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Series Reviews

The Legend of Vox Machina – Final Thoughts

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I have reviewed this show with my initial reaction, but I would like to leave you with my final thoughts. I have watched this series multiple times at this point, and while some of my initial thoughts prove to be accurate, there are some revisions I need to make. If you are on the fence about this show, you shouldn’t be. Watch this show. Even if you aren’t a fan of fantasy or Dungeons and Dragons, the amazing storytelling, unique characters, and terrific voice acting will leave you wanting more. There is not a doubt in my mind that this is a step in the right direction for both the fantasy genre and the health of Dungeons and Dragons.

The Legend of Vox Machina does a great job at being beginner-friendly. I’ve said this before, this is casual fantasy at its best. You don’t need to learn new languages or keep track of multiple houses, but that does not mean the story isn’t complex. There are multiple narratives nicely woven into in the form of important backstories and impactful lore. You do not need to have seen Critical Role, although there are enough Easter eggs to keep the fans happy. The only problem I see people having with this show is with the magic and the skill checks. They don’t name their attacks like in anime, and skill checks happen, but they don’t matter unless you’ve played the game. Knowing dungeons and dragon rules only really adds flavor because some of the rules have been adjusted for narrative reasons.

I was skeptical at first because I didn’t know how they would adapt a tabletop role-playing game into a story, but they do. The story is amazing, and the fights are done beautifully. I will give a bit of warning; this show is heavy on the gore. I don’t mind it, but it might be a shock for those of you who aren’t used to it. This is an adult cartoon with adult themes, so viewer discretion and all that. I am excited for season two and the future of fantasy as a genre.

If you are on the fence about this show, don’t be. You can watch the entire first season over on Amazon.

Movie Reviews, movies

Movie Review: I Want You Back (2022)

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Despite what you may think about romantic comedies, “I Want You Back” is one that you should at least consider. Jenny Slate and Charlie Day work spectacularly together! This movie is well-written, well-acted, and delightful at its worst. If you have an Amazon Prime subscription, you need to see this now.

Something to think about before going into this movie is that the characters’ morals are a bit hazy. This movie features two heartbroken characters who find comfort in each other’s company. They have recently gone through a hard breakup and are learning to cope with being alone. This movie does a great job of showing how difficult heartbreak is to overcome. The two plot to help each other break up their ex-partners. This plot is problematic because the main characters are set to ruin relationships and lives for selfish motives. This genre tends to have these problematic immoralities because love makes people do crazy things. In this case, I can excuse it because the journey is well worth the immorality.

The best part about this movie is watching the relationship between the two leads blossom. The chemistry they share is the reason you should watch this movie. The supporting cast is nothing to scoff at. Together they tell a very entertaining story that I must recommend to everyone. As a bonus, this movie has a great musical number. It is beautifully performed and perfectly woven into the plot. I enjoyed it thoroughly. If you have little interest in this movie, that moment is very much worth your time, but it makes more sense in context.

Watch this even if you don’t like the genre. This brings new life to a genre that has been a bit stagnant as of late. It is a nice date night movie, but I would argue that it is a fun anytime movie.

Series Reviews

TV Series Review – The Tick

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I want to try to sell you on a show that isn’t going to be for everyone. The Tick is a superhero show that is available with your Amazon Prime subscription that isn’t your typical MCU cash-in. The Tick is a parody of the genre and a good one at that. The show follows the crime-fighting duo, The Tick and Arthur. The Tick is a neigh-invulnerable super with a strong and unwavering sense of justice, but he isn’t very bright. Arthur is a nerdy accountant with a super-suit. Together they fight crime and make friends along the way.

The show is cheesy and over the top. It is a tone that won’t resonate with all audiences, but it is one that I found delightful. I cannot see this story told effectively in any other way. There are random dance parties, meaningless monologues, cheesy catchphrases, and lots of silly moments that grant this show its charm. Think of it as a live-action cartoon that leans heavily into its cartoonishness.

