Pads & Panels

Title: ReBoot: Seasons 1 & 2

Format: DVD

Studio: Shout Factory

Show Rating:

DVD Rating:

Review by: Matt Peters

The Seasons

ReBoot holds the distinction of being the first half-hour computer animated TV series. Released in 1994, it even predates Toy Story. Surprisingly, the show still holds up. Because of the very nature of the premise (a guardian defends a computer city from both viruses and The User), the smooth, simplistic graphics of the first two seasons make sense.

Over continuing episodes, the characters seem to gain more and more depth. Season one stays episodic in order to introduce the initial cast and plot points, but season two introduces subplots and an overarching storyline. The dialogue is definitely something made for Saturday mornings, but there’s still plenty of action to be entertained by. Keep an eye out for two of Mainframe Entertainment’s early creations in episode 11 of the first season. (more…)

Title: Action Comics #900

Publisher: DC Comics

Written by: Paul Dini, Damon Lindelof, Paul Cornell, Pete Woods, Richard Donner, and Geoff Johns

Illustrated by: Pete Woods, Ryan Sook, RB Silva, Gary Frank, Miguel Sepulveda, and Matt Camp

Rating:

Review by: Matt Peters

I was genuinely surprised by Action Comics #900. Now that the initial reaction from the media has died down regarding Superman “renouncing” America, I was able to go back and read the comic for what it’s intended to be: entertainment.

The first thing to note is that the book’s main story contains the finale of one story and the middle chapter of another. “How’s that possible?,” you may ask. Well, it’s nothing compared to the shield numbering system that was utilized throughout the 1990s, but it can still be a little confusing. Since DC’s Blackest Night storyline, Action Comics has prominently featured Lex Luthor in a leading role. The power he tasted as an Orange Lantern has left him hungry for more, and serves as the basis of the arc. (more…)

Title: Tangled 3D

Format: 4 Disc Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy

Directed By: Nathan Greno, Bryon Howard

Written By: Dan Fogelman (screenplay) Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm (fairy tale)

Starring: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi

Studio: Disney

Film Rating:

Blu-ray Rating:

Review by: Thomas Braaksma

The Film

Disney marks its 50th Animated Release with a reimagining of the classic fairy tale Rapunzel in Tangled 3D. Tangled carries this honor gracefully with one of Disney’s best films not released under the Pixar name in a long time. The film also brings one of the best uses of the 3D experience into the home.

Tangled is the story we all know of Rapunzel and her long, beautiful hair, trapped in a high tower with whom she thinks is her mother but is actually a wicked witch. There is, of course, the unlikely hero Flynn Rider, a thief that stumbles across Rapunzel while fleeing the royal guard after stealing the crown with some malicious goons. These characters are all done in typical Disney fashion, but there are some additional characters; a protective lizard that is Rapunzel’s only friend and a royal guard’s horse determined to capture Rider. (more…)

Title: I am Number Four

Format: 3 Disc Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Directed by: D. J. Caruso

Screenplay Written by: Alfred Gough, Miles Millar and Marti Noxon

Starring: Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Teresa Palmer, Dianna Agron, Callan McAuliffe, Kevin Durand

Studio: Touchstone Pictures, Dreamworks

Film Rating:

Blu-ray Rating:

Review by: Sarah Kumley

The Film

I am Number Four is about two groups of aliens who have come to Earth, one seeking a safe haven and the other in an effort to exterminate the first. Number 4 (aka John Smith) and his guardian, Henri, escaped their home planet of Lorien along with 8 other extraordinary children and their caretakers. The Mogadorians have wiped out life on Lorien and followed the refuges to Earth in an effort to hunt them down and kill them, the catch being that they must be killed in order.

