Here's some movie renting tips from yours truly to help you save a buck and get the most out of your money.
1. Libraries are gold mines when it comes to classic movies. Sometimes they'll even have those harder to find lesser-known and more expensive movies that even the big video stores don't carry. If they aren't your cup of tea, give em a chance, what's the worst that can happen? You'll like it?? Once you watch the classics, you'll see how many modern movies homage and rip them off. Once in a while you'll even find the odd new release Hollywood flick. Best of all, it's FREE. Well technically, libraries are funded through your taxes, so you already are paying for it, so you might as well use em. Many libraries also have online catalogues where you can request holds (sometimes its free, but sometimes there is a small charge, usually a buck or less -- still cheaper than renting from an actual video store).
2. With many rental stores now offering "No Late Fees" policies, you effectively have an extra week, and even an extra month (minus a possible restocking fee). Now I'm not telling you to keep a movie for that long, because if everybody did that, everybody loses and no one would see the movie they wanted. Where this can be useful is in avoiding the lineups of the average moviegoer who gets rentals on Fridays and Saturdays. While most people only have free time on the weekend, you can preplan your weekend by dropping by the video store during the middle of the week during less busy hours. Those couple of extra days won't cost you anything because of the "No Late Fees" policy. Spend your free time watching a movie, or waiting in line to rent it, the choice is yours.
3. Some rental outfits offer guaranteed rentals on certain titles, and if they don't have it in stock, its free the next time you return. If you don't mind not seeing a certain movie right away, you can get it free during its release week by visiting a store during the later hours on a Friday or Saturday, as most people have likely rented them all during the previous hours. Conversely, if you really want to see that movie, go early or call ahead, most places will also place holds for you.
4. Now that you have the movie, there's nothing more annoying than in the middle of watching it, all of a sudden it stops or begins to skip like crazy because some random asshole doesn't know how to handle a DVD (You Know Who You Are). This last tip will help you avoid those. It's not 100% perfect, but it certainly helps. Unfortunately, most video rental places have their discs secured so you can't see them for wear and tear until you've paid for it. What you want to do instead of just grabbing a random copy off the shelf, grab a copy on the lowest or highest shelf, and grab the bottom copy, the one most inside. Most people tend to grab the copies at arms length on the middle shelves, and hence return copies are placed back in the exact same place. Those lesser rented copies can yield a disc with less wear and tear. Sometimes, the outside of the case is also an indicator, if its uncharacteristically dirty or grimy, skip it.
A Bonus Tip! Not related to renting a movie, but in watching it. Unfortunately DVDs today can be loaded with advertisements, trailers, and disclaimers (in multiple languages). It just makes me wanna barf. We've all gone through DVDs with dozens of these, taking upwards of several minutes before the movie actually plays. To avoid this, instead of selecting "PLAY" at the main menu, choose "SCENE SELECTIONS" or "CHAPTERS" or something to that effect, and then choose the very first scene or chapter. Choosing the "PLAY" option activates said advertisements and disclaimers, whereas using the latter method skips all that crap and sends you straight to the beginning of the movie.
So there you have it. Efficient time planning, money saving, and maximizing movie enjoyment, what more can you ask for? :)
Friday, March 30, 2007
Saturday, March 3, 2007
DVD Review - Nine Inch Nails Live: Beside You In Time
With Trent Reznor cleaned up for good (hopefully), 2005's With Teeth and his touring to support it announced that NIN is not only back, but they're here to stay, and they have never been better. Backed by IMO, his best handpicked assembled band yet of drummer Josh Freese, guitarist Aaron North, bassist/guitarist Jeordie White and Keyboardist/Guitarist Alessandro Cortini.
One of the things I love about NIN is that as long as Trent wants to keep it going, they will never break up. Or as a friend put, they break up after every tour. The band member roulette seems to change every tour, which is good and bad. Bad in that we, as fans, have come to love the then-current members and seeing new ones just seem strange. Good in that the new members bring a new quality to the band, and in essence help keep NIN fresh by introducing their own unique sound and sensibilities. As Trent has said, he would never bring in the best technical player for each position, instead picking those who are multi-talented and fit in with the band the best. I mean, Eric Clapton is a fantastic guitarist, one of the greatest of all-time, but he would never fit in with Nine Inch Nails. Although, come to think of it, I would pay mucho dinero to see Clapton and Reznor live together.
As evidenced through this live DVD, Trent Reznor is now over 40 years old and exudes an energy onstage that many musicians half his age can barely muster. He is truly a sight to see. As much of a master of music that he is, and as quietly spoken he seems to be in many interviews, when he walks onstage, he becomes a monster. No longer dressed in fishnets and drenched with corn starch, Reznor also ditched his longer locks for the short shaven look with a sleeveless tops that show off his enormous muscular arms. As he said, if you can't do drugs, what else can you do? Lift weights apparently, and a lot of them at that.
What I love about the new Trent is new fearlessness towards playing many songs of NIN's expansive back catalogue that have never been tackled, for various reasons. Perhaps inspired by his new band, the newest incarnation of NIN has spiced up old favorites while also playing new favorites that have never been played live before. And this all brings us to NIN's latest release, the live performance, Beside You In Time. This is a great document of NIN at their greatest.
Those are some of my general thoughts, so here are some song-specific thoughts:
1. Love Is Not Enough - fantastic show opener with the band behind a veiled curtain so that we barely see their shadows. Love Is Not Enough is one of those NIN songs that is so good live that I can't stand listening to the album version anymore.
2. You Know What You Are? - anyone who can play the drums on this song and not have their arms fall off is a God, and Josh Freese shows off his deity-ness with this track. The performance of this song is one of the true highlights on a disc filled with them.
3. Terrible Lie - this has been one of my personal faves since I first saw them perform it live. I don't think they've ever done a show where they haven't played this song, and they've been touring since 1989. And yet, it never gets old. Like all the material off Pretty Hate Machine, the song is completely transformed into a new monster live.
4. The Line Begins To Blur - this was one of those songs I thought would translate horribly live, mainly because its got a relentless bassline throughout the whole song, and bass translate very iffy live sometimes. But I'll be damned if the live version kicks all kinds of awesome. Favorite part: "I DON'T KNOW! I DON'T KNOW!"
5. March of the Pigs - one of their live staples, always a crowdpleaser. Trent is all over the place and Aaron is all over the arena literally, jumping into the crowd at one point.
6. Something I Can Never Have - I'm so glad they decided to put this back into their set after it was pretty much "retired" since their Downward Spiral tours in 94/95. It might not have the same resonance as Hurt, but it sure comes close, and I know many who will argue it has more.
7. Closer - I've said it before, and I'll say it again, the new live version of this song is incredible. Absolutely love the insertion of "The Only Time" at the end.
8. Burn - Like Something I Can Never Have, was brought out of retirement, and kicks all kinds of ass. Sometimes you just need to take something away so that its return is that much sweeter.
9. Gave Up - Another live staple, and just shows how tight NIN's live show truly is.
Now comes what many call "The Eye of the Storm" part of many NIN concerts, where we get several slower songs in between the chaos and mayhem, accompanied by a video projection.
10. Eraser - another one of those oldies but goodies brought back to their live setlist. Probably my favorite track off The Downward Spiral (but really, there isn't a song on that album that isn't).
