ElfTheHunter
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Posts posted by ElfTheHunter
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Gotta agree with Aldaron, that is pretty nasty, specially since it feels like it was done in the little of a room, which makes it all that more real
Very nice pic btw... if you did yourself, tell me you killed it first
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“Perhaps this is our destiny, but let us show them that as free men we chose to make it so.”
King Arthur
Directed by Antoine Fuqua
Clive Owen, Keira Knightley, Stellan Skarsgard
Watch Ability – 7
Let me get this off my chest and say it, the battles sucked. I know it might seem harsh, and maybe a bit unfair. But the real-ness of battle wasn’t there, the fear nor is there any thrill or action element. The fighting felt for the most part like this: a shot of Arthur or a knight cutting down a woad/saxon, then another shot of another woad/saxon being cut down. Now, this is not bad – in fact it’s realistic. But when a movie does not want to, or care to focus on the tactical side of battle, then the fighting must at least be cool in order to justify all the scenes. The truth is, I do not think the battles in King Arthur were bad… they just were not tactical, not cool and served no real purpose other than to give the audience what they expect.
Genre Quality – 6
If this movie fell under a trailer, it might get a high rating. But the truth is that it does not. From a often incoherent and (sorry to say it) silly story, to horrible technical sound editing this movie makes every scene a emotional inspiring scene that most movies will give you after the climax… but there still remains the bitter taste of undeserved atmosphere. When William Wallace dies and the handkerchief falls with his old love walking in the crowd, that is a deserved moment. A moment where the movie allows the music and images to have their own voice. But we deserve it, we’ve been through the story and the action. In King Arthur every scene is an attempt to make a scene like that.
Originality – 9
And this is why I hate this movie so much. It not only is a failure, it’s failure of an awesome concept! The idea of displaying a real King Arthur, with characters placed in their appropriate places rather than the legend tells it is a beautiful idea, and an original idea I applause the movie for attempting. But it only hurts that much more that it was so poorly executed.
Acting – 8
I have no real qualm with the acting. For the most part it’s adequate, but rarely does it become something more. Knightley is there as a pure sexual and eroticism tool, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but they could have utilized her character better. Keira and her acting are in no way to blame, she did put life into a limited role but in the end the characters just didn’t have enough life to live by themselves. There are two exceptions where the acting broke through and created interesting characters, and maybe three. They are Bors (Way Winstone) who gives us a precious view of a warrior, a man who is not afraid of war but is not bloodthirsty, one who enjoys life more than death. Then there’s the Saxon leader Cerdic (Stellan Skarsgard) who gives us a unique and powerful enemy. He manages to create a true evil leader, not an arrogant lunatic but a tactical evil genius. And his son Cynric (Til Schweiger) who gives us what we consider to be a cliché evil commander, but he turns out some of his own unique views when faced in battle. But other than that, there was nothing really special about the acting.
Plot/Story – 6
First off, the setting is to be applauded. The idea of Merlin being a Celtic leader fighting Arthur and his knights, who are not roman but in the service of Rome by order is brilliant and original. But that’s where the brilliant plot ends, then characters begin to break into pieces and things don’t seem to fit. They push the Celtic Woads to unimportant in the movie, even though they are key players. You see more of the Saxon enemies than of the Celtic leader Merlin. Not to mention mere things like a massive gate that needs two war horses to open, being opened by single people later on. Arthur and the Woads creating an alliance, though there is barely a hint of it in the movie (up until you see them entering battle side by side). I was severely disappointed with this film.
Music/Songs – 4
Leave the last for worse, is what they say. The music itself was not bad, nice vocals and tone but the fact is, this is a movie, and the soundtrack should always enhance the movie. And silence some times is golden. Specially when the music covers the dialogue and it becomes a challenge to understand what characters are saying. The sound effects do this as well, the wind howling over the open land and the characters are yelling but you can hardly hear them. I know it may be realistic, but it damages the movie. Instead of adding to the movie, the music gets in it’s way… But because the music, by itself, is beautiful I’ll leave it at a 4.
Trailer – 9 (not figured in overall score)
This is an odd category for this film. The trailer did hype the movie, and make it look good. It managed to raise my expectations above what it was. And not only that it deceived me, pure and simple misleading info. The trailer hints at a elaborate story between the Woads and Knights before the Saxons even arrive, but that is not the case. Indeed, with the naming of characters it suggested that Merlin was the Saxon Leader (as in, they showed the name Merlin and then several shots of the Saxon Leader) and I was surprised to find Merlin such a small character in the film. And slightly annoyed may I say. But the fact remains, the trailer was good, it just wasn’t promoting that good of a film.
