tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37753165500930408672024-03-13T13:59:24.912+11:00The Long Takedanielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-15250864423240726112019-12-07T20:16:00.000+11:002019-12-07T20:16:54.347+11:00[Review] Shenmue III<span id="docs-internal-guid-57ff297a-7fff-41c5-01a4-ca4ac7796501"><span id="docs-internal-guid-8ca39369-7fff-3506-0e2b-e45d6b902997"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 351px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="351" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/QKqORdmlU_HByahxpT4yfeGdxFWEJDDOBOR32mNCb5RcwZOl1vc4-RmqB2zfFylrBw8pIfxX45FbaG-IOkag-3ki4HJ_vRc0zsdg7BzXj7jw-Lb-q9V2rou86IfJIW4A6xpMulx7" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></span><br /><br />If you had told me twelve years ago that I would finally be playing Shenmue III in 2019, I would have looked at you sadly and said “stop yanking my chain already.” But alas, here we are in 2019 and not only have I played it, but I have also completed it. Days removed from witnessing the final cut scene of Shenmue III and here I sit processing the journey I just took. After 45 hours with the game, I confess that I’m left with far more questions than answers but the one thing that holds true in my heart is this, even after 18 years of waiting, Shenmue III still holds the same charm and ambition that made me fall in love with the first two games way back when.<br /><br />After 18 years dormant, Shenmue returns to prominence thanks to the help of Kickstarter and $6 million dollars raised by an eager fanbase who wouldn’t let it die. Despite the long 18 years of waiting, the story literally picks up mere moments after the end of Shenmue II. </span><br />
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We rejoin our unlikely heroes Ryo and Shenhua as they (finally) depart the cave and head straight into Bailu village. Here we are immediately informed by the local villagers that a group of thugs known only as the Red Snakes have been ransacking the village in desperate search of the Phoenix Mirror. We also discover that the same group of thugs have kidnapped Shenhua’s father -- Mr. Yuan -- in their desperate search. What follows is a fairly simple yet compelling search and rescue mission that spans across the rustic yet utterly charming Bailu Village and the sprawling Port Side town of Niaowu. <br />
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Along the way, Ryo once again seeks out the help of various martial arts masters including the likes of a charming drunkard known as Mr. Sun. A man whose only concern in life is that of a hot meal and a bottle of plum wine to go with it. For any Virtua Fighter fans out there, one can’t help but look at him and instantly be reminded of Shun Di, which is only fitting considering the Virtua Fighter RPG roots of Shenmue.<br />
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Unfortunately though, most of these side characters fall on the underdeveloped side. Some of them are a little too one dimensional while others show great promise but are left unexplored. While none of these new faces hold the same gravitas as Xiuying from Shenmue II, they are none-the-less charming in their own right and fit right into the Shenmue universe with ease. <br />
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The story of Shenmue III is a surprisingly simple one that doesn’t really do too much to explain some of the burning questions that fans have speculated on for 18 years. Come the end of the story, it does set up a potentially epic Shenmue IV, but still, I was rather surprised by just how little the story actually develops certain details regarding pre-existing questions. <br />
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Though the real heart and soul of the game lies with Ryo and Shenhua. During our stay in Bailu, we are privy to a host of optional nightly conversations shared between the two. These optional conversations reflect the same type of conversations shared in the long walk from Guilin to Bailu that ended Shenmue II, where the player can choose to respond to Shenhua’s line of questioning with a multiple array of responses. Allowing the player to shape Ryo in their own vision. <br />
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For the most part, we’re used to seeing Ryo as a rather stoic hero whose one goal has been to take vengeance in the name of his father. Yet if you choose to engage in these conversations then you will get to see a whole other side of Ryo as he brings up topics such as his childhood, his strict upbringing under his father's watchful eye, his friends in Yokosuka, the many cultural similarities and differences between Yokosuka and Bailu Village, his deceased mother and so on. If you keep engaging in these nightly conversations, you will eventually even get to play a very charming and amusing game with Shenhua that is well worth it.<br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-438955e9-7fff-63ac-abd3-47423b25cbc6"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 351px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="351.33365019011404" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/jg2oSWq00ZRWNhncKVLAaB6xXqaRYyu8bBWP3FhrETu937_x63iTh8hgjtwq0hY_pksFN6s3ZmyvtppLcCVIEfgJ_MgnDorrRluQCJSunh3OvqgOd2jV_reYOCy0Zj17i54WDe6t" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: -0.166825px;" width="624" /></span></span></span><br />
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Most of these conversations are of the simple mindless getting to know you types of chit chat with only a few story related clues sprinkled within, but I was very much taken by them. I was completely captivated and left eagerly awaiting my opportunity to engage with Shenhua on a nightly basis. How many games allow you to simply sit back, relax and chat mindlessly for hours on end with another NPC about mostly trivial things like cultural differences? It’s yet another example of what makes Shenmue so completely and utterly unique in the first place.<br />
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Shenmue III plays exactly the same as the previous games. The player will engage in long stretches of detective work hunting down clues usually by talking to the various residents of either Bailu or Niaowu. When you’re not wearing your detective hat, you will occasionally come across an action beat that will either be a standard QTE event or a free form fight. <br />
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Being that Shenmue III was developed using Unreal Engine 4, gone is the Virtua Fighter engine that once powered the first two games and in its place is a brand new fighting engine developed from the ground up. This fighting engine is slightly different but somewhat familiar. <br />
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As opposed to the simple punch, kick, throw and evade setup that the original games implemented, Shenmue III now ties jabs, uppercuts, knee strikes and kicks to the four face buttons with block on the left trigger. Moves are now pulled off by inputting dial-a-combos on the face buttons. Players also have access to a hot-key on the right trigger which they can use to assign a certain move to allow for quicker input. <br />
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Familiar fan favourites such as Tom’s Roundhouse Kick and Delin’s Brutal Uppercut have all returned alongside some impressive new move scrolls that can be obtained from the various stores found across Bailu and Niaowu. Other changes include locking the camera behind Ryo and allowing for full 360 movement on the analog stick. You can also side step with a flick of the analog stick.<br />
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Unfortunately throws and counters have been sacrificed due to budget constraints so familiar favourites such as Swallow Flip and Machine Gun Fist are sorely missed. Without the Virtua Fighter engine powering it, the animations are rather limited to say the least. It all relies on rather simple ragdoll physics for impact and canned animations for movesets. Since there are no throws to break guard, YSNET have wisely implemented a guard meter in place to prevent spamming the guard button. <br />
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The miniscule tutorial at the beginning of the game doesn’t really explain any of this and instead encourages the player to simply “mash the face buttons” in hope of something good happening, which I feel was a bit of a mistake on the developers behalf considering the AI actively blocks and punishes button mashing more often than not. The game’s combat is at its very best when you approach it with a bit of tact and mindfulness instead of just aimlessly mashing and spamming big moves.<br />
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Virtua Fighter purists will no doubt be disappointed with the changes, but the new system is not without its charms either. It’s something of a mix between Yakuza, Virtua Fighter and Jade Empire. It’s surprisingly challenging and rewards looking for openings and chances to punish, especially on harder difficulties. Despite its shortcomings, the foundations for something greater are here and hopefully they get another opportunity to refine it even further.<br />
Alongside the new fighting system is a strong emphasis on daily training. Keeping in line with the WUDE principle of GON (train every day without neglect), the game encourages you to train on a daily basis in order to raise stats for the newly implemented RPG-like leveling system. The interesting thing about this is the way in which the game deals out XP. In most games, you typically battle and earn XP by winning said battle. <br />
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Shenmue III, on the other hand, completely subverts this philosophy and instead puts a strong emphasis on training. You only gain XP by training. Training in the game equates to a handful of mini games and sparring matches. Mini games such as horse stance where you mash a button to keep Ryo from falling over while practicing the physically punishing horse stance in order to raise endurance stats. Or sparring against the various martial artists you meet in your travels in order to level up individual moves and attack stats. It’s a fascinating subversion of game mechanics that keeps in line with the narrative philosophy of the WUDE.<br />
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When you’re not playing detective or fighting, you’ll no doubt be out in the open world earning or spending money. Shenmue III is certainly not lacking in things to do. For a smaller budgeted game, it is genuinely impressive just how densely packed with detail its world is. <br />
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Familiar fan favourites such as the Pachinko inspired Lucky Hit make their return. They are also accompanied by some new mini games such as the cute and surprisingly addictive turtle racing. If gambling isn’t your thing, then you can simply make money by collecting and selling the many herbs growing throughout the habitat of both Bailu and Niaowu. If that isn’t your thing, then why not spend a lazy afternoon by a water hole fishing for a couple of hours? Or why not go and help the local shopkeep chop some wood to pass the time? There’s no shortage of things to do in the open world in order to earn money to spend at your own leisurely recreation - whether it be to complete your capsule toy collection, buy new moves or what not.<br />
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The biggest overall change is the way in which the game handles its economy. Everything is centred on integration. For instance, if you collect an entire set of capsule toys this time around you are free to walk to a pawn store and exchange that collection for either cash or a new move scroll..It is openly encouraging you to interact with every last inch of its world in every way. The words “take your time” have never been more applicable than they are in reference to Shenmue III. You will only get as much out of this world as you put into it.<br />
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Much like the previous games, arcades also make their return. Unfortunately, Space Harrier, Outrun and Hang On are absent presumably due to licencing issues, but in their place is an abundance of new arcade machines made specifically for Shenmue III. Some mechanical in nature -- such as a simple driving game that is a clear nod to the 1969 electro mechanical arcade game Grand Prix -- to a full fledged parody of Virtua Fighter that is surprisingly addictive and fun to play.<br />
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The locales of Bailu and Niaowu are surprisingly gorgeous given the limited budget. Bailu embodies a simple communal charm of residents who will gladly scratch one another's backs to make life work. Life here is simple as the village folk go about their day-to-day lives. Kids play in the sun-meadows under the traditional hyper saturated AM2 blue skies or casually sit on the dock of a riverbed with their feet dipped in the water chatting away with friends while the adults chip into help one another out by either farming or attending to livestock. Bailu is brimming with attention to detail. For instance, at one point I found myself wasting at least half a in-game day just reading the various Ema messages at a local shrine. It’s all very tranquil and lived in.<br />
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There are moments throughout where I was in awe at the ambience on display. A simple downpour of rain is actually a rather beautiful sight to behold in Bailu. Especially when it is accompanied by a hazy orange glow in the air. It really goes a long way to convey a sense of humidity. Then there was the simple joy of just casually watching the falling blossoms of the Shenmue tree float gently in the wind while departing Shenhua’s house each morning. It all adds to a rather nostalgic and almost melancholic feeling that Bailu has going in spades. Niaowu is the polar opposite of Bailu. A sprawling port side town that at first glance gives vibes of Wan Chai but on closer inspection plays host to some rather beautiful traditional Chinese Temples. It’s a real looker at times. <br />
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Unfortunately the rough edges rear their literal ugly heads in some truly unique NPC designs. There’s a bit of an inconsistency in character design. Some look rather realistic and almost pass for lifelike. Meanwhile others border on caricature. I can’t say it bothered me too much, but it is noticeable and it does stand out in contrast to the beautiful environments at hand. <br />
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The defining statement I would use for Shenmue III as a whole is that in many ways it is punching way above its weight. As strong as the opening half is, the later half of the game doesn’t quite maintain the same charm or momentum. At least until the very end which has been rather divisive among fans to say the least. I personally fall more on the side of kind of loving it as a whole though, even with its many notable shortcomings.<br />
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And yet, despite all of that, I am still pleasantly surprised by just how much Yu Suzuki and his team have managed to pull off with limited funds. Through and through, this is very much the full-on Shenmue experience I’ve been dreaming off for all those years. The wild ambition still remains. Sure, I have my shortcomings with the game. It’s story gets bogged down with too much filler and not enough killer. In some ways though, I believe our true long held expectations for Shenmue III could probably never have been fully met. Although I am genuinely pleased as to just how much it has lingered on my mind since completing it.<br />
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How many games can you honestly say have the guts to simply let you talk to another character as if they’re a real person with real hopes, real dreams and real ambitions? How many games have the guts to be as ambitious as to present the mundane and sometimes boring in-between slices of life that accompany the action beats? How many games out there have the strength of their own conviction to present an epic saga that is still in no-way close to being done even under the threat of financial failure? <br />
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As much as Shenmue 1 and 2 were, Shenmue III continues to be a journey with grand ambitions at its core. This chapter is a solid continuation in a martial arts epic unlike any other seen in gaming today. But the real strength of Shenmue has always been in its world building and even if the story of III wavers at times, the world building remains as consistently strong as it ever was. Every locale has a reason to be and a story waiting to tell in the detail alone. <br />
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This series has always been about retracing the footsteps of your fathers past and piecing the puzzle together bit by bit from the many unreliable sources that come your way. While it’s overall narrative may still be nowhere near completion and even though this chapter never quite manages to reach the heights of Shenmue II, it still has a lot going for it. It’s less focused on action and more focused on looking inwards. Even with the lack of budget, those grand ambitions still remain and its heart is most definitely in the right place. <br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-3c298dd2-7fff-5efd-edc8-58b6d7fa1cf9">Even if you don’t like Shenmue or find that Shenmue III simply isn’t for you, I think it warrants applause none-the-less. It’s a passion project through and through. Playing Shenmue III is literally a dream come true for this long term fan and all I can say in closing is “Bring on Shenmue IV!” Let’s hope we don’t have to wait another 18 years to catch up again with Ryo and his friends.<br /><br /><b><i>-- Daniel M</i></b></span><br />
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danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-49080033575042597752017-12-09T22:42:00.000+11:002017-12-09T23:14:41.619+11:00[Feature] Game of the Year 2017...and some other goodies<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2017! What a year for gaming! What a year indeed! This year has been nothing short of incredible for games. So when faced with the task of narrowing down ten games for this list came about, I can honestly tell you I was not looking forward to it in the slightest. There are so many games that I played from this year that didn’t even make the list despite the fact that they’re all great games.
We’re talking the likes of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>South Park: The Fractured But Whole; Gravity Rush 2; Uncharted: The Lost Legacy; Zelda The Breath of the Wild; The Evil Within 2; Nier: Automata; Sonic Mania; Nioh </i></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and so on. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All great games, but even they didn't make the cut. It’s been that type of year folks. It’s been a really good year for gaming! So narrowing this list down to just ten was damn near impossible this year. But somehow, someway, I did just that. So without further ado. Here are my ten favourite games from 2017.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(And as an added bonus, be sure to check out the post script for a couple of extra goodies.)
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xHE4BhVTu50/WivOBHJ__eI/AAAAAAAAF7c/oKLg3bAiybgT2M5tSMtURQSFQTonvj6fQCLcBGAs/s1600/maxresdefault%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xHE4BhVTu50/WivOBHJ__eI/AAAAAAAAF7c/oKLg3bAiybgT2M5tSMtURQSFQTonvj6fQCLcBGAs/s640/maxresdefault%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-large; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><u>
10.) Crash Bandicoot: Nsane Trilogy</u></i></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Crash Bandicoot was my childhood! And now it’s been remade from the ground up for the PS4. Oh boy was it glorious! Call it nostalgia if you must, but I had a blast revisiting these relics from my past. But more than that, I was genuinely surprised by how well they held up.
Especially the first two games which are blisteringly hard games, but damn rewarding to master. Welcome back, Crash. You’ve been sorely missed.
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U3NRe4mN52Y/Wiu9AIKXXxI/AAAAAAAAF58/POfQkVodQNkeQOadus08W5kywmuZFBU1gCEwYBhgL/s1600/a737a71069e77fccb380ea629c5e19fa0569670c.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U3NRe4mN52Y/Wiu9AIKXXxI/AAAAAAAAF58/POfQkVodQNkeQOadus08W5kywmuZFBU1gCEwYBhgL/s640/a737a71069e77fccb380ea629c5e19fa0569670c.png" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-large; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><u>
9.) Fire Pro Wrestling World</u></i></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Spike Chunsoft has finally returned to save us from the mediocrity that has plagued us for far too long with the WWE 2K franchise (or in other terms; “the Madden of Wrestling games.”) It’s been far too long since we’ve seen a Japanese wrestling game and I for one miss Japanese wrestling games. I say bring on more Japanese wrestling games (especially now with the current explosion of New Japan)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oh wrestling fans, let us all rejoice the glorious return of a classic. The WWE 2K games may have the flair of next gen graphics, official licenses, and a marketing budget. They’ve got all the superstar names, the plethora of match types, and the sales figures. And yet they still feel strangely cold as games. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fire Pro, on the other hand, is a lot like the ECW of wrestling games. It has none of the budget, but in typical Paul Heyman fashion, it “hides the negatives and accentuates the positives” with a brilliant and simple timing based grappling engine, fantastic 2D sprite art, endless customization possibilities, a rabidly dedicated fan community, and — most importantly — an understanding about the nature of pro wrestling, and just what makes it (and its fans) tick.
Forget WWE 2K18, the real wrestling game of 2017 is right here!
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R8Vd78PYYTQ/Wiu9mWeaJgI/AAAAAAAAF6I/ojlfCMRr4Qoz5j5PqWEBK9eY-VVvbIj_QCEwYBhgL/s1600/WolfensteinII_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1476" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R8Vd78PYYTQ/Wiu9mWeaJgI/AAAAAAAAF6I/ojlfCMRr4Qoz5j5PqWEBK9eY-VVvbIj_QCEwYBhgL/s640/WolfensteinII_.jpg" width="520" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><u>
8.) Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus</u></i></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wolfenstein II is the closest you’re getting to an Inglorious Basterds video game. If that doesn’t sell you then I don’t know what else will. Starring a multicultural group of irreverent, colorful characters on a globetrotting quest to ruin Hitler’s day, week and life in a fantastic revenge fantasy setting. Brutal, absurd, clever, insightful and touching,
The New Colossus is a rollicking adventure that has reset the bar for what first person shooters can, and should, be.
