mind, let’s look at a comprehensive battle plan to beat back the unrelenting assault of depression. 1. Anti-Depressants: The starting point. These can be necessary in the early stages to blunt the edges of depression, but make no mistake, they will not SOLVE the issue. 2. Exercise: It is a fact that exercise releases and regulates both Endorphins and Serotonin. If you are not exercising, even if it’s just a walk with the dog, you are leaving a potent weapon on the table. Attempting to fix depression without exercising would be like going to war without the Navy. 3. Sunlight: Yet again, studies show sunlight influences serotonin, as are other bodily functions and vitamin production. Even if it is just sitting or walking the dog, try to get some level of sun infusion each day. 4. Diet: We all know junk food triggers dopamine and makes us feel good temporarily. However, studies have shown that a healthy diet can blunt the effects of depression, as there are many foods that can affect a positive mindset long term. 5. Stress relief: Be it video games, shooting guns, playing with dogs or children, or journalling, find the activity that warms your soul and make sure you are getting enough. I’ve found writing to be a great tool for pouring out emotions, especially journalling. 6. Belief: I see people every day who have accepted their fate, who believe that this is just the way it is and they can’t do anything to change it. Do not allow this to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you believe that, you will find ways to make it true and fail. You can beat it, and once you start to believe it, radical changes will come. 7. Toxic People and Environments: The reality is, it will be difficult to beat back the inexorable assault of depression if you have toxic people and behaviors influencing your life. I’ve had to end friendships of over twenty years because I could not sustain the toxicity of those friendships any longer. These people and situations will poison your mind and make progress difficult. These are just a few of the tactics I’ll cover in this series. It is a daunting task to take your life back while standing at the precipice of the abyss. I intend this to be a series where I will tackle each of these more in depth. If you have questions or need more specificity in the interim, hit me on email or social media. I wish you the best, and I hope these articles will help someone in their struggle. If there's an area you'd like to see addressed, let me know and I'll get it done. Steve Mager If you enjoyed this article, please share it and follow me on social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/StevenAMager Twitter: https://twitter.com/StevenAMager Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steve_mager/ Get my book, Forging the Iron Mind: [https://amzn.to/2uxRvCs] Fantasy has been my favorite genre for as far back as I can remember. Be it movies, TV, or books, I’ve always been fascinated by alternate universes featuring fantastical creatures and people, elaborate magic spells and artifacts, and epic quests. Growing up, Tolkien, Piers Anthony, and Terry Brooks were a few of my favorites, leading to present day masters such as Sanderson, Rowling, and Rothfuss. Characters such as Conan, King Arthur, Legolas, and many others shaped my perception of the fantasy genre, eventually leading to a desire to write one of my own. When I set out to write The Witchbreaker Saga, I made a list of things that enable immersive fantasy and also a list of things I wanted to avoid within the genre. Eventually I’ll write a post about the tropes I like, but for now, let’s settle in and look at the tropes I try to avoid that shaped my work. Let me preface this by saying it is possible to still use these tropes and get away with it, as long as your characters are interesting, your world complex, and the conflict realistic.
