The Rose and The Lily

Martes, Enero 22, 2013

The Matrix (1999): A Review

You've been living in a dream world, Neo.

- Morpheus

The Matrix (1999) is a futuristic, sci-fi film where Neo - the main protagonists - is said to be The One who is to save the world which was now run by machines who had converted the entire human race into batteries while showing them the Matrix, or a world - a computer generated environment - that they believe is the normal world. In the Matrix (film), Neo is not aware of the Matrix's existance but suspects, doubts, and with the help of Morpheus he is enlightened on what the world had truly become.

I could say The Wachowski Brothers (Andy Wachowski & Lana Wachowski) had done very well in directing and writing this film, the flow was smooth and the plot and story were quite outstanding and very original in my persceptive. The construction of the Matrix, the logic behind its reality was very fascinating since it bent time and space to a degree that was not truly too unbelievable, and had features where viewers could still relate to it from their own persceptives; in short, it was realistic despite the fact in reality (the movie's universe) it was a computer simulation.

The acting was good, Neo (played by Keanu Reeves) was played well along with Morpheus (played by Laurence Fishburne), Morpheus had this imposing aura about him at the beginnng of the story like an anti-hero but once he was revaled in the real reality of the world (the human world ruled by machines) where he looked quite kind and not so intimidating, I found that change to be a bit abrupt and surprising though it did establish quite well that 'this was the real me' as in this was who he really was and not that simulation with the black glasses that we see throughout most of the story. The rest of their group were done well as well, Cypher (Joe Pantoliano) though had a short moment of glory did pretty well despite his sudden antagonistic role; the 3 men in black Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving), Agent Brown (Paul Goddard), and Agent Jones (Robert Taylor) were also quite good, especially the main antagonists among them who portrayed his anger and frustration about his situation very clearly, almost bordering on being human himself but still maintaning his robotic-like attitude.

The setting of the Matrix were very exceptional although I'm a little upset that the current state of the human world outside the Matrix was not fully shown, but with everything else, the ship of their team, the Matrix, and the part of the world that was actually shown, it was all nicely done and arranged.

The fight scenes from Neo's practice scenes to the actual battle to reclaim Morpheus were beautifully choreographed and very artful in terms of movement and special effects. The entire movies special effects and CGI were nicely done despite that era being only new to the terms ad capabilities of special effects. Kudos to their Special effects and Visual effects department!

The Matrix, for me, is a very well made film, because if you would watch the film, you would notice that it's a net full of metaphors and comparisons to the world around us, and I find it amazing that the director/s had fit all of that into an almost 2 hour motion picture.

One metaphor that stood out for me that most was the way the world of the Matrix had so much similarity to the world that we move in today, and I don't mean the way that the Matrix looks but more on how their society works, or how the computer programs control the humans who are blind to what is truly going on.

The governing offices of the world, with media as their announcers, control the way people think, can think, would think, should think, and what they believe in. This can easily be countered by saying, they don't really have totalitarian control and that we can still say and do what we want to do but if you look at it, majority of what we say and know was influenced by the higher-ups in society, and if not influenced, limited, like the more senstive information on a certain issue that can ruin the government's image. So, the Matrix is like that, controlling the humans who move in it to think that this' the normal way of things when in fact it is not, or it can be different. Thus, their speeches in the movie where they relate the Matrix to 'waking up' from it to 'still sleeping' - remaining asleep and oblivious to the truth behind the truth.

Also, the Matrix is also correct in saying that there are some who would oppose and fight anyone that would stand against the Matrix, or the-way-things-are, since they have lived in it for too long, they believe it to be their way of life and existance. There are some who are afraid to move on from what they already know, afraid of change, which the Matrix personifies as the people who try to fight Morpheus' group.

I guess you could say that the clear message the matrix presents is that the power to change the way things are now is within ourselves, within the spirit to live awakened and the will to fight against the higher-ups who lure us in for their own gain. It must always be factored in our thoughts that whatever the media, the higher-ups, or the people in power say should not always be 100% believed, that the things around you and the things said should be questioned.

