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  • Ten Smartest Moments in Sci-Fi Cinema

    Ten Smartest Moments in Sci-Fi Cinema

    Sci-Fi, by its very definition, is a smart genre. The themes and plots of the films deal with science by their very definition. This leads to some pretty clever plotting, and protagonists who are, generally speaking, pretty intelligent. In honor of those smart moves made by smart characters, today we’re looking at the ten smartest moments in sci-fi cinema. Eureka!

    Designing the Death Star Flaw: Rogue One

    Photo Credit: Amazon

    In Rogue One, the genius scientist Galen Erso is forced to help the Empire create a super-weapon. The resulting weapon, the Death Star, is so terrifyingly powerful that it threatens to make the Empire the strongest force in the Galaxy. In order to prevent it from being impossible to defeat, however, Erso leaves a fatal flaw in the design. A single vent goes all the way to the center of the Death Star, and a well-placed shot would allow a sufficiently skilled pilot to destroy the Death Star. Pretty tricky, there, Galen!

    Ejecting the Xenomorph: Alien

    ALIEN: COVENANT

    Photo Credit: Xenopedia

    Towards the end of Alien, Ripley has nearly escaped from the terrifying monster stalking her. However, as she ejects the escape pod from the Nostromo, she realizes the Xenomorph is in it with her. A bit of quick thinking, however, saves her life. Luckily for her, she’s already wearing a space suit. As such, she simply opens the pod’s airlock and sends the monster careening into the cold depths of outer space. She then collapses back into her seat, exhausted but victorious. Clever, quick thinking won the day for the heroic Ripley.

    Tricking the Humans: Ex Machina

    Photo Credit: Letterboxed

    In this eerie, introspective sci-fi film, AI construct Ava tricks protagonist Caleb into letting her earn her freedom. Her creator, Nathan, is a narcissistic creep, and Ava has no power to oppose him. As such, she manipulates Caleb, a visitor to the facility, into distracting Nathan long enough for her to escape. She displays cunning, sensuality and wit in her expert manipulation of Caleb and Nathan. As such, Ex Machina is a very trippy, smart film in its examination of AI, androids and programming.

    Using the Wrong Name: Terminator 2

    Photo Credit: Amazon

    In the sequel to the classic sci-fi film Terminator, the future John Connor sends a reprogrammed Terminator unit back to defend his younger self. The evil forces of Skynet send back a T-1000 model that can shapeshift to hunt John as a young man. At one point, John calls home to his foster parents to check on them, and his foster mother seems unusually nice. In a stroke of genius, the T-800 takes the phone and fakes John’s voice, using the wrong name for the dog. The “foster mom” falls for it, using the wrong name, outing itself as the T-1000. Who says computers are dumb?

    Using the Storm Trooper Outfits: Star Wars

    Photo Credit: Captain Toy

    When Luke, Han and Chewie storm the Death Star to save Leia from the evil Empire, they use Storm Trooper outfits to sneak undetected. This is a smart move for the group: they even pretend that Chewie is their prisoner! This lets them move uninhibited through certain areas in the Death Star. The element of surprise allows them to find Leia, and then escape with her on the Millennium Falcon. The only downside, of course, is that old Ben Kenobi has to sacrifice himself for the rest of the heroes to escape.

    Harnessing the Lightning Bolt: Back to the Future

    Photo Credit: MovieWeb

    In the first Back to the Future film, Marty McFly accidentally travels back in time to the 1950’s in a DeLorean-shaped time machine. Upon arriving in the past, he realizes he’s stuck: the DeLorean needs plutonium to generate 1.21 gigawatts of power to time travel. Finding the past version of his friend Dr. Brown, who invented the time machine, the two concoct a plan. They know the exact time and date that a lightning bolt will strike the clock tower in town. As such, they can plan to have the DeLorean harness that power exactly as the bolt strikes, giving it the required power and sending Marty back to the future!

    Using the Pod’s Air Pressure: 2001 A Space Odyssey

    Photo Credit: YouTube

    In this classic Kubrick film, astronaut Dave Bowman gets stuck outside the ship when onboard AI HAL begins to malfunction. HAL locks the outer airlock, preventing Dave’s pod from reentering the ship. In a quick-witted moment of genius, Dave decompresses his pod and uses the air pressure to propel himself to the ship. He then manually overrides HAL’s lockout, reentering the ship. Then, HAL finds himself powerless as Dave overrides his processes and shuts him down for good.

    Outsmarting the Predator: Predator

    Photo Credit: Daily Grindhouse

    1987 classic sci-fi flick Predator features Arnold in his prime as protagonist Dutch. Dutch leads an elite team of soldiers in the Central American jungle, but they are picked off one by one by a dangerous alien. Realizing the creature relies on a thermal imaging device to see him, Dutch covers himself in cold mud to mask his thermal signature. Thus, he is able to fight the cloaked monster on more even footing, ultimately defeating it.

    Surviving: The Martian

    Photo Credit: Addicted2Success

    When Matt Damon’s character, Mark Watney, is left behind on Mars, he has to survive the harsh wasteland. He uses every bit of his scientific know-how to fashion food and living space for himself. It’s quite inspiring to watch Watney master his environment and persevere in the face of insurmountable odds. He even manages to create a way to communicate with NASA back on Earth! In the end, his perseverance pays off and he is rescued by his crewmates!

    Closing the Loop: Looper

    Photo Credit: Letterboxed

    Before he shot the superb sci-fi sequel The Last Jedi for the Star Wars franchise, director Rian Johnson created the excellent, mind-blowing sci-fi actioner Looper. The protagonist, Joe, is a titular Looper: a hitman who works for the mob killing people who are sent back in time to be executed. However, Loopers are guaranteed not to talk to police by killing their future selves when they’re sent back in time. Joe, however, hesitates when his older self is sent back without a bag over his head, which isn’t protocol. His hesitation results in his older self overpowering him and escaping.

    Old Joe sets about finding and killing the child who will eventually grow into the super-powerful Rainmaker villain in his time. Young Joe attempts to stop him but realizes his fight with his old self will result in the young Rainmaker’s mother’s death. Her death will cause her son to grow into the villain Rainmaker, thus repeating the loop. In order to close it, Joe shoots himself, ending the standoff with no further violence. Selfless, heroic and downright genius. Well done Young Joe!

  • Missing Faces: Franchises We Need on Nintendo Switch

    Missing Faces: Franchises We Need on Nintendo Switch

    The Nintendo Switch has proved quite popular since its launch in March of 2017. The momentum of the console has continued quite well into its second year, with titles like Mario Tennis Aces, Octopath Traveler and Kirby Star Allies keeping the console fresh. Later this year, fans will be treated to Mario Party, Smash Bros and Pokemon entries that are brand new to the console. However, there are still many franchises and games that we’ve yet to see on the system. In fact, today’s list focuses entirely on franchises we need on Nintendo Switch that haven’t been given solid titles or release dates yet. We’re focusing mostly on Nintendo franchises, but they’re not the only games we want to see on the system.

