Virtual Console:

Super Fantasy Zone (Sega MD)     900 points

Gley Lancer (Sega MD)           900 points

WiiWare:

Pirates: The Key of Dreams          1000 points

Where to start… I was a excited to hear that Batman was returning to the big screen with Batman Begins, and after I saw it I thought “Well that was neat… I wish they didn’t have Batman using a monster truck announcer voice, and driving a TANK, but other than that it was good…” Then I read somewhere that Nolan said he wasn’t going to reuse villains that were in the previous movies so I thought “even better… glad to hear it…maybe the playing card at the end was the Mad Hatter?.?.” Then he goes and throws in the Joker and Two-Face.

Given Two-Face needed to be re-done seeing Joel Schumacher did a somewhat horrible job with Batman Forever. I liked Tommy Lee Jones but he played him too cartoon-ish and more psychopath than half psycho / half sane like I picture Harvey to be.

Now on the other hand, I thought Jack Nicholson was WONDERFUL as the Joker. Yeah some say he was just being Jack Nicholson, but Bob Kane himself said that when he heard Tim Burton was doing a Batman movie the guy that came to his mind first was Jack Nicholson, because Nicholson was the Joker. I couldn’t have agreed more with him…

So, did I go into this film with some bias already towards the retelling? Kinda, but not really… the longer I watched it, the more I tried to reason that this was DC’s way of pulling a Marvel (comics) and making their own Ultimates title (I’ve found the Ultimate titles with Marvel seem to be their comics retold in an updated way to fit in with real-life). This movie, and the one before (Begins) are DC’s version of Ultimate Batman.

So we have:

So with the Ultimates concept in mind I told myself they aren’t trying to redo what Tim Burton did, they just want to make Batman more realistic and tell it as if he does exist in this reality.

What I liked:
- Aaron Eckhart’s OUTSTANDING job as Harvey Two-Face… you really do feel sorry for the guy cause all he wanted to do was make Gotham a better place.
- Rachel Dawes was better thanks to Maggie Gyllenhaal
- Batman’s extradition of a criminal from China
- Batman’s OMAC project origin (hidden so not to spoil, highlight to read)
- Michael Caine as Alfred again
- Well not really a like, but I thought that the scarred side of Harvey’s face reminded me of Ted Danson for some reason?.?. Maybe the droopy eye?
- The integrity and hope for some Gothamites
- Me jumping during a scene where the Mayor is at his window

What I didn’t like:
- Ledger was just too Caesar Romero-ish with his laugh and facial gestures (yeah he was more twisted and dark but still reminded me a LOT of Romero at times)
- Batman’s monster truck show announcer voice “SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY A MONSTER TRUCK LIKE YOU’VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE!”
- The bat tank was used again, but conveniently splits apart down the center ejecting a pod-like vehicle… reused idea from Batman Returns.
- Batman gliding around with cape glider… reused idea from Batman Returns.
- The Joker killing mob bosses in front of other mob bosses… reused idea from 1989 Batman.
- The Joker telling Batman via TV to take off the mask and face him… reused idea from 1989 Batman.
- The Joker in an empty street with a gun telling an approaching Batman to “come on” and shooting at Batman… 1989 Batman again.
- Two-Face falling to his “death”… reused from Batman Forever… (big ending spoiler so highlight to read)
- Hans Zimmer’s old score from Begins used over and over and over throughout the movie like he does most of his scores… one theme just looped over and over through the movie.

Any how, it was a good movie, but I feel that Batman is an overly used franchise and there is only a few ways to tell the same old story. DC has plenty of other characters that need movies made out of them so I wish they would move on. Superman severely needs a facelift so instead of putting out this retelling they could have been working on that. Everyone is hyping this film but I will give it a so-so cause it just isn’t my Batman. Give me the comic book world Batman and not this “what if he was real” version.

MARVEL:

X-Force 5 - Archangel is back (not in a good way though… but wait, if he is with X-Force, who is with the X-Men in San Francisco?  Do I smell a Skrull?)  Actually a pretty good read… getting exciting!!! 

Wow!  I really liked this movie… it wasn’t as doomsday themed like the last movie was… this one kinda had a light hearted feel to it with just a touch of doomsday.  It was a moving and wonderfully paced movie with creatures soo imaginative that only Del Torro could have thought them up.  The Angel of Death was my favorite looking creature.  Abe Sapien got a larger role this time and I was happy to see that, seeing last time he was taken out of commission towards the beginning and not seen again except in a tank floating around.  The newest edition Johann Krauss was neat… he’s technically a ghost in a containment suit that can leave the suit and enter other creatures and take control of them.  Needless to say I was taken away to another world of imagination and enjoyed every minute of this movie… it will definitely be one to have when it comes to DVD/Blu-Ray. 

