Because you demanded it, here it is!
If you like it, please leave a positive comment, because there's more where that came from!
Sunday, February 18, 2007
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.
Monday, September 18, 2006
The Dark Knight: A Wishlist
2005 saw the return of the Dark Knight in the definitive film version of Batman. Fans rejoiced, and critics heaped it with well-deserved praise. Having not been a fan of the previous 4 Batman films, Batman Begins was a revelation, finally, they got it right. Due to the critical and commercial success of Begins, Warner Brothers has gone forward with a sequel tentatively due for release in the summer of 2008. Here is a little personal wishlist I put together that I think are keys to keeping this franchise strong.
1. Christian Bale - Perhaps second only to Christopher Reeve in terms of perfect comic book movie casting. He IS Bruce Wayne, he IS Batman. He not only looks the part, he's got the acting chops to match those looks. Apparently he is signed for 3, but if he decides not to don the cowl beyond that, I would recommend not making any Batman films (at least for a little while).
2. Christopher Nolan - he's on board for this, but lock him in for more. His hiring was a bit of an eyebrow raiser, but upon reflection was genius and almost as crucial as Bale's casting. Note to big studios: Further reflection also notes that the best superhero movies have been directed by non-bignames who began their careers with small independent character-based movies. See: Superman (Richard Donner), X-Men (Bryan Singer), Spider-Man (Sam Raimi). Also note, the loss of the director can be catastrophic. See: X-Men 3, Superman 3 & 4. Like Bale, if Nolan doesn't wanna do another Batman, you might as well not make another one at all.
3. _NO_ Sidekicks - Do NOT introduce Robin, Batgirl, or anyone else that could take the focus away from Batman. The movie is called The Dark Knight, not The Dark Knight & Friends.
4. Gary Oldman / James Gordon - Another of the crucial support beams of the first movie. I envision the new Batman series following Gordon and Batman's friendship and Gordon's ascendency throughout the police ranks culminating with him becoming the Commissioner somewhere down the line in maybe the 3rd or 4th movie.
5. 1 Big Villain and 1 Supporting Villain - one of the pitfalls of the first four Batman films were too many villains, and too much focus on the villains. Batman Begins struck a perfect chord with 1 major villain and 1 supporting villain.
6. Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard - they teamed to do the magnificent score for the first film. Will they come back? Let's hope so. Their score succeeds greatly in the area of emotional depth, it underlined the tone of the movie without overpowering it. Also, they are masters of their craft and knew how to build the tension by building the beats of the music. It's hard to explain, but if you give the score a listen to on its own, its very apparent. Personal favorite tracks from the score: Eptesicus, Molossus, Lasiurus.
7. A Strong Script - perhaps the biggest strength of the first film was its script. They took note of everything that didn't work in the previous Batman films, and took notice of what made Batman work. They did the definitive film origin of Batman and set the seeds for future films.
8. Lose Katie Holmes - you know what they say, everyone can be good in the right role. Rachel Dawes was not the right role for her. She was clearly miscast, she had no chemistry with Bale, but thankfully her role was small enough and competently done enough that she did not ruin the first film.
9. Great Supporting Characters - the casting of Morgan Freeman & Michael Caine lent an air of nobility and credibility to a "comic book movie." Comic books aren't just people with super powers flying around and beating the crap out of each other, and the casting of these well-known and well-respected actors may have gotten some people to see and enjoy the film who probably would normally not have seen such a film in the first place.
10. Not so choppy action scenes - As exciting and well done as the Begins' climax was, the action was just too shaky and choppily-edited. Honestly, Spider-Man 2's train action sequence made Batman Begins train sequence look amateurish by comparison. Of course, the action in Batman is more grounded in reality and could never be as high-flying as a Superman or Spider-Man film, but it would be nice to pull the camera back a little and tone down the shakiness.
I have a similar wishlist for the Fantastic Four sequel, but because it's so small, it doesn't warrant another post, so here it is in full: Don't Make One.
1. Christian Bale - Perhaps second only to Christopher Reeve in terms of perfect comic book movie casting. He IS Bruce Wayne, he IS Batman. He not only looks the part, he's got the acting chops to match those looks. Apparently he is signed for 3, but if he decides not to don the cowl beyond that, I would recommend not making any Batman films (at least for a little while).
