Film of the
Week:
Pacific Rim
A few days ago, I got into a conversation with someone about this
film, and they said that they didn’t like it very much, which is fair enough,
but their reason behind it was one that I simply couldn’t agree with. They said
that it’s nothing but ‘robot and monster battling it out for two hours. The
story is practically non-existent and when the story does show up, it’s poorly
written.’ My reasoning behind why I like this movie is because it’s ‘robot and
monster battling it out for two hours.’ What’s not to love about that?
When we were younger, we used to grab our robots and our monsters and
test their might. We used to occupy ourselves for hours on end, creating complete
worlds full of nothing but battle scenes. And that is exactly what this film is
about. Two hours of robot and monster going against each other: Epic imagery
over the top of an awesome soundtrack. What more can you possibly want?
Well, now that we are older, we would like to have some story
between the fight scenes, so we are given one. When gigantic creatures, known
as Kaiju, started rising from the sea and terrorising the world, humankind had
no other choice but to create monsters of their own: Equally as massive robots
known as Jaegers. These Jaegers can only be controlled when two compatible
people are mentally linked via a neural link. If this link is broken, they have
lost all control over the robot. But, as more and more strong Kaiju emerges
from the sea, even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenceless. Raleigh Becket (Charlie
Hunnam) – a former pilot – is recruited back for one more chance at defeating the
Kaiju once and for all. When in search for a compatible partner, he discovers
Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi) – an untested trainee. Together, they must fight the
Kaiju and stop them from emerging from the sea. Can they remain compatible?
I’ll say it again: It’s epic. From beginning to end, the
spectacular imagery will leave you speechless and wanting more. The first time
I saw one of the Jaegers dragging that freighter behind it only to whack one of
the Kaiju with it was easily the highlight of the film for me. If you haven’t
seen it, then you simply don’t know what you are missing.
TV Episode of the Week:
How I Met Your Mother – Season 5 – Episode 12: Girls Vs Suits
This isn’t just another episode, it’s the 100th
episode, and they most definitely honour that in a big way. But, let’s backtrack
a bit and talk about the show as a whole. Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) sits his two
children down to tell them the story of how he met their mother. Starting in
2008 and ending in 2014, How I Met Your Mother follows the adventures of Ted
and his friends, Marshall Eriksen (Jason Segel), Cobie Smulders (Robin Scherbatsky),
Lily Aldrin (Alyson Hannigan), and Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris),
through thick and thin as they battle every day occurrences and those odd
situations as well. It’s funny, eccentric, and stuck to its conclusion
throughout the series by subtly adding specific tenses here and there.
The 100th episode tells of how Barney – who loves wearing
suits – tried to seduce the woman behind the bar, but when it turns out that
she doesn’t like men who wear suits, pledged to stop wearing suits so that she would
then go out with her. It started off easy, but Barney found that he started to
crave his suits. When he was hurriedly putting one of his suits back on, it rips.
Devastated, he takes it to the best tailor in the city to try and get it fixed.
I’ll let you find out what happens next.
To celebrate this episode being the big 100, there is a big song
and dance about how nothing suits Barney better than a suit. It’s well-choreographed,
and well-performed. Overall, it’s a great episode that helps the show to continue
forward for another 100 episodes before it came to an end.
Game of the
Week:
Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2005)
I found out the other day that Need for Speed: Most Wanted – the 2012
version – was free for a limited time for download. An entire game for free,
that’s the good part. The bad part about that is the game. I have to say that I
don’t like the reboot of Most Wanted. It’s too much like Burnout Paradise and
is nothing like the original. I feel as if the reboot is trying to steal the
original’s limelight, and so I am here to acknowledge that it is still a great
game to play.
You are a racer who was once cheated out of losing your car and
was subsequently arrested. Once released due to lack of evidence, Mia helps you
to reclaim was is rightfully yours by giving you a new car and a chance to take
down each member of the blacklist. Once you have worked your way up the list,
you eventually get the chance to take on the number 1 most wanted person on the
blacklist, Razer, the person who has your car. Can you take him out and escape the
police as well.
When you are driving the cars and pushing them to their limits, it
looks and feels as if you are really going that fast. The gradual increase of difficulty
throughout the story prepares you for the final races and the ending to the
story. There’s a sense of achievement when you win each race and defeat each member
on the blacklist. Most Wanted reintroduces the Police and boy do they make it
difficult to escape from. If you have five stars, you had better be skilled
behind the wheel, because there will be no shortage of roadblocks complete with
spike traps, SUVs, helicopters, and a stampede of cars coming from all directions.
Even playing now, after so many years of experience, I can barely escape from a
five star wanted level, but that’s all part of the fun. The game makes you earn
the victories instead of handing them to you on a plate.
And, the reason why this is my number 1 Need for Speed game above
all, is because of one feature that I still don’t know if it was deliberate or
not, but it’s there. I won’t spoil what happens, but I will tell you how to
locate it (although I am pretty sure that most people already know about this
useful feature).
On the main menu, select ‘Quick Race’, then ‘Custom Race’, and
then select circuit. There, select the track Omega. Pick the car you want to
race in and begin the race. When the race starts, follow the track until you
find the underground carpark area. Slam on the brakes, turn around and you will
see that there is no barrier across the entrance. Drive through the underground
carpark and have fun.
Video of the
Week:
The Marauder – Ten Ton Military Vehicle – Top Gear – BBC
By Top Gear
Last week, I made a list about the top 5 Top Gear challenges.
Although this isn’t a challenge, more of a review with a comedic edge to it,
this video shows Richard Hammond driving the Marauder, a beast of a machine
that can trample over any and all ordinary cars that dare to get in its way.
That is all. I’ve linked the video so that you can watch it and enjoy.
Thanks for reading
Antony Hudson
(TonyHadNouns)
My book, Sector 22: Zoey, is now available on Amazon, eBay, and SkyCat Publications' website:
Amazon:
eBay:
SkyCat Publications:
Ask me anything at:
ahudsonpresents@live.co.uk
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