Rango (Movie) & Captain America (Game) Reviews

VengefulJedi

Shared on Thu, 08/25/2011 - 23:49

I don't often provide reviews. I often take the "one man's trash, another man's treasure" approach - not every movie/game is for everybody, what works for me might not for you. But I figure whatever I say here will be more valuable than half the shit out there. I'm not paid to sway my opinion, I'm not a particular fanboy (unless we're talking Star Wars, which we're not). This is my observation, take it or leave it.

So, I watched Rango tonight. Everyone I talked to praised this movie (thankfully without spoilers), so I went into it with high expectations... and I must say, they were all met and often exceeded! This is one of the best animated movies I've seen in a while. Johnny Depp provided the voice of the titular character so well, you forget it's Johnny Depp. He is Rango. I'm also impressed with the voice talents provided by Bill Nighy (Rattlesnake Jake) and Ned Beatty (The Mayor). Both were menacing & believably badass. What truly impressed me is how it simultaneously played to both kids and adults. While the content & humor often took the more mature approach, the characters' physicalities kept the kids going. That speaks volumes for Gore Verbinski's talents as Director, which he'd proven before by helming the Pirates of the Caribbean movies (also starring Johnny Depp & Bill Nighy). The animation wasn't any particularly groundbreaking means, but made you feel that gritty desert sand & pounding hot sun. All in all, this is definitely one of the better movies I'd seen all year, definitely the best animated one.

My next observation was the game Captain America: Super Soldier. Mediocre at best. While the game was slated to release alongside the movie, the game's story does not follow (or in any way enhance) that of the movie. The graphics & environments were lackluster - I felt like I was looking at a game created four years ago. The enemies followed maybe one or two patterns, but it was the same combat over and over (think Eragon-style repitition). Rather than tell a story, you run around & collect items that give you points (essentially XP), which you purchase abilities with. My complaint with this is that Captain America is a fucking soldier, not a fucking gatherer of intel. As a Super Soldier, give me some combat & make me feel like a fucking badass! The only soldier I felt like was a pansy-ass grunt stumbling through basic training, thanks to the onscreen prompts that guide you through acrobatic sequences (Press A to do this, now press A again to do this). I never failed a single action - no challenge whatsoever. A timing factor, additional button sequences - or making the controlling of acrobatics more Prince of Persia: TFS - any of those additions would have greatly contributed to this game's playability. It is passable, if you're looking for something to play for Achievements... which brings me to my  last criticism about this game, which is more of a pet peeve. The Achievement gained by sitting through the credits. Gamewise, what did you actually achieve? I accidentally did it... I let them play in the background while I was talking to a friend.

That's all I've got for reviews. Loved Rango, hated Captain Klepto.

And now for something unrelated, though animated:  the intro to the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUtziaZlDeE&feature=related[/youtube]

Comments

pp2's picture
Submitted by pp2 on Fri, 08/26/2011 - 08:18
The Spiderman cartoons from 67 are on Netflix now, I've been watching those lol...brings back great memories. I need to see if they have Hulk and all those other ones too.
CiaranORian's picture
Submitted by CiaranORian on Fri, 08/26/2011 - 10:03
spiderman, spiderman, does whatever a spider can.
VengefulJedi's picture
Submitted by VengefulJedi on Fri, 08/26/2011 - 10:16
pp2, that's why I'd posted it! I'm hooked since I first laid eyes on it. If you find Hulk or any other goodies, keep me posted!

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