countdown to comic-con!

Entertainment: Movies, TV

nobody@vox.com(grrrace) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:26:02 -0700

.:What I'm Watching:.

30 Days, Season 2. [What better way to give people a crash course in empathy than to have them inhabit somebody else's life for 30 days? That's exactly what Super Size Me director and star Morgan Spurlock does on this popular FX Network show. Season 2 opens with "a border-patrolling minuteman" moving in with an undocumented Mexican family and continues with episodes on abortion, New Age healing, prisons (with Spurlock himself spending time behind bars) and more. ~netflix] the first story was truly touching and amazing. the other ones were entertaining for sure, but didn't pull on my heartstrings like the first one did. looking forward to the second disc. this show is way better than the other trashy reality tv shows. 4 stars.

Cannibal! The Musical

Cannibal! The Musical. [Featuring riotous tunes, crass humor and sight gags galore, this hilarious genre bender set in 1873 chronicles the tale of Alferd Packer (Trey Parker of "South Park" fame) -- the only American ever found guilty of cannibalism. With Packer at the helm, a party of gold prospectors gets stranded in the midst of a savage Rocky Mountain winter, and next thing you know, ribs and liver are on the menu. "South Park" co-creator Matt Stone also stars. ~netflix] schpadoinkle! before there was South Park, there was Cannibal! The Musical. and seriously, i LOVE this movie. i don't know that anyone else really does. but i LOVE it. 5 stars, damn it!

Incredible hulk

The Incredible Hulk. [Edward Norton stars as Bruce Banner in this version of the classic comic book tale about a doctor who searches for a cure for his exotic condition, which causes him to transform into a huge green monster when under duress. Drawing closer to finding a remedy, Dr. Banner becomes sidetracked as he's pursued first by the military and then by a rival monster known as the Abomination. Robert Downey Jr. co-stars as adversary Tony Stark. ~netflix] okay. i was kinda disappointed in it. i wanted less talky-talky and more hulk-smashy-smashy. and i seriously wanted to hulk-smash liv tyler's face EVERY TIME SHE TALKED. there were a lot of moments where i just had to roll my eyes and just ignore them because it just annoyed me so much. 2.5 stars. also, the netflix synopsis there makes it sound like robert downey jr actually co-stars. uhm. he doesn't. he's in it for all of ... MAYBE 5 minutes. at the very end.

The Middleman

The Middleman. [A struggling artist is recruited by a secret agency to fight against evil forces. Based on the graphic novels by Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Les McClaine. ~imdb.com] way fun. i was a little iffy about it because the promo posters totally sexed up Wendy Watson's character, but the show is really fun with really good dialogue. i'd suggest reading the comic it's based on, as well. 4 stars.

Penelope

Penelope. [Penelope Wilhern (Christina Ricci) is cursed, and the only way out of it is to fall in love with someone of suitable stock. But how can she possibly find her soul mate when she's sequestered inside her family's sprawling estate with only her parents (Catherine O'Hara and Richard E. Grant) to keep her company? Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon co-produced this unconventional fairy tale about a girl who bucks convention to make her own happy ending. ~netflix] it was cute. not a great movie, but i liked it. i thought it was kind of sweet, and at the same time still having that girl empowerment thing going on. oh, and also, Burn Gorman (Owen in Torchwood) makes an appearance. i love him. too bad they didn't give him more to do in this movie. Nick Frost (Spaced, Shaun of the Dead, Hyperdrive) is also in it very briefly. 3 stars.

Samurai Jack - Season 2

Samurai Jack, Season 2. [The Emmy-winning series' sophomore season finds the young samurai again wrestling with a bizarre future universe and trying desperately to return to the past. Meanwhile, he continues to do battle with malevolent wizard Aku (who transported the Japanese warrior to the future) and his many minions. Boasting amazing animation and action-packed story lines, this compilation of 13 episodes will keep the kids riveted. ~netflix] i think this season is less focused than the first season. sometimes they'd have completely unrelated things in an episode and i'd get slightly confused. still giving it 4 stars, though.

