GTA: THOUGHTS

GTA IV comes out tonight. I am looking forward to it. My standards were high for this game but recently, with all the great reviews, my standards I feel have been elevated to levels that will ultimately leave me disappointed no matter how great the game is. For me, GTA has been a game that has always been entertaining, if not flawed.

 

GTA III:

The first time I was introduced to GTA was on New Year's Day of 2002. I had just stayed the night at my girlfriend's for New Year's Eve and then traveled to my cousin's house for his birthday. That night I was having my friend stay over for the night. We were being less than polite to each other and our relationship was somewhat strained, after all, both of us were soon going to college, me to Purdue North Central where I would be staying at home and commuting and him to Valpo University, where he would be staying on campus.

 

That night we played GTA III on the Playstation 2 he brought over. I had never seen a game like it. We barely played missions and instead free roamed. The game was the definition of groundbreaking for me. You could do virtually anything you wanted. Six years late it doesn't look as impressive as it did at first, but the game was simply amazing. That summer my brother bought a Playstation 2 and my friend offered me to borrow the game. Instead I bought it. I simply wanted to enjoy and own the game for myself. I never beat the game and eventually traded it in. It seemed to get lost in the pile of games and lack of collegiate time.

 

 

GTA Vice City: I followed the build up to Vice City on the internet. The night it came out me and my friend (the same one) went to Wal-Mart to pick it up. Target was closed and EB (I refuse to call it Gamestop) was yet to be built for a year or two. Both of us were in college and rarely hung out. My sophomore year of college was a good year. I got great grades, made friends, rarely fought with Rachel and won scholarships. Not much outside of school was expected of me and I didn't expect much of anything. Wal-Mart didn't have the game that night so we called the one in Portage. They did not have it either so that night we both went back to my house disappointed with a night of new GTA playing not happening. The following day, my friend left for school and I left to get a haircut before class that afternoon. Before my haircut I went to Target and the asshole old man who works there noticed me exploring the video games section. He asked if I was looking for the new GTA game and I said that I was. He revealed that other people had been here for the same reason and that the game should be on the shelves in a few hours. I got a haircut and excitingly called my friend. He came over and I went and bought it. We were both absorbed with the depth of the game. Me and my brother would eventually beat the game, but like the one before it, we would eventually forget about it and it got traded in as well.

 

GTA San Andreas: By the point San Andreas came out, I wasn't too interested in those games anymore. I was in the midst of college and simply too busy for anything besides my Gamecube and the Mario games I played in my spare time. One day, while visiting Target with the same friend as mentioned before, I saw it on the shelf. The game interested me and my friend stated that he had the game and it was good. He explained that the amount of space the game takes up is huge. He explained that it was a whole state and not just a large city. I got the game a week later and was impressed with it as a whole. But, like the previously mentioned games, I lost interest and moved on rather quickly. The game was eventually traded in.

 

About a year later or more, my friend came to me and had gotten an Xbox 360. He let me borrow his Xbox as there were some games I never got to play due to them not coming out for the Gamecube. Those games were Doom 3 and X-Men: Legends. Around Christmas I saw the GTA Trilogy for sale at Best Buy. I had asked for it for Christmas but doubted I was going to get it. I picked it up and took it home. The game itself was very nice, coming in a nice black case.

 

Again, I was sucked in. I played through GTA III quickly, beating it in a number of weeks. Once done, I played through San Andreas. I never got a chance to truly enjoy the game, but I did this time. Sure some of the missions are flawed in San Andreas, such as the Area 51 one or the one where you have to fly aircrafts. The game took quite a while to beat but was a great experience.

 

 

So now the new one comes out tonight. I won't be able to play it this week due to finals, but I am going to put it on the shelf for a week and begin it probably next week. I

Eh…

What a week last week. It started Monday, which was a busy work day. Went home and then to class. Class was more of the same. We did out presentation. My part wasn't nearly as good as I thought it would be. My partner did well. I was happy about that. Came home and went to bed.

