Jimbo Cameron’s triumphant return

Just got back from another cinema outing with Iain and Elsa to see Avatar in IMAX 3D. The hype machine for this movie has been immense, with it promising such things like revolutionising the way people make movies and the way they’re watched at the cinema. In many ways, he has succeeded though there is a hint of him not being able to see the wood through the trees.

Like Up, the 3D effects are, most of the time, subtle and does not intrude on your viewing pleasure, but enhances it and the stereoscopic effects are designed to force your vision to focus on various things, and detract from others. Initially, the opening thirty minutes are full of things like people floating in and out of focus, interactive computer screens reaching out to the audience, and so on. Your eyes will take a while to adjust but after this breaking in period, watching the movie in 3D feels very natural.

The CGI is easily the best out there. The Na’vi are wonderfully rendered, with natural looking skin, hair, and emotive eyes. There was never any doubt from my mind that these creatures were not real, a real benchmark setter for CGI use today. The world of Pandora is also amazingly created, with lush flora and fauna everywhere the viewer is taken. Everything just looks and moves like you’d expect it to, with a real sense of mass where it should be.

The casting is pretty good too, with people that are not too famous, but still have ability. The only oddball choice for me was Sigourney Weaver, where having such a distinctive face did not work so well when carried over to her Avatar form. You still believed it was her, but there was just a bit too much humanity in the design as opposed to Na’vi.

There are some rough things about Avatar, because it isn’t a perfect movie. The story is awfully clichéd and predictable., having been done before in Dances With Wolves, and Last Samurai. Outsider joins seemingly savage tribe, only to learn the error of his ways and realise that his own people are the savages. The story works, and to be fair, there are few truly original ideas left out there and it is ultimately accessible science-fiction for those that would not normally indulge. The precious mineral being mined is also ridiculously named “Unobtainium”. Yes, you read that right. There’s also a feeling that Cameron has recycled several things from previous movies, most notably, Aliens. The company, RBD, is very much like Weyland Yutani. Giovani Ribisi as Parker Selfridge plays a very similar role to the Carter Burke character. The feeling of the Vietnam war is clearly evident throughout.

Having said the above, the movie works incredibly well, and the sum of all parts is greater than the individual components. Sure, there’s a feeling of deja vu, but it’s been done so well that you can forgive Cameron for not pushing the boat out story wise. Do yourself a favour and try and catch this movie on the biggest 3D capable screen you can; it’s a feast for the senses and deserves to be seen in the best possible light.

Law Abiding Citizen

When a movie gets an 18 certificate these days, it must be something special because growing up in the 80s, I swear every other movie was an 18 and as such, I couldn’t wait to reach that magical age. Alas, once I actually hit 18, very few movies would be rated 18 due to studios wanting better box office performances with inclusion rather than exclusion; watered down movies are the norm nowadays, sadly. When Law Abiding Citizen came out, it was most definitely time to hit the cinema again!

The movie gang and I (but sans Daniel) went to see Gerard Butler’s latest flick about him as a disgruntled citizen of Philidelphia, where the corrupt justice system has let him down. Very early on in the movie, you see his family brutally murdered and he is left for dead in the chilling scene. Jamie Foxx, the prosecuting lawyer, strikes a deal with one of the murderers, thinking only of himself, and makes it on to Gerard Butler’s list of death, along with everybody else that took part in the original case. It’s fantastic to see him exact his vengeance, each move maticulously crafted to play the corrupt justic system in his favour, always keeping out of harm’s way, playing out like a modern day Count of Monte Cristo meets Saw.

Largely panned by critics, I fail to see what they didn’t like about the movie. Admittedly, it is the sort of movie where it has most impact on initial viewing due to the various twists and surprises. The lines between goodie and baddie are blurred because despite Gerard Butler’s killing rampage, never once did I not support his acts of vengeance, always condemning Jamie Foxx’s acts to further his own career, at any price.

A 2 hour adrenaline rush, definitely worth catching if you like your vengeance dishes served up cold.

If only museums did come to life at night…

Not the update you were waiting for, Sam, but it’s coming soon!

I remember watching the first Night at the Museum movie a couple of years ago with Daniel, with both of us thoroughly enjoying it. When its sequel rolled around, I did want to see it but sadly had nobody to join me at the cinema.

