Arctic Sunburntag:arcticsunburn.com,2008-11-07://12009-01-02T19:28:40ZClassic Video Games and Movies from the 80sMovable Type 4.21-enMy Favorite Video Game and Movie Reviewers of 2008tag:arcticsunburn.com,2009://1.442009-01-02T18:50:07Z2009-01-02T19:28:40ZThis year I came to discover that there's a lot of great talent out there. Here are some of my favorite video game and movie reviewers of 2008. See who made the list and who didn't...David Andrew Wiebe
Angry Video Game Nerd (James)
Genre: Video reviews of video games and occasional video reviews of movies
I've been following the Angry Video Game Nerd since spring 2007. One of my students told me about him, and I was a little shocked that his parents even allowed him to watch these videos, as they tend to contain rather strong language.
In 2008 the Nerd released 24 videos (including his battle with the Nostalgia Critic). I don't know exactly how much time and effort goes into making these videos, but I'm guessing quite a lot. There may be those who say he's lost his touch, but his videos still make me laugh, and are quite entertaining.
His best moment of 2008 is hard to pinpoint, but his Virtual Boy, Double Vision, Batman, and CD-i videos are probably among the best.
If you decide to check out his videos, be warned that they can be rather crude. He's the Angry Video Game Nerd, after all.
Genre: Video reviews of nostalgic movies, TV shows, and one video game
Really the only reason I know about the Nostalgia Critic is because of the Angry Video Game Nerd. On a whim I decided to check out his videos and I enjoyed them so much that I've been following him ever since.
There was a time when I wouldn't watch anything but the Angry Video Game Nerd, as I thought he was the pinnacle of web-videodom. However, because of the Critic I came to realize that there's actually a lot more talent out there.
His website also features 5 second movies, Ask ThatGuy (a different character), Bum reviews (another character), and other tidbits he's worked on. That Guy with the Glasses.com also features videos from other talent.
His best moment of 2008 was his reviews of Mortal Kombat: Annihilation and Godzilla. The Mortal Kombat review featured "cameos" from Ask ThatGuy and the Bum (all characters played by Doug himself), which was comedic gold. The Godzilla review harped on the creative team who seems to come up with amazing teasers, but whose movies never deliver.
Again, be advised that his reviews contain strong language.
Genre: Video reviews of video games and written movie reviews
I wouldn't even know about Noah if it wasn't for That Guy with the Glasses.com. I caught one of his Final Fantasy VIII videos at That Guy, which compelled me to check out his website.
His reviews are in the style of Mystery Science Theatre 3000, which I thought was awesome. Not only had it been a long time since I'd seen MST3K, but I remembered how much I loved that style of humor.
Noah's videos also tend to be more in-depth than any other reviewer I've seen. Not to say that he's "reviewing" so much as "poking fun", but just to give you an example he has 7 videos on FF VIII which are all 10 minutes or longer.
His best moment in 2008 was by far his review of Phantasmagoria 2: A Puzzle of Flesh. His "review", or rather "experiment" covers almost the entirety of the game (roughly 5 hours of gameplay). Yet every precious minute is comedic gold, as Noah pokes fun at this terribly acted, horribly executed game.
Be warned that his reviews tend to contain strong language, suggestive themes, and mature content.
At long last we come to Eric, who has produced some excellent videos, but hasn't been active for a long time. Best to my knowledge, he doesn't have a website, and hasn't produced any new material in over 10 months.
I came across his videos on YouTube, because he made a response to the Angry Video Game Nerd's review of Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest. I found his response to be quite entertaining and humorous. His other reviews are equally interesting, and (generally speaking) cleaner than the other alternatives.
His best moment so far has been the aforementioned review of Simon's Quest.
If you ever come out with more videos Eric, I would love to see them.