11. Right Where It Belongs - every NIN album always has that one emotional song that always hits you right where it hurts and really takes you to a sad place. Pretty Hate Machine had Something I Can Never Have, Downward Spiral had Hurt, The Fragile had The Great Below, and With Teeth has this. As if it wasn't sad enough already, the video projection shows us a montage of poverty and suffering contrasted with the image of George W. Bush happily dancing with his wife. Trent has never been very political before, but the current situation with Bush, with the Iraq War and his handling of Hurricane Katrina/New Orleans situation (Trent's old hometown), he just couldn't stand it anymore and had to make a statement. I applaud him for it and agree with him 100%. And if you thought this was all the socio-political commentary Trent had in him, then you haven't been following the commotion around his upcoming album, Year Zero.
12. Beside You In Time - one of visual highlights of the show. As well as it is captured on this DVD, this really had to be seen live for full impact. Love the glass breaking. Exit the video projection, and the Storm resumes.
13. With Teeth - the title track of his 2005 release is one of my favorites from that album. I love that quiet middle part with just the piano and distorted guitar, and live, its easier to hear than the album version which makes you turn up the volume only to be bombarded by the subsequent guitar riffs. I never thought it would be possible, but Trent makes playing the tambourine look cool. He doesn't really play it, its more like he attacks it.
14. Wish - another crowdpleaser that has the crowd on the verge of rioting. Josh Freese's drumming on this song was one of the reasons he really won me over after replacing NIN's old drummer Jerome Dillon. (Let's forget about Alex Carapetis....)
15. Only - manages to sound very different than the album version, but remains very cool nonetheless. So good live, they've got it on this disc twice! The visuals in this song are captured well and really show off how detailed this DVD looks.
16. The Big Come Down - this performance absolutely rocks. I can and have watched this dozens of times......(Leaves to go watch it again).
17. Hurt - another of the live staples, and emotional highpoints. Despite the sad subject matter, this is such a beautiful song, sung beautifully by Trent alone with a keyboard, with the rest of the band joining in the final verse. I love it when the crowd sings along, but please please stop the handclapping. Trent is up there pouring his heart out and you clap your hands? Seriously, stop it. Only clap when Trent wants you to, like in...
18. The Hand That Feeds - Another big F.U. to George Bush, and also a great song to bang your head to. You may clap your hands during this song if you wish.
19. Head Like A Hole - If Wish had the crowd on the verge of rioting, then Head Like A Hole is a full scale riot. NIN leaves us on a high, higher than any drug can give us, and like most drugs leave us wanting more. For the live crowd, that its for the night, but for us home viewers, there's more!
Among the additional content on Beside You In Time:
5 songs from their North American Summer Tour in 2006:
1. Somewhat Damaged - hearing this song live was such an unexpected treat. I'll never forget that moment, as it was both unexpected in terms of the song, and in terms of the moment, as the house lights were still on. Out of all the songs NIN has opened with, this is probably my favorite.
2. Closer - the very definition of a crowdpleaser. Love the accompanying visuals, especially the part where it looks like the red liquid is pouring over Trent through the grate, but fills up as soon as leaves it.
3. Help Me I Am In Hell - like Somewhat Damaged, this was an unexpected but very welcome surprise when I saw them live last summer. Played with a very trippy accompanying video projection.
4. Non-Entity - It was so great to hear this live, and even better to have it here. Great song, great visuals.
5. Only - so good they have it twice, and I gotta say I like this version better than the Winter Tour version. Much trippier visuals.
Music Videos for The Hand That Feeds and Only - interesting how Trent seems to alternate making music videos that are basic-performance-only (The Hand That Feeds) and high-concept-driven-more-complex (Only). Another good example that typifies the uniqueness and diversity of Nine Inch Nails.
Live Performances from Rehearsals of Love Is Not Enough, The Collector and Every Day Is Exactly The Same - must've been from early 2005 cuz Trent was still sporting hair and Jerome was still on drums!
While their last live release contained some great easter eggs, I have searched high and low, and alas there are none of this release. Disappointing, sure, but we sure got our moneys worth for this great little package.
The video quality on this DVD is amazing, shot on professional quality High Definition cameras, you can really tell, even on the DVD, I can't wait to see what the hi-def versions look like. Despite the frenetic lights and obviously difficult material to translate onto digital formats, the video quality really shines. Hardly any compression artifacts to note, all fit onto 1 disc with extras and both DTS and Dolby 5.1. As much as I love NIN's previous live release, And All That Could Have Been, the disc break in the middle of the performance really hurt it. The video quality on the additional content is not up to the standards of the main feature, but they were shot on handheld consumer level high definition cameras. But the band felt the material warranted inclusion despite the lower video quality.
Sound quality is also up there, presented in Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 Surround, and a proper Stereo track for those without surround capabilities. Trent Reznor is a master musician who has done stuff in plain stereo that amazes. So you can only imagine how great this disc sounds in 5.1 surround sound. One of the aural highlights is hearing Jeordie play live bass on many songs where bass hasn't been played before in previous NIN tours is just incredible, it adds so much to the songs.
Big Kudos to whoever it is who priced the DVD/HD DVD/Blu Ray, because the DVD is about half the cost of the average new release, and the HiDef releases are also both really affordable, costing less than most standard DVD new releases.
Big Middle Finger to whoever it is who decided to delay the HD DVD and Blu Ray versions of Beside You In Time a week after the DVD in Canada. New Album on Apr. 17, tickets to see em live in Japan in May, A North American tour or two probably sometime in the Fall, and Year Zero followup in 2008? Has there ever been a better time to be a NIN fan? I don't think so....
NIN Fans already have this, music fans, this is great demo material not only video and audio-wise, but especially performance and music-wise.
One of the things I love about NIN is that as long as Trent wants to keep it going, they will never break up. Or as a friend put, they break up after every tour. The band member roulette seems to change every tour, which is good and bad. Bad in that we, as fans, have come to love the then-current members and seeing new ones just seem strange. Good in that the new members bring a new quality to the band, and in essence help keep NIN fresh by introducing their own unique sound and sensibilities. As Trent has said, he would never bring in the best technical player for each position, instead picking those who are multi-talented and fit in with the band the best. I mean, Eric Clapton is a fantastic guitarist, one of the greatest of all-time, but he would never fit in with Nine Inch Nails. Although, come to think of it, I would pay mucho dinero to see Clapton and Reznor live together.
As evidenced through this live DVD, Trent Reznor is now over 40 years old and exudes an energy onstage that many musicians half his age can barely muster. He is truly a sight to see. As much of a master of music that he is, and as quietly spoken he seems to be in many interviews, when he walks onstage, he becomes a monster. No longer dressed in fishnets and drenched with corn starch, Reznor also ditched his longer locks for the short shaven look with a sleeveless tops that show off his enormous muscular arms. As he said, if you can't do drugs, what else can you do? Lift weights apparently, and a lot of them at that.
What I love about the new Trent is new fearlessness towards playing many songs of NIN's expansive back catalogue that have never been tackled, for various reasons. Perhaps inspired by his new band, the newest incarnation of NIN has spiced up old favorites while also playing new favorites that have never been played live before. And this all brings us to NIN's latest release, the live performance, Beside You In Time. This is a great document of NIN at their greatest.
