Product Review: Reebok Men's CrossFit Nano 3.0 Tactical Training Shoe

 

I tend to prefer high-top shoes for when I am doing high-intensity cardio workouts, especially plyometric workouts that have a lot of jumping because my ankles tend to roll pretty easily. So, when my old cross-training shoes got too old, I replaced them with these. Unfortunately, these do not have a lot of support at all. They are extremely lightweight which may be good for some things, but definitely not for others. And, they are pretty narrow which may or may not be an issue for you. So, I have almost never used them for cardio workouts but do use them from time to time if I am just lifting. But, if you like lightweight shoes, then this is a pretty good option.

Book Review: Star Wars: Into the Void: (Dawn of the Jedi)

 

Into the Void is a novel that is set thousands (about 25,000) years before the events of A New Hope, about the founding of the ancient Je'daii Order (which was the precursor to the Jedi. The story is basically about a brother and sister named Lanoree and Dalien. She is a powerful Je'daii ranger, and he has no force power and hates the Je'daii order. There is a larger plot that involves a cosmic gateway called the hypergate, the opening of which would risk destroying the galaxy.

Overall, the story is good, but given that the book was written before Disney took over Lucasfilm, it is relegated to Legends status. Given where it appears in the timeline, parts of the story may or may not ever be folded into the canon, but it really does not cross into any of the "official" eras, like The High Republic, that are in the canon material. The Je'daii has some similarities with the Jedi order, but as you would expect, there are some differences too. For example, the Je'daii used swords that were imbued with the force, but they were not lightsabers like the Jedi used. So they were more like very strong Samurai swords. The story has a good mix of action, drama, and suspense. It definitely set up the possibilities of more stories from that era being told, but of course, with Disney taking over, that will probably never materialize. It is still a good story that is worth reading, however.

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Kingsman: The Secret Service

 

Kingsman: The Secret Service is a 2014 movie starring Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Strong, and Sofia Boutella. It is an action-spy movie with some comedy (mostly dark humor) mixed in. The storyline revolves around Gary "Eggsy" Unwin's (played by Taron Egerton) recruitment by Harry Hart (code name Galahad, played by Colin Firth ) and training in a secret spy organization. His first mission is to bring down an eco-terrorist, Richmond Valentine, who is played wonderfully by Samuel L. Jackson. Valentine wants to reverse climate change by wiping out almost all humans on Earth. There is a strong supporting cast including Sofia Boutella, who plays Valentine's assistant Gazelle and is a double amputee with sharp blades for feet, Mark Strong as Hamish Mycroft / Merlin, Sophie Cookson as Roxanne "Roxy" Morton / Lancelot, Michael Caine as Chester King / Arthur, and even has Mark Hamill in an extended cameo role.

For those who get the blu-ray, the movie looks and sounds great in HD. There are only a handful of extras, the most extensive of which is a six-part behind-the-scene feature titled Kingsman: The Secret Service Revealed. Then, there are image galleries, the theatrical trailer, and previews for other movies. So, while there are not a ton of extras, the making-of documentary is very well done.

Overall, the movie is a very good, over-the-top blend of action and comedy. The action sequences are very violent and gory but in a tongue-in-cheek way (similar to those in Kill Bill) as opposed to the gore in movies like Saw. The acting is wonderful all around. Jackson Hams it up constantly, Firth is great as a buttoned-down English gentleman, and Taron Egerton does a great job as the lead. There is not much in the way of sexual content (aside from innuendo) or nudity until the very end, which is basically a joke that closes out the movie. That said, it is definitely not something that is appropriate for young kids, if nothing else, because of the violence. So, if you are looking for a fun action movie that you put on to kill a couple of hours without having to watch every second of it to be able to follow what is going on, this is a good one.

Workout Update: Insanity Max 30/Chalean Extreme/Body Beast/P90X Hybrid Day 10

Day 10 was Max 30's Sweat Interval workout. I did not sleep well at all last night so I did not have high hopes going into this one, but I actually managed to make it just under 25 minutes before having to stop. This is a workout in which only the modifier, who is Shaun T's husband and in very good shape, does not max out, so it is a tough workout, even if you are modifying it. I was pretty gassed during the last five minutes and could only do a few of the burpee squat combinations, but aside from those, everything went well.