And that staying passive will not help anyone or yourself. You are affected and involved whether you like it or not

"It is your decision whether you awaken or stay asleep"

-Morpheus

Lastly, the last thing I learnt from the Matrix is if you want something to happen, you have to be the one to do it yourself. Throughtout the movie, whether it can be denied or not, Morpheus was in a higher level of expertise and knowledge about the Matrix than Neo. He'd (Morpheus) admitted to have searched for him for years, and Neo had trained for only months to defeat the Matrix. Why? Because he had wanted to, even if the Oracle told him otherwise, even if he had wanted to quit at one point, he had still done it because he had spirit and he had a goal he wanted to reach. In comparison to Morpheus, the one who sought after Neo even though the real goal of their team was not to find Neo but to destroy the Matrix and free them from the machines; the mysterious Oracle had told Morpheus that he would find The One and Morpheus had listened. Basically I'm saying, well... let's just leave it at that. But yah, if you want it, reach for it, no matter what other people tell you.

"I do not live to please You" - quoted from my friend, Mary.

Sincerely,

Zacharias Walker

(Lily) (Will)

Sources:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/fullcredits

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/quotes

http://dc-mrg.english.ucsb.edu/WarnerTeach/E192/matrix/Matrix.script.html

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/208/480092237_bb7af3db73_z.jpg?zz=1

http://images1.fanpop.com/images/photos/1900000/Matrix-the-matrix-1949930-1024-768.jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUHt1RjgoUr8ypsVAw2xy_Mv13D7lMG6IbMZv47Q4cJB_CfvG4zDbOfUFRQTfGEhZExnI0BDOtdhpQ2WthvKonKZT_dRoSfDM-pI6DBGjo2uXED2QlFsjjz0-prYXgPaLosAJ6RWBtYxw/s1600/Matrix+Red+or+Blue+Pill+2.jpg

Huwebes, Enero 17, 2013

AWAKENING: THE MATRIX

Title: Matrix

Date Released: March 31, 1999

Directed By: Andy and Larry Wachowski

Genre: Science Fiction/Action

MOVIE SUMMARY:

Thomas Anderson is a computer programmer who maintains a double life as the hacker "Neo". He is driven to learn the meaning of cryptic references to "the Matrix" appearing on his computer. Infamous hacker Trinity contacts Neo and informs him that a man named Morpheus can tell him what the Matrix is; however, three Agents, led by Agent Smith, arrest Neo to prevent him from collaborating with Morpheus. Undeterred, Neo meets with Morpheus and confirms that he wants to learn more about the Matrix by choosing an offered red pill. After swallowing the pill, Neo abruptly awakens in a liquid-filled vessel, connected along with millions of other people to an elaborate electrical structure. He is rescued by Morpheus and brought aboard a levitating ship, the Nebuchadnezzar.

Morpheus tells Neo that humans are fighting against intelligent machines that were created in the 21st century and have since taken control of the Earth's surface. Humans polluted the sky to cut off the machines' solar power, but the machines adapted to using human bioelectricity as a power source. Enslaved humans are kept docile within the "Matrix" – a simulation of the world as it was in 1999. Neo has lived in this simulated world since birth; in reality, the year is closer to 2199. Morpheus explains that he and his crew belong to a group of free humans who "unplug" others from the Matrix and recruit them to their rebellion against the Machines. They can hack into the Matrix and re-enter the simulated reality, where their understanding of its true nature allows them to manipulate its physical laws, granting them superhuman abilities. Neo undergoes virtual combat training. He is warned that fatal injuries within the Matrix will also kill one's physical body, and that the Agents he encountered are powerful sentient programs that patrol the Matrix and eliminate threats to the system. Morpheus believes Neo is "the One", a man prophesied to end the war between humans and machines.

After Neo's training, the group enters the Matrix to visit the Oracle, a prophet who predicted the emergence of the One. The Oracle implies that Neo is not the One, and warns he must soon choose between his own life and that of Morpheus.

As the group prepares to exit the Matrix, they are ambushed by Agents and tactical police, leading to the death of a crew member called Mouse. Morpheus allows himself to be captured to let Neo and the rest of the crew escape. As they prepare to leave the Matrix, they learn that their ally Cypher has betrayed them. Disillusioned with the real world, Cypher had arranged to hand Morpheus over to the Agents in exchange for being returned to a comfortable life within the Matrix. Aboard the Nebuchadnezzar, Cypher murders crew members Switch, Apoc and Dozer before he is killed by Dozer's brother Tank.

