MOVIES AND GAMES: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Vs. Uncharted: Drakes Fortune

It's not often that you can post about a movie and a videogame at the same time unless said videogame is based on the particular movie. That's not the case here, but Uncharted: Drake's Fortune could very well be an installment in the Indiana Jones series, minus Indy and his friends. I'm not finished with the game yet, but the story is original, the characters are fun, the puzzles are interesting, and the action is actiony.

I used to hate games with puzzles in them, but now I find it fun to figure things out...as long as it's not real life...or movies. I don't watch movies to try and figure out what's happening, unless it's a mystery and that's the point of it. I watch movies to be entertained, as was the case with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull...also known as my new favorite movie in the Indiana Jones saga. Is it a SAGA now that there are 4 movies? When does a trilogy become a saga?

Webster's dictionary defines a saga (at least the definition I'm looking for), as "a long detailed account"...so I guess a Trilogy never BECOMES a saga. A movie series with 4 parts is a quadrilogy or tetralogy...or as Douglas Adams defined it in A Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy...a trilogy in four parts.

Anyway...aside from the fact that the theater I saw Indy IV in had a blurry print of the film...I thoroughly enjoyed it (and got free tickets for another show, so how could THAT be bad). Harrison Ford was still great, Shia LeBouf was a fun addition as a teen in the 1950s...and there was also the return of a few other popular characters that I will leave unwritten in case you want to be surprised. There's even a little tribute to Star Wars somewhere in the movie, which was amusing to me.

So go see Indiana Jones 4 and then go out and get Uncharted: Drakes Fortune for the Playstation 3...which I still swear that I only bought for Bluray and not for videogames...although apparently I actually have games for it now...and will watch Indy 4 on it when it is released on Bluray disc. Enough said.

TELEVISION: The Big Bang Theory (2007)

Several months ago...could have been a year ago, I posted a review about the best new situation comedy in years, "My Name is Earl". But all that has changed this year. "My Name is Earl" is still pretty good, but it's nothing compared to comedy that is "The Big Bang Theory"

If you haven't seen this show on Monday nights...it's about 4 super nerdy guys and the pretty girl who lives across the hall from them. Their interactions are hilarious. The dialogue is like nothing you've ever heard funny. Check out some clips on The Big Bang Theory's very own YouTube channel, buy the DVD when it comes out, and watch season two this fall. Sound like an advertisement? I don't care, don't watch it. You'll be missing out.

VIDEO GAMES: Grand Theft Auto IV: The Most Fun You Can Have with Your Friends Until 330AM

It was 3:30 in the morning...I was lacking sleep. I had just spent 4 hours running through Liberty City with some friends, accomplishing nothing more than exploring the city for all it's graphicy goodness...chasing each other through the streets in stolen cars, and destroying everything in sight with the many weapons available in the game. Did I forget to mention that I was playing a game? Sorry...as I said...I was lacking sleep.

If you've never played Grand Theft Auto...this is the version you should start playing (GTA 4). The gameplay is a blast, whether you're playing in "story mode" or "free roam". Free roaming mode gives you access to all the locations on the maps and all the weapons. This is obviously the best way to hunt your friends down and run them over with a fancy car while they aim a rocket launcher at you to destroy said fancy car. And then the police might arrive and the two of you might team up against them...or steal a motorcycle and go on a high speed chase ending in a collision with an assault helicopter. Oh wait...I know the guy flying the helicopter and he's hunting me too. Whooo...it's a great game to play with friends.

Soooo many people are thinking how wrong it is to play this game. Yeah, there are definitely morality questions with a game like this...I guess. People say that kids will emulate the behavior in the game...blah...blah...blah, but clearly any responsible parent would check out the game before buying it for their kids, wouldn't they? I love it when people say "well, who do you think is playing video games...adults?" Yeah...adults. The three other people I played with until 330am were all over 27 years old. Silly rabbit, GTA is for adults.