Product Review: Marilyn Monroe Wall Calendar (2016)

 

I am one who gets a Marilyn Monroe calendar every year. There are always a few different wall calendars that get released each year. This one has a good selection of pictures. There is one of the iconic subway grate shots from the Seven-Year Itch promotional photos, but most of the pictures are pictures that have not been as widely publicized or released before. Definitely a good pickup if you collect her wall calendars.

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Mad Max: Fury Road

 

Mad Max: Fury Road is a 2015 reboot of the Mad Max/Road Warrior franchise. The movie was written and directed by George Miller and stars Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Hugh Keays-Byrne, and Zoe Kravitz. Of course, the role of Max launched Mel Gibson's career, but after a string of controversies in his personal life and failed attempts to get another movie made, George Miller decided to reboot the series with Tom Hardy (from Inception and Dark Knight Rises) in the role of Max. The basic story is that Max is captured by a group known as the "War Boys" and is taken to warlord Immortan Joe's Citadel, imprisoned, and used as a "blood bag" for a sick War Boy called Nux. Meanwhile, Imperator Furiosa (played by Charlize Theron), one of Joe's lieutenants, is sent in her armored "War Rig" to trade produce for gasoline and ammunition with two of Joe's warlord allies. She leaves and secretly takes Joe's wives, played by Zoe Kravitz, Rose Huntington Whitely, Riley Keough, Abbey Lee, and Courtney Eaton, with her to help them escape. The War Boys are sent to chase Furiosa and the wives down, and Max tries to use the opportunity to escape.

Ultimately, the movie is much more about Furiosa than it is about Max. It is basically a big chase movie with a lot of action scenes spaced throughout. Max was much more of an ancillary character, with Furiosa calling the shots. And Theron, once again, shows off her very mighty acting chops, really devoting herself to a very gritty role. Obviously, she has supermodel looks, but this was definitely not a role to show off how pretty she is. Furiosa was a very complex and hard-edged character, and Theron played her very well.

The A/V quality of the blu-ray is off-the-charts good, especially if you have a big-screen TV and a great sound system. The extras include several making-of featurettes, including Maximum Fury: Filming Fury Road, which runs just under half an hour and contains behind-the-scenes footage and interviews on set in Africa. Then there is a feature that is titled Mad Max: Fury on Four Wheels about the design of the various vehicles as an extension of wardrobe. An eleven-minute feature on the characters Max and Furiosa and the transition from Mel to Tom. Then there is a featurette titled Tools of the Wasteland, which is a fourteen-minute feature on the props, an eleven-minute feature on the wives, including interviews with each of the actresses, and a four-minute combination of pre-production tests and raw footage. Then, there are a few deleted scenes.

Overall, the movie is very good. The movie is a bit weird but very much in the same vein as the prior movies from the 1980s. Realistically, the Mad Max films had always been a bit weird, set in a dystopian future with almost nothing in the way of law, order, or security. While Charlize Theron really dominates and takes over the movie, all of the actors, regardless of how large or small the role they play, do a great job. So, if you are looking for a good action movie and you like the dystopian nightmare kinds of storylines, this is definitely worth watching.

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Game of Thrones: Season 5

 

+++Warning, this contains spoilers from the prior season, but no major season five spiolers+++

