Stancet's Entertainment Talk

Terminator Salvation: Will He Be Back?

2009-04-20T12:36:00.011-04:00

Anyone who's anyone knows what the Terminator franchise is. Even if you haven’t seen the movies, I'm sure you know what the basic idea is. The Terminator films are a series of apocalypse stories about intelligent machines that decided to terminate the human race. They use every weapon at their disposal, including time itself. The series is best known for his low budget special effects and bringing Arnold Schwarzenegger to stardom. Recently, people have been getting excited about the fourth movie called Terminator Salvation. Is it any good?

To truly understand the nature of Terminator Salvation, I want to give you a brief history of the previous films. Originally, the director (James Cameron) wanted to do a low budget film about a machine who goes back in time to kill a young lady. Originally it had a limited release, but Terminator quickly became a cultural phenomenon. It's creative story and impressive visuals made it a worthwhile movie.

It didn't stop there. James Cameron went on to direct Terminator 2. If you thought the first movie was good, Terminator 2 blew minds away with even better visuals, a better story, better characters and went on to win 4 Oscars. On AFI's website, Arnold Schwarzenegger became the first actor to be on both the 'best hero list' and the 'best villain list' for playing the same character.

However, there was a slight downturn. James Cameron stopped directing the Terminator movies. Terminator 3 was made without his help. Many thought it was a sequel that could have been better. Released in 2003, many believed it was more oriented around visual effects and not the story.

Just for trivia sake, all three Terminator movies are rated R. They are violent, gory and contain strong language. They are good, but I don't recommend the faint in heart should watch them.

Now it's time to get to the real subject of this blog post. The fourth Terminator movie is scheduled to be released May 21, 2009. Sadly, James Cameron was not involved in production. Warner Bros decided to make the film without his help. However, I've got several good reasons why this film is going to be good.

The movie is going to be rated PG-13!!!!!!

I don't know about you. PG-13 is a surprise. All the Terminator movies before were rated R. The director (nicknamed McG) openly said the rating wasn't their biggest concern. They wanted to reduce the rating because kids were going to see the movie anyways. However, I don't know if the rating can still be trusted. The rating company (MPAA) is not the most stable company in the world. They have given bad ratings before. Either they are mistaken, or Terminator 4 might actually be toned down so more people can see it.

Christian Bale--->

Aside from the rating, the cast might impress you too. Sadly, Arnold Schwarzenegger will not return. John Connor (the hero of the series) is going to be played by a different actor too. This time, he will be played by Christian Bale. Previously, Bale has played Batman in The Dark Knight. Obviously, any movie that stars Christian Bale is a big deal. He originally didn't want to be in the movie because he thought it would be trash. But the director convinced him that the story would be oriented around his character, instead of the visual effects.

All in all, I wasn't interested in Terminator Salvation. But when I looked into it, I was surprised how promising the movie seemed. It might be too good to be true, but I think the movie might actually be lovable. Because of the nature of the Terminator series, I won't recommend you watch it. However, I won't recommend for you to stay away. I am 75% sure it will be a worthwhile film, but only time can tell.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: NOT!!!!

2009-04-14T17:14:00.005-04:00

I'm sure you know by now, Transformers has a new sequel coming out. Ever since the Superbowl, there has been no question about it. One of the official trailers can be seen here (msn.com) Is the Transformer's sequel going to be any good?

Unfortunately, I have to say no. I believe, wholeheartedly, that Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, with not be a good movie. To understand why, we must look at the previous film first.

Critics disliked the first Transformers movie because it had too many characters, the plot was hard to follow, and the action scenes dragged on for too long. It was an entertaining movie, but not very well thought out. You'll be thankful to know, the previous cast from Transformers 1 will be returning (including Shia Labeouf). Steven Spielberg and Michael Bay will return as Producer and Director, respectively.

<--- Shia Labeouf

During production, Michael Bay wanted to make Transformers 2 everything it couldn't be in the first. Now, he has more money, so he can do it. He wanted more close-ups, so you could see the Transformer's faces. He's also created more complicated effects for them all (like sweat and damage). The new complexity of the effects takes several days for just one frame to render on the computer.

Hasbro, the original creator of the toy line, said that they wanted the transformers in Transformers 2 to look similar in design in the first movie because they didn't want kids to purchase different action figures for their favorite characters. Thankfully, Michael Bay seems to be respecting that wish. However, he seems a bit carried away. There will be a much larger number of Transformers characters appearing in this movie. There were too many characters in the first movie. I think this movie might have a plot too complex to possibly follow. Not only that, but some of the evil droids in the first movie will convert into good guys.

The plot itself will be more far-fetched as well. It's about Megatron (who was killed in the first movie) being brought back to life so he can strike a second time. Not only that, but his origins might also be explained a little more and he will have more friends on his side.

So basically, I think Transformers will be a visually spectacular film. However, I think it will lack the heart and spirit other blockbusters had before it. Indiana Jones and Star Wars staggered us because of their stories. But Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen will be mindless, and you'll most likely want to avoid it. Unless you want the best visual effects this summer STAY AWAY!

The Dark Tower: Watch Over This Noble Film

2009-03-30T09:18:00.009-04:00

For a while now, a series of books has seriously caught my attention. Have you ever heard of Stephen King? If you've spent a good amount of time at the library, it's a miracle if you haven't heard of him. He's best known for his horror novels, including Pet Semetary, IT, Cujo, Carrie and many others. Many films have been made out of his works. But the one I'm interested in is The Dark Tower.

<--- The final Dark Tower novel

Since the year 1970, Stephen King has worked on this series of books. For over 30 years, he's written seven books about a cowboy named Roland Deschain. King says the seven books are his 'Magnum Opus'. That's a fancy writer's term for a great accomplishment, which they consider to be their most important. Since Stephen King considers The Dark Tower series to be his most important collection of works, he has been very nervous about a potential film adaption.

Stephen King --->

The whole series is (by best definition) a western. However, it has mystical elements in it. It takes place in a complicated universe where inter-dimensional travel is possible. There is complicated steampunk technology, but none of the cowboys properly understand how it works. All in all, the characters are used to seeing strange events happening all around them.

Through the books, the main character, Roland Deschain, is on a quest to stop a Lord of the Rings-type of disaster. The villain is a shadowy figure named Randall Flag. Flag has previously appeared in many Stephen King novels. He's a sadistic wizard who believes in pain and suffering. He is King's favorite villain. Because Stephen King has put so much of himself into the stories, it's no wonder he’s so skeptical about a film adaption.

<--- J.J. Abrams

However, Stephen King has finally agreed to make a film adaption out of his works. The only person he trusts is J.J. Abrams. Abrams has created many psychological and thought-provoking films and television shows (including the award winning show, Lost). He likes rich character development and strong story lines. It's no wonder Stephen King trusts J.J. Abrams with a film adaption of The Dark Tower books.

It is undetermined if the films will be big screen blockbusters or a television series. Currently, J.J. Abrams is busy wrapping up the show Lost. He believes serious production can't go underway until he completes Lost. So in the meantime, Stephen King's novels aren’t going anywhere.

Jamey Sheridan --->

Aside from delayed production, there is only one other thing left to explain. The reason I am so interested in The Dark Tower is because it has the villain Randall Flag in it. Previously, the character was played by Jamey Sheridan. It's unknown if Jamey will play Randall Flag again in this new upcoming show, but we can only hope.

For reasons you're probably aware, this blog will not be supporting this film. Anyone who reads a Stephen King novel knows why. He swears very heavily, his heroes are not very happy people and he’s not afraid to use blood. To help you understand, picture Barney the Dinosaur. It's very hard to find a Barney film that is rated PG. But when it comes to Stephen King movies, it's hard to find one that is rated PG-13.

But... you never know. If J.J. Abrams is interested, he might tone down The Dark Tower films he'll be working on. If the show is rated PG-13, I might consider supporting it. But right now, the only reason I'm making an article is so you have something interesting to look into. As violent as Stephen King novels are, he is still a very good author. Only time can tell if The Dark Tower movies will be as good as the books.

The 39 Clues: And The Winner Is... #10

2009-03-28T08:25:00.005-04:00

This might seem like a relatively short blog article, but I don't have much else to say. This is just an announcement. The number of 39 clues books has been established. Instead of 39 books, it will simply be 10 books. (I guess the number of clues didn't influence the number of books that much). Rick Riorand will continue to oversee the story arcs, while the other writers do the hardest work for him. I can't tell you too many story elemant (and I don't want to spoil it anyways), but I hope you'll be excited to read the next books in the series if they continue to be good.

The Legend of Spyro: In Minor Difficulty

2009-03-26T09:29:00.003-04:00

I have recently pulled this poster off the internet... How many of you are rolling your eyes? If you are, I know how you feel. News has been going around for a while that a Legend of Spyro movie was in the making. A poster was released. Is it just me, or does it look ugly?

Now, I am writing this blog post to make an important point. Since this film has me worried, this blog is going to stop promoting it. I know I sound mean, but I have good reason to believe this film will be a lackluster.

The film will be directed by a person unknown to the general public. His name is Mark Dippe. In the past, he directed two animated Garfield movies. He also did the sexually inappropriate film called, The Reef.

Producing the movie will be Dan Chuba, Youngki Lee, Brian Manis and Ash Shah. All these people have worked together before. They created the Eddie Murphy version of Dr. Dolittle, The Fantastic Four and many other things.

Now... let's not forget John Davis, who is doing the majority of the work. Previously, he has done a bunch of films I recommend you avoid. He produced Eragon (one of the worst dragon movies since Reign of Fire). He also did Norbit and a lackluster called I,Robot.

The writer of this film will be the Altiere Brothers. Previously, they wrote the scripts for Scooby Doo and Dr. Dolittle.

Now, the big point I am trying to make, is that none of these men have done an animated film properly before. They have squandered their talents. Most directors are like this. They want to give the audience what they want and ruin a movie in the process.

But before I get overly upset, I want to make another point. The Legend of Spyro movie will not be an original story (like I was hoping). Instead, the story is going to be based on the first game in the Spyro trilogy. Why is this a bad decision? Because the producers will never get to the sequels. John Davis created the movie Eragon, but has been ignoring the potential sequel called Eldest. Secondly, the second game in the Legend of Spyro trilogy has next to no story. If all three games are made into movies, the critics will obviously be sleeping in their theater seats.

Before I wrap up this blog article, I do have some good news. The voice actors (for the most part) are going to be the same. Elijah Wood and Gary Oldman have both planned to return and provide the voices for their characters. Both guys are very good. However, they come at a price. The Legend of Spyro trilogy got unfavorable reviews because these two actors were expensive and caused the game's budget to take a hit. With any luck, history will not repeat itself.

Is there hope? Yes! If you remember, nobody believed Pirates of the Caribbean would be a hit. Before the movie was released, everyone believed Pirates would be an utter disaster. That's because everything about it was working against it. Is it possible The Legend of Spyro is a box office hit in disgust? I don't know.

Since everything about this movie seems to be working against it, I won't continue supporting it. But in the meantime, I might continue telling you about the rating this fill will get on Rotten Tomatoes and such. When this movie is closer to release date, I hope to have a better opinion about it for you.

G.I. Joe: To Watch, or Not to Watch?

2009-03-15T22:00:00.004-04:00

Ever since the Superbowl, public awareness of the new G.I. Joe movie has grown. I bet many are excited to see it, but is it worth watching? Most of this blog post might seem like a review of stuff I've already mensioned, but I'll try to include some original stuff in here. All in all, it seems like G.I. Joe might be a worthwhile movie.

For starters, the movie will be directed by Stephen Sommers. He is the action loving director who previously did The Mummy, The Mummy Returns and Van Helsing. The producers include Lorenzo di Bonaventura (who did Transformers and Stardust), Brian Goldner (an executive from the Hasbro company), Gary Barber (who has done a variety of things, including The Legend of Zorro) and Roger Birnbaum (who has done a lot of things for the past thirty years of his career). All in all, this is a very good variety of people who seem interested in making the movie. If they were all agreeable and helpful towards each other, we can be sure their imaginations were put to good use.

Aside from producers and directors, the rest of the crew seem like a faithful bunch. The editing will be done by Bob Ducsay (who also did The Mummy and Night at the Museum). The script will be written by Stuart Beattie (who assisted in the writing of Pirates of the Caribbean because of his historic knowledge of pirates). And finally, the music will be composed by Alan Silvestri (who has an extensive career that took him from Who Framed Roger Rabbit, to Back to the Future, to Beowulf).

Now the cast are probably the people you are really interested in. They include, Clanning Tatum, Dennis Quaid and Rachal Nichols. The villains will be played by Christopher Eccleston, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Sienna Miller. All very good actors from different backgrounds. It will be interesting to see how they collaborate on the big screen.

During the Superbowl, the teaser trailer was released. It can be seen here (msn.com). Judging from the trailer, it looks like a Die Hard/James Bond film. I don't think there's any garranty that it will match The Dark Knight, but not every blockbuster has to.

For now, the story is being kept quiet. However, it was hinted that it would be an origin story that explains how the G.I. Joe team first came together. Also, the writers say the gadgets in the story are realistic and will be invented within the next ten years (including the invisibility suit). At the minute, it continues to be a worthwhile movie we should look forwards to.

Around this point in a blog article, you are probably asking what point I am trying to make. Well... you can tell G.I. Joe will be a big budget blockbuster. Of course, people will be comparing it with Hasbro's last movie, Transformers. Transformers was a moderately good movie that was worth a theater ticket. Only time can tell if G.I. Joe will be the same (or hopefully better). But like I keep reminding you, this blog is here to promote awareness, so you won't have to depend on me for too much information.

Classic Vault: Warriors

2009-03-11T09:17:00.005-04:00

Classic Vault

One series I've found on the shelves is this group of books about cats. I'm not talking about a bunch of kid's books, like Hello Kitty. On the cover of these books is a simple but easy to remember title. Warriors. Many would probably put the books down after seeing the fluffy kitty on the front, but I did some investigating.

Warriors is this group of dark and violent stories (best for ages 8 and up). It's not a series, to put it correctly. Actually, it's a group of series' that follow different events and characters in this one universe. There are about four mini-series' and various novels and short stories in between.

The Warriors' universe is similar to our own. It takes place in this woods outside a suburban neighborhood. In this woods, there are four clans of cats who hunt and fight with each other. There's Thunderclan, Shadowclan, Windclan and Riverclan. Usually, each mini-series is about characters inside these clans who are resolving an unusual problem. Fighting and hunting is not the only thing these cats do in the wild.

There are also some fantasy elements to the stories. However, the series qualifies as a soft-fantasy. The series doesn't revolve around the magical elements. They are more of a plot device. The most common element in the magical world is probably Starclan (a type of heaven for cats). Also, the leaders of the clans have a nine-lives power that allows them to survive longer than the rest of the warriors.

Like I said, this is a dark and violent series. I was interested because it reminds me of classical animal stories about man vs. nature (like The Secret of Nimh). Most critics love the series because of its intriguing world and action. However, they sometimes agree that the cast of characters is too large and it's hard to tell who is who. But other than that, it's a good series.

Aside from that, there is little extra media to go with the series. The series is actually written by a group of writers who go under the name Erin Hunter. There is no talk of a movie and no official console games have been released. This potential franchise is at its basic level, but I recommend it to anyone who's interested. It's definitely unique, since I don't often see stuff like this on the best seller list.

The 39 Clues: [fill in your name], I am your father...

2009-03-06T19:38:00.005-05:00

The 39 Clues is a series that caught my attention. I saw it frequently on the book shelves, and it was very tempting to pick it up. You've probably seen it too. Anyways, I did a little bit of homework on this new series of books and I found some startling results. The series was started by Rick Riordan (who is best known for his Percy Jackson series). You can tell the series is written by him, because of Rick's love for historical accuracy and witty humor.

The 39 Clues is similar to spy novels, in many ways. But it's most about adventure and history. Basically, it's about these two kids named Amy and Dan Cahill. They have a grandmother named Grace, who dies at the beginning of the first book. In her will, she leaves every a million dollars. However, she also gave her family members the option to embark on this quest instead. It's a quest that would lead the victor to the greatest fortune ever known to man.

