Noragami Aragoto

By: Robert Murphy

Every modern image of a God or deity in today's society will most likely depict a heroic figure who is fearless or a wise and knowledgeable being of great respect. So when you look at someone like Yato, with his torn up handkerchief and track suit, the last thing you would expect to hear is that this guy is some sort of God. This however has not hindered his quest towards becoming an exceptional God who will one day be worshiped across the world for his deeds and I for one want to be one of them. 

Not too much has changed since the last time I laid eyes on my favorite lesser known deity and this certainly isn't a bad thing, but for starters it feels like the animation for Noragami was bumped up slightly from it's first season. Things appear far more brighter and crisp than in the previous season and it highlights all the different elements being brought forth for the story this time around quite well. Yato as I said is still his straight up goofy self and he along with his vessel Yukine continue to do any odd job around the city to try and increase his popularity. Thankfully though there isn't much rehashing over the source material, the first episode briefly covers what Yato and Yukine do best by answering any and all requests brought to them and eliminating spirits that happen to be plaguing humanity in the process. 

After this it's right into the new action as more about Yato's mysterious past becomes revealed. There were many questions to be had for his character in the first season such as how he was able to remain a God for so long without disappearing or what happened between him and the God of Fortune Bishamon to make her so angry towards him. These big missing pieces to Yato's past however all start to pour right into the story almost immediately. Rather than put all of the focus on the lead character, the show shifts gears and focuses on Bishamon herself as well as other cast members to push the story along to where they need to go.

This season proves to be the one that further grows all of the characters that were actually pretty shallow the first time around, it didn't mean they were bad, but I wanted to know so much more. Bishamon was barely brought up before and the main point of her interaction with Yato was to create tension for him by beating the ever loving snot out of him but we just never knew why. Now though the entire first half of Noragami Aragoto is devoted to finding out about her and her past and by extension her issues with Yato himself. There was also the effort made to delve further into the vessels or regalia of the Gods done here as well. Outside of their uses as sacred weapons of Gods there wasn't too much said for these people but viewers now gain a great deal of knowledge as to what these people experience. This is also a shining moment for Yukine who I initially didn't like due to his spoiled nature but he also has a large amount of growth as he learns more about what it means to be a regalia and later on a blessed vessel. 

The world expanding doesn't just stop at the regalia however as more about how the Gods of this world interact and live comes to light. It would seem there is a governing council for the Heavens who watch over various situations and deliver judgement where it is seen fit. Only two or three other Gods are actually introduced during this time but the one the show focuses on mainly is a fellow God of Fortune by the name of Ebisu. He like most of the Gods that are alive today are eternal with shrines and documentation of their deeds all across the world. The relationship between him and Yato develops rather interestingly though and Ebisu's nonchalant approach to reincarnation infuriates Yato to no end because even though Gods will come back to life they forget their past selves to a large degree. It is a hot button issue for Yato and besides opening up the viewers to more information on how Gods work in this world, it continues the deeper emotional side to the story.

Perhaps my only real issue this time around is with Hiyori. Her story before had such an intregal part to play in everything that was going on before but now she is more of an after thought at times. She still has plenty of hilarious moments where she tries to fight using ridiculous wrestling moves and is also a great part of the trio with Yato and Yukine, one moment in particular was extremely touching this season. But the show attempts to push her away for some dramatic tension and even tries their hand and letting her lead a normal life with her friends and potentially a boyfriend. This would be fine if she didn't spend the whole time wishing she could remember Yato though and it's ultimately a waste of time for a character who is at the front of the most of the scenes.

Despite this Noragami once again hits the nail on the head as it's second season presents a great combination of action and comedy but now a rich full story to go along with it. Most of all, all the questions from the first season are filled in rather quickly and there is simply no time wasted as it all unfolds. It's not rushed with it's points as it still has time to be light hearted and packed with great moments of monster slaying, while also leaving some stories still left to be told about where Yato comes from. It's enough to make anyone pay the 5 yen in order to see Yato become the fantastic God he is meant to be. 

