Friday, June 28, 2019
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Game Addictions
A while ago, the World Health Organization declared gaming addiction as a disease. I would say it's somewhat true. I look at a few parts of the world where it's a lot more prevalent, but it is a worldwide thing. The worst of it comes from the Asian region. Numerous stories over the years of people dying from playing so long in gaming cafes has become a very common thing. I can't imagine someone doing something like that all the time. I wouldn't mind doing an all nighter once in a blue moon, but there are other things I like to do.
It can also bring out the worst in some people. The consumption of gaming can derail a lot of things in a person's life that they are alone with no one to support them. They don't respond to family or shun them away. Their friends stop caring. Maybe some outbursts that make them look like vicious fans. Comes off very deranged if you want my take. Depends on the person. Some can function even as huge fans, but it all comes down to the length of consumption.
This is something gamers have to accept. Even if it may not seem that way in a specific country, other places will have that problem a lot more. I think there needs to be more awareness about this. To curb the addictions and to reach a healthy level of gaming.
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Men in Black International Review
The original Men in Black is one of my favorite comic book films. It's funny, it's got a decent plot, decent characters. My thoughts on the sequels are that they are not as good, with the third one being the better one. International is roughly on par with the third. It's not horrible, but not great by any means.
New characters, new locations. It's nice to see more than New York City. It focuses on Molly Wright, whose family had an experience with the MIB when she was a kid. She is focused on aliens and wants to join. Ultimately, she does and goes to London for an assignment, but finds herself dealing with hero Agent H, and the head honcho, High T. However, discoveries of a new weapon to annihilate the galaxy prompt the organization to find the culprit before it gets to that point.
Tessa Thompson is no Will Smith, but she holds her own. There is a bit of sass to her, but as Agent M, she is very committed to the character and makes her a bad ass at times and a cool person whenever is necessary. Chris Hemsworth seems kind of phoned in a little bit. I get they make H a little laid back and a bit of a trouble maker, but there was points where I felt like he wasn't trying to act. High T, played by Liam Neeson, is a developed character and it seems like the perfect role for Neeson. I would say it was one of his better performances. A straight arrow character that doesn't mess around with incidents and fights. As far as other performances, alien Pawny played by Kumail Nanijiani provided a few decent laughs. Some of the bad guys did well and the organization played the part seriously effectively.
With the focus on aliens, I don't feel there has been much change since the original. But on one hand, the CG is not overused and looks very real if aliens existed in our word. Nice for a budget of 110 million, showing you don't need a 200 million dollar budget like Marvel movies. Some of the effects felt very Terminator 2 like. I don't have much else to say. The technological mumbo jumbo will more than likely lose a few people's interests. It could have been trimmed about five, ten minutes shorter. I like that there is music throughout it and stays in tune with the tone of the trilogy. Very nice that there is no romantic angles. I wouldn't strongly suggest seeing it, but if you are desperate, try and see it before they pull it out of theaters. Not horrible, but not too great.
Score: 6.5 out of 10
New characters, new locations. It's nice to see more than New York City. It focuses on Molly Wright, whose family had an experience with the MIB when she was a kid. She is focused on aliens and wants to join. Ultimately, she does and goes to London for an assignment, but finds herself dealing with hero Agent H, and the head honcho, High T. However, discoveries of a new weapon to annihilate the galaxy prompt the organization to find the culprit before it gets to that point.
Tessa Thompson is no Will Smith, but she holds her own. There is a bit of sass to her, but as Agent M, she is very committed to the character and makes her a bad ass at times and a cool person whenever is necessary. Chris Hemsworth seems kind of phoned in a little bit. I get they make H a little laid back and a bit of a trouble maker, but there was points where I felt like he wasn't trying to act. High T, played by Liam Neeson, is a developed character and it seems like the perfect role for Neeson. I would say it was one of his better performances. A straight arrow character that doesn't mess around with incidents and fights. As far as other performances, alien Pawny played by Kumail Nanijiani provided a few decent laughs. Some of the bad guys did well and the organization played the part seriously effectively.
With the focus on aliens, I don't feel there has been much change since the original. But on one hand, the CG is not overused and looks very real if aliens existed in our word. Nice for a budget of 110 million, showing you don't need a 200 million dollar budget like Marvel movies. Some of the effects felt very Terminator 2 like. I don't have much else to say. The technological mumbo jumbo will more than likely lose a few people's interests. It could have been trimmed about five, ten minutes shorter. I like that there is music throughout it and stays in tune with the tone of the trilogy. Very nice that there is no romantic angles. I wouldn't strongly suggest seeing it, but if you are desperate, try and see it before they pull it out of theaters. Not horrible, but not too great.
