If Something Chases You... Run!

Hi Internetland!

Welcome to the fourth installment of the Jurassic Park franchise review series! Technically this could be considered the fifth... but the little nugget regarding the LEGO Jurassic World game is more for a different series. It just fit well here.

So if you've been following along, you already know what this post is going to be about. I was lucky enough to see the new movie this afternoon. And let me tell ya... we've got some things to talk about! Fair warning: there most likely will be spoilers up ahead. So if you don't want to know anything about the new film, what are you doing on the internet?!?!

Seriously though, I will try to keep the spoilers to what most folks have read/written about before the film's release. Now, without much more delay, get your passports ready, click past the jump, and let's do this thing!

What If They Find Us Without Them...?

Hey-o Internetland!

This is gonna be another late entry. But you know... this has been an incredible journey.

I got to revisit several films that truly did recapture the wonder and curiosity of the prehistoric era. And did actually get me excited for the new film. Since this will be the last entry before my review, let's make this one count.

I've got some ideas on what to include. Some old and some new stuff. So in the wonderfully delivered line from The Lost World, "Saddle up! Let's get this moveable feast under way!"

Life Found a Way....

Hey there Internetland!

As I write this, it is the wee hours of the morning. So if this doesn't make a whole lot of sense... well.. I blame the time frame!

Of course, I have to take some of that blame too. I could wait until tomorrow... but then I'd have to write TWO posts. Back to back. With out them seeming to blend together too much.

Before we begin, for those not in the know, an amazing, talented actor, beloved for starring in many franchises that geek culture claim as part of their own, passed away yesterday (as of the date of this writing). Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee passed away at the golden age of 93. Although his acting career started in the mid-1940s, with roles including Frankenstein's monster and working along side Errol Flynn, arguably, it was his role in The Curse of Dracula as the Count that got him notoriety. Personally, his later roles in the Star Wars and Lord of the Rings film series were some of my favorites. He will be missed. Thank you for the memories Sir Lee.

Hopefully you read my post from earlier. You know, the one that introduced what I'm doing. If not, that's okay. But really, you should go back and read it. If only so it doesn't feel like you're reading repeat info!

As promised, here is part two of this journey! So, click on past the jump and enjoy my rambles....

The Only One on My Side Is The Blood-Sucking Lawyer!

Hello Internetland!

It's officially summer and I realized I hadn't posted anything since last fall!!! I've got two posts to throw out there, this one being the second.... But in a weird Inception-style twist, this one will be posted first... Ok, maybe more like the Star Wars saga... where we get the good trilogy first, and then have all our childhood dreams crushed and mutilated when the back story of our beloved favorites comes careening and screeching through out minds like steel nails on a chalkboard.... Or something like that... but less dramatic.... And not as epic sounding.

But seriously, if you've never had the pleasure of hearing, or even feeling, nails on a chalkboard or just plain old chalk making it's screech as it accidentally (or even on purpose) scrapes across the surface of the board.... Well... There's no real way to describe that feeling. Although some have tried by pointing to the Star Wars prequel trilogy.... But even that is tame by comparison. But that debate (which Star Wars trilogy is the best) is for a later post. Like closer to Christmas. You know, when that Lost director forgets to use his Alias when he takes us on a Star Trek, Into Darkness to find The Force Awakens....

(If that wasn't enough of an oblique reference for you... well, then I give up....)

No. Today, I'm going to post about a much *ahem* larger epic. One that has captured my personal imagination since I was a young lad. Much like everyone in my generation about 20-some odd years ago, if not more. This particular post will be one in a four-part series over the next few days. I hope you stick along for the ride! So, without further ado, click on past the jump to journey into...

YouTube Channel Surfing

Hey there InternetLand!

What?

Another post, in such a short time?

Yup. I'm feeling like trying to make this a weekly thing. Sundays may be the best for that! I don't really have anything to write about today, but I'm throwing this post up just to get in the habit. I started a completely different thread that just went on... in rambling fashion that just made absolutely NO sense.... So I restarted.

I really do not have anything to post about.

