Just a few reviews for the fun of it

Gameboy Advance

2011-04-16T06:03:00.000-07:00

Dear blogspot, Forgive me as I haven´t blogged for many months, but it´s for a good cause, since i got a new job as an illustrator in a new agency.

One of the side effects, as I arrive early at work, is that I have a entire hour to kill before starting to work diving in a big sofa.

In the last six months, i´ve been playing a bunch of delightful Game Boy Advance games:

"Final Fantasy IV", "Final Fantasy I&II" "Golden Sun", "Tomb Raider: The Prophecy","Tomb Raider: Legend", "Tomb Raider: Adventures of Lara Croft","Street Fighter Turbo Revival" and "The Lost Vikings".

Loved "Final Fantasy IV"(1991,2005), which i tried to play on the PC, using the SuperNES emulator. But the SuperNES graphics fits better on the small Gameboy screen, it´s ubercute, i can´t look away. And the legendary soundtrack its legendary as ever.I couldn´t supress a giant
smile after finishing it. Guess I won´t be needing to play the remake on the NintendoDS.

"Golden Sun"(2001). This is truly a masterpiece of a game, a original RPG for the GBA which is
not a adaptation of a SuperNES game. Guess that, for any RPG fan, it´s reason enough to buy
a GBA. What can i say, its traditional in a sense that use battle in turns, but it knows how to use it´s graphics engines wisely, using and abusing of particle effects and music. A little tragedy occured thought. Some GBA cartridges require a battery for the savegames and mine ENDED just prior i finished the game, and i lost 30 hours of gameplay. Some more recent GBA games don´t need the battery to savegames, but unfortunately, this one needed. :/

"The Lost Vikings", i remember playing this game on the computer on early nineties. It´s REALLY challenging. You control three vikings, which were kidnapped from their homeland by a flying saucer, and thrown in a journey through time and space to return home. EAch one has unique abilities like jumping, throwing arrows, defending with a shield, and you must organize them as a team to make them overcome obstacles. It demands ginormous patience to complete it, but i´m set to do it. :)

Gotta go, to be continued in a moment.

Valkyrie Profile Silmeria - PS2 game review

2010-06-30T09:35:00.000-07:00

"Don´t forget to level up Arngrim and Leone before the end of chapter 3".

That´s the first thing my forum colleagues told me when i mentioned i would buy the PS2 game "Valkyrie Profile Silmeria", the Valkyrie Profile sequel.

I was eager to play it, as they all told me it was the "most beautiful and fascinating RPG ever made for PS2, a real masterpiece".

The little i knew from norse mythology i learned from Marvel´s Thor comic books, and that "Erik the Viking" movie and i was ready to be educated.

So i was fresh from Tri-Ace´s previous game "Star Ocean:Till the end of time", which blew our minds away with such joy, that was a game for the ages, we agreed.

Then we jumped into "Valkyrie Profile Silmeria" eager to be impressed right away, and we did, for the first hours. The beautiful intro in CGI, the poetic and melancholic soundtrack, the uberdetailed scenery of the medieval villages, everything was elegant beyond description.

But the battles, while innovative felt...heavy handed, at first, again, compared to Star Ocean 3,
but my forum mates insisted "Keep playing, keep playing".

Still, the first 10 hours felt so serious, so dull, we felt no involvement at all, no attachment, no character grow, no life, it was like another reviewer mentioned.."Valkyrie Profile will just induce you to sleep". I was expecting another "Final Fantasy" right away.

But my forum mates insisted "Keep playing, keep playing". This was one hard to find game, still, we´re already ready to move on to another title "Rogue Galaxy".

Then we played "Rogue Galaxy" for another 30 hours before we got stuck, then i gave another shot to "VPS". i WOULD level up "Arngrim and Leone" before the end of chapter 3, to get the most powerful weapons and i would beat this game and i would enjoy it.

So, then, by the end of chapter 3, after 80 hours playing, the story ignited with fire, the status quo was altered drastically, it was an eye opener. and presto, THEN we got hooked, then we got the beautiful special moves we saw on youtube, then we were cheering and anxiouly waiting to see what would happen.

I never got tired of the valkyries special move "NIBELUNG VALESTI", it was thrilling everytime.

Finally the other night we finished the game, in a final glorious operatic battle.

I´ll miss the valkyries, miss Rufus and everyone else.

Yes, "Valkyrie Profile Silmeria" was all that.

Emotionally satisfying and somewhat draining, now i can join my forum colleagues
recommending this game for the RPG´s fans: "Keep playing, you´ll be rewarded".

Comic book review: Malaak Angel of Peace issue 3

2010-03-04T19:26:00.000-08:00

To say that Joumana Medlej is a real life Lara Croft would be preposterous.

Lara Croft can´t paint.

Besides, Lara hasn´t been in half the places that Joumana has, and hasn´t shared it in a magnificent encyclopedic website that is the spiritual joy of every designer when he´s not busy trying to look cool.

So, this particular lebanese lady also loves comics, and as the ultimate expression for this love, she´s fiercely producing her own title "Malaak: Angel of peace", which easily earns the title "Graphic Novel" every time.

Each edition is heavy, substantial and printed in a delightful glossy paper and now reaches it´s third edition entitled "DARK DREAMS".

Oh yes, just because this is a middle eastern comic written by a real war survivor doesn´t mean it´s poorly drawn in black and white "poor little me I can´t be bothered to learn colors" style fishing for the pity of an alternative journalist wearing red glasses, nor it features dumb animal faces all over the place out of laziness. I´d skip those with an "ugh".

I´m demanding, and i have a full room filled with comics from all over the world from many different time periods, many of them autographed, and I know what I like and what i dislike. I hate dumbed down stories, i hate the "reset button", I hate the "auto-pilot" and terms like "accessible to modern audiences" or "reinventing comics"

I love nitpicking, I love the accursed C word: "CONTINUITY" and i love 1990´s "bad girls" and it´s equivalent, the 2000´s "good girls", I love kung fu. I love bad guys being bad and being stomped real good because of it. So that´s why I cherish every edition of "Malaak" i have.

Save a moment and visit www.malaakonline.com.

You´ll be a believer too. :)

Final Fantasy VIII review - PC and PS1

2010-01-22T07:18:00.000-08:00

Forgive me dear Blogger, it´s been six months since my last blogging.

These past months have been hectic due to my work with web animation and my daily chores, but still there was time to continue my quest to explore my latest obsession, and enjoy as much JRPG´s as possible, in the quixotesc task of trying to "catch up".

After enjoying "Final Fantasy X","Final Fantasy X-2", "Kingdom Hearts 1", "Kingdom Hearts 2" and "Marvel Ultimate Alliance" i downloaded the much discussed "Final Fantasy VIII" from a brazilian Final Fantasy web community. One that has a hilarious thread on how "Final Fantasy VIII" destroyed the series, mostly filled with humorous fake (or not) reasons on how it accomplished such a task.

Really, it´s hard to be immune to this 1998 game. Like it was said, it´s a love-hate relationship, but love certainly prevails. It happens in a traditional completely fantasy world, it tells the story of a group of mercenaries, from a military academy set out to battle an evil sorceress, complete with a love story in it. In short, I started to play for the battles, and continued to play for the pulp and soapy love story which got me hooked like a helpless little fish.

