Sorry, Jim, this isn't Beatles related.
As a die-hard Ottawa Senators fan, I've learned not to allow expectations to get the better of me. Years of great regular seasons followed by playoff disappointment will do that to a guy. But the home team deserves major props for recording a club record 9th consecutive victory yesterday with a 3-2 OT victory against the Habs on Hockey Day in Canada. Yeah, I know, every day is hockey day in Canada, but whatever.
This was easily the toughest game of the streak as the Canadiens erased a 2-0 deficit with a pair of PP goals, the second coming with less than four minutes left in regulation. Jason Spezza drew a penalty at the tail end of an end to end rush in OT, but the ensuing 4 on 3 PP was short-lived as Spezza took a penalty of his own. That set up a rare 3 on 3, with Mike Fisher blowing around Andrei Markov to pot the winner on Jaroslav Halak.
The Senators have been full value for all nine of these wins. Remarkably, this is the first of the string that has gone into extra time. They haven't fed on the weak sisters of the league either, dispatching the likes of the Black Hawks, Devils and Penguins in convincing fashion. Their success has been based on a tenacious and disciplined team game the likes of which fans in this city have longed to see for years.
The Sens now find themselves sitting 5th in the Eastern Conference. Not bad considering this run came on the heels of a five game losing streak. Not to take anything away from the players, but the MVP of the season so far has to be coach Cory Clouston (and his staff). Here's a guy who came from obscurity last year to take the reins on an interim basis following Craig Hartsburg's dismissal midway through the season. Even Senators fans weren't familiar with him despite the fact he was head coach of the team's AHL affiliate in Binghampton, NY. The difference in the team was immediately apparent, and has continued throughout this season, despite a rash of long term injuries to key players (Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson, Milan Michalek, Anton Volchenkov, Filip Kuba, Pascal Leclaire, Nick Foligno).
Lastly, I have to gush a little about 19 year old rookie defenseman Erik Karlsson. The Senators traded up to select him 15th overall in the 2008 entry draft, and he made the team out of training camp this year. However, the transition wasn't a smooth one for him. He lacked confidence and wasn't positionally sound on defense. The team assigned him to Binghampton at the end of Oct., and most Sens fans didn't expect to see him back this season. So it came as something of a shock when he was recalled exactly one month later after posting 12 points in 11 games in the AHL. His progress since then has been nothing short of astounding. It's literally evident on a game to game basis. I've never seen a player in a Sens jersey develop so quickly. He's playing with a confidence and poise that belies his age. At only 5'11", 175 lbs. (soaking wet) he's way under-sized by NHL standards, but compensates with exceptional skating ability, soft hands, great vision and hockey sense. His ability to win puck battles along the defensive boards and quickly transition the offense has had a lot to do with the team's turnaround. If he continues on this trajectory, EK could become a pretty special player in this league. Check out this play yesterday to set up Mike Fisher for the OT winner...
http://www.sportsnet.ca/video/latest/NHL-MTL--OTT/page/
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
When gaming goes wrong
As I noted earlier, I have been dying to play Mass Effect 2, but wanted to finish Darksiders first. I had already put close to 15 hours into Darksiders, I had enjoyed it, and I wanted to see it through. Last night I had some time set aside so I figured I would finally finish the game. Uh, not so fast.
Imagine my disappointment when I realized that a lot of the progress I had made in the game was no longer recognized. To make a long story short, you have to redirect a bunch of light beams into different rooms. It is a long, drawn out affair and I had accomplished most of it. Then I had saved the game and quit. When I resumed the game, the lights were no longer lit and I could not backtrack to turn them on again. For some reason (perhaps the new patch that I downloaded just prior to playing last night), all of that progress was gone. And the only way to get back to that point again was to load a prior saved game, which would erase nearly 5 hours of time I had put into the game.
I spent 2 hours trying to figure out a better way to do this, but to no avail. Finally, disgusted with the situation and the waste of my time, I pulled the game out of the 360 and started Mass Effect 2. I just didn't have the time or patience to go back through so much of what I had just done so recently. I hope some day I will will myself to finish Darksiders, but right now I just don't know.
And for the record, Mass Effect 2 kicks major ass.
Imagine my disappointment when I realized that a lot of the progress I had made in the game was no longer recognized. To make a long story short, you have to redirect a bunch of light beams into different rooms. It is a long, drawn out affair and I had accomplished most of it. Then I had saved the game and quit. When I resumed the game, the lights were no longer lit and I could not backtrack to turn them on again. For some reason (perhaps the new patch that I downloaded just prior to playing last night), all of that progress was gone. And the only way to get back to that point again was to load a prior saved game, which would erase nearly 5 hours of time I had put into the game.
I spent 2 hours trying to figure out a better way to do this, but to no avail. Finally, disgusted with the situation and the waste of my time, I pulled the game out of the 360 and started Mass Effect 2. I just didn't have the time or patience to go back through so much of what I had just done so recently. I hope some day I will will myself to finish Darksiders, but right now I just don't know.
And for the record, Mass Effect 2 kicks major ass.
Bond? James Bond?
I’ve been a James Bond fan literally since I was a kid. I’m dating myself here, but I saw all of the Connery Bond movies, from Goldfinger onward, at the theatre. I had all the paraphernalia too, from trading cards to a gold Aston Martin Dinky toy with retractable machine guns and bulletproof shield. I even had a 007 attaché case that fired plastic bullets and came equipped with a built in camera that actually worked. I was obsessed with all things Bond.
My interest began to wane when Roger Moore took over from Sean Connery. I was never able to come to terms with Moore in the role and, to this day, Connery defines Bond for me. It didn’t help that most of those films were mediocre at best, especially when held up against the first four of the series (Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, and Thunderball), which are my personal faves.
Much to my surprise, I quite liked the Pierce Brosnan era Bond films (Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies, World is Not Enough). I never thought much of Brosnan prior to that, but he had just the right mix of qualities to pull off Bond. Those films ushered the franchise into the high tech world of the new millennium and placed it squarely in the big budget action genre. Most importantly, they remained true to the well established formula and tone of the past (including the late Desmond Llewelyn as M), while integrating new faces like Judi Dench and John Cleese who breathed some fresh air into the proceedings.
I finally got around to checking out the most recent era Bond with a viewing of Casino Royale on the weekend. This is a meaner, nastier Bond in the form of Daniel Craig. Craig is a fine actor in his own right, but I didn’t for one minute buy into him as Bond. He has the requisite suave when called upon, but the panache is missing in action. It’s probably unfair to criticize Craig, since he was probably just playing the characterization that was drawn for him. Maybe it’s the hair color, but I couldn’t help but think that Clive Owen would have made a perfect Bond. In any case, I think the script and direction, not the acting, are the main culprits. They assembled all of the traditional Bond ingredients, and sucked the fun right out of them. Part of the Bond charm is that it never took itself too seriously – there was always a nudge and a wink to the audience. The cheeky humor and double entendres have given way to outbursts of brutal violence. The torture scene towards the end of the film is a perfect example. Can you imagine Dr. No wailing away on Bond like that? I think not.
Taken on its own merits, Casino Royale is actually a decent action flick, but it could just as easily have been called Bourne Royale. It bears little resemblance to its predecessors, and I hope it doesn’t represent the beginning of the end of the innocence for 007. Either way, I won’t be bothering to find out whether the trend continued with Quantum of Solace.
My interest began to wane when Roger Moore took over from Sean Connery. I was never able to come to terms with Moore in the role and, to this day, Connery defines Bond for me. It didn’t help that most of those films were mediocre at best, especially when held up against the first four of the series (Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, and Thunderball), which are my personal faves.
Much to my surprise, I quite liked the Pierce Brosnan era Bond films (Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies, World is Not Enough). I never thought much of Brosnan prior to that, but he had just the right mix of qualities to pull off Bond. Those films ushered the franchise into the high tech world of the new millennium and placed it squarely in the big budget action genre. Most importantly, they remained true to the well established formula and tone of the past (including the late Desmond Llewelyn as M), while integrating new faces like Judi Dench and John Cleese who breathed some fresh air into the proceedings.
