Blogcritics Author: Logtar

Nintendo Wii Review: Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Logtar — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:06:35 EDT

Games have defined consoles in the past - Halo the Xbox, Sonic the Sega Genesis, now the Wii has Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Back in the 80s the term "fanboy" had not been coined yet, but you could hear in the playground the argument between who was cooler, Mario or Sonic. Now this can finally be settled in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.Games have defined consoles in the past - Halo, the Xbox, Sonic, the Sega Genesis, now the Wii has Super Smash Bros. Brawl as the...

Announcement: Short-content feeds

Phillip Winn — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Sunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding.

Get Hired: The First Five Minutes of the Interview

Logtar — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 12:19:20 EDT

During college I took what I called a "resume" building class. However, they also taught us how to act during an interview. The final exam for that class was to interview with actual companies that sent representatives on campus. Big names like Computer Associates, PeopleSoft, Oracle and the like "mock" interviewed us. I even remember the teacher for the class, she was more of a Gym teacher than a career adviser but I now thank her for her harsh words during the process. They taught me how to go into an interview and ace it.I also have to thank my first employer for teaching me a lot about the business world. He really made an impression on me about how to dress, how to talk and how to act in front of customers. It was a very hard job for someone just out of college, but because of the difficult situations he put me through, it really catapulted my career. Speaking in front of a room full of hospital CIOs is not easy. They are the decisions makers for the purchase of your product, and they do not like to feel like their time is being wasted. The experience made me learn to react on the spot and use one of my strengths, humor, to make the time with them something they would remember. Most important is to make sure that the people that you sell something to, even it if is just services, remember the product for the right reasons.Lately we have been looking to fill some positions at work. I am not the one making the decision or interviewing this time, but it scares me that most of the people interviewed have no clue about writing a resume or even coming to an interview. So I'm sharing some of the knowledge I have gathered. It might be all common knowledge to most, but I have been surprised lately how many people make these simple mistakes.MentalityThe way you think will affect everything about the hiring process. If you think that you have no chance at getting the job, then why are you applying to it in the first place? Do not waste anyones time, specially your own.Once you have found an opportunity that you think you are a match for, start thinking as if you actually work for the company. You are a product and you are selling yourself. Confidence is a very important tool that used wisely can land you a job.Most decisions are made in less than 5 minutes. You have even less with a resume. Once you are on the other side of the hiring process you see that hardly anyone reads a whole resume. I bet you money that none of you has read my whole resume and even now putting in a link to it will only make you glance at it. Think of your resume as your foot in the door, and most importantly never lie.In an interview believe that you are the one that is interviewing the company. Consider what you would want from them, besides getting a pay check? What makes this environment conducive to either your career or your happiness? When given the opportunity ask these questions of your interviewer. PresentationAs I already mentioned, the resume is very important and I don't feel I am the best resume writer out there. However, I do have a rule for them. You have to customize your resume for every position you apply. The resume should contain what that company is seeking highlighted. Make your bullet points talk to that directly. Take their job description and see if you fit every single one of their needs or at least have experience that is good for them. Also, write your resume using a