DEVIL MAY CRY REBOOT

If anyone has been perusing my other video-game related posts, they'd probably be surprised that DmC would even register on my radar. I can't say that I'm impressed by ... well, really anything about these games. I find the writing subpar, the characterization uninteresting, the storyline blase, and the gameplay of the button-mashing variety. 

But, they are flashy, a cacophony of drug induced or enhanced visuals inspired by over-the-top eastern anime style combat. Giant swords and impossible gun-tricks.

So here we sit, with a ponce of a teenager with superpowers, (and since he has black hair, many a DmC fan is in an uproar for some strange reason), big flashy combat, over-the-top set pieces, and a hellova Bill O'Riley parody, which did make me giggle. 

For what it is, and for what it's trying to do, I do not dislike the DmC franchise, nor do I have any doubts about this game in continuing the franchise. I am merely uninterested and unimpressed, but I have to admit, I don't think that Capcom or Ninja Theory are trying to reach the level of characterization or storytelling matched by Quantic Dream or the Brian Fargo. So for what their ultimate goals are, I am sure they're on their way to a successful game. We shall see.

~ Godzello

THE CABIN IN THE WOODS IS A HORROR BLAST

My sincerest apologies for being so behind in my posts. My internet connection was cut short at the same moment that I was struck down by a nasty infection. Imagine being bedridden for five days straight without an internet connection. It was a lonely time. Not really, I did a lot of reading. A review promoting Del Toro's vampire thriller The Strain is on my to-blog list.

Joss Whedon and debut director Drew Goddard

But right before my ailment and my disconnect from the digital and outside worlds, I got the pleasure to go and see the midnight premier of Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard's horror comedy, The Cabin in the Woods, a love-letter of sorts to the classic teen slasher monster horror genre that was popularized in the 80s and the 90s, and has been called a 'game changer' and 'not the last in the genre, but one of the last' most reviewers I've read noting that there is not much left that can top the concept.

However, as Joss Whedon said in an interview, it is a film best enjoyed without foreknowledge, so I shall do my best to avoid spoilers. Unfortunately, a keen eye and the theatrical trailer alone can ruin a few twists along the way, although of my group of like-minded friends I seemed to be the only one to catch it.

The cast is a clever twist on the classic archetypes.

The film stars a fairly fresh cast or recognizable college kids on a vacation at a cabin in the woods. I will admit I did start singing "Cabin in the Woods" from the Evil Dead Musical during the film to the uproarious laughter of my friends.

With the foreknowledge of what the film is trying to do, watching the traditional horror movie elements come into play (ever monitored by the wonderfully cast Richard Jenkins & Bradley Whitford) left me with a giddy sense of glee, almost as much as when the story deviates and blazes its own trail, altering your perceptions on nearly every film of the genre that came before it. 

And Amy Acker!

Otherwise, the cast is a hoot, and for other Whedonites there are plenty of recognizable faces, as always, and none of them seem the slightest bit out of place or forced, as is with certain directors and their favorite actors. Fran Kranz, who worked with Joss on his show Dollhouse, is particularly charming and likable, what with his nerd-conspiracy talk and his collapsible coffee-mug-bong. And since the film's release was delayed by several years, it's strange to think that we are seeing a pre-Thor Chris Hemsworth, who does a fantastic job.

I'm just waiting for the merchandising.

Well, as much as it pains me to grit my teeth and refrain from spoiling any more for you, I must bid thee adieu. The film is a riot and a half, got plenty of good scares, and a fun, rollercoaster of a story. 

 ~ Godzello

TOTAL RECALL 2012 REMAKE

I can honestly say that I don't think I've been had this mixed a personal reaction to a new franchise before. I, like so many in my age-group, saw the original Total Recall in all of it's glory, when we were kids. Which makes me wonder what possessed our parents to think that these were good choices (other top contenders on the list are Carnosaur II, Event Horizon, and Se7en). 

Ooh ... shiiiiny.

When I found out that they were remaking the 1990 science fiction action film bypredict that they will be one of the most enjoyable  seeing the new film's theatrical trailer, I was initially wowed. The film looks great, shiny special effects, flashy action, and Colin Farrell and Kate Beckinsale, both of whom I consider very talented actors, and will likely be the selling point of this remake.

So, with this in mind, I decided to entertain both my childhood nostalgia and rewatch the original. What I did not initially consider was this strange buzzing I had in the back of my mind, a tingling sensation warning me not to do it. 

However, being American, I ignored by better judgement and being an uncommon American poked my head out of the sand long enough to realize what that buzzing was all about. 

It was my bullshit remake sense tingling.

I can say that the further I got into the Schwarzenegger-fest of awesome acting, gore, and triple boobed martian mutants, the more I started to wonder what the hell they were doing in the remake. I mean, I appreciate a remake that can take a concept as a springboard and take it in a new fresh direction, but the new Total Recall doesn't ... it looks like it's taking the base concept of Total Recall to retell the Bourne Identity with the gritty-urban style of Blade Runner. How can it fail?

Pictured: Not Mars.

Anywhoo, the film is being directed by Len Wiseman, the man who behind the Underworld & Live Free or Die Hard, and I'll leave you to form your own opinions about that.

The plot of the remake is that or Euroamerica and New Shanghai fighting for power in the dystopian future of 2084. So far as I can tell there is no Mars and will be no three boobed mutants. Colin Farrell follows in the Terminator's footsteps and learns that his memories are implanted and that he is a secret agent, and joins with a young freedom fighter and must overthrow the Euroamerican President.

