For the last few months, I’ve been using a pair of tanks from Cirrus Vapes — one polycarbonate tank and one pyrex tank. Both are made in the USA, feature caps and tips made from aircraft aluminum, come with a 90-day warranty, and are among the best-looking tanks I’ve seen. The construction and finish of these babies are top notch. While both tanks are undeniably high-quality products, I found one to be on the expensive side and the other to be inline with the competition.
The polycarbonate tank I used was designed for XL cartomizers. The blue tank and tip looked fantastic on my Vapor4Life Handle and would look equally sweet on eGo-sized products. While it’s easily one of the best-looking polycarbonate tanks I’ve seen, its price is high — $36 for the tank and $10 for the matching drip tip. That’s a fair price for an aluminum tip that’s made in the USA, but paying that much for a polycarbonate tank is tougher to swallow.
The pyrex tank, on the other hand, is priced similarly to other high-end glass products — $46 for the tank and $14 for the large drip tip. This particular model was made for standard-sized cartomizers. Like its polycarbonate sister, this is one of the most beautiful tanks I’ve seen. The craftsmanship of the tank, caps, and drip tip are impressive. It looked great on my iTaste MVP and made all of my mods look better. Although there are many pyrex tanks priced similarly or cheaper than this Cirrus Vapes model, I don’t know of any that can match its combination of quality and looks.
In addition to its “standard” line, Cirrus Vapes makes lots of custom models too. Check out the company Facebook page and you’ll see a wide variety of designs — leopard print, camouflage, stars, flames, crosses, skulls, and more. The custom models are totally sweet. The green camouflage with black caps is especially awesome. Me want.
While Cirrus Vapes makes some of the finest tanks you can buy, they’re not easy to find. Right now, they’re only available at certain California retail stores and a handful of shops in other states. The good news is that the company is expanding, so expect to see them in more and more stores. The better news is that Cirrus will have an online web store in the near future.
If you’re able to pick one up, I highly recommend Cirrus Vapes’ pyrex model. It’s well-made, sturdy, and beautiful. As a homer for made-in-the-USA products, I’m thrilled to see an American company offering top-notch products at a fair price.
Following my review of The Dark Knight Returns Part I are (you guessed it) random thoughts on The Dark Knight Returns Part 2. Like the first installment, the movie does a fine job of retelling Frank Miller’s grim and gritty story. And like the first installment, the art is much cleaner than the source material and isn’t nearly as distinct, but is probably more appealing to mainstream viewers. With a run time of 72 minutes and 30 seconds, I was very much satisfied with the conclusion of the series, but wish it was released as one movie from the get go. Now without further ado, here are some random thoughts on The Dark Knight Returns Part 2.
Batman vs. The Joker: While Batman was taking a long hiatus, Joker found life without his rival boring and allowed himself to be locked up in a psychiatric hospital. The return of Gotham’s hero reinvigorated Gotham’s greatest villain and the results were ghastly. The movie did a great job at showing what a psychopathic fiend and remorseless killer Joker is. Unlike most animated comic-book movies, this one had a villain that was truly frightening. Joker felt dangerous and his murder spree felt grisly. The conflict between Batman and Joker was brought to a bloody and satisfying conclusion for viewers, but left the hero with more problems than ever. Good stuff.
Cold War is Cold: One element of the movie that has lost impact over the years is the Corto Maltese subplot. When the graphic novel was released in 1986, the conflict between the United States and Russia was arguably the biggest global issue of the time. In 2013, it feels like a short and uneventful chapter in a high school history book. It just doesn’t feel as big a deal as it did back then, which takes away from the story (though that’s hardly Miller’s fault). I just don’t think the subplot will resonate with younger viewers the way it will with people that grew up with Cold War fear. The important thing is that it serves as a plot device that sets the stage for The Dark Knight vs. Big Blue.