2. Christopher Nolan - he's on board for this, but lock him in for more. His hiring was a bit of an eyebrow raiser, but upon reflection was genius and almost as crucial as Bale's casting. Note to big studios: Further reflection also notes that the best superhero movies have been directed by non-bignames who began their careers with small independent character-based movies. See: Superman (Richard Donner), X-Men (Bryan Singer), Spider-Man (Sam Raimi). Also note, the loss of the director can be catastrophic. See: X-Men 3, Superman 3 & 4. Like Bale, if Nolan doesn't wanna do another Batman, you might as well not make another one at all.
3. _NO_ Sidekicks - Do NOT introduce Robin, Batgirl, or anyone else that could take the focus away from Batman. The movie is called The Dark Knight, not The Dark Knight & Friends.
4. Gary Oldman / James Gordon - Another of the crucial support beams of the first movie. I envision the new Batman series following Gordon and Batman's friendship and Gordon's ascendency throughout the police ranks culminating with him becoming the Commissioner somewhere down the line in maybe the 3rd or 4th movie.
5. 1 Big Villain and 1 Supporting Villain - one of the pitfalls of the first four Batman films were too many villains, and too much focus on the villains. Batman Begins struck a perfect chord with 1 major villain and 1 supporting villain.
6. Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard - they teamed to do the magnificent score for the first film. Will they come back? Let's hope so. Their score succeeds greatly in the area of emotional depth, it underlined the tone of the movie without overpowering it. Also, they are masters of their craft and knew how to build the tension by building the beats of the music. It's hard to explain, but if you give the score a listen to on its own, its very apparent. Personal favorite tracks from the score: Eptesicus, Molossus, Lasiurus.
7. A Strong Script - perhaps the biggest strength of the first film was its script. They took note of everything that didn't work in the previous Batman films, and took notice of what made Batman work. They did the definitive film origin of Batman and set the seeds for future films.
8. Lose Katie Holmes - you know what they say, everyone can be good in the right role. Rachel Dawes was not the right role for her. She was clearly miscast, she had no chemistry with Bale, but thankfully her role was small enough and competently done enough that she did not ruin the first film.
9. Great Supporting Characters - the casting of Morgan Freeman & Michael Caine lent an air of nobility and credibility to a "comic book movie." Comic books aren't just people with super powers flying around and beating the crap out of each other, and the casting of these well-known and well-respected actors may have gotten some people to see and enjoy the film who probably would normally not have seen such a film in the first place.
10. Not so choppy action scenes - As exciting and well done as the Begins' climax was, the action was just too shaky and choppily-edited. Honestly, Spider-Man 2's train action sequence made Batman Begins train sequence look amateurish by comparison. Of course, the action in Batman is more grounded in reality and could never be as high-flying as a Superman or Spider-Man film, but it would be nice to pull the camera back a little and tone down the shakiness.
I have a similar wishlist for the Fantastic Four sequel, but because it's so small, it doesn't warrant another post, so here it is in full: Don't Make One.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
The Hit List
Rather than write a long review of a single movie, I'll give a short paragraph on a number of recent TV shows, DVDs and movies I've enjoyed recently.
Veronica Mars: Season Two - my favorite show on TV right now. Superbly acted and written, this show follows the title character as she endeavors through high school. She's smart, sassy and one hell of a detective. The first season was a tightly woven collection of 22 episodes with an overlaying arc that carried the whole season. The second season was even tighter with each episode essential to the season's big arc. Hearts break and surprises abound. Buffy fans, this should be your new devotion. It's always on the cusp of cancellation, so buy the DVDs and watch it when it airs on the CW in October, and spread the word!
Murderball - a really, really great documentary about the sport of wheelchair rugby, wherein the athletes can smash into each with bonecrushing results, hence the name Murderball. There's some real drama here, the kind you can't make up where a former American player, formerly considered the best in the world is cut from the team as he became older, and consequently slower. Feeling betrayed, he becomes head coach of Canada and helps them defeat the American juggernaut. "How does it feel to betray your country" he is rhetorically asked. A very insightful movie that will open your mind and smash your expectations of "lesser-abled" individuals. As one of the subjects says himself "I've done more in my chair than I've ever been able to do walking." Very compelling stuff.
