Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Otaku 5-0 Season 5: Episode 4

Episode 76 out of 100

Aloha everybody!

On this week's episode of Otaku 5-0, we present another hilarious slate of entertainment-themed discussion, including a serious conversation about Hawaii's upcoming HEXXP convention & new installments of "Fill in the Blank" and "Topic From The Past"!

Also on the panel is "Gypsy", a new friend of our show whom we hope to have around for many episodes to come!

Please enjoy the fruits of our labors!

Mahalo,
~Totoro (Otaku 5-0 Executive Producer)



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 5.4

Recording Date: August 30, 2010
Running Time: 63 minutes

Moderators
Jupiter (Podcast Executive Producer)
Mr. A (Assistant Podcast Executive Producer)

Panelists
Maka (Assistant Video Executive Producer)
Jam (Contributor-at-Large)
Zyconis (Contributor-at-Large)
Hahen (Contributor-at-Large)
Strawberry (Guest Contributor)
Gypsy (Guest Contributor)

Special Appearance: Titus (Video Executive Producer)

Format
1. Opening Bit: Bad Joke of the Day (Mr. A)

2. Lead-in (Jupiter, Mr. A)

3. Pick/Fail of the Week

4. A Serious Conversation About... The Upcoming HEXXP Convention

5. Fill In The Blank: "Mongoose"

6. Topic From The Past - Great Debate: Watchmen or The Dark Knight? (Episode 2.7)

7. Lead-out (Jupiter, Mr. A)

Musical Notes
-Opening Theme: "Kefka's Theme" from Final Fantasy VI
-Interstitial Clips: "Frog's Theme" from Chrono Trigger, "Pre-Title" from His & Her Circumstances, "Subtitle" From Revolutionary Girl Utena, "I'll Do It Right!" from Naruto
-Ending Theme: "Breach of Contract" from Ah! My Goddess

Coming Soon...
Our next audio podcast episode!

Feedback is always accepted here at Otaku 5-0. Please send us an e-mail to us at otaku50podcast@gmail.com OR post on our message boards OR post a comment on this blog!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Otaku 5-0 Season 5: Episode 3

Episode 75 out of 100

Aloha everybody!

On this week's episode of Otaku 5-0, our panel brings you another round of entertainment-themed topic discussion, including a new opening bit featuring Jam (Contributor-at-Large).

Due to major technical difficulties we are unable to present the latest installment of, our shoot-from-the-hip interview topic, "The Gauntlet" with Maka (Assistant Video Executive Producer) in the hot seat. However, do not despair - we will bring you that topic later on in our season as our schedule permits!

~Totoro (Otaku 5-0 Executive Producer)



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 5.3

Moderators
Jupiter (Podcast Executive Producer)
Mr. A (Assistant Podcast Executive Producer)

Panelists
Totoro (Otaku 5-0 Executive Producer)
Maka (Assistant Video Executive Producer)
Jam (Contributor-at-Large)
Strawberry (Guest Contributor)

Format
1. Opening Bit: Bat-Jam!

2. Lead-in (Mr. A)

3. Pick/Fail of the Week

4. X Reasons Why... The Pokemon Red, Blue & Yellow Games Are The Best In The Franchise

5. Duel To the Death: Open-ended vs. Linear RPG games

6. Favorite/Least Favorite... Childhood Cartoon Show

7. Lead-out (Mr. A/Jupiter)

Musical Notes
-Opening Theme: "Kefka's Theme" from Final Fantasy VI
-Interstitial Clips: "Subtitle" from Full Metal Panic!, "Frog's Theme" from Chrono Trigger, "Subtitle" from Revolutionary Girl Utena, "Catch (cheen)" from Ah! My Goddess
-Ending Theme: "Breach of Contract" from Ah! My Goddess

Coming Soon...
Our next audio podcast episode!

Feedback is always accepted here at Otaku 5-0. Please send us an e-mail to us at otaku50podcast@gmail.com OR post on our message boards OR post a comment on this blog!

Friday, August 20, 2010

Otaku 5-0 Now On iTunes!

To all our listeners out there,

We are now officially on iTunes, we have had many people ask for this upgrade and we are proud to tell you that you can now subscribe and download through iTunes. Its easier than ever to share us with your friends so get sharing!

