“The Raid: Redemption” goes the distance

Extreme violence, intense suspense and killer fight scenes hit the screen in the Indonesian smash hit “The Raid: Redemption.” With less than 30 minutes of dialogue in this action-packed film, viewers settle in for a powerful display of human strength, stamina and determination. 

Rama, played by Iko Uwais, fights for his life in "The Raid: Redemption."

The film opens with a rookie SWAT officer training and getting ready for his mission for the day. This rookie goes by the name of Rama (Iko Uwais) and is a father-to-be. As he kisses his wife goodbye, he embarks on a life-or-death mission to take over an apartment complex run by a ruthless drug lord, who goes by the name of TamaRiyadi. Along with Rama, 19 other SWAT officers set up to take over the building. As they bum rush the apartment, they take down the criminals associated with Riyadi all too easily, and before they know it they are in way over their heads. From here on out, the team battles for mere survival and will get lucky if they can get anywhere close to Riyadi.

The casting directors must be having a celebration somewhere after picking the perfect lead actor for this film. Uwaisis phenomenal in his role, as not only is he absolutely amazing in action sequences, but his portrayal of Rama is flawless and completely believable. Rama finds himself in numerous near-death situations, and, whether it is a flying fist or a gun preparing to pistol whip him to death, he pushes through and keeps trying to reach Riyadi. Uwais’ training in the Indonesian martial art of Silat paid off in this movie. The particular martial art form of Silat in this film is a combination of bladed weaponry, joint manipulation and physical strikes. Uwais moves so effortlessly during his fighting sequences that it proves his mastery of this fighting style. 

This film utilizes every cent of its meager $1 million budget to startling affect. The stunts performed are extremely gruesome and must have taken days to shoot. They are perfect with fight sequences, including characters getting slammed on tables, hit with chairs, thrown through doors, slammed into walls and thrown from balconies. The director, Gareth Evans, really knows how to manage his budget. While action movies such as “Mission Impossible -- Ghost Protocol” ($145 million budget) or “The Avengers” ($220 million) pour a ton of money into explosions, car chases and CGI,  Evans pulls back the reigns. He slams this movie into a close-quartered area and pushes the action to the same heights as these other movies for less than 1 percent of the cost.

In addition to the action and acting, suspense runs high throughout the film. Rama could be killed at any moment, and anyone could be out to get him. The SWAT officers could have an informant for the enemy, or vice versa. Enemies are hiding around corners, behind doors, in the rooms above and the rooms below. Scenes are sometimes cut short before the fate of a character is known so this leaves the audience wondering and waiting to see if characters are still alive.

Subtitles are not a hindrance in this movie. Since there is such a small amount of dialogue, it is easy to forget that a different language is spoken. Fighting for a family, for a life or for survival is universal.  Suspense and action are also universal, and all of these things put together make actual conversation mostly unnecessary.

With talks of a Hollywood remake and a sequel in the works already, this film is definitely a must-see. It is on fire and shows no signs of stopping. Suit up for nonstop action and prepare for gut-wrenching yet entrancing fight sequences in “The Raid: Redemption.”

“The Raid: Redemption” receives 5 out of 5 stars.

"Cabin in the Woods" is more than it appears

In an industry filled with guts and gore, when a movie like “The Cabin in the Woods” rolls along it may seem to just slide right into the grooves. This movie throws audiences a curve-ball not only by being self-aware, but also by throwing in subtle nods to well-known horror movies from before its time. With the combination of cheeky humor and gore-filled scenes, this film is perfect for the casual movie-goer and the horror fanatic alike.  

”The Cabin in the Woods” begins with five college friends going on a casual weekend out.  Dana (Kristen Connolly) has just gotten out of a rocky relationship and is persuaded by her best friend Jules (Anna Hutchison) to go out with Jules’ boyfriend Curt (played by ChrisHemsworth, “Thor”), his new friend Holden (Jesse Williams), and their drugged-out buddy Marty (Fran Kranz). After ignoring an ominous warning from a strange old man, the group quickly heads out to their getaway cabin in the woods for a weekend of fun. Everything soon goes haywire as unexpected guests arrive at the door, but, unknown to the vacationers, all of this night’s events are going just as planned.

