Gravity: 9/10

And you think your job sucks...

Containing some of the most claustrophobic space action since Alien, Gravity is a very tense and visually stimulating movie that contains some of the best usage of special effects in film within the past several decades. In a fashion similar to 2001: A Space Odyssey, dialogue takes a backseat and all focus is on the imagery involving a struggle within the cold harsh world of outer space.

Every once in a while comes a movie that upon first viewing you become sure that it is going to nab every technical Oscar of the year. Terminator 2, Titanic, The Matrix, Inception, and Avatar comes into mind. Gravity falls into the same grouping because of its flawless usage of sound, camera-work, and special effects. Similar to how Jurassic Park shaped the way we see and hear dinosaurs on film, Gravity will be sure to do the same to outer space. With this film, outer space isn't just a backdrop, it is a true living, breathing environment that deserves to be respected and feared.

Without revealing too much, Gravity follows two astronauts as they struggle to survive within the boondocks of planet Earth when impending danger starts approaching their workspace. While the addition of George Clooney and Sandra Bullock doesn't exactly enhance the movie, their performances were quite good. But the best performance is that of Alfonso Curason, whose mix of close-ups, intense shots, elongated scenes, and astounding visual details makes this easily one of the best directing efforts in the past few years. The half decade spent on this production pays off, and it clearly shows why it took so long.

However, this movie's Hollywood mannerisms definitely hindered this from becoming a bonafide instant classic to the tune of 2001 (although I am in the minority and feel like Kubrick's space opera is a rather overrated work). Not seeing this in 3-D, it is obvious that some of the details in the movie were done less to move the plot and exercise the technical details and more because it was going to be released in 3-D and wanted to hand moviegoers its money's worth. Then there's the rather overbloated, overproduced, and overdramatic musical score done by a Doing-My-Best-Hans-Zimmer-Impression Steven Price. Against Hollywood wishes, the movie could have excelled even more relying purely on sound effects (and lack of) similar to No Country For Old Men.

Despite the two small gripes that prevent it from being a new-age Star Wars, Alien, or other sci-fi outer space masterpieces, Gravity is nonetheless a spectacular work of suffocating intensity that leaves you breathless throughout the merciful runtime of 90 minutes. Like the best visual works in film history, this is best enjoyed in the theater in front of a massive screen surrounded by darkness. In a year lacking of Best Picture quality films (so far), Gravity stands tall as the first great movie of the fall season.

Just be prepared to take deep breaths. This movie will take them away.

The 10 Greatest Pokemon Games (Up to This Point)

So Pokemon X/Y is about to invade the video game industry and give the world more reasons to get a 3DS (To think it had a horrible start---now it’s on fire with this and Link to the Past 2 on the heels). But before we can get to this, we are going to count down the 10 greatest Pokemon games in its wildly successful history.





#10: Pokemon Stadium 2
System: N64

While this game lacks the energy, style, and intensity of the original, Pokemon Stadium 2 still features dazzling graphics, plenty of intriguing games to play and the transfer pack which back in the day was a mighty big deal. Bizarre that Gamecube and Wii versions of stadium-like gameplay were watered-down so ferociously when compared to the 1-2 punch of the N64 Stadium titles. The one element from here that needs to be in future Pokemon games is simply more tournaments; I would love to test my skills against the best of the best outside the gym leaders and the eventual Elite Four.





#9: Pokemon Trading Card Game
System: Game Boy Color

Instead of being some knock-off Pokemon spin-off, this game would not only be an engaging and deep video game, it would pave the way for all those Yu-Gi-Oh games that caught fire for a limited period of time. You would roam around the world taking on other people while perfecting your deck and coming up with the strongest possible combination of cards amongst the 200+ cards you could find in the game. So now I ask: why on earth isn’t there a trading card game side-quest in the RPG Pokemon games?!?!




#8: Pokemon Diamond/Pearl
System: Nintendo DS

They could have messed this one up badly. After all, Ruby and Sapphire made certain Pokemon extinct and FireRed and LeafGreen were essentially pointless. But with the first DS installment of Pokemon, Diamond/Pearl brought back the original design, gave it some nice DS touches, gave it a more realistic touch, and actually improved the franchise as a whole. More Pokemon, the old-schoolers came back, and the game as a whole looks better. While not a franchise-shifter, it gets the job done.




