Halo Wars (XBOX 360)

Developer: Ensemble Studios
Release Date: March 2009
Genre: RTS
ESRB: Rated T
Game Console: XBOX 360 (exclusive)



The ORB's Take: RENT it! - Make sure its your type of game.

Game Review:
Halo Wars is a real time strategy built exclusively for the XBOX 360 that actually works on a console. This game boasts great graphics and is fresh new edition to the Halo series. Play through a campaign or play online. You can play a match were you partner up with your friends against the a.i., or play against your friends; as well as co-oping through the campaign online with a friend. The object of the game is to build up your fortresses by collecting supplies so that you can build up your army to destroy your enemies. You have the choice to play as the army of the UNSC (the Spartan side) or play as the Convenant army (Grunts, Elites, Ghosts, Banshees, etc.) Usually real time stategies need to be played on a PC because there are a lot controls and hotkeys that you need a keyboard for to play it effectively, but the developer made it very easy to control with an XBOX controller. I'd advise you to rent the game before buying it, this game will not be everyone's forte - even for a die-hard Halo player.

What To Expect: Great graphics, fun online play.

You Might If You Like These:
Command & Conquer

Official Halo Wars site

Quantum of Solace (2008)

Director: Marc Foster
Release Date: November 14, 2008
Genre: Action / Adventure / Thriller
MPAA: Rated PG-13
MGM



The ORB's take: I had to watch it twice to appreciate it.

Movie Review:
I have to be honest with you, I am not a huge fan of the new Bond. It will probably take me another Daniel Craig Bond movie to win me over to this new type of "Bond". I have always thought that Bond's attributes of charm, showing us new gadgets, introducing us to new flashy cars, getting any girl he wants, and taking out anyone in his way to get the answers he is after are what make 007. Don't get me wrong, this movie is filled with boat chases, car chases, foot chases, and lots of action. If it wasn't a Bond movie I would have loved this film, but I was hoping for the old James and I got a ruthless, kill everything in site Bond - and again that is just not James Bond. This movie picks up where Casino Royale left off. It finishes the story of where James becomes a "00", allowing you to see a completely different side to James Bond than you have been used to in the past. Good movie? Yes. Good Bond? Getting there. Worth a DVD rental? Yes. If you don't like it the first time you watch it, watch it again; it worked for me.

What to Watch For: Chase scenes, 007 becoming a new type of Bond.

You Might If You Like These:
Casino Royale
The Bourne Identity

Official Quantum of Solace Site
IMDB

Red: Innocence & Instinct

Artist: Red
Label: Essential Records
Album Type: Rock
Released: Feb 10, 2009





The Orb's Take: Rock! Fresh! Rock! Tight! Rock! Worth a Listen!

Album Review:
This band's sophomore album debuted at #15 on the US Billboard 200 Chart and sold an impressive 40,000 copies in its first week. They made Radio and Record history when their single "Fight Inside" debuted at #1, being the first Christian rock band to ever do so. This album blew me away with its production. Having been in the Christian industry as an artist, I have always felt that Christian rock bands lack the strong production mainstream artists always capture. It is great to listen to band that understands how important great guitar tones, heavy drum sounds, solid bass lines, melodic vocals, with a touch of modern rock scream really is. Fresh electronic / digital tracks fill and add a lot to this bands sound, putting them on stage with any rock band out there today. In "Death of Me" they express the struggles of running from old addictions and giving them to God before they take you over again. Throughout the album songs like "Out From Under" combine hard hitting guitar and drum tracks with string and synth sounds making rock what rock should be. If you like the tightness of Korn combined with the vocals of Staind and Evanecense mixed, you won't be disappointed with "Innocence & Instinct". Get ready to break something!

What to Listen to: "Death of Me", "Fight Inside", "Ordinary World"

You Might If You Like These:
Staind
Disciple
Evanescence

Official Red website
Red MySpace Page

Papa Roach: Metamorphosis

Artist: Papa Roach
Label: Geffen Records
Album Type: Rock
Released: March 24, 2009





The Orb's Take: Just in time for summer, Turn up the volume & roll down the windows!

Album Review:
This California quartet's 5th studio delivers like a true rock-n-roll album should. Pure rock guitar riffs and solid vocals drive this album just like their previous contributions. Lead singer Jacoby Shaddix continues to show that he has great rock vocals that portrays strong emotion throughout Metamorphosis. Shaddix takes you through his journeys and addictions in the each track and proves that he has matured through is struggles. Tracks like "Change or Die" and "I Almost Told You that I Loved You" will make you want to roll down your car window and turn up the volume. "Carry Me", "Lifeline", and "March Out of Darkness" show a lighter, but versatile side to Papa Roach. Overall this is a great rock album; although I don't believe it is their best album they have ever released, it demonstrates how tight this band really is. Catch them this summer on tour, you won't be disappointed - they are one of the tighest live bands on the road today.

What to Listen to: "Change or Die", "Lifeline", "Live This Down"

You Might If You Like These:
Linkin Park
Hed Pe
Rage Against the Machine

Official Papa Roach website
Papa Roach MySpace Page

Viva La Hova (2008)

Artists: Coldplay & JayZ
Produced By: Mick Boogie & Terry Urban
Album Type: Mix Tape / Rock / Pop / Rap
Released: October 2008



The ORB's Take: An UNBELIEVABLE mix of 2 great artists!

