Video Game Holiday Shopping?

Just a note guys, Amazon is having a Buy One Get One 50% off sale right now.

Head over to Amazon and get some great games for your kids or your husbands or your wives or your parents!

Hey, you can get a couple for me if you want ;)

Happy Holidays!

Rawr!

Video Game Review: God of War - Ghost of Sparta

Article first published as PSP Review: God of War - Ghost of Sparta on Blogcritics.

Sony's Greek God of Cash is back in action as Kratos returns to the PSP in God of War: Ghost of Sparta. A prequel (and kind of a sequel) that is set between God of War and God of War 2.

This time, Kratos, now the God of War and the titular Ghost of Sparta, is raging (still) against all sorts of mythological enemies in search of his long lost brother, Deimos, whom he believed was dead all these years.

Ghost of Sparta is an origin story where Kratos faces the demons of his past to learn the truth about the fate of his brother. Don't worry, those gods have plenty of tricks up their sleeves and there are a few good surprises in store.

Ghost of Sparta is certainly a God of War game through and through. There's really not much new here outside of some fighting mechanic tweaks, ground attacks and aerial attacks mainly. If you take anything away from this make it this: Ghost of Sparta is a hell of a lot of fun to play.

Having played some of Kratos' earlier adventures, I knew some of Kratos' story going in, but you do learn more here.  Ghost of Sparta delves deeper into his mythology and expands upon the character, giving some more depth beyond the Angry Guy motif he has sported previously.

Still, those looking for any kind of real change here will be disappointed. It's God of War. Period. It's all here though: gorgeous visuals (which I was shocked by considering that this is a hand-held system), fun gameplay, puzzles, blood, sex, blood, gods, blood, and plenty of slicing and dicing. The story itself is rather good as is the story for most of these games.  Initially I sort of pushed this franchise aside as hack/slash popcorn fluff but to be honest, they're quite surprising in terms of story quality and Ghost of Sparta is no exception.

As with the mechanics, gameplay is pretty much in line here with the other titles in the franchise. You get some new powers and weapons like "Thera's Bane" which allows you to ignite the Blades of Athena, but it is still pretty much God of War through and through. No true innovation here just straight up GoW. But to be honest, in this case more of the same is completely okay. A great story, fun gameplay, incredible boss battles, nudity, what else can one ask for?

Despite the lack of innovation, Ghost of Sparta is surely one of the best PSP games available.  It's a lot of fun and a sure fire hit for fans and new comers alike.

It's already won numerous awards from E3 and is sure to rack up more than a few Best of the Year awards as well.

God of War: Ghost of Sparta

Pop Culture Beast Rating:   

10/10

Ellen Debuts a New Michael Jackson Song!

Check out an exclusive debut from Ellen of a new song from Michael Jackson. The song is called "Hollywood Tonight." It'll be on his upcoming album Michael.

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This video will confound you.

I have no idea what the purpose of this video is or how on earth they managed to get so many celebrities. Well, most of them probably didn't have anything better to do.

It might just be the best video ever...

...and it appears to be made for no reason at all.

What do you think?

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2011 Grammy Nominees

Here are the nominees for this years Grammy Awards airing on February13, 2011 on CBS.

I don't think I have seen a list of nominees that feels like begging for people to watch than this.  Katy Perry for Album of the year?  Really?  Glee nominated?  Don't get me wrong I love the show and the songs but a Grammy?  A GRAMMY?  The Oscars of Music? 

It's like the credibility of these awards are swirling the drains.  It is such a transparent grasp for ratings that I'm embarrassed for them.

Here are the nominees:

Song Of The Year:
Ray Montagne- Beg Steal Or Borrow
Cee Lo Green- Forget You
Miranda Lambert- House That Built Me
Eminem Feat. Rihanna- Love The Way You Lie
Lady Antebellum- Need You Now

Best New Artist:
Justin Bieber
Drake
Florence & The Machine
Mumford & Suns
Esperanza Spalding

Album Of The Year:
Arcade Fire- Suburbs
Eminem- Recovery
Lady Antebellum- Need You Now
Lady GaGa- The Fame Monster
Katy Perry- Teenage Dream

Best Female Country Vocal Performance:
Jewel- Satisfy Me
Miranda Lambert- House That Built Me
LeAnn Rimes- Swingin'
Carrie Underwood- Temporary Home
Gretchen Wilson- I'd Love..

