The Good Dino Vs. The Good Human (12.21.15) [SPOILERS!!]

What an interesting story. Of all the movies about dinosaurs and humans... Ok, to be honest, I've wanted to write earlier, I did. I tried and I sat down, brewed my tea and warmed my feet in cute fuzzy socks, and yet, the words never came to me. So I put something up first and waited for my words to return. A week passed and still, my comments about the 'Good Dino' seemed... very dry.

Obviously, it's a film truly about human nature and mother nature, but what else was there? And then I watched 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens,' and now, I feel a renewed desire to write. This... yes, THIS was my element... More so than the dinosaurs, but it will all wrap together, I promise you!

First of all, Google gives you the choice of the Light side or the Dark side. And because of who I am and what I do... Nope, I chose the dark side because the character development on that side was just so much better. Hahaha! Anyhoo, so I'm on that side now... And though I didn't much like Kylo Ren's weakness nor the lack of action from Captain Phasma, I still remain on the dark side because I feel I can improve them. :D

Heh, well, the 'Good Dinosaur' was just that to me. A good dinosaur doing good and dinosaur-ing in the world. It was cute, classy, and a bit on the boring side for a Pixar film. The short just before it held more action and content, but was very well done and I was sad it was over when it was. The story is centered around Arlo and his family before he gets lost and goes on an adventure getting home. I've heard it compared to 'The Lion King' and 'Wicked', but I think it's just a big mixture of Pixar's uncreativeness and it shows that the company is a bit more lost than we had originally though they were. Especially after reading about the history, about how they held it back from the original release date so that they could go over it again... COME ONNNNN!!! You can do better than that, Pixar!! Where is the amazing creativity that goes into bringing to life countless stories the way you did before?! What happened to making us dream and soar within the confines of walls, and cry within the confines of minutes?! ... You could do better than this half-assed piece of a film. I don't like cussing, but this time, it was necessary. Please pardon my language. I had to rate it a C. That's how sad it makes me. 

And now, as for 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens,' ... how could they?!?!?! Oh, well, first, as a fan, I enjoyed it immensely. To be brought back into the world of the warring stars and the light and dark force, it was a CG feast for my eyes, ears, and heart. The aching was real, there were no tears nor were there surprises. And in the end, I couldn't wait to see the next one! Yay!

Now... onto the review the filmmaker side of me had. OOOOOOOOH MAAAAAAAAN!!! JJ Abrams was supposed to unleash his awesomeness on the franchise to open the world back up to the wonders of what 'Star Wars' was, originally, meant to be. And somehow... the film had so many holes, the characters were so under-developed, the CG was a bit over the top, and the dialogue and cheesiness oozed from every minute that passed!! WHAT HAPPENED?!?! I get that bringing back the old characters helps anchor emotional value and connections to the new characters, but that is NOT the best way to go about doing so!! Why would you waste Han Solo and let him die so weakly and predictably?! Leia is stronger but also does nothing, AGAIN. And finding Luke at the end, well, as great as that is, he's in no state to train anyone! 

My favorite character was BB-8. I mean, the little guy can travel anywhere, suspend itself in mid-air, and had an attitude like a puppy or a Black-person, as @moonlitewolf and my friend Chris, also Black, pointed out. Hahaha. Well, I see it, too, but I liked him a lot and I wish I had a friend like him to travel everywhere I went with! I rate the whole thing an overall B for solid effort and creative concept. I have SO MUCH MORE to say about this but will refrain!! 

As for those who have yet to see the film... (why are you reading this?!) here is my recommendation. For watching Star Wars, if you want to appreciate the film aesthetics and see how filmmakers have ruined it throughout time by being too liberal with the applying of CG and the over use of green screens, you would have to watch numbers four through six and then one through three before watching seven. However, if you just want to appreciate the story of the entire series then go ahead and watch one through six and then watch seven.

And first, as Tea, I'm a bit surprised by the sudden outburst of hate Rain Bridge received due to our reaction video to 'Daddy' by PSY. RIGHT?! According to Moon, RB had to stop defending us because there was too much to respond to, so I jumped in and then had to stop, too!! What a crazy world we live in!! Geez, opinions and reactions are simply just that... OPINIONS. 

