Contact (1985) - Carl Sagan - Book Review

Official Score = 3 Devils 

It is just to true, the fact that novels generally tend to be better then the movies that they are based off of... Don't get me wrong, I kind of think that the main reason for this maybe the fact that most stories generally tend to be very involved, and could span weeks, or even years... But with that said, still some have come close to equaling the books that they are based off of... And there is even less that are actually better!

With that said, in the late 90s, when I completely had my Sci-fi nerd thing heading quickly toward it's end phase, and I was starting to seriously head in to being a, 'Goth'... (Yeah I know, but what can I, teenagers right?) Anyway there was a movie that I saw that I enjoyed a fair amount with: Jodie Foster (Silence Of The Lambs) & Matthew McConaughey (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation)... That movie being: Contact (1997)!

Well a few years later, I came to discover that this movie, was actually originally a book by (well lets put it this way... Basically the guru of mankind going in to outer space, 'Carl Sagan'!)

A classic science fiction book, that was made in to a fun science fiction movie!

The fact is, is this book is a blast and actually did the one thing that I thought would have made the movie better, and that is, 'expand on the story'! What I mean by this, is that this book basically tells the story of how mankind is sent a message from outer space, and this message basically tells humanity how to meet them... And what happens when mankind goes to building that path!

In the end, the only problem I had with this novel is sort of the reverse of the movie... The book seemed to me to be a bit long... I know I just got done saying it was a perk in this book, and it is... But at some point all good things must come to an end... And this one went a bit farther then I would have liked...

Still, it is a fun one, and definitely worth checking out!

Box Art For The First Five Mario Games Ever

Super Mario bros. is a classic series that helped make, 'Nintendo' what it is today!

Being a fan of art and a fan of video games, I have found that as time goes on, that rather it be in the form of music, or box art, or the like, that the art that has helped to create masterpieces in video games have always been great, and are just getting better! So how befitting it is to showcase some of the great box art that helped make the, 'Super Mario Bros.' The phenomena it is today!

At number 5: Donkey Kong (1981):

A truly classic game!

At number 4: Donkey Kong Jr. (1982):

A fun that probably helped cement, 'Donkey Kong' as a historic video game franchise!

At number 3: Mario Bros. (1983):

This video game saw the brothers working together for the first time!

At number 2: Super Mario Bros. (1985):

This maybe one of the most famous video games ever made!

At number 1: Super Mario Bros 2 (1988):

This game saw the first major update of the series.

Five Classic Racing Games From The Past

The 80s saw a major burst in to the mainstream of video games that of racing  games... But it wasn't until the 90s that I would say that these types of video games reached their apex! What I mean by this is that racing games from back in the 80s and 90s were some of the best games to have been released ever.

Don't get me wrong, I imagine there are some good first person racing games that have come out since the new millennium, but the problem is, is that there is just something that is not right about having a first person view of a racing game that you don't control with a steering wheel control, and the truth is is that none of these games from back then really put that type of pretension out there!

So I thought that you guys might enjoy a list of some of the classics that really made racing games great from back then!

At number 5: Excitebike (1985):

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="320"] Excitebike is one of those games that helped make racing games popular.[/caption]

 

For more information on this game, please enjoy this scene from the classic Nintendo game: Excitebike (1985):

http://youtu.be/k6UZC7nXRHM

At number 4: F-Zero (1991):

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="333"] F-Zero... Can you say awesome?[/caption]

 

For more information on this game, please, (click here:) other wise, please check out this scene from the classic Super Nintendo game: F-Zero (1991):

http://youtu.be/2T5u9nD_I0I

At number 3: Rock N' Roll Racing (1993):

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="354"] A classic racing game with a brutal twist![/caption]

 

For more information on this game, please, (click here:) other wise,  please check out this scene from the classic Super Nintendo game: Rock N' Roll Racing (1993):

http://youtu.be/1sPrZW2wXP4

At number 2: Super Mario Kart (1992):

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] This game is a true classic that has spawned its own separate legacy and franchise from it's parent game, 'Super Mario Bros.'[/caption]

For more information on this game, please check out this scene from the classic Super Nintendo game: Super Mario Kart (1992):

http://youtu.be/sZkxJhsP384

At number 1: The Need For Speed (1994):

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="320"] This is one of the first games that I thought had a better first person racing style then any of the other games to come out before it.[/caption]

For more information on this game, please check out this scene from the classic Playstation game: The Need For Speed (1994):

http://youtu.be/H3ArDaEEMxk

A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985) - Movie Review

[caption id="attachment_330" align="alignright" width="220"] Official Score = 2 1/2 Devils[/caption]

Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund)... I would say that as far as icons go, that Freddy Krueger is as influential, as say, 'Tom Sawyer' in the 19th century and the, 'Three Muketeers' in the 17th century...