Record of The Year:
B.O.B. Feat Bruno Mars- Nothin' On You
Eminem Feat. Rihanna- Love The Way You Lie
Cee Lo Green- Forget You
Jay Z & Alicia Keys- Empire State Of Mind
Lady Antebellum- Need You Now

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
KING OF ANYTHING - Sara Bareilles
HALO (LIVE) - Beyoncé
CHASING PIRATES - Norah Jones
BAD ROMANCE - Lady Gaga
TEENAGE DREAM - Katy Perry

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
HAVEN'T MET YOU YET - Michael Bublé
THIS IS IT - Michael Jackson
WHATAYA WANT FROM ME - Adam Lambert
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE - Bruno Mars
HALF OF MY HEART - John Mayer

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
DON'T STOP BELIEVIN' (REGIONALS VERSION) - Glee Cast
MISERY - Maroon 5
THE ONLY EXCEPTION - Paramore
BABYFATHER - Sade
HEY, SOUL SISTER (LIVE) - Train

Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
AIRPLANES, PART II - B.o.B, Eminem & Hayley Williams
IMAGINE - Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono No 1, Jeff Beck & Oumou Sangare
IF IT WASN'T FOR BAD - Elton John & Leon Russell
TELEPHONE - Lady Gaga & Beyoncé
CALIFORNIA GURLS - Katy Perry & Snoop Dogg

Best Pop Instrumental Performance
FLOW - Laurie Anderson
NESSUN DORMA - Jeff Beck
NO MYSTERY - Stanley Clarke
ORCHESTRAL INTRO - Gorillaz
SLEEPWALK - The Brian Setzer Orchestra

Best Pop Vocal Album
MY WORLD 2.0 - Justin Bieber
I DREAMED A DREAM - Susan Boyle
THE FAME MONSTER - Lady Gaga
BATTLE STUDIES - John Mayer
TEENAGE DREAM - Katy Perry

Best Dance Recording
ROCKET - Goldfrapp
IN FOR THE KILL - La Roux
DANCE IN THE DARK - Lady Gaga
ONLY GIRL (IN THE WORLD) - Rihanna
DANCING ON MY OWN - Robyn

Best Electronic/Dance Album
THESE HOPEFUL MACHINES - BT
FURTHER - The Chemical Brothers
HEAD FIRST - Goldfrapp
BLACK LIGHT - Groove Armada
LA ROUX - La Roux

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
CRAZY LOVE - Michael Bublé
THE GREATEST LOVE SONGS OF ALL TIME - Barry Manilow
LET IT BE ME: MATHIS IN NASHVILLE - Johnny Mathis
FLY ME TO THE MOON…THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK: VOLUME V - Rod Stewart
LOVE IS THE ANSWER - Barbra Streisand

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
RUN BACK TO YOUR SIDE - Eric Clapton
CROSSROADS - John Mayer
HELTER SKELTER - Paul McCartney
SILVER RIDER - Robert Plant
ANGRY WORLD - Neil Young

Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
READY TO START - Arcade Fire
I PUT A SPELL ON YOU - Jeff Beck & Joss Stone
TIGHTEN UP - The Black Keys
RADIOACTIVE - Kings Of Leon
RESISTANCE - Muse

Best Hard Rock Performance
A LOOKING IN VIEW - Alice In Chains
LET ME HEAR YOU SCREAM - Ozzy Osbourne
BLACK RAIN - Soundgarden
BETWEEN THE LINES - Stone Temple Pilots
NEW FANG - Them Crooked Vultures

Best Metal Performance
EL DORADO - Iron Maiden
LET THE GUILT GO - Korn
IN YOUR WORDS - Lamb Of God
SUDDEN DEATH - Megadeth
WORLD PAINTED BLOOD - Slayer

