Cosplay Girl Of The Week #58 (Lina Inverse)
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This week's Cosplay Girl Of The Week is from Slayers. The character is the lovely Lina Inverse.
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Green Lantern: Rise Of The Manhunters Review
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Green Lantern finally gets his own videogame. With this game being a tie in for the upcoming movie, one question is on every gamer's mind. Does this title suffer from the videogame movie curse?
Story - Way before the Green Lantern Corp was formed. The Guardians Of The Universe created an android raced to protect the galaxy, known as the Manhunters. The Manhunters became corrupted and were exiled. Now they seek revenge and vow to destroy the Guardians and the Green Lantern Corps. The story does a good job for the most part. It's set in the same universe as the movie. I'm guessing that it takes place during Hal Jordan's time on OA. The story starts off with Hal, Sinestro and Kilowog paying their respects to Abin Sur. Amon Sur (Abin Son) is also attending the event, when the Manhunters strike. You'll take Hal through different locations to find out what the Manhunters are after, who is behind the attacks and why.
Gameplay - The gameplay is far from original. Green Lantern: Rise Of The Manhunters borrows aspect from two games in particular, God Of War and Sin & Punishment. This doesn't mean this game is a knockoff, or badly done. In fact the gameplay is actually enjoyable. Hal has tons of moves, and combos in his arsenal to fight off the Manhunters. Like any standard action game you have your light attacks and strong attacks. Hal's light attacks consists of two swords which he wields with great skill. His strong attacks comes with a heavy hammer. In order to the progress to the next area. Hal will have to clear out the enemies opposing or figure out some puzzles. The puzzles are really easy to figure out, since the game decides to give you hints if it sees you struggling. What makes this game enjoyable is the different combos and constructs you can use. One thing the game did really well, is making you feel like a Green Lantern. Hal has 12 constructs each do a specific job and damage. The game really gets fun when you can use your Blade Whip on an enemy, and then switch to your Gatling Gun right after to inflict more damage. You can arm yourself with 8 constructs at a time using the slots provided. I found this great by simply pressing the L2 or R2 button, the constructs that I selected are right there for me to use. Hal also has a meter which send him into overdrive. When taking damage, or beating enough enemies Hal can summon his willpower for a short time for an unlimited use of construct attacks. When he is in overdrive mode you will feel invincible.
The game is not just beat em ups. The game also allows you to upgrade your attacks, willpower meter, and purchase constructs such as the Mech Suit and Jet Fighter. When your not on land, players will take Hal Jordan into the air and space. The flight levels are a blast to play. The gameplay will quickly remind you of Sin & Punishment. You have to take out as much enemies as you can, unlock doors and even figure out some quick puzzles. The controls for the flight feels a little clunky, but you'll get use to it after a few minutes. The gameplay has a few issues. One major issues is the camera. The camera at times pulls so far away, that you can't keep track of what your doing. This happens often when you have a huge wave of enemies. It would have been nice if you can control the camera or at least have a zoom button. Another flaw is the game gets repetitive quickly. After the first three missions you'll know how to defeat most of the Manhunters. Most of the constructs will defeat most of the enemies, the game does keep it fresh with quick time events, but it still gets repetitive. Finally for those hoping for multiplayer online will be disappointed. The multiplayer is strictly offline, and a friend can just press start and play as Sinestro. Trying out double team attacks with your friend is a blast. Grabbing a Manhunter and pitching them to your friend to swing with the bat is a pleasure.
Gameplay Video
Graphics - The graphics are great to see. The world of OA is beautiful, the environments really come to life. It does a great job capturing the canon of Green Lantern. The backgrounds really come to life in the later levels and it really feels like your on this great space adventure. However to just to nitpick I did see some background hiccups. Due to the camera angles you'll see some texture issues on the right side or left side of the screen.
Sound - The music is composed so well. You really feel like a superhero playing this game. The soundtrack consists of choirs, strings and drums. The opening level music really sets the mood and really wraps you into the experience. The voice acting is also well done. Ryan Reynolds provides the voice of Hal Jordan and he nails it. Hal is strong, witty and compassionate. The only voice I felt wasn't up to par was Sinestro. It wasn't the voice actor, it sounded like they lowered the pitch of his voice a little. Other than that little complaint the sound is awesome. Play this game with surround sounds.
Replay Value - The game doesn't offer any modes besides the story. Its a fun game, but you might only play once unless you are a die hard Green Lantern fan.
