On Friday, we just got news that there might be a Labyrinth sequel! In an article in Variety, we learned that in an interview with Jim Henson, talking about Billy Crystal being involved in their upcoming film "Which Witch" that the company is considering developing a sequel to the 1986 film, along with a Fraggle Rock movie and a sequel to The Dark Crystal. A lot of people, including myself, are excited about this. Labyrinth is an 80s classic. I can ensure you that it is constantly brought up in discussion of what is the best movie of the 80s. Jim Henson took you into a magical world full of wonderment full of creatures that could remove limbs at will, fruit that could take to a party in your wildest dreams, and the wonderment of David Bowe in tights. The news is fascinating, there's a dread in me that the sequel, if everything is confirmed and set to film, would not live up to standards.
The idea of doing sequels years later isn't new. A lot of times they have been bad and less than stellar as well. Rarely do these year-gaped sequels do well at all. The Star Wars prequels had people in awe over what the exact hell did they just watched, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull moved people to get out of their seats and asked for their money back, and we don't speak of Oz: The Great and Powerful. Why is it that these movie sequels fail? There are some considerations.
One is that as obvious there is an age gap between sequel and original, the same could be said for the demographic. You have two different audiences to consider. The ones who grew up watching the movie and the one who mostly didn't. It can be hard trying to appeal to both demographics. Some things will get lost with the new moviegoers and whatever to appeal to the new moviegoers will not get the old generation. Another factor is how the sequel is made is the movie itself. Usually the reason a studio decides to make a sequel for a movie years ago is to make a quick buck off of nostalgia and it shows. It shows how poorly put together it is compared to the originals and it puts off the entire audience.
Before I put the Labyrinth sequel down even before it is even green lit, there is a chance it could be good. There are some year-gaped sequels that are good, not better than the original, but they don't suck. Even it technically isn't a sequel, Disney's Return to Oz was great. To some, not better than the 1939 movie with Judy Garland, but it was a far more superior Oz movie than Oz: The Great and Powerful and the recent Oz sequel Dorothy of Oz was. Why was that? Because they kept true to the source material. The producer and writers knew what they were doing and that they had to remember the magic of the first movie and what made people love the source material. Hopefully whoever attaches themselves to this movie remembers that.
What are your thoughts on the Labyrinth sequel? Is a sequel a good idea? Will it be good?
The most anticipated game of 2014 is finally here! Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 3DS was released last Friday. Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 3DS, along with the upcoming Wii U version, is the fourth and the latest installment of the insanely popular Smash Bros series. The 3DS version is also the first time the series has been introduced on a handheld system. The struggle was real. We have suffered the constant waiting for a while. We had postponement after postponement, teases, character reveals, and leaks. After all the trials and tribulations and wandering in the video game dessert seeking the promised land of October 3rd, it's finally here and I've gotten my hands on it. But the question is the latest Smash Bros. for the 3DS worthy for you to get it. Does it suck?
Gameplay
If you're new to Smash Bros, it's a fighting game that features an all-star cast of Nintendo's biggest and most memorable characters from popular Nintendo in a intense yet-cartoonish battle royale. Almost like Wacky Races meets Street Fighter. Super Smash Bros. is different from other fighting games. The other fighting games involve you fighting each other until the yours or the other player's HP is gone. Super Smash Bros involves you fighting your opponent on a stage and you hitting them enough that they rack up enough damage points to the point where it will be easier to knock them further and further away from the stage. There are items and stage hazards to help or hinder you.
The Combat is a big step up from Brawl which a lot of people complained was a lot slower than Melee. It's quick. The AI, even set a low level, can be smart at times so you have to be a bit strategic. Not much has changed to Classic, other than it presented as a choose your path scenario with the same challenges we all know and love from the other Smash Bros. games, and Muiltiplayer, but then again if it ain't broke don't fix it.
There are some changes or tweeks to the gameplay this time around for the latest installment. The first is that they had tweeked some characters. Characters like Yoshi and Bowser got an upgrade, changing their posture to a more fighter stance to balance them out. Sheik, Zelda, and Samus along with Zero Suit Samus have been seperated and they have been designed to be even more of their own characters, not with a new Down-B or just a character design without armor.
