Dynamite

I really feel like I haven't posted a blog in a while, in fact Ive been rarely posting in forums or even twittering. Apart from facebook my Internet life has been lacking in well...life.

This is kinda for a number of reasons and not just lack of interest. First of all 2010 has been a overwhelming year because of school obviously because I'm in year 12, School has got my head buried in work and stress. Secondly Ive had alot of distractions like friends and relationships which have just taken all my time which is evident by the fact Ive played ONLY 12 matches of the Halo reach Beta *gasp* :o. And since the downfall of the GSAU forums in 09 Ive been turned off by all forums since.

Well whats been happening in dynam3's life

- Turned 17 in April
- Over the halfway mark in Year 12, HSC finishes Nov. 3rd for me!!!!
- Still a Muse fanatic, hopefully seeing them live later in the year
- Got Tickets to see Metallica
- Been really addicted to movies
- Thinking of studying in Business, specifically marketing in Uni next year
- Sadly kinda lost interest in Anime :(...which will hopefully be brought back by the Supanova convention and Gundam 00 Movie
- Gaming has been going well surprisingly since my mates have lost their passion for gaming, but I'm still going strong!!! Woot!

Well thats it for now, time for me to play some God of war and drool over red dead redemption

Consider this blog my redemption, the prodigal son has come back. Look for dynam3 in your blog comments or your forum.

I was lost and now I'm found

/Lame

Heres the links to Part 1 and Part 2 if you missed them

Now my number 1 all time favorite movie is...











*Drum Roll*

















1.Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

What can I say, I grew up with Star Wars, my father is a Star Wars fanatic seeing all the sequels in cinema as a child and seeing all the prequels with me as an adult. I have watched the Star Wars saga so many times I have lost count, I have a place in my heart for each of those 6. But to sum it up in one movie and to hold the place for greatest movie ever, it has to go to The Empire Strikes back. Everything about this movie is exceptional in every way.

I could write 60 page essays on this movie. I will do no justice to my liking of this movie by writing about it in this blog. Its that good!

You all know the story, so I'm not going into it. The story is legendary and chains up with all other 5 movies, The characters are superb, feels like they have been with me for a lifetime, acted out perfectly as if they were living thier roles. The directing is excellent, George Lucas is the man and created a beyond a masterpeice film. It has the most memorable scenes and quotes in this movie, my favorite scenes are;

1. The Hoth battle
2. Luke Vs. Darth
3. meeting Master Yoda

Whoever you are I'm sure you have heard of Star Wars. They Truly are magical movies that will be a milestone in cinema to be talked about for thousands of years ahead. Here's the order I would put the 6 in, you already know 2 of them.

1. Empire Strikes Back, 2, Revenge of the Sith, 3. A New Hope, 4. Return Of The Jedi, 5. tie Between The Phantom Menace and Attack Of the Clones.

The Empire Strikes back truly has it all and honors the saga and film. Revenge of the Sith was great but The Force is strong with this one...

That Concludes my Top 11 Films of all time, hope you enjoyed it

Make sure to Read Part 1 if you missed it.

Part 2



3.The Dark Knight (2008)
This may be a cliche among top movie lists, but still this is one top movie, pushing the boundaries of cinema and making a cinematic god of a film. This heavyweight title was a blast from beginning to end. This is truly the ultimate Batman film overshadowing all predecessors and in that fact the ultimate Hero/comic book flick. Christopher Nolan has brought Batman back to its peak following the disaster of the Joel Shumacher movies (also in my "to kill list")

The plot follows the vigilante Batman (Christian Bale) as he follows the chaos and destruction of the anarchist and ultimate arch nemesis of the dark knight...the joker (Heath Ledger), this is the darkest batman movie out and it shows. The roles are acted out perfectly and Heath Ledgers performance is exceptional being the outshine of the bunch. The Cinematography is beautiful giving wide and awesome shots of the recreation of Gotham city. And the music and score is just phenomenal and really gives more weight to the movie. All these factors contribute to the excellence that this movie is, that's why i love it and that's why it deserves the number 3 spot.

2.
Aliens (1986)
James Cameron is a brilliant director not only giving me my number 5 spot but now second place. Aliens is an example of a perfected movie, this is the greatest sequel ever made ( except for my #1 spot ) It gives the perfect mix of horror, action and suspense. I completely love this movie, in my eyes it has no flaws, it is just a perfect movie which I feel cinema has learned and developed off, you could even say games as well like Dead Space.

