Thats the second longest blog post title I’ve ever seen!

I have to be honest, when I first heard about a Get Smart movie, I wasn’t quite sure what to think. I had been let down before by the short lived Get Smart Again! series, ‘fool me once shame on you! Fool me twice’…well you get the idea.

Fast forward almost two years, and now this movie is poised to release in the coming weeks. The more previews I see for this movie, the more excited I become! The thought of having one of my favorite classic TV shows revisited and updated to fit into our current society excites me!

I was vaguely familiar with Steve Carrell’s work by association, some of my friends love his work. So in preparation for this release I’ve been watching some of Steve Carrell’s movies from the past few years. He seems like a very capable comedian, and I’ve grown to like his style. In fact, if I had to pick any current actor to portray Maxwell Smart, Steve Carrell would be the guy! Which of his works brought me to this conclusion? Dan in Real Life, and The 40-Year Old Virgin.

The ‘Cone of Silence’ gag has already been revealed in many of the movies trailers, but to this day I have yet to see a scene where Max is using his famous shoe-phone. The shoe-phone is a staple of the Maxwell Smart character, and it just wouldn’t be a proper remake without it .

A quick Google Image search reveals one screen capture of Steve Carrell using the phone. Don Adams, the original Maxwell Smart used his trusty shoe-phone to call CONTROL headquarters and update the chief on the current situation. The shoe-phone’s shoddy design required Max to insert a dime before making any outgoing calls, and the obnoxiously loud ring would constantly draw the attention of civilians and enemies alike to Max’s shoes. “Excuse me, your shoe is ringing.”

Its impossible to please everyone, and although I love the shoe-phone, I will be a little disappointed if the new “modern” shoe-phone isn’t something more. There is no justification for our beloved “Agent 86″, Maxwell Smart, to still be carrying around a rotary dialed shoe-phone in an age where cellphones, laptops, and wireless internet are all common place. Perhaps an “enhanced” shoe-phone with added functionality would be more appropriate. A mini super-computer shoe-phone or something of the sort would appease me, as long as it isn’t over done.

Technorati Tags: Don Adams, Get Smart, Shoe Phone, Steve Carrell

I’m the kind of guy who lets his wallet do the talking when it comes to business. No, I don’t flash huge wads of cash, but I do believe in a free market. If a product isn’t good, then the consumer shouldn’t support it, end of story!

The local Subway shop is just one of the businesses in town which I rarely support. Working there during my high school years gave me great insight as to the business practices employed by the local owners of the shop, and suffice it to say, I’m not a fan. Regardless of my stance, every now and then, I get a hankering for some Subway.

Since most people can find something offensive on almost any channel, the local Subway deemed it “good business” to keep their TVs tuned to the Texas Cable News network.

The Texas Cable News network (TCN) is one of those basic cable channels providers put in after having moved one of their more popular “free channels” to the digital cable tier. If consumers wish to have access to that newly relocated channel, we’re forced to pony up the extra few bucks and upgrade to digital cable. Sure its not a lot of money, but its just as shameless regardless of the price.

On to my point, the TCN aired an “economic” story which really surprised me. While most news networks are busy covering the “bitter”, gun toting Philadelphia voters, or the overall state of the US Economy, TCN took a different approach with this story. Direct Quote & Photo from TCN:

“It’s a nationwide crisis — foreclosure rates are at record high levels, with an estimated 2,000,000 Americans at risk of losing their homes.
Here in Austin, the mortgage mess means many are being forced to give up a beloved part of their life — the family pet.”

Really? I mean, really? People are loosing their homes, and this news network is reporting on the tragedy of pets being abandoned or put up for adoption? I some how just don’t really find this news worthy.

I love dogs, I really do! Nothing has hurt me more than having my precious dachshund, Sparky (pictured below) die all those years ago. He was my best friend & comrade for many great years!

I know times are tough, and a family loosing their homes is one of the most devastating events I can imagine happening to a family here in the US, but why is a news network so concerned with pets over their former, now homeless, masters?

Technorati Tags: Dogs, Economy, Housing Crisis, Pets, Texas Cable News

Former GameSpot editor Brad Shoemaker’s latest blog post gave me the pleasure of watching food from various nations re-enact several wars throughout history. I love food, and I love learning about past wars! This page is the video creator’s website detailing the nationalities of all the “foodstuffs”, just in case you need help figuring it all out.

Technorati Tags: food fight, food war, foodstuffs, history, wars

With Hollywood’s writers taking an extended leave of absence, we’ve been left with little to no good television. Unless of course you believe “reality TV” is good television, in which case I must ask you to push that little red x on your top right hand corner.

Good, with them gone I can continue. Sure we’ve got a few shows still airing, but these writers have left quite the void in our television infused lives. What are we supposed to do with all this spare time? Go outside? Outside is over rated! Let me suggest something to keep you entertained until those pesky writers get back to work.

To feed your superhero/martial arts appetite I recommend a moderate serving of “Beast-Fist Squad Fierce-Ki Ranger”, or as its known in the land of the rising sun, “Jyuuken Sentai GekiRanja.” These days, it shouldn’t be too hard to find places to download episodes of GekiRanger on the net.

Some of you may recognize the term “Sentai”, and for those of you who don’t, let me take the time to briefly explain. Sentai is best described as a genre of television shows in Japan featuring a team of super heroes wearing brightly colored spandex outfits and helmets. These heroes have giant robots known as “mecha” to help them fight giant monsters. Yes, like the American Power Rangers, only better!! In fact, Power Rangers is actually a combination of censored Sentai footage dubbed with American voices and meshed with American written footage.

Jyuuken Sentai GekiRanja is this seasons Sentai series; each season starts anew with new costumes, characters, and mecha (aka “Zords” in the US.) This season is based around martial arts, Kenpo to be exact. The premise behind the entire show is that a group of legendary Kenpo warriors split into two distinct groups. One group fought to protect the innocent, and bring about peace and justice; this group was known as Geki Jyuuken. The other group fought only for power and personal gain, this group was known as the Rin Jyuuken. Still with me? Good.

The Geki Jyuuken users are able to transform into animal themed GekiRangers by using their Geki Changers, better known to us as “Morphers.” Rin Jyuuken users focus their power and transform into representations of their Kenpo style and inner Ki, usually some form of animal.

You all should know the formula by now, bad guys send evil monster to attack the city, the good guys show up and destroy said monster using flashy martial arts, and crazy looking weapons. Said monster is defeated but suddenly grows to humongous proportions and continues destroying the city. The rangers then summon their giant robots and defeat said monster. As old as that formula is, the Japanese writers always find ways of keeping it interesting by tossing in various levels of drama, comedy, and twists to keep us hooked.

Don’t come in expecting a silly children’s program just because I compared it to Power Rangers! Sentai is actually a show aimed at young adults in Japan. The show contains more serious subjects, and features more violent fights. The characters sometimes actually draw blood, and some of them even die on screen. Disney would not approve!

Like all good martial artists our team of heroes must rely on strength, heart, will power, abilities and techniques to attain victory. Each Ranger has one primary strength which is detailed in their introductory phrases.

“This body swells with infinite energy, Unbreakable Body! GekiRed!”
“With daily purification polishing the heart, Honest Heart! GekiYellow!”
“Techniques color this grand flower! Fantastic Technique! GekiBlue!”
“Excitement, my style, to the limit of my will! Iron Will! GekiViolet!”
“Polishing the talent, I cut open my future! Amazing Ability! GekiChopper!”

Technorati Tags: Geki, GekiRanger, Jyuuken Sentai, KaGeki, Martial Arts, Power Ranger, Sentai, TV