Tangled up in Strings - A Review of Avengers: Age of Ultron

The problem with sequels is that they are always compared to the titles that preceded them. Occasionally, you get sequels to films and games that are that much better than the older siblings in the series. Toy Story 3, Terminator 2, and as an example within the Marvel cinematic universe, Captain America: The Winter Solider. These are all examples of sequels that many consider to be the better, if not the best movie of their respective series. So the question is, where does the much-hyped Avengers sequel fall? Unfortunately, in that very comparison to the last film; The Avengers, we see the flaws in Age of Ultron. Avengers: Age of Ultron is still a great film,  but while I felt excited and satisfied when I left the theatre watching the first one, I couldn't help but feel unsatisfied with the sequel.

Let's start off with the stuff that works. Where the film works very well; as is to be expected of Marvel movies, is the action sequences. Actually, action sequences doesn't sum up what you see on screen. More akin to "epic battle art",  the film hits the ground running (or in this case fighting) from the moment the Marvel title card fades to black. Fights are incredibly well-choreographed and every Avenger retains their badass status with some truly impressive combat scenes. From the the opening assault on Baron von Strucker's Hydra fortress to the literally earth-shattering final fight with Ultron, you get the sense that Joss Whedon definitely understands what the word "awesome" means. But fights alone do not a movie make, well at least not a great one. Thankfully the actors playing those doing the fighting do a great job bringing them to life outside the battlefield.

The original Avengers once again prove that the chemistry is still there and is a pleasure to watch. Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr are still my favourites, but Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johannson, and Chris Evans all provide great performances. Newcomers Elizabeth Olsen and Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Wanda and Pietro Maximoff; otherwise known as Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, also give good performances, though slightly limited due to their role in the story. However you can't have an Avengers movie without a good villain, and James Spader as Ultron definitely delivers. Unfortunately even a great cast can't save a mediocre story and slightly forced jokes, which is the core of Age of Ultron's problems.

The premise is simple enough, The Avengers recover Loki's sceptre which is then used by Tony and Bruce in an attempt to create Ultron to protect the planet. While they seem to fail in even creating an AI, they accidentally create one with some homocidal tendencies. Ultron teams up with Mutants "Enhanced" humans Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver to bring down the Avengers. What follows is a predictable storyline very reminiscent of the first film. In fact the similarities are what make it that all the more obvious that the writing and jokes just aren't up to snuff with the film's predecessor.  Yes, there are still very funny moments but what we see is a movie that is trying way too hard to recapture the magic we saw three years ago. In addition there are some odd storyline elements that don't really make sense when everything is put together. I will give them credit for making a Hulk and Black Widow romance see plausible, or at least as plausible as it could have. Perhaps the movie was doomed to be lackluster in this area, however you can't but feel that it all feels a bit forced.

Is Age of Ultron worth seeing? Yes, absolutely. It's still a ton of fun and the awesome fights are alone worth the price of admission. Is it a sign that we need new avengers? Also yes. One of the reasons why Guardians of the Galaxy was so successful was the introduction of characters we'd never seen before. As much we love our current roster, it's better to change up now then hate them while they're still here. Without spoiling too much we do see a new Avengers line up at the end of the film, and I'm more excited about that prospect that I was throughout most of the entire duration of the movie.

Score 7.5/10

Games The Need to Be Remastered Now

When Grim Fandango Remastered was announced last year I was excited beyond belief for two reasons. First, I would be able to play an updated version of one of my favourite games of all time. Second, I took it as a sign that the industry was willing to take a chance on titles that while critical darlings didn't have to be commercially successful to be given a second chance.

As I played through Grim Fandango again; now with graphical updates, I couldn't help but think to myself of other title that are definitely worth an HD remaster/remake. This would also be keeping with the trend as more and more classics like Homeworld are being given new life for a new generation.

Jet Set Radio Future

While it might just be my opinion, below are the games I'd like to see remastered. Some of the these games are true cult classics, others were popular back in the day and I think could use a fresh coat of paint.

