Law Abiding Gamer

I didn't plan it this way, but we ended up watching a couple of Gerard Butler movies here lately. Thanks to a free Red Box code we watched Law Abiding Citizen last week. It was awesome! I really didn't know what to expect, since I never really heard much about this movie besides the commercials. It starts out pretty hardcore and just keeps going. I highly recommend it.

On the flip side is Gamer. While this wasn't the worst video game related movie (it beats Stay Alive by a mile), it definitely could have been worse. Basically this Bill Gates kind of guy develops a way to put nanites in your brain so that you can be controlled remotely. He creates a Sony Home type place called Society and a Halo type game called Slayers.

It felt a little like The Running Man meets Deathrace (the one with Jason Statham). It wasn't that bad of a movie really. The action was pretty good. The plot was iffy, but that wasn't a surprise at all.

I like it how Hollywood has discovered nano-bots as a convenient plot device to explain all sorts of stuff in movies.

When It Rains

Man, there's a lot of stuff going on here lately. I mean, when it rains it pours, right? Where do I even begin?



We took Rhys to the doctor yesterday to get some shots and stuff. He's 11 pounds, 8 ounces! That's my boy! He was really good with the shots, too. He cried of course, but he didn't cry as long as I expected. He's tough!

On Saturday night and Sunday we watched Obsessed and Fast & Furious via the mighty Red Box. Neither one were very good. I had high hopes for both of them, but they were just meh. Oh well, it only cost me a dollar since I used a free Red Box code.

Furthermore, Alana and I recorded the latest episode of the podcast on Sunday. We also played a bunch of games, which was great fun. I did some promotions on Sunday night by going to some forums I'm a member of and posting about the latest show. I must have posted on 6 different boards, but only one got pissed and called it spam. Prudes!

Anyway, I'm on the job hunt right now. I'm anticipating being laid off in the coming weeks. I can't afford to be without a job, so if anybody knows of anything, send me an e-mail. Need all the help I can get.

Movie Review Time

We hit the Red Box this weekend for a couple movies. Since we don't have the Netflix anymore, Red Box has become our movie rental device of choice. It's really cool, except the selection can be a little sparse. It never gets old threatening the wife with renting 12 Rounds, either.

We watched Confessions of a Shopaholic and The Day the Earth Stood Still. Confessions was pretty good. A little predictable as all those movies are. It kills me that Isla Fisher is married to Borat. Is there no justice in the world?!

The Day the Earth Stood Still was ok. I expected a little more in the action department and the special effects department. I think they spent all their money on Keanu. It also ended up feeling like an environmental message wrapped in an alien movie. Like, you guys better start recycling or aliens are going to come and re-boot the earth.

The Update

I hate it when there's a week between posts, but what are you gonna do? I've been busy with other stuff like packing, working, and The Uncanny Gamers. I've also been feeling like crap with a damn cold. Good times...

We've finally nailed down where we are moving to. Now we just need to get some movers scheduled and we will be in business. Well, that and to actually finish packing. THEN we'll be in business.

We watched Role Models last night. That's a hilarious movie. I loved it. not really much else to say about it. I also recommend Zack And Miri Make A Porno. Extremely funny.

Anyway, I'm still around. Doing stuff. Keepin' it real.

Dawg.

Weekend Update

Apparently this is becoming a habit, making these posts on Monday about the busy weekend. I would like to post more during the week, but sometimes I just don't have the time. Hey, I know you want more of the Ace, but patience is a freakin' virtue, you heathens!

Anyway, we watched Eagle Eye and Max Payne this weekend. I give Eagle Eye two thumbs up because it was a damn good flick. I give Max Payne a meh. The story wasn't what you would call interesting and there wasn't enough action for my taste. I did, however, discover the guy that should play Kratos if they ever make a God of War movie. Yes, I take full credit for this discovery. Let it be known that if this ever happens, it's because of me.

I was over at the in-laws yesterday with Rhea. Her sister had some news to lay on the family. We already knew, but they didn't. Anyway, she's pregnant, too! According to Rhea, she's stealing her thunder. I would have to agree that thunder is indeed being stolen.

Between Baylee being pregnant and now Amanda, we're looking at a full scale baby invasion. They're coming to take over, make no mistake. We will be replaced. (Yea, I stole that from Seinfeld.)

And finally, we're holding a little contest over at ACFriends. Go read about it and enter if you like. And while I'm on the subject, I'm also kicking around the idea of a show re-boot. It would include a name change and maybe a new feed. I want to do a "pilot" episode next time Alana and I get together, just to test the waters.

I've had the idea of broadening the scope of the show for a while now, but I've always resisted because of all the history. And because we have a website with the show's name it it. But seriously, we've been doing this for almost three years now. It's been a blast, but I think the name has really held us back from getting more listeners and being a bigger show.

Of course, the biggest problem we face with starting a new show is finding a name.

A Weekend of Stuff

It was a nice weekend off for us. Well, I say us. Rhea had to work on Saturday, of course, but she's off today thanks to MLK. That's not really fair and I'm very upset about it. lol!

