Ah, my childhood, methinks I talk about it too much. But how can I help it when all of my interests and tastes originate from back in the day? Today I'm reviewing "The Iron Giant".
It's funny when an eighteen-year-old like me watches a movie that he first saw when he was only around seven. I notice a lot of things that I simply didn't get when I was a kid. In this case, it's the importance of the Cold War setting, the musings of Kent Mansley, and just how insecure the Giant makes everyone feel. I mean, they really could've been right about him being a Soviet weapon. When I was a kid, they were just "the bad guys", but now that I've grown up, there really seems to be little difference between the good guys and the bad.
For those of you who ignored this movie when it first came out (it was overshadowed by the big Disney films at the time, after all), I'll give you the premise. A giant robotic man crashes on Earth during the height of the Cold War era in the 1950s. He is soon discovered by a young boy named Hogarth, who wants to keep him secret from the government.
Now, I know that that premise sounds incredibly familiar (a certain brown alien with a long neck comes to mind), but aside from that the film is truly a unique experience. It touched on subjects that a lot of other kid's movies didn't have the guts to touch on. And at times, it was very dark for an children's film. Let's just say that if you threatened that beast of a robot, you would be in a world of hurt.
One of it's big important lessons is that you are who you choose to be, that the choices that you make now will shape who you become in the future. I think it's a lesson that this film pulls off effortlessly.
So if you never checked out this film back in the day, or you want to show it to your kids, then hop on Netflix and give it a gander. You won't be disappointed.
Rating: *****
Friday, June 24, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Hype for Deathly Hallows Part 2
Even if you've been living under a rock, you are probably aware that the final film in the "Harry Potter" franchise is coming out in less than a month. Alaska showings are already beginning to sell out on Fandango. Several of my friends intend to cosplay for the various showings. This isn't just a movie. For anyone who grew up with Harry at Hogwarts, myself included, this is an event.
It's time for another childhood flashback. It's 2001, and by then I'd read the first four books, some of which were gargantuan for my age. And yet, when I went to see the first movie, I was blown away all over again. The huge castle, the monsters, the characters, the spells, and not least of all the sweeping score from John Williams all leaped off the screen in ways I couldn't imagine. Sure, there were omissions from the original material, but I didn't care. This was an epic of a movie that was surely seen by everyone in my second grade classroom, whether they had read the books or not. Ever since then, every Potter movie has been entertaining, fun, thrilling, and overall well-made.
A few years ago, the seventh book rolled around and the suspense of it all kept me hooked. Where (and what) were the other horcruxes? Was Harry going to die? Who was going to die? The first half (as well as the last Potter movie) was just a large build-up to several large explosions that happened in the second half of the book, as is going to happen in Deathly Hallows Part 2.
That's what DHP2 will be to myself and other Potter fans: a massive end and sendoff to a franchise that helped define our childhoods. And if the movie has anything at all in common with the second half of the book, then it's going to be one hell of a sendoff. I promise that if you even remotely like Harry Potter, you will leave the theater satisfied.
I already Fandango'd my ticket. Now go and get yours if you know what's good for you.
It's time for another childhood flashback. It's 2001, and by then I'd read the first four books, some of which were gargantuan for my age. And yet, when I went to see the first movie, I was blown away all over again. The huge castle, the monsters, the characters, the spells, and not least of all the sweeping score from John Williams all leaped off the screen in ways I couldn't imagine. Sure, there were omissions from the original material, but I didn't care. This was an epic of a movie that was surely seen by everyone in my second grade classroom, whether they had read the books or not. Ever since then, every Potter movie has been entertaining, fun, thrilling, and overall well-made.
A few years ago, the seventh book rolled around and the suspense of it all kept me hooked. Where (and what) were the other horcruxes? Was Harry going to die? Who was going to die? The first half (as well as the last Potter movie) was just a large build-up to several large explosions that happened in the second half of the book, as is going to happen in Deathly Hallows Part 2.
That's what DHP2 will be to myself and other Potter fans: a massive end and sendoff to a franchise that helped define our childhoods. And if the movie has anything at all in common with the second half of the book, then it's going to be one hell of a sendoff. I promise that if you even remotely like Harry Potter, you will leave the theater satisfied.
I already Fandango'd my ticket. Now go and get yours if you know what's good for you.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Classic Game Review: Paper Mario (N64)
If you've read my previous posts, you may have noticed that my favorite game of all time is "Paper Mario" on the Nintendo 64. I think this'll require a little backstory here, so here we go.
