Monthly Archives: April 2011

PROM

Posted on by

“Prom is like the Olympics of high school; You wait four years, only like three people have a good time, and everyone else leaves with shattered hopes and dreams.” Nova Prescott had it all, class president, popularity and a bright future. What more can a teenage high school girl ask for? Well, how about a perfect prom for starters?

Prom stars Aimee Teergarden (Friday Night Lights) as Nova Prescott and Thomas McDonald (soon to portray young Barnabas Collins in Dark Shadows) as Jesse Richter. Nova is obsessed with planning the perfect prom as a final farewell to high school and a big jump to college. Her dreams are shattered after a fire has ruined all her prom decorations and she is in need of some help to get things back on track. “Walking misdemeanor” Jesse Richter is forced to help Nova fix what was lost and in the end they end up finding love. Prom includes different stories about couples who have problems of their own that all revolve around the most important night of a senior’s life: the prom

Disney’s Prom is another cheesy, lackluster high school film with awkward scenes and awkward actors. This movie is unrealistic and uneventful and may put parents at ease but leave kids wondering why they would pour their heart and soul into one specific yet anti-climactic night that most adults end up forgetting anyways. Although the film lacked humor and good writing, the most promising part is the soundtrack.

The film is too familiar and uses the same old scenarios that have been played out in other films about high school countless times and offers nothing new.

2 out of 5 stars.

Fast Five

Posted on by

The 2011 summer movie season kicks off in high gear with the release of Fast Five the latest installment in the phenomenally popular Fast and Furious series. The movie picks up exactly where the previous film ended with Brian O’ Conner (Paul Walker), orchestrating a daring escape for Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel).

The film quickly moves forward in time where Brian and Dominic’s sister Mia (Jordana Brewster), overall fugitives from the law, have taken refuge in Rio. Unsure of exactly where Dominic is, an old family friend offers Brian and Mia roles in a job which will surely score them some very easy and much-needed money. Although reluctant, Brian agrees to the job which involves the theft of three high-value cars from a train. Things go horribly wrong when they’re doublecrossed, the aftermath of which leads to the death of three federal agents. Only Dominic’s arrival, quick thinking, and a daring escape allows Brian and Mia to survive.

Although it is not their fault, the deaths of the agents is blamed solely on the trio, and an elite fugitive hunter named Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) arrives with his team with the sole mission of stopping Brian, Mia and Dominic, no matter the cost.

As if this wasn’t enough trouble for the fugities, it is learned that they have also fallen on the radar of the local drug kingpin named Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida), who will stop at nothing to retrieve an item now in the trio’s possession. Caught in the crossfire between Hobbs and Reyes, Dominic plots an epic caper that will allow them not only the money to flee Hobbs and disappear into a life of luxury, but allow them to settle the score with Reyes.

What follows is a nonstop action thrill ride that sprinkles in a nice mix of comedy and romance to keep things interesting. The film downplays the racing aspect of the series and instead saves the spectacular driving for key action sequences. While street racing scenes are alluded to they are not shown as director Justin Chin focuses squarely on his cast and allows them ample time to develop their characters. In doing so it strengthens the bond between them and allows the climactic sequence to have an even greater impact than your standard over-the-top summer film action scenes.
.
There are some really funny moments in the film as Dominic assembles his team to pull off the ultimate job. The new characters work very well with the established cast from the previous films and introduce characters which I hope will be a part of any future films in the series. Johnson was a very pleasant surprise, as his character could easily have been one-dimensional. He was given a few wrinkles which allowed him to walk the fine line between good guy and bad guy, which is an essential quality to many of the film’s characters. Johnson’s action sequences were solid and highly effective and once again underscores that he needs to be focusing more on action films and less on the family-friendly genre that
has dominated the bulk of his recent work.

Walker and Diesel complement each other perfectly and appear to be having a great time working with one another again. They have a very easy-going and natural chemistry with one another that works even when they’re not behind the wheel of a car or caught up in a frantic action scene.

While the plot of the film is fairly straightforward it provides ample framework for the characters to grow and propel the story forward. While the audience is asked to take some great leaps in logic it doesn’t derail from the finished product. The stuntwork in the film was absolutely amazing and the spectacular finale of the movie alone must be seen to be believed.

Many times during my press screening the audience was completely silent for a brief second following an action sequence before erupting into thunderous applause and cheers after they’ve fully processed what just unfolded on the screen. Larger-than-life characters combined with larger-than-life action, plus some very sexy cars and very sexy people make an extremely winning formula. If the rumors are true, Chin may be handed the reins to the Terminator franchise as well as the next film in the Fast and Furious series, then audiences are in for one hell of a ride.

I think my wife summed it up best when she said that movie was “Ridiculous…ridiculously good.” Reality is thrown out the window for pure adrenaline and testosterone fueled action.

Four stars out of five

Hoodwinked Too: Hood vs. Evil

Posted on by

Does anyone remember the original Hoodwinked movie? Nobody else does, either. Blue Yonder Films, the studio that brought you Doogal tries to pull another rabbit out of their hat by releasing a sequel to the twisted fairy-tale movie titled Hoodwinked Too: Hood vs. Evil. All of the original voice characters are present from the first film, except for Red (Anne Hathaway was replaced by Hayden Panettiere), and Kirk the Woodsman (Jim Belushi , who was replaced by Martin Short).

It doesn’t really matter if you’ve seen the first movie, as a storybook opening catches the audience up on the current situation. A short intro introduces the HEA (Happily Ever After Agency; shouldn’t that be HEAA?) staking out a Wicked Witch who is holding Hansel & Gretel (Bill Hader & Amy Poehler) hostage in her Gingerbread House. The main protagonist, Red Riding Hood (Panettiere) is off on training, and her former partner, The Big Bad Wolf (Patrick Warburton) is handling the situation with Granny (Glen Close).

Of course, the seemingly simple scenario changes to a conspiracy which has actually been masterminded by the hostages, in order to drag a secret from Granny. Granny is a part of the Sisterhood of Kung-Fu Bakers (the “Hood” in the film’s title), and possesses the recipe of a secret weapon known as the Super Truffle, which supposedly makes those who consume it invincible. The movie has a small army of all-star cast members, and each one makes the most of their parts.

Unfortunately nearly everything else in the film misses the mark, from the writing, direction, and even the animation. Many other computer-animated movies today feel a lot more organic, and although the visuals of this sequel are better than the first there are times when character movements appear more programmed than motion-captured. Most of the jokes in the movie require one to have lived during the 70s or 80s, and nearly all of them are groaners. Jokes like “Dog is your co-pilot”, and a backwards sign where “dyslexic” is clearly visible are just too obscure even for the average adult. Sure, this is a family movie that should have something for everyone, but the preview theater I was in had a large mix of children and their parents, and there was only one time when the audience laughed as a whole.

There are a few running gags that did receive a positive audience response. Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong play two of the Three Little Pigs (hitmen for hire), and they received most of the genuine laughs. Another running gag was of a banjo-playing goat, who is constantly being fallen upon by other characters. This gag did get some chuckles, particularly from children, but was an obvious rip-off of “Scrat” from the Ice Age series, but just didn’t have the same charm. Most animated films either have amazing visuals, humor or heart, and the best ones blend these essentials together. Unfortunately none of these elements are present in Hoodwinked Too to make the audience feel for Red’s story, and the semi-warm victory at the end is simply “meh”.

You won’t be missing anything by skipping this film at the box office. It might be worth a rental when it comes out on DVD, but you and your family can still live a full and satisfying life without it.

2 out of 5 stars.

George Romero Leads an All Star Horror Cast For Call of Duty: Black Ops DLC

Posted on by

George Romero is coming to Call of Duty. The press release below confirms that Romero and several other name talent will be going up against Zombies.

Press release as follows…..

Legendary Director, George Romero,
to Star with Robert Englund, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Michael Rooker and Danny Trejo
in Blockbuster DLC Release Hitting in Seven Days

Santa Monica, CA – April 26, 2011 – Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq:
ATVI) and Treyarch revealed today that famed horror and
action stars Robert Englund, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Michael Rooker and Danny Trejo
have joined the cast of Call of Duty(r): Black Ops Escalation’s zombie level, Call
of the Dead. The Call of the Dead zombie level and four all new multiplayer maps
make up the second content pack, Escalation, for the record-setting game Call of
Duty: Black Ops, launching first on Xbox LIVE(r) on May 3rd. Dedicated to creating
a Zombie experience like never before, the Call of the Dead storyline is inspired by
none other than legendary horror writer and director, George A. Romero, who also
stars as himself in the new level.