The original Jet Set Radio had an HD release back in 2012 for the PS3 and Xbox 360, so really it should be a no brainer for the sequel to get a similar HD facelift. In addition, the added power of the Ps4 and Xbox One could mean a truly beautiful world for not only fans of the series to explore, but new players who probably over looked this title at the time.

Final Fantasy IX

If you mention the words "Final Fantasy" and "HD remake" in the same breath, chances are the roman numerals for seven are in there as well. Since the "technical demo" back in 2006, fans have begging Square to make an HD remake of the most beloved of all Final Fantasy titles. And now I'm going to be the black chocobo and say that if we were to pick a title to make HD it shouldn't be VII, but IX.

Technically FFIX did get a PSN port back in 2010, but with the updates made to X and X-2 it shows that remasters can be profitable for even the most popular of the Final Fantasy franchise. To me, IX is one the more underated titles in the series. Getting a HD Remaster or Remake would be great.

Psychonauts

Continuing the trend of "Tim Schaffer making games that while critically acclaimed don't sell that well" is Psychonauts. I'm not going to into too much details as anyone who's a fan of the game probably shares my opinion on this. Aesthetically the game has aged very well, and with HD polish it could look amazing on the PS4 or Xbox One. If Grim Fandango was worthy of an HD remaster, then so is Psychonauts.

These are title I'd like to see remastered, what games do you think deserve an update for the next generation?

Oscar Nominated Shorts 2015 (Live Action & Animated) - Short but Not so Sweet

Part of my award season ritual involves going to see both the oscar nominated live action and animated shorts. It's something I view as a tradition as I've watched the nominees in these categories for the past five years. As I said in my review of last year's nominees, the amazing thing about short films is that their greatest strength is their brevity. However, in order for a short film to be successful it has to make an impact. Quite frankly in comparison to last year's nominees, this year's just aren't as good. Not to say they aren't bad but compared to the variety and brilliance of last year's films they simply don't impress as much. With that said though, below are my short reviews for these short films. All are still worth watching at least once.

Live Action

Aya

An interesting concept, the story follows a woman who is mistaken for someones else's hired driver from the airport. However rather than trying to correct the man's mistake, she revel's in the attention. The film is well shot and like I said the premise is interesting. However despite the film's strengths it feels slightly too long, and also by the end there isn't really a conclusion that makes the entire experience feel justifiable.

Boogaloo and Graham

The comic relief of the nominees, the film was the TIFF's pick during the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. It follows two Irish boys who get chickens as pets, totally changing their lives for better and for worse. It's a nice light-hearted movie and has some good laughs, but it's also incredibly predictable. Side note, why they use subtitles for the boys is confusing as their accented english isn't by any means incomprehensible.

Butter Lamp

This was an interesting piece. The premise is simple, it's merely two photographers taking pictures of tibetan villagers in front of different backdrops. It's effortless and powerful, showing that even the most basic of ideas can stir a myriad of emotions from the viewer. Even the ending is striking and in some ways completely changes the audiences understanding of the film.

Parvaneh

While watching Parvaneh, I thought I had the film's story figured out. It starts out like so many films where the protagonist is trying to make a new life in a new country and struggles to make ends meet. As a result I was pleasantly surprised when the film took a twist and became an interesting commentary on friendship, loyalty, and a reflection on how so many of us treat outsiders. It's a well written film and the performances are understated but excellent. I'm sorry for misjudging you Parvaneh.

The Phone Call

A bittersweet short that deals with themes of death and suicide, The Phone Call is a piece that has some absolutely astounding performances. Heather is a suicide hotline worker who receives a call from a very troubled caller. What plays over the rest of film is an emotional and powerful dialogue between the two. Without giving too much away, my only complaint of the film is the latter half of it's ending. It feels a little out of place with the rest of the film.

Oscar Pick: The Phone Call

I'm not exactly sure what it says about me, but I really liked The Phone Call. I think its dialogue and the themes it deals with are why I think it's worthy of an academy award. Butter Lamp would be a very close second, as in a way it's the opposite with its "show, don't tell" approach.

