Less graphically violent, but more of the same
599520
I read the first two books and didn't like them.  Serial killer, hates women, graphically violent.  And I didn't care much for the protagonist.  She improved in this book.  But we didn't spend a lot of time in her wishy washy angsty head.  I skipped book three. Because it again was about a violet serial killer.  But the author said in book four he was dropping the violent sexual serial killer theme. which I appreciated.  But all of Konrath's villains are the same Hannibal Lecter types.  The humor that was in the first book was missing from this one.  So far the books are very much the same.  Heartless killing, a super intelligent crazy, going after Jack, her family and friends in danger, Harry very important to the outcome, There is no real  mystery or plot twists in these books.  Who the killer is and why they are killing isn't important.  It's just about Jack figuring it out and bringing them down.  I started reading the Jack daniels series after reading the Code name Chandler series, which was five stars for me.
1121848
MAD MAX 2: THE ROAD WARRIOR is about on-par with the first, slightly edging it out due to increased focus on character (even if the plot is about as thin) and bigger, more spectacular stunts.

 This time, the world (or at least Australia) is in the full-on post-apocalypse and looks like a desolate wasteland, for the most part. Biker gangs still roam the countryside, only now they're more vicious and more outlandish as far as their fashion choices go. It looks they got their clothes from an S&M shop sometimes. They also rape and pillage as they hunt for that precious commodity, gasoline. Max has also changed since we last saw him. He's more grizzled and looks almost war-weary, and instead of policing he's been reduced to scavenging like everyone else. The only difference between him and the others is his code. On his travels he meets a group of survivors guarding a treasure trove of gasoline, only they don't have the means to transport it. So they enlist his help, all while being threatened (and eventually attacked) by a vicious gang led by a freak named Humongous.

 Story-wise, the movie was about as thin as the last one. However, this time there are more characters and a smattering of humor as well. The characters that stood out the most to me were the Gyro Captain and one of the gang members with a red mohawk. There was also a feral child who provides some of the film's more endearing moments, and forms somewhat of a bond with Max. Generally speaking, I thought that the ensemble nature of this film is what makes it work. Sure, the stunts and special effects are excellent (and improved), but it was nice that the film didn't just rely on those elements to tell the story.

 Still, I do have a couple minor complaints. First, it looked like some of the action sequences were sped up. This might be too much of a nitpick, but it gave off a silent film vibe that didn't exactly mesh with the overall tone of the film as a whole. Second, it took until about the halfway point for the narrative to really take shape and gain some focus. Not that there wasn't anything to like beforehand, but (and this is where my expectations were a little undercut) I was led to believe that the film would be a little more singular and direct than it actually turned out to be.

