Movie Review 3 Citizen Kane

Citizen Kane

Rating: PG                                                                                   Run Time:  1 hour and 59 minutes 

I recently decide to watch the classic movie, Citizen Kane, because there are many claims that it is the greatest film of all time. The most basic summary that I can give this movie is Orson Welles’ character, Charles Kane, has died and his last words were rosebud. A swarm of reporters attempt to piece together the life of the Mr. Kane, in order, to find out the meaning rosebud. The movie is told through flashback by people that Kane had encounter during the rise and fall of his lifetime.

            Pro: The performance given by Orson Wells as Kane was well acted and believable. The makeup work done to Orson Wells to make him look like his is aging makes the aging look fantastic. The set designs used in the making of the movie are done perfectly. They illustrate the life Kane lived.

            Con: Ruth Warrick, the actress who played Emily, was very monotone and serious. Although I understand the serious appearance the character has, it caused the scenes that include her to be boring and dull. The ending for me was a bit of a letdown but I understand why the director left it like that.

Overall: Citizen Kane, in my opinion, is not the number one film of all time, but all in all, it is a great film. Even though I think it’s not number one, I’m sure during 1941, when the film came out, it topped at number one. The most amazing thing about this film is that many films and TV shows have references the movie. I do recommend this movie because after 74 years that movie is holds up very well.  

Is it on Netflix: Yes, but on Netflix DVD

Would you recommend: Yes

Click Here!

Score: 95%

Movie Review 2 Jurassic World

Jurassic World

Rating: PG-13                                                                        Run Time: 2 hours and 5 minutes.

This movie recently came out in theaters and is currently a must see on everyone’s list. The movie is sort of a sequel the older Jurassic Park movies. The movie takes place in Costa Rica; Jurassic World is a resort that has over 100 of different species of dinosaurs. A couple of the dinosaurs are genetically altered to help bring in more people to the resort. One of the genetically alter dinosaur breaks out of his cage and begins to terrorize the tourists. Two of the tourists are boys that are related to the owner of the park, and the brothers have been separated with the travel group. The main character Owen, played by Chris Pratt, is tasked with finding a way to stop the dinosaur and find the two boys.

Pros: The movie was great; Chris Pratt and Bryce Howard did a fantastic job acting. Some of the best things about the movie were the throwbacks to the older movies. The movie was entertaining throughout; there were no dull moments. The set design was beautiful and the dinosaurs looked realistic. The plot of the movie was superb; there are a lot of little plot lines that will most likely expand into the sequel.

Cons: Although the movie was great, one of the biggest flaws was that it didn’t live up to the hype. Everyone was expecting to see something like the first Jurassic Park, but trying to recreate something that big will always be impossible.

Overall: I think the movie was remarkable; it had everything I wanted and more.

Is it on Netflix: No

Would you recommend: Yes

Click Here!

Score: 91%

My First Couple Posts

The Ten Best Video Games of 2014

http://kavalreviews.blogspot.com/2015/06/top-10-video-games-of-2014.html

“One of best and scariest games out there”

News from E3 2015

http://kavalreviews.blogspot.com/2015/06/news-from-e3-2015.html

Check out all the news from E3 including game trailers and press conferences

Review of World War Z

http://kavalreviews.blogspot.com/2015/06/movie-review-1-world-war-z.html

“Brad Pitt and James Dale had a perfect connection the whole movie”

Review of Grand Theft Auto V

http://kavalreviews.blogspot.com/2015/06/video-game-review-1-grand-theft-auto-v.html

“Rockstar have outdone themselves, GTA has set the bar high for games “

Review of Borderlands 2

http://kavalreviews.blogspot.com/2015/06/video-game-review-2-borderlands-2.html

“This game has a lot of guns, shields, grenades, and artifacts; about 17.75 million in total.”

Honorable Mentions for Top 10

http://kavalreviews.blogspot.com/2015/06/follow-up-on-top-10-video-games-of-2014.html

“Since you guys loved the first top ten, I decided to create a follow up where I pick 3 games that deserve honorable mentions.”

About Me

http://kavalreviews.blogspot.com/2015/06/where-it-all-began.html

“I wish I had read a review before I bought the games, or started watching the movie/ TV series. That is why I have created a blog where I can tell you about all the games, movies and TV shows I have played and watched; Plus including whether or not it was a waste of time and money, so you can make the best of your free time.”

Product Recommendation

 http://kavalreviews.blogspot.com/2015/06/product-recommendation.html

Check out why I think the Xbox One is a must have for gamers.

