Recent Review: Click (2006)

This new blog segment isn't really different then the regular "Review" series. For these "Recent Reviews", I will be reviewing a movie that isn't new (which would be included in a simple "Review"), or a movie that is very old (a "Classic Review") - I will review a movie that is in-between. For the first "Recent Review" I will review the 2006 comedy/drama - Click.


Adam Sandler is known for his humorous roles, as that is where he excels. But in Click, Sandler shows us that he can expertly blend his special brand of humor with strong emotion that can be found in the later half of Click, with scenes powerful enough to make some people cry.

Unfortunately, despite a well-done performance by Sandler, the movie doesn't come together well. The plot line is quite unoriginal, and many of the humor scenes seem forced, probably because the producers were trying to balance the drama and comedy of the film.

The rest of the cast doesn't match Sandler's performace either. Many of the lines seem bland, and the characters don't develop as well as they could because of the apathy of the actors. Click gets an unimpressive 5/10 because of all these major flaws.

Live Wire: Greatest Hits (Video Game Edition)

The latest edition of Live Wire: Greatest Hits takes a different turn then the others by featuring video game music exclusively. Because of the specialized conditions of this new edition, I have taken a couple liberties with the "one song per artist" rule, as you can see below.

Aeris's Theme was an easy choice, as I distinctly remember it from my childhood playing Final Fantasy VII, and the same goes for Cid's Theme. I choose the Hyrule Field Main Theme as the sole representation of The Legend of Zelda because I truly believe it is the most "epic" song of the series. I went with a retro theme from the Mario series because it is easily the most memorable. Green Hill Zone Theme and Casino Night Zone Theme were easy choices to represent the Sonic series. The Halo Theme was chosen for it's epic scale that greatly represented the series. The Pokemon Battle Theme was chosen for, again, it's memorability. The Star Fox and Metroid themes both create the grand scale of space in your mind.

All Live Wire Greatest Hits posts can be found here.

Earth Hour 2009

Earth Hour 2009 is happening today at 8:30 - 9:30 (your local time). I encourage you all to participate in this world changing event. Earth Hour is just minutes away (in my time zone), and I will be participating by turning off all lights and other electronics in my house. You should to the same!

Then And Now: The Simpsons

"Then": The art in the original shows was less then appealing

Originating from animated shorts on The Tracy Ullman Show, The Simpsons is the longest running animated series on television.

The Simpsons is popular for it's cultural humor, as well as it's humorous depiction of "the dysfunctional family". Each character is very unique - the humor arises when all these personalities clash.

The show went through over a dozen seasons, all greatly pleasing viewers. But eventually, fans got annoyed at the lack of a movie. And although the movie was postponed many times, the movie finally came to light in 2007.

And despite the amazing length of time (nearly 20 years) the show has gone on, it's humor hasn't faded, and is still as fresh and funny as ever. The Simpsons is expected to continue, and will eventually go down as a classic in the history of television.

"Now": The dramatic change in appearances

All Then And Now posts can be found here.

Actor: Demetri Martin

Although mostly a writer (writing his own new show, Important Things With Demetri Martin, and writing Late Night With Conan O'Brien from 2003 to 2004), Demetri Martin performs stand-up routines and is featured to star in the movie Taking Woodstock (August 14, 2009), the trailer of which premiered during the seventh episode of his new show (March 25, 2009).


So really, we don't know much about his acting ability. He has appeared in the movie The Rocker, but with a minor role, and has only appeared on television apart from then. But judging from his wildly funny new show, we can tell that the movie has the potential to be great.

Martin is also slated to have a somewhat minor role in the movie The Post Grad Survival Guide (also set to be released August 14, 2009), so this shows that movie producers must think he has acting ability - or at least fans.

Here's hoping that Martin can succeed just like his hit new show. I suggest you check it out every Wednesday (look for a post about this in the future...) I've included a particularly humorous clip from his show for your convenience.

Consoles: Obsolete?

The "microconsole", as well as the controller created specifically for OnlIve

Everyone is buzzing about the new gaming system to be unveiled at the Game Developer's Conference (GDC) - the only thing is, it isn't a gaming system.

OnLive is called a "microconsole" - the small attachment you see above can be plugged into Windows XP, Vista, Mac, or your TV. You can download games directly to your computer. And these aren't crappy flash games - these are full-fledged games such as Crysis Wars. Could this be the end of the consoles?

