I wanted to talk about the subject. It's been on my mind for a while, and I also wanted to be careful about it, and that's why I put the question mark at the end of it. See, I don't want anyone thinking that there is a confirmation of any kind. I won't poke the bear, if you will, because I know that this is the sequel so many people want. I'm one of those people, and I'm proud to say that.
The phrase "Mega Man Legends 3" seems to be both good and bad. The good being that if it ever does get made, it'll be the sequel that so many people have been waiting for, and it'll be even more satisfying to get because of the long wait. It will also be the sequel to a game that, in my honest opinion, highly deserves it. After all, Mega Man Legends 2 left us off on a cliff-hanger. If anything, I feel a sequel would be needed. The story needs to be finished. And as a huge fan of Mega Man, I would love nothing more than to have another game with the Blue Bomber's face on it.
As for the bad, well...the cancellation of this sequel, or even the prototype for that matter, has left a lot of people disappointed, and rightfully so. I'm really disappointed in the cancellation of it, and it's because I really enjoyed Mega Man Legends 2, and I would love nothing more than to get that highly anticipated sequel. And in all honesty, I want the story to be finished.
Speaking of Mega Man (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mega_Man), I'm really glad that he's getting the love that I feel he deserves. It is without a doubt one of the best franchises that Capcom has, and it has been proven to be financially successful. It's because the games are good and offer the fans something fun and new. I mean, I remember the first time I played Mega Man X. That game is entirely different from the classic series. The X series has new characters, new enemies including the bosses (now called Mavericks), armor upgrades, and new abilities such as wall-climbing. Then you have games like Mega Man Legends and Mega Man Battle Network that are completely different from each other and all the other games, which is great! It gives much needed variety to the franchise. That, and they're really fun games.
Mega Man has come an awful long way since the beginning on the NES.
I remember being a big fan of Capcom when I was a kid. I loved playing the games that they were churning out back in the 90s: Mega Man 7, Mega Man X, Final Fight, Final Fight 3, Knights of the Round, Street Fighter 2 (and the many upon many different versions that came after), Street Fighter Alpha 2, the arcade version of X-Men vs Street Fighter, and Marvel Super Heroes (both versions). They had something that I like, and that being variety. They had beat 'em ups, fighters, among other things. Their games were so much fun, and I liked what they were doing.
They seem to be going back to doing other games such as Strider and Duck Tales, which is great to hear. I'm hoping that they'll be making more Mega Man games--namely Mega Man Legends 3.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Old Video Games, Classic Game Collecting
I was at the mall earlier today. I went to this little shop that sells newer and classic used games, the classic section is what I would recommend. I looked over and saw a flat screen TV (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/tvs/all-flat-panel-tvs/abcat0101001.c?id=abcat0101001) that just so happened to have Super Mario 64. I felt that I had to play it. As a huge Mario fan, and as a life-long gamer, I felt like I couldn't resist the chance to play it. It's one of the great Mario games, and it's noted for its innovation and his successful jump to 3D.
The guy was nice enough to let me play it, even though I never buy anything--and I never buy anything because I don't have the money to spend on games and consoles like that. They can be quite expensive, so it'll have to wait until some other time. I played the game and the memories came rushing back to me. It was as fun as I remember it being. However, it was also something that I didn't remember it being: really hard. I don't know if it was my lack of familiarity with the Nintendo 64 controller and me being rusty, or if it was the game itself. But what I do know is that I struggled to beat the level. I ended up beating the level, but not without losing a life or two...or three.
One thing I love about the game is how innovative it is. You have a hub world, which is the castle that belongs to Princess Peach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Toadstool), which I think is absolutely amazing, and the music that accompanies it is equally as amazing. What's even better is the way you enter the levels. You enter them...by jumping inside of a painting. Unheard of, but it's really cool the way they did it. I'm still in awe as to how beautiful everything looked. The hub world, and the paintings themselves, are still as cool to me as they were back then. Everything about this game worked, and that's what makes this one of the best games of all-time--definitely one of the best games I ever played.
This shop has so many cool video games to purchase: Super Mario World, Super Mario Bros., Super Mario 3, Super Mario 2, Yoshi's Island, Super Mario 64, Batman Returns, Super Street Fighter 2, Super Mario Kart 64, Super Mario RPG, Street Fighter 2, Final Fantasy 7, Donkey Kong Country, Donkey Kong Country 2, Donkey Kong Land (all three of them), Donkey Kong Country 3, Pokemon Ruby, Pokemon Emerald, Pokemon Stadium, and the list goes on. They even have a Pokemon themed Nintendo 64, which I think is really cool. The games themselves are reasonably priced...I guess, and it does bring me to my next point: classic game collecting can be both tough and expensive. That's why I am not starting one at this point in time. The prices can be pretty bad. However, I will start one in the future. My collection, however, will be shorter because I will only be getting the games that I want. They will be either games that I had back then and that I miss playing. Or they will be games that I never owned as a kid but always wanted, such as Batman Returns and Animanics, for the SNES.
Collecting classic games can get really tough on the wallet, and it can also be time consuming. And while I don't do it myself, I do respect those that do. I respect those that do because they're passionate about video games, and they love collecting. I appreciate that fact to an immense degree. Why? Because I do love what I love and love what I do. I write articles for Squidoo. I write blogs on a regular basis. And I also do videos for my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Gambit190.
