Thursday, July 31, 2008

Movie of da week: The Lost Boys 2- The Tribe

Before I make this week's recommendation, let me make one thing abundantly clear: The Lost Boys 2-The Tribe, is very likely a steaming pile of vampire poo not worth the disk you can purchase/rent it on.

That being said, my recommendation for the week is The Lost Boys 2-The Tribe.

"Why," you may ask. Because it's The Lost Boys 2. I don't know about you guys, but the original film is one of my all-time favorite vampire flicks.

As stated a few posts back, I don't see this ridiculously unnecessary, obvious attempt to cash in on a namesake as ruining the original. If nothing else, I imagine the sucktitude LB2 reaches will very likely make the original appear that much better.

I suggest you gather up all your friends, pop some poping corn, invest in a 24 pack or two (however much is needed to turn the "bad horror" into "good funny") and get to mocking this one from the moment the opening credits roll.

It's either that, or you can head out and watch the new Mummy film. Yeah...I thought so.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

That's quite enough "truth," thanks: The X-Files: I Want to Believe review

The new X-Files movie, annoyingly subtitled I Want to Believe, is a tough movie to review.

As a self-proclaimed X-Nerd (current X-Nerd, if that even makes sense), I'm not sure if I'm supposed to review it in comparison to movies in general or only in relation to the X-Verse. As someone deeply familiar with the show and all its inside jokes and lore, it's tricky to know if the new film can appeal to the casual viewer.

My gut reaction is yes, though I can't really recommend it to the majority of folks.

As a fan of the show, IWTB is a fine sendoff. While a couple direction choices were poor and the story is only so-so (there's a cool X-Filesy twist!), it was actually nice to look in on some of my most loved fictional characters five years after the series' final season. The performances are solid and both David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson slip back into their Mulder and Skully personas effortlessly.

However, fan as I may be, the payoff wasn't all that great. A bit bloated at the two-hour mark, the story would have served better as a one-hour episode for the regular series. Even then it doesn't hold a candle to some of the series' greats.

As an outsider looking in, though, you literally do not have to be a fan of the series to get some kind of enjoyment out of this movie. Detatched from most of the old X-Files world, IWTB is written well as a standalone and could have been used as the plot for any number of sci-fi mystery movies with a different cast and characters.

Then again, different casts and characters have done this type of film much better and, at its best, The X-Files: I Want to Believe is only a decent late summer distraction that manages to hit just enough nostalgia buttons while wrapping up the whole universe in a nice, neat little package.

For fans of the series, you shouldn't be too disappointed. For fans of crime dramas with a paranormal edge, this also might suit your tastes nicely. For the curious passers-by, though, don't lose any sleep over missing out on this one.

Everyone sounds like they would be willing to do another movie in the future and it's my hope this never happens. IWTB is a good--not great--finish that ties up all the loose ends and gives a true sense of closure. Let's leave well enough alone, shall we.

Rejected t-shirt ideas: Slinky

Continuing our ongoing saga of rejected t-shirt ideas, statiecEchoes' latest entry takes a turn for nestalgia.

It recently occurred to me a lot of t-shirts have pictures of classic T.V. shows or toys smeared across the front. Some particularly cool folks even wear them pre-roughed-up.

Back in my day (the 80s and 90s, I guess), when those T.V. shows and toys were actually cool, we roughed up our own clothes, dagnabit. Now everything comes pre-faded and pre-torn.

Tell you what. Next time you get the urge to buy those stylin threads, why not save yourself thirty bucks, buy some normal clothes, then offer a hobo five bucks to beat the crap out of you. The clothes will now look exactly like the more trendy styles and, if my math is correct, that still saves you, I don't know, like a million dollars.

Anyway, I decided to do my own spin on the classic toy t-shirt idea. What, exactly, does the wearer of this t-shirt have against Slinkys? Was he perhaps abused by a Slinky as a child? Did a Slinky run out on he and his mother? We may never know.

One thing is for certain, though, and that is the fact no company would ever print this bad boy on their shirts.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Monday mini-movies: Shocking edition


This week's mini-movie is equal parts awesome and terrifying.

