THE NEW HOME FOR "PAETER'S BRAIN"!

Paeter is no longer posting to this blog. His new reviews and thoughts on geek entertainment (including all those previously posted here!) can now be found conveniently organized and archived at The Spirit Blade Underground!

Saturday, August 11, 2007

I Need YOU!


Help me create the Spirit Blade Underground community! Be a part of our podcast!

Here's What I Need:
1. Your answers to our weekly "Coffee House Questions".
2. Tell us how we can make the podcast and blogs better or more interactive!
3. Become an "Underground Correspondent"! Record a review (books, movies, t.v. shows, ANYTHING!) for us and you may just hear it on the next podcast! (Please limit message length to 3 minutes or less.)

Here's How To Do It:
Record a message with your ideas, reviews or other thoughts at: http://paetersbrain.blogspot.com/ (right here!) or http://paeter.libsyn.com/ ! Or e-mail me at paeter@spiritblade.net. Don't forget to include your name so everyone will know how awesome you are! (Names can be withheld upon request.)

Friday, August 10, 2007

"Stan Strikes Again!" AND "Any Ideas?"

Last night's episode of "Who Wants To Be A Superhero" surprised me again. I was convinced that the "mole" in the group was Parthenon. He was staying safely below the radar and we know the least about him as a person. I thought for sure he had been planted by the studio. But when Stan Lee revealed that there was in fact NO mole in the group, my stance completely reverted and now I can't help but think that Parthenon is in the running to win this thing! Especially given his strong show of integrity tonight. I was glad ONE of them realized that what they were doing was wrong! (Hygena thought it was fishy too, I guess, but didn't say anything while they were all sitting around talking about Mr. Mitzfah.)

The double elimination was another surpise, but I'm sure you'll agree that the two eliminated were obvious choices.

I still have issues with some of the criticisms Stan presents to the heroes. I felt like his comment on Hyper-Strike and Whip-Snap about failing to encourage their team-mates was conjured up to have SOMETHING bad to say about two really great heroes. There were probably some behind the scenes "suggestions" from producers going on to make "good television", but it still felt very contrived.

Right now it looks like a tight race (no pun intended) now that the obviously poor choices have been eliminated.
Can't wait to see what happens!



On another note...
I'm trying to find a way to allow people to send me voice messages that I can play on the podcast if I want to. I'd rather not give out my cell phone number and I'm not too interested in investing money into it.
I've come across some free widgets for the other blog (which I publish using Typepad), but the one that looks like it would work (from Evoca) would require me to upgrade to a more expensive service at Typepad. I tried using an Odeo link, but I think something's up with their system. It didn't seem to want to save my recorded message that I sent to myself as a test.
Anyway, I'd LOVE some ideas because I'm hoping to make the podcast and these blogs increasingly more interactive. Can anyone help me?





Wednesday, August 8, 2007

New Game!


After much thought and careful consideration, I picked up a used copy of "Rogue Galaxy" last night.
I've not played far enough into it to give it a full review, but maybe in a few more weeks I'll put something here and/or on the podcast.
It's basically an action RPG, but in a japanese style. So it's not Champions of Norrath, but it's not as innocent and fun-loving as Kingdom Hearts.
I don't think it will be the best game I've ever played, but it looks like the ride will still be very enjoyable!

Monday, August 6, 2007

"How do you explain the 'zombie soul-sucking' effect?"

I turned on the TV last night, looking for something to watch for a few minutes. A local televangelist program was good for a few laughs while I watched one of their suit and tie soloists over-emote each individual word he sang, but the humor only lasted moments before I became annoyed.

Surfing a little more I turned to the sci-fi channel. A bottomless well of classic films including "Mansquito" and "Frankenfish". The first line I heard on the currently playing movie (called "Mammoth") was, "How do you explain the 'zombie soul-sucking' effect?"

Sigh! I REALLY wish Mystery Science Theatre 3000 was still on the air. The sci-fi channel is giving them waaay too much to work with.

Sunday, August 5, 2007

The Reliance, #4

Prologue-
Road Warrior found himself separated from the team, the possible victim of alien abduction. It would appear that the mysterious origins of his powers will be discovered after learning more about his captors. However he couldn't help but feel that he is someone's "experiment", a prototype design for some sinister agenda.


Flashback-
Alex Noir made it to his meeting with Bruce Wayne with plenty of time to spare. The meeting was a great success, and Mr. Wayne couldn't have been more pleased with the work Alex has done. However, the billionaire playboy seemed to be probing Alex with his words as he introduced the topic of "Iron Hand" and the similarities between his armor and the armor Alex is "designing" for WayneTech. Alex can't be sure if Bruce Wayne suspects something, or if he already knows, but he was under the distinct impression that his employer wasn't being altogether straight-forward with him.


The King Of Crime, Part 2
Surge, determined not to let Mirror Master out of his sight, elected to stay at the police station and watch the prisoner.
Candice tried to determine the mystical workings of the Scottsman's equipment, but to no avail.
Realizing the need for assistance on this case, Candice took up Iron Hand on his offer to be brought on should back-up be required.


After some clever word-play and manipulation of packaging labels, Alex managed to secure funds and clearance for a super-sonic WayneTech jet to bring both him and Road Warrior (along with Iron Hand's armor) to Central City.


