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Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004 Video Game)
Farewell real life : Welcome to San Andreas *Possible spoilers*
31 October 2004
Warning: Spoilers
What a blast ! I am one of these gamers that never finishes any games at all but has a go at everything that is new and sounds somewhat interesting, just to lose interest after a couple of days, if not after hours already. The only exception so far was Vice City which still rotates in the good old PS2 from time to time... And now San Andreas is out...Finally ! I've spent more hours on a bicycle or in the gym, than I probably have done in real life in the past couple of years together. I've been betting on horse races, pool games and low rider competitions. I've seen things I thought would never happen in a game and I have only finished 10% of the game, 20 days passed in the game. I wont spoil plot details but will rant on a bit about the things I've seen so far.

Bad things first : - The music stations suck. There are a few good songs only, in my opinion, but solely the fact that the variety is massive, is already a good thing again. - The graphic is bad. Or better the glitches that happen. Half a cop stuck in the asphalt, leaving the gym in Canton and falling through a blue background for seconds before finally being "down to earth again" , the garage in the Johnson house lifting you up as well when the door opens and and and and and ... But the positive sides to this game make up for it And that were the only things that I would say are negative. This time around you can swim, ride bicycles, heck I've even driven a train already, on top of the usual walk, or drive cars and ride motor bikes. You exercise and like in a RPG game built up your characters abilities and appearance. Your lung capacity increases the more often you swim and dive ( while trying to find hidden oysters for example ) you run in order to increase your stamina, which makes you run longer . You workout in the gym to increase your fitness level and appearance which seems to have to have an impact on your respect and sex appeal ( respect later on lets you recruit own gang members , sex appeal helps you with the ladies ) . Exercising increases your maximum health on top of it. You get tattoos, haircuts and shaves, go shopping for clothes and bling. While working out , you can also decide to learn new fighting skills. You eat in order to fill up your health, so far I've seen four different kinds of fast food restaurants, but too much food with no workout lets you get fat. I've only been around Los Santos so far, the rest is still inaccessible, and from what I've seen there already, this is the biggest game ever. The city is busy with people talking to you, making comments about your looks. Gang members from other gangs slag you off or start firing at you whenever you cruise around in their territory. Appearantly you are able to talk back to people which only seems to work occasionally. The traffic seems to follow a "rush hour" system like in real life, busier then. You gotta watch out, especially on highways as the good old, "juststandinginfrontofacartomakeitstop" doesn't really work any more and you get run over easily. Accidents happen , sometimes massive ones, so you're not really safe on the streets. Cops chase around other criminals and are much more alert. Once for example I've head on cop on a motorbike ( yeah !!!! ) stop in front of a car that I was just standing next to, probably checking if I was about to jack it. There's different sort of planes and helicopters flying over the city and believe it or not : I've seen a plane crash into the city already causing massive damage to cars. I've been riding a train and seen some drivers crash into trains as well.

You can go and break into houses, go dancing, gamble on horse races. Your general skills in utilizing rides and weapons improve as well over the time, depending on how often you use them.Stealth kills are possible as well this time around. There is a bar where you can play pool for money ( though I have to wonder why it only worked in the beginning and every time I go back now I can't any longer ?!?! )and there's even videogames. Some shops and buildings have vending machines for snacks and soda, that also help to fill up your energy meter... There's far more to it on new things than the ones I mentioned and I can't wait to ge deeper into the game... The good old pay and spray is back, I've seen one AmmuNation shop but not accessible so no idea where to get guns from ( apart from one guy that keeps a pistol for you ) , the hidden statues thing exists but in a different way , so far though I have not figured out what you get for that...

I reckon it's a safe bet to say that if you liked Vice City you will be more than pleased with this one....