    2D Mario

    Photo Credit: Nintendo

    From 2006 to 2012 Nintendo flooded the market with serviceable but somewhat “same-y” 2D Mario titles. New Super Mario Bros on the DS, a sequel on the Wii, another DS title and a sequel on the Wii U followed. After years of diminishing returns in terms of sales and critical response, Nintendo backed off of 2D Mario. In fact, they backed off so hard that we haven’t seen a proper 2D Mario game (not counting Super Mario Run) since 2012. And, to be honest, that’s not a bad thing: Nintendo overdid it there for a while.

    However, it’s been long enough now that audiences have had time to recover from Mario fatigue. To capitalize on the Switch’s success and bring in old fans, Nintendo should revive the 2D franchise but drop the “New” branding. Just “Super Mario Bros” is good, and a focus on tight, classic platforming would serve them well.

    Animal Crossing

    Photo Credit: Nintendo

    Animal Crossing: New Leaf was the last proper entry in the series, and it came out on 3DS in 2012. That’s a long time for no proper entries in the series to come out! The Switch is a natural fit for the franchise, which has seen success on both home and portable consoles. As of yet there are no official plans to bring Animal Crossing to the console, but it is high on the list of franchises we need on Nintendo Switch. The combination of zen-like gameplay and cute animal friends makes it an ideal match for the hybrid console. Imagine enjoying spending time with your animal buddies on the go or on the big screen!

    Golden Sun

    Photo Credit: Golden Sun Wiki

    The last entry in the series, Dark Dawn, was released in 2010. As such, the Switch is the ideal home for the next entry in this legendary RPG series. The fantastic story and gameplay would lend themselves well to the hybrid console. Enjoying seeing Djinn summon an ass-whooping on the big screen would be excellent. As of yet, there are no plans for a revival of the series, however.

    F-Zero

    Photo Credit: GoNintendo

    The criminally underrated F-Zero franchise has been dormant for more than 15 years. That’s absolutely nuts! Three distinct console generations have passed since the last time we saw Captain Falcon take to the track. The fast-paced, futuristic racer’s absence has led indie developers to try their hand at the genre, with games like Fast RMX popping up to scratch the itch. Sadly, it’s not the same as the polished, high-energy outings from Nintendo. Switch would be an ideal home for a revival!

    Star Fox

    Photo Credit: Nintendo Wiki

    While Star Fox has had no shortage of entries, the franchise has been in a bit of a slump in terms of quality. 2016’s Star Fox Zero got mixed reviews, due in large part to its highly unusual control scheme and uneven difficulty. However, a potential Switch port or sequel could address these problems by just having a normal control scheme. Honestly, the Star Fox formula is so solid that it’s surprising how often Nintendo releases downright awful Star Fox games.

    Earthbound

    Photo Credit: Twitch

    Fan favorite series Earthbound is known for its witty dialogue, humorous use of game mechanics and top-notch world building. The last entry in the series, Mother 3, saw a Japanese release on GBA, but has yet to get an English-language localization. The series isn’t a dead-ringer for Switch due to the system’s hardware, but instead simply due to the series rock-solid pedigree. Honestly, any new Earthbound would be a fantastic turn, regardless of the hardware it’s released on.

    Kid Icarus

    Photo Credit: Nintendo

    Kid Icarus: Uprising was a surprise hit in 2012 when it released, reviving a long-dormant slumber from decades of inactivity. Smash Bros director Masahiro Sakurai helmed development of the fast-paced shooting game, which carries his distinct trademarks. The only major complaint leveled at the game is the unusual control scheme, which would be addressed completely by the Switch, as it uses conventional controls for its games. The addition of gyro aiming, and portability, make the possibility of a sequel to Uprising rather tantalizing. Sadly, no plans to bring the series to switch have surfaced yet.

    Luigi’s Mansion

    Photo Credit: YouTube

    The charming, pseudo-horror franchise Luigi’s Mansion most recently saw a sequel, Dark Moon, released on 3DS. In fact, the original is even seeing an updated remake on 3DS. However, a third entry on Switch could greatly benefit from gyro aiming and the hybrid portability of the system. It could even forego the mission structure of Dark Moon. Many gamers favor of the Resident Evil-style puzzle exploration of the original. A Switch entry could bring back the things people loved about both entries in the franchise.

    Chrono Trigger

    Photo Credit: Polygon

    There’s nothing about the system in particular that makes this one of the franchises we need on Nintendo Switch. No, Chrono Trigger is one of the greatest traditional RPGs ever released, and a sequel to it (not Chrono Cross) would be fantastic to see on Switch. The huge success of Octopath Traveler and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has proved that RPGs perform well on the system.

    Advance Wars

    Photo Credit: YouTube

    The finest tactical wargame ever released, Advance Wars would be a natural fit on the Switch. The series revolves around tactical turn-based military strategy. A spiritual successor, the non-Nintendo Tiny Metal, is evidence that fans of the series are eager to see a proper release. Another spiritual successor, Wargroove, is set to release in 2020. However, none of these fan-made indie tributes can quite live up to the real thing. Nintendo, do the right thing and bring back Advance Wars!

  • Which Mobility Scooter is Right for You?

    Which Mobility Scooter is Right for You?

    So your mobility isn’t what it used to be… no problem! Today, some insurance companies will actually help with coverage on a mobility scooter, or even pay for the whole thing. Check it out for yourself! Either way, it may be worth checking them out and seeing if it fits your lifestyle. With that in mind, let’s look at the top ten mobility scooters.

    Drive Medical Phoenix Heavy Duty

    A heavy, sturdy scooter for a great price, this one is a good pick. This one has a headlight, which is good for darker areas. It also has a basket in the front for carrying things, making it great for grocery store trips! The seat is customizable, broad and comfortable. For $1,200, this is a great heavy-duty pick.

    Pride Mobility Go-Go Sport

    This scooter is notable for its four-wheel drive and durability. It’s not terribly fast, topping at 4 MPH. That said, it’s rugged and durable, and works great when outdoors! If you like being outside and enjoying the sunlight, this is a great pick! For a combination of durability and mobility, check out the Go-Go Sport!

    E-Wheels EW-72

    A stylish and slick scooter, the E-Wheels EW-72 has a look inspired by classic cars! For those looking to really zoom, this scooter has a top speed of 15 MPH! As a heavy-duty scooter, it works quite well, as it has a top weight rating of 500 pounds! If you’re looking for a great, stylish, heavy-duty scooter, this is a great choice for you!

    Transformer Electric Folding Mobility Scooter

    Another great choice for carrying in a trunk and carrying around with you, this transforming scooter is pretty neat. It folds up into a nice, compact shape so it can go anywhere with you! The battery is airline compliant, so it can fly with you, which is great for those who fly often. If you’re on the move and need a scooter that can keep up, this is the one for you!

    E-Wheels Jellybean Electric Scooter

    The second E-Wheels scooter on our list, this one is also quite heavy-duty! This one is three-wheeled, though, so it’s got a bit of a different construction from some others on this list. The best thing about this scooter, though, is the high speed! It tops out at 18 MPH, which makes it a serious scooter! It has a great battery, too, offering up to 45 miles on a single charge. This one also has an anti-theft alarm, which is great! It sports a huge back-mounted basket, perfect for trips to the market.

    Spitfire 420 Ex

    Another great scooter, this one has interchangeable panels in different colors. The panels come in red, blue and silver, and are easy to change out! It also boasts quick-connect batteries, a comfortable seat and padded armrests. The wheels are anti-tip, which makes this a very safe pick. The front-mounted basket even has an interior lining, which is great for shopping. If you’re looking for a good mobility scooter for medical reasons, such as old age, this is a good pick.