5. The oddly specific magical item that saves the world or completes a quest. Our heroes have encountered a problem. Perhaps it’s a curse, plague, sickness, or a villain with a specific power. What’s a writer to do? Why, invent a magical item or god that just happens to possess the exact effect needed to counter that problem. Serialized fantasy TV such as Legend of the Seeker, Xena, and Hercules are most responsible for this one, yet it is still seen in books as well. This trope becomes even worse when this object is encountered later in the book as a Deus Ex Machina, only existing to solve the heroes dilemma without sufficient foreshadowing. Once could argue that Lord of the Rings possess multiples of these such as the eagles, yet, Tolkien’s skill allows us to overlook them. Most of us aren’t anywhere in the same galaxy with Tolkien, so we must ensure we aren’t inventing oddly specific items to solve problems out of thin air. Out of the multitude of examples, my least favorite has to be time manipulation, such as the Time Turner in Harry Potter, which could have been used to solve any number of problems, yet only cropped up once to save Buckbeak and Sirius Black, and for Hermione to take more classes. 4. Stereotypical Races It still surprises me how so many writers still rely on the classic Tolkien-esque races. Be it the savage but honorable orc, or the wise, beautiful, and immortal elves, virtually every fantasy story still relies heavily on these stereotypes. Warhammer, Magic the Gathering, Warcraft, and many others still use these classic racial stereotypes, rarely injecting anything new or original into the formula. 3. The One Dimensional Villain I love Harry Potter. I even own a Sorting Hat, and have read each book and watched each movie multiple times over. Yet, Voldemort has to be one of the worst villains ever conceived. Despite the world of Harry Potter possessing some of the best world building of all time, somehow Voldemort ends up as one of the worst one note villains in popular fiction. Generically evil villains have to be one of my least favorite tropes in any media, because in real life, every villain believes they are the in the right, and can usually list off a litany of reasons. Even the worst of the worst, such as Hitler, Stalin, and Mao, could easily articulate why what they were doing was correct in their mind. Let me give an example of one of the greatest villains ever created: Magneto, from the X-men. Unlike many of these villains, Magneto has actual, believable, and sympathetic reasons why he does the horrific things he does. As a Holocaust survivor, he saw what happened when a certain class or race of people were targeted, and he is determined not to allow that to happen again. So even though he is committing horrendous acts, we can at least understand why, and on some level, empathize. Thanos is another. His Malthusian philosophy is actually a real philosophical belief, and in his mind, he is the only one with the will to ensure the long term survival of the universe. 2. Idiotic Decision Making This rakes on my last nerve. If there’s one thing I can’t stand in fiction, it’s the hero making absurd decisions and justifications to advance the plot. Not confined only to the realm of fantasy, this one is everywhere, but most prevalent in horror. This usually ties into themes related to a trope known as Joker Immunity, where the hero utterly refuses to kill the villain, no matter how much havoc they’ve created, i.e. Batman refusing to kill the Joker, thus enabling the Joker to kill hundreds or thousands more. This is particularly idiotic since no such a thing exists in real life. No one would bat an eye at executing Hitler on the spot, yet Batman is perfectly willing to keep the Joker alive no matter how many dozens of times he’s broken out of Arkham Asylum and murdered thousands. At a minimum, if the villain has perpetrated sufficiently evil acts, the hero should at least attempt to kill them. Now, if the villain escapes because of their own cunning or skill, that is a turn I can live with. 1. The Chosen One and The Prophecy The alpha and omega of overused tropes. The stable boy that finds out he’s the only one that can save the kingdom, and he’s actually a secret prince. The maid that wakes up one day infused with some magical ability prophesied to save the world. Listen, I’m all for a hero’s journey. It’s a classic storytelling arc that still works to this day if executed properly. However, the Chosen One irks my last nerve. When it just so happens that this completely unremarkable person is destined to save the world, it drives me bananas. I realize this plays on the psychological need for us to feel special, that we wish we could wake up one day and be granted supernatural powers leading us to greatness and fame. Many people live unremarkable lives, so this sort of wish fulfillment psychology will always work on some level. The worst part of this trope is that many times it grants what’s known as Plot Armor, which is a term given when you absolutely know the hero isn’t going to die. This is a big reason Game of Thrones got so popular, is that the perception of characters having plot armor was shattered multiple times over. The other element of this trope I hate, is that it sometimes demonizes talent and hard work. Yeah, I know you worked your entire life and prepared diligently, but this lazy doofus over here was born to save the kingdom, so hey, sorry about your luck. What’s your least favorite fantasy trope? Hit me up on social media and let me know! Steve Mager If you enjoyed this article, please share it and follow me on social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/StevenAMager Twitter: https://twitter.com/StevenAMager Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steve_mager/ Get my book, Forging the Iron Mind: [https://amzn.to/2uxRvCs] *Spoiler Free*