What's new to Smash Bros. for the 3DS is the option to customize your fighter. You can almost change the fighting style of the character as well as special moves. You want Mario's Up-B to have a bit more jump, you can do that or if you need his attacks to pack a bit more punch, you can do that. You can acquire these upgrades in Classic or in Smash Run, the "Adventure Mode" of the game where you travel across a gigantic stage, beating up enemies from Nintendo games and collecting power-ups to use later on.
Controls
Controls are easy. Even if you're a new player or are just playing Smash Bros. on the 3DS for the first time, you learn things quickly. You understand quickly what buttons do what. The B-button is the special moves button just like in all games. The control stick is for moving and a quick swipe to the left and right triggers your side smash The It's been a while since I played a Smash Bros. game so I had a bit of difficulty figuring things out. After practicing a bit, I got the hang of things.
Characters
With over 52 characters, you would think certain ones would get repetitive or boring, but that is not the case. With the roster, you get a lot of variety that makes gameplay exciting each time. You get to test drive which characters you like and fight with them. The system of unlocking characters is relatively easy. For every 10th fight in Smash mode, you'll trigger an unlock battle. You don't even have to win a match for it to count. After playing a few hours, I was able to unlock half of the 12 hidden characters in the game. I feel like Sakurai did this as a way to get the task of unlocking characters out of the way and allow people to enjoy and pick their main quicker. As I stated in an earlier post, some characters had to be cut like Ice Climbers, due to the technological limits of the 3DS, Wolf, and Pokemon Trainer (Boo) and Dr. Mario who is back from Melee. There's an issue that has been brought up with Smash Bros and its clones (Lucina, Dr. Mario, Falco, and Dark Pit) and I don't see it as a problem. For the most part, you have a lot of fighters that give you a lot of variety that you wouldn't even care if there's only a handful of clones in the game, except Dark Pit. Seriously regular Pit even has you as an alternate costume. Why are you even here? Speaking of alternate costumes, it is nice to see and learn the history behind the alternate colors behind every character. I might do a few posts about them perhaps?
Stages
Director Masahiro Sakurai stated that the 3DS version of Super Smash Bros. will feature stages from handheld titles of Nintendo games. Smash Bros. not only does that, but you also get some stages from past Smash Bros. games like Corneria from Melee and Star Fox 64 (A remake was made for the 3DS) and Planet Zebes from the original Smash Bros. and Metroid: Zero Mission. Honestly before getting the game, I was let down by seeing clips of the stages, but actually playing them my mood changed. Seeing the pics don't do the stages justice. Actually playing them, you get a feel of the personality of the stages and you get a feel of Nintendo history and nostalgia playing them.
Visuals
How things look visually in the game are amazing. It's pretty amazing to see the 3DS display these kind of graphics. It almost looked like Brawl on a handheld. Ironically,a small problem I had was with the camera. Sometimes too much would be going on and it zooms out. This would leave me to takes a while for you to process where you are on the screen and where your opponents are.
Music
Just like every other Smash Bros. game in the series, you get a collection of rearranged music from classic Nintendo titles by well known Nintendo composers as well as songs from actual Nintendo games, including the previous Smash Bros. games. It's always nice to hear how they would rearrange your the melodies from your favorite games, but hearing some songs in this game left me in a meh state. To me, Brawl set the bar for how creative the composers could be and with the current game, they haven't excelled or set the bar higher. You felt the awesomeness with Brawl's composition. I'm not saying the songs in the 3DS version are bad. It on par with Brawl but better than Melee so there's that.
Final Verdict
If you can guess what the tone of the game is, you could say that it was to take a step up from the previous game, Brawl. In some ways they did. The gameplay overall is a big step up from Brawl. They revamped the game by allowing the feature of customization, giving fresh life into the game. The only problem you would have is again the screen. Everything else seems fine. Does it suck? Nope. If there was a ratings system, I would give it a 4.5 out of 5. Super Smash Bros. for the 3DS is fun and fast ensuring good times for hours, or until the Wii U version comes out Nov 21. Buy it or buy both.
