Movie Review: Limitless

Title: Limitless

Year: 2011
Rating: PG-13

Synopsis: Eddie Morra is an inspiring writer and generally a nice guy. He just has no motivation, lacking the ability to bring out whatever mysterious talent he might have, if indeed he has any. It seems he's on a quick downward spiral when suddenly he's given a mysterious pill. Within moments of swallowing it, he finds his brain supercharged. Capable of moving mountains of literature, a mathematical genius, an expert stockbroker, and able to noticing the smallest of details, Eddie has become awesome. Unfortunately, the pill is less of a secret than he thought, and, understandable, bad guys want it now.

Best Part/Best "Phrase": The first time he takes the pill. Fantastic.
Favorite Actor: Andrew Howard, aka Gennady. What a clever guy.
Music Quality: Rather than the music, the sound effects were really cool.
Language: Some but not much.

Pros: The story itself is rather cool (acting good, yadda yadda). It's pretty obvious why we can't access every part of our brain; we'd go crazy, since each part is only supposed to be used for certain things. This movie actually puts some effort into addressing this problem, creating benefits and side effects that feed into the rest of the movie, making it a little bit more realistic. The surreal CGI is awesome, and frankly I wanted more.

Cons: The ending seemed a little abrupt to me, as well as slightly vague. Perhaps it was intentional not giving us the simple answer(s) we wanted, but it would've been nice to know. Plot holes, and curiosities also pop up as the movie makes its merry way.

Rating: 7.5/10
Rewatch Value: Sure.

Movie Review: Battle LA

Title: Battle: Los Angeles (Battle: LA)

Year: 2011
Rating: PG-13

Synopsis: A meteor shower rains down on earth. It soon becomes apparent that the meteors are in fact ships, and soon seemingly invincible aliens are rampaging across every major city, harvesting our most important substance: water. Put in charge of a desperate few survivng soldiers, Staff Sergeant Nantz leads the way across the barren landscape that was one Los Angeles.

Best Part/Best "Phrase": Don't pick up foreign objects.
Favorite Actor: They're all good actors, but I don't have a favorite one.
Music Quality: Excellent, fits the mood all the way through.
Language: Not too much here.

Pros: This is a great War of the Worlds/Signs/Independence Day movie. It has the music, it has the gratuitous amount of explosions, it has the weird alien design, it has the mothership(s), and it has the heroic white guy blasting pretty much anything and everything standing in his way. And while the primary excitement comes from all the insane action pumped into nearly every scene, the movie also has moments of truly heartfelt moments as the soldiers risk their lives to protect others.

Cons: Before we get carried away singing praises, the movie is just another hash of the other three movies mentioned above. The movie brings nothing new to the alien franchise. They want our resources. We kill them. Bam, done. Also, the movie goes overboard on making Nantz your everyday tough guy war hero. The fact is so blatant it's almost insulting.

Rating: 7.2/10
Rewatch Value: Why? District 9 was creative, and new. This one isn't.

Movie Review: Rango

Title: Rango

Year: 2011
Rating: PG

Synopsis: A chameleon finds himself stranded in the desert town aptly named Dirt. The citizens are in need of two things; water and a sheriff. More skilled at acting than he is at camouflage, the chameleon dons the badge and gets ready to save the town from dehydration and lawbreakers. His name is Rango, and he is the law.

Best Part/Best "Phrase": I honestly can't say; I would spoil it.
Favorite Actor: Rattlesnake Jake, voiced by Bill Nighy. He is creepy and should have been given more screen time.
Music Quality: I do remember this! Western greatness.
Language: One or two times of the word "damn". One is "Son of a b****"but that last word is bleeped out.

Pros: First off, hats off to the animation group for forgoing the usual cute and cuddly we're used to seeing from Dreamworks and Pixar to awfully creepy and ugly critters, all of whom are very well animated. Good humor is prevalent that older folks will understand, and the entire film itself is enjoyable to adults. The voice acting is superb especially with Bill Nighy as Rattlesnake Jake. Flow and pacing is good, and the overall message of the film is wonderfully executed without it banging you over the head.

Cons: This is a movie for older kids and adults, not young children who may be freaked out by the creepy animals or parents who want to guard virgin ears and the sight of guns. Children may not understand Western references or older humor that adults will catch. The suffering of the town due to lack of water is understated and the ending a little uncertain. Sticklers for reality may be upset, but than they shouldn't be seeing movies like this anyway.

Rating: 8.2/10
Rewatch Value: Yessir, as long as I've got snacks.

The Adjustment Bureau

Title: The Adjustment Bureau

Year: 2011
Rating: PG-13 (bare skin, punching, language)

Synopsis: Harry is well on his way to winning a seat in the Senate, but a mishap causes him to slip. The only thing that saves him is the inspiration brought to him by a woman, and he realizes that she is the one he never knew he was waiting for. But as he struggles to find her again and again, he encounters a force no one else knows exists. They are the Adjustment Bureau, and they will do what they can to make Harry and Elise stick to "The Plan".

Best Part/Best "Phrase": The Hammer. Dun dun duuuun.
Favorite Actor: Terence Stamp, who plays Thompson (The Hammer)
Music Quality: It definitely fit, but unfortunately the trailer tops it.
Language: There is language, but it's not too bad or overdone.

Pros: The movie is a great conversation piece about chance, free will and fate. The overall plot is very intriguing and the Adjusters themselves keep up an interesting mystery about their roles without actually spilling everything and diving over into Cheese Land. Both sound and acting are good, with great chemistry between Harry and Elise, but the real strong point is the story, not the actors.

