Neil Armstrong: A Tribute To Earth's First Moon Walker

Neil Alden Armstrong 1930-2012

The man who took one small step for a man and one giant leap for all of mankind tragically passed away only hours ago at the age of 82 at a hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He died of complications following heart bypass surgery he had earlier in the month. Now this was a man who in July 1969 made history and became the first man ever to set foot on the Moon, defying all the odds. Hundreds of millions of people back on Earth tuned in to watch history unfold on the lunar surface where Commander Neil Armstrong took the first steps off the lunar module and onto the surface famously declaring, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." This landmark achievement paved the way for other successful lunar expeditions as part of the Apollo program and undoubtedly galvanized a generation of aspiring astronomers and scientists. The Apollo 11 astronauts went above and beyond where no man has gone before, opening our eyes and minds and giving us a vivid and better understanding of not only our Moon but of us and our place in the solar system and ultimately the universe. By venturing beyond our little world we discovered the sheer vastness of our galaxy and how Planet Earth seems insignificant in contrast to the bigger picture of the ostensibly infinite universe. This startling and rather sobering realization has only propelled us to further explore our solar system, even beyond our Moon. The Moon Landing of July 1969 was not only just a historic event or even a technological and scientific breakthrough, it set the groundwork for how incredibly audacious and extraordinary we could be if we came together. To me that is what Neil Armstrong is an embodiment of, our intrepid, indomitable and insatiable will to: explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations and yes boldly go where no man has gone before. Thank You again Star Trek, very apt.

Neil Armstrong's family released a statement in which they requested people in memory of his life to: "Honor his example of service, accomplishment and modesty, and next time you walk outside on a clear night and the see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink." As a child, I was always fascinated with the Moon, so much so my parents' nickname for me back then was Moonboy. I would gaze up at it constantly, in awe at what it actually was or what it was doing up there looking down on us. Neil's achievements and accomplishments will never be forgotten and he will live long and prosper in our hearts and minds forever. His sheer modesty proved how in fact down to Earth he actually and literally was and was always a bit uncomfortable with his hero status. He took it completely in his stride and was a gentleman to all those who knew him best. We know him as the first man in the spacesuit bouncing about the surface of our moon in glorious black and white, now preserved for all time. His legacy will live on forever and as Neil once said: "Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man's desire to understand." So very true, and we owe Neil for igniting that wonder in us all to better understand our galaxy and our universe. We have really come leaps and bounds since '69 and every time we have undertaken another successful and daring space mission we owe it in part if not all to the original success of the Apollo 11 astronauts. Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins pulled it off in truly spectacular fashion. Speaking of which, it only seems fitting to put up that original and iconic footage of Neil Armstrong's first steps onto the Moon courtesy of YouTube. I'll give you a wink and a little wave on the next clear night Neil, your gone but never forgotten, Rest In Peace.   

My Top 5 Film Trilogies

Since were on the subject of films, or more specifically film trilogies since I reviewed The Dark Knight Rises which was the conclusion to Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy, I thought it would be a neat idea to go a step further. Trilogies in the typical sense as we know are fairly sporadic and there are only ever a handful that a majority of people can declare a "truly great trilogy". How do we define a "truly great trilogy"? Well of course first and foremost it must have fluid continuity. I know this generally goes without saying, but we need to nail down the 101's first here guys. Secondly and probably most importantly to me anyway is that it should use the foundation of the first film to take the successive installments or chapters up a couple of pegs, perhaps even exceed it's predecessors either out-rightly or in various ways. Thirdly, since were going with the whole trio theme here..it's all about pushing the envelope, breaking the parameters while at the same time staying true to the core of the formula which is no cakewalk and can be a notoriously difficult balancing act sometimes. Anyways here are my personal top five film trilogies and yeah I know it's a matter of opinion but I thought long and hard about these five choices and they are all in my mind deserving of there place. Oh, and for the record and the whole: "yeah, yeah you must have had a pretty deprived childhood yadda yadda yadda..." don't judge me please folks but I have never seen ANY of the Star Wars films so they won't be on this list. So after that awful bombshell, unforgivable I know but before all you Jedi Grand Masters crucify me, keep them lightsabers at bay at least til I'm done...please? Thank you, haha.


5. The Scream Trilogy

To those who are at sea thinking I've miscounted, I haven't honest. Scream 4 which was released some eleven years after Scream 3 was in my mind only ever intended to please Dimension Films big cheese Bob Weinstein or cash in on the franchise's popularity or at best it was a half-baked attempt to reel in a new audience. Screenwriter for the Scream franchise Kevin Williamson himself originally conceived it as a trilogy, penning a five-page outline for TWO sequels to the original Scream. So with that we will completely disregard the fourth and focus on a trilogy that as a whole in my mind revitalized the horror/slasher genre. The original Scream which was released back in 1996 came at exactly the right time, since the genre had become so saturated with direct-to-video films and a ridiculous influx of pedestrian and derivative sequels. With an ingeniously constructed script and a tongue firmly planted in cheek, Scream provided a fresh perspective on the genre with it's acutely self-referential and wry humor complete with it's own brand of scares. It was a breath of fresh air and while I was too young to see it when it was originally released, some eight years later I saw it on TV for the first time and absolutely loved every minute of it. At last I finally had a horror film to really scream about! On it's own it's definitely one of my favorite all-time horror films like ever.  

Scream 2 while not as immediately impressive as it's predecessor, was a more than worthy sequel on almost every level with some instances where it even surpassed it. It had the same satirical, razor-sharp humor that had now become it's stable and was used to great effect again here in contrast to the body count that was again stacking up. While you'd think it would suffer from the typical sequel problem of simply rehashing what the original did so well, Scream 2 really stood on it's own feet and played to the series' strengths which worked. The finale Scream 3 however I will admit was nowhere near as good as the first two. It was nonetheless a satisfying conclusion to the franchise with some interesting and welcome callbacks to the original. Unfortunately it had become a victim of the very thing it was satirizing, which makes me wonder whether it was actually intentional. The trilogy's placing on my list is purely based on the fact that the first two were fantastic, and while the conclusion didn't really end the franchise on the highest of notes, it did what it had to wrap everything up and was satisfying enough. 


4. The Matrix Trilogy
 
"Welcome to the real world." Just before we greeted the dawn of a new millennium, in early 1999 The Matrix literally exploded onto screens, becoming a sensation almost overnight and later a phenomenon. You can't deny the impact this film had not only on us film-goers but the industry as a whole. It practically reinvented the rulebook on how to make an action film and set the benchmark for future action films. Boasting some truly awe-inspiring cinematic fight sequences and employing the use of slow-motion, incredible camera angles and spins and a jaw-dropping bullet time effect, which was an innovation. Conceptually it is one of the finest of it's kind, blending a mix of cyberpunk, dystopian fiction and a high emphasis on Hong Kong action cinema. It features some of the finest fight choreography I've ever seen in a film with a premise so profoundly unique you'd swear it came from the mind of someone like Phillip K. Dick. If the literary minds of Phillip K. Dick and George Orwell had been combined and put through a filter, it would have come out something quite like this I imagine. It has that distinctly Orwellian palette only on a much more grander scale of something as metaphysical and philosophical as a Phillip K. Dick work. There is really no film quite like it, and to quote Morpheus: "No one can be told what The Matrix is, you have to see it for yourself." Very true indeed.

