Quantum of Solace

Let me start by saying that I love the James Bond universe as a whole. There are things about it that I don't like, such as how the action is a weird combination of over-the-top and realistic action (I typically like my action movies to go one way or the other, not float around in between), and a few other things here and there, but I love Bond as a character, and I like the inner workings of the James Bond world. 

That being said, I did not like Quantum of Solace very much. It had almost none of the qualities that made Casino Royal so excellent, and it added some qualities that made it worse. It was basically just a straight up action movie this time around. Bond never stopped moving, and there was really none of the cerebral, psychological thrill that there was in Casino Royal. I was never in suspense of what was about to happen, I was just waiting to see how Bond was going to kick an ass. The action wasn't even all that exciting. It was just run-of-the-mill explosions, gun fire, and the occasional chase.

Also, let me say something about technology in movies: Gigantic panes of touch-enabled glass are not the wave of the future. They are impractical, unnecessary, and no organization geared towards efficiency (such as MI6) would even think twice about wasting time and money on something like that. So stop it. 

I dunno. Quantum of Solace was entertaining in the fact that it gave me something to do for two hours, and it certainly wasn't terrible. It was still shot fairly well, the special effects were high quality, the plot was fairly interesting, and Daniel Craig is still a great Bond, but overall, it was just lackluster. 

Verdict: Watch if there is nothing better to do. It will keep your attention for a couple of hours, but don't expect a whole lot.

Tekkon Kinkreet

You know what? I'm just going to say it. Fuck American mainstream entertainment media. Every time I watch a movie like this, I become ever more ashamed of what passes for entertainment in this country as of late. When did we start settling for run of the mill action and drama movies that are just carbon copies of every other movie of their type? When did we become okay with non-originality (as long as the special effects are flashy), and when did the focus in North America become remaking every God damn movie that has ever existed? And when we're not remaking something, we're filming a sequel. 

When did we lose our imagination?

Anyway, personal gripes aside, Tekkon Kinkreet is a wonderful movie. It is charming, emotional (at times, heart-wrenching), deeply interesting, and the art is absolutely gorgeous. The story is set in a corrupt, dilapidated city (the time is ambiguous: it seems futuristic, but not for any particular reason) that is run by gangs, and follows the antics of two young delinquent orphans by the names of "Black" and "White." Of course the story becomes more than that, but that's the basic set-up. It is an absolutely wonderfully told story, with strong character development. I was incredibly attached to the two main characters by the end of the film, and felt genuinely interested in what was happening to them throughout the story. 

This movie is a work of art, in every respect. There's not much more I can say, because frankly, it's just excellent.

Verdict: Highly Recommended  

Jak X: Combat Racing (PS2)

Yes, that is a foot that you see.

First off, I know that I have been neglecting this blog lately. I've been incredibly busy, and haven't had much time for media of any sort, really. But no apologies. That's just how things go. So here's one now:

Jak X is a great game. For those of you familiar with the series, however, don't go into this expecting a Jak and Daxter game. This is purely an arcade racing title. You will spend no gameplay time outside of a vehicle, and the only thing in between races are menus. As far as the racing goes, it's pretty straightforward. It's your typical combat racer, with the standard offensive and defensive weapon pickups, boost pads, and the occasional environmental hazard. The vehicles handle fairly well, although the physics engine it does take some getting used to. The game has a physics engine in that things that happen in the game are consistent and make sense in relation to each other, but they don't really follow real world physics very closely. 

The game is also standard fair as far as game modes are concerned: story, exhibition race (single, uninfluential race), and multiplayer. The story mode is fairly simple, consisting of event races tied together by a basic, but entertaining story. In between races, you can use money gained during the races to upgrade and customize your vehicles. Jak X sports several different race modes, a few of them unique to the title. There are the standard circuit race, deathmatch, and and time trial modes, but there are also a few modes that are new. One of these is a mode called "Rush Hour," which has you racing into oncoming traffic to see how many cars you can demolish on your way around the track. Another is "Turbo Dash," which has you and the other racers collecting power cells that are launched after a certain period of continuous boosting, the goal being to have launched the most at the end of the race. The game modes are solid, and many of them are gripping and intense, often leaving you wondering if you really stand a chance throughout the whole race.

On that point, Jak X is hard. Really hard. Some of the races, especially at the beginning will be a breeze, and certain modes are easier than others. Race modes where you are alone on the track completing some objective are typically easy, but when you are up against the computer, this game will destroy you. The game is difficult, unforgiving, and will punish you for every mistake, but it's honestly a little refreshing in this world of games with rewind features, gentle AI, and health recharge. Back in my day we had to manage bars, damn it! Anyway, the game is challenging, and at times it can be frustrating, but those times are few and far between. Typically, the frustrating parts were more about weird physics bugs than anything else.

So check it out. The gameplay is solid and addicting, the audio in the game is great, the controls are tight, and it's a ton of fun.

Verdict: Buy. Especially since it's twenty dollars at the most (if you don't know where to shop) now.