Wonderfalls: The Complete Series - A great show with a great cast with a lead actress I defy you not to fall in love with or at least develop a small crush on. Of course it was on the Fox network and cancelled after 4 episodes. 13 were made and they're all in this set with a heaping of extras. It's a very quirky comedy that requires you to suspend your disbelief on a certain
Short Cuts: Criterion Collection - this 2 disc set is loaded with quality extras. You know movies like Crash that have large casts that interweave several stories together? Robert Altman is the king of them, and this is one of his masterpieces. 3+ hours long, but never boring, and always engaging.
We Were Soldiers - I remember the first time I saw this I didn't like it that much, but I didn't hate it either. I think it was because around the time the film was made, we were just overloaded with war movies. But the second time around was much much better. The movie is almost one big action scene where the audience is dropped into the middle of a particularly difficult battle. A very, very good movie. If you overlooked this the first time, give it another shot.
A Very Long Engagement - bought this recently because I saw it for cheap, but I would've gladly paid 10 times for this gem. From the director and star of Amelie, but don't think this is Amelie 2. A romantic epic set in WW1 follows Mathilde (Audrey Tautou) as she searches for her lover, despite being told of his death. Audrey Tautou has quickly become one of my favorite actresses and I've only seen her in a few movies. This is one of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen, and the cinematography on display in this movie will leave you breathless.
Superman: The Animated Series - Vol. 3 - The last and best set of this animated show, while not the definitive Superman, is still extremely enjoyable. Kudos to the producers for ending the show on a note that isn't typically "Superman" but fits with where the show was headed, a very gutsy move especially for a character not known for being dark.
Justice League - Season 1 - more enjoyable animated goodness from the guys that brought us the Batman, Superman and Batman Beyond Animated series. While this is probably the worst set of anything from the whole Paul Dini/Bruce Timm DC animated universe, it does have a few gems (Justice Guild!) and it also introduces us to my new favorite JLAer, Hawkgirl.
Justice League - Season 2 - the producers sat down and took all the bad parts of the first season of Justice League and fixed them. They kick things up a notch right from the very beginning and carry that momentum all the way to the slambang 3-part finale Starcrossed that really sets the tone for the future, and IMO, the best of anything they've done, Justice League Unlimited. October 24th can't come soon enough (Justice League Unlimited Season 1 releases then).
Born On The Fourth On July - got this in the Ultimate Oliver Stone collection, and this was the first flick I watched from it, because it is one of my all-time favorites. Forget all that Scientology and Katie Holmes bullshit, anyone who doesn't think Tom Cruise is a great actor hasn't seen this film. IMO, the best anti-war movie ever made. One of those movies that has a timeless message that's just as relevant now and maybe even moreso now than at the time it was made, and the time it portrayed.
Various Buster Keaton Short Films: Convict 13, Daydreams, Cops, The Playhouse, Hard Luck, The Blacksmith, The Electric House, The Goat, My Wife's Relations, and the list goes on and on - Let's get this straight upfront. Buster Keaton is a genius, he is one of the innovators of visual humour in the 20th century. He's been copied, studied and idolized so much by modern day actors from Jackie Chan to Johnny Depp. Many people see his gags used in modern day movies and think to themselves how original they are. Well, he did that back into the 1920s. Now that is really something for someone to still be original almost a century later. I could talk on and on about Buster Keaton because he's one of the few people I've truly idolized, so I'll just leave it at that. Go find his movies! They are frequently available for free from your local library! You can't beat that.
Wedding Crashers - Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughan are pretty much given free reign to really show off their comedic abilities to the fullest here. This is one of those movies where I would think about a joke that happened earlier and just laugh out loud even when something unfunny was going on. Rachel McAdams is great (wouldn't she be great as Susan Storm - Invisible Girl in Fantastic Four?). She has 2 very rare assets among actresses today, beauty AND acting ability.