good resume-writing book, or an online source of resume information. If, for example, the company is looking for someone that has cash register experience, and you worked at a carnival taking money. You have the skill, you know how to count money and make change. Relevant does not mean you have had the same exact experience, but rather similar. Make sure you present yourself properly by letting the company know that you can do what they need you to do.From the first moment you come in contact with the company either by e-mail or phone, make sure you sound very eager, but not desperate. You want to work for them, but not give your services away. Make sure that they think you want to work for them, just not work for free. Also that is the time to continue gathering information from them.Before even submitting a resume or filling out an application find out who they are and what do they do. The more familiar you are with the company, the faster you are going to find things that in your past experience should be highlighted. If a company sells bird cages and you worked at a pet store for a summer you might already know dimensions, styles, sizes and what type of birds need what type of cages. You might have not even thought of putting that summer job there for a company called Acme Metal Works if you did not research it first.I know this sounds like a lot of work, but like with every product, the way you present it to your future buyers is the key. They have to want to buy the product, or in this case hire you. I am the most excited about a product when I go to the store, I locate it very easily and it comes in a well marketed box. A clear good looking picture of the product, a good feature list and with tons of information about what is inside. You should look the same way to a potential employer, he should be excited about the product that they are about to purchase.InterviewPlan for your interview at least the day before, preferably a week in advance. What you are going to wear, how you are going to get to the place. If you are unsure about where the place is make a dry run to see how hard the place it is to find. It is really embarrassing (it happened to me once) to have to call someone to tell them you are lost. Arrive 15 minutes early. At the very least 5 minutes early. Take a notepad with you in a nice folder with some hard copies of your resume.If possible have a friend quiz you before you go into the interview. Not just about the company or your experience but regular interview questions. You would be surprised how many places still ask about, 5 words to describe yourself or what does responsibility means to you?How you dress makes a huge impression on your future employer. IBM used to be all about suits, white shirts and blue ties. Very agent from the matrix type. While you don't have to go to those lengths you should investigate what the dress policy for the company is. During the pre-interview process, maybe phone interview, it is perfectly ok to ask what the dress code is.Make sure you show up. If you miss your interview, even if you are calling before you miss it, it looks very bad. It shows that you either don't know about time management at all, or that you have other responsibilities that supersede your job. We all understand not having a babysitter, but you should already have a plan B for those situations. Missing an interview makes the employer think about your reliability or lack, thereof. Same goes for having dependable transportation. If you invest time in planning , you'll be less likely to have to make any excuses.You should always go one notch above from what the company's dress code is. So if they are casual, go business casual. If they are business all the time, wear a suit. Never wear jeans to an interview, not even if you are going to work for a fast food restaurant. Just wearing a pair of khakis will give you the upper hand. Shoes are also very important, they should be polished and have no scuffs anywhere. Also don't wear flashy colors, or put too much make up on. Clean shaven, hair combed, pressed clothes and no overpowering perfumes are simple rules. A mint before the interview is good, but don't go in there with a mint in your mouth or gum. Cell phone should always be off. Use the bathroom before you go into the interview, even if you don't have to go go and take the time to make sure you look your best.