The fifth season of GoT was adapted from parts of three different novels in the Song of Ice and Fire series, namely, A Feast for Crows, A Dance with Dragons, and a Storm of Swords. Of course, the show started catching up with the books (as George R.R. Martin is a notoriously slow writer) and the producers and writers of the show were doing their best to get as much material from the books before they would have to essentially make the rest of the story up with just a rough outline from Martin. This season sees a shift in many of the story arcs of the various characters. After the deaths of Joffrey and Tywin (finally) Varys and Tyrion flee Westeros to Meereen to meet Daenerys, whom Varys believes may be worthy of the Iron Throne. Jon is torn between an offer from Stannis and his duty to the Night's Watch, with the ever-increasing threat of the White Walkers looming, and Sansa goes from one bad situation to another. Cersei is basically ruling as a transition from Joffrey to Tommen, who is now set to marry Margaery Tyrell, which does not exactly thrill Cersei. Jaime and Bronn travel to Dorne to bring Myrcella back to King's Landing and have to deal with a revenge-seeking Ellaria. Arya sails to Braavos to attempt to cash in on her mystical coin to learn from Jaqen H'ghar. The season ends on numerous cliffhangers that leave the fate of nearly every single main character in some kind of doubt and/or jeopardy.

For those who get the blu-ray set, the A/V quality is again top-notch. As far as extras go, as has been the case with the prior seasons, each episode has an in-episode guide that can be played, a recap at the beginning of the episodes, and a preview at the end. There are twelve different commentary tracks. Every episode except episode seven gets at least one commentary track with various members of the cast along with the director and/or writer of the episode. Episodes eight and nine each have multiple commentary tracks (three, and two respectively). Then there are a series of behind-the-scenes and making-of featurettes that range in length from just under eight minutes to just under thirty minutes. There are also some animated shorts that feature voice work by the actors in character, then there is an animated Dance With Dragons animated feature that outlines the Targaryen civil war, and finally about eight minutes of deleted scenes. So, there are again a ton of extras if you like going through them, but like in the prior season releases, to go through everything you will have to watch each episode multiple times, so it may be helpful to pick and choose what you watch.

Overall, the season is very good. The storyline advances well, and like in prior seasons no character is safe from the possibility of being killed off, which makes for a lot of edge-of-your-seat suspense. It is very violent and has a lot of sex and nudity in it, so it is most definitely not a family-friendly show (or something that someone that is easily offended would go for). That said, it is very well acted and mostly well-written. Of course, because it is an adaptation of extremely long books, there are some storylines in the books (and many characters) that never appear in the series. This season, I would say the standouts among the cast are Iwan Rheon who plays Ramsay Bolton, Sophie Turner whose character arc is greatly expanded this season, and Maisie Williams. That said, the entire cast nails all of their characters and do an extremely good job. So, if you have been a fan of the first four seasons, you will very likely enjoy the fifth season. If you have not yet seen the series, you definitely have to start at episode one and watch all the way through, otherwise, almost nothing will make sense if you jump into the series over halfway through.

Product Review: Norpro Bread Slicer with Crumb Catcher

 

If you like to bake your own bread and/or buy freshly baked bread (as opposed to the processed stuff), this is good to help you get even slices. The one drawback, however, is that the plastic part is a bit flimsy and can break unless you use it very gingerly. That is what knocks it down a couple of stars for me. But, as far as the evenness of the slices, it is great, and the crumb catcher is very handy making it easy to dump the crumbs out.

Workout Update: Insanity Max 30/Chalean Extreme/Body Beast/P90X Hybrid Day 9

Day 9 was the Tabata Power workout again. I was able to make it much farther into the workout, past the 20-minute mark this time. I had to max out about midway through the tricep dip sequence of exercises, but make it through the push-ups (which also work the triceps as much as they do the chest) without having to stop. So, progress is being made even though I have a long way to go.

Study Aid Review: Hands-On Introduction to LabVIEW for Scientists and Engineers

 

LabView is a programming "language" that uses icons as opposed to writing out computer code. While you would think that would be easier than typing out lines of code, it can get very tricky and involved, especially when you are trying to do something fairly advanced. When I was working on my Electrical Engineering degree, I had a couple of classes that used LabView; one was an "introduction to LabView" class, and the other was computer-aided measures and controls, which covered LabView, C++, and MatLab. The same professor taught both courses, and he was notorious for showing very simple examples during class and then assigning homework and having test problems that were much harder than anything he showed us how to do. So, I used this to get through the LabView material and come up with ideas for projects, etc.

