• #freshpresslive – feb 10/12

    Natalia brings you the latest news on Adele’s interview with Anderson Cooper, Kristen Bell’s interview on Ellen is auto tuned, Ladyhawke’s latest music video and much more!

  • #freshpresslive – Feb 8/12

    Natalia discusses what’s new with Pharrell Williams and her thoughts on Karl Lagerfeld’s mean comments towards Adele’s weight. She also shows a roster of animals behaving like humans and, wait until you see the new size of coffee available at Starbucks!

  • #freshpresslive – Feb 7/12

    Natalia dishes the latest news on the Juno Awards nominees, the upcoming Spiderman 3D film starring Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield and is Katy Perry hooking up with Tim Tebow? Watch today’s episode to find out.

  • Small Talk – The Kooks (2 of 2)

    When The Kooks are in the studio they’re focused and most importantly, sober. Watch Hugh and Luke explain their reasoning below.

  • Small Talk – The Kooks (1 of 2)

    The Kooks released a new album called “Junk of the Heart,” and you would think Hugh and Luke would be very excited about it. Well, they seemed rather indifferent to be honest. We spoke about that and why they don’t care about critics.

  • #freshpresslive – Feb 2/12

    Natalia dishes the latest in entertainment news on Joan Rivers, Lana Del Rey and a brand new trailer for the movie Hunger Games.

  • #freshpresslive – Feb 1/12

    Natalia talks about how Snooki might be pregnant, Nicolas Cage’s Cage Rage, Elisabetta Canalis is dating Steve-O and more for Feb 1, 2012.

  • #freshpresslive – Jan 31/12

    Natalia dishes the news on Miley Cyrus breaking her tailbone, a 100 year old woman who plays the Nintendo DS to stay young and Houston, Texas contemplating a statute of Beyonce.

  • #freshpresslive – Jan 30/12

    David Beckham debuts a new line of underwear, the worst dressed celebrity – Shy’m and Matthew Broderick is back as Ferris Bueller with a brand new commercial airing during the Super Bowl on Feb 5th 2012.

  • Small Talk – Daniel Radcliffe (1 of 3)

    Daniel Radcliffe is back with his new movie The Woman In Black. It’s a bone chilling remake of a film from the ’80s. Ironically, Daniel actually scares very easily but he’s not afraid of ghosts. In this interview he tells us what really gives him the creeps.

  • Small Talk – Graffiti6 (2 of 3)

    Next time you’re struggling to make conversation, try asking this question: “If you could invite anyone (living or dead) to the perfect house party, who would it be?”

  • Small Talk – Graffiti6 (1 of 3)

    Graffiti6 is starting to make their North American invasion, and they are hitting up the Tonight Show. Does this sound familiar? Well the Beatles made the exact same journey over 40 years ago. Naturally, @jordans_life had to make some comparisons.

  • Small Talk – Nick Carter (3 of 3)

    Nick plays World of Warcraft. Not only that, he’s the head of his guild, demonstrating that it IS possible to juggle being a hardcore gamer with being a top-selling recording artist.

  • Small Talk – Nick Carter (2 of 3)

    During a LIVE interview on andPOP.com Nick Carter gave out a number and took phone calls from his fans. These were real phone calls from real fans who we gave exclusive access to one of the biggest recording artists of our generation.

  • Small Talk – Nick Carter (1 of 3)

    There were great questions about music, fitness, the backstreet boys but the most popular question, however, was about his underwear. In this clip Nick talks about his his ‘Haynes’ and covering his fans with glow in the dark paint.

  • Small Talk – Hedley (2 of 2)

    When releasing new music today, half the battle is online promotion. However, contests, signed merch and giveaways aren’t always the best solutions. When working on their latest album, Hedley came up with a brilliant idea, they decided to make trailers.

  • Small Talk – Hedley (1 of 2)

    It’s hard to prepare for an interview with Hedley. So in this interview, we threw caution to the wind, got a 24 of beer and broadcast the interview live on our USTREAM (andPOP.tv). Eventually Jacob, Dave and @jordans_life ended up talking about hairy legs, their newest music video and more.

