Category: Written


He Knows If You’ve Been Bad or Good…

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April 18, 2010

Originally Published: December 8, 2008, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

And for your own sake, you had better hope he thinks you’ve been good, otherwise…BAM! Marvel Comics has felt that to help get us all in the spirit, why not treat us with the release of the most blood-thirsty, most gory, most over-the-top, brutal display there has been in theatres, since, possibly, ever. Just in time for the holidays, Punisher: Warzone has been released into theatres. Blood red is a Christmas color, right?

When told about this movie, you are not expecting much because this is the third iteration of the Punisher in the past 20 years with the last one coming in 2004. Marvel did not openly say this was a sequel to that Punisher, but it did come up with a concurrent plot from the last movie so this movie will be treated as a direct sequel by most comic aficionados.

This time around Ray Stevenson (from HBO’s Rome) plays the death-dealing, skull-wearing, anti-hero with his own sense of justice. It is hinted that this movie takes place in current times so it can be assumed that it is about four-six years further down the line in the Punisher timeline from the last movie. Still haunted by the murder of his family by the mafia, Frank Castle continues his one man rampage as the Punisher against those the law cannot prosecute. Castle is so sick of the red tape that he figures he would show that he has nothing personal against the color.

At this point he has desensitized himself so much that all he has is his mission: to obliterate those he deems worthy of punishment. Those who are helpful to the mission, like his arms dealer, Microchip (sitcom veteran, Wayne Knight), are the only contact he has with the real world as he continues his personal war.

After an impressive opening scene to set the gory tone of the movie, Castle hears from a sympathetic cop that the mafia has bought off the docks at a glass recycling plant for the evening and that something big could be going down. With a chance to take down one of the mafia’s higher lieutenants, Castle jumps at the chance.

In the firefight that ensues upon his arrival, Castle accidently takes out an undercover FBI officer and, enraged that he crossed his own personal line by taking out one of the good guys, he takes out his ire on Billy the Buete, a mafia lieutenant more concerned about his looks than his earnings. Poor Billy ends up on the bottom of a glass grinding machine and has all the skin ripped off of his face. We’ll say he doesn’t take well to the skin grafts and born is JIGSAW (played by Dominic West from HBO’s The Wire; is there anyone else wondering if the casting director has premium cable?).

Driven to the brink of insanity, Jigsaw begins his own war, against the Punisher. He recruits every gangbanger, thug, lowlife, and his insane brother (and third tier Marvel villain) Loony Bin Jim in an attempt to take down the greatest threat to the new mafia empire Jigsaw wishes to build.

As a die-hard comic book geek, whenever a new comic book movie comes out, I admit it will be scrutinized a little more than a regular movie simply because the storyline has already been written out. Punisher: Warzone holds up to these impossible comic storyline standards relatively well.

The Punisher lays waste to every lowlife he sees without any remorse or even a second thought. Since this is an older, more hardened Punisher than in the last movie, this is very accurate to the comics. The Punisher is a merciless vigilante who takes the law into his own hands at every turn. A Vietnam veteran trained in many different forms of combat and nearly every handheld firearm known to man, Frank Castle uses his extreme training to bring about an extreme form of justice. And from the get-go, that’s the best way to describe this movie: extreme.

The Punisher is, simply, a killing machine that does not stop until the credits roll. It is a 1 hour and 47 minute bloodbath with overkill being the favored method of doom for the thugs unfortunate enough to be “punished”. It is so over the top that most of the people in the theatre, myself included, just broke out laughing during the movie.

The characters in the movie and what happens to them is very accurate in terms of the comic, as well, except for Jigsaw. How The Punisher deals with Jigsaw in the end was never done in the comics and really irritated many fans of the series, although it did follow in line with how things were going with the overkill in the movie.

Another low point was how many ideas were seemingly stolen from other action movies. No “bullet time” effects were used (as if we haven’t seen enough of those in the last few years), but The Punisher hanging himself off a chandelier and spinning around, unloading bullets into mobsters as he goes was stolen directly from The Boondock Saints. At least it was stolen from one of the best action movies of recent history, but still, stealing is stealing and Punisher: Warzone’s score gets punished because of it.

Another irritating detail was that in the middle of the night, The Punisher would be walking down 6th Ave., with all his guns on display, for the entire world to see. Boy! Doesn’t Plaxico Burress wish he lived in that world right now? What was the costume designer thinking? A trench coat would have been “too much of a stretch”? Because him walking around with an AK-47 and several Berettas on display in the middle of New York City gives a great sense of realism.

Aside from those gripes, if you’re looking for a movie to just vegetate in front of for a while, Punisher: Warzone would succeed. For the most part, the movie does give you a pretty accurate depiction of the Punisher from the comics and sometimes you just need a movie chock full of mindless violence and enough fake blood to fill the Mississippi River. The acting was fairly solid: Stevenson was passable, Dominic West was great as Jigsaw, and all the rest of the cast did a great job supporting the two headliners.

If you’re looking for an action movie with a minimum of dialogue and more explosions than you can count and need an alternative from the happy, cheery, romantic comedy that seems to dominate this time of year, then this movie is not a bad choice. If you’re a die-hard of the series, then you’ll just walk away nodding your head with satisfaction. I can see this becoming a late night, B-movie classic in no time.

Punisher: Warzone gets: 2.5 out of 5.

-Ray Carsillo

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Musical Checkmate

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Originally Published: December 4, 2008, on Collider.com and 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

Cadillac Records chronicles the rise of Chess Records and its recording artists. It’s a feverish tale of race, sex, violence, and rock ‘n’ roll in Chicago of the 1950s and 60s as it follows the exciting, but turbulent, lives of some of America’s great musical legends.