#7: Pokemon Pinball
System: Game Boy Color

Another case of looks-like-cash-in-but-is-actually-legit, Pokemon Pinball is the greatest pinball game in the history of video games as it combined your typical long-forgotten pinball gameplay and attaches it with the gotta catch them all theme and a multitude of mini-games and goodies WITHIN the two pinball machines featured. With so much addicting gameplay you forget that there are only two machines to choose from in the game itself. This is also another case of why-isn’t-this-a-mini-game-or-sidequest-in-an-actual-Pokemon-game. In my dream Pokemon game, you can be the Pokemon Master, and the Pinball Whiz at the same time.




#6: Pokemon Stadium
System: Nintendo 64

This made Pokemon a really, really, really big deal, as we see them battle on the big screen, as we see dozens of tournaments to fight in, a massive gym leader castle quest, and finally a great multi-player mode to wrap it all together. While this isn’t a legit 3D Pokemon adventure, it is a wonderful start. The showdown against Mewtwo was one of the highlights of N64 gaming. Once again I ask, WHY AREN’T THERE DOZENS OF TOURNAMENTS IN THE RPGS?!?!??!?!




#5: Pokemon Black/White 2
System: Nintendo DS

What makes this one in particular special is the fact that it connects to a previous Pokemon game better than any Pokemon game--even the one that eventually takes the #1 crown. It takes place a couple years after the events of the original Black/White, practically forcing you to re-play the previous installment, and then allowing you to admire the details of the sequel as you get to see the changes made. Then there’s the Tournament in the game----well, it’s a good start. Then there’s the ability to have a Hard Mode….now we are getting somewhere.




#4: Pokemon Puzzle League
System: Nintendo 64

Tetris Attack slapped by Pokemon works perfectly for more reasons than one. For starters, the presentation was absolutely amazing, as Pokemon sound like actual Pokemon, the art style is far more anime than the handheld games, and finally the soundtrack was absolutely outstanding. Then there’s the addicting puzzle-based gameplay that makes for classic multi-player mayhem and hours of entertainment. While this isn’t really connected well with the Pokemon mythos, its high on the list because its excellent evidence as to how future Pokemon games should look, sound, and feel. The anime introduction happened over a decade ago, why don’t we have one of those for our handheld games?




#3: Pokemon Snap
System: Nintendo 64

The N64 was the absolute peak of quality Pokemon games and spin-offs, and this was the ultimate example. A simple idea turned into a smash surprise hit, Pokemon gave the franchise and the world a sense of reality that only the anime could deliver. These living, breathing Pokemon that can be photographed gives it an edge that no modern-day Pokemon game could deliver. And the best part is that this game is so small, so simple, and can be an idea that can expand into exponential levels. Unfortunately, we have yet to see this expansion.




#2: Pokemon Red/Blue
System: Nintendo Game Boy

The original still shines in amazing fashion because of its originality, because of its surprising depth, and because it re-entered an entire system into the limelight and forever changed the landscape of the Japanese RPG genre. It spawned dozens of imitators, and also expanded the audience of Nintendo with its addicting rock-paper-scissors concept.

The personality of the original Pokemon remain the best and not because they are the original, but because the character design of this game remains the strongest by providing a steady flow of monsters that can just as easily be considered animals in the wild---a trait that latter Pokemon games have drifted far from. It is still a blast to play today, and a game that will still make good money if it re-released for the 3DS.

Pokemon is now synonymous with 90s gaming, as all the secrets, surprises, and outstanding moments hold up quite well since its debut back in 1998.





#1: Pokemon Gold/Silver

System: Nintendo Game Boy


Unlike every other Pokemon sequel, Gold/Silver took practically and literally everything from the previous installment and expanded upon it into exponential levels. More Pokemon, more showdowns against your rival, more encounters against Team Rocket, twice as many badges, twice as many locations to visit, twice as many legendary Pokemon, and twice as much to do once you collected all the badges.

