Some posts back, I saw before the masses Captain America: The First Avenger, now my wish was fulfilled, when days ago, I watched The Avengers, the Marvel flick comic fanboys were dying for. And boy, was it a hell of a film!! Heading to Silver Spring with my friends was sorth it, despite returning late.
When Loki decides to raise hell, he does so in a big way. Getting his hands on a certain artifact, he wages war on Earth, with little effort at that. But there's one thing you should never, ever do, and that's to rile up a man of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury to be exact, because it made him desperate enough to assemble a band of heroes to raise Hell. Divided, they are greats on their own, but together, they aren't a team to take lightly. From thawed out legends, to destructive faces, The Avengers will save Earth, or Avenge it!
Starring the likes of Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, and Scarlett Johansson, it brings together some of Marvel's most familiar and famous faces. The only thing I can say is that you stick around for the whole film to see what Marvel will do next, but if you want destruction, lasers and pipebombs, this movie does not disappoint. Pending on who favors it, we were lucky to see it in IMAX 3D, and it was interesting, despite the gaudy design of the glasses themselves.
Make tomorrow, May 4th, the date people, for this Marvel film is worth seeing. Perfect, 10 of 10, any best rating I say just isn't enough to describe how awesome The Avengers is. I encourage you to see this film!!
Showing posts with label Live-Action. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Live-Action. Show all posts
2012/05/03
2011/10/23
CLXXIII: "Mortal Kombat: Legacy"
Branching off from what I normally do, I'm going to talk about a miniseries I managed to catch via the Youtube page of Machinima. You may have heard of it, the title is Mortal Kombat: Legacy. This idea was actually derived from the short film Mortal Kombat: Rebirth, and showed promise for a re-imagined live-action piece, something that hasn't been done since New Line Cinema's Mortal Kombat: Annihilation in 1997 (around the time Midway was still active, who had the MK label). While Warner Bros. and affiliate New Line Cinema didn't back the film originally, supposedly, they gave Legacy's director, Kevin Tancharoen, the go-ahead to direct a larger feature in the future.
Mortal Kombat: Legacy has no linear story, and the episodes are more character specific at best, involving Sonya, Jax, Stryker, Cyrax, Sektor, and some others, roughly a fraction of the characters of the franchise, with some original characters involved, with one of the creators, Ed Boon, also taking part. Each episode deals with at least one of the characters involved, not branching into a set storyline like the two movies. It was also a more realistic approach to the MK universe, though in sense features the main story. The episodes were short however, given the little length allowed in a standard Youtube account. Despite this, a second season is proposed, production set to begin sometime next year, with possible inclusions of characters like Kabal and Goro (though details of the latter need to be sorted out.) It was said that as with the movies, it will carry on the plot of the 10th torunament as with the games, but they won't try to include every single Kombatant, something that MK: Annihilation attempted.
There are a total of 9 episodes, and despite the shortness of each, they'll be seeing a home release to DVD and Blu-Ray, though the episodes are still very much present under Machinima's Youtube page. The second season of this is trying to see an outlet for television, but little is known beyond this regarding the show's platform. Involved with this production are Warner Bros. and their subsidiary game company NetherRealm Studios (which was formerly WB Games Chicago, and before that Midway Games Chicago), who created the 2011 reboot game Mortal Kombat (still called MK9 by players.) For something done solely in US soil, this received high praise as a webseries.
In lieu of the original adaptions from the MK universe, it remains to be the better adaption of Mortal Kombat as to date, and scores 8 of 10 from me. Here's hoping that the rumored film, as well as the second season, lives up to the reception of Legacy's first season.
Mortal Kombat: Legacy has no linear story, and the episodes are more character specific at best, involving Sonya, Jax, Stryker, Cyrax, Sektor, and some others, roughly a fraction of the characters of the franchise, with some original characters involved, with one of the creators, Ed Boon, also taking part. Each episode deals with at least one of the characters involved, not branching into a set storyline like the two movies. It was also a more realistic approach to the MK universe, though in sense features the main story. The episodes were short however, given the little length allowed in a standard Youtube account. Despite this, a second season is proposed, production set to begin sometime next year, with possible inclusions of characters like Kabal and Goro (though details of the latter need to be sorted out.) It was said that as with the movies, it will carry on the plot of the 10th torunament as with the games, but they won't try to include every single Kombatant, something that MK: Annihilation attempted.