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ebj6iYXaQoo/Wiu-MhhnqBI/AAAAAAAAF6U/KBH2dwqP2GoVCUX7uXdjOFUEwDffE-rTACEwYBhgL/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ebj6iYXaQoo/Wiu-MhhnqBI/AAAAAAAAF6U/KBH2dwqP2GoVCUX7uXdjOFUEwDffE-rTACEwYBhgL/s640/maxresdefault.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><u>
7.) Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds</u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here I sit on a deserted island prone on my stomach in the abandoned remains of an airplane. My heart is racing. All I have equipped is a pistol. I’m wearing nothing but a tank top and a pair of cargo pants. In the distance I hear the sounds of gunfire. In two minutes the danger zone will close inwards forcing me to move position just to stay alive.
One wrong move equals death. No respawns. No second chances. Welcome to the world of Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds. A massive multiplayer survival game in the vein of Kinji Fukasaku’s epic Battle Royale.
In some sessions, I’ve lasted no more than 5 minutes. In other sessions, I’ve made it to the last ten remaining. PUBG is one of the most intense games of multiplayer death match that I’ve ever played. More importantly, it’s the Battle Royale game that I’ve always wanted but didn’t think was possible. Now it exists and I couldn’t be happier for it.
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p4CDfiYifAo/Wiu-e2L0kNI/AAAAAAAAF6U/FfusIHA7bHgRKywV8gS3ymeWExl3u4HFQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Horizon_Zero_Dawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p4CDfiYifAo/Wiu-e2L0kNI/AAAAAAAAF6U/FfusIHA7bHgRKywV8gS3ymeWExl3u4HFQCEwYBhgL/s640/Horizon_Zero_Dawn.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-large; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><u>
6.) Horizon: Zero Dawn</u></i></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Best known for their work on the Killzone franchise, Guerilla games finally stepped out of the first person shooter genre to deliver something rather special. Even though it's not without its issues, Horizon is an excellent title and a must have for all PS4 owners.
It offers a refreshing open world environment, a compelling and mysterious story, a fantastic main character, and innovative gameplay. Not only is it one of the best action RPGs I've played this generation, it's also one of the best games I've played in a while. Horizon is a truly special experience, and it's one that even non-RPG lovers need to have.
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pPxf0GHBEBQ/Wiu_E_lHoxI/AAAAAAAAF6s/eI85Cu_Hz24H6tU7RAHSbbzrH3O80I60wCEwYBhgL/s1600/maxresdefault%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pPxf0GHBEBQ/Wiu_E_lHoxI/AAAAAAAAF6s/eI85Cu_Hz24H6tU7RAHSbbzrH3O80I60wCEwYBhgL/s640/maxresdefault%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><u><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
5.) Resident Evil VII</span></u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At long last, Resident Evil has finally returned to its survival horror roots! I’ll be honest, I hated the more action focused Resident Evil 6. I felt the series was in deep decline and needed to do something to get it back on track. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thankfully, Capcom seemed to agree and delivered a game that took Resident Evil straight back to it roots. Adopting a first person view to further heighten that claustrophobic feel, the game removes itself from the convoluted story line of previous entries and takes a little bit more of a Silent Hill 2 approach casting you in the role of a man searching for his lost lover.
He is led to a rundown mansion in the woods via a cryptic message sent to him by his missing lover. This mansion is inhabited by the Baker family. A family of deranged hicks that could easily give the Sawyer family a good run for their money. What follows is one night of unspeakable horror.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Welcome back Resident Evil, it’s good to have you back in the Survival Horror genre.
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2vfNC2cNJjw/Wiu_XS5J2II/AAAAAAAAF6s/4eHE553gongFJpiijK7VbCJP88xUbwejgCEwYBhgL/s1600/yakuza-2-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2vfNC2cNJjw/Wiu_XS5J2II/AAAAAAAAF6s/4eHE553gongFJpiijK7VbCJP88xUbwejgCEwYBhgL/s640/yakuza-2-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><u><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
4.) Yakuza 0</span></u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The latest entry in the long running Yakuza franchise is perhaps it’s greatest entry of all. Yakuza 0 takes us back to Japan’s bubble economy in the Eighties and re-introduces us to the legendary Dragon of Dojima, the one and only Kiryu Kazuma. Much to his chagrin, Kiryu finds himself in the center of another warfare as the many families in the Yakuza hierarchy do battle over a valuable and vacant plot of land in the heart of Kamurocho. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The core mechanics of the franchise remain largely unchanged. This is still a Beat ‘Em Up with RPG elements thrown in for good measure. But what the Yakuza team have managed to achieve in this game is a well thought out cohesion of mechanics. The vast majority of the substories are well written and entertaining to seek out. The act of exploring every last inch of Kamurocho has never been more rewarding. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is a game that I gladly put 120 hours into and by the time I had cleared every side quest and built my businesses into a mini empire I still found myself wanting more. It also helps that the main story is perhaps the best this franchise has seen since Yakuza 2. It’s a very well written and engaging tale that will grab you by your collar and keep you invested the entire way through.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you’ve never played a Yakuza game then Yakuza 0 is the perfect place to start.
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4pJZZtaL0V8/Wiu_9J5T1SI/AAAAAAAAF6s/uZCOdqT3L4wtrpx97so9mRIffbmy6uhNgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Cuphead-Title-xlarge_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqNJjoeBT78QIaYdkJdEY4CnGTJFJS74MYhNY6w3GNbO8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4pJZZtaL0V8/Wiu_9J5T1SI/AAAAAAAAF6s/uZCOdqT3L4wtrpx97so9mRIffbmy6uhNgCEwYBhgL/s640/Cuphead-Title-xlarge_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqNJjoeBT78QIaYdkJdEY4CnGTJFJS74MYhNY6w3GNbO8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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3.) Cuphead</u></i></b></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Largely inspired by cartoons of the 1930’s, the game tells the tale of Cuphead and his pal Mugman who unwittingly find themselves at the mercy of the Devil. The Devil issues them a deal; hunt down 19 foes in exchange for their freedom. A simple deal...yeah, right and pigs might fly while at it.
What follows is a “kick you in the nuts” hard as nails NES type run and gun platformer featuring some of the most exciting (and frustrating) boss fights you are likely to see in a game this year. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The art style is unlike any other I’ve ever seen in a game before. Every frame of animation has been painstakingly (and lovingly) drawn by hand. It’s a true love note to 1930’s animation and is just a pure pleasure on the eyes.
For as difficult as the game can get, it is at least fair in its difficulty. Learn from your mistakes and endure through to the end. Also, keep an ear out for that soundtrack. Oh boy is that soundtrack catchy!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><u><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span></u></i></b></span><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mwJQUWAcINc/WivAXA8jvMI/AAAAAAAAF6k/8zFWZnOsRwg6WVkwfF21_eApUGRL9pwRwCEwYBhgL/s1600/super-mario-odyssey-10-30-17-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mwJQUWAcINc/WivAXA8jvMI/AAAAAAAAF6k/8zFWZnOsRwg6WVkwfF21_eApUGRL9pwRwCEwYBhgL/s640/super-mario-odyssey-10-30-17-1.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><u><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
2.) Super Mario Odyssey</span></u></i></b></span></div>
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(clears throat) BUY THIS GAME! That is all.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Okay fine, I guess I should write more than that. Super Mario Odyssey is a celebration of all things Mario. It’s a pure joy to play from beginning to end. The controls are so damn fluid (as is always the case for 3D Mario games.)
Exploring each world looking for moons is a complete and utter joy. The introduction of the sentient hat “Cappy” and being able to possess just about anything living and breathing in each world never grows old.
It’s the greatest new mechanic to be introduced in a Mario game in a LONG time. Oh and I dare you to listen to the theme song “One Up Girl” and NOT have it stuck in your head for days on end.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Look, just buy this bloody game already! It’s Mario. I really don’t need to sell it to you. It sells itself to you. And I really don’t want to spoil much more. Go in as blind as you can. Just go out and buy it already and thank me later!
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C0Tplo4WTlk/WivAzi7BlrI/AAAAAAAAF6w/VKtvASEB4HA7VJ4fqSh-RrfwnoFPHh7MACEwYBhgL/s1600/persona5_feature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C0Tplo4WTlk/WivAzi7BlrI/AAAAAAAAF6w/VKtvASEB4HA7VJ4fqSh-RrfwnoFPHh7MACEwYBhgL/s640/persona5_feature.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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1.) Persona 5</i></u></b></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oh Persona 5. You took my heart! You indeed took my heart and refused to give it back! Set in modern day Tokyo, Persona 5 tells the story of a nameless-silent protagonist wrongly accused of a crime he didn’t commit. He is then forced to move to Tokyo on probation where he eventually befriends a group of kids from his new school. <span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Each of whom are just as big a misfit as he is.</span>
Together, this group of ragtag misfits are granted the power to enter another reality where they moonlight as a band of thieves. Their mission is simple. To steal the hearts of the corrupt individuals that have wronged them and bring about a change of conscience in the real world. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That premise may sound a little out there, but in typical Persona fashion, it works without question. The Persona series has always done a fantastic job of blending reality and the supernatural world. Persona 5 is no exception. It’s a game that isn’t afraid to deal with some pretty heavy social issues such as suicide, abandonment, bullying, sexual abuse and it even manages to comment on current day political issues under the Abe administration. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The art style of the game is nothing short of seductive. This game oozes coolness with its slick menu design and it’s “anime brought to life” feel. The Acid Jazz stylings of the soundtrack has been playing on a permanent loop in my brain all year. The turn based combat is fast and responsive with enough depth to keep you well challenged for the 100+ hours it will take to see the campaign through. And the characters are some of the most endearing oddballs that I’ve had the pleasure spending time with this year.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Truth be told, I haven’t been this taken by an RPG since Final Fantasy VIII back when I was a kid. Well, okay...maybe Persona 4. But the point remains. Persona 5 is a fantastic game and is well deserving of its number one spot in this list.
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</b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Favorite</b></span><b style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Film of the Year: “Mother!”</b></u></i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To be honest, I can count the number of films I saw from 2017 on two hands. I really haven’t been going out and seeing much lately (which explains why this blog of mine has become quite abandoned.) But I did see Darren Aronofsky’s “Mother!” and by default, I would say it's probably the most interesting film I saw all year.
But even then, I still don’t know if it’s “genius” or Aronofsky simply throwing everything at the wall in hope of something sticking. But I can’t deny that it’s a hell of a ride and the one film that really stuck with me the most from 2017 (of the few I saw.) Go in blind. Don’t read a damn thing about this movie. Just go in blind and experience the madness.
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><u>
Most Disappointing Film of the Year: “The Snowman”</u></i></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What the hell happened Tomas Alfredson!? Oh boy, where do we begin with this one? Tomas Alredson, the director of perhaps my favourite film of all time Let the Right One In, is a director that has shown himself to be capable of great things. Which makes the utter mess that is The Snowman even more disappointing. It’s a mess! A true and utter mess in every way. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The whole time I was sitting in the cinema thinking "something had to have gone completely wrong here. I know the pedigree of this director, I know what he can do...something desperately went wrong here." I think Mark Kermode probably put it best; "the film got away from them." There's no other way to put it. It's a film that went completely off the rails somewhere along the line and they were just desperately trying to salvage it.
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A real mess. Just a real complete mess. But still, much like a train wreck, I couldn't take my eyes away from it :) So I'll give it that much.
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H1g6AATGoNA/WivC7j8JoHI/AAAAAAAAF7E/FxIV-dyS92wpFIQPgfdTQZeAm3U4P117gCEwYBhgL/s1600/murakami-colourless-with-stickers-copy-2-copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H1g6AATGoNA/WivC7j8JoHI/AAAAAAAAF7E/FxIV-dyS92wpFIQPgfdTQZeAm3U4P117gCEwYBhgL/s640/murakami-colourless-with-stickers-copy-2-copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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Favorite</span></u></i></b></span><b style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><u><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Book of the Year: “The Colorless Tsukuru and his Years of Pilgrimage”</span></u></i></b></div>
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The story of an emotionally wounded 30 something man named Tsukuru who is forced to confront his past and find out why his friends abandoned him many years before. What follows is a melancholic tale of a man searching for inner harmony by being forced to confront the sordid past in search for answers. It truly is a wonderful read and I can’t recommend it enough.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M2j8QdV-cOw/WivDaBKVnoI/AAAAAAAAF7I/24Un2_h4hk0vnfqA_rZgaXSW8YKuhydggCLcBGAs/s1600/mastodon-emperor-of-sand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M2j8QdV-cOw/WivDaBKVnoI/AAAAAAAAF7I/24Un2_h4hk0vnfqA_rZgaXSW8YKuhydggCLcBGAs/s640/mastodon-emperor-of-sand.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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Favorite</b></span><b style="font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Album of the Year: Mastodon - Emperor of Sand</b></u></i></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I honestly can’t write about music. I don’t really have the know how to write about music so I will not subject to you my attempt to sound knowledgeable, but I will say this. I know what I like, and I really liked this album!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>New Years Resolution: To further my own pursuit of gaining self confidence and finding happiness. So far it’s been working….</i></b></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Happy trails and see you the next time I choose to write something on this blog of mine. Whenever that should be...</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span>danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-83188197314226340532016-08-14T02:36:00.001+10:002016-08-14T03:06:09.359+10:00[Thoughts] A Bizarre Large Serving of Nikuko-chan...or How I Gained New Found Respect for Translators<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LEPdCF1qCsY/V69KHjSNPII/AAAAAAAACXk/bmhyARLbwIshNb4Lkc-9gPr4q_MHHBu9wCLcB/s1600/Nikukochan1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LEPdCF1qCsY/V69KHjSNPII/AAAAAAAACXk/bmhyARLbwIshNb4Lkc-9gPr4q_MHHBu9wCLcB/s640/Nikukochan1.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">As some of you may or may not know, I’ve been studying Japanese for the best part of two and a half years now. Within that two years I have learned a staggering amount of new vocab and grammar. Sometimes it hurts my head just thinking about it, other times it leaves me feeling accomplished that I can actually remember most of what I’ve learned. Every Saturday for the last two and a half years, I’ve made the hour long trip from my home in the suburbs into the sprawling maze of unorganized streets that is Sydney and have studied under the tutelage of my sensei, Fumiko. During our most recent lesson, I was told a Japanese joke by one of my fellow students and the joke goes as such:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">どうしてハワイ人は歯医者に全然行かないの?</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">歯はいいよ</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why do people from Hawaii never have to visit the Dentist?</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hawaii</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Didn’t find it funny? Don’t worry, I don’t blame you nor do I feel offended that you didn’t find it funny. For those interested as to why the punchline is “Hawaii”, I’ll give you a quick break down of the sentence</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">歯 (ha) means “tooth”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">は (wa) is the subject marker</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">いい (ii) means “good”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Put the whole thing together and say it in Shinkansen speeds of Japanese and you get something that sounds close to “Hawaii.” So if you couldn’t tell, it’s a play on words and that’s what make its funny. However, when translated directly to English the punchline loses its punch. Therefore, say a translator were to read this joke in a Manga and then interpret it into English, what would they do? Probably re-write the joke all together since it’s kind of a dud joke in English, or find something that approximates it. Kind of interesting, isn’t it?</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But why am I talking about a somewhat corny Japanese joke, you ask? Where is this all going? For the past year, I’ve undertaken a project of sorts. I decided to test my knowledge of the language and do something that can only be described as somewhat insane. I decided to read and translate a Japanese written manga and what do you know? I actually finished reading it!
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The manga in question is titled </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Kaiki Oomori!! Nikuko-chan</i></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, which roughly translates to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b>A Bizarre Large Serving!!</b></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>Nikuko-chan</i></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Written and drawn by a friend of mine, Miyako Cojima, the book is a collection of five short stories centered around a plump naive but kindhearted pre-teen girl named Nikuko. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first two stories play as moral tales in which our plump heroine Nikuko is bullied by two girls whom are hiding demons in their closets. The third story starts off in the same mold as the first two stories, but takes a surprising left turn and reveals itself as a rather touching love story. The fourth story is a Norman Bates/Psycho type tale of a mother’s overbearing methods of nurture towards her daughter. While the final story is an amusing little caper detailing Nikuko’s first love.
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The book largely deals with the theme of obsession. Be it the obsession of attaining an ideal body image, the obsession of gaining fame, the obsession of fitting in with one's fellow peers, or even just Nikuko’s strange obsession to eat anything and everything in-sight. The book plays as a wonderful mix of absurd comedy, drama, social commentary and horror all mixed into one delicious serving of Niku (meaty) goodness. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nikuko’s demeanor is that of a sweet and kindhearted girl who just happens to have a huge appetite. As a child, she was bullied without mercy and grew up never having a single friend. In a never ending spree of violence and hate, her goal remains the same. She’s simply looking for someone to call a friend. But unfortunately for her, she is ridiculed and subjected to some pretty cruel and unusual torment. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But no matter how low her tormentors stoop, she endures on with her relentless upbeat take on life. There is one line of dialog from the book that best sums up Nikuko and it goes as so: “It’s pointless to hate someone, even if I desperately want a friend.” She’ll never stoop down to their level in return. Granted, the tormentors in question do get their comeuppance in the most unusual (and hilarious) of ways, but Nikuko remains the sweetheart of a girl who just so desperately wants a friend. That’s not to say Nikuko gets off lightly.