 Still, I thought that the film and world it established were very well-realized. Also worthy of mention is the rousing score by Brian May (not of Queen). Overall, this post-apocalyptic action film isn't quite what I expected (but closer than what the last one turned out to be), but it's a fun ride that doesn't pander to the lowest common denominator of the audience. Highly recommended.
4385324
While I enjoyed the story overall, some of the descriptions are pretty graphic, violent, and disturbing. This isn't to disparage the work- it was just more than I expected.
4654777
This film goes down rough the first time you see it, especially if you didn't know what to expect.  i then wiated a year and saw it agian.  the second time i had a critiques eye, and i must say this is a very good contemporary, and artistic film.  this movie wants to recreate the feeling of the era which it does, to a degree, but it also comunicates a message through exagerated symbolism, example, as the lead characters walk about, everyone around them is getting mugged, or murdered, or something, this is an exageration that i believe references how violence then was far worse than now, by comparing itself to the amount of violence and corruption in most other modern films.  what i'm saying is that the violence in this film is exaagerated, in that errar if that many people died every second, the army would have marched in along time ago.  but in order to communicate how much violence there really was the filmmakers try to unsettle you by raising your expetations and comparing itself to other films, blood is bright red, and very fake, giving the violence a really surreal feeling, as though its not that bad, like the violence is just part of the fantasy of the film.  ironicly that is just it, because the whole film is centered around violence and revenge, and how someone really goes about making change.  when the final battle happens, the blood becomes dark and realistic, as the brutality of conflict and it's utter uselessness dawns on him.  the movie is filled with so much symbolism, i liked it and it has alot of analitical value, but it isn't the most entertaining movie sadly.  only film buffs will love this one.  i still recommend renting, it or something, because it is worth seeing.  i don't k now about owning.
1785822
The Medal of Honour that reappears in this expansion pack looks better than ever with explosive special effects and new, blow 'em away weapons. You also get to fight alongside comrades who can hold their own, which lends some authenticity to the game. Just as the first was shamelessly modelled on Saving Private Ryan, this contains scenes straight out of Band of Brothers, which is kinda fun too.
Spearhead, however, is even more tightly scripted (if that is possible) than its predecessor. You can't so much as shoot out of turn if you want to complete your objectives. Annoyingly, a lot of it also takes place in the dark or in murky landscapes.
In tandem with this, it reintroduces some of the most irritating aspects of the last game, such as snipers who are invisible in the gloom and at least one finicky finale in which you have to constantly save just to make it through the scene. Lastly, it does not include enough of the things that made the last one fun, such as rooms full of enemy to shoot at.
Oh, and as others have noted here, it is very short -- too short to be worth 20 bucks. I got through it in a couple of hours without hurrying and have no inclination to play it again.
2891953
Although it has a fairly standard plot, ex-con seeks revenge for daughter's death, this film has several non-standard elements that save it from the 'B' action genre. There are frequent, short flash backs and flash forwards including alternate events that give a dream-like quality without turning it into 'Mulholland Drive'. There's surprising little violence, I counted less than a dozen bodies, and almost all occur off-screen. Also the protagonist anti-hero, played wonderfully by Terence Stamp, appears to be a more complicated than usual character although this isn't explored as much as it could have been. The ambiguous ending comes directly that complication. Although it has a completely different plot and is not as deep, this film reminds me a lot of 'Falling Down'.
1165237
I've no specific complaints about the game, it was pretty much as expected, and being able (since I was MUCH younger) to distinguish "play" from "reality", I had no problem with the mayhem filled subject matter. I'm a big fan of "First Person Shooters", and tho' I am also a decent real life sports shooter (you know, with REAL firearms) myself, I've never been tempted - by a computer game at least - to go out and do violence.

But honestly, this game wasn't all that thrilling for me.  I remember the thrill when I first got my Motor Vehicle Operator's Permit, but now - some years later - driving has for the most part become just a chore to get done with as little trouble as possible.

And I'm not even  considering buying a Minivan yet....

Somebody else might find this game a lot of fun - just not me.

The game did laod and run fine with no special PC upgrades. Sometimes that's the biggest problem.

