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Reviews
Tactical to Practical with Hunter Ellis (2003)
From Government Deployment to Everyone's Enjoyment
"Tactical to Practical" is a show that examines the military origins that so many everyday household objects have. Things such as the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS), Jeeps, and mini-cameras.
This show is easily one of the best shows on TV and especially on the History Channel. It's a shame that "Conquest" with Peter Woodward was canceled, but this and "Mail Call" with R. Lee Ermey make up for it. I would recommend this show to anyone, especially if your a History Teacher.
If there's one thing we can learn from the past it's this: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana (1863-1952)
¡Mucha Lucha! (2002)
Great Show, But needs new voices
*** SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS***
This show is just plain funny. Though the real problem is the voices. I am an American of Mexican descent and my second native language is Spanish, so I can tell that the voices of most of the characters CAN'T really Spanish. Really anyone who spends enough time around Spanish speakers would be able to.
*Spolier Alert!* I especially liked the episode where there was to be a wrestling match between the children alongside their fathers. Ricochet's father doesn't show until the last minute when he busts in the arena in a car that has a horn that play "La Cucaracha". The ending match pits the three friends Ricochet, Beuna Girl, and the Flea. Because of their relationship Ricochet wonders what he should do. His father says that friends & family are worth more than trophy and says that he should take a dive along with his friends so that they can all win.
To persuade Ricochet, his father tell him why he was late. (This part was my favorite.) Before the Father/Child wresting match, Ricochet's father was at another match for (if I remember right) the world title. He is already at the final match, but the spokesman is taking so long with his speech that all you hear is "Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah!" Because Ricochet is the devout father that he is, the match with his son MUCH more important than the world title. So he places his opponents on top of him to pin himself down. Then the spokesman Counts "Oooonnnneeee!" in slow-motion for effect, but then Ricochet's father breaks in and counts "Two, Three!" And names his opponent the winner.
When the match starts, it goes normal until Ricochet get sentimental and pretends to get a cramp, to lose automatically. Beuna Girl realizes what her friend is doing so she does the same. The Flea also notices and acts as if he going to do the same, but then goes on to win it and then trips on a ripple in the mat, so the match ends in a draw. When the kids receive the trophy they to their fathers who, ironically, fight over who gets to take it home :-P.
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)
All good looks, No real enjoyment
I went to see this movie in the theaters the day after I saw "Kiss of the Dragon" (great movie), but I wasn't expecting much about this one. The reason being that it's hard to find a video game-based movie that's actually good and this one is no exception.
The animation is seriously the only thing that was really impressed to me. The story was WAY off from that of a real Final Fantasy game, there is no ending in the normal sense of the word, and for all you FF-geeks there is NO sequel in the works since it cost Sony more money to make than it took in.
One thing is particular that I really didn't like was the story. As I stated earlier the story isn't one of a Final Fantasy game. But what really made me dislike it was the fact that it played out like "Starship Troopers". Sony could've have easily made his as a film adaptation of the "Starhip Trooper Chronicles" TV show and the only thing most would notice was that the characters aren't the same and the bugs are ghosts.
Probably the only people whom I believe with like this movie are hardcore Final Fantasy fans. But even then, most probably won't like the fact that it really doesn't have anything to do with the game. Final Score: 2/10
Long teng hu yue (1983)
One of Jackie's Worst
I only saw this for my idol Jackie Chan. But even before I decided to rent it I knew it wasn't going to be very good since Jackie plays a villain.
The first thing any viewer would notice is that the cover is very misleading. According to the cover Jackie is star of this movie, even though all he has is a supporting role. In every scene, I found myself trying to catch glimpses of Jackie, but of course he was only a supporting actor.
Now keep in mind, I've seen many of Jackie's movies including some of the oldest ones. But even with that impartial opinion the fighting just wasn't very good either. It could stem from the fact that Director Lo Wei just wouldn't let go of the past. He was the man who directed the classic martial arts film 'Enter the Dragon' starring the legendary Bruce Lee. In a way, this was just another attempt to make Jackie into another Bruce Lee clone. He was even given the name 'Sing Lung' (already a dragon) for his movies with Lo Wei productions.