In fact, writer Miyako makes it a point to slyly criticize Nikuko’s unhealthy lifestyle choices just as much as she criticizes the actions of Nikuko’s thoughtless peers. Particularly in the fourth story where Nikuko’s supposed dieting method is to eat a four course banquet to herself. It goes without saying that such a lifestyle is far from great as well. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a running gag throughout the book. Every time Nikuko is introduced to a new group of people they instantly mistake her name by using the wrong kanji. Which has become something of a nightmare to translate for reasons mentioned above. It should be an easy joke, right? A common mixup of understanding. Well, not quite so when you’re trying to keep the original names in-tact.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Which I guess leads me back to the intro of this blog post. This little translation project has been one of the hardest projects that I’ve ever had both the joy and misery of working on. Oh don’t get wrong, when I say misery, I mean misery in a good way (if there is even such a thing.) I guess pain and joy go hand in hand.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have written well over 30 pages of basic translations, which now I have to go back to and double read, double check my translations, re-write certain segments, make sure I actually did get some of the trickier sentences down pat, make sure I didn’t misinterpret jokes or puns as literal translations, do a final pass on the script and then, finally, doctor in those translations to the original panels in Photoshop and actually make the thing into a book as a gift for myself and my friend.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But in the end, I can say without hesitation that it’s been entirely worth it. I’ve had a blast doing this little project and I had a blast reading this book. It’s a wonderful little slice of absurd horror, comedy and drama. The artwork is clearly influenced by the likes of the great </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kazuo Umezu of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b>The Drifting Classroom</b></i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> fame, but with it’s own feminine sensibility</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I was endeared by Nikuko and was very impressed with the broad range of topics discussed in each story. It’s a smart, well written, well drawn and thoughtful little book that deserves more attention. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So what have I learned from this little project of mine? I’ve learned to respect translators a hell of a lot more. It’s quite the undertaking and you really only begin to appreciate exactly what goes into it once you do it for yourself. I guess in my younger years I was always a bit naive and thought it was just a matter of switching out Japanese words with English words, but that simply isn’t the case. It’s a difficult job that requires a lot of thought, a lot of patience and a fair bit of rewriting. So here’s to you translators, you have my utmost respect for the hard work you do in helping to bring foreign text to our door steps (salute; or is that kanpai in this case?)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can’t say my current translations are perfect. After hearing that joke in class, I grew a little fearful that maybe I did translate some things a little too literal for their own good. I feel somewhat confident with the first draft that I have so far...but as we all know, first drafts don’t mean much. Maybe it will take even greater shape with the second draft? I hope that one day more people have the ability to read this manga and enjoy it as I did. Who knows if anything will come of this translation project of mine. Maybe it will get seen by a wider audience, or maybe it will remain on my shelf (and Miyako’s) as a simple kind gesture. Who knows in this crazy world of ours?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anyways, that was something different, until next time we meet.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b>
-Daniel M.</b></i></span>danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-84213297725608583752016-07-28T12:19:00.000+10:002016-07-28T19:45:25.870+10:00[Review] The Handmaiden (2016)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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After making his English-language debut with the critically divisive Southern gothic thriller <i><b>Stoker</b></i>, South Korean auteur Park Chan-Wook returns to his native language to bring us a slice of erotica with his new film, <i><b>The Handmaiden</b></i>.<br />
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Taking its cues from the novel <i><b>Fingersmith</b></i> by Welsh writer Sarah Waters, with the setting changed from the Victorian era to 1930's Korea under Japanese rule, The Handmaiden tells the intricately woven story of a Korean con man (Ha Jung-woo) who seeks to take advantage of the beautiful and wealthy Japanese heiress Lady Hideko (Kim min-hee).<br />
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The con man enlists the help of a lowly pickpocket by the name of Nam Sock-hee (Kim Tae-ri) to pose as a maid to the heiress. Sock-hee's task is simple enough; to gain the trust of the fair lady and help convince her to fall for the con man so he can inherit said fortune. However, complications arise as the Handmaiden finds herself falling for the fair lady. Thus begins a complicated tale of who's screwing who, both literally and figuratively speaking.<br />
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Director Park wisely splits this lurid tale into three separate chapters, each of which exemplifies a different perspective. The first chapter told from the perspective of Sock-hee as she infiltrates the lavish manor and gains the fair maiden's trust. Initially, she is all about the task at hand, but as time progresses, she begins to feel a palpable sexual tension between herself and the fair lady. As such, a new found sense of guilt and jealousy arise as the handmaiden grows both resentful and remorseful towards the conman's end game.<br />
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Through the eyes of Sock-hee, we initially perceive Lady Hideko to be a naive child trapped in a woman's body. However, the second chapter switches perspectives to Hideko, where Director Park fills in the blanks of her traumatic upbringing under the tutelage of her perverted uncle. Having been exposed from a young age to her uncle's love of BDSM, she is frequently made to regale the written works of Marquis de Sade to seedy-looking men of wealth in the manor's library.<br />
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Meanwhile, the third chapter brings it all home through the perspective of the conman, which is ripe with revelations and plot turns best left unspoiled.<br />
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At its core, <i><b>The Handmaiden</b></i> is a rather simple tale of deceit, love, and vengeance. But perhaps most importantly, it is a tale of sexual liberation. Since I'm not the first to mention this, yes, the film does feature scenes of explicit lesbianism. And yes, Park definitely pulls no punches when it comes to showing. However, he doesn't just show just for the sake of showing, or for mere titillation.<br />
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Rather, the budding sexual tension shared between both women is the central key to their shared plight. At its core, The Handmaiden is a tale of two women who came from less than pleasant upbringings who long for a sense of freedom. Kim Tae-Ri and Kim Min-hee both give incredible performances and do very well to sell a palpable amount of friction.<br />
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<i><b>The Handmaiden</b></i> features all of Park Chan-Wook's usual flourishes. It is visually stunning in every inch of its design. From the sense of foreboding decadence that haunts every inch of the manor to the impeccable framing choices employed by cinematographer Chung Chung-hoon.<br />
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Although it's not without flaws. Unusually so, Director Park annoyingly feels the need to over-explain every last plot detail by spinning the plot wheel one too many times. However, there's no denying the denouement's cleverness, nor can one deny the overwhelming sense of satisfaction gained. In the end, <i><b>The Handmaiden</b></i> is both a well-crafted character study and a captivating erotic thriller that leaves its mark.<br />
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<h5 class="font_3 font_5" style="background-color: white; background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: arial, 'ms pゴシック', 'ms pgothic', 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 48px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />★★</span><span style="line-height: 1;">★</span><span style="line-height: 1;">★</span></h5>
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danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-47961643159750056412015-08-03T21:07:00.002+10:002015-08-03T21:22:01.665+10:00[Japanese Stuff] Common Daily PhrasesHello everyone. So for the past year I have been studying Japanese. It's a passion that quite frankly has taken over a big chunk of my life and has left me with less time to write for this blog since I started. Seeing that I've neglected this blog, I've decided to start a little trial experiment and impart some of my new-found gained knowledge with anyone who might be interested. That's right, I'm going to teach those of you who are interested some basic Japanese.<br />
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Not only will it help me by keeping my mind sharp and agile, but maybe someone out there will (hopefully) learn something as well. So without further ado let's jump on in and start with a simple introduction. We're going to keep this really light and simple today by giving a few simple phrases. Yes, you may have seen postings like this elsewhere, but trust me, for now we want to keep it simple. So here's a few useful daily expressions to get you started.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>おはようございます // Ohayou Gozaimasu // "Good Morning"</b></span><br />
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"Ohayou Gozaimasu" is a friendly greeting meaning "Good Morning," It's commonplace to hear it shortened down to "Ohayou" and it is something you might hear until about 11am or 12pm.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>こんにちは // Konnichiwa // "Hello"</b></span><br />
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"Konnichiwa" is the most common greeting you will hear. Simply is "Hello."<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>いらっしゃいませ // Irrashaimase // "Welcome"</b></span><br />
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If you have ever had the pleasure of being in Japan and have walked into any place of commercial business then chances are you've heard "Irrashaimase." It's extremely common to hear this "welcome" greeting in Japan courtesy of cheerful company employees.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>こんばんは // Konbanwa // "Good Evening"</b></span><br />
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"Konbanwa" is something one might say to greet friends or relatives in the evening.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>おやすみなさい // Oyasuminasai // "Good Night"</b></span><br />
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"Oyasuminasai" is used when parting ways with friends in the evening or said before going to bed.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>さようなら // Sayonara // "Good Bye"</b></span><br />
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"Sayonara" is one method to say "Good Bye" however, there is a subtle finality to "Sayonara." "Sayonara" is something you might say to someone who you're not going to see for a while. Otherwise, another more casual way of saying "farewell" would be to say....<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>じゃ また // Jaa, mata // "Well then..."</b></span><br />
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"Jaa, mata" is a far more casual (and common) way to bid farewell among friends and relatives. The subtle difference being that it implies that one will see the person again sooner rather than later.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>おさきに しつれいします // Osaki ni shitsureishimasu// "Excuse Me" (but I'm going to be rude)</b></span><br />
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Said when leaving the office or a business meeting before other people. "Shitsureishimasu" literally translates to "I'm going to be rude" but don't fret, it's not considered rude to use when excusing oneself. It's one of those "best not to question it too much" moments that one will run into when learning this language.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>いってらっしゃい // Itterasshai // "Have a Safe Trip" (lit. go and coming back)</b></span><br />
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Usually said to friends, family and cohorts as they leave for an extended period; be it a holiday, business trip or other variation. Think "Bon Voyage" and you get "Itterasshai."<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>行ってきます // Ittekimasu // "I'm going" (lit. go and coming back)</b></span><br />
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"Ittekimasu" is actually made up of two parts. It combines the ~te form of the verb "Ikimasu" (to go) and "kimasu" (to return) to make "Ittekimasu." As you can sort of probably already guess, it means that "I will go and return." It's something one might say when leaving the household to run errands." For example:<br />
<br />
郵便局に行ってきます<br />
<br />
"Yuubinkyouku ni ittekimasu."<br />
I'm going to the Post Office (and I will return shortly)<br />
<br />
or maybe you're going to Japan on vacation<br />
<br />
日本に行ってきます。<br />
"Nihon ni ittekimasu."<br />
I'm going to Japan (and will return)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>ただいま // Tadaima // "I'm back"</b></span><br />
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Said by a person on returning home, which is paired with the response...<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>おかえりなさい // Okaerinasai // "Welcome Home"</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>いただきます // Ittadakimasu // Said Before Eating a Meal</b></span><br />
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Said before eating a meal. To keep "Ittadakimasu" in memory, I like to think that it sounds kind of like "Eat-a-ducky-masu", as corny as it is, it works. "Ittadakimasu" is, of course, paired with the follow-up response upon completion of a meal...<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>ごちそうさまでした // Gochisousama deshita // Said after Eating a Meal</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>おめでとうございます // Omedetou Gozaimasu // "Congratulations"</b></span><br />
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"Omedetou Gozaimasu" (Congratulations) or for short, "Omedetou."<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>どうも ありがとうございます // Doumo Arigatou Gozaimasu // "Thank You Very Much"</b></span><br />
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Or casually one can shorten it to "Doumo" by itself.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>どういたしまして // Dou Itashimashite // "You're Welcome"</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>すみません // Sumimasen // "Excuse Me"</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>ちょっとまってください // Chotto Matte Kudasai // "Wait just a moment, please"</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>もういちどおねがいします // Mou ichido onegaishimasu // "Once more, please"</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>どうぞおさきに // Douzo Osakini // "Please, go ahead"</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>気をつけて // Ki o tsukete // "Be Careful"</b></span><br />
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Or alternatively<br />
<br />
気をつけてください<br />
Ki o tsukete kudasai<br />
"Please be careful"<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>おだいじに // Odaiji ni // "Take Care of Yourself"</b></span><br />
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Commonly used towards an ill or injured person.<br />
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Now, if you're like me and you're a bit of a social drinker then these next three phrases are absolutely mandatory to know for when you hit up a bar in Japan.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>ビールをひとつください // Biru o hitotsu kudasai // "One Beer, please"</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>もう一つください // Mou hitotsu kudasai // "Another, please"</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>トイレはどこですか?// Toire wa doko desu ka? // "Where is the toilet?"</b></span><br />
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Hopefully you've learned something today. Happy trails and I'll see you shortly with another lesson.<br />
<br />
<b><i>-Daniel M </i></b><br />
<b><i>(ダニエル)</i></b>danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-27434571625555547072015-04-08T22:35:00.000+10:002015-04-08T22:51:28.846+10:00[Review] Furious 7<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-97-O6-5SjpQ/VSUeQWlE02I/AAAAAAAACH0/r9mmhYdcFtI/s1600/Furious%2B7%2BMovie%2BPoster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-97-O6-5SjpQ/VSUeQWlE02I/AAAAAAAACH0/r9mmhYdcFtI/s1600/Furious%2B7%2BMovie%2BPoster.jpg" height="292" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
What began as a shameless <b><i>Point Break </i></b>knockoff featuring souped up cars in place of surfboards has grown into a multi-million dollar freight train of a franchise. Way back when, <i><b>The Fast and the Furious</b></i> franchise began its life as a Roger Corman type B picture highlighting the tale of an undercover cop questioning his own code of conduct as he finds himself indoctrinated by the ragtag band of criminals he was supposed to be investigating. A mere seven films later and you would be hard pressed to see the roots of where this franchise once began.<br />
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Justin Lin's <i><b>Fast Five</b></i> did incredibly well to reinvent the franchise, moving it away from the sub-culture of underground street racing and morphing it into an <i><b>Ocean's Eleven</b></i> style heist film. Now with Justin Lin departing the directors chair, James Wan (<i><b>Saw, Insidious</b></i>) steps up to the directors chair and continues to reinvent the franchise into something that even less resembles the original film.<br />
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<i><b>Furious 7</b></i> doesn't just jump the shark, it jumps three skyscrapers along the way. After the events of the last film, Dom (Vin Diesel) and his team of loveable misfits find themselves the targets of a revenge plot orchestrated by extremist militant Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham). However, Shaw proves to be more than Dom can handle leaving Dom and his team to partner up with a shady government official known only as Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell).<br />
<br />
Mr. Nobody heads a special task force assigned the mission of hunting down the creator of a computer program called 'the God's Eye', a highly sophisticated program that can turn any mobile phone into a surveillance device. Mr. Nobody offers Dom and his team a deal they can't refuse, he will help them track down Shaw in return for their services aiding the task force.<br />
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<br />
If you couldn't tell, <i><b>Furious 7 </b></i>is as loud and dumb as you might have expected it to be and then some. The plot is entirely gonzo, the dialog ranges from so bad it's good to downright eye-roll worthy, and the action is so insanely removed from the laws of physics that it might as well be a Saturday morning cartoon. However, I would be lying if I said it wasn't ridiculously fun for all of those reasons.<br />
<br />
The set pieces have been amped way up to eleven in need to top the last movie because jumping a car through the nose of a 747 airplane just wasn't enough. Whether it be skydiving cars out of a moving plane or jumping from skyscraper to skyscraper in Abu Dhabi to pitting Michelle Rodriguez against Rhonda Rousey in a one on one fist fight, <i><b>Furious 7 </b></i>does well to re-adjust the goal post of impossible standards set by the last film. Perhaps doing it a little too well.<br />
<br />
In that constant need to top the previous film, one can't help but fear that it's all going a little too far into the realm of self-parody. What once started as a group of ragtag yet grounded criminals with hearts made of gold has turned into an ensemble of indestructible superheroes who look like they're ready to audition for a place in the <i><b>Avengers</b></i>.<br />
<br />
Marred only by moments of tediously written and overacted soap opera worthy drama. <i><b>Furious 7</b></i> is at its best when it is embracing its own stupidity for all its worth but, unfortunately, screenwriter Chris Morgan feels the need to inject a dose of unwanted drama by continuing the weakest plot thread of the previous film being Letty's (Michelle Rodriguez) all too convenient memory loss. Shared moments between Dom and Letty that were meant to be touching play with a layer of thick soap opera staccato. Diesel and Rodriguez are far from being accomplished thespians leaving these moments of stilted drama to remind us just how ridiculous the movie really is.<br />
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<br />
Still, when it plays to its strengths as an incredibly dumb but fun action movie then it delivers in spades. Kurt Russell is a welcomed breath of fresh air playing the Mr. Wolf (from <i><b>Pulp Fiction</b></i>) type role. Meanwhile, Jason Statham delivers his usual gravelly brand of intimidating badass, which is never a bad thing. James Wan, formerly known for his work on low-budget chillers such as <i><b>Insidious </b></i>does well to prove himself capable of handling big budget blockbuster affairs. Unfortunately, the film does lose some of its momentum as it lumbers into its final act composed of a destructive landscape-altering chase around the streets of Los Angeles. At two hours and twenty minutes, it is too self-serving for its own good.<br />
<br />
Then there is the matter of Paul Walkers death, which is handled tastefully thanks to a moving finale that pays tribute to both the character and actor. In fact, it's the one moment where these actors deliver a true moment of emotion as it is so clearly raw. No amount of hammy on the nose dialog can match a simple visual moment of silent reflection as each of them realize that their friend (in real life) is gone. It serves as a poignant and touching send off to not only Brian O'Conner but to Paul Walker as well.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Furious 7</b></i> doesn't quite live up to the best of this franchise (that being <i><b>Fast Five</b></i>), but for what it's worth, James Wan and crew have delivered a fun over the top eighties action movie repackaged for the modern age. Just let it be said that the gas in the tank is running on near empty for this franchise. Perhaps it's time to leave it rest, but who are we kidding? The box office numbers alone will ensure the inevitable <i><b>Furious 8, 9,</b></i> and <i><b>10</b></i>.<br />
