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brawnybalboa
Reviews
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)
Unusual, but in unusually good!
Having not being neither a great fan nor an avid watcher of South Park it has always just been the little swear filled insignificant cartoon that I have shunned for Futurama, Family Guy and the Simpsons. Having seen this movie I have only wondered why haven't I watched it more.
Having last seen it when I was 9 my memory was not very vivid at all of this film. All I remembered was the song "Blame Canada". Now when I watch it, even though the animation is a little cruddy the musical score is fantastic. From the tongue in cheek "Shut your f****** face uncle f*****" to the emotional "Up There" Performed by Satan the musical score is fantastic.
Alright the story line is awful but the phrase "Operation get behind the darks" had me laughing for hours afterwards.
If you are easily offended (especially if you are Canadian) do not watch this film. However it is a movie making experience not to be missed!
Bully (2006)
Superb
Put it this way.......its teen rating is accurate to the games content as it contains no more, no less adult content than 'The Simpsons' or even a regular child's school (after all children swear in school no doubt!). It didn't really deserve the stigma surrounding it.
Bully is basically a story about a 15 year old boy called Jimmy Hopkins who is abandoned at a private school of some sort based on a New England type of locality. Initially when you play it you are amazed how busy and similar the game is to a real school. People fighting, people running, kissing, talking, hanging around in peer groups. All these children are different age ranges from you children to almost adults, their are girls and boys, whites and coloureds. It is actually a superb sight.
This is not all created just for the first scene, this is constant throughout.
Basic checklist of things:
You have several weapons to use. A slingshot, A super slingshot (which replaces the former) eggs (not really a weapon but an annoyance), a Spudgun, a Bottle rocket launcher, Fire Crackers and Stinkbombs. Volcano 4000's a large firework can be used as a weapon to but can not be 'stored' at all times as it can be picked up and dropped like mêlée weapons. The same applies to Water Balloons which can be filled and used but cannot be 'stored' like other weapons. Melee weapons take the role of anything from Long Rulers, to Sledge Hammers, to Cricket bats and are basically used to pummel opponents with, these can be picked up but not 'stored'. However after a certain amount of hits they do break. Thrown or kicked objects vary immensely, some are meant as weapons (such as dustbin lids, Shields) but some are meant for recreation such as footballs and Frisbees. however they also cannot be 'stored'.
You also have a Camera that is stored with the character. You can take photo's of whatever you like in the game, bins, teachers, nerds, bikes anything. You earn the Camera enabling you to attend Photography lessons. In the photography lesson you are prompted when and what to do (e.g take pictures of 3 people for year book), the Yearbook is a book which you can fill by taking pictured of school members.
The area in the game is large, the school consists of an observatory, auto-shop, boys dorm, girls dorm, preps dorm, library, gym, swimming pool, actual school building and football field complete with club house. All of which are relatively spread out.
This is one section, there is a town called old bull worth about twice the schools size, their is bull worth vale about 2/3 of the size of the school. There is new Coventry about twice the size of the school, and blue skies industrial park twice the size of the school. Basically a whole living breathing school and town.......with a lake, beach, light house and mental asylum to!
Also the game alternates through Halloween, Christmas and spring and eventually summer. Jimmy Hopkins main character also has 'good' friends such as Zoe, Pinky, Mandy, Beatrice and Lola he....well looks after at times.
There are several groups in the game:
Prefects (Navy Shirts) oldest student who act as almost law enforcement. Nerds (Green Sweaters)smart kids Greasers (Think T-Birds from grease) supposable tough Preps (Blue Sweaters) rich kids Jocks (Blue Football shirts) Sporty thick kids Bullies (White Shirts) Well, bullies Townies (Miscellaneous tramp clothing) town kids, usually drop outs.
Their are also kids that are not associated with any group in particular, their is another group that Contains Jimmy, Gary and Peter who are once again not associated with any group.
Most of which you run errands for, take over, attack or work for, each with their own styles and locations.
Prefects are only found in the school building or yard, no where else. Nerds are found at the Bullworth Vale, the Library, in school buildings. Sometimes around front entrance. Greasers are found at the New Coventry, the auto shop, smoking, chilling or combing their hair. Preps are found In Old Bullworth, mainly the boxing club and the prep dorms, sometimes at the carnival. Jocks are found mainly at the sports field, running, shouting fighting, they are only found in the gym as well. Bullies are found all around the school, inside and out beating up little kid jimmy Hopkins, etc. Townies are found in New Coventry but mainly Blue Skies industrial area.
Like in GTA there are collectibles, they are G&G cards, Radio Transistors and rubber bands. The game story mode has 80+ missions and there are at least 15 side missions as well, however the game is very enjoyable, if a little easy.
The transport available is great! Initially Jimmy Hopkins has no transport but over time acquires a Skate board, various bikes, a Moped and a Go Cart. Most of which can be used in street races. Their is money to be played for which you can use to buy Haircuts, Tattoos, Clothes, bikes, cans of pop, peoples protection or anything you want!
Most notable inclusion that reminds you that you are a human in school is the need for sleep (unlike GTA where you character seems to be able to go without sleep for months.) is an in game analogue clock that is really really cool!
This game thoroughly deserves recognition as it is superb and seems to capture people in a unique way! This Comment initially totalled over 2000 words so large amounts of info is missing but I hope I have given enough info in this comment.
P.S their are so many things I did not mention (arcade games for example!)