I finally got around to checking out the most recent era Bond with a viewing of Casino Royale on the weekend. This is a meaner, nastier Bond in the form of Daniel Craig. Craig is a fine actor in his own right, but I didn’t for one minute buy into him as Bond. He has the requisite suave when called upon, but the panache is missing in action. It’s probably unfair to criticize Craig, since he was probably just playing the characterization that was drawn for him. Maybe it’s the hair color, but I couldn’t help but think that Clive Owen would have made a perfect Bond. In any case, I think the script and direction, not the acting, are the main culprits. They assembled all of the traditional Bond ingredients, and sucked the fun right out of them. Part of the Bond charm is that it never took itself too seriously – there was always a nudge and a wink to the audience. The cheeky humor and double entendres have given way to outbursts of brutal violence. The torture scene towards the end of the film is a perfect example. Can you imagine Dr. No wailing away on Bond like that? I think not.
Taken on its own merits, Casino Royale is actually a decent action flick, but it could just as easily have been called Bourne Royale. It bears little resemblance to its predecessors, and I hope it doesn’t represent the beginning of the end of the innocence for 007. Either way, I won’t be bothering to find out whether the trend continued with Quantum of Solace.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Congratulations to my wife!
I am both very proud and very pleased to announce that Barb passed her Boards exam (on her 1st try, natch) and is now officially a Registered Nurse! This was the last hurdle for her and now she is ready to settle into her career as an RN. I can't tell you how relived she is to get past this final step. Our family is so proud of her and her accomplishments over the last year.
We love you Barb!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 arrived yesterday and I am dying to dive in. All reviews so far say that this game is absolutely stellar and better in every way than the original Mass Effect. I am nearing completion of Darksiders and I am going to finish that before beginning ME2. Darksiders has been a lot of fun and I am afraid if I put it aside for a lengthy game like ME2 that I may end up not going back to it.
Bioshock 2, the sequel to one of my favorite games of all time, is due out February 9th, as is the very intriguing Dante's Inferno. I am a little leery that Bioshock 2 may not possibly be able to live up to the original, but hopefully it will be another A+ title.
That's all for now. I'll be back later with final thoughts on Darksiders and initial impressions of Mass Effect 2.
Bioshock 2, the sequel to one of my favorite games of all time, is due out February 9th, as is the very intriguing Dante's Inferno. I am a little leery that Bioshock 2 may not possibly be able to live up to the original, but hopefully it will be another A+ title.
That's all for now. I'll be back later with final thoughts on Darksiders and initial impressions of Mass Effect 2.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Review: Borderlands DLC - Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot
Being a complete Borderlands addict, it was a given that I'd be all in for the DLC. The first DLC available, The Zombie Island Of Dr. Ned, was a fantastic add-on to the Borderlands world and well worth the price of admission. The 2nd piece of DLC, Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot, is here and it is a different kettle of fish.
Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot is basically a series of challenges for your character to pass. Actually, it is more geared towards co-op multiplayer, as it is virtually impossible to survive the ever increasing challenges by yourself. The game play basically consists of being locked in a battle arena (there are 3 different arenas total) and being sent wave after wave of enemies. After clearing one battle, the next begins with tougher foes. Lather, rinse, repeat. In each arena, you have to clear 5 battle phases, each of which contains 5 individual battles. So that's 25 battles you must win in a row. Die once, and you start over from the beginning. And the longer you last, you are given more handicaps to hinder you. For example, your enemies may be more accurate than normal or twice as fast. So if being outnumbered 20 to 1 wasn't bad enough to begin with, you have even more hurdles in your path. As you can see, it would be a major advantage to tackles this with other players rather than go this alone. I have finished the first arena solo but I can't get far at all in either of the remaining two.
What makes Borderlands so addictive is the constant looting (grabbing new weapons and gear) and the leveling up to improve your character. You'll find neither of those things here. There are no weapon drops from slain enemies, just money. And while you can get quite rich during the battles, that's no substitute for the thrill of new weapons. There is also no lifting of the level cap in Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot, so if your character is leveled out, that's where they will stay. There's really no incentive to play this DLC other than the sheer challenge of it.
I can only recommend Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot to the hardest of the hardcore Borderlands players. While I had a heck of a good time making it through the first arena, it took me many attempts (which may frustrate casual players) and there was no pay off. As it looks to me now, the 2nd and 3rd arenas will only be able to be completed with others helping via co-op multiplayer.
The good news is that there will be an announcement soon for new, more conventional Borderlands DLC. And it has been noted that there will be a raising of the level cap. That is something that I am definitely gearing up for.
Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot is basically a series of challenges for your character to pass. Actually, it is more geared towards co-op multiplayer, as it is virtually impossible to survive the ever increasing challenges by yourself. The game play basically consists of being locked in a battle arena (there are 3 different arenas total) and being sent wave after wave of enemies. After clearing one battle, the next begins with tougher foes. Lather, rinse, repeat. In each arena, you have to clear 5 battle phases, each of which contains 5 individual battles. So that's 25 battles you must win in a row. Die once, and you start over from the beginning. And the longer you last, you are given more handicaps to hinder you. For example, your enemies may be more accurate than normal or twice as fast. So if being outnumbered 20 to 1 wasn't bad enough to begin with, you have even more hurdles in your path. As you can see, it would be a major advantage to tackles this with other players rather than go this alone. I have finished the first arena solo but I can't get far at all in either of the remaining two.
What makes Borderlands so addictive is the constant looting (grabbing new weapons and gear) and the leveling up to improve your character. You'll find neither of those things here. There are no weapon drops from slain enemies, just money. And while you can get quite rich during the battles, that's no substitute for the thrill of new weapons. There is also no lifting of the level cap in Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot, so if your character is leveled out, that's where they will stay. There's really no incentive to play this DLC other than the sheer challenge of it.
I can only recommend Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot to the hardest of the hardcore Borderlands players. While I had a heck of a good time making it through the first arena, it took me many attempts (which may frustrate casual players) and there was no pay off. As it looks to me now, the 2nd and 3rd arenas will only be able to be completed with others helping via co-op multiplayer.
The good news is that there will be an announcement soon for new, more conventional Borderlands DLC. And it has been noted that there will be a raising of the level cap. That is something that I am definitely gearing up for.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Senators 3 Blues 2
The game was hardly a work of art, but the Senators extended their winning streak to five games with a 3-2 decision over the Blues last night. Though they lacked the focus and urgency displayed in their 4-1 triumph over the Hawks two nights earlier, the league’s 30th ranked PP struck for all three goals, including the game winner by Chris Phillips in the latter stages of the third period. It was a valiant effort by the Blues considering the quick turnaround following their OT win against the Habs a night earlier (Thanks Blues!). And Montreal is one of the last places on earth you want a young team celebrating a win after the game. Nevertheless, they were able to fight back from a 2-0 second period deficit to tie the game in the third.
It was great to get a look at my second favorite team and its bevy of young stars, like Keith Tkachuk. Too bad David Backes had to sit this one out, but David Perron was a threat every time he touched the puck, and EJ is a beast in the making (if he isn’t there already). JD & Co. have stockpiled a ton of high end talent in their system, and that’s going to pay huge dividends for the Blues in the not too distant future. In any case, as a Sens fan first, I’m pretty happy with a 5th straight win coming off a five game losing streak during which the team was missing five regulars, including their entire first line.
Fun Fact: The Blues have not defeated the Senators in Ottawa in ten years.
It was great to get a look at my second favorite team and its bevy of young stars, like Keith Tkachuk. Too bad David Backes had to sit this one out, but David Perron was a threat every time he touched the puck, and EJ is a beast in the making (if he isn’t there already). JD & Co. have stockpiled a ton of high end talent in their system, and that’s going to pay huge dividends for the Blues in the not too distant future. In any case, as a Sens fan first, I’m pretty happy with a 5th straight win coming off a five game losing streak during which the team was missing five regulars, including their entire first line.