Best Rock Instrumental Performance
HAMMERHEAD - Jeff Beck
BLACK MUD - The Black Keys
DO THE MURRAY - Los Lobos
KUNDALINI BONFIRE - Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds
THE DEATHLESS HORSIE - Dweezil Zappa

Best Rock Song
ANGRY WORLD - Neil Young, songwriter (Neil Young)
LITTLE LION MAN - Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford & Country Winston, songwriters (Mumford & Sons)
RADIOACTIVE - Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill, songwriters (Kings Of Leon)
RESISTANCE - Matthew Bellamy, songwriter (Muse)
TIGHTEN UP - Dan Auerbach & Patrick Carney, songwriters (The Black Keys)

Best Rock Album
EMOTION & COMMOTION - Jeff Beck
THE RESISTANCE - Muse
BACKSPACER - Pearl Jam
MOJO - Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
LE NOISE - Neil Young

Best Alternative Music Album
THE SUBURBS - Arcade Fire
INFINITE ARMS - Band Of Horses
BROTHERS - The Black Keys
BROKEN BELLS - Broken Bells
CONTRA - Vampire Weekend

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
GONE ALREADY - Faith Evans
BITTERSWEET - Fantasia
EVERYTHING TO ME - Monica
TIRED - Kelly Price
HOLDING YOU DOWN (GOING IN CIRCLES) - Jazmine Sullivan

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
SECOND CHANCE - El DeBarge
FINDING MY WAY BACK - Jaheim
WHY WOULD YOU STAY - Kem
WE'RE STILL FRIENDS - (Kirk Whalum &) Musiq Soulchild
THERE GOES MY BABY - Usher

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
LOVE - Chuck Brown, Jill Scott & Marcus Miller
TAKE MY TIME - Chris Brown & Tank
YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND - Ronald Isley & Aretha Franklin
SHINE - John Legend & The Roots
SOLDIER OF LOVE - Sade

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
WHEN A WOMAN LOVES - R. Kelly
HANG ON IN THERE - John Legend & The Roots
YOU'RE SO AMAZING - Calvin Richardson
IN BETWEEN - Ryan Shaw
GO [LIVE] - Betty Wright

Best Urban/Alternative Performance
LITTLE ONE - Bilal
F*** YOU - Cee Lo Green
ORION - Carolyn Malachi
TIGHTROPE - Janelle Monáe & Big Boi
STILL - Eric Roberson

Best R&B Song
BITTERSWEET - Charles Harmon & Claude Kelly, songwriters (Fantasia)
FINDING MY WAY BACK - Ivan "Orthodox" Barias, Curt Chambers, Carvin "Ransum" Haggins, Jaheim Hoagland & Miquel Jontel, songwriters (Jaheim)
SECOND CHANCE - E. Debarge & Mischke, songwriters (El DeBarge)
SHINE - John Stephens, songwriter (John Legend & The Roots)
WHY WOULD YOU STAY - K. Owens, songwriter (Kem)

Best R&B Album
THE LOVE & WAR MASTERPEACE - Raheem DeVaughn
BACK TO ME - Fantasia
ANOTHER ROUND - Jaheim
WAKE UP! - John Legend & The Roots
STILL STANDING - Monica

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
NOTHIN' ON YOU - B.o.B & Bruno Mars
DEUCES - Chris Brown, Tyga & Kevin McCall
LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE - Eminem & Rihanna
EMPIRE STATE OF MIND - Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
WAKE UP! EVERYBODY - John Legend, The Roots, Melanie Fiona & Common

Best Rap Song
EMPIRE STATE OF MIND - Shawn Carter, Angela Hunte, Burt Keyes, Alicia Keys, Jane't "Jnay" Sewell-Ulepic & Alexander Shuckburgh, songwriters (Sylvia Robinson, songwriter) (Jay-Z & Alicia Keys)
LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE - Alexander Grant, Holly Hafferman & Marshall Mathers, songwriters (Eminem & Rihanna)
NOT AFRAID - M. Burnett, J. Evans, Marshall Mathers, L. Resto & M. Samuels, songwriters (Eminem)
NOTHIN' ON YOU - Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars & Bobby Simmons Jr., songwriters (B.o.B & Bruno Mars)
ON TO THE NEXT ONE - Shawn Carter, J. Chaton & K. Dean, songwriters (G. Auge & X. De Rosnay, songwriters) (Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz)

