G.I. Joe Vs. Transformers 2 (Review)
Yes, they did team up/fight each other, no this post isn’t about that. However, combining the star ratings together of these two would actually give it almost a passable score.
Transformers Revenge of the Fallen (Transformers 2) and G.I. Joe Rise of Cobra graced the screens this summer, and both are available now on DVD. I’m glad I waited because Netflix eases the pain of the price to watch them over the $8.00 tickets at the theater.
In the end, G.I. Joe is somewhat watchable, but Transformers 2 should be avoided at all costs. Even for free. Even if your relationship depends on it. You can’t spend the rest of your life with someone who likes this movie.
Neither movie was very good to their source material, but I’m not the type to necessarily dock points for that. Also, their source material was a children’s television show, so going outside of that may even be a good thing. Both movies were basically a video game on the screen, with CGI worlds galore. Transformers went way overboard, however, in showing the stupidest looking robots doing stupid things in stupid locations. G.I. Joe actually has some pretty neat action scenes, some real sword fighting, and only towards the end does it reach Transformers level of weirdness.
The acting in Transformers 2 and characters are absolutely horrible. If you can figure out what the heck is going on, you’ll probably be even more annoyed by both the robots and the humans. The first Transformers was pretty good in my mind, and had some decent humor, with some fair acting. The new one will just grate at you the entire time. Megan Fox may be enough for some, but you’ll need to turn the volume and closed captioning off.
As for G.I. Joe, the plot is pretty dumb but some of the characters are decent. There is also a lot of backstory that is revealed throughout the film that they do a fair job keeping your interest in. The character Snake Eyes, who doesn’t say a word, is quite fun to watch. The main G.I. Joe characters (including a Wayans brother, and Dennis Quaid) are surprisingly bad choices for their roles. The secondary characters and villains are much more interesting, and for 2/3 of the movie it is pretty decent. The ending falls apart, and the very end is a long setup for a sequel, which hurts the movie a lot since you don’t really understand the whole Cobra vs. Joe thing until the end, and then the credits roll right when it might start to get good. Might.
Didn’t want to go into any additional plot details, not because of spoilers, but because the plots in both are pretty unimportant, and I’m not entirely sure that Transformers 2 had a plot. I will say that G.I. Joe gets right into the action and moves pretty fast, while making general sense, but Transformers 2 starts off slow, and then confounds the whole thing with new characters, resurrected old ones that you arent sure how they are coming back, and new magical objects that you won’t understand.
Skip Transformers 2, it is humiliating how bad it is when it could’ve easily been as good as the first. Check out G.I. Joe when it runs on TBS in a few years as it is watchable and has great special effects, but you won’t be missing anything if you don’t see it.
Rating
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
one star out of five stars
G.I. Joe Rise of Cobra
two stars out of five stars
LeggoMyCraigo Now on the Mobile Web
When Al Gore invented the internet, he could have never imagined how cell phones would change the way we share information. At any rate, LeggoMyCraigo is moving into the 21st century and now has a mobile version. Loads very quickly and has different versions depending on if the browser is a touch screen (iPhone) or traditional (Blackberry) style. Touch features are enabled for menus and excerpts.
So now there are TWO websites that you don’t want to read!
Say Meow. Super Troopers 2 is on Track
I was one of the few (based on the amount of people in the theater) to jump on the Super Troopers train on opening night. While it did ok in release, it gained a cult status on DVD and is quoted almost as much as any comedy around. I didn’t actually love it at first, but with repeated viewings and quoting it non-stop with my friends, it has become one of the top movies I’d like to see a sequel to. Especially because Broken Lizard, the comedy team behind it, has had nothing but bombs ever since. They seem like great guys, and I’d love to see them back on top.
Check out the article over at Slash Film that says, indeed, Super Troopers 2 is on the fast track. It has financing, and Brian Cox is on board….which would be key as he brings a lot of gravitas to the film as a legit actor, and he played the role of the chief dead-on.
Link to article on Super Troopers 2 at slash film
Fans of Broken Lizard’s Super Troopers will be glad to know that things are moving along nicely for a sequel. According to Movie Cultists, they have independent financing and are looking to make a deal with Fox as well.
If you’re unsure if you want to see a sequel, perhaps a quick reminder will help.
