Brokeback Mountain is a controversial film. And all for the wrong reason too. Despite the world seemingly moving on and opening up, there are still idiots out there who are still lacking in tolerance. It is a film that its audiences are split right at the middle - those who loved it and those who hated it (although many who hated it probably didn't watch it). Well chalked up another one for those who think that this film is great.
This is the kind of film that, when you leave the theater or switched off the telly, you do not forget. It lingers in your mind and you want to watch it again. It is a great film because it bears witness to the tragic tale of two people who are awfully in love with each other. And even more so than even the ultimate tragic love story that was William Shakesphere's Romeo & Juliet.
The photography is wonderful. Brokeback mountain, where Ennis and Jack spent a couple of months there, is ideally and believable as the location where they would fall for each other. You will feel like escaping the city and moving down to Wyoming.
Heath Ledger was terrific (why did the Academy robbed him of the Oscars?) in his portrayal as the uncomfortable Ennis. Ennis is clearly in love with Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal) although he has a problem with his sexuality. Both ended up marrying people that they do not really love, out of due pressure on society's expectation - which is really sad. Ennis who threw away his life was pathetic in the end, but you do feel sorry for him.
I was never really a fan of Ang Lee. I believe that Hulk was a disaster and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is the most awful film, like ever. But this film flows with realism. I know realism is a subjective matter, but everything feels real here - the violence, the love, the sadness and the comedy. It is ironic that the only other Ang Lee melodramatic film that I ever enjoyed and would recommend to anyone is The Wedding Banquet.
The PAL DVD version that we borrowed of a mate, was excellent in its quality. I am sure that the studio did all they could to have the DVD transfer as accurate as possible to the theatrical version (although I can't confirm) because this film damn well deserves it. We didn't have time to view the extras, but there were there.
The hype that accompanied this film has been quite silly as I am sure many of you would agree. But regardless of the controversial that accompanied the film within certain section of religious America, Brokeback Mountain is an extremely moving film that deserves to be watched.
Technorati tags: Brokeback Mountain
Tuesday, June 6, 2006
Sunday, June 4, 2006
Saturday, June 3, 2006
Bleach DS Souten ni Kakeru Unmei / Bleach: The Blade of Fate review
Bleach DS is Japanese only game, but that shouldn't stop you from importing it if you are a fan of either:
1. Shonen Jump mangas
2. Saturday morning animes
3. Fighting games.
Me? I am a fan of Treasure. And that is good enough reason for me.
Treasure, the legendary developers from Japan, can always be trusted to push a system through its 2D limit and with Bleach DS they succeeded brilliantly. The sprites are wonderfully detailed and the 2D background is beautifully drawn. Sprites zooms in and out effortlessly. Characters are well designed and some of their special weapons will fill up the entire screen.
Bleach DS is a sort of the bastard child of Street Fighter II, King of Fighters, Guilty Gear and Soul Calibur. It is faster than Street Fighter II of course and the brilliant sword playing style of Soul Calibur is present. Button mashing over all the face button and shoulder buttons is a must but you can also touch the lower screen to execute special attacks and combos.
Although the game is in Japanese, it is fairly easy to start playing. You will need an English FAQ guide if you want to progress through the single player mode (and understand the story) but most are self-explanatory and a little trial and error won't harm. Get into the game quickly with the Arcade Mode or play the VS mode for CPU 2 Vs 2 or 1 Vs 3 for more frantic action.
Bleach DS also supports LAN multiplayer ad-hoc WiFi (single-cart download & multi-cart play) and Nintendo WiFi connection. Setting up online matches is pretty straight forward and won't take you long to setup random matches with good Japanese gamers. The dreaded friend code is needed if you want to organise matches with your mates (up to four players).
It isn't without its fault. The two field system needs getting used to and the card system
(which you can use in battles to increase your advantage) isn't really necessary. Gameplay can become repetitive and apart from cards and characters, there isn't much to unlock. Weapon upgrades for Ichigo would have been nice but there is nothing here, unlock wise, that equals the depth of say Mario Kart DS.
While this is the first proper fighting game for the console, Treasure has set a superb standard in 2D fighting, that other developers will find hard to emulate. And to do that on their first DS title and even more impressive - their first (update, second after the Japan only Yuu Yuu Hakusho) fighting game (Guardian Heroes and its GBA follow up are beat 'em up)!
Forget the rather uninspired (but fun) Jump Super Stars! or the unfortunate Guilty Gear: Dust Strikers, import this instead and be prepared for hours of fun.