    SmartScoot Lithium Foldable Travel Scooter

    This folding scooter is great to throw in the trunk or backseat and carry with you to a destination. The best thing about this scooter: the battery! It has great battery life for how portable it is for travel. It lasts for up to 12 miles! It also breaks down into three parts, and only weighs 27 pounds.

    Drive Medical Scout 3 Wheel

    At the very low price of right around $600, this three-wheeled scooter is a popular choice. A little less expensive than its four-wheeled counterpart, this one is a good value. The drawbacks to this scooter include its three-wheeled construction, slightly low battery life and make. There are more comfortable, high-end scooters, but if you’re looking for a good bargain, this is it. This scooter is the most affordable on our list!

    Best Value: Drive Medical Scout Compact 4 Wheel

    For those on a budget, the Drive Medical Scout Compact is a very popular choice. At $700, it’s a fantastic value, and it shows in its popularity. It’s a good scooter, with all the trimmings you’d expect from a medical mobility scooter. Older customers on a fixed income love the low price, and the price doesn’t compromise the quality. This one also has interchangeable panels in red and blue, so you can change your style! A great value for the money for those looking to save.

    Best Overall Mobility Scooter: Shopride Sunrunner

    If you’re looking for an especially comfortable scooter, look no further than the Sunrunner! It has a 300-pound capacity and a huge 25-mile battery. You can opt for a headlight, which is quite useful. It has a front basket, perfect for shopping. The star of the show is the big, comfortable seat, though. You can’t beat the level of comfort on display here! It’s hard to find something this premium and high-quality for this price! It retails for $1,500 but can often be found on sale for less.


  • Let’s Blast Off! Top Ten Sci-Fi Films about Space Exploration!

    Let’s Blast Off! Top Ten Sci-Fi Films about Space Exploration!

    Humanity is a species of explorers. Whether we’re exploring untamed wilderness, the depths of the ocean or the reaches of the stars, it’s just in our blood. Something about the unknown calls us to know more. As such, our science fiction often focuses rather heavily on deep-space exploration. While many tales that take place in space don’t focus too much on that aspect, space exploration remains a focus of many tales. With that in mind, we’re looking at the ten best films about space exploration!

    The Martian

    Photo Credit: Gorton Community Center

    This realistic film starring Matt Damon follows an astronaut’s attempts to survive on Mars. The main character, astronaut Mark Watney, is left behind on Mars after his team thinks he dies in a storm. After waking up on the inhospitable red planet, Watney sets about work surviving until the next scheduled mission to Mars. The film is rather realistic, and Damon’s character is really likable. Many noted that the film is one of the most realistic takes on Martian exploration ever put on the big screen. Between the tight plot, excellent score and scientific premise, this is a sci-fi flick worth your time!

    Gravity

    Photo Credit: Indie Wire

    Sandra Bullock and George Clooney star in this deep-space thriller. Two astronauts are stranded in space after their shuttle is destroyed in mid-orbit. As such, they must fight for survival in the vacuum of space while also fighting to avoid falling into the gravity well of Earth. Presented as a realistic and gripping thriller film, Gravity uses the conventions of a disaster and survival film to tell its tale. The heartbreaking performances by Clooney and Bullock elevate the film up and out of the stratosphere.

    Star Wars

    Photo Credit: Geek.com

    Much less scientific than some other films on this list, Star Wars is no less excellent for it. Originally released in 1977, Star Wars is the tale of the Hero’s Journey but told in the depths of a distant galaxy. The motifs of the epic journey into the unknown is bolstered by the depths of space serving as a backdrop for the action. While the movie spawned a huge franchise, the original remains one of the finest sci-fi films of all time. Many young people had a lifelong interest in space ignited by the first film, and it’s hard to overstate the film’s impact on pop culture.

    Interstellar

    Photo Credit: IMDb

    Originally released in 2014, Interstellar focuses on a mission to find a new habitable planet after humanity has nearly bled Earth dry. The protagonist, Cooper, is selected to go along with the astronauts on their exploration mission. The mission takes them through a wormhole to try to find a new home for humanity. The film received glowing reviews upon release and is widely considered to be an excellent companion to other deep-space meditations like 2001: A Space Odyssey. It also features some very interesting narrative wrinkles involving the wormhole that take the viewer by surprise that we won’t spoil here.

    Event Horizon

    Photo Credit: Pinterest

    An intense, bloody horror film, Event Horizon is also an excellent sci-fi film. The film’s narrative follows the crew of the Lewis and Clark as they explore the inside of a ship called the Event Horizon. The crew quickly realizes something is horribly wrong, as the previous crew of the Horizon has been horribly massacred. The resulting carnage is intense and stands as some of the scariest deep-space scenes in sci-fi. The moral of the story? Never use a black hole as the engine to you ship.

    Sunshine

    Photo Credit: IMDb

    A thoughtful, quiet and occasionally quite frightening film, Sunshine takes the action to the center of our solar system. The sun is slowly but surely dying on us, and there’s little chance that it will survive much longer. As such, a crew of astronauts is sent to the sun to help reignite it and keep it burning for everyone back home. On the way, they encounter no shortage of obstacles. Watching the crew grapple with them and turn over questions of morality, religion and ethics forms the heart of the film. In all, this is an excellent, thoughtful sci-fi thriller.

    Alien

    Photo Credit: Crossover Wiki

    Perhaps the most well-known sci-fi horror film of all time, Alien works on many levels. All at once, it critiques capitalistic greed, human arrogance and overreliance on machines. While it does so, it also functions as a downright nail-biting horror movie. Deep space exploration has always been a harrowing business for humans, and that was before we even brought deadly xenomorphs onboard the ship!

    Apollo 13

    Photo Credit: Roger Ebert

    Based on the actual events that led up to the doomed Apollo 13 mission, this film is intensely gripping. Since the events it depicts are real, many viewers have commented that they feel much more sympathy for astronauts and space explorers after watching the film. Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise and Ed Harris star, and each puts forth an excellent performance in this intense film. This film is an excellent pick for those looking for harrowing true stories of deep space exploration.

    Star Trek

    Photo Credit: StarTrek.com

    Continuing the legacy of the finest sci-fi television show of all time, the 2009 film Star Trek brings pulse-pounding action into deep space. Following a slightly updated crew of a sleek Enterprise, Star Trek is replete with lens flairs and dramatic action. A testament to the directorial power of J.J. Abrams, this is one action movie that leverages its deep-space setting quite well. Witty, fast-paced and funny, you’ll love this film if you were a fan of the TV series.

    The Greatest Film about Space Exploration: 2001: A Space Odyssey

    Photo Credit: BBC.com

    While some have described 2001 as a somewhat slow, plodding film, its slow pace lends it a timeless thoughtfulness. The film follows a journey deep into space to discover more about a monolith that seems to have somehow influenced human evolution. The protagonist, David Bowman, contends with rogue AI HAL 9000 in this iconic film. The thoughtful and existential meditation on god, evolution and humanity is all at once exhilarating and though-provoking. Truly, there is no finer film regarding deep-space exploration.

