Reviews

I first discovered The Angry Video Game Nerd when my brother showed me an episode. I believe he was talking about the Sega CD. At first, I wasn't quite interested in watching it because I don't really play video games that much. But later on, I gave the show a chance, and I found that I really enjoyed it. The show is funny with the running gags and all, but it is also something we can all relate to. The idea of a foul-mouthed, angry gamer who has to drink beer when he plays games (because they are either really badly designed or frustratingly difficult) is really funny because people do get frustrated over video games, especially ones that are unplayable. Of course, that anger is more extreme in people who are very passionate about video games (like the Nerd) and take them seriously. However, although I do enjoy the comedy, I wish to talk about what I personally think is the best part of the show.

For me, what really makes the show work is James Rolfe's ability to make the show enjoyable for non-gamers. James does a great job of reviewing the games in that when he plays the games, you feel his anger and frustration. He backs up his criticisms very well, whether the criticism is for the bad control scheme or the frustrating level design. Criticisms like these, when they're not done right, can come off as a gamer just complaining because he is actually incompetent. When this happens, the character/reviewer does not create an impact on you because you don't feel his emotions; instead, you just feel annoyed by the character/reviewer. Fortunately, James does not have this problem; his criticisms feel genuine and reasonable, which allow the viewers to feel the Nerd's emotions, making the character someone we can identify with. Also, James does a great job of setting up the context of the time period when the games (or consoles) came out. In this way, he allows those of us who didn't grow up in that time period (and non-gamers, like me) to understand and feel the disappointment and anger that people felt when the game designers failed to do do a good job on the game or when the console didn't live up to people's expectations. Setting up the context also allows the Angry Video Game Nerd to be a representation of how people felt at that time. It's almost like a person from that time period is communicating with us. For me, someone who can review video games and make the show enjoyable for even non-gamers like me is the sign of true talent.

So, with all my praise, why not a perfect score of 10/10? Well, sometimes the jokes with feces can get a bit too much, and I never really liked the moments when the feces is actually shown. Those parts were always a little too gross for me. Also, there have been a few jokes that didn't quite work. I understand though that it is a comedy show, so not every bit of it is going to be perfect, especially considering that there are now over one hundred episodes. But overall, this is a great show. So James Rolfe, thank you for all the laughs and for educating me more about video games.

Wow, where do I begin with this episode. In under ten minutes, the Nostalgia Critic talked about Romeo and Juliet and whether it is bad because it seems like a love at first site romance. However, he pushed it even further by saying what Romeo and Juliet may be truly about, which is the psychology of young love and more. I am absolutely impressed with the Critic's analysis because he took a play that I thought I knew and gave it a whole new meaning. He brought to light issues that the story tackles that I never noticed before, which demonstrates his deep philosophical understanding.

So Critic; what more can I say? You just keep getting better and better. I'd say that this is your best video yet. So keep making amazing material.

I have liked Nostalgia Critic for a while now. Despite his show being movie reviews, I find myself returning his videos for a laugh. What makes him different is that he often reviews TV shows and movies that I grew up with, since I grew up in the nineties. The majority of the humour was dark, funny, and clever. Then, Doug Walker retired from the show, and I was happy that he ended the show so that we could remember it as good rather than horrible, as what happens to some shows when they go on too long.

When I heard that Doug Walker was resurrecting Nostalgia Critic and making new episodes, I worried a little that the quality of the show would slip a little, as is the risk with all shows that are resurrected. I wasn't too fond of his premiere episode, but this second episode made me feel happy that he's back. In this episode, Nostalgia Critic intelligently reviewed the Twilight franchise and pointed out that while it is very flawed and has lots of things to hate, we shouldn't worry about it being the downfall of our society. People grow up and evolve. I thought that was an extremely insightful point, and it really shows his understanding of people and society. I'll say now that I am not a Twilight fan, but I don't hate on it the way many people seem to. It's just a phenomenon that will pass in time, so people who worry about it corrupting our young people should really pipe down.

So, welcome back Nostalgia Critic! I look forward to what else you have in store for us this year.

This is the best Christmas special of a TV show that I have ever seen. Christmas specials, and films, for that matter, tend to be overly sweet and sentimental. This, however, was a genuine episode that took the series to a whole new level.

The episode, of course, has all the classic humour that we expect from Pinky and the Brain. From the moment it started, I was already laughing at the clever lines and Brain's previous attempts to take over the world on Christmas. However, the brilliance of this special comes through in the second half.