Good:

- Still a great level of humor and action

- Much deeper story this time around

- Bishamon and other characters gaining more screen time

Bad:

- Hiyori feels under utilized at times but still manages to shine with Yato and Yukine

Scully Rating: 8.8 out of 10

One Punch Man

By: Robert Murphy

Often one of my biggest gripes with people who love over powered characters in comic books and movies is that with all that power there has got to be no challenge in fighting crime and anytime they appear to be weak or beaten down it seems like a front to make the episode go longer. It's all so boring and I finally met a superhero who agrees with that fact, Saitama. 

This bald headed superhero is simply the world's strongest hero that has ever walked the face of the Earth and rather than take pride in this fact he is extremely agitated by his ability to simply one punch any and all problems that come his way. He didn't start out this way though, no he spent most of his days before becoming a hero as your average business man who hated his humdrum lifestyle until one night he risks his life to save a child from a monster attack. From that moment on he dedicated his life to becoming stronger and protecting those in danger. Through some strange turn of events however he was able to attain ungodly levels of strength, speed and ability by simply doing 100 squats, 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups and running 10 kms ever single day but the only physical thing that changed was he lost his hair.  

This outrageous turn of events turns out to be one of the running gags for the series that places a huge comedic satire on just how easy it is for some people to gain superhuman abilities. Heroes like Superman simply needed to come to Earth and he gained powers that rival anyone who challenges him or even Goku from Dragonball Z, he somehow had a power level that made people laugh at the mere sight of it but gained abilities through friendship and simple levels of strength and body training. When people start to hear about just how Saitama gains his abilities and sees what he does the proper responses are made by any and all who are around to hear it. That is until he one punches them all into none existence but it is great to see a show take shots at the typical hero mechanic of outlandishly strong heroes.

Now before everyone starts raising their eyebrows about the plot of the show I will say that Saitama isn't the only hero or protagonist for the show because while it is fun to see him sarcastically take down gigantic creatures at every turn, it would become rather dull for a series. Saitama's abilities eventually attract the attention of a young cyborg boy Genos who becomes so impressed by his abilities that he becomes his pupil hoping to gleam the secrets to his legendary strength. While Genos offers up some incredible scenes of his own through the use of his cybernetic enhancements he often used as the wide eyed optimist who believes that his master is something greater than he is. I'm not Saitama is a bad character, far from it actually especially later on when more of his true character shines through, but when you hear Genos spout off about his masters legendary greatness and see Saitama picking his nose right next to him you begin to see why it's funny that so many people love these overpowered and overplayed characters. 

That factor also proves to be a shining moment for One Punch Man. Various dramatic sequences for the story such as epic level boss fights, especially the final battle for the series, are beautifully animated and put together. The fights are all well choreographed as well making the abilities of Genos for example truly pop but then you have scenes of low quality placed right in the middle of the action to undercut the tension with great comedic exploits. These scene often happen with Saitama because he usually thinking about something else during fights or just generally unimpressed by his opponents power that he is placed in animation scene that look drawn in by pencil. While this contrast in art design may not work for some it is used rather uniquely here for plenty of comedic moments that make you realize that this isn't a series hero anime but still has the potential for it. 

The rest of the cast as I said further deepen the story or make it as deep as it could possibly become anyways. Saitama funny enough must rejoin the corporate ranks as heroes are apparently a dime a dozen in this world and they're all employed and ranked by the Hero Association. But the show doesn't simply show off the best of the best which are the S-Ranked members of the association, there is in fact an episode devoted to one C-Ranked member in particular Mumen Rider who is basically the type of man Saitama was when he first became a hero. So while the show makes fun of those epic level heroes there is a good deal of heart hidden beneath the sarcasm as well. 

The penultimate battle for One Punch Man does show case all of the exemplary S-Ranked members however who posses tremendous powers of their own, still paling in comparison to Saitama obviously. Nevertheless they all gain some showtime to demonstrate why they're the highest ranking members of the association and it once again showcases the shows ability for excellent fight scenes while leaving some intrigue to come in a following season.

One Punch Man is undoubtedly going to be one of those breakout shows for 2015 that will lead to many followers donning a yellow jumpsuit and red boots and gloves at many anime conventions to come. Still, the story lacks a good deal of depth to it so if you're looking for a more serious anime to watch then you have come to the wrong place. If you enjoy a good laugh however and mockery of traditional hero interpretations then you will find a winner with this bald headed beauty.  