Fun Fact: The Blues have not defeated the Senators in Ottawa in ten years.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
DLC
Is it just me, or do you have mixed feelings about downloadable content for your gaming system of choice? On the one hand, there are lots of great, affordable, standalone games available for download. I’m thinking of titles like WipeOut HD/Fury, Peggle, Calling All Cars, Zuma, Shatter, Bejeweled 2, etc. Not to mention how nice it is to have game patches automatically downloaded and playable demos literally at our fingertips. However, what irks me a little is the extra cost add-ons to disc based games.
Look, I get the whole downloadable songs for Rock Band thing and, goodness knows, I’ve invested in my share of them. It’s the add-on levels/characters/tracks/etc. that rankle me. Would it have been so hard for EA to include Evander Holyfield and Sonny Liston in Fight Night Round 4 rather than bleeding an extra $1.99 a pop for them? A set of three supplementary tracks for Motorstorm Pacific Rift will set you back $5.99, and there are two sets available. Additional maps/levels for action/adventure/FPS games seem to start at $9.99 and rise from there. I liked it a lot better when goodies like these were unlockable.
Is disc storage capacity strapped to the point where some of this stuff couldn’t have been included as part an already expensive game, or even on a second disc if need be? Much as I appreciate the additional content, and the ease of accessing it, I can’t help but feel that much of the DLC available is nothing more than a cash grab by the developers and system manufacturers. Of course I can simply refuse to pay the price, but it leaves me feeling like I need to pony up in order to own the complete game. And that leaves a sour taste indeed.
Look, I get the whole downloadable songs for Rock Band thing and, goodness knows, I’ve invested in my share of them. It’s the add-on levels/characters/tracks/etc. that rankle me. Would it have been so hard for EA to include Evander Holyfield and Sonny Liston in Fight Night Round 4 rather than bleeding an extra $1.99 a pop for them? A set of three supplementary tracks for Motorstorm Pacific Rift will set you back $5.99, and there are two sets available. Additional maps/levels for action/adventure/FPS games seem to start at $9.99 and rise from there. I liked it a lot better when goodies like these were unlockable.
Is disc storage capacity strapped to the point where some of this stuff couldn’t have been included as part an already expensive game, or even on a second disc if need be? Much as I appreciate the additional content, and the ease of accessing it, I can’t help but feel that much of the DLC available is nothing more than a cash grab by the developers and system manufacturers. Of course I can simply refuse to pay the price, but it leaves me feeling like I need to pony up in order to own the complete game. And that leaves a sour taste indeed.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Gaming update
A couple of thoughts on games I have been playing recently...
-I really liked Ratchet And Clank Future: Tools Of Destruction when it came out on the PS3 a couple of years ago; in fact, I still own it. I just really got into the game and thoroughly enjoyed it, from the characters to the story and the superb animation. So it is quite a surprise to me that I have already bailed on Ratchet And Clank Future: A Crack In Time. I gave the game a solid 3-4 hours and I just couldn't get into it. Something was missing for me but I can't lay a finger on it. Maybe my tastes have changed a bit or something, I don't know. The Clank parts of the game were surprisingly frustrating involving lots of platforming that included many leaps to my death. After a while it became frustrating enough that I turned the game off, something I have not had to do in a long time. Right then and there I decided to trade the game in for store credit while I could still get a decent value for it. So I took it and Madden 10 to GameStop and traded them in for...
-Darksiders. This game is a real sleeper. Every review I have read has said it is a cross between the God Of War games and the Legend Of Zelda series. And with good reason. There is a lot of hacking and slashing and bloody mayhem ala GOW. And there are some huge dungeons to traverse and puzzles to solved like in the Zelda series. Originality is not this game's strong suit. But that doesn't damper the fun factor in the least. It's still a blast working your way through each area and deciding which ways to power up your character and/or weapons. You'll need to choose wisely because this game is no walk in the park, even on the easiest setting. But the game never seems unfair, which lessens the stress level for those times you do die.
A word of warning; this game takes a while to hit it's stride. The tutorial part of the game is at least an hour and the first dungeon doesn't arrive until the 2-3 hour mark. That's when the game takes off. If you have the patience, Darksiders can be a ton o' fun.
-I really liked Ratchet And Clank Future: Tools Of Destruction when it came out on the PS3 a couple of years ago; in fact, I still own it. I just really got into the game and thoroughly enjoyed it, from the characters to the story and the superb animation. So it is quite a surprise to me that I have already bailed on Ratchet And Clank Future: A Crack In Time. I gave the game a solid 3-4 hours and I just couldn't get into it. Something was missing for me but I can't lay a finger on it. Maybe my tastes have changed a bit or something, I don't know. The Clank parts of the game were surprisingly frustrating involving lots of platforming that included many leaps to my death. After a while it became frustrating enough that I turned the game off, something I have not had to do in a long time. Right then and there I decided to trade the game in for store credit while I could still get a decent value for it. So I took it and Madden 10 to GameStop and traded them in for...
-Darksiders. This game is a real sleeper. Every review I have read has said it is a cross between the God Of War games and the Legend Of Zelda series. And with good reason. There is a lot of hacking and slashing and bloody mayhem ala GOW. And there are some huge dungeons to traverse and puzzles to solved like in the Zelda series. Originality is not this game's strong suit. But that doesn't damper the fun factor in the least. It's still a blast working your way through each area and deciding which ways to power up your character and/or weapons. You'll need to choose wisely because this game is no walk in the park, even on the easiest setting. But the game never seems unfair, which lessens the stress level for those times you do die.
A word of warning; this game takes a while to hit it's stride. The tutorial part of the game is at least an hour and the first dungeon doesn't arrive until the 2-3 hour mark. That's when the game takes off. If you have the patience, Darksiders can be a ton o' fun.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
First Impressions - Borderlands
After three weeks and 40 odd hours of Fallout 3, it was time for a little variety. As great is Fallout 3 is, and much as I've enjoyed it, the gameplay does get somewhat repetitive over the long haul. I'll definitely carry on, but I've been itching to take a sneak peek at some of the Christmas stash, and Borderlands topped the list.
From the moment the game boots up it's evident that Borderlands boasts top notch production values. Everything from the animation style to character design to music is brilliantly conceived and seamlessly integrated. If the objective was to create the illusion of stepping into the middle of a graphic novel, then mission accomplished. Borderlands simply oozes cool from every pore.
It also becomes abundantly clear from the outset that this will be no walk in the park. You are thrust into the action almost immediately, and must learn quickly how to survive, or die. Enemies are not only plentiful, they're fast, elusive and aggressive. Quite a contrast to the more measured pace of Fallout 3, and one that's required a rapid adjustment on my part.
Gameplay mechanics are great, and once you have the control sensitivity dialed in to your liking, you're well on the way to eradicating scores of baddies. The weapons, ammo, and health systems are well devised. What you're unable to loot can be purchased from vending machines with money you've looted. I'd prefer a little more control over managing health versus repeated death, but the ability to re-gen, at a price, is an admittedly clever twist. It would be nice if the corpses of your victims didn't disappear moments after you've killed them, but I guess you can't have everything.
You play as one of four characters, each possessing a different special skill and attributes. It's not hard to imagine how different the game would play out using another character, and that would add a ton of replayability for those inclined to play through multiple times. Add in split screen, dual console, and online multiplayer, and there's a whole lot of game here.
All things considered, Borderlands is a blast to play and about as addictive as they come. It kept me up way past my bedtime last night, and I can't wait to get back to it. Time to release the Bloodwing!
From the moment the game boots up it's evident that Borderlands boasts top notch production values. Everything from the animation style to character design to music is brilliantly conceived and seamlessly integrated. If the objective was to create the illusion of stepping into the middle of a graphic novel, then mission accomplished. Borderlands simply oozes cool from every pore.
