General Discussion [ Page 4 ]

Godzilla Singular Point Spoiler-Free Review

I was aware of Godzilla Singular Point before it was released, but I had forgotten about it until I wrote about Star Wars Visions. Star Wars Visions is an anime series coming to Disney+ this September (22nd), while Godzilla Singular Point is an anime series currently out on Netflix. Luckily, this was released globally not too long ago (Japan got it first), so my timing was about right.

The series (or first season) is 13 half hour episodes and I “binge watched” them, which I think is a great way to watch many shows. This is a TOHO production, which is the company that created Godzilla along with almost all of the Godzilla movies. They also created many other kaiju... Read All I was aware of Godzilla Singular Point before it was released, but I had forgotten about it until I wrote about Star Wars Visions. Star Wars Visions is an anime series coming to Disney+ this September (22nd), while Godzilla Singular Point is an anime series currently out on Netflix. Luckily, this was released globally not too long ago (Japan got it first), so my timing was about right.

The series (or first season) is 13 half hour episodes and I “binge watched” them, which I think is a great way to watch many shows. This is a TOHO production, which is the company that created Godzilla along with almost all of the Godzilla movies. They also created many other kaiju movies that didn’t feature Godzilla. I really love TOHO, because I really love Godzilla. I also really love the theme music for Godzilla and Mothra (the benevolent moth seen in some Godzilla movies, though she also stars in her own movies). Godzilla and Mothra’s music are very recognizable and I absolutely love them both. I also really love the sound of Godzilla’s roar, which is pretty much the same as it is in all the other TOHO productions. Godzilla’s roar is different in the recent Legendary movies, which I found disappointing.

Godzilla isn’t the only kaiju featured. In fact, we don’t see Godzilla for a few episodes. Rodan, the pterasaur, is the first kaiju we get to see and hearing it’s roar reminded me of watching the movies in which it appeared. That sound was the same and I really loved it! It appears frequently. Jet Jaguar is a giant robot from Godzilla Vs. Megalon, which is it’s only appearance. It also makes an appearance and is pretty much the star of the show, along with the humans. Jet Jaguar goes through an evolution, though not quite like another star of the show (“spoilers!” so I’ll be nice and not reveal that). There are other kaiju as well including Anguiris, the ankylosaurus-looking kaiju and Manda, the underwater dragon. Another named Salunga appears to be Gabara with a redesign and new name. There is one final character in the post-credits scene, but that is another spoiler I won’t reveal here.

I’ve come to realize that just because Godzilla is in something, doesn’t mean it’s great. I’ve watched and re-watched Godzilla movies and have come to the opinion that some of them are horrible, while others are fantastic. Even if a Godzilla movie isn’t great, the parts that directly feature Godzilla are and kind of make them worth watching. It’s kind of hard to pinpoint how I feel about Godzilla Singular Point. I’m not sure I’d call it fantastic, but I’m not sure I’d call it horrible either. The kaiju parts of it are definitely awesome. I was immediately impressed with the visual fidelity. The first part that really stood out to me was light. It wasn’t just basic cartoon-ish, bland light, but it looked realistic and very well made. However, I think the story was a bit too complex. I think it goes to an extreme to explain how these kaiju have shown up. It’s based on some very complex science including dimensional and temporal physics. Yes, time travel is part of it. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it. My favorite human character is probably the old man that is the head of the company that built Jet Jaguar. He also pilots Jet Jaguar in the beginning.

While the series did seem to come to a finale at the end, watching the post-credits scene makes me believe that there may be more to come. If there is a season two, I’ll definitely watch it.

I think if you like anime and/or Godzilla, this might be for you. I love Godzilla, so everything Godzilla is for me. I don’t have anything against anime, I’m just not super in to it. Although there is plenty of anime I’ve seen that I love like The Animatrix (watch if you’re a fan of the Matrix), the Dragonball series, Pokemon, some Final Fantasy, and others. I was very glad that they made an English dub as I’m not fond of subtitles. I thought the voice acting was good. One of the voices in the series reminded me of the World of Final Fantasy game, though I have positive and negative feelings about it.

Feel free to let me know if this is something you’re into. Let me know if you’ve seen it and tell me what you thought about it.

Microsoft Windows 11 Announced

I read a couple of articles recently about Windows 11. There was a project called Windows 10X. It was scrapped, but appears to have found it's way in Windows 11. The new OS features a more "modern" look with a centered task bar. I'm not sure how I feel about this. I think I'll have to see it for myself to decide.

It looks like Vista's gadgets will be making a comeback as widgets. I liked these, so I'm looking forward to possibly checking them out again.

I just found another article confirming that this is a free upgrade coming towards the end of the year. See: https://www.cnet.com/news/microsofts-windows-11-reveal-event-every-upgrade-announced/

There are a variety of... Read All

jdodson Admin wrote on 06/24/2021 at 10:22pm

Very relevant to gaming, promoted to main.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 06/24/2021 at 10:58pm

Thanks. Yeah, it is relevant to gaming. There are parts of this regarding gaming and performance, which are mentioned. Thanks for the promo. :)

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 06/25/2021 at 03:16pm

I don't know. Part if me loves technology evolving, but I'm dreading the possible compatibility issues with software at work lol

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 06/25/2021 at 11:50pm

I believe I read something in the last two or three weeks about this and it doesn't seem like it's a major overhaul, so I doubt compatibility issues are going to be a big problem. I could be wrong, though.

