Monday, July 27, 2015

Ant-Man

Ant-Man
Genre:Action, Comedy
Starring: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll, Anthony Mackie, Judy Greer, Michael Peña
2015

Review
Ant-Man is the latest in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Story is Hank Pym (Douglas), the original Ant-Man, recruits Scott Lang (Rudd) to help save the world from yet another bad guy (Stoll). Obviously, if you are a fan of the MCU and the loosely intertwined storyline, you will be a fan of this movie. That being said, it would be entertaining as a stand alone film. This movie, while not completely kid unfriendly, is not wholesome, exactly. There is a good mix of action and comedy, as one might expect from a Paul Rudd film but neither outshines the other. It is an all around good film.
Rating:
9.5/10

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Z Nation Season One

Z Nation
Season One
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Horror
Starring: Kellita Smith, DJ Qualls, Keith Allen, Russell Hodgkinson, Pisay Pao, Nat Zang, Michael Welch, Anastasia Baranova, Tom Everett Scott
2014

Review
This series is a Syfy original series. This is the studio that brought you Sharknado, so keep that in mind. This series may not get the chance it deserves because of the joke of a movies that have come from this channel. The show is a fast paced action set in a zombie apocalypse. There is plenty of humor to break the tension, mostly intentional. There is a fair amount of attachment to some of the characters and their stories. This show will be compared to The Walking Dead for obvious reasons. It is not a fair comparison as they are set in different timelines. and universes. It is more fast paced and bit more B-Horror like the older zombie movies. One could easily love both shows though they are each unique from each other. This show is only on the first season and is worth a watch.
8.5/10
Z Nation on IMDB

Sunday, January 19, 2014

History of Future Folk

The History of Future Folk
Genre: Comedy, Sci-Fi
Starring: Nils d'Aulaire, Jay Klaitz, Julie Ann Emery, April L. Hernandez, Dee Snider
2012

Review
Honestly, before watching this movie, I had never heard of Future Folk. Apparently, that does not matter when it comes to enjoying this film. The characters are enjoyable, the premise is fresh, and the music is great. The hero of planet Hondo and his new friend make a great duo. One great aspect of this film is the ability to cross gender preferences. In other words, this would make a good movie to watch with your boyfriend or girlfriend. It has the potential for both to enjoy. This movie is not a huge blockbuster that everyone has heard of, but if you get a chance to watch this movie, please do so.
8.5/10
The History of Future Folk on IMDB

Monday, January 13, 2014

The To Do List

The To Do List
Genre: Comedy
Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Johnny Simmons, Bill Hader, Alia Shawkat, Scott Porter, Rachel Bilson, Donald Glover, Andy Samberg, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Connie Britton, Clark Gregg
2013

Review
This comedy has quite a few recognizable faces. Starring Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation)as an uptight high school graduate set on loosening up. Plaza is backed up by such notables as Bill Hader (Saturday Night Live), Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development), and Donald Glover (Community). That is about half of the faces you may recognize in this film. Aside from the great casting, the film had some really funny moments. The premise is fresh in an industry in which people are constantly remarking on the lack of creativity. If you enjoy any of the actors mentioned above and their typical roles, this movie will be an good match for you.
7.5/10
The To Do List on IMDB

Friday, January 10, 2014

Dead Man Down

Dead Man Down
Genre: Action, Thriller
Starring: Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace, Terrence Howard, Dominic Cooper
2013

Review
Colin Farrell stars as a enforcer for a gang in this thriller. There is plenty of action for those who seek that type of film, which considering you sought out a review for this film, is right up your alley. Surprisingly, most of these characters show some humanity which makes the action ever a little more exciting.Even if you are not a fan of Colin Farrell, this movie may be worth watching if you like action movies. If you find yourself trying find a movie to watch, give this one a chance. Chances are you won't finish it feeling like you wasted your time.
7/10
Dead Man Down on IMDB

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Saints Row IV

Saints Row IV
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, RPG
2013

Review

Saints Row is back for fourth installment. The amount of customization of the character is always a plus for this series. Also, as always, there plenty of Easter eggs and references that should result in a chuckle or two. There is tons to do in the sandbox. The amount of play time that can be invested in the game is impressive. The plot is a little over the top, which is what I think they were going for in this game. It is seems the game uses the plot to get away with more of the cartoonish mayhem from Saints Row: The Third. Really, the only downside to the game is the amount of ridiculousness with the plot, but that is a personal preference. I would recommend it to most anyone who likes getting bang for their buck or is a fan of the series.
8.5/10
Saints Row IV Website: Click Here