It is not a traditional textbook (although it can be used as one), so it has a lot of examples and enough explanation to understand what is going on. It is mainly for beginners to intermediate users, which is perfect for most people who are taking a college course. And, if you get an older version of the book it is much less expensive than some of the other books out there. So, if you are looking for help in using LabView, this is a good resource.

Product Review: PBfit All-Natural Peanut Butter Powder, Powdered Peanut Spread From Real Roasted Pressed Peanuts

 

I get this to mix with chocolate protein powder to get a peanut butter-chocolate taste, without having to use regular peanut butter which can be a pain to clean out of a blender and which never totally mixes with the protein powder because some will get stuck to the sides. The one drawback to this versus regular peanut butter, however, is that it does not have as strong a taste, so you have to use a couple of tablespoons or more if you really want a flavor kick. That said, I do think it is a good deal.

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Fifty Shades of Grey

 

Fifty Shades of Grey is an erotic drama from 2015 starring Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan. The movie is, of course, an adaptation of the very popular but widely panned series of books by E.L. James. I have never read the books, so I cannot speak directly to the quality, but they do get pretty bad reviews, and in a recent Vanity Fair article, Dakota Johnson (who plays Anastasia Steel) said they were pretty horrible. For those who don't know, the storyline is basically about a relationship between Ana, a quiet college student, and billionaire businessman Christian Grey (by Jamie Dornan). Their relationship becomes complicated as he becomes more controlling and introduces her to the world of BDSM.

The movie is definitely not for the pearl-clutching crowd. There is a lot of sex and nudity in it, which should be obvious going in, and the sex gets amped up as the movie goes along. The problem with the movie, aside from the shlocky screenplay with some really bad dialogue, is that Johnson and Dornan do not really have the right chemistry to pull off the relationship. Johnson can play quiet and mousy fine, and Dornan can play intense (as evidenced by his role in the wonderful series The Fall), but it was hard to buy that they would be in a BDSM relationship with each other. Johnson does seem like she has a lot of personality in real life, but she either wasn't allowed to or chose not to display that in the movie, basically playing Ana very bland and monotone all the way through the movie, except during the contract negotiation scene, which was really the best non-sex scene in the movie.

For those who get the blu-ray, the movie looks and sounds great in HD. The extras include an unrated version with mostly tacks on a few minutes to the ending of the movie after the elevator closes. It does not add much to the theatrical version at all, which is also included. Then there is a teaser for the second movie, Fifty Shades Darker, and a handful of featurettes titled The World of Fifty Shades of Grey, Behind the Shades, E.L. James & Fifty Shades, Fifty Shades: The Pleasure of Pain, Christian's Apartment: 360* Set Tour, and Behind the Scenes of "Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey). Then there are some music videos. So, if you like watching the extras, there is a good amount there.

Overall, the movie is okay but not great. As I said above, the dialogue can be really cheesy in spots, and as a result, the acting is not as good as it could have been. Johnson has gone on record saying the production of the movie was kind of a mess, which definitely bleeds through into the final product. If you get this because you think Johnson and/or Dornan is hot and do not expect to watch an Academy Award-winning drama, then you probably will not be disappointed. If you expect the movie to be something it is not, then you definitely will.

Supplement Review: Muscle Pharm Assault Pre-Workout System, Grape Blast

 

This is a fairly good-tasting pre-workout mix. Some are definitely better than others, and I would put this on the better end of the spectrum. It mixes fairly well even just putting it in a water bottle and shaking it up. It does leave a bit of residue, but not too bad. It never made me jittery or anything like that, but did provide sustained energy throughout hard workouts. And, the price is very reasonable.

Workout Update: Insanity Max 30/Chalean Extreme/Body Beast/P90X Hybrid Day 8

Day 8 was the second time doing the Cardio Challenge workout. I did max out later into the workout than last week, around the 17-minute mark. The latter half of the workout with the burpees and the wide in-and-out abs shoulder-tap combination are killer, even doing the modified versions of them. Thankfully, there are quite a few scheduled breaks in the workout that make getting through it a bit easier. The cast members in this workout are mostly good. Again Shanita (or Shamita?) is slacking off throughout the entire workout, but at least during this one, she is way in the back corner. Half the time she is just back there flailing her arms around and then bending over like she has been shot. The other people in the workout, however, are mostly pushing hard at least until the last few minutes when everyone is pretty much gassed. It is kind of hilarious how Shaun T. tries to get people to talk when they are clearly out of breath so it usually comes out rambling that makes no sense.  