COMEDY: Eddie Izzard Live at the Orpheum in Boston (2008)

It was five years ago that I last saw Eddie Izzard in Boston...that time my seats were front row and the show was 4 hours long with a short intermission. That time, 5 years ago, Eddie Izzard came out in full makeup, heels, and with fake breasts. That show was HILARIOUS...all 4 hours of it.

This time was a little different as Eddie is currently starring in the FX series,"The Riches". The cross dressing was gone, the makeup was slight, but the funny was still all there in force. Being Tuesday night that we went, Eddie wanted to know, "Why are you all here...The Riches is on in a half hour?"

If you've never seen Eddie Izzard live, it's something special...unlike any other comedian I've ever seen. His acts seem almost made up as he goes along, which does wonders for originality each time you see him. He covered topics on...well...just about everything from the history of Boston, religion, animals, language, Macs vs. PCs, and even stopped for a moment to ask the woman in the front row why she thought it was OK to put her purse on the stage. "I know it seems like a little thing," he mused, "but it's right in my line of sight". "Do you want to put your feet up here as well?" He continued, "If you came to see Hamlet, would you put your purse on the stage?" And then someone brought a baby to the show. And three rows in front of us to the right, EVERYONE went to the bathroom twice, which was odd.

The show came in at just about two hours...the material was all over the place as usual...it was FANTASTIC. We loved every minute of it. If you've never seen him, pick up his best DVD, "Dress to Kill"...you'll be hooked as I was the first time I saw it.

THEATER: Avenue Q (May Contain Spoilers)

Nothing that I could have expected, we went to see Avenue Q at the Colonial Theater a few weeks ago...I'm just getting to write about it now. I was skeptical about seeing another musical again...ever...after going to see Sweeney Todd last year, but I figured, if I was going to try another one, it may as well be about puppets that swear and talk about porn.

At first, looking at the stage, Avenue Q appears to be a version of Seasame Street and then it starts and you know it's anything but a kids show. With songs like, "If Your Were Gay", "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist", "The Internet is for Porn", "I'm Not Wearing Underwear Today", and "You Can Be as Loud as the Hell You Want (When You're Makin' Love)"...how could this not be a funny show. It's SO funny...everyone in the place was cracking up the entire time even though they were cramped into little itty botty seats. This show has comedy, drama, sexual situations like you wouldn't believe if I told you, and it brings back memories of the shows you watched starring puppets when you were a kid. The acting was awesome. I was distracted at first watching actors and actresses running around with puppets, but when you have to realize that the actors are acting themselves, as well as working the characters in the show, AND voice acting multiple puppets at the same time. That's talent!

It's probably the best musical I've seen...and I've seen a whole two Broadway musicals (off Broadway)...that I can remember anyway. Oh...and did I mention that Gary Coleman is in it?

MOVIES: Rambo vs. The Cloverfield Monster (2008)

If the Cloverfield monster ran into Rambo in a dark alley, who would win? If you asked me that question in 1988 after Rambo III, I would totally have picked Cloverfield. But after seeing John Rambo slice and dice in 2008, I'd have to change my vote.

I was the first person to groan when I heard the Sylvester Stallone was making Rocky VI and Rambo IV...you may have been the second person, but both movies were fantastic. Now don't get me wrong; if you walk in to a theater showing Rambo IV, you might get a little queasy because it's not your typical 1980s action movie. It's much more brutal than you'd expect it to be for Rambo. Just a little bit queasy...although the same could be said for Cloverfield, but that's more because of the camera movements than the sprays of blood and gore.

I enjoyed Cloverfield...probably more than a lot of other people did, because it was a unique way to tell a monster story. What would I do if a HUGE monster (supposedly the baby) wrecked his way through Boston on his way to wrecking his way though...well...everything next to Boston? I would run. I would run as fast as my legs could carry me. I wouldn't stop...I wouldn't hide in the subway...I wouldn't go back for anyone (Katharine and I discussed that part at great length; thanks David for making me look like a jerk...liar...lol). I would get the hell out of the range of those HUGE Cloverfieldy arms and teeth.

