Game Review: Bioshock Infinite (PC)

"Booker, Are you afraid of God?"

"No. But I'm afraid of you."

Welcome to Columbia.

  I've always loved a good, complex story. Two of my favorite movies of all time are The Prestige, and Inception. Which if you've seen, you know these are very intricate and complicated movies. Bioshock Infinite's story might not stack up to these examples, but it has no shortage of complexity. Immediately upon beating the game I rushed to the forums of gaming sites to see all the theories behind the ending. I saw some things that I had missed, as the ending throws EVERYTHING at you at once, so it's quite hard to take it all in immediately. I saw theory after well-thought out theory, and there was plenty of controversy to be had. This alone to me, was the thing that made the game so special. A modern game that compares to it well, is Alan Wake. Scour the internet for more than 10 minutes about the game and you'll be waist deep in fan theories about it's climax. Infinite is the same way.

  By this point, you know that Ken Levine has set the bar for gripping twists in video game stories. So, in possibly his last entrance to the series, has he done it again? Well, I can't say. But what would be the bigger twist now, if there was a twist, or wasn't one? What if the twist was that there wasn't a twist at all? Nah, I'm only kidding, of course there's a twist. And it will probably floor you. I can't get into all that, so I'll move on to giving you an idea of what this game is all about.

Columbia is one of the most fully realized settings ever put into a video game.     

  It's 1912. Well, 1912 in an alternate reality. You are Booker DeWitt, and you start with one seemingly simple goal : Bring us the girl and wipe away the debt. The problem is, Booker doesn't really know who the girl is, sparing a few minor details. There's another problem. This girl just happens to be being held prisoner in a floating city in the clouds. There's clearly some sci-fi craziness going on here. The true wonder here though, is how believable this utopia is. I found myself at certain times wondering, "Is this really possible?" From the townsfolk, to the scenery and advertisements, Columbia feels like a fully fleshed out city from the early 1900's. It just happens to be floating in the sky. The city itself, like Rapture before it, is the true star here. It inspires awe, while delivering chills all-the-same. The characters are beautifully brought to life and acted, and Elizabeth ranks among the best female character ever in a video game. I truly enjoyed my time playing with her by my side, and at no time did it ever feel like I was babysitting, she was truly helpful and never in the way.

It takes a while before Elizabeth warms up to her kidnapper.        

  The story is still the main driving force in the series, and I would argue especially with this one. Even the underlying themes in Columbia are deep, ranging from racism to sexism to religion. The antagonist of the game, Zachary Hale Comstock or "The Prophet", has created a utopia, or dystopia, based on his ideals, which aren't always so pure. The racism in Infinite shocked me, as I wasn't expecting it at all. It plays a central part of the underlying war between the Prophet's army and the "Vox" populi, the rebels so to speak, led by Daisy Fitzroy, a black woman trying to free her people of oppression. The founding father's are looked upon as gods in Columbia, and even the patriots, large robotic chain-gun wielding enemies, are modeled after George Washington. Interestingly enough, Lincoln is hated, presumably for freeing the slaves, and John Wilkes Booth is another idol of Columbia. The lore is deeply woven into every bit of Columbia, and the voxophones (audio logs found around Columbia) were a joy to find and listen to as they really helped flesh out some of the more vague parts of the lore.

Bioshock Infinite's story relies heavily on sci-fi staples such as alternate realities.   

   I had read in other reviews before I started the game, that the combat was the major downfall and most people were rushing through to get to the next story segment. I never really felt this way. There were certainly times where combat was quite annoying and seemed put thrown in to artificially lengthen the game, but by the end I was having a blast with all my vigor abilites. I was actively looking for enemies so I could set up a new trap or try out a new vigor combination. Like in previous Bioshock games, the combat consists of your typical running and shooting, and magical abilities ; now called vigors. Most of my time, I was using Vigors and only shooting when neccessary. Although the shooting in this game is spot on. Guns truly feel powerful, and a headshot is devastating. Enemies react to gunfire very satisfyingly and I never really felt like I was being cheated by an enemy taking too little damage. Then enters Elizabeth, a pyschic beast who can bend environments to her will, which makes for some interesting strategies in the harder battles the game offers.

