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brettshears
Reviews
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2007)
A really great game, if you don't mind climbing buildings
OK well the new breed of turtles are here. Ever since I heard they were remaking the classic eighties cartoon into another movie, I and a lot of my friends we skeptical, but surprisingly the movie was actually really good, pretty good story, and excellent visuals, just like the game.
STORY The story of the game pretty much follows the movie's plot. The turtles have taken a sabbatical from their crime fighting duties and are not in the work force 'undercover' of course. Leo is re training overseas, Donatello helps people over the phone with technical needs, Michaelangelo dresses in a 'turtle' costume to entertain children's parties, and Raphael is a renegade masked crime fighter, fighting the mean streets of New York, only at night 'of course'. But now evil once again rears it's ugly head, and it's just in time for Leo's return, but first him and his brothers meet to reunite and put away their differences. The story has a lot of family values and has a very sweet and genuine premise, well as genuine as you can get with four five foot turtles.
GAMEPLAY This is first and foremost a platform game, thus making most the time spent, jumping on buildings, running around them, swinging on flags, 'most notably' American flags. I couldn't help but think of New York post 9/11 but that's getting off track. You play on different levels as each of the turtles, some levels require a bit of acrobatic talent to bring in your other brothers, before long you'll be able to play as all four and use their special abilities to fight the hoards of foot soldiers and gangs you'll soon face. The bag guys aren't randomly place over the levels either, they all come at once and you are graded on your performance. 'Poor' 'Average' 'Good' 'Excellent' 'Ninja' Each turtle has different special moves but they do get repetitive, the whole game is interesting, and fun for all ages, but quite repetitive with the jumping, swinging, crawling all over the city. This has been mentioned in over reviews but the camera angles can get quite annoying, it's really trial and error on some platforms weather you'll make it, of fall to your death. And it's seems like a city that's just been made for four ninja turtles to get around. But all in all a very cool game, but not too challenging.
VISUAL It varies from console, but the overall idea of telling the cut away story though a comic book style screen is not unique but works, plus random clips from the movie itself. Other than the camera angles being a bit of a pain, the look is quite exceptional. Don't even try to compare this look to any other turtles game out there, it PAILS in comparativeness.
OVERALL Not a challenging game at all to the experience gamer, but fun never the less, and a very sweet and cool game. ENJOY oh and COWABUNGA DUDES!
Grumpy Old Women at Christmas (2004)
One of the best British Doco's ever
Christmas, we all have different opinions on it. Weather it's our religious beliefs or not, they'res no escaping it. This is a documentary that tackles what Christmas REALLY means to women who have families to look after. The relatives, bad presents, spoiled children, Christmas decorations and lists. Although this is a British documentary, the statement is universal and spoken in a funny and realistic way. I am an Aussie so didn't recognize the women in this program, they are celebrities though. But it still makes for some entertaining viewing. I defy anyone brave enough to play it while having Chirstmas lunch or dinner with their family. Definitely a guilty pleasure, a must watch. Happy Holidays Brett.
Garfield: The Movie (2004)
Hey do you love Garfield comics, then don't see this movie
OK First off I will try to submit a fair review with out getting angry. This is what happens when Hollywood is stripped for idea's and want to make a popular franchise in a movie as fast as possible, plus have a hit song attached to it by the 'who let the dog out' people.
Well I have been a Garfield fan since the early eighties, love all the stuff, including at one point a Garfield video Game. When I heard there was going to be a movie I was thrilled, even though I'd grown up I though it would still cater for people Like me, but here's what I saw.
GARFIELD was trying to hard to be lazy. Jon and Liz were in love. In the comics she can't stand him. Jon is a cool, swarve kind of guy. in the comics he's a lovable geek.Nermal was Garfield's friend, in the comics he hate Nermal. Plus the story didn't carry along well, the bad guy was too bad and the CGI was dodgy at best. I know I've ranted on like a freak here, but I have been such a fan and too see this. I wounder what the creator Jim Davis thought, I didn't see his name anywhere in the credits hmmm. Maybe they could have tried getting writers who actually had read more than one comic strip.
So in summation, if you're seeing this with children under the age of six perfect film. But anyone else, don't dare waste money on this. Thank you for reading
Brett
Harvie Krumpet (2003)
Poor Harvie, but great Story
I actually went to the same school as the creator Adam Elliot, about ten years below him though but still noticed the interesting Aussie subtleties of this film, i.e. the bus stations. I loved Harvie Krumpet, like I loved his other films, plus I got meet first hand the people who influenced his life, I meet him when he did a speech at my school. He was a true gentlemen and another interesting fact, he went to school with Jamie Blanks, Director of Urban Legend.
I definitely recommend HK, even if you're not Aussie, and it was deserving of the Oscar, lets cut though the American crap for once.
Best Wishes
Brett
~R.I.P~
Ben Bourke
Madballs: Escape from Orb! (1986)
The balls are back in town
Ahh this one's an old eightee's one hit wonder. I will try to explain it short and sweet, basically the story, animated focuses around a team of talking bouncing balls, OK wierded out yet, I was too, anyway they try to save their planet. Think South Park crossed with Monty python crossed with a crappy eightees cartoon, that's what this movie is about, I don't know if there was a series, I just remember the film, I wish I could see it again, but try walking up to a video clerk and asking exuse me do you have 'madballs.' It's too old, I can't find it anywhere, definitally a good, 'oh my god this is terrible' comedy. I remember having a Screaming Mimi figure, I have no Idea where they came from, but it's worth a look only to see how gross and over the top it is. Go on, go back in time and get it out on video, oh and another thing, it's totally maketed to kids, this isn't a grown up film.