The year is 1999. There is talk on the 2nd grade playground of this "PlayStation" and how awesome it is. Hell, I'd even played it at friends' houses. A lot. So when Christmas season came along, I asked my parents for a PlayStation, and they gave me... an N64.
There's a reason I don't dock points in my reviews due to clunky control, and the N64 is that reason. Trust me, trying to grasp that godforsaken trident... thing would've been hard enough if I had never handled a PS1 controller before. Thankfully, I also received a lot of games that made good use of it, like "Star Fox", "Mario Kart", "Mario 64", and "Pokemon Snap". And like any control scheme, I got used to the once-clunky controller quickly.
One day, in 2001, I was walking around the supermarket when an issue of Nintendo Power caught my eye. It had a preview/guide of the new N64 game, dubbed "Paper Mario", a name and concept that I had, at least back then, considered laughable and ridiculous. I mean, "Paper Mario"? How could you not scoff at that?
A month or two later, a close friend gave me the game for my birthday, saying that I absolutely had to play this game. I popped that sucker into my N64, and I was hit with an intro that was at first humorous, but then took a turn for the dramatic. I was quickly absorbed into the story of the Star Spirits and the Star Rod. I was captivated by the whole thing: the characters, the sense of humor, and of course, the amazing Action Command system.
For the uninitiated, the Action Command adds a little spice to an otherwise simple turn-based RPG battle system. In a normal RPG, like the first "Final Fantasy", you would just select your attack and let the game do the rest. But in "Paper Mario", if you really want to succeed, you need to put in a little more effort. Button inputs are slipped into ordinary attacks. For example, you can select the Jump command and have Mario do a single, simple jump. But if you tap the A button just as you are about to land on the enemy, you'll bounce off it and do another jump.
Later in the game, the Commands got more complex, but never too challenging. While the game still retained some challenge, it was easier than just setting it on auto-pilot.
Of course, I've spent all this time gushing over the gameplay, and it would be a crime to not mention the fantastic writing. The game has an amazing sense of humor. There are references to the 8-bit era, and even a TMNT spoof. Bowser and his minions work so hilariously off of each other. It's impossible to watch Bowser interact with his minions and Peach without a smile on your face.
Okay, maybe it's just nostalgia that makes this game so special to me, but even if you didn't play it at the age of eight, it's still worth a download. You won't regret your decision.
Rating: *****
The year is 1999. There is talk on the 2nd grade playground of this "PlayStation" and how awesome it is. Hell, I'd even played it at friends' houses. A lot. So when Christmas season came along, I asked my parents for a PlayStation, and they gave me... an N64.
There's a reason I don't dock points in my reviews due to clunky control, and the N64 is that reason. Trust me, trying to grasp that godforsaken trident... thing would've been hard enough if I had never handled a PS1 controller before. Thankfully, I also received a lot of games that made good use of it, like "Star Fox", "Mario Kart", "Mario 64", and "Pokemon Snap". And like any control scheme, I got used to the once-clunky controller quickly.
One day, in 2001, I was walking around the supermarket when an issue of Nintendo Power caught my eye. It had a preview/guide of the new N64 game, dubbed "Paper Mario", a name and concept that I had, at least back then, considered laughable and ridiculous. I mean, "Paper Mario"? How could you not scoff at that?
A month or two later, a close friend gave me the game for my birthday, saying that I absolutely had to play this game. I popped that sucker into my N64, and I was hit with an intro that was at first humorous, but then took a turn for the dramatic. I was quickly absorbed into the story of the Star Spirits and the Star Rod. I was captivated by the whole thing: the characters, the sense of humor, and of course, the amazing Action Command system.
For the uninitiated, the Action Command adds a little spice to an otherwise simple turn-based RPG battle system. In a normal RPG, like the first "Final Fantasy", you would just select your attack and let the game do the rest. But in "Paper Mario", if you really want to succeed, you need to put in a little more effort. Button inputs are slipped into ordinary attacks. For example, you can select the Jump command and have Mario do a single, simple jump. But if you tap the A button just as you are about to land on the enemy, you'll bounce off it and do another jump.
Later in the game, the Commands got more complex, but never too challenging. While the game still retained some challenge, it was easier than just setting it on auto-pilot.
