Total Recall (2012)

Title: Total Recall

Remake of: Total Recall (released in 1990)

Based on the Short Story by Philip K. Dick: We Can Remember It For You Wholesale

Director: Len Wiseman

Starring: Colin Farrell, Bokeem Woodbine, and Bryan Cranston

Rated: PG-13

Released: 2012

Personal Rating: 4/6

Oscars: N/A

Plot: A factory worker, Douglas Quaid, begins to suspect that he is a spy after visiting Rekall - a company that provides its clients with implanted fake memories of a life they would like to have led - goes wrong and he finds himself on the run.
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The Nostalgia Factor
I am one of the few who have seen this movie, but haven't seen the original in full. Now before you fanboys and fangirls attack me, just know I didn't watch a lot of films in my youth. I was a much bigger bookworm. However, I am familiar with the original and all the marks it has left through the years. So I know how much fans of the old film must view this remake. But this movie is good on its own merits.

No Mars
Yes, there is no Mars in this film. And that really doesn't make it bad. From what I've seen and heard of the original movie, the whole movie had a rebellion plot. Guess what? This movie keeps up with the secret agent part and him going to the rebel's base. Plus the big bad of the movie is Walter White! Er...Bryan Cranston.

Special Effects
This movie just looked beautiful to me. The ships as well as every little thing. I am aware of the fact that looking good isn't the mark of a good movie. But it's wonderful nonetheless. It doesn't look like the original and that's not a bad thing. Having better special effects is a plus. However, I remember the original doing a better job at making the worlds looking worn down (or that could be the poorer film quality).

Final Thoughts
I realize that remakes are always judged more harshly than most movies. The fanbase from the original is extremely picky about what it wants. It is the rare remake that exceeds the original. I don't think it's always because the remake is bad, but the fanbase of the original is against people messing with their baby. The remake of Total Recall is good on its own merits. One change is that there, from what I've heard from people more familiar with the original than me, is less ambiguity in this film than the original. However, there are still moments where you are made to question if our leading man is dreaming everything or not.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II (Kamino)

I'm going to try and make up for the fact that I am having video problems. I have recorded the latest parts of the Let's Plays and the final parts of the Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Season 1 Review Series and have had them recorded for a while now. The reason you haven't seen them all done is because my hard drive crashed and I haven't found a video editing software that I can use (if you have a suggestion feel free to contact me via Twitter or tumblr, links are on the side).

Now I am going to try and replace an actual Let's Play with me recounting how I experienced a game. This may or may not become a thing. If it does become a thing I will never do one of these 'recaps' of a game I am currently doing a Let's Play of.

Now let's get to the meat of the post...

I played the first Star Wars: The Force Unleashed game a few years back and only recently completed it thanks to cheat codes. When I had originally tried to complete it I played for a little over an hour and when I decided to stop before completing it I found my hard work undone. The saving feature was crap in that game and you had to complete a level for your progress to be saved.

Earlier this year I bought the second game in the series and put it away to play another day. I finally got to starting the game today. Now whenever I play a game on the Wii I have to time things correctly so Dad doesn't suddenly pop in and give unwanted commentary or start getting annoyed that I'm taking away from his tv time (plus, as those who've watched my previous Let's Plays know I like to use 'colorful' language).

Before I continue I will admit I am playing the game on Easy. I'm far from the best gamer and the easiest setting usually provides me with enough difficulty (and I play to enjoy myself anyways). If I replay this game I might use a tougher setting.

The main menu screen just looks awesome to me. The background of it is a city on Kamino. Kamino is the planet in Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones where the Clone Troopers were created. So this immediately brings to the player's mind that the plot of this game involves a clone (or clones).

Having a clone plot in the sequel makes sense as the first game ended with Starkiller sort of dead. I'll state now that a few years back I read the novel version of this game. However, I don't clearly remember the events of the book and the game version could be different.

The actual game starts off with Darth Vader coming to visit Kamino. I don't admire Vader like the majority of the fandom, but he does look cool in this game.

It turns out he's visiting who you think is Starkiller and is quickly revealed to be a clone.

A training level is quickly set up for you to grasp the basic controls. In the original game there was a way for you to, no matter your progress in the game, go to a training section.

Now one reason I bought the first game was that I got to swing my Wii Controller around so I was sad to see that the sequel has you just press the A button to swing your lightsabers. This takes away from the fun of the game for me.

Of course there is still Force Lightning which I am extremely happy about. If there is once Force power I'd want to have it'd be Force Lightning. I know it's highly connected to the Dark Side but it is fucking awesome.

