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ArmchairQuarterback
 
 
 
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  • Review count
    5
  • Helpfulness votes
    2
  • First review
    April 13, 2013
  • Last review
    October 29, 2016
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  • Average rating
    3.6
 
  • Review comment count
    4
  • Helpfulness votes
    2
  • First review comment
    August 19, 2015
  • Last review comment
    June 12, 2017
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ArmchairQuarterback's Reviews
 
Evil forces move stealthily in the dark of the night, and only the Caped Crusader rises against them. But when the maniacal Brainiac unleashes the power of the Lantern Rings on Gotham and other cities all around the world — and into outer space — Batman can't save the day alone. It will take the force of the world's greatest super heroes combined with the might of the villains who battle them every day to keep this evil madman from shrinking every city in his path. Will Brainiac be able to complete his horrible collection of miniaturized cities? Or can Batman and a cast of extraordinary characters put an end to his plans once and for all?Return for even more action-packed fun in LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, an all-new adventure that pits Batman and the worlds' greatest heroes and bad guys against the cunning of Brainiac and his powerful Lantern Rings. Blast off for battle in outer space as you visit the mysterious Lantern worlds, including Zamaron and Odym. Team up with your favorite DC Comics heroes and villains as you unlock characters, each with exciting powers and abilities, including members of the Justice League and the giant-size BIG LEGO characters, such as Solomon Grundy, Cyborg and more. Immerse yourself in a fascinating challenge as you contend with Brainiac's mind-control powers, clever disguises and the threat of the Lantern Rings on a journey that will test your strength and wits. Access the Bat Computer to try your hand at Batman's training modules and compete in thrilling challenges, including battle arenas, races and detective mazes. Spin the Bat-Tastic Gadget Wheel to upgrade characters' suits and abilities with just the touch of a button. Visit the Hall of Justice, descend to the Batcave, tour the Justice League Watchtower and access shops, trophy rooms and customizers that allow you to personalize your hero and vehicle. Can you unite friends and foes to save our world — and others — from a terrible, tiny fate?
 
Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Kids love it, despite the bugs.
on October 29, 2016
Posted by: ArmchairQuarterback
from Salisbury, NC
We've purchased almost every Lego game to come to PS3 and now PS4 for the past five years or so, mostly for visiting kids, but they're typically fun for adults too, even if about the only change from one game to the next is the theme. They're also very good learning games for problem solving development, especially with all the bonus achievements they offer, which are usually far more extensive or time consuming to complete than the game itself.
That said, overall, I've been disappointed in the Lego games on PS4 so far. The graphics look like PS3 graphics, but more stable, implying that even on PS3 they were probably rendered at 1080p and just poorly downconverted, introducing lots of artifacts in the process. But what's more disappointing is that the gameplay itself is less stable. Lego has always had it's issues with bugs in split-screen coop, but every PS4 Lego game we've played has had a fair share in single-player too, with Batman 3 being the worst to date. It's almost as if they're still building the games based on PS3 tech, as outside of smoother graphics, none of the games we've played so far try to take advantage of any of the things next gen can do, other than more privacy invasion, as with the new gen, even single player virtually requires an internet connection. The bugs are nothing game crippling. But parents should be prepared to be called in to get characters unstuck from areas of the game they aren't supposed to be able to access, but somehow do quite frequently, or when your PS4 blue screens, asking you to send Sony an error report, before you have to restart your game at the beginning of the level you were last on. Of the 30 to 50 PS4 games we've played, this one has so far been the buggiest by far.
I would recommend, as younger kids still love the game (my 13 year old nephew has lost all interest in lego, but my 5 year old nephew can't get enough of it and my 8 year old niece likes it too, as long as she can choose her character), but I'd only recommend it with the above qualifying reservations, as ultimately, it's felt like the game developer has been resting on it's laurels with the Lego franchise for some time now. If they don't spark some sense of ambition soon, the franchise will likely dwindle, as so far, this gen, feels like we're still playing PS3.
My Best Buy number: 2699457561
I would recommend this to a friend!
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No expiration dates or fees; good toward qualifying purchases, online and in U.S. Best Buy stores.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
card looks nice enough to keep
on February 12, 2015
Posted by: ArmchairQuarterback
from Salisbury, NC
I might try to repurpose this card as part of a DIY Christmas decoration. It looks that nice with it's translucent plastic and foil accents. Might try to do something with the paper sleeve it came in too, as it seems suited and just as nicely finished as most seasonal greeting cards, which we already incorporate into a decorative full room mosaic we put up each year of cards we've collected for the past decade or so.
Rewards members get points for buying, not for using, unfortunately. I used this on several Blu-rays that promoted 3x rewards points, but only got the points on the small portion of the transaction that the giftcard didn't cover. I won't make that mistake of using a gift card on something with that type of points promotion again, since the gift cards only appear to earn 1x points. Pitty that BB penalizes gift card users in that way.
My Best Buy number: 2699457561
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Same disc and case, better slipcover.
on February 4, 2015
Posted by: ArmchairQuarterback
from Salisbury, NC
This is the exact same release that every other vendor is selling. The only thing that makes it stand out is a much nicer slipcover, with a lenticular 3D faceplate. As much as I like slipcovers, I wouldn't pay even a buck more for an exclusive slip. Fortunately, BB usually has the price to beat the week of release anyway, so I didn't have to, and unlike some of their steelbooks and exclusive editions with added trinkets, I haven't seen them charge a premium just for including a different o-sleeve.
As for the movie, that's more, if not completely subjective. IMO, Besson still hasn't returned to form. Leon, The Big Blue, The Fifth Element, this is not. But I enjoyed the ride and the message. And there's currently no better experience or home video investment than Blu-ray.
Like most Universal releases, a separate dvd and UV/iTunes compatible dcopy voucher are included as well. I personally don't mind the unnecessary swag - even if the dcopy is a rather obvious manipulation to grow that market, and even though the dvd seems rather pointless for this type of film - but it would be nice if studios would at least stop mucking up their cover artwork with unsightly banner advertising and relegate mention of such superfluous inclusions to removable stickers or to the rear of the package itself. Just saying: unlike Ultraviolet/iTunes, discs are a collectible investment. I'd rather not see advertising or cheap marketing on the cover. The slip at least minimizes it to the standard blue banner at the top. But said banner still detracts from the overall aesthetic of the cover design.
My Best Buy number: 2699457561
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Much better than the RealD glasses at the cinema.
on January 4, 2014
Posted by: ArmchairQuarterback
from Salisbury, NC
Verified Purchase:Yes
I bought these largely as an added treat for my niece and nephew when we were to take in the second Hobbit film this Christmas. I bought the last, possibly the only four pair I could find at our nearest BB - supposedly they had more on order - one for my 12 year old niece, my 10 year old nephew, my brother-in-law, and one for myself. We actually needed 2 more, but our BB didn't get many at all. They each included movie cash for a ticket at the time, which was another huge selling point. But had I known how much better I liked 3D with these, compared to regular RealD glasses, I would have bought them, even without the ticket offer.