In closing: I have such a love for video games. They're fun for me. It's a love that was with me when I was a little kid, and it still remains with me to this day. I'll always be a gamer.
The guy was nice enough to let me play it, even though I never buy anything--and I never buy anything because I don't have the money to spend on games and consoles like that. They can be quite expensive, so it'll have to wait until some other time. I played the game and the memories came rushing back to me. It was as fun as I remember it being. However, it was also something that I didn't remember it being: really hard. I don't know if it was my lack of familiarity with the Nintendo 64 controller and me being rusty, or if it was the game itself. But what I do know is that I struggled to beat the level. I ended up beating the level, but not without losing a life or two...or three.
One thing I love about the game is how innovative it is. You have a hub world, which is the castle that belongs to Princess Peach (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Toadstool), which I think is absolutely amazing, and the music that accompanies it is equally as amazing. What's even better is the way you enter the levels. You enter them...by jumping inside of a painting. Unheard of, but it's really cool the way they did it. I'm still in awe as to how beautiful everything looked. The hub world, and the paintings themselves, are still as cool to me as they were back then. Everything about this game worked, and that's what makes this one of the best games of all-time--definitely one of the best games I ever played.
This shop has so many cool video games to purchase: Super Mario World, Super Mario Bros., Super Mario 3, Super Mario 2, Yoshi's Island, Super Mario 64, Batman Returns, Super Street Fighter 2, Super Mario Kart 64, Super Mario RPG, Street Fighter 2, Final Fantasy 7, Donkey Kong Country, Donkey Kong Country 2, Donkey Kong Land (all three of them), Donkey Kong Country 3, Pokemon Ruby, Pokemon Emerald, Pokemon Stadium, and the list goes on. They even have a Pokemon themed Nintendo 64, which I think is really cool. The games themselves are reasonably priced...I guess, and it does bring me to my next point: classic game collecting can be both tough and expensive. That's why I am not starting one at this point in time. The prices can be pretty bad. However, I will start one in the future. My collection, however, will be shorter because I will only be getting the games that I want. They will be either games that I had back then and that I miss playing. Or they will be games that I never owned as a kid but always wanted, such as Batman Returns and Animanics, for the SNES.
Collecting classic games can get really tough on the wallet, and it can also be time consuming. And while I don't do it myself, I do respect those that do. I respect those that do because they're passionate about video games, and they love collecting. I appreciate that fact to an immense degree. Why? Because I do love what I love and love what I do. I write articles for Squidoo. I write blogs on a regular basis. And I also do videos for my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Gambit190.
In closing: I have such a love for video games. They're fun for me. It's a love that was with me when I was a little kid, and it still remains with me to this day. I'll always be a gamer.
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Son of The Mask, The Mask
This is a movie that I haven't seen much of this movie, and I don't want to. However, I have seen a lot of clips in the Nostalgia Critic's review of the movie (http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/thatguywiththeglasses/nostalgia-critic) to the point where I feel that I've seen the movie, and let me tell you something: this movie looks absolutely horrible. I use what I saw as proof of such, but I also use the IMDB page for the movie (Son of the Mask) and the wikipedia page for the movie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_the_Mask) as proof that this movie is indeed as bad as I say it is.
That's all the proof you need, but I'm sure there's more out there. More proof that the people that made this movie had no idea what they were doing. I have no idea how they, or anyone for that matter, could mess something up this badly. They didn't capture what made the first one so good.
What made the first one so good was the fact that it was an entertaining movie. The special effects were amazing at the time, and they still hold up very well to this day. There was also the fact that the Mask itself grants the user with reality-bending powers and the ability to be impervious to physical pain. The Mask originally removes any social inhibitions from the user, therefore making them more dangerous and insane. But in the film, the mask is only made as dangerous as the person it's attached to.
Stanley Ipkiss, played by the very talented Jim Carrey), is one of the nicest guys around. He's a shy guy who seems to get tormented by nearly everyone. He's a good guy, yet nearly everyone wants to screw him over. Go figure. Later on in the movie, Stanley finds a wooden mask and places it on his face. This is when the movie gets better. Why? Because if you're like me, and you like Stanley, then you're going to enjoy what happens next. He goes out in the night and gets revenge on those that had wronged him, more specifically the auto-mechanics that ripped him off and his grumpy landlady.
It's a marvel to witness the special effects that they were able to do. The Mask, while watching Tina's performance at the Coco Bongo, gets aroused and howls like a werewolf--which, I believe, is an homage to a famous Tex Avery cartoon-- and he's also able to turn a balloon into an active Tommy gun. It's also amazing to see just how different Stanley and The Mask are. It's like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, which I love as I love the way that the two sides of the human nature were explored.
The DVD features a few deleted scenes. One of which explains what happens to the reporter.
This movie, while not a masterpiece, is a really good movie in its own right. It did a lot of things that I enjoyed, and it had great performances, mainly from Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz. The sequel, while I'm sure it was highly anticipated, was a let-down in every sense of the word.
That's all the proof you need, but I'm sure there's more out there. More proof that the people that made this movie had no idea what they were doing. I have no idea how they, or anyone for that matter, could mess something up this badly. They didn't capture what made the first one so good.