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<h5 class="font_3 font_5" style="background-color: white; background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: arial, 'ms pゴシック', 'ms pgothic', 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 48px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 1;">
<span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">★★</span><span style="line-height: 1;">★</span></h5>
<h5 class="font_3 font_5" style="background-color: white; background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: arial, 'ms pゴシック', 'ms pgothic', 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 1;">
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<span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">(out of five)</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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</h5>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yISKeT6sDOg" width="640"></iframe>
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>-Daniel M</b></i><br />
<br />danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-42126194789401466672015-03-15T18:44:00.007+11:002017-03-13T09:04:02.909+11:00[Feature] Mei and the Kittenbus<div class="p1" style="widows: 1;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H5jMt_K5ysE/VQUl_hwumzI/AAAAAAAACFc/ij1kcsKy3i8/s1600/blog01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H5jMt_K5ysE/VQUl_hwumzI/AAAAAAAACFc/ij1kcsKy3i8/s1600/blog01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="s1"><br /></span> <span class="s1"><br /></span> <span class="s1">Last year, I began studying Japanese. On my most recent trip to Japan, I visited the famous Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. Whilst there, I brought back with me a number of souvenirs. One of those souvenirs was a book. The book in question was a printed copy of <i><b>Mei and the Kittenbus</b></i>, a short film and spiritual sequel to <i><b>My Neighbour Totoro</b></i> shown only at the museum.<br /><br />With research thanks to <a href="http://jisho.org/">jisho.org</a> and its incredibly useful “kanji by radicals” search option, I managed to translate this story well enough.<br /><br />Once I had finished the rough translation, I began to notice just how many liberties could be taken in rewriting and making it flow a little better in English form. So I took it upon myself to take the rough translation and re-write it using both the images and words as found in the book. Here are the results.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yu9H91VmVnc/VQUoF9UBzNI/AAAAAAAACFo/hje8R89GALI/s1600/blog02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yu9H91VmVnc/VQUoF9UBzNI/AAAAAAAACFo/hje8R89GALI/s1600/blog02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>風のつよい日、メイがキャラメルを食べていると、つむじ風があらわれ、おいかけてきました。</b></span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="p2" style="widows: 1;">
<span class="s1"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Kaze no tsuyoi hi, mei ga kyarameru o tabete iru to, tsumujikaze ga araware, oikakete kimashita.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1"><i></i></span><br /></span></div>
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<div class="p2" style="widows: 1;">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">On a windy day, Mei was eating caramel, when a whirlwind appeared and chased her.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PwL5W_UlgBg/VQUiorvl0GI/AAAAAAAACE8/PAkvAQdltLc/s1600/03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PwL5W_UlgBg/VQUiorvl0GI/AAAAAAAACE8/PAkvAQdltLc/s1600/03.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_sWvBlsGHJs/VQUjKUqlmuI/AAAAAAAACFE/iaKLkCXUsBk/s1600/04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_sWvBlsGHJs/VQUjKUqlmuI/AAAAAAAACFE/iaKLkCXUsBk/s1600/04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>つむじ風の正体はコネコバスでした。メイはコネコバスにキャラメルをあげて、ともだちになりました。</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Tsumujikaze no shōtai wa konekobasu deshita. Mei wa konekobasu ni kyarameru o agete, tomodachi ni narimashita.</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-size: large;"> </span>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The identity of the whirlwind was a baby cat bus. Mei gave the baby cat bus some caramel and the two became friends.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UDdZkQSVSnU/VQUpuk8-ufI/AAAAAAAACGE/3WFqkPBbTJY/s1600/blog05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UDdZkQSVSnU/VQUpuk8-ufI/AAAAAAAACGE/3WFqkPBbTJY/s1600/blog05.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>ちっちゃい(小ちゃい)ねェ</b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>あなたこどもなのね</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Chiichai nei? Anata kodomo nano ne</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Wee-tiny children, aren't they?</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2cXLtH8tjNA/VQUqKiB88hI/AAAAAAAACGM/wh7ECa0HGc0/s1600/blog06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2cXLtH8tjNA/VQUqKiB88hI/AAAAAAAACGM/wh7ECa0HGc0/s1600/blog06.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>その夜、コネコバスがやってきました。メイはコネコバスにのってでかけました。</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">sono yoru, konekobasu ga yattekimashita. Mei wa konekobasu ni notte dekakemashita.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That night, the Baby Cat Bus came back. Mei boarded the Baby Cat Bus and set out on an adventure.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jnh36qz4Iec/VQUqfxaFGnI/AAAAAAAACGU/be2POo8yPNk/s1600/blog07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jnh36qz4Iec/VQUqfxaFGnI/AAAAAAAACGU/be2POo8yPNk/s1600/blog07.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>のせてくれるの ヒャーハハハ</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>nosete kureru no hyahahaha</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i>Are you giving me a lift? Hahaha!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>見たこともないたくさんのネコバスが森へあつまっていきます。</b></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Mita koto mo nai takusan no nekobasu ga mori e atsumatte ikimasu.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There were many Catbus that Mei had never seen before gathering in the forest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>森の中にはお化けがたくさんいました。メイがあたりを見まわすと、トトロがいました。</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Mori no naka ni wa obake ga takusan imashita. Mei ga atari o mimawasu to, totoro ga imashita.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the forest there were many forest spirits. Mei looked around the forest and found Totoro.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>トトロ!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Totoro!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>こんばんは</b></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>コネコバスのおともだちのメイです<i>。</i></b></span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">konbanwa konekobasu no otomodachi no Mei desu.</span></i></div>
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</i>Good evening, Mei. Friend of baby cat bus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>メイはネコバアちゃんにキャラメルをあげました。</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>ネコバアちゃんはお化けたちをのせて空へ、メイはコネコバスにのって家に帰りました。</b></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Mei wa nekobā-chan ni kyarameru o agemashita. Nekobā-chan wa obake-tachi o nosete sora e, Mei wa konekobasu ni notte uchi ni kaerimashita.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mei gave the elderly catbus a piece of her caramel. With the forest spirits aboard, the elderly catbus flew into the sky, meanwhile Mei boarded the baby cat bus and returned home.</span></div>
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<i>-Daniel M </i>danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-81244797299814923862015-03-03T18:29:00.000+11:002015-03-10T09:21:21.534+11:00[Review] Starry Eyes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"In the dreams of the starlet there is always that one scene where the cigar-chomping producer spots a lovely young woman in the Carlton Terrace and shouts 'who is that girl? I must have her for my next picture.'" Words once said by the late-great film critic Roger Ebert. The new body-horror film <i><b>Starry Eyes</b></i> plays as the bizarro alternate nightmare take on that dream scenario.<br />
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Sarah (Alexandra Essoe) is a promising young actress who dreams of fast tracking her career to stardom. She aspires to have her name etched in immortality among the legends of Hollywood. However, she doesn't have much going on in her current station in life. Frustrated, she takes out one lousy low-rent audition after another with little success. Until one day, she stumbles upon one audition that will forever change her life.<br />
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She takes out an audition for a crummily titled horror movie called "The Silver Scream" produced by a once-famed now crumbled horror movie production company. Sarah leaves enough of an impression on the casting agents and receives a callback. But all is not what it seems as she eventually shares the room with a cigar-chomping veteran producer who oozes the creep factor.<br />
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Despite her few good qualities, it is abundantly clear from the offset that all is not right with Sarah. Stuck in a dead-end waitressing gig at a mum and pop version of Hooters and living in a no thrills apartment on the outskirts of Hollywood. She looks down on her day-to-day job with scorn while contending with her 70's porn star mustache-sporting boss (Pat Healy) and his occasional leeriness. Meanwhile, her friends, a small contingent of fellow wannabe actors and filmmakers, are a bunch of dead-end no-hopers who only remind her of her failures. She snidely takes a measure of joy at their failures as if it were a reminder that she isn't the lowliest creature in the pack.<br />
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Her only escape from this day-to-day reminder of failure is a bedroom mirror plastered with various images of Hollywood greats as she fancily dreams of her name adorning a marquee someday. Her obsession with stardom eats away at the remaining portions of her humanity. Thus begins her slippery descent into madness as she soon finds herself the subject of a bizarre cult who promises her stardom at the cost of her soul.<br />
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Despite a strong performance from first-timer Alexandra Essoe, unfortunately, the screenplay leaves her with little in the way of an arc as she is mostly emotionally unpenetrable from the get-go. Her obsessive and almost compulsively destructive behaviour shines through in the aftermath of her very first audition where she sinks into a bathroom stall and proceeds to rip clumps of her hair out. Long before her encounters with the occult, she is without question a woman who has already been ravaged and tormented by the fabled promised dreams of tinsel town.<br />
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So when she finally does "let go" and physically transforms into the monster that she always has been on the inside, it's a tad underwhelming if not heavy handed in its symbolism. If not a bit low-rent <i><b>Black Swan</b></i>. Subtlety is far from being the film's high point and its a problem that plagues <i><b>Starry Eyes</b></i> throughout its brisk 90 minute run time.<br />
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Thus, the beats of the screenplay are all too recognisable as the film plays it deck of cards in the most obvious of manner. Eventually, Sarah's inner beast is exposed, and as the movie jumps into its occasionally impressive gory finale, it all winds up feeling as if it is going through the motions. Surprisingly enough, the film works best in its mundane moments of observing Sarah interact with the supporting cast.<br />
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Still, <b><i>Starry Eyes</i></b> is not without its charms. First-time directors Dennis Widmyer and Kevin Kolsch do well to paint Hollywood for being the sun-soaked encapsulation of broken dreams that it truly is. The filmmakers do well creating an overtly oppressive and gloomy mood. They also do well in taking their time to let the story and its characters (namely the supporting cast) breathe. Unlike most horror films, <b><i>Starry Eyes</i></b> has a certain fondness for its characters that can't help but be admired. But the heavy-handed storytelling is a detriment for which the film occasionally fails to overcome.<br />
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<h5 class="font_3 font_5" style="background-color: white; background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: arial, 'ms pゴシック', 'ms pgothic', 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 48px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">★</span>★★</h5>
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<span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(out of Five)<br /></span></span></div>
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<b><i><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2JbO0eIc3jM" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><br />--Daniel M </i></b>danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-27365910768871921352015-02-17T10:08:00.000+11:002015-03-20T00:26:21.372+11:00[Review] Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Have you ever had the unfortunate displeasure of knowing that one person who so desperately tries to be something they aren't? If yes, then have you ever wondered as to what the film equivalent of such typecasts would be? Enter the scrappy low-budget Australian zombie horror-comedy <i><b>Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead</b></i>. While there is no denying that <i><b>Wyrmwood</b></i> has a boundless amount of enthusiasm going for it. That passion, unfortunately, combines itself with zero self-awareness of its resounding crumminess.<br />
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<i><b>Wyrmwood</b></i> lifts elements from both the apocalyptic road movie genre and countless zombie movies in order to combine the two into one rollicking B-movie package. The setup here is decidedly simple. Late one night, the stars mysteriously fall from the sky. The next morning, the world is thrown into chaos as the dead reanimate and attack the living. The plot follows the usual band of misfit heroes.<br />
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Led by Barry (Jay Gallagher); a simple mechanic and family man turned unwilling hero after killing his zombified wife and child. On the road to survival, Barry crosses paths with fellow survivor Benny (Leon Burchil); the sidekick comic relief who provides zero in the way of comedy or relief. Together, the two men travel through the countryside and into the city battling hordes of zombies as Barry searches for his missing sister Brooke (Bianca Bradey).<br />
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Shades of <i><b>Mad Max</b></i>, <i><b>The Evil Dead</b></i>,<i><b> Dawn of the Dead</b></i> and other such classic B-movies echo throughout <i><b>Wyrmwood</b></i>. It's clear as day that the director Kiah Roache Turner has quite the admiration for all things exploitation/ozploitation. But the one thing he doesn't have is a tight screenplay to help stitch it all together and make it work. The screenplay lacks both invention and wit as it moves through the same old tired beats that make up a majority of zombie films.<br />
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The characters are all loosely sketched one-dimensional stereotypes. All of whom go through the same old tired motions that we've seen countless times. Jay Gallagher does an adequate job of playing the stoic one note hero of the piece but is ultimately far from memorable.<br />
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His trusty sidekick Benny fares worse. Benny is meant to be that impulsive reactionary character who blurts out whatever comes to mind. But thanks to the invention of a truly witless script, his dialog is limited to mostly just dropping F-bombs here and there. Meanwhile, a brief supporting performance by Keith Aigus as a fellow survivor serves to bring some likeability to what is otherwise a fairly forgettable band of heroes.<br />
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For the most part, the film doesn't have much to say for itself. The brief theorized explanation for why the zombie apocalypse is happening attempts to tie in some measure of biblical connotation and is welcome, but ultimately goes nowhere as quickly as introduced. Meanwhile, there is also the requisite secret service types who make up the human antagonists. Although to their credit, they are led by a decidedly memorable and campy psychotic doctor. A doctor with a love for listening to disco music while experimenting on human survivors and zombies alike for reasons never truly explained.<br />
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What it all eventually boils down to is not much more than a whole lot of zombie killing. Comparisons to the early works of Peter Jackson have been made elsewhere, but quite frankly those comparisons are little more than hyperbole.<br />
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Ardent gorehounds will be deeply disappointed to find that the film provides little in the way of inventive splatter. Unlike, say <i><b>Braindead</b></i> and its now iconic lawn mower zombie massacre, <i><b>Wyrmwood's</b></i> limited budget offers no such thrills. Heads explode like grapefruit, and that's about it really. For the most part, the effects work is moderately okay but after seeing the umpteenth head explode it quickly grows just as tired as every other facet of this film.<br />
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Meanwhile, Tim Nagle's camerawork does little to help flatter proceedings. His choice of composition has a beyond irritating tendency to favor extreme close-up shots of actor's faces for at least ninety percent of the film. The camera is positioned so uncomfortably close to the actors faces that it might as well enter their nostrils and take us on an <i><b>Enter the Void</b></i> stylized ride through the human body.<br />
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Perhaps it was a conscious choice to either establish claustrophobia or, and most likely, to help camouflage the cheapness of production value, but there is no denying that it's an irritable choice. Featuring a flurry of extreme close-ups, stabilized shots that were occasionally out of focus, and nauseating camera work to vainly compensate for a lack of intensity helps to give <i><b>Wyrmwood</b></i> its decidedly amateur hour flavor.<br />
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Despite <b><i>Wyrmwood's</i></b> aspirations to be a fun rollicking B-movie, it all just comes across as a little desperate. One can't fault the filmmakers for their energy and enthusiasm but ultimately <b><i>Wyrmwood</i></b> is a film that needed to focus less on aping other people's work and focus more on developing its half-baked ideas.<br />
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It's quite clear that the director and screenwriters were aspiring to obtain certain cult classic status, but it would seem that no one has ever bothered to tell them the cardinal rule of a cult classic. Cult classics are not manufactured; rather they are born out of an earnest love shared amongst a rabid group of hardcore fans. Despite <i><b>Wyrmwood's </b></i>grand aspirations to join the ranks of those films it aspires and even lifts from, in reality it's more likely to join the manufactured ranks of something like <i><b>Snakes on a Plane</b></i>. And that's if it is lucky enough to be remembered in the first place.<br />
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<span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(out of Five)</span></span></div>
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<i><b><br /><br /><br />-Daniel M</b></i>danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-22779511805266784052015-02-02T10:09:00.002+11:002015-02-02T10:18:10.576+11:00[Anime] Assassination Classroom -- Quick Look<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i><br /><br />Assassination Classroom</i> </b>has quite the unique premise going for it. In an almost reverse <b><i>Battle Royale</i></b>-like scenario, <b><i>Assassination Classroom</i></b> takes a group of social outcasts and misfits, puts them together into one class and gives them one assignment. They must kill their teacher before the end of the year. The first person to kill their teacher wins 10 billion yen. Sounds bizarre, right?<br />
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But what if I told you the teacher in question was a yellow Octopus-like creature (known as Koro-Sensei) intent on destroying the world unless his students manage to succeed? Still intrigued? Than <i><b>Assassination Classroom</b></i> just might be right up your alley.<br />
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With three episodes already under its belt, the show takes a decidedly comedic approach to its subject matter. The task at hand sounds easy enough, but there is just one minor problem. The creature-teacher can move at Mach-20 speeds. Making it almost impossible for the students (or the military for that matter) to kill him.<br />
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Seemingly episodic in structure, the show centers on each of the students and their feeble attempts to kill their teacher. Koro Sensei is a brash individual. Knowing full well that he is unkillable, his entire scheme almost seems as if devised out of boredom.<br />
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Despite his brash and cocky demeanor, he is not without traces of malice. Given his malevolent end goal of wiping out humanity, in contrast it must be said that Koro Sensei also turns out to be a pretty good teacher. Imparting his wealth of knowledge upon this gaggle of misfits. Koro Sensei's multi-faceted personality allows for the right blend of comedy and darkness.<br />
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As for the misfits themselves, the show seems to be switching its focus between students week to week. Each student has a unique backstory and motivations for wanting the prize money in question.<br />
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By far, the most amusing thing about the show is the paradox presented in Koro Sensei's motivations. In spite the fact that Koro Sensei aims to wipe out humanity, he seemingly takes some measure of affection to this group of misfits by imparting his wealth of knowledge with them. Knowing full well that they aim to kill him in the long-run.<br />
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For instance, take the second episode as Koro Sensei helps one of the boys in the class to become a better baseball pitcher. Never mind the fact that the boy in question had deviated a plan to use a ball to kill his sensei.<br />
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At the heart of it all is Nagisa. A blue-haired protagonist with a keen observing eye recording all of Koro Sensei's flaws in the hope of finding Koro Sensei's weakness. Personality wise, he's a little on the generic side for now. But hopefully he should evolve over the course of the season.<br />