Score: 6.5 out of 10
Monday, June 24, 2019
Hyperkin 64: Could It?
I've had this soak into my head the possibility of this system. Obviously the other Hyperkin products were for other cartridge based systems. It seems very logical to go the Nintendo 64 route and probably be one of the very last projects to tackle. But I do think there will be problems. It ties into the whole fifth generation of gaming.
Outside of PlayStation, that generation has its struggles with emulation. No one dabbles with the 3DO and Atari Jaguar due to a lack of interest. The Saturn has had many leaps. Still some struggles because of the complicated hardware, but the progress has been large in improvement the last 10 to 15 years. The last time I was into N64 emulation was about four years ago around this time. And personally, it had progress but still a lot of problems.
A lot of it is either big frame rate issues or it's a graphical glitchfest. I know sports games aren't coveted by hardcore gamers, but a lot of them suffer from one of the two. It's a shame that they don't get the same treatment like a Goldeneye or Mario 64. Speaking of which, some of the big name titles like Banjo-Kazooie struggle. That being said, it depends on the computer/laptop you're using, the emulator for the 64, and specific plugins for said emulator. Some games work a certain method. Others, a different one. A lot of people don't realize that the 64, like the Saturn, has a bit of complicated hardware, too. But the progress in emulating is a bit behind the Saturn.
Regarding the Hyperkin 64, I'm not sure this thing will do well whenever it comes out. There's a lot of bugs that need fixing for the games, and I can't see this being coveted by gamers. A lot of patches will be needed to keep customers happy.
Outside of PlayStation, that generation has its struggles with emulation. No one dabbles with the 3DO and Atari Jaguar due to a lack of interest. The Saturn has had many leaps. Still some struggles because of the complicated hardware, but the progress has been large in improvement the last 10 to 15 years. The last time I was into N64 emulation was about four years ago around this time. And personally, it had progress but still a lot of problems.
A lot of it is either big frame rate issues or it's a graphical glitchfest. I know sports games aren't coveted by hardcore gamers, but a lot of them suffer from one of the two. It's a shame that they don't get the same treatment like a Goldeneye or Mario 64. Speaking of which, some of the big name titles like Banjo-Kazooie struggle. That being said, it depends on the computer/laptop you're using, the emulator for the 64, and specific plugins for said emulator. Some games work a certain method. Others, a different one. A lot of people don't realize that the 64, like the Saturn, has a bit of complicated hardware, too. But the progress in emulating is a bit behind the Saturn.
Regarding the Hyperkin 64, I'm not sure this thing will do well whenever it comes out. There's a lot of bugs that need fixing for the games, and I can't see this being coveted by gamers. A lot of patches will be needed to keep customers happy.
Sunday, June 23, 2019
Mega SD: No Complicated Hardware
Last week, I heard about a cartridge and it surprised me with the intentions. Hence the title, it's the Mega SD. It's a Sega based ROM cartridge that is capable of whatever was made between 1986 and 1994. Basically, the Master System, Genesis, 32x, Game Gear, and Sega CD. A number of other stuff like FM sound for certain Master System games and the ability to play region free. This is pretty good for one simple reason.
One of the biggest issues regarding emulation is the focus on cartridge based systems. A CD system is next to impossible to work for a clone system due to the specs and the drives and all that. Being able to use a card (micro SD, I believe) and use it for Sega CD games is an absolute treat. The actual add-on is one that goes for a lot of money, especially if the drive works on both models and that it didn't blow a fuse. The SD is slated for over 250 dollars, making it a little cost prohibitive.
This is very nice because no need to worry about a broken CD system, especially for these early ones. If this does decently and the reviews are good, we could see more of these in the future with other systems. I would hope there would be work on the Turbografx, the 3DO, and so forth. But to play it on all three Genesis systems and the new Mega SG may be worth shelling out the money for it. Here's to hoping it does well. CD systems deserve a little respect as well.
One of the biggest issues regarding emulation is the focus on cartridge based systems. A CD system is next to impossible to work for a clone system due to the specs and the drives and all that. Being able to use a card (micro SD, I believe) and use it for Sega CD games is an absolute treat. The actual add-on is one that goes for a lot of money, especially if the drive works on both models and that it didn't blow a fuse. The SD is slated for over 250 dollars, making it a little cost prohibitive.