The story centers around how the blues became popular and would pave the way for what would be rock ‘n’ roll and opens up on Chicago of 1947 where an ambitious young Polish immigrant bar owner, Leonard Chess (Academy Award Winner, Adrian Brody), hires a talented, but undisciplined, blues combo led by guitarist Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright) and harmonica player Little Walter (Columbus Short).

Chess arranges a recording session for Waters and when his early recordings start rocketing up the R and B charts, Chess Records is born.
As time goes on, Chess treats his musicians like family, buying each one a brand new Cadillac when they record their first hit (hence the name of the movie), but the line between professional and personal matters becomes blurred on many an occasion.

Finally, in 1955, one of Chess’s artists crosses over into mainstream America, a skinny guy from St. Louis with a funny “duck walk” named Chuck Berry (Mos Def). Berry’s catchy, country-tinged tunes mark the birth of rock ‘n’ roll. When Berry is arrested at the height of his career, however, Chess has to find someone else to bridge the cross over gap.

Enter Etta James (Beyonce Knowles), an emotionally scarred young woman whose vulnerability tempts Chess’s loyalty and concern in unexpected ways.

As rock ‘n’ roll grows more popular, the Chess artists find that booze, women, and the high life have taken their toll and as tragedy looms, Leonard Chess leaves the music business finally in the late 60s. The blues and rock ‘n’ roll would live on though, having forever changed the landscape of American music.

Now that you know what you’ll be getting yourself into for 1 hour and 48 minutes, let me tell you why you should see this movie.

This story accurately chronicles the roots of one of the strongest aspects of our culture: the music. It tells a story that has needed telling for a long time, since most people do not know the details about the origin of our modern music and the suffering that many people went through to refine some of these great sounds.

This movie gives you the highs and the lows that you would expect from any good drama and they’re woven beautifully in-between some classic songs that will have your foot tapping in the theatre.

Along with great music, you get great acting from this movie. Nearly all songs played in the movie were played by the actors themselves, there was no lip synching going on here. And since most characters were forced onto an emotional roller coaster, you really got to see the range of many of these actors.

“It was daunting. You wanted to have the fresh, green Walter to going to where he went really dark. That’s why it was a challenge, but that’s why I wanted to do it. It was going to challenge me and Hollywood’s perception of me,” said Columbus Short at the NYC premiere when asked why he took the role considering the range of Walter’s life he was portraying in the film.

The struggles for many of these artists was not just making a living through music, but also trying to be accepted in the segregated America of the 1950s and 60s and the trials that came with that. Not only trying to find acceptance within their own communities, but with white America was a struggle on many different levels.

“When you see him singing, you see him alive and well and the performance side is who these man really are, but you have to survive and you’re surviving segregation and heavy racism and it was a poor time. The blues is what helped them get through it. If they weren’t singing, they’d be in the fields picking cotton in the hot baking sun. That was their everyday life. And that’s what this film does on multiple layers. It gives you the music, the time, the good feeling you get from that music because sometimes they would be drinking and it would come out as happy music and sometimes it would be deeply painful and you would hear the pain in it. This music influenced Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Who, and in the end these men have to come back and pay homage and half the riffs you hear in this film, you do a double take and go ‘oh my god, that is where that came from?’ and some of them didn’t even try to hide it when they took it, they just took it,” commented Eamonn Walker, who plays Howlin’ Wolf in the film, on the struggles the Chess Records artists went through.

There was a lot of stir around this movie as well not only for the touchy subject matter this movie deals with, but also because Hollywood loves making a stink whenever someone gains or loses weight for a role. Beyonce had to put on 20 pounds to play the legendary Etta James and I promise you she still looks amazing in the movie and, of course, she had no problem pulling off the singing. The real question would come with having to play such a troubled character on screen. I can tell you, she made it seem like it was second nature.

“I had to think about things that really meant something to me. I had to think of things that were painful and emotional and it was difficult because I would go home with swollen eyes and a big attitude every night, but it definitely paid off,” said Beyonce about her inspiration.

The only problem with this movie I had was that there were so many different characters that I felt you never followed one long enough to really develop the relationship you need to have as a viewer to care about the characters. Most of these people wore their hearts on their sleeves, but you never really see where they get the shirt from.

Now, in the movie’s defense, to chronicle the 20 year history of one of the most influential music companies in history, you would expect to see a lot of different characters and shifting personalities. To remedy the lack of being able to develop the characters then, they should have stressed the greatest character of all, the company itself. To have some of the most influential musicians of the 20th century all congregate at one point or another under this one roof is remarkable and not nearly emphasized enough in this movie for my liking and because there never is a single character fleshed out to the point that you feel strongly for them, the movie leaves a little something more to be desired when all is said and done.

However, when the credits are rolling, this is a solid movie. It portrays everyone involved with the dignity and class they deserve while still remaining true to the story that was Chess Records and the birth of rock ‘n’ roll during one of the ugliest times in American history. Everyone involved gives amazing performances and the music makes you want to run out and buy the soundtrack immediately. Anyone who has heard any rock ‘n’ roll from the past 40 years should see this movie, especially if they do not know where it all started. Look for Cadillac Records in theatres nationwide on Friday, December 5th. Cadillac Records gets: 4 out of 5.

-Ray Carsillo

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Thunderstruck…Twice!