Wild China

Wild China. [This six-part series from the BBC uncovers some of the most exotic and uncharted natural habitats hidden within the vast and diverse topography of China, including Yunnan's forests, the Tibetan plateau, the Silk Road and the Mongol steppes. Through high-definition and other cutting-edge camera technologies, the footage presented here captures stunning wildlife sequences, along with a plethora of breathtaking landscape photography. ~netflix] fascinating. really. i'm serious! it's really interesting to watch. i am enjoying the heck out of it. 4 stars.

.:What Mia's Watching:.

Care Bears Movie II: New Generation

The Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation. [The Care Bears (NobleHeart, TrueHeart, TenderHeart, SwiftHeart, FunShine and Grumpy) fight an evil demon named DarkHeart who wants to stop all caring and loving on Earth. In a pact with DarkHeart, an unhappy girl agrees to help capture the Care Bears using a magical crystal. Will the warm and caring bear clan prevail over the evil DarkHeart and his misguided minion? ~netflix] mia really liked watching the fuzzy, chubby bears. hehe. at the end, she was totally doing that audience participation thing... they ask if anyone else cares and she started chanting, "we care! we care!" hehe... and THEN she started really getting into yelling, "i care! i care!" yeah. it was funny as hell. also, she was totally dancing during the end credits to that bad 80s music they had going on. hehe. she'd probably give it 4 stars. hehe.

Clifford's Really Big Movie

Clifford's Really Big Movie. [Colossal canine Clifford (voiced by the late John Ritter) lives with his wonderful owners, the Howard family, whom he loves. But soon, the lovable red dog wonders whether his oversized stature is becoming a burden on his family. Hoping to rid them of the responsibility, Clifford joins a traveling animal circus with his buddies Cleo (voiced by Cree Summer) and T-Bone (voiced by Kel Mitchell). ~netflix] mia still informs me every now and again that, "it's a good day to go watch the clifford movie!" she really enjoyed it and had a fun time at the movies. mia would give it 4 stars... if she knew how to rate movies. hehe. the animation in the movie is much better than the animation on the PBS television show.

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Entertainment: Movies, TV, Music

nobody@vox.com(grrrace) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:17:37 -0700

.:What I'm Watching:.

Batman - Gotham Knight (Single-Disc Edition)

Batman: Gotham Knight. [Batman takes on Deadshot, Killer Croc and other deadly foes in six anime-inspired short films. Together, the interlocking tales bridge 2005's Batman Begins and its 2008 sequel, the Dark Knight, and illuminate our anti-hero's troubled psyche. The powerhouse writing team includes Oscar nominee Josh Olson, Batman Begins writer David S. Goyer, comic book writers Greg Rucka and Brian Azzarello, and "Batman Beyond" creator Alan Burnett. ~netflix] it was awesome. loved it. 5 stars. totally amped me up for The Dark Knight... which i won't see opening weekend because i hate crowds, but i definitely want to watch in the theater...

Frisky Dingo - Season 1

Frisky Dingo, Season 1. [In this animated series from "Sealab 2021" creators Matt Thompson and Adam Reed, a bored villain and a superhero who refuses to retire square off over the former's plan to destroy the world. As Killface deals with the unpleasant bureaucratic details of eliminating the planet, Awesome X -- the superhero alter ego of billionaire action figure maker Xander Crews -- contemplates coming out of retirement in this clever superhero spoof. ~netflix] i want to be Killface when i grow up. it is seriously hilarious. the writing is AWESOME. i love it. thanks to charlie 5-0 for recommending it! 5 stars!

Samurai Jack - The Premiere Movie

Samurai Jack. [An evil shape-shifter named Aku brings destruction upon the land. As the citizens' last hope, a young samurai warrior is trained to defeat Aku. But when he returns as an adult to confront Aku, the warrior is flung into the future through a time portal. The locals help "Jack" in his quest to return to the past and fight Aku. ~netflix] so... i wish someone told me that the movie prequel Samurai Jack was just the first few episodes of the TV series. cuz i totally already watched it. whatever. maybe i didn't read the netflix reviews closely enough. i just wish i didn't waste my time getting the movie when i'd already watched the first season. it's still good, but i'll only give it 4 stars. because you really should just get the whole first season instead of this disc.