Cons: Somehow a bit of the acting seemed amiss. Even with the story to support the character's actions and feelings, it still seems doubtful they would fall for one another so fast. Some explanations are left out, which is necessary, but some of it seems half-assed. There is one point in the movie that screwed up some logic and left a rather gaping plot hole.

Rating: 7.8/10
Rewatch Value: Average. It's definitely worth seeing at least once, but the big screen isn't necessary for casual movie-goers.

Exile's Reviews! -Red Dead Redemption-

-OPENING-

Rockstar Games has always seemed to have their hands full with the Grand Theft Auto series but after their latest installations, as well, as two Downloadable expansions which took the players into whole new stories with characters that were in the original release something came about. They announced the making of Red Dead Redemption which many called Grand Theft Horse for a while thinking that it wasn’t going to do well. After more information and time the game finally hit shelves of stores everywhere. Will this game live up to the expectations previous releases and installments have set for it? Or will it perish like the ways of the Wild West?

-STORY-

The year is 1911 the Wild West has just started to become tame where the Law has stepped up how they enforce the law and when the Government truly started to move in to put an end to the Wild parts of the West. You play as ex-outlaw John Marston a man who is constantly haunted by his past and forced by government officials to do their dirty work. The task he is charged with is bringing the men he used to ride with to Justice whether by delivering them alive or ending their lives. You start off by approaching one of John’s old friends a man by the name of Bill Williamson who decides to shoot you and leave you for dead. Of course being picked up and nursed back to health the journey of John Marston only begins and thus you figure out his true struggle. John is told by the Government that if he does not fulfill the task given to him he will never see his Family ever again. The story takes you far into the land of New Austin and into the treacherous and Revolution turmoil land of Mexico.

The story is truly excellent that sticks true to the scene of the West perfectly from beginning to end. The story makes you sympathize for John Marston and more importantly makes you feel as if you’re in the Wild West itself. The Story spans about thirty odd some hours during the first play-through because you’ll try to experience everything, however, on second play-through it might take around twenty-four to twenty-six hours to beat. It’s a long story that’s interesting from begin to end and will keep you captivated despite it being much longer than the average game now.

-GAMEPLAY-

Just like all other games this is a vital part for Red Dead Redemption and fortunately it work out well. From the assortment of weapons to the horses you ride even to the small things like breaking a horse. Anyone who is a veteran of Grand Theft Auto IV will immediately know the control scheme to Red Dead Redemption. Left Trigger is to aim or auto-aim if you have it activated, right trigger to fire, ect. Now the additions that have been added between the two games one of the biggest is horses instead of automobiles. You use your directional pad to call whatever horse it is you own and it’ll find it’s way to you. The number of horses gives you an incentive to want to either purchase or personally break your own horse. Horse breaking is another new game play addition it’s not something you’ll aim to do your whole game but it is nice when it comes to save a few hundred dollars. The Weapon Variation is also very impressive bringing a vast assortment of weaponry. Your arsenal will span with multiple Revolvers, Repeaters, Rifles, Pistols, Shotguns, Throwing weapons, and more. Each weapon looks, fires, and sounds the part of the actual weaponry used back during the Wild West. Each one having their own unique feel, powers, ect to them making it even more convincing than it already is.

There’s a bit to do in the Single Player alone many activities always remain active while some new ones appear as you progress further and further through the story. Bounties, Strangers, Gambling, Jobs, Bank Robberies, and side events that happen from time to time.

Just like Grand Theft Auto IV Red Dead Redemption features its own online play. Some of the game modes remain like Rockstar’s previous release such as Free Roam and Team Deathmatch. Fortunately there is more to than just that there are new game modes like Grab the Bag a Capture the Flag type game modes where two teams or Gangs as they’re called in this game must capture a bag full of money that their enemy possesses. Each team has one bag first to three or five wins another thing that makes the online stick out more is how each Competitive match is started. Both teams start off lined up facing one another and when the match begins they all perform a standoff this is a very enjoyable aspect of the online and a truly unique one. With each victory accomplished in Free Roam and competitive games give out experience with each level you gain you unlock new Titles, Mounts, Characters, and weaponry that help you stick out amongst your fellow Players.

-PRESENTATION-

Red Dead Redemption is truly a sight for sore eyes with a rather expansive map with detail around every corner you’ll ever clear or imagine clearing. The sound of wild-life is as close to the real thing as it can truly be without putting the actual animals inside of your speakers. The sound of the weapons firing as well as their reloading with each and every tiny and almost silent noise they make is true to the very end. The soundtrack sticks true to the whole Wild West feels some songs specially created for the game as well by musical talent. Artist like William Elliot Whitmore, Ashtar Commands, and Jose Gonzalez lend their talents with music that truly suits the mood for certain events that unfold throughout the entire game. The look and feel of the game itself suits the time and era that this game takes place in matching the feeling of a man doing a task he truly wished he never had to perform, or, the feeling of the West beginning to reach it’s crippling end. The cast of characters are as believable as they can possibly be. The voice acting remains top notch throughout the entire story selling the roles, emotions, and events perfectly. In the end this game truly cannot feel more Western than it already does and if somehow it managed to do so than it would be a miracle.

-CLOSING-

Rockstar has truly exceeded my expectations with Red Dead Redemption it’s truly an almost flawless game. The flaws are very minor as well as far and in-between that if I were to mention them it would be mere nit-pickings. In the end Red Dead Redemption tells a campfire story that many wish they could have created before this game’s release. Red Dead Redemption is truly a game worthy of being called a Western I am not a huge fan of Western movies, games, or stories but Red Dead Redemption has captured my eyes and will always be remembered by me. If you ever feel like taking a journey to days of old where lawlessness ran rampant and the only thing keeping you alive was a quick draw and a quick trigger finger than mount up and ride into the sunset.

-Exile-