Analyze Top Blog

http://kavalreviews.blogspot.com/2015/06/analyze-top-blog.html

Here is a top blog in my niche; I take a look at the blog posts and many different articles, I have included my thoughts on it and how to improve it. I talk about the topics they cover and the style of writing they use for must posts. 

Check Out My Blog

My blog covers video games, movies and TV shows. I review them, I tell you the good parts and along with the bad.  I also include recommendations on what else people should watch/play.  In my video game reviews, I mention the basic story without spoiling anything. I also tell you guys the reasons why to buy the game or why to avoid it. My reviews are honest and I try to keep them as entertaining as possible. For movies I always mention if it is available on Netflix, since many people have Netflix accounts. I also give the length of time as well as the rating. During the movie reviews I tell you guys the main character, the plot summery, the genre the movie is in, and of course the pros and cons. For TV shows reviews it follow many of the same principals as the movie reviews. The differences are I rate the overall show and do an episode to episode review. I tend to write in a professional style, but I also keep it entertaining by including humor. I post about 5 to 8 times a week, but I do include one of each review. I will occasional post a recommendation or a top 10 list. All of my movies and TV show review posts are basic, they do not go into so much detail that it bores the readers, but they are short and informational. The video game posts require some basic knowledge of video games; I do this because it keeps the posts short and you do have to read the things you already know.

I understand that my reviews are my opinion and that not everyone shares the same ideas I have, so I encourage all my readers to post their own thoughts on the subject matter. I always respond to them and try to see their side of the opinion. The comment section on each post can also be used for questions, I have no problem with helping someone out make the right choice or clearing up any confusions. The best way to keep up with my blog posts is to subscribe. I also plan on setting up a forums page, so people can talk among themselves and give recommendations on how to improve the blog. 

Analyze Top Blog

That VideoGame Blog

http://www.thatvideogameblog.com/

Content:

The topic this blog covers is video games; reviews, news, updates, polls, cheat codes, glitches, tips, etc.

The topics do not cover are Let’s Play and prices.

The style they post in is very informational; they often tell the whole backstory of the game. The style of writing in the reviews is professional. Many different people work there, so the style changes slightly.

They post at least once a day, often times more. They tend to cover at least 1 review a week, and 3 news posts.

The posts are directed toward people who do not know much about videogames, since each post has the history of the series. Although some post are in-depth and require some prior knowledge.

Reader Engagement:

Overall there is not mush reader engagement, but some of the top posts are about breaking news.

The styles the readers seem to enjoy are mostly professional, but in some cases the entertaining posts are loved.

The most common questions are being asked during reviews, whether or not the game is worth buying.

The complaints are opinion based, people disagreeing with the overall score of a game.

They use a Facebook page and a forums section, also the commenting section in the blog posts.

Design:

The first impression gives off a friendly, quick-read type of blog. It has lots of pictures and rating of video games.

I think that the overall blog design is perfect, and the forums are controlled and easy to follow. The bad part is that some posts are too long, after clicking on a simple post; I didn’t expect an extensive story.

The only option they have to subscribe is by liking their Facebook page.

Monetization:

The ads on the home page are about casinos, and playing casino games. There are also other blogs promoting on their site.

Traffic:

·         Global rank is 319,306

·         India has the highest views at, 20.2%, then U.S. with 18.9%, and the U.K. and 10.9%

·         Bounce Rate is 63.10%

·         Daily page views per visitor are 1.5

·         Daily time on site is 1.29

·         The site has 27.90% of the search traffic

Follow up on Top 10 video games of 2014

Since you guys loved the first top ten, I decided to create a follow up where I pick 3 games that deserve honorable mentions. I will also explain why they didn’t make the top 10 cut.
Original Top Ten: http://kavalreviews.blogspot.com/2015/06/top-10-video-games-of-2014.html

1.       Grand Theft Auto V

I almost picked this gave to be in the top ten list I had a few days ago. If I would have included it, the game would be in the top 3. This game was fantastic, it has everything a gamer would ever want; guns, a great plot, tanks, beautiful graphs, jets, customization of players, online mode etc. I have a full review of the game here. http://kavalreviews.blogspot.com/2015/06/video-game-review-1-grand-theft-auto-v.html The reason why GTA V didn’t make the list was the release date. The game first came out for PS3 and the Xbox 360 in September 2013, and if I made a top ten list then it would have taken first. The game didn’t become available on all platforms until April 2015; I was torn between whether or not to include it. I ultimately decided since the initial release was 2013, I would not but it one the list.  

