Review The Call (2013)

11 jun, 18:49

Review The Call (2013)
genre:thriller

The Call is a little predictable but effective thriller. There are very few surprises apart from the ending which I thought was a little out there and hilarious.It will make you scratch your head but it is one that will work in  favour of the movie. The Call is a fast paced thrill ride of tension and good performances by Halle Berry and Abigail Breslin. For once the teenage victim is not annoying to a point that you want her to get killed. In the short time we get to know her and Halle Berry's character the viewer is made to care about both. And that is all there is needed to stick glued to the screen. However at a certain time in the movie, I believe after 55 minutes or so the the movie loses some steam. But the pace is picked up again in the last fifteen minutes where we even get a small reveal to give a little depth to the killer. I thought it was a nice touch and is something other film makers in this genre should do more often. I dislike thrillers where promises are made and never made good on. Here no promises are made whatsoever and still you get rewarded.It also is a good example to explain the motive of the killer without elaborating or distracting too much from the action. In this case it even adds to the suspense. That being said don't expect too much though. Fans of the genre won't see nothing they haven't seen before. Overall The Call does what it supposed to do which is keep you thrilled and entertained as long as it lasts.

Review Spiderman: Web of Shadows (ps3)

6 jun, 16:13

Review Spiderman: Web of Shadows (ps3)
genre:action/adventure

For quite a long time I was under the impression that Web of Shadows was an inferior title because from the reviews I read people weren't really digging it. But I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying the game. That does not mean there aren't elements to be critical about because there are plenty. First of all the game wastes no time with bothering you with a story. From the get go it is obvious that New York is in big trouble and Spidey has to save the day. This can be a little confusing since I thought I accidentally skipped a prologue cut scene. However it puts you immediately into action. And then you get a little tutorial of how to control Spidey. And let me say this. Web slinging in this game is a lot of fun. Another great feature is the combat. In previous games Spidey always seemed a little weak to me and here they improved on that and for the first time I felt truly powerful. And with the available upgrades that feeling only increased. Soon I had a heavy deja vu feeling. A lot of the game play mechanics somehow were familiar to me. Then it dawned on me that Web of Shadows has a lot in common with Prototype. If you take a moment and think about it there are more similarities than differences. Now you could take this info as something good. If you loved Prototype 1 and 2 you will also love this one. But of course this could also be seen as a bad thing since some want variety in their games. Personally that did not bother me that much since the fun factor of this game is incredibly high. Although I must admit that in the final stages some missions get on your nerve because they are repetitive and only prolong length of gameplay artificially. I liked that Web of Shadows was set up as a random adventure that was very usual in Spiderman comics. The inclusion of several other Marvel characters only enhanced the pleasure. Now this game is more focused on combat than in previous Spiderman games and this might be one of the reasons why a lot of people found the game to be repetitive. Like I said for me this only happened in some of the final missions which is after a lot of epic events that more than compensate the flaws. Overall Web of Shadows is a title that deserves to be played and should not be overlooked because it is not nearly as repetitive as it is said to be.

Review Bullet to the head (2013)

27 mei, 13:51

Review Bullet to the head (2013)
genre:action
Stallone was already back but this might make me rethink if he should be !
"Disappointing"
Sylvester Stallone and Walter Hill seems like a match made in heaven. Both icons that represent the best of what the Eighties had to offer when it came to action. With the revival of the old school action film like The Expendables 1 and 2 you would think that Walter Hill and Sylvester Stallone both could provide even more fireworks. Sadly their team up feels lacklustre at best. The bar scene in the beginning where our hero and villain meet was one full of promise.And in the final action scene there was a glimpse of what could have been. But everything in between these two scenes was average to unimpressive. Nothing is done with the premise of cop (Sung Kang) partnering up with hitman (Sylvester Stallone). Here we could have had nice bits of comedy like in 48 hours between Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte. And here you can see the main reason why Bulet to the Head was destined to fail. The movie takes itself far too seriously. Even some of the jokes didn't really register because of the serious tone. I hate to say it but even Stallone's Stop! Or my mom will shoot was a better buddy movie than Bullet to the Head and that is saying something. Jason Momoa stands out as baddie and it is always a joy to see him do his thing. Other than that all I can say is that I found the overall viewing experience to be very disappointing.  