Live Wire doesn't think so. While OnLive could be revolutionary, it seems that Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo are going to figure out how to stop this competition... if only these money-hungry companies could work together instead of fighting...

OnLive is currently in closed Beta, meaning that we can't try it. But by the end of this year it is supposed to be released, assuming that it works just as well as it's planned to. And if it does, OnLive already has some major publishers backing it: EA, Take-Two, Ubisoft, and Eidos, just to name a few.

OnLive - the end of consoles?

Episode in Review: "Chuck Versus The Predator" (Chuck)

After a very hollow Monday without a new Chuck, our awkward spy/hero is back with a brand new episode. This episode, "Chuck Versus The Predator", is a thrilling, action-packed one that is coupled with a somewhat inappropriate side plot.

The main story line deals with Chuck and his quest to find "Orion", the man responsible for creating the Intersect. It turns out that he has contacted Orion, and plans to remove the Intersect from his head immediately. Unfortunately, the General has other plans...

While the main plot is quite exciting, and involves plenty of twists and turns, the side plot seems less then fitting. It's quite funny, and by no means bad, but sharply contrasts with the intense drama of the main plot. Because of this contrast, I'll give the episode a 7/10 - but that doesn't mean you shouldn't see this thrilling addition to the Chuck series.

Ultimate Showdown: GORT VS. Optimus Prime

Although the movie The Day The Earth Stood Still went by without any thunderous applause, or any raving reviews, it wasn't a bad movie. And one of the coolest parts of the movie was the re-imagining of "GORT" (Genetically Organized Robot Technology). What started off as a nearly 8' actor in a costume became a CGI behemoth capable of mass destruction.


Because Gort is a giant robot, it wasn't hard to find a battle partner for him. Gort will be facing off against the world famous Optimus Prime, of the Transformers series. I will be using the latest movie version, as opposed to an older one, simply because I am using the newest version of Gort. And now: let the battle begin!

***

Optimus Prime patrols the city under the guise of a Peterbilt truck. All seems calm, until an explosion is heard nearby. Prime's radio tells him of an impending attack. "Something has escaped... government facility... great danger... evacuation... genetically organized... technology..." Prime jumps into action by transforming into his original form. And heads off in the direction of the trouble. But the trouble has already found him.

A swarm of grey bugs lands in the city, quickly materializing into Gort. Prime is dumbfounded, and is frozen. Gort takes advantage of his shock by releasing a laser blast that hits Prime directly, throwing him back several hundred feet. Prime fires a missile at the robot that shatters his left arm into millions of pieces. But that minor victory means nothing when his arm re-materializes within seconds.

But then Prime has an idea. He transforms back into his truck form, and drives away as fast as possible. Gort keeps up easily by breaking down into his swarm-form again. But just as Gort is about to destroy Prime, he transforms into his original form and runs in the opposite direction, scattering Gort. And Prime doesn't give Gort any time to recover - he quickly unleashes multiple missiles in the area, scattering Gort forever...

WINNER: Optimus Prime

Crossing Over

This May is going to include an odd cross-over, involving Family Guy character, Stewie. He'll make a showing in... Bones?


Yes, the crime/drama show will feature the little monster in an episode where Booth is prone to hallucinations. And instead of just appearing for a few seconds, he'll actually make a speaking appearance!

While not all the info has been released, it has been revealed that his first hallucination involving Stewie will take place in a sperm donation room, which is not odd considering this episode.

Fortunately, Seth McFarlane, the writer of Family Guy, will have to approve of all of Stewie's lines. Hopefully this odd cross-over works well.

Sweet, Sweet Memory Lane

I hate change. And while I've learned to accept that things will always change, that doesn't mean I'm above doing everything I can to re-create the past. And that's why last weekend I decided to dig up my old PS1, break out Final Fantasy VII, and just go on an all-day gaming run.

