Review: "Man Of Steel" (2013) "Michael Shannon Steals The Man"

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By: Gabriel Roderick

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Contains mild spoilers!


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I didn't set my expectations high originally when I heard about the Superman reboot, partly because of the failed attempt at a movie with Superman Returns (2006) and the fact that I think Superman is to powerful to have his own film.


But when I found out that Nolan and Snyder where involved my expectations greatly jumped. Nolan known for my favorite movie The Dark Knight Rises and Snyder doing one of my favorite remakes of all time Dawn of the Dead.


I have to point out I actually liked the suit, it worked, no tights a epic"S" he definitely adapted to 2013. 


Something note worthy to point out is that Superman and Zod go flying into a Lexcorp tank though there is no other mention to Lex Luthor! I like this because it leaves room for a sequel and acknowledges that Superman's main villain is out there! And once the two "Gods" take their fight to space they go flying through a Wayne Enterprises satellite! Once again acknowledging that his greatest partner and co-founder of Justice League is out there. Leading me to believe this Justice League movie is really coming, or they threw that in their for Nolan!


Also the star power in this film in terms of minor or secondary characters is wonderful! Laurence Fishburne as Perry White, Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent, Russell Crowe as Jor-El and of course Michael Shannon as Zod! Great star power and I feel they get overshadowed by Henry Canvill playing Superman. Which to mean wasn't as powerful as it should be. Superman is the most over the top super hero in one of the most imaginative worlds of all time, so a Superman that fits this part is necessary to convey that idea.

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Something that Canvill couldn't really do till the end of the movie he begins to convince us he's a Superman. Granted it's big shoes to fill after Christoper Reeves. I was a little upset however that their was no Superman Cameo. You still have Brandon Routh, Tom Welling, and even Dean Cain ready and able to do a character cameo in this blockbuster! The rest of the cast kind of have to blend in to Clark and even Lois seems that she could have been better, but then again the origins of her depend more on Superman being Clark Kent a Daily Planet reporter!


This movie is one of the biggest science fictions pieces of work I've ever seen. Starting off with a visually masterpiece of Krypton. With beautiful suits and stunning scenery and even dragonfly like creatures to fly on. Though they seem so powerful it's no wonder their race was doomed!  Anyways Clark is obviously a alien. However the rest of the film just seems kind of bland compared to the beginning. Especially when Clark flies is very outdated.


Snyder does this shot far away technique then zooms in on certain parts when something important happens but it seems like 2006 Superman! The ship Zod builds that tries to destroy the planet to rebuild Krypton look like something from a Michael Bay film but still the fact it destroys most of Metropolis was epic!


The plot of this movie takes nearly three hours to explain and gets very boring throughout! We go from Clark's birth to when he's in his thirties and he keeps having flashbacks of his youth learning from his foster parents on how he is different but the world with not believe in him, while Jor-El believed that Clark would be a god and the people would follow him.

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Once learning about his past and heritage Clark is torn between being a hero or going back being a drifter saving people while just trying to get by. Lois and Clark by mistake find the Fortress of Solitude where in a matter of minutes Clark is ready to fly and has dubbed the suit. 



Clark surrenders himself to the Zod's army when Earth NOT just Metropolis is put in harms way. He then learns his one and only weakness is anything that has Krypton's atmospheric chemistry, i.e weapons, and space ships! While that's a weakness for him, Earth is a weakness for Zod and his men because they've adopted to the other surroundings.


The battle scenes are pretty terrific with the slamming through ground or flying at each other. Though no super speed just super jumping. This gets me in to my point about Clark's character. Since he's torn which wasn't a good plot element I'm thinking because it inhabits his powers Clark actually ducks bullets. Then gets shot again and realizes it can't hurt him? However we see him struggling to hold up a oil rig, tired from fighitng and even almost miss grapping Lois when flying! Maybe this was to show how he had to move in order to save people though he files from the Fortress of Solitude to the other side of the planet in minutes!


Dude you're Superman you're suppose to be able to fly faster than the speed of light! This really bothered me! We even find out that Clark is the first natural born child in centuries since most are artificially created. Everyone that would ever have been born is stored in the civilian skull type deal and it is bonded with Clark's body. So he has at least 10,000 other souls bonded with his!


However Michael Shannon to the rescues! He is amazing as Zod and really believable! He fits the part that was paved in the original Superman movies. All Zod wanted to do was have Krypton pay for their crimes and rebuild a better Krypton! He is willing to kill all humans to make a superior Krypton planet. His facial expression to just way he spoke seemed like a evil leader granted this man was made for villain roles! Out of all the characters he fit his best and truly stole the show and I even at one point felt sorry for him, he watched all his people die and just wanted to rebuild his home.

