The collected works of ScottyB

Rarely am I disappointed by films. Even more rare is being disappointed by a Marvel comic - film adaptation.

And Fantastic 4 - Rise of the Silver Surfer was no exception.

As always, the brilliance is in the CGI details. Anybody going into this one expecting a novelesque storyline will be sorely mistaken. This is good ol’ action - plenty of mindless chase sequences, jaw-dropping special effects and wondrous technology. It’s what the critics rubbished it for, but its what I loved it for.

Call me crazy, but these sorts of films aren’t supposed to be about immersing story lines, switching plots and confusing developments. They are about fun. And F2 definitely, without a doubt manages to deliver on all its promises as a big-budget action flick.

Its action all the way - from the start to the hugely explosive finish, I was wide-eyed and grinning like the village idiot. Pure eye candy and epic battles on all scales. Even a few laughs in there too.

“The Fantastic Four learn that they aren’t the only super-powered beings in the universe when they square off against the powerful Silver Surfer and the planet-eating Galactus.”

Now Silver Surfer. Whoa. Easily one of the greatest Marvel characters to be adapted to the big screen. He looked sensational, the motions and animation fluid and always exciting and voiced by the enigmatic Lawrence Fishburne, it all makes for a wicked combination. Truly a sensational figure.

I had wondered, ever since (tragically) missing this one at the cinema, how they were going to pull off the whole Galactus persona. And while its nothing how I imagined it, it worked well - and was realistically, probably the only solution that wouldn’t look ridiculously far-fetched (yeah yeah, I know.. I’m arguing far fetched in a movie about people that can catch on fire, turn into rubber, go invisible and are made of rock.. for shame.. but Galactus is after all, a monstrous being that eats Planets).

Start to finish, more Marvel movie gold.

Gotta get this one on Blu-Ray, surely the only way to do it perfect justice. Not to mention there’s plenty of Jessica Alba.

(Most of the press images I found were of Alba, so I’m afraid you’ll have to suck it up and enjoy them here - and just watch the film for everything else :P)

Link: 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer

For a dozen Krispy Kreme: Original Glazed Doughnuts to be consumed?

The answer: 24 hours.

I simply couldn’t help myself. The things are dynamite. Eat bite is an explosion of taste-sensation bliss. It’s like biting into a sugar-coated cloud and before you know it, all twelve are in your belly. All that remains is a hint of a sugar-induced headache.

I always hoped that KK’s would finally move up from their Sydney home base and establish an outer perimeter, a few new colonies further North. Eventually the Central Coast got one. It was getting closer. Then a month or so ago. Charlestown.

It was all within reach.

Whether this is a good thing or not remains to be seen. Is it healthy to pack in a dozen Original Glazed Doughnuts on a weekly basis? I guess we’ll have to wait and see

Another little gem found in the Playstation Store.

You might think of it as ‘Cops and Robbers’ but with the added bonus of Rockets, Hammers, Jet Boost, Magnets and other crazy pickups.

Essentially, like most games, it revolves around a very simple concept. Catch the criminal, take him to prison.

Sounds simple right? Wrong. What I’ve failed to mention, is the fact that a bunch of other AI cars (or online opponents) are trying to do exactly the same thing. And because netting a Capture gains you a bunch of points, you’re all in it to do as much capturing as is humanly possible.

Not only do the AI get in your way, but you also encounter destructible environments that slow your progress. Chasms in snow, trains in railyards. Sometimes the police station closes its doors and you have to go chasing after the paddy-wagon, or locate the police helicopter to deliver your criminally-minded payload.

To add insult to injury, the AI (or you) all get a bunch of miscellaneous weaponry to assist in yielding the reclaiming of a captured villain. The monster truck in front of you nabs the crim from under your nose? That’s alright, just hit him with a rocket launcher, or smash a hammer into the ground to shake the criminal free of their car, allowing you to scoop him up and take off again.

Only to have the same thing happen to you.

Reminds me so much of the old Micro Machines games.

It all gets incredibly fast-paced and taxing on the nerves. Both Kate and I had our fair share of ‘grrrrr’ moments, but really that’s what these games are all about.

Fantastic gaming. Cheap thrills. And with multiplayer online, offline, split-screen and split-screen offline, this is one fun little game that has to be reckoned with.

What I can’t understand though, is why such an awesome little (inexpensive) game has almost no people playing it online! There was one other person online when I fired it up tonight - and they left the game as soon as I overtook them in the points. Blah.