If you are a fan of the original comic or cartoon, this is a completely new narrative. I haven’t read the comic and I only have vague memories of the cartoon so this review is based on the show. I do not know how they compare, but I did enjoy this retelling.

The Tick has a great cast with tremendous chemistry making for memorable characters and interactions. it tells a unique story that hasn’t been told before and one that is told effectively. Finally, it is a lighthearted and wholesome comedy that is accessible for the whole family. What more can you ask for in a superhero parody?

As a comic book fan who doesn’t care much for the MCU/DCU, I found this show refreshing. When comic culture started to become mainstream, I was excited and then quickly disappointed by how generic all the stories ended up being. I am delighted to have stumbled on a story that is both different and entertaining. It might not have epic battles or world-ending events, but it has a charm that should not be overlooked.

Series Reviews

The Legend of Vox Machina (2022) – Revisited

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The second set of episodes have just been released for The Legend of Vox Machina; I would like to take this time to revise my initial review. I was correct in assuming that it was too early to tell whether or not this show was any good, but I was right in saying that it was heading in the right direction. With this new set of episodes, the writers show important moments of character growth, and I for one am here for it!

This show is casual fantasy. It has enough fantasy elements to satisfy any hardcore fantasy enthusiast, but it doesn’t isolate those who just want something else to watch. As of now, you do not need to know and follow different tribes or houses. You do not need to keep track of different races or their languages. You do need to know who the main characters are and track the subtle nuances of their character development: their backstory, goals, and how they change over the adventure. This show does a great job at creating these moments of character growth without making members of Vox Machina overpowered and boring.

The strongest aspect of this show is its main cast. Vox Machina is crude, imperfect, and they struggle a lot. This struggle is important this early because it is in their failures and what they learn from them that the story happens. Despite Vox Machina’s poor reputation, the show does a great job establishing that they are still above average. There are moments in the show where an enemy easily overpowers guards or heroes, yet somehow Vox Machina holds its own. This helps establish Vox Machina as heroes without making them overpowered. They still struggle to win against these enemies, but just barely. They still have much to learn, which is perfect because it means more story for us!

I still believe that some knowledge of the Critical Role and D&D would help with the experience, although it isn’t necessary. There are a few inside jokes only accessible to fans of the show, and I as a fan enjoyed them thoroughly.

Lastly, this show also does a great job at translating tabletop to animated series. I like the way they handle skill checks and magic., but I can see it going over people’s heads. It helps to understand why a spell doesn’t go off or why a scene ends the way it does.

Movie Reviews, movies

Movie Reviews: The Watch (2012)

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“The Watch” is one of those movies that is more about the actors than the plot. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it helps to be a fan of the main actors. As far as buddy comedies go, this one is fine. The chemistry between the actors is infectious, and there are some funny bits. Each of the actors plays to his strengths and they create some delightful characters. The problem with this film is that it doesn’t have much replay value. Essentially, this is a collection of funny moments woven together by an alien invasion plot.

I enjoyed this movie the first time. I cannot deny that it has a certain charm about it. Unfortunately, that charm wears off on the second viewing. Once you know all the jokes and have seen all the bits, you are just waiting around for meaningless plot development to get settled. It isn’t bad for what it is. God knows I have seen a lot worse, but you won’t remember watching this movie. Instead, you will remember specific bits and moments you think are funny.

I do not think this movie is worth paying any money to see, it is not entertaining enough to be worth any money, but as a free movie, you can do a lot worse. It is free on Amazon through IMDB, but I recommend you watch it elsewhere without ads because the ads do affect the viewing experience. If you do have to pay for it, I recommend watching “a best of” on YouTube instead.

Series Reviews

TV Series Review: The Legend of Vox Machina (2022)

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The first three episodes of The Legend of Vox Machina were just released on Amazon Prime Video. The show is based on the first campaign of “Critical Role”; a Dungeons and Dragons live play podcast and twitch stream. So far three episodes have been released; it is difficult to judge whether or not the show is good, but it seems to be heading in the right direction.

