Heroic Dreams - All Things Medieval

It’s an amazing world we live in  and I have been fortunate enough to get to see some of it - although I have lots more to see. 

I took this picture somewhere in Europe, I think it might have been Munich, but I can’t remember.

What I do remember is that there are some amazing places in the old world. And we owe so much of what we are to what happened in these old places - The middle ages, the Renaissance, castles, knights and so much more. Medieval Things are a fascinating thing.

If you can muster up the time, energy, and money, I recommend you take a trip on over to Europe. It is an amazing place.

Well anyway, if you are reading this blog you are probably into the medieval things too and I just wanted to let you know that the redesign of my Medieval site is complete and it looks pretty good. Buzz on over and take a look: All Things Medieval Hey, if you can’t experience Europe first-hand you can still experience a bit of the things medieval.

Popularity: 5% [?]

I am forever scrounging the internet for deals and new stuff in the fantasy and medieval realms and I have a relationship with a lot of different companies. Scouring through listings of various weapons I came across a set of weapons from a company called Topicool.

They have a nice selection of medieval weapons and armor and they sell through amazon.com -which I like. But here are a couple of things that makes them stand out from the zillion sword selling sites out there.

Their stuff ranges from movie weapons like the house of flying daggers sword shown here (current list price 59.99 and on sale for 38.99 - and that’s subject to change so check amazon for latest price) to 300 swords and armor, and samurai stuff, and traditional medieval weapons and swords - just a nice collection of stuff to browse.

- Their graphics are pretty nice, you can actually get a good look at their stuff

-their prices are low, which is always nice

-They are currently running a special on just about everything they sell. When you buy something you get a free topicool knife. - can’t beat free

I like their stuff and the way they are going about it. If you have been on the cusp trying to decide whether to treat yourself to a weapon now might be the time.

Here is an amazon store, on my medieval website, I have put together with what I feel is the best that they have to offer:

Topicool swords, weapons and armor with free knife offer

Or you can go straight to the Amazon Section of Topicool offerings here:

Topicool products on Amazon - with Free Knife

Popularity: 47% [?]

Eragon (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Last night, I decided to take a break from all the website stuff and rent a movie. Whaddaya know, a sunday night and I’m going to take a break from work.

I didn’t have anything in mind, I just wanted something “good” so I browsed through the stuff and of course Eragon was there, just staring me in the face so I picked it up thinking “I have put it off long enough”.

I have had a little bit of trepidation about this movie because I just knew it wasn’t going to be something that really jazzed me - It’s no Lord of the Rings but then again what is?

Well anyway, the movie didn’t disappoint me in the fact that it did disappoint me. Pretty much exactly what I expected. Just another story about a farm boy that finds out he has a destiny to save the world. Of course he has magic powers that he has to learn how to control too. This movie just doesn’t bring anything new to the genre of fantasy. Everything is old hat. Here’s some major points (they are going to sound very familiar in that they have all been done before).

• Farm boy has destiny
• Farm boy refuses destiny briefly but takes up the challenge
• Unknown to him farm boy has magic powers
• Farm boy uses his new found magic powers and almost gets himself killed
• Farm boy finds wise mentor to teach him the ways of the force errr… magic
• Farm boy lives with uncle who gets killed by bad guys - (hmm… Luke Skywalker?)
• Farm boy’s parents are a mystery - Again with the Luke Skywalker? Betcha 20 bucks in the next movie the bad guy turns up to be Farm boys father (I’m your father luke!)

Okay, you must be getting the picture by now. There is nothing original in the movie. And for me, and my passion for fantasy and medieval things I was quite disappointed. There wasn’t even any real conflict and I almost laughed at one point in the movie - let me explain.

Joseph Campbell delineated the steps that a hero must take in order to achieve his fulfillment. This is well known by writers and by film makers. And one of the steps is the refusal of the call. This is where “farm boy” says: ” Hey, I am just an average person. I can’t do this! - No way!” And typically there is conflict and soul searching while the potential hero comes around to facing his destiny. He finds the courage to go for it. And this is something that is not lightly done. It takes time, work and thought to bring our hero onto his destined path.

But, in this movie this step lasted exactly 30 seconds. Eragon, when faced with his future, tells his mentor that he is just a farm boy and he can’t do any of this. His mentor gives him a two sentence speech and low and behold Eragon changes his mind and is ready to conquer the world. - very disappointing and I almost laughed.

Okie, I have panned this movie enough and here is what I say. The dragon is beautiful, some of the dragon riding scenes are fun, and there is some light yet fun action. This is simply a fantasy movie that doesn’t try to be anything else. If you are looking for a world to inspire you like LOTR, or something to evoke courage and passion like 300 then this movie isn’t that. If you just want to watch a movie on a sunday night to unwind from all the work without having to think then this is it.

Popularity: 29% [?]