I found out the new system requirements. You'll need an 8th gen Intel or Ryzen 2000. The clock speed is still 1Ghz. You'll also need 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage space. You'll also need a DirectX12 GPU and at least 720p. There are a couple of tools mentioned at the end of this article to help you figure out if your PC is compatible: https://www.pcworld.com/article/3622940/windows-11-system-hardware-requirements.html

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 06/26/2021 at 11:24pm

Compatibility issues are always a problem when it comes to Autodesk products lol. But hopefully it won't be too bad!

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 06/27/2021 at 12:03am

Hopefully! I don't have experience with Autodesk, so good luck! :) Are you going to upgrade your PC?

I certainly will, though I'm not quite too sure about the visual parts of it. I feel like having a centered task bar would be weird and take some getting used to. I am, however, very much looking forward to the DirectStorage feature and hoping I notice a performance boost. Auto HDR looks nice, but I don't have a compatible HDR monitor.

I am glad they're giving this free to those of us running Windows 10. Paying just over $100 for it was enough. I love adopting the new Windows versions, but getting them for free is quite a bonus.

jdodson Admin wrote on 06/27/2021 at 03:31am

I’ll most likely upgrade for free but not right away.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 06/29/2021 at 04:47am

MS says with DirectStorage "games can quickly load assets to the graphics card without bogging down the CPU." So, shorter load times. But, you'll have to have the game running on an NVME SSD to work with this. Plus, you'll need a DirectX12 GPU.

The OS will require TPM 2.0. Not all motherboards have this feature, which will require users to buy a piece of hardware so they can run the OS. You can check if you have it by running the command "tpm.msc" or you can find it under Settings>System>About>BitLocker Settings. I did the latter first and it took me to the MS Store to upgrade from Home to Pro edition (which I don't plan to do). The first option worked, but told me I didn't have it. So, I probably won't be an early adopter of Windows 11.

I may have to think about this more. Things may change before it releases, so we'll see.

I found this "new to me" stuff by watching this video: "Windows 11 GAMING: 10 Things You NEED TO KNOW" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-64g8AiD00

You can find more about the TPM 2.0 requirement here: https://www.pcmag.com/news/what-is-a-tpm-and-why-do-i-need-one-for-windows-11

Travis Admin wrote on 06/30/2021 at 02:12pm

Yeah I’ve seen some speculation that, while they said before that Windows 10 would be the last version of Windows and that they’d be building on that from here on, they bumped the version because of the TPM 2.0 requirement since they can’t guarantee compatibility.

There’s also the hypothesis that they introduced the 2.0 requirement to sell more PCs and get more money from new licenses that way.

It’s all speculation of course. For technical minded folks it’s usually going to be easy to add a TPM 2 module to their older motherboard. Laptops are a whole other thing though.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 06/30/2021 at 06:33pm

Well, since I wrote that comment, I've been working on looking into these new requirements. I think I might do it. I found out my motherboard has a TPM header, but I don't know enough about the tech, so I don't know what kind of module to buy. I've sent in a question to ASRock, the manufacturer of my motherboard, to find out if they have any recommendations. I noticed the header is 17 pins, but I found at least one (ASRock actually) module that's 13. Hopefully, they'll get back to me on that, though it looked like most or all modules on Amazon were sold out.

As for NVME, I found out I could get a NVME version of my SSD for about $120. I don't think that's too bad, I guess. I need to look into that tech more, too. I thought NVME was faster, but from what I've seen of their speeds, it looks like they're the same. My SSD is attached via SATA, but I know the NVME attaches directly to the motherboard.

As for all the speculation, I haven't read any of it. It's just my assumption that they're requiring TPM 2.0 so that computers are more secure.

jdodson Admin wrote on 06/30/2021 at 08:07pm

I haven’t really looked into the TPM but last time Microsoft wanted to bake this into Windows, at the time it was called “Trusted Computing” (not too different than TPM) the Internet flipped their shit. Now it seems, no one cares? Unless the reason now is to avoid hacking using hardware encryption and not locking you out of your shit. But I’m not sure, maybe that was what Trusted Computing was and we just over reacted.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 06/30/2021 at 09:20pm

So, I got a reply from ASRock. It's lame, because they just sent me a pic that shows TPM 2.0 specifications. At the bottom it says, "not supported with Intel 8 and 9 series chipsets." This is very disappointing. I built this PC 2 years ago. I have no idea how many people have 10th or 11th gen CPUS. I have an i7-8700 and on a separate list, I did see my CPU listed as compatible with Win11, but with this TPM info (assuming it is correct), then it isn't. It seems confusing. If all of this is true, then I most certainly hope MS gets a load of backlash for it and removes the requirement. Otherwise, I can't imagine many people upgrading. If they don't remove it, then I won't be able to upgrade unless I upgrade my motherboard and CPU, which is pretty much most definitely not going to happen. Those two items are not on my list of things I want to upgrade soon. Still, I might get a NVME just to see if there's a performance boost. Ark is still a very hardware demanding game.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 06/30/2021 at 09:49pm

Looks like I don't know much about NVME either. I have a Western Digital SSD connected via SATA III. I found an NVME exactly like it. Both have the same speeds, so I was confused. So, I went through the list of NVMEs compatible with my motherboard and learned. NVMEs are to SSDs are what SSDs are to HDDs. NVMEs are much faster and more expensive. It seems you could get a 1TB SSD (SATA) for over $100, but an NVME of 512GB is going to cost a bit more than that.

I miss the 2TB HDD I had with the Alienware, but it died. I now have the 1TB SSD and it's almost half full. I want my OS and games all on the same drive, so a 512GB NVME doesn't seem like it would be good enough, unless I got extremely serious about how much storage space I'm using. Since I now only have that 1TB, I don't keep a lot of games installed. I do have an old HDD I am using for other things like documents and other random files, including those files I've downloaded to install programs like Steam, Java, Chrome, etc.

