I share my thoughts on Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. Here's the non spoiler review then the spoiler review.  

Non spoiler review

Story

I love the fresh, new views of planets and new kinds of ships. The civilizations we see differ from Episode 1. Like the last film, episode 2 is intense and dramatic from beginning to end! 

Star Wars episode 2 is much darker than episode 1 starting with the opening scene. Star Wars Episode 2 challenges the characters internally far more than the last episode.    

Characters

Here are characters i love to highlight. 

I'm amazed by Yoda's foresight and how in tune he is with the force.    

You see the rest of the characters change from the last episode. 

Cinematography 

The cinematography was outstanding! The shots from vast distances do a spectacular job of showing you the gravity of the situation and the vastness of other worlds. 

Dialogue

Like Episode 1, i love how simple and straight-forward the dialogue was. There were some clever lines that made you love the story and characters even more!

Theme

The theme here is about how important trust is and how deception can damage it. To be trustworthy, you must be truthful. 

Acting

The actors all did fantastic. All played their roles extremely well!   

Music 

The film score of Episode 2 (namely the theme "across the stars") was breathtaking, emotionally gripping, and powerful!  

Overall, i love Episode 2. The film was very well made. 

Spoiler review

Story

I love the fresh, new views of planets and new kinds of ships. The civilizations we see differ from Episode 1. Like the last film, episode 2 is intense and dramatic from beginning to end! 

Star Wars episode 2 is much darker than episode 1 starting with the opening scene. I suppose Padme has her first experience of seeing her friend die and feeling guilty for it.

I love how Anakin and Obi-Wan have grown very close. Its also natural for Anakin to be nervous before meeting Padme not only because he hasn't seen her in so long but also because he's unfamiliar with his own feelings. As a Jedi, he was taught to suppress them and avoid love interests.  

Palpatine seems suspicious.You can't help but wonder why he is flattering Anakin.     

I love how flawed the characters are. For example, Obi-Wan can be too analytical that he fails to be creative like Anakin. Without Anakin, he doesn't do as well.  

The heated exchange between Obi-Wan and Anakin made me uncomfortable. I was anxious Padme would lose attraction for him seeing his aggression and rebellion. 

The assassination attempt on Padme had me nervous. I was disturbed and uneasy imagining what would happen if one of those alien creatures bit her. 

The chase scene was very creative and had me anxious! I felt Anakin was going to crash, fall by accident, or get Obi Wan killed! The intensity is raised when you learn the bounty hunter can shapeshift.    

Jar Jar is more mature than Episode 1 by taking himself more seriously.  

I'm impressed by the Jedi's vast array of knowledge in their library. 

The scene when Obi Wan and Yoda discover a Jedi deleted the archive of Kamino shocked me. I think it was probably Anakin or Palpatine. 

Kamino is somewhat scary but also beautiful because of its oceans and rain. 

The scene between Anakin and Padme reflecting on their past lives was romantic. Anakin indirectly tells her despite what they suffered, they would've never met each other had they not endured it.   

The scene where Anakin reveals how he feels about politics is somewhat disturbing.

The confrontation scene between Jango Fett and Obi-Wan was fierce! The way they looked at each other gave me the impression they knew exactly who they were. Jango was clever for speaking to his son in another language and telling him to hide his suit. 

The scene when Anakin confesses his love for Padme is powerful. This scene highlights why Anakin is different from the other Jedi.   

The fight between Jango Fett and Obi-Wan was utterly ground-breaking! I felt he was going to die despite being a skilled Jedi knight. He was fighting against Bobba and Jango at the same time! I was surprised Jango could skillfully disarm a Jedi knight.

Watto apparently became a beggar after Qui Gon affected his business drastically in Episode 1. 

The scene when Anakin searches for Shmi was disturbing especially when you hear Duel of the Fates faintly playing. It reminds you of the battle between the Sith and Jedi over Anakin in Episode 1. You can slowly see anakin becoming more aggressive and darker. 

Shmi's death scene was heart-breaking! Who knows what the Tusken Raiders did to her before Anakin arrived. It was cruel and almost traumatizing realizing Shmi couldn't even finish the sentence "I love you" before dying. Seeing Anakin's emotions shift from grieving in sadness to enraged was deeply disturbing! Maybe even terrifying! We're slowly seeing him turning to the dark side more and more.    

One of the most powerful and disturbing scenes of Episode 2 is when Anakin expresses his real feelings over his mother's death. This is where we see him grow even further to the dark side. He knows he shouldn't let these feelings overcome him but he can't deny his real self. This is why he feels Obi Wan is holding him back. 

Another disturbing scene was when count Dooku reveals Qui Gon knew the Senate was corrupt but still served them. 