Reasons to love it: It has a gigantic world, lots of places to visit, gorgeous cutscenes, very decent graphics for it´s time (1998), characters with humans proportions all the time, unlike it´s predecessor which relied on super deformed caricatured characters, lots of humour. Loved the soundtrack by composer Nobuo Uematsu ( i listen to it everyday now) and the theme song: "Eyes on me" leaves me teary eyed everytime.

Reasons to hate it: well, "hate" is a strong word, and i have no problem if the villain´s reasons vague or incoherent. Not every story has to detail the villain´s side all that much. The truth
is that i´m very forgiving about such things. After all, the writers all only humans, and still, this is just a game, which is already offering too much.

But still, i have one BIG COMPLAIN about "Final Fantasy VIII", and about most JRPGs i´m becoming aware of: the fact that to acquire certain itens, you have to know BEFOREHAND KNOWLEDGE.

In Final Fantasy X-2, it was impossible to know that to save Tidus soul you have to whistle while you were in the Farplane. how the hell would anyone know that before reading the answers in the walkthrough? It was not something you could learn IN GAME.

I´m having this very same problem with another Square Enix title, the "VALKYRIE PROFILE: SILMERIA", so why don´t they divulge this information in the instructions manual at least?

So, in order to get some summons (mystical creatures that help you) in FFVIII, you need to have ingredients, itens, refined itens impossible to know if it wasn´t spoiled to you beforehand. So most point plots are already ruined to you if you are to get those itens.

And that is made, so they can sell the "Gamer´s strategy book". Ok, i love game magazines, and game´s strategies guides and GameFAQs is only three clicks away to give you all the answers, but still, those answers could be given to you IN GAME. :P

But still (i love to use "but still´s") i have just bought the original of this game in PS1 and i´ll cherish it as another treasure in my collection.

Can´t help but heartily love it and i´ll play it all over again. :)

Indiana Jones and the Emperor´s Tomb - Playstation 2 (PS2) - Review

2009-08-12T13:23:00.000-07:00

Another relic was unburied recently, the game that´s keeping me busy this month is none other than "Indiana Jones and the Emperor´s Tomb".

Back in 2003, I remember I had a nice tuned up computer and one of the first games I´ve played on it was "Indiana Jones and the Emperor´s Tomb" and of course I´ve loved it. It was the second Indiana Jones game made, in the wake of the "Tomb Raider" titles.

When "Tomb Raider" game was launched in 1996, it was said it was a rip-off of the Indiana Jones movies. Then, after a long while, LucasArts empire striked back creating a computer game oddly similar to the first Tomb Raider named "Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine". It was identical to a Tomb Raider game, just slightly changing the model of Lara. It was a Lara with clothes, because that Indy was just too thin and light and even moved like a woman.

I don´t wanna sound harsh, as it is obvious, i love the character of Indiana Jones and it´s storylines. I know that Indiana Jones games comes way too far in between, so each one is to be celebrated, but "Infernal Machine" didn´t come out that good. But the storyline was interesting, and had shown a nice touch of continuity by bringing the return of dear old Sophia Hapgood, Indy´s partner from the classic "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis". I have read the making off, have seen the storyboards, they had the best of intentions.

The following Indiana Jones game one was an ocean of improvement, with a beefed up Dr.Jones, gigantic scenarios, perfect atmosphere and a John William sounding soundtrack which build up the perfect Indiana Jones mood. It was too good to be true. There were even nifty details such as Indy losing is hat in fistfights, and having to look for it later.

I remember the game was challenging then, a little bit too much, so much I was stuck in a area in Austria, at the beginning of the game.

Then it turned out that my newly tuned up computer was a poorly assembled one and after a little while it burned and crashed, totally ravaging my poor CD trapped inside the CD-rom. Attempts at rescue were made, but the CD itself could not be salvaged. My poor chinese copy was scratched beyond repair. My fault for relying in such evil ways.

Last month, thanks to the blessing of auction sites, i managed to dig a brand new original copy of "Emperor´s Tomb", this time for the PS2. I was thrilled. Finally I would be able to finish up this terrific game.

Even the game manual was a joy to see, having the appearance of a 1932 passport, plus Indy´s notes and handwriting.

Then I put the disc on, see the classic LucasArts logo, gosh, it´s been so long, haven´t played a LucasArts game since "Rebel Assault 2"? No, it was a more recent one, "Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds". Well, I remember the Thailand scenario, and then...

Was it something wrong with the TV? I looked around and everything was so...BLURRED? VHS like blurred? PS1 like blurred. I remember playing on the computer, everything looked so sharp(?). I haven´t seen this kind of blurred forest textures since..."Tomb Raider 3" in Playstation 1?

Usually I´m not the one to complain about PS1 graphics, like some unrespectful teenagers I met in game foruns, who love to trash "old school games", but at first the blurred textures really felt "low resolution".

Then it came to mind. Recently I have played the PS2 masterpiece "Tomb Raider Anniversary", which was a magnificent detailed work, in which the word "sharp resolution" was printed in every frame, every texture. That´s what happened "Indiana Jones and the Emperor´s Tomb" was still a major game, but would pale (again) in comparison to the more advanced and recent TRA from the same PS2 System.

As for the gameplay itself, slowly the game was starting to show it´s strong points. The action is straightforward, the scenarios really were gigantic, there were interesting puzzles, and above all, playing with Indy was fun. The actor providing the sound-alike Harrison Ford did a good job, the orchestral soundtrack was exciting, and punishing the bad guys with fisticuffs and whipping was a guilty pleasure.

In this episode Indy must recover Heart of the Dragon in China, he must fight Nazis, chinese mobsters, sharks, monsters, alligators, explore temples, sunken submarines, exotic cities. All in good Indy fashion. It really feels like a movie.

I´ve spent many hours trying to defeat the Kraken and victory tasted really good. It deserves a place of honor in my collection, it IS a treasure, i just needed a moment to re-calibrate my point of view.

Ghost Rider - Playstation 2 (PS2) - Review

2009-06-09T14:46:00.000-07:00

The other day my wife brought us home a surprise gift: The Ghost Rider Playstation 2 game.

And quite a surprise it was. As much as i like the Ghost Rider comics, I didn´t really paid attention to the recent movie, and the game sure wasn´t a priority to acquire. The working word in here is "surprisingly good".

So, the main character is Johnny Blaze, a stunt motorcycle rider daredevil, which made a deal with the demon Mephisto to save his father´s life, and became a demonic flaming-headed motorcyclist with supernatural powers, but instead of serving hell, he decides to fight evil, which makes for a good excuse for a beat-'em-up game. :)

At first glance, the game it looks like a "Devil May Cry" clone, and at a second glance, it still looks, but guess what, I found the Ghost Rider even more controllable than Dante himself.

So, In "Castlevania" style you can whip the incoming bad guys with your flamin chain from hell, and you can collect their "soul orbs" from the ground as you would collect Gil (money) in the "Kingdom Hearts" game series, and you can use these souls to buy new attack upgrades in RPG style.

The graphics are really good, the backgrounds are nicely designed and detailed, which reminded us of "DIABLO" in the hell sequences, and "Desperados: Wanted dead of Alive" for the desolate "Western" like scenarios.

But what really took us by surprise was the sequences in which he was riding his bike, the Hell-Cycle. You control that amazing bike in roads in hell (ROADS, with good traffic signalization hehehe) in vast scenarios in hell, and later on, on Earth, facing obstacles to jump and dodge and shooting flame balls in your adversaries or whipping them with your chain.

