Silent Hill Revelation 3D TV Spot: There Goes The Neighborhood (Again)…

 

Well-made though it was, I actually didn’t care much at all for the first Silent Hill movie. Replacing the game’s Harry Mason character with a female lead and reworking some plot points made me think that the film’s writers and director had zero confidence in what Konami’s team came up with originally. Even though Rahda Mitchell’s performance was superb and the film had a few nice scares, to me, it didn’t have the impact the first two games did. That said, this “sequel” definitely piles on the game-related elements to such an extreme that the home video versions should do spectacularly well with those who want special features or some sort of extended cut, as it looks like we’re getting everything, the kitchen sink AND Pyramid Head. The good thing is, Silent Hill 3 is still such a great game that even if the film tanks (and it won’t, I’d bet), the original work will be a great backup plan for the disappointed.

The Lone Ranger Trailer: Hi Yo, Silver! Let’s Go Rake In Some Gold!

OK, nice trailer and all, but I probably won’t catch this in theaters because I’m old and remember the reruns of the TV western too much to muss up my nostalgia with big explosions and sweeping CG vistas galore. But hey, if this is your thing, go on ahead. Still, Johnny Depp in anything is worth viewing because he’s guaranteed NOT to be dull and definitely has the chops to make whomever he’s playing the most interesting thing about a movie.  Oh, by the way, who the hell is that guy wearing the Lone Ranger mask? I saw that name I didn’t recognize at all and IMMEDIATELY thought of Klinton Spilsbury reincarnated. Yeah, I’m that old. Back in 1981, I paid to see that klunker and yeesh, was that a waste of time. This new guy better knock it out of the park (or whatever it is you can do up against Depp’s performance and a ton of special effects)…

Hmmm… maybe being the Lone Ranger is the Madden Curse of movie roles or something?  Let’s hope not for Bruckheimer’s sake…

3DS XL TV Spots: Nintendo Still Doesn’t Feel My Pain, But They’ll Get My Money…

 

I actually love the new 3DS XL because I’m old as the hills and need something I can actually see, so yep, I’ll be getting one of these in a bit. My problem is the same as the one many who still play Game Boy Advance or other older Game Boy games have had since the DSi XL launched a while back. We STILL need to keep an older model small screen DS around (or have a dedicated GBA SP) when we want to play something that has yet to go up in the eShop. Yes, I still have my Game Boy Player attached to my GameCube, but you certainly can’t take that setup on the train.

Granted, the chances of seeing some of the more obscure GBA games I have here pop up as legal downloads are slim to none (and I refuse to be a pirate, arrr!), but hey, I’m in the minority at the end of the day. Compared to the masses who don’t give a hoot because they’re not interested in game history, treat it as easily disposable and move onto new things at a rapid pace, I’m an absolute dinosaur to Nintendo.  Hell, I still say some of us old farts NEED to keep all types of gaming alive for as long as we can…

 

Tomb Raider: The Final Hours #2: Crystal Dynamics Gives Lara More Lift…

 

Second part in the “making of” series collaboration between Crystal Dynamics games journalist Geoff Keighley and hosted Zachary Levi (one of those actor/gamer types you probably know from some TV show or movie. I don’t know him, as I’m too busy playing too many games to pay attention to Hollywood types). This time out, it’s a look at the game’s story and what went into creating it. The “survival adventure” element and new take on the character will be the draw for me (OK, the amazing visuals are nothing to sneeze at) and I hope that this “reboot” gets the appropriate praise for what it does right and the proper amount of criticism for anything it misses. Of course, if poor Lara misses those jumps too many times, it’s back down to the depths of the bargain bin, right? Then again, I’m betting this will be light years better than some of the lesser games in the series older days. Angel of Darkness, anyone?

 

Random Film of the Week: Runaway Train

runaway trainIf memory serves me correctly, 1985 was a pretty lousy year for me, but I did get to see Runaway Train at the movies and that made up for a lot. This surprise hit about two convicts who bust out of a maximum security prison in the middle of a massive winter storm and wind up aboard the titular transport chased by a very determined warden, manged to nab Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor nominations for John Voight and Eric Roberts respectively.

Director Andrei Konchalovsky, adapting a never-produced screenplay by Akira Kurosawa, made a powerful action movie that was thought-provoking, intensely striking in every aspect and still a wild ride of a viewing experience. You’ll truly feel the freezing cold environment presented in the film from beginning to end, so break out a nice warm blanket and curl up on the couch – it’s going to be a hell of a ride…

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