Sonic Generations: Podcast Review

Wow! This is my 90th post on It's All In My Head. I can't believe it, but I'm impressed that I've made this little hobby last this long and I'm proud.

To mark my 90th post, I present my 2nd podcast.

Listen to Jose and I as we talk about the classic icon, the little blue hedgehog -- Sonic the Hedgehog!

Playing through this game was quite nostalgic. Many of our favorite old stages from back in the Genesis era return to delight us in magnificent 2D and 3D. We look into the pros and cons of the classic and modern Sonics and how they inter-mesh with each other. And, our conversation even turns to include references and similarities with Pokemon!

Listen and enjoy! Leave comments and thoughts!



Sonic Generations trailer below featuring my favorite stage, "City Escape".



Well, guys and gals, that's podcast 2. Next week we'll bring more goodness!

Until then, speed through the grasslands and escape the city.

Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark: Movie Review

 
Hey faithful readers of my remote little place on the web!

It's been a while since I reviewed or looked at a movie, well, at least a new one. Anyway, I finally saw Guillermo Del Toro's Don't Be Afraid of the Dark and I have to say that it turned out to be money well spent when I bought myself a copy. This film, which Del Toro wrote and produced, also happens to be a remake of the 1973 classic of the same name. Now, I purchased this on Blu-ray and I left it sitting on my shelf of to be watched movies for the past several months. I cannot say how long because I have lost count, and the pile just keeps getting higher.

I feel ashamed that I'm falling behind, and on top of that, I going to go buy some more very soon! Yeah, I'm a movie hound, ha.

The movie centers around a young girl named Sally, played by Bailee Madison, who is sent to stay with her father Alex (Guy Pearce) and his new girlfriend Kim (Katie Holmes). Kim and Alex are interior designers who are restoring an old house which holds a dark secret, hiding deep within a cavernous hole behind a locked stone furnace. Little creatures dwell here waiting for the opportunity when an unsuspecting visitor allows them to escape from their cast iron prison. Get where I'm going with this? It should be pretty obvious where this is all heading, but that's doesn't take anything away from what Del Toro delivers to us as a finished product that captures an intense creepy and terrifying atmosphere and feeling.

Oh, no! The fact the movie focuses on a young girl who is caught between separating parents, adjusting to a new would-be mother and emotional detachment issues only adds to the sense of loneliness and fear that follows Sally throughout the entire movie. It works so well here because, from my perspective, as a viewer, I'm curious and mystified by the dangers that lurk around the dark corners, whispering to this innocent girl who already has enough emotional and psychological problems. Does this sound cruel or unusual? No, of course not! The movie is presented to us in this way. We have a 'new' family trying to adjust to each other, but we're keeping our eyes on the child. Del Toro has a way of playing to our sensibilities when he centers his stories around young children.

He invites us to follow Sally into a new world, so to speak, the house and its surroundings. Now this house is immense with its front yard and even larger open back space with tall hedges. It's the kind of house any kid could get lost in for hours, purposefully. We would do it to explore and have fun; however, very quickly, the movie redirects us back to the immediate danger of the little creatures that are eager to escape and "become friends" with Sally. Now, where these creatures become equally effective as dangers is not because they're scary, but rather because they portray a feral and aggressive approach when they attack they're victims.

I mean, some monster or creature movies relied on gross out human chomping, blood and gore to appear dangerous. A couple of examples I can think of: C.H.U.D., Ghoulies, and any creature movie on Sy Fy. These things on the other hand behave like demented psychopaths swinging razor blades, literally too! There are several scenes where the miniature imp-like, gremlins slash and stab an old man across his eye, his wrist, ankle, etc. I cringed the entire time as I watched this poor fool attempt to lock the creatures away, only to fail and fall victim to their malicious and crude attacks. From that first attack since their escape, the creatures run loose throughout the house carrying knives, screwdrivers and what ever other sharp weapons they can find.

Immediately, my attention and concern falls on Sally's safety because they want to kill her throughout the whole film. Everywhere she goes within the house, the darkness seems to follow her and in that darkness you know the creatures are not too far behind. The interesting and surprising detail about the film is that it is a take on the tooth fairy. Yes! You heard or read correctly! This is really a re-imagining of the origins of the tooth fairy but with a horrid twist. And, I liked it! In addition, the house with its lavish and Victorian interior design adds a quality of fantasy and dark Gothic, just a touch, but it all comes together to create an immense feeling that this place is a playground for these creatures and Sally, Alex and Kim are just mice scampering around.

In a way, it also reminded me of Del Toro's other work, Pan's Labyrinth.  

Again, it's very creepy and makes you think of the times you were afraid of the monster under the bed, or the fear of cutting the soft spot across your wrists or ankles. It makes my skin crawl just thinking about this as I write it!



Overall, I found this film to be good creepy fun that delivered on the spooks and very graphic violence.

Until next time, stay in the light!

Cars That Can Drive Themselves!

Hey, Internet World!

