Captain America: Civil War

No words are needed. But there are definitely spoilers ahead, so read at your own risk. I'll put the warning in bold too, just in case you didn't catch it.

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK

C A P T A I N   A M E R I C A:

C I V I L   W A R

                  The film begins with the Avengers on another mission in Sokovia, looking for the villain who calls himself Crossbones. He's been evading the Avengers for awhile, but they've got him

now. Cap and Crossbones fight, and then Cap has him kneeling in front of him. He interrogates him and Crossbones pulls a grenade pin. 
                          But Scarlet Witch contains the blast and throws him into a building where he blows up, killing hundreds of people. This sends a bad message to the rest of the world about the Avengers, and for good reason. Therefore, a world conference is called, and the Sokovia Accords are adopted by over 150 countries to regulate the Avengers. 
                          Captain America sees this as bad because if the Accords are adopted (and they are), that means that where the governments of the world may want the Avengers doesn't necessarily mean that that's where they need to be. In other words, their right to choose is taken away so as to hopefully

protect the world. 
                          Present at the conference is Black Widow, T'Challa (prince of Wakanda), and many other world leaders. Cap has officially gone rogue, A-Wall, whatever you wanna call it. But him and his team are wanted and are officially considered vigilantes. 
                          Now this isn't all there is too the whole movie. Baron Zemo is actually the mastermind behind the entire operation, because his family died in Sokovia. Therefore, he's angry at the Avengers. However, he knows that he himself cannot destroy them, so he makes it so that they destroy themselves by staging murders that are supposedly done by the Winter Soldier. 
                          Later on you find out that Bucky is innocent, but at one point he does get triggered and turns all bad. But it's okay because he turns back into regular Bucky as soon as he's knocked out. Along for the ride is everyone's favorite comedic hero, Spider-Man! Then we get to see Giant Man and Black Panther kick some serious butt. 
                          If you haven't seen the film already, get up off of your butt and go see it. It's totally worth the price of admission and popcorn and pop. Just do it, you won't regret it.


Ratings:
Family Friendliness: 7/10 Shields- Now, I get it, it's a Marvel movie, and there's nothing sexual or anything along those lines. But you gotta think of the parents that don't like language, and there's a little bit of that. Plus there's a helluva lotta fighting, and there's some scenes with minimal blood. It's still a great film though.
Story-line: 8/10 Accords- Now if you're anything like me, you'd be disappointed that it wasn't the X-Men that caused this whole thing like in the comics. But if you are anything like me, you'll be happy that they made do with what they had. Also, they did a good job of bringing back any and all of the major happenings from the best movies that were devastating to the world. It really ties the MCU together, and I'm happy with everything that they did. Especially with Spider-Man and Black Panther.
Story-Action Balance: 9/10 Webs- Alright this is a new feature. For this film, it did an excellent job of balancing the story and action. While the action was happening, you knew why it was happening. It wasn't a Fast and Furious, "wait, they're crashing in cars cuz why???" You could actually follow.
Comic Accuracy: 7/10 Claws- I'm sorry, I'm just a real stickler about this, but to be honest, what with Marvel had, they did a phenomenal job. Pick up the comics and read. They're totally worth the hours of following.
Overall: 9/10- Technically, the score should be 7. But that's okay, I gave it a curve. If you see it, you'll know why. And it was a pretty generous curve at that too.

C A P T A I N   A M E R I C A:

C I V I L   W A R

Bibliography: "Captain America: Civil War Both Sides" <http://www.technobuffalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/captain-america-civil-war-1280x641.jpg>

"Captain America: Civil War Spider-Man" <http://static1.techinsider.io/image/56e1d83e9105844e018b598e-2158-1136/captain-america-spider-man.jpg>
"Captain America: Civil War Trailer" <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKrVegVI0Us>

Batman: Arkham Knight

Hey everyone! I wanted to do another game review, and I thought that this was the perfect choice. I absolutely love the Arkham Video Game series and I am so happy with how Rocksteady finished it off. I hope that I can convince you to buy the game if you haven't already and enjoy it as much as I did!