Batman vs. Superman: While Batman and Superman have clashed over ideologies for decades, The Dark Knight Returns was the first book I read that treated the conflict in a major way. The two heroes have very different ideas on how to serve people and defeat villains. The conflict comes to a boiling point in the movie and the two duke it out. Thanks to a nuclear explosion, some kryptonite, and a tank-like battle-suit, Batman is able to hold is own. The animated version of this battle doesn’t feel as tragic as the print version; the motion actually detracts from the drama and makes it feel more like a typical wham-bam cartoon. That said, it’s a pretty sweet fight scene with a great conclusion.
Resolution: While the movie concludes with lots of destruction and death, there’s a twist at the very end that gives viewers hope. Gotham is in shambles, Wayne manor is in ashes, and the hero is seemingly six feet under. Being the clever old bastard that he is, Batman finds a way to survive, comes to an understanding with Superman, and is ready to give Gotham a fresh start (from the shadows, naturally). For a grim and gritty movie, the ending is surprisingly uplifting.
Conclusion: Like I said in my review of The Dark Knight Returns Part I, I wish the entire movie was released at once. It would have felt more complete and satisfying. That said, I understand that a total run time of over 148 isn’t what most people want from a movie, especially an animated superhero one. As a whole, I loved the The Dark Knight Returns and have it ranked as my second-favorite animated comic-book adaptation behind Batman: Under the Red Hood. While the art is a little bit too clean, the movie stays true to the original Frank Miller comics and is a fine version of one of the greatest Batman stories ever told.
Raina and I checked out three more e-liquids from Ahlusion. This time around we went for a beverage theme, choosing Boba Tea, Mimosa Cocktail, and W&A Sasparilla. Boba Tea is based on the popular (for Asians, anyway) dessert beverage from Taiwan, Mimosa Cocktail is a lovely champagne and fruit mix, and W&A Sasparilla is a really unique juice that almost tastes like an adult root beer. As in our first Ahlusion review, we were impressed by the quality of the e-liquids and how carefully they’re packaged (best in the business, in my experience). Check out the video above, as well as more details and steeping details on the juices below.
Boba Tea: Raina and I were really excited to try this one, since boba is an important part of our relationship. She introduced me to the drink about 12 years ago and I’ve been digging it ever since. There’s something magical about the blend of milk tea and tapioca balls. We wanted to love this e-liquid, but ended up really, really liking it. Raina wanted more of the rice-like taste that comes from the drink’s tapioca balls. I wanted a little bit less sweetness and a bit more creaminess. Despite not quite tasting like the beverage, the combination of tea, milk, and Asian sweetness (my nickname, btw) made this my favorite juice of the three. One of the cool things about this juice is that Ahlusion allows you to add different fruit options. In the future, we’ll be reviewing Boba Tea with Lychee, which is how I usually order boba. We’re really psyched to try that one.
Mimosa Cocktail: As with the juice above, this one is available with a variety of options. You can add extra champagne and fruit flavoring, as well as choose different fruit flavors (orange, peach, pear, pomegranate, etc.). We went with the standard champagne with orange. Both of us felt like the champagne flavor was really slight. Although the orange flavor was delicious and tasted natural, we both wanted more of a champagne kick (which, perhaps, says something about our drinking habits). This is something we’d definitely get again, but with the “extra champagne” option.
W&A Sasparilla: This was Raina’s favorite of the bunch. Some people are going to mistake it for a straight root beer flavor because they’ll be thinking about A&W. It’s definitely not a standard root beer flavor. This is a unique, spicy, and complex juice that’s almost like root beer for grown ups. In some ways, it’s like comparing a wine cooler to a fine Bordeaux. The sasparilla comes at you right away. It immediately reminded Raina of the sasparilla beverages that are popular with kids in Asia. She was enamored with the striking flavor and the effervescent spiciness. While I definitely enjoyed and appreciated the juice, I liked it less than she did. Backwoods Brew’s Root Beer was more to my liking as an all-day vape. For me, this was a wonderful juice in small doses.
