About 3 years ago, I started an account on DVD Aficionado, a site started to help people keep track of their movie purchases and more specifically, which version of the film one may have purchased (who knew there were so many damn versions of the Predator on DVD? Well, this guy, but it's beside the point :P).
Well, after finally organizing and alphabetizing our own collection, I stumbled back onto the site and updated it. If you feel like checking it out, here's the link.
http://woodshatter.dvdaf.com/
There's still a few more things to add on there (mainly anime I've had for ages but haven't watched since I graduated High School) but for now, there it is, in all it's geeky glory.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
I'm almost convinced
That Hector Echavarria is destined to go down as one of the worst people in history involved with MMA. After suffering through "Death Warrior," I'm certain he is the devil. Or just a rich douchebag who paid a lot of big name fighters to be in his films so he can beat them in unconvincing manners while making Skinemax-style sex scenes with below average looking women on the side. Yeah, maybe just a talentless, old, worthless douchebag.
Fuck you Hector. And fuck you for trying to entice UFC/MMA fans with your pathetic attempt at a modern day version of "Bloodsport" or "Battle Royale."
You know there's something wrong when you end up saying "Wow I'm surprised Tapout of all companies endorsed this trainwreck." Yikes.
Fuck you Hector. And fuck you for trying to entice UFC/MMA fans with your pathetic attempt at a modern day version of "Bloodsport" or "Battle Royale."
You know there's something wrong when you end up saying "Wow I'm surprised Tapout of all companies endorsed this trainwreck." Yikes.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
A Dead Format
Profile that is!
http://www.deadformat.net/tradelist/Woodshatter
So that basically means my blog for records is dead. Yeah. Not like anyone is gonna miss it.
http://www.deadformat.net/tradelist/Woodshatter
So that basically means my blog for records is dead. Yeah. Not like anyone is gonna miss it.
Monday, November 30, 2009
No One Deserves to Be Here More Than Me
"Maybe they're hiring scarecrows, I can sit in a field in the sun, I don't need the training, I already repulse everyone."
I'm actually relieved the new LP is up for preorder. Band describes my misery better than I could myself.
I'm actually relieved the new LP is up for preorder. Band describes my misery better than I could myself.
Monday, November 16, 2009
You said it best Mr. Eaton
Sometimes the boys
That Should be your best friends
Become strangers with familiar faces...
Currents:
Music:
Kowloon Walled City-Gambling on the Richter Scale (pretty killer sludge/noise. FFO: Breather Resist, Torche, Unsane)
Katatonia-Night is the New Day (band needs no introduction. Good gloomy/dark metal with Jonas Renske sounding pretty bummed as usual.)
The Bronx-I (because it always rules no matter how many times I spin it.)
Converge-Axe to Fall (do I really need to explain how much this rules?)
Movies:
Se7en-For some reason, I had never seen this gem. Very disturbing at times, with a smart and well written script. Brad Pitt was good, but Kevin Spacey and Morgan Freeman easily stole the show here. I already knew the ending going in, but it still felt like a punch to the gut.
Trick 'r Treat-One of the best horror films of the year, and one of the better horror anthologies I've seen in quite some time. How the hell was this not released to theaters? Stupid Warner Bros.
Saw VI-I have a hit or miss relationship with this franchise. I'd rank them III>I>II>V>>>>IV. This is gonna be right behind #3 though. Hell, this one pretty much saved the franchise, though it wasn't without it's faults (poor acting being the primary complaint). This was pleasant surprise though. Good gore, pretty good script, NASTY couple of traps, and for once, a unanimously good reason to root for Jigsaw. Give this one a chance, especially if you gave up on this franchise.
The Thaw-One of the new "Ghost House" flicks put out by Sam Raimi's company. Too derivative of other better Scifi/Horror flicks like the Thing and Slither. At least it had Val Kilmer. Then again, he was barely in the film. Pass on this one unless you're a Ghost House completest.
Books:
Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling- Bret Hart's autobiography is a long one, but it's incredibly fascinating. He goes over nearly aspect of his life, especially his wrestling career. He was one of my favorites growing up, and still remains so, even after reading some pretty disheartening things he did (such as cheating on his then-wife numerous times and even taking steroids and coke a couple of times). This book will most likely reduce the amount of respect you had for Shawn Michaels.
I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell- I've had this book for a couple of years or so, but never got around to reading it. I regret waiting this long. Without a doubt, one of the lewdest, rudest, and just all around "assholish" books I've ever read. But good lord is it funny. There were times I was almost in tears with some of his stories he recanted. I can't understand why there are people out there who protest this guy. They're just stories, and more than anything, subliminal cautionary tales on how to not act.
That's it...again...
That Should be your best friends
Become strangers with familiar faces...
Currents:
Music:
Kowloon Walled City-Gambling on the Richter Scale (pretty killer sludge/noise. FFO: Breather Resist, Torche, Unsane)
Katatonia-Night is the New Day (band needs no introduction. Good gloomy/dark metal with Jonas Renske sounding pretty bummed as usual.)
The Bronx-I (because it always rules no matter how many times I spin it.)
Converge-Axe to Fall (do I really need to explain how much this rules?)
Movies:
Se7en-For some reason, I had never seen this gem. Very disturbing at times, with a smart and well written script. Brad Pitt was good, but Kevin Spacey and Morgan Freeman easily stole the show here. I already knew the ending going in, but it still felt like a punch to the gut.
Trick 'r Treat-One of the best horror films of the year, and one of the better horror anthologies I've seen in quite some time. How the hell was this not released to theaters? Stupid Warner Bros.
Saw VI-I have a hit or miss relationship with this franchise. I'd rank them III>I>II>V>>>>IV. This is gonna be right behind #3 though. Hell, this one pretty much saved the franchise, though it wasn't without it's faults (poor acting being the primary complaint). This was pleasant surprise though. Good gore, pretty good script, NASTY couple of traps, and for once, a unanimously good reason to root for Jigsaw. Give this one a chance, especially if you gave up on this franchise.
The Thaw-One of the new "Ghost House" flicks put out by Sam Raimi's company. Too derivative of other better Scifi/Horror flicks like the Thing and Slither. At least it had Val Kilmer. Then again, he was barely in the film. Pass on this one unless you're a Ghost House completest.
Books:
Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling- Bret Hart's autobiography is a long one, but it's incredibly fascinating. He goes over nearly aspect of his life, especially his wrestling career. He was one of my favorites growing up, and still remains so, even after reading some pretty disheartening things he did (such as cheating on his then-wife numerous times and even taking steroids and coke a couple of times). This book will most likely reduce the amount of respect you had for Shawn Michaels.
I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell- I've had this book for a couple of years or so, but never got around to reading it. I regret waiting this long. Without a doubt, one of the lewdest, rudest, and just all around "assholish" books I've ever read. But good lord is it funny. There were times I was almost in tears with some of his stories he recanted. I can't understand why there are people out there who protest this guy. They're just stories, and more than anything, subliminal cautionary tales on how to not act.
That's it...again...
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Ages
Since I last posted ANYTHING on here. Even the concert blog is kind of dead, even though I'm still attending more shows than I should considering I have no job. I was considering taking the easy way out and doing haiku reviews for each show, just to save me time.