It was followed by The Matrix Reloaded in 2003 and was a true sequel in every sense of the word. Featuring some of the same incredible action sequences and in particular a memorable highway chase which is one of the best scenes of the trilogy. It carried over the same philosophical tones that had made the first so unique and executed them well for the most part. However, I did feel it sacrificed some character development here and there for the sake of a bigger emphasis on action which isn't necessarily a bad thing cause like I said the action scenes are still top draw. Some more exposition would have been welcome to flesh it out a little more, but overall it was a great follow-up. The Matrix Revolutions was released only a few months later in the same year. Now the final chapter of The Matrix Trilogy was considered something of a letdown by many people. Expectations were high, and while I agree it was flawed, I still found that the better aspects of the film outweighed the negative. The Siege on Zion which made up almost half the film was visually spectacular and the final showdown with Neo and Smith was nothing short of epic. It remains one of my all-time favorite showdowns and it ended the trilogy on a bang for me, despite it's flaws. You have to give The Wachowskis credit for coming up with something that was so original and being able to pull it off competently for the most part. Flaws be damned, it's still a remarkable feat of imagination.


3. Toy Story Trilogy
       
Being a kid of the 90's, it should have been considered sinful if you hadn't ever seen or heard of Toy Story. This for me defined my childhood, and it was one of the first films I ever saw in cinemas back in '95 when I was only a wee pup of six. It left such a lasting impression on me then and there are few films I can ever recall having that much of an affect on me. Toy Story may have been one of the very first feature-length computer-animated films and it was unlike anything I had ever seen. Featuring probably the most beloved cast of characters ever put into a film, animated or otherwise, it instantly propelled young kids like me to go out and buy all the merchandise. I can vividly recall going into Toys-R-Us with my mum in December of '95 and picking out literally dozens of Toy Story stuff that I wanted off Father Christmas. What I had is something I still cherish to this day (hey don't judge me...) which was a limited edition Buzz Lightyear with chrome silver armor, the best present like ever! Toy Story will always have a special place in my heart and not only is it one of my favorite all-time animated films, it's one of my favorite films period. It truly had something for everyone, it had universal appeal which you rarely see nowadays but Toy Story pulled it off. Visually spectacular with an incredible ensemble of instantly likable characters, in a heartwarming adventure story of friendship and acceptance, a truly rare gem that only comes along once in a generation.

As if defining an entire generation wasn't enough, Pixar went a step further and released the much anticipated sequel Toy Story 2 four years later which was a truly rare accomplishment in the fact that remarkably it was even BETTER than the original. I don't know how they did but they did. They completely blew it out and took the franchise to new heights, attracting a new generation of kids with the same wit and sophistication that made the first such an instant classic. Toy Story 2 surpassed it's predecessor on so many levels with an even grander adventure that would take Woody, Buzz and gang literally to infinity and beyond. We have become so attached to these characters that we want them to succeed and Toy Story 2 really does tug on the heart strings more so than the first film did. I guarantee you will laugh and you will cry like I did and there is absolutely no shame in that confession. It would be almost eleven years before we would see another Toy Story film which was going to be the conclusion to this incredible and beloved franchise. Toy Story 3 was not only a more than fitting conclusion to this franchise, but it had achieved the impossible by still maintaining the same quality and sophistication as it's precursors to top off a truly remarkable trilogy. I think the Toy Story Trilogy is deserving of an inclusion in everyone's personal top ten or top five trilogies ever, and I urge anyone out there to come forward and convince me otherwise.


2. The Dark Knight Trilogy 
                 
It wouldn't be unfair at all to say that the much lambasted Batman & Robin effectively killed the Batman film franchise for everyone. Joel Schumacher's cheesy sleaze-fest of cringe-worthy one-liners, mind-numbingly awful acting, completely over-the-top action sequences with campy costumes complete with Bat nipples and close up crotch shots, Hollywood had really dropped the ball big time. So yeah...there was a lot to like about Batman & Robin, sarcasm aside. Fret not, cause a guardian angel in the form of one Christopher Nolan came and gave the franchise a much needed boot up the arse with a complete reboot that finally did Batman the justice he so deserved. Don't get me wrong, the Tim Burton films were really good at the time but Nolan really came and presented us with a much more mature and grittier Batman. Batman Begins really nailed the character of Bruce Wayne/Batman, with the evolution from a young orphan witnessing the tragic and senseless shooting of his parents to his eventual rise as The Caped Crusader. It was a completely fresh perspective with Christian Bale at the helm delivering an incredible performance as the Bruce Wayne/Batman of our time. It was faithful to it's source material while Nolan put his own unique stamp on it, and for better or for worse took it from a comic-book-like approach to something more adult and darker. For me this is how a superhero film should be done and Christopher Nolan really hit the nail on the head. It was really high time that Batman was taken a bit more seriously for a change.

Batman Begins really reinvigorated the franchise and came at just the right time. Along with the first Spiderman, they both remain one of my two all-time favorite superhero films. What followed Begins was the inevitable sequel that would go on to receive unprecedented commercial success, surpassing the $1billion mark that only a few films have achieved. It is among one of the highest-grossing films of all time, and was at the time the highest grossing superhero film ever until being surpassed by The Avengers in 2012. The Dark Knight descended upon the world and set it on fire almost overnight. Featuring an astonishing and legendary performance by Heath Ledger as The Joker, which rightfully went on to become one of the greatest villains ever portrayed on screen. He truly captured The Joker, and not only was his performance exatrodinary but the film featured incredible performances by Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent, Christian Bale reprising his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon and overall a fantastic ensemble. It is a one-of-kind film that completely eclipsed Begins on every level. The Dark Knight to me is the definitive superhero film that has yet to be surpassed and as good as the conclusion is (won't go into it here, for a more detailed analysis see my review), it still doesn't quite hold a candle to this masterpiece.  


Well, this is it folks we've come this far. Shockingly there is a trilogy out there that surpasses the pure nostalgia of the Toy Story Trilogy and the gritty grandiosity of The Dark Knight Trilogy. You may be wondering, "hey, how come that isn't up there? Surely that deserves a place somewhere, I mean it is...that for Christ sake!" Well, perhaps I am saving the best for last...ah to hell with it I'm done being vague, here it is!! My number one all-time favorite trilogy is...

