Gnomes: Two Weeks at a Time

Gnomes pop up all over the place, hence this blog. Sometimes they show up in weird places, like video games. I posted before about World of Warcraft, and Fable. And now, this game.

Fortnite was released in 2017 by Epic and quickly captured the hearts and minds and all the spare time for everyone under 21. It's basically a first person shooter game, much like Call of Duty, Battlefront, Overwatch, and many others. Fortnite added the ability to build defenses, and has  seemingly endless personalization/customization skins.

Why do I care? Normally, I don't. I'm not really into online shooters like the ones mentioned above. I'm not into playing with others. Except Mario Kart, and FIFA. But... I discovered today that this game has gnomes!

Apparently the Battle Royale mode includes treasure hunts, daily challenges that hide objects all over the landscape. Sometimes they make you search for gnomes! This, of course, is very much like the quest in Fable III. They even laugh when you get too close.... so, actually very much like Fable III.

In addition to these scavenger hunts, Fortnite has also included a skin (of course) that allows players to dress like gnomes, while they muck about, shooting zombies and each other, or whatever it is you do in this game. Grimble is his name... and he looks terrifying.

it's not unsettling... not at all

Virtual Reality Gnomes

Apparently Gnome isn't the only thing in the tech world named after the best mythological creature ever. The Head Gnome, as his email says, is David Wyand, founder of Gnometech, a company that specializes in gaming hardware and game development. He also wrote a textbook on Torque 3D game development for Garage Games.

Apparently they've developed a few apps for VR including a paint app, Circumpaint, a hockey game, and a turtle simulator. Gnome and Gnometech may share more than just a namesake. Torque 3D, and Gnome are both open source programs. This would lead me to believe that Gnometech programs are possibly also open source. Not confirmed, as this doesn't appear on the Gnometech site, but I wouldnt be shocked.

Rag & Gnome

In a round about sort of way, I found this gif today. It features Emma Roberts, niece of Julia Roberts, known for her work with Jason Sudeikis and Jennifer Aniston in Meet the Millers, and on the Scream Queens, and American Horror Story television shows.

She obviously gnome-naps.

This is from a film short, Time of Day, which also stars Jon Hamm, and Kate Mara; featuring music by Thom Yorke. It is produced by the clothing company Rag & Bone from New York. Apparently they use these short films as ads? They're directed by a variety of people, some professional, some amateur. Some make more sense than this one.

But this one is clearly the best.... because gnomes!

Watson! A Sequel is Afoot!

Our favorite characters from the best gnome movie ever made returned in March with a second film!

That's right, Gnomeo and Juliet meet the Greatest Gnome Detective!

In case you forgot, or want a refresher, the first movie is on this blog too. 

The plot, basically, is a gnome-napping case. The world building from the original is expanded to include other knick knacks, toys, and statues like maneki-nekos, dolls, teddy bears, and gargoyles. There are puns and references to classic Sherlock Holmes and gnomes, or course. Apparently it's also a musical, with Elton John highly represented.

The beginning of the movie throws out some great ideas for a bunch of sequels, including Games of Gnomes, the Gnome Ranger, Spiderman: Gnome Coming, Indiana Gnomes.... I want to see them all!

Movie Time: Wet Bandits Not Included

This is a new film on the Netflix. Gnome Alone is a standard "kid saves world from supernatural doom" plot enhanced, obviously, by adding gnomes. Not really sure why garden gnomes are the only line of defense against a reality eating clonal colony from another dimension, but I'm not complaining.

This film has everything. Female protagonist? Check. Estranged parent/child relationship? Check. School-age stereotypes? Check. Cute little monsters from another dimension? Check. Gnome Warriors? Check. Pink Hair Dont Care? Check. Message about how cell phones and social media are a huge distraction and reality is way better? Double Check.

Despite the obvious pun, this film has nothing to do with Macaulay Culkin, Christmas, or protecting the home from burglary. Not an amazing film, but still pretty enjoyable and fun, if not predictable. It does have some interesting ideas about extra dimensions, and how alien life can be portrayed. But it is a kids' film, and so these things are not fully explored beyond what the plot needs. 

Gnitting Gnomes Love You Too

via GIPHY

On Giphy, user Mochimochiland makes stop motion GIFs. They are handcrafted, knitted gnomes and other silly things. Check out some of my favorites. 

via GIPHY

via GIPHY

Well, I like Gnomes Fighting Giants, but I Wouldnt Say I Love it

Recently, Netflix produced and released a new show from Matt Groening, the creator of Life in Hell, The Simpsons, and Futurama. Disenchantment is pretty good, as animated series go. It is not as good as Groening's past creations, but I remind myself that it is only Season 1, and there are plenty of brilliant scenes that show the potential greatness.

Set in a medieval fantasy universe, Disenchantment follows a princess protagonist who hates being a princess protagonist and would rather drink, fight, and goof off. There is a demon personification of her Id, and a goofball, milquetoast elf to round out the main characters. The world seems to be full of crazy, silly, sometimes dark versions of all the fantasy tropes, from overbearing kings and over enthusiastic knights, sick and depressed serfs, to monsters and fantasy beasts of all kinds.

During the first episode, we are treated to a terrific scene while the elf character is traveling through the kingdom for the first time. He comes across a battle between giants and the best creatures in the world!

Just in case my imbedded video fails, the link is here to the youtubes. Sorry about the captions.

Apparently, ewoks aren't the only undersized species to punch above their weight.