Well, it's December again and that time of year for love, compassion, good will towards men, and Top 10s that reminds us how good things can be.
Over the last couple of years I have heard a certain phrase get passed around the gaming community, "video games are not what they used to be." While that may be true in some cases, in others this is the best time to be a gamer.
Sometimes we focus more on what we had instead of what we have and that is the case. Nostalgia can blind us to what we believe to be good and ignore what is good now. So, here is 10 things that we take for granted today. These are the top 10 good things about modern gaming.
#10- DLC
Before everyone attacks me in the comments, let me explain. While I do acknowledge companies like EA and Capcom abuse DLC and treat it like the greedy companies they are, others can use DLC for good. Things that can add play-ability and optional items for a more personal experience. Fallout 3's Mothership Zeta is a good example, adding aliens to a world that is post-apocalypse gives the game a deeper science fiction feel and is a completely optional part of the game. This builds on the gaming experience and gives a reason to go back and replay a game you may have already beaten. Can it be abused? Yes, it can. Is it bad? No. As long as it isn't abused and forced on you, it is a fine way to expand a game.
#9- Indie Company Support
In the old days, it was hard for an indie company to stand out above others. Now, we are seeing Indie game be a huge part in gaming today. In fact, some of the most popular games right now are indie games. Games like Undertale, Stardew Valley, Five Nights at Freddy's, and Gangbeast wouldn't exist today if it wasn't for the support Indie developers get today. I may not be a PC gamer, but I still have a deep appreciation for what indie games mean for the world of gaming.
#8- Revived Classics
If anyone wants to play classic games, you can still do it. Not only do we have used game stores around that still have classic games available for purchase, but you can download them onto your modern consoles. You want an old Zelda, Mario, Final Fantasy? You can find it. This is something that makes it easier to find old games you may have forgotten and can revisit. It may be hard to find some games, but it is easier now than it ever has been.
#7- Visuals and Graphics
You can not tell me that games looked better 10 years ago than they do today. Old day visuals in the early generations of games can actually hurt your eyes and be really distracting from the games. Angry Video Game Nerd makes fun of game visual before actually talking about the game play. Video Games today can be a visual art style by themselves today. Games like The Last of Us, Bioshock, and the recent Final Fantasy XV are just a couple examples of beautiful games. Not only realistic looking games, but also cartoon and anime style looks also exist in games. 2D games have never looked as good as they do today. It may not be the most important part of gaming, but it does help to be able to look at you game.
#6- Console Options
Let's go back in time to where the arcades all had big consoles that only had one game. you put in a quarter and was able to play until game over, then you had to put in another quarter. Fast forward to home consoles and we had the Atari 2600 and the Commodore 64. Neither one really stood out from one another and it didn't matter too much which one you had since games back then were limited by the technology. Now let's jump forward to the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was the console that revolutionized gaming, but didn't have much competition. SNES and Sega Genesis are what happened next and that is where it all started for Console Options. Something about that has carried over to every generation after that one. Today, the options for consoles are huge and they all have exclusive games. Not only that, but PCs have become a bigger thing in gaming and they even make them for gaming now. PlayStation has The Last of Us and The Last Guardian, Xbox has Gears of War and Halo, Nintendo is still around with Mario and Legend of Zelda, and PC has Civilizations and Sims. It is a friendly competition between companies, and a cut throat competition among fans.
#5- Online Multiplayer
Now, I don't think it replaces local multiplayer, but I must give respect to the online multiplayer feature. I have friends and family that I don't live close to, and I may want to play with them. I can do that now. I can connect with people I know online and play with them while they are in another state. That is really cool. Do people abuse this too? Yes. You can encounter people you don't know and they can be kind of jerks or the typical 12 year old kid who did something with my mom last night (you know the joke), but if used right, it helps maintain a good relationship with people who don't live close by.
#4- Expansions and Patches
Imagine back in the SNES or N64 days, you got a game that wasn't finished or had a lot of bugs and glitches. That was all you got and you couldn't get the game fixed. Today, if a game had a serious bug or glitch, companies can release a patch that can fix the problem and expand the game to add more content for a game you already paid for. Blizzard is known for this with fixing the Diablo III server issue in a day and later released expansions that made the game even better. This is the perk to gaming today and helps to further the experience to gaming.
#3- Voice Acting
Remember when we would just read text and struggle to understand what they were saying and how names were pronounced. If not, Dorkly did a video about it, look it up on YouTube. Nowadays, we have voice actors that help us understand how names are pronounce and also understand character personalities, and it is actually really good voice acting. Voice actors like Nolan North, Christopher Sabat, and Johnny Young Bosh have all kept up careers by going into Video Games and have proven to make the character even more likable. In fact, the recent Final fantasy XV has some of the best voice acting I have heard in recent memory while the Uncharted games are also praised for there voice acting. It may be seen as a minor thing, but for me, it is another way to be further involved in the game.
#2- Deep Storytelling
Before the SNES, storytelling wasn't a part of gaming. Mario's story was just, "The princess has been kidnapped. Go save her." At least if you didn't read the game manual. Today, the game tells the whole story. It is even deeper now than it has ever been. The Bioshock series has had some of the best storytelling in media and most of the Final Fantasy series is famous for the stories. Even games from the early days like Legend of Zelda have stepped up the storytelling. It is a great time to be a gamer who enjoys a good story at the same time.
#1- Variety
We have the biggest variety of games we have ever seen. Not only among home consoles and PCs, but even mobile games have stepped up from the simple Solitare or Snake. There are Puzzle Games, Fighting Games, Racing Games, 2D platformers, 3D platformers, RPGs, the list goes on and on. Everyone can play a video game nowadays, even Grandma and Grandpa can play video games and have fun. There is something for all ages. It got even bigger when Virtual Reality came into play and formed more ways to play games. I have even expanded myself into trying new types of games and even enjoying a large number of them.It is the best part of modern gaming and the variety is what gets more and more people into gaming.
Are there bad things about modern gaming? Yes, there are, but that shouldn't distract us from the good things as well. In fact, let us use the bad in order to appreciate the good things.
Monday, December 12, 2016
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Movie Review: Jaws (1975)
Sorry this is late. I do have a life outside of the blog. Sorry to finish Monster Month in November.
When it comes to horror movies, you usually think about directors like Alfred Hitchcock, Sam Raimi, John Carpenter... Rarely does the name, Steven Spielberg come to mind when people talk about Horror. I don't know if it is the changes in the genre or if it his work in Family Films or Adventure Films, but no one really thinks that he has a hand in Horror. Sad, because he wouldn't have the career he has today if it wasn't for a Horror movie. Jaws was one the movie that not only kick-started his career, but it also defined "Summer Blockbuster" and had such a huge impact on the audience that people didn't go in the water the same summer it came out in 1975. Has it aged well? Does it hold up?
The Pros- The use of practical effects is used at it's most effective and has aged incredibly well. There is high tension throughout, but still moments in between that are a bit more peaceful and let your body rest. That is something I appreciate from a Horror/Thriller movie because it gives you time to breath in between the tense moments, so you are not completely stressed by the end of it all. The cast does a great job capturing a natural reaction to the events that happen throughout the movie. We actually never get a full look at the entire shark. Not to mention how it actually is a realistic size to a real Great White Shark. This makes it feel more realistic. In fact, Spielberg himself never showed any of the actors the shark until the big reveal. The line, "We're going to need a bigger boat" wasn't in the script and it was the actor's actual reaction to the shark. The opening scene sets up the movie in a perfect light, instantly giving us a hint at what's to come. We see someone get grabbed and we don't see the shark. The opening scene alone is to get people nervous about going into the water. The cliches we see in Horror movies today, started here. This as influenced more films than any other in it's genre and beyond.
Warning- It's a scary movie. Just like with Super 8, but scarier and more tense. People were afraid to go in the water after watching it for a reason. I don't see this as a con, so I put it as more of a warning for anyone confused.