Supplement Review: Swanson Full Spectrum Suma Root 400 Milligrams 60 Capsules

 

Suma is a supplement that is marketed to do many things, from decreasing stress to aiding muscle growth, etc. While all of the claims are hard to verify, I do find that I feel like I had more strength during my workouts when using this. These are capsules that are very easy to swallow and do not leave a noticeable aftertaste. My only complaint about this particular brand is that it is not available as a subscribe and save item (at least as of this writing).

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Furious 7

 

Furious 7 is the 2015 entry in the Fast and Furious franchise. It was directed by James Wan and stars Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jason Statham, Kurt Russell, and The Rock. Ronda Rousey has an extended cameo appearance in the movie, and Paul Walker's brother, Brian, played a stand-in to finish Paul Walker's scenes after his tragic death partway through the filming of the movie. This movie is definitely a turning point for the Fast & Furious franchise, in large part because of Paul Walker's death. The movie, finally, deals with Han's death in Tokyo Drift, which on film occurred years earlier, but Sung Kang kept appearing in the subsequent movies always hinting that he would get to Tokyo. In this movie, it is revealed that Han was killed by the brother of Own Shaw (Luke Evans), Deckard, played by Jason Statham. The movie is essentially about the team trying to track down Deckard and get revenge for Han. The movie has the typical over-the-top action that has become the staple of the film series, especially after all the main actors returned to the franchise after Tokyo Drift. There are a lot of tongue-in-cheek absurd moments like The Rock flexing out of a cast and leaving the hospital to get back into the fight after he is sidelined most of the movie. The movie also introduced the character Mr. Nobody, a covert ops leader played by Kurt Russell, and the cameo appearance by Rhonda Rousey, who is basically in the movie to have a throwdown with Michelle Rodriquez.

For those who get the blu-ray set, the movie looks and sounds great in HD. Of course, there are a ton of special effects used throughout the movie, and everything looks wonderful and seamless. There are two versions of the movie, the theatrical and an extended edition that adds about a minute to the theatrical version. It is so inconsequential that it was really not worth making an extended edition. Then, there are about six minutes of deleted scenes, seven making-of and behind-the-scenes featurettes that range in length from about six minutes to just over thirty minutes. Then there is a feature on the Race Wars festival, the music video "See You Again" from Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth, and a feature on the Fast & Furious-themed ride at Universal.

Overall, the movie is good but much more emotional than it was intended to be. It is the last entry in the franchise before it got completely ridiculous (although there are plenty of ridiculous moments in this one, too). I am sure most people know how the movie handled Paul Walker's death in terms of Brian's storyline. I will not spoil it for the handful of people who don't know, but I think it was very well done. The movie is 95% action, 5.9% tongue-in-cheek comedy, and .1% drama. The franchise has found the formula that works for it and stays in that lane. It does not try to be a best-picture candidate, so if that is what you are looking for, this is not it. But if you want to watch a fun action movie with a bunch of car chases and cool stunts, this is a good one.

Product Review: Brita Basic Replacement Filters Faucet Mount

 

The filters are good. Unfortunately, the faucet mount that they go in is not that great, especially after a few months of use, which makes this less of a good deal than it would otherwise be. You do get two filters, each of which lasts up to four months. As long as the faucet mount is staying in place, not leaking water around the part that twists onto the faucet, etc, they are great. The water tastes good and they are definitely less expensive than some other filtered water options out there. But, if the mount does not hold up and you have to get a new one, then they become a bit of a pain.

Workout Update: Insanity Max 30/Chalean Extreme/Body Beast/P90X Hybrid Day 7

Day 7 was the CE Recharge workout. Nothing really to report about this one. It went pretty much the same as the last few times I have done it.  

