Summer 2012 Movie Review Round-Up

Alright, so I've been slacking a lot this summer with the reviews, and I apologize. Some of these movies date back to May, so hang in there. If anything, use them if you haven't seen the films in theaters, and perhaps give them a rent at home. These reviews will be shorter than usual, as I have a lot to go through. So I will keep it short and sweet. I will be listing these in reverse chronological order, starting with what has just come out recently.  Well, enough is enough, let's get to it.

The Watch

Watching them blow stuff up is one highlight.

From the director that brought you Hot Rod and McGruber (Akiva Schaffer), this comedy enlists the help of so called "Frat Pack" members Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, and Jonah Hill. The fourth member of the team is newcomer Richard Ayoade, who has had some success across the pond in Britain.  I had high hopes going into this one.  The trailer had the trademark rapid fire conversations this group in known for, especially Vaughn.  Unfortunately, this works against them in this case.  I've heard a lot of the script wasn't written before the scenes were shot, so as to give the actors some room to improvise in.  It seems like a good idea on paper, but this ends up being the downfall of the movie. The jokes just aren't that funny, and all the good bits ended up in the trailer. The scenes just seem to run on and on too.  I didn't find myself having as good of a time as I thought I would, even with the cast at hand. To wrap it up, if you want a comedy with some random sci-fi elements thrown in, I'm sure there are better places to look.

2 out of 5 Stars


The Dark Knight Rises

Anne Hatheway actually does a pretty good job as Catwoman.

Christopher Nolan has done it again.  You can rest easy, my friends. While The Dark Knight Rises doesn't reach the heights of its' predecessor, it certainly breaks the three-quel curse that plague a lot of trilogies (see Spiderman 3 for a reference).  Everyone in the film brings their A-game, from Hardy's performance as Bane, right down to Michael Caine's Aflred giving plenty of tear-jerking speeches, trying to get Bruce Wayne to stop fighting and live his life.  The plot is heavy, with lots of new characters added, but it never gets too confusing.  It is a long epic, running almost 3 hours, and every one of those minutes is used to help deliver a great finale.  The effects also need to be praised, as Nolan has wisely opted again to minimize the use of CGI whenever possible, and hides it well went it is utilized. Seeing the snow falling as Batman and Bane duke it out for Gotham City looked amazing, and this is just one of many scenes that gave me goosebumps.  While not without its' flaws, the magnitude of this film makes them seem minuscule.  This is what every film needs to make me feel like leaving the theater.

5 out of 5 Stars


The Amazing Spider-Man

The first fight sequence makes good use of a subway train.

Director Mark Webb, coming off the romantic comedy hit 500 Days of Summer, sure had his work cut out for him on this blockbuster franchise.  Some didn't think he had what it took to bring the famous webslinger to life.  What eventually is put onto film is wishy-washy to say the least.  He certainly nails the romance between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy.  The tension is almost palpable, with every glance and look making you feel like this is real.  The action, on the other hand, is standard stuff, nothing too different from Sam Raimi's Spiderman trilogy.  The use of CGI was very well done, as flying around New York City never looking so good. Unfortunately, the villian, the Lizard, was a pretty lame character, with Rhys Ifans never really bringing any gravitas to the role. I didn't care really at all. Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker/Spider-Man was a mixed bag as well.  He plays Peter Parker closer to a skater punk outcast, rather than a nerdy dweeb as seen before. And his Spider-Man certainly has the report down, slinging out one-liners at his enemies.  In the end, I can't shake this feeling like we've all been here before, and if it was really worth it.

3 out of 5 Stars


Ted

Thunder Buddies for life.

I kept thinking this was going to be Family Guy, but with a teddy bear.  While it does ring true in some places, I was thrown off by how much heart this movie actually had.  Despite its' raunchy exterior, there are some pretty tender moments to be had between poop jokes.  I'm loving Mark Wahlberg in his new comedy films.  He definitely has some great comedic timing and deliverance.  The CGI in Ted is very well done too. I never for one moment thought that the bear looked fake. At all. It was truly amazing work.  All in all, it was a really funny movie, despite some typical third act cliches.

4 out of 5 Stars


Brave

The main character searching for the soul of the movie.

