Revelation
Wow am I tired, my feet are protesting most greatly... A shift until 2am last night followed by an 11-6 today ;_; All because of Iron Man 2!
Though to be fair, the film is awesome =D
Now if you didn't know already, as I have kept my activities a little hush-hush lately, my Dare to be Digital team got through into the competition! =o =D
I am flustered now; both in nerves and in enthusiasm. Third time trying and I had practically given up on the idea... heck, I was doubting the games industry was for me for a while. So the last few days have been colossal gear changes!
Still, very excited about it, already thinking about 3D modeling and animating everything!
Plus I have the greatest drive to succeed: Win, and get out of the Odeon :P
Yes, the Odeon is still being quite irritating. Irritating in a very petty way, I'm just learning to not get myself particularly invested in any of it.
Onward to film reviews. Notice film and not games................ I hadn't played any in April.
Shutter Island
Now I gotta say, I really liked this film!
(Putting my venom of the Oscars giving Scorsese his first award for the overrated The Departed aside) This film reminds me of what a great director Martin Scorsese really is. The sets, the costumes, the accents and the mood throughout are captured perfectly.
Two government investigators are sent to an isolated island psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane due to a mysterious disappearance, but when they get there, things are not what they seem. Leonardo DiCaprio used to be one of my least favourite actors in his Titanic days, but he quickly climbing the ranks.
Though the twist of this film may not surprise those avid watchers, the pacing and storytelling is woven so well you are compelled to see how it ends, and even if it is predictable, the ending is both hallowing and intense.
Certainly, the entire film is edgy and dark, like the murky abandoned asylum corridors we are sent through to uncover the truth. It also has one of the most depressingly good songs in its end credits.
Thriller fans and Scorsese fans need apply!
Clash of the Titans (1981)
Ahhhh, Ray Harryhausen special effects, got to love them!
And yes, I hadn't seen this film until now despite Jason and the Argonauts being one of my favourite films! Clash of the Titans follows - very loosely - the myth of Perseus, son of Zeus and the trials he must go through. We have a host of monsters he must face, from the defaced Calibos and giant scorpions to the Kraken and Medusa!
The film is faithful to certain aspects of the Myth, such as an infant Perseus being found at sea, the gifts from Zeus; a mirror shield, sword and helmet of invisibility. There are times the film gets a little too weird, Andromeda's spirit abduction every night by a massive vulture for example, and the comedic styling of Bubo the owl!
The depiction of the gods is classic as ever, all wearing togas and bickering amongst themselves, callously killing and cursing mortals and destroying cities as they see fit.
If you can forgive some old costumes and effects, I recommend it! Not as good as Jason, but still a classic.
Clash of the Titans (2010)
Sure glad I watched the original beforehand. The remake of Clash strikes very close to the original, rather than trying to create the myth any more accurately.
Personally, I enjoyed this. It is exactly what I expected, entertaining fantasy adventure with bigger than life monsters and magic powers. It has a great score and the special effects of Pegasus, the Kraken and Calibos are all vast improvements on the original.
However, there were several things that bothered me. Firstly, Medusa's CG remake is worse than the original stop-motion version! Plus, why get a fashion model to play a woman cursed to be so ugly she turns people to stone!
Secondly, Zeus. Liam Neeson is perfect for the role, but he was too much of a pushover! In the original, Zeus was as merciless as the other gods, not going on about "love of the people".
Thirdly, Hades. He didn't need to be in this picture. I understood why they put him in... but the original film's bickering gods was more convincing than this generic "good versus evil" story.
Fourth and final, no mirror shield! Seriously? The Medusa fight without a mirror shield is ridiculous.
Still, I really enjoyed it as a piece of blockbuster cinema and I'd happily see more!
Just... avoid the 3D version.
Friday the 13th (2009)
Now the first thing I have to say about this film is... it has the LONGEST pre-title sequence ever. God, before we're even told the title an entire cast worth of teenagers are massacred.
