tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87353962024-03-15T10:54:34.223+08:00Behold the Geek!Comic books - Toys - Movies - Superheroes - Anime - Everything GeekyGeorge S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.comBlogger710125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-42395109891845007442024-03-15T10:52:00.008+08:002024-03-15T10:53:33.446+08:00My Week in Comics: I Heart Skull-Crusher and Helen of Wyndhorn<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7HOHA78PwWvm6in7UYYnNTY-siQv_NaMn29asbbyuzPUho4ip8kG8IrmCAl6BSwKzIhfHZzsLfJg_JIbQRWqvcwEU-PtLGoYJZyC6kA8HAykFa4zxZIY41FtC99Vam-1lMq-MnYbvoVkElz_fWC8C4-Hf2KSwHEszYsdZuhgzdizfcMFvkY7/s1200/my-week-in-comics-march15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7HOHA78PwWvm6in7UYYnNTY-siQv_NaMn29asbbyuzPUho4ip8kG8IrmCAl6BSwKzIhfHZzsLfJg_JIbQRWqvcwEU-PtLGoYJZyC6kA8HAykFa4zxZIY41FtC99Vam-1lMq-MnYbvoVkElz_fWC8C4-Hf2KSwHEszYsdZuhgzdizfcMFvkY7/s16000/my-week-in-comics-march15.jpg" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">You know it's a fun week in comics when lots of interesting first issues pop up on the list of new releases. What did I get myself into this week? Read on to find out!</p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: justify;">First up is Dark Horse Comics' <b>Helen of Wyndhorn #1</b>, <b>Tom King</b>'s ode to the era of pulp fantasy-adventure. When cult-favorite author C.K. Cole dies in 1935, his only child Helen inherits the stately Wyndhorn House. Boorish Helen is an ill fit for the "new money" life, much to the annoyance of her governess Lilith Appleton. But soon it will be the least of their problems when Wyndhorn House becomes the playground for deadly beasts...and fantastic heroes!</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">This one is quite the slow burn. <b>Tom King</b>'s prose keeps me engaged where the story doesn't. There's a lot of dialogue, but it feels like a deliberate homage to American pulp fiction in the vein of Robert E. Howard. Allusions to Conan and general sword-and-sorcery abound, and <b>Bilquis Evely</b> is the perfect artist to bring this to life.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Seriously, I could pore over Evely's pencils for hours. <b>Helen of Wyndhorn</b> often feels like King making every excuse to have Evely draw as much of her detailed art as possible, complimented by <b>Matheus Lopes</b>' dreamlike colors.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But art is really just one of the many things I look for in a comic. There is absolutely something interesting bubbling beneath the surface of <b>Helen of Wyndhorn</b>, and it's unfortunate that this feels written for the inevitable trade. This comic may satisfy entrenched Tom King fans, but as far as first issues go, I've had better. This one is a <b>3 out of 5</b>.</p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And my MVP this week is Boom! Box's <b>I Heart Skull-Crusher #1</b>, which is just a <i>lot </i>of fun. In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, water is a rare currency, and days are spent watching everyone's favorite sport, "Screaming Pain Ball". Which the comic says is kind of like basketball, but with way more bodily harm.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Enter Screaming Pain Ball's number 1 fan, Trini. She's spent her entire childhood hooked on watching (and training for) the sport. But she's mostly watching it for the game's star player, the beautiful and eponymous "Skull-Crusher"!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Trini is determined to play Screaming Pain Ball professionally and get closer to her idol, but for a poor girl in the middle of Podunk nowhere, the opportunities are slim. Lucky for her, the oligarchy is about to hold the first-ever National Screaming Pain Ball Tournament, and this time nothing will stand between her and being in close proximity to Skull Crusher!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>I Heart Skull-Crusher </b>is a blast. Writer <b>Josie Campbell </b>brings so much energy to this issue without overstaying its welcome. Trini is hyper, fun, as well as very root-able, and Campbell doesn't let the worldbuilding bog down what boils down to the first episode of a sports anime.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Speaking of anime, the dynamic Japanese-style art is perfect for <b>I Heart Skull-Crusher</b>. <b>Alessio Zono</b>'s manga influences are on lock here, elevated by a grasp of sequential storytelling very few "manga-style" artists have. <b>Angel de Santiago</b>'s colors and <b>Jim Campbell'</b>s lettering round out the rest of the visuals, and I have to say this is probably one of the best-looking comic books I've read in a long time.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you're into shonen-style sports comics with a Mad Max twist, <b>I Heart Skull-Crusher #1</b> comes highly recommended. This is a <b>6 out of 5</b>. Pick. This. UP.</p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Very fun week, if I say so myself! I hope these new comics find their footing as well as success with readers! What did you pull this week? </p>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-59481531083926751902024-03-08T17:24:00.031+08:002024-03-09T23:37:16.050+08:00Netflix's Damsel Movie Review — Visceral, genre-bending fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQPaymp8OA_dOlLOYtBgXz4zzi2Me2LPKhbnUg6OqzDEHNuVheDZNEKVSU9vAjCkI1-NZey55hNJaLr0QqHQcF8-zdSkPO7kH66gTGIvvnvTAEyRHYymPbGvr8pau8w1mjE6_hxuYrIg-MuiSjv9eb8mRq2WdXYaiw886ZMEQFgJdpzZY0FOV/s1200/netflix-damsel-movie-review-beholdthegeek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQPaymp8OA_dOlLOYtBgXz4zzi2Me2LPKhbnUg6OqzDEHNuVheDZNEKVSU9vAjCkI1-NZey55hNJaLr0QqHQcF8-zdSkPO7kH66gTGIvvnvTAEyRHYymPbGvr8pau8w1mjE6_hxuYrIg-MuiSjv9eb8mRq2WdXYaiw886ZMEQFgJdpzZY0FOV/s16000/netflix-damsel-movie-review-beholdthegeek.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Netflix rewrites the damsel-in-distress narrative with <b>Damsel</b>, an exciting fantasy adventure that turns the generic fairy tale on its head with surprising results.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Millie Bobby Brown </b>plays Elodie, the eldest princess of a starving kingdom who spends most of her time chopping firewood for her subjects instead of doing what fairy tale princesses do. As luck would have it, the richest kingdom in the land is looking for a suitable bride for their prince, and Elodie has no choice but to go with the plan to give her people a fighting chance.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But it all goes awry when she discovers that the royal family she married into has a terrible secret: they have been sacrificing brides to a dragon who has been terrorizing their lands for millennia! Soon Elodie finds herself fighting for her life with nothing but a knife and a will to survive unlike anything you’ve seen from any fairy tale.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You might think fantasy action/adventure holds no surprises for you, but <b>Damsel </b>is shocking in its intensity. Pulling no punches in putting Elodie through the wringer, <b>Damsel </b>sends <b>Millie Bobby Brown</b> to get slashed, scratched, burned, and thrown around rock faces and 30-foot drops, punctuated by her guttural screams of pain and frustration. Going <i>Tomb Raider</i>-mode on us as she looks for a way out of her cavernous prison, Brown is believable as a scrappy, street-smart princess fighting for her life, propped up only by her steely resolve and her <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacGyver_(1985_TV_series)" target="_blank">MacGuyver-esque</a> knowledge.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Brown does her best to carry <b>Damsel</b>, but it stumbles halfway as it trips over itself dropping clues to the movie’s deeper mystery. For a supposed death sentence of a dragon’s lair, it’s hilariously accessible that even princesses with no prior experience with spelunking can find their way around. In addition, Brown's supporting cast of powerhouse actors like <b>Ray Winstone </b>and <b>Robin Wright</b> do their best but feels tacked on. Even Academy Award-nominee <b>Angela Bassett,</b> who plays Elodie's well-meaning stepmother, says some lines and is largely forgotten.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">But even with contrived dangers and superfluous cast, <b>Damsel </b>is still a tense affair with the always-looming threat of the stalking dragon right around the corner. It also feels like cheating for the dragon to be voiced by <b>Shohreh Aghdashloo</b>, whose gravelly timbre doesn’t even need to be run through post-production to be unsettling and menacing!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It’s easy to write it off as your typical “fantasy adventure with a twist” movie, but <b>Damsel </b>is engaging enough to be worthwhile. If you’re in the market for a fantasy movie starring a princess that kicks plenty of ass, you’ve come to the right place.<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Damsel <i>is now streaming on <a href="https://www.netflix.com/" target="_blank">Netflix</a>.</i></div>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-22459270121914392962024-02-28T13:01:00.000+08:002024-02-28T13:01:21.278+08:00Dune: Part Two Movie Review — Epic sci-fi at its grandest scale yet<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwlBYwBHwTfCl9QVAB31qy1XBH4PeN47O-GgSidcjLwY5xNiv3oPtS5_cHRjpS5pDju0MV862G_QSHBh5efesYULt1pDs0277c1hWf6SwvPgDjk6Fifc_anzGDTzevsZ5VSeVgVoCYarEt27ItEFJe7FXe0NYd9f_qjov34k5YT7vNXYgExqY/s1200/dune-part-2-movie-review-beholdthegeek.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwlBYwBHwTfCl9QVAB31qy1XBH4PeN47O-GgSidcjLwY5xNiv3oPtS5_cHRjpS5pDju0MV862G_QSHBh5efesYULt1pDs0277c1hWf6SwvPgDjk6Fifc_anzGDTzevsZ5VSeVgVoCYarEt27ItEFJe7FXe0NYd9f_qjov34k5YT7vNXYgExqY/s16000/dune-part-2-movie-review-beholdthegeek.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Dune: Part Two</b> is a monumental achievement, an awe-inspiring and visually stunning sci-fi epic in every sense of the word.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">2021's <i>Dune </i>was a bit of a slog, burdened by the thankless job of laying the foundation of Frank Herbert's jargon-filled universe for the laymen to understand. <b>Dune: Part Two</b> has no such burdens — it hits the ground running and doesn't stop until the fervor of its characters rises to fever pitch. Even the almost three-hour runtime doesn't feel like it thanks to <b>Denis Villeneuve</b>'s engrossing direction and <b>Greig Fraser</b>'s indulgent shots of Arrakis' sweeping desert vistas.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">After the events of <i>Dune</i>, Paul Atreides (<b>Timothée Chalamet</b>) has been living with the Fremen, the mysterious and secretive natives of the planet Arrakis. He has embraced their ways and earned their respect, to the point that he now answers to the Fremen name "Muad'Dib". Much to his chagrin and the chagrin of his partner Chani (<b>Zendaya</b>), he has also earned the mantle of "savior," as the Fremen believe Paul to be the "Lisan al Gaib" -- the messiah sent to bring them paradise.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This brings him into conflict with a restless Emperor Shaddam IV (<b>Christopher Walken</b>, barely sidestepping his memetic connection to <i>Dune</i>), concerned that the meteoric rise of Muad'Dib threatens his own grip on power. Besieged by a desperate Empire, an even more desperate House Harkonnen, as well as the machinations of his own mother Lady Jessica (<b>Rebecca Ferguson</b>), Paul grows weary knowing it's only a matter of time before Arrakis becomes ground zero to a devastating war that could threaten the known universe!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Dune: Part Two</b> is <i>gorgeous</i>. Every frame is a piece of art, packed with design choices that give the film a satisfyingly lived-in feel. Nothing here feels sterile or designed by committee. From House Harkonnen's Giger-esque brutalist architecture and motifs (color literally drains out of anything Harkonnen branded) to the solemn Fremen temples carved out of mountainsides, Villeneuve uses the visual medium to incredible effect.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The soundtrack elevates this already thrilling movie to another level. <b>Hans Zimmer</b>'s score is soaring and inspiring one moment, visceral and unsettling the next, adding a striking exclamation point to every scene. The IMAX system magnifies this to a truly immersive degree, as the whole theater shivers and shakes with every bass drop and synth whine. I have a feeling I would feel differently if I watched this on a regular theater, but at this point I'll make any excuse to watch it again.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">A movie this pretty is nothing without its cast, and <b>Dune: Part Two</b> contains a phenomenal assemblage. <b>Austin Butler</b> disappears into his role as the unhinged Feyd-Ratha Harkonnen even with little to do.<b> Rebecca Ferguson</b>'s Lady Jessica spends most of the movie hidden behind a veil but strikes a venomous figure regardless. <b>Javier Bardem</b> is both hilarious and affecting as the zealous Stilgar. <b>Zendaya </b>tries her best, but there's very little chemistry between her and Chalamet. Thankfully she brings it in jaw-dropping action sequences.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">A far cry from his sleepy portrayal of Paul Atreides in the first <i>Dune</i>, <b>Timothée Chalamet</b> brings more to the table this time around. Despite his pretty boy looks and slight frame, Chalamet is a commanding presence in every scene. He is edgier, funnier, more allowed to bring to bear the stresses of being at the center of a political and religious maelstrom. As the film comes to its shocking climax, you can't help but be fully behind Chalamet as he ascends to Paul Atreides' birthright. With more <i>Dune </i>novels to adapt, I'd follow this dude to more movies like this.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It's been a while since we've had an event movie of this scale that isn't named "Star Wars." I don't need to gussy it up: don't wait for streaming, watch <b>Dune: Part Two</b> as soon as you can at your nearest movie theater. We may not get a big screen experience like this again.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">At least, until there's a Part Three.</p>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-84860366289774334062024-02-07T12:57:00.004+08:002024-02-07T12:57:44.995+08:00Word Geek Wednesday: Sinister<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Welcome to </span><b style="font-size: large;">Word Geek Wednesday</b><span style="font-size: large;">, where we explore words in the context of pop culture! Our word today is...</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b></b></span><blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>sin·is·ter</b> /ˈsinəstər/ adj. threatening or portending evil, harm, or trouble</span></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's a scary word unto itself, but its origins are an interesting look at how words can take on new meanings down the line. "Sinister" is simply the Latin word for the direction "left," but ancient Greeks took it a step further and associated anything on the left side of the body as unlucky or unclean. and this connotation spread throughout history. In the Bible, those judged as sinful are on the left side of Christ in the end times, while in India it's considered impolite to hand things to people using their left hand.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Eventually, anything related to left<b> </b>took on the current negative definition, from left-handed compliments to having two left feet. The word <b>sinister </b>followed suit.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In pop culture, <b>sinister </b>has been an easy shortcut to name evil characters. The Marvel Comics supervillain supergroup <b>Sinister Six</b> first appeared in 1964 and was composed of ne'er-do-wells within Spider-Man's rogues gallery.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnA-kGaW31Y8dkeqnkgCJaks7xc91xg-yYd2LqFZ0JbhrPVFe8uBk89299QwgRYKBigwfaJ_Zo6H4rDzA5bMN4kGsztioXguyaqB8ps1eLD8AF0H1MBiVbMimvqzlZ4psMTAiQ1uR0sDMGWOcnsbZ16pdVaLlSShGiKlF7GpNqUl4Q-dTz5Mk/s594/sinister-six-marvel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnA-kGaW31Y8dkeqnkgCJaks7xc91xg-yYd2LqFZ0JbhrPVFe8uBk89299QwgRYKBigwfaJ_Zo6H4rDzA5bMN4kGsztioXguyaqB8ps1eLD8AF0H1MBiVbMimvqzlZ4psMTAiQ1uR0sDMGWOcnsbZ16pdVaLlSShGiKlF7GpNqUl4Q-dTz5Mk/s16000/sinister-six-marvel.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Not to be outdone, the <b>Squadron Sinister</b> appeared in 1969, battling the Avengers as tongue-in-cheek pastiches of DC Comics' Justice League!</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEger1sLL6LS-8iuyTen7_2vPCfcRRKPTdCmBgVCGlh64jZjYYXOt4BOGmWihUFpuJINs_evavg3_OObk1V4RIE4lfc5BHo9rVguTqaTcBjzZQXA5nHUQglF6F-yUhdSde09Hr_wljHltisX0VBlJ3B7uAghAg2SMwBKI6y6dt0GukhMTSLa2_2P/s759/squadron-sinister-marvel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="759" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEger1sLL6LS-8iuyTen7_2vPCfcRRKPTdCmBgVCGlh64jZjYYXOt4BOGmWihUFpuJINs_evavg3_OObk1V4RIE4lfc5BHo9rVguTqaTcBjzZQXA5nHUQglF6F-yUhdSde09Hr_wljHltisX0VBlJ3B7uAghAg2SMwBKI6y6dt0GukhMTSLa2_2P/s16000/squadron-sinister-marvel.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Also in the pages of Marvel is Nathaniel Essex, who decided it would be a good idea to have an easy way to show where his virtues lie when he took on the name <b>Mr. Sinister</b>!</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMce3cV4TtIfyLTE5r5-Gu8vWVxsyE6AbWGv7-4nNJhmDBCjxQbV4d9uaAW6vylKP9_WUWFgK7avnj2cH_gAzckbH4lAl_5DhvgCN0958MdHJ04UKmRGAFRpTnKmOCmdpa9FYpiSqL1xC58eImpL-xFP7YPaQvdNu6C86OXszJSOZqIHYzOLr/s495/mr-sinister-marvel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMce3cV4TtIfyLTE5r5-Gu8vWVxsyE6AbWGv7-4nNJhmDBCjxQbV4d9uaAW6vylKP9_WUWFgK7avnj2cH_gAzckbH4lAl_5DhvgCN0958MdHJ04UKmRGAFRpTnKmOCmdpa9FYpiSqL1xC58eImpL-xFP7YPaQvdNu6C86OXszJSOZqIHYzOLr/s16000/mr-sinister-marvel.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On the Distinguished Competition's side, it's a wonder why the Guardians of Oa trusted a guy literally named <b>Sinestro </b>with a Green Lantern ring. Surely that's a red flag in and of itself?</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtaKEOKmJ1wdG-FBqJ0o8CQrkbFVBoDRoYyGJGGkkJLlNddAeeicUTrglPI95v9aS85-afg8FKkPyBNMP1OPSP5P0GEaTnI84gOCunZvJqR96On2AzoDB6jBQ4ubzkv0rF3TVsNYcH-lZeLkvSBhgrylCU1EA4Kl8jZNxNCEYvWW_NXO3_uEU/s538/sinestro-marvel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtaKEOKmJ1wdG-FBqJ0o8CQrkbFVBoDRoYyGJGGkkJLlNddAeeicUTrglPI95v9aS85-afg8FKkPyBNMP1OPSP5P0GEaTnI84gOCunZvJqR96On2AzoDB6jBQ4ubzkv0rF3TVsNYcH-lZeLkvSBhgrylCU1EA4Kl8jZNxNCEYvWW_NXO3_uEU/s16000/sinestro-marvel.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Speaking of Sinestro, his son Sinson will team up with the son of General Zod (say it five times fast) in the <a href="https://www.dc.com/blog/2023/11/16/sinister-sons-the-offspring-of-general-zod-and-sinestro-get-their-own-series-this-february" target="_blank">upcoming comic series </a><a href="https://www.dc.com/blog/2023/11/16/sinister-sons-the-offspring-of-general-zod-and-sinestro-get-their-own-series-this-february" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Sinister Sons</a>!</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7jn3UyfPJ0vxEFqBgqHyw3ZCOmX8w4ziqjx56R2bKVF_sehr-5vLWfhE-xVONyYtoGqMK_ibW02ewCprpHu10U5kPDNTRKR6imw5ATcV8RJxbb2-wsRgZbtoaWLMQXpai7ke9EQ9tFEf4E9prYlvMt-KGKQVqPrICSiK05j62aKav3M61AVc/s701/sinister-sons-dc.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7jn3UyfPJ0vxEFqBgqHyw3ZCOmX8w4ziqjx56R2bKVF_sehr-5vLWfhE-xVONyYtoGqMK_ibW02ewCprpHu10U5kPDNTRKR6imw5ATcV8RJxbb2-wsRgZbtoaWLMQXpai7ke9EQ9tFEf4E9prYlvMt-KGKQVqPrICSiK05j62aKav3M61AVc/s16000/sinister-sons-dc.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm surprised it took this long to have a horror movie called <b>Sinister</b>. Then again, being sinister is horror's bread and butter.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzusyVag3efbheOxb3NfFIgx5iGdegC3naniSb6jpvvWRgnvMjhyphenhyphenYErugD1zGoRNl3cR3Q8serrCozbefsHxuSOM92SR99vCwhF_KLV8XrEv5BUDoTmXDoe9tZuWBa8ovoWAR8suN3YPiy35K6Lab-8J1bBRy6j3i4_yui0tkzXeBi4E8krwjB/s723/sinister-movie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="721" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzusyVag3efbheOxb3NfFIgx5iGdegC3naniSb6jpvvWRgnvMjhyphenhyphenYErugD1zGoRNl3cR3Q8serrCozbefsHxuSOM92SR99vCwhF_KLV8XrEv5BUDoTmXDoe9tZuWBa8ovoWAR8suN3YPiy35K6Lab-8J1bBRy6j3i4_yui0tkzXeBi4E8krwjB/s16000/sinister-movie.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's fascinating how the word <b>sinister </b>took a sharp left turn into a word associated with malevolence! Now let's see you use this in everyday conversation! Have a word you would like me to check out? Leave them in the comments below!</span></div></div>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-89075065535444791592023-11-30T18:55:00.092+08:002023-12-02T23:07:32.593+08:00G.I. Joe Classified Series Agent Helix Figure Review<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1eLv4k_0w9OTMX7tdLkYaBJj42kAGDRw7CjN05HoX6gCKk1IspA3N3xpue3zap2_sEB_FGPp0C7adtAe86srSBLdYL1Gmmg-gqNOfPfPUGy5Di3IInw7T8KhLyd2cBcQH_YiFieK32WdcXYA483dvGiPZb2kyk07t0xkr4IN3NQfPZWRvyZJ/s1200/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-review-beholdthegeek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1eLv4k_0w9OTMX7tdLkYaBJj42kAGDRw7CjN05HoX6gCKk1IspA3N3xpue3zap2_sEB_FGPp0C7adtAe86srSBLdYL1Gmmg-gqNOfPfPUGy5Di3IInw7T8KhLyd2cBcQH_YiFieK32WdcXYA483dvGiPZb2kyk07t0xkr4IN3NQfPZWRvyZJ/s16000/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-review-beholdthegeek.jpg" /></a></p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I'm an 80's kid, so I grew up with all the greats — Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ghostbusters, and G.I. Joe, among others. I had toys from pretty much every 80's pop culture property that exists growing up, but one by one I fell out with all but some of them. And then the <b style="text-align: justify;">G.I. Joe</b><b style="text-align: justify;"> Classified</b><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><b style="text-align: justify;">Series </b><span style="text-align: justify;">line came along, and all of a sudden, I feel like a kid again.