I am a fan of the animation, the voice acting is great as was expected, and the music score is amazing. The fight scene music, for example, elevates the combat to epic levels. I love the violent and adult tone this show takes on. Lots of people die and the show does not hide adult themes. There is nudity, sex, and lots of drinking. I would argue that it would be impossible to tell this story without addressing any of these themes.

My only complaint with this show is the fan service. It isn’t bad. This show only exists because there was enough interest from the fans. It is only natural for a show like this to have fan service because it is a sign of gratitude. My problem is that I worry the fan service might be alienating for those who aren’t familiar with “Critical Role.” There are jokes, characters, and scenes that won’t make sense without some knowledge of the source material. There is a random character in this show who mumbles and shows up a few times that looks like Matt Mercer. His presence isn’t problematic, but people who don’t know who he is will gloss over his presence as a random character who just exists.

The show also requires some knowledge of 5th edition Dungeons and Dragons.” Understanding the rules help understand how magic works or explains why some scenes play out the way they do. Having an understanding of both the show and the rules of the game help provide a more meaningful experience, although it isn’t necessarily required. I feel that there are enough of these references to issue a warning. Keep in mind that this show is written for a specific type of fan.

This show is character-focused. The plot and its development rely heavily on character action and growth. The story is based on a game where the players drive the narrative so it makes sense that the focus is on the characters. These characters are not perfect. They are rude, selfish, and famously unpopular. I love that they fail consistently; it allows them to grow and develop as heroes. The characters start the show flawed and that is okay because they grow. They are not the same characters by the end of the third episode, although there is a lot of room for improvement.

So far, this is a pretty cool animated series. It is adult and gory; be warned if that doesn’t appeal to you. I fear that the fan service might prove a bit alienating to the uninitiated, but the story is solid enough to be watchable. You will need to do a bit of research to understand certain moments in the show, but you will be fine without it. It is a pretty solid show if you like Dungeons and Dragons. As a fan of the first campaign, I’m enjoying it so far.

Movie Reviews, movies

Prime Movie Reviews: Defendor (2009)

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Defendor is another Average Joe Superhero movie. The movie has the delightful casting of Woody Harrelson; his charm is infectious in this movie. Harrelson plays Arthur, a man with mental disabilities who fights crime as Defendor.

What sets this movie apart is Arthur. Arthur has this strong sense of justice and duty that he has emulated from his comic books. There are moments when he shows some bits of his humanity, but his personality changes when he puts on the costume. Watching the contrast between Defendor and Arthur is well executed. Defendor isn’t a great fighter and often gets beat up, but that never stopped him. His real superpower is his determination to his cause. Don’t go into this movie expecting well-choreographed fights. The fights are filmed to fit the narrative. Defendor uses gadgets like marbles or wasps to create confusion and uses that confusion to get an advantage. They are fun to watch. And don’t get me started on his catch phrases. They are the icing to the whole movie!

The movie is a little slow at times. It bounces around from different aspects of his life as he tries to stop his nemesis Captain Industry.
The film spends a lot of time effectively building a back story for Defendor. The film also does a great job showing the impact that Defendor and Author make on the world. This film is successful at telling a compelling superhero story with what it has.

But, this film is not for everyone. The pacing can be a problem, especially towards the middle. But if you have an Amazon Prime membership and two hours to kill, there are worse ways to spend it.

Movie Reviews, movies

Super Hot (2021) Review

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Let me start by stating that this is not a good movie. The plot has too many holes for it to be sound. The acting is over the top and cheesy. The twist and the ending are predictable. That said, I loved this movie. This is one of those bad movies that are fun to watch.

What saves this movie for me are the main characters. The charisma and the chemistry they share are worth watching. I believed they were just a group of goofy friends who stumbled onto something dangerous. This movie should not be taken seriously. It embraces this fact. The silly tone that it embraces fosters the charm that I love.

This film is not for everyone. As I said, it does have a lot of problems. But if you do end up watching it, please don’t take it too seriously. Sit back and enjoy the wacky cartoonish ride.

If you have Amazon Prime, it is included in your membership. I’ve said it before; you can do a lot worse for free.

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