Who were some of your favorite reviewers of 2008?]]>
Upcoming SNES Reviewstag:arcticsunburn.com,2009://1.432009-01-01T20:09:37Z2009-01-01T20:16:28ZOver the Holidays I've been playing a little bit of SNES. I know I posted some upcoming NES reviews recently, but I might be getting to some of these before I get to those NES reviews. In no particular order...David Andrew Wiebe
upcoming NES reviews recently, but I might be getting to some of these before I get to those NES reviews. In no particular order:
Fighter's History
Front Mission
Kawa no Nushi Tsuri 2 (aka Legend of the River King 2)
Pilotwings
Seiken Densetsu 2 (aka Secret of Mana)
Sim City
Super Fire Pro Wrestling 2
Zelda no Densetsu - Kamigami no Triforce (aka The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past)]]>
MAGFesttag:arcticsunburn.com,2009://1.422009-01-01T19:54:34Z2009-01-01T20:03:59ZTommy Tallarico will be speaking at MAGFest (January 1 - 4) this year. This sounds like a really fun festival and I wish I could go...David Andrew Wiebe
Tommy Tallarico will be speaking at MAGFest (January 1 - 4) this year. This sounds like a really fun festival and I wish I could go!
If you're in the VA area, I'd encourage you to look it up.
For more information:
MAGFest Video Games Live
]]>
Video Games Live: 2008 in Reviewtag:arcticsunburn.com,2009://1.412009-01-01T18:55:50Z2009-01-01T19:07:45Z2008 was a big year for Video Games Live, and one of their most successful...David Andrew Wiebe
Performed 47 shows around the world
Released their first album
Included in the Guinness Book of World Records
Of course, you can always read more about this on their website.
I attended a Video Games Live concert in 2007 in Calgary, Alberta and lead to my interview with Tommy Tallarico. It was an awesome experience; the music was phenomenal, and the presentation was a lot of fun. I would definitely recommend attending a concert if you haven't had the chance yet.
Read my concert experience if you want to learn more.]]>
Happy New Year!tag:arcticsunburn.com,2009://1.402009-01-01T18:39:17Z2009-01-01T18:45:06ZI hope that your New Year's Eve was an enjoyable one. I'm looking forward to another year of gaming and watching movies...David Andrew Wiebe
I hope that 2009 will be your best year yet, and that my site can be a source of fun and entertainment to you.
God bless.
]]>
Merry Christmas!tag:arcticsunburn.com,2008://1.392008-12-20T18:59:01Z2008-12-21T00:04:11ZThanks for stopping by. Updates will resume in the New Year...David Andrew Wiebe
My band, Angels Breaking Silence just released a new demo on MySpace. Check it out!
God bless.]]>
Upcoming NES Reviewstag:arcticsunburn.com,2008://1.382008-12-18T22:12:25Z2008-12-18T22:51:36ZIn no particular order...David Andrew Wiebe
Final Fantasy II
Super Mario Bros.
Majou Densetsu 2 - Daimashikyou Galious
Super Star Force
Dragon Quest III
Dragon Quest IV
Dr. Mario
Dragon Ball - Dai Maou Fukkatsu
Dragon Ball Z II - Gekishin Freeza!!
Rockman 5 - Blues no Wana!? (aka Mega Man 5)
Yoshi no Cookie (aka Yoshi's Cookie)
Super Chinese 2 - Dragon Kid]]>
Super Chinese 3 Reviewtag:arcticsunburn.com,2008://1.372008-12-13T23:54:26Z2008-12-14T00:21:59ZSuper Chinese 3 was developed by Culture Brain and was released in 1991. The game was never released outside of Japan...David Andrew WiebeSuper Chinese 3 was developed by Culture Brain and was released in 1991. The game was never released outside of Japan.
Best of Both Worlds?
Super Chinese 3 is an Action RPG and therefore combines elements from both genres. Talking to NPCs, walking around the world map, menu screens and most boss battles use a traditional RPG system, while random encounters, dungeons, and other side-scrolling stages involve running, jumping, and a variety of attack maneuvers.
2 Player Co-Op
The game features a 2 player mode, so the action elements can be enjoyed together. For better or for worse it is possible to attack, damage, and kill your ally. This can add to the enjoyment of the game, but it can also add to the frustration for obvious reasons. For the most part, it's to your benefit to have an ally, and it appears that the game was developed with 2 players in mind.
A Brave New World
Super Chinese 3 features an expansive world and a variety of cities, dungeons, and boss lairs to explore. This game is packed to the rafters, and was developed by a relatively small team (only a dozen or so developers are credited).
Gameplay
Controls
The controls are simple and responsive, though it seems like the functions of the A button (punch) and the B button (jump, acrobatic kick) should have been flipped.
