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Critical Thinking

I’m not one to criticize or rant, but man there are just something’s I love and some things I hate. That’s what you stumbled upon. Below you will find my critical reviews of television, music, games and film.

Red Dead Redemption: Awesome, Awesome, and Just a Little More Awesome.

Last modified on 2010-08-02 19:19:34 GMT. 1 comment. Top.

All of my life I have loved video games. From my first touch of an Atari Joy Stick, to the blisters on my thumbs on a Super Nintendo, I’ve enjoyed it. In the past, we were told our minds would melt, or our vision would get blurry the more we played video games or stared at a TV screen. We now know that isn’t true, it’s just a common step in the aging process due to your skull getting bigger and your eyes staying the same size (ask your optometrist).

The point I am trying to make here is, we live in a different world. What used to be common place novel reading has now turned into electronic storytelling. Video games are not just a medium of mind wasting flashes of light, it is storytelling post 1965. It is a medium growing faster than any other, publishing dipped to $23.5 billion dollars, but the gaming industry brought in $19.66 billion last year. Compared to the film industry, $10.6 billion in 2009 (US).

That’s huge. And what’s my point to explaining all of this? Well if you can’t guess by the giant cowboy at the top of this post, I’m writing a review about Red Dead Redemption. Bringing the old west, and a little bit of Clint Eastwood awesome, this has my vote for game of the year so far.

I’ll be honest, in my fight to be something in this world I’ve temporarily sworn off video games, but Red Dead Redemption got me. There are few titles that get me to break my solid drive to be a screenwriter, Assassin’s Creed, and GTA IV did it two years ago, The Force Unleashed got me last year, and this is the title that got me this year.

The story follows John Marsten, a former outlaw in the old west. Times are changing, the FBI is being formed and they are trying to do the job of the old cowboys and gunslingers. With the reach of the government hitting the settlements on the new American frontier, life for old outlaws are changing. In the story, John Marsten’s old gang members are terrorizing the adjacent province of New Austin, and the government thinks John is just the man to fix the problem. They kidnap his family, and force him to chase down his former family. The game starts with you showing up at an abandoned fort over run with one of the gang members. As he approaches and tries to talk him down the gang opens fire, leaving our hero to die.

As John lays there, a group of farmers stumble upon him, heal him and get him back on the road to revenge. The fight now becomes personal as this is the second time that John has been left by his gang with a bullet in him.

The chase begins all over the territory, the Mexican border, and the northern territory. John is forced to team up interesting characters to fulfill his mission and get his family back, including a slick “elixer” salesman, a grave digger, a drunken irishman, a rebel leader, a mexican general, a cocaine addicted scholar from Yale, and even the very lawmen who hold his wife captive.

The scenery is beautiful and dangerous. Coyotes, wolves, bobcats, cougars and even bears roam the land and are willing to kill anything that crosses their path. Learn how to handle your guns, master quick draws, learn to gamble with the best of them and stake your claim at becoming a legend in the Mexican west.

All-in-all, it’s my pick for game of the year. Not sure still? Grab a copy and start playing, you’ll find yourself wanting to steal horses, and shoot anything that moves around you. I know I did (but I didn’t actually do it).

Shutter Island

Last modified on 2010-08-23 00:28:15 GMT. 1 comment. Top.

I have always loved movies. It’s the one of the things I did with my dad, and I have absolutely loved it. The ability to leave this world, transcend your problems or preocupations and just live in and witness the life of someone else for a while. It’s wonderful, and most films have that ability for me (except maybe the pacifier).

One man, I’ve learned to respect and who’s films always help me leave this world behind is Martin Scorsese. The man is a cinematic genius. He has an understanding of nature that makes celluloid glow with beauty. He’s an artist who uses the world around him to weave tales of great description and depth. Shutter Island is no exception.

Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a U.S. Marshal investigating a prisoner’s disappearance at a maximum security mental institution on Shutter Island. Leonardo DiCaprio does, for me, one of the best acting jobs I have ever seen. In one scene (you will know which when you watch it) he demonstrates for me a level of acting I’ve rarely seen. He made me feel his pain. What a powerful performance. I fell in love with Leonardo DiCaprio acting, because of this film.

The direction of this film, from the location selected, on to the performance of all of the actors, to the mood and pacing of the film in general, is one of the greatest jobs I have ever seen. I wanted to explore the world of Shutter Island, and not once do you question the verasity of the 1954 setting. I may not be able to do it, but I’m pretty sure I want to see all 50 of Martin Scorsese’s productions this year, especially after he won the Cecil B. DeMille Award at this years Golden Globes. The man is a genious, and he’s been nominated for a ridiculous ammount of awards.

All in all, the film defined, for me, a psychological thriller. It keeps you guessing, even if you think you have it figured out, something else makes you believe otherwise. Great job. Great film. I saw it twice opening weekend, and loved it both times. It has a surprise ending, one that will spark curiousity and debate in anyone who sees it.

My rating: 4.75/5 Excellent film played by a great cast, directed by a wonderful director. Beautifully done. Small dialouge issues and a seemingly slow beginning. Overall, I loved it!

