Super Mario Odyssey FIRST LOOK

"LET'S-A-GO!"
This week at the 2017 E3 conference, Nintendo brought a ton of new things to the public eye, everything from new additions to beloved series and DLC expansion packs for things like THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD, all new titles for both of Nintendo's latest consoles, the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS and a small bit of Nintendo WII U, but the thing I was interested in was "what can I expect or look forward to with Super Mario Odyssey?" We got a first look trailer a few months back and it only gave us the idea that this was another Mario sandbox game. We hadnt been given a great free-roam game since Super Mario Sunshine. You could argue and say we had Super Mario 3D Land, but that was still a game that had a designated path from start to finish with each level having a common goal and that was the final flag pole and the collection of 3 large gold coins. A sandbox game allows players to venture from the initial story line and do a side mission or two. you were never fully bound to one goal. This was also displayed in Super Mario 64. the player had free roam of the mushroom kingdom and each level, within different paintings, were different goals and stars to collect. This time around, Nintendo has graced us with, what seems to be the LARGEST, Mario game to date. What we have been able to see, so far, is this vast open world that Mario can play and explore in. One particular example is the "New Donk City" world, basically a rip off of New York City FILLED with Donkey Kong references. This map is gigantic in comparison to other Mario maps and levels. It's also filled with so many different things to play with and do! This is only one amongst many worlds to explore and tinker with.
There is a few new features to this game that haven't been seen in Mario games before. One being the capability to throw your new found ally, Cappy, a ghostly spirited top hat that takes form as Mario's classic hat to aide him in his journey, onto almost any living or inanimate objects and posses, including enemies. That's right, if you ever felt like playing as Mario wasn't fun enough, you can toss your hat to the nearest koopa or goomba and literally become them. This is a new feature that allows so many new possibilities within the original story. The second, being the capability to change your outfit. Many people who are familiar with the mustached plumber are the original blue overalls, red shirt, white gloves and emblem hat. Odyssey allows the player to dress Mario up as they please. In the Nintendo Treehouse segment at E3, we got to see 2 examples of this. In the TOSTERENA map, you're able to dress Mario up in classic mariachi attire, sombrero and all. It doesnt stop there, in the rainforest map (Im unfamiliar with the name at this time) you can dress him up as an explorer, a steve irwin lookalike if you may so call it.
I've always liked games that allowed customization to characters. It gave the feel that this was YOUR game and no one elses. Odyssey gives you that feel. It gives you the possessing feeling that YOU alone are playing with Mario and not just following the italian plumbing, coin jumping status quo that every other player in the world was doing. This excites me on so many levels! I have hope that this game is going to be challenging and ultimately endless in its game play and history. I feel that it will, most definitely, stand up against it's predecessors and make it's mark in gaming history.
So far, i'm excited and absolutely can NOT wait for October 27th.
GAME ON, MY FRIENDS!!!!

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe REVIEW

Now that I have had some time to play around and get the feel of what the NINTENDO SWITCH can do and is capable of, I was ready to actually have some fun and whats more fun than racing with our favorite multi-talented italian plumber, Mario? I bought my copy of MARIO KART 8 DELUXE and really havent put it down since. What MK8 has is a lot more than what it's original title had, which was released on the NINTENDO WII U and that's every unlockable character, every track and every circuit (50cc-Mirror and 200cc) This game is also the first game I've personally enjoyed playing online. I'm not a huge online player, but when it came to Nintendo and their online games, it was usually disastrous and lagged almost every time. This game also has what it's original does not and that's the online battle mode which is my favorite on this title, more specifically, coin runner or bob-omb battle. It's a great add-on and addition to the Super Mario universe and Mario Kart family. Next in the Mario universe is the reported Mario and Rabbids Kingdom Battle followed by Super Mario Odyssey. One of those I'm over the moon excited about, the other...I'm slightly confused, BUT nonetheless, should be a fun and entertaining experience.That's for another time. Buckle up, shift into maximum effort and overdrive (Yes I made a deadpool reference) and go for gold with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe!!!

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 REVIEW

Everything marvel touches turns to gold...unlike the golden people in Guardians of the galaxy volume 2. There has only been one marvel series that had always out done itself with each instalment and that was the Captain America trilogy, each film delivered more action and story than the original. Now, finally, we have a new champ. GOTG was always a surprise to me because I'm not a sci-fi kind of guy. Space and things like Star Wars were never an interest to me, but here comes Guardians. The original blew me out of the water because I initially entered the movie with very low expectations since I had no idea about it and it was a brand new entry and universe in the MCU. Needless to say, I was very impressed and expectations were surpassed in this sequel. My only question or concern was the heavy sexual innuendos and borderline adult language. Not that it mattered much to me, but it's a superhero movie directed towards a younger audience. I understand the original audience, who have been watching since iron man, are much oldet, but it's not a bad thing to keep things a bit on the cleaner side. You don't need language to sell tickets.
Overall, guardians kicked so much ass and has definitely put their own roots firmly into the MCU...and by roots, I mean cute, teenie tiny baby Groot roots. That little guy almost steals the show.