1. The Lord of the Rings

It's not surprising really that this just simply trumps them all by far. Behold undoubtedly the greatest fantasy epic of all time. A truly remarkable piece of film-making by a master director who really captured the very essence of the Tolkien books and blew all expectations. Every film is a landmark achievement in itself, with a meticulous and mind-boggling attention-to-detail. Middle Earth is brought to life in the most spectacular and awe-inspiring fashion. There are really no words I can use to describe just what a perfect trilogy this is. It's perfect, a true diamond, flawless and with no comparison. The one trilogy to rule them all, that would be The Lord of the Rings.

The Dark Knight Rises: Review

To those who thought I had shamefully left this blog to the inevitable decay of time, never you fear. I'm now back to firmly re-access my priorities which is to get this back on the rails once again and start providing new content to those who will read, only now hopefully on a more...consistent basis. I would also like to personally thank those who have taken the time and patience to check out my blog, it really means a lot. But anyways, let's get right down to the nitty-gritty here with my first official film review on the blog. I've written film reviews in the past for sites like IMDB and review aggregate site Metacritic but nothing quite on this scale before. It's no surprise really that I have chosen arguably the most anticipated film of the year by far which is of course The Dark Knight Rises, the epic conclusion to Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. For me personally I can't ever recall a time that I have been this excited for a film, and those torturous four years were almost agonizing for me without sounding overly dramatic. It's predecessor The Dark Knight had set the bar incredibly high and expectations for the climax of this franchise were equally towering to the point of being nigh impossible to exceed. The Dark Knight for me was a phenomenal film, with an utterly sublime and masterclass performance from the late, great Heath Ledger and it completely surpassed the original on almost every level. It set the standard for what a superhero film should be. The biggest question however is: does The Dark Knight Rises accomplish the rarest of feats in traditional movie trilogies and surpass BOTH of it's predecessors? This my friends is what we will find out.

     

"And here we go," once said the Joker, now I will desperately try to keep this review in spoiler-free territory, but that isn't carved in stone. They will be minimal at best, but I will still urge you to read the following paragraphs judiciously folks. So it's been approximately eight years since the events of The Dark Knight in which The Caped Crusader literally took 'the fall' for Harvey Dent's crimes. They are deceptively preserving his image as a staunch defender of justice, a symbol of valor and essentially putting him up on a pedestal which has consequently ushered in a new crime-free era for Gotham City due to the Dent Act. This legislation inspired by Dent's putative heroism, primarily facilitated by Commissioner Gordon of all people, has led to the abrogation of crime in Gotham altogether. Bruce Wayne has become something of a recluse, cooping up in his manor and keeping very firmly out of the public eye. It's fair to say hes let himself go a bit, sporting a rather fetching beard even, reminiscent of the one when he first encountered the League of Shadows in Begins. He has hung up his cape and cowl indefinitely it seems, but like the line by Selina Kyle in the recent trailers suggests...a storm is indeed coming. Not just any storm however, but a category six hurricane by the name of Bane, ah how poetic. In stark contrast to The Joker's psychotic, maniacal, self-styled breed of destructive chaos with anarchic sentiments, Bane is peddling this more militant nihilistic, seditious agenda. 

The opening sequence which serves as Bane's introduction is nothing short of impressive, featuring some breathtaking aerial shots, can't say I've seen a scene like it in a movie before. It establishes Bane as a man not to be trifled with, and his physical presence alone is menacing enough. Right off the get-go, this film really does reel you in and what surprised me more is Tom Hardy's performance throughout the film. Now I only really know Tom Hardy as Eames from Inception and thought he was great in that. Here he demonstrates not only how minacious Bane is physically but also in how he speaks. Many have complained that the mask he wears makes it hard to understand him sometimes and even though I had one or two issues where I had to listen a little more closely, for the most part I understood him perfectly. It gives his character this distinct quality and found some of his dialogue truly forbidding and Hardy delivered it with equal venom. In terms of sheer villainy, I don't think he quite reaches the heights of Heath Ledger's Joker, which was a hard act to follow anyway but Hardy does Bane more than justice and is one of the standout performances in the film. He genuinely looks like he could Break the Bat, that scene alone, the details of which I won't spoil here remains one of the best scenes in the entire film and arguably of the trilogy.

Tom Hardy is truly mesmerizing and equally terrifying as Bane. Looking at him here you can see he means more than business.

The beginning of film also introduces us to the sultry Selina Kyle, a feisty and sassy thief who crosses paths with Bruce Wayne early on. Funnily enough, her alter-ego Catwoman is not mentioned once in the film since Nolan made a conscious effort to strictly ground her in his interpretation of the character and it works really well. When Anne Hathaway was initially cast in the role of Selina Kyle/Catwoman, many were doubtful that she would be able to pull it off, as was I. Michelle Pfeiffer's portrayal in Tim Burton's Batman Returns was the definitive Catwoman in many peoples eyes and minds. However, after watching this film that skepticism was completely unjustified in my opinion cause Anne Hathaway completely steals every scene she is in. She's sexy, fierce, confident and shrewd and she completely blew me away, she was puurfect (had to be done, sorry...) as Selina Kyle. It's the best performance of the film hands down and the dynamic between her and Bruce Wayne/Batman works so well and makes for some great action sequences as well as providing a few good laughs along the way. She's utterly captivating as Catwoman, so step aside gracefully Michelle Pfeiffer, Anne Hathaway is now the definitive Selina Kyle and I wouldn't be surprised if they did a spin-off film. Now I'd pay to see that if done properly of course, let's not forget what happened when she had her own film last time...wait you have forgotten? That's good.

The Bat and The Cat, Anne Hathaway completely steals the show as Selina Kyle. Que the inevitable spin-off Catwoman film ho yes!

Some familiar faces return as well all delivering great performances. Michael Caine as Bruce Wayne's lovable Cockney confidant Alfred who is undoubtedly the emotional heart of the whole film as he has been throughout the trilogy but definitely more so this time. The stakes are even higher now than they've ever been and for once in the trilogy Bruce and Alfred's relationship will come under considerable strain. Without going in too deep, these scenes are heart-wrenching for sure and I certainly felt water develop in my eyes at one point in the film. Alfred is Bruce's conflicted conscience and we are essentially seeing it unfold through his eyes almost. Michael gives a particularly emotional performance overall, it's a pity we didn't see more of him though in this film but what is there of him is fantastic. Morgan Freeman also reprises his role as the smooth Lucius Fox and again it's a great performance from Morgan but you already knew that right? However, there is considerably less of him in this film as well, but I guess that's understandable with literally everything going on when the film really does pick up. Gary Oldman is back as Commissioner Gordon of course and he is as good as ever, no surprises there. Thankfully he wasn't reduced to a minor character and plays a key role in the film like he should as Commissioner of Gotham City.

