Saturday, October 31, 2015
Happy Halloween!
Happy Halloween, everyone! Hope you got lots of treats and few tricks, and you got to wear your favorite costume!
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Star Wars: The Force Awakens Trailer, My Thoughts
Before we begin, I have to make a confession.
As a kid, I was always more of a fan of Star Trek than I was of Star Wars. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the movies. Yes, including the prequels. Maybe someday I'll give my own thoughts on them. I also admit I enjoyed playing some of the games. I've never read a Star Wars novel. But I have read several Star Trek novels.
For some reason, the Star Wars universe never captured my imagination like the Star Trek world did. I never could explain or understand why. Despite this, I found myself being very interested in a new trailer that just dropped.
I have to admit, I do want to see this movie. This trailer was a blast to watch. This film felt like Star Wars...on steroids.
My favorite bits of the trailer were seeing the battles between the X-Wings and the TIE fighters (loving the look of those ships, by the way). I imagine this must've been what George Lucas saw in his mind's eye when he was creating this universe all the way back in the 1970s. It's amazing.
It was also neat seeing Han, Leia, and Chewbacca back. Never thought I'd see them in a new Star Wars movie. Although I can't help but wonder where Luke is. I have heard various theories, but I guess we'll know for sure when the movie finally hits this Christmas.
Based on what this trailer shows, the Empire is making a comeback. I'm guessing they'll be back leaner and meaner than ever, which may lead to some epic dogfights and laser fights. The villain, whom I understand is called Kylo Ren, is going to finish what Vader started. The Jedi purge, maybe?
Based on the title of the film, the Force is making a comeback, so the Jedi will also be returning to sling some lightsabers. Maybe Ren wants to prevent a new Jedi Order from rising. Hmm...Lot to think about with this trailer.
So much awesome stuff in this trailer, the villain standing with troopers in the rain, a faceoff, dogfights, I can't wait to see this movie! This is going to be a blast! It'll likely be a little bit after Christmas, so as to get a good seat.
As a kid, I was always more of a fan of Star Trek than I was of Star Wars. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the movies. Yes, including the prequels. Maybe someday I'll give my own thoughts on them. I also admit I enjoyed playing some of the games. I've never read a Star Wars novel. But I have read several Star Trek novels.
For some reason, the Star Wars universe never captured my imagination like the Star Trek world did. I never could explain or understand why. Despite this, I found myself being very interested in a new trailer that just dropped.
I have to admit, I do want to see this movie. This trailer was a blast to watch. This film felt like Star Wars...on steroids.
My favorite bits of the trailer were seeing the battles between the X-Wings and the TIE fighters (loving the look of those ships, by the way). I imagine this must've been what George Lucas saw in his mind's eye when he was creating this universe all the way back in the 1970s. It's amazing.
It was also neat seeing Han, Leia, and Chewbacca back. Never thought I'd see them in a new Star Wars movie. Although I can't help but wonder where Luke is. I have heard various theories, but I guess we'll know for sure when the movie finally hits this Christmas.
Based on what this trailer shows, the Empire is making a comeback. I'm guessing they'll be back leaner and meaner than ever, which may lead to some epic dogfights and laser fights. The villain, whom I understand is called Kylo Ren, is going to finish what Vader started. The Jedi purge, maybe?
Based on the title of the film, the Force is making a comeback, so the Jedi will also be returning to sling some lightsabers. Maybe Ren wants to prevent a new Jedi Order from rising. Hmm...Lot to think about with this trailer.
So much awesome stuff in this trailer, the villain standing with troopers in the rain, a faceoff, dogfights, I can't wait to see this movie! This is going to be a blast! It'll likely be a little bit after Christmas, so as to get a good seat.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Happy Back to the Future Day!
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| Time circuits on... |
Yup! It's Back to the Future Day! A day of celebration for BTTF fans, and fans of pop culture in general. The time-jumping saga is on the mind of every film buff and pop-culture geek today!
In Back to the Future Part II, Marty McFly, Jennifer Parker, and Emmett Brown travel to the year 2015, in an attempt to prevent Marty and Jennifer's future son, Marty Jr., from getting involved with a criminal gang and ruining his life. Mayhem ensues.
The 2015 in that film was portrayed as almost like a colorful wonderland, with flying clouds racing across the skies, Pepsi provided in odd bottles, self-lacing shoes, the Cubs winning the World Series, and perhaps the coolest thing to ever be seen in that possible future: The hoverboard.
