REVIEW: Devil

Devil, an original story made by M. Night Shyalaman, a man whose career has been going downhill according to the masses. I for one am a fan of M. Night and haven’t given up on him; I even enjoyed Lady in the Water and The Happening. The only one I may have not liked from him was Unbreakable. And I’ll just say I safely steered away from The Last Airbender. Devil has a Twilight Zone feel to it and I love how it came off on the screen. A man narrates a story every so often throughout the film and it was a damned good touch. The movie focuses on one building in Philadelphia where something this day just doesn’t seem normal. The heart of the film lies inside of an elevator shaft, where five strangers get trapped inside. As we see in the trailer, the younger woman has a bite mark on her back that can’t possibly be done by a human being, can it? One of these people as the trailer claims, aren’t who they appear to be. A police officer and two men who work the security cameras in the building watch it all unfold, confused more and more as time passes. There is legit horror in this film, whether it be the every now and then LOUD jump scare (which I am on record, not a fan of, feeling it’s a cheap scare, but these were exceptionally effective), and also the horror of things I feel I shouldn’t talk about. The movie had flairs of comedy sprinkled throughout and that came from all different angles, mostly from Geoffrey Arend, famous for his drug eating scene in the beginning of Super Troopers. Not to single out him as being good, all of the main actors/actresses did a great job, really well done by all. The beginning and ending was perfectly done that will probably go over a few people’s heads, but bravo. Devil gave me the most fun I’ve had at the theater in 2010 thus far, and by the looks of it, The Town with Ben Affleck may be right on ITS tail, I’ll find out soon enough.

VERDICT: 2 Guys Seal of Approval

REVIEW: Resident Evil: Afterlife

After watching this movie...my eyes are on fire. YEAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Resident Evil: Afterlife is the fourth installment of the surprisingly popular and profitable movie based on a video game franchise. It opens with little backstory, so if you haven’t seen any of the previous movies, you will undoubtedly be lost. Actually, even if you’ve seen all of them, you’ll probably still be lost. But none of that really matters because, just like Extinction and Apocalypse before it, Afterlife doesn’t bring anything new to the franchise and sure as hell doesn’t bring anything new to the zombie-horror genre. What it does bring in spades is bad acting and generic characters. Wentworth Miller ofPrison Break fame is a bore as Chris Redfield and Jason O’Mara plays Wesker like a second-rate Agent Smith from The Matrix. The one saving grace and perhaps the only good to come out of this exercise in futility is the outstanding use of 3-D technology. The script was written with 3-D in mind and it shows. Bullets fly out of the screen, water and blood splatter convincingly, and the entire movie has a depth that is severely lacking in most 3-D films. It’s too bad that all the wizardry is wasted on such a forgettable movie.

VERDICT : Not Unless It’s Getting You Laid

Trailer Park Friday! Sept. 10

It’s Friday and you know what that means, new movies! This week there’s a whopping ONE movie opening here in Jacksonville. Well actually two if you count the re-release of the last Twilight movie. This weekend would be a perfect time to go see Machete if you haven’t already or maybe do some yardwork. Yea, I know. Sounds terrible doesn’t it. But if you absolutely must see the three-dimensional abomination that is Resident Evil: Afterlife–which is, as of this post, riding a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes–then here is what you have in store.

REVIEW: Mafia 2

Mafia 2 is the long awaited follow-up to the 2002 PC turned 2004 Xbox game, Mafia. Rather than creating an open world experience a la Grand Theft Auto, the hallmark of Mafia was its focus on realism and telling a gripping, focused story. In the eight years since the original, the latest incarnation of this gangster tale continues the trend, for better or worse.

What’s Hot

Mafia 2 Is Good People

My main problem with the Grand Theft Auto series was its tendency to overcrowd the story with dozens of insignificant characters that give you no reason to care about them. They are generally despicable, deplorable caricatures that only serve to present you with new missions. For the most part, the guys you work with in Mafia 2 are all unique personalities with their own motivations, virtues, and shortcomings. By the end of the game, you will have a genuine interest in the wellbeing of these wiseguys.

Party Like It’s 1949

Mafia 2 does a phenomenal job of transporting you to another time. From poodle skirts, to period cars and the great soundtrack ranging from the swing and jazz of the 40s to the beginnings of rock and roll in the early 50s, everything in Mafia 2 keeps you fully entranced in a simpler time.

A Man On Many Missions

Mission variety in Mafia 2 is a definite plus. A few chapters have light stealth elements, others have you selling stolen cigarettes out of the back of a pickup, and the more action-oriented missions offer gunfights aplenty. All of the missions are well designed and always offer something new.