The other main newcomers to the franchise besides Hardy and Hathaway are Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Marion Cotillard. Joseph plays a young and endearing cop John Blake who suspects that there is trouble on the horizon. Like with Tom Hardy, I've only ever seen Joseph in Inception but in The Dark Knight Rises he has demonstrated that he is a very versatile actor and plays Blake with great conviction. He is this idealist who is soon promoted by Commissioner Gordon who sees something of himself in Blake. To say more about Blake would potentially spoil where his character may be going, but know that he will certainly become more than he is by the time the film wraps up. Marion Cotillard plays Miranda Tate who is a member of the Wayne Enterprises executive board and the one who actually convinces a damaged Bruce to rejoin society and to follow in his father's footsteps. She becomes a key character in the film and Marion played her well overall. Cillian Murphy makes a brief appearance as Dr. Jonathan Crane and even though he had very little screen time in this one, his appearance was nonetheless welcome as always cause Murphy really nails the character.   

Now of course let's not forget our principal billionaire playboy/caped crusader with Christian Bale at the helm once more and for what may be the last time. Here he plays a more conflicted and impaired Bruce Wayne not just physically but mentally. Like in the previous films, Christian was born for this role and he blows it out of the park once again. Much like his character throughout the trilogy, Christian has evolved dramatically and matured to really dig deep into the facets of Bruce Wayne's character. Many may complain as Batman he sounds like he has some form of laryngeal cancer, but it has never really bothered me. I mean immortal lines such as: "I'm not wearing hockey pads!" In that trademark husky voice has been the subject of countless tongue-in-cheek memes but he needs to distinguish himself from Bruce Wayne after all, and he seems to play them both almost effortlessly. The chemistry between him and Selina Kyle works so well because they come from two completely polar backgrounds. If this is truly his last Batman film then he will no doubt be missed, because he has become the definitive Bruce Wayne/Batman for our time. Keaton, Kilmer and to a very, very, lesser extent Clooney (why George why?!) stand aside cause Bale IS The Dark Knight.               

Christian Bale continues to demonstrate his commitment to the character of Bruce Wayne/Batman in his most testing role yet. 

Now to discuss the core of the film which is what is most important and what I have been building up to, hope I haven't kept you waiting too long. Well, like an aging steam train the film does take a little while to get moving at first but once it picks up steam let me tell you it is one hell of a ride full of twists and turns that you probably won't see coming. Once it gets going it will rarely give you time to catch your breath and showcases some truly awe-inspiring action set-pieces that are high on spectacle and sheer unnerving intensity. In a post-9/11 world, it is hard not to notice that some of these scenes hit home seeing as Gotham is very reminiscent of New York here. The Dark Knight Rises stands heads and shoulders above it's predecessors in terms of sheer spectacle which Nolan deftly conveys here and rarely without a hitch. He's really pulled out all the stops this time and truly pushed the boundaries. This is nothing short of ambitious and he pulls it off in breathtaking fashion. The epic soundtrack by the one and only Hans Zimmer really does take the film up a couple of gears for me. He has done it again, delivering a score that truly compliments the intensity and grandiosity of it all. While the film does take a while to get going, it makes up for it in an insanely satisfying second-half that barely gives you respite. Clocking in at a staggering 165 minutes, the film is Christopher Nolan's longest to date but for me it went by so fast cause I was so absorbed in the film and it eventually builds to a sensational climax. 
     

Bane and The Bat have at it.

   

The Dark Knight Trilogy will go down as undoubtedly the finest superhero trilogy of all time and conceivably one of the best ever. It is notoriously difficult to make each film stand on it's own and even rise above it's predecessors the way The Dark Knight Rises often does. However, as incredible as this film is The Dark Knight will always be in the my mind the definitive superhero film for me. It did to superhero films what The Godfather did to the gangster genre, and Christopher Nolan has brought the Batman franchise which had been left for dead back to life in incredible fashion and that is an accomplishment that should not be overlooked. I cannot praise Nolan enough for achieving a truly rare feat in film-making and has done The Caped Crusader more than justice. The Dark Knight Rises truly rises above Begins without a doubt but stands proudly just below The Dark Knight which still remains in a league of it's own. It is no shame at all to come second place in a trilogy this good. I take my hat off to you Mr Nolan, bring on the reboot!               

The Verdict

The Dark Knight Rises is a fitting and epic conclusion to Christopher Nolan's incredible Batman trilogy. It's big on spectacle, big on emotion and is at times aesthetically astounding. Featuring some knockout performances from Tom Hardy and Anne Hathaway and an amazing ensemble, this is the sendoff that we wanted and a whole lot more. While it doesn't quite rise above The Dark Knight, Rises can still be considered one of the finest and most satisfying conclusions to a franchise in recent times. This is the blockbuster of the year!    

Mass Effect 3: Review

It's been quite a while since my last update, been rather preoccupied to say the least but I'm back at it finally, need to flex these fingers. Now I've been an avid gamer for the best part of seventeen years, nearly my whole life in fact, and there's no denying the impact gaming has had over the past decade. I was very fortunate enough to be an early product of the 90's where gaming was in my mind reaching it's peak and entering a new renaissance if you like, and becoming the now immensely popular and universal medium it is today. Video games have now transcended popular culture and our very way of life and have become an integral part of millions upon millions of peoples lives all over the world. It's remarkable really to have been there and seen it evolve from something a minority did as merely a casual hobby or interest whether it was going to the arcades with friends or playing on the early SNES or Sega Mega Drive, to now this deeply fervent and ubiquitous culture with an almost voracious legion (for lack of a better word) of enthusiasts who now literally 'live and breathe' video games. This transition has been the biggest eyeopener for me and how cultures radically change and the public consciousness to now appeal to this mass-market platform of interactive entertainment. The 90's were a pivotal moment for gaming and it's eventual expansion of that I have no doubt. The NES, Mega Drive, SNES, N64 and the PlayStation which I all owned undoubtedly paved the way for what is now the seventh generation of video game consoles with talk of an eighth generation of consoles just on the horizon as a tantalizing prospect for the future. I and I expect many other early gamers never would have predicted how far the gaming industry would actually come in such a short space of time and I only hope it continues to evolve.

Mass Effect 3 is the final installment in developer BioWare's epic, sci-fi trilogy in which you take the role as Commander Shepard once again in a galaxy crumbling and on the brink of total destruction and annihilation against an unstoppable enemy.