With the exception of Hemsworth, most of the actors in this movie have not been in many big-budget films, which plays to this movie’s advantage. These young actors’ faces have not been flooding the movie industry like those of Joseph-Gordon Levitt (“Inception”), ShiaLabeouf (“Transformers”), Megan Fox (“Transformers”) or Jessica Alba (“Fantastic Four”), so there is no stigma or set performance quality the audience expects out of them. Though this movie does not call for extreme dramatic or comedic performances, they all deliver their lines in a believable manner, which speaks wonders. Many actors of this generation simply look good but could not deliver a line if it was read to them word by word, especially when it comes to horror movies. Usually horror movies are where the worst actors end up these days, so it is a nice change of pace to see talented actors in the genre.

In addition to the acting, the writing of “The Cabin in the Woods” is above par compared to recent horror movies. The film is similar to the “Scream” franchise in its ode to horror movies of the past, and the clever way it plays with current “rules” when it comes to horror films. Small gestures such as a shot showing the cabin for the first time in the film, give a subtle ode to “Evil Dead.”  Other gestures are a bit more obvious, such as a creepy old man telling the group not to go to their destination, which gives a tribute to any horror movie this could have happened in, such as the original “Friday the 13^th.” The laws and rules of the slasher genre have been plainly laid out in the “Scream” films, which means that every movie before and after usually follow them. Splitting up, sleeping around, lacking common sense and being a slow-mover usually leads to a character’s death. This pattern falls into place in ”The Cabin in the Woods,” but another twist is added as equations from other movies are thrown in. Since the entire night is orchestrated by an organization, there is far more to this simplistic game of cat and mouse than most movies of the genre care to delve into.

In the last 30 minutes of the movie, the film does a complete 180, which causes a major genre switch. Although there are hints of comedic relief and quick-witted jokes, these dissipate in those last 30 minutes. “The Cabin in the Woods” could have lost all control and caught flame, but it quietly collected all of its parts into a cohesive and entertaining movie.

“The Cabin in the Woods” receives 3 out of 5 stars. 

Originally posted HERE

Madonna gives it all in “MDNA”

Topping charts left and right, the queen of pop has returned with her12th album“MDNA.” This pop album is perfectly blended with 80s dance-pop and the modern sensation of dubstep. Dance anthems briskly move the album along before coming to a gentle and beautifully lyrical close which showcases Madonna’s superb writing.

Madonna's newest album "MDNA" is the perfect blend of 80s dance-pop and dubstep.

Songs like “I’m Addicted” and “Turn Up the Radio” sound very familiar with their catchy beats and straight-forward lyrics. These tunes will easily make their way to the airwaves, but may not quite make it to the top of the charts. With lyrics like “Your name's like a drug/ And I can't get enough/ And it fits like a glove/ I'm addicted to your love,” finding their way to the hook “I’m Addicted,” fans may think she has lost her touch, but “Superstar” should shake this fear. With a thumping drumbeat similar to stomping in the stands of a basketball game and a soft guitar riff, this song lifts the spirits and sends listeners to the beach on a summer day. With a chorus heralding “Ooh la la you're my superstar/ Ooh la la love the way that you are,” it is easy to sing along and can quickly turn the brain into a broken jukebox.

Madonna proves that she can still bring out the big guns with her song “Gang Bang,” which is clearly about her divorce with director Guy Richie. The thumping bassline and ominous feel immediately sets the tone that this song is going deep and dark. Stripping her bubble-pop persona, Madonna reaches into her bag of tricks and pulls out some dubstep as the song’s tempo drops, “You had to die for me baby/ That’s right, you had to die for me baby/ How could I move on with my life/ If you didn't die for me baby.” Her voice barely rises above a whisper as she spits out the harsh lyrics that crawl from the speakers. The tone of vengeance and sadism is readily apparent as she swears to kill the person who broke her heart, “Bang bang, shot you dead, shot my lover in the head.”

M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj’s appearances in “Give Me All Your Luvin’” almost seem thrown in to add more time, or perhaps relevance, to the song. They sound really out of place, besides that the two are completely different types of rappers. M.I.A. has more of a smooth flow and is straight-forward with her raps, whereas Minaj is known for her extreme, boisterous raps. On the contrary, Minaj’s contribution to “I Don’t Give A” fits perfectly with the tempo and manages not to throw the song into a frenzy of grunts and snarls. The almost hip-hop beat and Madonna’s singing/rap give the song an extra push that allows Minaj to squeeze in, finishing the song with  “There's only one Queen, and that's Madonna.”

