Apple CEO Steve Jobs lost his battle with cancer today. He was 56 years old. He will be deeply missed. There's no denying that he changed technology for the better. Like him or hate him, Steve Jobs has had a huge impact. I remember having to do a report on a famous admirer back in 7th grade. I chose Jobs. I grew to respect him, as I began to realize all the contributions he's had. Without him, I wouldn't be typing this (on my Mac). Without him, I wouldn't be listening to music everywhere I went. Not only was he the founder of Apple, but he also helped Pixar Animation Studios get off the ground. Two of the largest and most influential businesses in the world. I hope the best for his family and for Apple.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/05/us/obit-steve-jobs/index.html?iref=BN1&hpt=hp_t1
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
James Bond 23 Title Revealed??
The site WhatCulture! has revealed this afternoon, that a dozen of domain names containing the name "Skyfall" have been registered under Sony. These URLs contain James Bond buzz words like his name, as well as the words "film" in them.
http://whois.domaintools.com/jamesbond-skyfall.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/jamesbond-skyfall.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/jamesbondskyfall.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/jamesbondskyfall.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfall-film.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfall-thefilm.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfall-thefilm.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfall-themovie.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfall-themovie.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfallfilm.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfallmovie.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfallthefilm.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfallthefilm.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfallthemovie.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfallthemovie.com
If this is true, not only would it be awesome, but it would be the first James Bond movie with a unique name since Die Another Day back in 2002. Even though a few Fleming novels have yet to have been turned into movies, such as Property of a Lady and 007 in New York, this can be an almost confirmation that the name will be Skyfall.
To me, this sounds like the name of a video game more, but hey, I'm not complaining. It has a Bond-y feel to it, and the movie would most likely involve an aerial atmosphere, hence the name SKYfall. Filming has yet to begin, although it will soon, for a wide release on November 9th, 2012.
http://whois.domaintools.com/jamesbond-skyfall.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/jamesbond-skyfall.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/jamesbondskyfall.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/jamesbondskyfall.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfall-film.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfall-thefilm.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfall-thefilm.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfall-themovie.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfall-themovie.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfallfilm.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfallmovie.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfallthefilm.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfallthefilm.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfallthemovie.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/skyfallthemovie.com
If this is true, not only would it be awesome, but it would be the first James Bond movie with a unique name since Die Another Day back in 2002. Even though a few Fleming novels have yet to have been turned into movies, such as Property of a Lady and 007 in New York, this can be an almost confirmation that the name will be Skyfall.
To me, this sounds like the name of a video game more, but hey, I'm not complaining. It has a Bond-y feel to it, and the movie would most likely involve an aerial atmosphere, hence the name SKYfall. Filming has yet to begin, although it will soon, for a wide release on November 9th, 2012.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Kindle Explosion!
At Amazon's not-so-mysterious press conference today, they showed off the newest family of Kindles, as well as a completely new product, the Kindle Fire.
The newest fourth generation Kindle ditches the keyboard completely, and leaves you with a big home button, 4-way controller, and the page turners. The device is a lot smaller, as well, and much more lightweight. You get all the benefits of the Kindle software, like access to millions of books, newspapers, magazines, and more. Nothing really "new" has been added to this Kindle, with the exception of the hardware. The 4th generation Kindle is out now and retails for $79 with special offers or $109 without.
Next is the Kindle Touch, and Kindle Touch 3G. The names give away the fact that, yes, finally, the Kindle has a touch screen, allowing it to compete with such eReaders as the Nook. All the regular Kindle features are back, as well. The Wi-Fi version costs $99 and the 3G + Wi-Fi costs $149, and they will be released on November 21st.
Lastly, the big announcement, is Amazon's answer to the tablet explosion. Albeit a little late to the party, the Kindle Fire is an impressive device. Full color multi-touch screen, with access to ALL of Amazon's fantastic content. That means music, movies, tv shows, books, magazines, newspapers, blogs, games, the list goes on and on. The Kindle Fire features a fast, dual-core processor, allowing for ultra-fast web browsing from Amazon Silk, Amazon's speedy web browser that supports Adobe Flash. Also included is free storage in Amazon Cloud, meaning all your digital content is readily available for use. Email is also featured, as well as PDF reading. Buyers will also be rewarded with one free month of Amazon Prime, Amazon's movie and tv service. Kindle Fire comes pre-loaded for your use, and you don't even need a computer to use it. Battery life is a disappointing 8 hours, and the device only supports Wi-Fi, although a 3G one sounds imminent. Kindle Fire sells for $199, surprisingly cheap, and will be available on November 15th, just in time for the holidays. I'll have my full thoughts up later this week.