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian was renamed as Night at the Museum 2 for a lot of territories outside of the US because few people know what the Smithsonian is (a collection of museums in Washington DC).

The sequel is much grander than the original, with a far larger cast of characters and set pieces. Sadly, with a larger roster, it has meant that some of our favourites from the first movie have been reduced to mere cameo appearances to make more screen time for the new cast members. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing though because Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart is a fabulous sidekick to Ben Stiller. The movie also has her in a rather fetching pair of aviator trousers and I challenge you not to stare at her peachy arse!

If the movie does fail, it is that for the entire night that the Smithsonian is overun by exhibits, there is not a single soul that comes to check on the commotion, incredible considering that the museums are just a stone’s throw from the White House. This may be asking for too much disbelief suspension from some people. At least in the first movie, you could plausibly say that nobody checks on the museum at night because Ben Still IS the night security guard, but here he’s actually somebody that’s broken into the Smithsonian! Anywho…

A family friendly movie with a bit of something for everybody, ideal Christmas holiday viewing if you’re stuck for a movie to watch.

Unflawed heroes need not apply

Around a year ago, I picked up a cheap as chips PS3 but I’ve struggled ever since to find exclusive games that interested me. The PS3 has actually had far more use as a media centre as opposed to a console, the exact opposite of the Xbox 360 which has so many fantastic exclusives, but limited appeal as a media centre.

Cue surprise hit, Uncharted. This was and still is a must-have title for any PS3 owner, showcasing some of the finest production values for a game. It’s received near perfect reviews and praise and when Naughty Dog dropped the bombshell of a sequel, I know I certainly jumped for joy.

The game had some big shoes to fill, laid out by its big brother, and its surpassed the first game in every conceivable way. Naughty Dog have listened to the criticisms and have taken them on board, without diluting the features that makes Uncharted what it is. They’ve removed all the stupid Six-Axis pad stuff and have made grenades far easier to throw in the middle of a firefight. They’ve mixed up the puzzles and gunfights, making both balanced and a refreshing change from each other when they occur. The multiplayer is a nice addition, and does not dilute the single player experience at all. In fact, to get the most out of the multiplayer game, one has to first complete the single player game to unlock various abilities to avoid being crippled immediately online. And the graphics, wow, the graphics! Easily best looking game of this generation by a country mile. The vistas are stunning and simply go on forever (do a slow 360 when you’re on top of the hotel).

The voice acting, dialogue, and animation are as tight as ever. All the characters are very believable, especially Nathan as the flawed hero that does make mistakes and doesn’t always do the right thing. The love triangle between him, Elena, and Chloe is also a joy to watch, with all three clearly trying to hide their affection.

It’s been a long time since I’ve had to forcibly remove myself from the console because a game was eating up too much time, but each chapter of Uncharted 2 is perfectly crafted, seducing you to play just a little more. Uncharted 2 is game of the year material, through and through, and makes me proud to own a PS3. If you’re considering a PS3 purchase (Mike…), then this and the first Uncharted definitely deliver the goods.

EDIT: I’ve been playing the online multiplayer loads recently, trying to grind my level higher. The number of players online have dropped significantly since Modern Warfare 2 came out, but those left behind are the hardcore community, well most of them at least. Uncharted 2’s matchmaking system is broken, creating seriously unbalanced matches due to giving priority to partied up teams; Halo at least breaks up parties to create an even battle. I always seem to end up on the significantly weaker team, and to make matters worse some people drop out because they can’t be arsed to fight a losing battle, thus leaving me with a weaker team than before. Still, I’ve managed to win a few one-sided matches, which is so rewarding!

Up, up and away!

We here in poor Blighty have had to wait nearly five months for Pixar’s latest movie to get a national release. I thought staggered releases across the world were a thing of the past, but it seems a few bean counters don’t quite agree with the one world policy.

I went to see Up with Lis and Em in 3D. Having spoken to Iain and Elsa who had recently seen it in 3D, I decided to give it a whirl to see how it would fare. The glasses you wear are just like the ones you get at themeparks, with the lenses designed to block out certain parts of the picture and not for others. The movie was preceded by an interactive 3D game, heavily sponsored by O2, though this was at the expense of the Pixar short that is usually shown before the main feature.

