Iron Man 3 Movie Review

After falling in love with last summers Avengers, I have been worried that Marvel had reached its peak. Guardians of the Galaxy is due next year and I have faith in that but the solo superhero films recently have not been exactly impressive. Until iron man 3. This movie is more of a sequel to the avengers film as it is to iron man 2. Tony copes with the events of the avengers while still dealing with the antagonist the Mandarin. The movie differs from other marvel films by focusing more on internal struggles than action packed external dilemmas. But that does not make it a bad film. I thoroughly enjoyed the film and Robert Downey Jr. nails it out of the park yet again with his excellent performance as the billionaire Playboy. Jokes are sprinkled throughout the film to lighten up the mood and to remind you this is still a Marvel movie. All in all, I recommend seeing this movie in theaters. 7.5/10

P.s. extra scene at the end of credits!

Bioshock Infinite: Is It Really All It's Said to Be?

SPOILERS

It seems that the game everybody is talking about nowadays is the one and only Bioshock Infinite. Having just complete the game myself, I would like to announce my concerns. Although the game had a fascinating and unexpected ending, I can't help but say the game is getting a bit of an overrated praise. Yes it is interesting how this and the first game are connected in possibly the coolest way possible but as for Infinite having the coolest and deepest ending to a video game ever? That is a bit of a stretch. And claiming that it is better than the first BioShock is very unfair considering the fact the ending wouldn't be NEARLY as cool if the first game was never made. Therefore, infinite needs the support of the first game to have the phenomenal ending it did. As for the gameplay, it's classic BioShock gameplay with nothing new. Not that there is anything wrong with that!!! But some of the tasks in infinite were extremely difficult which did end up taking some of the fun out of the game. Call me a casual as much as you like but I did take my beating which in turn did ruin some of the fun. Did anybody else have a headache after facing Lady Comstock... TWICE? I mean cmon guys. Give us a break. And the handymans were quite the bitch. All in all BioShock is a noteworthy game and does deserve at least a 9 out of 10 but i cannot shake the feeling that there is some unnecessary hype behind it.

Batman and Robin Issue 18 - Undone

In the wake of Damian Wayne's death in Batman Inc. 8, the following months in the DCU will be mourning issues starting off with the Requiem tie-ins and Batman & Robin issue 18 has started it off with a bang. This powerful issue is all silent with not one word being spewed and damn is it powerful. After finishing, I can honestly say that i was on the verge of tears due to it's impact. Each panel just shows the pain Bruce is feeling slowly but surely until the last page with the climax of the tale.

Among the titles out this week (Batman, Detective Comics, B&R,  and Batgirl) Batman & Robin 18 takes the cake for Requiem tie-ins. Even if you are not a reader of this series, picking up this issue is a must. Bruce's pain is so vivid and compelling and you do not want to be left out. 10/10 all the way on this book. Good job Gleason and the rest of the creative time.

R.I.P. Damian. You will be missed

Grant, congrats on breaking our hearts

Death of the Family Conclusion Review

Spoiler. This is it. Snyder's final installment of the Death of the Family story arc and it's quite the doozie. Full of epic moments though not what you may be expecting. This book tends to lean more towards psychological moments than action packed fight scenes between the Joker and Batman. But that is to be expected after all due to the two's relationship.

Was it a bit anti-climatic?
Depends... if you bought into the hype of Alfred dying or at least someone meeting their fate, then you may be a bit let down. But let's look at this logically. Joker, considering he does not know who Alfred is to Batman, has no reason to kill the old man. To him, he thinks Batman views him as just another citizen. It doesn't make sense that Joker would kill Alfred in spite of hurting Batman. Not to mention, even IF Joker knew Alfred's significance to Batman, I still don't think he would kill off Alfred. Because wouldn't that just take the fun out of Joker's never ending game? Now yes, you could pull the "But he killed Jason" card but Jason and Alfred are two different people to Bruce. He loves them both but nonetheless, they play different parts in his life.