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Originally Published: November 25, 2008, on 1050ESPN.com (Now ESPNNewYork.com)

After an eight year hiatus, that little devil in the school boy outfit (that still fits so well at 53 years old) and his old mates have come around once again with their new album, Black Ice. Of course, I am talking about AC/DC.

Along with a new album, is a new tour, and I was fortunate enough to acquire tickets to not one, but TWO concerts in the area. Out of the sky fell a pair of tickets to the November 13th concert at Madison Square Garden and out of my own pocket I acquired a four pack to the November 19th concert at the Izod Center. Since it seems to be a mandatory obligation to comment on concerts for us 1050 Bloggers, I have come here today to sing the praises of one of my all-time favorites.

For the music lovers out there, be sure to read up on the other 1050 Blogs here because music is a big part of our lives, and John Broder was one of my lucky office mates to come with me to the Izod Center and will have an equally interesting take on the concert. Also, be sure to check out Joey Salvia’s new CD Long Lost Weekend. Honestly, I was really impressed with how good it was. You can check out Joey’s page to find out how to grab the CD. Here are the links:

Christina Stoffo’s Blog

John Broder’s View From the Suite Seats

Joey Salvia’s Long Lost Weekend

Now that the plugs are over, back to business. Since I’ve been listening to it non-stop for the past three weeks, I’ll start with the new album. If you are a fan of AC/DC, this is a must have. Most of the tracks are amazing, although I admit that there were a couple that sounded like the same song, just with different lyrics. The single off the album, “Rock ‘n’ Roll Train”, is an instant classic that will have you singing along in no time. There are so many other great songs on the album, from “Money Made”, “Anything Goes,” “Big Jack”, and my pick for the theme of Iron Man 2, “War Machine”, that you should go get this album right now if you haven’t already.

In terms of the concerts, all I can say is AMAZING! Even well into their 50s, these guys know how to put on a show and make sure their fans go home happy. As to be expected, they played a few songs from the new album since it is the Black Ice Tour, but they pulled out a lot of their classics and left mine and many others’ throats hoarse from screaming and singing along. From Angus pulling off one of the most amazing solos in the history of rock ‘n’ roll when they break out “Let There Be Rock” to the cannons firing with “For Those About to Rock”, this is one of the must see rock experiences of your life if you get the chance.

Even the opening act, a band from Ireland called The Answer, was awesome and got the crowd revved up. I expect good things from those guys in the future, but the night belonged, of course, to AC/DC.

The only disappointing thing was that they played the entirely same set in both concerts. Here was the set list (and yes, supposedly they are mixing it up a little bit in different cities which disappointed me even more):

1. Rock N’ Roll Train
2. Hell Ain’t a Bad Place To Be
3. Back In Black
4. Big Jack
5. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
6. Thunderstruck
7. Black Ice
8. The Jack
9. Hells Bells
10. Shoot to Thrill
11. War Machine
12. Anything Goes
13. You Shook Me All Night Long
14. T.N.T.
15. Whole Lotta Rosie
16. Let There Be Rock

Encore:

17. Highway To Hell
18. For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)

An interesting difference was that I never noticed how good the acoustics were in the Izod compared to Garden, but when you think about it, the Garden was never really built for concerts; it was technically built for the circus. Anyway, the NYC crowd I felt was much stronger than the Jersey crowd and that disappoints me because, well, I’m a Jersey boy. I wanted us to represent a little more. Even with the nice acoustics, we didn’t sound nearly as loud as the NYC crowd even though both venues were sold out.

Aside from that though, I can’t stress enough how great this new album is and that if you’ve never seen them live, AC/DC is one of the must sees of your lifetime if you are any degree of a rocker. You won’t regret it.

-Ray Carsillo

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Double Review for Double 0-7

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Originally Published: November 16, 2008, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

With the release of the new James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace, I’ve decided to review not only the movie, but the video game as well. We’ll begin with the movie.

Many people were worried that the series was on its last legs after the egg that Die Another Day laid and the lack of action in Casino Royale , but Quantum of Solace proves that Casino Royale was simply setting the stage for something much bigger and better than we could have hoped for. Quantum of Solace slams you against the back of your seat from the very get-go with its fast-paced, action-packed, sequences and a plot deeper than the Atlantic Ocean.

The movie picks up right where Casino Royale left off with Bond transporting “Mr. White” to a MI-6 safe house for interrogation. This also marks the first time in the series that a Bond movie picks up so closely on the heels of the previous movie, helping with the continuity of the story and insinuating that, if you didn’t get the feeling from Casino Royale, this isn’t your daddy’s James Bond.

Once the interrogation starts, you find out quickly that Mr. White and his unknown organization have people everywhere, as demonstrated by one of MI-6’s agents going rouge and freeing Mr. White. Thus begins another action packed chase sequence on the roofs of Siena, Italy.

I won’t give away any more of the plot except that Bond will find himself unable to trust anyone as it quickly becomes clear that no one is safe from the reach of this mystery organization and Bond will have to go rogue to get to the bottom of how far this mystery organization’s reach is. Along the way, he will question himself as he realizes that many of whom he holds near and dear begin to suffer in the wake of his path of destruction as he travels across oceans to corner solid leads and stop a diabolical plot or two along the way.

Bottom line is that this was an awesome Bond movie and it will rejuvenate the series. With the continuation of the story directly from movie to movie, it’s easier to follow the characters and their changes and really get engrossed in the mythos. Everyone gives great performances and Daniel Craig really puts his own touch on Bond by acting so blatantly defiant at times that it’s almost funny while still being a bad ass.