The kids loved having their own special glasses for the show and, somewhat surprisingly, they weren't too big for them. I'm about a 200 lb male and they fit me comfortably as well. Though, we let two other adult family members use them when they saw the movie a week later: one didn't like the way they fit around her ears, though she still preferred them to the glasses they give out at the cinema; the other wears prescription glasses and found the ones from the cinema worked a bit better for her. My brother-in-law who also wears smaller prescription glasses, said he liked these better, but I think it was still uncomfortable wearing two pair of glasses at the same time.
The materials are expectedly cheap for a $10 pair of passive 3D glasses. But what was a bit surprising to me was how much better the 3D effect was with these glasses. The lens isn't all that much bigger than the horribly designed RealD glasses they give out at the cinema, but it does wrap around a bit, and the frame isn't nearly as distracting. As a result, the glasses themselves didn't feel anywhere near as distracting or encumbering as what I was previously used to, allowing for a more seamless 3D experience. I was actually able to forget I was even wearing glasses for the first time in a 3D showing. I've always appreciated the 3D effect, but I liked it so much more with these, I plan to take them with me anytime I go to the cinema to see a film in 3D.
It even has me debating investing in a nicer, higher quality pair of 3D glasses - or at least it would if the state of 3D wasn't becoming more volatile, with glasses-free 3D supposedly on the distant horizon, stores stocking less 3D discs, if even carrying the 3D versions at all, and insider reports of Disney wanting to abandon 3D at home altogether in a first strike against physical media - as they see more profits in selling people digital copies that don't have as many extras, are of greatly inferior quality, have extremely low production and distribution costs, and, most importantly, can't be resold once used.
Anyway, for ten bucks these were a worthwhile investment for me, a large male without the need for corrective vision, as I enjoyed the 3D experience much more with these than the junk they give you at the cinema. I still think a cheap roll-up lens shield like the sunglasses doctors hand out for patients who've had minor eye trauma or surgery would be even more ideal: cheaper to make, easier to recycle, no distracting frames, and they can be made to work for both those who already wear prescription glasses just as well as for those who don't.
My Best Buy number: 2699457561
What's great about it: Better 3D experience with much less noticable frame.
What's not so great: Cheaply made, as should be expected.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Worthwhile animated sequel, semi-botched Blu-ray.
on April 13, 2013
Posted by: ArmchairQuarterback
from Salisbury, NC
I can fairly easily recommend this movie and BD to fans of the Resident Evil film franchise. The story was more ambitious than expected, and the sound design and animation were great with one caveat regarding the later: it appears to suffer from a rather poor 3D to 2D conversion. But, as for the film itself, my main criticism is that the dialogue proved a rather wanting mix of too many trite one-liners and very bland story development. Some work on the script and this could have been an absolutely fantastic film. As is, it feels a little forced, but a few surprises toward the end help make up for it's shortcomings.
The production on the other hand is really top notch. The sound is bombastic, and, aside from some rather gimmicky 3D effects, which is common for the genre, it's clear a lot of attention was given the animation. Unfortunately, it's also rather obvious that something happened along the way to BD: The video is riddled with scaling artifacts, like moire, and as is also a common side-effect, looks softened, with a retouched fidelity like post-production smearing away the wrinkles in an actors face, except, if you don't want the wrinkles in an animation, why put them there to begin with?
I also caught a glimpse of shadowing - I think they call it cross-talk in the home 3D world - where there was a double image in the lower left-hand corner of the screen, the kind you see when removing your 3D glasses during the movie. Though, it was rather odd that it only affects a rather small portion of the image - though on a much less obvious scale, it could have been attributing to some of the softness as a whole, even though the presense of moire is a clear indicator that the video has been fiddled with. That's my other major gripe about this BD: this film was clearly made for 3D, yet Sony neglected that entire market for the BD release.
And as a testament to the visual design, the quality of the original animation is evident in enough places to overall satisfy even those viewing at large front-projection screen sizes like me. But, I've long given up trying to influence the quality the studios seem content with for their home video properties - if they don't care more about their products, nomatter how much I do, it's not going to make much of a dent. I'm just writing this for the points.
Neither the telling nor the presentation hit it out of the park. But both get enough right to earn a recommendation for fans of the franchise, unless you find technicaldisc deficiencies - significant as these may be, but that may still go unnoticed on smaller, typical home displays sizes - reason enough to boycot, out of principle.
My Best Buy number: 2699457561
What's great about it: Story, animation, audio.
What's not so great: Trite dialogue, problematic video conversion, lame extras.
I would recommend this to a friend!
 