Sunday, August 12, 2012

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Donald Sutherland
2012

Review
This movie is based on the books and is the first of the soon to be released follow-ups. Considering the one-sided fan demographic breakdown of films like Twilight, this movie is probably overlooked by men. It is leaps and bounds better for men than the Twilight series. That being said, there should be no true comparisons between these two films. Considering it is pretty gender neutral, it is a good movie for couples. It is not exactly romantic but will entertain just the same. This movie is worth checking out.
9/10
The Hunger Games Official Site: Click Here
The Hunger Games on Netflix: Click Here

Monday, May 14, 2012

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
Genre: Action, Adventure
2012

Review

Resident Evil has a strong and loyal fanbase and for good reason. Lately, there has been a huge increase in the buzz around zombies. Resident Evil 6 will be released soon, and this game was supposed to help with the wait. The concept is a good one. It takes place between the events of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. It gives a different perspective of the of the events than Chris, Jill, or Leon, the usual characters of the game. The gameplay is weak. It really takes away from the overall experience of the game. How much a player will like it will really depend on how much they care about the story of the Resident Evil series. It is interesting to learn more and everything but that is the most enjoyable part of the game, for the most part. It is not absolutely horrible, but if you want to get it, you should probably get it when you can get it for cheap.
5/10
Resident Evil Website: Click Here

Saturday, January 14, 2012

UFC 142: Rio Aldo vs. Mendes

UFC 142: Rio Aldo vs. Mendes
January 14, 2012

Review
The UFC returns to Rio with the main event, Jose Aldo vs Chad Mendes. First, the other fights on the card were a mix. Edson Barboza showed some impressive skills in his defeat of Terry Etim. His knockout is one of the best knockouts in a while. The kick was clean and Etim tightened up and fell straight back like a board. Erick Silva, in his second UFC fight, stopped the fight against Carlo Prater even faster than his first. Sadly, it was negated by a controversial disqualification for illegal blows to the head. Despite the DQ, Silva still looked dominate in the short seconds of the fight. Rousimar Palhares had a great leglock submission victory against Mike Massenzio. The quickness of how Palhares pulling guard and finishing the submission was technical magic. Anthony "Rumble" Johnson was unable to make weight for his fight against Vitor Belfort. As disappointing as that fact is, his performance in the fight proved to be even worse. Belfort took advantage of Johnson's poor conditioning and ended the fight with a rear naked choke, while Johnson was too tired to do anything to defend himself. Finally, Jose Aldo, who is considered to be one of the best pound for pound fighters in MMA, knocked out Chad Mendes. Mendes had his back and when Aldo escaped, got a knee into Mendes' head. The finish was at the 4:59 mark of the first round. Only disappointment was the short length of the main event. The crowd was insane in the building as Aldo celebrated. There were a couple of highlight knockouts and an impressive submission in UFC 142. The finishes were great and overshadowed the disappointed disqualification and poor showing of Anthony Johnson. There have been better UFC events and worse UFC events.
6.5/10
UFC Official Website: Click Here

Friday, January 13, 2012

Assassin's Creed: Revelations

Assassin's Creed: Revelations
Genre: Action, Adventure
2011

Review

Ezio Auditore is back, not to mention, Desmond Miles and Altaïr ibn La-Ahad. The fourth game in the main series of Assassin's Creed had high expectations. The story is good. The transitions between playing as Ezio and Altaïr are smooth enough to not disrupt the game too much. There is hardly any Desmond in this game. The only real time spent playing as Desmond are some first person puzzle "journeys." These were probably the worst part of the game, but then again they were probably the only real bad part of the game. Plus, they are optional so no need to worry about those. The multiplayer is fun. Surprisingly, more fun than some people were expecting. Every game type has good things about them and it is a nice change pace from the other multiplayer games out there. One huge negative for the multiplayer is, if you rented the game, you only get a three day trial before you need to pay to play online. Ubisoft has done this with many games, and it really impacts impressions of the game that only a portion is offered to those who rent games. Even with as good as the multiplayer is, it still does not hurt the story or single player mode. A solid game that is only hurt by the limited multiplayer trial for renters and dull Desmond journeys.
7/10
Assassin's Creed Website: Click Here

Monday, January 9, 2012

Louis C.K.: Hilarious

Louis C.K.: Hilarious
Genre: Comedy, Stand-up
Starring: Louis C.K.
2009

Review

Stand-up comedian Louis C.K. has been gained huge following for his honest, raw comedy. Hilarious is a great example of how stand-up comedy is supposed to be performed. It is pure comedy, standing up. No running around stage, wild motions, or stolen material. Certain stretches will have you laughing out loud before your smile even wears off from the previous jokes. The crude jokes are delivered in a way that you can't help but laugh even if you feel you should be appalled. If you are a fan of stand-up comedy, this is a great watch. It is hilarious with no threat of being accused of hyperbole.
9.5/10
Louis C.K.'s website: Click Here
Hilarious on Netflix: Click Here