What made the first one so good was the fact that it was an entertaining movie. The special effects were amazing at the time, and they still hold up very well to this day. There was also the fact that the Mask itself grants the user with reality-bending powers and the ability to be impervious to physical pain. The Mask originally removes any social inhibitions from the user, therefore making them more dangerous and insane. But in the film, the mask is only made as dangerous as the person it's attached to.
Stanley Ipkiss, played by the very talented Jim Carrey), is one of the nicest guys around. He's a shy guy who seems to get tormented by nearly everyone. He's a good guy, yet nearly everyone wants to screw him over. Go figure. Later on in the movie, Stanley finds a wooden mask and places it on his face. This is when the movie gets better. Why? Because if you're like me, and you like Stanley, then you're going to enjoy what happens next. He goes out in the night and gets revenge on those that had wronged him, more specifically the auto-mechanics that ripped him off and his grumpy landlady.
It's a marvel to witness the special effects that they were able to do. The Mask, while watching Tina's performance at the Coco Bongo, gets aroused and howls like a werewolf--which, I believe, is an homage to a famous Tex Avery cartoon-- and he's also able to turn a balloon into an active Tommy gun. It's also amazing to see just how different Stanley and The Mask are. It's like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, which I love as I love the way that the two sides of the human nature were explored.
The DVD features a few deleted scenes. One of which explains what happens to the reporter.
This movie, while not a masterpiece, is a really good movie in its own right. It did a lot of things that I enjoyed, and it had great performances, mainly from Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz. The sequel, while I'm sure it was highly anticipated, was a let-down in every sense of the word.
Friday, April 18, 2014
Youtube, Comics, Facebook Fan Page, Twitter
I have a lot to say, and all of it will be going in different directions. And that's why I titled my blog entry the way that I did.
I love to entertain. I remember being a little kid and I absolutely loved to make my fellow class-mates laugh. It's something that brought me joy. I also love to get my opinion out, and that's why I started doing videos for my Youtube channel. It's also why I love to do said Youtube videos. (https://www.youtube.com/user/Gambit190). I have a passion for the things that I review, and I think that makes it better in the long run. It's good for me to enjoy what I do because I think it comes across on the screen. I also have a ton of things to review and do videos on--including videos on nostalgia. I'll be on Youtube for a long time to come, and I'm excited for my future in regards to everything.
I love comic books, and I have for a few years now. I love the battle of good vs evil. This is no secret, and it never has been. I'm proud of my hobby. In fact, not only do I enjoy reading them and admiring the art, but I also enjoy collecting them--namely Spider-Man, Batman, The Avengers, Legion of Superheroes, and X-Men. I like browsing through the selection on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and also on ebay.
Speaking of which, I also like browsing through the collection on an ebay store that is managed by my cousin, Arturo. He has a great selection of comic books and other collectibles such as models. He's a great man and is great with the customers. http://www.ebay.com/usr/at-comics
I'm all over the place, including on Facebook. I have a fan-page on there that is ran by me so that I can interact with the people that support me. It also gives me another platform to express my opinions on the types of things that I review. https://www.facebook.com/Gambit190
Last, but certainly not least, I'm also on Twitter. I love being on Twitter, and that's something I thought I would never say. It's something that I heard about for a while. And to be honest, it didn't sound appealing to me. Then one day, I decided to join to support a Youtuber. I'm really glad that I joined. Because of it I can tweet with my fellow gamers and comic lovers, celebrities, and also interact with my supporters/fellow Youtubers. It's a great platform to do business, as well. I discovered Twitter in September of 2011. I'm active on there. https://twitter.com/gambit190.
I want to end this blog by addressing one more thing, and it's something that's really important to me. I've had this goal on Youtube to get 200 subscribers. Last night, I finally achieved my goal, and I am very happy about it. I am very appreciative to all the people that have supported me and helped me with any questions that I have had. I also am grateful for the likes, comments, shares, and anything else that you guys do to help me.
Thank you for the support. I never forget it.
I love to entertain. I remember being a little kid and I absolutely loved to make my fellow class-mates laugh. It's something that brought me joy. I also love to get my opinion out, and that's why I started doing videos for my Youtube channel. It's also why I love to do said Youtube videos. (https://www.youtube.com/user/Gambit190). I have a passion for the things that I review, and I think that makes it better in the long run. It's good for me to enjoy what I do because I think it comes across on the screen. I also have a ton of things to review and do videos on--including videos on nostalgia. I'll be on Youtube for a long time to come, and I'm excited for my future in regards to everything.
I love comic books, and I have for a few years now. I love the battle of good vs evil. This is no secret, and it never has been. I'm proud of my hobby. In fact, not only do I enjoy reading them and admiring the art, but I also enjoy collecting them--namely Spider-Man, Batman, The Avengers, Legion of Superheroes, and X-Men. I like browsing through the selection on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and also on ebay.