In the Matrix, the Agents interrogate Morpheus to learn his access codes to the mainframe computer in Zion, the humans' last refuge in the real world. Neo returns to the Matrix with Trinity and rescues Morpheus; in the process, Neo gains confidence in his ability to manipulate the Matrix, performing physical feats on par with the Agents.

Morpheus and Trinity exit the Matrix, but Neo is ambushed by Smith before he can leave. In the real world, "sentinel" machines converge on the Nebuchadnezzar. In the Matrix, Smith kills Neo. In the real world, Trinity whispers to Neo that the Oracle told her she would fall in love with the One. She kisses Neo, and he revives in the Matrix. He displays the power to perceive and control the Matrix, effortlessly destroying Smith before exiting the Matrix in time for the ship's EMP weapon to destroy the attacking sentinels.

In the Matrix, Neo makes a telephone call, promising the Machines he will show their prisoners "a world where anything is possible". He ends the call and flies into the sky.

Welcome to the World of Lies and Illusions...

♦♦♦♦♦

If you are a character in the film matrix, you might end up as one of those people in New York city living a normal life and happy with everything that you have without knowing the real thing. The aching truth that everything you are doing and you have--delicious meals, money, golds, boyfriend, girlfriend,etc--are not real.You are not aware that those dainty things are just being plugged in your mind like some port of a computer. Well, that's how the movie Matrix went; it's about a world created by the Artificial Intelligences or High tech machines and these 'It' made the human race believed that what their eyes perceived was real. In short, they are not AWARE and does not give a damn anyway. And this is where Keannu Reeve's character will enter in--Thomas Anderson or more commonly known as Neo is a hacker and a man living a normal life like the others but after he received a vague message from his computer screen which says'Follow the White Rabbit' everything changed and he never become part of the normalcy again. Unfortunately for him, even though he wanted to go back he can't escape his destiny or his fate because he is the 'CHOSEN ONE'. The One who will destroy those evil beings behind the world created to be perceives as real. Those people who are part of Morpheus' group are already AWAKE. This is the term they used when a human has finally made it out of the Matrix and Neo became one of them. Now, these people who woke up or no longer controlled by the robots are going to be hunted by the men in black-like beings with superhuman abilities, they're assigned to kill those who are already aware of the real thing.

The film Matrix has a lot of symbolisms and hidden messages on it and they all can apply in the real life or to anyone in this world we are living in, it can be translated in reality or spiritually. Based on my browsing on the net about this movie, despite of its awesome special effects it still gained a lot of criticisms because of its hella weird concept or story. I can't blame those people on what they believe in, for me maybe they just didn't want to accept the fact that it can be real and based on the gadgets and modern technologies nowadays, there's a huge possibility for the Matrix to exist. Who knows in the near future we might be all controlled by the ones we created, the gadgets and robots. Despite of other people's comments and whatsoevers, I truly enjoy this film and its worth the shot. It is educational I must say, that is my opinion of course and it's because I really learned something from it and I thanked Neo for it. :) And speaking of Neo, I totally love his character, he was just awesome and right off the bat. His character was done well, flexible or complex character I think. Somehow, I found myself in Neo and there are times when I am in the same position like him as well, except for the telekinetic abilities and learning Kung Fu. It is also pretty obvious that it has a touch of Alice in Wonderland concept, whoever did this movie they blended every ingredients pretty well.

Be careful, you're might not aware that they're after you. Once you are awake, the question is...

ARE YOU ALREADY AWAKE?

Sources:

www.wikipedia.org

google.com

mytwistedmindasalways.fishingnet :)

Matrix Film Review by: Mary Louise Sarion a.k.a Ayumi Lemuel 'YL'

Biyernes, Disyembre 28, 2012

Bless the Child

Mankind's last hope just turned six

Title: Bless the Child

Released: August 11, 2000

Directed by: Chuck Russell

Genre: Horror-Thriller-Spiritual

The little girl

Messiah.. . . . . . . . . .

Bless the Child is a film I had watched years ago when I'm just a little girl, even though it's been years since I watch this movie and never had a chance to watch it again it's still stuck in my mind and part of my permanent memory.

