Video Game Review: Trials Evolution [XBLA]

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Trials Evolution [XBLA]

Trials Evolution
System: Xbox Live Arcade
Genre: Platform, Racing
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Developer: RedLynx
Release Date: April 18, 2012

Now THIS is how you make a sequel.

Trials Evolution takes everything that made its predecessor, Trials HD, so great but increases it tenfold. The same physics-based motorcycle platforming gameplay returns, but now it is sharper than ever with more refined controls and a larger variety in environments.

While Trials HD put you squarely in abandoned warehouses with little differences visually, Evolution gives you the great outdoors. The vast majority of the game’s levels take place outside, showing bright blue skies, vivid scenery and huge dirt hills (among other obstacles). The tracks are also much more spacious than before, as no longer do you feel contained to a single, tiny line. It’s quite the contrast from before, and the new environments really help give the game a brand new look. There are even levels where the camera rotates as you approach a twist in the track, something once unheard of. This doesn’t feel like a rehashed Trials HD; this feels like a brand new game.

Trials Evolution [XBLA]

A different campaign progression system is in place. This time around, tracks are unlocked after earning a certain amount of medals. Gold medals are worth three points, silver two, and bronze one. It takes 135 points to unlock the notoriously brutal ‘Extreme’ tracks, so perfecting some of the easier levels is a must. Technically, unlocking ‘Extreme’ is considered beating the game, but any Trials veteran knows this is hardly the case. This is a game that is infinitely replayable since there is always the ability to improve upon your race times, and also to attempt to beat your friends (or those on the leaderboard).

Brand new to Trials Evolution is the addition of a multiplayer mode. This adds even more replay value, as now you can race against others online, either visibly on the same track or against their “ghost” forms. Matchmaking is still a little rough at spots, but it is a blast when you get a good group of people playing. Just a heads up, though: there are A LOT of great players online, enough to potentially make you feel bad about your skills (even if you are really good as well).

Trials Evolution [XBLA]

Another killer improvement is the revamped user creation system. The level editor is loaded with features, and the sky is pretty much the limit when it comes to what you can do. Perhaps most welcome is the addition of a more useful sharing system. Now you don’t have to send created tracks from peer-to-peer — they can be downloaded via a main portal instead. It’s easier than ever to find/share new content.

The bottom line is that Trials Evolution is an improvement in every sense of the word, and it is one of the best sequels I have ever played. Fans of the original absolutely must play this, and anyone interested in racing, platforming and/or physics puzzlers should give this a shot. Don’t let the dirtbikes and godawful rap metal music throw you off — this is a very well-made game that is more than worth its $15 price tag.

9/10

 
 
For those curious about just how awesome the user community is for Trials Evolution, check out this amazing fanmade track with a kickass music theme:

Poll Results: Most Anticipated June 2012 Movie Releases

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As if there were any doubt:

Prometheus

THE RESULTS:
- Prometheus: 17 votes
- Brave: 9 votes
- Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter: 3 votes
- Seeking a Friend For the End of the World: 3 votes
- Snow White and the Huntsmen: 3 votes
- Magic Mike: 1 vote
- Rock of Ages: 1 vote
- Other: Safety Not Guaranteed: 1 vote

We all knew Prometheus would finish #1, so that’s why I went the multiple choice route with this poll. Brave finished second as expected, but it’s good to see some scattered votes for a handful of other films. June doesn’t look like *too* thrilling of a month overall, but there could be some surprises in there. Here’s hoping!

THIS WEEK’S POLL: With Men in Black 3 opening this weekend, there has been a lot of talk about Will Smith. Fogs’ Movie Reviews had a great discussion about everyone’s perception of the popular actor, and I want to add to it:

What is Will Smith’s best film? Like him or not, the man has had a very successful career so far, and there should be quite a few legit contenders in this poll. Should be fun to see how this one turns out.

Have a great holiday weekend everyone!

Movie Project #18: Rocky [1976]

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Due to the surprising success of my initial Movies Project, I decided to do a part two for 2012. This time around I put a greater emphasis on directors I am not familiar with, but I also tried to compile a mix of different genres and eras. This will be an ongoing project with the finish date being sometime this year.

Rocky [1976]

Rocky [1976]
Director: John G. Avildsen
Genre: Action/Drama/Sports
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Carl Weathers, Burt Young and Burgess Meredith
Runtime: 119 minutes

I watched Rocky at the perfect time — I was very sick and needed to spend some time resting. What better way to get me through a nasty illness than by watching one of the most popular (and inspirational) sports films of all time?

