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Thursday, April 11, 2013

A-Z Geek (J): The Joust is not a Jest

During the April A-Z Challenge, I’m posting six days a week, following the letters of the alphabet. I will share all the movies, books and games I watched, read and played--all the influences that turned me into the geeky person and writer I am today.

GAMES
Joust (1982):
An arcade platform game with the player on an ostrich jousting knights on buzzards, and landing on eggs. This is my absolute favourite of all the arcade games. I got high scores on this one. I was thrilled when it featured in a big way in the brilliant book, Ready Player One (more on that later). World of Warcraft also gave it a nod in the Cataclysm expansion pack.



MOVIES
Jurassic Park (1993): This movie turned geek into mainstream. Who doesn’t love dinosaurs coming back to life?

John Carter (2012): The story is an old one, and, I’d like to think, shaped a lot of today’s science fiction. Disney did a great job bringing this story to life.

Other cool books and movies, though perhaps not as geeky: Any James Bond (1953), Jabberwocky (1977), James and the Giant Peach (1961).

What are some of your ‘J’ favourites?

#AtoZChallenge

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51 comments:

  1. CynthiaApril 11, 2013 at 4:02 PM

    I love James and the Giant Peach!

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  2. UnknownApril 11, 2013 at 4:40 PM

    James Bond is a big yes for me! Love the book James and the Giant Peach, but not the movie.

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  3. Sheena-kay GrahamApril 11, 2013 at 5:30 PM

    James Bond, Jurassic Park and James and the Giant peach rocked. John Carter, not so much. Never heard of Joust.

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  4. AloneInTheWorldApril 11, 2013 at 6:06 PM

    I love Jurassic Park, and Jame Bond. Julie and Julia is a lovely movie too, and definitely geeky :)

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    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyApril 12, 2013 at 2:55 PM

      I'm not familiar with Julie and Julia. If it's geeky, I must see!!

      Delete
  5. AnonymousApril 11, 2013 at 6:09 PM

    I love Jurassic Park. It's a movie I like to watch again and again.

    I'm not sure if I played Joust.

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  6. RickApril 11, 2013 at 6:17 PM

    Jabberwocky is the best! A very deep and moving melodrama that was totally under appreciated and undervalued as a cinematic experience. Truly!

    I enjoyed John Carter as well, but did not think it was anything like the book. The book, as always was much better.

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    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyApril 12, 2013 at 2:58 PM

      Okay, I've never heard Jabberwocky described that way before.

      The book is almost always better than the movie (except for The Princess Bride)

      Delete
  7. mooderinoApril 11, 2013 at 6:43 PM

    Whenever I get hold of an old arcade game I used to like it never lives up to my memory. Better to remember them as great.

    mood
    Moody Writing

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  8. DWeiApril 11, 2013 at 7:03 PM

    I have to get around to playing Just Cause 2. I've heard a lot of good (and stupid) things about that game.

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  9. Old KittyApril 11, 2013 at 7:28 PM

    Jaws!! The Jungle Book!! Erm...!! Jurassic Park is such a fun film!! Take care
    x

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  10. Theresa MilsteinApril 11, 2013 at 7:56 PM

    John Carter got so slammed. A lot of people thought it was because of the title. I haven't seen it. I should.

    Jaws and Jurassic Park sure did have a big impact.

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    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyApril 12, 2013 at 2:59 PM

      It got slammed because it's an 'old' story, but you have to remember when it was written.

      Delete
  11. Alex J. CavanaughApril 11, 2013 at 8:25 PM

    We both picked Jurassic Park! And good for you for picking John Carter. I thought it was an amazing film. It's the space opera I wish I'd written.
    Many quarters left my pockets playing Joust.

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    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyApril 12, 2013 at 3:01 PM

      Great minds again! I'm super glad you liked John Carter as much as I did. And Joust just rocks!

      Delete
  12. Bish DenhamApril 11, 2013 at 9:18 PM

    I'm pretty sure The Princess of Mars was the very first SciFi book I ever read. Burroughs was great. The Jungle Book is favorite, and Jane Eyre.

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  13. UnknownApril 11, 2013 at 10:28 PM

    Oh, I do like James Bond. But I'm also a Jane Austen fan.

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  14. UnknownApril 11, 2013 at 10:34 PM

    Even though I hate all the corny one-liners I still find myself watching every single James Bond movie. And shuddering through most of it.

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  15. DEZMONDApril 11, 2013 at 10:38 PM

    JOHN CARTER was a nice film. A bit drawn out at moments, but still nice and one of the better films last year. I'm sad that Taylor and Lynn haven't become major stars after it, they're both so good. My fave character was Woola :)

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  16. Rachna ChhabriaApril 11, 2013 at 10:41 PM

    I love James and the Giant Peach and the James Bond movies.