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                  The game begins with the Joker being cremated at Christmas time. When the flames burst

and spit, the Bat symbol shows up, and Jim Gordon says, "This is how it happened. This is how the Batman died."
                   So you now know that the game is a flashback, a story told to someone listening. And that someone is you as the player. You begin as a cop in a coffee shop that grabs some coffee and a bite to eat. A civilian approaches you and says that there is a man smoking in the corner of the restaurant. You confront him and are blasted with fear toxin by none other than Scarecrow himself. 
                    Scarecrow makes a city-wide broadcast warning that Gotham would be covered in a cloud of his new and more lethal fear toxin. The city evacuates within several hours and Jim shines Batman's light in the sky. You assume control of Batman and fly over to him. 
                    You guys talk, and if you look closely, you can see the raindrops rolling down Jim's jacket, and the mist in his glasses. You can also see Batman's breath as he talks in the cold, and there is an occasional riffle to his cape as the wind blows here and there. In short, the graphics and visuals are stunning, Playstation 4 or XBOX ONE. 
                    You then begin the hunt for Jonathan Crane (the Scarecrow if you didn't already know

that) and are aided by Oracle, our trusty and dearly loved tech operative. Here you are introduced to the all-new, all-purpose, and totally sick Batmobile, the vehicle every Arkham fan has wanted to drive since it was first introduced in Arkham Asylum. 
                     Learn how to use it properly in driving and blowing things up with a Vulcan Gun and a 60 mm Canon that rips apart anything standing in your way to shreds. It is AMAZING!!! Free-flow combat is back and better than ever, with all new challenges, enemies, and some old friends that you can team up with to take down your opposition. 
                    Predator system is as beautiful as ever, and your foes have new technology that can detect your Detective Vision, so you better learn how to make due without it, as they can also pinpoint your location if you use it for too long. Sentry drones are now a new challenge on top of the Arkham City-introduced land mines. 
                    But don't worry! The vents are still here and are your best friends... that is until your enemy soldiers send bombs down them and try to smoke you out. But to escape those, vents can now

be traveled to and from each other using vent chutes. If you're on a perch point and you spot a wall vent, grapple to that sucker and you'll travel down to below your enemies' feet. There we see the brand new takedown system that will make you pee your pants. 
                   That new system ladies and gentleman is called the "Fear" System. When you're below two or three enemies, you can shoot out of the grates and take three armed men down in quick succession before they ever have time to aim down the sights and pull the trigger at you. 
                   However, as O.P. as this new feature is, it's a one-time use until you silently takedown a single individual without getting caught. So make sure you don't abandon your old-time Arkham Asylum and City tactics. After taking down one guy silently, the "Fear Multi-Takedown" ability is recharged.
                  Loved the Wayne Tech upgrades? Well, they're back and now, they're harder to get. You'll still get upgrade points, but now if you want to buy new abilities further down the tree, you've gotta be patient and save those suckers for later. Cuz if you spend em all in one place, you'll have a tough time advancing in the game. Seems like Rocksteady went Grandma on us saying "Don't spend it all in  one place now, dear!" 
                   And don't get me started on the new travel system! You can still grapple up to places and fly off of em hella fast, but now, with your new suit, there is a Grapnel Mark III that makes you shoot up faster than ever before. Remember how you had to double tap "A" or "X" to make yourself go faster in Arkham City? Well, try triple tapping it and you'll go CRAZY fast! 
                   Diving system is amazing like before and now that you can jump from crazy high buildings like Wayne Tower, Angel Diving has never been more fun. You'll want to find Wayne Tower and just Angel Dive over and over again when you're bored. Bored of that? Blow stuff up with your Batmobile. 
                  And I haven't even gotten to the story, bro. But lemme tell you, it is a solid campaign, full of twists and turns and on-the-edge-of-your-seat moments. I'll drop a little egg for you guys: The Joker is back. And Mark Hamill has returned to play his iconic role, funnier and darker still. He's there for some nice comical relief when a situation's gone really bad, and a lot of those show up lemme tell you. But ol' Uncle J is there for ya, don't worry.