There are a total of 9 episodes, and despite the shortness of each, they'll be seeing a home release to DVD and Blu-Ray, though the episodes are still very much present under Machinima's Youtube page. The second season of this is trying to see an outlet for television, but little is known beyond this regarding the show's platform. Involved with this production are Warner Bros. and their subsidiary game company NetherRealm Studios (which was formerly WB Games Chicago, and before that Midway Games Chicago), who created the 2011 reboot game Mortal Kombat (still called MK9 by players.) For something done solely in US soil, this received high praise as a webseries.
In lieu of the original adaptions from the MK universe, it remains to be the better adaption of Mortal Kombat as to date, and scores 8 of 10 from me. Here's hoping that the rumored film, as well as the second season, lives up to the reception of Legacy's first season.
2011/07/28
CXXIX: "Captain America: The First Avenger"
For Hollywood's third attempt at a Captain America film, I wasn't expecting a good piece, given many other titles that had the Marvel label did relatively bad. Captain America: The First Avenger doesn't make up for the other two, but as a live-action film, it was good.
Looking back in 1942, the setting was the time of the war against Hitler and his Nazis. The antagonist, seen as Hitler's shadow, aspires plans of his own, and comes across (more like steal) an artifact whose power man isn't ready for. With this, he supposedly has an ace in the hole, which meant defeat for the US Army... if they didn't have one of their own. The Army was looking for soldiers, yet one certain potential kept being turned down. Steve Rogers wanted to be a soldier no matter what, but his frail and sickly features prevent him from doing so. Meeting a Bavarian doctor, he is enlisted to a squad in New York under Col. Philips and SSR officer Carter. Around this time, his soldiers were being trained, one of which to be the test subject to an experiment for creating a super soldier. From here on, frail Rogers becomes the American super soldier, ultimately having the title Captain America. While he is initially perceived as entertainment, he makes a name for himslef as he brings back prisoners of war, among which his best friend Sgt Barnes. Together with Barnes, and a squad of refuges from the rescue mission, Rogers sets out to destroy the bases of HYDRA and confront the man who also has strength beyond measure: Johann Schmidt, aka Red Skull.
Lasting for 2 hours plus, this film was made by Marvel Studios, being a stepping stone for The Avengers film. As with the Iron Man titles, this film was successful, receiving little criticism behind it. Chris Evans played the titular character(s), who also did Johnny Storm in the Fantastic Four films. In addition, other well known faces like Tommy Lee Jones appears in the film. The movie hints a sequel, and a hardcore fan of Marvel can basically guess what's to come after the film, and talks for a sequel are already under way.
Captain America: The First Avenger was a film I saw needlessly in 3D, but otherwise worth checking out. This film gains 8.3 of 10, which gives me a faint hope that the Avengers could be just as good. I'll just have to hope that transition plays through.
Looking back in 1942, the setting was the time of the war against Hitler and his Nazis. The antagonist, seen as Hitler's shadow, aspires plans of his own, and comes across (more like steal) an artifact whose power man isn't ready for. With this, he supposedly has an ace in the hole, which meant defeat for the US Army... if they didn't have one of their own. The Army was looking for soldiers, yet one certain potential kept being turned down. Steve Rogers wanted to be a soldier no matter what, but his frail and sickly features prevent him from doing so. Meeting a Bavarian doctor, he is enlisted to a squad in New York under Col. Philips and SSR officer Carter. Around this time, his soldiers were being trained, one of which to be the test subject to an experiment for creating a super soldier. From here on, frail Rogers becomes the American super soldier, ultimately having the title Captain America. While he is initially perceived as entertainment, he makes a name for himslef as he brings back prisoners of war, among which his best friend Sgt Barnes. Together with Barnes, and a squad of refuges from the rescue mission, Rogers sets out to destroy the bases of HYDRA and confront the man who also has strength beyond measure: Johann Schmidt, aka Red Skull.
Lasting for 2 hours plus, this film was made by Marvel Studios, being a stepping stone for The Avengers film. As with the Iron Man titles, this film was successful, receiving little criticism behind it. Chris Evans played the titular character(s), who also did Johnny Storm in the Fantastic Four films. In addition, other well known faces like Tommy Lee Jones appears in the film. The movie hints a sequel, and a hardcore fan of Marvel can basically guess what's to come after the film, and talks for a sequel are already under way.
