Share varmintx's profile
 
Facebook Twitter
 
 
varmintx
 
 
 
varmintx's stats
 
  • Review count
    27
  • Helpfulness votes
    12
  • First review
    April 13, 2013
  • Last review
    August 4, 2017
  • Featured reviews
    0
  • Average rating
    4.2
 
  • Review comment count
    1
  • Helpfulness votes
    5
  • First review comment
    August 30, 2013
  • Last review comment
    August 30, 2013
  • Featured review comments
    0
 
Questions
  • Question count
    0
  • Helpfulness votes
    0
  • First question
    None
  • Last question
    None
  • Featured questions
    0
 
Answers
  • Answer count
    0
  • Helpfulness votes
    0
  • First answer
    None
  • Last answer
    None
  • Featured answers
    0
  • Best answers
    0
 
 
varmintx's Reviews
<< 1 2 3 >>
 
  • My Best Buy® Elite Plus Member
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Another strong Marvel movie
on January 21, 2016
Posted by: varmintx
from Covington, KY
It's kind of amazing that Marvel keeps hitting homeruns given the outlandish characters in its stable, but Ant-Man is yet another charming, quirky, and altogether pleasing entry.
My Best Buy number: 0967325208
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
A classic film on a great blu-ray.
on January 7, 2014
Posted by: varmintx
from Covington, KY
Amazingly enough, I had never seen Lawrence of Arabia before the blu-ray; one of the very few classics that I missed growing up. It's easy to see why it's a classic though, as it's an incredible experience from beginning to end.
The video, showcasing that wonderful footage, is almost perfect only with some very rare, faint blue vertical lines intruding and those are almost certainly a source issue and not a problem with the encode. Equally impressive, the audio is phenomenal with the iconic score soaring through. The only problem here is the obvious dubbing in of lines in one scene for which the original source material was lost. Again, an extremely minor nitpick that has nothing to do with the quality of the disc. There are many behind the scenes featureless to round out the package.
My Best Buy number: 967325208
What's great about it: Eveyrthing.
What's not so great: Not much.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
A decent film with some extraordinary visuals
on January 6, 2014
Posted by: varmintx
from Covington, KY
Tarsem Singh has a made a career with some visually dazzling films. The first here, The Cell, is not nearly as good as his followup, The Fall, but is still interesting enough that it doesn't have to totally rely on those wonderful visuals. Basically two films at once, a detective story hunting down a serial killer and the other, a decent into the disturbing mind of that killer. The acting from some of the stars, Jennifer Lopez, and in particular, Vince Vaughn, often leaves a lot to be desired. However, Vincent D'Onofrio's terrifying villain picks up some of the slack.
Most of these Canadian Alliance releases are sub-par, but thankfully, this disc isn't nearly as bad as most of the them. The video and audio could certainly be better, but both are still pretty good, and unlike some of their releases, this has the correct aspect ratio of 2:40:1. Extras, however, are non-existent.
My Best Buy number: 967325208
What's great about it: Cinematography, costume design, and art design are phenonamal
What's not so great: Acting can be pretty rough at times.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
The wind blows freely down the corridor of what was once a canyon of skyscrapers populated by million-dollar businesses, employees in suits and citizens on cell phones. A constant stream of yellow taxi cabs used to flow steadily down the asphalt streets. Now, Mother Nature has reclaimed what was hers, and vegetation engulfs the massive cities in patches. A modern plague outsmarted our civilized medicine, so now our cities now lie abandoned, and what's left of the American population is forced to do whatever it takes to survive. Neighbors who were friends, now kill each other for a loaf of bread — or a rifle — whatever they can get their hands on to help them live another day. In this decimated democracy, two individuals join up to work together in order and attempt the dangerous journey across the country. Will these two be able to survive the trek — or will they be The Last of Us?Developed by Naughty Dog, the creators of the popular Uncharted franchise, comes The Last of Us. Carefully blending elements of survival and action, The Last of Us defines a genre by placing you in the heart of the adventure to outlast a modern plague on your journey across the decimated United States. Playing as Joel, a survivor, and Ellie, a teenage girl who is much braver and wiser than her age would suggest, you must work together to fend off dangerous foes, terrifying enemies and other survivors who will do anything to save themselves. Every minute of every hour of every day is a struggle to outlive the next person you encounter — do you have the mental and physical strength to make it?
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Quite possibly, the best game of this generation.
on January 6, 2014
Posted by: varmintx
from Covington, KY
Age:35-44
Gender:Male
Few games can make you cry; The Last of Us is one of those. The story of Joel and Ellie's trek across a post-apocalyptic US is fraught with many dangers, much sadness, and punctuated with moments of wonder. Through the journey, it's easy to become attached to the two. That vested interest makes the need to keep them alive all the more palpable. And, keeping them alive is what you'll be doing most of the time. Utilizing under-used survival horror gameplay, you will find yourself holding your breath as you slowly sneak up on an enemy knowing that one false step could mean an army of them descending upon you, and a grotesque death for our characters. This is one of those games that, once finished, it's hard to start playing another game right away as it's impossible to measure up in comparison.
My Best Buy number: 967325208
What's great about it: Compelling story, full-realized characters, unique survival horror gameplay
What's not so great: Slightly repetative.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Tim Burton's best film.
on January 6, 2014
Posted by: varmintx
from Covington, KY
