Flashback Friday

Flashback Friday

Fable: The Lost Chapters is an extended version of the original fable developed by Lionhead Studios and released on the 20th September 2005. Set in the nation of Albion, the player assumes the role of an orphaned boy that becomes a great hero. The player can make choices which changes how the people of Albion react to the hero and changes the appearance of the character depending on if the player chooses to do evil deeds or good deeds. The hero goes on a quest to find out what happened to the hero's family, the player can also go on optional quests, trade, steal and romance characters in the game.

This game is a very enjoyable action-rpg, easy to get use to and the fighting is fun. You can work on being close combat focused, being an archer, mage or a little of all of them making the game fun for however you want to play. You can also be evil or good which changes what happens in the game because people act differently towards you. The hero can also get titles like "Chicken Chaser" and Paladin which people will call you. This game is entertaining and you should definitely give it a go.

*The Elder*

Kingsman: The Secret Service

Kingsman: 

The Secret Service (2014)

Movie Information:

"Based upon the acclaimed comic book and directed by Matthew Vaughn, Kingsman: The Secret Service tells the story of a super-secret spy organization that recruits an unrefined but promising street kid into the agency's ultra-competitive training program just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius." - Written by 20th Century Fox

My Review:

This movie was brilliant! I loved it. Most movies these days aren't as ballsy as this one was. Dirty humour, bad language and random, crazy violence are all in this movie, but done in a sort of elegant way. It's kind of just a way dirtier and funnier version of James Bond. It is definitely not for easily offended or squeamish people because Matthew Vaughn most certainly took some risks with this movie, but it worked out to be absolutely fantastic! The entire movie is just one crazy ride, that will keep you guessing the whole way through, without being serious at all. I mean, the whole movie is about a guy trying to kill everyone, but most of the movie is spent screwing around in the training parts, which just makes it hilarious. 

Not only that, but the cast is just brilliant. Seriously, Samuel L. Jackson with a lisp? Best villain in existence. And don't forget Colin Firth, who is usually seen as much more of a tense character, totally kicks ass in this movie! I also think the guy who plays the main character, Taron Egerton, is worth mentioning because he did so amazingly in Kingsman. He really proved himself and I think he did brilliantly. Another thing I think people aren't mentioning enough about this movie is the soundtrack, which was amazing and really well done. It definitely added well to the story and were played at the perfect moments.

Obviously not everyone is going to love it, which is fine, but I honestly thought it was brilliant. The movie isn't very serious and is honestly hilarious. I would definitely recommend it, though it's probably only suitable for people 16+.

~The Elf

Maleficent (2014)

Maleficent (2014)

Movie Information:

"A beautiful, pure-hearted young woman, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army threatens the harmony of the land. Maleficent rises to be the land's fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers a ruthless betrayal - an act that begins to turn her pure heart to stone. Bent on revenge, Maleficent faces a battle with the invading king's successor and, as a result, places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realizes that Aurora holds the key to peace in the kingdom - and perhaps to Maleficent's true happiness as well." - Written by Walt Disney Pictures

My Review:

I was told multiple times by my friends that I had to see this movie, so I finally got around to it last week. I wasn't really looking forward to it because lately I've been getting really sick of fairy tale movies, but honestly it was still really good. It gives you a different view of the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty, which is always a good thing, plus it had a great cast! I mean, hello, Angelina Jolie! It isn't exactly a movie for a huge new take on the story line, but it's cute and it has some awesome actors and actresses in it. It's not a movie with huge impact or life changing double meanings, it's not very serious in my opinion, but it shows you the story in a new light and is definitely worth watching. It has a dragon in it! Totally worth it.

Also, I just really loved Sam Riley's character Diaval. He was just really cool and I would probably watch the movie again just for his character, but of course there's also Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning, both of which were great in this movie. It's a really adorable film, so I would recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind sitting through yet another retake of a fairy tale.

It's rated PG because some of the fight sequences and such would probably scare younger kids, not to mention Maleficent is quite intimidating and there are a few scenes that could upset a younger viewer, but for the most part it's enjoyable for young people. It's probably not something adults would really care about, but if you're into Disney at all, I'd definitely recommend it. Otherwise kids and teens would probably enjoy it most, keeping in mind that youngsters should probably be supervised.

In any case, it's a movie I would happily suggest to anyone, so check it out!

~The Elf

Flashback Friday

Flashback Friday!