End of the year is coming up. I first thought that this year's choice in music paled in comparison to last year's, and it sort of does. It still delivered quite a few gems though. Might be just as hard to narrow it down to a top 10-15.
For films, it's nowhere near as stacked as it was last year. Last year was the best year we've had for movies since at least 1999. This year, it's what you could call a "hangover" year (and no that's a pun on the film of the same name...I think): we had such a good time last year, that this year a terrible headache/collection of bullshit was ready for us after we awoke from our slumber.
Other random notes:
-My Halloween was awesome. Went as Hacksaw Jim Duggan, which scored me quite a lot of compliments. It seemed that every 10-15 seconds, someone on the streets of Wilmington would yell something. I also made out with a chick going as She-Hulk, at least that's what she claimed to be. Cool. I accomplished something most nerds on 4chan wish they could do.
-I'm sort of the singer for a local doom band called Beard of Antlers. It's my first time behind a mic, and it's pretty cool. I honestly wish they'd ask me to be the permanent singer, seeing as how I've wanted to do something music-wise for quite some time, and I honestly don't think their "monotone yelling" approach compliments the music very well. We've got a couple of shows coming up (11/14 at Reggie's 42nd Street Tavern and 12/04 at Lucky's Pub with the returning Predecessor). Should be fun.
-In what may shock a few of my friends, there's a strong possibility of me moving to Raleigh sometime in the near future. I've been doing a lot of...well, I hate to call it soul searching, but that's really what it is. Wilmington just hasn't been offering me a lot in the way of opportunity, and though Raleigh isn't without it's faults (WHY DOES EVERYTHING CLOSE SO GOD DAMN EARLY?!), it's a change of scenery and there's a better chance of finding a stable job with enough money to support myself. And who knows, if I can find something nice enough, I could try to get a transfer to another job back down in Wilmington just in case I miss this shithole.
-Tekken 6 is pretty okay so far, but I feel like it wasn't worth the price tag. Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, however, is a friggin blast. A great tribute to games like Gauntlet and the like, except with most of your favorite Marvel characters thrown in. So far, UFC Undisputed 2009, Street Fighter IV and Batman: Arkham Asylum are my favorite games of the year though.
There will be more to come soon hopefully. What is "more" you ask? Hell if I know...
End of the year is coming up. I first thought that this year's choice in music paled in comparison to last year's, and it sort of does. It still delivered quite a few gems though. Might be just as hard to narrow it down to a top 10-15.
For films, it's nowhere near as stacked as it was last year. Last year was the best year we've had for movies since at least 1999. This year, it's what you could call a "hangover" year (and no that's a pun on the film of the same name...I think): we had such a good time last year, that this year a terrible headache/collection of bullshit was ready for us after we awoke from our slumber.
Other random notes:
-My Halloween was awesome. Went as Hacksaw Jim Duggan, which scored me quite a lot of compliments. It seemed that every 10-15 seconds, someone on the streets of Wilmington would yell something. I also made out with a chick going as She-Hulk, at least that's what she claimed to be. Cool. I accomplished something most nerds on 4chan wish they could do.
-I'm sort of the singer for a local doom band called Beard of Antlers. It's my first time behind a mic, and it's pretty cool. I honestly wish they'd ask me to be the permanent singer, seeing as how I've wanted to do something music-wise for quite some time, and I honestly don't think their "monotone yelling" approach compliments the music very well. We've got a couple of shows coming up (11/14 at Reggie's 42nd Street Tavern and 12/04 at Lucky's Pub with the returning Predecessor). Should be fun.
-In what may shock a few of my friends, there's a strong possibility of me moving to Raleigh sometime in the near future. I've been doing a lot of...well, I hate to call it soul searching, but that's really what it is. Wilmington just hasn't been offering me a lot in the way of opportunity, and though Raleigh isn't without it's faults (WHY DOES EVERYTHING CLOSE SO GOD DAMN EARLY?!), it's a change of scenery and there's a better chance of finding a stable job with enough money to support myself. And who knows, if I can find something nice enough, I could try to get a transfer to another job back down in Wilmington just in case I miss this shithole.
-Tekken 6 is pretty okay so far, but I feel like it wasn't worth the price tag. Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, however, is a friggin blast. A great tribute to games like Gauntlet and the like, except with most of your favorite Marvel characters thrown in. So far, UFC Undisputed 2009, Street Fighter IV and Batman: Arkham Asylum are my favorite games of the year though.
There will be more to come soon hopefully. What is "more" you ask? Hell if I know...
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Currents
Mood: a mixture of depressed, excited, and exhausted. It's lasted for a month or so as of this date.
Music:
Black Breath-Razor to Oblivion
Victims-...In Blood
Amorphis-Elegy
Kylesa-Static Tensions (yes, still. Probably going to be in my top 5 of the year)
Rotten Sound-everything
Movies:
Saw Star Trek. Was cool. Never really dug on the series, though I remember seeing Insurrection in theaters back in the day, despite being somewhat confused during the majority of it.
Trying to catch Terminator: Salvation this week. Ditto with Drag Me to Hell. Sam Raimi's doing horror again. Sweet.
Books:
I finished collecting and reading all of Preacher. What a phenomenal story. I can't really see how one could adapt this into a film, or even a TV series. Oddly enough, I found that the thing I related to the most in here was that every character was flawed, and that Ennis put you in that moral gray area, leaving you to determine if what action was taken was the right one or not. That and a certain Irish vampire being eerily reminiscent of someone I know...
I've had a sudden interest in Dennis Lehane's work. It's most likely due to two of his stories being adapted to the big screen (Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone) and them both turning out fantastic. I don't know. I checked out Coronado from the library. I'll see how that is.
Concerts:
Well that's what the other blog is for yeah?
Music:
Black Breath-Razor to Oblivion
Victims-...In Blood
Amorphis-Elegy
Kylesa-Static Tensions (yes, still. Probably going to be in my top 5 of the year)
Rotten Sound-everything
Movies:
Saw Star Trek. Was cool. Never really dug on the series, though I remember seeing Insurrection in theaters back in the day, despite being somewhat confused during the majority of it.
Trying to catch Terminator: Salvation this week. Ditto with Drag Me to Hell. Sam Raimi's doing horror again. Sweet.
Books:
I finished collecting and reading all of Preacher. What a phenomenal story. I can't really see how one could adapt this into a film, or even a TV series. Oddly enough, I found that the thing I related to the most in here was that every character was flawed, and that Ennis put you in that moral gray area, leaving you to determine if what action was taken was the right one or not. That and a certain Irish vampire being eerily reminiscent of someone I know...
I've had a sudden interest in Dennis Lehane's work. It's most likely due to two of his stories being adapted to the big screen (Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone) and them both turning out fantastic. I don't know. I checked out Coronado from the library. I'll see how that is.
Concerts:
Well that's what the other blog is for yeah?
Monday, May 4, 2009
Albums I should not like: Part 1
Queensrÿche-Operation: Mindcrime
I really don't like progressive metal/rock. I've always found a majority of the genre to be comprised of pretentious douchebags who were more concerned with impressive themselves than they were with impressing the (potential) fans. There's been a few exceptions over the years, like Opeth and Between the Buried and Me, but like I said, never been my thing.
