Robert's Reviews #2: Dr. Strange or just Dr. Misunderstood....?

Well, it looks like Marvel Animated Features has done it again, with their recent foray into the Sanctum Santorum of the Sorcerer Supreme, Dr. Strange. (no I did not make all that babbling stuff up, that's what this thing is full of ... and I love it.) So where to begin? How about the beginning?

Well this movie (unlike other previous sock-worthy submissions from the same company) starts you out in the middle of a high powered mage-shadow beast fight that has the fierceness of a Tijuanan cock-fighting ring and the ingenuity of an electrical engineering college kid on crank.

You know what I loved about this movie that I thought was a huge step in the right direction? The exciting battle that appears on the back cover of the box actually occurs during some point of the movie ( You could learn from that Mr. Stark [by the way Mr. Stark is a reference to Tony Stark { Note to the uninitiated: Tony Stark is Iron Man}]).

I do have to admit that I was more interested than I thought I would be in this Dr. Strange flick and was not disappointed. In fact, I dare say this is the best movie about the Sorcerer Supreme ever made, yes I do believe it beat out the 1978 TV movie starring Peter Hooten as Doctor Strange.

So without further ado here's the review....
Plot: 2/2 A solid and interesting story (it even had a couple of twists in it). Good groundwork in the beginning paid dividends towards the end. This is how a comic book movie should be. It doesn't rush the origin story but still delivers and engaging and entertaining storyline

Originality: 2/2 Ok so this wasn't the first (or last) Dr. Strange movie, but the storyline and the interpretation of the Sorcerer Supreme was refreshing and interesting. I especially enjoyed the way how they dealt with how magic worked in the movie (not the accept the unacceptable stuff) but instead I was enjoyed how they gave each character a sphere of influence. A common mistake in this kind of movie is to not put restrictions on the abilities of the characters which leads to an inability to create an interesting and exciting fight scene. One must be able to see that a character is not omnipotent to care about him.

Acting: 2/2 Well everyone was solid and there were no outlandishly bad standouts that detracted. (this is in general the criteria for a 2/2 although superb acting can give bonus points in the lightning round)

Animation: 3/2 Well it was pretty amazing. From the initial fight scene throughout it was of top quality. There were also no severe jarring transitions from CG to drawn images. The character designs were all spectacular reimaginings of what one can only consider awful source material (case in point Dormammu aka ball face). I especially enjoyed the effects for all the crazy magic that was always going on. It was clean, cool, and not over the top. Excellent.

Execution: 2/2 Pretty amazing considering this is a Doctor Strange movie. Excellent development of the characters as well as amazing animation. Overall very well done and completed well.

Bonus Points: 0 Being a movie about Dr. Strange unfortunately forbids me from granting any bonus points for awesomeness. That's unfortunate because it would have deserved them.

Total: 11/10 It was good, really good. Need I say more. It revived my faith in Marvel Animated Features. I haven't looked into it but this might be an entirely different team than the ones that worked on that Iron Man debacle, but if its the same people then kudos for the turn around. If they're new then kudos to Marvel for dropping those other losers.

If you like comics then this is probably a must see. It's better than any of the live-action stuff they've made. Bravo Marvel Animated Features, Bravo.

You'll want to get it for more than just the Video game cinematics it comes with...

Upcoming Duet Post

So boys and girls (and owls [ha ha Home Improvement Reference]) I've got some big news for you. Just in time for the Boxing Day rush, there will be a special cross-over (or X-over if you prefer) between this awesome sight and the struggling Lamest Thoughts Ever Blog in a special presentation of the review of Marvel Animated Features Dr. Strange. In much the same vein as Capt. Jean Luc Picard appearing in the first episode of Star Trek Deep Space 9, or Worf appearing in Star Trek Deep Space 9, or 7 of 9 appearing in Star Trek Voyager, (or Worf permanently appearing in Star Trek Deep Space 9, or William Shatner appearing in the Blockbuster Star Trek: Generations , or the one episode where the USS Enterprise visited Deep Space 9 and that stupid genetically enhanced doctor named Julian helps out Geordi with some garbage in Engineering for some reason and Data started getting some dreams with this crow and he paints all this stuff [also a blacksmith] and it turns out to be his father), this site will bail out Machievelli's lame site.

So keep your eyes peeled and stay tuned...


(As a side note, the DOOM movie review that you've all been anticipating will be delayed indefinitely for technical God Mode related reasons.)

Robert's Reviews #1 : The Impotent Iron Man?

To start things off let's begin with a special Comic-Con exclusive sneak peak review of Marvel Animated Features' Invincible Iron Man.

