Mr. A's review of........Tron Legacy

The Story
Sam Flynn has never had an easy life despite being the son of famous ENCOM CEO Kevin Flynn. After the disappearance of his father, Sam lashed out against the world and especially the people involved in his father's company.
One night after pirating ENCOM's new operating system and releasing it to the public, Sam is approached by Alan Brady, Kevin's long-time friend and co-worker. Alan reveals that he's received a page from Kevin's old office located in the now abandoned Flynn's Arcade.
Letting curiosity get the better of him, Sam ventures to the arcade and hacks into his father's computer mainframe and accidentally activates a digitizing laser which takes him into The Grid, a cyber-world populated by humanoid computer programs.
Being forced to fight for his life, Sam must defeat the omnipotent Clu, find his father, and escape this horrific place before time runs out. Can Sam do it or will he fall before Clu and his silent guard Rinzler? Welcome to the Grid...


The Review
Waiting almost 30 years for a sequel to the original Tron, I must say that this film was a bit of a let down. Not to say that it wasn't a good movie, it was absolutely fantastic for what it was, it's just that there's was so much they could have done with the movie that they didn't.
I will say that it was good to see Jeff Bridges back as both Kevin Flynn and Clu, who should technically be called Clu 2. The CG used to de-age both Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner (Alan Brady, Tron) was impressive.
The redesigns for the Lightcycles, combat uniforms, and pretty much EVERYTHING were awesome and seeing the images of programs doing disc battles in huge arenas made me feel like a kid again.
The pacing wasn't as good as it could have been and there were a few parts that seemed unnecessary (the entire scene with Castor felt sort of tacked together).
Overall though it was really fun and I'd probably go see this again.


The Verdict
Great effects and above-average acting will keep you interested, but unless you were a fan of the original Tron or you're a little kid, you might not like it.
One other piece of advice I must give you all is DO NOT SEE IT IN 3-D!!!
The portions that were actually in 3-D were good, but there wasn't enough of it to warrant you paying the extra $7 to see it. There was also the problem with the sides of the screen coming out of focus if you weren't looking right at it, but that could have just been the theater we saw it in.
Maka, Jam, Rerun (who from now on will be called Clu), and I all paid for the 3-D and we weren't impressed (which was why we kept the glasses after the movie).
If you got a free weekend and you like sci-fi/cyberpunk you should definitely catch this one. Drag your girlfriends to it!

5.5/10 in 3-D
7/10 in 2-D



Stay tuned for some old-school movie reviews from me and a possible Scott Pilgrim commentary!


Jaa mata,
Mr. A
(Executive producer, User)

The Otaku 5-0 Show: The Last Airbender Audio Commentary

Aloha everybody!

I am pleased to present to you the long-awaited audio commentary track for The Last Airbender!

Before proceeding, I must issue my customary disclaimer that despite our best efforts our commentary track may not sync up perfectly with your DVD version of the film. So please adjust either as necessary.

Now, sit back and enjoy the fruit of our labors. We hope that you have as much fun listening to this commentary as we did recording it.

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

Show Notes
The Last Airbender Audio Commentary

Recording Date: November 29, 2010
Total Running Time: 105 minutes

Panelists
Totoro (Otaku 5-0 Executive Producer)
Jupiter (Podcast Executive Producer)
Mr. A (Assistant Podcast Executive Producer)
Maka (Assistant Video Executive Producer)
Jam (Contributor-at-Large)

Click here to download commentary track.

To better sync our commentary with your DVD version of the film, just follow the instructions below:

FIRST AND FOREMOST, download our audio commentary track to your computer or favorite mp3 player.

1) Load up your DVD, and proceed to the main menu:

Nice-looking menu. Too bad the movie sucked.

2) Move the cursor, highlighting and selecting "Scene Selections".

3) Scroll through the corresponding menu, and highlight the first scene with the cursor.

4) Play our audio commentary track, and select that scene when prompted to do so.

Enjoy!

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

Mr. A's review of.....The Italian Job

So, the great Diamond Head Video is going out of business so I decided to pick up a few DVD's to keep me entertained while our hiatus is going on. Here is the first review in a line of old-school movies I picked up.

The Story

Charlie Croker isn't such a bad guy despite serving a lengthy prison sentence. He's nice, a snappy dresser, and he's got a brand new job that's sure to rake in the dough. Unfortunately this job could also send him up the river again...or home in a pine box.

Charlie's old friend and fellow thief Roger Beckermann has got a great idea; steal a four-million dollar shipment of gold that's on it's way from China to the Fiat motor company located in Turin, Italy. The plan is perfect...until Beckermann ends up dead at the hands of the Italian mafia.