The variety of movements is fairly impressive. When you press A and B together you get a powered-up acrobatic kick. You are also capable or running (and combining it with other actions), as well as picking up weapons and using them against your foes (nunchucks, lightsabers).
Running (hit direction twice and hold) can feel a little slippery, and it's pretty hard to stop once you get going. Your inclination might be to run through the side-scrolling stages, but you would be subjecting yourself to the many hazards ahead, so for the most part it's in your best interest to avoid running.
High Encounter Rate
Random encounters are superfluous in this game. Sometimes you encounter enemies without even moving a single square. As fun as the action is, it gets to be a bit much. Still, it's in your best interest to be close to the max level (50) for the final dungeon and boss battles, and chances are you haven't reached the max level when you reach that point in the game, so in a sense, it's a necessary evil.
Compulsory Mini-Games
There are certain mini-games that have to be completed before you can move on in the story. As simple as they are, some of them depend on your sense of timing and can take a lot of time to complete. When I played this game as a kid, I remember resetting the game because I couldn't get the guy's face to match up (yes, that's one of the mini-games).
Do This, Then Do That
Of course, like most primitive RPGs, you have to complete one task before you can move on to the next one. There's a certain point in the game where you have to go looking for the scientist across the whole world. Eventually you have to return to the city where you need him to come to, only to find that he's already there. Unfortunately, the game isn't entirely clear when this series of events takes place, or what conditions you have to meet for this to happen. For me, this part of the game took more time than any other part. I never made it passed this part in the game as a kid.
Oh, and you can't transport from one city to the other using a spell. No, that would be too convenient. You have to use your boat. That means more encounters. A LOT more.
A Hodgepodge
Super Chinese 3 borrows from a lot of other successful games. I'm not going to name any in particular (ahem, Super Mario Bros., Double Dragon *gasp*), but at least Culture Brain knew where to borrow from. It's like Aerosmith; they borrow from some of the best music out there, and make it their own. And they've been very successful.
At least the game doesn't take itself too seriously. The little boy who accompanies our heroes tries to contribute to the party by farting at the boss (occasionally he does other useful things too). There are a number of one-off gags which are either irritating, or marginally funny. I find this to be an endearing quality of the game, even if I didn't laugh much.
The game is also full of pop culture references. For example, when you visit the science capital of the world there's a NPC who recites the famous Back to the Future line about 1.21 Gigawatts.
RPG Style Boss Battles
I must say I enjoyed the RPG style boss battles. Even with all the endlessly monotonous encounters, the RPG elements helped the game from becoming one-dimensional. Even in the RPG style combat, the characters move around when attacking or dodging attacks, which is something Enix hadn't done yet.
Graphics
A Blast from the Past
The graphics are actually pretty good for a Famicom game. I can't see any traces of laziness here, just limitations of the console. It's true that certain graphics get recycled and used over but you can tell they would have done more with the game if the console were able to handle it. The variety in enemies, backgrounds, and locations is impressive.
Sound & Music
Familiar Sound Effects
Certain sound effects remind me of Super Mario Bros. while others seem relatively original. At least the game is welcoming, because familiar auditory cues help you to understand what's going on (or what's about to happen).
One of the Best Famicom Soundtracks?
Besides Mega Man, this game has one of the most original and best sounding soundtracks I've heard for Famicom. My favorites include the boss theme and airship theme.
Overall 7.5/10
Before Its Time?
Super Chinese 3 was an ambitious project, and as I've already mentioned, it was packed to the rafters. I have to give the game extra points for this feat, because there weren't many Famicom games that tried to provide this much content. The Action-RPG style gameplay suits me well, though for most people I'm sure it would feel outdated. If they had spent a little more time in balancing combat vs. leveling (& finances) and developing the storyline, they could have had a truly superb game on their hands. The ending really isn't anything special, and like most early games, the reward is in playing it, not in finishing it.]]>
Famicom Jump - Hero Retsuden Reviewtag:arcticsunburn.com,2008://1.362008-12-05T00:32:17Z2008-12-05T00:39:55ZFamicom Jump - Hero Retsuden was released in 1988 for the Nintendo Famicom. The game was published by Bandai, and commemorated the 20th Anniversary of Weekly Shonen Jump...David Andrew Wiebe
Famicom Jump - Hero Retsuden was released in 1988 for the Nintendo Famicom. The game was published by Bandai, and commemorated the 20th Anniversary of Weekly Shonen Jump.
