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Show A&EDiversions Page 6 Friday, Nov. 5, 2010 Starkiller strikes back Movie about life, not love with 'Star Wars' game The original "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed" is one of the best Star Wars games around. With solid mechanics and a storyline that rivals that of the films, you can imagine the hype train I was riding coming into "Force Unleashed II." I am sorry to say, however, that the game fails to live up to the promise and potential of its predecessor. The strength of every great piece of Star Wars fiction is the story. From "Empire Strikes Back" to "Knights of the Old Republic," strong narratives have defined the best parts of the universe. It is in this category that "Force Unleashed II" unleashes its biggest disappointment. The story is extremely weak to virtually nonexistent. The game begins with your character Starkiller, who was killed at the end of the first game and now apparently a clone, in captivity in a cloning facility on planet Camino. He is haunted by memories of his dead, non-clone self and decides to escape and look for answers. It is not a very strong premise to build the story around and it never really finds solid footing. It is also incredibly short, taking me only about six hours my first time through, and was far from the force driving me to keep playing. There is a decent challenge mode that attempts to add replay value to the experience but I feel like it will be a one-and-done for most gamers. I expected much more in the story department and really have to express my disappointment. Fortunately, "Force Unleashed II" does excel in other departments, making the game an enjoyable romp. Its greatest accomplishment comes from the game play. From start to finish combat is an absolute pleasure. Animations are insanely smooth and keep up with the relatively deep and varied combat system. New powers include the Jedi Mind Trick, which always ends with the enemy hilariously betraying his allies or cornmitting suicide in a ridiculous manner. Melee combat also receives an upgrade with dual lightsaber wielding and absolutely awesome decapitations that certainly add realism to the weapon. The game does suffer in this category from some tedious and annoying boss fights that are either extremely easy or frustrating. Considering the quality of the boss fights in the first game, the game really takes a step back in this department. There is also a complete lack of enemy variety and it would have been nice to get a new challenge throughout the levels. The other aspect in which the game excels is in cinematic presentation. The game is absolutely gorgeous and is easily one of the best looking games of this console generation. The amount of detail that goes into the characters and environments is amazing and reaches a level few games have yet achieved. Lightsabers leave permanent scorch marks as they slice through enemies and environments, and you will find yourself constantly amazed by the amount of action on screen. Every now and then some minor screen tearing would occur or I got snagged on a random piece of geometry. It was never anything that broke the game and does not deter from the fun at any point. The score is also exactly what you would expect from something "Star Wars." It is nearly perfect, bringing the best of John Williams' classic themes as well as some great new pieces. Sound design is also great, with some very good voice acting performances as well as excellent sound effects and hilarious Al banter during combat. Overall "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II" is a fun, yet flawed experience. Strong game play and visuals are dangerously close to being overshadowed by a short, uneventful story that really doesn't feel like it should have been told at all. I really wanted to love this game and I ended up disappointed, but still enjoyed my time with it. This game is worth a play-through for fans of action games with excellent game play as well as all fans of the galaxy far, far away. TM= ,_nom OVA( AFTER PARTY Fl LE E CQ FREE PRIZE GIVEAWAYS FROM SPONSORS! dj ABSOLUTE and • UAN P MIXING THE BIGGEST HIT FREE R PRIZ L- CASH ONLY - nathan.c@aggiemaiLusu.edu From the very beginning I was completely intrigued by "It's Kind of a Funny Story." Honestly, you can't go wrong with Zach Galifianakis and Lauren Graham, but the story wasn't about them. It was about a 16-year-old boy, Craig (Keir Gilchrist), who suffers from the many stresses of the average teenage life. After being depressed and having thoughts of suicide, "Cool Craig" admits himself to the adult psychiatric ward in hopes for a quick fix. While the teenage ward is under renovations, all the other teens are with the adults, too. That is where Craig meets Noelle (Emma Roberts). Noelle, with problems of her own, has been there for a couple of weeks. Craig is to stay at least five days. It seems like a short time, but within that week, his life takes a turn for the better. Boy meets girl, the rest is history right? Wrong. It's not a love story, it's a life story; a story about fresh starts and new beginnings. I know you are all thinking, "He's 16, the prime 'fun' age, what does he have to worry about?" I remember when I was 16. High school is stressful. Can you blame him? He discovers that he enjoys the arts and would much rather pursue that than worry about the prestigious business high school he currently attends. His dad disagrees. In the midst of finding himself, Cool Craig unintentionally helps influence the lives of other patients. From his bed-ridden-by-choice roommate to a lost and confused father to Noelle, Craig never fails to have an impact. Keir Gilchrist was introduced to me in this movie. I have never seen him before Zach Glifianakis and Keir Gilchrist star in "It's Kind of a Funny Story." "It's Kind of Funny Story' Grade: Reel Revie ANIKE PULLENS but I liked him. For a notso-experienced actor he did a great job portraying the chaotic mess of a brain inside an adolescent head. It was a little exaggerated, but aren't all high school students overdramatic? From nervous vomiting to the terrifying first conversation with a member of the opposite sex, you got yourself one heck of a story. Emma Roberts, who I would say is most famous for just being Julia Robert's niece, proved herself. She, like her aunt, can act. She played a sort of mysterious character with spunk. The on-screen chemistry between Noelle and Cool Craig was quite delightful. Playing "the question game" and drawing each other pictures, teen