I'll have to think on this more.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 07/01/2021 at 08:09pm

The more I read, the worse it looks to me. I just read an article (shared below) about how many PCs aren't going to be compatible with Win11. Basically, the security features affect performance negatively. Older CPUs and even some newer ones apparently aren't up to the task. While having the security features on creates negative performance, users can turn the features off to get a performance boost.

Also, the article points out the security improvements AMD and Intel have made in their CPUs. The difference between CPU generations isn't completely about cores.

"Why Windows 11 is Leaving So Many PCs Behind": https://www.pcworld.com/article/3623713/why-windows-11-is-leaving-so-many-pcs-behind.html

jdodson Admin wrote on 07/01/2021 at 09:20pm

Right away, there doesn’t seem to be a big reason to upgrade to Windows 11. A lot of PC’s may very well be left behind and that might be ok? For instance, some folks tend to buy all new PC’s every so and so years so that might work out in the end. Some PC’s might never go to Windows 11 which might be ok given that a lot of games won’t require it for quite some time.

jdodson Admin wrote on 07/01/2021 at 09:22pm

I have an old PC kicking around that’s still on Windows 7. I use it to dual boot into Linux and it’s primarily a Linux file store and I use it to rsync files to my NAS. I’m also trying to build a Windows 98SE PC so in the end, I think it’s kind of neat some machines stay at older version of operating systems. Then again, I play a lot of retro games too so… yeah.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 07/01/2021 at 11:11pm

Wow! I was talking to someone recently and she mentioned someone that won't upgrade from Win7. I loved Win7. It may have been one of my most favorites, but I've loved them all (95 and up).

98SE? LOL I remember that, too! Was that one that people hated? I don't know, I think there are lots of people who hate every version ("haters gonna hate"). I think it's because they get used to one and don't want to have to "relearn" how to use a new version. This doesn't apply to me at all, though. Sure, I might have to figure out where some things have been relocated, but I don't see that as a problem.

It's cool you're running a Linux file store, though I don't know much about that. I also don't know much about NAS. You and Travis definitely have IT expertise that I don't, but that's ok, it makes me respect you more. LOL

Travis Admin wrote on 07/02/2021 at 12:21am

Greg you're thinking about Windows ME that was a crashfest lol. Man it was rough. I even thought Vista was ok when it came out but ME was something else.

Sadly my only Linux box right now is my Raspberry Pi NAS. I need to set up a dual boot so I can try out the Steam Proton improvements.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 07/02/2021 at 12:41am

Yeah, I remember WinME was a crash/horrorfest. I think I still liked it though. One version that stands out to me in my memory is Windows 96. It was cancelled, but I remember trying it out.

Travis Admin wrote on 07/02/2021 at 08:50pm

I had to look that one up

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Nashville

Travis Admin wrote on 07/02/2021 at 08:51pm

I used to love running early builds. I used the midpoint between Windows 2000 and Windows XP as a daily driver for a while. It was shockingly stable.

Travis Admin wrote on 07/02/2021 at 08:53pm

Whistler! That's what it was called:

https://b00merang.weebly.com/uploads/1/6/8/1/16813022/windows-whistler-2_1_orig.png

I also used Longhorn for a while between XP and Vista. I loved the interface at the time

https://betawiki.net/images/9/97/WindowsLonghorn-6.0.3718-Desktop.png

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 07/02/2021 at 09:08pm

I looked up Win96, too, just to be sure my memory wasn't fooling me or that it was fake. Now that you mention it, Whistler and Longhorn seem familiar.

jdodson Admin wrote on 07/05/2021 at 04:24am

I didn’t have too hard a time with Windows ME as I think I had hardware that worked really well with it. But, Windows 98SE did seem to have a much larger set of hardware compatibility.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 07/12/2021 at 09:12pm

If you want to run Windows 11, but are worried about the system and hardware requirements (including TPM, UEFI, and Secure Boot), you may not have to worry at all. There are currently ways to bypass many of the OS's requirements. Hopefully Microsoft doesn't prevent these bypasses, but we won't know until Windows 11 is released. Check out this informative video from Linus Tech Tips to learn more: https://youtu.be/NivpAiuh-s0

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 10/04/2021 at 11:23pm

We're a day away from release, but is Windows 11 worth the upgrade? I found a good, thorough review and the conclusion doesn't look good for Win11. If you're thinking about upgrading, you might want to read this article. If you're hesitant about upgrading then I suggest waiting and not jumping into it, at least not for now. There are many things wrong with it, especially the strict hardware requirements that most users probably will not have and thus don't have compatible computers. Even the gamer "goodies" require extra hardware. To give it a look yourself, check out this review I found: https://www.pcworld.com/article/539183/windows-11-review-an-unnecessary-replacement-for-windows-10.html

jdodson Admin wrote on 10/05/2021 at 02:49am

I'll check that out, thanks Greg. I don't plan on upgrading but will buy a new PC in the next handful of years. I imagine when I do it will come with Windows 11 unless Steam Decks new game Wine wrapper is so great I don't need to.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 10/05/2021 at 04:57am

There are parts I really want to upgrade in my PC and I've already upgraded some of them recently, but I don't even want to think about a new one. This one's only 2 years old and I'm still happy with it. I just wish for a much better GPU and monitor.

