Batman: Arkham Asylum

This is one of the best games of the last few years. What really makes this stand out is that it would be a great game even without all the Batman stuff, as it's a near-perfect blend of a diversity of different tried-and-true game aspects. If I had to describe it, I'd say it's a mix of Bioshock's atmosphere and style, Just Cause 2's grappling/glider insanity, Splinter Cell's stealth, Half-Life 2's playable cinematics, Dead Space's camera and controls, Wolverine Origins's combat system (but much better), some really unique stuff you haven't seen before, and BATMAN. All of this being in an open-world environment, of sorts.

What results is a ridiculously polished game that is impossible to put down. I beat this game in nearly two straight days (10-12 hours), and I barely ever do that. Plus, this game has one of my top 10 favorite video game moments ever.

I think it's obvious that you should not miss this one if you consider yourself a gamer. Especially in a gaming drought like this one.

In a sentence:

Combines many successful elements into a surprisingly polished, gorgeous and captivating game.

Read More 0 comments |

World's Greatest Dad

This would have been a five if the ending hadn't disappointed me (though maybe I just didn't "get it"... not enough forums are talking about it yet to find out). But let me say this: if you intend to watch the movie, DO NOT READ ANY SYNOPSES OR REVIEWS. They give away something that would make the movie a lot less awesome to watch.

That being said, this is a pretty brilliant dark and twisted comedy. It's not for everyone because of this, but those that can get over some pretty sick subject matter will definitely appreciate the originality and talent being shown here. Robin Williams gives an awesome performance, and all the other characters act their role perfectly (especially the son, who is incredibly unlikeable).

But I don't want to give away too much here, so if you can deal with disturbing themes, go watch this now.

In a sentence:

Brilliantly unique and well-acted, this movie pushes the limits until the slightly disappointing and predictable ending.

Read More 0 comments |

I Love You, Man

This is a pretty good comedy, actually. It's got some really interesting themes and lessons that are definitely relevant to many people, and an interesting story that keeps up the pace and kept me interested the whole way through. It's one of those movies that go by really fast, and feel happy but predictable. In terms of laughs, it's not that funny, with the focus being on the drama instead of the comedy. Still, some of the stuff is pretty funny, although not laugh-out-loud worthy by any means. Nontheless, it's great fun to watch.

In a sentence:

Feel-good, light, fun movie with a really interesting theme and some decent humor.

Read More 0 comments |

Coraline

This film is magical! The superb animation combines in a spectacular way with a unique style that is both creepy and beautiful. The story itself is very strange, but holds together well and makes for some really interesting moments and characters. The voice acting is subtle, but quite original and very fitting to the characters.

In a sentence:

Definitely worth watching for the originality and general atmosphere, as they're pretty unique. On the other hand, it's a very strange film, so be prepared for that.

Read More 0 comments |

District 9

The first thing you notice with this film is its striking originality and disregard for generic hollywood laws. The film starts right away with all the film's strengths, depicting incredibly good special effects, fresh and humble acting, an original half-documentary style and a fascinating story that leaves you constantly thirsting for more. In addition to its Apartheid-influenced and psychologically layered story, the director managed to include some absolutely genius action sequences that are immensely satisfying to watch, which is a feat in itself. Plus, the main character depicts some of my favorite acting in recent times, despite this being his first time.

One downside: the film leaves a ton of stuff open-ended. This might annoy some people, although personally, I think it was the right choice; it leaves the viewer with the impression of actually having been a bystander of all this story, from the point of view of a normal human instead of a all-seeing god cameraman. It makes you feel like you're part of it all, in my opinion.

In a sentence:

Brilliant effects, a fresh and captivating story and acting that comes from the heart make this one of the best movies of the year.

Read More 0 comments |

17 Again

This is a lot better than it seems! Zac Efron is actually great in this, and although the main plot point has been seen before, it's treated in a unique and very entertaining way here. There are some pretty funny jokes, and it's generally a very uplifting movie which treats its subject matter and morals rather wisely.

In a sentence:

Well worth watching as a feel-good bit of entertainment, especially with a significant other.

Read More 0 comments |

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

Right. Well I went in expecting to enjoy some good special effects and a basic popcorn flick, and that's pretty much what I got. What I didn't exactly expect was for it to be quite this crappy. Whereas with something like Transformers 1, you get some good laughs, crazy special effects and a decent story, in this you just get CHEESE. Characters belch out incredibly cliché lines like "Now you will die!" while fighting in random arctic underwater lairs, and it's all intercut with simplistic flashbacks to explain their roots. Then again, it's GI Joe, so I was expecting this.

Then you've got the effects, which are sometimes cool, but generally very uninspired (all the good shots are in the trailers), and the humor, which only comes from the black dude, who is incidentally the only good actor in the whole movie.

In a sentence:

Not even good as a summer action flick, unfortunately. You can get the whole experience just watching the trailers.

Read More 0 comments |

Adventureland

This is a pretty awesome coming-of-age, indy-influenced, nostalgic movie. The acting is excellent (Kristen Stewart is convincing, but at some point you realize she's just making the same tortured-look-while-slightly-opening-her-mouth-and-closing-it-again-and-looking-away expression the whole movie), and the writing is surprisingly original and fresh. The core story itself works well, though most of what makes the movie unique comes from the details and the environment.

On the downside, the main character is ridiculously smooth and witty, and although it makes the movie a lot of fun to watch, it leaves the story progression feeling a bit unrealistic. But, who cares, right?

In a sentence:

A fresh new take on a very tired genre that manages to inject a surprising amount of originality and heart into the slightly dodgy core story.

Read More 0 comments |

Featured Review

Note: this site has been discontinued

Batman: Arkham Asylum

World's Greatest Dad

I Love You, Man

Coraline

District 9

17 Again

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

Adventureland

Eric's Reviews

About

Review Archive

Tags

Search