Animation

The Bigger Picture

A multi-dimensional stop motion film, The Bigger Picture shows the story of two adult siblings trying to take care of their ailing mother. The progression of the film feels almost dream-like and disjointed, with scenes jumping forward and backwards in time in a surreal manner. It's not a very interesting film overall, but it is very interesting to look at.

The Dam Keeper

Incredibly beautiful, The Dam Keeper is a film about a young pig that is alone in his town as the sole dam keeper, who keeps the dark miasma at bay from the town. Over the course of the film he meets a young fox who helps him learn that he doesn't have to be alone. A very nice piece, even if it is a little on the childish side.

Feast

Disney's entry for the academy awards, I've seen it tons of times and after a while like day-old bread it gets a little stale. The animation is amazing and the story is cute, but it's only worth seeing once. And if you went and saw Big Hero 6 last year, you've already seen it to.

Me and My Moulton

I'm not exactly sure what is up with the Canadians and slice of life animated films, but here's another one. But, unlike the others this one is far more entertaining. Animated like a child's drawing, it's simplistic style is combined with a very funny story. It follows the story of a Norwegian family with three young daughters whose parents are modernist architects. It explores the age old story of what happens when your family is so different compared to anyone else's, and in the end accepting those differences.

A Single Life

Only two minutes long, this short is a prime example of how a well-executed short film can convey so much in such a such a short time. This darkly comic and clever cartoon combines music, time travel, and mortality in a very entertaining way. And all in two minutes! Did I also mention that the music is fantastic

Oscar Pick: A Single Life

A Single Life is what every short should aspire to as it is the perfect combination of length and impact. As odd as Me and My Moulton was at times, it was incredibly fun to watch and would be a close second for the award.

Rest in Peace Monty Oum

When I was in high school, I came across a video on Game Trailers that was unlike anything else I'd seen before. It was an animation piece called "Dead Fantasy I", an animated fight sequence between the female characters of the Final Fantasy and Dead or Alive franchises. Actually, simply calling it an animated fight sequence doesn't do it enough justice. Rather than try to describe what a masterpiece of choreography it is, you can watch it below.

It was then that I first learned of Monty Oum, an incredibly talented and creative individual who sadly passed away on February 1st, 2015. News that he was in critical condition was announced the Friday before, with a link to a fund to raise money to support his wife and family in this very difficult time. The response was phenomenally supportive with the fund receiving many generous donations. It is a testament to his character and the love that so many people have for him. In addition to donating I thought I would just highlight some of the amazing pieces he worked on and showcase what a true visionary he was.

Haloid (2007)

Perhaps the first video that brought him to the limelight, an epic fight between Samus Aran and Master Chief (or in this case Spartan-458) was our first taste of his amazing ability to seemingly do it all.

Dead Fantasy (2007-2009)

Combining amazing combat choreography, sharp animation, and two of the largest gaming franchises of all time, Monty managed to create series of action-packed and thrilling episodes. The series was put on hold after Monty was hired by Rooster Teeth, but even after all these years the fights are still a pleasure to watch.

Red vs. Blue

Monty was hired by Rooster Teeth in 2009 to work as a character animator and choreographer on the hit online show Red vs. Blue. While for most of us the show is about the comedy rather than the combat, his addition to the studio can be seen in the show from Season 8 onward in the series' leap in animation quality for certain segments.

RWBY

As the show's creator and lead animator, RWBY is in many ways the essence of his style and talents. From the show's anime aesthetic to the awesome weaponry, Monty created a vibrant and exciting universe to explore.

Monty had the unique ability to envision the entire film from start to finish, and as you watch his works it becomes all the more clear. Even though he was taken from us far too soon, he managed to create great things and inspire thousands. Obviously everyone is still coming to terms will such a massive loss, and therefore it is all the more important that we remain supportive of his family and friends. The fund is still accepting donations if you're looking for ways to support, you can find that here. As Matt Hullum wrote in his journal on how to honour Monty,

As for honoring Monty, we will do that in our own way. In lieu of flowers or gifts, we ask that you simply do something creative. Use your imagination to make the world a better place in any way that you can. If you know Monty like we do, then you know he would certainly be doing that if he were able to.  