Devoid of the usual fantasy elements of Tim Burton's films, Ed Wood is, never the less, his best film. A loving tribute to the titular filmmaker, to freaks in general, and to films (good or bad), the movie is a crazy ride of an, to say the least, eclectic bunch of characters. One of Johnny's Depp's best roles, the film starts with the wide-eyed man trying to get his terrible films made (while dealing with his secret cross-dressing). A chance encounter introduces Martin Landau's Bela Lugosi who steals every scene he's in with an Oscar-winning performance. Bill Murray, as one of Wood's many hangers-on, is a man constantly talking about a gender change operation that is obviously never going to happen. And the list of wonderful weirdos just continues to grow after that as Wood tries to get financing for his silly, little monster movies.
Shot in grainy black and white (as is fitting for the subject matter), the blu-ray was never going to look spectacular, but the transfer is quite remarkable with only the occasional noise ruining an otherwise very film-like presentation. Front-heavy, the audio is never very immersive, but the dialogue is always clear. The included deleted scenes are worth checking out.
My Best Buy number: 967325208
What's great about it: A loving tribute to a misfit by a misfit
What's not so great: Nothing.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Highly entertaining popcorn flick
on January 6, 2014
Posted by: varmintx
from Covington, KY
Pacific Rim is a stupid movie, but the difference is, it doesn't make me feel stupid for enjoying it unlike say, the Transformers films. It is fully aware of what it is, and fully aware that we know what it is, and as such, it doesn't ever waste out time with nonsense. Its runtime is jammed-pack with spectacle, but never feels rushed. More importantly, though the actions sequences can be long, they are so inventive, and choreographed with such care, that the film never devolves into feeling like a never-ending slog which is something this type of genre piece can so easily become. Del Toro clearly loves the film's many inspirations, and that love shines through the work.
The blu-ray is perfect. Colors burst off the screen in a dazzling array. The audio is demo material throughout the entire film as the bass on display bests anything I've ever heard. You will not believe the 3D is a conversion as it looks better than some natively shot films. All-around, a disc cannot get any better than this.
My Best Buy number: 967325208
What's great about it: Giant robots punching giant monsters
What's not so great: It's not exactly what you would call "challenging."
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Another solid entry in the Marvel universe
on January 6, 2014
Posted by: varmintx
from Covington, KY
The Wolverine is another solid entry in the Marvel film universe. Mostly a side story, the plot has no real bearing on the rest of that universe, but is certainly entertaining on its own. The Japanese setting offers the creators a rich source to mine elements from with Yakuza, ninjas and even a mech making appearances. The mostly low-key affair may not satisfy the hardcore action junkie, but for most people, it will be a worthwhile addition to their collection.
Not surprisingly, the blu-ray for a recent special effects film offers a spectacular audio/visual feast. The 7.1 audio defines the word "immersion." Much like most recent 3D conversions, it is a very solid effort with some great dimensionality and depth. Rest assured, the cardboard cut-out syndrome of years past is, when it comes to big films like this, dead and buried.
My Best Buy number: 967325208
What's great about it: A clever side story with some intrigue
What's not so great: Nothing is really that bad, but nothing approaches exceptional either.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
A modern day classic.
on January 6, 2014
Posted by: varmintx
from Covington, KY
Raiders of the Lost Ark is quite possibly the best adventure film ever made. The now iconic character, the brainchild of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, is a wonderful amalgamation of your classic dashing, tough, and yet, intellectual hero. Practically every character is dripping with...well, character. Dialogue is sharp and witty. Action sequences are thrilling with incredibly inventive choreography. The film just never seems to have an off-beat throughout its runtime. Simply put, adventure films just can't get any better.
The blu-ray's audio/visual presentation are certainly in keeping with the film's quality. At times, you would almost believe this is a film shot today as the color and clarity are that spectacular. The audio is no slouch either delivering some surprising bass for a film of its age and John William's score absolutely shines.
My Best Buy number: 967325208
What's great about it: Globe-hopping plot, fun characters, exciting action sequences.
What's not so great: Nothing.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
A good movie trapped behind a classic
on January 6, 2014
Posted by: varmintx
from Covington, KY
Temple of Doom was the go-to whipping boy for the Indiana Jones films until Crystal Skull; an unfair label as it's actually a very good film. True, it doesn't live up to the classic that is its predecessor, but it's still one of the best for its genre. The film takes many chances (even opening with a song and dance number). Whether you consider those chances a plus or minus, you have to respect the decision not to produce a carbon copy of Raiders. Weighing down the film, Kate Capshaw's, shrill, one-dimensional character and an equally under-developed villain. However, the banter is still a lot of fun and the various chase sequences, from the opening in Shanghai to the mine carts, are inventive and exciting.
My Best Buy number: 967325208
What's great about it: Highly entertaining chase sequences and humorous banter
What's not so great: Can't compare to Raiders of the Lost Ark
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
A stunning cinematic achievement.
on August 23, 2013
Posted by: varmintx
from Covington, KY
Verified Purchase:Yes
Putting "Excellent" for plot and acting is kind of cheating since there isn't any plot or acting. That is likely the biggest hurdle most people will have to get over to enjoy this stunning film. Shot in 70mm, there is no dialogue, not even a narrator; the film is entirely comprised of just the audio and video of what was shot. But oh, what incredible wonders the camera did capture. And despite there not being a traditional story, there are certainly many themes touched upon throughout the film's runtime.
The blu-ray's audio/visual quality is impeccable. It is truly a demo-worthy disc.
My Best Buy number: 0967325208
My Best Buy number: 0967325208
What's great about it: Beautiful in every way.
What's not so great: It is definitely not for everyone.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
<< 1 2 3 >>
 