The article is a bit long, but I think it does a good job showing off the features of Windows 11 and how well they do or don't work. I'd say it's worth reading, especially if you're interested in upgrading. Even if you're definitely planning to upgrade, it's still good to know what to expect especially since expectation may not be met.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 10/07/2021 at 06:49am

Interesting. Microsoft now has a guide to install Windows 11 without TPM 2.0. It seems your computer still needs to be compatible with TPM 1.2. If you're interested in this story check out this link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-shows-how-to-bypass-tpm-2-0-requirement-for-windows-11/1100-6496853/

Travis Admin wrote on 10/07/2021 at 01:58pm

I upgraded on the 4th, they released it a day early. I made a backup just in case it was bug-ridden or anything happened.

But the upgrade was just like each of the major windows 10 upgrades, it just has a new coat of paint now.

I’m sort of nonplussed about the whole thing. I don’t really prefer either. It’s just… fine I guess? If you’re used to Windows 10 it’s not majorly different.

I’m glad they’re opening it up for tpm 1.2

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 10/07/2021 at 06:58pm

Thanks, Travis! I was told by ASRock that my CPU (i7 8700) isn't compatible with TPM 2.0, so I gave up. I have a TPM module slot, but I can't easily figure out if my CPU and motherboard are 1.2 compatible. I'd probably have to search longer that I want to at the moment.

jdodson Admin wrote on 10/09/2021 at 04:40am

Anyone know if there is a free upgrade Window we _have_ to upgrade by or lose it? Like with what they did from Windows 7 -> 10?

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 10/09/2021 at 08:05am

Not that I'm aware of without "Googling" it. I believe they intend to fully support Windows 10 up until 2025 though.

Travis Admin wrote on 10/09/2021 at 04:18pm

They claimed that was the case but you can still use windows 7 and 8 product keys to install Windows 10. Kind of a not very popularized option but it still works.

jdodson Admin wrote on 10/09/2021 at 06:53pm

Oh, I didn’t know that. Interesting, thanks Travis.

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Valve Is Working on a Portable Switch-like Gaming PC: the SteamPal

Ars Technica has an exclusive preview of what may come with the SteamPal, but in short, imagine the GPD Win types of handheld PCs, but with docking capability similar to the Switch and Steam Controller features.

It currently appears to be targeting Linux, which makes sense considering how much work Valve has put into its Wine distribution, Proton, making gaming on Linux *far* easier than it has ever been.

I hope there are some high end and low end entry points for this, as I could imagine using it for Steam Remote Play Anywhere, sitting in my car at lunch playing some games streamed from my PC at home, or as a full-on powerful device in its own right.

While I'm glad the... Read All

Masters of the Universe: Revelation

My childhood just came rushing back!

I had *all* the He-Man toys (probably nowhere near "all" lol) as a kid, but eventually gave them away to a neighbor kid... and then would go over to his house and play with the toys with him lol.

I LOVE He-Man, and this trailer looks so good! I will definitely be watching this on Netflux next month!

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 06/11/2021 at 09:25pm

Wow, my childhood came rushing back, too! "After 40 years" though? Wikipedia says He-Man came out in '83 and I'm 41 (I was born in '79 and will be 42 in a few months), some how this math doesn't seem to add up (and I suck at math). I thought I saw something about this while reading the daily news at GameFAQs.com (GameSpot). Thanks for sharing, this looks cool! I also like the music in the video! Oh and I also still have some He-man action figures (along with others like TMNT), I've seen them recently.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 06/11/2021 at 10:06pm

Kevin Smith is showrunner on this.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 06/11/2021 at 10:43pm

> Kevin Smith is showrunner on this.

Awesome!!!

jdodson Admin wrote on 06/14/2021 at 03:51am

Somehow He-Man looks more ripped in 2021? Will the new season address his possible steroid use?

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 06/14/2021 at 04:30pm

He has been lifting battlecat.

jdodson Admin wrote on 06/14/2021 at 05:30pm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cringer_kitten.jpg

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 07/03/2021 at 01:51am

Check out this video I just watched with some awesome details about the show! I'm mostly impressed with the cast, which includes Mark Hamill as Skeletor along with Sarah Michelle Gellar and Alicia Silverstone, which are two that I haven't seen or heard about in a very long time. There are other well known cast members, too! Oh another point, is that the composer has worked on Walking Dead (which I've never seen and have no interest in), Battlestar Galactica (the reboot that I loved), and Godzilla: King of the Monsters (something else I loved). https://youtu.be/CclUI4iI7xM

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 08/20/2021 at 05:04am

There's also another CG animated He-Man and the Masters of the Universe show coming to Netflix. It doesn't star our familiar He-Man characters, though some of them look similar. You can check out the trailer here: https://youtu.be/ZXApnj-ztIE

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 10/25/2021 at 12:22am

*My non-spoiler thoughts I wanted to share.*

There are currently only 5 episodes with 5 more to come, although their release hasn't been announced yet. I really enjoyed it and seeing the characters again after so very many years. It brought back some fond childhood memories. It reminded me of the action figures my cousin and I used to collect, some of which I believe I still have. Of course, it reminded me of the cartoon we used to watch.

Mark Hamill is an excellent Skeletor. He's done a fabulous job not only as an live-action actor, but also a voice actor. The Joker is a character he often voices and Skeletor definitely sounds just like him, which I think is perfect. The rest of the cast is great, too. My ears didn't quite recognize Alicia Silverstone, but that could be because Queen Marlena doesn't play a major role, she speaks little. Sarah Michelle Gellar's voice for Leena is very recognizable and I really enjoyed hearing her again. It's been maybe about a decade since I've heard her voice since bingeing Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Liam Cunningham's name isn't as familiar, but his voice for Man-At-Arms makes him recognizable. At first I thought it was Liam Neeson. I think it's an interesting coincidence that both actors share the first name and to me sound very similar. However, if you watched Game of Thrones, you'll recognize the voice of Liam Cunningham. He played Davos Seaworth.