An opinionated 30 year old Colombian that became an American, lived in Chicago for 10 years, Michigan for 3, and now lives in Overpriced Park, Kansas. Computer Programmer that also does translation and interpretation. Loves to ride motorcycles, read books, watch movies and practice martial arts. Would you like to know more? visit my blog

The IT Animal Kingdom

Logtar — Fri, 2 Mar 2007 05:35:23 EST

Now that I have liberated myself from the last zoo I worked at, I feel that it is my duty to document the IT (Information Technology) world for those out there that happen to enter it. I wish I had seen the TV show The Office to see if I was ripping it off, but I have to get this off my chest while I have the inspiration light turned on. I am sure that someone has had a similar idea and am ready for any complaints.I’m intending this as a good PSA (Public Service Announcement) for all the non IT people out there. It is no accident that I have made all of the managers predators, and it is not due to anger or resentment. If I was angry, I would have compared my past managers to the characters from the “Wizard of Oz” - no heart, no brains and no courage. If you find yourself fitting one of the animal profiles, it is up to you if you want to single yourself out.The Eager BeaverI think there is a little Eager Beaver in all of us when we start in a new department. This character is the one that is always coming up with new innovative ideas that, while brilliant, will never be implemented. There are many varieties of this beaver, from the one that eventually gets beat down and controlled to the one that actually tells his boss he is just stupid. And, yes, to his face… and, yes, I have seen this one in the wild. Eager Beavers know what they are doing when it comes to technology; however they spent too much time on new ideas and not enough on actual production.The BarracudaVery hard to spot and very dangerous. This is the one animal you think is a friend but it is only gaining your trust to gather information while your guard is down. When the Barracuda attacks, you will never see it coming. The Barracuda has a vast knowledge of the company. They have probably been working with the company since its inception, and because of that they have inmunity to attacks from any other animal.The PorcupineI am very proud of this animal. They are masters at not doing their job. When anyone approaches them, bosses included, they ball up and sometimes even shoot back. They have very good knowledge of an old system and refuse to learn something new. It is very amusing to see a Porcupine and a brand new Eager Beaver interact.The Worker BeeThank God for the Worker Bee. Without the Worker Bee most companies would have closed long ago. You can see the Worker Bee getting to work before anyone else and working very late. The worker bee picks up the pieces that everyone else drops and actually makes them work together. Do not confuse the worker bee with our next friend the Remora. The Worker Bee at times is not as technical or talented as other animals, but thanks to hard work they always accomplish the task.The Sharksucking RemoraMy all time favorite animal… if I was a predator that could actually eat them. They are the all time boss-servicing fish that keeps them clean and shiny. They pretend to be Worker Bees because they are masters at taking credit for everything that is done right in the company. They might have some talent, but it is hard to tell the difference between accomplishments and stolen credit.The PeacockIt is amazing how this animal even makes it in IT. They are characterized by a display of knowledge that is outstanding. They chose their feathers wisely since their knowledge cannot be countered by anyone else in the organization. They are so crafty, that at times they even become managers.The Migratory GeeseAlso known as consultants. These birds, that sometimes come from India, come in and promise to fix everything. They are always very knowledgeable, talented and at times cheap. However, at the last second, they are called back to their mother ship and leave the project halfway done. At that point, they promise to send other birds, but these ones are even more expensive and harder to track.The SkunkWe can all recognize it by its smell. They are an animal that always knows when to appear. They are the ones that love to gather information about how the project is progressing. Everyone thinks they are not too bad, but when under pressure, they release a cloud of confusion that leaves projects paralyzed. Do not be fooled by their laborious nature, in the end they will leave you smelling for a long time. They use their cloud of perfume to confuse everyone and take credit for anything that is accomplished.The Irish SetterThey are masters at pointing fingers. They never solve a problem but have an uncanny nose that tells them who messed up and they spend their live simply pointing. All other animals fear them because, even though they are not true predators, they have the ability to call one at will. They also have the ability to divert attention by not moving a muscle while the problem is being troubleshooted.The Orangutan ArchitectI could make a whole post about this animal. They have a genius that no one else understands. They create the most complex systems for simple solutions. If you have ever had a conversation with someone that talks in circles, never getting to a point, you might have encoutered an Orangutan. Like their conversational skills their code is extremely hard to follow and it resembles a bowl of spaghetti. Somehow they are also backed by the predators, I believe because of their uncanny capability to confuse.The Dodo BirdEvery manager that I have encountered has claimed to be this animal. However, I have yet to find it. This manager says that he will always stick up for you, provide you with training and never look for blame. They are always talking about great benefits, compensation and comp time. Comp time is a fictitious IT tool used to lured employees into working extra hours and weekend in the hope of future time off. The comp time never equals the effort if it ever appears. Once you think you have found a dodo bird he suddenly dissapears. Along with his disappearance, comp time also disappears.The SharkThe most feared animal in the animal kingdom. While there are other animals thar are stronger than him, his razor sharp teeth will give you nightmares. When he is not in his habitat he is not much of a treat, but he will still try to call you at home and try to use his power of persuasion. When in the office he swims around looking for victims. Through fear he can make anyone do anything and always manages to look good to those on top. Never ask a shark for comp time if you want to keep all of your limbs.The 900lb GorillaLike other managers, this one rules through fear, using its brute temper to dominate all other animals in the kingdom. If it starts pounding its chest, it is time to leave the premises. Do not taunt this brute or you will be hurt.The Narnia LionLike its book and movie counterpart this one comes and then goes. This animal is close to the dodo bird on being the perfect manager but they always seem to disappear or morph into another. I have actually worked with one Narnia lion and it was a wonderful experience. He was the only manager that ever gave me a heads up and told me, “Leave this company, they are going to collapse.”In other instances, these are the managers that end up leaving because the Barracuda, the Orangutan and the Irish Setter conspire against him and end up killing him at the stone table.I hope this is informative and entertaining. Feel free to add your encounter with other animals in the kingdom since I am sure there are others.