Sarah jane adventures

The Sarah Jane Adventures. [Investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith and her 13-year-old neighbor Maria form an alliance to combat evil alien forces. ~imdb] another spin-off of Doctor Who. it's really cute. totally geared for a younger audience, but it doesn't mean that it's not good. it really is quite enjoyable and fun. 4 stars. also, sarah jane sure is aging well! she is 60, but definitely looks like she's in her 40s.

The Tracey Fragments

The Tracey Fragments. [On a quest to locate her missing brother -- who believes he's a dog after she hypnotized him -- Tracey Berkowitz (Ellen Page) traverses a city full of hazards. Meanwhile, her neglectful parents (Ari Cohen and Erin McMurtry) make plans to send her to an equally dysfunctional therapist. Unhappy and insecure, Tracey consoles herself with rock 'n' roll fantasies about the new boy at school, Billy Zero (Slim Twig), in this quirky indie drama. ~netflix] UGH. they were just trying SO HARD to make it all artsy. and it was just annoying. i could only watch about 10 minutes of it before i started feeling nauseated. the edits and the camera work were literally making me sick. dude, i don't know what ellen page is going to do when she's like, 30 and can't get work because she won't look 15 anymore. you know, because she is totally typecast as the "precocious teenager." 2 stars. no. wait. 1 star.

The Virgin Suicides

The Virgin Suicides. [Responding to the lax moral milieu of the mid-1970s, Mr. and Mrs. Lisbon (James Woods and Kathleen Turner, respectively) keep their five alluring, adolescent daughters on a short leash. When the youngest, 13-year-old Cecelia (Hannah Hall), unaccountably commits hara-kiri and wayward elder sister Lux (Kirsten Dunst) violates curfew, Mom puts all the girls under virtual house arrest. But her overreaction has unintended -- and dire -- consequences. ~netflix] first of all, i love the soundtrack. and the movie itself was really good. and sad. also, the thought of mia hitting puberty scares the crap out of me. heh. not that i think she will attempt to commit suicide or anything... but puberty is still a scary, scary thing. 4 stars.

.:What I'm Listening To:.

White Chalk

PJ Harvey: White Chalk. okay. absolutely none of this album sounds like PJ Harvey. i had to keep checking the text to make sure that it indeed WAS PJ Harvey. i have mixed feelings about this album. while i didn't DISLIKE it, i didn't really LIKE it. maybe i need to give it another spin, but i don't know... 3 stars... i guess.

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Entertainment: Movies, TV, Music, Books

nobody@vox.com(grrrace) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:59:32 -0700

.:What I'm Watching:.

In Bruges

In Bruges. [After accidentally killing an innocent boy in London, Irish hit men Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) are sent by their boss, Harry (Ralph Fiennes), to lay low in Bruges. But, uncomfortable in this foreign city, the two professional killers soon get into trouble. Complicating matters further, when the guilt-ridden Ray falls for a girl working on a film shoot, he finds himself confronting the girl's jealous ex-boyfriend. ~netflix] i actually really liked it. also, i'm finding myself NOT hating colin farrell. 4 stars.

Mad Men - Season One

Mad Men, Season 1. [It's 1960, and ad executive Don Draper (Jon Hamm) rules the roost at New York's Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency in this sharply written drama. Living a glamorous existence of never-ending cocktail hours, worry-free smoking and ego-stroking power, ladies' man Draper makes numerous conquests both at work and in his personal life. But the world is beginning to change, and Draper will have to use all his smarts to stay one step ahead of the game. ~netflix] this show makes me want to chain smoke. seriously. boy, people smoked a lot in 1960. hehe. it's interesting to watch how they probably treated women back then... but then it pisses me off because, really, not much has changed. watching it just reminded me how it was at work sometimes and it just made me angry. 3 stars.

North By Northwest

North by Northwest. [What if everyone around you was suddenly convinced you were a spy? This classic from master director Alfred Hitchcock stars Cary Grant as an advertising executive who looks a little too much like someone else and is forced to go on the lam (helped along by Eva Marie Saint). Hitchcock's sure-handed comic drama pits Grant against a crop duster and lands him in a fight for his life on Mount Rushmore. That's a cliffhanger if ever there was one! ~netflix] i love old movies. they're just so darn cute. and this one is a classic for a reason. 5 stars.

