Tag: SEGA

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 – Review

Oh my, it looks like the animated critters have taken over the multiplex during this pre-holiday weekend. While Mufusa’s growls and roars are echoing through the hallways, another CGI-rendered creature is threatening to dash right off the screens. Now, they do have a few other things in common as they are both sequels, with this flick actually the third in a franchise. And it’s not based on a beloved thirty-year-old animated classic, but rather a still-adored video game dynasty (which predates THE LION KING by three years). Oh, and this one includes “real live” actors alongside the “pixel pals”. So what new kicks (and spins and dashes) are in store after two previous outings in SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3?

Well for one thing we’re introduced to a new character (to the film series that started four years ago). At a Tokyo Island G.U.N (Guardian Units of Nations) prison, a creature floating inside a liquid containment chamber is stirring after being dormant for fifty years. A heavily-armed squadron leaps into action but they don’t stand a chance when this black and red hedgehog named Shadow (voice of Keanu Reeves) breaks through the glass. Using his speed and teleporting powers (think Nightcrawler of the X-Men), he escapes into the night. GUN acting director Rockwell (Krysten Ritter) has to call in back-up, namely Sonic (vo: Ben Schwartz), Tails (vo: Colleen O’Shaughnessey), and Knuckles (vo: Idris Elba), a trio of small super-powered alien animals. The trio bids farewell to their adoptive parents Tom (James Marsden) and Maddie (Tika Sumpter) and are whsked to Japan…where they’re defeated by Shadow. Before pursuing him, Sonic and his pals stop to “refuel” at a local eatery and are attacked by floating egg-shaped drones. Luckily they’re helped by a mysterious man in black. It’s none other than an old nemesis, Agent Stone (Lee Mahdoub). He informs them that that drones aren’t sent by his boss, then leads them to the floating underwater home (the “Crab”) of Sonic’s arch-enemy, the now flabby and disheveled Dr. Ivo Robotnik (Jim Carrey). Hearing of the appropriation of his tech he springs into action, theorizing that Shadow is returning to the long-scrapped GUN facility in England. The trio becomes a quintet as they discover the man behind the release of Shadow and the egg drone assault, Ivo’s long-lost grandpa Gerald (also Carrey). It’s all part of his plan to rule the world with his ultimate invention, a space arsenal satellite, the Eclipse Cannon. Can the Sonic crew shut it down despite its defender, the formidable Shadow, before it levels the planet?

Most of the cast (both live and voice) are returning after at least one previous installment of the franchise (and even a streaming series). Schwartz has that rapid vocal delivery to match Sonic’s jet-like speed as he spews wisecracks and zany retorts. Elba has a hesitant humorless stoic line-reading as Knuckles seems to take everything literally and needs to spell things out (like another Marvel staple, Drax). Shaughnessey exudes youthful enthusiasm and sweetness as Tails. This is the exact opposite of the dour, somber Shadow given the proper icy tone by newbie Reeves. The most prominent of the “live-action” actors is Carrey, who’s so frenetic they don’t try to contain him in one character. As Ivo, he’s still the superlative comic villain, full of snarky zingers and rubbery bits of physical schtick. But he’s also Grandpa Gerald the gravel-voiced manipulator who only wants to bond with Ivo to fulfill his dreams of world domination. Sumpter and Marsden are still an engaging couple though they’re on the sidelines for most of the action, only getting a chance to “step up” in the prelude to the big action finale. They’re the warm, nurturing counterpart to newbie Ritter as the tough-as-nails Rockwell. Mahdoub as Stone is still the over-accommodating doormat of a sidekick. Happily, we get a terrific cameo by Adam Pally as goofball lawman Wadw Whipple.