Oh, the music was absolutely brilliant, and during the movie I kept thinking I wanted to get the soundtrack cause it was just moving during certain parts (the last elemental, the attempt to remove the spearhead, etc.).  I am surprised I didn’t pick up on who the composer was cause I am such a fan of his work… Danny Elfman!!!  Any how, I downloaded it on Itunes as soon as I could and have listened to it every day pretty much.  “The Decision” track (towards the end of the song) will be my ringtone for now… it’s very calming.  Definitely download or buy this one at a store near you if you’re an Elfman fan!!!

Ever grow tired of calling somewhere and getting “Thank you for calling… press 1 for English… Okay English… to find your balance press 1 now, to hear other options to keep you on the phone even longer press 2 now…”?  Well I do, and now there is a site to help you get a live person as soon as possible.  It’s called GetHuman and you can search for the place you’re calling and get the numbers or commands you’ll need to get a live person.  Hopefully, one day we’ll have GetSomeoneWhoYouCanUnderstand… any how, bookmark their site today because it really does come in handy!

http://gethuman.com/

Interesting little note here… XBOX 360 was the best selling console in the United States until recently when the Wii overtook the XBOX 360 in a commanding lead with nearly 10.9 million units sold in the 20 months since its November 2006 launch.

I have to agree with a co-worker of mine who goes by the codename on this site sometimes as Ace the Bathound… the Wii continues to sell because they continue making new and innovative things that work well with the console (i.e. WiiFit helped sell some consoles recently). 

Congrats again Nintendo!

Thanks to WiiNewsDaily for the source material

We have 3 new Wii additions that are coming in the not so far future that I think are really innovative of Nintendo. 

First up we have Wii MotionPlus that will come bundled with all new Wii remotes (after it’s release, of course, in the Spring of 2009) and will also come bundled with Wii Sports Resort (a sequel to Wii Sports including Swordplay, Jetski, and Frisbee to name a few).  Both also come bundled with extended grip jackets for the remotes.

Then we have the WiiSpeak microphone, which will allow Wii users to chat over the Internet. WiiSpeak will launch with Animal Crossing, which will, of course, work with the WiiSpeak peripheral.

Nintendo also announced Wii Music, a new title that (we’ve known about for quite some time) will allow Wii users the ability to play songs and also compose their own music. The game will simulate up to 60 different instruments.

Newsletter gang come by the site to see the video… note another term used for a donkey is used in the trailer also some ghostly ghouls… if you don’t want your kids hearing/seeing it please do not watch with them in the room.