Samurai Jack - Season 1

Samurai Jack, Season 1. [A Japanese samurai -- Jack, by name -- is transplanted into a future reality that's controlled by the evil despot Aku. The wayward warrior with a moral code must find a way to survive until he's able to return to his ancient world and rid himself once and for all of Aku. This collection contains all 13 animated episodes from the show's first season, which aired on cable's Cartoon Network. ~netflix] i love the animation style and the story line is super-engaging. not a whole lot of dialogue. definitely more action than anything else. and samurai jack is exactly how i like my men. men who don't talk much but are great with the action. tee hee. 5 stars.

The Spiderwick Chronicles (Widescreen Edition)

The Spiderwick Chronicles. [When city-raised twins Jared and Simon (both played by Freddie Highmore) move to an old country mansion with their mother (Mary-Louise Parker) and sister (Sarah Bolger), it's quite an adjustment -- especially when they uncover a magical and sometimes dangerous fantasy world. Based on the best-selling children's books, this family adventure populated with all manner of fanciful creatures co-stars Joan Plowright, David Strathairn and Nick Nolte. ~netflix] kinda scary for a kids movie! hell, i was kinda scared! heh. it was pretty good, though. i liked it. 4 out of 5 stars.

Super High Me

Super High Me. [Determined to find out the true effects of marijuana on the human body, stand-up comedian and former Stoner of the Year Doug Benson documents his experience avoiding pot for 30 days and then consuming massive amounts of the drug for 30 days. More than just an amusing story of one man's quest to get superhigh, this documentary also examines the hotly contested debate over medical marijuana use. ~netflix] i was kind of disappointed in this documentary. and i think that for his "testing" they make it seem like oh, he did so much better on his tests when he was high... but i think this guy is kinduva failure and he has so much anxiety that he NEEDS the weed to help him cope. they don't really go into that. kids are gonna watch this movie thinking that it's going to have the same results for everyone and that weed isn't necessarily dangerous. i'm not saying that it IS dangerous. but it just depends on the person. and even though there's a disclaimer in the beginning, i don't know that people will really pay attention to it. also, it wasn't that entertaining either. boo. 3 stars.

Vantage Point (Single-Disc Edition)

Vantage Point. [Moments after he arrives in Spain for a landmark antiterrorism summit, U.S. President Ashton is shot. The 15 minutes leading up to the shooting are rehashed -- Rashomon-style -- from the perspective of various onlookers: two Secret Service agents (Dennis Quaid and Matthew Fox), a TV reporter (Sigourney Weaver) and a tourist (Forest Whitaker). This nail-biting political thriller marks the feature directorial debut of Pete Travis. ~netflix] as long as you don't think about it too much, it's all right. and chases always make movies more exciting, so it does have THAT going for it. 2.5 star movie. nothing great, though. i felt like the director was just trying too hard and kind of ... failing. the best part of the whole movie is when matthew fox is speaking in spanish and it's OBVIOUS that they dubbed it over with some other dude's voice. i couldn't stop laughing because it sounded SO ridiculous! that other dude's voice was like, 2 octaves lower than matthew fox's voice. hehe. you'd think they could find SOMEONE in any of the spanish speaking countries that sounded somewhat like matthew fox. man. it was funny. hehe. 3 stars.

The Wild Blue Yonder

The Wild Blue Yonder. [Werner Herzog crafts a thought-provoking exploration of life beyond Earth by blending authentic NASA images with documentary footage shot beneath the Antarctic Ocean by avid diver and experimental guitarist Henry Kaiser. After human beings suck everything valuable from planet Earth -- including all life-sustaining matter -- aliens move in to try to settle a veritable wasteland. Oscar nominee Brad Dourif (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) stars. ~netflix] pretty boring. i fell asleep. i want my sci-fi movies to be SCI-FI. not the idea of sci-fi with NASA footage. probably only pretentious wannabe "artsy" people will like this movie. hehe. 2 stars.