Overall – 6.5
+: Original Concept
- : Music and Sounds
- : Incoherent Story
- : Uninteresting Battles
Now, I have been contradicted by friends so perhaps I’m wrong. But this, along with all my reviews, are my opinions alone but it seems that most around me liked it so I would suggest for others to check it out and discuss it. But I am extremely disappointed, not at just having watched a bad movie, but at having such a great concept be tainted by a bad movie.
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I would invest more in artistic and independent filmmakers. I would lower the amount of action blockbusters (most end up sucking anyway) and sequels (not preplanned sequels, but those done because the original made big cash) and never allow a revival of a movie 5 years after it came out (Jurrassic Park 3, Terminator 3, Star Wars)
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So no one appreciates the beauty of corpses
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I owned it... don't do the same mistake
It did not follow the movie, but not really the book either. It was from the makers of War of the Ring (publishers at least) and followed the same path of not following the books to the letter. Now, I know the movies didn't, but they're mistakes were well thought of mistakes and they truly believed that those changes would work better - this game is pathetic. The movies are more accurate to Tolkien than the game IMO.
I've sold the game to Eletronic Boutique for 10$ since then. Really, after you leave the Shire and the beginning part of the book it just isn't worth it anymore. The final boss was you playing as Aragorn and fighting a Nazgul on a Fell Beast!!!! Now, where in FotR or any of the books does that happen?!?! They seem to think at the banks of Anduin!
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I like Mars better *runs from rocks being thrown*
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As the reason, tell me all the roads in Middle-Earth... now tell me all the roads in the world during the 0ad period...
Do you get our point, roads are not things like cities, or forts, or towers in middle-earth, they are not only more scarse but of less importance.
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I must say, I support violence, profanity and nudity in games to the level that films have it. Basically, I don't think a film should be allowed to be more violent than a game. Games are not for kids, they were in the 80s but now they are a medium as broad as films, and we should consider all audiences when disscussing the matter.
I'm against censorship, very much so!
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As far as I know, roads will be the same as AoK roads (only ground terrain) but because each terrain type has it's own properties (speed and morale boost) we can make roads into a performance boost as well as guidelines... but I don't think they will be affected if no one uses them... And I don't know how they will fit into random maps, but I assume depending on the random map it will generate roads. Maybe a map called crossroads and the roads become strategical paths since the other terrain is swampy or muddy and is really slow.
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Actually, right now the Brazilian team sucks, or there's some deal being made (I think they lost the last two world cups... or maybe they lost 98 and won 02... either way they're not the same as before) Before those they were the best, hands down
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BRASIL!!!!!!
(I did not mispell, I'm spelling it in portuguese) -
The question is, should it be? Because to find a working system when an already working system is well established in RTS games just for the sake of being original feels like a waste of time, it could be better spent to work on other systems that affect the game more.
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Well, promised I would remember something...
This isn't as scary as intriguing, but... My grandfather (who was very much a christian) was having dinner with a friend of his. After dinner, while my grandma and the guy's wife were cleaning the table they stepped outside for some fresh air and my grandpa noticed a light in the sky. He had been a airplane mechanic in WWII and he said that no plane could stand still like that light, and there was no helicopter sound so he was positive that was not it either. Then, after he pointed it out to his friend and called the women to see, it just dissapeared, they saw it shoot off towards the left faster than anything my grandad has ever seen and once it went out of sight behind the rooftop, they couldn't fidn again.
Anyway, he doesn't believe in UFOs, and he doesn't consider that an UFO but he can't explain it either. So a UFO sighting is just two generations away from me.
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Yea, I do believe the Numenoreans taxed and tolled the men of Middle-Earth.
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Basically post scary stories, or happenings or situations that happened to you or you've heard of. Or simple link/quote a scary text that got you nervous once... just share freaky and scary stories
I don't have one right now, will try to remember one.
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I agree Quacker, and in a theater full of people it became really noticeble. But I'm not entirely sure that was bad, sure it slowed down the action but perhaps it required to do so in order for us to simply have time to think things over. Anyway, I would include that under plot/story since it's part of editing and so the 9 could also be because of that.
But yes, they definently were noticeble... like the part she asks him if he loves her and she tells her no (this isn't spoilers, it's all in the trailer) someone in the audience in my theather actually yelled out "You're wrong!" to the laugh of the entire theater, and my frustration. I think those scenes are actually fine, but compared to the action couter-parts they seem pathetic, so in ways the movie kills some of its own scenes
Anyway, still a great movie! -
nm, I figured it out... just that I must have accidently unconnected the usb, now it's all working.
