Episode 7.04: Just Stuff I Like

U62: The TargSorry there was no podcast last week.  It was the Family Day Weekend, so I decided to just goof off on the long weekend instead of, you know, getting work done.  But I am back now and itching to rant into a tape recorder and post it to the Internet for your enjoyment!  In Episode 7.04: Just Stuff I Like, you’ll hear:

  • Ranting about Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and my general views on Star Wars in animation.
  • Offering up my thoughts on the Guardians of the Galaxy trailer.  My previous blog entry ranting about it can be found right here.
  • And did you hear that the Indiana Jones exhibit is coming to the Telus World of Science?  Let me tell you about it!

All this, and more, on today’s episode of U62: The Targ!

Download here!

And here’s iTunes!

Movie Review – The Lego Movie

The  Lego Movie

Directed by Christopher Miller and Phil Lord

Starring the voices of Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman, Alison Brie, Charlie Day, Liam Neeson, and Morgan Freeman.

Backstory

It seem that ever since I picked up the hobby of action figure collecting and reading up on the toy world that I’ve been reading some kind of news and rumours about a Lego movie or TV series.  And while there have been a few straight-to-DVD offerings and a couple of cartoons, nothing really caught my eye.  I mean, I had Lego when I was a kid, but I don’t have overwhelming nostalgia for it like I do for Transformers or Masters of the Universe.  Lego was mostly my brother’s thing, as he could build these magnificent jets and helicopters, and I could only build bigger blocks.  So when The Lego Movie finally came along, I was willing to skip it, but then, much like Frozen, as I saw the overwhelmingly positive reviews start stacking up, I figured I should give it a shot.  Is it really as awesome as the world is saying?

Plot

Set in a magnificent Legotropolis, we meet a humble Lego construction worker named Emmet.  Emmet’s only goal in life is to fit in.  He follows the instructions to the letter, gleefully going along with society, hoping to fit in and win some friends.  The only problem is, he fits in too well, making a wholly unremarkable person that no one notices.  But then, late one night on the job site, he gets a mysterious piece stuck to his back.  This soon draws him into a secret war.  There’s a rebellion afoot, consisting of the few remaining “Master Builders,” who seek to throw out the instructions and build whatever they want.  They’re fighting against President Business, who’s about to unleash a secret weapon to end the Master Builders and destroy the world as they know it.  Turns out Emmet is “The Special,” and the piece is the “Piece of Resistance” that can destroy President Business’s weapon.  It’s up to Emmet and his new allies:  kick-ass female warrior WyldStyle, her boyfriend Batman, the sickly sweet Princess Unikitty, the cyborg pirate Metalbeard, and the wise man Vitruvius to take down President Business and save the world!

What I Liked

This movie is incredibly funny.  As I’m sure you can tell, it’s a fairly basic “Hero’s Journey” plot, but it’s aware enough of it to mock it throughout.  But not in the bitter, sarcastic Shrek way.  Emmet is so likeable but so dumb, you can’t help but wonder how he could be the Special.  Batman gets re-envisioned as a dark, moody Goth kid.  It’s nice to see 1980s Space Lego featured so prominently, as that’s what I gravitated towards when I was a kid.  The voice acting is great.  Freeman is especially funny as Vitruvius.  There is a pretty neat twist 2/3rds of the way through, which is probably the best twist you can make in a movie based on toys.

What I Didn’t Like

Well, because it is a fairly basic “Hero’s Journey,” there’s really not much in the way of surprises in the film.

Final Assessment

Incredibly fun and funny movie.  I highly recommend it.

3.5 Nibs

Episode 7.03: Witty Title Block

U62: The TargLooks like the podcast just might be sticking around for a bit!  What do we have on this week’s episode?

  • The Winter Olympics are underway in Sochi, so I ramble about what’s new this time out.
  • G.I. Joe turns 50, so I reminisce about these toys of my youth.
  • And we have Vision in Avengers: Age of Ultron!  What does it mean?  WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

All this and more in Episode 7.03: Witty Title Block, available now for your listening pleasure!

Here’s the download!

And we’ve got iTunes!

Episode 7.02: All Coming Together

U62: The TargHey, I’m 2 for 2 in my attempt to resurrect the ol’ podcast!

At first, I didn’t know what to talk as the week went on.  But then, in the past couple of days, the nerd news erupted and I was cursed with choices!  We’ve got:

  • Back to the Future coming to Broadway!  Good idea or bad idea?
  • My comments on the big Batman vs. Superman developments, mainly Jeremy Irons as Alfred and Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor
  • And we’ve seen the Twelfth Doctor’s outfit!  How excited can I get about a dark suit?

So give it a listen!  Stuff it in your MP3 player for a lazy Sunday and enjoy!

You can download it!

And iTunes!