Random Thoughts on Pacific Rim (Not a Review!)

As someone that grew up loving Godzilla movies and Shogun Warriors toys, Pacific Rim was an immensely satisfying summer blockbuster. It’s full of giant, glorious robots and giant, glorious monsters engaging in giant, glorious battles. It’s the summer movie that eight-year old me dreamed about. While it’s not the best movie I’ve seen this year (Star Trek still holds the top spot), I really enjoyed it. My friend Paul, who is also a Godzilla mark, had issues with it. Here are some random thoughts on the movie, along with a secondhand counter-perspective of Paul’s thoughts. Unlike most of my not-a-reviews, this one is spoiler-free.

Character Design: The robots in the movie were sci-fi cool, while the monsters were sci-fi scary. They were exactly how eight-year old me imagined they would be on the big screen. The monster designs were like updated versions of the kaiju used in Godzilla movies. They had some realistic features, but were exaggerated enough that you couldn’t imagine them being real. I greatly preferred this style over what the American version of Godzilla did — make things so realistic to the point they were boring and so unfamiliar to kaiju fans that they weren’t fun.

The different robots in the film were fantastic. Eight-year old me would have done all kinds of chores for toys of these robots. Hell, 2013 me would do your chores for toys of these robots. The robots featured designs that reflected the countries their pilots and (presumably) makers were from. For example, American mech Gipsy Danger was inspired by the Chrysler Building, while Russian Cherno Alpha looked like a Soviet tank. My favorite was China’s Crimson Typhoon, which looked like a red (duh) version of the Iron Giant, but with awesome buzz saws.

Special Effects and 3D: Just in case you didn’t know, similar to how WWE Undertaker isn’t actually dead, the giant robots and giant monsters in Pacific Rim aren’t real. The effects used to make them come alive on the big screen were tremendous — easily some of the best I’ve seen. Obviously the visuals are the movie’s main attraction. (If you’re seeing this movie for something other than the visuals then you’re doing it wrong.) Between the top-notch effects and Red Epic camerawork, this is a visually impressive movie.

The 3D really surprised me. As many of you know, I’m not a huge fan of 3D. Originally, director Guillermo Del Toro was against a 3D conversion, but changed his mind. I’m glad he did. Even though Pacific Rim’s 3D conversion allegedly took 40 weeks longer than most, I believe that the end result was worth the wait. While my friend Paul wasn’t impressed, I felt that the 3D added to the sense of scale. The robots and monsters felt bigger. They really popped off of the screen (especially in the first 20 minutes). Even a seen featuring the human lead made effective use of 3D during a scene on a scaffold. That bit actually had me a little bit queasy from the height. Cool.

So the robots are cool, the monsters are sweet, and the special effects are tremendous. That’s all you really need for this kind of movie, right? Well, that was the case for me. For Paul, not so much.

Weird Science: A lot of the science and logic in Pacific Rim bugged Paul. He didn’t like how the robots required multiple pilots sharing brain waves. He didn’t like that monster attacks seemed to follow a set schedule and that one of the scientists had a theory on the schedule. Me? I didn’t give a rat’s ass. It’s a movie about giant frickin’ monsters emerging from the Earth’s tectonic plates through an arcane portal. The questionable science behind Godzilla movies didn’t bother back in the day and the questionable science in Pacific Rim doesn’t bother me now.

Humans: Paul and I agree that some of the humans weren’t very good in the movie. I think it bothered him more than it bothered me. Again, I never cared about the humans in Godzilla, but unlike those cats, I didn’t mind watching the humans in Pacific Rim. Idris Elba is cool (though it was funny how his voice could go from a tender whisper to a stentorian roar in less than a second — dude must have a reverb switch on his neck), I always find Charlie Day entertaining, Rinko Kikuchi is super cute (especially with blue highlights), and Ron Perlman is always good for some scene-stealers.

The other guys I wasn’t so hot on. Leading man Charlie Hunnam was kind of boring, his antagonistic Australian teammate (that might as well have been named Iceman) played by Robert Kazinsky was annoyingly angry, and aside from being super cute (and having blue highlights), Kikuchi was mostly dull. The bit characters were a bit stereotypical. The male from the Russian team was pretty much the lovechild of Zangief and Ivan Drago, while his female companion was Drago’s wife. While the Chinese guys had the coolest robot, they didn’t do anything aside from bad Yao Ming impersonations when they were outside of the mech.

