Ali Abdel hameed

The game is a complete jankfest and buggy as heck. But even when the game is working properly there is no denying that this attempt at a comeback for a franchise that hasn't seen a new entry in 9 years is botched in execution. The game feels stuck in the 7th generation, with repitive missions, uninteresting characters, empty and lifeless open world and unfunny dialogue through and through. The game is just one millennial or hipster joke after another, pandering to the lowest common denominator of general humor without style, substance or nuance. The abscence of beloved characters like Johnny Gat and Shaundi is a complete disservice to Saints Row fans, and the characters that replaced them like Eli are wholly underwhelming. Its gameplay, which mostly consists of driving and shooting with no delineation from the core gameplay through unique setpieces or over the top action sequences like what was present in the preceding games can be good fun if you want to sit down with a friend and have a great time or even if you're playing it solo. The open world is stale, empty and lifeless with no recognizable locations, fun side-activities or procedurally generated random encounters. If there is something that this game did well so many other open world games did better. I have to say that as an attempt to rejuvenate a 16-year old franchise that faded away from public consciousness it falls flat on its face. The series had created an identity for itself that differentiated it from Rockstar's lucrative franchise, but its latest entry failed to capitalize on the franchise's calibur within the industry and instead has the stench and the looks of a mediocre game that rose out of the ashes of a once prominent franchise. If you're a Saints Row fan, you really should give this one a pass because it really is the final nail in the coffin for the 3rd Street Saints.

The Batman is without a doubt one of the best superhero movies released in the last decade, but to say it's the best Batman film is debatable. The film itself is fantastic with its characters, depicting Batman as a capable but flawed individual who battles his inner demons - which gave me a few Joker 2019 vibes-and giving Selina Kyle/ Catwoman a bit more depth as a character rather than the cat burglar she was represented as for quite some time. Showing how serious, threatening and deranged the Riddler is goes a long way in helping the movie's characterization. In terms of the plot, it delves into the merky backstory of the Waynes in such a way that no prior film had ever done. In my opinion, the film stumbles somewhat with its pacing due to the abundance of quiet time and its action set are a bit lacking, understandable since this film is meant to show a younger Batman that's not as capable and level headed as his older self. I would say that as someone who loved the Nolan films, the latest outing feels like a bit of a step down from what came before with regards to fight scenes ;I can understand the movie's emphasis on Batman's detective skills more than his butt kicking prowess but the film desparately needed to balance between the detective and combat oriented sides of Batman. Overall, The Batman is a promising start to a new film trilogy but it could be improved with future sequels that hopefully could iron out the issues with the debut film.

Presentation wise, this movie was on point. The incorporation of 2D and 3D rendered animation was an ingenious move, not to mention the various special effects peppered in throughout the whole thing. Story wise, it wasn't anything special but then again it didn't need to be... just a well done ordinary plot about self trust to move things forward. The pacing could have been improved somewhat, and it needed perhaps a little more time to establish its own cast of characters;however, it's good where it needs to be. The characters are mostly solid and a great representation of their source material, though I was not a fan of the way they sometimes treated LeBron James. Sometimes he was acting a little out of character, as I don't buy how an NBA superstar can sometimes act weirdly. And finally the elephant in the room, the various Warner Bros. IP's and character references. I'd say this aspect was a little bit heavy handed and forced into situations where they weren't needed, but I appreciated them nonetheless. The various meta jokes and references to the first movie was, however, a nice touch as to acknowledge the continuity of the duology. All in all, Space Jam A New Legacy is still a rather solid follow-up to its 25 year old predecessor and in some ways it was a definite step up. This movie is good for people who just want something good to watch. Be your own judge and never let anyone write it off.