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Despite the gloriously absurd premise fuelling it, it's not without its warts. In the animation department, it's a little on the cheap side. With the exception of Koro Sensei, the character designs are all a bit too generic. With lifeless-static backdrops, the characters look a little too obviously superimposed into their surroundings. Also, despite the tongue-in-cheek premise, there is potentially a chance that it could wear a little thin by the end of its 22 episode run.<br />
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Still, at this point, <i><b>Assassination Classroom</b></i> has enough going for it to warrant a recommendation. It's a fun and quirky little spin on the "dog-eat-dog" survival genre that could prove thoroughly entertaining for its 22 episode run. If you're into light-hearted high school related hi-jinks than <i><b>Assassination Classroom</b></i> is worth a look.<br />
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<i><b>Assassination Classroom</b></i> is now simulcast streaming over at <a href="http://www.animelab.com/" target="_blank"><i>Anime Lab</i></a>. Subbed Only.<br />
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<b><i>--Daniel M</i></b><br />
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danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-68627772922352253082014-12-12T10:37:00.001+11:002014-12-13T22:48:02.591+11:00[Feature] The 20 Best Films of 2014 - (#10 - #1)Greetings and salutations, I hope this Christmas season finds you well. What a crazy year it has been. In the course of one year, I have found myself not only travelling abroad but also studying a second language. It's been pretty hectic if I do say so myself. But, unfortunately, my attention to this blog of mine has fallen by the wayside. I just haven't had the time to write for it. But that doesn't mean I have stopped watching films. Far from it in fact.<br />
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I have seen a ton of films this year. Some good and some downright terrible. Two weeks ago I counted down the Ten Worst Films I had seen in 2014. Now we're counting down the 20 Best Films I've seen this year.<br />
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10.) The Editor</h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"<b>The Editor</b> is an entirely loving lampoon of all things Giallo bought to you by the guys over at Astron-6.</i></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The intentional bad dubbing, the convoluted screenplay, the third rate performances and the overall look of the film are completely spot on in lovingly parodying the genre. If you're a fan of Giallo then, <b>The Editor</b> is entirely for you."</i></span></blockquote>
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09.) Tokyo Tribe<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"And the award for the coolest film of the year goes to <b>Tokyo Tribe</b>. If I had to sum it up in three words, those words would simply be: Hip-Hop Opera. One night in the heart of Tokyo, five distinct underground gangs collide in a heated battle orchestrated by a major Yakuza boss. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Be it the glorious overacting of Riki Takeuchi, the insanely catchy hip-hop beats, the numerous martial arts battles or even just the dazzling and stylish camera work that floats from scene to scene with ease. <b>Tokyo Tribe</b> is never anything less than entertaining. Think <b>The Warriors </b>mashed with Japanese Hip-Hop culture and you have <b>Tokyo Tribe</b> in a nutshell. And it's cool as all hell. <b>Tokyo Tribe</b> is an instant cult classic. <b>Tokyo Tribe</b>, never ever die."</i></span></blockquote>
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08.) The Babadook</h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Ba Ba-Ba Dook! Dook! Dook! Ba Ba-Ba Dook! Dook! Dook! </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>In a year that has been less than flattering for the horror genre aren't we completely thankful for <b>The Babadook</b>? The genre has become so littered with films that rely too entirely on cheap jump scares and found footage gimmicks. So imagine how refreshing it was to see a classically structured horror film that opts to rely on establishing mood through the power of suggestion. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The scares are never spoon fed. Instead, the film relies entirely on that underlying sensation of dread and helplessness. Bolstered by a stand out performance from Essie Davis as a deeply destroyed mother attempting to raise her son under such circumstances, <b>The Babadook</b> is a brilliant horrific fairy tale for the modern age."</i></span></blockquote>
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07.) Boyhood</h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"In the span of three hours, Richard Linklater perfectly captures the very essence of transitioning from childhood to adulthood. Not only is it a truly stunning technical achievement, but it is also a sincere, heartfelt and soulful portrait of one's coming-of-age. Proving once again why Richard Linklater is one of the finest filmmakers working in America today."</i></span></blockquote>
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06.) The Raid 2: Berandal</h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"</i><i>The expectations for the set pieces to surpass those of <b>The Raid</b> were understandably high. <b>The Raid 2</b> surpasses those expectations and then some. Every set piece in this film decimates those of the first film with incredible ease.</i> </span></blockquote>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">From a muddy prison to several people being decimated with the use of a baseball bat and a pair of claw hammers. Or how about a fantastic car chase and the final fight scene that will leave you breathless from its intensity and insanity. <b>The Raid 2</b> has everything an action junkie could ever want."</span></i></blockquote>
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05.) Nightcrawler</h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"<b>Nightcrawler </b>is the type of film that hinges entirely on its lead actor's ability to lull the audience into a false sense of security. Thankfully, Jake Gyllenhaal is perfectly cast in this taut neo-noir thriller. Gyllenhaal embodies the suave bravado of American Psycho's Patrick Bateman. With his slicked back hair and fast talking confident in his words attitude, he is the very definition of a shameless huckster.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Led by a career-best performance from Jake Gyllenhaal, Dan Gilroy's directorial debut <b>Nightcrawler</b> is a wickedly funny and at times downright disturbing social comment aimed entirely at our ever increasingly obsessed media culture. "</i></span></blockquote>
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04.) Snowpiercer</h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Featuring an all-star cast including the likes of Chris Evans, John Hurt, Ed Harris and Tilda Swinton, <b>Snowpiercer</b> is a brilliantly entertaining dystopian epic. By the halfway point, so much has been packed in, and yet it never becomes an over-abundance. <b>Snowpiercer</b> is a film that could theoretically be dissected and discussed over countless essays for years to come.</i></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Director Joon Ho Bong is at the top of his game. <b>Snowpiercer</b> is that rare breed of Sci-Fi Blockbuster. It treats its audience with respect for their intelligence. It also just happens to be one hell of an exhilarating ride from beginning to end."</i></span></blockquote>
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03.) Gone Girl</h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"<b>Gone Girl</b> is exactly what I look for in cinema. A smart, emotionally rattling and all-together gut wrenching cinematic experience. With a hefty runtime of 149 minutes, it never once outwears its welcome. From minute one, it grabs you by the throat and never once loosens its grip. Part murder mystery, part character study, part satire of the mainstream media and part exploitative thriller. But most importantly it is all together brilliant. <b>Gone Girl</b> is nothing short of a true return to form for David Fincher."</i></span></blockquote>
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02.) The Tale of the Princess Kaguya</h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"It may have taken 14 years to get another film from acclaimed director Isao Takahata, but the wait has been entirely worth it. <b>The Tale of the Princess Kaguya</b> is an exceptional piece of work from a truly gifted filmmaker. The minimalist animation technique employed is nothing short of stunning. It looks like an old Japanese Ink wash painting brought to life.</i></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The minimal art style perfectly compliments the folklore tale. If the rumors are true, and this is to be the final film from Isao Takahata, then he is bowing out on an exceptionally high note."</i></span></blockquote>
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01.) Guardians of the Galaxy</h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Man, didn't it feel wonderful to feel like an eight-year-old child again discovering the simple joys of a pure unadulterated popcorn flick? That's the exact feeling that best describes my experience watching <b>Guardians of the Galaxy</b>. <b>Guardians of the Galaxy</b> is an exceptionally well-crafted comedic Sci-Fi romp through the galaxy. </i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Led by the brazenly confident Chris Pratt as Starlord, who has all the charm of a young Han Solo, this ragtag gang of misfits is nothing short of endearing. I smiled, laughed and cheered all the way. </i></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Guardians of the Galaxy</b> left me walking out of the theater completely overblown with joy and a huge smile plastered on my face. Now that's how you make a Summer Blockbuster. </i></span></blockquote>
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<i><b>-Daniel M</b></i>danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-76682015295530958452014-12-09T11:04:00.000+11:002014-12-09T11:06:52.771+11:00[Feature] The 20 Best Films of 2014 - (#20 - #11) Greetings and salutations, I hope this Christmas season finds you well. What a crazy year it has been. In the course of one year, I have found myself not only travelling abroad but also studying a second language. It's been pretty hectic if I do say so myself. But, unfortunately, my attention to this blog of mine has fallen by the wayside. I just haven't had the time to write for it. But that doesn't mean I have stopped watching films. Far from it in fact.<br />
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I have seen a ton of films this year. Some good and some downright terrible. Two weeks ago I counted down the Ten Worst Films I had seen in 2014. Now we're counting down the 20 Best Films I've seen this year. We begin this week by working our way from number 20 through to 11.<br />
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(Sorry for the lack of blurbs. I'm a bit short on time to write out blurbs for this lot. But I will include blurbs with the Top 10 list, guaranteed)<br />
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20.) Locke</h1>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"Ivan Locke, a dedicated family man and successful construction manager, receives a phone call on the eve of the biggest challenge of his career that sets in motion a series of events that threaten his careful cultivated existence."</span></i></blockquote>
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19.) Edge of Tomorrow<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"A military officer is brought into an alien war against an extraterrestrial enemy who can reset the day and know the future. When this officer is enabled with the same power, he teams up with a Special Forces warrior to try and end the war."</span></i></blockquote>
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18.) Blue Ruin</h1>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"A mysterious outsider's quiet life is turned upside down when he returns to his childhood home to carry out an act of vengeance. Proving himself an amateur assassin, he winds up in a brutal fight to protect his estranged family."</span></i></blockquote>
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17.) Big Bad Wolves</h1>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"A series of brutal murders puts the lives of three men on a collision course: The father of the latest victim now out for revenge, a vigilante police detective operating outside the boundaries of law, and the main suspect in the killings - a religious studies teacher arrested and released due to a police blunder."</span></i></blockquote>
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16.) Why Don't You Play In Hell?</h1>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"A renegade film crew becomes embroiled with a yakuza clan feud."</span></i></blockquote>
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15.) Nymphomaniac</h1>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"A man named Seligman finds a fainted wounded woman in an alley and he brings her home. She tells him that her name is Joe and that she is nymphomaniac. Joe tells her life and sexual experiences with hundreds of men since she was a young teenager while Seligman tells about his hobbies, such as fly fishing, reading about Fibonacci numbers or listening to organ music."</span></i></blockquote>
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14.) Jodorowsky's Dune</h1>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"The story of cult film director Alejandro Jodorowsky's ambitious but ultimately doomed film adaptation of the seminal science fiction novel."</span></i></blockquote>
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13.) When Marnie Was There</h1>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"A young girl is sent to the country for health reasons, here she meets an unlikely friend in the form of Marnie, a young girl with flowing blonde hair. As the friendship unravels it is possible that Marnie has closer ties to the protagonist then we might expect."</span></i></blockquote>
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12.) Dawn of the Planet of the Apes</h1>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth's dominant species."</span></i></blockquote>
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11.) The Lego Movie</h1>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"An ordinary Lego construction worker, thought to be the prophesied 'Special', is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil tyrant from gluing the Lego universe into eternal stasis."</span></i></blockquote>
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<i><b>-Daniel M</b></i>danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-87268603139694745902014-12-08T21:24:00.001+11:002014-12-08T21:30:09.957+11:00[Feature] "That's a Wrap for At the Movies" -- Here's to you Margaret and David<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This Tuesday night marks the end of an era as beloved Australian critics Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton as they draw the curtain closed on their weekly film review television program -- At the Movies.<br />
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The show launched in 1986 on SBS and was originally titled 'The Movie Show.' For nearly 30 years the show has followed in the footsteps of the trailblazing American television show 'Siskel and Ebert at the Movies' highlighting two critics reviewing the weekly releases in a conversational format.<br />
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The critics in question were Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton. Over the years, Margaret and David have grown to become two of Australia's most beloved critics. In some ways, they couldn't be more different from one another, but in others they were simpatico. Both were sharing an equal love of all things film related. Margaret usually being the fairer of the two whilst David was far sterner and more critically minded towards the art of film.<br />
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I was first introduced to the show back in 1998 when it originally aired on SBS and for 16 years I have followed it avidly. Following the program when it made its eventual jump to ABC in 2004 and rebranded under the new title 'At the Movies.' The show became a weekly tradition as it offered a vocal platform for all things film related.<br />
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Being the type of guy who actively seeks out lesser-known films, it was wonderful to have a program that offered a springboard for those lesser known films to garner attention at a time when they had less exposure. Sure, times have long since changed and thanks to the advent rise of the Internet it has become easier than ever for lesser known films to find exposure. But the show remained a weekly fixture thanks to the endearing qualities of Margaret and David and their valued opinions.<br />
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On the occasion that they did find themselves at odds ends it always made for amusing viewing. The Lars Von Trier film <i><b>'Dancer in the Dark'</b></i> instantly springs to mind. Where David's zero-star rating infamously punctuated by the statement "that's my favourite horror film" was in direct opposition to Margaret's glowing five-star rating. But even when they did find themselves at opposite end of the spectrums it was still abundantly clear that they held each others opinions in high regard.<br />
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Despite my admiration for the two, there were many times where I would sit on my couch and actively and sometimes verbally disagree with them. Yeah, it feels a bit weird to admit that there were times where I would say out loud to my TV screen "you're wrong" but it happened on so many occasions. But none of that truly matters. Whether you agreed or disagreed with their opinions didn't matter. What mattered was that burning passion which radiated through the camera.<br />
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That burning passion of loving your field of work to such a degree only to be deeply annoyed when it lets you down or praising the high heavens when it gets it right. What mattered was that you felt as if you could have very easily engaged in conversational debate with them and still feel respected no matter the outcome. It's the mark of a true professional film critic.<br />
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But it wasn't just engaging with the weeks new releases that made this show what it was. No, there was also the weekly 'classics' segment where they devoted the closing segment of the show to a personal favourite classic. Through this segment, I was introduced to a number of great films. Great films such as '<i><b>To Be or Not to Be'</b></i>, '<i><b>The Night of the Hunter'</b></i>, '<i><b>Cries and Whispers'</b></i>, '<i><b>The Lady Eve'</b></i>, '<i><b>Cria Curevos'</b></i>, '<i><b>In a Lonely Place'</b></i>, '<i><b>Sunset Boulevard'</b></i> and many, many others over the years.<br />
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And after 16 years its all comes to a close this Tuesday night. The end of a weekly tradition and the end of an era as Margaret and David retire from our screens. I'm not the type who is usually moved by a critic's farewell with exception of the late great Roger Ebert. But I don't mind saying that I will be a little emotionally fragile come this Tuesday night. <br />
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For the past 16 years, Margaret and David have played an important part towards the development of my critical thinking. In recent years, I have had the privilege of attending a few media screenings. I don't mind saying that I was a little star struck on the odd occasion that I would notice either one of them walk into the room. They've inspired me time and time again, and they will continue to inspire long past their final sign off.<br />
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Thanks, Margaret and David for the many, many years you have both provided informative and entertaining reviews. I may not have always agreed with your opinions, but the love of film you both shared could never be denied. As such, you both always had my respect and admiration. It's been a fun ride, and you will both be sadly missed every Tuesday night. Thanks for giving me inspiration in my pursuit of film criticism and thanks for the entertaining and informative show.<br />
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Here's to you Margaret and David.<br />
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<i>If you're like me and you are a fan of the show, then make sure you head over to the <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/" target="_blank">official website</a> and leave a farewell message.</i><br />
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<b><i>-Daniel M</i></b>danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-26529317695850151042014-12-03T07:42:00.001+11:002014-12-13T23:50:54.364+11:00[Feature] Dan's Picks for the Worst Films of 2014Greetings and salutations, I hope this Christmas season finds you well. What a crazy year it has been. In the course of one year, I have found myself not only travelling abroad but also studying a second language. It's been pretty hectic if I do say so myself. But, unfortunately, my attention to this blog of mine has fallen by the wayside. I just haven't had the time to write for it. But that doesn't mean I have stopped watching films. Far from it in fact.<br />
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I have seen a ton of films this year. Some good and some downright terrible. Seeing as we haven't quite reached the cut-off date for the "best of" list then let's start this celebration by naming and shaming the absolute stinkers of 2014. Without further ado, here are ten of the absolute worst films I saw in 2014. Hold onto your butts, it's going to be a screamer.<br />
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10.) FAT PIZZA VS. HOUSOS</h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Full disclosure: I have not seen <b><i>Fat Pizza vs. Housos</i></b>. Nor do I plan to anytime soon. But by taking just one look at the trailer I can very much guarantee that it belongs on this list. I recently wrote out an admittedly too long post recalling my horrible experience of attending the <i><b>Housos vs. Authority</b></i> premiere back in 2012. For those interested, you can read it <a href="http://cinefile861.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/opinion-psa-about-fat-pizza-vs-housos.html" target="_blank">here</a>. The TL: DR version of that post is simply this, Paul Fenech is exploiting the very same audience that he is making fun off. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The man has made a career out of recycling the same old tired stereotypes, scenarios and jokes and laughed in all our faces whilst running to the bank for doing the bare minimum. He is essentially the Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer of Australian cinema. Or to sum it up in five words. Paul Fenech is creatively bankrupt. By principle alone, <i><b>Fat Pizza vs. Housos</b></i> belongs on this list."</span></blockquote>