Welcome to the next installment in Glorious or Garbage. This week we will look at a show that has been collecting accolades from all around the world. For the last week, my Twitter has been lit afire with glowing reviews, so I finally took the plunge to see if the hype is real. Quick answer: Yes, it is. Right out of the gate, TUC deals in two tropes that have been plundered for decades: the superhero team, and the ever popular school for misfits/powered individuals. It’s a remarkable achievement that the show manages to put unique spins on two of the most overused tropes in all of modern media. It would have been effortless, and lazy, to crap out a by-the-numbers X-Men knockoff, yet the Umbrella Academy succeeds where so many others have failed. First, let me extol the virtues of both the set and costume design. This show both looks and feels like a high budget, fully cinematic experience. I never thought I’d see the day that a tv show could achieve full cinematic parity in terms of effects, costuming, and set design of this level. Every shot is sculpted with care, evoking a unique vibe of retro futurism, steam punk, and modern styles all blending into one show that looks like nothing else. The effects on a character such as Pogo are operating at a level rarely seem on the small screen, matching the effects of a blockbuster film such as Planet of the Apes. Having heaped all of this praise, I will say there are a few moments I felt were overdone as though they were showing off, but that is a minor complaint next to the staggering levels of quality. Second, the characters and their motivations were operating at an extremely high level. From the drug-induced stupors and ranting of Klaus, to the parental struggles of Allison, these characters all bore depth and motivations, making their reasoning and decisions completely identifiable. Even the “side characters” such as Pogo and Cha-Cha appeared as real individuals, and not cardboard cutouts of tropes. My only complaint here would be Vanja, portrayed by Ellen Page. I realize aggressive blandness is part of the character, and being “ordinary” in a family full of powered individuals is her entire arc, but Page never seems to fully let go, even in moments of extreme emotions. A minor complaint to be sure, but one I noticed throughout. All told, it looks incredible, characters are brilliant, and the plot is a fun romp. If I were to level any criticisms, I would say several plot elements, that although executed brilliantly, were predictable. None of the twists even remotely caught me off guard, and I had the ending pegged within the first five episodes. Second, the inherent issues involving time travel that went somewhat unaddressed, such as minor butterfly effects that ripple forward into huge events, or other copies of oneself existing in different places. In any case, these negatives pale next to the overwhelmingly high level of quality throughout. Ultimately, The Umbrella Academy succeeds where many others settled into mediocrity. Exceptional characters, acting, and craftsmanship elevate this series to a level few modern shows, especially of the superhero/school variety, have reached. It seems every other show nowadays is attempting to play on these tropes, yet Umbrella Academy stands atop the heap as an exemplar of how to use these tropes to great effect, and craft them in a unique manner. Brilliant casting, effects, and above all, interesting elements place this show in the upper echelon of modern television, achieving full cinematic quality in the process. Verdict: Glorious Steve Mager If you enjoyed this article, please share it and follow me on social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/StevenAMager Twitter: https://twitter.com/StevenAMager Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steve_mager/ Get my book, Forging the Iron Mind: [https://amzn.to/2uxRvCs] We are now in the depths of winter, and desolation has set in for many of us. The days have grown short and bleak, and those of us in the northern hemisphere are settled in for the last weeks of the frigid winter. It is in this season, and the darkness it brings, that lends itself to horror movies. I wrote an article on dark music, which you can view here, so now I set my sights on the best the Horror genre has to offer. As our society becomes more and more desensitized to violence and the absurd, we continue to seek new ways to shock ourselves, and sometimes we do so using the vehicle of the horror film.