Good:

- Exceptional animation

- Funny superhero satire

- Saitama's one punch exploits never get old

- Interesting world and characters

Bad:

- A shallow story

- The low quality moments used for comedy won't be for everyone

Scully Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Minecraft: Story Mode Episode 2 - Assembly Required

By: Robert Murphy

One would think that given all the materials that made the first episode of the Minecraft Story Mode so exceptional that there would be no problem building upon that with episode 2. Sadly, "Assembly Required" does little in bringing the bigger pieces of the story into the fold and coasts along with it's story and retreads upon just about everything we have already seen up until this point.

When players last left off they were left with a decision to either go recruit master red stone user Ellegaard or TNT happy Magnus, a decision which could further divide you and your friends depending on your actions up until this point. It was an interesting way to leave the ending of the story though but one that was short lived after a quick adventure on either path led to the left out friend going to retrieve the other Order of the Stone member by themselves. A rather luck luster event that further hastened the story and that was the overall downfall of this episode. Everything felt entirely too rushed and I was able to complete the entire story on either side in a matter of minutes, sure there are a few interesting bits of construction or destruction to see depending on which land you visit but little effort is made to incorporate it into what you have to do in order to progress in the story. 

That being said the whimsical world of Minecraft still proves to bring a smile to my face as I look at the incredible things that can be built in this world. Sure, some of the designs presented can only be created because they serve a purpose to what is going on but most of the ingenious designs are actual creations that a skilled Minecraft player could create with a little knowledge of red stone and the games mechanics. I was especially impressed by the creations in Ellegaard's world where eager pupils waited outside with their designs hoping to be chosen as her assistant. Cow lava disco, who thinks of this stuff?

This same appeal reaches out to the overall world design that is presented throughout the story. Walking through Ellegaard's red stone fortress was my particular favorite as it was filled with all sorts of interesting mechanics I could never hope to build. Magnus' realm on the other hand was more my speed with plenty of destruction and oddly constructed buildings strewn throughout. Perhaps the most intrigue aspect came later though on the way to locating the final member of the Order of the Stone, his hidden mountain fortress was immensely built and introduced my least favorite Minecraft enemy into the story the Endermen, and somehow Telltale made them even creepier!

Once the players dig back into the story however things are relatively flat. I felt that my Jesse character was making a strong showing as a main character in the first episode, taking charge and becoming a leader that could potentially save the world from this Witherstorm attack. After meeting the rest of the Order of the Stone members it seemed like the characters bore similar traits to my team of friends too, and maybe we will end up succeeding them down the road. But, for the moment that intrigue is cut short by just how little your characters actually do in this episode. It felt as though your main character takes a back seat for the greater portion of the story and simply answers questions when they're asked of him or her. The rest of the screen time is devoted to constant bickering between Ellegaard and Magnus over issues in the past that are never revealed. It's pointless drama that never garnered my attention because I just met these characters and saw very little that made me like them overall to begin with, making me miss the characters I did like even more. 

The one original piece of the story that showed some potential for later episodes came when Petra is reintroduced after finding your ancient stronghold. The brief moment of dialogue between your main character and the red headed monster slayer finally led to some screen time for your character to actually interact with someone and while Petra was rather aloof until this point, I am intrigued to see where her present dilemma will lead the story. 

"Assembly Required" is sadly a disappointing follow up to the first entry of Minecraft's Story Mode as it does so little to expand on the interesting world and story it had going for it. The new members of the Order of the Stone are far less heroic than Gabriel was when we first meet him and offer little in the way of interesting characteristics. What's worse is these characters bicker so much that little time is spent on your friends or your main character's development which should never happen. While the whimsical elements and some new story elements are included here there simply isn't enough to make this episode all that satisfying. 

Good:

- Wonderful Minecraft creations brought to life

- Petra's addition back into the story

Bad:

- Rehashes moments from the first episode

- Ellegaard and Magnus were unappealing

- Main character involvement felt surprisingly minimal 

Scully Rating: 5.0 out of 10

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Zach Goodier

***THIS REVIEW IS SPOILER-FREE***

STAR WARS IS BACK!!!! But… is it really back? After the tragic prequels (and the whiniest jedi this end of the Kessel Run), I found myself skeptical of the upcoming return to a galaxy far, far away. Several things kept popping into my head: will it use more practical effects and less silly CGI that never blends with actual actors? Will the original cast actually fit back into their old roles after so many years? Will the new faces actually carry the torch that is presumably being passed to them? Well, without further suspense, I can say that the answer is a resounding, “YES!!!” While The Force Awakens is by no means a flawless movie, it is much closer in personality and tone to the originals than it is the prequels.

