Goodbye Unemployment...

..Hello job!

That's right, the big adventure starts tomorrow (4pm 'til 8pm) so by this time tomorrow I'll have finished my first day of work at HM Revenue and Customs so expect some kind of first day impressions of: the office, it's employers and my activities, tomorrow.

Quickie: Song of the Week

Sticking with the Foo Fighters theme that I've been having over the previous weeks. Another one from their new album; a rare piano Foo Fighters song appears here. Home is the melodic poem-like song which sees the album take a slower pace. Perfect vocals from the Grohl himself, only prove that the Foos can do it all, whether it be a head-banging rock-fest or foot-tapping indie, they are the professionals.

Home

Wish I were with you
I couldn't stay
Every direction
Leads me away
Pray for tomorrow
But for today

All I want is to be home

Stand in the mirror
You look the same
Just lookin' for shelter
From cold and the pain
Someone to cover
Safe from the rain

All I want is to be home

Echoes and silence
Patience and grace
All of these moments
I'll never replace
No fear of my heart
Absence of faith

All I want is to be home
Ooh

All I want is to be home

People I've loved
I have no regrets
Some I remember
Some I forget
Some of them living
Some of them dead

All I want is to be home

Quickie: Carlito's Way - Review

"Just when I thought that I was out they pull me back in" - Michael Corleone

(Godfather Part III)

Plot synopsis.
Reformed con, Carlito Brigante (Al Pacino) emerges from 5 years behind bars as a history-book legend to a world somewhat changed. Carlito's Way catalogs the chase of a dream; going straight, of a man who knows nothing else but to do it the wrong way. The initially moral-grounded lawyer David Kleinfeld (Sean Penn) becomes Carlito's dead weight, and tempts Carlito back into his old ways, while old flame Gail (Penelope Ann Miller) provides the polar opposite moral compass.

Carlito must choose between honour, debt and loyalty or the American dream in paradise. In a final take similar to The Untouchables (also directed by Brian De Palma), Carlito's way is left dripping in irony.


Mini-review.
After controversial success with Scarface, director Brian De Palma provides Pacino with the lead again as they, this time, tackle a gangster film more "western" than "gangs"; you can't trust your family, friends, loved ones - "...there's only one rule, you save your own ass".
Pacino and Penn are excellent as mirrors of each other and themselves as the tables turn swiftly. It's particularly interesting to watch Penn portray his character's quick self destruct as the slimey lawyer falls deeper and deeper into trouble. Carlito is played with the intensity you'd expect from Pacino, and the sympathy he generates from the audience is not only impressive but believable too. However, for all of Pacino's great work the ending was generally not met with any emotional attachment - something perhaps due to Penelope Ann Miller's portrayal of Gail; there was something missing from it which seemed to emotionally isolate Pacino's character.

3.5 out of 5

A good standing flick about an unoriginal story. Worth a watch if not for the performances alone.

I *Heart* Movies

I love movies. They're something I've only really started to enjoy as a hobby over the past year or so. Anyway, as a member of blockbusters my list (of DVDs that will be sent out to me) was running a tad low. I've been using the imdb top 250 list as a reference point when I run out of movies that I've wanted to see and haven't previous, and need some more ideas. imdb, for all of it's downfalls, opened my eyes to movies and introduced me to such classics as "12 Angry Men", "Seven Samurai", "Sunset Blvd.", "The Third Man", "Double Indemnity" and the astounding 1927 sci-fi classic "Metropolis"; films I'd probably not have seen otherwise. From that I've then been able to find films that have specifics in common with the aforementioned movies, and allowed me to improve my experiences and decrease my limited knowledge.

So, on to matters more pressing, I've decided to set myself a challenge; watch all 250 movies on imdb's list.

At this moment in time (I know for sure that) I've seen exactly 100 (those in bold, below), that gives me 150 yet to see. There's a few I've probably seen (like Aliens, Indiana Jones' and Snatch, for examples) but it's probably best that I see them again.

So, speaking of Indiana Jones, why not start there. The next 3 on my blockbuster list:

Indiana Jones & The Raiders Of The Lost Ark
Indiana Jones & The Temple Of Doom
Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade

Mini reviews to follow.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

imdb 250 Top Movies

Pos. Rat. Name

1. 9.1 The Godfather (1972)
2. 9.1 The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
3. 9.0 The Godfather: Part II (1974)
4. 8.8 Buono, il brutto, il cattivo, Il (1966)
5. 8.8 Pulp Fiction (1994)
6. 8.8 Schindler's List (1993)
7. 8.8 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
8. 8.8 Casablanca (1942)
9. 8.8 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
10. 8.8 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
11. 8.8 Shichinin no samurai (1954)
12. 8.8 Star Wars (1977)
13. 8.7 12 Angry Men (1957)
14. 8.7 Rear Window (1954)
15. 8.7 Goodfellas (1990)
16. 8.7 Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
17. 8.7 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
18. 8.7 Cidade de Deus (2002)
19. 8.6 The Usual Suspects (1995)
20. 8.6 C'era una volta il West (1968)
21. 8.6 Psycho (1960)
22. 8.6 Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
23. 8.6 North by Northwest (1959)
24. 8.6 Citizen Kane (1941)
25. 8.6 The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
26. 8.6 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
27. 8.6 Memento (2000)
28. 8.6 Fight Club (1999)
29. 8.5 Sunset Blvd. (1950)
30. 8.5 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
31. 8.5 It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
32. 8.5 The Matrix (1999)
33. 8.5 Taxi Driver (1976)
34. 8.5 American Beauty (1999)
35. 8.5 Vertigo (1958)
36. 8.5 Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, Le (2001)
37. 8.5 Apocalypse Now (1979)
38. 8.5 Se7en (1995)
39. 8.5 The Departed (2006)
40. 8.5 Léon (1994)
41. 8.4 American History X (1998)
42. 8.4 Paths of Glory (1957)
43. 8.4 Chinatown (1974)
44. 8.4 To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
45. 8.4 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
46. 8.4 Laberinto del fauno, El (2006)
47. 8.4 M (1931)
48. 8.4 The Third Man (1949)
49. 8.4 A Clockwork Orange (1971)
50. 8.4 The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
51. 8.4 Alien (1979)
52. 8.4 The Pianist (2002)
53. 8.4 Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
54. 8.4 The Shining (1980)
55. 8.4 L.A. Confidential (1997)
56. 8.4 Untergang, Der (2004)
57. 8.4 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
58. 8.4 Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001)
59. 8.4 The Maltese Falcon (1941)
60. 8.4 Double Indemnity (1944)
61. 8.4 Boot, Das (1981)
62. 8.3 Requiem for a Dream (2000)
63. 8.3 Saving Private Ryan (1998)
64. 8.3 Reservoir Dogs (1992)
65. 8.3 Leben der Anderen, Das (2006)
66. 8.3 Metropolis (1927)
67. 8.3 Aliens (1986)
68. 8.3 Raging Bull (1980)
69. 8.3 Forrest Gump (1994)
70. 8.3 Modern Times (1936)
71. 8.3 Hotel Rwanda (2004)
72. 8.3 Sin City (2005)
73. 8.3 Rashômon (1950)
74. 8.3 Singin' in the Rain (1952)
75. 8.3 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
76. 8.3 Rebecca (1940)
77. 8.3 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
78. 8.3 The Great Escape (1963)
79. 8.3 All About Eve (1950)
80. 8.3 Some Like It Hot (1959)
81. 8.3 Ratatouille (2007)
82. 8.3 Amadeus (1984)
83. 8.3 Sjunde inseglet, Det (1957)
84. 8.3 Touch of Evil (1958)
85. 8.3 On the Waterfront (1954)
86. 8.3 The Prestige (2006)
87. 8.3 The Elephant Man (1980)
88. 8.2 Jaws (1975)
89. 8.2 Vita è bella, La (1997)
90. 8.2 The Sting (1973)
91. 8.2 Strangers on a Train (1951)
92. 8.2 The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
93. 8.2 The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
94. 8.2 Full Metal Jacket (1987)
95. 8.2 The Apartment (1960)
96. 8.2 Batman Begins (2005)
97. 8.2 Braveheart (1995)
98. 8.2 The Big Sleep (1946)
99. 8.2 City Lights (1931)
100. 8.2 Nuovo cinema Paradiso (1988)
101. 8.2 The Great Dictator (1940)
102. 8.2 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
103. 8.2 Blade Runner (1982)
104. 8.2 Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
105. 8.2 Notorious (1946)
106. 8.2 The Wizard of Oz (1939)
107. 8.2 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
108. 8.2 Million Dollar Baby (2004)
109. 8.2 High Noon (1952)
110. 8.2 Fargo (1996)
111. 8.2 Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
112. 8.2 Ran (1985)
113. 8.2 Donnie Darko (2001)
114. 8.2 Back to the Future (1985)
115. 8.2 Salaire de la peur, Le (1953)
116. 8.2 Cool Hand Luke (1967)
117. 8.2 Unforgiven (1992)
118. 8.2 Oldboy (2003)
119. 8.2 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
120. 8.1 Mononoke-hime (1997)
121. 8.1 Annie Hall (1977)
122. 8.1 The Green Mile (1999)
