While I previously talked about this new Spider-Man and what the implications might be, only now can I say I’ve read it and can give my honest feedback on it. Despite the fact that I’m a fairly rampant Spider-Man fan, I’ll do my best to keep things on the up-and-up and try not to divulge too much into gushing for gushing’s sake.
Out of all of the New 52, Detective Comics excited me the most. While I’d never been a huge DC fan, I certainly was a Batman fan growing up on account of the most excellent animated series. Having enjoyed Justice League #1′s portrayal of Batman, I was anxious to see what would happen in the re-launch of Detective Comics and suffice it to say I wasn’t disappointed.
Before we get started let me say that I’ve never been a huge DC fan. Well, at least not their comics. It’s not that I necessarily thought they were bad by default, but the extent of my DC knowledge was mainly gained from their movies and also the Batman animated series from Fox when I was growing (which, was awesome, btw).
That being said, I’ve also never really reviewed a comic book on here. I liked the idea of it, but I felt kind of unqualified, but then I remembered this is the Internet and there are no hard and fast rules. So while I may not be qualified to technically dissect the artistic style within a comic, what I can do is speak as a comic book fan to the best of my ability and explain what I did and didn’t like.
So here we go!
I’ll confess off the bat that while I’ve always enjoyed Spielberg’s work, I don’t get that rush of excitement a lot of people do whenever a new project bears his name. Of course, just because his name is involved doesn’t mean its strictly a Spielberg production and in this case, J.J. Abrams headlines as the directorial talent here and make no mistake, he certainly is talented, but great names do not necessarily a great movie make.
Between Nicole’s graduation, work, my iMac hard drive failure and a slew of other things going on I apparently can’t be bothered to regularly update GeeksPodcast, BUT I certainly keep to my schedule as far as Fierce and Nerdy, so I’m not a total wash as it turns out.
So, if you’d like to read my fairly thorough review of L.A. Noire just follow this dashingly handsome link text and you’ll be on your way!
Yes, I know I ranted about the unremarkable qualities of the 3DS and then to the shock of almost no one picked one up, but not yet have I spoken on my true thoughts of the system. So, now I will ask that you all follow this ridiculously long hyper-linked piece of text over to Fierce and Nerdy for all the goodness! Speaking of which, I’m most pleased to announce that I’ll be regularly contributing over at FaN as a columnist on geek culture, technology trends, and of course, the latest and greatest in gaming. A huge thanks to Ernessa for giving me the opportunity and make sure you check out her book, 32 Candles!
I adore Simon Pegg and Nick Frost so it was pretty much a given I’d be seeing this as soon as I could. Unfortunately I had to wait a bit longer to see it than I would’ve liked, but I will review it now just the same.
Paul is about two British sci-fi fanatics who come to America to attend Comic-Con. They also intend to take a sci-fi road trip while visiting America and eventually have a close encounter of their own after running into a flesh-and-blood alien named Paul. Wacky hijinks ensue as they try to help Paul escape a mysterious government agent played by none other than Jason Bateman. Along the way they also pick up a new friend (and romantic interest), Ruth, a religious fanatic whose faith is called into question upon meeting Paul.
The jokes come fast and easy with rapid-fire execution and more thoughtful humor throughout. The sheer amount of sci-fi references in Paul is overwhelming to say the least and a little intimidating if you’re a self-respecting geek. I feel like I caught most of them, but am sure there were many more that I didn’t. Combining a clear reverence for sci-fi as a genre with unapologetically foul humor for its entirety makes the film a must-see for anyone who enjoys either but especially so for those that hold both dear.
My only real problem with the comedy is the same problem I have with so many celebrities- its desire to push an agenda of sorts or at the very least resort to the low-hanging fruit of persecuting the religious. I found it all in good fun, but just the same felt a twinge of irritation at the nigh-relentless assault on religion that comprises the latter half of the movie. It’s not so much that it detracts from the movie by and large, but ultimately I found myself a bit disappointed in the creative lapse in the same way you’d roll your eyes at an aging catchphrase.
That minor beef aside, the characters are endearing and well-acted. A friend of mine also pointed out that where in other Pegg/Frost collaborations, Nick is often characterized as the more dopey of the two with his role more focused on comic relief that being the voice of reason. In Paul however this is reversed, with Nick Frost’s character serving as the more grounded of the two and it really is a refreshing change for the duo. Kristin Wiig also does well and it’s good to see that she’s getting more of the screen time she deserves than serving in more ancillary roles.