Ladies and gentlemen, the time has finally come. Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 3DS is here! I'm sure that you and just as excited as I am that after years and years of waiting it is finally in our hands. We are treated with a large character roster with a total of over 50 playable characters from Nintendo's history to fight. We also have an impressive selection of stages to choose from. The question is can we have more?
Back in E3 2013, Director Masahiro Sakurai said in regards to DLC: "At the current time we have no plans," Sakurai told me. "I consider my job at this point, and my main responsibility, to make the Wii U and 3DS versions the best and the fullest experience possible. That said, once finished, it's the type of thing we could take into consideration, but for now, you could consider DLC as not being in the cards."
That was back in 2013 and of course things and ideas change. Sakurai has also stated that Pacman wouldn't make it in Smash Bros. and yet Pacman is in the game.
There is the question as well as the possibility that we could be getting DLC in Super Smash Bros. There are reasons that we could. Nintendo has (finally) warmed up to the idea of giving DLC content for its consumers and games. We have gotten a bundle of DLC content in the recent big title like Mario Kart 8, New Super Mario Bros. U and Hyrule Warriors. Why not have DLC in one of the most anticipated game they have of the year. It would almost be a waste, a matter of fact a huge blunder, not to have anything. Having new character and stages as DLC would give the gamers a little something fresh and new after we get tired of playing of Smash Bros. on the 3DS, especially with some of us waiting for the Wii U version. And playing the game on the 3DS feels like something is missing. Maybe DLC can fill that hole. There's also the demand for past characters like Wolf or Mewtwo to comback. People want them back. Them as DLC would be wonderful.
What characters or stages would you want as DLC in the new Smash Bros. except for Ridley, we all know they will never put him in?
YouTube celebrity and former Big Brother contestant Sam pepper is coming under a ton of scrutiny this week after his latest prank video he posted this week. In the prank video, Pepper performed a bit of pranks where he touched several women inappropriately with a fake hand. The reaction of the video has been mostly negative and by negative I mean he's being crucified. Pepper has gotten a bombardment from not only people on the internet, but from fellow and top YouTubers as well. The video has been removed after people have requested.
As a response to the backlash, Pepper has decided not to apologize on his Twitter account or make an apology video. Instead he created a video claiming that the prank video was a "social experiment" by showing how sad sexual harassment occurs with men... by touching women's butts with a fake hand. Most people didn't buy it and it is rightfully so as his explanation doesn't make the slightest sense, especially considering that Pepper has a lot of prank videos doing the same thing and he hasn't considered them to be "social experiments."
The controversy has led to a number of women stepping up, making videos on YouTube giving testimonies about their past encounters with Pepper. They tell us experiences about how he took advantage of them and were sexually assaulted by him. YouTube user, thisbedottie, gives us an insight of Pepper's devious behavior when she agreed to go with him to see a movie after a meet and greet. Pepper told her that this will be "there little secret. At the movies Sam forced him self on the then 16-year-old by kissing her and trying to get her hands on certain parts of his body while putting his hands on hers. Again, thisbedottie isn't the only one who have had the same experience with Pepper.
YouTuber Laci Green has reached other women who have been assaulted sexually be Pepper. One of the women Green contacted stated an encounter where Pepper forced himself on the her and masturbated on top of her.
The only good thing about this is that people are coming forth to talk about not only sexual assault, but being sexually assaulted be a person in the public eye like Pepper.Often most women who have been sexually assaulted rarely come out to report it due to them either not being believed or based on ridicule of being sexually assaulted, especially by someone famous. This has happened before. There have been other counts of famous YouTubers that have harassed other women. Hopefully this will lead more women to come out and Sam will get what he deserves in the end.