The plot and action sequences were really well thought out, played beautifully on the screen, and will keep your attention for the entire 1 hour and 45 minutes to the point you’ll be asking for more. Add in classic elements like tons of beautiful women with some…interesting character names like Miss Strawberry Fields and you’ll really enjoy the experience.

There were only two things with the movie that bothered me. The first was in some scenes, you could tell that someone wasn’t watching the continuity as certain characters were out of place from cut to cut and it didn’t make sense. To the untrained eye it could probably get by, but for someone like me, it got under my skin a little.

The other thing was that this movie basically confirms the cutting of “Q Branch”, the R&D gurus who outfitted Bond with his many wonderful gadgets. Although there was some cutting edge tech, there was nothing so outlandish like a grenade-pen or tracking beacons in his shoes. The most extensive piece of tech for Bond was his cell phone, which really helps solidify the new, more realistic, direction the Bond movies are going in. I miss John Cleese though. Aside from these minor complaints, never mind one of the better Bond movies, this was one of the straight up better action movies I’ve seen in a long time.

Quantum of Solace gets a solid 4.5 out of 5.

Moving from the theatre to the home, I picked up the Quantum of Solace video game, looking forward to boat, plane, and car chases across three continents and more chase scenes on foot than I could shake my controller at. Unlike the movie though, the game fails to deliver on many accounts.

Although the levels based on the movie are well thought out and stealth is highly encouraged, there were no vehicle chase scenes to speak of and this really took away from the length of the game. In order to compensate, they flashed back to Casino Royale and had half the game revolve around these flashbacks.

Now, these levels were enjoyable, but the fact that they felt they needed to virtually include both movies in the game to make this worthwhile simply speaks to the fact that there probably wasn’t enough here to make a game with to begin with and that disappointed me because from watching the movie there was, which means the developers got lazy.

Now, in fairness, all James Bond games will be compared to the smash hit, Goldeneye, from the N64. One of the things from that game was that the gameplay came straight out of the movie to the point that you had the entire plot without even having to see the movie. This game changed a few things around; some were good, some not so much.

One of the good things was that it explained the situations a lot more thoroughly so that you had a better understanding. Example, the chase scene in Siena, Italy. The scene takes place on the day of the Polio, one of the most famous horse races in the world held in the town square. If you are unfamiliar with Italian traditions though, you might be a little confused watching a horse race in a town square while watching the movie, whereas it is explained in great detail in the game.

Another good thing was that enemy physics system. Enemies falling down when you shot them in the legs, but not necessarily passing away, or falling over a hand rail into boxes below if their momentum was taking them towards the rail were nice touches. This gave the game a solid sense of realism and was one of the bright spots.

One other great thing was hand to hand combat. Sneaking up on enemies and stealthily putting them down by pressing a corresponding button was great stuff. Add in the boss and lock pick mini-games and of having to push the right button at the right time in order to pass and the game does try to keep you on your toes by mixing things up a bit.

One of the bad things is that the game basically changed a great deal of the plot, especially towards the end of the game, to fit where they were going with it more and showed us things from the villain’s points of view, which was interesting, but completely unnecessary since the game is supposed to revolve around James Bond.

Add in that the enemy A.I. was poor at best and that it began to feel like you were playing a shooting gallery down at the boardwalk, simply hiding behind cover and waiting to pick off enemies when they popped up to shoot at you, and you have a game barely worthy of a rental. If you are a fan of James Bond and the mythos, then rent the game to get a couple extra plot details you may have missed from the movie, otherwise, there are plenty of better 1st person shooters out there.

Ratings are based on a system of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest.

Graphics: 9.0: The game looked pretty solid. The fire graphics were alright, and the light effects were well done. Everyone’s faces and movements were smooth and everything looked as it should. It was difficult to tell exactly where to go sometimes because sometimes exits blended in a little too well to the darkness, but aside from this, the game looked pretty good.

Audio: 10.0: Voice acting was really well done and having a long list of enemy phrases to choose from prevented the A.I. from ever repeating itself. If Bond was spotted, enemies never called it in the same way twice, which was a nice touch. Explosions and gun fire sounded solid and the music was solid as is always expected from a James Bond game. Just play the opera level to get a sense of how good this game was sound-wise.

Plot/Plot Development: 6.5: The plot was only passable because if you didn’t see the movie, not everything made sense to you. And if you didn’t see Casino Royale, you were definitely in trouble. If a James Bond game is based on a movie, it should follow the movie as closely as possible, and this didn’t do that. Lots of holes in the plot make the movie a must see and the game a rental at best.

Gameplay: 7.5: A lack of levels based on the vehicle chases really took something away from the game. The enemy physics was solid, but their A.I. was subpar and it made it feel like a shooting gallery half the time. Even when they tried to flank you, it was so blatantly obvious that it was no difficulty at all picking them off. All you had to do was hide behind cover and that made it feel like the shootouts were cheap knockoffs from the Gears of War series. I liked the addition of a hand to hand combat system and that many “boss” fights and the lock picking system was basically a mini-game. It kept the feel of the game different and tested your reflexes a bit more. Overall, the gameplay passes, but was nothing special.

Replay Value: 7.0: There isn’t a lot to replay the story mode. You could go back to try to find the entire cache of cell phones with extra intel on the mission to unlock things for multi-player, but that’s it. The multi-player itself isn’t anything special and feels like something that was added because it is expected nowadays. I would rather have had more levels and a better enemy A.I. than an average multi-player mode.