~~Jupiter

I echo Jupiter's sentiments, and I am glad this day has finally arrived...

After 74 episodes, Otaku 5-0 is now available as a free podcast on iTunes! All you have to do is type, "Otaku 5-0" while in the iTunes Store for all of our accumulated episodes (which is TEN, as of this writing.)

We would like to thank all our long-time fans for their support & patience during this process, and to all new fans who have just found us... ALOHA & WELCOME!

Mahalo,
~Totoro (Otaku 5-0 Executive Producer)

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Totoro's Fantastic Four of 2009

Editor's Note: I apologize for the extreme lateness in publishing this article, but determining my favorite four films for any year is quite an undertaking.

And so we have arrived at last, to the second of what might be many, "Fantastic Four" feature articles. Go here to read the complete first installment.

Not to argue with tradition, here are the opening paragraphs from last year's article...

A common theme among entertainment aficionados is to compile a list of either the best or worst examples of a particular subject. Movie critics have their list of the top 10 movies of the year, while fashion watchdogs have a list of the best and worst-dressed celebrities. Even Maxim, which I like to call "The Essential Guide To Understanding Modern Man" has their own list (The 100 Hottest People).


While my own contributions may not matter much in the long run, a part of trying to stand out against a large landscape of voices is to do something different, especially when it comes to things that I feel passionate about (in this case, movies.) So, in homage to both this "listing" tradition and to my mother's favorite superhero team, I am proud to present to you...


Totoro's Fantastic Four of 2009

#4. Sherlock Holmes
Every performer hoping to get into the business inevitably creates a personal "wish-list" of actors/actresses that he or she would like to work with. For me, one such actor would be Robert Downey Jr. (not much of a surprise, since last year's article contained TWO movies he worked on.) So when it was announced that he would be taking on the role of the classic fictional detective, I was both intrigued and apprehensive. How can an American actor step into one of the most widely-known BRITISH fictional characters of all time?

Very easily, as it turned out. Suffice it to say that Downey's portrayal of the detective succinctly answers the question, "What if Sherlock Holmes (an intelligent yet eccentric cocaine addict) was a REAL person living in Victorian England?" Of course, he had help. There can be no Holmes without Watson, and the consummate Jude Law (Alfie, Closer) plays the role of second-fiddle to perfection. Add to that a taut, well-written script and the tenuous blend of action and comedy provided by director Guy Ritchie (Snatch., Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels) and you have one of my four favorite movies of 2009.

#3. Inglourious Basterds
Quentin Tarantino is a director whose story I can relate to, in particular his humble beginnings as a video store clerk and his lack of formal cinematic training (but sadly, I do not share his love of grindhouse films.) So, when he announced production of Inglourious Basterds based on a script that he had spent almost a decade writing (and re-writing), I and many other movie fans were waiting in anticipation.

Needless to say, the ten-year wait was justified. From beginning to end, this film was interesting on a purely cinematic level. My favorite character is the sophisticated Hans Landa, the intelligent, devious SS Colonel charged with hunting down runaway Jews in World War II France, played to perfection by Christoph Waltz (the character appears later in the film as the appointed head of security for a film premiere attended by the Nazi high command.) But the hallmark of any Tarantino film is the effortlessly philosophical dialogue, which this film has in spades. One need only watch the first scene to see why Tarantino spent so many years writing this film (and why it's my 3rd favorite film of 2009.)

#2. Up
What can be said about Pixar Animation Studios that hasn't already been said? Despite the well-deserved praise, I noticed that every Pixar film since The Incredibles was actually a gamble to some degree. This film, centered around the struggles of an elderly man trying to accomplish a promise made to his dead wife, was no different. This film faced many of the same obstacles as WALL-E did in terms of trying to rally an audience around an unconventional thread. Can you tell an entertaining story centered around a cranky old curmudgeon?

As was the case with WALL-E, all doubts that I had about this film were washed away about 10 minutes into my first viewing. From beginning to end, Pixar once again delivered an entertaining blend of comedy and action. The various life lessons scattered throughout (including "you're only as young as you feel" and "sometimes the right thing to do isn't the easiest thing to do") were not lost on me and the numerous impressionable minds who viewed the film with me. Combine that with the stellar voice acting talents of Ed Asner (Carl Fredrickson), Jordan Nagai (the hilarious Russell, Wilderness Explorer), Bob Petersen (Doug The Dog) & Christopher Plummer (Charles F. Muntz) and you got my 2nd favorite film of 2009.