So yeah, some of the acting was okay and some of it was bad. Again, if you’re seeing Pacific Rim for the acting then you’re doing it wrong.

Striker, I Hardly Know Her: The Australian robot’s name is Striker Eureka. Whenever its name was mentioned, I had flashbacks to Airplane! “Striker. Striker. Striker…Ted Striker?!?”

The Tone: While this is clearly one those big-dumb-fun summer movies, it wasn’t that dumb. Certainly it’s not as vapid as something like Transformers or Battleship. Between its (relative) smartness and feel-good vibe, Pacific Rim left me with a feeling similar to the one I had after I saw Independence Day in theaters. While that movie is obviously more meaningful to Americans, there are a lot of similarities — great special effects, sweet tech, creepy monsters, and humans that didn’t bother the hell out of me (and also Jeff Goldblum).

Bottom Line: Pacific Rim absolutely worked for me and delivered exactly what I wanted out of it. I was surprised that Paul had so many science-related and logic-related issues with it. None of that stuff mattered to me. Interspersed between mostly harmless acting are visually striking scenes featuring giant frickin’ robots fighting giant frickin’ monsters. Those fights made me want to start one of those WWE, “This is awesome!” *clap* *clap* *clapclapclap* chants. As I played with my Godzilla and Shogun Warriors toys as a kid, the most glorious version of the movie in my mind would have been exactly like Pacific Rim.

Liev Schreiber to Play Chris Benoit in Crossface?

[Update 12:40PM PDT] The latest rumor on Crossface, the Chris Benoit biopic, has Liev Schreiber playing playing the Canadian Crippler. Benoit, as most of you know, was a brilliantly talented professional-wrestler whose life ended in a grisly tragedy when he killed his wife and son before taking his own life. Schreiber is known by geeks for his role as Sabretooth in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, while boxing fans know him as the narrator for the 24/7 series.

The story was reported by MoviePilot and should be taken with a huge grain of salt, as the site uses a mix of posts from professional writers and fans. While many web sites are using this article as the source, very few have noted that it’s a “contributor” post. The post doesn’t list anyone involved with the movie as confirming the information. It could very well turn out to be legit, but I’d wait for confirmation from the studio or a reputable journalist.

Anyway, how do you feel about Crossface? Some people are uncomfortable with the movie being made. Are you down with Sabretooth playing the the Rabid Wolverine?

[Special thanks to my friend and Bret Hart mark Joey for the tip!]

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[Update 12:40PM PDT]: TMZ has received word from Schreiber’s representatives that the story isn’t true. To all the hack Internet writers out there — this is why you check sources.

Vaping Diaries #76: Fancee Juice Review

Recently, I vaped three sweet e-liquids from Fancee Juice — Peppered ChocoMint, Pina Clouda, and MeeseTracks. The company claims that these juices are “hand crafted here in Michigan with USA made ingredients.” The juices I tried had a nice, moderate sweetness that let individual flavors and richness shine. As someone that dislikes cloying, in-your-face sweetness, I really appreciated Fancee Juice’s approach. These e-liquids are more “gourmet dessert” than “candy.”

In addition to serving up quality juices, Fancee Juice’s packaging is another extraordinary aspect of the company. The 30ml bottles in my order came in glass, the bottles were covered in cardboard tubes that were tied with string, and the box was lined with an artificial hay-like material. The packaging protects the bottles nicely and gives the goods a classy touch. As far as combining top-notch protection and charming presentation, Alice in Vapeland is the only vendor I’ve used that uses packaging comparable to Fancee Juice.

All three juices vaped cleanly, making them suitable for carto/tank, clearomizer, and dripping atomizer users. While I enjoyed the flavor and sweetness level of these juices, people that want more sweetness can opt for extra flavor. These e-liquids cost $19.99 for a 30ml bottle, making them slightly more expensive than most online vendors, but I think the price is worth it for many vapers. The juices are flavorful, well made, and come in fantastic packaging. Now onto the flavor breakdowns and steeping notes.

Peppered ChocoMint: This is a blend of chocolate and peppermint. I’ve had a lot of bad chocolate e-liquids since I’ve been vaping; it’s one of those flavors that many vendors botch. The chocolate in this juice is really good — definitely one of the better ones I’ve tried. Combined with the peppermint, you get a flavor similar to an Andes Candies chocolate or a York Peppermint Patty. The blend was right in my wheelhouse, with plenty of flavor and just the right amount of sweetness. While the flavor combination is simple and straightforward, it would have been easy to mess up the mixture. For what I like, Fancee Juice did a good job the balance.

