War Horse
Greetings, War Horse is a 2011 film directed by Steven Speilberg and based on a novel of the same name. It is set before, during and slightly after the First World War from mainly a British perspective. The plot revolves around a horse called Joey, who was picked by the son of a poor farmer who goes by the name Albert Narracott to plough their fields. During Joey’s training they two become emotionally attached to each other, then war is declared between the British Empire, it’s allies and the German forces. As this happens Albert and Joey are separated as Narracott is too young but the horse is required for service in battle. The young has to wait a few years to join the war and hopes to be reunited with Joey.
As the story moves on, other characters encounter Joey and their background is told. While this helps set the view from a lot of factions in the war such as the British soldiers and both sides of the conflict, I felt that not enough time was focused on some of the latter individuals. Hence they were not properly developed in my opinion. A factor I believe that the film excelled in was the huge battle field scenes, especially the fight across no man’s land.
Overall, I quite liked this film and felt connected to most of the characters. I would encourage people to watch it if they wanted to see a movie with a simple plot, decent acting but enjoyable despite the lack of storyline. The twelfth chapter of Team X Paranormal Division is up at Warehouse 17.
Plot=7/10
Characters=7/10
Special effects=8/10
Overall=8/10
Quote of the day
Perhaps I can find new ways to motivate them.
Darth Vader
Star Wars Episode 6: Return of the Jedi
Mass Effect: Revelation
Greetings, Mass Effect: Revelation is a novel written by the lead writer Drew Karpyshyn of BioWare’s gaming series Mass Effect. It takes place before the first game focusing on several characters, some of whom were in the series such as Anderson or Saren and others who were introduced in this book, for example Kahlee Sanders. Even if the reader hasn’t played the game, the plot and lore surrounding it isn’t that difficult to understand, nor will it prevent them from enjoying the novel.
The plot begins with the destruction of a human military base by a group of mercenaries called the Blue suns. The facility was working on a secret project which was headed by a scientist by the name Dr Qian, who seemed to lose his sanity as the experiments went further along. All the employees of the facility were killed during the massacre or so it was believed. The Alliance, the human military, send in Lieutenant David Anderson to uncover who was behind the attack. It doesn’t take him long to discover that one of the personnel, Kahlee Sanders was absent without leave and he attempts to track her down.
The storyline is made more complex as the humans are new to the galactic government which is ruled by alien species, one of which, the turians wish to see the human race removed from the council. This is because of their first contact in which the turians and humans fought each other in a short war before other council races could intervene. It resulted in the deaths of many on both sides of the conflict, hence there are hostilities towards each species. A ruthless and efficient turian, with strong hatred towards the humans, called Saren becomes involved in the case and forms an alliance with Anderson for the sake of convenience.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, the words flow on from each other making it an entertaining novel. I believe that it is also interesting to get a deeper insight into the storyline and explore the backgrounds of characters from the videogames. The eleventh chapter of Team X Paranormal Division is up at Warehouse 17.
Plot=8/10
Characters=9/10
Wording=9/10
Overall=8/10
Quote of the day
Don't dance! You know what happens when you dance.
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Blacksite: Area 51
Greetings, Blacksite: Area 51 is the 2007 sequel to the 2005 video game Area 51. I really enjoyed the original, which I had played several years ago and picked up Blacksite in an effort to regain some of the old magic that the first one had. Unfortunately very little of it was recaptured and it was mainly towards the end that I felt the game was related to its successor. It is not however, a bad game at any measure, rather a solid attempt with a variety of environments to keep the player entertained.
The plot isn’t very complicated and revolves around five main characters. It begins in Iraq where the leading individual, a soldier known as Pierce as well as his two team mates, Logan Sommers and Grayson are searching a hidden bunker for Weapons of Mass Destruction. While on the mission they encounter two other members, Ambrose and Dr Noah who assist them in their search. Once inside they encounter what appear to be mutations of men, after killing them and believing that they are experiments, they move deeper into the facility.
At one point, Peirce, Summers and Noah find an extraterrestrial crystal. Logan touches the crystal that knocks his leader unconscious. Peirce is dragged out of the room by the doctor as Summers fights off several aliens, the door shuts leaving the soldier to his fate. Three years later, the team a reunited, with the exception of Logan, to fight of a militia calling themselves the Reborn. It becomes apparent that the two events where linked.
There are only six weapons in the game, two of which are based on alien technology. The team members when not really adding much to the plot are nice to have around, except when they get injured. This causes the morale monitor to goes down, which makes them less effective fighters. When the metre is higher due to good performance the squad will fight to a higher quality. So overall it is a decent game, don’t expect too much from it but it is a worth a go if you want a short first person shooter to pass the time. The tenth chapter of Team X Paranormal Division is up at Warehouse 17.
