Christmas Reviews:

Some minor reviews of things I've already checked out, all for you.

Indiana Jones
Watched the Raiders of the Lost Ark which I never really watched before with Cynthia. Turns out all the bits and pieces I've watched over the span of my life add up to the full picture. DVD quality is pretty amazing, I must say. Will have to watch the other three disks later.

Return of the Secaucus 7
The one movie I got this Christmas that I'd never seen before. I got it because it was John Sayles' directorial debut as well as the acting debut of David Strathairn. A fairly good picture that is supposedly what inspired the much weaker The Big Chill, involves the reuniting of a group of seven friends for their high school reunion or some nonsense. The characters are important in this movie and it is great despite some weak acting by some players who don't fit their parts.

This is the third movie I've seen David Strathairn in, and I've realized why I like him so much. He may very well be the way I figured out what good acting is. Every time I see him in a movie, I think to myself, "That could be what he's like in real life." He's so convincing in everything he does that I can't discern what the real person might be like underneath the skin. That's good acting, IMHO. One of the actresses in the movie fails at this completely, supposedly a doctor, she was totally unbelievable. I just couldn't see her as a doctor, too unconvincing. David Strathairn never fails.

Burnout 2
I immediately went to the crash mode. Great stuff, even if it could use many more customization options (of which there are none). How about the ability to manipulate the level of traffic? Change camera angles? Etc, etc, etc. It controls well, and is very good looking. Crashes are still spectacular. Two player crash mode is a good time. Would be much more of a good time if it was customizable. Sad. ;(

Viewtiful Joe
Played just a bit of this. I enjoyed it muchly even though it kicked my ass. Very good looking, easy to control, pretty fun to play. Difficult.

Soul Calibur 2 (GC)
Beautiful. Link is a crappy character I think, but I think need to get accustomed to the Cube's controller. Very, very good looking, impressive.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Opening level sucks big time. I hope when I spend more time with it, it gets better. So far, bleh, but the graphics are great. Whoever they have do the new Turtle's voices should be shot. The new theme song sucks balls too. So sad. ;( Should be good multiplayer beat them up.

Elastica - The Radio One Sessions
Damn good stuff! It's like the classic Elastica tracks you love, but different, and dare I say it, better versions of them. Also, it includes "Spastica" which has to be the best Elastica song ever. Lots of good stuff over all, excellent CD. Will get many spins in my car very loudly.

Toadies - The Best of Toadies: Live From Paradise
Good stuff as well. I listened to it fairly quietly which is completely wrong. A great live disc for them, "no overdubbing! warts and all!" as the case says. Todd's voice certainly sucks in some ways live, since his yelling turns into gravelly screaming at parts and just isn't as smooth and lovely as it is on the records. New experience for me, I guess.