Friday, November 30, 2018
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
The Genius of Stephen Hillenburg
News is spreading now of the passing of Stephen Hillenburg. His name is synonymous with Nickelodeon, a network he had worked for for a very long time going back to 1993. Even though it's only a couple of cartoons, they are amongst the most recognized in not just the cable realm, but for cartoons and the entire television spectrum.
If you were to ask me my favorite cartoon on Nickelodeon, it would be Rocko's Modern Life. Even though Hillenburg didn't create it, he was instrumental to a lot of what made the show special. It was a bit tame compared to Ren and Stimpy, but it wasn't playing safe like Doug and Rugrats. Him and a number of those writers created a world of over the top moments, and stuff that can cater to both kids and adults. A lot of fun satire and normal day things being very dangerous. It's amazing how much they got away with, and it holds up surprisingly well. There's no gimmicks to Rocko, and with that, it stands out a lot more.
Of course, we can't talk Hillenburg without talking SpongeBob SquarePants. It's been on the air since May of 1999 and hasn't stopped. Personally, I stopped watching it probably over a decade ago once they really dumbed down the characters tremendously and either aimed to be like Family Guy or some other cartoon. However, you can't deny the blueprints for those first few years. One thing I just realized was that he was a Marine Biologist. I'll assume that's what made him want to have this kind of show.
SpongeBob is a different premise, but yet, similar to Rocko. It is a bit more lighter toned, but you still have those over the top moments and stuff that caters to both kids and adults. What also helps is that there is more of a wide range of characters, almost like what The Simpsons is. Even though the focus is on a couple handfuls of people, there is still the community of Bikini Bottom and all sorts of events that occur. Hillenburg and his staff created a world that is memorable and easy to recognize. Some of their early stuff is amongst some of the best known material not just for the show, but for television overall.
It's tragic of ALS claiming yet another person. The world is less fun with Hillenburg being gone.
If you were to ask me my favorite cartoon on Nickelodeon, it would be Rocko's Modern Life. Even though Hillenburg didn't create it, he was instrumental to a lot of what made the show special. It was a bit tame compared to Ren and Stimpy, but it wasn't playing safe like Doug and Rugrats. Him and a number of those writers created a world of over the top moments, and stuff that can cater to both kids and adults. A lot of fun satire and normal day things being very dangerous. It's amazing how much they got away with, and it holds up surprisingly well. There's no gimmicks to Rocko, and with that, it stands out a lot more.
Of course, we can't talk Hillenburg without talking SpongeBob SquarePants. It's been on the air since May of 1999 and hasn't stopped. Personally, I stopped watching it probably over a decade ago once they really dumbed down the characters tremendously and either aimed to be like Family Guy or some other cartoon. However, you can't deny the blueprints for those first few years. One thing I just realized was that he was a Marine Biologist. I'll assume that's what made him want to have this kind of show.
SpongeBob is a different premise, but yet, similar to Rocko. It is a bit more lighter toned, but you still have those over the top moments and stuff that caters to both kids and adults. What also helps is that there is more of a wide range of characters, almost like what The Simpsons is. Even though the focus is on a couple handfuls of people, there is still the community of Bikini Bottom and all sorts of events that occur. Hillenburg and his staff created a world that is memorable and easy to recognize. Some of their early stuff is amongst some of the best known material not just for the show, but for television overall.
It's tragic of ALS claiming yet another person. The world is less fun with Hillenburg being gone.
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Creed II Review
My thoughts on Creed was that it was not anything impressive or revolutionary. However, it was still a solid movie and a way to continue the Rocky series of films. Creed II continues with that same mantra, but is more settled in as you know the new set of characters. I'd say it's better than the first Creed. And I'm saying that as someone who, even with the trailers, wasn't sure what kind of movie it was going to be.
Adonis Johnson Creed is finally becoming a household name. He finds himself as one of the top boxers. Rocky is at his corner for the fights. Bianca is still by his side through thick and thin. Things are all well. In the Ukraine, Viktor Drago is a very lethal fighter. Trained by father Ivan, his life is hell. Both had endured so much since Ivan's loss to Rocky that it exiled them from Soviet Russia. The hope to bring glory back to them and Russia sends them to Philadelphia for a fight against Adonis.