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He talks about that's what he was created for to be the General and protect his people no matter what. That's all he could do, it was per-determined. This speech was great because it just adds such depth to his character and you figured this would give Clark his chance to shine because it was made in essence to lead the people on Earth but nope he is still weaker than Zod even with a home field advantage.


Superman has no choice but to kill Zod to protect a family and sends the rest of the army back to the Phantom Zone. This finally adds depth to Superman, and we finally see the compassion and rage that he is torn between! The people begin to love Superman which he went with what Jor-El had always told him. Superman promises to protect Metropolis by being a reporter for the Daily Planet which if funny it took this long for it to happen! But promises to work with NOT for the army!

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I like the idea that the joins the Daily Planet at the end because it gives Lois character development to go and find out who the man that saved who is. She learns his origins of Clark Kent and eventually his origins as Kal-El which intensifies their love because she is truly the only person who knows both sides to the man!


This film has a lot of references to God and Jesus. Clark even seems a Priest before turning himself into the police. We learn the "S" on his chest is his families crest and means hope. While Lois tells him on earth it's a "S" so call him Superman! Anyways Superman seems to have similarities for Jesus seeing as he was sent by his father to save the people for their past mistakes perhaps. Humans have as much dirty hands as Kryptons did.


Superman can also be seen as a God because he saved many people and innocent lives from Zod who could be seen as the devil, whose men where sent to the Phantom Zone which is like hell. Granted the similarities are small they are there!


Our Honest View gives Man Of Steel 7.9/10. Not the worse reboot but it plagued by the the fact that's a reboot of a amazing movie. The story is really wonky in trying to create the origins of Superman. The Krypton views are a masterpiece finally seeing the homeland of Superman. The hints at the other DC comic heroes out there is a sweet touch for building up a team up movie.

+ Krypton
+ Michael Shannon
+ DC hero hints

- Run Time
- Suit
- Flying


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Sources:
Image 1: Accessed On June 15th, 2013. ( http://sfappeal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Man-of-Steel.jpg)

Image 2: Accessed On June 15th, 2013. (http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/51b8bdb069bedd4260000001-1525-1144/man-of-steel-kevin-costner-1.jpg)

Image 3: Accessed On June 15th, 2013. (http://cdn.sheknows.com/articles/2013/04/Justine/man-of-steel-trailer.jpg)

Image 4: Accessed On June 15th, 2013. (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrVzKsTtxaowZZA7T19nItlP8C6b9wWMdEFjF5Ix4axL5lCO_FvmmDshkrIzvPTwGjt6DioWS28Eq9M2CRloekK_Vezw3ajSNxwaGi15a5xTV5v5yqTl0vOZ5gLY4J_QD0gHp9ZKyj-_5/s1600/superman-man-of-steel-new-images-from-the-movie+%282%29.jpg)

Image 5: Accessed On June 15th, 2013. (http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/i/2013/06/13/man-of-steel-box-office-02.jpg)

Preview: "Batman: Arkham Origins" (2013) "Teasing Me With A Movie?"

By: Gabriel Roderick

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So today the first official teaser of Batman Arkham Origins.



And I'm left with much anticipation and also fears for this game!





Granted I know it was just a trailer to silence the fans since the games announcement a few months back, but this cinematic trailer seemed more like another Christopher Nolan film than a video game.

 

I understand that's the way video games are headed these days but come on, I want there to be a distinction between my Batman video games and movies just saying.

My other issue that I had was Batman's suit seemed better than the one he left Arkham City with at the end of the second game. This could just be me, but this was a ninja awesome suit that could combat with Deathstroke. What happens to this suit in the future?

That aside my feelings of the trailer are that this is a final or climatic scene showing a much wiser Batman finally able to finish the villains on Christmas night!

The background was awesome and I hope they incorporate all the weather effects of the snow and cold temperature in the fighting and overall playability of the game!

Besides Batman's battle with the assassin's and Deathstroke, he'll also be fighting Black Mask and other mob members. And lets not forget this will tell the story on how Penguin got his glass eye and of course Commissioner Gordan will only be the Captain at this point.

This is the ultimate teaser leaving such great anticipation for this game seeing as a lot of the things we loved of the previous games are gone! I still have faith in the Bat, but I do hope that Deathstroke is a lot stronger than he appears to be in the video! 

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Review: "Injustice: Gods Among Us" (2013) "Crash Of The Gods?"