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Movie Information:

"Meet the Stratford sisters: pretty and popular Bianca, who has never had a date; and Kat, her older sibling, an ill-tempered harridan whose acerbic wit is matched only by her steadfast determination to alienate any guy who might be remotely interested in her. Unfortunately, strict rules in the Stratford household forbid Bianca from having a boyfriend until her odious sister has one of her own-a situation that seems highly improbable considering Kat is a social disaster. Bianca's desperation for romance turns into a convoluted scheme to match Kat with her male equivalent--a guy whose reputation is so infamous, Kat might rise to the challenge and find him worthy of her concealed charms. Mating mayhem ensues when Patrick Verona -- a sullen young man with a mysterious past -- is bribed by Bianca's wannabe boyfriend to woo and win Kat, in order to clear the way for Bianca to begin dating." - Written by Movie Buff

My Review:

As a huge Shakespeare fan, this revamped version of his play 'Taming of the Shrew,' is something I love to watch. Not only does Heath Ledger play badboy Patrick Verona, but the movie is hilarious and honestly an adorable love story. I can tell you right now; this is the only chick flick I've ever voluntarily watched more than once. If you want a funny, kind of predictable chick flick with some hot guys, dorky attempts at wooing girls and some romantic scenes that will melt your heart - this is the movie for you.

Not all of the reviews on this movie are great, but in my humble opinion, it is definitely a movie worth watching. With stars such as Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik and many more, this movie is something that many people will enjoy. Although most people see it as a chick flick, and I'm more than willing to agree with that, I know a lot of guys who have watched this movie too and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's not a serious movie and it doesn't have the most intense or exciting plot, but it's funny, light and definitely a movie I would recommend to anyone.

I recently managed to convince two of my best friends, my mother and her best friend to watch it and they loved it just as much as I do. The music is great, the story is amusing and the characters are interesting and strange in their own ways.

If you want something random and funny to watch on Movie Night, I would absolutely suggest this movie. Although it's probably best suited for teenagers, people of many ages are sure to enjoy it, though there are some references and jokes that are probably not suitable for a younger audience.

In any case, I hope you all watch the movie! It's worth it! I leave you now with this great quote; "The shit hath hitith the fan...ith."

Anyone else miss Heath Ledger greatly?

~ The Elf

Sound of Your Heart - Shawn Hook

Song of The Month!

Sound of Your Heart

By Shawn Hook

I heard this song for the first time the other day, which is the first I've ever heard of Shawn Hook. I've listened to a few of his songs since, which I'm proud to say are also awesome. I figured I should share this song though, since it was the first I heard of his, it's the most recently released and it is honestly an amazing song. I don't know much about Shawn Hook or his music yet, but I think if you want some catchy love songs, you should definitely check him out.

I don't have much more to say about it at this stage, except that I love his voice and I hope you do, too. I'll definitely be researching more into him and listening to his music more often, so maybe I'll post a review about him one day. 

In the mean time, I think everyone should check out his music and see what you think! His music is catchy and much more pop than what I usually listen to, but it's still some amazing songs.

~ The Elf

Just Like You - Falling in Reverse

Song of The Month!

Just Like You

by Falling in Reverse

First of all, this song is amazing and the video is pretty funny. Ronnie Radke, the lead vocalist, has come under a lot of criticism and by default so has Falling in Reverse, but honestly I don't really care what kind of people they are - I care about what their music sounds like. Their newest album, also called Just Like You, is actually pretty good. 

Anyway, that's beside the point. This song is ... actually I'm not even sure how to explain it. It's catchy and pretty sarcastic, really. Then when you get to the chorus, you get hooked and it's one of those songs that get you pumped, even though the song's kind of insulting. Then, if you watch the music video, it's pretty funny. They take the piss of The Voice, so that's always gonna be entertaining. There's also an extended version of the music video, which is a full minute longer and is pretty much just a "before the show" sort of thing. It's honestly worth listening to, because one way or another it's gonna put you in a better mood.

Do we have any Falling in Reverse fans out there?

~The Elf

Flashback Friday

Flashback Friday!

Hey Ya! 

by OutKast 

This isn't very old, but considering how quickly music changes and what was once popular becomes long forgotten, I figured it was about time I all remind you of a song that everyone I know has listened to at least once. If you've heard anything by OutKast, you have to have heard this song. Billboard even named it the 20th most successful song of the 2000s decade in the U.S. 

Have you ever heard the phrase "shake it like a Polaroid picture?" Well, this song was actually what made it popular. In the video there's a live performance by a band, all of which's members are actually played by Andre 3000. The video is very eccentric and unique, much like the song itself, and makes the whole thing a roller coaster of fun and weirdness.

