Sabrina Weeks - Week 4 HW

Kill Bill Vol. 2 

Gogo Yubari vs. The Bride/Black Mamba 

What has drawn me into this action scene from Kill Bill is a combination of the acting, pacing, and editing. 

The acting is superb, with Gogo’s psychopathic demeanor contrasting on top of Beatrix (Black Mamba)’s hesitance to fight her because of her age and her role with protecting O-Ren. The pacing is quick, intense, and a bit gory, with lots of twisting and bird’s eye view camera angles throughout the scene. The editing was great, very vibrant in both the gore and attire of both the characters and the background furnishings that get damaged throughout the fight. You can really feel the pain Beatrix is feeling throughout the battle with Gogo from the gore being shown in just the right scenes at the right time, with the right angle shot.

Sabrina Weeks - Week 3 HW

● Villain kidnaps Leo’s brother
● Leo murders some of villain’s top dogs in search of brother
● Leo gets caught up with police but manages to escape after a few days
● Leo finds his brother being sold into human trafficking
● Villain attempts to drown Leo’s brother as a threat to Leo
● Leo fights main villain and his guys in all out brawl
● Player finds out Leo and main villain were once best friends until a previous betrayal
● Player also finds out main villain is being manipulated by an older gang group

Sabrina Weeks - Week 2 HW

Leo is a rowdy 16 year old orphan who lives in one of the many favelas in Rio de Janeiro with his younger adoptive brother. He is described by the local police as being about 6’1, 153 pounds, wiry, and quite athletic. Friends say he has dark brown disheveled hair, piercing blue eyes that scream “wild”, a crooked smile, olive skin, and numerous battle scars that he claims are his “trophies”. Leo has been known by his gang as a daring leader, but laid-back about most rules, humorous with his quick-wit, a little bossy from his arrogant mannerisms, but still has everyone’s respect because of his genuinity and cruel honesty. 

 His little brother has always seen the softer side of Leo, describing him as quite the “troubled” guy. Leo has a very intense fear of water because of a drowning incident which killed his younger biological sister when he was only a little boy. When he gets very stressed and needs to calm himself down, he’ll immediately reach into his pocket for a cigarette. His little brother has been trying to get him to quit since the day they met. Leo also struggles with fears of abandonment and a sense of denial because of his mother’s death during the birth of his younger sister and his father’s abusive tendencies from transitioning into an alcoholic. His mother was Portuguese while his father was German. Leo is incredibly empathetic, generous, and extremely protective of his little brother; such as not allowing him to smoke or possess any drugs. He saves the money he steals and murders for to send his little brother to school and have a semi-normal life, something Leo had taken away from him when he ran away from home. 

Leo is very well-known by his neighboring gangs, the local police, and the fearful citizens who warn incoming tourists about which areas to avoid as it is under control by young gang leaders such as himself. Rumor has it that Leo wears some ripped up cargo shorts held up by a police belt that he stole after he murdered the officer in a gunfight, a daisy yellow bandana tied around his left bicep which was the hairband his sister wore the day she drowned, an old graphic tee that he ripped the sleeves off of because of the Brazilian heat, however since he cannot read English very well the text on the shirt is just obscure phrases that seemed to look “cool” to him. He is also seen wearing some dirty old Jordans that he stole from a lost and vulnerable tourist. 

Generally Leo can seem very egotistical and quite the bully to others, however dig a little deeper and he’s quite the selfless softy about anything to do with his little brother.

Sabrina Weeks - Week 1 HW

In the short and sweet indie game “Journey”, the player controls a robed figure that is on a long journey towards a very tall mountain. They are not given any details or instructions on how to play or what the main plot even is. There are no maps to guide the player either, nor is there any dialogue except the occasional chirp-like sounds emitted from the robed figure. It’s up to you as the player to interpret the story that unfolds. I would have to say this is one of my top favorite games because of its powerful, silent message executed in such beautiful simplicity. The in-game aesthetics take on a minimal graphic-like feel, and a rich color palette throughout the entire story, which makes it very soothing on the eyes. There is also a completely anonymous multiplayer mode if you are connected to the internet, where a random stranger can accompany your robed figure as you embark on your journey to the mountain. They can only communicate with you by signals and chirps. After all it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey and the obstacles you encounter that make everything worthwhile while it lasts. Journey is an unforgettable, pure story that really hits you after you beat it.