Final Grade C+/7.5 - Green Lantern: Rise Of The Manhunters is a fun game. Fans of the hero will enjoy it, casual gamers and even hardcore gamers should at least give this game a glance. It's not perfect but it does a lot of things right. The music, the construct and the graphics are worthy enough mentions to check out this game. At the end of the game you will say the famous oath "In Brightest Day, In Blackest Night. No evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might, beware of my power GREEN LANTERN'S LIGHT!"
Story - Way before the Green Lantern Corp was formed. The Guardians Of The Universe created an android raced to protect the galaxy, known as the Manhunters. The Manhunters became corrupted and were exiled. Now they seek revenge and vow to destroy the Guardians and the Green Lantern Corps. The story does a good job for the most part. It's set in the same universe as the movie. I'm guessing that it takes place during Hal Jordan's time on OA. The story starts off with Hal, Sinestro and Kilowog paying their respects to Abin Sur. Amon Sur (Abin Son) is also attending the event, when the Manhunters strike. You'll take Hal through different locations to find out what the Manhunters are after, who is behind the attacks and why.
Gameplay - The gameplay is far from original. Green Lantern: Rise Of The Manhunters borrows aspect from two games in particular, God Of War and Sin & Punishment. This doesn't mean this game is a knockoff, or badly done. In fact the gameplay is actually enjoyable. Hal has tons of moves, and combos in his arsenal to fight off the Manhunters. Like any standard action game you have your light attacks and strong attacks. Hal's light attacks consists of two swords which he wields with great skill. His strong attacks comes with a heavy hammer. In order to the progress to the next area. Hal will have to clear out the enemies opposing or figure out some puzzles. The puzzles are really easy to figure out, since the game decides to give you hints if it sees you struggling. What makes this game enjoyable is the different combos and constructs you can use. One thing the game did really well, is making you feel like a Green Lantern. Hal has 12 constructs each do a specific job and damage. The game really gets fun when you can use your Blade Whip on an enemy, and then switch to your Gatling Gun right after to inflict more damage. You can arm yourself with 8 constructs at a time using the slots provided. I found this great by simply pressing the L2 or R2 button, the constructs that I selected are right there for me to use. Hal also has a meter which send him into overdrive. When taking damage, or beating enough enemies Hal can summon his willpower for a short time for an unlimited use of construct attacks. When he is in overdrive mode you will feel invincible.
The game is not just beat em ups. The game also allows you to upgrade your attacks, willpower meter, and purchase constructs such as the Mech Suit and Jet Fighter. When your not on land, players will take Hal Jordan into the air and space. The flight levels are a blast to play. The gameplay will quickly remind you of Sin & Punishment. You have to take out as much enemies as you can, unlock doors and even figure out some quick puzzles. The controls for the flight feels a little clunky, but you'll get use to it after a few minutes. The gameplay has a few issues. One major issues is the camera. The camera at times pulls so far away, that you can't keep track of what your doing. This happens often when you have a huge wave of enemies. It would have been nice if you can control the camera or at least have a zoom button. Another flaw is the game gets repetitive quickly. After the first three missions you'll know how to defeat most of the Manhunters. Most of the constructs will defeat most of the enemies, the game does keep it fresh with quick time events, but it still gets repetitive. Finally for those hoping for multiplayer online will be disappointed. The multiplayer is strictly offline, and a friend can just press start and play as Sinestro. Trying out double team attacks with your friend is a blast. Grabbing a Manhunter and pitching them to your friend to swing with the bat is a pleasure.
Gameplay Video
Graphics - The graphics are great to see. The world of OA is beautiful, the environments really come to life. It does a great job capturing the canon of Green Lantern. The backgrounds really come to life in the later levels and it really feels like your on this great space adventure. However to just to nitpick I did see some background hiccups. Due to the camera angles you'll see some texture issues on the right side or left side of the screen.
Sound - The music is composed so well. You really feel like a superhero playing this game. The soundtrack consists of choirs, strings and drums. The opening level music really sets the mood and really wraps you into the experience. The voice acting is also well done. Ryan Reynolds provides the voice of Hal Jordan and he nails it. Hal is strong, witty and compassionate. The only voice I felt wasn't up to par was Sinestro. It wasn't the voice actor, it sounded like they lowered the pitch of his voice a little. Other than that little complaint the sound is awesome. Play this game with surround sounds.