Before this special, the episodes were primarily carried by humour and Brain's plans. Apart from Pinky's stupidity and Brain's intelligence, there was little characterization. However, in this special, we see that there is more to these characters. Through a heartfelt letter to Santa, we see Pinky as a selfless character who only wants Brain to be happy. Despite being insulted and bopped on the head all the time, Pinky loves Brain like a brother. He may be stupid, but he has a heart. In addition, we also get development of Brain. Touched by Pinky's love, Brain reveals his softer, sweeter side. His tears come just as he is one moment away from taking over the world, and he gives it up as his love for Pinky comes through. Seeing Brain actually give up the world was a major step for the character, because it showed that Brain is not a heartless villain. He still has the ability to care for others, and he loves Pinky.

A Pinky and the Brain Christmas fully deserved its Emmy. Future TV shows should learn from this Christmas special.

When I was a kid, I watched Pinky and the Brain, but I didn't think much of it. It was entertaining, but it wasn't my favourite. Then, my parents got rid of cable TV, and my Pinky and the Brain days ended. Years later, a friend talked about Pinky and the Brain with me, and I decided to watch it again. As I watched the episodes online, I began to see greatness. I noticed a lot of jokes that I never picked up on when I was younger, and that was when I became a true fan.

Now that my introduction is done, I will review Pinky and the Brain. This show is absolutely amazing. Yes, I said the word "wonderful" twice in my title because that's exactly how I feel about this show. The writing was top notch, and it remained consistent to the very end of the last season. Every episode continued to be fresh, and the humour was always clever and perfect. It just never got old. And the show was also touching and sad at times, which I will talk more about later on.

The show also took the time to develop its lead characters. The characters of Pinky and the Brain are so brilliant that you just have to love them. Both of them had real personalities. At first glance, Pinky was characterized as stupid and crazy, but later development showed that beneath his crazy habits, he actually had intelligence. In many episodes, Pinky said the most true and insightful quotes of the show. Not only did he often point out the flaws in Brain's plans, but he would also say random, insightful comments without realizing it. The Brain, on the other hand, was a genius who dreamed of taking over the world, but his plans always went wrong. Although he kept failing, he never gave up trying. However, the most beautiful part of these characters is their friendship. Although the Brain always insulted and hurt Pinky for acting stupid, Pinky loved Brain like a brother. Beneath Pinky's stupidity was a loyal, caring friend. The only thing that would make PInky sad was not being able to be with Brain. The Brain also loved Pinky. Beneath his seemingly cold character was a sweet, tender side. Even though he acted like he hated Pinky, he also could not stand to part from him. In episodes where they get separated, Brain always missed Pinky and would always try to get him back somehow. Actors Maurice LaMarche and Rob Paulsen, the talented actors behind the voices of Pinky and the Brain, said in an interview that Pinky and the Brain's relationship is the heart of the show, which I fully agree with. A lot of the touching moments came from their relationship.

As I implied before, the acting is stellar. Rob and Maurice each give brilliant performances as Pinky and the Brain. Their friendship off screen really made Pinky and the Brain's friendship come to life. They also did their own singing for all the musical numbers, and their different accents throughout the show are incredible. And let us not forget Tress MacNeille, Frank Welker, and Roddy MacDowell, who brilliantly supported them.

Brilliantly written, touching, and hilarious, Pinky and the Brain is an amazing show. If there is an award for the best cartoon series of all time, I think this would be a front runner, and possibly the winner.

When this film was first advertised on TV, I saw clips from it and decided that this looked like a promising movie. It then went on to make a record breaking box office total, and a friend of mine said it was amazing. I became excited for this film. Then, others told me that it was overrated. It was just a ripoff of Pocahontas that was shielded by brilliant graphics. I didn't let that opinion get to me though; I still kept an open mind.

Eventually, when I got the DVD, I began to watch it excitedly. It started off strongly; the storyline held promise, and the special effects were amazing. Then, I got to the forest scene, and the graphics were nothing sort of gorgeous. The world of Pandora was definitely one that I wanted to touch. I wanted to be there. It was unfortunate at this very moment that an advancement in the storyline ruined this sense of wonder about the movie. The moment when the elder aboriginal leader said, "Alright, you will learn our ways", and the title characters started to spend time together, I right away predicted where the story was going. This was the moment that ruined the movie for me. It fell into a cliché trap. At this point, I lost full interest in seeing the rest of the film, and I did not bother finishing it.

A film can look visually stunning, but in the end, what counts is the storyline. If your plot isn't strong, then the film will not work. No matter how good the film looks, visuals can never make up for a weak script.