Steeping Notes
Boba Tea
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Uncapped: November 27, 2012 3:13PM
Recapped: November 29, 2012 4:13PM
Mimosa Cocktail
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Uncapped: November 27, 2012 3:13PM
Recapped: November 29, 2012 4:13PM
W&A Sasparilla
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Uncapped: November 27, 2012 3:13PM
Recapped: November 29, 2012 4:13PM
When I first heard about the Ovale USA eVic, I was immediately intrigued. As a longtime tech writer, I was fascinated by the idea of a vaping device with upgradeable firmware. Like computers, consoles, and mobile phones I’ve reviewed, the eVic has the potential to get better and better with each firmware update. After using the device for the last month, the eVic has shown its potential. Initially, I found it to be middling, but after a firmware update the experience was much, much better. This is one of the most unique vaping devices available today, but it’s not right for everyone. Here’s the breakdown.
What’s in the Kit: Like the other Ovale USA products I’ve reviewed, the eVic comes nicely packaged. Included in the box are the device, a 2,600 mAh 18650 battery, a USB cable, a wall adapter, and a thorough instruction manual. Considering the relatively complex nature of the eVic, a concise and easy-to-understand instruction manual was a must. Ovale USA did a good job at explaining how everything works (though the “How to Vape” section kind of cracked me up). The manual made me think of the Innokin iTaste MVP, which is a fine vaping device, but its spartan instruction manual left some users wondering how basic functions work. Even the most technologically-challenged vapers should be able to master the eVic after reading the instruction manual.
The eVic has a list price of $139 and currently costs $104.20 on Ovale USA’s site.
Construction and Build Quality: The eVic’s construction is mostly good. The tube is primarily metal, with some bits of plastic (twist ring, LCD cover, firing button, and battery cap). While the construction wasn’t as impressive as something like the rock-solid Silver Bullet, I was pleased with the eVic’s build. One area of concern for some users is the cover for the Micro USB port; it’s a small and somewhat fragile flap, similar to the ones used on some mobile phones. I didn’t have a problem with it personally, but I have several friends that have ripped out similar flaps on their phones and I imagine some users will rip the flap off of the eVic. Honestly, I don’t get how people tear these things out, but I understand that it happens.
Ergonomics and Design: For an 18650-battery mod, the eVic is fairly svelte. This is due to the metal tube being relatively thin. Compared to many mods that use an 18650 battery, the eVic feels thin and light, which some users will appreciate. It felt very comfortable in my hand, using my thumb to hit the firing button.
As for its looks, this is a slick device. There’s not a lot you can do to make a tube mod look different, but this one stands out — certainly more than I thought it would. I was recently at Volcano Vapor Cafe in Honolulu and several patrons immediately recognized the device, gushing over it. I also like the subtle branding on the eVic; it has the Ovale and eVic brands painted on in a silver that’s slightly darker than the tube. A lot of the mods I’ve seen and used have ham-fisted branding, so it was nice to see something subtle.
Operation: The eVic uses a 510 connection that accepts a wide variety of equipment. With the top cap on, you can use standard 510 atomizers and cartomizers. If you take the top cap off, it’s a cinch to use eGo-threaded parts. After spilling a bunch of e-liquid on my pants unscrewing a Kanger T3 with the top cap on, I highly recommend taking it off when using eGo-threaded parts. (Yes, I should get an idiot award for that maneuver.)
Sorting through the device’s functions was a snap for me, though I can see some people getting tired of the twisting and clicking. It’s five clicks to wake up the device or to get to the menu system when it’s on. The scroll wheel sorts through the various functions, while the firing button confirms the selection. The thing to keep in mind is that there really isn’t a device with this much functionality. It would be easy to complain that the user interface is similar to the cumbersome ones found on many television sets or mobile phones from a decade ago, but this is new ground for a vaping device. Being able to select voltage, wattage, temperature alarm, puff count, and more is novel. For a first-of-its-kind device, the UI on the eVic is acceptable.
Software: The eVic works in conjunction with the My Vapor Record software. The software can be used to track vaping patterns and update firmware. It’s fairly simple software, but again it doesn’t really have any competitors. For me, it wasn’t useful outside of updating firmware, but some users like to be able to track their vaping habits and it can be a great tool for vapers looking to limit their usage. One of the guys I met at Volcano Vapor Cafe described the tracking function as, “So gangsta!”