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Except for Lord of the Rings of course, those are believeable
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Well, I got my DVD writer (all formats!), instealled it, there luckily was ONE extra power source, and one extra IDE spot which was unused... So after setting it up I used the slave IDE that connected the Hard Drive to motherboard (it was unused, there's another IDE cable connecting the DVD reader and CD writer to motherboard), well actually at first I put the Hard drive on the slave spot because it was easier to reach, but after booting the comp and it not working I changed it and now it booted just fine, recognized the DVD writer perfectly... I have yet to test it (need to go buy some DVDs) but the problem is that as soon as I insert my Pen Drive (which I've done countless times before) the computer freezes, nothing works. I can pull it out again, press CtrlAltDelete or anything and only holding in power button will restart computer.
I'm really at a loss to what to do... any ideas? (it's a USB pen drive)
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Spiderman review coming tomorrow (too tired now)...
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“The power of the Sun in the palm of my hand.”
Spider-man 2
Directed by Sam Raimi
Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Alfred Molina
Watch Ability – 10
I do believe that Spiderman, both the sequel and the original are the ultimate example of Watch Ability. They are simply fun and cool, no other way to look at it. The action is the most intense you will probably ever see, the moves and special effects are simply amazing. Really, I’m hard put to think of a more deserving movie for this score. I give it a 10!
Genre Quality – 10
When it comes to super hero movies, Spiderman has no equal. While the original raised the bar for all superhero movies to come, by setting higher acting levels, story depth and everything related to movies. Basically, the first one boosted the level of superhero movies, this one simply challenges them to set their own bars. It totally does not try to keep up with its original bar, it makes it’s own. It’s a whole new level, a whole new genre, and it excels! I give it a 10!
Originality – 7
Oh My God! Finally, this movie does what every superhero movie and show doesn’t dare to do. I do not want to spoil this for you guys, just will tell you that go in expecting the unexpected! It’s a brilliant move, it’s like looking at the rules on a blackboard and breaking them while the teacher watches! It’s brilliant, a freaking 10!!!
Acting – 8
Of course, Maguire does another awesome job as Peter Parker, giving Spiderman the depth enough to fill up the suit and yet he manages to add more to Peter. He is doing a wonderful job of crafting the comic superhero and a real person into one identity. And in this movie Peter was given more of a chance to grow as a character. Kisten Dunts does a fair job as Mary Jane, still keeping the distant and “I-think-I-understand-you” look but her greatest achievement is being a familiar face to Peter, something we can associated with from the original Spiderman. There really is not flaws with acting and because Tobey does such a brilliant job as Peter I’ll give this a deserving 10.
Plot/Story – 8
Perhaps this is the only flaw in Spider-man 2… It’s a shame really, but there is no perfect thing usually. The problem with the story and plot is not really a problem, but rather it diminishes the view of perfection. Basically the problem is that some things don’t seem to fit. Be it a funny movie, a reaction or stuff, most are minor and forgivable but the fact remains that they are there. And for that I’ll give it a 9!
Music/Songs – 10
Danny Elfman, the composer for Spiderman and Spiderman 2 is a brilliant composer. He manages to keep identifying marks from the original while not forcing them in, he lightly adds them here and there. He holds the movie of more importance than his music, and as such he will sacrifice the music, if it means a better movie. Really, the Spiderman 2 soundtrack is awesome, it’s energetic when it needs to, it’s inspiring when it needs to and sad when necessary. I give it a 10!
Trailer - 10 (not figured into overall score)
There are essentially two trailers, or ones I would consider trailers. The first is the very first shown of Spider-man 2 where it starts off with MJ and Peter talking at the coffe shop. It was a nice trailer, inspiring music but overall nothing more than evidence that spider-man 2 was coming, not of the story. It also had the wrong release date of july 2nd. The second one is pure brilliance, with an awesome music and hint at the story. This is what I consider a really well made trailer. It ends with Harry Osborn saying "Let's see who's behind the mask". It deserves a 10, and the first one did a wonderful job as well.
Overall – 8.9
+: Perfect Watch Ability
+: Totally Original
+: Good Acting
- : Doesn’t fit as neat as the original
While I had no doubt Sam Raimi & Co could do a movie as successful and good as Spiderman, but that was not enough for them. They wanted to do what they did when they did the original Spiderman, and that is, make something totally new.
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Warcraft III is great, but don't compare it to regular RTS like AoK. The thing about War3 is that it's its own game, here there is as much tactics and strategies but also skill is neeeded... skill to handle your hero, all his skills to their ultimate advantage. I'm not the best player, but trust me... managing your heroes is a key to victory.
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Just to clear something up: It's not the movies' fault that the Balrog can be summoned!!! It's purely the game alone... actually, it's quite against the movie as well I would guess.
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Are you sure? Any links to confirm that, because I'm fairly sure it has neither a harddrive, or any internet connectivity (much less a network to match games up).
Another Fellowship game
in The Green Dragon
Posted
There are good games, but most are independant and not mainstream... so for short: no
I really had high hopes for the Fellowship (btw, I think they cancelled the other two games after how the first one performed)