“Our latest zombie creation, Call of the Dead, is unreal!” says Mark Lamia, Studio
Head of Treyarch. “We set out to create an exciting new zombie experience for fans
of the genre that takes Zombies to an insane new level.”

“This is Treyarch’s tribute to the legendary George Romero, who truly defined the
zombie genre and whose incredible work has been such an inspiration to our team.”
says Dave Anthony, Call of Duty: Black Ops Director. “It was an absolute honor to
work with such an amazing and talented cast whose passion and energy brought their
characters instantly to life. Fans are going to love this.”

In addition to George A. Romero, whose credits include Night of the Living Dead,
Dawn of the Dead and Land of the Dead, he is joined by Sarah Michelle Gellar, whose
credits include the hit TV series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Cruel Intentions;
Robert Englund, best known for originating the role of Freddy Krueger in the
successful Nightmare on Elm Street franchise; Michael Rooker, most recently
acclaimed for his work on AMC’s horror drama The Walking Dead; and Danny Trejo, who
starred in 2010′s action-thriller Machete.

……End of press release.

This could be huge especially with a void in good Zombie gaming since Plants vs. Zombies and Left 4 Dead 2 were released. Makes me wonder if Valve has a Left 4 Dead 3 in the works. Regardless, this is great news and further merges the line between horror films and gaming.

MAX Payne 3 Facts and Screens

Posted on by

Background and Aims
It’s almost exactly 10 years since Rockstar Games and Remedy worked together on the original Max Payne, and eight years since Max Payne 2.
With Max Payne 3, Rockstar Studios’ aim was to use every tool at their disposal – from advances in Euphoria physics, particle effects and AI, to a new creative approach to Max’s classic comic-book panels, combined with Rockstar’s notoriously obsessive attention to detail – to create a highly cinematic action shooter.

Story Overview
Max Payne 3 is set eight years after the events of the last instalment. No longer a cop, Max is close to washed-up, drunk and addicted to painkillers. Without a job on the force, Max has left the greater New York area, and he finds himself in Sao Paulo, Brazil, working in the burgeoning field of private security.
Max’s latest assignment sees him protecting the family of Rodrigo Branco, a wealthy real estate mogul and his two brothers: Victor, a local politician and the youngest, Marcello, a party-loving Eurotrash playboy, along with Fabiana Branco, Rodrigo’s trophy wife, and Giovanna, Fabiana’s sister.

The story of Max’s descent from vengeful, leather-jacket wearing detective roaming the alleys of New York to the broken, shaven-headed man out for justice on unfamiliar streets far from home is at the center of Max Payne 3.
Features to note:

- The combination of Natural Motion’s Euphoria character behavior system and Bullet Time adds a new level to Max’s classic shoot-dodge moves. Shoot-dodge is not a canned animation, but a natural interaction with the environment, as Max will reach out to the floor as he dives, and naturally respond to objects in his way if you attempt to dive into a wall or obstacle
- This marriage of slow-motion gunplay and Euphoria physics amplifies the cinematic action of Max Payne 3 significantly, and enemies will also respond realistically to each bullet fired.

- Max Payne 3 extends the concept of Bullet-Time to now include game areas of the game that will trigger set pieces involving Bullet-Time. These provide epic moments of action that allow Max to take out enemies in a new interpretation of Max Payne’s signature style.

- Bullet-Cams return: in keeping with the stylish gunplay for which Max is known, Bullet-Cams deliver players a reward for downing enemies with a satisfying final kill
- Max Payne 3 takes the graphic novel panels of the earlier games and evolves them by utilizing in-game assets to create a motion comic-style approach.

- James McCaffrey, the original voice of Max, is back. Not only as the voice of max, but Max’s appearance, face and many of his movements in Max Payne 3 are all captured directly from James himself.

- Max Payne 3 features an integrated cover system. Cover adds an extra strategic element to the classic shoot-dodge/bullet-time/ run-and-gun mechanics of Max Payne, providing players with new options in any given situation
- Tremendous detail has been paid to every facet of Max Payne 3: Bullets destroy nearly everything in the environment, sweat will appear on Max’s face and shirt as the heat of battle wears on, and blood soaks the clothing of his enemies. You’ll also notice the minute details of the weapons themselves: hammers cock back, slides move, shells expel from the chamber and literally hundreds more.

- Partners and sidekicks will play a large role in Max Payne 3. Hundreds of hours of custom motion-capture were done for individual characters, making traditional in-game encounters completely unique, such as enemies sweeping a room or simply the way Max’s partners will behave as they move through the game.


RSG_MP3_022


RSG_MP3_061


RSG_MP3_044


RSG_MP3_047


RSG_MP3_020


RSG_MP3_028


RSG_MP3_049


RSG_MP3_058

PREY 2 Interview

Posted on by

Recently we got to speak with Matt Bisenius – Associate Producer, Human Head Studios about the hotly anticipated PREY 2. I want to thank Matt for answering our questions Pete and Angela at Zenimax for arranging the interview.

What is the storyline for the game and how soon does it follow the events of the first game?

Prey 2 tells the story of Killian Samuels, a US Marshal who was abducted during the same events that kicked off Prey. Killian was aboard an airplane crossing over Oklahoma that gets sucked up to the Sphere (mother ship) hovering over Earth. This wreckage is actually encountered by Tommy Towadi, the protagonist of Prey, during his journey to destroy the Sphere.

While the same events are responsible for starting off each game, the sequel quickly takes a turn and explores a new part of the Prey universe. Following the crash landing on the Sphere, Killian is taken by a race of slavers to a distant planet he calls Exodus.

Killian awakes on this planet and it’s made immediately clear that he has been here for much longer than perceived. In the time passed, Killian has established himself on Exodus by converting his skills from being a US Marshal into that of being a Bounty Hunter. He also learns that he’s the only human (that is, until he encounters Tommy), he’s made a handful of friends, and has made a lot of enemies.

Through Prey 2 the player is tasked with uncovering Killian’s past, taking missions as a bounty hunter in the present, and uncovering the greater looming mysteries of the very near future.

Why did it take until now for a sequel to be announced as many people expected it to be announced within a year of the release of the first game?

Immediately following the release of Prey Human Head Studios began work on other projects. In the summer of 2009, Human Head Studios signed with BSW and, together, began work on Prey 2.

Bethesda Softworks: We announce games when the timing is right – and that’s now!

What types of weapons will be available to players and will spirit walking be included?

The new protagonist, Killian, has a whole new bag of weapons and gadgets that speak to the bounty hunter thematic.

His gadgets run the gamut but fall into one of several categories. There are gadgets to incapacitate enemies (Boladeros, Anti-Gravity Grenades), to kill enemies (Frag Grenades, Rockets), to assist with navigation (Hover Boots), to provide a tactical advantage during combat (Hex-Shield), and to provide info (Scanner), and some other types as well.

In all we’ll have over 20 gadgets with up to 40 upgrades in all. The number of gadgets available to the player allows them to take a unique approach to any given situation. The gadgets by themselves are quite a lot of fun and are very beneficial when facing a tricky situation but what puts them over the top is their ability to be used in conjunction with the weapons. Killian can be shooting and reloading his pistol at the same time Shoulder-mounted rockets are being fired.

Regarding weapons, Killian will have 40 different weapon configurations built from 5 core weapon types.

Will portals be a part of the game and if so how have they been enhanced since the original?

Portals were part of the Sphere which met its demise in Prey when Tommy drove it into the sun. While portals made for an interesting gameplay device and excellent features to extend our puzzles, it really has no place in Prey 2 thematically or through gameplay. We’re introducing a set of mechanics that are new to the first-person shooter market and will serve the same function of providing a fresh experience to players.

What enemies will players face and will there be vehicles that players can use?

The player will not have access to vehicles in Prey 2.

The player will encounter a variety of new species in Prey 2, as well as a number of re-envisioned species from Prey. There is a system in place to mix and match costuming on the aliens to provide a greater sense of variety in the world. Seeing as it’s an open world game, variety in the general population goes a long way towards conveying the sense of a living world, especially across different levels.

More specifically, regarding enemies and combat variation, species will share a range of weaponry and varied alien tactics. The player will also encounter the occasional individual exotic/alien ability such as teleporting. It’s also important to note that in an open world NPCs can become enemies at any point. It’s not always cut and dry as to who has the means and agenda to hurt you so as a player there’s another layer of gameplay that is being conscious of everyone in your immediate surroundings.

Another interesting aspect that ties in to the Bounty Hunter role is that many enemies must be captured and taken alive so gunning them down would result in mission failure, or for enemies that must be captured alive or dead, it becomes player choice how to take them down. This makes for a very fresh and unique first-person shooter experience.