Those are some of my general thoughts, so here are some song-specific thoughts:
1. Love Is Not Enough - fantastic show opener with the band behind a veiled curtain so that we barely see their shadows. Love Is Not Enough is one of those NIN songs that is so good live that I can't stand listening to the album version anymore.
2. You Know What You Are? - anyone who can play the drums on this song and not have their arms fall off is a God, and Josh Freese shows off his deity-ness with this track. The performance of this song is one of the true highlights on a disc filled with them.
3. Terrible Lie - this has been one of my personal faves since I first saw them perform it live. I don't think they've ever done a show where they haven't played this song, and they've been touring since 1989. And yet, it never gets old. Like all the material off Pretty Hate Machine, the song is completely transformed into a new monster live.
4. The Line Begins To Blur - this was one of those songs I thought would translate horribly live, mainly because its got a relentless bassline throughout the whole song, and bass translate very iffy live sometimes. But I'll be damned if the live version kicks all kinds of awesome. Favorite part: "I DON'T KNOW! I DON'T KNOW!"
5. March of the Pigs - one of their live staples, always a crowdpleaser. Trent is all over the place and Aaron is all over the arena literally, jumping into the crowd at one point.
6. Something I Can Never Have - I'm so glad they decided to put this back into their set after it was pretty much "retired" since their Downward Spiral tours in 94/95. It might not have the same resonance as Hurt, but it sure comes close, and I know many who will argue it has more.
7. Closer - I've said it before, and I'll say it again, the new live version of this song is incredible. Absolutely love the insertion of "The Only Time" at the end.
8. Burn - Like Something I Can Never Have, was brought out of retirement, and kicks all kinds of ass. Sometimes you just need to take something away so that its return is that much sweeter.
9. Gave Up - Another live staple, and just shows how tight NIN's live show truly is.
Now comes what many call "The Eye of the Storm" part of many NIN concerts, where we get several slower songs in between the chaos and mayhem, accompanied by a video projection.
10. Eraser - another one of those oldies but goodies brought back to their live setlist. Probably my favorite track off The Downward Spiral (but really, there isn't a song on that album that isn't).
11. Right Where It Belongs - every NIN album always has that one emotional song that always hits you right where it hurts and really takes you to a sad place. Pretty Hate Machine had Something I Can Never Have, Downward Spiral had Hurt, The Fragile had The Great Below, and With Teeth has this. As if it wasn't sad enough already, the video projection shows us a montage of poverty and suffering contrasted with the image of George W. Bush happily dancing with his wife. Trent has never been very political before, but the current situation with Bush, with the Iraq War and his handling of Hurricane Katrina/New Orleans situation (Trent's old hometown), he just couldn't stand it anymore and had to make a statement. I applaud him for it and agree with him 100%. And if you thought this was all the socio-political commentary Trent had in him, then you haven't been following the commotion around his upcoming album, Year Zero.
12. Beside You In Time - one of visual highlights of the show. As well as it is captured on this DVD, this really had to be seen live for full impact. Love the glass breaking. Exit the video projection, and the Storm resumes.
13. With Teeth - the title track of his 2005 release is one of my favorites from that album. I love that quiet middle part with just the piano and distorted guitar, and live, its easier to hear than the album version which makes you turn up the volume only to be bombarded by the subsequent guitar riffs. I never thought it would be possible, but Trent makes playing the tambourine look cool. He doesn't really play it, its more like he attacks it.
14. Wish - another crowdpleaser that has the crowd on the verge of rioting. Josh Freese's drumming on this song was one of the reasons he really won me over after replacing NIN's old drummer Jerome Dillon. (Let's forget about Alex Carapetis....)
15. Only - manages to sound very different than the album version, but remains very cool nonetheless. So good live, they've got it on this disc twice! The visuals in this song are captured well and really show off how detailed this DVD looks.
16. The Big Come Down - this performance absolutely rocks. I can and have watched this dozens of times......(Leaves to go watch it again).
17. Hurt - another of the live staples, and emotional highpoints. Despite the sad subject matter, this is such a beautiful song, sung beautifully by Trent alone with a keyboard, with the rest of the band joining in the final verse. I love it when the crowd sings along, but please please stop the handclapping. Trent is up there pouring his heart out and you clap your hands? Seriously, stop it. Only clap when Trent wants you to, like in...
18. The Hand That Feeds - Another big F.U. to George Bush, and also a great song to bang your head to. You may clap your hands during this song if you wish.
19. Head Like A Hole - If Wish had the crowd on the verge of rioting, then Head Like A Hole is a full scale riot. NIN leaves us on a high, higher than any drug can give us, and like most drugs leave us wanting more. For the live crowd, that its for the night, but for us home viewers, there's more!
Among the additional content on Beside You In Time:
5 songs from their North American Summer Tour in 2006:
1. Somewhat Damaged - hearing this song live was such an unexpected treat. I'll never forget that moment, as it was both unexpected in terms of the song, and in terms of the moment, as the house lights were still on. Out of all the songs NIN has opened with, this is probably my favorite.
2. Closer - the very definition of a crowdpleaser. Love the accompanying visuals, especially the part where it looks like the red liquid is pouring over Trent through the grate, but fills up as soon as leaves it.
3. Help Me I Am In Hell - like Somewhat Damaged, this was an unexpected but very welcome surprise when I saw them live last summer. Played with a very trippy accompanying video projection.
4. Non-Entity - It was so great to hear this live, and even better to have it here. Great song, great visuals.
5. Only - so good they have it twice, and I gotta say I like this version better than the Winter Tour version. Much trippier visuals.
Music Videos for The Hand That Feeds and Only - interesting how Trent seems to alternate making music videos that are basic-performance-only (The Hand That Feeds) and high-concept-driven-more-complex (Only). Another good example that typifies the uniqueness and diversity of Nine Inch Nails.
Live Performances from Rehearsals of Love Is Not Enough, The Collector and Every Day Is Exactly The Same - must've been from early 2005 cuz Trent was still sporting hair and Jerome was still on drums!
While their last live release contained some great easter eggs, I have searched high and low, and alas there are none of this release. Disappointing, sure, but we sure got our moneys worth for this great little package.
The video quality on this DVD is amazing, shot on professional quality High Definition cameras, you can really tell, even on the DVD, I can't wait to see what the hi-def versions look like. Despite the frenetic lights and obviously difficult material to translate onto digital formats, the video quality really shines. Hardly any compression artifacts to note, all fit onto 1 disc with extras and both DTS and Dolby 5.1. As much as I love NIN's previous live release, And All That Could Have Been, the disc break in the middle of the performance really hurt it. The video quality on the additional content is not up to the standards of the main feature, but they were shot on handheld consumer level high definition cameras. But the band felt the material warranted inclusion despite the lower video quality.
Sound quality is also up there, presented in Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 Surround, and a proper Stereo track for those without surround capabilities. Trent Reznor is a master musician who has done stuff in plain stereo that amazes. So you can only imagine how great this disc sounds in 5.1 surround sound. One of the aural highlights is hearing Jeordie play live bass on many songs where bass hasn't been played before in previous NIN tours is just incredible, it adds so much to the songs.
Big Kudos to whoever it is who priced the DVD/HD DVD/Blu Ray, because the DVD is about half the cost of the average new release, and the HiDef releases are also both really affordable, costing less than most standard DVD new releases.