Products of our environment?

Logtar — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 19:20:50 EST

I do not ignore racism. I choose to not make it a part of my life. During everyone's though process there are different checks and balances that one goes through when evaluating situations. Was an action performed by someone else due to the color of my skin?I decided a while ago that I would remove that from the forefront of my mind and hopefully it would help me live a happier life. It is clear to me while reading the following story about a crime that obviously was racially charged that I have accomplished just that in some level.(Houston Texas AP) A teenager described as a white supremacist was sentenced Friday to life in prison for savagely beating and sodomizing a Hispanic boy at a drug-fueled party. David Henry Tuck, 18, was convicted Thursday of aggravated sexual assault in the near-fatal attack. Witnesses testified that he hurled racial insults and shouted "white power" while sodomizing the 17-year-old victim with the plastic pole of a patio umbrella.I did not ignore the fact that the victim was Hispanic, however it does not hurt me more or less. It is a horrible crime, and it would feel just as horrible if it was because the victim was discriminated because they were purple or blue. It is hard to ignore that the perpetrator is labeled as a "White Supremacist" and also that the article has the title " 'Evil' teen jailed for savage party beating." I also do not ignore the fact that it was a party full of drugs and alcohol. It still does not excuse the action and life in prison seems like a fitting punishment for the crime.I could go on and on about all the labels that were put on the kid that committed the crime, however the most troubling part of the article for me was the following.He also said Tuck had an abusive, absent father and was raised by a single working mother. His only role model, Hinton said, was his older brother, a skinhead who is in jail.Automatically the blame is diverted from the stupidity of the act to the environment. While I do know first hand that a broken home can be a very tought environment for a child to grow up on, creating all sorts of discipline problems that can develop into self destructive activities, I do not believe that it is a matter of simply environment.I am a firm believer in personal responsibility. There are always choices that people make and even as a kid, it is still a choice to take the wrong path and eventually become a racist, criminal, etc. I don't believe that we are a product of just environment, it is a huge influence but not impossible to override. I have known people that grew up in the worst environments that "build" the worse people, and they came out better than people with a silver spoon shoved where the sun don't shine and "perfect" parents.I believe in family being one of the basic pillars of our society. I also believe that a family benefits greatly by having a man and woman because kids need to have both role models while growing up. I am not against gay marriage, or even adoption by same sex couples, but I believe that a household where there is a single parent situation there is a huge higher risk for the child developing behavioral issues. It is not only due to the statistics and studies I have read in the subject but what I have seen first hand. A relative very close to me was bounced back and forth between parents and it created all kinds of problems for him. It is to the point that he ended up looking for approval in all the wrong places and never got the love that he really needed from the people he wanted it from. Sad situation and something that hurts me inside, especially because there was so many people trying to give him love and steer him the right way. In the end I still believe is a choice that everyone has to make. We all have the capability of taking wrong paths, it is knowing that we are going the wrong way and making the decision to keep on walking in that direction what defines who we really are.

Movie Review: Talladega Nights Is Fast Enough!