We watched Righteous Kill and The House Bunny this weekend. House Bunny was pretty funny. I liked it. Righteous Kill was decent if you don't mind watching Al Pacino's face age right before your eyes.

I took the girls over to my parent's house and wore their asses out yesterday. It's always funny when we get home because they just pass out. You wouldn't even know we had dogs except for Buffy's snoring.

I submitted a stupid song to the GameHounds podcast. It's kinda gay but funny. Not like me at all.

I also had a thought this weekend. How about a mod in Gears of War 2's horde mode called Whore Mode. Basically, it's never ending waves of coked up hookers coming at you with their handbags and pepper spray. Cliffy, are you taking notes?

Batman, Meet Dave

We caught The Dark Knight last night with Alana, Kenneth, her friends and my dad. It was a good movie, made even better/creepier by Heath Ledgers performance as The Joker. He really stole the show, and I wanted to see more scenes with him in the movie.

I'm not going to say that Dark Knight was the best move EVAR! It's easily up there, but I think the length hurts it a bit. I had heard that there wasn't really anything that could be cut out, but I disagree with that. I won't go into details here since I don't want to spoil anything. I just think it could have been tightened up a bit and kept to a solid 2 hours.

Ledger's performance was incredible. He really made you think that he was completely insane, and therein lies the brilliance of The Joker. He has a plan, but it's wrapped in so much insanity and chaos that no one has a chance at unraveling it. Except Batman, of course.

And by the way, why does Bale talk like that when he's Batman? You know, with the growl. I remember Keaton having a different voice for Batman, but it wasn't that pronounced and weird.

And since I love seeing a great superhero movie do well as much as I love seeing a crap movie tank, let's talk Meet Dave. I was reading up on the box office totals for this cinematic piece of shit, and by all accounts it's as big a flop as Pluto Nash. It cost anywhere from $65 to $100 million to make (I've seen both numbers online), and only made a little over $5 million its opening weekend. Damn, that makes me happy.

My main question is, who the hell went to go see it? Who arrived at the theater with money in hand and told the person behind the glass "One for Meet Dave"?

Seriously, we need to find out who these people are, or at least don't let them leave the theater once we have them. They should all be transported to some remote location in the desert and studied, then shot. I mean, first we need to isolate that gene that makes you want to see a movie like that, then eradicate it.

We also need to go ahead and stop Eddie Murphy from making any other movies. I honestly can't tell you of the last good movie he was in. Beverly Hills Cop maybe?

Really? Do we have to go back into the 80's to find a decent movie for this guy? And Shrek doesn't count because 1)all of them suck and 2)he's just reading a script and doing a voice.

And by the way, who's holding the purse strings on these movies? Give me $65 million and I'll greenlight something good. Something with action, guns, and boobs. Lots of boobs.

Free HD-DVD's = Happiness

free hd-dvds!
Originally uploaded by Gemini Ace

I finally got my free movies for buying the HD-DVD add on for the 360 back in March. Can you really beat a $50 player and 5 free movies? I think not!

Funny thing is, I only got one movie that was listed on the original form. The others were all substitutes, and definite upgrades to what was originally offered. I mean, Transformers in HD? Yes, please!

I Am Legend Is The Saddest Movie Ever

We watched I Am Legend this last weekend and it's now the saddest movie ever to me.

I had heard some warnings about the movie when it came out. About how the part with the dog is pretty rough. I had no idea that it was so bad!

One of my deep dark secrets has always been that the end of the movie Armageddon where Bruce Willis says goodbye to Liv Tyler always turns on the waterworks in me. I don't know what it is, but that scene just gets me every time. Maybe it's because I love Bruce Willis so much. Maybe it's because Liv Tyler can't act. Whatever it is, it makes me all soft and moist...around my eye sockets. Basically, it's my Beaches.

Until I Am Legend.

Seriously, if you have a dog you probably shouldn't watch this movie. I sat there enjoying the story and Will Smith's ripped physique...I mean acting chops. Then, out of no where a mannequin pops up in the street and Mr. Smiff was hanging upside down. I have no idea where the mannequin came from or who set the trap, but the end result was that his dog was infected with the disease.

If you haven't seen the movie, (by the way, spoiler alert) here's some background on the dog. It was his daughter's dog. His daughter and wife were killed in the helicopter he put them on to get them out of the city. That's all he has left is the dog. Plus, he's all alone except for the dog, which to him obviously represents his family, his friends, and pretty much the entire human race.

So, there I am, bawling like a baby while he snuffs the life out of his best friend. Rhea actually woke up to see what was wrong, but I couldn't pull it together to even tell her.

Yes, I'm a big pussy. Whatever!

Comic Book Movies

We went to see Iron Man tonight. 5 o'clock twilight show only cost $4.50 a person. Gotta love a deal!

I really have to say that Iron Man is up there with the all time greats as far as comic book movies go. It stands toe to toe with the first Spider-Man, X-Men, and Batman. Marvel continues to successfully move their characters from the page to the screen with so much attention to detail and love. Of course, there have been a few hiccups along the way (I'm looking at you, Hulk), but overall if you're a fan of Marvel Comics this is a great time to be going to the movies.