Despite the risks Charlie decides that too big of a payoff to pass up and sets out to gather a crack team in order to pull off this "Italian job."

Can charlie and his rag-tag team of thieves pull this off and make the biggest theft in history or will the mob get the better of Charlie and send him back in pieces?

The Review

It's pretty much a given that if Michael Caine is in a movie it's gonna be good. Charlie is an instantly lovable character despite yelling at his inept crew for almost half of the movie. Noel Coward does a superb job as Mr. Bridger, the ominous Brit mobster who backs Charlie's plan.

The pacing is really good and gives you just enough down time in order to absorb the plot, the car chases are some of the best I've ever seen in any old film save for The French Connection, and the dialogue is hilarious.

The only down side that I could see is that the film hasn't aged very well, but better than most films from that time.

The Verdict

Solid casting, great locations, and a brilliant ending ensure a good time for all. However if you saw the remake with "Marky" Mark Wahlberg you might not enjoy it as much.

I picked this up for only five bucks and it was definitely the best five I've spent in some time. Got track this down and give it a whirl.

8/10

Stay tuned for more reviews over the next few months, along with an audio commentary or two.

Jaa mata,

Mr. A

(Executive producer, master planner)

It Came From YouTube, Part Five

Aloha everybody!

First off, I would like to announce the results of our poll regarding Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows, Part I. In a convincing victory, "Thumbs Up" ended up with the lion's share of 7 votes out of 10 overall, with 2 votes for "Thumbs Down" and a single vote for "Thumbs Sideways". Thank you very much to all those who voted, and please continue to vote in all future polls on our site!

But first, a few announcements. Even though we at The Otaku 5-0 Show are officially on our winter hiatus, that doesn't mean that we're not keeping informed about the latest entertainment news. For those who follow our Facebook page, we continue to post applicable tidbits for specific entertainment-related items that we have taken an interest in.

I am also pleased to announce that we have recently recorded an audio commentary for, "The Last Airbender" featuring myself, Jupiter, Mr. A, Maka & Jam. In an effort to stagger our post-season content, the commentary will be uploaded in the next few weeks.

But until then, let me take this opportunity to present the actually fulfill the title line of this article by presenting the latest installment of, "It Came From YouTube!"

. . . .

As you are well aware, thanks to the efforts of my colleagues Mr. A & Jam, I have recently become a fan of the seminal British TV Series, "Doctor Who." One day, while surfing YouTube, I came across this fan-made music video featuring events from the most recent series. I now submit it to you for your enjoyment.



Earlier this year, Mr. A ended up house-sitting for Jupiter while she and her family were on a trip to the Mainland. Inevitably, the rest of the Otaku 5-0 staff ended up staying in the house for varying periods of time. During that period, not only did we end up recording a lot of "Unplugged" episodes, but we also got a chance to hang out as friends. During one such gathering, we ended up in collective stitches after watching this video. Therefore, I submit this for your enjoyment.



Now, everybody has a very specific sense of humor. Different things are funny to different people, so you might not find this next video funny. You may not believe me, but what I am about to say is completely honest. After viewing this for the first time, I was laughing at my computer for a solid minute. Enjoy!



Our final video for this installment features the talents of musician/comedian Stephen Lynch, who performs a song that pretty much encompasses my life from the age of 14. Hmm... Should I be amused or worried?

. . . .

And that concludes the latest installment of, "It Came From YouTube". Feel free to send in YOUR favorite videos from cyberspace, and I'll post a follow-up article with your submissions!

See You In Cyberspace,
~Totoro (Executive Producer, The Otaku 5-0 Show)

Mr. A's review of......Splatterhouse

The Story
Rick Taylor is about to propose to his long time girlfriend Jennifer Willis. He's got it all planned out; a quiet dinner near the water, soft lights, and the most brilliant diamond Rick can afford. All Rick has to do is suffer through a quick little interview with the enigmatic Dr. West that Jen has to do for the school newspaper. Yes, Rick has plans. But like much in life, your plans don't mean dick when it comes to fate. Dr. West quickly summons demons from beyond to grab Jen and beat you to within an inch of your life. Sorry, Rick, but your plans are canceled. Or are they?
With his dying breath, Rick makes a deal with the Terror Mask, an ancient Aztec bone mask possessed by a vengeful spirit.
Armed with supernatual powers, an array of improvised weaponry, and a steadfast resolve, Rick must now traverse time and space to save the woman he loves before she is sacrificed to the elder god Cthulhu. Can Rick do it in time? And what is the Terror Mask's true intentions? Welcome, everyone. Welcome to...the Splatterhouse!