The First Order, while not as big as the Empire, is still a force to be reckoned with.

We start off following Poe, a Resistance pilot who is helping to fight the First Order. Basically, after ROTJ, the rebels helped found a new Republic, and from there was able to free the outer territories from the Empire. However, much of the core is still under the control of the remnants of the Empire (the First Order), which seeks to eliminate the Republic and return the Empire to its glory days. The Resistance is fighting the First Order, but much like the old days, they are doing so on their own authority and with limited manpower and resources.

The new faces (L to R): Poe, Rey, and Finn

Poe is attempting to track down the whereabouts of Luke Skywalker, who disappeared after his new Jedi Order was betrayed from within by a student who was seduced by the dark side. This student now goes by the name of Kylo Ren, and serves the First Order in much the same way Vader served the Empire. Without spoiling too much, Ren’s role in the story goes much deeper as the movie goes on, but he is a very well-written villain, that doesn’t feel like a Vader rip-off, but his own character that actually has an internal struggle as he believes what he’s doing is right, but experiences doubts and conflict over his choices. So, in some ways, Ren embodies many of the traits that drew us in with Vader in the original trilogy, especially V and VI. However, he sets himself apart, in that he is more unruly, like the young man he is, and he frequently lashes out in anger.

Kylo Ren, in many ways, parallels Anakin/Vader. But, unlike Anakin, he doesn't come across as overly childish. He is young, but honestly sees what he does as necessary, and doesn't seem simply selfish and demanding.

Characters like Han, Chewbacca, and Leia all return, and fit into their old roles very well. While this does feel different from the original films, these characters all helped you settle back in, giving some of the classic flavor to this new film. The new characters, Fin and Rey, as well as Poe and BB-8, all work really well in this new film. J.J. Abrams wisely tried to balance screen time so we could grow to love these characters, while bringing back the characters we wanted to see. In this way, we can grow to like these new characters without spending most of the movie waiting for a quick cameo from the favorites. Everyone is on this ride together, and that really helps bridge the gap for original fans and this new trilogy.

Starkiller base looks like a Death Star ripoff, but it, like the movie, adds it's own spin and flavor to a familiar concept.

The special effects are all done right, with CGI kept to a relative minimum, and what CGI is included looks fantastic. It is clear that this isn’t just an attempt to cash in on the franchise, this an attempt to bring it back from mediocrity after the prequels. The lame politics of the prequels are gone, with the focus being the struggle between the Resistance and the First Order.

If you look carefully, that lightsaber is a familiar one.

There are a few minor things I felt were overlooked, such as the lack of thorough back-story on the current galactic map, and how things were divided between the Republic and First Order, as well as the lack of explanation as to how the First Order’s leader, Snoke, came to power and all but destroyed the Jedi Order. The end is also a bit of a cliffhanger, albeit not a bad one, but it does leave one important character as a relative cameo at the end. There are also so conspicuously unanswered questions, but that really is just more to hope for in the next films. Overall, these are relatively minor nitpicks in an otherwise great film.

The lightsaber has been passed to a new generation of heroes, and villains. The older generation is still around, but odds are they will be taking a back seat on this ride.

Overall, this is a great return for the Star Wars franchise. Is it above criticizing? No. It takes a few bold steps which might upset fans, and it doesn’t quite return us to the galaxy far, far away as we left it. And when you consider the mountains of expectation surrounding this film between the original story, and the dissatisfaction that most had after the prequels, this movie had a lot to live up to.  As a fan from early childhood, I can say with confidence that I walked away with a smile on my face. This movie is going back to the roots of what made the originals great: action, adventure, and the journey of a band of young heroes in a galaxy far, far away. 

Good:

-Great cast, old and new.

-New story feels like a natural and well-written continuation of the story from the original trilogy.