P.S. My computer finally works again, so expect more blog posts from me in the future!
The newest fourth generation Kindle ditches the keyboard completely, and leaves you with a big home button, 4-way controller, and the page turners. The device is a lot smaller, as well, and much more lightweight. You get all the benefits of the Kindle software, like access to millions of books, newspapers, magazines, and more. Nothing really "new" has been added to this Kindle, with the exception of the hardware. The 4th generation Kindle is out now and retails for $79 with special offers or $109 without.
Next is the Kindle Touch, and Kindle Touch 3G. The names give away the fact that, yes, finally, the Kindle has a touch screen, allowing it to compete with such eReaders as the Nook. All the regular Kindle features are back, as well. The Wi-Fi version costs $99 and the 3G + Wi-Fi costs $149, and they will be released on November 21st.
Lastly, the big announcement, is Amazon's answer to the tablet explosion. Albeit a little late to the party, the Kindle Fire is an impressive device. Full color multi-touch screen, with access to ALL of Amazon's fantastic content. That means music, movies, tv shows, books, magazines, newspapers, blogs, games, the list goes on and on. The Kindle Fire features a fast, dual-core processor, allowing for ultra-fast web browsing from Amazon Silk, Amazon's speedy web browser that supports Adobe Flash. Also included is free storage in Amazon Cloud, meaning all your digital content is readily available for use. Email is also featured, as well as PDF reading. Buyers will also be rewarded with one free month of Amazon Prime, Amazon's movie and tv service. Kindle Fire comes pre-loaded for your use, and you don't even need a computer to use it. Battery life is a disappointing 8 hours, and the device only supports Wi-Fi, although a 3G one sounds imminent. Kindle Fire sells for $199, surprisingly cheap, and will be available on November 15th, just in time for the holidays. I'll have my full thoughts up later this week.
P.S. My computer finally works again, so expect more blog posts from me in the future!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass vs. Spirit Tracks
As both Zelda entries for the Nintendo DS, Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks weren't exactly what Zelda fans were looking for. They were too similar, and too similar to other additions to the franchise, namely Wind Waker. Therefore, I'm going to explain which is better, for your buying sake. Spirit Tracks is definitely better than Phantom Hourglass, for a variety of reasons.
First, the mode of transportation. We already saw a boat in Wind Waker, so boating in PH was no real thrill, and it felt like a chore, and kind of an afterthought. There weren't nearly as many islands in PH as there were in WW, and you lost the sense of exploration like there was in WW when you were exploring a gigantic 7x7 map. In ST, however, we were introduced to train conductor Link, traveling around Hyrule on a steam locomotive. This worked great. The touch controls were easy to use, the cannon was a blast (lol), and it was just much more exciting, as you explored all four regions. You also got a sense of discovery, thinking, "what's around this bend?", and you were enticed to explore.
Second, the central dungeon, as explained above. PH had the Temple of the Ocean King, which you were required to return to and re-explore after each main dungeon. The hourglass gimmick was fun, and racing around the temple before time ran out was a bit nerve-wracking and exciting, but having to re-visit the temple upwards to 5 times was a real chore, and it just became not fun after the first few times. ST kept this same idea of a central dungeon, but it was presented differently. After completing each realm, you unlocked another floor of the tower, and this was completely different from the floor below it, presenting a wholly original challenge each time.