Those road sequences were jaw dropping to us and granted us both a good laugh for long hours, and those obstacles really had us to really focus and pay attention when to dodge and when to jump.

In short, a great game, surprisingly good for movie-licensed game worthy for any gamers collection.

The Essential Fantastic Four Volume 1 (Paperback)

2009-06-05T10:40:00.000-07:00

I grew up reading the Fantastic Four comics by John Byrne, on his legendary run in the 80´s.

John Byrne grew up reading the Fantastic Four comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in the 60´s.

John Byrne filled his Fantastic Four pages with references of those early comics made by the king themselves.

So, the archeologist in me followed his natural curiosity, and went to look for those ancient gems in the 90´s, just to get
those references, to witness these events often mentioned.

There was a hardcover collection, named "MARVEL MASTERWORKS" back then, it was shockingly expensive, enough to scare my student self from it. Even years later, when I could obviously afford it, the "ghost of expensiveness" was still floating around.

Then came the internet, and with it, scans of comic books, and while drunk by the novelty, I was still a collector of tangible comics.

After all, when you buy a collectable of a movie, you´re buying a tangible souvenir of that movie experience you just had. Something you can touch, to help assimilate that as a real thing. Well, in the comic book world, sometimes the comic itself is proof enough of that world.

So, Marvel on its smartness, launched cheaper collections of his early comics, reprinting their classic tales in black and white in a "phone book" format, featuring, like the cover says "over 15 comics in continuity".

It´s hard to describe the sensation of reading it for the first time, it´s like reading the old testament of Marvel comics, a real time travel. Jack Kirby illustrations on its prime depicting Stan Lee´s solid storyline laying the foundation of the Marvel Universe.

Gosh, to witness the origins of the Fantastic Four, and its allies and enemies, the first appearance of Dr.Doom "the World´s most fearfull super-villain", it´s almost as if you could warn them of what´s to come. Ykes! There´s Dr.Doom, Namor, MoleMan, Puppet Master, the Red Ghost, Impossible Man and others.

Really, "Fantastic Four" is the Star Trek of comics, even more than the "Green Lantern", each edition presented new imaginative discoveries, new realms to explore, and situations that would be rehashed and copied countless times over the years. Too bad the "Coming of Galactus" storyline isn´t featured here, but you could feel it was going steadily in that direction, with each dangerous situation leading to another even more dangerous.

And it´s delightful to compare these first editions with later adaptations, like the two recent movies, which i found entertaining by the way, the classic Hanna Barbera cartoons, and the amazing recent Fantastic Four TV series (2006) by french animation company Moonscoop.

The episode "Impossible", from the latest Fantastic Four cartoon, featuring the hyperkinetic Impossible Man, was particularly hilarious, and quite close to the original version. Surely, this cartoon deserved much more than just one season. My best guess for it´s cancellation? Excessive quality.

Well, returning to this paperback edition, if your a Marvel fan, you've gotta pick this up, it is (paraphrasing a well known science fiction character) fascinating.

Malaak: Angel of Peace Part II - Graphic novel review

2009-05-26T13:49:00.000-07:00

Lebanon´s first ever comic book heroine is back for another action packed and emotional ride.

I must admit I haven´t seen a comic book character being fleshened out with so much substance so fast. It´s like the skinny girl next door that suddenly blooms into a full woman without you noticing and you´re like "whaaat? when did this happen?".

And it´s like this in this gorgeous and utterly compelling gigantic graphic novel, the author takes you by the hand like the clueless tourist you are and take you to visit secret and fascinating places you didn´t know existed and suddenly, you´re part of there, like a wide eyed witness of events unfolding in real time right before your eyes.

This is the real Beirut, presented to you not unlike Amelie Poulin´s neighbourhood, with it´s real people, staircases, windows and local expressions and slangs you´ll find yourself repeating.

Part "slices of life", part "action movie serial", this second edition chronicles the ascencion of local superheroine Malaak into "stardom" as she easily defeats the evil Jinn, spiritual perpetrators of the ongoing war, until she meets a sudden forced stop as she meets a "Boss" she wasn´t yet prepared to meet.

A regular comic would only present the hero grit their teeth, present a little blood in the corners of the mouth, laugh a little bit, present a maniac smile "Is that all you can do idiot?" and then that hero in question would give a ultramegapowerful blow in a splash page (just after the candy bar add), just to show how badass he is. Not in this case.

Malaak takes a hard beating, experience fear, flees and scapes to the arms of her friend and confidant Adrian. She is tired, overwhelmed, injured, patched up, and take days to recover, lick her wounds and figure things out. I wonder when was the last time a superhero is really shown as a normal human being, even the low powered ones.

We all take beatings out of life, and we all need time to breath and recover our strenght. It is sort of a relief to know that we are allowed to feel confusion, to acknowledge that our mutant healing factor is kinda slow, and that we all need time to find again that drive to guide us out of a messy situation, paraphrasing the Beatles, "with a little help of our friends". And that´s Malaak does, as she gather her mind and spirit together in an admirable comeback trail.

This book is beautifully rendered in a glossy paper, and it´s bigger than it looks in the photos. Buy this for great work of art it is and the treasure hunter inside you will be very pleased I assure you.

How Lara Croft saved Captain Kirk

2009-05-25T12:16:00.000-07:00

I was playing Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation when i started to associate ideas.

Lara Croft is a busy character, an athletic woman solving puzzles while running against time through ancient temples trying to save the world from former Atlantean queen Natla.

This game inspired german movie maker Tom Tykwer to direct the amazing cult movie "Run Lola Run" which featured LOLA (Franka Potente), an athletic woman with red tinted hair solving puzzles while running against time through Berlin trying to save her boyfriend from being killed by mobsters.

This movie inspired director J.J.Abrams to produce the hit tv series "ALIAS", which featured an athletic spy Sidney Bristow (Jeniffer Garner) wearing a red wig (or blue, depending on the occasion), solving puzzles while running against time through enemy bases trying to save the world from other spies.

This TV series proved to be a enormous hit, enabling J.J.Abrams to produce other tv series, until he was called to direct "Mission Impossible III", which featured spy Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), solving puzzles while running against time through foreign cities trying to save the world from other spies.

Thanks to that movie now we´re able to watch STAR TREK again on the big screen, with a new movie directed by J.J.Abrams, with Captain Kirk, McCoy, Uhura and Chekov solving puzzles while running against time through the corridors of the Enterprise trying to save the world from vengeful romulans.

In short, Lara Croft saved Captain Kirk. :)

Indiana Jones Omnibus Vol.1 - Graphic novel review

2009-05-24T02:56:00.000-07:00

INDIANA JONES OMNIBUS VOLUME 1 WILLIAM MESSNER-LOEBS (W), DAN BARRY (W), LEE MARRS (W), DAN BARRY (A), LEO DURANONA (A), KARL KESEL (A), ANDY MUSHYNSKY (A), and more 352 pages $24.95

Back in 1992, I was still fresh from "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", the movie on teathers, and fiercely playing
"Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis" on the computer.

I remember stopping by my favourite comic shop, my mecca at the time and buying a edition of "Comics Scene 18" magazine,
one portraying John Wesley Shipp on the cover as "the Flash", the one from the live action tv series. It was one of the few "Comics Scene" which would arrive here in Brazil.