Nope. Wait.... Just had an idea! I'll throw some of my favorite YouTube channels up here for your consideration! Head on past the jump for a rundown!

Thank the Maker!

Good Ladies and Gents of InternetLand,

Below is a long-promised post. I'm sorry for the delay.... Really, I am! If you saw today's earlier post, you'll see that I've been working on other things too!

I originally watched this... in... um... well... it was a while back. So if some thoughts seem unfinished... it's because I don't recall the specific thought from the time of first writing. As of this edit, the documentary listed is still available. I strongly urge you to check it out!

With out further ado, continue on past the jump to read the original post!

Rants, Ravings and Nerf Herders: IN 3D

I was reading through some old posts (I don't have that many, so it didn't take very long...), and realized I made mention of a momentous Star Wars event that I fully intended to post on, but failed to do so! So to correct the [General] Grevious error {see what I did there!!!}, the following is this Geek's take on the spectacle that was/is:

Thanks to the folks at C/NetUK for the image!

As he and I planned for... well, a year (or since the official announcement of it's release), DrthGeek Jr. #1 and I went on opening weekend. It was that Saturday afternoon and, since there was a planned birthday party, and I had a work event later that evening, we organized our day around a matinee showing. That morning we donned our make-shift Jedi robes (SW t-shirt and jeans...) and fortified ourselves with a hearty breakfast and helpings of the Clone Wars animated series! DrthGeek Jr. #2 gladly joined in the morning merriment. After a few lightsaber battles with no clear victor, our time of departure arrived.

DG Jr. #1 and I headed out in our own Falcon (making the sound effects ourselves!), he as Chewie to my Han. To add to the fun and fervor, we swing by Target looking for various Star Wars merchandise, and other stuffs. With the window shopping adventure completed, and after the aforementioned lightsaber battles, we had worked up a mighty hunger that only high-caloric, low-nutritional value food can sate.

We pulled into the nearest McDonald's, and lo-and-behold, they had Star Wars Happy Meal toys!!! That was truly not planned and a very welcome surprise! Being the (hopefully) good Dad that I try to be, I procured an extra toy for DG Jr. #2, who stayed home on this adventure. Fed and watered, and extra Star Wars toys in hand, we headed to the nearest cinema that had our beloved film in 3D.


Warning: Minimal Spoiler's ahead!!!

Even though this film, originally released in May of 1999, was this Geek's most anticipated Star Wars film, The Phantom Menace is not, by any means, the best film in the saga. In my opinion, the saving grace in the Prequels is Natalie Portman (sorry honey... you are still my No.1, though!!!) and Ewan McGregor's portrayal of Obi-Wan. We'll go more into that in future posts....

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is a great film for the saga because it tells the story of how Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Padme meet. Oh, and it has a couple visually stunning scenes in the podraces and the epic (and obligatory) climactic lightsaber/space battle(s). Those two scenes were, arguably, served the best by the 3D enhancements. If you've read previous, and other, reviews, that statement is not anything you haven't heard before. I will add to those scenes the one where Jar-Jar is leading Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan to the underwater city where the Gungans live. Visually, that particular "reveal" of the city was pretty darn cool.

As a whole, it was great to revisit the movie on the big screen. The 3D did not do too much to enhance the experience, save for a few key scenes. The best experience of the event, was getting to share the whole trip with my son. When asked his favorite part of the movie, his answer was, "when Anakin won the race, Dad! Oh, and when the young Jedi (Obi-Wan) cut the bad guy (Darth Maul) in half!" What can I say... we all sorta cheered for Obi-Wan the first time we saw him defeat Maul.

Honestly, I am looking forward to the remaining 5 films to be released with the 3D treatment, but I'm not holding my breath. I realize 3D is not for everyone. It is a novelty that adds another dimension to the fun of my favorite Saga. For all the good and bad, if you are a die-hard Star Wars fan, I say check them out.

'Til next time....