2.       Watch Dogs

This game almost made the list because of its great story, the environment, and gameplay. The story is of a guy who is trying to avenge the death of his niece, uses the skills he has as a hacker. The main character is able to hack into almost everything. You can control traffic lights to accessing information on any one in the city. The story mode is quick, so the game is really fun after you unlock everything and get to play around in the environment. The game’s environment is based off of Chicago, and it was done very well. The problems I had with the game were the glitches and the loading times. The game felt broken; it would play smoothly in story mode, but going online and after finishing the game it really had a hard time keeping up. If the game was polished and played smoothly the entire time, it would have been on the list.

3.       Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel

This game was incredible it would super fun and had the same things that I loved about Borderlands 2. The story was great and the new character classes were interesting. The plot of this game takes play in between 1 and 2, where they explain the story of Handsome Jack. Although this game was good, it had one big flaw; it was too similar to Borderlands 2. You can find the review of Borderlands 2 here http://kavalreviews.blogspot.com/2015/06/video-game-review-2-borderlands-2.html. The game felt more like an expansion rather than a full game; the story was shorter than the first 2 games. The game should have been released as a DLC rather than full retail. 

Product Recommendation

                The Xbox 360 has been with us for almost 10 years now, and on November 22, 2013 Microsoft released a new model called the Xbox One. I have owned the Xbox One for over a year now and I would recommend this gaming system to everyone. When I first picked it up, it was slow and didn’t have many games to play. After a few updates it started working smoothly, the video game list has improved, by including unique titles. When the console was first released the PS4 was its main rival, but after a couple months it was clear that the Xbox one was better.  It has higher numbers of active players in games, meaning when you get into an online game, it is easy to find matches.  The Xbox One has a larger community of gamers. There are also more games currently out for the Xbox One compared to the PS4. The games for the Xbox One are also able to play Microsoft exclusive titles, such as Halo. During E3 2015, Microsoft also mentioned that the Xbox One will have backward compatible; the PS4 and the WiiU do not have this feature. Backward compatible allows you to play the old games from your Xbox 360 onto the new console. This allows for classic games to be ported over and the user would not have to buy multiple copies of game they already own. The price for a new Xbox One is about $400.00 which is the same as a PS4. Also during the E3 press conferences, Microsoft said they will support mods for games. This means games that are getting dull and repetitive can be improved with mods.  Overall I think that users should buy the new Xbox One because it supports the old games and will allow users to mod games, while a PS4 and WiiU are unable to perform these tasks. 

News from E3 2015

Live at E3

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFzCRmlUIFln8oJ1NuKbfkA/featured

This is a YouTube channel that was covering E3 2015, it has all the press conferences, trailers, news, tech, and etc. They have over 12 hours of coverage in an archive stream, including interviews and special guests.

Final Fantasy VII

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kznek1uNVsg

This is a trailer of the hit game FFVII. It explains the beginning of the plot and reveals the new graphics. The trailer also shows some gameplay that we can find in the full release.

Halo 5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx13uGFsYcI

This is a Halo 5 trailer, shown during the E3 Microsoft press conference.  It shows a couple of cut scenes and a compilation of gameplay, weapons, and gear. The trailer also reveals the day the game will be released.

Fallout 4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5esyZPt5Jo

This 30 minute showcase is about the new game Fallout 4. It is presented by the game director Todd Howard. It includes news, gameplay, weapons, maps etc.

Kotaku

http://kotaku.com/tag/e-3

Kotaku is best known for reviewing and covering video game news. Their list of events of E3 can be found here, covering everything from Virtual Reality Gaming to Game of Thrones.

E3 Takeover

http://www.e3expo.com/takeover

This is all of the press conferences, and future release dates of video games and tech. It also includes hilarious interactions with the guests that attended.

E3 Cosplay

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/technology/e3-2015-weird-wonderful-costumes-5903279

This is a great article about the costumes people where to E3, ranging from stromtroopers to Lara Croft.  It shows off the weird, funny, wonderful, and scary costumes that were at E3.

Games at E3

http://www.ign.com/wikis/e3/Games_at_E3_2015

This is a list of all the games found at E3. The article includes many in death reviews of what gaming in 2015 will be like.

Ubisoft E3

https://www.ubisoft.com/en-GB/event/e3-2015/

The well know gaming company Ubiosoft was at E3 2015 and they revealed information about their latest games, and how they intend on improving their current games.