One of the previews were the "Indiana Jones" comic book series, to be produced by Dark Horse Comics. It featured the interview
of illustrator Dan Barry, presenting an black and white art reminescent of the ancient Russ Manning´s Tarzan comics. A new born classic, I´ve had to get my clutches on it. The first one would be the adaptation of the game of the same name "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis", featuring that fascinating story of Indiana Jones and Sophia Hapgood in a race against the nazis to find the lost city. Even by that time, there were quite a few options of Adventure games to play with, guess the difference was is that one would take time to savour it as it deserves.

Years passed, and only a few original editions here and there would arrive here in Brazil, "Young Indiana Jones" particularly. Dark Horse would launch other movie related comics, the terrific and terrifying "Star Wars: Dark Empire" series, ALIENS, Predator, Rocketeer and James Bond. All of them offensively good. How dare them to be so good, it was so good it hurts.

The good thing about DARK HORSE handling all those movie licenses at the time was the fact that they actually took the time to develop good, well planned and well executed comic books out of those movies. Apparently there was no rush on it. It would be months or years of interval between one series and another, it wouldn´t feel like a rushed afterthought, like draining a poor slave overnight by a last minute movie tie-in.

Did you ever read a comic book adapting a movie? I mean, straight out of a movie? Did you ever read the "X-Men The Movie Adaptation"? The poor brazilian who drew it didn´t even had access to the actual likeness of the bloody actors on the movie! Rogue, was portraied by Anna Paquim on the movie, and the illustrator didn´t even knew that, and drew Rogue in the comic, like a regular "grim and gritty" tall Rogue from the 1990´s. It was pitiful. Makes you wanna hang the suits and bean counters behind this crime.

Did you read the "Daredevil" comic adaptation? It was a sin punishable by death! The original Daredevil movie was based on a few selected comic series, mostly by John Romita JR "The Man without fear". THAT was a sensitive work of art. The movie adaptation? It was like a pizza squashed on the pavement with pieces of beavers on it.

I won´t even mention the...no...i won´t mention.

Well, where were we? Oh yes, the "INDIANA JONES" comic book series. Well, one of the good things brought in by the recent Indiana Jones movie "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"... no, it wasn´t the fridge scene, no the monkeys scene or the flying saucers scene, one of the GREAT things about this movie was the fact that led blessed DARK HORSE to open their comic book catacombs and publish a massive compendium of the Indy comic books launched during the 1990´s. Why bother in making a last minute, rushed comic book adaptation of the movie made by an uncaring, underpaid starved team that just couldn´t care less for the source material,when they had hundreds of high quality long-out-of-print substantial stories on their archives?

OH WAIT, they actually did published a movie adaptation of "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" which sucks badly, they were like, why break the tradition, right? Let´s make a last minute thingie just for the sucktivity of it.

But let´s forget about it also and focus on this buried treasure.

The book i´m talking about is the "INDIANA JONES OMNIBUS", which collects the entire "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis" miniseries, plus "Indiana Jones and the Thunder on the Orient" and "Indiana Jones and the Arms of Gold".

Finally after 20 years I could read this entire storyline, my favourite one: "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis", with it´s beautiful art, clever adaptation of the game, and a good piece of pulp fiction on its own right. The bickering and bantering between Sophie Hapgood and Indiana Jones is priceless. 103 pages of quality substantial art.

"Indiana Jones and the Thunder on the Orient" is almost as good, but the coloring leaves a little to be desired, the color palette was a little too yellowish.

"Indiana Jones and the Arms of Gold" featuring Indiana Jones in the peruvian alps. Good to see the script lived up to the actual likeness of the country they were trying to portrait, and I actually visited. They even had good spanish! a miracle!

I bought this omnibus edition on the library. It was 350 pages of real, exciting satisfying treasure that deserves the vault!

Marvel Ultimate Alliance - PS2 game

2009-05-22T12:20:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we spent two entire days indoors playing "Marvel Ultimate Alliance" on the videogame. It was a two player PS2 action rpg game, in which basically you go around with your classic Marvel superhero punching bad guys inside some corridors. I choose to play with "Thor" and she would be "Storm".

It would be a very generic, even boring gameplay (hey, we were just fresh from beating Final Fantasy X, hard to compete with that) at first glance if were not for the fact that the
writers did a wonderful job with the characterization, adding layers and layers of story and dialogue true with 40 years of Marvel Comics. Continuity and adherence to chronology is something of a commodity these days, with the plague of "reboots" and "dumbing downs" infesting all areas of entertaining. Not here at least. I was led to nerdy tears of joy with the references of the Shiar Empire, from the 80´s X-men comics, Galactus, Asgard, Atlantis, Dr.Strange´s Sanctum Sanctorum, and countless elements which would not impress who was born yesterday.

The ASGARD scenario was particularly beautiful, it was like playing Diablo, but with Marvel heroes. By the end of that sunday, we both fried Dr.Doom together with our combined lightnings. Our thumbs and arms were in pain. It was a well spent victorious weekend. :)

Now, though, the quest for 2 player games in cooperative mode continues.

Final Fantasy, a newcomer's point of view.

2009-04-11T06:53:00.000-07:00

Or, what is the fuss about? Like every other cultured nerd next door, i love an inside joke. I love when the movies based on books or comic books pay homage to the fanbase, winks that only those "in the know", inside jokes that only 'those who are worthy" will get and will giggle to themselves. The more obscure the better. Like in that book of wizards, a wizard is someone worthy of that knowledge because he studied and fought for it. Like in any Alan Moore
work, when he fills the pages with references, talking to those who enjoyed the things the same way that he did, celebrating them.

So for me, it was this way with several science fiction books and movies, graphic novels, and even some countries. But something that always eluded me was the "Final Fantasy" series, or, what was the fuss about? I like being "in the joke" as much as the next science fiction convention dweller, but I was like. "What, come on, it can´t be THAT good". Well, I remember playing an old SuperNes game, probably "Final Fantasy VI", in which you have your party, and you wander around and then you face a monster and you attack him and then you have to wait for him to attack you, and only when it´s your turn you can strike him back. Yawnn. Then I remember the 2001 theatrical movie, the first presenting realistical life like computer graphics, for an entire movie. I was like, wow, nice, about the imagery. Gorgeous animated hair for Dr.Aki Ross, and hell, that Ben Affleck like fellow with its giant forehead was distracting, as his movie lines were, like "let´s get the hell out of here", which was repeated ad nauseum. The scenery was a little derivative from James Cameron "Aliens", and well, that was it. Nice movie, nice soundtrack, which i bought, being a nice good collector of movie soundtracks, and this one was fresh from Elliot Goldenthal, which wrote the chilling "ALIEN 3" soundtrack. So, so much reflexes from "Aliens" in that first "Final Fantasy" movie. But i liked the movie, but it seems most of the fans hated it, as "it´s not like the games,you know with Cloud and Tifa and the others".

I didn´t get why he would be so passionate about it, as i saw the designs, a boy with giant sword and spikey hair, like Goku in "Dragonball Z", well, I was stoic about it.

So, a few years later a second movie came out "Final Fantasy Advent Children". As i live in Brazil it meant that someone had just downloaded it, as it would be years of waiting before it would be officially arriving here. I was working at the advertising agency and some colleague had just downloaded "FFAC" and saved me a copy. So I was on the computer, having my sandwich in my cubicle, trying to read the little subtitles on it. I tried hard, but atfer 15 minutes I was sleepy on the keyboard,and I was like "they´re gorgeous people, why are they so mad about?". ZZZ.
My two colleagues were like "Wake up, it´s the characters from the game" "Which game?" "Final Fantasy VII, have you never played?" "Well, no".Faces of disbelief. Poor soul, was I haven´t played Final Fantasy VII. Well, i didn´t had a Playstation, i play games on thwe computer, i play Counter Strike and Tomb Raider, do i have to play this game to enjoy the movie? Hell, yes, i had to! Not only that, i had to go back in time from 2005 to 1997 and played at that time when it was launched. What a poor clueless soul was I.

