Year: 2011

Review

Ryan is watching the Star Wars Saga on Blu-Ray here’s what he thought of Episode 4…

Finally I have made it to the Original Trilogy! What an interesting journey it’s been down memory lane, and I must say it was great reliving the moments of my childhood…

Episode IV takes place several years after Episode III and finds the Galaxy at Civil War. Darth Vader is dispatched to a vessel carrying Princess Leia, who has stolen plans to The Death Star, the Empires ultimate weapon. Before her capture Leia records a message in R2-D2 and orders him to find Obi-Wan Kenobi. Not only does he(along with CP30) find Obi-Wan but also farm boy Luke Skywalker. Luke learns that his father was “killed” by Lord Vader and Obi-Wan asks him to fulfill his destiny and join him in destroying the Empire. At first Luke rejects him and only when he returns home to find his Aunt and Uncle dead, killed by Imperial Stormtroopers does Luke realize that he must join Obi-Wan in defeating Vader.

Catching a ride with the coolest character in space Han Solo, Luke and Obi-Wan find that the planet they were attempting to go to has been destroyed by The Death Star. They also discover Leia is being held captive there and set out to rescue her. Luke and Han(with Chewbacca and the Droids) do rescue her. Obi-Wan fights Vader in a light saber duel and is killed.

The plans for the Death Star are more then helpful as the rebels learn that it has a weakness and plan to exploit it.  Amazing space battles ensue with the eventual destruction of the Death Star by Luke Skywalker.

I love this movie. I have seen it so many times and I still get a kick out of it. I still cheered when Han saved Luke at the end, I still get goosebumps when Vader speaks. This movie is so much fun. I smiled ear to ear when Han Solo makes his long awaited appearance. What else can be said about this classic.

The sound and picture again are top notch. As far as the changes of a different dragon call by Obi-Wan, and the extra boulders in front of R2D2 they go by without notice. This movie is one of the best.

Grade: A

Episodes, Volume One (1-52)

Ep. 18: Odds

Ryan, James and Brad are treated to 50/50 and discuss the decline of 3D.

Review

Ryan is watching the Star Wars Saga on Blu-Ray here’s what he thought of Episode 3…

While Episode II was a step forward, Episode III is the closest any of the prequels get to capturing the magic of the earlier films.

Set a few years after the events in Attack of The Clones, Revenge of the Sith starts with the rescue of Senator Palpatine, who has been “captured” by the Sith Lord Count Dooku. Obi-Wan and Anakin storm Dooku’s ship and engage him in a light saber battle. When Obi-Wan is knocked out Dooku is overpowered by Anakin. With Dooku at his mercy Palpatine orders his execution. At first Anakin refuses but Palpatine insists and Dooku is decapitated by Anakin, this is the start of his descent into the Darkside. What Palpatine notices is that Anakin is terrified of Padme dying and he exploits it by saying he knows of a Sith Lord that was able to save people from death. Anakin does Palpatine’s bidding and informs Jedi Master Windu that Palpatine is in fact the Sith Lord, Darth Sidious. Windu attacks the Senator and when Palpatine begs for his life, Anakin severs Windu’s arm allowing Darth Sidious to kill him. Thus Darth Vader is born. Vader also kills all the Jedi younglings at the Jedi Temple and all the people that knew Darth Sidious and Senator Palpatine were one in the same. Obi-Wan and Vader have a light saber duel and when Obi-Wan defeats Vader he leaves him for dead. Palpatine finds Vader alive a transforms him into the Vader we all know and fear. Padme dies after giving birth to her and Anakin’s children and the twins are split up keeping them safe from Vader…

I think this is hands down the best of the prequels. It doesn’t have any goofy Jamaican-ish comic relief, it focuses on what matters, Anakin’s fall. Hayden Chrsitensen is better in this movie and he does have the intensity needed to become Vader. General Greivous is a cool new villain and has a sweet light saber battle with Obi-Wan. Speaking of light saber battles Obi-Wan and Vader’s(remember Anakin is no more!) on the Volcanic Planet Mustafar is the most epic light saber battle in the series.

Surprisingly I was shocked to learn that my fellow Nerds, Brad and James think this is the worst of the prequels?! My wife too! Huh? I mean yes there is some terrible dialogue. (“Hold me like you did on Naboo…”  yuck) And it has the single worst line I’ve ever heard “From my point of view the Jedi were evil!”  But I will take it for the awesome battles and finally seeing Vader on screen again. Am I alone in thinking that this is the best of the prequels? I hope not…

As far as the Blu-Ray goes this is the best looking and sounding Blu-Ray I have ever heard. This is why there is high-def. The battle on Mustafar is so epic that I thought my eyeballs would pop out of my head. And the sound, wow. You must watch this on Blu-Ray, now.