I had heard for years about this record being a landmark for heavy metal, and oddly enough, after watching someone do a drum cover for "Eyes of a Stranger" on Youtube, I decided to give this record a try. The story intrigued me too, even though concept albums usually evoke the same feelings from me that I feel toward progressive music. It sounds like it could still ring true for today, especially the tales of corrupt politicians and the media being just as twisted.
The first thing I noticed about this was Geoff Tate, who is surprisingly awesome on this record. He's like James Labrie, if Labrie could actually sing. He's also reminiscent of a younger Bruce Dickinson at times. Dude can WAIL if he feels like it.
But anyway, back to the album. The story line here is about a young junkie radical who joins a secret organiztion dedicated to revolution. Through brainwashing, he is turned into an assassin (use the word "Mindcrime" and he's all yours basically). Over time, and through a connection with a prostitute-turned-nun, he begins to question what he does and eventually plots to overthrow his master.
Sound ludicrous? Well, it kind of is. But it WORKS. Every song packs an incredible emotional punch and helps develop the story more and more. This feels like it could make a great film (or even a musical, hehe).
I must have listened to this whole album 3 or 4 times within just one week. I haven't done that in quite some time, even with the albums I chose as my "Best of" for last year.
So yeah, check this out if you get the chance. It's definitely not something you will expect, nor is it like any progressive/power record you've likely heard. I'm gonna get around to checking out some of their other records sometime soon. I'd like to see them at House of Blues, but they apparently aren't playing anything from this record on their latest tour. Oh well.
Standout tracks:
Revolution Calling
The Mission
Suite Sister Mary
Breaking the Silence
I Don't Belive in Love
Eyes of a Stranger
I really don't like progressive metal/rock. I've always found a majority of the genre to be comprised of pretentious douchebags who were more concerned with impressive themselves than they were with impressing the (potential) fans. There's been a few exceptions over the years, like Opeth and Between the Buried and Me, but like I said, never been my thing.
I had heard for years about this record being a landmark for heavy metal, and oddly enough, after watching someone do a drum cover for "Eyes of a Stranger" on Youtube, I decided to give this record a try. The story intrigued me too, even though concept albums usually evoke the same feelings from me that I feel toward progressive music. It sounds like it could still ring true for today, especially the tales of corrupt politicians and the media being just as twisted.
The first thing I noticed about this was Geoff Tate, who is surprisingly awesome on this record. He's like James Labrie, if Labrie could actually sing. He's also reminiscent of a younger Bruce Dickinson at times. Dude can WAIL if he feels like it.
But anyway, back to the album. The story line here is about a young junkie radical who joins a secret organiztion dedicated to revolution. Through brainwashing, he is turned into an assassin (use the word "Mindcrime" and he's all yours basically). Over time, and through a connection with a prostitute-turned-nun, he begins to question what he does and eventually plots to overthrow his master.
Sound ludicrous? Well, it kind of is. But it WORKS. Every song packs an incredible emotional punch and helps develop the story more and more. This feels like it could make a great film (or even a musical, hehe).
I must have listened to this whole album 3 or 4 times within just one week. I haven't done that in quite some time, even with the albums I chose as my "Best of" for last year.
So yeah, check this out if you get the chance. It's definitely not something you will expect, nor is it like any progressive/power record you've likely heard. I'm gonna get around to checking out some of their other records sometime soon. I'd like to see them at House of Blues, but they apparently aren't playing anything from this record on their latest tour. Oh well.
Standout tracks:
Revolution Calling
The Mission
Suite Sister Mary
Breaking the Silence
I Don't Belive in Love
Eyes of a Stranger
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Fast forwaaaarrddd
Almost two months later.
I suppose I can give some brief updates.
-United Blood was a lot of fun, but I don't think I can deal with fests anymore. And yes I'll get around to writing a review for it. Been lazy I know.
-Still jobless and loveless. Nothing's changed there.
-We had to put our little cat Mila to sleep. I feel horrible that this happened. After they did some blood work, the vet told us that most likely she had cancer, but even they weren't sure 100% sure. Whatever the case, my mom and I knew she was suffering. She would barely eat or drink anything, had trouble getting to and using the litterbox, and she couldn't even properly jump off anything. Her front legs would land fine, but her back legs would collapse. It was terribly heartbreaking to see her condition worsen. Whatever the case, we know right now that she's in a better place and hopefully at peace. R.I.P. girl. My mom made a vow to not get another cat for some time as well, leaving Lemmy the "man of the house" if you will.
-Two other photoshoots for me. Ms. Daydream, which is Jessi Hodge's project, and Oceans Over Monuments, her brother's band. Getting my name out there...
-I'm way too excited for Napalm Death next week.
-I'm most likely not going to Maryland Death Fest after all. Too much money, plus the aforementioned thing about fests.
-I know not what I want in a lady now, and I'm starting to wonder if I should care.
Guess thats about it. See ya'll in another month or so?
I suppose I can give some brief updates.
-United Blood was a lot of fun, but I don't think I can deal with fests anymore. And yes I'll get around to writing a review for it. Been lazy I know.
-Still jobless and loveless. Nothing's changed there.
-We had to put our little cat Mila to sleep. I feel horrible that this happened. After they did some blood work, the vet told us that most likely she had cancer, but even they weren't sure 100% sure. Whatever the case, my mom and I knew she was suffering. She would barely eat or drink anything, had trouble getting to and using the litterbox, and she couldn't even properly jump off anything. Her front legs would land fine, but her back legs would collapse. It was terribly heartbreaking to see her condition worsen. Whatever the case, we know right now that she's in a better place and hopefully at peace. R.I.P. girl. My mom made a vow to not get another cat for some time as well, leaving Lemmy the "man of the house" if you will.
-Two other photoshoots for me. Ms. Daydream, which is Jessi Hodge's project, and Oceans Over Monuments, her brother's band. Getting my name out there...
-I'm way too excited for Napalm Death next week.
-I'm most likely not going to Maryland Death Fest after all. Too much money, plus the aforementioned thing about fests.
-I know not what I want in a lady now, and I'm starting to wonder if I should care.
Guess thats about it. See ya'll in another month or so?
Friday, February 27, 2009
Flashback
These past couple of months have felt like the summer/end of 03 all over again. Most people I know are moving away or joining the armed services. It's kind of scary. Some part of me wonders if this will become a routine every few years or so.
I'm always dumbfounded as to how someone can reach a point in their life where they say "alright, I don't have ANY options left. I'm choosing to be shipped overseas and be thrust into the heat of battle." I haven't known anyone who has done it for the whole "defending the country blah blah" reason.
I can hope that 2009 will bring better days for me than 2008 did. So far, it just seems like the same ol' situation. Still jobless, still feeling like I'm losing more people than gaining new ones.
But at the same time, I've been trying to learn to stop being so worried about the problems of others. It seems to be working pretty well so far, minus the above stress.
Some other quick notes:
-Irreversible was one hell of a disturbing flick. I'll give it props for being so daring, but the second half was actually pretty boring/meandering.
-Street Fighter IV kicks ass. I hate that last boss with a passion though.
-I'm waiting for Madball/Reign Supreme to happen already.