There were a few things I didn’t like about My Vapor Record. First, it’s only available for Windows. With the rapid growth of the Mac OS X market, I was surprised by the oversight. OS X and Linux users will have to dual-boot or borrow a friend’s machine to update firmware. Secondly, I didn’t like that My Vapor Record runs in the background; that seems like a waste of system resources and could slow things down for people using older Windows machines.
Performance and Battery Life: As far as straight vaping goes, the eVic has been a solid performer. It produces satisfying hits, though the voltage accuracy is a bit off. Trying a variety of voltage settings, I found the accuracy to be as much as 0.2 volts higher or lower than what was set. If you’re a by-the-numbers vaper then this can be off-putting. My recommendation is to dial to taste. Vapers that enjoy extreme high-voltage settings won’t be pleased with the device’s limits, but it should satisfy the majority of vapers out there.
Updating from firmware version 1.0 to 1.1 made a huge difference in performance. Originally, the eVic wasn’t a true variable-wattage device, meaning that the wattage wouldn’t automatically adjust when atomizers, cartomizers, or clearomizers were changed. The new firmware fixed that issue and also streamlined the UI, making the eVic easier to use.
In terms of battery life, I got a day and half of use out of a full charge. This was inline with my expectations of an 18650-battery mod. One nice thing about the eVic is that it doesn’t require a separate charger. You can leave the battery in the device and charge via USB, with or without a wall adapter. Like many device on the market, it offers pseudo-passthrough functionality; you can vape and charge if there’s some battery power left, but you can’t run the device plugged in if the battery is fully depleted.
Verdict: When I first started using the eVic, I thought it was an “okay” vaping device. The accuracy was off, the UI was cluttered, and I really didn’t like that it didn’t offer true variable-wattage performance. Firmware update 1.1 addressed two of those concerns and now I feel that it’s a very good device with the potential to be a great one. The upgradeable firmware was what made the eVic so interesting to me in the first place. I love that the eVic experience I’m enjoying today is better than the one I had out of the box and could be very different from the one I’ll have six months from now. I knew that there would be some initial kinks with the eVic and was pleased to see Joyetech (the OEM) address them so quickly. It’s unique that the same vaping hardware has gone from okay to very good in less than a month. I can’t wait to see where it goes from here!
The eVic is best for people that enjoy a certain amount of tinkering and like to play around with gadgets. There are better choices for those looking for a straight-up vaping experience, but this is one of the most unique products on the market today. It’s versatile, comfortable, and produces satisfying vapor. As of this writing, it’s a very good mod and I have a feeling that a future firmware update will make it a great one within the next few months.
Raina and I checked out three e-liquids from Fuzion Vapor: Magnum PI, Hadouken, and Milli Vanilli. Fuzion is a creative e-juice company that makes some really unique blends and uses creative names (as you can tell). Magnum PI is a tropical fruit medley with hints of cream and menthol. The Street Fighter-inspired Hadouken is a lemon-lime juice with a strong menthol kick (fireball?). Lastly, Milli Vanilli is a watermelon-based juice that tries to make sure that you won’t “blame it on the rain.”
These juices are relatively inexpensive at $13.75 for a 30ml bottle. The e-liquids come in fairly standard packing. The bottles are plastic (I greatly prefer glass) and have really fine tips that allow you to drip with precision. Fuzion uses a house blend of 35/65 PG/VG. Raina and I usually vape 50/50 or 60/40 juices. The vendor does offer custom PG/VG percentages, so I’d probably go that route if I ordered from Fuzion again.
While I really wanted to love this vendor, my first Fuzion experience was only a “like.” The fruit flavors are very “candy” and artificial. Both Raina and I prefer natural fruit flavors. That said, the juices are definitely quality and if you like candy flavors then you’ll love Fuzion Vapor.