Without A Paddle (Widescreen Edition)

Without a Paddle. [Three friends (Seth Green, Matthew Lillard and Dax Shepard) leave their home in Philadelphia for a camping trip after their friend Billy's death. Their destination has special meaning, as Billy was fixated on going there to search for a lost treasure. Hoping to find some of the $194,200 of famed airline hijacker D.B. Cooper's money -- rumored to be located somewhere in the wilderness -- the men embark on the adventure of their lives. ~netflix] i thought it was gonna suck, but it was all right. i didn't hate it. 3 stars.

.:What Mia's Watching:.

Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland

The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland. ["Sesame Street" veteran Elmo gets his own movie when he dives into Oscar the Grouch's trashcan to retrieve his blanket and wakes up in Grouchland. The Muppets mission: To rescue the blanket from the evil Huxley (Mandy Patinkin) with the help of the Queen of Trash (Vanessa Williams). There are lots of fun and songs along the way (including the all-time kids' fave "I'm a Little Teapot") plus Bert and Ernie as hosts! ~netflix] dude, if this movie was made in 1999, how is it that all of the human characters look EXACTLY the same?! sheesh. anyway, it was cute. they had it free at one of the theaters here so i figured i'd take mia to the movies. it was her first time! she had a pretty good time. :)

.:What I'm Listening To:.

Here We Stand

The Fratellis: Here We Stand. man, what a disappointment! i LOVED their first album. but their second one, not so much. it was kinda boring and lame.

.:What I'm Reading:.

Doctor Who: Made of Steel (Quick Reads)

Doctor Who: Revenge of the Judoon (Quick Reads)

Quick Reads! they're the best invention ever! i read 1.5 books in less than 45 minutes. the ones i got were:
Doctor Who: Made of Steel
Doctor Who: Revenge of the Judoon
totally fun and totally short... according to amazon UK, they're 112 pages long. i enjoyed them. :)

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Entertainment: Movies, TV, Games

nobody@vox.com(grrrace) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:56:01 -0700

.:What I'm Watching:.

Burn Notice - Season One

Burn Notice. [While on a mission in Nigeria, secret agent Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) inexplicably gets his walking papers. After making his way home to Miami, the former operative turns his talents to private detective work of sorts, all the while trying to get to the bottom of his mysterious fall from grace. Sharon Gless plays Westen's carping mother in this breezy espionage series also starring Gabrielle Anwar and Bruce Campbell. ~netflix] yes, i already reviewed it (i love it! 5 stars!), but see what steve thinks here.

Cassandra's Dream

Cassandra's Dream. [When two brothers turn to crime to solve their money troubles, they soon find themselves over their heads and pitted against each other in this thriller from Oscar-winning writer-director Woody Allen. Meanwhile, one brother (Ewan McGregor) becomes smitten with a beautiful young actress (Hayley Atwell), while his sibling (Colin Farrell) struggles with mounting gambling debts. Tom Wilkinson and Sally Hawkins co-star. ~netflix] i really liked it a lot. it had a very similar premise to Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, but i liked this movie more. not a typical woody allen film. and even though you know what's going to happen, it isn't boring at all. 4 stars.

Discovery Channel - When Dinosaurs Roamed America / Dinosaur Planet - Real Big Stories (2 Pack)

Dinosaur Planet. [Explore the past and relive the sights, sounds and sensations of the dinosaurs' world, as cutting-edge filming techniques and hard science combine to create four unique narratives that illustrate the struggle to survive in the violent Cretaceous period -- all from the dinosaur's point of view. The dinosaurs learn to hunt, dodge natural disasters and simply live to see another day amid predators. Actor Christian Slater narrates each adventure. ~netflix] it's kinda like meerkat manor. hehe. except without the furry, cute meerkats. the CGI is pretty impressive. sometimes they would break out of the show and have some paleontologist talk for a few minutes and then go back to the dinos... i found it to be slightly disruptive, but at least it was very informative. 4 stars.

Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs

Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs. [The crew at Planet Express must work overtime to seal a portal between their universe and an alternate universe ruled by the gargantuan alien Yivo (David Cross), whose Earth-conquering plans include making Fry the pope of the alternate realm. Bender, Leela, Amy, Farnsworth and the gang are back in this tentacle-packed feature spinoff of the hit animated series. Other guest voices include Brittany Murphy and Stephen Hawking. ~netflix] i loooove futurama! 5 stars. totally random, random stuff. but so much fun. read steve's review, pleeeeeeease!

