ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE

City of Ember is an adventure film about survival and the ability of the human spirit to rise above adversity. For generations, the people of the City of Ember have flourished in a breathtakingly beautiful world of glittering light, miles below the surface of the earth. Built as the last refuge for humanity and powered by a massive generator, the people begin to fear for their safety as the generator begins to fail as unbeknownst to them, it was only meant to last 200 years. Now as the lights of Ember begin to flicker and fade, the hope for its citizens lie in the form of Lina Mayfleet (Saorise Ronan) and Doon Harrow (Harry Treadway) as they race against time to unravel a centuries old puzzle and lead their people to safety.

Along the way Lina and Doon must find the inspiration and support from those close to them, such as Doon’s father, Loris (Tim Robbins), to overcome the constricting laws of Ember and its corrupt Mayor Cole (Bill Murray) in a race to solve the mysteries of their glorious city before it’s too late.

Visually, this was one of the best movies I’ve seen in a while. The costumes helped spark your imagination and the entire city was constructed on a massive soundstage in Belfast, Ireland, to help immerse the actors and stress how important the character of the city is to the dynamic of the film.

“When you walk in and there’s a street in an underground city that is 55ft-60ft high with tunnels underneath it, there’s decaying doors and windows and bricks built as a street and concrete and plaster for the walls and real doors and real glass windows and beautiful design work too. The emblems of the city built into the streets and the fountains and the fountains work. It’s not hard to say you’re a part of the society when it’s right there. You walk into work and its right there, it’s so simple. The costumes as well. The best costumes I’ve ever worn. They exceed any other film, by far. Ruth Meyers, the costume designer, is a genius,” commented Bill Murray at a press conference in New York City.

The relationship between Lina and Doon, the two heroes of the story, is great as well. Their stark contrast in character is enjoyable as the driving force for the movie and helps support the overall message.

“It’s more about the spirit of humanity that finds a way to survive under the direst of circumstances. The thing that really got me about this movie was that it had that great kind of dynamic with the two young people and that you have to be strong enough to have hope when others have lost it and if you believe in it enough, anything is possible,” said Tim Robbins when asked about the story’s message.

The biggest problem I had with the movie is that they simply tried to cram too much into 95 minutes and this led to a lack of overall character development. It also restricted the playing out of the conflict between Lina, Doon, and the forces in Ember trying to prevent them from reaching their goal and this took a little away from the overall enjoyment of the movie.

Still, though, City of Ember is a solid film for the whole family, which is hard to find at a time of the year more synonymous with ghouls and goblins. Enough action to keep the adults entertained and the two young protagonists will help inspire any youngster to what they can do if they believe in something enough and are willing to go as far as necessary to follow it through.

City of Ember comes out nationwide October 10th.

-3 out of 5 stars

-Ray Carsillo

OFFENSE WINS GAMES, DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Here is a short season preview for the New York Rangers. I felt a little obliged to write this since I am a diehard Rangers fan and I do work for the radio home of the Rangers so it only made sense.

The New York Rangers hope that the old adage above holds true for their 2008-2009 NHL season. With the loss of forwards Sean Avery, Jaromir Jagr, Martin Straka, and, most likely, Brendan Shanahan, the Rangers hope that a bolstered defense and the energy of the young guns they are using to replace these wily veteran scorers will be the right mix to take them the distance in the NHL Playoffs this year.

The acquisition of veteran defensemen Wade Redden and Dmitri Kalinin will only strengthen the 4th best defense in the NHL, which was spearheaded last year by Vezina finalist goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. The hard hitting Kalinin will be a great influence on youngsters Dan Girardi and Marc Staal and help in their continued development and Redden will help bolster the power play roster by allowing Michal Rozsival a break by coming in as the second unit’s offensive defenseman. The Rangers are hinging a lot of hope on their adding Redden to a power play that was only 22nd in the league last year.

They especially need the power play to pick it up considering they are losing a lot of offense with Jagr and Straka leaving for Europe, and Shanahan still weighing his options, and they were still only 25th in the league last year. Adding veteran sniper Markus Nasland will make up some of the loss, but Chris Drury and Scott Gomez will be expected to pick up most of the slack and they will have to if the Rangers are to do anything this year.

