All reviews - Movies (251) - TV Shows (41) - Books (5) - Music (59) - Games (72)

Chaos Theory: Splinter Cell 3 Soundtrack review

Posted : 6 months, 4 weeks ago on 15 March 2008 08:18 (A review of Chaos Theory: Splinter Cell 3 Soundtrack)

I've tried to get into Amon Tobin's music for a long time. I've always thought that there was something inherently dull or repetitive about most of his other work, but I noticed that Chaos Theory is a lot different. It seems to have more rhythm and substance than other albums of his. I never played the original game, but still enjoyed this soundtrack, which is testament to the fact that is strong enough as a stand alone album.

There are some solid tracks, such as El Cargo and The Lighthouse which roll along in a mechanical manner and easily generate a feeling of stealth and subterfuge. I think this is probably Amon's best work.

0 comments, Reply to this entry

Resident Evil 2: Original Soundtrack review

Posted : 6 months, 4 weeks ago on 15 March 2008 06:24 (A review of Resident Evil 2: Original Soundtrack)

Surely one of the best video game soundtracks ever made. Not only was the game an integral part of my childhood, but the music which accompanied was a work of art in itself. I think this will obviously hold more relevance to people who played the initial game, but I only recently acquired the music and it brought a hail of memories flooding back into my head.

Almost every track is a haunting piano loop which captures the sinister goings on of Racoon city in a non-intrusive, ambient manner. Who could forget 'A secure place' - the most peaceful and heart-rate resetting track ever as you find the safety of a save point! Good times.

0 comments, Reply to this entry

Samurai Commando Mission 1549 review

Posted : 7 months ago on 14 March 2008 02:18 (A review of Samurai Commando Mission 1549)

If you ever find yourself in your local DVD selling shop and happen across this DVD, don't be fooled into thinking it sounds like the greatest film idea ever. Because even though it kind of is - crack Japanese military unit is transported back in time to do battle with samurai warlords - that isn't even really what happens in the film. One unit is sent back, another unit is sent back to rescue them, but the first unit has gone rogue! Cue a battle between two futuristic marine squads with only a few samurai getting hosed down by machine gun fire in the process.

The acting is so poor that it made me angry. The sets look so fake and there is absolutely no militaristic realism at all (not that I am an expert, but this looks like a playground battle). Not to mention horrible subbing and just plain confusion come the end of the film. It ends on the lamest and most cheesiest scene ever. Next time I'm going to ignore my conscious when browsing the world cinema section.

0 comments, Reply to this entry

Slither review

Posted : 7 months ago on 14 March 2008 02:10 (A review of Slither)

I held off writing a review for this after I first saw it, I figured I'd try and give myself some time to calm down. This is one of the most predictable and unentertaining comedy/horror films out there. You can pretty much predict what will happen about an hour before it does.

Some parasite thing takes over a dude who impregnates a woman and then feeds her until she bursts, causing thousands of leech like parasites to burst out of her. Uh oh, the human race is in trouble! Luckily a small town sherrif is type cast into the role of cocky-man-in-charge and he manages to save the day. The only comic relief comes from the homophobic racist guy who wears pretty thing after a shirt while.

Just watch The Thing instead!

2 comments, Reply to this entry

Sunshine review

Posted : 7 months ago on 14 March 2008 02:03 (A review of Sunshine)

This is a good film with a delightful premise that kept me interested from the very beginning. I had immediate concerns when I saw the crew of the ship as I assumed they'd all develop obvious character flaws early on that would end in disaster for the mission, but that wasn't so much the case. Their mission is to re-ignite the sun. A simple premise and one that would probably ultimately have succeeded were it not for an unexpected rendez-vous.

As well as solid performances, this film was supported by an exceptional soundtrack, which really enhanced the atmosphere (lol) and solitary conditions aboard the ship. The final act was on the confusing side, but I just accepted and enjoyed it, rather than picking holes with it. It's not a perfect film but it's an enjoyable adventure.

1 comments, Reply to this entry

The Sum of All Fears review

Posted : 7 months ago on 14 March 2008 01:39 (A review of The Sum of All Fears)

A complete snooze-fest in which Ben Affleck is unconvincing as a CIA analyst who is tasked with preventing a cataclysmic war between Russia and the US. As with most Tom Clancy story, there is an unimaginitive and convoluted back story which ends up with terroritst seizing control of super weapons and the like. These terrorists are smarter than your average freedom fighters though and come up with an ingenious plan to spark nuclear conflict between superpowers.