Although I'm in love with Snyder's writing and Capullo's art, I have to admit that although I did love the psychological conclusion to the story involving the revelations of why Joker had his face removed and the explanation to 'removing' the whole Bat Family's face, I wish there was a bit more of an action conclusion that added to the psychological part. And Joker falling down the waterfall... Meh. Same song and dance I feel. We've seen it before where the villain just "get's away".

Showing snippets of each of the Bat members at the end of the issue pondering what had just went down was also a nice touch. It made me sit and think about the 5 months that have passed that enclosed this story and the trauma that came with it. I think Damian and Jason's were the most powerful scenes.

All in all, I am very satisfied with the conclusion and I hope this team of Snyder and Capullo stick with us for issues to come. I give this a solid 9.5/10 and am definitely excited for what's to come in the Batman saga

Death of the Family Review (Up to Batman Issue 16)

What can I say? This is one of the most promising, drama filled. action packed story lines I've ever read. Scott Snyder's writing is like poetry and I cannot get enough of it. The first page of issue 15 (Batman) had me with my heart going a hundred miles an hour. I probably read it twenty times. And the cliffhanger at the end had me at the edge of my seat. But I think the true jewel on the crown is Batman issue 13. The beginning of all the madness with the Joker. This was definitely one of my favorite comics of all time. The references to earlier stories, the writing, the art, THE COVER. It was all perfect. If you haven't checked out DC's Death of the Family story arc yet, you are missing out.

Halo 4 Review - 343 Delivered

Speechless. Utterly speechless. Halo 4 is everything I wanted it to be and more. From the amazing continuation of the storyline to the online multiplayer, 343 delivered and blew my mind.

Graphics and Sound - The prologue cutscene at the beginning of the campaign was so realistic, my friends and I at first thought it was live action. The unloading of the guns and sound effects make you want to have nerdgasm after nerdgasm. Chief is back and looks as beautiful as ever.

Gameplay - The controls flow so beautifully together and all minor flaws from previous games that have irked gamers seem to have gone with the wind. This new Reclaimer Saga is VERY promising

Story - Without giving anything away, the story I can already tell will be good. I only managed to get through   mission 3 last night but Holy Hell. 343 did an excellent job of not leaking or teasing you with anything so there are plenty of surprises and everything in the story is new and fresh.

Flood Mood (Online) - SO COOL! From the abilities to the claw like weapon you have to the actually feeling that you are apart of the flood family! This is one of my favorite new additions to the Halo family

My friends and I got to the midnight launch at our GameStop at 5 PM and good lord it was worth it guys. If you haven't picked your copy up yet, please do ME a favor and get one. If you aren't a fan of Halo after this game, I will have words for you. Well that's all for me. Back to the game. Just had to write my review

Saga - Image's Few Month Old Comic Reviewed

Full of action, humor, talented art, and an entertaining story, Saga has it all. Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples takes you to a distant galaxy where a war has broken out between two races and stuck in the middle of it all are Marko and Alana who just had a newborn child. They also happen to be on the run from the government. And to top it all off, a few bounty hunters are on their tail.
Saga is definitely one of the more creative comics out there on the shelves right now and I STRONGLY recommend it to any newcomer into comics or any veteran. By far one of my favorite series overall. It's only four issues in so it's not too late to jump on board but they are going fast. My first issue is already a fifth printing.
Not to mention, the price is a low 2.99 so you get a good story, good art AND you save a buck for those more expensive comics like AvX!

The Amazing Spider-Man Movie Review - WTF

So I saw the new Spider-Man at the midnight release and after thinking about it more and more, my respect for that movie just keeps lowering and lowering. They took everything about Spider-Man and threw it out the window. The only thing they stuck true to was this Spider-Man actually used web blasters unlike the original Spider-Man movie. But just about everything else in this film made me question why people even bother bringing these golden heroes to life on the big screen. Andrew Garfield plays Peter Parker in the film and right from the start, he obliterates Peter's high school life. With the skateboard to his clothes to his attitude and persona. It all didn't add up. Just as i predicted.