Nonetheless, awesome stuff.

Link: Calling All Cars - Playstation.com

We all know the format. The logic and the frustration.

Most of us have played a Lemmings game at some point in time (probably ~10 years ago most likely) but like many proven formats, it just won’t die.

And why would we want it to when its still alive, well, kicking and tormenting minds all over the globe?

Team17 (the creators of the fabled, much critically acclaimed ‘Worms’ series) got their hands on the rights to make this Playstation 3 version of the Lemmings saga. And in typical Team 17 fashion, they’ve taken it to the next level by cuteifying (Yup, that’s a made up word and I don’t care because its all I can think of that accurately describes this) up the graphics and adding a whole new level of complication to the age-old formula.

Now you can scroll left, right, up and down. The stages are sometimes huge, sprawling over many stories and wildly variable landscapes. In fact, if you didn’t know better, you’d almost say you were indeed playing Worms.

It has all the hallmarks of the original titles though. You’ll get stumped, you’ll reset the level numerous times and above all, you’ll enjoy it.

Not bad for $13.45 in the Playstation Store.

Link: Team17

I got about Big W today in search of the DVD sales.

And in doing so, I happened upon both Alien and Aliens in the bargain bin, $12.87 each, both 2-disc ‘Definitive Editions’, digitally remastered and packed with bonus features, all in a cool cardboard cover.

So I walked out with two new DVD’s.

Ironically, it had only been this week that I had been debating buying the Quadrilogy pack which was on sale at Video Ezy - but then these special editions are both remastered and cheaper. Sometimes you get lucky.

It’s been years since I’ve seen the original Alien movie.

As a kid, I remember staying up and watching it on late-night television. Now, I never used to get really scared watching movies, but Alien was right up there with delivering scares and that sci-fi genre format that I loved so much as a youngster.

Watching it today, you realise how dated things become. I know, it was made in 1979, so at 28 years old (older than me!), you have to give it some credit - much like me, its no spring chicken in modernism that’s for sure.

They all run these whiz-bang ‘computers’ which is basically colours and numbers on a DOS-looking screen. And the Alien is sooooo much a ‘puppet on a string/stick’ that its actually quite hilarious at times.

Nonetheless, it is this return to the real quality sci-fi that makes you appreciate both how great the vision was back then and how far we’ve come today. Our expectations have surely lifted that’s for sure. In fact, I admire the producers, directors, artisans, modellers, CGI dudes, prosthetics etc. that go into films these days. It must be so difficult to deliver convincing, powerful images that won’t age like milk.

Hopefully they release 3 and Resurrection in this ‘Definitive Edition’ format. Looking forward to watching the series through again soon.

Milla Jovovich is back as the ass-kicking, gun-wielding, knife-slashing ‘Alice’ in the latest installment of the R.E series penned by Paul W.S. Anderson.

There’s some great supporting performances from Oded Fehr and Ali Larter - and also an unexpected cameo role from Ashanti. Above all though (and it took me a while to scan my brain to remember where I’d seen him) was Linden Ashby - our old favourite, Johnny Cage from Mortal Kombat.

It’s your typical hack ‘em, slash ‘em Zombie fest. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’s great for a bit of entertaining action and when Milla is at the helm, its not too hard a genre to look at either.

Essentially, the outline of the story follows the survivors of the Raccoon City catastrophe. They are in the process of traveling across the Nevada desert and with the aid of Alice and her little red book, hope to make it to Alaska, the last bastion of hope for a Zombie-free lifestyle. Alice joins their pilgrimage and fights alongside them in opposition to the Umbrella Corp.

There are plenty of moments to have you jumping out of your seat if you’re that way affected by loud noises and Zombies appearing out of the shadows. The entire film is polished with some great surround sound effects and there were moments in the Senstadium when you would have sworn the Zombie was next to you, or the Helicopter was actually flying overhead. Impressive stuff.

Unfortunately I was a little bit rusty on the predecessors. Given the option, I’d have seen the first two just as a refresher before heading into see Extinction, but that said, I don’t believe either were absolutely critical to the 3rd installments understanding. It was all explained very well and linearly for the average viewer.

Definitely one worth a look. I really must have a look in the bargain bins for the DVD’s of the series too!

Link: Official Site
Link: RE3 at IMDB

Barina!

