Journey 2: The Mysterious Island: Review

Today I finally mustered enough courage to take my family to see Journey 2: Mysterious Island. The trailers left the impression that this was going to be a cheesy and boring moving. However I quickly found this wasn't the case.

Breakdown:


Director:
Brad Peyton

Stars:
Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock (Hank Parsons)
Josh Hutcherson (Sean Anderson)
Vanessa Hudgens (Kailani)
Michael Caine (Alexander Anderson)
Luis Guzman (Gabato)
Kristin Davis (Liz Anderson)


Genre: Action/Adventure
Rated: PG
Run-time: 94 Mins
Released: 2/10/12


Plot:


As the title suggests, this is the sequel to the 2008 film Journey to the Center of The Earth. Much like the first film, it is loosely based on novels written by Jules Verne. However that's where the similarities end. Brendan Fraser is nowhere to be found in this film and there is no explanation as to why he isn't there. Hutcherson is the only returning member, and there is almost no reference to the events of the previous film.

When we catch up with Sean Anderson, he is on the run from the cops for breaking into a satellite facility. When he fails to escape, the police call his stepfather Hank Parsons to pick him up. The next day Sean admits that he broke into the facility to capture a broadcast that he believed was from his grandfather Alexander. Hank and Sean decode the message and discover that the message was about The Mysterious Island. The two of them set out for the island of Palau to search for its location.

Much of the plot of Journey 2 is rather far fetched, but that shouldn't stop you from enjoying this movie. The story won't win any awards, but it entertaining none the less. Parts of the movie felt a little rushed due to the pacing of the film, but it didn't kill the movie. It always seemed like there was something going on, and this keeps the audience interested.

Visuals & Sound:

Journey 2 is a good looking movie. The CG creatures in this movie were well done and there were only a few that looked out of place. Additionally there were some breathtaking shots of the locale that really make the island feel authentic. 3D works well in this film, although some will feel it wasn't used enough to warrant the extra cost. There are a few bird and bug scenes that looked really cool in 3D. The sound is ok, but nothing spectacular. I think that it could've been more effectively used to help setup some of the scenes.

Performances:

Josh Hutcherson again plays the role of the smart but sometimes moody Sean Anderson. At the start of the film he has a bit of a superiority complex toward his stepfather Hank. Once he meets Kailani, he becomes a more likeable character. Hutcherson does a good job, however he doesn't have the same presence as some of the other actors in the film.

Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson brings his trademark swagger to the screen as Hank Parsons. I found it very entertaining watching the dynamic relationship between Hank and Sean. Even though he spent a majority of the movie trying to earn Sean's respect, it was entertaining and funny. I also want to know if he ad-libbed some of the nicknames used because they are awesome. My personal favorites were "The Pec Pop of Love" and "The Thunder Cookie".

Luis Guzman as Gabato was my favorite performance of the film. He is the loveable tour guide and father of Kailani. He has a warm and humorous personality and makes every scene he is in more enjoyable. His performance kept the movie from getting too serious and that's a good thing.

Sean's grandfather is played by Michael Caine. Through a good portion of the movie, he comes off as arrogant, especially when dealing with Hank. While Caine plays this part well, I didn't fully find him believable as this great explorer.

Vanessa Hudgens plays the smart and feisty Kailani. She is Sean's love interest, but doesn't really do much else.

Rating:


Journey 2: The Mysterious Island is an entertaining thrill-ride that is filled with strange creatures, beautiful settings and good action.  The 3D adds a little something extra to the movie, but some will feel that the extra cost isn't worth it. The story is not epic by any means, but the movie it still enjoyable. This movie feels more like a standalone title than an actual sequel. I think this movie is a good family flick and overall people should give this movie a chance. I rate it at 3.5 out 5 stars.

Which is the Better RPG?

Skyrim or Amalur?

First Impressions: Mass Effect 3

February 14th marked the release of the demo for Mass Effect 3, one of the most anticipated games of 2012. Players will once again get to suit up as Commander Shepard and fight against the Reapers. My expectations for this were high and I wasn't disappointed.

Breakdown:


Developer: Bioware
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC
Genre: Action Role-playing
Release date: March 6th (North America)

At the start of the demo players are given 3 choices, Action, Role Playing and Story. Action mode allows you to experience the combat and conversations played as cut scenes.  Role Playing mode delivers the classic Mass Effect we are used to, with full control of the dialogue and combat. Finally, Story mode lets you fully control the story without having to worry about combat.

The demo is broken up into 2 sections. The first part take place on earth and is basically a tutorial. It also sets the stage for the beginning of the game. The second part takes place at a later point in the game. Shepard must escort a Krogan to safety, but that's easier said than done.

The overall look of the game is what you would expect, similar to its predecessors, but with some improvements.  Even with that said , Mass Effects 3 is the best looking game of the series. Both the environments and character models look great. Level design seems more diverse than in the previous two games and I hope this pattern carries throughout the entire game. Some of the menus and visuals have been revamped and these changes are for the better in my opinion.

One of the new additions to Mass Effect 3 I was curious about were the voice commands. Through Kinect, you can issue voice commands to both Shepard and his crew. For example if you want Liara to use warp simply say "Liara Warp", and she will cast it on the enemy you're aiming at. It can also be used in dialogue scenes and to do things like open doors. The addition of voice commands really makes the combat in ME 3 feel like a free and seamless experience. Players no long have to open up another screen to switch weapons or use their biotic powers. I do suggest that you check your Kinect settings before you play, just to ensure that mics pick up your voice.