It also becomes abundantly clear from the outset that this will be no walk in the park. You are thrust into the action almost immediately, and must learn quickly how to survive, or die. Enemies are not only plentiful, they're fast, elusive and aggressive. Quite a contrast to the more measured pace of Fallout 3, and one that's required a rapid adjustment on my part.
Gameplay mechanics are great, and once you have the control sensitivity dialed in to your liking, you're well on the way to eradicating scores of baddies. The weapons, ammo, and health systems are well devised. What you're unable to loot can be purchased from vending machines with money you've looted. I'd prefer a little more control over managing health versus repeated death, but the ability to re-gen, at a price, is an admittedly clever twist. It would be nice if the corpses of your victims didn't disappear moments after you've killed them, but I guess you can't have everything.
You play as one of four characters, each possessing a different special skill and attributes. It's not hard to imagine how different the game would play out using another character, and that would add a ton of replayability for those inclined to play through multiple times. Add in split screen, dual console, and online multiplayer, and there's a whole lot of game here.
All things considered, Borderlands is a blast to play and about as addictive as they come. It kept me up way past my bedtime last night, and I can't wait to get back to it. Time to release the Bloodwing!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Pandora's Box (Criterion Collection)
Louise Brooks had co-starred in several silent pictures in the States and was on her way to becoming a leading lady when her contract expired. Rather than accept a low-ball offer from Hollywood, she took a better offer from Pabst to star in his new ambitious film, Pandora's Box. Pabst had been having trouble casting the iconic part of Lulu but had become convinced the 20 year old Brooks was perfect after seeing her on screen in one of her American roles. But he had trouble reaching her and had given up. The great Marlene Dietrich was in his office and was being offered the job (even though Pabst considered her too old for the role) when Brooks returned his call to see what he had wanted. He immediately cast her over the phone without even meeting her.
Watching Pandora's Box in it's restored glory, you realize 2 things; Pabst was a genius and Louise Brooks was as dazzling a star as the world would see for a long while. Pasbt's movie runs over 2 hours in length and it never lulls in it's storytelling, even with the very limited dialogue that is present due to it being a silent picture. It tells the story of Lulu, who has been a kept girl numerous times, always climbing up the ladder. As the movie begins she is the mistress of a rich newspaper editor and he keeps her in a beautiful apartment. He tries to break off the affair because he is getting married, but Lulu laughs him off. "Is that the reason you won't kiss me?" she asks and the affair continues. Her first sugar daddy (Carl Goetz as the repulsive Schigolch) re-enters the picture and Lulu feels indebted to him, so she is always dragging him along, trying to help him out. Lulu systematically destroys every man around her, but she does it not out of cruelty, but out of sweetness and not being able to say no. She is far from the typical femme fatale; while she knows her allure and her sexual power, she is out for nothing more than a good time. Either she is oblivious to the fact that she is toying with the emotions of those that fall under her spell or she does not comprehend the damage she does. Either way, she is the downfall of many men and eventually she is dragged down as well.
While the movie itself is wonderful, ambitious and stunningly photographed in the German expressionistic vein, by far it's most powerful virtue is Ms. Brooks herself. What a sight she must have been to audiences back in the day! Trained in dance, she had the grace of a swan and a natural beauty that was emphasized by her unusual hair style, which was often called a black helmet. She wore it very short and it made her splendid facial features stand on their own. The most accurate modern day comparison I can think of is Isabella Rosellini back in the early 80's. Brooks is absolutely luminous on the screen. You can't take your eyes off of her, especially that face with those deeply expressive eyes. You can see why an international star was born when Pandora's Box was released.
Of course back then foreign films didn't play very often in America, so Brooks remained fairly obscure in the States. She made a couple of more films in Germany and then came back to Hollywood. But she had burned some bridges when she had gone to Germany. With "talkies" now all the rage in Hollywood, the studios tried to strong arm their actors into accepting lesser contracts for fear of being replaced by voice actors. Louise Brooks was a very intelligent, independent and strong-willed woman, something rare and not tolerated in Hollywood. When she balked at the lesser contract, the studios blackballed her, putting out word that her voice was terrible on film. She worked only sporadically thereafter and only in lesser quality films. The brightest star in the galaxy had burned out amazingly fast.
Louise Brooks ended up basically becoming a hermit in her later years, an alcoholic that was bitter with the way Hollywood treated her. She would eventually rebound late in life and become an outstanding writer on film. She also gave some interviews about her amazing career and her life and times as the "It Girl." There are 2 excellent documentaries about Ms. Brooks on the Criterion Collection's edition of Pandora's Box. What an amazing life she had! She was a hedonist at heart; she had no intention of having one lover, of settling down in any one place, of being someone you could pigeonhole. She loved being out on the town, dancing the night away in nightclubs with whatever man was currently tickling her fancy. She didn't care what others thought of her and she was, as mentioned earlier, far more intelligent and independent than most men of the time could handle. She was very nearly Lulu in real life. That she brought Lulu to life for us on screen is her everlasting gift to us.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Finished Infamous
Wow, what a game. As you may know, this game came out for the PS3 in the middle of 2009 but I just got to it recently. I made it through the end game last night (via the good-guy play through - I always play as a good guy) and I am mighty impressed. The graphics are top-notch. It's an open-world sandbox style of game and the environment is a living and breathing metropolis. I can't imagine the work that went into creating the world of Infamous; in that regard it reminds me a lot of Assassin's Creed II. The Gameplay is pretty easy to get into with fluid controls that rarely frustrate. Moving Cole (the protagonist) around the map is easy and fun.The mission variety gets a little old as you dig deeper into the game: if I never have to escort prisoners to jail again it will be too soon for me. But overall the game remains interesting throughout with a solid story, good voice acting and some killer action. The different powers you learn as you make your way through the game are awesome and handed out in just the right fashion. You get to choose which powers to improve upon and which to use as your main weapon(s).
I have a lot of games left to dive into still, but I may actually play through Infamous again and see what happens when you choose the evil path. (You get different powers and of course the story plays out differently as well.) That says a lot considering the game is quite lengthy in just a single play through. It's already a tremendous value if you only play through once. And as a bonus, once you finish the game, you can keep playing in free roam mode. Gotta love that!
I am not sure where else the story could go from here but if there is a sequel you can sign me up. I wish I had played Infamous early enough to qualify for my yearly gaming awards. It would have definitely been in the running for some hardware. As it is, I would put it in a tie with Assassin's Creed II for 3rd place in my Game Of The Year awards for 2009. Lofty praise indeed.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Weekend Round-Up
The Tarantino Film Fest continued this weekend with Jackie Brown. Probably the most underappreciated of QT’s films, it was considered a bit of a letdown following the raw intensity of Reservoir Dogs and inventive cool of Pulp Fiction. JB is the most character driven, and by far the least violent film Tarantino has made. For a director that had established his reputation (at least in part) on outbursts of graphic violence, JB represented a totally unexpected turn in direction. While still a crime drama, it’s a film that relies almost entirely on its story and characters to succeed, and it does so magnificently thanks to uniformly superb performances from all involved.
In a daring and inspired casting choice, former B-movie star Pam Grier hits all the right notes in the title role as a desperate, low income, airline stewardess transporting cash for a smarmy gun dealer. Likewise, Robert Forster turns in a finely nuanced and understated performance of compassion and intelligence as the aging bail bondsman who sympathizes with Jackie’s predicament and chooses to help her. Samuel L. Jackson once again delivers the goods as a hipster baddie, this time with more evil intent than his role in Pulp Fiction. Robert De Niro as the hapless ex-con with a stunted IQ, Michael Keaton in a reprise of the character he played in Out of Sight, and Bridget Fonda as chain-bonging surfer chick, Melanie, round out the perfectly cast ensemble.
The story is supported by a great script that’s tight and smartly written, peppered with plenty of Tarantino’s trademark repartee and sharp one-liners. For the most part, he wisely steps aside and lets the actors drive the story, so on the few occasions where he imposes a little directorial flair, it’s very effective. Jackie Brown is an extremely well crafted and enjoyable film. What it may lack in pizzazz, it more than makes up for in character development, solid acting and a terrific story. It features a strong and empowered female lead and virtually no on-screen violence, making it the perfect Tarantino primer for female viewers. My wife loved it, and so will yours.