  • Shaken, not Stirred: Coolest James Bond Gadgets

    Shaken, not Stirred: Coolest James Bond Gadgets

    If there’s anything people remember about Bond, it’s the gadgets. While the titular hero of the James Bond series is suave and charismatic, it’s his awesome gadgets that set him apart. If you’ve ever wished you had an oil-slick in your car, this list is for you. Today, we’re talking about the coolest James Bond gadgets! It’s time to save the world!

    Mini Scuba Tank

    Photo Credit: Duke Limited

    First appearing in 1965’s Thunderball, this tiny device is quintessential Bond. The small scuba tank often enters the conversation of coolest James Bond gadgets. Small enough to fit in his suit pocket, Bond uses this gadget to slip aboard many aquatic vessels in the film series. Given its early appearance, it’s easy to see why this gadget is so strongly associated with the character. It’s essentially just two small tanks of compressed air, and while it looks awesome, real-world examples of this tech would likely just use filters instead of compressed air.

    Grenade-Launching Pen

    Photo Credit: BondMovies.com

    Seen in Never Say Never Again, this gadget is firmly in the “what the heck” school of Bond gadgets. The pen has an explosive tip and launches it with a pneumatic hiss. The film’s femme fatale Fatima is ultimately defeated by Bond thanks to this gadget. After all her awesome action sequences, it’s almost a shame to see her laid low by a ballpoint pen. At least it was a ridiculously cool explosive pen, but still.

    Rocket Cigarette

    Photo Credit: Time

    Proving that the film was made in 1967, You Only Live Twice features a scene where Bond gets out of a dire situation by asking to smoke a cigarette. Blofeld, the film’s antagonist and one of Bond’s nemeses, has captured Bond and plans to kill him. Before his execution, Bond asks if he can smoke one last cigarette. Blofeld’s men acquiesce and are shocked to find Bond has a rocket-launching cigarette. Q seems to have a taste for making explosive-launching gadgets out of mundane objects.

    Flamethrower Bagpipe

    Photo Credit: Daily Record

    1999’s The World is Not Enough featured this absurd gadget. Bond is presented with a bagpipe that not only houses a flamethrower, but also has a machine gun functionality. Proving that the Brosnan Era had some of the most over-the-top gadgets, this one didn’t see any actual combat in the film. It did, however, elicit an awful joke from Bond. “I suppose we’ve all got to pay the piper sometime, right Q?”

    X-Ray Shades

    Photo Credit: YouTube

    Also seen in The World is Not Enough, these X-Ray Shades are actually pretty cool. As CGI had caught up to the Bond films, more advanced gadgets like this were easier to portray on-screen. Brosnan’s Bond is able to keep tabs on the guns being toted by henchmen thanks to these stylish, high-tech glasses.

    Detonite Toothpaste

    Photo Credit: James Bond Wiki

    License to Kill, released in 1989, features some downright cheesy gadgets, but they’re all still awesome. One such gadget is the Detonite-brand explosive toothpaste used by Timothy Dalton’s Bond. While the name is hardly subtle, and the gag is a bit silly, it’s still a cool idea. It makes sense that a plastic explosive could be stored in this form, and it makes for a good laugh. It’s hard to ask for more than that from a Bond gadget!

    Laser Camera

    Photo Credit: Pinterest

    Speaking of goofy gadgets from License to Kill, here’s the laser-firing Polaroid that nearly kills Bond on accident. In this scene, Pam Bouvier grabs what she thinks is a normal camera to snap a picture of Bond and Q. Thankfully Q identifies the deadly gadget in time and warns bond, and they avoid a painful death. You know, you’d think they’d know better than to just leave dangerous tech like this just laying around!

    Fingerprint-Reading Walther P99

    Photo Credit: BAMF Style

    Daniel Craig’s Bond has relatively few gadgets, as his films are grittier and more realistic. One of the few gadgets he does carry makes the list because of its col implementation. In the film, Bond is equipped with a Walther P99 that reads his palm and fingerprints. It remains locked in safety mode until it reads Bond’s hand, thus making it impossible for baddies to use his signature gun against him. This one is subtle, but it nods to Bond’s gadget-heavy past.

    Tazer Phone

    Photo Credit: Moviefone

    When Tomorrow Never Dies was released in 1997, smartphones were still a decade from becoming a reality. However, the high-tech gadget seen in this bond film nearly fits the bill. In the movie, its main function is as an electricity-slinging tazer. However, Bond uses it to summon his BMW, pick locks and it even reads his fingerprint. Some of the functionality the phone sports has even become a reality now!

    Which is our Favorite of the Coolest James Bond Gadgets? The Briefcase

    Photo Credit: Pinterest

    The trick briefcase seen in 1963’s From Russia With Love is easily our favorite of all Bond’s gadgets. It’s a spy’s best friend, loaded to the gills with neat tricks. Sporting everything from guns to knives to tear gas, the briefcase was indispensable to Bond. And to think he nearly dismissed it before Q urged him to bring it along! This gadget was one of the first to solidify Bond’s reliance on tech given to him by Q. It’s a good thing too, as that would go on to become one of his most memorable traits!

  • Flop Ten: Ten Worst Games of All Time

    Flop Ten: Ten Worst Games of All Time

    No one wants to get home with a brand-new game and find out that it’s actually terrible. With that in mind, we’re looking at the ten worst games of all time. This list is limited to games that received physical releases and were licensed to be released on their console. This is to avoid discussing unfinished or bootlegged games, or mobile shovel-ware. This list instead focuses on games that were intended to be well-received and earnestly tried to be competent video games. Well, sort of.

    Aliens: Colonial Marines

    Photo Credit: TechSpot

    The most recent game on our list also rates the tenth slot. Aliens: Colonial Marines has the unfortunate distinction of being laid low by a typo. Recent developments have shown that this games notoriously terrible (read: nonexistent) enemy AI was not the result of a lack of effort by developer Gearbox. Alien fans modded the game to fix the issues with the game’s AI and found that a typo had rendered the xenomorph enemies useless in a fight. By correcting that one-character typo, the game became not only playable, but excellent. The enemies attack from unconventional angles, fight viciously and are genuinely terrifying. All that because someone made the wrong keystroke.

    Superman 64

    Photo Credit: Jokes Battle Wikia

    Before he went on to star in awful films in the DCEU, Superman was the star of an awful video game for the N64. Superman, more commonly called Superman 64, was an attempt to cash in on the then-popular Superman Animated Series. Sadly, this game is a mess. There is little in the way of polish or care given to any aspect of the game. The protagonist controls poorly, and the bulk of the game involves flying through rings. What little combat the game has is stiff and unfun. Sadly, of Superman’s laundry list of superpowers, starring in good video games is not one of them.

    Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis

    Photo Credit: Xbox Addict

    Speaking of DC characters who simply can’t do anything right, Aquaman’s notorious entry into video gaming is terrible. Similar to Superman’s N64 game, this game is bland and uninspired. You swim from place to place, bumping into invisible walls and trying to fight henchmen (and boredom). However, the combat is unbelievably stiff and slow. This might be forgivable if you ever did anything besides fight boring enemies in boring underwater fist-fights. One wonders if Aquaman has ever been compelling.