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  17. Julie FlandersApril 11, 2013 at 11:28 PM

    Jurassic Park is one of my top movies of all time. Absolutely LOVE it. :D

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  18. Laura EnoApril 11, 2013 at 11:35 PM

    I'm afraid Mario is the extent of my game knowledge. :)
    Jurassic Park is one of the best movies ever made!

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  19. Al DiazApril 11, 2013 at 11:39 PM

    I didn't see John Carter but Jurassic Park kept me in awe all the time. It's a great movie with actors I admire. :)

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  20. SuzeApril 12, 2013 at 12:20 AM

    If you love 'Joust,' I have a book to recommend to you. I really, really think you'll like it. It's called 'Ready Player One.'

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    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyApril 12, 2013 at 3:04 PM

      I actually mention that book in the post because of its nod to Joust. And yes, I love the book (but I'm saving it up for my 'R' post.

      Delete
  21. PatsyApril 12, 2013 at 12:21 AM

    I couldn't take seriously a game about jousting on ostrich back - but perhaps that's not the point?

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    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyApril 12, 2013 at 3:05 PM

      correct :P
      Perhaps it was that quirkiness that first drew me into the game to begin with...

      Delete
  22. cleemckenzieApril 12, 2013 at 2:06 AM

    I don't know John Carter. I'm making a list of movies to catch up on!

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  23. MarkApril 12, 2013 at 2:08 AM

    Joust has been at ever place I've worked, in the break rooms at Google Facebook, and GREE. It's pretty popular amongst techies:)

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  24. Cathrina ConstantineApril 12, 2013 at 2:51 AM

    Again all good movies, though not familiar with the game Joust. Thanks for the memories

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  25. UnknownApril 12, 2013 at 2:57 AM

    I love James and the Giant Peach! That's a classic.

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  26. Sherry EllisApril 12, 2013 at 2:58 AM

    I just saw Jurassic Park on Alex's blog. Great minds think alike!

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  27. Jarm Del BoccioApril 12, 2013 at 4:09 AM

    One of my BBC favorites?? Jane Eyre, of course!

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  28. Luanne G. SmithApril 12, 2013 at 4:29 AM

    Jurassic Park was one of those books I read that I really wanted to see the movie to make it come alive. Was not disappointed. And of course the James Bond movies are worth an honorable mention! :)

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    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyApril 12, 2013 at 3:09 PM

      I haven't actually read Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park, but I've read another of his novels, Sphere, and loved it.

      Delete
  29. Mel ChesleyApril 12, 2013 at 6:38 AM

    My brother is a huge Joust fan! I love it. :D

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  30. Romance Reader April 12, 2013 at 7:36 AM

    I saw the Jurassic Park on big screen and the experience was thrilling!

    Nas

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  31. liz youngApril 12, 2013 at 8:08 AM

    Jurassic Park was great but the sequels not so much. How long ago was the first one? Seems like a lifetime!

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    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyApril 12, 2013 at 3:10 PM

      The first movie was released in 1993. Yep that's a lifetime ago.

      Delete
  32. Nana PrahApril 12, 2013 at 8:36 AM

    I do love reading your posts. I am on board with Jurassic Park, but sadly I have never seen it.

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  33. AnonymousApril 12, 2013 at 9:48 AM

    Jurassic Park is a good one! I haven't seen John Carter yet. Will have to check it out!

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  34. Patricia StolteyApril 12, 2013 at 12:28 PM

    And then there was Jaws...

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  35. Carol KilgoreApril 12, 2013 at 1:02 PM

    James Bond! Geeky or not :) He did use those nifty gadgets.

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  36. UnknownApril 12, 2013 at 1:55 PM

    Jurassic Park was wonderful! And I see Patricia above has thought up Jaws - one of my favorite movies ever. I also really like Jumanji. Robin Williams can be fun!

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    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyApril 12, 2013 at 3:12 PM

      Yep, Jaws was in my original list. Wish I'd thought of Jumanji! Loved that movie.

      Delete
  37. ChanceletApril 12, 2013 at 3:11 PM

    Good job there with those J entertainment highlights. Jurassic Park definitely wins for me. Would you consider seeing the 3D version? The book is great too, though the movie did make some of the characters better.

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    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyApril 12, 2013 at 3:14 PM

      I'm not a huge fan of 3D movies. I think it detracts from the story too much.

      Delete
  38. Billy Blue EyesApril 15, 2013 at 9:34 PM

    Don't know about the games I leave that to my Son who is a Video Game designer and can't get a job.
    James Bond proably the best , Jaws was a joke though I did like James & the Giant Peach. Not seen John Cater so I'll wait till that come on the TV

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I'd love to hear your opinion. Thanks for leaving a comment.