I can already hear classic Thief fans as they watch this trailer with their cries of “suck it Assassin’s Creed”.
The minute long trailer features protagonist Garrett as he stalks his prey which happens to be a rather expensive looking necklace. I know Thief fans have been more than excited ever since this game was announced, especially with the classic Thief being known for not holding players hands and being a tried and true stealth game. For some reason when I see Garrett’s one green eye at the end of the preview I think there will be some kind of detective mode like in the Arkham games and I already don’t want to hear the bitching of fans when that happens. Just give me a fun game and I don’t care.
Thief releases in 2014 for next generation consoles.
There are few directors that could be given $200 million by Disney to recreate the feel of a classic movie. Actually they gave Joseph Kosinski that to make Tron: Legacy, so maybe that money amount doesn’t mean what it used to. Sam Raimi is one of those directors that should be entrusted with that and it shows through in Oz: The Great and Powerful. Every penny is apparent on screen and even if the script or performances don’t break any new ground, it is a visual treat that should be enjoyed by anyone who remebers The Wizard of Oz fondly from their childhood.
If you are reading this review then I am assuming you have seen the classic film at least once and know the breakdown of what went on. Oz: The Great and Powerful begins much like Dorothy’s tale, in black and white. Oscar Riggs (James Franco) is a two bit magician in a traveling circus who has aspirations of great fame and wealth. He makes a quick escape from a strongman with a broken hearted sister in a hot aired balloon just as a tornado hits and he is whisked away to the colorful world of Oz. He soon meets Theodora (Mila Kunis), who tells him that he is the great wizard that the land of Oz has been waiting for to free them from the evils of the wicked witch.
Theodora’s sister Evanora (Rachel Weisz) is in the Emerald City and does not believe so quickly that this stranger is who he says he is. Little known to everyone in Oz, Evanora is, in actuality, the wicked witch and has framed her sister Glinda (Michelle Williams) for killing their father. She convinces Oscar to hunt down and destroy Glinda so she can have Oz all to herself. Evanora uses her sister’s feelings for Oscar to transform her into the true wicked with that we all remember from the classic tale. And yet with all the green makeup and weird facial features Mila Kunis is still hot. I would just have to act like I was Capt. Kirk and have some fun times with a green chick, but maybe that is just me.
Oscar ends up learning the truth and teams with Glinda and the citizens of Oz to battle the two evil witches. Which of course means a battle at then end of the movie. Like Alice in Wonderland, Snow White and the Huntsman and Jack the Giant Slayer, it must end in a big fight at then end with sneaking and misdirection winning the day. It does feel a bit familiar. But not so much that it detracts from the overall feel of the movie.
Photo courtesy hollywoodreporter.com
Oz does hit a stretch at the beginning of the third act that makes you think they were simply trying to extend runtime and show as much pretty on the screen as they could. It really could have used about twenty minutes trimmed off of the length and things would have moved along at a much smoother pace.
Make no mistake, this movie is pretty. Sam Raimi is a very visual director and it shines through when you watch Oz. There were some scenes that I can only imagine how headache inducing the 3D would have been. All the childhood remembrances are there. The yellow brick road, the emerald castle, the poppy fields and yes, flying monkeys that should easily scare the sh** out of your child.
There is no way not to watch this and not compare it to 2010’s Alice in Wonderland with one exception, I believe Oz holds up a bit better. That is to say that the performances in Alice (anchored by Johnny Depp) were superior to this, but the inner child hiding underneath all this bearded fury is more connected to the land of Oz from all the multiple viewings of The Wizard of Oz than Alice’s adventure. The look and familiarity of the world is much easier for me to connect with. Some people are cheshire cat people and some are munchkin all the way and I do love some midgets.
Look, if you are expecting Oz to be a movie that you remember ten years from now then you may be in for disappointment. Go into this with no expectations and you may be pleasantly surprised by it. It looks stunning on the big screen and while the main characters won’t exactly win any awards, all of the look, feel and imagination of the land of Oz is still there.