Invisible Target

Invisible Target. [When the Ronin Gang robs an armored car, three cops -- Chan (Nicholas Tse), Fong (Shawn Yue) and Wai (Jaycee Chan) -- go on the warpath. Each has a personal interest in bringing down Ronin leader Tien (Jacky Wu): he killed Chan's fiancée, humiliated Fong and kidnapped Wai's brother. Outnumbered but determined, the trio launches a deadly war from which only one faction will emerge alive. ~netflix] also one that i've reviewed previously, but read steve's review.

Joy Division (The Miriam Collection)

Joy Division. [Director Grant Gee provides a cultural portrait of Manchester, England, during the 1970s as he examines the rise and fall of the punk band Joy Division. The film charts the history of the group, its members and musical inspiration. The anger and despair felt by much of England's youth found its way into the lyrics and violent instrumentation of Joy Division's songs, an artistic expression that was more than just rebellion. ~netflix] i loved this documentary. now, go read steve's review! hehe.

The Last Legion

The Last Legion. [In the wake of Rome's fall, 12-year-old Emperor Romulus Augustus (Thomas Sangster) is imprisoned on the island of Capri with only his clever teacher Ambrosinus (Ben Kingsley) for company. But with the help of a heroic legionnaire, Aurelius (Colin Firth), Romulus and his small party journey all the way to Britannia, where their search for the fabled Last Legion -- the Dragon Legion -- will launch the Arthurian legend. ~netflix] i liked it. it wasn't great by any means, but it was watchable. 3 stars.

Persepolis

Persepolis. [Marjane (voiced by Chiara Mastroianni) just wants to be an ordinary kid, but that isn't easy in 1978 Iran. This profound animated film follows Marjane's childhood in a repressive society, her adolescence in France and return to Tehran as an adult. Based on Marjane Satrapi's autobiographical graphic novel, this Oscar nominee for Best Animated Feature Film also features the vocal talents of Catherine Deneuve and Simon Abkarian. ~netflix] i loved it. definitely not your typical coming-of-age story. and it was really done well. i haven't read the graphic novel, but i'm assuming that the style of animation matches the book's. 5 stars.

The Restless

The Restless. [After his beloved fiancée is killed by demons, Yi Gwak (Woo-sung Jung) joins the royal demon-hunting squad and distinguishes himself as a great hero. And though Yi eventually falls in battle, his adventures are just beginning. His spirit is whisked away to Joong-cheon, a place between heaven and earth where souls await reincarnation -- and where the final, epic clash between the forces of good and evil will be played out. ~netflix] another one that i've watched before, but check out steve's review. it's more in-depth.

Saturday Night Live - 25th Anniversary

Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary. [Live! From New York! It's a star-studded celebration of 25 years of Saturday Night Live! Featuring a feast of classic clips, hilarious new comedy (with guests such as Chris Rock, Tom Hanks and Bill Murray) and musical performances by The Eurythmics, Al Green and The Beastie Boys with Elvis Costello, the SNL 25th Anniversary is a hilarious look back at a comedy institution. ~netflix] i hated that beastie boys thing. basically, they were just elvis costello's back up band. and... i like elvis costello a WHOLE LOT LESS than the beastie boys so i was just annoyed. i liked the rest of the DVD, though. 3 stars.

.:What I'm Playing:.

Enchanted arms

Enchanted Arms. [Xbox 360] i like that i don't have to worry about my HP and EP (basically the same as MP) draining because after each battle, it automatically fills up again. yay! and everything (so far) as been pretty self-explanatory... except the battle field. you can bypass it and just have it automatically fight for you... i'm lazy, but i'm meticulous when i play my RPGs, so i haven't even used that option yet. once you get the hang of the battle field, it's very strangely addicting. and it's a fun game. i'm probably not even 15% of the way through yet... and i think i've logged in more than 5 hours. i'm doomed. the storyline is pretty intriguing and the cut scenes are pretty awesome. also, i like that i can save anywhere i like. this game isn't on par with the Final Fantasy franchise, but it's a really good effort.

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