Here are the flavor breakdowns:
Magnum PI: This was easily the best of the bunch. Raina and I really enjoyed the complexity of this e-liquid. There’s so much going on — a tropical fruit medley mixed with cream and a subtle menthol finish. It all blended together for a really enjoyable and fascinating vape.
Hadouken: Since Raina and I are both gamers, we really wanted to love this one, but only liked it. The mix of lemon-lime and menthol is definitely interesting, but it reminded us of vaping a cough drop. Raina said that this one was “medicinal,” while it reminded me of a Hall’s Mentho-Lyptus. We enjoyed it as an occasional vape, but definitely not an all-day one.
Milli Vanilli: As fans of “Blame it on the Rain,” and “Girl You Know it’s True,” Raina and I wanted to love this juice too. It really didn’t do much for us. It’s not bad, but it’s kind of forgettable. The watermelon flavor reminded me of a lighter version of watermelon bubblegum. This e-liquid was just kind of…there.
Steeping Notes
Magnum PI
35/65 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Uncapped: November 3, 2012 5:31PM
Recapped: November 6, 2012 9:45AM
Tested: December 18, 2012
Hadouken
35/65 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Uncapped: November 3, 2012 5:31PM
Recapped: November 6, 2012 9:45AM
Tested: December 18, 2012
Milli Vanilli
35/65 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Uncapped: November 3, 2012 5:31PM
Recapped: November 6, 2012 9:45AM
Tested: December 18, 2012
Raina and I checked out three e-liquids from E-Juice Plus: Menthol, Coffee, and Butterscotch. These juices are available for the relatively low price of $20 for 60ml. For an additional $5, you can add the unique option of ganoderma extract. Ganoderma is a mushroom used in Eastern and alternative medicine. It is believed to have many health benefits.
Now, I’m not a doctor (nor do I play one on TV), so I can’t say whether or not vaping ganoderma will improve your health. What I can say is that the extract absolutely does not make e-liquids taste like mushrooms (a common misconception). It adds a background taste, for sure, but Raina and I enjoyed these juices on their own. I liked all three, but Raina really liked them. Now onto the flavors!
Menthol: This is a mild menthol, so if you’re looking for something to clear out your sinuses then this juice isn’t for you. Out of the three juices, this one had the most noticeable background taste, but it didn’t make the juice taste bad by any means. Both of use liked this flavor, but it didn’t blow us away. In general, we both prefer menthols and mints with a little more strength, so we wished this one had more of a kick. If you like your menthols mild then this is a serviceable all-day vape.
Coffee: Both of us liked this one better than Menthol. The coffee taste in this juice is similar to canned ice coffee or coffee mix. It’s a light milk-and-coffee taste that does a good job of masking any background taste that ganoderma infuses. As some of you know, I’m pretty insane with my coffee (burr grinder, Chemex, and freshly roasted beans), but I also enjoy canned coffee and view it as a its own unique flavor — kind of like enjoying Taco Bell, but not considering it real Mexican food. With that in mind, I enjoyed this juice as an approximation of canned coffee as opposed to fresh coffee.
Butterscotch: This was our favorite juice of the three. Trying it blindly, Raina thought it had a nice “vanilla cake” taste. The butterscotch flavor is mild, so if you like e-liquids that are strong and sweet then this isn’t for you. If you want a distinct sweetness that’s good for an all-day vape then this is a good choice. The ganoderma actually complements the butterscotch flavor, giving it a unique twist. While we thought Menthol was okay and Coffee was good, Butterscotch was the flavor we fought over.
Juice Contents
10% Basic juice
15% PG
45% VG
10% Ganoderma
20% Flavor (50/50 VG/PG)
Steeping Notes
Menthol
10mg nicotine
Uncapped: November 19, 2012 6:35PM
Recapped: November 21, 2012 7:00PM
Tested: December 18, 2012
Coffee
10mg nicotine
Uncapped: November 19, 2012 6:35PM
Recapped: November 21, 2012 7:00PM
Tested: December 18, 2012
Butterscotch
50/50 PG/VG ratio 10mg nicotine
Uncapped: November 19, 2012 6:35PM
Recapped: November 21, 2012 7:00PM
Tested: December 18, 2012
The Alt Smoke Silver Bullet is one of the most popular mods on the market and its popularity is totally deserved. It’s a great performer, the build quality is outstanding, it looks great, and it has fantastic flexibility when used with an Evolv Kick. Going into this review, I expected to like the Silver Bullet a lot. I ended up loving it and it has become one of my favorite vaping devices. Here’s the breakdown.