The movie is about a young girl Cody who was abandoned by her mother due to being weird or autistic. She was took in by her mother's sister and was treated like a real daughter. As far as I can remember, Cody isn't really your typical little girl. She's somewhat weird but I think not in an autistic way, I think the doctors taught that she was autistic because of acting different. She doesn't really socialize with anyone at school and there's one time when she revived a dead bird and it flew away, witnessed by her classmates and a nun. It was later revealed in the movie that Cody is a special girl and she wasn't just any little girl, she's something else--not in an insane way--and that the creatures of darkness were aftering her.

Cody versus Damien

Its pretty obvious that this film is the anti-thesis of The Omen. In the film Omen, the child there is evil and a being from Hell. Damien is the chosen one to destroy or bring suffering to the Human race, in Bless the Child, Cody is like the little girl version of the Messiah and the Evil wanted her because they're aware that she'll be the one to cause their defeat. Both lead characters are children and looked innocent but contained something else from within. They're like a small representation of Good versus Evil, Angels versus Demons and anything related to that.

Subjective:

While searching for stuff about this film, I read many negative response in this film and from a website that I have read, the one who typed it said that the film was 'silly' and like irrational or not good at all. It was also included at one of the worst films ever and it is also mentioned that the actress who took the role of the woman who adopted Cody is a terrible actress.
Despite of those negative critics and whatsoever, I still find this film beautiful and heck worth of the shot, I know we're all entitled to our own opinion and I can't really do anything about those negative claims. But for me, in my eyes, the film is nice and I understood it pretty well. And I like its plot and the theme. I don't find it occult-ish or evil, I think unconciously, the film wants to tell the viewers to have more faith in God and there's nothing really impossible to him, Miracles are real, we shouldn't be blind sided and
ignorant of shits around us.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bless_the_Child

http://www.weirdwildrealm.com/f-blesschild.html

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0163983/

Give it a try,people :)

It's a cool movie, just like what the uploader said. :)

Ciao!

~YL

Miyerkules, Disyembre 26, 2012

Angels versus Humans: Legion

Title: Legion

Directed by: Scott Stewart

Released Date: January 22, 2010

Genre: Fantasy, Thriller,Horror,Biblical

Movie Summary:

The Archangel Michael falls to Earth in Los Angeles and cuts off his wings. He steals a police car after a policeman is killed by another officer. He then heads for the Paradise Falls diner, near the edge of the Mojave Desert.

Meanwhile, Kyle, a single father driving to Los Angeles, stops at the diner. There he meets the owner, Bob Hanson; his son Jeep; the short-order cook Percy; a pregnant waitress, Charlie; a married couple, Howard and Sandra Anderson, and their rebellious teenage daughter, Audrey.

An old woman enters the diner. She seems pleasant at first, but then begins taunting the diner's patrons. When Howard confronts her, she rips his throat open, screeches that they are all going to die and climbs up the ceiling like an insect. Kyle shoots her with a handgun before she can kill Bob. Percy, Kyle, Bob, Sandra, Audrey, Jeep, and Charlie try to get the injured Howard to the hospital, but are forced to go back after passing through a swarm of flies.

Michael arrives and arms the patrons as the entire sky plunges into blackness. Hundreds of cars approach, filled with possessed people who begin to attack the diner. Michael leads the patrons in the fight against the possessed, but Howard is dragged away. Later Michael explains that God has lost faith in mankind and has sent His angels to destroy the human race. He also reveals that Charlie's baby is destined to be the savior of mankind, and that it must stay alive if humanity is to have any hope of surviving. Michael also reveals that his original mission was to kill Charlie's baby, but he disagreed with God's orders, as he still has faith in the goodness of humanity.

The next morning, Sandra discovers Howard crucified behind the restaurant and covered with boils. She tries to rescue him, but he violently explodes into acid. Percy dies shielding Sandra from the blast, and Sandra is driven insane. Meanwhile, the remaining survivors (Jeep, Charlie, Kyle, Audrey, Sandra and Bob) manage to catch a radio transmission revealing that there are other pockets of survivors holding out against the possessed, with one such refuge nearby. However, Michael advises them not to go, since they would be too vulnerable on the move.

That night, a second wave of possessed attack, luring Kyle out by having a father and his son show up and having the father run over, motivating Kyle to attempt to save the child. The child turns out to be possessed, kills Kyle, and attacks Audrey but Michael intervenes and shoots down many possessed.