With little time to spare before a potential criminal act, Alex put his brilliant mind to work in an effort to choose the event most likely to be sabatoged by criminals. Statistically, the outdoor concert seemed a more likely target and so the team headed out to the location, ready for the unknown. Though not as ready as they may have liked.


Forty-five minutes before the concert, the orchestra was warming up, and hundreds of other anxious audience members were claiming their seats. As The Reliance arrived on scene, as if on cue from the conductor, all sound was swallowed in silence and the ground beneath the park began to tremble. With a taunting sneer, the Pied Piper mocked the heroes and used sonically induced hypnotism to turn the crowd into rage-filled zombies, intent on thrashing the heroes.


Before The Reliance had time to strategize against ONE powerful villain, a sniper shot catches Road Warrior square in the chest, instantly rendering him unconscious and at death's door. While Candice attacks with a blast of magic that The Piper shrugs off, Iron Hand speeds his wounded friend out of harm's way until he is healed, though still partially injured, a moment later by Candice.


Iron Hand, after taking a harmless shot to the side of his head, analyzes the area and locates the sniper, the mercenary assassin known as Deadshot. Even a successful shot to Iron Hand's eye-piece proves ineffectual against its brilliant design. In a burst of speed he flies to the trees the villain takes cover in, but misses him as Deadshot nimbly rolls and lands on the ground away from the metallic juggernaut.


Candice unleashes angelic dread, freezing both Piper and Deadshot in their tracks.
Following up with another mystical attack, Candice makes the Pied Piper fall down for the count.


A moment later, a third villain appears from behind the orchestra, covered in flames that he manipulates into whatever useful object he desires.
Once again, Iron Hand's magnificent armor ignores the lethal attack of flames, while Road Warrior snuffs the villain's fire, stealing it for himself.


The weakened villain uses his last reserves of power to fly off at an incredible speed, making him impossible to follow.
Deadshot, however is captured by giant hands of fire produced by the empowered Road Warrior. Although he temporarily shoots his way out of Road Warrior's novice construct, the Warrior follows up with a massive "boot of fire" to Deadshot's escaping backside, sending him flying halfway across the park and leaving him broken and near death.


Candice, recognizing that an "eye for an eye" can be fun but non-conducive to hero work, quickly healed Deadshot into a stable but unconscious state.
The crowd and orchestra are in shock, recovering from an ordeal that they cannot understand.


Meanwhile, the clock is ticking as somwhere an "ice cold drink" will soon be enjoyed, while the city's largest diamond is at risk of theft.

Friday, August 3, 2007

"Mindset" became too "set in his mind".


Another great episode this week on the sci-fi channel's "Who Wants To Be A Superhero".
I wondered where "Mindset" would end up in the grand scheme of the competition. I became a little nervous for him in the pilot episode when he said that he was a "thinking" superhero, since that is a super-power that CAN exist in the real world, and unlike "Parthenon's" magical bracelet powers, "Mindset" would be vulnerable to very real criticism if his power failed to operate during challeneges.
Lucky for him, he never had the chance to betray any weakness in his knoweldge, as it appeared his pride and desire to be right took him out of the show.
In the post show interview he admits that pride is a sin he deals with, but was not ready to admit that his actions on the show were motivated by pride.
Although I can't know his or anyone's heart, as a prideful person myself I can say that he was at least showing a few of the symptoms.
Still, like feedback mentioned in the aftershow interview with Mindset (http://www.scifi.com/), I thought his costume was great.
This episode also showcased one of the very few elements of this reality series that I don't like. "Stan Lee is always right." In the opening credits, Stan Lee is blatantly labeled "the greatest comic book author of all time." Yikes. I'll give him credit as possibly the greatest "creator" of comic book superheroes, but not the best author.
Last season, when someone didn't like the new costume Stan personally designed for them, they lied and said they liked it. But Stan found out the truth and counted it against him, saying that he should have been honest, like a hero of integrity.
However, last night when "Hyper-strike" graciously but honestly said he preferred his old cosyume to the new one, Stan said that he appreciated his honesty, but later on told him that his lack of "flexibility" toward change was a sign of immaturity! So I guess there's just no way to win this one.
That's yet another reason why I would suck on this show. I would have said something stupid like, "Um, I think yer cool and all, but whoever said you were good at designing costumes? Didn't Steve Ditko create all the costumes and do all the art for your comic books in the 60's?"
Yeah... I would have lasted real long on this show...

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Pathfinder (Movie Review)



If you need a quick sword (and sorcery) flick fix, go grab the just released DVD, Pathfinder. Otherwise, wait until it plays on the sci-fi channel some night.

Starring Karl Urban, from The Lord of The Rings trilogy, this movie combines Viking Warriors with Native American mysticism, resulting in a concept that's interesting, although not fully executed, in my opinion.

Urban does a decent job, although he doesn't have much to work with. Clancy Brown of "Highlander" fame almost reprises his role as the Kurgan (evil immortal from the first Highlander film), but not enough to make his character very gripping. The battles are interesting enough and the special effects okay, but it could have used a significantly better score and more dynamic filming style to give it the energy it needed.

It's not much longer than 90 minutes, but still feels a little longer than it should be. Don't let anyone tell you this is a bad movie by any stretch. Conan fans should certainly give it a shot. Just don't expect anything captivating or new outside of the interesting blend of cultural mythologies.

7.5/10.0