 

Tuesday I came into work late as I only worked a half day. It was another stressful day. When me and Rach came home we watched AI and Hell's Kitchen. My Mom came to talk to Rachel and it was annoying as all they do is rag on me. I guess I just don't understand the whole concept.

 

Wednesday I decided to cut out caffeine. It was a rough day and I went home early with a headache. I took a small nap and then went out. I got GT5 Prologue and preordered Metal Gear Solid 4 for the PS3. It is good. I am still not a racing game fan. I will give it more time. That night me and Rach went out to Broadway. It was cheap and good. I enjoyed it.

 

Thursday I had a day off. I went to the Gym and spent time at home. I had class at 4:15. I accidently cat napped from 3-3:35 and didn't leave 'til 3:40. Oh, and there was traffic. I didn't get to class until 4:35. That sucked. I turned in my paper and then listened to her complain about the papers. One of her big complaints was something I did with my paper. I hate that class. Most people enjoy it but I find it to be extremely stupid. I hate intro classes. I need a B in that class so I have to keep up working hard. I need an A in my other class. It is still possible as I have a 95% at the time of me writing this.

 

Friday I went to the gym and worked on school stuff. At three I went up to school. It was empty and creepy. I talked to my counselor. She was a few minutes late. I also met with my other type counselor and she got me set up to get an emergency permit to teach. It was nice. I went to Rach's. We had a quiet night. We did go to Santiago's and both of us got sick. I forgot my movie for us to watch so that sucked too. We played a lot of Wii though so that was cool

 

Saturday I had work. It was like a cleaning day and the whole house was closed. They did the porch. It looks nice. So does the painting. There wasn't much for me and Rach to do so we took an hour break and then went home. That night I stayed at home. Bob worked and Rachel said she invited me but I had a ton to do. I got most of it done. I finished my project and then burnt a ton of DVDs. I also cleaned up some and relaxed.

 

Sunday I skipped out on church. I finished a paper I had to write and also finished my mini-portfolio that I had started the day before. I still have a personal philosophy to write for another class. Yet another dumbass assignment from my intro class. That afternoon I watched the Cubs game and began watching Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. It is very good so far. I went over to Rachel's next. We had fun and went for a walk. After that we watched a Cubs special and the Rock of Love reunion. That show is dumbass. That night I went home and wanted to finish the movie I had started. My Mom had taken it to watch and must have held down the power button while getting it out of the Playstation as everything was reset to its defaults. I didn't want to wake her so I began watching Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. It sucks so far but could be a lot worse. I like how it takes place right after AVP. That is kinda cool. Plus seeing Aliens in settings like a small town is kinda cool too.

 

The Playoffs started, he are my predictions from before the whole thing started…

Boston vs. Atlanta (Boston in 5)-I don't predict a four game sweep but Atlanta could be dangerous. They are a team on the rise with a core of Childress, J-Smoove, Horford as well as stars Bibby and Johnson. The Celtics are too good though and should roll through with little trouble.

Cleveland vs. Washington (Washington in 7)-This series is becoming a lot like Miami and New York in the late 90's. I simply think Washington is too good this time with Arenas coming back.

Detroit vs. Philadelphia (Detroit in 6)-I like the 76ers and they should scare the Pistons, but I still like Detroit. They have a super talented team and should pull out ahead.

Orlando vs. Toronto (Orlando in five)-Bosh vs. Howard should be a show. It is a shame that Toronto's season is collapsing so quickly. Orlando shouldn't have too much trouble.

Los Angeles (L) vs. Denver (Los Angeles in seven)-Denver should push LA to the limits as LA is without Bynum for at least this series. Still, it is time for Bryant/Gasol to shine.

Utah vs. Houston (Utah in five)-Utah is an amazing team and should dispatch a fading Houston in five.

New Orleans vs. Dallas (Dallas in seven)-I am not thrilled with Dallas, but I like them more than New Orleans, who do not have a bench.

San Antonio vs. Phoenix (San Antonio in seven)-A lot of people do not like this series but how can you not, it would be rough and will come down to the wire.

 

2^nd Round

Boston over Washington in five. Boston is too much and Washington is wore out from their Cavs series.

Detroit over Orlando in six. Tough series but Detroit pulls it out.