The battle between the Jedi and the droid army was savage! It was visually impressive, nerve-racking, suspenseful, and exciting! I was impressed by how well a small mission escalated into an all-out war! I loved characters like Mace Windu and was curious to see how he fought in Episode 1. When i got to see him fight for the first time, i had an adrenaline rush!

The internal and external conflicts were powerful like they were in Episode 1! For example, in the scene where Obi Wan and Anakin argue over whether to rescue Padme or not was heated! Anakin was forced in a position to choose between helping Obi Wan or Padme externally and internally. What made this such powerful conflict was he had to overcome his fear of loss in either case!

The battle between the Jedi and Count Dooku was so ferocious! When you hear Count Dooku speak before drawing his lightsaber, you instantly know he's not to be trifled with! Although Obi Wan was careful in fighting him, you still felt Count Dooku could've easily killed him when he insulted him. Dooku tried to get him to give into anger and make mistakes. 

When Yoda slowly appears to face Dooku, that was probably the most pivotal point of the film! I got very excited to see him fight for the first time! When he deals with Dooku's sith lightning, you think its going to overpower him but he absorbs it then says "much to learn you still have.." I'm surprised at how much wiser Yoda still is compared to Dooku! When Yoda turns on his lightsaber, the hum feels as if it hasn't been turned on in ages! I was shocked and a bit disturbed by how aggressive Yoda was in a lightsaber duel with Dooku! You would think he would be more relaxed and peaceful but he delivers fast blows from different angles screaming! 

The fight between Anakin and Dooku was also hard to watch! Anakin cuts off the lights almost as if he's trying to make it harder for both of them to see in an attempt to challenge himself to be the best Jedi he can be!

Anakin and Padme's wedding was bittersweet. On one hand, it hurts because they're the only humans there. The Jedi wouldn't approve of their marriage nor would the Senate. Anakin also lost his arm. On the other hand, its romantic because they make the best of what they have.    


Characters

Here are characters i love to highlight. 

Zam Weseel was a memorable character despite only being in Episode 2 for a short time. I feel the alien may have shapeshifted into a human not only to keep its identity a secret but perhaps it was also out of a desire to be human.  

I'm amazed by Yoda's foresight and how in tune he is with the force.  

Count Dooku is a sympathetic villain because he became unhappy with the corruption in the Senate. In his mind, the Jedi were the villains.   

The way he smiles during combat just shows you how arrogant he is. Its like he's playing with his opponents. 

Anakin is reckless and selfish although he's loving. We can sympathetize with his struggles. 

Dexter is also charming and lovable. We can only wonder what kind of history he has with Obi Wan.  

The characters are forced to make very challenging choices. Yoda could've stopped Dooku. He wanted to but he chose to help the Jedi. Dooku could've killed Yoda while he was using the Force to keep the huge object from crushing the Jedi to death. He probably chose not to out of respect for Yoda. Dooku seemed like the kind of character who prefers to kill him skillfully in lightsaber combat.     

I love Padme's character development. In Episode 2, she's more vulnerable than Episode 1.   

Cinametography 

The cinametography was outstanding! The shots from vast distances do a spectacular job of showing you the gravity of the situation and the vastness of other worlds. 

When Anakin fights Dooku, the camera is very close to their faces. We don't see them do any complex combinations which is special. You can see the fear, determination, and aggression in Anakin's face when he struggles with Dooku.     

Dialogue

Like Episode 1, i love how simple and straight-forward the dialogue was. There were some clever lines that made you love the story and characters even more! When Anakin blocks Dooku's strike against Obi Wan and Dooku says "brave of you boy but i would've thought you learned your lesson..", Anakin replies with "I am a slow learner!" That had finnesse! It was not exactly arrogant nor weak. Just right!   

Another example is when Dooku tells Obi Wan "it may be difficult to secure your release.." He wasn't just talking about physically freeing him from the Geonosian prison. He was also talking about the mental prison the Senate allegedly have him in.       

A minor flaw with this film is the humor seems forced. When Anakin says "you call this a diplomatic solution?" and Padme says "I call it aggressive negotiations..", i felt the punchline was dull and trying too hard to appeal to children. This film would've done better without most of the comic relief.         

Theme

The theme here is about how important trust is and how deception can damage it. To be trustworthy, you must be truthful. Padme recognizes this when she tells Anakin "our lives are destroyed anyway.." after confessing her love for him. She wasn't just referring to the strong probability they were going to die. She was also referring to the probability even if they survived, they would be living a lie and in torment by denying their love for each other. Yoda trusts his own instinct when he calls for a ship because he didn't trust Anakin would succeed in helping Obi Wan defeat Dooku. Had Yoda not appeared to face Dooku, Anakin and Obi Wan would've been killed.    

Acting

The actors all did fantastic. All played their roles extremely well!   

Music 

The film score of Episode 2 (namely the theme "across the stars") was breathtaking, emotionally gripping, and powerful!  


