There and Back Again: A Review of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Diclaimer: Normally I try to avoid spoilers as much as possible, however in the case of this review I have to bring up key plot points from both the movie and the book to explain how the film does or doesn’t work. Sincerest apologies

Although it may not seem like it, it’s been 11 years since Peter Jackson brought his first epic to a close with The Return of The King. To put it simply, it was film like no other. To this day it still holds a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 94 on Metacritic, and at the 2004 Oscars it swept all 11 categories it was nominated for; including Best Picture. In fact it’s so good that it’s done something that I wish it hadn’t done. It’s made the flaws in the Hobbit trilogy that much more apparent.

This year, the second epic trilogy by Peter Jackson concludes with The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. To say that I was excited for seeing this movie would be a gross understatement. Every time I saw a trailer I couldn’t help but lament at how far away December 17^th was.  And, with how The Desolation of Smaug was a much better movie in comparison to An Unexpected Journey, it seemed that this film was going to be even better. So when I came out of the theatre with my friends on opening night, I felt both incredibly satisfied and yet slightly disappointed. The film is great, as good as The Desolation of Smaug if not better. But as a huge fan of the book, elements of the movie’s plot and deviations from book left a slightly sour aftertaste. As an aside, I’m usually one to let differences between the book and the movie slide, even in the last two Hobbit movies. But for a reason I can’t quite explain, I couldn’t it let go. I’m going to expand on this further later in the review, but as quick abstract before I get on with it: In many ways The Battle of the Five Armies is the best way to end the hobbit trilogy, but the decisions and deviations made in the previous films come back to sully the quality of this final chapter.

Plot, Pacing, and Performances

The film encompasses the last portion of the book, which really boils down to the last few chapters. This includes the death of Smaug, the titular battle of the five armies, and well… the aftermath of the battle of the five armies. One of the issues with the entire trilogy has always been what it is trying to accomplish, expanding one book into three. While the first two movies accomplished this relatively well, the third movie feels both well paced and rushed. In that sense the film just does what it says exactly what is says on the tin. There’s a battle, people die, good guys win, Bilbo goes home, the end. If you were to watch the trilogy all in one go in a supercut, this would feel ok, but since it is a stand alone feature… it feels odd as the third part. And yet because of its flaws, this feels like the most fitting ending to the trilogy.

Despite the film’s odd pacing, the performances are superb, especially of leads Martin Freeman and Richard Armitage, who both in my opinion are reason enough to see the film. Everyone else does a great job as well, with the exception of Legolas; who doesn’t do a bad job by any means, but seems to have been reduced to “guy who does all the ludicrous action shots”. No amount “My mother died here” or “Daddy doesn’t love me enough” can really bring depth to his character. In fact there’s so much of “The Battle” that it’s Bilbos and Thorin’s interactions that feel the most real, the attempted love subplot with Tauriel and Kili while nice felt a bit contrived, especially if you’ve read the books and know what’s about to happen. Which brings me to my next points and my main issues with the film, the deviations from the book.

Differences (Major spoilers)

I should first point out that there are some differences between the book and the movie that work better, The death scenes of Kili, Fili, and Thorin being the prime example.  In the book they aren’t handled that well, especially with Thorin on his deathbed in a tent dying from his wounds. In the film it’s that much more real and heart-breaking, especially his final words with Bilbo. We feel the palpable emotion as Bilbo struggles to keep himself together as he looses a dear friend. What didn’t work was again this focus on the doomed romance between Kili and Tauriel. How a dwarf managed to woo an elf who has been alive significantly longer than he has in two days seems really stupid. Now if they had done it like a friendship a la gimili and legolas I might have felt not as annoyed, but the fact that she is so distraught by his death at the end seems incredibly unrealistic, even as I try to suspend disbelief.

The other gripe I have with the film’s use of the source material is the ending. It ends with the where we started in Bag End with the beginning of the Lord of the Rings. In the book it ends with Bilbo being visited by Balin and it’s all sunshine and rainbows. Now, this gripe really stems from how they started the first movie with essentially the film hand-holding the audience to remember that this was a prequel trilogy. However, I can’t help but think the ending felt rushed and not really a conclusion to Bilbo’s adventure, but really just  “and now on to Lord of The Rings”. Maybe if there’s an extended scene with this part of the book, We could make a supercut with the footage to suit my preferences, but alas I doubt that’s the case.

Back Again

As an end to the trilogy, this film does the best it can do given the circumstances.  It had a good, but rough start, a great middle, and an action-packed and fun finale. Deviations aside, it did a great job portraying the story of the hobbit in Peter Jackson’s vision. The trilogy itself might never hold up against it’s big brother, it’s was still really fun journey that I will still aways want to go there and back again.

Score: 8.5/10

Sayonara Uzumaki Naruto

Hey! If you haven't read the ending to Naruto or Harry Potter (yeah I'm bringing in the boy wizard into this) then you will be spoiled. So if you don't want to, do yourself a favour and stop reading.

Remember, Remember, the 10th of November. The end of the Naruto plot.

Sorry that was bit of stretch but I couldn't help myself.

Like so many manga readers of my generation, Naruto was a defining series. Sure there are other incredibly popular manga eries out there (One piece is still going strong), but Naruto was a title that introduced tons of readers to the larger world of anime and manga culture. Even though I stopped reading frequently around chapter 500, I still caught up every so often just to see what was happening, and to lament at how wacky the story was getting (even by Naruto standards). So when it was announced that Naruto was coming to an end on November 10th after 15 years of publication, I couldn't help but feel nostalgic and in strange way look forward to the ending. Partially because it was nice to see some closure, but also because I wanted to see what the last 15 years had been building up to. It was after reading the epilogue that two thoughts occured to me. The first thought that crossed my mind was: "Wow, it's really over". The second was: "Naruto is the manga equivalent of Harry Potter."

Now, what follows isn't a review of the ending, or a essay on why Naruto is ninja Harry Potter... even though he totally is. What follows is my thoughts on the series as a whole, its effect on me, the ending, AND how Naruto is ninja Harry Potter. Yes, it seems like a lot and is incredibly disorganized but bear with me.

