Entertainment Discussion Forum

[LitShark]

Wait, you mean, people are actually seeing that movie? I feel like a grouchy old person now; I saw they had cast Megan Fox as April and then just kind of scowled/ignored.

I've heard a lot of people sharing this opinion, and not to be contrary, I don't get it. I mean, I've always felt that film iterations of this franchise came up short in terms of casting an April who conveyed the inherent sex appeal I associate with her (and her penchant for ending up in bondage). I really didn't have a problem with her in this--I mean, she wasn't great, she never is-- but she was one of the less terrible aspects of this version of the turtles.

I associate a lot of things with that role, terribly smart has never been one of those things.

My problem was more related to the heavy-handed edits made to the origin myth and backstory (oh yeah, and the villains' "plot" made no sense, Shredder might as well have gone running through the streets, waving his arms, shouting "Evil!"). IDK, I hadn't planned on seeing this, but I got asked to write a review, I'm glad I only paid matinee price.

 

[BeautifulDream]

Wait, you mean, people are actually seeing that movie? I feel like a grouchy old person now; I saw they had cast Megan Fox as April and then just kind of scowled/ignored.

I see movies for free and a friend really wanted to see it.... so yeah I watched it.

Horrible. I fucking hate Megan Fox but there was so much more that was wrong as Litshark said.

 

[DesEsseintes]

It was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. Were you expecting Tarkovsky's Mirror?

 

[Veroe]

Haven't seen TMNT but know people who have and they said it was better than they expected. Granted they expected it to be total dogshit-so that's not really saying much.

 

[LitShark]

It was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. Were you expecting Tarkovsky's Mirror?

In response to this, I quote myself.

"I know—it’s a story about human-amphibian hybrid, mutants who fight crime, I shouldn’t take things so seriously. But I do, and the producers of this film know that I do, that’s why they spent so many millions of dollars to make it as big as it was. It’s not like filmmakers were shy about forcing targeted marketing plugs for Skype, Pizza Hut, Orange Crush, Toshiba and Samsung down my throat—or exploiting my earnest ‘90s nostalgia in macaroni form, by dredging up Rob “Vanilla Ice” Van Winkle to do television spots for TMNT shaped mac and cheese while chanting “Go ninja, go ninja, go.”

In short: If you invoke the fandom, you're held to fandom standards.

 

[thestruggle]

I've heard a lot of people sharing this opinion, and not to be contrary, I don't get it. I mean, I've always felt that film iterations of this franchise came up short in terms of casting an April who conveyed the inherent sex appeal I associate with her (and her penchant for ending up in bondage). I really didn't have a problem with her in this--I mean, she wasn't great, she never is-- but she was one of the less terrible aspects of this version of the turtles.

I associate a lot of things with that role, terribly smart has never been one of those things.

My problem was more related to the heavy-handed edits made to the origin myth and backstory (oh yeah, and the villains' "plot" made no sense, Shredder might as well have gone running through the streets, waving his arms, shouting "Evil!"). IDK, I hadn't planned on seeing this, but I got asked to write a review, I'm glad I only paid matinee price.

Oh, no, definitely. I know lots of people that didn't care about her casting. She just rubs me the wrong way and I'm not sure why, because she actually did an awesome PSA after Jennifer's Body came out. I probably need to get over it. But if she wasn't one of the worst features, then... Wow, yeah. I'm not going to go out of my way to see it.


And hey, anybody disparaging TMNT as a franchise... so what? It almost tempts me to exclusively post reviews of low-brow, nostalgia-inducing remakes! Hey, maybe I should make that a thing.

 

[LitShark]

Oh, no, definitely. I know lots of people that didn't care about her casting. She just rubs me the wrong way and I'm not sure why, because she actually did an awesome PSA after Jennifer's Body came out. I probably need to get over it. But if she wasn't one of the worst features, then... Wow, yeah. I'm not going to go out of my way to see it.


And hey, anybody disparaging TMNT as a franchise... so what? It almost tempts me to exclusively post reviews of low-brow, nostalgia-inducing remakes! Hey, maybe I should make that a thing.

Nostalgia? What's that?

 

[thestruggle]

Nostalgia? What's that?

Damn, Arya Stark, that's cold! Dismissing Kelly Kapowski, sheesh. I was really depressed that only like, one of them knew the song.

Also what the hell?! Zack? Zack sucked!