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: justify;">When they announced that an <b>Agent Helix</b> figure was coming, I knew I had to get her. She was one of my favorites during my time collecting 3.75-inch G.I. Joe figures. And now the super soldier secret agent is making the leap to the 6-inch scale, and I couldn't be happier. Join me as we take a look at one of my anticipated figures of the year!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Agent Helix</b> first appeared in the video game adaptation of <b>G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra</b> as an unlockable character. She eventually got her own 3.75-inch action figure in the movie's toyline, which I owned once upon a time. She was a badass-looking character unlike any Joe I've seen, so I was glad to get her.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidxaAqB0LViK4Y5LxNnEUqJVnJ1IqhtrIjUVZ4Sok0FrsEVBbXQa5-vwtyR_fMEa4NKFW4DKGHVPy2APd6SNzCRfLIwuWr7eYhAHCPhKPlIyQeajhYkVAegAA2ITFTfx04-R11ccMpQBpjewzF8vfrCovrNDSCKWRotBqZ8zgQcOySI8jD2Fu/s1080/yojoe%20agent%20helix%20images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidxaAqB0LViK4Y5LxNnEUqJVnJ1IqhtrIjUVZ4Sok0FrsEVBbXQa5-vwtyR_fMEa4NKFW4DKGHVPy2APd6SNzCRfLIwuWr7eYhAHCPhKPlIyQeajhYkVAegAA2ITFTfx04-R11ccMpQBpjewzF8vfrCovrNDSCKWRotBqZ8zgQcOySI8jD2Fu/s16000/yojoe%20agent%20helix%20images.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It pleases me to see that Hasbro basically took that game and figure's design and put it on a 6-inch scale body. From the distinct yellow uniform to those weird metal plates on her belt to her dirty blond hair and dark highlights, this is undeniably <b>Agent Helix</b> as I remember her!</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-gRWiSO8excSiPoXqz7-huKn3H-YA1kNslA_8qC_q93gDdEEuzuUumBSuoKuSLT0m3rwG97lkjf0M4mLNN-0uqJiq2tLxoJemLk2EnkNg9rFE7LmCUiRLHeB9ih4LXq7yJA_sWeQnq7ddXmfpYBntPW63rmoVVToe8kFQGFrGhzL6gDEZGGR/s1080/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-front-back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-gRWiSO8excSiPoXqz7-huKn3H-YA1kNslA_8qC_q93gDdEEuzuUumBSuoKuSLT0m3rwG97lkjf0M4mLNN-0uqJiq2tLxoJemLk2EnkNg9rFE7LmCUiRLHeB9ih4LXq7yJA_sWeQnq7ddXmfpYBntPW63rmoVVToe8kFQGFrGhzL6gDEZGGR/s16000/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-front-back.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The <b>G.I. Joe</b><b> Classified</b> <b>Series </b>line just keeps raising the bar. <b>Agent Helix </b>here is a great looking character. with plenty of sculpted textures and details that are true to her original design. But one wonders why a "secret" agent like herself would choose one of the loudest colors out there as her signature look!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">The headsculpt has that determined look that compliments her pretty face well, and I love how the hair is windswept like she's always in action!</div><div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC82WobJN-1VbO_ibXA66mK7OauXe1LVoCxUFZTt0UMlub8PqLP7IEIyBvoO7OJyi9asfFzBmKfHhyLdfoCUX5PbnQQ1_YmP4-NIMPEZaILZ2mqARSpjSXHIlCn84QVyDF8n7pPq2ljWd9ePumx__pLuehAqiLBBjJ4MdnuznvfZNcYUaygxQ6/s1080/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC82WobJN-1VbO_ibXA66mK7OauXe1LVoCxUFZTt0UMlub8PqLP7IEIyBvoO7OJyi9asfFzBmKfHhyLdfoCUX5PbnQQ1_YmP4-NIMPEZaILZ2mqARSpjSXHIlCn84QVyDF8n7pPq2ljWd9ePumx__pLuehAqiLBBjJ4MdnuznvfZNcYUaygxQ6/s16000/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-detail.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNIvafc0Yhge50NALb-Tz2OEOnSPiq_JavbY4gox-lvYbzDGKy9yozdNisLZ3yr9cir5nc8VAzNAMjGKGUI7sAl-NQ8CcHZkJU1HPL5Lx4ZiQs_Ch_Zwgj0uEPLUfhOuIK598_Fmn0SyvF9pkxiKw4HWrb25EYuKFAPKYVSnXkT-hLLH_A4qh/s1080/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNIvafc0Yhge50NALb-Tz2OEOnSPiq_JavbY4gox-lvYbzDGKy9yozdNisLZ3yr9cir5nc8VAzNAMjGKGUI7sAl-NQ8CcHZkJU1HPL5Lx4ZiQs_Ch_Zwgj0uEPLUfhOuIK598_Fmn0SyvF9pkxiKw4HWrb25EYuKFAPKYVSnXkT-hLLH_A4qh/s16000/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-face.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Agent Helix</b> is only my second female <b>G.I. Joe</b><b> Classified</b> <b>Series </b>figure, so I was cautiously optimistic with regards to articulation. Thankfully, the windowless box she came in didn't hold any nasty surprises, and I'm amazed by the level of movement she's capable of. Marvel Legends better be taking notes... </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTDwHW19hAQ5XsubOW2bWZkGHop8HxlxfGQfbqNt79dVrimnP4xCx5Sr1Qi4DwN4SK0revZ_Cg0FsSP3foF92JGR3WB-j7N4QSJvHX2ZwYYjgAjui3YiKZYjj_5dt4TCujwWnWC_EVpFHsR9_-Q95s4yfEt1uMXYzihGFywFsoekujXVo2J2o/s1080/gi-joe-classified-agent-pose1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTDwHW19hAQ5XsubOW2bWZkGHop8HxlxfGQfbqNt79dVrimnP4xCx5Sr1Qi4DwN4SK0revZ_Cg0FsSP3foF92JGR3WB-j7N4QSJvHX2ZwYYjgAjui3YiKZYjj_5dt4TCujwWnWC_EVpFHsR9_-Q95s4yfEt1uMXYzihGFywFsoekujXVo2J2o/s16000/gi-joe-classified-agent-pose1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnJ9di1ATCOX7PUt8qcCv59-rdT3udFUWpWx02jJgkD29NyZeQXitaWxSBR4Mt-Yd1zx7E3gopVayRuCf_AnNZxbxuU8VJNpXOajjY3DX3CNmWlluAFx_JsICuFSP90xljcAcVDf_5E-QJU24pGmw7PaGtf5EUUDWFhABlYKgDXqxKBIV1M6j/s1080/gi-joe-classified-agent-pose4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnJ9di1ATCOX7PUt8qcCv59-rdT3udFUWpWx02jJgkD29NyZeQXitaWxSBR4Mt-Yd1zx7E3gopVayRuCf_AnNZxbxuU8VJNpXOajjY3DX3CNmWlluAFx_JsICuFSP90xljcAcVDf_5E-QJU24pGmw7PaGtf5EUUDWFhABlYKgDXqxKBIV1M6j/s16000/gi-joe-classified-agent-pose4.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It won't be <b>G.I. Joe</b><b> Classified</b> <b>Series </b>without the character's loadout! The lovely <b>Agent Helix </b>comes with an assortment of items to shoot, stab, and slice people with. You know what they say about a girl who loves knives...</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, all these accessories have somewhere to go on her person, so you can display her with every weapon she comes with while leaving her hands free to choke a Cobra Viper out if need be.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Jj7cdegyOMfj9qm-1RXiVGqumCvLHC8K9EVgcOTjLjxMCZyMXUhltPeDSQttghpYbZ6WAZEVfhLukjFZS4ePd-sw5RIDJwoETWdfwfaeqIRG1pZ74WO5gBqNAzYOcm0usByvecu1ZXLr4cSQVJJ4ACZZvhLZKWrfBS55ZUtZOsAwHMa_JQbA/s1080/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-accessories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Jj7cdegyOMfj9qm-1RXiVGqumCvLHC8K9EVgcOTjLjxMCZyMXUhltPeDSQttghpYbZ6WAZEVfhLukjFZS4ePd-sw5RIDJwoETWdfwfaeqIRG1pZ74WO5gBqNAzYOcm0usByvecu1ZXLr4cSQVJJ4ACZZvhLZKWrfBS55ZUtZOsAwHMa_JQbA/s16000/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-accessories.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUecng1elsLwkfQl6mHTJuSXJyeMaYFz09hl6nrhvKRGsAcgoPuuLK0tbR6KxC_nKUhpxbTGrN81rZ-I2guTtUXhVAs9AtKSQ_T3NyZQEkbuQ-PUwHCoEAHXIYUHHo67NDWUf6gjU-YinDYXf3zKefDd6aZa9xGJtDnX8XRePKXqZWEfBIulai/s1080/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-full-loadout2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUecng1elsLwkfQl6mHTJuSXJyeMaYFz09hl6nrhvKRGsAcgoPuuLK0tbR6KxC_nKUhpxbTGrN81rZ-I2guTtUXhVAs9AtKSQ_T3NyZQEkbuQ-PUwHCoEAHXIYUHHo67NDWUf6gjU-YinDYXf3zKefDd6aZa9xGJtDnX8XRePKXqZWEfBIulai/s16000/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-full-loadout2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhsbSLzBLqc2ql3yLfIfjAW0aeSeP-NyxNfoqDVqnGWF90B5M5dRwslvMHTZ1RRqmvgPcFheMIgQTBkd17W-Qf6BUf6m7l-PfOPDFnTu0YGnZqroO0GU16-WyvqpN4k4Uts0w6WJhRwyjKdU-o7Yl_O2EyV4yvYPhVBAeDSPm4qYbwY07BZ1B/s1080/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-full-loadout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhsbSLzBLqc2ql3yLfIfjAW0aeSeP-NyxNfoqDVqnGWF90B5M5dRwslvMHTZ1RRqmvgPcFheMIgQTBkd17W-Qf6BUf6m7l-PfOPDFnTu0YGnZqroO0GU16-WyvqpN4k4Uts0w6WJhRwyjKdU-o7Yl_O2EyV4yvYPhVBAeDSPm4qYbwY07BZ1B/s16000/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-full-loadout.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">First up is her signature weapon: twin pistols with ridiculously long magazines. Her 3.75-inch version came with a version of these too, so I'm glad they included them here. They're cast in dull, gunmetal gray plastic and fits snugly in her hands. Both guns can be stowed away on her leg holsters, but she looks much better displayed guns akimbo.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcxR8s8KuTlbAa4c1DW8jg1ZDlHsqP19sbV2yyhRnvDsFwMUxOXOed4F8YYGa003pqAZVZTK4Gzg3f6Krw6GPo5KSft643pJwdtH9Bna8wcnAFX4nNfju8cIbK2auydXYRecyotw-c_PYo5JlrNUEmQYaoqf8RpTqVX2v95idudCwqIkuH_GB/s1080/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-guns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcxR8s8KuTlbAa4c1DW8jg1ZDlHsqP19sbV2yyhRnvDsFwMUxOXOed4F8YYGa003pqAZVZTK4Gzg3f6Krw6GPo5KSft643pJwdtH9Bna8wcnAFX4nNfju8cIbK2auydXYRecyotw-c_PYo5JlrNUEmQYaoqf8RpTqVX2v95idudCwqIkuH_GB/s16000/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-guns.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5iRRxDor1-cmkbCDdyzAHL9ihvRdP9a6DpHJ4T5PxNhTFMrwuk6wy_zAC6TgDTqd584iiDtPDy-qxJt67ClFLRr_JGm81aQFgcctizJgFsB1y6UGnj_Zpzt83NMt8ik9sRjll_Y-qlIoM07MpSzo7JRasIF_AyYkjiqq1Oh8Xx_RJMjnTBD-/s1080/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-guns2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5iRRxDor1-cmkbCDdyzAHL9ihvRdP9a6DpHJ4T5PxNhTFMrwuk6wy_zAC6TgDTqd584iiDtPDy-qxJt67ClFLRr_JGm81aQFgcctizJgFsB1y6UGnj_Zpzt83NMt8ik9sRjll_Y-qlIoM07MpSzo7JRasIF_AyYkjiqq1Oh8Xx_RJMjnTBD-/s16000/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-guns2.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Next up is a pair of gnarly black-bladed katanas with hilts painted in her signature screaming yellow. <b>Agent Helix</b> looks amazing double wielding katanas on Cobra mooks! A sword holster is included that you can peg on the hole on her back. Hasbro really thought of everything!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3Jx-lwlaSbDGVaQYcRHysjdfqcqtES-FYQpEC1MBCu1EPTkGz4r779kldwlMpU8w5WAlsPRv8n49ydjP8Ph61jMitAY60ENw7LOl3jlmmfbITZLDRKJoCOfphiRL-qY1Zry25xFgZPdKGuFbEzhbAW1rJ7Jwz891A5WFF3_XLAOW54WxXExK/s1080/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-katanas2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3Jx-lwlaSbDGVaQYcRHysjdfqcqtES-FYQpEC1MBCu1EPTkGz4r779kldwlMpU8w5WAlsPRv8n49ydjP8Ph61jMitAY60ENw7LOl3jlmmfbITZLDRKJoCOfphiRL-qY1Zry25xFgZPdKGuFbEzhbAW1rJ7Jwz891A5WFF3_XLAOW54WxXExK/s16000/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-katanas2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EPXnwjIIne6v8zTbIZCbysCofVNYxVQbef8nxnJHlgQhBVS8uE00EQUuort8zeHJLauXu1ccoeIoC-tgSXZ-CasOQdngRqu8G8kvnlzLIXoRUfAPzHV6pV3Nz-zwXN506qE4cRMHfR5GpYDvyhSCtqbaidoxUSJr2Lj8hy_SJrXy0wUtx8nr/s1080/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-katanas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EPXnwjIIne6v8zTbIZCbysCofVNYxVQbef8nxnJHlgQhBVS8uE00EQUuort8zeHJLauXu1ccoeIoC-tgSXZ-CasOQdngRqu8G8kvnlzLIXoRUfAPzHV6pV3Nz-zwXN506qE4cRMHfR5GpYDvyhSCtqbaidoxUSJr2Lj8hy_SJrXy0wUtx8nr/s16000/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-katanas.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Agent Helix</b> also comes with these weird forearm blades that can fold in and out depending on her choice of cut. Both blades clip on her forearms and have hinges that let you put them in whatever configuration you want, but they're so unwieldy regardless. One wrong shrug and she can give herself an instant lobotomy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLjglyF2EKP-h4tOLp1oQWkwW0wiiYH__Ys_83f9-GdQ2fzokqNcj6qWATlZNAyancMZgUNQLQHYa8pQZPqkJMVXAbiSH5yYSqZZD1pSO5EPhWc0H49TtrUWVThpzmqXoDKwt297w5XZFQ7_dHvSgBa9Z_sPB_Wttsu-qZEerA3QdeHJQjRi-/s1080/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-blades2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLjglyF2EKP-h4tOLp1oQWkwW0wiiYH__Ys_83f9-GdQ2fzokqNcj6qWATlZNAyancMZgUNQLQHYa8pQZPqkJMVXAbiSH5yYSqZZD1pSO5EPhWc0H49TtrUWVThpzmqXoDKwt297w5XZFQ7_dHvSgBa9Z_sPB_Wttsu-qZEerA3QdeHJQjRi-/s16000/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-blades2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIYOlxw9w1SWoeTBQ3ehKowMyHlcvIBsCyanscGUAmOccHwylnmf3pmDitltLfeCZlzp3b-9hrV30h_ZahcmcNJC-yoI0GLGFVrb15WZYheprYcyDR3E97zKlbcV5Wd7S56CoLrqpttjb2hZprFYH9cFuWqO8_AyGCPbRTrIziV04dvbo9URR/s1080/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-blades.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIYOlxw9w1SWoeTBQ3ehKowMyHlcvIBsCyanscGUAmOccHwylnmf3pmDitltLfeCZlzp3b-9hrV30h_ZahcmcNJC-yoI0GLGFVrb15WZYheprYcyDR3E97zKlbcV5Wd7S56CoLrqpttjb2hZprFYH9cFuWqO8_AyGCPbRTrIziV04dvbo9URR/s16000/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-blades.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To round out <b>Agent Helix</b>'s sharp and pointy things theme, she also comes with kukri knife. It's got a modern look to it, and she can either hold it or slip it into the holster at the back of her belt. How she can move around so stealthily with all these sharp things in close proximity with her skin, I have no idea. But maybe that's why General Hawk pays her the big bucks.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgMs9VGmLoq3Hx3osQ-ImBTLeKnPrfpU8CYZk2S5r5IlMgmL_kWFIz0tgoO9tXLAk7_pbuveuRO2gKlg7f0jbbRCarM2N4pK2W9t2cl0C2XQHjJ5CJOrQVML_mNgF2o0mDE4n9C4lRJw3EwOpZRgMroUQznKRhtqzC9jGUK-cH-qV06eP-7JC/s1080/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-knife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgMs9VGmLoq3Hx3osQ-ImBTLeKnPrfpU8CYZk2S5r5IlMgmL_kWFIz0tgoO9tXLAk7_pbuveuRO2gKlg7f0jbbRCarM2N4pK2W9t2cl0C2XQHjJ5CJOrQVML_mNgF2o0mDE4n9C4lRJw3EwOpZRgMroUQznKRhtqzC9jGUK-cH-qV06eP-7JC/s16000/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-knife.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">What I like about the current <b>G.I. Joe</b><b> Classified</b> <b>Series </b>line is how easy it is to mix and match them with my other 6-inch toy lines. <b>Agent Helix</b> is just at home with the Joes fighting Cobra enemies as she is fighting supervillains alongside Captain America. I don't know why I put off getting into <b>G.I. Joe</b><b> Classified</b> <b>Series </b>for so long (jk. I know why. I'm not made of money), but I'm glad I did get into it at a time when they're doing their best work in years.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Clr9lw-hGByuJIBq8WZIFHBcfJCQGdfQPuzDGg9xqmNm3HUHHgJzHW7IC0D9ek1TAmS1NOyRfkn4j8kjZrOkj4N53bEEShDnO1ZSfdhtHOZj3Iqk7Rlxt-_jX9Ng1YIZMrrWKRSzugvg7ife6e3TMf-iLftK6lwIQD9wEU271wBf0TxolzfN/s1080/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-size-comparison1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Clr9lw-hGByuJIBq8WZIFHBcfJCQGdfQPuzDGg9xqmNm3HUHHgJzHW7IC0D9ek1TAmS1NOyRfkn4j8kjZrOkj4N53bEEShDnO1ZSfdhtHOZj3Iqk7Rlxt-_jX9Ng1YIZMrrWKRSzugvg7ife6e3TMf-iLftK6lwIQD9wEU271wBf0TxolzfN/s16000/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-size-comparison1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8f59meKJ6jyusmSOwAs8ONhdmExW4XkbgvDt7UToe0UjpLJp94xowkiQ2Zv06eADCKaKuke1XX34ndCvJwHU2cmSdYtgB2wtI5nQekPhR2QZLM5xh3WlRPj0S4TEWtkvb58mBXlqp5lCVqjuTCCzpdWM7_eG4hLceYKIDO4tLROI3knrdQqNq/s1080/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-size-comparison2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8f59meKJ6jyusmSOwAs8ONhdmExW4XkbgvDt7UToe0UjpLJp94xowkiQ2Zv06eADCKaKuke1XX34ndCvJwHU2cmSdYtgB2wtI5nQekPhR2QZLM5xh3WlRPj0S4TEWtkvb58mBXlqp5lCVqjuTCCzpdWM7_eG4hLceYKIDO4tLROI3knrdQqNq/s16000/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-size-comparison2.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>G.I. Joe</b><b> Classified</b> <b>Series </b><b style="font-weight: bold;">Agent Helix</b> is a deep cut entry into the line (she's technically a movie character!) but one I'm glad to have. This is a solid figure with a lot of fun options for play and display and, with all the stuff she comes with, a steal at $30USD. She reinvigorated my love for G.I. Joe in ways not even the original 3.75-inch figures did. I can't wait to see what the Classified team has in store for us soon!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOQN_dZjdp8EAQQrFHidLAphGn2A3b-hka0LAR-1StYEtXGnAtgGUQL6D27UTisiUllZttPRlGsnTsHZGBt5J1P7q9P_3-AIKB7bs6x96azS_Y4ECbfSRzJi9I9oiAJJvNcDy2yp4RcSAEO5aFuDi1HGTsiDo8c__mtRzIKgxqQGPKmQdQgoG/s1080/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOQN_dZjdp8EAQQrFHidLAphGn2A3b-hka0LAR-1StYEtXGnAtgGUQL6D27UTisiUllZttPRlGsnTsHZGBt5J1P7q9P_3-AIKB7bs6x96azS_Y4ECbfSRzJi9I9oiAJJvNcDy2yp4RcSAEO5aFuDi1HGTsiDo8c__mtRzIKgxqQGPKmQdQgoG/s16000/gi-joe-classified-agent-helix-final.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>I hope you found this review helpful. Thanks for reading and stay safe out there!</div></div></div><div><br /></div>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-33579486413152623182023-11-11T15:47:00.050+08:002023-11-13T10:56:11.722+08:00The Marvels Movie Review: Just a little bit higher, further, faster<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirPl4li3r5myXFes4O0KyhiaCWDnuWC0-4KSqWOn0cP0YRMTQaXz379A_cdNlqWBlbwVdMIIWcfCYmxomjvs92BLmYScNyc2m2ezEluWYEfvw7X5k5oPVL0rG60BNioZKkuTdYkuWov26gd0jQpfI2wOveTKgbKw62cuuF_MNPEPKQrQpgvfz/s1200/the-marvels-movie-review-beholdthegeek.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirPl4li3r5myXFes4O0KyhiaCWDnuWC0-4KSqWOn0cP0YRMTQaXz379A_cdNlqWBlbwVdMIIWcfCYmxomjvs92BLmYScNyc2m2ezEluWYEfvw7X5k5oPVL0rG60BNioZKkuTdYkuWov26gd0jQpfI2wOveTKgbKw62cuuF_MNPEPKQrQpgvfz/s16000/the-marvels-movie-review-beholdthegeek.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">The Marvels</b> may not impress the jaded MCU fan, but there's enough wow factor in here that makes it a fun distraction at the movies.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Captain Marvel (<b>Brie Larson</b>) returns to our screens in less than agreeable circumstances. She has to deal with the awkwardness of coming back in the life of her niece Monica Rambeau (<b>Teyonah Parris</b>), now a full-fledged superhero working for Nick Fury. She has to also deal with her powers being forcibly entangled with Monica's as well as one Kamala Khan (<b>Iman Vellani</b>), aka Ms. Marvel. Not only that, but she also bears the guilt of her actions dooming an entire civilization, and a reckoning arrives in the form of the Kree warrior Dar-Benn (<b>Zawe Ashton</b>), who has made it her life's work to burn everything Carol loves to the ground in order to restore her home planet Hala to its former glory.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">A lot has been said about <b>Brie Larson</b>'s performance in the first <i>Captain Marvel</i> movie, so to see her stretch her legs in <b>The Marvels</b> is a pleasant surprise. Larson's cardboard cutout personality as Carol Danvers in the first film is nowhere to be seen, replaced with a more vibrant performance that makes her more likable this time around.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Adding to Carol's burgeoning mythos is her biggest fan, Kamala Khan, played to perfection by <b>Iman Vellani</b>. Vellani shines in <b>The Marvels</b>, her enthusiasm charming and infectious, and she lends a breath of fresh, exciting air to even the dullest moments. If this is the future of the MCU, I can't wait to see what's next! <span style="text-align: left;">Rounding off the Marvelous trio is <b>Teyonah Parris</b> as Monica Rambeau, who effortlessly carries the weight of both emotional scenes and superheroic action. The chemistry of the three leads makes for compelling cinema, and just watching these three superheroes banter, bicker, and beat the shit out of bad guys is worth the price of admission alone.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">But while Captain Marvel<b> </b>managed to shrug off her drab reputation, her latest nemesis gleefully picked it up and wore it like a badge of honor. Dar-Benn joins Malekith as one of the MCU's most boring villains, which is a waste of <b>Zawe Ashton</b>'s talents. She grits and gnashes her way through the movie with unearned importance, and the challenge she provides our heroes just amounts to hitting her harder than they did the last time. There's a hint of a deeper character underneath all the gritted teeth, but there's simply not enough time in the movie to flesh it out.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And therein lies the rub. Clocking in at 1 hour and 45 minutes, <b>The Marvels</b> is the shortest MCU movie ever, and so our heroes go through the plot at a pace too fast for you to chew on all the interesting ideas they serve. And while the leads are incredibly entertaining and the action better than expected, <b>The Marvels</b> comes off as both half-baked <i>and </i>too busy.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Still, I had fun. And these days fun is in short supply. <b>The Marvels</b> may not be that amazing of a ride, but at least it's a mercifully short one.</p>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-393305541474723182023-08-14T09:00:00.008+08:002023-08-14T13:52:37.158+08:00Marvel Legends Black Widow 60th Anniversary Avengers Figure Review<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItDsiq8S5_PcimxWQnTT-maRPAIg7CICdO3F1s32BdT0TGS8-mh0-NkEshXnI_q-mOmH-17yLf54-F4VDw0Xsl7F_w7YcLwnozhZUKtb8j45FhtU1Qldky24QTHWlZ2K25iMlpNfGBaBMWOfWbRTEv19IeGHPPIBSS_8eCR5Fc6Icxil8XBTy/s1200/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-review.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItDsiq8S5_PcimxWQnTT-maRPAIg7CICdO3F1s32BdT0TGS8-mh0-NkEshXnI_q-mOmH-17yLf54-F4VDw0Xsl7F_w7YcLwnozhZUKtb8j45FhtU1Qldky24QTHWlZ2K25iMlpNfGBaBMWOfWbRTEv19IeGHPPIBSS_8eCR5Fc6Icxil8XBTy/s16000/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-review.jpg" /></a></p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Hasbro has released a lot of Marvel Legends representations of iconic Marvel Comics characters, but collectors are always on the lookout for the perfect one. The version with the best articulation, or the most accurate costume, or their favorite look from the comics they grew up with.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There have been perfect versions of Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, and many more in Marvel Legends form, and now it's Black Widow's turn. Seeing how collectors (me included) have been frothing at the mouth for updates of outdated molds and characters, Hasbro finally released a new <b>Marvel Legends Black Widow</b> in celebration of the Avengers' 60th anniversary. I actually missed out on preorders for this, so when I saw this sitting on the toy aisle I didn't think twice. Let's check out why this Black Widow might be the best female action figure in the Marvel Legends line to date!</div><div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39sNi_D84mnDnh9EmTBxJbS8GmF7nM_P4fOXJ-WMz_WaDcsZ21TmxF7IzKgyOQ7LcLtMMU41IkHBTsnBoG0CKAmmFN34329I7R2IuKA8HG086CCbwCOC7ckBldQ8CC-Gu8JvVL4D14JjiiJlZ6v9fRB6uYx-P5LTSHwA7G1G0ve7BQAZ7cbza/s1280/marvel-legends-black-widow-avengers-60th-anniversary-front-back.