The Past Few Days, Sucka!

So this week has been an odd one, mixed with a lack of sleep and seeing the morning and missing most of the daylight, keeping track of the days has become a tricky task, but with it has come a few films, games and even a bit of exercise, which was a welcome addition to the otherwise rather frankly crap week.

So to kick it off, a comedy that I discovered with my friends while looking over the video marketplace on the Xbox 360.

"I'm Gonna Git You Sucka"

An 80's comedic look at blaxploitation movies from the past few years. Famous faces are strewn throughout but I must admit I didn't recognize all of the name but the faces were familiar. Isaac Hayes (Chef) as one half of Hammer and Slammer a bad ass duo, Antonio Fargas (Huggy Bear) a locked up pimp who has knowledge of the inside and previously won Pimp of the year. Topping it off are the Wayans, they know how to make a good comedy and essentially laugh at themselves. The pacing is good and the jokes deliver. I can't find fault with the film but it's not amazing in any way, it's very competent but does what it does well.

"I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" - 6.9/10



"The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008)"

Where do I start? This film was god-awful remake of teh classic from 1951. The child actor (Jaden Smith), while played his role well the job asked of him was ridiculous, it’s hard to feel sympathy or compassion for the child with they way he is portrayed as a bitter, unloving little shit. The plot is see-through and no sense of the original is even felt throughout the film. The inclusion of the scene with John Cleese as a Nobel Prize winner felt crammed in to give a vehicle for the big change, which even a monkey could see, coming. I felt that Keanu Reeves as "Klaatu" was good in his rols as his stone face is perfect for a confused alien. One respect where the film is good is the special effects, they are rather pretty and GORT looks the business. Speaking of GORT, he never killed anyone in the original; they make him appear as an evil entity unto his own. Finally is the product placement, wow, just…wow.

Now part of me wonders if I’d have liked the film more if it was an original piece but the truth is it’s not. It ruins what is a classic film that uses peace as its message to a special effects extravaganza that fails to deliver.


"The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008)" – 4.2/10



Peggle

Where do I start with this gem? A game that involves firing a ball at a series of pegs has never been more fun. Like an game of inverted pinball you fire a ball from the top of the play field and it hits a series of blue pegs on the way down, for each peg that is hit points are scored, there are a number of orange pegs too and the aim of each level is to hit all the orange pegs. Initially you start with ten balls but more are awarded for scoring 25,000 points in one shot with another awarded for each 25,000 points on top of that. The game is firmly a casual game but still its addictive even to core gamers. Only last night three of us spent three hours watching a friend play. It was the perfect centrepiece for a night of drinks and talks. It also helps the game is available on almost every format under the sun, form handhelds to phones, home PCs/Mac and home consoles.

Peggle – 8.7/10