Logtar — Tue, 8 Aug 2006 17:19:57 EDT

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby does suffer from movie trailer disease, but I believe that it does an overall good job at entertaining. I was expecting a little more, but overall Will Ferrell delivers. Ferrell has the ability to play a complete moron in such a believable way it is outstanding. I cannot wait to see him in a dramatic role or a serious interview -- I am sure the guy has to be pretty intelligent.Ricky Bobby prays only to baby Jesus; he doesn't have a problem if you want to pray to bearded Jesus, but he chooses to pray only to baby Jesus. I find this highly amusing, and feel that I should follow it. I'm going to pray only to baby Jesus from now on, too. The story gets an interesting twist as a French Formula One driver sponsored by Perrier enters the NASCAR world. All the French jokes you have ever heard before are wrapped into one character, and surprisingly it entertains. Ricky Bobby has to recover from an accident, more mentally than physically.The racing and special effects all looked spectacular. It is obvious that NASCAR was on board with the movie, even though I admit that more driver cameos would have been better. Maybe because I don't know much about NASCAR and I only recognized Dale Earnhardt, Jr. there were a lot more cameos that I missed. Michael Clarke Duncan (The Green Mile, Daredevil) does an excellent job with this comedy and continues to impress me as an actor.The movie was entertaining, and overall worth the price of the movie ticket. Don't worry too much if you have to wait for it on DVD -- it should still make you laugh then.Warning: This is not a movie to take your kids to; it's rated PG-13, and as tempting as it might be to take your kids if you've seen Ferrell in Elf, be mindful of the crude and sexual humor, language, and drug references.

Why Illegal Immigrants Come To America

Logtar — Tue, 2 May 2006 13:12:33 EDT

Many people would argue that the reason so many illegal immigrants come to this country is because they are poor to begin with and that our system is flawed not letting the poor people in. I think the real reason for the illegal immigration problem is a simple Economics 101 topic -- Supply and Demand.Millions of people come to this country because corporate America is addicted to cheap labor. We have seen a lot of jobs shipped overseas to satisfy corporate America's addiction to cheap labor. It is a drug that our corporate backbone cannot live without -- or can it?There are plenty of other rich countries in the world. In fact, there are a lot of countries that have a more liberal political structure, better welfare, and even a better happiness index. But why are illegal immigrants not flooding these countries? There are no jobs there for people who do not go there legally.I am sick and tired of this whole topic of illegal immigration. I am tired of hearing CNN and FoxNews' half-researched, told-me-so arguments. The solution to this problem is simple. If you truly want America to get rid of illegal immigration, you have three simple steps.One -- Send corporate America to rehab so they can get over the need for cheap labor. Not just from illegals, but also outsourcing to other countries. How? Simple. Make fines so steep that the cheap labor would never offset them.Two -- Introduce legislation streamlining naturalization for the people who are already in the country. Give a deadline for everyone to register as a guest worker and give them a Social Security Card so they can start paying taxes.Three -- Deny all government services to anyone who is not in the country legally. After a certain date, deportation would not be to the border or country of origin. I cannot resist introducing a little humor. We are nice people. Sun, sand, and a pair of sandals. Let's send everyone that is here illegally to a nice place like Iran.

Movie Review: V for Vendetta - We Want the Terrorists to Win

Logtar — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 18:20:55 EDT

Viewing Vendetta vindicated various views. The only thing that I had heard about this movie was that the Wachowski brothers wrote it and that their first assistant director on the Matrix movies directed it. I had stayed away from reviews on purpose even though most headlines I did read were positive.V for Vendetta is a movie that made me wonder, "How the heck did this get released in our country?" It is an unapologetic attack on how we live right now, a film that not only has us rooting for a terrorist but makes us look at government satire and then say "Wait a minute, this is not too far from what we see right now."While V is not an action-packed film, the action that you do see is executed beautifully. The sword-fighting, knives, and guns all play like instruments in a big opera. The interesting part about the action is that even in the scenes in which you do see action, it is all about enhancing the story and not driving it. The music in the film also fits the theme perfectly.I have never seen The Professional, and the films that I have seen Natalie Portman in have shown me a mediocre actress at best. No, I am not an angry Star Wars geek by any stretch of the imagination, but until this movie I did not see Portman as a great performer. Here, however, she did an excellent job portraying the character Eve. Showing vulnerability and strength in a very natural way was necessary for making this character really work, and she truly delivered. Hugo Weaving as V was not only an excellent casting choice, but it made for some excellent inside jokes... I'm not going to spoil anything here, but let's just say The Matrix is quoted here and there. Weaving also was excellent acting behind a mask; I was amazed at how expressive a mask can be when used the right way.While V's political plot that mirrors what could happen (or has already happened) to our world is hard to miss, making it an excellent movie, I look at it more as a true piece of art. It has been a while since a movie can be called art and this one really deserves the title. You have to love a movie that in today's age of fear makes a terrorist the hero, and also makes you root for him. If you have not seen this movie, go catch it at the theater.