The series has lots of historical references. Usually, Dan and Amy are tailing on figure like Benjamin Franklin. Dan and Amy are chasing after these historic figures, because they are all related. The Cahill family is directly or indirectly related to every major even in history. But all that's left of them are 39 clues. Many teams of players are going around the globe to find these clues and put them together. Dan and Amy have less than anyone else, but they are more determined than anyone. This might be their moment to shine through history themselves.

Rick Riorand

Now, Rick Riordan seems like a genious. However, a series of this size (likely to be 39 books) seemed much for him. Rick has decided to put together a team of writers to do most of the work for him. But he will continue supervising this series to make sure the story arcs are consistant. As of today, two books are available. The Maze of Bones and One False Note.

But, The 39 Clues does not just stop with books. There is also an online game (please check system requirments). You can do that, and also collect these cards that come with each book. It's possible to solve the mystery of the 39 clues before the main characters do. Each book also contain a simple code you can solve. Instructions aren't clearly laid out, so be prepared to use your brains.

To sum it up, The 39 Clues is already a franchise and it doesn't have console games or movies. This is all very impressive. But to make this article more interesting, Steven Spielberg is interested in making a movies out of this series. Spielberg seems desperate to do a kids movie. He tried doing a Harry Potter, but left because of creative differences. Steven says, however, that the series would be better off as four or fives movies instead of one.

Anyways, I borrowed the first 39 Clues book out of the library and it is good. Obviously, this is not the next Harry Potter series, but it is enjoyable. But the point is, it is a good series worth looking into. Since the books are far from over, only time can tell if this series will add up to a magnum opus.

Doctor Who: There's a New Writer in Town

2009-02-28T15:34:00.003-05:00

<--- Russell T Davies

Many very old people probably remember watching Doctor Who long ago when they were children. Fifty years ago, Doctor Who was nothing more than a series of B-movies from Britain. But today, I don't know how many people continue to watch it. Believe me... the show is good.

About twenty years ago, Doctor Who was taken off the air. Several people tried to revive it. After all, Doctor Who is an important figure in British pop-culture. But in 2005, the series was successfully re-created. Much credit, I believe, goes to Russell T Davies and Phil Collinson. These two men wanted to revolutionize the TV show with more action-packed stories and better visual effects.

Now, Russell T Davies has certainly done a good job writing scripts. Personally, I'm amazed people don't watch Doctor Who. But one writer has risen up to his level. A writer named Steven Moffat has also contributed several good stories to the series.

Steven Moffat --->

Steven Moffat has done more than most people probably give him credit for. His episodes have won him the past three Hugo Awards for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form. He wrote the episodes 'The Empty Child', 'The Girl in the Fireplace' and 'Blink'. Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat are the only two writers to write in every season of Doctor Who so far.

Russel T Davies, however, decided that he will be leaving. When season five airs, he plans to make Steven Moffat the new head writer. This must be a tremendous honor. Being a three time Hugo winner, I think he's a very good choice for the next head writer. Still, only time can tell if he'll keep the spirit of Doctor Who up like Russell T Davies did.

Classic Vault: Psychonauts

2009-02-24T10:43:00.010-05:00

Classic Vault

I'm sorry that I haven't been posting that often on this blog. The inspiration kind-of ran out. But now I figured I try something different. Since it's been a while since an Xbox game caught my attention, I'll talk about a classical one. The first one in my mind is Psychonauts.

Psychonauts was first created by Tim Schafer. He is a legendary game designer, known for his witty sense of humor and strong story telling. He worked for Lucas Arts and made adventure games, like The Secret of Monkey Island and Grim Fandango. Tim Schafer is like the Tim Burton of videogames. He is a very weird guy who thinks up incredibly original ideas.

Tim Schafer first thought up an idea for a game about psychics, but Lucas Arts thought the game was too violent. In the end, Tim broke away and created a company called Double Fine. There, he had the freedom to create his new game.

Basically, Psychonauts is about a young boy named Raz (short for Razputin). He is a misfit psychic who hears about a summer camp for children like him. Upon arriving at the camp, the psychic teachers soon learn that he is exceptionally talented. His powers are already well developed and they start making plans to test him.

Raz only has a few days to graduate and become a Psychonaut. However, something quickly comes up. An insane mad man is found, stealing children's brains in order to take over the world. It's up to Raz and the player to stop him. The story was filled with intriguing plot twists that would make Steven Spielberg envious. There's a wide cast of lovable characters and plenty of moments that are simply hilarious.

Psychonauts is also a traditional Platformer. It is considered the greatest Platformer the Xbox ever had. Basically, you do a lot of running and a lot of jumping. Through the game, you unlock a variety of powers that help you progress through the levels. This includes invisibility, telekinesis and clairvoyance. You also have a variety of acrobat moves that Raz picked up from his circus life, like tightrope walking and swinging.

Tim Schafer --->

The biggest power is your ability to go into other people's minds. Each world you enter is actually another character's mind. Each mind has a unique style. You go through an abstract world, a war world, a 60s music world and many more. You can try to go through these worlds quickly, but there is an incredible amount of stuff to do in each world.

Psychonauts is also a game that rewards you for exploring the environment. To unlock powers you must rank up by collecting psi-cards and figments inside other people's imaginations. Aside from ranking up, you will also find funny cinematics hidden throughout the levels if you take the time to explore.

Many critics praised Psychonauts. In fact, many believed it was the best Platformer in the sixth generation of videogames. However, it was a lackluster. It didn't sell well and made many publishers believe the Platforming genre was dead. Even so, it was an incredible game. It can be played on the Xbox 360 with only a few glitches every so often. It can be purchased on the internet for about 20 to 40 dollars.

Psychonauts was rated T, mostly because it’s disturbing. A Psychonaut is supposed to go into people's minds and help them correct a personal flaw. These levels (especially the last one) might freak young kids out, which is why a 12 and up audience is recommended. There's also language and flirting, but it’s clean compared to modern Xbox games.

All in all, Psychonauts is an incredible game the world shouldn't have missed out on. If you are looking for 10 to 15 hours of incredible gameplay, this is it. Even if you blow through the game very quickly, there is a lot to see. It is one of the best Platformers the Xbox has ever seen and it would be a great game to play before the Xbox 720 replaces the 360.

Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings: Wow... What a Name

2009-02-01T15:03:00.005-05:00

After such long and frustrating studio blockbusters, it's good to kick back and relax. Wrong! For Indiana Jones, adventure and excitement is always the same old thing. I mentioned in an earlier post that a new game as coming out. Recently, it was named Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings.

As well as a title, Lucas Arts has also released a teaser trailer that can be seen here (youtube.com). As well as a trailer, one user also posted some test animations that can be seen here (youtube.com).

As you probably guessed, the trailers are promoting the new Euphoria engine rather than a story. (Although, teaser trailers don't have to promote a story by definition.) As far as anyone knows, the story is mostly about Indiana Jones going across the globe and collecting different artifacts. However, there will be one central villain and artifact. In the trailer, the name Lao Che is posted over the door to the tavern. It's possible he's the main villain. He's the character from The Temple of Doom who traded a diamond with Indy at the start of the movie... and then poisoned him.

Like I mensioned before, Lucas Arts is very interested in promoting their Euphoria engine. It's a new type of rag-doll physics that gives each character a mind, rather than a set of fixed animations. If a character crashes against a car his body will hit it, but he will immediatly coordinate his arms and legs and try to get his balance back. The Euphoria engine was previously used in the game Grand Theft Auto IV.

The final question we must ask is whether the game will be good or not. The last game from Lucas Arts (Star Wars: Force Unleashed) was a disappointment. It was supposed to be a revolutionary story with never-before-seen action. In the end, he had glitchy physics and repetative gameplay. Still, Lucas Arts might have learned from their mistakes. But people who wasted $45 dollars on Star Wars: Force Unleashed might be more skeptical than others.

Fans of Indiana Jones felt torn when they saw Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Some liked it and others didn't. But Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings will determine if the franchise is still alive or not. For the time being, it deserves a shadow of a doubt. It will likely be released this spring, and will be on the Wii, Playstation 2 and 3. It was said to be on the Xbox 360, but I don't know how likely that will be anymore. Hopefully if all goes well, we'll have a good game everyone can play.

Oscars: Nominees Announced

2009-01-31T09:21:00.005-05:00

January is over, and that means we're all eagerly awaiting February and I bet you know why. The last major 2008 event is coming up (in 2009). The 81st Academy Award ceremony will take place on February 22 and the nominees have been announced.

Since the list of movies is always long, I'll just post a link to the official website here. After the trailer for this year's Oscars passes, the screen will switch to a stage where some announcers tell us this year’s films. Of course, the winners won't be announced. There are a bunch of smaller Oscar awards that aren’t mentioned on the website, but I think the ones listed are enough for now.

Several Oscars already have records this year. I will list them by the number of awards they are nominated for.

13: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
10: Slumdog Millionaire
8: The Dark Knight, Milk
6: Wall-E
5: Doubt, The Reader, Frost/Nixon

Aside from all this, the awards will be hosted by Hugh Jackman (the guy who plays Wolverine in X-Men). Like the other ceremonies, nobody knows who the winners are. Every year, the Oscars are given away using a special envelope system. The officials choose a winner and put their name inside an envelope to be opened during the show. Nobody on stage will know whose name is inside until the appointed time.

Just for trivia sake, I'll put some history to make this article more interesting. Only three films have won eleven Oscars (Ben Hur, The Godfather and Lord of the Rings 3). John Williams has had more Oscar nominations than any other man alive (about 45). Walt Disney won more Oscars in one night than any other individual person (four wins). Randy Newman was nominated fifteen years in a row before winning an award. Both Snow White and Toy Story got special achievement awards because a proper Oscar for animated films had not been invented until 2001.

I am seriously looking forward to this years Oscars. However, I haven't found an official website that will be hosting the show live. I found several recommendations, but there's too much controversy surrounding them. If I find a website that legally and safely shows the Oscars live, I'll post again and tell you where you can view it. Until then, I hope everyone is looking forwards to the ceremony.

Will Pulp Fiction Make a Comeback?

2009-01-20T13:32:00.004-05:00

The other day, an interesting thought entered my mind. I got into a discussion with my family about Pulp Fiction. I didn't understand its definition. Since I now understand a little bit more about it I'll try to explain it as clearly as I can.

In the old days, Pulp Fiction was the name given to certain types of stories published in a journal called Pulp Magazine. It's like a genre, but not a pure one. They were usually about crimes, science fiction or fantasy. But they were very cheesy adventure stories about heroes and villains. When reading them, you had to suspend a lot of disbelief. Either the villains were ridiculous or the mythology was far-fetched. But people read this stuff before professional writers turned science fiction into what it is today. Although this definition probably doesn't make sense, you'd probably recagnize Pulp Fiction if you saw it.

The only modern day example of Pulp Fiction I know is 'Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow'. It's a cheesy type of movie that tried to immitate the style used in old Superman cartoons. Sadly... it was a box office failure, but you should watch it anyways for fun.

Now the main point of this discussion is why Pulp Fiction might have a chance at a comeback. Well... the United States is in economic trouble. (I won't get political.) But in the Great Depression, people believed movies were the only business that couldn't be hurt by depressions. Even in those days, people were able to dig up money and go to the movies. Because of this country's economic troubles, it seems like history will repeat itself.

But why did the movie business survive in the Great Depression? Back then, movies were not as expensive. All the movie needed to gross was a few thousand dollars, and all their debts would be paid off. Today, Hollywood spends million of dollars every year to make summer blockbusters. Even in a depression, people will go to the movies but not as much. Hollywood will spend millions on one movie. But if a depression hits, that movie will only make a few thousand dollars in return. We might see the end of big budget films.

But Pulp Fiction is different. It can have a second rate story with some bland visual effects. But it can still be critically and commercially successful. Such movies can be made with low budgets and new-coming actors. But since they're so cheap they don't need to make as much money as blockbusters in the theater.

Pulp Fiction is also an escape genre. It's about heroes who escape reality and fight battles that can't possibly happen in real life. These are the kinds of stories people love to read and watch; especially in a depression. Superman was popular in the 30s, because our country was in trouble and everyone wanted a hero. Superman was that hero.

Like I said, our country might be heading for some tough ecomonic times. That's why I believe writers and film-makers will reboot Pulp Fiction. But that doesn't change anything... Pulp Fiction is the father of all blockbusters. Meaning, we will have the same type of movies every summer, but not the exact same type.

9: Nine Ways to Kill a Cat Robot

2009-01-18T16:01:00.005-05:00

Back in 2005, an award winning short film called '9' was released. It was a CGI cartoon directed by a newcomer named Shane Acker. His finished film was so good, it was nominated for an Oscar. But since it's release, he hasn't planned on stopping there.

Somewhere in 2009, he plans to release a full-length version of his short. Shane Acker will give his film the same name. But, he will have voice actors this time around (his original short has no voices).

Now... for the shocking part, Shane Acker will not be doing this film alone. The film will be produced by Timur Bekmambetov and Tim Burton. Tim Burton is known for his dark stories about missunderstood characters, and he's the right person for this film.

The voice actors will be listed in order.

1: Christopher Plummer
2: Martin Landau
3: (unknown)
4: (unknown)
5: John C. Reilly
6: Crispin Glover
7: Jennifer Connelly
8: (unknown)
9: Elijah Wood

As for the story, it's about the post-apocalype. When the humans die (for some unknown reason), one scientist creates new life forms. They are sack dolls numbered 1 to 9, and they are the legacy of humanity. They are the only remaining peices of human civilization, and all their good memories are carried by these creatures. But they are continiously on the run from some other life forms that were created as well. The character 9, in particular, has some leader-like qualities that set him apart from the others.

The story sounds promising enough. A trailer for the movie can be seen here (imdb). Having seen the original short, I can tell the animation style in this trailer looks the same. But can an award winning short become a feature film? I can not recall a time when a director attempted this, but it's possible Shane Acker can do it. It will be released September 9th, and will most likely have a PG rating. But since this movie won't be completely identical to the short film, it might be bumped to PG-13.

Doctor Who: Taking Doctors to New Heights

2009-01-12T21:27:00.011-05:00

As all Doctor Who fans should be well aware, David Tennant is leaving. Doctor Who is the only British television program that can best Star Trek. It is known for it's creative stories and impressive visual effects. Doctor Who is more popular in Britain than The X-Files in America.

Now, the central character in Doctor Who is the mysterious alien being known as, The Doctor. He's a very popular, but strange character. Throughout the life of this long running show, ten actors have played his character.

For a little biology, I'll tell you what the Doctor does. After the departure of the first actor in 1986, BBC needed a new actor and needed a way to tie him in. As it turns out, The Doctor has the ability to regenerate himself after every near-death experience. As he does, he gets a new personality and a new appearance. Ten different versions of him have come and gone... and an eleventh is soon on the way.

David Tennant (the current Doctor) enjoyed his stay on the Doctor Who show, but is interested in pursuing other roles. In his place, BBC was hard at work looking for a new actor. To everyone's delight, it will be Matt Smith. Quite ironically, he is ten years younger than David Tennant. He is 26 years old and will be the youngest Doctor so far.

The fanbase was torn in half because of him. Some believe Matt Smith is too young to portray the Doctor. Of course, being young doesn't mean he's inexperienced. The show's producers, meanwhile, believe Matt is perfect. Doctor Who is a very complex character, and they believe Matt is what they are looking for. A fair share of fans support him.

Whether Matt Smith is the right person for the role can only be told in time. But strangely, if the BBC doesn't start making him older, a teenager will have to play the twelfth doctor. But we have till 2010 before Matt is on the air, so we have all the time we need to prepare for his arrival.

Halo Wars: The Continuing Adventures...

2009-01-06T21:34:00.004-05:00

HAPPY 50th POST

I have been trying to think of something to say for post number 50. Well... I have a few good ideas but I didn't know enough about any to make a 'real' post. I wanted it to be something shocking and unexpected. Maybe I'll do them later. So instead, I decided to make a post about one of the most anticipated games coming out. Halo Wars...