 “Masterpiece” was featured on Madonna’s film “W.E.” and won a Golden Globe. The words “And I can’t tell you why/ It hurts so much/ To be in love with a masterpiece/ Cause after all/ Nothing's indestructible” escape from Madonna’s soft and delicate voice as she sings this sorrowful song. Although “Masterpiece” won an award, “Falling Free” is the most powerful song on the album, which makes it an even better choice as a closer. Her voice rises and falls in the moving ballad -- it carries and holds where it needs to and is perfectly sweet and soft in other places. “Deep and pure our hearts align/ When I let loose the need to know/ Then we're both free, we're free to go” flows gently from her and lands softly in the hearts of listeners.

Whatever it is Madonna does to consistently create great albums does not need to be known. Whether it is the hiatuses or the crazy media she attracts, it has been working for 25 years and shows no stopping with “MDNA.”

 “MDNA” by Madonna receives 4 out of 5 stars.

Originally posted HERE

“Cotton Rock” leaves a lasting impression

Devotion, remorse and self-worth decorate every crevice of Janet Smith Post’s first novel “Cotton Rock.” A writer’s self-doubt, a woman’s lost drive and a daughter’s anxiety weave an intricate pattern of pain in this undeniably addictive and memorable book.

The White River in the Ozarks region of Arkansas is prominently featured in Janet Smith Post's "Cotton Rock."

“Cotton Rock” tells the story of multiple grief-stricken individuals tied together by English Professor John Sinclair. After the passing of his wife, Sinclair moves back to his home town of Cotton Rock in the Ozarks region of Arkansas. There, he connects with a student named Anna McKerry. Two of McKerry’s children drowned in an accident caused by an unattended dam. Post weaves Sinclair andMcKerry together through McKerry’s remaining child, Leah, and a writing workshop for adult learners taught by Sinclair. These two characters are drawn together by their past traumas and, through writing, strive to overcome their heartaches.

An in-depth view of each character is provided through the various journal entries written by members of the class. John either reads student entries or writes his own as he gazes out at the White River flowing past his home. This format of multiple storylines allows a window into the students’ and Sinclair’s thoughts as they struggle with internal battles. In one journal entry, McKerry deals with the stress of caring for her mother whose memory is failing, and another entry concerns Sinclair as he stares at a mockingly-blank computer screen. This extra element adds an almost cinematic experience to the pages while symbolizing the stress of writer’s block which Sinclair has been heavily hit with.

Post graces each page with extensively-magnified detail so it feels as if the reader is on the porch alongside Sinclair as he scribbles away at his notebook. The in-depth and wholesome descriptions of days gone by create a homey vibe that lingers throughout the book. Sinclair’s recollection of his grandmother preparing green beans evoked images of the reader’s own mother tirelessly cooking for the holidays. Sinclair longingly stares at a cup of coffee as memories of his grandmother flood back into his mind, “Grandma Rowden sitting here with her bowl of green beans, fishing them out one-by-one, pinching the ends, snapping them into uniform lengths and dropping them into the cooking pot beside her.”

Many of the residents of Cotton Rock are trying to cope with the aftermath of sudden deaths in their own ways. For instance, McKerry slips into a groove where she always has to stay busy to keep her mind off her own problems, whereas her daughter, Leah, is constantly running away from them. Despite all the doom and gloom, Post is able to sprinkle in hints of grins. She incorporates the feisty young mind of Harlo, Leah’s daughter, along with comical citizens of Cotton Rock. Stories of sparring eagles and fish-hooked geese help lift the somber clouds of despair to let a little sunshine in, if only for a moment.

Strong descriptions of McKerry’s mother Mayta’s  battle with Alzheimer's disease are abundant in this novel. The dilemma of McKerry having to watch her mother struggle to function in society escalates the story to a dramatic level. She takes Mayta out to town and, when she leaves her alone for a split second, Mayta disappears. Post writes, “I told myself she couldn’t have gone far. But I couldn’t find her anywhere.”

Post explores the ideas of what causes a person to either shut down and run away or turn around and fight their problems head on. The story stays steady and still like a quiet lake beneath a dam, but as soon as the floodgates open it revs up and leaves an unforgettable mark.

“Cotton Rock” by Janet Smith Post receives 4 out of 5 stars.