 

[LitShark]

Damn, Arya Stark, that's cold! Dismissing Kelly Kapowski, sheesh. I was really depressed that only like, one of them knew the song.

Also what the hell?! Zack? Zack sucked!

I know, right? It hurts... I also found it amusing, how mention of Kelly Kapowski got a reaction of "OH! I know that shirt, I almost bought that shirt!" *grumble grumble grumble*

The best was the kid who saw the Poindexter contention and was like "Those are the Hippsters today, today those are the cool kids!" LMAO So true.

 

[thestruggle]

I know, right? It hurts... I also found it amusing, how mention of Kelly Kapowski got a reaction of "OH! I know that shirt, I almost bought that shirt!" *grumble grumble grumble*

The best was the kid who saw the Poindexter contention and was like "Those are the Hippsters today, today those are the cool kids!" LMAO So true.

At least they all were into Tiffani Thiessen. Maybe there's some hope. A tiny bit. And they all recognized the clothes! God, I thought it would never happen again.

 

[Firmhanded_Daddy]

So I wasn't able to find a copy of "The Last Of Us" for PS 3. Instead I picked up "Dead Island Game Of The Year Edition"

So far I am pretty pleased with how it plays. It is less of a Survival Horror and more a Zombie Apoc. RPG. If Borderlands, and Resident Evil had a baby, it might look something like this.

The game has very little I do not like about it really. It is an open world environment which is a refreshing change. You start out without fire arms, for a good while. I haven't reached the point yet where I have one regularly.

The combat was really well planned out. Since the game revolves heavily around Melee combat instead of ammo they use weapon durability, and a stamina bar. (Again, pre fire arms here. They also have ammo)

You can pick up and use all sorts of improvised weapons. The game is set on a tropical island resort so plenty of oars from row boats lying around, led pipes, edged weapons such as knives.

One of the unique features of the game is each weapon has a trade off involved with using it. Wooden weapons have low durability and tend to break (as in snap in half) knives have a low durability but high yield damage and a quick speed. You can take rapid quick shots with a knife for almost no stamina and take a zombie out quick. The problem is they wear out quickly, and they don't have much reach.

Oars make a good starting weapon because they have good reach and you can swing them in a moderate arc. However if you run out of stamina you stumble and fall over, so a two handed weapon can get you in trouble quickly.

The primary difference between blunt and edged weapons is that edged weapons tend to be higher damage, but you can break bones with a blunt weapon, so if you aim for the arms or legs you can disable foes and come back to them at a later moment when you have some battle field control. The zombies also wield weapons sometimes so you may have to duck and weave out of reach of a counter attack.

Weapons have a force measurement as well which will tell you how good an item is at knocking someone down.

One of the best features that really adds depth and strategy to the game play is that you can throw weapons, and other heavy objects. (Boxes, propane tanks which can then be exploded.) The heavy objects stumble enemies and do moderate damage. You can have several weapons in "quick slots" so if you find yourself in a bad situation you can throw a weapon to stumble a zombie, or do a surgical burst of damage, then draw another weapon and keep swinging.

Every character is a little different. Slightly different starting stats, and different talent trees which offer some slight character customization. Each character has a specialty, edged weapons, blunt, throwing ect.

Everyone also has a berserk type power which provides access to a berserk only weapon for a short amount of time.

The controls are pretty good. There is two different styles of combat. The digital which is the default, and analogue which gives you much more control over how you swing a weapon. I would be using the analogue style if it wasn't so clunky, but it leaves a bit to be desired and that is only the real negative I can think of so far.

Strategy wise the game is fun. The monsters scale with you as you level so you never just power through a fight. With one or two zombies you can just charge in and start swinging, but they come in packs sometimes of 3+ and things really start to get tense quick. One of the things I enjoy best about the combat is the zombies are often quiet, so you have to keep your head on a swivel or while you are fighting one guy, two more can easily sneak up behind you. You never run out of monsters to fight, they have a pretty short spawn timer.

Over all this game really is enjoyable and anyone who is a fan of bashing zombies to death should give this a thorough try.

 

[prettyserpentine]

Settling down right now to watch 'Let The Right One In'.

Hopefully it's as good as everybody's recommendation.

 

[DesEsseintes]

This is just marvellous and I recommend it to everyone who can access iPlayer:

Poets in their own words. Edith Sitwell, Ezra Pound, Eliot, Auden, Stevie Smith, RS and Dylan Thomas, Betjeman, reading their poems and chatting to, amongst others, Parkie. Can you imagine that today?

