OZARK'S TOP 250 MOVIES: #170-#161

#170 - Best in Show (2000)
From the minds of the guys behind Spinal Tap comes a fake documentary about the owners of dogs competing in a world famous show. With over half the dialogue improvised this film comes across as witty and out right hilarious.

#169 - Save the Green Planet (2003)
Korean movie making is heading in the right direction and this is a perfect example of great cinema. A often deeply disturbing look into one man's madness makes the viewer question the reality he is living in.

#168 - Braveheart (1995)
Mel Gibson's biopic epic is a high point of the 90s. Marvellous landscapes to huge battles fill out this great film as we follow William Wallace as he is the one man to stand up to the tyranny of the English.

#167 - Mulholland Dr (2001)
The master of surrealist cinema working at his finest with this twisted story of a girl who isn't sure who she is anymore. Naomi Watts is stunning in her first major role. Sit, remove your brain and enjoy.

#166 - Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)
A classic. Spencer Tracey is the one handed stranger who comes to a small town that is hiding a secret past. Taunt, masterful and desolate.

#165 - The Big Sleep (1946)
Bogart IS Philip Marlowe. That's all the recommendation you need.

#164 - The Iron Giant (1999)
In the new age of CGI animation and the big Disney musical cartoons here is one that is keeping it real. Set during the height of cold war paranoia in a small American costal town this film looks to the relationship between a boy and his giant alien robot. A kids movie with a real message and simplistic beauty in the art.

#163 - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
The Jones boys are back together. This the final episode in the trilogy has Indy going searching for his father, an excellent Sean Connery. The on-screen comedic teaming of Ford and Connery is priceless and is enough to revitalise the series.

#162 - Brazil (1985)
Terry Gilliam much maligned tongue in cheek sci-fi which more than parodies 1984 is bizarrely beautiful and a surreal work of genius.

#161 - Rain Man (1988)
Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman are great together. You feel every emotional twist and turn in the life of the Babbitts.

OZARK'S WORST 20 MOVIES: #20-#11

As I'm working on my top 250, it made me realise what absolutely dreadful films I have seen over the years. What needs to be taken into consideration for this is how good a potential the film already has, it if stars no names and was broadcast on sci-fi I think a little allowance for being bad is allowed. But if it contains big name stars or directors it deserves to be ridiculed for it's failings... Anyway:

#20 - Street Fighter (1994)
I am a huge Van Damme fan, but even I have to admit this movie fell below even his low expectations. I feel sorry for Raul Julia as this is the last film he made before dying.

#19 - The Avengers (1998)
Definately a case of great potential worthless squandered. Millions of dollars wasted. Even the appearance of Sean Connery and a no-speaking part for Eddie Izzard fail to save this bomb.

#18 - Jingle All the Way (1996)
Here is the nail in Schwarzeneggar's comedic career coffin. Just go rent Kindergarten Cop or Twins. Awful on so many levels.

#17 - The Haunting (1999)
A remake of a classic black and white horror film is never a good idea and this movie showcases why. Gone is the suspense and chills. Replacing it is over the top CGI and awful acting from all the cast.

#16 - Jaws: The Revenge (1987)
Jaws 3-D was a bad idea, but at least it had the 3D concept. What does Jaws: The Revenge have? Michael Caine. God help us.

#15 - The Fly II (1989)
The sequel to the Cronenberg horror classic, a remake itself. Just falls flat and doesnt go anywhere.

#14 - Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Mahattan (1989)
The worst of all the Friday movies. Bringing Jason into the big city where he stalks the teens is just a step in the wrong direction in an already slipping horror series.

#13 - The Crow: City of Angels (1996)
After Brandon Lee's Crow was a cult hit they bring in Vincent Perez as the new Crow taking revenge on the people who did him wrong. And that's exactly what this movie is. Wrong.