Plot=7/10
Characters=8/10
Graphics=7/10
Overall=7/10
Quote of the day
Of course I have. Have you ever tried going mad without power? It's boring, no one listens to you.
Cargill
The Simpsons movie
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Greetings, Sherlock Holmes: A game of Shadows is the sequel to the 2009 film starring Robert Downey Jr. I enjoyed the original film although found the successor to be less intelligent in terms of plot and mystery but entertaining, none the less. This story line allows for the introduction of Sherlock’s brother, Mycroft, played by Stephen Fry and Moriarty has a larger role since his small appearance in the first movie.
The plot is quite simple for a Holmes adventure, Sherlock finds himself in the middle of a large conspiracy, in which entrepreneurs all over the world are dying under suspicious conditions. Meanwhile the world is tearing itself apart and on the verge of war, as certain European minister’s are assassinated and important buildings are destroyed in an attempt to set up the commencing of the conflict. Holmes tries to discover what it all means and who is behind it.
The actors portrayed their characters well, and it is visual pleasing, especially during scenes of confrontation but as I stated before the mystery is toned down in exchange for the action themes. Due to the villain being identified early on, I found it less interesting as one of the aspects I like most of the detective genre is to find out who was behind the crime and why, or how they did it as was with the plot of the original film.
Overall, it is not a bad movie by any means but I still prefer the original. There is a good use of whimsical humour throughout it, which helps to lighten the mood and mixes nicely with the serious elements. So I would encourage you to watch it if you were a serious Holmes fan, but if you wish to see a well thought out detective movie, you would be better with something else. The ninth chapter of Team X Paranormal Division is up at Warehouse 17.
Plot=7/10
Characters=8/10
Special effects=9/10
Overall=7/10
Quote of the day
Mr. Salieri sends his regards
Vito
Mafia 2
The Last Templar
Greetings, the Last Templar was written by Raymond Khoury who also developed a sequel named The Templar Salvation. It has two stories which are interlinked with each other, one being set in the times of the Templar and the other in modern day New York. The Templar’s are in the novel for only a short time in comparison with the current adventure.
The plot begins in the New York Metropolitaon Museum which is holding a special exhibition of artefacts that have never been seen by the public. Archaeologist Tess Chaykin visits on the opening night when the museum is attacked by four horsemen dressed as Knights Templar, an organisation that had fallen several thousand years beforehand.
The leader of the thieves steels a rather unordinary device that appears to lack the high quality of the other items. After the raid an FBI agent called Sean Reilly investigates the crime. Once the archaeologist, Tess is able to help reach an expert in the Knights Templar named Bill Vance, she herself becomes personally involved in the case. During the following days, three of the horsemen are killed by an assassin who goes by the name of Plunkett and is also seeking out the organiser as well as the device he stole.
Overall it is a solid book but towards the end it does become rather dull before it picks up slightly at the climax. Also, several theories were suggested as to what the device did and the one that the writer had chosen became less appealing after the massive build up throughout the novel. It is a decent adventure but it isn’t a classic. The eighth chapter of Team X Paranormal Division is up at Warehouse 17.
Plot=7/10
Characters=7/10
Wording=8/10
Overall=7/10
Quote of the day
Do you really think you have a chance against us, Mister Cowboy?
Hans Gruber
Die Hard
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2
Greetings, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2 is the second game in the Modern Warfare trilogy. Players take up new character roles as the S.A.S soldier Roach, Ranger Ramirez and CIA agent Allen. Some members of the original cast are in the sequel, for instance Soap has a prominent role in the plot. I found as with the first game, that the British individuals such as Ghost or Roach are more charismatic, have more distinct personalities and therefore more likeable than their American allies.
The story begins with a CIA operative known as Joseph Allen going under cover as a Russian terrorist with one of the main antagonists, Makarov to expose him. This leads to a mission, which can be skipped, where the terrorists and the infiltrator kill innocent passengers at a Russian airport. However Makarov knows of the agent’s identity and kills him at the scene of the crime. This incident forces Russia and America to be at war with each other.
It is quite a short game in terms of campaign but it relies heavily on its online gaming, which contains various activities to play through, such as free for all and capture the flag. There is also another element of game play, called Special Ops and requires the player to play through various maps not related to the plot. The third game promises to be a brilliant one or so the conclusion of Modern Warfare 2 implies. The seventh chapter of Team X Paranormal Division is up at Warehouse 17.
Plot=8/10
Characters=8/10
Graphics=9/10
Overall=8/10
Quote of the day
See ya in another life brotha.
Desmond
Lost