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39sNi_D84mnDnh9EmTBxJbS8GmF7nM_P4fOXJ-WMz_WaDcsZ21TmxF7IzKgyOQ7LcLtMMU41IkHBTsnBoG0CKAmmFN34329I7R2IuKA8HG086CCbwCOC7ckBldQ8CC-Gu8JvVL4D14JjiiJlZ6v9fRB6uYx-P5LTSHwA7G1G0ve7BQAZ7cbza/s16000/marvel-legends-black-widow-avengers-60th-anniversary-front-back.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85XPZRVOLKhd18BydWUOYlgxBLxh09v-DH-RyTXL5c187NY2IxvQp38d84BaadBDUp-V4OjOAPWz95ob5qB7hL9Ha4f0OpRDMDovLxd5AHmvfDQpyd5tuB417Npmwsazva0wHosGuycFoB_TTv-IQ7DxwsqXlv36Dv2mIaKdhWNKQORN71w_g/s1080/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-comparison.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85XPZRVOLKhd18BydWUOYlgxBLxh09v-DH-RyTXL5c187NY2IxvQp38d84BaadBDUp-V4OjOAPWz95ob5qB7hL9Ha4f0OpRDMDovLxd5AHmvfDQpyd5tuB417Npmwsazva0wHosGuycFoB_TTv-IQ7DxwsqXlv36Dv2mIaKdhWNKQORN71w_g/s16000/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-comparison.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm sure I'm not the only one who bought a couple of the Black Widow figures Hasbro recently released to try and kitbash the perfect version. Who knew that all we had to do was wait for them to release one! This new <b>Marvel Legends Black Widow</b> figure is gorgeous, with all the definitive accoutrements of the character. From her iconic zipped down bodysuit (with actual sculpted zipper!) to her golden belt and wrist gauntlets, Black Widow here looks like she jumped out of the comic book page!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqz5PHPWvqi-eGQ7j1CruqMbxxk3OdaYfrzFSllClssT_1CuVMDmHLjVMX6DP-oVLQc_zuKmlXPrRIO_F668nNLf9pvXpn2czRUIY-y0q-_bDB47omdztIYpsXsih_KgYccjqjam2aV3g_CkRQDkvS-9dszYsuVyRgQOfFXLnmcOt2fw2uZkJ/s1080/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-details2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqz5PHPWvqi-eGQ7j1CruqMbxxk3OdaYfrzFSllClssT_1CuVMDmHLjVMX6DP-oVLQc_zuKmlXPrRIO_F668nNLf9pvXpn2czRUIY-y0q-_bDB47omdztIYpsXsih_KgYccjqjam2aV3g_CkRQDkvS-9dszYsuVyRgQOfFXLnmcOt2fw2uZkJ/s16000/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-details2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4gAsBxJrhu56B1fna-VPcYhufnwooLKXFH0jBldWfTOZZf0WrHKIodKoyw0DEKd2YsIDg7WuZpcKNkoaSdIxJAAWHS1lnM6_mNQgkIMXk2pq1EtRWiUP2licxyT7egAIX6QNvRznvipfQ7YrdGfr5rNaXfPhE0H9tLafCumvItnryVfS9424/s1080/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-widow-details1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4gAsBxJrhu56B1fna-VPcYhufnwooLKXFH0jBldWfTOZZf0WrHKIodKoyw0DEKd2YsIDg7WuZpcKNkoaSdIxJAAWHS1lnM6_mNQgkIMXk2pq1EtRWiUP2licxyT7egAIX6QNvRznvipfQ7YrdGfr5rNaXfPhE0H9tLafCumvItnryVfS9424/s16000/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-widow-details1.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The default head sculpt is absolutely stunning. Gone are the days of <a href="https://thefwoosh.com/2015/02/toy-biz-marvel-legends-x-men-legends-box-set-rogue/" target="_blank">nightmare fuel female faces</a>! The new <b>Black Widow</b>'s red hair is cropped short with flyaway bangs, and the face printing tech used on my copy is well applied (thank goodness, especially now that Hasbro has switched to windowless boxes). My only issue is the chunk of stray hair in front of her face looks weird and out of place, but part it to the side and a beautiful face sculpt is hiding underneath. Looks like I'm gonna have to glue that down.</div><div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9EusHqyf4oRwDEv5HVZ0hh8RXh1UAseeXR50mhqAExdkFpZfTLD8HAwwEPnLrJ60vXPnDNr2RgE6XHEF3OIjOPczcsMaMhjOw4WA5I0ZMYJCbNuW8OJ85EzRqQWGPJI10ocdP7omLMhHpYf4VIfiiHm3OEnOkFpePmjvP6bfhkjnq38zwozc/s1080/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-neutral-face.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9EusHqyf4oRwDEv5HVZ0hh8RXh1UAseeXR50mhqAExdkFpZfTLD8HAwwEPnLrJ60vXPnDNr2RgE6XHEF3OIjOPczcsMaMhjOw4WA5I0ZMYJCbNuW8OJ85EzRqQWGPJI10ocdP7omLMhHpYf4VIfiiHm3OEnOkFpePmjvP6bfhkjnq38zwozc/s16000/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-neutral-face.jpg" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qjpjwxFIgFNnzRZdqKamlFl90kr-EJqwxO-gR6TscfHISdvXeozT9aH9ynSBAr7bSsUJGb-zKSS37u3NVwBwHcqQIm60683Y299StnZr38bWU0hF_lWLjOrVrTMLTtVshxVQv_0qEzqHhBYA6DD__0BmeogIo0dGQQ69RMCtqzCEzJyCDSjE/s1080/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-neutral-face1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qjpjwxFIgFNnzRZdqKamlFl90kr-EJqwxO-gR6TscfHISdvXeozT9aH9ynSBAr7bSsUJGb-zKSS37u3NVwBwHcqQIm60683Y299StnZr38bWU0hF_lWLjOrVrTMLTtVshxVQv_0qEzqHhBYA6DD__0BmeogIo0dGQQ69RMCtqzCEzJyCDSjE/s16000/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-neutral-face1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The female body mold used on Black Widow is something I've never seen before. The figure now sports butterfly joints on the shoulders, an upper torso swivel, and a new ab crunch that some of the new male Marvel Legends figures have. This gives the new <b>Marvel Legends Black Widow</b> an unprecedented range of motion for a female figure.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwY_tJ66oBojuaCBuqwlGQ_r_qIRdBi2tF0YkROym-_ucPOJgA9xX34UP3fAK3TshZ8OIJTl_yWMPM6MrFn7suYJV2DrU3mu3Fb9HS-8Sa7Qd0Aq22XwBRrDwAXYpTYqu54eoIyc_MGQdys-16i4orMA-nruAjE-qTjKDQl2DU_8miwrKhQ3cI/s1080/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-black-widow-pose2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwY_tJ66oBojuaCBuqwlGQ_r_qIRdBi2tF0YkROym-_ucPOJgA9xX34UP3fAK3TshZ8OIJTl_yWMPM6MrFn7suYJV2DrU3mu3Fb9HS-8Sa7Qd0Aq22XwBRrDwAXYpTYqu54eoIyc_MGQdys-16i4orMA-nruAjE-qTjKDQl2DU_8miwrKhQ3cI/s16000/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-black-widow-pose2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9u1aL-IKHr1pxNxwB4JqxjZKbleFNsfUZVArZlAr7oKbKl_Dp27fyJNvl1hbacQorPUS0RW5DSe7Ec5w9h-SHaT2_miABS-AUztgv06gYkchrXB-jy-W2E6YKLyVNi75Lo8FoP4VWHujt369YqJXOK_UGRSzLMr1ZIbC9yYvlMhnJsWekPIP/s1080/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-pose1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9u1aL-IKHr1pxNxwB4JqxjZKbleFNsfUZVArZlAr7oKbKl_Dp27fyJNvl1hbacQorPUS0RW5DSe7Ec5w9h-SHaT2_miABS-AUztgv06gYkchrXB-jy-W2E6YKLyVNi75Lo8FoP4VWHujt369YqJXOK_UGRSzLMr1ZIbC9yYvlMhnJsWekPIP/s16000/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-pose1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QnV9GPMueEDY8pN-ciOloYG2Vd2VvBp6INUNUsFdJVnOyMYUGzdYGg4UnLfA9svvUTvLqtcdtb7GLXRya9R2eDcwY1wUkWmCD-APjBBgDo2tRCWxpPBkhywSNu09-z9j9EFTR91BZj7t8MkjqxVU49jTc60QUSwkMd-X9Sh3He_gcULZjeu7/s1080/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-pose2.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QnV9GPMueEDY8pN-ciOloYG2Vd2VvBp6INUNUsFdJVnOyMYUGzdYGg4UnLfA9svvUTvLqtcdtb7GLXRya9R2eDcwY1wUkWmCD-APjBBgDo2tRCWxpPBkhywSNu09-z9j9EFTR91BZj7t8MkjqxVU49jTc60QUSwkMd-X9Sh3He_gcULZjeu7/s16000/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-pose2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Now we're coming to the reason why you're buying this figure in the first place: the absolute <i>ton </i>of accessories she comes with. Two alternate heads, a bunch of alternate hands, a plethora of effect pieces and guns...the new <b>Marvel Legends Black Widow </b>came <i>packing</i>!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaYBcngHDSFN5UL8Jdfl26SLZXVjXA8vmcqBRk57l4H3TBvPiiS90Womr8xN-ArIw-QbNVhun_u-Us3MrcPHve4zFAQpIq0wWqO8CW9zeiLRPfNI5lVBsJ-y37eJEFtLbhdeiO4ItJcfPsaOVWMTFwqFZqARfIfi-n525R8ZkPo1bKsRLob1W/s1080/marvel-legends-deluxe-black-widow-accessories.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaYBcngHDSFN5UL8Jdfl26SLZXVjXA8vmcqBRk57l4H3TBvPiiS90Womr8xN-ArIw-QbNVhun_u-Us3MrcPHve4zFAQpIq0wWqO8CW9zeiLRPfNI5lVBsJ-y37eJEFtLbhdeiO4ItJcfPsaOVWMTFwqFZqARfIfi-n525R8ZkPo1bKsRLob1W/s16000/marvel-legends-deluxe-black-widow-accessories.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Black Widow's iconic "Widow Gauntlets" come in two flavors with the figure. One has red blasting effects to simulate her zapping bad guys, and the other has translucent "smoking" effects to make it look like she just unloaded on a poor henchman or two.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While the smoke effects are cast in hard plastic, the blast effects are gummy and cartoony that it looks silly. The previous <a href="https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/product/variationdetails/113756" target="_blank">Deluxe Movie Black Widow did it right the first time</a> with actual sculpted blast effects, so I wish they gave this figure's effects the same love and attention.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtz0ynoVYwkxJ8RoyJqnpuWV95lhttMVGK97YqpwnXvR-YDPDojxv6XtGT_YAPOYz6ES3lDNlNw0tKRgi-dxdq8HqJfQIk2lgtZ_VPRkJ9J5Dp7F6V4uTM8qisxRjGy0jFay5zVqx7H4GP17Oh2Oocau7cpysO92Vb3RcDQ-B30raUyiAUeuN/s1080/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-stinger.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtz0ynoVYwkxJ8RoyJqnpuWV95lhttMVGK97YqpwnXvR-YDPDojxv6XtGT_YAPOYz6ES3lDNlNw0tKRgi-dxdq8HqJfQIk2lgtZ_VPRkJ9J5Dp7F6V4uTM8qisxRjGy0jFay5zVqx7H4GP17Oh2Oocau7cpysO92Vb3RcDQ-B30raUyiAUeuN/s16000/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-stinger.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EONNSKrNU2b50wRBZEpDwgKuUMot8AaZEr4uLgDZ7aiPiL9kEE_Ca_PFp-F7LSgyJ1CqppWl4ak4g2hn1kK7ohsSjuT6O_kvr7u5tNvbv9KTwjQBYeelK28YIfkwcKfXj0Fo6qJQ8rgpQaw7jM431RAKznY-hkMfvBXJH9TtRtdS7nPwNa0K/s1080/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-stinger-smoke1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EONNSKrNU2b50wRBZEpDwgKuUMot8AaZEr4uLgDZ7aiPiL9kEE_Ca_PFp-F7LSgyJ1CqppWl4ak4g2hn1kK7ohsSjuT6O_kvr7u5tNvbv9KTwjQBYeelK28YIfkwcKfXj0Fo6qJQ8rgpQaw7jM431RAKznY-hkMfvBXJH9TtRtdS7nPwNa0K/s16000/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-stinger-smoke1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">There are also two guns included, which are the same Nerf gun-y pistols included in a previous Black Widow figure. I miss the days when Hasbro was able to give their action figures M16s.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The guns are cast in gunmetal gray plastic and fits into the alternate "shooting" hands the figure is included with. The fun part is they included effect pieces for the guns! One is a red plastic blast effect, and the other is a translucent plastic "smoking" effect. Both can be pegged into either of the guns' muzzle and opens up a lot of display options for the new <b>Marvel Legends Black Widow</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_F7IbcsE92jCb7uDb2IUuBRtKiT1TZ5w3XDGSzekTEuGTGVDM7sHV5m6HS8C45zX-cdRQQWMeJkZIvYP23PJOadWX9_nON0Wlbl2iye5PWX4eEltOArkjS8QyppM99wUDHAJdpBvv0CB5v5rioGaHnmuo5_ePjHO2vxY1-F-eKrIjhpG-qr9/s1080/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-guns-fire.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_F7IbcsE92jCb7uDb2IUuBRtKiT1TZ5w3XDGSzekTEuGTGVDM7sHV5m6HS8C45zX-cdRQQWMeJkZIvYP23PJOadWX9_nON0Wlbl2iye5PWX4eEltOArkjS8QyppM99wUDHAJdpBvv0CB5v5rioGaHnmuo5_ePjHO2vxY1-F-eKrIjhpG-qr9/s16000/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-guns-fire.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Gf96jU3XbtszcC5V_H0997xSGXw_uk0RpTSF7rWWqDWGkT4vkvgn-w7q-C-OuR1DFU5BlYx-AcBp3ovuTibWI2G5isNE4Ahmg3y_4h1VQIX6t4en035M67-Cp2JqKQ--A-BNZY3E0srEQEu3-LkDMrtE4r3fU_gYJe-s8Mz9uARDxmZtQnYX/s1080/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-guns-smoke.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Gf96jU3XbtszcC5V_H0997xSGXw_uk0RpTSF7rWWqDWGkT4vkvgn-w7q-C-OuR1DFU5BlYx-AcBp3ovuTibWI2G5isNE4Ahmg3y_4h1VQIX6t4en035M67-Cp2JqKQ--A-BNZY3E0srEQEu3-LkDMrtE4r3fU_gYJe-s8Mz9uARDxmZtQnYX/s16000/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-guns-smoke.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Hasbro be spoiling us with not one, but two alternate head sculpts! One is Natasha Romanov with long, red hair and a beautiful face with a determined expression. I don't know where this look is from, but it's generic enough that you can use it for other redhead characters like Jean Grey or Mary Jane Watson. Talk about throwing customizers a bone...Hasbro just threw them a whole steak!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrllLVLMjthMoLW9pVSOe6DBmamVkSBipdsAHeVVBquvz1Joy_hOgvflADjZ-G361RKPUVETRe5F03rubGCBf0FEtp8lOX4FjAhBuOsDf94lkahSXguXfjWwJVMZJ5ivohFH3jandy2AIlg-lq-3SVMrKNj_E5c-3HEZMXJIA7j_DBQojA90MD/s1080/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-angry-face1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrllLVLMjthMoLW9pVSOe6DBmamVkSBipdsAHeVVBquvz1Joy_hOgvflADjZ-G361RKPUVETRe5F03rubGCBf0FEtp8lOX4FjAhBuOsDf94lkahSXguXfjWwJVMZJ5ivohFH3jandy2AIlg-lq-3SVMrKNj_E5c-3HEZMXJIA7j_DBQojA90MD/s16000/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-angry-face1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqBGruf4KTTvBA1Ho_O2S-2w-8deaogvWgi_a5bnY0hr2vCj8xDZ0h9FOTIplbEZcCCnVob0ZZi4cI-LKZe5ereyuiMEhBF7R_92naAXVC7yRWV-aMXZ00-3rIWxSi7-ld_EyyFvfWq7W2hQjoEu0kYNco3hr7VDtDg2k3CMnAUdndJHVj0P6/s1080/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-angry-face2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqBGruf4KTTvBA1Ho_O2S-2w-8deaogvWgi_a5bnY0hr2vCj8xDZ0h9FOTIplbEZcCCnVob0ZZi4cI-LKZe5ereyuiMEhBF7R_92naAXVC7yRWV-aMXZ00-3rIWxSi7-ld_EyyFvfWq7W2hQjoEu0kYNco3hr7VDtDg2k3CMnAUdndJHVj0P6/s16000/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-angry-face2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The other alternate head sculpt has Natasha's hair styled similarly to her 70's look when she first started using the black bodysuit. It's also how J.G. Jones drew her in the <i>Marvel Knights</i> era, so talk about flexibility! The face sculpt portrays Natasha smirking as if amused at something. Another very beautiful head sculpt!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoF3Qz5oaoJoOzFK3ys2AZOPF5x0y8gthx8EZ82qC7aQa_BEN35KzIdrKQY8MRYY31k-NNeUJqAGDdphHzkAocQrY9EeQmnvgslCYL9xonPmJHGO7Oeq1ZV6ChsBBLs5krG69puAcgFS7zEse4ZHoiiI3ry38dNGOKoRW6DhHq7ojqNGoG1GEc/s1080/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-smiling-face1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoF3Qz5oaoJoOzFK3ys2AZOPF5x0y8gthx8EZ82qC7aQa_BEN35KzIdrKQY8MRYY31k-NNeUJqAGDdphHzkAocQrY9EeQmnvgslCYL9xonPmJHGO7Oeq1ZV6ChsBBLs5krG69puAcgFS7zEse4ZHoiiI3ry38dNGOKoRW6DhHq7ojqNGoG1GEc/s16000/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-smiling-face1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Good things indeed come to those who wait. The new <b>Marvel Legends Black Widow </b>from the Avengers 60th Anniversary wave is what Hasbro should strive to give their figures moving forward: better articulation, a shit ton of accessories, and head sculpts you won't be ashamed to display. This is pretty much the perfect Black Widow action figure, and I hope other Marvel characters that need updated figures get the same care and attention as this one!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTiAavEC_PVED9YxBNjh7USwsGw2qV5UQHvpZ7-cDFY0RkNl27_C77iASaMtPUvDSLlb_l4mW_rjy3lskQNW-ajm_FCCIub1yaLvVAT2al2UrMT9KIe0eYMerFcxd8h1yqvd49pKYuKdtwV814H4247nEQV1onrUtTJESwltR7n0IVdRmT9Y-/s1080/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-final.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTiAavEC_PVED9YxBNjh7USwsGw2qV5UQHvpZ7-cDFY0RkNl27_C77iASaMtPUvDSLlb_l4mW_rjy3lskQNW-ajm_FCCIub1yaLvVAT2al2UrMT9KIe0eYMerFcxd8h1yqvd49pKYuKdtwV814H4247nEQV1onrUtTJESwltR7n0IVdRmT9Y-/s16000/Marvel-Legends-Black-Widow-Avengers-60th-Anniversary-final.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div>I hope you found this review helpful! What's the Marvel Legends you most want an update for? Let me know in the comments or on my Facebook page. Thanks for reading and stay safe out there!</div>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-17989026899805884582023-08-12T11:07:00.065+08:002023-08-13T21:00:22.870+08:00Netflix's Heart of Stone Movie Review — An inoffensive start to a new action franchise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoVs74QQe8ep2mHKov-ogvmIK6VlxxiPCAo9tCdY-BvOjC5KIRWOq8Ygp6yPTu1F6fOg98DcZjqcA8sIjY9GNCYIrErcbwJrdiP4L1yVdOotRjnxV03gfi2ys1M744AwsqjgE0CJHDyO4Ta59eAO6cniGMKH9UNjfoTLocq9V2u3vvblcFDiP/s1200/netflix-heart-of-stone-review-beholdthegeek.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoVs74QQe8ep2mHKov-ogvmIK6VlxxiPCAo9tCdY-BvOjC5KIRWOq8Ygp6yPTu1F6fOg98DcZjqcA8sIjY9GNCYIrErcbwJrdiP4L1yVdOotRjnxV03gfi2ys1M744AwsqjgE0CJHDyO4Ta59eAO6cniGMKH9UNjfoTLocq9V2u3vvblcFDiP/s16000/netflix-heart-of-stone-review-beholdthegeek.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Netflix's current modus seems to be taking a big, recognizable Hollywood actor and building an action movie franchise around them. It worked with Chris Hemsworth in <i>Extraction</i>. It worked with Ryan Gosling's <i><a href="https://www.beholdthegeek.com/2022/07/netflix-the-gray-man-movie-review..html" target="_blank">The Gray Man</a></i>. And now it's <b>Gal Gadot</b>'s turn with <b>Heart of Stone</b>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Gadot stars as mild-mannered MI:6 field agent Rachel Stone, who acts as the "guy in the chair" for her more action-oriented colleagues Parker (<b>Jamie Dorman</b>), Yang (<b>Jing Lusi</b>), and Bailey (<b>Paul Ready</b>). Unbeknownst to them, however, is that Rachel is actually a super spy working for the shadow organization known only as The Charter, who uses an AI called "The Heart" that is so advanced, it can predict the future with up to 99% certainty.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Using The Heart, Stone is able to help her team on the sidelines while fighting the battles no single government could. In the right hands, The Heart could be a tool to save many lives. But when a mysterious hacker sets their sights on The Heart, it begs the question, "Whose hands make it right?"</p><p style="text-align: justify;">At first glance, <b>Heart of Stone</b> is packed to the gills with some of the biggest <i>en vogue</i> action movie tropes, from clandestine organizations policing the world to wild future tech, from cool code names to gorgeous location shots complete with its name superimposed on it. Derivative? Definitely. Boring? Definitely not. Director <b>Tom Harper</b> gives <b>Heart of Stone</b> a snappy pace and heart-thumping action set pieces, all to shine a spotlight on the reason the movie was greenlit: Gal Gadot.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Although maybe it's not a good idea to shine it too brightly. Gadot has a metric ton of charm and is often distracting as the most ridiculously good-looking person in the room (like, aren't secret agents supposed to not stand out?), but she sleepily punches and kicks — and acts — her way through the movie. So much so that <b>Heart of Stone </b>feels like one of those parody movies starring an incredibly famous actor that <i>Saturday Night Live</i> loves to do to poke fun at Hollywood.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The rest of the movie doesn't really fare better. The paper-thin plot is surprising coming from screenwriter<b> Greg Rucka</b>, who also did <i><a href="https://www.beholdthegeek.com/2020/07/netflix-the-old-guard-movie-review.html" target="_blank">The Old Guard</a></i> for Netflix. <b>Heart of Stone</b> has some interesting themes that go to waste from the get-go. A highly advanced AI that can hack into everything? Turned into a MacGuffin for Gadot to chase. Questions of why does The Charter wield The Heart to maintain the status quo? Too boring, here are some explosions instead. The cast around Gadot try their best to fill in the gaps left by their lead star, but they also have problems of their own. One character in particular, <b>Alia Bhatt</b>'s Keya, starts off promising as the cocky young hacker antagonist to Gadot's Stone, but ends up making so many hare-brained decisions that she gives antagonists a bad name.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Still, I had fun watching it in the comfort of my couch, munching on donuts with my mom and getting excited when the movie tells me to get excited. Nothing wrong with playing it safe. If you're looking to sit down and watch a no-nonsense action movie that demands nothing from you, <b>Heart of Stone</b> delivers on that front. Just don't expect anything more.</p>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-123083056905900752023-07-21T10:48:00.280+08:002023-07-26T10:55:06.201+08:00Barbie Movie Review — Biting satire dressed as a hot pink fever dream<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyy8C5IRH20H4H-F_T2RHSkahFR-kSUS_ln7Ok7P-V0a10fNg6-fsSDLV_XP1Qqh-t97bw_-Fs1IhDDg30qgSWSHCyGRf9FWeQoKznMSiQyI4MGimKs4w6lEcXcyQCy0CgGm0p8E8L-NgjGQw8mpFbZ_prbxtmkYpABz7rXkHwYMK3jZb_RuIi/s1200/barbie-movie-review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyy8C5IRH20H4H-F_T2RHSkahFR-kSUS_ln7Ok7P-V0a10fNg6-fsSDLV_XP1Qqh-t97bw_-Fs1IhDDg30qgSWSHCyGRf9FWeQoKznMSiQyI4MGimKs4w6lEcXcyQCy0CgGm0p8E8L-NgjGQw8mpFbZ_prbxtmkYpABz7rXkHwYMK3jZb_RuIi/s16000/barbie-movie-review.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">Dazzling in its charm, creativity, and sheer audacity, Greta Gerwig's <b>Barbie </b>is biting satire dressed as a hot pink fever dream.</p><p><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">It starts off innocently enough. In mythical Barbieland lives all the Barbies and Kens that were ever produced, spending all their time living in Dreamhouses and being the best versions of themselves (one's a Pulitzer Prize winner and another is the actual President). In the center of this toy story is <b>Margot Robbie</b>’s Stereotypical Barbie,
whose pearly smile and irresistible charm is coveted by all the Kens, in particular the blonde himbo version played by <b>Ryan Gosling</b>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">All is well
