Interview with Super Sentai Producer

As you may or mat not know, I am the webmaster of a Super Sentai fan site (supersentai.com) and also contribute to a Power Ranger fan site (rangercentral.com). Which was down for July 24 because of maintenance.

Here is an interview by Christian Lonsing with Super Sentai producer Hideaki Tsukada. It is an PDF file, Click here to download or view it.

Tsukada reveals in this rare interview that they are keeping hero deaths to a minimum, which is common in Super Sentai. The 'Green Ranger' we know from the original MMPR series--his Japanese counterpart Zyuranger/Burai died. Also he admits there is no communication between the Power Ranger and Super Sentai crews, but surprisingly Bandai America does have some input. Fans have wanted a red female leader and a pink male which has yet to happen, Tsukada doesn't rule it out but being it a show mainly for boys, he doubts stores would want to sell a series with a female lead. Kamen Rider, a series Toei (production company of Sentai) also produces--they only have communication at the beginning to make sure they don't have the same theme. Sequels are rare in Super Sentai, they have never happened. Each story and cast last a year long for the past 32 years. Tsukada says if the companies involved Toei and Bandai are convinced it is worth doing, they may do a sequel. He personally would love to do one on Dekaranger (Power Rangers S.P.D.)

Kyle XY Season 2 Episode 7 Review

"Free To Be You and Me"

July 23, 2007

Just when I thought Kyle XY wouldn't deal with gay issues, even though there is no gay character, they did and it was a welcomed surprise. The whole cliche first date at a dance and 'I don't know to dance' was turned on its head literally. Amanda invites Kyle to a dance. Lori wants to go alone with Hilary, getting single tickets cost more than a couple and the school was not accepting same sex couples. Lori and Hilary aren't gay but they still wanted to fight for rights, especially when Andy pulled together a protest which of course the Trager kids had to be involved. What is awesome is that Andy (who might have a thing with Josh) has two mothers. The principal was not for it, even though Nicole fights for them, Lori, Kyle, and Amanda are not allowed to go to the dance. They then pull together an 'Alterna-Dance.' What I love is that Lori organizes everything. I am glad they focused on equal rights.

Even though there is no gay main character, it is good to show that even this effects straight people and heterosexual people can make a difference. Kyle, who is ignorant to everything, wanted to understand why people had problems with same-sex couples. I am glad Kyle always shows the rational side, showing people how silly they are. What wouldn't a gay-themed episode be without Lori and Hilary kissing? Of course, it wasn't a total "Cruel Intentions" kiss. I liked it when Andy confronted Josh about his homophobia.. sort of. She asks if he has a problem, then ask if he was gay and said no and she said it would make him cooler. In the Swing Dance, I don't think I saw many gay couples.. well except for the two guys Andy was dancing with. And if there is gay people, you know there will be good dancers. And that is not a stereotype, it is a fact. I am glad they touched on the subject.

"Aww" to Josh turning around on the whole gay subject and then getting a cheek kiss. Also great that Declan stood up to Charlie. I fell sorry about Charlie--he is always targeted as the bad guy. Declan told Lori how he and Kyle fell apart as friends and that they didn't trust each other enough. "Romance and Interruption," Lori responses. "You and your words," Declan says. After Declan stood up to Kyle, Kyle ran to Declan to tell him the whole truth. Declan told Kyle about Foss' threat and then Lori got assaulted (she and we didn't see who it was). Wow great episode.

I didn't expect to do so many reviews on Kyle XY episodes but I guess I will be doing each week. Depends if the episode is worth mentioning.