Rest in Peace Monty, You Will Be Missed.

The 72nd Golden Globes

Because I’m actually trying to legitimize myself as a “pop culture” critic, I attempted to multi-task and play Civilization: Beyond Earth while watching this year’s Golden Globes awards. I also felt compelled to watch as this was the last show to be hosted by the near-perfect when it comes to comedy, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Or as they put it, “The 72nd and final Golden Globes.” Obviously there were good jokes, bad jokes, and speeches that went on too long, but who won what awards is ultimately the focus on any award show. And like every year, there are there choices you agree with, disagree with, and ones you are indifferent about.

Couldn’t have picked better myself

To my surprise the HFPA and I were thinking along the same lines this year about which films, shows, actors, and creative professionals deserved to be called the best in their category. Normally I find that for the bulk of the award season, the awards go to films that I don’t think deserve them or deserved them but I didn’t quite like them as much as another film that was nominated. This year, whether it was because of the high quality of films or because I think they almost all deserve to win, the HFPA  and I actually agree on our choices for the most part.

In my end of year blog, I expressed my hopes that Boyhood would win the accolades that it deserved. It certainly did that. Winning Best Picture for Drama, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress, it won all the categories that I thought this masterpiece was worthy of. Sure it didn’t win best supporting actor or best screenplay, but considering the other nominees this year they had really tough (and good) competition.

What I also did in my end of year blog is forget that Grand Budapest Hotel existed, which is (even though I didn’t write it) one of my favourite films from last year. So when it won for Best Picture for Comedy/Musical I was absolutely thrilled. While I may not have 100% agreed with their choices for Best Actor for Drama and Best Animated Film, considering how great all the nominees were this year I can't really disagree with them either. 

Changed the Channel

While I definitely didn't miss the big awards, I got bored during a majority of the television awards. It's not that I didn't watch any of the shows nominated this year, I just didn't watch most of them. Playing Civ: BE probably didn't help, but as I talked to friends about this year's show and read tweets by fellow viewers, the Golden Globes did often lose its steam. Whether due to video games, lack of interest, or lack of laughs, I'll admit that I didn't watch the entirety of show with interest. But for what I was interested in, I definitely stopped playing and started watching.

End of an Era

As I said earlier in the post, one of the reasons to watch this year's event is for the spectacular hosts. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler once again brought the laughs to the Golden Globes. What makes this all the more special is that this will be indeed the last Globes to be hosted by incredible duo.  Funnily enough, during the Golden Globes countdown on NBC prior to the start of the award show, the hosts speculated that the Tina and Amy would hold nothing back. Well, the Bill Cosby jokes were definitely evidence of that. That said though, the jokes were great. Not only from Tina and Amy, but from the presenters as well (Ricky Gervais was surprisingly good). But the creme de la creme were definitely in the monologue. Especially the joke about George Clooney's lifetime award and the game of "Who'd you rather" as well. 

Part of my interest in any award show apart from the nominees is whoever hosts it. With Tina Fey and Amy Poehler moving on to other things, who knows who will take on the daunting task of hosting. Some have suggested Kristen Wiig and Bill Mader, which would hopefully keep the same type of humour in the show. Only time will tell. But with the 2015 Golden Globes now over and Margret Cho no longer costumed as a disgruntled North Korean, we congratulate the winners and thank Tina and Amy for a phenomenal job these past three shows. You will be missed.