Review Spinter Cell 3D (3DS)

20 mei, 21:59

Review Splinter Cell 3D (3DS)
genre:s tealth,action/adventure

The Splinter Cell franchise offers stealth gaming at it's best. It requires patience and some creativity to reach certain objectives. While you can play it as a shooter in some sections it is something I advise against because Sam Fisher is at his deadliest when he is surrounded by darkness. He is basically a ninja that is most effective when not seen. And frankly not really equipped to be played like characters in shooters even when that option is given. On the consoles and PC Splinter Cell already offered and still is offering the best gameplay one can imagine when it comes to stealth but on the handheld it failed to do so. Splinter Cell Essentials on the psp looked promising but after only playing for a few minutes I was fed up with it. The controls made it unplayable. Then I discovered Splinter Cell 3D on the 3DS. Basically a remake of Chaos Theory one of the most appreciated parts in the franchise.
And how is Splinter Cell 3D?First off you can't really compare it to the console or pc games because for that a handheld of course lacks the hardware. But honestly this game in the franchise is exactly what I hoped it to be on a portable device. The lack of superior graphics are compensated by the 3D effect which is not that strong but still is very nice to look at.  The controls are smooth and is integrated extremely well with the touch screen. Some sections of the game were altered and tweaked to make it work on the 3DS which was very welcome but may make it easier for the more experienced player. However you still are required to play Sam Fischer as he is supposed to. Which means old school style like you had to play him in the first two parts. Chaos Theory had added a lot of options and gave you more freedom and ways to reach your goal. On the 3DS you are a little limited but I was surprised to see that there were still alternative ways present if for some reason you could not pass a certain point. Example: In the Battery mission there was a camera near an elevator that for some reason I could not get through without activating alerts. I tried several ways and each way resulted in the same. Very frustrating. But then I saw on a playthrough it was possible to avoid that camera entirely by jumping up in the room next to the eleavator and follow an alternate route. Then I realized that a lot of these missions were offering multiple routes. So for people thinking that the 3DS version is not deep enough think again. Of course there were times that the enemies could hear or see you even when they weren't near but those moments are more exception to the rule and are also present in the console versions. I only noticed one glitch that was a little freaky. Two guys I put down before a save suddenly appeared again standing however still very much dead after I loaded that save. Not once did I get the feeling that this game was rushed or not had been paid enough attention it deserved. I read a lot of reviews that felt like it was or that this game was far inferior to the original. And all I can say that I think that is not the case. If you play beyond the earlier levels a you feel just as immersed as you would on the consoles or PC. This is one of the few handheld that kept my interest through and through. And that is saying something because most titles on handhelds bore me after a while. One thing has to be said. You do have to like stealth and the mechanics that come with it. Definitely worth playing !       

Review A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)

18 mei, 15:20

 Review A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)
 genre:action

"Odd duck in the franchise but still fun"
Die Hard and later sequels were examples of the more smarter action movies. Most of the action was enjoyable because of the likeability of the main character John McClane and thrilling plot lines full of little twists and turns. A Good Day to Die Hard is an example where those elements are almost completely removed. Bruce Willis tries his hardest (or simply not giving a damn and refuses to take it seriously) to compensate this by treating this latest part as a parody. He is making fun of his own character and what he is about. Once you get that you can't but help laugh with him and enjoy all the silliness that you will come across. I mean from all the previous movies in this franchise this has got to be the most illogical,nonsensical and stupid plot there is. Bruce Willis realizes this and treats this like an unofficial sequel. With this in mindset this latest part becomes a blast. The action is hard hitting and over the top but nicely done. It's an improvement for Director John Moore. But honestly he is not suited to make action films like these. He does not seem to grasp what makes the action intense and exciting. Even Michael Bay understands that....(having a Transformers Dark Side of the moon flashback)......scrap that understood that with Bad Boys and The Rock. You should put the characters in impossible and difficult situations where it is very unlikely for them to get out alive and on top. And then have those characters do get out of those situations in the most noble and heroic ways ever. It does not work if the main characters themselves go looking for trouble or acting as idiots. My advice is treat this as a parody and you will have a lot of fun watching.    

Review The Last Stand (2013)

7 mei, 23:22

Review The Last Stand (2013)
genre:action,modern day western

He said he will be back in many of his movies but after his adventure as the Governator it seemed he would not meet that promise. But apparently politic life wasn't exactly what he had hoped for. Begs the question IS HE BACK? As much I would like to say yes it's not easy to say it. Problem is that if the goal was to impress the world that Schwarzenegger has still got that magic that made him so enjoyable to watch him then I am not entirely convinced. Sure there were enough scenes with those typical Schwarzenegger one liners and humour but there were barely action scenes of him kicking ass which is something that made him so memorable in the first place.Now I do know that Schwarzenegger has become to old for these kinds of role and you can't expect that much from him. But the first trailer I saw hinted at an "I am too old for this shit" take on what we are used from him and that would have been awesome. A parody like that could have elevated the The Last Stand into more than it is. Except from a few comedic moments mainly provided by the supporting cast the movie takes it self too seriously. And that is never good when the story is simple and predictable and the acting by main star barely tolerable.There were moments where it looked like Schwarzenegger had forgotten how to act. (Yes,I am one of the few who does think that he could do so before in the genre that made him big). It looked like Arnold was a little lost. I hear you thinking. Who does this guy think he is talking about acting in an action movie, what about the action? The action that is present is solid and enjoyable but pretty tame and mediocre especially compared to Schwarzenegger's older stuff. But most of  the hard hitting kind is more or less there in the terrific finale. While this was enough for me to enjoy the The Last Stand I can't hide my disappointment and saying that this has to be one of the worst movies Schwarzenegger has starred in. And not because it was that bad. More because it pales in comparison to what he is known for. Which is something you can't brush off like that. Overall it is all about lowering expectations and not too get hung about what once was. 