I'm going to be Hokage someday!

I've been watching anime since I was five and reading manga since I was ten. So when I first started watching and reading Naruto when I was thirteen, I was already well-immersed in anime and manga sub-culture. But there was something about that spunky blond-haired, blue-eyed ninja and his world that had me hooked from day one. It was cool, excited, exotic, and of course fun. This was also in the days before CrunchyRoll so you had to have different means of getting your animated ninja fix. It also helped that is when I started watching things in the original Japanese, so the anime adaptation just encouraged my obsession.  I say obsession because it was a series that I religiously read when a new chapter came out and watched when there was a new episode from Japan online. To go further at my own expense, I posted on fan forums, read fan-fiction, bought character plushies, bought a missing-nin headband, even bought a copy of volume 6 in German when I went to germany because it seemed like a cool souvenir (For the record, I did buy better, more authentic, german swag as well :P).

Looking back on it now, I think I would say it was my first proper fandom. Nowadays, most fans are a part of multiple fandoms. But back then (aka 2005), most gathering spots for fans (translation: tumblr wasn't invented yet) were mostly franchise exclusive... if you wanted to support multiple things the best spot was probably a general fan fiction website. Just as a contrast, the fandoms I'm a part of now are not only far more wide-ranging, but being more mature I'm not as openly fanatical... as fanatical as a hermetic, anti-social teenager could get.

The psychological impact of fandoms aside, the point is that Naruto was that incredibly popular franchise that just kept us going. It was as I've been saying, the Harry Potter of the manga world.

You're a ninja, Naruto

So for some this might come across as a bit of stretch but with the way the series ended and certain key plot elements, you can't help but wonder what inspired Kishimoto and some of his plot desicions.

Resurrection Stone, but not really

While it's a common trope in all fiction for the dead to come back and support the hero... Naruto's constant return of dead characters in the latter half definitely had some striking parallels the last Harry Potter Book, especially concerning Naruto's Parents. Who also happen to die to protect their son, instilling him with the power to defeat the one who tried to kill him in the first place (sort of). Sound familiar? Now of course there are several stories who use this same premise for character development, but I just thought how crazy the similarities were starting to get to me.

Years Later

This section is all about the last chapter of the manga. So if you haven't read it and don't want to know what happens, you'll want to skip ahead to the next line of text with bold font.

Chapter 700 is an epilogue that takes place years after the final battle between Naruto and Sasuke. We see everything living happily ever after, Naruto is Hokage, there are kids everywhere... the future looks bright for Konoha. Funny how similar that is to the ending of Harry Potter, although that ending in my opinion leaves a lot more to be desired.

There's been a lot of divisive discussions online amongst fans about the ending. While some of these might boil down to shipping wars, others bring up more compelling arguements about whether or not this last chapter, the culmination of 15 years of publication; was ultimately rushed. I myself don't agree with that notion. Since unlike Harry's ending, we know there's a future for Naruto.

So is there a point to these comparisons? Not really, expect that it's curious to see the parallels in popular fiction and yet another reminder that another great story has come to an end.

The 'Kings' of Konoha

So while the manga is over, there's still the anime (filled with as much filler as always) and the last movie coming out next month. There's also the side stories and spin-offs coming out next year, so the future is looking bright for Naruto and his comrades. However, it still doesn't change the fact that the story and characters that so many people loved and were affected by is over. As I said before, once the story; in my opinion, took major dip in quality, I stopped reading as frequently. But in the end I could never forget the profound impact of that crazy ninja. As a reviewer of the chapter said himself, for him this was exactly like Harry Potter's ending. To paraphrase his point, "A return to where it all began, and in the end a sudden closing to a franchise that I grew up with." I couldn't agree with him more. In prep for this post, I started watching old episodes and movies from the franchise, and the nostalgia was almost overwhelming. So all I can say now is sayonara Uzumaki Naruto. It's been a great adventure, dattebayo.

A Challenger Approaches: A Review of Super Smash Brothers 3DS

When they announced that the next Smash Brothers game was going to be on both the Wii U and the 3DS, I was skeptical to say the least. While I love my 3DS, the idea of playing a game of smash on it seemed like a not very enjoyable experience. It would be underpowered, a stripped down version of what a real SSB game would be. Combined with the small screen size (even on by the XL's standards) and a control scheme that is really meant for a dedicated controller, everything just screamed to me like this was a bad idea. And yet, the fact that it would be "a smash brothers game" peaked my interest enough that I shelled out for the game in lieu of being "smashless" until the Wii U version comes out towards the end of the year. So, does this new territory work for the franchise? Or is this an experiment that isn't worth repeating. Well, in a nut shell it is a great entry into the beloved franchise, but you can't help but wonder if tying it with it's inevitably more powerful console brother is doing it a diservice to its potential.

Free For All!

If you've never played a Super Smash Brothers game before, shame on you because they're all fantastic titles. All you need to know is that each entry is a crossover fighting game staring an all star line up of Nintendo's biggest characters. Each match is either timed to see who can knockout of the arena the most players, or each fighter has limited number of lives and one must be the last man (or woman, turtle, robot, Pikachu, blob, etc) standing. The beauty comes in the different stages and characters you can play. While the controls are always much simpler than the other fighting games of the genre, it's simplicity and nostalgia are what make it so wonderful to play. The 3DS version is no different.

In addition to the smash matches, classic mode, and all-star mode that have become series staples, there are new unique modes to the 3DS version such as a mode very reminiscent of City Trial in Kirby's Air Ride for the gamecube. In fact, the game is definitely a Sakurai (the game's director) game as both Kirby's Air Ride and Kid Icarus: Uprising have strong influences on the game's style and gameplay modes. While that isn't a bad thing, it makes me miss the original and melee for their distinct "Smash Brothers" flair.

However the game is still a ton of fun to play and what you expect of a Smash title.