Going in, I was somewhat expecting something over the top like Rocky IV. Being down to earth helps Creed II and doesn't stray away from what made the first one good. This is similar to Creed, but sprinkled with Rocky II, III, and IV. However, it doesn't wind up being a one sided amount of screen time with one set of characters. They give Ivan and Viktor a decent amount of time and they create a fair amount of backstory for Ivan. Another thing is that they are not portrayed as super villains. They are just people trying to make a name for themselves once again. Otherwise, it's still a gritty film.
Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone are still great and provide a nice chemistry as fighter and trainer. They feed off each other with phenomenal performances that feels very real as Adonis and Rocky. Tessa Thompson is excellent and I like that Bianca is given a lot of development. There is more to her compared to Adrian. A lot more, and she is a complete character. Between the three characters, they provide a strong emotional roller coaster of ups and downs.
Going with the amount of time with the Dragos, Dolph Lundgren is portrayed as more than just a puppet and an emotionless person with Ivan. He wants the good life and it will have to take blood, sweat, and tears for his son to bring them back to glory. Viktor is similar to what his father was in Rocky IV, minus the steroids. That being said, he does have some things to say and he takes a lot of abuse verbally in order to stay strong.
The boxing is about as brutal as you can get without becoming an R rated film. It comes off very real and not over the top compared to a few of the Rocky sequels. As I said about the first Creed, I wouldn't be surprised if these guys took actual damage from some of those punches. Some very strong choreography helps quite a bit, and the training is not overly ridiculous.
Clocking in at just under two hours, Creed II has its own identity while still being a sequel to the Rocky franchise. It stands out a lot more and continues to have a solid foundation for its characters and create some strong drama and sports action. Also quite a few surprises, too. This is a must watch. Head to your theater and see it. You won't be disappointed.
Score: 8.5 out of 10
Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone are still great and provide a nice chemistry as fighter and trainer. They feed off each other with phenomenal performances that feels very real as Adonis and Rocky. Tessa Thompson is excellent and I like that Bianca is given a lot of development. There is more to her compared to Adrian. A lot more, and she is a complete character. Between the three characters, they provide a strong emotional roller coaster of ups and downs.
Going with the amount of time with the Dragos, Dolph Lundgren is portrayed as more than just a puppet and an emotionless person with Ivan. He wants the good life and it will have to take blood, sweat, and tears for his son to bring them back to glory. Viktor is similar to what his father was in Rocky IV, minus the steroids. That being said, he does have some things to say and he takes a lot of abuse verbally in order to stay strong.
The boxing is about as brutal as you can get without becoming an R rated film. It comes off very real and not over the top compared to a few of the Rocky sequels. As I said about the first Creed, I wouldn't be surprised if these guys took actual damage from some of those punches. Some very strong choreography helps quite a bit, and the training is not overly ridiculous.
Clocking in at just under two hours, Creed II has its own identity while still being a sequel to the Rocky franchise. It stands out a lot more and continues to have a solid foundation for its characters and create some strong drama and sports action. Also quite a few surprises, too. This is a must watch. Head to your theater and see it. You won't be disappointed.
Score: 8.5 out of 10
Ralph Breaks The Internet Review
Along with Super Troopers 2, Ralph Breaks The Internet was a film I had been anticipating for and wanting to see in the theater. I saw the original a few weeks after it came out and enjoyed it a lot. This one is a solid effort, but not as strong as the first.
Things go awry when the steering wheel of Sugar Rush breaks thanks to Ralph. Mr. Litwak is not keen on getting it fixed. The machine is unplugged and many of the inhabitants are left homeless. Litwak has also gotten with the times and added Wi-Fi to the old arcade. Ralph and Vanellope venture into the world of Wi-Fi and the Internet in hopes of finding that part and trying to pay off the costs of it.