After the game figures you've figured the basic stuff out it goes to the next part of the plot. It turns out the Starkiller Clone (SC) has some of the original's memory. It remembers Juno (aka the love interest from the first game) and refuses to kill her. Darth Vader remarks that the weakness the original Starkiller had was emotions.

Shortly after Vader kills Juno it is revealed that it was just a robot with a hologram pretending to be her. SC decides that he doesn't want to be controlled/killed by Vader and so attempts to escape. With the character development from last game I am glad to not see the redemption plotline done the same way as before (even if SC is a clone).

I admit the waves of Stormtroopers were fun to kill. There were even special enemies that are pretty easy to take down if you use Force Lightning.

The hardest part of this level, at least for me, was the goddamn jumping shit. I mean...it was the most intense part of the level for me. If you fall during one part you have to restart the whole jumping process. I may have said harsh words to SC once or twice while completing this part. I'm not the most well co-ordinated person and so this part might have been difficult because of that.

There are also little puzzles such as pulling a switch while people try and kill you. My favorite one involves the use of Force Lightning. It's not difficult or challenging, but it's fun!

Throughout the level Darth Vader appears. He is there as a slight challenge and isn't part of a big boss battle. Vader is really there just to add a little tension since the short skirmishes with him don't last long.

One of the problems with the first game were the quick time events. Now I don't hate them as much as some, but a lot of cool battles weren't as exciting because of them in the first game.

In this game the same basic problem remains.

The skirmishes with Vader don't amount to much because of quick time events. And at the very end of the level there are two AT-STs which could've been an exciting battle but there were quick time events to fight them.

Now the scenes looked awesome, but if there's some action to be done in a game I want to be doing it. Not watching the scene onscreen.

So that's the first level of the game. It is a nice start and a good level to make sure you have the controls figured out.

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All of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. "The Bridge" Review

I talk about this cliffhanger episode!

Doctor Sleep (Stephen King)

Title: Doctor Sleep

Series: The Shining

Author: Stephen King

Released: 2013

Rating: 5/6

Basic Plot: On highways across America, a tribe of people called the True Knot travel in search of sustenance. They look harmless—mostly old, lots of polyester, and married to their RVs. But as Dan Torrance knows, and spunky twelve-year-old Abra Stone learns, the True Knot are quasi-immortal, living off the steam that children with the shining produce when they are slowly tortured to death.

Haunted by the inhabitants of the Overlook Hotel, where he spent one horrific childhood year, Dan has been drifting for decades, desperate to shed his father’s legacy of despair, alcoholism, and violence. Finally, he settles in a New Hampshire town, an AA community that sustains him, and a job at a nursing home where his remnant shining power provides the crucial final comfort to the dying. Aided by a prescient cat, he becomes “Doctor Sleep.
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Dan is An Alcoholic, Of Course
I am a big fan of King and have read his collection of shorts called Hearts in Atlantis (the movie version was based off the first in the collection, the title story is about something totally different and linked by one character I believe). In the final (or close to) the hero from the first story has turned into something completely different. No longer is the hero a hero, but appears to be a washed up version of himself. So it didn't surprise me too much that Dan is an alcoholic in the sequel.

King and Kubrick
It is no secret that Stephen King doesn't like Stanley Kubrick's take on The Shining. Kubrick is all for atmosphere while King humanizes his characters. Both work, but King didn't like Kubrick's take so much that he made a tv mini-series correcting anything he saw as problems. I have not yet seen King's mini-series so I can't comment on it. With this back story in mind it's no wonder that King decided to have this be a sequel to his novel instead of Kubrick's movie adaptation.

The Enemies Are Unseen
The thing about the True Knot is that they are a group of people that aren't usually paid much mind. That if you said were 'empty devils', vampire like creatures, you would be laughed at for even considering. I think this makes them scary villains, even before looking at what they actually are, since you can easily imagine people that look like them have walked by you. I think a good horror villain is one you can't reason with and that you can imagine being killers. The True Knot fulfills both of these qualifications.

Final Thoughts
I can't really remember the original novel, but this book makes what I do remember enough. I would, of course, tell fans of the movie to check out the original book before reading this novel. One of the biggest things is that the Overlook burned down and the black guy survived in the original novel. This is a good continuation of Dan's story as you get to see how he battles his own inner demons to help the young girl Abra. Would recommend you read the novel first or, at least, have a good understanding of the original book.