But once again, i liked the soundtrack, and as the CD was nowhere to be seen, i had to to happy with the mp3, which felt strange and wrong too. I downloaded "Final Fantasy Piano Collection" and enjoyed it. But i felt something while listening to Seiji Honda´s piano rendition of "Tifa´s theme", (whoever this Tifa character was, ah,oh yes, it was the girl in black fight that guy in the church) and boy, what a heartfelt track. But something deeper i felt with "Aerith´s theme". Something that ressonate inside, like when you first listen a John Williams theme when you´re a child. (who´s Aerith??) Again, time passed, other soundtracks came and that was forgotten for a little while.

Later on I bought a playstation 2, and with it, "Kingdom Hearts" and "Final Fantasy X-2", played them with my wife, and what a gigantic and joyful experience it was. Guess I wasn´t prepared for such majestic worlds built with so much artistly. We spent a pack of kleenex in the final cutscenes of both games. The fanboys were right, it was all that. That reverence was justified. It is too much real emotion.

Then I started to play the other games, backwards, first the overwhelming Final Fantasy X, then VIII, and then the legendary VII. and then i could finally listen those soundtracks, mostly the ones composed by composer Nobuo Uematsu in their gorgeous and cute original game version.
It´s too much to tell as each game deserves a whole book to be written about it. So i´ll just be cheap and short and say it´s a fantasticly generous experience. :)

The Dark Knight

2008-07-24T10:44:00.000-07:00

Finally I went to see "The Dark Knight" with a few friends, into a new fancy movie teather with a gigantic screen and deafening sound. Oh boy, what a movie. Everyone was hypnotized by it. The pounding soundtrack was non-stop (well, it´s the same tracks from the previous Batman repeated over and over), lazy Hans Zimmer, sleeping on the keyboard again, and gosh, it was tense.

I was all smiles in the scene with Comissioner Gordon, Batman and Harvey Dent in the roof of a building, the same scene from the Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s “The Long Halloween” comic miniseries.

The scenes with the Joker telling his origin, everytime in a different way was a nod to Alan Moore´s "The Killing Joke" graphic novel ("If I'm going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice!"), and Bruce Timm´s special "Mad Love", in which he made up a sob story to recruit Harley Quinn to be his aide.

It´s so sweet, so excessively good that I don´t feel like going to the teathers anymore this year. I waaas planning to see "Hellboy" and "The Mummy 3", but nah, nothing will ever come close. :) ´Nuff said.

Iron Man - 2008

2008-05-14T18:28:00.000-07:00

Can´t say how much i loved this smart and perfectly crafted movie, what a pleasant experience it was. Iron man being a hybrid of past, present, cartoon and Ultimate storylines. Just brilliant. Loved all the references to previous incarnations of Iron Man, some obvious, some very subtle. One of those was to listen the 1968´s cartoon theme played by a Jazz band on the Casino scene, and in the cellphones. Enough to make a geek giggle geekly. and Man, I want that armor!

About the songs, Black Sabath´s Iron Man song also fitted perfectly. So is the 1983 punk song "Suicidal Tendencies". It fits, after all this guy is in his 40´s! The whole scene was hilarious.

Now, listening to the orchestral soundtrack, I just find Iron Man movie theme a little too similar to Michael Kamen´s and Metallica´s masterpiece "S & M", in which Michael Kamen is conducting the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. I want to believe it was a coincidence.

I can´t wait to read the Iron Man movie novelization in pocket book format, as usual, written by master Peter David. He´s a fan favourite Hulk comic book author and Star Trek book writer and his writing flows like pure water. He fills the gaps between scenes, including elements from the original script which eventually didn´t survived the final cut and also includes elements from the comic book continuity plus his own brand of ingenuity making it a complete and elucidative experience.

Madredeus - Antologia - CD review

2008-02-11T16:56:00.000-08:00

How can i start? In 1999 i was introduced to the portuguese music. The portuguese language as we speak in Brazil is a little bit different from the original, as spoken in Portugal. For us, the original portuguese is distant, exotic, noble, almost alien. And the portuguese music, the "Fado", as opposite to our generical brazilian festive music, is often sad, and loaded with sentiment, with songs that talk about love lost to the ocean, about what might have beens, about old glory. It is a fascinating genre by itself, and the eventual bystander can even look curious, find it interesting and then walk his own path unchanged.

BUT..wait until you hear MADREDEUS.

You can´t. No one can hear their songs and even BE the same person again. It´s beyond Fado. This is why music itself was created/discovered. It can turn rock into gold. It is like opening your eyes for the first time. The song "Haja o que houver" can rescue true love from scratch. And you do want to make the world a better, nobler, gentler place for the one you love. This is not artificially patched together music, this is the real thing, everything that any epic or intimate song aspires to be, as big as the ocean, as calm as the universe, as gentle as a kiss and as heart pounding.

Teresa Salgueiro recently took a leave of absence from Madredeus , pursuing a rich and diverse solo carrera, (but left doors open to return) Which produced interesting new CDs, such as "Obrigado"(Thank you) in collaboration with other artists, and "Você e Eu" which cheerful versions of brazilian popular music, and music that a new generation of us brazilians SHOULD know. More about "Você e Eu" in another opportunity. :)

Battlestar Galactica - Razor (DVD)

2008-01-08T12:21:00.000-08:00

Being a battlestar Galactica fan since I was on diapers, watching it on my mom´s lap back when it first aired in 1978, this series always fascinated me. When "Empire Strikes Back" opened up on teathers, i even thought it was all in the same universe. Later on i saw the episodes on the reruns and i always thought it fun, serious, with the solemn Stu Phillips soundtrack, in fact the pride of my Galactica collection is this somewhat rare soundtrack CD which i treasure. Always loved the detailed models of motherships, the little fighter ships (the Vipers), the Cylons, and the Erich Von Däniken implications that the Gods were astronauts, heh, i even visited some temples in Colombia to check out the work of the space Gods personally. :)

When Galactica resurfaced by the hands of Star Trek´s Deep Space Nine´s writer Ron Moore, I was suspicious, then hopeful, then jubilant! It couldn´t be cooler, in all ways, with all the handicams, the amazing battles, hyperspace jumps and drama. Hah, this is an adult, realistic Galactica. (Even with the inexcusable identical Earth-like gadgets like pens and microphones, after all, this is supposed to be an ALIEN human culture).

I was satisfied enough to own the new Battlestar Galactica miniseries and the small Battlestar Pegasus miniature, and was so overloaded with work, and chasing animes that i got distracted and didn´t follow recent developments in the second and third season. Then, in BSG foruns, i learned about this mid-season special, entitled Battlestar Galactica: RAZOR. "Ah, Novelty" I thought, and soon i grabbed my copy, certain that i would be watching this decade´s "The Best of Both Worlds", the famous Star Trek: The Next Generation episode that raised the bar (and the stakes) in sci fi drama on TV.

I was right, and that doesn´t makes me happy.

SPOILER´S AHEAD.