As I've mentioned in a previous article, it will be a real-time-strategy (RTS) game that takes place in the Halo universe. Anybody unfamiliar with Halo needs to get back to their homework. So far, there have been few details released about the story. It takes place about 20 years before the first Halo game (making it a prequel). New character include a captain named James Cutter, and a new AI named Serina. There will also be a Covenant Arbiter, and one familiar character, the Prophet of Regret.

The developers of the game are the famous, Ensemble Studios. Their previous Age of Empires games were critically acclaimed because of the enemy's intellegant AI and engaging gameplay. As well as gameplay, the series is also good for multiplayers because of their random map creator that makes maps in seconds. I'm not saying Halo Wars will have this stuff. I'm just saying that we have our expectations when it comes to Ensemble.

Although you may be disappointed, the Flood aliens will not appear in the game. The designers decided that it was too hard to balance their power against the other races. Since they are such an overpowering race, it would be hard to make a real battle against them. Technically... it should be a good thing that the Flood don't appear. They were never seen before the events of the first game. Since Halo Wars is a prequel, they would have been breaking continuity if they appeared.

The real question on everyone's minds is this. 'Will Halo fans play this game'? Obviously, Halo and Halo Wars are two different kinds of games. Even so, it's worked its way on many lists, including IGN, Next Generation Magazine and PC World. All of them are expecting this game to be a success.

As a bonus, Ensemble Studios is giving all the Halo fans a special downloadable Warthog vehicle if they pre-order the game. But... DON'T BUY IT JUST YET! Even though you'll get the extra Warthog, that's still no reason to buy the game. If the game turns out to be bad, it won't matter. Ensemble Studios will still get their millions of dollars. If you want my advise, wait until the critics have got an oppinion. Then, pre-order the game the moment the critics say it is good enough.

In North America, Halo Wars will be released March 3, 2009. It will be rated T (which is a relief, compared to the rest of the series). It will be released for the Xbox 360, but sadly, no PC version has been announced. Since this is Ensemble Studio's last project, I'll bet they're doing an good job. They are the kind of company who would like to leave with a bang. If there's one game to look forwards to, it's Halo Wars.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine: Climbing Down One Story

2008-12-31T23:13:00.005-05:00

The latest release in the X-Men film franchise is soon coming. X-Men Origins: Wolverine, is scheduled to be released on April 30, 2009. But is it worth any hype?

This X-Men movie isn't going to be a sequel. Instead, it will be a prequel to the X-Men movies, and will be about Wolverine's origins. After fighting in wars and surviving, he joins a team of mutants who are bent on evil. This story sounds nice on paper, but not to me personally.

First of all, Wolverine's story starts in the first X-Men movie when he found Rough and hit a tree with his truck. The reason Wolverine is such a good character is because of his own mysteriousness. Through the film series, he discovers more and more about himself. As he does, he develops into a better human being.

But if X-Men Origins: Wolverine gives away the whole back story, how can Wolverine continue to develop? In X-Men 4, the audience will know more about Wolverine than he 'himself' does. It will be impossible for the audience to develop with his character.

Anyways, the audience already knows the ending to this new X-Men movie. Wolverine will have to fight the bad guys, but will loose his memory and friends in the end. The hard part... is every plot twist in between. All in all, this movie looks like it will not deliver a story. Unless the writers, directors and producers have a magic touch, this will be difficult movie to make enjoyable.

Dragonball Evolution: Unleash... Trailer WAVE!!!

2008-12-28T15:02:00.003-05:00

The new upcoming Dragonball movie might have some eager fans drumming their fingers impatiently. Just recently, a trailer was released and can be seen here (official website). Judging from what we know, it looks like a blockbuster for certain. If this trailer hits every T.V. than there's nothing that's going to keep fans out of the theaters.

Even so, there's no telling what kind of movie it will be. The many dragonball series's are more like repetative video games. To some, that's fine. However, video game 'movies' have been known to be terrible. Anybody who's watched an Uwe Boll film knows. Dragonball is the kind of series that could turn into the same kind of disaster. But, since Dragonball isn't an Uwe Boll film, than there's hope.

On the downside, the movie might get carried away and look like an expensive high-school project. The people who create that kind of stuff won't have trouble finding an audience with this movie. But, there's always a chance it will be a pleasant surprise. Batman Begins was a nice twist on the Batman franchise when it was released in 2005. If the filmmakers want to win critic's approval, than this Dragonball movie might provide the same twist the series could use.

As far as everything else in the trailer goes, it looks interesting. But... there's a catch. I don't know about you, but the world does not remind me of Dragonball. I've seen several episodes from the original series, and the only thing about the trailers that looks familiar are the dragon balls and costumes. Oh well...

The Golden Raspberry Awards: Oh... Please Win

2008-12-21T13:03:00.004-05:00

Who here knows about The Golden Raspberry Awards? If you are a serious movie goer (or you simply hate movies) than these are the awards you need to know about.

Golden Raspberrys (often called Razzies) are a parody of the Academy Awards. Instead of going to good movies, the Razzies go to bad movies. The trophey is a plastic raspberry painted gold. Very rarely do actors 'personally' accept them.

So far, one of the only movies that has my attention, is The Day the Earth Stood Still. This Sci-Fi film should win this years award for 'Worst Remake or Ripoff'. Keanu Reeves, who starred in it, will probably win 'Worst Actor'. However, it isn't certain if his acting is good or bad yet.

If anybody has a recommendation, I'd love to hear what movies should win this year. Please comment.

Delgo: Sorry, I Was Wrong

2008-12-21T12:17:00.002-05:00

Delgo was one movie I was seriously hoping would be good. However, it seems like critics have gone in favor against it.

On Rottentomatoes.com, the films scored a 13%. That is bad... even for a bad movie. The only film I remember seeing with such a score was Eragon. Apparently, the critics believe the story was weaker, more like a Star Wars spinoff, and the animation was outdated. (That's surprising, considering the impressive trailers). Many of them agree that the movie is too violent for kids, and the Shrek-like humor isn't clever enough for adults.

If you've taken them seriously, you'll be glad to know the movie is gone. It's a box-office bomb, earning about $500,000 its first day. Most movies expect to earn millions at first. But Delgo's very limited release has caused it to fail (about two people per theater).

To sum it up, I guess it was a film worth looking forwards to. But it seems like it didn't live up to its promises. Even though it's probably not at your local theater, I'll inform you anyways. It's probably a film not worth watching. It depends...

Astro Boy: Premier

2008-12-17T11:22:00.003-05:00

Astro Boy is a long-running manga series that practically created anime. Originally, Astro Boy was thought up in the mid 60s and was soon adapted into a popular animated series. By today's standards, he might be outdated, but somebody else doesn't think so.

The story behind Astro Boy is a long and emotional one. It's about a scientist in the future who lost a son to an accident. He frantically went to work, creating a robotic boy who is supposed to be his new son. He made Astro Boy. But as good as Astro was, he didn't age or appreciate natural beauty. He enjoyed things that were straight forwards, like cubes and such.

Eventually, the scientist abandoned Astro Boy. The super-powerful robotic child then went around, saving people from danger and vanquishing evil.

Now that you seem to understand, let's cut to the chase. In 2009, a completely computer animated Astro Boy movie will be produced! Now... it's been about 60 to 70 years since Astro Boy was created. Is it possible to make such a movie?

Producing the movie will be Imagi Animation Studios. Founded in the year 2000, this company was first put on the map when they did the movie TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). Although the movie scored about 30% on Rottentomatoes.com, old fans were pleased. TMNT proved to be a good mix of villains with character driven elements. The audience who gave it half a chance was surprised.

Most importantly, TMNT proved to be a good reboot. It had the emotion and plot the turtles never had before. Will Astro Boy have the same thing? The back story is intriguing enough. With the right writer, the CGI movie might be a reboot as well.

However, the only way the audience will be driven to the theater is if this movie has something special. The actors brought in might be the insurance it needs. Freddie Highmore will play the lead role as Astro Boy himself. Freddie is the one child actor everyone needs to know about. He's established his career, with movies like, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Finding Neverland. He's critically praised for all his roles and hasn't yet stared in a rated R movie.

Along with him, other actors have been brought in you should know about. Nicholas Cage (from National Treasures), Bill Nighy (from Pirates of the Caribbean 2), Kristen Bell and Donald Sutherland (Keifer Sutherland's father) are all in this movie.

For the final installment of this post, I'll include the teaser trailer. It can be seen here. I don't normally say this, but this is a teaser trailer that was done right. It had that sweet sense of mystery at the beginning, and then it had the epic frenzy of adventure in the end. There was enough of Astro Boy in it, and the animation itself looked impressive. This is one of the best teaser trailers I've ever seen.

Whether Astro Boy proves to be a reboot, remains unknown. It's promising, but only time can tell if it delivers what it's shown us so far. Hopefully, it will be one of the few non-Pixar cartoons that will be worthwhile. If not, it will be the same cheesy thing with good actors who couldn't save it.

The Trailer Park: Part I

2008-12-14T10:28:00.013-05:00

This is a list of the newest and greatest trailers for the movies we should keep track of. These are listed, along with a paragraph about why the movie will be bad or good.

The Tale of Despereaux (msn.com)

The Tale of Despereaux (pronounced: Des-per-o) looks like a promising movie. Based on an award winning children's book, the movie could be an award winner too if the studio hasn't changed it too much. It's rated G, but might be a bit perilous for young children, the same way Bolt was. All in all, it seems like there's little reason to avoid this movie, so we shouldn't be too worried.

Monsters Vs. Aliens (imdb.com)

With an all-star cast, what more could you want? The trailer seems to portray Monsters Vs. Aliens as a spoof, rather than something to be taken seriously (normal blockbuster). Chances are, it won't be a good movie, but not a bad one. Without the all-star cast (including Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett and Kiefer Sutherland) the movie would probably fail in the box office. It might be a good movie if you want one or two good laughs.

Bedtime Stories (msn.com)

The problem with Bedtime Stories, is that it's portrayed the same way other family films are. It's about one supernatural event that happens without explanation. This has been used in Groundhog Day, Scrooged, Click and Dr. DoLittle (Eddie Murphy version). What will Bedtime Stories have that other family films don't? To top that, Adam Sandler might be the wrong actor for the job, since his career is now based on typecasting. Bedtime Stories will definitely not make a solid five star on any website around.

Inkheart (msn.com)

This movie might be alright. Inkheart is based on a bestseller by Cornelia Funke. Previously, one of her books called The Theif Lord was turned successfully into a movie. Inkheart might be the first fantasy blockbuster of 2009. However, readers might see a lot of plot details in the trailer that were not in the book. The movie could be better or worse than the book, depending on how devoted the creators were to the story. But Inkheart does look promising.

Coraline (msn.com)

Coraline seems unusual. With strange character designs and a story that would be freaky for young children, why would you want to watch it? Well... it definitely won't be a film for everyone. But, it looks like a story with a Tim Burton likeness. It's directed by Henry Selick, who did James and the Giant Peach and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Whoever enjoyed those might enjoy this. But only time can tell if its a good story... or simply too freaky for even adults.

The Pink Panther 2 (imdb.com)

Loyal fans of the Pink Panther series believe that the series should have ended after Peter Seller's death. But that did not stop Steve Martin from stepping into Inspector Clouseau's shoes. Now, the sequel to the 2006 film is scheduled to be released in February 6, 2009. But the trailer was filled with slapstick that is far-fetched, even for the Pink Panther series. Unless the writers are careful, loyal fans will pan this movie too.

Star Trek (msn.com)

Knowing J.J. Abrams, he will change Star Trek into a show with more complicated characters and intriguing stories. On the downside, you can tell the movie will not pay much tribute to fans. Unless fans are willing to adjust, this movie will need to create a fanbase seperate from the rest of the franchise. People who were never Star Trek fans might come forwards and enjoy the movie. From the looks of things, that seems to be the direction the movie will be taking.

UP (msn.com)

Pixar's next computer animated cartoon is sure to be a hit. The company's devotion to 'good' movies keeps them afloat. From the trailer, you can tell they've come a long way from Toy Story. What could a story about a floating house be about? That's the same question people asked about Cars and Ratatouille. Knowing Pixar, none of the material in the teaser trailer will be in the actual movie. It's a tradition the company has.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (msn.com)

As the movies grow older, so do the actors. How you like the sixth Harry Potter movie depends on how much you liked the previous films. The movies keep getting darker and darker and darker. There is a point when it's not a kid's story anymore. Each director has his own style of filming. Each movie feels and looks different, as apposed to the books. Thankfully, the director of the previous movie, David Yates, is returning. All in all, Harry Potter 6 will probably be devoted to the movie fans, instead of the book fans.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (imdb.com)

Ice Age will definitely not be an award winner. For some reason, the first thing the studio thinks about is beating up a poor little squirrel. I'm not complaining. But the story's goal is obviously the humor and not the drama. Oh... and another thing. Dinosaurs came BEFORE the Ice Age. That's another obvious flaw. The story will not be serious or realistic, you can tell.

Astro Boy (imdb.com)

This teaser trailer was very well done. For one thing, it turned the classical anime character into something that looks completely revolutionary. This movie, quite possibly, will reboot Astro Boy with good action and an emotionally driven story. However, there is every chance it will be bad. Even so... the movie will have a hard time finding an audience, even if it's good. If future trailers are as good as this one, Astro Boy might be a success after all.

Delgo: More Reasons to See It!

2008-12-11T09:06:00.004-05:00

Delgo is the brand new completely CGI movie, scheduled to be released tomorrow (December 12, 2008). It is rated PG for fantasy violence.

You may be surprised to know, that Delgo is an independant movie. To those who don't know what an independant movie is, I'll try to make a short and simply definition. They are basically films that aren't made with the help of a large studio. They are made with the money taken from the director's own pocket, or the money from their privately owned basement studio.

Independant films often get better reviews by critics. Movie studios release the films in theaters because they are the ones that get awards. However, they made less money than blockbusters. Very rarely is there an independant blockbuster film. Star Wars and Indiana Jones are two of the only examples.

Back in 1999, the two creators of Delgo wanted to make a movie that wasn't about talking animals, but not a comedy. That idea eventually led up to the movie we now see. Artists from the Jim Henson Creature Shop were hired to do some concept art.

Since Delgo seemed to be going somewhere, the creators next turned to animators. Since most of them had been hired by large studios, the creators hired a team of six video game animators to do the movie. Normally, this would be a strange decision. The Myst game series needed to hire extra people because their video game animators had no experience with rendering (which normal video games don't often need).

However, the rendering is looking fine with the Delgo movie. After a decade, it seems like the movie might be shaping up. A bunch of pre-teens were brought in to see the movie before release. In the end, they were asking about a Delgo 2 and were all rushing to get their free movie poster.

On the downside, the film holds a score of 0% on Rottentomatoes.com. Five critics have posted reviews (incuding two 'top critics'). Since the film hasn't been released, it's likely the critics dislike it for a personal reason. Posting reviews before the release date is often disliked by the readers. When the movie's released tomorrow, I think Delgo with get a more definite score on Rottentomatoes.

Delgo might be the last animated film this year that has potential. I think it will be everything you expected it. But, being an Independant film, I doubt it will make more money than Pixar or Dinsey. Still... only time can tell.

The Princess and the Frog: Premier

2008-12-04T22:50:00.003-05:00

Over the past few years, Disney seems to have grown less creative. Although their name is still embedded in our culture, everyone is starting to turn to Pixar for good movies. Disney, however, is a coin flip. You'll never be certain whether the movie is classical or down-right time wasting until you see it.

The Princess and the Frog has some promising points, however. Back in 2004, Disney released a flop, Home on the Range. After that disaster, Disney announced it wouldn't make another 2D cartoon. After Pixar was bought by Dinsey, John Lasseter planned to change that.

John Lasseter had plans to adapt The Princess and the Frog. He turned to Ron Clements and John Musker to direct the film. Both guys were good choices, because they have worked on some of Disney's modern classics, like Aladdin and The Little Mermaid. Clements and Musker took on the project, and John Lasseter let them choose whether to do the movie in CGI or traditional animation. Both men choose traditional animation.

