Posts
My review fo the Castle Defense (but don't let that scare you away) game, Zombie Smash.
Rating 5 out 5 stars.
Rawr!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
ZombieSmash App Review for iPhone/iPod/iPad
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Top 6 FREE Games of the Day for iPhone/iPod/iPad
My picks for Best FREE Games of the Day for your iDevices
Tap the Frog - http://bit.ly/fj36q4
Dalton the Awesome - http://bit.ly/j7FIU8
Monsterz Revenge - http://bit.ly/kuPDZE
Smoody - http://bit.ly/ipSERS
Zombie Ninja - http://bit.ly/iv2V0n
Runaway UFO - http://bit.ly/iumVzd
Bonus Game
Legendary Wars (Castle Defender) - http://bit.ly/l7tUMT
Rawr!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Pat's Movie Review: "THOR"
The big blockbuster summer movie season begins today and one word should be on everyone's mind ... "THOR!"
Marvel Pictures has had their ups and downs bringing their comic book heroes to the big screen. For every "Iron Man" there's a "Ghost Rider," for every "Spider-Man 1 & 2" there's a "Fantastic Four 1 & 2." For Marvel, the movies are either great or absolute garbage. Thankfully "THOR" can take it's place right at the top of the heap.
As a kid and comic book fan, Thor was never on my radar because it just seemed corny. So, when I read that Thor was being made into a motion picture, I really didn't care. I figured that they would never be able to cast the part and it would probably go to a professional wrestler who couldn't act and become a mess like "Punisher: War Zone." My opinion changed once I started to read the talent that was uniting behind the camera: Kenneth Branagh and Anthony Hopkins! When it was finally revealed that Chris Hemsworth was attached (so great in the Star Trek reboot as James T. Kirk's heroic father) I started to get excited. Once Marvel revealed the first photo of Hemsworth in full Thor regalia & I was hooked.
Casting has never been more important in a superhero movie. There is no mask to hide the hero's face or a pair of horn-rimmed glasses to create an alter-ego. In this first installment all you get is Thor. Fortunately, whether he is in Asgard speaking to kings and warriors, or on Earth speaking to mere mortals, Chris Hemsworth IS The Mighty Thor from start to finish.
Helmets off to director Kenneth Branagh and screenwriters Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz and Don Payne. The screenwriters have achieved the perfect balance between the mythical world of Asgard and planet Earth while Branagh steps into new territory with his first comic book movie, doing a perfect job of keeping the acting and action at a high level without losing momentum.
"THOR" is filled with science fiction, action, super-heroics and humor. Natalie Portman will never be nominated for an "Academy Award" for her portrayal of Jane Foster, yet she is world's better here than she was in "Black Swan." The supporting cast is perfect too: Tom Hiddleston as Thor's brother Loki and Colm Feore as King Laufey are just the right one-two punch of evil.
My final accolade goes to Marvel Studios and Paramount Pictures because they have finally made a movie trailer that didn't show all of the movies cards. By playing it close to the vest they have allowed the audience to be surprised during every frame of the movie. A movie trailer does not need to have "3-act structure" it should only get the audience curious and excited. Example: The trailer for "Green Lantern" is great but makes me feel like I have already seen the movie.
With that, Gods and Mortals, I bestow upon you my final declaration...
Drumroll please...8 out of 10 Hammers!!!
Rawr!
, arrives on June 14.Thursday, May 5, 2011
Garon's Movie Review: Thor
Written by: Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz and Don Payne. Story by: J. Michael Straczynski and Mark Protosevich. Based on characters created by: Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby
Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Stellan Skarsgård, Kat Dennings, Clark Gregg, Idris Elba , Colm Feore, Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano, Josh Dallas, Jaimie Alexander, and Rene Russo
The God of Thunder finally graces the the big screen, at least since Adventures In Babysitting
, and contrary to my expectations, it's pretty good!To be honest, I thought a Thor solo film would be a disaster. I just thought his Norse mythology would prove to heavy for American audiences to digest. Well, I'm happy to say I was wrong.
For this movie to be successful, Thor must be perfectly cast and I'm happy to say that Chris Hemsworth is perfectly cast. He does a great job and brings Thor to life better than I would have thought possible. Equal parts cocky and charming, his Thor is spot on.