8/10
Update: After two years SEGA has finally released this in the west as Bleach: The Blade of Fate.
1. Shonen Jump mangas
2. Saturday morning animes
3. Fighting games.
Me? I am a fan of Treasure. And that is good enough reason for me.
Treasure, the legendary developers from Japan, can always be trusted to push a system through its 2D limit and with Bleach DS they succeeded brilliantly. The sprites are wonderfully detailed and the 2D background is beautifully drawn. Sprites zooms in and out effortlessly. Characters are well designed and some of their special weapons will fill up the entire screen.
Bleach DS is a sort of the bastard child of Street Fighter II, King of Fighters, Guilty Gear and Soul Calibur. It is faster than Street Fighter II of course and the brilliant sword playing style of Soul Calibur is present. Button mashing over all the face button and shoulder buttons is a must but you can also touch the lower screen to execute special attacks and combos.
Although the game is in Japanese, it is fairly easy to start playing. You will need an English FAQ guide if you want to progress through the single player mode (and understand the story) but most are self-explanatory and a little trial and error won't harm. Get into the game quickly with the Arcade Mode or play the VS mode for CPU 2 Vs 2 or 1 Vs 3 for more frantic action.
Bleach DS also supports LAN multiplayer ad-hoc WiFi (single-cart download & multi-cart play) and Nintendo WiFi connection. Setting up online matches is pretty straight forward and won't take you long to setup random matches with good Japanese gamers. The dreaded friend code is needed if you want to organise matches with your mates (up to four players).
It isn't without its fault. The two field system needs getting used to and the card system
(which you can use in battles to increase your advantage) isn't really necessary. Gameplay can become repetitive and apart from cards and characters, there isn't much to unlock. Weapon upgrades for Ichigo would have been nice but there is nothing here, unlock wise, that equals the depth of say Mario Kart DS.
While this is the first proper fighting game for the console, Treasure has set a superb standard in 2D fighting, that other developers will find hard to emulate. And to do that on their first DS title and even more impressive - their first (update, second after the Japan only Yuu Yuu Hakusho) fighting game (Guardian Heroes and its GBA follow up are beat 'em up)!
Forget the rather uninspired (but fun) Jump Super Stars! or the unfortunate Guilty Gear: Dust Strikers, import this instead and be prepared for hours of fun.
8/10
Update: After two years SEGA has finally released this in the west as Bleach: The Blade of Fate.
Labels:
Anime,
Manga,
NDS,
Video Game Reviews,
Video Games
Momma Cherri's Jerk Chicken Salad
Recipes from BBC's Saturday Kitchen. Speaking of Momma Cherri, she has a new premise in Brighton which is much bigger than the old restaurant. Gordon Ramsey really put her on the map.
Technorati tags: Food Salad Jerk Chicken Momma Cherri Saturday Kitchen
Thursday, June 1, 2006
On female gamers
While perusing the excellent UKResistance, I came across their post on the new DS Lite French ad campaign, right here. While the typical childish and rather elitist comments of UKR is pretty funny, I think most of them completely missed the point.
Goths like gaming too.
Most mainstream media (and probably you guys reading this) view gamers as pathetic no-life loners, mainly males, who lives in dark rooms - probably populated by old posters of Sonic, surrounded by dolls of Kasumi, wishing that the Dreamcast wasn't dead* and that Hideo Kojima would bring Snake back in MGS5. Sort of like that bloke in Mallrats.
Many of us know that Nintendo is pushing for a strategy that involves recruiting non-gamers by expanding the demographic to all sorts of people - including women. So is it wrong for them to publish an advertising campaign that includes quite frankly sophisticated bourgeois French ladies? I think not. Gaming as a hobby has often been seen as a naive past time or juvenile pursuit by the 'less sophisticated'.
What is her role here? Nothing, except to divert our attention on yet another ugly Playstation case design.
Why couldn't gaming be more sophisticated? It obviously can. Female execs in Japan do not feel embarass, unlike the reserved suits in London, when it comes to playing with their DS in public. Jennifer and one of her best friend (female of course) are doing their PhDs and yet both are gamers. Both were reluctant to ever try gaming due to the negativeness that was usually presented and the ridicule that they may present themselves with. I am sure there are many female 'closet-gamers' out there.
I am glad that Nintendo is pushing the boundaries of game related ads. While most publishers would happily slap a picture of semi nude lady and market their products based on sex appeal, modern Nintendo isn't. They are targeting different people, people who would never ever played games - unlike the infamous Sony graffiti ad, which while were pretty cool, weren't targeting anyone outside the usual young male demographic.