PREY had many puzzles for players to solve, will the new game be more or less puzzle centric?

Prey 2 is much more focused on agile combat, fluid navigation and open world exploration. This doesn’t mean that the player won’t have to use their wits to figure out the best way to approach the various situations they encounter in the game.

Puzzle solving becomes more about tactically reading the situation and determining how to approach given the player’s current gadget/weapon loadouts, the enemies encounters, and the location itself. There are always multiple ways to tackle each encounter, which — depending upon the encounter — are more or less effective. While playing the game, the player will learn which tactics work best for each situation based upon the encounter, their loadouts, and their own personal play style.

What can you tell us about the gaming engine and what it will bring to the table?

Work on the technology began immediately after Prey 1 shipped in 2006, with idTech 4 as our base. Throughout development we’ve revamped and evolved the engine focusing on physically based lighting, virtual texturing, and large open worlds in order to build the beautiful and unique open-world experience of Prey 2.

Physically-based lighting means all of our lighting is based on the real physics of light, including real world values for all light sources and materials. The lighting system seamlessly mixes dynamic deferred lighting and shadows with very complex pre-computed effects such as soft shadows, glossy reflection, and global illumination. Combine this with a practically unlimited texture budget provided by virtual texturing and you get a result typically found only in offline CG.

Trust me, you haven’t seen anything like this before.

What are some of the locales gamers will see in the game?

Prey 2 takes place on Exodus which is a tidally locked planet. Similar to how the same face of the moon is always facing Earth, the same face of Exodus is always facing their sun. This results in a hot/light and cold/dark side of the planet. Between the two extremes you have a thin in habitable ring of life. Up until now, we’ve showed the Bowery – a location which is located right in the middle between dark and light and is at permanent dusk. Throughout the game the player will unlock and freely travel between a few other locales including one more skewed towards the light and another towards the dark.

All of these locales share a common theme of ‘Alien Noir’.

What type of multiplay will the game offer?

There is no multiplayer in Prey 2. With Bethesda’s great knowledge of the single-player open world genre and our drive to create a fantastic open world first person shooter, we opted to take multiplayer out of the equation. Our primary goal is to create a fun, engaging, and memorable single-player experience.

Blending action with a detailed plot can always be tricky, how have you attempted to create this in Prey 2?

While Prey 2 does provide lots of great action it also takes time to let the player catch their breath and absorb some story. The conveyance of story will occur through a variety of means which we are not talking about yet.

What are some of the biggest obstacles you see in creating the game, and what are your biggest goals for the game?

We’ve managed to modify an engine designed for linear corridor gameplay and convert it into an open world shooter with new parkour-like navigation. This required us to break down the walls (literally) and provide greater draw distances, build new player mechanics from the ground up, new AI and AI pathing, an overhaul on the rendering (physical based lighting, virtual texturing, and more), and to build our levels in an entirely new fashion. The outcome is mind-blowing and we’re excited to show the public more of what we’ve been working on.

Can you tell us about who is doing the voices for the game and the music and what they bring to the production?

Not yet, but we’ll keep you posted!


Ipad and Ipad 2 users can get free issues of our magazine here.

PORTAL 2

Posted on by

In 2007 Valve Software released Portal and watched it garner rave reviews and tons of awards for game of the year and other achievements. Originally planned as companion material in their Orange Box set which featured Half Life 2 Episode Two, and Team Fortress 2, the Portal game soon spread like wildfire when gamers fell in love with the story and unique blend of action and puzzle-solving. Fans have eagerly awaited a new chapter in the series and thankfully Portal 2 has finally arrived amidst much hype and anticipation.

The game picks up some time after the first as players once again play Chell, a woman who has ended up in a testing chamber at Aperature Science with no explanation has to how and why she ended up there. The game implies that several years have passed since the first game because when Chell awakens from hybernation sleep it is clear that things have decayed over time. Her pristine room is now suffering from serious signs of neglect.

A computerized orb named Wheatley (voiced by Stephan Merchant), attempts to lead Chell to safety but unfortunately awakens the evil GLaDOS computer system. GLaDOS is very upset over what happened in your previous encounter and has decided to make things very personal. Having a homicidal computer mad at you is not good for one’s health and neither are the new test chambers that you must navigate in order to survive. As with the previous game, players have a portal gun which allows them to place two portals on the maps which players can use to traverse chasms, dangers, and remote objects and locations. Skilled players will also be able to use the device to defend themselves from robotic dangers that arise in the game as well.

As in the prior game, players must survive numerous testing chambers and use their brains as well as spacial processing, physics, and timing to resolve the puzzles in the game. Cleverly, the designers have upped the ante by introducing fluidic puzzles which allow player to jump high and move fast. A much needed ability as the game has plenty of surprise turns in it.

As the plot of the game unfolds, players are given clues as to their setting and circumstance by what Wheatley and GLaDOS, voiced by Ellen McClain, say to you, as well as pre-recorded messages and writing on the walls that are encountered off grid. J.K. Simmons plays Aperture Science CEO Cave Johnson and his recorded messages do a nice job of providing humor as well as backstory to the game.

The puzzles are harder this time out. Having to factor in viscocity as well as trajectory and physics makes for some real challanges. That being said, as in the prior game, it is very satisfying when you are able to resolve a puzzle and the off grid settings really require you to think outside of the box and pay attention to your surroundings. Some of the puzzles have different resolution options so it is up to the gamer to device a strategy that works best for them.

The controls in the game have not changed since the original and as before players can customize their keyboard controls to a configuration that best suits them. Graphically the game looks great and I was again reminded of the “Cube” film series which features individuals forced to survive by solving puzzles and avoiding deadly traps. The game remains as fresh and original as before. However, the source engine graphics are looking dated and, while still crisp and sharp, should be updated for future games in the series.

The sound and voice acting in the game are amazing. The characters are engaging and provide a great mix of humor and menace to the game. Portal 2 offers a co-op multiplay mode which allows gamers to play as one of two robots and work through challenges designed to be played by two players. It took a little work to resolve communication issues and get used to having to tag where you wanted a player to place portals, but in no time my fellow gamer and I were taking on every challenge the system could throw our way. I especially like the fact that Playstation 3 and Mac owners will be able to join with PC players in the same game. My only real issue with the game was that upon completion I was left with many unaswered questions. I know that this may be addressed in a future game but I had hoped to have some more of the mystery of the game and situations explained to me. Instead, like with Babylon 5, for every answer I was given, there were several more questions raised. The game does not so much as answer questions, but it hints at things and requires
players to make up your own mind.

In the end Portal 2 is the rare sequel that surpasses the original and once again Valve has set a new standard in gaming. It seems like every time they release a new title I am amazed at how they simply create nothing but the highest quality games and take the time to do them right rather than rush off quick sequels or release buggy games. While there is still plenty of time left in 2011, I expect Portal 2 will be a strong contender for our Game of the Year award as well as several other industry awards.

4.5 stars out of 5


Ipad and Ipad 2 users can get free issues of our magazine here.

Water for Elephants

Posted on by

By Genevieve McBride

The future is bright with promise for Jacob, a Cornell veterinary sciences student, ready to graduate and follow in his father’s footsteps. But after a series of unfortunate events, Jacob finds himself a college dropout, homeless and penniless. He sets out to find work and stows away on a passing train which turns out to be the Benzini Brothers Circus train.

Jacob appeals to the vanity of the heartless circus owner and ringmaster, August, convincing him to keep him on as the circus veterinary doctor. One of his first patients is the horse of the circus’ star attraction, Marlena, who also happens to be August’s wife. When Marlena’s horse is replaced by an elephant, Jacob is made responsible for the elephant’s care and training. This gives Marlena and Jacob a common ally in Rosie, the elephant, and a common enemy in an increasingly violent August. Cue the furtive glances, the stilted conversations and awkward moments that signal the start of the mutual attraction between Marlena and Jacob.

While Jacob, Marlena and August form the romantic triangle that drives the story, it’s Rosie and the circus backdrop that provide the more entertaining aspects of the movie. Director Francis Lawrence (Constantine and I Am Legend) pays decent attention to period detail, highlighting the desperation and brutality of The Great Depression while romanticizing the ephemeral circus life and the subversive lifestyles enjoyed in defiance of The Prohibition. Sadly they were just quick peeks into a curious world.