This episode tells (mostly) the story of the Pegasus (Galactica´s sister ship) before they met, and traced parallels between their ship and the Galactica (just like that LOST episode, in which they have shown the story of other survivors in the other side of the island, and how they dealt with the same problems).

In short: In the Galactica, under the Command of ADAMA, they were somewhat good and civilized, and treated the war refugees with the utmost respect and care.In the Pegasus, under the Command of a battle twisted Admiral Cain, they scavenged the war refugees ship, sacrificed them in order to keep fighting the war, and that makes them "Razors", sharp warriors willing to do anything to win a war. Of course, the episode was loaded with post 11-9 references, but the way it was depicted, and the passionate "the end justified the means" speech, even if it was condemned, it seems wasn´t condemned enough, or if it was, it was a little too late, or in too ambiguous ways. "Hey, the Cylons are much worse". Right.

OF course this was to just to show how good Adama´s group is, compared to them...of course this is great writing...of course it touches real life events...but my stomach just can´t keep up with it, just by thinking how many Admiral Cains are out there, not only in the armies, but in companies, in everyday life. By the end of it I was utterly depressed, and suddenly the Battlestar Pegasus model over my printer just looked a little TOO dark.

Malaak - Angel of Peace (graphic novel)

2008-01-01T16:33:00.000-08:00

The US has Captain America, Canada has Wolverine and the Alpha Flight (according to John Byrne). England has Dr.Who, Mexico has the Chapulin Colorado, Argentina has Patoruzu, Belgium has Tintin. France has Asterix, and now, who is Lebanon´s Super Hero?

Answering that question in living colours is the task the lebanese illustrator, graphic designer and writer Joumana Medlej took for herself, and the result is a ravishing fresh graphic novel entitled "Malaak, Angel of Peace" which i´m holding on my hands, in its gigantic size and glorious 36 adventurous pages .

As it is a superhero comic, naturally, it follows some traditional superhero conventions, the origin story, the supernatural powers, the secret identity, so...what´s so special about this one?

Unlike some bizarre recent condescendent attempts at middle eastern superheroes published by clueless westerns and drawn by even clueless illustrators (hahaha some of them are brazilians like me) this is the real, intelligent, classy, proud, luxurious and original thing.

The story is set in today´s Beiruth (ok, in a parallel universe Beiruth), with its well known troubled past, suggests that interfering interdimentional demons, named Jinn, where the war perpretators, so, in response to that, the spirits living in a cedar forest provide an answer in the form of a young girl, who have to grow up, come to terms with her special powers and fight them off.

The art comes easy on the eyes, and the feeling is tangible. This is not rushed or for the rushed. If it sometimes remind you of an educative children´s book, it´s because the author experience on children´s book. It also might remind you of european comic albuns, with no need of "in your face" angry faces with billions of face lines and billions of teeth. It also reminds you that not all comics need to be set in New York, and that Lebanon is not that badly photographed place you see on that annoying warmongering channel with all the awful moving/scrolling "irreadable" news banners.

Some world travelling fictional characters occasionally suffer in the hand of bad writers who obviously have zero knowledge about the "exotic" culture they´re supposedly talking about.
Being brazilian myself, I often cringe when a lame movie or tv show or book or comic book talks some countries with total disregard of the real local culture, cripes, the examples are just too many I won´t bother you with it.

So, this is a rare opportunity to drink pearls of higher sensibility straight from the source.

Indulge yourself:

http://www.malaakonline.com

Superman: Doomsday (2007)

2007-11-01T13:10:00.000-07:00

Terrific self contained animated movie, as expected from any Bruce Timm work.

In early 90´s, the international media was shocked by DC´s decision to "kill" Superman. Which was nothing more but one in a long list of temporary Superhero deaths, but at the time,it was promoted like the real thing outside the comics. I even still have the TIME magazine talking about it.

It worked, i must say, and I followed the published storyline, "Death of Superman" "Funeral for a Friend","Reign of the Superman" "Return of Superman" "Doomsday Returns" and so son.
So, with skeptical cynicism i followed the comics, giggled at the fact of how incompetent that ragtag Justice League was at the time, and was curious about how much repercussion this storyline had in other books. "Action Comics" "Batman" etc. But reading those splashpages, detailed one panel per page, showing Superman being beaten to a pulp by Doomsday, i found myself quite nervous and tense.

Of course it was a gimmick, of course it was a trap..but hell..it worked!

"But most will remember this sad day as the day the proudest, most noble man they ever knew finally fell. For those who loved him -- one who would call him husband, one who would be his pal, or those who would call him son -- this is the darkest day they could ever imagine. They raised him to be a hero: to know the value of sacrifice, to know the value of life."

I was pond of tears before i finished the book. Great writing. A good story. Whad'Ya Know?

Where were we? Oh yes, the recent animation : What can i say? It´s Bruce Timm´s work!

Great orchestral score. Good voice acting. Beautiful design. Terrific "punch" effects with plenty of shockwaves abound. Great sound effects. It was like.. AKIRA lite, as it obviously has AKIRA influences on it, as much as the budget allows it.

It was good as any episode of "Justice League" unlimited, but sadly, without the League, with surely was missed. That makes this animation look a little...understaffed! There is a few crowd scenes, but it looks like there´s too few actors, too few extra people.

Lois Lane´s voice was masterly interpreted by someone named Anne Heche (?), and this Lex Luthor, by that guy from Buffy (?)...well, doesn´t matter, it was nicely done as well.

About Superman´s design. Maybe in order to distinguish this Superman slightly from previous Timmverse animated Supermen, this one had accentuated cheekbones, or something of the sort, which makes him look like he´s 70 or something Clint Eastwood look alike. Luckily, they seem to forget about this detail in some scenes.

Anyway, it was a great movie, of course it could be better, maybe with the presence of the JLA, maybe by following the Superman cartoon continuity, but that´s being too picky.

Can´t wait for the upcoming adaptation Justice League: The New Frontier. Weee! :)

Ah! My Goddess (Aa! Megami-sama)

2007-10-04T19:51:00.000-07:00

Where to begin? Well, thats hard, because there´s a lot to say about this beloved anime series.

I can say that ´cause i guess know a bit or two about anime. I collect anime for decades, i once stood in line for hours to get a horridly recorded tape with a few minutes of "Battleship Yamato", watched Robotech dubbed in spanish in my cousins home in Argentina, collected it very expensive soundtracks with pride, watched AKIRA on movie teathers (twice!),
and so on, and fought hard to geta copy of Hayao Miyazaki´s "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" by the time of its release. Sorry to say that somethings never reach Brazil, so, we must dig it hard!

Well, where I was? Oh yes, Belldandy and Morisato Keichi love story. Keichi is a typical lovable loser, who got into trouble for helping others while trying to cope with his own dosis of problems. For that, he was granted a wish from the heavens, to be given by a Goddess from the "Relief Goddess Office", who suddenly appears to him though a mirror. After a quick talk, thinking it´s a prank played on him by his Senpais, asks her to be by his side forever...and his wish is granted!

So, here´s the thingie. While most animes are rushed, made just "because" , this is the opposite, nothing here is rushed. They spend a lot of time talking, dealing with every day things, just living, for Pete´sake. When new characters are introduced, they are fleshed out as persons, not action figures. Although there´s action now and then, WHEN it happens its relevant, because you get to know them so well, that is becomes otherwordly. There´s character development to spare.