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Let me first by saying I had low expectations after the playing the demo! However this was a HUGE step up from the demo! 

By: Gabriel Roderick

Though all fighting games have flaws!

Let's start off with the things I liked about this game. For one graphically it's impressive compared to it the other MK games. It looks like your watching a movie with it's cut scenes which is always nice!

Something I didn't like for about the graphics was the predecessor Mortal Kombat vs. DC. Universe had battle worn fighters. This game you can me smashed and bashed and no damage is showed. I would love to see torn costumes and blood emitting from the heroes. 

Control wise this is the game. With easy combos for certain characters, it makes kicking butt easy! However the controls to me were also flawed. For one the combos where not as easy for most characters and seeing as when your playing in story mode you HAVE to play as most characters. Plus once again this game  has a sluggish feeling to it which does effect the game in more modes than one.

Which is okay to me at some points because a few of the super heroes have the best combos and easily became my favorites. Aquaman (Surprisingly right?), Green Lantern and Deathstroke were my favorite characters in the game!

Something that truly hurts this game is that's a T game! These specials that each character can do should be fatalities! At least they could have kept the x-ray vision when destroying the opponent.

Why Aquaman?

For once he's got the huge staff to beat the crap out of everyone, plus his special is throwing you into the ocean for sharks, come on!

Plus not to ruin the story but they have a total role switch. We see Green Lantern beaten by Superman but Aquaman is able to hold his own against the man of steel. He's even able to dodge a attack from Flash when's running at him. How could you not want to use him!

Characters I didn't like where Batman (I know Right!?!), Wonder-woman and Superman of course. For two reasons, they are overrated and of course they have to be the most sluggish characters in the game.

 If they corner you they constantly hit you with the same combo which is hard to counter. But when your playing as one of them, you can barley work off a combo and just button mash your opponent till you can hit them with a finisher.

Online of this game is great for the PSN. Surprisingly there is little lag and they match you up with fighters which you can easily request a rematch. Just as if you were playing with them in the room right next to you.

 The game plays A LOT like Tekken 6 which is my all time fighter. The level up system not only pertains to the story but also online, the experience you earn carries over to both.

However my only complaint with the multiplayer is the sluggishness of the mechanics. This makes the online feel like a 1980s arcade game, and just button smashing your opponent.

This game has one of the best story lines to a super hero game I've ever played. It picks up the used ideas of the first game, MK. vs DC. Though there is no relation to the two. I do like the idea that it's basically a huge what if!

What if Superman became a tyrant?

What if Joker and Lex Luthor were the good guys?

The story hits the title home! The world you play in is a reverse world where justice is the injustice and Superman and other League members are seen as gods.

As I said before the story has amazing cut scenes but sadly is plagued with some cheesy dialogue and at some points drags. It's funny that this game drags seeing as it's only about 5 hours. Which is pretty dismal for the story that they're trying to portray.

I understand the whole point was to lead up to Superman vs. Superman however I was surprised that good Superman doesn't enter until the very end. This could easily have been fixed.

Now to compensate for the short story the game has a mode called S.T.A.R. L.A.B.S. This mode is playing as your favorite super hero and completing odd tasks and fights with stipulations. If you pre ordered the game you can play as the Red Son Superman which adds a whole other story to the game BUT with conditions in your fights. This extra mode adds about another 3 hours to the game for full completion.

Best part of the story is this game has a killer ending which leaves the idea of the war continuing on the other side of the dimension. I think they have left a good enough mark in order to have a sequel that is relevant this time. I'm pretty confident to they'd be able to fix the mistakes that I found.

Our Honest View gives Injustice: Gods Among Us 7.9/10. This game truly packs a punch and is a huge improvement from it's predecessors. However it has some major flaws that pull it down. The fact that the game is rated T hurts the game so much. In a world where it's injustice or justice and it's down to the wire fatalities should count for something. Also these sluggish mechanics just don't count, in a day and age where games look so real. I want the most realistic fighting game!

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Replay Value: Campaign (Moderate) Multiplayer (Infinite) 

Similar Games! 

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Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe

 

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Preview: "Batman: Arkham Origins" (2013) "The Greatest Hero Must Have A Prequel As Well"

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By: Gabriel Roderick

Today couldn't bring a huger or better announcement for us!

The new Batman game has finally been given a release date, title and of course plot!

Batman: Arkham Origins will be released on October 25, 2013. The plot is a prequel like all games these days. But hey every hero needs their prequel am I right?