-Same with United Blood in Richmond.
-Scion Fest in this weekend. Damn their hides for making the ticket process so sketchy.
-I need to diversify my music taste.
I'm always dumbfounded as to how someone can reach a point in their life where they say "alright, I don't have ANY options left. I'm choosing to be shipped overseas and be thrust into the heat of battle." I haven't known anyone who has done it for the whole "defending the country blah blah" reason.
I can hope that 2009 will bring better days for me than 2008 did. So far, it just seems like the same ol' situation. Still jobless, still feeling like I'm losing more people than gaining new ones.
But at the same time, I've been trying to learn to stop being so worried about the problems of others. It seems to be working pretty well so far, minus the above stress.
Some other quick notes:
-Irreversible was one hell of a disturbing flick. I'll give it props for being so daring, but the second half was actually pretty boring/meandering.
-Street Fighter IV kicks ass. I hate that last boss with a passion though.
-I'm waiting for Madball/Reign Supreme to happen already.
-Same with United Blood in Richmond.
-Scion Fest in this weekend. Damn their hides for making the ticket process so sketchy.
-I need to diversify my music taste.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Couple of (not so) quick reviews
This really isn't anything too special, just a couple of reviews that I decided to get out of the way while I was at it. One is for a film I wish I had seen sooner before it leaves theaters (which is actually as I'm posting this), and the other is for a game that is enjoyable just so long as you spend as little cash on it as possible.
It took me weeks to do it, but I finally caught the Christopher Wallace biopic "Notorious." The film actually starts with the infamous night in Cali where he was gunned down, and then flashes back to his youth and everything afterwards that happens (appropriate, considering the whole myth about how your whole life flashes before your eyes before you die). We see he was actually a pretty privileged kid who was fascinated by the whole notion of making money and getting what all the other kids had. He starts selling crack, and getting involved with less than stellar people. He raps on the side, and decides after getting arrested a couple of times, to make it his main focus. We see him meet Tupac for the first time, record his first album, meet Lil' Kim, all the usual jazz.
How much (if at all) you enjoy the film really depends on how view Biggie's actions. It certainly isn't very comforting to see him sell crack to a pregnant woman, or see him fool around on EVERY woman he hooks up with, or go ballistic on Faith Evans on hearing about possible infidelity from her. But then again, are ANY music biopics not without some fair share of controversy? The performances are a mixed bag, with not everybody looking the part, but still giving it their all. Jamal Woodard does a pretty damn good job channeling Biggie's charm and mannerisms, although I can't say the same for Angela Bassett's portrayal of Voletta, his mother. You might be irritated with her slipping in and out of a Jamaican accent, plus she really needed more screen time. Does one man really need to see so much of Lil' Cease? One person we DID see a lot of (and boy do I mean it) was Lil' Kim, played rather well by the quite attractive Naturi Naughton. She was a part of that awful group 3LW, but I'll forgive her for that). The guy who played Puff Daddy did a good job, despite not really looking like him. Tupac's actor could have been better, but the film barely uses him so it's not a large issue. Same with Faith Evans, though I can't say the same for looking the part when it comes to her.
There are several things that are left unanswered in the film that might irk real fans, such as why he chose the name Biggie Smalls, or why there isn't more time spent showing him making his records. Again, they're forgivable, but it's still disappointing. One can hope that they'll be covered on the DVD release of the film.
Overall, it's an enjoyable film and even with it's problems, a good tribute to one of the best rappers that we ever bared witness to. I hope that Woodard gets some more work after seeing his performance in here. Guy might have a career in acting if his rapping career doesn't take off (and it doesn't seem to be from what I can tell). I'd give about 7.5/10.
And now for the next review...
I had meaning to pick up this game for years since I'm a huge Capcom fighting fiend (I still own Rival Schools and Pocket Fighter for PS1) and crossover games of any sort have always intrigued me. One of our local Babbage's was closing, and lo and behold, there was a used copy of this bad boy going for $12.99. I figured to give it a shot, and figured at it's worst, it'll provide me with a cheap thrill until Street Fighter IV comes out.
What we have here is a collection of 5 factions featuring 4 characters to represent each of them: Street Fighter II, Street Fighter Alpha, Street Fighter III, Darkstalkers, and Red Earth (a game that never even saw release over here). There's also a new character named Ingrid, who was supposed to appear in the now canceled Capcom Fighting All Stars. Each faction has their own unique merits to them, such as higher damage, custom combos, EX-moves, airblocking, etc. The fights are one on one, and after a round, you can choose to stick with your current character or switch to another one for the next round (something their rivals SNK introduced in the King of Fighters games).
I'll start with the positives:
-It's pretty cool to see Capcom give some nods to old fan favs like Jedah, Rose and Alex.
-The new stages are pretty to look at.
Now I'll go with the negatives:
- Why is this called EVOLUTION? That implies that things, I dunno, evolve? Change? Every sprite and character here is recycled, with the exception of Ingrid. Were the artists getting lazy? Hell the only artists here who weren't lazy are the folks at Udon, who drew every character's ending. Those look great. The characters don't.
-All of the fighters aren't balanced very well. There are plenty of ways to be cheap here. The Red Earth characters are pretty much disposable, with the exception of the hulking Hauzer (A DINOSAUR WITH CHICKEN FEET).
-There is very little replay value. The only things to unlock are two characters, characters' theme songs from their debut games, and...well that's it.
The game just feels very rushed. I've seen packs of Mugen that had more time put into them than this game did. Actually, that's what this game feels like. A really shitty version of a Mugen fighter (google it if you don't know what I'm referring to).
I can forgive Capcom for this though. I think even they feel kind of ashamed with this one. It isn't in Japanese arcades anymore, and they aren't packaging new copies for stores anymore either. If you're an absolute completest, then by all means pick this up. You'll get a couple of days' worth of enjoyment out of it. If you're not, save your money for Street Fighter IV. Or go find a copy of Capcom vs SNK 2.
It took me weeks to do it, but I finally caught the Christopher Wallace biopic "Notorious." The film actually starts with the infamous night in Cali where he was gunned down, and then flashes back to his youth and everything afterwards that happens (appropriate, considering the whole myth about how your whole life flashes before your eyes before you die). We see he was actually a pretty privileged kid who was fascinated by the whole notion of making money and getting what all the other kids had. He starts selling crack, and getting involved with less than stellar people. He raps on the side, and decides after getting arrested a couple of times, to make it his main focus. We see him meet Tupac for the first time, record his first album, meet Lil' Kim, all the usual jazz.
How much (if at all) you enjoy the film really depends on how view Biggie's actions. It certainly isn't very comforting to see him sell crack to a pregnant woman, or see him fool around on EVERY woman he hooks up with, or go ballistic on Faith Evans on hearing about possible infidelity from her. But then again, are ANY music biopics not without some fair share of controversy? The performances are a mixed bag, with not everybody looking the part, but still giving it their all. Jamal Woodard does a pretty damn good job channeling Biggie's charm and mannerisms, although I can't say the same for Angela Bassett's portrayal of Voletta, his mother. You might be irritated with her slipping in and out of a Jamaican accent, plus she really needed more screen time. Does one man really need to see so much of Lil' Cease? One person we DID see a lot of (and boy do I mean it) was Lil' Kim, played rather well by the quite attractive Naturi Naughton. She was a part of that awful group 3LW, but I'll forgive her for that). The guy who played Puff Daddy did a good job, despite not really looking like him. Tupac's actor could have been better, but the film barely uses him so it's not a large issue. Same with Faith Evans, though I can't say the same for looking the part when it comes to her.