CES 2015: New Tech That's Ahead of the Curve

I look forward to the start of a new year for two reasons. One, it's the start of new chapter in everyone's lives regardless if the year prior was great or absolutely terrible. Second, and by far the more exciting of the two, is CES. For those of you don't follow the world of tech and gadgets closely, the Consumer Electronics Show, CES for short, is one of world’s largest technology and electronics trade shows. Basically it’s the time of year when companies big and small unveil their new products to the public. Some are what are going to be out later in the year, while others are far more in the working prototype category. None the less, it’s all very exciting and we get a glimpse into what new tech trends we’ll be seeing in the near future. Here are some highlights of this year’s show.

Samsung's Behemoth

Will it Bend?

Displays have always played a massive part in CES. In fact, there are a ton of attendees who come just to see the latest wares from the electronic giants who produce these screens. As more and more consumers are watching media on other devices, TVs in particular have had to innovate and diversify in order to remain relevant in the home. There were some common trends at this year’s CES: 4K, curved screens, and ridiculous names.

Samsung had a show stopping 105-inch 4K television that could change from curved to flat depending on your preference. Their big push this year is their “SUHD” line of displays. Apparently the “S” doesn’t stand for anything, which is kind of dumb, but I guess it’s in line with all the other devices that they add “S” to. LG had some beautiful curved OLED 4K televisions as well, with their use of “quantum dots” in other displays to show case a superior picture to standard 4K. The “ArtSlim” Series sounds more appealing to me than SUHD, but is still kind of pointless, especially when you consider all these curved displays don’t look slim in comparison to their obviously skinny flat screened siblings.

In fact, while there are still plenty of flat screens on the floor, this year was all about the curved displays. From phones to TVs to monitors, almost every device had a curved variant or prototype. Some of them will probably be more practical than others, but it’s nice to know that going forward we aren’t confined to a flat surface for our devices. Mind you, I personally feel that the curved display, like 3D, is kind of a gimmick. Not to mention that in order to justify a curved TV for example, you need to buy a massive screen for the curve to be viewable for more than one person.

Wearables and Watches 2.0

Alcatel's new smart watch

While we may still be ape-descended life forms that think digital watches are a neat idea, the “digital watches” we are coming up with now are a lot cooler than just “neat”. Alcatel, Garmin, and several other companies are putting their names into the wearable electronic market. This is definitely a trend that I’m interested in, particularly whether or not this takes off. Apple, Samsung, and Motorola will probably have the most impact on the adoption rate of smart watches by the general consumer. As a fitness-tracking device, a message viewer, and as…well a watch, it will definitely do the job well. It’s just a matter of time (pun totally intended) to see if they can do a lot more than just that.

Attack of the Drones

The "Selfie Drone" hovers to take your photo before return to you

Of course it’s no surprise that there are drones everywhere now. But a cool, and yet slightly creepy trend is that many can now follow you at a distance by using your phone or a dedicated wearable to calculate it’s position relative to you. Many of these are used for selfies or to follow you while doing other activities. Cool in practice, but I can’t help but think of all the ways this can be used for not so nice stuff. Also the idea of a drone following me around with a camera isn’t too pleasing either.

Easy Bake Printer

While not quite the replicators of Star Trek that I wish were real, 3D printers are finally being developed with a culinary application in mind. XYZPrinting and ChefJet have shown at this year’s CES that 3D-printers can be sweet in more than one way.  Using food batters and syrups as the filament, their “recipes” are limited to sugar cubes and cookies. At least I can eat 3D-printer cookies while I wait for them to develop something that can 3D-print a turkey club sandwich.

And much, much more

The crazy thing about CES is that it’s so big, I can’t even cover all the cool, new tech here as it would take forever. As CES 2015 comes to a close, I’m already pumped for next year. Maybe then I’ll finally be able to buy a replicator. Or a hover-board, they’re late on that.

Born for Glory: A Review of Child of Light

From the opening lines of Child of Light's narration, the familiarity hits you. A prepubescent hero whose quest to return home shifts to save a kingdom from utter ruin. A little girl suddenly transported to a magical land. No matter how you spin the tale, it's one that we've heard before in one way or another. But it's that very nostalgia that is one of Child of Light's greatest strengths. There's a lot that's familiar, but Child of Light is a game that proves how something is presented is just as important as the core mechanics. The battle system is one that we've been playing for decades, but it's implemented with a modern twist that keeps things engaging. It's these simple changes to the formula that make Child of Light feel new and yet wonderfully nostalgic. What's been described as a love letter to Final Fantasy and Studio Ghibli, Child of Light is great trip down memory lane with a few bumps a long the way.