Like I said, it’s all familiar and sometimes that is not a bad thing.
After moving from an apartment into a house with a grassy yard, I headed up to Lowes for some lawn mower shopping with my son. We eventually chose the [amazon_link id=”B007AQZ9S0″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Worx WG787 Cordless Electric Lawn Mower[/amazon_link] for three reasons:
My favorite features:
No gas.
No cords.
Quiet Mode.
Other great features:
Cuts up to 15,000 square feet on a single charge
Up to 45 minutes of runtime
3-in-1 cutting for mulching, bagging, or rear discharge; push-button starting
Adjustable mowing height from 1.5 to 3.5 inches; 17-inch cutting width
IntelliCut mowing technology adds torque when you’re cutting tough grass
Special mulching blade chops up clippings better than standard blades
Over the past few months I’ve put these features to the test during the fast-growing sub-tropical Alabama summer.
Smart Design
The Worx 787 proves to be a lightweight, but durable, grass-eating beast that’s easy to maneuver. A hefty 12-volt rechargeable/removable battery makes up the bulk of the mower’s weight. Its lightness makes it feel deceptively delicate, but it’s actually pretty tough. I’ve banged it around the front and back yard in bumpy muddy weed-heavy terrain without any problems.
The battery slides in and out of the mower body with ease. So easily in fact, if the mower tips over while in use the battery actually falls out, turning off the blade motor. At first I thought this was a flaw, but I realized it may be a safety feature since the blades are exposed if the mower is on its side. Even if it wasn’t an intentional decision by the industrial designers, I appreciate the feature while doing yard work with kids around.
And of course, the battery-powered device is free from the hassle managing cords.
I do wish the wheels were a bit larger, to help it cruise through deep overgrowth a bit better, but if you mow regularly, it’s not an issue.
Politely powerful
The Quiet Mode has a clever feature called Intellicut, which ramps up the power if you need it, but remains quieter than a hair dryer so you can mow at night without disturbing your neighbors. Not that you’d want to mow at night, but if you’re like me, you may want to get some yard work in while the kids are taking a nap.
Treat yourself to the best cordless electric mower around… or the bigger one.
Now that I’ve owned the Worx 787 for several months I have zero regret. Simple, clean, and surprisingly quiet, it dominates the lawn. [amazon_link id=”B007AQZ9S0″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Buy it on amazon.com[/amazon_link]
Or check it its big brother, the [amazon_link id=”B003BJE9WM” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]more powerful self-propelled model[/amazon_link].
Anyone that has been out of town in a hotel has thought at least twice about plugging your laptop, phone, tablet or any other electronic items into the outlets. Especially when you stay at some places that aren’t exactly looking on the up and up. One bad outlet or surge could make your trip miserable.
The good folks at Satechi have something that may quell your fears. They offer a compact surge protector complete with three pronged outlet and USB port in one handy piece. Just watch for the green light to make sure the outlet is good to go and your electronics should be safe away from home.
It is a cheap deal at only $10 especially for people who are in a constant state of travel. Go check it out and order on Santechi’s website
Introducing the world’s first gyroscopically stabilized, two-wheeled all-electric vehicle: The C1 from Lit Motors. Or as I like to call it, My Next Car.
Notice the clip of the C1 getting jerked around by a Jeep while keeping its balance and staying upright. The idea is that even in an actual crash it would bounce off, screech a bit, and keep going.
Sliding by a theater near you
If it sounds like something you’ve seen in movies, you’re right. There are actually several features of the C1 that have ties to the big screen.
Super-stable 2-wheeled vehicle = The Dark Knight’s Batpod
Remote controlled by smartphone = Batman’s Batmobile and The Dark Knight’s Batpod
HUD display built in to the windshield… you heard me. = Remember the car Tom Cruise sported in MI4 with the touch screen windshield… that, but without the “touch” capability.
Other great features:
top speeds around 100mph,
0-60 in 6 seconds
a range of about 200 miles/charge
All packaged into a sleek design that will launch in 2o14 for about $24,000, but will drop to $12,500 by 2018.