Based on a best-selling novel of the same name by Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants is a sweet tale told in retrospect by a 90-something-year old Jacob, played by a wistful Hal Holbrook. Robert Pattinson plays young Jacob capably, and I have no doubt his fans will swoon at the many close ups of his brooding stare, pained grimaces and the occasional delighted smile. While this character gives him a few more lines than his more well-known role as Edward, the tortured vampire of the Twilight saga, it was difficult to watch him and not see the similarities in how he portrays Jacob and Edward. Reese Witherspoon’s Marlena was in turns adequately fragile and sufficiently steely. With negligible chemistry, Pattinson and Witherspoon’s performances paled in comparison to that of Christoph Waltz whose sadistic August was played with cunning zeal.

A carefully told story, Water for Elephants is however too carefully told, in a predictable, pedantic pace. However, fans of Pattinson will not be disappointed.

3 out of 5 stars

By Tracey Barrientos

Director Francis Lawrence brings the story of Sara Gruen’s best selling book Water For Elephants to the big screen. Starring one of today’s hottest young actors, Robert Pattinson who ironically plays the main character by the name of Jacob. Jacob hopes to follow in his fathers footsteps by attending Cornell University to become a vet. He is currently in the middle of taking his final exams when he finds out his parents were in a terrible accident and have both died. As a result of this and discovering his father was heavily in debt, he decides to drop out of school and leave his old life behind to look for work.

While walking along train tracks Jacob hops a train not knowing that it will lead him to an exciting yet dangerous new life. Finding himself aboard the Benzini Brothers circus train, Jacob is soon working with some very interesting characters. Camel (Jim Norton) helps Jacob find work by introducing him to the owner & ringleader August (Christoph Waltz). August is an abusive and controlling man who is married to the star attraction Marlena (Reese Witherspoon). Marlena soon becomes Jacob’s love interest as he becomes the circus’s vet and is able to work closely with Marlena and her horses. The circus starts to lose revenue, workers start to get “redlighted” (tossed off the moving train) because money is scarce. August decides to bring in a new attraction, and purchases an elephant by the name of Rosie to save the show. A love triangle forms between August, Marlena and Jacob and as August becomes paranoid that Marlena is falling in love with someone else and may leave him, he becomes very abusive towards the animals and people around him.

Water For Elephants is beautifully filmed in the Depression Era with wonderful cinematography and vibrant colors. This film is very well executed and although I have never read the book I am willing to bet that audiences around the globe will be very happy with the story and the characters who are portrayed by some great actors. As many of you know I am a huge fan of the Twilight Saga and to say that this Robert Pattinson film is my absolute favorite over the Twilight films is huge. Although I am not a very big fan of Reese Witherspoon, I am happy to say that her portrayal of Marlena was wonderfully done. I always find myself being afraid of Christoph Waltz’s characters and once again his portrayal of August did the same thing.

This film is absolutely amazing and is one of the best films I have seen this year. The film evoked sadness, love, fear and happiness, all emotions a good movie should draw from an audience. This movie is definitely one that should not be missed.

5 out of 5 stars

Steve Blum Talks Transformers: Prime, Guild Wars 2, Bulletstorm & More

Posted on by

Steven Blum is a voice actor known primarily for his work in anime dubs and video games, using his distinctive baritone voice. He is best known as the voice of Spike Spiegel from Cowboy Bebop; Wolverine from several incarnations of X-Men (animated movies, games; the Wolverine and the X-Men TV Series and The Super Hero Squad Show); Tom, the robot host from Cartoon Network’s Toonam; Green Goblin from the Spectacular Spiderman series; Heatblast, Vilgax and Ghostfreak from Ben 10, and the voice of 7-11, in addition to his impressive list of other characters from anime, video games, TV and film.

Currently he’s working on the new super-charged CGI series Transformers: Prime, playing the sometimes delusional but always deadly Decepticon Starscream.

How did you become involved with the new Transformers project and your character?

I prayed a lot, bribed a little, cried some. [Laughs] Actually, I just auditioned for it like anything else – and got really, really lucky! Starscream has always been one of my favorite characters – especially as played in recent years by the great Charlie Adler and also the great Tom Kenny! In fact, after hearing Charlie’s recent performances in the films, I felt I had to get his blessing before I could even accept the role! By the way, what a gentleman – love that guy! Tom’s a hell of an act to follow too – jeez! It’s very hard for me to take over a character that has been so masterfully portrayed – especially when my friends are the previous portrayers! I didn’t try to consciously copy anything that had been done before me, I simply did what came naturally and apparently (thankfully) they liked it!

What are the differences between voicing an animated character and a character for a video game? Do you have a preference?

I pretty much have the same approach in terms of the acting. I strive to try on the character’s skin and live as natural a life as I can while wearing it – even if it is highly dysfunctional. The primary difference is that in games, we don’t have as much time for development and finessing a performance. There are so many lines that need to be recorded, there simply isn’t time to do anything but lock in the character and start blasting away.

I love them both for different reasons, but I’d have to say working with a cast (like in Transformers) – is always more fun. We get to play a lot of nuance off of each other that just doesn’t exist when I’m in a room by myself. And we laugh. A lot. Sometimes too much. This cast in particular is amazing. I get a huge kick out of sitting back and watching Peter (Cullen) and Frank (Welker), the “Godfatherbots” themselves – duke it out. It’s a joy and honor to work in the same room with two of my biggest heroes! They ARE a comedy team. Like the old school, masters of improv and impersonation, the real deal. So much talent in that room, and an unusual mix of voices! It’s humbling.

How much time do you have to prepare for your film and game voice parts and how much information are you given on your characters ahead of time?

Most shows and games end up being a cold read. Little or no prep. Sometimes I have no idea what species or even gender my characters are going to be, not to mention dialects or ages! I’m grateful that the Transformers gang gives me the luxury of a couple of days to sit with the script and figure out where the story is going. I’m not in every episode, so sometimes I have to play catch up. I always do research when I can. Winging it is a huge part of the job though, and I don’t mind the challenge at all.

What sort of research did you do for the parts and what challenges did it present compared with other work?

I read a lot of stuff on the internet and watched an episode or two from each of the older series. I was already in my 20’s when G1 came out, but I was certainly aware that Transformers was something new and different and I have to admit that I did play with my kid’s action figures. I still do. Except I have my own action figures now. That counts as research, right?

What can you tell us about your voice work for the video game Bulletstorm and will we be seeing more of Grayson Hunt in the future?

Now THAT was fun to work on! It may be the winner of most allowable cussing in anything I’ve ever worked on. Physically, it was as taxing as some of the other action-heavy characters I play, but somehow session after session as a venom-spewing, potty-mouthed pirate was oddly satisfying. I was even allowed to abuse the players into buying the damn thing at pre-order! Genius! I hope we do more. Don’t know yet, but even if I did, I’d have to find 31 clever and stunning ways to kill you if I told you.

Any past game characters of yours we may see in the future?

I would suspect Wolverine may show up again somewhere and yes, others may reappear, but again, I don’t want you to die, so I can’t say anything more at the moment.

What can you tell us about your work in Guild wars 2 and the new Transformers game in terms of who you voice and what were your experiences on each?

Ah, Rytlock Brimstone, one big, nasty Charr – wields a huge sword and speaks in a gravelly, deep voice. That’s pretty much my entire knowledge of the guy. I’m not a gamer, so I play, I fight, I move on. Seemed pretty epic at the time.
If you’re speaking of the newest Transformers game – WAY too early to talk about it, methinks. Lasers trained on my temples. In the past, I’ve played a lot of bots – good and bad, including Barricade and Breakdown. Vocally stressful, but any time I get to live in the Transformers universe, I’m grateful.

Are you a fan of horror and science fiction? If so, what are some of your favorites?

Not as much horror as sci-fi, but I’ve seen quite a bit of both. One of my favorite horror bloodfests happens to be Re-Animator. I worked as a driver, shlepper, mailboy, slave for the production company that made it – Empire Pictures, when it was shot in 1985. The weird thing about that film is that the star, Jeff Combs, is now playing Ratchet in Transformers: Prime! I’ve been a huge fan of his for years. To get to work with him in this capacity is like bringing my life full circle. I was like a giddy 8-year-old when I got to meet him again, and actually work in the same room as an actor after all these years! Other stand out films from those genres would be the old classic Dracula, Frankenstein type fare and sci-fi goodies like the original Star Wars, Planet of the Apes, Blade Runner, 2001, etc. Too many to name.

What can you tell the readers about your training in acting and about your big break in the industry?