-Great use of special effects, with a sparing, but quality use of CGI only where needed to make sure the whole film feels immersive.

-Plenty of promise for future films that will continue to deliver characters and story that we want.

Bad:

-Few minor unanswered questions and potential missteps, depending on what you expect from this film.

Scully Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Bleach 656: God of Thunder

Zach Goodier

http://www.mangapanda.com/bleach/656

Gerard grins as he towers over the field. Meanwhile, Askin sits and observes, noting the demise of Lille, and wondering whether the rumors are true that Pernida was the Soul King's Left Arm, and... that Gerard is the Soul King's heart. However, he is not alone, as he turns to ask if Ichigo understands him. Ichigo lies unable to move, and as Orihime and Sado come to rescue him, they are caught in Askin's field of influence, as he explains that he has made them all poisoned by the reishi around the palace. Just when he seems to have won, Yoruichi appears from behind, challenging Askin. As the two fight, they show respect for one another, but as Yoruichi uses her shunko, Askin is consumed by a blast of spirit energy. Askin is known for not dying easily, so odds are he's far from finished.

Rise of the Tomb Raider

By: Robert Murphy

As anyone who has ever played a Tomb Raider game up until this point will tell you, Lara Croft has a deep regard for her sadly departed father. He is the reason for her becoming an archaeologist and the man who spent years uncovering mysterious that made the Croft name legendary. Near the end of his life however he became obsessed with one artifact in particular and in attempt to prove that her father was not as mad as they say, she sets out to find this piece of history that was said to be the secret to immortality. 

Like the previous reboot to the franchise before it, Rise of the Tomb Raider blends together a modern story about a missing artifact that takes it's lead character on a road to the supernatural. The big difference this time around though is there is plenty of time for a heart beneath the harsh battle that lays before Lara, she is far more battle hardened than when we first met her and so she has an easier time looking deep inside herself and into her past. A huge credit once again goes to Camilla Luddington who brings out the emotional journey that Lara is going through with flying colors. This is no longer simply about survival for her, it is an emotional drive that is pushing Lara harder than she has ever gone before and while she won't go as far as forsaking herself for this unknown treasure she will any perilous threat in order to clear the name of the late Richard Croft.

In the midst of all this she is faced with a brand new foe and one who is as determined as she is to find the source of immortality.  A shadow organization known as Trinity comes nipping at the heels of Lara's discovery and wants the artifact in order to create and unstoppable army the like of which the world has never seen. Plus living forever doesn't sound like a bad concept either. They are led by a ruthless radical named Konstantin who believes in the cause so deeply that he will crush any and all who stand in his way. His is the face of fearful enemy that was missing from the first game and one whose connection to the overall story made for an excellent twist to the tale. 

The landscape has never been more beautiful than it is here and I say this knowing full well that a good portion of the game is played in a harsh Siberian tundra and when you aren't freezing to death there are plenty of predatory animals, pit falls and muscle headed gun jockeys waiting to take out poor Lara Croft. Still the exceptional scenery and other hidden tombs spread throughout offer a plethora of breath taking moments, I especially loved finding the hidden society stowed away in the mountains who have been defending the secret artifact for centuries all of whom lived a Shangri-La style paradise. 

Traversing these new environments will require some of your handy tools and a host of new ones as well. Getting to hidden tombs and new locations require tools like the new wire spool which allows you to throw your trusty climbing ax and swing across large crevices and avoiding some of those gruesome death scenes for poor Miss Croft. You then have other new tools like the stake arrows that can be shot into weak wooden planks and then climbed upon or the rebreather tool that allows you swim underwater without having to come up for air. Other new additions to your Batman-esque utility belt apply to your ever growing offensive style of playing, weapons like the combat knife allow you to pounce down on thugs from tree tops but also helps with some of the trickier puzzles later on too. Seriously though, Lara Croft equals Batman. The truth is out there. 