Overall, i love Episode 2. The film was very well made.

In this review, i'll give my thoughts on Star Wars: Episode 1. There will be a spoiler review and a non-spoiler review. 

Non-spoiler review

Story

I love the creativity in this universe! The civilizations are unlike anything ever imagined! They inspire curiosity. 

I love how villains nullify the heroes' strengths which makes them strong villains and the heroes more flawed than we like to believe. The film involves more than just mindless violence.    

The internal conflicts this film has are very powerful. Characters are forced to make hard choices that conflict with others and maybe even themselves. 

Characters

Every character whether main, side, or extras is interesting. You want to learn more about them, their backstory, and more. Just about every character is memorable and lovable. Here are some characters that stood out to me the most.     

Queen Amidala perhaps has the most beautiful dress, make-up, and hairstyle! Reminds me of a Japanese Geisha's outfit! Amidala's mannerisms and deep tone of voice show her deeply commanding presence as Queen.     

Amidala is a very interesting character because she is almost completely reserved emotionally. She barely expresses emotions through body language or a change of voice. Nevertheless, you can tell how she's feeling from the way her dress changes as the film progresses. 

Qui Gon is one of my favorite characters. He shows wisdom from his hairstyle, mannerisms,tone of voice, and dialogue. 
Qui Gon becomes in tune with the world around him. He has compassion for those less fortunate, unlike the Jedi council. He puts himself in danger as well as others for the greater good.
Jar-Jar Binks is a charming character because of his mannerisms. He's a powerful and important character because he doesn't understand why civilizations need to divide themselves. He doesn't discriminate. He shows kindness to all.   

Dialogue

The dialogue was mostly strong and bone-chilling! 

At times, i felt the dialogue was too repetitive and unnecessary. We don't need to be reminded of facts we already know.    

Cinematography 

I love how the film opens. The camera angles invite you to be part of the journey.   

The cinematography and story universe of this film are absolutely amazing! It doesn't matter what camera shots appear on the screen whether near or far. The end result is the same - you are completely stunned by the beauty of the environment and curious about the world. 

Acting

Almost every actor did a superb and amazing job acting. You didn't recognize the actors at all. You just saw characters. They get you highly energized and immersed in the story. The only actor i didn't think play his role well was the person who played Anakin.      

Music

The film score is full of so much awe and wonder. The score is relentless and doesn't hold back its power! The music is so powerful that you could remove the dialogue and it would still be a good film.    

Spoiler review

Story

I love the creativity in this universe! The ship designs and droids are unlike anything ever imagined! It inspires curiosity. 

When Obi-Wan senses trouble, you're already interested in finding out more about the story! Perhaps its related to the droid's treachery or something far deeper.

I love how the Jedi stare out the window in deep contemplation. Without dialogue, we already know what kind of people the Jedi are. The Jedi show what they believe when talking to Boss Nass. They believe harmony with nature is what brings wealth. You further see this during the scene where the fish attacks their vehicle. 

When we're introduced to Sidious, i'm disturbed by his mysterious figure especially when he says "I will make it legal!" A powerful and shocking statement!   

The action is intense! I loved how creative the fight choreography is! Makes me think their moves are from an ancient combat system similar to martial arts. 

I love how villains nullify the heroes' strengths which makes them strong villains and the heroes more flawed than we like to believe. For example, the Jedi managed to fend off droids but couldn't successfully destroy droidekas who remind me of trilobites. The Jedi are forced to flee.         

The battle between the Jedi and Darth Maul is simply legendary! The moment Maul turns on his two-handed lightsaber, you fear for the lives of Qui Gon and Obi Wan. Maul channels his rage and hate just as he attacks them. Maul shows intelligence by trying to separate Qui Gon from Obi Wan to kill them one at a time.

I feel Qui Gon knew he was going to die when he closed his eyes and meditated. Just when you think the stakes couldn't be raised any higher, Qui Gon dies. This leaves Obi Wan to face Maul alone. Obi Wan must fully rely on the force and be completely independent from Qui Gon. When Maul paces back and forth, its like he takes sadistic pleasure in watching the Jedi suffer mentally. My favorite part of the fight is when Obi Wan bounces on his feet before he fights with such ferocity, speed, energy, and focus! Its not just a battle for survival! Winning this battle is the only way Obi Wan can achieve his destiny and apply everything Qui Gon taught him. It was his transition from Padawan to Knight. 

Watching Qui Gon's funeral is emotional. It almost feels like hope is gone.   

The pod racing scene is intense and scary! The death scenes were hard to watch. It was sad and awful for Sebulba to cheat by practically killing competitors. There's no regard for sportsmanship or life.   

The scene where Maul attacks Qui Gon on Tatooine makes you feel Qui Gon is about to die right on the spot! 