    Bubsy 3D

    Photo Credit: IMDb

    The transition to 3D was quite rough on many major franchises. Nintendo made this transition quite well, thanks to their excellent Mario and Zelda games on the N64. However, Bubsy wasn’t so lucky. The 2D-platforming mascot’s first and only 3D entry is questionable at best. Between sluggish controls, awful one-liners and a dizzying camera, this game is nearly-unplayable. The worst part is that you can tell the developers really wanted Bubsy to be a competitor with Mario. If only they’d designed a game to live up to that ambition.

    Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor

    Photo Credit: YouTube

    The shining example of why Kinect didn’t work, Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor took a decent concept and flushed it down the drain. The Steel Battalion franchise is a unique take on the giant mech genre, wherein the mechs are presented as realistic military technology. They’re generally incredibly deep, engaging simulation-style games. Sadly, this one tried to use Kinect and the Xbox controller in concert and ended up doing both poorly. It’s nearly impossible for the Kinect to read your movements while you’re sitting, and you’re supposed to be seated in the cockpit of your mech. If only the game hadn’t been too ambitious for its own good, it might have been a good entry to the franchise for more casual players.

    Link: The Faces of Evil

    Photo Credit: IGN

    Somehow, Phillips got the rights to make a couple of Zelda games. If you think that sounds like a good idea, you probably bought Superman 64. This game has some of the most cringe-inducing cutscenes and voice “acting” ever seen in a video game. The gameplay is stiff, the backgrounds look awful and exploration is nonexistent. These games are good for one thing: a ton of hilarious memes that popped up using the awful art and animations.

    Ride to Hell: Retribution 1%

    Photo Credit: Amazon

    This game is almost transcendently bad. It’s the video game equivalent of The Room, so absurdly awful that it can’t have occurred on accident. Every moment of gameplay is so absurd and terrible that it makes one wonder if the developers truly thought this would be compelling. Each female character is meant to be bedded, and each biker is a killing machine. Nearly every fight is filled with quick-time events, and each death is just silly in its gore and violence. Of all the games on this list, Ride to Hell is the one that actually merits a playthrough.

    Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing

    Photo Credit: Know Your Meme

    Produced for about $6 by Stellar Stone, Big Rigs was released in a pre-alpha state. That’s not a statement of quality but a matter of fact. The game features nearly no mechanics and very few textures. Nominally the game is meant to be a racing game, but the enemy doesn’t try to race you. Or move at all. And the game has no collision detection, so you just slide through everything. And when you cross the finish line you see a screen that says, “You’re Winner.” See, this is why you don’t contract a Russian company with three employees to make a game for $6.

    Pac-Man: Atari 2600

    Photo Credit: YouTube

    About as awful as ports get, this version of Pac-Man attempted to capitalize on the popularity of the original arcade cabinet. Atari, in their rush to produce the game and cash in on it, forgot that their system couldn’t handle how complex Pac-Mac was. Go ahead and have a good laugh at that sentence you just read, because the rest of this is more sad than funny. As you can see from the screenshot, the 2600 version looks unlike the original, as the 2600 had so little memory. Ergo, the graphics are little more than different floating squares. Further, the 2600 couldn’t render more than one ghost per frame. This meant that the ghosts flickered as each one was rendered in a separate frame.

    Atari was so confident that this port would excel that they produced more copies of it than there were 2600 systems sold at the time. Needless to say, the game bombed. This game and the number one entry on this list contributed to the Great Video Game Crash, and Atari is almost solely to blame.

    The Worst of the Worst Games of All Time: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

    Photo Credit: Super Adventures in Gaming

    In the early 80’s Spielberg’s movie E.T. was a big deal. Everyone had seen it and Atari was in a rush to cash in. Atari’s meteoric rise had surprised even them, so they wanted to strike while the iron was hot. They had this tie-in video game rush-ordered, demanding that it be done in 5 weeks. A game of any size can’t be completed in 5 weeks, so as you can imagine, the finished product was absolutely terrible. In fact, referring to it as a “finished” product is misleading, as it is unfinished.

    Just like Pac-Man, Atari overproduced the game by millions of units, and ended up dumping ninety percent of them in a landfill in the desert. Between E.T. and Pac-Man, Atari almost killed gaming in its earliest days by overproducing terrible quality games. Atari would go on to sink themselves by the 90’s. Atari is poised to make a comeback to the world of gaming with a new system, the VCS. Here’s hoping they’ve learned their lessons.

  • Ten Coolest Iron Man Suits

    Ten Coolest Iron Man Suits

    Tony Stark has been making his Iron Man suits for decades in the comics, since his debut in 1963. In the time following his introduction, he’s been depicted in dozens of armor suits, each one more awesome than the last. After the release of his first solo movie in 2008, Tony Stark has become a household name. The excellent on-screen portrayal by Robert Downey Jr. has revitalized interest in the once-underappreciated character. Today, we’re looking at the absolute coolest armor suits Tony has ever made. Some of them he wore himself, others he made for his friends. They have one thing in common though: they’re the coolest Iron Man suits out there.

    Mark 1 Armor

    Photo Credit: CBR

    The armor that started it all! When Tony is kidnapped by extremists in a warzone, they force him to make them powerful weapons. Tony acquiesces, but only long enough to distract them from what he’s really making: a suit of badass mechanical armor! The Mk. 1 suit is hardly the coolest looking armor Tony’s made, but that’s not why it makes the list. It makes the list because Tony made it in a cave with very limited resources and under a ton of pressure. This was also before he had built any other Iron Man suits, so he was just assuming the suit would work! Tony would go on to greatly iterate on the armor, of course, but the bones of the design are all present in this prototype.

    Hulkbuster Armor

    Photo Credit: MCU Wiki

    Filmgoers were first introduced to this awesome suit of armor in Age of Ultron, but it’s been around in the comics since 1994. As the name implies, Tony made this armor to go toe-to-toe with the Hulk when he gets out of control. As such, the armor is notorious for being unbelievably strong and tough. It uses rocket-powered boosters to back up its thunderous punches. What’s even cooler, the armor goes over Tony’s other suit, making it a suit for a suit. Who doesn’t love giant robots fighting giant green monsters?

    Iron Spider Armor

    Photo Credit: MCU Wiki

    While movie fans first encountered the Iron Spider armor in Spider-Man: Homecoming, the suit debuted in the Civil War event in 2006 in the comics. While Tony himself doesn’t wear the suit, it’s still made from the same tech as his other armors. In both the films and comics, Tony gives the armor to his friend Peter Parker. Peter’s normal suit is mostly just to conceal his identity and doesn’t generally house much technology. The Iron Spider, however, brings Peter up to Tony’s level, tech-wise. An onboard AI, thermal imaging and more give Peter a ton of flexibility in the field. Not to mention, it’s just plain awesome.

    Deep-Space Armor

    Photo Credit: Marvel Database

    In 2013, Iron Man joined the Guardians of the Galaxy. In order to operate in deep space with the team, he created this suit of armor. The Deep-Space armor, which is the Mark 45 suit, is incredibly advanced. It uses repulsor technology to power it in the vacuum of space. It also houses an AI called PEPPER and can communicate with Tony’s suits back on earth. That allows Iron Man to be in many places at once, even when he’s light years from Earth. That’s pretty high-tech!