Mac: How’s your shooting, Thorny?
Thorny: Good. I’ve been dead on all morning.
Mac: What about that little guy?
[points to a bullet hole in the shooting target's neck]
Thorny: Who, that little guy? I wouldn’t worry about that little guy.
Grown Ups Trailer – Sandler, Rock, James?
Hadn’t heard about this one much, which is odd since it has some of my old school favorites (Chris Rock, Adam Sandler) together. At any rate, here’s the teaser trailer for it…looks…well…sorta wishing they’d make a Waterboy 2 instead.
Best New Show on TV – Modern Family
With all the reality shows out these days, it seems like we’re winding down the selection to pretty slim pickin’s on scripted sitcoms that are any good. The Office is one of the few. I happened to check out Modern Family on ABC a few weeks back, and from the premise I didn’t think I’d like it – but it turned out to be one of the best in years and I see it being a keeper.
The premise – and the reason I didn’t think I’d like it – is a set of 3 families dealing with the modern day troubles of the issues caused by broken families. It seemed too stereotypical – the old guy who has a 30 year old wife, and that wife is technically the mother of his 40 year old daughter. The dad who is just one of the kids who tries too hard, and the gay couple whose dad isn’t too approving. Thought only about 40 minutes of laughs could be squeezed from that premise (if any) and then just rehashing the same awkward jokes over and over.
I was completely wrong, and the show has actually gotten better with each episode. Definitely check it out. I’m not even sure when it comes on, but I know that it’s on Hulu whenever 
The former Al Bundy is classic, and the show has a lot of heart. Besides all the laughs, each episode deals a lot with the issues families have with acceptance, but not so much for their specific character issues, but more applied to general issues everyone can relate to – whether your family is intact or not. So far as good as the Office in my mind – which is saying a lot.It has some tints of that and Arrested Development, but less edgy with much more plot.
four out of five stars.
Fall 2009 Craidio Music Awards
Updated with Workout Ratings. Should you put it on your power mix at the gym? Based on rhythm not speed.
Looking for something new to prepare you for the busy days ahead before the holidays? Here’s my list of picks from the past month or so. Not all of these are new songs, just some of my most spun on the iPod. Since I don’t hang out at the finer music establishments often, there are some embarrassingly lame picks on here. And if you end up downloading any of these songs, those will be the ones you get first. And in secret.
Worth the price (* * * stars)
The Almost – Hands (preview)
Workout Rating: * * * 1/2 out of 4 stars
Weezer – (If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To (preview)
Workout Rating: * * * 1/2 out of 4 stars
Thrice – In Exile (preview)
Workout Rating: * * 1/2 out of 4 stars
From Autumn to Ashes – Autumns Monologue (preview)
Workout Rating: * out of 4 stars
Tegan and Sara – Two songs “Hell” and “Arrow” (preview)
Workout Rating: * * * 1/2 out of 4 stars
Honorable Mention (* * 1/2 stars)
Anya Marina – Whatever You Like (cover song)
Workout Rating: * * 1/2 out of 4 stars
Anya Marina – All the Same to Me
Workout Rating: * * * out of 4 stars
One Republic – Secrets
Workout Rating: * * * out of 4 stars
Matt & Kim – Daylight (preview)
Workout Rating: * * * * out of 4 stars
Snow Patrol – Just Say Yes
Workout Rating: * * 1/2 out of 4 stars
Owl City – Fireflies
Workout Rating: * * * out of 4 stars
Poetry of the Deed – The Road
Workout Rating: * * out of 4 stars
Good Workout Songs
Since I have been pretending to be concerned that the gym is a hotbed of swine flu, good “workout songs” is code for songs that I roll the windows up on when I’m driving through town.
Jason Derulo – What You Say / They sampled one of my favorite songs by Imogen Heap and at first I was puzzled and disturbed. But much like watching a Hot Pocket cook, I quickly was enthralled and couldn’t wait for a second serving.
Workout Rating: * * * out of 4 stars
Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling
Workout Rating: * * * * out of 4 stars
Miley Cyrus – Party in the USA / Maybe it’s just nostalgia for the more mature days of music gone by that was her father’s Achy Breaky Heart, but even after this song is over I find myself humming “And the Miley Song was on…and the Miley Song was on.” And the next thing I know I’m moving my hips like “Yeah.”