and good in pink and perfect Barbieland, but the movie shifts gears to meta humor as Barbie unexpectedly finds her perfect tiptoe feet planted firmly on the ground and her thoughts filled with existential dread. After consulting a Barbie who has experienced this before (in the form of <b>Kate McKinnon</b>'s Weird Barbie, the Barbie who got played too much), she learns that she must travel to the real world to set things right.</p><p><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Just like the doll it's based on, <b>Barbie </b>is everything all at once. It's a self-aware comedy that isn't afraid to poke fun at Barbie; it's a love letter to the doll's 64-year-old legacy, with fun Easter eggs and cheeky references to the toyline; it also has a lot to say about feminism, fragile masculinity, the patriarchy, and the pressures of women to simply exist in a world designed to box them in.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A movie this daring would have been dead in the water without a charismatic lead, and <b>Margot Robbie </b>steps up in a big way. She is incandescent eye candy in her all-pink ensemble as well as <b>Barbie</b>'s<b> </b>emotional center, handling all these heavy themes just as easily as she flashes the trademark Barbie smile. When she's spitting hard truths while dressed to the nines, you just can't look away.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Surprisingly, it's <b>Ryan Gosling</b>'s Ken that steals the spotlight halfway through the movie with an honest and affecting performance that clashes beautifully with his platinum blonde hair and spray-tanned abs. Ken's macho posturing is hilarious, and yet a vulnerable side comes through in some introspective moments (including a song and dance number titled "I'm Just Ken", his raison d'être set to 80s synth pop) that shine the spotlight on both positive and negative aspects of today's idea of masculinity. It would have been cringe-inducing if he wasn't so ridiculously fabulous!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I applaud Gerwig for tackling relevant issues like these in an entertaining way, but she doesn't always succeed. <b>Barbie </b>sputters to a crawl in the second half as Gerwig takes this time to lecture the viewer about the cognitive dissonance of womanhood without the sharp wit and clever humor that made the movie fun to watch. While I agree with everything Gerwig says here and that it should be listened to by every breathing male ever, the heavy-handed approach throws a wrench into the movie’s momentum. The world desperately needs to hear the message of <b>Barbie</b>, but I wish it didn't give you tonal whiplash to do it.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But even these hiccups don’t undermine the movie's strongest message: that you, whether you’re a Barbie or a Ken, are (K)enough. It’s not just a story about female empowerment, it's also the story of men and women realizing that there are so much we can teach each other beyond our own worldview. To say that about a movie starring a toy doll is amazing in itself.</div>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-48822115156203884832023-07-17T21:57:00.167+08:002023-07-27T18:43:24.898+08:00Transformers Studio Series Rise of the Beasts Optimus Prime Figure Review<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6pJZKJeD6uGtlev_aaArVGfXDnOBSulyW2hGl3gkHfy5wHpTqnGoGWOEvSDWNuRq-kecdrvgOr1YIO00Np3y5YojAzDmVrMAe8po-4qBBuZzZt3d3OpFKQewijYc866P3wQ4RUT2a2F9wUgbqwpRIgm8YH76CHYIhdY7BcW2S6V0l6cLG7rX/s1200/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-review.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6pJZKJeD6uGtlev_aaArVGfXDnOBSulyW2hGl3gkHfy5wHpTqnGoGWOEvSDWNuRq-kecdrvgOr1YIO00Np3y5YojAzDmVrMAe8po-4qBBuZzZt3d3OpFKQewijYc866P3wQ4RUT2a2F9wUgbqwpRIgm8YH76CHYIhdY7BcW2S6V0l6cLG7rX/s16000/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-review.jpg" /></a><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Hot off the heels of the best Transformers movie we've had the pleasure of getting, Hasbro has slowly been releasing wave after wave of figures based on <i>Transformers: Rise of the Beasts</i>. <a href="https://www.beholdthegeek.com/2023/06/transformers-rise-of-beasts-movie-review.html" target="_blank">Having seen the movie</a>, there's only one character I wanted out of it: the noble Optimus Prime, now sporting a sleek and updated look that skews closer to the Generation 1 look than ever before.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">As luck would have it, Hasbro has released an Optimus in its <b>Studio Series</b> line, where they do their best to produce screen-accurate versions of the Transformers in toy form. You bet your bottom Energon I scooped one up, which I'll be reviewing today! Is it as Prime as we're led to believe? Read on and find out!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm loving the detail on this figure. Every inch of his heroic personage is sculpted well, right down to his iconic faceplate. It also has better proportions <a href="https://www.beholdthegeek.com/2019/03/transformers-ss-38-optimus-prime-review.html" target="_blank">than its predecessor</a>. However, the candy red and dull grey plastic used is a tad too toy-like for my tastes, and paint is minimal. Inflation, everyone! But hey, at least mine has no paint and plastic-related QC issues, so God bless.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYogNEV3UjrpQrS8LHolh9nZQ_39Ynf7u9xSH73sUBPyGoM0LZjoxkn0WMeKMwp-tHc1DIAU7nG6Zwbu-a2ItFU9YR-_9u_Dyi3rq9WgpEPQb2Ttsq3Bor1leTjfauZCSuTLL-1dxpFLI51Dtw7ZR4Uw4O3mzuBoz6OgR-WCPEbFkw2SyUUdj/s1080/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-front.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYogNEV3UjrpQrS8LHolh9nZQ_39Ynf7u9xSH73sUBPyGoM0LZjoxkn0WMeKMwp-tHc1DIAU7nG6Zwbu-a2ItFU9YR-_9u_Dyi3rq9WgpEPQb2Ttsq3Bor1leTjfauZCSuTLL-1dxpFLI51Dtw7ZR4Uw4O3mzuBoz6OgR-WCPEbFkw2SyUUdj/s16000/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-front.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRcFJvWGZcRvtY7HZDsrQD8M-IxW7Poai5jFRsLCLPXBumKpw_I99gGWTWcYIpAKaIz6Cr-syfpX05koDvQAat4lf3k6JM_860quiqn_yAf6YSu5AWg07B233nim6jYySnMcVQME0rjF42qD9N70DyHL5oFGD1u-dFAml7COUk4Wt-WF__T9P/s1080/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-back.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRcFJvWGZcRvtY7HZDsrQD8M-IxW7Poai5jFRsLCLPXBumKpw_I99gGWTWcYIpAKaIz6Cr-syfpX05koDvQAat4lf3k6JM_860quiqn_yAf6YSu5AWg07B233nim6jYySnMcVQME0rjF42qD9N70DyHL5oFGD1u-dFAml7COUk4Wt-WF__T9P/s16000/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-back.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltiMOg8Oc_xDRWAPdgnBHpSVtUQptTu3U4gWm_AOE_rb05PIzzyphdrkOQtaRf5S9Xevs9cXw8aS8Z3ao7ggIOe9UstJH8ru5GMzjKcOopCuy6s2rAnhrE0AnDVyA6iUvB7Jd0BIF3_d5YWuQWvCgUEoka2OS1k2tsbyEWjyroV66qcjQ8gQN/s1080/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-detail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltiMOg8Oc_xDRWAPdgnBHpSVtUQptTu3U4gWm_AOE_rb05PIzzyphdrkOQtaRf5S9Xevs9cXw8aS8Z3ao7ggIOe9UstJH8ru5GMzjKcOopCuy6s2rAnhrE0AnDVyA6iUvB7Jd0BIF3_d5YWuQWvCgUEoka2OS1k2tsbyEWjyroV66qcjQ8gQN/s16000/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-detail.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcy1PP1cgEHnxBg3McdeFFSukM2kD5Kaqd0GA4ulOcrQDpZKRS2MLor6F639Rhzn6mQBumjHVK4wcHdh-65On4zvRqHorQUSoJKR2bEWvd3ZYjc0QPdhKntDeXznV3Fg7aqv1K5K-AQgPz5ssAKiiO704CxY0yzDFxNPzu3Ml3BffHeJr9OnJ/s1080/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-detail2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcy1PP1cgEHnxBg3McdeFFSukM2kD5Kaqd0GA4ulOcrQDpZKRS2MLor6F639Rhzn6mQBumjHVK4wcHdh-65On4zvRqHorQUSoJKR2bEWvd3ZYjc0QPdhKntDeXznV3Fg7aqv1K5K-AQgPz5ssAKiiO704CxY0yzDFxNPzu3Ml3BffHeJr9OnJ/s16000/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-detail2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The articulation is a highlight for <b>Rise of the Beasts Optimus Prime</b>. Posing is easy, the joints aren't loose (some a tad too tight, in fact), and not a lot gets in the way of him posing how you want him to. Not a lot of Transformers can crouch or do high kicks like this!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yJv6Kb-LrH5M-EwBeliaT0gpTF2a0imQxqCRGy_kw4Y0KCs6IeeJtJojrUkcqDa-tmbWKGE9crmDmYm5hcsOqHFlOJG6fdRORYjLB3auetmbqCmr1uPOPIgFkwLO_DM9Z8-avIA-g2ddWHd82RiDD71eRXwEtNMRE2XAfBV4mdRATr65lXaS/s1080/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-pose1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yJv6Kb-LrH5M-EwBeliaT0gpTF2a0imQxqCRGy_kw4Y0KCs6IeeJtJojrUkcqDa-tmbWKGE9crmDmYm5hcsOqHFlOJG6fdRORYjLB3auetmbqCmr1uPOPIgFkwLO_DM9Z8-avIA-g2ddWHd82RiDD71eRXwEtNMRE2XAfBV4mdRATr65lXaS/s16000/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-pose1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtHsTOfdN87AjPW8rmr1UCm1ty9Mh3uqKWxqMlUW3knUG21TpT4TwhRfSZes4Xejji1Ikhjp_A0vWORduu_ee9Qn-dvi-BUPIt9gomdR8w9RoMZYmIL82nVKDdqhBfrqf2K_SCGJTkU9wCO6MK2ciFZ-iq8L7hwaLDDDD9_CIPU8lLKmo5RoL/s1080/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-pose2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtHsTOfdN87AjPW8rmr1UCm1ty9Mh3uqKWxqMlUW3knUG21TpT4TwhRfSZes4Xejji1Ikhjp_A0vWORduu_ee9Qn-dvi-BUPIt9gomdR8w9RoMZYmIL82nVKDdqhBfrqf2K_SCGJTkU9wCO6MK2ciFZ-iq8L7hwaLDDDD9_CIPU8lLKmo5RoL/s16000/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-pose2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmAyGLLpvp9Dakk8g1JFzJAuUE3SiHqC-sYxySysyyfEz8w3IULLQ1eU3CN2hTMCyH3isvR1c_gIMmCQ_cKoAPI2xKeFbi1a64twev33t72qUx0H-UpjnbwG_0dtkHpjAbpNHOzQMggE7npWi7TsVorZOWCe8OgiPm4MoCZdKxiayg5Kdj89d/s1080/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-pose3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmAyGLLpvp9Dakk8g1JFzJAuUE3SiHqC-sYxySysyyfEz8w3IULLQ1eU3CN2hTMCyH3isvR1c_gIMmCQ_cKoAPI2xKeFbi1a64twev33t72qUx0H-UpjnbwG_0dtkHpjAbpNHOzQMggE7npWi7TsVorZOWCe8OgiPm4MoCZdKxiayg5Kdj89d/s16000/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-pose3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The budget probably went all into the figure, because the only accessories we get are a blade and an arm cannon attachment. The blade is painted gunmetal grey, while the arm cannon is just cast in dull grey plastic. Thankfully, there's a lot of detail in these things to justify their existence.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjihi-k3k4WVQ64QIIKEuXmg7guZBy_O4AxJcIWD-sDmzW6RAIAfrlSrBKw_ru0in-9nUtxh0UNpFsm9wpeC6DQs3Vo23y-PMX-SkiP3VMsSnUGor59bQmT3_DMUZzUMJCtOlm6itxO3lY5vLBhoQllfJg94PN7YV2XsmZZmHPC5fBT8QWvbOz/s1080/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-accessories.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjihi-k3k4WVQ64QIIKEuXmg7guZBy_O4AxJcIWD-sDmzW6RAIAfrlSrBKw_ru0in-9nUtxh0UNpFsm9wpeC6DQs3Vo23y-PMX-SkiP3VMsSnUGor59bQmT3_DMUZzUMJCtOlm6itxO3lY5vLBhoQllfJg94PN7YV2XsmZZmHPC5fBT8QWvbOz/s16000/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-accessories.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The blade has pegs to allow Optimus to either hold it like an actual sword or pegged into his arm just like in the movie. I wish there was more paint to it to match the blade Optimus used in the movie, which glowed like a fire was burning inside it. Beggars can't be choosers, I know. But I had high hopes for a 40USD figure.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJmB4yFpb-WraAwR20l4RAZmoYVVf1Wv7SbmM9kCgahi0ubsqOgHcxcRCfbQ9Q6MuIOlZA9CY7r98zyAOBTUyMwfRcdE7Ci3a4ZZ6salynKE0QU2a7lJ4nhzzTGjj1Hzuhc6Fo62hHwZzFqzEDE6yRgo6GOrYLmHlEbwwTy4j9gK2kmuY4kfQ/s1080/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-sword1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJmB4yFpb-WraAwR20l4RAZmoYVVf1Wv7SbmM9kCgahi0ubsqOgHcxcRCfbQ9Q6MuIOlZA9CY7r98zyAOBTUyMwfRcdE7Ci3a4ZZ6salynKE0QU2a7lJ4nhzzTGjj1Hzuhc6Fo62hHwZzFqzEDE6yRgo6GOrYLmHlEbwwTy4j9gK2kmuY4kfQ/s16000/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-sword1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhum9aMSOjx-DnjbJf2daXzBoymlWtAwY86yR815Mea3EYhZ-11TnVfvjeh_ICvjM2nUizX75kUrNo96arr84teh_0Jp2zbrglpT6lYR8qBmJSConFZxrUUC7fhYoPzJC7OSitUfyls7qlnboaGDUMpbfxVn_85xCRxim6x0xyzg1wKfFxuDvrP/s1080/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-sword2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhum9aMSOjx-DnjbJf2daXzBoymlWtAwY86yR815Mea3EYhZ-11TnVfvjeh_ICvjM2nUizX75kUrNo96arr84teh_0Jp2zbrglpT6lYR8qBmJSConFZxrUUC7fhYoPzJC7OSitUfyls7qlnboaGDUMpbfxVn_85xCRxim6x0xyzg1wKfFxuDvrP/s16000/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-sword2.jpg" /></a></div><br />The arm cannon bit can be attached to the end of either of Optimus' arms. It's not very convincing, and it looks a lot bigger and meaner in the movie. As it is, it just looks like Optimus got his hand stuck in his favorite mug and is asking someone, anyone, to help him take it off.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LRh_wklAHoZ3UneT1Gz7aIa5SXVj-jMdLT7uwoBfuNIel8WTKRa6hvS8lyWtOrDp-L87-Jl2HbbN5x3keVkQiyHe1B47F4ZRY50-qhtP14VxqfGo_Mlj3UutzGKQFpoykh1NMplP_HD5Hg9X2D8GDk_Rke-A7x9p0jAzOw4vn6W0D4EOGf4x/s1080/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-gun.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image of an Optimus Prime figure from Rise of the Beasts pointing its arm cannon at the viewer." border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LRh_wklAHoZ3UneT1Gz7aIa5SXVj-jMdLT7uwoBfuNIel8WTKRa6hvS8lyWtOrDp-L87-Jl2HbbN5x3keVkQiyHe1B47F4ZRY50-qhtP14VxqfGo_Mlj3UutzGKQFpoykh1NMplP_HD5Hg9X2D8GDk_Rke-A7x9p0jAzOw4vn6W0D4EOGf4x/s16000/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-gun.jpg" title="I know Megaman. You, sir, are no Megaman." /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It feels really good to <strike>transform</strike> convert <b>Rise of the Beasts Optimus Prime</b>, with a conversion sequence reminiscent of the G1 Optimus to really hammer home the resemblance! Everything clicks and pegs satisfyingly into place, and in the end, you're left with a convincing Freightliner truck that rolls on surfaces well. It's not exactly screen-accurate, though, but at this point I'll take any wins I get with Transformers!</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMSSubWW_A8ThQHtjSZh_Z6FDbxY8oPC_LXF1RfqIMFYQlyplji2K17EI05XEQGjmPI7BZHq8Mxu1iETzq5BvpZqbvf_cBSH2GXjLSbhvi3FfrXGy7qumQ73Jr7OCBsHUrNbNTAc9S3k3ur2WDv-Gv-rs4FdI1UiHf8KuGsy1kPyTukdBYwL7/s1080/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-truck1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMSSubWW_A8ThQHtjSZh_Z6FDbxY8oPC_LXF1RfqIMFYQlyplji2K17EI05XEQGjmPI7BZHq8Mxu1iETzq5BvpZqbvf_cBSH2GXjLSbhvi3FfrXGy7qumQ73Jr7OCBsHUrNbNTAc9S3k3ur2WDv-Gv-rs4FdI1UiHf8KuGsy1kPyTukdBYwL7/s16000/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-truck1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisk6i6nqto1smoXrNoGSBYhLCCZDzTEj5K6rJwoQU-G9c3IZOToNPb0fl3bmlfzepvVawwqif9D4pR48VcNp2BHlqW1F0EmQQhAo89KUnqQbq4XCrN334nleV9aljm2XwedO-7MCD-jyQiJhYzAxHiAOWsLPZSRvTsYahoW3Yx-QbP8FrRbmCH/s1080/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-truck2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisk6i6nqto1smoXrNoGSBYhLCCZDzTEj5K6rJwoQU-G9c3IZOToNPb0fl3bmlfzepvVawwqif9D4pR48VcNp2BHlqW1F0EmQQhAo89KUnqQbq4XCrN334nleV9aljm2XwedO-7MCD-jyQiJhYzAxHiAOWsLPZSRvTsYahoW3Yx-QbP8FrRbmCH/s16000/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-truck2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It wouldn't be a Studio Series figure without a cardboard backdrop and stage. This time, the <b>Rise of the Beasts Optimus Prime</b> comes with a shot of the streets of Peru where the Autobots and Terrorcons gave chase in the movie. Not really my thing, but if this adds value to your figure, more power to you!</div></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbFxidK0iQfCZYK87bWUroL4VRbmY7pKvSG7-JYGBRCCLOfZBjXa3SX-5vuQiEaQj_7fTPt66RUufFpgC_osm6yZLpxbRANuOd2yoUhT487mJGCjq4LRJOrml-MrXQlPIhiSMIuH-50gu5qBQ0TImi_LRe1AwUDp3suG4FMjeVDx2TDf7WSni/s1080/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-backdrop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbFxidK0iQfCZYK87bWUroL4VRbmY7pKvSG7-JYGBRCCLOfZBjXa3SX-5vuQiEaQj_7fTPt66RUufFpgC_osm6yZLpxbRANuOd2yoUhT487mJGCjq4LRJOrml-MrXQlPIhiSMIuH-50gu5qBQ0TImi_LRe1AwUDp3suG4FMjeVDx2TDf7WSni/s16000/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-backdrop.jpg" /></a></div><br />We Transformers fans have it good these days. We got an awesome Transformers movie AND awesome toys to go with it. The <b>Studio Series Rise of the Beasts Optimus Prime</b> is a gorgeous figure and a welcome update to a fan-favorite iteration of our favorite Autobot leader. Now THAT's just Prime!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICtOF75pnm9go-0ortv8lDYwxK-lm8vw8BLbuPIbb0hBWBJ8GeU6NdD8vRJ3FHctT8KswlxRj503Nqv3N_9VeL3snByjCKSGAgYrtHnZCISPRJ9ycxhRfKlkxpACFwY7t73cUhoISFDtceQWJaRkF1hM51QJWG7iLwffqBPmX3S0GWjDNWqbk/s1080/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-comparison.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICtOF75pnm9go-0ortv8lDYwxK-lm8vw8BLbuPIbb0hBWBJ8GeU6NdD8vRJ3FHctT8KswlxRj503Nqv3N_9VeL3snByjCKSGAgYrtHnZCISPRJ9ycxhRfKlkxpACFwY7t73cUhoISFDtceQWJaRkF1hM51QJWG7iLwffqBPmX3S0GWjDNWqbk/s16000/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-comparison.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PcII1-jdmYNHO1ojObz7JBvS-62oz8rWVadq_JHrWHJpS0Ri7kh3TKXsAQMuEBkDyjXxQSPaw9REAJ27dzkphKk4PXLAdjJJZDj6JJz6-yWEGth6SFsYqMj45XCqbIOhKQKPtXgwZK3Qtbx3oXEZKp-_y5S-us7Q7Kf9QTXxfNd5DiAE4R7a/s1080/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-weapons2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PcII1-jdmYNHO1ojObz7JBvS-62oz8rWVadq_JHrWHJpS0Ri7kh3TKXsAQMuEBkDyjXxQSPaw9REAJ27dzkphKk4PXLAdjJJZDj6JJz6-yWEGth6SFsYqMj45XCqbIOhKQKPtXgwZK3Qtbx3oXEZKp-_y5S-us7Q7Kf9QTXxfNd5DiAE4R7a/s16000/hasbro-buzzworthy-bumblebee-studio-series-optimus-prime-rotb-weapons2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>I got mine from <a href="http://hobbykorner.com" target="_blank">Hobby Korner</a>, but it's being seen in the toy aisles recently, so if you're in the market for an Optimus Prime figure, it would be in your best interest to get this one. Thanks for reading!</p></div>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-52551868465569037122023-07-05T20:44:00.004+08:002023-07-05T20:46:30.271+08:00Happy National Bikini Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidohGT8YCwTmEExIWtisZfdMkcnXr4qT8H0qb7vnAwKIvXBEE9_7xdZhCyEqISwr3KeMAOkNsxPefd7I_4PrYfGvAqpS7k9U8wyOXfxAOiHN_0UPs9LWssZHHKk6tSkiWchbPO89hWJQ8O54XjjtliwQRZxz2RcfNbniGN1Heyg7Qkt9VX69M2/s1200/happy%20national%20bikini%20day%202023%20beholdthegeek.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidohGT8YCwTmEExIWtisZfdMkcnXr4qT8H0qb7vnAwKIvXBEE9_7xdZhCyEqISwr3KeMAOkNsxPefd7I_4PrYfGvAqpS7k9U8wyOXfxAOiHN_0UPs9LWssZHHKk6tSkiWchbPO89hWJQ8O54XjjtliwQRZxz2RcfNbniGN1Heyg7Qkt9VX69M2/s16000/happy%20national%20bikini%20day%202023%20beholdthegeek.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ever since the great Louis Réard introduced the scandalous garment to a shocked public way back on July 5, 1946, the bikini has been an iconic piece of swimwear as unforgettable as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bikini_Atoll" target="_blank">the place it was named after</a>.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In celebration of <a href="https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-bikini-day-july-5/" target="_blank">National Bikini Day</a>, let's take a look at the bikini's memorable appearances in comic books!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8YWaVmUMJwIDTwiw5f2kG6uNWLcK_6JrQu4xAuGo9cboyEjs0xHbtk1zPgZ-Ef9CCDUiFj0ZQtankUx8qmiRQgRONgPW-ZlsZUtUbUyAJLLzqaROZVjyyNBb9amPy8jwL9neU3w-kBTG8xHz9NK-1Sc8926nZnkDmWHHtS3mMe4cYrmskHkH/s1080/torchy%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="781" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8YWaVmUMJwIDTwiw5f2kG6uNWLcK_6JrQu4xAuGo9cboyEjs0xHbtk1zPgZ-Ef9CCDUiFj0ZQtankUx8qmiRQgRONgPW-ZlsZUtUbUyAJLLzqaROZVjyyNBb9amPy8jwL9neU3w-kBTG8xHz9NK-1Sc8926nZnkDmWHHtS3mMe4cYrmskHkH/s16000/torchy%204.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What better way to introduce a dame like <b>Torchy Todd</b> than to put her in a bikini? Artist <b>Gill Fox</b> brings his "good girl art" style to this cover to <i>Torchy #4</i> from 1950.</span></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcTsX4BFVVN9xZvuXvaCQh1a_TS9bjbtELIkSrUYWzTH0cZyLRSmXeH8X4X9e5wSUfN0jRd8DetQFKYjtoiy71wtkpmvTy5_n-YOCmtoYeuyPR7Pt8INoDgKSmCCUlLD1Lw0ka8LqtX52fGyGlc39HgwtFTgEwRfq_GK2mGVYEXOmAAZk4C5S/s1080/archie%20158.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcTsX4BFVVN9xZvuXvaCQh1a_TS9bjbtELIkSrUYWzTH0cZyLRSmXeH8X4X9e5wSUfN0jRd8DetQFKYjtoiy71wtkpmvTy5_n-YOCmtoYeuyPR7Pt8INoDgKSmCCUlLD1Lw0ka8LqtX52fGyGlc39HgwtFTgEwRfq_GK2mGVYEXOmAAZk4C5S/s16000/archie%20158.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Archie Andrews</b> has been pining for <b>Betty </b>and <b>Veronica </b>for years. The bikinis they often wore at the beach were probably one of the biggest reasons, as seen here on the cover of <i>Archie #158</i> in 1965.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLekZsKmg70iZlHNAEGQb_WcxPMCd5ZnQ1GkG4HRoIpq8OvsOAhVknkwfaQxTafqXiWIKbj_fEI9s4DtrDSvYHU8OjlNjBuhOQ5Ra3m8UMvzRu2CduiAYkNC6V4_ElKTV8riwY3SVj8GK7-8NJVcexaFUsjhZkgcVgymjiy8KhMtkaz253YUTB/s1080/tigra%20giant-sized%20monsters%201974.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="718" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLekZsKmg70iZlHNAEGQb_WcxPMCd5ZnQ1GkG4HRoIpq8OvsOAhVknkwfaQxTafqXiWIKbj_fEI9s4DtrDSvYHU8OjlNjBuhOQ5Ra3m8UMvzRu2CduiAYkNC6V4_ElKTV8riwY3SVj8GK7-8NJVcexaFUsjhZkgcVgymjiy8KhMtkaz253YUTB/s16000/tigra%20giant-sized%20monsters%201974.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Marvel's <b>Tigra </b>made her debut in <i>Giant-Sized Creatures #1</i> in 1974, wearing a bikini that accentuated her feral features!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOb2tuQSk_PG-X7rFqZ_ESIoIBssqKtrLA8Hal9lb_Ol-Ymw8l6y7LNfI_yK12rk5uAWVFjJPlDTfY91OfYlJgfnUj3UEw8v81yL0Smifu4DjOUFCFVzxna7XAJneWxsAQOn6GtF5-5O_9YFZURELXKccB2W6XPwQCSvVr0NcFEN-mbJJ0Lb9M/s1080/amazingheroes%20swimsuit1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="691" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOb2tuQSk_PG-X7rFqZ_ESIoIBssqKtrLA8Hal9lb_Ol-Ymw8l6y7LNfI_yK12rk5uAWVFjJPlDTfY91OfYlJgfnUj3UEw8v81yL0Smifu4DjOUFCFVzxna7XAJneWxsAQOn6GtF5-5O_9YFZURELXKccB2W6XPwQCSvVr0NcFEN-mbJJ0Lb9M/s16000/amazingheroes%20swimsuit1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fanzine <b>Amazing Heroes</b> made "swimsuit issues" as early as 1987 (apparently due to the prodding of one Mark Waid!), culminating in a special dedicated entirely to the concept. Shown here is the cover to their first swimsuit special featuring <b>Reed Waller</b>'s characters from the controversial comic <i>"Omaha" the Cat Dancer</i>.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTBZV573dBzKh1n6aBF03oBgvsm6dZmlTnjMIOjEW2VRaNVzbn_a7yd_gEH4Qif8hfgqbRXVComStevw8icqLLgUjaHo8G5AoaclB5z-Ef4LedllPTqH_P1IOLQD08GLOtP1z1-tC3lk2NIxBXPvbcCi9bSZFb4PxTB7F1Z5BQaj7TMzFtFfs/s1080/Marvel_Swimsuit_Special_Vol_1_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="807" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTBZV573dBzKh1n6aBF03oBgvsm6dZmlTnjMIOjEW2VRaNVzbn_a7yd_gEH4Qif8hfgqbRXVComStevw8icqLLgUjaHo8G5AoaclB5z-Ef4LedllPTqH_P1IOLQD08GLOtP1z1-tC3lk2NIxBXPvbcCi9bSZFb4PxTB7F1Z5BQaj7TMzFtFfs/s16000/Marvel_Swimsuit_Special_Vol_1_2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fresh off of their parody of the <i>Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue</i>, Marvel went all in and produced the <i>Marvel Swimsuit Special </i>starting in 1992. One of their covers featured Rogue in a yellow and green bikini rendered by the master <b>Joe Jusko</b>!