Now six films deep, the original Rocky is still regarded as the best of the series. Sylvester Stallone, a virtual unknown at the time, wrote the screenplay and starred as the eponymous Rocky Balboa, an underachieving Philadelphia boxer who works as a debt collector on the side. He is poorly educated and fights in dimly light venues, often bringing in just a small cut of the gate revenue. Little does he know it, but Balboa is about to get the biggest break of his life.

Undefeated world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), a flamboyant and cocky star, is coming into town for a championship bout on New Year’s Day 1976, the year of the U.S. Bicentennial. After his opponent becomes injured, Creed comes up with the idea of giving a local fighter a shot at his title. While scouring through names of those in the city, he stumbles upon the “Italian Stallion” — Rocky Balboa. It’s as if you can see the light bulb and/or dollar signs appear over Apollo’s head. This is his man.

Aided by his friend Paulie (Burt Young), his quiet-and-reserved girlfriend Adrien (Talia Shire) and his trainer Mickey (Burgess Meredith), Rocky begins training for a fight he never expected to have. Hell, Rocky doesn’t even think he can beat Apollo — he just wants to go the distance (something never accomplished against the champion).

Rocky [1976]

At its core, Rocky (the film) is a terrific underdog story. This is the stuff small-time and aspiring boxers (and other athletes) dream of — to break through and get their big moment. In a way, it is a glimpse at the American Dream, working hard to catch that big break. Of course, in Rocky’s case it was dumb luck (or rather, a catchy nickname) that got him his title match, but the sentiment is the same.

While pop culture has somewhat diluted the story of Rocky over the years, the fact remains that this is still an uplifting film. It is presented in a way that is very easy to digest, and the movie is one that most will be able to relate to. The fact that this was selected as Best Picture winner over several other greats such as Taxi Driver, All the President’s Men and Network, runs parallel to the film’s underdog story. With a classic rags-to-riches story, strong action scenes and an unforgettable soundtrack, Rocky is still enjoyable today.

8/10

Poll Results: Best Tim Burton & Johnny Depp Collaboration

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Last week’s poll results are in! The winner for the best Tim Burton & Johnny Depp collaboration was:

Edward Scissorhands

THE RESULTS:
- Edward Scissorhands: 10 votes
- Sleepy Hollow: 3 votes
- Sweeney Todd: 3 votes
- Alice in Wonderland: 1 vote
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: 1 vote
- Ed Wood: 1 vote

No contest here. Judging from last week’s comments, it seemed like Edward Scissorhands would be the odds-on favorite, and sure enough it was victorious. I am ashamed to admit that I have never actually seen that movie, but all of these votes make it clear I need to do so soon. Good stuff guys, and it’s nice to see a handful of other films receive votes as well.

THIS WEEK’S POLL: What *two* June movie releases are you most looking forward to? I am making this a multiple choice poll because I have a pretty good idea of what will win this one.

Also, I know how much everyone enjoys a good poll, so I would like to take this time to recommend an exciting new tournament going on over at Journeys in Classic Film. Kristen, the site’s owner, is running the Best Leading Man tournament in which readers are to vote for their favorite actor from each decade, starting with the 1930s. You can head over by clicking this banner:

Movie Project #17: Coffy [1973]

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Due to the surprising success of my initial Movies Project, I decided to do a part two for 2012. This time around I put a greater emphasis on directors I am not familiar with, but I also tried to compile a mix of different genres and eras. This will be an ongoing project with the finish date being sometime this year.

Coffy [1973]

Coffy [1973]
Director: Jack Hill
Genre: Action/Crime/Thriller
Starring: Pam Grier, Booker Bradshaw and Robert DoQui
Runtime: 91 minutes

“They call her ‘Coffy’ and she’ll cream you!”

Coffy (Pam Grier) has had enough. She’s tired of the pushers, the pimps and the police corruption that have taken over her town. When her 11-year-old sister gets hooked on heroin and is sent to rehab, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Let’s be sure: this is one chick you DON’T want to mess with.

Jack Hill’s Coffy is one of the premier films from cinema’s prime blaxploitation period, and it kicked off a series of titles where Pam Grier played the lead badass. Grier is fantastic in this film, confidently taking on the lead role where she uses her inherent sexiness to infiltrate the seedy underworld.