123. 8.1 Per qualche dollaro in più (1965)
124. 8.1 The Sixth Sense (1999)
125. 8.1 Grindhouse (2007)
126. 8.1 Yojimbo (1961)
127. 8.1 The Incredibles (2004)
128. 8.1 Gladiator (2000)
129. 8.1 Ben-Hur (1959)
130. 8.1 Finding Nemo (2003)
131. 8.1 Ladri di biciclette (1948)
132. 8.1 Life of Brian (1979)
133. 8.1 Children of Men (2006)
134. 8.1 The Deer Hunter (1978)
135. 8.1 V for Vendetta (2005)
136. 8.1 The Killing (1956)
137. 8.1 Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
138. 8.1 Die Hard (1988)
139. 8.1 Platoon (1986)
140. 8.1 Notti di Cabiria, Le (1957)
141. 8.1 It Happened One Night (1934)
142. 8.1 Crash (2004/I)
143. 8.1 Diaboliques, Les (1955)
144. 8.1 The Princess Bride (1987)
145. 8.1 The Graduate (1967)
146. 8.1 Battaglia di Algeri, La (1966)
147. 8.1 The General (1927) 11,426
148. 8.1 Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
149. 8.1 Brief Encounter (1945)
150. 8.1 Amores perros (2000)
151. 8.1 Smultronstället (1957)
152. 8.1 The Wild Bunch (1969)
153. 8.0 Gandhi (1982)
154. 8.0 Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
155. 8.0 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
156. 8.0 Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
157. 8.0 Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)
158. 8.0 Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
159. 8.0 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
160. 8.0 Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
161. 8.0 The African Queen (1951)
162. 8.0 The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
163. 8.0 Stand by Me (1986)
164. 8.0 8½ (1963)
165. 8.0 Wo hu cang long (2000)
166. 8.0 Heat (1995)
167. 8.0 Superbad (2007)
168. 8.0 The Night of the Hunter (1955)
169. 8.0 The Conversation (1974)
170. 8.0 Hot Fuzz (2007)
171. 8.0 Duck Soup (1933)
172. 8.0 Harvey (1950)
173. 8.0 The Big Lebowski (1998)
174. 8.0 Gone with the Wind (1939)
175. 8.0 Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922)
176. 8.0 The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
177. 8.0 The Gold Rush (1925)
178. 8.0 Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
179. 8.0 Cabinet des Dr. Caligari., Das (1920)
180. 8.0 Trainspotting (1996)
181. 8.0 Groundhog Day (1993)
182. 8.0 Patton (1970)
183. 8.0 Snatch. (2000)
184. 8.0 Toy Story (1995)
185. 8.0 Glory (1989)
186. 8.0 The Thing (1982)
187. 8.0 The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
188. 8.0 Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
189. 8.0 Belle et la bête, La (1946)
190. 8.0 Twelve Monkeys (1995)
191. 8.0 Lola rennt (1998)
192. 8.0 Ed Wood (1994)
193. 8.0 The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
194. 8.0 King Kong (1933)
195. 8.0 Sleuth (1972)
196. 8.0 Toy Story 2 (1999)
197. 8.0 Scarface (1983)
198. 8.0 Spartacus (1960)
199. 8.0 The Terminator (1984)
200. 8.0 The Lady Vanishes (1938)
201. 8.0 In the Heat of the Night (1967)
202. 8.0 The Exorcist (1973)
203. 7.9 Frankenstein (1931)
204. 7.9 The Philadelphia Story (1940)
205. 7.9 Big Fish (2003)
206. 7.9 The Ox-Bow Incident (1943)
207. 7.9 Mystic River (2003)
208. 7.9 The Lion King (1994)
209. 7.9 Magnolia (1999)
210. 7.9 Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
211. 7.9 The Hustler (1961)
212. 7.9 Stalker (1979)
213. 7.9 Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
214. 7.9 Ying xiong (2002)
215. 7.9 Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
216. 7.9 Casino Royale (2006)
217. 7.9 Young Frankenstein (1974)
218. 7.9 A Christmas Story (1983)
219. 7.9 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
220. 7.9 Out of the Past (1947)
221. 7.9 Hotaru no haka (1988)
222. 7.9 Finding Neverland (2004)
223. 7.9 A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
224. 7.9 Dial M for Murder (1954)
225. 7.9 Rosemary's Baby (1968)
226. 7.9 In Cold Blood (1967)
227. 7.9 Shaun of the Dead (2004)
228. 7.9 Stalag 17 (1953)
229. 7.9 Cinderella Man (2005)
230. 7.9 Shrek (2001)
231. 7.9 Mou gaan dou (2002)
232. 7.9 Manhattan (1979)
233. 7.9 Casino (1995)
234. 7.9 Rope (1948)
235. 7.9 Du rififi chez les hommes (1955)
236. 7.9 Zodiac (2007/I)
237. 7.9 All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
238. 7.9 Umberto D. (1952)
239. 7.9 The Lost Weekend (1945)
240. 7.9 A Man for All Seasons (1966)
241. 7.9 Persona (1966)
242. 7.9 Before Sunset (2004)
243. 7.9 Roman Holiday (1953)
244. 7.9 Doctor Zhivago (1965)
245. 7.9 Brazil (1985)
246. 7.9 Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004)
247. 7.9 Network (1976)
248. 7.9 Mulholland Dr. (2001)
249. 7.9 Dolce vita, La (1960)
250. 7.9 Haine, La (1995)