Geeks and Bowling in NWI

This was a collaborated article. I am only posting my part. You can read the rest HERE 

Beer Geeks

On a Tuesday afternoon, a soulful guitar riff and a heart ached voice fills the local beer bar, Beer Geeks. Located in Highland, this is a convenient place to listen to blues without the price of going to Chicago.

Bartender Meaghan Boers pours another draft for a Beer Geeks customer.

Due to the closings of La Rosa’s andBugsy, many college students and fans of blues have not been able to find a local place to listen.  With Beer Geeks shining its bright light over the region and hoping to draw in beer and blues lovers from all over, this gives people a new place to hang out and listen to great music. Beer Geeks, as stated in the name, only sells beers to customers. This bar serves microbrews and craft beers to the masses and changes up its on tap beers daily, providing a unique tasting experience with constant swaps. 

Beer Geeks’ “Tuesday Bluesday” allow customers to slip into a blues house and enjoy some amazing talent in a local environment. Bands bust out funky jam sessions while customers groove to the music and sip on a tasty brew. Excellent and friendly service adds to the homey vibe which floods the bar. As the lights start to dim and the mood sets, customers are set to embark on a free show, if they do not plan on drinking. A menu is placed in front of customers, covered in tap and bottled beers. Each beer is given an intricate explanation of the taste, along with who brewed the beer, what style the beer is, the ABV (alcohol by volume), IBU (International Bitterness Units) and even the glass that the beer is served with.

The smoke-free environment also adds to the pleasant experience, allowing the pure and best taste of the beers served. Being able to leave a bar in Indiana without being covered in smoke is a great perk that this establishment provides.

Beer Geeks is having its one-year anniversary show of “Tuesday Bluesday” with Carlos Johnson on April 3. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Beer Geeks is located at 3030 45th Street, Highland, Ind., and can be reached at (219) 513-9795.

“Jump Street” brings the heat

Vulgarity is brought to new levels in the buddy-cop comedy film “21 Jump Street.” The film is not for the weak of heart or the easily offended, as it earns its “R” rating on language alone. Fresh young stars bring their A-games, but stars Jonah Hill (“Superbad”) and Channing Tatum (“Dear John”) elevate the film with their unexpected chemistry.

Chubby brainiac Morton Schmidt (Hill) and dim jock Greg Jenko (Tatum) are former high school classmates fresh out of the police academy. They are anything but spectacular, and during their first arrest they fail to give the criminal his Miranda rights. The two are soon reassigned to a revived undercover project from the 80s located at 21 Jump Street. Captain Dickson, played by Ice Cube (“Friday”), explains that this division was created to secretly infiltrate high schools in order to find the supplier of a new synthetic drug. Schmidt and Jenko are thrown back into high school, which turns out to be a completely different experience than their own high school days.

A supporting cast of young new talent really adds to the success of the film. Dave Franco (“Fright Night”), younger brother of James Franco, and Brie Larson (“Scott Pilgrim vs. The World”) play a popular couple which, surprisingly, the nerdy Schmidt has an easier time connecting with than the former would-be prom king Jenko. Franco and Larson fill their roles perfectly and really get a chance to shine in the third act. Ellie Kemper(“Bridesmaids”) plays Ms. Griggs, a chemistry teacher with the hots for Jenko. She immediately turns into a bumbling idiot and cannot help herself around him, constantly trying to grab on and flirt with him.

Even with an enormously entertaining supporting cast, Tatum and Hill are still the brightest stars in this film. They took a big risk with Tatum, casting him against type, and they lucked out. He shows the audience that he can be more than a heartthrob, and embraces his role as the socially out-of-touch doofus. In one scene, he is standing in front of his AP Chemistry class, reading a horrible poem about potassium chloride, while wearing a shirt covered in atoms and bonds. He plays it dead serious and is believable as a dopey guy trying to prove that he can be smart, too. Hill, on the other hand, shows off his cool side for once and takes on the role of the popular kid. In one of his first films since his recent weight loss, it is refreshing to see that Hill does not need fat jokes to be funny, although viewers are still treated to a couple.

Another aspect that helps this film succeed is that it does not go too far, unlike most recent comedies. It is an R-rated film – it has swearing, nudity, drug use, violence and underage drinking, but it does not get uncomfortable. The film is shockingly vulgar at times, but it fits the tone and the story and is never played simply for shock value. It is tasteful and that is thanks to writers Michael Bacall (“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”) and Hill.