What’s Not

Driving Me Crazy

While there’s much variety in mission type, there’s only one way to get there: by car. And in case you didn’t know, most cars in the 40s and 50s were actually boats with wheels. And if that wasn’t enough, the police in Mafia 2 are real ball-busters. They’ll come after you for speeding, hit and run, and illegal lane changes—well maybe not that last one—and while outrunning the cops isn’t all that difficult, almost any high-speed crash will result in your demise. There is a helpful speed limiter, which with the press of a button can eliminate the need to constantly watch your speedometer, that makes it a bit more bearable, but this does make getting from mission to mission tedious—especially since most missions require you to drive back home afterward.

Just Die Already

The realism in Mafia 2 isn’t limited to traffic violations. You are not a superhuman bullet sponge—one or two stray bullets can and will put you out of commission. In theory this sounds great. Rather than allowing you to take on a dozen or so cops with automatic weapons like GTA, Mafia 2 would make you rethink your strategy and make use of cover. In practice, enemies that can take an entire clip in the gut and not die kill the realism. If one bullet can force you to replay an entire mission, one bullet should be enough to have your enemies sleeping with the fishes.

In the end, Mafia 2 is a double-edged sword. It tells a compelling story that is bound to please any fans of mobster movies. It also does an outstanding job making you feel like that story is taking place in a living, breathing 1950s Empire Bay (a combination of NYC and San Fran). On the other hand, some of the same things that have always frustrated me about open world games still linger—too much driving from mission to mission and a lack of proper in-mission checkpoints. The world of Empire Bay isn’t near as large or daunting as Liberty City of GTAIV fame and there aren’t any of the diversions—there are no side missions to speak of—but to me, the focused narrative and great voice acting was enough.

REVIEW: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is based on a series of graphic novels that started in 2004 and finished in July of this year. It follows the titular anti-hero, a bass-playing slacker, as he struggles between his affection for the alluring Ramona Flowers and her league of evil ex-boyfriends hell-bent on making sure they don’t end up happily ever after.

What’s Hot

Edgar Wright Knows What the F@#! Is Up

If director Edgar Wright proved anything with Hot Fuzz and Sean of the Dead it’s that he knows how to make an homage film. Scott Pilgrim is a love letter to gamers, comic book nerds, and pop-culture fanatics alike. It’s littered with so much intertexuality that repeat viewings will surely be in order.

The Reinvention of Michael Cera

Michael Cera has become a one-trick pony of sorts as of late. Thankfully, partly due to the great script, he bucks that trend as Scott Pilgrim. He’s as funny as ever and actually holds his own in the fight scenes—yes Michael Cera kicks some serious ex-boyfriend ass.

Boss Battles

The action in Scott Pilgrim is freaking awesome. The fights are frenetic and loaded with comic and videogame overlay but the brilliant cinematography never lets things get too out of control—everything is easy to watch.

I’ve tried to be brief here so I don’t spoil anything but I could talk for hours about Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. It’s a great movie with great performances, great action, and great direction. I haven’t smiled or laughed this much at the movies in a long time and I can’t wait to see it again.

REVIEW: The Other Guys

When I originally saw the trailer for The Other Guys, I was a bit skeptical. I honestly didn’t know which way I was leaning towards when the preview finished, as the first one I saw ended on Will Ferrell’s rant about how the movie industry doesn’t really show how explosions feel. The movie stars Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg and it made us believe it was a buddy cop comedy, which… it was, kind of. The trailer also made us believe that these two were supposed to be “the other guys”, assuming there was a type of competition between them and Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. I was on Angry Joe’s website, www.angryjoeshow.com, and he too believed there was this sort of rivalry to go on between the two pairs, at least some sort of interaction. Let me dive right into what’s hot and what’s not.

What’s Hot

Will Ferrell is the Man
Nate was correct when he said a while back on one of our podcasts that Will Ferrell is the best comedic actor today. I originally said it was Ben Stiller, but it’s true, every movie Will Ferrell is in, I enjoy his scenes more than any other actor out there. Ben Stiller does have Little Fockers coming out later this year, but I have to be honest, it doesn’t appear all that great so far, but that’s just one small trailer.

Will’s deadpan look and comedic timing is fantastic here and it’s quite the good job because Mark Wahlberg can be a funny guy, he really can be… it’s just in this film; he was always pissed off or annoyed with Ferrell’s character.

Also, the way his character attracts good looking women was a good running joke.