#12 - Vertical Limit (2000)
I can't believe I didn't enjoy a movie with Bill Paxton in it. I think he should have been the lead actor. I just can't stand Chris O'Donnell. The tagline for this is 'Hold Your Breath'. I agree. Go ahead hold your breath if you're lucky you may pass out and miss the whole thing.

#11 - Disturbing Behaviour (1998)
The only thing disturbing about this film is that it ever got made. James Marsden and Katie Holmes are both far too pretty to be good actors. And the premise is just another dreadful horror rehash.

OZARK'S TOP 250 MOVIES: #180-#171

#180 - Jerry Maguire (1996)
The last Cameron Crowe movie of great quality formed a rebirth in the career of Tom Cruise and made a star of Renee Zellweger. And Cuba you had us at 'SHOW ME THE MONEY!!'

#179 - Police Story (1985)
Jackie Chan's greatest movie. Strong story, great camerawork and action to die for. The opening sequence in which they destroy an entire shanty town is very impressive. Fox just bought the rights to this from New Line so maybe we will get a the US DVD release this movie deserves.

#178 - X-Men (2000)
Bryan Singer brings to life Marvel's greatest superhero team and in the process makes one of the best comic book adaptations ever. Hugh Jackman proves all the fanboys wrong as he brilliantly brings Wolverine to life.

#177 - Full Contact (1992)
Chow Yun Fat is a criminal double-crossed and left for dead by his fellow criminals, so of course he plots his revenge in Ringo Lam's excellent heroic bloodshed thriller.

#176 - Chasing Amy (1997)
Ben Affleck turns a gay Joey Lauren Adams straight in this most romantic, and often very funny, of the Kevin Smith films. But yet again, as in Mallrats, the movie is all about Jason Lee.

#175 - The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
This is one of only two movies to walk away with all 5 major oscars (Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenplay). This a fantastically deep psychological thriller/horror which spawned alot of imitators.

#174 - The Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001)
An excellent blend of several genres all wrapped up in a period piece. It's a mystery, horror, adventure and action movie. It also stars the under-rated Mark Dacascos who is a very fine actor and martial artist.

#173 - Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)
Jim Jarmusch takes us on an off-beat journey with a mafia hit-man who follows the code of the samurai who is then targeted for death by his bosses. A unique blend of eastern mysticism and hip-hop flows together flawlessly.

#172 - Shrek (2001)
An hilarious blend of in-jokes for adults and kids alike. This CGI adventure pushes the boundaries of family films to it's limits.

#171 - Dancer in the Dark (2000)
Bjork puts a suprisingly sublime peformance in Lars Von Trier's dark musical. She is Selma a Czech immigrant who works hard to make money to keep son from going blind from the same disease she is inflicted with. Powerful and moving.

Just another Saturday morning

No wonder you get tickets.

It's Saturday morning and here I am at work. For those of you who don't know I work front desk at hotel. And for the most part I really love my job, it helps that the hotel is a really nice one and we have other great members of staff. So any guest complaints are kept to minimum.

Today would be a great day if it wasn't for the first 90 minutes and the morons who got traffic tickets and now have to attend class. I spend most of my time pointing down the hallway saying "First or third door on your left.".

Okay we have a billboard in the lobby on the wall next to the hall that leads to the meeting rooms and on this board is the names of the classes. Not that having the names helps half the people don't speak english or don't even know the name of the class they are here for.

I put signs up saying that anyone from the traffic schools cannot have anything from the breakfast bar but are more than welcome to have coffee. Yet they don't read them or see them. Well that isn't surprising really, why else would they be getting tickets if they can't read signs. Or they are too busy looking around because they are lost.

And then you get the one or two who call because they are lost and have no idea where they are supposed to be going, or even where the class is.

Don't even get me started on the guests who see cockroaches in their room only for it too turn out to be crickets.. apparently we get those here in Arizona. Go figure.

SOCOM 3 - I'm lovin it.

Playing for a week and a half now.