Donnie Darko - Movie/DVD Review

28 days... 6 hours... 42 minutes... 12 seconds.
That... is when the world... will end.

Movies are like dancing; some people are good at it, some are creative and flashy with their techniques, some stick to a step-by-step routine of how to dance, while others will take everything they know about dancing and do something completely different, some dance routines make us cry, others make us laugh, sometimes dancing is pulled off by one individual, where others it is performed by 100s of individuals working together.

It's difficult to put Donnie Darko into one of those categories, perhaps because it does a bit of everything, takes you by the hand, spins you around, - your beliefs, the hero and anti-hero mantras - twirls you around and throws you down to the ground in one last hurrah; a final dramatic play that sees your partner fall to the ground while you look on wonder "but what if..."

First of all, Donnie Darko is not a horror, it is not a slasher, it's not supposed to make you jump, it's not an emo flick (unless you mean emotional film; and surely that describes all movies?) so expecting a guy in a mask to jump out and scare you is going to leave you out in the dark with regard to the true genius of this film. I'm not really sure what happened; it's a bit of an indie film - it's not a blockbuster - but once it was released it seemed to take on it's own life (funded by marketing money men?) which saw it being sold to the masses as something everyone can relate with; everyone has an opinion on slashers/horrors; you either love them or hate them.

The Characters.
Truth is, you can't put Donnie Darko into a neat (generalized) genre box; there's no real good people in this film; no hero or savior (though Donnie [played to perfection by Jake Gyllenhaal] eventually becomes that figure). Likewise, there's no anti-hero; not even fruitloop, fear vs. love Jim Cunningham (Patrick Swayze) running a child-porn ring, or Donnie's little dancing sister (Daveigh Chase), or Donnie's older less wiser sister (played by real life sister, the underrated Maggie Gyllenhaal) who doesn't really know what she wants to be; a teenager or a college-bound woman, or his understanding parents (Rose and Eddie played by Mary McDonnell and Holmes Osborne respectively) whom seem to play second fiddle to their three children; sometimes blindly supporting the bad things in their children's lives and seamlessly allowing people to walk over them in the process.

Supporting Donnie's family is an extremely strong and diverse cast; faces we've all probably seen at some point.
The purdy Jena Malone plays Donnie's love interest, Gretchen Ross, who's a bit missed up herself; new girl in school who had to move (and change her name) because her mothers ex-husband stabbed her mother four times. Gretchen's desire is to see the good things in the world; and to prove to herself that the world can be beautiful. Ironically she sees this in disturbed bunny seeing Donnie, who himself is afraid of solitude, confused, but at the same time curious of the world and it's lies.
Speaking of the Bunny, what can be said? Except that it makes for an unbelievable conclusion; having already seen it before I watched it (er.) again, I knew what was coming and the explanation of "Frank" the demonic dummy (played by James Duval) whom seems to be manipulating and pulling the strings of Donnie; with the promise that it will eventually save the world from destruction.
Trying to prove that this is nothing but utter nonsense and to get to the root of Donnie's problems is understanding shrink Dr. Lilian Thurman (played'eth by Katharine Ross - I had no idea that was her, until I looked it up!).


Storyline.
I like to keep things regarding plot, character arcs when reviewing movies mostly vague as I don't like to spoil and so on, I feel it also helps the review itself - it keeps things objective; so I'll keep it vague. Although the basic premise of this film is an old one (to save the world) that isn't really what this film is about. In fact, it's really about how it doesn't need saving (I didn't italicize the wrong word there), as the film presents the theory that we're all on a unchangeable path. Donnie talks to teacher Kenneth Monnitoff (Noah Wyle) about the theories of time travel; Donnie debates that if you can see your fixed path (and thus your future) you could change it. However, Monnitoff explains that this perspective is a contradiction; if you could see your future you could change your destiny, thus it wouldn't be a fixed path. Donnie hits back by saying that view is irrelevant if you could see "God's path".

"God's path" is perhaps the most obvious of the religious undertones scattered throughout the film; redemption, prophecies, destiny, faith, a higher power, sacrifice; these are all covered in Donnie Darko, but it avoids being pretentious in it's content as it never truly answers the issues it poses, it doesn't force feed a truth or single theory. Instead it merely guides you, like Frank does Donnie, and then asks you to choose, or not as the case may be.

Essentially, Donnie looks at the actions he is performing (dictated by the from the future touting bunny) as a means to that end; to change ones destiny. Donnie is terrified that he will die alone, having little or no meaning to his own existence. Dr. Thurman explains; "If the sky were to suddenly open up, there would be no law, there would be no rule. There would only be you and your memories. If this world were to end, there would only be you... and him... and no one else." Although she means this as more of a if your false reality would end... in the end she is right; "Every living creature on earth dies alone." but the thumb print left by the death of an individual is sometimes greater than we could imagine; the people who we've interacted with (little or small) are all influenced by their experiences with us. The movie ends with that note soaring high.