The attack pushes a panicked Charlie into labor. Audrey and Michael help her deliver the baby as trumpets sound, signaling the approach of the Archangel Gabriel. In a panic, Sandra breaks her restraints and tries to give the baby to the possessed, but Michael guns her down.

Moments later, Gabriel enters the diner seriously injuring Bob. Michael gives Jeep the keys to the police cruiser he arrived in, urging them to escape and telling Jeep, rather enigmatically to "find the prophets, learn to read the instructions". The hordes of possessed humans are unable to approach Charlie's baby, so Jeep, Audrey, Charlie, and the baby make their way to the cruiser. Gabriel and Michael fight, ending with Gabriel stabbing Michael through the chest with his mace. Michael dies and his body disappears. The dying Bob lights a flame to the diner's gas main, blowing up the diner, incinerating himself and the remaining possessed.

Jeep's body gets covered in the same mysterious drawings seen on Michael's body which leads Jeep to realize that the tattoos are the instructions Michael spoke of. Gabriel then appears, having survived, and swoops down on the fleeing car. As he tries to reach Charlie, Audrey jumps on him and sacrifices herself by yelling at Jeep to slam on the brakes, sending Gabriel through the front windshield as the car crashes. Charlie and Jeep survive with the baby, but Audrey doesn't survive the crash.

Gabriel finally corners the three in the nearby mountains. He is about to kill them when Michael appears from Heaven, an angel once more, and stops Gabriel. Michael tells Gabriel that he (Michael) did what God needed, not what God wanted, thus giving humanity another chance. With his angelic powers back, Michael easily defeats Gabriel, but spares his life after which Gabriel leaves, defeated. Michael explains to Jeep that he is the child's true protector and to have faith when Jeep asks if they will see Michael again, then flies off. Charlie and Jeep make it to the top of the mountain and see a small town in the valley below.

Sometime later, Charlie, Jeep, and the baby are seen driving off into the distance with a station wagon full of weapons, after which the credits roll.

FILM REVIEW:

"The Angels will come forth"

Legion is a weird, twisted and blasphemous(like what the Director said) movie.

In this film, the human race aren't dealing with Demons but with Angels because it was said that

God is already mad at his children(humans) because of the sins and many destruction they made and the fact

that most of them are already losing faith and so, he decided to make a move. To exterminate the entire human race through the angels. The main setting is at a small pub in the middle of the dessert and strangely the pub is called 'Paradise Falls', there inside the pub are group of survivors whom the Archangel Michael will hang out with. The survivors with Michael are surprised, because instead of Demons possessing humans, it was Angels. That's really unbelievable because what the humans believe in is that Angels are supposed to be the Good Guys.

The Fall of Archangel Michael

We all know Archangel Michael as the leader of the Angel army and the Prince of the Heavenly Host, his name means 'The one who is like God' and he's also the one who defeated Lucifer in the first rebellion. But in this film, the Holy and Leader of the seven Archangels fell(not literally) like what happened to Lucifer. But he did not fall because he turned evil or whatsoever, he chose to fall because he's against God's order to destroy mankind. Like what he said in the movie, He loses his faith but he--Michael--did not, he still believes on mankind and there's still a chance for them to change.

Subjective Response:

The Archangel Michael in this film is not the Michael I am expecting, he's different like he's void of emotions or just really weird. And...I LOVE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL.

The Battle between Michael and Gabriel

In the Bible, obviously, Archangel Michael and Gabriel are brothers, allies and will

never hurt each other. But in the film, Gabriel's character is a hell different from the

typical Gabriel. He is cold, ruthless and will not hesitate to kill a human. And he did

not even have a second thought on fighting his brother. Gabriel beat the crap out of Michael.

The image of Gabriel being the messenger who sent the Virgin Mary the message was suddenly

dumped and overshadowed by this new Gabriel. And Charlie there in the film is like symbolizing Mary since she's pregnant and Michael is trying to protect her while Gabriel wanted to kill her.