I know what it means to be petrified of a film. When I was approximately 13 years old, I had nightmares for days over the movie Dead and Buried, which I saw by sneaking over to a neighbor’s house, as I was forbidden to see movies like this at my young age. Years later, I have experienced hundreds of horror films, and I’ll do my best to bring the best of the best for you to experience this Halloween. For this article, I will restrict myself to the modern era of horror, which I identify as 2000-Present. We are undergoing a renaissance in horror, with the 2000s being absolutely packed with quality, delivered at an astounding rate. If you are curious about the finest Horror classics, there will be another forthcoming article covering those. For now, let’s look at the best of the best of this era, and I will also include an enormous amount of honorable mentions at the end, to ensure your nights are filled with terror. As you may expect, I would not recommend allowing children to watch any of these films, unless you like the idea of ruining their lives. 5. It Follows How does one devise a more unstoppable antagonist than even the Terminator? This movie answers that question with what has to be one of the more innovative concepts I’ve ever seen in a horror film. Setting up the characters, and the viewers with a sense of inevitability unmatched in modern cinema was a difficult challenge, but this film delivered in a big way. Combining a sense of dread with the requisite jump scares, It Follows has all the makings of a true classic. 4. Hereditary I believe we will consider this film an all-time classic 30 years from now, on the level of the Exorcist or Shining. It takes a great deal to shock me, and Hereditary gave me chills more than once. This is a near perfect film, that delivers fantastic acting, cinematography, and plot structure. The run time is slightly long, but overall, this movie delivers in a way few films can. It is a travesty that Toni Collette won virtually no awards for her role, as it is likely the greatest performance by a female lead in the history of horror. This is a film that will burrow into your head, and you will find yourself days later pondering the themes and elements of the plot. 3. The Babadook The ridiculous name alone almost made me miss this modern classic. I prejudged it based on that, and I couldn’t have been more wrong. A master class in psychological horror of a family under duress where you can’t be sure what is real and what is not. Bringing a nightmarish children’s tale into real life without being ludicrous brings a lot of challenge, but the filmmakers brought their A game and delivered what is sure to be an all-time classic. Is a true tale of the supernatural, or a commentary on mental health issues? 2. The Descent One of the most notorious and over used horror tropes is the “Final Girl.” Nearly every horror movies last survivor is a young female. So, what happens if the entire cast are young females caught in a claustrophobic cave diving expedition? Original location and themes, great cast, innovative plot, and brutal gore propel the Descent into the pantheon of modern classic horror movies. I can assure you spelunking will likely never be a hobby you pursue after watching this film. 1. The Witch “Wouldst thou like to live...deliciously?” My favorite horror film of the past 40 years. I would have to go back to 1977 and older to find a horror film I hold in the same esteem as this Robert Eggers masterpiece. The only horror film on this list to which I give a perfect score, The Witch is the only film I cannot even imagine a change one could make to improve it, and believe me, I can imagine quite a bit. A folk tale set in 1600s New England, the Witch brings unmatched historical accuracy in dialect, beliefs, clothing, and even in processes such as construction and survival techniques. This, coupled with impeccable directing, acting, and cinematography sets the Witch alone at the top of the heap in modern horror. Honorable Mentions: The Devil’s Candy - Heavy metal darkness, nearly made the list. Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2003: Excellent Remake. Texas Chainsaw: The Beginning: First rate slasher film. 28 Days Later: Changed the Zombie film forever. Evil Dead Remake: Best remake ever, I prefer it to the original. Train to Busan: Best Zombie film of the modern era. Wolf Creek 1 & 2: Crocodile Dundee meets Friday the 13th. Amazing. The Conjuring: Nearly made the list, near flawless execution. Get Out: Great concept by Jordan Peele. Martyrs: Most disturbing film of the modern era. Might make you sick. Cabin in the Woods: Incredible spin on horror tropes. The Strangers: Top tier modern slasher movie. Hell House LLC: One of the best “found footage” films ever. There you have it: all the firepower needed to give yourself and loved ones nightmares for quite some time. Horror is highly subjective, so even if you do not agree with my list above, the Honorable Mentions are sure to have enough for you to produce your own Top 5. Settle in and get cozy in the final weeks of winter, and see if you can shock your system. Let me know if I missed anything, and fire your favorites at me on social media! Steve Mager If you enjoyed this article, please share it and follow me on social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/StevenAMager Twitter: https://twitter.com/StevenAMager Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steve_mager/ Get my book, Forging the Iron Mind: [https://amzn.to/2uxRvCs] |
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