Because Star Wars

I'm writing this because I had planned on writing this post a couple years ago and then stuff happened like I completely forgot about it when I put it in a drawer.  While, I finally did it today when I was cleaning up and opened said drawer and pulled this out!

What is this?  It's Star Wars Galaxy Connexions, a collectible trading disc game.  Look at the picture and read the bag, do I gotta everything for you?   Anyway, as I said I picked this up a couple years ago I think from Dollarma.  I bought it for two reasons, one it's Star Wars and two it's Dollarma, so it was cheap.

Opening the bag there are a pile of octagonal discs with characters and even vehicles from the Star Wars Universe.  Some have different borders, like black, grey or clear and some have a different background, like shiny or sparkly.  I guess the different variations are part of the collectible part.

There is also a set of instructions (double sided even!) to teach younglings how to play with their new Star Wars Connexions.  Now if you know me, then you know I can't be bother to read instructions.  If I'm not to play some dumb game with my Connexions then what I am I going to do with them?

Well, luckily I found some magnets and super glue left over from last time I was making fridge magnets with some other useless junk of mine, so I put them to good use.

The Connexions above are the ones I made into fridge magnets and I'm giving them away!  Take your pick or you will be randomly assigned magnets.  I have a feeling Cam would pick the Rancor and Rancor keeper duo, but just because there is no Salacious Crumb one.

HANS OF DOOM

If you follow my Instagram, you'll see a post today of a picture of a poster with the title "Hans of Doom" on it.  If you are from Cranbrook or Kimberly then you'll pick up from the title and outline of the menacing figure on the poster, that it's horror featuring Kimberly's mustachioed mascot, Happy Hans.

I took the picture because the poster looked pretty cool, but I really wasn't sure what it was.  I thought maybe it was some kind of play, but it's actually a short film which is good because now I'll actually watch it.  You can too!  It's on YouTube, so you can check it out below.  If
you want to know more then just google it, don't be so lazy.

Smash and grab

Hey guys, check this out...

https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/thieves-steal-atm-from-signal-hill-superstore-1.4022716

Who could have committed such a dastardly act?  

Imports

I'm back at again having to bring over another Marvel movie on 3D blu-ray from Hong Kong because Disney won't release it here in North America.  They will release it in all other parts of the world, but not North America.  I thought Disney loved money, so why not?

So I got Black Panther in a 3D blu-ray and blu-ray pack to add to the GOTG Vol. 2 and Thor: Ragnarok 3Ds I also had to import.  Now I own all the Marvel movies starting with Captain America: The First Avenger to Black Panther in 3D.

Of course I thought it seemed a waste to order just one movie when I could order a couple more and still pay the same for shipping...

I picked up two Jackie Chan classics, Armour of God and Armour of God II.  If Armor of God II looks familiar it's because it was released in North America as Operation Condor.  Too really confuse North American movie viewers Amour of God was released here as Operation Condor II.  So the second one became the first and the first became the second.  At least now I can watch the original uncut and undubbed versions. 

I have a lot of Jackie Chan movies, some the Chinese version, some the US version and for some I own both versions.  I don't think I own Armour of God at all, and I haven't watched it in forever and Armour of God II I've only seen the US cut.

Before I can watch these I still have to finish watching the last batch I ordered from Hong Kong.  I've got one disc left from Ultraman X to finish the series then that's it.  Oh plus the other stack of crap I've bought at Wal-Mart...and the thrift store...and Phoenix...

Also, it's okay Mike, I know you are not a robot.

XXXXXXX!!!!!!

Does anyone even read this anymore?  I know the bots do because I see my comments section is full of annoying spam comments.  At least I'm still getting hits!

I did a movie order from Hong Kong a few weeks ago, although all the titles were Japanese.  Their shipping is getting really good, the past couple orders my movies have arrived in a week, and I always use the cheapest shipping option.

I got Ultraman X the series, in two volumes.  Volume one is three discs of 12 episodes and volume two is three discs of the final 12 episodes.  I just finished watching volume one and while the A/V is pretty good, and I only spotted one error in the subtitles, the packaging could've been better.

I'm not sure why the three discs have to be in three separate cases when each discs only holds four episodes.  There isn't much in terms of extras, except a lone trailer and the episodes are only 25 minutes each, so they probably could've put six episodes on one disc and put the entire Vol. 1 in a single case holding two discs.  Instead I'm going to have two box sets with six cases total taking up valuable shelf space.

Aside from the bulky packaging, the series is pretty good so far, lots of fun monsters and big monster fights.  I'm sure people would complain about the "guys in rubber suits", but it looks real, way better than some CGI stuff.  There is a lot of CGI in the show, but usually it's used to enhance stuff and make it cooler.

Ultraman doesn't get much exposure over here in North America which sucks if you want to watch it.  I know there is a niche steaming company has started offering multiple Ultraman series to watch plus lots of other Japanese content, but unfortunately it looks like it's only available in the US.  I'm assuming due to rights issues or something.  

The current trend in Japanese cinema is to make movie based on popular manga/anime series and Attack On Titan is one that came out a few years ago.  The movie was split in two parts and reviews were mixed for the movies, but I had only seen the first episode of the anime, so my knowledge of the material was limited.   That is probably why I liked it more than a fan of the manga or anime would, I'm not going to be too critical.  It's not perfect, but it was a fun way to spend a couple nights, plus lots of goopey deaths.  It is probably on Netflix, so check it out if you are bored.

Unlike the Ultraman X series, this one does it right, putting both movies on one disc with a few extras, like trailers and a photo gallery.

Okay, I know Gantz: 0 is on Netflix because I watched it on there a while ago.  Hopefully, it's still on there.  I haven't watched this one yet, but I'm getting to it.  I picked it up just to add to my Gantz live action movies, even though they aren't directly connected.  Just more monsters, shiny suits, crazy sci-fi weapons and more goopey deaths.

