05.31.06

Welcome to this latest installment of The K-Files. It's time to celebrate the end of May with trip down Esoteric Lane, at the corner of Weird and Spooky, to a place known by many as The K-Files.

Last week I gave my take on announcer Ross Mitchell and the bang-up job he's doing filling in for Ian on Coast to Coast Live. We were blessed once again as Mitchell agreed to come back on this past week. Did he live up to his debut appearance, or was it a case of beginner's luck? And what did our ol' pal Ian have to say about it? Read on and find out.

You'd better get ready, 'cause here come The K-Files...Full Article.

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) - Directed by Brett Ratner
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action violence, some sexual content and language.

In the saga of porting Marvel comic books to movie form, only two franchises can be considered truly successful: Spiderman and X-Men. While Spiderman 3 is still a ways off, X-Men fans get what is being publicized as the last in the series this Memorial Day weekend. And as a moviegoer only briefly familiar with the X-Men mythos, I thought it an impressive ending to an impressive trilogy.

In X-Men: The Last Stand, a 'cure' to the mutant gene is found, prompting an uproar among the population. Meanwhile, an old friend returns with unlocked powers. Now Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and his X-Men prepare to battle Magneto (Ian McKellen) and his Brotherhood in a last stand to decide the fate of mutant-kind.

I enjoyed the crap out of this movie. Therefore, I was a bit surprised that when the credits began to roll, several fans started booing. There were a few corny moments and less than stellar bits of dialogue, but this was far from a boo-deserving film. Perhaps it's because of my lack of knowledge regarding the X-Men comic canon, but I consider this to be a competent conclusion to a quality trilogy.

With Brett Ratner taking over directing duties from Bryan Singer (who left the series to helm the soon to be released Superman Returns), there are some notable differences in The Last Stand when compared to the first 2 in the series. At a fast-paced 104 minutes, The Last Stand relies more on big explosions and fight sequences than character interaction. But said fight sequences are fantastic--featuring some of the most realistic and epic CGI shots put to film. In all honesty, there was maybe 1 or 2 scenes of bad CGI. Other than that, the darker, grittier feel to The Last Stand was its greatest strongpoint.

The acting, like character interaction, also takes a back seat. Halle Berry as the weather controlling Storm was a lowpoint, but Kelsey Grammer bulked up in blue makeup was a nice addition to the cast. And as usual, Ian McKellen pretty much dominated.

X3 is like the grand finale of a fireworks show. When it reaches its climax, it becomes less about setting up a neat choreography and more about putting as much mutant combat on screen as possible. But with top-notch special effects, great action sequences, and a shocking ending, The Last Stand is a winner in my book.

Memorable Line: "Don't you know who I am? I'm the Juggernaut, bitch! "

Rating: 4 / 5

The Da Vinci Code (2006) - Directed by Ron Howard
Rated PG-13 for disturbing images, violence, some nudity, thematic material, brief drug references and sexual content.

It feels like I'm one of the only people left who has not yet read The Da Vinci Code. I was planning on doing so before the movie came out. Yeah...That didn't quite work. But I saw the movie anyway and, although I can't really compare it to the novel, I must say that I enjoyed it.

In The Da Vinci Code, sybmologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) unlocks a secret code in Da Vinci paintings in the Louvre after being summoned there to help in a murder investigation. However, after the zealous Captain Fache (Jean Reno) is convinced Langdon is the murderer, Hanks teams up with Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou) and Sir Leigh Teabing (Ian McKellen) to clear his name and unlock the secret of Da Vinci's code--a secret that will shake the very foundation of human history.

This movie is just shy of 2 and a half hours long, and it feels like it. That's not to say that it isn't an exciting 2.5 hours, but those looking for a light blockbuster romp may want to look elsewhere. The Da Vinci Code tells an elaborate story that requires audiences pay close attention to experience it to full effect. It will probably be easier to follow for those that read the book, but for a newcomer to the story, I found myself getting lost on a few occasions.

Tom Hanks? Meh. Ian McKellen is the real star of this flick. He basically stole every scene he was in. As did Paul Bettany, playing the role of the albino-assassin, Silas. His self-mutilating, Nun-punching attitude was the movie's high point for me.