Workout Update: Insanity Max 30/Chalean Extreme/Body Beast/P90X Hybrid Day 6

Day 6 was the back and biceps workout from P90x. It is actually my favorite of the resistance workouts in the P90x base program. It has a nice pace and is just pull-ups, a second back exercise that uses weights, and then two biceps exercises. It was a bit tough since I have not done the workout in a while, but I made it through. I used 110 lbs of band resistance for the pull-up exercises and was able to do anywhere from 4 (the corn cob pull-ups) to 10 (the switch-grip pull-ups).  I will do this one for the four weeks of month one of Insanity Max 30, and then will switch to the BodyBeast back and bicep workout when I get to month two. 

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: Showgirls 15th Anniversary

 

Showgirls is a 2005 erotic drama starring Elizabeth Berkley, Gina Gershon, and Kyle MacLachlan. It is a movie that is panned, for good reason. The story is cheesy, the acting is bad (despite having some good actors and actresses in it), mostly because of really bad writing, and some of the sex scenes are so over-the-top (e.g., the scene in the pool) that they are funnier than they are sexy. Of course, the big deal about the movie back in the mid-1990s when it was made is that Elizabeth Berkley, who played the wholesome (mostly) Jesse Spano in the series Saved by the Bell, was going to be playing a stripper and doing her first nude role. Berkley plays Nomi Malone, who moves to Vegas to be a legit dancer. Of course, that does not work out, and she ends up dancing in a seedy strip club where she is spotted by Crystal Connors (played by Gina Gershon), the star of a local Cabaret show, who wants the producer, Zach (played by Twin Peaks' Kyle MacLachlan) to bring Nomi into the show. From there, it becomes a tale of backstabbing and sabotage and Nomi goes for the top billing in the show.

The movie was a huge flop at the box office but became a cult classic when it hit DVD. This is the 15th-anniversary blu-ray and does get a pretty good A/V upgrade from the DVD release. Most of the extras are ported over from the DVD release and include an entertaining commentary on the movie with "Showgirls enthusiast" David Schmader (none of the stars of the movie would touch this, apparently), a featurette called "Lap Dance Tutorial Featuring The World-Famous Girls of Scores" which is pretty self-explanatory, a trivia game, and the theatrical trailer. There is also a behind-the-scenes feature that is a production diary and shows how crazy director Paul Verhoeven was about the movie. That is the only feature that included any of the actual cast members, and then a new feature for the blu-ray release was a featurette with Shelia Kelley, who developed a program of exercise based on the movement of stripping. No new features with the cast members.

Overall, the movie is entertaining if you take it for what it is. Yes, it has a lot of nudity in it, and you can definitely tell that Berkley got into amazing shape for the role and really worked hard at the dancing. It most definitely would not get an NC-17 rating today as it did back then, but that was a different time. As I said above, the sex scenes were pretty laughable, but nothing that would garner the NC-17 rating nowadays. If you are expecting an award-winning drama or coming-of-age story, this is definitely not it. If you take it for what it is, you can get a good chuckle out of it.

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Masters of Sex: Season 2

 

+++Warning, this contains minor spoilers from season one, but no major season two giveaways+++

The 12-episode second season of Masters of Sex aired during the summer and fall of 2014. It continues the fictionalized biographical drama of William Masters (Michael Sheen) and Virginia Johnson (Lizzy Caplan) and their famous sex study. This season is set (mostly) between the years 1958 and 1961. Masters, having been fired from Maternity Hospital, tries to find a place where he and Virginia can continue their work on the sex study. Of course, being in 1950s Missouri, that is not an easy feat, and they end up opening their own clinic. They continue to engage in their very ill-advised affair that was teased at the end of season one, under the guise of being participants in the study. That storyline actually opens up a much larger story arc for Libby (Caitlin FitzGerald), who is being ignored by Bill more and more. We also get insight into Bill's childhood when his mother, played by Ann Dowd, appears partway through the season.