  • Small Talk – Marina and The Diamonds (2 of 2)

    Diamandis from Marina and The Diamonds talks to us about her very serious disease. It’s called synaesthetic. And we lied, it’s not a disease. More like a cool condition. Diamandis explains further.

  • Small Talk – Neverest

    Would you be embarrassed if someone scrolled through your iPod? We sit down with Spee and Brendan to talk about the diverse music on their playlist.

  • Small Talk – Marina and The Diamonds (1 of 2)

    Marina and The Diamonds are working on some new music, but Marina is being very secretive about it. Although the release has been delayed, she let’s us in on some secrets about the new album, and how alcohol changed her life.

 
 

Tag Archives: review

 

Reading Rainbow: Snooki’s Confessions of a Guidette

Posted by andPOP Staff on November 29th, 2011

Our good friend Ian Lynch does a book report on Snooki’s latest masterpiece called Confessions Of A Guidette. Not only does this book warrant a childlike examination it was also written at an elementary reading level. Yet again, Nicole has impressed us with her insight and wit.

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Game Review: NBA 2K12

Posted by andPOP Staff on October 11th, 2011

With 2011 – 2012 the NBA season looking more and more unlikely every day, I felt I needed to get my basketball fix somehow.  If I can’t watch the best players in the world play, why not take control of them in a video game?  The NBA 2K series has recently set the standard for National Basketball Association (NBA) video games.  While EA dominates the hockey video game market, 2K is the absolute leader for basketball simulation.  Last year’s NBA 2k11 was absolutely phenomenal.  It brought Michael Jordan back into the equation, allowing players to use him in the game to bring back those dominant Bulls teams.   The graphics, controls, and overall experience were heads above the competition.  It was so good in fact, that EA didn’t even bother releasing their NBA Elite game.  2K keeps upping the ante with NBA 2K12.  It takes everything that made 11 so good, and improves upon it.

The graphics in this game are beautiful.  Each player clearly resembles their real life counterpart.  The arenas are all gorgeous, from the glean off the buffed floors, to the logos on the court floors, it all looks and feels real.   It looks so good, my dad walked in while I was playing the game and thought I was watching a real life basketball game.  He obviously wasn’t aware of the looming lockout.

The sound and music are equally incredible.  The announcing is some of the best I’ve heard in a video game.  In some cities, depending on who they have on the microphones, it may actually be an improvement over their real life announcers.  I liked the soundtrack a lot too, which is usually good in 2K games.

After the successful introduction of Michael Jordan last year, 2K has added a ton of other greats to the game this year.  You can use vintage Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson, Scottie Pippen, and more. There are 15 total “Legends” whose terrific careers can be recreated within the game in great detail.  Relive the Larry Bird – Magic Johnson rivalries and much more.

One of the most popular features in the 2K series is the ability to create your own player to see how they stack up in the big leagues.  2K sports has built upon this and made the “My Player” functionality that much better.  You can now hear Commissioner David Stern call your name on draft night for your favorite team.  Enter yourself into the rookie skills competition, earn huge endorsement deals, pad your stats, and ultimately get your name on a huge franchise player contract.

Most of the modes are back, my favorite being Association mode.  Take your team from worst to first and watch the fans pack your arena to cheer you on.  You can now even take your association mode online to play against your buddies and see how you stack up in the online community.  The Playstation Network integration is seamless and a lot of fun.

Overall, this game is fantastic.  It takes what made the old NBA 2K games and builds upon it in every way.  The graphics, sound, presentation and game play are all the best around for basketball video games, and set the bar extremely high.  If EA wants to reclaim the top spot in the basketball video game market, they certainly have their work cut out for them.

For more game reviews check out ubethecritic.com.

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Movie Review: Drive

Posted by Samantha Lui on September 29th, 2011

 

If you’re looking for another heartthrob-worthy performance from Ryan Gosling, you won’t be getting much of that in Drive.

But nevertheless, you won’t be able to keep your eyes off him.

In Drive, Gosling is mysterious and riveting and the only name available for his character is Driver.

A Hollywood stunt driver and mechanic by day, Driver serves as a wheelman for night time heists.