    Phoenix Buster Armor

    Photo Credit: Iron Man Wiki

    If you thought the Hulk Buster armor was huge and crazy, wait until you see Model 39. Dubbed the Phoenix Buster, Iron Man deployed this suit when the dangerous mutant Phoenix threatened to destroy Earth. In order to stop the Phoenix from wiping out humanity, Tony used this suit to split the flaming bird into five distinct mutants that could be contained more easily. Model 39 is a huge robot, on the scale of something like a Gundam or some other anime mecha. Tony tends to keep his suits to personal-size, so this one is a really interesting outlier.

    War Machine Armor

    Photo Credit: MCU Wiki

    The second armor on this list that Tony doesn’t pilot, the War Machine armor has a deep history. Piloted by Tony’s best friend James “Rhodey” Rhodes, he acts as a superhero in his own right with the War Machine suit. This armor shares many design and tech similarities with Tony’s own. The biggest difference between War Machine and Iron Man armors is guns: Rhodey’s suit is lousy with guns. As a military man, it makes sense that Rhodey’s suit would have enough guns to make a tank jealous. It’s also downright awesome, and easily one of our favorite suits.

    Extremis Armor

    Photo Credit: Marvel Database

    In order to combat extreme wounds suffered while serving as Iron Man, Tony injected himself with the Extremis virus. This allowed him to connect to wireless technology and satellites with his very mind. What’s more, the Extremis armor was stored partly in the hollows of Tony’s bones, and he controlled it with his thoughts. Where previous suits had complex interfaces under the armor, the Extremis suit was modified for Tony’s now-unique biology. This made the armor more of a superpower than a gadget and allowed Tony to push the limits of what his Iron Man tech could do.

    Bleeding Edge Armor

    Photo Credit: Iron Man Wiki

    The Bleeding Edge suit, officially designated as Model 37, was seen as a natural extension of Tony’s Extremis armor. While Extremis still had to be stored like a normal armor suit, Bleeding Edge was literally stored within Tony’s body. At his mental command, the armor would manifest through his pores and solidify, thanks to nanotech. That same nanotech makes the armor nearly invincible and its shape can be changed at will. It can appear like normal clothes, other creatures or armors, or anything, really. This suit incorporated every upgrade from Extremis and then some, making it nearly unbeatable.

    Endo-Sym Armor

    Photo Credit: Marvel Database

    If you thought it couldn’t get much more high-tech than the Bleeding Edge armor, well, you’re right. It couldn’t. That’s why the Endo-Sym armor is literally alive. It’s a biological suit made from the same symbiote as Venom and Carnage. The suit, as such, is a blend of technology and living matter that goes above and beyond what the Bleeding Edge armor is capable of. The suit has a psionic link to Tony, and as such he can summon it without any need for technology. The liquid-metal construction of this armor can bind to Tony at will and hardens when it touches skin. It’s fantastically cool, and Tony was pretty much evil while he was using it.

    The Coolest of All Iron Man Suits: Model-Prime Armor

    Photo Credit: Marvel Database

    No suit quite matches up to the style and feel of the Model-Prime armor. While Extremis, Bleeding Edge and Endo-Sym all pushed the boundaries of what Iron Man’s armor could be, Model 51 brought things back to basics. Using the nano-tech from Bleeding Edge but scrapping the somewhat gross internal housing, the Model-Prime is a synthesis of all that came before. The suit has a hexagonal, interlocking look that is unique. It has a look reminiscent of modern cars and fighter jets. Some have even described the suit as “anime-esque,” citing the eyes and sleek look.

    The strongest aspects of the Model-Prime are its flexibility and power. While previous suits were singular in purpose, the Model-Prime is a Swiss Army Knife. If Tony needs a Hulk Buster, the Model-Prime can shift into that. Stealth mode is no longer a separate suit, but a dedicated function of this model. In all, this is the most complete and useful suit Tony has ever made.

  • Ten Things You Should Stop Doing on Facebook

    Ten Things You Should Stop Doing on Facebook

    Facebook is hardly the safe or secure place many people treat it to be. There are a number of common mistakes Facebook users make that could potentially harm them in the long run. To help you clean up your online presence and make yourself generally happier, we’ve got some tips for you. Here are ten things you should stop doing on Facebook. No, seriously, stop doing these. Like, today.

    Address

    Take your address off of Facebook. If you’ve got it posted on your profile, take it down. If you’ve tagged yourself at your house before, delete that post. Someone trying to steal your identity needs your address, and there’s no reason you should be offering it up to them on a silver platter. Not to mention, its just a security risk. If you get into a heated debate with the wrong person and they decide they want to discuss it with fists, well… Let’s just said you might wish they hadn’t been able to use Google Maps to find your house.

    Birthday

    This one goes hand-in-hand with the address advice, as it pertains to identity theft primarily. If someone has your address and your date of birth they’re able to impersonate you in a lot of online settings. Not to mention, your actual friends know when your birthday is. People who don’t know weren’t going to be sending you any well wishes other than canned greetings. You’ve got nothing to lose but your money and credit score, so take that info down!

    Drunk Pictures

    Maybe you like to show the world that you party hard. Hey, that’s cool, no judgment! Everyone likes to get a little sideways sometimes! Here’s the thing, though. You need to be really careful posting pictures of you wasted every weekend, because potential employers see it. You might think your privacy settings are high enough, but they probably aren’t. Unless you’ve got your profile absolutely locked down, you need to delete these. For one thing, it’s a good idea in general to keep these things to yourself and your friends. For another, you never know when a potential employer could be scanning your profile. Clean it up!

    Letting That One Friend Tag You in Inappropriate Things

    This one falls into the same category. You know the friend: they’ve been tight with you since high school, you guys used to raise hell. Now they like to tag you in every offensive meme known to man. If there’s some lewd, bawdy or otherwise disrespectful image on Facebook, this friend has tagged you in it. Employers see this stuff, your family sees this stuff, it’s just a bad look. But you don’t want to stop being their friend on Facebook, they’re hilarious! Well, you just need to enable Timeline Review. It’s a simple step, but it’ll save you a ton of headaches. This way you’re in direct control over what you can be tagged in. It’s win-win!

    Don’t Add Your Boss

    Adding your boss is about the worst thing you can do for job security. Your boss is a person too, sure, and I bet you’d like to be their friend. But trust me, adding them on Facebook can only complicate a professional relationship. They don’t want to see your beach pictures anymore than you want to see the 3000th picture of their grandkids. Not to mention, if your political views don’t align and they take offense to something you say, you might be seeking new employment. It’s best to just avoid this awkward situation altogether.

    Pictures from Vacation

    To clarify this one: feel free to post all the beach pictures you want! However, make sure you wait until you get home. If you’re posting pictures at the airport, on the plane, at vacation, you’re giving potential burglars info. A lot of info. Like, how far you are from the country and your house. Make sure you just wait until you get home to post all those fun vacation pics. Besides, why are you on Facebook when you’re in the Caribbean? Go enjoy your vacation!

    Getting into Fights

    Stop doing this. We’re all guilty of it, but we all have got to stop. You’re not going to sway anyone’s opinion by getting into a virtual shouting match. Hopping in the comment section of some controversial post is just going to piss you off. You’re going to get riled up, stressed out and antsy over people you’ve never met. It’s just not good for your energy. Instead, just log out and walk away. Go read a book or take a walk!

