42 - Blu Ray - 4 Stars

                                                                        42

 

http://42movie.warnerbros.com/

        Theatrically released April 12th, 2013 and followed by the DVD and blu-ray on July 16th, 2013. The movie stars Chadwick Boseman (Jackie Robinson), Harrison Ford (Branch Rickey) and Christopher Meloni (Leo DuRocher ) to name a few.

        There's not alot of negatives to this film, so doing a long review is kind of pointless. I mean for once, at least I don't have to worry about spoilers,...it's kinda written in history. Jackie Robinson is to say the least, a tad bit of a mythological figure in the world of baseball. It was however, very interesting to get to learn a little more, however much glamorized for Hollywood his character may have been, about Branch Rickey and with Harrison Frikkin Indiana-Han Solo-Jones at the helm, learn I did.

        So lets put all the cards on the table here, shall we. Warner Bros. didn't roll the 20-sided risk dice on this film,...they just didn't. It honestly had about as much of a chance of initially failing as Sheldon Cooper. Am I right!?! Am I,....never mind. Seriously though. Race is always going to be a hot topic, there's no way around it. So for all intents and purposes, this was one of the biggest boiling point moments in American civil rights history. A black man being allowed into the exclusively white MLB. Add to that some of the best writing money can buy and SHAZAM! Plus it's not like they had to spend alot of money and time on special effects. 

       Anyway, overall this is a really good movie. The acting was great, as was the writing and wardrobe. I mean everything was really spot on. It's easy to really like Jackie Robinson pretty early on in this film. So I'ma just cut to the chase on this one,...... He Makes It Into The Major League. GASP!!! Yup and believe it or not some of the other players don't take to kindly to that. GASP!!! Yup. You know what happens. So I give this one 4 stars. I just can't give it 5 because I don't feel like there was any risk factor involved with this one. So rent it, buy it, whatever but I'm pretty sure you'll probably like it, I did.

Spring Breakers - Blu Ray - 2.5 Stars

                                     Wow, lemme tell you how caught off guard I was by this movie!

                                                     http://www.springbreakersmovie.com/

Theatrically released March 22nd, 2013. The DVD & Blu-Ray followed on July 9th, 2013. Starring Selena Gomez(Faith), Vanessa Hudgens(Candy) and James Franco(Alien) to name a few.

        Now to review this somewhat awkward movie. This film follows a group of 4 "besties" who want nothing more than to go spring break in St.Petersburg, FL., at any cost. It amazed me how everything spiraled into chaos so quickly. It almost felt as if big chunks of the movie were deleted or cut due to just how fast everything seemed to escalate. Once the drug dealing, "gangsta" rapping Alien, James Franco, is added into the equation, things get real strange, real quick.
 SPRING BREAK!!!!!!!!! 
        I'm all for gratuitous violence and nudity, which there are PLENTY of. But I must say that even in the "spring break" setting, some of it seemed a little over stated. Not to mention that James Franco's portrayal of Alien, is obviously a funny carbon copy of G's and Gents fame Riff-Raff. There's just no hiding it and to be honest, I don't even think they tried to hide that fact.
        Rating this movie is interesting because the characters, minus Selena Gomez aka Faith and James Franco aka Alien, are a little out there to say the least. I excluded Faith and Alien because they just were about as believable as Brittany Spears actual singing ability. I might also add, that the latter is heavily included in the movie score. Selena Gomez on the other hand, has just not developed into a believable actress, yet. I'm not saying she won't, she might(not). I'm not one to ruin or give away any of the movie, so if your looking to find out what happens so you don't have to watch it,....Sorry. That aside, I would give this movie 2.5 stars. Mainly due to the fact that even though its all a little over the top, the actors did do their jobs, again minus Selena Gomez who did not. Even though Alien is an obvious copy of Riff-Raff, James Franco really became the part. Otherwise DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT watch this movie with your parents! It will be awkward to say the least. But If your just gonna pay a buck at Redbox, hell why not. Seeing James Franco as a gangsta rappin, drug dealer with 2 little gangsta white girls (and they are rather gangsta) jumpin all over the place is worth that much! Not to mention all the fun(#BOOBS) ;)
     

Army of Two - The Devils Cartel - Games - 3 Stars

               So here we are with the first game on deck. Army of Two - The Devils Cartel

                                             (http://www.ea.com/army-of-two-devils-cartel),

              Developed by Visceral Media and released by EA Games in early March of 2013. This is the third game of this series. The first, Army of Two, with the second being Army of Two - The 40th Day. This incarnation, as with the previous two, is a 3rd person shooter.
             This time around we follow the escapades of  Alpha and Bravo,  two ops recently recruited by the mercenary organization, T.W.O(Tactical Worldwide Operations). Set in the present and located in and around Mexico. The main baddies of this game come from,.......you guessed it, a Mexican cartel. La Guadaña, aptly named meaning "the scythe".
             So with the ground work laid for all the basic info on the game, lets talk about it for real! I was a big fan of the first Army of Two, especially with all the weapon customization and character interaction dynamics(Paper, Rock, Scissors BITCHES!!!). However, the 40th Day completely lost me and I mean lost like the sorcerers stone lost.
            This time around though, I'm glad to say that overall, I really enjoyed this game. It had decent writing, good voice acting and on par graphics. The campaign is broke down into location levels with intermittent check points that allow you to access and augment your gear and weapon load out to better fit whatever situation you may find yourself in.
           Speaking of gear and weapon load outs. As you progress thru the game you are paid for the, "services", you've rendered and in turn can use those funds to purchase weapons and gear. Character masks and gear are interesting as well. For me, I really liked all the different masks, which included 2 special masks from Dead Space. One designed to look like the predator alien and a "Lets make some licensing money on the side" mask designed by Skull Candy. The games arsenal is all based on actual firearms but sadly, it must have cost a little too much to buy the licensing rights for the actual names. However, there is no mistaking any of the weapons and what real life firearms they are based on. Any game fan is going to know what gun a 50 cal. "Falcon" is based on.
           On a side note at point your guns and gear get forcefully taken from you. Now, I don't know about you or about how you may or may not choose to take offense by someones actions,......that's your call. However, I put in a LOT of money into my weapons and gear,....A LOT. It became a matter of personal disrespect on a purely spiritual level to regain possession of my "belongings". As for the game villain that took said weapons and gear,...I killed him. I mean really killed him. I mean like, reloaded the game once he was dead to kill him again killed him. Then played thru that level on a higher difficulty level to drive home the fact that he had made a rather substantial mistake in his decision to take my STUFF. Just Sayin.   
           Ultimately, this game is well worth a play thru(Especially once I reconnoitered my STUFF). Can it compare to MW3, Black Ops or for that matter Halo or G.O.W? No, or rather, HELL NO! Come on let's be serious, this game doesn't have a zombie mode!?! How about Battlefield, Big Real, is it better than Battlefield? Seriously did you see that games production budget!?! So,...NO. It just isn't. Yet and still it is worthwhile fun. But if you only play the best, expect the best and won't settle for less without complaining, Modern Warfare Ghost is right around the corner.