Serendipity Movie Review

Yes. A chick flick. But my logic yesterday was the following: things are really depressing in the world so I don't want to watch a movie that is depressing or serious. I just want a feel good movie that will relax me and not try to be too drama-esque. Plus I wanted a chance to revisit some of the beloved places in NYC through video once more. Since I had never seen Serendipity before I thought that I would give it a shot. Especially, since I ate there this past Summer and felt extremely guilty not having seen the movie before.
The movie was exactly what I wanted. There were a few moments that were risque but never between the main actors, which I prefer. I like movies that uphold values of some sort (ie at least being loyal to a fiance now days). Their play on the word serendipity, a series of events guided by mere fortune or fate, was actually refreshing. While watching, I wondered myself, How many times has fate served me well in my life? It was good to reflect on those things in my life that had happened for the better. While the couple plays this idea to the extreme it still remains funny to the very end. Just like many other bubble gum romance movies, you root for the couple the whole time, and they get together in the end. My favorite part of chick flicks are the main guys best friend (bad best friend = horrible movie). The guy they picked was awesome. I have seen him in other movies and he does such a great job. Overall, it was just what I was in the mood to watch. A pick me up movie where things just happen right in the end. It helps us look over all of the bad things happening in the world right now. In summary, not the best chick flick I have ever seen but definitely in the keeper category.

Halo: Combat Evolved

I know that it is outdated now but I felt that I should do a post on each game in the series as they are so good. I am a big fan of first person shooter games. Where all you see is the gun and you go around and blow stuff up. Anyways, Halo is a unique game in the fact that it actually has a good story line and not just one concocted to blow stuff up. Halo was originally going to be a game like Starcraft with tons of story to fill it in. However, last minute changes made it a shooter game. It is obvious that the designers of the first game never really expected it to catch as much fire as it has but, we are all so very glad that it did. A quick synopsis of the game is this...

You start the game as Master Chief, the last of his race of super soldiers (Spartans), who had been preserved and awakened for a time of need. The ship that you are on is hijacked by a race of aliens although you don't exactly know why, you are trying to get out live. When the alien ships leave you follow and it leads you to a mysterious halo floating in space. The halo is extremely ominous and surprisingly earth-like. As you fight your way to the inside of the halo you begin to realize that the halo is a religious object to the alien race (the Covenant). This is what, I feel, distinguishes halo from other shooter games. Both sides can appear to be correct. It is a religion to the alien race to worship and protect the halo while as the master chief you know that it can't end well if the aliens unlock the halo. The soldiers are able to open the halo first and you lose communication with them. Of course, as the game's hero you must investigate. When you arrive you see a soldier screaming on the floor shooting at anything that moves. Once past him you search for what exactly was unlocked. Master Chief then discovers that the great religious weapon that has been opened in the halo is actually a Parasite. The parasite rapidly infects those exposed to it and causes those who are dead to fight again. You must battle your way out and destroy the halo before the infectious Parasite escapes and lays siege to earth and space.


Although the description above sounds a bit like a horror movie at times it never plays out exactly like a super freaky horror movie. You are never super grossed out or feel the need to leave the room screaming. It does however, keep you on the edge of your seat much like a suspense movie does. Halo offers a solid set of controls that are easy and responsive to all players which is a big reason that the game has become popular. The other reason for it's large gain in popularity is the incredible multiplayer mode that the game features. With maps that are always fun to traverse and well balanced for all playing styles. Overall, Halo is a very solid game and I only hope that they make a movie soon that lives up to the game.

Moving McCallister Movie Review

To put it mildly...this movie was a waste of time. It started out ok and it had a "Stranger Than Fiction" type feel to it. So we thought we would give it a try. It moved slowly for the first 10 minutes and then it just progressively got worst. It became a movie that tried to be a Napoleon Dynamite and utterly swan dived from the highest platform at the pool into an ugly belly flop. I couldn't even finish the movie. Each time I recommitted myself to finishing this ridiculous movie, something happened that made me want to turn it off again. I eventually resolved to turn it off which, was the best movie decision I have made in a long time. Horrible. Ten Thumbs down!

Vantage Point Review

This is not like any other movie that I have seen. It is possible however, that something like it has been made before though. For those who watch several movies like me it is a nice breath of fresh air for a good one time watch. The whole premise of the movie revolves around one event in which there are several observers.(I believe 8 but don't quote me on that). You will watch the movie through the first persons perspective and then the tape rewinds and then you watch the same event through the second observers eyes which also adds more information to the mystery. Each observers vantage point adds to solving the mystery which allows the audience to actually watch many reels of footage several times and never be bored. I thought it was enjoyable but the one bad thing about mystery movies like this one is that once you know the ending you rarely want to go back and piece back the clues more than once. This movie was good but not really a movie that you would buy. I recommend renting it once and maybe watching it once, or twice if you want to make sure you got everything. This movie does have some unbelievable parts with Dennis Quaid which leaves you thinking that he is He-Man but in action movies there are usually several of these moments. All and all an enjoyable movie.