Choose Your Character

Possibly the most exciting prospect of a new smash brothers title is the roster of playable characters. In fact they capitalized on this excitement in the build up to the game's release, making each "newcomer" as new fighters are referred to in the franchise a star of an epic announcement trailer, showing off the characters unique talents. Compared the the last instalment Brawl, the lineup is not only massive, the number of interesting and unique ways to play is the best part of the whole game. In addition, a mechanic of certain characters being able to transform has been removed with these characters being themselves split into separate characters. This was, in my opinion; a great decision and allows for great expansion of characters which relied certain conditions or mechanics. While there are still too many "clones" or characters that are basically palette swaps (much better than brawl), it's still a great and diverse line up.

No Contest

Now based on the title for this section the review, you think that they've omitted something crucial thing in order to get the game onto the 3DS. That isn't entirely true. It's true that an Adventure or Story mode which has been around since Melee is missing from the game, however that doesn't irk me as it is both both a disappointment and a feature that I don't miss terribly. The issue comes from the fact that there's something in the feel of this game that seems off in comparison to the previous instalments. As I mentioned before the game feels like Kirby's Air Ride meets Kid Icarus meets Smash Brothers, which means in many ways it doesn't 100% feel like smash. I also think that because the two versions of the game are meant to be "interchangeable" to an extent, the Wii U version is going to feel not as robust as a major console version should have.

Now before you all go complaining about how I'm saying the game isn't as good simply because of my "feelings", the issues that you may or not have heard about regarding the control scheme are definitely true. There are times when a dinky control "circle" just don't work. Also while no one may admit it, in an attempt to keep both versions the same, there's definitely cuts that will annoy some hardcore fans.

This Game's Winner Is...

While this a great foray into the world of portable smash brothers, it's definitely not perfect. It's still a great game an a tone of fun, but I know that really all I'm doing is tiding myself over with a roster preview of what the Wii U version will have. Hopefully the Wii U will have some great distinct features that will make it the true successor the franchise needs. Otherwise it will be a great yet slightly unsatisfying free for all.

Score: 8/10

Toronto International Film Festival 2014: First Time For Everything

This year's Toronto International Film Festival was special for numerous reasons. It was the first year that they closed a portion of king street for a street festival that celebrated... well, the festival. It was a year when there were so many big premieres that they couldn't stay contained to the first few days of the festival. But more importantly, it was this year that I actually got to go to TIFF.

I've been wanting to go for years. Hell, I've wanted to go since I first heard about the festival when I was 12. But for one reason or another (not living in Toronto, not having time to go, not having money, being surrounded by sharks) I haven't had the opportunity to go to any TIFF screenings. However, this would not be another year that I would simply stand by and watch films at their major release. I could finally go see films, see famous people, be a part of TIFF. But I couldn't jump right in a get a package to commit to a bunch of random films, I have a job and other commitments. So I bought two single tickets to see Before We Go, and Kingdom of Dreams and Madness, and thought that this was an ok introduction to the festival... and maybe next year I'd have a better sense of my schedule.

Fast forward to September 6th and I'm getting up at 6am to go stand in the rush line for an hour and a half to get tickets for The Tale of Princess Kaguya. When I tell people this portion of my festival experience they either look at me like I'm crazy, or they're impressed by my "dedication". While it doesn't really compare with people who take time off to see 26 movies over the course of the festival, there was something so exciting and satisfying about getting up that early to see a movie that I couldn't wait to do it again. Even getting tickets to see The Imitation Game at an extra screening with hundreds of other people was wonderful. The line was around the block and nearly did a lap of it. But again, totally worth.

While not all the films I saw were masterpieces, they were all very good. But what I take away from my time at TIFF 2014 isn't the movies, but the act of going to see these movie. Maybe next year I'll become a member and see even more movies. Maybe I'll even take time off so I can spend days enjoying an art form that I love. Here's hoping that TIFF 2015 will be even better, because my first taste has left me wanting more.

Top 5 Movies of Summer 2014

Disclaimer: As always, the order and contents of this list is purely subjective and open for debate

Another summer has come and gone, once again filled with generic summer block-busters and forgettable action flicks. But there have also been several brilliant films that are among the best of the year, one them even being hailed as one of the best films of the last decade. It's easy to be overwhelmed by the mediocrity and forget what truly great movies are out there. Here are my top 5 films of this summer, all of which would have been great regardless of their release season.

5. Chef

Jon Favreau's little indie gem comes in at number five. This comedy is a nice change of pace from a season dominated by explosions, depression, and more explosions. Jon Favreau's role as a chef going through a crisis-of-faith; or rather crisis-of-occupation, isn't a ground-breaking role by any means. But the writing and story are fresh and funny enough to keep the audience entertained for the length of the film. For some reason I can't help but draw parallels to Jon Favreau's earlier work "Swingers" (a favourite of mine), but thats not a bad comparison by any means. Definitely worth checking out.

4. Snowpiercer

A Korean film with an international cast that didn't get the attention that it deserved, this film is worth seeing for both the story and the performances. Its post apocalyptic world is interesting and engaging to the viewer, while every character is full of life and wonderful to watch. The best part is that nothing is as it seems, and part of the fun is figuring out the story bit by bit. Chances are you're already able to see this film outside of theatres due to its limited north-american release. So if you like post-apocalyptic sci-fi, this is the movie for you.

3. How To Train Your Dragon 2

The sequel to DreamWorks Animation's most successful animated feature, HTTYD2 risks suffering sequelitis that so many films suffer from. But it takes the characters from the first film and expands them and allows them to evolve, keeping the story fresh and allowing for the world to mature rather than stick to the same old formula. While in some ways it isn't as good as it's big brother, it's still an amazing movie. You can read my original review here for more details.

2. Guardians Of The Galaxy

When Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man himself; says that Guardians of The Galaxy is best movie that Marvel has released, you know that the film has to be special. It's already broken the record for most successful film of 2014 and is still drawing people to the theatres. There's so many fantastic things about this movie, from its story and characters, to the amazing performances and soundtrack. You can read my original review here for more details. While part of me wanted to give Guardians the number one spot, there's another movie that deserves that much more.