The Princess and the Frog doesn't stop there, however. Randy Newman has signed on to do the music for the movie. Instead of a modern feel, he and the directors are striving for a classic Broadway feel, similar to Walt Disney's old style. If there's one thing we know, Randy Newman is a dependable person... and a bit quirky too. He has successfully done many Pixar cartoons (among other things), and was nominated Oscars for 15 straight years without winning a single one. He finally won an Oscar on his 16th year for his music in Monsters Inc. It was actually a bit depressing...

As well as directors, producers and composers, the voice actors are also intersting. Anika Noni Rose (a stage and film actress) will play the main heroine of the story. Alongside her is Oprah Winfrey, a popular talk show host. And also, Keith David (best known for providing The Abiter's voice in the popular Halo series) will lend his voice.

It seems like The Princess and the Frog is a very promising film. Being a romantic film, I know there are a lot of kids sticking their tongues out in disgust. However, it's better to see a classic than another box office flop. The film will be released in December next year.

Hollywood Has A Lucky Break

2008-12-04T22:15:00.005-05:00

Nobody makes movies worse than Uwe Boll. This infamous German filmmaker is responsible for the creation of many video game movies. Not the kind you like... Uwe Boll has turned recagnizable titles and made them some of Rotten Tomatoes lowest rated films.

Un-popular titles include, In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale, BloodRayne, Alone in the Dark and House of the Dead. Even though many of the video games were bloody to begin with, he still managed to make them more inappropriate. At least some game designers had the sense to stay away from him, like the creators of Metal Gear Solid who did not want a movie adaption.

The sad part is, Uwe Boll tells people he believes his movies are good. Being based on video games, he believes he has a better idea of what makes a good movie and what doesn't. He also believes critics are purposefully biased against him; saying they envy his position in Hollywood. However, there are conspiracy theorists who believe he makes money the worse his films are.

Uwe Boll is one director not worth noting. But thankfully, he has agreed to retire if one million people will sign their signiture's to him over the email. With any luck, Uwe Boll will be gone from Hollywood in no time.

Two Ghostbusters Are Better Than One

2008-12-04T19:37:00.004-05:00

Earlier, I mentioned that a Ghostbusters game was in the making. It's still coming. Although a release date have not been determinted, it will likely be somewhere this summer in 2009.

The same lovable cast is returning. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson have all sighed on to lend their voices. Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis both worked on the story, and the game is supposed to be the third official installment to the Ghostbuster's story. However, there is one minor flaw in that equation.

Dan Aykroyd has announced a completely computer animated Ghostbusters movie is in the making. Being computer animated, Aykroyd expects the film to be cheaper and easier to create. He said that the story will be about the Ghostbusters going into an alternate demension, where New York is controlled by demons.

Harold Ramis was immediatly attatched to the Ghostbusters 3 project. However, Bill Murray said he was not interested in sequels. (Strangely, that did not stop him from making Ghostbusters II and Garfield 2.) Without Murray, the writers said Ben Stiller might be a stand in character. After some consideration, however, Murray says he might appear in the movie anyways.

Jason Reitman was chosen as a possible director. Being the son of the original Ghostbusters director, he was a likely chose. However, he says he'd make the movie boring because his previous films are not the right type of action flicks. He does drama films, unlike his father. At least Jason was honest when he admitted he couldn't do it.

The film is at its early stage of production. From best guess, it seems to have gone from pre-production to production. The release date is not certain, but will likely be somewhere in 2010.

Murray, Aykroyd, Ramis and Hudson seem like a cast of characters who can't get away from ghosts, no matter how old they are. Even though it's been about fifteen years since the last Ghostbusters, we've got a video game and a possible movie to prove if they're still live. If we're wrong (which I hope we're not) then the game and movie are only haunting ghosts of the past.

The Upcoming 2009 Oscars

2008-12-02T18:35:00.002-05:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Last November, I was on a role, posting at least one blog article a day. The movies, books and games have been a bit quiet recently, so I haven't found much to write about. I'm also dealing with the computer, which has crashed. I'm adjusting to the other one brought out of the basement.

Just for fun, I going to make this short post about some 2008 films that will likely appear in the Oscar Awards ceremony this February. (Nothing about this is official.)

For Best Picture award, I'm not sure who will be nominated. Usually, this award is reserved for dramas. However, The Dark Knight will likely appear. It was filled with good actors and scored over 90% positive on Rottentomatoes.com.

As for Best Actor, I know there is one person we're looking at. Heath Ledger, who played the Joker in The Dark Knight. His voice and appearance came unexpectedly, even to the director himself. But, Heath died just after production. Only one person has won an Oscar after he died. Will Heath be the second?

At this point, you're probably asking if I'm going to mention anything other than The Dark Knight. As a matter of fact, I am. John Williams is a world famous composer who wrote music for many Steven Spielberg movies. He (you guessed it) wrote the theme song for Indiana Jones. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull probably got him some attention. John Williams has been nominated Oscars and Grammies for almost every movie he's ever done. It's likely he will appear in this Oscar ceremony too.

As for Best Animated Feature, I think there are a few cartoons we can count on. The problem was, trying to find them. I think it will be narrowed down to Wall-E, Bolt and Delgo. This is speculation, however. But I know they will at least be considered.

As for Best Visual Effects (I can tell you've got a recommendation), there are a few films worth noting. Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Hellboy II, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Iron Man and The Spiderwick Chronicles are all good suggestions. However, The Dark Knight would probably not be nominated, because it uses stuntmen and camera angles (which don't normally get a film nominated for this award.)

This sums up a 'fun' article. Hopefully, there will be a way to view the Oscars on the internet (I don't have cable). But I know there will be a lot of people waiting to see this years awards handed out.

The Three Stooges: Is It A Movie We Need... Or Want?

2008-11-28T17:30:00.003-05:00

Slapstick is the heart of American culture. And nobody has proven that better than The Three Stooges. This trio has proven how slapstick can be funny, yet artistic at the same time. Back in the days of black and white television, all actors needed something iconic that set them apart from the rest. Who was more iconic that the stooges...?

Rumor has it, that a Three Stooges movie was in the making. However, so much has been said these past few years, many people dismissed it after a while. A script was written by the Farrelly Brothers and it has been turned down for (literally) 10 years. But, they have not given up.

The Farrelly Brothers believe that if they can get their script off the ground, they want the movie released in November next year. However, it will not be a 'movie'. The brothers said it would be a collection of three shorts with a little more heart than original show. But... what's in it for kids?

Anybody who knows the Farrelly Brothers knows the kind of humor they're into. They first became famous for writing Dumb and Dumber. The two writers make people laugh, but not in an appropriate way. It's possible they have polluted their Three Stooges script with sick humor, but nobody knows. However (optimistically speaking) they might have toned down the sick humor.

Other people have tried bringing old television shows to the big screen. Leave It To Beaver and The Honeymooners were both disliked by old fans of the original shows. There’s a good chance The Three Stooges Movie will be the same.

But, the best we can do is keep our fingers crossed and give the Farrelly Brothers a shadow of a doubt. If they prove The Three Stooges are not dead, they could change the way we see comedies. But we’ll have to wait till next November before we get a solid answer.

Mirror's Edge: It lives on...

2008-11-27T21:25:00.005-05:00

Mirror's Edge is doing as successful as many critics probably expected. They believe the 3D running game has taken off, with its original gameplay and design. However, just because it's released does not mean that it's over. A completely new franshice has just been created.

A while before Mirror's Edge's release, EA sighed a contract with a legendary independant game designer. Brad Borne, himself, has agreed to make a 2D Flash version of Mirror's Edge. Borne is a moderatly famous internet game designer, most famous for his Fancy Pants Adventure games. His passion for independant games and kid friendly humor make him perfect for the project. Even more surprising... he works by himself. He animates, programs and designs his games without help from others. He is like a walking 2D game encyclopedia.

But how could Brad Borne make a Mirror's Edge game by himself? Well... his Fancy Pants Adventure games speak for themselves. Borne programmed physics into the game that would be similar to what Mirror's Edge requires. Also, I, Stancet, have played the Betta test Brad has posted on his website. Although the controls were hard to get used to, everything about it resembled Mirror's Edge.

Brad Borne has likely found a new project that will be worth his time and effort. But, I want to encourage you to research this yourself, so you'll know whether it's worth playing or not. To play the Fancy Pants Adventure games, click here for Game 1 and Game 2. Click Here for Brad Bourne's official website.

A Happy Thanksgiving Reminder

2008-11-27T09:41:00.005-05:00

I don't believe a lot of people read this blog. That's fine... Mostly, talking about entertainment is a hobby of mind and writing it down is a way to tell people about it. Maybe one day, I'd like to be the Rush Limbaugh of entertainment but I'd always like to consider it a hobby.

I want to remind people that I'm not telling people what to buy and not buy. I'm trying to promote awareness. If people are encouraged to research and find out my facts for themselves, they could create a more valid opinion. I want to encourage people by telling them as much as I know.

However, I'd like to see some valid debate. If you believe you have an idea that agrees or disagrees with my opinions, then don't hesitate to post. I look forward to it. Knowing that people care about movies, games and books, means I am being successful to encourage you all.

Please know, that I don't want to encourage anger. I want this to be a very optimistic blog that's clean of swearing and other inappropriate references. I'd like everyone's opinions to be valid and encouraging, and not demanding or hurtful. Stancet's Entertainment Talk should always remain a place for families and friends who want to know what to look forwards to every holiday season.

Feel free to post if you believe you have something to say. Please be encouraging to people if you do, but have fun doing it too. And have a happy Thanksgiving. Thank you for reading.

The Legend of Spyro Movie: Premier

2008-11-26T16:18:00.012-05:00

Does the Legend of Spyro trilogy have a shot at the big screen? That's the question every video game nerd has asked since the very first game-based-movie. From House of the Dead to Super Mario Bros. video game movies have been flops with little creative genius behind them. But does Spyro have a chance where the others have failed?

Recently, Spyro has just been finishing up his lastest video game (whose picture is up above). Although they say it wasn't as good as previous PlayStation games, reviewers thought it was acceptable enough. More impressive, are the voices used in the past trilogy of games. Elijah Wood played Spyro and Gary Oldman played Ignitus (a father figure to Spyro). Just so you're not in the dark, I'll include some of the Spyro story. Basically, the Legend of Spyro trilogy is about this 'Dark Master' who wants to rise to power and conquor the land. However, prophesy says that a purple dragon would be born and be destined to fight him. Spyro is unaware, since he was raised safely. But, when he learns who he is, he tries to overcome his feelings and be prepared for the battle that lays ahead for him.

It wasn't mentioned of the Legend of Spyro movie would be basesd on the game or be a sequel. The announcement of a movie was made quite recently, so I can't give too much information about it. But, it will likely be produced by Universal Studios. Whether Elijah Wood and Gary Oldman will reprise their roles are unknown. However, there is some good news. The movie will be a completely CGI cartoon. This means there's hope for the movie, since other video game movies were all live-action. Being a cartoon might get it some attention.

On the downside, it will be produced by John Davis; who has done many Eddie Murphy flops. Whether he can create a cartoon is unknown. Even though producers don't have creative influence, John Davis could still cause trouble if he's only interested in money.

That's as much as I can explain, but hopefully, more information about the film will come soon.

Delgo: Premier

2008-11-25T14:23:00.002-05:00

Of all the movies one could make, why hasn't the fantasy genre entered Hollywood the same why drama films have. All the major blockbusters are unoriginal adaptions from books or video games. All other successful movies are either about criminals, conspiracy, justice and every other form of political drama one can think of.

But, one film called Delgo has pushed its way forwards. It is a completely CGI cartoon about two races who are seperated by fear. But, a hero named Delgo befriends a lady from the opposing race. It's a traditional Romeo and Juliet story. Could this be the first High Fantasy cartoon in recent years to be successful?

It is set for release on December 12th, 2008. It was given a PG rating for fantasy violence. The loving couple will be played by Freddie Prinze Jr and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Additional cast members include Anne Bancroft (who died in 2005), Chris Kattan, Val Kilmer, Malcolm McDowell and Burt Reynolds. Anyone who enjoys movies most likely recagnizes one of these guys for some crowning achievment.

Delgo will be the first movie released by a new company called Fathom Studios. The movie itself was in production since 1998. After a decade, production is finished and has already recieved a few awards. It has even been considered for the 2008 Oscar Awards. Wow...

Delgo looks like a movie worth looking into. With about half a month till its release, there's plenty of time for it to get a fanbase.

Star Trek: Premier

2008-11-25T09:57:00.006-05:00

Now is the time to introduce the movie that will catch some people off guard. Star Trek! After so many years of television and movie making, why haven't all the show's creator's given up? The new movie is set to be released on May 8th, 2009. But who thinks it will be worth a movie ticket?

The recently released trailer may catch some people's attention. You can see the offical trailer here. (Warning: contains some violence, scary images and mild seggestive scenes. It's PG-13 material.)

If you've seen it, you probably have a good idea what is in store here. It's filled with cast members you've probably never heard of before. But... it will be produced by J. J. Abrams. He is a key person from the Bad Robot company, and the creator of the legendary T.V. show Lost. He has a passion for complex characters and intriguing plots.

Star Trek could certainly use a person like him. The shows were all very simple minded without any complex characters or moral decisions. If you know J. J. Abrams, you know that he will change Star Trek to suit 'his' type of story telling in his upcoming movie. But... what is in it for old fans? The new movie might not pay homage to tradition, but only time can tell.

The film is not yet rated. Considering the dark portrayal the trailer gave us, it remains uncertain if this blog can continue to support this movie. The more we keep up-to-date, the better we'll be prepared.

Bolt: "LET IT BEGIN!!!"

2008-11-24T14:04:00.003-05:00

This week, the awaited CGI Disney cartoon, Bolt, has been released in theaters. At the box office, it ranked third. The two films that have out-grossed it are Twilight (that earned $70 million) and Quantum of Solace (that earned $27 million). But Bolt is the highest grossing children's film this week (taking $27 million, but not quite as much as Quantum of Solace). Is it worth watching?

MSN seems to believe the film is a bit too perilous for young kids to see. The story itself is simple minded, but they found it cute and charming. But they believe it was rated PG for a reason. Meanwhile, the 102 reviews that were posted on Rottentomatoes were generally positive. The films has scored 84 percent out of 100. Usually, a score like that means the movie is good but only one step below profection. The good visuals and likable characters seem to be the movie's greatest strengths.

To sum it up, it looks like it's worth a trip to the theater. For a non-Pixar computer animated cartoon, it seems good. If positive reviews keep coming, it might be a box office winner.

In other news, a Bolt game was released. However, it seems to have gotten a very low level of success. It was released on almost all platforms, including mobile phone, but nobody's been paying much attention to it.

Mirror's Edge: Now You May Step Close

2008-11-23T17:26:00.003-05:00

Mirror's Edge is that new and intriguing game the whole world has been patiently waiting for. It has finally been released, and the time for trial is over. But is it worth buying. Many have been just as nervous about it because of its uniqueness. The only sources we can turn to are the reviews.

GameSpot liked the original look and play of the game. However, they believed that there was a huge amount of trial and error that was inexcusable. Often there's an inconvenient obstacle that gets in your way when you don't see it. Gamezone enjoyed the new gameplay elements. However, websites like Gametrailers criticized the story because it was told in a cartoon-like format. There was no excuse for telling the story in cartoon format when the rest of the game focused on realism.

All in all, Mirror's Edge seems to work about as well as one might expect. It's more of an experimental game. Despite the flaws it may have, it seems worthy to be bought. All we can hope is that it paved the way for new and greater things to come.

Doctor Who: We Will Miss You David Tennant

2008-11-18T18:26:00.003-05:00

It was announced a while ago that David Tennant would be leaving the popular British T.V. show Doctor Who. It is the single longest running SciFi series in history. The popular BBC program is about a time-traveling alien who fixes problems in history. It has run since 1963 (with a brief break before 2005). Ten actors have played the hero, known only as The Doctor. David Tennant has portrayed this character since 2006 but has grown tired and wants to respectively leave his role. Leaving isn’t too big a problem, but who will be the next actor to play The Doctor?