Paul is the real treat here though. Voiced by Seth Rogen, the tiny alien is as rude as he is charming. Between all of the foul things he says and does, there’s an undeniable heart here. The design of the only CGI character in the movie is, well, a pretty standard alien one. However, the care that the animators put into conveying emotion and character in Paul’s movements and facial expressions makes him almost immediately endearing. Aside from Rogen’s excellent delivery, the masterful union of voice and character is what allows him to truly shine.
Ultimately, if you’re a lover of aliens, classic sci-fi, or humor then you’re sure to have a good time with Paul as Simon and Nick again strike comedy gold.
Paul is awarded 4 out of 5 stars.
Having now spent the better part of 10 hours playing Super Street Fighter IV 3DS and almost as long typing that title just now, I now feel comfortable in doing a full review of the game. As a launch title I honestly didn’t expect much. At most a ‘diet’ version of the console versions.
With absolutely no factual data to back up this claim I’ll say this; I believe the reason that Hollywood doesn’t make more movies based off of computers is that while geeks will swear to flock to it either in praise or brutal criticism at technical errors, most of those geeks well, being geeks will be happy to sit at home, save their nine dollars and pirate that shit for free. On the other hand, every day, mainstream movie goers really don’t care that much. It’s a lose-lose people! They don’t gravitate to a bunch of nerds hunkered down behind computer screens creating something with a (kind of) shared vision. Well, they don’t unless the movie is essentially named Facebook. I mean, then everyone can relate, right?
The Social Network is the true(ish) story of how Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) went from a relative unknown at Harvard made a name for himself creating a baby Facebook for college campuses, which eventually grew into one of the most successful companies in the world, valued today at over $25 billion dollars. With a ‘b’. Of course, you can’t achieve that kind of success without some hardship, controversy, and disagreements along the way. The film chronicles Zuckerberg’s rise to internet superstardom by flipping between three different scenarios- a lawsuit brought against him by his former business partner and best friend, Eduardo Saverin, another lawsuit claiming intellectual property theft by the Winklevoss Twins and Divya Nerendra, and finally, all of the events leading up to these proceedings. The Social Network is almost entirely focused on this aspect of Facebook’s creation.
One thing that immediately stood out for me is that save for Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake, there really isn’t a big name anywhere in the movie. They’re all actors that you find familiar, but have difficulty placing. Of course, their fame doesn’t dictate their acting chops and every performance throughout is nothing short of stellar. Timberlake in particular proves once again that he’s no one-trick pony and deftly handles his role.
This is a David Fincher film (Seven, Fight Club, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and as such has an immediately distinctive visual style. Fincher’s work has always had a cold, sterile feel to it and this is no exception. It’s actually really brilliant as well, considering that Facebook naturally conjurs up imagery of social interaction, closeness, friends, family and so on, but this isn’t about the use of Facebook- this is about its inception and frankly, the process by which everyone’s favorite social network came to be is one rife with controversy.
While connected is what everyone feels while using it, Zuckerberg is anything but. He’s an egomaniac that is ruthlessly driven to do something spectacular no matter what the cost and no matter what anyone else thinks to the point that this determination he harbors ultimately separates him from almost everyone around him. He’s awkward, cold, and calculating, but the fascinating thing is that there are small cracks in his armor where he’s just a regular, fun-loving kid. These moments of yearning, where it’s clear that Zuckerberg wants to reach out to those around him are peppered only lightly throughout and their subtlety is masterfully executed by Eisenberg in its portrayal.
Punctuating these moments is an excellent score by Trent Reznor. His trademark industrial sound interspersed with melodic tones at first sounds out of place, but the more you understand that this is, at its core an irony highlighting the juxtaposition between the most successful platform to bringing people together and the lonely, digital exploits of a struggling young man it all comes together quite nicely.
The Social Network is a film that is immediately relatable to almost anybody. It’s a fantastic story (even if liberties are taken) that’s well acted and directed. It’s got enough humor throughout to satisfy, a hint of underdog, and even if Zuckerberg is a self-absorbed asshole, he’s certainly a lovable one. At the end of the day this is a solid film that’s endearing because of the memorable characters and difficulties that we’ve all struggled with at one point or another.
The Social Network is awarded 10 out of 10.
Robert Rodriguez’s latest film tackles a sci-fi classic, serving as a reboot to the 1987 original Predator starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. While it’s been labeled a reboot, it serves more as a continuation of the Predator mythos by revealing slightly more into the history of the Predator race without a lot of the nonsense featured in the Alien vs. Predator films. The real question though is whether or not Predators stands on its own as a meaningful addition to the classic character established nearly 25 years ago. So, does it? Read on…