Bros Brawl

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
$49.99
I love this game, although I knew I did before buying it. Shipping was quick enough, even in choosing the free slower shipping. Super smash bros. Brawl & Melee both have incredible competitive scenes. I would say Melee is more difficult to play as efficiently, but it's all about playing what you like. The depth of this game is much deeper than it's first impression, once you learn more about the mechanics that run it.

I'd recommend it to someone who's looking for a not so traditional fighter to get competitive with. There are typically tournaments within a few hours of many locations every few weekends, at least, it seems.

Nintendo Wii System 4 Player Bundle (Brand New) + Super Smash Bros Brawl

The Wii is taking the gaming scene by storm. With Nintendo's new generation motion sensory technology & a slew of family favorite Nintendo franchises, the Wii is a welcomed addition to any gamer's collection.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides)
$19.99
I have been playing Super Smash Brothers games for 10 years. I've played SSBB -- this game -- competitively in person. I never won any cash prizes, but I did play the best in my Southern California region in BIG tournament with over 100+ in each. The last one I went to I placed 17th out of 200+ entries. I go by ERS++ or Edward ERS, idk if this link will work, but you can see me in action a lot in this video. I've been a Wario beast since late summer 2008, but have retired because of my circumstances..... and Meta Knight. I now just play online with friends when requested to.

Wifi-Stadium - a Super Smash Brothers. Brawl Montage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6AzGPuzBjQ

That was my credibility, now I will tell you how this guide is BAD.

Possibly it just comes off as common knowledge because I'm a veteran of the series, but the general tips they mention in this guide of how to play are really shallow. The main thing thing to mention is that for everything they tell you that is true or might help you, there are 2 things REALLY wrong. The character data in the back of the book is EXTREMELY dated and flawed. The book considers Marth to be the best character in the game over all, when in all credible tier lists since the summer 2008 have racked WITH OUT QUESTION Meta Knight and Snake as the 2 best characters in the game in that order. Sure the tier list is based off the best players in the world in 1 vs 1, no items playing on overall neutral stages, but to call Marth the best is a joke. What's even stupider is that they rated Meta Knight a 6/10 -- Meta Knight is the most over powered, easy to pick up and play and otherwise broken character in SSB history--. There are really bad tips is how to play the characters too and some of the move data is incorrect. The guys behind rating and explaining the characters were idiots on short notice to rush this out.

The only reason to buy this is if you don't have internet access, because everything important in this book can be read on gamefaqs.com. What's important is unlocking the 35 total characters and all of the stages, which is like 40+. The guide to the subspace emissary-- single player story mode-- is better than online, but has no significance. Doing 100% of the subspace emissary is a waste of time.

Save your money and don't buy this dated trash. Go to gamefaqs.com cheats/hints section to unlock everything and smashboards.com forums to learn how to play better. There are active social networking sites devoted to this game like allisbrawl.com; join to hopefully meet some friends to play online and gain more knowledge of the game. You will not get better at smash from reading this unless you are INCREDIBLY new to the series, in which case you should do your reading online still.

The game is a must have and can be enjoyed on all sorts of levels, but this guide is stupid.

Heartbreak Ridge
$5.79
Last year, Clint Eastwood wowed moviegoers with his gritty, realistic performance as Walt "Get Off My Lawn!" Kowalski in the film "Gran Torino". In "Heartbreak Ridge", the U.S. Marines are the "lawn" and Eastwood (once again) isn't taking any prisoners.

Basically, the film centers on a Marines Recon unit of the 1980s that, in all aspects, has "gone soft" in a time of peace. Gone is the strict military discipline of the 1940s-1960s, and in its place is a disrespectful, laissez-faire attitude towards fighting for our freedoms. That all changes, of course, when Sergeant Thomas Highway (Eastwood) is brought in to lead the unit. Though Highway is only given the assignment as a disciplinary measure, it quickly becomes clear to him how far the Marines have fallen. No angel himself (Highway is shown instigating a prison riot at the beginning of the film), Highway goes about instilling into a rag-tag bunch of young men the kind of military values that he holds near and dear.

Much like "Gran Torino", then, the most entertaining portion of this film is watching Eastwood embody that kind of old-world toughness that is on its way out (for better or worse) as the World War II and Korea veterans begin to pass away. Both Highway and Kowalski are the type of men who will have your back to the end if you respect them and do right by them, but the only way they know how to show it is through harsh profanity, crude jokes, and a crotchety demeanor that belies their true emotions. Whereas Walt bonds with a young boy who shows potential but just needs some strong leadership in his life, Thomas Highway runs the same emotional gamut with his Marines Unit.

There are only a few things that keep this movie from "instant classic" status, those being Highway's rather un-interesting love life on the military base, as well as an ending that just seemed to fall a bit flat considering the entertainment that preceded it. "Torino" was a bit more adept (and thus more deserving of a five-star rating) at handling the emotional drama of Eastwood's character, as well as providing a better send-off.

Thus, whether you want to look at "Heartbreak Ridge" as a prequel to "Gran Torino", or "Torino" as a sequel to "Ridge", the similarities between both films are readily apparent. If you loved watching Eastwood's gruff, tough Walt Kowalski portrayal, you will love this film as well. If you were offended by the type of prejudices that Walt held, steer a wide berth around this movie.