In early scenes of the movie, he’s helped by his boss and mentor Shannon (played by Malcolm in the Middle’s Bryan Cranston) who gives him a Chevy Impala to  drive his clientele around to do their dirty deeds.

All goes well until he gets involved with his neighbour Irene (Carey Mulligan) and her young son Benicio. When her  husband Standard (Oscar Isaac) is released from prison, Irene and Benicio’s safety is at risk.

Gosling’s ‘Driver’ tries to save the situation by helping Standard steal money from a pawn shop.  But when the heist goes awry, it’s up to ‘Driver’ to take things in his own hands.

Fresh from Nicolas Winding Refn’s Best Director win at the Cannes Film Festival, Drive is an excellent action-drama thriller packed with violence and exciting car chases. Much like the style of Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and Pulp Fiction, the film is filled with blood and gore.  Though the movie lacks dialogue,  Refn somehow makes it work through the film’s characters’ actions and expressions.

While Gosling is supported by a talented cast that includes the likes of Christina Hendricks, Albert Brooks, Mulligan and Cranston, he holds his own playing the violent and badass Driver. And while there isn’t much that can be learned about the Driver, you’ll somehow still be swooning over him as he tries to save the day in order to protect the girl he’s fallen for.

Drive may not be for everyone due to its violence and gore, but it’s definitely a film worth watching. With a retro ’80s-inspired score and beautiful shots of the Los Angeles streets and skylines, it will keep the audience  jumping in their seats from all the adrenaline and tension that arises from the film.



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Review: ‘Friends With Benefits’

Posted by Elisheva Baer on July 23rd, 2011

Careful what you wish for, because if it’s a fairy-tale you seek, then a fairy-tale you get. And although it might not seem it on the outside, this week’s sure-to-be box-office hit, Friends with Benefits, is just that.

Having just been selected by head-hunter Jamie (Mila Kunis) as the new Art Director for GQ Magazine, Dylan (Justin Timberlake) leaves his hometown of Los Angeles and relocates to the bright lights and loud noise that is New York City. A handful of witty banter, a trip to a Manhattan rooftop, and one sappy romance film later, Jamie and Dylan find themselves swearing over an iPad Bible App to take their friendship to the next level – the one with benefits and no emotions. And it works, until both start questioning whether they unknowingly let emotions slip into the relationship after all.

With just the right balance between innocent and seductive, Kunis and Timberlake are extremely endearing as the pair of leads. It’s clear that Writer-Director Will Gluck tried hard to keep the nudity down to a bare minimum, giving the movie a tasteful air which is enjoyable for a vast audience.  Although the rom-com does have that fairy-tale ambience to it, the clever writing and engaging, although somewhat predictable, plot can appeal to a male audience as well while filling the void of every girl’s prince charming fantasy.

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Pitchfork Gets it Wrong about The Airborne Toxic Event

Posted by andPOP Staff on May 28th, 2011

We respect the editorial opinion of Pitckfork.com, but we respectfully think they got it wrong. They hate them. Seriously? Anyways we spoke with Mikel Jollett about writing, recording, and the digital era of music.

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‘Bridesmaids’ Review: A Pleasant Surprise

Posted by Christian Allaire on May 14th, 2011

I know what you’re thinking.

‘Oh great, here’s another one of those bridal movies where the main character falls for some unrealistic knight-in-shining-armour, while her best friend gets married provoking hilarious wedding planning conflicts and mild laughter.’

Well you’re wrong, deeply wrong. This is no cliched fairytale wedding movie, no no no. It’s much more than that.

Let’s get the plot out of the way. The film follows Annie, played by the hilarious Kristen Wiig, who is picked as her best friend’s maid of honour, played by the equally funny Maya Rudolph. Completely broke and unprepared, Annie looks to bluff her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals of being a bridesmaid with an oddball group of other bridesmaids as well.

What saves this movie right off the bat from being a cliched comedy is the actors themselves. Each creating a unique, interesting character, all the bridesmaids and bride alike make the film interesting because of their line delivery or physical comedy. For example, a drunken Annie on the plane could be painfully unfunny, but Wiig’s dead-on physical comedy makes it that much more hysterical.