Weekly Shonen Jump is a popular manga publication in Japan. Each week the artists release the latest episode in their respective series (usually about 20 pages or less), and these episodes are published in one big magazine.
Famicom Jump, a crossover RPG, tried to capitalize on the popularity of favorite Japanese pastimes: reading Jump, and playing video games. This game would have failed miserably in North America, but in Japan the cultural influence of manga cannot be underestimated.
The game features mini games in a variety of genres, Action style combat, and of course the usual RPG fare (walking around the world map, dialogue boxes, etc.). It's kind of a mixed bag. I won't deny that it's a relatively fun game, but it's not without its obvious flaws and shortcomings.
For one thing, the game never comes out and spells out anything for you. It's incredibly cryptic. You're not really sure of your objectives and goals in the game, except that you're supposed to defeat the evil Piccolo. There are NPCs who dispense various "hints" but they're always roundabout and indirect, and you're never sure exactly how they pertain to your situation.
It's easy enough to figure out what you're supposed to do early game, but oftentimes you have no particular objective except to befriend new party members (2 per area), and move on to the next area. Sometimes there are dungeons to complete and other times there aren't, so you're never sure when to move on. The dungeons tend to be quite redundant and they all look similar. Some of them are easy enough to navigate, but still others are like mazes, and could take you a very long time to beat without a map.
The game only increases in complexity when you obtain the time machine. Sometimes this means you have twice the work to do, because you need to meet new party members in the past and the present! Other times, going to the past has no effect at all, and you can't enter any of the cities or dungeons. And still other times you can enter them when you have met certain criteria. Again, most of the time the game isn't entirely clear on when you're supposed to move on and there can be penalties for entering certain areas before you're supposed to.
Sometimes you're supposed to lose the mini games before the story progresses, but again, it's never entirely clear when. Let's just say it's a hard game to beat without a good guide.
Famicom Jump is notoriously difficult and frustrating in the long tradition of arduous Famicom games. That is to say, this isn't the only game that caused people a lot of grief. The passwords in this game were unnecessarily long, and this is not a game you would want to complete in one sitting. Thank God I was able to use an emulator this time.
Gameplay
The controls are responsive, and simple enough. With some mini games it's hard to tell what you're supposed to do, so it's a matter of trial and error. The mini games are pretty fun, but the combat is monotonous, and the tasks are painstaking and cryptic.
Graphics
I wasn't overly impressed with the graphics, but the game still looks decent enough. You can tell there was a lot of work that went into it, it's just a shame they didn't pay more attention to the gameplay.
Sound & Music
There were some good themes in this game, and a good variety. Unfortunately some of the themes are all too repetitive, and ill-composed. Again, you can tell someone put a lot of work into this, but it's too bad the game itself doesn't really live up to it; it's better than the sum of its parts.
Overall 6/10
This game had some high moments and some low moments. I was able to complete it, but only with the help of multiple guides. I'm not sure how anyone ever figured it out, and this is something that should have been addressed in the beta stage. I'm pretty sure that there were areas in the game I never explored, and I guess it was never necessary. Don't attempt the game if a) you don't understand Japanese, and b) you don't have a guide.]]>
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Reviewtag:arcticsunburn.com,2008://1.352008-11-24T19:14:47Z2008-11-24T19:33:33ZBetter known as Teenage Mutant Turtles II: The Arcade Game, TMNT was developed and released by Konami in 1989. This side-scrolling beat'em up game was simply titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in Japan, where I first purchased and played the game...David Andrew WiebeBetter known as Teenage Mutant Turtles II: The Arcade Game, TMNT was developed and released by Konami in 1989. This side-scrolling beat'em up game was simply titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in Japan, where I first purchased and played the game.
I remember this game with great fondness, and I was excited to see a Ninja Turtles game in Japan, where the comic book and TV series were not as widely known. I remember that the game delivered everything I had hoped for, and didn't disappoint.
Now that the fog of childhood excitement has cleared, I can give my honest opinions of this game without any reservation. Does it stand up to the test of time, or does it fall short?
