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A visually beautiful, narrative mess best describes Across the Universe. With a cliched plot that only serves to connect one Beatles classic to another this film takes its cues from Las Vegas / Broadway musicals that place importance on spectacle over substance.

I can only recommend this film to those that don’t mind watching one Gap / Old Navy commercial after another.

I should probably start out by saying Quantic Dream, developers of Heavy Rain, should be commended for trying something new and innovative. Sadly their efforts comes up short. I wanted to like this game but I couldn’t ignore it’s flawed control scheme and game design.

Problems
1) The voice acting is rubbish.
2) The fixed camera is a fucking annoyance. It’s 2010 for pete’s sake.
3) The controls are rubbish.
A) I understand Quantic Dream was trying something different but for all the “innovation” it’s still employing a quick time event-driven control scheme.

B) Forcing me to hold the controller in odd ways to create a sense of urgency, panic or difficulty isn’t innovation it is poor game design. When 99% of the games on a system use a certain control scheme forcing users to use a different and unnatural control scheme is ridiculous. It’s like asking a person to drive a car only using his feet. Sure it can be done but that doesn’t make it a good idea.

Imagine playing DDR or Guitar Hero with a controller? Sure you could but instead developers opted for a controller that felt natural and more importantly complemented / heightened the game experience. Now I’m not suggesting Quantic Dream bundle a new controller but maybe they should have opted for a different control scheme or perhaps a different platform. Cough cough, Wii?

4) The dialog system is silly.
For over twenty years games have employed a dialog tree and the simple act of making them spin around the screen on a 3D plane to simulate thoughts flying around a characters mind is a novelty. All you accomplish is frustrating the user.

The Critics
I know this game has gotten a ton of critical acclaim but this is an example of game critics failing to be objective. I think it is safe to say we all want the medium to experiment and try new things but rewarding / praising broken games doesn’t foster that so much as encourage bad game design.

Conclusion
Heavy Rain isn’t entirely bad. It has some fun moments but so did Dragons Lair. The many quarters lost at the arcade serve as proof that quick time events are fun and addictive.

Like a roller coaster, my emotions dipped and climbed with every minute that passed. Agitated by the heat, frustrated by my own bodies limitations and enamored with my own bodies musculature; Bikram was amazing. I may not have realized it at the moment or even wanted to admit it but Bikram helped me appreciate the human body in ways I never imagined.

The Plot: An elderly New Zelander is determined to pursue his dream of breaking the land speed record for motorcycles with engines less than 1000 cc.

My Impression: How could you not enjoy watching Anthony Hopkins play a lucky, fool hearted, brass ball, motorcycle riding, old coot?

In no way perfect, The Worlds Fastest Indian does enough right to warrant a viewing. Although I should mention I have a soft spot for these feel good movies. My fondness for these movies is so great I often overlook flaws that would normally drive me insane.

Stardust is a great fantasy movie that made me feel like a little kid. Now before you go out and rent it, keep in mind it is a fantasy movie for kids. So don’t curse my name and rue the day you met me when you hear some of the cheesy dialog and lame jokes.

Is it me or did this movie feel like The Princess Bride?

Based on a graphic novel of the same name, Road to Perdition is loosely based on the Japanese manga series Lone Wolf and Cub. Sam Mendes having recently finished American Beauty, pursued a story that had minimal dialogue and conveyed emotion in the imagery. Prime examples of this are the introduction of Jude Law’s character and the violent yet tender final scene between Paul Newman and Tom Hanks. I should also point out the amazing cinematograpghy by Conrad L. Hall who went on to win the Academy Award for Best Cinematography.

Why did it take me so long to watch this?

Before I go any further I should state that I  not a big Wes Anderson fan. His movies are quirky and entertaining but they are in no way deserving of the praise they have received. I often feel his movies only resonate with people from dysfunctional middle American nuclear families.

Regardless, Fantastic Mr. Fox is funny, clever and his best film to date. All the odd and strange quirks commonly associated with his storytelling seem a natural fit for an animated feature.

Note:
Maybe it’s me but Wes Anderson’s palette made me feel like I was watching a Thanksgiving special.

Having never done Yoga in my life I can say that Unnata Aerial Yoga was at first intimidating and challenging but truly rewarding. It made me realize I’m in great shape.

What is Unnata Aerial Yoga?
A new type of Yoga that combines traditional Yoga with the physical training of an aerial acrobat. Begun in January of 2006, Unnata Aerial Yoga classes use a low-hanging fabric trapeze to support the weight of the body. With the weight of the body supported, students learn how to achieve proper postural alignment through relaxation rather than effort, enhancing a relaxed and peaceful state of mind as well.

Unnata Aerial Yoga supports your traditional Yoga practice in numerous ways:

• Challenging traditional Yoga postures such as inversions and deep backbends can be achieved without effort and without strain with the use of the Aerial Yoga prop.
• Deep muscle releases achieved in the air allow students to explore much deeper stretches in their traditional Yoga postures on the floor.
• Common Yoga-related injuries caused by overstretching the shoulders and compression in the lower back are addressed through exercises that strengthen shoulders without compromising flexibility, and by strengthening core abdominal muscles without compression of the spine.

For more information click here