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November 27, 2011

Casting Call: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

I woke up this morning in a very weird mood. One that I had never been in my life; a Zelda mood. Maybe it’s because I played the new game, Skyward Sword, at Best Buy and it was awesome, or maybe I am just that bored on my days off. Either way it’s all that’s been on my mind today, but more importantly was the idea that nobody has made a Legend of Zelda movie yet.
It’s been 25 years since Link and Zelda first came to game consoles and was created one of the original quest games. In 25 years we’ve seen all the other popular video games on the big screen. Super Mario Bros., Double Dragon, Mortal Kombat, Doom, Street Figher, and even Prince of Persia have all been made into major motion pictures and all have been complete disasters. But in this age where Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings reign supreme I feel like a Zelda movie would be awesome if done properly.
There have been many Zelda video games throughout the years, all with different stories and none of them in chronological order. The nearest to my heart was the last one I ever really played, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. This also seems like the Zelda game with the most complicated and complex storyline. This game originally came out on the Nintendo 64, back when I still had no idea what a woman’s breast felt like. Needless to say after that experience I didn’t see the point of video games anymore. With the right cast and budget I feel this movie could be huge and break the video game curse.

SAM HUNTINGTON AS LINK
In every Legend of Zelda game the hero has always been Link. In Ocarina of Time Link is a simple man who lives in a small village in the kingdom of Hyrule. Link gets a nightmare one day that sets his journey in motion. Along the way he meets Princess Zelda, the evil Ganondorf, and wields the Master Sword. He is the every-man, which is a great character to center a film around.
Sam Huntington is the every-man. He’s played Jimmy Olsen in Superman Returns, and had the lead in the small film Fanboys. Now he’s a werewolf in ScyFy’s Being Human. Huntington has a charming quality about him for being the underdog and someone the audience can empathize with. The intense action sequences might be something new for the actor but I think he could pull it off.

ASHLEY GREENE AS PRINCESS ZELDA
In Ocarina of Time Zelda must seek Links help to stop Ganondorf from obtaining the Triforce, which can be a little difficult after Ganondorf kidnaps her and obtains the Triforce of Power. Zelda disguises herself as an aid to Link named Sheik, and reveals her true self when the final battle between Link and Ganondorf is upon them. At the end of the video game Zelda sends Link back in time to meet, well, her.
Zelda is smart, beautiful, and can teach Link a thing or two from what I gather. Ashley Greene is best known for her role as Alice in the Twilight films, but I loved her as the girl-next-door in Skateland. She’s got the beauty and brains to bring this legendary game character to life. Just try not to fall in love with her, I dare ya.

SELENA GOMEZ AS NAVI
Peter Pan had Tinkerbell and Link has Navi. Navi appears to him after his nightmare about Ganondorf and stays by his side the entire game. She helps out when Link is in trouble and is the best companion Link could ask for, aside from his horse. Selena Gomez has made a name for herself as a teen idol, and to play a fairy you need someone who seems innocent and non-threating. This role could give Gomez the break-out she needs into more serious films while bringing in the tweeners who may not have ever played Ocarina of Time. If Julia Roberts can play a fairy I think it’s safe to say anyone can.

CLANCY BROWN AS GANONDORF
Ganondorf is the Gerudo King of Thieves and is looking to seize the Triforce so that he can rule Hyrule. He succeeds, for a while, until Link appears seven years later with the Master Sword in hand and the itchin to kick some ass! The Triforce is split into three, Ganondorf gaining the Triforce of Power, while Link and Zelda have the Triforces of Courage and Wisdom. To play a villain in an epic film you need an epic actor. Clancy Brown is most known for his role as The Kurgan in Highlander, but since then he’s done a lot of small roles as well as a lot of voice acting; one of which being Lex Luthor in Superman: The Animated Series. He’s big, he’s mean, and he can make you quiver with a grin.

ANTHONY HOPKINS AS THE GREAT DEKU TREE
The Great Deku Tree is a mentor to many and the guardian of Link’s village in Hyrule, but Ganondorf has cursed the tree and is slowly dying. Before his death though he is able to pass on to Link the Kokiri’s Emerald and sends him to Hyrule Castle to find Princess Zelda. The emerald turns out to be one of three that Link needs to enter the Sacred Realm and retrieve the Triforce before Ganondorf. Of course the Great Deku Tree will be computer generated but with Sir Anthony Hopkins as his voice it will sooth Link’s worries about his upcoming quest as well as the audience. I rest my case on this one.


November 24, 2011

Happy Slapsgiving!

You know when you were a kid the holidays meant that you would get time off of school and lots of preseents from your relatives.  But a weird thing happened on the way to getting older.  I stopped caring less about what I got for the holidays and started caring more about who I'm with.  Maybe it's because I have a great family, or maybe it's because I think my parents did a pretty good job of raising me, but the thing I look forward to most during the holidays now is the company of my friends, family, and the overall holiday cheer.  Thanksgiving and Christmas are two days out of the year when we all forget about the crap we having going on and just be thankful for the people we have in our lives. 
Living in Austin does means I am hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away from the people I care about, Like my family and friends in Indiana, and my friends in California, but I am thankful for them being in my life. 
I guess what I'm most thankful for is my wife, Lisa.  At our wedding Albert said, "Shawn, I've known you for a while and I have to say, marrying Lisa is the smartest thing I've seen you do."  I'd have to agree with him on that.  Anyone who knows us knows it was rocky start, but the fact that Lisa chose to spend her life with a schmuck like me makes me the luckiest man in the world.  Something I tell myself every day.
So this year I hope you're spending time with people you care about most, and if your not, at least shoot them a text or Facebook message to let them know you're glad to know them.  Now if you'll excuse me I have a dinner to get to that I've been fasting for all day, and a little boy who I'm sure wants to be read some books.