In short, The Da Vinci Code is a great piece of fiction retold as a tight, smart thriller. The pacing slows it down at times and suffers from Return of the King Syndrome (my term for a movie that seems to have multiple endings), but the story is a good one and Ron Howard's presentation of it is top-notch. From someone who hasn't touched the book, don't feel intimidated if you haven't either. See it, you wont be disappointed.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

05.24.06

Welcome to this latest installment of The K-Files.

This week I will be continuing my new Special Report format with a bit of commentary on an event that is sure to shake the very foundation of Coast to Coast AM. I am talking about last week's guest hosting by announcer Ross Mitchell. Was I impressed by his deep, soothing voice? What of his hosting skills? And, most importantly, what does this mean for Ian? Read on and find out.

You'd better get ready, 'cause here come The K-Files...Full Article.

Welcome to part 3 of Khyron's Post E3 commentary. I will be concluding my commentary with a review of Microsoft's press conference...

Post E3 - Microsoft Press Conference

For Microsoft, this year's E3 wasn't about hardware. With their Xbox 360 console on store shelves for the past 7 months, they were free to focus on some killer 2nd generation game titles. And boy did they deliver...

The Good~

From the get-go, Microsoft seemed determined to put the conference's audience into a state of complete amazement. Starting with the trailer for their upcoming title Gears of War, Microsoft's E3 showing was nothing short of impressive.

Following the opening trailer, they proceeded to show us actual gameplay footage of Gears of War. This was the high-point of the show for me. The fantastically dark and gritty look of this game, coupled with great voice-work and a fair amount of gore has me pumped. When they revealed a chainsaw-bayonet attachment on the player's gun, I went nuts. This is now my most anticipated game of the year. The amount of quality looking games revealed during the conference was exactly what the legions of early 360 adopters wanted to see.

But Microsoft didn't stop at the Xbox 360, far from it. After a surprise appearance by none other than Bill Gates himself, they laid out their plan for Live Anywhere and the gaming capabilities of the new Windows Vista. The initial vision of the Xbox 360 was to make it the core of your digital lifestyle, powered by Microsoft--with Live Anywhere and Vista, that dream is even more attractive.

First, Live Anywhere. Building off the popular Xbox Live online gaming service, Live Anywhere will allow gamers to sync with both Vista-powered PC's as well as Windows Mobile smartphones. Now you'll be able to access the Xbox Live Arcade on your phone, challenge friends while away, and even stream content from games in order to do on-the-go customization. Most of what was shown was still initial concepts, but there is a lot of possibility here.

Finally, Windows Vista. Building off the world's biggest gaming platform, Windows XP, Vista plans to offer a wide range of features for gamers. First off, Microsoft is planning a new Play for Windows standard. In order to meet it, PC game makers will have to conform their packaging so as to emulate the more streamlined console game shelving at retailers. Secondly, there will be a bevy of performance customization options within Vista.

The first Vista Live Anywhere game will be the online FPS, Shadowrun. Despite fan backlash at the alterations made to the Shadowrun storyline, this title will be the first to be playable across the PC and Xbox 360 console. Now we can finally answer the question as to which is better: the keyboard and mouse or a game controller.

The Bad~

I'd say my biggest disappointment with Microsoft was the unveiling of their add-on HD DVD drive for the 360. The concept is good in theory, and the design looks to match the 360 well, but there was a definite lack of information regarding it. No release date, no price, and no tech specs on how they will achieve HD resolution through a USB cable all make for the drive's first appearance a bit disappointing.

I was also saddened at the lack of an announced larger hard drive for the 360. With 60GB being the standard for the premium PS3, the meager 20GB on the 360 just doesn't feel big enough anymore.

The Bottom Line~

Hands down, Microsoft was the winner at E3. It would have been a close call with Nintendo, but the lack of a release date and price for the Nintendo Wii puts Microsoft on top in my book. With Vista on the way, Microsoft and the Xbox 360 are primed to explode this year.

If you were turned off by the PS3's price tag and don't feel like waiting for the Wii, you can rest assured that Microsoft's latest foray into the console market is far from a flop.

Final Grade: A

Thus concludes Khyron's post E3 commentary. Thanks for reading.

~Khyron, 2006

John Lear - A Brief Bit of Disclosure

Every week when the upcoming schedule is updated at the Coast to Coast AM homepage, there are certain high-caliber guests that I keep a lookout for. Alex ‘The Bulldog’ Jones is one of them, as is Jim Marrs and Ed Dames. Then there is a certain guest that a few years back really kicked my UFO fascination into high gear. The episode was titled ‘Aerial Revelations’ and was hosted by Art Bell on November 2nd, 2003. The guest in question? None other than pilot and UFO whistleblower, John Lear.