1. Boyhood

If you've been reading my blog, then you know that Boyhood is a masterpiece. Really that's all I want to or can say about it. You can read my review for more details. But, if you can go out and see this film you should stop reading and go and see it now.

Summer 2014 had some truly amazing movies. If you haven't seen all of the movies on this list, then you know what you need to go and see next.

Poor Judgement Call #1: Buying Songs on Impluse

Imagine this scenario. You're listening to music at a party, maybe you've had a couple too many drinks and you think to yourself "Hey, whatever song is playing right now is THE BEST SONG EVER!" So then you proceed to Shazam the song, fail, and then either find the source of the music to try again or ask blindly to your fellow party goers "Hey, you have any idea what song this is? Because it's brilliant" (How sloppy you sound is up to your imagination.) If you're lucky you find out what this tune of the gods is, you decide to download it or buy it when you get home.

But once you've gotten the song and you've played it ad nauseam, you begin to realize that this song that you've bought/stolen is absolutely terrible. And it's not always a song that you're tired of and will like again a couple months from now, it's absolute crap. Now if you've been a pirate and managed to get this song for free then no harm done, but if you're like me and have shelled out the 99 cents or $1.29 on iTunes for the track, then you've realized you've made a pretty poor investment. Sure it seems trivial and cheap at the time, but it can really add up.

Now this just doesn't apply to drunk iTunes purchases (never thought you'd read that in the same sentence, did ya?). If you listen to Songza at work or the gym and decide a track is worth having in your library, but then you play it too much to really enjoy it, you can end feeling the same nagging regret. It's not the guilty pleasure that you sometimes have with certain songs, it's just guilt. If you don't do this then congratulations, you're not making terrible life decisions like I am. But it's something that despite telling "Future James" not to do, he manages to download an entire album of heavy metal or synthpop that really was good that one time. Stupid Future James.

Will I ever stop buying songs on impulse? Probably not.

Now have some of The National, because that's a band that's always good. 

Hooked On A Feeling: A Review of Guardians Of The Galaxy

When the Guardians Of The Galaxy movie was announced immediately after the success of the first Avengers movie (Pretty sure it was Comic-con 2012), I was skeptical to say the least. While Rocket Racoon is one of my favourite characters in the history of comics, creating a movie about a fairly unknown team of superheroes felt like a desperate ploy. Marvel, it seemed to me; was trying and get as much money as possible, at the expense of quality. It seems strange saying that a comic-book movie has become fine film, and yet Marvel over the last 6 years has created some pretty great movies, with The Avengers and Captain America: The Winter Solider standing out. Now while it's true that Marvel studios is of course making movies which are expected to rake in millions if not billions of dollars, just attach your name to a project doesn't make it a good movie to watch. Just look at the superhero movies from 2000-2007, most were terrible. So when that first trailer came out for Guardians, I felt bad for ever doubting Marvel Studios. After watching this fantastic movie, that feels even more the case.

Set Amongst The Stars

 The story of Guardians Of The Galaxy shifts the story away from stupid earth to the other side of the, well, galaxy. We follow Peter Quill (aka Star Lord) who after being abducted from earth as a kid, has grown up to become an outlaw treasure hunting across the stars. He inadvertently stumbles upon the plot of  the evil Ronan and ends up meeting the rest of his soon to be motley crew of anti-heroes. Gamora the assassain, Drax the destroyer, Rocket Racoon (a genetically modified talking racoon), and Groot (A sentient Tree, think the Ents from Lord of The Rings but on a smaller scale). Once they get together, the chaos ensues. The audience is taken for both an action packed and truly hilarious ride.

Now you'd think with all these new characters being shown to many people for the first time that they'd have to go through a ton of exposition to get everyone up to speed. But the beauty of the film's writing is that no one character particularly dominates, all of them have back stories that are fed to us in nice bits rather than massive chunks at any one time. They're all broken, angry, and tired of being alone. Though the way I've described it makes it sound the breakfast club of Marvel movies, its refreshing to have an origin story for a team that doesn't involve good people, they're all wonderfully, and sometimes seriously; flawed.

A Barrel Of Laughs (and Bullets)

As I mentioned previously this movie is funny. In fact funny doesn't really do it justice, because despite the films dramatic and action-filled moments there are tons of great jokes and lines. While none of the jokes are particularly original, the timing and use of them in this space opera keep you laughing through out the movie. In fact I'd recommend the movie first for it's comedy, then its action, then the drama. Because once the laughs are over, you're treated to a beautiful display of combat and gun fights. At times there can seem to be a lot on screen, but the fighting is tight and clever, each "Guardian" is skilled at what they do and it shows, much to our delight. Now, while there are serious moments in the movie, they're tinged with the films bright optimism. Now matter how bad things get, you know that in the end they're going to be ok. For some that might be a bit boring. But when so many movies, especially now with comic book movies; are bleak and gritty, it's nice to see something simple and wholesome. The kind of wholesome that involves spaceships, swearing racoons, and lots of explosions.

Awesome Mix Vol 1

Peter's walkman, his sole possession from his time on earth; is both a fantastic plot device and the catalyst for a fantastic soundtrack. Now, it's not like this mixtape by his mother is the best hits of the 70s and 80s, some of the tracks are wonderfully bad. And yet once you watch this movie and how each track is used, you can't get enough of them. In fact each scene that uses a particular track either uses it in an expected way, playing Escape (The Pina Colada Song) when, well, escaping... or sometimes in ways that are poignant and emotionally powerful. A mixtape with a lot of soul, no pun intended. This soundtrack blends in beautifully with the stunning world that James Gunn has helped bring alive. Combined with the stellar (again no pun intended) performances by everyone in the cast, you'll want to see more.

In Conclusion

In case it was already evident, Guardians of the Galaxy is a fantastic movie that you need to see immediately. There is something for everyone. In a strange way it feels like familiar and nostalgic, and yet is brand new and different for Marvel.  As there's already been an announcement of a sequel, it will be good to see more of the Guardians of the Galaxy. While I worry that the Avengers may get over-crowded back on earth, I don't have that fear when it comes to Star Lord and his friends. Perhaps that's because when it comes down to it Guardians of that Galaxy has one thing that most summer blockbusters don't have, heart.

