Rants & Raves

Rants & Raves

Some Thoughts On: Dragon Ball Kai (English Dub) Episodes 1-13

Never one to pass up an opportunity to comment on a Dragon Ball-related dub, I thought I'd give a few thoughts on the newest one, the one for Dragon Ball (Z) Kai. I've mostly been watching this on Nicktoons, but I'm aware of the differences in the presentations between the TV version and the DVD and Blu-Rays, and have seen bits of that, too. I mostly wanted to comment on the voice acting, though I have to say, the script this time around is so much more accurate than any previous Dragon Ball-related dub, it's a real shame they couldn't have been doing this the whole time, because now it actually watches like just an English version of the Japanese show in most ways. I'd give them kudos for this, but like I said, this is what they should have been doing for years. You don't get extra points for failing for a decade and then finally doing it right.

Halo Reach: Quick Thoughts

So, I've been playing Halo: Reach for about a week now. It's been a blast and tomorrow the much anticipated Invasion play list opens up for general consumption. Until then I though I'd join the hundred thousands of others who've taken to blogging about their Reach experience. While it's doubtful anyone from Bungie will read this (hell, none of the other contributors on OR even own a 36) I can dream, right? Let's just say I can only hope my praise and criticism will reach someone the Bungie forums are a muck with fools.
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[taken by I K I FOR KrAzY]

DBZ Kai Dub Anticipation

Dragon Ball Z Kai Cast Announced (and Analysis)
(From Funimation's blog, a few days ago:) ------------------------------------------------------------- Reprising their roles from Dragon Ball Z: Goku – Sean Schemmel Vegeta and Piccolo – Christopher R. Sabat Raditz – Justin Cook Master Roshi – Mike McFarland Tien – John Burgmeier Ox King – Kyle Hebert Chi-Chi – Cynthia Cranz Nappa – Phil Parsons Also returning are Linda Chambers Young as Frieza and Sonny Strait as Krillin and Bardock. Joining the cast: Gohan – Colleen Clinkenbeard Bulma – Monica Rial Narrator – Doc Morgan Chiaotzu and Puar – Brina Palencia FUNimation Entertainment will begin releasing the series on DVD and Blu-ray starting with Part One on May 18, 2010. ------------------------------------------------- From Sean Schemmel's Facebook: Here's what you guys don't know, but need to.

Dragon Ball Kai Licensed/Announced By Funimation; May Release

Funimation has announced that it has licensed Dragon Ball Kai, the new version of Dragon Ball Z now airing in Japan on Fuji TV. Kai is a cut of the show touched up for HD, with some redrawn scenes and filler removed for a smoother pace that resembles Akira Toriyama's manga. A new musical score has been composed by Kenji Yamamoto, known for his work on Dragon Ball Z video games like the Budoukai series, Burst Limit, Infinite World, and Raging Blast. Most of the original Japanese cast, including Masako Nozawa (Son Goku/Gohan/Goten), Ryo Horikawa (Vegeta), Toshio Furukawa (Piccolo) have returned to their original roles, but some roles have been recast, such as Aya Hirano as Dende.

Using Chain Email to Spread Political Suggestions

At some point, probably earlier this year, someone drove down a boat ramp... truck first. Of course in this day and age someone was near by with a camera and snapped a quick shot. You might find one swing your way complete with a little humorous, probably fabricated, story. One example,

So here it is.

I just bought a new boat and decided to take 'er for the maiden voyage this past weekend. This is my first boat and I wasn't quite sure of the exact Standard Operating Procedures for launching it off a ramp, but I figured it couldn’t be too hard. I consulted my local boat dealer for advice, but they just said "don't let the trailer get too deep when you are trying to launch the boat". Well, I don’t know what they meant by that as I could barely get the trailer in the water at all! Anyhow, here's a picture. See for yourself. What am I doing wrong?

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It's currently in the process of being passed around the 'net through websites, and everyone's arch nemesis, the chain email. As with all chain letters each version is just slightly different than the next. Unfortunately this example has been hijacked by someone with an obvious political leaning...

Dream Casting: Recasting The Dragon Ball Z English Dub

This is a first in a series of articles on how I would cast the English dubs for certain titles that either have not been licensed for North America or have dubs I would like to see recast. Enjoy! The English dub of Dragon Ball Z is horrible. To say that there has never been a good dub for the television series is probably not a controversial statement, even in the Dragon Ball fan community. First there was the one with the Ocean cast wherein there were tons of script problems and wooden acting, and then the in-house Funimation dub with it's painful voices and jokey rewrites. The both replaced the original musical score with either generic mood music that just sort of sat there or hacky electronica-rock mixes to fill up any possible moments of silence. In other words, they were bad. Really, really bad. Now, true, in a sense, DBZ's dubs can be seen as "so bad, they're good".

Gamers Are Assholes

Now, in my "favorite video games" article some time ago, I mentioned that, personally, I'm not much of a gamer. And by that, I mean I'm not very good at them. I enjoy video games. They've been a large part of my life. However, I'm just not very skilled. So, perhaps it's with a little envy, or perhaps just a boat load of frustration, when I tell you, the folks who are good at them are mostly a pack of arrogant cum stains who I wish would die in a horrible fire that kills their parents and pets as well. Hardcore gamers are jerks. If you're not one, that is. I'm guessing that, if you are one, you probably have no idea what I'm talking about. You're that deeply immersed in the gamer culture, attending Penny Arcade conventions (those guys are pretty cool, though), rawking out on Guitar Hero all night long with your pals, shitting in a daiper as you level up your troll warrior mage on some MMORPG. Treating Madden games like they're actual sporting events, and you are an actual athlete.

FMA 2 Dub Cast Announced (Sorta)

So, the cast for Funimation's Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood dub has been revealed. Or, at least, some of it. Here's my commentary on it: Vic Mignogna as Edward Elric Comment: I'm not surprised, but I'm not happy. Vic will continue to gain popularity based on a mediocre effort that pales in comparison to the Japanese voice. Well, I can at least hope he's better this time around, because last time it he was just lousy. Maxey Whitehead as Alphonse Elric Comment: They replaced the best performer in the first dub, Aaron Dismuke (ostensibly because he went through puberty, and thus his voice changed), with a relative newcomer. This is particularly upsetting, since I feel that even now, Dismuke will still be capable of handling Alphonse, who is a little older-seeming and wiser in the new series, anyway.

Brainwashing? Think of it as cleansing them of (your) idiocy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/04/us/04school.html

Oh, lordy, lordy. Won't anyone please save the children from our evil, socialist dictator President and his speech on the importance of education?!

This is the new mental illness of the right, that Obama is going to hypnotize school children into being some sort of Lenin-worshipping communist puppets of the state. How? Why, by talking to them via TV broadcast about... here we go... the importance of staying in school!

Dun dun dunnnnn!

Oh, but it can't be that simple! I'm sure Hitler... er, I mean, Obama, has some sort of spiral wheel spinning in the background to lull the children to sleep as he whispers words of liberalism into their fresh, squishy young minds. Soon, they'll be thinking of evil things such as helping the environment and helping out their fellow man!


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