I'll sum up by saying that this film was, in my opinion, overrated. It held so much promise for me, but all that died.

I honestly don't understand why this movie is getting so much criticism. Friends of mine say that is the worst Star Wars movie ever. I loved this movie the moment I watched it (and yes, I have seen all the other Star Wars movies), and I think that it is well done. I thought the special effects and action scenes were well made, the story was essential and solid, the acting was much better than the old Star Wars trilogy (and Hayden is really not that bad. When I saw him act in the scene after he brings home his dead mother's body and talks about how unfair it is that he couldn't save her, I was actually intimidated. Not only is George Lucas setting up Anakin's tragic flaw, which is a traditional character trait of a Shakespearean tragic hero, but he is also foreshadowing the next movie where Anakin is going to give into a lust for power and anger and make the same mistake. In doing so, he will lose all his humanity and the one he loves most). However, the element that stood out most for me was the music score. The love theme that John Williams composed is so beautiful that it makes me feel so sad that Anakin and Padme's love is doomed. It is beautiful, and it suggests a truly deep and devoted relationship (not Hollywood cliché style in any way), but it's sad because it will destroy them in the end.

Overall, I think that this movie is getting way too much criticism from viewers alike. Although my English teacher would never approve of my review (my English teacher thinks that Star Wars is bad literature), I am going to write and share it anyway. Star Wars has as much depth as any of the great literary works, and I make this statement confidently.

I first saw this film in high school. My English teacher asked us to watch this movie and write a personal response to it.

When I first saw this movie, I did not know what to expect, but when my viewing was complete, I found only a composition that took my breath away. The story about a young boy, Frank McCourt, growing up in the poor and bleak city of Limerick, Ireland, during the Great Depression, under an autocratic church and a father that could not get a job because he was addicted to alcohol moved me deeply and emotionally. Frank McCourt struggles not only with troubles on the home front, but with a church that teaches the people about Jesus without mentioning the concept of forgiveness of sins. They constantly put people in fear to live because they taught that you are doomed forever if you sin. I not only saw how ugly the church authority was, but I was also moved by Frank's life. For example, when Frank saw his father for the last time, he comments, through a narration, that he does not even have the freedom to say, "I love you Dad", because "in Limerick, you are only supposed to love God and horses that win... Anything else is softness in the head". When I saw this part, I almost wept, because it showed the limited freedom of a life in Limerick. As well, the theme that there is always hope in a troubled life is beautifully portrayed by the visuals. In the midst of the dark streets of Limerick, green grass grows in the cracks. Eventually, Frank triumphs when he gets enough money to go to America and start a new life. Also, near the end of the film, he meets a priest who understands that God forgives us when we sin. At last, there was a priest that truly understood the message of Jesus.

The plot is beautiful, and the score not only captures the time period of the 1930's, but it is gently moving. It beautifully fits the atmosphere of the film.

I would strongly recommend this film to anyone. It is a really underrated gem that deserves more credit.

I studied Charlotte Bronte's novel in high school, and it left me with a stunning impression. Here was a beautiful novel about a young woman's struggle to find love and acceptance in the dark times of Victorian England. This young woman was Jane Eyre, a poor and plain character with a strong mind and will of her own. Her story, which Bronte told through Jane's own eyes, was both sad and inspiring.

As part of our study, we watched the 1983 adaptation of the story, and it blew me away. The mini-series not only made the effort to stay true to Bronte's original text and the essence of the story, but the actors who portrayed the characters were just great. Both Zelah Clarke (Jane Eyre) and Timothy Dalton (Jane's lover, by the name of Rochester) captured brilliantly the essence of their characters. I cannot imagine anyone else in their roles. (The other performances of Rochester in other versions such as the 2006 version lack the passion, energy, and tenderness needed to portray Rochester accurately. I say that Timothy Dalton comes out on top because he possesses all these characteristics in his portrayal of Rochester. Zelah Clarke not only looks like Jane Eyre, but she captures Jane's quiet, but firm and passionate nature brilliantly. She holds in her emotions, like the Jane of the book, at the appropriate moments in the story but allows her fire to come out in Jane's passionate scenes. The chemistry that Clarke and Dalton portray in their scenes together is also credible and true to Jane and Rochester's devoted relationship.) As well, the supporting actors also fit their roles perfectly, and the sets fit the Gothic nature of the story.

I strongly recommend this version of the classic Bronte tale. If you have not read the book before, then you can watch this production as a faithful introduction to this beautiful story.