Natalie Portman is pretty good as well here. She doesn't have all that much to do to be honest but she's cute and quirky so it doesn't much matter. I will say that Kat Dennings is a bit of a scene stealer as the comic relief but again, there wasn't much of her.
Anthony Hopkins turns in a great performance as Odin. He really pulls off the multi-layered role of King and Father quite well. I'm not sure anyone else would be any better for this role because he knocked it out of the park.
I have to say that I loved Tom Hiddelston's Loki. I can't wait to see him in other films. He is supposedly signed for three other Marvel titles.
As for Rene Russo, I have no idea why she is even there. She has about four lines.
The rest of the cast does great as well, even if people seem to not like some of the characters. I'll let you form your own opinion on The Warrior's Three. Personally, I think the writer had no idea what to do with them.
The story finds Thor stripped of his powers and exiled to Earth after defying Odin's orders and essentially reigniting a war. He has to learn valuable life lessons in order to become worthy of wielding Mjolnir (his magic hammer) again.
I won't say anything else for fear of spoiling.
I'll say that things seem to move pretty fast and it does feel like there were a lot of things cut out. No doubt victims of test screenings. These chops are noticeable but don't really take much away from the film itself. I found myself thinking, "oh it feels like something was supposed to happen there, " just for a moment before slipping back into the world again.
Here comes my soap box moment: DO NOT SEE THIS MOVIE IN 3D. It is unnecessary and only continues the tradition of lousy conversions. The picture was much darker and at times felt slightly curved. It does nothing to enhance the film and again is a big fat waste of money. Plus I left with my eyes hurting. Seriously, no 3D. I beg you.
The visuals of Asgard are spectacular and the 3D does nothing but dim them. It's sad really. I don't understand why this has not gone away yet. It's frustrating to say the least.
In the end, while Thor
is not a perfect movie, it's a fun one that turned out better than I could ever have imagined. It's a great look into the mythology of the character and his world. It moves fast and it might feel a bit pat over all in terms of "learning his lesson" but at the end of the day it's pretty awesome to see Thor beating the holy hell out of things with that hammer.Thor
opens May 6! That's tomorrow!Also, be sure to stay through the credits.
Pop Culture Beast Rating
7/10
Rawr!
Star Wars Blu-ray Details!
I really dig the artwork on these. They look great.
No original versions unfortunately. Guess you better grab those DVDs while you can.
Here are the details:
Bring home the adventure and share Star Wars™ with your whole family – when STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA comes to Blu-ray Disc from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment! To be released beginning on September 12 internationally and on September 16 in North America, the nine-disc collection brings the wonder of the entire Saga direct to your living room, where you can revisit all of your favorite Star Wars moments – in gorgeous high definition and with pristine, 6.1 DTS Surround Sound. Dive deeper into the universe with an unprecedented 40+ hours of special features, highlighted by never-before-seen content sourced from the Lucasfilm archives.
Special Features:
STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA ON BLU-RAY is presented in widescreen with 6.1 DTS Surround Sound. Special features include:
DISC ONE – STAR WARS: EPISODE I THE PHANTOM MENACE
Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Ben Burtt, Rob Coleman, John Knoll, Dennis Muren and Scott Squires
Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew
DISC TWO – STAR WARS: EPISODE II ATTACK OF THE CLONES
Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Ben Burtt, Rob Coleman, Pablo Helman, John Knoll and Ben Snow
Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew
DISC THREE – STAR WARS: EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH
Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Rob Coleman, John Knoll and Roger Guyett
Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew
DISC FOUR – STAR WARS: EPISODE IV A NEW HOPE
Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew
DISC FIVE – STAR WARS: EPISODE V THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew
DISC SIX – STAR WARS: EPISODE VI RETURN OF THE JEDI
Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew
DISC SEVEN – NEW! STAR WARS ARCHIVES: EPISODES I-III
Including: deleted, extended and alternate scenes; prop, maquette and costume turnarounds; matte paintings and concept art; supplementary interviews with cast and crew; a flythrough of the Lucasfilm Archives and more
DISC EIGHT – NEW! STAR WARS ARCHIVES: EPISODES IV-VI
Including: deleted, extended and alternate scenes; prop, maquette and costume turnarounds; matte paintings and concept art; supplementary interviews with cast and crew; and more
DISC NINE – THE STAR WARS DOCUMENTARIES
NEW! Star Warriors (2007, Color, Apx. 84 Minutes) – Some Star Wars fans want to collect action figures...these fans want to be action figures! A tribute to the 501st Legion, a global organization of Star Wars costume enthusiasts, this insightful documentary shows how the super-fan club promotes interest in the films through charity and volunteer work at fundraisers and high-profile special events around the world.