Land of the Dead - Forget every other zombie movie. When it comes to zombies, no one does it better than George A. Romero. He's the real master, he created the genre, and no one else has even come close to what he's done. This movie wasn't just good, it was awesome and it just plain rocked. Please, please let there be more Romero zombie goodness. This is almost like a Romero best of mix tape; it's got action, drama, adventure, great ideas, and explores both the human and zombie aspects of living in the new world. Overall, an extremely satisfying movie.
Day of the Dead - Having seen Land of the Dead and enjoying the heck out of it, I decided to go back and give a second chance to Romero's only film which I disliked. With an open mind, I enjoyed and respected this film so much more. I think my original fault the first time was that I expected a film more akin to Night or Dawn. But what Day tries to do is so much different than those films. In this film, Romero really tries to deconstruct zombies and deconstructing the whole human-zombie differentiation. It's more of a talky-thinky movie unlike the more action and drama oriented Night and Dawn. I still place Day as the weakest of Romero's zombie films, but now I like it and respect it much more than I use to.
Once a Thief - A lot of people see Chow Yun Fat as this slick and cool character from films like The Killer and Hard Boiled. As great as he is at playing the slick and cool character, CYF may be even better at the comedic roles, and in this movie he gets to show off his more comedic side. Not to be confused with the far inferior english language remake, also made by Woo.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang - A smartly written dark comedy starring two great character actors, Robert Downey, Jr. & Val Kilmer. I'm really beginning to like these guys more and more as they move away from standard Hollywood fair and towards sharply written, dialogue driven independent movies. Oh, and Michelle Monaghan sizzles, she could be the typical Hollywood big star if she wanted to be, but I hope she sticks with these little treasures.
Veronica Mars: Season Two - my favorite show on TV right now. Superbly acted and written, this show follows the title character as she endeavors through high school. She's smart, sassy and one hell of a detective. The first season was a tightly woven collection of 22 episodes with an overlaying arc that carried the whole season. The second season was even tighter with each episode essential to the season's big arc. Hearts break and surprises abound. Buffy fans, this should be your new devotion. It's always on the cusp of cancellation, so buy the DVDs and watch it when it airs on the CW in October, and spread the word!
Murderball - a really, really great documentary about the sport of wheelchair rugby, wherein the athletes can smash into each with bonecrushing results, hence the name Murderball. There's some real drama here, the kind you can't make up where a former American player, formerly considered the best in the world is cut from the team as he became older, and consequently slower. Feeling betrayed, he becomes head coach of Canada and helps them defeat the American juggernaut. "How does it feel to betray your country" he is rhetorically asked. A very insightful movie that will open your mind and smash your expectations of "lesser-abled" individuals. As one of the subjects says himself "I've done more in my chair than I've ever been able to do walking." Very compelling stuff.
Wonderfalls: The Complete Series - A great show with a great cast with a lead actress I defy you not to fall in love with or at least develop a small crush on. Of course it was on the Fox network and cancelled after 4 episodes. 13 were made and they're all in this set with a heaping of extras. It's a very quirky comedy that requires you to suspend your disbelief on a certain
Short Cuts: Criterion Collection - this 2 disc set is loaded with quality extras. You know movies like Crash that have large casts that interweave several stories together? Robert Altman is the king of them, and this is one of his masterpieces. 3+ hours long, but never boring, and always engaging.
We Were Soldiers - I remember the first time I saw this I didn't like it that much, but I didn't hate it either. I think it was because around the time the film was made, we were just overloaded with war movies. But the second time around was much much better. The movie is almost one big action scene where the audience is dropped into the middle of a particularly difficult battle. A very, very good movie. If you overlooked this the first time, give it another shot.
A Very Long Engagement - bought this recently because I saw it for cheap, but I would've gladly paid 10 times for this gem. From the director and star of Amelie, but don't think this is Amelie 2. A romantic epic set in WW1 follows Mathilde (Audrey Tautou) as she searches for her lover, despite being told of his death. Audrey Tautou has quickly become one of my favorite actresses and I've only seen her in a few movies. This is one of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen, and the cinematography on display in this movie will leave you breathless.
