Why do you ask? Read on to see why.

So I was going through my game drawer and saw Halo Wars just sitting there gathering dust. Realizing that I haven’t played it in about two months I decided to call game-stop and see how much it was worth in trade. Well the woman tried to sugar coat the fact that it was only worth $12 by saying I could get 20% more if I put it towards some game I never heard of. I thanked her, hung up the phone, and proceeded to curse aloud. How is getting $12 for a game I paid $60 for justifiable? I was on my way out the door when I remembered hearing a while back that Amazon was doing game trade-ins. So I went on their site and after a minute or two, my game was ready to get mailed in. And how much did they give me for Halo Wars? $29 that’s how much! $17 more bucks then game stop offered.

Now here is how it works. You find the game you want to trade in on the Amazon game trade page (where all games have prices next to them so you can see what they are worth off the bat), add it to your trade in list, log on to your Amazon account, and print out a pre paid mailing label. That’s right, you don’t pay for shipping! Just tape it to the package (a 6×9 bubble mailer works perfectly) and drop it off at the post office. I live in Jersey and I had my account credited the $29 the next day! Best part is you can use the Amazon credit for anything on their site.

So if you are tired of getting crap in trade for your games, head over to Amazon.com and see what they offer next time you feel like trading one in.

Hello lovers of the meaner things in life, it is I Cerberus, your fearless guide in the maddening psyche of the voiceless nerd.  It has been too long and I ask your pardon, but I assure you the time away has not quelled my rage, and today I have for you the first true entry to the approaching summer blockbusters — X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

(*note from Andy*: this article contains a few spoilers about the film, so please see the film first before continuing, unless you really don’t care…)

This particular Marvel comics movie adaptation is unique.  You see some Marvel movies suck ass, i.e. Daredevil, Electra, Fantastic Four, and Spider-man 3.  Then some are great Spider-man 1-2, Iron man, the second Hulk movie, and the first two X-men.

X-Men Origins Wolverine is unique, for it falls in between – in a whole different realm of description that can only be described as  ”eh, it was alright.”  Let me explain myself.  The action sequences were very good and fun to watch, but Wolverine’s origin story seemed pieced together from other story lines and not derived from the “Wolverine Origins” graphic novel.  Still I liked seeing Wolverines soldier past, but found myself disappointed with the whole lack of Weapon X torture methods back-story, which was the birth of Wolverine’s animalistic rage and fury (not just his claws).  The sorrow he endures in the movie just wasn’t enough to bring out the opus of ultra violence that exudes from Wolverine…

Oh and help me out; was it so hard to make the guy playing Sabertooth look like freaking Sabertooth?  I know they were shooting for a family resemblance but have pity for the fan boys who foolishly expect quality. Also what is the relationship between this Sabertooth and the Sabertooth in the first X-men movie?   One has a guy who looks like the character but doesn’t act like him, the other has one that acts like him but doesn’t look like him.  Which is better?  It depends on if you would like a pink costumed dead-on Spider-man.

Now be forwarned, yes, Deadpool is in the movie.  Yes, Ryan Renolds is playing him – and yes they did screw with his character: as “Weapon11″.  Including weird video game-esque boss-battle that bares to ask to mind two questions:

1. Was it necessary to ruin an already established and popular character?

2. How does he bend his elbows with his Frankenstein sword arms? WTF!

Now take that into account, then add a rushed ending involving adamantium memory seeking bullets (no I’m not kidding).

It’s a decent superhero movie, and good action movie, just not a good fan movie.  It wouldn’t be as bad except they pretty much marketed it as a fan flick – and that if nothing else made it a bit disappointing.

Well until next time may blood flow from every “Snick, Snick”.

Welcome machete wielding  maniacs, pretty boy would-be heroes, and bouncy hotties to Nerd Rage movie review.  Today your good pal cerberus has a treat for you. That’s right kids it’s time for everyone’s favorite genre: “Campy Horror Movies.”  No don’t worry I’m not reviewing “Monsturd” or “Aswang”.  Today I’ve got two different movies for you filled with screams and laughs: “Friday the 13th” and the direct to DVD  Bruce Campbell Movie “My name is Bruce”.

I went to the midnight showing of “Friday the 13th” and I learned something: if at all possible don’t sit next to the heavy-set guy covering his ears and making snide remarks to himself in order to keep himself from being too scared by a slasher flick in front of his friends.  I’m just saying any time you can avoid that it’s a good thing trust me.