There are several things that are left unanswered in the film that might irk real fans, such as why he chose the name Biggie Smalls, or why there isn't more time spent showing him making his records. Again, they're forgivable, but it's still disappointing. One can hope that they'll be covered on the DVD release of the film.
Overall, it's an enjoyable film and even with it's problems, a good tribute to one of the best rappers that we ever bared witness to. I hope that Woodard gets some more work after seeing his performance in here. Guy might have a career in acting if his rapping career doesn't take off (and it doesn't seem to be from what I can tell). I'd give about 7.5/10.
And now for the next review...
I had meaning to pick up this game for years since I'm a huge Capcom fighting fiend (I still own Rival Schools and Pocket Fighter for PS1) and crossover games of any sort have always intrigued me. One of our local Babbage's was closing, and lo and behold, there was a used copy of this bad boy going for $12.99. I figured to give it a shot, and figured at it's worst, it'll provide me with a cheap thrill until Street Fighter IV comes out.
What we have here is a collection of 5 factions featuring 4 characters to represent each of them: Street Fighter II, Street Fighter Alpha, Street Fighter III, Darkstalkers, and Red Earth (a game that never even saw release over here). There's also a new character named Ingrid, who was supposed to appear in the now canceled Capcom Fighting All Stars. Each faction has their own unique merits to them, such as higher damage, custom combos, EX-moves, airblocking, etc. The fights are one on one, and after a round, you can choose to stick with your current character or switch to another one for the next round (something their rivals SNK introduced in the King of Fighters games).
I'll start with the positives:
-It's pretty cool to see Capcom give some nods to old fan favs like Jedah, Rose and Alex.
-The new stages are pretty to look at.
Now I'll go with the negatives:
- Why is this called EVOLUTION? That implies that things, I dunno, evolve? Change? Every sprite and character here is recycled, with the exception of Ingrid. Were the artists getting lazy? Hell the only artists here who weren't lazy are the folks at Udon, who drew every character's ending. Those look great. The characters don't.
-All of the fighters aren't balanced very well. There are plenty of ways to be cheap here. The Red Earth characters are pretty much disposable, with the exception of the hulking Hauzer (A DINOSAUR WITH CHICKEN FEET).
-There is very little replay value. The only things to unlock are two characters, characters' theme songs from their debut games, and...well that's it.
The game just feels very rushed. I've seen packs of Mugen that had more time put into them than this game did. Actually, that's what this game feels like. A really shitty version of a Mugen fighter (google it if you don't know what I'm referring to).
I can forgive Capcom for this though. I think even they feel kind of ashamed with this one. It isn't in Japanese arcades anymore, and they aren't packaging new copies for stores anymore either. If you're an absolute completest, then by all means pick this up. You'll get a couple of days' worth of enjoyment out of it. If you're not, save your money for Street Fighter IV. Or go find a copy of Capcom vs SNK 2.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Disappointment
So my cold has been reactivated (or made worse, I'm not sure) over the past couple of days. I suppose that going out to places where there was a lot of smoking and whatnot didn't help. I obviously didn't think that through. I was feeling pretty damn good on Friday, but after being in Firebelly's and Barbary Coast for most of the evening, and being surrounded by human chimneys who may or may not be in equally bad conditions, I started feeling symptoms again. Couple that with going to Buffalo Wild Wings on Saturday and being surrounded by three of the worst smokers I know, and I'm sick yet again. Oh what rotten luck and utter stupidity on my part.
I haven't really had the chance to listen to much new music this week. I found an old cd wallet the other day and spent some time burning some of my oooollddd stuff to itunes that I thought I'd lost forever. Some of the music still holds up (Soundgarden, STP, even Metallica's Black album), some...doesn't. I found an ancient mix cd that my friends had made back in the day when they were obsessed with DDR. I only recognized a handful of tracks, mainly the first ones which are actually anime theme songs (two Ruroni Kenshin ending themes which STILL kick ass). I've always dug most of the themes to animes, even if I don't care to follow the stuff anymore. There were two or three Captain Jack songs which brought some minor laughs. Most of it is garbage though.
My laptop needs to be looked at. The screen doesn't close properly, the sound is going in certain parts, and the charger cable doesn't seem to work about half the time. Lame.
Someone I've always had a hit or miss relationship with (as FRIENDS thank you) is joining the army. I had heard rumors of it for about the past week or so, but got an official confirmation on Saturday. I'm not really sure what to think. Most of my childhood friends went off to join the Marines and I haven't heard from them again, though I'm sure they're alright. It's just so odd to see this "trend," if I can call it that, continue even when I'm 23. I'm a little worried too. One of my friends had joined the Marines only to try and be a mail carrier, and they ended up sending him off to Iraq instead. The same thing is being ascribed to the person I know going over there next. I hope they don't lie to him.
I've been on a geeky book binge lately. Unearthed my old Clerks comic, re-reading The Death of WCW and Have a Nice Day, and re-reading and listening to the radio drama of Kingdom Come by Mark Waid. Good times.
This week is looking pretty bare. I only hope I get better so I can go out and job hunt again. My insurance has pretty much run out because I can't afford to pay it right now.
I haven't really had the chance to listen to much new music this week. I found an old cd wallet the other day and spent some time burning some of my oooollddd stuff to itunes that I thought I'd lost forever. Some of the music still holds up (Soundgarden, STP, even Metallica's Black album), some...doesn't. I found an ancient mix cd that my friends had made back in the day when they were obsessed with DDR. I only recognized a handful of tracks, mainly the first ones which are actually anime theme songs (two Ruroni Kenshin ending themes which STILL kick ass). I've always dug most of the themes to animes, even if I don't care to follow the stuff anymore. There were two or three Captain Jack songs which brought some minor laughs. Most of it is garbage though.
My laptop needs to be looked at. The screen doesn't close properly, the sound is going in certain parts, and the charger cable doesn't seem to work about half the time. Lame.
Someone I've always had a hit or miss relationship with (as FRIENDS thank you) is joining the army. I had heard rumors of it for about the past week or so, but got an official confirmation on Saturday. I'm not really sure what to think. Most of my childhood friends went off to join the Marines and I haven't heard from them again, though I'm sure they're alright. It's just so odd to see this "trend," if I can call it that, continue even when I'm 23. I'm a little worried too. One of my friends had joined the Marines only to try and be a mail carrier, and they ended up sending him off to Iraq instead. The same thing is being ascribed to the person I know going over there next. I hope they don't lie to him.
I've been on a geeky book binge lately. Unearthed my old Clerks comic, re-reading The Death of WCW and Have a Nice Day, and re-reading and listening to the radio drama of Kingdom Come by Mark Waid. Good times.