 

[thestruggle]

I've been wondering something the last few times I've had a minute to watch something. Does anyone else go for comfort value over new shows? My watch list grows by the week but I still find myself going for the old series. X-Files is a big one. Last year it seemed like it was Buffy and old Supernatch episodes. Although, old Supernatch episodes are just a fact of life when the show keeps disappointing... Also, any Star Trek.

Any suggestions or shows that I didn't mention? I'll just be over here, reveling in the sexy of Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny.

 

[prettyserpentine]

You know what sucks? When you're happily playing Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, enjoying being Ezio, and you're skypeing with your boyfriend while you chat about Ezio's timeline and then your boyfriend suggests you watch Assassin's Creed Embers.

And you cry.

For half an hour.

And can't stop.

That's what sucks.

 

[thestruggle]

You know what sucks? When you're happily playing Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, enjoying being Ezio, and you're skypeing with your boyfriend while you chat about Ezio's timeline and then your boyfriend suggests you watch Assassin's Creed Embers.

And you cry.

For half an hour.

And can't stop.

That's what sucks.

Why would you do that!! Why! I haven't seen it but somebody spoiled it for me (which makes them both a jackass/goodhearted for giving me an out on that). I avert my eyes every freaking time I look at my Ezio Trilogy case and play Wii U instead.

 

[prettyserpentine]

Why would you do that!! Why! I haven't seen it but somebody spoiled it for me (which makes them both a jackass/goodhearted for giving me an out on that). I avert my eyes every freaking time I look at my Ezio Trilogy case and play Wii U instead.

I knew what happened to Desmond, and Lucy (even though I haven't played that far yet) and I guess I knew what would happen to Ezio, considering AC3 is a different character. I just never imagined it would be so heartbreaking. It's kind of beautiful, and I don't regret watching it, but even when I'm playing AC:B now, and I hear Ezio speaking, I get that pain in my chest...

I guess that's a good sign though, that a character has been formed so well that you get attached to them. It's a sign of a good game. But holy crap, I cried my guts out last night.

 

[Nightfreak]

Firmhanded Daddy You will love The Last Of Us. I thought the story really pulled the player in. I think they have some DLC for it now I borrowed it for a week off a co worker some time ago. I really enjoyed the game from beginning to end. I have dead island but it has just sat in the case for now. Sadly my ps3 has only been used as an access to netflix and the wwe network as of late.

 

[thestruggle]

I knew what happened to Desmond, and Lucy (even though I haven't played that far yet) and I guess I knew what would happen to Ezio, considering AC3 is a different character. I just never imagined it would be so heartbreaking. It's kind of beautiful, and I don't regret watching it, but even when I'm playing AC:B now, and I hear Ezio speaking, I get that pain in my chest...

I guess that's a good sign though, that a character has been formed so well that you get attached to them. It's a sign of a good game. But holy crap, I cried my guts out last night.

Yeah. I agree, it's a mark of a good game. Just like any good story, really. Final Fantasy is another series that gave a lot of feels. Trying to think of others... The Last of Us will probably do that, too. Most games inspire some kind of attachment but Ezio has definitely been the most successful. Dammit. Now I'll have to play Xbox, aaaugh.

 

[prettyserpentine]

Yes! And then we can make a team and assassinate each other in AC:B!

 

[Scuttle Buttin']

Yes! And then we can make a team and assassinate each other in AC:B!

Hope you like being poisoned!

 

[thestruggle]

Hope you like being poisoned!

You're so not invited, you sneaky jackass.

Edited: Where'd the first part of my post go? PS, I'd totally be on your team! Just be ready for huge amounts of cursing and "what the fuck am I doing?"

 

[Scuttle Buttin']

You're so not invited, you sneaky jackass.

Edited: Where'd the first part of my post go? PS, I'd totally be on your team! Just be ready for huge amounts of cursing and "what the fuck am I doing?"

Half the time, Tess is just walking into walls or running in circles.

 

[thestruggle]

Half the time, Tess is just walking into walls or running in circles.

Rufflybritches screams when he gets killed like a kid grounded from Warcraft. And then cries.

 

[prettyserpentine]

Let's do it then!! Me and TG couldn't set up a team with just the two of us and I'm dying to try it.