Replay Value - The game doesn't offer any modes besides the story. Its a fun game, but you might only play once unless you are a die hard Green Lantern fan.
Final Grade C+/7.5 - Green Lantern: Rise Of The Manhunters is a fun game. Fans of the hero will enjoy it, casual gamers and even hardcore gamers should at least give this game a glance. It's not perfect but it does a lot of things right. The music, the construct and the graphics are worthy enough mentions to check out this game. At the end of the game you will say the famous oath "In Brightest Day, In Blackest Night. No evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might, beware of my power GREEN LANTERN'S LIGHT!"
Green Lantern: The Motion Picture Soundtrack
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Justin plays some tracks from Green Lantern: The Motion Picture Soundtrack. Check out some of the cool themes from the movie. Make sure to pick up the OST at a store near you.
Green Lantern: Emerald Knights Review
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Hal Jordan and the Green Lanterns return in a new animated film from DC. Does this new film pack enough light to keep you watching, or is it time to turn off the light?
Live Podcast Show at 7:30 PM Eastern Time On Sunday!!
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We will be doing our first live audio Podcast show, this Sunday 7:30 PM Eastern Time. We will be giving a full recap of E3 2011. Make sure you tune in because we will also be giving away XBOX Live Points, and a copy of Green Lantern Emerald Knights.
E3 2011: Sony Press Conference
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Did you miss the Sony press conference at E3? Don't worry the gaming community has you covered. Here is the full Sony press conference. Playstation Move, Uncharted and many more. Credit to IGN.com
E3 2011: Microsoft Press Conference
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Did you miss the Microsoft press conference at E3? Don't worry the gaming community has you covered. Here is the full Microsoft press conference. A lot of Xbox Live, Kinect and many more. Credit to IGN.com
More Vocaloid
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Hey guys its been a while. I've got some more Vocaloid vids to show you and are probably some of my favs. I should dress as a Vocaloid for Halloween this year. If I do become a Vocaloid, which one should I be? Tell me in the comments section. Thanks guys xoxoxox for everyone. Anime Rules!!!!!!!!!! (None of these are mine they are vids from youtube from the user 'lordxwillie'. Thank you).
Lol so cute! I think Justin and I are the twins! ^-^
I basically know how the dance works with the beginning sequence. Everything else is a blur. lol
Cosplay Boy Of The Week #49 (Hope)
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This week Cosplay Boy Of The Week is Hope from Final Fantasy.
Read MoreCosplay Girl Of The Week #57 (Vocaloid Miku)
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Cosplay Girl Of The Week is back and in full effect. This week Cosplay Girl is our favorite Vocaloid Miku.
Read MoreThink GEEK
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Have you guys visited ThinkGeek for any of your geek shopping needs? This place is AWESOME! Especially since I've been on my comfy t-shirt stint.Look at what they have! ...
These DC hockey jerseys I found while perusing Geek Modern is what led me to all things GEEK over at ThinkGeek.com .... and they have tons for guys AND girls!
Interactive T-Shirt's... You can LITERALLY create your OWN Rock Band & walk up and down the street HA!
Allll the DoctorWho stuffs any Whovian could imagine!
Yummy Zombie&Bacon stuffs!
Unfortunately, I'd have to report that I'm not that impressed with the Monkeys collection of goods, but they have tons of practical gifts which DEFINITELY makes this site an overall winner ... I already bought keychains (WHILE doing this post)
The next time you wonder what to get the geek in your life who has everything, a nice "to do" from ThinkGeek maybe just the move! ;-D
Until next time!
~je t'adore!
>^.*<
The Art Of Fighting Review
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The Art Of Fighting" is an Anime adaptation of a videogame. Yes a videogame adaptation, beware fans. Does this pack or punch? Or is this film a failure.
Batman: Arkham City - Catwoman Trailer
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Arkham City is looking more and more epic with each footage released. In this footage we get to see Catwoman in action. Yes fans she is a playable character and her moves look awesome. We can't wait for this game. Credit goes to Gamespot for the trailer.
Geeky Remixes PT. 4 (Bit Style)
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On this late Music Monday, Justin plays themes, scores from the 8 bit and 16 bit perspective. From Anime, Videogames, WWE and More!
