Cowboy Bebop

"Cowboy Bebop" is a 26 episode anime that follows the adventures of a group of bounty hunters (or "cowboys" as they are commonly called) as they travel aboard the spaceship "Bebop."  The main characters in the show are Spike (who used to work for a crime syndicate), Jet (a former cop), Faye (a woman from the past who lost her memory and is swimming in debt), Ed (A whiz hacker), and their pet dog Ein.  While it takes a few episodes to get the characters all together, they all have stories to bring forward and contributions to make throughout the series.  The central conflict is introduced early in the series but isn't a continuous plotline is the conflict between Spike and a former partner in the crime syndicate named Vicious; and caught between the two is Spike's love interest, Julia.   However, all the characters will have episodes devoted to resolving personal conflicts that they have to deal with.

To start with, this is a very difficult show to rate, just because it's so good, but as a matter of principle, I try to avoid just handing out a perfect score... However, if there were an anime that deserved to have such a score, "Cowboy Bebop" would arguably be that show.  Very rarely does a show deliver that combination of action, humor, depth, and the characters to pull all these elements together, but that's exactly what you get with this show.  Characters are funny when they're relaxed between jobs, tough when there's a fight to be had, and like cowboys out of old westerns they have wisdom that can only come from living a life always on the move, trying to find the next job to pay for the next meal.  Normally I'd bash a show for seeming so disjointed by only doing an episode or two related to the main plot at a time, but "Bebop" made it work amazingly well.  Every episode almost feels like a fable, with a lesson or two you can take away from it.  These episodes would normally be labeled as "filler" but the term simply doesn't apply here: Each of these episodes were completely intentional and serve to show the personality and depth of the characters, as well as to help explore the world they live in with thought-provoking stories.  The part that will hit hardest is during the last 3 episodes: Characters leave, return, and Spike will have to find a way to deal with the past that he can't seem to leave behind him.  The climax of the series will have you on the edge of your seat and wishing the journey could have kept going onward, but you will still appreciate everything "Cowboy Bebop" has to offer. 

All in all, I honestly can't find fault with this show.  It excites you with intense, visceral action sequences.  It humors you with witty, intelligent comedy. But more than anything, it touches you with a deep, powerful story that by the end of the series will have you saying, "See you space cowboy..." And the show goes out with a unique "Bang" that only "Cowboy Bebop" can provide you. "Cowboy Bebop" is a must for any fan of an amazing story with strong, real characters and action that you will enjoy watching over and over.

Good:

- Rich, deep, original story with great characters that you feel you can grow alongside as they move forward

- A lot of thought-provoking dialogue/scenes that touch you……in a good way

- Solid, realistic action that while exciting, doesn't lead to thinking the main characters are bulletproof in the least, making the action even more visceral and gripping

Bad:

- That you're still reading this review instead of watching the show like I've been basically telling you.... GO. WATCH. NOW.

Scully Rating: 10 out of 10

Watch "Cowboy Bebop" at: http://www.justdubs.net/list/series/52/Cowboy%20Bebop

 

Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey

Dudes and Dudettes Bill S. Preston Esq. and Theodore “Ted” Logan are back for more. Now the Wyld Stallyns have entered a San Dimas battle of the bands.  Chuck De Nomolos a man from the future who hates Bill and Ted’s music steals a time machine and brings back two robots that look exactly like Bill and Ted. These two evil robots go out and kill the real Bill and Ted. Face to face with Death himself who challenges them to a game which they win. Bill and Ted try to speak in their ethereal form but it is difficult and what makes it worse is Bill’s stepmom Missy says a séance that sends the boys down to hell. Now facing Satan both must face their fears and try to get back to the mortal world, and win the battle of the bands the future depends on it. 

The Sequel to “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” didn’t fare as well as its predecessor did. This movie had the rocker feel but it just couldn’t hold up to the expectation that we all wanted from it. No real memorable lines and the real only great scenes are with death. The plot was nothing new try to stick together to make music that makes world peace.

Good:

-Scenes with Death are great

-Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter remain great wannabe rockers

Bad:

-Lackluster plot

-Nothing new from the first film

-Didn’t’ live up to the hype

-No memorable lines

Scully Rating: 4 out of 10

Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure

Bill S. Preston Esq.(Alex Winter)  and Theodore “Ted” Logan (Keanu Reeves)  are two high school students who have a totally awesome band named “The Wyld Stallyns ” …well they aren’t that good but I promise according to Rufus (George Carlin) they become the band that creates world peace. To do this they must stay together though and practice, but that will be hard if Ted gets sent off to military school due to him failing history. Rufus shows up and gives Bill and Ted a time machine to go back in time and learn about the people they must write a report on. Instead of writing a report though the guys decide to bring the people of the past back in to the future with them and do a verbal report with them all. With the help of Joan of Arc, Genghis Khan, Socrates, Billy the Kid, Napoleon, Freud, Abe Lincoln, and Beethoven can the boys get the A they need to pass history and keep the group together? Or is Ted doomed to go to military school and ruin the perfect world they were supposed to create?