Utah over LA in six. Bynum is a question mark and Utah is too good to pass up.

San Antonio over Dallas in six. San Antonio could be gearing up for another run as they dispatch the Spurs.

 

Conference Finals

Boston over Detroit in six. I just can not pick Detroit here. Teams split the first four games before Boston pulls away.

Utah over San Anonio in seven. Should be a tough series. Utah has too many weapons in Williams, Boozer, Okur, Kirilenko, Korver, Milsaap, Brewer, etc.

 

NBA Finals

Boston over Utah in six. Utah wins two of the three at home before losing in Boston. The Celts are named NBA champs.

Land of the Dead

Land of the Dead

**1/4 out of *****

 

Last week I watched Land of the Dead. It is a movie I have wanted to see for quite a while. It stars basically a bunch of unknowns and Dennis Hopper. It is the forth of five Dead movies directed by George A. Romero. It is also the one that takes place the furthest in the future. The movie basically follows this premise, years after Night of the Living, Diary of the, Dawn of the, and Land of the Dead, humans are now living in Pittsburgh. Why Pittsburgh? Because it is surrounded by water on all its sides and protected by barriers where there isn't water. In this city, almost all live in poverty except for a rich few who live in the skyscraper called Fiddler's Green. It is the hope of all the poor in the city to someday be able to live in this perfect city within a building. Dembo leads a team in a vehicle he made called Dead Reckoning to neighboring towns to collect medicine and food. He is noble but kind of a loner. His second in command is Cholo, played by Leguizamo. Cholo likes to collect alcohol and cigars to sell within the city for high profit. Dembo is brought out of retirement to take down Cholo, who steals the Dead Reckoning and threatens to blow up the Fiddler's Green, when Kaufman (Hopper's character), who runs the city, won't allow him to buy a place there despite him having enough cash. Oh, and zombies are starting to think and act on their own and are about to invade the city, but that is more of a subplot than anything.

 

 

I like the movie but it isn't fantastic. I felt like the Cholo/Dembo storyline could have been developed. I felt like Hopper was fantastic but was barely in the movie. I felt like everything was forced and gory just to be gory. You know, to get a rise out of the audience. Also, the movie had the "hooker with a heart of gold character". That is the character whom, despite being a prostitute or otherwise unsavory woman, becomes a hero by the end of the story and displays values you wouldn't assume she has. All of Romero's zombie movies have the main battle be between two human elements rather than humans vs. zombies. This movie makes this more evident than any of the other zombie movies. Does it work? Yeah. Could it have been better? Probably. Also, I liked the whole, zombies acting more human element. That hasn't been done before. Overall, there are better zombie movies out there but this one is worth watching if you like gore and a simple, easy movie.

We Own the Night

We Own the Night

*** ¾ out of *****

 

A few nights ago, I talked to Bob and he said this movie was really filthy. I became curious as the whole premise, while violent, didn't lend to the movie being particularly "filthy". And indeed, the first actual scene of the movie is quite graphic and is deserving of an R rating all by itself. From that point forward though, the movie really doesn't go back there and actually tells quite a good story. Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Wahlberg are terrific and Eva Mendes is stunning as usual. In fact, it sometimes takes away from the scenes she is in. She really is the only actress out there right now I would characterize in such a way. Robert Duvall is good in the movie as always but I found his character bordering on one-dimensional. Every line he has is critical of Phoenix's character. I think that if the movie were to lack in one area, it would be the dialogue. A lot of it seems simplistic. It also seems like the ending was rushed. I liked the character arc of Phoenix's character but found that the movie took an hour and a half to get somewhere and another 20 minutes to show what he did when he got there. I bet there was about 20 minutes of deleted scenes somewhere that they left out. It also seemed like Wahlberg and Duvall didn't have a lot of scenes. The movie centered around Phoenix A LOT more than I thought it would. Overall though, the movie was a great story. The scenes that were supposed to be tense were tense, there were twists, which I love, and the music and cinematography were fantastic. I would have liked to have seen this movie up for some awards and fear that in a few months it will be completely forgotten, but it really is worth watching.