Geeky NEW ERA Fitted Hats
/During my VERY recent tattoo tour, I had a great stay in good ol' Atlanta. Though there's lots of work to be done, there's always time for some play play. Usually, I stop by NEW ERA in Atlanta on the request of one of my good friends, but this time, I went to see what one of my art peers/ co-worker, Paper Frank. After a round in Mortal Kombat, he was kind enough to take us in a tour of the store.
Here are some that caught my eye ...
Fitted's are the way of the world and perfect for ANY style ... even a suit! So be sure to check 'em out!
Atlanta Flagship
117 Luckie Street
404.584.0151
Til Next Time Y'all!
~Je T'adore!
>^.*<
L.A. Noire Achievement/Trophy Tips
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*No spoilers*
Need help finding cars,landmarks or even film canisters?
Don't fret help has arrived!
Achievement/Trophy:
Hollywoodland-Find and inspect all gold film reels
Need help finding cars,landmarks or even film canisters?
Don't fret help has arrived!
Achievement/Trophy:
Hollywoodland-Find and inspect all gold film reels
These videos below will guide you.
The Long Arm Of The Law-Complete all street crime cases.
Pull up the map and find the street crimes before they call(Free Roam mode). The unsolved cases will show a red icon. Remember each "Desk" has a limited number of street crimes. It will tell you when you've completed all the street crimes at that desk. If the street crimes aren't showing up on the map just restart Free Roam mode.
Pull up the map and find the street crimes before they call(Free Roam mode). The unsolved cases will show a red icon. Remember each "Desk" has a limited number of street crimes. It will tell you when you've completed all the street crimes at that desk. If the street crimes aren't showing up on the map just restart Free Roam mode.
Auto Fanatic-Drive every vehicle in the city.
One of the most annoying achievements/trophies in the game. The trick to this is,while playing through the story mode switch cars as much as you can. If you see a parking lot go into every car before you continue with your mission. In free roam the cars are placed randomly so all online faqs telling you this car is here that car is there will only leave you frustrated.
Best advice I can give you is to play the game normally and it will come.
Public Menace-Rack up $47,000 in penalties during a single story case.
Simple...act like your playing GTA.
Roscoe And Friends-Kill at least one bad guy with every gun.
Pick up every gun you see while progressing through the game. The only trick is during Cole's 1st shootout drop your shotgun and use Cole default gun as a "beat cop" because that will be your only access to that gun since its so weak. If you need helping using the last weapon on the last mission "PM" me because I don't want to spoil anything here.
Shamus To The Stars- Complete all story cases with a five star rating.
Three things determine your rating.
1.Clues- Do a thorough search of every scene
2.Questions- If you get a question wrong, you can always reset and start from the last auto save.
3.Damage-To avoid City/Car damage let your partner drive.
Star Map-Discover all landmark locations around the city.
Zoom in on your computer if needed
Is Boba Fett Overrated?
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Boba Fett is one of Star Wars most popular characters. Fans first saw the bounty hunter in "Empire Strikes Back." After watching the entire Star Wars series again. A question popped in my head. That question was, why is Boba Fett so popular? There is always been a division between Fett heads and non Fett heads. Let's take a look at Boba Fett strictly from his two appearances from the Original Star Wars movies, from both fan perspectives.
Non Boba Fett Fans Perspective: To non Boba fans they really don't see a big deal about him. He only appeared in two movies and really didn't do much. His appearance in "Empire Strikes Back" is more like a cameo than a supporting role. He doesn't have that much lines and he just escorts Han Solo to Jabba The Hut. In Return Of The Jedi, Fett finally does get a little action, but he is taken down in a way that takes any creditability he might have had. To the non Fett fan they really don't see a big deal about him. He really didn't make an impact or effect the course of the series in anyway. The non Fett fans do have a point. Fett appearance in "Empire Strikes Back" was short. His death in "Return Of The Jedi" could've been more epic like his father Jango. Non Fett fans do have some valid points. If you watch the two films that Fett appeared in, you might start to question what was the big deal about him.
