Hot Heart

Yeah, the template is the old 'play both sides so that they destroy one another' plan.

Alpha Protocol. Overall, I really enjoyed it. It's got a real cool vibe to it, and it's great seeing all the little choices and outcomes branch off into other things (even the order you approach missions can have an effect). One of the most satisfying things was seeing my guy win over one of the 'villains' at the end by reciting my mission outcomes, like Sherlock Holmes revealing the final piece to the puzzle. What is especially cool is that there are so many hidden backstories and secret connections that rely on missions, relationships and purchasing intel so you probably couldn't see it all in one playthrough (sort of like Witcher 2 but more complex). The mechanics and game design can be a little dodgy at first, but I adjusted to them rather well, and you wind up with plenty of skills and gadgets that you'd be wise to make use of. Definitely recommend the field agent build (pistols & stealth, but carry an assault rifle for when things get hairy), as that gave me a playstyle very similar to mine in Deus Ex: HR (without the ability to quicksave/load wherever you want...friggin' console game ports) where I could try and be sneaky but still be able to unleash hell if that went wrong. Failing that, I probably could've switched the game to Easy without any repurcussions. Might replay it sometime choosing all the Y node (aggressive) options and watch the sparks fly.

We shall call it 'steamfunk'!

These 6 Corporations Control 90% Of The Media In America

Handy little catch-up video for people like me who haven't really been paying close attention. Decent amount of enemy variety, and I do love me some co-op shootytimes, especially when it comes to Bungie games. Plus, even if it doesn't come to PC, Microsoft have made it a lot easier for me to decide which next-gen console I would buy otherwise.

Yeah, this piqued my interest. A little preview of some gameplay.

Funnily enough, no. The main character was an 'enforcer/right hand man' for some crooked political guy, and the woman wasn't so much a seductress as a hot chick who...got a bit mixed up in things. The original book (along with Red Harvest, an earlier, similar story by the same author) is the template for films like Yojimbo, A Fistful Of Dollars as well as later stuff like Miller's Crossing and Brick. The ending of the film is a little too happy compared to the book, whereas the Miller's Crossing version makes it even unhappier.

That depends on whether anyone lived to tell about that blast he unleashed at the CIA base or whether anyone else (perhaps Magneto. Emma Frost at an outside chance) told them. But they know about the other dangerous mutants there anyway. And, yes, she was in communication to begin with, but after the crash I don't think she was. They make a point of including a bit where she tries to radio to tell them that the threat's been neutralised, and to the best of my recollection no one hears it ("Hello? HELLO?!"). It could be possible that it was ignored, but either way I think they'd already accepted her and Xavier's team as collateral damage. And Xavier tries to rationalise with the "They're just following orders" line, which is not the best thing to say to Magneto.

The Glass Key (1942 version) Watched one of the film noirs from my set. Really enjoyed it. A neat little twisty story, one from which I can see Miller's Crossing drew inspiration. William Bendix is really good, plus Veronica Lake is nice too look at and listen to.

Foldemort and Friends

If I recall, they never really knew what was going on. All they saw was the sub being lifted, followed by the big hurricane then the plane and sub both crashing. After that, there was the little fights going on where a big blue monster was scrapping with the red teleporty guy who killed dozens of CIA guys; a flying chick, spitting acid around; and a guy blasting red lasers. Plus, the more sympathethic government characters (that one dude) are dead or Moira. And I'm not sure if Moira's message about them having stopped Shaw got through. So, the fleets were just trying to blow up the whole thing to be safe, which seemed plausible enough to me. My main concern was why they figured that would stop the flying and teleporty people (or the guy who absorbs explosions, if they were assuming Shaw was still alive).

Yeah, it's Maddox. Not worth arguing with it.

Hehe

Oh, I don't doubt that it would've been cool to see them kicking arse together a little longer, but I don't hold that against what they did ultimately go for.

For starters, that's part of why I would've preferred it stayed its own canon. They said they were valuing story over continuity and that's what I liked about it. I never felt that it was implausible for them to be friends or at least respect one another. If you consider all they accomplished in such a short space of time, and the fact that they're mutants, it bonds them together somewhat. On top of that, Xavier got inside Magneto's mind, saw his past and felt the same things as him. Plus, Xavier wouldn't be spiteful anyway; he wants to be the better man. If anything, Magneto has respect for Xavier but Xavier could be said to pity Magneto and still wants to see the good in him.

Gosh, you guys! I know it's terrible but you can't watch that music video until about twenty seconds in? The guy 'yelling' at the camera is Daario Nasmugface.

It truly is terrible.

I see what you're saying, but I don't think he could be that same playboy character again anyway. The whole idea was that he becomes 'the professor' and takes on this responsibility, even wiping the mind of the woman he loved to ensure their anonymity (you know, hiding out at his childhood mansion...) The injury could've been saved for a different story later on, sure, but I think it had a great impact where it is and fit very well thematically.

Yeah, having rewatched it recently I've gained a certain appreciation for it. It's meant to be a '60s Bond-style X-Men film, and in that regard it works really well. It's damn good, but it still has its problems. January Jones is good in some parts, particularly when she has to be expressive in diamond form, but in others SHE'S FREAKING BLINKING WHILE DELIVERING HER LINES. Also, Fassbender's Irish lilt is too present in other sections. Apparently, the production schedule was very tight, which would explain a lot of the problems. I guess Bryan Singer might get a little more leeway in that regard, but I wasn't overly fond of the earlier (Wolverine & the) X-Men films and I preferred the way First Class captured the cheesy elements. There are some cool deleted scenes on the blu-ray version as well. And it hammers home that at the end of First Class, Xavier has essentially lost so much (greater acceptance, oldest/only friend, 'groovy' playboy image, woman he loves).

http://majornelson.com/2013/06/06/details-on-xbox-one-connectivity-licensing-and-privacy-features/ Follow the second link to find:

If Disney Films Had Honest Titles

And, as if I didn't hate the guy enough already...

Yay, another one of these.