Always nice to get escorted to somewhere nice in the evening. Even better when you’re not providing the escort. This time, it was indeed I, who was the escourted and Katie the escortee in her recently acquired 2001 model Barina.

I’m not going to say I feared for my life or anything, particularly not at the moment when she decided to show me the difference between her old non-power steering driving and the current power-steering with a rapid zig-zag demonstration.

Purchasing your own car has to be one of the coolest - and certainly one of the first (if not biggest) investments we make as we’re growing up. I’ll never forget the feeling I got when I ordered the MINI. And more so, the day I picked up Obsession from Klosters after almost 4 months of waiting.

It’s truly a fabulous experience.

Congrats Katie. Here’s to many years of happy motoring! x

Tuesday. Top of 35C.

Wednesday. Top of 19C.

This is Australia.

Summer to Winter in 24 hours. And in fact, if you want to get really picky, Summer to Winter in about 3 minutes - because when that cold front came up on Tuesday afternoon, the temperature dropped so suddenly, you went from sweating to grabbing a jumper in the time it took you to walk to your wardrobe.

Tonight is a comfortable, but still chilly 15C with a steady breeze blowing and a little bit of rain about.

I’m truly amazed by the weather sometimes and its ability to completely change at the drop of a hat. I’d actually have loved to have been involved in Meteorology.. Ahh, the choices we’d make if we could do our schooling over again! I’d probably become an Astronomer at the same time too. Awesome job.

Thank you SBS.

Thank you so very much. Because due to your excellent programming choices, we are now graced with Shaun Micallef’s presence once again on a weekly basis.

NEWStopia, the new series offering a satirical spin on world news launched last Wednesday - and much to my dismay and embarrassment, I missed it. Luckily for me and once again, thanks to SBS’ fantastic coverage, I was able to watch the episode replayed on the website. And I laughed and laughed.

This weeks was just as fast-paced and downright hilarious. The cocaine gag was brilliant.

As always the quotes are gold, the political jibes quick and the characters tongue-in-cheek. It’s textbook Micallef.

I’ve bloody missed this bloke from our screens. Can’t wait until next week!

Link: NEWStopia on SBS

After downloading the demo and playing all 4 minutes of its entirety (making this probably the shortest, quickest and heaviest - 1 GB download! - of all time) I was left feeling quite a bit impressed. The graphics were fantastic and most certainly it had potential. It took a few goes to master the movements and combo controls (much like Ninja Gaiden Sigma in its control learning curve) but it felt and looked good.

I bit the bullet and bought it on (sorta) special the next day. And while the demo impressed me, the full retail version simply blew me away.

The whole thing runs like you’re watching a film. You’re blessed with luscious cinematics, a deep, mythical story making you feel like you’re watching some kind of Lord of the Rings adaptation.

It all blends together amazingly - you have these sort of seamless transitions between cinema and gameplay. You’re watching the scene, the cinematic playing the scene, then suddenly you’re thrown in the deep end, finding yourself controlling the movie, acting out the next part of the script.

Which brings me to the next point - scripting.

The game is very linear. You can only move where the game wants you to move. Kill who you have to kill in order to flow into the next cinematic. Now this isn’t a bad thing, most games of this style are the same but for some reason it seems much more predominant in Heavenly Sword.

The game is divided into ‘Chapters’, each Chapter having numerous ‘Parts’ or sequences that upon completion you gain a ranking based on the success and style used to complete it - this ranking is awarded in the form of ‘Glyphs’ and you can earn up to 3 glyphs per part.

Unlocking Glyphs unlocks various artwork and movies all accessible from the main menu. And all Chapters and Parts can be revisited at a later date in order to gain a better ranking.

So far, I’ve only delved as far as Chapter 2, but initial impressions are incredible. Its a polished game, yet another of the next-gen games that delivers on the promise of superb graphics and awesome functionality.

I even got Kate to play this one for a few minutes, so you know its gotta be good.

Link: Heavenly Sword: Official Site

The new series has begun after plenty of ummm’ing and ahhh’ing as to its future. And the best news is that we’re actually getting a lengthy season too - 10 episodes.

Previews show some great prospects. The Bugatti Veyron is making an appearance again too, can’t complain about that.

Episode 1 of series 10. Really what can you say? The road test was amazing. James May starkaz in the Aston was sooo funny. Seriously though, these guys have the best jobs in the World. Paid (handsomely) to drive beautiful supercars and sport cars around some of the best roads in the world. Really… I’m in the wrong profession.

