Wii

It has been brought to my attention, and shock, that still so many had no idea about the up-coming (some might call it next-gen) Nintendo console (code named Revolution) officially named Wii.. people are only aware of PlayStation3 and that's all they heard of.. it is my duty as a gamer to keep you guys up-to-date.. what is Wii? why is everybody at E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) 2006 keep talking about it? why the long waiting line just to play the game/demo on this console? what is so interesting about it's controller, 'Wiimote' (some might call it)? and last but most importantly, why is Roy so excited about Wii?

To answer your questions and more.. please click on the youtube.com video clips below and see what i had seen.. it'll take you on a ride to what i had seen and what made me a believer of Wii.. enjoy..
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In the month of September 2005 (last year).. i came to know about a gaming convention held in Japan called TGS (Tokyo Game Show) 2005.. usually Nintendo never hold a booth or anything or even announce important news at TGS since E3 is where they do a lot of meetings.. but what happen during the conference held by Nintendo before TGS 05 kicks off is a shocking revelation pulled out by none other than the President of Nintendo himself mr.Satoru Iwata.. you see, during E3 2005 we were only shown what the console look like but we were never given the information on what the controller is like..



He pulls out the controller, we were all shocked (jaw dropping to the ground) and the following clip were shown..


Nintendo Revolution Controller

Fast forward, and now we're at E3 2006 being held in Los Angeles in the month of May.. i was so excited for the Pre-E3 06 Nintendo Conference.. it's about to start at midnight here, online live-viewing directly from LA (it's morning over there).. it's starting!! mr.Shigeru Miyamoto take the center stage and present us live demonstration of the 'Wiimote' in action!! he's playing the Wii Music: Orchestra.. after couple of clips, mr.Reggie Fils-Aime take over the conference and show us couple of Wii movie clip presentation..


E3 2006 Nintendo Conference Wii Video 1

So.. now you've seen the concept of 'Wiimote' during the TGS 05.. and then you've seen 'Wiimote' in action on demo games at E3 06.. i'm not sure about you guys but i'm hungry to know more.. Nintendo is still holding couple of more secrets from us the consumer and gaming industry.. they've just revealed to us an addition of speaker on the controller (at E3 06).. will there be a microphone added onto the controller? what is the selling price of the console? and most importantly, which of the month in Q4 2006 will Wii make it's launch?



Official website here:
http://wii.nintendo.com

Over the Hedge (2006)

tonight i went and watch Over the Hedge with my sis, her friend, and my buddy, WY.. how did i find Over the Hedge as an animation movie? what do i really think of it? did i laugh as hard as i should? who is Hammy? does it worth the 84 minutes of my life? hmmm..

IT IS SO WORTH IT!!! LOL.. my verdict on the show, 4 out of 5: Must Watch!

i thought i was in for a simple cute animation with mindless plot.. boy was i in for a ride!! the cutesy characters are amazingly brought to life with detailed graphics.. there is so much to say i don't even know where to start.. all the characters are engaging and very detailed.. story wise it's very straight forward.. gags are funny.. value about "family" is raised.. it's all goodness wrapped up in a nice packaging for the moviegoers to watch.. have i mentioned that i was blown away by the graphics?

yet somehow i still couldn't figure out why i cannot give it a 5 instead.. i guess i was too harsh on too many detailed points, all to way to the how they had marketed the show to mass audience (which i believe wasn't strong enough; they should have)..

4 reasons to watch it:
1. they're CUTE!
2. the story is fresh, the gags are fresh, the characters are fresh.. it's all FRESH!
3. you'll love HAMMY!
4. the poster does not do the show justice.. i wasn't impressed with the trailer, that much, either.. boy will you be in for a RIDE!

The Da Vinci Code (2006)

last night i watched The DaVinci Code with my friend, WY, and his friend.. as much as i'd like to give it a 4, i decided to settle for 3 instead.. my verdict, 3 out of 5: a good movie..

firstly, to address moviegoers who haven't read the book (such as me).. the story is gripping.. you're in for a ride.. but here and there you'll struggle with certain terms and you decided,"hey, i'm going to watch it again to understand the story better".. why? because some of the explanations need more time for our brain to digest properly.. why watch again? cos it's a really good movie (almost making it to 4; LOL) and very engaging.. what i did was, i decided to go into the movie with an open and skipping mind.. open, to accept it as it is and hey, it's a novel.. skipping, as in to just take certain terms and what-not lightly so as not to be too engrossed with it and miss out what's happening next.. Ron Howard, actor turned director, did an excellent job from his directing chair for this film (i still don't know why The Simpsons make fun of him)..

lastly, to address moviegoers who HAVE read the book.. DON'T WATCH THE MOVIE!! LOL.. just joshing with ya.. well, the thing is.. if you're a person who rather go watch a movie without reading synopsis, i have to put it bluntly that you've basically have read ALL the story plot and twist that are there for the movie.. but if you insist on going to watch it.. i can only advice, please watch it for the sake of a movie experience and not to be too disappointed for scenes that are removed cos they have to squeeze everything into a massive 148 minutes theater screening.. i really can't imagine if the producer decided to put ALL into the film..