DVD Review: Zathura

Logtar — Thu, 16 Feb 2006 14:58:53 EST

Based on the best-selling book by the acclaimed children's writer Chris Van Allsburg (The Polar Express, Jumanji), Zathura is a heart-racing sci-fi adventure about two squabbling brothers who are propelled into deepest, darkest space while playing a mysterious game they discovered in the basement of their old house. (Sony Pictures)Most of the children's movies that I have seen in recent years seem to want to cater to the adults with a lot of humor that either relates to pop culture, other movies, or sexual innuendo. I understand the business mentality behind it, but I think we are giving our children an inferior product when we go to a movie that entertains us more than them. At times I feel like children's movies have forgotten about the kids all together. Movies like The Sandlot, The Bad News Bears (I cannot wait to see the what they did with the remake), or even E.T. seem to be a thing of the past. I was very excited when I first saw a preview of Zathura and really wanted it to be a good movie, but I was cautious not to see it with over-inflated expectations.Zathura is unrealistic and unapologetic about it. It is predictable and far-fetched... and, I loved every second of it. I have not seen a children's movie this good in years. The movie uses imagination as a central theme and all the characters really help deliver a great story. The kids that were cast fit the roles perfectly.The special effects were believable and fit the movie while not making graphics a centerpiece. The overall message of being nice to your siblings came shinning through. The theme of parents not having enough time for their kids hit its mark, too. Tim Robbins was excellent as the father, even though he was only in the movie for the introduction of the characters, and he really help set the kids on the roles they would play throughout the movie. The humor was great, the laughs kept on coming, and it felt like a true story.I love movies that stimulate the imagination, especially in an era where videogames and movies seem to corral the imagination of kids to confined spaces. I also think that a lot of producers can learn from this movie. Maybe they'll understand that adults still have a kid somewhere inside of them and they can reach that adult or teen audience if they have a great product like this movie. I did not have the pleasure of reading the original book, but I can only hope that the movie captured the magic. I not only recommend you watch this movie but I urge you to buy the DVD. If you don't have kids, it still makes a great gift.