Something I loved about this game as a kid was the 2 player co-op mode. This was, in fact, my preferred method of play as a kid, because it made it a lot easier to beat the game. It was difficult enough that we couldn't beat it every time, but typically you could make it a lot farther with 2 players as opposed to 1. This time I played the game alone, and I must admit that this did have an impact on my overall enjoyment of the game. It's better with 2 players, but it's not bad as 1 player.
Another thing I loved about the game was the gameplay. The controls were simple and responsive, and the boss battles were challenging. The gameplay is still pretty fun, if somewhat monotonous. Most of the time you jump, kick, and repeat, which is your basic strategy for most boss battles.
Of course, part of the appeal of this game is the Turtles universe, which they took full advantage of (unlike some movies or games I could mention). They could have released this game under the guise of another hero quartet, but somehow I just don't think it would have been as satisfying. This is where it gets a little difficult to rate as a game, because those who grew up with the Ninja Turtles are familiar with the universe and the characters, but those didn't grow up with the Ninja Turtles might have a different view of this game altogether.
Gameplay
As per aforementioned, the gameplay is simple and the controls are responsive. I like how you can combine your jump with an attack (jump-kick), and if you hit the buttons simultaneously, you can get another "special attack" that brings Foot soldiers down in one hit. I like the variety in movements, but most of the time you're going to be using the jump-kick or the special attack because they are more effective and it's easier to avoid enemy attacks. Unlike Final Mission, there are a fair number of stages to the game, and it still retains a good level of challenge.
Graphics
The graphics were impressive at best, and par at worst. I like the variety in expressions and actions the Turtles can take, and you can tell they paid a great deal of attention to detail here. Of course, some of the backgrounds are a little underdeveloped, and you can tell they recycled the Foot soldier graphic (merely changed the color of it), but this was common practice at the time. All in all, it looks a lot better than a lot of other NES games, so I'm not going to dock any points here.
Sound & Music
I like the fact that they made use of the Turtles' theme, and also created variations on it. Some of the loops tend to be fairly short and repeat too often, but there are also some pretty good themes here. My favorites were the snow level and the Technodrome themes.
Overall 7.5/10
This game may not be the cream of the crop, but I have to admit it's still a fairly well developed game. It's a bit like Contra combined with Double Dragon, if I had to make comparisons (although not as memorable as either). I realize I was a lot more forgiving of games like this as a kid. You almost never knew what you were getting when you went out and bought NES games, and fortunately this one turned out to be one of the better ones in my collection. Give it a whirl if you have some spare time.]]>
Final Mission Reviewtag:arcticsunburn.com,2008://1.342008-11-23T06:26:26Z2008-11-23T06:31:56ZFinal Mission (a.k.a. S.C.A.T. Special Cybernetic Attack Team) is a side-scrolling shooter developed by Natsume and released in 1990 (1991 in the United States)...David Andrew WiebeFinal Mission (a.k.a. S.C.A.T. Special Cybernetic Attack Team) is a side-scrolling shooter developed by Natsume and released in 1990 (1991 in the United States).
It's a hard game. Seriously. My understanding is that there are subtle differences between the Japanese and American version, namely the Japanese version is a lot harder, and I played the Japanese version.
This shooter closely resembles Contra in many respects. The heroes look similar, the weapon upgrades are similar, even the sound effects sound similar. The main difference is that the heroes use jetpacks to float around the level, and have orbital cannons. These cannons circle around the heroes as they move around, but they can also be locked in order to target enemies in harder-to-reach areas (i.e. top or bottom of the screen).
The hero only has three bars of health to begin with - although you gain another bar of health every 10,000 points - once you've been hit three times the game is over. I would suspect that the average player wouldn't be able to beat the first level on their first six tries, so that's some indication of how difficult it is. Stage 4 and 5 are particularly difficult, with laser beam cannons, indestructible ships that take up 3/8 of the screen, and enemies that scatter multiple bullets across the screen.
On the up side, there are only 5 stages and 5 bosses in the entire game (although there are some mid-level encounters as well). This makes it a relatively short game. On the one hand, such a difficult game shouldn't go on any longer than that, but on the other hand, it's just lazy. I mean, why not have 12 stages that gradually increase in difficulty rather than 5 stages that weed out all but the serious gamers. I kind of saw it as a personal challenge, so I went ahead and beat the stupid game (though not without the help of an emulator).