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9.) A MILLION WAYS TO DIE IN THE WEST</h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"It would seem that Seth McFarlane was attempting to make a modern day <b><i>Blazing Saddles</i></b>. To be perfectly blunt, he failed miserably in his attempt. <i><b>A Million Ways to Die in the West</b></i> is the perfect showcase for all of McFarlane's worst traits. Terribly bloated, unfocused, far too scattershot for its own good and altogether just downright howlingly unfunny. It serves as nothing more than a sharp reminder of McFarlane's own increasing irrelevance."</span></blockquote>
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8.) I, FRANKENSTEIN</h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"From the Producers of <i><b>Underworld</b></i>" ...well that says it all now doesn't it? No, really. Enough said. Mary Shelly would be rolling over in her grave at the thought of what has become of her classic creation, rest her soul. How about this, can we please get a real <i><b>Frankenstein</b></i> movie instead of this sophomoric nonsense? Please? Pretty, please?"</span></blockquote>
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7.) SEX TAPE</h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Marred by an exceedingly dumb premise that is too difficult to buy into, <i><b>Sex Tape</b></i> is the type of film that looks like the cast and crew had more fun making it than I did watching it. As it stands, <i><b>Sex Tape </b></i>is a middling of the road R-Rated comedy that can't decide if it wants to be a racy screwball comedy or a serious dramedy. As is, it doesn't work as either. Despite a couple of odd chuckles here and there, it's ultimately just a forgettable pandering piece of tripe. A real shame too, considering the ensemble of likeable talent in front of and behind the camera."</span></blockquote>
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6.) ANNABELLE</h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Incredibly derivative of almost every horror movie from the past twenty or thirty years, <i><b>Annabelle</b></i> offers nothing new. It's a standard run of the mill haunted house film that we have seen rehashed again and again for the past few years. Littered with the same old predictable jump scares and boring lifeless characters for whom one simply can not give a damn about. <i><b>Annabelle </b></i>goes through all the same old tired motions and provides nothing of interest in return. 12-year-old kids may be scared of this claptrap nonsense; the rest of us not so much."</span></blockquote>
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5.) ROBOCOP</h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Remove the satire, remove the over the top violence, remove any intelligence found in the original Paul Verhoeven film and what remains? A bland, insipid and homogenised PG-13 cookie-cutter Sci-Fi action film that takes itself way too seriously and is ultimately entirely forgettable. If there is one positive to be said about it? It's not the worst remake to come from a Paul Verhoeven film. That honour still belongs to <i><b>Total Recall</b></i>. But still, it doesn't say much that this limp 2014 retelling of <i><b>Robocop </b></i>is closely chomping at its heels."</span></blockquote>
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4.) BAD NEIGHBOURS</h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Let me ask a question. What is the point of a comedy? The answer is quite simple; to make people laugh. So tell me something, why didn't I laugh at <i><b>Bad Neighbours</b></i>? Why did I find Seth Rogen and Zac Efron's antics just downright insufferable? Why was I gritting my teeth? Why was I banging my head against the headrest of my seat? Why was I in complete agony for the 90 minutes that I had to sit through this? It's not that I hate Seth Rogen, in fact, I've liked Seth Rogen in the past and found him amusing at times. So what was it that made <i><b>Bad Neighbours </b></i>so excruciatingly awful to me? I think it simply boils down to the fact that I found these characters to be completely insufferable and idiotic, not in a good way."</span></blockquote>
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3.) OLD BOY</h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>"Oldboy</b></i> was simply not a good fit for Spike Lee to remake. He attempts to recreate numerous iconic scenes, stand out scenes such as the corridor hammer fight, whilst putting a minor spin on them. Unfortunately, it screams of going through the motions in lieu of a paycheck. The lack of grandeur hurts proceedings. Any sense of creeping dread or tension lost in the process. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The mystery never takes off or engages. The final revelatory moments are relegated to a goofy punchline as opposed to a visceral gut-punch. The very ending goes out with a whimper as opposed to a bang. This version of <i><b>Oldboy</b></i> is far too hollow for its own good. Steer clear and check out the superior 2003 Korean film instead."</span></blockquote>
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2.) TRANSCENDENCE</h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Think <i><b>The Lawnmower Man</b></i>, only remove everything entertaining about that film and replace it with a dull, dreary tone that aspires grander thoughts than what it actually offers. <i><b>Transcendence</b></i> is a turgid, lifeless bore of a film that doesn't offer anything insightful about its subject matter because it's so single-mindedly stupid about it. Skip it, at all costs. Just go and re-watch <b><i>The Lawnmower Man</i></b> instead. It's far more entertaining as a whole."</span></blockquote>
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1.) TUSK</h1>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"What the hell happened to Kevin Smith? Ever since the abysmal <i><b>Cop Out</b></i> its all been downhill for Kevin Smith. I didn't think it could get any worse for Kevin Smith, but I couldn't be more wrong. Turns it can get worse, and it got worse in the form of a human walrus. Sadly <i><b>Tusk</b></i> adds up to being its own mangled grotesque monster of a film. Just begging to be put out of its misery. Kind of fitting to some degree."</span></blockquote>
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<b><i>-Daniel M</i></b>danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-72038919918707166492014-11-20T07:28:00.001+11:002014-11-24T11:12:33.207+11:00[Review] Nightcrawler<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Led by a career-best performance from Jake Gyllenhaal, Dan Gilroy's directorial debut <i><b>Nightcrawler</b></i> is a wickedly funny and at times downright disturbing social comment aimed entirely at our ever increasingly obsessed media culture.<br />
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Gyllenhaal plays Lou, a small time petty thief who turns freelance videographer overnight. With the help of his overly gullible and naive assistant Rick (Riz Ahmed), the two men prowl the streets of L.A in the pitch-black of night tracking down and filming one blood-soaked crime scene after another. In turn, Lou sells his graphic eye-witness footage to a local television station's morning news broadcast director Nina (Renee Russo).<br />
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Upon their first meeting, Nina explains to Lou that the type of newscasts best promoted are the kind involving "a woman screaming and running down the street with her throat cut." Give the audience a dose of horror and the rating's shall soar, especially when the victims are usually members of middle-class suburbia. Taking her motivational words to heart, Lou sets out to give Nina and the audience at-home exactly what they desire.<br />
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With the station's ratings in decline, Nina sees Lou's explicit footage as a perfect opportunity for a cheap rating's grab. Together they strike-up a highly questionable partnership as the standard code of moral ethics goes out the window in favor of fear-mongering sensationalism. This lulls the at home audience even further into the cesspool of L.A's gritty underbelly, and more importantly, further into the void of Lou's non-existent moral compass.<br />
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<i><b>Nightcrawler</b></i> is the type of film that hinges entirely on its lead actor's ability to lull the audience into a false sense of security. Thankfully, Jake Gyllenhaal is perfectly cast in this taut neo-noir thriller. Gyllenhaal embodies the suave bravado of <i><b>American Psycho's</b></i> Patrick Bateman. With his slicked back hair and fast talking confident in his words attitude, he is the very definition of a shameless huckster.<br />
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Lou's ability to sell and promote himself to those who will give him the time of day is second to none. Thanks to his brazen confidence, he immediately strikes a personal chord with Nina and before long they find themselves out on a dinner-date. Despite her one rule of "never hooking up with work colleagues", Nina desperately struggles to avoid being seduced by Lou's charming wide-eyed boyish qualities.<br />
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The entire scene plays as a power struggle as both attempt to keep the upper hand on the other. Brilliantly played by both Rene Russo and Jake Gyllenhaal in the process, the scene hits all the right notes by mixing budding sexual tension with darkly tinted comedic touches thrown in here and there. But for as charming as he sells himself to be, it becomes all too abundantly clear that the wide-eyed boyish Lou is far from mentally stable.<br />
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Lou's ability to slither his way into the scene of a crime and get the proverbial 'money-shot' helps to make him all the more conniving and dangerous in the long haul. As Lou trawls through the streets of L.A in his fire-red Dodge Challenger at night, one certainly can't help but be reminded of the Nicholas Winding-Refn film <i><b>Drive</b></i>. Cinematographer Robert Elswit clearly has taken cues of inspiration as he captures the seedier neon-lit nightlife of L.A with a considerately appropriate leery sensibility.<br />
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That leery sensibility is also echoed through Lou's camerawork as he tightly frames close-up shots of the bloodied remains of the freshly deceased with little regard for their departed humanity. His voyeuristic eye shows all the makings of a stone-cold sociopath living out his fantasies vicariously through the lens of a camera. One could say that this is a metaphor for society as a whole. After all, perhaps there is a small part of Lou in all of us?<br />
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The film is essentially a savage indictment on both the audience at-home consuming this product of fear and the media in general for dishing it out. It also contains a bold cynical comment towards the means of manipulation and control as orchestrated by those in the media. A crucial scene plays shortly after Lou has sold the defining tape of his career.<br />
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He observes as Nina directs the news anchors in such a specific manner in terms of what to say and how to react. As the broadcast rolls, it becomes less about an unbiased truth and more about a certain desired narrative. Unfolding right before our eyes, we witness the encapsulated product of fear-mongering at its most base, ready for the masses to consume first thing in the morning.<br />
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<i><b>Nightcrawler</b></i> adds up to being both a delicious satire of our admittedly far-too-obsessed media culture and a thoroughly enjoyable character study focusing on the exploits of one utterly disconnected sociopath in his relentless pursuit to achieve the American dream.<br />
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<span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">★</span><span style="line-height: 1;">★</span><span style="line-height: 1;">★</span><span style="line-height: 1;">★</span></h5>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">(out of five)</span></b></div>
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<i><b>-Daniel M</b></i>danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-65615521843458251482014-11-06T11:19:00.003+11:002015-03-23T11:48:53.537+11:00[Early Review] When Marnie Was There<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><b><br /><br />When Marnie Was There</b></i> is the latest -- and perhaps final -- film from Studio Ghibli. Based on a somewhat beloved children's novel by author Joan G.Robinson, the story tells of an orphaned young girl named Anna.<br />
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In her words, Anna considers herself something of an outsider with no friends to call her own. Her guardians become increasingly worried with their adopted daughter's verging detachment and decide that it might be best for Anna to spend her summer vacation away from home. With her bags packed, Anna boards a train and heads to a small village on the northern shores of Hokkaido where she meets and stays with distant relatives.<br />
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Once there, Anna enjoys her days exploring the quiet seaside town while also going out of her way to avoid contact with the local bratty kids of the village. One day while exploring the sea-side, she spots a grand yet deserted manor on the other side of the bay. As time passes, her fixation with the strange mansion grows. Despite the fact that the house looks abandoned, Anna eventually meets a young pretty blonde girl by the name of Marnie. Marnie is quite enigmatic, to say the least, but none-the-less Anna gravitates to her almost instantaneously as the two strike up a friendship.<br />
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For the most part, <i><b>When Marnie Was There</b></i> is a simple tale of a young girl finding friendship and love through the most unexpected of means. Upon first introduction to Anna, it is all too abundantly clear that she has suffered severe hardship in her past with the untimely death of her parents.<br />
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Uncertain as to where she fits in the world and dubious of whether or not her guardians truly love her as if she were their own, Anna is by all means of the word fractured. Despite her eagerness to remain an outsider, it's clear that even if she would like to connect that Anna struggles to connect with her peers. It's only with the arrival of Marnie that she finds herself truly able to open up. The two are polar-opposites, Anna being reserved and tomboyish in appearance while Marnie is far more boisterous, outgoing and traditionally feminine in attire. As the old saying goes, opposites attract.<br />
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Undeniably, for as attentive and caring as Marnie is towards Anna, it can't be overlooked that Marnie is still a bit strange, and as such there is an undeniable mystique surrounding her presence. Also, worthy of note the house itself inhabits a bit of an eerily calm presence about it as the ghosts of the past stains the interior decor. The mystery involving Marnie further intensifies. Is Marnie really there? Is she just a figment of Anna's dreams? Or is she something else entirely?<br />
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What it all boils down to in the end is something rather poignant and incredibly touching. It is a film solely about the bonds of friendship and how friendship can help the healing process of learning to forgive and love ones self. Refreshingly, there is almost no instance of a love interest for Anna and Marnie to swoon over. Instead, it is simply their tale of innocent friendship that makes up the core heart and soul of the film.<br />
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In the animation department, it's about as beautiful to look at as one might expect from Studio Ghibli. The hand painted backgrounds capture the essence of a small quiet country town to a tee. From the lush waterside backdrop to the quieter and incredibly striking somber moments of a little girl clutching her doll at her parent's wake. It's certainly very well drawn and animated as a whole. It's very rich, vibrant and altogether lovely to look at but perhaps to a slight fault.<br />
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Despite my swooning over the traditional Ghibli style, it doesn't do anything that we haven't already seen from Ghibli. It doesn't have the same immediacy of experimentation going for it that Takahata's <i><b><a href="http://www.cinefile861.blogspot.com.au/2014/06/the-tale-of-princess-kaguya-review.html" target="_blank">The Tale of Princess Kaguya</a></b></i> had nor does it have the grand sense of delivery that Miyazaki's work has had in the past. At its worst, you could simply say that Director Yonebayashi is still yet to develop his trademark style.<br />
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Unlike the last two films to come out of Ghibli, <i><b>When Marnie Was There</b></i> certainly fares a better chance at finding an audience here in the west. While Miyazaki's <i><b><a href="http://www.cinefile861.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/the-wind-rises-review.html" target="_blank">The Wind Rises</a></b></i> was bogged down in political debate that helped divide audiences. Meanwhile, Takahata's <i><b><a href="http://www.cinefile861.blogspot.com.au/2014/06/the-tale-of-princess-kaguya-review.html" target="_blank">Tale of the Princess Kaguya</a></b></i> was perhaps too engrossed in Japanese folklore for a western audience. <i><b>Marnie</b></i>, on the other hand, could very easily play towards the <i><b>Frozen</b></i> crowd. Maybe not to the same scale, but the similar themes of finding love through friendship could very easily make it all the more accessible to a Western Audience.<br />
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While it never quite reaches the levels of Miyazaki or Takahata's output, it's still without question a very sweet and loving tale that certainly fares up there as being one of Ghibli's better works.<br />
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<span style="border: 0px currentColor; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">★★★★</span></h5>
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<span style="border: 0px currentColor; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px currentColor; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(out of Five)</span></span></div>
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<i><b><br /><br /><br />-Daniel M</b></i><br />
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<br />danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-5094535621522141782014-11-03T19:31:00.002+11:002014-11-07T07:28:34.028+11:00[Review] Tusk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Coo coo ca Choo; move over <i><b>Human Centipede</b></i>, a new challenger has arrived in the form of a Human Walrus. Justin Long stars as Wallace; a failed stand-up comedian turned obnoxious podcaster. Together with his on-air partner in crime, Teddy (Hayley Joel Osment), they host a podcast known as "The Not-See Party" (say it fast, get it?). Their shtick is mostly that of taking the piss out of various YouTube celebrities. Their latest target of ridicule being a young boy who filmed himself accidentally cutting off his leg with a Samurai Sword after imitating the "Star Wars kid" video.<br />
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Amused, Wallace heads off to Canada in order to interview the boy for the podcast only to find on arrival that the boy has committed suicide. Disgruntled over losing his story, Wallace then heads to a bar where he discovers a flyer on the men's bathroom wall inviting visitors to hear stories about an elderly gentlemen's seafaring days. Intrigued, Wallace sets off into the pitch black of the night in order to find and meet the old man in question, Howard Howe (Michael Parkes). However, much to Wallace's despair, he finds himself the latest victim of Howard's desire to surgically create a human walrus.<br />
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Meanwhile, back at home, Teddy and Wallace's long-time suffering girlfriend Allison (Genesis Rodrigeuz) grow increasingly concerned as to the whereabouts of Wallace and set about a private investigation in order to find him.<br />
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The admittedly out-there concept of <i><b>Tusk</b></i> was originally birthed from an in-joke on Kevin Smith's very own podcast (SModcast), and quite frankly its where it should have stayed. Let's not beat around the bush here. <b><i>Tusk</i></b> is an abysmal failure in every way imaginable. Not only is it an abysmal failure, but it is also bottom-of-the-barrel Kevin Smith. That's saying something considering his abysmal 2010-film <i><b>Cop Out</b></i>.<br />
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At its most base, <i><b>Tusk</b></i> suffers from one hell of an identity crisis as writer and director Kevin Smith never once manages to figure out what exactly it is he wants to say. There's nothing of interest on offer here. Despite a somewhat decent set-up, once <i><b>Tusk</b></i> passes the 40-minute mark, it suffers from a jarring drop-off from being just mediocre to downright awful. From that point its only purpose is to become progressively more obnoxious, unfunny, disgusting, mean-spirited, and incoherent.<br />
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Does <i><b>Tusk</b></i> aspire to be a straight-up horror film? If so, then Smith utterly fails to establish an appropriate mood or tension as he annoyingly over-lights his set dressing. So is it a horror-comedy? No. Kevin Smith's over-reliance on scripted diatribe winds up feeling far too forced and out of place for such a situation. So it must be a morality tale, right? Yes, well to some degree it tries its damnedest to be.<br />
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The narrative eventually concerns itself with Wallace mourning for his long-lost humanity as Howard goes about his grisly surgery. But the morality tale falls so entirely flat as right from the get-go the audience is denied any reason to care about Wallace. In the course of just over 90-minutes, Justin Long does nothing to win us over. Making his eventual deplorable treatment all the more detached.<br />
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Despite a brilliant yet expected performance by the gleefully sinister Michael Parks, everything else surrounding falls completely short. Just when you think it can't get any worse. Smith then has the gall to treat us to one painfully overlong cameo from Johnny Depp, who shows up as a private detective sporting a thick French-Canadian accent that borders on downright racist. His presence somehow manages to sink the movie even further into the cold dark abyss for which there is no return.<br />
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Simply put, Kevin Smith has neither the temperament, discipline, skill or know-how to make this sort of film, and as such, it painfully shows on-screen. At best, perhaps he was aspiring towards levels of David Cronenberg. Or perhaps he was aspiring to make an enjoyable schlock fest in the mould of Frank Henelotter. Unfortunately for Smith, he ends up nowhere near either end of the measuring stick. And sadly the result of <i><b>Tusk </b></i>adds up to being its own mangled grotesque monster of a film. Just begging to be put out of its misery. Kind of fitting to some degree.<br />
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<span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">★</span></h5>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">(out of five)</span></b></div>