Maybe I'll give it another try in a year or so.  Or not.
2818424
This is an intriguing but not wholly satisfying FPS.  It's from Sierra, and based on a series of hit PC games.  Sierra also produced Half Life, also a PC hit with a PS2 version that appeared a couple of years ago, and which Global Strike Team most closely resembles.  The graphics, the movement, the design, all echo the PS2 Half Life.
Which is generally fine.  The graphics are good enough, if not the sharpest, the movement is fine if a bit rigid, and the action is okay if not particularly distinguished.  I was hoping a SWAT based game would offer something different from fighting aliens or futuristic armies.
However, the game, like many PC game console versions, seems a bit rushed and never fulfills its potential.  For one, it's way too easy, a big turnoff.  In normal mode, I blew through the first dozen missions with scant replays.  The AI was the same all around, with bumbling criminals with lousy aim who behave the same repeatedly.
You play a SWAT team member tracking somebody or other across the globe.  The story and plot are just not critical.  All you need to do in every mission is know who to shoot and who to capture.  You usually face a bunch of thugs, who you can choose to either riddle with holes and kill, or simply wound and then handcuff.  You usually have to capture a couple of major suspects on each board, so it's best not to kill them (but maiming is okay.)
The weaponry is underwhelming.  Off the bat, you get access to a 'machine gun', an 'assault rifle', and a 'shotgun'.  Not much detail, but standard FPS weapons.  As you progress in the game, you get points you can use to upgrade each weapon, giving them more powerful or specialized ammo, a scope, a silencer, etc.  Occasionally you control a team member who snipes, but even these sequences were too easy and lacked any urgency.  As for leading your team, you don't even need a headset; the commands are simple and again, very linear.  Once you get a hang of the missions, they blow by easily.
The game is also way too linear, an element that really dumbs down a lot of shooters, including the EA Bond and Medal of Honor entries.  It's also just too easy.  An added bonus, however, is the multiplayer mode, which allows for some decent death match fun, though I found this a bit too much like Half Life's multiplayer, which wasn't as smooth or violent as death matches as Red Faction, for instance.
I bought this game because it was dropped in price into a 'sweet spot' where it made it worth the less than full PS2 game price.  It might be a better rental, and there isn't much innovation or sharp AI.  But you can while away some hours blowing away criminal scum, though I was annoyed by the warning not to use 'Excessive Force'.  Haven't they realized that blowing away random bystanders and blowing apart the surroundings is half the fun?
1206579
If Blood and gore is your game, this is it [not an over kill, just so].
2049789
Good story. The violence is graphic and realistic. One scene in particular is brutal and not for the faint of heart. I'd watch it again, but I won't be adding this film to my collection.
2969594
Taken on its own terms, this isn't a bad little movie. Of course, it's been 36 years since I saw it last, and I was ten at the time, so this was strictly a nostalgia trip for me. What's surprising is how dark and violent it all is. All I remember from The Day is a dinosaur with a beak rampaging through a forest, which occurs rather early. The tale of slavery, exploitation, and potentially genocidal revolution went right over my head. That and references to a 'master race' (they 'all look alike' don't you know). The Evil Bad Flying Dinosaurs are actually quite creepy as well, what with their telepathic ability to make girls into edible puppets. We also get male bonding, some low level lust from a coy princess playing hard to get (isn't that ever the way?), and gladiatorial combat with what looks like the Evil Bad Flying Dinosaur's pet proto-mammal. So yeah, one of McLure's better offerings from his late seventies Land Of The Lost period, and a dark little movie as well. I'm not saying it's fine cinema or anything, and I don't need to see it again, but it's not really half bad.
2569789
This is more or less a complete rewrite of the saga.  The basic plot, finding the Overfiend, is still there, but almost everything else, including the characters, have been replaced or rewritten, except possibly for Amanojyaku and his henchman.  The story itself is a little more complex, and the characters are a little deeper.  Most importantly, it tends to be less misogynistic than the original, with more women playing stronger and more important roles in the story.

Except for a couple of scenes in part 3, the animation is somewhat better than the original, with computer animation added.  Many of the explicit scenes were at least as violent and unpleasant for the females involved, though there was one that was actually pretty funny (and non-violent), believe it or not.

The biggest problem I had with this is that it's not complete.  It ended essentially right at the climax, so you never know what are the results of the various story lines.  For that reason alone, I rated it below average.  If you don't care about the story lines, then you can give it an extra 1-1 1/2 stars.
3859687
While there are some good parts and storyline, and a definite different creation of hell, the amount of violence is much greater than the usual Yancey books. Which is saying something.
211254
More action than substance with the obligatory sex scenes interspersed - good for "Low Stress" entertainment
2659440
The graphics are great - except when you get too "close up."  Movement is easy, although walking, running, jumping, climbing,etc. are done with the keyboard (or joystick).  The mouse is only used for using weapons.  The storyline itself is pretty cool, and the character actors realistic.  I had a bit of a problem with the install - it had to do with OpenGL - but the game includes a (beta version) install to fix any problems with your video card.  Although the game is different from what I expected, I'd still recommend it.  It's rated "M" for mature, and rightly so.
3050181
This sequel focuses more on the battle scenes than a background storyline.  I would warn parents to preview the movie before letting children under 12 watch it.  The bloody fight scenes that are shown are many although digitally enhanced to make a stronger effect.  I enjoyed the first movie "300" a little better because there was more attention paid to the background storyline.
1832399
Actually one big story designed to smooth away your cares. Sort of like the old westerns. You realize the violence is there but it is not so graphic that it ruins the story.