The internal conflicts this film has are very powerful. Queen Amidala is compassionate but refuses to go to war which causes the trade federation to exploit her. She realizes she must make hard choices that apparently go against her compassionate nature such as choosing war. 

I was disturbed by how Sidious anticipates Queen Amadala is naive as if he knows her.     

I love how smart the Jedi are. For example, they realized the trade federation would not look for them on Tatooine. 

Right when we meet Watto, i already sense he's corrupt and greedy based on his demeanor. I loved this film's sense of humor. For example, when Qui Gon tries to Jedi mind trick Watto multiple times - Watto says "credits don't work on me, only money!"   

The internal conflict Anakin faces between choosing to be a Jedi and leaving his mother is heart-wrenching. It was emotional too watching him grow.

Anakin's mother protests against him helping the Jedi to preserve their values. She ultimately decides to let him help after he convinces her. Either way, its a tough choice. 

The relationship between Anakin and Padme gets interesting. After they leave Tatooine, that's when they realize they have problems adjusting to their new lives. Nevertheless, their relationship gets stronger. 

Obi-Wan relies heavily on Qui Gon from the beginning of the film. Gradually, he becomes more independent and starts distancing himself from him to form his own opinions. For example, Obi-Wan is displeased to meet Anakin. You can see this exceptionally well when they argue over Anakin being dangerous.   

Its easy to see why the Jedi dislike Anakin. They can sense he's arrogant, selfish, and reckless. However, they also feel he has great potential as a Jedi so they're forced into training him.   

Characters

Every character whether main, side, or extras is interesting. You want to learn more about them, their backstory, and more. Just about every character is memorable and lovable. Here are some characters that stood out to me the most.     

I love how strong Queen Amidala is! She has perhaps the most beautiful dress, make-up, and hairstyle! Reminds me of a Japanese Geisha's outfit! Amidala's mannerisms and deep tone of voice show her deeply commanding presence as Queen.     


Amidala is a very interesting character because she is almost completely reserved emotionally. She barely expresses emotions through body language or a change of voice. Nevertheless, you can tell how she's feeling from the way her dress changes as the film progresses. When she wears black, its as if she's grieving over the conflict between her homeland and the trade federation. When she and the others travel back to Naboo, her style of dress changes to brighter colors. I sense she's more optimistic about the dire situation they're in.

Qui Gon is one of my favorite characters. He shows wisdom from his hairstyle, mannerisms, tone of voice, and dialogue. 

Qui Gon becomes in tune with the world around him. He has compassion for those less fortunate, unlike the Jedi council. He puts himself in danger as well as others for the greater good.

Padme is kind but firm when she needs to protect her people. She's curious about the world around her to better understand it. Her relationship with Anakin is complex. She is compassionate to him because he lost his mother like she lost her homeworld to the trade federation.

Jar-Jar Binks is a charming character because of his mannerisms. He's a powerful and important character because he doesn't understand why civilizations need to divide themselves. He doesn't discriminate. He shows kindness to all. As an outcast, he represents balance. Although he's clumsy, he shows bravery and a will to help even after all the dangers he faces. He's also curious.     

R2-D2 is charming due to the noises he makes and his reactions to people. C3PO is also charming due to his accent and choice of words. They have an interesting relationship because C3PO communicates to us exactly what R2D2 is saying.
Episode 1 succeeds in making you despise characters like Nute Gunray. They're cowardly but when they have the upper hand, they act as if they were always fearless and powerful.  

Maul's stare is so intense, ambitious, and full of hate as if he has a point to prove when he's introduced!

You can see how close Maul is to Sidious with the way they interact.  

Dialogue

The dialogue was mostly strong and bone-chilling! For example, when Sidious says "wipe them out...all of them!" - that is powerful, cold, heartless, and brutal! Another scene that shocked me is when Sebulba tells Anakin he would've basically crushed him if he weren't a boy. 

At times, i felt the dialogue was too repetitive and unnecessary. For example, in the scene when Anakin and his mother discuss whether she's a free woman - we know Watto didn't allow her to be freed. We don't need to be reminded of it. The scene would've worked just as well without Qui Gon mentioning that fact.   

Cinematography 

I love how the film opens. The camera angles invite you to be part of the journey.   

I loved how the cam. slowly reveals the impressive underwater city awaiting the Jedi! The music also inspires awe!

The shot of Amadala looking out the window in the heat of the day just takes you into a trance as if she embraces what's coming with dismay! Although she's strong, she is willing to open her mind when it benefits her.

During the pod-racing scene, the first-person camerawork does a splendid job of making you feel you could crash head-first into rocks! 

The cinematography and story universe of this film are absolutely amazing! It doesn't matter what camera shots appear on the screen whether near or far. The end result is the same - you are completely stunned by the beauty of the environment and curious about the world. 

