Mark Wahlberg Movie Reviews
November 7, 2009 by Jason Bean
Filed under Entertainment, Movies
Last night I watched two different Mark Wahlberg movies, Max Payne and The Happening. I’m usually a big fan of his movies, but these were not two of his better efforts in my opinion. The storylines were okay, but they just didn’t connect like some of his other movies I’ve enjoyed.
Max Payne was a movie that came from a video game. It kind of reminded me of the darkness and revenge of original The Crow with Brandon Lee.
The Happening carried on with M. Night Shyamalan freakiness in storyline, but the acting was just okay. In my opinion the premise of the movie was a bit far-fetched, but the visual impact of the story line was quite disturbing.
Mark has had quite a productive career in Hollywood since dropping his pants and singing in his Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch musical career. I prefer his work in movies far higher over his musical endeavors.
From my perspective some of Mark Wahlberg’s best movies were the following:
- The Italian Job
- Invincible
- Shooter
- The Departed
- The Perfect Storm
What did you think about Max Payne and The Happening? Which one of Mark’s movies was your favorite? Let us know in the comments.
Take-Two Interactive Posts Smaller Loss
September 1, 2009 by Mark Ellis
Filed under Business
Videogame publisher Take-Two Interactive Software Inc has reported a quarterly loss that turned out to be much smaller than expected, as well as revenue that toped forecasts. However, Take-Two’s shares are down slightly as the company releases a less-optimistic forecast for the rest of the current quarter.
Take-Two, publisher of the immensely popular Grand Theft Auto series, stated today that it remains wary due to weak consumer spending and cautiousness on the part of retailers. While Take-Two may get more business thanks to recent price cuts on videogame consoles on Microsoft and Sony’s part, the company has been reluctant to increase its fiscal outlook for the rest of the year.
Take-Two interactive is biding its time for the release of Bioshock 2, Mafia 2, Max Payne 3, and Red Dead Redemption, four videogame titles that analysts predict will generate around $400 million in revenue for Take-Two. However, Take-Two does not expect to release these titles until next year, forcing the company to stay on the defensive for the rest of the fiscal year.
Image: Flickr
Max Payne Needs a Hug
June 26, 2009 by Amy Tucker
Filed under Gaming
You’ve missed Max Payne, haven’t you? I know I have.
There’s just something about Mr. Payne that keeps me coming back to him.
Maybe it’s the guns? [The metal and the flesh versions]
Maybe it’s the badge?
Oh. Whatever.
Max Payne 3 is set to hit this winter for PS3 and Xbox 360. Excited? Yeah, you should be. All of these screens look sick! The detail is amazing and though I wish Max would get a good shave, I still wanna lick him. [Is it bad that I want to lick a video game character? Don't judge!]
From the release:
“We’re starting a new chapter of Max’s life with this game,” said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. “This is Max as we’ve never seen him before, a few years older, more world-weary and cynical than ever. We experience the downward spiral of his life after the events of Max Payne 2 and witness his last chance for salvation.”
Since leaving the NYPD and New York itself behind, Max has drifted from bad to worse. Double-crossed and a long way from home, Max is now trapped in a city full of violence and bloodshed, using his weapons and instincts in a desperate search for the truth and a way out.
Poor Max. He’s left the force. He’s left New York. Maybe he needs a hug?
I can’t wait to play this freakin’ game and can’t believe that I have to wait till this Winter to do so. *sigh*
Images|Rockstar Games
E3 ‘09: Alan Wake impressions
June 7, 2009 by Robin Parrish
Filed under Gaming
Spring 2010 can’t get here soon enough. That’s the date that the next evolutionary leap forward in story-driven gaming arrives, a landmark gaming experience called Alan Wake.
From the creators of Max Payne, Remedy Games, comes this tale that plays out like episodes of a TV show, each ending with a cliffhanger. You play as the title character, a horror writer who’s come to the northwestern town of Brightfall on vacation his wife. But things go wrong very fast when Alan’s wife disappears and the horrific events in his latest novel start coming true.
Max Payne 3 Coming Winter 2009
March 28, 2009 by Amy Tucker
Filed under Gaming
Rockstar Games has announced that good ole Max Payne will be returning to a PS3, Xbox 360 or PC near you sometime this winter.
Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games, says, “This is Max as we’ve never seen him before, a few years older, more world-weary and cynical than ever. We experience the downward spiral of his life after the events of Max Payne 2 and witness his last chance for salvation.”
So Max is a little older…maybe a little wiser and pretty much assures great sales for Rockstar.