This week is looking pretty bare. I only hope I get better so I can go out and job hunt again. My insurance has pretty much run out because I can't afford to pay it right now.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Currents (while I'm sick)
Music:
Backstabbers Incorporated-Kamikaze Missions
Graf Orlock-Destination Time: Tomorrow
The Raconteurs-Broken Boy Soldiers (fight me)
Saves the Day-Stay What You Are (fight me again :p)
Movies:
Irreversible
The Living and the Dead
Sukiyaki Western Django
Wall-E
Books:
The Boys vol. 1 by Garth Ennis
My Boring-Ass Life by Kevin Smith
Preacher vol. 5 (jesus this is addicting)
Y: The Last Man vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughn
Backstabbers Incorporated-Kamikaze Missions
Graf Orlock-Destination Time: Tomorrow
The Raconteurs-Broken Boy Soldiers (fight me)
Saves the Day-Stay What You Are (fight me again :p)
Movies:
Irreversible
The Living and the Dead
Sukiyaki Western Django
Wall-E
Books:
The Boys vol. 1 by Garth Ennis
My Boring-Ass Life by Kevin Smith
Preacher vol. 5 (jesus this is addicting)
Y: The Last Man vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughn
Saturday, January 17, 2009
¯\(º_o)/¯
As I'm sure I've complained about before, the stigma of what is "cool" and what "isn't" is helping ruin the music scene as we know it.
But alas, nothing can be done to save or repair it. The only advice I would give to others who share my frustration would be to endure...separate yourself from the weak-minded and from the sheep. Stand your ground and speak your mind how you may really feel. Listen to and enjoy bands, regardless of their genre or with how much "cred" they have in ANY scene. In due time, heck show turnouts will back to their normal selfs, and the environments will be an excuse for you to unwind and forget about all of your troubles, rather than become further stressed of any sort.
Be unapologetically YOU.
But alas, nothing can be done to save or repair it. The only advice I would give to others who share my frustration would be to endure...separate yourself from the weak-minded and from the sheep. Stand your ground and speak your mind how you may really feel. Listen to and enjoy bands, regardless of their genre or with how much "cred" they have in ANY scene. In due time, heck show turnouts will back to their normal selfs, and the environments will be an excuse for you to unwind and forget about all of your troubles, rather than become further stressed of any sort.
Be unapologetically YOU.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Life as it is now
I suppose this is more of a small update about various things, rather than a proper blog entry. But I won't nitpick and waste my time.
-Had an interview with Blockbuster in Monkey Junction. I think it went pretty well, though it seemed sort of rushed. The guy interviewing me said he's coming back from a vacation (of sorts) at the end of this week, so I'll be sure to check back with him in person should I not receive a phone call from him.
-Went to the video shoot for Lamb of God's new song "Set to Fail." I don't believe it's up online anywhere at this moment, but I'm sure I'm mistaken. They called for about 120 kids to show up, but only about 60-70 showed up. We were crammed into a tiny room that was about the size of a basement (the pic below won't do it any justice), and surrounded the band as they performed to a recording of the track. People moshed, headbanged, pumped their fists, got into the band members' faces, and even crowdsurfed. It was incredibly tiring, but probably one of the most fun experiences I've had in quite some time. Meeting and talking to the band was nice too (Randy seemed rather impressed that I recognized his Tragedy shirt, especially since it only featured their "bird" logo). According to those who worked on the video, Will and myself are featured prominently in quite a bit of the footage. :D
-I think there's a girl who likes me, though I think it's incredibly hard for me to read/understand human emotions these days. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
-It took me 10 years to do so, but I finally saw Kingpin. Even though I got quite a few hearty chuckles out of it, I don't think it's aged well. Perhaps seeing the Farrelly Brothers' later (and some would say better) films has spoiled me.
-Trying to see either Notorious (though I'm nervous about how it's going to turn out) or Gran Torino (even with it's mixed reviews from theatergoers) this week. I've been meaning to get out to the movies more often, but our town is rather dry when it comes to independent (or even GOOD) cinema. Let The Right One In is FINALLY playing in our town at the beginning of February. Definitely excited about that.
Things you should check out:
-TeamFourStar's youtube channel. If you're a Dragon Ball fan like I am, you'll find their parodies absolutely hysterical. Episode 8 was uploaded only about an hour or so ago, and it's pure gold.
-Preacher. I'm on volume 5 of the TPBs and this series continues to get better and better. After the amazing background stories in volume 4, this gets back to the main story and introduced a little twist with our main characters that should prove to be VERY interesting with the coming volumes.
-Audiobook Corner. For years I've been searching for any sites or blogs that specialized in audiobooks, and I finally found one. A pretty good variety that's updated almost every day or two. http://audiobookcorner.blogspot.com
-Energy's "Invasions of the Mind." I feel bad that it took me this long to check this out, especially considering that I've had Punch the Clock for a little while now. A DAMN good melodic hardcore record, with some truly infectious melodies. You'll dig em if you like old AFI.
-Had an interview with Blockbuster in Monkey Junction. I think it went pretty well, though it seemed sort of rushed. The guy interviewing me said he's coming back from a vacation (of sorts) at the end of this week, so I'll be sure to check back with him in person should I not receive a phone call from him.
-Went to the video shoot for Lamb of God's new song "Set to Fail." I don't believe it's up online anywhere at this moment, but I'm sure I'm mistaken. They called for about 120 kids to show up, but only about 60-70 showed up. We were crammed into a tiny room that was about the size of a basement (the pic below won't do it any justice), and surrounded the band as they performed to a recording of the track. People moshed, headbanged, pumped their fists, got into the band members' faces, and even crowdsurfed. It was incredibly tiring, but probably one of the most fun experiences I've had in quite some time. Meeting and talking to the band was nice too (Randy seemed rather impressed that I recognized his Tragedy shirt, especially since it only featured their "bird" logo). According to those who worked on the video, Will and myself are featured prominently in quite a bit of the footage. :D
-I think there's a girl who likes me, though I think it's incredibly hard for me to read/understand human emotions these days. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
-It took me 10 years to do so, but I finally saw Kingpin. Even though I got quite a few hearty chuckles out of it, I don't think it's aged well. Perhaps seeing the Farrelly Brothers' later (and some would say better) films has spoiled me.
-Trying to see either Notorious (though I'm nervous about how it's going to turn out) or Gran Torino (even with it's mixed reviews from theatergoers) this week. I've been meaning to get out to the movies more often, but our town is rather dry when it comes to independent (or even GOOD) cinema. Let The Right One In is FINALLY playing in our town at the beginning of February. Definitely excited about that.
Things you should check out:
-TeamFourStar's youtube channel. If you're a Dragon Ball fan like I am, you'll find their parodies absolutely hysterical. Episode 8 was uploaded only about an hour or so ago, and it's pure gold.
-Preacher. I'm on volume 5 of the TPBs and this series continues to get better and better. After the amazing background stories in volume 4, this gets back to the main story and introduced a little twist with our main characters that should prove to be VERY interesting with the coming volumes.