Friday the 13th is a remake… oh I’m sorry a  ”re-imagining” of the original, not a sequel.  I must admit it was a more than decent Horror/Slasher.  Unlike his predecessors this version of Jason is way more adamant then he was in any of the other Friday the 13th movies.  He’s more then a slow moving dimwit waiting for the next white woman to trip in a frantic run for her life in the middle of the woods.  This time he hunts, fights, runs, and sets traps.  Which makes him  more inventive this time around.  That being said once you strip down all the hype, that is all that changed in the series.  There was really nothing new about the movie itself.  It followed the same formula, and the same cast of stereotypes from dumb blonds, token black dude, nerdy asian kid, spoiled rich boy, and of coarse the pretty boy hero trying to rescue the girl.

If you just go into the movie not expecting much more then to be entertained by cool yet fairly predictable death scenes, good ‘ole fashion nudity (hurray boobs), mindless slaughter and a film that doesn’t let a small thing like tripping over a few plot holes slow it down, then this is the movie for you.  However if you are expecting anything else you will probably be disappointed.  Overall if you’re a fan of the series or just a fan of the genre itself then it is a fun movie to watch, so enjoy.

So tell me this, with movies like “Halloween”,  ”Texas Chainsaw Massacre”,  “The day the Earth stood still”, and the ever frightening “Charlies Angels”, what movies would you like to see be remade?

Do you find yourself wanting to be alone in a cabin with a good book to resurrect the corpses in the basement? Wonder what it would be like to lop off you’re hand and replace it with a chainsaw? Or split your brain in two and share with a friend?  If so you may have a case of Campbellitis or you’re a complete screw head.  Either/or there is a cure and it’s more Bruce Campbell.

“My name is Bruce” is about a fictitious version of Bruce Campbell down on his luck from making so many cheesy B-horror movie sequels.   However his luck turns from crap to suck when one of his uber-fans Jeff (Taylor Sharpe) accidentally awakens Guan-Di the chinese god of war and patron of bean curd…(I’m not kidding) who goes on a killing spree.  So Jeff seeks out the one man you would want to have your back if there is ever a monster, zombie invasion, or pesky apocalypse.  That of coarse being Bruce Campbell.  After kidnapping Campbell and dragging him to Gold Lick, Oregon.  Bruce assumes the whole town is really part of some birthday hoax perpetuated by his agent (Ted Raimi) and agrees to do battle with the demon god Guan-di…..hilarity ensues.

If you are not a fan of  Bruce Campbell then this movie is not for you, and you should be beaten to death by angry pumas.  For the rest of us this movie will make you feel nostalgic for the times you and your buddies rented crappy horror flick to poke fun of and did your own rendition of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

… Ahh the good old days…

 
Hello once again Heroes and scoundrels to another rendition of Nerd Rage.  I have a special treat for you all.  For this is Nerd Rage ComicCon edition.

That’s right we all have been feeling the gathering pulling us to one central location.  No this isn’t a Highlander reference so James put down your sword.  For I speak of the gathering of nerds, geeks, and gamers great and small.  For this is the time of year when you really wished you made good on your New years resolution to lose those extra pounds while trying to squeeze into your home made Deadpool costume.

ComicCon was held in the Javitz center in New York (which is the only reason why I would even go to New York).  It was held on Febuary 6-8.  Why is my article coming out now?  Because I just woke up from my three day nerdgasm that’s why! 

We at Sparkbox had a great time.  So many great talents and artists were present: Adam Kubert, Neal Adams, Andy Kubert, Marv Wolfman, and my personal get-out-of-bed-in-the-morning favorites: Peter David, and Greg Pak.  Still, no true believers, I did not obtain their autographs [better luck next year Cerb:( ]  Still, no complaints, because I did get an autograph poster of the man himself …that’s right brothers and only friends I got Lou Ferrigno’s autograph.  The Incredible Hulk shook my hand and draft my stature.  He’s Still Huge.

The costumes at Comic Com were great from Armacham “Fear away” F.E.A.R. nurses my personal favs (The Girls from T.N.A). to the um… uh… less impressive sorry unkempt Skeletor.  Seriously just about every genre of nerd fiction was there: -Starwars (look at Andy’s picture slide show gallery).  There were stormtroopers, Darth Vader, Jedi Knights, a great imperial Jedi Knight white light saber and everything, Anime cosplay, Wolverine, Spiderman, Wonderwoman, Batgirl, a seven foot plus Hulk, and Superman…Chris and JungleTrek had to keep me from going Doomsday on his apple polishing candy ass…but I digress.