Verdict: 10/10

Grow Up Mason: A Review of Boyhood

Growing up is something we can all relate to. Regardless of socio-economic backgrounds, interests, and friends, most of us experience the same core events that we all go through. Even as adults when we listen to children about their lives, we through memory, experience, and nostalgia can place ourselves in their shoes and remember what it was like when we were that age. But, we often don't notice how much we change year after year. When we look back on our own lives we're shocked at how much we've changed, but don't always notice it as we're growing. This very transition of childhood to adulthood is the core of Boyhood's premise, but it's the "realtime" maturation of the cast on top of a classic story that makes this one of, if not the best film of the year so far. In fact, it might be one of the greatest films ever made.

The film follows Mason as he grows from a little boy at the age of 6 to a young adult at 18. We see all the key formative life experiences and relationships of his life, but rather than have different actors play him at different stage in his life, it's the same child actor playing him literally for 12 years.

Probably the the biggest draw of the film is the fact that shooting took place over 12 years, from 2002 to 2013. Now while this technique has been done before on other projects, it has never been on this scale. The use of the same cast over the 12 year period makes the coming-of-age story that much more powerful. Everyone ages, not just the kids but the adults too. In fact while watching the film when you seriously think about the time difference between certain scenes it's mind-blowing. For example (and being vague for the sake of not giving any spoilers), there's a scene where a minor character shows up near the end of the movie last seen about three years prior. Generally, a movie would have merely shot this scene later... possibly with a subtitle saying "3 years later" to indicate the time difference. But because Boyhood isn't like any other movie, when it actually sinks in that a scene was literally shot 3 years ago and you just saw three years within the span of 30 mins, it's an amazing experience that is in many ways indescribable. We see a life that is both sped up and yet feels completely natural. You always know where the characters are in time by the subtleties in the characters and dialogue.

Mason (Coltrane) and Samantha (Linklater)

This perfect flow is a testament to possibly the best editing I've ever seen. Now there are plenty of movies that can be praised of their editing and technical direction. But considering the scope of this project and how seamless it seems, everyone involved in this movie deserves a standing ovation. But not only that,  the cast is perfect. Part of the reason why this story works so well is that everyone involved gives 110% and is believable. Props go to the children, Ellar Coltrane and Lorelei Linklater; for giving fantastic performances and pretty much letting us watch them age on screen. 

Another aspect of what makes this film so relatable apart from it's classic premise is its cultural timing. During the span of 2002 to 2013, we have the advent of social media, the surge of the digital age, and the 2008 presidential election which makes for a fantastic scene part way through the movie. When you once again realize that these scenes were shot at the year that these events were happening, it somehow makes Richard Linklater seem even more of a visionary. This magic is what will make the movie appealing for everyone but will definitely resonate with individuals of my generation, or rather those who were around the same age that Mason was during each year.

I've always wondered what it would be like to see film history on screen as it happens, such as seeing Casablanca back in 1942 or Godfather in 1972. While there have been many fantastic films in the last 14 years, there hasn't been anything that I think can be elevated to that level of cinematic landmark. However, I believe that I have experienced, along with everyone else who has seen this movie; another milestone in film. Boyhood is an incredible film and I hope a classic for years to come.

Verdict 10/10

A Weird Week in Tomodachi Life: A Review

Back in April when Tomodachi Life was announced to world back in April, I reacted the same way most people did, what the hell is this game. What feels like Animal Crossing thrown in a blender with Warioware and Mii Maker, Tomodachi Life is simulation and social game tinged with the surreal. In fact, it's so random and strange that how I just described is the only way to condense it in a sentence. In fact while I managed to go through most of the games features, I'm still finding surprises that make roll on the floor with laughter. That reason along with several other factor make Tomodachi an essential in anyone's 3DS library.

I'm hungry

At face value it's pretty easy to understand Tomodachi Life. You can either create Mii's from scratch or Import Mii's from your own 3DS. But beyond the traditional mii Maker features, you give these mii's a vocaloid voice and personality based on 5 criteria. These small touches allow your multiple miis to run amok on your own island. Unlike the Sims and more like it's furry cousin animal crossing, the game plays in real time and miss are self-sufficient, they'll ask you solve they're problems (mostly boils down to you buying them stuff). It's a stress-free game and unlike Animal Crossing where time is a factor for certain tasks, the goals of this game are self-defined. This makes for a nice relaxing experience. Now the voices aren't perfect, in fact they're absolutely terrible. But that terrible quality actually makes the charms and oddities of Tomodachi Life that much more fun to play, like enjoying a hilariously bad movie.

By the power of Tiramisu

No, this review doesn't have a food theme. This is a reference to a 'dream', yes your miis dream now; that one of my Mii's had, where he turned into a superhero using tiramisu (in a transformation sequence as well :P). Tomodachi's quirky and random sense of humour vaguely reminds me of Invader Zim and the Gaia days. Being random for the sake of being random if you will. We're all mad here, and trying to find all the jokes is part of the fun. And I'm still being surprised, that's just how much there is.

Same old, Same old

But despite that random moments that keep things interesting, everything else can get routine very quickly. You get the same problems to solve every day, almost always easy to solve. It's not a game-killer, but it certainly takes away from the fun. The again, it can be compared to a certain similarly named simulation from the 90s that really didn't have much to do... and that one was significantly more stressful.

Conclusion

I'll definitely playing this game for another month, perhaps even on and off again all year. Is it 3DS game of the year? Not by any stretch of the imagination, but it's definitely a must buy for any 3DS owner.

