second half 2007 knob-chive | home | forums

Rating Key:

***** Episode V
**** Episode IV
*** Episode VI
** meh
* poor

7/18/2008

Mad Men Season 1 *****

I'll cut to the "Chase"*... this is the best TV show I've seen in a while. It equals or betters The Sopranoes, almost ties with The Wire, and easily beats Six Feet Under. Disclaimer: Mad Men is only on season one, so the late-series mediocrity that affects most TV series hasn't been able to touch it yet.

Mad Men follows the exploits of Don Draper, a Madison Avenue (New York City) advertising executive in the late fifties / early sixties. I think this season takes place in 1960. Don embodies the dying archetype of the "manly man"... he cheats on his hot wife, he smokes and drinks (both at work and home). He has a secret, dark past that is shown in flashbacks.

Peggy is another main character. She has just been hired as Don's secretary when the season begins. She represents the nascent women's rights movement. While she is hired as a secretary, her other talents garner her attention from her coworkers.

Peggy (seated) manages to break the glass ceiling (a little bit)

Pete Campbell is the underconfident young executive who serves as Peggy's "love interest", though it's a stretch to call it "love". He's torn between the old way of being a man (Don's way) and the new way (our way). In early episodes he comes off as a total douche, but his character becomes more three-dimensional as the season goes on

Enough of my yappin'. Just watch it. The second season starts soon Sundays on AMC.

5/9/2008

Gremlins 2: The New Batch **

I admit that I don't remember the original Gremlins too well, but I believe its plot was similar to that of "Gremlins 2": A cute furry creature (called a "Mogwai") spawns several evil and / or retarded clones of himself when he accidentally gets wet. These clones eat after midnight, which turns then from furry to scaly and reptilian, but just as evil.

While the first time this happened in the sleepy town of Kingston Falls, this time it happens in turn of the decade 1989 New York City. The two protagonists of the first film, Billy and Kate (ably played by Zach Galligan and Phoebe Cates), are working in the world's most automated office building. It's run by an amoral developer who happened to also claim the store of the asian guy who sold the mogwai Gizmo to Billy's father in the first film. When this store was demolished to make room for one of his office buildings, Gizmo (who ended up back in the store) escapes, but is captured by geneticists who happen to work in... the same office building that Billy and Kate work in.

Gizmo (who is cute as the dickens) is found in the genetics lab and rescued by Billy. He hides Gizmo in a desk drawer. When he's called on to go on an emergency date with his female boss directly after work, he leaves Gizmo in the drawer and asks Kate to pick him up later.

Needless to say, Gizmo gets wet and hilarity ensues. The clones he spawns, as in the first film, are just as evil as he is good. They proceed to assault and torture Gizmo, and cause havoc in the office building.

One "evil" gremlin becomes capable of rational thought and speaking King James English fluently within hours of his birth.

This movie isn't terrible, but I expected more. It is pretty subversive for a big studio movie. It includes 4th wall breaking scenes, such as a clip of Leonard Maltin bashing the first Gremlins movie, then being torn to shreds by gremlins. If you love horror / comedies, I might recommend this movie. Otherwise not.

4/21/2008

Final Fantasy III SNES 1994 (AKA Final Fantasy VI) ****

This game is actually number six in the main Final Fantasy series of games. It was originally numbered "III" in the US though. It begins 1000 years after the War of the Magi, after which Magic was expelled from the world. This Magic was embodied in the form of "Espers", which are magical creatures that can be equipped and used in battle and make you learn spells and shit. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

In the beginning of the game, you control Terra, who is under the control of the Empire. The Empire is seeking an Esper that has been frozen in a cave since the War of the Magi. They hope to harvest the magical power of the Espers for their own nefarious purposes.

When Terra and her captors find the Esper, Terra seems to channel its power to destroy her captors. Anywho, they die and she lives. She ends up in the house of a rebel, or "Returner". Her real adventure begins as she seeks allies to maintain her freedom and figure out what the Empire is up too.

It doesn't take itself too seriously, unlike some games.
(I'm looking at you, FFX!)

This game is pretty deep, and it takes a while to really get into it. Where it excels, besides the gameplay, which is pretty fun, is in the storytelling. The characters are pretty well defined, and there are some genuine laugh out loud moments. Keep an eye out for the persistent Ultros, an enemy who refuses to accept defeat.

Bottom line: I can't say this is my favorite Final Fantasy game. That would still be Final Fantasy XII. But this is at least third after XII and VII.

2007: Don't Look Back in Anger

There are several video games / movies that I didn't get a chance to review in 2007 because of personal problems and laziness. These didn't necessarily come out in 2007, but you they're mostly worth investigation if you're into that kind of thing.

Juno ***

(spoiler alert) The doctor she goes to see is a effing C.

I actually saw this in 2008, but I wanted to get this out of the way. Juno stars relative newcomer Ellen Page as the titular character who is in high school and pregnant. She arranges for a childless couple to adopt after an abortion clinic protester tells her that her baby has fingernails. There are some good laughs here... what could be funnier than a pregnant 16 year old?

Final Fantasy XII ****

The combat system in FF XII kicks balls.

I really didn't know what to expect from this game. I had played a lot of Final Fantasy (FF) games, and never really enjoyed any of them. But I heard this one was different, and it paid off... in spades.

FF XII thrusts you into the role of Vaan, a typically effeminate male leading character. There's some kind of plot about evil taking over, and you and your ragtag band of warriors has to stop it. The story isn't the biggest draw of this game though. The battle system rocks... it basically allows you to control as much or as little as you want to. And there are fun side quests too. I got addicted to going on optional hunting missions to get money and weapons.

I think I ended up playing the game for 70 hours or so, and I could have kept going.

The Legend of Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass ****

Bonus feature: you can draw sh*t on your map.

OK... so I knew I was going to like this game. It's a Zelda game, for F's sake. I actually got a DS just to play this.

It's short for a Zelda game, but it's really really fun while it lasts. The touch controls work really well once you get used to them.

I would explain the plot but it's pretty weak.