Review of Dragon Ball Z Abridged Ep 57

It seems like the releases of new Episodes of Dragon Ball Abridged get further and further apart, but at least Team Four Star is still funny. 

The Cell games have finally begun, and it’s being played up like a pro-wrestling event. Earth’s hero, Mr. Satan shows up and begins trash talking. Then the Z-warriors start arriving--with some jokes thrown in. It all slowly builds up to the famous scene where Cell slaps Mr. Satan into a mountain, which is where the episode ends. 

That the trouble with a once every two or three months schedule. Occasionally you get to an episode where not much happens. While this episode was undoubtedly funny, not enough happened to leave me satisfied. 

As to what was there I found the editing really good--more so than the last two episodes. The voice acting was professional quality, everything about it as a production was above par. The jokes were funny; I laughed—a lot. I just wish the episode could have been three or six minutes longer.

-Gedaemon

Review of Dragon Ball Super Ep. 83

The gang arrives at Bulma’s and immediately start considering who will join them. A few names are considered but Trunks and Goten are ruled out as inexperienced. Vegeta is practically salivating at Goku and Gohan’s description of the tournament but refuses to particulate until his baby is born.  With the need for Vegeta very much as issue, Whis uses some magic to rush the baby’s birth. After some gushing it’s time to name the baby. Vegeta’s Sayian names are tossed aside for the name Bulla, much to his chagrin.  Yamcha also stops by, cementing his role as a comic relief character, which I suppose it the best you can hope for when your name has become a synonym for getting curb stomped. 

Bulla’s much awaited birth is here. It was entertaining and funny but unfortunately not much more happened. I hate to call the birth of Bulla filler but…. Let’s just call it a cool down episode.

The preview has me a little hyped however, looks like some training fights will be happening with one of my favorite characters: Kuririn.

-Gedaemon

Review of Dragon Ball Super Ep. 82

After a week off Dragon Ball Super is back! And Toppo is ready to fight Goku. After getting Zen-oh’s permission the fight begins. Mr. Satan states that the muscular guys like Toppo are always the weak ones but Gohan contradicts him; Toppo is strong and even Gohan is getting excited. 

The fight begins and Toppo dislocates Goku’s shoulder. Goku pops it back in and counter attacks but has no luck in super sayian form. Trapping Goku in another hold he tries to crush him. But as the previews showed, Goku goes super sayian blue and starts fighting in earnest. But even a point black Kamehameha doesn’t end things. The two power up to their max, with Goku using kaioken when suddenly the Grand priest calls an end to the match. Zen-oh objects but the Grand Priest convinces him that at this rate one of them would die which would ruin the tournament. 

As the fight ends Goku extends his hand, but Toppo turns his back, declares Goku evil and says there is an even stronger patroller named Jiren.  Toppo isn’t sure he can beat Goku but he knows even if he fails Jiren will succeed. 

So in forty hours the tournament is set to begin. As the Gods freak out Whis points out Goku will be targeted immediately. Gohan wants to plan, but Goku is easy going about it. After a round of arguing everyone is  off to Bulma’s to strategized and eat. 

Well it wasn’t a bad episode. The fight was interesting; the animation was ok, not great. It seems we will get an episode or two before the fight. It looks like we might get some training fit in too, and Bulla being born.  I am interested in where they are going with this, I do wish the animation of the episodes could match the opening though.

-Gedaemon

The Blue Suppository: Don't Remake The Matrix

Its been reported that a new Matrix movie is in the works. Now, the Matrix trilogy is one of the things that got me into philosophy, It’s also one of my favorite movie series. Ive rewatched it countless times over the years and it never fails to impress. 

The Matrix was released in 98, and while the effects might have aged a little and we no longer use flip phones, I am struggling to find a reason it needs to be remade? Is it because kids don’t know what a land line or a pay phone is? Who is it exactly that thinks they can do the Matrix better than the original movie? I can understand if someone thought they could do the sequels better, but the original? 

I cannot see this remake as anything more than a blatant money grab by whoever is behind it. To me it’s as absurd as remaking A New Hope with a new set of actors and the lines slightly changed to bring them more in line with the prequels--not that I don’t think Hollywood would try this if they thought they could get away with it. And while The Matrix Trilogy will never be as timeless or as laudable as Star Wars, it’s good enough that it doesn’t deserve this make over after only nineteen years. 

New is not better by default and while some remakes have been good, and even timely; others are unnecessary money making projects or the object of some writer/director’s vanity. It would be sad for this to happen to one of the most iconic movies of the late twentieth century.

-Gedaemon

In praise of 16-bit Sprites

What is it about the Super Nes era graphics which is so pleasing to look at? Maybe it’s because we only still play the gems but those old sprite graphics a fun and they’ve held up so well.  

While 3-D graphics age in a matter of years the spirts from Link to the Past still have pop. They still have vibrancy to them. And while there were real limits to what they could do in 16-bits what they did manage is more impressive because of them. 

I really admire what artists did with sprite art and animation, all in file sizes ridiculously small by current standards, and I hope the next generation of gamers will be able to appreciate the classics as well via faithful re-releases. I also hope indie gamers will strive to emulate the excellence of games like LTTP.

-Gedaemon