Unfortunately, the two disc Collector’s Edition DVD, while a nice package, fails to do the film justice in terms of audio/visual quality. Maybe I’m turning into a Blu-ray elitist, but the DVD video transfer is a real disappointment. Shadow detail is severely lacking and edge enhancement is abundant, leaving dark scenes looking murky and brighter scenes over-processed. It’s a shame because JB is a good looking film that would be a great candidate for an updated BD transfer. The audio is also surprisingly mediocre, especially considering that it’s a DTS 5.1 mix. JB is hardly an audio showcase, but the dynamite, old school soul soundtrack lacks presence and clarity. A re-mastered, uncompressed audio track would no doubt do it justice. Here’s hoping for Blu-ray releases of both Jackie Brown and Pulp Fiction in the not too distant future.
On the gaming front, Fallout 3 continues to monopolize my time to the exclusion of everything else. I had originally planned to take a sneak peak at Ratchet and Clank yesterday, but that fell by the wayside the moment Fallout 3 found its way into the PS3. Much as I’m enjoying it, I almost wish I’d gotten hooked on something a little less expansive. At only 20-25% complete, I still have a looong way to go.
And last, but not least, we celebrated grandson Koen’s 2nd birthday on Saturday with a little get together at Joyce’s mom’s place. Here’s a taste of The Little Goomer enjoying the festivities…
In a daring and inspired casting choice, former B-movie star Pam Grier hits all the right notes in the title role as a desperate, low income, airline stewardess transporting cash for a smarmy gun dealer. Likewise, Robert Forster turns in a finely nuanced and understated performance of compassion and intelligence as the aging bail bondsman who sympathizes with Jackie’s predicament and chooses to help her. Samuel L. Jackson once again delivers the goods as a hipster baddie, this time with more evil intent than his role in Pulp Fiction. Robert De Niro as the hapless ex-con with a stunted IQ, Michael Keaton in a reprise of the character he played in Out of Sight, and Bridget Fonda as chain-bonging surfer chick, Melanie, round out the perfectly cast ensemble.
The story is supported by a great script that’s tight and smartly written, peppered with plenty of Tarantino’s trademark repartee and sharp one-liners. For the most part, he wisely steps aside and lets the actors drive the story, so on the few occasions where he imposes a little directorial flair, it’s very effective. Jackie Brown is an extremely well crafted and enjoyable film. What it may lack in pizzazz, it more than makes up for in character development, solid acting and a terrific story. It features a strong and empowered female lead and virtually no on-screen violence, making it the perfect Tarantino primer for female viewers. My wife loved it, and so will yours.
Unfortunately, the two disc Collector’s Edition DVD, while a nice package, fails to do the film justice in terms of audio/visual quality. Maybe I’m turning into a Blu-ray elitist, but the DVD video transfer is a real disappointment. Shadow detail is severely lacking and edge enhancement is abundant, leaving dark scenes looking murky and brighter scenes over-processed. It’s a shame because JB is a good looking film that would be a great candidate for an updated BD transfer. The audio is also surprisingly mediocre, especially considering that it’s a DTS 5.1 mix. JB is hardly an audio showcase, but the dynamite, old school soul soundtrack lacks presence and clarity. A re-mastered, uncompressed audio track would no doubt do it justice. Here’s hoping for Blu-ray releases of both Jackie Brown and Pulp Fiction in the not too distant future.
On the gaming front, Fallout 3 continues to monopolize my time to the exclusion of everything else. I had originally planned to take a sneak peak at Ratchet and Clank yesterday, but that fell by the wayside the moment Fallout 3 found its way into the PS3. Much as I’m enjoying it, I almost wish I’d gotten hooked on something a little less expansive. At only 20-25% complete, I still have a looong way to go.
And last, but not least, we celebrated grandson Koen’s 2nd birthday on Saturday with a little get together at Joyce’s mom’s place. Here’s a taste of The Little Goomer enjoying the festivities…
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Southern Culture On The Skids
I've been aware of this madcap trio from NC for several years now, but only recently got around to checking them out. I picked up Mojo Box a few months ago and have been gradually adding the rest of the SCOTS catalog to the collection ever since. One part surf, one part country, two parts psychobilly and 100% pure, unadulterated rock 'n' roll fun. How can you not love a band that tosses fried chicken into the audience during their show? God Bless their mobile home, indeed.
A little Voodoo Cadillac for y'all, just because...
A little Voodoo Cadillac for y'all, just because...
Friday, January 8, 2010
Kill Bill Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 (Blu-ray)
Seeing Inglorious Basterds recently provided the urge to revisit the Kill Bill films. I replaced the DVD versions with Blu-rays some months ago, and they’ve been sitting unopened ever since. Joyce had never seen the KB’s, and I wasn’t sure they would be for her, particularly the first. I made her promise that if we watched Vol. 1, and she didn’t like it, she wasn’t allowed to bail on Vol. 2. With that agreement in place, we watched both films on successive nights.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen KB, and I’d forgotten how much fun the first instalment is. The set piece confrontation between The Bride and the Crazy 88’s is waaaay over the top and, IMO, detracts from the film, but I’m willing to forgive Tarantino that indulgence as his homage to the genre. However, the remainder of the film strikes a perfect balance between action, dark humour and character development that QT tried, but wasn’t quite able, to pull off in IB. Joyce really enjoyed Vol. 1 and was anxious to find out how the rest of the story unfolded in Vol. 2. She wasn’t disappointed.
Vol. 2 plays out at a far more measured pace, simultaneously filling out the backstory and advancing the narrative. But when the action arrives, it does so in explosive fashion, notably The Bride’s showdown with Elle Driver which matches the intensity of the ‘knock down drag ‘em outs’ with Vernita and Gogo the first time around. The acting also takes on greater prominence with David Carradine’s Bill and Gordon Lui (in his second of two roles) as Pei Mai being particular standouts. I recall many people expressing disappointment with Vol. 2 when it was released, complaining that it was too long and ponderous compared to the action-packed Vol. 1. But, taken as two pieces of a whole, it’s very nearly perfect.
As befits the material and mood, Tarantino paints Vol. 1 with bold, almost cartoon-like images, and the Blu-ray reproduces them in spectacular fashion. The film is chock-full of vibrant yellows, reds, blues and greens, and they positively leap off the screen. For the most part, he works with a more subdued colour palette in Vol. 2 that’s well suited to the more sombre tone and emotional depth of the latter half of the story, but it’s no less impressive. In both cases, the image is clean, detailed and razor sharp, and the B&W sequences (save for some intentional grain) rival those in the blu-ray release of Sin City (a reference quality disc, IMO). The uncompressed Dolby Digital soundtrack is every bit the equal of the stellar visuals - clear, tight and powerful.
I should note that these are the Alliance Atlantis Blu-ray releases (as is my copy of Sin City). They may be bare bones in terms of features, but the quality is outstanding and so is the very affordable price. I wish I could say the same for the Alliance release of From Dusk Til Dawn, but it doesn’t impress to nearly the same degree as the others.
Next on the Tarantino viewing agenda is Jackie Brown. Too bad that one isn’t available on Blu-ray yet.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen KB, and I’d forgotten how much fun the first instalment is. The set piece confrontation between The Bride and the Crazy 88’s is waaaay over the top and, IMO, detracts from the film, but I’m willing to forgive Tarantino that indulgence as his homage to the genre. However, the remainder of the film strikes a perfect balance between action, dark humour and character development that QT tried, but wasn’t quite able, to pull off in IB. Joyce really enjoyed Vol. 1 and was anxious to find out how the rest of the story unfolded in Vol. 2. She wasn’t disappointed.