Superman: The Animated Series - Vol. 3 - The last and best set of this animated show, while not the definitive Superman, is still extremely enjoyable. Kudos to the producers for ending the show on a note that isn't typically "Superman" but fits with where the show was headed, a very gutsy move especially for a character not known for being dark.
Justice League - Season 1 - more enjoyable animated goodness from the guys that brought us the Batman, Superman and Batman Beyond Animated series. While this is probably the worst set of anything from the whole Paul Dini/Bruce Timm DC animated universe, it does have a few gems (Justice Guild!) and it also introduces us to my new favorite JLAer, Hawkgirl.
Justice League - Season 2 - the producers sat down and took all the bad parts of the first season of Justice League and fixed them. They kick things up a notch right from the very beginning and carry that momentum all the way to the slambang 3-part finale Starcrossed that really sets the tone for the future, and IMO, the best of anything they've done, Justice League Unlimited. October 24th can't come soon enough (Justice League Unlimited Season 1 releases then).
Born On The Fourth On July - got this in the Ultimate Oliver Stone collection, and this was the first flick I watched from it, because it is one of my all-time favorites. Forget all that Scientology and Katie Holmes bullshit, anyone who doesn't think Tom Cruise is a great actor hasn't seen this film. IMO, the best anti-war movie ever made. One of those movies that has a timeless message that's just as relevant now and maybe even moreso now than at the time it was made, and the time it portrayed.
Various Buster Keaton Short Films: Convict 13, Daydreams, Cops, The Playhouse, Hard Luck, The Blacksmith, The Electric House, The Goat, My Wife's Relations, and the list goes on and on - Let's get this straight upfront. Buster Keaton is a genius, he is one of the innovators of visual humour in the 20th century. He's been copied, studied and idolized so much by modern day actors from Jackie Chan to Johnny Depp. Many people see his gags used in modern day movies and think to themselves how original they are. Well, he did that back into the 1920s. Now that is really something for someone to still be original almost a century later. I could talk on and on about Buster Keaton because he's one of the few people I've truly idolized, so I'll just leave it at that. Go find his movies! They are frequently available for free from your local library! You can't beat that.
Wedding Crashers - Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughan are pretty much given free reign to really show off their comedic abilities to the fullest here. This is one of those movies where I would think about a joke that happened earlier and just laugh out loud even when something unfunny was going on. Rachel McAdams is great (wouldn't she be great as Susan Storm - Invisible Girl in Fantastic Four?). She has 2 very rare assets among actresses today, beauty AND acting ability.
Land of the Dead - Forget every other zombie movie. When it comes to zombies, no one does it better than George A. Romero. He's the real master, he created the genre, and no one else has even come close to what he's done. This movie wasn't just good, it was awesome and it just plain rocked. Please, please let there be more Romero zombie goodness. This is almost like a Romero best of mix tape; it's got action, drama, adventure, great ideas, and explores both the human and zombie aspects of living in the new world. Overall, an extremely satisfying movie.
Day of the Dead - Having seen Land of the Dead and enjoying the heck out of it, I decided to go back and give a second chance to Romero's only film which I disliked. With an open mind, I enjoyed and respected this film so much more. I think my original fault the first time was that I expected a film more akin to Night or Dawn. But what Day tries to do is so much different than those films. In this film, Romero really tries to deconstruct zombies and deconstructing the whole human-zombie differentiation. It's more of a talky-thinky movie unlike the more action and drama oriented Night and Dawn. I still place Day as the weakest of Romero's zombie films, but now I like it and respect it much more than I use to.
Once a Thief - A lot of people see Chow Yun Fat as this slick and cool character from films like The Killer and Hard Boiled. As great as he is at playing the slick and cool character, CYF may be even better at the comedic roles, and in this movie he gets to show off his more comedic side. Not to be confused with the far inferior english language remake, also made by Woo.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang - A smartly written dark comedy starring two great character actors, Robert Downey, Jr. & Val Kilmer. I'm really beginning to like these guys more and more as they move away from standard Hollywood fair and towards sharply written, dialogue driven independent movies. Oh, and Michelle Monaghan sizzles, she could be the typical Hollywood big star if she wanted to be, but I hope she sticks with these little treasures.
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