Take for example, a recent anime...huh..."AIR GEAR". Well, the formula is all there, but it simply doesn´t work. Why? in the first episode he´s shown as an underdog with an harem, discovers how to use the air gears, discover the secret mystery of something something, etc etc, all of a season worth of stories, delivered as a supermarket shop list all in five minutes. It´s all so rushy, you don´t get to know him and you simply don´t believe or don´t care about his accomplishments, which sound totally artificial and unfulfilling. Well, forget about it, lets continue with Megami Sama...

This story was told at first in the continuous, long running manga, written and drawn by master storyteller Kosuke Fujishima which began in 1988. Then, five OVAS, original video animations were released in 1991, telling in 30 minute chapters, a extremily shortened, though skilled
version of the story.

Then, things gets magnificent in 2000, with the release of "Ah! My Goddess The Movie". Wow, let´s just say that the climax of this movie is one of the most beautiful things i´ve ever seen in this life. Sure thing to bring religious ecstasy to any brickheaded joe.

Since the Lord is kind to us fools who don´t deserve it, in 2005 a new anime TV series of Ah! My Goddess was launched, which 1st season had 24 episodes, and its second season with 22 episodes. Look forward to Yoko Ishida´s main theme "Open your mind". It IS a delight. It is heavenly. So do yourself a favor and look it up.

Quest for Camelot (1998)

2007-08-28T19:36:00.000-07:00

It might be easy for the rushed and hurried to quickly label this gentle animation as just another passable direct-to-video disneylike flick, but hold on, this isn?t one of them. This is a generous, colorful, thoughtful sophisticated movie, which achieved even more than it was intended. Particularly in one scene, which elevates this movie to the epic level. Kayley, is chased by bad guys, and instead of your typical Indiana Jones like, brass and drums chase scene orchestral score..you are unexpectedly treated with an lovely, gentle, vaguely eerie song, (The Prayer) providing a big contrast with the intense and aggressive horse chase. (and its NOT in slow motion) "I pray you'll be our eyes, and watch us where we go...". Instantly youre really worried with the mother, and those mildy cartoony villains become a real textured menace. They really made this work, and this movie is applause worthy for this scene alone.

Bridge to Terabithia (2007)

2007-08-25T23:59:00.000-07:00

This one could´ve been great. This one could be this generation´s "Labyrinth" or "Princess Bride". A smart little movie about two creative kids making up their own fantasy world and completely aware this was a fantasy. This movie was smart, heartful and..smart.

But the, the writers were plagued by the curse: "I don´t know how to end this", and gave it the "Evangelion" (the anime series) treatment: lets just kill off main characters in cruel ways and begone with it...lets ruin a saturday night just "because" and put a unnecessary soar taste into a masterpiece. :O(

That was a really mean and uncalled for wallop.

Whisper of the Heart (1995)

2007-08-14T19:58:00.000-07:00

Watching a GHIBLI Studios animated movie is always a most solemn moment here at home.

I thought that 1984´s Hayao Miyazaki´s "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" was my first overwhelming Ghibli experience, but later on i learned that some TV soap opera versions of "Heidi, Girl of the Alps" were already making me cry when i was in diapers, and later on "Marco" which was aired on its infinite entirety in brazilian TV in early 80´s. Just remembering the stranded boy who was separated from his mother and is globetrotting around the world
searching for her was enough to give me heartaches in my pre teens.

Of course, later on came the infinitely sweet All father of all Teddy Bears, "My NeighbourTotoro" , the mechanical ingenuity of "Laputa, Castle in the Sky", the love letter to Italy (or Switzerland, dunno) "Kiki´s Delivery Service", the ecological fierceness and tragedy of "Mononoke Hime" and the sweet freshness of "Spirited Away" and the recent "Howl´s moving Castle".

I was proud in saying "I´ve seen them all", then recently, to my shock, i stumble upon a copy of
an anime i´ve never heard of: "Whisper of the Heart", so I guess I was wrong.

The cover featured a familiar "GHIBLI Studio" design, with a heroine much like all of Hayao Miyazaki´s heroines (truth be said, look like the same girl in slightly different ages and haircuts). The anime fan inside me felt challenged and blushed how come i´ve never heard of this! It´s 1995´s, how come i let it pass! So let´s fix this situation immediatly. So, it was directed by someone name Yoshifumi Kondou, over Miyazaki´s screenplay, it was the same team after all.

I was strangely thrilled, watching a movie, knowing it will be great, completely not knowing anything about it. So it began, telling the story of a Shizuku, a junior-high school student, almost in real time, with long contemplative takes, as she strives to write and complete a fantasy book, to prove herself that she can do it, in parallels with a boy that she likes, which makes violins. this is a Ghibli movie alright, and I was surprised how a version of that old country song "Country Road" could sound so beautiful in japanese, complete with a violin arrangement. Darn it, they did it again! Where´s the Kleenex?

Ultimate Avengers (2006)

2007-08-13T20:25:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed the first entry on Marvel's "Ultimate Avengers" animated movie series.

I think they reached a nice balance between the classic version of the 1960's "Avengers", and their recent reboot, the "Ultimates", which is sharper and more violent. I must say they behave more like the original 1960's series, with most of the Ultimates stories toned down, a lot.

At least, they kept some key moments, like Steve Roger's letter to his girlfriend, being narrated while he's sinking on the freezing ocean is heart breaking. Moments like that, and those very human scenes with him adapting to the modern world, collecting old vinyl records would be perfect for a Captain America movie. Albeit nothing can top DC's "Justice League" animated series, it is great to see Marvel's standing up with their own version of the "JL", the Avengers, even if it's not a regular series. I believe it should be, and i would love to see adapted not only the "Ultimate" comic book series", but also classic Avengers stories, with villains like Kang, Loki and others. I'd love to see the big three's friendship developed even more, Captain America, Iron Man and Thor. My only complaint is the shape of the Mjolnir hammer, well, it's a hammer, not an axe. But i can live with that. Nah, keep them coming, i want a collection of 10 Avengers movies at mininum, with plenty of special guest, like the Silver Surfer, Dr.Strange and Spiderman..well, the entire Marvel universe, the Watcher included! =)

Kudos to the hilarious and somewhat touching extras.

Ghost Rider (2007)

2007-08-13T20:21:00.000-07:00

I watched "The Ghost Rider" the other day and well, Hellboy for sure this isn´t it. It has its cool moments of course, and one great moment, but most key moments just aren´t keyish enough. For example, the devil offers him to save his ill father from cancer, and instead of grabbing the opportunity and simply jumping in, take the bloody contract and go for it, he just play it retarded "Duh? Duh?" and sign devilish contract by accident. Duh!! A geniously sacrificing hero this is not.

Take for example, ARIEL, the Little Mermaid, who willingly sacrifices her voice, her most prized talent, just for the opportunity to see the boy she loves, and she consciously sign the contract with the evil witch. Wow, she has guts! The Verdict: The Little Mermaid is tougher than the Ghost Rider.

Transformers

2007-07-30T19:00:00.000-07:00

So, after a straining week, we went to the Mall to watch "Transformers" on teathers.

Wow, what a spectacle that was! Listening to Optimus Prime with thundering sound was too good to be true. It was a magnificent movie which left us more than satisfied.

"One shall stand...one shall fall" Shivers!!! ´Nuff said.