Youngster Brandon Dubinsky looks like he learned a lot from his year with Jagr though as he has started the preseason on fire. You only hope that Naslund’s influence can help focus Dubinsky’s youthful energy. If this is the case, Brandon could stun a lot of people as he continues to develop into a star in this league. Also, expect Petr Prucha to make up for his sophomore slump and have a breakout year, especially since he is expected to play every night now that the Rangers have lost some depth at forward.

The Rangers are also adding a lot of players with question marks looming over their heads. The biggest one is Nikolai Zherdev who has the potential to be a big time goal scorer in this league, but seems to lose focus in a moment’s notice. Coach Tom Renney will not tolerate a lack of focus from Zherdev; he is expected to be playing on the top line and the Rangers will need him to have a big year. It’s a lot of pressure on the young man’s shoulders, but it might be just what he needs to get into shape. Pressure can turn coal into diamonds or grind it to dust, and what pressure is there when you play for Columbus? We’ll find out what he’s really made of this year in New York.

The Rangers have the base elements of a really good team. They have scorers, penalty killers, a strong check line, and a Vezina caliber goalie. They have defensemen that can score and forwards that can defend. So where will the Rangers end up? If everything gels as is expected, then they should improve on last year’s awful offense and maintain their defense. If this happens then the Rangers have the potential to threaten Pittsburgh for the Eastern Conference title. If it doesn’t happen, then, unfortunately, we Garden faithful are used to waiting another year for a chance at the cup.

There’s always the Knicks, right? Oh…Wait…Umm…Nevermind…Let’s go Rangers!!!

-Ray Carsillo

SAMOAN SUBMISSION MACHINE

Now stepping into the Geek Stuff Arena is the TNA World Heavyweight Champion, the Samoan Submission Machine, SAMOA JOE! I had a chance to sit down and talk with Joe and try to bring out the big man's inner geek a little. We talk about the new TNA Impact video game and his participation in the Game of Fame on XBOX 360, his upcoming title match with "The Icon" Sting at Bound For Glory in Chicago on October 12th, only available on Pay-Per-View, and much, much more. Go to the link below or on the right side of this page to give a listen.

http://stations.espn.go.com/stations/1050espnradio/blog?id=3558453

-Ray Carsillo

STEEL CHAIRS AND WHEELBARROW NECKBREAKERS

Imagine a steel chair slamming into your face at 100 MPH; in a good way, of course. That is what TNA Impact does to you from the very first match you play. You can either jump right into a match with some of your all time favorites like Sting or the “Samoan Submission Machine” Samoa Joe or you can take part in the expansive story mode that will take six to ten hours for you to complete depending on how fast you pick up on the nuances of the game. And it’s those little nuances that make this game one of the most enjoyable wrestling games to come out in years.

Unlike another popular wrestling brand’s video game series, TNA Impact is more of homage to what makes wrestling games as great as they are. It combines over-the-top non-stop action with an engaging storyline and a versus/online mode to keep you coming back for more with friends and strangers alike. Add its stunning visuals and this game is a winner through and through.

The first thing you notice is the awesome graphics. For the first time ever, the crowd is not a sea of sprites, but instead every person is a 3D model that comes to life as your match progresses. The details of every wrestler and every move they make are as sharp as a honed blade and the facial expressions are remarkably detailed. Add in that every wrestler and commentator voiced themselves (and did it well) and you feel like you’re watching TNA sometimes instead of playing it.

To create this sense of realism, there had to be a few cutbacks, though. Such as limits on your weapon selection and on exactly where you can go with the wrestlers. Aside from the immediate area outside of the ring, you are confined to fight in-between the ropes. It would have been nice if you could have gone up the ramp or into the crowd like so many of the great matches of the real TNA. Also, your only weapon is the customary steel chair, with a handful always scattered about the ring.

This limits your hardcore experiences, but it does give you a chance to focus on your moves. And every wrestler has his old standbys. Kurt Angle performs the Angle Slam with precision and if that doesn’t work, he’ll break out a series of submission maneuvers that almost make you want to tap your chair in hopes of making it stop. Kevin Nash comes across with all the power you would expect from all 7’ of “Big Sexy”. And all the guys from the X-Division fly high and fly far from the top ropes.

Only thing about the moves is sometimes the enemy A.I. gets a little reversal happy, though, and if you have trouble mastering the reversal yourself, you might get frustrated at times from this. It’s hard to find that mix of needing reversals and just being able to go for your moves in a wrestling game and this is another game in a long line that might want to look more into that. Maybe a reversal meter to go with your finisher meter?