Another way the film saves itself from disaster is how it satires romantic comedy cliches instead of enforcing them. It touches on female competitiveness, dating, marriage and outlandish character types, but twists it so far that you know it’s really poking fun at itself. The bridal shower scene will literally have you peeing your pants – I did.

That’s what I loved about the film – it’s nature to never hold back. Think of it like the female version of ‘The Hangover,’ except not as risky and more subtle in its comedy. SNL veterans Rudolph and Wiig are perfect in achieving this, using their subtle comedy timing to make the film engaging throughout. But yes ladies, bring your guys, they will find it funny too – lots of farts and injuries to sustain them.

Now, I’m not saying the movie is perfect. Parts were dragged out a little too long, and cliches were still used (yes, sorry to break it to you, the main character does indeed find love in the end,) but they were all portrayed very realistically that it didn’t bother me.

So my final verdict is a 4 out of 5 stars. For what its worth, it’s a fun lighthearted comedy that shouldn’t be taken too seriously at all. With unique comedy and a packed, roaring audience, I’m pretty sure plenty will enjoy it as well.

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Movie Review: ‘The Green Hornet’

Posted by Irene Ogrodnik on January 14th, 2011

When I think of the word ‘superhero’ Seth Rogen—the awkward fella that starred in Knocked Up or The 40-Year-Old Virgin—isn’t the first person to pop into my mind. If you compare him to other conventional fictional characters, he lacks many of the stereotypical superhero qualities. Just think of Hugh Jackman’s masculine physique in X-Men Origins: Wolverine or Christian Bale’s innate bad-boy Batman persona inThe Dark Knight and, well, you’ll know how Rogen doesn’t quite fit.

But director’s Michel Gondry’s (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Be Kind RewindThe Green Hornet isn’t meant to be ordinary. Based on the 1936 radio series, the film details the life of Rogen’s character Britt Reid.  Reid’s bachelor lifestyle of wild shenanigans and partying are rattled following the death of his father.  As an heir to his father’s large company, by day Reid reigns over as a newspaper publisher and owner. At night, the masked vigilante fights crime with his father’s assistant Kato. Starring Jay Chou, Kato is best described as a “human Swiss Army Knife.”  Chou’s fighting abilities are beyond impressive and outshine Rogen’s. Along with his writing partner Evan Goldberg, Rogen co-wrote the script to seamlessly match and adhere to his inability to convincingly play a typical and over-the-top superhero. And it works.

The twosome protect citizens by breaking the law in Los Angeles, the city where people think the duo are villains rather than heroes.  With the help of Reid’s new secretary Lenore Case (Cameron Diaz), the pair work toward hunting down the city’s surprisingly witty underworld leader Benjamin Chudnofsky, played by Christopher Waltz. While Waltz easily mesmerized audiences with his daunting portrayal of the Schutzstaffel in Quentin Tarantino’s 2009 Inglourious Basterds, as a villain he fails—quite purposely—to entice a similar fear from his audience.

With its action-packed 3-D scenes, good humour and lightheartedness, The Green Hornet will take you on an enjoyable ride where—if you’re up to it—you can put that fly swatter you brought with you away.

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Movie Review: True Grit, a Western Crazy Heart

Posted by Lauren Treihaft on December 24th, 2010

Didn’t Jeff Bridges win the coveted Oscar for best male lead last year for playing a washed up alcoholic musician? Well, he essentially plays the same character, minus the dramatic love story with a woman 20 years his junior, in the Coen Brother’s newest film, True Grit. Bridges stars as Rooster Cogburn, stubborn US Marshall who sets out to help an overtly precocious 14 year-old-girl, Mattie (Hailee Steinfeld), find the man who murdered her father, Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin). The dynamic duo is also aided by another bounty hunter, LaBeouf (Matt Damon) who is after the same man.

The film is a remake of a 1969 John Wayne film of the same name. Wayne won his sole Oscar for his performance in the film. Although I have not seen it, it seems that Bridges does not do Wayne justice. The role of a drunken fool is too easily played by Bridges as he doesn’t add anything illuminating to the character. However, the audience can almost smell the whisky seeping from his breath even through the screen.