1. AC/DC “Let There Be Rock” 1970s
2. AFI “Girl’s Gone Grey” 2000’s
3. Alanis Morissette “You Oughta Know” 1990’s
4. Alice in Chains “Man in the Box” 1990’s
5. Allman Brothers “Ramblin’ Man” 1970’s
6. Avenged Sevenfold “Almost Easy” 2000’s
7. Bad Company “Shooting Star” 1970’s
8. Beastie Boys “So Whatcha Want” 1990’s
9. Beck “E-Pro” 2000’s
10. Bikini Kill “Rebel Girl” 1990’s
11. Billy Idol “White Wedding Pt. I” 1980’s
12. Blondie “One Way or Another” 1970’s
13. Bob Dylan “Tangled Up in Blue” 1970’s
14. Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer” 1980’s
15. Cheap Trick “Hello There” 1970’s
16. Devo “Uncontrollable Urge” 1980’s
17. Dinosaur Jr. “Feel the Pain” 1990’s
18. Disturbed “Down with the Sickness” 2000’s
19. Dream Theater “Panic Attack” 2000’s
20. Duran Duran “Hungry Like the Wolf” 1980’s
21. Elvis Costello “Pump It Up” 1970’s
22. Fleetwood Mac “Go Your Own Way” 1970’s
23. Foo Fighters “Everlong” 1990’s
24. Guns N’ Roses “Shackler’s Revenge” 2000’s
25. Interpol “PDA” 2000’s
26. Jane’s Addiction “Mountain Song” 1980’s
27. Jethro Tull “Aqualung” 1970’s
28. Jimmy Eat World “The Middle” 2000’s
29. Joan Jett “Bad Reputation” 1980’s
30. Journey “Anyway You Want It” 1970’s
31. Judas Priest “Painkiller” 1990’s
32. Kansas “Carry On Wayward Son” 1970’s
33. L7 “Pretend We’re Dead” 1990’s
34. Lacuna Coil “Our Truth” 2000’s
35. Linkin Park “One Step Closer” 2000’s
36. Lit “My Own Worst Enemy” 1990’s
37. Lush “De-Luxe” 1990’s
38. Mastodon “Colony of Birchmen” 2000’s
39. Megadeth “Peace Sells” 1980’s
40. Metallica “Battery” 1980’s
41. Mighty Mighty Bosstones “Where’d You Go” 1990’s
42. Modest Mouse “Float On” 2000’s
43. Motorhead “Ace of Spades” 1980’s
44. Nirvana “Drain You” 1990’s
45. Norman Greenbaum “Spirit in the Sky” 1960’s
46. Panic at the Disco “Nine in the Afternoon” 2000’s
47. Paramore “That’s What You Get” 2000’s
48. Pearl Jam “Alive” 1990’s
49. Presidents of the USA “Lump” 1990’s
50. Rage Against the Machine “Testify” 1990’s
51. Ratt “Round & Round” 1980’s
52. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Give it Away” 1990’s
53. Rise Against “Give it All” 2000’s
54. Rush “The Trees” 1970’s
55. Silversun Pickups “Lazy Eye” 2000’s
56. Smashing Pumpkins “Today” 1990’s
57. Social Distortion “I Was Wrong” 1990’s
58. Sonic Youth “Teenage Riot” 1980’s
59. Soundgarden “Spoonman” 1990’s
60. Squeeze “Cool for Cats” 1970’s
61. Steely Dan “Bodhitsattva” 1970’s
62. Steve Miller Band “Rock’n Me” 1970’s
63. Survivor “Eye of the Tiger” 1980’s
64. System of a Down “Chop Suey” 2000’s
65. Talking Heads “Psycho Killer” 1970’s
66. Tenacious D “Master Exploder” 2000’s
67. Testament “Souls of Black” 1990’s
68. The Donnas “New Kid in School” 2000’s
69. The Go-Go’s “We Got the Beat” 1980’s
70. The Grateful Dead “Alabama Getaway” 1980’s
71. The Guess Who “American Woman” 1970’s
72. The Muffs “Kids in America” 1990’s
73. The Offspring “Come Out & Play (Keep ‘em Separated)” 1990’s
74. The Replacements “Alex Chilton” 1980’s
75. The Who “Pinball Wizard” 1960’s
Bonus Artist Bonus Song Title Decade
76. Abnormality “Visions” 2000’s
77. Anarchy Club “Get Clean” 2000’s
78. Bang Camaro “Night Lies” 2000’s
79. Breaking Wheel “Shoulder to the Plow” 2000’s
80. The Libyans “Neighborhood” 2000’s
81. The Main Drag “A Jagged Gorgeous Winter” 2000’s
82. Speck “Conventional Lover” 2000’s
83. The Sterns “Supreme Girl” 2000’s
84. That Handsome Devil “Rob the Prez-O-Dent” 2000’s
** The Rock Band 2 on-disc track list is comprised entirely of master recordings.  Yes even AC/DC **

From the Big “N”:

Nintendo’s upcoming Wii MotionPlus accessory for the revolutionary Wii Remote controller again redefines game control, by more quickly and accurately reflecting motions in a 3-D space.

The Wii MotionPlus accessory attaches to the end of the Wii Remote and, combined with the accelerometer and the sensor bar, allows for more comprehensive tracking of a player’s arm position and orientation, providing players with an unmatched level of precision and immersion.

Every slight movement players make with their wrist or arm is rendered identically in real time on the screen, providing a true 1:1 response in their game play. The Wii MotionPlus accessory reconfirms Nintendo’s commitment to making games intuitive and accessible for everyone.

Nintendo will reveal more details about the Wii MotionPlus accessory and other topics Tuesday morning at its E3 media briefing.

Virtual Console

Donkey Kong 3   (NES)      500 points

Ninja Commando   (NEO-GEO)    900 points

 WiiWare

Major League Eating      1,000 points

DC

Final Crisis Requiem - kinda sad… but good read over all… gives you some insight on Martian Manhunter. 

MARVEL

 
Secret Invasion 4 - WOW!  Really good read… can’t wait for the next one!!!

According to the Australian consumer group Choice, the PS3 consumes more energy than five fridges (YES 5 fridges!!!). Basically, using a fridge costs roughly $50 per year, whereas the PS3 will use $250, even if it’s just turned on and not in use. The PS3 also uses ten times as much energy as the Wii, the study shows.  - Thanks to PSPFanboy for the info snippet…

Hooray!  Marvel made the right choice and resigned John Favreau for the Iron Man sequel scheduled for 2010!!! 

I really recently starting hating Iron Man due to his recent actions in the comics (ie. Civil War), but Favreau and Downey Jr. both did such a good job with the first film it actually got me to liking Iron Man again.