A Lot of new comics and graphic novels are coming out High Moon.  Looks very promising (Cowboy Werewolves).  Sherrilyn Kenyon manga of The Dark Hunters is coming out 4/28/09 it looks great, Flash Reborn the return of Barry Allen, I am Batman: The Battle for the Cowl, and more red Hulk and the Offenders.

The whole Sparkbox wrecking crew took a look at the Saturday forums which showed exclusives scenes of Terminator, Friday the 13th, and of course The Watchman.

Alright Kids we at sparkbox were spoiled rotten at Comic Com. Because we got to see the first 18 minutes of the Watchmen.  If my tear duct didn’t dry up all those many years ago I would have wept.  It was bloody violent and hauntingly beautiful.  If you have the means get an early ticket.  It will be one of those movies you are going to regret not seeing in the theaters like Fight club, the first Matrix, Sin City, and 300. (Etc.)

Artist Dave Gibbons presented us with this bold opus, and when asked if Creator Alan Moore was involved with the movie.  Dave basically said “No”.  That Hollywood in the past has treated him like… well lets just say excrement, but he has no ill will for the movie itself quite the opposite he wishes for its success.  However he doesn’t want to have any part of it.  So here’s what I have in mind and in all honesty I don’t think I even need to say this, but: if you are a fan of Alan Moore, Watchmen, or just want to know more about the story before the movie comes then pick up a copy of  ”The Watchmen” from your local Comic shop or bookstore.

Didn’t go to comic com? Wished you had?  Vowed to go next year?  Well let me give you some tips on how to survive Comic Com.

• Don’t be abrasive. Yes we know you love Comics, and Anime. Still you must remember the value of personal space.
• Never put all your money in one spot.  Even out your money in different pockets.  A lot of people will be bumping into you.  It doesn’t hurt to be careful, and casually check pockets every now and again.
• Wear a costume that fits.  I can not stress that enough guys and girls. “Cellulite Slave Leah,” and over the hill stormtroopers beware.  Trust me you can get more action dressed as the blob then poppin’ fresh the pillsberry Jango Fett.
• Do take as much free stuff as you possibly can.
• Check out the early forums.
• Also check out the evening forums when the days almost done that way you can get insider info before you leave and relieve the stress of walking around all day interacting with people.
• People will be bumping into you. You will be bumping into people.  Deal with it.

Special thanks to the director of corporate communications at Fox, Comedy Central, and Krod Mandoon for giving Sparkbox the time of day. (Krod manDoon starts April 9th Thursday 10/9c on Comedy Central.)

Also special thanks to Mr. Lou Ferrigno for just making my day and Comic Con …you know, besides all the scantily clad ladies.

And in honor of Comic Con.  I want to know what was your favorite comic book moment of all time.  Was it Spawn issue #50?  A part from Civil War?  Death of Electra?  Death of Superman?  Tell me old or new it doesn’t matter just let us know.

So until next time may death come quickly to your enemies.

Alright Bruisers here is this week’s Fight Card:

1. Roland Deschain of Gilead(Steven King’s “The Dark Tower’). vs. The Punisher.
2. Blade (Marvel) vs. Lucian (UnderWorld Lycan).
3. Anita Blake (Hamilton’s Vampire Executioner) vs. Rain (Blood Rain Video game/Movies).
4. The Thing vs. Luke Cage.
5. You asked for it so here it is in advance:  The Incredible Hulk vs. Doomsday.

I used to go down to Rutgers in New Brunswick and frequent the Grease Trucks after a fun night of partying. What you will find on This is why you’re fat makes even my stomach turn. This would be considered the dark unmentionable side of the culinary arts. Trust me kids, stick with challenging your friends to eating insanely hot buffalo wings. Or else…

You’ve been warned.

Welcome Heroes and Villians, Sword slashers, gunslingers, monster hunters, toho-junkies, and all lovers of the meaner things in life.  Welcome to “Nerd Rage” where we hold palaver on topics like comics, movies, games and books. (nerd Fiction).

We’ll have random reviews, trivia, Q&A.  talk about what we want to see, and what we don’t want to see in Geek media.  The things we love, and the things that fill us with rage.  ’NERD’ RAGE!

Well 2008 has come and gone, and presented us with a number of superhero movies from both Marvel and DC.  What’s the matter Malibu and Image no Prime or Hardcase movies?  No Supreme or Spawn II: the revenge of Micheal J White’s career. No. (well thank God for small favors).