I had high hopes for this film because it is the Coen Brothers. I was expecting something more akin to No Country for Old Men but the film bares no resemblance. Instead, True Grit is a true western film in the classic Americana sense. Its an entertaining film from a passive standpoint. Lest the gore, it would be a holiday family film. I feel like I needed to get a glass of milk and some Oreos. It’s a predictable nostalgic ride to the simpler times of the 50s and 60s

Why did the Coen Brothers decide to regurgitate a hackneyed dated plot with stereotypical roles? It seems like an odd choice for the brothers who usually bring the quirkiest characters to the screen. It really doesn’t bare the mark of Coen. Altogether, the film is not bad, it is just disappointing if you are going into it expecting a Coen Brothers film.

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Movie Review: Xavier Dolan’s ‘Heartbeats’

Posted by Lauren Treihaft on September 23rd, 2010

Heartbeats, Xavier Dolan’s second feature film, is a realistic glance into the lives of wandering twenty-somethings. The twenty-one-year-old Quebec born actor turned filmmaker entered the scene in 2009 with the French language feature I killed My Mother. Heartbeats, also French language, falls short of his first film however, the technical aspects of his filmmaking have greatly improved.

Heartbeats chronicles the seemingly complex bisexual love triangle between three friends, Marie (Monia Chokri), Francis (Xavier Dolan), and Nicolas (Niels Schneider who looks almost exactly like French actor, Louis Garrel). While at a party, Marie and Frankie (Francis) notice Nicolas, a youthful traveler who is a dead ringer for a Greek Adonis. Marie and Frankie soon develop a suggestive relationship with Nicolas which threatens their own friendship as each of them become completely infatuated with him. The three of them share a bed together, but Marie and Frankie’s sexual desire for  Nicolas is never satisfied. The film delves deeply into the notions of jealousy and centers on the cliche, “three is a crowd”.

The actors have a natural chemistry that reads well through the screen. Marie is beautiful and dresses akin to Anna Karina and other New Wave women (a possible homage to Godard). Frankie’s outward presentation is bold but he is shy and introverted. Nicolas is tan and beautiful. His demeanor is warm and yet he seems completely ignorant of the fact that he is the central object of desire for the other two characters. It is uncertain whether his coyness is intentional or simply a part of the dynamic of his friendship with Marie and Frankie. This leads to sexual ambiguity of his character which lies at the core of the narrative and if nothing else is its strength.

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Movie Review: Greenberg

Posted by Ilan Mester on March 25th, 2010

Ben Stiller has played nearly a hundred different characters throughout his career.

Anyone who’s seen one of his movies knows many of Stiller’s films are comedies featuring slapstick humour (just take a look at the first 10 minutes of “There’s Something About Mary”). There’s no such humour in “Greenberg.” In fact, it’s barely a comedy at all compared to Stiller’s previous projects.

The film tells the story of Roger Greenberg (played by Stiller), a 40-something musician-turned-carpenter who’s recovering from a serious breakdown. Roger has a talent few people possess: writing crafty letters of complaint about minor issues.

Some people go out of their way to do something. Roger goes out of his way to do nothing (or so he claims).

He returns to Los Angeles after spending 15 years in New York to take care of his brother’s lavish hillside house while he’s on vacation with his family. During his time in L.A., Roger starts working on a dog house for his brother’s pet, contacts some old friends and starts a romance with Florence Marr (Greta Gerwig), his brother’s personal assistant who’s almost 20 years his senior.

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Movie Review: The Bounty Hunter

Posted by Ilan Mester on March 19th, 2010

There’s a reason why action movies are rarely paired up with romantic comedies. Could you imagine Jason Statham and Meg Ryan sharing the same silver screen? Probably not.

“The Bounty Hunter” tells the story of Milo Boyd (Gerard Butler), a down-on-his-luck bounty hunter who lands an ideal job that allows him to chase his bail-jumping ex-wife, Nicole (Jennifer Aniston). What Milo originally deems an easy way to make $5000 bucks ends up turning into one of his toughest hunts when Nicole, a daily news reporter, has something of her own to chase: a lead on a murder cover-up.