And as for a recap on the rest of the world... 'Quantico' whaaaaaat?! 'Once Upon A Time' is where?!?! And... SHELDON AND AMY HAD SEX?!?! But, oh, wait, there is a new trailer out for 'Star Trek'!! If only Chris Pine could navigate his ship to me! I'd hop aboard quite happily!!


HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Eat a lot and get ready for the consequences!!

Want to meet new people online from around the world and maybe in your city or area? Check out the WireClub! I did and I've made new friends already! Stay away from the creepers, be nice, and always kind! It's up to you how it goes, so I hope it goes well. 

Honesty Sunday

To be perfectly honest, I watched 'Quantico' and 'Once Upon a Time' last week but I didn't find much point in writing a long post about it until I knew more about what was coming up. And though I could give you ENDLESS spoilers, I've decided to simply bore you with my weekend and then my predictions, coupled with my opinions about the futures for these men and women of valor and evil.

Many of the buddies were busy this week so Ed and Sarah met with Tea for some music video reactions on a lovely Saturday afternoon. The lighting was nice, the seating was comfortable, and the music was puzzling. I think the team did a couple that day and discussed the re-workings of the CoTangent podcast! Wanna take a listen? Check Ed and me out here!

As of this week, the switch to SoundCloud is real and happening! Tonight is QUANTICO and ONCE!! I can't wait!! On the watch out now!!

A Female Reminder... And Some.

I've learned so much about my cervix without knowing anything about my cervix! This girl, wow, brilliant and smart and, SO INFORMATIVE!! She's so young and yet... I've been schooled on my own body!!

I have to admit to not watching this episode of "Quantico" only because it has become too predictable! I guess I'm more willing to catch up next week, or once the season is over. A lot of the momentum has been lost in the "wait, what?!" and "OMG! Really?" of the show. So I'm skipping this week's and going to wait to see if next week's will bring me back in!

And then there was "Once Upon A Time"!! I mean, why is Emma doing what she's doing, and ALL THOSE DREAMCATCHERS!! So beautiful. Makes me want to shift my Bicycle card collection into dream catcher collections. With this strange twist with Arthur and Merlin, I'm still hooked and I want to know what brought them back, where is Merlin, and what's going on in StoryBrook! How exciting, what an interesting story twist that Emma is actually taking on the role of the Dark One... And I wonder how Hook fill find his way back to her.

For hurting Henry and some added heartache, I give it (8 of 10 Stars) for this week's episode!!

Okay! On to some more personal stuff, I guess. I'm paying for eHarmo which has gotten me nowhere. I'm on OkC and have turned 3 strangers into 3 friends, although I think the last one is about to bail because I won't give him more than friendship. I've just started paying for Match.com for 3 months but nothing is happening yet. Sigh. And it's the time of the year when people catch colds and I've caught a massive one!!

However, this hasn't kept me from organizing another Kpop music video reaction video shooting for this weekend! That's right, on Halloween, Ed, Sno, Moon, and I will gather in my living room and we will watch and react to some requested music videos, if not all! It's been quite fun lately, and I really feel like we're getting more comfortable being on camera... which is building us up for other stuff!

And here is CoTangent Episode #34!! Yay!!

TV and Dating and Love and Advice and... Reactions!

Sorry for not pressing "Publish" on this last post until today! What's wrong with me?! Haha, well, please enjoy!! 

“Quantico” was painful this week. Have they hit their peak already and are declining in story, power, and drama? I wanted to think of something better to write about but, alas, I am at a loss for words. Alex is… getting predictable, Booth and Natalie in a relationship?! Asher and Booth’s loyalties are questionable, and are we going to slowly figure out who before seeing how they were eliminated? If so, this is a TERRIBLE way to go about it!! I thought it was just a coincidence, and maybe they would change it up and keep us on our toes… and yet… I’m getting bored and I don’t want to get bored!!

S01 E03 scored a low (3 of 10 Stars) with me. Come on… bring it back up!!