I'd only recommend watching this if you need more ammo for why you hate Ben Affleck, or you fancy tallying the plot holes as you go along. My favourite of which being Ben Affleck surviving a nuclear blast.

1 comments, Reply to this entry

The Terminal review

Posted : 7 months ago on 14 March 2008 01:29 (A review of The Terminal)

Expected more from this film to be honest. With a dream team of Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg I was expecting something epic. The story in itself is heartwarming, but not always entertaining and I found my attention waning throughout the showing. I didn't think I'd ever bother watching it again, but I caught it once on TV and it dragged my rating of the film up a notch. It seemed to improve the second time I saw it.

Tom Hanks lands in the US but is refused access to US soil because his country underwent a coup while he was in the air. Somehow this nullifies the status of his passport but thanks to the absurdity of clauses and laws regarding airports, he's allowed to stay at the airport indeffinitely. He eventually ends up endearing himself to most of the airport staff and embark on a lovestory with C.Z Jones. It's generally one for a feel-good fan, but not one for the action-obsessed fanatic.

1 comments, Reply to this entry

Rocky II review

Posted : 7 months ago on 13 March 2008 05:25 (A review of Rocky II)

I never understood why this film faired so poorly against the original Rocky. All the classic elements are still there. After his colossal battle with Apollo, Rocky squanders his new found wealth rapidly and attempts to find a new living again after retiring from boxing thanks to the injuries he suffered. The only thing more bruised than Rocky's face from that fight was Apollo's ego, and after receiving death threats and accusations that he threw the fight, the heavyweight champ demands a rematch.

The film follows Rocky's unsuccessful attempts at reintegrating into society while the champ goads him into a rematch. Although he finally agrees to fight Apollo again, he is guilt tripped by his (bitch of a) wife and it is clear to see that his heart isn't in it. Eventually she gives birth to their son, recovers from the ensuing coma, then gives Rocky her full blessing to go and beat Apollo down.

That's all he needs to transform, once again, into the ultimate fighting machine. The rivallry with Apollo is more intense this time round and he looks physically stronger than he did in the first Rocky film. He's more determined and both fighters put on a show that equals and surpasses the first bout between them. I loved the final bout. Rocky would seem to go entire rounds without throwing a punch and then burst into life and thunder into Apollo's guts. It seemed more brutal than the first fight and Rocky still refuses to block any sort of punch, instead just letting his face suck up the hits. What a hero. If there was any boxer alive today who was as greater sportsman as Rocky, then we'd have an international legend on our hands!

0 comments, Reply to this entry

Rock solid

Posted : 7 months ago on 13 March 2008 05:05 (A review of Rocky)

One of the most inspirational films of all time. Rocky documents a good-for-nothing bum who borders on the destitute side of life. Rocky has no prospects. He is broke, he works as a hired goon for the local loanshark and he even disappoints as a boxer. None of this sullies his good nature though and he remains a proud man with morals. The object of his desires is the sister of his best friend, Paulie, and during the corse of the film he manages to begin dating the girl who will serve as his personal inspiration for years to come.

When Apollo Creed - the heavyweight champion of the world - comes to town, Rocky's life is turned upside down. Thanks to an injury to the proposed opponent, Apollo decides to give a local unknown fighter a shot at the title. Rocky is picked from the masses of local fighters, and begins an intense training regime in order to prepare him for the upcoming battle.

The outcome of the final battle is surely the stuff of legend by now, everybody knows that Rocky goes the distance and endears himself to the masses, becoming a local hero in the process. Shying away from all of the pomp and grandeur that his opponent revels in, Rocky is just a focused fighting machine who I really wish was my dad!

Written by Stallone himself, the film is funny and packed with memorable characters throughout, let alone inspiring training montages and some classic dialogue. Anyone who has rated this below a 7 probably hasn't even seen it in the last ten years.

0 comments, Reply to this entry

Ultimate Force review

Posted : 7 months ago on 11 March 2008 06:55 (A review of Ultimate Force)

A by-the-numbers British drama about an SAS squad based in England. It is only curiously watchable because of Ross Kemp and his emotionless one-liners. The show clearly has no scientific advisors and I was left questioning why the SAS would be responding to a majority of the cases they ended up responding to in the first place. The villains and badguys are a huge joke from the very beginning and you only really get an insight into the life of one man.

I've no idea why there is a woman in their squad. Nor why daily life (when they're not machine gunning 'Xrays') is depicted as a cake walk. I remember seeing them feast on more banquets than they did training sessions. I hope the SAS isn't like this in real life!

0 comments, Reply to this entry