For those expecting a romantic comedy a la “The Ugly Truth,” you’re out of luck. While both films feature Bulter in all his rugged, spit-on-the-street glory, “The Bounty Hunter” fails to charm. It’s not exactly a romantic comedy (or a great action film for that matter).

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Movie Review: Youth In Revolt

Posted by Ilan Mester on January 8th, 2010

Finally: a movie where Michael Cera doesn’t play Michael Cera. Well, sort of. In “Youth in Revolt,” he still plays his signature awkward-to-the-max character — only this time, a bad-ass is added to the mix. And that bad-ass just so happens to be played by Cera.

Based on the cult-classic novel by C.D. Payne, the film directed by Miguel Arteta (“The Good Girl,” “Chuck and Buck”) tells the story of Nick Twisp (a.k.a. Cera), a self-lamenting high schooler who sees everyone around him getting some action but fails to lose his virginity.

Nick isn’t your stereotypical teen. His playlist includes songs by Frank Sinatra and he enjoys classic prose. Nick meets the girl of his wet dreams, the beautiful Sheeni Saunders (played by Portia Doubleday), during a “family vacation” (it’s less glamorous than it sounds — you’ll understand once you see the movie).

However, Sheeni has a stuck-up poetry-writing prick of a boyfriend and in order to win her over, Nick has to get in touch with his dark side. You see, Sheeni likes her men bad and we’re not talking high school bully bad, we’re talking brash French playboy bad, and that’s exactly what Cera becomes. He adopts a mustache-baring, Euro-pant wearing, smoker alter-ego who goes by the name of François Dillinger.

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Movie Review: A Single Man

Posted by Ilan Mester on December 11th, 2009

A Single ManTom Ford brings style to his new movie and it’s not just in the wardrobe. The  former creative director for Gucci who now fronts his own fashion line makes his directorial debut with “A Single Man”.

Loosely based on the famed novel by Christopher Isherwood, the film follows a single day in the single life of a gay English professor who teaches in L.A. during the ‘60s. After losing his longtime partner Jim (played by Matthew Goode), George Falconer (Colin Firth) plans his suicide in order to end his suffering. However, George has a few things to settle before taking his own life.

The great thing about this film is that audiences can feel the suffering regardless of whether they’ve lost a loved one or not. That’s partly due to Ford’s directing and also to Firth’s impeccable performance.

Whenever George reminisces about his life with Jim, Ford uses black and white, a strong contrast from the vivid, colourful scenes that take place in the present. These colours come to life whenever George meets with his fellow British friend Charley (Julianne Moore) or with Kenny (“About a Boy’s” Nicholas Hoult), a student whose interest in George is more than academic. It’s clear that Ford — who also co-wrote and produced the film — knows how to use light and texture to his advantage.

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Movie Review: Twilight New Moon

Posted by Eric Emin Wood on November 20th, 2009

Twilight New MoonI am not the audience for this movie.

I did not see the original Twilight. I read the novel and was horrified; how many teenage girls truly believe that men like Edward Cullen exist? (Fewer, probably, than the number of boys men who expect to meet a gorgeous independent woman who caters to their every whim and is miraculously attracted to slovenly underachievers, but that’s a rant for another film.) In real life a man who stalks protects a woman the way Edward does will continue to do so whether her life’s in danger or not. Perhaps the majority of Twilight fans recognize this, and treat the stories as wish fulfillment, much as this reviewer does with good romantic comedies (though not, it must be said, The Ugly Truth, which peddled a similar adolescent fantasy).

On that level, New Moon delivers. It reproduces the central appeal of the books: a man who’s faster, stronger, more romantic, better at playing baseball and musical instruments alike and more beautiful than anyone you could possibly imagine falls for Bella Swan, an ordinary, unremarkable-looking girl, and continually professes not only that he loves her, but that he cannot live without her. So protective is he that when his otherworldly urges place her in danger he actually abandons her to protect her.

This is the basest sort of adolescent fantasy, the kind any writer who’s attended university could dream up, and yet it would be undone by a sense of manufactured cynicism if author Stephenie Meyer didn’t wholeheartedly believe in it. She does, and it would appear a wide cross-section of the western world does too.