Gameplay
Okay, I do have to admit this is a pretty fun game. It's a bit of a button masher, because one button is used to fire and the other to lock your orbital cannons, so really you're only using one button 95% of the time. The overall difficulty is a bit ridiculous, and I still think it would have been better with more stages.
Graphics
Not very good. Again, slight differences here in the American release vs. the Japanese release, but the original game's graphics aren't good even by NES standards. Backgrounds are primitive, and the heroes and enemies look even worse. The gameplay certainly matters more to me than the graphics, but it does seem a little lazy, like other aspects of the game.
Sound & Music
All the sound effects could very well be direct rip-offs of Contra and I would be none the wiser. However, I liked the Contra sound effects so that's not saying much. The music was anything but memorable. It was kind of just there. The only thing that could redeem a game like this is really intense music, but again there was nothing overly memorable about here.
Overall 5/10
Okay, so it probably sounds like I didn't really like this game. Don't get me wrong, it's a fun shooter if you have a lot of patience and time to kill. It has its moments, but there are definitely better games out there. The reason I couldn't give it less than a 5 is because it's actually a fully developed (well, sort of), functional game. I don't think I would play it again now that I've finished it, but maybe I would try the 2 player co-op mode.]]>
The Wedding Singer Reviewtag:arcticsunburn.com,2008://1.302008-11-17T21:12:29Z2008-11-17T21:52:43ZThe Wedding Singer refers to the 1998 nostalgic 80s Comedy written by Tim Herlihy, starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. The setting of the movie is in 1985, and Sandler plays a popular wedding singer, Robbie Hart, who sings hits from the 80s. When his fiancee, Linda (Angela Featherstone) dumps him on his wedding day, he becomes friends with Julia (Drew Barrymore), a waitress, and helps her make arrangements for her wedding. In the process, they fall in love with each other and realize that they have both picked wrong partners...David Andrew WiebeThe Wedding Singer refers to the 1998 nostalgic 80s Comedy written by Tim Herlihy, starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. The setting of the movie is in 1985, and Sandler plays a popular wedding singer, Robbie Hart, who sings hits from the 80s. When his fiancée, Linda (Angela Featherstone) dumps him on his wedding day, he becomes friends with Julia (Drew Barrymore), a waitress, and helps her make arrangements for her wedding. In the process, they fall in love with each other and realize that they have both picked wrong partners.
Everything about the idea of a wedding singer is endearing already, but add to that some of the best 80s music and lighthearted (and sometimes absurd) comedy and you have The Wedding Singer. Some look back on the 80s in fondness, while others don't regard it with much enthusiasm. This movie certainly wears the 80s on its sleeve, perhaps more so than many movies from the 80s, and may not appeal to those who would rather forget than remember. However, I think it's a fun, enjoyable film.
The Wedding Singer is perhaps one of my favorite Comedy movies from the 90s, and there are several reasons for this. Firstly, Adam Sandler's outbursts are always fun to watch, and are reminiscent of Happy Gilmore, another favorite Comedy of mine. Secondly, the movie is set in the 80s. I'm not exactly a 80s kid, but I was born in the 80s, and love the music (and some of the fashion) from the 80s. Thirdly, I play music myself, so I can relate to having to find gigs and performing on days I didn't really feel like performing. It's fun to watch Sandler sing songs like "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)". Finally, it's an uplifting story about finding true love, a subject most people can relate to (on different levels).
The movie, to me, encompasses an easily relatable story and era. What are your thoughts on this movie? Are you a fan of the 80s? What were some of your favorite songs from the 80s?]]>
Rocky Reviewtag:arcticsunburn.com,2008://1.292008-11-17T19:23:31Z2008-11-17T19:55:26ZWhat can I say about Rocky that hasn't already been said? This 1976 film written by Sylvester Stallone is remembered fondly by many, and is so widely acknowledged that it's practically a self-caricature (i.e. Rocky running up the steps and raising his arms in victory, Rocky yelling "Adrian!" repeatedly at the end of the movie)...David Andrew WiebeWhat can I say about Rocky that hasn't already been said? This 1976 film written by Sylvester Stallone is remembered fondly by many, and is so widely acknowledged that it's practically a self-caricature (i.e. Rocky running up the steps and raising his arms in victory, Rocky yelling "Adrian!" repeatedly at the end of the movie).
