The Corps: Shinobi Squad

I've been looking at these for years, but I never actually thought I would actually buy any.  Today I purchased The Corps 3 Man Recon Shinobi Squad.

Kenji Shinto "Rain"

Name Classified "Mirage"

Trent Tanner "Decoder"

These figures aren't spectacular, but for what they cost they aren't bad at all.

This three pack cost about $6.  There are single figures for $3 and six packs for around $12.  So for about $2 a figure, I cannot complain at all.  Fifteen points of articulations, and quite a few weapons.  The new Iron Man 3 figures have five points of articulation and are around $6.  They are so bad.

Marvel Universe Hulk

Avengers Movie Hawkeye

Marvel Universe SHIELD Agent

I'm happy I bought these, I'll definitely get more.  I always need more generic soldiers, and about everyone in this line fits that perfectly.  I really wouldn't even mind duplicates, as they are going to serve as nameless thugs anyway.

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My Top Car Movies and Where to Watch Them Online

With Fast and Furious Six coming out on Friday, I decided to rewatch the first one.  It's been 12 years.  I can't believe it has been that long.  While I watch it, I've decided to list a few of my favorite car movies and where to watch them.  These aren't necessarily in any order.

Gone in 60 Seconds (1974)

This was the first real car movie I remember seeing.  I didn't really get the story as a kid, or maybe I didn't care.  The film revolved around an insurance salesmen and his crew.  This man steals cars, remodels them, and turns quite a profit.  In the movie some big-shot offers him huge money to steal 48 specific cars.  He accepts the offer and begins collecting the list of cars.  Honestly, the first hour of the movie is extremely uneventful.  After seeing it a few times, I began starting the movie at the final car chase, which is where the action really begins.  93 cars are destroyed in the final, forty-minute long, car chase.  The film was written, directed, and produced by HB Halicki.  He is also the main character in the film.  Halicki began the make a sequel, and died while doing his own stunt for the film.  It was never finished.

I actually can't seem to find this film streaming anywhere, but I know for a fact it is extremely cheap on DVD.

Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)

A remake on the 1974 film, Gone in 60 Seconds stars the one and only Nicolas Cage.  It also has Angelina Jolie and Timothy Oliphant, but who cares compared to the Cage.  The film's plot is similar, Cage portrays an ex-car thief.  His brother is somehow in debt to some crazy British guy and owes him big.  This British guy tells Cage that he must steal 50 specific cars in a few days to keep his brother alive.  Production-wise, this film is much better.  I'm not entirely sure the story is, but it holds my attention more.  Obviously the acting is literally the best ever because Cage.

Gone in 60 Seconds on Amazon Streaming

Vanishing Point (1971)

This film is heavily, heavily referenced in Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof, which I'll get to eventually.  In this film, a car delivery man has to deliver a brand new, stock, 1970 Dodge Challenger.  He makes a bet with somebody he can go from Denver to San Francisco in something like 15 hours.  He runs into all sorts of shenanigans in the process, and it becomes a very scenic drive across the mid-west.  There is even a wonderful blind black man who DJs while listening to police radio, helping the main character keep the police off his tail.  It has one hell of an ending too.  Another film I can't seem to find streaming, my apologies.

Death Race 2000 (1975)

This film is also on my list of best post-apocalyptic movies.  The plot is very simple.  There is a giant race across the United States, and drivers get points for each person they hit.  The plot gets a little more complicated, but I don't want to give it away.  The film stars David Carradine and Sylvester Stallone pre-Rocky.  It's strange seeing Stallone as a bad guy, especially in a role like this.  I think the newer Death Race movie is similar to this, but it never looked good enough to actually watch.  Maybe I should!  Let me know.

Death Race 2000 on Netflix

Death Race 2000 on Amazon

Star Trek Streaming Options with Viewing Order

I've always been a Star Wars fan personally.  I saw the 2009 Star Trek film, and while I was entertained, I wasn't necessarily blown away.  I wasn't compelled to seek out more.  After viewing Star Trek: Into Darkness, I have to say I want to be a fan.  With a little research, very little research, I found a nice viewing order here.  I'm just simply providing a list with some pictures and link to where you can find it right now.  For a more simplified list, please use to one linked above.  Thanks!

