Pop Journal: Toy Story 3

Toy Story 3 (MOVIE / 2010)

I cannot say enough good things about this movie. It took the characters that many have loved for years and took them on an incredibly different adventure than we have seen before. Sure, there is obvious parallels of the toys being stuck in a prison, but that's not what the movie is really about. The movie is about the inevitable changes that happens in ones life and the ability we have to meet those changes head on, and on our own terms. There are not as many laugh at loud moments in the film as in Toy Story 2, nor does it get as depressing as the first film. Toy Story 3 strikes a balance between sadness and joy that I haven't experienced in a theater for a while. In the end I was tearing up, not out of sadness but because there was a real connection to the characters in the film. Pixar is now 11 out of 11 in not only the Blockbuster game, it will make a lot of money, but in making films that continue to surprise an audience who thinks it has seen it all. Again, I can't say enough good things about this film other than see it now and see it often as I can't take the fact Shrek the Third and Forever After could make more money.

Pop Journal: Invictus

Invictus (MOVIE / 2010)

Invictus is a film by Clint Eastwood that takes the story of the release and rise of Nelson Mandela, but frames it within the confines of the Rugby World Cup. Now much has been said of Morgan Freeman's portrayal of Mandela, it's uncanny. It really is one of those contrived lines where this is the role he was born to play. Where the story falters is in the Rugby side of the story, where maybe this comes as I know few things of the sport, as it runs the natural course of many sports movies that tackle larger themes before it. Only in this case there seems to be absolutely no growth in the Rugby players, no instance of a physical or personal change that leads to the feat that they accomplish. If anything the change and conflict really comes through with Mandela's Secret Service. Here we see Blacks and Whites working together under very stressful terms, but as the movie continues we see bonds begin to form among them. All of this leads to a World Cup Final that feels as if they put the entire match on screen, it feels as if it lasts forever. In the end there is reason for celebration, new friends are made, but it all feels like a light switch was flipped as i never saw any real conflict on the screen. In the end I wish there would have been more focus on certain aspects of the story than others, but it is a well shot, well acted and well directed piece.

Pop Journal: The A-Team

The A-Team (MOVIE 2010)

If you were like me growing up in the 80's there is a good chance that you had the mighty honor of watching the A-Team on TV. For me it's one of my earliest memoires that I have of anything at all. Now as an adult I couldn't even begin to tell you any of the actual stories that were told, but I could tell you about Hannibal, Faceman, B.A. and Murdock and all of the cool stuff the put together in a very short time. And that is what this movie does, it moves the setting to modern times but it is still the A-team getting into sticky situations and pulling through at the end in a collage of explosions. In fact, it seems to me that these new actors more fully realize the characters than the originals. And that is because they are larger than life characters, none of this is supposed to be taken too seriously. Throughout the entire move I was just having a great time, none of it felt over the top or forced. I do have to give special mention to Sharlto Copley who broke through last year as the lead in District 9, which I couldn't stand. He gives an amazing performance as Murdock, perfectly conveying that "functioning" crazy better than any I have seen. All in all it is a very fun movie I really recomend.

Tyler's Take: iTunes Updates

Yesterday whilst online I got a little pop-up window that told of the end of the world. In it's little frame it conveyed thoughts directly into my mind of lava fields overtaking cities, giant tornadoes raging across fields and small groups of Victorian times orphans pickpocketing in the streets. I don't know if I am the only one, maybe there are more out there, but what I do know is the window is appearing more frequently and if I try to ignore it the window will only come back the next day. "What have I done to deserve such torment!" I scream into the night sky as the rain falls around me. What did I do? I downloaded iTunes, and now it wants me to update to it's latest version.

