Quickie: Grab Your Calenders!

...and a pen if you've 'one handy! Because the Mass Effect release date has been confirmed: November 20!

Unlike a few other game (development companies) I would expect this date to stick like a fridge magnet to a... erm, fridge.

This game will rock, mark my words...

Quickie: Song of the Week!

Time to dust down your leather biker jacket and grow in that mustache and take a look back in time...

Perhaps one of the greatest bands to have ever graced this earth, they began creating music way before I was born. They presented us with a paradox; a very cool looking camp group of musicians; long curly hair, womens clothing and a front man wearing vest tops and a now famous mustache.

I am of course talking about Queen - even their name is camp!


Now, picking a song was extremely difficult. And thus, I was thankful when I realized I had to pick not one but two songs from this fantastic band due to my absence during last week. This was a little easier as there are two songs in particular which I think are brilliant - for very different reasons. Firstly...

Those Are The Days Of Our Lives; A truly beautiful song. About saying goodbye to the past and accepting the future - made even more haunting when it came the attention to all the fans and the rest of the band, that lead singer Freddie Mercury was terminally ill (HIV). He was always a fan of wearing make-up but once this secret came out fans wondered if their was another reason for the amount of make-up he was wearing during the making of the video for this song. Freddie continued recording music until a month before his death November '91...

Those Are The Days Of Our Lives

Sometimes I get the feelin'
I was back in the old days - long ago
When we were kids when we were young
Things seemed so perfect - you know
The days were endless we were crazy we were young
The sun was always shinin' - we just lived for fun
Sometimes it seems like lately - I just don't know
The rest of my life's been just a show

Those were the days of our lives
The bad things in life were so few
Those days are all gone now but one thing is true
When I look, and I find, I still love you

You can't turn back the clock you can't turn back the tide
Ain't that a shame
I'd like to go back one time on a roller coaster ride
When life was just a game
No use in sitting and thinkin' on what you did
When you can lay back and enjoy it through your kids
Sometimes it seems like lately - I just don't know
Better sit back and go with the flow

Cos these are the days of our lives
They've flown in the swiftness of time
These days are all gone now but some things remain
When I look and I find no change

Those were the days of our lives - yeah
The bad things in life were so few
Those days are all gone now but one thing's still true
When I look and I find
I still love you

I still love you

We miss you Freddie...

------

This next song needs no introduction; perhaps their greatest work and my favorite Queen song, and certainly one of my favorites in general.
Bohemian Rhapsody: It optimizes Queen; camp, brilliant lyrics, entertaining, Freddie piano and vocals, awesome harmony(s) (inc. Brian May and Rodger Taylor..
What I find so awesome about this song is it's change of pace: slow (harmonic) -> slow (rock) -> Brian May Guitar solo (eat your heart out) -> Theatrical/Opera (Galileo! Galileo!) -> seemlessly into full on ROCK! -> then just as quick as it reaches Rock-ness to falls back down to slow Rock and slowly comes to a stop.

"Any way the wind blows"
Phenomenal.

Best Rock Song Ever? You be the judge

Bohemian Rhapsody

Is this the real life -
Is this just fantasy -
Caught in a landslide -
No escape from reality -
Open your eyes
Look up to the skies and see -
I’m just a poor boy, I need no sympathy -
Because I’m easy come, easy go,
A little high, little low,
Anyway the wind blows, doesn’t really matter to me,
To me

Mama, just killed a man,
Put a gun against his head,
Pulled my trigger, now he’s dead,
Mama, life had just begun,
But now I’ve gone and thrown it all away -
Mama ooo,
Didn’t mean to make you cry -
If I’m not back again this time tomorrow -
Carry on, carry on, nothing really matters -

Too late, my time has come,
Sends shivers down my spine -
Body’s aching all the time,
Goodbye everybody-I’ve got to go -
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth -
Mama ooo - (any way the wind blows)
I don’t want to die,
I sometimes wish I’d never been born at all -
[Bohemian Rhapsody lyrics on http://www.metrolyrics.com]


I see a little silhouetto of a man,
Scaramouche, scaramouche will you do the fandango -
Thunderbolt and lightning - very very frightening me -
Galileo, Galileo,
Galileo, Galileo,
Galileo Figaro – magnifico -
But I’m just a poor boy and nobody loves me -
He’s just a poor boy from a poor family -
Spare him his life from this monstrosity -
Easy come easy go -,will you let me go -
Bismillah! no -,we will not let you go - let him go -
Bismillah! we will not let you go - let him go
Bismillah! we will not let you go - let me go
Will not let you go - let me go
Will not let you go let me go
No, no, no, no, no, no, no -
Mama mia, mama mia, mama mia let me go -
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me, for me, for me -

So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye -
So you think you can love me and leave me to die -
Oh baby - can’t do this to me baby -
Just gotta get out - just gotta get right outta here -

Nothing really matters,
Anyone can see,
Nothing really matters -, nothing really matters to me,

Any way the wind blows....