Animorphs Re-Read: #3 The Encounter (Chapters 25-27)

Chapter 25

Visser Three commands that the truck ship move and it does so. The Visser brags, of course, and Tobias wants to tell the Visser the truth. That he isn't an Andalite and his name is Tobias. What's funny about this is that while Tobias was born human, his father was an Andalite. So Tobias is sort of an Andalite, though not genetically so.

Tobias decides not to brag as the outlook of his current situation is very bleak at the moment. The ship he is on is now picking up speed. This is bad news as bird-boy is trying to fly  to the front of the ship.

As he strains himself he finally reaches his destination. He tells the Taxxons to die and then fires. Up to this point we've never had a character hold a Dracon beam before so we didn't know how it felt to fire it.

Tobias mentions that the Dracon beam didn't have a recoil LIKE A NORMAL GUN. So did Tobias ever fire a gun? Did he pick one up once and think about using it on himself and/or using it on his classmates? Why am I giving myself sad ideas for a fic without meaning too!

Tobias can't hold the weapon any longer and drops it. Luckily enough he had completed his mission of shooting the control panel so that the ship would crash.

Tobias describes the ship being injured was a sight to see. The ship had seemed invincible before, but now it was revealed not to be.

The truck ship tries to fly away but it turns back towards the ground. The truck ship ends up smashing into one of the choppers and a Bug fighter before Tobias sees the hole in the ship.

He watches as they tumble out of the ship screaming in horror. Well, this is worrying me since they don't have bird morphs.

Tobias is freaked out and flies towards the falling Animorphs though he knows he won't be able to help them.


Chapter 26

The chapter begins with Tobias saying that as his fellow Animorphs were falling they were morphing into birds. This is why the 'cliffhanger' at the end of last chapter doesn't make sense to me. It's not like Tobias didn't know the others had bird morphs as #2 The Visitor began with the whole group in bird morphs. If you want to do a cliffhanger make sure there is actually doubt if the characters can survive.

Cassie morphs Osprey, Marco and Rachel morph Bald eagles, and Jake morphs Peregrine falcon. There is a mistake here as Marco's bird morph is an Osprey and I don't believe he ever morphs a Bald eagle again.

Tobias thinks that the others won't be able to complete their morphs in time. That they will fall and die leaving him alone in a world that will quickly be conquered by the Yeerks.

Cassie completes her morph in time and Marco is a little slow in morphing but survives. Tobias shouts in joy when he sees that Marco survives. Oh you two!

Marco says that he's done with the Animorphs stuff as he nearly died. Tobias tells him that they aren't in the clear yet. Bird-boy tells the others to fly into the trees so that they can hide from the Yeerks there.

There is a loud explosion when the truck ship crashes because, you know, it's a big ass ship.

With the explosion the remaining birds fly off. One of them is the female red-tailed hawk. You know, the hawk that Tobias rescued in the beginning and had a little crush on. The hawk that might even like Tobias in her own way.

The Yeerks had looked at Tobias and thought the female red-tailed hawk was him and shot off her wing thinking she was one of the 'Andalite bandits'. She then falls and dies when she crashes on the ground.

I am not sad! I am not sad!


Chapter 27

Tobias says how the Yeerks destroyed all evidence of the truck ship but they had hurt the invaders and most of them got out alive. He isn't saying that an Animorph died, but is probably referring to the female hawk that died.

Tobias goes to visit Rachel a day later. He mentions that it seems like she's expecting him. AW!

Rachel asks first if Tobias is okay and then talks about all the Animorphs going to the mountain lake so they can bury the female hawk. She says it must sound crazy but Tobias replies it isn't crazy, it's a very human thing to do.

Tobias says that's not what he wants since the wild animals will have eaten the hawk. Hell, maybe even a fellow red-tail hawk will have eaten her. Rachel says that Tobias is a human and should react to the hawk's death like a human.

You know how I've been saying this book is about Tobias coming to peace with his hawk nature? About him realizing he has to deal with his hawk self because he's not fully human anymore? The next paragraph is a perfect example of this.

Tobias tells Rachel that he is both a boy and a hawk. He hunts to eat and he also cries over those who have died. He is neither one or the other, he is both. Rachel looks sad at Tobias' realization. Their relationship, including Rachel not wanting to accept Tobias as a hawk, will be covered throughout the series.

Tobias then flies away. He thinks about how he is a combination of both a boy and a hawk. He tells the reader that they now know why he can't tell them who he is or where he lives. He ends with telling the reader:

Be happy for me, and for all who fly free.

I am a big Tobias fan and so love this book. It deals with showing how he reacts to being stuck in hawk morph for the long haul.

