MOVIE: Gran Turismo (2023)

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Gran Turismo Year: 2023 Rating: PG-13 Length: 134 minutes / 2.23 hours When I first saw the trailers for Gran Turismo (2023), I had my doubts. I know video game adaptations are in vogue right now, but I couldn’t figure out how a plot about a realistic racing simulation game would even work. On top of this, I had become skeptical of Neill Blomkamp’s directing, with his last few movies being somewhat hit or miss. Fortunately, once someone close to me—who doesn’t usually watch video game adaptations—recommended this film to me, I figured I should give it a shot. I’m glad I did. What helped set Gran Turismo apart from other video game adaptations is like how Tetris (2023) made a movie about a puzzle game that used simple blocks. Neither Tetris nor Gran Turismo has any plot in their respective games, but the stories around and featuring these games are much more interesting. I’m reminded of the Far Side comic where the parents are...
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VIDEO GAME: Wii Sports (2006)

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Wii Sports Year: 2006 Rating: E Time Played: ~20 hours Few games have had the immense cultural impact quite like Wii Sports. As the game included with new Wii systems, Nintendo knocked it out of the park for a game that not only was simple to pick up and play but that also was accessible to anyone who could move their arms. While previous generations of launch titles highlighted the graphical capabilities of the system, Wii Sports sold many on the motion controls that were essential to the console itself. With five different sports included in the game, Nintendo chose sports that were simple and common enough that most people just understood how to play them without much need for explanation or tutorial. Kids, adults, and grandparents could all bond over the fun experience of virtual bowling, baseball, or tennis while more serious gamers could perfect their handling of the Wii Remote to master virtual golf or boxing. Of course, the issue here being that...
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MOVIE: Senna (2010)

by benmweilertNo Comments
Senna Year: 2010 Rating: PG-13 Length: 106 minutes / 1.77 hours I’ve never been much of a fan of NASCAR racing, mostly because I knew that Formula-1 existed. While I haven’t paid much attention to Formula-1, it was interesting to watch the documentary on Ayrton Senna, especially with how it was put together. Most documentaries will intersperse interviews and other pieces of ancillary information to support the main narrative. Not Senna (2010). Consisting almost entirely of video clips recorded at the time he was racing, Senna is a fascinating look into this racer’s life that benefits from hindsight to piece the video clips together and the full story. The sheer amount of skill and mechanical prowess it takes to race Formula-1 cars at top speeds is what gives this film its initial entertainment value. Added to that, we have the charismatic personality of Ayrton Senna, whose whole goal in life was to be the fastest driver around. He didn’t care about the politics of the...
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