  Which brings me to the enemies. There are a few different types to hit on. You have your basic infantry units, who are just gun weilding soldiers. Next in the chain, are the Patriots. Large, almost humorous, robotic replicas of George Washington. After that, you have the Handyman, which is basically Infinite's version of a Big Daddy. Though way faster and more agile. Every encounter with these enemies was both fun, and terrifying. Then lastly, there's the Songbird. A huge mechanical bird tasked with guarding Elizabeth from leaving her tower. After breaking Elizabeth out, Songbird is not one bit happy and pursues you throughout the game. This led to some very intense moments when Songbird would show up out of nowhere just to terrify me. Even the Songbird has a deep, though hidden, back-story and I felt pity for it rather than dislike. There is the occasional boss battle, but nothing really stood out. Combat worked for me, the enemies were fun and ridiculous, and the AI companionship was miraculously well done.

You will build a true connection with Elizabeth and want desperately to protect her.    

   In past Bioshock entries, the game has tended to flicker out in the final acts. This is not the case with Infinite. In fact, it's quite the opposite. The game builds and builds until the final moments when everything is thrown on you at once. Some people hated that everything was all laid out in one spot, but I personally loved it. It's been almost a week now, and I'm still listening to spoiler-casts, reading forums and discussing the story with other gamers. This to me, is the tell of a truly good story. If I have any complaints about the game, it would likely be the complete lack of puzzles. The game truly is just blasting your way from one cutscene to the next, for better or worse. Still, I have to consider that puzzles might have just gotten in the way. I was always dying to get to the next story segment, and a really hard puzzle slowing me down would have likely only deterred me.

I was continuously surprised throughout the game, as there was always some cool new easter egg or scenery, or event around the next corner. I would play Infinite again, and I will, which is something I rarely do. I wanna see all the little things I may have missed, and re-watch some of the more beautiful scenes. I will keep this game around for a very long time. Long story short : Bioshock Infinite is one the best games in recent years.

                                                                     Final Verdict

                                            
- Darrell

Game Review : The Last Of Us (PS3)

This has been a good week for me. I finally got some time to sit down and work through some of my backlog of games. It just so happens, that the first two I checked off, are the two biggest contenders for GOTY. Its been a pleasant 3 days of gaming. So onto the review for The Last of Us.

  If I were to sit down and truly imagine what a real life "zombie" apocalypse would be like, I struggle to see how I could come anywhere close to the realism of The Last of Us. Naughty Dogs re-imagining of the typical end of the world trope has changed the way I look at video games as a medium. Not since Telltale Games unbelievable "The Walking Dead" episodic series have I felt such a connection to a video game's characters. Character progression? The Last of Us practically oozes it. A good, emotionally gripping story? One of the best I've ever seen, in any medium. Naughty Dog put so much detail into every inch of The Last of Us, that I have absolutely no problem in saying, The Last of Us is the most well-made video game I've ever played. And it isn't even close. It does so much right, that I don't even know where to begin, but I'll start where The Last Of Us really shines: environmental story-telling.

   Everything in this world seems REAL. Existent. Joel and Ellie will have conversations about the simplest things. Walk past a barbecue grill, and Joel will explain to Ellie what they were used for in his day. Or passing an Ice Cream truck, Ellie might ask what it is. See, The Last Of Us takes place 20 years in the future. 2o years after the disease spread. Ellie is 14, and this destroyed desolate world, is the only one she has ever known. Joel was roughly 30 when the infection broke, so he's seen both worlds. He tells Ellie stories of how the world was before. This is all fluidly blended into the games exploration. Run through, and you'll likely miss some of the more touching moments the game has to offer. Naughty Dog not only reflects what a pandemic like this might actually be like, but also shines light on the stupid things we care about in these times. As I look at a poster of a model on the side of a decaying building, Ellie chimes in. "Why is she so skinny? I thought you had lots of food in your day?" "We did, some people just chose not to eat it. Some people liked looking that way." "That's stupid." Ellie intelligently responds. Stand still for a while and Ellie might pull out her joke book to lighten the mood. So many little moments like this make you feel like you really know these characters, and you genuinely share a connection with them. And these characters,.. wow. Naughty Dog has truly set the bar for animation and facial expression in video games. I swear Ellie's eyes are as real as you or mine. Every story sequence is so masterfully acted and crafted, that it's likely better than any movie you'll see this year.