Rumor has it, David Morrissey will play the next Doctor. An upcoming episode called 'The Next Doctor' almost confirms it. Some believe he could be the right man for the job. However, a few crew members are worried that he will leave the show very soon after starting it (like Christopher Eccleston). But until anything official is released, nobody can specify who Doctor number 11 will be.

House: Reviews

2008-11-18T17:37:00.003-05:00

There has been some debate about the new Christian horror flick, House. Released on November 7th, 2008, this film had some people looking, but not enough. Was it worth going to the theater to see?

...Probably no. Currently, on Rottentomatoes.com, the movie scored a zero percent. That is a very rare score, but only nine critics reviewed it. Even Christianity Today has said the film is below expectations. Many agree the films draws too many elemants from previous films and wasn't constructed like a true horror film should be.

The film is rated R, but very little of it is said to be deserving of it. There is very little swearing and blood with no nudity and gore. To top it all off, it wasn't constructed like a real horror film and a rated R audience wouldn't really be afraid.

To sum it up, House looks like a film somebody 'might' enjoy. But your money would probably be spent better if it were rented on DVD instead of paying a full five dollars a ticket.

Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts

2008-11-12T20:49:00.003-05:00

Much debate has been going on over the newest Banjo Kazooie game. It's been eight years since the release of Rare's last game in the series, but they're excited about this next release. It was set in stores November 11th, and will arrive in Europe and Australia on the 14th and 20th; respectively. The new gimmick behind this game is the customizable vehicles one can create in the game. Is this new twist in the series worthwhile?

Already, some reviews are coming in and are worth looking into. A website called Telegraph.co.uk said that the game was good because of the new twist. When building your own vehicles in the game, they said it was simple enough; like snapping Lego bricks. However, they said you weren't encouraged to continue making vehicles. After you get one that works, there aren't a lot of activities that require you to build something unique. The website IGN said that the vehicles are difficult to build because you have to consider the center of gravity, weight distribution and general physics. Aside from design, building a working vehicle is really a chore. IGN also said that the classical platforming style of the game was underused and the story was merely an excuse for the game to begin.

It seems, at this early stage, the game is suffering from triquel disease. The third movie/game is usually the worst in any given series. It's early to be predicting how this game will turn out, since more reviews must come out first. However, Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts seems to have replaced the charm of the original Nintendo 64 series, and replaced it with something unfamiliar.

Premier: Doctor Who

2008-11-11T18:02:00.002-05:00

Doctor Who is the single television series you should know about if you know anything about British pop-culture. When you think of Britain, what types of entertainment do you think about? Aside from Harry Potter, the stories conceived in Britain are famous for their intellectual nature, rather than fantasy or action. They are well known for their creative murder mysteries and cleverly written sitcoms. However, Doctor Who is one of the television programs that has broken away from this tradition.

Doctor Who was first created in 1963. If you know your timeline, you’ll recognize this period as the age of B-movies. The show was originally shot in black and white and was written the same was as a B-movie. However, it was critically acclaimed for its creative stories and low budget effects. Few people could complain.

The show’s central character was The Doctor. He was originally portrayed by William Hartnell. The Doctor was an alien life form who traveled through time in an advanced time machine called TARDIS. The TARDIS took The Doctor to strange places where he went through adventures in the future and past. Going through time, he corrected people’s problems and unraveled conspiracy theories. The show caught on and remained very popular.

However, in 1966, William Hartnell became tired of portraying The Doctor. He wanted to leave, so the writers had to quickly think of a way to change the actor and keep the character at the same time. In the end, they decided that The Doctor has the ability to survive near death experienced by changing his personality and appearance. Patrick Troughton assumed the role and the Doctor Who series continued. Eventually, he left and was replaced by Jon Pertwee. Then, The Doctor nearly died again and Jon was replaced by Tom Baker.

Tom Baker is said to be the best actor who portrayed The Doctor. He was the first who gave the character a quirkier and more interesting personality. The most popular Doctors were actually based on Tom Baker’s character.

After him, Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy all became The Doctor in turn. A total of seven actors played The Doctor, and each of them gave the character his own unique personality and appearance. The show ran all the way from 1963 to 1989.

The eighth Doctor was probably the most underused of them all. Portrayed by Paul McGann, he only appeared in a Doctor Who movie. After its release, however, the series was considered dead. Various attempts to revive the series failed, but not until 2005. The series was rebooted, with Christopher Eccleston playing the ninth Doctor.

Currently, this new series still runs and is worth looking into. The reboot had stories even more intriguing than before, with better visual effects and action scenes similar to an American blockbuster. The show is currently the longest running SciFi series in history (beating even Star Trek). Even though the humor is very bizarre, it is something one grows to enjoy.

However, Christopher Eccleston didn’t last. After one season of Doctor Who, he decided to leave so directors wouldn’t start typecasting him. The Doctor died a ninth time, and transformed yet again. Currently, The Doctor is being played by his tenth actor, David Tennant. His role is critically acclaimed and said to be even better than the fourth Doctor (Tom Baker).

This example of British culture is a great example of science fiction at its best. It will take a bit of getting used to, but it is worth watching after a while. Hopefully, this blog will keep you up to date about current Doctor Who events.

Jurassic Park IV

2008-11-11T13:39:00.002-05:00

Jurassic Park 4 is in serious production, but few details have been revealed at the moment. Since the movie is scheduled to be released some time in 2009 or 2010, nobody is expecting a lot of information at the minute. One actor who has our attention, is Jeff Goldblum.

Goldblum previously appeared in Jurassic Park 1 and 2. He is known for his funny and quirky character, Ian Malcolm. Malcolm was a mathematician who believed in Chaos Theory. He literally predicted the dinosaur's escape, but didn't think it would happen so soon. Through the two films, he finds a hero hidden in himself and found the strength to save the ones he cared about.

Having Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park IV would be priceless (if his character was written in a good way). Goldblum said it's possible he will appear, but he's currently busy with some of his own projects. However, he said he loves working with Steven Speilberg and had fun playing Malcolm. However, Speilberg will not be directing this movie; only producing it. Whether Goldblum will appear in this new Jurassic Park has yet to be determined.

The Inkhearts are Coming! The Inkhearts are Coming!

2008-10-25T10:54:00.002-04:00

Fantasy films are the real money makers now a days. Film makers like taking Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narinia and Harry Potter, and turning them into films for people to enjoy. But, they are so successful, film makers can't tell when they're doing something wrong. But now, there is a new film series coming into the game. Inkheart.

Inkheart is based on a popular series of children's books by Cornelia Funke. Although German, her books are starting to make an impression in other countries. Her works have been compared to J.K. Rowling and Roald Dahl. Her first movie, The Theif Lord, was successful amongst critics, and it's now time to see if Cornelia's second film adaption will be met the same way.

Inkheart is about a man named Mortimer (played by Brendan Fraser). He has the remarkable gift of magically summoning objects out of books. But, he accidentally summoned a villian out of a book who wants to watch the world burn. To stop him, Mortimer, his daughter named Meggie, and a fire eater named Dustfinger, must go on an adventure of epic proportions.

The Inkheart stories were create to hopefully promote the love of reading into children. Through the film, various references to classical stories can be found.

Brendan Fraser plays Mortimer. Everyone should know him from previous titles, like The Mummy and Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D. Eliza Bennett will play Meggie and Paul Bettany will play Dustfinger. Paul previously appeared as side characters in The da Vinci Code and Iron Man. Meanwhile, Andy Serkis will play the evil villain, Capricorn. Andy is famous for collaborations with Peter Jackson; playing both Gollum and King Kong. There's no better person for the villain than Serkis. And finally, the movie will be directed by Iain Softley, who has done a small variety of movies, including Skeleton Key and Hackers.

The film has been well recived by Cornelia Funke, but she mentioned that the writers keep changing things; including the ending. A trailer has recently been released. All in all, it looks good, but anyone who has read the book might notice some major plot changes. Only time can tell if the story is worth it.

The film will be released January 9th, 2009 and was rated PG by the MPAA. If all goes well, it could be another grand blockbuster to take the family to.

Don't Stand Too Close to Mirror's Edge

2008-10-03T16:32:00.002-04:00

Now a days, shooters are the most profitable games. Most designers choose the shooter genre because its simple and everyone's done it before. Creating a new one is no challenge. With convincing looking weapons and combat, shooters can be a definite success. However, this obsession with shooters has left a lot of people in the dark. There is less room for creativity because the designers are worried about making money. However, one game chose to jump from traditional shooting and try to give the genre a new twist.

Mirror's Edge is a new fast pace action/adventure game that received lots of internet praise and fandom. It will be released on the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC. It has a wide range of release dates for different consoles and countries. Different translations for the game will be released from November 11th, to December 11th in 2008.

However, we still haven't explained what all the hype is about this game. Of course... we mentioned its a shooter. Why are you compelled to buy it? Because, shooting is not the only thing you do in the game.

The story behind the game is simple. It's about a girl named Faith who grew up in a corrupt city. Originally, the city was free. However, government started to take over and insisted on transforming everything. People eventually let go and decided to live a comfortable life under the government's micro-management. The city became big, clean and beautiful. However, there was a price. Everyone's freedom was sacraficed and their phone calls are all listened to. This 'utopia' turned out to be a trap for the innocent people.

However, a few underground rebels started organizing things outside the government's vision. To send secret messages, they hired runners who go across rooftops. Faith, the playable characters, is one of these runners. She is working against the law, but the police leave her alone because they have real criminals to chase down.

Like the story segests, you will be running across roofs. You can shoot people during the game, but that's not all. Guns are heavy and you can't jump as far with them. Dropping guns allows you to do more things. You can jump from ledges, grab onto rails like monkey bars, and slide across the ground. Also, its a game about momentum. You jump farther, the faster you're going; so you'll want to run in one direction for as long as possible. All this is in first-person. You will spend more time worrying about how to use your tricks, instead of worrying about bad guys. In fact, you can get rewards for completing the game without killing anyone.

The game is incredibly realistic. If you look down, your character will have legs, arms and a torso. As you run, the camera moves naturally with each step you take. In fact, it was so realistic, many testers got motion-sickness after falling off buildings. To solve this problem, a crosshair was added so your eyes won't get confused as you look at it. Other than that, there is no health bar, minimap or anything. The only way you'll tell how strong you are is through your eyes.

If you're strong, the world looks clear. However, if you get hurt the world slowly turns blurry. Colors change and it's difficult to see what you're doing. In fact, the whole world is another interesting part of the game. The world is realistic, because it's artistic. Everything in the game is solid white. For the first time in gaming history (possibly) the colors will help you find your way around. Things colored in red are things you can interact with. Yellow objects also are useful tools that make your life simpler. However, the game does not sacrafice detail for this convinience. The game still has unique textures and lighting to make everything feel real.

And last, but not least, the game's rating. Normally, when a game is rated M, this blog warns you why. However, we are pleased that is not the case. Mirror's Edge is rated T for blood, violence and language. Finally... A first-person game that's not trying to be more violent than Halo!

If there's one game this blog will definitly promote, it's Mirror's Edge. However, I'm not saying the game is perfect. You must see it for yourself and decided whether it's worth buying or not. But, this is one game you should not miss out on.

A City That's Sitting in Embers

2008-10-01T10:21:00.005-04:00

City of Embers is a new and upcoming movie about the apocalypse. But, mortal peril stories might not appeal to you... since they are often panned by critics. However, City of Embers looks like an intriguing film worth looking into. It will be released on October 10th, 2008. Judging from the recently released trailer it looks like a teenager film, but it's rated PG. It might be a mortal peril story that has been cut back so children could enjoy it too (similar to Pirates of the Caribbean).

City of Embers is based on a young adult's series of stories by Jeanne DuPrau. Instead of being massive destruction, it seems more plot oriented. It's about an underground city that was built to preserve the human race for 200 years. But, that 200 years is almost up. Supplies are running low and the power generator is faulty. However, two kids believe they have found a possible exit. If they can escape back to the surface of the earth they can save the city's inhabitants and bring everyone back to where they belong.

Interesting idea for a story. The trailers don't look colorful like other children's movies, so it might be more of a drama than a lighthearted adventure. None-the-less, that would be an interesting turn if it will be a children's film. It will fall under Science Fiction, more than Fantasy. So I think City of Ember is a pretty original idea for everyone.

Playing the two children are Saoirse Ronan as Lina Mayfleet, and Harry Treadaway as Doon Harrow. Directing the film is Gil Kenan, who previously did Monster House. However, it's the producers who should catch your attention. Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman. Looking at the trailer, you might see Tom Hanks but that's not him. That's Bill Murray who will play Mayor Cole. Don't blame yourself if you mistake the two.

Something about this film should definitly interest everyone. With only a few days till its release, we won't have to wait long. Keep up to date with what critics think and maybe it will be the first blockbuster this fall worth watching.

Defcon 1

2008-09-29T08:51:00.004-04:00

Real time strategy games always proved successful. Even though the first person shooter is the big genre, there was always room for massive battle fields. But, two studios are taking a surprising turn. Two studios will take two shooter franchises, and turn them into real time strategy games. To make it simpler, we'll combine the articles into one and tell you about two new games to look forwards to.

Halo Wars

Halo Wars is a new strategy game being released for the Xbox 360. Its release date is undetermined, but may be somewhere in the 2008 holidays.

Everyone is familiar with Halo. It's that first person shooter that revolutionized the genre and brought it to life. It's the inspiration for all other shooters because of its unique story, charming characters and imaginative SciFi universe. In fact, you'd have to be a mountain man to know nothing of it. The success of Bungie's game has inspirated another studio called Ensemble to create the first spin-off.

Although Bungie hasn't worked directly on the game, Ensemble Studios has worked extra hard to create a game that has the same appeal as the original Halo series. Ensemble is famous for their strategy games, including the successful Age of Empire's series. At the time, they were revolutionary for their dynamic gamplay, and their incredible Artificial Intelegance. Although the days of Age of Empires have gone, Halo Wars is expected to have the same likeness.

To put it simply, Halo Wars is supposed to appeal to original Halo fans and strategy fans. It will have the same iconic vehicles and weapons from the Halo universe, plus some new ones. It will be a prequel that will explain the begining of the whole Halo story. Along with story, it will have a dynamic graphics system with realistic lighting and enviorments. Already, the game is eagerly awaited. Especially because of the gameplay trailor which demonstrated how the game will look and feel.

Regrettably, Microsoft announced they will shut down Ensemble Studios after the release of Halo Wars. The studio directors expect to create a new studio with the employees, and continue to support Microsoft.

Dispite that, Halo Wars is definitly a strategy game worth waiting for.

Tom Clancy's Endwar

Tom Clancy is not really the designer behind Ubisoft's most popular titles, but he is a good creative influence. His name appears on military and political thriller games about modern day soldiers. Tom Clancy doesn't allow his name to be posted unless the game is stricktly realistic. Popular games, like Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six and Splinter Cell are actions games that fall under the shooting genre most often. But, Ubisoft is working on a strategy game that will combine Tom Clancy's world into one package.

Endwar is a Tom Clancy game that will break away from shooting, and will be about the whole battlefield. The game will combine elements from pervious titles. Captain Scott Mitchell (from the Ghost Recon series) will be present in the story, being a General. Units from Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six and Splinter Cell will all be present; having unique abilities and skills. Also, air units from the upcoming game, H.A.W.X, will also aid you in battle.

As far as story goes, it takes place during the events of World War III. You play in third person, and command whole armies of units. Battles will be on real world locations across North America, Europe and Russia. The battlefeilds will be realistic and everything will be destructable.

As for gameplay, the units are completely realistic. Instead of magically appearing when you create them, they will be delivered to you will helicopters and transports. Units will also do dynamic things like taking cover behind barriors and finding strategic locations.