Anyways, now to the meat of the issue before I start to go off on a major and I mean MAJOR tangent and bore you with my anecdotes of growing up playing games (that would take up a further ten paragraphs let me tell you). Now, I'll admit as a self-professed 'avid gamer' bordering on obsessive even, I became distracted and veered dramatically away from games and consoles altogether in mid 2011 to early 2012. I started to completely lose interest, and to quote a friend on Xbox LIVE who said: 'Dan, according to your gamer tag it's been like 395 days since you were last online!" and it immediately struck me. Was this just a phase? And then the frightening notion crossed my mind, had I grown completely out of gaming for good? Possibly, after all there is more to life than playing video games but you could NOT tell me that say six or seven years ago, even ten years ago. I had played video games almost religiously back then and it became something of an unhealthy addiction at one point particularly with World of Warcraft...I'll say no more (it's a wonder I didn't get a deep vein thrombosis with the amount of hours I sat on that bloody chair). I then decided to make a conscious effort to try and get myself back into my old hobby by getting a new game which I hadn't done in nearly two years. This new game was Mass Effect 3, a game I was originally going to get on launch day but didn't bother afterwards. I was a huge fan of the first two games and had clocked up in excess of approximately 300 hours playing time combined which is A LOT really. Developer BioWare had expertly and meticulously crafted an inescapable, engrossing and beautifully complex universe in all of its intricacies with a rich and colorful cast of unforgettable characters with the major theme of choice and consequence at the very forefront of each and every installment. 

The first two games were outstanding in there own right, and the sheer attention to every conceivable little detail no matter how minor or insignificant was incredibly impressive. The first Mass Effect released back in 2007 introduced us into the role of Commander Shepard whose face was fully customizable and had immense fun toying around with that let me tell you. Set in an epic, politically charged and fully realized universe which would give even the likes of Lucas a run for his money, Mass Effect was clearly a very ambitious title an definitely a staple of what we have come to expect from BioWare. It had it's flaws for sure namely with the problematic AI  and combat, some minor technical glitches, graphical hiccups and some repetitive side missions but the overall experience was excellent particularly it's deeply engaging story, characters and setting and it provided a very solid groundwork for where the series could go. The core strength of the game was in it's interactive storytelling, using life-like facial animations and expressions to convey this deeper emotional bond with the characters which was unlike anything I had seen in a game before it. It certainly set the bar high, pushing the envelope along with it and fans such as myself were clamoring for the next installment to come along. Mass Effect 2 was the answer, and the developer boldly went with a more streamlined action-RPG experience compared with the first game which was heavily laced with RPG elements such as customizable weapons and armor and a flexible leveling up system etc. This came as quite a shock to me at first but I quickly realized how vastly superior it was to the first game on almost every level. By stripping away certain elements, they focused primarily on delivering a more action-oriented experience and as result provided a more refined experience overall, particularly with the combat. 

Some of the cast of Mass Effect 2, which was something of a departure from the first game in favor of a more streamlined and action experience, a bold and ultimately successful move by BioWare in my opinion.

Anticipation for the final installment was almost palpable, and the fan base had grown exponentially since the first game. Expectations were sky-high, and devotees around the world were all itching for the final chapter in what would be the epic conclusion of the trilogy. I know I had to replay the first two again to get myself back in-sync with the story and remind me how deeply fond I was of the series in general, particularly the characters. Some of these characters had been at your side from the very first game, and it was hard not to have this deeper and profound bond with them. Garrus: the straight-talking, no-nonsense, hard-nosed Turian who you instantly had an affinity for that would later evolve into this camaraderie and brotherhood almost that was completely unique. He was a brother-in-arms from the get-go not to mention having a heap of quotable lines, and he is by far my favorite character of the series without question. Then there was Ashley: a gutsy, feisty Alliance solider with a bigger set of balls (or quads as Wrex would call them) than most men who was instantly likable and of course dare-I-say sexy. Of course how could I forget Wrex: 100% unadulterated Krogan badass-ness enough said really, who also has a list as long as my arm of kick-ass dialogue. There was of course Kaidan, Liara and Tali who also had there own distinctive characteristics and personality traits to set them apart to make for an amazing ensemble who you cared about. With the stakes as high as they've ever been in ME3, I wanted to see what would happen to my squad mates and how this conflict would shape and effect them. No one does a character-driven narrative quite like BioWare does and I had enormous faith in them to deliver on all promises.  

So Mass Effect 3 picks up pretty much where the Arrival DLC from Mass Effect 2 left off with the grim and inevitable arrival of the Reapers, an ancient race of machines who have come to purge the galaxy of all organic life in an endless cycle of destruction that occurs every 50,000 years. Earth's fleets and defenses are all mobilizing to protect the planet from the incoming Reaper threat who are quickly descending on the Milky Way despite Shepard's vain attempt to keep them at bay by destroying the relay in Arrival. Back on Earth, Shepard has been dismissed from the Alliance and arrested pending a trial in which he caused the destruction of the Bahak System killing 300,000 Batarian colonists (Arrival). A few months later, he is met by Anderson who is now an admiral with alarming news that the Reapers are quickly advancing on the Sol System with nearby colonies mysteriously going silent. Depending on your whether you choose to keep Ashley or Kaidan alive in Mass Effect back on Virmire, they will meet you briefly (I must say I love Ashley's new look ooof!) before you have to go before the committee with Anderson about the Reapers. They then get an incoming feed from the UK in which London is being completely devastated by the Reapers. Shepard matter-of-factly declares this isn't about strategy or tactics but about survival. Then an ominous sound is heard coming from the skies above, the councilors turn back at the window in disbelief before a Reaper descends and completely vaporises them with a laser beam. The huge impacts throws Shepard into a wall, and as Timon the meerkat from The Lion King would say "It starts...".   

London's Burning. The Reapers doing what they do best: complete and total annihilation of everything in there path, though Big Ben is spared of the new Reaper makeover...for now.

Now right off the bat you'll notice that the graphics are pretty similar to the second game, though I did notice overall better visual fidelity in particular with the stunning set-piece battles you'll witness. The awe-inspiring backdrops of the Reapers wreaking havoc on the surroundings is jaw-dropping and really does set the tone for this dark and final chapter. Wherever you go, particularly with the Priority missions the gargantuan Reapers are always a constant presence and it really does convey this feeling of a desperate stand against seemingly overwhelming odds. The developer has really done a fantastic job of portraying this mass destruction on a utterly colossal scale, and it really does draw you in from the get-go. Combat is largely the same as in ME2 with some minor refinements including improved enemy AI who now take cover more effectively and employ tactics to flank around you in larger open spaces. It's no surprise BioWare did little to change the overall combat experience since it was already really good in ME2. AI squad-mates surprisingly hold there own in the heat of battle now rather than become an annoyance like in the first game, which will save many controllers being thrown at usually expensive TVs and you having to fight a whole wave singlehandedly which is never fun. The weapons themselves can be fitted out with mods that can be retrieved or purchased to improve accuracy, damage or ammo capacity which prove invaluable in the latter battles. It offers some customization with the armors but it's still limited in comparison with the first game, again emphasizing on a more streamlined experience which works again here. 