</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMu_5_S8fuG6DvIRa1BCPXkV5445bxJNMsnKSynajXwsvAY__pBsG0ciu-qy9-kt8TP28Wq0F7iS9bAfE_EihYLuvW2Yo2Cb9vlhDqBGmyw-_huhu0w8ObS28ipgQ6C5f6hnjbCCrZnbeszLxJ3MtRX5fUpBKik7cLskf2CEA-BaBUr6hIv4z/s1600/HQGH_Cv5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1041" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMu_5_S8fuG6DvIRa1BCPXkV5445bxJNMsnKSynajXwsvAY__pBsG0ciu-qy9-kt8TP28Wq0F7iS9bAfE_EihYLuvW2Yo2Cb9vlhDqBGmyw-_huhu0w8ObS28ipgQ6C5f6hnjbCCrZnbeszLxJ3MtRX5fUpBKik7cLskf2CEA-BaBUr6hIv4z/s16000/HQGH_Cv5.jpg" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Speaking of masters, <b>Frank Cho</b> is at his best when he needs to draw cheesy cheesecake art, like this cover for <i>Harley Quinn and Her Gang of Harleys #5!</i></span></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIF1gZZ_O6R_CW8Uk8JQqVykPcNpViRyss6Tn9ItUnsznf2bKpBOR6W0zpn4dD7HDFQm2evCef9P1pnNmD97h4wrjLskzVCFtOdMOsldJxYp8E1OzGrNLgDQYb396Uf4EAW1uMDasTbsdsWmMTScX5lfAzQtTm2ZjJoHrRZd5N_pAUdfEhyXxW/s1080/dc%20swimsuit%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="702" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIF1gZZ_O6R_CW8Uk8JQqVykPcNpViRyss6Tn9ItUnsznf2bKpBOR6W0zpn4dD7HDFQm2evCef9P1pnNmD97h4wrjLskzVCFtOdMOsldJxYp8E1OzGrNLgDQYb396Uf4EAW1uMDasTbsdsWmMTScX5lfAzQtTm2ZjJoHrRZd5N_pAUdfEhyXxW/s16000/dc%20swimsuit%201.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">While swimsuit issues aren't <i>en vogue</i> for the Big 2 these days, DC Comics paid homage to that era with swimsuit variants for some of their more popular titles in 2022. You can't go wrong with <b>Stanley "Artgerm" Lau</b>, who rendered this incredible Supergirl in a bikini as a sought-after variant for <i>Action Comics #1046 </i>— as if his variants aren't sought after enough!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hope you enjoyed this look back at all the bikinis in comics! Happy National Bikini Day and don't forget to wear sunscreen!</span></p><p></p><div><br /></div></div></div>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-4317384747482109062023-06-21T12:37:00.001+08:002023-06-21T18:38:40.358+08:00Word Geek Wednesdays: Cadre<p> <span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">Welcome to</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> </span><b style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">Word Geek Wednesday</b><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">, where we explore words in the context of pop culture! Our word today is...</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><blockquote><b>ca·dre </b>/<i>ˈkä-drē</i>/ n. a small group of people specially trained for a particular purpose or profession</blockquote><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">This is the perfect word when you want your group of highly trained professionals sound cool and mysterious. Robert O'Riordan's <b>Cadre </b>book series features one such group, the eponymous Cadre, said to be the most cold-blooded law enforcement unit in the known universe.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0-X4xXh_4XimAPvBB0beclTuh6-61z5vtLF9hhZO-fJgq5D-S0e8HJoMKTtBpcT23qhyNHvfdu5K43GdRfSlml9EltLhaT4jmUH6nds6sCZ5m_1bq2Be3iKFJodVZbKRi2nebGQdjn0bpVNMop5c7sY1LvSVCEDi6MjeeqOCzSG1SAls-Gp5/s1089/cadre%20one.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1089" data-original-width="649" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0-X4xXh_4XimAPvBB0beclTuh6-61z5vtLF9hhZO-fJgq5D-S0e8HJoMKTtBpcT23qhyNHvfdu5K43GdRfSlml9EltLhaT4jmUH6nds6sCZ5m_1bq2Be3iKFJodVZbKRi2nebGQdjn0bpVNMop5c7sY1LvSVCEDi6MjeeqOCzSG1SAls-Gp5/s16000/cadre%20one.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">But there's also a second definition, one that tends to be leaned on more:</div><br /><blockquote><b>ca·dre</b> /<i>ˈkä-drē</i>/ n. a group of activists in a communist or other revolutionary organization</blockquote><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Now that sounds even more menacing, which makes it a badass callsign for a team of ne'er-do-wells in places like comic books. In an interesting coincidence, the Big 2 (Marvel Comics and DC Comics) each have their own teams called "Cadre"!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">DC's <b>Cadre </b>is a group of supervillains introduced in 1985 in the pages of Justice League of America #235. This oddball team of Black Mass, Shatterfist, Crowbar, Fastball, Nightfall, and Shrike fought the members of the Justice League at the behest of their leader, the nigh immortal Overmaster.</div></span><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ZtBM64wA7mzjUDp0khL9shfBEV3b_uiH62rAgIEBqH2a0CoZkCBPr44BMiKyx6Ga1b02b3D3ylo7Bjo5xbu6Ny-e3ZiwWuVEhmkqBWuJZb3chJR9iyhqGKC8Pqwb10EpJnb0F9hrn4O_579L94KE8Frf9K0W5UXiC6in_UuX4iKG0rUad-z7/s1080/cadre%20dc.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="771" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ZtBM64wA7mzjUDp0khL9shfBEV3b_uiH62rAgIEBqH2a0CoZkCBPr44BMiKyx6Ga1b02b3D3ylo7Bjo5xbu6Ny-e3ZiwWuVEhmkqBWuJZb3chJR9iyhqGKC8Pqwb10EpJnb0F9hrn4O_579L94KE8Frf9K0W5UXiC6in_UuX4iKG0rUad-z7/s16000/cadre%20dc.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Their funky powers (one is literally just a <i>superpowered baseball pitcher</i>) were no match for the JLA, and they basically retired to the island of irrelevance, with one of their last cameos being a beatdown by Superman and Batman in the <i>Justice League Unlimited </i>animated series.</span><div><p></p></div></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Marvel's <b>Cadre</b>, on the other hand, first appeared in the pages of Web of Spider-Man Annual #9 in 1993. Composed of siblings Vortex, Dementia, and Shard, this Cadre were the spawn of the Nephilim-like Hellbent and used their powers to tussle with Spider-Man and Moon Knight.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUwVW1fruNshyWQ7qqtul1M_-INVHVnU1shRKv3GSVnAEgd9saTfHwi6MhhkmK0ScYhy68DKawrwsftcSHHNY0wXeTMICGChJaWh-g6QXxtkKJ48o6iyNyidsxhtOb_Zgtnendlism_9cNM6TdnCbSy_uQ4DvuBddyV4CVIOSPF2g85csYuhi/s1080/marvel%20cadre.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="701" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUwVW1fruNshyWQ7qqtul1M_-INVHVnU1shRKv3GSVnAEgd9saTfHwi6MhhkmK0ScYhy68DKawrwsftcSHHNY0wXeTMICGChJaWh-g6QXxtkKJ48o6iyNyidsxhtOb_Zgtnendlism_9cNM6TdnCbSy_uQ4DvuBddyV4CVIOSPF2g85csYuhi/s16000/marvel%20cadre.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now let's see you use this in everyday conversation! Have a word you would like me to check out? Leave them in the comments below!</span></div><div><br /></div>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-69302949898971584952023-06-20T12:48:00.001+08:002023-06-20T12:48:27.160+08:00Black Mirror Season 6 Review — It pays to try something new<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfYfPWn9rb5UUmFHrZ9FIQfIBIiwnBYyAa3Az2RleDQfqZid_4x1X0ePx7EmYxQvRbkOASD-NkfEOHY5KzmTaWvZuEduIJcwNNqqVQy9BYm96UImIrHzp5Z1fsv7R5SK4Kv69UQDNaCTXPPHN6dZn7tvg5t1XQ_jnAWp3C6xSqvcQXjD1117B/s1200/black-mirror-season-6-review-beholdthegeek.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfYfPWn9rb5UUmFHrZ9FIQfIBIiwnBYyAa3Az2RleDQfqZid_4x1X0ePx7EmYxQvRbkOASD-NkfEOHY5KzmTaWvZuEduIJcwNNqqVQy9BYm96UImIrHzp5Z1fsv7R5SK4Kv69UQDNaCTXPPHN6dZn7tvg5t1XQ_jnAWp3C6xSqvcQXjD1117B/s16000/black-mirror-season-6-review-beholdthegeek.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Are there only so many ways you can tell dark tales about modern society? The latest season of <b>Black Mirror</b> feels like it, as Charlie Brooker decided to steer the wagon off the rails and into new frontiers with episodes that veer more into the fantastical and where the tech takes a back seat.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Trying to one-up<i> <a href="https://www.beholdthegeek.com/2022/05/netflix-love-death-robots-volume-3-review.html" target="_blank">Love, Death & Robots</a> </i>at their own game is one thing, keeping <b>Black Mirror</b>'s unique identity is another. Here are my thoughts on the episodes of <b>Black Mirror Season 6</b> from the meh to the amazing!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><h2 style="text-align: justify;">THE MEH</h2><p style="text-align: justify;">Honestly, there wasn't a truly horrible seed in all 5 episodes of <b>Black Mirror Season 6</b>. These episodes may not be the Black Mirror you're used to, but that doesn't make them inherently bad.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: justify;">THE PRETTY GOOD</h2><p style="text-align: justify;">"Mazey Day" barely toes the line with its story of a celebrity in hiding (the eponymous Mazey Day, played by <b>Clara Rugaard</b>) and a former paparazzi looking for one last score (played by <b>Zazie Beetz</b>). Fun performances and a jaw-dropping twist elevate this otherwise slow-moving horror story that is over as quickly as it began.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">"Demon 79" is a devilishly fun and funny homage to 1970's horror movies that is only in this section due to being more at home in <i>Love Death & Robots </i>than <b>Black Mirror</b>. No cellphones in sight, just an Anglo-Indian woman (<b>Anjana Vasan</b>) being told by an actual demon she unwittingly summoned that the world will end if she doesn't make three human sacrifices in the next three days. And so she does, and what a ride it is.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">"Joan is Awful" is peak <b>Black Mirror</b> as it tackles the dangers of AI and algorithms having a hand in the media we consume. <b>Annie Murphy</b> plays the titular character, whose life is turned upside down when she finds out Streamberry (a pastiche of Netflix, who happens to be the home streaming service of <i>Black Mirror</i>) has created a TV show about her everyday life using AI, exposing her flaws for all the world to see. The celebrity cameos (<b>Salma Hayek</b>! <b>Ben Barnes</b>! <b>Cate Blanchett</b>!) and the story itself are fun little ribs at Netflix and the algorithm-driven zeitgeist. A delightfully meta story that is pretty much a self-contained paradigm of the show itself.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: justify;">THE AMAZING</h2><p style="text-align: justify;">Out of the 5 episodes, two stood out as powerful stories that highlight what makes <b>Black Mirror</b> so damn watchable.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">"Beyond the Sea" is a compelling drama that touches upon themes of alienation and intimacy in true <b>Black Mirror</b> fashion. David (<b>Josh Hartnett</b>) and Cliff (<b>Aaron Paul</b>) shine as two men who lead double lives: one as astronauts on a 6-year mission in deep space, and the other as normal family men via transferring their consciousness into near-perfect cybernetic replicas on Earth. It's a tense and torrid tale with powerful performances and a jaw-dropping ending that, like an oncoming train crash, you can't help but witness. Just kudos to everyone involved.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Finally, my favorite of the lot that really feels like a return to form for the show is "Loch Henry." Film students David (<b>Samuel Blenkin</b>) and Pia (<b>Myha'la Herrold</b>) trek to David's sleepy hometown in Loch Henry, Scotland to do a documentary about a local egg collector, only to find a more interesting subject <span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">—</span> the gruesome murders that happened there years ago. The episode shines a lurid light on society's fascination with true crime series and how it dehumanizes its victims for views and profit just as easily as it features gorgeous sweeping shots of the Scottish countryside. It's not often that a show immerses you in a way that you feel like you're actually there with the characters, and "Loch Henry" achieves that in more ways than one. Just a captivating watch from start to finish!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I don't know whether I liked <b>Black Mirror Season 6</b> because the bar set by the previous season was pretty low, or because this new selection of twisted tales was actually pretty good. The optimist in me believes it's the latter. If this is what the future holds for this show, then bring on more of this!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The new season of <b>Black Mirror</b> is now streaming on <a href="https://www.netflix.com/" target="_blank">Netflix</a>.</p></div>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-89697436135569327032023-06-15T22:05:00.006+08:002023-06-15T22:06:22.379+08:00The Flash Review — Crossing the finish line with flying colors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycJwPVOgrCUzP1QYNX381RZgZjb1MquJV77Ezvcmo3Av5-HXOsXjSeVliGl4F4QuJ-b4Ad-fy3ScCf6jfmtOrGo-x5VUJjhe1vlRLOR5WbFxB9qDv5pj6aA675eEcomEl1p8ZEFcggzc_QCDwq_3J86zLaJVoM6f0LGxu7pMByBGwX9zR2g/s1200/the-flash-movie-review-beholdthegeek.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycJwPVOgrCUzP1QYNX381RZgZjb1MquJV77Ezvcmo3Av5-HXOsXjSeVliGl4F4QuJ-b4Ad-fy3ScCf6jfmtOrGo-x5VUJjhe1vlRLOR5WbFxB9qDv5pj6aA675eEcomEl1p8ZEFcggzc_QCDwq_3J86zLaJVoM6f0LGxu7pMByBGwX9zR2g/s16000/the-flash-movie-review-beholdthegeek.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">What do you get when you combine<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/markhughes/2023/02/02/what-the-new-dc-studios-plan-means-for-the-future-of-wbd-superheroes/?sh=34facf8a6657" target="_blank"> a studio wanting to distance itself from failure</a>, a <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/ezra-miller-the-flash-timeline-arrests-controversies-abuse-1234765089/" target="_blank">problematic movie star</a>, and an "it's all getting rebooted anyway, screw it, let's just have fun" attitude?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the best comic book movies of the year, apparently.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">The Flash</b> is burdened both by lofty expectations and tired apathy towards the DCEU in general, and yet the Snyderverse's supposed nail in the coffin is a surprising mix of heart, soul, and superheroic action that hammers home what might have been.</div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Based loosely on Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert's 2011 DC Comics event <i><a href="https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Flash:_Flashpoint#:~:text=Flashpoint%20is%20a%20reboot%20event,time%20to%20save%20his%20mother." target="_blank">Flashpoint</a></i>, <b>The Flash</b> sees Barry Allen (<b>Ezra Miller</b>) lace up his boots once again as the eponymous speedster. When he's not saving babies from collapsing hospitals faster than you could blink, Barry works as a forensic scientist to prove his father, Henry Allen, is innocent for the murder of his wife Nora years ago.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After witnessing the limitations of the justice system in freeing Henry, Barry looks to his superhuman speed for a solution. But in doing so, he breaks the universe in surprising and dangerous ways, and soon Barry finds himself teaming up with old allies with new faces to fix it before all of reality breaks him as well!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We've seen Barry's speed showcased in <i><a href="https://www.beholdthegeek.com/2021/03/zack-snyders-justice-league-movie-review.html" target="_blank">Zack Snyder's Justice League</a></i>, but here in <b>The Flash</b> he is well and truly unleashed. The superspeed scenes are breathtaking visual spectacles, and the movie really makes you feel the forces involved when you're traveling faster than the speed of light in rather creative ways. And just when you think you've seen what The Flash can do, the movie throws in some innovative uses as well as classic speedster tricks that are infinitely rewatchable.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But while the speed scenes are obviously big budget, it seems the rest of the movie's CGI isn't. <b>The Flash</b> paradoxically features the most glaringly bad CGI of any blockbuster film to date. Immersion is a big part of movie magic, and you'll often find yourself being pulled out of it with copious amounts of obviously transposed live-action faces sitting weirdly on doughy CGI bodies. Even a supposedly awe-inspiring scene involving The Flash exploring time through a "chronobubble" becomes absolute nightmare fuel as humans with plastic "faces" shift and meld eerily across the screen. I can't even tell if it's a stylistic choice or the consequences of being rushed as hell to premiere.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Shining bright in the middle of this CGI mess is <b>Ezra Miller</b>, who summons the focused totality of his acting abilities to give us one of the most layered superhero performances in years. <b>The Flash </b>deals with subjects like grief, loss, and the journey towards accepting that you can't save everyone, and Miller steps up at every juncture with a moving portrayal that only enhances the heroism Barry is capable of. The rest of the cast work well with what they're given, particularly <b>Michael Keaton</b>'s Bruce Wayne/Batman. But <b>Sasha Calle</b>'s Kara/Supergirl feels criminally underused despite being one of the movie's main selling points.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Flash</b> is more than just the Snyderverse swan song; it's also a nostalgic love letter to the larger DC multiverse, with neat easter eggs and cameos from DC Comics' history. While they're an amazing piece of fanservice, it's palpably ironic for a movie whose major theme is about moving forward. And I would have enjoyed it more if not for the aforementioned abominable CGI. Thankfully, powerful performances and a pretty solid script prevents the movie from falling flat.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I can't believe I'm saying this, but <b>The Flash</b> is a truly enjoyable celluloid distraction. Don't give in to the hypebeasts propping this up as a masterpiece, but don't take the negative Nancys at face value either. It's better than anyone expects and better than it has any right to be, and it's bittersweet to say goodbye to a character who just found their footing. But with the way <b>The Flash</b> has opened up a multiverse of opportunities, time (and the box office) will tell if it's all worth it.</div>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-43516214235931420612023-06-13T10:31:00.004+08:002023-06-15T22:07:39.451+08:00Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Review — Better than meets the eye<div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNP1D60iGoNVv9eEnsmpR4s11Z4EksIZTFHuCCYhOy3QGzRB9crZxD5JDjMZIkZqweQ8SKMJmqWqChodY4KdcUjBmgSczqaT4vsF2y5ezKMDyFO7ZWlevkBQd0nN6dDTWi1INAr4JXyoDRiyf2KHWdSoLAqhCWyYZMtElxgwGgnpSPXlIj5Q/s1200/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNP1D60iGoNVv9eEnsmpR4s11Z4EksIZTFHuCCYhOy3QGzRB9crZxD5JDjMZIkZqweQ8SKMJmqWqChodY4KdcUjBmgSczqaT4vsF2y5ezKMDyFO7ZWlevkBQd0nN6dDTWi1INAr4JXyoDRiyf2KHWdSoLAqhCWyYZMtElxgwGgnpSPXlIj5Q/s16000/transformers-rise-of-the-beasts-review.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: justify;">I don't know why it took this long to get a good Transformers movie when <b>Transformers: Rise of the Beasts </b>shows they were capable of it this entire time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Set vaguely after the events of the 2018 sleeper hit <i>Bumblebee</i>, Optimus Prime (voiced by the legendary <b>Peter Cullen</b>) has joined Bee on Earth along with Autobots Arcee and Mirage (played by a surprisingly good <b>Pete Davidson</b>). Prime blames himself for stranding his crew on this backwater planet, and hopes to locate the Transwarp Key, an artifact that could help them return to their home planet Cybertron. But the evil Terrorcons, led by the vicious Scourge, are also seeking out the key in hopes of bringing their master to earth. The master, in this case, is the planet-eating Unicron.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But not all hope is lost. Aiding them in this fight are the mysterious Maximals, who have been hiding on Earth for thousands of years. Their leader, the noble Optimus Primal (<b>Ron Perlman</b>), has some unfinished business with Scourge and his master, and it's going to take the combined might of the Maximals and the Autobots to stop Unicron from turning their new home into the next main course!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This was the Transformers movie we deserved from the get-go. No indecipherable piles of metal shards flying all over the screen. No appealing to the libido of boys about to hit puberty. No appealing to any lesser instinct other than going "unga bunga" at the sight of 30-foot-tall robots from an 80s toyline beating each other up in the name of something honorable and pure.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Rise of the Beasts</b> is a big-budget Saturday morning cartoon, and I mean it with much affection. Just like how Michael Bay took the <i>Transformers </i>from extended 80's toy commercials to flashy and loud love letters to the American military industrial complex, <b>Steven Caple Jr. </b>(with screenplay by <b>Joby Harold, Darnell Metayer, Josh Peters, Erich Hoeber, </b>and <b>Jon Hoeber</b>) wisely flipped the script and brought these robots in disguise back to their roots as all-ages entertainment. It's funny, loud, and action-packed in all the ways previous Transformers movies weren't. Talk about understanding the assignment!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But while the old <i>Transformers </i>cartoons were entertaining in their own way, they aren't exactly Hamlet, and <b>Rise of the Beasts </b>inherited both its good and bad aspects. Its story, characters, and motivations are paper thin, and the writers couldn't even be arsed to give a logical explanation for why Optimus Primal and the Maximals needed to be in this movie at all. Which is a shame, considering the most interesting parts of the movie involved the Maximals. These guys deserved a separate movie of their own, dammit!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of my biggest complaints about the <a href="https://www.beholdthegeek.com/2011/06/transformers-dark-of-moon-movie-review.html" target="_blank">Michael Bay movies</a> was that Optimus Prime didn't get the chance to be in the spotlight in a positive way. Thankfully, <b>Peter Cullen</b> gets to shine this time, playing the character most associated with his voice with more substance and thought. Prime here is war-weary, still at the point where he distrusts the humans that inhabit this planet, and Cullen does his best to imbue his performance with a lot more dignity.