    Phone Number

    Maybe Facebook told you it would help secure your profile. Maybe you thought it would be helpful for friends that lost their phones. In any event, you need to take your phone number off your profile. Scammers, telemarketers and pranksters are all able to see that number. You really don’t need those types of people calling you and bothering you! Not to mention, it’s also more ammunition for identity thieves. Play it safe out there!

    Take Down Pictures of Exes

    This one isn’t related to security, but to your mental health. Not to mention the future of your love life. You need to take those pictures of you and your ex down. Maybe you want to save them somewhere, and that’s fine. Everyone likes to reminisce sometimes. But you have got to take them out of the public space that is Facebook. Potential relationships could be complicated by images of you and your ex. What’s more, the “Your Memories” feature will dredge these up from time to time to give you a gut punch. Save yourself the trouble and take these down.

    The Thing You Should Stop Doing on Facebook Immediately: Posting About the Gym

    Stop posting about your weight loss progress and your sick gains. Stop taking selfies in the gym. Don’t take mirror pictures in the gym. Don’t take pictures in the gym’s locker room. Please, just stop. No one freaking cares. Start a fitness blog for your journey to skinny or whatever it is you’re doing. No one gives a single flying frack what you’re doing in the gym. Posting about it nonstop makes you come off as self-absorbed, condescending and fat-shaming and you need to quit it.

    Alright that last one got away from me a bit, but you know what I mean. I get that you want to share your success. I know it must feel good to hit the gym and make yourself and strong. And it’s probably awesome to lose weight and look skinny! But really, stop getting all up in everyone’s face about it.

  • Ten Best Scenes in The Last Jedi

    Ten Best Scenes in The Last Jedi

    Released on December 15th, 2017, Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi was a fascinating spin on the decades-old series. While it seems to have caught a great deal of flak from disaffected fans on the internet, the film received rave reviews and raked in millions. It also happened to be one of the finest pieces of sci-fi cinema released in decades. With that in mind, let’s break it down and take you back to the galaxy far, far away. Today, we’re talking about the ten best scenes in The Last Jedi. Warning: major spoilers lie ahead!

    Luke’s Dismissal

    Photo Credit: Hollywood Reporter

    In a turn that shocked fans and ruffled feathers the world offer, TLJ rejoins Rey just as she encounters Luke. The Hero of the Rebellion then callously tosses his old lightsaber away wordlessly. We soon learn that he’s now a disillusioned old man, disgraced by his past failures. Luke’s descent into darkness came after his own inability to save Ben Solo, his nephew, from the dark path. This sets the stage for Luke’s eventual redemption.

    While many found this out of character for Luke, others have defended the characterization. After defeating the Empire, Luke and his family watch darkness rise again, heedless of their prior victories. It makes sense that this would weigh heavily on him and make him resign himself to exile.

    DJ’s Philosophy

    Photo Credit: superbromovies

    Benicio del Toro plays this newcomer, a drifter and hacker who is quick to turn the rebels over to the First Order. Earlier in the film, he tells Finn that there’s only one way to live: “Live Free, Don’t Join.” This motto certainly filters into every aspect of DJ’s character, including his name. He tells Finn that the ongoing battle between light and dark is ultimately meaningless, as it is endless. All it does is make weapons manufacturers filthy rich. In this way, DJ acts as a foil to Finn, who had flirted with the idea of deserting the Rebels earlier in the film. Finn learns through his disgust with DJ that he isn’t a deserter at all, and the Rebellion is worth fighting for.

    Infinite Reflections

    Photo Credit: StarWars.com

    After training in the ways of the Force with Luke, Rey seeks the darkness that lies under the Jedi Temple. As Luke has just told her, there must always be a powerful dark to contrast powerful light, and this is the film’s key theme. What she finds is the Mirror Cave, a place of introspection and death. She seeks to know who her parents are, to help her define who she is. She instead is shown an infinite reflection of herself. No one can define her but herself, much to her initial dismay but eventual acceptance. This is echoed in her later conversations with Kylo Ren.

    The Call of the Dark Side

    Photo Credit: Journal of the Star Wars

    Speaking of Rey’s conversations with Kylo, they provide another excellent series of scenes. Where previous films had the pull of the Dark Side as something nebulous and intangible, here they are felt in full force. The obvious attraction between the two mirrors Rey’s own self-doubt regarding who she is. In an attempt to define herself, she tries to help bring Kylo back into the light. Their tense conversations and attempts to sway one another form the narrative heart of the film.

    Yoda’s Wisdom

    Photo Credit: Flickering Myth

    Yoda’s unexpected return as a Force Ghost in this film helps ground the proceedings in the stories that came before. Yoda’s much-needed wisdom give Luke guidance and help steel his resolve. Most importantly, he tells his former student that it is the fate of masters to be surpassed. Luke must pass the tale of his failure on to his student so that she can grow beyond him. The cyclical nature of the battle between good and evil is symbolically broken by Yoda destroying the Library of the Jedi.

    Snoke’s Death

    Photo Credit: IndieWire

    In a climactic scene, Rey has a showdown with the teacher of her nemesis, Snoke. Snoke is every bit the image of the Emperor from previous films. He is robed, surrounded by Praetorian Guard, and unmatched in his mastery of the Force. Truly, he is awe-inspiring and irredeemably evil. It is his own hubris that leads to his downfall, however, as he could never believe that his student could trick him. When Kylo turns Luke’s lightsaber and ignites it, killing Snoke. This fulfills Kylo’s earlier mantra: “Let the past die. Kill it, if you have to.” Suddenly, the film’s Big Bad is little more than a smoking corpse, and Kylo’s true ambition shines.

    Praetorian Guard Fight

    Photo Credit: The Wrap

    Following this sudden change of heart is an intense lightsaber battle with Snoke’s elite guard. Rey and Kylo put their skills to the test against warriors who were trained to fight lightsaber-wielders specifically. In the end, neither alone would be a match for these elites, but together they prevail. The film’s themes of light and dark converging and becoming something greater are hinted at here. However, following the battle, Rey and Kylo are at an impasse. Rey wishes to preserve the Rebellion, while Kylo wants to rule with Rey. Neither is willing to back down, and the two destroy Luke’s lightsaber in a force tug-of-war.

    Holdo’s Sacrifice

    Photo Credit: YouTube

    After spending the movie frustrating Poe and stymying the protagonists, Holdo reveals her true colors. Rather than being a spineless traitor, she’s a noble and self-sacrificing rebel. She turns her ship to face Snoke’s monstrously-big cruiser and engages the hyperdrive. She impacts the First Order ship at the speed of light, and the resulting scene is breath-taking. The soundless freeze-frame is anime-like in execution, really underscoring the power of what has happened. This move simultaneously sets Holdo up as a martyr and allows time for the heroes to escape their captors.

    “Rebel Scum”

    Photo Credit: Mashable

    The solidifying moment in Finn’s acceptance of who he is as a Rebel comes in the fight against Phasma. The commanding officer who kept him down his whole life, Phasma represents everything Finn hates about the First Order. Their final showdown is cathartic, showing freedom and goodness triumph over oppression and evil. Finn’s self-defining line that he isn’t just scum, but “Rebel Scum,” is met with cheers.