Big Middle Finger to whoever it is who decided to delay the HD DVD and Blu Ray versions of Beside You In Time a week after the DVD in Canada. New Album on Apr. 17, tickets to see em live in Japan in May, A North American tour or two probably sometime in the Fall, and Year Zero followup in 2008? Has there ever been a better time to be a NIN fan? I don't think so....
NIN Fans already have this, music fans, this is great demo material not only video and audio-wise, but especially performance and music-wise.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Eric So Karaoke Video
Because you demanded it, here it is!
If you like it, please leave a positive comment, because there's more where that came from!
If you like it, please leave a positive comment, because there's more where that came from!
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Movie Review: Pan's Labyrinth
This movie starts slow, but by the end I was swept away by its heart and emotion. The best way I can describe this film is as a dark, grim and haunting fairy tale set in Spain in 1944 after Franco's victory. Our main character, Ofelia, is the daughter of a pregnant woman, who are both travelling to live her new husband in rural Spain. Her new husband is the ruthless, fascist leader of a small squad determined to take out the rest of the remaining dissidents. Without giving away any more details, Pan's Labyrinth tells the story of Ofelia, who, attracted by a fairy gets led to this new fantastical world. Ofelia faces many trials and tribulations, both in her real life and said fantastical world.
The young Ivana Baquero plays Ofelia perfectly, in a role, that if miscast, would have ruined the movie. Thankfully she proves she has the acting chops, alongside a very powerful and intimidating cast. Most standout is the husband, Captain Vidal played almost too convincingly by Sergi Lopez. He is so ruthless that he gives Hitlet a run for his money. Maribel Verdu is also very effective as Mercedes, one of Vidal's personal servants.
About writer/director Guillermo Del Toro, here's a guy who loves films and knows how to make them. It's pretty clear when you watch the extras for his other movies like Blade II and Hellboy that this man has a deep passion for filmmaking that very, very few people on this earth have. The way he talks just exudes enthusiasm to the nth degree. Blade II and Hellboy were just warmups for him. They are almost like his test films to show the world, "Hey, I can make a cool movie." And someone, somewhere must have seen them and reacted, "Hey, he can make a cool movie!" Both Hellboy and Blade II had the hallmarks of a director who had a great vision and knew what he was doing. They were great films, Pan's Labyrinth, or El Laberinto del Fauno as it is named in its original language, is his magnum opus.
Also of note is the score, by Javier Navarrete, which I'm listening to while typing this. While the movie is dark and grim, not all of his music is. There are some very beautiful melodies with an almost lullabic-quality (Is lullabic even a real word?).
People tend to avoid subtitled movies like the plague, and if you're one of these people, I feel sorry for you, because even if you watch this movie dubbed, you will lose a lot of the magic.
One warning about this film. This film is not filled end-to-end with violence, but it does happen occasionally, and when it does happen, it can be really cringe-inducing and head-turning. Just a heads up for those of you who may not know what to expect.
The more I think about this movie, the more I love it. I look forward to watching this again on DVD or HD DVD or Blu-ray or VHS or Beta or whatever it takes, I just can't wait to see it again.
Besides the aforementioned Blade II and Hellboy, those who enjoy Pan's will also enjoy The Devil's Backbone, one of Del Toro's early films.
The young Ivana Baquero plays Ofelia perfectly, in a role, that if miscast, would have ruined the movie. Thankfully she proves she has the acting chops, alongside a very powerful and intimidating cast. Most standout is the husband, Captain Vidal played almost too convincingly by Sergi Lopez. He is so ruthless that he gives Hitlet a run for his money. Maribel Verdu is also very effective as Mercedes, one of Vidal's personal servants.
About writer/director Guillermo Del Toro, here's a guy who loves films and knows how to make them. It's pretty clear when you watch the extras for his other movies like Blade II and Hellboy that this man has a deep passion for filmmaking that very, very few people on this earth have. The way he talks just exudes enthusiasm to the nth degree. Blade II and Hellboy were just warmups for him. They are almost like his test films to show the world, "Hey, I can make a cool movie." And someone, somewhere must have seen them and reacted, "Hey, he can make a cool movie!" Both Hellboy and Blade II had the hallmarks of a director who had a great vision and knew what he was doing. They were great films, Pan's Labyrinth, or El Laberinto del Fauno as it is named in its original language, is his magnum opus.
Also of note is the score, by Javier Navarrete, which I'm listening to while typing this. While the movie is dark and grim, not all of his music is. There are some very beautiful melodies with an almost lullabic-quality (Is lullabic even a real word?).
People tend to avoid subtitled movies like the plague, and if you're one of these people, I feel sorry for you, because even if you watch this movie dubbed, you will lose a lot of the magic.
One warning about this film. This film is not filled end-to-end with violence, but it does happen occasionally, and when it does happen, it can be really cringe-inducing and head-turning. Just a heads up for those of you who may not know what to expect.
The more I think about this movie, the more I love it. I look forward to watching this again on DVD or HD DVD or Blu-ray or VHS or Beta or whatever it takes, I just can't wait to see it again.
Besides the aforementioned Blade II and Hellboy, those who enjoy Pan's will also enjoy The Devil's Backbone, one of Del Toro's early films.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
DVD Review: The Superman Ultimate Collector's Edition
Wow, this is quite possibly the most comprehensive box set release of any movie series ever. You thought that 9-disc Alien Quadrilogy (horrible name) was expansive? Warner Brothers' 14-Disc Ultimate Superman Collection blows it away.
Here's some quick thoughts on the movies in this set:
Superman: The Movie - To this day, still ranks as one of the best superhero movies of all-time. Didn't have the slam bang action of II, but holds up remarkably well. I can and have watched this film from start-to-end many times, and will continue to do so. Available in its original 1978 Theatrical Version or the 2000 Expanded Edition.
Superman II: Theatrical Version - The first time we saw real big comic book action on the big screen. Zod is not only one of the greatest comic book movie villains of all-time, but of all cinema. ZOD!!! Doesn't hold up as well as the first movie, but still very, very fun.
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut - a fanboy's wet dream, read my previous post.
Superman III - Richard Pryor is no doubt a comic genius, but so out of his element in a Superman movie. Evil Superman was cool though.
Superman IV: The Quest For Peace - one of those movies that's so bad, it's good. Like III, it's camp factor is high, and it's fun for a laugh. As I read somewhere else, this is Mark Pillow (Nuclear Man's) greatest triumph.
Superman Returns - I enjoyed this but was dissapointed at the same time. If anything, this helped but Superman back into the public spotlight and helped raise interest in him again, and that's never a bad thing. Let's give it a decade or two and see how well it holds up.
Here's some of my favorite features that make this set worth buying (besides the inclusions of all the feature films):
The 1940s Max Fleischer Superman Cartoons - all 17 are available here. They are so interesting and such a joy to watch mostly due to its unique art and animation style. One of the true gems of this set.
You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman - Available only in this box set, this documentary chronicles the making of Supermans I through IV (and Supergirl!). Contains very candid comments from much of the cast and crew involved in the making of all the films. Of most interest are the segments that deal with the Donner/Lester/Salkind madness that occurred during the making of the first two films.
Look, Up In The Sky! The Amazking Story of Superman - this great documentary chronicles Superman's history throughout time since his birth to the present across all forms of media including newspaper, comic book, television, film, musical, etc., etc.