The original tools players spent their time earning also make their return and are used just as cleverly as ever with the variety of optional tombs, collectibles and optional missions hidden throughout the game. I barely felt like I needed any sort of tutorial once I started this new journey, I crafted a wooden bow, grabbed my ax and I was ready to go and kick some tail. This is great too because there was so much to be explored right from the get go from the hidden coin cashes to the new landmark/journal entries strewn throughout levels that work hand in hand with the language learning component to the game. Finding certain entries or plaques/paintings will increase your knowledge of a certain language and ever the avid learner Lara needs this to help read map statues and other helpful collectible finding tools. Yes the collectible fetching is so expansive now that it even incubuses a language learning skill, it's crazy, and maybe a little too crazy. I'm all for collectible fetching and it is not central to the story in anyway but for Rise of the Tomb Raider you really didn't need this much when you have brought so much else to the table. 

Rise of the Tomb Raider is knock out follow up to it's 2013 predecessor by somehow expanding upon the massive amount of material that was present already. With the addition of optional tombs, more weaponry, a deep emotional story and a frightening villain to confront I found myself diving straight into each challenge all the while knowing I'd be just as eager for the next. But, even without all of that the game still has Lara Croft at it's core and her emotional journey this time around was even more compelling than the last game and truly does the Croft name proud.

Good:

- Lara shows a new side to her character and is still strong as ever

- Beautiful scenery

- A strong new enemy

- New optional tombs, missions and tools

Bad:

- A bit overboard on the collectibles

Scully Rating: 9.3 out of 10

Victor Frankenstein

By: Robert Murphy

Over the past decade there have been a number of movies to come out that market on a retelling of a classic story or adapting the scary creatures from our childhood into a new sort of being all together. This time however, the story doesn't revolve around the monster but rather the minds that brought a real life legend to life. I am of course talking about the legendary Victor Frankenstein and his partner Igor, two people who brought life to the dead and made a being that the world had never dared to imagine. 

Told from the perspective of the deformed hunchback Igor (Daniel Radcliffe) our story starts off as a prequel to what is to come from the relationship formed between himself and his partner Victor (James McAvoy) that goes much deeper than it has before. Igor is often seen in other iterations as nothing more than an assistant to the mastermind behind the Frankenstein monster but now he has a much more significant role to play in the whole ordeal. He and Victor form a brotherhood and connection with one another as equals, Victor with the grand ideas and overall knowledge and Igor with his attention to detail and know how of the human body. And so, after a brief adjustment into Igor's outward appearance and introduction back into society the two begin their journey into creating  new life from what has long since past on. A monster mash if you will.

While the movie has now put the two on equal terms as intellectuals there is still a massive gap between the two and how they view not only their work but how they behave. Igor is a circus clown for the first twenty minutes of the movie and is often beaten and miss treated. Despite this he acts far more refined than his partner Victor who doesn't typically bother himself with the dregs of society, he finds them to be rather ignorant of his work, and so this leads him to be slightly socially awkward. This makes for some excellent scenes later on but what's better is how the two approach their work. McAvoy does an impeccable job of making Victor Frankenstein act the part of a respectable scientist but bubbling beneath the surface their truly is a mad man with a dream to bring something back from beyond the grave. We later find out just what that something is but Igor soon finds out that his friends blind ambition will lead to a destructive path. And lead to the death of one re-animated monkey too.

After the exploits of their first experiment go terribly wrong the movie decides to throw some puffed up aspects of the story in to keep viewers away from the ultimate conclusion to the story. Andrew Scott plays detective Roderick Turpin who is close to the word of God and looks upon Victor with intense scrutiny for his work goes against everything he believes in and while I normally love the actor his performance here was extremely flat. He silently walks from scene to scene and has an odd Sherlock Holmes level of deductive power here that comes on without any warranting. From here the cast follows along the same level of lack luster appeal. Charles Dance makes a brief appearance as Victor's father in a scene that feels so out of place and put in only to shoehorn the mysterious reasons behind Victor's attempts to revive the dead that by the end just left me befuddled.

Perhaps the worst in all of this though has to do with the relationship sequences that was thrust into the story between Igor and the former circus acrobat Lorelei (Jessica Brown Findlay). I understand the need for some romance in a movie or even the need for a pretty face to keep some of the audience interested but there really was no call for it here. Radcliffe and McAvoy already bring enough chemistry for the story to stand on it's own two feet but unfortunately it all gets lost with everyone trying to have their own goal in the story. Whether it's Roderick trying to deal with the death of his wife and stop Victor and Igor, Lorelei trying to defend and protect Igor and their budding relationship or even the rich benefactor to Victor's work, Alistair (Callum Turner), trying to create an invisible army of the undead. There is just too much nonsense being focused on and not enough going into the rich mad scientist story of Victor Frankenstein, for which the movie is supposed to revolve around.