I don’t care what the Nerds say this movie rocks.

Grade: A-

Episodes, Volume One (1-52)

Ep. 17: Nerdyball

Ryan, James and Brad learn to play ball.

Episodes, Volume One (1-52)

Ep. 16: Shut Up and Drive

Ryan and James shift into gear and check out Drive.

Review

Ryan is watching the Star Wars Saga on Blu-Ray here’s what he thought of Episode 2…

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones gets the saga back on track. After the misstep of Episode I, Lucas had his work cut out for him and he mostly succeeds.

Taking place 10 years after the events of The Phantom Menace, Attack starts with an assassination attempt on Padme. The Jedi council decides to have Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker protect her. The Jedi’s soon learn however that there is an even more sinister plot at hand. Along the way Anakin starts flirting with the Darkside when he kills a whole tribe of Tusken Raiders after he finds his mother near death at their camp. When she dies in his arms he becomes unleashed. He also falls in love with Padme setting up his fall from grace in Episode III.

Gone is the worst part of Episode I and that’s Jar Jar Binks(mostly). His comic relief is replaced by C3PO and for some reason he is nowhere near as annoying. The movie also has some incredibly epic battles. The final battle between the clones and droids is amazing. Yoda finally gets in on some action and he doesn’t disappoint.  I remember seeing this in theaters and when Yoda drew his lightsaber the audience went nuts, all those memories came roaring back and brought a big smile to my face.

What plagued the first Episode comes back in this movie. Some of the acting is awful. The worst performance by far is Hayden Christensen. It seems that he never learned his lines and he doesn’t act he just reads his lines. It doesn’t help that some of the writing is clumsy and wooden, but some of the actors make it work, most notably is Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan.

The movie looks spectacular in Hi-Def, way better then Episode I. CGI Yoda looks lifelike and the colors jump of the screen. The sound is a highlight again. Spaceships never sounded better. I didn’t catch any alterations in this movie maybe someone caught one just let me know.

I believe this movie is better and more focused then Episode I. Of course you can disagree, just hit me up below.

Grade: B

Review

Ryan is watching the Star Wars Saga on Blu-Ray, here’s what he thought about Episode 1

With the contraversial tampering with the Star Wars Trilogy, they have finally been released on Blu-Ray. Is it worth your money? I’m going to watch all the movies and bonus features and let you know…first up Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menance.

Of all the movies in the Star Wars Saga this one is the most discussed and disagreed upon. Brad(of Reel Nerds) thinks it’s the best of the prequels, while I actually think it’s the weakest. The movie follows Jedis Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi as they unravel the mystery of the Trade Federations invasion on the peaceful planet of Naboo. Along the way the make their way to Tatooine, where they meet Anakin Skywalker a slave who Qui-Gon believes will be the chosen one to bring balance to the force.

I have not seen this movie since 2002( I remember because I was in Austrailia) and it’s not quite as bad as I remember. Now it’s not the best movie in the Saga but it’s much better removed from the hype it garnered upon intial release. Somethings that will never be good in this movie, Jar Jar Binks(duh) and Jake Lloyd’s terrible delivery of some very bad dialogue.

What works though is some truly thrilling battle scenes on Naboo with the Gungans and the Droid army. It also has a badass light saber battle between Qui-Gon, Qbi-Wan, and Darth Maul. Speaking of Darth Maul he is a sweet villian too bad he only lasted one movie, which would be ok if Vader made he’s apperence in Episode 2 not 3. Also Liam Neesson as Qui-Gon is truly good.

The movie has one big change and that’s an all CGI Yoda. But Yoda actually looks much better then a stiff puppet. The picture is good but it looks really soft at some parts. The sound however is some of the best I’ve ever heard. Crank this movie to 11, it’s amazing.

All in all this movie is not as bad as you remember, but all the things you had a problem with, most lame of course is Jar Jar and he doesn’t get any better overtime. But cheer for the pod race and ignore the lame dialogue. (Yippee!)

Grade:B-

Episodes, Games

Reel Gamers

In this bonus episode, Ryan sits down with his friend Joe and they nerd out about video games.

Episodes, Volume One (1-52)

Ep. 15: Creature Feature

We made the mistake of watching low-budget horror film ‘Creature’ this week. Listen and find out why!

Episodes, Volume One (1-52)

Ep. 14: ‘Til Evil Dead Do Us Part

With no compelling reason to visit the multiplex this weekend, Ryan stays home and forces his wife to watch the Evil Dead trilogy with him.

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