Disney once owned the animation genre during the 90s and deservedly so, although there was little to no competition back then. The last decade proved that hand drawn motion pictures were too old school to contend with the likes of Pixar and Dreamworks computer animated films. After 2009’s Princess and the Frog failed to make an impact, Disney decided to ditch their previous efforts in favor of the new market to showcase their 50th animated feature. For such a historic event, they made the second most expensive movie of all time (it’s true), employing every CGI technique in the book to create the best looking animated film ever, while also being released in 3D. The result is Tangled, an incredibly vibrant visual showcase that resembles Disney’s traditional fairy tales with a modern sense of humor and terrific vocal performances.
Since everyone is on the subject of Crysis 2 lately, it's time to serve up what looks like the game's first major easter egg. Now most games feature secrets, but none are as hilarious or unexpected as this. The music works so well, go try these moves out on the dance floor this weekend! Guaranteed success.
It's been over a week since Crysis 2 was released on PC, PS3 and XBOX 360, and debates are everywhere regarding what version looks and plays the best. Most console comparisons aren't always necessary or even much of a big deal, but in the case of a game like Crysis 2, it is. Gamers know of the history beind Crytek Studios and the overwhelming games they make for the PC, starting with Far Cry. You either have a top of the line gaming computer or it's just not worth playing with lower specs adjusted. Who wants to play Crysis when it looks jagged with low textures? Part of the beauty of Crytek games are how the graphics affect the experience, you feel proud to be running such a powerful beast and it's an impressive bragging right. What's so revolutionary about Crysis 2 isn't just the latest step up in graphical hardware or the impressive CryEngine 3, but that the game was also made for the consoles.
Zack Snyder seemed like a real creative force when he first made his name in Hollywood after crafting a faithful remake (Dawn of the Dead) and back to back graphic novel adaptations (300, Watchmen). His style was excessive slow-mo fused with visual wonder, and it was forceful enough to be somewhat unique in the action genre, where everything is filmed in quick incoherent cuts.
He began climbing up to the top of the ladder where only a few profitable directors can go, achieving the ability to make any project you want. He’s been chosen to direct the next Superman movie and this was initially met with fanboy acclaim. But there’s a strong feeling that extreme backlash will commence once Snyder’s newest film, Sucker Punch, is released. It demonstrates the failure on a director’s part when coming up with an original idea and how to portray it onscreen. However this is not just a misstep of a movie, this is a complete disaster that only a few bombs in the last couple years can measure up to. Sucker Punch is Snyder’s potential Hollywood bullet to the head. And this expensive budgeted debacle has no one to blame but the director himself.
The first thing you need to know about Crytek Studios is that they love making beautiful games, and they pride themselves for constantly achieving the benchmark of how gorgeous video games can look, at least on computers. Far Cry was once an industry titan in terms of graphical marvel and Crysis surpassed it with even more expansive jungle attractiveness. But all that beauty came with a price, playing these games required an incredible gaming PC with specs bursting through the roof. When Crytek announced that Crysis 2 would be on consoles, many gamers were shocked at the concept, could it really be achieved? Well, with the new and incredibly powerful CryEngine 3, apparently it has, and once again Crysis 2 sets the bar very high for shooters on consoles and computers alike.
Alien invasion movies are an acquired taste now. Before CGI and massive special effects took over films like Invasion of the Body Snatchers and John Carpenter’s They Live were effective because they told a story that showed the emotional impact of an extraterrestrial breach in our society. Even big budget movies like War of the Worlds and Independence Day have a soul beyond that of the massive explosions caused by the powerful alien weaponry. It’s too bad that lately, with November’s sci-fi bomb Skyline and now Battle: Los Angeles in theaters, alien invasion flicks are becoming incredibly watered down and demonstrate a horrible way to blow an expensive budget.
2011's biggest game for the Playstation 3 dropped some more footage and information during GDC today. Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception was shown and the primary antagonist of the game was on display in a cutscene displaying the villain in all her female glory. Katherine Marlowe is Drake's nemesis this time around and despite her aged exterior, she is quite the formidable opponent.
It’s time to roll out the red carpet again. The 83rd Annual Academy Awards were presented last night with the usual surprises, snubs and mistakes in tow as well as plenty of post speculation. For a three hour show not much excitement was involved to make the process generally pleasing or effective enough to remember a week or two from now. But like always the Academy Awards leaves viewers with valuable lessons learned each and every year. Here are some facts gained from 2010’s most prestigious Hollywood awards ceremony.
Grindhouse pictures became extinct towards the end of the seventies and Hollywood has attempted to resurrect them in the last couple of years, excessive gore and gratuitous nudity withstanding. Director Patrick Lussier’s last film, My Bloody Valentine, was a faithful remake of the 1981 film that featured terrified people running for their lives from maniac in a miner outfit and pickaxe in hand. It was a minor hit and a finely tuned example of former slasher films from the past except for the fact that it was filmed and released in 3D. A grindhouse picture with a dose of modern movie making, Lussier clearly believes it to be a trend with the release of his new film Drive Angry 3D.
Comedy has changed since the Farrelly brothers first started making their distinguished films. They were the pioneers of the gross R-rated comedies we see today but since There’s Something About Mary, even filthy movies have elevated in class. Judd Apatow’s films and The Hangover have grown beyond jokes about bodily fluids and visual gags, opening up the doors for new and old directors to try their hands at making audiences laugh. We live in a time of comedy that’s balanced between foul-mouthed but likeable characters and the nasty situations they get themselves into. The Farrelly brother’s recent attempts at maintaining genre supremacy may not have worked out the way they planned but Hall Pass is a step in the right direction. While not without some exceptionally filthy humor the film isn’t rude or obnoxious enough to leave a bad aftertaste and is recommended for anyone looking to laugh.