Acting

Almost every actor did a superb and amazing job acting. You didn't recognize the actors at all. You just saw characters. They get you highly energized and immersed in the story. The only actor i didn't think play his role well was the person who played Anakin.      

Music

The film score is full of so much awe and wonder. The score is relentless and doesn't hold back its power! The music is so powerful that you could remove the dialogue and it would still be a good film. 

The Jedi's music that plays during the opening fight scene makes you think of heroic and noble medieval knights.

The Duel of the Fates is what took this battle to new heights. The choir makes it seem like a ritualistic battle in a sacred temple. It makes you feel like they're fighting for the fate of the Jedi, Anakin, and the universe!  

Theme

I loved the theme of Episode 1. No matter how technologically advanced a civilization is, it can still be overpowered by human innovation and hope. When Amadala united with other civilizations, that made them stronger. Although Jar-Jar won battles despite his clumsiness, it shows victory is not given to the most skilled but to those who succumb to the will of the force.   

In conclusion, Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace is an exceptional and amazing film that keeps you highly engaged all the way from beginning to end! There's a ton of complexity in the story world, the internal struggles of the characters, external conflicts, and the theme. 

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Review of Half life 2

In this review, i’ll give my thoughts of half life 2 - a video game i hold very dear to me. I’ve played it when i was a teen. Half life 2 is a sequel to half life 1. You can see the trailer here. I’ll try not to spoil too much.     


Half life 2 trailer

Story and gameplay


Half life 2 is such a rare gem of a masterpiece. I was not just fighting against physical enemies. The game made me feel like I was fighting against myself - my despair, hopelessness, loneliness, fears, etc. I found myself agitated and fighting to find the strength to keep pressing on. For much of the game, I was alone with barely any idea of what to do. No one was there to help me. Seeing corpses along with ruined and abandoned buildings with hostile creatures attacking me made me feel like it was the apocalypse. I was left to figure out everything on my own. This is what made Half life 2 terrifying. 


One aspect of the game that really stood out is how the story is simple but ambiguous. There are no cutscenes. Half life 2 doesn’t try to mimic films or many other games. The game doesn’t show you who Gordon Freeman is. Gordon doesn’t have dialogue. This lets you fill in the blanks of who he is in your mind. Essentially, you are Gordon Freeman. The game tells you just enough to keep you playing but not enough to get you to stop playing. You’re always wanting to find out more. The Gman sightings, dialogue, places, objects, etc. all let you piece together the story in subtle ways and help you theorize. This is pure gaming to me.  


The story world is vast and well developed. The levels often filled me with desperation and fear as I struggled to figure out how to advance further without running into more enemies. 


I love how simple and straightforward the gameplay is. Almost all of the weapons you’re given are already familiar to you. You can heal, recharge the HEV suit with HEV chargers, gather supplies, use a crowbar, and the gravity gun. What makes the gameplay so special is the dynamic combat. You’re fighting small creatures, squads, and large creatures in different scenarios. You’re forced to solve puzzles in some situations. Half life 2 is interesting as you can find out more info. about the game world by talking to civilians without it necessarily being a requirement.    


Areas outside of city 17 are referenced as uninhabitable due to the toxic pollution in the air. That’s hair raising as you don’t know what kind of mutated monstrous creatures are lurking in the remains of human civilization if any.    


Half life 2 became much darker than the first half life, pushing the boundaries of what’s acceptable. Here are some deleted concepts to illustrate my point.  


Originally, the game was to feature Eli's story of how he lost his wife at Black Mesa, how Gordon Freeman got hired at Black Mesa before half life 1, Judith's awareness of the G-Man, and its interest with Gordon.


Hydra demo.


The hydra is a deleted creature you were meant to fight. How you are expected to kill it especially with its thin form turns my blood cold. The hydra seems so intimidating.  


Cremators were originally meant to patrol City 17 and burn citizens alive if they break the law. I wonder if any humanity is left in the cremators if any and how they work. I’m afraid and reluctant to find out. 


Cremator demo.


The combine guard is a terrifying enemy. I’d hate to fight it alone. The camera attachment was the real head of the soldier. It is likely the man in the robotic suit was to be blind, his eyes seeming to have been somehow removed. Its said the face is the “organ of emotion.” Our eyes reveal and/or conceal the truth of who we are. The face is a canvas for emotional expressions. It would’ve been disturbing to look at its nonfunctioning human face while unaware of the direction its real "head" is looking at.  


Combine guard demo.


Children were to be featured as slaves that worked in factories in City 17 with Cremator heads permanently glued to their right hands. 


Children's factory demo.


The environment is one of the scariest features of the game. The imposing dark buildings make you dread what might be lurking in the shadows or behind its walls. 


the city 17 uprising was probably my favorite part of game. I got to lead my own squad, work with the resistance, explore more of city 17 and Combine forces.           

