What We Really Thought: The Hobbit HFR 3D and Star Trek Into Darkness Prologue

The guys compare both versions of The Hobbit, then talk Trek and Man of Steel. http://wawaseegroup.blogspot.com/
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GamePlay: Scribblenauts Unlimited (Wii U) Review

Platforms/Price/Players: Available for the Wii U, 3DS and PCs. $60/$40/$30, respectively. Multiplayer available on Wii U.

Premise/Story/Set-up: Scribblenauts Unlimited is the third game in the Scribblenauts series, and the first for home consoles. Main character Max has received an extraordinary notebook that conjures anything written inside it. Max’s parents, believing in the Spider-Man maxim, send Max and his sister Lilly off to do good in the world. They immediately encounter a mysterious hobo whom Max gives a rotten apple from his notebook. As all hobos are magic, he curses Max’s sister to turn into stone. The only cure is to collect Starites, created by pure joy. Max helps people with his notebook to save his sister.

Gameplay: Scribblenauts is a puzzle game. In each level the player is tasked with solving a problem via the magic notebook. Example: A grandmother forgot to put a gift in a giftbox. The player then taps on the book icon in the screen, writes out, say, “Creepy doll,” and places that conjured item in the box. The puzzle is solved, the player receives a starite shard and the little girl cries upon seeing her gift. Some puzzles need to be solved by modifying an existing object/person. In one level, the player encounters an adventurer who cannot decipher a simple pictograph. The player can tap on the person, opening up the notebook to add an adjective. Adding “smart” or “intelligent” to “adventurer” solves the puzzle and allows the person to read the literal writing on the wall.

Review: I haven’t played any previous games in the Scribblenauts series. I’ve seen a couple of videos showing unusual results (Cthulu vs. werewolf) in those games, and I thought it was entertaining. I play puzzle games like Tetris and Pushmo on occasion. Scribblenauts Unlimited is somewhere between the two in difficulty. There are no headscratchers, but they aren’t all solved in a single step. The problem I have with the game is imagination. I’m not sure if I have too much or too little. Most puzzles have variant solutions, like the giftbox example above. When I started the game I was more expansive in my answers. On several occasions the game was unable to produce those responses, forcing me to simplify. By the end I was so frustrated with the same roadblock that I went to the basics. Cthulus (Cthuli?), jetpacks and “evil ____” littered the stages. It’s surprising how often the characters will settle for a Kraken.  The graphics are nice and the art style is pleasant.  It adds to the humor found throughout the game. Pop culture nods include Jurassic Park, Superman and Indiana Jones. I found myself staring at the Wiipad for most of the duration out of necessity. It’s difficult to look at the big TV when I’m constantly writing. The controls are responsive, and there’s no lag between the screens.

Recommendation: I had some fun moments during the 10-hour playtime (All Starites and shards collected). It comes down to the player’s imagination and how much irritation the player can stand if their results aren’t produced. I think it’s worth a try. There aren’t many games out for the Wii U yet. Scribblenauts Unlimited will fill the time until something better comes along.

Robert j. Sautter
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What We Really Thought: Rise of the Guardians, Life of Pi 3D and Lincoln

The guys talk about the latest Dreamworks Animation release, Ang Lee’s 3D wonderment and this year’s other Abe film. http://wawaseegroup.blogspot.com/ http://bit.ly/oqModb

What We Really Thought: Skyfall, Wreck It Ralph and Cloud Atlas

The guys discuss James Bond’s 50th Anniversary, Disney’s video game tribute and the Wachowski’s epic. http://wawaseegroup.blogspot.com/ http://bit.ly/oqModb

What We Really Thought: The Bourne Legacy, Total Recall 2012 and The Campaign

Robert talks about the reboot, the remake and the comedy. http://wawaseegroup.blogspot.com/ http://bit.ly/oqModb

What We Really Thought: The Dark Knight Rises and Magic Mike

The guys discuss Christopher Nolan's trilogy capper and Channing Tatum's life story. http://wawaseegroup.blogspot.com/ http://bit.ly/oqModb

What We Really Thought: The Dark Knight Rises and Magic Mike (in 2 Minutes)

The guys (quickly) discuss Nolan's trilogy capper and Channing Tatum's life story. http://wawaseegroup.blogspot.com/ http://bit.ly/oqModb