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Cowboys & Aliens

Cowboys & Aliens
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action
Starring: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell, Paul Dano, Keith Carradine, Adam Beach, Clancy Brown, Walton Goggins
2011

Review
Some of you may be skeptical about watching this movie because of the western and alien mixture in the plot. This is understandable, but by the end of the movie, it is not an issue. The action keeps you engaged enough that if you had any doubts, you forget about them eventually. It is directed by Jon Favreau, and some even bigger names are attached to this movie. This fact sets some high expectations. While not being an instant classic, it is a solid movie. Fans of westerns and fans of sci-fi should be able to enjoy this movie alike.
8.5/10
Cowboys & Aliens Official Site: Click Here
Cowboys & Aliens on Netflix: Click Here

Saturday, January 7, 2012

The Smurfs

The Smurfs
Genre: Family, Children
Starring: Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays, Hank Azaria, Sofía Vergara, Katy Perry, Alan Cumming, Fred Armisen, George Lopez, Kenan Thompson, Jeff Foxworthy, John Oliver, Wolfgang Puck, B.J. Novak, Paul Reubens
2011

Review
This children's comedy is loaded with star voices. There is a certain level of fun trying to guess who voices which character, with a few obvious ones. The best performance was Hank Azaria for his role as Gargamel. He was perfect for that role. This has gotten good feedback from children which is good since it should be the target audience, but it also a good movie to adults. Especially, adults who grew up watching the cartoons. As far as children go, the ratings would probably be higher if only reviewed by kids. Taking into account that adults are going to watch this too, it probably not rated as highly as it could be rated. It is good movie for the kids, with enough humor that the adults won't hate the movie. That being said, if there are no children or you did not grow up enjoying the cartoons, pick an alternative movie, because the movie is geared more toward children. There are probably more choices available that would be better use of your time, if you choose to use that time watching a movie.
7/10
The Smurfs from Sony Pictures: Click Here
The Smurfs on Netflix: Click Here

Friday, January 6, 2012

The Change-Up

The Change-Up
Genre: Comedy
Starring: Jason Bateman, Ryan Reynolds, Olivia Wilde, Leslie Mann, Alan Arkin
2011

Review
This is another body switch comedy. This formula for a movie has been around for a while. There have been successes and failures. This was a pretty big success. The raunchy humor is on point. Watching Jason Bateman play the obnoxious guy is pretty funny. As he is known for playing more level-headed characters, this was a nice change of pace. The supporting cast does a great job and the daughter in the movie, played by Sydney Rouviere, is a great actress, especially considering her age. This movie is definitely worth seeing if you are a fan of Jason Bateman, Ryan Reynolds, or raunchy comedies in general.
8/10
The Change-Up Official Site: Click Here
The Change-Up on Netflix: Click Here

Monday, January 2, 2012

Bad Teacher

Bad Teacher
Genre: Comedy
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Justin Timberlake, Lucy Punch, Phyllis Smith, John Michael Higgins
2011

Review
This comedy has a great cast. Cameron Diaz for starters, but she is not best cast member in the movie. Jason Segel delivers another great performance, just adding to his list of solid jobs in movies. Lucy Punch does a good job playing the role of the uptight teacher across the hall. Her job in this movie will probably get her a few more acting jobs in the future. Phyllis Smith and John Michael Higgins support the other actors and help with some of the best scenes in the movie. Finally, Justin Timberlake plays his role near perfectly and adds another notch under his belt as an actor. There are quite a few laugh out loud moments, depending on your sense of humor. Though this movie is toward the top of the list for raunchy comedy of 2011, it is sure fall behind some others. If raunchy humor is your type of humor, this movie is definitely worth watching, though.