We know what will happen and why Joker met his fate but we don't know how he it got to this point between the two! I can't see moving forward for awhile without ruining the series.

This game will not be developed by Rocksteady Studios this time around, instead being worked on in-house at Warner Bros. Games Montreal. Which I'm okay with because the team consists of Eric Holmes, lead designer of games including The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction and Prototype.

What has me both exciting and a little yancy is the idea of Batman meeting most of his villains for the first time. How far back are we going guys?  Deathstroke is confirmed for this game, and is on the cover with Batman for this months game informer!

I really just want to see Joker not going to lie but I'm hoping this game plays like Uncharted 3 with flashbacks and moving forward. But according to Game Informer the point of the game is the 8 Assassin's that come to Arkahm City on Christmas Eve to finish the bat. These are the defining villains who make the batman we've seen in the past games! This game is so close to Batman year one, I don't know why they don't call it Batman Year One!!

Something also interesting to note is this game is not a next gen game, it has been announced for PC, PS3, Wii U, and Xbox 360, let's give it one last bam before we get to next gens.

But if this game produces the same stunning graphics as the first two, why even bother with next gen? Another cool feature is Ps Vita and 3DS will have their own versions titled title, Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate. These games will have the same release date and brought to you buy them minds of the makers of Metroid Trilogy. So hopefully a good super hero game finally for hand held??

I have high standards for this game for plot, controls and everything but graphics. This because two weeks prior to it's release Beyond: Two Souls comes out and with their engine only performing at about 30% in their last game they promised to dominate!

Check back here for more on Batman: Akrham Origins coming soon (10/25/13)!

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Review: "Injustice: Gods Among Us DEMO" (2013) "FINSH HIM.... T-Rated Style"

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So I went into this demo with high hopes seeing the success of the new Mortal Kombat game.

I was a little let down however. The game seemed way to easier and seemed to follow the same format as Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe, the less popular of the two Mortal Kombat games on current gen consoles.

For one the game tries so hard at giving you fatalities but pushes as far as a T rating can go for killing another super hero which for Batman's case is basically having the Batmoblie run over you. The game also plays just like the predecessor MK vs DC.

When this game was proposed it was suppose to be a fresh reboot just like they did with the new MK game, but it's basically ripping out the MK characters.

Don't get me wrong this isn't the worse thing in the world because graphically the game is A LOT better, Batman looks amazing and so does Doomsday, however they still look like huge non moveable characters. I do like the background scenes though because there is a lot of detail and interactions between fighters and backgrounds are MUCH improved and more realistic. Well as realistic as possible. 

The controls are very easy to get use to especially the combos, however I found running very sluggish and cumbersome just like the predecessor.

Some little things that bothered me was that the game was suppose to account for the heroes actual abilities. It's a some thing to bother me but I can't see Batman roundhouse kicking Doomsday across the screen. I suppose there is some good in this then because Superman will not be a god!

Like this demo I'll keep my review short and sweet. There wasn't enough to truly give the demo a score but I hope to see more improvements or maybe some features they're holding back for the actually game release in two weeks. I'm sure story modes and playing online will add huge features to the game, and help bring some life to it. Otherwise it'll be another fighting game. I still have some faith since Mortal Kombat creators didn't want to give this a M rating and leave that to the other serious that they had a reason behind this. Though the demo is a tiny glimpse maybe there is more behind the mask. Super hero puns.

As it stands it's not a bad game at all just not a huge improvement or step forward for fighting games, graphically it's ten times better than MK. vs DC. but truly the same game over again. Doesn't really feel like this is coming from the same guys that brought us the new MK. I wish they used the same physics system, I mean if it works it works.

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By: Gabriel Roderick

Gabe Roderick's Favorite Game Series! Dun-a-nun-a-nun-a-nun-a-nun-a-BATMAAAAN!

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If you're still wondering what my favorite game series is? It's Batman!
Well more specifically Rocksteady Studios "Batman Arkham Asylum" and "Batman: Arkham City".

To get into the time the setting both games take place over one hell of a night for Batman respectively. And are about 8 months apart in story making many references in the sequel to it's predecessor. (SO PLAY THE FIRST ONE FIRST)

Graphically this game is amazing you truly feel like your the Cape Crusader. I enjoyed them so much I had to get Mark Hamil's Joker and Kevin Conroy's Batman. I just had to dedicate my arm to them! IF not my life since I 100% both games on Xb360 and PS3. For both games to 100% across platforms took me well over 6 months of gaming.