During that interview, I was first introduced to what is now known as the Lear Disclosure Briefing. In this detailed report, John Lear describes exactly what the government is keeping from us: human mutilations, UFO/Air Force sorties, abundant life in the solar system, and secret alien contact for the last 50 years. Then he posed to Art the hypothetical question, “What say you Art Bell? Do we brief the public? Yay or nay?” The first time I heard this, I thought to myself, Wow…What a mind-rush.

True or not, the material presented in the Lear Briefing is fascinating to say the least. In fact, if I were to introduce a friend to the experience that is Coast to Coast AM, playing this sound clip would be at the top of my list of things to do. To me, the briefing embodies everything I like about Coast—grandiose story telling coupled with a great host and just a shred of truth. Do I believe everything in the Lear Briefing to be true? Far from it. But it’s an eye-opening look into the possibilities of the universe around us.

Read the full article Here.

Welcome to part 2 of Khyron's Post E3 commentary. Next up is my review of Nintendo's press conference...

Post E3 - Nintendo Press Conference

The graphics war between the Xbox 360 and the PS3 is certainly heating up. So how will Nintendo compete with these two power-houses? Simple, by not competing at all. Instead of trying to top the high-end graphics arena, Nintendo is betting that what gamers want isn't more photo-realistic effects--rather innovative gameplay is what "next-gen" should mean.

So what will provide this revolutionary new gameplay experience? The Wii. It may have a unfortunate name, but this small box of innovation promises to give gamers something new later this year.

So let's see what Nintendo had to say about the Wii or, rather, what they didn't have to say...

The Good~
If you're looking for the next big thing in graphics, look elsewhere. Comparatively, the games shown on the Wii are almost indistinguishable from the Nintendo Gamecube. That said, the release line-up is shaping to be one of the best in console history.

Not the biggest fan of the more kid-friendly genre of the 1st party Nintendo titles, I was most impressed by Ubisoft's new shooter, Red Steel. Using the Wii's motion sensitive remote, it allows for the most realistic sword fighting experience in video games. The thought of online sword fighting using the Wii-mote sounds quite enticing. But for nostalgia fans, a slew of new Mario, Zelda, and Donkey Kong titles are more than enough reason to invest in the Wii.

If I were to point out the one key point of Nintendo's conference, it'd be the controller. I'm not sure if the motion sensitive remote will stay entertaining beyond the initial gimmick (I'm not big on swinging my arms around when wanting to relax with a good game), but it does have a lot of possibilities. Case in point, the new Zelda title. When using your bow and arrow, you will actually get to pull back with the controller simulating a real life bow. Then, with a built in speaker on the controller, you will hear the arrow travel from the remote to the TV's speakers--creating a sort of semi-3D audio experience. Also, the demonstrated sports game showed what could quite possibly become the most fun looking party game in a while. Swinging around the controller to simulate a tennis racquet is enough to warm even the most calloused gore-hound.

Also, and much opposed to Sony's conference, the amount of games coming out for Nintendo's mobile platform, the DS, is indeed impressive.

The Bad~

Nintendo's biggest fault in their press conference was the lack of info on some of the most important aspects of the Wii. The controller is cool, and it was nice to see it in action, but its not like it's something we haven't seen before. I was most disappointed at the lack of a definite release date and price.

Also, Nintendo was rather tight-lipped at one of the Wii's most anticipated features: the virtual console. For nostalgia fans, this company sponsored emulation (similar to Xbox Live's Arcade) will allow gamers to download a library of old school titles from several developers. This is one of the most interesting parts of the Wii, so I was disappointed there was little to no mention of it in the conference.

The Bottom Line~

The biggest advantage Nintendo had over Sony was the crowd reaction. Whereas Sony's conference was rather bland, the Nintendo crowd was eating it up.

Nintendo has always been an innovator in the industry, and it appears that this generation will be no different. And although the Wii may be a bit gimmicky with graphics far from cutting edge, its rumored comparatively low price should mean another hit on Nintendo's hands.

Final Grade: B+

Welcome to part 1 of Khyron's Post-E3 commentary. Over the next couple of days, I'm going to be giving my take on the press conferences from industry leaders Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft. First off is Sony...