What We Really Thought: Moonrise Kingdom, Rock of Ages, Ted and The Amazing Spider-Man

The guys talk about Wes Anderson’s masterpiece, the Tom Cruise flop, Seth MacFarlane’s hit comedy and the superhero reboot. Time codes: Moonrise Kingdom 0:00 - 1:54 Rock of Ages 1:54 - 7:13 Ted 7:13 - 11:54 Spidey Spoiler free 11:54 - 17:07 Spidey Spoilers 17:07 - 44:56 http://wawaseegroup.blogspot.com/ http://bit.ly/oqModb

What We Really Thought: Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter 3D and Brave 3D

Robert and Tony discuss the alternate history tale and Pixar’s new film. http://wawaseegroup.blogspot.com/ http://bit.ly/oqModb

What We Really Thought: Prometheus IMAX 3D and Snow White and the Huntsman (Abridged Review)

The guys talk about Ridley Scott’s return to science fiction and Kristen Stewart’s latest movie franchise. This version is (much) shorter. http://wawaseegroup.blogspot.com/ http://bit.ly/oqModb https://celebrationcinema.com/location/Crossroads

What We Really Thought: Prometheus IMAX 3D and Snow White and the Huntsman and Jaron and Robert Stick it to McDonald’s (Uncut Review)

The guys talk about Ridley Scott’s return to science fiction and Kristen Stewart’s latest movie franchise. This podcast is (almost) uncut. http://wawaseegroup.blogspot.com/ http://bit.ly/oqModb https://celebrationcinema.com/location/Crossroads

What We Really Thought: Men In Black 3 and Battleship

Louie and Robert discuss the threequel and the board game adaptation, which they viewed at Wabash, Indiana’s 13-24 Drive-in. http://wawaseegroup.blogspot.com/ http://bit.ly/oqModb http://www.1324drivein.com/

Reel Time: Extreme Couponing

Jaron and Robert react to Extreme Couponing, minute-by-minute. http://wawaseegroup.blogspot.com/ http://bit.ly/oqModb http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/extreme-couponing

What We Really Thought: Dark Shadows and Pirates! Band of Misfits

Jaron, Louie and Robert discuss the TV adaptation and Aardman’s stop-motion epic. http://wawaseegroup.blogspot.com/ http://bit.ly/oqModb

What We Really Thought: The Avengers and the Marvel Movieverse

The guys talk about the hit comic book movie and its predecessors.
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What We Really Thought: Titanic 3D, The Raid and The Cabin in the Woods

The guys talk about the “classic” re-release along with two potential new classics.
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Robert Reads: Zale Drugs fountain menu

Robert reads the Zale Drugs fountain menu. If you have any suggestions for what you’d like Robert to read, post them on the blog or Facebook page.
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What We Really Thought: The Hunger Games (Reprise) and Mirror Mirror

Jaron, Jeff, Louie and Robert discuss The Hunger Games from a fan’s perspective then frown upon their reflections.
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What We Really Thought: John Carter, The Hunger Games and 21 Jump Street

Jaron, Robert and Richie discuss three highly anticipated adaptations.
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What We Really Thought: The Lorax IMAX 3D, The Secret World of Arrietty and Project X

The guys talk about the hit Dr. Seuss adaptation, Studio Ghibli’s latest and the found footage party movie.

What We Really Thought: The Woman in Black, Star Wars Episode 1 3D and Chronicle

The boys talk Pokémon and then review the titular films.
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What We Really Thought: The Grey at the Northwood Cinema Grill

Jaron and Robert review Liam Neeson’s latest, which they viewed at the Northwood Cinema Grill.

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What We Really Thought: Best/Worst of 2011 and Academy Awards 2012

Jaron and Robert go over their favorite and least favorite TV/Movies of 2011, then touch on this year’s Academy Awards nominees.

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What We Really Thought: The Descendants, War Horse and Young Adult

Jaron and Robert review Jim Rash’s Best Screenplay bid, revisit the Spielberg epic and discuss the accuracy of Diablo Cody’s small town portrayal.

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What We Really Thought: War Horse

Hannah, Tony and Robert review Spielberg’s World War I film.
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What We Really Thought: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo 2011 and Tintin

Jaron, Jeff, Mike, Richie and Robert go over David Fincher’s remake and Spielberg’s latest.
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