Managed to get 16 ranked games in. Rated around 90,000 right now.

I understand the way ranking goes. It is all based on how many games you have played. You get your first bar and become Seaman Apprentice at 5 games.. and then Seaman (Which I am) at 15 games. I will try and find out more at a later date.

I just don't get the rating points system. It must be like the SOCOM 2 one. Based more on rounds won and lost than on kills of deaths. I have been consistantly getting more kills than deaths but I always end on a losing team. Actually the way it usually goes is:

I play great. Go 18-9. Team loses.
I play mediocore. Go 8-9. Team wins.
I NEVER suck. My wife wouldn't let me. How many guys out there can say they not only have there teammates bitching at you when you aren't playing but also your wife. Now I just have to get that second PS2 and another copy of SOCOM so I can teach her how to play.

Also I must say I am a fan of the credit card verification BS. In my opinion the games I have played in so far have been a lot more pleasant than they old stuff, where you would get some little 12 year old yelling swear words in my ear, calling people on the other team and our team gay. I have yet to come across an out and out TeamKiller. It's like Socom players all just grew up and are actually playing a bit more seriously.

Now if only the online folk at Partypoker.com who are in the playmoney tourneys would take them seriously you wouldn't get the idiots going all-in with pocket 8 and 5 on the first hand. Morons. I love busting those nuts with an opening Ace King.

LOST - Pictures and spoilers.

Here a couple of pictures from the upcoming seventh episode - the one that is going to show the story of the 'tailies' and what happened to them in there first 48 days.





















Please note the teddy bear. Also anyone else - after seeing the teddy bear on a piece of string being carried by 'the others' did you think of Peter Pan's Lost Boys??

New spoilers from the board I visit:

*SPOILERS* - Don't read if you don't want to know

Spoiler 19: The airport encounter between Jack and Ana-Lucia was not accidental.
Spoiler 20: Shannon is killed by another FEMALE = Oz opinion: Interesting. Claire having so Post-partum problems???
Spoiler 21: "The Dharma Initiative creators, Gerald and Karen DeGroot --- a bearded man and blonde women seen in the film Jack and Locke watched in the hatch --- bear a striking (if not younger) resemblance to two of the people who kidnapped Walt"says Abrams. = Oz opinion: Clones?
Spoiler 22: There are other [Dharma] films that eventually you will see [on the show]," reveals Abrams.
Spoiler 23: When asked "Is it just a coincidence that Jack and hatch dweller Desmond Have met before?" Intersecting lives have become a trend on the series. In fact, Jack is already connected to Sawyer and Shannon. "The show gets to wrestle with and not always resolve questions about fate," cocreator J.J. Abrams crypyically reveals


There ya go... until next time.

MOVIE REVIEW - Unleashed (2005)

AKA Danny the Dog

Director: Louis Leterrier
Writer: Luc Besson
Starring: Jet Li, Morgan Freeman, Bob Hoskins

Danny (Jet Li) is a dog, well a man raised like one. Caged and trained to be an unstoppable martial-arts machine when unleashed. He escapes his life when an attempt on his owner/boss (Hoskins) leaves his shot but alive. He ends up in the home of blind piano tuner (Freeman) and his step-daughter (Kerry Condon). Trying to start a new life with a family his past catches up with him all too soon.

Luc Besson wrote the script of this movie for Jet Li and as in previous movies from the French auteur the character of Danny fills a familiar posisiton. Much like The Professional's 'Leon' (Jean Reno) and to some extent La Femme Nikita's Nikita (Anne Parillaud), Danny is childlike in nature, an innocent corrupted to do evil things just because that is all he knows. Then he finds himself in a place where he can escape all the past and start anew or so he thinks. At it's bare bones it is a film anout family and finding your place in that family.