A modern comedy with a story arc this cohesive is rare, but “21 Jump Street” achieves it. It is far from a safe comedy, but does not take the jokes too far. “21 Jump Street” is not the nice suburban home next door; instead it is the party house across the alley where everyone is invited.

“21 Jump Street” receives 4 out of 5 stars.

Originally posted HERE

“Awake” shakes audiences

Detective dramas have been a staple of network primetime for decades and with a recent influx in supernatural shows, here comes a fresh take on the cop genre. “Awake” takes the classic police procedural and gives it a unique twist. An intricate story, amazing acting and gripping suspense are woven together into this new fantasy drama from NBC.

Following a car accident, Detective Michael Britten, played by British actor Jason Isaacs (best known for his role as Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films), is stuck between two realities. All of the incidents leading up to the accident are unknown to Britten but whenever he goes to sleep, he switches from one reality to the other. In one reality his wife Hannah, played by Laura Allen ("Terriers"), survived the crash, but their son did not. In the other reality, the opposite is true.

When Britten goes to sleep. he leaves the reality with his wife and wakes up in the reality with his son. In each, he is teamed up with a different detective. In the reality with Hannah, his partner is Efrem Vega, played by Wilmer Valderrama ("That 70's Show"), and in the other, his partner is Isaiah Freeman, Steve Harris of "The Practice." In each reality, Britten is also going to a psychiatrist to help him deal with his respective losses. In Hannah's reality, he is seeing the confrontational Dr. Lee (BD Wong, "Law and Order: SVU"), and in Rex's reality, the nurturing psychologist Dr. Evans (Cherry Jones, "24"). Each day, Britten deals with the self-doubt as to which world is real and who he will need to let go of to return to a normal life.

Warm and dark tones allow an easy transition between the two different realities. Two crime scenes are explored simultaneously, so this editing technique helps. Warm tones appear with the life in which Hannah is alive, whereas dark tones are used when Rex is alive. His life with Hannah is a bit strange because it seems as though she is coping with their son’s death in a positive way, by painting and redecorating the house. The dark tones represent the strain that Hannah’s death has put on Micheal’s already rough relationship with Rex. Both realities become increasingly stressful, but Micheal finds a way to cope since clues from one reality can help him solve crimes in the other.

Isaacs is accompanied by a cast of exceptional television actors, which allows the story to be much more believable. Isaacs shows great range when confronted with many unique situations. He becomes increasingly rattled and upset in his therapy sessions with Dr. Lee. When Efrem thanks Michael for helping him get promoted to detective, Michael ignores his appreciation, remarking, “I didn’t request anyone. If you got promoted it has nothing to do with me,” which allows a peek into how detached he has become from those around him.

Aside from the change in color, the show does nothing to push the viewer’s opinion one way or another as to which is the true reality.

Even the characters in each reality try to prove to Michael why their world is real and the other is not. Dr. Evans has Michael pick up a copy of the Constitution and read directly from it. Her reasoning is that if this is a dream, how he could know the Constitution word for word without having memorized it.

This complex storyline has its pros and cons. The obvious tension rising from trying to decipher which reality is real is an extremely entertaining perk. But how long can viewers stick around until their emotions are no longer being played? How long can a mentally unstable detective be allowed in the field? Hopefully, Michael will make a decision before he gets put into the loony bin.

“Awake” airs Thursdays at 9pm on NBC, and all episodes are available online at: NBC.com, Hulu.com and on iTunes

Originally Posted HERE

Cage goes up in flames

Since the previous "Ghost Rider" was a complete flop with critics, producers scrambled to concoct a new take on the dark rider's story, but ultimately failed. Fans were promised a darker side of  the hero in "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance," and a writer from the newest Batman films (David S. Goyer) was even pulled into the team. The directing team that brought the "Crank" movies was put in the hot seat and given the chains to control this beast, but alas, the beast went out of control and got lost in a blaze of 3-D fire and smoke for 95 minutes.

Nicholas Cage ("National Treasure") reprises his role as Johnny Blaze, who is still dealing with the curse of turning into Ghost Rider when the wicked are near, but now he has traveled to Eastern Europe in an attempt to escape his past. There, Blaze meets Moreau, played by Idris Elba ("Thor," "The Wire"), who tells him that if he helps save a young boy, his curse can be lifted. Blaze obviously takes the deal, but soon realizes that he is simply adding more fuel to the flame.