The facial expressions alone tell the feelings of each character.

                                                       
  Graphically, from facial animation to hair and environments, The Last of Us looks like a next generation game. It's baffling the amount of visual detail they were able to squeeze out of an 8 year old console. The Last of Us is nearly flawless in terms of technical glitches, albeit a few rare quips here and there. The environments are rich with history and detail, every abandoned house tells a story. The foliage is especially beautiful, particularly in the areas where nature has retaken ownership. Former parking lots are now covered in grass and trees. A once luxury hotel now has a swamp occupying the lobby. A school building now hosts a group of bandits. I could go on for a very long time. Just know, that so much care has been embedded into this game that it would be a travesty for Naughty Dog to not have their work experienced by everyone.

The environments just beg to be explored.

                                                                 
  The story of The Last of Us stands among the greatest ever told in a video game. I honestly cant think of one that tops it, and the only one I can even consider coming close is the afore-mentioned Walking Dead series. If you're reading this, you likely have at least a vague idea of the story, so I won't dive too deep into it (It would be very hard to without spoiling anything anyway), but I'll give a vague outline. The majority of the story focuses on Joel, the protagonist, as he missions to safely transport Ellie, a girl who may well be the answer for everything as she is immune to the infection, to a group of doctors and scientists who believe she may hold the cure. Ellie is kinda thrown on Joel unexpectadly, and because of such, he is at first hesitant and reluctant. Their first few hours together are untrusting and awkward, but as the game progresses they slowly become more comfortable and begin to show small concerns for one another. The character progression from start to finish is absolutely amazing. This is championed by the amazing direction and voice acting. Even small side characters who you'll meet on your journey, are truly believable and unique with their own personalities. I was torn between rushing so I could get to that next story sequence I so craved to see, or to explore every inch in an environment and possibly find something useful or another conversation segment. Your journey will take you from Boston to Utah, across country, on everything from foot, to car, and horseback. You'll pass through several cities, towns, and nature regions along the way.

  The mood is dark, there's no denying it. This isn't your typical video game happy story. People will die, people you care about. No one is safe. There is plenty of tragedy, but this is how this reality would be. You fight, or you die. You kill, or be killed. I'll add that I'm not one to get emotionally caught up in ANY medium. The Walking Dead is the only game, movie, etc, to ever make me shed real tears. That was, until I played the Last of Us. I made it through 90 percent of the game before it reached me. Near the end of the game, one simple, yet incredibly moving scene, completely broke me. And it wasn't a sad moment. It was a HAPPY moment. Right after one of the most hurtful moments in the game, after a heart-wrenching sequence, one small "light in the darkness" so to speak, turned me into a little boy. The mood is so bleak, and these characters go through so much, that when this beautiful yet small almost meaningless sequence occurred, I immediately had happy tears flowing down my cheeks. I felt what these characters must have felt, and for that Naughty Dog, I applaud you.

Naughty Dog excels in visual story-telling.

   The combat is good. It's not the best I've played, but it works with the realism of the game. I had a blast with the stealth aspects of the combat. There are however, a lot of areas where stealth is basically impossible. Even then, combat works fine, it's fluid, and fun. Finding supplies, you can craft items such as health kits, shivs, bombs, etc. Weapons are also upgradeable through the use of tools and workbenches. I won't talk much about all these mechanics, as it goes pretty deep, and though while enjoyable, to me it was just a way of moving through the story and seeing everything. The difficulty on normal was rather easy, and I only encountered a few areas that I had to replay more than 3 or 4 times. Even dying isn't much of a pain since the game saves every few minutes, and load times after death are rather short.