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<i><b><br /><br />- Daniel M</b></i>danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-1902754862877194142014-10-08T12:21:00.000+11:002015-02-25T01:00:57.557+11:00[Retrospective] Grave of the Fireflies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Starting this week here in Australia, <a href="http://studioghibli.com.au/" target="_blank">Madman Entertainment</a> are presenting a showcase gala dedicated to the works of Studio Ghibli. For two weeks only, Australian Ghibli fans will have a chance to see no less than <a href="http://studioghibli.com.au/" target="_blank">four classic Ghibli films on the big screen</a>. Amongst this small selection of classics is Isao Takahata's devastating war film <b><i>Grave of the Fireflies</i></b>.<i> </i><br />
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I think it is of no surprise to anyone that I am a fan of Studio Ghibli. However, there was a time when I had no clue as to who or what Studio Ghibli even was. Most people usually point towards Miyazaki's runaway success story <i><b>Spirited Away</b></i> as being their entry point into Ghibli. However, for myself, it was Isao Takahata's <i><b>Grave of the Fireflies</b></i> that marked my first Ghibli experience.<br />
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Set in Japan during the closing days of World War II, <i><b>Grave of the Fireflies</b></i> tells the story of two children living in the aftermath of the bombing of Kobe. With their mother fallen victim to the air raids Seita and his much younger sister Setsuko find themselves stranded without a home nor a family to rely upon. The brother and sister call upon a distant Aunt, who begrudgingly takes the orphaned pair into her home.<br />
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However, tensions soon arise in the household between Seita and his Aunt. With his pride and ego bruised, Seita makes a hasty decision that it would be best for he and Setsuko to leave the household. Together they seek refuge in an abandoned bomb shelter. With their new makeshift home in place, the brother and sister attempt to make the best of the dire situation. However, time is against them as their food rations steadily run dry.<br />
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When I first saw <i><b>Grave of the Fireflies </b></i>many years back, it left such a profound impact on me. I am in no way ashamed to say that this film moved me to tears. It was the film that would change my outlook towards animation and what animation could be. Before I watched <i><b>Grave of the Fireflies</b></i>, the 16-year-old version of myself would have never thought that an animated film could tackle such a subject as World War II with brutal and devastating honesty. <i><b>Grave of the Fireflies</b></i> proved me wrong in every way possible.<br />
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What continues to fascinate me most about <i><b>Grave of the Fireflies</b></i> to this day is the fact that there are two distinct ways of viewing it. Here in the West, we tend to view it as an Anti-War film. And yet, in Japan, if you were to ask the director Isao Takahata as to what the film represents. Then he would tell you that his intentions were, in fact, not to make a statement of Anti-War. Rather, the film was designed for the purpose of speaking directly to the disaffected youth of Japan during the Eighties. Whom Takahata had felt was a generation that needed to straighten up and show respect towards the suffering endured by their elders.<br />
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Perhaps it is an example of the dissonance between cultures at its most base, but personally I'm still not entirely convinced that the pacifist leanings of Studio Ghibli wasn't a factor considered while making this film.<br />
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For myself, I've always viewed the film as being Anti-War inclined. The central theme of the movie is about how war changes people and how those changes can severely affect the people for whom we most care. The war itself is but a mere backdrop to the film. However, the effects that such conflict brings with it are fully realized throughout the movie.<br />
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The desperation and paranoia of such conflict tend to bring out the worst in humanity as we ultimately lose sight as to what matters in this lifetime of ours. That being our humanity. Empathy towards others becomes but a thing of the past as we struggle for individual survival. As these two children struggle in their desperate plight for survival, they receive very little in the way of help from a society that has the blinders on.<br />
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For Seita, life as he knew it had burnt to the ground before his feet. Being the proud son of a Navy General, the proud nation that he once looked towards for answers has all but forsaken him and his family. We witness this as he reacts in stunned disbelief to the news of Japan's surrender late in the film. It's a further bruise towards his already bruised ego.<br />
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And yet, one can't help but feel nothing but compassion for Seita even with some of his questionable choices. For better or worse, Seita is just a teenage kid. A stubborn teenage kid who is but a mere product of the desperate environment surrounding him. Invoking the obvious metaphor of the fireflies. These two kids are nothing more than fireflies living on borrowed time as the world surrounding them turns its back.<br />
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However, let us not forget that Takahata's original intended viewpoint is also entirely permissible. Considering the film takes place entirely in the form of a flashback as seen through the perspective of the deceased Seita. One could state that the film is nothing more than a deeply personal journal of reconciling one's regret and guilt over the questionable actions that resulted in the untimely death of a family member. Certainly the book for which this film takes its inspiration is based on the true accounts of author Akiyuki Nosaka, who wrote the book as a personal apology to his sister who died during the war.<br />
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Whichever way you choose to view the film is fine as neither viewpoint robs the film of its staying power. <i><b>Grave of the Fireflies </b></i>is by far the darkest of all Ghibli films. When first released in 1988, it played as a double bill with the far lighter in tone Miyazaki film <i><b>My Neighbor Totoro</b></i>. The two films couldn't be more opposed in tone. But in a strange way, it is a compliment that is entirely befitting of Ghibli. That on one hand, they can endear us with a feel-good family film, and on the other, they can also make a film that speaks so profoundly to adults as well.<br />
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<i><b>Grave of the Fireflies </b></i>is a devastating, haunting and strangely uplifting masterpiece. For as dark and oppressive as <i><b>Grave of the Fireflies</b></i> can be, it has to be said that it also shines with an endearing quality as it draws towards its conclusion. Yes, the path put before these two children is one of prolonged misery before inevitably facing eventual death. But the aftermath of watching the brother and sister meet again in the realm of an afterlife surrounded by the haunting glow of deceased fireflies is as comforting as it is ultimately devastating.<br />
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<i><b>-Daniel M</b></i>danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-37012696894189178102014-10-07T12:02:00.002+11:002014-10-07T12:32:19.266+11:00[Review] Gone Girl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><b>Disclaimer: </b>Whilst I have gone out of my way to avoid all major spoilers in this review. There are still certain small details touched upon in this review that may be considered spoiler-ish.</i><br />
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<i>So if you have yet to see the film and still want to walk in blindly then I suggest you turn away right now. Skip to the conclusion. Is <b>Gone Girl </b>worth seeing? Yes, yes it is. Go see it, it's one of the best films I've seen all year thus far, and it gets my full recommendation.</i><br />
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After his all-too disappointing remake of <i><b>The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo</b></i>, David Fincher returns with a vengeance with his new thriller <i><b>Gone Girl</b></i>.<br />
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On the day of his fifth wedding anniversary, small town bar owner Nick (Ben Affleck) returns home to find his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) missing. The front door forced open; the glass coffee table in the living room overturned and smashed, and a smidgen of blood is staining the ceiling walls. Upon arrival at the scene, Detective Rhonda Boney (Kim Dickens) instantly suspects that all is not what it seems, and foul play may be at bay. <br />
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As the days turnover without a trace of Amy's whereabouts discovered, anecdotal shreds of damning evidence against Nick begins to appear. The once thought idyllic marriage between Nick and Amy is not all it seems as evidence of domestic disputes and financial woes surface -- leaving Nick at the heart of what now appears to be a case of murder.<br />
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In all honesty, <i><b>Gone Girl</b></i> is one of those films where the less said about it, then the better the experience. It's a film filled with minute forensic detail. A film that grabs you by the throat and proceeds to take you on one hell of a ride as it twist and turns with pure ferocity. Needless to say, but <i><b>Gone Girl</b></i> is an utterly fantastic return to form for David Fincher.<br />
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At the wicked heart of <i><b>Gone Girl</b></i> is two utterly fantastic lead performances given by Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike as the toxic couple. In many ways, this is the role that Ben Affleck was born to play. Nick is the very definition of hapless schmuck. A charming former writer with a smidgen of celebrity status, unfortunately, terminated from his job thanks to the effects of the global recession.<br />
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Affleck's portrayal of Nick is a man completely detached from reality. When questioned by detectives about his wife's daily habits, he has no answers to give in return. When asked about his wife's close friends or acquaintances, he can give no names. When photographed at a media press-conference about his wife's disappearance, he lets out a smug smile by accident. For someone who has lost the supposed love of his life, his external image is that of not-too-phased. Although in private moments with family members, he confides that internally he is torn to shreds and is just trying to uphold the "nice-guy" image for the public eye.<br />
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Naturally, the hounds of the mainstream media latch onto his detached exterior appearance and automatically decry him as being guilty of the crime. Further complicating matters is the eventual discovery of Amy's personal diary, presenting her perspective towards the downfall of their marriage. This nasty game of he-said-she-said further builds the already spiraling web of intrigue and mystery.<br />
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Both Nick and Amy hold a smidgen of celebrity status and as such there are elements of the film that is clearly satirising the mainstream media and its ability to puppeteer public perception with its blame-game tactics. As the true sordid details begin to unravel, Nick grows more concerned with trying to repair his tarnished status over finding his wife.<br />
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In order to play the role of good-guy for the mainstream media, Nick employs the talents of high-end lawyer Tanner Bolt -- a patron saint of wife-killers -- played rather brilliantly by Tyler Perry. Tanner Bolt understands the fine art of faking sincerity for the media and thus coaches Nick on what and what-not to say in public.<br />
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As for the eventual reveal of the true sordid details of the relationship, think <i><b>The War of the Roses</b></i> turned way up to 11 before taking an appropriately nasty detour by the way of Paul Verhoeven. The third act is quite grizzly and nasty in all the right ways to say the very least.<br />
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<i><b>Gone Girl </b></i>is a film of layers. Just when you think you've got it pegged, Fincher immediately pulls the rug out from underneath you in the most unexpected of fashions. Brilliantly played by everyone involved. Especially Kim Dickens, who seems to be partially channelling Frances McDormand in <i><b>Fargo</b></i>, as the inquisitive small-town detective. And most importantly Rosamund Pike whom just about steals the show from everyone involved.<br />
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Expectedly shot with an abundance of style by Fincher regular Jeff Croenenwerth. It is a film packed with minute forensic detail. Croenenwerth treats every setup as a crime scene best left undisturbed. Every little detail has been obsessively observed, fine-tuned and photographed by Croenenwerth. Backed by an appropriately fitting cold industrial soundtrack by Trent Reznor that is arguably some of the best work from Reznor to date.<br />
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<i><b>Gone Girl </b></i>is exactly what I look for in cinema. A smart, emotionally rattling and all-together gut wrenching cinematic experience. With a hefty runtime of 149 minutes, it never once outwears its welcome. From minute one, it grabs you by the throat and never once loosens its grip. Part murder mystery, part character study, part satire of the mainstream media and part exploitative thriller. But most importantly it is all together brilliant. <i><b>Gone Girl</b></i> is nothing short of a true return to form for David Fincher.<br />
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<span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">★★</span><span style="line-height: 1;">★</span><span style="line-height: 1;">★</span><span style="line-height: 1;">★</span></h5>
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<div style="font-family: Veranda, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">(out of five)</span></b><br />
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<i><b><br /><br />-Daniel M</b></i>danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-56783205114988375022014-10-03T12:44:00.000+10:002015-09-21T17:34:54.965+10:00[Review] The Green Inferno<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After a long absence from the director's chair, Eli Roth finally returns with his much-anticipated new horror film, <i><b>The Green Inferno.</b></i> Best described as a loving ode to the cannibal sub-genre once made notorious by the likes of the great Ruggero Deodato, so much so that it even takes its title from the film-within-the-film as seen in <i><b>Cannibal Holocaust</b></i>.<br />
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In <i><b>The Green Inferno</b></i>, a group of plucky radical college activists head deep into the Amazon in protest of loggers tearing down the rainforest. After somewhat succeeding in their intended mission, they board their rickety small plane and head back towards the mainland. But it all goes wrong as the planes engine malfunctions, and they crash. Leaving them stranded in the heart of uncharted territory. Isolated and stranded in the heart of the unknown, the college students are preyed upon by a neighboring savage tribe. Unfortunately for the students, this tribe just so happens to have a particular taste for human flesh.<br />
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The college students are pretty much what one would expect from this type of movie. Thinly sketched archetypes with no real character to speak off. As a collective group, they are the type of naive passive-aggressive do-gooders who think they have all of the answers to solve the world's many ills but in reality haven't the first clue. Amongst this group is newcomer (and most likable of the bunch), Justine played by Lorenza Izzo. A perky freshman who grows infatuated with the radical group's noble if not questionable intentions.<br />
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After a lengthy and somewhat clunky setup, Roth finally moves the action into the confines of the terrifying unknown. Here Roth displays what it is he does best by creating unbearable moments of squirm worthy tension. As the protest group is dragged kicking and screaming into the tribal grounds, Roth keeps his camera lingering up close and personal on the laughing manic faces of the surrounding tribesmen and women. Allowing for an intense visual aura of claustrophobia.<br />
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Naturally, being a cannibal film, gorehounds should very easily get their fix. Special effects gurus Howard Berger and Gregory Nicotero have teamed once again with Roth to provide the highly detailed gore effects on offer. Eyes gouged out of their sockets; tounges cutout and limbs hacked off. Not to mention there are a couple of truly nasty and uncomfortable moments involving potential genital mutilation to top it all off.<br />
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Although, despite one particularly brutal kill, the gore on offer never quite manages to top itself. Let alone does it ever quite live up to the best of what this sub-genre has offered in its sleazy past. It's abundantly clear that Roth is still looking to get this film in front of a mainstream audience. None the less though, there is more on offer here than what there is in most mainstream efforts. Hopefully providing more than enough to satisfy the most ardent of gorehounds.<br />
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Despite its good qualities, <i><b>The Green Inferno</b></i> is plagued by a screenplay that feels at odds with itself. The most annoying thing about <i><b>The Green Inferno</b></i> is that it can never quite decide what type of movie it wants to be.<br />
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In one instance, it wants to be a loving ode to the likes of <i><b>Cannibal Holocaust</b></i>. Another case, it wants to be a pulp adventure film. It also plays its hand as a serious and unnerving horror film with unrelenting moments of tension throughout. But then it also briefly dips its toes into the sordid pool of 9/11 conspiracy theories for laughs.<br />
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The many tonal shifts are awkward, to say the least. As the film plays its many hands, it all winds up feeling a bit devoid of anything of interest to say. Be it intentional or a downright misfire on Roth's behalf, somewhere buried in amongst the burning pile of human flesh is the shred of his original idea. It's just a shame it never quite comes together in the way it probably should have.<br />
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Still, <i><b>The Green Inferno</b></i> is not without its virtues. It's always nice to see a filmmaker attempt to resurrect the Cannibal sub-genre. The fact that Roth and his crew ventured deep into the heart of the Amazon and shot the film with an uncontacted tribe is noteworthy and goes the extra mile. The film is terrifically shot by Antonio Quercia as he captures both the beauty and unsettling dread of the unknown. And the cannibalistic carnage on offer is satisfying. Also, the native tribesmen and women playing the savages do well to capture that menacing forebode of madness.<br />
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There is a lot to like about <i><b>The Green Inferno</b></i>. But there is also just as much about it that is troublesome. So much so that it just might leave you scratching your head pondering as to what exactly Roth was thinking in the moment?<br />
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<h5 class="font_3 font_5" style="background-color: white; background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: arial, 'ms pゴシック', 'ms pgothic', 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 48px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">★★</span><span style="line-height: 1;">★</span></h5>
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<div style="font-family: Veranda, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;">(out of five)</span></b></div>
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<i><b>-Daniel M</b></i>danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-36025731569378661032014-09-24T16:19:00.000+10:002014-10-09T09:17:02.448+11:00[Review] Hatsune Miku Project Diva [F] 2nd<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There's an old saying. "If it ain't broke then don't fix it." Developers Crypton Media certainly took that saying to heart with <i><b>Hatsune Miku Project Diva [F] 2nd</b></i>. The latest instalment in the popular rhythm vocaloid franchise for Sony's fledgling PlayStation Vita.<br />
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While America and Europe will have to wait until November to get their hands on a translated version, we have ourselves an imported copy of the Japanese release for review. <i><b>Project Diva [F] 2nd</b></i> is pretty much more of the same, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.<br />
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Much like previous instalments in this franchise the core rhythm mechanics remain in-tact. Notes fly in from every direction of the screen with the goal being for the player to hit the Vita's face buttons in conjunction with the on-screen beats. The game offers four different modes of difficulties ranging from Easy to Extreme allowing a somewhat reasonable learning curve.<br />
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Although the biggest change from 2012's <i><b>Project Diva [F]</b></i> is the drastic difficulty spike. By comparison, <i><b>Project Diva [F] </b></i>was far more forgiving to newcomers, whereas <i><b>Project Diva [F] 2nd's</b></i> difficulty spike will most likely leave newcomers alienated. The composition of note layouts for many of the songs are devious to say the least and are far more in line with the notorious difficulty spikes seen in earlier PSP instalments. Experienced Miku fans will cheer at the difficulty spike whilst newcomers will more than likely find themselves overwhelmed.<br />
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The difficulty spike is certainly not helped by the unwelcome return of touch screen enabled Star Notes. Crypton Media has upped the ante by introducing two new variations of these already obnoxious notes. Including the likes of 'Double Scratch' -- where the player has to double swipe the touch screen. Or the equally annoying 'Slide Notes' that also rely on the touch screen. Thankfully Crypton Media has allowed for the optional use of the Vita's dual analog sticks to substitute the touch screen. Allowing for a more efficient means of switching back and forward between control methods.<br />
