Michael Durr

About Michael Durr

Michael Durr has been reviewing movies for the better part of fifteen years now. He primarily enjoys thrillers, sci-fi, animation and even a little courtroom drama. His favorite films include Escape from New York, the Goonies and anything with Alyssa Milano. When he’s not praising Kurt Russell as the greatest actor of our time or scratching his head over a David Lynch flick, he’s spending time at home in Texas with his lovely wife, Lori and his amazing son. How they put up with him is a mystery, but even Basil Rathbone doesn’t have the time to solve that one.

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Secret Release on Xbox Live Arcade: Streets of Rage 2 (400 MS Points)

Posted in News and Opinions by Michael Durr on August 30th, 2007

Xbox Live Arcade decided to spring a super secret release on us that was not made public knowledge until it showed up. Poof! Streets of Rage 2, one of the best Sega Genesis Beat em ups hits the marketplace for a mere 400 points. The game besides featuring the same great gameplay featured two new characters; Max Thunder and Eddie “Skate” Hunter in addition to Blaze and Axel. The story can be seen below from YouTube. Yet another *beeping* title for me to get when the Xbox 360 returns from McAllen repair center!
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Dare to Play the Game

Posted in Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on August 29th, 2007

Ultima re-born, Super Puzzle Fighter makes a comeback, and My 360 might take a little longer – Welcome to the column that every time it gets posted, a XBOX 360 gets its wings known as Dare to Play the Game.

Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. Well I finally got my 360 XBOX Shipping Box last friday. For those who haven’t had this experience, Microsoft does their job. Almost too well. They include the box, the foam crates, a shipping bag and the tape for the box. Of course a shipping label is also provided. The tape, that was the true kicker. So I get it about 4 pm that day, have it packed within minutes and trudge it off to the UPS store before 6pm. The ladies took it and I was done. However, on the return trip I might have to get them to change the shipping address to my place of work. See they require signature and I’m never home, soooo; if I don’t; I might be s-k-e-w-e-d. A good note though, since the 360 was gone; I did play my PS2 some. Mostly NFL 2k5 and Guitar Hero 1. Kinda rough on the HD; but certianly playable. Of course I watched some movies too.
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Dare to Play the Game

Posted in Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on August 22nd, 2007

Super Metroid goes VC, Bioshock goes Letterbox, and My 360 goes Boom – Welcome to the column that comes and goes just like that chalupa from the mexican roadside eatery known as Dare to Play the Game.

Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. Guess what, I join the thousands and thousands of XBOX 360 peeps. My 360 go boom. It had been glitching here and there for a few weeks. Not too troublesome, but a pain. Well this weekend, it decided to go postal. It would freeze in the middle of the session, give four red lights, beep for no apparent reason, etc. Then it happened, the dreaded three rings. Nine months into owning the console, thank you have a nice day.
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Dare to Play the Game

Posted in Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on August 15th, 2007

Metroid – VC, XBLA – The Reality, & Halo 3: the Box Office Smash – Welcome to the column that lives in the dream and only participates in the reality as needed known as Dare to Play the Game.

Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. Gaming, well I fired back up Rainbow Six this weekend; I did make it to First Sergeant (the one after Master) and played it for a good long while. Of course this was Saturday morning or whereabouts where my connection does nothing but good things. I played a ton of the Stranglehold demo and to be honest I’ve very impressed. Outside of that, I won a poker tournament online that I should never have. Competitive tournament, one bad beat later I’m left with $4. Somehow, I scrape on; thick and thin until it is me with about $150-$200 and this other guy with $900+. I win the next seven hands to beat him, climaxing with a Queen High flush. Get the achievement as well which was nice. I even played some Guitar Hero 2/80’s to pass the time. Got 230k on Message in a Bottle, my hands hurt very badly. I think once the last Lost Planet pack goes free on August 16th, I will start playing that. But anyway, we dispense and move straight into:

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Darkman Trilogy

Posted in Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on August 12th, 2007

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There are often stories about burn patients who lose part of their face or leave their other body parts horribly disfigured. It is sad and unfortunate. But what if you had horrible chemical and fire burns and had to take refuge in warehouses and underground? You had the strength of ten men, but could create a mask that you could use to duplicate your enemies or be the man you used to be? However, that face only lasted 99 minutes. This is the story of Darkman. A trilogy of movies that developed a cult following for its subject matter and campy presentation. Part action, part sci-fi, part thriller. But a great time as long as you left your brain at the door.
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Dare to Play the Game

Posted in Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions, Regular Columns by Michael Durr on August 8th, 2007

Crash for Cancer, 360 Internals examined & Quake: DS Time- Welcome to the column that is often alarming like that heart attack you received when you caught your parents in the act known as Dare to Play the Game.

Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. Life is strange. But in the same breath, it is awesome. I am happy to report that “the girl” said yes to the baseball game on friday, and I will be going to see the Astros and Brewers with her. I am a fan of neither team (I’m a Phillies fan actually) but I could care less about baseball for once, I am going for the ummm..atmosphere. The atmosphere is about 5’4 with blond hair and blue eyes. That’s all that needs to be said. Today this article is brought to you by Jackyl (the band I’m listening to currently) and I just wonder where the heck is my copy of Chainsaw Hero? Whew I need help. That poor, poor girl. Speaking of girls who suffer from the Kedrix touch, we move right into:

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Spyglass Board Games (Xbox Live Arcade)

Posted in Game Reviews by Michael Durr on August 7th, 2007

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Simplicity takes time. That’s the only logical explanation as to why a chess game has not appeared on XBOX Live Arcade until the team @ Freeverse & Strange Flavour decided to release some popular board games for us to enjoy. The give us Checkers, Mancala, Reversi as well as Chess for a very tidy 400 Microsoft Points ($5). While the release is far from perfect, it is one of those cases where we take what we can get.

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Hard Boiled

Posted in Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on August 6th, 2007

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In the United States, we tend to take for granted; influences. In the case of movies, we take certain film styles for granted. We just figure that they always existed. Doesn’t really matter where they came from, we just know we like that style of movie; over and over and over again. Enter Hard Boiled, a 1992 film directed by John Woo. This featured Chow Yun-Fat as Tequila, a hard nosed cop who is on a quest to derail an arms smuggling ring that has both cops and innocent civilians dead in its wake.
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Dare to Play the Game

Posted in Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions, Regular Columns by Michael Durr on August 1st, 2007

Missionaries Online, 360 Price Drop and Live Chess? – Welcome to the column that promises to abuse its readers for cash and prizes known as Dare to Play the Game.

Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. Life just keeps on rolling for me. I bowled last friday, did fairly well. I also won 4 tickets to a future astros game(8/21) as a door prize. But yet, I have nobody to take. I mean I asked “the girl” if she wants to go but she doesn’t like baseball. She might end up going and that would take care of the two tickets I already had from a company event thing (8/10). But the four are something of a mystery and I’m honestly thinking that they might just go to waste. Sad, because actually those 4 are really good tickets. I’m a Phillies fan by choice so while I like baseball;watching the Astros play isn’t really all that entertaining. Unless you like trainwrecks.

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Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s (Playstation 2)

Posted in Game Reviews by Michael Durr on July 29th, 2007

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Guitar Hero 1 made big business. Guitar Hero 2 made bigger business and became a phenomenon. Due to the success of the first two, Activision decided to release a stand-alone themed Guitar Hero. After some deliberation, it was decided they would release Rocks the 80’s including tunes from my favorite decade. Included in that decade is my favorite type of music which is well represented: hair rock. Long hair, lipstick, blistering guitar solos and high pitched screams. Quite possibly the decade that most had in mind when they first or saw or heard about Guitar Hero. The Red Octane team was taking a chance on a smaller setlist but possibly paving the way for future themed releases. I am happy to say that the effort is a great step in the right direction but not one without bumps in the road.