This is very nice because no need to worry about a broken CD system, especially for these early ones. If this does decently and the reviews are good, we could see more of these in the future with other systems. I would hope there would be work on the Turbografx, the 3DO, and so forth. But to play it on all three Genesis systems and the new Mega SG may be worth shelling out the money for it. Here's to hoping it does well. CD systems deserve a little respect as well.
Friday, June 21, 2019
Thursday, June 20, 2019
Mean Pranks
There has been some criticism lately over this new Netflix show, Prank Encounters. It has something to do with pranking people who unknowingly think there's a job to be had when there is not. Even before it's debut, it was getting a lot of heat. I can't say anything regarding it since I don't watch Netflix, but it is a bit different from other prank shows.
The closest thing I can think of is Jackass. It was more than just pranking, though. You had stunts with skateboards, bikes, getting hurt. Friends hurting each other. Very rarely in the movies did they do stuff to the public like the golf course air horn in the first or the grandpa bit in the second. I don't think those guys were too vicious, but it could if they wanted to.
Of course, we got Impractical Jokers. That focus is entirely on making the group of four embarrassed to do what they are told to do. They refuse, they lose. It is rather light hearted, which is shocking, but that's not a bad thing. There are times where they do believe they go out of line, hence the losing and even some of the punishments. I'm talking the tarantula punishment, skydiving out of a plane, acting like a superhero on a cable car. Some of them, while not overly vicious, can be a little dangerous.
If people are aware of the prank, they will have their face shown. If they don't, they'll be blurred. I just think people don't want to see others get screwed when it comes to jobs. Maybe the episodes aren't too bad and it is not given a chance. I don't know. But who knows. It could have an effect on Prank Encounters and how long it lasts.
The closest thing I can think of is Jackass. It was more than just pranking, though. You had stunts with skateboards, bikes, getting hurt. Friends hurting each other. Very rarely in the movies did they do stuff to the public like the golf course air horn in the first or the grandpa bit in the second. I don't think those guys were too vicious, but it could if they wanted to.
Of course, we got Impractical Jokers. That focus is entirely on making the group of four embarrassed to do what they are told to do. They refuse, they lose. It is rather light hearted, which is shocking, but that's not a bad thing. There are times where they do believe they go out of line, hence the losing and even some of the punishments. I'm talking the tarantula punishment, skydiving out of a plane, acting like a superhero on a cable car. Some of them, while not overly vicious, can be a little dangerous.
If people are aware of the prank, they will have their face shown. If they don't, they'll be blurred. I just think people don't want to see others get screwed when it comes to jobs. Maybe the episodes aren't too bad and it is not given a chance. I don't know. But who knows. It could have an effect on Prank Encounters and how long it lasts.
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
No Ball for ESPN
I suppose it's justice for ESPN. They have taken the initiative to make sure LaVar Ball is never given a chance to appear on their network again. A ban has been made following this week's incident on First Take. To say a sexual kind of quote to Molly Qerim is a bit of crossing the line.
I don't think any of this is politically motivated. How much more could America take of Ball? He has been a huge joke in the headlines over the last three years. Saturday Night Live got it right with his over the top personality. Unfortunately, he is a ratings grabber. He gets people glued to Fox Sports or ESPN any time he speaks.
We haven't heard the last of Ball. It's only a matter of time before networks and outlets stop asking for interviews or wanting interviews out of him.
I don't think any of this is politically motivated. How much more could America take of Ball? He has been a huge joke in the headlines over the last three years. Saturday Night Live got it right with his over the top personality. Unfortunately, he is a ratings grabber. He gets people glued to Fox Sports or ESPN any time he speaks.
We haven't heard the last of Ball. It's only a matter of time before networks and outlets stop asking for interviews or wanting interviews out of him.
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
Burnt Out June 2019
I look at the last few weeks as not holding high on people's expectations. This month in particular has not been kind, though that will change with Toy Story 4 this weekend (I hope).
I can't express my view on these movies so far since I haven't seen them, but maybe the concept of The Secret Life of Pets worked well enough for just one film. It's not like Despicable Me where you can do enough original stuff for a trilogy of films and keep people interested. And Dark Phoenix doesn't have much going for it. X-Men without familiar faces just doesn't work.
