22 September 2017

JR's Video Game Reviews - UNCHARTED 2: AMONG THIEVES

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Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
UNCHARTED 2: AMONG THIEVES
(Reviewed on PlayStation 3)
Total Game Time: 20-25 hours in total
Dates of Play: 25 July 2016 - 01 August 2016 (PS3)

Story - 10/10
Gameplay - 10/10
Graphics - 10/10
Innovation - 9.5/10
Playability - 9.5/10
Music - 10/10
JR's Rating: 🔟9️⃣ (10 out of 10, Masterpiece)
"The Search for the Cintamani Stone & the Lost City of Shangri-La"

POSITIVES
➕ The Lost City of Shambhala
➕ Zoran Lazarević
➕ Chapter 1: A Rock and A Hard Place
➕ Ch 13: Locomotion & Ch 14: Tunnel Vision
➕ Online Multiplayer Mode
➕ Easier Stealth Kills or Assassinations
NEGATIVES







Ambitious and amazing. Uncharted 2 banks on a new adventure with yet the same type of gameplay from its first outing but masterfully improves on both visuals and story. Its awe-inspiring setpieces are the game's true pride asset. Set in the majestic Nepal, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves brings our hero, Nathan Drake, on the search for the Cintamani Stone in the Lost City of Shangri-La (or Shambhala, which ever you prefer) which is deemed to give any one invincible and superhuman power. With Elena, Sully and the new Chloe Frazer, you race yourself against a maniacal Zoran Lazarević who has his own personal agenda of power. Another blockbuster video game by Naughty Dog that gives you a thrilling and gripping story in another challenging journey, this game takes a huge upgrade from its predecessor that makes my 10/10 all the worth. New weapons like the Crossbow, Pistole and the GAU-19 are great additions but the original Dragon Sniper and Desert still remain my favorites. It's stealth assassinations are way too easier and remain the better choice in accomplishing a wave of enemies before the next event takes place. This game is a also masterwork of setpieces that are now iconic in the video game universe, such being its elaborate train sequences both in the introduction wreckage and in the train while in locomotion. The end boss is damn frustrating but unlike the first, you can defeat Zoran on your own terms not having to press a predetermined button sequence (however there is this cheat on beating out the boss, better search it). Other than the single player game, the sequel introduces its first outing of multiplayer mode which is smooth and worth giving a try. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is a must play in the PlayStation as it is one of the best that the platform has to offer. Uncharted 3 and 4 review coming soon.

#Uncharted #AmongThieves #UnchartedAmongThieves
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Time Published: 22 September 2017 (9:00 PM)

16 September 2017

JR's Video Game Reviews - UNCHARTED: DRAKE'S FORTUNE

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Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
UNCHARTED: DRAKE'S FORTUNE
(Reviewed on PlayStation 3)
Total Game Time: 20-25 hours in total
Dates of Play: 11 January 2013 - 27 January 2013 (PS3)

Story - 9.5/10
Gameplay - 10/10
Graphics - 8.5/10
Innovation - 10/10
Playability - 9/10
Music - 10/10
JR's Rating: 9️⃣ (9.5 out of 10, Excellent)
"The Search for the Lost Golden City of El Dorado"

POSITIVES
➕ The Statue of El Dorado
➕ The Majestic Fortress, Monastery and Church
➕ Chapter 1: Ambushed
➕ Chapter 17: The Heart of the Vault
➕ The First True "Video Game Blockbuster"
NEGATIVES
➖ Chapter 7: Out of the Frying Pan
➖ Chapter 12: Heading Upriver
➖ Navarro