Ratings: 
Story-line: 9/10 Batarangs- I loved the story. Well, the main campaign that is. I'm at the end and am trying to 100% it right now, so I can't tell you what happens when you do. But I'm sure it'll be great. The story really engages you and once or twice I was on the verge of tears. Yes I'm afraid we lose some dear friend(s). [You'll see why I did that () once you've gotten to the part ;)]
Graphics: 9/10 Batmobiles- Stunning, lifelike, and breathtaking. Get on top of Wayne Tower and look at Gotham. It is truly a beautiful city, and you'll have plenty of time to soak it in. Just make sure that when you're going on a chase that you explore as much as you can and appreciate all the columns you're about to demolish. And don't worry, it's only you, cops, and bad guys. So nobody minds a couple of buildings and highways missing pillars and windows.
Fighting Mechanics: 10/10 Buildings- There is no such thing as perfect, but this Free Flow System is about as close as you'll get to stunning perfection when fighting a hoard of grunts. As soon as you get the hang of it, you'll just want to pick fights everywhere you go. And don't worry about singing, they already know who you are, and you don't need to tell them that you're the mighty mighty Batman. ("Everywhere we go, people wanna know, who we are. So we tell them, we are the __, mighty mighty __" but Batman version. Don't get it? Sorry, can't help you there.)
Replay Probability: Very High (9/10 Batsuits)- Don't put down that controller, don't you dare. There is so much to this game that you can play with, explore, upgrade, and destroy that it is impossible to get bored. Oh! And once you beat the primary campaign, New Story+ is back. Just make sure you're prepared, cuz it's gonna feel like hell.
Overall:  9/10 Stars- What are you waiting for?!?! 

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"Evening the Odds"

"Father to Son"

Bibliography: "Batman: Arkham Knight" <http://siliconangle.com/files/2015/02/54e51560da563.jpg>

"Batman: Arkham Knight Batmobile" <https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7AykgIIWdPM/maxresdefault.jpg>

"Batman: Arkham Knight Trailer: Evening the Odds" <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxa34RatmSc>

"Batman: Arkham Knight Joker" <http://img14.deviantart.net/2f71/i/2015/194/6/2/batman__arkham_knight___wallpaper___joker_by_minionmask-d913ud1.jpg>

"Batman: Arkham Knight Trailer: Father to Son" <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsf78BS9VE0>

"Batman: Arkham Knight Poison Ivy" <http://cdn.wccftech.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Batman-Arkham-Knight-Poison-Ivy.jpg>

TOMB RAIDER: PoC Official Video Game Review

                  Well, it has been quite a bit since I posted anything, and I appreciate all of the patience you guys have. But you're not hear to read my apologies, so here we go with Piece of Cake's FIRST video game review of 2016!

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D E F I N I T I V E    E D I T I O N

                   Video game reviews are blue, so don't worry about the sudden color change. 

                   Lara Croft is a 21 year old archaeologist who is looking for the lost island of Yamatai, an ancient kingdom off the coast of Japan in an ocean liner, the Endurance. The crew includes: 

     Captain of the ship: Conrad Roth

     His first mate:Angus Grimaldi, aka called Grim

     Head Archaeologist: Dr. James Whitman

     Lara's Best Friend: Samantha Nishimura

     Joslin Reyes

     Jonah Maiava

                   Everything's going dandy until the crew gets into a dispute about which way to go to get to Yamatai. Whitman wants to go in the typical way that past archaeologists have gone, but Lara begs

to differ. She has studied ancient texts and is suggesting a different route, the way into the Dragon's Triangle, more dangerous than the Bermuda Triangle.

