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TheFishy
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Hackers (1995)
Cyberpunk Classic
In a genre that isn't supposed to be grinding out flicks with the quality of "Citizen Kane" it's easy to call this a classic in the genre that is cyberpunk. I mean, sure if you think about it really hard this movie has some pure stupidity in it. All those real hacker nerds see this movie and are like "OH THATS SO UNREAL". Who cares?
"Hackers" is what I concider a cult classic. Killer soundtrack, loads of entertainment, future stars in Matthew Lillard and the foxy Angelina Jolie. And its just plan fun fun fun.
So much of this movie is awesome. Its just plain awesome what can I say? Its got awesome sets, cool clothes, neato graphics and edits, cheesy villains, hot girls, skateboarding, late night hacking, comedy and best of all....its a nerd movie wrapped up in this wholesome whoopass package that makes this an instant cult and cyberpunk classic.
I give it **** of ****. And if your not convinced to see it yet, consider it a teenagers version of "The Matrix" with even more of that "cyberpunky" feel and just as much fun and entertainment.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
People who hated it didn't understand it
First of all, this movie requires close attention. The plot is pieced together very well and I find myself awake early hours imagining what exactly the Blair Witch was. Most of the horror of this movie doesn't come to you right away. This isn't something stupid and overpriced like "The Haunting" or "The Mummy". This is true, "what the hell is that" horror. You won't pee your pants in the theartre. But you will poop your pants trying to sleep at night. (Minor Spoilers) People didn't understand the piles of rocks they found (that was a fake grave), the stick figures (three victims and one hairy witch like described before by the woman), the reason they were being hunted (they walked into a witch burial ground and broke something), and last of all who was after them (the world will never know). (MINOR spoilers over). Now that you have some of this pieced together go see this film. I can admit it was overhyped. I can admit it has its flaws (jerky camera work, too much bitching at each other) but I can admit that this is one of the finer films i've seen this year. True imaginative horror with an excellent setup. Don't be expecting 100 million dollar eye candy and a horror like soundtrack. Just expect a indie class horror film. And a great film at that.
The Goonies II (1987)
An Odd Idea Becomes An Odd Yet Adventurous Game
The idea was this. Take a brilliant film that is like a bedtime story caught on film and make a sequel to it. Except this sequel isn't a movie...it's a video game follow up to a movie.
Odd.
It almost works though. After "The Goonies" scored 61.4 million in 1985 a follow up is made in 1987 on the classic, 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System. It has a stranger plot involving mermaids, rescuing the other "goonies" and the Fratilly's breaking out of prison. While this isn't exactly Hollywood material, it's not really anything at all.
Goonies 2 is a side scrolling game which offers lots of adventurous action, strange puzzles and even some hints of RPG action. The concept is simple. Find boys, unlock some mermaids prison cage, get the Fratilly's BACK in jail, don't die. It's more difficult then it sounds.
With mind bending puzzles that have you warping from one part of the game to another it can really engulf you into the gameplay. While at the same time confusing the hell out of the player.
The game is just another side scroller with adventure elements and a movie license. But from the cheesy Sidney Lopper music from the film, to the excellent shots of the Fratilly brothers and even just the concept of the game itself brings back that old Goonies fun.
The controls are just like every NES game made after the amazing Super Mario Brothers. And with all the twists and turns this game takes it's got above average as replay goes with side scrollers. Not to mention the puzzles and thrown in RPG elements that also add fire to this games spark. But what happens when side scroller meets RPG/Puzzle elements? Like I said, it's an odd game. But it's still enjoyable.
Some Final Words:
Graphics: Nothing special. Some nice "cut scenes" and freaky enviorments in RPG type screens. But just NES graphics. Grade: B-
Sound: Sidney Lopper's song from the film helps a lot. Very creepy music...like the movie! But a whole new musical score has been done for this sequel-to-movie video game. Yes! Grade: A-
Play Control: NES=no innovation. Grade: C
Gameplay: Somewhat repetitive yet mindless and fun. Saved by puzzles at times. Grade: B
Replay: Sure. I keep mentioning it. But the RPGS and puzzles make it better. The twists make it above average...and maybe even beyond. Grade: B+
OVERALL: Interesting idea. Odd game. Odd is fun in this case. What else do you expect from a game based on a movie called THE GOONIES?
Overall Grade: B-
Rocko's Modern Life (1993)
A charming, humorous and off beat show that pleases.
I've been a fan of the Nick childrens TV channel for a long time. And down the road I have never seen better work from them then the work that is "Rocko's Modern Life".