#1. Star Trek (2009)
I am a huge Star Trek fan, and I am NOT ashamed to admit it. Since my elementary school days, I have always wanted to boldly go where no one has gone before. (For the record, my favorite Star Trek film is Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.) But over the years, I have noticed a steady decline in the quality of Star Trek films. Even though the franchise received a well-needed boost in popularity (and relevance) with Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999) and the feature film Star Trek: First Contact, I found the next two series and movies, Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001), Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-2005), Star Trek: Insurrection & Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) largely disappointing, making me just about fed-up with all things Trek.

My disappointment was still present when plans were announced for a new Star Trek film. I remained disappointed when Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci (who also wrote 2007's Transformers) were announced as writing the script. It was only after hearing that J.J. Abrams (Lost, Alias, Mission Impossible 3, Fringe) was directing the film that my disappointment started to lessen just a bit. I tried to stay spoiler-free all through the production process, until I found myself sitting in the theater.... Will this film restore my faith in something that I have loved (and fallen out of love with) since my childhood?

Short answer: HELL YEAH!
Long answer: From start to finish, I felt five years of disappointment start to drift away... I found myself entertained and entranced by what was not only my favorite Sci-Fi film, but my favorite film of the year, period. After the screening, two things were apparent. Not only did I enjoy a new Star Trek film for the first time in seven years, but I found myself wanting to see what came next...

Well there you have it. My favorite four films of 2009. I hope you have had as much fun reading it as I did writing it, and I look forward to seeing what future films the remainder of this year has to offer!

See you at the movies!

~Totoro (Otaku 5-0 Executive Producer)

Otaku 5-0 Season 5: Episode 2

Episode 74 out of 100

Aloha everybody!

On this week's audio podcast episode of Otaku 5-0, we bring you another interesting blend of entertainment-based topic discussion, including our popular Moviematic 5-0 & the second installment of Defender!

Programming Note: This and all future downloadable episodes of our audio podcast will now be in mpeg-4 (.mp4) format. Please make sure you have the correct media player installed onto your computer (this player is my personal preference.)

So, please continue to enjoy the fruit of our labors!

Mahalo,
~Totoro (Otaku 5-0 Executive Producer)



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes Otaku 5-0: Episode 5.2

Recording Date: August 17, 2010
Running Time: 87 minutes

Moderators
Jupiter (Podcast Executive Producer)
Mr. A (Assistant Podcast Executive Producer)

Panelists
Totoro (Otaku 5-0 Executive Producer)
Neko-X (Senior Producer)
Jam (Contributor-at-Large)
Hahen (Contributor-at-Large)
Strawberry (Guest Contributor)

Format
1. Opening Bit: Jupiter's Jukebox

2. Lead-in (Mr. A)

3. Moviematic 5-0 VI: The Pitch - "Tonight"

4. Pick/Fail of the Week

5. Great Debate: Robotech vs. Star Blazers

6. How We Would Have Done It: The Last Airbender

7. Defender: Japanese Kid Shows vs. American Kid Shows

8. Moviematic 5-0 VI: The Return

9. Lead-out (Mr. A)

Musical Notes
-Post-Disclaimer Theme: "Gato's Theme" from Chrono Trigger
-Opening Theme: "Kefka's Theme" from Final Fantasy VI
-Interstitial Clips: "Eyecatch" from Full Metal Panic!, "Subtitle" from Full Metal Panic!, "I'll Do It Right!" from Naruto, "Frog's Theme" from Chrono Trigger, "Subtitle" from Revolutionary Girl Utena, "Pre-Title" from His & Her Circumstances
-Ending Theme: "Breach of Contract" from Ah! My Goddess

Coming Soon...
Our next audio podcast episode!

Feedback is always accepted here at Otaku 5-0. Please send us an e-mail to us at otaku50podcast@gmail.com OR post on our message boards OR post a comment on this blog!

