This summer is going to be a great one for big blockbuster franchises. We've got the 3rd Bat Man film, The Avengers, and finally Prometheus (among others).
I remember a while ago Ridley Scott saying that Prometheus was not a prequel, and whilst it had 'shared DNA' with the Aliens films, was not part of that franchise. This definitely piqued my interest, job done Mr. Scott.
Since then, cards have been kept very close to chests, and very little has been given away about the film. The closest we came to any connection to the Alien films, was a shot of the downed spacecraft that features in the 1st and 2nd, containing the eggs that kick start everyone's problems. This generated a great buzz of energy and speculation. So whilst I'm looking forward to all 3 of the films mentioned above, I very much feel I know what I'm to expect from The Avengers, and The Dark Knight Rises. Where as I was looking forward to the potential curve ball of Prometheus. Taking an great idea, a brilliant concept, a thread, starting from Alien, reweaving it into something new, something unexpected.
Then I watched this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0WUpsErUBA
(Whilst watching this will put the post into context, I wouldn't advise it. Ignorance is bliss in this case I feel)
Now it just feels like a prequel. That whatever happens, I know that the end will do nothing but leave us lined up for Alien.
So I don't spoil it for anyone who chooses not to view the above link, I'll not go into anymore detail. I just hope that this in itself, is a clever bit of trickery and diversion from Mr. Scott.
Fingers crossed.
Thursday, 29 March 2012
Monday, 26 March 2012
'Mass Effect' on user controlled game plots?....
Earlier this month, EA Games released Mass Effect 3. A game developed by BioWare, and last in the trilogy of the Mass Effect series, which centres around Commander Shepard.
From humble beginnings in 2007, the Mass Effect series has grown far beyond the realm of consoles to include comics, graphic novels and a newly announced Anime in the works. I have thoroughly enjoyed the series, at it's core it has a compelling, well written storyline. The amazing gameplay then carries it to levels of greatness seldom seen in a series of games.
The thing I like most about Mass Effect, and many other things from the science fiction genre, is that it's amazingly imaginative. I find myself in awe of the story, rather than sitting there thinking that I could do a better job. This makes it all the more easy to get caught up in. This is what makes the recent furore surrounding the ending, all the more disappointing.
Before I continue, I would like to note, that as yet, I have not completed Mass Effect 3 and am basing my opinion purely on what I am seeing written in various reviews and blogs out there on the internet.
The ending of Mass Effect 3 has come under a huge amount of criticism. To the point where the developer has released an official statement, and a charity has raised money to fund an alternate ending. Again, I do not know how the game ends. BioWare are rumoured to be working on DLC to provide an alternate ending for outraged fans. Don't get me wrong, this is a massive gaming series, with some amazingly written characters spanning a great many years.
The way it all ends is a big deal.
But this is the way I see it.
The guys and gals at BioWare have spent more time developing, writing, rewriting, creating and finessing Mass Effect than we've spent playing it. As much as I love Mass Effect, I'm sure they love it more. This is their baby, they've birthed it, raised it and set it free into the world, and they've done it for us. So as much as we want the ending to be spectacular, I imagine they do too. I would think the last thing they want is for it to end poorly. On top of that, the best part about being the spectator, and not the story teller, is that I'm on the ride, and all I can do is hang on.
That is why the very thought of BioWare reacting to the outcry by rewriting the ending as part of a future DLC is horrifying to me. It would be like everybody demanding that J.K. Rowling rewrite the last Harry Potter book because we didn't like the ending. Or upon the release of the upcoming Bat Man film, lobbying Chris Nolan because we don't like the way it all draws to a close. It's madness.
Sometimes the hero doesn't ride off into the sunset, or get the girl, or survive for that matter. That's just the beauty of the story that's being told. It may well be that when I complete the game, that it's an ending I didn't expect. But I'm not the one telling the story. I'm just along for the ride.
From humble beginnings in 2007, the Mass Effect series has grown far beyond the realm of consoles to include comics, graphic novels and a newly announced Anime in the works. I have thoroughly enjoyed the series, at it's core it has a compelling, well written storyline. The amazing gameplay then carries it to levels of greatness seldom seen in a series of games.
The thing I like most about Mass Effect, and many other things from the science fiction genre, is that it's amazingly imaginative. I find myself in awe of the story, rather than sitting there thinking that I could do a better job. This makes it all the more easy to get caught up in. This is what makes the recent furore surrounding the ending, all the more disappointing.
Before I continue, I would like to note, that as yet, I have not completed Mass Effect 3 and am basing my opinion purely on what I am seeing written in various reviews and blogs out there on the internet.