Final Thoughts- Whether you like Horror movies or not, Jaws has it's place in History and some of my personal favorite movies would not exist without it. Even after all the bad shark movies, sequel, and even porn parodies (don't bother, perverts), this movies stands above the rest over 40 years later. I highly recommend this movie during both summer and Halloween... And it made me thankful that I live in a land based state.
When it comes to horror movies, you usually think about directors like Alfred Hitchcock, Sam Raimi, John Carpenter... Rarely does the name, Steven Spielberg come to mind when people talk about Horror. I don't know if it is the changes in the genre or if it his work in Family Films or Adventure Films, but no one really thinks that he has a hand in Horror. Sad, because he wouldn't have the career he has today if it wasn't for a Horror movie. Jaws was one the movie that not only kick-started his career, but it also defined "Summer Blockbuster" and had such a huge impact on the audience that people didn't go in the water the same summer it came out in 1975. Has it aged well? Does it hold up?
The Pros- The use of practical effects is used at it's most effective and has aged incredibly well. There is high tension throughout, but still moments in between that are a bit more peaceful and let your body rest. That is something I appreciate from a Horror/Thriller movie because it gives you time to breath in between the tense moments, so you are not completely stressed by the end of it all. The cast does a great job capturing a natural reaction to the events that happen throughout the movie. We actually never get a full look at the entire shark. Not to mention how it actually is a realistic size to a real Great White Shark. This makes it feel more realistic. In fact, Spielberg himself never showed any of the actors the shark until the big reveal. The line, "We're going to need a bigger boat" wasn't in the script and it was the actor's actual reaction to the shark. The opening scene sets up the movie in a perfect light, instantly giving us a hint at what's to come. We see someone get grabbed and we don't see the shark. The opening scene alone is to get people nervous about going into the water. The cliches we see in Horror movies today, started here. This as influenced more films than any other in it's genre and beyond.
Warning- It's a scary movie. Just like with Super 8, but scarier and more tense. People were afraid to go in the water after watching it for a reason. I don't see this as a con, so I put it as more of a warning for anyone confused.
Final Thoughts- Whether you like Horror movies or not, Jaws has it's place in History and some of my personal favorite movies would not exist without it. Even after all the bad shark movies, sequel, and even porn parodies (don't bother, perverts), this movies stands above the rest over 40 years later. I highly recommend this movie during both summer and Halloween... And it made me thankful that I live in a land based state.
Friday, October 21, 2016
Movie Review: Super 8
Every generation or so, we tend to have a film maker (writer, director, producer) that stands out and speaks directly to that generation. Now imagine a director of the modern generation working with a producer who directed some of the best movies of the previous generation, and you can get what is probably the best mixture of both retro films and modern films. That movie, for me, is Super 8.
The title comes from the type of camera and film that is used in the plot, but that is not the main focus. The reason I picked to talk about Super 8 is not because it is the combined effort of J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg, but because it is my favorite Science Fiction Thriller movie and a movie that is in my top 3 favorite films of all time.
Pros- The film tells of one major plot, with many others that are a part of it as well. This style of story telling gives depth and backstory to these characters that you wouldn't get in a straightforward story. Just like in real life, more than one thing tends to be going on with someone's life. That is part of how great this film is in terms of storytelling. It feels like a realistic story, even if it is technically Scifi.
This film also has some of the best actors I have ever seen. Even the children do a fantastic job capturing moments that even some adult actors struggle with. The film does less dialogue and more facial expressions and actions that help pace and tell the story. Just look at facial expressions and personal interactions. It is astounding. Even when they do talk and interact, it feels realistic. The language style fits what the characters are feeling, and it fits the time period the film takes place in, 1980.
I'm not going to spoil the ending, but it fits the movie perfectly and brings things together in a realistic ending. Not everything becomes perfect for the characters, but it is a realistic ending because of that.
The actual Alien in the movie is only shown completely in the last scene of the movie, leaving a mystery as to what it looks like and keeps the tension high. If we were shown everything at once, the mystery wouldn't be there and we would know what to be scared of. By not showing the entire monster, it lets our imagination run around a bit and we get to feel what the characters feel and actually get scared.
Cons- I have to mention this as a con, because I don't want to get in trouble. This movie can be scary and people who jump easy will have a hard time watching it.
Final Thoughts: This movie captures everything I love about films today. It is a great balance of emotion and has the best of retro films and modern films. I can't recommend it enough. See this movie. If I had the ability to mentally project a movie into people's brains, it would be this one.
The title comes from the type of camera and film that is used in the plot, but that is not the main focus. The reason I picked to talk about Super 8 is not because it is the combined effort of J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg, but because it is my favorite Science Fiction Thriller movie and a movie that is in my top 3 favorite films of all time.
Pros- The film tells of one major plot, with many others that are a part of it as well. This style of story telling gives depth and backstory to these characters that you wouldn't get in a straightforward story. Just like in real life, more than one thing tends to be going on with someone's life. That is part of how great this film is in terms of storytelling. It feels like a realistic story, even if it is technically Scifi.
This film also has some of the best actors I have ever seen. Even the children do a fantastic job capturing moments that even some adult actors struggle with. The film does less dialogue and more facial expressions and actions that help pace and tell the story. Just look at facial expressions and personal interactions. It is astounding. Even when they do talk and interact, it feels realistic. The language style fits what the characters are feeling, and it fits the time period the film takes place in, 1980.
I'm not going to spoil the ending, but it fits the movie perfectly and brings things together in a realistic ending. Not everything becomes perfect for the characters, but it is a realistic ending because of that.
The actual Alien in the movie is only shown completely in the last scene of the movie, leaving a mystery as to what it looks like and keeps the tension high. If we were shown everything at once, the mystery wouldn't be there and we would know what to be scared of. By not showing the entire monster, it lets our imagination run around a bit and we get to feel what the characters feel and actually get scared.
Cons- I have to mention this as a con, because I don't want to get in trouble. This movie can be scary and people who jump easy will have a hard time watching it.
Final Thoughts: This movie captures everything I love about films today. It is a great balance of emotion and has the best of retro films and modern films. I can't recommend it enough. See this movie. If I had the ability to mentally project a movie into people's brains, it would be this one.
Now that we have seen both Supernatural Monsters and Extraterrestrial Monsters, now we need to look at a Real Monster... 'Til Next Time!!
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Movie Review: Van Helsing
It is the month of October! Bring on the Spooky and Scary. Time to let people freak out at what goes bump in the night. Since I have made a point that I don't review R rated movies, I decided to focus solely on Monster movies this month instead of Horror movies. What better way to start than with my biggest Halloween guilty pleasure, 2004's Van Helsing.
This movie was made to be kind of a tribute to the classic monster movies of the 30s and 40s. In fact, if you manage to get your hands on the Special Edition DVD, it came with the original Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Wolfman, all three being fantastic movies. This movie however, didn't fair that well with critics and nowadays has more of a cult following. Could it be that it wasn't based on any classic monster movie? Let's find out.
The Pros- The overall set design can be very appealing in terms of eye candy. Costumes and scenes are very well made and have an overall great design to them. It creates this world of people living in fear and someone who is living to fight against fear. Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale play the two main characters, Van Helsing and Anna Valerious, and they are just a joy to watch during this movie for the most part. The design for the Frankenstein Monster is also very good. You can watch it just for the overall design and tone of the film, since the music is also enjoyable. I actually went through the entire credits watching it again just to have the music play in the background. The ending isn't perfect, but it is complete. You watch it and come out of it feeling fulfilled, like you say all that was intended and none of the sequel baiting we see in cinema today (looking at you, Marvel).