The one thing that has everyone's attention is the new voice activated command system. If you want, you can put down the controller and command units with your voice. The armies will obey your orders and strategically do everything, so you don't have to micromanage them. This system is supposed to give you and idea of how real Generals command their troops.

There is no denying that Ubisoft's new game is eagerly awaited by fans of Tom Clancy. Already, there are conventions and interviews demonstrating the game. It is schedualed for release on November 4th in America, and Novermber 7th in Europe. It's rated T, and will be released for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Playstation Portable and the PC.

For the battlefield experience, Endwars is the game worth looking into.

If Adventure Has a Name, Than it Must Be... Indiana Jones!

2008-09-26T22:01:00.002-04:00

You must be a fool not to know Indiana Jones. He is that old fashion hero who inspired everyone's interest in history and distant lands. He is iconic for his hat, bullwhip and his unfortunate tendancy to loose any treasure he finds. Most famously portrayed by Harrison Ford, Indiana Jones has become a cult classic with critical and box office success.

But, after the release of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, is Indiana Jones still young enough to star in some more adventures? The guys at Lucas Arts think so. Indiana Jones will star in a new video game. His name will be on the cover, but no second title has been released so far. It is unknown if Harrison Ford will provide the voice.

This new Indiana Jones game was supposed to be released in 2007. But numorous delays have pushed it back, and many believe it will be released somewhere in 2009. There was a rumor that it was supposed to be released alongside Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, but that didn't happen. But, the game will not be related to Crystal Skull.

Normally, video games that are to be released with the movies turn out to be disasterious. The fact that the released date was pushed back proves how devoted Lucas Arts must be to the game. The story will be completely original, and will take place years before Crystal Skull started. However, further details about the story haven't been revealed yet.

The really interesting thing that has everyone's attention is the new gameplay physics system. Lucas Arts calls it "Euphoria". Euphoria was an idea conceived throughout the game's development history. Basically, its a new type of ragdoll physics. Normally, when you punch somebody in a video game they go flying back, fall, and pick themselves up. At first, that's ragdoll physics and then it turns into animation.

Euphoria corrects some of these problems. Instead of animations, the bad guys you punch will be 100% ragdoll physics. Instead of doing repetative animations, they will do unique things like sheilding their faces and regaining their balance after they fall. Every one of their joints will be programmed to work and bring the bad guy back on his feet. There will be no more animation. Everything you will see is a combination of the game's ragdoll physics and the game's A.I. in one. (If you still don't understand, find some early released trailers that will further explain it.)

Euphoria is exactly the type of thing this blog aims to promote. If a good combat system comes with the game, it will be all the more fun to play. The game will be released for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. The ESRB has no given the game any official rating, but it looks like rated T stuff. Other than that, it looks like a game worth your while... if there is a right person behind the developer's wheel.

Stop the Presses! Deadly Creatures Has Arrived!

2008-09-17T10:07:00.002-04:00

The moment has come for a game that National Geographic and the Discovery Channel will both like. Deadly Creatures is a new Wii game schedualed for release September 22, 2008. But will it have King Kong and Godzilla? You will be amazed what kind of game it is.

Instead of giant, ugly, ficticious monsters, Deadly Creatures will have animals everyone can identify. They are animals native to the developer's home town in Arizona. It's a game where you play as a tarantula and a scorpion. Now don't give up on the game yet. There are a few interesting things about the game that might make it worth your while.

The game follows a story about a murderer in a small desert down. As the tarantula and scorpion, you survive and gather bits and clues about who the murderer is. Of course, the story probably means little to the helpless arachnids, but the humans playing them might be intrigued. The developers have been keeping the story secret from most media, but they believe it will be good.

As far as gameplay goes, it will be very realistic. As bugs, you will be able to scale walls and walk across ceilings. (Such moves are becoming increasingly popular in games.) The camera angles will be very firm so you likely won't get lost when you're trying to move over a lampstand. The tarantula and scorpion will have different play types. The tarantula will be more stealth based, and will include moves like jumping and web shooting. The scorpion, on the other hand, will have powerful pinchers and poisonous sting; which will make it better for fighting. The motion sensitive Wii-mote will be useful for such moves. The enemies you have include other insects, like wasps, beetles and other spiders. You will also come across animals like snakes, rats and lizards. Worst of all, you'll be battling humans who threaten your enviorment.

As far as rating goes, it will be rated T. It includes blood, violence, and alcohol references. To sum it up, it's about as dirty as rated T can get. But if anyone watches snakes and tarantulas on the Discovery Channel, they can probably handle it.

This certainly is a different kind of gaint monster game, but its enphisis on realism might pay off. Like I said earlier, it is the kind of game National Geographic might enjoy promoting. With no magic and no robots, the game might still succeed. For people who like nature documentaries, this might be the game for you.

Bolts Need Screwballs

2008-09-14T12:17:00.003-04:00

Is it time for Disney to move away from traditional animation and pursue new things? How many of you remember Chicken Little? Although I have never seen it, many reviewers have given me good reason not to. Since then, Disney went to Meet the Robinson and tried to go into computers like Pixar. They haven't matched expectations yet. However, Disney's third computer animated cartoon looks like a movie that will give Pixar a run for its money.

Bolt, is a story about a dog actor who stars in the most watched T.V. show in the world. He's the show's hero, with superpowers and lightning fast reflexes. However, Bolt believes the show is real. When a little girl is kidnapped in the show, Bolt escapes into the real world and tries to find her. On the way, he catnaps a feline named Mittens who helps him in the journey. Alongside him is a hampster named Rhino who also believes the show is real. It appears to be a story about personal discovery and what true heroism is.

Appearing in the show is a cast who appeared in some things you might have seen. John Travolta will be Bolt. Sussie Essman will be Mittens and Mark Walton will be Rhino. Directing the film is Bryon Howard and producing it is John Lasseter. Lasseter is that familiar director who did Toy Story and Cars. Originally, the movie was supposed to be directed by the writer, Chris Sanders. However, John Lasseter removed him because he wasn't taking the movie seriously enough.

Bolt looks like a movie that will bring Disney up from the ashes (if there are good people behind the wheel). It's not a Pixar movie, but that doesn't mean it's doomed to be bad. If the cast and crew see huge potential in this original story, they might turn it into something worth while. A trailer had been released and the show will open in theaters on November 21, 2008.

The computer graphics will have a unique style and appearance. The backgrounds, they say, are made to look like hand paintings. There are also great fur effects and the animation looks clean and smooth. Disney had to file new patents to preserve this film's unique look. Watching the trailer, it's clear what the difference between this film and other cartoons are.

With a producer like John Lasseter, who believes this film will be bad? Disney has been on the loosing track for a while, but this film might move it away. Only time can tell if Bolt is worth our while; which is why we should follow it and see how it comes out.

Bestbusters: Part 1

2008-09-04T10:40:00.004-04:00

Every year, Hollywood throws their best at people, hoping to make serious money. And every year, we await great films and are always pleased and displeased with what we find. Some films have been worth our wait, and others have not been worth our $5 dollar movie tickets. And naturally, I am making a countdown of the best blockbusters we can't wait for in 2009. And here it goes...

10 Star Trek

This is a prequel movie set before the events of the original Star Trek series. But what excuse do we have to see it? Naturally, the Star Trek fans are in line and eagerly awaiting the next big movie to appear on screen. To the discouragement of many, the original cast will not return. Technically, they didn't have a choice because this is a prequel and they are all very old. However, the exclusive producer is J.J. Abrams who is famous of creating the famous T.V show, Lost. It's time to see if his creative influence will continue in his promising future.

9 The Princess and the Frog

How many Disney films have you been looking forwards to? It's amazing, isn't it? Disney, in recent years, has become another player in the mass market. They create movies for the money and use their own name as a symbol of greatness. However, the Princess and the Frog looks a little promising. Instead of those completely original films, this is a movie based on a folktale everyone knows. Instead of the appealing 3D visual effects, this film will use traditional animation. Directors include Ron Clements and John Musker. Both have worked on original Disney classics like Lady and the Tramp, The Black Cauldron, Aladdin and The Aristocats. If this new film proves worthy, it could be the first Disney classic this decade.

8 Inkheart

Cornelia Funke is a German children’s writer who has become extremely popular in her home country. She now lives in America and her books are just starting to leave their mark. The single movie her fans are waiting for is Inkheart. It's an original story about a man who can magically summon objects out of any book he reads. It starts Brendan Fraser and Andy Serkis. Although Inkheart is still having some production questions, it still remains one of the most awaited fantasy films coming next year.

7 Artemis Fowl

Criminal movies have always been popular. Films like The Italian Job and Ocean's Eleven have always been exciting additions to any DVD collection. However, how many people have improved crime films? They seem to have similar plots about crime and punishment, without a unique appeal. However, a crime movie is coming that will be different. Artemis Fowl is a fantasy type of story about a criminal mastermind who goes on quests regarding fairies and other mythical creatures. If all goes well, it might be the exciting family film that will appeal to the whole family. Only time can tell.

6 The Lightning Thief

Now here is a series that is taking off. The Lightning Thief is the first in a series of stories about Percy Jackson. Percy Jackson is a kid who goes on adventures regarding Greek mythology. In the United States, his books have become very popular amongst children. A film is definitely in production with a release date being set. The director will be Chris Columbus. He is the famous director who does family friendly films, including Harry Potter and Home Alone. To match the creative spirit and feel of a children's movie, Chris Columbus is the man for the job.

5 The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

At this point in the list, the films may start appealing to an adult audience, rather than a children's audience. Regrettably, the next films are more anticipated, but The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is a good breaking point between children and teenagers. It stars Heath Ledger, who died during production. To make sure his role was filled, Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farell will all play part of his role during the story. It's a fantasy story about a traveling circus and the deals Doctor Parnassus has made with the devil himself. It's original, and not based on a book. For its achievements, it was awarded number 5 on this list.

4 Jurassic Park IV

After many long years of waiting, the Jurassic Park franchise is ready to continue. Steven Spielberg will be the producer and Sam Neill will return as Dr. Alan Grant. The script went through re-write after re-write and is finally in production. Like Indiana Jones, this movie will either be very good or very bad. Because of that controversy, it has earned itself number 4 on this list.

3 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

If there is one film that will definitely be a blockbuster, it's Harry Potter's sixth movie. The series has drawn in vast amounts of money and never failed to appear on the highest grossing film's list. Since this series has been around for a while, it is no surprise to anybody who has seen the movies. David Yates (who worked on the fifth film) will return to direct. The three original cast members are also returning (Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson). The controversy is growing, however. All three cast members now qualify as adult actors and it's uncertain if they can retain their original child appeal. Harry Potter 6 is definitely one of the most anticipated films of 2009.

2 24: The Movie

24 is the wildly popular drama series about government agents and terrorists. It's famous for being shown in real time. Every second in real life is the same second passing by in the T.V. show. The cast and crew have won numerous Emmy's and has received critic's acclaim. However, after seven years of guns and bombs, other shows have stepped up and given 24 a run for its money. However, 24 will step up again when its movie will be launched in theaters. It will be a bridge movie between seasons 6 and 7. However, plot details are not clear. Like the first X-Files movie, it might merely be a long episode. However, it has potential, and is the second most anticipated film we're waiting to see.

1 Halo

Finally... Peter Jackson is certain that the Halo movie will be released and the franchise will continue. Peter Jackson will be the exclusive producer only, but he may have the influence necessary to bring the video game series to the big screen. He is famous for fantasy films like Lord of the Rings and King Kong. Now it is time to see if his style will match the SciFi world of Halo. With many die-hard fans waiting for the ribbon to be cut, the Halo movie is definitely going to be the most anticipated film of 2009.

"Take Me Out to the Dragonball Game!"

2008-08-27T07:54:00.000-04:00

Odds are, if you're an anime fan, you've heard of Dragonball. It was first a Manga series, then turned into a successful television show. It has been a successful franchise, with action figures, video games and other media. But, does such a series deserve a live action movie?

On April 3rd, 2009 a Dragonball film will be hitting theaters. It will be produced by Stephen Chow, who was a long time Dragonball fan. However, he chose not to direct the movie because he believed he could only direct his own original stories. Instead, directing will go to James Wong, who has done some notable works (including the X-files T.V. show).

The story in Dragonball will be about Goku; a very, very, very (can't stress it enough) powerful warrior who protects the earth from evil. He will be portrayed by Justin Chatwin, who is a developing actor whose starred in a few things. Lord Piccolo will be played by James Marsters. Marsters is an actor who has traditionally played villians in popular television shows, like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Smallville.

Another celebrity is Chow Yun-Fat (who appeared in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Pirates of the Caribbean 3). He will play Master Roshi. Other actors include Jamie Chung as Chi Chi, and Emmy Rossum as Bulma. However, it hasn't been revealed if the character Krillian or Vegeta will be cast into the story. The story possibly takes place before the birth of other identifiable characters like Gohan and Trunks.

Plot details haven't been revealed, but the creators have mentioned that the Dragonballs will be a plot device. Production appears to be smooth. The stunt team working on the film is the same team who has previously worked on the Matrix and 300. Goku's hair style is made from Justin Chatwin's original hair instead of a wig. Currently, a trailer for the movie is schedualed for release October 17th, but nothing is official until the visual effects are given the O.K.

The question still remains; is the original T.V show worth turning into a movie? In the past, animated T.V shows were turned into movies using CGI animation. Live action seems to be a big step up for the original Dragonball show. One thing is for certain. Once the trailer hit's theaters, expectations will be high. At least the movie is being created by people who seem competant and eager to do their job right. Odds are, the film will be rated PG to PG-13. The original T.V show attracted young children, so personally, I believe a PG rating would bring a more familiar audience to the theaters.

For people who have wondered what Dragonball holds in the future, this is something to look into. If all goes well with the critics and the box office, sequels could be spawned and the makings of a new series could be here. For all anime fans, this is one movie you should follow closely.

Igor for the Good Movies

2008-08-25T19:04:00.000-04:00

Everyone has heard of Frankenstein. He's an evil doctor who created life with sewn body parts and electricity. (Everyone confuses the monster for the doctor.) But how many of you have heard of Igor? A new animated movie is coming that will answer those crazy questions.

The new movie, Igor, is about this Annual Evil Science Fair. Evil scientists compete to see who makes the greatest inventions. However, every scientist has an Igor. The Igors are the henchmen who are mistreated and have no choice but to follow their master's orders. But that is about to change. One Igor starts thinking for himself and wants to become his own inventor. To prove he can invent, he wants to make the greatest invention ever... life.

If you judge a book by its cover, you would have lost interest immediatly. The animation seems second rate and the human characters are more cartoony than in other animated films. But, if you are patient enough to look into a movie, you might have been a little intrigued. Igor looks like a quirky movie with Dreamwork's humor. With the right people working on it, it might be worth while.

The whole cast an crew appear to be people you've probably never heard of before. You can't blame yourself if that's true. The director is Tony Leondis. The cast includes John Cusack, Steve Buscemi and Eddie Izzard. The only cast member you're probably familiar with will be John Cleese. All these, and many many more, will appear and produce the movie.

Igor is set for release in September 19th, 2008 and has been rated PG. But one question still remains (there always is). Is the movie worth seeing? The dark Tim Burton type of feel certainly looks like PG material. It's a mysterious and different type of movie. But are people afraid of differences? Don't forsake this film because it looks different. It might be a worth while film. At the same time, it could be too quirky for its place in society.

[VG] - One cup of Baja... two sugars!

2008-08-21T08:32:00.001-04:00

Those few of anyone who ever read my currently dead video game review blog will remember the bad relationship between me and Rallisport Challenge. Specifically, even though the A.I. was made up entirely of colossal morons who drive the speed limit and slow down if a turn is more than two degrees they only tip over if hit by a nuclear blast and make every turn with pinpoint precision even though YOU need a car that would perform well in the vacuum of space. Scathing review followed by stress-induced heart attack. Then when I saw some reviews for Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing and saw how horrible it was even though 2003 saw the rise of H.A.L.-like computers I gave up on racing games in general and went back to RPGs and First-Person Shooters, with the possible exception of Star Wars Podracer, but I haven't played that in years so I don't think it counts.