varmintx's Review Comments
 
You stand looking out on the arresting lands of Eorzea, digesting your surroundings, gazing upon the familiar Final Fantasy creatures you know so well. What you may not realize is that you're standing on the brink of a precipice in which the land is poised to plunge. At the bottom awaits unrest, danger, ruin, terror, battle, adventure, triumph, victory, courage, good and evil. At the bottom awaits the Seventh Umbral Era. The prosperous Astral era is fading fast, the Garlean Empire has amassed an invading army on the eastern border and the otherworldly primals have been summoned by the native beast tribes. These threats will not be easily overcome, but you accept the emergence of a new Umbral era with the knowledge that your comrades will toil alongside you with courage in their hearts and the breath of hope filling their lungs as you reforge the fate of Eorzea. Embark on the adventure of a lifetime with the stunning graphics and high-definition, real-time cutscenes that are the hallmarks of the Final Fantasy franchise. Forge new friendships with players from around the globe in this MMORPG as you create your own unique stories and become a part of the history of Eorzea. Mount chocobos, board airships, explore the landscape and gather your wits for epic battles against familiar Final Fantasy monsters – you create your own destiny with unique abilities, equipment and a flexible class system that allows you to traverse 18 different classes simply by changing your equipped weapon or tool. Whether you're playing on a PS3 or a PC, robust gameplay features, such as Free Companies, story-driven player-vs.-player content and primal summoning bring players together for true cross-platform play.
 
Overall1 out of 51 out of 5
servers are down
By jackiehfdst from m
the servers have been down too much for a game that was released 3 year ago all of this shoulda been figured out before this game was reborn
Customer Avatar
varmintx
Covington, KY
August 30, 2013
It's an MMO in the first week of release. There are ALWAYS server problems in the first week of an MMO's release. This is hardly a justifiable reason to give the game a 1/5. They're already adding new servers, and as such, the one complaint you've given will be rectified in a week.
+4points
5of 6voted this comment as helpful.
 
varmintx's Questions
 
varmintx has not submitted any questions.
 
varmintx's Answers
 
varmintx has not submitted any answers.