All movies save Superman Returns have commentaries (6 in total). Returns makes up for its lack of commentary with an expansive 3 hour making of documentary.
And that's just the best stuff, there's loads of more extra features piled into this set. Here is a complete list of all extra features.
This is one of those sets that promises 20 hours of extra features, but I bet there's even more than that. Honestly, there's so much stuff here, some things you've never thought about, but end up really liking (Warner Brothers Cartoons featuring Bugs Bunny and Daffy that spoof Superman) and some things you've never thought about, and still wish you didn't think about (The Adventures of Superpup - a live action TV puppet show with Superman as a dog/pupper, you've gotta see it to believe it).
For any Superman fan, this is truly the Ultimate in DVD sets. Even if you're only a fan of the Donner/Reeve Superman 1 & 2, and hate the rest, the extra bonus material justifies the extra money you'll be paying. If you do the math, you're really not paying that much more. And gosh darnit, that shiny metal box sure is purdy.
Friday, December 15, 2006
The REAL Superman Returns, A Fan's Appreciation of Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut
This review is taken from the viewpoint of a person (me), who's favorite movies since his childhood were the first two Superman films. Even today I hold them in very high regard. Also, you may understand this review more if you have an understanding of what happened with the first two Superman films, very accurately described in detail and at length at the Superman Cinema homepage. Give it a read, it's very interesting especially since we've got a quarter century of hindsight. Now onto the review/appreciation.
A brand new Christopher Reeve Superman movie. If that line alone doesn't sell you on this, then you, kind sir, or ma'am have no heart. Forget Bryan Singer's well-intentioned but ultimately dissapointing Superman Returns, this is where the REAL Superman Returns.
I don't remember much of what my science professor taught me in high school, but what little I did retain was all wrong, because Margot Kidder and Christopher Reeve show us really what real chemistry looks like. You can't just put some hot broad in a film and expect chemistry like that (See Jessica Alba in Fantastic Four....actually on second thought, don't). Unlike Alba, Kidder was not a knockout-type beauty, but had more of a subtle beauty, she had a nice smile that wasn't really big or overly exaggerated like we tend to see these days and her eyes could catch you off guard at so many turns. As much as Reeve brought to Superman, Kidder was right there behind him. Without her, Superman would have been and is a completely different beast, and an ugly one at that.
Christopher Reeve is most heartwarming and charming as Superman and Clark Kent. He exudes a quirky attitude as Clark Kent, and an airtight confidence as Superman. He is so likable I can't help but smile everytime he's on the screen. His portrayal of Superman and Clark Kent has been so ingrained in my mind, that everytime I read a Superman comic book I hear his voice saying the words on the page inside my head.
One of the most pleasant surprises was the never before seen Marlon Brando footage. Now I know why I was so dissapointed with the Brando footage in Superman Returns, it's because they saved all the good stuff for this flick. The scenes with Brando and Reeve are so essential to the film that its a surprise the theatrical version worked without it. In fact, their many new scenes together address one of the biggest plot holes in the theatrical version, namely how Clark/Superman gets his powers back after he gives them up for Lois.
Among the other new scenes of note are a new opening, where Lois thinks she figures out that Clark's really Superman. The second time's a charm though as another new scene shows her finally figuring out Superman's true identity. It's a lot more clever and rewarding than the original theatrical version where Clark just stumbles into the fireplace.
Gone are some of the things that most fans have always hated about the theatrical version. The two biggest are the finger beams that the Phantom Zone criminals use, and their much shortened invasion of a small American town. The former because it was just seemed silly and untrue of the comic, and the latter because of its heavy-handed way in which it protrayed the small U.S. town as being populated with stereotypical hicks.
The movie isn't without it's problems. While most of the new footage fits like a glove, some of the it sticks out like a sore thumb. Unfortunate but forgivable given the circumstances. It's a real shame this movie can never be fully completed. It brings up the interesting question, how awesome would the Superman series have been if Donner had stayed on board to guide the ship? Donner says himself that he would've been in for the long run if he had the opportunity.
For people who never enjoyed or watched Superman, you might watch this and wonder what all the fuss is about. This isn't for you, this is for the hardcore fans of the original films, who believe it or not, are actually the biggest reason this "new" film even exists. This is proof positive that online fan campaigns CAN work, when done PROPERLY. For fans of Superman, Christopher Reeve and Richard Donner, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut is a revelation. It's something we've wanted forever, but never truly thought we would ever get. And now that it's here, we're pinching ourselves. This is a must buy. You'll believe again that a man can fly.
A brand new Christopher Reeve Superman movie. If that line alone doesn't sell you on this, then you, kind sir, or ma'am have no heart. Forget Bryan Singer's well-intentioned but ultimately dissapointing Superman Returns, this is where the REAL Superman Returns.
I don't remember much of what my science professor taught me in high school, but what little I did retain was all wrong, because Margot Kidder and Christopher Reeve show us really what real chemistry looks like. You can't just put some hot broad in a film and expect chemistry like that (See Jessica Alba in Fantastic Four....actually on second thought, don't). Unlike Alba, Kidder was not a knockout-type beauty, but had more of a subtle beauty, she had a nice smile that wasn't really big or overly exaggerated like we tend to see these days and her eyes could catch you off guard at so many turns. As much as Reeve brought to Superman, Kidder was right there behind him. Without her, Superman would have been and is a completely different beast, and an ugly one at that.
Christopher Reeve is most heartwarming and charming as Superman and Clark Kent. He exudes a quirky attitude as Clark Kent, and an airtight confidence as Superman. He is so likable I can't help but smile everytime he's on the screen. His portrayal of Superman and Clark Kent has been so ingrained in my mind, that everytime I read a Superman comic book I hear his voice saying the words on the page inside my head.
One of the most pleasant surprises was the never before seen Marlon Brando footage. Now I know why I was so dissapointed with the Brando footage in Superman Returns, it's because they saved all the good stuff for this flick. The scenes with Brando and Reeve are so essential to the film that its a surprise the theatrical version worked without it. In fact, their many new scenes together address one of the biggest plot holes in the theatrical version, namely how Clark/Superman gets his powers back after he gives them up for Lois.
Among the other new scenes of note are a new opening, where Lois thinks she figures out that Clark's really Superman. The second time's a charm though as another new scene shows her finally figuring out Superman's true identity. It's a lot more clever and rewarding than the original theatrical version where Clark just stumbles into the fireplace.
Gone are some of the things that most fans have always hated about the theatrical version. The two biggest are the finger beams that the Phantom Zone criminals use, and their much shortened invasion of a small American town. The former because it was just seemed silly and untrue of the comic, and the latter because of its heavy-handed way in which it protrayed the small U.S. town as being populated with stereotypical hicks.
The movie isn't without it's problems. While most of the new footage fits like a glove, some of the it sticks out like a sore thumb. Unfortunate but forgivable given the circumstances. It's a real shame this movie can never be fully completed. It brings up the interesting question, how awesome would the Superman series have been if Donner had stayed on board to guide the ship? Donner says himself that he would've been in for the long run if he had the opportunity.
