Bad Anime Night - Defenders of Space

After a long hiatus, Beanie is Back! An evil race of Blue Aliens attacks the Earth Colony of Aurora. The only hope is a couple of teenagers and a giant robot! Can Beanie last in what is one of the worst animes he's ever watched. Be on the listen and be on the lookout!

Top 5 Games and Movies of 2010

Being that the year is coming to a close, I thought I'd take a look back at the video games and movies that I enjoyed over the past year. When it came time to filming, I actually found myself quite sick. So instead of actually recording dialogue, I used the narrator program on my computer to speak for me. Much like the Nostalgia Critic's review of Alone In The Dark. It's not that I can't speak, but the way my voice is, my audio equipment wouldn't have picked it up. But the show must go on, so here's my top 5 games and movies of 2010. Enjoy.





For those of you who want to know what was being said in the Japanese commercial, here's a sum up (note - I don't actually know Japanese fluently, but I do know a few words - fortunately this commercial featured them.)
The suave boy asks the girl to come with him. When there alone he says he wants to ask her something; she says "what?" just then the little boy springs from the cardboard box. And says "I want you to join me" (or something to that effect)
The girl asks "me?"
But the little boy motions to the suave boy.
Suave boy, "me?"
Little boy nods. Then we see them both inside the cardboard box playing MGS:PW This commercial illustrates that the game is co-op by showing the two of them in the box, which is an aspect of the game itself, while still being hilarious like many Japanese commercials.

Like so many other critics and opinionated persons, Beanie has decided to put in his 2 cents and share his favorite movies and video games of 2010. When going to film, Beanie got ill, but was able to use a voice-over program to speak for him. So here's Beanie's Top 5.
Like the list? Disagree with it? Post a comment.

Tron: Legacy

I feel a great sense of both pride and alienation because of where I fall in my generation. Growing up I was exposed to awesome old movies like TRON, Flash Gordon, Conan, and the like. I remember them all with a feeling of nostalgia. Compared to my peers I feel that my childhood was awesome. My dad was a Trekker and a member of the KISS Army. Because of him I was exposed to awesome Science Fiction not just from the 80s but from the start. One of my favorite TV shows is the original Star Trek series and my two favorite movies are Flash Gordon and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. This is just a roundabout way of saying I'm a geek and damn proud of it.
As for the alienation, it seems that there aren't many others in my age group with this same upbringing of Star Trek, D&D, comic books and video games. Most of my peers I've been around have no knowledge of the awesome 80s movies, and music I grew up with. (Which is why I make it my sworn duty to educate people) I feel like I'm in a generation gap some times. I hang around with people older than me, because I feel more akin to them, when I talk to people my age or younger and find out they have no idea what I'm talking about I have to face palm... but enough about me.

While the original Tron came out before I was born, I was exposed to it because of my dad. We had it on VHS tape, and I would watch it along with Star Trek, Flash Gordon, Heavy Metal, and Robo Jox. I loved Science Fiction, and when I heard they were making a sequel to Tron, I freaked. Finally!

My dad and sister joined me at the theater where we saw the movie in 3d. But first we sat through 30 solid minutes of trailers. I know people joke about trailers , but it was seriously 30 minutes. There was a group of 3+ minute long trailers then there was the "please put on your 3d glasses" screen, followed by another group of 3+ minute long trailers. And finally, the movie began with possibly the best opening logo for Disney ever.

The movie itself, while have a paper thin and (frankly) predictable story, had awesome effects, superb acting, and a pumping soundtrack fitting for the mood. Everything had an 80s feel, from the source music in certain scenes, and the hammy (yet not over the top) acting. In one scene, Sam Flynn (Kevin Flynn's son) turns on the power in the arcade from the first movie. As the lights blink on, the dozens of games come to life echoing with the familiar jingles and sounds. But that's not where my geekout began. In the opening scene we see the original Tron poster on Sam's wall. Boom. Right from the get-go I was exploding with nostalgia.
And of course this movie is full of nostalgic moments for sci-fi fans. Disc battles, lightcycle battles, familiar sights, sounds, and... Bruce Boxlietner. Oh, yes Bruce Boxlietner reprises his role as Tron from the original. Oh...hell...yes! The look and feel of the movie (to me) had a sleek cyber punk look. Cyber punk being my favorite subgenre of Sci-Fi, I loved that. The costumes were great, the atmosphere was awe-inspiring, and the action was fun to watch.

Now before I seem like there was nothing at all to complain about, let me talk about what I saw as negatives.

There's barely any Bruce Boxleitner. He reprises his role as Tron, but only in brief flash back scenes. The computer generated face on younger Jeff Bridges(Kevin Flynn) is starkly noticeable. The plot is predictable; in my first screening I was literally able to speak the next lines of dialogue before the on screen actors did. Characters are set up, but then never seen nor heard from again. near the beginning we are introduced to the Encom board of directors who have ruined (gone in a completely selfish direction with) Flynn's company; among them is a smug programmer who really seems to be made out to be a great antagonist for Sam.... never seen again. And the plot revolves around the possibility that the villain, a digital copy of Kevin Flynn is bent on crossing into the real world and taking over. This (to me) raises the obvious question of how a digital being can exist in the real world (you know, without a projector or connection to the internet) We're just to assume it's possible with flynn's data disc. No explanation is given. There is a pretty thick analog for Kevin Flynn being God; he's called "the creator" and Sam (his son) arriving to save the world from CLU (the evil version of Flynn) some of this I don't mind, because technically Flynn did create (or at least laid the building blocks of) the Grid.

