Something went wrong. Try again later

coolarman

This user has not updated recently.

1400 1383 37 11
Forum Posts Wiki Points Following Followers

Late to the Party Movie Review: Man of Steel

I have a habit of watching movies/tv shows long after they came out (I still have never seen Breaking Bad even though I bet I would love it). So I decided to do something constructive with it by reviewing stuff that I came to late. So here is a review of Man of Steel.

Man of Steel’s first half is by far the most interesting Superman story that I have ever seen. In a lot of ways it is similar to the Batman Begins. An origin story that is told through flashbacks. We start with the destruction of Krypton and how Kal-El/Clark Kent gets sent from the dying planet to the planet of Earth for safe haven. He lands in a space pod and is found by the couple of Jonathan and Martha Kent. They adopt him as if he was one of their own and raise him to be just like any other boy. But he is not like any other kid. He has supernatural abilities like super strength and heat vision and cold breath and blah blah blah you get it by now don’t you. Most people know Superman’s origin story by now that it almost serves no purpose rehashing to you guys again.

There is a lot to like about this movie. I for one really enjoyed how they made Clark Kent an introvert trying to find his place on the planet earth. He keeps going from one job to another but somehow manages to mess it up because of using his power to save people. Using his powers forces him into hiding because his earth father tells him that he is worried that the people of Earth won’t accept him for his abilities. So he wanders from place to place hoping to find his place in the world. But that is the internal conflict that is present to him. He can’t live like a normal human being because he isn’t one. So he is trapped in this eternal struggle to be a regular person who has a decent job. Thats what normal people want right? But again he isn’t normal person so he can’t. This is a far more interesting take than the goody two shoes superman we came to expect from the Christopher Reeves Superman movies.

Where this movie goes wrong is in the second half. Where the producers of the film decided to give Zack Snyder free reign to do all sorts of Zack Snyder things. By Zack Snyder things I mean an insane amount of CGI effects. I’m not against CGI at all and while the effects do look real good in this film, it ultimately makes the movie run out of steam. I enjoyed the parts of the film where Superman was trying to find his place in society and obviously I want to see Superman punch stuff. But in a way the action scenes didn’t hit hard enough for me to enjoy them. Sure we get General Zod going nuts and destroying a building (which we now know is Wayne Financial Tower, as in Bruce Wayne). But the rest of the fight didn’t seem that impactful to me.

Speaking of that final encounter let’s talk about my biggest problem with the movie which is the complete and utter devastation of Metropolis as a result of Superman and Zod fighting. This entire fight was very out of character for Superman. If anyone has watched the Christopher Reeves Superman movies or even the Superman animated series, they would know that Superman is very aware of his surrounding and uses his powers carefully as to not completely decimate Earth’s population. It seemed like Zack Snyder just threw that concept out the window for this version of Superman but it even seems out of character for this Superman as well. In the flashback sequences for Clark Kent we see a sense of wanting to protect innocent people much to his father’s chagrin. But they completely ignore and have Superman ram through buildings with reckless abandon whilst causing an immense amount of collateral damage. What makes it worse is that they don’t even address the complete destruction of Metropolis. It all seemed very over the top.

I think that Man of Steel has a lot of problems in an otherwise good direction for the Superman character. I really did enjoy the first half of the movie a lot but it eventually became kind of boring and didn’t help that movie was over 2 hours long. I feel like if there was someone on the sideline telling Zack Snyder to reel it back in, it would have been a damn good movie. But with these shortcomings I feel that movie fell short of its promising start.

I’ll give it 3 ½ stars out of 5

edit: grammer

6 Comments

I Remember When Video Games Were About Fun

****Fair warning this post may be poorly written because i wrote in the heat of some serious anger/sadness****

I consider myself in a rare age group where I am old enough to have nostalgia for the old arcades in town right when the consoles were picking up so much steam that the writing was on the wall and arcades were quickly becoming a thing of the past. My parents would take me there and I would hound the old fighting game cabinets challenging anyone who came by to a game. I was a real hot head and I could honestly beat anyone (Kabal was my character of choice in Mortal Kombat 3). I could beat anyone and I would gloat really hard. But I never took my gloating too far. I would never hurt anyone's feelings because I had good parents who taught me that it is wrong to say bad things to people. I would also never exclude anyone from playing against me. I didn't care if they were black, white, female, or male. I would invite anyone to come and play against me and sure we would tease each other back and forth during a game but it was all in good fun. Video games were about fun.

The point I am trying to make is that I feel like we have quickly moved past a generation of video game players were they don't feel like being inclusive, where being a "gamer" is somehow an exclusive club and no one is allowed in unless he/she is deemed "acceptable". Even now in my now 20s I feel like an old man yelling about "back in my day". I go online seeing stories about harassment of game makers, games writers, and other people who play games. I see all this bullshit and I find myself asking "what happened"? What changed to make people who play video games act this way? Was it the internet? Why must video game players act this way?