Verdict 8.5/10

A Repeat Performance: How to Train Your Dragon 2 Review

In 2010, DreamWorks released How to Train Your Dragon. I didn't see it when it first came out, in fact I didn't see it for about 2 years. To provide some context as to why I didn't see it at the time, the film came out with a slew of other 3D movies that seemed to be following the new benchmark in 3D movies, Avatar. Now while I still think that 3D is a gimmick and merely a way for studios to make more money, I lament that I didn't see this movie when it was first released. Because while many of DreamWorks' animated films are forgettable and generic childish features, How to Train Your Dragon has become considered by many to be one of greatest animated films of all time. While it differs significantly from it's inspiration, It's setting, characters and beautiful animation have made it a favourite for all ages. Even the cartoon series spin-off uses many of the original cast to expand the universe further without becoming too kiddie for old viewers. But is this franchise Dreamwork's Toy Story? How to Train Your Dragon 2 has arrived to eagerly awaiting fans, and with a more mature storyline and even more stunning animation, it is a sequel that is just as good, if not better; than it's older brother.

Five Years Later

HTTYD2 takes place five years after the events of the original film. Hiccup, Astrid, Fishlegs, Snotlout, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut are all now young adults and seasoned dragon trainers. What made the last film so great was the wonderful characters that made the world come alive. All the performances of characters new and old are a real treat to watch. When it comes to the six dragon trainers it's especially evident. While they all maintain they're wonderful personalities, they've clearly grown and matured allowing for great dynamics between them and their dragons. But it's not just the characters that have become more mature, the world and the story have grown as well. Combined with the laughs is a more mature storyline that will definitely tug at your heart strings. What I love the most about the movie's writing is that there's no predicting where things are headed. Sure you have some idea, but DreamWorks is continuing to prove that just because it's a kids movie doesn't mean everything is sunshine and rainbows.

Beyond Berk

Because the vikings of Berk are now at peace with their former enemies the dragons, It's gone beyond the familiar island village that we've grown to love. While the islands that surround Berk are as unknown to us as they are to most of our main cast, it's clear that we're going to be treated to a vibrant and vast world of dragons. One of the downsides to the movie is that it tries almost too hard to cram everything. And yet despite this, I still want more, maybe because the movie was almost all about Hiccup and him finding himself. Maybe a little bit more from the supporting cast would nice, in many ways they're interactions as a team with hiccup are infinitely more enjoyable to watch.

Beautiful Creatures

I think what I take away from this movie the most though is how amazing the animation is. While everything does have a cartoonish aesthetic (as it should), the details and lighting truly make everything come alive. The dragons scales look real, hell even the hair of the heroes depending on lighting looks uncanny. By far this is the most beautifully rendered animated film I have seen in a long time, if not ever. I liken it to the amazing pre-rendered cutscenes of Square Enix and blizzard, based in fantasy but rendered/animated in such detail that it looks almost real. I can't wait to see what levels they can take it.

A fantastic follow-up flick, HTTYD2 shows that DreamWorks is able to take this franchise is new directions without resting on its laurels. Is it better than the first film? Not entirely. But only because the first film was simply that close to perfection for an animated movie. But is it as good? Absolutely. Go see this movie.

Verdict 10/10

We All Become One: Transistor Review

It's been three years since Bastion was released. It not only changed the way we look at indie games, it made Supergiant Games a household name in an industry dominated by multimillion dollar publishers and studios. Everything about Bastion was so meticulously well-done, from the gameplay and enigmatic story, to the wondrous art and music; not to mention the dulcet tones of Logan Cunningham. A testament to games as art and the ability of independent developers, Bastion serves a standard that all of Supergiant's future games will be judged by.

Which as it stands is Transistor's greatest problem, It's the follow up act of a fantastic opening number. But like it's big brother, Red's adventure in Cloudbank is an equally stellar performance.

Hello World

When you first load up Transistor, you aren't given a prologue, you aren't even given a start screen, you're thrown right into the world Cloudbank in it's final moments as the Process, the enemies of the game; start to turn the thriving metropolis from alive and colourful to sterile and monochrome. You play as the singer Red, who after being attacked by the Process and the Camarata, the administrators of Cloudbank; has had her voice taken from her. You wield the transistor, a digital great sword that not only gives Red the ability to fight the Process, but also serves as the games narrator (again by Logan Cunningham) as it contains the Trace (essentially the soul) of someone close to Red, but isn't initially apparent who.

In fact, apart from the exposition from your speaking sword and some lines spoken by other characters towards the end, Almost all of the big pieces of the story aren't given to the player, but only told as the player explores and experiments. While some might find this as a confusing and poor narrative, I personally enjoy figuring out what's going on from virtually nothing. It's dark, mysterious, and you know that nothing is as it seems. Transistor doesn't want to tell you a story, it wants you make sense of all the data and build the big picture yourself. There will always be some pieces missing though, no matter how much you explore. This is slightly disappointing, but hardly enough to spoil the atmosphere.

Wait your Turn()

Similar to Bastion's gameplay, controlling Red is viewed from an angled fixed camera as she travels through Cloudbank's various alleys and streets fighting the various monsters who oppose her. The very first battle introduces the game as a action RPG a la Diablo, but immediately you're introduced to the game's twist, the Turn() system. This allows Red to execute a sequence of moves and actions planned in advance and then executed as time is stopped for your enemies. It's a refreshing take on turn based RPGs and allows for varied and creative gameplay. As you collect more abilities through additional traces, the ability to customize your skill set is simple, yet incredibly robust and satisfying. Using abilities as either offensive, upgrades, or passive abilities allows for a lot of flexibility, even if some abilities really only have a specific use. You also get access to a practice area and bonus levels called tests to truly become versed in the different powers you have and what best suits your play style.

But just because you're given a lot of power at your disposal, doesn't mean that your enemies are chumps. They evolve as you progress and the battles become more like puzzles than combat, with the player relying on careful strategy that can make or break a battle, especially towards the end. Even the game's unique way of punishing a player or the ability to make your enemies harder on purpose for more experience allows the player to truly tailor the game to their liking, making Transistor one of the best RPGs in a long time, and we've had some crazy good RPGs this year.

