Quick hits - games and movies

-My 2009 Game Of The Year selection, Borderlands, has sold over 2 million copies, according to USA Today's Game Hunters.  Take-Two studios said in a statement that Borderlands "has established itself as a key franchise ... for which the company (Take-Two) has long-term publishing rights."  Looks like there will plenty more Borderlands headed our way, which is terrific news for gamers.

-I have played 5-6 hours of Resident Evil 5.  First of all, the graphics are stunning; the look of the game is incredible.  The story is above-average and well told.  The main characters are likable and you care about them.  There is a lot to like about the game but the controls really hamper the game.  Even when you get used to them, they still stick out like a sore thumb and take something away from the game itself.  If this game had 3rd person controls like Uncharted 2 or, perhaps an even better comparison, the Gears Of War series, it would be much better for it.  It is still a grade A title but I sure wish Capcom would get modern and update the controls.

-Barb and I saw Up In The Air Thursday night.  It's a very good flick with standout performances from George Clooney and Vera Farmiga.  It's nice to see a film that is aimed squarely at adults. It's equal parts funny and sad and it's very topical for the times.

-I also finally got around to seeing that 80's horror/camp classic, Re-animator.  It was exactly what I expected after hearing so much about it through the years.  I can see why it was so startling when it was first released (it was unrated and featured tons of gore and gratuitous nudity) but of course that effect has been lessened over the years due to the ever-escalating tastelessness of horror movies released since then.  The movie was fun but quite silly.  And the musical score was such a blatant rip off from Psycho that I was not surprised in the least to find out that there was legal action taken against the composer.  But you know what?   It worked for the movie.