Unfortunately, my only Playstation controller has broken, so I had to get a pair off eBay. But they just arrived today, and I'm working on a list of things I need to make this day/week perfect:

- Playstation 1 (Check)

- Controller (Check)

- Giant inflatable mattress in the middle of my living room (Check)

- Yoohoos (Check)

- Lunchables (Check)


Well, it seems like everything is in order. I'll post updates within the next week as I begin my descent into becoming a total and complete nerd. (Also, am I the only person who heats up their Lunchables? It seems weird to eat them cold)

Evolution of Motion Controls

A fake rendition of a 360 Motion Controller

Everyone was shocked when Nintendo unveiled it's new system, originally called the "Revolution", because of it's motion sensing controller. The Wii has changed the way we look at games by making them even more interactive. It was clearly a good idea, if the sales are any indication.

Rumors have come and gone about Microsoft creating a motion sensing controller for the Xbox 360, but they have all been debunked. Rumors are continuing to rise, but Microsoft has repeatedly claimed that these are all false. And while they could be lying, the chances are they aren't - releasing a motion sensing controller for the Xbox 360 wouldn't be a good idea at this point. However, that's not saying that the next system from Microsoft won't have motion sensing - that's always a possibilities. But it would be foolish on Microsoft's part to release motion sensing controllers so late in the system's life.

In other gaming news, the two law suits against Nintendo for their analog sticks and Wii Remotes, are over. The judge claimed that there was no need for a jury, and everything has been settled.

Insane Inmates

Recently, there has been a lot of excitement over the sequel to last summer's blockbuster hit, The Dark Knight - who will the villain be? who will be casted? - but it seems like some of us are overlooking another major milestone in the world of Batman; the new videogame, Batman: Arkham Asylum.

The reason I consider this game a "milestone" is that it's actually the first Batman game not based off another form of media (such as a movie) - meaning that it is a completely original story that blends themes from the entire comic book history of Batman to create an exciting new adventure.

The game, being released June 9, 2009, for PS3, Xbox 360, and PC, will feature a sandbox style game, such as Grand Theft Auto, but will also include "detective" elements, allowing Batman to solve forensic puzzles with all of his gadgets.

The actual plot revolves around The Joker, who has recently been caught by Batman and imprisoned in the aforementioned asylum. However, The Joker uses the defenses of the asylum against our dark hero, and Batman must not only defeat The Joker, but escape from the asylum alive.

I'm excited for this game (I'll be getting the PC version) and while a few parts of the game sound like they might not be the most fun, you must realize that the game is still being polished so it's ready for all the comic book fans, and the fans of The Dark Knight, who will most likely assume that the game is as good as the movie.

Sequel-itis

Movie makers aren't always fans of creativity. That's why, when a movies sells well (or even if it doesn't), you can bet that a sequel is on the way. And while these sequels are often a fulfilling continuation of a great movie, there is also the possibility that a sequel might be a cheap, shallow movie that was thrown together in a pathetic attempt at your dollars. To help you with all these sequels, I'll show you which ones will be blockbuster hits, and which ones will fall in the dust.

Super Sequels: Chances are you've seen at least one superhero blockbuster in the last one or two years. And if you're like me, you're excited for a sequel. Here's a little info on these super sequels.

Here Comes the Spider-Man: A new movie featuring everyone's favorite spider-themed superhero is in the works, and if it's any indication I'm excited. Although Sam Raimi didn't do his best with Spider-Man 3, a fourth movie featuring (hopefully) The Lizard and Carnage could bring the series back with a bang.


The Knight Returns: You may remember my previous post where I spoke of a sequel to the Dark Knight. While not much has changed, we can be sure that this series, still "young", will give us another smash hit that will leave us dazzled once more.

I Am Iron Man 2: While The Avengers is coming up, there are still plans to make a sequel to Iron Man. With two realistic villains already casted (see below), this movie certainly isn't going to fly under the radar, and we will definitely gets some more news on it before it's release next May.

Whiplash (top), played my Michael Rourke, and Black Widow (bottom), played by Scarlett Johansson (who will also play Black Widow in the upcoming Avengers movie)

The (Hopefully) Even More Incredible Hulk: Although this movie hasn't actually been confirmed, there is really no doubt - a sequel is happening. In the movie, Dr. Samuel Sterns is affected by gamma radiation, and his head is seen bulging... upon just a few seconds of investigation on the internet (or known by comic geeks), you can tell that he will become a supervillain known as "The Leader". Once more info is known on this sequel, it will be posted immediately.