-Audiobook Corner. For years I've been searching for any sites or blogs that specialized in audiobooks, and I finally found one. A pretty good variety that's updated almost every day or two. http://audiobookcorner.blogspot.com
-Energy's "Invasions of the Mind." I feel bad that it took me this long to check this out, especially considering that I've had Punch the Clock for a little while now. A DAMN good melodic hardcore record, with some truly infectious melodies. You'll dig em if you like old AFI.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
2008: The Final (?) Chapter
Happy new year and such to those who read this. Was kind of a hit or miss celebration for me personally but it's pretty superficial so let's just cut the shit. I realize this list is going to exclude several films that most likely would have made my top picks, but unfortunately most of the year's biggest "hits" with the critics have yet to come to Wilmington, and some flat out probably won't. I wonder if there's a good likelihood of me seeing "Let the Right One In" or "Slumdog Millionaire," though I seriously doubt it.
But anyways, here's my top 10 films of the year that I saw.
10. Burn After Reading-God I love the Coen Bros. Even their weakest films tend to still be real winners and are more clever than a good portion of dark comedies out there. This isn't one of their strongest films compared to say, "Fargo" or "No Country for Old Men," but it's definitely their funniest film since "The Big Lebowski." A giant tale of misunderstanding of all sorts, with a great cast to back it up. Probably the best ending they've had as well, and one can't help but wonder if some of the final lines might be a little joking jab at their previous film.
9. Mongol-I had been waiting for what seemed like forever for this to see release down here, and finally Carmike Cinema had a screening of it for what seemed like a week or so. Though a tiny bit slow at times, this is how you do an epic. Build your character up, give him some understandable RAAAAAGGGEEE, and then let loose with a grand battle at the end. Did I mention this is about Genghis Khan? No? Well it is. And he's played by THIS bad mo'fucka:
Go out and rent this immediately. If you can't stand subtitles, that's your loss/stupidity.
8. Definitely, Maybe- Most people who know me know that I can't stand romances, or most romcoms. In the past few years though, there has been a small amount of these that have popped up that I not only have enjoyed, but LOVED. This is very reminiscent of "Love, Actually," in that it's characters are all very human and likable. It plays somewhat like the Princess Bride, with a child acting as the audience and asking us to rewind and ask questions about certain characters or situations. Highly enjoyable and sweet, without being suffocatingly so.
7. Iron Man-I shouldn't have to reiterate about why this rules, but well I guess I will. Marvel has had some bad luck in recent years with their movies (Ghost Rider, Daredevil, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four 2, the Punisher, Xmen 3) but they finally managed to nail the character of Tony Stark. Robert Downey Jr. is just plain cool here, as is Terrance Howard as the future War Machine. I can't help but wonder how Don Cheadle will do in the sequel taking up his part. And I definitely cracked a geek smile after seeing that extra scene in the credits.
6. Global Metal-Sam Dunn's follow-up to his acclaimed documentary "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey" takes him all over the globe to examine metal and it's impact and importance in different culture. This still hasn't been released on DVD in the states for reasons unknown to me, though it can be viewed on most video channels like Youtube and Google Video. It was definitely worth the wait, and though you won't likely gain a great amount of knowledge about the countries that he visits, it's nonetheless fascinating.
5. Hellboy 2: The Golden Army-It's such a shame that they decided to release this only a week prior to the Dark Knight's opening, which unfortunately sealed it's fate. This was a gorgeous, exciting sequel that I personally thought was better than the first. I'll admit that I missed David Hyde Pierce, but I quickly got over it. I'd love to see a third movie featuring the same wonderful cast, but sadly I think the poor performance ensures us that we won't.
4. Tropic Thunder-I honestly think this will be considered a classic in about 10 years time. It's an INCREDIBLY rare occasion when a movie by Hollywood making fun of itself is actually, well, funny. It's almost as rare to find a movie with Ben Stiller these days that's actually funny too (god The Heartbreak Kid was terrible). But heck, this movie easily accomplished it. Robert Downey Jr. gives yet another memorable performance here, which oddly has been nominated for a Golden Globe. Here's to hoping he wins. 2009 would sure kick off with a bang if somebody won an award for blackface. :X
3. Wall-E-The best thing Pixar have ever done. Or at least their best film since "The Incredibles." Who would have thought that a tiny robot who could only really express himself through his eyes and hands would give the most animated and emotional performance of the year? Sure the message about consumerism was a little heavy handed, but it's not anything that takes away from the film. I really do hope that this picks up some major awards this year. It was phenomenal.
2. Forgetting Sarah Marshall-I liked this more than Superbad. Oh yeah, I said it. Wanna fight about it? Well, I'd prefer not to since I'm a peaceful guy. I think anybody who's had any sketchy or difficult experiences with women would love this. Again, its characters are all very real and likable, and it's dialogue feels very real as well. Unfortunately, like everything that Judd Apatow has a hand in these days, it does get somewhat sappy towards the end of the film, but it quickly recovers, and the serious tone that comes in doesn't feel uncomfortable at all. This also made me fall in love with Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell all over again. Oh boy.
And for my top pick, well c'mon it shouldn't be hard to guess.
COLLEGE! Without a doubt the most relevant and accurate portrayal of the fraternity life I've ever seen.
Nah I'm just playing. The real #1 for me was...
1. The Dark Knight- What more needs to be said? One of the best superhero epics ever made, if not THE best). Everything here was amazing. I'd definitely buy this again should any extended or more "packed" edition be released on DVD (and most likely it will be). Heath Ledger was expectedly amazing in his portrayal of the Clown Prince of Crime, but I personally was more impressed by Aaron Eckhart's job as Harvey Dent. His slow transformation into the psychotic Two-Face was frightening and powerful. I haven't been this blown away by any film since I watched "LOTR: Return of the King" in 2003. It's also one of the few films I've seen in theaters 3 times (other ones I recall include the previously mentioned ROTK and 300). Whatever may happen with the sequel, if there is one at all, I can only say this:
I Believe in Christopher Nolan.
And you should too.
Other movies worth noting/renting:
Cloverfield-America FINALLY gets the Kaiju formula right. Creepy as hell, and about as realistic as one of these films could be. I also tend to love films that lack scores as well.
In Bruges-Though this film's trailer is very misleading and may convince viewers they're in store for a funny ol' dark comedy along the lines of Snatch, this film turns out to be a more serious effort than one would imagine (though it's still incredibly funny). I don't think I've seen Colin Farrell do as good a job as he did here. His character was very sympathetic, and when you find out why he's in Bruges and down in the dumps, well, I can't say I blame him.
Incredible Hulk-This runs circles around the old Hulk, which I actually didn't hate completely like the rest of the general public. I sure ain't gonna be able to watch it after watching this one though. I wish that William Hurt had put SOME effort into his performance. His piss poor job as General Ross was the one thing that kept the film from being on my top 10 list.
Pineapple Express-Probably the funniest stoner movie I've seen in quite some time. I have a strong feeling that watching this WHILE high or drunk will only increase my love for this. James Franco definitely redeemed himself in my eyes after stinking up the screen in "Spiderman 3."
Stop Loss-Well gee this sure was an uplifting film. The title comes from an involuntary policy in the U.S. Military that extends a soldier's active duty without them having any real say in the matter. Though it's definitely sad, something like this had to be addressed. One soldier says that he's not going to stand for this, and goes absent without leave. Heck, I'd probably do the same thing. The film isn't really anti or pro-war, which is certainly welcome.