The film opens with Number 3’s death and jumps right into John’s life with Henri, who promptly pack up and move when their life in Florida is compromised. In Ohio, John is quickly smitten with Sarah and befriends the school outcast, Sam. The Mogadorians aren’t the only ones tracking John, however, and when they find him, there is no time to escape so they must fight back. (more…)

Title: Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

Platform: DS

ESRB: T

Publisher: Capcom

Developer: Capcom

Rating:

Review by: Archie Easter

I was very pleasantly surprised by Capcom’s Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective. It’s been some time since I’ve come across a DS game with this much charm, personality, and overall fun gameplay. In a twist of the normal standard, the game actually begins with the death of the main character, Sissel. He awakes with no memory of who he is and must quickly discover who he was before he died and the reason behind his untimely demise. Fairly early on, he discovers he has “ghost tricks,” special powers that allow him to influence objects in the living world and even rewind time to change the fates of the recently deceased. (more…)

Title: Exotique 6: The World’s Most Beautiful CG Characters

Publisher: Ballistic Publishing

Edited by: Daniel P. Wade

Review by: Eric Stuckart

Having published the art books for both Uncharted 2 and God of War III, Ballistic Publishing knows how to throw together a classy art book, and Exotique 6, the latest edition in a series of books devoted to showcasing the world’s greatest digital artists and their creations, is no exception.

Featuring a plethora of different styles and genres, the artwork is quite breathtaking, and it is really hard to believe that some of these were done digitally. The amount of attention to detail and composition is impressive, as many of the pieces contained herein look as though they were painted on canvas. (more…)

Product: Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Play Arts Kai Snake (Jungle Fatigues Version)

Company: Play Arts Kai/Square Enix

MSRP: $49.99

Review and Photos by: Archie Easter

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker was one of the best PSP titles to release in 2010. Usually, when action figure recreations of game characters are released, the results can be fairly mixed. Square Enix’s Play Arts however, has been known for putting out quality figures for some time now. They’ve had quite a few big names to work with in the past, previously handling figures for games like Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy and Devil May Cry. Now, with its new Peace Walker line of figures, Play Arts is on fire yet again. (more…)

Title: The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile

Platform: XBLA

ESRB: M

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios

Developer: Ska Studios

Rating:

Review By: Eric Stuckart

The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai was a surprise favorite of mine that I didn’t discover until last year, but I was glad that I did. Two-dimensional side-scrolling beat-‘em-ups are a personal favorite of mine, which may or may not be a byproduct of the games I grew up with, but I instantly fell in love with the art style and the fast-paced action of Dead Samurai. (more…)

Title: Under the Boardwalk: The Monopoly Story

Format: DVD

Studio: Tostie Productions, Rhino Films

Directed by: Kevin Tostado

Film Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones

The Film

UPDATE: The DVD rating and portion of the review was removed from the review after it was brought to our attention by the studio that the copy we received was not a final retail copy, as previously believed.

Under the Boardwalk is an independent film Pads & Panels stumbled across as the Chicago Toy and Game Fair in Chicago last year. And while it does open to The Drifters’ 1964 pop hit of the same name, the boardwalk in reference is the big-money blue piece at the end of the board in Monopoly.

The film seeks to tell the tale of Monopoly and its prominent place in the board game industry, as well as focus on some competitors in national and international tournaments for the game. But while it is entertaining, features interesting characters and offers the common gamer more info on the origins of the game, Under the Boardwalk leaves the viewer thinking it could have gone deeper, and the same could be said for its DVD release. (more…)

Artist: Livan

Album Title: Off the Grid

Record Label: Pumpkin Music

Rating:

Review by: Eric Stuckart

I’ll be honest, when I found out that Livan was coming off of a tour with the legendary Peter Murphy only to go out on tour with Mushroomhead — a band eternally destined to be compared to Slipknot because of its costumes, despite being around first — and rap metallers (Hed) PE, I was quite skeptical. After hearing his newest offering, Off the Grid — a reworking/expansion of an EP that he released last year, I’m even more confounded… but I think that’s the point. (more…)