Captain America: The First Avenger was a film I saw needlessly in 3D, but otherwise worth checking out. This film gains 8.3 of 10, which gives me a faint hope that the Avengers could be just as good. I'll just have to hope that transition plays through.
2011/07/18
CXXI: "The King of Fighters (live action movie)"
Granted this is an anime blog, as I've long established, so seldom do I speak of, let alone review, any live action takes of anime or video games of the sort. I'm making an exception today while I'm covering the movie The King of Fighters, a live action film created last year.
A bit of an FYI before we start: King of Fighters, shortened as KOF, is the name of a fighting game series created by SNK Playmore, in the same sense Street Fighter is with Capcom, and Tekken is with Namco Bandai. The game is not as popular here as it is with other countries, and save for those lucky enough to have any Neo-Geo, or any SNK-related console back then, would only know of the series now through King of Fighters XI-XIII, KOF Maximum Impact 1 and 2, and the crossover games SVC Chaos: SNK vs Capcom, and Capcom Vs SNK 1 and 2. Like Tekken and Street fighter, there is a story involved, which is carried through different arcs. What separates them is that KOF was a team fighting system, as in a squad of 3 going against another squad of 3. In addition, other people from other SNK games take part, which happens a lot more than in the case with Capcom's characters Sakura and Ingrid. I'll cover more about KOF in my other blog, Seiko's Gamer Base, if you're interested, that is...
Now for the movie itself. Now I've had a lot of problems with it, but let's speak of what the film is even about. The plot's devices are the 3 treasures by three different clans: the Kusanagi Sword, the Kagura Mirror, and the Yagami Necklace. These 3 items are keys to a portal where a dormant beast, the Orochi, lies in wait. Whoever was to control Orochi could gain limitless power, so the legend says. Almost as if timed, antagonist Rugal Bernstein appears, shooting everyone insight and slashing Chizuru Kagura, who the mirror is sort of named after. Now Mai Shiranui, one of the witnesses, must go after him, but not before being warned about preventing her boyfriend, Iori Yagami, from getting involved (Yeah, explain THAT one to the press.)
Adding to this, she is told by the now hospitalized Chizuru to visit Saisyu Kusanagi, the one who knows where the REAL Kusanagi Sword is, the one in the museum being a fake. While there, she meets his son, Kyo, who appears uninvolved with not only Chizuru, but also the sword. Just when things grew quiet, a visit from Iori blows everything. Seisyu, holding mild resentment towards the Yagami, wakes up from his comatose with threats towards Iori, and abruptly dies. Only then, through brief talk with Mai, and a confrontation with Iori, does Kyo Kusanagi decide to become involved. However, his reasons are personal. For him, it's a mix of duty, and for revenge.
The target of Kyo's vengeance, Rugal, has hacked the registration for the titular King of Fighters tournament. The tournament itself takes place in an alternate dimension, and are accessible though a special bluetooth headset. However, by this time, he has drawn in various people worldwide, among which are 2 female fighters Mature and Vice, who are soon beaten and enslaved. With the tournament in chaos, how will Mai, Kyo, Chizuru, Iori, and CIA agent Terry Bogard make it out alive, if at all?
Like I said before, there were a few good things about this movie that bothered me. First off, a different dimension? With Orochi, that kind of make sense, but this occurred while it is still pretty much asleep. Second, the whole Iori X Mai thing really bugs me, as Mai is usually chasing someone else. Third, Terry as a CIA agent, that really threw me off. In fact, to my knowledge, there was no CIA characters in the franchise EVER. Lastly, the representation of them. Unless you have a really keen eye, you couldn't tell initially who every one is supposed to me, for most of them look different compared to their VG counterparts.
The movie was made in the Mandalay Pictures and Aja Tan Studios. The film is in English, but like most films of this nature, was never truly backed by the very people behind the franchise, this case being SNK Playmore. I get that it's loosely based, but... it bother me, I would say WORSE than DB Evolution, but maybe that's being too harsh. The movie was spotted on the American Film Market in 2009, while other areas, including Japan, didn't see it until the following year. It has special effects in it, but when brought to live action, sometimes it just doesn't look legit. This is sadly one of those movies that proves my theory.