So not only was Peter's personality tossed down the drain, but Spider-Man's biggest trait was also given a good beating. His mask and what it stood for. Spider-Man's mask isn't just for looks and to give crooks a scare but it signifies  keeping Parker's identity a secret. It signifies the protecting of his loved ones so his enemies don't hurt them. And with this movie, he seemed to just throw that idea out the window. It seemed that Garfield was throwin' his mask off just for shits and giggles with no rhyme or reason.
Now I will admit the fight scenes with The Lizard were entertaining and the movie did do a good job of capturing Spider-Man's humor in the heat of battle so that was a plus to this movie. But I feel Doctor Octopus's battle with Spider-Man from the original trilogy gave these fights a run for their money.
Another part of this movie I didn't like is related to the trailer. If you view the trailer to this movie, it makes it seem like a story about Peter tracking down his parents and what truly happened to them. But that only takes up maybe the first thirty minutes of the movie and instead of delving deeper into their disappearance, he simply veers off course and fights Curt Connors. But they did seem to redeem themselves a bit with the final scene played after the credits with Connors in his jail cell and a mysterious shadow paying him a visit but I don't think it was enough...
All in all, this movie drastically drifted away form Spider-Man's essence and that did not exactly make a comic book lover like myself very happy. And it saddens me more to think that this is the start to a whole new trilogy. This unfortunately isn't a one-shot. Oh well. After the success of the superhero movie the Avengers, I'll let this one slide.

L.A. Noire - Rockstar's Twist On Running the Streets

I know this may be an older game, but having picked it up from GameStop a few weeks ago and progressing through it, I feel it would be appropriate to use this game as my first video game review. So here it is. L.A. Noire Reviewed.

The game (Spanning a length of 3 discs long) puts you in the shoes of Cole Phelps. A former police officer who believes in cold hard justice and doesn't stand by short cuts in the system. You're living in the 1930's of Los Angeles (Duh) and each mission acts like a TV episode in a way (Similar to the game Alan Wake). Each story is indirectly tied together into one larger story including newspaper articles found throughout the game giving a side story about a crazy, manipulating therapist.
Each level starts to seem to get a little repetitive every once in a while and at points throughout, I've felt bored and it feels tedious but the game always does have a few twists here and there in the game play to keep you on your feet.
The game does a really good job of putting you in the setting of the 1930's with dress wear, music, scenery, and the dialogue people use. I was very impressed. Not to mention the graphics in L.A. Noire make this game one of Rockstar's more impressive feats. All in all, L.A. Noire is a fun game and if you ever wanted to live one of those crime shows you see on TV but are too lazy to sign up for police academy, this is your game.

Firefly Episode 1 Reviewed

Firefly is the 2002 sci-fi show with a western/steampunk twist to it. I thought reviewing the first episode for people searching for a fantasy show would be helpful so here you go. The show takes place approximately 500 years in the future and follows Captain Mal Reynolds and his ragtag of a space pirate crew who deal in black market smuggling all across the galaxy. The first episode properly introduces all the characters and what their role is on the ship. Character development is lacking a bit in the beginning but by the end of the episode, you have a feel for where all their hearts are.

The episode is a bit campy (Especially in the beginning) but if you look over that, the story is entertaining and original. I also enjoy how the show obviously takes place in the future but they don't shove it down your throats with crazy looking aliens all over the place and plasma gunfire flying everywhere. They're very calm in showing you that the show doesn't take place in this time frame. Which is different from other futuristic shows. And does anyone else see a resemblance in the ship's mechanic Kaylee with Battlestar Galactica's Cally? I mean even their names are similar along with their personalities. A bit odd...
Anyways, with an impressive soundtrack and an entertaining story, Firefly is definitely worth your time viewing, and if your looking for a classic show to call home, this one is welcoming with open arms.

Batman: Arkham Unhinged Comic Review Update

Okay. So this is an update to my previous Arkham Unhinged review. I've read issues two and three since then and all I've got to say is what the fraking frak. What happened??? This comic had so much potential thanks to the success of the ground breaking, addictive video game and they started off strong with an entertaining first issue with Catwoman and Two-Face back story and then there's these next two issues that were far from interesting. I'm definitely taking this out of my folder at my comic shop. The art is still cool but would be so much cooler if there was actually some god damn action every once in a while! I mean the second issue is Batman talking to Commissioner Gordon for the whole story and the third is just about the Penguin talking about how he used to be friends with the Joker or something. It was lame. I spoke to soon about this comic unfortunately. But I do have to admit. The covers to each issue so far have been pretty fantastic.