Let me just save us all some time and begin with this statement.
Throughout the agonizing and plot-hole ridden 83 minutes of this cinematic abortion filled with nothing by bad acting and what can only be considered sloppy workmanship ( I mean I wouldn't sit in chair made like this for fear of my life), nothing even remotely as interesting or well-thought out as what appears on the back cover of this box occurs during this movie. There is no climatic fight sequence, no climax, no buildup, nothing really except for the feeling you've lost an hour and a half of your life and that you feel as dirty and shameful as if you were dragged through 3 feet of raw sewage throughout the entire course of your career as a custodian at a strip club.

Plot: 0/2 Well, where to start, really... Despite chronal anomalies that would give even Gene Roddenberry fits, there really is not much of a plot (such as building an entire suit of armor and what appears to be at most a couple of hours with basically a hammer and some sheet metal). Some nonsense about some ancient prophecy (which seems just like an excuse for some eye candy fights) not much really happens and what does happen shouldn't have happened. This would have made a better movie, just a black screen. Then maybe I wouldn't have been fooled into dropped $15 on this piece of garbage.

Originality: 0.25/2 Well, this isn't the first Iron Man Movie or the last . At least it was a story I hadn't heard before (even if it was hackneyed). Although it involved the Mandarin who was basically his sole enemy in the '90s cartoon. It's hard to believe.

Acting: 1/2 To be honest there was nothing great nor nothing particularly bad. Totally Mediocre.

Animation: 1.5/2 Well, it looked nice except for the somewhat shabby transitions between obvious drawn and obviously CG scenes and characters. That's a pretty big pet peeve of mine. But that isn't the animation quality's fault, just a lack of taste.

Execution: 0/2 Well first of all who allowed this non-story to be made into a movie. Let's get something straight. I love some terrible, arguably some of the worst, movies ever made but this suffers from what can only be described just not being quite a movie. Perhaps it is Parts 1-3 of a four part episode of Iron Man the cartoon show but this is just not complete. The special effects were as described before poorly sown together (like a jacket I tried to make once out of legos). At least I don't seem to remember anything memorably bad or good about the music.

Bonus Points: 0 Being a movie about Iron Man, this movie is not eligible for these bonus points.

Total: 2.75/10 One of the worst movies I've seen I can't believe I bought this the week it came out. I was so excited and looked forward to this junk. If only marvel would put this kind of money into a solid animated x-men feature or a new tv show. It took what seemed to be a good franchise at Marvel Animated Features (which made some pretty solid Ultimate Avengers movies) and has managed to drag down my expectations for the upcoming Doctor Strange movie about everyone's favorite arrogant neurosurgeon.

I'm afraid I'll have to give this Robert's Sock of the Month.

You SOCK Invincible Iron Man.


Next Issue: Look forward to my review of Doom the movie. Yes they made it into a movie and prepare to be shocked by my review... Or you're DOOMED...

Robert's Reviews #0 : Preview

In what is sure to become this season's hottest new item, I have decided to begin a new segment entitled "Robert's Reviews".

Each movie or television show will be scored based on the following categories:
1) Plot
2) Originality: ( Creativity / Artistic Integrity)
3) Acting
4) Cinematography / Animation
5) Execution : ( Direction/ Music /Special Effects / etc.)

These will be graded for up to 2 points each on a ten point scale with an additional:
Bonus Points / Lightning Round) How Awesome It Is

Please submit suggestions for movies you would like to see reviewed.

There will also be a Robert Sock of the month which is a particularly bad movie.

This Stuff is Worth Money?!

So I was playing my castlevania game on gameboy and considered purchasing the ps1 game castlevania:symphony of the night, only to find it was running about $60 on ebay and amazon. This encouraged my to look into some other rpgs that I actually own and determine their values. Here is a list of games I know I own and how much they have sold for on ebay

1. Final Fantasy VII $80 (VIII and IX each I think were about 40)
2. Brigandine $ 65-80
3. Suikoden $56
4. Xenogears $40 (I think my copy has a $8 price tag on it from The Wherehouse)

So I considering I will most likely never play any of these games (and in general I got them all used for less than $10 (except the final fantasies) I think these were a good investment.

Take that sports games....

So I Guess I Finished that Final

It took me 13 days but I did it...

In other news I haven't been up to too much. My finals and grades all went well. I'm rather pleased (and if I'm pleased that means something).

Right now I'm working up at the lab again, but this time I'm a lot more dedicated because I know this is my last chance to do research before I apply for grad schools. I've got a lot of stuff going on but it should all work out.

Oh well that's all for now.

About to Take a Final