Coffy [1973]

Coffy (the character) takes justice into her own hands by working from the inside to take down a flamboyant pimp named King George (Robert DoQui) and the violent Mafia boss Arturo Vitroni (Allan Arbus). She also finds out that her casual boyfriend, city councillor Howard Brunswick (Booker Bradshaw) is corrupt and has no problem working with drug dealers for his own personal gain. All of these men are targets for the feisty Coffy.

Coffy is a B-movie by and large, and it is a blast to watch. The exuberant 70s fashion, cheeky one-liners, gratuitous nudity and a killer soundtrack from Roy Ayers (with songs that helpfully describe the action on screen) all add up to make this a very fun ride. A must-see for anyone interested in 70s cinema and/or blaxploitation films.

8/10

Cult Movie Review: The Trip [1967]

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The Trip [1967]

The Trip [1967]
Director: Roger Corman
Genre: Drama
Starring: Peter Fonda, Susan Strasberg, Dennis Hopper and Bruce Dern
Runtime: 85 minutes

After reading Jack Deth’s great post on Roger Corman over at Front Room Cinema, I was inspired to see one of the legendary director’s films. There was one in particular that stood out to me: The Trip, a 1967 feature written by Jack Nicholson. As luck would have it, the film is currently available on Netflix Instant Watch.

As the title would suggest, The Trip is all about LSD. Filmed in “psychedelic color”, the movie stars Peter Fonda as Paul Groves, a young television commercial director who is heartbroken over the divorce proceedings with his adulterous wife. Looking for some sort of guidance with his life, Paul decides to embark on his first acid trip with the help of his friend John (Bruce Dern), an experienced advocate of psychedelics.

The Trip [1967]

From this point on, we follow Paul as he fades in and out of reality, essentially joining him on this trip. He sees all sorts of things, some real, some not. Kaleidoscopic colors, dwarves, strobe lights, naked dancers, druids, police.

Paul meanders aimlessly through these visuals and starts to freak himself out. In a fit of terror, he escapes the house (and his ‘sitter’) and wanders off to the city. This is when the movie really shines, as now we get to see how Paul interacts with others. A conversation with a not-so-classy lady at the laundromat is freakin’ hilarious and is the highlight of the movie. The lady suspects something is off with Paul as he plays around with the washing machines, but she appreciates the attention regardless.

The Trip [1967]

The movie culminates with Paul returning to where he came, this time running into a young Dennis Hopper, whose character also acts as a sort of guide for our acid-ingesting friend.

The Trip is a relic of its time, a fascinating snapshot of the Summer of Love and its free-spirited hippies. It has been said that Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson all took acid together in order to prepare for the film. Even Roger Corman dropped acid for the first time so he had a better idea of how to direct this film. Perhaps most amazing is that Bruce Dern, not a fan of drug culture whatsoever, was able to play an acid guide so effectively. He is the voice of reason throughout the film, a way to keep Paul in check and make sure he has a good time.

Obviously, this isn’t a movie that everyone will enjoy. The first half of the film drags along as Paul doesn’t do too terribly much, but it becomes wildly entertaining once he hits the city. It certainly helps to have an interest in the late 60s counterculture period and/or psychedelics in general to fully appreciate this. Music buffs will get a kick out of The Electric Flag’s groovy soundtrack as well.

7/10

Movie Project #16: The Truman Show [1998]

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Due to the surprising success of my initial Movies Project, I decided to do a part two for 2012. This time around I put a greater emphasis on directors I am not familiar with, but I also tried to compile a mix of different genres and eras. This will be an ongoing project with the finish date being sometime this year.

The Truman Show [1998]

The Truman Show [1998]
Director: Peter Weir
Genre: Comedy/Drama/Sci-Fi
Starring: Jim Carrey, Ed Harris and Laura Linney
Runtime: 103 minutes

I’m not sure what took me so long to finally see The Truman Show. Maybe it was because I thought it would be too similar to Edtv, a likeminded film I remember seeing around that time period (though now I honestly don’t remember much about it). Perhaps it was because I had reservations about Jim Carrey in this type of role. Whatever the case, I am glad that I included this in my new project and finally seeked it out.