The conclusion to Donnie Darko, sends you on a roller coaster of realization. The pieces fall into place not just for the audience, but for Donnie himself. He finally realizes why Frank has been hounding him, and in a fantastic montage, everyone else realizes what Donnie meant to them. In essence, they are all given a second chance through Donnie's choice and his ability to see "God's path". Most of the characters are like glasses of water; each of them are exactly half full (half good - half not so much). Donnie's 'choice' allowed for those characters to have full glasses, it also gives them the choice, a new set of cross roads which would not have been there were it not for the actions of Donnie.

5 out of 5


Closing words.
Watch it. Love it. Hate it. But have an opinion on it.

Films like this: American Beauty, The Butterfly Effect, Fight Club (according to imdb)...

Pro Evolution Soccer 2008: "After-the-initial Impression" Impressions

Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 Demo


I'm glad I didn't write this mini review directly after the first match I played on the Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 demo (Xbox 360), as it would have fallen way short of the Fifa demo.

Initially, it felt too fast and more arcadey than any previous games. I think what has happened this year is Fifa have gone too realistic, and have forced this extremely slow (but, perhaps, more realistic) paced game on to it's gamers. Where as PES, although faster (maybe, still, a little too fast) gives the player that freedom to slow the game down with their individual style of play. Now, it's hard to gauge the success on this with the demo, as it's only a 5 minute match so it's hard to really play a slow passing game with the clock counting down (up?) so fast, but it's an option that's plain to see.

Graphically. I feel I'm missing out. I don't own a 30'inch HDTV, I have a 15 inch portable that I play my games on, but it does look better; improved much so. But no ground breaking. The likenesses of the players are perfect and leagues ahead of the license-grabbing corporation that is Electronic Arts.

Gameplay. The different types of players handle and feel different, where as, with the Fifa demo, this wasn't so obvious; every player seemed to handle almost the same even though it was obvious who were the better players. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008, firstly allows you to play your style, but also limits that with the players you have at your disposal. Say you play Morientes instead of Torres (Spain nation team). Morientes is marginally better than Torres in the air, but Torres offers that thread in behind; he's faster and more direct. However, compare Torres to the more slight build but more skillful Villa; Villa has more tricks and a better touch, but the taller more heavy built Torres will be harder to knock off of the ball. Now that goes for every player; every player has his own strengths and weaknesses and thus far it looks like this has been tweaked to it's best in this most recent version.

A few niggles however...

Goalkeepers. Are these men between the sticks so difficult to code? Fifa's were in some kind of slo-mo limbo, where as there's a host of bad things about the keepers of PES. I feel the goalkeepers are worse than they were in PES6, which just isn't on. They'll rarely keep a hold of a shot, even when it's fired straight at them. We were promised that goalkeepers will try to push shots around the post instead of into the path of an oncoming striker... Bull-hucky! They're worse than ever! At least Fifa have the animations down to a 'T', PES goalies are lacking in this area too. Fix it KONAMILots 'O Glitches. Animation popping, telekinesis goalkeepers, terrible hit collision... The list goes on. I accept that this is a demo so I assume these will all be fixed for its release.

Ref and Lino's. Refs seem better but less consistent! They now let well timed challenges go, even if you get the ball and the player! Score! But they'll now send you off for fouls on the half way line, and give penalties for perfectly timed challenged coming in from the front?! Sort it out..


And that's it really. I'm really enjoying it apart from the occasion glitch and (sometimes related) terrible goalkeeping/Referee error. If the niggles are fixed it should be the best PES to date (maybe!).

Full version still expected for 26th of October - so about a month!
Much love,

RU

Quickie: Song of the Week!

To celebrate the release of this bands new album it's only right that I do so with one of their songs. And what better than using the new single from the new album?

Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace is the bands 6 (studio) album and sees the band going in yet another directions (though, debatable, a similar direction as the original, self titled, Foo Fighters album). And the song of choice for this week is the impressive The Pretender.

The Pretender
Keep you in the dark
You know they all pretend
Keep you in the dark
And so it all began

Send in your skeletons
Sing as their bones go marching in... again
The need you buried deep
The secrets that you keep are at the ready
Are you ready?
I'm finished making sense
Done pleading ignorance
That whole defense

Spinning infinity, boy
The wheel is spinning me
It's never-ending, never-ending
Same old story

What if I say I'm not like the others?
What if I say I'm not just another one in your place
You're the pretender
What if I say I will never surrender?

What if I say I'm not like the others?
What if I say I'm not just another one in your place
You're the pretender
What if I say I will never surrender?