Superior Reviewed

I just finished the limited seven issue series Superior by Mark Millar  (Artwork by Leinil Yu from Secret Invasion) and despite where the first issue seemed to be heading, I will say it was worth the read and I am impressed..yet again. Millar has once again taken a cliche idea and made something original with it. The story is about a young 12 year old boy named Simon Pooni who has the disease multiple sclerosis. He's picked on by kids at school and his true friends are limited. But that all changes one night when a strange space monkey in an astronaut suit appears in Simon's room and changes the boy into the iconic hero Superior. Similar to the abilities of Superman, Superior has all the textbook symptoms of an old school hero. I don't want to give much away but all I'm saying are things aren't always the way they seem...

Superior is a fun, light, action-filled series that is clearly done by the brilliant mind of Mark Millar. With familiar artwork from Leinil Yu, I couldn't help but feel a skrull was gonna pop on in for a panel or two. Excessive f-bombs does make this a comic for a more mature audience. Surprisingly, the ending wrapped up with no noticeable cliffhangers like Millar's other pieces (Nemesis, Kick-Ass) which I think would be best. This isn't exactly a franchise that could go on for a sequel.

Apparently Millar announced that movie director Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass director) bought the rights to Superior and is going to create a film adaption. Definitely will be worth seeing.

Earth 2 Reviewed (In a Nutshell)

Earth 2. New stories. New heroes. New villains. New universe. New everything. With issue 2 hitting stores soon, I thought I should hurry on up and review DC's start to their 'Second Wave' as their calling it and tell you guys all about this parallel world. With awesome art and a neat story line, I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment. The cliffhanger to this one was already one that was too much to handle. I'm not going to give anything away but you'll be craving for part two as soon as you're finished. And they even got cool details down like the new Robin replaces Batman's son Damian in the original universe and becomes his daughter instead. This comic shows a lot of potential but at the same time, it also has much riding on it and I hope DC doesn't crash and burn with letting us readers down. So let's keep our hopes up and wish for the best guys! The second wave has begun!

What The Hell Happened To The Incredible Hulk?

WARNING: Spoilers from Incredible Hulk 2011 Series
If you read Marvel's premiere event of 2011, Fear Itself, then you know the new Incredible Hulk ongoing series launched off based on one of Fear Itself 's epilogues. And have been reading it since its first issue and just finishing issue 7.1, I must say what the frak. So first, you seperate man from monster and now after KILLING Bruce Banner (Yeah that's right. Killing THE Bruce Banner), you have some bald clone hulk run around doing random ass s**t? What the hell Marvel? I've been reading this series from the start and still have yet to be impressed. With artwork that looks more like it's from the drawing board than a finished piece and stories that even in the Marvel Universe aren't possible, this new(ish) series is not one of my favs. Having been a large fan of the Planet Hulk and World War Hulk arcs, I was expecting more from this. Sadly, I was shot down. I really hope this series can get back up on it's feet because I do not want to have wasted a good $20 on all these issues I've bought from it. At least set things straight again in the Marvel Universe and bring back Dr. Banner. You can't just kill him off with a fraking gamma bomb.

Batman: Arkham Unhinged (Arkham City's Sidekick) Reviewed

Warning: Minor Spoilers for Batman: Arkham City Video Game
For fellow fans of the multi-platform video game hit Batman: Arkham City, I present to you it's back story sidekick, Batman: Arkham Unhinged. I picked up issue one today at my local comic shop and was hesitant on getting the second issue due to my trusty comic employee saying the first issue didn't have much of a cliffhanger. So here I am now with the first issue under my belt and I must say wow. If you have any interest in the video game, buy this comic. The first issue gives you the background info on Catwoman and Two Face's feud and how they both ended up in Arkham City. It also shows you how Two Face got Catwoman's stolen goodies. Filled with action on just about every page and quality art, Arkham Unhinged was definitely worth it's $3 price tag that it bears. And for all you women super hero lovers out there, do not fear. Catwoman's cleavage is VERY noticeable in this comic with plenty of shots that would make a stalker drool. I also must say that the cover art is VERY entertaining.
I hope this series has much success. Like I said, for any video game fans out there who don't know where to start with comics and want to start somewhere, here ya go.