It is a dark book in that it isn't afraid to delve into the topic of suicide. An entire FUCKING chapter talks about that. And throughout the book Tobias pulls off some very risky moves.

I actually like the female hawk sub-plot as that's a big factor in how Tobias realizes who he really is now.

The next book in the Animorphs series I will be Re-Reading will be

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Animorphs Re-Read

Inbetween: The Incredible Burp 7

It was a few days after my incident with the Controller when Ax came to visit. I was suspicious when he came since I was still thinking about my last visitor. But when a familiar voice came with a knock on my door talking about cinnamon buns, I opened it.

Now Ax and myself were sitting on my bed with an empty cinnamon bun box. It wasn't empty because we had enjoyed eating, but because he had eaten them all before he had arrived. I didn't mind as his antics amused me and this was like him. Andalites didn't have a mouth, so I would think it odd if he had actually given me even half a cinnamon bun if I didn't tell him to.

That might be an unfair thing to say, but it was true the majority of the time.

You still have it? Ax asked.

When we had found it safe he had demorphed. He was still a little too large for the room, but he fit.

"Yes." I said. "But don't some Hereth illints last longer than others? You don't really think I should worry, do you?"

Ax looked at me as he considered this. While he was the most knowledgeable in this area he was still a teenager, not much different in age than the original Animorphs. And, like a lot of kids, he had been distracted in school. No matter how cool I found alien life it was normal for him. Might even be as boring as history for me.

There hasn't been enough research in the area. He finally said, but I felt like it was him giving me a sense of false hope to hang onto. It is entirely possible.

"Yeah, and pigs fly." I said under my breath.

I am sure, with genetic engineering, that is entirely possible. Ax said and a small grin escaped me.

I had used the phrase with him before and he was very aware of what it meant. It was nice that he was trying to joke to cheer me up. Even if the joke was weak.

"Getting better." I told him and he did the odd Andalite smile with his eyes.

He came over and put an arm around me and I took comfort in his touch. Ax wasn't human, but he was the one that was here now. The one I had wanted with me since the Hereth illint started. And now, with this news, I knew he was the only one that I could trust.

You should go back to the others. Ax told me.

"Is that because you care or that you're tired of hiding another secret from the group?" I asked and hoped he'd answer like I wanted him to.

I think that you hiding here isn't helping you. You're not allowing anyone to give you comfort. Ax finally replied, realizing the importance of his answer.

"I'm allowing you."

I'm not human and I don't fully understand your species yet. I don't think I can fully comfort you like you should be.

"You're better than a slug in my brain."

Anything is better than a Yeerk. Ax said harshly.

"So, tell me, am I ever going to play the violin again?" I asked and Ax just stared at me blankly. "I mean is the Hereth illint permanent for me?"

What does Hereth illint have to do with a violin?

"It's one of the odd human phrases."

I'll remember that. Ax said and paused. I could tell he was afraid of telling me what we both already knew. Hereth illint hasn't be studied since it is a very rare occurrence. It is entirely possibly that you might have the disease permanently.

"And that's what has happened." I said and he turned his eyes away from me. Which was impressive for an Andalite. "You know that. You have to."

Yes, the thought has run through my mind. I don't think it has to be permanent.

I laughed. Yeah, not permanent. Ax was a child thinking that there wasn't anything he couldn't fix. But there were some things that couldn't be changed. There were things you had to live with no matter how much you didn't want to.

I thought being a host was one of those things, but that didn't turn out to be the case. However, Hereth illint wouldn't be like that. I wouldn't ever escape it.

"I'll be moving." I told Ax. "I've encountered one Controller and I don't need another one to check up on it."

Where will you go? Ax asked and I told him.

I told him in detail about the place I had gone to on a trip when I had been unaware of the Yeerk invasion of Earth.

Afterward Ax raised his hand and then put it back down. Tobias had once told me that Ax's species kissed with their hands. But that was most likely not what Ax had intended to do, he had probably meant to shake my hand and then found the human action too hard for him.

After he morphed into a Northern Harrier I opened the window and watched as he flew away.

I started to pack and hoped my plan would work. I hoped that Ax trusted me enough to not realize how far I would go to protect the group. Ax would go to where I had said, but he wouldn't find me.

I now had to hide myself from him.
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Inbetween tumblr
All of Inbetween: The Incredible Burp

Supernatural "Holy Terror" Review (Parts 1 & 2)

I talk about the mid-season finale that brought a lot of tears to people's faces.