Definately more dramatic than the trailers and advertisements would have you think and this isn't bad, unlike when Van Damme started trying to act with Nowhere to Run, Jet Li has some acting muscle to flex. His character lacks any facial emmotion but his eyes tell a different story and this is where Li excells he carries himself so well you often forget he is an action star. In fact he even outshines the always great Freeman and Hoskins.

Then comes the action. And boy is it action. Jet Li IS an animal and the martial arts choreography courtesey of Yuen Wo Ping is sublime. The bathroom fight between Danny and 'The Stranger' (Michael Ian Lambert) is a particular high point. Fast, viscious and insane.

The Good: Jet Li's best Hollywood work to date.
The Bad: Kerry Condon as the daughter seems a little out of place.
The Ugly: Bob Hoskins isn't a very nice person.

Overall: Action Unleashed. 9/10

OZARK'S TOP 250 MOVIES: #190-#181

#190 - Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
James Cameron yet again reset the bar of special effects film-making in the sequel to his original 80s movie which made a star of the Governator.

#189 - The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Mel Gibson's tale of the last days of Christ was shamefully overlooked at the Oscars but what he made here is a powerful and bold movie.

#188 - Men in Black (1997)
It isn't hip-hop star Will Smith, the special effects or the excellent script that make this film great. It is Tommy Lee Jones his straight-faced low key turn as Agent K is the perfect foil for Smith's Agent J's boundless energy.

#187 - The Breakfast Club (1985)
"Don't you forget about me." is how the song goes. The reply to this is simply that I can never forget the day I spent in detention with the cast of John Hughes' comedy. One of the key movies of the mid-80s.

#186 - The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
"Klaatu barada nikto!". An alien shows up on Earth and tells us if we don't change our violent ways that our planet will be destroyed. The anti-war message of this classic black and white sci-fi still holds true 50 years later

#185 - The Great Escape (1963)
Based on a true story this movie tells the tale of the largest Allied escape from a German POW camp during WWII. From Steve McQueen as the cooler king Hilts to that opening theme music this film warrants all the praise it gets.

#184 - The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
Michael Mann's epic story of forbidden love during the French/Indian War is a much under-rated and overlooked movie. The photography is stunning throughout, as typical with most Mann movies and the performances from Daniel Day Lewis and Madelaine Stowe are classic.

#183 - Annie Hall (1977)
The film that won the Best film oscar in 77, beating out Star Wars, is definately the finest example of Woody Allen's moviemaking skills. A brilliant writer and director, but I've always felt his acting range is some what limited.

#182 - Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Often shockingly violent this is Spielberg's emmotional taunt story of a mission whose goal is pratically suicidal. Is one man's life worth that of many? We are taken from gripping sequence to gripping sequence as Spielberg flexes his directorial skills.

#181 - Finding Nemo (2003)
Pixar's film of the little fish that was lost takes the viewer on a marvellous journey through the gorguous underwater world created on computers. Often funny, sometimes sad, always excellent.

OZARK'S TOP 250 MOVIES: #200-#191

#200 - Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)
An off Broadway musical turned movie by the original cast and writer. This "post punk neo-glam rock odyssey" is an vibrant rock musical. With great performances and even greater songs. A true gem.

#199 - Pale Rider (1985)
Clint Eastwood directs himself as the Preacher with no name that saves the old west mining town from the evil land owners. One of his best westerns.

#198 - Heat (1995)
The first on-screen teaming of De Niro and Pacino does not disappoint in Michael Mann's crime thriller epic.

#197 - Forrest Gump (1994)
A marvellous journey through American history with Tom Hanks as the mentally challenged Gump. "Life is like a box of chocolates." Indeed. This would definatley be the one with the caramel center.

#196 - A Clockwork Orange (1971)
"Vide well, vide well." Kubrick's tale of Malcolm McDowell and his fellow droogs is a very violent anti-violence story of finding redemption.

#195 - A Beautiful Mind (2001)
It seems Russell Crowe can do no wrong as he put in an effortlessly excellent performance in Ron Howard's biopic of John Nash.