The Cons- There really isn't a lot of story behind this movie. It feels like Director Stephen Sommers went away from the original Monster books and went to the Castlevania games instead for motivation. The story is more fitting for a video game than a movie. Too bad the game that tied into the movie wasn't a good game. I know a graphic novel and an anime movie exist to help explain things in the story, but I haven't seen that movie or read the novel, so I can't say if they are helpful or not. There is some over the top acting in this movie, especially with the Vampire Brides. Where Richard Roxburgh's over acting can sometimes fit the Dracula character, the Vampire Brides are borderline comical and they should be threatening. Though the CGI was impressive for 2004, it hasn't aged well. The CGI scenes look like a game you should be playing on the PS3 or Xbox 360. It is kind of distracting for a movie like this, especially in the final battle which is mostly CGI.
Final Verdict- I admit it isn't a well put together movie, but I still enjoy it. I compare it to eating Trail Mix, or a bowl of Lucky Charms. You don't like everything in it, but when you find that thing you like, it is all you can think about. I know it isn't everyone's Halloween Guilty Pleasure (I'm not reviewing that movie), but I do enjoy it during this time of year.
Next Time: I am going away from Supernatural Monsters and bringing in something Extraterrestrial. Til Next Time.
This movie was made to be kind of a tribute to the classic monster movies of the 30s and 40s. In fact, if you manage to get your hands on the Special Edition DVD, it came with the original Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Wolfman, all three being fantastic movies. This movie however, didn't fair that well with critics and nowadays has more of a cult following. Could it be that it wasn't based on any classic monster movie? Let's find out.
The Pros- The overall set design can be very appealing in terms of eye candy. Costumes and scenes are very well made and have an overall great design to them. It creates this world of people living in fear and someone who is living to fight against fear. Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale play the two main characters, Van Helsing and Anna Valerious, and they are just a joy to watch during this movie for the most part. The design for the Frankenstein Monster is also very good. You can watch it just for the overall design and tone of the film, since the music is also enjoyable. I actually went through the entire credits watching it again just to have the music play in the background. The ending isn't perfect, but it is complete. You watch it and come out of it feeling fulfilled, like you say all that was intended and none of the sequel baiting we see in cinema today (looking at you, Marvel).
The Cons- There really isn't a lot of story behind this movie. It feels like Director Stephen Sommers went away from the original Monster books and went to the Castlevania games instead for motivation. The story is more fitting for a video game than a movie. Too bad the game that tied into the movie wasn't a good game. I know a graphic novel and an anime movie exist to help explain things in the story, but I haven't seen that movie or read the novel, so I can't say if they are helpful or not. There is some over the top acting in this movie, especially with the Vampire Brides. Where Richard Roxburgh's over acting can sometimes fit the Dracula character, the Vampire Brides are borderline comical and they should be threatening. Though the CGI was impressive for 2004, it hasn't aged well. The CGI scenes look like a game you should be playing on the PS3 or Xbox 360. It is kind of distracting for a movie like this, especially in the final battle which is mostly CGI.
Final Verdict- I admit it isn't a well put together movie, but I still enjoy it. I compare it to eating Trail Mix, or a bowl of Lucky Charms. You don't like everything in it, but when you find that thing you like, it is all you can think about. I know it isn't everyone's Halloween Guilty Pleasure (I'm not reviewing that movie), but I do enjoy it during this time of year.
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Top 10 Death Battles Episodes I Want to See.
So... About this Summer... It's been crazy. I have no current movie reviews planned and I am not doing anymore Superhero movies on the blog. I have shared my thoughts on both Marvel and DC Comics and I don't like repeating myself.
However, 2 albums I was really looking forward to are out and I will be writing reviews for those this week. For anyone who is curious about those, look forward to it.
In December, I did some Top 10 list and I enjoyed doing them so much, I decided to do it more often and go into some fun, geeky territory. Just something for fun until a movie comes up I want to review or a new Rock Album comes out and I get enough request for it.
If anyone is wondering what Death Battle is from the Title. It is a series created by the group, Screw Attack, and I will post a link to the YouTube playlist of all the episodes of Death Battle they have done over the years. To put it simple, they take two characters from multiple forms of fiction and do research and decide not only who would win, but also add an animated fight between the two to show the scenario.
Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB833073B659FD65A
It is one of my favorite things to watch on YouTube and it is always fun to go back and look at old videos. Even though the research is not always perfect, I have found myself enjoying the majority of the videos they do. I have ended up thinking about this myself and who would win between two characters I really like. In the end, I thought up 10 and decided to do a top 10.
2 rules here:
1) No characters that were previously in Death Battle. I wanted to push myself.
2) No Marvel/DC characters. The Marvel versus DC crap is getting old, and I want something different.
So, here is my top 10 Death Battle Episodes I want to see.
#10- Sailor Moon Battle Royal
This is a fight that will have a lot going on and is something multiple fans of the series have debated on who would win between them all. I would love to see and let someone who does the time and research to decide who would win. They have done Battle Royals in the past with The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Pokemon, so it would be interesting to see another one in the future. Not to mention how much carnage we will see in this one video. Seriously? What Sailor Moon hater wouldn't want to see some of these characters die? There will be something or everyone right?
#9- Jan Lee (Street Fighter) vs. Johnny Cage (Mortal Kombat)
We have had so many Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat debates, but I have never heard a debate between the two movie stars in the series. It is also a tough call since they both have had training in many styles of martial arts and have some unique abilities. Basically, it would be high kicks, versus punching in the balls. What is the better strategy?
#8- Paul (Tekken) vs. Bass (Dead or Alive)
On the topic of fighting games, when was the last time Death Battle did an Brawl Fights. Grappling, Heavy Hitting, One Punch knock outs, that is something I would love to see again. Bass and Paul are two heavy hitters from their games and it would be nice to see them duke it out in the ring or even in the street. I would enjoy seeing it and they are both completely human. I think it would be nice to see and a good fight for wrestling fans. I know you are out there! Screw Attack does have Wrestling Fans. This can happen!!
#7- Kenshin (Rurouni Kenshin) vs. Mitsrugi (Soul Calibur)
As things stand, Soul Calibur hasn't gotten a lot of love from Death Battle recently. In fact, I have two entries on this list that have 2 Soul Calibur characters. Anyways, we have seen Ninjas in Death Battle more than once, but we haven't seen Samurai. How about a classic Samurai fight between two of the strongest samurai in fiction right now. Both of them have accomplished a lot in their franchises and it would be a close and hard call to decide who would win based on technique alone. I think it would be a good mix to see who's overall sword technique would surpass the other. They also existed around the same time period too, so it would make it easy for them to encounter each other.
#6- Vampire Hunter D vs. Alucard (Hellsing)
Who wouldn't want to see a vampire fight? Besides Twilight fans! I already appealed to you! I mean real vampires. The walkers of the night. The creatures that have inspired many works of fiction and storytelling that are sometimes good and sometimes bad. Both of these characters are known to Anime fans will recognize both characters and the question is who would win? The Vampire Hunter, or the Lord of all Vampires. Both of which have been mentioned of being immortal and have incredible power. It would be a cool fight to see and I would love to see the guys behind Death Battle settle this debate.
#5- Ike (Fire Emblem) vs. Siegfried (Soul Calibur)
Sword fighting is one of the things that has been interesting and overused in fiction, especially Middle Ages era of sword fighting. So, why not put two knights against each other. We have seen some sword fights in the past, but I think this one would be an interesting fight overall since they are both human with a little magic ability in them. It is one of those fights I can't decide who would win. Since they already gave us Guts from Berzerk fighting against Nightmare from Soul Calibur, let's see two noble knights fight each other.
#4- Voltron vs. The Megazord (Power Rangers)
This is a fight that needs to happen! Not just because of the Power Rangers movie coming out next year, but because Voltron got rebooted on Netflix (It is really good by the way. Go watch it.) With a return of 80's and 90's franchises I think it would be great to put two of the biggest Giant Robot icons in America, that isn't Gundam related, against each other. Also, they are both marked as Ultimate Weapons in their fictional universes. It is also 5 pilots against 5 pilots. It feels like the combination would be a perfect battle with many things to look at and consider on who would win.