Though Max Payne might not be the cash cow that Grand Theft Auto is, I have a feeling that Rockstar won’t have much to complain about when Max Payne 3 rolls into stores late 2009.
Image|Rockstar Games
Company of Heroes machinima: Frank and Dale #1
Yes, it’s machinima time once again. This time, let’s take a look at Company of Heroes machinima Frank and Dale – Episode 1, otherwise known as Field. In the first installment of the series, created by Richard BF, a bloke from Australia, we find Frank and Dale (yes, they’re the lead characters in the series) in a field somewhere in Europe during World War II. And it’s not just any field, as Frank points out to Dale.
Why don’t I just shut up and let you watch the video:
The first time I watched the clip, I found the humor dry. No offense, Richard. We’re roughly in the same time zone, yes, but our cultures are so different that what’s funny for a Bloke isn’t really funny to a Juan. The second time I viewed it, I was laughing like crazy, along with my wife, who thought Frank and Dale were hilarious. Yes, humor takes some time to sink in, but by all means … WATCH IT!
Watch Samus dance the Metroid
I almost feel sorry about posting this video of our favorite interstellar bounty hunter Samus Aran dancing to the beat of Usher’s Yeah after reading good friend PJ Punla’s comment on my most recent article on b5media technology blog MMOtaku titled Girl gamers gaining ground in MMOs.
The temptation, however, is hard to pass up, especially if you’ve seen Max Payne dance. Eerie and freaky.
So without further ado, I present you Metroid’s Samus Aran dancing to Usher’s Yeah:
Retro Machinima: Only The Strong Survive using Max Payne 2 engine
Like I said in a posting last month on MMOtaku, another b5media technology blog I’m handling, I am starting to love machinima. This revolution in independent film making is nothing new in the world of massively multiplayer online games. It is, however, very rare for old or classic games to get the attention of producers and directors as good machine cinema fodder.
Fortunately, there are old or classic games that do make the cut. Max Payne and Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne, and The Sims series come to mind.
Armed with this information, I quickly scoured the Web and landed on the very site that lived and breathed machinima, Machinima.com. Riding on the hype of the recently released Max Payne movie starring Mark Wahlberg in the lead role, I’ve chosen for the viewing pleasure of Re:Retro regulars one of the best machinima using the game engine of Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne, Only The Strong Survive by Riot Films.
Before you check it out, here’s a little backgrounder:
Mission OA-032. The Organization sends two assassins, Andy and Brown, to a deserted apartment complex. As they wait for their target to arrive in the courtyard of the building, Andy gets the feeling that Brown knows something about the mission that he doesn’t.
Only The Strong Survive is a prologue and introduction to the world of the Organization and Andy’s winding story of vengeance and betrayal. This chapter introduces the key event that propels the story into motion, as will be told in Only The Strong Survive II: Delusion and concluded in Only The Strong Survive III: Requiem.
After watching the clip several times, I’ve come up with several observations (to the guys at Riot Films, don’t take my criticism badly):
1) I find the scene where the supposed target and his bodyguards walk into the courtyard and position themselves neatly in the middle of an open area very unsettling. If I were Andy, I’d probably think, “How convenient … too convenient!”
2) When Andy leaped off the balcony to the cold stone pavement, I couldn’t stifle an “Ooomph! That must’ve hurt.” Same goes for Brown’s equally suicidal jump.
3) Is it just me or do all the guys in the film need corrective lenses? Either they’re all bad shots or the film should be renamed Only The Strong Lucky Survive.
It’s okay, guys. The film looks great. You’ve got me intrigued enough to wait with bated breath for the sequels.
The Games-To-Movies Fail Train Chugs On
The Max Payne movie has critics believing that they’ve ended up in some particularly twisted ring of hell, but what’s new about that? For starters, how can you ask someone who’s outside of games and merely looking in to take a name like “Max Payne” seriously?
Of course, the movie is reportedly awful on its own merits, but one delightful Orlando Sentinel critic, Roger Moore, is making tonnes of friends with this well thought-out statement: “Nobody ever shed a tear over a video-game character’s death.”
Video game characters have grown a limb or two since the Pong paddle stole our hearts, Mr Moore. Just thought you’d like to know.
New Max Payne theatrical trailer is out
There’s a new trailer for the Max Payne movie. You know, the one starring Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis? Some parts of it may look familiar, but a lot of the scenes here are pretty new. The movie may not be directed by Uwe Boll and may have a considerable budget behind it, but I’m beginning to have my doubts.