A true achievement in video game visuals and story-telling, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune upped the ante in what is the modern-day video game. It is the epic introduction in one of today’s most popular and iconic video game series. Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune introduces us to Nathan Drake, the supposed ancestor of English explorer Sir Francis Drake, on a quest to search for the golden city of El Dorado. Upon his adventure, he gets accompanied by journalist Elena Fisher and mentor Victor Sullivan (“Sully”) going against another group of treasure hunters set to steal the famed treasure. WOW is all that I can say in such a very polished video game with a well-crafted story complemented by visuals I’ve never seen before. In particular, the Fortress, the Monastery and the Church setting and their interiors are the true treasures of this video game, all detailed and visually pleasing. The first chapter of the game sparked the action-adventure mood you’ll soon experience throughout the game (and its sequels). The battle on the monster-like enemies at “The Heart of the Vault” chapter was scary and challenging, marking the true “Uncharted” experience. We have three game difficulties, making for stronger and more brutal enemies. I hated though the chapters involving the jeep and the ski-boat as they are boring and very much frustrating to finish. Gun controls are impeded by the limited positions and its dynamic environment. The end-boss Navarro is also bland, restricting you on only one standard or uniform method to defeat him. The game, however, presents something new to the average gamer. Many scenes prove to be memorable making you wanting for more from Naughty Dog. In all that is to say, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune initiated the “video game blockbuster”.

#Uncharted #DrakesFortune #UnchartedDrakesFortune
#VideoGameReviews #JRVideoGameReviews

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Time Published: 16 September 2017 (9:00 PM)

12 September 2017

JR's Movie Reviews - LOVE YOU TO THE STARS AND BACK

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Love You To The Stars And Back
LOVE YOU TO THE STARS AND BACK
Date Watched: 11 September 2017
JR's Rating:  (7.8 out of 10, Alright)
"The Long, Cheesy Yet Emotional Trip to Mt. Milagros"

POSITIVES
➕ Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto
➕ "Tapang Kalabaw" Lunch Scene
➕ The Emotional "Tulay" Scene
➕ Final Call to Love Ones
➕ Second Half of the Film
NEGATIVES
➖ Shaky Camera
➖ Numerous Inconsistencies
➖ First Half of the Film



Ashira grevinda mama ajaarum! With a very weak first half filled with too many fillers, Love You To The Stars and Back redeems itself in its final half with numerous tearjerking scenes that are quotable and memorable. Love You To The Stars and Back brings us an overly-depressed Mika and a cancer-stricken Caloy on their road trip to Mt. Milagros to have themselves be surrendered to aliens. With such a weird yet effective idea, we came to experience their various yet morally-inspired struggles during their travel towards the mysterious mountain. The love team between Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto proved important in the magical formula of this movie. In fact, there are various scenes where it seems they have naturally done it. Their chemistry is well made but I still find their first movie stint better, Vince and Kath and James. The first half of the film was filled with too many unnecessary scenes (ie. "gas station" scene and too many scenes when both of the main characters debate and fight). The second half of the film was its most powerful though bringing in Caloy's cancer-stricken state very evident, making you feel pity between the two main and their families. The most powerful would definitely be the time when Caloy had an outburst of emotions while at a bridge questioning the presence of God due to his very miserable state. The ending was really cute, (reminds me of the ending of their MMFF movie), but usually those films I like are those that have unexpected and sometimes tragic ending. A lot of inconsistencies and the shaky camera made me a bit irritated but at least the movie never failed to pull my heart towards scenes made to feel with the character. Though, I'm really curious on what tapang kalabaw tastes like. Love You To The Stars and Back is still a movie worth watching, most especially if you crave for those random "kilig" and "torete" moments.