I know that may sound odd... But it is true, I mean he is one of the figures that came out in the 20th century that in a lot of ways is extremely recognizable for the latter half of the 20th  century... As a matter of fact, at one point this character was so popular that it was acceptable to have their children wear costumes that were created based on that character!

I hate to say it though, but where as, A Nightmare Elm Street (1984) was truly fantastic, A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985), while being good, just wasn't as good!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="214"] A classic![/caption]

Written by: David  Chaskin (The Curse) & Directed by: Jack Sholder (Alone In The Dark). Starring: Robert Englund (Night Of The Sinner). Mark Patton (Ana To The Infinite Power), Robert Rusler (Weird Science), Clu Gulager (The Return Of The Living Dead), Kim Myers (Hellraiser: Bloodlines), Hope Lange (Death Wish), Marshall Bell (Starship Troopers) & based on the characters created by: Wes Craven (Scream 4).

This first sequel tells the story of how about 5 years after the events of the first movie, Nancy Thompson's house has finally been sold to a nice family... In this family is the father, 'Ken Walsh' (Clu Gulager), the mother, 'Cheryl Walsh' (Hope Lange), Angela Walsh (Christie Clarke) & there son, 'Jesse Walsh' (Mark Patton).

Now Jesse is just starting to fit in, he has made friends with, 'Ron Grady' (Robert Rusler), and is about to hook up with Lisa Webber (Kim Myers)... The problem is, is that there is an old house guest that is about to rejoin the party and has Jesse do some things that he may not really want to do!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="524"] Jesse Walsh & Freddy Krueger when they first meet each other![/caption]

And in the end, it will take the love of a good woman to stop Freddy this time, before he can make Jesse kill to many people!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Lisa is saving Jesse by making out with Freddy...[/caption]

In the end, this movie does have it's moment, I mean the chemistry between Mark Patton and Kim Myers was really awesome... There is also a scene at a party that is a lot of fun as well!

The main problem that I had with this movie is that the level of homosexual references is just a little to much...

Despite all else though, this movie may not be as good as the first one, but it is a fun one!

http://youtu.be/yv4AFuOY9y4

5 Uncommon Killer Weapons In Horror Movies

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450"] The umbrella... Definitely an item you don't see as a murder weapon frequently in horror movies![/caption]

You know we all know the standard tools that killers use in horror movies, I mean Jason has his Machete, Freddy has his glove, and even Michael Myers has his kitchen knife... So I thought that I would mention, '5 Uncommon Killer Weapons In Horror Movies'....
Now before I go on, I will say that each one of these have been in more then 1 horror movie, but tend to be seen in less horror movies then you might think!

With that in mind, lets get stared...

At number 5: Garden Shears.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="427"] The new killer in Crystal Lake is trying out some new instruments of destruction![/caption]

Now this one I have found in my travels to be a little more common, but still this one is quite cool, from it's use by, 'Fake Jason' in Friday The 13th: A New Beginning (1985), to gouge out horny teens eyes, to it being Cropsey's weapon of choice in, The Burning (1982), this item has been one of the more unusual choices for weaponry in horror movies, but it definitely has it's place in the annals of horror movie history!

At number 4: A Drill.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] This guy is so good with both the, 'drill' and the, 'guitar' that he decided to show a group teens at a slumber party his, 'killer style'![/caption]

This one is fairly common in the one time kill category, but I thought that I would mention this one because, the drill was made famous as the popular way that the, 'Driller Killer' used to kill people in the, 'Slumber Party Massacre' series, and real briefly in the, 'Sorority House Massacre' series, (both by the way are awesome slasher film series that were produced by Roger Corman!)

At number 3: A Ruler.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="546"] Chucky has decided to take educational tools in a new direction![/caption]

This one is real rare... I mean I have personally only seen this once, and that was in Child's Play 2 (1990), when Chucky beats Andy's school teacher to death with it after Andy leaves!