innocence is discovered. But like I said, it isn't a love story. Craig becomes a sort of idol within the hospital. A performance of "Under Pressure" is one of the reasons everybody becomes a fan. Through the eye opening speech delivered by Zach Galifianakis' character, Bobby, Craig has an epiphany. Bobby says if he were Craig he would "just live." Craig realizes that there is something bigger than the next application to a summer school program. His friends in turn see that, too. The use of animation further enhanced the depiction of this boy's complicated mind. He draws what he calls "mind maps." These socalled maps are a creative way to describe a person, like the one on the cover of the book on which the movie is based. Props to Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck for taking Ned Vizzini's novel and creating a superb screenplay. I haven't heard of Vizzini's novel, "It's Kind of a Funny Story," but because I liked the movie so much and books are usually better than their films, I feel compelled to read it. Either way, I am completely pleased with this film. - anike.pullens@aggiemail. usu.edu Several classics for the masses Mark Twain once said, "A classic is something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read." Classics are so named because they have stood the test of time. When I walk into a book store KELLYN N and look at the new releases, I am wary that many books - while attractive from the cover and the description on the back (yes, I judge books by their covers, get over it) - may not prove to be well written or interesting. In contrast, I know that not only are classics fitting for my poor, married, college student budget, but they will never fail to live up to the standards to which I am accustomed in my reading. I will be reviewing classics that not only expand the mind, but are also feasible for college students to read and enjoy, as I know some classics may be a bit thick to get through. "The Scarlet Pimpernel," by Baroness Orczy, fulfills the common theme of books better than the movie. Considering that the movie tells you information right from the beginning that is saved in the book until later as an important twist, it is easy to see the merit of text over visual. As a fan of historical fiction, I love how this novel does not just tell a story, but teaches about the history of that time period as well. The book is set in the year 1792, after the French citizens have taken over the government and are massacring royals by way of the ruthless guillotine. The infamous Scarlet Pimpernel is an English citizen risking his life to rescue many of the innocent royals in France. Admired by the British populace and despised by the French, the true Scarlet Pimpernel is known only to those members of the rescuing team. Chauvelin, the French antagonist, vows he will dis- cover who the Scarlet Pimpernel is, capture him, and murder him. Lady Marguerite is another main character, risen through the French ranks to become one of the most admired and witty women in France. EUMANN Marguerite is intelligent, and has used her talents to involve herself in many different aspects of politics, including an acquaintance with Chauvelin. In the setting of the book, she has married Sir Percy Blakeney, an extremely wealthy but witless Englishman. Just after their marriage, Blakeney discovers a mistake his new bride made in her past, a mistake for which she will always feel remorse. It seems that Blakeney will never forgive her, and their formerly blissful relationship transforms into an emotionless marriage. Chauvelin uses his acquaintance with Marguerite to blackmail her to try to discover who the Scarlet Pimpernel is. But the Scarlet Pimpernel is much too clever to be discovered by anyone. He never fails to rescue French royals though, and devises ingenious plans to help them escape, a few at a time. What I love most about this book is the tension Orczy creates with secrecy and deception. Towards the end of the book, the plot heats up even more and I was literally on the edge of my seat. This is one of those books with which I had to read the second half in one sitting, for there is no "good place" to stop. I say "good place" because I want to explain that I don't think true literature ever has what many of us call good stopping places. Writing should always encourage us to keep reading, and if it doesn't, than that writing has failed. Orczy captured me from the very beginning. She uses language that moves every sentence forward, rather than becoming stagnant. Any female "The Scarlet Pimpernel" Grade: A+ Book view can admire Lady Marguerite for her wit and strong nature, while any male can respect the Scarlet Pimpernel for his courage and cleverness. This novel captures one point of view of the French Revolution beautifully. I felt the emotion of the royals being murdered, of Marguerite's conflict with Chauvelin, and most of all, the sadness of the Blakeney marriage. For those who would like to say they have read a classic, "The Scarlet Pimpernel" is a perfect place to start. The 271 pages of beautiful writing and a successful plot put this book in my top five favorite classics. If all of your homework is done - and in my case, even if it is not - turn off that TV and go read something lasting. Not only will it help expand the mind (unlike "Spongebob," which does exactly the opposite), but I guarantee you it will make you appear smarter to those potential employers, in-laws, dates, or even all three. - kellyn.neumann@aggiemail.usu.edu Outdoors: The winter begins in Cache Valley continued from page 4 MNIATITIONS! at the door before 11 pm withstudent ID without , for it. I am trying to protect you." I try to reassure them that one day things will be like they were, someday in the spring. Still, they only sit there, silent and immobile. Knowing that lingering will only make it worse, I gather up the rest of the climbing gear, and push it far back in the closet. It hurts to shut the door. I take my bike to the farthest corner of the garage and cover it with a sheet so I don't have to look at it. I then sit on my bed to think. I feel numb and directionless. The wind starts to blow harder and I stand up and look out the window. As it starts to stack up, I realize that climbing and biking season won't be back for a while. It's starting to look like a long winter. Just then, I catch a look at pair of skis stacked up in the corner. I could have sworn they winked at me. Looking back out at the snow I think, "Maybe moving on won't be so bad." - dustin.nash@aggiemail.usu.edu |