Also returning to the director’s chair for the third time is Jeff Fowler, who strives to keep the slapstick and verbal asides coming at us with the speed of the title character. And that works well for most of the story although the film stumbles a bit during the “ET-like’ flashbacks about Shadow’s friendship in the 70s with a pre-teen girl. It’s to establish Shadow’s arc, but it’s a tad clunky. As are a few other bits of business including a riff on Telenovelas that loses its spicy salsa satire. Ditto for an Ivo and Gerald bonding montage that stops the story in its tracks (plus I kept getting a Jim Gaffigan vibe from elder Robotnik). Other detours are non-sensical as when Tom and Maddie must pass themselves off as her aggressive sister and vain hubby. After so many sideroads the plot concludes in an outer space showdown that piles on the climaxes to the point of exhaustion (lots of action involving those golden ring portals). The youngest fans of Sonic and his various games and off-shoots will probably be amused and engaged, but for the older folks, it may feel like a big party at an unfamiliar office (which happens this time of year). Of course, we get end-credit bonus scenes, so as to hype up their fanbase for continued IP merch long after most have forgotten the few pleasures (mostly from Carrey) in SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3.

2 Out of 4

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 is now playing in theatres everywhere

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG – Review

So with the big three day holiday weekend coming up, is there anything at the multiplex aimed at the kiddies (most of the country will still be in the “deep freeze” after all)? As you might’ve guessed, the big Oscar winner PARASITE is really not for the wee ones (subject matter and those quick changing subtitles). DOLITTLE is probably still around but may be on its last legs (perhaps down to a couple of screenings a day). That one’s based on a series of classic children’s books, but that’s “so twentieth century”. The studios know that, aside from comic book superheroes, the youngsters still love video games (hey last year saw a second Angry Birds flick and DETECTIVE PIKACHU). Well, the star of this long (nearly 30 years) running (truly galloping) game franchise does have legs (and as ZZ Top says, he “knows how to use ‘um”). Now he’s getting the big studio live-action/CGI hybrid treatment. Why it’s that lil’ blue blur SONIC THE HEDGEHOG.

At the start of this big adventure, Sonic (voice of Ben Schwartz) is on the run (of course) on his home planet of Mobius. When a vicious mob threatens to capture him (that speed power, y’know), Sonic’s big owl protector gives him a bag of magic rings and tells him to toss one of them and dash through the dimensional rift (a window really) to another world (Ms. Owl has to distract that mob as the magic occurs). And where does Sonic land? The good ole’ US of A, specifically in the sleepy burg of Green Hills, Montana. His accelerated antics liven up the day of local sheriff Tom Wachowski (James Marsden), but he thinks his radar gun is on the fritz (300 MPH, c’mon). He returns home to his loving wife, town veterinarian Maddie (Tika Sumpter), who presents him with a letter saying that the San Francisco PD wants him. Meanwhile Sonic enviously watches some local kids play baseball. That night, after they’ve left, he vents his frustrations by running the bases so fast he causes a massive power outage. This grabs the attention of the feds who, after much debate, send in arrogant super-genius investigator Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) to look into it. When Sonic is discovered in the Wachowski home basement, Tom accidentally shoots him with a bear tranquilizer gun, This causes Sonic to drop his bag of rings, sending them through a “magic portal” to the roof of the TransAm building in SF. Then Robotnik barges in, words (and punches) are exchanged, and soon Tom and his new blue furry friend are on the road to California to retrieve that bag. But can they evade the demented doc and his crew that’s equipped with the most advanced gadgets and gizmos (a’ plenty)?