I think choosing this video for the week has something to do with my slight pyromania.

Can you believe that thing! My eyes were froze open as I imagined the many cool things which could be tossed into that monstrous current...Like a watermelon...Or a large box of metal screws...Or an aquarium full of fish.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Movie of da week: The X-Files- I Want to Believe

I'm just going to get this out of the way...I hate the title for the new X-Files movie. There. I said it.

Now that that bit of ugliness is behind us, I'm going to very cautiously give this one my recommendation for the week.

Let's get one thing straight here. I absolutely love The X Files. I watched on TV every week growing up, I own all nine seasons (bootleg Asian AND legitimate American copies) and the first movie on DVD and I currently have a Fox Mulder FBI ID in my wallet. I think it's safe to say I'm an X-Phile.

However, I'm also NOT an idiot. When a movie comes out many-a year after a series has drawn to a close (on a three-season stink run, no less), it's a pretty safe bet this one is in it just for the money.

Considering the fact only about five people on this planet did not get out to see The Dark Knight last week, maybe I Want to Believe will manage to at least pay for itself and make all the fanboys/girls happy.

Really, as a fan, that's all that matters to me. I'm not expecting brilliance here. All I want is a decent story with enough "love letter to the fans" moments to make me mist up with nostalgia.

So long as that happens, I'll consider the new X-Files movie a success. In retrospect, maybe the title is fitting.

Holy awesome sequel, Batman: The Dark Knight review

Well, I guess I get the honor of being the one-zillionth person to write something along the lines of "Heath Ledger is utterly brilliant as the Joker."

When discussing the first Michael Keaton Batman movie, I like to say Jack Nicholson's role of the character was so fantastic because he made it realistic. Compared to the old TV show, Jackie boy was spouting poetry and giving a haunting performance worthy of the title "arch villain."

Now, though, I have to rethink some things. Gone are the "Bang" guns and ridiculous schemes, replaced by genuine psychosis and a desire to see the world burn. Ledger's grinning baddie is, quite simply, chaos incarnate. He's dark, disturbed and utterly believable. For his performance alone, I say go see The Dark Knight.

Thankfully, the rest of the movie is top-notch as well. From the beautifully shot action sequences to superb performances from everyone on board, I absolutely adored this film. To avoid singling out Ledger, I'll also say Aaron Eckhart's transformation from district attorney Harvy Dent to Two-Face is elegant and equally deserving of high praise.

The Dark Knight was about thirty minutes longer than it needed to be, but otherwise I can't think of a single legitimate complaint to hold against the film.

What pleases me most is the fact DK refuses, like Batman Begins before it, to be tied down by the concept of genre. This is not a comic book movie. It is a gritty, violent, psychologically thrilling crime drama everyone should take the time to enjoy.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Monday mini-movies: Bleep edition


I don't really (read: ever) watch Jimmy Kimmel's show, so I apologize if this is seriously old news to you.

Apparently the guy does a weekly segment where they add censorship over words and scenes that don't actually require them. However, with a creative *beep* thrown in every so often, it's pretty dang funny what they come up with.

Check it out.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Echo ponders E3

I'm beginning to think the interwebs are the worst thing to ever happen to videogames.

Most players are pretty passionate about this pastime and, as such, are eager to 1) Believe whatever line is thrown their way and 2) Quickly add fuel to a fire without adding so much as an iota of personal thought or research. These two qualities combine to make a rather frightening cocktail.

Were it not for the internet (message boards, blogs, etc.) I would have watched the press conferences from this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo and most likely felt like the industry was in half decent shape. Five minutes online, though, and the consensus points to this being the Armageddon of the videogaming world. The show might not have been the most exciting thing in the world, but man are people overreacting.

Of course, by next month it'll all even back out and fanboys will be back to mindlessly defending their current crusade, but for now the outlook is pretty grim.

Forced to reconsider the "big three's" individual press conferences, here's what I got out of each.