Some of the show is what I call "corny" although "cringe-worthy" I'd say is another term for the same thing. If you don't like puns, then beware there are plenty of them.

I don't want to give away spoilers, so I'll just say that the first episode was shocking. I had to verify that I had watched the first episode, you'll see why. The last episode leaves us on a cliff hanger and I am most definitely looking forward to watching more. I'm still curious about the fate of one character, whether or not it's actually final because I doubt it.

I'd say this show is definitely a good one for those of us who grew up enjoying the classic He-Man cartoon and action figures. I can't say whether or not someone unfamiliar with He-Man would like it.

If you watched this, let me know what you think about it. Let me know if you also grew up w/ He-Man.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 10/25/2021 at 02:58pm

Loved it. I have almost watched the first 5 two times through. Need to finish up the second viewing.

BTW, 2nd part got announced as coming out on Nov 23rd.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 10/25/2021 at 07:37pm

I'm glad you loved it, too. Thanks for the announcement. Wow, November's looking like a good month (here's hoping my state's election goes the way I voted).

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 10/25/2021 at 07:54pm

Of I forgot to say "arigato Mr. Roboto."

jdodson Admin wrote on 10/26/2021 at 04:34am

Kevin Smoth He-man was great. Honestly didn’t expect it to be as awesome as it was. Really looking forward to part two and I enjoyed what they did in the first season.

That said, I get why some fans didn’t like it. It focuses on other characters and gives the show immediate stakes, which makes it seem fresh. It really feels like a new show and I know it upset some folks but new isn’t always bad.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 10/26/2021 at 05:24am

Hm, well my world is pretty isolated, I'm not aware of what anyone else thought other than you and Will_Ball. My only guess for people not enjoying it is because they didn't grow up w/ He-Man like we did. I think I see your point, though. The show seemed to be focused on He-Man much less, which is perhaps why his name isn't even in the title. I'm glad you enjoyed it, too.

Also, I thought it was cool how it actually did tie to the original series. It was admitted that Skeletor kept trying and failing and I think even he recognized that and finally did something about it. I thought it did seem like a continuation or evolution of the original.

There's a CG show of the same world, but it's geared more towards kids and doesn't look interesting to me.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 10/26/2021 at 02:56pm

Some people thought it was too woke. Other people did not like how he-man was used and felt Kevin Smith lied about the show.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 10/26/2021 at 07:51pm

Really? "Woke?" Wow, people are getting really offended with that and I can't understand why. I'm confused, too, because my understanding of the term means becoming aware of racial inequality, but I didn't see that happening at all in the show. In fact, all the humans were white. What exactly did Kevin Smith lie about? Ah well, ya know, it doesn't matter what others think of something, if you enjoy something for yourself that's all that matters. You can't please everyone, clearly.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 10/26/2021 at 11:31pm

Woke in this case as putting the woman in the center rather than the man.

As for what Kevin "lied" about, I will have to be abstract, to avoid spoilers. Prior to the show coming out there were rumors that one character was sidelined. Kevin said that the character was in every episode. Technically Kevin was right, but there is some wiggle room here between what the fans were mad about and what Kevin was saying.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 10/26/2021 at 11:50pm

Ah, right, I guess "woke" isn't specifically racial. I can see how it applies generally to equality.

I see what you're saying about the "lie." That's a good observation. Perhaps people were expecting something much more like that classic cartoon, but instead we got something a bit more modern. Perhaps it has an unexpected focus. I guess it just flew over my head, because I didn't care, it didn't matter to me at all. I enjoyed it. I think the next 5 episodes might be closer to what others were expecting.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 10/27/2021 at 04:07pm

Trailer for part 2: https://twitter.com/NetflixGeeked/status/1453391066741329930

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 10/27/2021 at 04:21pm

Sweet! That looks truly epic!

jdodson Admin wrote on 10/29/2021 at 04:37am

Neat!

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Loki Streaming Now!

I thought I'd give you a quick reminder that Loki is now streaming on Disney+. After re-watching the trailer, I see it's started a little earlier than first announced.

I'm not going to include spoilers here, but if you want to talk about them, we can do so in the comments.

I think the first episode is pretty good, though much of what we saw in previews was there. I'm looking forward to seeing more. I think, if you're also a fan of the MCU, you'll also enjoy the show and want more. I think, so far, all of the Marvel Disney+ shows have been really good. I also like the tidbits of mystery in each episode and seeing them revealed and explained on the New Rockstars channel... Read All

jdodson Admin wrote on 06/10/2021 at 03:08pm

I really enjoyed it quite a bit. The TVA as a concept is incredible and if Loki becomes an FBI procedural for variants then the opportunities are pretty wide open for the show to do pretty much whatever they want.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 06/11/2021 at 02:54am

Loki: SVU

jdodson Admin wrote on 06/13/2021 at 04:27pm

Yeah, something like that. After WandaVision folks were asking for a Jimmy Woo+Darcy Marvel FBI/XFiles show and it seems Loki is the reason why they aren't doing that.

That said a Jimmy Woo+Darcy show would be fun.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 06/13/2021 at 06:25pm

>That said a Jimmy Woo+Darcy show would be fun.

Agreed!!!!

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 06/16/2021 at 11:52pm

Wow, episode 2 and the 💩 hit the fan! While watching every one of these shows and episodes, I just keep wanting them to never end. Marvel is definitely delivering!