The plot continues from Ridley Scotts Alien, when contact is lost on the colinized planet LV-426, Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and highly trained colonial marines initiate a rescue mission. Sigourney Weaver seriously kicks ass in this movie, every line and facial expression is done perfectly. The story is mindblowing, the twists and turns the plot takes is incredible. The Aliens are so terrifying in this movie and the effects have stood the test of time. This movie is incredible to say the least, I could go on and on about how great the film is...but I think you get the point.

Number 1...Part 3

Enough about games...until Mass Effect 2 of course, pre-ordered and all just to let you know. Time to explore the realm of Cinema, specifically my tastes...Not yours!

Im splitting this blog into 3 parts
Part 1: 11-4
Part 2: 3-2
Part 3: 1

Here it goes, my Top 11 Movies of all time. Why 11?, cause I like to go one step beyond!
In honor of my favorite Movie critic; Doug walker (AKA the Nostalgia Critic)

Part 1.

11.Se7en (1995)
Se7en was just exceptional, it did one hell of a number on me and left me speechless at the end. Its a movie that keeps you alert but vulnerable to any shock that comes along the way. The plot involves two cops hunting for a murderer using the 7 deadly sins as his motives. Its edgy and its dark and really affected me, following a perfect cast as Morgan freeman and Brad Pitt as the investigators. The story is pure genius along the same lines as Death note and Saw.

10.
Bladerunner (1982)
Bladerunner is amazing, this movie presents a haunting depiction of LA in a punk future, Corruption and fear spread the city as all respectable beings have fled to off world colonies leaving all the scum and villainy on earth to rot, Harrison Ford plays a Bladerunner a bounty hunter specializing in killing Replicants, artificial humans programmed to serve. Something about this movie seemed so Dark and even chilling, it presents themes like what it means to be human and what is the meaning of life in an evil reality. The cinematography is mind blowing, every shot is dark and bland with rain immersing you in the feel of hopelessness among the people. Even though this movie is a tad dated, it is still a movie the proves movies get better with age.

9.
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of the Sith (2005)
Let me explain, This movie was Excellent and seriously was so much better than I had anticipated, The story is complete Hysteria and showed the downfall of Anikan Skywalker and how he turned to the dark side of the force. You know why I love this movie so much, cause when comparing this to the first 2, this is a masterpiece. The first 2 weren't THAT bad even though 2 characters from the movies made it on my "To kill list" (one small annoying boy and one CGI alien) its just that they did no justice to the sequels which Episode 3 did. In all seriousness this was a well done movie I will always cherish

8.Lost In Translation (2003)
This Movie is just so unique, it keeps you thinking, even now as I'm writing I'm still thinking about it, Bill Murray plays a depressed middle aged married man tied down by life who goes on a business trip to Japan(perfect setting much) to shoot commercials for this foreign city, and in the midst of loneliness meets Charlotte played by Scarlett Johansson who is a neglected wife searching for life's answers. This isn't a romantic love story, its like a life experience through connections. I was so surprised how much I liked this movie. Its a movie I can relate with and in which defys the moral principals in set. I love this movie and whats not to love; Japan, Scarlett, dialogue, its all there.

7.Back To the Future (1985)
Pure Entertainment, this movie is just so enjoyable and fun. Micheal J Fox plays Marty McFly a 80's teenager sent back to the 1950's by a time machine built by his mad scientist friend, Dr.Emmet Brown played by Christopher Lloyd where both performances are so brilliant they provided me with plenty of laughs and acted this movie out so well. The whole premise is so smart and witty involving the space time continuum and contrasting the past to the future, where Marty accidentally prevents his parents from ever meeting leaving is whole existence at stake. And surprisingly the story adds up quite well with little to no plot holes. This movie is a classic and will never get old.

6.Saving Private Ryan (1998)
This film is a genuine masterpiece, no words can really describe the intense feelings I felt through this film, The film showed the dirty realism of World war 2, the realistic violent way Spielberg portrays this film makes the messages he sends very powerful. The camera work is inspiring adding more weight to the story, Tom Hanks plays Captain Miller who he and his band of US soldiers travel across enemy infested territory in Normandy to rescue a paratrooper whose brothers have been killed in action. This is tom hanks finest film and it shows

5.Avatar (2009)
Ok, ok this is kinda naive for me, I feel bad for placing this film so high since its pretty recent, but truly this was a fantastic movie,I'm a fan of James Cameron so I knew that it would be good, but not this good. Its a revolutionary movie not only visually spellbinding but how the world JC created feels living and breathing is amazing. The story and characters revolve around Jake Sully who travels to a planet called Pandora to negotiate with natives using Avatars. Its clear that this is a instant classic and alot of effort was put into this. Not only was this a great movie but an amazing experience.