However, a light at the end of the tunnel has come in the form of Baja: Edge of Control, or as Gametrailers prefers, simply Baja. Now, I know what you're thinking: "What in the world does Baja mean?" Well, I didn't know either at first, but if Wikipedia is to be believed (and we have sort of a bad history), "Baja" is the name of a series of actual racing tracks including the Baja 200, 300, and 1,000, all of which will be included in Edge of Control.

Now, the reason why this game is so special and has become something of a savior to me is that the A.I. and physics look totally awesome! O.K., so the cars are O.K., but saying that a racing game has awesome vehicles is like saying that Tom Hanks can perform a headshot, unless we're talking about Big Rigs, in which case it's like saying UFOs landed in your backyard and turned the moon purple.

You'll recall I just said that the A.I. in Rallisport Challenge was two dimes short of a nickel in intelligence, and let me tell you they were a real pain to race against. The A.I. in Baja, however, is (you better sit down) actual A.I.! If you honk the horn, the other cars will actually respond, if you ram into something, they'll hold a grudge, and they actually race at the same speed and within the same laws of physics as you do.
Speaking of physics, the physics in this game look absolutely spectacular. Your car will actually make turns realistically and will NOT dent if you don't crash into anything (you can tell I'm harping on Rallisport again, can't you?). And did you hear the name? Edge of Control is more appropriate than Over the Road was, with an actually off-road, open-world environment.

However, while following the track and avoiding other cars remains a good way to not die, vehicle damage is spectacular, with the appropriate collisions sending your chassis and those of civilians flying, and a bad turn on the wrong terrain will mean certain death. But don't worry, because the suspension actually seems to do something, too. Still, fences actually break in this game (Rallisport Challenge).

There is one thing I'm not looking forward to in this game. The redeeming quality of Rallisport Challenge was that its tracks were short and didn't take much to complete assuming you don't drive off a cliff with every alternate turn. Baja: Edge of Control plans to give its Baja 1,000 track an average race time of - get this - three hours! I'm not even allowed to play games that long without getting grounded unless they're P.C. games, and Baja is clearly not a P.C. racer! Still, accuracy is the key here, and I don't know a thing about the actual Baja 1,000, so I really have no room to argue.

Well, I could keep talking about how good Baja looks, but I'm just excited to see an actually good racing game. I should stop, because if the game comes out and ends up being terrible I'll be in trouble, but I honestly don't think that's going to happen. Keep it up, 2XL.

A Temeraire of 5.6 on the Rictor Scale

2008-08-20T19:23:00.000-04:00

Have you ever heard of a dragon called Temeraire? You've probably been too busy reading about a dragon rider named Eragon. Temeraire is a series of alternate history/fantasy books by a writer named Naomi Novik. It takes place during the 1800s, during the Napoleonic War.

Basically, the world of Temeraire is a place where mythology and legends are apart of real world history. Although the world is familiar, it would probably look different in a movie. The basic story is simple (but I don't have all the details yet).

There was a simple captain named Laurence, who captained navy ships. He is well known and respected for his career. However, he is modest and gives a lot of owed credit to his crewmates. One day, he comes upon the most beat up French ship he has ever seen. To his surprise, a dragon egg was onboard. Under these circumstances, the egg would be taken to shore and immediatly get sent to the secret Corps to be assigned. Britain and France have both mastered dragon breeding, and were able to create special armies of them.

However, the egg Captain Laurence recovers is close to hatching. Naturally, he can't allow a powerful dragon to go free, so he and his men must find one of themselves to ride upon the dragon. A dragon can't be tamed without a rider. The sailor who is to be chosen will have to raise the dragon, fight on it and live their lives like a mountain man in order to live with it. Unfortunately for Laurence, he is made the dragon's rider. Quite surprisingly, he comes to love the dragon and even names it Temeraire (the book's title).

Laurence has to give up the sailing life he has always known. To continue serving the king of England, he must join other dragon riders and train for combat. Shokingly, the writer Naomi is able to create a wide cast of characters who all have unique traits. There are some characters so evil you want them to drop dead. At the same time, there is a large cast of characters you love and relate to.

Now naturally, you're still wondering if this on going series is worth buying. I'll give you some reasons that will surprise you. The first book in the Temeraire series was awarded the Hugo Award for Best Novel by First Time Writer. Stephen King wrote the words, "Terrifically Entertaining," on the book's cover. And best of all, Peter Jackson wants to make movies out of the series.

Wow... Although I am not completely familiar with the series, I have personally become interested. The best audience is teenagers and up (mostly because of swearing). The writing style is simple and fast paced. Although the dialogue drags on longwindedly, it doesn't effect the way you enjoy it too much. So far, five books have been released in this series and more are schedualed to arrive.

The books arn't best sellers, but it's doing good for moderate success. Naturally, we encourage people to look into it. We want to promote good entertainment, and so far, Temeraire fits the bill. We encourage people to look into it.

[VG] - I sense a disturbance... must be that burrito

2008-08-17T07:09:00.000-04:00

Last month, Gametrailers released several... game... trailers... for a new Star Wars game called Force Unleashed. Force Unleashed is being developed by LucasArts (surprise, surprise) and follows the storyline of Darth Vader's new apprentice.

Woah! Bet you didn't see that coming, didja?

This game is extremely innovative by LucasArts's standards mainly because most of their previous Star Wars games involved creating your own characters and making your own decisions, so the character-based fixed storyline is really a huge leap in LucasArt gameplay, but they do it so well even if they miss there's bound to be a trampoline at the bottom of the ravine. (worst analogy ever but I think it makes my point clear)

The trailer for this game should be all you need to convince yourself that the gameplay is going to be amazing, but this E3 showcase of a lightsaber duel shows just how incredible the potential for this game is. The moves pulled off in the demo make it hard to tell if everything was pre-rendered or if it was actually gameplay footage, but that's how you know this game is going to be awesome.

I'm probably one of the first people to agree that LucasArts is basically just milking the Star Wars franchise for every penny that it's worth, but let's face it, everything in this game is going so well it seems that they're going back into their prime. Even the voice of Darth Vader sounds exactly the same, and it makes me wonder if James Earl Jones is working with LA now. I should go check sometime.

Then there's the matter of how much of this awesomeness Mr. Lucas himself agreed to when he gave his Arts permission to make this game. And when you see the short documentary on the game, you'll never believe that he actually didn't say "No" to a single thing, which you know is good because that means they won't have to improvise. Improvisation is the #2 video game killer, so a lack of it can create a very good game by today's standards. Just for the record, deadlines are the #1 video game killer.

Well, I could probably keep typing at about a hundred miles a minute, but I gotta slap some images on this article and publish it fast, so let me just say that LucasArts has my full support with this game.

BTW, here's the launch trailer. Just in case you wanted to see it.

de Blob Will Suck You In

2008-08-16T11:02:00.001-04:00

Platform games seem extinct, don't they? Originally, they were the most popular genre. Mario (who appeared in Donkey Kong; the arcade game) was one of the first true examples of a platformer. He was popular and defined one of the first video game genres. In later years, it was adventures games that became popular. Titles like Myst were best sellers, and eventually dominated the market. Now, in today's world, the shooter is the biggest genre. Games like Doom, Halo and Half Life, are the games everyone is familiar with. But what happened to the very first games?

Even though some genres are more popular than others, there are still a lot of original games for people tired of heavy guns. I'll only mention one for the time being. It's an original game called, de Blob.

de Blob is a puzzle game. Originally, it was supposed to be a free downloadable game created by nine college students. However, THQ heard about the game and was very impressed with the teams work. They bought the rights and decided to make it a concole game. It will be released September 26, 2008 for the Wii.

The story behind de Blob is simple. There is this cartoony town with people that looked like Gumby characters. However, an evil empire comes and sucks the color out of the buildings and makes everyone sad prisoners of war. Sensing the peril, de Blob rushes to the rescue. Of course, the story sounds unusual, but it has a cartoony likeness many video game designers are afraid to work with. It's original, but it's simple so you might not need worry about it. The story might be a colorful way to explain the gameplay to children.

The real creative part of de Blob, is the gameplay. Basically, you go around the city and attack badguys. You can roll, skid along the walls and avoid obsticles. It's a puzzle game, so it's not as simple as it may sound. You are a blob and your job is the color the city again. To do that, you can mix different color paint into you, and spread the paints along the surfaces of the buildings. Through the game, you'll be asked to color certain walls, while avoiding others. It sounds cheesy, but it won the E3 award for best puzzle game.

Is there anyone reading this blog who believes that game will be terrible, no matter what? If so, there's something wrong with you. The game is strange, but it's better than the thousands of Halo rip-offs. With the right designer behind the wheel, de Blob could turn into a crowning achievement. If it includes multiplayer, it could be the next family game. Anyone with a Wii might want to check it out.

Banjo Kazooie are Held Together With Either Nuts or Bolts

2008-08-10T09:03:00.000-04:00

Of course, if you're half a video gamer, you know about Banjo and Kazooie. Banjo and Kazooie are two very popular platform characters who were best known for working with Nintendo. They stared as the title characters in two video games for the original Nintendo 64. Both were critically acclaimed and best sellers. Their popularity gave even Mario as run for his money.

Now, the big moment has arrived. Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, is the third official game in the series and set to be released November 18, 2008. Since the developers, Rare, have been bought by Microsoft, the game will be released on the Xbox 360 instead of the traditional Nintendo. Fans of the series are drumming their fingers and eagerly awaiting the duo to return.

Although the game is expected to be a success, a fair share of video gamers have grown suspicious. A small amount of contravercy has made gamers worried. The first bit of contravercy is the strickingly different appearance of the Banjo and Kazooie characters. Banjo (as opposed to his previous games) has a more blocky appearance. Kazooie looks less cartoony, and looks more feminine. The main villian of the story (Grunty) looks different as well, but that was to be expected after what happened to her in the second game. It is unknown if the different appearances are supposed improve the game, or merely make it new.

Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts will also have a different type of gameplay. Instead of being a traditional platform, like they once were, vehicles will be apart of the game as well. Through the game, you collect different vehicle parts and build planes, cars, boats and helicopters. There will be lots of strange gadgets you can add on. The worlds to explore will also be bigger and the creators expect it to be a game you can play over and over again.

Fans of the original two games, are not sure about the vehicles in this third game. A share of video gamers believe that the vehicles will be a creative and charming addition to the Banjo Kazooie franshise. On the other hand, a share of video gamers believe that the vehicles will be a distraction from the original charm the previous two games had. The director, Gregg Mayles (who very, very, very rarely appears on camera) said that 80 percent of the game relys on vehicles, so fans are not yet sure what to make of it.

Although contravercy is following this game, trailers have been released and have been very well received by gamers. Personally, I hope the game will be a success because the Xbox has too many rated M titles. Banjo and Kazooie can save the console from corruption, if the third game is good. I hope that the game will improve upon the original charm, instead of replacing it. Only time can tell, and until then, I encourage people to look into it and follow the news.

And Who Ya Gonna Call? Ghostbusters Game!

2008-08-09T09:11:00.000-04:00

Anyone who's anyone knows about the Ghostbusters. It's a duo of action/comedy family films. It's about four smart-alicky investigators who discovered the technology to capture ghosts. It started Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson. The films are known for their creative special effects and iconic feel. The Ghostbusters logo is the second best known symbol in pop culture.

Now, can the Ghostbusters be successfully made into a game? Trailers have been released, and fans have high expectations. All four of the original cast members are returning to provide the voices for their original characters. Dan Aykroyd took the project very seriously, and personally made sure it would be true to the Ghostbusters universe. Along with the original four, there will be a new Ghostbuster. He will be the playable character, and the story will be told from his point of view.

http://www.gametrailers.com/game/4142.html: link to videos.

In a developer's walkthrough the designers gave a very satisfying look into the game's footage. The game takes place in 1991 with familiar settings and places to visit. Along with combat, you will also be allowed to explore. You will be allowed to look through the biuldings you visit and get a feel for things before you blinding run into an enemie. As for combat, the only known weapons at this point are the proton packs on the Ghostbusters back. You use these to weaken ghosts, and to trap them. Other weapons have not yet been revealed.

Along with combat, the game also features a very realistic physics engine. In the library level (revealed in the developer's walkthrough) you can destroy everything. Every single book is a physical object. When bookshelves fall over, books come out one by one. There is even a ghost made of books that blows up after defeat. Also, there will be a lot of items that float in the air. When invisible ghosts are present in a room, gravity will not work; making an even better world to explore. Everything (from cups, to tables, to chairs, to marshmellows) can be destroyed. Like the Ghostbuster's movies, you can capture ghosts can leave rubble in your path.

Asside from the gameplay and destruction, the voice actors are very pleased with the game. They called it the third Ghostbuster's movie. With original script and a lot of thought put into the game, fans are eagerly awaiting the release. It will be released for the PC, Playstation 2 and 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and possibly the DS. However, each platform will have a slightly different experience. PC, Playstation 3 and Xbox will have a singleplayer-type of gameplay. You will work independantly. On the other hand, Playstation 2, Wii and DS will have a multiplayer-type of gameplay and have cartoon-style graphics.

The release date is set for 2009, but nothing official is released yet. Personally, I am very excited. It has a rated T appearance, and looks like the perfect family game. If they're a game worth looking into, this is it.

Another Cup of G.I. Joe, Waiter!

2008-08-07T08:29:00.000-04:00

How many of you know of G.I. Joes? You've probably heard of them, but have probably never considered them before. They are a line of action figures created by the Hasbro toy company. It's been around for about forever (like Barbie), but you'll be forgiven if you've never been interested in it before. However, everyone must prepare themselves for the new upcoming blockbuster. A film adaption of G.I. Joe is set for release in theaters August 7th, 2009 (but that distant date my change in the near future).

The G.I. Joe movie will take place in a semi-futuristic setting. If you're not familiar with any G.I. Joe stories, the director said that the movie will explain itself. You won't need to do any research before you see it. The story itself will be based on a spin-off line of toys called G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.

Stephen Sommers will be directing the film. You've probably heard of him. He's the director who previously did the Mummy movies. Being a great visual effects person, he might be just the man for the job. Although, some of the cast believe the story is a superhero movie, rather than a war movie.

After the success of Transformers (another movie from a Hasbro toy line) it looks like G.I. Joe is supposed to be a blockbuster. That means a PG or PG-13 rating (which it doesn't have yet). Many people criticized the original storyline of the G.I. Joe action figures because the characters never die. They are soldiers who fight in wars, but nobody is ever killed in combat. It's unbelievable, but it's a kid-friendly approach to things. The director says he might solve this problem in the film, but he's not sure who would be worth killing off.

Originally, G.I. Joe was supposed to be created before the Transformers movie. However, the Iraq War broke out and it would be really difficult to make a film like it. So, they worked on Transformers first, and now decided to do G.I. Joe again. Early script readings have been negative, but the writer promises to change it. Hasbro plans to release a line of action figures based on the movie, and a video game to go with it.

Now, the main hero and villian are two actors you've probably never heard of before. The hero, Duke, will be played by Channing Tatum. The villian, Destro, will be played by Christopher Eccleston. Christopher previously played the Doctor, in a very popular British science fiction T.V show called Doctor Who.

At the minute, it is too early to make any assumptions about this movie. Considering the hard work put into Transformers, it might be a good idea to look into this movie. Since we still have one year till its release, we've got plenty of time to wait and critique it.

One Disaster Movie After Another

2008-08-05T18:35:00.000-04:00

How many people watch the Scary Movie series? I can imagine a few. The series has been a good box-office success. However, critics have given it generally mixed reviews. The odd stories and creepy sense of humor sure attract a unique audience.

Many people who follow this series probably know about the spin offs the creaters have been working on. Date Movie, Epic Movie, Meet the Spartans and Superhero Movie. If anyone is interested to know, the creators have done it again and created something called Disaster Movie.

Disaster Movie (unsurprisingly) parodys mortal peril stories. Also thrown into the mix are Blockbusters in the last two years or so. The most notable peril films include The Day After Tomorrow and Armageddon. It portrays a Hulk who can't keep his pants on: A short and annoying Indiana Jones: An Iron Man dressed in plastic: A Hancock who's too weak to break a lamp post: And an Enchanted Princess who is too dimwitted to look for cars.