Characters 


Almost all if not all of the game’s characters are memorable like Alyx Vance, Eli Vance, Barney, dog, etc. from their looks to their speech and personalities. Half life 2 has some of the most creative and terrifying creatures in gaming. 


What made the Combine so terrifying is how similar the advisors are to parasites feeding off other species like humans. The advisors removed their reproductive organs, voices, personalities, everything that could cause soldiers to rebel against the Combine. I’m in utter shellshock at how much the advisors butchered humans and made them husks of their former selves. As cruel as the Combine are, you can’t call the advisors “evil.” They’re aliens trying to survive. 


What makes the Combine more terrifying is how little we know about them. One can only imagine from what world the synths came from, who they were before they were enslaved by the Combine, and how the Combine conquered them. I dreaded the thought the human race was next. If the Combine succeed in ther plans, they’d bring the Combine overwatch to other worlds. The advisors in the game are larvae. I get chills thinking about what they would look like if they were full grown adults.  


Combine buildings are disturbing because they’re robbed of all humanity. They seem more like scraps of metal strung together in heaps as if humanity were devolving back to a more primitive age. 


Despite the Combine’s terrifying and grotesque nature, their designs are invigorating. 


The headcrabs were some of the scariest enemies of the game. The fact headcrabs took over human hosts while they suffered barely alive was very unsettling especially when you lit them on fire. I’m not sure I want to know how the fast and poisonous headcrabs affected their hosts. What’s worse is even after you kill hosts, the headcrabs often survive and attack you quickly. Due to their small size and speed, its hard to kill them under pressure especially when they’re shrieking.


The antlions were probably the scariest enemies of the game to me. They’re burrowed underground so you can’t see them. When they come out, they come at you with such aggression and ferocity! They’re like rabid piranhas on a feeding frenzy! 


One of the weaknesses of Half life 2 is Alyx. She felt somewhat mediocre. I loved her mostly quiet personality but felt she was underdeveloped. Yes, she had humor and concern for others which is good. Yes, she could fight and hack into security systems. However, i wish more time was spent on giving her more personality traits and a deeper backstory. Physically, she stood out more than say doctor Kleiner.    

Themes


Half life 2 has dark themes. The themes of Half life 2 center on freedom hence the name Gordon freeman, what it means to be human, nature, and free will vs. determinism. Half life 2 shows us there are fates far worse than death like the loss of humanity. Symbolically, i felt the Combine overwatch forces represent humanity’s loss of connection with the world. We’ve become so immersed in tech. that we lost our humanity. I feel when the earth surrendered and joined the Combine out of self-preservation, they showed they had no concern for the community which was their ultimate downfall. Being human is more than just surviving or being barely alive as the zombies have shown players. If you can’t live with your own sense of autonomy and individuality, you’re not human. Another aspect of being human is the ability to create. The Combine overwhelmed humanity but eventually, humans used their own weapons and tech. against them. This is what sets humans apart from their enemies. When the resistance rebels against the Combine in city 17, especially seeing dog take out Combine soldiers by himself, i got emotional because the human race rediscovered and reclaimed its stolen identity. All of the game enemies are apparently pre-programmed to survive even if their actions are what we’d call “evil.” The game however calls into question our free will and hints we might be pre-programmed too. To some degree, you have free will but not completely. Gman was guiding your path all along. He could be predetermining everything you do and manipulating your actions. This explains why there are various Gman sightings in the game.   


The soundtrack 


The music of half life 2 is unlike any other music i’ve heard of before. The music doesn’t stick to one genre. Each distinct track makes the game much more tense and emotional while being catchy. The music isn’t shy to make its strong presence known. I can name tons of examples. When i put on the Hazard suit and the track “hazardous environments” starts playing, i felt scared. I couldn’t tell if i was hearing disturbing background noise or music. Either way, i felt i had to desperately teleport somewhere to escape from mysterious creatures who somehow became aware of who i was and were after me. After i take out a CP officer - the track “CP violation” starts playing. The music made me feel like i’ve just violated protocol and as a consequence, combine forces are trying to apprehend me like i was an animal. When i realized i was a fugitive and needed to be a one-man army to survive, my body ran as cold as ice. The rhythm and instruments sounded soullessly manufactured like the Combine. 


When i get to a level where i ride fast in the airboat and fire with the combine’s own weapon, i felt unstoppable as well as empowered! I felt like i could fly. What mostly gave me those feelings was the energetic track “You’re not supposed to be here.” 


When the music of Ravenholm starts playing, you’re filled with fear. I’m immediately reminded of that line from Dante’s inferno “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.” I love how the music changes from techno style to a more classical one such as the Ravenholm original soundtrack. The soundtrack of Nova Prospekt was one of the scariest tracks in the game. The cries you hear sound like ghosts of tortured inmates who once dwelled there. The beats made you feel suspense as if your heart was beating faster than normal. Nova Prospekt felt worse than Alcatrez.                       