So tell me “Ragers”, what was your favorite superhero movie of ’08?  We want to know.  So drop us a line at mail@sparkboxshow.com or on the forums.  To get the ball rolling my personal favorite was “The Incredible Hulk”, but I’m a bit biased when it comes to the big mean smashing machine.  So tell me what you think.  Was Batman more your thing? does HellBoy do it for you? Or is the Spirit your boy? I want to know what the fans have to say.

Well speaking of the Hulk, what the Hell is with this Red Hulk, and this big mystery on who he is.  If I find out he’s one of the Talbots I’m going to be pissed.  But you guys tell me who do you think the Red Hulk is: a clone, Talbot, Rykes, or a killer tomato on steroids.  You tell me.  When we find out we’ll see who’s right.  Also tell me what you think of this character.  Do you find him compelling, or just some Arazel Batman plot rip off?  (Joph Loeb I’m watching you.)

Enough of that Brusers and Brawlers; this is the time when we put the “Rage” in “Nerd Rage”.  Tell me who do you think would win in a fight:

Here’s todays Fight Card:

1. Godzilla vs. The Monster from Cloverfield
2. Hulk vs. HellBoy
3. Sentry vs. Superman
4. Captain America (Steve Rogers) vs. Krathos (God of War)
5. Lex Luther vs. The Red Skull
6. Joker vs. Jigsaw
7. Captain Marvel (Mar-vel) vs. Captain Marvel (Shazam)

Who comes out top dog?  Tell me who and why and I’ll tell you if I agree or dissagree.  Also fight fans if you have a list of beatdown of your own show us.  I want to know.   So until next time ‘World Breakers’ Rage On!!

- Cerebus -

Well, it’s that time of year again! The time when the so called “film experts” give awards to undeserving cretins in Hollywood for pushing their political banter in movies that no one ever sees. I speak, or course, of the Oscars.

For those who suffered along with me watching last years abomination, know what I’m talking about.

Originally, the Oscars were a celebration of exceptional talent and creativity, and overall, the art of film. But no longer! Hollywood has turned the once proud ceremony into a shockfest presentation of stupid environmental or social ideals …and once in awhile an award is given out. (Of course, that only happens after a pregnant teen lesbian mother (who is drunk AND high AND randomly Muslim) sings a touching song about how hard it was to grow up in her poor African village and in the Bronx at the same time and then, finally, to drive the point home, she is raped on stage to protest the war.)

Then, they hand Brad Pitt an award for Best Butthead of the Year…

Well, anyway, now that I got my rant out, here’s the complete list of nominees this year. I hope they don’t make you gag as much as they made me. In my humble opinion, “Iron Man” deserves a lot more attention then it recieved. And “Slumdog Millionaire” and “Milk” can simply go to heck… and then burn in it.

Complete list of 81st annual Academy Award nominations:

1. Best Picture: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Frost/Nixon,” “Milk,” “The Reader,” “Slumdog Millionaire.”

2. Actor: Richard Jenkins, “The Visitor”; Frank Langella, “Frost/Nixon”; Sean Penn, “Milk”; Brad Pitt, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”; Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler.”

3. Actress: Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married”; Angelina Jolie, “Changeling”; Melissa Leo, “Frozen River”; Meryl Streep, “Doubt”; Kate Winslet, “The Reader.”

4. Supporting Actor: Josh Brolin, “Milk”; Robert Downey Jr., “Tropic Thunder”; Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Doubt”; Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”; Michael Shannon, “Revolutionary Road.”

5. Supporting Actress: Amy Adams, “Doubt”; Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”; Viola Davis, “Doubt”; Taraji P. Henson, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”; Marisa Tomei, “The Wrestler.”

6. Director: David Fincher, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”; Ron Howard, “Frost/Nixon”; Gus Van Sant, “Milk”; Stephen Daldry, “The Reader”; Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire.”

7. Foreign Film: “The Baader Meinhof Complex,” Germany; “The Class,” France; “Departures,” Japan; “Revanche,” Austria; “Waltz With Bashir,” Israel.

8. Adapted Screenplay: Eric Roth and Robin Swicord, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”; John Patrick Shanley, “Doubt”; Peter Morgan, “Frost/Nixon”; David Hare, “The Reader”; Simon Beaufoy, “Slumdog Millionaire.”

9. Original Screenplay: Courtney Hunt, “Frozen River”; Mike Leigh, “Happy-Go-Lucky”; Martin McDonagh, “In Bruges”; Dustin Lance Black, “Milk”; Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon and Pete Docter, “WALL-E.”