At number 2: A Corn Row.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="620"] This is one corn field that doesn't want people picking it's corn![/caption]

You don't see that to often, but it is kind of a unique way to kill people that was first popularized in the, 'Children Of The Corn' movie series, and remains one of the reasons in my opinion that the, 'Children Of the Corn' series is still one of the better supernatural movie series of all time!

At number 1: Ice Cream Cone.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] This guy is serving up a little more then just his customary, 'Mint Chocolate Chip'![/caption]

This one is one of the more interesting ones, you see, this one was popularized by the brief but popular 90s horror movie series, 'The Ice Cream Man' and is still one of the most unique ways to kill people in a horror movie that I have seen to date!

In the end, in the history of the horror film, there has been quite a few ways killers have killed people in these films, but these are definitely some of the more unique ways I have seen of it being done, and definitely helped set the tone for the series that they would eventually produce!

http://youtu.be/9KgUcni8OxM

http://youtu.be/8BUlBD76ek8

http://youtu.be/tNYW8hyN3G0

http://youtu.be/Nh9vVd2R6to

http://youtu.be/5Idh6YHc5Ic

Super Mario Bros. (1985) - Video Game Review

[caption id="attachment_325" align="alignright" width="263"] Official Score = 3 Devils[/caption]

Super Mario Bros. In truth, this game is probably one of the most historically prolific video game ever released! This game was the inspiration for a whole generation of platform games, including: 'Sonic The Hedgehog' and 'Crash Bandicoot'... And that is just to name a few!

I am also certain that this game is what inspired Video Game manufacturers to achieve the heights that we have now, with numerous generation of video game consoles, and a wide variety of rich and amazing video games that still to this day rock!

But you know what folks, I am not writing this review to really give some sort of new insight in to this truly legendary video game, in this case, I am writing this review to remind those of us out there that used to play this game all of the time that it is still a force to be reckoned with, and is definitely worth playing again, and for those of you out there that have not played it yet, to give it a try!

[caption id="attachment_2371" align="aligncenter" width="450"] The original, 'Super Mario Bros.' Maybe one of the most prolific Video Games of all time![/caption]

You see, this game, which was developed by: Nintendo EAD for initially the Famicom (Japan's version of the original, 'NES') This game had you playing as, 'Mario' (If you were the first player), or as his younger brother, 'Luigi' (If you were the second player) as you went from world to world and level to level, fighting the, 'Koopa Troopa', 'Bowser' and all sorts of historic bad guys in an effort to save the Princess!

The last thing that I wanted to say about this game, and I imagine that not a whole heck of a lot people actually know this, but I personally found this to be pretty fascinating, and that is the fact that Mario is based off of Donkey Kong's 'Jumpman'!
Either way folks, take that walk down memory lane, I found it fun, and you might as well!

http://youtu.be/PsC0zIhWNww

Fright Night (1985) - Movie Review

[caption id="attachment_325" align="alignright" width="263"] Official Score = 3 Devils[/caption]

Have you ever seen a movie that just kind of stuck with you? Something that you found to be both fun and exciting but was also extremely emblematic of the decade upon which it was made? I have seen plenty of those in coming of age dramas and the like, but you know what? I have to admit that up until a few years ago I had never really seen it in a horror movie!

I mean don't get me wrong all horror movies regardless of the decades which they were made always had very clear cut signs of the times on which they were made, but some were just a little bit more then others... A great example of this is, Poltergeist (1982)!

Now this is one of only a small handful of horror movies that are like this, but one of things that I have grown to really appreciate and enjoy about this movie in particular, is the fact that this movie, (which was made in 1982), just really screamed the 80s, and the truth is, is I was pretty young back then, but that decade was a fun (and in the case of a horror movie like this,) thrilling walk down memory lane!)

And another one, and it is not the only thing that I like about this movie, but it is certainly a nice draw, and that is, Fright Night (1985)!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Charley Brewster (WIlliam Ragsdale) & Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall) in, Fright Night![/caption]

Written & Directed by: Tom Holland (Child's Play). Starring: William Ragsdale (Justified), Chris Sarandon (The Nightmare Before Christmas), Amanda Bearse (Married With Children), Roddy McDowall (Shakma), Jonathan Stark (According To Jim) & Stephen Geoffreys (Moon 44).