Rubber - The Most Pointless Movie Ever Reviewed

So not only did I watch the indie hit Hobo With A Shotgun, I also watched the not-so indie hit Rubber. Following a tire named Robert who has physic powers and can blow stuff up, this movie will bore you to death but at the same time, you cannot stop watching... Well for me at least. My girlfriend fell asleep during it. Taking place in the desert, you view a group of randomly assorted people who watch from a distance with binoculars as they watch Robert encounter other human beings. After viewing this film, I feel I wasted 80 minutes of my life but at the same time feel happy that I have that indie under my belt. So if you have time to kill, why not watch this movie? At least you weren't like my friend who went to the midnight premiere in theaters (Yes he actually did that). This movie has absolutely no character development and BARELY any plot. Scratch that. It has no plot. But aside from all it's noticeable flaws, it is humorous and I did catch myself laughing at quite a few parts. But that's only because I enjoy random. You may not find it as funny. All in all, this movie is lame beyond belief but if you're a true movie lover or consider yourself a hipster, this is for you.

Hobo With A Shotgun Reviewed!

A while back, my friend came to school telling me about a movie he had watched on Netflix about a pissed off hobo (Played by Rutger Hauer) who was sick of crime. This is that movie. I had the... pleasure of finally viewing this movie tonight along with the film Rubber. The film was made in 2011 and is so underground, it doesn't even have a rating. The story takes place in a crap city (Probably based off Detroit) where a lonesome hobo drifts on in trying to save up enough money to buy a lawn mower (For $50) until he sees the hellhole the citizens are living in which seems to be ruled by a gang leader known as The Drake. So what to does this mild mannered hobo do? Buy a shotgun and clean up the scum of the streets. Jason Eisener is the director and I like how the movie has an 80's theme to it with a neat techno-ish soundtrack and the film is even vintage/old style. But be warned. This movie is NOT for children. Filled with gore galore, pedophiles, burning children and the f-bomb just about every other word, younger audiences should not be in the room.

Although the film attempts to be serious, you can't help yourself but laugh throughout it at it's cornball setting, dreadful one-liners, and its cheesy effects. It attempts to make you feel for the hobo and his prostitute friend he picks up later in the film but you can't help but not give two shits about them. Despite all the gore and violence, this is a light, fun movie to watch with your friends on a Saturday night. Don't be expecting any deep, moving story because you will not find it here. But I mean were you really trying to? It's called Hobo With A Shotgun for frak's sake.

The New Avengers (2004 Series) Reviewed! (Issues 1-20)

Oh. My. Gods. So as you guys know, I went to the comic convention last weekend and while I was there, I managed to finish my New Avengers collection from 2004. Now I don't know about you guys, but before I read a series, I need all the issues. I hate skipping issues. So when I managed to collect all 64 issues including the two annuals AND the finale, I was ready to go and damn that was a good buy. Bendis has done it again and just blown my mind with his story plots. I actually like Iron Man in this series which is weird considering I hate his asshole personality in all his other comics. And yes Spider-Man is as badass as ever with his smart-mouth jokes in the midst of battle and Cap is just the patriotic BAMF he is with standing in what he believes in. And Maria Hill is as annoying as ever. Just.... Over all, it is an incredible ongoing series and I'm glad they didn't just drop it after the events in Siege. I'm glad they started it back up (With what looks like Luke Cage being in charge). This series is definitely going down as one of my favorite ongoing series ever. Thank you Bendis and thank you Cho for such incredible artwork. He sure knows how to define those superheroes. And the artwork in each issue is phenomenal. You'll be stopping yourself to view the battle scenes such as Sentry's incredible fight with the mysterious force in the arc "The Collective". And thanks to the story arc "The Collective" right before the Civil War tie-in issues, I finally know what happened to Alpha Flight and why Omega Flight was born during the Initiative so that is A.W.E.S.O.M.E. (If you're wondering what I'm talking about, read the One-Shot Civil War: The Initiative). Well guys, I just HAD to review this series even though it is a few years old, I thought why not. Definitely give this title a shot if you haven't already. It should be sinful if you don't read this. That's all for now! Time to read some more of this epic series! Later guys