No other program in the history of the world has been more frustratingly aware of it's own inferiority than that of iTunes. In my mind I picture a place online where all of the iTunes meet, maybe a small smoke filled room where they gather to play poker. In the corner is my iTunes, version 9.2, sitting in a chair hoping no one will notice it. Alas, poor iTunes 9.2 lets out a little cough and the room turns on it, all of those iTunes 9.3 just staring as if iTunes 9.2 was iTunes 4.2. Then the room breaks out in laughter, all of the iTunes 9.3 laughing and throwing their empty plastic cups at iTunes 9.2 and making harsh comments. "I doubt he even has 'Genius' installed," one yells from across the room. It's here that my iTunes 9.2 runs from the room in tears, coming back to my computer and immediately posts that window asking me to update.

But I don't want to.

You see with other programs there is simply a patch that brings a program up to date, so a quick 5MB download and an update is all you need. This is true for even the largest program I have on my computer, World of Warcraft, that takes up 19GB of my hard drive. Even today there was an update that took only 2 minutes to download and install itself.

But that's not how iTunes rolls.

No, iTunes makes you download the ENTIRE program all over again as if you never had it in the first place. This is from the company that just overtook Microsoft in the stock market. This is the company that made computers in my youth that were more user friendly than iTunes is. I say this because once again iTunes asked for and install... and I gave in... and it screwed me. Not only does the icon in my task bar once again go nowhere, but it took 300 songs from my library and made duplicates, only these duplicates were to a place that does not exist. You may know what I mean, they put a little "!" in front of the file to let you know that theres a problem here. Yes, there is a problem and iTunes is not going to help you with it. So again, for what seems the hundredth time, I begin scrolling through and erasing those files from iTunes. My fingers hurt by the end of the task, a task that once again bring those horrifying visions into the forefront of my mind, but it is complete and everything is as it should be. The window is no longer open.

A few days go by...

I'm looking at my gmail account when a tiny window pops up in front of all others...

Tyler's Take: I want more 2D for consoles!

The other day I picked up Super Mario Galaxy 2 and began playing it, and I was blown away by how good the game was. The levels in it are awesome and the music is freaking wonderful. The game was hard to put down because I was having so much fun. After playing it for a while I thought to myself that I should play New Super Mario Bros Wii (NSMB) for a different perspective on the game. For those of you who have not played either game the "Galaxy" title is 3D while "New" is a traditional 2D platformer. The great thing that came out of this, I enjoyed both games equally because they offered different experiences, but it was still Mario.

This got me to thinking about other games that began as 2D and made the leap to 3D: Zelda; Metroid; Sonic; Castlevania; Final Fantasy. Here you have mixed results as the Zelda, Metroid and Final Fantasy series are widely praised for it's 3D offerings, but other classics like Castlevania and Sonic never found the same success in the 3D world.

The funny thing about this is that companies, like Konami, were having success bringing new 2D titles to the handheld market. You see, the long perceived idea is that 2D games could only sell on handheld systems and no one was interested in playing them on home consoles. For many adults, and I throw that term around loosely, we don't have little handhelds for a majority of different reasons. So now that NSMB Wii has sold over 10 million copies worldwide, I believe that we can have other franchises make the console leap back to 2D.

We have a new Metroid title coming out on the Wii that is a hybrid of both 3D and 2D which is fine, but I want a New Super Mario Bros Wii quality sequel to Super Metroid. While we're at it, let's get a nice 2D Castlevania on the 360! With 2D games like Shadow Complex and Mega Man 9 selling great on Xbox Live Arcade I'd hope the floodgates would open. Instead we have Konami taking another stab at a 3D Castlevania that looks impressive right now, but I've been burned so many times before.

And while we have Mega Man 9 on the table let me say this to developers: The fact you made Mega Man is awesome, but you don't have to rely on the "classic" graphics and mechanics to sell the game. I think NSMB proves you don't have to rely solely on nostalgia to put out a great game.

With both of the new Mario games doing so well on the same console I hope it shows companies you don't have to re-invent the box to sell us games. A glimmer of hope for everyone is SEGA releasing a true sequel to Sonic called "Sonic the Hedgehog 4", we can only hope this is a sign of things to come.