XBox 360 has no idea what their target demographic is anymore. While showcasing a few new videos from Gears 2, Fable 2 and a couple other titles, the bigwigs followed by rolling out a new dashboard, avatars and the Vision Camera. I'm not saying the casual market should just be given up to Nintendo this generation, but when you have a stranglehold on the hardcore market, why dilute your product with half-baked, unnecessary and unwanted goods? Also, a new exclusive would have been nice. I get that FFXIII going multiplatform is a big deal, but I just don't understand all the doomsayers out there who tout this as the biggest thing to happen in the history of gaming. I'm happy more gamers will get to experience what will hopefully be a fantastic RPG, but get the hell over it already. If it's not first party, it's likely not exclusive...Also, Netflix on the 360 is badass.

Nintendo almost insulted me with their awkward, halfassed approach to E308. First of all, everybody already knows you're literally bathing in cash right now. Why waste so much time with ridiculous charts and so little time showing off the software? You know what good came out of Nintendo's conference? Animal Crossing being officially announced. That's...It. And we already knew that was coming. I don't doubt Wii Music will sell like gangbusters once it's released, but I highly doubt that game will be any fun for the core crowd past the first fifteen minutes. Nintendo's conference went on to prove one very important point to me: there is next to nothing good coming out for a very long time. They jettisoned their first party homeruns early and have nothing left to offer save the gargantuan amount of crap being forced onto the market on a regular basis. I was hoping the Wii would be a rebirth of sorts for Nintendo. The game quality, though, is simply lacking to a tragic degree.

Sony, it seemed, had the most to prove this year. Without an ounce of bias, I say I truly believe their show was the most successful. The video service going live the night of the conference was a nice touch. Big titles coming to PSN including Ratchet and Clank, Fat Princess and Siren look highly developed and interesting. Greatest Hits finally making their way to the market is a welcome bit of news and with games like Resistance 2, God of War 3, Resistance: Retribution, Little Big Planet, Valcaria Chronicles and the new I.P. MAG, there was simply more meat on Sony's bones than Nintendo or Xbox. In a business all about the games people play, showing lots and lots of games people might actually want to play was a good move.

In the end, Nintendo has left me utterly disappointed. If not for having more systems to fall back on, I would be spending my money on nothing but retro downloads thanks to so little effort from that camp. Microsoft had the best "wow' moments and a couple videos from games we already know are going to be great. Sony produced the most well-rounded effort full of legitimate news and plenty of content for all of their systems.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be getting back to something a bit more important, like playing these damn games rather than pretending to be a market analyst.

Movie of da week: The Dark Knight

Did anyone have a hard time guessing what this week's movie would be?

I've been eagerly anticipating Batman's return to the silver screen ever since Begins made a believer out of me.

Ignoring all the "brilliant role from the late Leger" hype, what little I've seen of the new Joker has me grinning maniacally. Much like Downey Jr. as Tony Stark from a couple months back, it looks like Heath simply "got" the character of Joker.

Any actor/movie that can make the fantastic believable is A-OK in my book and it looks as though that's what Dark Knight is all about.

Recently billed as one of the best crime dramas to come along in quite some time, I can't wait to find myself firmly planted in a theater seat to soak The Dark Knight in.

Oooooh boy!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Review round-up: Ludo, Wanted, Hellboy 2

Once again trying to keep up with all the entertainment I've been consuming, here's a quick review of some of the most recent this and that's I've given a go.

Ludo:
That's right, a music review. It seems less and less CDs are coming out these days that interest me. I'm a fan of music in general, so I count this less a matter of taste and more a matter of poop finding its way to the market on a regular basis.

I'm definitely open to suggestions, so feel free to leave them in the comments.

Here we have Ludo: You're Awful, I love you. Aside from the amazing title, the album is actually pretty dang good, if not a bit too poppy from time to time. I only say this because half the tracks show signs of genuinely good musicianship and clever wordsmithing. The other half, while fine to listen to, feel like Ludo are trying too hard to be radio friendly.

This is a shame, since it's Ludo's twisted sense of humor and eclectic sound which make them so enjoyable. Then again, if it wasn't for the poppy bits, I probably never would have heard them on the radio and thus never picked up the album. It's a conundrum, I tell ya.

Wanted:
...I'm sorry. I was trying not to think about Angelina Jolie long enough to give this movie a proper review. Not gonna happen.