4.Watchmen (2009)
I cant tell you enough how much I like this movie, I was always a fan of the graphic novel having read it quite a number of times. The movie is very faithful to the comic having very little differences besides the ending. The Characters are the best Ive seen in any movie each having a psychological flaw, each actor playing the role perfectly for the movie. The movie is set in 1985, the threat of nuclear annihilation is in notion, a former colleague of the vigilante Rorshach is killed which sends him to uncover the truth, unraveling conspiracy's along the way. The directing and screenplay is terrific and it looks so good. The movie questions justice and right and wrong, and what it means to really save the world in a alternate 1985.


3,2...next part

Game of the year Awards 2009 pt.2 - For the Win, runner ups & honourable mentions, disappointments and year in review.

The Top 5 of 2009 stand at;

5. Infamous
4. Uncharted 2
3. Halo 3:ODST
2. Call of Duty:MW2

And my Number 1 Game of the year is...

1. Assassins Creed 2

The Assassins Creed 2, not only was this game my most hyped for this year, my game of E3 but it is now my Game of 2009. Ubisoft have created a masterpiece, it is an example of a stunning success. No game this year could amount to the awesome that this game holds. I was a fan of Assassins Creed 1 it was good and came in 4th place in my GOTY 2007, there were some major flaws in this game though such as repetitiveness, glitches and having an underwhelming feel to the story and gameplay. For Assassins Creed 2 I found no problems, Ubisoft put in so much effort in assassinating each problem head on creating a really enjoyable game.

One of the Best things about this game is the setting in Europe, Italy. This is the best possible setting they could do, not only am I part Italian and can understand it which is big help in the games dialogue, but if you have been following my blogs you would know that I went to Europe this year and to Italy in the exact same cities as the ones in the games which are Florence, Tuscany, Venice and Rome. You could say that this added more of a hype to the game which is true.

I mean in Florence me and my father walked up the Florence Palazzo Vecchio and now in the game to climb up and eagle jump off it is just amazing bringing back so many memories from my trip, same with walking across saint marks harbour in the game, just remembering it was full of people and market stalls including lots of gypsy's. It’s quite awesome just seeing locations you remember being there and seeing them recreated for the 14th Century in the game.

The Story is great picking up where the first left off, The Story is so much more fleshed out than the first and bringing it up a notch. It follows Desmond as he continues his confusing ride alongside the Assassins vs. the Templar’s. Desmond is taken to join the assassins but first he must get back in the animus(a machine to network the memories of one’s ancestors) to get a memory of a ancestor in Italy while getting his skills and knowledge of being an assassin and Overall uncover the conspiracy hiding the truth about a magical artifact know as the piece of Eden. This is where we get introduced to "Ezio Auditore de Firenze" a ancestor of Desmond and experience his quest for revenge and his turn to follow the Assassins Creed. Ezio is so likeable and lifelike and in which you actually care for him and how he develops in the story not like in the original game where Altair had no background story, he was just a random badass which you couldn't really have feelings for him as you don't even know what he has been through like Ezio. The Story is overall amazing, I don't want to ruin anything so I won’t say anymore though at the end it does get confusing but epic.


Ubisoft paced the game perfectly, the first few missions of the game is like learning to be an assassin basically a tutorial which matches to the story. The characters you encounter are realistic and likeable and actually have an Italian accent not like the first game where all you hear are Americans. The characters you encounter are great, and the Italian women "mama mia" they are perfect. In the game you encounter Leonardo de Vinchi which is one of the best ideas and characters to have in this game, Ubisoft are genius for including him in the story, he is likeable and ties in with the story so well. Missions range from a stealth kill of a high public figure to equipping your sword and distracting guards so that you can rescue allies in jailThe gameplay is exceptional fixing it up from the first one and adding new mechanics and weapons such as double assassinations and the ability to disarm opponents. Killing someone is as satisfying as ever with that amazing sound when your hidden blade comes in contact with you prey. Escaping I found is much easier than the first, you can hide in much more places now but the AI is actually smarter looking in haystacks and splitting up. You can buy, customize and collect so much stuff. Seriously there is so much to do in Italy from collect feathers to upgrading your villa.

There are many cameos and eagle motifs making it a very deep and enthralling game. I had and still am having so much fun with this game, it has perfected the problems from the first game, Respected and honoured my heritage and made my year a very enjoyable one. I can’t wait to see more of this franchise, In the meantime I'll still be following the creed...