#194 - The Fugitive (1993)
Harrison Ford is Dr Richard Kimble in this big screen remake of the classic TV series. Wrong accused of his wife's murder, Kimble sets about trying to prove his innocence.
"He had a mechanical arm!"

#193 & #192 - Matrix Reloaded (2003), Matrix Revolutions (2003)
The last 2 chapters in the Matrix trilogy fall short of the potential that was realised with the original. But they still set high standards in the sci-fi genre that demand to be watched.

#191 - Goldfinger (1964)
The best of the Bond movies and one high point in the career of Sean Connery.
"I'm Pussy Galore."
"I must be dreaming."

LOST - Who is going to die? *SPOILERS*

I really must stop reading all those posts on other message boards. But apparently both spoilerfx.com and ainitcoolnews.com have reported who will die in Episode 6 of the second season - will not be broadcast until Nov 6. The next 2 episodes after this week will be "Orientation" and "Adrift" re-runs.

And it is.....
*SPOILER*

SHANNON - The episode is going to contain flashbacks from her.. building upto her death.

*SPOILER END*

Episode 7 that follows this will be a "concept episode" showcasing Ana-Lucia days on the island with flashbacks to her past as well.

The next big shock will be who the killer is... my theory and possible spoiler

*SPOILER*

CHARLIE - For one reason or another. possibly something to do with drugs, maybe something else like protecting Aaron. But episode 8 is going to be a Charlie flashback one. Meaning he is the central character in the episode that they are going to reveal the killer.

*SPOILER END*

Watch me be wrong... but that is half the fun of being LOST.

OZARK'S TOP 250 MOVIES: #210-#201

#210 - From Russia With Love (1963)
The second Bond movie produced is also the third best one.

#209 - Training Day (2001)
"King Kong ain't got shit on me!!" yells Denzel's corrupt cop. Well King Kong doesn't have shit on this movie, as Ethan Hawke's training day becomes the learning experience of a life time.

#208 - Boogie Nights (1997)
Mark Whalberg is Dirk Diggler but the real star is his prostetic screen mate. Paul Thomas Anderson's faux biopic is as funny as it is a real look into lives of porn stars.

#207 - Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Johnny Depp is the title character in Tim Burton's loveingly crafted dark-comedy of innocence and love.

#206 - On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
Bond gets emotions. George Lazenby, although not a great actor, got to take Bond to a new level for his one appearance. His Bond was more violent but yet had a heart which eventually got broken. Love, loss and was that Kojak?

#205 - Superman II (1980)
The more action orientated sequel bests the original taking the story through a Metropolis without Superman through to his return. General Zod rules.

#204 - Office Space (1999)
Before BBC's The Office there was this. We've all had bosses like Gary Cole that what makes this movie so funny.

#203 - In the Line of Fire (1993)
If there is one thing that Eastwood does well is the over the hill guy who can still get the job done when it counts. In this case it means taking down John Malkovich's nutjob presidential assassin.

#202 - Near Dark (1987)
Perenial James Cameron movie stars Lance Henriksen, Jennette Goldstein and Bill Paxton appear as vampires in this fantastic dark road movie from Kathryn Bigelow.

#201 - Red Rock West (1992)
A great example of modern film noir. Nicolas Cage is a drifter mistaken for a hitman by bar owner JT Walsh, who wants Cage to kill his wife. Dennis Hopper is excellent as the real hitman.

OZARK'S TOP 250 MOVIES: #220-#211

#220 - The Dirty Dozen (1967)
Lee Marvin leads his team of ex-criminals into occupied Germany on an impossible mission.

#219 - The City of Lost Children (1995)
Jeunet & Caro at there inventive best which this touching French movie about holding onto your inner child.

#218 - The Graduate (1967)
"Mrs Robinson. Are you trying to seduce me?" Hoffman has never acted geekier or so awkward ever again.