                   She wants to go that way because no ship has ever returned, and there's legends of Himiko being able to control the storms of Yamatai. Roth agrees. He was a good friend of Lara's father, and loves Lara like a daughter. Plus, Lara has a point, even though it is a far stretch.

                    They head into the storm and are shipwrecked. Here, Lara is separated from the rest of the crew. And this is where the adventure begins. I'll get straight to it, you have to destroy the body that is holding the soul of Himiko in order to stop the storms so you can escape the island.

                     Play through a hostile environment filled with wolves, the Solarii (Himiko's bodygaurds), and the other survivors on the island trying to revive Himiko. Upgrade your weapons! Your bow and arrows, pistol, World War 2 Assault Rifle with a Grenade Launcher attached, and Pump Action Shotgun are all ideal tools for your survival, and you'll need every last one of them.
                     Make sure you wisely upgrade your Brawler Skills, Hunting Skills, and your Survival Skills, as they will come in handy when coming into contact with the other survivors of the island. I'd

say that you HEAVILY upgrade your Brawler and Survival Skills. The Hunting Skills will come in handy when you need a better stability when aiming your bow and other weapons. 
                      But definitely make sure that you are strong Melee wise, as you'll get into a lot of Melee brawls, and if you're underprepared, you're going to have a lot of frustrating episodes where you can't get past those one or two levels that shouldn't be that difficult.
                      This is truly a great game, and I'd recommend it for anyone who's looking for a good adventure that nicely balances puzzles, battles, and discovery to make a vast open world that is worth exploring after the primary story is done. 

Ratings:
Story-line: 9/10 Arrows- The story is engaging and interesting. I definitely had a blast walking through it with Lara. And the fact that Himiko and Yamatai are real places is really satisfying, because it feels like you're actually solving an archaeological mystery! The only thing is that you try to get rescued twice, and both attempts fail. It's really aggravating especially when you had to climb up so many hillsides and rocks to get to that one blasted tower just to have it destroyed, and then you get ambushed by a bunch of bozos with arrows and rifles! But other than that, it's an awesome story. It has a real satisfying ending, too, which is always a plus. 
 Graphics: 8.5/10 Shotgun Casings- I know there's a lotta folks out there that are in for the graphics. Personally, I just want a quality game. But for you graphics fanatics, this game has stunning visuals. The people look almost real, and the different environments can be haunting if you stay in them too long without a torch. When you come out looking out across the island at the different mountains and valleys, it truly is breathtaking. Soak it all in, because in a few moments, you'll be getting shot at again.
Overall: 9/10- Do the average of the previous two ratings and round up because 5 and up, bump it up! I keep saying this, but I really enjoyed this game. Everything about it was so satisfying and welcoming. I can't wait to play RISE OF THE TOMB RAIDER. Apparently, it was better than this one. So definitely looking forward to another adventure with our beloved and beautiful Lara Croft.

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D E F I N I T I V E    E D I T I O N

Bibliography: "Tomb Raider video game logo" <http://cdn.collider.com/wp-content/uploads/tomb-raider-video-game.jpg>

"Tomb Raider video game Lara Croft" <http://leakynews.s3.amazonaws.com/pub/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/tomb-raider-definitive-edition.jpg>

"Tomb Raider video game Roth" <https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/4c/a5/7a/4ca57a2b847990beb3cd19862ba487ed.jpg>

"Tomb Raider video game Yamatai" <http://40.media.tumblr.com/dd4e1c2fbbc897fad637fd369b1c6535/tumblr_mr4tq7qfqL1rkgf5no2_500.jpg>

The Martian

                  Do you like Matt Damon? But you absolutely hated him in Interstellar? Well get ready for a film where good ol' Matt is on your side again! And this time he is stuck on Mars for over one year, about 500 days on Mars. But hey! It's a pretty fun adventure, full of laughs, suspense, and a whole lotta science.

T H E    M A R T I A N

                  The film starts off with Matt Damon and his crew of the "Ares III" Mission to Mars Expedition observing rocks. I know, very interesting. But the action starts off pretty quickly. There is a storm coming, and it is enormous. 