The Not-So-Exciting Sequels: Unfortunately, amongst all these potential block-busters, there are a few planned sequels that just aren't going to be able to hit the popularity or sales of others. I'll show you just a few to stay away from.

Shrek Goes Too Far: I loved Shrek. It was a great movie - well done, an original type of humor, it had everything. In fact, it could have gone done as an animated classic. Unfortunately, it was just too good - they had to make a sequel. So, they threw together something they thought could work. Shrek 2 was ridiculous. It lost it's original, fairy-tale parody humor, and opted for cultural humor (as seen in TV shows like The Simpsons). Then came Shrek The Third and that hurt the series even farther. It seems pretty obvious to me that Shrek Goes Fourth will be the final nail in the coffin.


Somewhere in Africa: Is where every copy of this movie series should end up. Okay, so maybe the first one wasn't bad. But there was really no reason to continue it - the animals ended up in Madagascar, and that should have been it. And really - did the "Move it Move it" thing have to be used so heavily in the sequel? It was a little funny thing in the first movie, but they used that too much, and quickly destroyed it's humor. Now that a third movie is planned for 2012, it seems obvious what will cause the end of the world.

Jeepers Creepers! Another Jeepers Creepers!: Ridiculous. I'll admit, the first movie wasn't bad - I'd even go as far as to say it was "enjoyable". However, the second movie just wasn't that scary, and was poorly done, especially compared to the first one. If this trend continues, Jeepers Creepers 3 will end up being the worst of all. We can, however, be thankful that this is a direct-to-DVD movie, so it won't be being projected anywhere (I hear the projection of terrible sequels can cause cancer).


Some Other Sequels To Watch: Although it seems like most movie sequels end up being terrible, there are a few that aren't superhero movies that deserve being watched. You should definitely see these upcoming sequels, as they might be blockbusters in themselves.

Untouchable Blockbuster: Okay, so it's not a sequel, but still; this prequel to 1987 classic The Untouchables is definitely on my watch-list. It will tell the story of Al Capone's arrival in Chicago and his rise to power. It will also tell the story of whether or not you can build on a classic movie made over 20 years ago, and I'm hoping that it can.

It's Raining... Sequels: You may have seen the movie Cats & Dogs (2001). Well, it wasn't a blockbuster, but something about is stuck with me, and I was very excited to hear that a sequel was coming out. And although it was a children's movies, I was 7 when the first one came out. And even though the sequel might not be the best, I'm still happy. You might not know this, but this movie starred (through voice only) Tobey Maguire, best known for playing Spider-Man. However, he will not be returning for the sequel.

I... am... Spider-Man!

Roll Out: Yes, it's almost time. Just a few months away, the sequel to the smash hit Transformers will be released, and it's almost assured that this movie will be adored by all, assuming Michael Bay has fulfilled his promise of fixing the problems with the first one. For more info on my thoughts about this movie, click here.

Live Wire: Greatest Hits (Volume 2)

Yes, Live Wire: Greatest Hits is back and better then ever with 10 new songs, and also featuring a few new artists that I can't believe I forgot to add in the first volume. As stated in my previous post, I had a hard time picking a single song for artists like Buddy Holly, The Beatles, and Flogging Molly, but because this is a new volume they each got a spot on the roster, if only just one song.

As you can see, The Beatles, Buddy Holly, Billy Joel, Flogging Molly, and Final Fantasy VII all earned their spot in Volume 2. CAKE made an appearance (I can't believe I forgot them last time), as well as Duel of The Fates, which you may have seen in a previous post of mine. Mozart even got a spot as well, with the familiar tune of Turkish March, and Reel Big Fish, with sounds similar to They Might Be Giants, got a place as well.

All Live Wire: Greatest Hits posts can be found here.

Episode in Review: "The Ring" (South Park)

An immensely popular (and often grossly offensive) show, South Park has managed to obtain an enormous fan base with it's strange brand of satirical humor. And the show is doing well - despite more and more episodes, there has been no decline in humor or quality.


The first episode of the 13th season greatly displayed the quality of the show. It started off well, with Kenny learning and (to his friends' surprise) getting excited that his new girlfriend is a slut, and gave a "BJ" to another fifth grade in the parking lot of a T.G.I. Friday's (which disgust Cartman). Kenny's girlfriend later admits why she did it, leading Kenny to take her to a Jonas Brothers concert, where they learn about purity rings (thus the title).