10. Animated Feature Film: “Bolt”; “Kung Fu Panda”; “WALL-E.”

11. Art Direction: “Changeling,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Dark Knight,” “The Duchess,” “Revolutionary Road.”

12. Cinematography: “Changeling,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Dark Knight,” “The Reader,” “Slumdog Millionaire.”

13. Sound Mixing: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Dark Knight,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” “WALL-E,” “Wanted.”

14. Sound Editing: “The Dark Knight,” “Iron Man,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” “WALL-E,” “Wanted.”

15. Original Score: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” Alexandre Desplat; “Defiance,” James Newton Howard; “Milk,” Danny Elfman; “Slumdog Millionaire,” A.R. Rahman; “WALL-E,” Thomas Newman.

16. Original Song: “Down to Earth” from “WALL-E,” Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman; “Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire,” A.R. Rahman and Gulzar; “O Saya” from “Slumdog Millionaire,” A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam.

17. Costume: “Australia,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Duchess,” “Milk,” “Revolutionary Road.”

18. Documentary Feature: “The Betrayal (Nerakhoon),” “Encounters at the End of the World,” “The Garden,” “Man on Wire,” “Trouble the Water.”

19. Documentary (short subject): “The Conscience of Nhem En,” “The Final Inch,” “Smile Pinki,” “The Witness — From the Balcony of Room 306.”

20. Film Editing: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Dark Knight,” “Frost/Nixon,” “Milk,” “Slumdog Millionaire.”

21. Makeup: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Dark Knight,” “Hellboy II: The Golden Army.”

22. Animated Short Film: “La Maison en Petits Cubes,” “Lavatory — Lovestory,” “Oktapodi,” “Presto,” “This Way Up.”

23. Live Action Short Film: “Auf der Strecke (On the Line),” “Manon on the Asphalt,” “New Boy,” “The Pig,” “Spielzeugland (Toyland).”

24. Visual Effects: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Dark Knight,” “Iron Man.”

25. Best Crap in 2008: “Hollywood”

One last thought… “Wall-E” was awesome! Kick that stupid “Kung Fu Panda”‘s butt, Wall-E!

When these fast food companies decide that they want to pull in some adventurous suckers they invent a new version of an old favorite. Is this really “up to snuff,” or does this “Angry” burger really just sulk in the corner?I went a few days ago with one of my friends to experience this, for lack of better words, new experience in taste.  What we should have expected was that it was just another ploy to bring us in and eat something that is more than bad enough for us to warrant that we shouldn’t have bothered.  But that wouldn’t have made a very interesting post now would it have?  Although either way I would’ve given you the link so you can send someone an angry-gram: http://www.angry-gram.com/index.php
Let me describe the experience and maybe you can decide for yourself whether or not you want to partake in this fast food monstrosity.  First of all, I decided to go with the single whopper version.  One patty is enough, as I would imagine that a meal like I got is well over 1000 calories.  My friend on the other hand went with the triple.  Amazed I didn’t even remember that I had intended to get a hershey pie with my meal, but I would imagine that I shouldn’t have eaten it anyway… 

As for toppings, the “Angry Whopper” is a regular whopper patty on a standard whopper bun adorned with a mantle of pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, seasoned battered fried onions, sliced jalapeños, a tangy red sauce of some kind, and a tablespoon and a half of mayonnaise.  It is a lot of food for your money, but fast food is usually more than you should eat for your low price anyway, so that comes as no big surprise.  

Taste-wise it’s surprisingly mild considering how much those farmers have supposedly mistreated those onions.  It does pack a lot of flavor, but is a little on the salty side.  It had way too much mayo and lettuce for my tastes, but maybe people like it that way?  The unknown reddish sauce was probably the tastiest thing to me personally.(and no it was not ketchup)  

It’s always fun to have some new variation of an old classic to try when you go out to eat, but it seems that sometimes they just aren’t inventive enough to warrant taking in the sheer amount of dangerously fatty calories that it obligates you to consume.  

I have come to but one conclusion from this experience: There is a reason that it only costs a couple more dollars than a normal whopper, because it’s all that they could get away with charging you for a mayonnaise and onion sandwich.

I think next time I’m hungry I’ll save myself some money and go get a limited edition “Adventure Snickers” at Wal-mart.

The Dark Knight has passed Shrek 2 and claimed the coveted of 3rd highest grossing film of all time. If it does another 40 million weekend like it has constantly been doing, it will easily de-throne Star Wars as the #2 Film ever! Lets take a look at why this movie has broken all these records.