I’m still undecided as to whether I’d have picked the GT3 RS or the Gallardo Superleggera though.

Can’t wait for Monday to end - Episode 2 waiting for me when I get home.. Wooo!

Look familiar? It’s the little Mario mushroom. Once 8-bit, eventually N64′ed and now completely and wholly three dimensional. Buyable even.

Strangely, I was watching the most hilarious Mario video (series) ever the other day on YouTube. And then I pop onto the gadget site, and these lamps are there. Spooky.

If you’ve got 10 minutes to spare (and you’re not offended by heaps of cursing) check out the video in question here:

Super Mario Bros Frustration: Part 1

You may also want to check out Parts 2 and 3 in the related links if you’re still enjoying it!

Link: Mario Lamp at OhGizmo

I’m really starting to sound like a Sony fanboy lately, aren’t I? Seriously though, this is cool.

Now I’m not going to complain about the thickness of my LCD TV. I mean its probably about 5cm thick - but check this thing out:

Sony’s new XEL-1 OLED TV (which was on display at CEATEC, the Japanese consumer electronics show).

This thing is 3mm thick (That’s 3MM not CM!). And an impressive 1 million:1 contrast ratio.

They’re not cheap as you’d expect - almost two grand for an 11″ model - a long way off a good 40″ TV and small even for a PC/Lappy monitor - but the technology is there. Won’t be long before we start buying our televisions off a roll at the local electronics shop, cut to length!

Link: Sony XEL-1 OLED TV at EnGadget

Crazy stuff.

Back when I used to purchase my collectible model cars from Ebay, the exchange rate was about 60 cents for every one of our DownUnder Dollars (DUD money as I used to call it).

On a model car, I could pick them up for anywhere between 70-100 USD. Plus shipping (which was about 30 USD, priority air usually), so $100-130 USD.

So about $167-217 in DUD. Scary. But I was a collector

Right now, the same car, including shipping would cost closer to $112-$145 in DUD. Which is not really so much of a dud any more

That’s a saving of $55-72 PER MODEL.

And when I have close to 20 cars.. man I was a sucka!

In quite some time.

It’s called the ‘Replug’ and its an innovation that is most certainly long overdue.

The number of times I’ve had a pair of headphones on, or tripped over a recharge cord or cable, tearing the connection from the socket at odd angles, damaging, mangling or warping the device or the socket, I simply couldn’t count.

At the moment, the Replug only services audio cable, so consists of a 3.5mm audio jack that plugs onto the end of your iPod, headphones or whatever audio cable - and a little magnetic head that plugs into the device itself. The two snap together, and voila! Unsnaps with ease under any accidental wrong movement.

In action:

I do wonder how strong the magnet is though. If its going to pop off at the slightest movement, it could be useless, though that diagram appears to indicate otherwise.

Only one question really. Why couldn’t I have come up with this?

Link: Replug

Whilst I’m not a vegetarian, and while the following probably doesn’t bother me so much as it would do (and most definitely does) to some, I have to admit a slight questioning over the quality of take-away/fast foods these days.

I had O-Porto today at Kotara. A ‘Bondi Burger’ combo as they call it. It tasted okay, but the bun was particularly dry, and the chicken on the burger, while tasty enough, was shaped remarkably like the map of South America, meaning that the majority of my bites ended up with only bun and mayo entering my mouth, while half the chicken fillet hung over each side.

I’m picky you say - and okay - maybe I am. But is it to much to ask to be able to enjoy a burger as its presented on the big window above the counter? Luscious, juicy leaves of lettuce, a symmetrical dollop of mayo, fresh bun and a perfectly circular fillet of chicken.

Early last week, a co-worker received a Big Mac from the local McDonalds. But this Big Mac, instead of being garnished with the ’special sauce’ was served with a generous helping of mayonnaise. How do they bugger that one up? It’s not like the Big Mac is made once in a blue moon either, like, say, a McOz (which I’ve had before WITH gurken and WITHOUT beetroot - its signature ingredient).

Today, as I dined on my dry, misshapen O-Porto burger, Kate tucked into her Vegetarian Tofu Teriyaki dish (which I must stress, despite not being a vegetarian as previously stated and also utterly despising Tofu, looked very appealing) from the local Tokyo Teriyaki.

About two minutes into the lunch, she stopped, dropped the chopsticks and looked surprisingly pale and wide-eyed, before managing to form the words, “Oh my God. I’m gonna be sick!”.