“Once Upon A Time” was also somewhat of a drag. Sure, Snow and David are at it again, putting Emma first, while Henry has a date?! Whaaat?! Regina and Robin hang for most of the episode and while Hook and Emma are supposed to be all romantic, there were so many holes in the usual nice way life is wrapped up for everyone!! I feel like the answer is SO OBVIOUS and yet, life is made difficult by oblivious people. Where are the clever twists and turns that UOAT was known for?! Mr. Gold alive and awake, woohoo, but his conversations with Emma are just so awkward! I wondered how he would be and, this weird version of him is a bit unsettling. Also… boring.

S05 E04 scored just (5 of 10 Stars) with me. So sad… but still quite addicting…

"Brooklyn Nine-Nine" was AWESOME!! Peralta brings back Holt, Amy and Diaz are an awesome team. The Vulture is OUT!! And Boyle is adorable, as usual. Gina is funny... Terry is hilarious, and the other two are... somewhere there. OMG! After a boring week of TV, I LOVED this episode quite a lot! I just wish there was more story with Amy and Jake!

S03 E04 scored a whomping (8 of 10 Stars) with me! Keep going!!

***

Well, with all the deals and fun times of the Summer leaving us, the holidays and American activities are coming up. October rings in Comikaze at the Staple Center in LA. November hollers a Design event in Pasadena, not to mention the grandest slaughter of Turkeys! A time of thanks, indeed. And December hails the most traveling, where many cities in SoCal are emptied out as people travel home or to meet with other loved ones. Truly, a time to love and gather. January seeds the New Year events, along with the Lunar New Year! Lots to eat and many old faces will, surely grace your lives… Good luck with that!

I’ve always encountered a question as to whether or not one should move on with a new love or return to an old love that… wasn’t so good to them. This video says it all for me, I think.

Personally, I believe moving on helps you move on with life, grows your experience, and matures your perspectives as a person. But so many of my female friends return to their ex-boyfriends, swearing things will be different this time around. Somehow, that their ex changed so it’s fine, now. And I just wonder if these women realize that they are being manipulated? Can I say something about it or just stay silent? What is  the “good friend” thing to do?

Oh... and I'm trying this whole online dating thing and it's POOPING frustrating!! I'm currently on eHarmony, Match.com, OkCupid, and Christian Mingle. I got rid of Coffee Meets Bagel, How About We, and Chemistry.com because they were... not getting me anywhere. However, these sites are also not getting me anywhere. I wonder if I'm destined to being a spinster? ... Chris Pine!! Come save me!! (~.O)

And as a reward, Ed, Me, and Moon did another reaction video for fun... Comment please!! Thank you and much love!! Until next time!!

Once Upon A Time... Quantico met Brooklyn... Not Really!

I think I shouldn't try to figure out any clever titles anymore... It's not like anyone appreciates them... and I can't really think of much. LOL. -- As promised!! Here are my TV reviews for the most recent episodes! Enjoy the read and leave me a comment!!

"Once Upon A Time" Season 05 :: Episode 02

I’m relieved to see Hook very set on saving Emma and continuing his love for her. In the past and in the present, the two’s love story will torment viewers this season because of the inner darkness that threatens their lives in different ways. Somehow, though he was always the one to save her and help her, I feel this season’s turn of events will really test their relationship, and either make or break them. Oh, the great twists and turns of the Storybrook heroes!!

Getting on with it, I liked how Regina was knocked off her high horse when she realized she was a long way from redemption, even having claimed herself as the Savior. Snow and Charming’s protectiveness over Emma is sweet and, somehow, their parenting of Regina is also very well thought out of the creators. Henry is growing up, which makes me happy, and the dwarves and their usefulness returns in these episodes, I believe it!

This season opened with the signature memory wipe and as bits and pieces return to us, I want things to move faster, but the carefully wrought details in each and every scene of the show is captivating and very inspiring. From the form of the tree that Merlin is stuck in all the way to the rock and sword that Excalibur is stuck in, in the basement of Emma’s Storybrook house. I’m glad Hook noticed the door and lock, I wished he could have stayed with her a while longer so that I could decipher what their relationship was, but the creators have kept the mystery alive for so long and I do appreciate it.

I look forward to seeing how Rumplestiltskin or Mr. Gold will react when he wakes and meets Emma as the Dark One. Will he have any powers? How will the story progress? What an interesting thing to ponder on until he wakes, right?