Runner-ups for Top 5

1. Batman Arkham Asylum - Perfect Batman game, everything I wanted in a Batman game is included in this game.

2. Forza Motorsports 3 - In my gaming life only 3 racing games have stood out and helped me to like racing games, Gran Turismo 2, Need for Speed Underground 2 and this game, This is a very high honour!

3. Killzone 2 - This was one crazy FPS for the PS3, was a fun game for the ps3 and played some good hours of online for it.


Disappointments

1. Halo Wars - Yes I'm serious, I wouldn't of played this if it wasn’t for Halo even though it didn’t even feel like Halo, It was soooo boring and this is from me, a Halo lover. The RTS gameplay was buggy and Tedious, you can’t even zoom up on your units for god’s sake.

2. Borderlands - *puts shield up*, It feels like I'm the only one who can’t get into this game, the graphics are terrible, the gameplay is average and the story is "Meh".

3. Left4Dead 2 - This is an obvious one if you’re Australian.

Year in Review for Games.


Overall Console Report Card

• Microsoft Xbox 360 - rating: A-
• Sony Playstation 3 - rating: A
• Nintendo Wii - rating: C
  
• PC - rating: B
• Nintendo DS - rating: D
  
• Sony PSP - rating: C
  
• Apple Iphone - rating: D

This Concludes my Game of the year awards for 2009, I hope you enjoyed the awards and I hope you gained some more insight on my taste in games. I look forward to 2010 and be sure to catch the next GOTY awards 2010, same dynam3 time, same dynam3 channel...

I may do a MOTY, be sure to catch the next blogs I do for this year...If I do, Oh and congratulations to everyone who guessed Assassins Creed 2 for my GOTY.

2009 has been a great year for the gaming world, It takes a great big effort to efficiently produce successful games for the gaming market. Here are my 5 games represented as highlights this year who have been successful in making my year a fun filled, action packed year to remember.

Game of the year awards 2009 - Top 5.

5. Infamous

This game was one electrifying title to come out this year, I had alot of hype built for this game from the 2007 E3 and I honestly felt it delivered. This game had mixed reactions around the public. I did notice that my real life friends hated this game though my peers on the Internet thought it rocked, interesting!

I had both prototype and infamous and I believe infamous is the superior game. The story for infamous is great about Cole MacGrath a normal civilian delivering a package which blows up right in front of him and destroying Empire city and after giving him extraordinary abilities including giving him the power to manipulate electricity. Cole must take back the city from gangs and criminals to bring Justice or Havoc to the city once more, infamous brings a very engrossing story but The gameplay is where infamous truly shines, being able to control lighting from the force of your hands is amazing. One of my favourite gameplay mechanics is superpowers and to add free movement and an open world makes it a recipe for fun. Infamous feels like a interactive comic especially displayed from the art cutscenes and also the ability to choose your justice or corrupt path, this explores the trials and tribulations of a superhero which I hold dearly in my Hero ideal. You truly feel like a god on this game from zapping petty thieves to raining lighting from the sky you name it.

Infamous is a very successful game in my eyes. Powerful moral choices combined with a great combat system which overall helps unravel the shocking conspiracy at the end of infamous. Superheros don’t only translate well to movies but video games as well.

Review Score: GS-9.0/ME-8.5

4. Uncharted 2: Among thieves

What can I say but PS3's highlight title of the year, Uncharted 2 has blasted its way to my top 5 this year. I remember playing the first Uncharted and wanting more, Uncharted 2 left me speechless, it’s exhilarating, suspenseful and intense campaign rocked. Naughty dog knows truly how to make a campaign, what I love about this game is how they paced the story making you emotionally attached to the setting and characters, for example in the first few moments Nathan is hanging from a crashed train over a mountain cliff with a gunshot wound to the chest bleeding rapidly. I was biting my nails with a passion in the opening. They balanced the cutscenes and gameplay perfectly giving you "OH-SNAP" moments at every twist and turn.

Nathan Drake is the main protagonist of the story and is a cross between James Bond and Indiana Jones. The story is somewhat overwhelming travelling to location to location in search of an answer and few riches. Naughty dog presented realistic characters with new and old characters coming back to manipulate the story and meld it to become an unforgettable experience. Nathan is as likable as ever with his witty remarks and Drakes luck still traps him in peril (I call it "Drakes Fortune")

The gameplay is still very satisfying, perfecting the first games formula and adding new weapons and techniques and a few more puzzles this time around. Oh and the graphics are unbelievable, the detail is so impressive the movements and combat of Drakes model look so impressive making it a realistic 3rd Person shooter minus the superhuman Stuff. .They even added multiplayer which is good but not as amazing as the campaign.