I hate having to write this, but how the mighty have fallen.  It's unfortunate that Pixar, who once was creating some of the best films ever to be put on film.  But their latest, while not as big of a monstrosity as Cars 2, still seems to be searching for the sweet spot Finding Nemo or Toy Story found so well.  Which is a shame too, because this was their first film to primarily feature a female protagonist.  The story was weak, the accents were thick (not that the accents were a bad thing).  I actually didn't even know what the hell the movie was about until the second act started.  The trailer did nothing to show me what I was in for.  That's a good thing usually, right?  Anyways, I was disappointed in the whole affair, with nothing really standing out in the movie.  As usual, the animations were well done, but if you can't put a good story and characters behind that, then why bother?

2 out of 5 Stars


Snow White and the Huntsman

The only good thing is that Thor is in this movie.

Oh, I've been waiting for this one to come up on my list.  Garbage.  Oops, did I just say that? Sorry, I guess I'm supposed to be more classy, and word that differently.  Uh, hmmmm... I can't think of anything else.  Kristen Stewart is just god awful.  She plays nothing.  She's not a character.  She just makes that same god damn face in every scene.  Is she scared of what bad guys are coming? Who knows, she looks the same.  The only saving grace in this film in Chris Hemsworth, who just rolls around playing a bad ass and getting into fights.  His character has less of a reason to fight, but he shows way more emotion that the main character.  Charlize Theron seemed to have some fun with the villain role, but her performance borders on hammy. Some of the time I can't help but wonder why she is yelling so much.  On the plus side, the film does bolster some pretty interesting visuals, especially in the form of the Mirror on the Wall.  Creepy shit if you ask me.  Anyways, I've wasted too much time on this movie.

1 out of 5 Stars


Men in Black 3 

It's good to have these two back.

You can't deny this film didn't look funny. I mean, Josh Brolin does a spot-on impression of Tommy Lee Jones.  But I understand one's hesitation towards the series. The second one didn't really live up to the originals' charm.  And this new film has been in production hell for a while now, with numerous script re-writes.  But it all comes together quite nicely in the end, with a great story about a time travelling alien trying to kill Tommy Lee Jones.  The comedy in the film is pretty well done, but one gripe I had was with Will Smith, as some of his little one-liners and comebacks aren't really that good. If I recall correctly, he says something along the lines of "I will bitch slap the shizzle out of Andy Warhol." Or something like that.  It made me cringe though.  The special effects in the movie are pretty well done, and downright creepy in some parts.  I was glad this was a return to form for the series, and wouldn't mind seeing another installment in the future.

4 out of 5 Stars


The Avengers

This part in the film gave me goosebumps. So good.

What can I even say about this movie that you don't already know?  Joss Whedon was brought to life the greatest ensemble team in the history of cinema.  Everything was pretty much pitch perfect. I'm not going to type anymore; just go and see it already.

5 out of 5 Stars

Movie Review - Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

Nice Knowing You.


The new dramedy directed by Lorene Scarfaria, starring Steve Carell and Keira Knightley, paints a world where an asteroid is threatening to destroy Earth, and the last space shuttle mission to stop it has failed.  Under these dire circumstances, Dodge (Carell) finds himself alone, as his wife literally takes off running, and he is forced to deal with not only the impending doom of Armageddon, but also the loss of his wife.  He decides to continue on with his life, going into work everyday, even as his coworkers around him are devastated, even going so far as taking their own lives.  About 14 days before the asteroid is due to hit, Dodge finds Penny (Knightley) crying on the fire escape, as her boyfriend has just left her.  As they talk throughout the night, they decide to find the "one that got away" for Dodge.  What follows is a road trip through different situations involving our characters interacting with various people dealing with the end of mankind, such as a restaurant turned into a crazy orgy palace, or a police officer still adhering to the law and giving tickets out.

While the premise seems depressing and sad, its when our two main characters come together that the comedy ensues.  Carell seems to be doing his usual "awkward out-of love" character, it works well within the confines of the story.  Despite seeing this performance done on more than one occasion (40-Year Old Virgin, Crazy, Stupid, Love), it still manages to pull you in a make you feel for this guy, who while trying to manage the fact that doom is imminent, he also just lost his wife as well.  Talk about bad luck.  Another point of comedy comes from Dodges' friends, and how they interact with the news of the asteroid.  Many start taking drugs and having sex with random strangers. One scene stands out with Rob Corddry (Hot Tub Time Machine, The Daily Show) and his wife as they try to console a newly single Dodge.  Knightley does an admirable job as well, bringing enough spunk to her character without going overboard.  Seeing our two main leads and their friendship grow is the best part of the movie.