Adam West 9/19/1928-6/10/2017

Holy shark repellent, Batman!
Today marks another day for the unfortunate passing of an icon. Today, the talented, gifted and self-proclaimed funny man, Adam West has passed away. Most younger people know Adam as the voice of Family Guy's Quahog Mayor, who plays an off-beat version of himself. Other people, and people, universally know him as the billionaire vigilante Bruce Wayne/Batman. The Man was given the task of bringing the comic book character to life on screen for the first time in the characters history. Of course, HIS version of Batman was very cartoony and campy, but TRUE die hard Batman fans see him as the one and only Bruce Wayne. We can all agree to disagree, however he is a prominent staple in Batman history and will be missed by fans alike. Rest easy.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales REVIEW

Another pirates adventure has come and sailed away again...and in my own personal opinion, for good.
I had a date night with the wife and saw the latest in the Pirates of the Caribbean series subtitled, Dead Men Tell no Tales and I was thoroughly pleased with the outcome. Most of the time when a movie gets 5 entries deep, it starts to recycle alot of old characters or drags on the story longer than its original welcome. Somehow, PIRATES manages to always come up with a fresh tale to capture audience's attention. DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES is no exception with its new character additions and storyline. The one thing this movie managed to do is put to rest a lot of open plot holes or character arcs. I won't say much about it, but one climax in the finale mimicked Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 a bit almost to a tee, but it didnt distract me from its meaning and purpose to the storyline, however I did feel like it was rushed and was something that was needed to create a quick connection to two characters while giving a bit of depth to another. It was too much in such a short period of time without a clear reason why this character did what they did...oh well.
Johnny Depp is always great as Captain Jack and I hate those who think he is becoming a mockery of himself. He's just a fantastic character actor. Captain Jack is always a staple in the movies who never needs any type of introduction or development, although we saw a small glimpse of the young Jack sparrow in a brief flashback.
This movie has everything needed from the ones it followed to help make a great time for pirate fans. Definitely a good time and definitely a great addition to the series. Considering how it ends, I hope this series stops here, not because I don't want it to continue, but simply because I'd hate to watch a good thing die off so slow and sadly.
Enjoy.

Wonder Woman REVIEW

Wonder woman was, dare i say, wonderful! I realize DC has struggled in critic and fans eyes with making a good film within their new shared film universe. While i, personally have enjoyed each installment, starting at MAN OF STEEL, to BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, and most recently SUICIDE SQUAD, I can see where most people are left with a little sour taste in their mouths. They haven't been Marvel movies where almost each addition is absolutely outstanding and stellar or at least acceptable for the film universe's sake, but they've just started and are still on their baby feet. Wonder woman is a great turning point for great things in the future. My one problem with the storyline was the motivation at the climax of the film that was off putting and unsettling for the origin of this character. I won't spoil any part of it for anyone, but if it was a subtle thing somewhere WITHIN wonder woman's character arc, I would've classified this film as a perfect origins movie for the character. After all, this was the characters first stab at a big screen adaptation and aside from that little tid bit, it was incredibly solid and exactly what DC needed to move forward with future installments. The supporting characters were even interesting to watch and chris pine, who played Captain Steven Trevor, was a great opposite to gal gadots Diana Prince.
The next thing we can look forward to comes out this November with the first part of Justice League which is shaping up to be an excellent follow up to wonder woman.
This is the part where I usually feel okay with my quick review, but I'm having a hard time wrapping this one up. I'm going to take that as a good sign.
I'm under the enchantment of the lasso of truth: this movie has been the best ive seen so far this year next to guardians of the galaxy volume 2.
enjoy

Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie REVIEW

What a fun trip down nostalgia lane. Just got out of Captain Underpants: The First Epic movie and I was so so soooooooooo beyond pleased with it. So far, 2017 has been a great year for film and I'm hopeful that it just keeps getting better.
There's nothing too serious about this movie that I really need to break down, because it is exactly what it is, it's a captain underpants movie, enough said. I was initially worried because it had the voice talent of Kevin hart, who I feel is just so over the top in his acting that it even shows in voice over work, like The Secret Life of Pets, but this movie is intentionally corny and silly that he actually blended in well with its surroundings. I couldn't think of anyone better to voice George Beard. Ed Helms was a spot on Principal Krupp/ Captain Underpants. I had no complaints at all about this. I went in with hope that DreamWorks wouldn't destroy an innocent thing that I enjoyed as a child, but they did the opposite and reminded me why I loved these books and their crazy off-beat stories and characters. I obviously took my son who enjoyed it just as much as me, if not more. There comes a great time in a father and son movie experience when you're laughing at the same potty jokes. I wouldn't trade those moments for the world.
If you don't know who captain underpants is, take the kids and fill their minds with this tremendous ride and laughter.
Enjoy.