When I Was Your Age... Or Why I Love the GameBoy and 3DS

To play a little catch-up:

The last few months has seen several ups and downs. I'm not going to extol all of those events here. Particularly because, that is not my aim! However, a few items will need to be disclosed. Like the rest of America this time of year, my family filed taxes. Woo!!!! Exciting stuff!!!! Particularly because we were fortunate enough to have a refund this year. So, the DrthGeek family got to have some fun!

Mrs. DrthGeek went the Way of the Tablet. She opted for a Kindle Fire... and has yet to put it down! We'll get to her reactions/interactions in another post. DrthGeek Jrs. 1 & 2 requested an ultimate outdoor "toy"... and no it wasn't a pool! A trampoline is now gracing the confines of our backyard, much to the chagrin of our dogs (who are just now getting used to the new weird machine-beast that has invaded their territory...). For me, I went the way of more "immature" ventures and invested my fun money in a Nintendo 3DS.

Yes, I know... I'm a year behind getting the "new" thing.... The PSVita just came out and is supposed to have better graphics and a stronger game engine... blah, blah, blah.... Not to disparage the Vita: I'm certain it is a fantastic machine. And the touch screens (one on the front and one on the back) really does bring handheld video games into the technological future. But I'm just not into the Vita. Maybe if I win one in some contest... well, then I might change my tune.... But for now, I'm happy with my 3DS!

So, for those that are reading the labels... this post will be dedicated to a review of my experience with the 3DS so far.

As far as a handheld system is concerned, the 3DS is pretty darn cool. It has a dual screen (hence the DS part), with the bottom screen being a touch screen. Those familiar with the previous versions (DS, DSLite, DSi, and DSiXL), neither of these features are "new." What is new, though, is a slider along the top screen that has the images present themselves in wonderful 3D. As far as the size of the console, the DSiXL and the 3DS are roughly the same size (maybe a 1/2  wider and "taller" than a regular DSi or DSLite). While the larger surface area is more conducive to adult-sized hands, the requisite hand-cramp that accompanied the original NES and SNES controllers, not to mention the original GameBoy, is still a strong possibility with extended play.

Nintendo conveniently includes little reminders in their first-party games that are designed for the 3DS, like the revamped Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, about the importance of taking breaks periodically. The glasses-free 3D is made possible via stereoscopic imagery. Basically, it projects two images that are nearly identical but one geared specifically for the right eye and one for the left. Our eyes do the rest, and viola! 3D imagery! If you've seen a movie in 3D in the theater, chances are you've had a headache or two because your eyes are working in a manner I have come to describe as "overtime."

Our eyes were naturally designed to see with depth perception. When we view things using "enhanced depth perception" or 3D, our eyes compensate by going against natural tendencies. This eye strain and headaches can occur. Couple that with a screen that aging eyes (yes, I admit I'M GETTING OLD) can have trouble focusing on due to the small(er) size, and severe eyestrain and other problems could arise. *

But that doesn't tell you why I love this system. Like many Children of the '80s, I was addicted to my NES and my GameBoy. I spent countless hours trying to discover every nook and cranny on the Zelda and Metroid games, as well as master every jump and dodge on the Mario games.I was on a personal quest to play and conquer every popular game released on those systems, thwarted only by the fact that I relied HEAVILY on the generosity of my parent's pocketbooks. Now that I am older, and *ahem* wiser, I get to spend my own funds on those games.

My quest to play all those popular games now has a new outlet. The 3DS, as well as the Wii, has a Virtual Console that for a fraction of the original purchase price, I can revisit classic NES and GameBoy titles on the current systems! That means brighter colors, crisper images, same gameplay, and a fun trip down memory lane!

Future posts will chronicle some of these trips. But for now, suffice it to say I am very happy with my investment, and look forward to future adventures!

* All of that is my conjecture from stuff I learned in Biology class and NOT medically or scientifically proven. So PLEASE do not take this a scientific or medical fact.

Lego my popcorn!!!

Well over a week (or so) ago, on a couch on the other side of the family room...

Geek Reviews

Edit: I just realized, since the sale, StarWars.com and all it's cool toys are no longer in existence.... The dark expanse above this edit was a movie crawl, much like the original Star Wars one... but with my own wording to fit this blog.... *Sigh* Maybe I'll find a new site with something similar!