My Subjective Film Review:

Legion is one of my favorite film, and not only because I am attracted by its theme but also because of its story. I read from the internet and watched from Youtube that this film earned many negative criticisms, maybe because of its weird theme and the fact that it was Angels destroying mankind and they're not your typical goody Angels, another thing they have black wings--a symbolism that they're different and a killer more likely. I am not really affected by the criticisms of the film, I can't blame those people since like what I said earlier, the humans' belief is that Heaven is kind, holy and Angels are the ones who will protect the human race from the wraths of evil. It's also surprising that Hell and Demons are not mentioned in the movie but that would cause more chaos. Angels and Demons together to destroy mankind, wow, that would be destructive and I don't know if Humans will have a chance to win. I doubt that. And I think Charlie's baby is a symbolism of 'reincarnation' or something new, a reborn.

Don't forget to watch Legion. ^_^

Ciao!

References:

wikipedia.org

google.com

mytwistedmindasalways.com

~YL

Linggo, Disyembre 23, 2012

Film Review: The Omen

Title: The Omen

Directed by: John Moore

Released Date: June 6, 2006

Genre: Horror-Suspense-Evil

------------

THE SON OF THE DEVIL

Cast:

Julia Stiles as Katherine Thorn

Liev Schreiber as Robert Thorn

Mia Farrow as Mrs. Baylock

Seamus Davey Fitzpatrick as Damien Thorn

David Thewlis as Keith Jennings

Film Review:

"Some kids may be born evil, and none were born more evil than Damien, the creepy son of a diplomat in The Omen Franchise. It’s a series best known for its primary entry, but the follow ups all have interesting things about them. At least the sequels do."-Andre Dellamorte

The Omen is not just about evilness and demons lurking around, it also has the touch of politics and temptation. The movie had many versions starting year 1976 and 2006, the one I watched is the 2006 version. I already heard of this movie before and I am quite intrigued of what is all about so I was glad that I already had a chance to watch it.

So, the movie is all about a prophecy about the coming of the 'Anti-Christ'. The Vatican people received many signs that the coming of this enemy is inevitable. But, they don't have an idea if what that 'Anti-Christ' would look like. A passage from Revelation in the Bible said that a shooting star will fall down and it holds the key to the abyss where the destroyer will rise. That's not really the correct terms but as far as I can remember, the one who will bring destruction in the world is locked beneath the Earth and his name was Abaddon.

In the movie, 'Abaddon' was in the form of this innocent looking child named Damien who

became the son of Robert and Katherine Thorn after their supposedly child died in the hospital.

The death of their biological child is inevitable and this is the way for Damien to be put in. Wow, talk about destiny and fate.

The Character of Damien Thorn:

For me, the boy who played the role of Damien Thorn got the character well though there are still some flaws but that's just normal I guess.

Damien Thorn is the chosen one to destroy or bring 'darkness' in the Human World, it's not pretty obvious because he was just a little boy and no one would really suspect him. I mean if ever he's real I will not suspect him for someone who will create huge destruction and will do something evil. But looks can be really deceiving, satan did a great job molding his ultimate key to destroy mankind; the people are oblivious of the evil aura surrounding Damien.

He really looked like the evil pyschopath child and damn, I hate him because of his evilness. Though I think the director made the character of Damien more unsuspicious since when the film began, I already saw the hint that he's not normal. He's too quiet and less hyper compare to normal kids.

Usage of Politics in destroying mankind:

Oh yeah, this is really nice. I could say that the easiest way to make people suffer is through government or the people ruling over the countries. Government has power and control, they can do anything they want, almost every thing is on the palm of their hands. Ordinary people believe whatever the media will feed them(unless they are open minded or has another thought about it, but most people just believe whatever they'll see.) so the plan to destroy the humans will be easier. I wonder if the Vatican people has a thought of the anti-christ being in the world of politics.

Subjective Review:

I personally liked The Omen, I give this movie 8 stars despite of the fact that I hate Damien and I wanted to kill him if ever he's real. The movie was great, nice plot and everything, I learned something from it actually...that the one written on the Bible, they're symbolisms. They can happen but of course we are not aware of it since it will take different forms. I learned that we should not interpret things 'literally', the other beings more likely prefer us humans to be ignorant about their existence and whatever they're planning for our world. It's better that we keep an open mind on everything.

Cia! :)

References:

wikipedia.org

google.com

imdb.com

mytwistedmind.com XD