Wrestling With Hollywood

I made another trip to the movies this afternoon, this time to see The Wrestler. I had to make the one-hour journey to the Fayette Mall theater in Lexington to see it, thanks to the movie's limited release, but I'm happy I got to see it theatrically. And I must confess that, like Gran Torino, I saw The Wrestler a month ago thanks to the glorious creation that is the Internet. But I liked it so much that I had to see the legitimate release as soon as it opened up anywhere near me. So just what did I think about it?

I liked it. A lot. Part of that could be because I'm a wrestling fan, and that's the main reason I wanted to see it in the first place. But as it turns out, it's a great movie from start to finish. Honestly, the movie didn't have to be about pro wrestling to tell its story. It could have been about football or baseball, and there wouldn't have been any substantial differences. The fact that the lead character is a wrestler is completely inconsequential. It is a movie about an athlete whose unwavering desire to participate in his sport of choice strains his relationships with those he cares about and threatens his own life. One could argue that it's a cousin to Rocky Balboa, only about a washed-up wrestler instead of a washed-up boxer.

Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei have received a lot of positive buzz regarding their performances, as evidenced by their Golden Globe and Oscar nominations. And both of them, especially Rourke, are thoroughly fantastic. But while Tomei is charming and likable in the role, she's completely out-shined by Rourke. You never really get the sense that Rourke is playing a character, but you instead feel like you're watching the life and times of Randy "The Ram" Robinson. Rourke portrays the character's heartbreaking existence in such a way that you can't help but feel for him. Rourke has created a living, breathing person out of Randy Robinson, and if you need any reason whatsoever to see The Wrestler, he's it.

I honestly doubt that The Wrestler will appeal to pro wrestling's critics, but that doesn't change the fact that it's a movie with seeing. It is most definitely one of 2008's best movies, and I can't recommend it more. I'm going to give it four stars on the Five-Star Sutton Scale, along with a big thumbs-up. And if Jakks can release a line of action figures based on the Rocky movies, is it too much to ask for a Randy "The Ram" Robinson action figure?

Going Our Separate Ways

In my last post, I spoke of how I was victorious in the main portion of Resident Evil 4. And to continue that story, I just beat the "Separate Ways" minigame ten minutes ago. The final stats: 323 enemies killed, seven deaths on my part, and a total playing time of three hours, 29 minutes, and 37 seconds.

As has been evidenced by the almost excessive number of times I've made reference to it lately, I'd really been looking forward to playing "Separate Ways." I'd been wanting to play it since it first turned up on the PlayStation 2 version of Resident Evil 4 way back in 2005. And now that I've finally gotten the opportunity to play the game, I'm satisfied. It's a lot of fun, which might be the best compliment I can give it. It's a quick little game to get through, but I can definitely see myself playing it again.

Besides, I kinda feel obligated to play the whole thing again. Otherwise, all those newly-unlocked special features would go to waste. And I just can't have that.

Late-Night Gaming Victories

I'm a bit of a night owl. It's not uncommon for me to stay up until two or three in the morning for no good reason. But I actually got something accomplished by doing that. At 4:36 AM this morning, I beat the main game in Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition. I know what you're thinking: "Geez, Matt, you stayed up to 4:30 in the morning so you could beat a video game?" Yeah, I did, got a problem with it?

Seriously, though, I'm glad I beat the game. My final statistics were 811 enemies killed, seventeen deaths on my part, and a final running time of eleven hours, sixteen minutes, and 27 seconds. I've done better, but considering that I did it the old-fashioned way without any of the super-powerful weapons with infinite ammo that I carry around in the Gamecube version, I think I did pretty good. I probably could have shortened that time if I'd skipped more of the cutscenes than what I did, but I guess it's too late to go back and do something about it now.

But anyway, I've beaten the game and unlocked all the little side missions and minigames and all that stuff. I still need to unlock all the cool new weapons, but I'm sure I'll get around to that eventually. But if you'll excuse me, I've gotta go jump into those extra features. I totally want to check those out.