Let this be a indicated of what this film is like. Jason goes through... I think... eleven or twelve different racial stereotype teenagers as they nonchalantly visit Camp Crystal Lake; murder mystery central!
Don't worry, there's lots of gruesome kills, sex and the general idiocy one expects. However our lead protagonist, Clay, stood out from it all. Or rather, Sam Winchester from TV series Supernatural. He was actually competent.
This is miles better than the original Friday the 13th, but then it isn't an exact remake; Jason is centre to the story here. But then, anything is better than the original!
Inglorious Bastards (1978)
Quite a strange experience to watch a film that inspired Quintin Tarantino to make one of his most off-the-wall movies yet. Sure, there is almost no resemblance here; we follow a group of down-and-out American troops in Germany, arrested for various charges, as they break free and wind up pretending to be a secret American espionage squad.
It is a crazy and oddball film with some great little moments you can imagine catching Tarantino's sensibilities (or lack thereof). It is no means a good film.. but it is a funny "war-sploitation" flick.
How to Train Your Dragon (3D)
Now when I saw the posters for this film months and months ago... my exact thoughts were: "How to Train Your Dragon, by Dreamworks.... Wow they are obviously scraping the barrel now". Little did I know that their new film is one of the best animated features I've seen in a long while! Certainly from Dreamworks anyhow.
HTTYD is a near perfect family film, with lovable characters, charming and wonderfully rendered animation and imaginative creatures! Not to mention great, witty dialogue.
With main characters called Stoic the Vast, Hiccup and Toothless, they have such charm and energy that you cannot help but be drawn into the story. Our boy Hiccup's pet dragon Toothless is easily one of the most lovable cartoon characters in recent years.
I recommend this film to anyone. Go see it. Doesn't have to be in 3D, but the 3D isn't bad at all. Comedy, wit and some abrasive intensity and an epic finale makes it worth your attention!
Kick-Ass
Yet another superhero movie. Which is how I viewed it going in, and quite honestly it isn't much different coming out of it either.
I don't know what it is about these teenage-geek fest-movies that bothers me... Don't worry, I think Kick-Ass is miles better than the disastrous Zombieland, and the reason for that is primarily its bloody intensity. Unlike other superhero movies, Kick-Ass is violent, proving its realistic take on an otherwise unrealistic genre - yet a genre many relate to.
This is the film's strength, to appeal to that part of us who wishes we could stand up and become an idol, to right some wrongs! Being this way and being set in High School, it most commonly echoes Spider-man, which does get a little tiresome; the start was incredibly slow.
I felt Nicolas Cage's character "Big Daddy" was the best in the picture; Cage goes completely nuts as the hardcore vigilante (who looks strikingly like Batman - except with a shotgun). I could go into the controversy around "Hit-Girl" - the eleven year old super-assassin - I did find it quite unnerving... but its all over the internet already.
A good film, didn't blow me away that much though. And honestly, the warehouse shootout and Hit-Girl's stealth attack scenes are only that "awesome" because of John Murphy's music! Watch Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later and Sunshine that they were written for!
Iron Man 2
Damn, now I didn't expect to like this film as much as I did. As someone who liked the first Iron Man but didn't ABSOLUTELY LOVE the thing, I feel this one was even better! In fact I think I need to re-watch the first one.
The impression I get is that the sequel is much faster paced; built around conflict and action since the first film firmly fixated on Tony Stark becoming Iron Man. However, don't think for a minute that means the witty dialogue and magnetic personality of Mr Downey Jr has wavered, oh no! In fact it may have doubled since last time. It is almost to the point were the film visibly loses momentum the minute he isn't on screen!
Fortunately, there are plenty of new characters to keep things intense, from Samuel L Jackson's Nick Fury to Scarlet Johanson's Black Widow. But the one to stand out is Mikey Rouke's villain Whiplash with a convincing and powerful Russian accent.
There are some flawed moments; some unexplained science mumbo-jumbo and little loopholes here and there, plus I felt we should have had more of Whiplash on screen. But you will laugh with so many great, catchy one liners and be dazzled by some above-par special effects.