Mass Effect 3's main strength and has been since the first game is in it's storytelling as well as it's characters. Depending on whether they survived the Suicide Mission in ME2, all the familiar faces who we've grown to know and love over the course of the series will be making a return here. They literally get thrown at you left right and center almost, it kind of felt really forced and deliberate at first but these characters after all are your emotional tie to the unfolding story and its great seeing some old faces who are all involved in this conflict as much as you are. The likes of Ashley or Kaidan, Garrus, Mordin, Grunt, Wrex, Tali, Liara, Jack, Miranda, Legion, Thane, Samara and Jacob all play into the story with some even rejoining your ship either permanently or briefly. Once again the voice acting is absolutely topnotch across the board, BioWare has to be applauded for finding arguably the finest cast ever to grace a video game series. Throughout the course of the 20-30 hour experience you will be standing by old friends as they try to fend off the Reaper threat which hits a little closer to home both with them and with you. I will say it's probably the most emotionally charged of the three games which in essence it should be, and I will say no more than that with risk of spoiling it all. I can't say I ever recall a game in which I felt so emotionally invested in than Mass Effect 3, after all these are the characters who you have grown to love for nearly five years now and it will undoubtedly tug at your heart strings like it did with me. The game itself as a whole package is probably the best of the trilogy, certainly leading up to the ending anyways which...well I'm sure you've heard has caused something of a storm among the gaming community and for good reason. 

     

Now the ending has been the subject of much speculation not to mention widespread indignation from fans who felt it lacked closure as well as betraying some of the core themes of the series. My personal opinion of the ending was that it was very disappointing, in fact I'm not going to address it in this review but rather a separate and in-depth article later on. However, that being said I don't think the ending should take away from what a truly incredible game this is overall. Mass Effect 3 is a 'fitting' conclusion to one of the most beloved and intricately crafted video game franchises of all time. The ending in it's current state is a massive disservice to fans if it turns out to be the real ending, but it would be unfair to slam the entire game based only on the ending cause the rest of the game is SO good. It provides a great continuity for those who have played the first two games, and I would recommend playing them first if you haven't already before you jump into this one.

4.5/5

The Good: Incredible visuals and sound design, an engrossing and emotionally involved journey to the conclusion, awesome combat and improved enemy and squad AI, top-draw voice acting and writing really bring the characters who have now reached 'legendary' status to life, multiplayer is surprisingly enjoyable and also somewhat integral to the main game.

The Bad: Disappointing and inconsistent climax that lacks closure and betrays the staples of the series. Some frame-rate dips here and there.

The Ugly: Did I mention the ending? 

         

Derren Brown: Svengali Review

Now, before I begin I want to stress right off the bat that this review will contain minimal spoilers, as I have been sworn to secrecy by the man himself not to give anything away, and no this wasn't some deliberate act of suggestion and I'm not under the influence of any psychological trickery, just so were very clear on that. For those of who have lived in caves for nearly ten years and don't even know who he is, Derren Brown is a 'magician' of sorts, though that is a term I and he would use very loosely. As opposed to most of the garden-variety magicians who rely solely on using the established, tried-and-tested tricks of the trade, Derren's work encompasses a broader spectrum. He fuses degrees of psychology, suggestion, misdirection and obviously a helping of showmanship to achieve his results. A majority of Derren's tricks have more of a psychological bent, and he can seemingly pick up on and interpret the unconscious signals that we give off, as well as subtly manipulate your mind to the extent that he can directly influence your thoughts and very behavior through suggestion and other techniques. It's no wonder he seems to leave his audiences completely dumbfounded and stupefied on every occasion, me now being among them and it's no exaggeration to me to label the man a genius on every level and in every respect. A true master of his craft and to me one of the finest contemporary performers in years.

I first came across Derren's work way back in 2003 with his Channel 4 series Trick of the Mind, though I was too young to really grasp it completely, I was nonetheless intrigued. I had always taken a keen interest in magic from as early as '98 where I used to watch Breaking the Magician's Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed almost religiously on a weekly basis. That was what really started it all for me as a kid, and I eventually went out and bought Magician Kits (sad I know...), and had a gallimaufry of other magic-related accessories and gimcracks and was something of an amateur junior magician in my time, to my two cousins at least anyway, though they were easily impressed and I wasn't about to make a career of it anytime soon as much as I really wanted to. It wasn't until much later in 2007 with his new series Trick or Treat that I was truly under his spell, a spell that still hasn't broke to this day. Spellbound I was to say the least, and from then onwards I was a devotee of Derren, and his already large fan-base only grew every time a new series or television special would come along. The one special which would permanently seal his status forever and subsequent notoriety was undoubtedly Russian Roulette in which he had to accurately predict which chamber the participant had put the bullet in while he fired off all the other remaining chambers with the gun pointed at his head. 

Derren's Channel 4 series Trick or Treat which was first broadcast way back in April 2007, was what started me off and from then on I was completely hooked, I had been 'converted'.

Russian Roulette really did push the envelope and made him a household name. It attracted much controversy at the time, but I think people failed to see it for what it was: pure, unadulterated entertainment that made for some truly fantastic television. I didn't see the original broadcast but when I saw a repeat of it (I forget when) I was amazed, and the climactic few moments was so intense it was literally nail-biting. I know I didn't need to cut my nails for a while after that, my teeth had completely grounded nearly all of them to there bases. Derren's execution (not literally thank god) was sublime and the whole production itself was first-class, had never seen anything like it on TV. Many offered explanations as to how it could have been done, perhaps through NLP (Neuro-linguistic programming) which is kind of a pseudo-science based on cognitive and behavioral psychotherapy. Derren after all is a 'mentalist' by definition and relies heavily on psychological manipulation to help disguise his tricks, so its probable that through this technique and the power of suggestion he was able to persuade the contestant to put it into a certain chamber. People have also raised doubts over whether the gun was in fact loaded with a live round due to strict regulations, particularly of a big company like Channel 4 who wouldn't let anyone under any circumstances be harmed. Whatever the reasons or explanations people come up with it's irrelevant really, it was just amazing to watch and he is first and foremost an entertainer.  

After that I went out and purchased his book Tricks of the Mind which is a great read and would recommend it to just about anyone who has ever taken even a casual interest in what he does. I then subsequently bought all his DVD's including the television specials which included the infamous Russian Roulette and three others Séance, The Heist and The System as well as his stage shows: Something Wicked This Way Comes, An Evening of Wonders and Enigma. It would be fair to say I was quite obsessed, but watching Russian Roulette and Trick or Treat only offered a glimpse, a taste if you like of Derren's true brilliance. Séance was absolutely phenomenal, one of his best for sure and even my father who might I add is notoriously hard to impress was quite surprised at how good it actually was. It really did showcase how far he was willing to push boundaries and branch out in directions that I wouldn't have ever seen coming. The Heist raised the bar even further and the sheer scope and ambition of it was awe-inspiring, another jaw-dropping feast from start to finish. Derren never fails to deliver and astound for me and it was only after I watched his stage shows that I knew I just HAD to see this man live and in 2011 that unique opportunity finally came along.