Reeves and Winter do an amazing job as dumb high school wannabe rock stars. “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” will have you laughing your butt off with lines like “Iron maiden EXCELLENT *play air guitar*” and “All we are, is dust in the wind…dude” your sides will hurt from the nonstop stupidity and hilarious antics these two get into with history’s greatest people. You will pray that the band stays together and hope that they get an A. 

Good:

-Funny Dialog

-Hilarious Actors and Scenes

-An in-depth plot

-Main Characters that you fall in love with

Bad:

-At times there is a little too much “stoner” dialog 

Scully Rating: 9 out of 10

Dawnguard (Skyrim DLC)

The dragon-born is back for more with the release of “Skyrim’s” first downloadable expansion giving gamers even more than they already had; “Dawnguard” brings a new story for gamers to follow along with new perks, powers and new transformation the Vampire Lord. While there were already vampires in “Skyrim” these creatures are a cut above the vampires we’ve seen before with amazing powers that can be upgraded through the new skill tree brought to the game for the Vampire Lord, a skill tree will also be brought to those Werewolf players out there. With this DLC also comes a level cap increase, for those players who have reached their level 50 limit, players can continue increasing their abilities to new heights. Add onto the fact that “Dawnguard” offers a massive new quest to be followed, gamers will have their hands full for a while with “Skyrim” action if they have already gone through the main story line and have become a full-fledged dragon-born and adds even more excitement for those who haven’t. 

“Dawnguard” still brings out all that players love or will come to love from “Skyrim” offering even more incredible graphics and design put into the new quest line players can follow, new and incredibly jaw dropping battles come from this new DLC. For the reasonable price of twenty dollars “Dawnguard” offers so much for anyone to enjoy and while the DLC alone doesn’t offer the overall lasting appeal of “Skyrim”, the benefits given through the DLC can continue to enhance your adventuring.

Good:

-Level cap increase

-New transformation class

-Expansive and highly enjoyable new quest

Bad:

-Minor quarks here and there 

(Game Reviewed on Xbox 360)

Scully Rating: 8.5 out of 10 

Batman: Arkham City

Suit up and grab some batarangs people for the sequel to the action adventure game “Batman: Arkham Asylum”, “Batman: Arkham City” puts you back in control of the caped crusader who now has to fight all of his worst enemies once more with nothing but his wits, strength and of course a some incredible gadgets. “Batman: Arkhum City” plops you back into the middle of the newly found prison system based out of the area known as Old Gotham and Batman must take on some of his most ruthless enemies once again and unravel the mystery behind Arkhum City. With some of Batman fans favorite villains such as the Penguin, Two-Face, Mr. Freeze and of course the ever popular Joker, “Batman: Arkhum City” has what fans will love about the dark knight. The game builds upon the same gameplay elements of the first game where you can fight and fly your way around a villain filled city and put a stop to the madness that has unfolded behind the walls of Gotham’s new prison. And what is the Batman without his utility belt full of tricks?.....well he’s still a badass even without them but they’re still fun to have, with classics like the batarang and new gadgets like the ice grenade, you’ll be taking down bad guys left and right. Like the first game your gadgets and your skills can be upgraded through earned experience when your preform certain tasks, complete storyline quest and side quest where you’ll come across even more iconic characters from the Batman universe. If you weren’t busy enough with all that “Batman: Arkhum City” already has to offer you’ll find your minds busy with the master of enigma the Riddler, who is back with hundreds of puzzles to solve that will put your mind to the test and keep you coming back for more. 

With an amazing story and incredibly well design world, “Batman: Arkhum City” brings out what fans love most about the Batman and will have those who just love a great action adventure game hooked. Gamers will feel just like the Batman and be put right into the same action they know and love from TV shows and comic books of their youth with a story that holds true to the essence of the Batman but with a new modern twist that some can’t master but this game most definitely has. And with a long lasting appeal that will have you feeling the need to play the game twice just to make sure you got everything and didn’t miss out on any action.

Good:

-Amazing presentation

-Holds true to the Batman franchise

-Incredible story

-You are the Batman….what else could you ask for?

Bad:

-The Riddler challenges may tick you off

(Game Reviewed on Xbox 360) 

Scully Rating: 9.5 out of 10