Hey everybody, just a quick blurb about the leaked Western release of Pokémon Go. I woke up this morning to many news sites claiming that we Westerners could download the game via a mirror site and play the full experience with no issues as long as you have an Android device. So as a 30 year old man, who has a deep nostalgia for Pokémon, I had to grab my balls (the poke kind), turned on my GPS (and watched as my battery drained faster than I had ever seen it deplete before), and created my character as I booted up this app. For people who know me, I have a very big problem with mobile games. Instead of going into a more venomous rant on those experiences, I will just simply say they are not for me. You know what is for me? Pokémon.
There are not very many character creator options in Pokemon Go, but that doesn’t matter when you have the goal to catch ’em all. The new professor introduces himself and then he sets you off to catch your first pocket monster. Bulbasaur was my first! After this quick tutorial you are set off with walking around your home town, or local areas and Pokémon will start populating on the GPS map in the app. Also the map is populated with icons that are in real life art, sculptures, or major places of interest. In the game they are turned into Pokémon stores, gyms, and other Pokémon related things. Going to these hotspots offer items such as: Pokéballs, eggs, (can hatch into new Pokémon) as well as incense and other items to use to attract these catchable creatures.
I have not spent much time in Pokemon Go but I am working my way to become Level 5 so I can take on my first gym. How that works I have no idea but I will certainly report back! For now I suggest going to the mirror site where you can download the Pokemon Go app here and start your Pokémon journey!
With the holidays arriving, that means it’s getting time for another year to come to a close, and if you’re human you’re probably doing a little reflecting this week. You might also be reflecting if you’re a robot, and that’s part of your programming for some reason. Either way, you might be feeling a little twinge of nostalgia, and for that, you have us, and our list of Twenty Nostalgic Holiday films.
Sub-Cultured’s First Annual Official Nostalgic Holiday Films List (For Nostalgia)
Holiday Film Favorites we can (Mostly) Agree On
Babes in Toyland
We tried watching the Drew Barrymore/Keanu Reeves version of this film and the internet rebelled by shutting down our Twitch account temporarily. We will take that as a sign to stick with the real classics.
Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer
Doesn’t the abominable snowman get kicked in the *ahem* snowballs in this movie? Maybe don’t kick an abominable snowman in the snowballs. I feel like that’s the moral of the story here.
A Christmas Story
TBS feels that we should all marathon this movie for twenty four hours at least once a year. TBS is probably on to something.
Disney Fantasy on Ice
Disney used to put together skating specials every year and this one had a story line and an actual red-headed Ariel and it’s basically ’90s perfection so if you can find it in full, let me know.
The Santa Clause
Even though Tim Allen is mostly garbage now, this movie still holds up well enough to be presented without comment and without justification. It’s that good.
Beauty and the Beast, The Enchanted Christmas
Disney sequels are Much like Fern Gully, this movie comes equipped with a villain voiced by Tim Curry, and an important lesson about the environment. Or about your family at holiday time. Either way, it’s underrated.
Go
Harken back to college when I first watched it, and reminds me of other old-school holiday gatherings where it was viewed as a less-than-wholesome Christmas film. And
Home Alone makes me cry when his groceries break his bags or or when he looks at his family photos.
Sam’s (Semi-specific) Classics
1. It’s a Wonderful Life
2. Love Actually
3. Miracle on 42nd St. (1947) This version is important mostly because I still have a huge crush on Maureen O’Hara.
4. Christmas Carol with John Barrymore, and it’s important that it’s the one with John Barrymore, so that it’s not this Jim Carrey bullshit.
5. Die Hard, the one with Bruce Willis. You know the one.
Colby’s Begrudging Holiday Spirit Which Conflicts with Sam’s Negativity.
Jim Carrey’s The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. My neice watched that everyday for months, then we had to have it on 24/7 while she was here for the holidays.
Max’s Almost Classics
Auntie Mame, and my usual: the Peanuts special. But not the one everyone always thinks of. The other one– It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown.
Mia’s Easy to Find but Hard to Obtain Choice
Mia picked Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas, pointing out that it’s pretty easy to find online for purchase but kind of hard to find if you want to watch it. Also you have to know exactly what you’re looking for otherwise you’ll end up with a bunch of Disney movies that aren’t this one. Those ones are lame and we’re ignoring them.
Let us know what movies transport you back through time during the holidays–the weirder the better!