Third, the gameplay that made ST great just wasn't there in PH. PH felt way too similar to WW, and while, I wouldn't mind that, I don't want two identical clones, they have to be at least a bit unique. ST felt new, and even with the similar graphical style, I didn't let that stop me from enjoying an adventure different from PH. Having Zelda along for the ride was a welcome treat, and a constant companion with you was a nice change in the formula. The items in ST were also better suited for the type of game that it is. For example, in PH you receive items identical to games before it, not providing you with much variety, but rather with a sense of deja-vu. ST, on the other hand, had the whip, which was all new, and it was used in very unique ways both in and outside the ocean realm. Also, the deku spinning thing was also cool, and it made for different and more challenging puzzles. The last element that trumps PH is the addition of the Spirit Flute. Similar to the Ocarina and Wind Waker, the spirit flute allowed you to play various songs to trigger outside events. The DS microphone and stylus were put to great use, and, although not very bus-friendly, it was a lot of fun playing the duets with the lokomos.
First, the mode of transportation. We already saw a boat in Wind Waker, so boating in PH was no real thrill, and it felt like a chore, and kind of an afterthought. There weren't nearly as many islands in PH as there were in WW, and you lost the sense of exploration like there was in WW when you were exploring a gigantic 7x7 map. In ST, however, we were introduced to train conductor Link, traveling around Hyrule on a steam locomotive. This worked great. The touch controls were easy to use, the cannon was a blast (lol), and it was just much more exciting, as you explored all four regions. You also got a sense of discovery, thinking, "what's around this bend?", and you were enticed to explore.
Second, the central dungeon, as explained above. PH had the Temple of the Ocean King, which you were required to return to and re-explore after each main dungeon. The hourglass gimmick was fun, and racing around the temple before time ran out was a bit nerve-wracking and exciting, but having to re-visit the temple upwards to 5 times was a real chore, and it just became not fun after the first few times. ST kept this same idea of a central dungeon, but it was presented differently. After completing each realm, you unlocked another floor of the tower, and this was completely different from the floor below it, presenting a wholly original challenge each time.
Third, the gameplay that made ST great just wasn't there in PH. PH felt way too similar to WW, and while, I wouldn't mind that, I don't want two identical clones, they have to be at least a bit unique. ST felt new, and even with the similar graphical style, I didn't let that stop me from enjoying an adventure different from PH. Having Zelda along for the ride was a welcome treat, and a constant companion with you was a nice change in the formula. The items in ST were also better suited for the type of game that it is. For example, in PH you receive items identical to games before it, not providing you with much variety, but rather with a sense of deja-vu. ST, on the other hand, had the whip, which was all new, and it was used in very unique ways both in and outside the ocean realm. Also, the deku spinning thing was also cool, and it made for different and more challenging puzzles. The last element that trumps PH is the addition of the Spirit Flute. Similar to the Ocarina and Wind Waker, the spirit flute allowed you to play various songs to trigger outside events. The DS microphone and stylus were put to great use, and, although not very bus-friendly, it was a lot of fun playing the duets with the lokomos.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Program
Earlier this month, Nintendo unveiled a price cut for the Nintendo 3DS. This was their response to the system's low sales after its weak launch, partially due to the weak lineup of release games. Originally $249.99, this price cut slashed the price all the way down to $169.99. As one of the biggest price cuts in gaming history, those dedicated many who bought the system at launch, like me, felt ripped off. Just because we're dedicated Nintendo gamers, does this mean we'll be left out in the dirt with $80 less?
Luckily, the answer is no, thanks to the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Program, which was announced early August and went live today. Nintendo's rewards for those lucky gamers who stuck with the 3DS at launch would receive 10 free NES games and 10 free GBA games through the Nintendo 3DS eShop. The NES games are available today, and will be available at a low price for the non-ambassadors. The GBA rewards will be available by the end of the year, and these are exclusively for ambassadors only. 20 free games amounts to more than $80, so it's a great deal in my book.
The NES games are as follows:
Super Mario Bros.
Donkey Kong Jr.
Balloon Fight
Ice Climber
The Legend of Zelda
Metroid
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
NES Open Tournament Golf
Yoshi
Wrecking Crew.
These are available today, and can be downloaded through the 3DS eShop. Just select the eShop on the 3DS menu, then scroll all the way left to the Settings menu. From there, click "downloaded items", and scroll to find your rewards. It's kind of a pain to download each individually, but they go quick and it's totally worth it. I've had the time to play through a few of these, and there are some great classics on this list that newer gamers and veterans will love. I wouldn't have minded some others, like Super Mario Bros. 3 or Punch-Out!! instead of NES Golf or Wrecking Crew, but hey, you can't argue with free games!