What a set up, right? So maybe it wasn't that epic after all.... But there was an almost mad scramble to get the order in on time! I know you all are on pins and needles wanting to know the mystery DVD. Well, if this entry's title (and pretty much every other theme in this blog) are any clues, you might be able to make a very educated guess.

For those that may still be trying to figure it out, I am referring to the recent release of the LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace film that was on Cartoon Network a couple months back. From all of my research before the release, it was only available as a Blu-ray/DVD combo. The deal of the day for that one was a Walmart "special"... $13 + free site-to-store shipping! The set was also packaged with a LEGO mini figure of a younger version of everyone's favorite nerf-herder, who was featured in this release. I placed the order and made plans to have an adventure with my Geekawans.

Confirmation of the arrival of my new purchase arrived on a Friday. I sorely wanted to rush out that evening to pick it up, but a promise to help a close friend with a personal project (one that played into my first passion! Okay, okay... second) came first. By the way, check it out on YouTube by clicking here. It's a short video, but quite entertaining!

So that following day, my youngest and I ventured the crowds at Walmart to pick up my copy. Irony of all ironies, ordering online did not necessarily save me any money.... There were displays full of the exact same set, priced at $13. So ultimately, I just ensured that I would get a copy for my very own. Yeah....

It took me a couple days to pop the disc in the player, though. Hey, I know! Star Wars is a priority! But so is passing my classes. Anyway, the first thing I was curious about was the special features; more specifically the extra video shorts. The first one I scanned was titled Bombad Jedi. I am still at a loss why they included Jedi in the title.... Basically, it chronicles the exploits of one bumbling gungan -- in Lego form, no less -- as we revisit numerous events and locations throughout the Original Trilogy (also in Lego form). The animations are very well handled, as are the character designs. With an exception of Jar-Jar.... It seems as if the designers tried too hard to make him both Lego cartoonish and expressive. The end result added an odd comical look that was a bit outlandish, even for Jar-Jar. I did like the tie-ins to why Jar-Jar was in the specific areas that he was, as well as how he "influenced" the outcomes for each episode.

Out of the other shorts, two were a bit less memorable. The short The Quest for R2-D2 wasn't necessarily  bad. It simply didn't capture my interest as well as the other shorts. Although, there were some clever nods to the different species in the SW universe and how they interact with their respective envirnments. The Clone Wars Animated Comics were a bit more interesting. I am guessing originally packaged with some of the higher-end lightsabers found down the toy aisles at Walmart and Target, these comics are actually a collection of short (1-2 minute) stories of the clones during various sieges in the Clone Wars. Again, not spectacular in nature, but interesting none the less.

The final two shorts included are the Star Wars in 2 Minutes short films. Done by a then 9-year-old, these films are his retelling of the Star Wars saga with an impressive, most impressive collection of Legos. The videos were originally posted on You Tube, and you can view them by clicking here for Part 1 and here for Part 2.

Overall, the quality of the videos is pretty good. On both blu-ray and DVD. The animation was handled very well on all of the shorts, seamlessly mixing full textured backgrounds with Lego set pieces and characters. Personal feelings about characterizations aside, each short has its own charm and is a fun little side adventure that adds to (and re-imagines) this Geek's favorite film series. With the exception of the Clone Wars Animated Comics, the shorts also include some recognizable easter eggs that adds to their individual charm. One of my favorite is the inclusion of the Lego Mola Ram character in the Cantina scene in Bombad Jedi. For those not very familiar with this character, click here for a visual and brief description of who he is in the LucasArts family.

All right. Now, on to the main feature!

The Padawan Menace has the viewer following a group of Jedi younglings (before they are taken on as padawans -- even though they are collectively referred to as padawans.... anyway....) as they are given a tour of the Galactic Senate by a certain golden droid and his plucky counterpart. Yoda gets some strange feeling and leaves the padawans (younglings.... sorry. I'll stop now.) in the droids' care and disappears to locate the source of a mysterious feeling in the force.