YouTube viewers Rejoice! It has been announced that the comedic YouTube duo, Smosh (Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox), will be making a full feature movie. According to Variety, Smosh have partnered with Lionsgate who will be deal with global distribution rights for the movie. According to the press release, the movie is being helmed as a Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure of 2014 with a bit of Road Trip thrown in to the mix. The movie will have the duo embarking on a wacky and zany adventure to erase an embarrassing clip from being seen by all, particularly Anthony's crush in the movie, Anna.
For those who haven't heard of Smosh, they are a part of the YouTube elite. When people say that in order to make money and be famous on YouTube you have to had an account in 2005, they're mostly referring to them. Smosh has made an empire on YouTube. Their main channel consists of them posting comedic videos from the duo that are being watched by over 18 million subscribers. They have broken off to other projects. They have a gaming channel and a channel that produces other content like cartoons.
Smosh, new feature film adventure is the most recent of the current trend of other YouTube celebrities that are trying to venture off from the site and are trying to make some money in Hollywood. Musical comedic duo Garfunkle and Oats have a TV series on IFC, Grace Helbig is getting a show on E!, and Epic Meal Time has a cooking show on FYI. All of this has started with Fred, a character Lucas Cruikshank created by posting videos of him as the character on YouTube. Cruikshank's Fred character has led to a series on Nickelodeon and a movie, which was also distributed by Lionsgate.
While it is cool while Smosh have a major movie on their hands, the question is how will it fare to the general public that doesn't sit down in from of a computer to watch videos all day. Honestly, they will have their work cut out for them. They will be presenting their stuff to an almost different format. These will not be the same core audience of people who sit in front of a computer to watch content. It is known that people who watch videos on YouTube have short attention spans, so the transitioning content from a 3-5 min video to an hour and a half movie will be a big task. A matter of fact it will be really hard. Will their fans actually sit in front of a screen to see the same content for over an hour? You also risk losing the quality of the content in the video like certain jokes by stretching them out and risking them not be funny. Going back to Cruikshank, Fred the Movie was a disaster. It was universally panned by critics and moviegoers and only 7.6 million people saw it.
I'm not dooming the movie before it even comes out nor am I saying that it can't be done. Again, it will be a hard task. There is a possibility that the Smosh can pull it off and the movie might do well. Regardless if it does well or not, it is fascinating to see Smosh try to do something outside of their comfort zone of posting YouTube videos. Like the other YouTube stars I mentioned earlier, I'm sure they know that their time on YouTube is short. You can't capitalize off of YouTube forever. You have to try other markets and do something bigger and different. It will be interesting to see if they can actually venture off from web content and make a name for themselves in Hollywood.
What are your thoughts on how the movie will fair? Do you thing it will be good or will it be bad?
In case you haven't heard Ray Rice has been let go from the Baltimore Raven and has been suspended from the NFL for knocking his wife out in an elevator in a hotel. There have been two tapes that have surfaced. The first one was was released to the public back in February. The first video shows Rice carrying his unconscious then fiance out of the elevator. Oops did I say carry? I meant dragging her out like he was a caveman. Rice was confronted by someone who was working at the hotel who reported to the authorities what happened.
A second video of the attack has surfaced recently. This time we actually see him actually knocking Janay out. They have an argument and she approaches him. Rice then punches her and she goes down, hitting her head on the rail. Rice then proceeds to drag her out like the first video. A man shouldn't hit a woman in ANY circumstance. It shows lack of character and lack of manhood. As shocking as what Rice has done to her, Janay, now his wife, has decided to stay by his side. Why is that? Why do women who suffer abuse, never leave until it is too late and the abuse gets intense?
Abuse comes in different forms. It can be physical or mental. It can also be verbal. Whether it is any of those things, it brings down a person's self esteem. It gets them to a point that they do feel like they are worthless and they deserve this punishment.Along with the punishment, the man secludes the woman, keeping her from friends and family and threatens her to kill or harm them even more if they try to seek help. Leaving an abusive relationship doesn't happen in a blink of an eye. It is a process. Most importantly it is a plan. If you are in a abusive relationship, there are steps you can do to ensure the safety of your life.