Fans of the films have watched and noted over the years how the world has changed, observing how the real life 2015 has come to resemble the film 2015. In many ways, it has been similar, but very different. The film predicted the idea of real-life video conferencing thanks to things like Skype. Flat-screen TVs with high-definition picture are now a part of many homes. Florida has baseball teams. And it even looks like the Cubs may clinch the World Series this year. Life imitates art, indeed.
Sadly, life hasn't managed to pull off the perfect imitation of art. I have never seen a real-life Café 80s. The hoverboard has become a reality, but nothing like the pink Mattel toy that Marty uses to escape Griff's gang. However, forces have seemingly come together to help life imitate the art a little more.
Nike has created a limited run of shoes based on the Nike MAGs that Marty wore in the films, auctioning them off to raise money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which is dedicated to Parkinson's research. The shoes had lights, but no power-lacing feature. They are working on a version that fixes that little issue.
Pepsi is also releasing a limited run of bottles based on the Pepsi Perfect bottle Marty tries to use early in the film.
For me, Back to the Future Day is an exciting day, and I just might get me a Pepsi Perfect to celebrate (And I'm not a Pepsi guy!). As much as real life has imitated the fictional 2015 of the film, I do hope one thing from that film never comes to life: Bionically-enhanced street punks.
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| "Hoverboards don't work on water!" "Unless you got POWER!" |
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Ratchet and Clank, the Movie
One of the video game series I was a big fan of was the Ratchet and Clank series. The cool weapons, the bright, colorful, and varied worlds, the cool weapons, the humor...the cool weapons. Yeah, humor and cool weapons. The games were a lot of fun to play. Then, I learned about this.
Yup. Of all things, the Ratchet and Clank game series is getting a film. It also has a trailer, which is how I honestly learned of the movie.
At first sight, I was very impressed with the animation. It looked like it came straight out of the games, which is not surprising as Insomniac Games helped with the production. It brought back memories of playing Going Commando, Up Your Arsenal and Deadlocked on my PS2. They were among my favorite games on that console. I was never a big Sony guy, I don't own a PS3 or PS4, but I enjoyed the Ratchet and Clank series.
Based on what I can find out, the film looks to be a retelling of the first game, with some elements of the other games. I recognized Dr. Nefarious from Up Your Arsenal, for example.
It also has quite the cast. John Goodman, Paul Giamatti, Rosario Dawson, and...Sylvester Stallone. Yup. Sly Stallone. The man who brought Rocky Balboa to life is one of the voice actors in this movie. That is awesome.
I have to admit, the trailer put a smile on my face, and it made me want to dust off my old PS2 (my old blocky one not the sleeker later model), and play the games again for old times' sake. I can't wait to see this movie. Sounds like a lot of fun!
Yup. Of all things, the Ratchet and Clank game series is getting a film. It also has a trailer, which is how I honestly learned of the movie.
At first sight, I was very impressed with the animation. It looked like it came straight out of the games, which is not surprising as Insomniac Games helped with the production. It brought back memories of playing Going Commando, Up Your Arsenal and Deadlocked on my PS2. They were among my favorite games on that console. I was never a big Sony guy, I don't own a PS3 or PS4, but I enjoyed the Ratchet and Clank series.
Based on what I can find out, the film looks to be a retelling of the first game, with some elements of the other games. I recognized Dr. Nefarious from Up Your Arsenal, for example.
It also has quite the cast. John Goodman, Paul Giamatti, Rosario Dawson, and...Sylvester Stallone. Yup. Sly Stallone. The man who brought Rocky Balboa to life is one of the voice actors in this movie. That is awesome.
I have to admit, the trailer put a smile on my face, and it made me want to dust off my old PS2 (my old blocky one not the sleeker later model), and play the games again for old times' sake. I can't wait to see this movie. Sounds like a lot of fun!
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Adventures in Pokemon Y Part 12: Route 7 and the Battle Chateau
Hello, everyone! Sorry I have not been doing any updates on my adventures in Pokémon Y, but my struggles with Snorlax made me give up on the game for a while, life got in the way, and my grandmother sadly passed away.
On the way home from the funeral, during the long car ride, I decided to take a shot at catching Snorlax again, and...
...I did it.
I did it.
I...did...it.
...I DID IT! I FINALLY CAUGHT THAT FREAKIN' SNORLAX!
I tried using Ultra Balls and Luxury Balls, but they failed every single time. A level 14 Snorlax with its life meter in the red, and an Ultra Ball, the second-best Poké Ball in the game, under the MASTER Ball, can't hold it...but a regular Poké Ball can. Unbelievable.
