Mortal Kombat

        The newest installment of the Mortal Kombat  franchise is so much more then a revival of the series. The classic fighting formula is back with the reintroduction of the 2D fighting plane, but there are plenty of new features that certainly give this game the edge as the best MK game to date. The fighter roster it self is stacked, focusing on characters from the first three MK games, the line up is as follows; Baraka, Cyrax, Ermac, Jade, Jax, Johnny Cage, Kabal, Kano, Kitana, Kung Lao, Liu Kang, Mileena, Nightwolf, Noob Saibot, Quan Chi, Raiden     Reptile, Scorpion, Sektor, Shang Tsung, Sheeva, Sindel, Smoke, Sonya, Stryker, Sub-Zero, Cyber Sub-Zero as well as the appearance of Goro, Kintaro and Shao Kahn as unplayable boss fights, and of course the PS3 exclusive charter, Kratos.
         Each character is far more unique then previous installments, each individual character possessing there own fighting styles and stances, fatalities, special moves and victory poses. The game play has returned to its classic 2D plane with new controls that seem to be adapted from other fighting franchises such as tekken, where each bottom is in control of a corresponding individual limb. One new feature included in this game is the addition the "super meter" which is filled by chaining together combos, taking damage and a few other elements of the game play. The super meter consists of three levels, the first level if used allows the player to deliver a stronger, amped up specialty move. The second gives the player a chance to stop powerfully incoming combos from landing and the third level if filled allows a player to execute an insane new game play combo called "X-Ray Move"

        This is by far one of the coolest innovations I have seen in a fighting game and gives the player more amplitude to preform combos because of this reward. Each Character has their own special x-ray moves all which have a devastating effect on your opponent.
     Of course I could not write a review on Mortal Kombat with out commenting on the defining element of the series, the fatalities. Every character now has two of their very own finishing moves, along with some environmental fatalities that coincide with certain levels. They are plentiful, brutal and the best NetherrRalm has come up with so far. It was also a welcome sight to see the babalities make a return.      

     The game includes various modes including the story mode, which shows greater plot depth then previous games, online mode, tag team mode and the challenge tower. All of these factors attribute to the game being a must own for any Mortal Kombat fan of frightening genre enthusiast. This game gets five out five blenders. 

Ghostface, Royal Princes and Fast Cars

        Scream4 has gotten many mixed reviews but in my opinion this meta horror who-done-it slasher flick was a breath of fresh air not only for horror films but the movie going experience as is. Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arguette all return to there roles along with a new generation cast, which includes Emma Roberts as Sidney Prescotts cousin and Hayden Panettiere as her best friend Kirby Reed.
         Its been fifteen years since the Woodsboro massacre and on this anniversary two students are hacked and slashed by a new Ghostface. Sidney Prescott returns to town the very next day on the final stop of her best selling books tour. Of course it soon becomes very public knowledge that a new killer has emerged and so it seems Ghostface has returned to Woodsborro, but the question is who? I'm not going to post any spoilers but the ending and revelation is half the reason I was impressed with this film, along with the great and best scream opening there has been. This new decade, new rules Scream film balances well with a nostalgic presences of the first film. I give it two thumbs up and worth your theater buck for true horror genre fans.

  

       Your Highness is the latest film from the masterminds behind Pineapple Express as well as Role Models. James Franco and Danny McBride play bothers Fabious and Thadeous in this once upon a time fairy tail of knights, magic, and outlandish humor. The plot revolves around Fabious and his soon to to wife Belladona, played by the lovely Zoe Deschanel, however the wedding day does not go quite as played when an evil sorcerer, Leezar, kidnaps Belladonna and imprisons her with the intention of taking her virginity on the night the two moons converge, which will rebirth him into a dragoon with the ability to conquer Thadeous and Fabious's fathers kingdom. The two brother set out on a quest to rescue the fair maiden and thwart Leezar's evil scheme.
        The majority of critics gave this film a bad rating, Roger Ebert and Peter Travers gave the film 1/4 stars with Peter saying that nothing about the film worked. Some problems that many have had with the film was its weak script and vulgar witless humor which did not do justice to the idea of the movie being a spoof of the fantasy genre. The trailers may make this film seem like a stoner fantasy cross breed of Monty Pythons Holy Grail and Animal House humor but it does not live up to how good it was made out to be. In the end you have a great comedic cast thrown in to the realm of knights, kings and sorcerers. The humor is not for every one, so i recommend this to fans of Danny McBride and other raunchy comedy's, other then that I would pass on this film and save your theater bucks.      

     FastFive reunites the furious crew in this latest installment of this street racing, fast paced, action franchise. Brian O'Conner and Dom Toretto are at it again, however there most recent job takes an unexpected turn and the two are soon framed for the murder of several DEA agents. Heightened measures are soon taken by the US government to apprehend this notorious criminals with DSS agent Luke Hobbs spear heading the task force in charge of  capturing Brain and Dom. Over the top action.
     This film has gotten a lot of positive praise with many stating that this is the best film out of the entire series. Fast5 puts Vin and the Rock are back in there natural element, which is a hard hitting loud action flick, not to say there aren't any problems with the movie, many criticize the acting and dialogue as the component of the film that the budget obvious did not cover. However when people go to movies like this they are not expecting or looking for a academy award winning performance, there looking for entertainment and Fast5 delivers. This is a must see for any testosterone action enthusiasts and is worth you theater buck.   

Social Entertainment Media

        The entertainment media industry has developed and evolved over the past decade in very intrusting ways. One of the biggest changes I have noticed is the stronghold social networking has taken on the industry. In a matter of a day a new music video, song, movie, trailer or ad can spread and generate buzz throughout a half a million users. In this new age its about the now and next and the "then" comes much quicker, fifteen minutes of fame does not exist anymore its boiled down to fifteen seconds.
      