Victor Frankenstein is an unfortunate miss as far as modern retellings go. Everything starts out rather spectacular with McAvoy and Radcliffe meeting on another and beginning their adventures in WEIRD science. If the story would have simply focus more on this after the events of the two's first experiment going terrible wrong then I could have scene a very good movie here but what was presented was a tangled mess of bad characters for the remainder of the movie. 

Good:

- Radcliffe and McAvoy as Igor and Victor Frankenstein

- The first monkey monster experiment

Bad:

- Rest of the cast is quite poor

- Forced in romance of Lorelei and Igor

- Presentation of Victor's overall goal for the story was very weak i.e Henry Frankenstein

Scully Rating: 4.0 out of 10

Bleach 655: The Miracle

Zach Goodier

http://www.mangapanda.com/bleach/655

Gerard, "The Miracle," laughs as his body lies broken at the hands of Byakuya and Renji. As the group moves to quickly finish him off, his body and broken helmet lie on the ground, seemingly down for good. However, as everyone proceeds, a massive foot crashes right next to them, and they suddenly look up to see Gerard standing tall, even taller than before. He explains his power is to convert damage he has taken and increase his size and strength, allowing him to casually toss buildings and crush opponents with ease. How are Byakuya, Renji, and the gang going to deal with this giant? We'll just have to wait until next chapter to see.

Tales from the Borderlands: Episode 5 - The Vault of the Traveler

By: Robert Murphy

It can be quite the difficult task to come up with a satisfying conclusion to your story, you want everything you've done up until this point to come together into something that your audience will be impressed by and make the journey feel like it was really worth the time put in. Tales from the Borderlands final chapter, The Vault of the Traveler, does just that by bringing together all of the characters you've come to know and some ones you're already very familiar with to these last moments in their journey. Will there be riches? Will there be heartache? Will there be a ridiculous robot fight with a freaky alien vault monster? The answer? Hell yeah!!

Episode 5 is by in large the most emotional of all the previous Tales from the Borderlands episodes and I say that as a man who got fully emotional when I witnessed the death of the Borderlands series most famous names. Nevertheless, this final chapter focuses a great deal on the bonds that players have formed up to this point with every character they have come across. Whether it be showing respect to your sister way back in Episode 1 by keeping her gift to sparring a wacky professor's life from being taken in Episode 3, everyone has a potential role to play as the battle for the Vault of the Traveler gets underway, and I do mean everyone.

Characters who I expected to have been long gone up until this point have managed to not only stay with the story but they've also managed to find their own story tell in this final episode. It's not some long drawn out side story in any way but they have their own brief moment in the limelight to show that they didn't deserve as much scorn as I gave them. Then there is of course the main cast of characters who have all done beautifully up until now but who in this chapter have also managed to prove that there is far more to them than what players have previously seen. Loader Bot in particular is a huge winner here as he has mainly served as comic relief up until this point, now he strikes out on his own and offers far more depth than you would expect from a soulless kill bot made by Hyperion. This all capped off by some fantastic writing that just flowed from scene to scene making everything go along smoothly even though there is so much done in this last chapter. 

Not so surprisingly either is the amount of action that is brought forth for this climatic battle for the Vault. Telltale has made some valiant efforts with this series once already by trying to give some excited action scene and it was truly worthy of the Borderlands universe but it has never been their main strength. Now however, the comedy and dialogue go hand in hand with the massive battle that ensues between Rhys, Fiona and the rest of their team. A team which you get to choose from by the way. Depending on the friends you have made up until this point players can choose from any number of characters to join in the assault on the Traveler. In what can only be described as one of the best action moments for any Telltale game, players will go through a series of the usual quick time events played out like a classic fighting video game mixed with a Power Rangers themed robot battle. It's glorious! Even though it does get bogged down at points with all the moving pieces just like it did in Episode 3, it wasn't enough to make me not enjoy it 100%.

