New Web Address & Clone Wars Review

First off, I've moved the blog to it's own domain name: www.TechyRamblings.com. The reason is obvious as it is the title of this blog. It really needed it's own site, but there is a greater reason. As some of you know, I live on a horse farm. We are starting a breeding business with Arabian horses (with the Khemosabi++++// line, for those who know what I'm talking about), and need a website for said business. Instead of paying for a new MobileMe account, I took Liphart.com down to make way for www.TreasureGroveArabians.com. MobileMe only allows for one website per hosting plan, and the business took precedence. Don't worry, there won't be any horse posts, unless there's some really cool tech in the horse world (which I have yet to come across). lol

A couple of weeks ago, I told you to keep an eye out for a Star Wars: The Clone Wars review. Well, it took a bit longer for me to get to see it (due to 4 horses coming in last weekend), but I finally did. First off, yes, it's animated, and yes, it's targeted a bit younger than the other films. But it is VERY well done, to the point that I almost like it more than the other prequels. Anakin finally feels like a person, not a stiff actor. For the first time, well, ever, on screen, I actually believed Anakin. Jake Lloyd and Hayden Christensen (and Mat Lucas in the cartoon series) all portrayed Anakin in what I felt was a very flat, emotionless way. Even in Revenge of the Sith, Anakin felt overly dramatic in his anger and rage. Matt Lanter breathes a breath of fresh air into Anakin and makes him feel like a real, believable person, despite the fact that he's computer generated. On that note, the CG is great. I'd put it in the TMNT category of realistic-caricature style. You don't have individual hair and follicle rendering, like in Final Fantasy, but it's still quite enjoyable. You may remember the Cartoon Network Clone Wars series a few years back, and the movie does take some character design cues from it. Palpatine is a prime example of this. Anakin is at the other extreme, sharing almost no traits with his Cartoon Network analogue. The voices are spot-on this go-round too. I've already mentioned Matt Lanter as Anakin, but James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan is phenominal. He's a perfect voice match for Ewan McGregor to the point that until I found out it wasn't Ewan, I was convinced it was. He also voiced Obi-Wan in the Cartoon Network series. Returning to reprise their roles are Christopher Lee (Count Dooku), Samuel L. Jackson (Mace Windu), and Anthony Daniels (C3PO). Tom Kane voices Yoda as he did in the Cartoon Network series. The story line is pretty cool, kicking off with a great battle and a surprise for Anakin. This surprise (for the viewer as well) takes the form of a Padawan for him. Ahsoka Tano (excelently voiced by Ashley Drane) is a witty 14 year old who keeps Anakin on his toes in much the way he keeps Obi-Wan on his. I'm not going to delve into any details so as to not spoil anything, but it turns out to be a great story. Also, I got the soundtrack the day it came out, and I have to say, I wasn't that enthused by it at first. In fact, I didn't like it all that much until I saw the movie. In that context, it's is an excellent soundtrack; very militaristic. It should be noted that this movie is not a stand-alone production. This is the "pilot episode" for the Clone Wars TV series that kicks off this fall. But even on it's own, it's a great movie, and one that I will see over and over.

While only loosely tech-related (it is CGI), I did want to write a review. I'll try not to toss out movie reviews very often, I promise!

PSP Review

So in going through some old boxes out in the garage, I made a startling discovery: a PSP with a couple movies and a game. Where they came from, I have no idea. I have a few theories, but they all date back to before I left my ex-wife (it was in a box that I had never gone through before). At any rate, I've wanted one for years, and though it isn't the nice, slim 2000 version, it's still pretty damn cool. I haven't hacked it for homebrew simply because it seems to be a daunting and time-consuming task. It serves me just fine right now anyway.

For the movies, I have Final Fantasy: Advent Children and Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (AKA Knocking on Heaven's Door). They look great on the screen, and while I wish they had special features, the chapter stops alone make them better than ripped movies. On to the games!

LocoRoco is INSANELY addictive. From the gameplay to the music, I can't put it down. You have a little fat ball guy that eats things to get fatter and can split into smaller guys. You can then reconstitute into the big guy again. You don't move him at all; you move the world. Using the L and R keys, you tilt the world. Use them both to "flick" the world, effectively making him jump. I know it sounds bizarre, and it is at first. But if you have a PSP and haven't picked up this game, put it on your list. For those that have ever played Katamari, you'll fall in love with this blatantly Japanese game in the same way.

I also have Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core. Now, admittedly, I haven't played FFVII, but I do love Final Fantasy games. I know the story line to the original FFVII and have watched Advent Children several times. Crisis Core takes place prior to the original game, and feeds into a lot of the backstory. The controls are intuitive for any Final Fantasy gamer, and the graphics are great. My one gripe is the lack of turn-based combat. While it does enhance the game somewhat, I am very used to being able to put the game down for a couple of minutes without getting my a$$ handed to me in the interim. lol Pausing works just fine, but it's something I'm having to get used to. I highly recommend this game for any Final Fantasy fan with a PSP (though you probably already have it).

Well, that's it for the reviews this post. Watch next weekend for a Clone Wars review; I'll be seeing the new Star Wars flick this Friday when it comes out! I can't wait!