For people who never enjoyed or watched Superman, you might watch this and wonder what all the fuss is about. This isn't for you, this is for the hardcore fans of the original films, who believe it or not, are actually the biggest reason this "new" film even exists. This is proof positive that online fan campaigns CAN work, when done PROPERLY. For fans of Superman, Christopher Reeve and Richard Donner, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut is a revelation. It's something we've wanted forever, but never truly thought we would ever get. And now that it's here, we're pinching ourselves. This is a must buy. You'll believe again that a man can fly.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Game Review: Gears of War
This game is just so good, I had to give it it's own post.
Gears of War is one of those games that had so much hype around it that people not familiar with games or remotely interested in the Xbox 360 know about. This is usually a deathbell for a game, as too much hype can be a bad thing. But in the case of Gears of War, it lives up to it, for the most part.
Let's start with the good. First up, Graphics. Exceptional. Quite possibly the best graphics I've seen on a home video game console to date. Some of the in-game cinematics looked almost like movie quality CGI. The shadows, the lighting, the way the blood splatters, is extremely impressive. All with a steady framerate to boot.
Sound and music is also exceptional. When you rev up the chainsaw and slice someone in half, you can actually feel it through the sound. The developers made the smart choice to employ an exceptional orchestral score, again adding to the feel of a big budget Hollywood blockbuster-type production.
All these things add up to create a campaign mode that is atmospheric, action-packed, and most important of all, fun! The campaign can be played in single-player or cooperatively with another player, which can be done online and offline. Cooperatively is definitely the way to go. This game is meant to be played with others working together as a team. In single-player, your A.I. teammates just don't cut it as they seem to die way too much, and when you try to go and save them, that's when you end up getting killed.
The real meat of this game's replay value is its online multiplayer where you team up with up to 3 others in 4 vs. 4 matches. While I love those 20 and 30+ multiplayer deathmatches, there was just too much chaos, which I guess is also part of the appeal. But in Gears, they chose to go with a lean and mean multiplayer by going 4 on 4, a number which is actually perfect for this type of game. To succeed in multiplayer, you must work well as a time. It's all about communication, taking cover, suppressing fire and flanking. There is no bigger satisfaction than sneaking up behind an unsuspecting victim and chainsawing them into 2 bloody pieces. A close second would be calling a satellite strike down on your opponent. And of course, there's always the smile-inducing headshot with the sniper rifle.
Now for the bad, about the only thing I can fault this game on its short length and anticlimactic ending that no doubt sets up a sequel. While it was short, I liked that the campaign had action at every turn. There was no filler, no library levels, no boring dungeon-crawling-random-battle power leveling. It's short, but it is so sweet you'll get a cavity. (Yep, I love my lame cliches.)
This game earns its M rating, and rather peculiarly warns like most games today that "Your game experience may change during online play." Now this is a warning they usually apply to E or T rated games because of certain people who could possibly swear during online play, something game companies have no control over. However, Gears is already an M rated game, so will the online play change into an E-rated game?
It may have taken a year, but the Xbox 360 finally has its killer app. For those who have an Xbox 360, you've already got this. For all others, it's time to get one.
Gears of War is one of those games that had so much hype around it that people not familiar with games or remotely interested in the Xbox 360 know about. This is usually a deathbell for a game, as too much hype can be a bad thing. But in the case of Gears of War, it lives up to it, for the most part.
Let's start with the good. First up, Graphics. Exceptional. Quite possibly the best graphics I've seen on a home video game console to date. Some of the in-game cinematics looked almost like movie quality CGI. The shadows, the lighting, the way the blood splatters, is extremely impressive. All with a steady framerate to boot.
Sound and music is also exceptional. When you rev up the chainsaw and slice someone in half, you can actually feel it through the sound. The developers made the smart choice to employ an exceptional orchestral score, again adding to the feel of a big budget Hollywood blockbuster-type production.
All these things add up to create a campaign mode that is atmospheric, action-packed, and most important of all, fun! The campaign can be played in single-player or cooperatively with another player, which can be done online and offline. Cooperatively is definitely the way to go. This game is meant to be played with others working together as a team. In single-player, your A.I. teammates just don't cut it as they seem to die way too much, and when you try to go and save them, that's when you end up getting killed.
The real meat of this game's replay value is its online multiplayer where you team up with up to 3 others in 4 vs. 4 matches. While I love those 20 and 30+ multiplayer deathmatches, there was just too much chaos, which I guess is also part of the appeal. But in Gears, they chose to go with a lean and mean multiplayer by going 4 on 4, a number which is actually perfect for this type of game. To succeed in multiplayer, you must work well as a time. It's all about communication, taking cover, suppressing fire and flanking. There is no bigger satisfaction than sneaking up behind an unsuspecting victim and chainsawing them into 2 bloody pieces. A close second would be calling a satellite strike down on your opponent. And of course, there's always the smile-inducing headshot with the sniper rifle.
Now for the bad, about the only thing I can fault this game on its short length and anticlimactic ending that no doubt sets up a sequel. While it was short, I liked that the campaign had action at every turn. There was no filler, no library levels, no boring dungeon-crawling-random-battle power leveling. It's short, but it is so sweet you'll get a cavity. (Yep, I love my lame cliches.)
This game earns its M rating, and rather peculiarly warns like most games today that "Your game experience may change during online play." Now this is a warning they usually apply to E or T rated games because of certain people who could possibly swear during online play, something game companies have no control over. However, Gears is already an M rated game, so will the online play change into an E-rated game?
It may have taken a year, but the Xbox 360 finally has its killer app. For those who have an Xbox 360, you've already got this. For all others, it's time to get one.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Movie/DVD Review: Seven Samurai
One of the greatest movies of all-time finally gets a DVD treatment worthy of its legendary status. I have held out on getting Seven Samurai on DVD since I first got my DVD player, sometime in 2000. The original barebones DVD was felt by many to be worthy of purchase for the film alone, no matter what its quality was, as long as it was watchable, afterall, it was Seven Samurai. However, I held off because I heard of rumours of a re-release with new features, new subtitle translation, and improved audio and video quality. Fast forward to September 2006 and our prayers were finally answered as the best DVD production company in the world, the Criterion Collection, finally releases a new 3-disc DVD of Seven Samurai, with upgraded video quality, and a smattering of quality extras.
About the movie (the simple version): Set in 16th century Japan, a small village hires a group of samurai to help protect themselves from bandits who have stolen and ransacked their village, killing some villagers in the process. The movie is long (almost 3.5 hours), but it's never boring, and I found myself sucked into this deeply engrossing movie. Like all great movies, it just gets better everytime you watch it. And everytime you watch, you find something new to like about it that you didn't catch before.
Criterion's DVD features a brand new restoration that simply looks incredible compared to previous releases. It's not perfect, but for a film made in 1954, it has never looked any better. But don't take my word for it, here's some comparisons of screen captures from various DVDs of the film at DVD Beaver. The audio is presented in original Japanese mono or Dolby Surround. The score is conveyed well but voices can seem harsh and tinny at certain times. Again, technological limits at the time of its making limit the quality it could've been. That being said, it's not a big deal and remains very listenable and watchable.
Extras include two informative full-length commentaries, one by Japanese film expert Michael Jeck, and another featuring a roundtable of several film scholars. Also included is a lengthy documentary on the making of Seven Samurai filled with much insight by surviving cast and crew. It does not include any comments from Kurosawa himself as it was made after his passing in 1998, however that slight is belayed by the inclusion of a two hour interview with Akira Kurosawa where he recounts nearly his entire career in filmmaking. Finally there is also an hour long documentary called "Seven Samurai: Origins and Influences" which looks at the film's influences from other cinema, as well as the Samurai tradition and lifestyle.