Up is an immensely likable movie. I’d like to believe there are some elements borrowed from Studio Ghibli’s Laputa, as well as Disney movies of yore (watch out for Dug’s tracking move). The animation is top notch, with the flesh transparency effect first introduced in Wall-e being perfected in this outing. The 3D effects are subtle, but offer incredible depth of field, especially in the South American scenes. There aren’t any dodgy things flying out of the screen at you like at themeparks, and you get used to novelty of wearing 3D glasses very quickly.

Overall, expect something as good as Monsters Inc, but not quite Toy Story levels of awesomeness.

Caaalm down, caaalm down!

Went to Liverpool with Andy C and Sam yesterday. Nice city from what we saw and has obviously had a lot of money lavished on it. The World Museum near Lime Street train station is a must-see for visitors and is entirely free, though we did make a donation because we enjoyed it so much.

Photos of the day can be found here.

25 – 26: the review

Thank you to everyone that passed on a birthday message, they all brought a smile to my face and was incredibly impressed at the people who fired them off at midnight on the dot!

So, I’m another year older but am I now wiser? The last twelve months have to be the most complicated of my life so far, with no particularly clear direction for many things.

Many of my relationships with people seemingly broke down this year. I’ve let a lot of people down and there’s little I can do to correct the situation. Some gave up on me and I’m guilty of giving up on others myself. Flipping relationships on their head, I’ve also met a large number of people and my head’s still spinning from the encounters.

Losing a much loved job was a significant low-point during the year. Being made redundant so early on into a flourishing career is something I would never wish upon others. It’s soul destroying and leaves you in a state of denial and panic, only to be followed by acceptance. However, being the optimistic and glass is half-full kind of guy I am, there’s a positive side to everything. There’s more to life than just being a suit, and many of the new faces and people I have gotten to know better would not have happened had I have not been laid-off.

I apologise if this entry does not make much sense at all, but it’s merely me verbalising what’s been going through my mind for the last few days. Tis also what happens when you’ve been drinking every day for ten days straight!…

Move over, Master Chief

Few gaming franchises have the testicular fortitude to release a spin-off which does not include its posterboy. Bungie and Microsoft have just today launched Halo 3: ODST, which is essentially Halo 2.5, a side story detailing the events prior to Halo 3.

You play a rookie with the ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Troopers), sent into New Mombasa to clear it of Covenant hordes. The way the game plays is much more Halo 1 rather than 2 or 3; there’s no dual wielding, or use of equipment. There’s no Cortana-like AI guiding you along the way either, so it’s a very lonely and bleak game. Playing as a regular human soldier, you also feel much more vulnerable during the near pitch-black city sections.

One of the big complaints of the Halo series, and many other story based FPS games is how linear the gameplay is, i.e. you need to go through A, B, and C, before going to D, E, and F. ODST creates the illusion of being able to free roam using a hub world, where you then go off and unlock missions to further the story. This is all well and good, but you still need to do missions A, B, and C, before going on to D, E, and F. Oh well, at least with linearity, you never miss anything crucial.

The music is clearly Halo, but lacks any of the tunes heard in any of the other games, sounding almost like Halo meets Resident Evil; it’s haunting and fits the dark and brooding atmosphere presented to the player.

There is a new multiplayer mode, called Firefight. It is essentially a clone of Gears of War 2’s Horde mode, where you face wave after wave of increasingly tough enemies. I’ve not had a chance to play this mode yet, due to wanting to get the campaign finished though I will post my findings later.

All in all, a welcome addition to the Halo universe (much more so than Halo Wars). If I have to make one complaint, it’s that Bungie really need to work on their models for women because they look FUGLY. The female lead of the game is made out to be eye-candy amongst the ODST team, but Christ, lady looks like a dude!

Oh, also netted myself a freebie last night from Gamestation’s midnight launch. Only twenty or so of us turned up, and the store manager decided to reward our loyalty with a fetching ODST t-shirt. It’s superbly made and better than some t-shirts I’ve spent hard earned money on!

The job centre is a depressing place

Finally signed on for job seeker’s allowance, especially with everybody saying that I should considering I’d paid taxes previously for such an occasion.

The guy in front of me looked like he was on death’s doorstep, clearly quite drunk and it was only 2pm. All the staff were really nice, probably happy to see the place so busy thus keeping them in employment!

Mr Yu goes to London town

Because WordPress was flaking out on me last night, you poor folks will only get the lite version of this blog entry (it was a fully-fledged proper entry, with photos and formatting!).

Photos of my London trip can be found here.