Ok I am going to open myself up to a ton of hate with this one. But its needed. So go open your email and type in James@sparkboxshow.com. That way you will be ready to try and rip me apart. Now with that out of the way…

Dark Knight would have never broken the opening weekend records if Heath Ledger were still here. The reason it got so much publicity and hype was because of his death. People needed to see his final performance and got caught up in all the media hype. Was it an amazing movie? Yes it was, did the cast do an amazing job? Hell yeah. Was Ledger great as Joker? Very much so. B U T…. I’m sure if he didnt take the role, someone else could have easily done it just as well. People forget the behind the scenes people who make these movies happen. In this case, the script writers. What makes the Joker such a memorable character? Its ok, take a moment and think about it, really think about it. Let me see if I can read your minds and tell you what the first 3 things that come up are. #1 The Jokers attitude about things. #2 His speeches about different aspects of society (especially the hospital scene). #3 His cunning in planning his traps.

So did I get them? Im pretty sure I got at least 2 if not all of them. Lets take it for granted that I did get them all. And let me explain them. #1 The Jokers attitude. Thats all the script writers and directors doing. Sure Heath put on a great performance with the material he was given. BUT you need to remember he was given that material. He didnt think it up! #2 His speeches throughout the film. Yet again the scriptwriters are to be given credit here. Heath delivered it, but again, he didnt think of it himself. And #3, HIs traps. HELLO?!?!?!? Thats the script writers and directors doing.

So you see, all of the reasons that people thought that Heath was amazing were not his doing. He brought the character to the big screen, but he did not make the character. He did a great job with what he was given. Though thats the point, he was given the material to do it. Did I think he was a great Joker? Yes I did. Was the hype all it was cracked up to be? Yes and No. My problem was that people didnt rush out to see it because it was a new Batman movie. They went to see it because of the media hype behind Ledgers death. If he didnt die, the movie would have never come close to the opening weekend records it set, and it certainly wouldnt still be making as much as it is.

And because of all this, the rest of the cast was very much overlooked. Bale did amazing work. Even though this was not a true Batman movie since Batman himself wasnt the main character. He was there to keep the story together and keep things moving. Aaron Eckhart was brilliant as Two-Face. The transition from Harvey to Two-face was perfect and you felt the hate and pain in his voice. Yes this goes back to my original thing of the writers giving the materials. But he did a great job and shouldnt be overlooked. Maggie Gyllenhall was pretty good as a secondary character. Hell she was a lot better then the nutjob that played her in the last movie. Gary Oldman…. Well hell, he can pull off any character he plays. This man cant have a bad performance.

Did I like the movie? Very much so, it was an insane ride from begining to end. Did it live up to the hype? Yes and no. You have to see it from my perspective. I run a theatre, which means I see movies an insane amount of times. And in doing so, I am able to pick out the good and bad very quickly. Ill put it this way, when I first saw the movie, I had a smile on the entire time. But as I watched it a few other times and saw parts many many times, I started to go deeper into the movie and my opinons changed. Great movie, but the hype around Ledgers death was what threw it into the top 3 highest grossing films of all times. Not the fact it was Batman, or that the joker was in it, or that it was actually a great movie. The media loves a tragedy and the fact they can spin it so we will love it too. And thats what happened here.

Rememeber people, the above are MY OPINONS. I am entitled to them. I just ask that before you jump down my throat like I know most of you will; take a few after reading and think about what i wrote. Think about my reasons for thinking the way I do. If you still want to write me and tell me I am an a$$hole after that. Then go for it.

Are game developers creating devices for their own downfall by constantly increasing the pricing of games for increasingly expensive game systems?  Are the overpricing issues that they have in europe just a taste of what’s to come here in the U.S.?  

It’s a definite possibility.

Listening to the cagcast this week I found that cheapyd  hit on some good points when talking about how expensive video games are getting.  He said that since developers are complaining about losing money to the ued game market, they should consider dropping the price to both compete with the used market, but also to mimic the dvd market strategy.  Dvds, blueray discs, etc will and have dropped down to the $20 range.  Should current-gen games cost less in general?  Should games that were cheaper to make cost less than games that were expensively produced and therefore are higher quality with a more polished feel?  Would any of this keep people from buying used games if there was an equal price drop?  

Nobody knows for sure, but if you ask me, the first couple developers to offer “mediocre” games at 20-30 dollars new will definitely have me buying their games.  Being that we are entering a recession and money is tight, coupled with the fact that most gamers save their money for the one or two big titles that they are looking forward to each year, it might prove wise to drop the initial price point on notably inferior games in order to drive up sales.  This could backfire and fold smaller companies, or at best, smaller companies could make revenue for development on a really big title, like their own “GTA 4.”  I really am a firm believer that we might possibly see a wise company step forward with something like this as digital distribution and other forms of cheap distribution become more mainstream.  What do you think?