My training was diametrically opposite to the way most do it. I was working as the film company driving-mail-slave by day, and as a crappy R&B musician at night. I had no intention of ever getting into acting. I never really had a “big” break. My break came in the form of getting to voice an anime monster ripping the limbs off another anime monster for fun, on a Saturday, for about 20 bucks and some food. My friend and head mailroom-slave driver Victor Garcia – a very talented actor – asked me if I’d like to try working on a crazy “Japanamation” project he was helping to cast. I was terrified, but said yes, because he said they’d pay me a little and feed me a couple of meals. I would’ve done almost anything for some food and a few extra bucks in those days. Anyway, the pacing of the dubbing seemed musical and natural, and I took to it well. They hired me for 26 episodes. I eventually dubbed human characters, and learned how to act over the next 20 years by just doing it and stealing technique from everyone I could. Not the easiest (or fastest) way to break in, but the pressure is minimal when you have no idea why people are paying you to fart and bark into a microphone.

If you can, tell the readers about your time on set and how you found the whole experience of making a movie vs. television. I know many people often say that they are surprised how much waiting they do while so much is going on.

I only worked on a couple of films – just to get my union card. I hated it. I couldn’t justify sitting for 14 hours, only to get up and do three lines – badly – and have to look good doing it. I haven’t done on-camera work since. I don’t like the mean casting process or the unhealthy competition it seems to instill in otherwise nice people. The voice community is much friendlier. And they don’t care how I look. I’ve never done on-camera TV. I’m way too lazy to memorize lines anyway.

What do you like to do in your off time and what sort of music do you like?

I like to get outside more than just about anything. I need to see some sky or trees or beach often or I go nuts.
I’m into hiking, swimming, biking, going on driving trips. I hang out with my girl, my animals and my kids and don’t socialize much. I’m pretty happy to just shut up and watch a movie. I talk a lot at work, so quiet = good.
I like all kinds of music. This week, its blues and some crazy dude who beatboxes while playing the cello. Groovy.

What future projects do you have coming up that the readers can look forward to?

Hmm…most I’m not allowed to talk about yet! In fact, I don’t think I have clearance to say anything about any of my new stuff. I do a lot of convention appearances where I often announce projects and frequently post news on my website (steveblumvoices.com), but at the moment I’d get in some serious trouble if I broke anything here.

What movies have you seen recently and what do you have on your to see list?

Just saw The Kings Speech, Babies and Inception. Looking forward to Thor, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, and if I’m drunk enough… maybe Arthur.


Ipad and Ipad 2 users can get free issues of our magazine here.

Don Jeanes Talks Transformers: Dark of the Moon and More

Posted on by

Don Jeanes is a true Hollywood rising star, as he is set to star in three Science-Fiction projects including the highly-anticipated TRANSFORMERS: Dark of the Moon, the hit web series Alpha Planet and the upcoming SyFy Channel film The Ascension. Whether it’s the silver screen, small screen or computer screen, Jeanes will be hard to miss this summer.

How did you become involved with Alpha Planet and The Ascension and what can you tell us about the films and your characters?

Alpha Planet was conceptualized by a good friend of mine named Michael Darling, whom I’ve known for many years, and his girlfriend Arron Fenton. Alpha Planet is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi web series that takes place 250 years in the future. The nuclear holocaust has happened and all of humanity was forced to board a super spaceship and drift in space while looking for another planet that could sustain life. After no other planet was found, expeditions were sent back to Earth to see if it could sustain life once again. This is where our story picks up and the plot thickens. Mike and Arron are a great writing team and the romantic sub-stories within the script really give both the male and female perspectives.

The Ascension is a story about an archeologist who finds ancient artifacts and while performing a ritual, the main character unknowingly opens up a portal to another world releasing “The Dark Lord.” Several mysterious suicides take place in a small town unnoticed by most except for Carl Kolchinski, played by Corbin Bernsen. My character, Johnny Burns, is the boyfriend of one of the unfortunate suicide victims who ends up helping Carl and the loved ones of the other victims fight “The Dark Lord.”

Who do you play in the new Transformers film and what can you tell us about your experiences on the film? What were the first thoughts that ran through your mind when you got the script?

I play Neil Armstrong in Transformers: Dark of the Moon and it was an amazing experience. Actually, I never got a script — I was given sides to audition with, but they were just a vague outline of the actual script. Director Michael Bay did not tell me this, but apparently he’s had many attempts to hack his computer and steal the script so he is, justifiably, very guarded with regards to the script. Cory Tucker, who plays Buzz Aldrin, in the film, and I were shown a page of script while Michael held it in his hands on set. I can say that when my agent called me to tell me I booked the role, I was here in my apartment and fell down yelling for joy on the floor!

How did you handle working with special effects as it can be challenging for some?

I’m a method actor so I rely heavily on substitutions from my own life. I find the scariest or most intense situation that I’ve ever been in and try to relive it with my scene objective layered on top of that. A great imagination helps of course and I feel it’s important to understand what the director’s vision of the scene is.

Was the film shot in 3D? What was working with Michael Bay like?

Yes, while I was on set the film was being shot in 3D. I had a great experience working with Michael Bay. That might be partly because my first interaction with him was kind of funny. I began work on the first day of shooting for the film, so everyone seemed really fresh and eager. I was escorted to set and almost immediately I heard a guy yelling “I need an astronaut’s glove over here, get me an astronaut.” Well that guy was Michael Bay. So I nervously ran over and meekly said, “Uh, yeah?” and Michael told me to start fidgeting with the camera that was attached to our space suits so they could get some close ups of it. I was impressed that Michael is hands-on in every scene, right there communicating with the actors and everyone else directly.

What sort of research did you do for the parts and what challenges did each present?

In Alpha Planet I play Luke Brodie who is a veteran soldier so I felt like I needed to get inside the mind of a modern day warrior. To do so, I read the books “War” by Sebastian Junger and “Black Hearts” by Jim Fredrick. Both have detailed descriptions of the everyday life, trials and tribulations of Army Airborne divisions in Iraq and Afghanistan. These accounts helped me to envision how Luke’s past affects his present and how he relates to others, especially those he sees as non-combat soldiers.

For Johnny Burns, my role in Ascension, it was hard to do research since there isn’t much back-story for him in the movie. I mainly used my own experiences with death and fear to drive this character.

For the role of Neil Armstrong, I did a ton of research and preparation for the role. It took a few days, but I watched every bit of Apollo 11 footage I could get my hands on and some of the other moon landings. One hurdle to overcome was that there are a lot of conspiracy theories regarding the moon landing and I knew I couldn’t have even the smallest doubt that it actually happened when I was on set. I finally came across a series of Myth Buster videos that disproved all of the conspiracy theories and put my mind at ease. I also visited the space museum in Los Angeles to get as close to the actual vessels as possible and it is amazing how small and cramped the orbiters were. We were fitted for our space suits many weeks prior to being on set and after I tried on the 50 lb space suit I started hitting the gym hard doing heavy squats and dead lifts to make the suit feel as light as possible. I also spent a lot of time in the sauna to get used to the heat from the non-ventilated suit under the hot lights of set. The sweat you see on our faces in the film is very real. I also did a lot of running in water to observe the different ways the body moves while weightless.

What were some of the great moments from filming the three parts and what would you change if you could?

Like every red-blooded American male, I’ve always liked pictures of myself holding guns and the Luke Brodie character really fulfilled this indulgent desire for me. He’s never without a gun and I kind of took every advantage I could to flash my weapons on set. I don’t know if I would change anything about this character. We were all learning how to be in an indie production and I think we did the best with what we had.

My Johnny Burns character marked a lot of firsts for me as an actor. It was my first time being flown anywhere for a role, my first time to work opposite a big name actor, and my first time to spend weeks on set. I wish I had been a little more confident in those early days. I may have let the pressure of the situation get to me more than I should have.

For Transformers we were in the orbiter filming at one point and were supposed to be landing the ship. They had us using controls at our sides and no one seemed to know they were the right controls to land the ship so I suggested to Michael that I use a joystick. He said, “Can you switch hands?” I did and when he said “Ok.” I think I almost had a heart attack. We’ll see if it makes the final cut but it sure was awesome to feel like I collaborated with Michael Bay even if in a very small way. I don’t think I would change anything about that experience. It will live very vividly in my mind for the rest of my life.

What were some of the more memorable moments from filming and what are some of your fondest memories?

We filmed Alpha Planet just north of Los Angeles in little known Angeles Crest National Forest and a lot of the scenes were filmed in an open field, but this field is down an embankment and across a dry river bed, or at least we thought it was always going to be dry. So we showed up on one of our once-a-month shoots and the river was raging from all the rains the week before. We searched and searched for a place to cross but finally just took off our shoes and rolled up our pants and waded through. It was a funny sight to see the entire cast and crew weighted down with props, costuming, and equipment fording a stream in the middle of nowhere.