Post E3 - Sony Press Conference

Off all the E3 press conferences last week, Sony had the most to prove. Ever since the release of Microsoft's Xbox 360 gaming system in November, video game fans have been justifying not getting the first next-gen console because they're holding out for the Playstation 3. Sony's showing at last year's E3 touted their latest in the market-leading Playstation line as a true monster of a machine--having 1080p HD output, amazing graphics, and a Blu-ray player among its many features. But for many fans, there were still plenty of questions that needed answering: What will the controller look like? What about the online aspect? And, most importantly, when and how much?

In its E3 06 press conference, Sony reps answered most of the above questions, but some still remain. I'll be breaking down my commentary into 3 parts--The Good, The Bad, and The Bottom Line. First, The Good...

The Good~

In the previous generation of video game consoles, Microsoft has enjoyed a slight graphical edge with its Xbox over Sony's PS2. However, it looks like that dynamic is about to change. Whereas last year Sony was restricted to pre-rendered cinemas for game previews, E3 06 gave us a first look at hands-on, real-time graphics. And, from what was shown, I am indeed impressed.

The high point for me was the third person action title, Heavenly Sword. The fast-paced action akin to the popular PS2 game, God of War, was thrilling to say the least. Likewise, the movie-like shooter Eight Days has a fantastic looking preview.

Then of course, there was the one game that alone will guarantee sales of the PS3: Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. It may have just been a pre-rendered cinematic, but the 4 minute trailer for Solid Snake's final adventure looks to maintain the high level of quality set in the previous 3 games in the series.

However, save for the above games, there wasn't much else to get excited about at Sony's conference. That said, lets move on to the bad...

The Bad~

The first thing that jumped out at me was the mood of the audience. In years past, these E3 press conferences are best compared to high school pep rallies, with screaming fan-boys hooting and hollering at every tiny announcement. Not so this year. The crowd was uncannily silent, forcing the speaker to encourage clapping when needed. This could be explained by the amount of writers in the audience trying to type minute by minute accounts, but there was the feeling of a definite lack of energy.

Then there was the big shocker, the price tag. Rumors had been going around saying the PS3 would be priced anywhere from $300 to $600. Now it's official--the PS3 will be taking the high-end route by debuting in North America on November 18 at a price of $599. This makes the PS3 one of the most expensive consoles ever made, up there with the Neo Geo. For those expecting a price similar to the Xbox 360, the Sony conference was good cause for disappointment. But then you must consider what you're getting for that $599: built in Wifi, HDMI output at truest of the true 1080p HD, and one of the first shots at a home Blu-ray player. With standalone players rumored to be priced around $1k, the PS3 is a good deal. However, with this state-of-the-art hardware (needing an expensive HD TV to use to its fullest), it appears as if Sony is aiming for the high-end niche market.

For frugal Sony fans, there will also be a barebones PS3 at a slightly more affordable $499. But, although similar in concept to the 'Core' Xbox 360 system, fans should be weary of this package. Besides shipping with a smaller hard drive (20gb instead of 60), it lacks other features including built-in Wifi, HDMI output, and a Sony Memory Stick reader. But unlike the 360 Core system, these omitted features cannot be added on later for those that wish to upgrade. Suddenly spending $100 more seems more advantageous.

Next, the online component. Competing with Microsoft's Xbox Live is no easy task. Sony's solution? Copy it. They didn't show much at the conference, but it appears to use many of the same features. Granted it's free (as opposed to Microsoft's $50 a year charge for 'Gold' membership), but Sony will be playing catch-up for some time on this one.

Continuing this "can't beat 'em, copy 'em" approach, Sony also unveiled the final controller design. The prototype shown (now referred to as either the 'banana phone' or 'boomerang') last year has been replaced by something that looks striking similar to the PS2 controller--with a few changes. First, the back R2 and L2 buttons are now triggers, and a middle button (a bit too similar to the Xbox 360's Guide Button) has been added at the controller's center. Then there was the big bombshell: the controller features a motion sensor akin to what Nintendo has planned. It almost feels as if Sony wanted to wait until everyone else had a controller set in stone, so as to make sure they didn't get shown-up when revealing theirs.

Though, all unoriginality aside, the Dual-Shock design remains comfortable and the standard wireless feature will make for a decent controller.