  The main enemies are really broken into 3 categories. Human, infected Humans called "Runners", and fully infected humans called "clickers" as the infection has caused them to go blind and rely on their sensitive hearing. Stand directly in front of a clicker, and they won't see you. Unless you make a noise. Though, if they hear you and charge you, they're one hit kills. This leads to some pretty intense moments in dark buildings and tunnels filled with these clickers as you try to quietly make your way through them. One wrong move, say you step on some broken glass, and you're dead. Still, I was somewhat disappointed that the game never really scared me. Even though this game is really an adventure survival game and not horror, I had heard people claiming it was a horror-survival. There are some very intense moments, for sure, but I was never truly terrified of enemies. But this is a very small gripe that technically isn't even a complaint as the game makes no claim of being a horror game.

  If I do have one complaint about The Last of Us, it's that it had to end. Not to say it's a short game, I beat it in about 16 hours, which is amazingly long given the amount of detail throughout. You could probably rush through in 12, but you would miss out on so much of the little things that make this game so great. So play it, take your time, and savor it. You likely won't see another experience like this until the inevitable sequel. And if it's for PS4, we will all probably explode from the sheer awesomeness, because Naughty Dog just made one of the most beautiful looking, well playing, and incredibly acted games of all time on an 8 year old system

  I tried to go into this game ignoring the hype ; I've seen the perfect scores from game sites. I wanted to ignore this and play this game and have my own experience and give the game what I felt it deserved, not based on what other people thought because everyone is different. But Naughty Dog has just showed us one more thing : That if you create a masterpiece, even the doubters will have to acknowledge it.


                                                                    Final Verdict :
 

- Darrell

5 Horror Gems You Probably Haven't Seen

Halloween is just a few days off, and if you're like me, you love this time of year. Everyone loves watching horror movies on Halloween, but lately, good horror movies are hard to come by. So, mainstream movies aside, I've decided to put together a list of the best horror movies in recent years that you probably haven't seen.

 #5   Grave Encounters (2011)      

Low-budget, some bad acting, and hate-able characters couldn't keep me from enjoying this fun little flick. Fan of Ghost Hunters? Maybe Ghost Adventures? Well Grave Encounters depicts what you wish would happen when those morons beckon ghosts to make their presence known. In the found footage style made popular by The Blair Witch Project and recently, Paranormal Activity, G.E puts a new spin on the genre. Taking elements that already exist, with shows like Ghost Hunters, and thrusting apparition after apparition into the viewers face. The movie follows some film-makers making a new tv show called, what else, Grave Encounters. The acts they put on are purposely fake, as they are actors within the movie itself, making their own show. But once things start happening that isn't a part of the show, their true colors show, and the real fun begins. The star of this movie is the Asylum itself where it's filmed. The atmosphere makes the movie seem even more genuine, and makes this one of my favorite found footage type films I've seen. 

 

#4  The Signal (2007)

All communication is lost when a strange signal, that turns anyone who listens to it into homicidal maniacs, invades every tv, radio, and cellphone. Part romance, part black comedy, and part horror, The Signal is a unique mixture of different genres that seam together beautifully. Similar in those respects to, Shaun of the Dead, The Crazies, and Zombieland, there's also another feature that sets The Signal apart. The story is told in three parts, from three different perspectives. A woman, her husband, and a third man who she has fallen in love with and has been seeing behind her husband's back. It's a love triangle set amidst a world that is falling apart. The signal that is affecting people, has driven people to insanity, but surprisingly, they still have all their faculties. Meaning, that you don't know who is crazy and who isn't. They don't become zombies. They're seemingly normal people, with just very violent and insane tendencies at a moments notice. Sometimes someone you think is perfectly sane, turns out to be crazy, and vice-versa. The uniqueness of this film deems it worthy a watch, so give it a shot. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. 