Seems the local moth population had forgotten that Japanese food looks a little too favourably on insect garnishes. Thusly, one had been dutifully prepared along with the meal, nicely charred and well cooked, hiding amongst the celery sticks and brown sauce.

So much for a Vegetarian dish.

An explosive race, started out wet, dried out later.

Not watching the race has hurt my enthusiasm this race. It’s slightly disappointing to miss a race that perfectly coincides with this time zone, but in the wake of the fantastic race at Bathurst and the coverage by a rival channel, I’ll let it slide. Don’t think I could have bared watch both at the same time. I’d have most definitely suffered a massive coronary from the stress.

Undoubtedly, Vettel was the driver of the day. After having his penalty from Japan rescinded, he incurred another for apparently blocking Kovalainen in Qualifying. Then went on from 17th on the grid to finish 4th on a slippery track with all the pressure over him from the last round and completely redeeming his Japan performance. I see big things for this bloke.

Once again, rain makes for the best racing. Unpredictability is king.

It was also the race where Lewis Hamilton could have wrapped up the Championship. The place where he ends up in the gravel on Lap 31, relegating the Championship hopes down to the last race in Brazil.

I can’t say I’m disappointed, we now have an EPIC showdown set for the final round. Three drivers in with a shot of winning the title. It will be hardcore F1 racing at its limit. All decided at the last round. Couldn’t have wished for a better solution to the season.

Most unfortunately, its telecast in the wee hours of the morning means I’ll probably miss it. Dammit.

Unless I take a Monday off work. Hmmmm…

Results: China

1 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari Winner
2 Fernando Alonso McLaren-Mercedes +9.8 secs
3 Felipe Massa Ferrari +12.8 secs
4 Sebastian Vettel STR-Ferrari +53.5 secs
5 Jenson Button Honda +68.6 secs
6 Vitantonio Liuzzi STR-Ferrari +73.6 secs
7 Nick Heidfeld BMW +74.2 secs
8 David Coulthard Red Bull-Renault +80.7 secs

Link: F1.com

The 2007 race was, without a doubt, the most exciting I have watched.

The last 30 minutes was just sensational.

FORD 1-2-3.

Craig Lowndes / Jamie Whincup you guys are legends! Awesome racing. Slicks in the wet. Nuts. Sensationally nuts.

What a fantastic race. Absolutely elated.

Must remember to watch this series more. Beautiful.

Finally the latest Colin McRae title was released in Australia. Picked up a copy of it on Thursday upon its release.

I had played the demo so I knew basically what to expect, but if there’s ever a demo that undersells its full version, its this one.

Some of the stages are so photo realistic, its just incredible. The game is more ‘arcade’ than its predecessors, but it doesn’t take away from the ultimately fun gameplay that has followed the series since the beginning.

I’ve focussed mainly on Career mode thus far. The Tier 1 levels offering basic challenge across a wide variety of surfaces and various car types. Currently just stepped up to Tier 5 and the competition is much stronger, the stages much more complex. It offers a fantastic challenge for its genre.

The statistics are a great addition to the game.. Longest Slide, Highest Jump, Fastest Speed, Distance Traveled, Total Driving Time.. and many more. It’s a fantastic indication of how much you’re putting into the game and where your strengths and weaknesses are.

All in all, a polished final game. Even the menu system is pioneering in its application. Yet another title I’m proud to add to the ever-growing PS3 collection.

When the temperature rose to a toasty 36 degrees Celsius.

Sydney received gusty winds and 35C heat – the hottest early spring day in 148 years.

Of course, Australia doesn’t see a hot day without a bushfire. And as of this afternoon, over 40 were raging around the state. The F3 Freeway, the Old Pacific Highway and the rail lines between Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle were all closed shortly after 4pm after fire broke out near Cowan.

It was a day of dry heat - and strangely, it didn’t feel that hot. With relative humidity barely cracking the double figures, it was a reasonable day to be outside. Matter of fact, I spent a good portion of the afternoon in the shed and really thought the feeling belied the outrageous temp reading on the MINI.

A Southerly change has just come through, knocking the temperature down (its a more reasonable 27 here at the moment in the middle of the night, but the humidity is up around the 70-80% again) and brings promise of a cooler day tomorrow.

Spring has arrived, but Summer is here already.

It’s gonna be a long hot summer.