The Bottom Line~

In all, I was moderately disappointed by Sony's press conference. Whereas it easily could have stole the show by finally showing PS3 games in action, the presentation seemed dry and was even boring at times. A few of the games are looking promising, though I'm just not sure $600 will be worth the experience the PS3 offers. For the same price, someone could buy a 360 and Nintendo Wii, and I'm just not sure the PS3 will offer enough beyond high-end users.

Also, I would have liked to have seen a lot more on Sony's handheld, the PSP. It received only a brief mentioning and a short montage of game videos (most of them already on store shelves). Where's the support for this thing? It has so much capability, but right now mine is stuck being a paper weight.

Will I still get a PS3? Yeah, that's pretty much a given. But do I expect it to replace my Xbox 360 as the center of my digital lifestyle? From what I've seen thus far, it doesn't look like it.

Final Grade: C

Check back tomorrow when I continue my Post-E3 coverage with a review of Nintendo's press conference and the unveiling of the Wiiiiiiiiiiii!


*Edit: Please note that you can once again post comments to KHYRON.NET Articles.

Many of you have probably noticed a lack of fresh khyron.net content. For this there are many reasons, but with the craziness behind me, you'd better get ready for a torrent of new stuff this week. Here's what you can expect...

Monday: Last week was huge for the video game industry. All the movers and shakers descended upon the Los Angeles Convention Center for the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). With video game commentary being a staple feature here at khyron.net, I will be giving my $0.02 in Khyron's Post-E3 extravaganza. First off, my take on Sony's press conference. Did the PS3 steal the show? Find out tomorrow.

Tuesday: Next comes my review of Nintendo's press conference. The Big N had a lot to show off this year, but can it's revolutionary new console compete in the next-gen market? Wiiiiiii!

Wednesday: Taking a break from video gaming, The K-Files makes its triumphant return.

Thursday: Completing my post-E3 commentary, I'll give my review of Microsoft's press conference. With its hardware already on the market, they were free to focus on a second wave of next-gen titles.

Stay tuned...

05.03.06

Welcome to this week's installment of The K-Files. Seems hard to believe, but the month of May is already upon us. Maybe it's just me, but time seems to be passing at an exponentially faster rate.

But anyway, this week I will give my $0.02 on Eric Julien and his prediction that comet fragments are going to kill us all around May 25. This is a story that started innocently enough, but has grown into one of the more bizarre fusions of astronomy, exopolitics, and anti-war propaganda that I can remember.

You'd better get ready, 'cause here come The K-Files...Full Article.

Silent Hill - Directed by Christophe Gans
Rated R for strong horror violence and gore, disturbing images, and some language.

With Silent Hill, director Christophe Gans (Brotherhood of the Wolf) tries to put an end to the crappy video game movie curse. As a vocal fan of the Silent Hill game franchise, Christophe has some pretty big shoes to fill.

In this very faithful adaptation, mother Rose (Radha Mitchell) takes daughter Sharon (Jodelle Ferland) to the ghostly town of Silent Hill. It is a town with a daemonic past that harbors a dark secret at its burning core. After Sharon is captured by a fanatical cult, Rose must make a pact with evil to get her back.

Silent Hill is a gloriously loud, fantastically gory adventure into the dark areas of the human soul. In a presentation that feels refreshingly un-Hollywood, Silent Hill's greatest and most lasting appeal is in its visuals. Translating the game's very unique (if not terribly disturbing) art design to the big screen gives this horror tale a haunting appearance that sets it apart from other movies in the genre.

However, occasionally poor dialogue and equally sub-par delivery weighs Silent Hill down in the opening and middle acts. Child actress Jodelle Ferland played the role of the creepy little girl well, just not the emotionally distraught one. Likewise, the intimidating Laurie Holden was great when beating down a bunch of thugs with a collapsible baton, just not so much when her character was forced to talk.

The Bottom Line~

Christophe Gans' Silent Hill is a disturbing psychological thriller enhanced with some of the more shocking gore scenes in recent memory. The story, however, is plagued by poor dialogue and is confusingly ambiguous even for fans of the games. But for the visuals alone, this one is worth seeing on the big screen.

Memorable Moment~

A pyramid-headed daemon grabs a hold of the situation, having his way with a slow-moving puritan. Ouch, that's gotta hurt.

Rating: 4 / 5