Author: Jason Zingale

It’s always more fun to play as the bad guy, and Aspyr’s latest release, “Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse,” is no exception. Modeled much in the same way as Pandemic’s early summer hit “Destroy all Humans,” “Stubbs” replaces the alien with a zombie, maintains the 50’s-style backdrop, and cranks the humor level up to eleven to create one of the more surprising and original games of the year. There’s nothing like watching a zombie perform a “Patton”-esque pep talk to an army of the undead, especially considering the only thing you can understand is “braaaiiins….” Still, Stubbs…

Keira Knightley is the hottest woman in Hollywood, and comeback king Mickey Rourke is the man. Surely, the two teaming up would be the perfect equation for the sleeper hit of the year. I couldn’t have been more wrong, though the first hour of Tony Scott’s latest film, “Domino,” represents what could have been one hell of an entertaining movie. And then, something happened that changed my opinion for the worst: the second half. Suffering from Scott’s penchant for editing his movies like he’s on acid and letting them run much longer than necessary (check out “Man on Fire” for…

“Almost Famous.” “Jerry Maguire.” “Say Anything…” All of these films have one thing in common: they’re the cream of the crop. But lately, writer/director Cameron Crowe hasn’t delivered, instead focusing more on star power (“Vanilla Sky”) than the bare essentials that first made him a respected filmmaker. And while his newest feature, “Elizabethtown,” doesn’t get any closer to redemption, it does show signs of vintage Crowe throughout. But how can something fail without having someone to accuse? Blame it on pretty boy Orlando Bloom, who doesn’t shine unless he’s surrounded by three-foot actors; or blame it on Kirsten Dunst, who’s…

For anyone who has ever worked in the restaurant industry, “Waiting…” may just be the funniest movie you’ve ever seen. And for those who haven’t, it’s probably one of the dumbest films you’re likely to see all year. Written and directed by first-time filmmaker Rob McKittrick, “Waiting…” could be described as the “Office Space” of waiting tables, but the clever commentary is wasted on an audience who can’t relate to a majority of the jokes. My own personal experience in the restaurant industry gave me a much better appreciation for the sharp writing and over-the-top performances. The simple fact that…

Director Curtis Hanson is a chameleon in a jungle of typecast artists. While most directors tend to find a niche genre that they contribute to throughout their career, Hanson’s last three films (“L.A. Confidential,” “Wonder Boys” and “8 Mile”) couldn’t have been any more different. With the release of “In Her Shoes,” you can add chick flick to that growing list, although the film is arguably more chick flick-lite than the full-blown affair that drive most men away from theaters. It will undoubtedly attract more women than men, but it’s an enjoyable movie for both sexes, despite the all-female cast…

After a chilling performance in “The Devil’s Advocate” as, well, the Devil, Al Pacino has built a career around playing characters of the same persuasion. He did it alongside Colin Farrell in “The Recruit,” and he’s doing it again in his latest film, “Two for the Money.” And even though Pacino has arrived at a time in his career where he can do pretty much anything and still rake in the big bucks, one would be crazy not to question the actor’s decision to typecast himself. And many people have, to which Pacino has supplied a genuine answer, namely Matthew…

It would be difficult to boast that Electronic Arts’ “FIFA” series is the best soccer game on the market since, well, it’s the only soccer game on the market. And while it’s true that the “Winning Eleven” series has become a major contender in other parts of the gaming world, it’s just recently debuted in the U.S. and has yet to draw a major following even close in comparison to that of the “FIFA” fans. That said, “FIFA Soccer 06” is a major improvement upon the previous year, with an enhanced career mode, more realistic gameplay, and tons of new…

The tale of the prematurely-cancelled network series is one that has become more frequent over the past few years. And now, passionate fans who once overlooked the possibility of a rebirth have gathered together through the power of the Internet in a desperate attempt to persuade the studios to reconsider. The return of “Family Guy” is perhaps the most prominent example of a cancelled show brought back to life, but who can forget about the original “Star Trek”? A ratings nightmare during its first season on the air, fans of the show protested its cancellation and a feature-length film was…

If you walk away from “Into the Blue” having learned anything, it’s that Jessica Alba has a nice ass. And although the film is intended to be centered on the discovery of some fairytale pirate booty, it’s her booty that you’re more likely to see throughout the length of this picture. But who’s really going to complain about Alba’s five-star body when there are more discernible problems to worry about? Like her acting, or perhaps the entire movie as a whole, because despite how pretty “Into the Blue” may look, it’s a tedious shipwreck to sit through. Living like trailer…

Based on the DC comics graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke, “A History of Violence” is not exactly what you’d expect from director David Cronenberg. It’s probably his most accessible picture to date, but it’s also a fine piece of American cinema that delivers a much-needed commentary on the affects of violence on society. With so many big-budget action movies flopping at the box office this past summer, it’s crazy to think that a quaint genre film like “A History of Violence” would handle its action sequences with the most panache. Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) is a small…