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Movie Review: 2012

Posted by Sara Harowitz on November 12th, 2009

2012Well folks, it looks like we’ve only got two years to live.With that in mind, are you sure you want to spend the last bit of your precious time watching your terrifying fate on the big screen? If your answer to that question is an enthusiastic and energetic YES, then 2012 is just the movie for you.

Directed by Roland Emmerich, 2012 is about the human race’s greatest fear: the end of the world. According to the Mayan calendar, the world is set to undergo a series of large-scale natural disasters on Dec. 12, 2012, that humans will not be able to survive. The film takes us on the two journeys. The first is with an intelligent but unpopular writer, played by John Cusack. He’s divorced, and has two kids who prefer their mom (Amanda Peet)’s new boyfriend to their real father. Pretty typical, right? Still, if anyone can wiggle back into a child’s heart, it’s Cusack.The second journey follows a geologist (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who works for the White House. He helps the government prepare by giving estimated times for each disaster to hit.

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Outer Panel Haven. 17

Posted by sarge-ak47 on October 19th, 2009

holidayI live near a hill where the forest is still lush and green.
Yes, the best time to be a gamer, Fall – Winter 2009 brings forth so many amazing games.
Game on! I mean Video Game on.. not that gambling game on. Trust me gambling is not cool.

As always click on the image for full sized goodness.

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Game Review: NHL 2K10

Posted by sarge-ak47 on October 13th, 2009

The Play offs have started.
1
The last hockey game I bought for full price was Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey for the N64, since then I haven’t really fallen in love with any new hockey games. Sure, I’ve played my share but nothing has captured the frenzy of the old hockey games and has left me wondering if maybe my expectations are a bit too high.  No, I haven’t been under a rock or anything, I’ve played and kept up to date on the newer NHL games but nothing has really stood out enough for me to merit a purchase.

When talks were brewing about NHL 2K10 utilizing the Wii Motion Plus accessory I was really excited to see how evolutionary this title might turn out to be. This excitement was due to the fact that the last sports title I played that utilized the Motion Plus was the excellent Tiger Woods 10. In the end it’s the actual utilization of this little gizmo that will either make or break this title.

So does NHL 2k10 have what it takes? (more…)

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andPOP Covers NHL 2K10

Posted by Josh Salem on October 11th, 2009

nhl2k10andPOP got the opportunity to try out 2K Sports’ latest hockey title, NHL 2K10. We had the chance to play the game and talk with the developers.

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Game Review: Metroid Prime Trilogy

Posted by sarge-ak47 on September 30th, 2009

1Primed Perfection

Developer Retro Studios has my heart, what they have managed to create over the last 7 years is nothing short of the most influential and loved series to ever grace any console.
On my list of favorite games 2002’s Metroid Prime for the GameCube ranks the highest, simply put I love this title.

Till this day I am astonished at how a once unknown developer has taken such a beloved franchise and moved it into the third dimension whilst maintaining the classic series feel and essence. Very few games can match the sheer mood and ambiance that the Metroid Prime series is known for.
When I found out that the entire Prime series was coming to the Wii on one disc I just couldn’t believe Retro studios was going jam pack all that awesome sauce into one piece of media. (more…)

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Game Review: Professor Layton and The Diabolical Box

Posted by sarge-ak47 on September 17th, 2009

Elementary my dear.1 After almost a year and then some we finally get another Layton game in our grubby little hands. It’s sort of funny as I mentioned in the preview that Japan is on its 4th title and the series is fairly popular there and here is hoping it catches steam in North America. The title is developed by Level 5 who have been handling this small franchise called DRAGON QUEST. The thing that strikes me about The Professor Layton series is how it can be called a true successor to old-school point and click adventure games. Almost every artistic scenery is littered with interactive madness, whether it’s coins that need to be uncovered, a scene to be analyzed or your traditional brain teaser that needs to be solved. Combine the fact that the game follows a very well told story which runs at a decent 12 hours with over 150 puzzles and you have a solid title that is a must buy for gamers of any age group but especially those nostalgic for the old school adventure games. (more…)

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