Vol. 2 plays out at a far more measured pace, simultaneously filling out the backstory and advancing the narrative. But when the action arrives, it does so in explosive fashion, notably The Bride’s showdown with Elle Driver which matches the intensity of the ‘knock down drag ‘em outs’ with Vernita and Gogo the first time around. The acting also takes on greater prominence with David Carradine’s Bill and Gordon Lui (in his second of two roles) as Pei Mai being particular standouts. I recall many people expressing disappointment with Vol. 2 when it was released, complaining that it was too long and ponderous compared to the action-packed Vol. 1. But, taken as two pieces of a whole, it’s very nearly perfect.
As befits the material and mood, Tarantino paints Vol. 1 with bold, almost cartoon-like images, and the Blu-ray reproduces them in spectacular fashion. The film is chock-full of vibrant yellows, reds, blues and greens, and they positively leap off the screen. For the most part, he works with a more subdued colour palette in Vol. 2 that’s well suited to the more sombre tone and emotional depth of the latter half of the story, but it’s no less impressive. In both cases, the image is clean, detailed and razor sharp, and the B&W sequences (save for some intentional grain) rival those in the blu-ray release of Sin City (a reference quality disc, IMO). The uncompressed Dolby Digital soundtrack is every bit the equal of the stellar visuals - clear, tight and powerful.
I should note that these are the Alliance Atlantis Blu-ray releases (as is my copy of Sin City). They may be bare bones in terms of features, but the quality is outstanding and so is the very affordable price. I wish I could say the same for the Alliance release of From Dusk Til Dawn, but it doesn’t impress to nearly the same degree as the others.
Next on the Tarantino viewing agenda is Jackie Brown. Too bad that one isn’t available on Blu-ray yet.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Movie review - Avatar
Barb and I took in Avatar last night amidst a snow storm in old St. Loo. We made the very wise decision to see it in 3-D, which, I have been told, is really the only way to really experience the movie. And what an experience it was! While the story may be old hat (more on that later), the effects - from the 3-D technology to the dazzling array of colors - were like sensory overload (in a good way) combined with some sort of cosmic visual orgy. Wow, that sounds weird now that I have typed it out, but I stand by it nonetheless. It was really breathtaking.
The story concerns humankind expanding into other worlds, intruding upon other species and their sacred grounds for nothing more than the almighty dollar. Yes, it's pretty obvious which side you are supposed to root for right away. It's typical James Cameron, complete with an over-the-top villain, who is played with great zeal by the always underrated Stephen Lang. As far as crazy bad guys go, Lang makes an impressive one.
Sigourney Weaver plays a scientist whose loyalties clearly lie with the indigenous people of the planet Pandora. Age seems to agree with Ms. Weaver very well; this is the 2nd performance I have seen her in recently (The Girl In The Park being the other) and both times she has been very compelling. It's nice to see talented actresses still getting work as they get a bit older, something that has not been so easy in the past.
The main role is played by Sam Worthington, someone that I was not familiar with prior to Avatar. He is quite impressive here, carrying the movie with relative ease. He plays somewhat of a dual role, that of his character in human form and his character in Avatar form. (It should be noted that Sigourney Weaver does this as well and is terrific in both forms). I found Worthington particularly believable as a human and watching his character (predictably) evolve was compelling.
Worthington's Avatar has to have a female love interest (of course) and she is embodied by Zoe Saldana. We never see her as a human (she is not human in the movie) but her character is charming; equal parts sweet, seductive and ferocious. It's a terrific performance even if the character is more than a bit reminiscent of other strong women in other Cameron movies (see Aliens, Terminator 2 and Titanic for reference).
As for the story itself, it plays out rather predictably as you would imagine. It is a typical James Cameron event film. Still, despite the familiarity and some preachy-ness, it is often quite stirring and it's all wonderfully entertaining. The battle scenes are epic and spectacular. There are definitely moments you will see coming from miles away but it really doesn't diminish how entertaining the movie is as a whole.
I heartily recommend seeking out Avatar in it's full 3-D glory. It's an experience unlike any other at the movies and it's one that will stay with me for a while.
The story concerns humankind expanding into other worlds, intruding upon other species and their sacred grounds for nothing more than the almighty dollar. Yes, it's pretty obvious which side you are supposed to root for right away. It's typical James Cameron, complete with an over-the-top villain, who is played with great zeal by the always underrated Stephen Lang. As far as crazy bad guys go, Lang makes an impressive one.
Sigourney Weaver plays a scientist whose loyalties clearly lie with the indigenous people of the planet Pandora. Age seems to agree with Ms. Weaver very well; this is the 2nd performance I have seen her in recently (The Girl In The Park being the other) and both times she has been very compelling. It's nice to see talented actresses still getting work as they get a bit older, something that has not been so easy in the past.
The main role is played by Sam Worthington, someone that I was not familiar with prior to Avatar. He is quite impressive here, carrying the movie with relative ease. He plays somewhat of a dual role, that of his character in human form and his character in Avatar form. (It should be noted that Sigourney Weaver does this as well and is terrific in both forms). I found Worthington particularly believable as a human and watching his character (predictably) evolve was compelling.
Worthington's Avatar has to have a female love interest (of course) and she is embodied by Zoe Saldana. We never see her as a human (she is not human in the movie) but her character is charming; equal parts sweet, seductive and ferocious. It's a terrific performance even if the character is more than a bit reminiscent of other strong women in other Cameron movies (see Aliens, Terminator 2 and Titanic for reference).
As for the story itself, it plays out rather predictably as you would imagine. It is a typical James Cameron event film. Still, despite the familiarity and some preachy-ness, it is often quite stirring and it's all wonderfully entertaining. The battle scenes are epic and spectacular. There are definitely moments you will see coming from miles away but it really doesn't diminish how entertaining the movie is as a whole.
I heartily recommend seeking out Avatar in it's full 3-D glory. It's an experience unlike any other at the movies and it's one that will stay with me for a while.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Uh-Oh Canada!
For the second time in less than a week, the Canadian Junior hockey team staged a furious third period comeback to erase a two goal deficit against the U.S. behind the remarkable heroics of Edmonton Oiler prospect Jordan Eberle. This time, however, the U.S. squad was able to stave off the onslaught, and iced the World Junior Championship win in overtime. Full marks, and congratulations, to the U.S. on a well deserved win. They could have, and probably should have, beaten the Canadians in the final round robin game on New Year’s Eve as well.
This is the second year in a row that the Canadian team flirted with disaster at the World Juniors, always seeming to pull a rabbit out of their collective asses when they needed it most. They had a cakewalk through the tourney this year, including a 16-0 opening game annihilation of Latvia, and fortuitously drawing the Swiss as their semi-final opponent. The only team of any import that they faced was the U.S. (they dodged the Swedes, Russians and Finns), and they were arguably outplayed in both games, despite the advantage of having the partisan Canadian crowd at their backs (also for a second year running). I was obviously pulling for Canada, but our teams have been so dominant at every level in recent years that the resulting confidence was bordering on arrogance. It won’t hurt Hockey Canada to munch a little humble pie between now and the Olympics next month. In fact, it looks good on them.
This is the second year in a row that the Canadian team flirted with disaster at the World Juniors, always seeming to pull a rabbit out of their collective asses when they needed it most. They had a cakewalk through the tourney this year, including a 16-0 opening game annihilation of Latvia, and fortuitously drawing the Swiss as their semi-final opponent. The only team of any import that they faced was the U.S. (they dodged the Swedes, Russians and Finns), and they were arguably outplayed in both games, despite the advantage of having the partisan Canadian crowd at their backs (also for a second year running). I was obviously pulling for Canada, but our teams have been so dominant at every level in recent years that the resulting confidence was bordering on arrogance. It won’t hurt Hockey Canada to munch a little humble pie between now and the Olympics next month. In fact, it looks good on them.
Gaming update
I have been working nights so I have not been able to play any games for a while. I remedied that by spending some quality time with Infamous tonight. I am really enjoying this game, even more so than when I first started playing it. I have a better handle on the controls of the game and how to attack enemies. The missions are well thought out and have not proven too frustrating yet. It's a very impressive game overall and it definitely would have gotten some love in my 2009 Gaming Awards had I played it earlier.