 

#3  Trick 'R Treat (2007)

This is actually my favorite movie to watch on Halloween. The whole movie takes place on Halloween, and focuses around 4 short stories. Throughout the movie, the stories interweave in a beautiful and intelligent way. The stories range from a group of teenagers investigating a local ghost legend, to a school principal who moonlights as a serial killer. The movie never takes itself too seriously, but still packs a few chills, and a good amount of laughs as well. The stories themselves would each make for a decent horror flick, but they way they come together makes it all the more awesome. The story jumps back and forth through different times of the night, so occasionally you'll catch a glimpse of events from the other stories taking place from a different perspective. It all makes for a good fun watch on Halloween or any other night of the year that you just want to experience that Halloween feeling.

 

#2  Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil (2010)

Tucker & Dale is the Three's Company of horror. It all revolves around hilarious misunderstandings. And when I say hilarious, I mean hilarious. There were a few parts in this movie that made me tear up from laughing. The story revolves around two good ole country boys, Tucker and Dale, who simply want to get away to their newly purchased vacation cabin. The boys planned to spend a few days fixing up the place and making it into a respectable cabin, but when a few college kids show up, the plans get thrown out of whack. The college kids, seeing Tucker & Dale, immediately assume the worst. They MUST be crazy cannibal rednecks who want to muder and eat them. So they do what anyone else would do in their situation (not exactly). They try to take them out before they get taken out. However, Tucker & Dale know nothing about it and continue working on their cabin. To make matters worse for Tucker and Dale, is that as the kids try to kill them, they end up killing themselves without Tucker and Dale even realizing it. So, in a series of absolutely hilarious suicides and failed murder attempts, Tucker and Dale finally realize that they are being targeted. This doesn't help much, as they're actually a bunch of babies, but they finally get the courage to fight back. But the kids corpses keep filling up their yard, and the with the only witness to what's really going on knocked out, Tucker and Dale may have a tough time getting out of this situation.

#1  Behind the Mask : The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006)

And my favorite horror movie of all time. Imagine following Jason Voorhees around with a video camera as he explains the things he does. How does he walk so fast? How does he get that door to slam at just the right time? BTM follows Leslie Vernon, a lesser known Jason more-or-less. He gives us an inside look into what these horror icons do(if they really existed of course). BTM takes every horror cliche in the book and explains it in a way that's both hilarious and genius. The crew documenting becomes fascinated and drawn into Leslie's world all the way up until the moments when they have the difficult choice to stop Leslie or let him be. The movie is absolutely hilarious but so smart that it will make you never look at horror movies the same way again. Anytime I watch a Michael Myers film or Freddy film, I catch myself going, "Leslie showed me how you do that." The cast was great, and though low budget, remains my favorite horror of all time, and is also one of my favorite MOVIES of all time. If you haven't watched it, and are a fan or horrors at all, do it NOW. I have a friend who hates horror movies but loved BTM, so give it a try none-the-less. 

Happy Halloween :D

-Darrell

Anime Review : Durarara!!! (Series, 24 eps)

 An entertaining and original take on gang based drama.
                    

 

 Durarara is an odd recipe of sorts. Mixing together gangs, urban legends, manipulation,high-school kids and even an irish headless horseman. Pre-Heat and bake for 24 episodes, and you've got a tasty treat. The story focuses on 3 high-school friends, and the world they live in. Each of the friends has one massive secret that they hide from each other. The province of Ikebukoro is controlled by 2 major gangs. The Dollars, and the Yellow Scarves. These are not your average gangs though. This is the technology generation, and as such, these gangs are merely internet based. Until that is, people start vanishing and reports of a killer known as "The Slasher" start showing up. The leader of the Dollars decides to start placing posts on the forums to help put a stop to the killings, but things begin
worsening as more complex problems arise. To further complicate things, rumors begin surfacing that the slasher is a member of the Dollars.