The last time we saw a Men in Black film was in 2012 with the same two guys that were in it since the first one in 1997. I don't know if people are still skeptical or if the change in different members hurt it potential. It's not a bad trio. There's Liam Neeson and Chris Hemsworth, who are superstars in themselves. Then you got Tessa Thompson, who's stock is rising. She is a good actress, and her performances in films like Creed show that. But who knows. And did we really need another Shaft? It was a modest hit in 2000. Was another one necessary?
With a legion of horror movies and action films over the next two weekends, none of them will reach number one. I do believe Toy Story 4 will be dominating theaters in its first two weekends. I don't know if it will have the same impact as the third, but it will still be a huge hit. I don't see Child's Play making any decent numbers unless it surprises many. The Conjuring and Annabelle films are huge draws, but it will be tough for them next week. But this second half of June should give the box office a huge shot in the arm it desperately needs.
I can't express my view on these movies so far since I haven't seen them, but maybe the concept of The Secret Life of Pets worked well enough for just one film. It's not like Despicable Me where you can do enough original stuff for a trilogy of films and keep people interested. And Dark Phoenix doesn't have much going for it. X-Men without familiar faces just doesn't work.
The last time we saw a Men in Black film was in 2012 with the same two guys that were in it since the first one in 1997. I don't know if people are still skeptical or if the change in different members hurt it potential. It's not a bad trio. There's Liam Neeson and Chris Hemsworth, who are superstars in themselves. Then you got Tessa Thompson, who's stock is rising. She is a good actress, and her performances in films like Creed show that. But who knows. And did we really need another Shaft? It was a modest hit in 2000. Was another one necessary?
With a legion of horror movies and action films over the next two weekends, none of them will reach number one. I do believe Toy Story 4 will be dominating theaters in its first two weekends. I don't know if it will have the same impact as the third, but it will still be a huge hit. I don't see Child's Play making any decent numbers unless it surprises many. The Conjuring and Annabelle films are huge draws, but it will be tough for them next week. But this second half of June should give the box office a huge shot in the arm it desperately needs.
Sunday, June 16, 2019
2019 NBA Finals Thoughts/Aftermath
When I thought my prediction of the NBA Finals, I figured it would be a tough series for the Warriors, but enough for them to get a fourth championship in five years. I was wrong, as probably more than many, too. First championship in Toronto since the 1993 Blue Jays in baseball. The Raptors owe it to the guys they brought over like Kawhi Leonard and Serge Ibaka to compliment Kyle Lowry and the bench.
If I'm the Raptors, I'm doing anything to keep Leonard on the team. He is too important of a tool for them. But they also need to not let the championship get the best of them. They have a good chance to repeat, but the Celtics and Sixers are teams that could play the role of upset next year.
For the Warriors, next year is going to be rough. An ACL injury from Klay Thompson, the Achilles issues with Kevin Durant. Several players calling it quits for their careers. You may not see them in the Finals next year. Stephen Curry's inability to make go ahead field goals has become a factor (he hasn't made one at all) Overall, it's a mess. The move to San Francisco for their new arena is not going to be kind and disappointment will be something they have to endure. More than likely, Thompson and Durant won't play the 2019-20 season. ACL injuries are typically year round issues and Achilles ones depends, but it's not a simple couple months recovery.
With the recent trades in Los Angeles and the supposed issues in Houston, there could be a change in the Western Conference. And the East will have a variety of teams that can compete for the Finals. Next year should be interesting.
If I'm the Raptors, I'm doing anything to keep Leonard on the team. He is too important of a tool for them. But they also need to not let the championship get the best of them. They have a good chance to repeat, but the Celtics and Sixers are teams that could play the role of upset next year.
For the Warriors, next year is going to be rough. An ACL injury from Klay Thompson, the Achilles issues with Kevin Durant. Several players calling it quits for their careers. You may not see them in the Finals next year. Stephen Curry's inability to make go ahead field goals has become a factor (he hasn't made one at all) Overall, it's a mess. The move to San Francisco for their new arena is not going to be kind and disappointment will be something they have to endure. More than likely, Thompson and Durant won't play the 2019-20 season. ACL injuries are typically year round issues and Achilles ones depends, but it's not a simple couple months recovery.
With the recent trades in Los Angeles and the supposed issues in Houston, there could be a change in the Western Conference. And the East will have a variety of teams that can compete for the Finals. Next year should be interesting.
Friday, June 14, 2019
Wednesday, June 12, 2019
Pushing Sports Health Limits
A thing with the New York Yankees is that because of the success so far this season, they haven't panicked on trying to get some of their players back. If only that mentality worked with other sports. I understand how big of a deal the NBA Finals is for Durant, but with a torn Achilles, I'm not sure if he plays next year. If not that, then at least for a good chunk of the next season.