Back Into Battle

It's been right around a week since I made my last post in regards to my adventures into Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition. And to be perfectly honest, I hadn't really picked it up since that post. And I was on such a roll, too. But I decided to return to battle again today, and stayed glued to the TV for about four hours of combined playing time. Yeah, I know that may sound a wee bit excessive, but I've got both time and monsters to kill.

Since making my arrival at the island, I've taken a ride on the flatbed bulldozer, had a knife fight, made it through the hall of lasers, defeated "it," and won the boss battle against Krauser on the first try. I left the game after beating Krauser, and after a few more areas and one last fight against the big bad, I'll have completed the main game. And from there, I'll be moving onward to the extra games. (I am so looking forward to the "Separate Ways" game.)

But I'm pretty sure I can have the game beaten soon. Maybe over the weekend, if I don't slack off like I did this past week. And I know I haven't been doing as good a job of keeping a Resident Evil war journal like I have in times past, but the game is pretty much the same. Outside of the controls, which feel a lot more fluid than the Gamecube version, there's really nothing new to talk about so far. That will probably change when I arrive at "Separate Ways," because I'm sure I'll have more to say then.

But when that happens, it'll happen. Let's just get there first.

Whatcha Gonna Do, Brother?

Last November, I marked the fifty-third anniversary of the invention of the flux capacitor, the tool that Dr. Emmett Brown and Marty McFly used to become time travelers. But today marks the anniversary of perhaps an even more important creation.

On this day twenty-five years ago, a force was born. It was a force that would define a generation, that would inspire men, women, and children to train, say their prayers, and eat their vitamins. It was a force known simply as "Hulkamania."

It was on January 23, 1984, that Hulk Hogan defeated the Iron Sheik to win the World Wrestling Federation Championship for the first time. Hulkamania was born that day, and with it came the '80s wrestling boom and, more importantly, WrestleMania. And I'd be willing to bet that pro wrestling might not even be around today if it weren't for Hulkamania.

So whatcha gonna do, brother, when Hulkamania continues to run wild on you?

Happy (Early) Valentine's Day

I think that I can call today a good day when it comes to my cinematic experiences. Prior to today, I'd never seen a 3-D movie theatrically. I'd barely even seen one on video, because the 3-D segment of Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare is pretty lame. But that changed early this afternoon, when I headed out to see the remake of the '80s slasher movie My Bloody Valentine. I enjoyed the original movie, and all the advertisements for the remake had me excited, so I knew I had to see it. The only real hassle about the whole thing was that the only theater around showing it in 3-D was an hour's drive away. And if I wanted to see the movie the way it was intended to be seen. I'd have to take the journey and pay the offensively inflated ticket prices of Lexington's Fayette Mall theater. Seriously their ticket prices are double what the local theaters here charge. That's just nuts.

Anyway, about the movie. I don't know how the 2-D version will be able to pull some of the gags off, like things being thrown at the camera and things of that nature. But since I got to see the 3-D version, nothing is lost in translation, and it makes for a very fun experience. And it helps that the movie is a really solid slasher movie too. It's definitely a better throwback to the '80s style than that overrated piece of crap Hatchet. It benefits from a solid cast, some quality scares and violence, and neat direction. The movie's final twist had me expecting to hear the Saw theme song, considering how it detailed just how the killer was able to pull everything off, but I can't say that I had any major problems with the movie.

I know all the other horror fans on the Internet like to rag on remakes, but I felt that My Bloody Valentine turned out to be pretty good. Believe it or not, I think I actually liked it more than I did the original. I believe I'll give it three and a half stars out of the usual five, along with a thumbs up. And I might actually have to go scope out the 2-D version, just to see how it holds up.

Into The Virtual War Zone

Following up on my post from a week and half ago, I've been delving deeper into the realm of Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition. I've finally made it through the castle and am on my way to the island war zone. And after years of having to swap discs at this point on the Gamecube version, it feels weird not having to on the Wii version. I can't really explain that weirdness, but it's there.

