Yes Man

What happened with Jim Carrey? He's done a half decent movie is what happened, and for some reason that notion is surprising. He's always done decent things in the past but he, along with other comedic actors from the '90s, has been straggling behind today's comics. Perhaps it was the attempted turn at drama, where he would do more serious comedy, then drama with a comedic edge, then straight drama (did that every happen though, really?). So now he's in a vehicle that I actually watched on my own accord, although Zooey played a big part in that decision.

You know the plot and I don't have to reiterate it for you. He has to say yes to everything, but much to my delight, his affirmative actions are not the result of some supernatural curse brought upon him, but his own desire to improve himself start experiencing life. His character's situation was entirely too close to home. He says no to simple things like going out with friends, instead staying at home to watch movies and avoid well, anything really. I can relate to this behaviour as I say no to many things right off the bat, then will warm up to the idea and eventually go along for the ride, although the acceptance often comes too late.

So here's a character that is relatable, minus a bit of Carrey's trademark whackiness, and a bit of heart added into the mixture in his predictable relationship with Deschanel. What you get is a funny movie that is just quite simple and enjoyable.

Need for Speed: Shift

I really wish you people would love racing games the way I do. They are a TON of fun. Most of the time. The NES didn't hold my attention when it came to racing, but when the SNES arrived on thee block, it was a racing haven. F-Zero, of course, requires no commentary. Super Mario Kart, is deadly. Then the Playstation came out with Ridge Racer whispering all it's polygons into my home, and I was floored. Even though it only had one track and a handful of cars, it had me addicted. But then came Gran Turismo, which took the world by force. I proceeded to buy and play the next three Gran Turismos onto the PS2, but they got a little too into simulation, and moved away from the arcade racers I knew and loved.

I just want to throw out Speed Devils on the Dreamcast as probably the most fun I've had playing a racing game in the early 2000's. You know who you are.

So now racers keep coming with more polygons and advanced physics, and the love for them decreased gradually. I needed a very specific style of racer, and only a few satisfied me. Project Gotham, all four of them, consumed my life. I tried some of the Need games but they were too glossy, too shiny and too graphical. Those street racers just looked confused. I even played Most Wanted a little bit, but I don't believe that I will ever do an open world racing game again.

Need for Speed Shift fits the bill perfectly. Structured, beautiful, quality controls, tons of tracks and cars, and lots of little bits to go right. The thing that always makes me smile is when you smack into a wall and your vision is blurred. The effect is gorgeous and I have to wipe my eyes clear because I feel like I'm going blind. Then it all comes back and you're into it again. The HUD moves elegantly like it's part of your car. The cars handle uniquely and can handle me whipping them around like I'm in an arcade, but have enough of a simulation touch to make it worthwhile to hone my skills.

I could go on and on about how great this game is, but I'll leave that up to the professionals. What makes me sad, is that the game will show you who "owns" an event: you or your friends. All my icons are solid green, as not a single friend of mine has played this game. And that, is the most upsetting thing in the world I can imagine whenever I sink myself into the couch and harness the power of hundreds of horses, listening to the screams of cylinders and tires.

Californication, Season Three

What's happened to this show? Do you like it anymore? For the first two season...alright, the first season was utterly fantastic. The second season though, had some slowdowns but overall, was really fantastic. The beginning of the third season started off very slow, then begun to wind up, but the release has been messy. I'm on the ninth or tenth episode now and I feel like the show is a few episodes over ripe.


Perhaps what's worse is that it never really got going. The Ashby character from the second was a great one for Hank to bounce off, and to invite Hank onto the "darker" side that he likes to dislike, but always indulges in. There is no such character in this season, and Charlie is just a sad sack that needs to have his plot advanced. Instead we are treated to a weak love "triangle" between Hank and three women...well, perhaps more if you want to count his wife too. It's not working as the primary plot because he's done all this in the past two seasons as side adventures. Which reminds me of who Hank is: a writer! And he doesn't write anymore. Not like a case of writer's block, they just don't even mention it anymore.

And it could be expectations...coming off such a high, this season is not as strong, nor interesting to sit through. It could be adequate still, and most likely much better than most of the television on right now, but you wouldn't know it cause you can't get the glory of the first twenty four episodes out of your mind. This is especially difficult when other series such as Dexter, continue through each season with sharp writing and fresh ideas.

So there it is. Not a fan of the show so much anymore...I feel it's getting old. I talked a while ago about how the first season could have been its own entity: it could have ended and the audience would be happy. But now as it chugs along, it begins to crack and break down. It will take me either a few weeks to finish the season or a couple of hours. Either way I foresee being indifferent, and somewhat disappointed in the season.

Heroes, season 4

I was never really serious about not watching this show ever again, but it is a testament that the show is almost ten episodes in and I have just now watched the first this season. This was not an active boycott, but more of a passive one; indeed, there is a crazy quality of shows out there that deserve to be seen priority over Heroes.

But, the time must come. You know, I know: Heroes really sucks. Does it? The first season, without more detail, was great fun. The second was abysmal, and the third was just painful to watch, a roller coaster of acceptableness. The most offensive offense of the show is how aggravating it is: powers don't do what they should do, and powers are generally stupid. They don't know how to act; they've been given these great gifts and lack the imagination to use them properly, or at least, in any kind of entertaining way. I have no problem with a dial-back tone with the display of powers, but at least make the characters believable...make them...human.

So the first episode of the fourth season was good, and perhaps it gets a biased good because I haven't seen the show in quite a few months. It's great to see Peter using his powers as a provider of emergency services. Fantastic. Parkman struggling not to use his powers...ok, fine. Paranoid about his wife cheating on him? Fine, but I feel like his character is getting tired anyway, UNTIL Sylar pops into his mind and starts screwing with him. These were my favourite scenes of the show so far. The rest? I wish they would write Claire out of the series, although the addition of the hotness from Califnornication is welcome, and the strange behaviour she brings with her should be good fun.

In all though, it was a good episode because it wasn't aggravating. These characters were somewhat interesting again. So the show gets a pass, and I will follow up with some more episodes soon.