                  The storm hits them, and the crew slowly makes it to their ship to escape. While working their way to the ship however, Mark Watney (Matt Damon) gets hit by some debris and is blown off,

presumed dead. The crew blasts off and begins their journey home.
                  The news goes viral all over the world that Mark Watney is dead. However, Watney wakes up from the storm, and has survived. I mean, duh. Then there'd be no movie, right? Anyway, Watney has got an enormous needle in his gut, and he walks back to the base of the crew and stitches himself up. And guess what??? 
                   You get to see the whole thing... yea, I know, thrilling. So... probably not the best thing to show your eight or nine year old. Then after he's done with his stitching (more like stapling) he lies back and says, "F**k." Don't gemme wrong, it's pretty funny in the theater, but parental discretion is highly advised as Watney really likes to cuss.
                    Watney gets something to eat and then tallies up his food and begins video logs. He explains that he will only last a couple hundred Mars days, and that he is going to have to ration.

Because even if he could get in contact with Earth, he'd have to wait four years for the next Ares Mission to make it up to him.
                     Therefore, his next plan of action is to grow his own food. And it is pretty amazing what he does. Did I mention he's the Botanist of the Ares Crew? No? Well, now you know, and now you know why he is able to actually survive! He makes his own Martian grown food. Pretty sick.
                     But wait! There's more! Not only does he grow his own food, he makes a plan to drive his Ares Crew rover to the site of the landing of the next Ares Mission, "Ares IV." [Four for those of you who aren't so hot on your Roman Numerals, I've got your back :) ] But first he wants to dig up something that was sent to Mars in 1997. You'll find out later
                     So he digs up a radioactive isotope out of the ground (real smart actually considering his

plan) and then utilizes its power to drive the rover a little farther each and every day by doing some hot-wiring and making a portable charger for the rover.
                     At this point, the NASA team realizes something is up. They see that things about the Ares III Mission Site have changed, such as the rover being moved. They finally figure out that Watney is gonna dig up that 1997 vessel, and they figure out how to communicate with Watney through this relic from the past.
                     Now it's a little early to tell you the entire thing, but hopefully I have peaked your interest a little bit. I mean, Rotten Tomatoes viewers rate it at 92%! It's definitely one to see in theaters, and if you can, see it in 3D. Makes it a whole lot more stressful, but better.

Ratings:
Family Friendliness: 8/10 Rovers- The film is pretty friendly, except for the swearing. Overall, it's funny, stressful, and a riveting experience, thanks to Ridley Scott's vision of space.
Story-line: 10/10 Potatoes- This is one of the few times I will ever give a 10 for 10 rating. I have not read "The Martian" book, but I absolutely loved everything about the story in this movie. It was a movie about redemption, survival, and the strength of determination, and the good uses of schooling that we can actually see!!!
Re-watch Probability: Very High (9/10 Spaceships)- You will love this movie so much you will immediately want to watch it again, yet at the same time you won't. You want to watch the riveting experience, but you're afraid to be stressed out again. Still, like I keep saying, it's amazing.
Overall: 9 out of 10 Stars- Two words can sum up everything I have been trying to tell you about this movie:

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Bibliography: "The Martian" <http://i.ytimg.com/vi/WV6oREW0nmQ/maxresdefault.jpg>

"The Martian Rover" <http://s3.foxfilm.com/foxmovies/production/films/104/images/gallery/martian-gallery11-gallery-image.jpg>

"The Martian Ares III Crew" <http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--FA5Xev3z--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/1438981647730000017.jpg>

"The Martian Trailer" <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej3ioOneTy8>

                

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

                  Hi all! I am really sorry that I haven't posted as often as I would like to, but here I am with another movie review for you guys! I'm sure I don't need to tell you how awesome "Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation" is doing, but I am here to tell you exactly why!
                  So sit back, relax, and enjoy the reading!