If you are looking for a straight up comedy, this might not be the movie for you.  With the subject material being quite dark, it is nice to see a comedy/drama stick to its' guns, using the characters and developing them to make you care about them.  The plot does some nice things as well, keeping you guessing on certain parts about what is going to happen.  On the other hand, some moments can be figured out a mile away.  This doesn't detract from the story as a whole, because the emotional moments of the movie far outweigh the negatives. Also, I thought there were some pacing issues during the first half of the film, mainly waiting for things to happen and fall into place.  The ending is not quite what you would expect either, which is nice and surprising.  In the end, it is nice to see an apocalypse movie deal with the people affected by it, and not about the heroes trying to save the day in an effects' extravaganza.  How the characters react to the situations they find themselves brings real gravitas to the film, and this ultimately helps make us feel and care for what happens to them.

4 out of 5 Stars.

Movie Review - The Grey

Liam Neeson fighting wolves: The Movie

I really wanted to like this movie.  Perhaps I do, but I need more time to think about it.  Despite it's cliche horror movie conventions (think jump scares, dwindling heroes, etc.), I still found much to like about director Joe Carnahan's latest.  Seeing the trailer makes it seem like a straightforward man vs. wilderness survival movie.  It ends up being that, but much more.

Liam Neeson plays the main character, John Ottway, who is protecting an oil drilling team from a pack of wolves threatening their site.  Neeson is solid yet again in this role, giving his character gravitas.  He is very blunt when reacting to the incidents in the movie, but that is his character: cold but trying to survive while helping everyone around him.  The main draw of the movie was him, which is why I went.  To see him fight wolves and punch them in their faces.

The movie does a good job establishing the characters, actually fleshing them out so the audience has a chance to care about them before the bite the dust, or in this case, a wolf horrifically bites them.  Unfortunately, the characters, while do get in-depth on religion and philosophical stuff, never really amount to much.  I never felt attached to another character besides Liam Neeson.  I might have felt something for the guy with the glasses, because he has glasses.  (Sidenote: Anyone else feel attached in movies to the guy with glasses? I always feel bad for them, and hope they make it.  I'm not saying that people with glasses are helpless, but in movies they are sometimes portrayed so.)

The effects are well done.  The mountains and rough tundra must have been hell to film in.  Director Carnahan took a very realistic tone with this movie, which serves it well.  The sense of dread as you see the wolf eye's in the night reflecting the torchlight is chilling.  I originally thought battling the elements was the majority of the film.  It ends up being a wolf pack chasing them, while they occasionally have to deal with natural boundaries and elements.  This is where the horror aspect comes in, which I did not take to very well.  The wolf attacks were very intense and well done, using practical effects over CGI for most of the film.  The jump scares were kind of annoying, mainly because this isn't really a horror movie, and was a cheap way to scare the audience.  The intense and graphic killings took care of that.  Another thing was the one-by-one picking off of the characters.  Isn't there a better way than every 20 minutes or so drop another one off?  The ending, though, is where the movie really hit me.  It made me look at the movie differently, and I appreciated it the more I thought about it.

It's tough to rate The Grey.  I mean, I liked the themes they set-up, the story, and Liam Neeson, but I keep getting hung up on some old cliches they use, which makes the whole film suffer for it.

3.5 out of 5 Stars

3 for the movie itself
.5 for the ending, because it's awesome.

Year in Review: Best Posters of 2011

Another year gone, and what's left is some fine poster work done by Hollywood.  Overall, the whole year took a more minimalistic approach to the design, which I think helped improve the quality.  In addition to my personal best of the year, I am also adding a couple worst of the year as well, so people can see that paid professionals sometimes suck.

10) Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

While not an totally official poster released by the studio, Paramount did showcase this one, which was done by Matt Owen, which was specifically designed for the IMAX release.  It's shows the classic Mission Impossible fuse burning, and the on the other end is the Burj Khalifa.  A great way to tease one of the best action scenes in the film.

9) Shame

Since this film was rated NC-17, I was wondering how there were going to show this, despite the graphical nature.  What they came up with was a great image that does a great job saying exactly what the title suggests.  They did not have to rely on star power to get people to come see this.