Superman Returns

2007-07-20T19:40:00.000-07:00

I watched "Superman Returns", and it was weird, like Hurley would say..and its weirdness lie not with the amazing intro and John Williams soundtrack, not with the amazing special effects, not with the retro Lex Luthor, not even with the yucky initial scene with a old lady dying . Spoilers down below:

- Clark´s there watching TV, seeing a lot of tragedies on TV, warzones, etc, and it´s like: "Oh Dear". Like he couldn´t be there in 2 seconds and fix things up.

- Superman saves a plane and then gets there receiving applauses for about 20 minutes, like he actually needed that! (like he if was..Captain Marvel JR or other Sub hero) He can do his job and get away for a coffee in Aspen or Greece or something. This is what happens when a guy who never travelled anywhere writes about a guy who could travel everywhere.

- "Lois" gets beaten by a henchman, since when? She´s the daughter of General Sam Lane, she can clear a room filled with henchmen!

- Superman is mute! Isn´t it Pre-Crisis Superman? Where´s "Great Scott"? "Great Rao"?

- Why they didn´t just hired John Byrne!?!

The DaVinci Code

2007-07-11T19:34:00.000-07:00

I got the "The DaVinci Code" DVD in my dad´s collection. To that moment i haven´t read this book, except the prequel, "Angels and Demons". Nah, i had to work the next day, and didn´t had the patience to see it all..or did I.? Sights... agh, let´s get this over with...I watched it in FAST FORWARD. Hmm...Louvre..ok..visit the Louvre...That guy from "Knight´s Tale"...painted white and dressed as a Sith Lord...ok....Forrest Gump gives a lecture...ok.....Jean Reno, the eternal french cop..plays...a french cop....Amelie Poulin...of course..this is Paris.....Doc Ock...ok......everything dark to hide rushed production values..ok....Magneto appears..huh..i bet he´ll point a gun to Amelie by the end...Da Vinci Paintings...some "Combustion" effects...nice.....huh .a medieval Holodeck..ok.....Magneto actually points a gun to Amelie.....then in slow motion...Amelie IS GOD, heck, we all knew that all along for years! what was the big buzz about.... .. zzzzzzz........

random reviews

2007-06-12T19:00:00.000-07:00

"Click" - A total remake of sixth season Star Trek´s TNG episode, "Tapestry", with a couple of fun moments, Christopher Walken with the role of "Q". Becomes a downer in the last 30 minutes.

"BABEL" - A very shocking movie. A couple of years back Brad Pitt looked 30, then, i see him in this condition, he seems 70´s, completely dried out. Lucky bastard.

"THE WILD" - Shaking desperately your 3D model won´t make your story remotely insteresting.

"HIGHLANDER: The Source" - I loved the TV series, all the flashbacks, all the effort, all the persistance, everything on it . But in this movie, they all look sadly tired.

"Ghost Rider" - I want to see it, i really do, but i can´t find the inner strenght to go see it at the teathers....

"DOA" - Dead or Alive: 90 minutes of magnificent hilarity and joy, complete self aware farcical fun. Applauses

"HEROES" - TV series. It started well, but by the 5th episode, the eyes started to roll, i was hoping not too. I could get over the X-men rip-off, i could get over the fact that the intangible guy can do the double lady..but not to the fact that their offspring would be "boy who talks to machines". Or that the Firelady daughter would be indestructible girl? What happened to "Same DNA same powers"! Okay to that..but the final offense was to stone faced rip off "Alan Moore´s Watchmen". DC comics, please sue them quickly!!!"War and Peace" (1955). Bah, 5 hours of movie and still not enough of Audrey Hepburn. :PNow, a bunch of anime reviews:

"Fantasy VII: Last Order (OVA)": Never in my life i could care less about a troupe of characters, and i did tried. Got seasick at each mention of "Zepiroth". And they even dared to burn a medieval village, the same way they made fun on Mel Brooks´s "Robin Hood: Men in Tights". Aw please a thousand times.

"Ah! My Goddess" (TV series): Each minute a masterpiece. The song "Shiawase no Iro" brings tears to my eye. Literally heavenly.

"Gankotsuou": (or The Count of Monte Cristo in space..or in the future). A bunch of illustrator friends of mine completely droll over this, well, it has fancy special effects, multilayered digital painting, each furniture is like transparent glass to a moving photoshoped layer. Sorry friends, intelligent but overly distracting special effects and depressing mood and slow motion bloody stabs are not a substitute for total lack of character charisma. Lousy opening/ending themes.

"Love Hina" (TV series): Wow, with this series i learned the meaning of "FAN SERVICE" and fun use of the "Fourth Wall", I humbly stand educated by it.

The Dukes of Hazzard (season 1)

2007-06-10T10:20:00.000-07:00

I got the "Dukes of Hazzard" season 1 as a gift from my wife, and what can we say? It´s peaceful, its nostalgic, its peaceful and nostalgic.

That drove me to a mild "Dukes of Hazzard" mania that took me to search for its soundtrack, to listen while i´m drawing. Theirs, and also, a movie which seems to be the inspiration for that series, a 1977 Burt Reynolds movie named "Smokey and the Bandit", very funny, with hilarious car chases, and obviously inspired "Knight Rider" as well, with the black truck and the black car. Then i discovered a beautiful and inspiring song named "General Lee" (the name of the Dukes of Hazzard car) by a country singer named "Johnny Cash", which i didn´t really knew nothing about that time, shame on me, he´s THE country singer. Gosh, that song is beautiful, this lead me to download dozens of other Johnny Cash songs, providing for a smooth and continuous illustration work. Then the songs would get sadder and sadder. songs entitled "Desperado", "Ballad Of A Teenage Queen", "Father and Son". The last one proved to be too much for me, and then i realized tears were coming thru my cheeks. The colors on the animation started to become sad as well. So...no more Johnny Cash for you.

Serenity

2007-05-11T19:44:00.000-07:00

"Serenity", based on the short lived "Firefly" TV series. I guess i liked it. Low budget, entusiasthic director, willing actors, a couple of clever decisions. Guess i liked it a lot. It´s not the new "Galactica", its not "Babylon 5", but at least has energy.

I also saw a couple of "Wolfsrain" episodes, an anime from the makers of "Cowboy Bebop".
Hard to get inside, but at least i would give it an Oscar for having one of the best soundtrack songs since "Record of Lodoss War":Wolf's Rain OST 2 - 18 - Tell Me What The Rain Knows (Maaya Sakamoto).

The House of Flying Daggers

2007-05-05T19:59:00.000-07:00

What a beauty. Beautiful textured scenarios and clothings, beautiful trees, beautiful fightings, but..plot? I think it should be called "The House of the girls who don´t know how to express themselves". If the central gal just voiced out her feelings and not giving the poor guy false hopes and then closing down the gates none of this tragedy would happen. Nah!

Quest for Camelot (1998)

2007-04-20T19:56:00.000-07:00

It might be easy for the rushed and hurried to quickly label this gentle animation as just another passable direct-to-video disneylike flick, but hold on, this isn?t one of them. This is a generous, colorful, thoughtful sophisticated movie, which achieved even more than it was intended. Particularly in one scene, which elevates this movie to the epic level. Kayley, is chased by bad guys, and instead of your typical Indiana Jones like, brass and drums chase scene orchestral score..you are unexpectedly treated with an lovely, gentle, vaguely eerie song, (The Prayer) providing a big contrast with the intense and aggressive horse chase. (and its NOT in slow motion) "I pray you'll be our eyes, and watch us where we go...". Instantly you?re really worried with the mother, and those mildy cartoony villains become a real textured menace. They really made this work, and this movie is applause worthy for this scene alone.