It's a very catchy song and honestly just a very fun upbeat thing to listen to. It definitely lightens the mood. If you've heard it before, I hope you're enjoying it again, but if you've never heard it before I hope you now love OutKast - which you should.

Did anyone else love singing this on SingStar, or is that just me?

~The Elf

Flashback Friday

Flashback Friday!

Dark Angel

Plot Summary:

"In a future of political, economic and moral collapse, a genetically enhanced superhuman prototype named Max escapes from military confines and dwells amidst the decadent underground street life of *Seattle* to avoid government agents who want to bring her back into the fold. Searching for others of her kind who were scattered in the aftermath of her escape, Max encounters Logan, an idealistic cyber-journalist battling repression and corruption in post-apocalypse America. Eventually, Logan calls her to the highest part of her being and Max becomes his samurai as the pair takes on the ruthless power-brokers of the new millennium. Max and Logan's odyssey leads them closer to the secret of her past, deepening and complicating their relationship in the process." - written by Ronos.

Dark Angel has been one of my family's favourite shows ever since I can remember. It's an amazing show with a very interesting plot and many interesting characters. I think it's one of the best shows ever made, but - just like Firefly - was cancelled before it got to have all the development it deserved. With famous faces like Jessica Alba, Michael Weatherly and Jensen Ackles, Dark Angel is definitely a must-see TV series, if you ask me. The series has even been rated 4.7/5 on Amazon, 8.8/10 on TV.com and 7.4/10 on IMDB. Anyway, Dark Angel is action-packed, filled with a lot of very entertaining storylines and some pretty hilarious one-liners, too.

Main Characters:

Max Guevara

played by Jessica Alba

Logan Cale/Eyes Only

played by Michael Weatherly

Cynthia "Original Cindy" McEachin

played by Valerie Rae Miller 

Calvin "Sketchy" Theodore

played by Richard Gunn

Reagan "Normal" Ronald

played by J. C. MacKenzie

Herbal Thought

played by Alimi Ballard

Kendra Maibaum

played by Jennifer Blanc

Col. Donald Lydecker

played by John Savage

Alec McDowell

played by Jensen Ackles

Ames White

played by Martin Cummins

Joshua

played by Kevin Durand

Asha Barlow

played by Ashley Scott

If you're looking for a new show, but don't really like anything that's out right now, give Dark Angel a go. I can honestly tell you right now if you like any futuristic/fantasy shows, you're gonna love this.

~ The Elf

Stressed Out - Twenty One Pilots

Song of The Month!

Stressed Out

by Twenty One Pilots

I first heard of Twenty One Pilots last year, which is sad, really. I wish I'd known them earlier. They're music is amazing! They only have two members; Tyler Joseph, who is the lead vocals, pianist and songwriter (among other things - the dude is insanely talented!) and Josh Dun, who plays drums (and reminds me of Jon Bernthal). The band was formed in 2009 and currently have four albums out, one of which only came out in May this year.

This song is from their newest album, Blurryface. This is a brilliant song from a brilliant album, which I think everyone should check out. Anyway, if you wanna buy the album, you can buy it on iTunes here.

Sorry for so few posts this month again and hopefully the Dwarf will be able to post again some day soon.

~The Elf

Flashback Friday

Flashback Friday!

Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee

Hey guys! Flashback Friday time, today I will be writing about Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee. This here is a game and a half, an absolute classic! This game was the beginning of the Oddworld series. The original Abe's Oddysee came out in 1997 on the PS1 and PC, a series that sadly have not made many games lately. Their HD re-make of Abe's Oddysee - Abe's New and Tasty - came out late last year and truly does live up to the original game standards. It was kept mostly the same, but they added some new features, which make the game a little easier to play. One of these are a check point system. Although this may take away from the over all difficultly of the game itself, it makes the game more enjoyable to play and you're less likely to rage quit after dying over and over again on that one hard part you can't get past because you need to keep re-starting the entire level, which in my opinion makes the game a lot better.

In this game you play as Abe, a floor-waxer at RaptureFarms - a meat processing factory, which is losing money, because all their products are going extinct. This is where Abe's boss "Mullock the Gulkkon" comes up with the idea to turn Abe's fellow Mudokon slaves into tasty treats, in a last-ditch effort to save his dying company. Abe over hears this, and after receiving a vision  from "Big Face" (actual name, no joke), he goes on a mission to save the Mudokons and the other life forms on the world. After venturing through some rather hardcore levels, you eventually get to the boss level, where you finally get to fight Mullock.

<Merlin>