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 06/30/2021 at 11:22pm

Episode 4 and the 💩 has hit the fan yet again! Be sure to stick around for the post-credits scene.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 07/07/2021 at 10:13pm

Episode 5 is gloriously epic! I have no idea what words are left to describe how the end will be, as I'm sure it will be gloriously epic as well! I can't wait to see the New Rockstars breakdown tomorrow. I noticed Oak Island on the TVA board at the beginning. There are lots of other things in this episode as well. This is definitely my most favorite episode so far. Marvel just keeps delivering the awesomeness!!!

jdodson Admin wrote on 07/09/2021 at 04:22am

Yeah, it was great. I wonder how it’s going to end?

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 07/09/2021 at 07:15am

Yeah and then we wait for season 2.

jdodson Admin wrote on 07/09/2021 at 04:48pm

Right. It seems like they might keep Loki going. At least, I hope they do. Maybe he’ll be part of a Mobius / Sylvia run TVA at some point. It’s not a bad thought to have one, not sure it’s been run well to this point though,

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 07/11/2021 at 02:14am

Alligator Loki is my favorite.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 07/11/2021 at 07:59am

I think I'm like Loki and in love with Sylvie.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 07/11/2021 at 02:57pm

Sylvie is awesome.

Azurephile Super Member Post Author wrote on 07/14/2021 at 10:19pm

At the end of WandaVision, I was convinced Wanda was the reason why there's a "multiverse of madness" in the next Doctor Strange movie. She's going to be in it, but I no longer think she's the one at fault. I think what just happened has, however, opened the door for her to see that her children are elsewhere and I'm sure she's going to go after them, which may be bait by Mephisto. But, that's just my theory or idea. I think she's going to be a problem as the Scarlet Witch and Doctor Strange is going to try to help her be good.

I did like this ending. I was surprised, because, regarding the show, the actor told someone, "I don't know what you're talking about." I was afraid it was going to be another Loki. I thought that made sense, because the show is about him, but I'm glad they didn't go there. All signs pointed to who we saw. Oddly, though, he didn't say his name, but he has one other than what Miss Minutes called him. We'll definitely see him again in Ant-Man Quantumania, but maybe something else. Maybe other MCU titles will hint at him or we'll see his effect on them. I bet season two will come before that movie, though to give us a deeper look into what's going on.

All of my info comes from New Rockstars, because my familiarity with the comics is extremely limited. Some of my theories are my own, some influenced by New Rockstars or ones they've mentioned. I watch their channel daily.

What did you think about this? What do you think is going to happen? Did you enjoy it?

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Cheerful Ghost Radio Episode 90: The Switch After Three Years (a little over a year late)

We're gearing up for more episodes of Cheerful Ghost Radio, but while those new episodes are baking in the oven, we've done some spring cleaning and found this old episode in the couch cushions. The Nintendo Switch just turned four in March, and we recorded this never before heard episode last year about our opinions of the Switch after *three* years. Listen back to our thoughts on the Switch without the past year to inform us, and also hear which things we wanted back then that we got!

Venom Let There Be Carnage Trailer Released

Sony has released a new trailer for Venom Let There Be Carnage, the sequel to the Venom movie. It looks kind of interesting. I really enjoyed the first Venom movie, so I'm really hoping this one is as good or better than the first.

Surprisingly, my greatest disappointment with the trailer is that it says, "only in theaters." I'm fully vaccinated now and I did go see Godzilla Vs. Kong (before I was vaccinated), but I guess I've grown so used to watching things on Disney+ or HBO Max that I think I'm preferring to be able to watch movies and shows in the comfort of my own space. What do you think about this?

Let me know what you think about the trailer and what you... Read All

Wakanda Forever and The Marvels! (And More!)

HOLY HYPE, BATMAN (er, Nighthawk?)

Marvel just released a nice look back on the movies that came before, then shows clips of Black Widow and Shang-Chi... Then shows clips from The Eternals! Then goes on to reveal all their Phase 4 movie titles and release dates!

I cannot wait to watch all of these!

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 05/03/2021 at 09:05pm

This gets me emotional, looks like I've shed at least a tear. This is so good, it's beyond description! That new Marvel theme music really tugs at my heart, I really love it! Every time I hear it, I get excited, because I know what follows is going to be really awesome! Thanks for sharing! I can't wait to watch all of the new stuff, too! I love Marvel! RIP Stan Lee and Chadwick Boseman. Wakanda Forever!!!! Oh and here's to hoping we see The White Wolf in Black Panther 2.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 05/05/2021 at 12:43am

All leading up to fantastic 4. Hopefully they get Chris Evans back as the human torch.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 05/05/2021 at 02:03am

>All leading up to fantastic 4. Hopefully they get Chris Evans back as the human torch.

Yes!!! And since we'll open up the multi-verse (hopefully, it's expected anyway), maybe this could actually happen. LOL I've only seen him as Torch and Cap and I think he's a good actor. I wonder how they'll deal with the Fantastic Four since we got the two movies w/ Chris Evans and then the one without him. In the latter, he was replaced by the guy who played Killmonger in Black Panther. Also, I noticed Wal-Mart is selling comics and I've hardly read any so I was surprised to see Wolverine among the Fantastic Four on the cover of one of them. Wolverine is definitely one of my most favorite comic book characters (and I wonder who might play him if and when he comes to the MCU).

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 05/05/2021 at 03:29am

I hope the bring back Wolverine as X-23. You would get a new wolverine and could leave Jackman's performance untouched for a while longer.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 05/05/2021 at 04:42am

I'm unfortunately not familiar with X-23, there's little in the comic book world I'm familiar with, even though I'm most familiar w/ the X-Men. I remember I had a Ghost Rider comic book and I watched the X-Men animated series when it was on TV. I liked Jackman as Wolverine, but I know he's done w/ it.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 05/05/2021 at 01:39pm

X-23 is a female clone of Wolverine. If you saw the movie Logan, she was the girl that he was helping.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 05/05/2021 at 06:34pm

Oh, right! I thought that sounded familiar.