This push to have players play through pain is not anything new in any sport. Football players barrel through it week in and week out. Minor nics and cuts are in that and hockey. Physicality for hockey always leads to ice tubs and therapy. But tweaking your leg is not something to take lightly. Yes, it's the playoffs. Yes, the Warriors have a chance to win it all. But Durant might have ruined his career for good. He may not ever be the same again. He still has a lot of basketball left if he thinks he can do more.
Durant changes how the NBA looks, as many others are taking notice. Whether he was going to stay with Golden State or go to the Knicks or some other team, nobody knows. I'm not sure if signing him for the 2019-20 season is even worth it. Speaking of Golden State, someone on the medical staff is going to get fired. And fans need to understand that health is not something that a player can magically recover overnight.
I'm not sure if the Warriors win the series. But whatever happens, the offseason is going to be interesting for the league and the team.
This push to have players play through pain is not anything new in any sport. Football players barrel through it week in and week out. Minor nics and cuts are in that and hockey. Physicality for hockey always leads to ice tubs and therapy. But tweaking your leg is not something to take lightly. Yes, it's the playoffs. Yes, the Warriors have a chance to win it all. But Durant might have ruined his career for good. He may not ever be the same again. He still has a lot of basketball left if he thinks he can do more.
Durant changes how the NBA looks, as many others are taking notice. Whether he was going to stay with Golden State or go to the Knicks or some other team, nobody knows. I'm not sure if signing him for the 2019-20 season is even worth it. Speaking of Golden State, someone on the medical staff is going to get fired. And fans need to understand that health is not something that a player can magically recover overnight.
I'm not sure if the Warriors win the series. But whatever happens, the offseason is going to be interesting for the league and the team.
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
Where Is Safe?
Parts of the world are always going to be dangerous. You wouldn't think your home country wouldn't be. For as much as I resent Boston sports and think it's the most obnoxious city for that kind of stuff, what happened to David Ortiz is a travesty. A quick bio, he played 20 years of baseball, the last 14 with the Red Sox. More than likely, he will be in the Hall of Fame. He got shot in the Dominican Republic. As of now, he is walking and trying to get back in full health in a Boston hospital.
To address baseball players, a number of them are targets. With Ortiz, it was a robbery and shot at close range. There have been times where kidnappings occur. Wilson Ramos of the Mets was a potential victim back in 2011. I actually do remember hearing that back in the fall at that time. You hear this kind of stuff with sports stars. This is going to affect the Dominican Republic quite a bit. Tourism could take a steep decline due to this incident and instances of people getting killed or hurt. There's been a handful of deaths in hotel rooms. There are precautionary methods for staying safe, but not everyone abides to them.
Ortiz is a treasure to kids who want to get out and make their way to Major League Baseball. Even for my hate of the Red Sox, this shouldn't happen to anyone, including him. Life can throw a curve ball, and hopefully the guy can get back to 100 percent and enjoy doing some broadcasting and other good things he does in his post-baseball playing part of life.
To address baseball players, a number of them are targets. With Ortiz, it was a robbery and shot at close range. There have been times where kidnappings occur. Wilson Ramos of the Mets was a potential victim back in 2011. I actually do remember hearing that back in the fall at that time. You hear this kind of stuff with sports stars. This is going to affect the Dominican Republic quite a bit. Tourism could take a steep decline due to this incident and instances of people getting killed or hurt. There's been a handful of deaths in hotel rooms. There are precautionary methods for staying safe, but not everyone abides to them.
Ortiz is a treasure to kids who want to get out and make their way to Major League Baseball. Even for my hate of the Red Sox, this shouldn't happen to anyone, including him. Life can throw a curve ball, and hopefully the guy can get back to 100 percent and enjoy doing some broadcasting and other good things he does in his post-baseball playing part of life.
Sunday, June 9, 2019
Shove It, Basketball!
I've had some time to reflect on what happened at Oracle Friday night. What happened was not necessary. Kyle Lowry getting shoved and insulted by Warriors minority owner Mark Stevens in Game 4 was not acceptable. I think the punishment fits the crime for the most part. A year ban from Warriors games and a 500 thousand dollar fine is fair. Maybe a tidbit harsh, but nothing that needs to added further.