                                       "Possibly the two coolest characters in Drrr."

At times light-hearted and silly, Durarara begins to focus more towards plot as the story progresses. Episode after episode, the plot slowly thickens, charging towards its conclusion. The slasher now has an army, and so does the Dollars, and now the Yellow Scarves are growing at a major rate, and at the very center, are these 3 friends, who are much more involved than any of them realize. The humor is good at times, and always lightens the mood, which at times can be very serious. This blends well and takes away some drama, which is a good thing. My only complaint, is with the ending. Although not bad, it does leave a lot of holes. Although this could be intentional, as even though I don't expect a continuation, they did leave a LOT of doors open to close later.

                                              "Yes, she really doesn't have a head."


Durarara is a fun series that leads with story,
and follows with wit. The good guys are fun
to root for, the bad guys are fun to hate,
and the mastermind pulling the strings is                
too awesome not to love. Durarara could
be better, but it could also be a lot worse.
The plot is original, and is well thought out.
With great art, great animation, and some
awesome and hilarious fight scenes, Drrr has
it all, and does it all well.

Pros : Story / Sound / Art design / Humor

Cons : Ending seemed rushed / BIG questions unanswered


- Darrell

Game Review : Limbo (PC)

An adventure of the mind, Limbo captivates with thought, puzzles and immersing sound effects amongst an eerie surreal atmosphere.

                         "Just an innocent boy taking a leisurely stroll through Death Forest."

Limbo is described as the "in-between" of worlds. Not Heaven, not Hell, but somewhere in the middle. Limbo is a game of few words, well literally no words, but the atmosphere speaks for itself. A monochrome reality, where the sun is scarce and shadows move in unsettling ways. In some areas, the only light visible is the reflection in the characters eyes. Limbo offers you no answers. Who are you? Why are you here? What is my goal, where do I go? These are the questions you might ask when you start Limbo, and after finishing the game, I still don't know the answers. But I really don't mind. My adventure into Limbo was brief, I completed the game in just under 4 hours, but it left a lasting impact. The game's visuals are so unique and bring so much beauty to such simple graphics and animation. A color version of this game would look terrible, instead the grayscale visuals are charming and creepy simultaneously. In gameplay terms, I would describe Limbo as a "survival platformer". The entirety of your understanding quickly becomes "Just keep going right, and do not die." The puzzles can be quite erm, puzzling, at times, especially as you push further into the game. Later game puzzles have you meticulously hitting levers, scaling ladders, avoiding traps and timing perfect jumps under very small time constraints. The puzzles were always fun though, and you always feel accomplished when completing them. The game takes you everywhere from flooded forests to old mineshafts and all of these are fully realized in the black and white tones. At your disposal, is nothing, aside from a short and long jump. The puzzles are mostly straightforward, your goal : reach that ledge, or make it past that spinning saw. 

                     "With the exception of your character, it seems everyone in Limbo is bald."

You will die, a lot, in this game. Not because it's particularly hard, but because most of the puzzles are trial and error based, and death is usually the first couple solutions to them. Approaching a dark area for instance, a blade may swing down and kill you. This may seem cheap the first time, but the second time around you know what to expect. Unexpected kills make up the majority of your deaths, but fortunately, there is a checkpoint after every puzzle, and respawn is instant so you're not waiting every time you die. The sound adds depth and a level of surreality to everything. Simple lever pulls echo through the darkness and add the ever present feeling of abandonment. Limbo leaves you feeling completely deserted, with giant spiders and brain leeching slugs around every turn. Even the glimpse of another human will get you excited as much as it will scare you. Limbo is as simple as a platformer can be. Run, jump, push, pull, grab, swing, repeat. But even these simple things can become complex in Limbo. Throughout he game are various hidden trophies too, inspiring another playthrough. Limbo never tells you this obviously, and it wasn't until about an hour in that I found my first one, no telling how many I missed never knowing they were there. Although, as such a short game, I can't find one good reason not to play through Limbo again.