The GBA games (so far), are as follows:
Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island
Mario Kart Super Circuit
Metroid Fusion
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames!
Mario vs Donkey Kong
So far, only 5 GBA exclusives have been announced, and 5 more will be on the way. These are some of my favorite games, and I'm excited to get my hands on them when they're released later this year.
Luckily, the answer is no, thanks to the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Program, which was announced early August and went live today. Nintendo's rewards for those lucky gamers who stuck with the 3DS at launch would receive 10 free NES games and 10 free GBA games through the Nintendo 3DS eShop. The NES games are available today, and will be available at a low price for the non-ambassadors. The GBA rewards will be available by the end of the year, and these are exclusively for ambassadors only. 20 free games amounts to more than $80, so it's a great deal in my book.
The NES games are as follows:
Super Mario Bros.
Donkey Kong Jr.
Balloon Fight
Ice Climber
The Legend of Zelda
Metroid
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
NES Open Tournament Golf
Yoshi
Wrecking Crew.
These are available today, and can be downloaded through the 3DS eShop. Just select the eShop on the 3DS menu, then scroll all the way left to the Settings menu. From there, click "downloaded items", and scroll to find your rewards. It's kind of a pain to download each individually, but they go quick and it's totally worth it. I've had the time to play through a few of these, and there are some great classics on this list that newer gamers and veterans will love. I wouldn't have minded some others, like Super Mario Bros. 3 or Punch-Out!! instead of NES Golf or Wrecking Crew, but hey, you can't argue with free games!
The GBA games (so far), are as follows:
Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island
Mario Kart Super Circuit
Metroid Fusion
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames!
Mario vs Donkey Kong
So far, only 5 GBA exclusives have been announced, and 5 more will be on the way. These are some of my favorite games, and I'm excited to get my hands on them when they're released later this year.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Captain America: The First Avenger Review
When people think of superheroes, our good friend Captain America isn't exactly the first that comes to mind. Even though he's not mainstream, like Batman or Spiderman, Captain America still has the caliber to be, thanks to a terrific film that doesn't falter.
Captain America: The First Avenger follows the story of Steve Rogers, a puny, weak, young man looking to join the army during World War II. Due to health issues, he is constantly turned down. But one day, a Dr. Erksine allows Steve to enlist under an experiment that will create the "super human". It is successful, and Rogers is now the ripped and muscular Captain America, who leads the war against Hitler. He meets Colonel Phillips, a skeptic who isn't completely on board with the experiment and Peggy Carter, the beautiful assistant and potential love interest to Steve. Meanwhile, Dr. Zola, has stolen a mysterious tesseract from Norway in an attempt to steal its powers and create an ultimate weapon, and it's up to Captain America to stop him.
I don't know much about superheroes, let alone Captain America, nor do I care for superhero movies that much, but I really enjoyed the plot of The First Avenger. It was nice and simple, without throwing character after character at you and forcing you to remember their names. Although predictable, it was a fun time. Each character was very well-developed, as well, especially Captain America himself, and Carter. The villain, Dr. Zola, or Red Skull, is also very well-done, and his motives are clear. Also to be appreciated is the nostalgia of the 1940s, when war was being waged. You'll admire the set pieces from New York, and the cars and hairstyles are a sight to see. One scene in particular, when Captain America Version 1.0 tours America rallying troops, is very memorable. It's a nice break from the skylines of modern superhero movies like Spiderman. Also, a fun treat lies after the credits, so don't miss it!
The acting in Captain America was good, but not excellent. Chris Evans is fantastic as Captain America, and seeing him in Fantastic Four gave me a good idea of how he would perform. His sarcastic one-liners kind of bored me, but he did a great job bringing the first avenger to life. With that being said, the supporting characters, mainly Tommy Lee Jones as Colonel Phillips and Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, Rogers' friend, are sort of just there. They never evolve from nothing but supporting characters. I guess Captain America is sort of a one-man show. Even his love interest, Peggy Carter, is sort of just there for the ride, and she isn't given the screen time she deserves. Luckily, Hugo Weaving, from V For Vendetta and The Matrix series, does a stunning job as Red Skull, and he really provides the entertainment in the acting.