What’s In the Kit: The barebones Silver Bullet kit costs $84.99 and comes with a simple microfiber carrying case. Alt Smoke offers additional configurations that include atomizers, cartomizers, batteries, chargers, and more. If you are an experienced vaper and don’t need the accessories, you’re good to go with just the mod. If you’re new to vaping then Alt Smoke offers everything you need to get started.
Build Quality and Construction: The Silver Bullet is built like a tank. It’s made from aircraft aluminum and feels very sturdy. The finish — available in a wide variety of colors — is also topnotch. This is a beautiful mod that will last most vapers a very, very long time. I was extremely impressed by the quality of the Silver Bullet. It’s a fantastic example of a high-quality vaping device that’s made in the USA. (And yes, I’m partial to made in the USA goods.) The Silver Bullet is backed by a six-month warranty that covers mechanical failure.
Ergonomics and Design: This is as straightforward as it gets. The Silver Bullet is a simple (though extremely well made) mechanical mod. It’s a solid tube with a button that won’t accidentally fire off in your pants or pocketbook. Due to its mechanical construction, you don’t have to worry about any circuits dying or breaking down. Since it’s made from aircraft aluminum, it has a really nice heft. Vapers that prefer lighter devices might be put off by the weight, but I loved the solid feel of the SB.
Operation: There’s a single button. You press it. After that, you just vape and enjoy. The mod uses a standard 510 connection, so you can use it with a wide variety of atomizers, cartomizers, and clearomizers.
Performance (Standalone): As a fixed voltage device, I was surprised by the strong performance of the Silver Bullet. This thing kicks like a mule — easily one of the best fixed voltage mods I’ve ever used. Running on a single 18650 battery, I was able to get a day and half on a charge, sometimes a little bit longer. Performance does go down when the battery hits the 1/4 mark or so.
Performance (With Evolv Kick): Using the Silver Bullet with the Evolv Kick gives this mod incredible versatility. The Kick allows you to adjust the wattage to your liking. You can use the Kick with an 18490 battery or buy the optional $24.95 extension sleeve to use it with an 18650 battery. The Kick gives you consistent output and versatile performance at the expense of battery life. Still, with the extension sleeve and an 18650 battery, I was able to get more than a day of vaping with the device.
Verdict: The Silver Bullet has quickly become one of my favorite vaping devices. The build quality is fantastic and the standalone performance is great. When used with an Evolv Kick, you get the versatility of variable wattage. My favorite setup at the moment is the SB, a Kick, and an 18650 battery. This gives me more than a day of fantastic vaping. Whether you prefer fixed voltage or variable wattage, I highly recommend the Silver Bullet. It’s a wonderful vaping device.
[Special thanks to RPadholic N8R for filming the intro and outro of this review! The ins and outs were done pre-surgery, while the rest of the review was done post-surgery.]
Raina and I checked out three e-liquids from Backwoods Brew — Peach, Honey Flue Tobacco, and Root Beer. One was too sweet for our tastes, one had a great blend of sweetness and tobacco that was great for an all-day vape, and one was a fantastic e-juice with lots of complexity. Backwoods Brew’s packaging is pretty standard — plastic dripper bottles enclosed in a padded envelope — but the juice is definitely high-quality. Here’s a breakdown of the three flavors followed by steeping notes.
Peach: This is a good choice if you like candied peaches. It reminded Raina of the Hello Kitty candy she used to steal as a kid. It reminded me of peaches you’d taste in a peach pie or in peach jam. While it’s a good and tasty juice, Raina and I both prefer natural fruit flavors like the one in Ahlusion’s excellent Poppin’ Peach.