The other thing that stands out by itself, but isn’t without fault, is the story mode. The fact that they have a complex story mode is amazing in and of itself because a proper story is something that has been lacking in wrestling games for a while. This might be the best game since WWE: No Mercy (largely considered the best wrestling game of all time) for the N64 just because it has a really compelling, well written story mode to it. The only thing it lacks is open-endedness. The story suffers because you are not in control of the choices your wrestler makes. You just keep winning and advancing through one story. A few options or consequences for losing would be nice.

Overall, this was a great first installment. TNA and Midway should be proud of this game. It’s fun, engaging, and aesthetically pleasing. It needs work though. They need to find a way to expand where your wrestler can go and what weapons he can use, they need a little more variation in the commentary, and they need to expand the story mode for this to be a complete smash hit. Otherwise, if you are a wrestling fan and a looking for a little old school, in your face, off the top rope action, you need to get this game.

Rankings are based on a score of 1 to 10 with 10 being the best.

Graphics: 10.0: This game is beautiful. Everything about it was great visually from the wrestlers’ entrances to the crowd to the wrestlers themselves. This game could not have been better visually.

Audio: 10.0: In terms of audio, this game could not have been better either. Having every wrestler and announcer voice themselves was great. The commentary got a little repetitive after a while, but it didn’t take away from the experience so I can’t take away points.

Plot/Plot Development: 8.0: The story mode is expansive for a wrestling game and really draws you in. The only problem, and it’s a big one, is that the story is too linear. You have no choice in how the game plays out aside from you winning or losing in the ring and having to either replay the match or continue on.

Gameplay: 9.0: Stellar. Only a handful of notable glitches to think of. Even the easy setting made the wrestlers somewhat difficult to beat unless you master the timing for the reversal button. Making you rely on the reversal or the steel chair in some matches to win though became tiresome, but I can’t blame someone for making a difficult, old-school wrestling button masher.

Replay Value: 7.0: A lack of options in the story mode make this a less than ten hour ride, but the multiplayer and online options are the bread and butter of wrestling games for the most part, anyway.

Overall (not an average): 8.5: TNA and Midway have the makings of a hit franchise on their hands, but it needs some work. More options in the story mode, more creative reversal format, more weapons, and more diverse commentary. Basically what every good first installment inspires from its fans. THEY WANT MORE. That alone means that TNA Impact might just be the must have wrestling game of 2008.

-Ray Carsillo

WE WILL ROCK YOU!

It was one of the most popular games to ever come out for a home console. Following the trend of DDR and Guitar Hero, Rock Band took it to an entirely new level. With both bass and lead guitars, drums, and a microphone, Rock Band allowed you to gather a couple of friends and live out that dream of touring around the country with thousands of screaming fans, all from the comfort of your own home.

So how would they top it? How could they continue this phenomenon and continue to draw in not only their hardcore fans, but to extend it to even the casual gamer/rocker? I had a chance to talk with John Drake, a member of the Harmonix team that put together Rock Band 2 , to see just what they did to make Rock Band 2 bigger and better than the original and got some fans' take on the game after playing a demo.



After talking with John and the four hot chicks, I had a chance to try out the game myself and my initial review is that this is a chart topping hit in every way possible. Not only was the selection of songs larger, but the graphics were sharper, and the possibility of downloading extras for it made my mouth water at the prospect. I only had a chance to play a demo so I can’t give a full detailed review, but my gut instinct screams as I smash a guitar on stage that this is 10 out of 10. You can pick up Rock Band 2 for XBOX 360 now and expect it out on the Wii and PS3 sometime in the middle of October.

-Ray Carsillo

MORE HUMAN THAN HUMAN

You would think a futuristic war against machines with characters ripped right from Norse mythology would be a geek’s dream come true. Unfortunately, said dream became a reality on the XBOX 360 in the exclusive title, Too Human.

Too Human is an Action/Adventure title with RPG characteristics brought to you by Silicon Knights, the same people that brought such original games as Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem to home consoles.