Personally, I don't know who sits through parody movies like these. If people enjoys a movie, I don't think it should be insulted. Instead, I think a film should be respected when it is being parodied (which might be hard, I know). I don't like seeing Indiana Jones's name and accomplishments being insulted.

Anyways, I don't think personal feelings will get in the way. Almost every one of these parody films have received unnanamously negative reviews. Disaster Movie is heading in that direction (even if they tried harder this time around). Fans of sick humor can knock themselves out and enjoy. But don't expect to write a positive review when you come out of the theater.

Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer are directing the movie (the creators of the previous parody films). The cast is a bunch of characters you're probably not familiar with. It's schedualed for release on August 29th, and I hope you know what you're in for.

Jack Sparrow at World's End

2008-08-04T07:51:00.001-04:00

How many grown ups read the well known Jack Sparrow novels? I bent a lot of people reading this blog have passed off the chance so they could read something else. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but you are seriously missing something.

The Jack Sparrow novels I'm refering to, are prequels to the movies. They tell you about Jack Sparrows teenage years when he got his first ship and first crew. It's Pirates of the Caribbean, without the Curse of the Black Pearl. However, the stories have an interesting twist. In the begining, Jack considered himself an adventurer, rather than a pirate. In fact, he believed he could wipe piracy off the face of the earth, but believes he's got a long way to go if he's to accomplish his mission. On the way he befriends a girl named Arabella, an rebellious aristicrat named Fitz, a food craver named Jean, an ex-slave named Tumen, and a cursed cat named Constance.

The stories are not best sellers, but they were very well received. Rob Kidd (the writer) is acclaimed for the imaginative plot lines and the referances to the movies. Occasionally, he also has a strong moral that teaches Jack Sparrow a lesson. There are a lot of similaries to the books and movies, with nice characters and a fantastic setting. Of course, the stories are short but they make up in cheapness. But personally, I think the books over-use the Pirates of the Caribbean mythology.

There have been a total of twelve books. Sadly, on July 29th, the last novel was finally published. It was a good series, but it's amazing the series started only two years ago. Fans of Pirates of the Caribbean should love this series just as much as the movies.

Of course, they are kids books. Does that change anything? Seriously...? I'm sure a lot of people asked that question before the Harry Potter series started to catch on. Even though these Jack Sparrow novels are kids books, the stories and illistrations are good enough for anyone to read if you give them half a chance.

Red and Faction Taste Good Together With Lots of Rubble

2008-08-03T09:02:00.000-04:00

How many of you like explotions. There is something graceful, yet back stiffening about the way planets burn up in movies. However, there is nothing less satisfying than the explotions in video games. If you pilot a big robot in a video game, buildings either pop, flatten or burst open when you shoot them. Once you see a biulding blow up, it is less entertaining the second time. However, that is about to change...

Developers, Volition, have created a sequel game called Red Faction: Guerrilla. It is a game that takes place on Mars. It's in the late future where the planet has been terraformed to support life. It's a first person shooter, but it doesn't look like a Halo ripoff. It is the third game in a developing franchise. The release date is not yet set, but it will be released for the PC, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.

Red Faction: Guerrilla is a game about destruction. Basically, you play as a 'rebel' who goes around and sabatoges buildings. The neat thing about this game is the awesome explotions. Everything in the world will be distructible and everything falls apart using a stress and gravity based system. Buildings are made out of peices that have weight and thicknesses. If you planted a bomb inside it, the building would fall apart and peices of it would scatter in every direction. Sometimes, bombs might not work and only half a building is still standing. You can try again and finish it off.

In fact, the designers were doing so good with the rubble and explosives, they had trouble holding the buildings up. They had to create their own structure, supports and bracers. And, they had to follow concept art and keep the tone of the world realistic. The buildings are no longer four walls and a roof. As hard as they worked on the buildings, I hope they didn't fall in love with them. You will be able to crumble them to bits, time and time again. So sorry building designers...

The explotions are the most beautiful I've ever seen in a video game. Don't believe me...? Click this link and see them for yourself. http://www.gametrailers.com/game/5303.html

Although it is a destruction based game, the developers have mentioned a story. It seems simple at the minute, but hopefully they will reveal a little bit more about it soon. Personally, I like strong stories in video games, because it feels like you fight for a reason.

The only question that remains is the game's rating. The previous two games were both rated M. However, this game might turn out like Halo. Halo is rated M, but by todays standards the game could be rated T. I believe it is rated M because adults were originally the target audience.

Red Faction: Guerrilla might be rated M, but I have seen nothing in it Halo doesn't have. Maybe it will be rated T. But if adults are the target audience, it might be rated M in the end. The only thing that concerns me, is how violent it is. If the game isn't too gory, than it will be worth buying (dispite an M rating).

All in all, Red Faction: Guerrilla is a beautiful game all gamers must look into. It's hard to say anything else to say about it, because it simply looks cool. I encourage you to follow entertainment and keep up to date with it, so you don't miss anything worth your while. Red Faction should be no acception.

Take Cover, Before the Twilight

2008-08-01T08:35:00.000-04:00

Have you ever heard of 'Twilight'? I've heard of the Twilight Zone, but not this vampire series of stories. Twilight is a best selling serious of thriller/horror novels about a vampire named Edward (written by Stephenie Meyer). He befriends a girl named Bella, who would love to become a vampire and live forever with him. However, Edward continiously resists the temptation.

However, is a vampire series worth reading about. The majority of readers a teenage girls and their moms. It counts as a romance story, but how romantic can vampires be? I saw a movie called 'The Little Vampire', which had believable vampire heroes and a charming story. It's safe to assume you've never heard of that movie, or Twilight.

The point of this blog is to inform you about entertainment, and hopefully tell you about books, games and movies that will be worth your while. Twilight is a series I want to look into, but not instantly. Vampires don't disturb he. I'm just not a fan of romance. Combining both elements can lead to a very unusual story.

A Twilight movie is schedueled to be released December 12th this year. Already, a trailer has been released and I give it an 'O.K.' rating. It will star Kristen Stewart (who you've probably never heard of before), and Robert Pattinson (who started in Harry Potter 4 and 5). It's not yet rated, so be careful of gory scenes if it's rated PG-13.

A House You Probably Don't Want to Enter

2008-07-29T06:53:00.000-04:00

Frank Peretti is one of the best selling Christian authors today. He has written a small range of story types, from adventure to horror. Now, the new film adaption of his work is coming soon to theaters. 'House' is schedueled to be released in 450 theaters on October 2nd.

House was a fresh and original haunted house/serial killer story. It is probably one of Frank Peretti's darkest books. It's about a couple who are driving down a country road one day, planning on getting a divorce by morning. However, a line of spikes in the road causes their car to spin off the road. With no other choice, they decide to spend the night at a near by inn.

Things aren't looking any better, however. All seven house guestest (two couples and the three house owners) are trapped inside in the middle of the night. Outside the house is a mysterious serial killer nicknamed White by the locals. White is a mysterious masked figure who plays 'games' within every house he visits. He drops a tin can down the chimney with three house rules written on it. He wants the guests to kill themselves and give him one dead body before sunrise. If they don't, he will kill every last one of them.

The book was interesting because it wasn't just a war against the bad guy. It was also a war between the good guys. Like other Frank Peretti novels, the story drags on but the climax is worth it. The new movie based on this novel is eagerly awaited by the Christian community.

Unsurprisingly, the movie will be rated R for violence and terror. Personally, I would have liked to see a lower rating because Hollywood might be trying to compete against Stephen King. The novel won't give grownups nightmares, but it does put disturbing images in your mind. Seeing those disturbing images on screen is a lot different than reading about them.

The next point I have to make is obvious. Christians have an unhealthy reputation for bad film making. We're good writers, but not good filmmakers. However, the early screen tests for this movie were positive, so this might be worth looking into.

Since this movie only opens in 450 theaters, it might be difficult to find this. Look long and hard. So, even if this movie gets positive reviews, make sure it's not too violent before seeing it. It's rated R, but it could make the Terminator look like Luke Skywalker. Be careful, but be anxious to see it come to the big screen.

Poisonous Spores are Killing Us

2008-07-24T09:15:00.000-04:00

Links:
http://www.gametrailers.com/game/2671.html
http://www.spore.com/trial?sourceid=eaom35

Spore is the next big game. But what is Spore? It was originally a joke that was floating around Maxis. Maxis is the famous video game company responsible for SimCity, and The Sims (both were best sellers). The company's founder, Will Wright, doesn't consider himself a storyteller. Instead, he believes in making worlds where the player is free to make their own choices. Sim is short for Simulation.

Spore was originally a joke title called SimEverything. Upon hearing this, Will Wright conceived a brilliant idea for a game. However, he wanted to drop the word Sim from the title because he was tired of so many other Sim titles. Eventually, everyone came to know the game as Spore.

That still leaves us with one question. What is Spore? It has creative construction tools, like a simulator. But, it also has single player modes, where people can go around on their own and explore. But, it also has massive real time strategy combat, where you can conquor and destroy. What is Spore? Will Wright has coined the frase "massively single-player online game". This is truely, SimEverything.

Spore is a very complex game about evolution. Will Wright loved the idea because their is no destiny in the game. There is no written story and there are no main objectives. The only thing you have to do is survive and see what you can do. It will be a game for serious videogamers and quirky cheatcoders. It should satisfy both audiences at once.

At the start of the game, you play as a single celled animal. As the game goes on, you earn new parts and paste them onto your growing creature. One of the truely incredible things about this game is what you can create. You can create an animal with arms growing out of its head. You can have eyeballs on its feet and hands. Never before has such an incredible creature creator been in a video game. Not only do people create animals. Many creative gamers have been creating vehicles. Players have also recreated the aliens from Halo, Half Life and Doom. I've seen several games with similar creators like Impossible Creatures. However, that game strictly limits how much you can edit your creature.

In June 2008, the creature creator pack was release to the general public. People could create their first creatures (although the pack lacks the adventure modes). After the creature creator's release, over half a million unique creatures were photographed and put on the internet. Wow...

Just how incredible are the creatures? You'd have to see actual videos for yourself. The animators had a painful time animating them, because they didn't know what the creature would look like in the end. Judging by the trailers, they did a spectacular job. Will Wright said he wanted the game to make people creative. He noticed that many people were not aware of the world around them. He hopes the game will help people discover their creativity and make them more aware of the world. I can't think of a better game that will teach you, than this.

However, the game is about evolution. As your creature grows, you put new parts on it and make it more powerful. You must also survive by destroying your threats and absorbing strengths. This is definitly going to be the source of much debate. Many religious people will hate the game for promoting evolution. If it's going to be band anywhere, it will definitly be band in religious countries like Isreal, Indian and China.

However, Christians should know, this is only a game. Just because it's about evolution doesn't mean Will Wright wants to destroy your faith. Unless the game starts promoting anti-religious themes (like killing gods and sacraficing prophets against the player's will) you shouldn't play this. However, my faith hasn't been shaken by what I've seen so far. Even if Will Wright wants to promote evolution, I think he's doing a good job trying to promote other things. He wants to teach people to be creative. Christians should not have their faith shaken if they can tell the difference between reality and fantasy. After all, how many of us wanted to create our own Pokemon? How many of us wanted to create a pet alien? Spore is definitly going to be something for everyone.

However, there is one bit of critizism nobody can ignore. This game will be very easy to abuse. Already, many people are creating inappropriate monsters with the creature creator. The game is rated E 10+, but parents should be warned. The game is not responsible if kids want to create something mean and disgusting. Adults should teach kids to play this game responsibly. This is just a warning I want people to be aware of.

Other than that, the game looks awesome. The creature creator pack is available in stores now. The full adventure game, is schedueled for a September release. Keep up to date, and have fun creating.

Brisingr is on Fire

2008-07-23T11:26:00.000-04:00

Brisingr is the third in Christopher Paolini's best selling novel series. Anybody interested in books has at least seen the covers of the previous two books. Although, you'll be forgiven if you've near heard of Eragon before.

(Skip this, if you already know about the series.)

Eragon was the very first book in the Inheiratance Trilogy. However, many people don't know these books as the Inheiratance Trilogy. Many people have come to know this series of books as the Eragon series. Basically, it is a high fantasy series of books that take place in a mideval type of world called Alagaesia. Thousands of years before the book's setting, Alagaesia was fruitfully ruled by Dragon Riders, until the evil King Galbatorix killed them all took over management.

The first Eragon book takes place during Alagaesia's darkest times. Eragon is the main protagonist, and he stumbles upon a dragon egg. He takes it for his own and becomes friends with a little blue dragon called Saphira. After a while, he takes it upon himself to overthrow King Galbatorix and restore order to the kingdom.

Everybody knows about the infamous ripoff Eragon is said to be. Many critics believe the Alagaesia world strongly resembles Middle Earth, from J.R.R. Tolkien's works. Other's compare its characters and story to Star Wars. Finally, another group of critics believe the subject of dragons and riders was taken from Dragonrider's of Pern (which is another fantasy series you've probably never heard of).

The criticizism has been a source of debate and contravercy since the first book's release. Many fans believe that Alagaesia is not similar to Middle Earth, because it has its own unique creatures and has a different type of history and a different type of civilization. Fans also believe it is not a Star Wars ripoff because the order of events is different and many plot twists aren't what you'd expect in a copy cat story.

Many positive critics enjoyed the books because of their submergable type of story and inspirational fantasy setting. It must be these traits that have sold the books (Eragon and Eldest) over 16 million copies worldwide. Fans are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the third book, Brisingr.

(Fans can start here.)

The next book in the series (Brisingr) will come in two parts. Christopher Paolini said in an interview that the story was too long. So, he would change the series from three books to four books. He has recently finished writing, and the new book is schedueled for a September release. However, is it worth reading.

Even if critics smash the book to bits, fans will still pick it up and read. No review will stop people from making it successful. Odds are, Brisingr will be another Star Wars rip-off. You'll be able to follow closely, if you compare the order of events with Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.

The last book, Eldest, got a lot of negative criticism because the heroes role in the story was weaker than many fans wanted. The grammer was also said to be hard to read and follow. Brisingr, in the wrong hands, could be worse. Then again, Paolini started this series when he was 15, so he may have gotten better. Only time can tell.

So much contraversy revolves around the Inheiratance Trilogy, it's hard to follow it. The best we can do is wait for the book's release and hope all goes well. Keep a close eye on this book.

Is the Mummy calling for Mommy?

2008-07-22T09:25:00.001-04:00

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, is a new forth coming triquel to the Mummy series of movies. Coming soon, this movie is expected to be a blockbuster and has received a PG-13 rating from the MPAA. The theatrical trailer has been released, but is it a movie worth watching?

This movie could turn into a disaster, very easily. The cast and crew (more specifically) must be desperate. This new movie will not be directed by Stephen Sommers like the last two films. Instead, Rob Cohen is taking over the series. He is famous for visual effects movies, like Dragonheart and XXX.

Brendan Fraser and John Hannah are the only cast members who are returning. The roles of Eve and Alex (from the previous two films) will be replaced by Maria Bello and Luke Ford, respectively. Either Brendan Fraser is a really bad actor, or a really good actor. He could be doing this movie for attention, or he is such a good actor he can continue without the same cast. Considering the trailer, I'd lean towards the second possibility.

The theatrical trailer tell us enough. A Chinese Mummy is being awoken this time around. Although there is story potential, it looks like the story is trying to overdo itself. The magic and mythology seem overused because you can see four different monster and a whole army of wax dumbies. Instead of being a traditional mummy movie, this movie looks like a mortal peril story (similar to Pirates of the Caribbean 3). Asside from visual effects, the trailer has given us no reason to believe this is a good movie.

Don't go to the movie theater to watch this unless critics give it a good rating. We must stop giving Hollywood the money they need to make bad movies. It is schedualed for an August 1st release, so think of another film you might want to see if this turns out to be a disaster.