Speaking of which, I also like browsing through the collection on an ebay store that is managed by my cousin, Arturo. He has a great selection of comic books and other collectibles such as models. He's a great man and is great with the customers. http://www.ebay.com/usr/at-comics
I'm all over the place, including on Facebook. I have a fan-page on there that is ran by me so that I can interact with the people that support me. It also gives me another platform to express my opinions on the types of things that I review. https://www.facebook.com/Gambit190
Last, but certainly not least, I'm also on Twitter. I love being on Twitter, and that's something I thought I would never say. It's something that I heard about for a while. And to be honest, it didn't sound appealing to me. Then one day, I decided to join to support a Youtuber. I'm really glad that I joined. Because of it I can tweet with my fellow gamers and comic lovers, celebrities, and also interact with my supporters/fellow Youtubers. It's a great platform to do business, as well. I discovered Twitter in September of 2011. I'm active on there. https://twitter.com/gambit190.
I want to end this blog by addressing one more thing, and it's something that's really important to me. I've had this goal on Youtube to get 200 subscribers. Last night, I finally achieved my goal, and I am very happy about it. I am very appreciative to all the people that have supported me and helped me with any questions that I have had. I also am grateful for the likes, comments, shares, and anything else that you guys do to help me.
Thank you for the support. I never forget it.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Darkwing Duck
This is a show that I remember watching when I was a kid, and it was on an afternoon block called The Disney Afternoon. I would watch this show in the afternoons after coming home from school in the 90's. I had several fond memories of this show as a kid. It wasn't until 2010 that I watched this show again after buying the first volume at Best Buy. I first watched this show as a kid. This time, I watched it as an adult.
The show is still great, and it has aged very well. In fact, this shows just how good Disney can be. The story is about a character named Drake Mallard, the alter ego of Darkwing Duck--or vice versa-- who deals with the struggles of being a Superhero all while raising a daughter.
Launchpad McQuack returns as Darkwing Duck's sidekick, or DW as he calls him. Launchpad is as fun to watch as he was in Ducktales, and he makes for a great sidekick.
The thing I like about Darkwing Duck is that the character himself, while well-meaning, comes off as selfish and obsessed with the fame that comes with being a Superhero. I like that about him because, while negative qualities by itself, makes him stand out from what the typical hero should be. He even is jealous of Gizmoduck because he always gets overshadowed in fame and attention whenever he's around. But despite his flaws, he still does the right thing at the end of the day, and that's what matters most of all. One of the things that I love about Darkwing is how entertaining he is. He does a great job of entertaining the viewers through his antics such as narrating his appearance by saying stuff like "I am the terror that flaps in the night," among other creative things that give the character a nice identity.
The voice cast is one of my favorite things about this show. The cast is absolutely superb, featuring such names like Jim Cummings (Darkwing Duck, Negaduck) Rob Paulsen (Steelbeak) and Dan Castellaneta (Megavolt).
There's only one negative thing I can say about this set: it's not finished. I believe that some of the show has not been released on DVD/Blu Ray, which is a real shame as this show is fun and deserves to be finished. It does baffle me as to why they don't have the entire show to purchase.
It is a bit of a downer, but that doesn't change how I overall feel about the show. That doesn't change the fact that this show was, and still is great--not just for people like me that want to relive a show from yesteryear, but also for people that can be exposed to a show like this. Darkwing Duck is an entertaining show featuring great animation, a superb voice cast that helps bring the show to life, a catchy theme and end song, and a DVD that looks great and is an absolute treat to own. Darkwing Duck, Volume 1
Darkwing Duck, Volume 2
The show is still great, and it has aged very well. In fact, this shows just how good Disney can be. The story is about a character named Drake Mallard, the alter ego of Darkwing Duck--or vice versa-- who deals with the struggles of being a Superhero all while raising a daughter.
Launchpad McQuack returns as Darkwing Duck's sidekick, or DW as he calls him. Launchpad is as fun to watch as he was in Ducktales, and he makes for a great sidekick.
The thing I like about Darkwing Duck is that the character himself, while well-meaning, comes off as selfish and obsessed with the fame that comes with being a Superhero. I like that about him because, while negative qualities by itself, makes him stand out from what the typical hero should be. He even is jealous of Gizmoduck because he always gets overshadowed in fame and attention whenever he's around. But despite his flaws, he still does the right thing at the end of the day, and that's what matters most of all. One of the things that I love about Darkwing is how entertaining he is. He does a great job of entertaining the viewers through his antics such as narrating his appearance by saying stuff like "I am the terror that flaps in the night," among other creative things that give the character a nice identity.
The voice cast is one of my favorite things about this show. The cast is absolutely superb, featuring such names like Jim Cummings (Darkwing Duck, Negaduck) Rob Paulsen (Steelbeak) and Dan Castellaneta (Megavolt).
There's only one negative thing I can say about this set: it's not finished. I believe that some of the show has not been released on DVD/Blu Ray, which is a real shame as this show is fun and deserves to be finished. It does baffle me as to why they don't have the entire show to purchase.
It is a bit of a downer, but that doesn't change how I overall feel about the show. That doesn't change the fact that this show was, and still is great--not just for people like me that want to relive a show from yesteryear, but also for people that can be exposed to a show like this. Darkwing Duck is an entertaining show featuring great animation, a superb voice cast that helps bring the show to life, a catchy theme and end song, and a DVD that looks great and is an absolute treat to own. Darkwing Duck, Volume 1
Darkwing Duck, Volume 2
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Spider-Man (Raimi Trilogy)
I've been a fan of Spider-Man ever since I was a child. So when I found out that a Spider-Man movie was coming to the theaters, I was excited. The little kid in me, the fanboy in me was amped up. One of my all-time favorite Superheroes was coming to the big screen. I couldn't wait.