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Speaking of humans, the non-CGI characters are a nice change of pace this time around. Smart and savvy Elena Wallace (<b>Dominique Fishback</b>) is a refreshing addition to the <i>homo sapiens</i> cast, and <b>Anthony Ramos </b>expectedly kills it as Noah Diaz, an ex-military man with a heart of gold. Ramos wears his heart on his sleeve in every scene, and you'd have to be cold-hearted to not tear up at his efforts to take care of his kid brother and his family in between trying to save the world.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hollywood has been overthinking these kinds of movies for far too long. The Transformers are robots that <strike>transform</strike> convert into other things, and vice versa. A movie about these guys didn't need to be anything else other than a nostalgic feeling of turning on the TV on weekends to watch a robot gorilla the size of a house tear through bad guys together with Optimus Prime. <b>Transformers: Rise of the Beast </b>is so goshdarn honest, and that's what makes it so fun. Highly recommended!</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-45634095862907616002023-06-02T19:59:00.160+08:002023-06-22T09:31:18.114+08:00Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Movie Review: A glorious multiversal mess<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIhGeBMlZq-M2XjzKFadT_Dnl5F6cla4mMVMlwrtkO-EDomp3XW4jqDqA_3ssHiZABwWMWDNlA9vtsxVnU2q57PN4P9g9_ZCV8t_3VbEwZd13pKTj-F_iQRGQTdiauOMrb2_FdRocmo5Skx1y8-_iOXBKcRomt2D4TdwBeGyl_bR-RGf7yg/s1200/spider-man-across-the-spider-verse-review-beholdthegeek.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIhGeBMlZq-M2XjzKFadT_Dnl5F6cla4mMVMlwrtkO-EDomp3XW4jqDqA_3ssHiZABwWMWDNlA9vtsxVnU2q57PN4P9g9_ZCV8t_3VbEwZd13pKTj-F_iQRGQTdiauOMrb2_FdRocmo5Skx1y8-_iOXBKcRomt2D4TdwBeGyl_bR-RGf7yg/s16000/spider-man-across-the-spider-verse-review-beholdthegeek.jpg" /></a><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse </b>pushes the boundaries of what's possible in animation and superhero movies and sets the bar for both. It does multiverses better than <a href="https://www.beholdthegeek.com/2022/05/doctor-strange-and-multiverse-of.html" target="_blank">Doctor Strange</a> and has more heart than most superhero movies in the past few years.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It also has a lot of Spider-Men. And I mean <u>a</u> <u>lot</u>. Okay, maybe "a lot" doesn't begin to cover it. <b>Across the Spider-Verse</b> throws every possible permutation of the wall-crawler at you in cheeky cameos that span multiple mediums. From the insanity that is Peter Parkedcar (an actual <a href="https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Spider-Mobile" target="_blank">Spider-Buggy</a>) to cameos too amazing to spoil here, it's a comic book nerd's wet dream. Lost in this mess of webs is Miles Morales (<b>Shameik Moore</b>), our Afro-Latino Spider-Man who saved the world with the help of Spider-men and -women of different universes. When he's not pining for his multiversal muse Gwen Stacy (<b>Hailee Steinfeld</b>), he's worrying about college applications, his place in the world, and dangerous enemies like The Spot (<b>Jason Schwartzman</b>). But when Gwen pops back into Miles' life and introduces him to a much wider Spider-Verse than he knows...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I could tell you more about the plot, but the art style grabs me by the throat and demands my attention. This movie is <i>gorgeous</i>. Every frame is literally a painting, with colors that fry your eyeballs and action scenes that are framed more for aesthetics than clarity. <b>Across the Spider-Verse </b>often assumes you have the same reflexes as the rest of the Spider-folk, with exciting action set pieces rendered so painfully frenetic that it's literally hard to keep up with what's happening on screen. At one point, three different characters with their own separate art styles battle it out in the Guggenheim, devolving into a jumbled mess of shapes and lines that one wonders why the movie has no seizure warning.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When it's not bombarding your vision with neon Kirby crackle every few minutes, <b>Across the Spider-Verse</b> treats you to some very compelling characters in the form of Miguel O'Hara (<b>Oscar Isaac</b>), the <a href="https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Miguel_O%27Hara_(Earth-928)" target="_blank">Spider-Man of 2099</a> who carries the responsibility of keeping the gossamer threads of the Spider-verse from unraveling. Just as Miles is learning about the burden of responsibility and the complexities of identity, Miguel has learned these lessons the hard way -- and you feel it in every scene he's in.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Hailee Steinfeld'</b>s Gwen Stacy was a considerable part of <i>Into the Spider-Verse</i>, but this time the spotlight lingers on her just a little bit more in terms of dramatic moments and even character development. Just as Thanos made <i>Infinity War</i> his movie, Gwen feels on equal footing with Miles in <b>Across the Spider-Verse. </b>Not complaining, as Gwen has grown to be the best part of these movies by a mile. Speaking of Miles, I can't wait to know how Miles Morales will set himself apart despite becoming the least interesting Spider-person in the room. And from the looks of the sudden cliffhanger ending (in case you're one of the many who forgot, this movie was announced as split into two parts), it seems I <i>have </i>to wait. And if the wait is killing me, you know you got yourself a good movie.</div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Spider-Man fans have been eating good. Since <i>Into the Spider-Verse</i> and <i>No Way Home</i>, the webslinger has been 2-for-2 in the box office these past few years. <b>Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse </b>continues that trend as a shining addition to the <i>Spider-Verse </i>saga -- if your eyes can adjust quickly enough. Highly recommended!</div><div><br /></div></div></div>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-26118772962555913762023-05-19T13:50:00.005+08:002023-05-19T13:50:36.731+08:00My Week in Comics: May 19, 2023<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Comics are $5 now, so it stands to reason that we have to be picky about what we read these days. This week, two brand new #1's stood out for me enough to have a look-see. So what I got myself into? Read on!</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Avengers #1</b> is just one (heh) of a long line of first issues that establish the team in its current iteration. It will hold no surprises for longtime readers, but for people who decided to pick this up as their first comic this fortunately brings them up to speed on what's been going on in the greater Marvel Comics universe. I haven't followed Marvel Comics events in a while, so some of the revelations here were eye-opening.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw11XPZl6HnXX8H-zdd2jXXaqf5Y0hjAe4kRdwUjCQ8DhR9sxEtPaoMmN6D3UsNtXP5Zszv3qZTY08QlskBhzZhDDN3-kz6qzGmyr_N6v9J9XhNjRCFHiu2bM9JcJM98NmgMmaK080r6x2U8zjaJTFoVxEGEU0Zavqq_foNWnwAkGl4T6uBg/s556/avengers-1-2023-review.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw11XPZl6HnXX8H-zdd2jXXaqf5Y0hjAe4kRdwUjCQ8DhR9sxEtPaoMmN6D3UsNtXP5Zszv3qZTY08QlskBhzZhDDN3-kz6qzGmyr_N6v9J9XhNjRCFHiu2bM9JcJM98NmgMmaK080r6x2U8zjaJTFoVxEGEU0Zavqq_foNWnwAkGl4T6uBg/w263-h400/avengers-1-2023-review.JPG" width="263" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">It's also got everything a good first issue needs to hook you in. There's incredible action courtesy of C.F. Villa's art and Federico Blee's eye-popping colors, where every panel is bursting with kinetic energy -- even the talking parts! Jed McKay delivers on the witty banter and superheroic storytelling as a kaiju-sized supervillain called Terminus wreaks havoc to get to a source of energy that could spell disaster for the world, the perfect kind of Avengers-level threat to showcase what each of these badass superheroes can do.</p><div class="Ar Au Ao" id=":18q"><div aria-controls=":1bf" aria-label="Message Body" aria-multiline="true" aria-owns=":1bf" class="Am Al editable LW-avf tS-tW tS-tY" g_editable="true" hidefocus="true" id=":18m" role="textbox" spellcheck="false" style="direction: ltr; min-height: 240px;" tabindex="1"><div dir="ltr"><div style="text-align: justify;">There have been many Avengers books where you go "Really? These are the people you recruit for Earth's Mightiest Heroes?" Fortunately, Marvel opted to go iconic with their choice of team members. These are some of the heaviest hitters of the Marvel U., and so the book has that ensemble-cast blockbuster feel that I absolutely love.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is how you get people to pay $4.99 for a comic book. I'm looking forward to what else McKay and co. have in store for us. This gets a <b>5 out of 5</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">******</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On the other side of the pond, DC Comics' <b>The Vigil #1</b> is something new. A book featuring characters you've never heard of before, doing things you didn't think DC Comics would allow, created by a diverse team of award-winning Indian writers and artists. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIh3xg9sAru0hXrDnVlelXAMOQcom6Z9owCKvE7v-L-kkptcLjwb72LJF-jMwm4rdhxlKPROIDoV2YZdHJqJsqx8YnIo8hMi5oxDvyO1frMpNP4OtB1X667JRMqkyI2zdVdOJw5mGC_3as2cm-WRwSeXX6POdZRlW_FqGqLfH9FxHDu7xIuw/s627/the%20vigil-1-2023-review.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="408" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIh3xg9sAru0hXrDnVlelXAMOQcom6Z9owCKvE7v-L-kkptcLjwb72LJF-jMwm4rdhxlKPROIDoV2YZdHJqJsqx8YnIo8hMi5oxDvyO1frMpNP4OtB1X667JRMqkyI2zdVdOJw5mGC_3as2cm-WRwSeXX6POdZRlW_FqGqLfH9FxHDu7xIuw/s320/the%20vigil-1-2023-review.JPG" width="208" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It's a volatile mix. Thankfully, Ram V has been absolutely amazing in <i>Detective Comics</i>, and T<b>he Vigil #1</b> is no different. Here, he tells the story of a clandestine team of operatives known as The Vigil, whose metahuman abilities and training make them able to do things no ordinary soldier can...or would. It's pretty edgy stuff, something I would expect from independent comics and not in the Big 2. It's a good think that Mr. V writes a compelling comic book, and the diverse cast is a breath of fresh air. Lalit Kumar Sharma's art and Rain Beredo's colors handle the material really well, with exciting panels and sequences that give each team member of The Vigil their own Big Damn Heroes moment.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are still some things Ram V isn't telling us about this team, but fortunately he's got us wanting to know more. <b>The Vigil #1</b> is an intriguing issue, and where it goes, I'm very excited to find out. This gets a 4 out of 5.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Two heavy hitters with good first impressions? Yeah I'll take that any day! What did you think of the comic books this week?</div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-51725369996366817442023-05-12T17:45:00.197+08:002023-05-19T18:22:14.419+08:00Marvel Legends Extremis Iron Man Figure Review<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiia6rkDvbjyYqkvQvolbTdXGFmMAwKMMoIsPjhbWEefTawqkOrDMtO_Jk8xOTqjHceGAPGZHSdLzasZ_pe1PN8YMN5QfjUrsuDWNIDehzcqvZ-nykFytLuQengKcrV94VPEcGlr00sHF8NMpz2-IO7-u3Wpvq_B0dtJHMHje0qSNa9XD2eMg/s1200/marvel-legends-extremis-iron-man-review.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Image of Hasbro Marvel Legends Extremis Iron Man flying in grey skies" border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiia6rkDvbjyYqkvQvolbTdXGFmMAwKMMoIsPjhbWEefTawqkOrDMtO_Jk8xOTqjHceGAPGZHSdLzasZ_pe1PN8YMN5QfjUrsuDWNIDehzcqvZ-nykFytLuQengKcrV94VPEcGlr00sHF8NMpz2-IO7-u3Wpvq_B0dtJHMHje0qSNa9XD2eMg/s16000/marvel-legends-extremis-iron-man-review.jpg" /></a></p><p></p><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The very first comic I bought with my own money was <b>Civil War #2</b>, right as Mark Millar and Steve McNiven were turning the Marvel Universe on its head. The rivalry between Captain America and Iron Man was at its hottest here, and it was my first exposure to what I would come to know as Iron Man's Extremis Armor.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Designed by artist Adi Granov during his and Warren Ellis' run on<i> Iron Man</i> in 2005, the Extremis Armor was this sleek red number that took the Armored Avenger to new heights of power and coolness. I've always wanted a figure version of this armor, but the <a href="http://www.oafe.net/yo/hml1_im.php" target="_blank"><i>Return of Marvel Legends </i>version</a> is terribly outdated.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As if hearing my prayers, Hasbro went and released an updated version of one of my favorite Iron Man armors, which I'm reviewing today! Follow me as I gaze in slack-jawed awe at the new <b>Marvel Legends Extremis Iron Man</b> action figure! </div><div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeo2HMqW2G8xVGrRoSgtuXCwT2o0HUhV3Homd8cB6vNulajQ2wnuhLJ5ilOpXLyb23Lbog5m9pcOZa56FINx6ARisqQftPhgIi3qyUheUSIIZ7_qqddoj1P9f_tL82YvqP4jtreks5zjWxzZGDYESME_UNPJ7hqEQWEv9aXKa7BECm0GTiXw/s1080/marvel-legends-extremis-iron-man-review-pose3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image of Hasbro Marvel Legends Extremis Iron Man posed" border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeo2HMqW2G8xVGrRoSgtuXCwT2o0HUhV3Homd8cB6vNulajQ2wnuhLJ5ilOpXLyb23Lbog5m9pcOZa56FINx6ARisqQftPhgIi3qyUheUSIIZ7_qqddoj1P9f_tL82YvqP4jtreks5zjWxzZGDYESME_UNPJ7hqEQWEv9aXKa7BECm0GTiXw/s16000/marvel-legends-extremis-iron-man-review-pose3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We've come a long way from the <i>Return of Marvel Legends</i> version of this armor from a decade ago. This <b>Extremis Iron Man</b> is taller, has better proportions, and is an entirely new sculpt rather than <a href="https://www.beholdthegeek.com/2011/04/mu-comic-packs-iron-man-thor-review.html" target="_blank">an upscaled <i>Marvel Universe</i> figure</a>. The sculpted details are plentiful and true to Adi Granov's design, though I wish they found additional budget to add a wash to bring them out. The few painted parts it does have are done well with minimal slop, which I'm thankful for.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I love the red plastic they used for this as well, as this iteration of the armor was drawn less "shiny" than its predecessors. It doesn't look plastic-y or toy-like in hand, so rest assured you have a badass Iron Man figure worthy of display.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzlHiAG5xkIjiCJxzQLE4UnESpcnmHwh6CYSQwuQj4ycg_-SGJPhv5b2_uPcFKYz5ou_60_PgD_Mnpm92NTBkGbV6bvNOCfm2wk-vDDHzq5JPOj0jp77mcKl-nmEkkEbYj7N-K3bkuMoPObUh4MWogDLFrtvJeaVd4grm1mFUQ_oX5zR0pQ/s1080/marvel-legends-extremis-iron-man-review-front.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Close up of Image of Hasbro Marvel Legends Extremis Iron Man's torso" border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzlHiAG5xkIjiCJxzQLE4UnESpcnmHwh6CYSQwuQj4ycg_-SGJPhv5b2_uPcFKYz5ou_60_PgD_Mnpm92NTBkGbV6bvNOCfm2wk-vDDHzq5JPOj0jp77mcKl-nmEkkEbYj7N-K3bkuMoPObUh4MWogDLFrtvJeaVd4grm1mFUQ_oX5zR0pQ/s16000/marvel-legends-extremis-iron-man-review-front.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2Pxs_DOAUa5QWvP1cQs7ehXbLelZx_ZaAfCdS3X4yppczTDp6BvqivGm0Siurk8xRWzwK-hRCk0XVApGrZyt945MRTp3oA_ralqbrBS6BVptIiLZY5Q_0fuk0JOKqp8TG3e2fOZTLijlKocQQy76eircC8ahAdIdwe7vp2ao6MuE4miYBg/s1080/marvel-legends-extremis-iron-man-review-head.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Close up of Image of Hasbro Marvel Legends Extremis Iron Man's helmet" border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2Pxs_DOAUa5QWvP1cQs7ehXbLelZx_ZaAfCdS3X4yppczTDp6BvqivGm0Siurk8xRWzwK-hRCk0XVApGrZyt945MRTp3oA_ralqbrBS6BVptIiLZY5Q_0fuk0JOKqp8TG3e2fOZTLijlKocQQy76eircC8ahAdIdwe7vp2ao6MuE4miYBg/s16000/marvel-legends-extremis-iron-man-review-head.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For a man in armor, <b>Extremis Iron Man</b> is very mobile. There's a surprising amount of articulation here, and none of them are hindered by the sculpt. They even found an aesthetically pleasing solution to Iron Man's shoulder pauldrons always hindering articulation: by casting it in pliable plastic and tabbing it in place with the shoulder ball joint. Good job, Hasbro!</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxOPczrt-Skk6IFNvkXGKT3oetySHWKhi7x-LrFBypEePE8FxsZcr_RA37T5LGM5mKuDXEhKXmN5ddkyQMfFnfFsbjATuEItmPcUlfOuP_XxRhBFgMHKy2TblCBPLDzYgnrSu1JLTtwJd-2egT2jSYFAoNZ6yrYU40JZpg99frOCaJH5sVw/s1080/marvel-legends-extremis-iron-man-review-pose1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image of Hasbro Marvel Legends Extremis Iron Man with palms open" border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxOPczrt-Skk6IFNvkXGKT3oetySHWKhi7x-LrFBypEePE8FxsZcr_RA37T5LGM5mKuDXEhKXmN5ddkyQMfFnfFsbjATuEItmPcUlfOuP_XxRhBFgMHKy2TblCBPLDzYgnrSu1JLTtwJd-2egT2jSYFAoNZ6yrYU40JZpg99frOCaJH5sVw/s16000/marvel-legends-extremis-iron-man-review-pose1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_c-jZ-3piw_UfHdNeA0KTEWiDXMZlqVvfZ4UP3-vNSZJGu7_kM1ZnqnJzyI8JMSjbA1XO73QgW06GCnEbRQbn-vOdxA7tbWgfYz_z6OuYLEhHoYlslJPvdaXME28pXGcZx4CzmR81BqSDTW0invVANJCJfRO6JzpUoX9DNm-9TGoOWn3nwg/s1080/marvel-legends-extremis-iron-man-review-pose2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image of Hasbro Marvel Legends Extremis Iron Man posed with arms straight back" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_c-jZ-3piw_UfHdNeA0KTEWiDXMZlqVvfZ4UP3-vNSZJGu7_kM1ZnqnJzyI8JMSjbA1XO73QgW06GCnEbRQbn-vOdxA7tbWgfYz_z6OuYLEhHoYlslJPvdaXME28pXGcZx4CzmR81BqSDTW0invVANJCJfRO6JzpUoX9DNm-9TGoOWn3nwg/s16000/marvel-legends-extremis-iron-man-review-pose2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Of course, we can't really prove an Iron Man figure has enough poseability without the good ol' <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6gjkdeRTyQ" target="_blank">Three-Point Landing test</a>. As you can see, the <b>Marvel Legends Extremis Iron Man</b> passes, but I had to do some finagling to get it to look natural.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXs6svrvnb9iCF4jcBVA6lsS4cNN4j-dovqdm9LVjPXNIMYloJt2N6ETki5KUgayYe8TrjSe111kzrW0_kArFEfO29tzEIGFMHTBoIbOdGEEHJlbSlpdlGzxdeQIIbCZh3X1qqErcqVufDeIc83RX9tjPECC6Trvp-P2ODQ5eogCrQ88q9_w/s1080/marvel-legends-extremis-iron-man-review-landing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image of Hasbro Marvel Legends Extremis Iron Man in three-point landing pose" border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXs6svrvnb9iCF4jcBVA6lsS4cNN4j-dovqdm9LVjPXNIMYloJt2N6ETki5KUgayYe8TrjSe111kzrW0_kArFEfO29tzEIGFMHTBoIbOdGEEHJlbSlpdlGzxdeQIIbCZh3X1qqErcqVufDeIc83RX9tjPECC6Trvp-P2ODQ5eogCrQ88q9_w/s16000/marvel-legends-extremis-iron-man-review-landing.jpg" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Accessory-wise, <b>Extremis Iron Man</b> comes with two splayed open hands and blast effects you can peg into said hands or into the heel holes in the feet for flying poses. The blast effects are the same as all the others included in previous Iron Man figures, so no surprises here. </span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_ntyiXV3um5e3WwgDSTPNSCU9cfuz1FOvA4joIsMqpu668Beqvbhedm_HSFPqNQkXLC75lcU8IQW41Ni4OonoVp-lql846Dc5IwZRiDuGay24CnHZUTtb7g9zTa8HS2hPWDB3kr-WSxRClrLgnZCKXPIqoeIQwRGvyJoYWbjjvlMBW8siw/s1080/marvel-legends-extremis-iron-man-review-blast1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image of Hasbro Marvel Legends Extremis Iron Man's repulsor effects" border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_ntyiXV3um5e3WwgDSTPNSCU9cfuz1FOvA4joIsMqpu668Beqvbhedm_HSFPqNQkXLC75lcU8IQW41Ni4OonoVp-lql846Dc5IwZRiDuGay24CnHZUTtb7g9zTa8HS2hPWDB3kr-WSxRClrLgnZCKXPIqoeIQwRGvyJoYWbjjvlMBW8siw/s16000/marvel-legends-extremis-iron-man-review-blast1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufQVwJ8lg8QElywrTEe12YDIUK3t2ZGIYlpz_kaRWEwR4NTwqGGQ6SHx9NORcgwAnMX_jjqLuMX_9QH_V5CRGDQpF0Bh-NmxOM960tM_A_vn1huABILzGANtDZ9K_yV-FPBbLHlVUT8Jp0p9aQJVzKr0bHnsghzPueIqDvl_CU0MPdsFOYg/s1080/marvel-legends-extremis-iron-man-review-accessories2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Another image of Hasbro Marvel Legends Extremis Iron Man's repulsor effects" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufQVwJ8lg8QElywrTEe12YDIUK3t2ZGIYlpz_kaRWEwR4NTwqGGQ6SHx9NORcgwAnMX_jjqLuMX_9QH_V5CRGDQpF0Bh-NmxOM960tM_A_vn1huABILzGANtDZ9K_yV-FPBbLHlVUT8Jp0p9aQJVzKr0bHnsghzPueIqDvl_CU0MPdsFOYg/s16000/marvel-legends-extremis-iron-man-review-accessories2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">All in all, I'm very pleased with this release. The new <b>Marvel Legends Extremis Iron Man</b> figure is the type of update I applaud Hasbro for, despite them pricing us out of the hobby slowly but surely. There have been misses as of late, but when this iconic action figure line hits, it's <i>to the moon</i>.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVlM2xFIHj-hV4vPxSpx0wDNEjfm5rutEPiS8bTjRnIX17wgx8RSwdhIJdP0GmrLfFSoxX_qv95Y0JnyrwdiWB7u7zmoMcV0cmiC6JB8_zjTeNSMPBGXWOBt927nVuKu4Epcdz2xe72i9aG1PPCiCug8ZyFf1IEppUAKCpQwAp31jBpmGQQ/s1080/marvel-legends-extremis-iron-man-review-height.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Comparison image of Hasbro Marvel Legends Extremis Iron Man with Captain America and Spider-Man" border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVlM2xFIHj-hV4vPxSpx0wDNEjfm5rutEPiS8bTjRnIX17wgx8RSwdhIJdP0GmrLfFSoxX_qv95Y0JnyrwdiWB7u7zmoMcV0cmiC6JB8_zjTeNSMPBGXWOBt927nVuKu4Epcdz2xe72i9aG1PPCiCug8ZyFf1IEppUAKCpQwAp31jBpmGQQ/s16000/marvel-legends-extremis-iron-man-review-height.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCp8bf7Lc4Qjdyw7C48f94zqKrCWwoTr3bkYAOOhUrcmZHvK3JpOe3Y9nNGuFg_of7E7LMp65ZWEyp7_5bZinTv_922uRL6-tp2XTKppflUOhG72P973clCnlAMJ0BuvBDSiHwQGVnn6Z6NAi_-3iZ8UJ-HXWuz2LjtBdidjcIMGhA0UECgA/s1080/marvel-legends-extremis-iron-man-review-fight.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Action shot of Hasbro Marvel Legends Extremis Iron Man and Captain America" border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCp8bf7Lc4Qjdyw7C48f94zqKrCWwoTr3bkYAOOhUrcmZHvK3JpOe3Y9nNGuFg_of7E7LMp65ZWEyp7_5bZinTv_922uRL6-tp2XTKppflUOhG72P973clCnlAMJ0BuvBDSiHwQGVnn6Z6NAi_-3iZ8UJ-HXWuz2LjtBdidjcIMGhA0UECgA/s16000/marvel-legends-extremis-iron-man-review-fight.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I hope you found this review helpful. Thanks for reading and stay safe out there!