Author: Jason Zingale

Already having the winter apparel market cornered with their line of iPod-enabled snowboarding jackets, JanSport continues to show their love for Apple’s digital on-the-go wonder with a new collection of backpacks that range from basic mp3 capabilities to full-on Bluetooth compatibility. The LiveWire+ design falls right in the middle, with a dual-port connection for any Apple iPod third generation and beyond, but no mobile phone connectivity. The backpack is also offered in three different models (including the sling-style Kingpin and the boxy Audio Pack), but the Trinity is by far the most practical, and can be purchased in either black,…

Nearly a decade before “The Fast and the Furious” came racing into theaters, “Point Break” had already established itself as the action flick of choice for most adrenaline junkies around the world. The film had it all – surfing, sky diving, bank robberies, shootouts – and it wasn’t about to dismiss its cheesy, B-movie credentials either. The cast alone was a train wreck just waiting to happen. A relatively unknown Keanu Reeves had yet to prove himself as an A-list action star, ‘80s sex icon Patrick Swayze was slowly losing appeal (despite just coming off the über-popular “Ghost”), and Gary…

The first thing wrong with “School for Scoundrels” is the title (yes, we know it’s a remake of a 1960 import, but go with us for a minute). In truth, it should be called “School for Pussies” – if they were scoundrels, the students wouldn’t need the guidance that they are seeking – but the studio clearly knew that title would never see the light of day on a marquee, so they stuck with a title that didn’t fit the movie one bit. The second thing wrong with the movie is that it’s not mean enough, forcing the black-comedy square…

Much like the monstrous dictator for which the film is titled, “The Last King of Scotland” is incredibly charming, yet still tragically unfamiliar to a good portion of the American public. Directed by acclaimed documentarian Kevin Macdonald, the film has absolutely nothing to do with the British-ruled nation, but does draw an interesting parallel between the unjust governing of the Scottish and the inhabitants of several African countries. Those not looking for a history lesson on British rule, however, will be happy to know that you needn’t know anything about the aforementioned conflict to enjoy this movie, because while the…

If what Jet Li says is true, “Fearless” marks the last time that the action star will appear in a martial arts film. Frankly, I find it difficult to believe that he’s willing to throw in the towel for a chance at a serious acting career (especially with rumors of Li and Jackie Chan teaming up in the future). I mean, hasn’t he paid attention to what’s happened with other action stars in the past? Arnold Schwarzenegger publicly embarrassed himself in “Jingle All the Way.” Sylvester Stallone was an absolute train wreck in “Oscar.” Vin Diesel ruined his career with…

Another day, another “GTA” clone, but much like the recently-released “Saints Row,” Eidos’ “Just Cause” earns a spot in the win column purely for its innovative improvements to the sandbox genre. That isn’t to say that the action-adventure title isn’t without its faults, however, and while the open-ended environment is truly impressive, the wearisome back-and-forth traveling between destinations (which can take up to thirty minutes) doesn’t bode well for repeat visits. The overly-simplistic gunplay could also be criticized, but it only seems fitting considering it was implemented by the same team that breathed new life into the latest installment of…

“All the King’s Men” desperately wants to be an Oscar-caliber film. It’s got the award-winning source material (written by Robert Penn Warren), the accomplished screenwriter (Steven Zaillian) and a cast that most directors could only dream of. Unfortunately, none of these elements actually pan out the way they’re supposed to. The story comes across as having something socially important to say (but never gets around to actually saying it), and the actors are all horribly miscast – including Sean Penn and Jude Law, who, despite their great performances, have no business playing these characters. Based on the book of the…

Six years seems like an awful long time to spend making a film, especially when the film in question is Christian Volckman’s “Renaissance.” Created using advanced 3D motion-capture technology, the animated feature is certainly one of the most impressive endeavors in the history of film, but sadly, it’s a complete failure. It should probably be chalked up as more of a waste of time than anything else, since anyone that goes to see it will likely want to leave after the first twenty minutes. Yes, it’s that bad, and while the film does boast an interesting visual likeness to Frank…

Going into “Flyboys” with low expectations is about the best chance you have of leaving the theater in high spirits. It’s no cinematic masterpiece, but the latest WWI drama is still a surprisingly enjoyable thrill ride… when the story takes place in the air, that is. When it’s on the ground, the film is riddled with more holes than the average fighter plane, and not only features a series of incredibly clichéd subplots, but also some scandalously bad acting by star James Franco (who apparently didn’t get the memo from his hairdresser that men didn’t frost their tips in 1917).…

Shuffle up and deal, because the World Series of Poker is coming to a city near you. Or, more specifically, right into your very own home with “Tournament of Champions,” Activision’s latest entry in the next-gen poker wars. Featuring the most top professionals ever in one game, inside tips and strategies from Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, and a new digimask option that enables Xbox Live Vision Cam owners to map their likeness onto a custom character, “Tournament of Champions” may just be the most comprehensive poker title on the market. But is it really worth the $40 price tag when Xbox…