For those of you who are curious about what songs are in Jupiter's Jukebox, here they are, in video form:

Song #1: "Let's Get This Party Started" by Pink


Song #2: "Knocking On Heaven's Door" by Guns N' Roses


Song #3: Theme Song from "Pokemon The (1st) Movie"

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Mr. A's review of...Scott Pilgrim vs. the World


The Story
Scott Pilgrim (24 years old) is an out of work slacker who is getting over his last break-up by going out with Knives Chau (17 years old), a Chinese Catholic high school student. Things seem to be going good until Scott meets a mysterious girl at a party (Ramona Flowers, 24 years old). After horribly dumping Knives (17 years old) Scott starts a new lovey-dovey relationship with Ramona. Things are going great, if not slightly awkward, for our two heroes. They do everything together, eat, sleep, and fight Ramona's seven evil exes. That's right, Ramona has seven evil, semi-super-powered exes all looking to shape the future of her love-life and kick Scott's ass in the process. With death lurking behind every coffee shop and in every night club, will Scott's love for Ramona and resolve to do whatever it takes to stay with her keep him alive? And how can he defeat the ominous Gideon Gordon Graves AND keep his band's contract at the same time?

The Review
F*ck yeah.
What, not enough of a review? Okay, let's try this then:
By the time the opening credits start, you know what kind of film this is going to be. Right off the bat the soundtrack (mostly written by mega-musician Beck) kicks you in the ass and gets you pumped for the action that is to come. The action beats are close enough together so you don't get dragged down by the story beats, but even then there's so much humor scattered about that even when the plot has to progress you're laughing too hard to be bored. Though I had my doubts about Michael Cera being cast as Scott Pilgrim, he manages to pull some bad-assery out and proves that he's got the ability to play "action hero" if he needs to. All other casting is cinematic genius (Alison Pill, I love you), the graphics are insane and makes you feel like you're watching a comic book, wardrobe is incredible, and Edgar Wright is the freakin' MAN!

The Verdict
Even if you haven't read the books, if you've ever played a videogame, been in a band, or fallen in love, you'll want to see this movie. I dare say that Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is a modern day Revenge of the Nerds, even if you're not one of us, you'll understand the emotions behind this film. I recommend this movie to everyone, young and old. Go see it. Right now.
11/10

That's about it for this review. Stay tuned for future reviews and other gangster dealings.

Jaa matta,
Mr. A ("The Talent", 24 years old)

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Otaku 5-0 Season 5: Episode 1

Episode 73 out of 100

Aloha everybody!

We're back from our 3-month hiatus, and looking forward to another season of entertainment-themed discussion!

This episode is noteworthy in a number of ways. Not only does this start the first FULL season of episodes written by Jupiter & Mr. A, but we also joined on the panel Strawberry (Guest Contributor) whom you might remember from this episode.

So enjoy the fruit of our labors!

Mahalo,
~Totoro (Otaku 5-0 Executive Producer)



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 5.1

Recording Date: August 9, 2010
Running Time: 56 minutes

Moderators
Jupiter (Podcast Executive Producer)
Mr. A (Assistant Podcast Executive Producer)

Panelists
Totoro (Otaku 5-0 Executive Producer)
Maka (Assistant Video Executive Producer)
Jam (Contributor-at-Large)
Zyconis (Contributor-at-Large)
Strawberry (Guest Contributor)

Format
1. Opening Bit: Bad Joke of the Day (Mr. A)

2. Lead-in (Jupiter)

3. Taking Stock (a.k.a. what we did while we were away)

4. Casting Couch: Futurama

5. Best Star Wars Moment Ever!

6. Fill In The Blank: "Baby" <-- TOPIC DEBUT!

7. Lead-out (Jupiter)

Musical Notes
-Opening Theme: "Kefka's Theme" from Final Fantasy VI
-Interstitial Clips: "I'll Do It Right!" from Naruto, "Frog's Theme" from Chrono Trigger, "Pre-Title" from His & Her Circumstances
-Ending Theme: "Breach of Contract" from Ah! My Goddess

Coming Soon...
Our next podcast episode!

Feedback is always accepted here at Otaku 5-0. Please send an e-mail to otaku50podcast@gmail.com OR put a post on our message boards OR post a comment on this blog!.