Among thieves put in effort and it has shown they put this game to thrilling depths of awesome to make it a very successful game which I wasn't bored of for a second. I hope to see the best treasure hunter again in more adventures in the future.

Review Score: GS-9.5/ME-9.0

3. Halo 3:ODST

Thankyou Bungie, thankyou for making another masterpiece, increasing depth of the Halo Mythology. Since combat evolved I’ve been a loyal fan of Halo, it is one of the best gaming franchises ever and now that ODST has dropped in it proves that bungie is still going strong. And that statement that Halo is being "milked" is complete bullshit, I hate that term so much.

Halo 3:ODST was a pleasure playing, it’s set between the events of Halo 2 and 3 and tells the story and trials of a group of Orbital drop shock troopers. ODST's are elite soldiers trained to fight at first contact, provide backup and undertake special operations against the aliens known as the covenant. Playing an ODST is as good as a Spartan, I still remember thinking how awesome ODST's were through the Halo trilogy and now playing one is just so surreal.

The first mission "prepare to drop" is now one of the most memorable moments in my gaming history, you saw the Helljumpers drop in Halo 1, 2, 3 and now you experience it, feet first into hell. How bungie makes a story is inspiring with the great dialogue and switching the main protagonist roles by implementing a flashback segway. The gameplay is legendary same as Halo 3 obviously but adding new weapons and perks which is all I need in a fresh halo game. I admit the campaign was pretty short but action packed and should be played again on legendary difficulty, and what a better thing to do after the game but play the new firefight(Horde) mode which is a fabulous new addition to this franchise. Now to mention the musical score, all the Halo games have had a fantastic soundtrack, it emphasises the story making a more emotional effect and adding more of a motivation feeling when in combat.

All of these aspects have put this game as my number 3 this year, you should see my aspects on Halo 3, and it would be two pages. I would like to now salute the creators and I really look forward to Halo: Reach, I'll be feet first into Reach.

Review Score: GS-9.0/ME-9.0

2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

If Modern warfare revolutionized the shooting genre then Modern warfare 2 has perfected it. The creators have done a marvellous job of simulating modern warfare through the eyes of American and British soldiers. Call of duty has taken the public by storm, excusing some minor flaws MW2 is a perfect experience with Campaign, multiplayer and extras being as fabulous as ever.

The story overall gives you a pump on killing terrorists, and who wouldn't with the kick ass arsenal you get to win the war. Not many shooters can match up, I had and I still am having so much fun playing this game. Even though the campaign is short it is action packed like ODST, The story presents a new violent ultranationalist terrorist threat against the world and also some very controversial aspects like the brutal killing of innocent civilians and the Russian invasion of the United States. The story included dramatic moments and brought back old friends from the original As you complete the story you gain access to new locations around the world making the story a bit overwhelming but picking the gameplay to counter that.

The gameplay is by far the best aspect of this game, giving you a range of new Assault rifles, machine pistols and Predator missiles at your disposal with a much smoother first person gun mechanic. Each mission had something different coming whether it’s a Sniper covert op, Vehicle massacre or a foot manhunt, this is what I love about the Call of duty franchise. The game brings back co-operative play which we gamers have had a drought of these days, it has an awesome mode call spec-ops with mini missions and snippets of the campaign to have some good fun with friends or solo, lots and lots of fun in this mode. Then there’s the multiplayer which is just so awesome, it is leagues ahead of the first when comparing. The levelling up system is perfect and still has that awesome guitar solo when you level plus the callsigns and emblems which is such a minor but exceptional idea for multiplayer. Seriously if you do not have this game you are either crazy, a girl, Micheal Atkitson, broke or a pirate...pick one!

On a serious note, if Bungie can make a story, infinity ward can make a game. Stay Frosty!

Review Score: GS-9.0/ME-9.5

1. To be Continued...Next Blog

Stay tuned for next blog with...Number 1 game of the year this year, disappointments, MOTY and year in review.

Here we are, the official introduction to my new blog "Dynamite" (and no dynam3 didn't originate from it)

I hear this is where all the cool people hang, so I thought why not?

My original blog is from gamespot which most know me from if not all. I will tell you now I wont be forgetting about that place, this blog is sought of like a experiment or second home or even second Batcave in Arkham Asylum if you will. I will still be posting blogs at GS such as Game of the year, E3, announcements etc

Keep an eye out for my new blogs on here, feel free to stalk me on twitter or Facebook.

see ya, and make sure to follow...