In time or so i'm told
I'm just another soul for sale... oh, well
The page is out of print
We are not permanent
We're temporary, temporary
Same old story

What if I say I'm not like the others?
What if I say I'm not just another one in your place
You're the pretender
What if I say I will never surrender?

What if I say I'm not like the others?
What if I say I'm not just another one in your place
You're the pretender
What if I say I will never surrender?
[The Pretender lyrics on http://www.metrolyrics.com]


I'm the voice inside your head
You refuse to hear
I'm the face that you have to face
Mirrored in your stare
I'm what's left, I'm what's right
I'm the enemy
I'm the hand that will take you down
Bring you to your knees

So who are you?
Yeah, who are you?
Yeah, who are you?
Yeah, who are you?

Keep you in the dark
You know they all pretend

What if I say I'm not like the others?
What if I say I'm not just another one in your place
You're the pretender
What if I say I will never surrender?

What if I say I'm not like the others?
What if I say I'm not just another one in your place
You're the pretender
What if I say I will never surrender?

What if I say I'm not like the others?
(Keep you in the dark)
What if I say I'm not just another one in your place
(You know they all... pretend)
You're the pretender
What if I say I will never surrender?

What if I say I'm not like the others?
(Keep you in the dark)
What if I say I'm not just another one in your place
(You know they all... pretend)
You're the pretender
What if I say I will never surrender?

So who are you?
Yeah, who are you?
Yeah, who are you?

Quickie: Song of the Week!

There's something insanely cute and cheeky about this girl I can't quite put my finger on. She shot to fame with her equally fantastic 'Foundations' which mixed her quick-fire lyrics with interesting emotional content. She's talented, no doubt, but people have questioned her ability to really sing, well perhaps she's not the greatest singer, but she also doesn't flaunt flesh to boost sales (yet) or wear low cut pants to improve her 'sexual image' - does that make her any less of a singer as well?
Well, probably, but what she doesn't hit with high notes or ride upon in a music video she makes up for with her lyrics. Fast becoming the first thing I look for in a singer (see Nerina Pallot)

In a similar style to Lily Allen, who I must admit I am indifferent towards, she doesn't seem afraid to be honest with her lyrics. I do think Ms Nash's style is more to my liking than Lily Allen's, though I do have the latter's album, I don't have the former's, yet - the songs I have heard are brilliantly written.I am, of course, talking of Kate Nash. And the song of choice is Birds, it sounds a little nutty when you first listen to it, but there's deep meaning to it's content. Mark my words.

Birds
She was waitin' at the station
He was gettin' off the train
He didn't have a ticket
So he had to bum through the barriors, again.

Well the ticket inspector saw him rushin' through

He said, girl you don't know how much I missed you
But we better run cause I
Haven't got the funds to pay
This fine
She said fine

So they ran out of the station
And jumped onto a bus with
Two of yesterdays travel cards
And two bottles of bud

And he said you look well nice.

Well she was wearin a scarf
And he thought she looked nice and
Yeah she didn't really care about
Anything else because she only
Wanted him to think that she looked nice
And he did

But he was lookin at her yeah
All funny in the eye
She said c'mon boy
Tell me what you're thinkin' of
Don't be shy

He said alright I'll try

Well the stars up in the sky
And the leaves in the tree
Oh the broke and missed branches
Pop inbetween
All of my air in the world
Is how much that I like you

She said what?
He said let me try and explain again

Right birds can fly so high
And they can shit on your head
Yeah they can almost fly into your eye
And make you feel so scared
But when you look at them
And you see that they are beautiful

That's how I feel about you

Right birds can fly so high
And they can shit on your head
Yeah they can almost fly into your eye
And make you feel so scared
But when you look at them
And you see that they are beautiful

That's how I feel about you
Yeah that's how I feel about you

She said what?
He said you
She said what are you talking about?
He said you

Right birds can fly so high
And they can shit on your head
Yeah they can almost fly into your eye
And make you feel well scared
But when you look at them
And you see that they are beautiful
That's how I feel about you
(REPEAT)

And that's how I feel about you

She said thanks I like you too
He said cool

Update 'eth the Blog 'eth (Games)

FIFA '08 Demo

Now there's essentially 3 types of people in this world; those who like and play the Fifa franchise (i.e. the goons), those whom play the Pro Evolution Soccer franchise (the cool cats) and those whom don't care either way, usually because they don't like football (!) but sometimes because "they like both". Pah!

Previously, I would have placed myself among the "cool cats" (naturally), however I did waver slightly when I got my hands on the 360's Demo. As always, the game looks pleasant, but it's usually what's under the hood which has let FIFA down in the past. This year there's a huge improvement. Here's a mini-review I did on PESFan.com

Bad things

Goalkeepers. Terrible. The A.I is atrocious; they never come out to close players down, when the balls played through - or anything.
There's still too many "Hollywood saves" in my opinion. Not to mention how they seem to be diving in slo-mo. That leads me onto my other annoyance:

Game speed. Was it lagging? I changed the camera from the default cam to a closer one and it seemed to play faster? Anyway, it's still rather sluggish. It's possible that I'm just used to playing PES6, but I also watch a lot of football too and don't think it's at that pace.

