SPOILER!

It could be real, it could be fake, I take no responsibility for it, but hey, it could make you a couple extra bucks in that office pool...

JCVD ~ Jean-Claude Van Damme

Holy crap! It's better than seeing Liam Neeson do a Steven Seagal movie (cough, Taken, cough). This one is actually a real movie. With Jean-Claude. And acting.

Now, I'm not going to start quoting those nice praising reviews like "Must be seen to be believed", or that odd one like "Forces you to consider the star in a whole new light", or even "Maybe the year's most surprising movie." I just really enjoyed this movie.

Basically, Jean-Claude is himself, a lower than B-movie actor who runs into debt, child custody hearings, and a lack of love from his own agent. After heading home to Brussels (making this movie basically in French with English subtitles - but they don't talk fast), he finds out he really is broke as Steven Seagal steals his last role. Things get interesting when he's caught in a bank robbery while withdrawing cash and the whole city thinks he is the criminal.

This movie delivered all that I wanted. It had action, humor, clever writing, a soft touch, and interesting supporting characters. My one complaint is that after Jean-Claude does this movie, proves that he can act and show emotion, he goes and signs up for Universal Soldier 4.

As a side note, I didn't have to go to a Film Festival to see this either. The new FSU Film School Torchlight Program brought this movie, others, and more to come for FREE to Student Life Cinema on campus and played it back on January 13th.

Now, if you missed it a month ago, JCVD is coming back to Tallahassee. It will be at the Regal Miracle 5 on Friday, February 13.

I might actually go and pay for my second showing, so I expect to see you there. Don't forget, for more of these FREE movies in Tallahassee, keep an eye on Student Life Cinema at FSU, especially on Facebook at the fan page: Student Life Cinema

Old School Mortal Kombat Tournament

Oh yes, it is right around the corner. This Saturday, at 2PM, gallons of blood will be spilled in the theater. Contrary to earlier advertisements, we are playing the original arcade version of Mortal Kombat (Rev04 for the ROM nerds out there). This is the game that started it all, the worried mothers, the concerned government, and all other pseudo-science that blames video games for the world problems. Awarded most controversial game of 1993, it still stands as a testament to violence and gore. I spent four hours playing this game last night, learning all the special moves, and trying out all the fatalities, and it was absolutely glorious, both the blood and the childhood nostalgia.

Here's guide for the rest of you, to help level the playing field.
http://www.mksecrets.net/mk1/eng/mk-specialmoves.php

Specific rules for the tournament will be available on game day, but no worries, it's nothing to complicated (16bit, come on). It's a standard double elimination tournament, so start practicing now.