I just saw this today and thought, FINALLY! They are working on cars that, eventually, can drive themselves. Man, I can't tell you how impressed and excited I became when I saw this video, which is found below. Already, my thoughts were scrolling through every futuristic anime or movie that depicted what the world or at least traffic would look like if this technology became real.

The only movie I can think off the top of my head is Total Recall. That scene where Arnold gets in the cab and the driver is a robot, yeah, that's the one. It's not exactly driverless, but it's close and a robot is driving and it talked if I remember correctly. Oh, and that's next too! Ha! Robots that can move about society like humans do.

As far as anime, there's too many to name and remember. Anyway, the video is from a German research institute, and the car is still in it's early stages of development. I referring to the driverless computer/A.I. that's been developed to make this happen. I've read another article on this topic which says that here in the U.S., Nevada has greenlit the driverless car as long as it meets certain regulatory conditions that are being established for it.

Now I'm thinking of a driverless Toyota Corolla, the AE86, from Initial D and Bridesmaids. It just reminded me of how Kristin Wiig handled that 86 like a pro! Ha! Can you imagine that car drifting on it's own, without a driver?

As always guys and gals, drive safely. Until Next Time!

Final Fantasy XIII-2: Podcast Review

 
Well, well, here is something new. It's my first podcast, and I'm very excited to share this with the world!

So, what do I have prepared for you? Well, it's a video game review, and it's on none other than Final Fantasy XIII-2. This is the much awaited sequel to last year's FF-XIII.

Okay, first thing, if you're not a gamer...listen anyway! If you are, well check us out, hear the voices of two gamers from NYC. Seriously, I'm being serious now and maybe a bit comical, but gamer or not, I think you'll enjoy the podcast.

We're gamer nerds! Well, I am to a certain degree.

Hey, it's one of several other things that I do besides write stories about robots, zombies, etc. Ha!

I'm joined by me good friend, Jose. We talk about improvements, overall gameplay, and other Final Fantasyisms while comparing XIII-2 to its predecessor to see how the whole thing fared as a final product.

What did I and my fellow gamer co-podcaster think about it? Just listen...





As always Internet listeners, leave feedback! This is something new for me so I'm trying it out to see how it goes. Advice, pointers and comments are helpful and greatly appreciated.

Until next time, peace!

Chronicle: Movie Review

 
Most of us are familiar with superhero movies, stories, etc. Some of them are very enjoyable and other not so much. I personally found stories that focused on the inner turmoil of a character trying to balance their powers while remaining a functional member of society to be quite interesting. They seem, at least to me, to be the closest depiction to actual human interaction, while still exploring the limits of superhuman possibility and social/moral acceptance.

What I am talking about? I don't read American comics, hence American superheroes, except through their film adaptations. I do however read Manga and many of their supernatural stories are referenced in the movie Chronicle.

So, the film documents the story of three high schoolers who stumble upon a strange "alien" object buried or hidden underground. I say "alien" and buried/hidden because neither of these points is explained or verified; although, the nature or format of this movie (more appropriate) can only reveal what our three protagonists encounter. To put it simply, the film is a "found footage" piece that documents the events that transpire after they develop their powers. Things develop rapidly and different social dynamics/situations provide plot points that force the characters to move along and make decisions that lead to an extreme climax that borders on the moralistic social commentary of today's youth.

While the film is about teenagers with superpowers, the real story centers on the relationship between social acceptance and the dangers of abuse and ridicule. In other words, bullying. The movie opens up with Andrew making a documentary about his life and all the social awkward experiences he has for being an introvert. He goes around and records all his daily exploits and as the audience follows him, we see the isolation and bullying he encounters. While most of these are reduced to mere pushing and shoving, the harsher reality appears in the form of his abusive father. However, here is where another dynamic appears. While Andrew bottles his abusive father, he tries to look after his ill mother.

So, this abusive treatment at home coupled with Andrew's already introverted behavior creates a character that is on the verge of  a breakdown. The superpowers will eventually lend a hand in allowing him to release his frustrations but on a grander, out-of-control scale. His only ground with reality comes in the form of his cousin Matt and their friend Steve. All three of them share the same gift and so share the same experiences in discovering their new found powers. However, even as they explore further, Andrew begins to slowly show signs that his introvert shell is cracking and with each abusive situation or conflict that he encounters the more unstable he becomes.

Without giving away any details, Andrew refocuses his perspective and convinces himself that his powers are a gift meant as a means to an end. So he lashes out against aggressors. At first he targets specific people, but after his altered indoctrination, he indiscriminately attacks anyone. Again, all the bottled up rage has spilled over causing Andrew to think irrationally and lose his humanity to some degree. In a way, it reminds me of the Japanese Anime movie Akira.

Originally, my thoughts about this film were somewhat low. Superhero or super powered people movies are hit or miss depending on the writing and focus. And, with teens, my expectations are even further low. I just can't stand the carelessness of young people with superpowers, it honestly irritates me because these are usually handled so poorly. Geez, I hate those so called teens with perfect lives and meaningless conflicts or struggles that don't appeal to no one. So already I thought I was going to detest that fact that this was a movie about teens with superpowers. But, that wasn't the case, thankfully!