Jim Carrey stars as Truman Burbank, a man who is unknowingly under surveillance 24/7, the star of a TV show he knows nothing about. He has been filmed since the day he was born, set up in an artificial world built under the watchful eye of its creator, Christof (Ed Harris). The life designed for Truman is not unlike what you would find in Suburbia, U.S.A.: he has a loving wife, Meryl (Laura Linney), a stable desk job, and a best friend (Noah Emmerich) to drink beer with. Every detail has been thought out, and a large number of viewers watch his show every day.

The Truman Show [1998]

Things begin to go awry when Truman suspects something is off with the town he lives in. Strange happenings occur on the 30th year of the show. A falling spotlight from the artificial constellation above nearly hits him on his way to work. Later, his car radio picks up a strange feed from the show’s crew, and Truman hears them describing his actions in real time. The kicker, however, is when Truman sees his allegedly dead father on the street dressed as a homeless man. Before he gets the chance to talk with his “father”, the man is whisked away on a bus by the powers to be.

Now questioning just what the hell is going on, Truman becomes determined to leave his town and see what life is like outside of Seahaven.

The story sets itself up as a drama, but also as a sneaky satire that lends way to some amusing moments. There are several funny jabs at in-show advertising. Characters make sure to show product logos at all times, and occasionally make the sales pitch to go along with them. Even Truman’s wife is in on the act.

Jim Carrey was given a chance to show off his dramatic acting chops in this movie, and he passes the test with flying colors. Right from the start, Truman is easily likable as Carrey injects his natural charisma into the character without going overboard. He still has his funny moments, but they are much more subdued (when compared to, say, The Mask or Ace Ventura).

The Truman Show [1998]

I was also impressed with the rest of the cast, a laundry list of strong names that add quite a bit to the film even in small roles. Laura Linney and Ed Harris are terrific, but the pleasant surprises of seeing Natascha McElhone (as Truman’s forbidden love interest), Paul Giamatti (a control room director) and Peter Krause (Truman’s boss at work), among others, were great as well.

In a way, The Truman Show was a bit of foreshadowing for something that would happen the year after its release: the debut of CBS’s voyeuristic TV show, Big Brother. Looking back now, the movie is even more relevant today with the unfortunate rise in popularity of these so-called “reality TV” shows. Hell, the film even has its own psychological delusion titled “The Truman Show Syndrome“.

I quite enjoyed The Truman Show, and I am happy that I saw it for the first time in 2012 with several years perspective. It’s not a perfect film — there are some ideas that I would have loved to have seen elaborated — but its sharp satire and strong cast really hit the spot for me.

8/10

Poll Results: Favorite HBO Series

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Last week’s poll winner came right down to the wire (no pun intended)…

Game of Thrones

THE RESULTS:
- Game of Thrones: 7 votes
- The Wire: 6 votes
- The Sopranos: 3 votes
- Six Feet Under: 2 votes
- Entourage: 2 votes
- Rome: 2 votes
- Big Love: 1 vote
- Boardwalk Empire: 1 vote
- Curb Your Enthusiasm: 1 vote
- True Blood: 1 vote
- Other: Band of Brothers: 1 vote (sorry, mini-series don’t count for this poll)

Wow. I must say I am a little surprised to see the newcomer Game of Thrones win this one. It’s an awesome show, no doubt, but it doesn’t have the long-lasting legacy that so many other HBO series have (at least not yet). My prediction beforehand was that The Wire would win out, but it finished a close second. It was nice to see so many shows get some love here — great voting everyone!

This week’s poll: What is the best Tim Burton & Johnny Depp collaboration?

LAMB Movie of the Month Review: Heathers [1988]

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Heathers [1988]

Heathers [1988]
Director: Michael Lehmann
Genre: Comedy
Starring: Winona Ryder, Christian Slater and Shannen Doherty
Runtime: 103 minutes

I was pleased to see Heathers selected as the LAMB Movie of the Month. This is a film that has been on my must-see list for a while now, and its nomination gave me validation to bump it up in the queue and finally sit down to tackle this cult hit / dark comedy.

The film gets its name from a high school clique of popular/rich girls that all share the first name of Heather. They are cruel to everyone in school, and despised by most. Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder) is a classmate of theirs who associates with them to maintain her popular status. Veronica is generally more caring than her associates, but is forced to act like them in order to remain “friends”.

Heathers [1988]

Things get interesting at school when Jason Dean (Christian Slater) shows up. J.D. is a rebel, a new guy who doesn’t give a shit about anyone or anything. Naturally, Veronica finds him to be fascinating, and the two hit it off. As Veronica is disgusted with her “friends”, she works with J.D. to concoct a plan to get rid of them one-by-one. This plan is taken to another level, however, when J.D. poisons the lead Heather (Kim Walker), killing her and leaving a note behind to frame it as a suicide. This is only the beginning of what soons become J.D.’s rampage, one that Veronica struggles to stay away from.