8) Moneyball

Nothing like a fresh cut baseball field filling the the poster to get you in the mood.  Brad Pitt is barely seen in this, which is interesting since he is a very bankable star.  Since the movie is more about the numbers behind baseball, it's was a good choice to go the simple route and show the baseball diamond.  Green field = green money = what the movie was about. Boom. Lawyered.

7) Bridesmaids

Eye popping pink will attract anyone to this poster, not just girls.  I love the attitude from all the actresses', which is a great way to show the comedic tone of the film.  It's very successful, using the same kind of technique used in The 40-Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up.

6) The Mechanic 

While the movie left something to be desired, the poster debut definitely caught my eye and got my excited to see the film.  Making an image out of smaller images is not unheard of in the poster business, a la Lord of War making Nicolas Cage out of bullets.  I feel like it takes a clever person to make this work properly.

5) Super 8

Perhaps confusing at first, this poster literally flips the normal image on its side.  I don't really know the reasoning behind this, but I like it.  It is something different, and definitely gets your attention.  It is suspenseful and ominous, giving a good first look at the visual style and story elements of the film.

4) Ides of March

I am not a big fan of face-mashups, but this one really made me do a double take.  Oh, sweet, Ryan Gosling is in this.  Oh, wait, that's not his whole face.  OH! George Clooney too! Sweet.  Pretty much my reaction to this poster. Well done.

3) Winnie the Pooh

I knew exactly what this was the second I saw it.  No title necessary.  No big names.  Not even a close up of the characters.  80% of the poster is honey yellow.  But the amazing image of Pooh and the gang floating in a bucket boat stays with you.

2) 50/50

Seth Rogen's face sells this film.  Seeing this poster not only makes you crack up, but it also engages you in trying to find out more about the film.  I hope the DVD is this picture, because it is a classic reaction plenty of us have had.

1) Midnight in Paris

The Vincent van Gogh Starry Night blended with the city of Paris is the best combination to help sell this movie.  Having Owen Wilson walking along the riverfront in thought sets up the film well, giving some insight to the character before you even see the movie. A great blend of artwork and a live picture.

The Worst of 2011

3) Madea's Big Happy Family

This is just a travesty.  If you know me, then you will know Madea stands for all that is evil and unfunny.  The classic Godfather image has been sullied because of this horrendous poster.  Ridiculous.

2) The Devil's Double

I first saw this while working at Blockbuster when it came out on DVD, and it literally blinded me.  Waaaay too much gold.  I mean, I understand why they did the gold theme, since it makes sense for the character.  But that doesn't mean that you do the whole poster in gold.  It is just awful to look, and you can't really tell what is going on in the poster.

1) X-Men: First Class

This one takes the cake.  Probably made by a kid in middle school who just learned Photoshop, the web went nuts after its debut.  Even the silhouette would have been a good idea, but slapping on that face in the crotch makes no sense whatsoever.  Hopefully, whoever made this poster was relieved of their duty.  Forever.

Year in Review: Best Films of 2011

It's that time again, and here is my list of my personal best films I saw in 2011.  Obviously, this list isn't for everyone, and that's okay.  I am trying to list these on the basis that movies are meant to entertain, whether it be on a psychological level or on a twelve year old level, where I just want to see stuff being blown up.  If the movie entertained me, it probably made the list for some reason or another.  Another thing to keep in mind is that I did not see every movie out in 2011, so I'm sure there are some good films I just never got around to see because of  time, school, etc.  If you have any comments, leave them on my Facebook page if you agree or disagree or just wan to talk about the films.  Alright, I'm trying something different this year, starting with #10 instead of #1...

Honorable Mention
15) The Muppets
14) X-Men: First Class
13) Fast Five
12) Source Code
11) 50/50

10) Moneyball 

A film based on a book, which stars Brad Pitt as Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane during the 2002 baseball season, where he tries, along with Jonah Hill as Peter Brand, to re-analyze the way scouts look at prospective players.  One could ague that this is this years "Social Network", but on a smaller scale.  With the screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, the natural charm of Pitt and funnyman Hill take the script  and turn it into something not only baseball fans will enjoy.

9) Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Probably the most controversial movie on the list, due to the fact that it did get critically blasted by all critics.  But you know what? I'm not a movie critic, and from an audience viewpoint, I got exactly what I wanted: aliens blowing up stuff.  I'm not looking for amazing acting here, I'm looking at the fact that Michael Bay totaled the city of Chicago very well.  The technical achievements here are astounding, especially when the skydivers jump out of a VTOL next to the Sears Tower in slow motion.  Pretty slick if you ask me.  Another plus was that is was a lot darker, actually showing residents getting smoked by the Decepticons, and the whole film having the Autobots losing the battle, until the end obviously.  The song montage towards the final act of the film by Linkin Park showing all the destruction didn't hurt either.

8) Thor

This movie came out of nowhere for me.  It purposefully shrugged off trailers because the pictures I saw, of the costumes and sets, looked pretty dumb to me.  Not something that really interested me in the slightest.  Boy, was I wrong.  I don't know where down the line I made up my mind to see it, but I'm glad I did.  Chris Hemsworth as the arrogant Thor quickly won me over, playing the titular god of thunder with ease.  Tom Hiddleston as his villian brother Loki was a great casting choice, and as was the scene stealing Idris Elba as Heimdall.  The visuals of Thor really honed the experience for me, with Asgard and the detail of the city really staying with me.  Clark Gregg as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson had more screen time this Marvel movie, which I appreciated.  Final note: the cameo with Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye sealed the deal for me on this movie.

7) Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Being a big fan of the original 2009 film, I've been waiting for this film with bated breath.  As with all sequels to films I love, there is always some nervousness as whether or not it will live up to your expectations.  This one certainly did, with Guy Richie seemingly listening to his fans about what to include in the sequel.  More slow motion though process scenes by the amazing Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes, and his bromantic partner Watson, played perfectly by Jude Law.  The duos back-and-forth dialog is great fun.  The villian, Professor Moriarty, played by Jared Harris, does a great job as a counter-point to Holmes, as a intellect and as a sinister plotter.  The end "fight" scene between them was well executed, and a good twist.  Finally, some of you may know my dislike for Rachel McAdams, and I was certainly pleased to see her role lessened.

6) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

The Battle for Hogwarts rages, and the thrilling and well crafted final installment in the hugely successful and acclaimed Harry Potter series comes to a close.  David Yates continues his streak of making the Harry Potter series continue to evolve and grow up with its characters and audiences.  The visuals were a great treat, such as Harry and Voldemort squaring off in a duel, as were the plot points hit coming to fruition, with some storylines concluding after starting in the first film.  Yates does a good job translating the book onto the big screen, giving all the characters their due, in a satisfying conclusion.

5) Drive

This masterful crime drama starring Ryan Gosling as a stunt driver for Hollywood by day, and a getaway driver by night.  Gosling shows his acting chops here, with the script limiting his lines.  This is where we get to see Gosling shine, with him using every movement and glance to establish the character being created.  His nuanced performance is great to watch, as his mainly silent character interacts with the world around him.  The whole film feels like being a getaway driver. The first half of the film, it seems, is kind of like a "wait", where if I were waiting for the bank robbers to come out of the bank.  The second part of the film changes tones, much like shifting gears to get away from the cops in pursuit.  This is the times where all the story-lines come together in a satisfying way.  This film just oozes cool.  Just be patient with it and it will be worth it.
Side note: Drive being the title of the film, I just wish it had a little more driving.  But maybe that's not the point.  Drive could not be just about the car, but what drives the character to do what he does.

4) Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

I had high hopes for this one from the beginning.  With Brad Bird attached, who directed the stellar Pixar film The Incredibles, I felt like he could inject that same action and comedy into this film franchise, kind of the like the same way J.J. Abrams did with the third installment.  What I didn't expect, though, was how good this movie would be.  The fourth film is easily my favorite of the series, which is a tough feat following what Abrams did with the amazing MI:3.  Bird directs the frenetic action sequences with meticulous detail, showcasing Tom Cruise's talents at stuntwork.  Seeing him hang on the outside of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai was literally making my hands sweat.  The gadgets need to be mentioned as well, since these are some of the best I've ever seen.  One stand out in particular, where a giant projector screen is used to make it look like a hallway is empty, as the team moves through it.  The comedy is well balanced too, done by the pitch perfect Simon Pegg, whose character has now become a full field agent.  Hopefully, this will not be the last time we see Ethan Hunt in action.