       Common tools of social networking such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube brought about this even faster moving online world that we all inhabit and this has made marketing, promotion and advertizing for companies and artists an easy task. When project development begins you can be sure that there is some form of viral internet tactic that will be used.

       Successful and popular examples of this include the Old Spice commercials and Geico commercials that make you laugh more then think about there product. These videos have led to response videos on there YouTube pages, which involve the Old Spice Guy and Geico's Overly Serious, Hard Boiled Question guy answering questions from fans and user, it should go with out saying that the question were collected from each companies Facebook and Twitter page. One more example of marketing I have is the Wheat Thins van tracking down Twitter follower and making commercials from it.
  
       Steeping away from Marketing we can also look at Artists who made a career using YouTube. Some names you may know include Bo Burnham, Katy Perry and Justin Bieber. These people used YouTube to showcase there talents and they were picked up be labels after gaining substantial subscribers. Now it is pretty much required for artists to have have Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages not only to promote them self but also live shows because now albums and MP3s just don't cut it and the demand for shows and interactivity with fans has become a necessity.
  
    Social networking has changed us and the entertainment world, Social media is the new front line and I look forward to see how it will evolve and change with us further, hopefully it will always be for the better.
       
      

Media Blender: Puree Review

Media Blender: Puree Review: "Today I bring you two movie, game and new TV series reviews. First is Rango, Rango tells the story of one odd lizard who is seeking out hi..."

Media Blender: It Came from Over Seas

Media Blender: It Came from Over Seas: " It should not really come as a surprise when you find out that your favorite foreign film or over seas show is getting a US version. Th..."

Puree Review

Today I bring you two movie, game and new TV series reviews.

First is Rango, Rango tells the story of one odd lizard who is seeking out his own true colors after he becomes stranded in the Mojave desert. At the heart of this film you Will find a wonderfully animated tail with a assortment of hilarious characters who join rango in his journey of pain, adventure, stories and water. This movie is all around fun and enjoyable, with both savvy adult humor as well as slapstick children laughs that adults too enjoy. The Nicktoons studio gives use this great cast and stunning animation which makes this movie worth your buck, two thumbs up.

Second I bring you Sucker Punch, a action fantasy thriller that takes us in to the mind of a young women's fantasy that she creates after being committed to a metal institution. This movie has gotten some negative reviews and i tend to agree with a few but not all. As cool as awesome loud action packed fights with scantly plaid gorgeous women are, it still leaves something missing, however when seeing a film like this i don't expect great depth or character development that's why its straight forward yet obscure plot line and music video style transitions,  Zack Snyder does give us what we want or at least think what we want. In the end Sucker Punch is just that, one thumb down.


Speaking of Sucker Punch I bring you The Sly Collection review. This wonderful diamond in the rough is a great deal for any fan of the cooper gang. This remaster Ps3 game has all three Sly Cooper games with 3d and move capability. The graphics are much and noticeably improved but still gives you that nostalgic feeling. There are also four new mini games which are fun to play a few time around. My biggest fault i found with the game was its lack of bonus content features and the wanting feeling it left with me for a brand new cooper game.


Next on the chop block is Homefront, this game reminds me of a cross between Killzone 2 and battlefield bad company. Personally I'm a CoD kinda guy and vehicle combat statige just isnt my thing. However the game is heavy loaded with a wide range of weapon, vechile and equipment selection and the perk and load style make for vast combinations of destruction. My fault with the game is its just not my style and the higher level players have can have the ability to spawn in a vechile but that's half the fun i guess, I'm spit on this review one thumb up one thumb down.


Finally I had the fortune to watch two new TV series and here is my review on both to wrap this weeks blog blend up.

Fist is the newest Starz fictional fantasy drama and for those who have seen past Starz shows such as Deadwood or Spartacus you will be familiar with the formula. This show has a strong cast and a exciting fictional grown up plot line and script that revolves around the Arthurian legend. The approach to magic and this fantasy grownup Camelot world will be a entrusting one, two thumbs up.

Last I bring you The Kennedy's. Now with films like The kings Speech wining best picture I was not surprised when I saw ads for this new historical drama. This will be a eight part mini series which i found addictive. Tom Wilkinson's performance as Joseph Kennedy as well as other fairly authentic performances pull you right in, just remember the TV is not giving you a history lesson and this gets two thumbs up.

It Came from Over Seas

    It should not really come as a  surprise when you find out that your favorite foreign film or over seas show is getting a US version. This has been a very popular trend in recent years and after all why not? if its a success there its bound to be good in the States right? Well sometimes it seems like a swing miss calculation. The hit show the Office is now entering its eighth season and has had vastly more positive then negative feed back from fans of the original, of course it helps that the shows original creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant were also involved in the making of the US show and are still producers.
    However if we take a look at a show like Skins; a very popular raunchy teen drama from the BBC, now entering its fifth season and its US MTV counterpart has just ended its first season many not return for a second. This shows original creator and writer Bryan Elsley also was apart of the creation of the US version but it has received much negative review. Well this may be do to the parallel story line, which drove some original fans crazy, seeing a scene be scene remake can do that.
   Finally I end on a new Syfy show also based on a BBC show, Being Human, now I personally am a fan of both shows and I think this has done a great job of what a US remake should be, making it relative to the states and its environment and putting enough changes in the story that it feels like different characters then the original.
   Needless to same, remakes, re-imaginings and adaptations are not going anywhere, so we have to just deal with it and not watch until it goes away.