On the set of Transformers, Cory and I were sitting on some apple boxes in our space suits in-between takes and this nice old guy just came up and started talking to us. I don’t remember the specifics of the conversation, just that the guy was friendly and I was thinking, “It’s cool that this old stage hand is taking the time to talk us.” Well right about then someone said, “Do you know who this is? This is John Frazier; he won the Academy Award for the special effects in Spider-Man 2.” John started to laugh and said, “You know what? I want to show you a picture, I’ll be back.” I thought I’d never see the guy again, but sure enough he comes back about 15 minutes later and shows me a picture of himself bringing his garbage cans in from the curb the night of the awards with a garbage can in one hand and an Oscar in the other and says with a laugh, “You know what happens after you win an Oscar? Life goes on.”

Are you a fan of Horror and Science Fiction. If so, what are some of your favorites?

I am a fan of Science Fiction and Horror. I really like visually stunning Sci-Fi movies. I think my favorite Sci-Fi movie would have to be The Fifth Element. It was so new at the time I saw it and I just remember thinking how amazing all of the scenes were. To be honest I was a big Transformers fan even before I landed my role. Talk about great special effects… and the cartoon will be forever connected with my childhood. I also love the Underworld and Blade franchises and have scene them all.

What can you tell the readers about your training in acting and about your big break in the film?

As mentioned before I’m a method actor and have unknowingly been one since the beginning. I had a scholarship for theater at a junior college my freshman year and spent a lot of time going “over the top” in small off-off Broadway productions in New York but most recently I’ve studied at the Ivana Chubbuck Studio under Michael Monks. I like her technique because, amongst other things, it taught me how to strongly consider the “obstacles” that kept me from achieving my objective. This helped in my audition for Transformers because thinking about being so far away from home really helped me to connect with the characters fear which I thought brought a lot of life to the role.

If you can, tell the readers about your time on set and how you found the whole experience of making a movie vs. television. I know many people often say that they are surprised how much waiting goes on but that they can’t believe how much is going on. What do you like to do in your off time and what sort of music do you like?

The difference that comes to mind right away is that a TV crew has been working together for months sometimes years and they can really bang through a shoot. On Days of Our Lives it was daunting because the director went though three or four scenes at a time with blocking, crosses, and camera movements all at once, the kicker is he only went through it ONCE and then we were shooting. I feel like a movie set moves a little slower because at first everyone is getting to know each other and how to work together. You have to remember that even the crew is hired on from different places and with different backgrounds. Also, I think that the director is still working out his vision when he walks on the set. Not to say that they don’t do their homework with storyboards and planning, but things can always change in a moment of inspiration. In movies they really take the time to tell a story and don’t have the pressures of keeping a storyline going for years and years with no break in between.

There is a lot of downtime; it’s something I just expect now. I feel, as an actor, I have to use every fiber of my being to create a living world in an artificial environment so I like to try to conserve my energy as much as possible. Don’t get me wrong – I take the occasional jaunt to get chatty with whomever I can, but I don’t like to spend too much time hanging around. I feel I get too relaxed and it’s hard to get back into the right mindset. I like to be alone in my downtime, lie down and listen to music or just think about my character. As far as music goes I love Kanye West!

What movies have you seen recently and what do you have on your to see list?

I’ve recently saw The Fighter, The King’s Speech, and Battle: Los Angeles all of which I enjoyed and I can’t wait to see Your Highness. Also, I have to admit I kind of want to see Sucker Punch; I loved 300 so I’m pretty sure Zack Snyder will deliver the same amazing visuals for this one as well.

What future projects do you have coming up that the readers can look forward to?

Hopefully with enough demand we can continue with Alpha Planet, but just in case, we’ve started another production company called Indiewood Collective with many of the same members. We’ve already shot Uriel, the story of an archangel on earth during the revelation, of which I play the lead and will be recording the voice-over soon, and a satirical short called Gunfight which is already up on the renrobot.com website. I’ve also written another parody that I hope to shoot soon.

My love for the theater has driven me back to the stage and we’ve started read-thru’s for the Stephen Adly Guirgis play Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train which will be directed by Michael Monks. We should begin full-scale rehearsals in May.

Free Ipad and Ipad 2 issues of our magazine

Issue 3 and 4 of Skewed and Reviewed The Magazine Free for Ipad Users

Posted on by

With the pending release of issue #5 of Skewed and Reviewed The Magazine, Skewed and Reviewed has made issues # 3 and 4 free for all Ipad and Ipad 2 users. The magazines combine film, game, and travel articles, reviews, and interviews. Issue #4 offers a hands on look at Duke Nukem Forever and Issue #3 offers a look at the pending Postal 3.

Issue #4 also contains a Holiday Gift Guide, a look at the latest Call of Duty game as well as exclusive film and game interviews and a look at the Battlestar Galactica and Harry Potter Exhibits.

Issues 4 as well as free downloads of Issues 2 and 3 may be obtained at the link below.


Issue 4 Ipad Free Download

SCRE4M

Posted on by

Over a decade ago, director Wes Craven and writer Kevin Williamson breathed new life into what had become a very stagnant horror genre with the release of Scream. The film was a clever twist on the killer-on-the-loose theme that had dominated the genre since the 80s and scored huge with audiences who loved the twists and turns of the film as well as the characters who quoted rules for surviving a horror film. With the huge success of the film, two sequels followed. But by the time Scream 3 was released, the series had lost its momentum and was becomeing the very cliche of a horror film that the series had originally made fun of.

Now in 2011, Craven and Williamson have returned with Scream 4, which is the planned first film in a new trilogy for the series with hopes to breath new life in a genre that has once again grown stale with ghost films and the so-called torture porn of the Saw films. Scream 4 is set 10 years after the events of the first film, and with a new book to promote, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), has returned to Woodsboro as a best-selling author, thanks to her book on self-empowerment, a direct result of her experiences in the previous three films.

The return of Sidney is a happy moment for Sherrif Dewey Riley (David Arquette), but not so much for his wife Gale (Courtney Cox), who is facing a bad case of writer’s block and is not exactly thrilled with her fade from the spotlight and life as the wife of the sheriff in the small town. Things get shaken up when a couple of gruesome murders are discovered and before long Sidney is being targeted by a killer who seems to be repeating the pattern of killing that had haunted her in the past.

When the killer strikes again and taunts Sidney with a disturbing phone call, Gale sees the chance to regain her former glory and despite the wishes of her husband Dewey, sets out to solve the mystery of the killer before it is too late.
What follows is a twisting and turning plot that has you seeing suspects everywhere as the body count piles up.

The film introduces some new faces into the series and Hayden Panettiere and Emma Roberts make the best of their roles and actually bring some depth to their characters. Of course there are numerous horror and pop culture references in the film which not only lighten the tension but help with the plot. The killings are graphic and the mix of comedy and horror is in good balance. As usual, people are really dumb just before they get theirs and do not do things like phone for help, take a safer route, and so on, but the film is still enjoyable from a horror fan’s perspective.

There are some nice celebrity cameos in the film and while the film did drag a bit in the final act before the conclusion, the film did redeem itself in the end. While it is not in danger of being cited for a deep plot, original story, or deep characters with wide character arcs, Scream 4 knows who its target audience is and what the audience expects. Some may say the series stayed away top long and has lost its edge and simply repeats the pattern and plot lines we’ve seen in the previous films. In the end, despite some issues, Scream 4 delivers a welcome return to the franchise and paves the way for future sequels in a manner which should delight fans of the genre and franchise.

3 stars out of 5

Rio

Posted on by

As the very colorful birds of the jungle in Rio de Janeiro are partying it up with singing and aeriel dancing some humans crash the party and capture some of the birds, one of them being a very young blue macaw. From there they are flown to the U.S. with final destinations unknown. Thanks to some poor driving habits the crate containing the young blue macaw is left stranded in the freezing snow of Minnesota but he is soon saved by a young girl named Linda who names him Blu (I know not very original).

Fast forward 15 years, Linda and Blu run a bookstore and even though he has never learned to fly he loves the indoor domestic lifestyle and has never thought of returning to Rio. That is until Dr. Barbosa arrives and informs them that Blu is the last known male blue macaw in the world and that at his bird sanctuary in Rio he has the last known female blue macaw, named Jewel. After some hesitation they decide it is species saving time and go with Dr. Barbosa to Rio. As Blu and Jewel get to know each other (that’s not an euphemism), Dr. Barbosa and Linda decide they should give them some alone time and leave. But while the humans are away making a connection of their own, someone breaks into the bird sanctuary and abducts Blu and Jewel.