Wanted is exactly what it should have been- a high octane, white knuckle thrillride with little room to worry about story or just how ridiculous the shiny things going on on-screen actually are.

A popcorn movie in every sense of the word, Wanted had me grinning from ear to ear from the opening monologue to the closing...well...monologue.

The bullet dueling got a little repetative, but otherwise, the action is fresh, beautiful and a joy to watch.

Did I mention Angelina Jolie?

Hellboy 2-The Golden Army:
I gave it my "Movie of da week" recommendation about seven days ago and it turned out to be a very safe bet.

To be honest, I was hoping for a bit more. A bit more of what, I couldn't tell you, but there was definately a feeling of incompleteness when I headed out of the theater. I know that's not very helpful, but there you have it.

Other than that nagging feeling, though, Hellboy 2 was every bit as good as the first. Picking up shortly after the first film, the new instalment jumps right back into the action as some drow wannabes get ready to wage war on the human race.

Wildly imaginative and oozing with style and beauty, Hellboy 2 also boasts an extra bit of umph in the heart department. Red and his cohorts have a lot to cope with (both emotional and physical) and the film does a good job of taking the audience along for the ride.

A good example of how a sequel should be made, I'd easily re-reccomend Hellboy 2 to any who have not yet made it out to see it.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Monday mini-movies: Chewing hedgehog edition



I think I may have found the best thing ever caught on camera.

I don't know why, but I'm absolutely entranced by this hedgehog.

Can't...stop...watching.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Movie of da week: Hellboy 2- The Golden Army

What's red and black and awesome all over?


The next two weeks worth of movies, that's what.

This week, the big red guy known as Hellboy hits theaters in a big way. Back for round two, early impressions point to The Golden Army being better than the first in every respect. Considering the fact I really enjoyed the first Hellboy movie, I can't tell you how excited this makes me for the sequel.

Actually, yes I can. I'm very, very excited.

Anyway, consider this your time to be spoiled. When it comes to summer action flicks, the likes of Wanted, Hellboy and The Dark Knight add up to a fantastic July.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Metal Gear Solid 4: A spoiler free review

Does saying a game is absolutely fantastic count as a spoiler?

Anyway, I've heard a decent amount of mixed opinions when it comes to the much anticipate Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. One "Times" reviewer went so far as to say he doesn't even consider it a game.

Considering the fact the watch-to-play ratio is just about even, I can see where he's coming from. I do not, however, agree in the slightest. If you were to argue MGS4 is an experience more so than a game, I would be more inclined to see eye to eye with you. But I'd also probably have to give you a swift throat punch for saying something like that.

Moving on.

I'm sure by now you've heard the cut-scenes in MGS4 are epic in length and scope. Kojima and staff have outdone themselves this time around. Though, while part of me loved every second of the dramatic, engaging story which unfolded with little to no input from me, I did find myself just wanting to take control of the action as the game progressed into the later chapters.

What is there to be played, though, is something truly magical. Though the story and levels are linear, Kojima has provided a surprising amount of variety any type of gamer should be able to enjoy. From the sneaker to the run-n-gunner to someone stuck in the middle, you can play MGS4 however you like. The maps are also wide and varied enough to allow you to choose how you get from point A to point B, so replayability is definately there.

Along with the standard infiltration gameplay, you'll get the chance to tackle a wide variety of unique play mechanics I don't want to ruin here. The big joy in this title is uncovering all of the good stuff for yourself. Plan on making multiple save files just so you can go back and relive all your favorite moments at will.

For casual fans or those who have never played a Metal Gear game before, I completely understand how you might not get what all the hubub is about. Sure, you're getting a great 18 or so hours of entertainment, but you simply can't appreciate how much freaking work went into cramming in the sheer volume of fan service MGS4 has to offer. That's not an elitist statement. It's a fact.

At its core, MGS4 is a love letter to fans of the series. It'll keep you guessing every step of the way as far as "what will they have me do next," some of the boss battles are awe inspiring and the long conclusion brought tears to my eyes on several occasions. I'm not just BS-ing here. The script and score pulled on all the right heart strings to wring an emotional reaction out of me.