Travis Admin wrote on 05/06/2021 at 02:07pm

I just realized that Richard Madden and Sebastian Stan look a lot alike. I watched that trailer the first time wondering why Bucky shows up in Eternals, but seeing the still frame I can tell that's someone else :D

Yeah I'm looking forward to all of these. I have no idea what to expect from Shang Chi or the Eternals films, and I love that. Marvel needs some variety. I think the reason Thor Ragnarok and Black Panther are my favorites is because they finally felt different.

AdamPFarnsworth Post Author wrote on 05/06/2021 at 03:11pm

I completely agree. Same with WandaVision. Hopefully Marvel will continue leaning into that variety.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 05/24/2021 at 05:57pm

New Eternals teaser trailer. Stick around for the end of it: https://youtu.be/0WVDKZJkGlY

Travis Admin wrote on 05/25/2021 at 03:36pm

The Eternals have never interfered... until now.

Thanos? Dude about to wipe out half of life in the universe? SON of an eternal himself? Nah, not our problem we'll wait for something more important. :D

I kid, I'm sure they'll touch on that in the film but it should be interesting. Kinda like how Captain Marvel never showed up for any of the massive alien invasions or anything.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 05/25/2021 at 05:31pm

Maybe all of the eternals got wiped out by the snap.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 05/25/2021 at 06:55pm

I do wonder why every super hero we didn't see in End Game wasn't there. maybe they were off camera, I don't know, but I would like to see an answer to this.

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/27/2021 at 11:51pm

> The Eternals have never interfered... until now.

And Shang Chi and the folks in Black Widow and …. Modok?

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 05/28/2021 at 02:04am

>And Shang Chi and the folks in Black Widow and …. Modok?

Exactly! I saw a New Rockstars video that theorized the Eternals, except for one, weren't aware they were Eternals, because one of them made them forget. Apparently something like this happened in a comic book. It's also possible that the snaps awakened them. As for the others (non-Eternals), I have no idea and would like an explanation.

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/28/2021 at 04:27pm

They are going to explain it like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5k8ZQsZJpk

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 08/19/2021 at 09:03pm

Check out this new Eternals trailer! It gets into the plot of the movie, the acknowledgement of Thanos's actions, why the Eternals weren't around to help, and why they are now fighting. https://youtu.be/x_me3xsvDgk

AdamPFarnsworth Post Author wrote on 08/24/2021 at 02:33am

Can't wait! I already have my Shang-Chi ticket, and I'll be seeing Eternals opening day too! (And Spider-Man! That trailer looks great!)

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 08/24/2021 at 05:49am

Sweet! I'm just disappointed that those movies aren't streaming at the same time. I guess it makes sense, maybe they'd make more money by putting them in theaters first. I guess I don't really want to go to the theater, I like watching things in the privacy and solitude of my own room (I really don't like the general population around here in this rural town in VA...deep red, just to say the least).

Travis Admin wrote on 08/26/2021 at 04:20am

I love the theater, absolutely adore it, but the way the delta variant is spiking… yeah I’m waiting things out. I work with fully vaxxed people who are coming down with covid and it’s honestly terrifying. It’s irresponsible of Disney not to put them up for streaming at the same time honestly. Or even delay them again if you want. I’m not trying to spread a deadly virus to see a superhero movie

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 08/26/2021 at 06:41am

I agree with you Travis. I'm probably not afraid of the delta variant as I should be, because I'm vaxxed, but I'm aware there are vaxxed people still getting sick, though not with a sickness as deadly as the un(or anti-)vaxxed are getting.

Travis Admin wrote on 08/26/2021 at 03:21pm

A few people I work with who are vaxxed got it, a couple of them felt really bad and one has lingering issues. Crazy times

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 08/26/2021 at 11:32pm

"Crazy times." I'm afraid that even to say these times are completely insane is nothing but an understatement. I'm not sure I can think of a time when things were ever even close to being this crazy.

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 08/28/2021 at 01:19am

I may go to the theater at an off day at an off hour to see the Marvel movies, but I am not going opening weekend.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 10/22/2021 at 02:27am

Head's up, The Eternals has 2 post-credit scenes. I know nothing else, I'm not on Twitter and I avoid spoilers. New Rockstars suggests staying off of Twitter until you see the movie (Erik Voss got invited to the red carpet premier). I'd suggest staying off of Twitter and Facebook, but not just for that reason, I have many others. LOL

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 10/22/2021 at 11:10pm

I just recently heard spoilers from Vanity Fair have spread to Facebook. Be careful. (How many reasons to leave Facebook? Oh, let me count the ways.....oh looks like I already have. *smile*)

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 11/06/2021 at 12:25am

Did anyone else go see Eternals last night? I was expecting a very long line for opening night, so I went super early. It turned out I arrived much earlier than necessary (half an hour before the show starts is too early). I was still surprised later when everyone was in and there weren't very many people there at all. I live in a rural area in VA, so this shouldn't be much of a surprise I suppose, although I seem to remember more people at the Star Wars movies. I also expect to see more next month for Spider-man. If you haven't seen it, be sure to stick around because there are two post-credits scenes.

I enjoyed the movie. Some things happened that I wasn't expecting for sure. I really liked the part where Kit Harrington's character starts to reveal who he is and that he has a "family history."

*Now for spoilers!*

In the second post-credits scene we see him opening a case for the Ebony Blade, which is very special. I'm sure we'll them again as he's greeted by someone. At first I thought it was Jeffrey Wright as The Watcher from What If, but it's actually Mahershala Ali who will be playing Blade in his upcoming movie. He played a major villain Netflix's Luke Cage.