Quickie: The Interview

I've been a little hard to get a hold of as of late, so thought I'd give an exclusive interview explaining where I've been and what I've been up to so that my fans institution knows I'm not in a ditch somewhere...

Jonathan Ross: So where have you been for the last week, you've missed song of the week to name just one thing..!

Reality Unjustified: Well, I had a few problems with my internet connection. Initially we thought it was due to the bills not being paid, but it turned out to be something electrical and not internet related at all. Something to do with the router not being connected directly to the mains.

JR: Money troubles ehy? Care to elaborate.

RU: There's not a lot to tell really, money's just a little tight. But we've recently sold the house, making a nice profit, so hopefully we'll be moving into a cheaper situation debtless

JR: Sounds great. And what about you in particular, last we heard you were still unemployed.

RU: Well, the situation is still the same Jonathan I've applied to a few places but not heard anything back so I'm still looking, unless you're hiring?

JR: ...

JR: And what of the entertainment side of things; we all know your passion for film, music and games - anything on the horizon?

R.U: Well, I'm currently playing Bioshock - and have nearly finished it - so expect a review within the next week or so. I've seen Lord of War (3.5/5) and House of Sand and Fog (4/5) but won't be reviewing them I'm afraid and, although I missed this weeks Song of the Week, expect a double header this Sunday!

JR: Excellent. Now, recently we've heard a buzz stating that you'll be presenting your up-and-coming short story, "Man..." to the online audience. Is this true, and if so do you have a date in mind.

R.U: That's correct yes, hopefully the first chapter will be available for viewing during next month.

JR: Well, as always, it's a pleasure to see you again. Thanks for coming on the show and all the best with your various projects... Reality Unjustified!

R.U: Thanks Jonathan!

Quickie: Song of the Week!

A late entry this week, originally sang by the (gorgeous) Rihanna (pictured below, right), Umbrella, is a song about protecting someone you love from the symbolic rain of hurt, pain, and grief (at least that's what I think...). Although Rihanna's version is catchy, I have to say I'm really loving this slower version by Mandy Moore (another beautiful lady - below, left)

Vs.

Firstly here are the lyrics (somewhat brilliant, yet not featured due to Rihanna's singing style)

Umbrella

You had my heart
and we'll never be world apart
Maybe in magazines
but you'll still be my star
Baby cause in the Dark
You can see shiny Cars
And that's when you need me there
With you I'll always share
Because

When the sun shines
We’ll shine together
Told you I'll be here forever
Said I'll always be your friend
Took an oath
I'mma stick it out 'till the end
Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we still have each other
You can stand under my Umbrella
You can stand under my Umbrella

These fancy things,
will never come in between
You're part of my entity
Here for Infinity
When the war has took it's part
When the world has dealt it's cards
If the hand is hard

Together we'll mend your heart
Because ...

When the sun shines
We'll shine together
Told you I'll be here forever
Said I'll always be your friend
Took an oath
I'mma stick it out 'till the end
Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we still have each other
You can stand under my Umbrella
You can stand under my Umbrella

You can run into my Arms
It's okay don't be alarmed
(Come into Me)
(There's no distance in between our love)
So Gonna let the rain pour
I'll be all you need and more
Because ...

When the sun shines
We'll shine Together
Told you I'll be here forever
Said I'll always be your friend
Took an oath
I'mma stick it out 'till the end
Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we still have each other
You can stand under my Umbrella
You can stand under my Umbrella

It's raining (raining)
Ooo baby it's raining
baby come into me
Come into me
It's raining (raining)
Ooo baby it's raining
You can always come into me
Come into me

And here's the video so you can sing along!

Quickie: (Game) Mafia 2 - On the books?

Back during the year 2002 I bought a game. It was a game about being in the Mafia - with it's Itallian-Americans and it's fat Tony's, and the game, the game wowed me; with it's impressive visuals, fantastic driving sim, brilliant (voice) acting and interesting story as you rose from Taxi-Driver to Mafia mobster in this Godfather clone....
...That's right, a good Godfather clone! "That's a paradox!" I hear you cry. It's like saying "warm ice cream" or "I always lie" (think about it) - it just... doesn't make sense.

Well the original worked, it played well, it had some brilliantly realistic guns and impressive shoot outs and some great car chases (even if you could only hit 20mph going up hill, hey it's the 1930s!). Thinking back on the game, now, it really wasn't impressive (technically). You were pretty limited in what you could do; shoot people, steal cars... that was about it. With my promise of true next gen games (within this article on Assassin's Creed) to be arriving any second now (Bioshock is just a nose bleed away..!) it really got me excited with what they (being developers Illusion Softworks) could achieve with this.