One thing I'll get out of the way is that it stays consistently funny with tons of moments and little gags that make for good entertainment. As far as making fun of the Internet, it gets its point across through the various websites without overstaying its welcome on their purposes. One example is the Disney princesses scene, which was in the trailers. It doesn't come off as a cheap one time gag that lasts for a minute. A bit of thought was put into it, as are some of the other websites.
There is a lot more dedication towards both Ralph and Vanellope. Both John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman deliver solid performances as the two characters and provide a good combo of both comedy and drama while exploring the Internet. A few new characters get some screen time. One is Shank, voiced by Gal Gadot. She gives the story a shot in the arm with the writers take on online gaming and contributes to Vanellope's thoughts about life beyond Sugar Rush and Ralph. The other is Yesss. I don't care much for Taraji P. Henson, but she doesn't come as overbearing with her character. Like Shank, she adds a bit to the story, but to the parody of YouTube. Really, both characters are not written as people you forget about during the nearly two hours of the movie.
Fix it Felix and Sgt. Calhoun both return with their original voices, but are mostly afterthoughts. I'm not complaining much about that. There are plenty of game characters in their brief scenes, including Sonic the Hedgehog, Chun-Li, and Pac-Man. It definitely is more along the lines of a popcorn flick, though. The story is not the greatest, but there's worse. Ralph has a bit of a stubborn attitude at times throughout it. It doesn't make it unwatchable, but as a character, he's not as strong like in the first one. Other than those two things, some complaints might be towards being a product placement for various sites to add in some cheap gags. It's noticeable, but I don't think it detracts from the overall experience.
There aren't too many options other than The Grinch, but Ralph 2 is something to watch in the theater. Go check it out. Not as strong as the first, but still a good solid movie.
Score: 7 out of 10
Things go awry when the steering wheel of Sugar Rush breaks thanks to Ralph. Mr. Litwak is not keen on getting it fixed. The machine is unplugged and many of the inhabitants are left homeless. Litwak has also gotten with the times and added Wi-Fi to the old arcade. Ralph and Vanellope venture into the world of Wi-Fi and the Internet in hopes of finding that part and trying to pay off the costs of it.
One thing I'll get out of the way is that it stays consistently funny with tons of moments and little gags that make for good entertainment. As far as making fun of the Internet, it gets its point across through the various websites without overstaying its welcome on their purposes. One example is the Disney princesses scene, which was in the trailers. It doesn't come off as a cheap one time gag that lasts for a minute. A bit of thought was put into it, as are some of the other websites.
There is a lot more dedication towards both Ralph and Vanellope. Both John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman deliver solid performances as the two characters and provide a good combo of both comedy and drama while exploring the Internet. A few new characters get some screen time. One is Shank, voiced by Gal Gadot. She gives the story a shot in the arm with the writers take on online gaming and contributes to Vanellope's thoughts about life beyond Sugar Rush and Ralph. The other is Yesss. I don't care much for Taraji P. Henson, but she doesn't come as overbearing with her character. Like Shank, she adds a bit to the story, but to the parody of YouTube. Really, both characters are not written as people you forget about during the nearly two hours of the movie.
Fix it Felix and Sgt. Calhoun both return with their original voices, but are mostly afterthoughts. I'm not complaining much about that. There are plenty of game characters in their brief scenes, including Sonic the Hedgehog, Chun-Li, and Pac-Man. It definitely is more along the lines of a popcorn flick, though. The story is not the greatest, but there's worse. Ralph has a bit of a stubborn attitude at times throughout it. It doesn't make it unwatchable, but as a character, he's not as strong like in the first one. Other than those two things, some complaints might be towards being a product placement for various sites to add in some cheap gags. It's noticeable, but I don't think it detracts from the overall experience.
There aren't too many options other than The Grinch, but Ralph 2 is something to watch in the theater. Go check it out. Not as strong as the first, but still a good solid movie.
Score: 7 out of 10
Monday, November 26, 2018
To Understand Convenience
Another year, another Black Friday. Its numbers were very strong, but one area it did more in, it was more in the online spectrum than going to a store.