Bittersweet indeed, as I had to play some KOF games to try and forget this film ever happened. Some people are great at forgetting or not counting any film terrible to them. I cannot, and even today it still haunts me. The King of Fighters movie gains a 3.4 of 10 on my scale, so you can already guess how it is on a scale to 100.
A bit of an FYI before we start: King of Fighters, shortened as KOF, is the name of a fighting game series created by SNK Playmore, in the same sense Street Fighter is with Capcom, and Tekken is with Namco Bandai. The game is not as popular here as it is with other countries, and save for those lucky enough to have any Neo-Geo, or any SNK-related console back then, would only know of the series now through King of Fighters XI-XIII, KOF Maximum Impact 1 and 2, and the crossover games SVC Chaos: SNK vs Capcom, and Capcom Vs SNK 1 and 2. Like Tekken and Street fighter, there is a story involved, which is carried through different arcs. What separates them is that KOF was a team fighting system, as in a squad of 3 going against another squad of 3. In addition, other people from other SNK games take part, which happens a lot more than in the case with Capcom's characters Sakura and Ingrid. I'll cover more about KOF in my other blog, Seiko's Gamer Base, if you're interested, that is...
Now for the movie itself. Now I've had a lot of problems with it, but let's speak of what the film is even about. The plot's devices are the 3 treasures by three different clans: the Kusanagi Sword, the Kagura Mirror, and the Yagami Necklace. These 3 items are keys to a portal where a dormant beast, the Orochi, lies in wait. Whoever was to control Orochi could gain limitless power, so the legend says. Almost as if timed, antagonist Rugal Bernstein appears, shooting everyone insight and slashing Chizuru Kagura, who the mirror is sort of named after. Now Mai Shiranui, one of the witnesses, must go after him, but not before being warned about preventing her boyfriend, Iori Yagami, from getting involved (Yeah, explain THAT one to the press.)
Adding to this, she is told by the now hospitalized Chizuru to visit Saisyu Kusanagi, the one who knows where the REAL Kusanagi Sword is, the one in the museum being a fake. While there, she meets his son, Kyo, who appears uninvolved with not only Chizuru, but also the sword. Just when things grew quiet, a visit from Iori blows everything. Seisyu, holding mild resentment towards the Yagami, wakes up from his comatose with threats towards Iori, and abruptly dies. Only then, through brief talk with Mai, and a confrontation with Iori, does Kyo Kusanagi decide to become involved. However, his reasons are personal. For him, it's a mix of duty, and for revenge.
The target of Kyo's vengeance, Rugal, has hacked the registration for the titular King of Fighters tournament. The tournament itself takes place in an alternate dimension, and are accessible though a special bluetooth headset. However, by this time, he has drawn in various people worldwide, among which are 2 female fighters Mature and Vice, who are soon beaten and enslaved. With the tournament in chaos, how will Mai, Kyo, Chizuru, Iori, and CIA agent Terry Bogard make it out alive, if at all?
Like I said before, there were a few good things about this movie that bothered me. First off, a different dimension? With Orochi, that kind of make sense, but this occurred while it is still pretty much asleep. Second, the whole Iori X Mai thing really bugs me, as Mai is usually chasing someone else. Third, Terry as a CIA agent, that really threw me off. In fact, to my knowledge, there was no CIA characters in the franchise EVER. Lastly, the representation of them. Unless you have a really keen eye, you couldn't tell initially who every one is supposed to me, for most of them look different compared to their VG counterparts.
The movie was made in the Mandalay Pictures and Aja Tan Studios. The film is in English, but like most films of this nature, was never truly backed by the very people behind the franchise, this case being SNK Playmore. I get that it's loosely based, but... it bother me, I would say WORSE than DB Evolution, but maybe that's being too harsh. The movie was spotted on the American Film Market in 2009, while other areas, including Japan, didn't see it until the following year. It has special effects in it, but when brought to live action, sometimes it just doesn't look legit. This is sadly one of those movies that proves my theory.
Bittersweet indeed, as I had to play some KOF games to try and forget this film ever happened. Some people are great at forgetting or not counting any film terrible to them. I cannot, and even today it still haunts me. The King of Fighters movie gains a 3.4 of 10 on my scale, so you can already guess how it is on a scale to 100.
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