#LoveYouToTheStarsAndBack
#2017Movies #MovieReviews #JRMovieReviews

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Time Published: 12 September 2017 (9:00 PM)

10 September 2017

JR's Movie Reviews - IT

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It
IT
Date Watched: 10 September 2017
JR's Rating:  (10 out of 10, Masterpiece)
"Yeah, You'll Definitely Float Too"

POSITIVES
➕ Pennywise The Dancing Clown
➕ The Losers Club And Their Fears
➕ SS Georgie Iconic Introduction
➕ The Well House
➕ Missing And Floating Kids
➕ Bill Accepting The Death of Georgie
NEGATIVES







In what seems to be a great year for horror, IT cements it's mark as the best. Feeding off the fears of children before killing them off, Pennywise The Dancing Clown is really damn terrifying. IT brings us to the town of Derry in Maine where a clown, every after 27 years of hibernation, satisfies its hunger for youth. After what seems to be the death of Georgie, Bill, together with The Losers Club, face this demonic entity and tries to defeat IT for good. The movie is symbolic for its use of children, where the monster is a trigger towards their move out of innocence. Conquering our individual fears or facing our invidual demons is at the core of IT. One scene in fact brought us to the Well House where Pennywise made a full-blast presence to the group. Which will you choose, Not So Scary, Very Scary or Plain Scary. A personal favorite in the film was Bill supposedly facing his younger brother at their basement, very horrific yet so saddening. That scene and their again supposed meeting at the end made me so emotional. Bill's acceptance of Georgie's death was so heartbreaking and a tearjerker, the love for family was strong in this one. All scenes were done with amazing camerawork in a picturesque setting. The credits, however, teases that this is just the first chapter of a series; an avenue for a sequel soon (anticipating what's next between Bill and Beverly). Believe me, this movie is damn better than Annabelle. IT is the best movie probably of this year, a first that I will probably name even a horror movie as the movie of the year. IT is a cinematic masterpiece in the horror genre, rare does a horror film makes good combination of poetry, artistry, atmosphere and horror. Nostalgia in its finest, indeed.

#It #Pennywise
#2017Movies #MovieReviews #JRMovieReviews

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Time Published: 10 September 2017 (9:00 PM)

03 September 2017

JR's Movie Reviews - ANNABELLE: CREATION

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Annabelle: Creation
ANNABELLE: CREATION
Date Watched: 28 August 2017
JR's Rating:  (10 out of 10, Masterpiece)
"The Murderous Roots of the Creepy Doll Named Annabelle"

POSITIVES
➕ Annabelle, The Doll
➕ Linda Throws Annabelle In The Well
➕ The Demonic Scarecrow
➕ The Mullin's Introduction Scene
➕ Janice Being Possessed by Annabelle
➕ Too Many Jump Scares To Mention
NEGATIVES







Step aside Chucky, here comes Annabelle. In this modern decade, Annabelle rises to the top of movie monster icons to look forward to in movies. We are brought earlier than the first Annabelle film to where Annabelle was created by the Mullins' family. We now have a closure on how the doll was possessed or demonic in the first place through the introduction presented. It was actually the family's attempt to bring back their dead child to life but instead they called forth a demon using Annabelle as its object of strength. Twelve years later, upon the arrival of young unsuspecting children to live in the Mullins' farmhouse, Annabelle sets its presence known and tries itself to get a human host desiring even to kill and to terrify everyone. This time around, unlike the first Annabelle, we have double or I mean triple the jumpscares, too many to mention in fact. One of those masterfully done was when Linda throws Annabelle in the well and gets dragged after. You can actually feel the tension even before the exact throwing as Linda was shown to be followed as she was running towards the well. While Annabelle is in itself the creepiest star, the scarecrow is another one who successfully scares the audience upon making its presence known twice in the film. The movie has artistic camerawork exposing memorable scenes, wonderful young cast which you root for and well mixed sound. Indeed, Annabelle: Creation is one of the best horror films in recent memory. It's also worth noting how they incorporated Valak shortly yet effectively through an image shown by Sister Charlotte, great work of the universe idea. Oh, by the way, don't leave ahead of the credits, there are two post-credit scenes in the film, one which we actually missed since we gone too early. I can't forget the experience, all truly worth the time and money. The audience we are with are literally screaming with fear. Another masterpiece in the Conjuring universe.

#Annabelle #AnnabelleCreation
#2017Movies #MovieReviews #JRMovieReviews

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Time Published: 03 September 2017 (9:00 PM)
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