A 10 out of 10 !!!
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Boomtown (2002–2003)
Wonderful
29 February 2004
I am into TV series these days, a lot ! When I first heard about Boomtown and decided to watch , I did not really know what to think about it, that spoiled I was from recently watching the first 2 seasons of the Shield. Also a big fan of The Sopranos and 24 I have had big expectations . After the first two episodes I was not sure what to think about it and feeling that the technique of delivering something new , by having a look at a crime from different points of view, tempting in the beginning, had rubbed off already. Still I continued and watched and I am not sorry. A wonderful series, heartwarming at times, lovely characters all played very good with their own moving stories. A few good twists in some episodes and a great finale of the first season and here I am where I was with The Shield, The Sopranos and 24 : I want more . Definitely not an action packed, high tense series , but some wonderful entertainment, definitely worth following it to the end...
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Freedom Fighters (2003 Video Game)
One of the best ones this year
16 November 2003
The Second World War ends with the Russian dropping the atomic bomb on Berlin. Over the course of the next 50 years communism spreads over Europe and South America . You get involved when the Red Army attacks the United States, as the only hope for the Resistance to kick some oppressor butt. In the beginning you start off on your own , having the task to free not only your brother but also the female leader of the Resistance. As the story continues you will be able to recruit other freedom fighters, that follow your commands that you issue on pressing certain buttons on the joypad. A very nice made game , the classical soundtrack and the graphics give you the feel of really being the only saviour for the people in the US...
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Hero (2002)
9/10
My First Chinese Movie in ages ***Spoilers***
14 January 2003
Warning: Spoilers
Just saw Hero last night and am still overwhealmed. To be honest it takes a lot as a gweilo to not be disappointed by the fighting scenes and the way they jump between tree branches and over a lake and stuff. But hey I loved The Lord of The Rings and aren't Cave Trolls and Orks part of Western Mythology. Apart from feeling a bit odd watching these fighting scenes, THEY ARE JUST WONDERFULLY SHOT, especially the one on the water. Getting the story delivered from a different point of view makes it even more interesting as only the end reveals what really was going on. The costumes are fantastic, the locations they have shot this one in so breathtaking that I would wish I would have given movies like this a chance earlier. I cannot imagine watching this movie dubbed in english. Everyone who has the chance to watch it in mandarin with subtitles, give it a try, only like this , the movie feels authentic. Great actors, great dialogues, but honestly speaking I do not think that westerners who aren't in touch with chinese mentality, history and lifestyle will give too much about it.... A Masterpiece !!!!
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The Ring (2002)
10/10
Disturbing
22 November 2002
here we go folks... NO movie ever has made me stick to the message board or write e mail back and forth or talk to friends about it or made me think about its meaning

that much like this one. NO movie ever has me scared that much that I sat in my chair , tears running down my cheeks, goose bumps all over, willing to look away from the

screen just to make sure I do miss what happens next

Normally a movie has lost its fascination for me when it is over and I start thinking : Why did they do that, that could not happen in reality, impossible... Not with this one. I am trying to get behind the secrets of this movie, what it should express, follow hints that are given to try and get the bigger picture. It freaked me out, scared me to death. A roller coaster ride from the very beginning and you do hope it might end every second. Once finished,

exhausted and disturbed, I was glad it was over and I survived... Not that I am not into a good shocker or can't handle the ones I have seen before but

this is something new. A modern gothic horror that leaves many questions unanswered but this exactly makes it worth watching it another time...if you

dare to go through all this again... I am burning for to get it on DVD , even though I know what happened and how it ended I don't know anything,

want to solve the mystery behind Samaras existence, the reason for what she did, what Rachel's intentions are, what role the Innkeeper played and how

who could have been saved and more victims be avoided... With its special effects, back flashes and "art-student-like" video shots this is something new in the era of horror/thriller films it occupies you from the very first shot until the very last. Even though I felt like I knew what happens next all the time during the movie, it came even worse and more terrifying. But the less you know about this one and the less you expect the better...so get in there, watch it and think about how you feel like the next seven days