You get all the toys Batman gets and of course get to play all the puzzles he must complete with to survive. Since you play as the greatest detective you get a detective lenses on your batsuit so you can find secret passages and stalk your prey. This makes stealth and knowing your environment a must, so take the time to scan EVERYTHING.

The first game is stopping Joker and take back Arkham Asylum. Of course like everything in the Batman series, Joker is truly Batman's adversary. Since you are in Joker's playground (Arkham Asylum) you must defeat many of Batman's past enemies such as Poison Ivy, Evil Croc and Bane that Batman previously put away.

This is a very different Bane than Christopher Nolan's films. This Bane is about 10 times bigger than Batman and packs a punch. Joker of course becomes infected with the Titan Serum which makes him become like Bane. Not to ruin the story but it leaves with a cliff hanger like every good game. NOW the cool part about this game is it's mostly stealth, seeing as Batman is not bullet proof or uses guns you have to be stealthy with how you takedown the inmates.

This can be very tricky at times but with your detective kit and toys it makes the game very strategic and fun! Now there are parts in the game where you can go straight out and attack groups of inmates. Just be sure to use the counter button to counter any attack when promoted to.

The game is very linear in a way you can explore a little bit of Arkham Asylum but it isn't that big of place which is okay because you'll be doing plenty to keep you busy. Such as saving guards, finding and working the hidden Batcave (spoiler) AND my favorite part of the game Riddler Trophies. The Riddler who you never really see in the game has left numerous trophies all over the place and it's up to you to solve and find each other. This isn't a main component of the game but adds mucho replay value and of course you like to 100% games.

NOW 2 years later actuality Rocksteady Studios released the second installment of the series with this amazing trailer.

**Borrowed from IGN**

This game is far different from its predecessor in one major way. It's open world there's about 50 hours of side quest and missions to do helping or trying to fix just about everything in Arkham City. There is so much stuff to explore and find in the city. The city is truly yours.

The difference in story however is, Joker is dying from using the Titan Serum. And now Batman is also infected, giving both limited time to either find a cure or both die together. Eventually you'll have to relie on the help of past enemies which means fighting their enemies since the city is in complete Anarchy.

You'll even be saving many of the guards before different gangs kill them.

The best part about the story is you get to play as Catwoman as well and how she experienced this night of hell. Once you complete the game you get the option to play through again as Catwoman.

Not only is there a huge amount of FREE choice in a Batman game there is some much story into the mystery that is Batman. You'll also play as Robin and see their relationship but also it gives you the idea in a world without Joker can Batman be BATMAN!

Learning about Batman's relationships with Catowoman, Joker, Robin and even Harley Quinn just proves how this is the first Batman game you are truly Batman.

When the game of the year edition came out about a year later I re-bought the game just to get all the extra content. The DLC such as playing as Robin and of course what happened after the game finishes on that fateful night in Arkham City.

Prepare to be saddened, happy, and pissed at the same time. You get such a sopranos ending with Batman saying nothing when the end result occurs. Making you believe the Cape Crusader is done.
WAIT then Rocksteady came out with the best DLC, "Harley Quinn's Revenge." giving players the ending they deserved. Helping find each character find closure with the end result of the main game, in this DLC a majority of the game play is as Adult Robin. **THOUGH WE WERE HOPING FOR NIGHTWING, OR JASON TODD**

Not to ruin the story of this one either but they're even more villains such as Penguin, Freeze, and of course Clayface.

The best part about playing this game was enjoying it a long with the album. This was the first time I played a game along with it's soundtrack. The bands such as Coheed and Camrbria and Daughtry  got to play the game early which inspired the songs they wrote. Daughtry's song "Drown In You" "depicts the story and relationship between Batman, Catwoman and Joker.

NOW: I will get into the future of the game series. The ending of the second game ends what Rocksteady could progress with. However two new Batman games have surfaced one for 2013 and another for 2014.

The one for 2013 will be made by Warner Bros. another company apart of the game series, this game according to multiple sites will serve as a prequel to the past two games. And a prequel of what the beginning of Batman you may ask, well no. A game based on the night Batman and Joker first encountered each other.

The second game made by Rocksteady will be out in 2014 this game would tell the story of the Silver Age Comics and go into detail the relationships with Flash, Superman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern. Could this be the beginning of the Justice League? Due to Marvel's Avengers success.

Regardless of two different games I don't care, I'll play bother because I'll be Batman which is the only important part. Prequel's are the way to go I much rather that than them moving forwarded when Joker (spoiler) is finally gone.





Replay Value: Moderately High (For Both Games) 

By: Gabriel Roderick

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