Well, with that big source of stress aside, I can finally go forward with this game. After finally catching the Snorlax, I decided to hit the next Route, Route 7 and see what there is to see there.
The Route revealed some new Pokémon to add to my collection. While there, I also ran into Trevor and Tierno, and they introduced the Pokémon Day Care Center. Yup, this is the place to go when you want to breed some Pokémon. It looks like a friendly little place. The backyard even showed some Pokémon playing in the area's yard. I easily identified a Litleo and a Marrill. Really shows how the series has grown over the years graphically.
Tierno was impressed that I caught a Dunsparce. I can see that. Dunsparce was a nightmare to find.
Anyway, going over the route, I battled a couple trainers (mostly artists), and then found Trevor standing in front of a massive building. According to him, this was the Battle Chateau. The Battle Chateau was a place where Trainers gather to battle each other. I like this idea. If you can battle Trainers over and over, you really do increase the replayability of this game.
The Battle Chateau was a really cool place. When I was there, I encountered Viola. It's neat seeing Gym Leaders after they're beaten. It gives a sense that they're real people and that they're doing other things than just being obstacles or bosses, whatever you wish to call them. She was talking to an older gentleman when she spots me. She asks me what my title is, but then is surprised to learn I don't have one. She also remarks that a Trainer as strong as me doesn't have one.
...She was the first Gym Leader of Kalos. I beat her not with strength, but with smarts. I took advantage of Bug's weakness to Fire to beat her. It's strange that she thinks I'm so strong when I am still working towards getting my second badge.
She explains that titles indicate your strength in the Chateau. Only a small group of Trainers get these titles which allow them to join the nobility. The older gentleman notices I have the Bug Badge, and introduces himself as Hennessy. Viola recommends me to the Chateau and asks Hennessy to grant me a beginner's title. Evidently during our battle for the Bug Badge, Viola saw potential for great strength in me, and thinks I can contribute to the Chateau. Hennessy agrees and grants me the title of Baron.
As a Baron, I can battle other Trainers in the Battle Chateau's nobility. Baron is the lowest rank. I battle here and score victories, I can earn a higher rank. After this, Hennessy leaves. Viola explains she is also a member of the nobility, and she'd love to have a rematch with me.
This is neat. I like the idea of having fun rematches with Gym Leaders you already have beaten, especially if they bring out stronger Pokémon.
A butler there tells me more about the Chateau: A special club I have been made a member of. Trainers battle here for a variety of reasons, and the more I battle here, the more Trainer members I'll meet as my rank grows. Cool! For his trouble, I give the butler a little tip, which he appreciates. Hey, he earned it.
The maid there tells me about writs. Writs are essentially letters I can send to Trainers to invite them to battle. I gave her a tip, too. After healing up my Pokémon, I decided to give the Chateau and fight a trainer or two there. I fought a fellow Baron and got 3000...Pokedollars (What IS the currency of the Pokémon world called, anyway?) Wow. I think I'm going to like the Chateau. I did battle some other Trainers in the Chateau, and I got quite a bit of money already. I am definitely going to like the Chateau.
At the end of the route, I found myself reuniting with Serena again (Where's she been up to since Lumiose City?). Trevor and Tierno also made it, and we decide to hold a double battle: Serena and me vs. Tierno and Trevor.
Tierno has still only got his Corphish. You'd think he'd catch some other Pokémon by this point. Ah, well. Amperage the Pikachu is easily able to take care of him. Trevor's Pikachu also fell to Amperage and Chestnut, and Vulcan dispatched Trevor's Flabebe. although Serena's Fletchling didn't make it through the fight due to Trevor's Pikachu. Serena announces she's heading to Ambrette Town, so I'd better head up there, too.
That was a fun battle! Can't wait to see what awaits next!
Pokémon Obtained:
Breakout - Snorlax (Considering my troubles catching this thing, it was the perfect nickname for him)
Daisy - Ducklett
Beacona - Illumise
Florus - Roselia
Coco - Spritzee
Wildwing - Pidgeotto (Evolved from Pidgey)
Kahlo - Smeargle
Brock - Croagunk
Hershey - Swirlix (Obtained by trade)
Buoy - Volbeat
Flutter - Hoppip
On the way home from the funeral, during the long car ride, I decided to take a shot at catching Snorlax again, and...
...I did it.
I did it.
I...did...it.
...I DID IT! I FINALLY CAUGHT THAT FREAKIN' SNORLAX!