God, I'm glad there aren't any games!
Now I am going to finish this post before my PC dies, and before I die.
Though to be fair, the film is awesome =D
Now if you didn't know already, as I have kept my activities a little hush-hush lately, my Dare to be Digital team got through into the competition! =o =D
I am flustered now; both in nerves and in enthusiasm. Third time trying and I had practically given up on the idea... heck, I was doubting the games industry was for me for a while. So the last few days have been colossal gear changes!
Still, very excited about it, already thinking about 3D modeling and animating everything!
Plus I have the greatest drive to succeed: Win, and get out of the Odeon :P
Yes, the Odeon is still being quite irritating. Irritating in a very petty way, I'm just learning to not get myself particularly invested in any of it.
Onward to film reviews. Notice film and not games................ I hadn't played any in April.
Shutter Island
Now I gotta say, I really liked this film!
(Putting my venom of the Oscars giving Scorsese his first award for the overrated The Departed aside) This film reminds me of what a great director Martin Scorsese really is. The sets, the costumes, the accents and the mood throughout are captured perfectly.
Two government investigators are sent to an isolated island psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane due to a mysterious disappearance, but when they get there, things are not what they seem. Leonardo DiCaprio used to be one of my least favourite actors in his Titanic days, but he quickly climbing the ranks.
Though the twist of this film may not surprise those avid watchers, the pacing and storytelling is woven so well you are compelled to see how it ends, and even if it is predictable, the ending is both hallowing and intense.
Certainly, the entire film is edgy and dark, like the murky abandoned asylum corridors we are sent through to uncover the truth. It also has one of the most depressingly good songs in its end credits.
Thriller fans and Scorsese fans need apply!
Clash of the Titans (1981)
Ahhhh, Ray Harryhausen special effects, got to love them!
And yes, I hadn't seen this film until now despite Jason and the Argonauts being one of my favourite films! Clash of the Titans follows - very loosely - the myth of Perseus, son of Zeus and the trials he must go through. We have a host of monsters he must face, from the defaced Calibos and giant scorpions to the Kraken and Medusa!
The film is faithful to certain aspects of the Myth, such as an infant Perseus being found at sea, the gifts from Zeus; a mirror shield, sword and helmet of invisibility. There are times the film gets a little too weird, Andromeda's spirit abduction every night by a massive vulture for example, and the comedic styling of Bubo the owl!
The depiction of the gods is classic as ever, all wearing togas and bickering amongst themselves, callously killing and cursing mortals and destroying cities as they see fit.
If you can forgive some old costumes and effects, I recommend it! Not as good as Jason, but still a classic.
Clash of the Titans (2010)
Sure glad I watched the original beforehand. The remake of Clash strikes very close to the original, rather than trying to create the myth any more accurately.
Personally, I enjoyed this. It is exactly what I expected, entertaining fantasy adventure with bigger than life monsters and magic powers. It has a great score and the special effects of Pegasus, the Kraken and Calibos are all vast improvements on the original.
However, there were several things that bothered me. Firstly, Medusa's CG remake is worse than the original stop-motion version! Plus, why get a fashion model to play a woman cursed to be so ugly she turns people to stone!
Secondly, Zeus. Liam Neeson is perfect for the role, but he was too much of a pushover! In the original, Zeus was as merciless as the other gods, not going on about "love of the people".
Thirdly, Hades. He didn't need to be in this picture. I understood why they put him in... but the original film's bickering gods was more convincing than this generic "good versus evil" story.
Fourth and final, no mirror shield! Seriously? The Medusa fight without a mirror shield is ridiculous.
Still, I really enjoyed it as a piece of blockbuster cinema and I'd happily see more!
Just... avoid the 3D version.
Friday the 13th (2009)
Now the first thing I have to say about this film is... it has the LONGEST pre-title sequence ever. God, before we're even told the title an entire cast worth of teenagers are massacred.
Let this be a indicated of what this film is like. Jason goes through... I think... eleven or twelve different racial stereotype teenagers as they nonchalantly visit Camp Crystal Lake; murder mystery central!