But I loved Tron: Legacy. I highly recommend seeing it. It is a fun ride from beginning to end (there's not much suspense, as I said it's predictable) The graphics are amazing, the acting is supurb, and it pays tribute to the original in so many ways. Finally a belated sequel worth seeing. Plus Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxlietner!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1

Last night I attended the midnight premier of the latest Harry Potter movie. My fiance being a huge fan of the series actually bought our tickets over a month in advance. we even arrived nearly four hours early. Around three hours before show time, they began letting patrons into the theater. There were many people dressed for the occasion. I saw people in shirts and sweaters displaying the colors of Gryffindor house, I myself wore a Slytherin t-shirt and my fiance wore a Hogwarts hoodie over a shirt proudly displaying the word "Muggle"There were even people in full regalia of wizard robes. One young girl was wearing what appeared to be the robes of Ravenclaw, though truthfully It was quite dark and I could not tell. As the fans shuffled in there was a mixture of false British accents and overjoyed shouts all around.
Close to an hour before showtime the patrons were treated to a different kind of performance when a fan stood and shouted, "Mudbloods aren't welcome here," so that the entire theater could here him. Another young man on the opposite side of the row stood and challenged him. In sight of the entire congregation, the two would-be wizards squared off at the foot of the screen. Neither in wizard robes, but both with wands. The Pure-blood on one side and the Muggle-born on the other.
With a flick of his wand the pure-blood shouted "Stupify!" and the Muggle-born flew backward into a pile of empty boxes. Though slightly disoriented, the Muggle-born stood and retaliated with his own spell, "Sectumsempre!" But the pure-blood reacted quickly.
"Protego!" and the spell was deflected into the screen. Almost simultaneously the duelists fired their next spells.
"Petrificus Totalis and Avarda Kedavra" were shouted in such close proximity that no one could tell who shouted what. There was a flash of green and the Pure-blood sank into the floor staring up to the ceiling with lifeless eyes. When the smoke cleared there was a thunderous roar of applause from the theater as the Muggle-born was hailed as a champion.
Finally it was midnight. The lights dimmed and the screen came to life; the familiar Warner Brothers logo appeared in the clouds and there was a shriek of joy from every corner of the theater. At long last after nearly a decade, the end of the saga had begun.
The movie, being split into two parts had more time to draw out scenes. Unlike the others which seemed to be rushed, this one could take a more steady pace. Which I feel really helped the foreboding feeling it was trying to make. There was more scope in the cinematography, showing depth in the world as Harry and his friends journey. Having the movie at a slower pace is not detrimental in the slightest. It gives the viewer a chance to see the world as it changes around the characters, as well as give ample time for character development and little moments, that fans of the books will enjoy just as much as the average movie-goer. Everything builds up to the climactic conclusion in part 2. Not to say that part 1 is without climax, there are several climactic moments which leave the audience on the edge of their seat and leave them wanting more.
While there are moments from the book not present in the movie, it leaves room for original ideas, which, while mentioned in the book, never actually are seen (read.) What is left in, only works for the better, character-wise and story-wise.
If anything this movie has a theme of Loss. Harry and his friends are still feeling the effects of the events from Half-Blood Prince. They are cut-off from everything they have come to know and love in the last six years at Hogwarts. They are on the run without a clue as to what they are supposed to be doing in carrying out Dumbleore's wishes. Once again, their friendship and resolve will be tested. Do they have what it takes to save the world? Are they on the right path? These are but a few of the questions swimming in their weary minds.
In the end, we have a look at what's to come. What will be in store for our heroes in part 2 with what has happened to them so far in part 1. You definitely get the sense of foreboding and loss while watching part 1.
The visuals as, always are beautiful and stunning, the characters are spot on, and the dialogue is straight out of the book. So far, this is possibly the closest book to movie transition ever made, and part 2 is still months away. J K Rowling's world has truly come to life and with nearly a decade of work, Hollywood has finally gotten something right. I thoroughly recommend seeing this movie, not only if you are a fan of the books or movies, but if you love movies, and love the pure escapism. You will be hard-pressed to find a more immersed movie-going experience.