My overall score for the show, given I felt it a bit slow, is 7 of 10 Stars. Slow and steady may win the race, but some races are won with speed without regard to beauty. So… here’s hoping… 

"Quantico" Season 01 :: Episode 02

I… expected more. There is a sappiness to the story that came out in this past episode and… I’m not liking it. Miranda’s revelation of Liam’s feelings towards Alex was a bit too much too soon. I did NOT appreciate it, especially since I’ve not seen anything at that point to corroborate that story. I’m enjoying the Natalie and Alex rivalry, also Ryan Booth’s struggle as to which one to focus on. Simon’s friendliness with Nimah is interesting, especially when he is being hit on by a cutie. Something about Shelby and Caleb really offset me and annoyed me. THEIR relationship is SUPER “high school” to me.

The editing style is a bit jarring. I understand the fast pace being important, but there needs to be more of a focus on what Alex sees and how it’s relevant for me to follow. Past shows like “Burn Notice” and “Leverage” did things very well, despite being in a cornier way, and the one that takes the cake on diligence to the art of film would be “Sherlock Homes” Guy Ritchie can do no wrong by me. SIGH! But if this show manages to harness this artful way of editing and super-stylized method of storytelling, then “Quantico” should be able to last at least a few more seasons.

My most favorite part of the entire episode is the ending, when Booth wakes and takes a call from Alex. There seems to be something still between them, perhaps cohorts, or did he already jump over to her side and Liam was the one who shot Booth? Who knows, but I want to see the next episode so I can figure out just WHO is pulling the strings and WHO is being puppeteered in the strings… and WHO is trapped in the strings. As of now, the show has it set up that Liam is the one pulling the strings, Booth is the puppet, and Alex is caught in the strings. For all intents and purposes, I believe that Alex will end up as the string puller, Booth remains in the middle, and Liam will fall into the entrapment of the strings.

I rate Season 01 Episode 02: 7 of 10 Stars. Here’s hoping the show gets better and not worse from this point on!

"Brooklyn Nine-Nine" Season 3 :: Episode 02

I LOVE the whole Jake and Amy relationship. Super down-played felt weird but now seems perfect for the type of show it is. There is such a sweetness between Terry and Captain Ray Holt, both of whom are wonderfully written characters. The Linetti-Diaz-Boyle triangle continues to make the episodes funnier and funnier, along with Hitchcock and Scully who are rather absent in this last episode. And, golly, I don’t like the Vulture! OMG! But I do hope Captain Holt will return to the Nine-Nine, Jake and Amy will keep on going strong, and someone for Boyle to love. It would also be nice for Terry’s issues to pan out and his mango yogurt be restored to the shelves, Linetti needs a steady lover as weird as she is, and progress between Diaz and Holt’s nephew would be a good touch of well-rounded family-feeling fun! As always, it’s nice to see everyone doing quite well, despite being at a funeral.

So, because this show is much lighter than the other two, I gladly rate this episode 8 of 10 Stars!

***

Agree with me? Disagree with me? Let me know in the comments below!! I love a good discussion!! Otherwise, look forward to more and enjoy this episode of CoTangent podcast!!

SOOOOOOOOO THE DRAMAS!! (SPOILERS!!!)

*Out of respect for audiences of all ages and professions, I must warn you that there are SPOILERS in this post!!!*

I don’t watch TV.

Let me rephrase that. 

I don’t own a television, nor have I cable and such. So, I don’t watch TV. Any show I watch, I watch through online streaming sites. I’m not proud of this, but the fact that most shows can be found online, I really don’t NEED a television, know what I mean? By the way... For television standard purposes, I rate on a 1-10 star scale. So… here we go!

'THE BIG BANG THEORY' Season 09 Episode 01-02 Review (8 of 10 Stars)

I love this show. I’ve watched the first until the last episode recently aired and I still love this show. It’s not an on-and-off again thing for me, but a watch over-and-over again show. Whenever a new episode is up, I hunt for it online and watch it. Otherwise, I cycle through the entire series until I need something else to drone in my ears as I type and write and work on other projects.

First of all, Amy Farrah Fowler is awesome for breaking up with Sheldon Cooper! OMG! I want him to feel the need and realize the love he has for her and a break up might just do the trick! I do wonder how their relationship will change when they get back together but I guess we'll have to wait and see about that, eh?