You ever see those DVDs that scream at you "HOURS AND HOURS OF EXTRA FEATURES" and when you finally see them, it's either grossly inflated, or complete dreck? With this release, you not only get quantity, but you also get quality. Criterion's releases tend to be more pricey than the average DVD release, but they're worth it. It's obvious that this company is made up of people who love movies. Each movie they release is done with the utmost care and respect, with quality being their primary goal.
For people who owned previous versions of this movie, this is well-worth the upgrade, and for those who've never owned this movie, a true movie lover's collection is not complete without it.
About the movie (the simple version): Set in 16th century Japan, a small village hires a group of samurai to help protect themselves from bandits who have stolen and ransacked their village, killing some villagers in the process. The movie is long (almost 3.5 hours), but it's never boring, and I found myself sucked into this deeply engrossing movie. Like all great movies, it just gets better everytime you watch it. And everytime you watch, you find something new to like about it that you didn't catch before.
Criterion's DVD features a brand new restoration that simply looks incredible compared to previous releases. It's not perfect, but for a film made in 1954, it has never looked any better. But don't take my word for it, here's some comparisons of screen captures from various DVDs of the film at DVD Beaver. The audio is presented in original Japanese mono or Dolby Surround. The score is conveyed well but voices can seem harsh and tinny at certain times. Again, technological limits at the time of its making limit the quality it could've been. That being said, it's not a big deal and remains very listenable and watchable.
Extras include two informative full-length commentaries, one by Japanese film expert Michael Jeck, and another featuring a roundtable of several film scholars. Also included is a lengthy documentary on the making of Seven Samurai filled with much insight by surviving cast and crew. It does not include any comments from Kurosawa himself as it was made after his passing in 1998, however that slight is belayed by the inclusion of a two hour interview with Akira Kurosawa where he recounts nearly his entire career in filmmaking. Finally there is also an hour long documentary called "Seven Samurai: Origins and Influences" which looks at the film's influences from other cinema, as well as the Samurai tradition and lifestyle.
You ever see those DVDs that scream at you "HOURS AND HOURS OF EXTRA FEATURES" and when you finally see them, it's either grossly inflated, or complete dreck? With this release, you not only get quantity, but you also get quality. Criterion's releases tend to be more pricey than the average DVD release, but they're worth it. It's obvious that this company is made up of people who love movies. Each movie they release is done with the utmost care and respect, with quality being their primary goal.
For people who owned previous versions of this movie, this is well-worth the upgrade, and for those who've never owned this movie, a true movie lover's collection is not complete without it.
Monday, October 23, 2006
The Hit List: Video Games Galore
I like to consider myself a Jack of All Trades, a world traveler of sorts who enjoys the many various forms of entertainment, so with some movie, comic, and music reviews already done, I figured it was time to review some video games.
Lego Star Wars II (On All Major Systems) - the original Lego Star Wars was one of those fantastic games that not only thrived on concept, but in execution. The game not only appealed due to its idea, Legos + Star Wars, but it was also a pretty damn fun game! The second is even better, if only for the fact that it's based on the Star Wars movies that didn't suck. This is also one of the funniest games I've played in a while, as I was playing through the levels not only to progress further, but to see the great cutscenes the gamemakers made that reproduced memorable Star Wars scene but with lego and no dialogue.
Dead Rising (XBox 360) - why has it taken so long to make this game? A zombie survival game no doubt inspired by (IMO and many others) the best zombie movie of all-time, Dawn of the Dead. So much so in fact, that there's a disclaimer on the game cover that says that the makers of the game were not affiliated with George A. Romero or the producers of Dawn of the Dead in any way. Ok, so you're this photojournalist stuck in a mall full of zombies for 72 hours. This game is oh, so great, but could've been so much better (sequel anyone?). There is so much you can do in the game, but what really kills is what you CAN'T do in the game. That combined with some really moronic A.I. (you've gotta rescue other survivors), and a really ass-backwards save system stop this game from being a classic. And don't get me started on Survival mode. In said mode, you must survive for as long as you possibly can while your health slowly diminishes and food items DO NOT respawn. Now when I first unlocked this mode, I salivated at playing this because it seemed like the real meat and bones, something I could really sink my teeth into. But sadly, there is one major showstopper to this mode: You CAN'T save. You've gotta keep playing for 12+ hours straight with no breaks. I would've played this mode to death, but I'm not prepared to sit on a couch for an entire day to do it. Besides, if I kept my 360 on that long, it would probably melt. That being said, it's still a very good game, and a sequel that fixed said problems would be unbelievably welcome.
Kingdom Hearts II (PlayStation 2) - let's get this out of the way up front, the first Kingdom Hearts, a perfect marriage of Square's Final Fantasy and Disney's animated characters and worlds, is one of my favorite games of all-time. So it is to my dismay that this sequel is so fantastic in some ways, but drops the ball in one of the biggest departments. First, the good, the art and recreations of the many classic disney worlds is fantastic. The 3d-ifications of the 2d animated worlds is spot-on and looks incredible. Particularly, the Mulan, Tron (TRON!!!!), The Nightmare Before Christmas (I would love a standalone game made in the art style of these levels) and black and white Steamboat Willie inspired worlds standout. Now the bad, the gameplay, the battles are just too simple and easy. Now, while it may seem that you are given many options and types of attacks to perform during battles, you could literally button mash your way through this game. That being said, this is still a worthy game, especially for those who love the classic animated disney films.
Clubhouse Games (Nintendo DS) - this is one of those DS games that you will want to keep and play forever. It's made up of a large (40+) collection of various simple board, card and other games such as billiards and bowling. One of the best pick up and play games, you can play it for 5 minutes, or you can play it for hours. Some of the games, especially the non-board and card games have quirky stylus-based controls that aren't very effective and sometimes very annoying. Despite that, this game is still a winner. Not only can you play these games by yourself, but also with others, both online and offline. One of my favorite features of the Nintendo DS is the ability for people to play multiplayer games off a single cartridge, and this game is no exception, as 8 players with DS systems can play off a single game card. In addition, you can also play online over Nintendo's free Wifi service. In addition +1, this game's new in-game pictochat is really fantastic and makes me wish it was the standard pictochat on every DS. Overall, a very robust package, one I'll keep for a good while.
Lego Star Wars II (On All Major Systems) - the original Lego Star Wars was one of those fantastic games that not only thrived on concept, but in execution. The game not only appealed due to its idea, Legos + Star Wars, but it was also a pretty damn fun game! The second is even better, if only for the fact that it's based on the Star Wars movies that didn't suck. This is also one of the funniest games I've played in a while, as I was playing through the levels not only to progress further, but to see the great cutscenes the gamemakers made that reproduced memorable Star Wars scene but with lego and no dialogue.