Fett Fans Perspective: For the Fett fans Boba is one of the best villains in the Star Wars universe. Not only is he a Bounty Hunter, but he is mysterious. We really don't know nothing about Boba Fett background (until Episode 2). Nothing screams excitement than a villain that is surrounded in mystery. Fans fell in love with Fett presence and appearance. Out of all the new characters in "Empire Strikes Back" Boba stood out the most. Maybe it was due to his bad ass attire, the jet-pack or the fact that this guy was driven to finish his job. You can't say anything bad about the Fett. To the Fett fan he plays a huge role in the Star Wars Universe. Fett is the one who capture Han Solo in Cloud City. He's the one that track him down. The line Vader says to him "No disintegration" makes you want to know more about his ruthless tactics. Boba is a smart villain in the eyes of the Fett fans. In Return Of The Jedi, you finally see Boba in action with his gun and jet-pack. Fans rejoiced and cried when he met his end. One thing fans love about him is the mystery behind the helmet. Who is he? What emotions does he feel? Fans love that feeling and his awesome weapons, profession and mannerism is the icing on the cake.
What do you think? Is Boba Fett overrated? Or his cult status well deserved? Let us know in the comment section.
Non Boba Fett Fans Perspective: To non Boba fans they really don't see a big deal about him. He only appeared in two movies and really didn't do much. His appearance in "Empire Strikes Back" is more like a cameo than a supporting role. He doesn't have that much lines and he just escorts Han Solo to Jabba The Hut. In Return Of The Jedi, Fett finally does get a little action, but he is taken down in a way that takes any creditability he might have had. To the non Fett fan they really don't see a big deal about him. He really didn't make an impact or effect the course of the series in anyway. The non Fett fans do have a point. Fett appearance in "Empire Strikes Back" was short. His death in "Return Of The Jedi" could've been more epic like his father Jango. Non Fett fans do have some valid points. If you watch the two films that Fett appeared in, you might start to question what was the big deal about him.
Fett Fans Perspective: For the Fett fans Boba is one of the best villains in the Star Wars universe. Not only is he a Bounty Hunter, but he is mysterious. We really don't know nothing about Boba Fett background (until Episode 2). Nothing screams excitement than a villain that is surrounded in mystery. Fans fell in love with Fett presence and appearance. Out of all the new characters in "Empire Strikes Back" Boba stood out the most. Maybe it was due to his bad ass attire, the jet-pack or the fact that this guy was driven to finish his job. You can't say anything bad about the Fett. To the Fett fan he plays a huge role in the Star Wars Universe. Fett is the one who capture Han Solo in Cloud City. He's the one that track him down. The line Vader says to him "No disintegration" makes you want to know more about his ruthless tactics. Boba is a smart villain in the eyes of the Fett fans. In Return Of The Jedi, you finally see Boba in action with his gun and jet-pack. Fans rejoiced and cried when he met his end. One thing fans love about him is the mystery behind the helmet. Who is he? What emotions does he feel? Fans love that feeling and his awesome weapons, profession and mannerism is the icing on the cake.
What do you think? Is Boba Fett overrated? Or his cult status well deserved? Let us know in the comment section.
Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Review
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Drink up me hearties. Pirates Of The Caribbean is back with another installment. This time Jack Sparrow and the gang are out to find the fountain of youth. Does this Pirates installment a treasure, or should this be sent to Davy Jones locker.
Story - Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) crosses paths with a woman from his past (Cruz), and he's not sure if it's love -- or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past. That's the synopsis of the film.
The story is very disappointing. Pirates Of The Caribbean On Stranger Tides suffers from many things. The story suffers from lack of characterization, tons of plot holes and a bunch of scenes that should have been cut. The main problem with the story is nothing is really explained. Who is Blackbeard? Why is he the most feared pirate in the land? We know why he is after the Fountain Of Youth? Besides his ruthless tactics, what makes Blackbeard the most feared pirate? Give us a little backstory on who he is. Blackbeard was ruthless, but there is no explanation or even a glimpse to his rise to power. The story started off strong, with Jack Sparrow in London. However after the hunt for the Fountain Of Youth begins, the story goes all over the place. Nothing really ties in together. For example Blackbeard does something with ships that he has destroyed, but how does he have the power to do that? Where is the explanation for that? There is one huge plot hole that involves Jack's doll. However I will leave you to come up with that conclusion. Another big problem I had with the story is that it's predictable. No element of surprise in this one. Once you find out that Blackbeard is afraid of this particular thing, you will know how the film will end. It's revealed too early what the outcome of the film will be.
The theme of the movie is fate. People who are after the Fountain Of Youth are either trying to delay their fate, or stop it all together. The movie adds a religious character name Philip. He is the moral compass of the film as he and Blackbeard clash on whether one soul can truly be saved. This debate I did find enjoyable to watch, but the theme and views from both sides seem forced. The story did do well by keeping Jack Sparrow an interesting character. The introduction of love interest Angelina (Penelope Cruz) keeps Jack enjoyable to watch. Some of the best moments of the film are with Jack and Angelina on screen together.