Samuel L. Jackson and The Rock
These two started the movie off fun and I do wish they had more screen time, but a round of applause for how these characters were handled without giving any spoilers away. I’m a huge fan of The Rock, as I grew up I was obsessed with the WWE and The Rock was probably the biggest star during those years. When he left wrestling, he began acting, and while he was billed to be the next big action star (didn’t happen), he is doing just fine as a comedic actor who can do the action films as well.

Michael Keaton:
Well done sir, just don’t go chasing waterfalls.

What’s Not

Unfortunately, how long was this movie?
It really felt way too long and didn’t need the excessive length. Granted, it was only a 1 hour and 47 minute runtime, still too long for this type of comedy movie.

Rob Riggle and Damon Wayans Jr.:
What the hell? Rob Riggle is a funny guy and Damon Wayans Jr. comes from a funny family… but these two just pissed me off whenever they were on the screen. They didn’t do anything to add to this movie other than annoyance.

Steve Coogan:
Normally a funny guy as well, but his role here was nothing of note in my opinion.

The Other Guys was a pretty good movie overall though. Will Ferrell can take a movie at its worst (The Goods with Jeremy Piven, classic scenes by Will) and bring it to a funny level. His wife in the film, Eva Mendes could have been expanded into an even deeper role, but it was good still how they interacted. Mark Wahlberg is a good actor, I like him a lot, but he could have been a lot funnier if the writing didn’t make him so one dimension. I’d say you should go see this movie, just don’t go rush out.

REVIEW: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game

OK. So Scott Pilgrim is a series of graphic novels about the videogame-playing, bass guitarist of Sex Bob-omb, Scott Pilgrim, and his quest to win the heart of his dream girl, Ramona Flowers. The first graphic novel was released in 2004 and the latest in July of 2010. Coinciding with the release of the feature film—which is already garnering very high praise—is Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game. Released on August 10^th on the Playstation Network and coming to Xbox Live Arcade on August 24^th, the game based on the movie based on the comic follows Scott as he attempts to defeat Ramona’s seven evil ex-boyfriends.

What’s Hot

It’s Old School

Everything about the presentation in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game is pulled straight out of the early 90s. From the awesome punk-rock chiptune soundtrack to the stylized 8-bit graphics, it evokes feelings of familiarity almost instantly. Anyone who grew up playing River City Ransom or Streets of Rage will feel right at home here. Throw in the Mario-style hub world and the Street Fighter K.O.s at the end of the boss fights and this game will bring you back to a simpler time.

A Story Meant For a Game

I am only marginally familiar with the graphic novel, but the premise of the Scott Pilgrim series lends itself perfectly to videogame adaptation. Guy meets girl. Guy falls for girl. Guy must defeat her seven evil ex-boyfriends. I dare you to come up with a better idea for a game.

Boss Battles

The game is broken into seven different levels, each culminating in a boss fight against one—or two—of Ramona’s evil ex-boyfriends. These fights are not only visually stunning but they are imaginative and creative as well. If beating up the same thugs over and over grows tiresome rest assured the trek will be worth it.

What’s Not

Co-op Handcuffing

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game seems tailor made for four buddies to play through over and over together. It’s particularly troubling then that there is absolutely no online co-op and local co-op isn’t drop-in/drop-out. If you want to play this with others, they have to be sitting next to you and you have to start together from the title screen.

Really Hard Then Way Too Easy

The game starts off unforgiving, especially if you’re playing solo, and until you level up a few times and spend some of the cash you get from fallen enemies, it stays that way. Whether you’re playing on the easiest mode or the hardest mode, the difficulty of the game is dictated more by your characters stats than which difficulty setting you choose. Once you replay a few levels—which you will almost certainly have to do–and accrue a decent amount of cash, spending that cash to max out all of your stats is pretty damn easy. And once all your stats are upgraded the game the game is a breeze—regardless of difficulty. There’s no real middle ground; you are either pulling your hair out or playing in god-mode.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game is a blast to play. With a few friends sitting next to you, I’m sure it would be even better. The fact that you can’t play cooperatively online is a major detractor, but the idea of patching it in at a later date isn’t out of the question. If you have any interest in the graphic novel or the upcoming movie, $10 isn’t too steep of a price for a game you will most likely enjoy. For the rest of you there’s a demo on PSN and there will be one for XBLA when it releases as well.

REVIEW: Limbo

Xbox Live Arcade might be a haven for re-releases, remakes, and arcade-style puzzle games but since last year’s Summer of Arcade hits Shadow Complex and ‘Splosion Man, gamers have come to expect a bit more than a simple rehash out of their downloadable titles. Games like Braid and The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom have brought puzzle-platforming and unique aesthetics into the fold and Limbo follows in their footsteps.