As we consider the cast I suppose Mr. Schwartz has the most screen time, though we never see his face, providing the vocals for the title character. This talented comic actor brings the needed emotional pathos to this blue ball of fur, but it’s offset by the filmmakers’ need to have the guy constantly chattering away so that we’re almost numb to the occasional bursts of wit and subtlety (just a ‘smidge). It’s a “wall of noise” that wears us out by the hour mark. For a lot of the flick he’s verbally, and often physically, bouncing off the amiable Marsden who’s the same kind of affable everyman (well, much more handsome really) he played almost ten years ago in HOP (with a furry CGI bunny then). He gets irritated, but we always expect him to be Sonic’s number one human pal. That’s the opposite of the film’s big draw, Carrey as the manic maniacal menace to our hero. More than 25 years after his amazing 1994 movie “hat trick’ (Ace, THE MASK, and half of the D&D bros) he’s still a crazed elastic (that proposed Plastic Man flick never happened) elf made of unbridled energy who nearly obliterates anyone (or cartoon) sharing the screen. Perhaps the notion of being a kiddie flick villain melted away any slapstick restraints, freeing him to mug and dance with delight. Though much it is indulgent (a looong sequence as he flits about his tank/HQ) he delivers the adrenaline jolt the sluggish plot often needs. As for the other comic role, Adam Pally (often motor-mouthed in his TV roles) has a low-key (thinking Droopy Dog meets Huckleberry Hound) romp as Marsden’s dim-bulb deputy Billy Robb. As for the sheriff’s domestic partner, Sumpter is the smart supportive spouse who is Tom’s best “back up” during the wild final act.

First-time feature director Jeff Fowler tries to keep the tempo flowing as the script lurches from one action or comedy set-piece to the next. He’s able to blow the dust off the buddies on the run/road trip cliches and give them a fresh glaze. The big roadhouse next to the clean log cabin motel is filled to the brim with diverse rowdies and bikers right out of central casting, intimidating but not too gnarly, who endure the brunt of Sonic’s looney antics. Unfortunately, the whole bit of our hero roaming about while the folks around are almost frozen feels far inferior to the scene-stealing set pieces of Quicksilver in the last few X-Men flicks. Still, the kiddos will giggle at them along with some gratuitous bodily-function gags (two “wind-breakers” riffs, c’mon), but they may get ‘antsy as the script tries to tug at the heart-strings with Sonic’s “bucket list” (he wants one good friend, maybe a big bro like his travel-mate). And the final showdown between Sonic and Robotnik on the CG streets of San Fran just gets repetitive (that may be why the Road Runner and Speedy Gonzales ‘toons feel just right at 6 or 7 minutes). But the locations (Canada doubling for Green Hills, MT) are lovely and the spirited performance of Carrey keeps it chugging along the racetrack. It’s not the zenith of “family films” (we only have to wait a few weeks before Pixar is back), but SONIC THE HEDGEHOG makes for modest matinee fare, though you may wish you had one of them ‘magical rings.

1.5 Out of 4

VIDEO GAMES: THE MOVIE – The Review

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It’s another one of those full disclosure moments for me as a reviewer. I am not a hardcore gamer. Do I enjoy video games? In general, yes. Do I get excited when new games get released? No, not really. Do I play video games more than 1-2 hours a week? Not even close. I spend too much time watching movies to be a true gamer. However, I do still have an appreciation for the pixelated pastime.

Being a child of the 80s, I grew up giving my NES and SNES a hardy workout. That’s Nintendo Entertainment System and Super NES, for those who have been hiding under a rock for the last 30 years. I never owned an Atari, although I did secretly cherish my Commodore, the Radio Shack Atari knock-off system. Hey, I too could play Pitfall, amongst other classics, with that system!

While most of my minimal game time is spent nostalgically tapping the old NES controller buttons on my vintage games like Castlevania, I’m dually aware of the unmistakable parallel between cinema and digital gaming. Granted, its a stretch to make that connection with the old Atari games, but even then we had crossover examples like the infamous E.T. Atari game whose blockbuster failure is epic in itself.

The beauty of a film like VIDEO GAMES: THE MOVIE [from here out referred to as VGTM] is that it brings the people who know what the hell they’re taking about together to provide a comprehensive history of the digital gaming culture and tells the relatively young yet richly textured tale of the hobby’s meteoric rise in a way that is fun and interesting and doesn’t suck.