Fay Grim

Posted in Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on July 29th, 2007

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In 1997, Hal Hartley put out a film called Henry Fool. It was the story of an introvertish garbage man Simon who makes friends with Henry Fool, a witty but talent-less novelist. Simon ascends to be a great poet while Henry finds the bottomless pit of alcoholic brew. However, the plot turns around and Simon helps Henry to flee the country since he has a criminal past. The movie did seem to hint at a sequel but didn’t see one until 10 years later. Fay Grim tries to pick up where Henry Fool left off. It includes many of the same cast of characters.
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Spawn – The Animated Collection

Posted in Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on July 28th, 2007

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I still remember the first time I watched a Spawn animated episode. I was with my parents in my younger years on what I believe was the last vacation we ever took together. It was a hotel we were staying at which had HBO (I never had that channel growing up). I had read Spawn but didn’t even know of the animated series. The fact it was late at night and on a premium movie channel meant it had to be good. I was simply blown away and remember telling my parents that we had to be back at the hotel to watch it again the next night. I remember that later I would procure used copies of the series.
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Dare to Play the Game

Posted in Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions, Regular Columns by Michael Durr on July 25th, 2007

Rock Band breaks the bank, The Wii and HDD?, and why I’m not getting Guitar Hero 80’s this week – Welcome to the column that knows no shame and promises to bring it to the rest of you known as Dare to Play the Game.

Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. I am the unfortunate guinea pig of the new website and blog format. I’m sure the administrators are pure pros at this but I feel all out of sorts. Hey, you know that Wednesday I talked about in my last column; you know the special lunch. It went very well thank you. No, there is no immediate fallout from it; but there is hope for the future and at the very least I gained a very close friend who will probably look differently at me now. (cause I’m a sexy beast…okay not really but it sounds good!) Sorry if I’m a bit weird; I blame it on the new format of the website. It makes me feel crunchy :).

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High School Musical: The Concert – Extreme Access Pass

Posted in Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on July 23rd, 2007

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I did a couple of high school musicals growing up. South Pacific and Oklahoma. South Pacific I remembered much more fondly as sometimes I wanted to wash that man right outta my hair. Wait…umm…*taps fingers* *pause*. Oh, right, musicals. High School Musical was a low-budget Disney tv movie that would end up becoming one of Disney’s best successes in recent memory. It was only natural that due to its musical nature and teen fanbase that it would expand into a national tour that would encompass 51 dates over 6 months.
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The Adventures Of Sonic the Hedgehog – Volume One

Posted in Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on July 23rd, 2007

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Video games (especially those with platformer elements) were easy fits for syndicated cartoons. I spent a lot of time watching the Super Mario Super Show despite the show’s silliness and use of Captain Lou Albano. Another show I naturally watched in the same vain was the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog. Featuring Sonic, the speedy blue hedgehog and his sidekick Tails (something resembling a fox but with two tails) would face off against Dr. Robotnik and a legion of robots that wanted to take over the planet Mobius.
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Batfink – The Complete Series

Posted in Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on July 23rd, 2007

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Synopsis

I started watching cartoons in the 80’s growing up and remembering most fondly cartoons like Transformers, Batman, Thundercats, TMNT and so forth. Oh I’ve had my fill of Looney Tunes and appreciate them greatly. But once you go past Looney Tunes a lot of the older cartoons escape me (with the exception of Droopy and Scooby Doo). Good examples are the Flintstones and almost anything out of the Hanna-Barbara lineup like Yogi Bear and Huckleberry Hound. So imagine my …
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Dare to Play the Game

Posted in Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on July 18th, 2007

Bomberman XBLA style, Paper Mario VC, and the bait & switch of the PS3 – Welcome to the column that is about to have a price drop on our old column but only if they soon discontinue it for malicious puns known as Dare to Play the Game.

Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. Business has kinda picked up since last week. The situation I referred to last week regarding speaking up will come to be realized at lunch today. I am exci…
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Reno 911! – The Complete Fourth Season Uncensored!

Posted in Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on July 16th, 2007

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Synopsis

The show that started out as basically a Cops parody (which is pretty funny on its own trailer trash merits) has become a holy grail of sorts for the Comedy Channel. The show has now spanned four seasons and a major motion picture. Reno 911 can be best described as a faux reality show with a good deal of improvisational comedy performed by some very capable actors and actresses. It loosely has a plot from season to season. This season focused on the pregnancy of Depu…
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Coming To America

Posted in Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on July 16th, 2007

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Synopsis

Ever know that feeling when you’ve seen a movie about twenty times and vow never to see it again until it comes out in a new collector’s edition dvd? Coming to America is exactly like that. Coming to America is the tale of Prince Akeem (played by Eddie Murphy) who isn’t quite happy with his country’s arranged marriage practice. (but apparently pretty happy with the country’s bathing procedure) He decides that with his friend Semmi (played by Arsenio Hall) he should travel to New Yo…
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Dare to Play the Game

Posted in Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on July 11th, 2007

Obligatory Oblivion GOY, PS3 Price-Cut & Booth Babes gone? – Welcome to the column that believes you can never get enough hot women promoting video games known as Dare to Play the Game.

Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. This week I give you a little insight into my soul (be afraid). For those of you who might not believe it, I am a pretty quiet person in real life. Sure if you are a friend or loved one and I’ve known you…
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Dare to Play the Game

Posted in Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on July 4th, 2007

Finding a Wii to take home, PSP Homebrew no longer brave, & Rainbow Six Vegas DLC free – Welcome to the column that believes that cherry pie is more american than apple will ever be (and tastier too) known as Dare to Play the Game.

Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. It’s the 4th of July, yours truly gets to host a patriotic U.S. edition of Dare to Play the Game. What makes it patriotic you say? Do I wave a flag and sing patriotic songs? Or do I just …
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Dare to Play the Game

Posted in Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on June 27th, 2007

PSP Games Not Creative, Video Games not Addictive & Shaq not too Bright – Welcome to the column that wishes it was addictive as crack is to plumbers and their ex-girlfriends known as Dare to Play the Game.

Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. This past week hasn’t been exactly kind. I had two very close friends both get into car accidents and then the Chris Benoit tragedy happened over the weekend (yes I’m a wrestling fan). …
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Dare to Play the Game

Posted in Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on June 20th, 2007

A Bloody Wolf, A Piggy Bank smashed for GTA content, and a Band of Bugs – Welcome to the column that is animal friendly as long as there is no snuggling afterwards known as Dare to Play the Game.

Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. Do you realize that this past weekend was father’s day? I did, got my father the dvd boxset to Indiana Jones. Yeah I know, they released that many moons ago but my dad still had the VHS tapes. I’ve…
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Dare to Play the Game

Posted in Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on June 13th, 2007

Prince in Persia, Game Dev in Texas, and PS3 dominant in 2009? – Welcome to the column that predicts it will be #1 in readers by 2010 (but probably remain at 4,235) known as Dare to Play the Game.

Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. I did get my brand spanking new 20″ screen. I think I cried in joy when it turned on. I had been flopping around with my 17″ tube for so long, I forgot what it was like to actually really see wh…
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Priscilla Queen of the Desert, The Adventures Of (Extra Frills Edition)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on June 10th, 2007

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Synopsis

One of my favorite movies of all time is Rocky Horror Picture Show. My favorite character of that movie is Dr. Frank-N-Furter who is just a sweet transvestite transexual from Transylvania. So when I got Priscilla Queen of the Desert to review which had two cross dressers and a trannie and a grand helping of humor to boot, I was hoping it would become one of my favorite movies as well. The story behind Priscilla is that Tick Belrose (drag name: Mitzi) …
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