Is Limbo a worthy opening act for this year’s Summer of Arcade festivities? Let’s find out.

What’s Hot

Minimalistic Visuals

Limbo is a game played entirely in shadows. Light is sparse and sometimes the only things you can see are the glowing eyes of the game’s protagonist. Effects like steam and water are well done and the contrast between the woods of the beginning of the game and the industrialized underground of the end is fantastic. If you play Limbo as it was no doubt intended to be played, in a dark room with the volume cranked up, you will be entranced.

Puzzle Variety

Rather than relying on one puzzle mechanic, Limbo keeps throwing new ones your way constantly. Never being forced to solve the same puzzles over and over goes a long way to keeping the game feeling fresh and exciting. Very rarely does one type of puzzle wear out its welcome.

Challenging, Not Frustrating

The puzzles in Limbo are all well conceived and if you take the time think them through, they all make sense. I’m a very impatient gamer myself, and the temptation of walkthroughs is usually too much for me. A few minutes of frustration over a single puzzle will usually send me to Google in search of hints in no time, but I solved all of Limbo‘s puzzles on my own.

What’s Not

Die, Die, Die My Darling

You will die often in Limbo. Sometimes it will be user error—a missed jump—but other times it will simply be because you didn’t know you were supposed to do. Limbo teaches you to play it not by a tutorial or hints but by killing you in disturbing, brutal ways.

That’s It?

Limbo is over quick. Three hours quick. It’s a Live Arcade title, so its brevity is understandable, but this is also a $15 title. Once you complete the game you can replay each chapter individually and there are some easter eggs to find and achievements to unlock. But even with those and some simplistic leaderboards, there simply isn’t much to do here.

Limbo is much better than your average Live Arcade release. It offers great platforming and puzzle-solving along with unique and stunning visuals. If it was $10, it would be an easy recommendation but $15 is pretty steep for a short game with no story and no replay value. I enjoyed every minute of my time with Limbo but there just weren’t enough minutes. All monetary considerations aside, Limbo is great and you should play it right now.

REVIEW: Chloe

Every so often, a movie comes along with limited hype, passes you by when it was released in the theaters, and only heard of this a few days ago before picking it up from my local Blockbuster… that movie is Chloe. The plot sounded intriguing, had three good actors/actresses that I enjoy, and it was billed as a sexual thriller. Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson, and Amanda Seyfried star in the eroticism that is Chloe. The story surrounds Catherine (Moore) who believes her husband (Neeson) is cheating on her and meets Chloe (Seyfried), who is shown to be a prostitute/callgirl type. Catherine asks Chloe to see what would happen if she seduced her husband and the story begins…

What’s Hot

The Acting: I haven’t liked Amanda Seyfried really until this movie to be honest, before her roles in the films I’ve seen her in, Dear John and Jennifer’s Body, I wasn’t a fan at all. In fact, I felt she made me dislike those films even more. I’ve heard she was good in Letters to Juliet, but I haven’t seen that one. Oh yeah, she was also in Mean Girls, but thankfully she doesn’t play characters like she did in that one anymore. In Chloe, she was given a good story to work with and she ran with it. I’ll be looking forward to seeing Red Riding Hood with her as Red in 2011 now.

The… Chemistry?: I wouldn’t call this a spoiler since the kiss was apparently heard around the world, but the chemistry between Julianne Moore and Amanda Seyfried was spot on and believable. They do have a kissing scene, come to think about it, she did with Megan Fox as well in Jennifer’s Body. But, they went further in this one. A full on, lesbian sex scene happened for about a minute and was very surprised that the two agreed to do that.

What’s Not

The Ending: I wasn’t a big fan on how the movie ended, pretty dumb to be honest. I heard that Chloe was a remake, I’m not sure if the ending was the same in that one, but it came completely out of nowhere and completely idiotic in how it was handled. I like the metaphor that was expressed while this happened, but I don’t like the stupidity of it.

The Son: Max Thieriot was one of the worst acting performances I’ve ever seen on the screen. Damnit, I hated seeing this kid in the movie.

Chloe was a very interesting movie, it dragged slow sometimes, but I forgave it. It draws you in with the thriller aspect of it and has you wondering what exactly is going on with Chloe herself, as well as the husband and wife. I just didn’t like the ending very much and that brought my overall enjoyment down a few notches. I will still give this a recommendation though, just sit back and watch for 1 hour and 36 minutes of a pretty good movie.

AUDIO REVIEW: Inception

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