The Review
The story is sort of cheesy, but considering the original 'House didn't really have one it's works out pretty well. Overall gameplay is alright, but it does take a bit of time to get used to the combat timing. For instance, one of the lower level baddies will swipe at you and if you get hit, Rick's speed isn't good enough to throw a punch before he swipes you again. All you can do is roll out of the way and then go in for a counterattack.
The gore is SUPER over the top. I actually had to get used to all the horrific takedowns because they were so gruesome.
The voice-acting is pretty good, with a major shout-out going to the voice actor for Dr. West (who's name escapes me).
On the technical side there is the issue of long load times and choppy cut scenes because of them. Things that could have easily been taken care of with some kind of install.

The Verdict
If you're into beat-em-ups you should give this game a try. If you like games full of blood and carnage then give this a try. But if you don't like either of them then stay the hell away from this. While it is fun to unlock trophies and hidden pictures, it's not really worth getting ill every time you have to perform a takedown. I did however have fun playing the classic Splatterhouse games and trying to unlock the secret goals in survival mode. Overall, if you don't like this game, you just won't. EVER. But if you like this game you'll like the hell out of it.

8/10

Stay tuned for more reviews and our commentary for the film The Last Airbender.

Jaa mata,
Mr. A
(Executive Producer, Necrobiologist)

Otaku 5-0: Season 5 Finale

Episode 91 out of 100

Aloha everybody!

It is my sad duty to report to our growing audience that another leg of our journey has come to an. end. I am proud & humbled to present to you the finale episode to our 5th Season!

First off, I would like to thank everybody who voted in our two polls covering last week's Great Debate and Defender, with Homemade Costumes eking out a 9-7 victory against Store-bought Costumes and Team Drive-In Theaters defeating Team Conventional Theaters, 8-6. Be sure to vote in future polls we may have in the near future!

As we prepare to enter our hiatus, the staff of The Otaku 5-0 Show would like to thank our families for their continued support of our endeavors, our special guest DJ Buma for his professionalism and good cheer, but most importantly:

YOU - OUR GROWING AUDIENCE...
For taking time out of your daily lives to hang out with us for a little while.

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



Click to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 5.16

Recording Date: November 22, 2010
Running Time: 117 minutes

Panelists
Totoro (Otaku 5-0 Executive Producer)
Jupiter (Podcast Executive Producer)
Mr. A (Assistant Podcast Executive Producer)
Maka (Assistant Video Executive Producer)
Jam (Contributor-at-Large)
Gypsy (Guest Contributor)

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

2. Lead-in (Jupiter)

3. Pick/Fail of the Week

4. A Serious Conversation About... HEXXP Year 1

5. A Serious Conversation About... Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows, Part 1

6. Taking Stock (Totoro, Jupiter, Mr. A, Maka & Jam)

7. Lead-out (Totoro)

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

Happy Holidays from The Otaku 5-0 Show!

See you in 2011!

Otaku 5-0 Season 5: Episode 15

Episode 90 out of 100

pe-nul-ti-mate (adj.) - next to the last.

Aloha everybody!

Did anyone notice that we have changed our name to The Otaku 5-0 Show? Due to recent discussions, we felt that a change was warranted in order to better incorporate our video and podcast operations. But not to worry, fellow fans: We might have changed our name, but we are STILL the same dorky people you've come to know and love!

But however, it is sad to see that that the next leg of our amazing journey will again come to an end. While we are excited for a well-deserved rest, we bring you yet another episode of entertainment-themed topic discussion, including new installments of Great Debate & Defender!

So sit back and enjoy the fruit of our labors!

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



Click here to download episode.

Show Notes
Otaku 5-0: Episode 5.15

Recording Date: November 15, 2010
Running Time: 88 minutes

Panelists
Totoro (Otaku 5-0 Executive Producer)
Jupiter (Podcast Executive Producer)
Mr. A (Assistant Podcast Executive Producer)
Maka (Assistant Video Executive Producer)
Jam (Contributor-at-Large)
Gypsy (Guest Contributor)

Format
1. Opening Bit: A Word From Our Sponsor (Mr. A)

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

3. Pick/Fail of the Week

4. Great Debate: Drive-In or Conventional Movie Theaters?

6. How We Would Have Done It: Batman & Robin

7. Defender: Homemade or Store-bought Cosplay?

8. Fill In The Blank - "Fly"

9. Lead-out (Mr. A)

Musical Notes
-Opening Theme: "Kefka's Theme" from Final Fantasy VI
-Interstitial Clips: "Subtitle" from Revolutionary Girl Utena, "Pre-Title" from His & Her Circumstances, "Frog's Theme" from Chrono Trigger, "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!