Artificial Art

It goes without saying that Transistor is beautiful to look at, but what makes the world truly come alive is the seamless integration of cyberpunk with a modern urban atmosphere. The world and characters are beautifully detailed, as is to be expected of Supergiant Games' Jen Zee. But because of its blend of the organic and inorganic, Transistor's world is that much more beautiful and real, which in turn makes it even more sad to watch as it is processed by... well, the Process. Words really can't do the art of this game justice.

Hum Along

As Red is a singer, you'd think that music would play an important role in Transistor. It certainly does, but not in an obvious way (as is expected). There isn't any specific gameplay mechanic involving singing or music, but the beautifully composed score and the subtle nuances of both the game's soundtrack and sound effects make Transistor a truly complete experience. An amazing detail that I can never get enough of is that when you switch from realtime combat to the planning mode of Turn(), the music switches to a hummed version of whatever is playing... hummed by Red herself. We understand this is her planning, the thoughts in her head if you will. That little touch is such a nice feature I just want to take an extra turn just to hear that lovely hummed melody.

Sign Out

There are going to be a lot of you who aren't going to like Transistor as much as I did, especially when in many ways it isn't as good as it's older sibling. The game is rushed in places and feels over all too soon, even for only 20 bucks. But I think that's what makes this experience such a wonderful one. It's short and sweet, better to be over too soon than drag on too long. But more importantly, it's game that once again pushes the limits of what games can be. I can't wait to see what Supergiant comes out with next, and I'm hoping it's a hat trick and just as amazing as the last two games have been.

Rating 9.5/10

Action Quickie Review Double Feature: Godzilla and The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Disclaimer: I've got a backlog of things I want review/blog about, but real life got in the way and prevented that from happening. Hopefully things will be a bit more settled now and I can do some catching up. I'll start with something more current to get the ball rolling

After months of ice and snow (and a non existent spring), summer has arrived and with that comes heat waves, thunderstorms, ice cream, and summer blockbusters. This month, two of the year's most anticipated movies; Godzilla and The Amazing Spider-Man 2, open in theatres to fans worldwide. Both once again bringing beloved characters (and in Godzilla's case monsters) to the big screen. But the real question is, are they worth your money? While I'll be going into a bit more detail in each of the film's review; to sum it up beforehand, both are a good way to kill a couple hours, but aren't must see films by any means.

The Amazing Spiderman 2

When I saw the first Amazing Spider-Man with Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, I not only loved the performances and chemistry between the characters, I was excited about the potential that the spiderman movies now had. But as they revealed more and more details about the latest spiderman flick, that excitement began to turn to apprehension as the small liberties that Sony and Marc Webb had taken with the last film  turn into a narrative that I didn't think I was going to like. 

I finally saw the movie and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, but the same amazing performances by Emma Stone, Andrew Garfield, and Sally Field couldn't carry the movie with it's poor pacing, plot, and questionable future. Sure OSCORP has always been a sinister corporation, but to make them responsible for EVERY villain in the Spiderman universe is just sloppy writing and doesn't make as excited for the third movie. Maybe third time's a charm, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

Verdict: 5.5/10

Godzilla

Based on the positive reception that Pacific Rim got last year, This year's Godzilla seems to further set the trend of bringing back the "Kaiju" movies of yore. But in a way, all the great teases that we had of the famous giant lizard prior to its release built up a little too much hype. The titular monster has an important role to play in the movie, and yet he seems to be just sort of there... like the elephant in the room, if that elephant was scaled, breaths fire and fights other monsters.

The action sequences are wonderfully shot, building the epic scale required for this kind of movie. However the performances leave much to be desired. They aren't awful, just not inspiring (which on a side note doesn't fill me with much confidence for Avengers 2, as both Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen are playing big parts in it, but that's a subject for a different post). In fact my favourite characters are the scientists who just stand there saying "that's impossible" and "could it be?" (trailing off forcing more suspense).

Unlike Spider-Man though, I'm eager to see if there is a future for the King of Monsters.

Verdict: 7.5/10

Short & Sweet: Oscar 2014 Nominated Short Reviews (Live Action & Animated)

In a world where most media is consumed in bite sized chunks, the relevance of short films has actually become more relevant as methods of media consumption have expanded over the decade to include Youtube videos and Vines. But still tried and true are those short films released to theatres, television and film festivals around the world every year. These are the films that every year get selected by the Academy to contend for the year's Oscar for Short Film. Whether it be a live action short or an animated piece, these gems allow for almost any creative individual with an idea and the drive to make something truly spectacular. It is often the starting point for many fresh-faced (metaphorically speaking) film makers who wants to get their vision out there without the bureaucracy and slog of the mainstream film industry.

What follows are short (like their subjects) reviews of each of the contenders in both categories of short film academy awards. Some probably need more time to do them justice. But with all them being winners in their own right, you can't focus on just one. I will be giving my pick for which film I think should win, but if only because the Academy will probably disagree with me.

Live Action

Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn't Me)

Conveying the true horrors of being a child solider and the life they lead, this spanish short is intense, powerful and heart-breaking. Performances by everyone are incredible and real, presenting the issues currently facing many countries in Africa in a moving and thought-provoking manner.

Avant Que De Tout Perde (Just Before Losing Everything)

A slice of life that for some is all too real, this french film follows a family trying to escape the abusive clutches of the father in their family unit. It's wonderfully acted and subtly shot with the story left to the viewer to piece together as the parts come to us. It becomes especially good towards the end when the tension rises further as the father; unaware of his family's plan of disappearing for a while, shows up durig their planning their exodus.

Helium

The story of a hospital janitor telling a story about the heaven like world of "Helium" to a young dying cancer patient, this inspiring story is somber but not depressing as the peace that the story brings to Alfred the young boy is bittersweet and beautiful.

Pitääkö Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have To Take Care Of Everything?)

A fantastic finnish flick about a family trying to get ready for a friend's wedding, this laugh a minute short makes you want more as everything that could go wrong goes wrong for this family. Even the ending of this seven minute short had me laughing my head off. A wonderfully sweet piece.

The Voorman Problem

The only short I knew about before going into the theatre to see all the shorts, Martin Freeman stars as a prison psychiatrist trying to diagnose the patient Mr. Voorman, who claims to be God. The skeptical doctor is soon faced with a series of mind boggling events and humourously tackles some big questions about the universe. Great performances by all the actors.