There is a comfort zone for many people. For ones that go online, it's knowing they can look for something they want, order it, and not wait in line at a store. Around this time of the year, it can be very hectic. Maybe some violence if it goes that far. Some stores may not have an adequate amount of product or if they do, it may run out quickly if it's the hot item of the holiday season.
Companies are mostly set on knowing that they have tons of people ordering online. That being said, it does hurt them if they don't get enough feet to enter their stores and look at the products and make that purchase. Everyone has their own preferences. I'm more of the type to go to the actual store. Maybe I'll do more online one day, but I'm good with what I do now. But there will be others that will have the convenience to be sitting on their computer, cobbling together their list and in a flash finding them.
It's not a case of too much power from certain Internet websites. People want to avoid headaches of travel, weather and other circumstances. And that needs to be understood.
There is a comfort zone for many people. For ones that go online, it's knowing they can look for something they want, order it, and not wait in line at a store. Around this time of the year, it can be very hectic. Maybe some violence if it goes that far. Some stores may not have an adequate amount of product or if they do, it may run out quickly if it's the hot item of the holiday season.
Companies are mostly set on knowing that they have tons of people ordering online. That being said, it does hurt them if they don't get enough feet to enter their stores and look at the products and make that purchase. Everyone has their own preferences. I'm more of the type to go to the actual store. Maybe I'll do more online one day, but I'm good with what I do now. But there will be others that will have the convenience to be sitting on their computer, cobbling together their list and in a flash finding them.
It's not a case of too much power from certain Internet websites. People want to avoid headaches of travel, weather and other circumstances. And that needs to be understood.
Friday, November 23, 2018
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Monday, November 19, 2018
Deep Down in NFL's 2018 Season
We approach the last stretch of the season where the next five or six games will make a huge difference for NFL teams. Some quick thoughts:
The Pittsburgh Steelers look like a good favorite to have a good playoff run. With an ability to run with James Conner and a defense that has held its own, they provide Ben Roethlisberger at least another chance for a third Super Bowl title with him. Baltimore might have a quarterback controversy unless they part ways with Joe Flacco, which I doubt will happen. Lamar Jackson had a strong game against Cincinnati, but whether he can cobble up more victories is something that he'll have to prove.
A handful of AFC teams sit at five and five records following yesterday's games. The Indianapolis Colts have been on a tear in a month's span and could be a favorite for the Wild Card if they continue the hot streak. Tennessee has been rather inconsistent and an injury from Marcus Mariota only adds to the issues they have. What Baltimore does depends on who shows up and plays their guts out. And slumping Cincinnati has a certain problem depending on the game they have. They are slowly fading and they have to get their act together in order to even secure a Wild Card spot. The LA Chargers were stunned and while they are a playoff favorite, getting the AFC West from Kansas City just got tougher.
With Alex Smith's gruesome leg injury in Washington, the NFC East is up for grabs. It's a stretch to say any of them could win it, but Dallas seems the most favorable. With a decent group on both sides of the ball, they could find themselves winning the division. Philadelphia experienced another painful loss, but in embarrassing fashion against New Orleans. A thinning secondary that is banged up and a inconsistent running makes up a recipe for a Super Bowl hangover.
The NFC North has a similar story, but Chicago has built a strong year, including a current four game winning streak. A smothering defense and a young offensive group could mean a playoff berth for the first time since 2010. Minnesota might have experience, but a poor ground game and injuries on defense could keep crippling them. Plus, you never know what version of Kirk Cousins you're getting. Green Bay might have their star quarterback, but an inconsistent running attack and poor defensive unit make it hard to determine if they even have a shot for the Wild Card. Detroit could also have a shot, but like the rest of the North, they will need a lot of luck.
New Orleans look to be the Super Bowl favorite. Every facet playing very strong has them very hungry for a second Super Bowl title. The momentum is high and they need to keep playing on a high level. Carolina might still have a Wild Card spot, but after a bad decision at the end of their loss to Detroit, it might be a bitter pill to swallow and a game that could hurt them. Still, they have a decent offense and defense. Atlanta's regressions continue and their chances to even make the playoffs are slim. No strong ground game and a shaky defense make it tough to see them as a Wild Card team.