In order for me to make some informed opinion on the whole "gamergate" thing i decided to watch some gamergate video on youtube and try to make sense of why people are so angry. And i found myself more confused if anything. The whole video was about how its some us vs them mentality and the "them" in this scenario being games writers. This video talks about how games writers are going after gamers in some grand conspiracy to eliminate them. I finished the video and said to myself "what the fuck did i just watch"? Why the fuck would games writers want to eliminate games journalists? Writers would be out of a job if that happened. I could not figure out this guy logic and i was left befuddled. So it lead me to making this blog post. (By the way if anyone is wondering about the video, the video was made by some guy by the name "investigamer").

I guess the whole point of this post is a plea to just have fun playing video games. Just have fun, its that simple. Don't be so angry. Play fun video games and calm the fuck down. If you are having fun playing a video game then you probably should not be so angry. I maybe be missing the point of this whole GamerGate thing and there might be a reason to be considered but I don't think the conversation needs to be filled with so much anger and hate.

So to end on a happy note here is something that Rorie will appreciate

PUPPIES!!!!!!
PUPPIES!!!!!!

72 Comments

I Remember When Video Games Were About Fun

****Fair warning this post may be poorly written because i wrote in the heat of some serious anger/sadness****

I consider myself in a rare age group where I am old enough to have nostalgia for the old arcades in town right when the consoles were picking up so much steam that the writing was on the wall and arcades were quickly becoming a thing of the past. My parents would take me there and I would hound the old fighting game cabinets challenging anyone who came by to a game. I was a real hot head and I could honestly beat anyone (Kabal was my character of choice in Mortal Kombat 3). I could beat anyone and I would gloat really hard. But I never took my gloating too far. I would never hurt anyone's feelings because I had good parents who taught me that it is wrong to say bad things to people. I would also never exclude anyone from playing against me. I didn't care if they were black, white, female, or male. I would invite anyone to come and play against me and sure we would tease each other back and forth during a game but it was all in good fun. Video games were about fun.

The point I am trying to make is that I feel like we have quickly moved past a generation of video game players were they don't feel like being inclusive, where being a "gamer" is somehow an exclusive club and no one is allowed in unless he/she is deemed "acceptable". Even now in my now 20s I feel like an old man yelling about "back in my day". I go online seeing stories about harassment of game makers, games writers, and other people who play games. I see all this bullshit and I find myself asking "what happened"? What changed to make people who play video games act this way? Was it the internet? Why must video game players act this way?

In order for me to make some informed opinion on the whole "gamergate" thing i decided to watch some gamergate video on youtube and try to make sense of why people are so angry. And i found myself more confused if anything. The whole video was about how its some us vs them mentality and the "them" in this scenario being games writers. This video talks about how games writers are going after gamers in some grand conspiracy to eliminate them. I finished the video and said to myself "what the fuck did i just watch"? Why the fuck would games writers want to eliminate games journalists? Writers would be out of a job if that happened. I could not figure out this guy logic and i was left befuddled. So it lead me to making this blog post. (By the way if anyone is wondering about the video, the video was made by some guy by the name "investigamer").

I guess the whole point of this post is a plea to just have fun playing video games. Just have fun, its that simple. Don't be so angry. Play fun video games and calm the fuck down. If you are having fun playing a video game then you probably should not be so angry. I maybe be missing the point of this whole GamerGate thing and there might be a reason to be considered but I don't think the conversation needs to be filled with so much anger and hate.

So to end on a happy note here is something that Rorie will appreciate

PUPPIES!!!!!!
PUPPIES!!!!!!

Start the Conversation

My Memories of Ryan Davis

As I am writing these words right now I am currently lying down in my bed bawling like a little baby. I don't know why I am crying after the death of someone whom i have never met. But Ryan Davis brought so much joy and happiness to the world that I just can't help myself and breakdown. I went through some tough times as a kid going through elementary school, middle school, and high school. But I always knew that i can come to either gamespot or GB to check out the crew doing dumb stuff on the internet and clearly not taking themselves too seriously.

I remember the first time I saw the most of the current GB crew. The PS3 and the Nintendo Wii were about to launch and gamespot had their weekly show on the spot playing. During this show they were demoing some PS3 and Wii games in the lead up to the launch of the respective consoles. The moment I realized that these guys are the best people who cover the gaming industry was the moment when Greg Kasavin (editor in chief of gamespot at the time) was demoing Trauma center for the wii. There was a moment when Greg had to use the defibrillator in the game and he couldn't get the guy to come back to him. Thats when Jeff started yelling LIVE DAMMIT LIVE. Then Ryan followed by saying DON'T GIVE UP ON ME NOW. I busted out laughing at how funny it was and decided that these guys are the best.

Then the events of 2007 happened where Jeff Gerstmann was fired from Gamespot and Ryan, Vinny, Brad, and Alex all left along with him. All was good however because Giant Bomb was started not long after. Perhaps you have heard of it, its a website about video games. Over the past few years Giant Bomb has been the host too some of the most interesting and the funniest content about video games. With Ryan hosting many of the features on the site, Giant Bomb always had such an upbeat tone and that was mainly because of Ryan's joyful mood that he brought to the site.