Entourage

Last modified on 2010-01-28 00:57:55 GMT. 2 comments. Top.

Vinny Chase, Ari Gold, “Drama”, Turtle, my man “E”, and even Lloyd, those are the men I’ve fallen in love with the last few weeks. They are the characters on the hit HBO series “Entourage”. Thanks to my friends, Mike Hall and Dan Knudsen, I burned through all 6 seasons of Entourage in about two weeks. It was a pretty awesome experience, if I do say so myself.

As I watched my four boys from Queens beat the pavement in the “City of Angels” I felt I was a part of their “crew”. Their challenges in the world of Television and Film felt like my challenges, as did their successes and failures. I was proud when they succeeded, and saddened when defeated. I just feel I owe it to these men to share my thoughts and feelings about them and the impact they have had in my life the last two weeks.

Eric “E” – Eric is the man. He is definitely the brains of the organization, having attended community college back in New York. He was also the night manager of an S Barro pizza restaurant. I feel like E, out of all of the characters, is the one I tend to relate to the most. He’s motivated to be a success. He has an eye for great films, whether they be in screenplay format or in film print, and as Vinny’s manager he’s done a great job getting him great films to do. “E” is also a romantic. He’s a sucker for a relationship, as am I. I find myself setting aside the “bad” things the girls I like do, because I “feel” something for them. “E” falls, and he falls hard. So do I. But over all I love him because he has his head on straight. He wants to be a successful businessman, fall in love, and live happily ever after hanging out with his friends. That sounds great to me!

Vincent “Vinny” Chase – Vinny is the man. He is what every American can dream about. He grew up in Queens, NY living in a small house, knowing nothing but acting and having fun with his friends. His older brother, “Drama” inspired him to act, and as a “semi-working” actor in LA, he put Vinny and his friends up while Vinny looked for his 1st big break, and sure enough Ari Gold, the super agent, got it for him. He hit it big, and is taking care of his friends. He pays “Drama” to be his chef, he pays Turtle to drive him around (because he never got his drivers license), and “E” is his manager. They live in a mansion ‘comped’ them by a studio Vince did a movie for, and hang out all day looking for the next movie they want to do. Vince is known for hooking up with chicks, and sadly there is (lots of) nudity because of it. But hey, that is the lifestyle anyone would want to live (unless you are a good Mormon boy trying to be just that).

Johnny “Drama” Chase – One time TV hit star, Drama now lives in the shadow of his brother. He tries desperately to act in anything he can, having a true love for acting, but can only seem to land small rolls in his brother’s movies. He suffers from severe anger management issues, even bashing in a car windshield because the guy was tailgating him. But, he loves his brother, and he loves his friends. That means he won’t back down to defend them or their honor. We all have a friend just like him, he refers to movies and tv shows from the 90′s like they were some glory age of the industry, and we have to love him.

Turtle – I won’t spoil what his real name is, but Turtle is the man. He leads the 2nd best life (arguably the 1st) any man could ever want. He literally gets paid to smoke weed, spend money, and drive a movie star around. He hooks up with chicks Vince doesn’t hook up with. He’s also the most beloved member of the crew. Everyone loves Turtle, though Ari gives him a hard time because he’s a super slacker. But all in all, he’s the man. You gotta love Turtle.

Ari Gold – This is the man. You start out hating him, but by the end you wanna be him. He is the most well known and basically powerful man (because of his connections) in Hollywood. His journey (character arc) is one of the most brilliant I have ever witnessed on TV. You think he treats his wife like crap, but deep down in his own unique way. You love him. There are only two things that can bring Ari Gold to his knees, his wife and kids, and Jeremy Piven makes you know it by his wonderful performance. The brute anger you feel when he speaks, compared to the compassionate way he treats his friends and family makes you feel the awesomeness of this man.

Lloyd – Lloyd is the man. He is so gay! Now, watching Lloyd blossom from his time as a first time assistant to the awesome character he is in the sixth season is great. He becomes his own person as he overcomes the struggles of being the assistant to one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, Ari Gold. And my perspective and understanding of a homosexual have grown so much. I’ve always tried to be understanding of that lifestyle, but something deep inside me cringes (in a non judgmental way) but watching Lloyd makes me understand and respect homosexual’s so much more. Good job Lloyd! You make me proud!

Now, the thing that makes it even better, is knowing this is based off of Mark Wahlberg’s own group of personal friends. They did it, and they lived the life style. It’s a show that makes me realize and feel that I too can make it. With so much going against anyone trying to make it in the film/entertainment industry, seeing a bunch of “idiots” from Queens making successes of themselves in Hollywood can be pretty inspiring. Yeah, I know it’s fictionalized, and I know it’s probably far fetched, but man. I love it! I can’t wait until I’m rolling through H-Town with my own crew of Dramas, Turtles, Ari’s, Vinnys, and even Lloyds! It’s going to be awesome (well as awesome as it can be sticking to LDS standards and trying to be prudent with my money.)