I keep a mental list of the best comic movies in my head. I'm going to put it right here so it's official. Here we go!

• X-Men 2 - Yea, I know. The sequel was better than the original. A rarity for sure, but it gave us everything we wanted in the first one and more. It's the pinnacle to which all other comic book movies aspire.
• Spider-Man - The definitive origin story coupled with the greatest hero/villain combo the world has ever known.
  
• Batman - This is hard. I love Batman Begins, but you have to give it up to Keaton and Burton for making Batman a bankable franchise in the first place. The sequels do not count. Returns was ruined by Devito. Forever was ruined by Kilmer. There's not enough room to explain what went wrong with Batman and Robin. Bat-nipples.
  
• X-Men - The move that made Hugh Jackman a star. He is Wolverine. Seeing him pop his claws for the first time was bliss.
  
• Iron Man - The perfect plot, great acting, and incredibly believable special effects. And we saw Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury. Nerdgasm!
• Blade - It's been pushed down the list lately, but it still holds a warm spot in my heart. We wouldn't have any of these mighty Marvel movies if it weren't for this guy.
• Superman Returns - The thing that keeps this movie out of the top 5? Kate Bosworth. Lois Lane is not a ultra-skinny 20-something. She's a tough as nails reporter in the big city of Metropolis. The only mistake Brian Singer ever made besides leaving X-Men 3.
• Batman Begins - Anything would be better than Batman and Robin. Thankfully we got this masterpiece. And whoever decided to use the same Batmobile in the sequel deserves a big raise.
• Hellboy - Who doesn't love Big Red? And who knew Selma Blair was so hot?
  
• Blade 2 - Goes hand in hand with Hellboy. Guillermo del Toro did Blade as a precursor to Hellboy. And the world is a better place for it.

Those are the best. Here's the rest.

• X-Men 3 - What the fuck? Everyone involved in this abortion should resign from the industry immediately. Bret Ratner not only made the Juggernaut a mutant (he's not), but he decided that mutants can have more than one power. The worst comic movie ever made.
  
• Dardevil - I didn't hate this movie, but I can see why it's not loved by the majority of the geeks. You have to give it up to the director for killing Elektra the exact same way as in the comic book. I remember my jaw hitting the floor when I first saw it. That being said, Bullseye was the worst translation of a villain ever.
  
• Elektra - All I can say is, "huh"? I've seen it, but I couldn't tell you what it was about. Not a good sign.
• The Hulk - Can we please pretend like this one never happened? Thanks!
• Superman IV - Seriously? Anything after the 2nd one shouldn't exist.
• Spider-Man 3 - Two words - Emo Peter Parker. And did anybody think to explain where the Venom symbiote came from? Nope! Let's just say it came from space. Who needs details?!
  

I didn't mention the Fastastic Four movies. Those are pretty good so I put them in the first list. Same with Ghost Rider. They're good, but the lack of a big budget holds them back from cracking the top 10.

Crappy Movie Weekend!

We got Shoot 'Em Up and Pirates of the Caribbean 3 from Netflix. My sister had let me know previously that Shoot 'Em Up is awesome. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

The plot and dialog were absolutely atrocious. The action was decent, but I think I've gotten too old to enjoy action for the sake of action. It may sound stupid, but I expect a hint of plausibility in my action sequences. When I see a guy sever an umbilical cord by shooting it or get t-boned in a BMW, flip multiple times, then keep going, I really begin to question what the writer/director was thinking. And I question why the hell I'm watching in the first place.

On the other hand I knew Pirates was going to suck. The second one was one of the biggest cinematic disappointments I've ever seen. The plot was so convoluted and nonsensical, my wife and I felt lost the whole time. I mainly wanted to see it just to see if they pulled it out of the shitter in the end. They didn't.

Why Johnny Depp, why?

Worst Movies Ever!

I'm adding a new movie to my list of worst movies ever. The new list reads:

1. Joe Dirt
2. Envy
3. Little Man
4. X-Men 3
5. Pirates of the Caribbean:Dead Man's Chest
6. Epic Movie

I've added Epic Movie to the list. It's neither funny or topical. Just plain stupid.

Robocop

Ok, so I'm sitting here and I jump into iTunes to look for something when I see that they've recently added Robocop to their list of movies. If you scroll down, you can see that I just watched those movies on tv last week. That's freaky!!

Music, Movies, and Games

Time for a marathon post! :-p

Music
I've been listening to the new album by Say Anything called ...to be a real boy. I'm really liking the quirky sense of humor and rawk-itude these guys have.












Movies
I watched Robocop 2 on tv tonight. It was so bad it's good. I loved the first one, and I vaguely remember seeing the 2nd one once. What I didn't know is that it was originally written by Frank Miller. And directed by Irvin Kershner, of Empire Strikes Back fame. Pretty crazy shit.












Games
Phoenix, KBB and I tried to play some Gears of War tonight, but XBL was being a bitch. I don't know if it was them or me or what. I installed the latest version of ZoneAlarm, but that shouldn't bother my connection to XBL. Hopefully it will work itself out by tomorrow. Either that or it's bye bye firewall.