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Movie Review: Underworld: Evolution

REVIEW SUMMARY: Marcus, the last Vampire elder, is awake and he’s looking for our beloved Selene for some dark purpose. That pretty much sums up the whole movie. I think the Sony Picture website gives away more of the storyline so you can check that out if you had to know. I wish I hadn’t.

MY RATING:

BRIEF SYNOPSIS: Sequel to the 2003 film of the same title with a so-so storyline. Feels like the same movie with more fighting, less talking, about the same amount of gunplay.

MY REVIEW:

PROS: Kate Beckinsale, in her latex (or is that polyurethane?) suit as well as her birthday suit. Need I say more? I would have given 5 stars just for Kate, but the rest of the movie averaged it down to 2 stars.

CONS: Plot and continuity, or lack thereof.

BOTTOM LINE: Unless you’re a huge Kate Beckinsale fan, this is best saved for a DVD-rental. Even for a fan like me, I wished I had waited for the DVD that I would have bought anyway. Since it’s a sequel, it’s hard not to compare the two movies. While it tied off some of the plotlines, the movie just didn’t seem that cohesive. Perhaps, in my old age, movies with a stronger plot seems to sate my appetite more than one with a lot of action. So, I’m disappointed.

Long time readers know that it’s not genetically possible, for me, to diss a Kate Beckinsale movie. (Remember that nauseatingly glowing review that I gave Van Helsing? I can’t even bring myself to link it now because I’m so ashamed of it; you’ll just have to search for it on this site. Be careful, it might make you retch.) So I have to say that I’m, *sigh*, disappointed. After the first movie which introduced a very promising premise, I had thought they would expand on it and drive it to a more satisfying conclusion. But I was utterly rebuffed.

**My extended comments contains spoilers** Read it only if you’ve seen the movie or have no interest in seeing it.

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REVIEW: World of Warcraft

While the World of Warcraft (WoW) servers are down for schedule maintenance, I’ll take this short break to write up my thoughts about this game. I know WoW has been out for a while now but I’ve finally gotten around to playing it.

REVIEW SUMMARY: The “short version” is that “I like it,” for now. Feel free to read my extended comments.

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You Can Be Good or Evil Without Paying Extra!!

This was just announced — you can play City of Heroes and City of Villains (to be released later this month) for the same per month subscription fee that you’re paying for CoH alone (that is, if you’re still playing CoH. I’ve recently reactivated my account but it has since gone into hiatus again…). I’m looking forward to being bad; oh, sooooo baaaaaaadd…

[Linkity Goodness via NCSoft.com]

Powered by Living Beings…

NewScientist.com has this new article about research being conducted into making technology and electronic components from single-cell organisms. It’s a very interesting read.

[Link via NewScientist.com]

P.S.: I wonder how long before those no-job eco-nazis over at PETA decides that microbes are being exploited and they need to fight for their right to not be turned into electronic components…

It Is Your Destiny…

…or it can be your destiny, to live your fanboi fantasy out this Halloween with this “collector’s edition” of our favorite dark lord of the force…for a measily $800 (tax, shipping, and lightsaber not included). To be a true FANBOI, you owe it to yourself to have one of these hanging in your closet!

What Is F.E.A.R. of Physics??

While I was Googling for the new FPS F.E.A.R, I happened upon an even cooler site — FearOfPhysics.com. I wish I had this site when I was a kid… but then I didn’t have access to the Internet then, nevermind… It’s still a cool site.

The Great Redneck Rampage for Refurb iBooks

This is nuts! For a freaking 4-year old iBook?!?!!?

I have an iPod sleeve, does anyone in VA wanna shot at it? it’s all free! Flash Mob anyone?

Wow! The Tiny Carbon-based Computers?

This is pretty cool, they’ve created “transistors” using tiny bits of carbon — I don’t understand all of it but it’s still pretty cool!

I wonder if they can use this to augment people… but it will probably not be in my lifetime…

Farewell, Scotty…

Just read this on FOXNews, I’m sure someone else here who is a bigger Trekkie than me, can write a better tribute. – Peter

James Doohan, the actor behind the beloved engineer on Star Trek, wishes his ashes launched into space as was done with Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. Don’t get too excited though, NASA isn’t being asked to carry it up on a shuttle – a private company launches them up on missiles.

Too Cool…

As usual, the stuff that I post has very little, if at all, to do with SciFi/Fantasy (just wondering when they’re going to take my posting rights away…) and this one is no different; but in my own defense, this is too cool not to share…

By the way, here is his website even though it has fewer 3D stuff…

Now, back to our regularly scheduled SF/F programming…

Interesting Star Wars Observation…

NTITNSWBFSWSOA (Not That I Troll Non-Star Wars Blogs For Star Wars Stuff Or Anything…) but this blogger brings up an interesting point. I can only assume that there is validity in his concern seeing how I have yet to see episode III — notice the <NOT-PHAN-BOI> tag over my head…

“Rufus! Excellent!”

Time travel, if it were possible, seems to be more like Bill & Ted and less like Marty McFly … or so it is conjectured

Whew, it took me a while, most of the afternoon, but I finally polished off all the books. John, mark me complete!

I’ve collected all their reviews here in a single post for everyone to enjoy…

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Scotty Was Here??

Did we just get a visit from the future Mr. Scott? Because someone seemed to have come up with the formula for the infamous “transparent aluminum” a la Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.

What Is SOE Doing Instead of Fixing Bugs??

They’re integrating with Pizza Hut to sell more pizza! I guess that’s one way to make money when the subscription numbers drop off. I wonder if all the FAT boys and girls out there (you know who you are, pudgy!) will sue SOE when they put on some major tonnage scarfing down the lard-laden, carb-ridden, sauce-drenched snack while sitting on their ever-immobile posteriors.

Does John Moonlight at Another Blog?

I saw this in my RSS feed and I thought that John had finally comes to his senses and drop his SF books for some cool gadgets.

Methink SOE Is Worried!

With the success of World of Warcraft, I think the folks at Sony Online Entertainment (SOE or as I like to call them, ScrOEw) is starting to get worried about their subscription base. This is evident in this new missive from their president, John Smedley.

But who can blame them? All I ever hear from WoW players is “Wow, this game is great!” or “Wow, this is game is so accessible!” Even friends whom I never thought would play an MMO game are playing and loving it. In Smed’s message, he talked about the competition (Blizzard) and how they have to put forth their “A” game just to compete. While it seems like he’s pep talking; to me, it’s more like of a desperate cry to the his subscribers, “Please stay with us and give us a chance to fix the numerous ScrOEws. You are our livelihood, we’ve been too aloof and we’re now willing to listen as long as you give us a chance…”

If I sound gleeful, you’re right! Long time readers will know that I’ve often complained about their holier-than-thou disdainful attitude toward their customers. It seems they’re finally waking up to the prospect that they need to get off their high horse. Bravo Blizzard!

Yay! It’s a Very Good Morning!!

In a word: INDEED

I hope the SFSignal Continuum will pardon this transgression and minor abuse of my posting power.

I Want My Media PC

I’m with the author of this article on this issue and I’m starting to see his point.

Warning: May not be work-safe.

Review: EverQuest II

Gameplay:
Storyline:
Tech Spec:
Overall:
Pros: Awesome graphics; good game play (with exceptions, see below); plenty of questing; voice-overs; nice storylines.
Cons: Only 4 characters allowed; instanced zones are not truly private; bad guild system; no mission system
Bottom Line: I quitted before my trial period is over. If they want my patronage (read: money), they shouldn’t make it difficult for me to enjoy the game.

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