When Russian Roulette was broadcast in 2003 it completely shocked the nation and was one of the most complained about shows in television history, not Derren's intention I'm sure...yeah right.

I actually stumbled upon his new tour Svengali almost by accident, I wasn't even aware he had a tour until late 2011 when I read that someone had been to see him in England somewhere, Manchester I think it was. It was then announced that he would be coming to Cardiff in April for the 2012 leg of the tour and I immediately snapped up the tickets for me and a work mate who was into Derren about as much as I was. I could hardly contain myself when the tickets finally came through the post, April 9th could not come quick enough. Fortunately it did come around quick and before I knew it I was waiting for my friend outside the Millennium Centre. We were both all giddy like a pair of primary school kids, the sheer excitement and anticipation was almost palpable and there was an immediate buzz in the theatre as we took our seats. The place was completely packed out which was no surprise really, about 1,600 of us in all, we couldn't spot a single empty seat. Now we both went in with pretty high expectations already cause we knew all to well what this guy was capable of, we were what you call the 'hardcore' fans if you like. However, actually being there was something else, we more or less had a perfect almost panoramic view of the stage since we were sat in the Upper Circle. 

A view of the Svengali stage from the Dress Circle, not quite sure where this is but it gives you an idea at least, will say no more...

Now as I've stated before I will not be spilling any beans on the show itself, Derren specifically asked us all not to at the beginning and I will stand by that. What I CAN say though is that it completely blew all my expectations, which were already high might I add. Me and my friend were utterly engrossed from start to finish, without a shadow of a doubt his finest stage show to date and for me one of best two and half hours of my life. I was so relieved he didn't pull that trick like in The Gathering by hypnotizing the audience into making them forget the night's events cause that was a show that I would not want to forget cause it was so unforgettable. A mind-boggling, jaw-dropping, rip-roaring thrill ride in every sense. Derren completely outdone himself and to actually see him in the flesh for the first time was amazing in-itself, a dream come true for sure. He is a master showman who oozes charisma and has such an incredible energy and wit on stage that is as sharp as his suits (nice one it was to), or the better comparison would be as sharp as his tricks that left the whole theatre gasping in awe on no less than...can't even remember how many occasions now but it was a lot. I know I shook my head in utter disbelief and amazement numerous times and so did my friend. If you EVER get even the slightest fleeting chance to see his Svengali tour then I wholeheartedly suggest you go see it, it will be one you'll never forget I assure you.

Derren's ultimate goal in my mind has always been to challenge his audiences, and he is constantly testing the waters, offering fresh and new perspectives on what he does. He is not about deceiving people into believing he has some kind of special powers or sixth sense, he is inviting you to make up your own mind and come up with your own interpretations. I mean sure his performances involve some degree of deception in misleading the audience, but he uses this to great effect and we must not forget that he is a showman. In his career he has effectively debunked many paranormal practices that have become well established, particularly mind-reading and mediumship which is still a huge business today. He has pealed away the superficial layers of it all and exposed it for what it is. If you have watched Séance then you'll know what I'm talking about cause that was a real eyeopener for me and I imagine many other people as well. You believe whatever you want to believe but its crystal clear to me now that psychics, mediums, palm-readers and the like are ultimately duping often quite vulnerable people into believing in something that's false. They are in a sense preying on there vulnerability, especially mediums, and giving them a false sense of hope which to me is wrong. It maybe gives them a sense of solace and comfort to know that there loved ones who have passed are still somehow here, but they are being led on.    
 
Anyways, I've watched Something Wicked This Way Comes, An Evening of Wonders and Enigma countless times but Svengali is not only his best but his darkest and most ambitious to date. Yes, there will be some familiar aspects of the show that you would come to expect from Derren, his use of suggestion and other linguistic tricks that have become part of his established repertoire, but even then he still manages to make even that feel fresh and original. It never fails to amaze me how he can accurately interpret every conceivable detail no matter how subtle, he is always bang on the money more or less every time and that is an incredible feat for someone who believes that he himself doesn't possess any 'psychic' ability and even denounces those who claim they do. He is a prominent skeptic and even though his performances incorporate mind-reading and other feats of mentalism that appear on the surface a result of some psychic or paranormal practice, he believes that his tricks fundamentally are grounded in reason and psychology. Derren has never claimed he has any psychic ability and unlike some performers who masquerade as psychics, mediums or having some kind of extrasensory perception, he doesn't. To the point though, Svengali is absolutely sensational, his crowning achievement by far and rather than me constantly waffle in superlatives here (I could go on all day...) you genuinely MUST see it for yourself!

Akhenaten: A 'Heretic' To His People, A Revolutionary Pioneer To All.

Akhenaten the 'Heretic' King, though born Amenhotep IV, he would later change his birth name which meant "the living spirit of Aten".

I have always been fascinated by Ancient Egyptian mythology and culture since a very early age. The sheer richness of it's mythology and the ingenious majesty of it's grand architecture, particularly The Great Pyramids at Giza was what piqued my interest in the beginning. However, it wasn't long before I became completely engrossed in it all and it inevitably led me to delve in deeper. It almost became an obsession of sorts, and I wanted to know everything, every conceivable little detail no matter how insignificant or mundane, there was no stone left unturned. In my relentless quest for knowledge, I stumbled upon Egypt's 'heretic' king Akhenaten, a man who abandoned the traditional polytheistic (belief in many gods) beliefs that the Egyptians had held for centuries in favor of only one god, the 'Aten' or sun disk. It struck me that he was in fact the very first who made this incredibly bold and radical shift from established and incontestable tradition, and yet we still know very little of him or what truly motivated him to forsake conventional polytheism in favor of unorthodox monotheism.  Now, I don't need to point out the obvious similarities here, but I will get round to that later.

What we do know about him is that he was a pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty and was the son of Amenhotep III, also known as Amenhotep the Magnificent. His reign of 39 years was a period of exceptional prosperity and artistic splendor at a time when Egypt reached the height of its power. He would be known as the pharaoh who 'beautified' Egypt. Amenhotep III put an emphasis on construction as opposed to conquering other lands like his predecessors, since times were abundant and there was no real danger or threat. He expanded on many existing cities and constructed many temples during his reign including Malkata on the West Bank of the Nile at Thebes, the then capital of the unified Egypt and it was a site dedicated to housing and official chambers. However, his greatest and most noted achievement was the Temple of Amun at Karnak, better known today as the Precinct of Amun-Re which is the largest of the precincts at the temple, and still remains a popular tourist attraction. Amenhotep III died approximately between 1353 or 1351 BC after a reign of nearly 40 years, and his son Amenhotep IV immediately succeeded him and was crowned in Thebes.

The ruins of Amarna or Akhetaten which meant "Horizon of the Aten."