I remember seeing the movie, and I remember like it being yesterday. We got there late--not late enough to miss any of the movie, but late enough to get good seats-- and I remember sitting close to screen, which is a horrible seat because you either can't see everything, or you can but can't see it well, which defeats the purpose of going. Still, despite all that, I enjoyed the movie. I loved it!
The movie, directed by Sam Raimi (Spider-Man: The High Definition Trilogy (Spider-Man / Spider-Man 2 / Spider-Man 3) [Blu-ray]
)was faithful to the comics to a good degree. It tells the story of Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire). He's a friendly, intelligent guy that loves photography. He lives with his Aunt May and Uncle Ben, an elderly couple that has cared for Peter and are basically his parents. Things are not going well for him as he gets picked on, and isn't able to fight back. That all changes the day that he's bitten by a radioactive spider while on a class trip to Oscorp.
I feel that this movie is about changing and personal responsibility. Peter changes when he gets his powers. He went from a normal guy to one that has super strength, the ability to stick to walls, and also the ability to sense incoming danger--known as the Spider Sense. He struggles with these powers, and I like that they added that in. Him not knowing how to fire his web was a nice, comedic touch.
On the other end, you have Norman Osborn. He's a charming man, but not a very good father to his son, Harry Osborn. Norman ends up experimenting with a performance-enhancing vapor that increases his speed, stamina, and strength--the side-effect being that it drives him insane.
Peter ends up using these powers to become a pro wrestler and earn some money, money he plans to use to buy a car to impress the girl of his dreams, Mary Jane Watson. Before he goes on to wrestle, he has a heart-to-heart conversation with Uncle Ben. That conversation, while good, was also tragic. It was tragic because I know what happens to Uncle Ben. It was a well-acted scene by both actors. The scene was memorable for two things: Uncle Ben's famous line (with great power comes great responsibility) and also the exchange below:
Uncle Ben: I don't mean to lecture, and I don't mean to preach. And I know I'm not your father--
Peter: Then stop pretending to be!
The reaction of Uncle Ben felt real. He looked like he was about to cry. Peter ends up beating Bone Saw (played by the late, great "Macho Man" Randy Savage). The promoter ends up cheating Peter out of the money. The promoter, rightfully so, gets robbed by a robber. Peter has the chance to stop the crook, but chooses not to. That choice comes back to haunt Peter as the guy that got away was the guy that killed Uncle Ben.
The fight scenes throughout the trilogy are nicely done. They were very creative with what they were able to do. As a huge fan of Spider-Man, I was in awe at what they were able to come up with for the fight scenes. That awe was also there as I saw Spider-Man swing through New York as one would expect. He did acrobatics while in the air, running up walls, etc. It's a marvel to behold on the big screen or elsewhere.
I feel all the actors did a good job, but my three favorites would be Rosemary Harris (Aunt May), Cliff Robertson (Uncle Ben), and J.K Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson).
Before the ending to the first movie, Peter talks about the fact that he will never forget the words: with great power comes great responsibility. It's a nice way to remember his Uncle Ben. That, and it's something that I think could keep him on the right track.
Spider-Man 2 is a great movie, and one that I feel is an improvement on the 1st. Now, I'm not here to spoil and talk about everything, but what I am here to do is tell you why I feel this trilogy is a must-have.
This movie delves into both Peter Parker and Spider-Man. He has a strong moral duty to himself and to the city of New York, so he can't stop being Spider-Man. But that duty comes into strong conflict with Peter and his life. He struggles with his job as a pizza delivery boy, and even loses his job. He struggles to pay rent. He struggles in school. His relationships with Mary Jane, Harry, and Aunt May are strained not just by his double life, but also for different reasons. He can't be there for Mary Jane since he's too busy to watch her plays. Harry Osborn is angry at Spider-Man for "killing" his father, and he's bitter at the world. As for Aunt May, Peter was more or less responsible for Uncle Ben getting killed. Her reaction later on in the movie to Peter was a thing of beauty, and that's all I'm going to say about that.
Aunt May was a great character to watch. Her speech about a hero was something that I feel should definitely be watched and listened to closely. She's also a character that is easy to sympathize with. Not only did she lose the love of her life, but she's also facing foreclosure and struggles in her own right.
J.K. Simmons returns and nails J. Jonah Jameson to perfection--in all 3 movies to be exact. Watching this guy is an absolute treat.
The villain for this movie is Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina). He starts off as a good man named Otto Octavius. He's a brilliant man, and even shares that kind of connection with Peter. His dream is to perfect sustained fusion power. His dream turns into tragedy, but I won't spoil that either.
The movie features several great moments, several great fights, and a great ending that I won't spoil. However, I do want to talk about a certain part of the movie that I feel was done exceptionally well. Peter Parker gets a point in his life that he's fed up with being Spider-Man as it brings him nothing but trouble with his grades, his jobs, and his loved ones. He gives up being Spider-Man. It goes well for him at first. He does better in school. He's able to be there for the people that matter.