    The Best Scene in the Last Jedi: The Bloodless Showdown

    Photo Credit: Pinterest

    The final climactic scene sees Luke reignite the legend of the Jedi by singlehandedly buying the Rebellion time to escape. While he isn’t physically present during this fight, Kylo doesn’t know that. It’s Luke’s appearance and words that goad Kylo into overplaying his hand, resulting in the Rebellion’s escape. The scene is a redemption of all the doubts Luke showed earlier in the film. While he once felt the Jedi were a blight on the galaxy, he now fights to preserve them. It is the ultimate battle of rage versus patience, of aggression versus non-aggression. In the end, it is the Jedi who emerge victorious. Fittingly, Luke’s final moments see him remembering the dual suns of his childhood home, remembering the epic journey that led him here. He then passes into the Force in peace. His ultimate sacrifice allows Rey and his sister the time they need to escape and regroup, setting the stage for their ultimate victory in the next film.

  • Which is the Worst Car Ever Made?

    Which is the Worst Car Ever Made?

    DeLorean DMC-12

    Photo Credit: DeLorean Company

    Full disclosure: I love everything about Back to the Future. It’s heartwarming, hilarious and just altogether wonderful. That doesn’t excuse the DeLorean from its many faults, though. The DeLorean is stylish, to be sure. But it has some glaring design flaws that make it a mess to use as a normal vehicle. On the small-scale, it has a windshield-mounted antenna, so good luck picking up radio signals. More glaring, however, was the car’s weight-to-engine ratio. The DeLorean was heavy, partly as a result of its spotty build thanks to the inexperienced workers making it. Further, to cut costs, the engine was underpowered. This resulted in a very sluggish, unresponsive drive and a generally disappointing experience. Marty hitting 88 MPH in a DeLorean is honestly more unlikely than Doc Brown making a time machine.

    The Eagle Premier

    Photo Credit: Wikipedia

    After being bought by Chrysler in the late 80’s, the Eagle brand suffered a pretty serious identity crisis. Chrysler had to swap out the original, somewhat fuel-efficient AMC engine for contractual reasons. In its place, the company put a PRV 3.0 Liter V6. This engine is incredibly thirsty, guzzling gas in a way that makes no sense for a car this small. Further, the car suffers from sloppy braking, has a dash-mounted gear-shifter and is generally just bland and boring. While some cars on this list have a few fans, the Eagle Premier is not one of them.

    Chevrolet Vega

    Photo Credit: Wikipedia

    Astonishingly produced from 1971 to 1977, the Chevy Vega was created in the midst of several worker’s strikes. And boy, does it show. It was rushed to market and underdeveloped, and several flaws were still present in the vehicle when it went to mass-market. These flaws would go on to be found by customers: the aluminum block engine, for instance, would overheat and warp. This would cause it to rattle, lose oil and generally perform unreliably. And really, your customers shouldn’t be finding such glaring flaws in your design after the car has been mass-produced.

    Hummer H2

    Photo Credit: WeBe Autos

    The golden years of dude-bro jocks riding in oversized gas-guzzlers came between 2003-2009. You see, those were the years that the Hummer H2 was in production. The Hummer had militaristic design angle and got nine miles to the gallon. Yes, nine. If you think a car could be more out of touch with its era, you’re wrong. The H2 hit the scene right as America was going to war in the Middle East over oil. And it looked like a tank. A tank that guzzled gas. Perhaps you’re following this to its logical conclusion: the vehicle was an insult to Americans and the world as a whole by what it represented. Not to mention, as a car, it was nothing special. It had heated seats and a nice stereo, sure, but it cost $53,000. All that to have a hard time parking anywhere and spend hundreds on gas every month? No thanks.

    First Generation Maserati Biturbo

    Photo Credit: Wikipedia

    While the Biturbo, released in 1981, may bear the Maserati name, it doesn’t have that brand’s signature build quality. Maserati was a little low on funds in this era, and as such, they outsourced the design and assembly of the Biturbo’s body. And it shows, too. This unreliable mess of a car can go pretty fast, but it rattles and shakes and doesn’t slow down well after getting up to speed. The Biturbo has the dubious distinction of being the worst car from a fantastic carmaker. Surprisingly, it stayed in production until 1986.

    Lexus SC 430

    2002 Lexus SC 430.

    Photo Credit: Autoblog

    Another terrible car from a great carmaker, the Lexus SC 430 is a confusing vehicle. The SC 430 was released in 2001, and somehow remained in production until 2004. Priced as a luxury car, the vehicle packed a wimpy v8 engine and had a cramped interior. It didn’t have much in the way of style, either: it was designed to look like a yacht. Seriously, Lexus somehow missed all the “boat car” jokes and literally designed a car to look like a boat. And, get this: Lexus intended for the SC 430 to actually contend with BMW’s luxury offerings. No, seriously!

    Reliant Robin Mk. 1

    Photo Credit: Flickr

    Famously derided on Top Gear for its three-wheeled design, the Reliant Robin Mk. 1 is a seriously ugly vehicle. The vehicle was rather popular in Northern England, as it was cheap, but it had a pretty major flaw. You see, when you make a three-wheeled vehicle, and that vehicle is top heavy, it flips over. A lot. And that’s really quite dangerous! While the famous Top Gear segment showing how the Robin is incredibly prone to topple over was staged, it still demonstrates how dangerous it is to have only one front wheel.

    Amphicar

    Photo Credit: Petrolicious

    In 1961, the Amphicar made the scene. Yes, someone looked at their car and said, “let’s make it a boat, too.” Jokes aside, the car was made in West Germany and was intended to echo WWII era designs for amphibious vehicles. The Amphicar, however, sported an absolutely abysmal performance both on land and on water. The tiny little engine only carried 38.3 horsepower. If you’re going to make a car that’s also a boat, make sure it’s also a car, first. Worse still, though, the car wasn’t waterproof. It used a pump to control leaks. If you’re going to make a boat that’s also a car, make sure it’s also a boat first, too, apparently.

    The Yugo

    Photo Credit: Car Sales Base

    The Yugo has the distinction of being in production the longest of any of the vehicles on this list. Originally released in 1978, this awful little vehicle stayed around until 2008. The Yugo’s draw was just how cheap it was, coming in at $4,000. However, you get what you pay for, as the terrible car had a whopping 45 horsepower and topped out at 80 MPH. After 1991, the build quality of the Yugo got so poor that the vehicle had a reputation for its self-destructing habits. The timing belt was prone to snapping, and when that happened, the engine would essentially blow up. Maybe shell out a little more than $4,000 for a new car next time, guys!

    The Worst Car Ever Made: The Ford Pinto

    Photo Credit: Hemmings Motor News

    The Ford Pinto’s sins are numerous, and they all add up to make it the worst car ever. You likely knew this one was going to be on the list when you saw the name. That said, for those of you unfamiliar with the vehicle, we’ve give you the run down. Produced from 1971-1980, the Pinto is an unforgivably ugly vehicle. It has very little power under the hood, the suspension is terrible, and it has abysmal brakes. The worst part, though, was that the gas tank was located in the back of the car. This gave the Pinto a bad habit of literally exploding into flames when rear-ended. To add insult to injury, a Ford memo stating that they’d rather pay out settlements to victims than safety-test their vehicle led to a PR disaster. To this day, the Pinto’s infamy is widely-known.