The Blu-Ray set is a four-disc set. The A/V quality continues to be very good, as the series looks and sounds great in HD. There are some special effects to make the show a period piece, but they certainly do not dominate the show. For extras, three different featurettes range in length from 18 to 26 minutes, one focused on the women in the show, one focused on the men, and one focused on the time period in which the show is set and the social issues occurring at the time. Then, there are a handful of deleted scenes. Of course, this is the last season of the show that would be released individually on blu-ray. Seasons three and four were not released in the US at all until a complete series blu-ray set was released after the series ended. So, that is a better pickup than this one and if you did get this when it was originally released, you have to decide whether to double dip.

Overall, the season is very good. Maybe even better than he first. It is a show about sex, but it is not equivalent to the late-night soft-core movies on Showtime or Cinemax. It does not have sex for sex's sake, and it shows how sex can be dark and dysfunctional and not just titillating. The show also deals with issues that are still prevalent in our society today, including race relations, interracial relationships, homosexuality, and more, and how all of those things have been stigmatized, especially when sex is involved. The second season did have some cast turnover with Nicholas D'Agosto having a much-reduced role but Annaleigh Ashford being promoted to a series regular. The season also had a strong recurring and guest cast, including Beu Bridges, Allison Janney, Betsy Brandt, Keke Palmer, Sarah Silverman, René Auberjonois, Christian Borle, and Courtney B. Vance.

If you liked the first season, you will probably like this one. If you have not seen the show yet, it is based on true events but definitely fictionalized. So, you are not getting a historically accurate documentary. It is well written and very well acted and definitely worth the time to watch.

Product Review: MESHA 1" Pair Jaw Barbell Collar Muscle Clamps Bar Black-standard Lock 1 Pairs

 

These do work on 1" threaded barbells, ez-curl bars, etc. But, they do not hold as solidly as the spring collars do. They can slip on and off the barbells even when you have them locked. They will not slide off easily, but if you pull them or if the weight plates were to slide against them, then they will move. So, if you are going to use these, definitely don't overdo it with the amount of weight because they can slide off and cause a major problem if the weight plates were to fall off. Using smaller plates, even several smaller plates (5-10 lbs) are not an issue, and realistically using 20 lb plates or even one 45lb plate on each side with these would not cause a problem. But, if you were to use multiple 45lb plates, that could be an issue.

Blu-Ray/Movie Review: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (Extended Edition)

 

The Desolation of Smaug is the second of what ended up being a trilogy of movies based on Tolkien's book The Hobbit. The first two movies basically tell the story from the book, which is much shorter than any of the Lord of the Rings novels, and then the last movie is adapted from some of Tolkien's other writings. This one is set after Bilbo steals The Ring from Gollum and tells the story of the group's journey to the Lonely Mountain to retrieve the Arkenstone, the object that will allow Thorin to rule all of the Dwarves. The journey to the mountain has its perils including a battle between Dwarves, Elves, and Orcs down a river and an attack by giant spiders. Then it becomes a cat-and-mouse game in the dragon's lair between Bilbo, Smaug (voiced wonderfully by Benedict Cumberbatch), and the dwarves. The end of the movie is basically a cliffhanger that sets up the third movie.

The extended edition of the movie is long, over an hour longer than the theatrical edition. It adds a lot to the storyline. Some of the additions are good, and for others, you can tell why they got cut out for the theatrical release. Of course, the real reason to get this set is the bonus material. As with the first Hobbit release and the LOTR extended edition releases, this has two Appendices, both of which contain over five hours of behind-the-scenes and making-of material. There is also a commentary track on the movie by Peter Jackson and his collaborator Phillipa Boyens, that provides a lot of insight on various shots and the filming process overall. The A/V quality of the blu-ray is great, and the numerous special effects look seamless with everything else.