Passing. It's harder, but there's something about through passing that doesn't seem right. Either it's intercepted or it'll get through to your player no matter what. And by that I mean it felt scripted. At one point the ball went through a defender and my own player as it dropped over (through) my player and I volleyed it home (looked nice, but when I saw the replay I wasn't impressed...) There's no freak occurrences, no mistakes (unless obvious)

Good things

The tricks. Difficult to pull off (partly to do with the speed, maybe) but also because they're just difficult to pull off successfully. However, once mastered it could make the game too easy (I'm still not a master of PES6 a year on...) Once you do pull them off though, they work effectively - leaving the defender in your wake.

Animations. As expected they are very good, and they do seem to add to the experience instead of just being something aesthetic.

Physics.... Are better but still not as good as PES in my opinion. It's less scrappy than reality, less gritty - but it is better and has been improved. I like how players will stick out a foot to try and gain advantage of a short pass, though it happens sometimes when it is required to which may become annoying.

Overall. I'm really considering getting it. It used to be a 'this or that' choice between Fifa and Pro but I feel this year they both (will) offer totally different things. When it comes down to it though, PES is my kind of game. Fifa still feels much more like an individual showboat than a team effort.

FYI: Pro Evolution Soccer also has a release date (October 26th) with Fifa releasing their title a month before (September 28th)

Update' eth the blog' eth (Employment)

Employment!
I gots a job!

Funnily enough I had 2 job offers on the same day (what is it they say about buses...?)

Anyway, I begin on the 1st of October: I'm Admin assistant @ HM Revenue and Customs (they deal with taxes, child benefit - it'll be mostly data entry and answer the phones I guess.) It's only 20 hours a week, Monday til Friday (4pm - 8pm) But it's 500 squiddles a month. It's only a 6 month contract but it's enough for me to get by, and with us selling the house soon (we've put a down payment on a rental, just waiting for it all to go through) I'll have a bit of money in my back pocket to go traveling when my contracts up

Oh, the other job which I declined was office work, too. Though that was 9 til 5:30 and included making cups of tea. Mother advised me to go with the HMRC one as she said they're a pretty big business and could provide me with more business contacts

Quickie: Song of the Week!

This band have had a special place in my heart for about 5 years now, in fact I used to idolize their front man (just a bit) around a year ago. The band itself was formed in 1995 by former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, although I say 'formed' - for a while it was just himself. In fact, he wrote and recorded the whole first album (self titled Foo Fighters); playing all of the instruments (except for guitars on the track "X-Static") and providing all of the vocals.

Dave managed to get a few people in so that they could tour; Nate Mendel (Bass), William Goldsmith (drums) and Pat Smear (Guitar) made up the original band. However, some 12 years on now and the band now consist of only Dave and Nate from the original line up with the replacements of Taylor Hawkins (drums) and Chris Shiflett (Guitar)

Picking a song is difficult, part in due to the mere number of songs they've churned out over the years, but more so due to the amount of quality songs they churned out over the years. However, there's something about this tune that always stops me 'song-hoping' - I love the lyrics, the simplicity of them, the beat is amazing and the vocals: awesome. From their 2nd album The Colour and the Shape

May I present to you...

My Hero

Too alarming now to talk about
Take your pictures down and shake it out
Truth or consequence, say it aloud
Use that evidence, race it around

There goes my hero
Watch him as he goes
There goes my hero
Hes ordinary

Dont the best of them bleed it out
While the rest of them peter out
Truth or consequence, say it aloud
Use that evidence, race it around

There goes my hero
Watch him as he goes
There goes my hero
Hes ordinary

Kudos my hero leaving all the best
You know my hero, the one thats on

There goes my hero
Watch him as he goes
There goes my hero
Hes ordinary

Game Review: Bioshock (Xbox360)

Decisions, Decisions...

Outline

You play as an unnamed individual (possibly named Jack) who is flying to an, er, unknown location for an unknown reason. However, something goes wrong and the plane crashes into the ocean off the shore of a large building. As the only survivor you find yourself in an underwater city named RAPTURE; a so-called safe haven for great (boarder-line insane) individuals who can better themselves without the restrictions of morality, humanity and all that other silly stuff.
Enter genetic modification and ultra-cool weaponry... but ignore the homicidal maniacs (once genius') whom roam and live throughout eerie RAPTURE.

However, there is trouble afoot - as, seemingly, one of the few sane individuals left around, you believe that you are the one to save everyone and, with the help of Atlas - your ally and narrator, put a stop to the madness and such like.