After being almost overwhelmed with games and not knowing which way to go, I now have a definite plan. I am going to finish Infamous and then move on to Ratchet And Clank. After finishing that, Mass Effect 2 should be ready for release. Also Borderlands' 2nd DLC pack was released early and I downloaded that tonight. That will be calling my name really soon. Also downloaded tonight were 3 new songs for Rock Band 2. They come from Paul McCartney's new live CD. The songs are "Band On The Run," "Jet," and "Sing The Changes" which is off of his latest Fireman CD. Looking forward to checking those out as well.
A couple of recent games have my attention, Bayonetta and Darksiders. Bayonetta is getting universal acclaim, scoring a 9.5 at IGN and a 9.0 at GameSpot. GameSpot's video review is excellent and well worth checking out. By the way, it is definitely worth noting that every major review site is saying that the 360 version is far superior to the PS3 version, which has several technical issues such as frame rate, very long load times and washed-out colors. Take that, Pete!
Darksiders isn't quite getting the same sort of raves but it is receiving good reviews and is being compared to a cross between God Of War and the Legend Of Zelda games. For a rave review, check out this one at The Gamers' Temple.
Hope the new year is treating everyone well! Happy gaming!
After being almost overwhelmed with games and not knowing which way to go, I now have a definite plan. I am going to finish Infamous and then move on to Ratchet And Clank. After finishing that, Mass Effect 2 should be ready for release. Also Borderlands' 2nd DLC pack was released early and I downloaded that tonight. That will be calling my name really soon. Also downloaded tonight were 3 new songs for Rock Band 2. They come from Paul McCartney's new live CD. The songs are "Band On The Run," "Jet," and "Sing The Changes" which is off of his latest Fireman CD. Looking forward to checking those out as well.
A couple of recent games have my attention, Bayonetta and Darksiders. Bayonetta is getting universal acclaim, scoring a 9.5 at IGN and a 9.0 at GameSpot. GameSpot's video review is excellent and well worth checking out. By the way, it is definitely worth noting that every major review site is saying that the 360 version is far superior to the PS3 version, which has several technical issues such as frame rate, very long load times and washed-out colors. Take that, Pete!
Darksiders isn't quite getting the same sort of raves but it is receiving good reviews and is being compared to a cross between God Of War and the Legend Of Zelda games. For a rave review, check out this one at The Gamers' Temple.
Hope the new year is treating everyone well! Happy gaming!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
A Tale of Two Plasmas
As a life-long home electronics enthusiast, I’ve traditionally been an early adopter of technology. Not mega $ crazy, mind you, but I have tended to climb aboard sooner than later whether it’s been CD, surround sound, MP3 player, or the latest gaming console.
I stepped up to my first big screen TV, a 50" Hitachi, in the early 90’s. That set served me well for nine years before I got the itch to view my burgeoning collection of anamorphically enhanced DVD’s in true widescreen format. That led to the purchase of a 65" Mitsubishi HDTV, and an HD satellite receiver. HD was a pretty nascent technology at the time, and programming was scarce – the occasional movie, and major sporting events like the Super Bowl, The Masters and U.S. Open tennis. But what was available was beyond anything I could have imagined. I was hooked.
About four years ago, I got the idea that it would be nice to have a smaller HD set for the bedroom. Not wanting to break the bank, I settled for a 27" budget brand LCD which, was still costly enough. It was okay at the time, but I can’t say I was ever particularly thrilled with that TV. The blacks weren’t as deep and the colours not as saturated as I’d become accustomed to, and a 27" widescreen isn’t a very large image even in a smallish living space, especially in comparison to the monolith that was sitting in the living room downstairs. Unfair as it may have been, that TV influenced my opinion of LCD’s going forward.
Last year, I began to think about replacing the Mits. Despite having cost an arm and both legs to import from the U.S. when I bought it, it didn’t owe me a thing after eight trouble-free years. It had developed some screen burn which bothered me, but otherwise still delivered the same great picture quality as always. By then I had added a PS3 to the mix, but couldn’t fully exploit it due to the Mits’ inability to display anything beyond 1080i resolution, and lack of an HDMI input (required for DVD upconversion).
From the outset, my intent was to replace the Mitsubishi with an equivalent sized Panasonic plasma. I’m a stickler when it comes to blacks, and that’s one of the strengths of plasma. As I researched the choices available, which become quite limited at that size, I found that the Panasonic Viera (plasma) and Sharp Aquos (120hz LCD) were virtually the same price. It seemed like an easy call until I learned that the Panasonic didn’t come with a pedestal stand, which would add almost $700 to the cost! As a result, I came very close to pulling the trigger on the Sharp, but was able to source a stand for the Panasonic at reasonable cost and stuck with my initial instinct. While I’m sure I would have been very pleased with the Aquos, I’m nothing short of thrilled with the Viera.
My wife, who was very content with the old set and did not see any need to upgrade, immediately noticed the difference in picture quality. That’s a strong testament to how striking the improvement was. Colours are more saturated and vibrant, blacks are deeper, flesh tones are true, and it all looks razor sharp whether it be HDTV, Blu-Ray or games. One year later, it still amazes me every time I turn the thing on.
The plasma spoiled me so badly that the little 27" LCD in the bedroom became all but unwatchable. Try as I may, I just couldn’t dial in a picture I was happy with. There was only one solution…replace it with another plasma! Not wanting to mess with success, I stuck with Panasonic, this time a 42" which is a much more suitable size for the space – a big enough image to have impact, but not so large that it dominates the room. And, once again, it’s wife approved!
As happy as I am with my plasmas, they certainly aren’t for everyone. My slight reservations about LCD notwithstanding, I’ve seen plenty of them that look fantastic and would be a better choice for many, if not most, viewers. But in the right application, and assuming you’re willing to invest a little time dialing it in, a plasma will reward you with a picture that’s hard to equal.
Pros
· Deep blacks
· Rich, saturated color
· Natural, "film-like" image
· High contrast ratio
· Handles movement well (e.g. sports)
Cons
· Reflective screen is susceptible to front or side lighting sources (natural or artificial)
· High power consumption – generates a fair bit of heat
· Lengthy "break-in" period (100-1000 hours) recommended
· Not as bright as LCD (but ample for most tastes and environments)
· Prone to image retention (temporary) but not burn in (permanent)
I stepped up to my first big screen TV, a 50" Hitachi, in the early 90’s. That set served me well for nine years before I got the itch to view my burgeoning collection of anamorphically enhanced DVD’s in true widescreen format. That led to the purchase of a 65" Mitsubishi HDTV, and an HD satellite receiver. HD was a pretty nascent technology at the time, and programming was scarce – the occasional movie, and major sporting events like the Super Bowl, The Masters and U.S. Open tennis. But what was available was beyond anything I could have imagined. I was hooked.
About four years ago, I got the idea that it would be nice to have a smaller HD set for the bedroom. Not wanting to break the bank, I settled for a 27" budget brand LCD which, was still costly enough. It was okay at the time, but I can’t say I was ever particularly thrilled with that TV. The blacks weren’t as deep and the colours not as saturated as I’d become accustomed to, and a 27" widescreen isn’t a very large image even in a smallish living space, especially in comparison to the monolith that was sitting in the living room downstairs. Unfair as it may have been, that TV influenced my opinion of LCD’s going forward.
Last year, I began to think about replacing the Mits. Despite having cost an arm and both legs to import from the U.S. when I bought it, it didn’t owe me a thing after eight trouble-free years. It had developed some screen burn which bothered me, but otherwise still delivered the same great picture quality as always. By then I had added a PS3 to the mix, but couldn’t fully exploit it due to the Mits’ inability to display anything beyond 1080i resolution, and lack of an HDMI input (required for DVD upconversion).