What I don't get is some players insistence to punish Stevens even more. If he did more than the insults and shove, I would see a reason to have a more severe punishment. But it does raise concerns over player safety. Give Lowry credit, though. Unlike Russell Westbrook at times during his career, he didn't act like a cry baby and didn't let Stevens get into his head. This will be one of the uglier stains on a bad Finals for the Warriors unless they win the next three, which I seriously doubt they will.
Adam Silver should not be bullied by LeBron James and a few of the other players. He set the punishment. Let it be. There's no need to escalate it into something worse.
What I don't get is some players insistence to punish Stevens even more. If he did more than the insults and shove, I would see a reason to have a more severe punishment. But it does raise concerns over player safety. Give Lowry credit, though. Unlike Russell Westbrook at times during his career, he didn't act like a cry baby and didn't let Stevens get into his head. This will be one of the uglier stains on a bad Finals for the Warriors unless they win the next three, which I seriously doubt they will.
Adam Silver should not be bullied by LeBron James and a few of the other players. He set the punishment. Let it be. There's no need to escalate it into something worse.
Friday, June 7, 2019
Thursday, June 6, 2019
No Online Friends For Mario!
Multiplayer has been a thing for the Mario series of games since the 90s. Kart racing, four player platformers, party games. Alternative turns does not count, so no on the early NES and SNES games. You would think Nintendo would understand the grasp of playing online with your own friends. That's why playing with randoms for Super Mario Maker 2 has got to be one of the dumbest things they have done.
There is no defending it. For a company who has had a great wealth of games since the 70s and 80s, their incompetence in the last 23 years keeps their potential from being much higher. Personally, I've thought for a long time that a online Mario platformer could work. It has the stuff to do that. LittleBigPlanet did that in 2008, even though it's not always a pure platformer. But Nintendo's unwillingness to take a risk, which they should have tried on the Wii, makes me scratch my head.
To wait that long to do an online platformer, but to still screw it up in some way. I know online isn't Nintendo's strongest footing. I understand that. However, this isn't the 90s where people can always get together and play on one TV screen. I'm not advocating for offline multiplayer to die off, but to have both online and offline is a treat to people. And playing with friends online is something that makes a night good.
Maybe Nintendo will understand the issues, but I have serious doubt their Japanese staff will. When the 64 was around, they understood how big of a deal multiplayer is. Now they need to figure out online multiplayer fast because they are missing out on huge potential to get more people and an even bigger new generation of fans
There is no defending it. For a company who has had a great wealth of games since the 70s and 80s, their incompetence in the last 23 years keeps their potential from being much higher. Personally, I've thought for a long time that a online Mario platformer could work. It has the stuff to do that. LittleBigPlanet did that in 2008, even though it's not always a pure platformer. But Nintendo's unwillingness to take a risk, which they should have tried on the Wii, makes me scratch my head.
To wait that long to do an online platformer, but to still screw it up in some way. I know online isn't Nintendo's strongest footing. I understand that. However, this isn't the 90s where people can always get together and play on one TV screen. I'm not advocating for offline multiplayer to die off, but to have both online and offline is a treat to people. And playing with friends online is something that makes a night good.
Maybe Nintendo will understand the issues, but I have serious doubt their Japanese staff will. When the 64 was around, they understood how big of a deal multiplayer is. Now they need to figure out online multiplayer fast because they are missing out on huge potential to get more people and an even bigger new generation of fans
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
M2 the Rescue: Sega Edition
Putting together a release of older titles is no easy task. I'm sure developer M2 understands that. They have been doing that since the early 90s. Games like Gauntlet IV were met with a stronger reception due to their approach on re-releasing classics. It helps that they try to recreate the original versions for modern day systems and maybe give them a little more polish, even if some of the games are still excellent.
This is one of the things that makes Sega come back to them a lot. And Konami has also threw their hat into the ring with M2 handling a number of releases going back to 2007. Most recently, they worked on the Castlevania compilation that included a lot of the pre-Symphony titles, including a first for Bloodlines. Regarding the Sega Genesis Mini, they have impressed a lot with the inclusion of titles that you wouldn't think would make it on their such as Castle of Illusion. Their attention to detail helps since not a lot of companies know how to handle the Genesis itself. Emulation is not one of the strongest suits for most. Audio is usually the big problem. Hopefully, the hype gets the system the praise compared to the ATGames atrocities.
Why no one else other than mainly Sega and Konami works with M2, I don't know. These programmers know gaming well and know what needs to be done. Companies should be lining up to get them. Re-releases of classics done right should be something to get excited about.