But one thing that I loved is that bad things happened during this part. Peter, at first, didn't do anything, but was visibly troubled by it--signaling, to me anyway, that his desire to be Spider-Man was still there. Later one, Peter is walking through town at night when he overhears a commotion. He sees that a fire in going on and jumps into action, or at least tries to, but stops when he notices that he doesn't have him costume underneath his clothes. He hesitates at first, but still goes to save the day.
What I love about this part was that despite things going good for Peter, he notices that the city needs Spider-Man. He also notices that he can't stop being Spider-Man
Things take a turn for the worse in the final entry of the trilogy. Now, while this movie isn't bad, it does pale into comparison to the ones that came before it.
This movie tries, but it tries too hard. There are villains crammed into one movie. The first two movies had only one villain, and I think that worked much better. Quality over quantity.
Flint Marko (Thomas Hayden Church) has a sick daughter and turns to crime out of desperation. He's supposed to be a sympathetic villain, and I think it worked rather well. His life of crime turns into tragedy as he ends up becoming The Sandman. While not a big fan of the villain, I will say that the CGI for him was amazing.
Harry ends up becoming The New Goblin, which I thought was disappointing. I would have rather he become The Green Goblin (with an altered suit) like he did in the cartoons and comics. His suit was alright, but his glider was pretty cool as it was able to use fire as a weapon.
The last villain is Eddie Brock/Venom (Topher Grace). I thought this was really disappointing. He wasn't sympathetic like he was in the 90's cartoon. Instead he lives in his own little world. He fakes a picture of Spider-Man robbing a bank (and gets fired) and "loses" Gwen Stacy to Peter Parker. His motivation for wanting revenge wasn't as strong as it was in that cartoon. In that cartoon, Spider-Man, in a way, ruined his life. They could have done so much more with Eddie, but they chose not to, and that disappointed me.
Eddie ends up becoming Venom. Venom looks amazing, and I was happy to see him. Unfortunately, Venom was tacked on, and it really felt like it. He never referred to himself as "we," which is something he is known for. He's not in the movie for that long either before the symbiote dies, along with Eddie Brock who can't live without it apparently.
Harry learns about what really happened to his father. This leads to his redemption. He fights alongside Spider-Man, who are now best buddies, against The Sandman and Venom.
I have no complaints about the fight scenes. They're good as they always have been.
I have more problems with this movie. The relationship between Peter and MJ is not cute, or even enjoyable to watch. When I saw their relationship in that cartoon, I enjoyed it because they were a couple in love and it looked like it. In this movie, they have petty issues that make it feel like a soap opera on the big screen. Mary Jane is upset at Peter because, apparently, she's not as famous as Spider-Man. Gwen Stacy is added as nothing more than "the other woman," and I think that's a shame because she deserves better.
Last but not least: they changed the killer of Uncle Ben. It's not the guy that we thought it was It was Flint Marko, and I thought that was really stupid.
The performances are great as always. J.K. Simmons plays a perfect J. Jonah Jameson. Rosemari Harris is very enjoyable as Aunt May. The fight scenes are an absolute treat to watch. I love the scenes in which Spider-Man is swinging around. The suits look great.
The movies are filled with bonus features, which adds a nice amount of replay value to this movie All in all, while not a perfect trilogy, it's very enjoyable and has a ton of great moments.
I remember seeing the movie, and I remember like it being yesterday. We got there late--not late enough to miss any of the movie, but late enough to get good seats-- and I remember sitting close to screen, which is a horrible seat because you either can't see everything, or you can but can't see it well, which defeats the purpose of going. Still, despite all that, I enjoyed the movie. I loved it!
The movie, directed by Sam Raimi (Spider-Man: The High Definition Trilogy (Spider-Man / Spider-Man 2 / Spider-Man 3) [Blu-ray]
)was faithful to the comics to a good degree. It tells the story of Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire). He's a friendly, intelligent guy that loves photography. He lives with his Aunt May and Uncle Ben, an elderly couple that has cared for Peter and are basically his parents. Things are not going well for him as he gets picked on, and isn't able to fight back. That all changes the day that he's bitten by a radioactive spider while on a class trip to Oscorp.I feel that this movie is about changing and personal responsibility. Peter changes when he gets his powers. He went from a normal guy to one that has super strength, the ability to stick to walls, and also the ability to sense incoming danger--known as the Spider Sense. He struggles with these powers, and I like that they added that in. Him not knowing how to fire his web was a nice, comedic touch.
On the other end, you have Norman Osborn. He's a charming man, but not a very good father to his son, Harry Osborn. Norman ends up experimenting with a performance-enhancing vapor that increases his speed, stamina, and strength--the side-effect being that it drives him insane.
Peter ends up using these powers to become a pro wrestler and earn some money, money he plans to use to buy a car to impress the girl of his dreams, Mary Jane Watson. Before he goes on to wrestle, he has a heart-to-heart conversation with Uncle Ben. That conversation, while good, was also tragic. It was tragic because I know what happens to Uncle Ben. It was a well-acted scene by both actors. The scene was memorable for two things: Uncle Ben's famous line (with great power comes great responsibility) and also the exchange below:
Uncle Ben: I don't mean to lecture, and I don't mean to preach. And I know I'm not your father--
Peter: Then stop pretending to be!
