Pacific Rim Review

Hey all, had a chance to catch Pacific Rim this past weekend. If you like the idea of giant robots taking on giant sea creature alien thingy's this movie is for you. I loved it, and the full audio review can be heard above.

Teen Wolf TV Show Audio Review

Haven't had allot of time to write stuff, but did put together this audio review recorded from my phone while driving to work. This is for the MTV show Teen Wolf.

On A Star Wars Kick

Hey Wanna B's, I don't know if it's the fact that the new movies are about to be made, but over the last few months I've sought of had my interest in Star Wars come back to me. As a child of the 80's I grew up loving the original three films, and watched them over and over growing up, I even remember watching the Ewok spin off films though I can't remember much about them. Anyway I consider myself a fan of the Star Wars universe, but I am no where near the level of the "true fans" my knowledge pretty much ends with what is on film.

At the recommendation of a guy who is heavily into the expanded universe books I decided to purchase the three audio books that make up what is known at The Thrawn Trilogy. This past weekend I just finished book two Dark Force Rising. All I can say is holy $**t, what an amazing ride these past two books have been. The Thrawn Trilogy takes place five years after the events in Return of The Jedi, the rebellion has formed the new republic but all is threatened by a Grand Admiral who is rallying the empire for a comeback. It took a couple of chapters of book one to get back into things but these audio books are so well produced and include great voice over work that sounds just like the characters including Luke, Leia, Han, C3PO, Lando, and more. In addition to each character sounding pretty good, the audio books also include music and sound effects that make the story feel even more authentic, there are times I forget where I am while listening and feel as if I'm watching a brand new movie starring my favorite Star Wars characters from thirty years ago. Like the original trilogy the first book sets things up nicely, but book two is where everything is happening and leaves off with an oh shit moment that has me ready to start book three right away. I know J.J. Abrams had said he would not be doing expanded universe stuff, and the fact that the actors are a lot older now it wouldn't work anyway, but I wish they would have done these stories as film back then, it really would have been a great addition. However it is available to read, or if your like me and are too lazy I highly recommend the audio version off of Audible.com like I said all the audio is amazing and really adds to things.

Okay while on the subject of Star Wars, I have one other thing to add. I recently decided to purchase season one of The Clone Wars animated series. I remember watching the five minute mini cartoon series that used to air on Cartoon Network a couple of years ago, and I did like them, though it was more of a tease than anything else. I had heard good things about The Clone Wars CG series and I know it has come to the end with a five series run, so I finally decided to put down about thirty dollars and buy season one off Amazon instant viewing service. Visually I was amazed from the first episode, the 3d computer generated characters and environments look great, but I wasn't truly invested in the story until a few episodes more into it. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed it from the start, but I feel like I was missing something as there were characters just thrown in that I didn't know who they even were. I'm thinking maybe there was a movie or something that must have aired before the first episode that I probably missed, but anyway it's not important. I am now up to episode ten and the show has gotten better the more I watch. It takes place between episodes II and III and focuses on The Clone Wars, with many episodes starring the well known characters such as Anakin, Obi-Wan, Padme, and even dare I say it Jar Jar Binks. However the cool thing about this series is that it sometimes puts those characters secondary to the actual clone troopers and in many episodes shows us they are more than just tools to be killed in a war and each one has their own unique identity, and place in the force as master Yoda would say.

 I know allot of people crap on the prequel films, myself included at times, but I think allot of the issues was trying to fit too much into two hour films leaving allot of gaps in story, however with an animated series these characters have been more thoroughly fleshed out and the whole story can be told which is something tv shows still have over movies. In the end I am happy with the purchase and plan on buying the remaining seasons as time goes on and as long as they seem to follow the same high standards of what has come so far.

Episode Title: B vs. The Needy

Episode Date: 02/07/13

B's Encounter With The Homeless Guy At McDonalds

Hey all, I have a funny story(in a weird sort of B'ish way). The other day after being harassed by the old lady to pick her up some McNuggets after work to bring to her job I finally gave in and went their after work. While standing in line I was approached by a young man in a hood who told me he hadn't eaten in two days and asked if I could buy him something. I being my usual cheap self asked him what exactly he was looking for to eat, he responded by asking I purchase a Big Mac meal for him. I looked up at the menu and saw that this would cost me about $8 after tax and told the guy it was too much, but I would buy him a Mcdouble for $1 and a small fries for another $1, and that he could get a cup of water for free. With out much choice he said okay and I placed the order. After receiving the order I gave him his bag and he walked away without even a thank you. I did see him approach another customer and he seemed to be giving him the same story, the guy nodded so I assume he would buy him some food as well.

Later that same week I was driving down a major avenue and noticed a guy dressed up like the Statue of Liberty dancing around with a sign to come do our taxes with whoever he was advertising for. It had to be about twenty degrees out and this poor guy is dancing around like a fool with a sign no one is really reading at forty miles per hour. The point of these two stories is that no matter how much you may think your life or occupation may suck, look at these two guys and be very grateful.

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Ender's Game

On a much brighter note I decided to resign up with Audible.com, and used my credit of the month to get the audio book Ender's Game. I'm too lazy to actually read a good book, but in audio form I can listen to and from work every day as well as with my headphones at home. So far I'm about half way through this twelve hour audio book and I am really loving it.

The story takes place in a future, and focuses on a young boy named Andrew Wiggen, aka Ender Wiggen. He is the third child in the family, which is actually illegal in this time but due to his siblings talents and genetic superiority the parents were given permission to have a third. Ender is recruited into a school for gifted kids where they prepare them to be commanders and soldiers in a war against and alien race known as the buggers. As of the point in the story that I am up to there have been no encounters with this race. This book so far seems to focus on the training of young Ender who is only six years old at the beginning of the book, and the psychological stress he is put through by the leaders of a combat school in order to make him the best weapon possible.

I have been enjoying this book so much that I decided to look into what is next in the series, and was delighted to stumble upon the fact that they are making a movie based on the book, and it is scheduled to come out later this year. I am super excited and hope it is done well. I highly recommend this book to anyone in the sci-fi genre, and even if your lazy like me, get the audio version.

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Man With The Iron Fists

I came very close to buying this movie last week, but at a $15 price tag and mixed reviews on Amazon I decided to wait. The next day I went over my friends house and he asked if I wanted to watch a movie, I said okay what is it? He said "The Man With The Iron Fists", I laughed and said I came close to buying this the night before so sure pop it in.

Two hours later I was very glad I did not waste $15 on this very cheesy Kung Fu film. Don't get me wrong the action sequences were kind of cool, but everything else was just a joke. From a generic story line to badly cut editing this movie seemed kind of amateurish at best. Even some of the CG in the movie seemed like unfinished garbage, especially during the end credits where they show a bird flying and then it looks like a computer game as it crashes to the ground. Granted my friend got a copy that may not be exactly official, but I don't think it matters much.

If your looking for a good laugh and are really a die hard Kung Fu movie buff I say rent this one or wait for it to be on TV, everyone else don't bother.