#3- Lloyd (Tales of Symphonia) vs. Roxas (Kingdom Hearts)
Two dual wielding warriors against each other. Swords will clash against Keyblades. Physical Strength against Magic. Two teenagers with personal issues fighting out their aggression. It is something I have debated and thought about for quite some time and if nothing else, it would be a really flashy fight and I really couldn't think of anyone else besides Roxas to fight against Lloyd. Not to mention it would be Square Enix versus Namco/Bandai. The creators of Final Fantasy against the creators of the "Tales of..." franchise. Oh, the comments would be beautiful. I just want to see what group of fans will take it personal when a character loses.
#2- Erza Scarlet (Fairy Tale) vs. Lightning (Final Fantasy XIII trilogy)
I am going to say this right now. I love both these character. They are both incredible women and they are also incredible warriors. That is why I want to see who would win against the other. Erza and her armor and sword switching against Lightning who knows all styles of magic and swordplay. I can imagine this being not only flashy, but also a huge controversy no matter who wins... Because both fan bases are crazy!! All humor aside, I really can't decide who would win with this one either. No matter what though, my opinion on these two incredible women in fiction will never change.
A little warning: I didn't choose the most popular characters for my number 1. instead I picked two character with similar features and the debate on who would win has kept me awake at night sometimes whenever I am home alone. I have struggled with this one and want it the most.
#1- Vyse (Skies of Arcadia) vs. Captain Harlock (Old Anime Icon)
PIRATES!!! We haven't seen any love for pirates from Death Battle, and they have gone on record to say a few of them love Skies of Arcadia. A forgotten Video Game character (Who is amazing) versus every Old Otaku favorite character, Captain Harlock. I want to see a battle between ships and a melee battle between the two as well. Neither character is experienced fighting against someone like the other. They all have strengths and weaknesses and they have accomplished world changing task in their universes that they are both legends. Legend against Legend. Blue Rogue Sky Pirate versus Space Pirate. A clash between worlds. I want them to see the ships, the crew, the characters abilities and equipment as a whole. I want this to be the Pirate fight to satisfy all pirate lovers. Make this happen.
I hope you enjoy and if you are willing to predict winners to these fights, go ahead and leave it in the comments. And if anyone who is in touch with Screw Attack reads this, please? At least no more Marvel/DC fights for season 3? Please?
However, 2 albums I was really looking forward to are out and I will be writing reviews for those this week. For anyone who is curious about those, look forward to it.
In December, I did some Top 10 list and I enjoyed doing them so much, I decided to do it more often and go into some fun, geeky territory. Just something for fun until a movie comes up I want to review or a new Rock Album comes out and I get enough request for it.
If anyone is wondering what Death Battle is from the Title. It is a series created by the group, Screw Attack, and I will post a link to the YouTube playlist of all the episodes of Death Battle they have done over the years. To put it simple, they take two characters from multiple forms of fiction and do research and decide not only who would win, but also add an animated fight between the two to show the scenario.
Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB833073B659FD65A
It is one of my favorite things to watch on YouTube and it is always fun to go back and look at old videos. Even though the research is not always perfect, I have found myself enjoying the majority of the videos they do. I have ended up thinking about this myself and who would win between two characters I really like. In the end, I thought up 10 and decided to do a top 10.
2 rules here:
1) No characters that were previously in Death Battle. I wanted to push myself.
2) No Marvel/DC characters. The Marvel versus DC crap is getting old, and I want something different.
So, here is my top 10 Death Battle Episodes I want to see.
#10- Sailor Moon Battle Royal
This is a fight that will have a lot going on and is something multiple fans of the series have debated on who would win between them all. I would love to see and let someone who does the time and research to decide who would win. They have done Battle Royals in the past with The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Pokemon, so it would be interesting to see another one in the future. Not to mention how much carnage we will see in this one video. Seriously? What Sailor Moon hater wouldn't want to see some of these characters die? There will be something or everyone right?
#9- Jan Lee (Street Fighter) vs. Johnny Cage (Mortal Kombat)
We have had so many Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat debates, but I have never heard a debate between the two movie stars in the series. It is also a tough call since they both have had training in many styles of martial arts and have some unique abilities. Basically, it would be high kicks, versus punching in the balls. What is the better strategy?
#8- Paul (Tekken) vs. Bass (Dead or Alive)
On the topic of fighting games, when was the last time Death Battle did an Brawl Fights. Grappling, Heavy Hitting, One Punch knock outs, that is something I would love to see again. Bass and Paul are two heavy hitters from their games and it would be nice to see them duke it out in the ring or even in the street. I would enjoy seeing it and they are both completely human. I think it would be nice to see and a good fight for wrestling fans. I know you are out there! Screw Attack does have Wrestling Fans. This can happen!!
#7- Kenshin (Rurouni Kenshin) vs. Mitsrugi (Soul Calibur)
As things stand, Soul Calibur hasn't gotten a lot of love from Death Battle recently. In fact, I have two entries on this list that have 2 Soul Calibur characters. Anyways, we have seen Ninjas in Death Battle more than once, but we haven't seen Samurai. How about a classic Samurai fight between two of the strongest samurai in fiction right now. Both of them have accomplished a lot in their franchises and it would be a close and hard call to decide who would win based on technique alone. I think it would be a good mix to see who's overall sword technique would surpass the other. They also existed around the same time period too, so it would make it easy for them to encounter each other.
#6- Vampire Hunter D vs. Alucard (Hellsing)
Who wouldn't want to see a vampire fight? Besides Twilight fans! I already appealed to you! I mean real vampires. The walkers of the night. The creatures that have inspired many works of fiction and storytelling that are sometimes good and sometimes bad. Both of these characters are known to Anime fans will recognize both characters and the question is who would win? The Vampire Hunter, or the Lord of all Vampires. Both of which have been mentioned of being immortal and have incredible power. It would be a cool fight to see and I would love to see the guys behind Death Battle settle this debate.
#5- Ike (Fire Emblem) vs. Siegfried (Soul Calibur)
Sword fighting is one of the things that has been interesting and overused in fiction, especially Middle Ages era of sword fighting. So, why not put two knights against each other. We have seen some sword fights in the past, but I think this one would be an interesting fight overall since they are both human with a little magic ability in them. It is one of those fights I can't decide who would win. Since they already gave us Guts from Berzerk fighting against Nightmare from Soul Calibur, let's see two noble knights fight each other.
#4- Voltron vs. The Megazord (Power Rangers)
This is a fight that needs to happen! Not just because of the Power Rangers movie coming out next year, but because Voltron got rebooted on Netflix (It is really good by the way. Go watch it.) With a return of 80's and 90's franchises I think it would be great to put two of the biggest Giant Robot icons in America, that isn't Gundam related, against each other. Also, they are both marked as Ultimate Weapons in their fictional universes. It is also 5 pilots against 5 pilots. It feels like the combination would be a perfect battle with many things to look at and consider on who would win.
#3- Lloyd (Tales of Symphonia) vs. Roxas (Kingdom Hearts)
Two dual wielding warriors against each other. Swords will clash against Keyblades. Physical Strength against Magic. Two teenagers with personal issues fighting out their aggression. It is something I have debated and thought about for quite some time and if nothing else, it would be a really flashy fight and I really couldn't think of anyone else besides Roxas to fight against Lloyd. Not to mention it would be Square Enix versus Namco/Bandai. The creators of Final Fantasy against the creators of the "Tales of..." franchise. Oh, the comments would be beautiful. I just want to see what group of fans will take it personal when a character loses.