The reaction of Uncle Ben felt real. He looked like he was about to cry. Peter ends up beating Bone Saw (played by the late, great "Macho Man" Randy Savage). The promoter ends up cheating Peter out of the money. The promoter, rightfully so, gets robbed by a robber. Peter has the chance to stop the crook, but chooses not to. That choice comes back to haunt Peter as the guy that got away was the guy that killed Uncle Ben.
The fight scenes throughout the trilogy are nicely done. They were very creative with what they were able to do. As a huge fan of Spider-Man, I was in awe at what they were able to come up with for the fight scenes. That awe was also there as I saw Spider-Man swing through New York as one would expect. He did acrobatics while in the air, running up walls, etc. It's a marvel to behold on the big screen or elsewhere.
I feel all the actors did a good job, but my three favorites would be Rosemary Harris (Aunt May), Cliff Robertson (Uncle Ben), and J.K Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson).
Before the ending to the first movie, Peter talks about the fact that he will never forget the words: with great power comes great responsibility. It's a nice way to remember his Uncle Ben. That, and it's something that I think could keep him on the right track.
Spider-Man 2 is a great movie, and one that I feel is an improvement on the 1st. Now, I'm not here to spoil and talk about everything, but what I am here to do is tell you why I feel this trilogy is a must-have.
This movie delves into both Peter Parker and Spider-Man. He has a strong moral duty to himself and to the city of New York, so he can't stop being Spider-Man. But that duty comes into strong conflict with Peter and his life. He struggles with his job as a pizza delivery boy, and even loses his job. He struggles to pay rent. He struggles in school. His relationships with Mary Jane, Harry, and Aunt May are strained not just by his double life, but also for different reasons. He can't be there for Mary Jane since he's too busy to watch her plays. Harry Osborn is angry at Spider-Man for "killing" his father, and he's bitter at the world. As for Aunt May, Peter was more or less responsible for Uncle Ben getting killed. Her reaction later on in the movie to Peter was a thing of beauty, and that's all I'm going to say about that.
Aunt May was a great character to watch. Her speech about a hero was something that I feel should definitely be watched and listened to closely. She's also a character that is easy to sympathize with. Not only did she lose the love of her life, but she's also facing foreclosure and struggles in her own right.
J.K. Simmons returns and nails J. Jonah Jameson to perfection--in all 3 movies to be exact. Watching this guy is an absolute treat.
The villain for this movie is Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina). He starts off as a good man named Otto Octavius. He's a brilliant man, and even shares that kind of connection with Peter. His dream is to perfect sustained fusion power. His dream turns into tragedy, but I won't spoil that either.
The movie features several great moments, several great fights, and a great ending that I won't spoil. However, I do want to talk about a certain part of the movie that I feel was done exceptionally well. Peter Parker gets a point in his life that he's fed up with being Spider-Man as it brings him nothing but trouble with his grades, his jobs, and his loved ones. He gives up being Spider-Man. It goes well for him at first. He does better in school. He's able to be there for the people that matter.
But one thing that I loved is that bad things happened during this part. Peter, at first, didn't do anything, but was visibly troubled by it--signaling, to me anyway, that his desire to be Spider-Man was still there. Later one, Peter is walking through town at night when he overhears a commotion. He sees that a fire in going on and jumps into action, or at least tries to, but stops when he notices that he doesn't have him costume underneath his clothes. He hesitates at first, but still goes to save the day.
What I love about this part was that despite things going good for Peter, he notices that the city needs Spider-Man. He also notices that he can't stop being Spider-Man
Things take a turn for the worse in the final entry of the trilogy. Now, while this movie isn't bad, it does pale into comparison to the ones that came before it.
This movie tries, but it tries too hard. There are villains crammed into one movie. The first two movies had only one villain, and I think that worked much better. Quality over quantity.
Flint Marko (Thomas Hayden Church) has a sick daughter and turns to crime out of desperation. He's supposed to be a sympathetic villain, and I think it worked rather well. His life of crime turns into tragedy as he ends up becoming The Sandman. While not a big fan of the villain, I will say that the CGI for him was amazing.
Harry ends up becoming The New Goblin, which I thought was disappointing. I would have rather he become The Green Goblin (with an altered suit) like he did in the cartoons and comics. His suit was alright, but his glider was pretty cool as it was able to use fire as a weapon.
The last villain is Eddie Brock/Venom (Topher Grace). I thought this was really disappointing. He wasn't sympathetic like he was in the 90's cartoon. Instead he lives in his own little world. He fakes a picture of Spider-Man robbing a bank (and gets fired) and "loses" Gwen Stacy to Peter Parker. His motivation for wanting revenge wasn't as strong as it was in that cartoon. In that cartoon, Spider-Man, in a way, ruined his life. They could have done so much more with Eddie, but they chose not to, and that disappointed me.
Eddie ends up becoming Venom. Venom looks amazing, and I was happy to see him. Unfortunately, Venom was tacked on, and it really felt like it. He never referred to himself as "we," which is something he is known for. He's not in the movie for that long either before the symbiote dies, along with Eddie Brock who can't live without it apparently.