While you could easily play the game proper multiple times just to unlock everything and see what the vast number of easter eggs have to offer, there's also the Metal Gear Online component to consider.

It's as simple as this: If you like Metal Gear Solid 4, you should like Metal Gear Online. Finding a group of folks willing to utilize all the teamwork opportunities presented can be tricky, but once you find yourself in a room with some likeminded individuals, the experience is a hell of a lot of fun.

I don't want to blow things out of praportion, but I also don't want to deny credit where credit is due. While the actual playtime is a bit short, a couple scenes are longwinded and the majority of boss battles don't really compare to some of the series' greats, everything offered boasts such a high degree of polish and love, it's hard to imagine someone not getting their money's worth out of MGS4.

For fans of the series, the biggest achievement may be seeing how Kojima managed to satisfactorally wrap up one of the most convoluted stories ever told. The story, believe it or not, leaves you with no loose ends to wonder about.

While other installments in the series did certain things better, no other Metal Gear game (or any other game for that matter) has sat so right in my mind after completion.

I absolutely loved it.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

15 movies so bad they're good: Part three

Welcome to the third and final installment of 15 movies so bad they're good.

While not all movies are worth your ten bucks and two hours, some are so bad they're easily worth double that. Man, I love these terrible movies. Feel free to throw in your own suggestions in the comments.

Otherwise, I believe you have fifteen movies worth of homework to get to. As soon as you're finished reading this, of course.

For those who missed out-
15 movies so bad they're good: Part one
15 movies so bad they're good: Part two

Last Action Hero:
Easily one of my favorite good bad movies, this one not only acknowledges the fact action movies are plagued with cliches, but actually revels in those very cliches. A character played by Ah-nold Schwatzah...Schwarts... yeah him. Anyway, the character gets sucked into the real world and has to deal with guns that actually require reloading, intense pain when you shove a body part through a window, and a population that just doesn't give a damn. Great fun!

Howard the Duck: I had to step into the way-back machine to pull this one out. It's a horrible movie based off a pretty wretched comic book, but man is it entertaining. Any movie that implies a three-foot-tall talking duck and his human lady friend get it on has to be a good bad movie, right?

Tremors: This one was another close call in the "actually a good movie" category. But once you consider the often cheeseball dialogue and wonderfully campy monster movie magic, Tremors' fate as a good bad movie is sealed. Part two was pretty fun, but stay far away from parts three and four. They're just bad, bad movies.

Saw: Plot holes galore, terrible acting, overdone gore for the sheer sake of shock value and, surprisingly enough, a unique story that actually keeps you guessing. Saw is a genuinely creepy, genuinely good bad movie. Again, the first sequel was okay, but it's best to avoid the rest.

Almost anything with Stallone: Maybe it's cheating to cluster a bunch of movies as a single entry, but when one man can put out so much likeable crap, I can't help but end the list with this one. Off the top of the dome we have Judge Dredd, Demolition Man, Stop or My Mom Will Shoot and (one of my favorites) Over the Top. That's a whole lot of aweful most people are ashamed to admit they've seen and even more ashamed to admit they like.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Monday mini-movies: Lucky people edition


We've all seen some dude faceplant while attempting a ridiculous stunt, right?

Videos of silly folk getting themselves hurt are a dime a dozen.

It's the instances of people narrowly dodging death that are rare to come by. Thankfully, the above video has several of these moments brought together into one "oh no!" inspiring clip.

Enjoy!

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Movie of da week: Hancock

Okay, so I'm not exactly a'hunerd percent behind my recommendation this week.

Hancock has the potential to be a good superhero flick. Sadly, I don't know how high that potential is. I'm a fan of Smith and, when the trailer isn't trying to be hilarious, some of the millisecond clips look like they might belong to a decent scene.

Am I over analyzing here? I hate when I do that.

Anyway, if you don't want to risk being let down, you could always head out to Wall-E or Wanted instead.