The show is about aa Australian wallaby who comes to America. This wallaby (Rocko) is a funny looking character who wears the same thing all the time and is voiced by Carlos Alazraqui who now voices the Taco Bell dog. His friends Heffer Wolfe, an overweight steer and Filbert Turtle, a turtle help him through his life. While his neighbohrs, the Bigheads, don't help a bit.
Sounds strange right? Sounds like ANY other cartoon right? I think not.
The show has a different type of humor. With some adult references thrown in as well that are rather shocking for a Nick show. The animal humor (Heffer is a steer, not a cow. Rocko is a wallby, not a rabbit) is used in many kooky and hilarious ways. And although sometimes they can seem stupid, lines are repeated from episode to episode. And every now and then these lines are given a 180 degree twist of humor. While the mucas jokes could be settled down, the humor isn't very slapstick and is cartoonish witty humor at its best. Sure it's offbeat, innappropite and as I said is more of an adult show then a kids show (humor wise, not content wise) it's still very funny.
And when the show isn't funny it shines with charm. The characters are very easy to get behind and it flows like a sitcom. It has its dud episodes with good jokes wrapped into a bad plot, but overall the show is very charming. The characters have their own catch phrases and traditions which all give twists. Even when the show has run out of twists they add even more to thrill the viewing audiance into laughter.
Rockos Modern Life is an excellent example of the beginning of the adult cartoon era. It was made in 1993 and I believe it set the stage for more grown up cartoons like "The PJs", "Futurama" and "South Park". Sure The Simpsons helped much. But Rocko wasn't a stupid move. It shouldn't have gone on any other network. It was a bold move by Nickoloden and the shows director Joe Murray. And that bravery and boldness, led to Rockos Modern Life. One of the best animated series to come around yet.
SERIES GRADE: A-
Zeruda no densetsu: Toki no okarina (1998)
Am I The Only One Who Was Disappointed?
I used to be a video game freak. I still am kind of. I loved Zelda as a kid. I loved the overhead 2D graphics on NES and the new engine in Zelda 2 for NES. I always loved those games. And when I heard of a N64 Zelda I got excited, not as excited as the geeks who waited three years sleeping soundly each night for this title, but I was excited about a month before it was about to come out. And when I bought it the tech specs impressed me, but the gameplay just didn't live up to the Zelda effort.
First of all, Zelda's graphics and enviorments rule. They are great. With the burning on Kokmo Village or whatever and many great cinema scenes it packs a punch on the N64. The graphics are near flawless and really help asborb you into the game.
And the sound is catchy too. I miss the classic theme which I really longed for in the new Zelda but its catchy tunes (note the shop theme) are excellent. The sound is great with a pro actor from Japan playing Zelda. And the creatures have monster like sounds and at times hilarious crys.
But that's only the tech specs.
The 2D to 3D gameplay went pretty smoothly. I found it odd at times. The control tries to be simple-dimple. But the one key for each action option really gets annoying and is too different from other RPG/Adventure games and causes frusturating "screw ups". The game also ends too quickly despite puzzles, long cinema scenes, and replayable games. The ending is quite a disappointment as well and longs for a sequel. While its strategy is fun and its characters are charming it lacks any real action that the former Zelda series had. Although it runs on cart format that doesn't mean the action can be slow. Not as bad as other RPGs "battle modes" but at times the game just drones on with no enemies, just wondering around. Or the enemies are so easy its insulting.
When it comes to RPGs on N64, I (somehow) suggest "Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon" over "Zelda". Now "Goemon" is the way to take a flop 2D game into a 3D hit. As for "Zelda" it does well. But it just doesn't live up. Its amazing, but not the best. I would put it ahead of "Link to the Past" as Zeldas go, but its not the best Zelda of all time. And not the best video game of all time either.
Some Final Words:
Graphics: Great environments, very real looking, could be compared to photo quality in some shots. Grade: A
Sound: Great voice recordings along with even better creature recordings, new music to the Zelda series goes well with what's happening on the screen. Not classic Zelda, but good. Grade: A-
Play Control: Simple despite one key action button. Grade: B+
Gameplay: Fun 3D RPG/Adventure action that loses some heart from previous games but outlasts many others to be one fun game despite lacks in action. Grade: B+
Replay: You'll come back for the puzzles, mini games and secrets and maybe decide to live the adventure again, but you won't be coming back after a while. Grade: B-
OVERALL: Just a nice addition to a GREAT series. I'm not waiting for a 6th Zelda though. A huge cast credits to a huge game that isn't as huge as we all expected.
OVERALL GRADE: B+