</span></div></div></div>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-4507775838958846092023-05-08T12:40:00.189+08:002023-05-15T14:55:34.324+08:00GI Joe Classified Series Vincent "Falcon" Falcone Figure Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0jNHokREsrlJKr7GIp3swDk2s3SlbLB4mkpC7b9U9qBBb_I4eH9VI9bSgqAK-qEbEWd-iiqeDnrBum6ecE_Zw695q7EdVLTsS2f_NgNYxyOyaGO30KLrjVWvetbtxCTyOEahSqfk8eG3r2pKWdAAgukIrcQHtLBr9nwo26a8kbap1l_3Mg/s1200/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0jNHokREsrlJKr7GIp3swDk2s3SlbLB4mkpC7b9U9qBBb_I4eH9VI9bSgqAK-qEbEWd-iiqeDnrBum6ecE_Zw695q7EdVLTsS2f_NgNYxyOyaGO30KLrjVWvetbtxCTyOEahSqfk8eG3r2pKWdAAgukIrcQHtLBr9nwo26a8kbap1l_3Mg/s16000/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the best and worst things about action figure collecting as an adult is when toy companies release updated versions of your favorite childhood toys. Best because hell yeah that toy you lost on the street as a kid is coming back to you bigger and better than ever, and worst because sometimes you just never know what you're gonna get.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That's why I got the <b>GI Joe Classified Series Vincent "Falcon" Falcone </b>figure the moment it was announced. This was the guy who lead my Ninja Turles and my sister's dolls on adventures when we were kids. And now he's back and given the Hasbro GI Joe Classified Series treatment. But how did they treat him this time around? Read on to find out!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Lt. Falcon</b> was my very first GI Joe figure, this cool soldier in a green beret and camo gear. His <b>GI Joe Classified Series</b> version retains much of the original toy's features, right down to the wee antenna and useless sculpted knife and sheath on his webbing!</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gneR-7IdveZ55vh_VmGuGt1ZK8b9a7BOx8L2uUdNPlDO4thvHQEbfE08iHCIFX0xCeftwK66Tl3Ayq0xu76-IdshID_EqtTasGRTDHftajdItBuySjkLjdCaHcCNvobA8bq5FTSan_f-V6WXg5rIEk-sYkSR6nq7RhQNI1VEWQObrvQY1Q/s1117/gi-joe-original-falcon-figure-comparison.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gneR-7IdveZ55vh_VmGuGt1ZK8b9a7BOx8L2uUdNPlDO4thvHQEbfE08iHCIFX0xCeftwK66Tl3Ayq0xu76-IdshID_EqtTasGRTDHftajdItBuySjkLjdCaHcCNvobA8bq5FTSan_f-V6WXg5rIEk-sYkSR6nq7RhQNI1VEWQObrvQY1Q/s16000/gi-joe-original-falcon-figure-comparison.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">This is one of the most "generic soldier" looking of the <b>GI Joe Classifieds</b>, but Hasbro found ways to still make it look cool. The detail is at par with figures of the line, from the incredible sculpted "rope" on the backpack to the different textures of his uniform. This is one smart-looking Falcon!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhXFK2JCe5WzTKPmJeNe3dAarRiFwDCL3Q1HDU1D6ei3BGGySd4TSr3kJlgKfWsADKm9PofSU-OeDT_yWaWfEEVy0rF5UTgiv0YunYcqVWt9liQGcCvJMFDCrZedtXpSj2_R-U8-1m2CyWcJruGESmRJWL91qG-POp3aZEsDbba1kz3Ie1w/s1080/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review-backpack.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhXFK2JCe5WzTKPmJeNe3dAarRiFwDCL3Q1HDU1D6ei3BGGySd4TSr3kJlgKfWsADKm9PofSU-OeDT_yWaWfEEVy0rF5UTgiv0YunYcqVWt9liQGcCvJMFDCrZedtXpSj2_R-U8-1m2CyWcJruGESmRJWL91qG-POp3aZEsDbba1kz3Ie1w/s16000/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review-backpack.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_D2yPkaTTVXjYxYdRBLd43wiYxewAXooGoE_eUu9TwSgV5EOu12pSlZLsXQdGkdksRhngj6gWqt4A5mwkto2FYFcv2fVgXutcYRonRDbbx8Y_-lVOm_hYwPziZCOp5sX0ND5YMyytUwYF9vh7wPSh9v_AgXGQ3ZWufK_JZ6wTf78QNvw2ZA/s1080/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review-detail1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_D2yPkaTTVXjYxYdRBLd43wiYxewAXooGoE_eUu9TwSgV5EOu12pSlZLsXQdGkdksRhngj6gWqt4A5mwkto2FYFcv2fVgXutcYRonRDbbx8Y_-lVOm_hYwPziZCOp5sX0ND5YMyytUwYF9vh7wPSh9v_AgXGQ3ZWufK_JZ6wTf78QNvw2ZA/s16000/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review-detail1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1POT4zZaXUuuZdAMZqAopecZcMLFYuK-IfLReS_lZcZTrLpwYVXRvTVmjDY5v8z_b9wHkVLR5lIT6ocKluuON6-_gh5ir9SP84vc7H-sVODlzCrkZBtk6GVCh2HQojm9DH7uhZYxV9IsRsJ2r9kvJwZHBe1rGaAey0Pkmx2aESpncW8JS2g/s1080/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review-detail2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1POT4zZaXUuuZdAMZqAopecZcMLFYuK-IfLReS_lZcZTrLpwYVXRvTVmjDY5v8z_b9wHkVLR5lIT6ocKluuON6-_gh5ir9SP84vc7H-sVODlzCrkZBtk6GVCh2HQojm9DH7uhZYxV9IsRsJ2r9kvJwZHBe1rGaAey0Pkmx2aESpncW8JS2g/s16000/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review-detail2.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The straps of Falcone's web gear and the hem of his shirt is one single piece, making it easy for you to pose him without the bottom of his shirt restricting movement. Falcone's got the standard <b style="text-align: start;">GI Joe Classified Series</b> articulation so you can put him in some badass poses.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFXqX3ITBNKtEco86gtDdOPwqV-gP1oENVToCsuS4IS20_wIriTJhwmksSY3gDJU3IZMfHPIRaMW6deHh1AbA101j8w7HspuC8UuCnVNiyJNehbYfavkEF0Mn3xEKFuShzbOQETzDbVcYL9alFgi0uSxgmHusha98tOrdPK3xOyi-UT0UHw/s1080/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review-pose1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFXqX3ITBNKtEco86gtDdOPwqV-gP1oENVToCsuS4IS20_wIriTJhwmksSY3gDJU3IZMfHPIRaMW6deHh1AbA101j8w7HspuC8UuCnVNiyJNehbYfavkEF0Mn3xEKFuShzbOQETzDbVcYL9alFgi0uSxgmHusha98tOrdPK3xOyi-UT0UHw/s16000/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review-pose1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptMrzUHg0JWfVNQmntueifZXSxvrNidWe9DB3Xjfj3VAJ9G7f87ZF6K4m0G8elGgEz8D_y6rbxUKwYNs_5ukwJNQ4Jyq9R6-L_rTJ6fFWWEEKbh_9ycaMgM6KkHg1fmGVzjLsu4MUBKfM2ps0YangzAX_aHiJvCqtL0ZwajToTm9G1qjfbQ/s1080/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review-pose2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptMrzUHg0JWfVNQmntueifZXSxvrNidWe9DB3Xjfj3VAJ9G7f87ZF6K4m0G8elGgEz8D_y6rbxUKwYNs_5ukwJNQ4Jyq9R6-L_rTJ6fFWWEEKbh_9ycaMgM6KkHg1fmGVzjLsu4MUBKfM2ps0YangzAX_aHiJvCqtL0ZwajToTm9G1qjfbQ/s16000/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review-pose2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYA9nREIN8P7kvSa_BMAbR9at2UDvn2DldibGAKDSBzusQE1tOwd8KxYH-LEl29hVH09cQD4Ve0artb2aQJWec2M93IpRLfRh3eW60kkLbpby413KxL5EP9WS-hKaGR63JvoOd8iqDVloXnJIAoysTUiidZDEON7XjoOmxddqBrQPFpowCTg/s1080/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review-pose3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYA9nREIN8P7kvSa_BMAbR9at2UDvn2DldibGAKDSBzusQE1tOwd8KxYH-LEl29hVH09cQD4Ve0artb2aQJWec2M93IpRLfRh3eW60kkLbpby413KxL5EP9WS-hKaGR63JvoOd8iqDVloXnJIAoysTUiidZDEON7XjoOmxddqBrQPFpowCTg/s16000/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review-pose3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Falcone has a couple of accessories, one of which is a Franchi SPAS-12 shotgun with folding stock. Thank goodness <b style="text-align: start;">GI Joe Classified Series</b> no longer gives its figures <a href="https://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-joe-toys-modern-general-discussion/500643-classified-joe-nerf-blaster-identification.html" target="_blank"><i>Nerf </i>guns</a>! The sculpt and detailing on the gun is amazing and fits in Falcone's hand well, and the stock of the shotgun even folds out! Unfortunately, the butt of the stock gets detached if you so much as breathe on it.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdJF8W_OjRev9NFXYFx0bpv3zN3O1ew5qbTt2VCHqLqkILHHvdOoFVyyHIfnPaQKrMV1Z3HEJPX2VLIGSHQSD2uiWpY_4vb6i6ZxNDo69lIKCaIz2yFm8Li72Hx2YkkM3OATQh03CR5lm33ZKRAko1oARSBpOJh0XB3BwWTVSjhykCI1v-Q/s1080/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review-shotgun.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdJF8W_OjRev9NFXYFx0bpv3zN3O1ew5qbTt2VCHqLqkILHHvdOoFVyyHIfnPaQKrMV1Z3HEJPX2VLIGSHQSD2uiWpY_4vb6i6ZxNDo69lIKCaIz2yFm8Li72Hx2YkkM3OATQh03CR5lm33ZKRAko1oARSBpOJh0XB3BwWTVSjhykCI1v-Q/s16000/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review-shotgun.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzc7Y8jNqs5ZBeuTxyIUShAEocksX8Iddh-heJgMOe5ZuFQu8clgIGNOx9hl7SedrDTHxNWX5TnvgEAO-3ohWpVMEw5_OtLWdh-SJ9Gij1XlB76XFOUpgGN88tyxIcs7vOvChmUthfD5JYYY8QAm7TaVxIj5sQsiUTaE7HHyx55RYSI5ToA/s1080/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review-shotgun2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzc7Y8jNqs5ZBeuTxyIUShAEocksX8Iddh-heJgMOe5ZuFQu8clgIGNOx9hl7SedrDTHxNWX5TnvgEAO-3ohWpVMEw5_OtLWdh-SJ9Gij1XlB76XFOUpgGN88tyxIcs7vOvChmUthfD5JYYY8QAm7TaVxIj5sQsiUTaE7HHyx55RYSI5ToA/s16000/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review-shotgun2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Falcone also has this gnarly-looking knife that fits in the sheath on his backpack. However, the knife handle is too small to fit in Falcone's hands, making it as useless as it looks.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh271SSqACISA7LydsahNvz3zAyjtSX4ppKFdl15z85IjOS4A64H_MTPkpg7qlbOIqk_eln6HY3NaDn5D4_yEqMRl__54Fg9h1Fm8nzjCpIwVnkYdcTj_oLEsCwEVES2ZLKD3P5rs8fdT57AnA735cUi7LqEABDe6khezIVB-es9PnIO9XE8w/s1080/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review-knife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh271SSqACISA7LydsahNvz3zAyjtSX4ppKFdl15z85IjOS4A64H_MTPkpg7qlbOIqk_eln6HY3NaDn5D4_yEqMRl__54Fg9h1Fm8nzjCpIwVnkYdcTj_oLEsCwEVES2ZLKD3P5rs8fdT57AnA735cUi7LqEABDe6khezIVB-es9PnIO9XE8w/s320/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review-knife.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And to add indignity upon insult, Falcone's headsculpt looks <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhtHM9pAR3Y" target="_blank">nothing like his announcement renders</a> and more like someone with shrimp allergy. The lip tint they gave him does the sculpt no better favors. Sure, it's not like being ugly is a crime, but for idealized versions of superheroic soldiers from a cartoon-slash-toy commercial, I was hoping for something more pleasing to the eye!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdXVoxYH_JrgqP0qgMtdVxv0DOC1NK1W44uRb-WJZqdHhoSI8pVeADhwYbw626KQtRT73cpGt0fIS4aOpsje-7rFRijzqX-buKfpW6SnluINHDT11vJJQBBBsQ1uGK68VTZzmbbA2foicFg7F5aBpKDIhYZ5AIUS6yOt10pZ0qWELxBGmtQ/s1080/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review-face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdXVoxYH_JrgqP0qgMtdVxv0DOC1NK1W44uRb-WJZqdHhoSI8pVeADhwYbw626KQtRT73cpGt0fIS4aOpsje-7rFRijzqX-buKfpW6SnluINHDT11vJJQBBBsQ1uGK68VTZzmbbA2foicFg7F5aBpKDIhYZ5AIUS6yOt10pZ0qWELxBGmtQ/s16000/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review-face.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It's unfortunate that my most-anticipated GI Joe figure gets saddled with a disappointing release. As much as I enjoy seeing <b>Lt. Falcon</b> come back to my collection, it shows me how sometimes, you're better off looking at nostalgia from the safety of rose-colored glasses.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJ9dKUaVx9RiuwfXzUFT9tqJut6hr6ZuSGniGuT0rFSCgMfCVyfXez-lvrCYG4mcW72LK_PVRhoP2Ba9tzXf_K6A4CMoG3T92BBzDYzbE-_0WDGmH4964IWp-ZR-lgBHKTaKZzrZIk799Mq76h25wUfosuNdLuvLb8_mDeknORRgEMUzy1A/s998/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review-height.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="998" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJ9dKUaVx9RiuwfXzUFT9tqJut6hr6ZuSGniGuT0rFSCgMfCVyfXez-lvrCYG4mcW72LK_PVRhoP2Ba9tzXf_K6A4CMoG3T92BBzDYzbE-_0WDGmH4964IWp-ZR-lgBHKTaKZzrZIk799Mq76h25wUfosuNdLuvLb8_mDeknORRgEMUzy1A/s16000/gi-joe-classified-falcon-toy-review-height.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Has your favorite GI Joe been given the <b>GI Joe Classified Series </b>treatment yet? Let me know in the comments. Thanks for reading and stay safe out there!</div>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-16801744773248468522023-05-07T21:56:00.002+08:002023-05-07T22:05:45.181+08:00Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Review - The warm feeling of closure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdx-BjuZGOqsvF2IE-ixdG0n2bWVsCMqOlD_sloqtjsgUi2LfdE1VENv26WwU_sahQeGj3WP_4MXMIfHf8dlGxIAd91JuBr-JFuHiM-QbwfO3KZJfhJreZlCE5C827TvnJgQfuhJ70KOUn_T7ZDdIu9dZ03YlYeHMywipvZLzy7MW7Vtfd3w/s1200/gotg%20vol%203%20review%20beholdthegeek.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdx-BjuZGOqsvF2IE-ixdG0n2bWVsCMqOlD_sloqtjsgUi2LfdE1VENv26WwU_sahQeGj3WP_4MXMIfHf8dlGxIAd91JuBr-JFuHiM-QbwfO3KZJfhJreZlCE5C827TvnJgQfuhJ70KOUn_T7ZDdIu9dZ03YlYeHMywipvZLzy7MW7Vtfd3w/s16000/gotg%20vol%203%20review%20beholdthegeek.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Marvel Studios has been coasting on our goodwill these past few movies of theirs, but <b>Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3</b> finally feels like a return to form, as director<b> James Gunn</b> carries the <i><a href="https://www.beholdthegeek.com/search/label/Guardians%20of%20the%20Galaxy?&max-results=6" target="_blank">Guardians of the Galaxy</a></i> franchise not just to the finish line, but to all new heights.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">After cultivating this little corner of the MCU, Gunn brings it all to a close with an emotional, albeit a tad manipulative, send-off to one of its most defiant franchises. Here, Star-Lord (<b>Chris Pratt</b>) is a mess, humbled by the events of <i>Avengers: Endgame</i> and still mourning for his love, Gamora. Together with Mantis, Drax, Nebula, Groot, and Rocket, they have established a home in Knowhere, though each of them still feel lost, directionless. When a specter from Rocket's mysterious past comes violently knocking, the team is on a race against time to save their friend...or die trying.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Avengers wish they were this close. Gunn just gave us one of the most cohesive units in Marvel. This motley crew aren't just friends, they're family. And that word is a powerful through line that provides much of the movie's emotional — and oftentimes comedic — beats. It also gives them some newfound strength, as we're given the most competent version of Star-Lord, the most heroic Nebula, and the most confident Mantis we've seen so far. It makes for very satisfying viewing, and you'll find the 2 hour, 30-minute runtime blast through in a haze of frenetic action and gorgeous alien worlds seen through the eyes of the best version of this team we've had.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It's not often that a movie makes full use of its ensemble cast, but you can definitely say that in <b>Volume 3</b>. Hulk wishes he had as much breathing room for his character journey as Drax, Mantis, or even freaking <i>Kraglin</i> (<b>Sean Gunn</b> in a defining role). Everyone had a role to play, everyone had a catharsis that resulted in full circle moment, that the satisfying feeling of closure drips consistently throughout the movie.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Everyone pulls their share of acting weight, but it all pales to <b>Chukwudi Iwuji</b>'s performance as the High Evolutionary. He acts circles around the ensemble cast (fitting for a man who works for the <i>Royal Shakespeare Company</i>), gleefully playing an unhinged madman whose genetic genius is matched only by his insanity. High Evolutionary may not be as flashy as some of the more iconic Marvel movie villains, but he is so chilling in his malevolence that to see his downfall is downright cathartic.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Unfortunately, this is still a James Gunn movie, with all the baggage that goes with it. The man still just can't help himself. Though the jokes land better than his previous efforts, they still overstay their welcome, padding the already laborious runtime with bickering and banter. Sure, banter that serves its purpose to nail the themes of this dysfunctional family home, but there is a point when the nail is already hammered in deep that you're just damaging the surface.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">There's also the matter of Adam, dubbed the "Warlock". Teased at the end of <i>GotG Vol. 2</i> as the apex of Sovereign perfection, Adam is scary powerful for all 5 minutes...and then spends the rest of the movie as a painfully naive himbo extraordinaire. <b>Will Poulter </b>tries his best to make it endearing, yet one can't help but be disappointed by Gunn's treatment of one of Marvel Comics' most iconic cosmic characters, reduced to trivia fodder in your next Marvel pub quiz (the High Evolutionary gave Adam the name "Warlock" and gifted him with the Soul Gem in the comics).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Still, underneath this gooey mess is a lot of heart that's missing in even the most critically acclaimed of MCU movies. For all its faults, <b>Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3</b> did what it set out to do, which is end this little cosmic corner of the MCU on one of the highest notes it could possibly have. Highly recommended!</p>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-42769063200078043622023-03-31T14:05:00.003+08:002023-05-02T22:19:35.636+08:00Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Review: Cheesy, cheerful, comedic fun!<div class="Ar Au Ao" id=":17k"><div aria-controls=":1aa" aria-label="Message Body" aria-multiline="true" aria-owns=":1aa" class="Am Al editable LW-avf tS-tW tS-tY" g_editable="true" hidefocus="true" id=":17g" role="textbox" spellcheck="false" style="direction: ltr; min-height: 240px;" tabindex="1"><div dir="ltr"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Tta52NG8O_098aymxyUtZdFwQWakXo2P1fwVscE-nszkQlCwSZm5I1cF4o5Wfm4cgZV-wX-KbJYaah0NvH33C3Wgzq_gV4khylnzYDktcW8-7hK_0zqWcEQDuneka05WhDlbqnnx6xuRppjxaqwM9KgSVzzZYMU8a55qie_wKsv4Y03LUA/s1280/dungeons-and-dragons-honor-among-thieves-review-beholdthegeek.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Tta52NG8O_098aymxyUtZdFwQWakXo2P1fwVscE-nszkQlCwSZm5I1cF4o5Wfm4cgZV-wX-KbJYaah0NvH33C3Wgzq_gV4khylnzYDktcW8-7hK_0zqWcEQDuneka05WhDlbqnnx6xuRppjxaqwM9KgSVzzZYMU8a55qie_wKsv4Y03LUA/s16000/dungeons-and-dragons-honor-among-thieves-review-beholdthegeek.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wildly entertaining with nary a missed step, <b>Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves</b> stands as an instant classic, a truly escapist fantasy at a time we need it the most.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As if spilling out of the character sheets in your weekend D&D session (that one weekend where everyone is available, mind), <b>Honor Among Thieves</b> presents the story of Edgin (<b>Chris Pine</b>), a former do-gooder whose fall from grace caused the death of his wife Zia and estrangement with is daughter Kira. After getting caught along with his best friend Holga (<b>Michelle Rodriguez</b>) in a magical heist gone wrong, Edgin plots to reunite with his daughter and right his wrongs. Pretty straightforward, except for the fact that his daughter is in the care of his double-crossing former teammate Forge (<b>Hugh Grant</b>), who has under his employ a dreaded Red Wizard of Thay...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It could have gone wrong in a myriad of ways. Even supposedly <a href="https://www.beholdthegeek.com/2023/02/ant-man-and-wasp-quantumania-review.html" target="_blank">bulletproof IPs</a> have stumbled as of late. But directors<b> Jonathan Goldstein</b> and <b>John Francis Daley</b> (with story help from <b>Chris McKay</b> and <b>Michael Gilio</b>) found a winning formula here: just make an earnest action adventure movie that believes in everything it says and does. No winking to the audience, no tired pop culture references (don't worry, no one does a Fork Knife dance here), just using well-worn fantasy tropes in the way Gary Gygax intended. The segues, the plan pivots, the backstories, all come together to make this feel like a night of gaming with friends, except with a bigger budget for jaw-dropping action sequences involving red dragons and undead wizards!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The ensemble cast is an absolute hoot. <b>Chris Pine</b> is positively magnetic as Edgin. <b>Michelle Rodriguez</b>'s Holga is just Michelle Rodriguez in barbarian garb, which is a compliment here. <b>Justice Smith</b> is affecting enough as the bumbling sorcerer Simon, and you'll cheer just as I did when he finds his footing. <b>Sophia Lillis</b>' tiefling druid Doric has a no-nonsense charm, and so does <b>Regé-Jean Page</b>'s paladin Xenk Yendar. This motley crew carries their share of emotional and comedic weight, and their chemistry as a group feels like a Dungeon Master's dream party.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Don't worry if you feel like you'll get lost in the nerd jargon. The film paints the vivid world of Faerun and its characters in broad strokes, letting you embrace this fantasy setting as a layman while adding to the viewing of those in the know. You may not differentiate your Neverwinter from your Neverember, but all you need to know is that <a href="https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Red_Wizards_of_Thay" target="_blank">Red Wizards of Thay</a> are evil, and if Edgin and co. don't stop their plan of world domination, the <strike>game session</strike> movie is over.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With incredibly fun and exciting action, good-spirited comedy, and a whole lot of heart rounding out the rest of this gem of a film, <b>Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves</b> is proof positive that good things come from those who care. Highly recommended!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-91226753509683209242023-03-18T18:06:00.027+08:002023-03-20T22:48:46.203+08:00Shazam! Fury of the Gods Review: Bigger doesn't always mean better<div class="Ar Au Ao" id=":176"><div aria-controls=":19w" aria-label="Message Body" aria-multiline="true" aria-owns=":19w" class="Am Al editable LW-avf tS-tW tS-tY" g_editable="true" hidefocus="true" id=":172" role="textbox" spellcheck="false" style="direction: ltr; min-height: 219px;" tabindex="1"><div dir="ltr"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuaf3OWNqyZ6zJBlAUcC04DFq1PBuV42bT_4bZUmlaR2axdF1RG-k11bjBZI8HeG5kS_r-goJLH7s-uzL6ZxITl4b65Of1AkcsEUvSQ5hQVcKzNyQzzJPN8FShQwnpZp13mOSX6MO8ttPS6AQ07Iel23alFc1UV0UcDu2BVqwssSBN0hBwEA/s1280/shazam-fury-of-the-gods-review-beholdthegeek.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuaf3OWNqyZ6zJBlAUcC04DFq1PBuV42bT_4bZUmlaR2axdF1RG-k11bjBZI8HeG5kS_r-goJLH7s-uzL6ZxITl4b65Of1AkcsEUvSQ5hQVcKzNyQzzJPN8FShQwnpZp13mOSX6MO8ttPS6AQ07Iel23alFc1UV0UcDu2BVqwssSBN0hBwEA/s16000/shazam-fury-of-the-gods-review-beholdthegeek.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Much like the angsty teen hidden inside the superhero, <b>Shazam!: Fury of the Gods</b> feels like it could be great if it applied itself.