Now that I've played the demo, I am even more excited for the full games release. I have seen no glitches after a couple play-throughs. Everything about this game feels and looks better than in the previous titles. Players should be able to clear both missions in about 35 - 50 minutes. That's plenty of time to get a feel for the game. This is going to be one of the best games of 2012. Make sure you check out the demo for Mass Effect 3.

Kingdoms of Amalur Reckoning: Review

I admit that after playing the demo, I wasn't overly excited about the release of KOA: Reckoning. Now that I've had a chance to really get into this game, I have to say that Amalur is one of the best games to come out this year.

Breakdown:



Platforms: PS3, Xbox, & PC
Rating: M for Mature
Genre: RPG
Mode: Single-Player
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: February 7th, 2012


Story:

Penned by 22 time New York Times best selling author R.A. Salvatore, the story in KOA: Reckoning is one of magic, fantasy and destiny. The opening of the game is a little dark considering you're dead. After being thrown out like Tuesday's trash, you awaken in a dumping ground of dead bodies with little idea of what happened. As you seek answers you become intertwined in a tale that feels like an epic fantasy novel.

Presentation:

KOA's cartoonish look will draw comparisons to the Fable series. Just about every environment is filled with vibrant colors. From mist filled caves to lush forests, each diverse setting looks wonderful. Visual effects and lighting are cleverly used and draw players into an immersive world. While it doesn't have the same look as a game like Skyrim, the settings are beautiful in thier own right. The world of Amalur feels much more fantastic. For the most part NPCs fit their settings, however some of their movements are stiff at times. Also, your character doesn't speak or do much else when interacting with them. It almost makes your character seem like a bystander while you choose conversation options. While this doesn't kill the experience, I felt it would've been more engaging to have a character that doesn't come off as a mute.

Game-play:

Just about everything you expect to get out of a good RPG you will find in KOA. There's plenty of quests and tasks to keep you occupied. If you need a break you from the grind, there are 3 types of crafting available. Blacksmithing allows you to create weapons and armor. Sagecrafting allows you to make gems that enhance your equipment. Finally you can create potions using Alchemy.

There are 4 playable races to choose from, each with their own perks. There are plenty of customization options to give your character its own unique look. Players can also choose from 3 talent trees. Might is the Warrior class, Finesse is the Rouge class and Sorcery will take you down the path of a Mage. You will be able to mix and match skills from each tree to build a character to suit your style of play. As you progress in the game, you will earn Destiny Cards that further compliment your skills. Players are free to experiment with a wide variety of skills to create a character that feels like it's tailored to them. If you aren't happy with your set up you can simply pay a Fateweaver to start you over from scratch.

While most RPGs have somewhat simple or boring combat systems, Kingdoms of Amalur stands as the antithesis. Not only is the combat system great, it's what sets it apart from every other RPG on the market. Players can chain together insane combos using standard attacks, ranged attacks, special skills and magic. Not only do these combos do a-lot of damage, but they look cool when you pull them off. I found myself looking for things to kill just to see what kind of moves I could pull off.

Rating:


Saying that Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a good game is an understatement. This game has everything you are looking for. A great story that is well told, addicting combat and a world full of wonder to explore. The number of quests and the high replay value will keep you busy for months. There are a few glitches here and there, but nothing that takes away from the game too much. If you're a RPG fan this game is a must have. I give this game an 8.5 out of 10.

Samsung Galaxy Note

Our thoughts and feelings on the Samsung Galaxy Note

Samsung Galaxy Note: Bridging the Gap?

We've seen this before haven't we? A smartphone & tablet hybrid that promises to give the ultimate mobile experience. Enter the Samsung Galaxy Note complete with built-in stylus.

The Note has a 5.3 HD Super AMOLED touch display that is absolutely gorgeous. It runs Android 2.3.5 (AKA Gingerbread) with a Touchwiz interface. Combine this with a 1.4GHz dual core processor and the Note promises to be not only fast, but responsive as well.

Samsung has decided to include a stylus called the SPen along with this device. It can be used to start apps, select options in menus, and write notes. All of this is nothing new. However the SPen also allows you to annotate PDFs and take screen-shots. There are also a number of apps that have been created for the stylus such as SPad and Smemo.

For you media junkies out there, the Galaxy Note comes with a 8 MP rear facing camera and a 2 MP front facing camera. It's capable of recording video in full 1080p. As far as memory this Android device comes with 16GB built-in and supports up to 32GB with a micro-SD. Powering the device is a 2.500 mAh battery. I have seen varying times, but the battery life seems to be clocked at about 9 hours.

This devices dimensions (146.9 x 83 x 9.7 mm) make it bigger than a Dell Streak, but smaller that a Nook Color. It's also not quite as portable as you might want, but it not as bulky as other tablets on the market. It's surprisingly light weighing in at 178 grams.

Smartphone or tablet, which one is it? I have to say that ultimately this is a phone. You aren't going to be buying this just to sit at home and play Angry Birds. You're buying this because you want to be able to make calls and have the functionality of a tablet as an added bonus.

The Samsung Galaxy Note comes state-side on February 19th for $299 with a 2 year contract with AT&T. It's also expected that the OS will be updated to Ice Cream sometime soon. The big question is how this device will be received by the public. Other hybrid devices haven't exactly set the world on fire. When you make a portable device this big, it almost becomes an inconvenience. Ultimately, only time will tell if this truly is the device that Samsung claims it is.