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
 
+1point
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ArmchairQuarterback's Review Comments
 
Only at Best BuyLenovo Yoga 3 Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop: Designed with a 360° hinge, this laptop lets you switch between laptop, tablet, tent and stand modes to suit the task at hand. The 14" touch-screen display delivers a high-definition media experience and responds to your fingertip for easy navigation.
 
Overall1 out of 51 out of 5
Lenovo Horrible Customer Support
By Kendall
Best Buy has many other great brands that have much better customer support. When you call Lenovo you get outsourced support. You cannot speak to a supervisor in the US right away. They give you an email and/or phone number and you much leave them a message. It takes 2 to 3 days AT LEAST for them to return your email or call. My laptop has had two critical malfunctions in six months and it's been a nightmare with warranty. If you buy a Lenovo make sure you buy the Best Buy Geek Squad support. You'll need that!
Customer Avatar
ArmchairQuarterback
Salisbury, NC
August 19, 2015
Thanks for the warning. From my experience, I'm not sure anybody is any better. They may all outsource tech support these days. I know Dell does - I can't imagine a worse experience than dealing with Dell. I've been shopping for a new laptop for a couple months and have been told at multiple stores that Lenova and HP are the brands with the least problems. Been leaning toward Lenova due to online reviews seeming much more favorable. Sorry to hear your experience has been different. Good luck getting it resolved.
+2points
2of 2voted this comment as helpful.
 
This Verizon Wireless Prepaid LG Optimus Zone 2 LG-VS415PP cell phone features 3G speed and an Android 4.4 KitKat operating system, so you can easily remain connected while you're out and about. A 3.0MP rear-facing camera allows sharp image capture.
 
Overall2 out of 52 out of 5
Was a good deal
By WhoDyaXpct
I bought this phone on a great deal until I realized the Verizon plan was not as good as I thought it would be. Had to return it and try a different provider. My advice is to make sure it's the prepaid carrier you want before purchasing a phone.
Customer Avatar
ArmchairQuarterback
Salisbury, NC
October 1, 2015
I agree. I thought the point of going prepaid was to be able to pay just for the phone service you actually use. Come to find out that with Verizon prepaid, if it's a smartphone, is nothing of the sort. It's $45 per month, minimum, which is more than we're paying now with verizon's grandfathered dumbphone service we've had for the roughly eight years we've been with them since they bought out alltel. We just can't justify spending $120+ per month for three phones that only get used for talking for maybe 30 minutes per month, all phones combined. But we'd really like the wifi, mp3 functionality and other app features of having a smarphone, and apparently, if you have a smartphone, verizon isn't efficient enough to provide a talk-only service, so it looks like we'll be switching service providers soon too. We really hate to switch, as we're not the type to constantly shop around for the best deal - we still believe that loyalty should be rewarded, even though most service providers don't seem to get that anymore, including verizon, and verizon's service coverage seems to be the best. Fortunately, we're told that there are several major service providers that are much cheaper, but still use Verizon's tower network for coverage.
0points
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Philips Norelco Multigroom 5100: This all-in-one grooming kit comes with 4 attachments and 3 combs so you can conveniently trim facial hair. The nose trimmer easily clips on so you can remove unwanted nose and ear hair.
 
Overall5 out of 55 out of 5
Great little tool
By Chris
Really enjoying this grooming tool. Powerful and lightweight. Added bonus that it can be used while plugged in. You don't normally get that option from other similar tools. It comes with multiple trimming options and nose trimmer. I am bald, so I bought it mainly for a beard trimmer and nose hair trimmer. I use it every couple of days and it works extremely well!
Customer Avatar
ArmchairQuarterback
Salisbury, NC
July 22, 2016
According to reports, even though it can be used while charging, it's still pulling off the battery, so you're not getting the power of an electric shaver.
0points
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Overall2 out of 52 out of 5
Horrible
By Hawk021sf from Collinsville, il.
Very cheesy special affects. Awful storyline. Nothing like the 1st
Customer Avatar
ArmchairQuarterback
Salisbury, NC
June 12, 2017
Really? And I thought the first was pretty ridiculous... I was on the fence whether or not to give the franchise a third try. But yours and about a hundred other comments has convinced me I probably shouldn't bother.
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