#217 - The Producers (1968)
Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder star in the often hilarious Mel Brooks movie that has inspired a Broadway musical

#216 - The Wizard of Oz (1939)
A great musical. A great family movie. Just an all round classic.
"I'll get you my pretty and your little dog too!!"

#215 - Ben-Hur (1959)
Charlton Heston heads the cast in this huge semi-biblical epic. Chariot races and all.

#214 - Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)
John Carpenters modern take on the Alamo. A remote police station and it's few occupants is surrounded by an endless number of gang members.

#213 - Ringu (1998)
The original Japansese version is excellent example of just pure terror. Watch it and just try to sleep that night.

#212 - The Fifth Element (1997)
A bright bold sci-fi adventure from French director Luc Besson. Even the annoying Chris Tucker as Ruby Rodd fails to drag this movie down, his brash attitude just blends in with the surroundings.

#211 - The Truman Show (1998)
An ingenious satirical jab at TV reality shows plays out perfectly thanks to an outstanding performance from Jim Carrey.
"Good morning. And if I don't see you. Good afternoon, good evening and good night."

LOST - 6 stations. 6 signs?

Just a couple more Lost pictures. Below are photos which contain different variations of the Dharma symbol. The first one obviously an arrow, the second in the background could be a Raven or a Crow. These start to support a theory that each station has a different symbol each with different meanings.

















There is also a picture circulating which makes it look like a Dharma symbol on the plane. I will try to find it and post it later.

OZARK'S TOP 250 MOVIES: #230-#221

#230 - Young Frankenstein (1974)
Mel Brooks' hilarious take on the classic Mary Shelley story. Just remember it's pronouced "FRONK-N-STEEN"

#229 - Escape From New York (1981)
The eye patch wearing mercenary Snake Plisken is born as he is asked to rescue the President from New York, now a high security prison island.

#228 - Witness (1985)
The tage line was simply "Harrison Ford is John Book". You couldn't get simpler than that but what is placed on screen is a thriller with more heart than should be expected.

#227 - Marathon Man (1976)
"Is it safe?". No. Is it great? Yes

#226 - Young Guns (1988)
Emilio Estevez immortalises Billy the Kid and redefines westerns in this younger take on the classic genre. Gone are the usual grizzled gunslingers and here are the young good-looking ones.

#225 - Back to the Future Part III (1990)
The final part in the trilogy is 4 parts western, 1 part sci-fi as our hero Marty McFly is sent back in time to 1888 to save Doc Brown.

#224 - Superman (1978)
In our hearts Christopher Reeves will always be Superman.

#223 - Crimson Tide (1995)
Plenty of screw-chewing acting from Hackman and Washington elevates this submarine movie out of the depths and breaks the surface.

#222 - Mr Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
James Stewart is the everyman who gets a place in the US senate where he strives fight the corruption in this Frank Capra classic.

#221 - 101 Dalmatians (1961)
One of Disney many fine moments which brings to life a truly great cinematic villian in Cruella De Vil

LOST - More spoilers

Adding to the list in a previous post. Please don't read if you don't want to know...

Spoiler 16: Kirstin says. "I just found out HOW the female on Lost dies and.I want to cry. I'm not kidding. It's so shocking. So good. And so unbelievable. The doomed female dies NOT at the hands of the monster. But it is at the hands of someone we know who .... well, given this twist, just might BE a monster.
Spoiler 17: Desmond will be back.
Spoiler 18: The person that is killed is intentionally killed, although the reason will not be known to us immediately. This is not a LOST murder mystery though, it's more of a why'd they do it. The person who dies is a crash survivor. The person who kills them will not be revealed until the November sweeps week episode (of course). The network will dangle this information for a while to build anticipation. (Another "who shot JR" moment.) The full time-line is: Death in Episode 6. Rerun the following week. Then episode 7 which is mostly told in flashback from the tail-section point of view, but ends with a teaser of who killed ________. Then Episode 8 which reveals who the killer is. Look for this person to deceive everybody except for a select few.