Oscar Pick: Pitääkö Mun Kaikki Hoitaa?

While I came to see all of the films and finally see The Voorman Problem, it was Pitääkö Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? that I enjoyed the most and was the most satisfied by. Avant Que De Tout Perde and Aquel Era No You came a very close second as the plot and cinematography of both films were incredible. While I enjoyed the The Voorman Problem, I thought it was a bit short for something that could have explored all kinds of entertaining possibilities. Helium was great short film, but not particularly amazing.



Animated

Feral

The story of a boy raised by wolfs trying to re-enter society, Feral is a stunning piece that explores some questions about how society handles those who are different. The art is what really stands out, especially if you're a fan of stark contrasts and monochrome.

Get a Horse!

Disney's submission in this year's awards, it is both a love letter to the beginnings of Mickey Mouse and a clash of old meets new. The ideas while not exactly the most original (as Day & Night by Pixar does a similar story), the plot and concept is unique enough that this adventure is a feast for the eyes and a lot of fun to watch.

Mr. Hublot

Set in a world where everything is mechanical and industrial, Mr. Hublot is about a mechanical man; who's routines are basically OCD, meeting a very lively and routine-free mechanical dog and how his life gets impacted by this new part of his life. A heart-warming and beautifully animated tale, this short is clever in it's use of an incredibly detailed setting and wonderfully developed characters.

Possessions

In Japanese mythology, there are objects that trick people to steal their souls. Unfortunately while the name of said demonic tools escapes me, the possessed possessions (sorry couldn't resist) make this anime inspired short endearing and a pleasure to watch. If you're familiar with the amazing anime short film Kakurenbo (done by the same director Shuhei Morita), then you're going to enjoy this one as well, as it has the same style with wonderful cel-shaded CG and beautiful hand-drawn backdrops.

Room on the Broom

Based on the children's book of the same name, this charming short film is about a witches journey with her cat and the new animal friends she makes along the way (that's really simplifying the plot but the reviews meant to be short). Following the Gruffalo and Gruffalo's Child short films that the BBC and ZDF have been doing for the last few years around Christmas, this family friendly film is beautifully animated and has plenty of funny nuances for everyone to enjoy.

Oscar Pick: Mr. Hublot

Animation is something I hold very dear to my heart, so picking one is very, very difficult. but ultimately Mr. Hublot takes the cake with a fantastic and clever story and a detailed and beautiful setting. Possessions comes in at a close second. Room on the Broom while a lot of fun to watch and a great short overall is bit too childish, and like the short films before it, a tad repetitive. Get a Horse! while fun and clever isn't all that original and Feral while beautiful isn't all that interesting.

All these films are worth watching if you get the chance, and be sure to watch the Oscars on February 23rd, 2014 to find out if the Academy even remotely agrees with me.

Don't be Square : A Review of Inside Llewyn Davis

Folk music wasn't always something I loved. Back in my early high school days I would have said that it was boring and wondered when on earth I could listen to some power metal to keep myself entertained. I didn't hate it like I did rap or country (I still don't like those genres, don't think I ever will), but when you're young and incredibly stupid like I probably was, you don't know any better. That of course changed a few years later as my musical tastes matured and became incredibly eclectic with my growing love of the indie music scene, and now Folk is one of my favourite genres. 

The reason why I talk about not liking Folk music is that if I had kept this opinion back in 1961, the year that Inside Llewyn Davis takes place, I wouldn't be alone and I would be part of the problem causing the anguish that Llewyn goes through in the film. What the Coen brothers have created isn't a wonderful story about an underdog overcoming adversity and becoming the next Bob Dylan, this is the journey of yet another artist who quite frankly isn't good enough to make it big. Sure the songs that Llewyn sings in movie are heart-felt and beautiful, but he should trying to make ends meet rather than be the stereotypical starving artist too proud to admit that he has basically hit rock bottom. 

All we see is a chronology and references to all the poor life decisions Llewyn has made, and his continued pride preventing him from either making the right decisions or moving on with his life. It's incredibly evident when we see Llewyn have an angry outburst when he is asked to sing a song for fun rather than get paid for it. The outburst starts when one of his host's sings his former folk duet partner's part; whom we learn committed suicide before the events of the movie. but considering his own love of music is starting to kill him on the inside despite his insistence that we should live in the moment and "not be square", we see that his pride is what is actually exhausting him both physically and emotionally.

The performances in Inside Llewyn Davis are phenomenal, with Oscar Isaac as the cynical and sullen Llewyn Davis and other big names playing the movie's motley crew of characters, all of whom are well cast and make the movie entertaining to watch and all are foil to Llewyn's melancholy. But the movie's focus is Llewyn, and I felt that despite everyone's amazing performances, they really didn't matter to Llewyn's incredibly sad life, or in the words of Carey Mulligan's character Jean someone who turns everything to shit.

It also goes without saying that the music in this movie is wonderful. In the theatre, I heard someone commenting that while they didn't like the movie itself (fun fact, this was before it started so why they were seeing it again I'm not quite sure), the soundtrack was worth listening to. In addition to the amazing performances by the actors of the movie, the musical performances are fantastic. In fact, I was presently surprised that Carey Mulligan can not only sing; she has a fantastic voice for folk songs (you chose well Marcus Mumford).

While the Coen brothers have done a great job making an incredibly smart, darkly comic and downright depressing movie, I can't help but feel a bit odd about what I'm to take away from it. As I mentioned earlier this movie doesn't have a happy ending, but it doesn't have a sad one either per say. I can't help but feel Jean  was right in that people like Llewyn never think about the future, and perhaps that is why so many artists fall into the stereotype of suffering for their art. And yet I don't know if this is what the Coens were ultimately trying to get across, or just a side effect of it. The conclusion of the movie doesn't bring much resolution and we don't know what would happen beyond the week that we witness. For Llewyn Davis, it ends as it started; playing folk songs and trying not to be square.

Verdict: 9/10