When the LG Orbifold track plays, it makes you intensely feel suspense in the heat of battle against striders and soldiers. You feel at any moment, you fear they’ll use their cannons against you and you’ll disintegrate in a flash so you desperately rush for cover by any means necessary.  


The music you hear in the citadel is suspenseful, it could keep you awake at night! The environment and sounds make you feel like you’re in the deep sea!  


Voice-acting 


The voice acting was very well done, charming, and believable. The voice actress who played Alyx was so memorable and believable. When i think of Half life 2, I imagine her voice.  


Summary


Overall, half life 2 is a solid game that will live on for generations. Its been so long since I last played it. When I listen to the soundtrack, remember the promos, gameplay, hear fan theories, see gameplay footage - I want to play the whole franchise all over again! Half life 2 is still just as fresh as it was when i first played it! I highly recommend you play Half life 2! I highly recommend you buy the physical copy of this game.


https://ebay.us/rdxPaL       


In this review, i'll give my thoughts on the Christmas TV special - How the Grinch stole Christmas 1966 in a non spoiler and spoiler review. I'll try not to give important details away in the non spoiler review. 

Non spoiler review

Wow! Just wow! I'm blown away by how incredible this TV special is! The music, animation, storytelling, everything is so full of energy and life.  

Story - The story is simple - the Grinch plans to ruin Christmas for whoville with his dog Max. Nevertheless, the way this TV special was relentless in delivering power, charm, and humor.  

I loved how there are loads of small details that make the story more interesting. For example, when the narrator explains the story as the Grinch talks, you could interpret it as the Grinch's actual voice or the narrator's interpretation and impersonation of his voice. 

There were many highlights of the special that stood out to me. 

When the whos sing as one, it gets emotional.

Soundtrack - The beautiful opening song really warms you and instantly absorbs you into the story. The melody as well as the lyrics are joyful, catchy, and well-crafted. I loved the lyrics use of alliteration. The song is full of thanksgiving, purity, and hope for the Christmas spirit. Its deeply spiritual. I loved the rhymes.   

The songs that follow are so energetic especially when the vocals emphasize some syllables more than others! They make you want to help the characters set up Christmas decorations!     

I loved how the film does a splendid job in introducing you to a world where anything is possible with the lyrics, characters of different sizes and shapes, colors, clothes, etc.   

The instrumental music makes you feel how sinister the Grinch is with its apparently random rhythm.

The song "you're a mean one, mr. Grinch!" is one of the highlights of the Christmas special! Its extremely catchy and full of style! The Broadway musical kind of rhythm and tone make you feel how shameful the Grinch is. At times, the singer seems to vent his anger and disgust with the Grinch while singing. 

The music does a great job of expressing the chaos and sneakiness of the Grinch. I love how the songwriter exaggerates the Grinch's wickedness not only to add humor but also add style to the song.   

Animation - I loved how colorful the animation was. It's bright. I loved how one character smoothly ran down the stairs! I loved the subtle reference to "the apple of your eye" idiom when Cindy holds an apple and it appears to shrink in the Grinch's eye. 

Characters - The characters are full of charm and depth. They're interesting although they have no speaking roles. You learn alot from the characters' body language as well as their speech.  

I loved how the different voices singing together sounded united despite being made up of different individuals. The whos are presented as innovators. 

When we're introduced to Cindy lou, you can feel the glee and purity emanating from her! She's adorable to a point where you just want to care for her.     

 I loved how the Grinch's grin and hair changed. It really shows you how sinister he is! 

I loved how the Grinch is bent out of shape, emphasizing his crooked morals. When he taps his finger, he's calculating how to cause mischief on whoville.

Cinematography - The cinematography is amazing. When the cam. takes shots of the Grinch from a lower angle, it makes you feel the Grinch is a tyrant looming over you along with whoville. When the cam. shifts down on whoville from a higher angle, it also makes the same effect. 

I loved how the Grinch's home towers over whoville. Already, you get the sense the Grinch is a tyrant. 

The seemingly random and unusual language as well as the culture of whoville gives you the impression the whos are unpredictable. They go with the flow. 

I really loved how the characters faced the cam. when talking to you. It makes you feel you're part of the story! 

Acting - The acting is outstanding! The narrator has such a strong but gentle and interesting presence! He had tons of energy! Without him, i don't think the Grinch would've been successful.

Dialogue - Even when narrating, every line feels poetic with rhymes. 

Overall, How the Grinch stole Christmas 1966 is a timeless classic masterpiece. I highly recommend you buy it on DVD and rewatch it. 

https://ebay.us/EQZGwM

Spoiler review 

Wow! Just wow! I'm blown away by how incredible this TV special is! The music, animation, storytelling, everything is so full of energy and life.  