Going into Heathers, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew it was a dark comedy (which I generally love) and that it starred Christian Slater in his breakthrough role. What I didn’t expect was non-stop snappy dialogue that had me in hysterics, and the very dark suicide subject matter. In this regard, I loved what the film had to offer.

Heathers [1988]

On the other hand, there was one thing that nearly ruined the movie for me: Christian f’n Slater. I am not too familiar with his work, having only seen him in True Romance, but he was beyond grating as James Dean. Slater’s godawful Jack Nicholson impression is just terrible, and I could not help thinking as such every time he appeared on screen. Based on this performance, it blows my mind that he was once considered a heartthrob.

If J.D.’s role were given to a more competent actor, I wholeheartedly believe that Heathers would rank among my favorite comedies. As such, while I enjoyed the film, I did not fall in love with it like I wanted to. There’s so much to like, especially the witty dialogue and Winona Ryder’s fun performance, but Slater really drags the film down. Still, it’s easy to see why this is a cult hit, and it’s worth seeing regardless.

7/10

Movie Project #15: All About My Mother [1999]

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Due to the surprising success of my initial Movies Project, I decided to do a part two for 2012. This time around I put a greater emphasis on directors I am not familiar with, but I also tried to compile a mix of different genres and eras. This will be an ongoing project with the finish date being sometime this year.

All About My Mother [1999]

All About My Mother [1999]
Director: Pedro Almodóvar
Genre: Drama
Starring: Cecilia Roth, Marisa Paredes, Antonia San Juan, Penélope Cruz and Candela Peña
Runtime: 101 minutes

It is fitting that I included All About My Mother in this movie project, especially after recently watching All About Eve. Pedro Almodóvar’s 1999 ode to women won the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar that year, and it is laced with references to the seminal 1950 classic. Not only is this a movie also dominated by women, but there is even a brief clip of a Spanish dubbed version of All About Eve near the beginning of the film. At one point, the main character is even called Eve Harrington by name as a sort of insult. What’s funny is that I didn’t plan this at all; I added All About My Mother simply because multiple sources told me this was a great entry point into Pedro Almodóvar’s canon. Mission accomplished: I am now eager to see more of his work.

Argentine actress Cecilia Roth stars as Manuela, a nurse overcome by grief after watching her 17-year-old son die in a tragic car accident. Still suffering, she quits her job in the organ transplant department and travels to Barcelona to find her son’s father and tell him the news. While there, she meets up with an old friend, transvestite prostitute Agrado (Antonia San Juan), becomes close to a pregnant nun (Penélope Cruz), and also begins working for famous actress Huma Rojo (Marisa Peredes).

All About My Mother [1999]

The lives of all four ladies become intertwined, but Manuela is very much the center of the film. Her maternal instincts are constantly being shown, as not only did she care for her son Esteban in the beginning, but she also spends much of the movie taking care of the nun Rosa during her pregnancy. Manuela is a powerful woman with a rough past, and this is displayed flawlessly by Cecilia Roth.

While a straight drama dealing with powerful topics, All About My Mother does have moments of much-welcomed comedy. These snippets of humor are mostly provided by Agrado, who acts as a warm source of comic relief. Agrado’s likable demeanor is especially present when a stage play goes awry, and the character is forced to improvise alone on stage. For a film that tackles such heavy topics as the death of a child, unplanned pregnancies and HIV, bits of laughter are very helpful to lighten the mood a bit.

All About My Mother [1999]

All About My Mother is an intriguing film, one that does not pull any punches. Perhaps most interesting is that everyone was portrayed in the same light — men, women, transgender, none of that mattered. We are all human, and I don’t know if I have seen a better movie to demonstrate this.

8/10

 

Also, I would like to take this time to write a quick “For Your Consideration” note. As many of you know, the LAMMY Awards are underway. If you are a member of the wonderful LAMB (Large Association of Movie Blogs) community, I would love if you considered this 50 Movies Project for the Best Running Feature category. The Warning Sign is also eligible for Best New LAMB, and it would be a blast to be nominated for either award (or anything else, for that matter). Thanks as always for reading, and for your helpful consideration!