The rest of the main feature follows the padawans as they visit some familiar places in the Star Wars universe. Yoda is joined by another youngster who is trying to evade the authorities by posing as a padawan. This particular young one is almost immediately recognizable by anyone with a love for the original trilogies. I'm tempted to say more, but I'd rather not ruin the surprise.

Like the shorts, The Padawan Menace is chock full of various references to Star Wars lore, and in some cases foreshadowing of coming events in the timeline (respective to this film). One of those is a reference to a particular scene in Empire Strikes Back involving one character expressing appreciation for another.

The animation was handled very well. At times, I almost forgot it was animated. Almost. As with Jar-Jar in the           animated shorts, Yoda at times seemed to be overly expressive. It didn't necessarily detract from the character, but it could be distracting at times.

One thing I was not particularly fond of was the high level of annoyance Yoda would display. I understand that Yoda is the senior character in this cast and he is reacting to a large number of younglings. However, the few scenes we saw of him in Attack of the Clones with younglings seemed to show him with infinitely more patience. Some of the interactions did add to the overall charm, though.

It's hard for me to not like a Star Wars film outing. I really enjoyed this film, for what it is. An animated adventure that stories Yoda, a group of soon-to-be-padawans, and a supporting cast that includes numerous beings from the entire saga. This review was a long time in posting, so I thank you for sticking with me!

Stay tuned for my review of Empire Strikes Back on blu-ray. Coming soon to a blog near you!

That's No Moon....

About four days ago, in a galaxy not so far away...


Geek Reviews

  It is a period of excitement. Children run rampant through the house, causing their mother to want to sedate them. Her mission to gain reinforcements is one of dire need.
  Tension levels are high, as sugar-fuel conversations nearly drown the miscommunication between the adults. Minutes before dinner, the mother's reinforcement turns hostile, and nearly causes a different kind of war, of lasting proportions...




Yes, folks, I was a jerk. And I want to publicly apologize to my wife for the immature outburst of human reactions that usually come from misunderstanding and miscommunication. Sweetheart, I am so terribly sorry. Thank you for being smarter than me and making sure I was aware of how much of a jerk I was acting like. I hope this post can make up for some of that hurt.

The key players in this event was a truck in the shop getting more repairs than originally planned, an already strained budget, a mother and wife stressed to her limits from the aforementioned players, her "angelic" children, and prolonged health concerns, and one single-minded, yet still loving husband keyed up on anticipation for future events and the promise of escape from the stresses of work. My excitement for the release of Star Wars on Blu-ray pushed almost everything from my mind. I was still acutely aware of the above factors, but I made verbally known that my desires were what needed to come first. Boy, was I wrong!

Luckily, my sweet wife, who caught the full force of my Darth Vader-esque tirade, was willing to correct me and bring me back to the light side. Solution to cover costs of repairs to the truck as well as not over-stress the budget: check. Remorseful husband returning to his senses in order to communicate with his better half: check. Understanding wife who, rolling her eyes and (hopefully) grateful for the small reprieve, gives her blessing to allow a late-evening Father/Son/Son outing: check. I pile the troops (in jammies, no less) into the family shuttle and blast for the nearest road that will take us to our destination -- the video department at Target!

Pulling smoothly into the closest parking stall we could find, I unloaded the troops and lead the charge to the front entrance, like any good General should. My superhero sidekick clutched my hand while his older brother scouted ahead at full speed. Mere meters into the main aisle of the store, we spotted our objective. The boys were slightly disappointed with the speed that we completed our mission. My oldest wanted to scout the toy aisle (most likely the Bakugan and Legos...) while my youngest was hoping to explore the "blower uppers" -- the inflatable Halloween decorations that populate retail stores nationwide this time of year. General Dad vetoed the secondary missions, seeing as the primary objective had been achieved. Instead, my troops settled with playing with the small impulse-purchase toys like single pack Lego sets and fit-in-your-hand Nerf dart guns while Dad paid for his brand new copy of Star Wars on Blu-ray!!! (If you can't tell by now, I'm a bit excited!)