The ending of Mass Effect 3 has come under a huge amount of criticism. To the point where the developer has released an official statement, and a charity has raised money to fund an alternate ending. Again, I do not know how the game ends. BioWare are rumoured to be working on DLC to provide an alternate ending for outraged fans. Don't get me wrong, this is a massive gaming series, with some amazingly written characters spanning a great many years.
The way it all ends is a big deal.
But this is the way I see it.
The guys and gals at BioWare have spent more time developing, writing, rewriting, creating and finessing Mass Effect than we've spent playing it. As much as I love Mass Effect, I'm sure they love it more. This is their baby, they've birthed it, raised it and set it free into the world, and they've done it for us. So as much as we want the ending to be spectacular, I imagine they do too. I would think the last thing they want is for it to end poorly. On top of that, the best part about being the spectator, and not the story teller, is that I'm on the ride, and all I can do is hang on.
That is why the very thought of BioWare reacting to the outcry by rewriting the ending as part of a future DLC is horrifying to me. It would be like everybody demanding that J.K. Rowling rewrite the last Harry Potter book because we didn't like the ending. Or upon the release of the upcoming Bat Man film, lobbying Chris Nolan because we don't like the way it all draws to a close. It's madness.
Sometimes the hero doesn't ride off into the sunset, or get the girl, or survive for that matter. That's just the beauty of the story that's being told. It may well be that when I complete the game, that it's an ending I didn't expect. But I'm not the one telling the story. I'm just along for the ride.
Monday, 12 March 2012
A very rare thing...
A science fiction film that my Wife and I both enjoyed. We went to see John Carter, an IMAX screening at the 2nd largest screen in Europe. It was my first IMAX experience, but more of that in a bit.
During the film, my Wife turned to me and said she was surprised a film as good as this hadn't had more fuss made about it. At first I disagreed, but upon second thoughts I could see how she would think that. I wondered at first if it was due to it being a Disney film, and at face value it isn't your average Disney. Then when you think about it, all the usual elements are there, the love, the heartbreak, the hope, alongside your one man against many backdrop. The only main differences being your live action elements and the Mars setting.
It's this strong story element, carried by some good acting performances that had my Wife overlooking the usual elements of a science fiction film that she would pick up on, such as a breathable atmosphere on Mars.
The plot moves away from that of the original book, but as a film I don't think it suffers at all because of this. In fact I quite like the fact that they manage to write in Edgar Rice Burroughs as a result of the slight change to the plot.
John Carter is also a film I believe that has been made better due to it's showing in IMAX. As a result it is the best 3D film I have seen to date. I got a genuine sense of depth throughout, something I'm sure that benefitted from the large screen size (70 feet across!). The sound was also fantastic. The only disappointment was that the IMAX glasses were uncomfortable. The bridge of my nose became sore, distracting me, and seeing me adjusting my glasses to try and ease the discomfort throughout the film. Other than that, it would have been an immersive and sensational experience.
Not only was John Carter a good film, made great by it's presentation in IMAX, but it has also whetted my appetite for the upcoming summer blockbusters that will be hitting the IMAX screen. 2012 is shaping up to be a good year for cinema goers.
During the film, my Wife turned to me and said she was surprised a film as good as this hadn't had more fuss made about it. At first I disagreed, but upon second thoughts I could see how she would think that. I wondered at first if it was due to it being a Disney film, and at face value it isn't your average Disney. Then when you think about it, all the usual elements are there, the love, the heartbreak, the hope, alongside your one man against many backdrop. The only main differences being your live action elements and the Mars setting.
It's this strong story element, carried by some good acting performances that had my Wife overlooking the usual elements of a science fiction film that she would pick up on, such as a breathable atmosphere on Mars.
The plot moves away from that of the original book, but as a film I don't think it suffers at all because of this. In fact I quite like the fact that they manage to write in Edgar Rice Burroughs as a result of the slight change to the plot.
John Carter is also a film I believe that has been made better due to it's showing in IMAX. As a result it is the best 3D film I have seen to date. I got a genuine sense of depth throughout, something I'm sure that benefitted from the large screen size (70 feet across!). The sound was also fantastic. The only disappointment was that the IMAX glasses were uncomfortable. The bridge of my nose became sore, distracting me, and seeing me adjusting my glasses to try and ease the discomfort throughout the film. Other than that, it would have been an immersive and sensational experience.
Not only was John Carter a good film, made great by it's presentation in IMAX, but it has also whetted my appetite for the upcoming summer blockbusters that will be hitting the IMAX screen. 2012 is shaping up to be a good year for cinema goers.
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