Pina Clouda: Based on the popular cocktail, this juice was more of a “pineapple and cream” than a “pina colada” to me. It’s certainly a tasty e-liquid, but it wasn’t what I was looking for. The pineapple and cream flavors dominate, while a little bit of coconut is in the background. I didn’t taste any rum at all. I would have preferred a little bit more coconut flavor and a nice rum kick. That said, I think a lot of people would enjoy this one, but to me it tasted more like Dole Whip than a pina colada cocktail.

MeeseTracks: This was my favorite of the bunch. I really enjoyed the delicious, Nutella-like flavor of this juice. Again, I’ve had lots of gnarly chocolate e-liquids in the past, so I really appreciated Fancee Juice’s chocolate flavor. Combined with the hazelnut flavor, MeeseTracks made for a rich and savory vape, with just the right amount of sweetness. Similar to Peppered ChocoMint, it would have been really easy to use the ingredients in this juice to create an unbalanced flavor that assaults your tastebuds with sweetness. Instead, Fancee Juice served up an e-liquid that lets you taste and enjoy the different flavors in the mix.

Steeping Notes
On the advice of Wlad from Ahlusion, I’ve been trying a new steeping method starting December 27, 2012. When the e-liquids arrive, I leave them uncapped for five minutes. Previously, I left them uncapped for about two days. After the liquids are given a few minutes to oxidize, the caps are put back on. The bottles are shaken every day for at least two weeks before vaping.

Peppered ChocoMint
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Born On: March 2, 2013
Uncapped: March 9, 2013 5:33PM
Vaped: May 24-31, 2013

Pina Clouda
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Born On: March 2, 2013
Uncapped: March 9, 2013 5:33PM
Vaped: May 24-31, 2013

MeeseTracks
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Born On: March 2, 2013
Uncapped: March 9, 2013 5:33PM
Vaped: May 24-31, 2013

Review Process (Updated February 17, 2013)
RPad.TV e-liquid reviews focus on the flavor of the e-liquids, since throat hit and vapor production can be altered by the PG/VG ratio and nicotine level selected. Each juice is vaped over a period of days in an atomizer, a cartomizer/tank setup, and a clearomizer. The exception is naturally-extracted tobacco (NET) juice; since those are known to clog up cartomizers quickly, those are vaped in atomizers and clearomizers.

When Kobe Unfollowed Dwight on Twitter

There are many things that I love about social media. It’s awesome how it connects people. It’s great that it gives fans a way to interact with celebrities. It’s also amusing to see it used when friendships go sour. In the San Francisco Bay Area tech community, it was common for squabbling people to unfollow each other on Twitter or defriend each other on Facebook. It’s brilliant that professional athletes are doing the same thing.

As many of you know, Dwight Howard left the Los Angeles Lakers for the Houston Rockets. Shortly after the news broke, Laker legend Kobe Bryant unfollowed Howard on Twitter. That’s frickin’ awesome! It’s such a nerdy way to make a statement. I love it!!! There are many ways to read into the situation. Some are dismissing it as pettiness on Bryant’s part. Others believe that it’s a way for one of the most insanely competitive players in the NBA to tell another player that he doesn’t matter anymore.

What’s your take on Kobe Bryant unfollowing Dwight Howard on Twitter?

Awesome iOS Games For Free!

To celebrate the five-year anniversary of the App Store, a number of excellent apps are free for a limited time. The freebies include some incredible games for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. Badland, Infinity Blade II, Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP, Tiny Wings, Tiny Wings HD, and Where’s My Water can be had for a grand total of $0.00. Go download them now!

Notable non-gaming freebies include Barefoot World Atlas and Traktor DJ.

If you come across any other fine iOS freebies, kindly post them in the comments section.

Jay-Z Disses Scott Boras on Magna Carta Holy Grail

Rappers insulting other rappers is a hip-hop staple. The “dis track” has been used to emasculate rivals, create controversy, and increase record sales. Normally, the insults are between rival hip-hop artists or crews. Jay-Z is the first artist that I know of that has used one of his tracks to insult a sports agent. As many of you know, Jay-Z recently created Roc Nation Sports and has started representing athletes. His clients include Robinson Cano of the New York Yankees and Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder. In the song “Crown” from his upcoming album Magna Carta Holy Grail, Jay-Z has a line for renowned super agent Scott Boras:

Scott Boras, you over baby.
Robinson Cano, you coming with me.