Returning the DrthGeek Family Shuttle to its port-of-call, I ushered the troops into the house and assisted with the final bedtime rituals. Excitement poured through my veins, very much like the Force in my favorite film series.... But mindful of the evenings earlier transgressions, and in a bid to start to make amends, I offered my wife the opportunity to peel the wrapping off the box set. A small gesture, true.... You have to understand something here: Not only am I a SW Geek, I am nearly obsessively meticulous with my opening of DVDs. So in my house, this is HUGE.

Once the set was opened, I made the decision to NOT watch any of the films that night. I had to be more responsible and get my homework done (yes, I am working on a college degree!). The films could wait. Besides, it's not like I don't have them memorized already!

The next morning's plans were to consist of a breakfast of junk food, flopped on the couch in PJs, and the first of the six High-Definition episodes emblazoned on the big screen and pouring out of the surround sound. Instead, we did have the junk-food breakfast (freshly purchased donuts! YUM!), but instead of the PJ-attired couch lounging, we all piled into the DrthGeek Family Shuttle and headed off to the farmer's market.

Yes, you read right. Opposed to spending all morning analyzing the films I have memorized, I spent the morning escorting my wife on the hunt for amazing, locally-grown produce. Honestly, and don't tell her this, I rather enjoyed doing that than lazing about at home. When we returned home from our adventures, it was finally time to pop in one of the films and see for myself what all the hubbub was about.

Again, right as usual, my wife suggested I watch the films in release order rather than chronological/episode order. She said something about being concerned about the impressionable young mind of our three-year-old not needing to see the devilish visage of Darth Maul (or something like that), but I knew the real reason was that she is a closet SW-Purest and wanted to see/listen to the films too! But if you ask that to her face, she will only admit to liking the Ewoks... 'cause they're cute....

Anyway, as I watched the film for the one hundred billionth time, I still got excited and my face split into a huge grin hearing the first chords of the opening theme. My elation was assisted by my youngest humming along. I watched the film looking for the new additions and updates. As a whole, A New Hope (Episode IV) was visually cleaner. The colors were definitely more crisp, and the detail on some of the textures was thrilling to see. However, some of the scenes, like when the droids are wandering the deserts of Tattoine after escaping the Imperial Star Destroyer, seemed a bit too crisp and made the scene look more like a moving painting rather than a motion picture. Still, the scenes that really stood out, ironically, were the Special Edition "upgrades" GL gave the saga in the late '90s. Because of the digital enhancements, the HD treatment visually handled those scenes with a bit more fluid grace. Unfortunately, though, that same HD treatment caused the digital enhancements to be more noticeable as not part of the original film editing.

Foley artists, it seemed, were given some extra liberties this go-round. A lot of the feared changes came from little sound nuances here and there that, to the SW trained viewer, pop out as "did I just hear that droid beep right?" or "I don't recall that being in there...." The strangest, because of the unnecessary nature, yet oddly fitting auditory change was the krayt-dragon impersonation by Obi-wan "Old Ben" Kenobi when we first meet him on screen. Other reviews have described the new call as more human-sounding. I think that is a very fitting description. It most definitely sounds like a human whooping at a high pitch down the far end of a canyon while the call echoes off itself and ends in something that sounded almost like a growl.... It was a very odd thing to change in the first place, in my opinion. But this newest rendition is probably the oddest sounding of them all.

Once Han, Luke and Chewie truly began the rescue of the beautiful Princess Leia, I really started to pay more attention to the film and watch it from a  fan's perspective. Leia still called Chewie a "walking carpet", Luke, Wedge, and Biggs still flew the trench run, and Han still proved that he wasn't in it only for the money, so at least GL left the plot line alone. Overall, the HD treatment, by the end of the film, helped remind me why I fell in love with this galaxy far, far away.

A word to the Purists out there: I'm right there with you guys! Don't fix what isn't broken. But sometimes, a little sprucing up can make a difference, and not be entirely bad.

Well, I think I've ranted and raved enough for one post. This Nerf Herder's gonna call it quits, for now. But stay tuned, fellow Geekawans and Geek Masters. We've got five more films to go! Not to mention the new special features! Until then....