Of course, I've spent all this time gushing over the gameplay, and it would be a crime to not mention the fantastic writing. The game has an amazing sense of humor. There are references to the 8-bit era, and even a TMNT spoof. Bowser and his minions work so hilariously off of each other. It's impossible to watch Bowser interact with his minions and Peach without a smile on your face.
Okay, maybe it's just nostalgia that makes this game so special to me, but even if you didn't play it at the age of eight, it's still worth a download. You won't regret your decision.
Rating: *****
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Favorites
Something I've always wanted to touch on is what a lot of people ask me about: What do I think is the best movie of all time? What about the best game? Well, frankly, I can't determine. Here's why.
A subject like "Best of All Time" is a very touchy and delicate one. You have to avoid offending people whose opinions wildly clash with yours. If you say, for example, that the best game of all time is "Final Fantasy VII", then your bound to receive opposing arguments from your peers. (Especially if you're on an internet forum)
Judging the best game or best movie is a very difficult task for anyone. One thing we can easily judge, however, is our favorite movie. Our favorite games. Games or movies that we've fallen in love with so much, whether as a child, or later in life.
There is a very distinct difference between "favorite" and "best", but however obvious that is, too many people seem to forget it. If I were to tell you that my favorite game of all time, "Paper Mario", was the best of all time, many of you would go into a fit of rage. After all, why eschew classics like "Ocarina of Time", or again, "Final Fantasy VII"?
It's easy for our favorites to overshadow and corrupt our view of "best". You have to think of a game or movie that are so beloved by many, far and wide. Many say movies like "Citizen Kane", or "The Godfather", or even "Jason and the Argonauts". I can understand all of these being candidates for "best", but from my point of view, there is no "best". I cannot think of anyone who can logically judge the "Best Movie or Game of All Time". It's impossible.
But my point is this. Movies and games are very artistic mediums, and as with any art, we must not fall into the trap of only focusing on what is the best. That isn't the point of art. So just relax, put down the keyboard before you start typing the many profanities you would on any other blog or message board. Just enjoy the medium.
...And I will stand by "Paper Mario" until the end, so don't deride it.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Game Review: Metroid: Other M
Hoo boy, I just know I'm not going to earn much fans with this review. This game has garnered so much hatred and controversy that it's become almost impossible to say anything good of it without being fired upon with a Super Missile. But you know what? Screw that. I have an opinion, and dammit, I'm going to share it.
For those of you who don't know, "Other M" is the most recent game in the Metroid saga, the prequel to "Metroid: Fusion" (my favorite game in the series, FYI), and one of the most divisive games of this generation. The reason it's so divisive (if you didn't know already) is that Samus is no longer just a soulless avatar in a Varia Suit, but now a full-fledged, story-driven character. She expresses feelings, and she can be scared, worried, and concerned just as much as she was ruthless and badass in the other games.
This, in my opinion, is a great thing. Nintendo's games have (almost) always been devoid of character or story. Mario saves princess. Link impales Ganon with Master Sword. Wario invents minigames. Random Mii whacks baseball. The End.
"Other M" looks to reverse this trend. No longer is Samus the cold, ruthless warrior we thought she was. She's now what she always has been: human. Emotions and feelings are fleshed out through monologues and conversations. There is a much-criticized cutscene where she stops dead in her tracks after seeing her long-time nemesis, Ridley. This understandably left fans confused; after all, hadn't she just blew him away in "Super Metroid" without a second thought?
But we fail to see the big picture. This pirate, dragon... thing not only murdered her only family, but also wiped out all life on her entire planet. He's a genocidal maniac. And her PTSD leaves her paralyzed and afraid. Only after seeing her best friend die at his hands does she begin to fight back.
Only a real character can have this kind of reaction. This is what I love to see in video game characters: real, human problems that we connect with. We couldn't do this with cold, ruthless bounty hunter Samus. We can with this "softened" Samus, so to speak.
Of course, as I say all these things about one single aspect of a huge game, neglecting to touch on other, important issues, good and bad. For example, the controls. Like "Prime Hunters" for the DS, they take a while to get used to. Trust me, using a D-pad to maneuver Samus around a 3-D space, especially after it was so well done in "Prime 3: Corruption", feels very clunky at first. But like any control scheme, you get used to it and it becomes second nature.
I've touched on Samus turning into a full-fledged character, but I need to talk about the voice acting. At it's best, it's pretty good, but at it's worst, it gets really awful. MB, with her stilted, robotic voice, and Anthony Higgs, with his blatant black mannerisms, are two of the worst offenders. It'd be nice for video games, now an artistic medium like film or theater, to get some actual acting talent behind them.