Death Note Reviewed - A Manga Worth Reading

Do you like japanese comics that have those ridiculous, obnoxious faces that look like they belong in a kids TV show? What about how dramatic the characters can be during not so dramatic situations? Examples of fine literature that define these would be One Piece and Bo Bo Bo Bo (Or something like that). Well, if you honestly do like that childish work, then don't bother reading this post. Because this is about a manga that's actually worth reading and has an amazing plot. It's called Death Note. And it is epic. Running 12 volumes long, Death Note is written by Tsugumi Ohba and drawn by Takeshi Obata. The story is of a High School student named Light Yagami who is the epitome of a genius. He gets straight A's in all his classes and could go to any college in the reason. One problem. He's bored with life. But that all changes one day when he sees a notebook lying on the ground outside during the middle of class. He goes to pick up this notebook afterwards and behold. The Death Note. A notebook that when written in, will do the unthinkable. Kill whosever name is written down. The story picks up from there.
Now for some of you, you're probably thinking "What the hell? This is dark. Not my thing." But the notebook itself is only a portion of the story. What follows becomes a chase to (Literally) the death on who can reveal who's identity in this action thriller of a manga. The ace student Light Yagami (Also known as Kira to the rest of the world) or the greatest detective the world has ever known who simply goes by the name "L". Mind games, gun fights and riddles are what follow in this drama as you, the reader view both sides from the sideline watching the two main characters get closer and closer to discovering each other. And not only is the story one of a kind, the character development is amazing. You will find yourself being torn between who you wish to win this game of wits. The heroic vigilante or the emotionless detective? Both geniuses in many fields.

I read this series a few years ago and couldn't stop myself from purchasing the next volume. They were just too damn good. If you've never read a manga before, I would start with this one. If you've read a manga before, do not put this in the same category as that other garbage. Read the first volume of this manga and you'll be hooked.
There is also an anime to the series (Which has amazing English dub but can be cheesy) and a few real life movies that were released in Japan. Although I haven't seen them, I hear they're not too great.

The Classics: A Clockwork Orange Movie Reviewed

I just watched A Clockwork Orange for the first time last night with my girlfriend and I've got to say. What.The.Hell. Taking place in the future of Britain, Stanley Kubrick (Considered to be one of the greatest directors of all time) takes the acclaimed novel of a young man named Alex who is part of a four man gang who dress themselves in complete white clothing and walk around the streets of Britain causing pain everywhere they go. Raping, mugging, and attacking people in general seem to be their specialties. Eventually, Alex gets caught and that's where the movie truly begins. I won't give anything away but wow... I'd have to say one of the greatest tortures ever happens in that movie. And it involves something you would have never guessed would be used for torture. Beethoven.

The movie, although cheesy at some points, is NOT a movie for children. Filled with nudity for about 80% of the movie and disturbing scenes such as rape and fights, it'll be difficult for younger ones to recover from. But if you enjoy weird, quirky and unique movies (Take Requiem for a Dream for example), then you'll enjoy this. One issue I had with the movie was how it seemed to drag out in some parts. They could have easily made this a 100 minute movie compared to a 140 minute time span. Filled with interesting twists (Especially later in the movie), you'll stay interested throughout regardless of the dragged out scenes. All in all, I recommend this film if you're stomach isn't weak. The rape scenes are not as violent and disturbing as I was lead to believe before watching the movie and if you've seen The American version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, you'll be okay. But rape is a very touchy subject and it makes me and many others sick to the stomach thinking about it. Be warned: After watching this movie, you'll never wanna answer your door after dark... "I'm singing in the rain..."