With some regret I finally just had to “put it down.”  Like the dog at the end of ‘Old Yeller,’ Frontlines: Fuel of War has become a derranged, rabid version of it’s previously happy yellow lab self…

Wait a minute, no it hasn’t!  It never was a happy dog that made me 100% in love with it.  From the beginning this game was plagued with network issues, glitches, and other things that made it a retarded pug at best.  

In the beginning it the biggest problem was that no one had this game!  I couldn’t get into the story from day one, (take note of that for later on) so I decided that it would be online multiplayer or bust for this guy.  Which was fine, except that since no one bought this game till a couple weeks after launch, those of us that had it from the release had barely anyone to play with.  I know that I personally lost interest at first and ended up playing hours of Saints Row instead, randomly killing hundreds of hobos just to hold me over.

If that wasn’t bad enough, when everyone did start picking up this game the lag was terrible!  I mean I would unleash a volley of missiles with my chopper only to have them fly out in front of me what could be 5-10 seconds later.  It was completely crippling to everyone except the host.

When things finally started getting better is right when they got the worst in my opinion.  People started playing, so the servers were either full or near full, which wasn’t a huge problem, unless you wanted to bring a friend in a game with you.  I sometimes sat there for half an hour trying to find a game that me and James could both play in. (although not entirely the game’s fault do to his ‘strict’ router situation) On the upside, the game didn’t seem to be as accessible to the 10 and under crowd.  I can’t really say that I heard all that much pre-teen obscenity while playing, oh wait…  that’s because there is only chat available to 5 people at a time! (well not entirely, but close enough) Yep, due to the way game-play was squad emphasized, you could only chat with that squad out of the up to 25 people on your team.  Needless to say I would either lone-wolf it or just team up with one of my friends in private chat.

So why am I getting rid of this game?  Well, 2 reasons.  The first reason is that Doc and the rest of Sarcastic Gamer are correct.  This game suddenly became an absolute griefer’s paradise.  Let me explain.  As soon as a lot of people started playing, they soon realized the power of the RSA’s (Red-Star Alliance, the red team in the game) auto-turret, which is the final weapon unleashed if you build up ground support.  This weapon can be placed just about anywhere and will furiously spit an insane amount of firepower at any enemy troop or vehicle that enters it’s range.  That being said, everyone except a few people would be ground support in order to unlock them and what would happen is that everyone on the blue team would end up having to tip-toe around the level because there could be an auto-turret around every turn.  Meanwhile the red team would just run around slaughtering us.  Usually ending with the blue team’s 1 or 2 spawn points surrounded with these turrets, killing us instantly the second we spawned until the red team won the match.  I am pretty sure that Doc was also right when he talked about people spawning in the field before they started playing on their end.  I was caught many a time with my controller vibrating because I was being shot while waiting to spawn, only to appear with one bullet hit’s worth of health and the last one already screaming toward me.  That being said, everyone would usually switch to the red team, which would result in my team’s epic heroics to try and beat the red team’s 30-35 people with our 15-20…  no we are not Spartans and quickly get totally overrun.  The unbalanced team equipment and poorly executed re-spawn mechanics completely ruined the multiplayer for me and as quickly as I had become enthralled with the cool vehicles and neat little gadgets that the game offered, I started to loathe how each time I played I just got bent over more and more.

What is the other reason I am getting rid of this game?  Well, I decided that maybe I should give the single player another chance.  I remembered that one of the reasons that I had stopped playing it was, other than the dreams for the multiplayer, that I got stuck on a sniping mission, got frustrated, and just stopped.  So with my gaming skill finally returning after my few month drought thereof, I thought I would breeze through that mission and have some fun again.  I was wrong of course.  Right after that mission, the entire game consisted of desert and urban tank battles, with barely anyone from my side of the battle surviving past the first few minutes to help me.  An let me tell you!  There’s nothing more grinding than playing the one man (an absolutely normal man, who dies with one explosion or about 4 bullet hits) vs. an army for about 6 hours.  As it turned out, the story itself never got any better.  I never gave a crap about the characters or their situations at all.  At points members of the squad would sacrifice themselves etc, and I literally could care less, they all looked the same except for their hair and hats!