Overall (not an average): 7.0: Although the game looks and sounds great, it is not. The gameplay is lacking and a lack of overall game to actually play is disappointing. Add in an average multi-player that looked slapped together because it is expected to be in every shooter out there and this game is a rental at best, even for the most die-hard of James Bond fans. Quantum of Solace is out now for all systems.

-Ray Carsillo

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History

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Originally Published: November 5, 2008, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

DISCLAIMER: The views portrayed in the following article are solely those of the author.

Normally I steer away from the heavy stuff like politics, religion, and other societal issues, but the event that happened last evening was too tremendous an occasion not to at least comment on.

First off, congratulations to President-Elect Obama and kudos to Senator McCain for a hard fought campaign and for conceding the election in one of the most heartfelt speeches I have ever heard. His grace in the face of defeat was nothing short of miraculous and speaks to the man’s character in ways we can barely comprehend.

I, for one, look forward to the radical changes that the President-Elect will bring to a nation crying out for something different. If anything, last night’s results showed how sick and tired of the Bush Administration this nation is and, almost as a whole, rose up to support the farthest thing from that, Barack Obama.

There were several things from last night that made me very hopeful for the future for the first time in a good while concerning our government and my generation’s impact on this nation. There were also a few things that make me worry for the status of our pop culture, which is not nearly as important, but since my job revolves around it, I want to talk about it.
In terms of our government, I do not need to pretend I’m some pundit or someone who remotely knows what they are talking about to know that the change coming in the next couple of years is necessary and am happy to see that, for the most part, the nation is united for the first time in eight years behind one man.

In terms of history, we have finally completely eroded a wall that had been there, but never talked about, about the limits of a man based on the color of his skin. There will always be hate all over the world, but this was a major step in the direction of quelling that hate and kicking it to the shadows permanently. This is monumental for the minority population, those with more impoverished backgrounds, and those without hope. This election was a symbol of progress for our great nation in a spectacular direction towards healing the wounds we’ve inflicted upon ourselves in the past eight years.

There were several minor things about last night though that really bothered me.

First: Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi all voted for McCain even after they had two hurricanes dropped on their heads that almost turned that part of the south into our country’s next great water park and got NOTHING from the current administration until it was too late. This happened to be the same administration that McCain voted with 90% of the time. This is why people from these states are considered some of the stupidest in the nation by those of us above the Mason-Dixon Line since logic would dictate that when bad stuff happens, and the people who are supposed to help in your time of need don’t, you should no longer trust them to help you next time.

Second: The Daily Show/Colbert Report one hour live special was the first station to break Virginia going to Obama. That’s right. Comedy Central broke one of the biggest political stories of the night to that point. Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert were also the second to announce Obama as the President-Elect after CNN. Then older folks wonder why my generation turns to Comedy Central for our news before anywhere else. We get our news faster and with a funny twist without having to listen to the same whining from these pundits on the other networks. Kudos to Comedy Central.

Third: Sticking with the Daily Show/Colbert Report, what are these shows going to make fun of now? They have their work cut out for them. I’m sure something will happen though that will keep feeding the fodder for comedy writers everywhere. There’s always professional sports. Not just comedians though will be affected in the media, but all the right wingers with radio and TV shows. Will they be muzzled now that the democrats have control over the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the White House? I’m relatively sure much of the brass in the larger networks has connections to Washington. I wonder if Sean Hannity can say “Would you like fries with that?”

Fourth: The election was summed up in a handful of television shots during McCain’s concession speech and Obama’s victory speech. When showing the disappointed McCain supporters, you saw nothing but old, white people in the crowd. There was not a single person of color or under the age of 40 there. When you saw the celebrating Obama supporters, you saw the potential of this great land of ours. People of all ages, colors, and creeds dancing and celebrating and jumping up and down with each other. Those few shots summarized the past two years of campaigning in about two minutes and explained the results more eloquently than any speech could.

Fifth: Did anyone else notice before Barack Obama came out to give his victory speech, they were playing Jackie Wilson’s “Higher and Higher”? They were in Chicago and Bill Murray is from Chicago. Bill Murray was also in Ghostbusters 2, which any true geek will remember as that same song being the song that allowed the Ghostbusters to bring the Statue of Liberty to life to give them entry to Vigo’s Slime Fortress (previously the Metropolitan Museum of Art). Did Bill Murray help Obama at all in Chicago? Or maybe Obama is just a Ghostbusters fan? No wonder why people love this guy!

Then again I could just be having a geek moment and it will pass.

In conclusion, be optimistic America. Things are going to start turning around.

I hope.

-Ray Carsillo

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I Wanna Rock!

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Originally Published: October 29, 2008, on 1050ESPN.com (Now ESPNNewYork.com)

Growing up, you have dreams. You want to be an astronaut, a professional athlete, a scientist. Others dream of one thing: being a ROCK STAR.

Unfortunately, most of us have no real musical talent whatsoever and the farthest we get in terms of a record deal is our fantasies as we sing along in the shower with our radio.

This being said, MTV Games and Harmonix have come out with one of the most highly anticipated sequels in a long time: ROCK BAND 2.

The main problem with games like this is that there are usually few differences between the sequel and the original. So why should you get this game? Well, first off, all the great stuff from the original game is back like customizing your rocker, the instruments, and the awesome music.

The big difference is all the online and multiplayer interactivity. You can battle your rockers against a friend or online to rock out in ways never before imagined. Add in the hundreds of downloadable tracks and content and the game can keep evolving every time you add new goodies. If you’re a Nirvana fan, there is an entire package to download. Is AC/DC more your style? Not a problem. You can download their greatest hits, too.