Chronicle was a story that depicted a character with a very real conflict that appeals to everyone. We've all been that bullied or ridiculed kid in school. We hated it and there were times that we wanted to beat the crap out of anyone and everyone that ever put us down, but here's where the story also shows the very real and dark consequences of such behavior. Depending on how we handled it the result or final trigger can be very dangerous.

Visually, the film was shot very well considering it was one of those first person shot movies. However, here is where I applauded the filming approach. Throughout the movie, Andrew is filming, so the you rarely see him in the shot, but after he gets his powers he learns to hold his camera with his telekinetic abilities. This becomes a nifty technique because while the audience believes that he is still suspending it in the air, it feels as though the camera was placed there to give us the third person omniscient view that we are used to in other movies. The special effects were integrated so well that the flying scenes looked like actual base jumping or body surfing shots. Even during the climax scenes near the end, the visuals effects of Andrew unleashing his full powers and fighting against Matt resembled something out of an anime. I honestly began to think that this was how they should have filmed that atrocious Dragonball: Evolution movie.



I really enjoyed this film and the development of each of the characters especially Andrew. He wasn't really a villain but more of a misunderstood social outcast. This is something we can all understand and relate to because we have all experienced it in our own way. The writing captured the essence of teenage life and most of its shortcomings. And, I especially liked that behind the superpowers there was a deeper message about understanding, social acceptance and the dangers of abuse, ridicule and isolation.

Until the next one. Stay strong and unafraid.

The Grey: Movie Review

As of late, actor Liam Neeson has been making quite a name for himself as an action/drama movie star and now you can add survivalist to that list.

I have been following his exploits since his film Taken and I was immediately blown away at how he transformed his character from loving and caring parent to hunter. He literally tracks down his daughter's kidnappers with a combination of intelligence tactics and physically persuasive techniques to convince the baddies in his favor. Yeah, beating the crap out of evildoers makes a plan go into motion.

And, I loved every minute of his stampede through Europe to rescue his daughter. His famous "I'll find you and I'll kill you" line has been a trademark that defined him as a badass. He even obliged a fan during a interview on the Graham Norton Show by recording the line as a voicemail greeting. Check the link below. The voice recording segment happens toward the end of the clip, but watch the whole thing, it's great!



Even his next film Unknown is filled with enough suspense, intrigue and action to keep you glued to the screen. Don't take my word for it, just watch it yourself.

Now back to The Grey. After seeing that Neeson had a new film coming out, I became very interested in what this new project might bring. The title alone brings much vagueness and blurriness, and that not because of all the snow falling. Actually, the title plays an important role in foreshadowing the where the film goes and how it ends. I'm not going to reveal anything because I think anyone interested should just go and watch it. Still, however nebulous the trailer might seem, trust me when I say that you're in for quite a treat!

I have to say right away that this movie has increased my fear plane crashes, collisions and freezing. So, around the 15 minute mark, John Ottway's (Neeson) plane crashes over what I believe is somewhere in deep freezing, snowing Alaska. Out of a plane with about 20-30 passengers, only 7 survive the crash. Not much is revealed about the background of any of these characters. Neeson's character's background is slowly explored through flashbacks of himself with another woman who we later understand is his wife.

Immediately, right from the start, as soon as they start to pick themselves up from the devastating crash the principle antagonists are revealed-- THE WOLVES! The film becomes a quest of survival as Neeson's character tries to save anyone from the feral jaws of nature. Why does Neeson's character take it upon himself to play leader and save everyone? Because he's fucking Liam Neeson! And, his character, Ottway, is a hunter and specialist in survival situations; he makes Bear Grylls and any other TV show survivalist look like an amateur. I mean, Neeson's character fights a wolf with his own DAMN BARE HANDS! I was shouting at the top of my lungs when I saw that. Of course, disagreements happen has members from the surviving party question authority and location, but when the wolves start picking them off one-by-one, they just follow.

Going back to my reemerging fears. Yeah, plane crashes and freezing. I have flown in planes and experienced turbulence of different levels, but the fear is always there and I manage to suck it up and just relax. This probably sounds like I'm more nervous about flying then I actually am, but I'm pretty cool. Anyway, crashing first but the freezing is another story. The survivors end up in blizzard conditions, so maintaining warm is a necessity. However, there are moments where Ottway falls into streams of freezing water and I'm like, WHAT! Even after those moments, he forges on. I think I would've died of hypothermia a long time ago. Characters undergo extreme psychological changes that represent real consequences to conditions of near death.

It was just a great movie that continued to carry Liam Neeson's trademark badassness! I mean, he frickin' fought a wolf--with his bare hands!!



Neeson continues to surprise me by how well he adapts to these tough roles. I like it a lot and would be terrified to go up against him and his badassness. Like I said, the film a well worth a watch, and every moment tests and pushes each of the characters to their breaking point. Watching Liam Neeson strap on a makeshift glove/gauntlet/weapon of broken bottles to one hand with tape, and a knife in the other just sent chills down my spin.

Until next time, survive!