The soundtrack is alright. There's nothing really memorable aside from music that's been in Metroid games before, such as the awesome orchestral arrangement of Ridley's theme. The music is mostly just atmosphere. That said, some of the battle music definitely has a "Star Trek" vibe, which kind of fits with the aesthetic.
And then there's the issue of Adam giving orders to unlock Samus' equipment. I know it's a little absurd that she has to go through a hazardous area without the proper armor just because Adam didn't say so, but give Team Ninja a break. The "enemies steal powerups" and "Power Suit damaged" situations have become a ridiculous Metroid cliche by now, so this is a neat twist.
All in all, this gives Samus a character we thought she'd never have, and it's something that I must praise Nintendo and Team Ninja for doing. The story is excellent, the graphics and soundtrack look and sound great (and I refrain using the cursed "for a Wii game" phrase), and it's a Nintendo game doing something different. The voice acting is a little iffy, but it's a shortcoming I'm willing to forgive.
Oh, and props to Team Ninja for bringing back Nightmare. That's all that really needs to be said.
Rating: ****
For those of you who don't know, "Other M" is the most recent game in the Metroid saga, the prequel to "Metroid: Fusion" (my favorite game in the series, FYI), and one of the most divisive games of this generation. The reason it's so divisive (if you didn't know already) is that Samus is no longer just a soulless avatar in a Varia Suit, but now a full-fledged, story-driven character. She expresses feelings, and she can be scared, worried, and concerned just as much as she was ruthless and badass in the other games.
This, in my opinion, is a great thing. Nintendo's games have (almost) always been devoid of character or story. Mario saves princess. Link impales Ganon with Master Sword. Wario invents minigames. Random Mii whacks baseball. The End.
"Other M" looks to reverse this trend. No longer is Samus the cold, ruthless warrior we thought she was. She's now what she always has been: human. Emotions and feelings are fleshed out through monologues and conversations. There is a much-criticized cutscene where she stops dead in her tracks after seeing her long-time nemesis, Ridley. This understandably left fans confused; after all, hadn't she just blew him away in "Super Metroid" without a second thought?
But we fail to see the big picture. This pirate, dragon... thing not only murdered her only family, but also wiped out all life on her entire planet. He's a genocidal maniac. And her PTSD leaves her paralyzed and afraid. Only after seeing her best friend die at his hands does she begin to fight back.
Only a real character can have this kind of reaction. This is what I love to see in video game characters: real, human problems that we connect with. We couldn't do this with cold, ruthless bounty hunter Samus. We can with this "softened" Samus, so to speak.
Of course, as I say all these things about one single aspect of a huge game, neglecting to touch on other, important issues, good and bad. For example, the controls. Like "Prime Hunters" for the DS, they take a while to get used to. Trust me, using a D-pad to maneuver Samus around a 3-D space, especially after it was so well done in "Prime 3: Corruption", feels very clunky at first. But like any control scheme, you get used to it and it becomes second nature.
I've touched on Samus turning into a full-fledged character, but I need to talk about the voice acting. At it's best, it's pretty good, but at it's worst, it gets really awful. MB, with her stilted, robotic voice, and Anthony Higgs, with his blatant black mannerisms, are two of the worst offenders. It'd be nice for video games, now an artistic medium like film or theater, to get some actual acting talent behind them.
The soundtrack is alright. There's nothing really memorable aside from music that's been in Metroid games before, such as the awesome orchestral arrangement of Ridley's theme. The music is mostly just atmosphere. That said, some of the battle music definitely has a "Star Trek" vibe, which kind of fits with the aesthetic.
And then there's the issue of Adam giving orders to unlock Samus' equipment. I know it's a little absurd that she has to go through a hazardous area without the proper armor just because Adam didn't say so, but give Team Ninja a break. The "enemies steal powerups" and "Power Suit damaged" situations have become a ridiculous Metroid cliche by now, so this is a neat twist.
All in all, this gives Samus a character we thought she'd never have, and it's something that I must praise Nintendo and Team Ninja for doing. The story is excellent, the graphics and soundtrack look and sound great (and I refrain using the cursed "for a Wii game" phrase), and it's a Nintendo game doing something different. The voice acting is a little iffy, but it's a shortcoming I'm willing to forgive.
Oh, and props to Team Ninja for bringing back Nightmare. That's all that really needs to be said.
Rating: ****
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