The power of poetry

The plot centres around Aurora, a daughter of a duke in 1895 Austria. After suffering what seems to be a sudden tragic end, she wakes up in the mystical kingdom of Lemuria. As mentioned in the intro, what starts out as simple quest to return to her home and father becomes a far more epic adventure to save this doomed land from the evil Queen of Night. It's a story that we've heard before. But what makes it so endearing is it's ability to tap into those memories of bedtime stories and classics works of fantasy. Inspired by not only Classic RPGs but classics in literature, the story while to some may seem predictable and generic does more than enough to be new and engaging to the player.

One of the unique touches of the story is in its delivery. Combined with the fantasy-jargon is a simple rhyming scheme that every character uses. In fact, it's such a part of the game's core that there's a recurring joke with a character that doesn't understand how rhymes work. I personally feel that this a nice touch and makes the dialogue more interesting than if they'd gone without. There are several people who will be turned off by this style of story-telling, but it's something we don't see very often and a pleasant change of pace from what could have been something far more blasé.

A work of art

Powered by the UbiArt Framework, Child of Light is simply stunning. Like an interactive painting, its attention to detail and design create a world full of whimsy and wonder. Because Aurora has the ability to fly; which you're grant fairly early on in the game, you're able to explore every nook and cranny of this lost kingdom. The characters too have received the same treatment, allowing them to stand out and yet still feel like they belong amongst the beautifully illustrated scenery.

Not only is the game a feast for the eyes, but it is a pleasure to listen to as well. The game's soundtrack was all composed by one artist, Coeur de Pirate, also known as Béatrice Martin. Outside of battle, the melodies are simple and hauntingly beautiful. Any complex and dramatic themes are reserved for the game's battles, which is fitting as the combat while simple is incredibly satisfying and worthy of an epic score.

Are you afraid of the dark monsters?

Take away an RPGs story and world and what you have left is the combat, the heart of any game in the genre. It's especially important as this is what you'll be spending a majority of your time doing while playing this game. Child of Light thankfully has a great battle system, however it's simplicity and lack of difficulty make the adventure at little less of challenge than it deserves.

The combat is based on systems similar to classic Final Fantasy and Grandia. Every character or monster takes a turn to perform an action, the twist being that if you attack someone while they're 'casting', they're interrupted and essentially have their turn skipped. Don't get too cocky though, the baddies can do that to you too. The battle system is a tried and true, but this is one area of nostalgia that while still a ton of fun feels more "copied" than the rest. In a world as stunning and creative as Lemuria, the variety of enemies seems lacking. Also the skill trees for the playable characters is mostly filled with stats upgrades rather than new abilities, stats which already get several upgrades from simply gaining enough experience. It's still a ton of fun and worth the constant battles, but it feels almost too child friendly.

Drift off to sleep

At around ten to twelve hours, Child of Light is the perfect length. So often I find that games I really enjoy feel far too short and leave me wanting more. With that said though, while Child of Light is one of the more memorable games I've played, it's a game that makes me glad that it doesn't overstay its welcome. Sure there are side quests and "New Game +" modes, but once you've played it to the end you can put it down and still feel you've got your money's worth. Especially now as the game is super cheap to purchase.

Who would have thought that game that you'd think would be from Square Enix or Atlus comes from Ubisoft Montreal. An homage to the classics, Child of Light is a must play for fans of old school RPGs. But I'd also recommend it for those who have shied away from games like Final Fantasy for their complexity and intensity, as they'll have just as much fun.

Hurry now and buy this game,
Lemuria is an amazing sight.
Fun battles, great stories,
Enjoy Child of Light.

Score: 9/10