Same with Rambo. I would run like the wind, because Rambo is mean. He's helping people, so it's a good kind of mean, but whew. When you're pushed, killing's as easy as breathing. If you're not bringing guns, then you're not changing nothing...anything...nothing. Yo Adrian. Rambo's mood hasn't changed and neither has his vocabulary. Someone must have told him that Trautman is dead. There we really horrific parts to Rambo IV and really human parts as well.

In the end, I realized that Rambo just needs a hug and so does Cloverfield. They just needs hugs. And tricks and treats as well. See both movies, but don't forget the queasy medicine.

A Review of 2007...The Year That Came Before 2008 and After 2006

It's the first day of 2008 and 2007 seems like a blur. When 2007 started, you may recall that I made some not so real New Years Resolutions and I thought I'd share how those resolutions went along with a short review of the past year. I'd post pictures here, but most likely I've posted pictures of most of this already.

My first resolution of 2007 was "more XBOXercise"...I kicked ass on that one. Best game I played all year was a tie between BioShock and Mass Effect. And how could I forget Guitar Hero and Rock Band which also tied for first. Who am I kidding...all the games I played this year were awesome, so there.

My second 2007 resolution was "convince Katharine that my TV shows are the best and that she should be watching them all". Well...she DID start watching Ghost Whisperer with me against her better judgement and she got hooked on watching all the wrestling shows. She's still not watching Heroes or Lost, but nobody's perfect. My new shows for 2007 were Bionic Woman, The Big Bang Theory, and Dexter...and unlike some people, the writers strike isn't bothering me as I've been able to catch up with some shows on DVD. I'm looking forward to both the new Knight Rider and Terminator series coming up in the next month or two as well as the return of Lost...even if it is only 8 episodes.

Third was "More pizza and less of other crappy foods". That one is interesting since I had my first surgery EVER this year...my gall bladder was removed in September making it possible to eat more pizza AND other foods that I couldn't eat previously. I didn't realize how bad I wanted to eat more pizza. Of course that just means that this year, I actually have to try and fit exercise into my life.

Fourth was "sell my cartoons". Since nobody is paying to visit my site today, I think I failed at that one. Whatever...maybe you enjoy them BECAUSE they're free. I need to get back to regular updates.

Fifth was "No more shitty movies" and it turns out that the first movie I saw in 2007 was Pimeval which was the biggest piece of shit ever filmed (in my opinion). I also hated 300...I think I'm pretty much alone on that one. But I also saw Rocky Balboa, Live Free or Die Hard, Transformers, The Simpsons Movie, Spiderman 3, and The Grindhouse...all of them were good to excellent. Looking forward to a fourth Rambo movie in theaters this month, Cloverfield in a couple weeks, a new Indiana Jones movie this year and Star Trek XI in December!

Resolution # 6 for 2007 was finish up some outstanding projects. I did finally finish my 6 month long patio project thanks to the help of some friends. I never did start the model of the Enterprise I got myself for Christmas in 2006...I might get to that this year.

I was busy doing a lot of things in 2007 if you'll recall some previous posts. Went to a play, "Shear Madness" and a charity date auction in February (just for support...not to shop), got to visit with two long-time friends again in March and April after not seeing either of them for almost 15 years, had a pie thrown in my face in April, laughed at the comedian John Pinnette live on stage in May, built a patio from May through September, brought Monty (our greyhound) to the racetrack for a visit in June, stood in a long line a midnight with Katharine so she could get the last Harry Potter book in July, had my first surgery in August, grew a beard for the first time ever in September, went to a musical...Sweeney Todd...in October (I hate musicals), bought a new car...a Subaru...and saw Van Halen with David Lee Roth in November, and attended my first live wrestling event in December. Phew. Been busy. All that and played a bunch of games, watched a bunch of movies on DVD, spent time with great friends, family, and those that qualify as both. Thanks everyone that participated in my 2007 and I'm looking forward to seeing you in 2008.

I'll present my resolutions for 2008 next week!