Unknown Hotties of the Week 7/23/07

Cole Hamels

Philadelphia Phillies left handed pitcher that has a huge following called the 'cole miners.' He is 23 years old and married to a Playboy pinup.
More pictures here at my brother blog Caramelitos Baronil

Hunter Pence
24 year old 6'4" tall Houston Astros outfielder.
Click here for more pictures at Caramelitos Baronil

Mike Edward
European Actor based in Auckland, New Zeland. He was recently in Lifetime's "A Stolen Life." More info on him here.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Review

Spoiler Free
Quite an enjoyable book if I may say so myself. In many stories that lead to their end, many times there is new characters and new concepts and they just don't feel part of the world. J.K. Rowling has successfully added many concepts and characters that seem right. Also many questions are answered as well. Much like the past books, this one does drag on sometimes and a boat load of information that is not exactly essential to the story. I personally loved the book, all together, I don't understand these fans that are disappointed but that is expected. The characters mature of course, much like the other books. Harry, as rebellious as he was when he was in book 5 but a level more of maturity. As usual, he does get sidetracked, Hermione warns him to stay in line but he is corrected once again. The death rate is pretty high and appropriately so. Even though this novel is darker than the others, there is still time for the usual whimsy and cutesy-ness. Of course, not as much as before but still present nonetheless. I believe everything really nicely fit in place. Like Rowling said in an interview, it basically wrote itself, it felt right.

If You Finished Reading the Book
I never liked Dumbledore coming in and explaining everything to the protagonist at the end of each novel (come on! He does!). So, since was disposed of in the last book (even though that doesn't mean much in the Harry Potter world)--I was glad I wouldn't have to read a long explanation. Boy, was I was mistaken. Even though the defeat of You-Know-Who felt a bit cliche and not tighten, I have an inkling Rowling hadn't changed it since she wrote it. Now as for the Epilogue, I guess people are upset about it because it didn't have a lot of information. I guess it was strange because she always gave excruciating details to everything else. Now, I was pretty much at peace about who died except for that poor Teddy's parents, left orphan. I guess Rowling wanted to leave someone orphan. And even though we pretty much deduced what the seventh Horcrux would be--she wrote it so beautifully. And the loopholes were pretty nice. Yeah it took me like 12 hours (with breaks and such) out of 2 days.


If you never plan to read the Books
Screw you! Read the book!

Excitement over Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

You may already know that I review almost everything I see in the theaters or rent or buy, and tomorrow I will hopefully be receiving the seventh and final novel 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' from Amazon. Now, of course it will take me time to read the book. I am a slow reader, 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' took me nine days to read (well with breaks and work of course). I still haven't decided if I will post a review or not.

Also, I would like to say that is the FIRST time I have not spoiled myself before reading/watching something. Most movies or television shows, I find out as much information as I can before I watch it. For example, for the Buffy series finale I read the script online and saw spoiler-y pictures before I saw the episode. Now in this case, I haven't searched a thing, I haven't read the New York Times review, zlitch. Yes, this is a book, but it is just the same. I am so anticipating this and can't wait to read J.K.'s wonderful words. Oh also, I don't care if anyone dies and who dies. If they die, I am sure it is for a valid reason and it will all make sense. I think what is the best of stories like these is how it effects the characters in their cores. It is all about the journey. Fans have followed these characters from their prepubescent years to near adult age and they feel for these characters and want the best for them. What they went through, we have. What makes the best sci-fi story are these elements, what grounds it in reality.

Athlete declines communication workshop

A certain athlete who made remarks that were widely categorized as homophobic visited a non-profit GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trangender) organization in Miami a few months ago. This specific organization centers around communication and being authentic, not concentrating on 'us versus them.' The organization's leader asked the individual to come to a two-day workshop concentrating on communication this weekend. This individual's rep called and said the individual would like to speak to the workshop's audience (saying how much the individual has changed)--which wasn't exactly part of the workshop. Not only did they want this, they wanted the workshop to be moved to another day, and to just be one day. The organization's leader did not budge, said it could not be done. Then the rep wanted the leader to tell the local newspaper that the individual was great and attended the event. The organization believed if the individual did not attended this crucial and life-changing workshop, this requested public comment would just fuel the fire if the individual did not have the proper tools to deal with criticism, similar to the one the individual was accused of in the first place. This individual did not attend the event. So right now, it is all in a stand still.