Another problem with this movie is the big mole Jackie had to wear on his face. I've read his book 'Jackie Chan: My life in Action' and he never mentions what the decision for that was. This could make viewers uncomfortable or something of that sort whenever they see him. I know I couldn't ignore it.
By the end I really wouldn't be able to recommend to anyone. Unless you're like me since I'm starting a Jackie Chan movie collection. And this would be a very important part of it since this was Jackie's last unfinished film with Lo Wei Productions and was released only after Jackie became a big time star in Asia under another production company. This made Director Lo Wei, who had hit some very hard times by then, finish the movie using a look-a-like and stock footage of others movies that could be used.
If you'd really like to see it, I would say rent it first then decide what you'd like to do.
Final Score: 3/10
Defending Your Life (1991)
Great Movie
*Plot Summary* When someone dies, they are sent to Judgment City where they are put on trial to either go to heaven (there is no hell) or back to their normal life and take care of things. The trial looks at a certain number of days in the defendant's life and the more days that are looked at the worse off they are. The main character is Daniel Miller (played by Albert Brooks) who dies by getting hit by a bus and gets 9 days (which IS a lot) looked at.
I saw this in school as part of my Social Justice class. The movie was great and very funny. The movie also delivers a positive message. Maybe not all to obvious being this much of a comedy movie, but still good. Though sometimes the humor was a little on the offensive side.
*Spoiler Alert!* Around the middle of the movie Daniel meets a woman named Julia (Meryl Streep). After getting to know each other they go to a sort of individual theater room where they can see their past lives. Before hand, Julia asks Daniel if he ever wondered about his past lives. Daniel replies by saying that once he was at a party, got a little drunk, went to a bathroom, looked in a mirror, and "I thought I saw someone who looked Chinese, but I think I was just squinting."
I'm actually an American of Mexican descent, but one of my cousins married a Japanese-American, so this comment was, in fact, a little on the offensive side to me.
Most Extreme Elimination Challenge (2003)
Hilarious! Must-see
I first came across this Japanese gameshow when I first heard of Spike TV and Stan Lee's "Striperella". I didn't know anything about it, but I could tell what kind of show it was just by watching one episode. And MAN was it funny. I especially like names of the games like "Eat Sh*take" and how the contestants are teams of professions, such as "Entrepeneaurs" vs. "Beer Industry. This part I really can't say is true or not, but I doubt it is.
The dubbing and acting are also pretty funny, since the mood set for perverted things is sometimes completely subtle, no matter how perverted the comment. Sometimes they also use sports replay, where the commentator had 'write' on the screen for visual aid. This also turns into a joke as there was one a lady whose legs, while falling after messing up in a game, open up and the commentator draws a line in between them. His partner scolds him, but the commentator then continues and circles her shoes, saying they're the new Nikes. Both agree.
As far as bad things go I can't name many, except that there are many more re-runs than new episodes. But then again I also can't say if it's that's the show's fault or the network's. The game's are also on the rediculous side, but in my opinion extremely funny. About the only people who wouldn't find it funny are those that are old people who think anything that they don't like is dumb.
All in all, this show is definitely a Must-See and I would recommend it to almost anyone especially those who love comedy. Final Score: 9/10
The Medallion (2003)
Not one of Jackie Greatest, but still good
Now me? I liked this movie. But you have particularly like this genre in order to appreciate it in the first place. The only people who wouldn't like it at all are those that don't like martial arts movies.
The special effects are done well enough to not look fake, but there aren't too many. The humor is, as always, very good. Of course the best part of that is the ending bloopers. The plot, while not very original, is still well done and keep you thinking.
In the end, I can honestly say The Medallion is a good movie, but if you had a choice between this and a movie like Shanghai Noon, pick the latter. My final rating: 7 out of 10.