Bottom line if someone has to control or abuse you, it isn't love. Love doesn't knock you out unconscious in an elevator. It doesn't give you a black eye and it doesn't make you feel like you are worthless. There might be a chance Rice may have learned from his mistakes but, the is a greater chance that he hasn't. Most abusers don't. As Oprah said to Rihanna in regards to her relationship with Chris Brown, "If a man hits you once, he will hit you again."
If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Super Smash Bros fans have gotten some incredible recent news lately. We have been treated to leaked footage of new characters to the roster of the upcoming Super Smash Bros game for the 3DS and Wii U. The new characters introduced were Shulk from Xenoblade and Bowser Jr. from the Super Mario series. A YouTube user named Izat True posted videos of Shulk and Bowser Jr. fighting before they were taken down. Luckily someone has made a copy!
Just last week a picture online showed the alleged complete roster of who will be in the game. Again, Shulk and Bowser Jr. was in the final roster. The characters also in the picture last week also showed that characters form previous games Ganondorf, Ness, Dr. Mario, Falco from Star Fox, R.O.B. returning. The character not returning, sadly, are Ice Climbers, Wolf from Star Fox, Lucas from the Mother series, and Snake from the Metal Gear series who was added as a third-party character. Characters who we've known to be already in the game due to pictures and video game footage but haven't been officially announced are Jigglypuff and Mr. Game & Watch.
The picture of the "final" roster was considered to be fake, but seeing footage of Shulk and Bowser Jr. actually fighting in the game makes it seem as maybe it's not so fake at all. Newcomers that haven't been shown in action from the supposed leaked picture of the final roster are Dark Pit from Kid Icarus Uprising and shockingly the Dog from Duck Hunt. Here are my thoughts on the supposed final roster.
Shulk seems to be another sword fighter, like the Links, and most of the Fire Emblem cast. Honestly, I'm not that excited for Shulk. I'm not too familiar with the Xenoblade series, but I'm fully aware that he has been demanded by fans to be added to the series. It's nice to see that the director, Masahiro Sakurai would hear the fans' wishes and add him in. Bowser Jr.'s fight mechanics seem to be him doing most of the fighting in his Koopa Clown Car a la Pac-Man from Street Fighter X Tekken. Bowser Jr., even though I have not warmed up to him being in the game as they not only have a ton of Mario characters in the game (Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Rosalina and Luma, Bowser, and Yoshi, Donkey Kong and Wario if you're counting them) but Bowser Jr. would who I considered to be last on the list of Mario characters to add as his character is not iconic enough to be considered. There are far more characters in the Mario games that could've been included in Super Smash Bros. Geno, Waluigi, and even Princess Daisy comes off the top of the head and have are in high demand by fans to be added. But nonetheless, Bowser Jr. seems he will be a lot of fun to play. There is a rumor that Bowser could be swapped out for any of the Koopalings which, ironically, would make up for the idea of him being in the game.
As for the supposed returning characters, there are a few surprises and some givens. I'm not surprised about Ness and Jigglypuff being brought back. They are a part of the original twelve that have been in all of the games in the series to date. Lucas was pretty much a given he would not return. Gannondorf was already known that he would return. It would've been weird to see Link and Princess Zelda without Gannondorf because they are key characters in the Legend of Zelda series. Also Ganondorf is also supposedly to be Sakurai's main character to use playing Super Smash Bros. I'm shocked and saddened to not see Ice Climbers not returning. They have been a staple appearing in Melee and Brawl. We could've done without R.O.B and had Ice Climbers in his place. What's also shocking to see is Dr. Mario returning to the series. He was in Melee but was taken out of Brawl. Hopefully Sakurai has tweaked him enough so that he isn't too much of a clone character (Ganondorf too).
The recent leaks have been big, but that's not all. There is news that this isn't even the final roster. The person responsible for the leak picture has stated that more characters could be in the game. The characters that have been cut may not have been and there are supposedly new characters like Dixie Kong, Chorus Kids from Rhythm Heaven, and even Mewtwo from returning. We'll see when the game comes out in October 3 for the 3DS and in November/December for the Wii U.