The weird thing with these discs is that while they are all region A, they won't play in my Sony blu-ray player which doesn't make sense.  I've never had a problem with it before, when I put in the Ultraman X and Attack on Titan discs it played the warnings that all discs have on them when you load one up, but instead of going to the disc menu, it just kicks back to the player main menu.  I thought maybe it was the disc, but I tried them in my X Box and they played fine and the X Box can be finicky.   Maybe I'll have to upgrade my player soon.

Battle of the Bands

So I was at London Drugs near my place last week because I went to mail a package.  Whenever I go there I also at least browse the food aisles looking for a snack.  This time I also went down their meager toy section that has books and trading cards.  Unfortunately, there were no Star Wars trading cards, I ended up buy a pack of Garbage Pail Kids just for the hell of it.

Garbage Pail Kids were an 80's parody of Cabbage Patch Kids.  Topps Trading Cards made trading cards of gross out characters and it was popular enough to spawn a terrible movie.  In fact, I just watched the movie not too long ago and I can confirm that it is indeed terrible.  Like everything from the 80's, Garbage Pail Kids are seeing a resurgence in various sets of trading cards.  The pack I bought parodies the music genre in Battle of the Bands.

There are different musical genres represented in the set, here some I got in my pack.  Now, let's see if we can recognize the actual bands the cards are making of.

Okay, this one is pretty easy, its a riff on Mastodon.

I'll admit I'm not sure who In Control Curt is, so I'm going to need some help.  The back of card says "Alternative" if that helps.  I thought Nirvana, because the left hand guy looks like Kurt, but the other guys don't really resemble Dave and Krist.  Well, the other puppet guy maybe kinda looks like Krist.  What do you guys think?

Lol, it's Green Day!  That one was pretty easy.

Love Shack Cindy is obviously from Love Shack by the B-52s .  I noticed this card had a green splatter around the border while the other cards didn't.  I looked online at a checklist and this card is a puke parallel.  Makes sense when you think about it.

Grateful Dead.

It's Pitbull, I guess the kids like him, or they did.

Here we go with Cracking Corgan smashing some pumpkins.  It's seems familar, but I just can't put my finger of who this reminds me of...

You know you've made it as a performer when you are parodied in a Garbage Pail Kids trading card.  Congratulations to Rivers Cuomo, those 26 years of hard work have finally paid off.

According to the package you can get artist sketch cards, too bad I didn't get one of those.  I also saw they had other GPK card sets there, one was called We Hate the 80's.  Sounds kinda funny, I might pick up a pack next time I'm in!

I'M BACK!!

Well, this place has certainly gone downhill pretty fast.  I'm pretty sure I just saw a tumbleweed roll by.  But I'm back, but after nothing exciting happening for so long, what would possibly come up that would deserve a post?  Well,  it's two of my favorite words, "free" and "socks".

I saw a display of these at work when I was leaving today and didn't pay much attention like I do to everything and everyone else at work, but as I passed by I caught the "Free Socks" on the box and nearly got whiplash.  I went upstairs and grabbed my jacket and went back to buy a box.  I even had to wait in line to pay for one box, but it was worth it.

One box is one pair of socks.  I was hoping you wouldn't need multiple PIN codes and luckily you only need one code to get a pair of socks.

The box does say to "Collect all 3", so you aren't limited to a single pair.  I will try my damnedest to get all three.  I'll probably start with the CTC pair, then Honey Nut Cheerios and finally Lucky Charms.  In tiny printing on the back of the box it does say "Designs subject to change.", but I hope they stay the same.  I also hope they will fit me.

As always supplies are limited so if you want a pair you better some quick.  What pair will you be getting??

SUPER RAD!

In what appears to be to now my monthly blog post, I'll just randomly hype up a TV show that I've recently watched and really liked.  I actually meant to do this before with TV shows "Pickle and Peanut" and "Agent Carter", so you should watch those ones or whatever.

I'm here to talk to you today about the totally awesome, totally rad "children's" TV program, "The Aquabats! Super Show!"  The Aquabats! are a band I've been aware of for like the past fifteen years or more.  I had heard of them, but then bought one of their cassette's from a thrift store because back when I was still driving my truck which had a tape player.  Anyway, over the years I bought more of their albums and kept and eye on them.



Then it was announced they were getting their own TV show on a network called, The Hub.  I don't get that one, so I had to wait for a DVD release and when Season 1 was finally released I added it to my Amazon wish list and then never got around to buying it.  I'm not sure why, I always ended up just buying something else instead.   In that time the show aired and then unfortunately got cancelled.  Years passed...

Then not that long ago I was bored and was looking at random crap on the internet and made my way to the Aquabats! website where I found out they just released season 2/3 of The Aquabats! Super Show! on blu-ray.  I figured it was finally time to cave it and ordered the blu-ray from the Aquabats! website and then ordered the DVD from Amazon.

Now that I finally had both the season sets, it was time to get to work.  I worked tirelessly and managed to get through everything in three days.  That wasn't too hard to since since it is only 13 episodes for season one, 5 episodes for season two and three "specials" which I guess are season three.

I feel like I'm rambling a bit here, but long story short, it's good and I want more!  It is a children's show, but some of the humor is aimed more at adults.  It's like a mix of the old Batman show, Power Rangers and The Monkees.  The effects and monsters sometimes look cheesy, but it actually makes them look better.  Each episodes usually has the band fighting a monster and includes two cartoon shorts and a fake parody commercial.  The show was nominated multiple times for a Daytime Emmy and even won one.  I made Cody watch the episode, "Haunted Battletram!" and he even laughed!  Usually, Cody hates everything, so you know it's good.

Check out the full length Christmas episode!