This is one of the things that makes Sega come back to them a lot. And Konami has also threw their hat into the ring with M2 handling a number of releases going back to 2007. Most recently, they worked on the Castlevania compilation that included a lot of the pre-Symphony titles, including a first for Bloodlines. Regarding the Sega Genesis Mini, they have impressed a lot with the inclusion of titles that you wouldn't think would make it on their such as Castle of Illusion. Their attention to detail helps since not a lot of companies know how to handle the Genesis itself. Emulation is not one of the strongest suits for most. Audio is usually the big problem. Hopefully, the hype gets the system the praise compared to the ATGames atrocities.
Why no one else other than mainly Sega and Konami works with M2, I don't know. These programmers know gaming well and know what needs to be done. Companies should be lining up to get them. Re-releases of classics done right should be something to get excited about.
Tuesday, June 4, 2019
Aladdin (2019) Review
My favorite classic Disney animated film is 1992's Aladdin. It's got catchy songs, great performances, and some nice visuals in creating Agrabah. The characters are not your typical stereotypes that the studio is known for. This live action imagining was on my radar a little bit, but my expectations were not too high. I expected something at least decent, but it was way better than I anticipated.
The premise is still the same. Vizier Jafar wants his hands on a magic lamp in the Cave of Wonders. It wants a diamond in the rough person, which happens to be street thief Aladdin. What ensues is a big adventure full of surprises and twists and turns. However, Guy Ritchie's vision is a little different. This adaptation is more straight forward with the characters. Jafar is more direct with what he wants, whether he talks to Aladdin or the Sultan. There is a little more to him, wanting to take over various lands and starting war. A lot more ruthless and it's rather good.
My take on Aladdin is that he is not overly cocky like the animated counterpart. We see a bit more thievery that benefits and hurts him. He is also quite nervous. Obviously he has feelings for Princess Jasmine. This version of her is not a total bitch, but they retain a lot of what made the animated one such an excellent character. She is still strong willed and doesn't want anything low budget. You can't buy her happiness, but having strong intelligence and understanding her will. Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott give strong performances and do the characters justice. One nice touch is the Sultan not being a complete idiot and having a new character in the form of handmaiden Dalia, who has quite a few scenes and isn't forgotten.
Of course, we have to talk Will Smith as the Genie. People overreacted. His performance is excellent. I personally think it's on par with Robin Williams' animated version. There is a different approach that seems very natural and it's a more genuine character with a few flashes of imitating Williams. Getting into the visual effects, they put up a big effort with the Genie scenes when he isn't in human form. Stuff like the Cave of Wonders and the fight at the end of the film are amazing and a sight to see. Even the magic carpet scenes, are handled very well.
There is a bit of humor throughout Aladdin, and it doesn't go overboard. The songs are all here and the performances are well done. There is one new song exclusively for Jasmine and it is a nice touch to what she is as a character overall. How Agrabah looks is a sight to see. A couple negatives are here, however. A warning to some families is that it is a little over two hours, so be aware. The only thing that bothered me was Iago not having too many scenes. I feel they didn't utilize him that much and the few scenes he had were either funny or advanced the plot. There is no doubt in my mind. You need to see this movie. It is a bit different execution, but it's still the same great premise.
Score: 9 out of 10
The premise is still the same. Vizier Jafar wants his hands on a magic lamp in the Cave of Wonders. It wants a diamond in the rough person, which happens to be street thief Aladdin. What ensues is a big adventure full of surprises and twists and turns. However, Guy Ritchie's vision is a little different. This adaptation is more straight forward with the characters. Jafar is more direct with what he wants, whether he talks to Aladdin or the Sultan. There is a little more to him, wanting to take over various lands and starting war. A lot more ruthless and it's rather good.
My take on Aladdin is that he is not overly cocky like the animated counterpart. We see a bit more thievery that benefits and hurts him. He is also quite nervous. Obviously he has feelings for Princess Jasmine. This version of her is not a total bitch, but they retain a lot of what made the animated one such an excellent character. She is still strong willed and doesn't want anything low budget. You can't buy her happiness, but having strong intelligence and understanding her will. Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott give strong performances and do the characters justice. One nice touch is the Sultan not being a complete idiot and having a new character in the form of handmaiden Dalia, who has quite a few scenes and isn't forgotten.
Of course, we have to talk Will Smith as the Genie. People overreacted. His performance is excellent. I personally think it's on par with Robin Williams' animated version. There is a different approach that seems very natural and it's a more genuine character with a few flashes of imitating Williams. Getting into the visual effects, they put up a big effort with the Genie scenes when he isn't in human form. Stuff like the Cave of Wonders and the fight at the end of the film are amazing and a sight to see. Even the magic carpet scenes, are handled very well.