Acting is the biggest issue with this movie, particularly with Cage's sub-par performance. Cage is surrounded by decent to above average actors, such as the main antagonistRoarke, played by Ciaran Hinds ("There Will Be Blood"), who is the human form of the devil. He has some of the least cringe-worthy lines of the movie, and he delivers despite how two-dimensional his character is. Cage, however, still manages to have no idea what he is doing. One scene he is screaming and singing at a man about how the Ghost Rider is "scratching at the door," and the next he is talking about his father and trying to create a serious and touching moment. Both attempts fail to hit home and instead leave the audience confused and disappointed. He is known for his over-the-top and crazed behavior, but in this case it just comes off as unwarranted and irritating.

The story is all over the place, and major pacing issues cause the movie to feel twice as long. No actual storyline is developed until about 30 minutes in, after Ghost Rider has already made his first appearance. Background story is provided in an animated storybook way, but besides that, no plot is presented. After the plot begins to emerge, the movie spirals into a formulaic mess of big action scenes followed by long poorly-acted scenes of exposition.

The action scenes are dull, even with Ghost Rider's new "spit fire" move. It seems as though no one knows how to put fire out in this film. Consequently, no one knows what sand or water is, so Ghost Rider is practically invincible. It is hard to rally for the hero when his opponents provide no sense of danger to him.

One of the stronger points of the movie is the improved computer effects, despite a budget of $65 million (compared to the first film's $110). The fire engulfing the Rider's head no longer resembles graphics from a cheap video game. The fire that spewed from his skull and bike actually look real this time. His design appears grittier than in the previous incarnation, with a black skull instead of a white one and ash coming off of his clothes instead of magically never catching fire like in the original movie.

However, no level of character design can save this burning ship. The tiny hint of talent sprinkled around Cage does him no good. It is as if he took the script and read it over before each shot, and that shot made it into the movie. "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" is simply messy and uninteresting. Hopefully Ghost Rider's chains do not actually reach beyond the screen, so others are not dragged into this woeful nightmare.

"Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" receives 1 star out of 5.

Originally posted here

PlayStation Vita empties pockets for a good reason

Gamers willing to dish out an extra 50 dollars were able to get their hands on the newest portable gaming device from Sony, the PlayStation Vita, before its official release. With a starting price of $249, the PlayStation Vita offers a fresh start from the PSP Go which has been pulled from the shelves in all countries except for the US. What makes this device better than its predecessor? Among the improvements are better graphics, a touch screen and a rear touchpad.

The screen has been stretched out to an astonishing five inches – which is about the size of an entire iPhone. This gives the system plenty of room to flaunt its gorgeous graphics with its OLED screen  displaying approximately 16 million colors. While the games "Little Deviants" and "Escape Plan" showcase the new features of the PS Vita, games such as "Uncharted: Golden Abyss"  and "BlazBlue: Continuum Shift" showcase the system's startling colors and fluidity.

The touch screen and rear touchpad are nearly perfect on this device. The touch screen for the PS Vita is the same as any other and allows for easy navigation. The rear touchpad is the star player of the PS Vita, allowing physical interaction with the game without fingers touching the front screen. In the game "Little Deviants" (included in the first edition bundle), the player has to move the character by rolling their fingers along the touchpad. The touchpad is extremely accurate and is also pressure sensitive.

Consumers may be wondering if the $349 price tag is worth a bundle that only includes a game, case and memory card. The memory card for the original PSP was an average memory stick pro duo. The creators of the PS Vita decided to make things more pricey and complicated by changing the memory card for the new system. With the first edition bundle, a PS Vita card is given, but it is only 4GB whereas the PS Vita released on Feb. 22 comes with an 8GB memory card. So, when purchasing and downloading a game like "Uncharted: Golden Abyss," 3.2GB of the card space will be used. Purchasing an 8GB memory card is already 30 dollars, making the grand total spent on this device around $379. So, waiting until the actual release on Feb. 22 might not be a bad idea.