As a last note, I feel that there is a great deal of correlation for Tales of the Borderlands and the actual Borderlands games themselves. Obviously there is a huge one, they're based off of one another but what I mean by this is this last chapter seems to suggest a great deal more to come from Telltale's adaptation of Borderlands by potential making future characters for the next game. Fiona has truly grown into a character that I would love to play as, running and gunning my way through the popular shooting game, and with all the changes that have come from the Telltale's work in the previous episode you never quite know what will happen but I am anxious to find out.

The Vault of the Traveler closes out the final moments of Rhys and Fiona in an exceedingly well rounded out conclusion. Not only was the trademark humor of the Borderlands series on point as it has been but there was also some deeply emotional points here that do not always transfer over for the fast paced story we've seen from the original series. There was a deeper voice to be heard here and it blended perfectly with everything that has already been brought forth before it. With the endless possibilities that lay waiting in the shadows after this fantastic conclusion, I eagerly await what the future has in store.

Good:

- Consistent Borderlands humor till the end

- Emotional moments for many of the characters

- Potential for much more to come for both series

- Made the choices you've made feel like they mattered

Bad:

- Sputtering moments when the action was too much for the game

Scully Rating: 9.0 out of 10

Durarara!! X2

Zach Goodier

The sequel to the original Durarara!!, X2  is the return of one of our favorite shows to a (somewhat) peaceful state, but things quickly begin to pick up again as a biker gang from out of town starts raising hell, saying that the Dollars attacked them in their town and they want revenge. What ensues is more of the quirky, exciting action and character development we loved in the original, with Celty and Shinra trying to make a life for themselves, and Mikado having to struggle with the future of the Dollars, which he created.

Meet Varona, a Russian woman who is as smart and deadly as she is beautiful.

The story is as beautiful as the original. While there are a lot of characters to follow, and things bounce around a lot, it really is easy to tell characters apart because they all have their own unique personalities, so nobody ever really feels like “that other guy/gal there.” Much of the story is like the previous season, with Shizuo and Izaya being at each other’s throats, and everybody trying to make their way in the busy district of Ikebukoro. However, some themes are brought out that really challenge some of our characters, mainly Mikado.

Izaya is still as dangerous as ever.

The central story here is the story of the Dollars changing. Since their creation in season one, the Dollars have risen to dominance in Ikebukoro. Mikado soon faces the decision on how to proceed as he watches the Dollars spiral out of control, since they by nature have no leader. As they act without oversight and start to bring the wrath of other gangs down on them, Mikado and his friends must decide what to do about things, if anything. This seems fairly mundane on the surface, but it provides some great perspectives from various characters, who have their own principles, who decide what being in the Dollars means for them, and whether they feel they can stay in the gang, even as everything falls apart.

Some Dollars still remember the old days, and they still hold old grudges.

There are some new faces this season, such as the Chikage, the leader of the “Toramaru” biker gang, which is at war with the Dollars. Most everyone else is from last season, getting into new situations to keep things exciting, some favorites, like Anri, don’t get quite as much screen time as they did last season, or at least don’t get as much going on, but everyone still has moments to shine.

This is one catfight I'd want to stay far away from.

This show is just as good, if not better, than it was last season. X2 has fun, deep, and exciting characters, all part of an intricate web of influence, where one action by a character can be felt all over the city, as dominoes fall and hi-jinks ensues. This is what makes Durarara!! such a fun show. If you haven’t watched it, I would highly recommend watching it from the beginning, because it is such a rich and wonderful series, and this season is no exception. The music is also a standout, with some nice tunes both in the series proper and the openings and closings.

This is what death looks like before it strikes you... and everything around you.

It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, but in a way that wraps up most of the current story, and sets us up for things to (hopefully) come down the road. I know Robert reviewed season one and felt it was a bit of a mess, but that’s what I love about this show: it is designed that way from the bottom up. This is a story about characters all living their own lives, trying to grow up and/or make lives for themselves, and life is messy. They key to understanding and enjoying this show comes from not looking at the series as a whole story, but at all the moments and characters struggling to make their way, in their own ways, creating episodes of their lives within the limited window we get to see through.

Good:

-Rich and entertaining characters.

-Fun and exciting, yet still a mature tone.

-A story that doesn’t let you look away for a second.

Bad:

-Can be tough to follow for casual viewers.

Scully Rating: 9 out of 10