Onto matters more pressing; it seems that that there is speculation in the pipeline that Mafia 2 could actually exist!

Ahu, you just read all that to find out that something possibly exists!

Well here's the full (4 and a bit) paragraphs (what, not even an article?!) from CVG.com

Take Two has hinted to CVG that we may well see an announcement on Mafia 2 later today, after we spoke to the publisher about a rumour circulating on the sequel's reveal at Leipzig next week.

"Watch this space", a Take Two spokesperson told us, saying that it's announcing its Games Convention line-up this afternoon.

It's been reported that a trailer for the sequel will be shown at the Games Convention in Leipzig next week, word hitting the internet that a Mafia 2 trailer has been rated by the USK, Germany's independent videogame ratings body.

Regular readers may recall that Mafia developer Illusion Softworks confirmed with us way back in 2003 that Mafia 2 was in development, but we've heard nothing on the game since. But it appears that's about to change.

Oh boy, let's hope the sequel really is announced. Stay tuned...

Oh boy indeed (Sam Becket will be spinning in his grave, or perhaps someone elses...)

The Bourne Ultimatum - Movie Review

I remember... I remember, everything...

Intro.
Bourne is back. And boy am I glad! Seeing Transformers about a month ago had me questioning the Blockbuster; "Can blockbusters still be good movies?" and not just a heavily advertised gimmick and/or big budget let down with the occasional bell and whistle. The Bourne Ultimatum removes any doubt that blockbusters automatically mean brainless eye-candy. Don't get me wrong, everything about this movie screams expensive! but it is the story, and it's brilliant conclusion, that makes this a fun, action packed, clever, simple, enjoyable film.

The film.
This time around, Jason Bourne returns to the US of A to find out who he is, who they are and what they did to him. One of the things that makes this film so great is the accessibility of the story to people who may or may not have seen the original 2 installments; the blanks (fittingly) are filled in via flashes of Bourne's memory fragments; for all intensive and purposes first time watchers of this series will see the film through Bourne's eyes; filling in the blanks when he remembers something - which is clever as it makes this movie, not only a brilliant end to a series but also a fabulous movie on its own.

The action.
Some of the action in this film is similar in technique to Casino Royal released earlier this year; it's raw, bone crunching, but bloodless (so watchable by all the family). The free running, in particular, was very impressive with Bourne running across the rooftops in Tangiers, Morocco to save the life of (this time "Bourne accomplice" and previous movie "bad guy" accomplice) Nicky Parsons (played by the 'sometimes hot, sometimes not' Julia Stiles) from the grasp of a hired drone "asset" (hitman) - the very people who Bourne once was.
Noah Vosen (David Strathairn) and Pamela Landy (Joan Allen) return as the bad guy and bad gal turned good again in this movie and are still hot on the heels of Bourne as they try to cover their own asses and obstruct Bourne from discovering the truth.

The brilliance of ending.
There's not really a twist to this movie, as you'll piece together most of it for yourself via information Bourne uncovers and the memory flashes that occasionally hit him. Where this movie really succeeds is in it's realization, on Bourne's part, of what he became and how he became the lean, mean killing machine which also places a moral question on who he was before he became Jason Bourne. And the final scene is nothing more than brilliant; it perfectly rounds up the movie: simple, symbolic and fabulous. Tingle down my spine moments.

4.5 out of 5

The best of the 3 and, amazingly, you're not required to have seen the previous 2 films. Perhaps the most fun film of recent times and certainly my favorite of the summer blockbusters.

Quickie: Song of the Week!

I love this song, I'm still not quite sure what it's about. At a guess I would say it's about love (is there a song that isn't?) but more that one of the people in the relationship does not seem to care or show emotion anymore - acting 'mechanical', hence the content of the song - with the other individual acting completely opposite - still believes in hope, and love, and the relationship...


The band is Athlete and the song is the inspirational "Wires":

"Wires"

You got wires, going in
You got wires, coming out of your skin
You got tears, making tracks
I got tears, that are scared of the facts

Running, down corridors through, automatic doors
Got to get to you, got to see this through
I see hope is here, in a plastic box
I've seen christmas lights, reflect in your eyes

You got wires, going in
You got wires, coming out of your skin
There's dry blood, on your wrist
Your dry blood on my fingertip

Running, down corridoors through, automatic doors
Got to get to you, got to see this through
First night of your life, curled up on your own
Looking at you now, you would never know

I see it in your eyes, I see it in your eyes
You'll be alright
I see it in your eyes, I see it in your eyes
You'll be alright

Alright

Running, down corridors through, automatic doors
Got to get to you, got to see this through
I see hope is here, in a plastic box
I've seen christmas lights, reflect in your eyes
down corridors, through automatic doors
Got to get to you, got to see this through
First night of your life, curled up on your own
Looking at you now, you would never know.