Album Review:
Viva La Hova will not be found in any store, but if you are lucky you might be able to find it online somewhere and download it. This mixtape mash-up album was put together by Mick Boogie (a well known DJ from NYC) & Terry Urban (a well known DJ from Cleveland, OH.) and it is very, very professionally done. If you are a fan of either of these two artist you will enjoy listening to the great chemistry they have created in this mixtape. Listening to the song "Know My Place" really enhances just how talented Jay Z rally is. Mixing songs like Coldplay's "We Never Change" and Jay Z's "Never Change" to make the track "Never Changing" seems like it was suppose to be an original song they were meant to write and record together. "Lost Part 1" which is an original on Coldplay's latest album Viva La Vida and was also released on an EP that they just recently put out, showcases Jay Z and elevates the song to a different level. Being a fan of both of these artists the track "X-Y-Z" makes you want to listen to this album again and again to hear the talent from all the parties involved in this project. Even if you aren't familiar with either of these artists, or you are just a fan of one them, it is worth a listen; especially since it is free.

What to Listen to: "X-Y-Z", "Public Speeding", "Miss Trouble", "Never Changing"

You Might If You Like These:
Coldplay
Jay Z
The Grey Album

Viva La Hova My Space Page
Download Here

de Blob

Developer: Blue Tongue
Release Date: September 2008
Genre: 3D Platformer
ESRB: Rated Everyone
Game Console: Wii (exclusive)




The ORB's Take: BUY it! - Endless hours of mindless fun.

Game Review:
De Blob is a game that turns your 30 minutes of Wii play a day into endless hours of non-stop play. I can't stop playing this game! The game uses both the nunchuck and Wii remote to move your character (de Blob) around the screen. In the game, the evil INKT Corporation has drained all the color out of the Chroma City. You are de Blob and you have joined the resistance movement to help restore color to the city. As de Blob you paint the cities by acquiring paint by smashing the INKT's robots that have drained the color from the buildings, trees, sidewalks, walls, and many other structures they stole color from. The goal is to paint each city before your time limit runs out. There are many side missions within each part of the city that reward you with extra time. As the game progresses it gets more challenging and the cities get bigger and brighter. You will find yourself finishing a level only wanting to see what the next one holds. De Blob has great graphics and easy gameplay, which is great for someone who doesn't have hours to get into a game. This is a game you can pick up and play for 30 minutes or 3 hours, and you can play it without any thinking. This game is what you expect from a Wii game; just lots of mindless, endless fun.

What To Expect: A surprisingly fun game and losing track of time.

You Might If You Like These:
Super Mario Galaxy

Official de Blob site

Taken (2009)

Director: Pierre Morel
Release Date: January 30, 2009
Genre: Action / Crime / Drama / Thriller
MPAA: Rated PG-13
20th Century Fox



The ORB's take: Before this film is over, you will want a sequel.

Movie Review:
This film was actually released in 2008 in France about a year before, but didn't get released in the USA until 2009. I am very glad this got released, and is well-deserving of theaters. Taken reminds us what a great action / thriller is suppose to be. Liam Neeson (Bryan) is a former secret service agent/spy that retired to spend time with his daughter (Kim) in California. The plot begins when his ex-wife convinces him to let their teenage daughter go on a trip with her best friend to Paris without any adult supervision because they need his parental consent to go. After reluctantly allowing her to go, he tells her she must call and check in with him multiple times when arrives in Paris. When he can’t get in touch with her after her plane lands, he calls relentlessly until she finally answers. When they are talking on the phone she sees her best friend in the other room get abducted by people who broke into the house they are staying in. This is when Bryan shifts into secret service mode and he tells his daughter she is about to be taken, stay calm, get under the bed, leave the phone, and shout out everything you see about them when they grab you. The kidnapper picks up the phone she left on the ground and Bryan tells him that if he doesn’t let her go he will use the skills that he has acquired over his career to find him and kill him. After that the action is non-stop and a great thrill ride. The acting in this movie is very bearable for an action flick and is very worth paying for to see on the big screen. A movie that you don't have to think while your watching it; you just get to sit back and enjoy the a great movie.

What to Watch For: The unexpected, and wanting everyone involved to get what they deserve.

You Might If You Like These:
Ransom
Live Free or Die Hard
Wanted

Official Taken Site
IMDB

The Watchmen (2009)

Director: Zach Snyder
Release Date: March 9, 2009
Genre: Comic Book Action / Drama
MPAA: Rated R
Warner Bros. Pictures



The ORB's take: Wait, Wait, Wait, and Wait, did I say Wait? - until the DVD comes out or until FX airs it on t.v.

Movie Review:
The anticipation for this movie was extremely high which is probably why I believe my disappointment in the outcome is so great. Zach Snyder proved he can direct when we directed 300, but this film falls way short of an entertaining film. I have to be honest, I have never read any of the Watchmen comic books so I went into this movie a blind virgin to the Watchmen background. So the disappointment began when I find out that the only Crime Fighter that has powers walks around completely naked 99 percent of the time you see him in the movie. Most of the movie is dialog explaining the history of the Watchmen society, which is good, but the funny costumes make it comical. The plot and small twist kept me from leaving the theater and using the restroom, but also ruins the only great part of the movie. There is one exception to the bore-fest I sat through and his name is Rorsach. Not only is his character the best of the Watchmen clan, his story line and fighting scenes make you want more of the Rorsach. The 20 minutes of extremely cool fighting that is throughout this 2hr 30 min. plus movie should have been substituted for all the times I was forced to watched the naked man walking around then this movie would have had positive outcome and a happy paying patron. This movie puts the X-Men franchise on an untouchable level when it comes to comic book movies. The R-Rating was pleasant surprise for a comic book movie, but was a let-down when only 5 percent of that was for a jail-break fight scene and the other 95 percent of that was for a blue naked guy walking around showing us his world we'd rather not explore.

What To Watch For: Rorsach, The Jail scene.

You Might If You Like These:
Xmen
Batman
Spiderman

Official Watchmen Site
IMDB