Now, again I actually had not heard about this movie until about a few years ago when my buddy Matt Dowling from AwesomeBMovies.com told me about it, and I got to say that I was surprised at how truly pleased with this movie that I really was!

What I mean by this,  is that the story has some funny cheesy awesome moments to it, but it also has moments where in you are on the edge of your seat... And another lesser important side to it, but still good, is the fact that this movie never really has a truly dull moment to it!

You see, this movie tells the story of how a horror aficionado by the name of, 'Charley Brewster' (William Ragsdale), a nice suburban teenager, with a nice girl next door type of girl friend, and with the slightly nutty best bud... He is living a very ideal life indeed... That is until he comes to discover that his new next door neighbor is straight out of a horror movie!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Charlie as he is being introduced to his new neighbor... m[/caption]

You see, Jerry Dandridge (Chris Sarandon) is some one who does not particularly enjoy sunlight, and is a lot older then he looks... He's a freakin Vampire!

So with out anyone actually believing him, it will be up to his skeptical best friend, and his hero (a former movie Vampire killer turned late night monster movie host), to stop Charley's new next door neighbor from really sinking his teeth in to the neighborhood!

The other thing that I really liked about this movie was the talent, I had seen these guys in some other things through out the years, but not for many years... So it was great to not only see them at work fresh, but from way back in the day as well!

In the end guys, if you haven't seen it yet, do so, it is definitely one worth watching... I thought so, and I suspect you will as well!

http://youtu.be/1ISgM9sjza8

Why German Heavy Metal Rocks!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] KMFDM, an awesome heavy metal band from, Hamburg Germany![/caption]

For most of you out that are reading this you probably don't generally tend to think about foreign music as being something that people in America would generally listen to... But the truth is, is it is particularly awesome... Although I suspect that the fans that these foreign musicians already have in the United States out there probably know this already!

Well for me it all started one day many years ago when I was a kid and my Dad and I end up listening to a Spanish rap song! Well the truth is, is that I had no idea what they were saying, but in the end, I found that I really enjoyed how the whole song flowed, it was catchy and exciting!

Well the truth is, is that I would not end up listening to another foreign song for a few years, until one day when my sister decided to give me her, 'Rammstein' CD (This was the Sehnsucht album), now at this time, at least in the circles that I was traveling, German heavy metal was just starting to catch on, and you know what? It freaking rocked and still does!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="354"] This may have been the first German heavy metal album that I ever listened to, but in all truth, this album still freaking rocks![/caption]

Besides the fact that these groups generally tend to hold themselves to the traditions of excellence that their American counterparts like, 'Metallica', 'Megadeth' and the like have held themselves to. But not just that, one of the things that I have also found that I really like is the way that German heavy metal groups have some times done things different then their American counterparts!

What I mean by this is like take, 'Rammstein' for example, they have done this a few times, but with their song, 'Mutter' ('Mother' in English), they turned a hardcore, completely kick ass heavy metal song, and made it in to this almost industrial epic!

Another thing that I have found that I really like is the fact that some times German heavy metal groups do things that other American heavy metal groups generally tend to shy away from (I suspect it is because of the cultural differences,) but a great example of this is Rammstein's song, 'Pussy'... A song which pushes the boundaries of sexual promotion!

And yet even another one is one that I believe helped influence, 'Marilyn Manson' in to doing all of the Heavy Metal remakes of classic songs, and well... That is remaking songs... A great example of this is, 'Megaherz' (a heavy metal band out of, 'Munich'), they did a fantastic hardcore industrial version of the classic, 'Falco' song, 'Rock Me Amadeus' (1985)!

[caption id="attachment_2038" align="aligncenter" width="479"] Megaherz...[/caption]

The truth is, is there are a lot of reasons not just to listen to German heavy metal music, but if you haven't yet, try it out, you might like it... I know I did!

Here is a couple of songs to wet your whistle with:

http://youtu.be/6n5bwHCAuL8

http://youtu.be/Ej3BT8LI9kA

http://youtu.be/M6UoQKi5JSk

The Vampire Lestat (1985) - Anne Rice - Book Review

[caption id="attachment_385" align="alignright" width="353"] Official Score = 2 Devils[/caption]

You ever hear the old term, 'The Book is always better then the movie?' well for the most part I have always found that to be true, I mean I have found a few exceptions to this, but for the most part I have found this to be quite true....