Honey Flue: Raina and I both liked this one a lot. It has a smooth tobacco taste and a great honey sweetness. The honey flavor is definitely noticeable, but it’s not overpowering. Unlike many sweet e-liquids on the market, this one is suitable for an all-day vape.
Root Beer: This was our favorite of the three. BWB’s Root Beer is a real treat that has a true root beer flavor with a great spiciness and lots of complexity. My friend Ted tried this one too and immediately picked up the anise flavor. There’s just a lot going on with this juice and it was a delight to vape. Raina felt that the complexity gave it a nice kick that was perfect for vaping. Both of us highly recommend this juice.
Steeping Notes
Peach
70/30 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Uncapped: October 22, 2012 4:15PM
Recapped: October 24, 2012 10:48PM
Tested: December 11, 2012
Honey Flue
70/30 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Uncapped: October 22, 2012 4:15PM
Recapped: October 24, 2012 10:48PM
Tested: December 11, 2012
Root Beer
70/30 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Uncapped: October 22, 2012 4:15PM
Recapped: October 24, 2012 10:48PM
Tested: December 11, 2012
Raina and I checked out three e-liquids from Backwoods Brew — Peach, Honey Flue Tobacco, and Root Beer. One was too sweet for our tastes, one had a great blend of sweetness and tobacco that was great for an all-day vape, and one was a fantastic e-juice with lots of complexity. Backwoods Brew’s packaging is pretty standard — plastic dripper bottles enclosed in a padded envelope — but the juice is definitely high-quality. Here’s a breakdown of the three flavors followed by steeping notes.
Peach: This is a good choice if you like candied peaches. It reminded Raina of the Hello Kitty candy she used to steal as a kid. It reminded me of peaches you’d taste in a peach pie or in peach jam. While it’s a good and tasty juice, Raina and I both prefer natural fruit flavors like the one in Ahlusion’s excellent Poppin’ Peach.
Honey Flue: Raina and I both liked this one a lot. It has a smooth tobacco taste and a great honey sweetness. The honey flavor is definitely noticeable, but it’s not overpowering. Unlike many sweet e-liquids on the market, this one is suitable for an all-day vape.
Root Beer: This was our favorite of the three. BWB’s Root Beer is a real treat that has a true root beer flavor with a great spiciness and lots of complexity. My friend Ted tried this one too and immediately picked up the anise flavor. There’s just a lot going on with this juice and it was a delight to vape. Raina felt that the complexity gave it a nice kick that was perfect for vaping. Both of us highly recommend this juice.
Steeping Notes
Peach
70/30 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Uncapped: October 22, 2012 4:15PM
Recapped: October 24, 2012 10:48PM
Tested: December 11, 2012
Honey Flue
70/30 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Uncapped: October 22, 2012 4:15PM
Recapped: October 24, 2012 10:48PM
Tested: December 11, 2012
Root Beer
70/30 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Uncapped: October 22, 2012 4:15PM
Recapped: October 24, 2012 10:48PM
Tested: December 11, 2012
Peter Jackson is back with another movie about a bunch of guys walking from point A to point B. This time around it’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the precursor to The Lord of the Rings. Some familiar characters and locations are back, along with the amazing special effects and costumes that Jackson is known for. However, the film gets a whole new look thanks to 48p (HFR 3D). While the movie is highly enjoyable on its own, some aspects are enhanced by 48p while several others suffer because of the new technology. Here are some random thoughts on The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, starting with some spoiler-free criticisms of 48p.