Another awesome feature is that you can even purchase merchandise based on your personalized rocker. Imagine action figures, t-shirts, and other great memorabilia with your band’s name and logo all over it.

The main setback of all these amazing online features is that you do end up having to pay for it. The downloadable extra songs are $0.99 each, the same price as an iTunes MP3, but it could add up after a while and I am sure the personalized merchandise will cost you just as much as if you were buying anything from your favorite band.

So the real question is how badly do you want to rock? This is one of the most fun, and most entertaining games that have come along in a long time, but it is also one of the most costly. In the end, if you have the cash, and really dream of rocking out, then this is the game for you. The online community is unparalleled and the opportunities to battle are constant. If you are a little pressed though, I’m not going to lie, it can get expensive. The entire set of guitar, drums, microphone, and game is close to $200. If you already have these from the original, though, at least you won’t have to go out and buy them again as they are compatible with the new game. Personally, I’m tired of singing in the shower.

Ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest.

Graphics: 9.0: These games are not developed to look pretty, but the folks at MTV and Harmonix did not want the pyrotechnics to fizzle out either. Plenty of the game’s power has been devoted to keeping the game visually stimulating even if it’s more dedicated to pleasing your ears more than your eyes. Very pretty game results in a great score.

Audio: 10.0: Now this is where the bread and butter of the game really come into play. Looks are all fine and good, but when you’re playing a music game you want it to SOUND great and boy does this deliver. Great music from bands whose prime is past and those who are still rocking strong today keeps your foot tapping through all hours of the night and there isn’t a single hitch to think of. Perfect in every way possible.

Plot/Plot Development: N/A: There really isn’t a plot here. It’s a simulator, much like a sports game except instead of trying to win the Super Bowl or the World Series, you’re trying to become a rock star. You choose where you play and what you play, but, in the end, that doesn’t really constitute a plot.

Gameplay: 10.0: No glitches to speak of and a pace as steady as the rhythm of the song you’re playing. It’s almost a workout if you really get into it. I’ve broken a sweat rocking out on the drums a few times.

Replay Value: 10.0: With all the online features and downloadable content, it’s hard to put this game in the corner to gather dust. Add in that whenever a buddy comes over and sees the instruments, you’re going to have yourself a battle 90% of the time. You’ll be rocking on for months to come.

Overall (not an average): 10.0: For what the game is, it’s the best. There is no better out there. With its constantly updated content (even if it is for a price) and some of the best music the world has ever seen, if you can afford it, this game is a must have.

-Ray Carsillo

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Somewhere, Joe Theismann is Crying

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Originally Published: October 22, 2008, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

Brutal. Plain and simple. You wanted to look away, but it was like a car accident. You couldn’t do it. Joe Theisman’s leg was bent at a 45 degree angle in a place where the leg is not supposed to bend. Lawrence Taylor, the man who revolutionized the linebacker position, snapped Joe Theisman’s leg in two for all the world to see.

This play was a microcosm of the intensity and ruthlessness that this man, this defensive god, played the game with. Every play, every game, the original L.T. dominated the game like no other before him had.

L.T. had to retire at some point though, like all football greats. As time passed, the NFL became the “No Fun League” as hard hits and flashy moves have almost all been banned with threats of fines and suspensions from men in suits who have no idea about the smell of freshly cut grass on a Sunday afternoon or the sound of pads clashing as these modern-day warriors battle for the entertainment of millions.

L.T., like many, did not like the direction the NFL had been going. Some have come out and criticized the league in statements. Some players simply ignore the fines and suspensions and play the game the way it is supposed to be played. L.T. took a more creative approach.

Along with the arcade style genii at Midway Games, I present to you Blitz: The League 2.

Okay, so that was a little overly dramatic. Basically, Lawrence Taylor and Midway Games have put out a sequel to the original Blitz: The League. This game is everything you love about football with none of the restrictions. I am talking about smash-mouthed, hard-edged, no holds barred football where you are breaking people, like L.T. broke Joe Theisman, on every other play. Unsportsmanlike conduct is encouraged. In fact, it is all but necessary if you want to win and, by all means, dance as much as you want in the end zone.

This is one of the most fun gaming experiences I have had in a long time. Unlike the sports simulation games, this incorporates the one thing that is always missing: a story. Blitz 2 offers an in-depth story mode that plays out across three seasons that makes you care not only about the franchise like in sports sims, but your players as well. Every player and franchise has a unique history that makes you feel as if you’re rooting for a real team and this is a league that would blow the “No Fun League” out of the water.

Aside from the story mode, there is a great online mode with few people backing out because unlike in the NFL, this game can swing back and forth with each snap of the ball. Also, if you have some friends over for beers or what not, there are some great vs. modes aside from standard exhibition game. One mode has every tackle force a fumble. Another gives you bonus points for injuring opposing players. These bonus modes bring the level of competition to all new heights.

Overall, this game has it all. Great gameplay, engrossing plot, superb voice acting; you can’t go wrong with this game if you like football. I wish they could come out with a Blitz: The League every year so I wouldn’t have to get my football fix from the tired Madden franchise when there isn’t a Blitz option. If you don’t get this game, L.T. will have to make sure you end up like Joe Theisman.

Ratings are based on a system of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest.

Graphics: 10.0: I don’t give 10s a lot for sports games in terms of visuals. Usually graphics are sacrificed to fit in all the playbooks, rosters, stadiums, etc. This game, though, is one of the most beautiful games I’ve seen in a long time. The weather effects are AMAZING. You look forward to playing in cold weather stadiums just to see how real the snow is. Add in how realistic the players look and I can’t give anything less.