#2- Erza Scarlet (Fairy Tale) vs. Lightning (Final Fantasy XIII trilogy)
I am going to say this right now. I love both these character. They are both incredible women and they are also incredible warriors. That is why I want to see who would win against the other. Erza and her armor and sword switching against Lightning who knows all styles of magic and swordplay. I can imagine this being not only flashy, but also a huge controversy no matter who wins... Because both fan bases are crazy!! All humor aside, I really can't decide who would win with this one either. No matter what though, my opinion on these two incredible women in fiction will never change.
A little warning: I didn't choose the most popular characters for my number 1. instead I picked two character with similar features and the debate on who would win has kept me awake at night sometimes whenever I am home alone. I have struggled with this one and want it the most.
#1- Vyse (Skies of Arcadia) vs. Captain Harlock (Old Anime Icon)
PIRATES!!! We haven't seen any love for pirates from Death Battle, and they have gone on record to say a few of them love Skies of Arcadia. A forgotten Video Game character (Who is amazing) versus every Old Otaku favorite character, Captain Harlock. I want to see a battle between ships and a melee battle between the two as well. Neither character is experienced fighting against someone like the other. They all have strengths and weaknesses and they have accomplished world changing task in their universes that they are both legends. Legend against Legend. Blue Rogue Sky Pirate versus Space Pirate. A clash between worlds. I want them to see the ships, the crew, the characters abilities and equipment as a whole. I want this to be the Pirate fight to satisfy all pirate lovers. Make this happen.
I hope you enjoy and if you are willing to predict winners to these fights, go ahead and leave it in the comments. And if anyone who is in touch with Screw Attack reads this, please? At least no more Marvel/DC fights for season 3? Please?
Friday, June 10, 2016
Movie Review: Zootopia
As time as gone by, I have gotten a lot of request. However, I have noticed that I can't review every movie, unless I will be just going on without a structure. So, before going on with the review, I am going to establish my 3 rules.
1. DVD/Blu-Ray release only. I can't do a written review of anything in the theater because last time I sat through a movie in the theater I didn't like, I felt like I got robbed. I don't like that feeling, because it leads to pure rage.
2. No documentaries. Each of these have a focused audience, and talking about them, whether I am a part of that audience or not, is pretty pointless.
3. No R-Rated movies. I have to warn people about certain content. If I miss something, they are mad at me, because this is basically free advertisement. I'm saying this because I got a request for Pulp Fiction, and that review will mostly be me warning about content and scenes. I don't want to do that.
I put these rules with the review, because Zootopia not only fits these rules (it came out on DVD earlier this week), but it is one I feel I didn't give it the proper review when I first saw it. Not only is it my favorite film of the current year so far, it is the best Disney film I have seen as an adult. I had struggles with Disney movies after 2006, I had some issues with every one of them. I even had a change of heart towards Frozen as I have watched it after my original review.
The Pros: These are some of the best characters I have ever seen from Disney. Major and Minor characters all have their own personalities and they all leave an impact in one way or another.
Visually, the film does a fantastic job making full use of an animals separate quirks and characteristics into the world. Rabbits have a small hop in their walks, sloths have slow movements, all the mammals match the animals they are based one and it is used to create this world that is build to fit all their needs.
It is a complete story! You know how hard that is to find nowadays? There is no baiting for a sequel, no plot holes, no stupid plot twist, and NO POST CREDITS SCENES. Everything in the movie adds up and I actually left with a feeling of full satisfaction. Even in 2014 and 2015, my favorite films of those years, I left waiting for a sequel and not feeling complete. Yeah, I loved those movies, but it's like getting a good steak. However, Zootopia felt like not only getting a good steak, but also getting some great sides with it (Mashed Potatoes, mixed vegetables), so it was a full meal.
Any age can enjoy this movie. The animation and humor is good for both kids and adults, plus Easter Eggs throughout the film for everyone. Yes, even adults who like Breaking Bad will catch an Easter Egg in this movie.
I have nothing negative to say about this movie.
The Argument: I know some people will claim this is a liberal message about equal rights, but I am going to argue that. This isn't about equal rights, it is about equal opportunities. Instead of just giving everyone a free pass to just do whatever and let the government cover it, the movie ends with characters getting the opportunity to do something similar mammals didn't. In a world, where the strongest animals becomes police officers, we see a rabbit become one of the best officers they have seen in that city, because she worked for it. This films main message is about following your dreams, despite what others say to you. I saw this film as a motivation for me. I left this movie feeling more confident in myself as not only a writer, but as a creator.
Final Thoughts: I was surprised by this movie, more than I thought I would. In a world where film companies never learn their lessons, Disney proved that they do. This is not the first anamorphic film Disney has made, but this is their best major film release with this idea. If you haven't seen it, do so.
1. DVD/Blu-Ray release only. I can't do a written review of anything in the theater because last time I sat through a movie in the theater I didn't like, I felt like I got robbed. I don't like that feeling, because it leads to pure rage.
2. No documentaries. Each of these have a focused audience, and talking about them, whether I am a part of that audience or not, is pretty pointless.
3. No R-Rated movies. I have to warn people about certain content. If I miss something, they are mad at me, because this is basically free advertisement. I'm saying this because I got a request for Pulp Fiction, and that review will mostly be me warning about content and scenes. I don't want to do that.
I put these rules with the review, because Zootopia not only fits these rules (it came out on DVD earlier this week), but it is one I feel I didn't give it the proper review when I first saw it. Not only is it my favorite film of the current year so far, it is the best Disney film I have seen as an adult. I had struggles with Disney movies after 2006, I had some issues with every one of them. I even had a change of heart towards Frozen as I have watched it after my original review.
The Pros: These are some of the best characters I have ever seen from Disney. Major and Minor characters all have their own personalities and they all leave an impact in one way or another.
Visually, the film does a fantastic job making full use of an animals separate quirks and characteristics into the world. Rabbits have a small hop in their walks, sloths have slow movements, all the mammals match the animals they are based one and it is used to create this world that is build to fit all their needs.
It is a complete story! You know how hard that is to find nowadays? There is no baiting for a sequel, no plot holes, no stupid plot twist, and NO POST CREDITS SCENES. Everything in the movie adds up and I actually left with a feeling of full satisfaction. Even in 2014 and 2015, my favorite films of those years, I left waiting for a sequel and not feeling complete. Yeah, I loved those movies, but it's like getting a good steak. However, Zootopia felt like not only getting a good steak, but also getting some great sides with it (Mashed Potatoes, mixed vegetables), so it was a full meal.
Any age can enjoy this movie. The animation and humor is good for both kids and adults, plus Easter Eggs throughout the film for everyone. Yes, even adults who like Breaking Bad will catch an Easter Egg in this movie.
I have nothing negative to say about this movie.
The Argument: I know some people will claim this is a liberal message about equal rights, but I am going to argue that. This isn't about equal rights, it is about equal opportunities. Instead of just giving everyone a free pass to just do whatever and let the government cover it, the movie ends with characters getting the opportunity to do something similar mammals didn't. In a world, where the strongest animals becomes police officers, we see a rabbit become one of the best officers they have seen in that city, because she worked for it. This films main message is about following your dreams, despite what others say to you. I saw this film as a motivation for me. I left this movie feeling more confident in myself as not only a writer, but as a creator.
Final Thoughts: I was surprised by this movie, more than I thought I would. In a world where film companies never learn their lessons, Disney proved that they do. This is not the first anamorphic film Disney has made, but this is their best major film release with this idea. If you haven't seen it, do so.
Friday, April 29, 2016
Album Review: Decyfer Down's The Other Side of Darkness
Decyfer Down has had an interesting history. The only original members since the band first form are the two guitarist and everyone has changed since their first Album, End of Grey (Which is a fantastic album). Their album before this one, Scarecrow, was not really impressive to me and it felt like the band lost what made them stand out. Their new album, The Other Side of Darkness, that released earlier in this month reminds me of what makes them stand out and that they haven't lost that element. I was almost in tears when hearing this album for the first time.