I mean I don't particularly blame Hollywood for that... In all honesty, for Hollywood to truly recapture the brilliance that an author puts in to a 500 or even thousand page novel, you would need a movie that is several hours long (which I think maybe part of the reason why, 'The Stand' is such an awesome movie... But even that movie barely scratches the surface of what made Stephen King's original novel so awesome...)

You might be wondering why I mention this, well before Aaliyah (Romeo Must Die) passed away she did the movie, Queen Of The Damned (2002), a movie which is loosely based on the book of the same name by, 'Anne Rice'... Well the truth is, is that I think at least part of the reason why this movie did not do as well as it should have is because rather the writers of the movie know it or not, I suspect that they took certain liberties with the movie and used at least some of this book as an inspiration for the movie!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] In the movie, 'Queen Of The Damned' (which takes elements from the book, 'The Vampire Lestat'), Lestat is played by, 'Stewart Townsend', and, 'Akasha' is played by: 'Aaliyah'![/caption]

You see, in, 'Interview With The Vampire' the story was told from the point of view of, 'Louis' as he relates to a writer about his history and the history of those he loved the most... Well this novel essentially relates Lestat's past (Lestat being the maker of, 'Louis') and how Lestat starts off as the son of an impoverished aristocrat in 17th Century France, all the way to his own attempt to let the rest of the world know about Vampire's, and the Vampire he would become in modern day New Orleans!

Now in all truth I am a huge fan of this series, and am sorry to have to give this book 2 Devils, because in all truth, this novel is a lot of fun, but in  the end it just lacked that way that, 'Interview With The Vampire' as well as the rest of the novels had of sucking you in and keeping you motivated!

But it is most assuredly worth a read, and if you get a chance you might find the same thing as well!

 

2 D Games: Why They Still Rock!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] 'Golden Axe' (1989)... A classic awesome 2 D Video Game![/caption]

If you were born really before about 1992 then the chances are that you probably started off your Video Game playing, playing such classic 2 D video games as, Super Mario Bros. (1985), Contra (1987), or even Sonic The Hedgehog (1991)...  And you know what? Having gotten my start in this style of video games, I have found that I still think that this style of gaming freaking rocks!

Now don't get me wrong, the modern style of gaming is awesome... I mean you really can't go wrong with a video game that is getting closer to being like an interactive movie! But you really can't go wrong with a 2 D game!

The classic 2 D Games were an awful lot of fun... And in some ways I think they brought an element that is missing to the more modern 3 dimensional games of the modern time!

What I mean by this is the fact that a lot of the older games didn't have the option to save (and even with the ones that did have the option to save), there was always something about the progress that was made in the game that made you really look forward to the next level, (or in the case of an RPG. trying to find out what was next in the game)... As a matter of fact, one of my favorite games for the NES that I absolutely loved was, Bionic Commando (1988), and since this game did not have the option to save, and I was so far in to the game that I actually ended up leaving my Nintendo on all night and turning off the TV so that I can continue on with my progress when I woke up in the morning!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="320"] 'Bionic Commando' (1987)... A truly awesome 2 D video game for the NES![/caption]

Another thing that I feel still makes this style of gamming really awesome is the fact that the majority of the video game systems that used this system for it's more recently released video games... As well as the more recently re-released video games for some of the more recent video game systems, is that the game play was not exceptionally difficult, and made getting in to these games quicker  and easier, and in some cases getting to the entertainment a little bit quicker!

And yet another thing that I thought that I I would mention here is the fact that the story lines for these games were pretty awesome, and are story lines that helped spawned such legendary franchises as, the 'Donkey Kong series', the 'Super Mario Bros. series', 'The Legend Of Zelda series', and even the, 'Sonic The Hedgehog series' to name a few!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Liu Kang and Sub-Zero in 'Mortal Kombat 2' (1993), a classic 2 D fighting game for the Sega Genesis![/caption]

And yet even another thing that I thought that I would mention here is the fact that, computer generated music may not be a big thing to most, but the truth is, is I have found that the music for these games are still really quite awesome!

And the last thing that I thought that I would mention here is the fact that the other reason why these types of games are freakin awesome is the fact that they are historic, and show the amazing jumps in progress from where video games started off, to the modern X-Box 360 style games!

http://youtu.be/3qAPbXNq0dc

http://youtu.be/bh1BSyJGtOA

http://youtu.be/wh8iJLTH2qg