Audio: 9.5: Voice acting is crucial in games and this game delivers in almost every aspect. Jay Mohr nails the greasy, sleazy agent and Frank Caliendo is hysterical as a Madden-esqe color commentator. Add in Lawrence Taylor re-voicing hard hitting linebacker Quentin Sands and almost all the voice acting was spectacular. The only thing I took away from was that I felt the play by play commentator became tiring and little too quickly and so I had to dock it from the game’s score. Aside from that minor critique, music, SFX, and voice acting are all top notch.

Plot/Plot Development: 9.0: Usually, this is N/A, but this game actually has a story mode and it is phenomenal. The biggest critique for it is that it only lasts through three seasons. I would love to see a more expansive story mode that is a little more open ended, but considering it is the first major sports franchise to even think of incorporating story lines, it is forgivable.

Gameplay: 9.5: Smooth all around. No lag or glitches to speak of. I did notice a couple of minor things with the guys being carted off the field with injuries, but aside from that, there is nothing. This game plays beautifully and considering all the things going on with it, that is an amazing accomplishment.

Replay Value: 8.5: Online mode kicks butt and the bonus modes are great for when you have your boys over to chill. I have to dock points because there really isn’t a lot to bring you back to replay the story mode and it is a little shorter than I like. Still though, lots of fun and lots of bonus modes will keep this disc warm in your machine.

Overall (not an average): 9.5: This was one of the best gaming experiences I’ve had in a while. I did not want to put the controller down on more than one occasion. The only major knock I have is that it is relatively short and I want to break more people like L.T. broke Joe Theisman. There is nothing holding you back now from smashing people’s faces in as Blitz: The League 2 is currently out for XBOX 360 and PS3.

-Ray Carsillo

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No Pride, No Glory

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Originally Published: October 19, 2008, on Collider.com and 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

I had the opportunity to catch an advanced screening of New Line Cinema’s Pride and Glory. It seems every year or so, Hollywood feels it necessary to come out with a dark, gritty, cop drama. Some are triumphs of the medium and hold your attention to the very last second. Others make you want to smash a beer bottle over the head of the director as you check your watch every ten minutes counting down to about when the movie will finally wrap up. Pride and Glory is, unfortunately, more the latter than the former.

Four New York City cops are dead after a routine drug bust goes horribly wrong. With a confirmed cop-killer on the loose, the NYPD rallies to form a task force with the sole purpose of finding and hunting down this thug.

The man to lead this force is Detective Ray Tierney (Edward Norton), as assigned by the Chief of Detectives, his father, Francis (Jon Voight). Ray reluctantly takes the case as the men who were shot down served directly under his brother, Francis Jr. (Noah Emmerich), and alongside his brother-in-law, Jimmy (Colin Farrell), and feels they have more reason than he does to get involved.

Regardless, Ray takes the case. As Ray delves deeper into the evidence, he begins to realize the clues are pointing to the unthinkable: there was an inside man on the force who tipped off the drug dealers and, even more shockingly, his brother and brother-in-law might have had something to do with it. As the questions mount, Ray and his family must choose between their loyalty to the force and their loyalty to each other…

With a star-studded cast and a premise that sounds enticing, you expect so much more from this film and end up looking for excuses to leave the theatre when it fails to deliver. The characters are poorly fleshed out with many random scenes thrown into the movie futilely attempting to add depth to characters that are lacking it from the opening credits. These extra scenes make this movie 45 minutes longer than it should be and have you looking at your watch more often than at the screen (Thank god for the glow in the dark feature).

Add in a back story that all the characters know, but never explained properly to the audience, and you end up with a convoluted, disjointed story, that is barely watchable. Instead of trying to make one solid 90 minute movie, the parallel plot lines make it seem like they made two 60 minute movies and spliced them together so it could be released in the theatres.

The only saving grace of the movie is that there are a handful of really intense scenes where you catch yourself on the edge of your seat. The acting is great, the dialogue is memorable, and they draw out emotion from you like a movie should. It is such a shame that these scenes are so few and far between the rest of the refuse that constitutes this film.

I will also say that the actors did what they could with the lackluster script. Asking Colin Farrell to play an Irish cop isn’t much of a stretch though and this movie makes itself Noah Emmerich’s eighth role as a police officer. Jon Voight is a pro and been playing these fatherly figures for years now and Edward Norton is part of the Hollywood A-list so anything that has “drama” in the category will work to his talents. The only thing they did right with this movie was get people who are comfortable with these kinds of roles, but there was nothing they could do with this horrible piece.

Instead of Pride and Glory, this movie should be called Shame and Failure. This is a sorry, failed attempt at a Departed rip-off. Pride and Glory gets a 1.5 out of 5. If you are a glutton for 2 hours and 5 minutes of boredom, it will be in theatres everywhere October 24th, 2008.

-Ray Carsillo

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EA vs. 2K: Round 2: Basketball

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Originally Published: October 14, 2008, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

With basketball season right around the corner as the pre-season has gotten underway, we take a look at EA and 2K’s continued slugfest for sports gaming dominance. Unfortunately, this would be similar to a highly anticipated Pay-Per-View bout you regret days later that you actually paid to watch because the most recent entry into these franchise’s respective libraries has finished off the bloodbath.