The guitar work is the best part of this album. It is the low tuning and heavy riffs that really made their first album stand out to me. It gives me a new sense of headbanging music that I could not sit still while listening, but still was not afraid to soften itself in songs where it needed it.
The singer has finally found his element. Scarecrow felt weak because it felt like the vocalist was trying too hard to be someone else, and not use his own vocal talent. He learned his lesson! His voice now adds kind of a smooth, Southern Rock style to go with the heavy guitars and it surprisingly complements it in the best way possible.
Bass and Drums also stand out and make the rhythm just as important to the mix. So many young bands forget that a bassist and drummer (or lack thereof) can make or break a band. These new members know what they are doing and they truly stand out on their own.
As an added bonus: They did an acoustic version of one of my favorite song from their first album for this one at the very end. It felt like a beautiful tribute to members that left the band over the years.
Final Verdict: 9/10! The reason it isn't perfect is because the Christian message the band shares may not appeal to everyone, but I can't pick a song I didn't like. Definitely check it out!
The guitar work is the best part of this album. It is the low tuning and heavy riffs that really made their first album stand out to me. It gives me a new sense of headbanging music that I could not sit still while listening, but still was not afraid to soften itself in songs where it needed it.
The singer has finally found his element. Scarecrow felt weak because it felt like the vocalist was trying too hard to be someone else, and not use his own vocal talent. He learned his lesson! His voice now adds kind of a smooth, Southern Rock style to go with the heavy guitars and it surprisingly complements it in the best way possible.
Bass and Drums also stand out and make the rhythm just as important to the mix. So many young bands forget that a bassist and drummer (or lack thereof) can make or break a band. These new members know what they are doing and they truly stand out on their own.
As an added bonus: They did an acoustic version of one of my favorite song from their first album for this one at the very end. It felt like a beautiful tribute to members that left the band over the years.
Final Verdict: 9/10! The reason it isn't perfect is because the Christian message the band shares may not appeal to everyone, but I can't pick a song I didn't like. Definitely check it out!
Monday, April 4, 2016
Album Review: Devour the Day's S.O.A.R
When a band is still young, they can either develop into something unique to their genre or fade into the rest of the others because they don't have anything that stands out about them. Sadly, a band I had hope for still hasn't found that thing that makes them unique.
You can try to argue that a new band takes two albums to do that, but bands like Breaking Benjamin, RED, and even Flyleaf has had something that made them stand out on their first album and have developed that further. Devour the Day has yet to find that thing with their second album, S.O.A.R.
It is 10 songs and only 2 of them sound different from the others. That is something that really needs attention. This is a hard rock band and I got bored listening to them.
The guitar work is good rhythm, but nothing special about lead. Their isn't a guitar riff or even a solo that stands out and with that it all fades together. Drums and bass hold the beat, but that is it.
The lyrics aren't even interested. They use analogies that have already been used and nothing is really that interesting with the writing. If Devour the Day doesn't want to fade into obscurity, they need to change it up and make themselves stand out. Right now, they aren't doing that.
Final Verdict: 5/10. Sadly average for a band that really needs to find something that can make them stand out.
Songs I liked: Lightning in the Sky, Save Yourself
Songs I don't Recommend: Step Aside, Quicksand, S.O.A.R
You can try to argue that a new band takes two albums to do that, but bands like Breaking Benjamin, RED, and even Flyleaf has had something that made them stand out on their first album and have developed that further. Devour the Day has yet to find that thing with their second album, S.O.A.R.
It is 10 songs and only 2 of them sound different from the others. That is something that really needs attention. This is a hard rock band and I got bored listening to them.
The guitar work is good rhythm, but nothing special about lead. Their isn't a guitar riff or even a solo that stands out and with that it all fades together. Drums and bass hold the beat, but that is it.
The lyrics aren't even interested. They use analogies that have already been used and nothing is really that interesting with the writing. If Devour the Day doesn't want to fade into obscurity, they need to change it up and make themselves stand out. Right now, they aren't doing that.
Final Verdict: 5/10. Sadly average for a band that really needs to find something that can make them stand out.
Songs I liked: Lightning in the Sky, Save Yourself
Songs I don't Recommend: Step Aside, Quicksand, S.O.A.R
Monday, March 28, 2016
Movie Review: Batman: Under The Red Hood
That's right! My favorite Superhero movie is not only a Batman movie, but a direct to DVD animated film. Where Marvel has been doing well with Hollywood release features, DC Comics has been giving us something better in other formats. The best example is in fact this movie, Batman: Under The Red Hood. When I first saw it, I had one nitpick about it. As I watched it again and again, that nitpick was gone and I began to love it more and more.
I'm not going to do a pros and cons kind of review this time because I really don't have any cons to this movie. Instead, I am going to talk about all the good and even mention a bit of a warning to those who have not seen it.
The film looks and sounds better than even some Hollywood animated films. It has your attention throughout. The voice acting is top notch. People who are popular on TV shows more than movies are providing some voice acting that matches the characters perfectly. Jensen Ackles (Supernatural) and Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) are two actors that are a part of this film and they match the characters they are given and makes them feel realistic, even for an animated feature. The one voice actor I first had an issue with was John DiMaggio as the Joker, but when I watched it the second time, I understood his interpretation of the Joker and it is now my favorite Joker, next to Mark Hamill's portrayal of the character in the original animated series in the 90s. Bruce Greenwood voices Batman and it is his first time doing it, but it is incredible. He sounds like Batman in the way he should with a film and story like this.
The movie is only 75 minutes long, but that means no filler! Everything contained within the movie is plot focused and keeps the story movie without delaying it (take note Marvel). There are no plot holes. It follows it's comic book story line and keeps it focused on just the one movie instead of trying to introduce a sequel. The ending is open, but solely to say that Batman's adventures are far from over. We will see more Batman and we will always get more material from this character.
Another thing this movie does is not only introduce us to character Hollywood hasn't even done, but has given us a character Warner Bros. has avoided for a long time; Jason Todd, the second Robin. The Batman Animated series we all know and love gave us Dick Grayson (The First Robin who became Nightwing) and Tim Drake (The Third Robin) and skipped Jason Todd. Why would they do that, some people may wonder. It was because Jason Todd was much more violent and rebellious than the rest of them and was the only one who officially died. This character is what Batman believes to be his biggest failure. I'm not going to spoil anymore because it is an amazing story.
This movie catches 2 things other Batman movies have failed to do; show Batman as a detective (think of one film that has truly highlighted that from Hollywood), and show what the relationship between Batman and Robin really is. Batman and Robin are more than just mentor and student, it is Father and Son. Bruce Wayne took in children who were recently orphaned or came from trouble upbringing, showed them a better life, and trained them to someday become heroes and icons as well.
This movie makes you think about your own life. Seeing a character like Batman, one we painted in our heads as the greatest Superhero of all time, face his failures and own up to his mistakes, made me want to do the same thing. Nobody is perfect, everyone is human, we all make mistakes and who better to show us that than the icon of most people childhood.
Warning: This movie has some brutal scenes. Even though it has the PG-13 rating, it is on the border between that and the R rating. The movie even starts with a scene that is kind of hard to watch if you are a young kid. It can be brutal and violent at time, much like the comic.
Overall: If you have not seen this movie, I urge you to see it. I even have a copy of it if you need to borrow it. If you are not a fan of violence, I still recommend it. It capture everything that makes a great movie and leave a mark to do better. I do not know if we will get anymore good DC films from Hollywood, but I am more than satisfied with what I have gotten already from the direct to DVD films, and this is my favorite above all of them.
I'm not going to do a pros and cons kind of review this time because I really don't have any cons to this movie. Instead, I am going to talk about all the good and even mention a bit of a warning to those who have not seen it.