Dead Rising (XBox 360) - why has it taken so long to make this game? A zombie survival game no doubt inspired by (IMO and many others) the best zombie movie of all-time, Dawn of the Dead. So much so in fact, that there's a disclaimer on the game cover that says that the makers of the game were not affiliated with George A. Romero or the producers of Dawn of the Dead in any way. Ok, so you're this photojournalist stuck in a mall full of zombies for 72 hours. This game is oh, so great, but could've been so much better (sequel anyone?). There is so much you can do in the game, but what really kills is what you CAN'T do in the game. That combined with some really moronic A.I. (you've gotta rescue other survivors), and a really ass-backwards save system stop this game from being a classic. And don't get me started on Survival mode. In said mode, you must survive for as long as you possibly can while your health slowly diminishes and food items DO NOT respawn. Now when I first unlocked this mode, I salivated at playing this because it seemed like the real meat and bones, something I could really sink my teeth into. But sadly, there is one major showstopper to this mode: You CAN'T save. You've gotta keep playing for 12+ hours straight with no breaks. I would've played this mode to death, but I'm not prepared to sit on a couch for an entire day to do it. Besides, if I kept my 360 on that long, it would probably melt. That being said, it's still a very good game, and a sequel that fixed said problems would be unbelievably welcome.
Kingdom Hearts II (PlayStation 2) - let's get this out of the way up front, the first Kingdom Hearts, a perfect marriage of Square's Final Fantasy and Disney's animated characters and worlds, is one of my favorite games of all-time. So it is to my dismay that this sequel is so fantastic in some ways, but drops the ball in one of the biggest departments. First, the good, the art and recreations of the many classic disney worlds is fantastic. The 3d-ifications of the 2d animated worlds is spot-on and looks incredible. Particularly, the Mulan, Tron (TRON!!!!), The Nightmare Before Christmas (I would love a standalone game made in the art style of these levels) and black and white Steamboat Willie inspired worlds standout. Now the bad, the gameplay, the battles are just too simple and easy. Now, while it may seem that you are given many options and types of attacks to perform during battles, you could literally button mash your way through this game. That being said, this is still a worthy game, especially for those who love the classic animated disney films.
Clubhouse Games (Nintendo DS) - this is one of those DS games that you will want to keep and play forever. It's made up of a large (40+) collection of various simple board, card and other games such as billiards and bowling. One of the best pick up and play games, you can play it for 5 minutes, or you can play it for hours. Some of the games, especially the non-board and card games have quirky stylus-based controls that aren't very effective and sometimes very annoying. Despite that, this game is still a winner. Not only can you play these games by yourself, but also with others, both online and offline. One of my favorite features of the Nintendo DS is the ability for people to play multiplayer games off a single cartridge, and this game is no exception, as 8 players with DS systems can play off a single game card. In addition, you can also play online over Nintendo's free Wifi service. In addition +1, this game's new in-game pictochat is really fantastic and makes me wish it was the standard pictochat on every DS. Overall, a very robust package, one I'll keep for a good while.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Graphic Novel Review: Pride of Baghdad
Written by Brian K. Vaughan, Art by Niko Henrichon.
Suggested For Mature Readers.
Brian K. Vaughan is no doubt one of the most prolific and best comic book writers out there. With the apoalyptic Y: The Last Man, politically-savvy Ex Machina, an extended run on Ultimate X-Men, and my personal favorite about a ragtag group of teenage superheroes, Runaways, he is no doubt one of my favorite writers in the biz, one who can almost write any kind of comic book and in any style. So when it was announced that he had an original graphic novel to be published recently, I jumped in not knowing anything about what the book was about, but knew it would be great because Vaughan wrote it.
And I was not disappointed. Pride of Baghdad is based on the true story of a small group (or pride in lion terms) who escape from the Baghdad Zoo during the 2003 U.S. led bombings. What we get is a multi-layered, textured story following 4 lions as they "escape" their Zoo surroundings and make it out into the "free" world. I don't want to talk about the story too much, so as not to give away the major points, but that is the gist of it in a nutshell.
It is at many times, endearing, playful, thoughtful and heartbreaking, sometimes all at once. The final page will leave you angry, or sad, or probably both depending on your interpretation of it. My view of the war has always been against it, and the reaction and fallout from this book, while being mainly positive, has created much heated debate over its message or messages, as has the real war that this book recreates.
I'm not quite sure what Vaughan really set out to say, most likely he wanted to leave it open to interpretation for the viewer. This, to me just added to the thoughtfulness of the story. It will make you think, and it will make you argue, and that is one thing comic books very rarely make you do.
All of this is brought to life by the incredible artwork of Niko Henrichon. You are hooked onto every page of this book, as it alternates showing us the highest of highs in life, and the lowest of lows. Writing is one thing, but in comics, the art can make or break a story, and this one makes it.
This graphic novel has been put out by DC Comics Vertigo imprint, and contains violence and profanity and is definitely NOT recommended for kids. The Lion King it is not, but well worth your time and money it certainly is.
Suggested For Mature Readers.
Brian K. Vaughan is no doubt one of the most prolific and best comic book writers out there. With the apoalyptic Y: The Last Man, politically-savvy Ex Machina, an extended run on Ultimate X-Men, and my personal favorite about a ragtag group of teenage superheroes, Runaways, he is no doubt one of my favorite writers in the biz, one who can almost write any kind of comic book and in any style. So when it was announced that he had an original graphic novel to be published recently, I jumped in not knowing anything about what the book was about, but knew it would be great because Vaughan wrote it.
And I was not disappointed. Pride of Baghdad is based on the true story of a small group (or pride in lion terms) who escape from the Baghdad Zoo during the 2003 U.S. led bombings. What we get is a multi-layered, textured story following 4 lions as they "escape" their Zoo surroundings and make it out into the "free" world. I don't want to talk about the story too much, so as not to give away the major points, but that is the gist of it in a nutshell.
It is at many times, endearing, playful, thoughtful and heartbreaking, sometimes all at once. The final page will leave you angry, or sad, or probably both depending on your interpretation of it. My view of the war has always been against it, and the reaction and fallout from this book, while being mainly positive, has created much heated debate over its message or messages, as has the real war that this book recreates.
I'm not quite sure what Vaughan really set out to say, most likely he wanted to leave it open to interpretation for the viewer. This, to me just added to the thoughtfulness of the story. It will make you think, and it will make you argue, and that is one thing comic books very rarely make you do.
All of this is brought to life by the incredible artwork of Niko Henrichon. You are hooked onto every page of this book, as it alternates showing us the highest of highs in life, and the lowest of lows. Writing is one thing, but in comics, the art can make or break a story, and this one makes it.
This graphic novel has been put out by DC Comics Vertigo imprint, and contains violence and profanity and is definitely NOT recommended for kids. The Lion King it is not, but well worth your time and money it certainly is.
Monday, September 25, 2006
It's Raining Free Stuff
Check out what I won this week.
This begs the question: What Will I Win Next?
Stay tuned and ye shall find out.
This begs the question: What Will I Win Next?
Stay tuned and ye shall find out.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Your Reason for Getting a Hi-Def Setup
After seeing the new trailer for Nine Inch Nails' new live DVD/HD-DVD/Blu-Ray, Early 2007 can't come soon enough. The quality looks amazing, and I for one, cannot wait to see NIN is high-definition!
This also begs the question, where is that Closure DVD??!! Originally scheduled for Fall 2004, it is already 2 years later....
Now all we need a a similar dvd for NIN's Summer 2006 tour.
This also begs the question, where is that Closure DVD??!! Originally scheduled for Fall 2004, it is already 2 years later....
Now all we need a a similar dvd for NIN's Summer 2006 tour.
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