An astounding amount of the features we now see in Pokemon games were introduced here. Raising baby Pokemon, day/night system, day of the week system, events scattered everywhere, different encounters depending on how much progress you’ve made, and just so much more. This game has no flaws, it was an essentially perfect game.

This is not just the best Pokemon game, but it is one of the greatest handheld games in the history of gaming, and one of the best RPGs that exists. To be able to pack so much content into a handheld game is quite an accomplishment, and one that has yet to be matched in terms of scope ever since. Pokemon X/Y seems to be going in the right direction, but the fact that its only 8 badges when we have seen so many new regions and places to visit with the past Pokemon games leaves a disappointing taste.



Although the Pokemon franchise isn’t the powerhouse it used to be, it still wreaks plenty of havoc and remains a force to be reckoned with. And even though Nintendo has nowhere near reached the full potential of Pokemon (The gripes can be found here, and here, and here, and here), we still have tons of great memories over the years with these gems.

The Egregious Republican-Approved Government Shutdown

Republicans, what on earth is wrong with you?





Seriously?




The entire government is shut down. The ENTIRE GOVERNMENT IS SHUT DOWN! Don’t you get it? Do you not understand? THERE IS NO GOVERNMENT---currently.


One of the most populated nations in the entire planet currently has no government, as the Republicans and the Democrats have reached an impasse that has resulted in politicians making money but not working. The Republicans have banded together and created the first shutdown since the 90s when Bill Clinton was at the helm. And why do you ask is this happening?



Obamacare. No other reason. No war, no corruption, no deadly devastating secrets unveiling itself. Just, Obamacare.



A law that is only trying to provide health care to everybody, especially those who in a normal day couldn’t afford it. This law doesn’t discriminate, doesn’t downplay anybody, and doesn’t attempt to kill anything built by the offended Republicans. This law is only trying to improve the society as a whole by providing assistance when your health goes south.

I understand that Republicans may not agree with it, and I can respect that. I honestly can. But this is not worth shutting down the government, not worth the lack of pay to the citizens who rely on the government for said pay, and not worth the shutting down of several programs that rely on the White House functioning like a normal government to get work done.

If the Republicans really honestly wanted to find a solution, then they would attempt to actually work with the law as opposed to throwing every single dirty tactic in the book to prevent the entire damn thing from existing. Is Obamacare perfect? Of course not, it could use a little fixing, but it still has the right idea. It is a great idea, even if the law isn’t perfect. But why not actually work and attempt to adjust the law as opposed to…you know…attempting to pass heinous changes that limit the law’s scope to begin with and shutting down the government when you don’t get what you want.

If Romney had won, had taken this plan, made a few changes, and changed the name, then this shutdown would have never happened. They would have praised this law as a major change in American history. And newsflash, there is a slight version of Obamacare in Massachusetts headed by guesss whoooooOOOOOOOOOooooooooo?


But, since its Barack Hussein Obama, the dark-skinned terrorist-sounding socialist that is attempting to ruin America, Republicans will throw America under the bus to practically seek redemption for their stunning and bitter loss in the election in 2012—when it seemed certain that Obama was going to lose. Republicans (Not ALL of you, just talking about the folks in the White House) has yet to recover mentally from the loss, and this is one of their rebellious efforts to thrash Obama’s legacy to the ground now that our current president is a lock until 2016.

The issue here is plain and simple: Republicans hate Obama. They hate everything he does. Once upon a time Republicans rejected a bill giving extra aid (Read this correctly please) to first responders of the September 11th attacks mainly because Obama issued it.

My anger is not that Republicans oppose the law, my anger is the lengths that they will sink to make the bill look bad, and some of their decisions really hurt millions of Americans--including the current predicament at hand.



End this nonsense. And deep down both parties are at fault. Democrats, please open up a little more towards finding a solution to this issue that is costing us 150 million each day, and is preventing millions from actually working and getting a paycheck. But you Republicans in the White House, stop being such dicks, open your minds, open your cold-blooded hearts, accept your 2012 loss, end the unnecessary and ill-timed shutdown and attempt to make take this law and blossom it into something that America can utilize.




“A house divided against itself cannot stand”

Abraham Lincoln. Republican.