7.5/10
Bad Teacher Official Site: Click Here
Bad Teacher on Netflix: Click Here

Friday, December 30, 2011

Gears of War 3

Gears of War 3
Genre: Shooter
2011

Review

This is the final installment of the Gears of War franchise. These games have been both praised and scrutinized for the multiplayer. The praise comes from the unique experience of the multiplayer itself. The over the shoulder, third person sets it apart from the typical first person shooter. The scrutiny comes from the amount of lag and glitches in the game. This is the first game to have dedicated servers and it shows. The gameplay is much smoother than the previous two games. Glitching is not as big of a problem in this game as the other two as well. This makes for probably the best multiplayer experience that this franchise has offered up. Naturally, there are players who dislike the multiplayer for a number of reasons, but it most likely boils down to refusal to get as good at the new game as they were with the older ones. The campaign is about as long as the others with a little more substance. The ability to play a 4-player cooperative is a bonus. However, the campaign is not the main reason people will be playing this game. Finally, the achievements seem a little desperate to keep people playing. This is a little understandable since it is the final game. The Seriously 3.0 is a little out of reach of casual gamers who cannot invest hours upon hours on a single game. Epic Games did a good job with this game though, and it is a nice conclusion to a great franchise.
8.5/10
Gears of War Official Site: Click Here

Thursday, December 29, 2011

The Last Circus

The Last Circus
Genre: Thrillers, Spanish
Starring: Carlos Areces, Antonio de la Torre, Carolina Bang
2010

Review
This movie has some good imagery. The dark settings and mood make the bright colors of the outfits, make up, and blood stand out more. It does catch the attention of the eye. The story is a boy has a rough childhood and decides to follow in his father's footsteps to become a clown. After landing his first gig, he falls in love with a woman who has an abusive boyfriend. This boyfriend happens to be the other clown in his circus. This sets off a chain of events that leads to some demented moments. The first half of the movie seems calm, with a love triangle. Eventually, it takes a strange turn into more disturbing scenes. It seems a little more dramatic than most movies, but that seems to be the approach. Also, there is a lot of symbolism throughout the movie that you may catch every once in a while. However, the trailer gives high hopes for the movie, and it just seems to not be able to live up to the trailer. While there are worse movies to watch, there are definitely some better ones to watch, as well. That being said, the imagery, gore, and general insanity could lead this movie into a cult status.
6/10
Official The Last Circus Website: Click Here
The Last Circus on Netflix: Click Here

Friends With Benefits

Friends With Benefits
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Starring:: Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis, Patricia Clarkson, Jenna Elfman, Bryan Greenberg, Richard Jenkins, Woody Harrelson
2011

Review
This is a romantic comedy. Most romantic comedies are dreadful for men to watch. This particular one though, toed the line between a movie for men and women. Until this movie, this had been done with little success in this genre. Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis do an excellent job. Although, they had already proven to be good actors, it is surprising sometimes how versatile they can be considering their roots (Timberlake being from *Nsync and Kunis playing Jackie on That 70's Show.) Woody Harrelson has a great supporting role in the movie, and offers plenty of laughs in case the movie gets too romance heavy. Though, it never really does. If more romantic comedies were like this movie, more boyfriends would probably be willing to go to the theater rather than being dragged by their girlfriends.
8.5/10
Friends With Benefits Official Site: Click Here
Friends With Benefits on Netflix: Click Here

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

CashCrate.com

CashCrate.com
Website
Earn Money Online through Various Ways
Est. 2006

Review
There are plenty of websites that claim to pay you money for doing certain things online. Many of those websites are scams. This website is not. Now, there are certain things to take into consideration when you are considering signing up for a website like this. One thing is, this will not replace your job and be your main source of income. Realistically, a person can make about an average of $3-$4 an hour with a lot of hard work, maybe a little more. There are a lot ways to earn money on the site. The tasks can be offers that can earn you a wide range of amounts, or you can do surveys that are about $0.50-$0.80 per survey. Also, you can check in daily for $0.03 and watch short videos for a few cents per video. The minimum $20.00 payout is easy to reach, plus if you do not earn $20.00 in a month, your earnings just carry over to the next month. Finally, you can refer people and earn 20% of what they earn. There is a lot of potential to earn if you put a good amount of work. The pros definitely outweigh the cons on this site, and it has paid for my Gamefly subscription since I signed up.
9/10
Sign Up for CashCrate: Click Here

Emerson Coin Sorter

Emerson Coin Sorter
Electronic

Review
Emerson makes a wide variety of products. This is one of their many products. This coin sorter is one of the cheaper options available. That being said, cheaper is not always better. One downfall of this coin sorter is that, it does not count the coins, like many of the other options do. That is acceptable due to the price of the product. Some people have reported the coin sorter breaking after only a few usages. In the personal test run, after about three uses, coins got jammed, falling out of the machine, and even getting stuck in the machine. The tubes did not actually hold the correct amount of coins to roll up what it had counted. If you save up your change enough that you need a coin sorter, you may want to take some that change and invest it into something a little more expensive. The coin counting is not a must, but the product working properly is, so find a different coin sorter.
2/10
Emerson Coin Sorter on Amazon: Click Here