Acting - The acting is great. Johnny Depp is still wonderful as Jack. However the character might be getting a little stale. Jack wacky ways are tone down compare to "At World's End." He is more of the Jack we remember from the first Pirate movie. Geoffrey Rush is wonderful as Barbossa, however he is underused until the big moment. However the ending gives me hope that he might return to the Barbossa we know from the first one. Penelope Cruz is a breath of fresh air in the series. Her character is a true female pirate, with skills of the sword and just as cunning as Sparrow. Finally Ian McShane as Blackbeard stills the show. His delivery was spot on. Even without a backstory on his character, you can tell this guy has no heart, no soul and no emotion. I loved his performance.
Music & Filmmaking - Hans Zimmer returns for another round. For the most part the music is taken from the other films. However some of the new stuff are great. I really enjoy the Mermaid theme and Blackbeard's theme. The locations are great as well, most of the film was filmed in Hawaii and you really see the beauty of it. The action scenes are fun, but the highlight of the film is the Mermaids. If they made a movie based on a Mermaid war we would be in for a wild ride.
Final Grade C-/7.0: Pirates does have it's moment. However the movie runs too long and the lack of explanation on key items, characters and locations really hurt the film. The ending will have you wondering if the plot will get more crazy. Fans of Jack Sparrow will be happy to see he is still progressing as a man. Other than that this film needs the Fountain Of Youth, because the franchise is getting stale.
Story - Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) crosses paths with a woman from his past (Cruz), and he's not sure if it's love -- or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past. That's the synopsis of the film.
The story is very disappointing. Pirates Of The Caribbean On Stranger Tides suffers from many things. The story suffers from lack of characterization, tons of plot holes and a bunch of scenes that should have been cut. The main problem with the story is nothing is really explained. Who is Blackbeard? Why is he the most feared pirate in the land? We know why he is after the Fountain Of Youth? Besides his ruthless tactics, what makes Blackbeard the most feared pirate? Give us a little backstory on who he is. Blackbeard was ruthless, but there is no explanation or even a glimpse to his rise to power. The story started off strong, with Jack Sparrow in London. However after the hunt for the Fountain Of Youth begins, the story goes all over the place. Nothing really ties in together. For example Blackbeard does something with ships that he has destroyed, but how does he have the power to do that? Where is the explanation for that? There is one huge plot hole that involves Jack's doll. However I will leave you to come up with that conclusion. Another big problem I had with the story is that it's predictable. No element of surprise in this one. Once you find out that Blackbeard is afraid of this particular thing, you will know how the film will end. It's revealed too early what the outcome of the film will be.
The theme of the movie is fate. People who are after the Fountain Of Youth are either trying to delay their fate, or stop it all together. The movie adds a religious character name Philip. He is the moral compass of the film as he and Blackbeard clash on whether one soul can truly be saved. This debate I did find enjoyable to watch, but the theme and views from both sides seem forced. The story did do well by keeping Jack Sparrow an interesting character. The introduction of love interest Angelina (Penelope Cruz) keeps Jack enjoyable to watch. Some of the best moments of the film are with Jack and Angelina on screen together.
Acting - The acting is great. Johnny Depp is still wonderful as Jack. However the character might be getting a little stale. Jack wacky ways are tone down compare to "At World's End." He is more of the Jack we remember from the first Pirate movie. Geoffrey Rush is wonderful as Barbossa, however he is underused until the big moment. However the ending gives me hope that he might return to the Barbossa we know from the first one. Penelope Cruz is a breath of fresh air in the series. Her character is a true female pirate, with skills of the sword and just as cunning as Sparrow. Finally Ian McShane as Blackbeard stills the show. His delivery was spot on. Even without a backstory on his character, you can tell this guy has no heart, no soul and no emotion. I loved his performance.
Music & Filmmaking - Hans Zimmer returns for another round. For the most part the music is taken from the other films. However some of the new stuff are great. I really enjoy the Mermaid theme and Blackbeard's theme. The locations are great as well, most of the film was filmed in Hawaii and you really see the beauty of it. The action scenes are fun, but the highlight of the film is the Mermaids. If they made a movie based on a Mermaid war we would be in for a wild ride.