But yeah, I've made it to the island war zone, and I'm having fun along the way. You can't go wrong when you're taking a shotgun to psychos and monsters left and right. You'd be surprised at just how much entertainment you can derive from freezing a giant mutant with liquid nitrogen and blowing him up with a rocket launcher. I could do that sort of thing for days. But now it's time to move onward to the island, and to face the creatures that lie ahead. I can't wait to cause all kinds of havoc.

Best Angry Old Man Ever

It's no secret that I love movies, so my first venture to the theater of the year is always something I look forward to. Today marked my first run to the movies of 2009, with the movie of choice being Gran Torino. I already say Gran Torino a month ago through a bootleg I downloaded off the Internet, but my dad wanted to see it, so I tagged along to keep him company. Besides, I wanted to see the movie on a theater screen instead of a computer monitor. So yeah, we went to see Gran Torino, and we both absolutely loved it.

Everything I said about Gran Torino in my mini-review last month sticks, because it's a fantastic movie from beginning to end. Clint Eastwood is fantastic both in front of and behind the camera, and his Hmong supporting actors are all up to the task asked of them. I can't recommend the movie enough; if you get the chance to see it, go for it. The four-star rating I gave it last month stands, as does my seal of approval.

Now if only Eastwood would make Dirty Harry 6...

The Title Fits

While I'm still in the midst of working on my forever-in-the-making "Super Saturday 2" project, I managed to free up a little time to write a new review to share with you, my dear readers.

The movie in question is Jackass Number Two, the second movie based on the MTV series. The review is a bit on the short side, I will confess. But considering that Jackass Number Two isn't so much an actual movie than it is a 95-minute home movie about people acting stupid, I'm sure you can forgive the review's length.

But go check that out, while I return to my work on Super Saturday 2. I've only got three movies left to write after I finish the one I'm currently working on. That is, unless Punisher: War Zone and The Spirit turn up online or on DVD, then it will be five left. But I'd better go get back to work on it if I'm ever going to finish it at all. I've been working on it since June of last year, so I really need to hurry it up.

I'm sure I'll be done with it eventually. Even if it takes me another six or seven months, I will.

The Old Is New Again

If you've been a regular reader of this blog for the last few years, you may or may not remember a series of posts I made during the end of 2006 and beginning of 2007, where I detailed my many adventures in the Gamecube version of Resident Evil 4. It was good times back then, but my absolute devotion to the game cooled eventually. But just recently, I've gotten back into the game.

I received the updated Wii edition of Resident Evil 4 for Christmas, and I'm remembering just why I love this game so much. I've been playing it off and on for the last week or so, and arrived at the castle section of the game just a few minutes ago, and it's just like the good ol' days. I have to admit that starting from the beginning without my usual accouterments (read: my big guns with infinite ammo) is rough, but I've made it in the past, so I'm sure I'll succeed again.

I'm especially looking forward to beating this version of the game. The Wii edition boasts all of the special extra features that made me envious of the owners of the game's PS2 version. I can't wait to play all of the fun little subplots and secondary games I've been missing out on for the last few years. And I still need to go buy Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles too, because I'm a sucker for anything bearing the Resident Evil name.

And really, you should be too.

The "Sutton At The Movies" Achievement Awards, 2008 Edition

Since 2004, it's been customary for me to do what I call the "Sutton At The Movies" Achievement Awards. For the uninitiated, it's just a fun little thing I like to do every year to recognize the best and the worst of the movies I had the opportunity to watch over the previous twelve months. And now it's time for me to do this for the year that was 2008. So let's jump in, shall we? Keep in mind that these are all my own opinions, and that your mileage may vary.