OR! You could always just relax this weekend and wait for Dark Knight and Hellboy 2 to come out later this month. *does a sad, nerdy little happy dance*

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

UFC 86: Echo calls it

Continuing staticEchoes.com's tradition of absolutely unscientific, unproven, somewhat questionable methods of calling fights, this UFC (86, we'll call it) will be decided by each man's facial hair.

For the record, we'll be using the face rugs on display at UFC's official site for the purposes of these predictions. If, by some cruel twist of fate or an unfortunate shaving accident, the fighters look different come Saturday night's fight time, there is no guarantee these predictions will be entirely accurate.

Otherwise, I'm fully confident what follows will be sickeningly perfect.

Corey Hill Vs. Justin Buchholz
I'm not sure if that's a shadow under Buchholz's chin or a sorry excuse for man-hair. While Hill barely has more to offer, his clean cut approach is enough to earn him my pick for winner by reverse ankle bite.

Melvin Guillard Vs. Dennis Siver
What's that Siver? You can't grow a cheek warmer? Guillard has at least put up a decidedly weak effort to prove his manhood. Guillard breaks Siver's arm and spirit in round two. Unfortunately, there's no cure for a broken spirit.

Jorge Gurgel Vs. Cole Miller
Turns out Miller recently graduated from middle school. Check out that baby face. Curgel is going to rip Miller in half within the first twenty seconds of the fight. Gurgel's five'o'clock shadowis truly a force to be reckoned with.

Gabriel Gonzaga Vs. Justin McCully
Talk about a close call. Finally, two men willing to prove their worth. Seeing as how Gonzaga and McCully both know how to grow some flavor savors, this one's going to the hair on top of each combatants' head. Sorry McCully, but the ridiculous corn rows ain't cutting it. Gonzaga in the third after openly criticizing McCully's barbershop disaster.

Tyson Griffin Vs. Marcus Aurelio
I kind of like what these guys are doing here. With just enough stubble, both have shown they CAN grow facial hair, but have simply chosen not to take part in my experiment just to piss me off. Both are winners in my book.

Josh Koscheck Vs. Chris Lytle
Damn you Koscheck and your confusing choice of hair color. Ignoring your poor fashion sense, I can't ignore your ability to put on the scruff. Josh wins, but barely. I'm thinking underwater donkey punch in the second.

Joe Stevenson Vs. Gleison Tibau
While neither Stevenson or Tibau have much to offer, Stevenson's facial hair looks to actually be an extension of his skull hair. I consider this cheating. Tibau doesn't impress, but he at least pulls out the win by decision.

Patrick Cote Vs. Ricardo Almeida
Here we have another clear cut case of man vs. man-child. Thanks for keeping it squeaky clean Almeida. Cote will have no problem spotting your kisser amidst all that nothing and will do so many, many times. Hope you like naps, cause Cote is aiming for your narcolepsy button.

Quinton Jackson Vs. Forrest Griffin
Griffin tries to stand up to Jackson's facial hair, but just like with this fight, he falls far too shy of the mark. This one is over in the first. I expect Jackson to knock Griffin silly and, in a surprise turn of events, start dancing over his unconcious body. Freaking LOVE those high kicks.

Review round-up: Hulk, Otis and Wall-E

Rather than bog you wonderful readers down with review after review, and seeing as how I've fallen a bit behind on movies I've recently seen, I thought I'd cram three in for the space of one.

While not as in-depth, I think these bite-sized doses will get the job done just fine.

The Incredible Hulk:
Yippee! Directors have finally figured out "comic book movie" doesn't necessarily translate to "let's just phone this one in and rake in the millions."

While I absolutely hated 2003's Hulk (I mean, a hulked out Poodle? Really?), I have to give director Louis Leterrier and actors Edward Norton and Liv Tyler credit for pulling off the nearly impossible feat of making a sequel far and away superior to its predecessor.

The story is lukewarm, but the performances and action more than make up for that. Stacked up against the likes of the phenomenal Iron Man, Batman Begins and other quality superhero flicks, The Incredible Hulk holds its own.

Otis:
I don't expect anyone to have actually heard of this one, so consider this exposure my good deed for the day.

I'm a fan of low budget, indie horror movies, and Otis is exactly that. Despite the bankroll and straight to DVD status, however, Otis is a quality watch for fans of the genre.