Final Grade C-/7.0: Pirates does have it's moment. However the movie runs too long and the lack of explanation on key items, characters and locations really hurt the film. The ending will have you wondering if the plot will get more crazy. Fans of Jack Sparrow will be happy to see he is still progressing as a man. Other than that this film needs the Fountain Of Youth, because the franchise is getting stale.
Videogame Addiction! How Serious Is It?
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Videogames is one of the greatest form of entertainment ever created. It allows the user to experience a world unlike their own. Its a great way to pass the time and get lost into a new world, new characters and new experiences. However for some users they never want to leave the world. For some users, they make that world their reality. How serious is videogame addiction? Is it becoming a huge problem? Not yet, but with technology rising it could be a major problem.
"If You Play Videogames Everyday You're An Addict": This is one of my favorite stereotypes that gamers hear from people. Let me clarify this right now. Just because you play videogames everyday doesn't make you an addict. If that is the case than a person who watches T.V. everyday is an addict. That means a person who reads a book daily has a problem. Constantly gamers who play videogames everyday hear something like this. "You're back on that thing again. My goodness do you have a life outside games?" "Halo again dude you have issues." If the roles were reverse how would this sound to you? "Oh my goodness another book?" "You're watching that television again?" "My God get a life." Let's not confuse an individual's passion for an addiction. Now that the stereotype is cleared let us get examine videogame addiction.
How To Classify Addiction: How would you define an addiction? The dictionary defines addiction as,"A compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal; broadly : persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful." The videogame addict might have something psychological bothering them. It can be anything and nothing major. Stress from work, school, home life or just plain bored creatively and they need an outlet to channel that energy. Videogame addiction is on the rise. The question is how is it becoming a problem for most gamers? What does this mean for parents? How can we help combat this small problem, before it turns into the major one? Here are some reasons one might be addicted to videogames.
1. Lack Of Creativity (I'm Bored Syndrome): If a person doesn't have any type of mental stimulation, for some videogames will offer that mental stimulation or missing creative link. Boredom is usually a fast way to addiction. When you have nothing to do, your mind will wander to find something or anything to pass the time. Other outlets will get ignored because this outlet is giving that person the best stimulation.
2. Only Form Of Socialization: I will elaborate on this on another article. However I just want to touch on some key points. As much as some people will hate to admit it, videogames sometimes is the only form of socialization a person might have. Not everyone is social outside the realm of social networks, gaming etc. This can be the only form of communication that a person might have to someone outside they home. I know that might be hard to believe but in some cases it's a reality. We all heard the stories of the Warcraft addiction. Players not being able to socialize or do anything but Warcraft. However that is not Warcraft's fault. A game does not make you addicted. You make yourself addicted to a game, your psyche makes you addicted to a game. People who become addicted to Warcraft, Online Gaming, Facebook Games etc... something rooted inside them is causing them to play so much. It's an escape or a release from something. It could be no social life outside the network, could be home life, whatever factor it may be it will have to be address eventually.
3. A World That's Not My Own: This is similar to the second one. Videogames offer worlds that we never seen before. It's an escape from reality. Everyone likes to leave their reality once in a while, for some they would love to just live in another world, videogames could be that offer to them.
There are tons of factors or reasons why someone might get addicted to videogames. Is it becoming a serious problem? Right now I don't think so, but the recent PSN outage are showing signs that it might. I was shocked when I talk with gamers who brought an XBOX 360 just so they can play online, while the PSN is out. Is that going extreme? I would say yes. The only way to combat addiction is to find out why the person got addicted in the first place. Only the person knows that and it will be up to them to face it. Parents I encourage you to make sure your child spend more time outside, doing recreational stuff, put them in after school programs. Get more involved and monitor your child's playing hours. Maybe 1 to 2 hours a day. Or do like my mother use to do, no videogames until the weekends. You'll be surprise how much that help me when I was hooked back in the 16 bit era. It's our responsibility as technology grows, to learn how to use it. Videogame addiction is not a serious problem just yet. In fact only a small handful of gamers are addicted to it. However you can see the numbers rising as the parks become empty, and the online rate rises. Finally I just want to say this one more time. Just because someone plays games everyday doesn't mean they're an addict. Don't confuse passion and addiction.