The film looks and sounds better than even some Hollywood animated films. It has your attention throughout. The voice acting is top notch. People who are popular on TV shows more than movies are providing some voice acting that matches the characters perfectly. Jensen Ackles (Supernatural) and Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) are two actors that are a part of this film and they match the characters they are given and makes them feel realistic, even for an animated feature. The one voice actor I first had an issue with was John DiMaggio as the Joker, but when I watched it the second time, I understood his interpretation of the Joker and it is now my favorite Joker, next to Mark Hamill's portrayal of the character in the original animated series in the 90s. Bruce Greenwood voices Batman and it is his first time doing it, but it is incredible. He sounds like Batman in the way he should with a film and story like this.
The movie is only 75 minutes long, but that means no filler! Everything contained within the movie is plot focused and keeps the story movie without delaying it (take note Marvel). There are no plot holes. It follows it's comic book story line and keeps it focused on just the one movie instead of trying to introduce a sequel. The ending is open, but solely to say that Batman's adventures are far from over. We will see more Batman and we will always get more material from this character.
Another thing this movie does is not only introduce us to character Hollywood hasn't even done, but has given us a character Warner Bros. has avoided for a long time; Jason Todd, the second Robin. The Batman Animated series we all know and love gave us Dick Grayson (The First Robin who became Nightwing) and Tim Drake (The Third Robin) and skipped Jason Todd. Why would they do that, some people may wonder. It was because Jason Todd was much more violent and rebellious than the rest of them and was the only one who officially died. This character is what Batman believes to be his biggest failure. I'm not going to spoil anymore because it is an amazing story.
This movie catches 2 things other Batman movies have failed to do; show Batman as a detective (think of one film that has truly highlighted that from Hollywood), and show what the relationship between Batman and Robin really is. Batman and Robin are more than just mentor and student, it is Father and Son. Bruce Wayne took in children who were recently orphaned or came from trouble upbringing, showed them a better life, and trained them to someday become heroes and icons as well.
This movie makes you think about your own life. Seeing a character like Batman, one we painted in our heads as the greatest Superhero of all time, face his failures and own up to his mistakes, made me want to do the same thing. Nobody is perfect, everyone is human, we all make mistakes and who better to show us that than the icon of most people childhood.
Warning: This movie has some brutal scenes. Even though it has the PG-13 rating, it is on the border between that and the R rating. The movie even starts with a scene that is kind of hard to watch if you are a young kid. It can be brutal and violent at time, much like the comic.
Overall: If you have not seen this movie, I urge you to see it. I even have a copy of it if you need to borrow it. If you are not a fan of violence, I still recommend it. It capture everything that makes a great movie and leave a mark to do better. I do not know if we will get anymore good DC films from Hollywood, but I am more than satisfied with what I have gotten already from the direct to DVD films, and this is my favorite above all of them.
Friday, March 25, 2016
Movie Review: The Avengers
Superhero movies can be either fresh and interesting, or a repeat
of previous films. When it is fresh and interesting, it stand out and makes you
want to actually read comic books. When it is a repeat, it just makes you want
to wait until the next movie and hope they backpedal to fix the problems of the
first film. No company is more guilty of that than Marvel. Yes, I don't like
Marvel's Cinematic Universe. While it is impressive that all the films connect,
one of them struggles to stand well on their own.
Where we got some good stand alone movies, like Iron Man and
Guardians of The Galaxy, all the sequels tend to repeat the same plot while
leaving some plot holes to be filled by the sequel. However, people tend to ignore
it and just say "It's perfect! You have to love Marvel!" And I say,
"You are wrong." Marvel is not perfect. They are just as flawed as
other movies are.
To prove it, I am taking apart what some have called, The Best
Superhero Movie of All Time, The Avengers. Where I liked the movie the first
time I saw it, every time I watched it after... My eyes kind of started seeing
the problems behind all the flare.
The Pros: There is nothing wrong with the casting in these
movies. All the actors properly portray the characters we got in the comics.
The action is eye candy and can be enjoyed by just watching it. When I first saw it, I was sucked into solely the action and I ignored all the problems. It is also our first time seeing Hawkeye in action. He is the best lesser known Marvel character out there and it is nice to see he is well represented. It is quick to catch your attention, so it is good if you need a movie to distract you. Thor is my favorite character in the movie. He is well represented by Chris Hemsworth and he does have the best lines in the movie.
The Cons: The characters are poorly written. Iron Man is a prick,
Captain America is a Boy Scout, Nick Fury has no personality outside of yelling
and complaining, Black Widow is a cock tease. and Loki is a bratty child. If you met anyone like them in
real life, you would think the same way. That is the difference between a good
character and a bad character. The action, even of impressive, is just CGI. I
have seen movies, like Transformers and Man of Steel, get crap from critics for
the use of CGI, and this movie gets a free pass when it looks exactly the same,
even worse in some cases. There are some huge plot holes throughout the film.
For example, what is the Tesseract? We hear what it can do and it's functions,
but what is it? The movie explains nothing about it and it is crucial item for the plot. This is the
same plot as all the Iron Man movies; The hero is introduced, the hero makes a
mistake, bad things happen, the hero makes a resolve, the day is saved, and an
open end announcing a sequel. This was so well received Marvel has repeated it
over and over again after this movie with all their sequels. I haven't like a
Marvel movie sequel after this one for that reason.
Final Thoughts: I don't like this movie, but I know I am a
minority. People have their reasons for liking them and I will respect that.
For some, it may be an incredible movie, but for me, it is nothing special. My
favorite Superhero movie will be brought up Monday March 28th.
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Movie Review: X-Men: Days of Future Past
Welcome to Super Hero month!
The X-Men film franchise had been interesting for more than one reason. Where none of them have 100% followed the comics, they have still been proven to be some of the better comic based movies in the market today... except for X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. However, I don't think I would benefit by talking about those two movies, because after those movies we got three more movies that proved to be leagues better and have given us something great as stand alone movies. Those movies being X-Men: First Class, The Wolverine, and today's movie, X-Men: Days of Future Past.
I picked this movie not because I liked it, but because it was also my favorite movie of 2014. Think about that... 2014 gave us Godzilla, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Fault in Our Stars, The Lego Movie, and How to Train Your Dragon 2, and This is my favorite film to have come out that year.
The Pros: It is a completed story, which is hard for any sequel to do. However, because of the subject the film presents, it works better than any other sequel I have seen. Time Travel is very hard to present properly, but this movie managed to do it incredibly well without plot holes. We see both old and new characters in this film franchise. Even though not all of them get speaking lines or anything like that, the scenes still work really well without dialogue. The Sentinels! I have been wanting to see this things since the original X-Men movie came out, and they are threatening! You see just what they can do at the beginning of the movie and it gives you a full understanding of the threat that is present among these characters. Magneto! This is still one of the best written characters I have seen from Marvel and both Ian Mckellen and Michael Fassbender shows us just that. The cast still shows us all the powerful characters we loved in previous movies. When we see something tragic, or scary for the character, we feel it. Every character death hits hard! That is what it is supposed to do and I loved that when I first saw it and when I watched it again before writing this review. When a new power is presented, they do their best to explain that and I appreciate that. This movie has some of the best CGI I have ever seen and mixed practical effects into the movie as well, making the visuals fantastic. It is a great film to look at and it feels good on the eyes.
The Cons: I myself do not see it as a con, but I'm sure others will and I'll get some person complaining about it. It is not 100% accurate with the comic. I have to argue this, would you have wanted to see it if it was about Kitty Pride (Shadow Cat) going into the past? Think about that.
Final Thoughts: I'm not going to give a number rating this month and see what happens, because I can't give any of these movies a number. I didn't think I would like this movie as much as I did. I was surprised by it and that is something I haven't had in a theater in a long time, because I see every movie without expectations and an open mind, even when watching something for a second or third time. This is the best X-Men movie when have ever gotten. I love this franchise and I am looking forward to whatever Bryan Singer and the guys at Fox give us next in this franchise.