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If the core rhythm game gets to be too much than players can always retreat to the Diva Room. The somewhat weird Tamagotchi-like side distraction returns yet again. Here you can shower your selected Diva with attention by buying her/him presents, furniture and such with your awarded Diva Points earned from the main game. As always though, it's all a bit pointless and only serves to be an occasionally amusing side distraction from the main game. <br />
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It should go without saying that the track list is still J-Pop influenced. If you're the black-hearted type who has zero, and I mean zero love for infectiously catchy if not terrible J-Pop than turn away right now. This track list will do nothing for you. The track list still consists of that high pitched artificial digitised sound for which this series (and Hatsune Miku herself) became famous for.<br />
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Now, with that said, even for the diehard fans among us the track list is still a tad underwhelming. It is just a "Best Of" Miku compilation as the old outweighs the new. With a track list comprised of 40 songs, only 20 of which are new. The new tracks don't have the same infectious charm as the older songs, an indicative sign of the problem that plagues this franchise as a whole. The creative energy feels a bit tired, and as such it all feels a little too familiar for its own good.<br />
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Despite being a game that is so entirely focused on the rhythm game aspect, Crypton Media managed also to pack in a vibrant anime-inspired visual flavour. Each song accompanied by a lovingly animated music video playing in the background. Each of which tells a story in accordance to the song's lyrics. Despite the importance being on the core rhythm mechanics, the visuals pop with life on the Vita's OLED display.<br />
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With the bump to native resolution, the character models are far less jaggy than they have been previously. The music videos are abundant with charming little moments and details throughout that sometimes it's easy to get sidetracked and find yourself watching the videos instead of button cues.<br />
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While there is nothing inherently wrong with <i><b>Hatsune Miku Project Diva [F] 2nd</b></i>, there also happens to be nothing fresh about it either. Crypton Media have adhered to a well-worn template and outside of a few tweaks here and there its all just a little too familiar for its own good. None the less, the core rhythm game itself is still fantastic with a deep level of nuanced challenge to master. That feeling of nailing the tougher difficulties is still incredibly rewarding.<br />
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<i><b>Hatsune Miku Project Diva [F] 2nd</b></i> fits perfectly at home on the Vita allowing for quick pickup-and-play sessions of score chasing. Even if Crypton Media has done very little to reinvent the wheel, <i><b>Hatsune Miku Project Diva [F] 2nd </b></i>is still a fantastic addition to the Vita's small yet robust library.<br />
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<h5 class="font_3 font_5" style="background-color: white; background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: arial, 'ms pゴシック', 'ms pgothic', 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 48px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">★★</span><span style="line-height: 1;">★</span></h5>
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<div style="font-family: Veranda, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">(out of five)</span></b><br />
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<i><b><br />-Daniel M</b></i>danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-89677148506981801602014-09-17T15:37:00.000+10:002014-11-07T07:31:05.393+11:00[Review] Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dear Michael Bay. As of this date, I am issuing you and your brethren a restraining order to stay away from my childhood. Please, please, please stop tarnishing my beloved childhood memories with your half-assed phoned-in antics. Consider your production company -- Platinum Dunes -- barred from being anywhere near the vicinity of my childhood memories. Thank you and have a kind day.<br />
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Okay, perhaps I'm a tad melodramatic. So i'll put my tendencies for melodrama aside for a moment and give you a fair review. <br />
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In this latest retelling of the turtles origin, Megan Fox takes on the role of plucky TV reporter April O'Neil. She aspires to be taken as a serious journalist yet has been relegated to the role of hosting disposable puff pieces. In the midst of a city-wide crime wave perpetrated by the mysterious foot clan, she just so happens to come across a secret group of vigilantes fighting back. And anyone who knows their Turtles history should connect the dots right about now. With the turtles identities exposed they eventually team up with April to bring an end to the foot clan's reign of terror.<br />
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So it's the same as it always has been. The heroes in a half shell must band together and overcome the adversaries thrown before them in order to stop the evil Shredder and his loyal Foot clan from seeking -- in this case -- world domination.<br />
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If there is one thing to applaud Michael Bay and company for then, it has to be that the turtles themselves remain intact. The four brothers are exactly as one would expect. Leonardo is still a cool, calm and collected defacto leader for the group to look up to. Raphael is still the ultimate rebellious pain in the ass. Donatello is very much the tech wizard and resident geek of the brothers. And last but not least, Michelangelo is still the same lovable surfer goof that he always was. The personalities of the four turtles are still the most endearing element of this film and subsequently the least of its problems.<br />
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Despite their personalities remaining intact, the exterior appearance of the turtles is a little alienating. In that typical Michael Bay fashion, the turtles have been modernized and updated to resemble steroid induced dude bros with facial features that are perhaps a little too human for their own good. It's all just a little too disconcerting. In spite of their increased body mass, the turtles themselves are rendered without weight as they glide through the air performing magnificent feats of wire-fu. It's as if the tech guru's behind such visionary wizardry have never heard of the laws of physics.<br />
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On the other hand, the human characters offer very little. Megan Fox makes for an entirely bland and uninspired April O'Neil. Sure, Megan Fox is quite an appealing woman on the eyes but her performance is so entirely one note that it would seem that she is consistently staring into the void in everlasting pursuit for an actual emotion.<br />
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Even though the new origin story involving the creation of the Turtles includes April as an emotional focal point, Megan Fox simply does not have the emotional range to make it meaningful. On the side, Will Arnett also shows up as a sometimes amusing comic sidekick as April's loyal cameraman. Its Will Arnett being Will Arnett for all intents and purposes.<br />
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The plot is mostly disposable filler. The script is made up entirely of expository dialogue that comes so close to being the equivalent of white-noise. So devoid of originality is this script that even the new origin story is a recognizable blatant rip off of the origin story as previously seen in <i><b>The Amazing Spider-Man</b></i>. Meanwhile, Jonathan Liebesman's direction is pedestrian at best. His style consists of ripping off everyone else's style and adding little of his own. It would be hard to not imagine producer Michael Bay standing over his shoulder and barking his orders of direction as the film has Bay's fingerprints all over it.<br />
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But what about the action you ask? With Michael Bay's involvement than the action must be worth a damn, right? Yes and no. There is one big setpiece involving a chase through snowy terrain that is reasonably well crafted and fun to watch. But it's immediately let down by a finale that evokes memories of the climactic battles from the last three <i><b>Transformers</b></i> movies all rolled into one. It all comes across as B-tier Michael Bay as it tries to replicate a similar cityscape explosive conclusion only with less of a budget backing it.<br />
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At its best, <i><b>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</b></i> manages to be mildly entertaining. Despite my many, many complaints. There are occasional moments of charm scattered throughout that won me over. The elevator moment being one such moment. But at its worst, it's a film that looks as if it were made entirely made by committee. It's a film scrutinized with a fine comb by studio executives, test audiences and fanboys alike.<br />
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Look no further than the poor treatment of William Fichtner's villainous millionaire mogul. Who, at one point, was supposed to assume the role of the Shredder. However, due to internet fan related backlash, Fichtner is merely relegated to a supporting role making way for an even less effective Shredder. Despite the implemented threads, the film has no spine to follow through with any of its proposed changes and ultimately lacks a singular vision.<br />
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One could completely understand that the target audience -- being young children -- will cease to care about such criticisms. It's not that <i><b>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</b></i> is flat out terrible or deserving of the word hate, rather it's just completely and utterly disposable. Kids may enjoy their time with it, but us kids of yesteryear might find ourselves occasionally smiling whilst still glancing at our watches.<br />
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<h5 class="font_3 font_5" style="background-color: white; background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: arial, 'ms pゴシック', 'ms pgothic', 돋움, dotum, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 48px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">★★</span></h5>
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<div style="font-family: Veranda, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">(out of five)</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Veranda, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">
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<iframe align="left" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/1Isp7x-cK4s" width="640"></iframe>danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-79015371462701280832014-08-25T10:07:00.001+10:002014-08-25T10:35:31.879+10:00[News] Welcome to the Jungle with this New NSFW Trailer for The Green Inferno<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a long time coming, but Eli Roth is finally returning to the director's chair. After a long hiatus that saw him playing actor and producer to the works of others, Roth returns and is taking us deep into the Amazon for his next demented slice of hell with <i><b>The Green Inferno</b></i>. His much-anticipated loving ode to the Cannibal sub-genre.<br />
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<i><b>The Green Inferno</b></i> follows a couple of grad school student activists as they venture deep into the heart of the Amazon in order to protest the logging of the rainforest. However, the situation turns grim when their plane crashes and burns. Leaving the unwitting grad students isolated and captured by a dangerous cannibalistic tribe.<br />
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The film was originally set to open in the United States on September 5th. However, it's release date was pulled by the distributors Open Road, leaving the release date in limbo. Here in Australia though, the film is set to premiere at this year's <a href="http://suff.com.au/2014/07/the-green-inferno/" target="_blank">Sydney Underground Film Festival</a>.<br />
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In the meantime, check out the brand new Red Band Trailer below and let us know your thoughts.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/fxOCf6qcPtY" width="640"></iframe>danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-48104690037663690522014-08-18T17:24:00.002+10:002014-11-22T09:15:34.305+11:00[Review] The Inbetweeners 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><b>The Inbetweeners</b></i> started its life as a UK television series concerned with four oversexed teenage boys who were battling through the final tumultuous years of high school. As the title of the show suggests, their social status laid somewhere inbetween the geeks and the cool crowd. They talked about nothing but getting laid...but in the end, they were essentially clueless fools who ended up with egg on their face more often than not. Think a British version of <i><b>American Pie</b></i>, only raunchier and far more obscene if that's even possible.<br />
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After three hugely successful television seasons, the series culminated with a film adaptation, which turned out to be quite a nice little sendoff to these characters. However, that original film became a mammoth box-office hit (in Europe) and inevitably the money men came calling for a sequel.<br />
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Admittedly, based on the completely underwhelming trailer my initial expectations were quite low going into <i><b>The Inbetweeners 2</b></i>, and I say this as a fan. I couldn't help but feel that the formula had maybe reached its used-by date. So colour me surprised to find that there is still a hint of life left after all.<br />
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Picking up a year after graduating high-school, we find our heroes in the throes of that awkward inbetween gap year. Will (Simon Bird) and Simon (Joe Thomas) are attending university and discovering that they remain just as unpopular as they were back in their high school days. While the dim-witted oaf of the group Neil (Blake Harrison) is floating aimlessly as always. Meanwhile, frequent exaggerator Jay (James Buckley) is on a self-proclaimed "mental" gap year in Australia. With not much happening in their social calendars, the three boys -- or young men -- pack their bags and head to Australia to meet up with Jay.<br />
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You know that old saying "with age comes wisdom?" Well apparently not. At least not in the case of our heroes. For better or worse, they're the same filthy-minded yet entirely loveable knuckleheads from the television series.<br />
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Reliable narrator Will is still the same old twat who believes himself to be more sophisticated and mature than those surrounding. Helping to him to land in hot water more often than not. Simon has finally moved on from his long-standing obsession with the girl next door and entered a real relationship. Only problem being that his new gal pal is the girlfriend-from-hell type. Neil is still the same old thick skulled loveable oaf as always. And last but not least, Jay is still regaling his mates with his far-fetched tales of debauchery whilst desperately trying to hide his true sensitive side.<br />
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These characters should be well out of steam by now and yet somehow co-creators Damon Beesly and Iain Morris have managed to squeeze the last remaining juice out of these characters. With little in the way of plot, the film is more concerned with stringing one gross-out gag after another. The guys find themselves travelling across Australia on a mission involving Jay attempting to reconcile with his ex-girlfriend. Along their journey, they encounter the likes of pretentious spoiled rich kids backpacking, a disastrous visit to a water park all before getting stranded in the outback.<br />
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In typical sequel fashion, the gags have been amped right up to eleven. There are at least two or three grand setpieces involving projectile bodily fluid that will either leave you in stitches of laughter or leave you reaching for the nearest vomit bag. But like the TV series, it's not so much the big setpiece gags that standout the most, rather its the little moments of back and forward bantering that steal the show completely. It is safe to say that the guys are at their best in the simpler moments when its just them casually riffing on one another.<br />
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Despite the fact that these guys are now struggling to pass off as a couple of 20-something kids, each of them remains so perfectly in tune with their characters that they almost, almost get away with it one last time. . The shared camaraderie -- or bromance if you might -- is still as strong and as charming as it ever has been. But I believe this is probably the last time they can get away with it.<br />
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Robustly directed by series creators Damon Beesly and Iain Morris. It is a film that would look more at home on television rather than in the cinema. Despite the increased budget afforded to the filmmakers, the film is still entirely rough around the edges. Some jokes land and others miss the mark entirely. Despite the rough edges, the warmth and heart of these characters remain intact and in the end it's not entirely difficult to root for these bumbling idiots, even if they've reached their expiry date.<br />
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<i><b>The Inbetweeners 2</b></i> is aimed entirely at the fans. If you're already a diehard fan of this series, then you will probably enjoy spending (hopefully) one last time with these characters. If you're not a fan, then there is nothing here that will change your mind. Best to move on and let the fanbase have its fun.<br />
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<span style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />★★</span><span style="line-height: 1;">★</span></h5>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>(out of five)</b></span></div>
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<i><b>-Daniel M</b></i>danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3775316550093040867.post-20141617652953007662014-08-13T10:02:00.002+10:002014-08-13T10:10:28.556+10:00[Feature] Five Highlights of Sony's 2014 Gamescom Conference<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Early this Morning in Cologne Germany, Gamescom 2014 kicked off. Both Sony and Microsoft headlined the show with their annual press conferences unveiling what is in the pipeline for their respective consoles. Without further ado, here are my five highlights from this year's Sony Conference.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">5.) Until Dawn: The Teen Horror Game I Always Wanted?</span></u></b></div>
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It's been awhile since we last saw <i><b>Until Dawn</b></i>. What was once a PS3 title designed and built around the PlayStation Move has now been transitioned to the PS4. The PlayStation Move controls are no more and in their place is a more traditional control scheme, as Sony emphasized in the press-conference itself. For years, I've wanted a "Cabin in the Woods" themed survival horror game and judging by this quick glimpse that's exactly what <i><b>Until Dawn</b></i> looks to deliver. Can't wait to see and hear more about this in the near future.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">4.) Volume: An Indie Metal Gear?</span></u></b></div>
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<i><b>Volume</b></i>, the next game from <i><b>Thomas Was Alone</b></i> creator Mike Bithell, certainly does look incredibly striking. What is <i><b>Volume</b></i> you ask? <i><b>Volume</b></i> is an old-school stealth game that takes heavy inspiration from <i><b>Metal Gear Solid 2</b></i>. The game is being touted as a modern retelling of Robin Hood that focuses on a thief named Robert Locksley. Complete with a striking art-style and some cool looking stealth gameplay, here's hoping for another tremendous success for Mike Bithell and his small development team.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>3.) Hellblade: The New Game from Ninja Theory</u></b></span></div>
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Ninja Theory, the talented studio behind such games as <i><b>Heavenly Sword</b></i>, <i><b>Enslaved: Odyssey to the West</b></i> and the recent <i><b>Devil May Cry</b></i> reboot return with a brand new IP titled <i><b>Hellblade</b></i>. At first glance, the distinct art style could have been easily mistaken for being a <i><b>Heavenly Sword</b></i> sequel but don't be fooled, <i><b>Hellblade</b></i> is a brand new IP. But of course, you can't scratch out the possibility of it being a spiritual successor to <i><b>Heavenly Sword</b></i> since not much more is known about the IP at this point. <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><u><br />2.) The Glorious Return of the Cardboard Box in Metal Gear</u></span></b></div>
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It seems a bit weird to get so hyped over something so trivial as a Cardboard Box, but the lack of Cardboard Box in <i><b>Metal Gear Solid Ground Zeroes</b></i> did hurt. The Cardboard Box and <i><b>Metal Gear</b></i> go hand-in-hand. As such, the two elements never have been separated. So when Hideo Kojima hit the stage with this quick snippet of footage highlighting the return of the Cardboard Box, it was just glorious. Not to mention absurdly hilarious given the ways in which you can now use the Cardboard Box to distract enemies.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;"><br />1.) MEGATON: Silent Hills</span></u></b></div>
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Granted this news broke after Sony's conference was all said and done, but still its the definition of a Megaton. During the Sony Conference, we got but a mere snippet of what seemed to be staged reaction shots to a horror-themed game simply known as PT. After the trailer, they mentioned that this interactive teaser was now available on the PSN to download.<br />
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If you couldn't already guess by the spoiler headline above, PT turned out to be a viral tease for a brand new <i><b>Silent Hill</b></i> game. But wait, it gets better. Not only is it a new <i><b>Silent Hill</b></i> game, but its a new <i><b>Silent Hill</b></i> game collaborated upon by Hideo Kojima and Guillermo Del Toro, mind blown. What a fantastic way to reboot a long-dormant franchise.<br />
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So there you have it, my five highlights of Sony's 2014 Gamescom Conference. But what about the lowlights? All I can say is stay tuned.<br />
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<b><i>-Daniel M</i></b>danielma861http://www.blogger.com/profile/04716405861337170398noreply@blogger.com0