Can Sony convince your mum to start gaming with ads like this? I think not!
Sure the majority of gamers are mainly young males, but if Nintendo is successful in their current campaign (and they are right now in Japan), we males may find ourselves in the minority of gaming population. Women who gets recruited through the non-gaming market would, like many of us once casual-gamers, 'graduate' into hardcore/competitive gamers. Just ask Jenni's mate - she pwned me in her first ever Mario Kart DS game! (I got back at her but you get what I mean - women can be competitive in gaming)
Anyway Guilded Lilies has a more women-centric view on the advert and another opinion on women's place in a male-dominant world, which are both rather insightful.
* It isn't!
Technorati tags: Advertising Nintendo Nintendo DS Gaming
Goths like gaming too.
Most mainstream media (and probably you guys reading this) view gamers as pathetic no-life loners, mainly males, who lives in dark rooms - probably populated by old posters of Sonic, surrounded by dolls of Kasumi, wishing that the Dreamcast wasn't dead* and that Hideo Kojima would bring Snake back in MGS5. Sort of like that bloke in Mallrats.
Many of us know that Nintendo is pushing for a strategy that involves recruiting non-gamers by expanding the demographic to all sorts of people - including women. So is it wrong for them to publish an advertising campaign that includes quite frankly sophisticated bourgeois French ladies? I think not. Gaming as a hobby has often been seen as a naive past time or juvenile pursuit by the 'less sophisticated'.
What is her role here? Nothing, except to divert our attention on yet another ugly Playstation case design.
Why couldn't gaming be more sophisticated? It obviously can. Female execs in Japan do not feel embarass, unlike the reserved suits in London, when it comes to playing with their DS in public. Jennifer and one of her best friend (female of course) are doing their PhDs and yet both are gamers. Both were reluctant to ever try gaming due to the negativeness that was usually presented and the ridicule that they may present themselves with. I am sure there are many female 'closet-gamers' out there.
I am glad that Nintendo is pushing the boundaries of game related ads. While most publishers would happily slap a picture of semi nude lady and market their products based on sex appeal, modern Nintendo isn't. They are targeting different people, people who would never ever played games - unlike the infamous Sony graffiti ad, which while were pretty cool, weren't targeting anyone outside the usual young male demographic.
Can Sony convince your mum to start gaming with ads like this? I think not!
Sure the majority of gamers are mainly young males, but if Nintendo is successful in their current campaign (and they are right now in Japan), we males may find ourselves in the minority of gaming population. Women who gets recruited through the non-gaming market would, like many of us once casual-gamers, 'graduate' into hardcore/competitive gamers. Just ask Jenni's mate - she pwned me in her first ever Mario Kart DS game! (I got back at her but you get what I mean - women can be competitive in gaming)
Anyway Guilded Lilies has a more women-centric view on the advert and another opinion on women's place in a male-dominant world, which are both rather insightful.
* It isn't!
Technorati tags: Advertising Nintendo Nintendo DS Gaming
Labels:
NDS,
Video Games
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Assorted reviews
Final Fantasy VII Advent Children (R2 PAL, DVD) Square-Enix
Strictly for fans of Final Fantasy VII only, Advent Children is one of the worst CGI films I have ever watched since Square's own Final Fantasy The Spirits Within and Dreamwork's Shark Tale. Advent Children is part of the cash-cow that is Square-Enix's 'Compilation of Final Fantasy VII' - which means you can expect more Final Fantasy VII non-gaming bullshit in years to come.
The film's timeline is a couple of years after the ending of Final Fantasy VII game and features a dull final battle between the anorexic blonde protagonist and the girly and anorexic antagonist. Wooden 'acting' and 'polished' barbie-like figures features aplenty.
4/10
New Super Mario Bros. (US, NDS) Nintendo
It's a-me, Mario!
Bowsers kidnaps Peach and Mario has to rescue her. Again. He needs to get a new girl - Daisy perhaps? (Oh wait, isn't Daisy going out with Luigi - nevermind) Featuring lush 3D graphics with 2D gameplay, this is one of the best platformers ever created for the DS side-scrolling platform (or any platform in recent memories) and a homage to a time when gaming was fun. And people are agreeing. It sold 480,000 units in the first day in Japan alone.