From the outset, my intent was to replace the Mitsubishi with an equivalent sized Panasonic plasma. I’m a stickler when it comes to blacks, and that’s one of the strengths of plasma. As I researched the choices available, which become quite limited at that size, I found that the Panasonic Viera (plasma) and Sharp Aquos (120hz LCD) were virtually the same price. It seemed like an easy call until I learned that the Panasonic didn’t come with a pedestal stand, which would add almost $700 to the cost! As a result, I came very close to pulling the trigger on the Sharp, but was able to source a stand for the Panasonic at reasonable cost and stuck with my initial instinct. While I’m sure I would have been very pleased with the Aquos, I’m nothing short of thrilled with the Viera.
My wife, who was very content with the old set and did not see any need to upgrade, immediately noticed the difference in picture quality. That’s a strong testament to how striking the improvement was. Colours are more saturated and vibrant, blacks are deeper, flesh tones are true, and it all looks razor sharp whether it be HDTV, Blu-Ray or games. One year later, it still amazes me every time I turn the thing on.
The plasma spoiled me so badly that the little 27" LCD in the bedroom became all but unwatchable. Try as I may, I just couldn’t dial in a picture I was happy with. There was only one solution…replace it with another plasma! Not wanting to mess with success, I stuck with Panasonic, this time a 42" which is a much more suitable size for the space – a big enough image to have impact, but not so large that it dominates the room. And, once again, it’s wife approved!
As happy as I am with my plasmas, they certainly aren’t for everyone. My slight reservations about LCD notwithstanding, I’ve seen plenty of them that look fantastic and would be a better choice for many, if not most, viewers. But in the right application, and assuming you’re willing to invest a little time dialing it in, a plasma will reward you with a picture that’s hard to equal.
Pros
· Deep blacks
· Rich, saturated color
· Natural, "film-like" image
· High contrast ratio
· Handles movement well (e.g. sports)
Cons
· Reflective screen is susceptible to front or side lighting sources (natural or artificial)
· High power consumption – generates a fair bit of heat
· Lengthy "break-in" period (100-1000 hours) recommended
· Not as bright as LCD (but ample for most tastes and environments)
· Prone to image retention (temporary) but not burn in (permanent)
Friday, January 1, 2010
500 Days Of Inglourious Human Condition
Or something like that. I had a movie marathon the other night. Barb and I started the night off with (500) Days Of Summer, a lovely little relationship movie that I had been anxious to see. The movie is quite captivating, due mostly to 2 very appealing stars, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. With her big doe-eyes, Deschanel has been a charmer for quite some time, first making an impression on me way back in 2000 in Almost Famous. She's perfectly cast here in the role of a free spirit wary of getting tied down. But it's Gordon-Levitt who carries the movie in my mind. He is a revelation here, a real leading man with depth, something that is sadly missing from many of today's top young stars. One minute he is funny and charming, the next soulful and at a loss. It's an honest performance and I think it's one of the best of 2009. (500) Days Of Summer balances a fine line between serious romance and romantic comedy. It's what I would call a quirky romance with believable characters. I really enjoyed it and so did Barb. Killer soundtrack as well and the best use of Simon & Garfunkle in a movie since The Graduate.
Next up for me was Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds. Pete already gave his take on this movie and I am pretty much in agreement with him. I enjoyed it quite a bit but I can't quite put it up there with what I consider Tarantino's best works, which in my mind are Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs and the Kill Bill saga, in that order. I liked it much more than Death Proof, which I thought was a lot of pretentious, show-off dialogue with some great car stunts thrown in.
Tarantino has said that IB is a spaghetti western set in WWII and that is really a pretty good description. It's very hard to take the film seriously at all, even when some of the acting (particularly by Christopher Waltz and the 2 female roles played by Melanie Laurent and Diane Kruger) is outstanding. It's set up more like a comic book, which is fine, but that tone hampers some of the more serious moments in the film to the point where I was thinking "This moment should be more powerful." Perhaps that was Tarantino's intent, to make the movie a jarring experience and more like a popcorn rollercoaster movie. Nothing wrong with that, it just left me more ambivalent about the fates of the characters.
Next up was part 1 of Masaki Kobayashi's 1959-1961 masterpiece, The Human Condition. I have touched on this film numerous times here in the past but for those who don't know, I'll lay out a little info. First, the film is probably not for everyone, but I wish everyone would see it. When I first saw it years ago it had a tremendous impact on me. It stayed with me for a long while and, no kidding, made me reassess what I felt was important in life. With that said, the reason I say it is not for everyone is because:
The story takes place during WWII, with Japan at war and using and abusing the Chinese people in any number of ways. The protagonist, Kaji, is a Japanese pacifist who believes that treating people with decency and respect is the only way. He wants to avoid service in the war as it goes against every belief he holds dear. In fear that he will be called up, he refuses to marry his longtime sweetheart, Michiko. When the chance comes for him to take a laborer foreman job at a mine - a job that comes with a the bonus of being ineligible for the draft - Kaji takes it and brings Michiko with him. He is appalled to see the abuse that the laborers - Chinese slaves - must endure. He goes about changing the system and the corruption it has bred. He meets heavy resistance from everyone and soon it is a battle of wills not only for the very lives of the slaves, but for Kaji's soul as well. Part I of The Human Condition deals with Kaji at the mines. It leads up to a devastating conclusion that sets up part II.
The Human Condition is many things: a testament to the human spirit, a great treatise on humanity and one hell of a love story. The new DVD from Criterion feature a MUCH improved print that makes the viewing much more enjoyable. If you are so inclined, make it a point to see this movie at least once in your lifetime.
Next up for me was Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds. Pete already gave his take on this movie and I am pretty much in agreement with him. I enjoyed it quite a bit but I can't quite put it up there with what I consider Tarantino's best works, which in my mind are Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs and the Kill Bill saga, in that order. I liked it much more than Death Proof, which I thought was a lot of pretentious, show-off dialogue with some great car stunts thrown in.
Tarantino has said that IB is a spaghetti western set in WWII and that is really a pretty good description. It's very hard to take the film seriously at all, even when some of the acting (particularly by Christopher Waltz and the 2 female roles played by Melanie Laurent and Diane Kruger) is outstanding. It's set up more like a comic book, which is fine, but that tone hampers some of the more serious moments in the film to the point where I was thinking "This moment should be more powerful." Perhaps that was Tarantino's intent, to make the movie a jarring experience and more like a popcorn rollercoaster movie. Nothing wrong with that, it just left me more ambivalent about the fates of the characters.
Next up was part 1 of Masaki Kobayashi's 1959-1961 masterpiece, The Human Condition. I have touched on this film numerous times here in the past but for those who don't know, I'll lay out a little info. First, the film is probably not for everyone, but I wish everyone would see it. When I first saw it years ago it had a tremendous impact on me. It stayed with me for a long while and, no kidding, made me reassess what I felt was important in life. With that said, the reason I say it is not for everyone is because:
- It was filmed in black & white
- It's a Japanese film with english subtitles
- In it's entirety, it is nearly 10 hours long
The story takes place during WWII, with Japan at war and using and abusing the Chinese people in any number of ways. The protagonist, Kaji, is a Japanese pacifist who believes that treating people with decency and respect is the only way. He wants to avoid service in the war as it goes against every belief he holds dear. In fear that he will be called up, he refuses to marry his longtime sweetheart, Michiko. When the chance comes for him to take a laborer foreman job at a mine - a job that comes with a the bonus of being ineligible for the draft - Kaji takes it and brings Michiko with him. He is appalled to see the abuse that the laborers - Chinese slaves - must endure. He goes about changing the system and the corruption it has bred. He meets heavy resistance from everyone and soon it is a battle of wills not only for the very lives of the slaves, but for Kaji's soul as well. Part I of The Human Condition deals with Kaji at the mines. It leads up to a devastating conclusion that sets up part II.
The Human Condition is many things: a testament to the human spirit, a great treatise on humanity and one hell of a love story. The new DVD from Criterion feature a MUCH improved print that makes the viewing much more enjoyable. If you are so inclined, make it a point to see this movie at least once in your lifetime.
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