Jackass 3D

Utilizing state-of-the-art 3D cameras and high speed slow-motion, Jackass is considerably the best 3D movie of all time, if no THE best movie of all time. Unlike other 3D movies which use the technology as a gimmick to have things appear to fly out at the audience "whoa, that hand looks like it's coming out at me!" Jackass does not. In Jackass, there is more play with perspective and depth of field. Making object appear either closer or further away than they actually are. That is how 3D should be treated.
Have you ever wanted to see someone getting slapped in the face with a mackerel in super slo-mo? I have. Have you ever wanted to see someone get knocked over by a giant hand? I have. While much of the movie is filled with childish stunts and immature gags, there is a deeper meaning. Spreading a message of good natured feelings, there is no hate, nor malice anywhere to be found in this movie. It is filled with a childlike innocence and brotherly love. The Jackasses are retaining that innocence of childhood, playing as we all did as children. It is the paramount of escapism that we as a society desperately need. Harmless fun.
There is no conflict, no great task to undertake, no damsel to rescue, only laughs to be shared and fun to be had. They bring us back to a simpler time, when we were children. Playing and laughing together as we pushed our friend down a hill into a questionable nasty pond or frolicked naked through a field. I did these things, and you did too. It is the embodiment of the never grow old mentality. Not in the sense that you should never mature and live your life. We've seen these guys when they're not goofing around, leading normal lives, many of them are very successful in their careers outside of Jackass. No, what I mean, is that you should retain your childhood innocence in some way, whether it be goofing around with your buddies or just doing something nostalgic and meaningful to yourself. That is what Jackass is really about, Memories of a better time. I highly recommend this movie. And don't give me that crap about imitatible acts. When I was a kid I did much of the very same stuff, and that was long before jackass was around. I will not lie, there is a lot of peni in this movie, and you should take caution if you're uncomfortable around that, but lets be honest. By this time in your life your bound to have already seen at least one.
Go see this movie!

The Last Airbender

I recently just saw the movie based on the popular nicktoon "Avatar: The Last Airbender." Let me be the first to say that this movie is vastly underrated by others. It is a great movie, Now it does have flaws but none of them are deal breakers in my book. Especially when you keep in mind that this movie is intended for younger audiences. There are a few things that will take people by surprise, and these were explained in an interview with director M. Night Shayamalan. One major thing that differs between the show and the movie is that in the movie the names are pronounced correctly whereas in the cartoon they are not.
I actually heard people complaining the reverse. No offense intended (well maybe a little) these people belong to the uneducated masses. These were not children either. They were adults. These are probably the same people who think that China and Japan are the same country.
The movie itself had action a little adventure, some romance, and the best special effects so far this year. The actors were perfectly cast, fully embodying the characters they personafied. The story remained true to the original apart from certain things which were not problematic. The Last Airbender movie was basically an abridged version of season 1 of the show. Keeping to the key points of the overall plot while glancing over or omitting unnecessary adventures (things that contribute in no way at all to the plot)
There are a few things that could have been done better: there was one scene where exposition was uncomfortably spouted out hastily and was shot entirely in close-up. This scene should have been a medium shot and with a better paced delivery. Another scene that should've been done better (this is a bit of a spoiler) Aang (pronounced with and extended short a sound) turns to Zuko and says, "we could be friends" and then the scene cuts to something else abruptly. It should have either zoomed out slowly revealing Zuko's reaction or panned slowly to do the same, or even had a close up of Zuko's reaction. But no, there is no shot of Zuko's reaction. Apart from that, I would've enjoyed a more steady calm pace to the production, but again, I have to keep in mind the movie is intended for younger audiences and they have shorter attention spans than I do. (I can sit through Seven Samurai without needing the intermission to stretch my legs.) If the movie was 2 hours rather than 1 1/2 it would've had more time to flesh out everything, as it was, it was a bit rushed at times, but it did manage to fit an entire season into that 1 1/2 hours, and for that I am impressed.
The artistic design is amazing, taking different approach than the show, while still keeping the same themes. Fire nation wears reds and their dress is similar to that of feudal era Japan. Earth nation wears greens and browns with styles similar to Ancient China. Water nation dresses in blues and dresses in both Inuit garb and Norwegian fair. And the Air nomads dress as Tibetan monks with oranges and yellows. The fire nation's ships have a mechanical industrial feel whereas the other ships seen are made of wood as those of the sailing age. Character designs are true to the source material but have their own style. Zuko for instance appears as he does in season 2 rather than his appearance in season 1. Katara's hair is down, and the Fire lord has short hair, which suits the actors. Another thing that may take people aback is that the Water nation are all Caucasian rather than "Inuit" as in the show. The Earth nation are all Southeast Asian, and the Fire nation are Asian-Indian. The Air Nomads are mix between many ethnicities.
While the story may not seem as compelling to adult audiences, remember it is for children and is based on a children's show. The people who complain about it are ignorant of this fact and of the show itself. For instance, I've heard in other reviews that the show was referred to as an anime. Which is incorrect. The show is American made, though it is done in a Japanimation style, it is a nicktoon, written by Americans (hence the mispronunciations,etc) This movie is actually well done, with amazing actors especially Shaun Toub as Iroh. I really do hope that M. Night Shyamalan makes the other two to complete the story. The Last Airbender is a great movie and should be viewed in the manner it was intended. I'm actually planning on seeing it again, and maybe for a 3rd time, who knows. I suggest this movie not only to fans of the show but to casual viewers as well. Though keep in mind, you won't be getting the whole story. For that you'd need to watch the series.
Go see it, now!