Overall, the movie is good but does get a bit long at times. Thankfully, it is easy to take bathroom breaks at home because this would be a beast to sit through in a theater. Martin Freeman and Richard Armitage are great as the leads of the movie, and the supporting cast, including Ian McKellen, Ian McKellen, Luke Evans, Lee Pace, Orlando Bloom, and Stephen Fry (among others) is very strong. The extended edition is really best for die-hard fans and/or people who love tons of bonus material. If you do not fall into either of those categories, this set will very much be overkill for you. If you are in one of those categories, however, this is a must-have pickup.

Workout Update: Insanity Max 30/Chalean Extreme/Body Beast/P90X Hybrid Day 5

Day 5 was the Friday Fight workout from Max-30, which is definitely the hardest month-one workout. There is a warm-up that cycles through four different moves for two rounds. Then, instead of getting a break, you launch right into the workout. Each exercise in FF is a minute long, and instead of getting 4 or 5 breaks during the workout, you get two. One at the halfway mark and one at the twenty-six-minute mark. It is another total body cardio and strength workout that works the legs, core, chest, and triceps. 

Again my one nitpicky point is that you do not have the option to watch the modifier track and there are times when the camera that is following Shaun T around or panning the crowd does not show the modified moves, or just shows the modifier for a second. The cast in this workout is again made up of mostly "normal" people with a couple of fitness models and/or trainers mixed in there. Dea is one of the ones that I was contrasting with Shanita in the other workout. She is clearly not a fitness professional but she works much harder than some of the cast members who slack off when the camera is not on them and then ham it up when the camera is on them (which was something that happened a lot in the original Insanity workouts). Everyone in this workout works pretty hard and even though people are pausing and stopping after they max out, nobody seems to be half-assing it. It is another workout where even the modifier, who is in great shape, has to max out late into the workout. So, it is very challenging. Tomorrow I will be doing P90x's back and bicep workout, which are really the only two body parts that do not get worked to death in Insanity.

DVD/TV Series Review: The Killing: The Complete Third Season

 

The third season of The Killing essentially resets the series after the closing of the Rosie Larsen case. It is set one year after the events of season two. Linden (Mireille Enos) did not actually move to California and is working as a Transit Authority cop on a ferry. Holder (Joel Kinnaman) is still a homicide detective with a new partner played by the very recognizable character actor Gregg Henry, named Carl Reddick. Holder and Reddick investigate the disappearance of a young runaway that ties into an old case of Linden, which was briefly mentioned during season two. This ultimately leads Linden and Holder to once again partnering with each other to try and track down a serial killer. The season also stars Elias Koteas (probably best known from the series Chicago PD) as James Skinner, Linden's former partner and current leader of the Seattle Police Department's Special Investigations Unit, Bex Taylor-Klaus (who has had character roles on Arrow, The Librarians, and iZombie and a leading role in the Scream TV series), and Peter Sarsgaard as Ray Seward, an inmate on death row for the murder of his wife. Sci-Fi nerds will also recognize Aaron Douglas (from the Battlestar reboot) as a prison guard and Jewel Staite (from Firefly) as Holder's girlfriend.

For those who get the DVD set, it is just an MOD set without any extras. Just the twelve episodes across three discs. Like many other TV series that were not massively popular and/or highly rated, even though the first season got a decent blu-ray release, seasons 2-4 only received DVD releases, with seasons 3 and 4 just getting MOD releases.

Overall, the season is very good. The acting is great, and the writing is mostly very good. The writers do try to throw a lot of twists and misdirection as they did for the Rosie Larsen storyline. As was the case in the first couple of seasons, some of the twists worked and some were pretty silly. Peter Sarsgaard absolutely stole the show this season and had the best character arc of any of the characters. The season ends on a pretty big cliffhanger, which was a risky way to go given that the show was not a shoo-in to be picked up for a fourth season. Thankfully, Netflix revived the show after AMC canceled it so the storyline does get resolved. While it was not a highly rated blockbuster show with A-list stars, it was a smart show that had a very gritty and real feeling to it that many police serials and procedurals do not. While you do not need to have watched the first season to understand what is going on (for the most part) in this season, it is a good idea to watch the first two seasons before you watch this to get the introduction and development of the two main characters. It is definitely worth the time to watch.