But after the show, the real humor starts when it is revealed the Jonas Brothers are forced to wear purity rings in order to sell sex to young girls. When they oppose, they are abused by the head of Disney, a less-then-pleasant version of Mickey Mouse.

I won't ruin the whole thing for you, but I'd just like to say it's a great episode that provides plenty of laughs, and an over-the-top plot that South Park is known for. I give "The Ring" a 9/10.

Also: The Villain Tournament is undergoing a few changes. I will post when it's updated.

Resident Evil Is Raring For Another Go

Just two days before the big release of the heavily anticipated Resident Evil 5 for 360 and PS3 (Xbox 360 and Playstation 3), Capcom has announced a sequel for their on-rails Wii shooter (meaning that you only shoot, and are moved by the game), Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, called Resident Evil: Darkside Chronicles.

Although the original game didn't get the best reviews (don't misunderstand - the reviews were really not that bad), this new game has RE fans quite excited. But they might be jumping the gun - little details have been released, and there is always the possibility that Capcom might just cruise along the success of Resident Evil 5 and make a less-then-par game.

As always, Live Wire will keep you posted on any new info that might surface.

Ultimate Showdown (Team): Barret Wallace & Vincent Valentine VS. Detective Spooner & Sonny

I've reviewed the game Final Fantasy VII before, and spoke wonderfully of it, but I have not yet mentioned the movie I, Robot. It tells the story of Detective Spooner, and his quest to show that the inventor of the modern robot was killed by one of his own creations. He ends up successful, but the "murderous" robot, Sonny, turned out to be a protagonist in the story, as well as being one of Spooner's friends.

For this battle, I'll be matching up two teams. Barret Wallace, a rebel with a gun for an arm (literally) and a short temper, teams up with Vincent Valentine, a vampire-like man who is quite proficient in firearms (as well as having the ability to transform into a variety of different monsters). Those two are pit against two of the protagonists of I, Robot: Detective Spooner, a detective with a hatred for robots (along with having a completely robotic arm) and Sonny, the first intelligent robot of the world.

***

Not knowing where they are, Barret and Vincent exchange a quick glance before looking over the large metal table they curiously appeared behind. They see Detective Spooner pointing his gun straight at them before they dive for cover. However, Spooner fires no shots. Meanwhile, Spooner and Sonny are discussing the events behind cover of their own. Spooner says "I'll get a look at them, then you run around the side of the room and test out their firepower." Sonny replies, "So I'm the bait? Why?" Spooner makes a fist and knocks on Sonny's metal casing a few times before saying, "That's why." Sonny follows the detective's instructions and dashes out of his cover. Barret opens fire on him, screaming the whole time, while Vincent lands three well-aimed blows at his head before realizing that their guns are futile. Vincent ducks for cover as Spooner's bullets shower the area, eventually ending Barret's ammo. Vincent watches quitely as his friend silently slides to the floor, lifeless. He sighs and jumps out of cover, just as Sonny runs up to him to deliver a final blow. He is successful, but in his last moment Vincent pulls the trigger, which is silently stopped by detective Spooner's head.

WINNERS: Sonny & Detective Spooner (deceased)

What's The Word?

Movie rumors come and go all the time, and unfortunately, most of them turn out to be false. However, on the off chance that a few of these cool rumors come true, Live Wire brings them to your attention.

Mr. Popper's Penguins Goes to the Movies?: Most of us have read the beloved children's classic, Mr. Popper's Penguins, written by Richard & Florence Atwater back in 1938. It's a nice little tale of a man who actually brings penguins to live with him. It's also being made into a movie - possibly. There are rumors that this classic novel could be made into a major motion picture, and I'm all for it. Many books that are transformed into movies don't turn out well (like The Cat in the Hat, and, in my opinion, Harry Potter), but Mr. Popper's Penguins actually has a good plot. This is one movie rumor I'm hoping comes true.


Indiana Jones and the Quasi-Supernatural Adventure: Yes, all you Indy fans must be pretty excited. Harrison Ford has been quoted as saying some information that led many to believe there will be a fifth Indy movie, and that he's hoping to be in it. Of course, it seems that Shia LaBeouf will eventually be taking over the role of Indy, but as long as Ford is still "young", we can only hope he will continue doing such a great job.