Top 30 Songs (Complete)

30. Best of You - Foo Fighters - In Your Honor (2005)

29. The District Sleeps Alone Tonight - The Postal Service - Give Up (2003)

28. Clocks - Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002)

27. Closing Time - Semisonic - Feeling Strangely Fine (1998)

26. Glycerine - Bush - Sixteen Stone (1994)

25. Soul Meets Body - Deathcab For Cutie - Plans (2005)

24. Little Black Backpack - Stroke 9 - Nasty Little Thoughts (1999)

23. Liar (It Takes One To Know One) - Taking Back Sunday - Louder Now (2006)

22. The Impression That I Get - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Let's Face It (1997)

21. The End Of The Tour - They Might Be Giants - John Henry (1994)

20. Summertime - DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince - Homebase (1991)

19. Float On - Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News (2004)

18. New Slang - The Shins - Oh Inverted World (2001)

17. Kill - Jimmy Eat World - Futures (2004)

16. Don't Look Back In Anger - Oasis - (What's The Story) Morning Glory? (1995)

15. All The Small Things - Blink 182 - Enema Of The State (1999)

14. Breakfast At Tiffany's - Deep Blue Something - Home (1995)

13. Chase This Light - Jimmy Eat World - Chase This Light (2007)

12. Welcome To The Black Parade - My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade (2006)

11. M79 - Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend (1998)

10. Happy Endings - The All American Rejects - The All American Rejects (2003)

9. Viva la Vida - Coldplay - Viva la Vida (2008)

8. Lie In Our Graves - Dave Matthews Band - Crash (1996)

7. Tonight, Tonight - Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness (1995)

6. Spiraling Shape - They Might Be Giants - Factory Showroom (1996)

5. Overkill (Acoustic) - Colin Hay - Man @ Work (2003)

4. Mr. Brightside - The Killers - Hot Fuss (2004)

3. Only In Dreams - Weezer - Weezer (1994)

2. Helena - My Chemical Romance - Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge (2004)

My favorite song of all time is "A Praise Chorus" by Jimmy Eat World. This song takes me back to right when i got home off of my Mission in the Summer of 2001. In fact, the song specifically brings to mind that stretch of road with the hill right before you enter Lincoln City and can see the ocean. Growing up listening to the oldies with my dad probably helped because it was the chorus of "Crimson and clover... over and over"" (from the song "Crimson and Clover"by Tommy James and the Shondells) that got the song stuck in my head.

Fun Fact: The Chorus of "A Praise Chorus" is literally praising 7 songs from bands ranging from Bad Company to They Might Be Giants.

1. A Praise Chorus - Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American (2001)

Pop Journal: The Wolfman

The Wolfman (MOVIE 2010)

The Wolfman is a gorgeously shot "creature feature" that never strays to far from the formula to keep you on the edge of your seat. Benicio Del Toro gives a surprisingly understated performance as the titular wolfman, giving much more credence to the transformation from Shakespearean actor to savage killing machine. The film does rely on some easy scares, but never do they feel cheap or unearned. Like I said earlier the movie is just really good looking, particularly the transformation effects. There is little mystery in the story as the main antagonist is revealed with little fanfare which takes the story into one of vengence. Be warned that there is a lot of blood being spilt, but in a way that makes me glad Universal chose to go the rated R road instead of leaving much of the savagery to the imagination. All in all a very satisfying scare fest that stands apart from the rest.

Pop Journal: Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time

Prince Of Persia: The Sands of Time (MOVIE / 2010)

This was a fun movie. Much of what works for it is the relationship between Prince Dastan (Gyllenhaal) and Princess Tmaina (Arterton) that in my humble opinion is the closest thing we've seen to Han and Leia in a while. The movie is non stop acrobatics and chases with enough plot details to keep the characters moving in the same direction. The special effects are not necessarily on par with other big summer blockbusters, but that also gives the movie some of it's quiet charm. The ending leaves a little to be desired, after all this is a movie where "time" plays a big part, but I was smiling as the credits began to roll.