And that wraps up my choices for "The Best" of 2008. For media, we've had quite a good year. It'll be interesting to see how 2009 will stack up in comparison but I'm willing to give it a chance. Like I've mentioned before, there were plenty of movies and albums that either slipped under my radar, or I just lacked the time to get into.
Until then, later...
But anyways, here's my top 10 films of the year that I saw.
10. Burn After Reading-God I love the Coen Bros. Even their weakest films tend to still be real winners and are more clever than a good portion of dark comedies out there. This isn't one of their strongest films compared to say, "Fargo" or "No Country for Old Men," but it's definitely their funniest film since "The Big Lebowski." A giant tale of misunderstanding of all sorts, with a great cast to back it up. Probably the best ending they've had as well, and one can't help but wonder if some of the final lines might be a little joking jab at their previous film.
9. Mongol-I had been waiting for what seemed like forever for this to see release down here, and finally Carmike Cinema had a screening of it for what seemed like a week or so. Though a tiny bit slow at times, this is how you do an epic. Build your character up, give him some understandable RAAAAAGGGEEE, and then let loose with a grand battle at the end. Did I mention this is about Genghis Khan? No? Well it is. And he's played by THIS bad mo'fucka:
Go out and rent this immediately. If you can't stand subtitles, that's your loss/stupidity.
8. Definitely, Maybe- Most people who know me know that I can't stand romances, or most romcoms. In the past few years though, there has been a small amount of these that have popped up that I not only have enjoyed, but LOVED. This is very reminiscent of "Love, Actually," in that it's characters are all very human and likable. It plays somewhat like the Princess Bride, with a child acting as the audience and asking us to rewind and ask questions about certain characters or situations. Highly enjoyable and sweet, without being suffocatingly so.
7. Iron Man-I shouldn't have to reiterate about why this rules, but well I guess I will. Marvel has had some bad luck in recent years with their movies (Ghost Rider, Daredevil, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four 2, the Punisher, Xmen 3) but they finally managed to nail the character of Tony Stark. Robert Downey Jr. is just plain cool here, as is Terrance Howard as the future War Machine. I can't help but wonder how Don Cheadle will do in the sequel taking up his part. And I definitely cracked a geek smile after seeing that extra scene in the credits.
6. Global Metal-Sam Dunn's follow-up to his acclaimed documentary "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey" takes him all over the globe to examine metal and it's impact and importance in different culture. This still hasn't been released on DVD in the states for reasons unknown to me, though it can be viewed on most video channels like Youtube and Google Video. It was definitely worth the wait, and though you won't likely gain a great amount of knowledge about the countries that he visits, it's nonetheless fascinating.
5. Hellboy 2: The Golden Army-It's such a shame that they decided to release this only a week prior to the Dark Knight's opening, which unfortunately sealed it's fate. This was a gorgeous, exciting sequel that I personally thought was better than the first. I'll admit that I missed David Hyde Pierce, but I quickly got over it. I'd love to see a third movie featuring the same wonderful cast, but sadly I think the poor performance ensures us that we won't.
4. Tropic Thunder-I honestly think this will be considered a classic in about 10 years time. It's an INCREDIBLY rare occasion when a movie by Hollywood making fun of itself is actually, well, funny. It's almost as rare to find a movie with Ben Stiller these days that's actually funny too (god The Heartbreak Kid was terrible). But heck, this movie easily accomplished it. Robert Downey Jr. gives yet another memorable performance here, which oddly has been nominated for a Golden Globe. Here's to hoping he wins. 2009 would sure kick off with a bang if somebody won an award for blackface. :X
3. Wall-E-The best thing Pixar have ever done. Or at least their best film since "The Incredibles." Who would have thought that a tiny robot who could only really express himself through his eyes and hands would give the most animated and emotional performance of the year? Sure the message about consumerism was a little heavy handed, but it's not anything that takes away from the film. I really do hope that this picks up some major awards this year. It was phenomenal.
2. Forgetting Sarah Marshall-I liked this more than Superbad. Oh yeah, I said it. Wanna fight about it? Well, I'd prefer not to since I'm a peaceful guy. I think anybody who's had any sketchy or difficult experiences with women would love this. Again, its characters are all very real and likable, and it's dialogue feels very real as well. Unfortunately, like everything that Judd Apatow has a hand in these days, it does get somewhat sappy towards the end of the film, but it quickly recovers, and the serious tone that comes in doesn't feel uncomfortable at all. This also made me fall in love with Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell all over again. Oh boy.
And for my top pick, well c'mon it shouldn't be hard to guess.
COLLEGE! Without a doubt the most relevant and accurate portrayal of the fraternity life I've ever seen.
Nah I'm just playing. The real #1 for me was...
1. The Dark Knight- What more needs to be said? One of the best superhero epics ever made, if not THE best). Everything here was amazing. I'd definitely buy this again should any extended or more "packed" edition be released on DVD (and most likely it will be). Heath Ledger was expectedly amazing in his portrayal of the Clown Prince of Crime, but I personally was more impressed by Aaron Eckhart's job as Harvey Dent. His slow transformation into the psychotic Two-Face was frightening and powerful. I haven't been this blown away by any film since I watched "LOTR: Return of the King" in 2003. It's also one of the few films I've seen in theaters 3 times (other ones I recall include the previously mentioned ROTK and 300). Whatever may happen with the sequel, if there is one at all, I can only say this:
I Believe in Christopher Nolan.
And you should too.
Other movies worth noting/renting:
Cloverfield-America FINALLY gets the Kaiju formula right. Creepy as hell, and about as realistic as one of these films could be. I also tend to love films that lack scores as well.
In Bruges-Though this film's trailer is very misleading and may convince viewers they're in store for a funny ol' dark comedy along the lines of Snatch, this film turns out to be a more serious effort than one would imagine (though it's still incredibly funny). I don't think I've seen Colin Farrell do as good a job as he did here. His character was very sympathetic, and when you find out why he's in Bruges and down in the dumps, well, I can't say I blame him.
Incredible Hulk-This runs circles around the old Hulk, which I actually didn't hate completely like the rest of the general public. I sure ain't gonna be able to watch it after watching this one though. I wish that William Hurt had put SOME effort into his performance. His piss poor job as General Ross was the one thing that kept the film from being on my top 10 list.
Pineapple Express-Probably the funniest stoner movie I've seen in quite some time. I have a strong feeling that watching this WHILE high or drunk will only increase my love for this. James Franco definitely redeemed himself in my eyes after stinking up the screen in "Spiderman 3."
Stop Loss-Well gee this sure was an uplifting film. The title comes from an involuntary policy in the U.S. Military that extends a soldier's active duty without them having any real say in the matter. Though it's definitely sad, something like this had to be addressed. One soldier says that he's not going to stand for this, and goes absent without leave. Heck, I'd probably do the same thing. The film isn't really anti or pro-war, which is certainly welcome.
And that wraps up my choices for "The Best" of 2008. For media, we've had quite a good year. It'll be interesting to see how 2009 will stack up in comparison but I'm willing to give it a chance. Like I've mentioned before, there were plenty of movies and albums that either slipped under my radar, or I just lacked the time to get into.
Until then, later...
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