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

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.

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

Lego, Growing Up, and a lot of RPGs: A Review of 2014

If you spent a lot of time watching the news this year, then you might be like me in thinking that 2014 was a pretty awful year. With Ebola rife in western Africa, rebels in eastern Ukraine, the rise of Islamic State, and some incredibly tragic incidents involving planes and ferries, 2014 will probably go down in the history books as quite frankly one of the worst years in the history of everything. Everything, except pop culture. Despite the world being a terribly bleak place to live right now going into 2015, the ways to escape our dreary reality this year were quite spectacular. Some of the most refreshing video games to come out in a long time came out this year. And if you were a film buff, you were treated to some truly awesome movies. To make it more fun, I managed to capture some of it along the way with this blog which is now a year old... for those you who care about that sort of thing. In the same vein as the first post on this blog; which was also a year in review post, I will be highlighting what I believe to be the best of this year in some slightly unconventional categories. If you have no idea what that might entail, you can read the previously mentioned post here.

Best Picture

Winner: Boyhood

Ok, so maybe we're starting with something a little more conventional this year. But as I said in my review of this masterpiece, it's a fantastic film and I cannot sing its praises enough. Watching Boyhood was an amazing experience (getting to participate in a QA with Ellar Coltrane after watching was the cherry on top :) ), and like I alluded to in my review, I imagine that this is what it's like to understand that you're watching history being made. A film that has a perfect score on Metacritic (which is rare), I truly hope that in the upcoming award season it gets the accolades it deserves. I have to also point out that this film has been placed first on several high profile (read: far more legit) film critics lists for top films of the year.

Runner Up: Imitation Game

A well done and witty film about a personal hero of mine, this was another great film. Not to mention that the cast is perfect. It's in theatres now if you haven't seen it.

Most Awesome Movie

Winner: Lego Movie

Pardon the pun, but everything (about this film) is awesome. Also apologies for using the word awesome too much in this blurb. This category was tough, what with Guardians of The Galaxy being so great, How Train Your Dragon 2 being as good as the original, and even the ending of the flawed Hobbit Trilogy being a film that I could watch again and again. But the attention to detail is awesome, the dialogue is awesome, and the plot is (wait for it) awesome. With all the throw away lines and another perfect cast of both good guys and villains, the Lego Movie is movie that was both hilarious and inspiring. A rare film that feels actually original, something that seems harder and harder to come by these days. Truly awesome.

Awesome count: 6

Runner Up: Guardians of The Galaxy

(sorry The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies)

Showing that Marvel doesn't need the Avengers to be successful, this great summer blockbuster shares a lot in common with the Lego Movie in it's combination of humour and heart. Also as I said in my review, it's great soundtrack was one that I played for weeks after.

Best RPG

Winner: Transistor

Picking a winner for category is practically impossible, simply due to the fact that the number of great "RPGs" this year is crazy. If you're wondering why I put RPG in quotes, it's because you can throw Pokemon and Borderlands into this category, despite not following normal genre conventions. Also there are a number of RPGs that aren't being considered because I haven't played them yet, such as Child of Light and Dragon Age: Inquistion. But as I explained in my review of Transistor, its world, atmosphere, characters, story, and of course soundtrack are all so fresh and fun that I wish it wasn't over all too soon. Another great game by Supergiant Games, they really out did themselves.

Runner Up: South Park: The Stick of Truth

I was tempted to give the runner up spot to Bravely Default despite the mediocre second half, but no other game had me laughing more and wanting more. It's a shame that we probably won't see another game like this one, but it's ok. Because South Park: The Stick of Truth combines some simple and fun gameplay mechanics with an amazingly fun world.

Best Non-RPG

Winner: Super Smash Bros for 3DS/Wii U

I don't think I need to explain myself here... it's Super Smash Bros.

Runner up: None

Biggest Disappointment

Winner: Sherlock series 3, episode 3

Compared to how much I loved the first two episodes in the third series, the third episode while not terrible was fairly disappointing. Sherlock's equivalent of flipping the table didn't feel like a satisfying conclusion. And while I'm excited for the mystery of Moriarty's "return", the fact that they have to use him again makes it feel like they can't enter new territory. Of course we're being told that future Sherlock will be "heart-breaking", so like the masochist that I am I more than ready (and super excited) for what is coming.

Runner Up: Newsroom season 3

The entire thing is a disappointment, except any part with Sloan or Don because they are the best characters on the whole bloody show.

Best Indie Album

Winner: The Bleachers- Strange Desires

The debut album of The Bleachers, Strange Desires was a wonderful album. At first I worried that the only song that would be worth listening to would be I Wanna Get Better. But Rollercoaster and Wake Me are equally great tracks, if not better than the first single of the album. The entire album is a treat and yet another great start for a relatively new indie band.

Runner Up: Arcade Fire- Reflektor

I'm aware that the album came out last year, but I saw them on tour in Toronto this year... one of the best shows I've ever been to. Joan of Arc is my personal favourite of this album.

Best Video Game Soundtrack

Winner: Bravely Default 

While I sing and hum the fantastic soundtrack of Transistor, Bravely Default's beautiful ballads and scores are exquisite. That and I'm a sucker for symphonic rock/metal. Seriously the battle theme and character themes are a pure pleasure to listen to

Runner Up: Transistor

Came in at very close second, it's the only game where there's a button so you can hum the soundtrack in-game. That's just how good it is.

Worst Blogger Ever

Winner: Yours Truly

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to try and update this blog more regularly. It's hard to do when you have several other things going on in your life. But this project is one that; despite it's lack of regular updates, I've enjoyed doing over the last year. I hope that 2015 will be an even better year in more ways than one, and I plan on being the best blogger... I can be. After all let's not get too ahead of ourselves here.

Happy New Year Everyone! Let's make 2015 a great one.


Bonus: Best TV Show that I still need to finish

Winner: Fargo

I know how it ends, I just need to watch it. But I keep getting distracted.

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.

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