The Dark Knight Returns: It has been confirmed that a sequel to The Dark Knight is already in the filming stage, which of course means that a plot and script have already been created. And while little information has been released, that hasn't stopped the masses from creating a thousand different rumors. The most trustworthy rumor is the title. It has been said the title will be The Caped Crusader, but it hasn't been officially confirmed (and hopefully it won't be). There has been word the Eddie Murphy or Johnny Depp will play the Riddler, but of course, these are no where near confirmed.


Not so Fantastic 3: I think we all remember the two recent Fantastic Four films, as they were truly unforgettable (in that, you couldn't forget them, no matter how hard you tried). However, Fox is looking to bring back the series, despite the critical bashings both movies recieved. But with all the new superhero movies racking in big bucks (Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, The Dark Knight), Fox is clearly looking to imitate their success. Here's to hoping that they come to their senses, before it's too late.

Greatest Villain of All Time Tournament Update

The new Live Wire site has been updated with the first match-ups of the Greatest Villain of All Time Tournament. The contestants were matched up at random, though I was somewhat hoping Eagle Eye and V.I.K.I. would meet in the first round...

Later tonight, the results will be posted, and you will get to see who moves on to Round 2.

A New Way To Watch Movies

New technology is always being created, but some recent gadgets are really just combinations of music players, video players, and other things. But the Ovei Home Cinema Pod is a completely different story.

The pod was created to immerse the user in the ultimate in cinema experience. The pod is totally controlled by touch, and has the added comfort of a built in air-conditioning system. Although coming in at the whopping price of $100,000, it does present an entirely new way of watching movies (and playing games).

But there are more things in the works when it comes to watching movies and TV. Sony has been working on a bendable screen, complete with actual video in full color. I believe these new developments could forever alter the way we watch TV and movies.

Greatest Villain of All Time Tournament

Whether it be a movie, game, or a TV show, there is nearly always an antagonist. The villain that causes all the trouble, whether it be trying to take over the world, kill the protagonist, or simply trying to cause chaos.

I've decided to commemorate these villains, and bow down to them in all their glory. And so begins the Greatest Villain of All Time Tournament. I will post here any time the tournament is updated, but the actual tournament will take place on Live Wire's new website.

This tournament will involve 16 of the most amazing villains from games, movies, and TV shows alike. For each "battle", I will choose who I think should move on, but my friend Cody will also choose his opinion. If our opinions clash, then my sister will intervene to decide who should win.

And so, here are the villains:

- Sephiroth (Game, Final Fantasy VII)

- Azula (TV, Avatar: The Last Airbender)

- Eric Cartman (TV, South Park)

- The Joker (Movie, The Dark Knight)

- The Ghosts (Game, Pac-Man)

- Gormagon (TV, Bones)

- Ganondorf (Game, The Legend of Zelda)

- Scar (Movie, The Lion King)

- Darth Vader (Movie, Star Wars)

- Al Capone (Movie, The Untouchables)

- V.I.K.I. (Movie, I Robot)

- Eagle Eye (Movie, Eagle Eye)

- Bowser (Game, Mario series)

- Satan (TV, Reaper)

- Red Skull (Game, Captain America and The Avengers)

- Stewie Griffin (TV, Family Guy)

You can find the reason I chose these characters, as well as images of them, on the new Live Wire website.

Friday Night Movie Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle

Around every Friday, I either end up seeing a new movie in theaters, or getting myself a bucket of popcorn from Blockbuster and scavenging around my DVD cabinet for something to watch. This Friday, I happened to already have a bucket of popcorn, so I decided to watch an old classic movie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

This movie isn't always thought of as a "classic", mostly because it didn't recieve the best reviews. But that doesn't change the fact that it's still a fun movie to watch, and it's one of my favorites, even if it's not technically "good".

As much as I love this movie, I must point out some of it's major flaws. Often, the script is quite cheesy and bland, and the battle scenes aren't near as good as they could/should be. But, despite this, the costumes worn by the actors are actually quite realistic for the time this movie came out, so it gets points there. I'm also a fan of Raphael's accent, which really adds some depth to the character (but the movie could've focused on the other characters a bit more).

Overall, I'd have to give this movie a 6/10. There are way too many basic flaws, and even though I still like this movie, these flaws are unforgivable.