Story - The story is simple - the Grinch plans to ruin Christmas for whoville with his dog Max. Nevertheless, the way this TV special was relentless in delivering power, charm, and humor.  

I loved how there are loads of small details that make the story more interesting. For example, when the narrator explains the story as the Grinch talks, you could interpret it as the Grinch's actual voice or the narrator's interpretation and impersonation of his voice. 

There were many highlights of the special that stood out to me. 

I love how the Grinch realizes what he's about to lose and saves his dog. When the Grinch's heart grew in response to what he saw, that was emotional.  

When the whos sing as one, it gets emotional.

I loved how during the sleigh scene, the Grinch really shows you he needs to have his way when he forces Max in front of the sleigh even when he sees he can't carry such a massive sleigh. 

When Cindy shows up and confronts the Grinch, that was dramatic. You really feel for Cindy. She's innocent and pure. She doesn't even know or suspect he could hurt her.   

What made this very heart-warming was how the Grinch goes from being the villain to the hero. In a way, i feel he was secretly good from the beginning. He wanted to know if Christmas was really more than just about materialism.  

Soundtrack - The beautiful opening song really warms you and instantly absorbs you into the story. The melody as well as the lyrics are joyful, catchy, and well-crafted. I loved the lyrics use of alliteration. The song is full of thanksgiving, purity, and hope for the Christmas spirit. Its deeply spiritual. I loved the rhymes.   

The songs that follow are so energetic especially when the vocals emphasize some syllables more than others! They make you want to help the characters set up Christmas decorations!     

I loved how the film does a splendid job in introducing you to a world where anything is possible with the lyrics, characters of different sizes and shapes, colors, clothes, etc.   

When the Grinch complains about the whos, the music makes you feel the chaos with repetitious sounds. 

The instrumental music makes you feel how sinister the Grinch is with its apparently random rhythm.

The song "you're a mean one, mr. Grinch!" is one of the highlights of the Christmas special! Its extremely catchy and full of style! The broadway musical kind of rhythm and tone makes you feel how shameful the Grinch is. At times, the singer seems to vent his anger and disgust with the Grinch while singing. 

The music does a great job of expressing the chaos and sneakiness of the Grinch. I love how the songwriter exaggerates the Grinch's wickedness not only to add humor but also add style to the song.   

Animation - I loved how colorful the animation was. It's bright. I loved how one character smoothly ran down the stairs! I loved the subtle reference to "the apple of your eye" idiom when Cindy holds an apple and it appears to shrink in the Grinch's eye. When the Grinch expects the whos to come out of their homes and find them walking out as if nothing happened, that is powerful. The driving force was the music and animation 

The star in the center was a symbol of hope but could also be the Christmas spirit. 

Characters - The characters are full of charm and depth. They're interesting although they have no speaking roles. You learn alot from the characters' body language as well as their speech.  

I loved how the different voices singing together sounded united despite being made up of different individuals. The whos are presented as innovators. 

When we're introduced to Cindy lou, you can feel the glee and purity emanating from her! She's adorable to the point where you just want to care for her.     

When you see the drums play against the Grinch's head, you see and feel how tormented he is by the noise he perceives from whoville.    

When you're introduced to the Grinch, you feel this character's unhappy and angry because of a past experience. 

 I loved how the Grinch's grin and hair changed. It really shows you how sinister he is! 

I loved how the Grinch is bent out of shape, emphasizing his crooked morals. When he taps his finger, he's calculating how to cause mischief on whoville.

When you take a glimpse of the Grinch's home, its almost empty. The only things we find are the tools he uses to make his Santa suit and the red curtain. This tells you the Grinch only lives to make others suffer. 

When the Grinch slithers like a snake, that really emphasizes his cunning and evil kind of personality.

I loved how the Christmas special introduced the dog. You feel he's a cheerful character who was enslaved to bad circumstances. 

Cinematography - The cinematography is amazing. When the cam. takes shots of the Grinch from a lower angle, it makes you feel the Grinch is a tyrant looming over you along with whoville. When the cam. shifts down on whoville from a higher angle, it also makes the same effect. 

I loved how the Grinch's home towers over whoville. Already, you get the sense the Grinch is a tyrant. 

The seemingly random and unusual language as well as the culture of whoville gives you the impression the whos are unpredictable. They go with the flow. 

I really loved how the characters faced the cam. when talking to you. It makes you feel you're part of the story! 

Acting - The acting is outstanding! The narrator has such a strong but gentle and interesting presence! He had tons of energy! Without him, i don't think the Grinch would've been successful.

Dialogue - Even when narrating, every line feels poetic with rhymes. 

Overall, How the Grinch stole Christmas 1966 is a timeless classic masterpiece. I highly recommend you buy it on DVD and rewatch it. 

https://ebay.us/EQZGwM

 

Art and entertainment

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