OZARK'S TOP 250 MOVIES: #240-#231

#240 - Back to the Future Part II (1989)
The low-point of the trilogy but still a great comedy-scifi. Michael J Fox will always be Marty McFly, this part had the most interesting plot and most of the paradoxs are worked out well.

#239 - The Man with Two Brains (1983)
The early-80s and Steve Martin was still funny. I will forever remember him throwing Kathleen Turner out the back door yelling "Into the mud scum queen!!"

#238 - The Crow (1994)
Brandon Lee's final movie and a great testament to his abilities as action star and actor. He will be missed.

#237 - Mad Max 2: Road Warrior (1981)
The post-apocalyptic outback never looked better. George Miller, who went onto make Babe, should be proud of this fine piece of silver screen action, it never looked so raw.

#236 - Ong-Bak: Thai Warrior (2003)
Speaking of action. Stunts that would kill most men are the order of the day in what is already being regarded as one of the great martial arts movies of all time. All thanks to one man. Tony Jaa.

#235 - Ed Wood (1994)
Johnny Depp again, this time under the skillful hand of Tim Burton, puts in his best performance ever as the critcally panned B-movie director.

#234 - The Third Man (1949)
One of the best of the 40s film noir era. Orson Welles stars as Harry Limes, a character almost as famous as Welles himself. Post-WWII paranoia is brought forth in the plot with outstanding use of light and shadow throughout.

#233 - Chinatown (1974)
Another film-noir, another classic character. Jack Nicholson IS Jake 'JJ' Gittes in this moody tale into human darkness.

#232 - The Long Good Friday (1980)
Bob Hoskins rules the screen as the gangster whose business are getting muscled in on. Follow Hoskins as he fights for his life and well-being in one of the best British gangster films.

#231 - Miller's Crossing (1990)
The Coen Brothers gangster movie has been hailed as a masterpiece of modern cinema, for me it is brilliant but not the best Coen brothers movie, mind you even saying that is healthy praise.

SOCOM 3 - What a rush!!!!

At first the idea of huge maps was very daunting to me, and for the most part playing them still is. I hate getting sniped after wandering around a map for 3 minutes looking for a fight.

Well last night in a respawn game on the map Crucible I went 6 minutes of 10 without getting killed. Something that was almost impossible on Socom 2. Hell even last 3o seconds in respawn was an achievement. After that game I got MVP twice in a row in respawn games on Devil's Road (may favorite board so far) and Killing Fields.

For me this incarnation of Socom is more accesible. I like the idea of unranked and ranked rooms. I can play in unranked when I don't know how long I can play for so I can quit whenever without penalty. And then I can play ranked to get, well, my rank. I have my first 2 diagonal bars which means I am Seaman Apprentice, whatever that means.

Things I love about this version:
1. Fast login from the main menu takes you straight in the SOCOM universe

2. From your friends list you can click on a buddy and join the game they are in.

3. It seems harder to get a kill. Which is a good thing as it is also harder for you to die. Snipers almost always have to get a head shot even with the M87. More often than not you end up in firefights that can last longer than 2-3 seconds.

4. In addition to the above point. Using cover to hide becomes even more essential and lot more fun as you hide from passing vehicles.

5. Vehicles. This part of the game is the most fun, even if you die when the truck you were driving gets blown up by an AT4 you just have to laugh. They also bring in another strategic element. Forcing alot of on foot soldiers to hide from the tank as it drives by.

6. Game variations. I have been playing Suppresion most of the time but there is all the other options out there. So many ways to play each map, night or day. It could take a life time just to learn each one. A different style of game each night of the week. Convoy is particularly tough as you have to protect trucks from being destroyed.

All this and I havent played the offline mode yet.

LOST - Driveshaft site

Thanks Bill for link. Not sure if this is old news, well I know I missed this.

www.driveshaftband.com

You All Everybody!!!