The Rams are another Super Bowl favorite and if they were to face New Orleans in the playoffs, it could be a game for the ages because of both sides being equally great. With a big win this past Thursday, Seattle has put themselves in the running for a Wild Card spot. A better running attack and young defensive unit has helped compliment Russell Wilson's ability to keep throwing touchdowns.
Who do I think gets the playoff spots as of this blog? In the AFC, the Pats will have the East again. Pittsburgh will win the North. Houston continues on and gets the South. Kansas City has the West. Wild Cards would be the Chargers and Colts. For the NFC, Dallas gets the East. (Was thinking Washington before Smith's injury) Chicago holds on and gets the North. New Orleans has the South, as does the Rams in the West. Wild Cards would be Carolina and Seattle.
My guess for teams that could sneak in are Baltimore and Minnesota. The season is still a bit away from being finished, but crunch time is the name of the game now.
The Pittsburgh Steelers look like a good favorite to have a good playoff run. With an ability to run with James Conner and a defense that has held its own, they provide Ben Roethlisberger at least another chance for a third Super Bowl title with him. Baltimore might have a quarterback controversy unless they part ways with Joe Flacco, which I doubt will happen. Lamar Jackson had a strong game against Cincinnati, but whether he can cobble up more victories is something that he'll have to prove.
A handful of AFC teams sit at five and five records following yesterday's games. The Indianapolis Colts have been on a tear in a month's span and could be a favorite for the Wild Card if they continue the hot streak. Tennessee has been rather inconsistent and an injury from Marcus Mariota only adds to the issues they have. What Baltimore does depends on who shows up and plays their guts out. And slumping Cincinnati has a certain problem depending on the game they have. They are slowly fading and they have to get their act together in order to even secure a Wild Card spot. The LA Chargers were stunned and while they are a playoff favorite, getting the AFC West from Kansas City just got tougher.
With Alex Smith's gruesome leg injury in Washington, the NFC East is up for grabs. It's a stretch to say any of them could win it, but Dallas seems the most favorable. With a decent group on both sides of the ball, they could find themselves winning the division. Philadelphia experienced another painful loss, but in embarrassing fashion against New Orleans. A thinning secondary that is banged up and a inconsistent running makes up a recipe for a Super Bowl hangover.
The NFC North has a similar story, but Chicago has built a strong year, including a current four game winning streak. A smothering defense and a young offensive group could mean a playoff berth for the first time since 2010. Minnesota might have experience, but a poor ground game and injuries on defense could keep crippling them. Plus, you never know what version of Kirk Cousins you're getting. Green Bay might have their star quarterback, but an inconsistent running attack and poor defensive unit make it hard to determine if they even have a shot for the Wild Card. Detroit could also have a shot, but like the rest of the North, they will need a lot of luck.
New Orleans look to be the Super Bowl favorite. Every facet playing very strong has them very hungry for a second Super Bowl title. The momentum is high and they need to keep playing on a high level. Carolina might still have a Wild Card spot, but after a bad decision at the end of their loss to Detroit, it might be a bitter pill to swallow and a game that could hurt them. Still, they have a decent offense and defense. Atlanta's regressions continue and their chances to even make the playoffs are slim. No strong ground game and a shaky defense make it tough to see them as a Wild Card team.
The Rams are another Super Bowl favorite and if they were to face New Orleans in the playoffs, it could be a game for the ages because of both sides being equally great. With a big win this past Thursday, Seattle has put themselves in the running for a Wild Card spot. A better running attack and young defensive unit has helped compliment Russell Wilson's ability to keep throwing touchdowns.
Who do I think gets the playoff spots as of this blog? In the AFC, the Pats will have the East again. Pittsburgh will win the North. Houston continues on and gets the South. Kansas City has the West. Wild Cards would be the Chargers and Colts. For the NFC, Dallas gets the East. (Was thinking Washington before Smith's injury) Chicago holds on and gets the North. New Orleans has the South, as does the Rams in the West. Wild Cards would be Carolina and Seattle.