Best Rap Album
THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY RAY - B.o.B
THANK ME LATER - Drake
RECOVERY - Eminem
THE BLUEPRINT 3 - Jay-Z
HOW I GOT OVER - The Roots

Best Contemporary R&B Album
GRAFFITI - Chris Brown
UNTITLED - R. Kelly
TRANSITION - Ryan Leslie
THE ARCHANDROID - Janelle Monáe
RAYMOND V RAYMOND - Usher

Best Rap Solo Performance
OVER - Drake
NOT AFRAID - Eminem
HOW LOW - Ludacris
I'M BACK - T.I.
POWER - Kanye West

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group
SHUTTERBUGG - Big Boi & Cutty
FANCY - Drake, T.I. & Swizz Beatz
ON TO THE NEXT ONE - Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz
MY CHICK BAD - Ludacris & Nicki Minaj
LOSE MY MIND - Young Jeezy & Plies

Best Female Country Vocal Performance
SATISFIED - Jewel
THE HOUSE THAT BUILT ME - Miranda Lambert
SWINGIN' - LeAnn Rimes
TEMPORARY HOME - Carrie Underwood
I'D LOVE TO BE YOUR LAST - Gretchen Wilson

Best Male Country Vocal Performance
MACON - Jamey Johnson
CRYIN' FOR ME (WAYMAN'S SONG) - Toby Keith
TURNING HOME - David Nail
'TIL SUMMER COMES AROUND - Keith Urban
GETTIN' YOU HOME - Chris Young

Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
FREE - Zac Brown Band
ELIZABETH - Dailey & Vincent
NEED YOU NOW - Lady Antebellum
LITTLE WHITE CHURCH - Little Big Town
WHERE RAINBOWS NEVER DIE - The SteelDrivers

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals
BAD ANGEL - Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert & Jamey Johnson
PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE) - Dierks Bentley, Del McCoury & The Punch Brothers
AS SHE'S WALKING AWAY - Zac Brown Band & Alan Jackson
HILLBILLY BONE - Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins
I RUN TO YOU - Marty Stuart & Connie Smith

Best County Instrumental Performance
TATTOO OF A SMUDGE - Cherryholmes
MAGIC #9 - The Infamous Stringdusters
NEW CHANCE BLUES - Punch Brothers
WILLOW CREEK - Darrell Scott
HUMMINGBYRD - Marty Stuart

For the complete list visit, grammys.com

Source

Rawr!

Short Film Review: One Day Seminar

I always enjoy reviewing and seeing short films. It feels like a glimpse into the future at the next class of Hollywood writer/directors. Feels like I'm getting in on the ground floor. I have seen some really great films in my time running this site and One Day Seminar is no exception.

It's not a technical achievement and it suffers from that video picture quality and a bit of stilted acting but this does nothing to hinder its charm and its heart.  Not too mention its laughs.  It's The Office or Office Space in the world of Management Seminars featuring a vastly under-qualified speaker doing his best to talk about something he clearly has no idea about.  It's a funny concept and a world we don't often see much off and writer/director Martin Binder lampoons it well.

For me, short films are more about the directing and the writing than about actual performances.  Sure they can be great, as is the case of One-Day Seminar lead actor Tommy Murray who does a wonderful job, but I find the performances are almost secondary to showing off the prowess of the director or writer.

Here we have a really well written and directed short that leaves one looking forward to what Martin Binder has up his sleeve.

Aside from the grainy picture, One-Day Seminar is a fun way to spend 20 minutes.  I'd say to definitely give it a watch.  You can see it online at IMDB!

One-Day Seminar

Written and Directed by Martin Binder

Pop Culture Beast rating:  

7/10

Thanks to Martin Binder for sending this over and I must apologize that it took me so long to review this!  Next time, which I hope will be his horror short Quick Shop, it will be top of the list!

For more information on Martin Binder and One-Day Seminar, including trailers, visit MoviesByMartin.com

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