The only thing that could have made me sadder than sitting through this game, that I only beat for the gamerscore points, (because I am tired of James being the only one who beats crappy games for the points before returning them, something I failed to do, else I would have about 3000 points more than I do right now.) is the fact that they completely leave it open to another campaign and a possibility that this crappy future world might someday have to be revisited…

So goodbye Frontlines, thanks for the good times I had for about a week when I first bought you.  Now you can actually do something good for me, become credit towards the purchase of GTA 4.  (which along with RS:V2 and CoD4, will be the only thing that anyone should expect to see me playing for quite some time.)

I am very fond of YouTube. In my humble opinion, it is the greatest invention ever of mankind (with the only possible exception being the toothbrush). The excitement! The culture! The art! The random acts of insane backyard wrestling that make even “The Rock” squeamish! How did the early American pioneers ever survive without it?

Today, YouTube is visited by over 18 million people daily, providing the general public with such important cultural video clips as the “Leek Spin” movement which is ever shaping the world we live in. (If you don’t know what that is… you’re lucky.)

YouTube has continued to mold and change the entire internet using a series of fads that have taken the web by storm. The forerunner fad to this generation of video icons is a lush tale of romance and intrigue, a tale of great musical presentation and amazing quality, a tale that we will refer to as: “That Numa Numa Guy.”

That Numa Numa Guy proved, once and for all, that you didn’t have to have loads of money or skill to become famous. All you needed was a camera, Romanian techno, and an amazing figure. (The word “amazing” here is up to interpretation.) Thus, a tidal wave of similar videos hit the world wide web (or as it is also known: the “www”). From all over the world, teenagers, adults, children, grandparents, and other species of hippos pressed their horribly ugly faces against webcams, hoping that they too would be shown on national TV, praying that Americans would take pity on them and send them money.

Fortunately, the “Annoying Lip-Syncers” fad ended quickly with most of the videos receiving such comments as: “You copycat! You’re a Numa Numa Wanna Be!” or “Brad, if you keep posting these videos, I’m breaking up with you!”

So, it was obvious a new fad was needed. Congress proposed a few ideas, but nobody ever cares what they think. YouTubers thought long and hard about this problem. What could capture the essence of their video-blogging struggle? What could really show the world their inner feelings as artists? What was so easy and mind-numbing to make that any doofus with a computer could do it? Finally, the answer came in one brilliant solution: AMVs!

And sure enough, every doofus known to man (which accounts for at least 98% of the globe) began to create AMVs by the thousands. Now, if you are unfamiliar with AMVs, AMV stands for “Anime Music Video” and is usually a video that consists of three hundred short clips of “well built” anime babes fading in and out from a picture of a moon and is accompanied with music that was obviously chosen by a monkey.

After this fad came others and others! All of which involved no money, no time, and most importantly, no creativity. People began to upload movie trailers (that they didn’t create), animated cartoons (that they didn’t create), TV clips (that they didn’t create) and finally, webcam video diaries (which, unfortunately, they did create).

The webcam video diary fad had its biggest break when it’s  poster child, LonelyGirl15, suddenly was capture by aliens (or something like that) and everyone called 911 to save her, but only to find out that it was all a fake setup. The truth was that LonelyGirl15 really was an alien, which is confirmed by the fact that she now has a contract with FOX Entertainment. So in direct response to LonelyGirl15′s success, everyday dozens of teenaged girls (most of which should never be seen in good light) run to their webcams to tell us their inner most feelings which usually are boring as all hell. We then express our feelings by leaving them heart-warming comments that tend to go along the lines of: “Man, you are soooo hot! Message me back, babe!” (We YouTubers are pretty stupid and have a horrible judgement of beauty.)

Today, there are a ton (about six) of different fads on YouTube.  (Most of the them involve a young boy breathing away from the microphone to make his voice magically really, deep or a man in a black ski mask giving advice.)

One of the more recent additions has been a new take on the old AMVs, now replacing the anime with short clips from movies and techno remixs that repeat and repeat and repeat. Some of them extend to over thirty days long in length with a little note “More to Come” stuck at the end. These videos, similar to brainwashing, make it impossible to ever forget such life-altering phrases as: “They’re taking the Hobbits to Isengard! They’re taking the Hobbits to Isengard!”. (NOTE: Look up this video at you own risk! They’re taking the Hobbits to Isengard.)

Ok, I had intended to discuss in this article the effects of YouTube on the commercial market and point you to several videos I feel worthy of honorable mention, but that will have to be saved for next time.

But for now, I leave you with this inspirational clip:

Your Buddy,

JungleTrek