Special effects were fun, but nothing to marvel at, as the focus of the movie is more storydriven, and less focused on mindless action (*cough WOLVERINE cough*). The post-converted 3D is gimmicky, so skip it. The music in the film is patriotic and light-hearted, and a catchy chorus tune with Captain America touring America will be in your head for days.
Captain America: The First Avenger is a great introduction to what I hope will be a franchise as successful as Iron Man. The movie is purely storydriven, which is wonderful, and Captain America is easily the best superhero film this year.
Overall: 4.0/5.0
Captain America: The First Avenger follows the story of Steve Rogers, a puny, weak, young man looking to join the army during World War II. Due to health issues, he is constantly turned down. But one day, a Dr. Erksine allows Steve to enlist under an experiment that will create the "super human". It is successful, and Rogers is now the ripped and muscular Captain America, who leads the war against Hitler. He meets Colonel Phillips, a skeptic who isn't completely on board with the experiment and Peggy Carter, the beautiful assistant and potential love interest to Steve. Meanwhile, Dr. Zola, has stolen a mysterious tesseract from Norway in an attempt to steal its powers and create an ultimate weapon, and it's up to Captain America to stop him.
I don't know much about superheroes, let alone Captain America, nor do I care for superhero movies that much, but I really enjoyed the plot of The First Avenger. It was nice and simple, without throwing character after character at you and forcing you to remember their names. Although predictable, it was a fun time. Each character was very well-developed, as well, especially Captain America himself, and Carter. The villain, Dr. Zola, or Red Skull, is also very well-done, and his motives are clear. Also to be appreciated is the nostalgia of the 1940s, when war was being waged. You'll admire the set pieces from New York, and the cars and hairstyles are a sight to see. One scene in particular, when Captain America Version 1.0 tours America rallying troops, is very memorable. It's a nice break from the skylines of modern superhero movies like Spiderman. Also, a fun treat lies after the credits, so don't miss it!
The acting in Captain America was good, but not excellent. Chris Evans is fantastic as Captain America, and seeing him in Fantastic Four gave me a good idea of how he would perform. His sarcastic one-liners kind of bored me, but he did a great job bringing the first avenger to life. With that being said, the supporting characters, mainly Tommy Lee Jones as Colonel Phillips and Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, Rogers' friend, are sort of just there. They never evolve from nothing but supporting characters. I guess Captain America is sort of a one-man show. Even his love interest, Peggy Carter, is sort of just there for the ride, and she isn't given the screen time she deserves. Luckily, Hugo Weaving, from V For Vendetta and The Matrix series, does a stunning job as Red Skull, and he really provides the entertainment in the acting.
Special effects were fun, but nothing to marvel at, as the focus of the movie is more storydriven, and less focused on mindless action (*cough WOLVERINE cough*). The post-converted 3D is gimmicky, so skip it. The music in the film is patriotic and light-hearted, and a catchy chorus tune with Captain America touring America will be in your head for days.
Captain America: The First Avenger is a great introduction to what I hope will be a franchise as successful as Iron Man. The movie is purely storydriven, which is wonderful, and Captain America is easily the best superhero film this year.
Overall: 4.0/5.0
Friday, July 22, 2011
True Grit Review
I don't know why it's taken me so long to watch True Grit. My goal this year was to watch every Oscar Nominated film for Best Picture, and I failed up until now. True Grit is a perfectly emotional Western that hits every right note to make one great film.
Now, True Grit is based on a novel of the same name, and it follows the novel very well, or so I'm heard. The story follows a young woman by the name of Mattie Ross, who tells the story of when her father was killed by a Mr. Tom Cheney, when she was just 14 years old. The story is told through her eyes, and follows her journey to avenge her father's death. She does this with the reluctant help of Deputy Marshal Rooster Cogburn, who insists that she shouldn't tag along. She does so, anyways, and the duo sets off in search of Cheney. Meanwhile, a ranger named LeBouef, who is pursuing Cheney for his own reasons, lends them a hand along the way. This puts the plot in full swing, as they travel across rugged Texas land in hot pursuit. Being a road movie, it's important that the plot never drags. Thankfully, it doesn't, and the pacing is excellent, balancing between more subtle quieter scenes within a cabin, and crazy gunfire chases in the old West. It's this element that makes the film great, since it's never rushed. All this great pacing leads up to an excellent confrontation with Cheney and his goons, and you'll smile seeing your favorite characters aid each other, especially one heartfelt scene between Mattie and Rooster, which puts Mattie's life in danger.