Now, this isn’t a bad game by any stretch. The story is just not as original as hyped and the gameplay is nothing new. You play as Baldur, the youngest of the Aesir, a group of cyborgs regarded as gods amongst the dwindling human population. Baldur is regarded as the greatest warrior of the Aesir, combining both sound military stratagem and brute force. His older brother, Thor, and his father, Odin, both hold him in high regard and send him forth on the most dangerous missions. These missions usual force him to take on the evil war machines that have overrun the planet and have wreaked endless havoc upon the human populace. The machines are constantly trying to one-up the remaining humans and the nearly indestructible Aesir by building themselves bigger and better, simply because it is what they are programmed to do.

As the game starts, machine Trolls and Goblins are numerous. And a new menace has appeared on Earth courtesy of the machines. A machine that feeds on human flesh for fuel called Grendel.

As the game progresses, you find out that Loki has escaped his prison (Norse god of Mischeif and often a villain) and he has befriend the machines and what were once thought only to be myth, the Frost Giants. You also find out more of how the war started with the machines and why Baldur cannot remember everything of who he was beyond a certain point.

If you haven’t already noticed several Norse references, then you must be under the age of 10 and/or have never read a Thor comic. The difference is they decided to combine the Norse legends with the Matrix. This is all well and good, but by no means original. As the story unfolds, it is interesting but, again, if you know anything about Norse mythology, it comes as no surprise that your overall objective is to prevent Ragnarok (the Norse version of Armageddon).

The worst part of this is that they decided to stretch this out over a trilogy a la Star Wars. I wonder what sacrifice you will have to make in the second part to go with the Empire Strikes Back theme. Could we come up with an original idea please?

Another thing that brings this game down is the fighting system. Using the XBOX 360’s second analog stick, you flick it in the direction you wish to attack with your handheld weapon and the right trigger to fire your guns. Overall, your guns are the easiest to use, but against large hordes of enemies, the handheld weapon is necessary because of its power and ability to take out several enemies at once. The idea was solid in using the second stick because it allows you to attack quickly in different directions as enemies try to dogpile on you. The implementation is where this falls apart as glitches swell up as you swing right through your target many times, costing yourself precious time and health.

Not that health matters since you come right back to life where you were when you died. The only thing is you have to wait for the “Valkyries” to come down and carry you off and you have to watch the cutscene the whole way through every time. After a while, it does become a good motivator not to die, but the penalty is not nearly as costly as in other games.

Rankings are based on a score of 1 to 10 with 10 being the best.

Graphics: 7.5: There were a lot of loose lines in this game and the backgrounds were dull and blended into each other often. I understand that with the wealth of enemies being thrown at you that you put a lot of processing power towards that, but a game that you put so much time, effort, and hype into should look a little more polished than it was.

Audio: 9.0: Strong music, great sound effects, and alright voice acting gives this a strong score in terms of audio. The voice acting felt a little over the top at times, but I guess this is what happens when you stick 1000 year old mythological characters into a future that we can’t even begin to dream of.

Plot/Plot Development: 7.5: Something stolen from 1000 years ago and the Wachowski brothers is not something that should be sold for $60 a pop. The plot, no matter how unoriginal it was, at least was developed at a decent pace and left enough surprises to make the ending worth it if you are familiar with the Norse mythos.

Gameplay: 5.5: Very glitchy fighting style mixed in with constantly hitting invisible walls in terms of jumping and the actual gameplay suffers at times. Again, just some overall polish to this could have corrected a lot of these problems, but instead they will just throw more enemies at you that you swing through.

Replay Value: 4.0: After you beat this, it is almost a relief. You could go back to into the game to try to keep leveling up and find new items or to try different warrior classes, but there really isn’t a point once you beat it.

Overall (not an average): 6.5: A decent story and a solid musical score is the only thing that keeps this game passable. Glitchy graphics and gameplay make the game more of a burden than it should be for something at this point in the current generation of games. A disappointing effort from the guys at Silicon Knights. I hope the second installment improves on these problems.

-Ray Carsillo

GREEN CARPET AND GOLF CLUBS

For the Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 World Premiere, I had a rare opportunity to talk with Tiger Woods’ golf coach, Hank Haney. Hank is also featured prominently in the game for when you need advice and he gave me some insight into how golf transitions into video games. Also, he gave me an update on Tiger’s condition and what we can expect from Tiger once he returns to PGA play.



In the evening hours that day, I had a chance to attend the actual premiere party for the game and get a hands on demo of it. I also would make a valiant effort to talk to Tiger himself and come up just a little short. Here is my experience at the Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 Green Carpet Premiere Party and my review of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09.



-Ray Carsillo