Review: Sahara Truly Dry

Logtar — Sun, 4 Sep 2005 21:00:10 EDT

Matthew McConaughey plays Dirk Pitt, yeah, and the movie stinks just as much as the main character's name. To say that the script stretches the boundaries of reality is being kind. Scene after scene you keep on wishing that the movie comes back to reality or that it goes into full fledge science fiction mode. I'm sure that people who have any actual knowledge of Africa, sunken ship retrieval, and/or physics had a worse time than I did trying to make sense of this mess.I don't even know where to start washing this pile of dirty laundry. It's all pretty much one big, heaping mess. Oh wait; I see a big brown stain; the fight scenes. I am an action movie fanatic; not because of explosions but because of gun fights and hand to hand combat. I am not sure how much of an action hero McConaughey wanted to be after this movie, but next time he should just let a double do the work instead of chopping the scene into a mess of choreographed punches. Do you remember the old Batman live-action series where the "POW", and "KABOOM" appeared in fight scenes? That's what I thought of while watching the action sequences in Sahara. There were a lot of good actors in the movie; sadly none of them had an opportunity to actually act. It was more like they all wanted a vacation so they took on a project that, I am guessing, was filmed in Morocco. Steve Zahn saves the movie with his comedic timing and gets the MVP award for actually doing some work. I don't even want to start talking about Penelope Cruz, who wasn't very convincing as a doctor. I'm not even sure why she was cast. She didn't bring anything to the character. In scenes requiring her to appear compassionate, she seemed more disgusted and ready to get off the set into her air conditioned trailer.Delroy Lindo shows up and I wonder if the movie is now going to pick up some speed. Maybe he will get the movie in gear and we'll finally see some action. Sadly, he has about 2.5 scenes in the movie and it's almost like a lifesaving float made out of toilet paper that dissolves as you try to hang onto it.The final scene is both unrealistic and insulting. While it is possible to shoot down a helicopter with a cannon that has not been used in 100 years, I find it highly doubtful that the following circumstances will all line up in a real life situation:1. That the aiming mechanism on the cannon will not be rusted together and will work like it was just oiled 20 minutes before shooting. 2. That the gunpowder and wick are still flammable on a ship that sank. 3. That the helicopter pilot is stupid enough to actually line himself with a clearly visible cannon.After swallowing that pill and making all that believable, I wonder how the shooters connect on their first try. Not only is the helicopter clearly out of range and physically impossible to hit with a civil war cannon, but today's helicopters can avoid being hit by rocket propelled grenades. I would think a slow-moving cannon ball would be avoidable. Let's see if I can help the writers here, how about this. I give you that the cannon would fire without a problem, why not have the stars of the movie get the cannon ready and then stay "vewy vewy" quite. When the helicopter comes to check on their demise - "KABOOM" - blow them up. Instead, we have the helicopter ready to once again shoot and line itself up perfectly for the second time (the first time the cannon did not work.) It was just too much.I have so much more to say about this dirty diaper of a movie, but I'll stop. If I spend any more time thinking about it, it'll be burned into my memory. I don't want that to happen. Please stay away from it, please don't see this movie, save your money. Ed: JH

Review: Sin City

Logtar — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 16:39:10 EDT

Starring more big name stars than oceans 11 and 12 put together, Sin City is a great movie that brings a comic book to life on the silver screen. Starring Elijah Wood, Bruce Willis, Benicio Del Toro, Michael Clarke Duncan, Carla Gugino, Josh Hartnett, Michael Madsen, Jaime King, Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, and Brittany Murphy to name a few.Robert Rodriguez teams up with comic book icon Frank Miller to co-direct this masterpiece. The film is based on the series of graphic novels created, written and illustrated by Miller. Miller has also done excellent work in other notable comics as Batman, Dare Devil and Elektra.The first thing I heard about this movie was that Robert Rodriguez was taking a stance against the director's guild. I believe he actually quit it because they would not let him share the directing credits with Frank Miller. I believe that it is not a great gesture but a showing of respect an honor. Frank Miller's graphic novels most have been monumental to be blueprint for this wonderful film, I am not a big comic book fan, but next time I go into a store that has them I might have to get a couple of his books.Sin City is fast paced with an amazing use of color (or lack there off, I believe besides black and white we see yellow the most). There was even a car chase scene that was directed by Quentin Tarantino. Lots of wonderful vintage automobiles. With an almost chaotic story line the movie follows 3 main characters. They are all more villains than heroes, but you cannot help but bond with them in a human level. They all display tons of charisma and a different sense of justice that sometimes we feel has been lost in the world. I also believe this same kind of appeal makes The Boondock Saints the cult classic it now is.The acting was amazing, showing actors in roles that puts them in places where we might not have seen them before. I was impressed by Mickey Rourke, who's comeback to a big budget film is in my eyes a success. Marv, his character, shows tons of emotion and a struggle between the question of is what I am living right now real or not. You can stare at true insanity and passion in his eyes. It really captivates you, and even makes you guess if what we are seeing is reality or Marv's interpretation of it. Tons of gore that because of the absence of color does not look overdone, great acting... What are you waiting for go get it now!