Rocky Balboa, an amateur boxer, is presented with the opportunity of a lifetime: to fight the heavyweight champion in a title match. After some hesitation, Rocky trains under the direction of Mickey. Apollo Creed, the heavyweight champ, just views it as a show, but Rocky means business. Ultimately, this movie is a love story about Rocky and Adrian, where most of the character development happens.
Best I can remember last Saturday was the first time I've ever seen the whole film. It's a little bit before my time you could say, but with all the hype surrounding the release of Rocky Balboa, I had to see it for myself.
There's something about the story of an underdog that always fires me up, and this movie fits that description to a tee. These "Cinderella stories" are both inspiring and thought-provoking. I am often confronted with my own failures and victories, and my own shortfalls and triumphs. It inspires me to try harder.
Some may disagree, but I believe this movie is really as much about love as it is about boxing. Rocky's only concern after his bout with Apollo is Adrian. A good portion of the film is in fact about Rocky's many attempts at wooing Adrian. Most of the story revolves around these two characters.
In the end, I found it to be a very entertaining and poignant film. Stallone's writing was impressive. The acting was also surprisingly good. I don't really have anything bad to say about it.]]>
Jackie Chan's Project A 2 Reviewtag:arcticsunburn.com,2008://1.282008-11-17T18:42:59Z2008-11-17T19:13:28ZProject A 2 is different from legions of other Jackie Chan movies in some respects. For one thing, Jackie Chan plays the straight man instead of a comedic role. That's not to say that the movie is without moments of comedic relief, but Chan's character, Dragon Mao, is in fact a relatively stoic character. With that being said, the movie is still everything you would expect from a Jackie Chan movie; plenty of Kung Fu action and outrageous stunts...David Andrew WiebeProject A 2 is different from legions of other Jackie Chan movies in some respects. For one thing, Jackie Chan plays the straight man instead of a comedic role. That's not to say that the movie is without moments of comedic relief, but Chan's character, Dragon Mao, is in fact a relatively stoic character. With that being said, the movie is still everything you would expect from a Jackie Chan movie; plenty of Kung Fu action and outrageous stunts.
In Project A 2, Mao is assigned to the police force. His assignment is to administer and monitor the corrupt practices of the local police. He learns the whereabouts of a known criminal and goes to arrest him but the criminal boss and his minions aren't going down without a fight. Ultimately, Mao is able to arrest them with the help of his friends in the navy. This is where the story gets a little convoluted.
Mao, having arrested the criminal boss, is assigned to a new task. He is to be chief of security at a party. A revolutionary faction is bent on stealing the jewels at this party, and pandemonium ensues. Mao is set up, and has to be arrested. However, having rid of Pirate Lo in the previous film, Mao becomes the target of Lo's minions. This is where the chaos really begins, as the revolutionary faction, the pirates, the police, and the government converges on an epic clash, each with their own agenda.
All in all, this was a really entertaining film. The Kung Fu action and the stunts were incredible as always, and the plot kept you engaged. Even though this film took a great deal of effort, I like how it looks completely effortless. It looks simple enough conceptually, but its scope is truly epic.]]>
Video Games Live Concert Reviewtag:arcticsunburn.com,2008://1.272008-11-13T19:13:32Z2008-11-13T19:15:17ZIf you would like to read my review of the Video Games Live concert I attended, please follow the link...David Andrew Wiebe
my review of the Video Games Live concert I attended, please follow the link. ]]>
Genre: Video reviews of video games and occasional video reviews of movies
Genre: Video reviews of nostalgic movies, TV shows, and one video game
Genre: Video reviews of video games and written movie reviews
Super Chinese 3 was developed by Culture Brain and was released in 1991. The game was never released outside of Japan.
Famicom Jump - Hero Retsuden was released in 1988 for the Nintendo Famicom. The game was published by Bandai, and commemorated the 20th Anniversary of Weekly Shonen Jump.
Better known as Teenage Mutant Turtles II: The Arcade Game, TMNT was developed and released by Konami in 1989. This side-scrolling beat'em up game was simply titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in Japan, where I first purchased and played the game.
Final Mission (a.k.a. S.C.A.T. Special Cybernetic Attack Team) is a side-scrolling shooter developed by Natsume and released in 1990 (1991 in the United States).