Video Game Review 2 Borderlands 2

Borderlands 2

Rating: M                                                       

Whenever I am bored, I start to play Borderlands 2, it is the one game that I keep coming back to after nearly 3 years. Borderlands 2 is the second game in the Borderlands series, it takes place 15 years after the first game and explains a lot of what happened in and after the original. It is in a similar category to the original, an RGP first person shooter. The story is about a vault hunter that is trying to find the vault that is filled with power and the key to open it. Along the way you team up with members of the original game and try to take down Handsome Jack, the holder of the vault key. Handsome Jack is going to use the keep to kill everyone in your planet and he is in charge of Hyperion, a company that makes weapons and killer robots. Borderlands 2 also has 4 player online along with 2 player split screen.

            Pros: This game has a lot of guns, shields, grenades, and artifacts; about 17.75 million in total. This allows you to always pick up better weapons and gear along the way. The game also has 4 different main characters to pick from, all having different gameplay styles. The story of the game is funny and entertaining, it really makes you want to keep playing.  The graphics are a bit weird for people since the entire game is cel-shaded designed, but it is very well done. Gear Box has been putting out a couple of DLCs every few months, each adds even more of guns, shields, skins, etc., the game with all the DLCs is well over 100 hours of game play. There are 42 maps in the game, allowing for different environments.

Cons: The graphics are a hit or miss with people, I personally like it. It does have long loading screens and can be a pain to set up 4 players online. The story depends on the first game, without it the plot can be confusing.

Overall: I would say this game is a must have for people who played the original. If I would strongly recommend playing the original before this or the plot will be hard to follow.

Difficulty: Easy

Would you recommend: Yes

Score: 95%


Video Game Review 1: http://kavalreviews.blogspot.com/2015/06/video-game-review-1-grand-theft-auto-v.html

Top 10 Video Games of 2014

1.     Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U

Super Smash Bros is our game of 2014. With tons of charters to pick from and new maps, all combined with the classic feel of SSBM. Sitting down and playing this game with friends is the fastest way to kill time, you just get sucked into the game. The game has also released a new feature that allows you to customize your characters and maps. 

2.     Five Nights at Freddy's

Five nights at Freddy’s is our second of the list, because it offers a new and unique style of gameplay. This game is a point-and-click survival horror that has become a fan favorite in the last few months. This is one of the best and the scariest games out there.

3.     Halo The Master Chief Collection

Halo MCC is number 3 on the list because it incorporates four games onto one collection. The game is redone with HD graphics and brings back old memories from playing halo. Halo MCC has all four online versions of the games, allowing many hours of replay ability.

4.     Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart 8 is number 4 on our list because it is classic game in which you can have hours of fun. Mario kart 8 is one of the best in the series; it is very well balanced and allows for some incredible racing. This game has almost double the courses of the original, and with coming up dates, custom races can be made. 

5.     South Park The Stick Of Truth

South Park studios have outdone themselves with this game, making it number 5 on our list.  South Park the stick of truth brings comedy into the gaming world. Everything about this game is based off the TV show, they even previewed it in a couple of episodes. This game has beautiful graphics and a fantastic voice acting, it looks and sound just like the TV show.

6.     Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

Pokémon games are always a cult favorite, and these two have taken an old outdated game and turned it one of the greatest Pokémon game of the decade. Ruby and Sapphire are number 6 on the list because they innovated the Pokémon experience. This Pokémon game has many of the characteristics as originals, but the graphics of change to 3D allowing a different style of gameplay.

7.     Tales From The Borderlands

Telltale games are known for making fantastic games where you control the story, and mixing that with Borderlands is why it is number 7 on our list. Borderlands is known for having a great plot and telltale is known for allowing the player to create their own story, the mix of the two is perfect. This game would be higher up on our list, but only the first installment has been released.

8.     Far Cry 4

Far Cry 4 is number 8 on the list, because it take the previous game and improves on everything. This game has beautiful graphics and a giant landscape, where the play can tour. The story mode and the online mode are very well developed. 

9.     Destiny

Destiny is number 9 on our list because it offer an online experience unmatched by any game in its category. The graphics, character customization, weapons are just some of the reasons why this game has a great online mode. The game has a raid mode where community member can work together to complete a task that is very difficult.

10. Middle Earth Shadow Of Mordor

Shadow Of Mordor is our number 10 on the list because the environment is very much like Skyrim.  This open world game has a many different weapons, allowing the user to play a different style of combat with each weapon. The fact the game takes place between the hobbit and the Lord of the rings is why it is in our top 10.