8/10
Super Princess Peach (US, NDS) Nintendo
Mamma mia! A total reversal of roles! This time Mario gets kidnapped and it is up to Princess Peach to rescue the Italian plumber! Super Princess Peach features female stereotyped powerups - shame on you Nintendo! The game is fun while it lasted and is very easy. In classic 2D sprites too! Like Yoshi Touch & Go, this isn't worth the price NoE slaps on us (£30). Import it for less and enjoy.
6/10
Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day (US, NDS) Nintendo
Also known as Professor Kawashima's Brain Training in the UK (when it is released next week), this is Nintendo's 'touch generation' (a strategy aimed at recruiting non-gamers and casual gamers) flagship game.
Brain Training is essentially a collection of brain training mini games such as quick maths, stroop test, reading, memorisation etc. Drawing based on memorisation (with funny effects too). The disembodied head of Kawashima may belittle you if you score low but don't take it too seriously. Contains chart for when you can show of the time when your brain age drops from 70 to 20.
Both the US and European version of the game also contains 100 Sudoku puzzles for Sudoku addicts. Get this for yourself and your parents. Show this to your friends who thinks video games are only for juveniles. It is also worth noting that the original Brain Training sold 2.2 million in Japan alone, many to the over 40s demographic.
7/10
Strictly for fans of Final Fantasy VII only, Advent Children is one of the worst CGI films I have ever watched since Square's own Final Fantasy The Spirits Within and Dreamwork's Shark Tale. Advent Children is part of the cash-cow that is Square-Enix's 'Compilation of Final Fantasy VII' - which means you can expect more Final Fantasy VII non-gaming bullshit in years to come.
The film's timeline is a couple of years after the ending of Final Fantasy VII game and features a dull final battle between the anorexic blonde protagonist and the girly and anorexic antagonist. Wooden 'acting' and 'polished' barbie-like figures features aplenty.
4/10
New Super Mario Bros. (US, NDS) Nintendo
It's a-me, Mario!
Bowsers kidnaps Peach and Mario has to rescue her. Again. He needs to get a new girl - Daisy perhaps? (Oh wait, isn't Daisy going out with Luigi - nevermind) Featuring lush 3D graphics with 2D gameplay, this is one of the best platformers ever created for the DS side-scrolling platform (or any platform in recent memories) and a homage to a time when gaming was fun. And people are agreeing. It sold 480,000 units in the first day in Japan alone.
8/10
Super Princess Peach (US, NDS) Nintendo
Mamma mia! A total reversal of roles! This time Mario gets kidnapped and it is up to Princess Peach to rescue the Italian plumber! Super Princess Peach features female stereotyped powerups - shame on you Nintendo! The game is fun while it lasted and is very easy. In classic 2D sprites too! Like Yoshi Touch & Go, this isn't worth the price NoE slaps on us (£30). Import it for less and enjoy.
6/10
Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day (US, NDS) Nintendo
Also known as Professor Kawashima's Brain Training in the UK (when it is released next week), this is Nintendo's 'touch generation' (a strategy aimed at recruiting non-gamers and casual gamers) flagship game.
Brain Training is essentially a collection of brain training mini games such as quick maths, stroop test, reading, memorisation etc. Drawing based on memorisation (with funny effects too). The disembodied head of Kawashima may belittle you if you score low but don't take it too seriously. Contains chart for when you can show of the time when your brain age drops from 70 to 20.
Both the US and European version of the game also contains 100 Sudoku puzzles for Sudoku addicts. Get this for yourself and your parents. Show this to your friends who thinks video games are only for juveniles. It is also worth noting that the original Brain Training sold 2.2 million in Japan alone, many to the over 40s demographic.
7/10
Labels:
Final Fantasy,
NDS,
Reviews,
Video Game Reviews
Friday, May 26, 2006
Wet and murky days ahead
Don't you just love the British weather? It gives us a topic to blog about when we are stumped for ideas.
"Look, it's raining again. Yay!"
Brain age's still holding it out at 22. Man I love this game. Reminds me of that 'Doom meet Castlevania math DOS game' that the local computer center forced on us 15 years ago (when we were still tiny), but at least this is fun.
Anyway... have a nice bank holiday weekend!
Technorati tags: Brain Training Brain Age
"Look, it's raining again. Yay!"
Brain age's still holding it out at 22. Man I love this game. Reminds me of that 'Doom meet Castlevania math DOS game' that the local computer center forced on us 15 years ago (when we were still tiny), but at least this is fun.
Anyway... have a nice bank holiday weekend!
Technorati tags: Brain Training Brain Age
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