There is a bit of humor throughout Aladdin, and it doesn't go overboard. The songs are all here and the performances are well done. There is one new song exclusively for Jasmine and it is a nice touch to what she is as a character overall. How Agrabah looks is a sight to see. A couple negatives are here, however. A warning to some families is that it is a little over two hours, so be aware. The only thing that bothered me was Iago not having too many scenes. I feel they didn't utilize him that much and the few scenes he had were either funny or advanced the plot. There is no doubt in my mind. You need to see this movie. It is a bit different execution, but it's still the same great premise.
Score: 9 out of 10
Monday, June 3, 2019
Sparkling Bats
Who do you go for with the next Batman? Get Ed... I mean Robert Pattinson. There is always controversy surrounding who gets to be the Caped Crusader. There was questions about Michael Keaton because of his movie output in the 80s prior to the 1989 Batman film. My take is that people are spoiled.
They are spoiled by Christian Bale and the overrated voice actor Kevin Conroy. We can have different takes on DC's superhero. Every comic book character that gets an adaptation will always be questioned in terms of performance. Pattinson has done plenty of work and he is more than just those awful Twilight films. He was Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter. There is a new film that hit Cannes last month called The Lighthouse. The unfortunate side is that he will never escape what he made in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
I say give the guy a chance. Can't be as bad as George Clooney as Batman. Or other actors in other comic book movies like Venom in Spider-Man 3. I can see regular Bruce Wayne working for Pattinson. As far as Batman, that answer will come whenever the first trailers of the new movie come whenever that happens. Right now, it's just pure overreaction.
They are spoiled by Christian Bale and the overrated voice actor Kevin Conroy. We can have different takes on DC's superhero. Every comic book character that gets an adaptation will always be questioned in terms of performance. Pattinson has done plenty of work and he is more than just those awful Twilight films. He was Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter. There is a new film that hit Cannes last month called The Lighthouse. The unfortunate side is that he will never escape what he made in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
I say give the guy a chance. Can't be as bad as George Clooney as Batman. Or other actors in other comic book movies like Venom in Spider-Man 3. I can see regular Bruce Wayne working for Pattinson. As far as Batman, that answer will come whenever the first trailers of the new movie come whenever that happens. Right now, it's just pure overreaction.
Saturday, June 1, 2019
Final Tacoma FD Thoughts
The season has finished up. My take on Tacoma FD as a whole is that it was not as bad as I thought for a ten episode run. A number of the episodes were strong. One or two that were kind of weak, which is typical of any show that begins a run if a network still has confidence in them.
Most of the characters were generally funny. It doesn't always go the R-rated route in how they approach scenes and situations. Even the cursing is minimal at points. They all feed off each other well and the pacing was good. The main leads are given adequate time on screen and showcase the strengths and weaknesses of each other. None of the guest stars were arrogant in any manner. There are a lot more positives in how the show did stuff.
There are a few negatives. Some of the episodes can drag on a little bit. Certain gags and jokes do overstay their welcome. It did feel a bit boring in a handful of scenes The only character I was ever bothered about was Ike, but it depended on the scenes in question. He's a dimwit and can be obnoxious, but he wasn't a huge bothersome.
That being said, I think if they were to continue on with a second season if it gets renewed, there is a bigger chance to perfect the characters and try to fix a couple issues of an otherwise funny show that could last a few years. Hopefully, truTV stays committed to it like a few of their other scripted programs.
Most of the characters were generally funny. It doesn't always go the R-rated route in how they approach scenes and situations. Even the cursing is minimal at points. They all feed off each other well and the pacing was good. The main leads are given adequate time on screen and showcase the strengths and weaknesses of each other. None of the guest stars were arrogant in any manner. There are a lot more positives in how the show did stuff.
There are a few negatives. Some of the episodes can drag on a little bit. Certain gags and jokes do overstay their welcome. It did feel a bit boring in a handful of scenes The only character I was ever bothered about was Ike, but it depended on the scenes in question. He's a dimwit and can be obnoxious, but he wasn't a huge bothersome.
That being said, I think if they were to continue on with a second season if it gets renewed, there is a bigger chance to perfect the characters and try to fix a couple issues of an otherwise funny show that could last a few years. Hopefully, truTV stays committed to it like a few of their other scripted programs.
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