My guess for teams that could sneak in are Baltimore and Minnesota. The season is still a bit away from being finished, but crunch time is the name of the game now.
Saturday, November 17, 2018
End of Atari Systems: Jaguar
My father was a teenager when Atari started to become a successful company in the 70s. From their beginnings with games like Pong and advancing to the arcades and home consoles, it seemed like nothing could go wrong. But it did, resulting in many home console failures. Even with trying the handheld area and doing okay until the Sega Game Gear, nobody cared about Atari products except the arcades.
I've never really played Atari too much other than a few handfuls of games. Their exit from a manufacturer is one that seemed inevitable with their final system turning 25 next week. The Jaguar was an attempt to be more powerful than the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo. In that same breath, it was also going for new generational 3D, which was also the future. It's claim was that it was 64-bit and their slogan, "Do the Math." A very dumb slogan and when you judge the graphics, it's anything but 64. With 2D games, they ranged from average to very good. Ubisoft's Rayman is a prime example of doing something intended for that kind of hardware. Then there's 3D games like the launch title Cybermorph, which looks horrible graphically and tons of pop-up.
Of course, third parties weren't buying into this or to a lesser extent, 3DO. Shelling out 250 dollars is not horribly priced for 1993, but the efforts from Atari were minimal. Sure, they still had arcades, but they were finished with computers and whatever remaining systems they had around 1992. The company was doing most of the heavy work and trying to go after the newest fads. There was a handful of fighting games that imitated their competitors. The first person shooter games are well regarded with Alien vs. Predator and Doom. Some arcade ports like Raiden and NBA Jam Tournament Edition were stand outs.
One of the last ditch attempts to stay relevant came with the release of the Jaguar CD. Overall, the Jaguar was an ultimate failure. It had just over 50 games with the CD having a couple handfuls. Add in a clunky controller many didn't care for, poor graphics and marketing along with a few other things, and it faded into obscurity. Atari stopped with systems in 1996 and focused on making games for others. That being said, the Jaguar is still a relevant system today because of homebrews. There's quite a bit with about as many as the entire Jaguar cartridge library.
Part of me likes Atari, but poor handling of business is why they are irrelevant to my generation and most people that aren't my father's age.
I've never really played Atari too much other than a few handfuls of games. Their exit from a manufacturer is one that seemed inevitable with their final system turning 25 next week. The Jaguar was an attempt to be more powerful than the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo. In that same breath, it was also going for new generational 3D, which was also the future. It's claim was that it was 64-bit and their slogan, "Do the Math." A very dumb slogan and when you judge the graphics, it's anything but 64. With 2D games, they ranged from average to very good. Ubisoft's Rayman is a prime example of doing something intended for that kind of hardware. Then there's 3D games like the launch title Cybermorph, which looks horrible graphically and tons of pop-up.
Of course, third parties weren't buying into this or to a lesser extent, 3DO. Shelling out 250 dollars is not horribly priced for 1993, but the efforts from Atari were minimal. Sure, they still had arcades, but they were finished with computers and whatever remaining systems they had around 1992. The company was doing most of the heavy work and trying to go after the newest fads. There was a handful of fighting games that imitated their competitors. The first person shooter games are well regarded with Alien vs. Predator and Doom. Some arcade ports like Raiden and NBA Jam Tournament Edition were stand outs.
One of the last ditch attempts to stay relevant came with the release of the Jaguar CD. Overall, the Jaguar was an ultimate failure. It had just over 50 games with the CD having a couple handfuls. Add in a clunky controller many didn't care for, poor graphics and marketing along with a few other things, and it faded into obscurity. Atari stopped with systems in 1996 and focused on making games for others. That being said, the Jaguar is still a relevant system today because of homebrews. There's quite a bit with about as many as the entire Jaguar cartridge library.
Part of me likes Atari, but poor handling of business is why they are irrelevant to my generation and most people that aren't my father's age.
Friday, November 16, 2018
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