Free Gift!

2 mei, 21:27


Some moral value has prevented me from using puppies at the moment but if I find the response unsatisfactory I will not hesitate to use them to make you take the free gift. Don't let it come to that.
I have been bestowed the honour to give away ten licenses for a software called Pinnacle Game Profiler, which is basically a computer program that allows gamers to remap the buttons on their gamepad/joystick in various ways. For more info on this program check out their site:
http://pinnaclegameprofiler.com/

The first 10 readers of Chrichton's World to claim the prize will win the licence to this awesome software. So what do you have to do? 
In order to issue the key full name and and email address is required. Note: You will not be added to any mailing list. Fill these out in the Contact me form and make sure you mention in your email that it is concerning the giveaway contest. The winners will be notified as soon as possible. That is all. 
Having the option to map out a controller the way you sounds like a sweet deal to me. What is stopping you,contact me already!!!
 

Review Mama (2013)

26 apr, 20:49

Review Mama (2013)
genre:s upernatural horror

Mama is one of those flawed horror titles that does a lot of things right and is quite entertaining. Except for one big flaw. It is a very predictable affair. Don't worry, there are plenty of effective scares and thrills to get your blood pumping. But maybe a bit too effective. The scares come a little too early and are quite intense. A lot of the creepiness is very similar to the ones in Japanese horror films like The Grudge and The Ring.Which is great at first.Especially with the promise of two great background stories that can be explored But soon it becomes apparent that the scares are all there is. There is barely an explanation for why things are happening.The fact that the ghost is evil might have been sufficient way back when we weren't craving for a little depth but now that is unacceptable. I can't but help to think that this is a huge missed opportunity. In ghost stories it usually is the story with or without twists that provides the real impact. And so much could have been done with the mama character. That is why I was a little disappointed how Mama ended. To be fair though the more than competent acting by the child actors and Jessica Chastain make up for that so the experience overall is still satisfying.

Review 100 Feet (2008)

19 apr, 00:04

Review 100 Feet (2008)
genre:horror

This movie has more than enough scares and surprises to please the average viewer. Only it could have been so much more. The whole house arrest premise in combination with the (minimal) background story showed promise for a chilling setup. And the movie starts out good in building up suspense. But out of the blue the movie went from subtle to outright ridiculous where it almost changed this serious movie into a slapstick comedy. And then it switched back to subtle again. There are only a few moments where the electronic ankle bracelet is truly a handicap.(Personally I think it was an advantage because she could alert the police much more faster than normally possible.) "Disturbia" did a much better job in demonstrating how annoying it was to have such a bracelet. The second thing that I missed in this movie was a decent back story on Famke's character. Almost everybody thought that she was a bad person even when it comes to light that she was being abused by her husband. It would have made more sense to show some flashbacks on his behaviour in order to make her more likeable. But this credit has to go to Famke Janssen only because she manages to invoke sympathy even when she is supposed to portray this stone cold tough chick. To me the climax was very disappointing. Since I was hoping for some wonderful twist that could have explained the subtle build up of tension and suspense that was buried in the usual over the top special effects extravaganza used in American horror movies nowadays. This twist never comes. Overall this movie is quite enjoyable,only don't expect to be really surprised in the end.

Review Zwart Water a.k.a. Two Eyes Staring (2010)

18 apr, 23:56

Review Zwart Water 
a.k.a. Two Eyes Staring (2010)
genre:horror

For a country that hasn't made a lot of horror movies this movie sure is a huge improvement. But it still needs a lot of work. The slow build up was pretty good and provided just enough tension to make it interesting. However there were not enough scary moments to qualify as a real horror. As a drama this also fails since most of the characters don't act as they would in real life. It was very hard for me to have sympathy for the mother. Since it was obvious she wasn't exactly right in the head from the start. If this fact wasn't entirely clear than some events would have worked better. A lot of events in the film also relied too much on coincidence and convenience. The cousin is pretty vague throughout until the end. Christine and her odd behaviour towards her husband and her daughter should have at least made the husband curious to find out what is going on. But he makes no attempt whatsoever. Another example is the fact that both parents suddenly have to work when previously only one did. Logically it doesn't even make sense since they didn't have to pay rent and had more to spare. Plot wise it is understandable since they had to create the opportunity for the daughter Lisa to experience the things she does. Of course these are all tactics to build up the tension even more but to me it had quite the opposite effect. These superficial tactics would have worked better if the movie had other things to offer. Like really scary scenes or imagery that would suggest or give another perspective on the events. The lack of actual plot or character development made it a predictable affair to the experienced horror fan. And that really is a bloody shame since this movie had the potential to become a classic.