Workout Rating: * * * 1/2 out of 4 stars
Lady GaGa – Paparazzi / No Ms. GaGa, I’m your biggest fan. Please don’t call the cops.
Workout Rating: * * * out of 4 stars
Britney Spears – 3 / A lot about Britney Spears embarrasses me. My high school romance with her (she to this day is not aware of it), the stupid lyrics of this not so subtly crude song, her personal life, and the fact that this is the only song on my playlist that – like its namesake – makes me turn up the subwoofer in my car to “3.”
Workout Rating: * * * * out of 4 stars
Weezer “Raditude” Review
Released November 2, 2009
My Review:
It’s notoriously hard to review Weezer albums. Especially for me, a late-comer to the original Weezer phenomenon. I enjoyed their tunes growing up on the radio, but didn’t hear the entire Blue album until I was near college. It was quite a stunning piece of work, and one of my top 10 favorites probably of all time. I never got into Pinkerton, but I really enjoyed the Green album. Each album after the first was quite different, and none as good as Blue to me. They started going downhill the past few years, but I thought the Red album recently was a recovery.
So I enjoyed the single “I Want You To (see video below) and nabbed the recent Raditude release. I have to admit I cannot exactly tell what they were trying to do here. As always with Weezer, they balance a fine line between satire and actually being what they’re making fun of.
However, there are quite a few catchy tunes, but none on par with any of my previous favorites. The defining song of the album is “Can’t Stop Partying” which features pop star Lil’ Wayne. It’s relatively catchy, and obviously a parody of some kind, but it’s not clever enough to figure out the point. So it fails as both in the end, similar to the album.The bonus track on iTunes “Story of My Life” is probably the closest thing to Weezer of old as you’ll get.
Weezer, whose lyrics were once much less tongue in cheek and captured the raw emotion of growing up..never seemed to be able to catch the raw emotion of actually being grown up. Perhaps they have been describing what life is like in stardom, but that’s a far place from the “Garage.” And maybe that’s the point, and perhaps I just don’t get it. Either way, it’s an album that will get a few spins in the car, at the gym, and working on projects..but will quickly fade away. You’ll like what you hear, but won’t learn any new insights, and sometimes cringe at the lyrics.
Not their worst effort, but for a band that can do more, in a sense it is. It sounds as if you’ve heard all these songs before..but not on a good album. The Blue album still rolls through the playlist from time to time, but in ten years I don’t imagine any of these songs will still be playing for me, and they definitely won’t help me remember anything similar to real life. And I guess that’s always what I want Weezer to do. I’ve got enough pop songs on my iTunes and I don’t need anyone to tell me how shallow they are, just write something better.
and a half out of 5 stars
Best Songs – I’m Your Daddy, (If You’re Wondering if I Want You To) I Want You To, Can’t Stop Partying, The Story of My Life (Bonus Track).
Other Reviews on the Net:
411 Mania (2.5 rating – Very Bad) the same riffs we’ve heard a thousand times before, the same cliche lyrics we’ve heard a thousand times before, and a bunch of hooks that don’t stick with the listener past the first couple of listens.
Pop Matters (1 out of 10 stars) Raditude is not art. It’s not a serious rock album nor is it a collection disposably fun songs. No, Raditude is product. Coldly calculated, joyless product that is designed to be sold, not to be enjoyed. As a Weezer album, it is nothing short of a profound disappointment.
Spin (3 out of 5 stars) Old-school Weezer fans won’t like it, and neither will blog-rock acolytes. But that’s the point. Raditude is the murderous revenge of the middlebrow.
Greenville to Fill in Eye Sore with Complex (Updated)
Good news for me since I live in the close vicinity, but also good for downtown Greenville, who’s had one of the better economies in the area but seen some depressing vacancies of business downtown and seriously slowed construction. We’ll see if it pans out.
Local developers plan to put a two-story building anchored by a drug store at a prominent Main Street corner where there’s been nothing but a vacant space for nearly eight years.
Update: Some more good news today, related to North Charleston’s landing of the Boeing’s 787 Aircraft construction facility. Greenville will be the headquarters for the construction of the new endeavor at BE&K Building Group. via the Greenville News.