Don't worry, there's lots of gruesome kills, sex and the general idiocy one expects. However our lead protagonist, Clay, stood out from it all. Or rather, Sam Winchester from TV series Supernatural. He was actually competent.
This is miles better than the original Friday the 13th, but then it isn't an exact remake; Jason is centre to the story here. But then, anything is better than the original!
Inglorious Bastards (1978)
Quite a strange experience to watch a film that inspired Quintin Tarantino to make one of his most off-the-wall movies yet. Sure, there is almost no resemblance here; we follow a group of down-and-out American troops in Germany, arrested for various charges, as they break free and wind up pretending to be a secret American espionage squad.
It is a crazy and oddball film with some great little moments you can imagine catching Tarantino's sensibilities (or lack thereof). It is no means a good film.. but it is a funny "war-sploitation" flick.
How to Train Your Dragon (3D)
Now when I saw the posters for this film months and months ago... my exact thoughts were: "How to Train Your Dragon, by Dreamworks.... Wow they are obviously scraping the barrel now". Little did I know that their new film is one of the best animated features I've seen in a long while! Certainly from Dreamworks anyhow.
HTTYD is a near perfect family film, with lovable characters, charming and wonderfully rendered animation and imaginative creatures! Not to mention great, witty dialogue.
With main characters called Stoic the Vast, Hiccup and Toothless, they have such charm and energy that you cannot help but be drawn into the story. Our boy Hiccup's pet dragon Toothless is easily one of the most lovable cartoon characters in recent years.
I recommend this film to anyone. Go see it. Doesn't have to be in 3D, but the 3D isn't bad at all. Comedy, wit and some abrasive intensity and an epic finale makes it worth your attention!
Kick-Ass
Yet another superhero movie. Which is how I viewed it going in, and quite honestly it isn't much different coming out of it either.
I don't know what it is about these teenage-geek fest-movies that bothers me... Don't worry, I think Kick-Ass is miles better than the disastrous Zombieland, and the reason for that is primarily its bloody intensity. Unlike other superhero movies, Kick-Ass is violent, proving its realistic take on an otherwise unrealistic genre - yet a genre many relate to.
This is the film's strength, to appeal to that part of us who wishes we could stand up and become an idol, to right some wrongs! Being this way and being set in High School, it most commonly echoes Spider-man, which does get a little tiresome; the start was incredibly slow.
I felt Nicolas Cage's character "Big Daddy" was the best in the picture; Cage goes completely nuts as the hardcore vigilante (who looks strikingly like Batman - except with a shotgun). I could go into the controversy around "Hit-Girl" - the eleven year old super-assassin - I did find it quite unnerving... but its all over the internet already.
A good film, didn't blow me away that much though. And honestly, the warehouse shootout and Hit-Girl's stealth attack scenes are only that "awesome" because of John Murphy's music! Watch Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later and Sunshine that they were written for!
Iron Man 2
Damn, now I didn't expect to like this film as much as I did. As someone who liked the first Iron Man but didn't ABSOLUTELY LOVE the thing, I feel this one was even better! In fact I think I need to re-watch the first one.
The impression I get is that the sequel is much faster paced; built around conflict and action since the first film firmly fixated on Tony Stark becoming Iron Man. However, don't think for a minute that means the witty dialogue and magnetic personality of Mr Downey Jr has wavered, oh no! In fact it may have doubled since last time. It is almost to the point were the film visibly loses momentum the minute he isn't on screen!
Fortunately, there are plenty of new characters to keep things intense, from Samuel L Jackson's Nick Fury to Scarlet Johanson's Black Widow. But the one to stand out is Mikey Rouke's villain Whiplash with a convincing and powerful Russian accent.
There are some flawed moments; some unexplained science mumbo-jumbo and little loopholes here and there, plus I felt we should have had more of Whiplash on screen. But you will laugh with so many great, catchy one liners and be dazzled by some above-par special effects.
God, I'm glad there aren't any games!
Now I am going to finish this post before my PC dies, and before I die.