The two blue macaws soon find themselves shackled together and locked away with many other birds to be taken to final destinations unknown (hmmm, deja vu). Blu and Jewel are able to escape from their captors but not from the shackles that bind them and thus begins their epic journey to freedom from the shackles. Along the way they befriend some very interesting characters who do their best to help them along the way. Will Jewel and Blu be free of the shackles? Will Blu and Linda ever be reunited? Will Blu ever learn to fly? What about the bookstore?

While the story is very predictable and at least once I could tell the kids were losing interest during a scene, the animation is beautiful and amazing, the humor is great and I saw many of the kids in the theater bobbing their heads along to the songs. They could not have done any better with the incredible voice cast: Blu and Jewel are voiced by Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway and Leslie Mann voices Linda. The incredible supporting cast voices iniclude Wanda Sykes, Lane Lynch, Jamie Fox, Will.I.Am and George Lopez.

Overall, regardless of age, everyone in the theater seemed to enjoy the film as much, if not more, as I did. But just to be sure I brought along a friend’s 10 year old to get his perspective and posed a few questions. I was very happy to mostly get more than one word answers:

Q: What did you think of the movie?
A: It was good.

Q: Would you say this is a good date movie?
A: (strange look) How would I know… I guess so.

Q: On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best, what would you rate the movie?
A: 8.5

As for myself I give the movie…

4 out of 5 bottlecaps

Sneak Peek at inFAMOUS 2

Posted on by

The inFAMOUS 2 sneak peek opened up with a new trailer displaying the hero Cole MacGrath telling his best friend, Zeke, that he may have more powers. The rest of the video is quick shots of the new powers in action. The game was then open to the media for some hands-on time. In one set up, we take up as the hero fights a three story monster complete with the glowing weak spots that just scream “Throw a car at me!” which happens to be one of Cole’s new powers).

Another setup was a mission in the game that lets you use the darker powers in the game and showed the power behind new melee weapon “The Amp” that has multiple finishing moves. The combat is just like the first inFAMOUS, if not a little smoother. Your enemies will still duck and hide behind cover but are still made short work of – until a super-charged one shows up to give Cole a taste of power that easily throws him for a loop. At the end of the mission there is another boss to take down. Grinding up ladders and pipes, more destructive environments, more powers, smoother combat and a chance to take up as Cole again and change the story with the karma meter? I’m down for it day one. But that was not all they were going to spring on us.

The last stations at the preview showed the user-generated content which could make the game last long after the story is done. User made missions show up on the map with green indicators as opposed to blue indicators for the story and yellow for side missions. One user-made mission was a tribute to Space Invaders, where players had to shoot down bad guys as they moved to the side and down in increasingly quicker passes, complete with UFOs so stop them.

Zeke’s story is another one where you must do tasks for Zeke to impress two girls, that get more outrageous as it goes. Sucker Punch has spent a lot of time to not only make it easy to use but easy to experiment with and make whole stories with texts and all. Another user-generated mission introduced the new sheriff. In this mission you had to take out a gang leader and his cronies. The mission begins with the bad guys taunting you and ended with them getting ran over by a truck. With that, it was over and left me wanting more. I can’t wait to see what gamers will make of the ability to create their own stories and push the game in ways even the developers had not imagined.

Bulletstorm

Posted on by

One of the most enjoyable and action-packed games I have ever played has arrived in Bulletstorm which combines action, humor, and enjoyable gameplay to create a winning product. The game was created by Electronic Arts, People Can Fly, and Epic Games and tells the story of privateer Grayson Hunt who has spent the last ten years of his life on a mission of revenge against a corrupt general who has wronged him and his crew. When the opportunity for revenge arises, Grayson crashes his own ship in order to bring the generals ship down which strands them on the hostile world of Stygia. Stygia used to be a resort world and now scores of mutants, monsters, dangerous plants, and more roam the landscape making short work of all they encounter.

With his friend Sato in need of medical care following the crash, Grayson and Sato set out to find the general in order to get off the planet and to get Sato proper medical care less his cyborg implants take over his body. Along the way Grayson and Sato must face many challenges and battle against never ending hordes of bad guys. Thankfully they have some awesome firepower at their disposal ranging from shotguns to assault rifles as well as sniper rifles and rocket launchers. The game requires players to purchase new weapons and ammo as well as the ability to upgrade your weapons from dropships which are scattered throughout the landscape.

The more bad guys you dispatch and the more creative you are with your kills earns you more points to spend on your arsenal. One of my favorite weapons is the sniper rifle which allows you to steer your fired shot into your enemies, which comes in handy considering how much cover they like to take. Should you run out of ammo, you can always send a bad guy flying, thanks to a kick from Grayson who has no issue with kicking hordes of bad guys into various obstacles. The game awards you for being creative with your kills like kicking somone to impale them on an object which gets you a Voodoo Doll reward as does sending an enemy into an electrical field or sending them into the jaws of a deadly plant.

There are so many ways to take out enemies half the fun is finding out new ways to do so. I also liked being able to supercharge my weapon and vaporize any underlings that got in my way. The game also allows players a leash which fires an electrical tether to manipulate objects. I love latching onto enemies and pulling them into harms way, or towards me so I could kick them into harms way, or unleash a fury of bullets upon them.

The graphics of the game are amazing as the Unreal engine has never looked better. From scenic landscapes to epic monsters the game deftly handles them all. An early chase from a gigantic mining wheel is awesome as it encompasses the depth of the landscape and surroundings of Stygia. The language in the game is very sharp. Characters will unleash salvos of profanity that would make a drill seargeant cringe, but they are often done in very funny and unique combinations.

The multiplay modes of the game shine as well. You can really enjoy teaming up for unique kills. The control system of the game is good as I was easily able to move between movement and fire modes without any issues which allowed me to concentrate on the game and its challenges rather than having to fight a control system. Bulletstorm is also very clever with the locations of the game as one minute I am flying in a airship taking on a gigantic creature whereas another time I was gudiing a giant robotic dinosaur through an amusement park to dispatch the bad guys.

From the winning mix of action and humor to the numerous variations the gameplay offers Bulletstorm is a winner from top to bottom. Some may find the solo play campaign a bit short and may say that some of the boss battles were overly tricky. I prefer to see the game as a great action romp which is set up perfectly for a sequel and one of the best action
shooters in recent history.

4.5 stars out of 5.

Arthur (2011)

Posted on by

Arthur Bach is a spoiled, boyish, alcoholic, New York City playboy with amazing hair and heir to the family business and fortune. He and his faithful sidekick Bitterman travel far and wide to have fun and drink. Well, Arthur drinks, Bitterman drives. He is also very dependent on his nanny Hobson who has been with him since he was born and still takes care of him. One day his mother Vivienne decides she’s had it with his antics, embarrassing her and the family company, so she gives him an ultimatum: either he marries Susan Johnson or he will be cut-off and have to fend for himself on the mean streets of New York City.

Though he doesn’t love Susan, he eventually decides to go along with his mother’s wishes and propose to her. But during this time he also meets the enchanting Naomi, an unlicensed tour guide of Grand Central Terminal who has dreams of being a children’s author. As the wedding day draws nearer and nearer, Arthur and Naomi grow closer and closer. Then tragedy strikes. How this affects Arthur could change his entire life. Does he marry Susan and keep his wealth but gain the world’s scariest father-in-law? Does he choose the mean streets of New York City to be with Naomi? Or do he and Bitterman jump into the Batmobile and drive off into the sunset?

This remake of the 1981 movie Arthur honored the wonderful story that many of us know and love from the original film while still possessing its own unique flair. I believe Dudley Moore would have been very happy with Russell Brand’s excellent performance as Arthur Bach (if you disagree, hold a seance and prove me wrong). Helen Mirren does an amazing job as Hobson and she pretty much owns any scene she is in. Nick Nolte & Jennifer Garner were great as Burt (world’s scariest future father-in-law) and Susan Johnson (Arthur’s total-10-on-the-L.A.-scale) fiancee. Last but not least, I thoroughly enjoyed the performances of: Greta Gerwig as Naomi (Arthur’s love interest), Geraldine James as Vivienne Bach (Arthur’s Mom) and Luis Guzman as Bitterman his faithful sidekick and chauffeur (though I do wish Luis would have been given more screen time). The film definitely kept the audiences attention from start to finish but we were all laughing so much that I have to see it again to hear the jokes that I missed the first time.