I tried using Ultra Balls and Luxury Balls, but they failed every single time. A level 14 Snorlax with its life meter in the red, and an Ultra Ball, the second-best Poké Ball in the game, under the MASTER Ball, can't hold it...but a regular Poké Ball can. Unbelievable.
Well, with that big source of stress aside, I can finally go forward with this game. After finally catching the Snorlax, I decided to hit the next Route, Route 7 and see what there is to see there.
The Route revealed some new Pokémon to add to my collection. While there, I also ran into Trevor and Tierno, and they introduced the Pokémon Day Care Center. Yup, this is the place to go when you want to breed some Pokémon. It looks like a friendly little place. The backyard even showed some Pokémon playing in the area's yard. I easily identified a Litleo and a Marrill. Really shows how the series has grown over the years graphically.
Tierno was impressed that I caught a Dunsparce. I can see that. Dunsparce was a nightmare to find.
Anyway, going over the route, I battled a couple trainers (mostly artists), and then found Trevor standing in front of a massive building. According to him, this was the Battle Chateau. The Battle Chateau was a place where Trainers gather to battle each other. I like this idea. If you can battle Trainers over and over, you really do increase the replayability of this game.
The Battle Chateau was a really cool place. When I was there, I encountered Viola. It's neat seeing Gym Leaders after they're beaten. It gives a sense that they're real people and that they're doing other things than just being obstacles or bosses, whatever you wish to call them. She was talking to an older gentleman when she spots me. She asks me what my title is, but then is surprised to learn I don't have one. She also remarks that a Trainer as strong as me doesn't have one.
...She was the first Gym Leader of Kalos. I beat her not with strength, but with smarts. I took advantage of Bug's weakness to Fire to beat her. It's strange that she thinks I'm so strong when I am still working towards getting my second badge.
She explains that titles indicate your strength in the Chateau. Only a small group of Trainers get these titles which allow them to join the nobility. The older gentleman notices I have the Bug Badge, and introduces himself as Hennessy. Viola recommends me to the Chateau and asks Hennessy to grant me a beginner's title. Evidently during our battle for the Bug Badge, Viola saw potential for great strength in me, and thinks I can contribute to the Chateau. Hennessy agrees and grants me the title of Baron.
As a Baron, I can battle other Trainers in the Battle Chateau's nobility. Baron is the lowest rank. I battle here and score victories, I can earn a higher rank. After this, Hennessy leaves. Viola explains she is also a member of the nobility, and she'd love to have a rematch with me.
This is neat. I like the idea of having fun rematches with Gym Leaders you already have beaten, especially if they bring out stronger Pokémon.
A butler there tells me more about the Chateau: A special club I have been made a member of. Trainers battle here for a variety of reasons, and the more I battle here, the more Trainer members I'll meet as my rank grows. Cool! For his trouble, I give the butler a little tip, which he appreciates. Hey, he earned it.
The maid there tells me about writs. Writs are essentially letters I can send to Trainers to invite them to battle. I gave her a tip, too. After healing up my Pokémon, I decided to give the Chateau and fight a trainer or two there. I fought a fellow Baron and got 3000...Pokedollars (What IS the currency of the Pokémon world called, anyway?) Wow. I think I'm going to like the Chateau. I did battle some other Trainers in the Chateau, and I got quite a bit of money already. I am definitely going to like the Chateau.
At the end of the route, I found myself reuniting with Serena again (Where's she been up to since Lumiose City?). Trevor and Tierno also made it, and we decide to hold a double battle: Serena and me vs. Tierno and Trevor.
Tierno has still only got his Corphish. You'd think he'd catch some other Pokémon by this point. Ah, well. Amperage the Pikachu is easily able to take care of him. Trevor's Pikachu also fell to Amperage and Chestnut, and Vulcan dispatched Trevor's Flabebe. although Serena's Fletchling didn't make it through the fight due to Trevor's Pikachu. Serena announces she's heading to Ambrette Town, so I'd better head up there, too.
That was a fun battle! Can't wait to see what awaits next!
Pokémon Obtained:
Breakout - Snorlax (Considering my troubles catching this thing, it was the perfect nickname for him)
Daisy - Ducklett
Beacona - Illumise
Florus - Roselia
Coco - Spritzee
Wildwing - Pidgeotto (Evolved from Pidgey)
Kahlo - Smeargle
Brock - Croagunk
Hershey - Swirlix (Obtained by trade)
Buoy - Volbeat
Flutter - Hoppip
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