Secondly, I wanted Leonard Hofstadter and Penny to be married in a chapel of sorts... I wanted their family to be there and hoped to see the rest of his amazing siblings and who they would cast for them!! Also, maybe bring their group of friends to Nebraska for the wedding!! That sounds like fun and I think Sheldon could just about piss EVERYONE off, or be quite at home seeing the parallel it is with East Texas... LOL!! We all know how caffeine and alcohol affects him... that could be quite fun!

Third, I wonder when Emily Sweeney and Rajesh Koothrappali will jump onto the more officially together band wagon or will Raj drift away because Emily and Penny don't like each other? Maybe instead of this, the writers will make Bernadette pregnant?! Holy COW, that would be something, eh??

Lastly, I wonder what will happen to Stuart Bloom?? Will he finally find someone to connect with? Will he marry and open a cafe in his comic book store? Maybe have an open mic area for interviews with Will Wheaton and, maybe even, Stan Lee?? I think that would be a cool idea, and I think Stuart deserves love. HAHAHAH!! I once wrote a spec script with such a storyline, I guess it never reached them. LOL. It's okay, if they accept me, they'll have to start accepting other Asians into the mix and... we all know TV doesn't feel like changing all that much.

I'm a bit annoyed because the Asian population keeps growing and yet... no worthwhile representation on television. All we have are random techie and nerdie roles on sci-fi shows, or "Fresh Off the Boat", which is neither complimenting nor encouragement. *sigh* Wish I could break that glass ceiling... I wish... wish... 

'QUANTICO' Season 01 Episode 01 Review (7 of 10 Stars)

It’s not as bad as I thought it would be. Very much with the feel of “Burn Notice” mixed with “How to Get Away With Murder”, this show is quite heavily influenced by “Alias” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” without the supernatural element. I was interested because of the trailer and because I was such an on-and-off again fan of “Alias”, but I found Alex Parrish so much more likeable and real than most of the doe-eyed strong young women in the shows up until now. Piyanka Chopra is strong, independent, honest, and quite a model citizen, just like Jennifer Garner in “Alias”. These two shows are quite similar, but the non-verbal “burn Notice” feel is also present.

Because this is a review, there will be SPOILERS!!! So, stop reading if you don’t want to hear about the spoilers.

The moment we “met” Alex, I liked her. She seemed so much a bad-butted female who took what she wanted and did as she pleased, all the while trying to do and say the right things. From lying to her mother about where she was going to the sexy encounter in the car with undercover Agent Ryan Booth,  to befriending Shelby Wyatt and comforting Eric Packer, the kid who shoots himself due to the instability of his own mind. (I TOLD YOU THERE WERE SPOILERS!!)

The scene I liked best was the interrogation/interview scene, when Nimah/Raina Amin questioned Simon Asher. The way she delivered it was so wonderful, the acting and blocking of the scenes was quite intense altogether. I enjoyed it and was pulled into the world much faster than I had thought I would be. The cutting, lighting, and overall tone of the episode was so attractive and well done from where I sat staring at the screen.

What I hated most from this first episode was when it was revealed that Agent Booth is on the other side that is framing Alex!! OMG!! NOO!!! I wish they held that information back a bit so that I would keep guessing about him. Somehow, from the trailer, I predicted that he would start on the odd end of things and then be turned onto her side. But to have it seem to be most likely to happen, I hated that it was revealed so soon. Why can’t they keep us guessing more? Oh, the sadness. And, thought I appreciate the jumping around of the editing because it keeps me on my toes, I DIDN’T like it too much because it made me dizzy to some degree.

Overall, I look forward to finding out about the nine months before the major explosion and about those who were involved in it. I have a sneaking suspicion that it might by Wyatt or the Amin sisters being blackmailed into such an act, but I guess I’ll just have to wait and see about how Joshua Safran writes and Marc Munden directs it.

It can only go up from here!!

***

Jumping back to my “The Intern” love, I actually really connected with Becky (Christina Scherer) because I’ve been there and done that. So, I tweeted her a question and she actually answered it! I was floored and so, I wanted to share it with all of you!!

I can't wait to see what movie she's in next!! She's so cute of an actor!!

HERE IS COTANGENT EPISODE 31