                "The visuals and atmosphere of Limbo sets it apart from every other platformer"

     Limbo stands out  from the myriad of other
platform puzzlers with it's unique visuals, simple
mechanics, immersive audio and well thought out puzzles. The lack of any story may be of some hindrance, but in ways makes the game that much more engaging, pushing you forward to discover the answers. Limbo is a wonderful way to spend a night of gaming and I'll be revisiting the eerie land many times.



Pros : Beautiful Visuals/ Nice Sound FX/ Entrancing atmosphere

Cons : Abrupt ending/lack of direction/very short          



- Darrell

Anime Review : 5 Cm Per Second (Movie)

 

  

~ "5 cm per second. They say that's the speed at which a cherry blossom falls. 5 cm per second." ~

First and foremost, 5 Cm Per Second is hands down the single most gorgeous looking film I have ever seen. Not anime, film. Period. I can not begin to describe just how absolutely phenomenal the artwork in this movie is. It's something you have to see to appreciate, and I would actually suggest you stop reading this review and go watch this movie, right now. If you're still reading this however, I'll continue the review. However, I will continue below this next beautiful screenshot taken directly from the film.

Visuals aside, 5 Cm Per Second is not the best anime I've ever seen. In reality, the story was only so-so in my opinion. It was good, for the majority, it kept me interested, but the ending left me wanting more. Once again, an excellent story is spoiled by a bad ending. The story centers around two childhood friends who grow into lovers, but also grow apart, as distance begins to separate them.
The story is divided into 3 "episodes". Episode 1 focuses on their childhood, as episode 2 focuses on their teenage years and the beginning of their separation. By the 3rd act, the two are adults and live entirely different lives, yet still often think of each other. I'm a guy, and love stories aren't exactly my thing, but I was rooting for these two, and was looking forward to the inevitable reunion of their love. Which.. never came. This isn't a happy love story, so if that's what you want, then look elsewhere. I don't mind sad endings, but this was just left too many questions for me. In fact, I feel it's safe to assume that one of the main characters most likely commits suicide after the credits roll. Even so, the story was still enjoyable, and felt quite relatable, and likely will for anyone who has ever been through heartbreak.

This could have been a masterpiece, if the ending had been done a little different, though everyone is different and some might enjoy the ending. From a visual standpoint, this already is a masterpiece, and should be watched if solely for the art. The artwork and animation in this movie is completely unparalleled, and the artists who made it deserve to have their art viewed and respected. I was in awe at some of the images in this movie, and the detail in some scenes is completely baffling. This movie would be breathtaking if it were only a silent film, and adding a charming, if saddening, love story only improves it. If you have a free night and want to be inspired, as one can find inspiration in a beautiful painting, then please watch this movie. The artists deserve to have their work admired, and admire you shall.


Pros : Breathtaking visuals / Superb animation / Compelling storytelling

Cons : Ending / Unanswered questions / Dub could be a little better

Final Verdict : 8.75/10

- Darrell

Movie Review : The Avengers (2012)

  A movie that's been teased for years, The Avengers is a comic book nerd's dream come true. I remember the first time I saw the after-credits bonus scene in Iron Man, and almost tearing up in pure excitement. As the years went by, my excitement grew into an overwhelming fear of being letdown. I felt that there was literally no way that the movie could live up to my expectations. Well, it did. Somehow, some way, The Avengers managed to be as good as I had hoped, no, as good as I had prayed, it would be. Dare I say, it was almost better. I attribute most of this success, to Marvel's unbelievably stellar casting department. Movie after movie, during the build-up, the set pieces were positioned perfectly with absolutely perfect casting(I consider Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark to be, literally, the best cast EVER). Each individual movie has garnered such success, that they're all getting sequels. If anything, Marvel has been hitting home-runs lately with every swing. I'm not ashamed to say that I've seen The Avengers, at least, 4 times. It's not a perfect movie by any means, but what it is, is pure fun and an adrenaline rush to witness. Joss Whedon does an excellent job directing and letting the actors, not the special fx, tell the story. The dialogue and character interaction is the highlight here. To me, Tom Hiddleston(Loki) and Robert Downey Jr(Tony Stark, Iron Man) steal the show with their perfect sarcasm, dark charm, and snarky wit. Mark Ruffalo is the latest actor to step into the green goliath's shoes. Though I was a fan of Ed Norton's Hulk, Ruffalo has excellent chemistry with the other actors and makes for a wonderful Bruce Banner(Marvel's casting department hits gold again.).