Don't let the poster fool you, there's little in the line of blood and gore in this one. Otis is about a seriously troubled dude who kidnaps girls and makes them live through six weeks of hell leading up to "prom" before dispatching them in horrible ways. Again, these ways are only described. There's not much to get your guts tied up over.

When a girl goes missing and her family proves to be the vengeful type, the dark hilarity ensues. Expect to be disturbed. Expect to laugh a lot. Expect to enjoy a surprisingly entertaining horror flick.

Wall-E:
While I won't go so far as to say Wall-E is Pixar's best movie to date, the animation is mostly great, the messages are more direct than ever and the story is oddly adult.

While the kiddies are busy enjoying the cute voices and silly antics of Wall-E and his robot companions, adults can expect to receive a large portion of brainfood to chew on throughout the movie's runtime.

It's slow to build, but that's part of the charm. Wall-E sacrifices some of the usual razzle-dazzle for story and, though a bit heavy handed, the story succeeds.

I definately dug Wall-E.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Movies to miss in July

With films like The Dark Knight and Hellboy II hitting the silver screen this month, it's nice to see such little in the line of poo trying to clutter the marquee.

On DVD, though, there are still plenty of flicks to steer clear of.

Meet Dave: Did you hear that? That was the sound of Eddie Murphy's career plummeting another notch or ten. I'm going to go so far as to say I am less interested in Meet Dave than I was in Norbert. I love Eddie when he's used properly and, sorry, but this ain't it.

Vantage Point: What has the potential to be a taut thriller unravels quickly into a mess of crossing plots and nothing worth paying attention to. If you're going to use the approach of "six people, one crime, all see something different," you had better at least present it in a way you don't need a road map to follow. Oh, and making it interesting would help, too.

Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns:
I have seen none of Tyler Perry's work and I'll tell you why- I can't stand the fact his name is tacked on to every damn thing he does. Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns. Tyler Perry's House of Payne. Yyler Perry's raging ego is more like it.

Superhero Movie: Once again, I will not even justify this flaming pile of crap (along with nearly every other film of its ilk) with further comment save to say please, please, please do not spend your money on this. You'll only confuse the studio into assuming that means you want more.

Step up 2 the streets:
Much like my irrational hatred of anything Tyler Perry, I also have a massive dislike of anything with a number in place of a word in the title. Especially if that title is about dancing in da' streets where real gangstas prove their stuff, yo.

Games to get in July

July can mean only one thing. I'm sure it means many things, actually, but in the world of gaming it can only mean the annual drought is officially upon us.

Rather than space quality titles throughout the months when the majority of the gaming masses are out of school and looking for something to do, developers have once again seen fit to cram their biggest hitters into the months just before Christmas. Ah, capitalism.

For the months of July and August of 2008, that means not a whole hell of a lot will be going on. Part of me welcomes the extra time to catch up on my backlog of games while part of me wonders if I would ever need to "catch up" if games came out in a steady trickle as opposed to a sudden downpour in the last quarter of the year.

Anyway, here are a few titles that might be worth your time.

July
7th- Unreal Tournament III (360)
8th- Civilization Revolution (PS3, 360, DS)
22nd- Final Fantasy IV (DS)
26th- Soulcalibur IV (PS3, 360)

Mostly niche titles, I'm not personally too excited about anything out this month.

While UT3 finally hits the 360 this month, I'm guessing a certain other shooter will not be loosening its hold on the online frag-fest demographic any time soon. Sadly, I don't think there's a market for UT3 at the moment.

Civilization IV is dandy and gorgeous, but again, it's not a title a huge chunk of the gaming population can sink their teeth into. Too much of that thinkin' business.
Soulcalibur IV looks like a great fighter, but for $60, that particular genre is losing its luster for me.

Finally there's Final Fantasy IV for the DS. I've officially sworn off these remakes until they decide to combine FFI through VI in a single, definitive package. I can only own so many versions of the same damn game and, frankly, a package deal would be far more bang for the buck when there's so little being added save a dungeon or two and a new coat of paint.