M I S S I O N   I M P O S S I B L E

R O G U E   N A T I O N

                  By this time, we shouldn't be surprised at the crazy things that Ethan Hunt pulls off, but

ohh, you are gonna be extremely mind-blown after this stunt. Tom Cruise wanted to actually hold onto a giant plane while it was taking off, and he did it!

                    So if you were wondering why the stunt looked so real, it's because it was real.

                    Oh, by the way, this stunt is right at the beginning. That's not the action that you're waiting for. You're actaully waiting for another crazy motorcycle chase, which is quite intense. And some awesome fight scenes. 

                     In this fifth installment of the chronicles of Ethan Hunt, Ethan is hunting an anti-IMF called The Syndicate. And he figures out that this Syndicate is real. He finds out in a record shop right after holding onto that plane. 

                     In the record shop, he's captured in a room with windows on all sides, making a glass box. You're gonna want to remember this. Ethan is then transported to an interrogation center for the

Syndicate. With the help of a double agent, Ilsa (Rebecca Ferguson, Hercules), he escapes. 

                    This is one of the awesome fight scenes you're gonna wanna see. It totally rocks.
                     In the meantime, the IMF has just been dissolved. A CIA agent played by Alec Baldwin, has taken it up with the United States Supreme Court, and is successful in bringing the IMF down. All IMF agents now have to report to Baldwin as agents of the CIA. 

                    Ethan contacts Benji by sending him two tickets to an opera called "Turandot" in Vienna, Austria. Benji goes to Austria, and Ethan tells him that they have to thwart an assassination. But, as always, it won't be that simple.
                    Ethan runs into one assassin, and takes him out. At the same time, there are two more assassins. One of them is Ilsa, and the other is like a fail-safe. Ethan locates the target in question, and

shoots his shoulder, bringing him out of harm's way. 
                     Ethan again has to escape, and Benji has already moved on out, getting a truck to pick Ethan up. Ethan escapes with Ilsa, and she gives Ethan a drive to let him know where she is in the disguise of lipstick.
                     Alrighty, it's still early for me to be telling you everything that happens, and hopefully I have peaked your interest! I would definitely recommend this film for anyone who has stuck with Mission Impossible for the past 19 years. It's a blast.

RATINGS:

ACTION: 9.8 out of 10 IMF Agents- The action and the storyline were beautifully intertwined. There was plenty of buttkicking to go along with the stressful yet awesome plot. Truly a story to remember. 

FAMILY FRIENDLINESS: 7 out of 10 Hard Drives- Not really for your 6-9 year olds. I may consider 10-11 year olds, but 12 year olds should be fine. There is language, and there is only a short scene where Ilsa is in a swimsuit. That comes after she gives the lipstick drive to Ethan. Then she has a dress on that shows her entire leg, so a tinsee bit suggestive. But no sexuality at all. Then there is a scene after Ethan is in the water where Ilsa is turned around and takes off her shirt with no bra. So... some suggestive things to look out for. 

STORY LINE: 9 out of 10 Tickets- A really well-done plot, one that you can definitely follow, and one that will have you on the edge of your seat the entire film. I sure was. 

OVERALL: 9 out of 10 Stars- I took 9.8 + 7 + 9 and got 25.8, then divided that by 30. It was .86, so rounding up, I got that 9 that you're seeing. Overall, an extremely well-done flick, one that you will most likely watch over and over again. And just to give you an idea of the action you're missing out on, here's the official trailer:

 M I S S I O N   I M P O S S I B L E

R O G U E   N A T I O N

Bibliography: "Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation Trailer" <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOW_azQbOjw>

"Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation plane" <http://www.bellusmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Screen-Shot-2015-03-22-at-11.15.45-AM-1050x700.png>

"Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation water" <http://static1.i4u.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/main_image_large/images/2015/06/mission-impossible-rogue-nation.jpg>

"Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation Car Chase" <http://www.automativ.de/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Mission-Impossible-Filmsequenzen-7.jpg>