once you've made it... if you'll make it...
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The Hole (2001)
10/10
Very disturbing
29 March 2002
do not watch this on your first date, do not watch this on any date... Watch it with friends that you like to party with, that you would join if they would go for something strange...If you read my comment on Jeepers Creepers and you liked it : Do the same with this one but this one got a ten because this is something that could really happen...
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Snatch (2000)
8/10
8 solid points
19 March 2002
Funnier than Lock,Stock...but not really different than it, that is why it is only worth eight points for me. As Lock,Stock, it is tricky, the plot not too complicated to get, the actors playing all convincing gangsters,killers,thiefs,whatever but in the end it reminds way too much of the ending of Lock,Stock... The jokes and gags are brilliant, the slang isn't too hard to get ( except for Brad Pitt = excellent acting ! ) so if you liked Lock...you will love Snatch !
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9/10
The better 'Sixth Sense' and the better 'What lies beneath'
12 March 2002
Waiting to be watched in my VCD rack for months I myself do not know why I did not watch it before as this is another must see if you like scary movies. Definitely better than 'What lies beneath' and slightly better than 'The Sixth Sense' comes a Kevin Bacon that seems to be apologizing for his performance in the crappy 'Hollow Man'... Of course you can discuss about the storyline and its orientating on 'Sixth Sense' but I was thrilled until the very end and especially loved the performance of the young Z.D. Cope, nearly better than Haley Joel Osmont. So if you are into scary movies, liked 'What lies beneath', 'The Sixth Sense' you will have a good time with this one...
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Swordfish (2001)
9/10
This one has it all to guarantee good entertainment
11 March 2002
After watching it for two minutes I was already thinking about switching it off again, did not feel like listening to a John Travolta monologue for 'donotknowhowmanyminutes' only wanted to be entertained without thinking or concentrating too much on the plot...Luckily I have just been too lazy to switch off , what followed was one of the best action movies I have seen in a very long time. John Travolta, so cool, as you haven't seen him since Face/Off, Hugh Jackman convincing as the cool guy like in X-Men and Halle Berry as sexy as never before...High explosive action nearly every minute, this one can give you a real good time watching it, if, yeah only if you do not care that the story is very confusing sometimes especially because of all the technical expressions but ehemmm , helloooo , very well done action is waiting... While talking about it with friends I found out that everybody liked it a LOT and this does not happen too often. So if you liked Face/Off and especially John Travolta in it, you will like this one as well...Wanna bet ?
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9/10
Í won't tell you why this one is a nine...
15 January 2002
...because the less you know about this movie the more surprising it is. Just go to the videostore, rent the DVD, do not even read the short description on the back. I am sorry not to tell you more and hope this goes with the guidelines but trust me if I wouldn't have read about it before I'd rated it ten...Watch it and I bet you will agree...
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7/10
"It's fun to stay at the ..."
7 January 2002
I mean we already had that a few times : A beautiful woman ( Liv, If you'd only run a car wash , hmmmmmmmm )seducing a couple of guys so they dance after her tune. We also had a stroy told by different characters according to their point of view, so you never know who is telling the truth and who is adding a little bit of his/hers own truth until the final showdown reveals everything... But have we ever had a John Goodman playing so that you really pity this guy...A Paul Reiser that is so convincing in his ego trip ( the dialogues with the psychiatrist are BIG FUN ) that you would like to kick this guy in his *** but cannot because of laughing and envying this guy of all his self esteem ( Is he acting or for real ? ) and of course Michael Douglas SO VERY COOL ( and indeed a very good listener ) ? Needless to say that this story has some real big surprises and hidden gags ( no wonder Dillon wanted to keep the Indian hehe YMCA ) and still I am thinking about who is the loser and who the winner in this one ?! 8 very big points and now I ´have to stop and wath it again ( maybe I catch some more hidden jokes )
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7/10
Never thought this could be so nice !
5 January 2002
Okay there here we go I thought watching a movie done for children. All the advertisements for it, the articles about the books and the movie and finally my boss, referring the books to me made me have a closer look at all this. When I started to read the Sorcerer's Stone I was quite amazed. People on the train looked at me, a 25 year old guy reading a childrens book, not stopping to laugh...I was that amused that I decided to stop reading until I saw the movie and I can tell you : This one's a great one. Nice characters : Harry, Hermine, Ron, wonderful effects, good action ( I loved the Wizard's chess match at the end ), some good scary effects packed in a nice story. What else do you want ? This one was definitely one of the better ones in 2001 and is a good appetizer for the sequels to come. The only thing that disturbed me was the Quidditch matches as the effects sometimes looked too cheap, but hey there you get more than 2 hours of good laughs, scary effects and real nice special fx....Will continue reading the book now...
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Scary Movie 2 (2001)
6/10
No more than an addition of movie quotes...
26 December 2001
...but good fun anyways. Even though there was promised never to come up with a sequel The Wayans Bros did it and again it is no smash hit but worth to watch. The biggest fun is to guess what movie they are making a fun out of in every scene, useless to watch if you are not in the scary movie genre. "Hollow Man, The Exorcist, Poltergeist, Hannibal" just to name a few. Charlies Angels, one of the best weelchair chases ever and 75 mins of very rude jokes spice it up a little. The movie has its scary effects, is funny but not one of those you will watch twice or thrice...
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Face/Off (1997)
9/10
Cool actors, tension rising from minute to minute, but silly storyline
31 October 2001
As taste is a very controversial topic it might be risky to state : This is the best movie I have ever seen", but it is! With tension rising from minute to minute it is hard for me to let go of this movie even now I have seen it like twenty times... Archer/Troy, Troy/Archer sometimes it nearly seemed to me that Cage/Travolta really switched faces. The only thing worrying me is the storyline, but a movie has not to be realistic to be good as long as you believe everything while watching it ( The first thing that came to my mind when Troy's men enter the lab is: How can two men enter a high technology lab ? It surely had to be guided very well with a "product" like this inside ) So therefore only a nine.
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