Yeah, it’s not the hardest hitting dis ever recorded, but it funny that Jay-Z went after Boras in a track…though I’m not sure it was necessary. Jay-Z already stole Cano from Boras as a client. Did he really need to rub it in or reinforce the point? Furthermore, Boras has a long list of clients and is responsible for some of the richest contracts in sports. I don’t think he’ll be hurting for business any time soon. All he has to do is point to the ridiculous contracts he’s gotten for Alex Rodriguez and new clients will sign.

Anyway, I hope this becomes a trend. Hip-hop artists dissing suits is funny. I heard the Nelly has beef with one of his accountants. Hopefully a dis track is in order.

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Vaping Diaries #75: Vapor Stands Pie Slice Review

A couple of months ago, I wrote about Vapor Stands, a new Californian company that makes handmade e-cigarette holders. For the last few weeks, I’ve been using the company’s Pie Slice stand. This is a custom job that can be made with your choice of cherrywood, oak, or walnut. It can hold up to six vaping devices, with holes cut for your specific mods. The Pie Slice covered in this review uses all three woods and has holes for five mods.

After the wood is cut, it’s sanded to a super-smooth finish. After that, it’s coated with three layers of polyurethane for glossiness, protection, and durability. The looks are gorgeous and the craftsmanship is fantastic. The Pie Slice looks great in an office, the living room, and anywhere else you vape. When people visit my office, it’s often the first thing that catches their eye. It’s an attractive piece of woodwork.

Four of the five holes on this particular Pie Slice were cut for fairly standard-sized mods. The other hole was cut specifically for an Alt Smoke Silver Bullet, which is larger than normal. Vapor Stands cut the holes perfectly and even contacted a few of the manufacturers to verify the proper size. The bottom of the holes are covered with felt, so that the mods have a soft base to sit on.

The Vapor Stands Pie Slice is a great American vaping product. It’s a gorgeous stand that’s extremely well made and backed by great customer service. $55 is a reasonable price for a custom handmade stand that’s crafted in the USA. If you appreciate woodwork and want a handsome stand for your vaping devices then I highly recommend this product.

Links: Vapor Stands Official Site

Motorola X Advertisement Boasts Assembled in the USA

While most of the products we buy are made in China, there has been a shift to make (or at least assemble) more goods in America. Apple’s Mac Pro (Texas), Nissan’s Leaf electric car (Tennessee), and a few Lenovo computers (North Carolina) are some of the products that are now being assembled in the USA. You can add Google’s Motorola X phone to the list. The company is on a media blitz that capitalizes on the Fourth of July holiday and proudly states that the Motorola X is, “Designed by you. Assembled in the USA.” Check out the spot below and share your feelings on the Motorola X and other products that are made in America.

In the past, I’ve mentioned that I’d love to buy more made-in-the-USA products. I’m hoping (probably naively) that the Motorola X ends up being an awesome product that’s made in the USA. I’d love to rock a phone like that. How about you?

ESPN Switching to Facebook Comments: Do You Care?

Starting July 17, 2013, ESPN.com will switching all of its articles to Facebook’s commenting system. The site previously used Facebook comments for some of its stories and an in-house system for the majority of its articles. With the new system, readers will be required to have a Facebook account if they want to comment on a story. I know that most of you RPadholics are sports fans and that most of you are on Facebook, so I’m curious to hear what you think about the change. I also know that at least one dear RPadholic (*cough* 1ceman *cough*) is a sports fan that’s averse to social media services. I wonder if this will be a problem (for him).

As for me, I’m looking forward to the change. While there are some great conversations to be had on ESPN.com, there are also a ton of idiots posting hateful and racist comments. One of the reasons web sites like Facebook’s commenting system is that there’s less anonymity; most people use their “real” Facebook account to post comments on web sites that use Facebook comments. Of course there are some people that set up fake Facebook identities so that they can post stupid comments on web sites that use Facebook’s commenting system…but I suppose if it means that much to them then they should get something for their efforts. *shrug*

Anyway, how do you feel about ESPN.com’s full-on switch to the Facebook commenting system? Is it a good move or a bad move? Are you more or less likely to comment on an ESPN.com article now that it uses Facebook comments?