Category: Uncategorized

Final Transformation

After almost exactly two years ago and after close to 600 episodes, my review of the Transformers franchise is almost to an end.  Beginning on June 8th, 2015, I embarked on the quest to objectively review every episode of the Transformers franchise.  This was meant to expand the previous panel (of the same name) which only dealt with seasons one and two of the original cartoon (ostensibly known as Generation One).  Today, I have finished Transformers Prime, the most recent series to finish its run (and be made available for home viewing, my criteria for review).

It’s been an amazing process to watch the series change and evolve, often in step with the world around it.  I’ve written about the world that gave birth to the Transformers, how the characters and their development evolved, and more lessons in general to be taken from the process.  Yet I feel like there’s still more to be said and done regarding the franchise. Continue reading “Final Transformation”

Star Wars and Fears for the Future

I’m watching a lot of what’s swirling around with Star Wars right now with some real fear and even disappointment.  I watched Last Jedi when it first came out and, on a whole, loved it.  I’m not a big Star Wars fan at all (Live Long and Prosper), but I do love the franchise.  I even found some merit in a few spots in the Prequel Trilogies.  Like damn-near everyone in the modern world, I grew up on these movies and the story of Darth Vader, Luke and Leia Skywalker, and Han Solo, is formative to me.

What I don’t get is why these news movies are a problem.  Force Awakens was a delightful return to form and Last Jedi was, as ‘Movie’ Bob Chipman put it, ‘an earnest love letter to Star Wars fans’.  Seriously, if you aren’t watching his stuff, go check it out.  Yet many a fan of the franchise takes umbridge with whole swaths of it, if not flat-out renouncing it.  There’s a petition to have it stricken from canon.  There’s even an edited version that cuts out all the female characters (I refuse to refer to it as a fan-edit; no fan could make something like that).  Insanity. Continue reading “Star Wars and Fears for the Future”

Busy or Productive?

Day Two of 2018.  Exciting, isn’t it?  Did you make any New year’s Resolutions?  How many of y’all have already been to the gym?  How many of you have already missed a session at the gym?  No worries at all, it happens.

I do want to address one small issue, a common problem with New Year’s Resolutions, and goal-setting in general.  That is mistaking work, effort, being busy, with being productive. Continue reading “Busy or Productive?”