Story

Don't let it's glossy visuals and frightening setting fool you. This is a story driven game. It covers somewhat philosophical issues in a very surreal setting; our choices, fate, control, power, truth, the greater good... all of these issues are posed to the gamer and actively seek to allow them to make choices which pose yet more questions.
To begin with there is the choice of either saving or harvesting the numerous Little Sisters whom walk RAPTURE seeking dead bodies to which they can extract ADAM (where harvesting them gives you more ADAM and saving them...less); a substance required to survive - or at least feed a strange sort of addiction. ADAM is also used by you, the gamer, to improve your character; adding PLASMIDS and other nuggets of variables which will make you stronger and more powerful. It soon comes apparent that you must close your eyes to your own morality to essentially destroy it - just one of the many fantastic issues this game poses you with. Having completed the game, looking back over it and reading articles discussing it's conclusion, it comes apparent that this game is a fantastic story FIRST AND FOREMOST and a brilliant action/RPG second. In fact, even though the action itself was brilliant, it still filled in the gaps between each 'story-point' - as opposed to it being the other way round.

Gameplay

Gameplay just falls short of the Story aspect of the game, mainly because there wasn't as much emphasis on having a choice that actively changed or influenced the game. You're given 2 endings depending on what actions you took during the game (I won't say how you get one or the other..) but other than that it was very much more about how you decided to deal with situations that opposed you. Although it perhaps should have, at no point during the game did I feel that it had become repetitive even due to the amount of 'clone' enemies; this is perhaps due to each 'clone' having a different personality - they all seemed to be doing something different, having conversations (which, also, never seemed to repeat) with each other...For instance, at one point a grenade Splicer (he throws explosives at things, people..) attacked me and ran away. I tried to take him down with some range weapons but his grenades were slowing me down (throwing them over his shoulder with great precision); I then decided to use my Telekineses plasmid to catch his grenades and throw them back, but he was too agile. Eventually I followed him into a room I had already been in, with various dead splicers scattered around the floor. The room was empty apart from the dead bodies; he was nowhere to be found... I walked forward and the lights started to flicker, the door behind me shut closed and I heard laughing. I turned around to see a spider splicer on the celling and then the room went black and I was attacked, the lights came on and I made for the door but to my surprise the 'dead' splicers rose up and began attacking me..
After this encounter, and after I had died, I thought to myself; what an amazing sequence of events, scripted or not, it was truly amazing to participate in: being led into a trap, evidently, which lent itself to a very cinematic perspective.
These sorts of situations happen many times during the course of the game and all-but-add to the already impressive enemy A.I; Houdini Splicers whom attack you, disappear and reappear behind you. Spider Splicers, who will jump to the ceiling and drop down right in front of you for an up-close-and-personal attack. The diversity of combat and the options available to the player make this initially generic shooter an ideal playground for fans of playing devils advocate.

Graphics

This isn't as much a selling point as the other aspects of a game are to me, but nevertheless this is a beautiful game. However, I don't think it matches GoW (Gears of War) when it comes to the aesthetic presentation; it's not quite to that standard. But it's the next best thing...
This is perhaps the first game (certainly the first FPS) that I've literally 'walked-thru', when running is perhaps the most obvious choice. Of course, that's not counting the times I've ran away from something or towards someone, but generally when I was exploring I was just walking, listening to my footsteps and anyone elses and just taking it all it; the environment, the shadows, and so on - as what this has over GoW is atmosphere boat loads and buckets full of atmosphere. So although the graphics on a scale of 1 to 10 aren't matching GoW standards, they are used more effectively - the setting and level design is brilliant, open and enclosed at the same time; I, on more than one occasion, would find a corner of a room just so I knew that nothing was coming up behind me. Not, really, because I was scared or such, but because I was hanging on to my life by a thread, or because I only had one more anti-personal bullet left.
Since we're underwater it was only right that the design team at 2kgames got the water right, and they sure did. Whether it be cracking glass, dripping from rusted pipes or exploding through hatches it was truly beautiful. It was also a huge aspect of gameplay too; several enemies sludging through knee deep in water? Zap them with the electric plasmid. Or, if you've set a Splicer on fire he'll more than likely actively seek out some puddles to jump in to extinguish himself; hilarity ensured.

Conclusion

The best game I've played on the 360... period. It's perhaps not as large as Oblivion or as pretty as GoW. But what this doesn't have in quantity and gloss it makes up for in Gameplay and immersion. It's only downfall is that once you've completed it you'll not be itching to play again, I will be trading it in for money off (PES 2008, Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed - one of them) as it doesn't have the replayability of some other titles. However, this is not a negative aspect. In fact it's a refreshing and, perhaps, more classy alternative. Like a good movie, perhaps you don't want to play it again straight away, but you'll be damned you if you don't remember it 5-10-15 years down the line, and when you see it for £5 a pop you'll be grabbing it with both hands and taking it on again, hoping that you don't remember the twists and turns of this fabulous game.