3) Super 8

A love letter if I ever saw one, J.J. Abrams pays homage to the great Steven Spielberg, with this E.T. / Goonies mash-up.  This movie is great because of one thing: the kids.  Abrams perfectly captures how kids act when around each other, calling names and hanging out together.  Watching them make their movie brought me back to middle school with my friends and I running around town filming stuff.  The traditional Abrams style is there as well, lens flares included.  He is one of the best new directors out there, and reminds me of a young Spielberg.  The film also does a good job with suspense, hiding the monster until close to the final act.  This film is quite funny as well, with the kids' interactions with each other and how they view the events happening around them.

2) Midnight in Paris

Directed by the fantastic Woody Allen, this heartwarming comedy about Owen Wilson as a writer in Paris was a perfect fit.  Wilson, playing a writer who romanticizes about the 1920's era of Paris, is in a perfect role, pining and longing for a chance to meet the famous writers and painters of the past.  He gets that chance, and every midnight converses with the past due to a time-slip.  Seeing him deal with the past, and bringing what he learned to the future cause plenty of funny moments, including him trying to one-up a know-it-all friend of his fiance, Rachel McAdams (who, again, I don't like).

1) Take Shelter

Like a brewing storm on the horizon, darkening clouds in the sky, Take Shelter has the right kind of slow-burning suspense.  Others may be put off at some of the slow parts, but it all pays off in the end.  Michael Shannon plays a construction worker who starts to have nightmares of an impending storm.  The films expertly deals with how he reacts to these dreams initially, shaking them off until they become more vivid.  His family starts to become alienated because he spends all day building a storm shelter, waiting for the day to come.  This psychological torment is draining both him and his family.  He knows mental disorders run in his family, including his mom who lives in an assisted living home.  He cannot shake this feeling, however, and his strange behavior starts to affect the whole town, who believe he is going crazy.  Shannon, in an Oscar caliber performance, shows a wide range of emotions and does a great job with the material.  The sense of fear and dread throughout the whole movie is prevalent.  I won't spoil the ending, but it was one of the best I've ever seen.

They're Coming

Ok, maybe not zombies.

As the spring semester kicks off here in Nebraska, a New Year's Resolution of mine has been to work on this site more.  I've been absent since September, and that's inexcusable.  So, coming up:

Best of 2011 Films

Best of 2011 Movie Posters

Music of Last Year

Stay Tuned

How Can We Change Video Game Label?

Movie vs. Film

As a gamer, I feel especially nerdy asking my girlfriend or parents for the latest video game to come out.  Why? Because it makes me feel like a child again, asking for a toy.  Do I see video games as a toy? Of course not, but this is what comes to mind.  As a 23 year old in graduate school, I feel compelled to come up with a new label for video games.  Just like how movies can be called "films" or "cinema", why doesn't video games have another title?  Sure, movies that are labeled "movies" can be dumb flicks that are released to negative reviews, but when you call a movie a "film", that implies a sort of indie or art-house style.  Better "pinky out" like Spongebob if you're going to a "film".

Everyone pictured can die because of you.  Even yourself.

Anyways, the gaming industry has evolved over time, and it caters to the young and the old, male and female.  While a majority of gamers are under 18, I find myself in my mid-twenties still calling them video games. Because I don't know what else to call them.  They are more than just games you play on your television nowadays.  Some games even rival movie productions released by major studios.  Uncharted 2, for example, gives you a cinematic experience that is uncommon in gaming, though that trend is starting to change.  I feel gaming, while interactive, is starting to drift into psychological aspects, like making your own decisions that can save or condemn people, like in Mass Effect 2.  The game is built on choices, and then you live with the consequences.  People live, or they can die, based on what you decide.  I think that is more than a video game.  That transcends into something far greater.

Like i mentioned earlier, movies can be called "films", which brings up connotations of an art-house or an indie.  I am not saying we need a fancier word to call video games, all I am asking is that we treat the experience we have with gaming with a little more respect, since it too is growing with us.  As I get older, I want to be able to label my gaming experience with something other than "video games", because to me, it is so much more than that.  This is in no way finished, mainly because there probably are some other topics to cover under this, but this thought has been on my mind lately and wanted to see if anyone agreed with me.