NEW! A Conversation with the Masters: The Empire Strikes Back 30 Years Later (2010, Color, Apx. 25 Minutes) – George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Lawrence Kasdan and John Williams look back on the making of The Empire Strikes Back in this in-depth retrospective from Lucasfilm created to help commemorate the 30th anniversary of the movie. The masters discuss and reminisce about one of the most beloved films of all time.
NEW! Star Wars Spoofs (2011, Color, Apx. 91 Minutes) – The farce is strong with this one! Enjoy a hilarious collection of Star Wars spoofs and parodies that have been created over the years, including outrageous clips from Family Guy, The Simpsons, How I Met Your Mother and more — and don’t miss “Weird Al” Yankovic’s one-of-a-kind music video tribute to The Phantom Menace!
The Making of Star Wars (1977, Color, Apx. 49 Minutes) – Learn the incredible behind-the-scenes story of how the original Star Wars movie was brought to the big screen in this fascinating documentary hosted by C-3PO and R2-D2. Includes interviews with George Lucas and appearances by Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher.
The Empire Strikes Back: SPFX (1980, Color, Apx. 48 Minutes) – Learn the secrets of making movies in a galaxy far, far away. Hosted by Mark Hamill, this revealing documentary offers behind-the-scenes glimpses into the amazing special effects that transformed George Lucas’ vision for Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back into reality!
Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi (1983, Color, Apx. 48 Minutes) – Go behind the scenes — and into the costumes — as production footage from Return of the Jedi is interspersed with vintage monster movie clips in this in-depth exploration of the painstaking techniques utilized by George Lucas to create the classic creatures and characters seen in the film. Hosted and narrated by Carrie Fisher and Billie Dee Williams.
Anatomy of a Dewback (1997, Color, Apx. 26 Minutes) – See how some of the special effects in Star Wars became even more special two decades later! George Lucas explains and demonstrates how his team transformed the original dewback creatures from immovable rubber puppets (in the original 1977 release) to seemingly living, breathing creatures for the Star Wars 1997 Special Edition update.
Star Wars Tech (2007, Color, Apx. 46 Minutes) – Exploring the technical aspects of Star Wars vehicles, weapons and gadgetry, Star Wars Tech consults leading scientists in the fields of physics, prosthetics, lasers, engineering and astronomy to examine the plausibility of Star Wars technology based on science as we know it today.
The Star Wars Blu-ray sets arrive in stores on September 16!
Rawr!
Piclings App Review for iPhone/iPod/iPad
Turn you pictures into a level you can play in this terrific new platform game. You can take any existing picture or click a pic with you camera and you have a new level you can play. You can also edit the levels by adding and removing lines.
Rating: 4 out 5 stars
Download this level I designed:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5222/5690092316_26ac7837ec_b_d.jpg
 |
| Platform 57 by Jojopet - Play this Level I Designed |
If you want to submit a level, e-mail it to me at jojopet@yahoo.com
Rawr!
Top 5 FREE Games of the Day for iPhone/iPod/iPad
My picks for Best FREE Games of the Day. Enjoy.
**Imaginary Range - http://bit.ly/lWtYr5
Office Jerk - http://bit.ly/m9Sp0i
Frisbee Forever - http://bit.ly/msEsPx
Robot Zombie - http://bit.ly/lyd9Cd
Skateboard Ninja - http://bit.ly/lIZ8gN
BONUS Game:
FREE Running - http://bit.ly/lruiU4
Rawr!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Music Video: Eddie Vedder - Longing To Belong
The ukulele is an oft misunderstood instrument. A lot of people seem consider it a toy for kids to fool around with. It seems as of late, it's getting new life in a wonderful way with Amanda Palmer
The first single is Longing To Belong and I quite enjoy it. I can't wait to hear more from the album.