Fast Forward to today and we are back to me lying down in my bed crying. I have never met Ryan in person, but because of how public his life was it almost feels like we have all lost a really close friend. It doesn't matter if most of us haven't met him. He was a guy that brought a lot of positive feelings to a very fucked up world with a lot of problems. Unfortunately we are going to have to say goodbye to those feelings.

RIP Ryan Davis

P.S. If anyone wants to be cheered up I always found this song helpful

Start the Conversation

Rumor: Apple to release smaller Ipad and new iphone.

Hello duders, just wanted to talk about the recent rumors coming from ilounge.com. Apparently Apple is going to announce a new Ipad and a new Iphone this September. 
 
Details on the new Ipad include: 

  • Ipad with a 7 inch screen
  • Likely to be released in Early 2011
 
I hope this is true because it might actually make be buy an ipad if this is cheaper 
 
Details on new Iphone are: 
  • Probably going to be the 5th generation Iphone
  • Fixed antenna
  • Also possibly a Verizon Iphone (i seriously dought this)
  • Going to be released early 2011
 
I don't know what to think about this. I don't think this is true because Apple wouldn't do an entire hardware change for one issue. I think the announcement is going to an iphone 4.5 where they just fix the hardware and move on.  
 
WHAT DO YOU THINK????
32 Comments

Spill.com

DUDERS 
 
Spill.com is the best movie review site ever 
 
They are really good at making reviews that are down to earth. 
 
Everyone should check it out 
 
P.S. a little side note Selena Gomez is HOT

1 Comments

Hey guess what: The Hurt Locker won best picture.

Yes i realize that this is way late but i have to say something about it. 
 
If everybody remembers i posted a blog (check it out here) saying that i think that Avatar wasn't going to win best picture and i gave my thoughts on why it wasn't going to win. But now The Hurt Locker won and everybody said that i was wrong and that Avatar was going to win. But guess what Hurt Locker won so i think that i have earned the right to say: "HA HA". 
 
I don't mean to offend all of you guys but i have to say i had more faith in the academy than any of you guys 

14 Comments

Fact: Avatar will not win best picture at the Oscars.

I am posting this because people are so sure that Avatar will win the oscar but me i am not convinced. The reason i think people are so sure that Avatar will win, in my view, is just because it won the best picture at the golden globes. Now allow me to say this: JUST BECAUSE A MOVIE WINS THE BEST PICTURE DOESN'T MEAN IT WILL WIN THE OSCAR. Allow me to point all of you to the facts. 
 
The 2008 winner of the best picture of the golden globes was Slumdog Millionaire . The Oscar Slumdog Millionaire.   
  
2007 GG: Atonement. Oscar: No Country for Old Men
2006 GG: Babel. Oscar: The Departed 
2005 GG: Brokeback Mountain. Oscar: Crash. (Crash wasn't even nominated for the Golden Globe) 
2004 GG: The Aviator. Oscar: Million Dollar Baby 
2003 GG: LOTR ROTK. Oscar: Same movie 
2002 GG: The Hours. Oscar: Chicago. (Again Chicago wasn't nominated for the Golden Globe) 
 
I can keep this list going but as you can see there is only two time that the Oscars and the Golden Globes gave the best picture to the same movie. Now i realize that the Academy is very unpredictable with their awards so they might give the Oscar to something crazy like Up (not that it doesn't deserve it. Its just that its an animated film I'm not sure that The Oscars would do that). So there are my thoughts. 

86 Comments

My Top Ten Films of 2009 (That isn't an actual top ten list)

Hey guys its that time of the year for me to give my top ten films of 2009. Now as the title suggests this list isn't an actual top ten films. Its more of a list of ten films that I like that came out this year. So without further ado here we go 
 

  • District 9: This was one of the most original film i have seen in a long time and is one hell of a tour de force 
  • Precious: Very few movies make me cry, most films just  make me just really sad,  this film made me cry like a baby
  • Up in the Air: If i could describe this film in three words it would be funny, sexy, and awesome
  • Avatar: Sure it is more impressive on a technical level then on a story level and people are going to ridicule me for doing putting here, but i don't fucking care its my list.
  • The Hurt Locker: Most war films are very heavy handed, this film isn't. Probably one of the most suspenseful films this year
  • Fantastic Mr. Fox: A really charming film and in my opinion Wes Anderson's best film since Rushmore.
  • Star Trek: I never really had an opinion on Star Trek because I never seen an episode or any of the other movies, but this movie is awesome
  • The Hangover: The most hilarious film of the year.
  • Inglourious Basterds: Quentin Tarantino's best film since Pulp Fiction
  • The Messenger: People probably don't know what the fuck this film is, but i am not going to describe it to you because it would take to long, but is one of Woody Harrelson's best performance in a long time and I highly recommend it. 
 
 There you go. My ten favorite films of 2009.
2 Comments

My game of the year

My game of the year is Batman: Arkham Asylum. I have never played any comic book game quite like Batman. It really is great 
 
Now my runner-up: Uncharted 2. This game is Badass but i feel like Batman had a lot more stuff to do 

2 Comments
  • 21 results
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3