During the early days of his reign, Amenhotep IV was based in Thebes with his wife Nefertiti and his six daughters. In the beginning he permitted the worship of Egypt's traditional gods, however at the Temple of Karnak he decreed several massive buildings including temples to the Aten. The Aten itself was depicted as a sun disc, and was previously unheard of in traditional Egyptian architecture. The relationship between him and the priests of Amun-Re or the established order started to gradually decline and during about year five of his reign, Amenhotep IV took decisive action and eventually took it upon himself to establish the Aten as the sole, monotheistic god of all Egypt as opposed to his early henotheism (belief in one god while still accepting the existence of others). He "disbanded the priesthoods of all the other gods and diverted income from these other cults to support the Aten". To declare his complete allegiance to the Aten, the pharaoh then officially changed his name from Amenhotep IV to Akhenaten which meant the "Living Spirit of Aten." Akhenaten then soon commissioned the building of Akhetaten (known today as Amarna) which would serve as the new centralized hub for all religious practices in Egypt. 

The pharaoh Arkhenaten giving an offering to the Aten. Notice his rather 'feminine' characteristics which was present in almost all known inscriptions of him.

This radical change must have come as quite a shock to the populace, and no doubt it incited much hostility and widespread indignation across Egypt. The idea that the gods they once revered were now suddenly declared obsolete in favor of just one, this must have been nothing short of heresy. Arkhenaten even went to the extremes of personally ordering the defacing of Amun's temples throughout Egypt, and in many instances he had the inscriptions of the other gods removed all together. To those who aren't as familiar with Egyptian mythology Amun was a patron deity so called 'King of the Gods' and was undoubtedly the most venerable of all the Egyptian gods, particularly in the New Kingdom where he was "greatest expression of transcendental deity In Egyptian theology". Initially, Akhenaten presented Aten as merely a variant of the familiar supreme deity Amun-Re (itself the result of an earlier rise to prominence of the cult of Amun, resulting in Amun becoming merged with the sun god Ra), in an attempt to put his ideas in a familiar Egyptian religious context. However by year nine of his reign, his sheer devotion and allegiance to the Aten became so resolute and immovable he finally declared that Aten was not just the supreme god but the only god, and that he was the sole mediator between the Aten and his people. 

It's no surprise that his death, which is also shrouded in much mystery and speculation, marked the gradual decline of the Aten cult he had originally founded and it was quickly repudiated and fell out of complete favor. His conviction in his monotheistic beliefs and the very concept of a sole god was just too radical for his people to accept or follow and it wasn't long before the order of the old gods was finally restored after his 17 year reign. His later successors, particularly Ay and Horemheb worked tirelessly to remove all trace of the 'heretic' king and his 'legacy' by disassembling temples and monuments that Akhenaten had built, including the one at Thebes. The city of Akhetaten was abandoned and left to ruin by his own son and eventual 'boy king' Tutankhamun, though he was originally born Tutankhaten which meant "Living Image of Aten," he would later change it to Tutankhamun "Living Image of Amun." Later pharaohs would not even acknowledge he existed at all and any depiction of him or the Aten was completely destroyed or its material reused for other monuments, it's like they wanted to erase him completely from history. 

To his people he was branded a 'heretic', but if you look at it in the wider scope of things it's clear that he was undoubtedly the precursor to monotheism. The foundation of three of the world's largest faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam are based on the concept of a single god, a concept that began with Arkhenaten himself almost two centuries prior to the first archaeological and written evidence for Judaism and Israelite culture was even discovered in the Levant. Many have speculated the idea that Akhenaten was the pioneer of a monotheistic religion that later became Judaism. Sigmund Freud himself mentioned in his book Moses and Monotheism, that Moses himself had been an Atenist priest who was forced to flee Egypt with his followers shortly after Arkhenaten's death. Freud argued that Arkhenaten was endeavoring to advance his monotheism further, something that Moses from the Bible was able to achieve. This was an utterly fascinating notion to me and even though I'm not the first to bring up the subject, yet if it managed to mystify and fascinate not only scholars but arguably one of the finest minds of the 20th Century then this was definitely something worth looking into further. I was immediately struck by how much of a debate it was and still is to this day, and there's no denying Arkhenaten's legacy which his people tried so desperately to expunge completely.

Judaism, Christianity and Islam, three of worlds largest faiths are all monotheistic religions, a concept originally established by Akhenaten almost two hundred years prior.

There is no denying Akhenaten's influence on later religions, in fact pottery that was discovered throughout Judea dated almost to the end of the 8th century BC has seals almost resembling a winged 'sun disk' engraved on it's handles. Is this merely a coincidence? Maybe, but I don't think so. Other scholars have even juxtaposed aspects of Arkhenaten's relationship with the Aten to the relationship Jesus Christ had with God - particularly in interpretations that emphasize a more monotheistic explication of Atenism than henotheistic. The Canadian Egyptologist and archaeologist Donald B. Redford added that many have viewed Arkhenaten as a harbinger of Jesus himself. This is certainly feasible since a majority of Jesus's life was completely fictionalized and romanticized in The Bible anyway and that the earliest scribes may have been influenced directly or indirectly by what this Egyptian pharaoh had been expounding to the extent that they plagiarized some elements. Did they essentially pick and choose what to add, what to discard and what to simply build upon? Possible, no one can really know for sure after all most great works of art or fiction take inspiration from earlier sources and Arkhenaten and his relationship with the Aten may have been the muse. Akhenaten even described himself as "thy son who came forth from thy limbs", "thy child", "the eternal son that came forth from the Sun-Disc", and "thine only son that came forth from thy body". Notice the distinct similarity here?

Redford concluded that: "Before much of the archaeological evidence from Thebes and from Tell el-Amarna became available, wishful thinking sometimes turned Akhenaten into a humane teacher of the true God, a mentor of Moses, a Christlike figure, a philosopher before his time. But these imaginary creatures are now fading away one by one as the historical reality gradually emerges. There is little or no evidence to support the notion that Akhenaten was a progenitor of the full-blown monotheism that we find in the Bible. The monotheism of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament had its own separate development—one that began more than half a millennium after the pharaoh's death." That maybe so but it's still a tantalizing prospect that Arkhenaten's legacy may have played a direct role in shaping later monotheistic religions. He has been called by the historian James Henry Breasted and rightfully so "the first individual in history," undoubtedly the first monotheist, by definition you could even say the first scientist and romantic. A man who was steadfast in his convictions, irregardless of what his people thought. He defied convention and tradition and brought about a radicalism that Egypt had never seen and consequently would never ever see again. A true revolutionary who was way ahead of his time.

The English Egyptogolist Flinders Petrie declared that:
If this were a new religion, invented to satisfy our modern scientific conceptions, we could not find a flaw in the correctness of this view of the energy of the solar system. How much Akhenaten understood, we cannot say, but he certainly bounded forward in his views and symbolism to a position which we cannot logically improve upon at the present day. Not a rag of superstition or of falsity can be found clinging to this new worship evolved out of the old Aten of Heliopolis, the sole Lord of the universe.