If you have Netflix and Amazon Prime you are able to watch literally all of Star Trek with no cost to you other than the subscriptions you have already.  If you only have Hulu for whatever reason, you can watch all the shows but not the movies (who does that anyway?).

Also, keep in mind I'm only listing streaming options that are covered by monthly fees already.  For example Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is available on Amazon streaming for $2.99, but I'm not going to list it because it costs extra.

Star Trek Seasons 1-3 (1966)

This is the most obvious place to start.  I've seen a few episodes here and there over the years, but never really enough to understand any of it in a grand scale.  From what I remember, it is quite campy, but it was the sixties, what was I expecting?  I am going to try to start here, but I honestly don't expect it to hold my attention enough.  Hopefully it will!

Star Trek: The Original Series on Netflix
Star Trek: The Original Series on Amazon Streaming
Star Trek: The Original Series on Hulu

Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973)

Apparently due to fan demand, the crew from the original show re-appeared in animated form in 1973.  This seems to be a continuation of the original series.  I have read that this was canon at some point, then it was decided it would be longer be canon.  I'm going to try to watch it all, but I'm not really sure I'll be able to handle this.  I find trouble trying to watch any animated made prior to the late '80s.  It just doesn't hold my attention unforunately.  I'll certainly try though!

Star Trek: The Animated Series on Netflix

Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

This is where I was told to start watching Star Trek.  Apparently the quality really begins to improve and it is much less cheesy.  So, if I can't get through the first series, I'll just move to this.  Please be aware there is apparently a director's cut, which is probably better, and I don't believe it is streaming anywhere.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture of Amazon Streaming

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

I have personally been informed that this is the best Star Trek anything ever.  I'm definitely looking forward to watching it, Star Trek: Into Darkness spoilers here...After watching the new one featuring Khan, I'm very interested in the character.  I'm also told Into Darkness and this have many similarities, I'm excited to find out what.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan on Netflix

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan on Amazon Streaming

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)

Without reading the synopsis, I'm going to assume Wrath of Khan ends like Into Darkness did but Spock dies?  Then they go somewhere to revive him?  Apparently Leonard Nimoy, who plays Spock, directed this film and the next one.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock on Netflix

Marvel Universe Comic Pack Wave 13 Mandarin and Silver Centurion Figures

I've had this thing for months, but I finally got around to opening it today.

Maybe it was my disappointment with Iron Man 3, but I have wanted to do some Mandarin photography lately.

This pack also includes the Silver Centurion, one of Tony Stark's many variations of his Iron Man armor.

The Mandarin's mask comes right off easily and goes on just as easily.  It is designed perfectly, as it seems to stay snug, but isn't hard to remove at all.

Iron Man 2 Mandarin

As you can see, this new Marvel Universe Mandarin figure is identical to the Iron Man 2 line Mandarin figure.

No matter who wins, Tony Stark loses.

Are movie run times increasing?

I've worked in a movie theatre for years and been a fan of movies for much longer.  I have never really paid attention to movie run times in the past, they didn't really effect me.  If a movie was abnormally long, I would take note, but I didn't really care otherwise.  Once I started being a projectionist, I soon began to care.  The longer the movie, the longer I had to stay at night after later shows.  This works both ways though, the longer I have to stay, the more I get paid.

Anyway, I began thinking about this more and more.  I honestly feel like movies have gotten much longer in the last five years.  Maybe it is just that the more memorable movies are getting longer.  Maybe action scenes in movie are just getting longer and more frequent.  Is there a pattern here?  I've decided to look into it further.

First, I'm just going to list the top box office films for a few years and their run times.  By the way, I do want to add I'm not going to be looking into any article similar to this, I want to discover all the information on my own!