"If You Play Videogames Everyday You're An Addict": This is one of my favorite stereotypes that gamers hear from people. Let me clarify this right now. Just because you play videogames everyday doesn't make you an addict. If that is the case than a person who watches T.V. everyday is an addict. That means a person who reads a book daily has a problem. Constantly gamers who play videogames everyday hear something like this. "You're back on that thing again. My goodness do you have a life outside games?" "Halo again dude you have issues." If the roles were reverse how would this sound to you? "Oh my goodness another book?" "You're watching that television again?" "My God get a life." Let's not confuse an individual's passion for an addiction. Now that the stereotype is cleared let us get examine videogame addiction.
How To Classify Addiction: How would you define an addiction? The dictionary defines addiction as,"A compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal; broadly : persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful." The videogame addict might have something psychological bothering them. It can be anything and nothing major. Stress from work, school, home life or just plain bored creatively and they need an outlet to channel that energy. Videogame addiction is on the rise. The question is how is it becoming a problem for most gamers? What does this mean for parents? How can we help combat this small problem, before it turns into the major one? Here are some reasons one might be addicted to videogames.
1. Lack Of Creativity (I'm Bored Syndrome): If a person doesn't have any type of mental stimulation, for some videogames will offer that mental stimulation or missing creative link. Boredom is usually a fast way to addiction. When you have nothing to do, your mind will wander to find something or anything to pass the time. Other outlets will get ignored because this outlet is giving that person the best stimulation.
2. Only Form Of Socialization: I will elaborate on this on another article. However I just want to touch on some key points. As much as some people will hate to admit it, videogames sometimes is the only form of socialization a person might have. Not everyone is social outside the realm of social networks, gaming etc. This can be the only form of communication that a person might have to someone outside they home. I know that might be hard to believe but in some cases it's a reality. We all heard the stories of the Warcraft addiction. Players not being able to socialize or do anything but Warcraft. However that is not Warcraft's fault. A game does not make you addicted. You make yourself addicted to a game, your psyche makes you addicted to a game. People who become addicted to Warcraft, Online Gaming, Facebook Games etc... something rooted inside them is causing them to play so much. It's an escape or a release from something. It could be no social life outside the network, could be home life, whatever factor it may be it will have to be address eventually.
3. A World That's Not My Own: This is similar to the second one. Videogames offer worlds that we never seen before. It's an escape from reality. Everyone likes to leave their reality once in a while, for some they would love to just live in another world, videogames could be that offer to them.
There are tons of factors or reasons why someone might get addicted to videogames. Is it becoming a serious problem? Right now I don't think so, but the recent PSN outage are showing signs that it might. I was shocked when I talk with gamers who brought an XBOX 360 just so they can play online, while the PSN is out. Is that going extreme? I would say yes. The only way to combat addiction is to find out why the person got addicted in the first place. Only the person knows that and it will be up to them to face it. Parents I encourage you to make sure your child spend more time outside, doing recreational stuff, put them in after school programs. Get more involved and monitor your child's playing hours. Maybe 1 to 2 hours a day. Or do like my mother use to do, no videogames until the weekends. You'll be surprise how much that help me when I was hooked back in the 16 bit era. It's our responsibility as technology grows, to learn how to use it. Videogame addiction is not a serious problem just yet. In fact only a small handful of gamers are addicted to it. However you can see the numbers rising as the parks become empty, and the online rate rises. Finally I just want to say this one more time. Just because someone plays games everyday doesn't mean they're an addict. Don't confuse passion and addiction.
X-Japan's Yoshiki Hayashi Launches Sirius XM Radio Show
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Tonight I had the pleasure of attending X-Japan's very own Yoshiki Hayashi. Yoshiki is launching and host his very first radio show. It's entitled "Yoshiki Radio." The radio show will be on Sirius XM "The Boneyard" Channel 38. On the radio show Yoshiki will play some of his favorite artist, bands from Japan and talk about gaming and Anime. Check out some of the pics of the event. Make sure to tune in on Friday, May 27 at 8:00PM ET for the first show.
The Sign
Justin (Me) & Yoshiki (Not my best pose or pic) Still it was amazing.
Yoshiki Chatting With Fans & The Press
The Bar
Just Footage Of Yoshiki Talking To The Press. (I couldn't get for some reason lol)
The Sign
Justin (Me) & Yoshiki (Not my best pose or pic) Still it was amazing.
Yoshiki Chatting With Fans & The Press
The Bar
Just Footage Of Yoshiki Talking To The Press. (I couldn't get for some reason lol)