You Down With 48p (Yeah, You Know Me): The best thing about 48p is that it makes 3D better. The Hobbit has some of the best 3D effects I’ve ever seen and they blend together smoothly thanks to the higher frame rate. The resolution also offers some of the most realistic shots I’ve ever seen, which is good and bad. It’s good because the clarity and details are phenomenal. It’s bad because the details are so clear that it takes away from the experience. There’s a distinct difference between scenes shot on a set, scenes shot on location, and scenes that feature heavy computer graphics. They don’t blend together well and you’re left with a feeling of incongruity. There are some closeups where you can see the makeup and prosthetics, also taking you out of the fantasy. Fans of traditional 24p films (i.e. the cinematic effect) will be put off too. Most of The Hobbit doesn’t look like a traditional movie, but rather the most amazing HD television footage ever seen. While the technology is impressive and I’m certain that it’ll mesh together better in the future, the visuals in this movie feel disjointed.
The Leads: Ian McKellen cemented his status as a nerd god by absolutely killing it as Gandalf the Grey. He’s commanding and vulnerable at the same time. He’s a fun character because he’s obviously very powerful, but you’re not quite sure of his motivations and mental stability. McKellen carries the first installment of The Hobbit trilogy, which is great for fans of The Lord of the Rings movies; there’s something comforting about going on a new (old?) adventure with an old friend. Martin Freeman was very good as Bilbo Baggins and I have a feeling that he’s going to be great in the next movies. As his character develops from a meek homebody to an able adventurer, Freeman is able to show some nice range and will be able to do even more in the sequels. Richard Armitage was also very good as Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of the dwarves…though his name made me think about this guy.
Old Friends: In addition to Gandalf, old Bilbo, and Frodo, a number of other characters return in familiar roles. Hugo Weaving is back as Agent Smith Elrond and Cate Blanchett returns as Galadriel, two of the most powerful elves in Middle-earth. To my surprise, Christopher Lee was back as Saruman. I wasn’t sure he was still alive. There’s a great scene where Saruman shows up at Rivendell to Gandalf’s surprise. The look on McKellen’s face is priceless, as if he was thinking, “Not this f*cking guy!” Also, Gollum rules!
The Other Dwarves: Most of the dwarves seem pretty useless in the movie, which was somewhat expected since they didn’t receive the character development native to (really long) text. For newcomers, a lot of these guys seems like stragglers that are simply there to make the group look big. Sure, Thorin is the leader and and Kili is a skilled archer, but the other guys? Oin and Gloin are notable because they’re Gimli’s ancestors and their father’s name is Groin (never gets old). Bombur seems like he’s there because every sci-fi/fantasy team needs a fat guy. As far as I could tell, Ori was there to look goofy and fight even goofier. If you’ve read the book then you know that many of the dwarves have developed personalities, but if you’re coming in blindly then it seems like more than half the team is there to provide comic relief.
Special Effects: As expected, the special effects in the movie are outstanding. There are a lot of scenes that will leave you thinking, “Damn. That was cool!” Unfortunately, the impact of the effects is dampened because of 48p. You’ll see something that’s visually stunning, but the next scene looks so different that it’s confusing and somewhat negates the awesomeness of the effects you just witnessed.
Fight Scenes: Most of the fight scenes in the movie are pretty sweet, but there are few goofy moments that I didn’t care for at all. I blame this on the guy that thought it was a good idea to have Legolas go shield surfing in The Two Towers. I hated that moment and felt that it took away from an epic battle. There are a handful of similar instances in The Hobbit as well. It gets worse at the end when the dwarves use some Three Stooges maneuvers with a ladder. Yes, I get that the gang is outnumbered and wins some battles through dumb luck, but dumb luck doesn’t always have to look so goofy. Those moments aside, I really enjoyed the fight scenes in The Hobbit. Bows, arrows, swords, and magic are cool.
Conclusion: For the most part, I really enjoyed The Hobbit, but found 48p so disconcerting that I’m certain that I would have enjoyed the movie much more in traditional 24p 2D. I love that Peter Jackson was bold enough to experiment with new technology, but it doesn’t seem ready yet. The visuals are just all over the place and at times that made it difficult to simply enjoy the adventure. While I’m happy to watch more three-hour Peter Jackson movies about guys walking to a volcano mountain, some of the enjoyment is taken away by half-baked technology. I definitely recommend seeing The Hobbit, but be prepared for the incongruous look of HFR 3D.