1999

1. Star Wars: Episode 1 - 133 minutes
2. The Sixth Sense - 107
3. Toy Story 2 - 92
4. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me - 95
5. The Matrix - 136

1999 Average: 1 hour 52 minutes

2000

1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas - 104 minutes
2. Cast Away - 143
3. Mission Imposisble II - 123
4. Gladiator - 155
5. What Women Want - 127

2000 Average: 2 hours 10 minutes

2001

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - 153 minutes
2. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring - 178
3. Shrek - 90
4. Monsters Inc. - 90
5. Rush Hour 2 - 90

2001 Average: 2 hours 0 minutes

2002

Something just seemed off about my new DC Injustice: Gods Amongs us figures...

Ha, sorry, I couldn't resist!

Here are some real shots of Wonder Woman and Solomon Grundy.

Here are some real pictures of Green Arrow and Deathstroke.

DC Injustice: Gods Among Us Green Arrow and Deathstroke Figures

Here we have a much more human DC Injustice: Gods Among Us two pack.  This pack includes Green Arrow and Deathstroke.  Here are my shots of Solomon Grundy and Wonder Woman.

Deathstroke isn't too bad.  He suffers a little from being able to hold his gun normally.

Green Arrow looks great.  His bow is literally the best bow I've ever seen in this scale.  Like Deathstroke, it's a little weird to get him to hold his bow in an "attack" stance.

Marvel Universe Greatest Battles Deadpool

Marvel Universe First Appearance Wolverine

Deathstroke is a little short.  Deadpools legs are pretty spread out here, so he looks shorter.  Deathstroke is barely bigger than Wolverine.

Maybe Deathstroke is short, I haven't read much with him in it, but I don't feel like he should be this short.  Nothing major though.

These figures are very detailed, as are their accessories.  A sword for Deathstroke would be nice, but I have plenty running around.

Here are all my Injustice figures so far; Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Deathstroke, and Solomon Grundy.

Marvel Universe Ms. Marvel

Marvel Universe Secret Wars Hulk

Marvel Universe Thor

Overall, I think I liked the other two pack more, but this one is still pretty great.  I love their accessories, but Deathstroke feels a little short.  Nothing bad though, height diversity among these figures is great.

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DC Injustice: Gods Among Us Wonder Woman and Solomon Grundy

 

These arrived a few days ago, I finally got around to opening them.  So far, I have the DC Injustice: Gods Among Us Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Solomon Grundy, and Deathstroke.  Here I will be talking about Solomon Grundy and Wonder Woman, Green Arrow and Deathstroke to follow.

There aren't bad!

As you can see, Wonder Woman suffers from a little pose-ability problem.  She looks great, I just can't get her to stand and look normal.

Due to the size of his feet, Grundy has absolutely no problem standing on his own.

After some trouble getting her to stand, I tried to adjust her feet...it snapped off immediately.  These figures kind of seem fragile.

Still not normal, but better.

Solomon Grundy has all these knives jammed in his back.  It is a cool effect, but one came off right out of the package.  A little glue would fix it immediately, but still.  These were $30!

Marvel Universe Secret Wars Hulk

Solomon Grundy is just barely taller than this Marvel Universe Hulk.

Marvel Universe Ms. Marvel and Bleeding Edge Iron Man

Wonder Woman suffers from this "female body" that about all female figures have.  They are inherently much smaller than all male figures.  Size-wise, she fits in well with Ms. Marvel.

Marvel Universe First Appearance Wolverine 

Solomon Grundy comes with a knife (or sword depending on a figures size!).  A sword or lasso for Wonder Woman would have been nice, but I can overlook it.  If she needs a sword, I can find one somewhere.

Marvel Universe Fantastic Four Team Pack Thing

Marvel Universe Thor

This picture makes Thor look a lot smaller than he is, Grundy is taller, but not much taller.

Marvel Universe Fantastic Four Team Pack Invisible Woman

Overall, I'm liking these figures.  For $30, it appears they are more collectibles than toys.  They are also quite fragile, Wonder Woman more than Solomon Grundy, but still.  The few breaks I have had don't make me regret buying them, nor will it stop me from buying more.  The first few waves of Marvel Universe figures were pretty awful.

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