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first Shazam! movie wasn't a very tough act to follow. The debut movie of The Big Red Cheese <a href="https://www.beholdthegeek.com/2019/04/shazam-movie-review.html" target="_blank">was a fun time at the movies with a lot of heart</a>, and all the inevitable sequel had to do was be more fun and give us more of that heartstring-tugging earnestness. <b>Fury of the Gods</b> doesn't exactly live up to that, but it tries.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Billy Batson (<b>Asher Angel</b>) and his Shazamily have been doing their superhero thing for the past few years, but with less-than-stellar results (they're dubbed the "Philly Fiascos" by the press due to their inexperienced antics). Billy is more than happy to keep doing this forever, but with his adopted siblings wanting to branch out on their own and a deadline hanging over his head as he ages out of the foster care system, time is running out for him. Adding to their problems is the arrival of the Daughters of Atlas, Hespera (Dame <b>Helen Mirren</b>) and Kalypso (<b>Lucy Liu</b>), who plan to take revenge on humanity for imprisoning them on their home plane.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Fury of the Gods</b> offers up more of the same from the first <i>Shazam!</i> movie, only said and done much louder. <b>Zachary Levi </b>as the eponymous superhero lays into the meathead jock schtick a tad too thick, and his connection with his teen alter-ego Billy Batson is tenuous at best; you used to get a hint of <b>Asher Angel</b>'s vulnerability even as Levi plays his adult form, but in <b>Fury of the Gods</b>, it's all Levi to the point that you forget Angel is also in this movie. The story itself is muddled mess of CGI that needed way more time to gestate than the movie's 2-hour runtime allowed, with Hespera and Kalypso's motivations not becoming compelling enough for me to care. Sadly, Mirren and Liu sleepily slog their way through performances that feel like school theatre stuff that is a waste of their overqualified talents.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thankfully, anything hovering outside the main plot provided much of the movie's entertainment. <b>Jack Dylan Grazer</b>'s Freddie Freeman is a bundle of nerdy charm this time around, and his chemistry with his gorgeous love interest Anthea (played by <b>Rachel Zegler</b>) is cute without being trite. <b>Djimon Hounsou</b>'s the Wizard Shazam is a surprising source of much of the movie's laughs and bounces off well with the younger cast. And when not in close proximity to Levi's scenery chewing, the rest of the Shazamily shine in their own little ways in both their kid and superhero counterparts.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Don't get me wrong, <b>Shazam!: Fury of the Gods</b> is a fun time at the movies despite what my misgivings would tell you. But louder and bigger doesn't always mean better. With the DCEU reboot on the horizon, all of this feels moot anyway.</div></div></div></div>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-83623440943334436052023-02-20T15:44:00.001+08:002023-02-21T16:51:03.663+08:00Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Review: A victim of the MCU's success<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JheUiJS-ZDQO4rSnz8Zbs52j7hmqRnWD0YjvJgdgNFFRVyxrOTG0FQ4JBl2VhnaQ6OXMTQt85Zs1xKmqKZemQ6FPphypZp4l5T2Nl7kdWqLPWDGyJTTVPp-7GdX-AFjf_AyOueVxJMpfxDSLv5X4vNNgs0I-F8x9IYafcFgjXVdFtMVVhA/s1200/quantumania%20review%20beholdthegeek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JheUiJS-ZDQO4rSnz8Zbs52j7hmqRnWD0YjvJgdgNFFRVyxrOTG0FQ4JBl2VhnaQ6OXMTQt85Zs1xKmqKZemQ6FPphypZp4l5T2Nl7kdWqLPWDGyJTTVPp-7GdX-AFjf_AyOueVxJMpfxDSLv5X4vNNgs0I-F8x9IYafcFgjXVdFtMVVhA/s16000/quantumania%20review%20beholdthegeek.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania</b> is <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ant_man_and_the_wasp_quantumania" target="_blank">sitting in the 40s on Rotten Tomatoes</a>, one of the lowest scores an MCU movie has gotten. People have written this off as a bad movie, but that feels like making mountains out of anthills. Because at its core, <b>Quantumania </b>is inoffensive to a fault.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Scott Lang returns for a new adventure in this latest addition to Marvel's full-to-bursting cinematic universe, this time with his reconstituted family in tow: his girlfriend Hope Pym (<b>Evangeline Lilly</b>), his mentor Henry "Hank" Pym (<b>Michael Douglas</b>), and Hank's wife Janet (<b>Michelle Pfeiffer</b>). After Scott's daughter Cassie (<b>Kathryn Newton</b>) stupidly messes around with the Quantum Realm, they immediately learn how incredibly bad that idea is. Sucked into the Quantum Realm with no way back and being hunted down by a dangerous foe from Janet's mysterious past, the Pyms and the Langs must work together or die trying!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Off the bat, <b>Quantumania </b>looks great. It hits you with the fantastical in every direction and constantly looks like a concept artist's vivid wet dream. Alien environments beyond our comprehension and alien beings unlike anything we've ever seen populate the Quantum Realm like so much eye candy. Makes the Ant-Family's size-changing abilities seem pedestrian by comparison.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The movie treads water until the appearance of the MCU's newest Big Bad, Kang the Conqueror (played to perfection by <b>Jonathan Majors</b>). Whereas Thanos is a warrior comfortable wallowing in bloodsoaked trenches, Majors plays Kang as an aloof demigod who treats anyone below his stature with cutting nonchalance. The <i>Lovecraft Country</i> star elevates this comic book villain with a compelling, vulnerable performance that feels like nobody told him he's acting in a comic book movie. He dominates every scene with his gravitas, to the point that<b> Paul Rudd</b> and the rest of the cast feel out of place in his presence.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It's a lot of fun, though. Multiversal shenanigans and CGI spotfests bombard your eyeballs, and the movie has its share of hokey laughs and dramatic showcases. However, the by-the-numbers plot doesn't help, and it's really noticeable how <b>Quantumania </b>rushes predictably towards a generic supeheroic ending. Any other time, this wouldn't have been a bad thing. But with <i><a href="https://www.beholdthegeek.com/2019/04/avengers-endgame-movie-review.html?m=1" target="_blank">Avengers; Endgame</a></i> still fresh in the minds of the pop culture-consuming populace, the expectation that the 31st movie in the MCU will Change Everything Forever From Now On ultimately does <b>Quantumania </b>no favors.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Call it basic. Call it run-of-the mill. But ultimately, <b>Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania</b> is totally okay. It's just that sometimes, that may not be enough.</p>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-81875684593386270082023-02-01T13:06:00.010+08:002023-02-01T13:08:34.231+08:00Word Geek Wednesday: Hirsute<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Welcome to Word Geek Wednesday, where we explore words in the context of pop culture! Our word today is...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;"><b>hir·sute</b> <i>/ˈhərˌso͞ot,ˈhirˌso͞ot/ adj.</i> hairy</span></blockquote><p></p><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When you want to describe your hairy self to a more discerning crowd, you use the word "<b>hirsute</b>", from the Latin <i>hirsutus </i>meaning "shaggy" or "bristly". This means this isn't your normal hairy. This is some next level stuff!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IV_Hc596saPVMsaFawD1Alz3HbdZobP_Siy6z0rb46-D_lGv6-slU0eVCJbOhMPgLFmOAN7CnkXt-LLKRWi0DACoRkhlO-EYzQFbUQ9xGhGD-0X8GAKaOW2ZEPFO9sNSwGNig3xOHcNt3im7CKo96GNjd0ed3_xPC1HsT3fDtcP_FWmiFw/s1131/wolvie%20hirsute.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IV_Hc596saPVMsaFawD1Alz3HbdZobP_Siy6z0rb46-D_lGv6-slU0eVCJbOhMPgLFmOAN7CnkXt-LLKRWi0DACoRkhlO-EYzQFbUQ9xGhGD-0X8GAKaOW2ZEPFO9sNSwGNig3xOHcNt3im7CKo96GNjd0ed3_xPC1HsT3fDtcP_FWmiFw/s16000/wolvie%20hirsute.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hirsute men are known for their virility, which probably makes guys like <b>Cousin It</b> and <b>Captain Caveman</b> a hit with the ladies.</span></div></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzoFv98cDQ5_fcsNAshTzRTKwXalUBGLwUA2vs0wkeIHVRBdmrRZEQ1kEt1p0EXetV3k1dOYciCJbH6C1jYA_yVVgeyzxWsHfGVwI3gTqZQ9sKb7dPednoXFGKzLBq0wVK3hJ1gBLDTcIP45B0IOLNbAcljr7pZnzuNwdqPoKRbBR6ygxVg/s16000/cap%20caveman.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">And yes, by implication, it means wrestlers like <b>George "The Animal" Steel</b> were too.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpL8ezkA8zr0c4tUhAYrJytIrdTQQUr6zHoENuIw2yLzjoMm2sBMEmcx9rv9R6CEFtzovko3fOX2GLqaxnczTldmDDv_q7oSMs-XxTg4iUkFFHTJTX9Ar4NcDbSJhPf2yyONNnUn1EbGIduJVgkNUDUqVYlk1rK2LX7XTCmOfaQpK6UWxxg/s16000/george%20steele.JPG" /></div></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In comic books, especially in the Marvel Comics universe, you probably couldn't walk a few feet without tripping over someone's hirsute personage. </span><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxiK4BsxXmEfzf4k1PvSfU40ZoTVZsxjXNJKFkdevCnqLvmFUzsftgSk0Nneh3jtJQ7NzUaGgvba28qdGs23I8aCQeAP4V1Oa5T2vap1o88pRzwLJny1CS7uwwyouBAtOsyehVroByOWoU5RWos83wDGcKYk3DZHz4YQGLECQPYB6mx7QkDQ/s16000/hairy-collage.jpg" /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">DC Comics, on the other hand, has someone literally named<b> Shaggy Man</b>. So no one is safe!</span><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWi5j2qYF365UtKj-QN6kw9X-Y0m3Wf05xva1ej4WoRb_0mo_GrqeQAXJv_2vWO_UeXbc9ekdH6lmcaTG72RIxitgLK9jOE7fdQEKw17BkRPvS_5pI72HU3aFV1rP01G5lYsvHbh2mTxghT_h62UuCZ9PuniU8Nsf-_8pGiURvgqca-TnxQ/s461/shaggy%20man.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="461" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWi5j2qYF365UtKj-QN6kw9X-Y0m3Wf05xva1ej4WoRb_0mo_GrqeQAXJv_2vWO_UeXbc9ekdH6lmcaTG72RIxitgLK9jOE7fdQEKw17BkRPvS_5pI72HU3aFV1rP01G5lYsvHbh2mTxghT_h62UuCZ9PuniU8Nsf-_8pGiURvgqca-TnxQ/s16000/shaggy%20man.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Remember what I said about virility? How apt that DC's greatest superhero ever <b>Superman </b>is the peak of hirsute masculinity under the deft pencils of Dan Jurgens?</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHgKXj-JjPtTs3Xwer1XtfmBAMOvt36rGOHltKXqax1J4dXoPDISDWRpbe937D2SqdudqUuUHXODsd6GNtp1GA2FPZNXPLHScl92VIaQ5k6TUU6N0WkrF4t2BrBLZteBVQp1XNFe2767iKI93Ujq_Pbxvahp1Ur_vIROBMQQQoF6NZScBNA/s1488/superman.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="1488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHgKXj-JjPtTs3Xwer1XtfmBAMOvt36rGOHltKXqax1J4dXoPDISDWRpbe937D2SqdudqUuUHXODsd6GNtp1GA2FPZNXPLHScl92VIaQ5k6TUU6N0WkrF4t2BrBLZteBVQp1XNFe2767iKI93Ujq_Pbxvahp1Ur_vIROBMQQQoF6NZScBNA/s16000/superman.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For all the faults of <i><a href="https://www.beholdthegeek.com/2013/06/man-of-steel-2013-movie-review.html" target="_blank">Man of Steel</a></i>, Warner Bros. understood the assignment by casting a just-as-hirsute <b>Henry Cavill</b>, who looks like a Dan Jurgens panel come to life.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrfMSWWhwjruUoblm0ZcaJivUPpEa4jjcxycNPkPK_L3ABvqnolKtBeWhrbbI2smXLbC8VCElf-cE1Fr_V2Z2cili-82_UJBnudN-7tnjSCLwAWwucVcCirtFFmOmWQMGeUh5xmuixOUePSpvQOIJlG6nS8zn_kKDG8nrPaSGvng9LBza0g/s1280/henry%20cavill%20superman.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrfMSWWhwjruUoblm0ZcaJivUPpEa4jjcxycNPkPK_L3ABvqnolKtBeWhrbbI2smXLbC8VCElf-cE1Fr_V2Z2cili-82_UJBnudN-7tnjSCLwAWwucVcCirtFFmOmWQMGeUh5xmuixOUePSpvQOIJlG6nS8zn_kKDG8nrPaSGvng9LBza0g/s16000/henry%20cavill%20superman.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have a word you would like me to check out? Leave them in the comments below!</div><br />George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735396.post-88356344878075289652023-01-26T17:54:00.004+08:002023-01-26T19:33:33.687+08:005 "Bad" Movies That Don't Deserve the Hate<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYtZBpCf-cJh_cXCZPCOzl1eIgGPm_cjMHp8WmdpH6z7wHcXIY0d6QrDYCwXDw8g0D0X1n1mRHihhnYHhtuc0KvZC9rH0j8Bfi-hcOJcNuy5huy_78svRxjmCE0_yYkuYD0i4RxQQItx7sYj0tH4L_7-qU3YvQZqKiaUrwNmm3ACJXLwZDA/s1200/5%20bad%20movies%20that%20dont%20deserve%20the%20hate%20beholdthegeek.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYtZBpCf-cJh_cXCZPCOzl1eIgGPm_cjMHp8WmdpH6z7wHcXIY0d6QrDYCwXDw8g0D0X1n1mRHihhnYHhtuc0KvZC9rH0j8Bfi-hcOJcNuy5huy_78svRxjmCE0_yYkuYD0i4RxQQItx7sYj0tH4L_7-qU3YvQZqKiaUrwNmm3ACJXLwZDA/s16000/5%20bad%20movies%20that%20dont%20deserve%20the%20hate%20beholdthegeek.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It's easy to know if a movie is good. Like, <i>good </i>good. But sometimes Hollywood throws a curveball at you in the form of movies that try their best only to dash hopelessly short on the rocks of modern movie criticism.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some of these movies have been dragged through the mud, critically and financially. But there are a few of these movies that were judged unfairly and left to rot in pop culture lists of the "worst movies of all time". Let me make the case for some "bad" movies that didn't deserve the hate.</div></span><br /><br /><h2 style="text-align: center;">Transformers: Dark of the Moon</h2></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkAbtNOQ-x5fs0K17nFlvcLr2-5i_ESh_b7JFfQOWicLsnDbRv4555IX_Pq2vqSZTre8YV9GvmYca5X6kkS6b3G8xVRZH_H4QqSzyGPQT4vizjYS1VUYll8-UYzcrlidNtIXXOiwbxt1FZ-R8G3r85KDNnuzE3DWYxM7A5VPNeCT3QJXnrQ/s1080/transformers%20dark%20of%20the%20moon%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkAbtNOQ-x5fs0K17nFlvcLr2-5i_ESh_b7JFfQOWicLsnDbRv4555IX_Pq2vqSZTre8YV9GvmYca5X6kkS6b3G8xVRZH_H4QqSzyGPQT4vizjYS1VUYll8-UYzcrlidNtIXXOiwbxt1FZ-R8G3r85KDNnuzE3DWYxM7A5VPNeCT3QJXnrQ/s16000/transformers%20dark%20of%20the%20moon%20.jpg" /></span></a></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>The Transformers live-action movie franchise has seen better days. The first Transformers movie was a fun, albeit flawed, action flick starring giant <strike>transforming</strike> </span><a href="https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Transformation#.22Transform.22_as_a_verb">converting</a> robots. The sequel, Revenge of the Fallen, shit on that goodwill with a meandering mess of a movie that poisoned the proverbial well. It's no wonder there was some trepidation for the third Transformers movie, <b>Dark of the Moon</b>. "Fool me twice," and all.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But to me a lot of the complaints were fixed in <b>Dark of the Moon</b>. For starters, Sam Witwicky is less of a dweeb here, transforming (ha!) into a relatable everyman-cum-action hero. The action is a far cry from the jumble of sharp metal they called fight scenes in the previous movie. And Leonard Nimoy as Sentinel Prime is such a compelling villain with understandable motives that <b>Dark of the Moon</b> becomes so much more than meets the eye.</div></span><br /><br /><h2 style="text-align: center;">The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen</h2></div><div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioz25Hcv_SYch0m-RasQnRsoB3hIFT3dUwUPF7FSS-Bmiwgl4SWTZyNOs64RHKUG8-_OeiFWOkuRO2vMo9mL-_F4dGa7lycSpGxUgBWYVDp9rZRoNmNn7TTboESb8zmv-zV7eev1xge4A7gbrC_7-YIYh6vGnjiJrZYiybs0K8qe0iRd6V0Q/s1080/lxg%20movie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioz25Hcv_SYch0m-RasQnRsoB3hIFT3dUwUPF7FSS-Bmiwgl4SWTZyNOs64RHKUG8-_OeiFWOkuRO2vMo9mL-_F4dGa7lycSpGxUgBWYVDp9rZRoNmNn7TTboESb8zmv-zV7eev1xge4A7gbrC_7-YIYh6vGnjiJrZYiybs0K8qe0iRd6V0Q/s16000/lxg%20movie.jpg" /></span></a></div></div><div><div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>LXG </b>has been maligned since its premiere and rightfully so. It was a futile attempt at adapting Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill's seminal work for the big screen, with paper-thin characters and plot that plods when it should sprint. And they had the audacity to turn up the edge with a cringetastic acronym.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But you know what? I don't care when it's this fun. The action has the typical vivacity of early 2000s action-adventure movies, and instead of aping the comics' jaded and morose crew, the movie's League were a bunch of colorful heroes you loved to see win (I could watch Stuart Townsend chew scenery as <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cvdH-VisXs">Dorian Gray</a> all livelong day). Who knew turning these disparate literary icons into a proto-Avengers team would make for entertaining viewing? Up to now, if <b>LXG </b>came on the TV, I'd still sit down and enjoy it just as much as before.</span></div><br /><br /><h2 style="text-align: center;">Constantine</h2><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRUCuoFknFmMcV30NYFpir_GmJv4E7bZG97SoTIZ55wjIsB4OfqG-kr2U-uMKmUI6bC0nti0BUQyM9UczyXmt4PLdc6kBSCeW4i8skvyOkyVJVh2oWAxLkkDJGCls2-J6MKzqszdUocoI9VFh__SEsvRSqLG1ZgVtANoPSPMEcvTv3FfmjQ/s1080/constantine%20movie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRUCuoFknFmMcV30NYFpir_GmJv4E7bZG97SoTIZ55wjIsB4OfqG-kr2U-uMKmUI6bC0nti0BUQyM9UczyXmt4PLdc6kBSCeW4i8skvyOkyVJVh2oWAxLkkDJGCls2-J6MKzqszdUocoI9VFh__SEsvRSqLG1ZgVtANoPSPMEcvTv3FfmjQ/s16000/constantine%20movie.jpg" /></a></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Speaking of horrible comic adaptations, <b>Constantine </b>gets a bad rap for being nothing like the comic or character it's based on (the <i>Hellblazer </i>series from DC Comics' Vertigo imprint), and in some respects the criticism is well-deserved. But the worst you could say is that it's a horrible Hellblazer adaptation, because divorced from the source material it was a serviceable supernatural action movie buoyed by its incredible cast, which includes an androgynous Tilda Swinton and a devilishly good Peter Stormare.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It may be the second worst British character he's played, yet Keanu Reeves makes the role his own, imbuing John Constantine with dare I say more humanity than the comic Constantine, making him a shade more relatable. Coupled with beautiful direction by Francis Lawrence ("every frame a painting" describes <b>Constantine </b>perfectly), and you get a buzzworthy movie in its own right, naysayers be damned.</div></span><div><br /></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: center;">Kung Pow: Enter the Fist</h2></div><div><br /><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwmNc0LKNGonz62NkgKhJeehKUeQ4Q_hI0OQPpGg1RgeJG8DYqxaCYDMbGqTF57giRe9VXd0oVIsz23OojmTfP62x2o_zJcv65_n09FonSoFAMwtXrcCHR4MGw_DW0y7F5D86wRAa9yPyNPx1vBfdxWqFmMEoZNMoj7vtthyYaP9gcjFSRw/s1080/kung%20pow%20movie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwmNc0LKNGonz62NkgKhJeehKUeQ4Q_hI0OQPpGg1RgeJG8DYqxaCYDMbGqTF57giRe9VXd0oVIsz23OojmTfP62x2o_zJcv65_n09FonSoFAMwtXrcCHR4MGw_DW0y7F5D86wRAa9yPyNPx1vBfdxWqFmMEoZNMoj7vtthyYaP9gcjFSRw/s16000/kung%20pow%20movie.jpg" /></span></a></div></div></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To be honest, I judge people by whether they find </span><b style="font-size: medium;">Kung Pow</b><span style="font-size: medium;"> funny or not. Because I don't need that kind of negativity in my life. But I digress, and I actually concede that this movie is not for everyone. It's inane in every single way, from the incredibly stupid one-liners to the cheesy plot.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But just because it's not for everyone doesn't mean it's horrible.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">None of it makes sense, and that's exactly the <i>point</i>. <b>Kung Pow</b> was absurdist before it was in vogue. Master <strike>Pain</strike> Betty doesn't wink knowingly to the audience when he proclaims, "I am a great magician...your clothes are red!" The movie fully commits to the bit, and that to me is braver and more refreshing than humor that assumes the audience is too dumb to understand it. Steve Oedekerk took an obscure Hong Kong martial arts film called <i>Tiger & Crane Fists</i> and transformed into a wholly original and incredibly quotable movie, and for that he deserves all our respect.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><br /><h2 style="text-align: center;">The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift</h2><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoo3nC3IRDXUT7HiBUDIDUG0x-2E_iy_FY5Gf4he_4H-N1Ae-VJExBOH1mpQIG7ya37RQ1C8iMspJAoSYJ0Wsmh8cdIarPAUdnCdGeq0qDlmGwqZFFX53ZrBRMBvLl6oyX7jq66hbSLqb4DwQBwLDqGnpJhPPZr7ksgBGrnM_5pZVY-3cVA/s1080/tokyo%20drift%20movie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoo3nC3IRDXUT7HiBUDIDUG0x-2E_iy_FY5Gf4he_4H-N1Ae-VJExBOH1mpQIG7ya37RQ1C8iMspJAoSYJ0Wsmh8cdIarPAUdnCdGeq0qDlmGwqZFFX53ZrBRMBvLl6oyX7jq66hbSLqb4DwQBwLDqGnpJhPPZr7ksgBGrnM_5pZVY-3cVA/s16000/tokyo%20drift%20movie.jpg" /></span></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It says a lot that the first two Fast & Furious movies didn't turn me into a car fan, and yet </span><b style="font-size: medium;">The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift</b><span style="font-size: medium;"> did. The third F&F movie wasn't well received and did disappointing returns at the box office, but to me the reason it still deserves a second look is because 1) it's a cultural time capsule, and 2) the cars and the races were so goddamn sexy.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Out of all the movies in this list, <b>Tokyo Drift</b> is the one whose ill repute is ill-deserved. Director Justin Lin makes you feel the pulse of early 2000s Tokyo in all its neon glory, the high-octane drift races were a refreshing change of pace, and the story of an outsider overcoming the odds to be embraced by his new home is sold by star Lucas Black well. Besides, when you've got award-winning critic <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-fast-and-the-furious-tokyo-drift-2006">Roger Ebert</a> and director <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/christopher-nolan-tokyo-drift-alien-3-interview-b1769605.html">Christopher freakin' Nolan</a> singing praises about Tokyo Drift, then you know it's time to give this underrated gem a spin.</div></span></div></div></div></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>George S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/01725228828454786609noreply@blogger.com0