The X-Men film franchise had been interesting for more than one reason. Where none of them have 100% followed the comics, they have still been proven to be some of the better comic based movies in the market today... except for X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. However, I don't think I would benefit by talking about those two movies, because after those movies we got three more movies that proved to be leagues better and have given us something great as stand alone movies. Those movies being X-Men: First Class, The Wolverine, and today's movie, X-Men: Days of Future Past.
I picked this movie not because I liked it, but because it was also my favorite movie of 2014. Think about that... 2014 gave us Godzilla, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Fault in Our Stars, The Lego Movie, and How to Train Your Dragon 2, and This is my favorite film to have come out that year.
The Pros: It is a completed story, which is hard for any sequel to do. However, because of the subject the film presents, it works better than any other sequel I have seen. Time Travel is very hard to present properly, but this movie managed to do it incredibly well without plot holes. We see both old and new characters in this film franchise. Even though not all of them get speaking lines or anything like that, the scenes still work really well without dialogue. The Sentinels! I have been wanting to see this things since the original X-Men movie came out, and they are threatening! You see just what they can do at the beginning of the movie and it gives you a full understanding of the threat that is present among these characters. Magneto! This is still one of the best written characters I have seen from Marvel and both Ian Mckellen and Michael Fassbender shows us just that. The cast still shows us all the powerful characters we loved in previous movies. When we see something tragic, or scary for the character, we feel it. Every character death hits hard! That is what it is supposed to do and I loved that when I first saw it and when I watched it again before writing this review. When a new power is presented, they do their best to explain that and I appreciate that. This movie has some of the best CGI I have ever seen and mixed practical effects into the movie as well, making the visuals fantastic. It is a great film to look at and it feels good on the eyes.
The Cons: I myself do not see it as a con, but I'm sure others will and I'll get some person complaining about it. It is not 100% accurate with the comic. I have to argue this, would you have wanted to see it if it was about Kitty Pride (Shadow Cat) going into the past? Think about that.
Final Thoughts: I'm not going to give a number rating this month and see what happens, because I can't give any of these movies a number. I didn't think I would like this movie as much as I did. I was surprised by it and that is something I haven't had in a theater in a long time, because I see every movie without expectations and an open mind, even when watching something for a second or third time. This is the best X-Men movie when have ever gotten. I love this franchise and I am looking forward to whatever Bryan Singer and the guys at Fox give us next in this franchise.
Monday, February 29, 2016
Movie Review: The Bourne Legacy
Every great franchise always has a black sheep, one item not as good as the rest. Look at any franchise, whether it be movies or video games, that is not as well received by the fan base. For example, Star Wars has The Phantom Menace, Sonic the Hedgehog has Sonic Boom, Final Fantasy has Final Fantasy XIII, and the Bourne franchise has this movie, The Bourne Legacy.
Meant to be a side story that was taking place around the same time as the Bourne Ultimatum, The Bourne Legacy was meant to show us that Jason Bourne was not the only super assassin that was made. However, it wasn't as well received by critics or fans of the original trilogy. The question is, why? That is what I am hoping to answer. Is it as bad as people say it is? Well, yes and no.
For anyone wondering, I did watch the original trilogy and they are all fantastic action movies. The reason I am talking about this one instead of the original movies is because I have gotten a collective positive response to those, and mixed feelings on this one.
The Pros: The action scenes are still awesome, well shot and choreographed, as well as having very little CGI. They are still a blast to watch and enjoy. Most of the casting is really good. Edward Norton does a very good political villain and other side characters are also well acted. The movie also explains how the super assassins are created and what is needed for most of them. It also works as a good setup for the next movie coming out this year. The female lead in the movie was also a good character, just like in previous movies. She was very helpful and her actions made the plot move along in a good fashion.
The Cons: I don't know what it is, but I can't get behind Jeremy Renner as an assassin. I don't know if it is his bland character, Aaron Cross, or just his performance. I don't think I have seen a movie I liked him in. He's just one of those actors I don't personally like. He is boring to me. Before anyone mentions the Avengers, I promise, I am getting to that one. It borrows elements from previous Bourne movies that makes it feel formulaic. The building jumping, the silent assassin sent to kill him, the girl helping him, it felt a lot like The Bourne Ultimatum. The last action scene is pretty dragged as time goes on. As it goes, I found myself hoping it would just end and the last thing would be a fist fight between Aaron Cross and the silent assassin, but that didn't happen. It also leaves a huge plot hole, that I am hoping they filling in Jason Bourne (the fifth movie). The films biggest focus revolves around Aaron Cross is trying to get a medication he needs to still function and they are trying to make it so he doesn't need them. The question is, why didn't Jason Bourne need them. They are part of the same program, so why didn't Jason need them and Aaron did. Hopefully they explain that.
Final Thoughts: 6/10, I wanted to originally give it a 5/10, but the action scenes are too good to miss. It is definitely the weakest in the franchise, but it still has things to enjoy. I actually encourage people to see this and make their own opinion about it. I may not watch it again, but I understand why people do or don't like this movie.
Special Announcement: As far as movie reviews goes, the month of March will be my first focus month here on the blog, and I am putting a focus on Superhero movies. I have already picked my movies and here is how it will go. I will start with a recent comic book movie I liked, one I didn't like, and end the month with my favorite superhero movie of all time. I will let you, the readers, predict and guess what they are. Until next week!
Meant to be a side story that was taking place around the same time as the Bourne Ultimatum, The Bourne Legacy was meant to show us that Jason Bourne was not the only super assassin that was made. However, it wasn't as well received by critics or fans of the original trilogy. The question is, why? That is what I am hoping to answer. Is it as bad as people say it is? Well, yes and no.
For anyone wondering, I did watch the original trilogy and they are all fantastic action movies. The reason I am talking about this one instead of the original movies is because I have gotten a collective positive response to those, and mixed feelings on this one.
The Pros: The action scenes are still awesome, well shot and choreographed, as well as having very little CGI. They are still a blast to watch and enjoy. Most of the casting is really good. Edward Norton does a very good political villain and other side characters are also well acted. The movie also explains how the super assassins are created and what is needed for most of them. It also works as a good setup for the next movie coming out this year. The female lead in the movie was also a good character, just like in previous movies. She was very helpful and her actions made the plot move along in a good fashion.
The Cons: I don't know what it is, but I can't get behind Jeremy Renner as an assassin. I don't know if it is his bland character, Aaron Cross, or just his performance. I don't think I have seen a movie I liked him in. He's just one of those actors I don't personally like. He is boring to me. Before anyone mentions the Avengers, I promise, I am getting to that one. It borrows elements from previous Bourne movies that makes it feel formulaic. The building jumping, the silent assassin sent to kill him, the girl helping him, it felt a lot like The Bourne Ultimatum. The last action scene is pretty dragged as time goes on. As it goes, I found myself hoping it would just end and the last thing would be a fist fight between Aaron Cross and the silent assassin, but that didn't happen. It also leaves a huge plot hole, that I am hoping they filling in Jason Bourne (the fifth movie). The films biggest focus revolves around Aaron Cross is trying to get a medication he needs to still function and they are trying to make it so he doesn't need them. The question is, why didn't Jason Bourne need them. They are part of the same program, so why didn't Jason need them and Aaron did. Hopefully they explain that.
Final Thoughts: 6/10, I wanted to originally give it a 5/10, but the action scenes are too good to miss. It is definitely the weakest in the franchise, but it still has things to enjoy. I actually encourage people to see this and make their own opinion about it. I may not watch it again, but I understand why people do or don't like this movie.
Special Announcement: As far as movie reviews goes, the month of March will be my first focus month here on the blog, and I am putting a focus on Superhero movies. I have already picked my movies and here is how it will go. I will start with a recent comic book movie I liked, one I didn't like, and end the month with my favorite superhero movie of all time. I will let you, the readers, predict and guess what they are. Until next week!
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