  The plot of Avengers may be it's weak point. If you're a fan of sci-fi, or superhero movies, you've probably already seen it. Bad guy gains power. Gains control of a sinister army. Tries to take over the world. Etc, etc. EXCEPT, this bad guy, is freakin awesome. If the heroes weren't so lovable, you would most likely be rooting for this guy(some still were). The special FX are gorgeous and believable, and the characters are painted in a worldly light that makes them relatable. The heroes themselves, and the actors portraying them, are again terrific. Tony Stark is as snarky and hilarious as ever, Thor(Chris Hemsworth) is still Godly, and Captain America(Chris Evans) finally feels like the Cap'(I wasn't a huge fan of Captain America's solo outing). A pleasant surprise as well, was the humor within Avengers. The script does an excellent job of delivering some great haha moments at exactly the right time. Unexpected humor is always the most effective, and Avengers succeeds in producing a laugh when you least expect it. Seeing this in Theaters almost always ended to a standing ovation and cheers. My only real complaint with Avengers, is that now, my anticipation of the sequel may be even greater than the anticipation of this one! And so sets in the creeping fear of a bad sequel, and a huge let-down. But if Marvel's latest work is anything to go by, I shouldn't have anything to worry about.


Pros : Funny | Special FX | Great Script | Acting

Cons : Ended too soon! | Final fight sequence seemed too short after the long build-up

Final Verdict : 9.25/10


-Darrell

Anime Review : The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (Movie, English Dub, 2006)

                                                           ~”Time waits for no one.”~

  At first, Makoto is just your typical teenage girl. She goes to school, hangs with friends, and gets terribly awkward in any romantic situation she finds herself in. That is, until one fateful day when an accident nearly ended her life. Waking near the train tracks, Makoto is astonished to find, that the train must have just miraculously missed her. It isn’t until later, that Makoto realizes that not only had she narrowly avoided death, but she had also jumped (quite literally) back in time.  Eventually, with the help of her Auntie Witch, she learns to harness this power and use it at will. Of course, Makoto begins to have fun with this, and abuses this power at first. She changes small things, petty stupid things, such as going back and eating pudding out of the fridge before her little sister can get to it. Most of her abuse of this power, comes in getting herself out of awkward situations with a boy who likes her. But all things have a limit, and so does Makoto’s ability. But by the time she realizes, it may be too late to fix the things she wronged. And after realizing that she may in fact be in love with this boy, it may also be too late to tell him.

  The Girl Who Leapt Through Time starts out slow, but picks up pace as it nears it’s touching ending. Unexpectedly, TGWLTT is more of a love story than a tale of time travel, and a good one at that. It’s light-hearted, fun, and teaches us all to be happy with the life we have. Although it’s premise of awkward teenage love is rather simple, the story itself can become incredibly complex when you dig deeper into it. The ending alone has more theories and conspiracies than that of Inception. Overall, I enjoyed my journey with TGWLTT, and it’s mix of humor, romance, and believable characters make for a great night of anime. Take away the time travel aspect, and you still have a touching love story. Keep it in, and you have a wonderfully original movie that is worth a watch.


Pros : Lovable, Believable Characters | Original | Colorful Art Design | Simple, Yet Complex

Cons : A little slow at the beginning | Confusing Ending | Lack of Closure

 Final Verdict : 8/10


- Darrell