• Best Movie: The Dark Knight
• Best Director: Darren Aronofsky, The Wrestler
• Best Actor: Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man and Tropic Thunder
• Best Actress: Anne Hathaway, Get Smart
• Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
• Best Supporting Actress: Ahney Her, Gran Torino
• Best Actor/Actress Playing a Fictional Version of His/Herself: Neil Patrick Harris, Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay
• Best Cameo: Tom Cruise, Tropic Thunder
• Best Hero: Sylvester Stallone, Rambo
• Best Villain: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
• Best On-Screen Team: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, and the voice of Seth MacFarlane, Hellboy II: The Golden Army
• Best Horror Movie: The Strangers
• Best Comedy: Pineapple Express
• Best Fantasy Movie: Hellboy II: The Golden Army
• Best Animated Movie: Wall-E
• Best Sports Movie: The Wrestler
• Best Action Movie: Rambo
• Best Direct-To-Video Movie: Joy Ride 2: Dead Ahead
• Best Movie Based on a Novel: The Ruins
• Best Movie Based on a Comic Book: The Dark Knight
• Best Movie Based on a Television Show: Get Smart
• Best Action Sequence: The Hulk demolishes the Army on a college campus, The Incredible Hulk
• Best Chase Sequence: Jason Statham follows a speeding car while riding a bicycle, Transporter 3
• Best Fight: Seth Rogan and James Franco vs. Danny McBride, Pineapple Express
• Best Original Song: "The Wrestler" by Bruce Springsteen, The Wrestler
• Best Sequel: The Dark Knight
• Best Remake: Bangkok Dangerous (Yeah, that's right, I said it!)
• Worst Remake: One Missed Call
• Worst Movie: One Missed Call
• Most Disturbing Scene: a zombified Jenna Jameson shoots billiard balls from her naughty parts, Zombie Strippers
• Grossest Scene: the leg amputation, The Ruins
• Best Use of a Song in a Movie: "Can't Smile Without You" by Barry Manilow, Hellboy II: The Golden Army
• Best Magic Trick: The Joker's disappearing pencil, The Dark Knight
• "Truth In Advertising" Award for Most Appropriate Title: a tie between Zombie Strippers and Zack and Miri Make a Porno
• "No Credit Where Credit’s Due" Award for Biggest Glory Hog: J.J. Abrams hogging practically all of Cloverfield's glory, despite neither writing or directing it. Sure, he might have come up with the concept, but that doesn't mean he’s the sole creative force behind the movie.
• Stupidest Viral Marketing: Cloverfield. Seriously, none of it made any sense, and none of it contributed to the movie whatsoever.
• Best Product Placement: the Nintendo Wii in Tropic Thunder
• Best MacGuffin: the Gran Torino from Gran Torino
• Most Gratuitous Use of Nonsensically Random Pop Culture References: Meet The Spartans and Disaster Movie
• Most Gratuitous Use of the Word "Asshole": Hancock
• Most Gratuitous Use of Crappy Swedish Pop Music: Mamma Mia!
• Most Likely to Make Uwe Boll Look Talented: Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, directors of Meet The Spartans and Disaster Movie
• Most Likely to Incite Suicide In Heterosexual Men: Sex and the City: The Movie
• Most Likely to Incite Suicide In People Sick of the Disney Channel: High School Musical 3
• Most Likely to Prove That Teenage Girls Will Watch Anything That’s Marketed To Them: Twilight
• Most Likely to Be Completely Forgotten About by the General Public: Never Back Down and Redbelt
• "Why Do These Movies Exist?" Award: Meet The Spartans, Step Up 2: The Streets, Witless Protection, and Disaster Movie

And that's it for the 2008 Sutton At The Movies Achievement Awards. It turned out to be quite a year, and here's hoping that 2009 will be a pretty good year for movies too.

Happy New Year!

It's official: The year that was 2008 has ended, and 2009 has begun. It's going to sound like a cliché, but 2008 really did fly by. I mean, it feels like it was just yesterday that we were saying goodbye to 2007. Did Father Time hit the fast-forward button or something?

I hope you readers, all three of you, have a great year. Mine had its ups and downs, but overall, I'd call 2008 a success. I can't complain too much. After all, I did achieve something I had resolved to do, so I have that going for me. I'm just hoping that the new year will be as good to me as the last one was. We have 365 days ahead of us, so I'm sure that at least one of them will be worth bragging about once 2010 rolls around. That's what I'm hoping for, anyway. But then again, isn't everybody?

But happy new year, folks. Let's see where 2009 takes us.