If you were sober when you saw the original movie you probably remember the key parts of the story line but if not then this movie will seem like an entirely original movie to you.

4 out of 5 Acrobats (must see the movie to get reference)

Your Highness

Posted on by

For all you minotaur lovers out there, the movie Your Highness is the film for you. Not that the movie is about them but it has the most unique minotaur I have ever seen in a movie. Your Highness takes place long ago in a land far away in a kingdom that has two princes. The oldest and heir-to-the-throne is Prince Fabious (the fabulous James Franco). He is a prince’s prince, a knight’s knight, he enjoys protecting the innocent, he slays evil cyclops and other evil things that should be slayed.

The youngest is Prince Thadeous (film co-writer Danny McBride), he is a slacker’s slacker, a player’s player, he enjoys booze and other mind-altering stuff, he lays with easy maidens and…well, you get the point. Even though the two brothers are so very different they still love each other, even if Thadeous won’t admit it. So when Prince Fabious was to be married to the beautiful yet naive Belladonna (the enchanting Zooey Deschanel) he wanted none other than his younger brother to be his best man.

But fate had other plans and what should have been the happiest of wedding days was ruined when the evil wizard Leezar (Justin Theroux) kidnaps Belladonna so he can produce an evil dragon offspring that he would use to rule the world. The two brothers vow to save her and kill Leezar. Ok, technically Thadeous is told by their father the King (Charles Dance) that either he goes with his older brother or he will be kicked out of the kingdom and it is Fabious who does the vowing. So they ride out with their most trusted knights and along the way they meet the Great Wize (not a typo) Wizard (voiced by Mario Torres. Jr.), the highly skilled fighter Isabel (played by a pretty intimidating Natalie Portman), the Minotaur (Brian Steele, a surprisingly fitting name), forest people (I loved the forest people!). Epic adventure and treachery ensue – dun dun dunn! Will they save Belladonna and the world? Will Thadeous become a respectable prince? Will the minotaur live happily ever after?

The movie is funny but the humor is on par with middle-school-aged male humor so approximately 80% of all adult males will probably find the movie funny and a lot of wives will be wondering why they married them. It also had some decent fight scenes sprinkled throughout the movie. I’ll be honest, there were a couple of scenes in the film that I wish I could un-see… the kind of stuff that never happened in any dice role-playing game that I have ever played.

Now I am sure we have all seen movies where one person’s performance was so well done that it made the other people’s performances seem lacking (whether they truly were or not). To me this movie fell victim to that problem. After all with people like Charles Dance, Natalie Portman, James Franco, Zooey Deschanel and Damian Lewis, who plays Boremont, one of the trusted Knights, it was bound to happen. Overall, a very entertaining and funny movie.

3.5 out of 5 Simons (reference in the movie)

Arthur (2011)

Posted on by

Arthur, a remake of the 1981 classic with Dudley Moore, retells the story of the rich playboy Arthur Bach, who stands to inherit a vast fortune if only he marries the woman his cold-hearted mother has selected for him. Starring Russell Brand, Helen Mirren, Greta Gerwig, and Jennifer Garner, the film doesn’t succeed as a remake because several cast members performed in a way that didn’t even match the level of the original.

Russell Brand carries the role of Arthur very well. I wasn’t really worried about him filling the big shoes of Dudley Moore, because I’m a big fan of his comedy, and his outlandish style and comedic timing was well-suited. I am also a great admirer of Helen Mirren, but she didn’t quite compare to the scathing but loyal butler Hobson that Sir John Gielgud created in the original film. She plays a great surrogate mother to Arthur, and in a way, she is the film’s saving grace. Jennifer Garner has played too many sweethearts recently for me to take her seriously as Arthur’s calculating, power-hungry bride-to-be Susan, but she squeaked by with a believable performance. Greta Gerwig as Arthur’s love interest Naomi was good in a few select scenes but failed to achieve the fantastic chemistry seen between Liza Minnelli and Dudley Moore in the original. And Nick Nolte, who plays Susan’s father wasn’t understandable. He was a tough guy who came off as just a confused jerk. Generally, when I stop caring about major characters in a movie, the movie doesn’t have much of a chance of impressing me.

The film itself wasn’t as bad as some of the acting, though. The story borrowed heavily from the original, as any remake does, but had enough original plot lines to stand on its own. The comedic scenes are for the most part funny, but I was touched most by the treatment of Arthur’s alcoholism in the latter part of the movie. Not overtly addressed in the original, it was one of the few aspects of the movie that were far superior than the original. Brand shows the despair of losing the one good thing in his life better than Dudley Moore did, and while Mirren didn’t quite match Gielgud, she was better suited for the role than anyone else I can think of.

In summary, this film definitely fails to live up the original in many ways, but still contains enough surprises to pull itself out of the disaster it was headed toward. It becomes a somewhat watchable film, if not a film I would recommend to my friends. I’ll still suggest they watch the original before, and even instead of, this remake.

Two stars out of five

CROSS Trailer

Posted on by


Join Us on Facebook at Skewed and Reviewed and on Twitter as sknrgareth

Coming to DVD on May 31st

Brian Austin Green (TV’s “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” “Desperate Housewives”) and Vinnie Jones (“The Cape,” Year One, X-Men: The Last Stand) star in Cross, the explosive, comic book-style, super-hero adventure debuting on DVD May 31st from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Tom Sizemore (Black Hawk Down), Academy Award® nominee Michael Clarke Duncan (Best Supporting Actor, The Green Mile, 1999), Lori Heuring (8MM 2, Wicked Little Things, Prom Night) and Jake Busey (Identity, Roadhouse 2: Last Call, Starship Troopers) also star in this zany story of a misfit band of mercenaries who fight urban crime. Bonus features include director’s commentary, deleted scenes, an alternate ending, and more. Cross will be available on DVD for $24.96 SRP.

When beautiful, young women start disappearing from the streets of L.A., it’s time for good-guy Callan (a.k.a. Cross) and his crew of weapons experts to kick into high gear and take out the trash. Granted incredible power by his ancient Celtic cross, Callan must fight to stop an immortal Viking from destroying mankind with his doomsday device. Also starring: Tom Sizemore, Jake Busey and Lori Heuring.



Ipad and Ipad 2 users can get free issues of our magazine here.


Super

Posted on by

When I first heard about Super, written and directed by James Gunn, my first thought was “Dwight (from The Office) will be a superhero?” However what I saw on the screen was anything but Dwight, it was 75% awesome and 25% “I can’t believe they did that!”

The film begins with Frank (excellently played by Rainn Wilson) happily married to Sarah (Liv Tyler) who is a recovering drug addict. The happiness is shattered when Sarah begins using again, thanks to Jacques the drug dealer (Kevin Bacon) and then one day she disappears. Frank searches for Sarah and eventually finds her under the control of Jacques. Unable to get her away from Jacques, Frank goes to the police for help. Unfortunately because Sarah left on her own accord, no law has been broken (except for the drug stuff) so they are unable to help him.

Frank tries to move on, but without Sarah life seems meaningless. Then in his darkest hour he has a vision of The Holy Avenger (Nathan Fillion). Heeding the vision, Frank becomes The Crimson Bolt, pledges to fight crime and to save Sarah. There is just one small problem – Frank has no idea how to be a superhero. Research is needed, so off to the comic book store he goes, of course, and there he meets Libby (Ellen Page). Libby advises him which comics to read that have superheroes who do not have powers. Armed with this knowledge, The Crimson Bolt officially begins fighting crime in the most unusual of ways and not too long after, Libby becomes Boltie, his trusted, sexy sidekick.

This very entertaining, action-filled, dark comedy has more twists and turns than a game of Chutes and Ladders, and it will keep you glued to the screen until the end. Will they save the city from villainy? Will they save Sarah’s bacon? (Sorry, with Kevin Bacon playing the bad guy I couldn’t resist.)

Super has a different take on the superhero genre than what I’ve seen in past movies. Only Rainn Wilson could have properly portrayed the uniqueness that is Frank/Crimson Bolt and the same goes for Ellen Page in regards to Libby/Boltie (possibly the best sidekick ever). To make a long review short, let me sum up this way, everyone in the movie no matter the length of their part did an amazing job in their role. With that said, my only wish was that the story would have allowed for more screen time for Gregg Henry (Detective John Felkner) and a musical number for Fillion’s Holy Avenger. if you liked Fillion as Captain Hammer in Dr. Horrible’s Singalong Blog, then you’ll love him in this role. But those things would have most likely thrown off the perfect balance of action, humor and character interaction that made this movie so enjoyable.

4.5 out of 5 brown eggs (see the movie to get the reference)