Traditionally the 2K games are very strong when it comes to basketball, and compared to their effort in the hockey realm, this is worlds better. The graphics are sharper, there are no glitches I can think of, and the pre-game movies of real game footage are a great touch. After that, this game takes a nose dive. Think of Wile E. Coyote when he keeps running off the edge of the cliff, but doesn’t fall until he recognizes there is no solid ground underneath him. That is what this game is. The game starts up and all the bells and whistles disguise it as a solid game, then you actually begin to play the game and you just plummet.

You end up being afraid to shoot the ball because there is no way of knowing what could or could not go in. Ridiculously impossible shots drop in for the opposition and you can’t even make a simple lay-up. It’s a frustrating experience at best. And don’t even get me started on the miserable defensive controls set up. If you miss a single shot you will lose every time because the computer will make a ridiculous 90% of their shots. Even with an okay franchise feature, all the bells and whistles make this a rental at best. What good is a franchise feature anyway with such horrible gameplay?

After another sorry entry from the folks at 2K, EA had a chance to deliver the knockout blow that would end what was supposed to be this heavyweight masterpiece. EA did not waste their opportunity. EA’s NBA LIVE 09 may not look as pretty as 2K’s offering, but everything else about it is amazing.

First, the newest and most amazing feature is called NBA LIVE 365. As long as your system is connected to the internet, your game will receive a feed every 24 hours updating rosters, player hot/cold streaks, injuries, and player development. This means that the team you play with will be as accurate as if you were playing with the actual team. If Tony Parker is more likely to pass to his left in a particular situation, you can bet it will happen in the game. Every shot you take is given a percentage of if your player is likely to make it or not before you press the shoot button so even if you don’t know anything about basketball, you know you had better not be shooting from three point land with someone like Eddy Curry (or anywhere for that matter).

Additionally, if you want to play a game from back in the season that happened in real life, maybe to give your favorite team a chance at revenge, it will use the rosters and hot/cold streaks back from that point in the season. All part of the new LIVE 365 package.
Even aside from LIVE 365 making this the most accurate sports game ever, the gameplay is solid. The controls come easily and quickly for even the most novice sports gamer. Defense is intuitive and you can call your own plays on offense. Free throws are difficult, but not impossible, and the overall feel of the game is just smooth. Add in a strong dynasty feature and you’ve got a winner on your hands.

The only down points are that the graphics aren’t as polished as you would like for the current generation of consoles and you would like a superstar feature possibly like in Madden or NHL 09, but the LIVE 365 feature is more than enough to satiate any diehard basketball fan.

You hear that sound? That’s the sound of Wile E. Coyote hitting the bottom of the canyon. Or if you’d prefer, 2K hitting the mat as they go down for the count.

*beep beep*

-Ray Carsillo

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Only the Strong Survive

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Originally Published: October 8, 2008, on Collider.com and 1050ESPN.com (Now ESPNNewYork.com)

City of Ember is an adventure film about survival and the ability of the human spirit to rise above adversity. For generations, the people of the City of Ember have flourished in a breathtakingly beautiful world of glittering light, miles below the surface of the earth. Built as the last refuge for humanity and powered by a massive generator, the people begin to fear for their safety as the generator begins to fail as unbeknownst to them, it was only meant to last 200 years. Now as the lights of Ember begin to flicker and fade, the hope for its citizens lie in the form of Lina Mayfleet (Saorise Ronan) and Doon Harrow (Harry Treadway) as they race against time to unravel a centuries old puzzle and lead their people to safety.

Along the way Lina and Doon must find the inspiration and support from those close to them, such as Doon’s father, Loris (Tim Robbins), to overcome the constricting laws of Ember and its corrupt Mayor Cole (Bill Murray) in a race to solve the mysteries of their glorious city before it’s too late.

Visually, this was one of the best movies I’ve seen in a while. The costumes helped spark your imagination and the entire city was constructed on a massive soundstage in Belfast, Ireland, to help immerse the actors and stress how important the character of the city is to the dynamic of the film.

“When you walk in and there’s a street in an underground city that is 55ft-60ft high with tunnels underneath it, there’s decaying doors and windows and bricks built as a street and concrete and plaster for the walls and real doors and real glass windows and beautiful design work too. The emblems of the city built into the streets and the fountains and the fountains work. It’s not hard to say you’re a part of the society when it’s right there. You walk into work and its right there, it’s so simple. The costumes as well. The best costumes I’ve ever worn. They exceed any other film, by far. Ruth Meyers, the costume designer, is a genius,” commented Bill Murray at a press conference in New York City.

The relationship between Lina and Doon, the two heroes of the story, is great as well. Their stark contrast in character is enjoyable as the driving force for the movie and helps support the overall message.

“It’s more about the spirit of humanity that finds a way to survive under the direst of circumstances. The thing that really got me about this movie was that it had that great kind of dynamic with the two young people and that you have to be strong enough to have hope when others have lost it and if you believe in it enough, anything is possible,” said Tim Robbins when asked about the story’s message.

The biggest problem I had with the movie is that they simply tried to cram too much into 95 minutes and this led to a lack of overall character development. It also restricted the playing out of the conflict between Lina, Doon, and the forces in Ember trying to prevent them from reaching their goal and this took a little away from the overall enjoyment of the movie.

Still, though, City of Ember is a solid film for the whole family, which is hard to find at a time of the year more synonymous with ghouls and goblins. Enough action to keep the adults entertained and the two young protagonists will help inspire any youngster to what they can do if they believe in something enough and are willing to go as far as necessary to follow it through.

City of Ember comes out nationwide October 10th.

-3 out of 5 Stars

-Ray Carsillo

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