3 reasons to watch it:
1. the NOVEL has been sold for more than 40 millions copy around the world..
2. TOM HANKS is in it..
3. you know you WANT it..


i'd like to leave with this quote by Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) at near ending scene: "i was praying to Jesus.. and i know i wasn't alone in there.."

i just thought i'm gonna post this clips about Tom Cruise misbehaving since i'm emailing my buddy, WY, cos we were talking about it.. please watch the first one so as to understand what's really taking place during the interview at Oprah Winfrey show.. sections of Tom Cruise behaving questionably are joined together..




.. then, watch the funny edited clip of the same interview.. really really funny.. LOLx..



ENJOY!!

moments to consider: The Little Things

The Little Things
Author Unknown


As you might know, the head of a company survived 9/11 because his son started kindergarten.

Another man was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.

One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off on time.

Another was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident and his life was spared.

One missed his bus.

One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.

One's car wouldn't start.

One went back to answer the telephone.

One had a child that dawdled and didn't get ready as soon as he should have.

One couldn't get a taxi.

One that really struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning. Before he got to the Towers he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That's why he is alive today.

Now when I am stuck in traffic, miss an elevator, turn back to answer a ringing telephone... all the little things that annoy me I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment.

Next time your morning seems to be going wrong, the children are slow getting dressed, you can't seem to find the car keys, you hit every traffic light, do not get mad or frustrated. God may be at work watching over you.

May God continue to bless you with all those annoying little things and may you remember their possible purpose. God loves you. He really, really loves you and He has control of the things in your life.

movie: Mission Impossible III (2006)

mi3.. mi3.. mi3..
what do i really think of it?
let's cut to the chase.. straight off the bat i'm giving Mission Impossible III a 4 out of 5: Must Watch!

to really appreciate mi3 you have to know who the director, J.J. Abrams, is and what was he trying to show/tell the audience through his directing for this film. In my opinion, i'm really pleased of his work and i must say that it is a really great start for his first effort at directing for the big screen. Mostly well known for his work as Creator/Director of Alias and Co-creator/Director of Lost, i really appreciate his style of telling the story to the audience, especially in the Action and Drama genre.

more of his filmography here:
http://imdb.com/name/nm0009190/

Mission Impossible 3 started off showing the moviegoers the current situation that Ethan Hunt is in.. really intense even from the beginning. And even before we are able to grasp for a breather, eager to know the fate of one of the character, suddenly we're brought back to the Ethan Hunt from a few days ago. There's a good balance between the drama, which i must say is quite funny, seeing how the characters talked about their daily life and concern in the midst of an intense action that is taking place, gun shooting and bombs explosion everywhere. But above all these.. i have to give credits to J.J. Abrams of his ability to let us, the audience, experience what Ethan Hunt is experiencing. From being strapped to the table in the interrogation room to the jumping off of a skyscrapper building and being caught in the middle of a gun battle. And don't even get me started on the amazing sound effect throughout the movie, the breaking of glasses couldn't have sounded more crystal clear.

Sad to say it is 1 point short of making it a classic for me. Reason for that? As much as the plot twist is brilliant, i was able to determine who the bad guy is on my 2nd guess (my 1st guess when Ethan was writing stuff on the glass had to be quickly polished in order to make some sense.. he3x). The scene that got many people talking was not shown (maybe due to time constraint). Some parts needed more thinking time to make sense, after walking out of the cinema and further discussions.

4 Reasons it's a Must Watch!:
1) This is Mission Impossible III (Third installment. Can somebody say "Trilogy!!". But seriously, something must have been done right for this franchise to have one more installment)
2) Tom Cruise is in it (he's only like at the top of the Hollywood Actors Hot List according to James Ulmer: http://et.tv.yahoo.com/celebrities/14396/)
3) J.J. Abrams is on the director seat ("Alias", "Lost")
4) You get to catch Maggie Q as the lady in red on orange lamborghini.. 'nuf said..

youtube: Two Presidents

Steve Bridges and George Bush share the podiums at the 2006 White House Correspondent's Dinner

note: this one really cracks me up when i saw the news..

movie: The Sentinel (2006)

watched it last Saturday.. straight to the point, i give it 3 out of 5 - a good movie.. :D.

all the four main and supporting actors and actresses are at their top form.. Michael Douglas in his usual charm, Kiefer Sutherland giving the audience a very convincing role, Eva Longoria (well, what more can i say) looking hot no matter what she's wearing, and Kim Basinger in her element..

the story are engaging.. based on a novel by Gerald Petievich.. overall you get a big picture of what is going on.. but after leaving the theater you start to question so many sub-plots that, though it doesn't affect much on the whole show, began to bother you..

reason it didn't make it to 4? sub-plots (or as i like to call it in RPG terms, the side quests) are hard to follow and give you headaches.. some backgrounds of the characters were not presented well enough.. and lastly, it is sad for me to notice that Kim is starting to get wrinkly and all..

side note: for those who have grown accustomed to Keifer's and Eva's work in 24 and Desperate Housewife, respectively, you might find it a bit harder to let their new role to sink in.. :).