Live Wire: Greatest Hits (Volume 1)

Yes, it may seem a little excessive that I have so many blog "segments", but this new segment is quite interesting. Spanning throughout several "volumes", I will have a playlist with 10 of my favorite songs, and a quick overview of why the songs made the list (and why some other songs didn't make the list). So, I present to you: the first of Live Wire: Greatest Hits.

In case you were wondering, there was a big rule - only one song from an artist/game could make it in one volume. That's why is was so hard to choose For the Longest Time and Let it Be, as well as Devil's Dance Floor, which just barely beat out Selfish Man. For the game themes, I simply chose them for their simplicity, instead of choosing a specific theme from the game.

Review: NCIS

All the characters (from left to right): Gibbs, Director Jenny, Ducky, Abby, Tony, McGee, and Ziva

There have been a multitude of criminal investigation/"cop" shows, especially recently. Unfortunately, most of these are quite shallow, and many share one very common problem: the characters have no "meat". These types of shows (the CSI shows, as an example) should look to NCIS for help (and Bones; a review of that will come later) because NCIS has great character development.

The show won't go so far to detract from the actual crime experience, but it's so great that NCIS can bring out all the personalities in these characters, and still successfully balance all the major elements necessary for a crime show like this (drama, action, and a good portion of comedy sprinkled out during the "down time").

Like I said, the shows characters are where it really shines. Abby, the forensic specialist, is one of the most hilarious and original characters on TV, and the "couple", Ziva and Tony, bring plenty of humor onto the show. I give NCIS an 8.5/10.

Ultimate Showdown: Indiana Jones VS. Lara Croft

You may have read my previous "Ultimate Showdown" post, but I'd like to point out that this segment will be changed. Instead of having 5 categories that the contestants are matched in, I will instead simply write a paragraph or two depicting a battle between the characters (though the 5 category system will still be used for those that cannot actually fight, like the original post).

This battle will be between two quite famous (yet fictional) explores: Indiana Jones, the beloved archeologist who's career has spanned from the roaring twenties to the fifties, and tomb raider Lara Croft, who's famous for her... tomb raiding skills... Both characters have a unique set of skills, yet they each come with disadvantages. Who will win? This battle will take place in Lara Croft's domain (the 21st century), so Indy is going to have to think up some tricks to help him as he's blasted over fifty years into the future...

***

Henry Jones, nicknamed "Indy", is left baffled as he is transported from his home into a large mountain with a seemingly never-ending cave complex. He is further shocked by the appearance of a woman, around half his age, armed with dual pistols. Indy may be confused, but he ain't stupid - he pulls out his own pistol while being shot at by Lara, and quickly returns fire while running to get cover behind a large boulder. The shots keep coming, and at a much faster rate then Indy's tiny pistol. He needs to take drastic measures. Meanwhile, Lara stops firing and flips herself behind a smaller boulder. What is that old man doing? She thinks. She runs out of cover and begins firing twice as fast, but is shocked to see Indy swinging from his whip, which has wrapped around the cliff of a cave twenty feet over her head. "I hate to hit a girl!" he screams as he swings down toward her. She is almost knocked to the ground, but Indy catches her just before she hits it. "Need any help, ma'am?"

WINNER: Indiana Jones

Blast From The Past: The Lion King

Back in the day, Disney did more then create dozens of animated movie sequels that no one cares about. They actually created 2D animated movies, which were classic and amazing (of course, that doesn't mean that all their 3D animated movies are bad). One of these movies stood out for me, and will go down in history, as well as always being one of my single favorite movies of all time (look out for a post in the future dealing with this).

The Lion King told the story on young lion Simba, and the untimely death of his father, Mufasa (which also happens to be one of the most traumatic experiences of my life). One of the greatest parts of this movie is simply it's memorability. Despite coming out 15 years ago (yeah, it's been that long), it is still remembered as an amazing classic movie.

Also The Lion King had a sequel, I don't treat it as a big deal like the completely unneccessary Madagascar 2 because the sequel was actually GOOD. Although not nearly as epic as the original, The Lion King II brought on multiple new characters that were each as deep as the originals.

I hope you've all seen this movie; if you have not, you must as soon as possible: it is truly a movie for the ages, and as I said before, is one of my favorite movies.