Harry learns about what really happened to his father. This leads to his redemption. He fights alongside Spider-Man, who are now best buddies, against The Sandman and Venom.
I have no complaints about the fight scenes. They're good as they always have been.
I have more problems with this movie. The relationship between Peter and MJ is not cute, or even enjoyable to watch. When I saw their relationship in that cartoon, I enjoyed it because they were a couple in love and it looked like it. In this movie, they have petty issues that make it feel like a soap opera on the big screen. Mary Jane is upset at Peter because, apparently, she's not as famous as Spider-Man. Gwen Stacy is added as nothing more than "the other woman," and I think that's a shame because she deserves better.
Last but not least: they changed the killer of Uncle Ben. It's not the guy that we thought it was It was Flint Marko, and I thought that was really stupid.
The performances are great as always. J.K. Simmons plays a perfect J. Jonah Jameson. Rosemari Harris is very enjoyable as Aunt May. The fight scenes are an absolute treat to watch. I love the scenes in which Spider-Man is swinging around. The suits look great.
The movies are filled with bonus features, which adds a nice amount of replay value to this movie All in all, while not a perfect trilogy, it's very enjoyable and has a ton of great moments.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Pixar Films
I first discovered Pixar when I was a little boy. My brother and I got a VCR for Christmas of '96, and along with that we got four VHS tapes, one of which was Toy Story. I remember the build-up to this like it was yesterday. I was in a grocery store and I saw the display for the movie. Several upon several movies were stacked up with a cardboard display near it. I was in awe at the detail of the box. Needless to say it captured my attention and did a good job of making me want to buy it.
I watched the movie and I absolutely loved it. Never before had I seen a movie like that--the CGI blew my mind at the time, and it stills holds up exceptionally well to this very day. The movie had a great cast featuring Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, John Ratzenberger as Ham, and Jim Varney as Slinky. The story was great, and I loved that they gave that they made these toys feel real. They gave the toys movement and brought their world to our eyes. These toys were capable of real-life emotions such as jealousy, self-doubt, and anger. These toys were also capable of things such as friendship, which I thought was a really nice touch.
The Toy Story trilogy remains one of my all-time favorites. The fact that Andy was a little boy when I watched it made me feel more connected to it. After all, I was a little boy that loved to collect and play with action figures as well. Toy Story 3 was, and still is, a masterpiece in my eyes. The movie was about change, about a fitting end to the saga. Andy was grown-up in this movie and he was about to go to college. Watching this as an adult made me truly appreciate this trilogy, especially part 1 and 3. The movie left me satisfied.
The Incredibles was another one that I loved. They take the superhero genre and they make it their own. The movie is about superheroes who are forced to retire. Mr. Incredible saves a guy that was trying to commit suicide and didn't want to be saved. Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) now works for an insurance company, which he doesn't like. All he wants to do is help people. He can't let go of the glory days, and even has a wall of all his photos and accomplishments. His need to help people has him and his friend, Frozone, go out to fight crime...in ski-masks.
This movie provides different attitudes and outlooks on life. Helen Parr (Elastigirl) has moved on from her live as a superhero and now excels as her role of a mother. Their son, Dash, has the ability of super speed. Dash wants to try out for sports, but his mom forbids it due to him possibly making other people inferior and also blowing their cover.
I love that this movie did so much with the genre. It does everything in a nice, entertaining way that makes you think. Toy Story 1-3 Box Set [Blu-ray]
The Incredibles (Four-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)
I watched the movie and I absolutely loved it. Never before had I seen a movie like that--the CGI blew my mind at the time, and it stills holds up exceptionally well to this very day. The movie had a great cast featuring Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, John Ratzenberger as Ham, and Jim Varney as Slinky. The story was great, and I loved that they gave that they made these toys feel real. They gave the toys movement and brought their world to our eyes. These toys were capable of real-life emotions such as jealousy, self-doubt, and anger. These toys were also capable of things such as friendship, which I thought was a really nice touch.
The Toy Story trilogy remains one of my all-time favorites. The fact that Andy was a little boy when I watched it made me feel more connected to it. After all, I was a little boy that loved to collect and play with action figures as well. Toy Story 3 was, and still is, a masterpiece in my eyes. The movie was about change, about a fitting end to the saga. Andy was grown-up in this movie and he was about to go to college. Watching this as an adult made me truly appreciate this trilogy, especially part 1 and 3. The movie left me satisfied.
The Incredibles was another one that I loved. They take the superhero genre and they make it their own. The movie is about superheroes who are forced to retire. Mr. Incredible saves a guy that was trying to commit suicide and didn't want to be saved. Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) now works for an insurance company, which he doesn't like. All he wants to do is help people. He can't let go of the glory days, and even has a wall of all his photos and accomplishments. His need to help people has him and his friend, Frozone, go out to fight crime...in ski-masks.
This movie provides different attitudes and outlooks on life. Helen Parr (Elastigirl) has moved on from her live as a superhero and now excels as her role of a mother. Their son, Dash, has the ability of super speed. Dash wants to try out for sports, but his mom forbids it due to him possibly making other people inferior and also blowing their cover.
I love that this movie did so much with the genre. It does everything in a nice, entertaining way that makes you think. Toy Story 1-3 Box Set [Blu-ray]
The Incredibles (Four-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)
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