Memory card issues aside, the future of the PS Vita is extremely bright. Since the device has backwards compatibility, there is already a very large library of games to choose from. Unlike the PSP Go, the PS Vita supports physical and digital copies of games. Along with this perk, when games are released for the PS Vita, digital copies will be released simultaneously for five dollars cheaper on the PS Network. Game designer Hideo Kojima("Metal Gear" series) has already expressed his aspirations for the PS Vita. He will create a feature allowing players to have continuous gameplay by allowing wireless transfer of game data between the PS Vita and the PS3. This will be available with "Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker," "Metal Gear Solid 2" and "Metal Gear Solid 3."

So is it worth nearly $300? If gamers can find the money in their pockets after surviving the overkill of video game releases in early winter, then yes. If not, then they might want to wait and see if prices will drop or the other cheap alternative: just borrow a friend's.

Originally Posted HERE

“The Woman in Black” chills audiences

Tossing away his glasses and removing his scar, Daniel Radcliffe ("Harry Potter") shows a different side of himself in his latest film, "The Woman in Black." Filled with classic cheap scares and haunting silhouettes, this thriller comes across ascliché, but suspense levels rise, giving audiences white knuckles throughout the second half of the film.

In the early 1900s, Radcliffe plays ArthurKipps, a young solicitor called to a rural part of England to gather the paperwork for a recently-deceased woman's estate. As Kipps settles in to deal with the stacks of paperwork in this empty home, he starts to hear and see strange occurrences throughout the house. He quickly makes friends with local Sam Daily, played by CiaránHinds ("Road to Perdition") but this does not save Kipps from being frightened, tormented and endangered by the woman in black.

It takes a while for the movie to get going, but once it creeps in, the suspense stays for the long haul. Silhouettes are seen in doorways, mirrors and windows, causing movie-goers to hide behind loved ones awaiting a big scare.  Creepy dolls, eerie marsh lands and ominous settings help make it feel as if Kipps is alone and deserted in this mansion with nowhere to run and no one to hear his pleas.

Aside from the haunting woman and strange shadows, what really makes the film work is that its slow pace helps build the suspense almost perfectly. The scares happen a second before or after expected and send the audience leaping out of their chairs or cringing in fear. "Woman in Black" delivers all the same clichés expected from the genre, but provides enough surprises to catch viewers off guard. It does not reach the epitome of horror films, but certainly makes a leap for it.

Another key factor in this film is the period and location. Since this movie is set in the1900s, it eliminates many resources a character could use to communicate or escape. In recent films, a character can simply pick up a phone and dial the police, text a friend a warning or throw a rock at the neighbors' window to get their attention. Kipps is stranded in a mansion surrounded by marshlands and a lake. There are no telephones in the town, and it would take another 73 years for cell phones to be invented.  These two factors drill in the sense of being alone and trapped in a haunted house.

Radcliffe tries hard to shake off his wizarding ways in this movie and actually achieves it. His portrayal of a man who is somewhat lost without his wife and is seen as miserable even by his own son is spot-on. The fact that he is playing a father forces the viewer to see him as a young man instead of a boy. Although his acting abilities are still in their early stages of development, he shows that he can definitely act outside of the "Harry Potter" films, whether it is on Broadway or the silver screen.

Although "The Woman in Black" does not reach perfection, it takes the leap. Giving audiences a break from the gore-filled and demon-possessed films flooding theaters over the past five years, this film is a breath of fresh air. Even if those breaths soon turn to screams.

"The Woman in Black" receives 2 ½ out of 5 stars.

Originally posted HERE

“Touch” gives Fox a new hope

After trying his luck at bad-boy vampire and counter-terrorism expert, KeiferSutherland ("24" and "The Lost Boys) is taking on the role of a father. Sutherland stars in the new supernatural drama "Touch" on Fox . With one of Fox's biggest shows, "House," possibly ending its run after this season, the new series "Touch" shows some early promise for the network. Touching hearts at home with a wife killed on Sept. 11, 2001 and dipping its foot into the sci-fi pool, "Touch" is gliding down the right road for now.

"Touch" follows the story of widower Martin Bohm (Sutherland), whose wife died on Sept. 11, and his mute son Jake, played by newcomer David Mazouz. Jake has a knack for getting himself into strange and dangerous predicaments, which lead people to think Martin is a bad father. This brings a social worker named Clea Hopkins into the story, played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw ("Larry Crowne").