Eddie Vedder's Ukulele Songs
Rawr!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Music Review: Roy Orbison ~ "The Monument Singles Collection"
Sony/Legacy Recordings has just released "The Monument Singles Collection" a 2 CD/1 DVD set of Roy Orbison's career defining recordings.
As a "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" inductee and an influential singer-songwriter, Roy Orbison was never as cool as Elvis and The Beatles or as dangerous as Johnny Cash or The Rolling Stones. He didn't have to be. His distinctive voice and haunting delivery was all he needed to thrust him into the musical spotlight.
With 10 top-10 hits spanning 29 years, Roy Orbison has influenced everyone from Bruce Springsteen to k.d. lang and even Van Halen (who themselves had a huge hit with a cover of Roy's "(Oh) Pretty Woman" nearly 20 years after the original hit #1).
"The Monument Singles Collection" focuses on Roy's most famous and and best loved songs that recorded for the Monument Records label from 1960 - 1964. All the classics from "Only The Lonely," "Crying," "Dream Baby" and the aforementioned "(Oh) Pretty Woman" are here plus 35 more! The set also includes a DVD which features a classic concert from 1965.
As a side note… wake up Hollywood because the Roy Orbison story needs to be told on the big screen! His life was every bit as rich as Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Charles, Loretta Lynn or Buddy Holly. Filled with with ups, downs, tragedy and 32 years after his first recording… a late 1980's comeback!! On a personal note … I would love to see who they cast to play Tom Petty, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Bob Dylan during the "Traveling Wilbury" years!
Now, are all the songs on this 39-track collection winners? No, they are not. But, if you don't own anything by "The Big O" then this is the perfect career retrospective to sink your ears into. And if you are an Orbison fan you'll love hearing these classics in all their remastered mono glory!
Drumroll please… 8 out of 10 drumsticks!
Rawr!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Music Review: Paul Simon ~ "So Beautiful or So What"
To have a career in music in the year 2011 is not an easy thing to do. No one buys records or CDs anymore and iTunes has been the best and worst thing to ever happen to music. Yet, all of these changes haven't slowed Paul Simon down one bit.
Simon is a bonafide musical legend; a recording artist who has been making records for almost 50 years. During his long career, first as part of the duo Simon and Garfunkel and then as a solo artist, Simon has been less concerned with writing hit songs and more concerned with challenging himself to put together a cohesive group of songs to form an album.
It is this attention to making "albums" instead of songs that has awarded Simon the Grammy Award for "Album of the Year" three times in his career. First, in 1970 for Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," then again in 1975 for his solo album "Still Crazy After All These Years," and in 1986 for his ground-breaking album "Graceland."
So, here we are 25 years since "Graceland" was released and once again Paul Simon has delivered a masterpiece with his newest release "So Beautiful or So What." That's not to say that Simon hasn't made some great music since then. His 2 CDs from the past decade, 2000's "You're The One" and 2006's "Surprise" are excellent.
But what makes "So Beautiful or So What" stand-out from the previous two releases seems to be Simon's focus on getting 10 songs that just fit together perfectly. From the first note of "Getting Ready For Christmas Day" to the last track "So Beautiful or So What" this is just a pure listening experience -- and without a doubt one of the best albums Simon has ever recorded.
While other artists seem to slow down in their twilight years, Simon is not content to just strap on a guitar and play and sing. Instead, he continues to explore and experiment with different textures and sounds. I have been playing this CD non-stop for over two weeks and I hear something new every time. That this CD gets better with every listen is a testament to Simon and his love of making music for his audience ... but more importantly for himself.
When Grammy time rolls around don't be surprised if "So Beautiful or So What" is not only a contender for album of the year but a winner too.
Drumroll please… 10 out of 10 drumsticks!
Rawr!
Top 6 FREE Games of the Day for iPhone/iPod/iPad
My picks for Best FREE Games of the Day for your iDevice. Enjoy.
World Race - http://bit.ly/mTidMc
Asteroid Dust - http://bit.ly/kcCtn7
Caper - http://bit.ly/iZwihs
City of Secrets - http://bit.ly/iLnMZp
Crazy Bastketball - http://bit.ly/k4Qb1I
CF Defense - http://bit.ly/izIiVn
Rawr!
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