And it's not on Mars.

All, I can think of is that all of the things that made Total Recall a simply bad-ass movie have been stripped away and replaced with contemporary Hollywood filler. And to that I say, "Humbug."

~ Godzello

SETH MACFARLANE'S TED

Look! It's just like the poster for Big Daddy!
Obviously this will be a film of class.

My initial, unbiased reaction to this trailer was a resounding, "What the f*** did I just watch?"

Seriously.

And oddly, the hardest part of the entire trailer to swallow is not the talking teddy bear, but the idea of

Mark Wahlberg shacking up with Mila Kunis.

I mean ... it's just weird.

Anywho, Ted is the story of a young boy who wished his teddy bear to life, and now years later, has to deal with getting the damn bear to move out, as written by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane in his first big screen debut, and as such, will unsurprisingly receive an R rating for crude sexual content, pervasive language, and some drug use. 

Speaking of drug abuse, I can't imagine the drugs that were involved in the conception of this idea.

Oh, right ....

Oh, and before I forget, the film is set to be released July 13, 2012. Wouldn't want to let that nugget slip by, now would we?

~ Godzello

GUY PEARCE'S 'LOCKOUT'

Guy Pearce turned his grittiness up to 11.

Coming to a theater near you on April 13 2012 is Guy Pearce as Hugh Jackman playing Snake Plissken, only he's not Hugh Jackman (although he looks a lot like him) and he's not Kurt Russel (no eyepatch), and he's not escaping from anywhere. He's Snow ("loose cannons" don't need surnames) breaking into an orbiting space prison to rescue the president's daughter (Maggie Grace) from the prisoners who have taken control all to clear his own name of the crime he didn't commit in a race against time before the station crashes. Man, this sounds so original it almost hurts. Anyone else plan to sing along upon the film's momentous release, cause I sure know I will.

I think he just dropped something really important, like a Twinkie.

Now don't get me wrong, Guy Pearce is one of my favorite actors. Momento was wonderfully done and he and Jeremy Irons were the best part of the The Time Machine, but seriously ... this movie has all the ingredients of summer blockbuster flop.

Conversely, it could just be a damn fun romp, what with the plucky male/female duo in a race against time and baddies amid extravagant visuals. Besides, I loved Expendables, so I can't let myself get too hoity-toity. That's for the professional critics who can afford to be all snarky and whatnot.

I can see him thinking, "And if I time this right, I can still make it home for my soaps."

So, in the meantime, have fun with the trailer popping up on your youtube videos until the time of the release and we'll see which side the coin lands on, shall we?

~ Godzello

JETHRO TULL'S SEQUEL ALBUM, THICK AS A BRICK 2

Jethro Tull, the band notoriously famous for beating Metallica at the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Vocal or Instrumental with a flute, will soon be releasing an all new album.

You know I can't begin to express how happy this makes me (that they beat Metallica and that they're making a new album).

So, forty years after the original release of Thick As a Brick, a satirical poke at concept albums, Jethro Tull has announced the release of sequel album, Thick as a Brick 2. It is reported that the album will be about, "what might have befallen the child poet Geral Bostock in later life," and that it will be "a full length Progressive Rock "concept" album worthy of its predecessor."

The album will be released on April 2, 2012. 

~ Godzello

STARSHIP TROOPERS: INVASION TRAILER

The tagline's mentality alone is what got this movie made.

Of all franchises to warrant another installment ... well, I can't say I was expecting to ever see another Starship Troopers. 

I want to know who that voice actor is ....

After Marauder in 2008, well ... I had assumed that the series had sufficiently buried itself in its own grave, but apparently not, with director Shinji Aramaki (who I've never even heard of) taking the helm, and Casper Van Dien returning. The animated film, entitled Starship Troopers: Invasion, is set to be released this summer direct to DVD and will ignore the other two installments in the franchise, which is probably the wisest decision they could have made. I mean, Casper Van Dien's Oscar worthy acting aside, and the knowledge that Neil Patrick Harris' intense staring contest with Van Dien's chin was probably anything but platonic, that movie ruled.

Just look at him emote!

I just have to wonder if Robert A. Heinlein is rolling in his grave yet.

~ Godzello

OBSIDIAN TO JOIN WASTELAND 2 DEVELOPMENT

There's been an update on the Wasteland 2 front. Brian Fargo has sweetened the pot for those funding the project even further, if the Wasteland 2 Kickstarter reaches $2.1 million before it closes, Obsidian Entertainment will join the development of the game. 

Obsidian was formed by names previously attached to Black Isle Studios, who's lineup of games have made up the better portion of my gaming experience (and I mean better in regards to quality, not quantity). Chris Avellone, a Olympian figurehead of game design, having worked on Fallout 2, Planescape Torment, Knights of the Old Republic II, and Fallout: New Vegas, reported, "Wasteland is one of my favorite RPGs of all time, and when Brian asked if I wanted to work on the sequel, I jumped at the chance."

Also, Fargo had to say of Obsidian's addition, it would give Wasteland 2 access to "an incredible library of story, dialog and development tools." As Andy Chalk, from the Escapist pointed out, this is "about as close as we're ever going to come to an Interplay/Black Isle reunion."

So, people, it's time to hit up Kickstarter.com, and get this done!

~ Godzello