The story centers on the scientific theory known as the "string theory" which describes subatomic "strings" that connect all things together. In the first five minutes, the viewer is bombarded by statistics that Jake spouts out. He pulls viewers in, assisting them in understanding the overall theme and feel of the show, which is connected, yet separated. Jake obsesses over seemingly random numbers, writing them down constantly. Martin sees them as a code which ultimately leads him to the home of Arthur Teller, a coincidental number theory expert played by Danny Glover ("Lethal Weapon"). 

Sutherland commands the viewer's attention with his demanding and powerful personality. Although Mazouz never says a word other than his narration, his expressions play a key part in this show. "He sees the world in a completely different way," is how Teller explains to Martin why Jake acts the way he does. When Jake is upset or confused, the expression he gives off and the body language he sends to his father really convey his emotions. Sutherland plays the role of a confused and desperate father trying to understand his son perfectly, and this helps carry the show from scene to scene.

Aside from solid performances from the two leads, the creator of the show is another reason why the program may work. Tim Kring, whose most recent work was "Heroes," created "Touch" and gave an old story a breath of fresh air. He allows the show to take place all over the world, in Japan, Baghdad, London and Ireland, but still brings the show back to its core, which is the relationship between father and son, Martin and Jake.

A looming fear is that the storyline of "Touch" could turn a bit stale with Martin trying to decipher a new code every week. Tim Kring also has a history of canceled shows. "Crossing Jordan" was canceled after six seasons and "Heroes" was canceled after four. However, "Touch" definitely shows promise, and could have a decent run if the story does not get lost in a world of jumbled numbers.

The pilot episode can be seen on Fox.com, and the show returns to television sets on March 19.

Originally posted HERE

“Underworld: Awakening” induces sleep

Bullet holes and blood cover the screen in the newest installment of the "Underworld" franchise. "Underworld: Awakening" is jam-packed with expensive action sequences and gore for days, but lacks when switching over to story mode.

The cold-hearted vampire Selene, played by Kate Beckinsale ("Van Helsing", "Pearl Harbor") has a new set of enemies on her plate this time around and they are human. This film takes place 12 years after the events that transpired in "Underworld: Evolution." Selene is taken captive by humans and is put into a cryogenic sleep. While held captive, she is experimented on in hopes to find a cure for the "diseases" of being a vampire or werewolf (also known as "lycan").. After she is set free, Selene finds out that her lover, Michael, is missing and a "cleansing" of lycans and vampires has nearly wiped them all out. Selene escapes and runs into a young girl named Eve, played by India Eisley ("The Secret Life of the American Teenager"), who turns out to be of extreme significance to ending the war.

The giant elephant, or lycan as it were, in the room throughout this entire movie is the confusing and low-quality storyline. Those who were pulled into theaters by the trailer or their significant other might get lost after the opening monologue explains the events that led up to this current film. The storyline is quickly shoved aside as heads begin to roll and blood starts to squirt all over the nearest wall, but comes crashing right back in when a sentimental scene flops into the picture. A somewhat touching moment is shared between Eve and Selene as their characters express their new found connection. But, the relationship seems rushed and forced in an hour and 45 minute movie.

Poorly-done CGI partnered with 3D elements added to the headache this movie seemed to cause. Over the years, the budget of the franchise has grown, and, with it, the amount of CGI effects has risen. The movie takes place mostly at night and has a cold blue color palette, like the previous films. This makes for a very murky and ugly 3D experience. When only Selene was fighting in a scene, it was easy to follow along with her and see everything she did. Unfortunately, when it came to trying to follow her, seven lycans, and dozens of vampires – including one wielding a silver embedded whip – it became a little over the top and clustered.

However, the excessive gore and wall-to-wall action do assist in keeping the audience's attention in a confusing and shallow plot. Selene goes toe to toe with those who captured her and shows them that they picked the wrong vampire to mess with. The elongated fight scene that snaps the audience to life in the opening scene is around five minutes long and packs as much death in as possible. The 3D definitely adds a bit of flare to these scenes, but does nothing more. Simply seeing the film in 2D would have been just as good.

Despite the fact that Selene definitely gets a little too in touch with her feminine side, she still manages to destroy a couple of bad guys in her fits of rage.  The dialogue may be better on mute, but the action definitely makes up for this lackluster horror-fantasy film.

"Underworld: Awakening" receives 2 out of 5 stars.

Originally posted HERE