Written and directed by Jeremy Snead and co-produced by actor/filmmaker Zach Braff, VGTM has an energy and contemporary approach that is befitting of the subject matter. Where other documentaries on this general topic have focused on a specific niche of the trade, VGTM strives to tell the whole story as it currently stands, concisely but without dragging it out too long and becoming a failed Ken Burns-scale trainwreck. [No offense to Ken Burns, but no one can make a compelling documentary of great length like he does, so why even try?]

Snead begins the film by getting our techno adrenaline flowing, encouraging us to get excited about reliving our early days of geekdom planted in front of a TV screen punching buttons for hours as little blocky characters run and jump at our command. Only after he has us hooked, does he delve into the fascinating history of game development and ultimately the endless and ongoing evolution of gaming. Surprisingly, the 100-minute running time is successful at covering the entirety of the overall story without dwelling on any one area too long. Granted, there is much detail left on the virtual cutting room floor, but VGTM is not trying to be the Encyclopedia Britannica of video game documentaries.

VGTM has two target audiences in mind, so far as I can surmise. First, we have the hardcore gamers who inherently will appreciate the novelty of this film, much of which will likely not be anything they do not already store within they’re bags of plenty. My apologies, but that reference may or may not be properly placed, but I am a geek that spans multiple genres. Anyway, the second target audience would be those not yet familiar, or not yet educated, as to the history and making of the very entertainment they spend so much time taking for granted these days.

Allow me to illustrate. When I first acquired my retro console that plays both NES and SNES games, my two boys had no clue what they were watching me wire into my TV. At the innocent young ages of 9 and 6, they watched in wonder and then were mesmerized to discover the joy found in playing things such as Super Mario Bros and Excite Bike, to name just a couple. Instantly, I created two new retro enthusiasts, but they never actually lived the history. So, VGTM is a technological testament, a recorded history for future generations.

What power lies in this realization, that young people already accustomed to the advanced graphics and high-speed game play of systems like Sony’s Playstation and Xbox can still find amazement and wonder in playing the original Nintendo games? VGTM latches onto this sense of wonder, spanning genres across the globe, from the days of hanging out in arcades to hosting LAN parties with friends to stadium-filling gaming events on the scale of an NFL Superbowl. Do you remember THE WIZARD, starring Fred Savage? That kinda sh*t actually happened in real life! If you remember this, be careful. You’re showing your age.

Snead intertwines insightful and poignant interviews from industry juggernauts, early groundbreaking developers and current icons and celebrities who hold the video game in great regards in their own lives outside of their own stardom. VGTM includes interviews with the likes of Zach Braff, Wil Wheaton and Donald Faison, to name a few, and is narrated by Sean Astin. Many viewers may not recognize the early developers who appear in the film, but do not discount these moments as they reveal monumental pieces of the larger picture that need not be forgotten.

VIDEO GAMES: THE MOVIE is but a slice of the overwhelming pie, but this mere dip of our finger into the filling is packed with fun and flavor. From Pong to Pac Man, from Zelda to Call of Duty, there is an entire world outside our own that lives just within that glass box, but rarely have we seen beneath the surface into its heart. This film is the key to a greater appreciation of the art, craft and culture of digital gaming.

VIDEO GAMES: THE MOVIE is available Video On Demand on July 15th, 2014 and hits theaters on July 18th, 2014

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

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Win A CAPTAIN AMERICA: Super Soldier Video Game

Wield the shield as the First Avenger in the Captain America: Super Soldier video game. SEGA released the game on July 19 and WAMG has a copy set aside for ONE lucky winner.

OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES.
2. FILL OUT YOUR REAL NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW.
3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: Watch the video above and tell us what “YOU NEED TO WIN THIS WAR.”
WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PRIZES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED.
CONTEST WILL END ON MONDAY, AUGUST 8 at 11:59pm CST.

Check out the game’s website: http://www.sega.com/captainamerica/us/index.html

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