NEW YORK (AP) – Daniel Craig never seems to stop running in “Skyfall.” As he puts it, James Bond never seems to walk from one place to another. Trouble is, Craig says he hates running. So he had to train by doing a lot of sprints and longer runs. There’s also a first for Bond in Skyfall. He cries in an emotional scene toward the end of the movie. Not that Craig will admit it. He says that was sweat running down his face, not tears. Skyfall opens today.
SEDONA, Ariz. (AP) – The band Chicago has two Christmas albums out, but they don’t ever do all-Christmas concerts. Trumpeter Lee Loughnane (LOK’-nayn) says they’ve learned they can’t do more than two holiday songs live or people get antsy to hear their hits. He sort of understands: Loughnane says he only puts on Chicago Christmas music every four or five years. He says if one of the songs comes on the radio, he’ll think, “Oh yeah, that came out pretty good!” Chicago’s two holiday albums have been packaged together with a lower price as “Chicago’s Ultimate Christmas Collection.”
LOS ANGELES (AP) – The last time Jon Bon Jovi wrote and performed a song for a movie, he won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar. That was “Blaze of Glory” from “Young Guns 2” — but it was 22 years ago. He’s giving it another try. Bon Jovi wrote and performed two songs for the upcoming criminal buddy movie “Stand Up Guys,” out in February. He says the song “Old Habits Die Hard” was inspired directly from a line in the first scene when old friends see each other again. He says the other song, “Not Running Anymore,” is about criminals on the run and he had to put himself in a confessional and “be that Catholic school boy one more time.”
ELI RATES THE GAMES
By KCOW Weekend Warrior and Resident Madman Eli Smith
Indie game developer Benjamin Rivers released a game earlier this year that caught the eyes of a few critics, but really didn’t cause too much of an uproar on the indie games scene. This game is obviously no Minecraft, Fez, or Braid, but it certainly has a charm of its own– an experience that is well worth it for the whopping price of three dollars. This game is simply known as Home.
Home is an interesting game…as you play through the storyline you find yourself discovering a few strange things, among them your own somewhat beaten appearance and signs that people were hurt all over the first area. As you continue to explore, bodies start popping up all over the place. During this whole period your character has no memory, making the signs around you even more interesting. The storyline is nothing overly special; it’s something you would expect out of a horror game. “Home” is more a game of exploration, and if you make the effort to find additional items you will not be disappointed with the results. You find yourself backtracking through a few short areas you couldn’t get to the first time, because you found an item that might help you out later on, and if you use that item to get to a new area the mystery continues to grow. That being said, this gameplay might be boring to certain gamers who are used to the action packed titles of today. Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that the game is only about an hour and a half long. Despite that fact it may take a few playthroughs to acquire the best possible result, making this game around five hours long depending upon your willingness to try again.
The sounds are rather well crafted for a three dollar game. The game suggests that you turn off the lights and put in a pair of headphones, and provides a lot of sounds that work well with the darkened ambiance. Those who are easily spooked might want to avoid this title, but the horror is subdued by the game’s graphics. “Home” was created by one man–an indie game developer who decided to go with a retro look for the game, as the characters and items are all pixelated. The graphics are rather charming, giving the gamers who play this piece some fond memories of the past.
To conclude, Home is a three dollar horror game. People will be turned off by the lack of action and the fact that it is very short, but I encourage you to give it a try anyway. It may not look like much, but the game still gives you a sense of intrigue and is well worth the three dollar price-point. To throw in a little bonus at the end of this review, if you end up buying and playing the game yourself share your own story below in the comments section. It is encouraged to do so at the end of the game, as there are a few branching paths and you must come to your own conclusion with all the evidence you found. Download it off of Steam and tell me what you think below.
Next game review: To The Moon
A fascinating tale following the adventures of two individuals as they grant the wish of a dying man.
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) – Fans of “Downton Abbey” will get a refresher to prepare for season three. The cast has gotten together to reminisce about the highlights from seasons one and two for a PBS special that will air later this month. You can also see what went on behind the scenes and get a sneak peak at season three. “Downton Abbey Revisited” premieres November 25. The new season will start January 6.
UNDATED (AP) – Diane Sawyer knows what you’re saying about her. Twitter was swamped with comments about Sawyer’s bizarre performance on election night. Many wondered if she was drunk. Sawyer tweeted back saying that she’s read the comments, “the good, the bad and the funny.” However, she didn’t explain what was up Tuesday night.
NEW YORK (AP) – Aretha Franklin is postponing two shows because of the ongoing cleanup from Superstorm Sandy. Franklin was supposed to perform Saturday in Newark, New Jersey, and Tuesday in White Plains, New York. She says she is rescheduling those shows “due to the many troubling issues still facing the community at large.” Franklin says she’s praying for people in those areas and donating to the Red Cross. The new dates have not yet been announced.
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Andy Summers of The Police and Tom Hanks have been caught up in an insurance scam. Prosecutors have charged southern California insurance broker Jerry B. Goldman with overcharging Summers, Hanks and two others more than $800,000 on insurance policies. The indictment claims Goldman sent them altered copies of their insurance policies that didn’t disclose the true premium to keep them from suing him or seeking criminal prosecution. Goldman has pleaded not guilty and is out on a $25,000 bond. Representatives for Summers and for Hanks could not be reached for comment.
BURBANK, Calif. (AP) – Advance tickets for the first Hobbit movie go on sale tomorrow. You can start buying them at noon, Eastern time. “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” opens December 14. A week before, a “Lord of the Rings” marathon will be shown in certain theaters. All three extended cut versions will be shown all day on December 8 and December 9. Tickets for the marathons also go one sale tomorrow at noon, Eastern time.
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Michael Buble’ will return with another special for the holidays. “Michael Buble’: Home For The Holidays” will feature guest performers Rod Stewart, Carly Rae Jepsen, Blake Shelton and Elmo. He’ll also use a bit of technical wizardry to duet with Bing Crosby on “White Christmas.” The special will air December 10 on NBC.