Doctor Who: Doomsday (2006)
Unbelievable!!!!!!!!! Can't wait for the DVD box set.
This episode is very well linked to Episodes 5 (Rise of the Cybermen) and 6 (The Age Of Steel). But I don't understand how they still existed after the doctor virtually destroyed them all.
A phenomenal ending to a phenomenal series. This episode much like The Girl In The Fireplace plucks on the viewers heartstrings, but in this episode many a viewer would have been crying their eyes out.
The audience is made to think that Rose Tyler dies but she does not. And that Mickey Smith will join her and the Doctor once again, but none of these happen. The climax of this episode seems to be after 35 minutes but the final set of scenes ends this series in a way which could've easily become the end of Dr Who forever, only the last surprising moments of this series does things become obvious that the next series is around the Corner.
I can't wait for the Christmas Episode Runaway Bride to be shown in 170 days time (as of this episodes airing).
This is monumental episode as:
1. For the 1st time ever the Doctor sheds a tear.
2. You see Millions of Cybermen.
3. You see Millions of Darlecks.
4. You have the 1st travel between universes by entities other than the Doctor, Rose, Mickey, The Darlecks or the Cybermen.
Doctor Who: The Girl in the Fireplace (2006)
The Doctor at his BEST!!!! Deserves an award!!!!!!
This episode of DR Who had me in tears at the finale, and I am not a soppy person.
The storyline was brilliant and wholly believable, this episode also gave the Doctor a whole new look and gave the viewer an insight into the despair the Time Lord is bound to.
The question asked in the trailer and in the episode is answered with pure genius! The audience will be thinking "Why are robots from the 51st century following an 18th century french lady?". The genius of the screen scrolling up to reveal the ships name as 'Madame Du Pompadour'.
It is the most outstanding piece of television since Steven Speilbergs Taken, I think that this single episode should win awards.
I thoroughly await the next episode and series.
Doctor Who: Love & Monsters (2006)
An unnecessary episode
I found this episode very strange, unlike other Dr Who episodes this episode seemed to be based around Elton Pope making a documentary or something about the Doctors appearances on earth and his associate Rose Tyler, but after about 5 minutes this became old and not even Peter Kay could save this episode.
Peter Kay much like the episode is unnecessary and the Doctor finally appears 30 minutes into the episode which in fact is only 45 minutes long opposed to the usual 60 minutes.
This episode was very hard to follow and the story was severely fragmented, this episode was so awful that I could not bear to continue viewing it considering usually I am addicted to Dr Who. Where with the rest of the series that has been brilliant, this episode was very substandard.
This was a good idea for an Episode but it was poorly executed, this is only for very big fans or Dr Who.
Van Helsing (2004)
Think James Bond in the 1850's
This film is not amazing but is worth a try, it in many respects mimics other films in cheeky ways.
However many times Van Helsing jumps out of moving carriages and is picked up from one location and deposited in another he still manages to retain his hat (Think of Indiana Jones).Also at the start his Friend Carl is a friar at the Vatican supplying him with gadgets one hundred years ahead of his time (think Q,MI5 and James Bond).
However this film is quite witty, Van Helsing seems to have an answer to everything and I think that Hugh Jackman Brings him to life in a superb fashion, and David Wenham brings the bright 'Not realising the situation' expression to Carl the Friar that created almost impossibly naive moments in the characters life that makes the film all the more enjoyable to watch.
One slight problem I found with the movie is that Frankenstine who was made out of Humans had size 17 feet and was 9 feet tall and 360 pounds. This makes him obviously more than average human size but does not explain how he managed to survive a 60ft drop into a fire with a building collapsing on top of him, as he was made of human body parts it is hard to believe that he was able of this.
But film does deserve its two awards and it is a good modern remake of the 'old style' monster movies.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
Absolutely Rubbish
I bought this film as I wanted a scare. The only scare I got was where the disk fell out of its case. I think that this film is not scary in any way.
Firstly most of the killings occur in broad daylight and takes away the scare factor.
Secondly the film states Based on a true story WRONG this film is not based on a madman, a massacre or a chainsaw, the director made the original film based on a grave robber called Ed Gein who stole body parts of the recently deceased and only killed 2 women over a three year period.The reason for this was to attach their genitalia above his own in a desperate bid to be a woman.
Thirdly I think that the atmosphere set was poor, there was little/no music accompanying scary sequences.
And Fourthly how can a saw built for chopping trees can cut through metal, body parts and clothing again and again and not become jammed.
There were also to many unanswered questions such as who was the guy in the wheelchair and the why film does not keep consistent. One minute the chainsaw dude bludgeons someone to death with a mace and he is virtually immobile, another minute he is healthy enough to jump onto the top of a camper van silently with a chainsaw in hand without being noticed.
I think this is a poor excuse for a horror movie.
Taken (2002)
Excellent. Definitely WORTH A TRY
This series by Spielberg is THE BEST I have ever seen. It is in my opinion the greatest TV series there has and probably will ever be.Dakota Fanning was superb in her Role. Amazing maturity from a 8 year old actress. I would look forward and desperately hope for a sequel series, however I do not see it happening.
I think this series should be scheduled for a re-showing on the BBC once more. I would dearly hope so. John Gretsch and Anton Yelchin are superb in their roles.
I bought the DVD boxset to this series and I can just relive the pleasure of watching the series again and again. I think this surpasses the X-Files, Star Trek, and Roswell as it is purely believable and it is extremely compelling to view, almost addictive.