With such an excellent plot, you must expect excellent acting. Like always, the Coen Brothers deliver, and I haven't seen a better cast for any movie in a long time. Jeff Bridges is the star of the show, playing Rooster, and Bridges delivers a fantastic role. He balances humor with stern and care, and his character and Steinfeld's really interact, almost to the point of calling them related. It's truly a wonder to see these two on screen, since they give such a sincere and relatable performance as their relationship throbs up and down. 14 year old breakout star Hailee Steinfeld gives a phenomenal performance as Mattie Ross, and it's no wonder why her role got her an Oscar Nomination. Matt Damon also gives a great role as LeBouef, but his character is never really fleshed out, and is sort of just there for the ride. You'll want him to be developed more, but it never really happens. Thankfully, we get a phenomenal villain played by Josh Brolin, who, up until now, I never really enjoyed as an actor.
Another surprise from True Grit is its soundtrack. Every piece is fully orchestrated, with soft piano beats and violin riffs rounding it out. One track in particular, titled "The Wicked Flee" is sort of played as the theme song for the film, and it's obvious why. A great piano introduction leads into an astonishing orchestra melody, and its emotional quality is surreal.
True Grit is that rare Western that stumbles along and astonishes us all. With a great plot, astounding acting, and a beautiful soundtrack, it's clear why True Grit is receiving all the praise, and it tops my list for best Western film of all time.
Overall: 4.5/5.0
Now, True Grit is based on a novel of the same name, and it follows the novel very well, or so I'm heard. The story follows a young woman by the name of Mattie Ross, who tells the story of when her father was killed by a Mr. Tom Cheney, when she was just 14 years old. The story is told through her eyes, and follows her journey to avenge her father's death. She does this with the reluctant help of Deputy Marshal Rooster Cogburn, who insists that she shouldn't tag along. She does so, anyways, and the duo sets off in search of Cheney. Meanwhile, a ranger named LeBouef, who is pursuing Cheney for his own reasons, lends them a hand along the way. This puts the plot in full swing, as they travel across rugged Texas land in hot pursuit. Being a road movie, it's important that the plot never drags. Thankfully, it doesn't, and the pacing is excellent, balancing between more subtle quieter scenes within a cabin, and crazy gunfire chases in the old West. It's this element that makes the film great, since it's never rushed. All this great pacing leads up to an excellent confrontation with Cheney and his goons, and you'll smile seeing your favorite characters aid each other, especially one heartfelt scene between Mattie and Rooster, which puts Mattie's life in danger.
With such an excellent plot, you must expect excellent acting. Like always, the Coen Brothers deliver, and I haven't seen a better cast for any movie in a long time. Jeff Bridges is the star of the show, playing Rooster, and Bridges delivers a fantastic role. He balances humor with stern and care, and his character and Steinfeld's really interact, almost to the point of calling them related. It's truly a wonder to see these two on screen, since they give such a sincere and relatable performance as their relationship throbs up and down. 14 year old breakout star Hailee Steinfeld gives a phenomenal performance as Mattie Ross, and it's no wonder why her role got her an Oscar Nomination. Matt Damon also gives a great role as LeBouef, but his character is never really fleshed out, and is sort of just there for the ride. You'll want him to be developed more, but it never really happens. Thankfully, we get a phenomenal villain played by Josh Brolin, who, up until now, I never really enjoyed as an actor.
Another surprise from True Grit is its soundtrack. Every piece is fully orchestrated, with soft piano beats and violin riffs rounding it out. One track in particular, titled "The Wicked Flee" is sort of played as the theme song for the film, and it's obvious why. A great piano introduction leads into an astonishing orchestra melody, and its emotional quality is surreal.
True Grit is that rare Western that stumbles along and astonishes us all. With a great plot, astounding acting, and a beautiful soundtrack, it's clear why True Grit is receiving all the praise, and it tops my list for best Western film of all time.
Overall: 4.5/5.0
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