I'm surprised that the multi-verse wasn't addressed in this movie, since that's the direction Marvel seems to be going, perhaps just not all of it. It does certainly seem like we could see an Eternals 2. I remember hearing about how in the comics Eternals can actually be resurrected, so who knows if they're gone for good.

Let me know what you think!

jdodson Admin wrote on 11/06/2021 at 03:32am

> Did anyone else go see Eternals last night?

Yep. Adam and I both did.

> there weren't very many people there at all

Ours wasn't very full either. At least, it didn't feel full. Might have been we were pretty far up in the theater.

> I also expect to see more next month for Spider-man. If you haven't seen it, be sure to stick around because there are two post-credits scenes.

Spider-man should be pretty great.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 11/06/2021 at 05:36am

Great that you and Adam did! Did you like it? What did you think about it? I was surprised a friend of mine showed up when I did so I got to talk to her and her son and sit next to her.

Audience size is interesting. I'm not sure how to explain this one. I'm just glad there was really no line to wait in.

I think Spider-Man's going to be awesome!

jdodson Admin wrote on 11/08/2021 at 03:53am

> What did you think about it?

I enjoyed my time in the theater and based on the reviews I read before I went, I wasn't quite expecting that.

That said, it's a Marvel movie but I liked the different tone if a bit serious.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 11/08/2021 at 04:33am

It was a bit twisty, which caught me by surprise. It had moments that I wish didn't happen, but that's not at all a critique on the movie. These thoughts and feelings are just an expected product of what happened. I did remember what I heard on New Rockstars about the Eternals in the comics, so some things might not have really mattered. I could explain more in detail, but I'm afraid it's spoiler territory and I don't know if everyone here is ready for that yet. I'd also like to mention the post-credit scenes. I heard a voice I thought was Jeffery Wright who plays Uatu. It's been confirmed that it was a specific someone else. New Rockstars mentioned the voice sounding like Jeffery Wright, so at least my initial thought wasn't all that crazy.

I enjoyed it. I loved at least most of the characters and I'd love to see them again. I'm not really sure what I expected, but I've been obsessed w/ the MCU, so it'd be really hard to disappoint me. I agree w/ Erik Voss at New Rockstars, though. I think I've enjoyed the Disney+ shows more than the movies we got after they started. It's not that the movies weren't great, but the shows are truly epic and definitely brought out serious emotions for me.

I've clearly been watching New Rockstars all the time! It's helping to feed my MCU obsession, making it much sweeter, more fulfilling, and even more curious.

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Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

New Marvel trailer so ... you know... here it is! This time for an entirely new set of phase four characters. Phase Four of the MCU features a lot of new characters and Shang-Chi seems to start that out with a fun chop to the face. I’m not sure how this fits into the larger MCU but something, something evil dark magic that somehow things with a character and something something cameo with existing something or other from the MCU. If that’s entirely too specific, sorry I don’t have a whole lot to go on but the trailer looks fun and I’m sure I’ll check this out when I can.

One question I’ve heard folks ask is why all these powerful folks weren’t part of the battle... Read All

Travis Admin wrote on 04/19/2021 at 08:22pm

Was coming here to post this and yeah how this fits in is a mystery and honestly... if it didn't have the Marvel logo on it and we hadn't heard plans for this for ages now, I would have no clue this was a Marvel flick. And that's a good thing, I think they need some more variety. I'm hoping Eternals is way different too.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 04/19/2021 at 08:48pm

Sweet! Ten rings to rule them all! Erik Voss at New Rockstars says The Mandarin is his father. The Ten Rings have been there since the first Iron Man movie. Members of the group reappeared later, in Iron Man 2 and Ant-Man. That is a good question about where all these people were when Thanos was around. I'm not sure if being "blipped" is a reason, because I thought they were all returned. I dunno, hopefully that will get answered eventually. Maybe we just didn't see them??

You can see the New Rockstars reaction video here: https://youtu.be/R7CV7IyA1bk Later, or tomorrow, there will be a video going over the details of the teaser.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 04/20/2021 at 07:50pm

Dude yeah, I am already hyped for this movie!

The actor playing the main character is a martial artist and stuntman, so I'm expecting the fight choreography to be amazing!

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 06/25/2021 at 01:20am

This new trailer is good, it's not just a rehash of the first, but contains a lot we didn't see before: https://youtu.be/8YjFbMbfXaQ

Travis Admin wrote on 06/25/2021 at 04:10am

Interesting-- Abomination in the cage there at the end. Tim Roth is coming back as Abomination for She-Hulk too, I wonder if that's going to get referenced.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 06/25/2021 at 05:55am

I noticed that, too, but I also had my doubts. It looks like he has fin-like ears, so I thought it was something else. But, other sources show it was indeed him. He is coming to She-Hulk, which I think just points to how all of the MCU, or at least many pieces of it, are woven together.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/26/2021 at 02:40am

Awesome trailer, thanks for sharing it Greg!

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Back The Bots: Mystery Science Theater 3000 Kickstarter GIZMOPLEX!

Back this on Kickstarter!

Mystery Science Theater 3000 is the greatest show of all time. At least to me and a zillion other MSTIE's and the show is back with a new Kickstarter after being cancelled by Netflix after two great seasons. The plan with the new Kickstarter is to fund a purely fan supported show and move away from any kind of network so the show can exist as long as the fans want it to. I enjoy this model quite a bit and as part of the plan they want to create the Gizmoplex, which is an app and community based way to release the new shows with a live streaming model. It seems the new shows will also be created with social distancing in mind which I hope they drop more details on... Read All