Album Review: Ratt's Collage

Welcome back to Compilation Month 2.0 fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

We started things off with a garbage release of a compilation in the form of The Best Of Type-O Negative. A soulless, commercial, deceptive release of a compilation, it’s one of the most worthless of albums ever released (Apart from the Highway Star cover). Today’s release? Not so much! The compilation I’m covering today is fun, doesn’t reek of commercialism, and might be a bit hairy. That’s right, we got a Hair Metal compilation today, and from one of the greats of the 80s. So put on your clothes that would make peoples’s heads spin, put on so much makeup & hairspray that would turn you into a walking fire hazard, and enjoy my review of Ratt’s 1997 compilation, Collage. Let’s begin!

Background
Kinda like the Kreator compilation I covered back in 2017 (Read here), there isn’t that much info to go on for Collage. Even Wikipedia doesn’t have much, but what little they do have will be enough. Effectively consisting of alternate recordings, B-sides, and versions of songs from the band's Mickey Ratt period, Collage was mostly recorded and released in 1997 concurrently with their reunion tour at the time, which in turn would help them promote a new album. In 1998, Ratt would go on to sign a new major deal with Sony.

I should make mention of some odd facts about Collage. The track Mother Blues first appeared as an Arcade (A Hair Metal supergroup that had ex-Ratt members on it) song off their 1993 self-titled record, but was originally a Ratt demo. Meanwhile, Steel River is an alternate version of the Mickey Ratt song, Railbreak. Again, some odd facts right there.

Basic Description
A motley collection.

Ratt has always put out fun music. From the early 80s all the way to today (Supposedly a new album is coming out this year or next), the band was always on the fun side of Hair Metal, and Collage is no exception. It’s cool to hear material that didn’t make the cut the first time around get a little moment in the spotlight. As a way to announce a comeback, this is definitely a good way to do it. Even if you’ve never listened to Ratt before, Collage is certainly a gateway for potential fans to come into the fold.

Best Track
If there’s one thing about compilation albums, it’s that there’s a “Chinese Buffet” feel when it comes to songs. There’s definitely something for everybody, whether it’s the more popular songs or the ones that the fans might not know about. For me, I’d go for the laidback Mother Blues. There’s always something about a metal band going for a Blues style track, but Ratt doesn’t do that. Instead, they go for a full-blown Blues song, and it’s the best thing on Collage. Mother Blues is the kind of tune you’d here on the Mississippi Delta, sitting on your porch, and just enjoying the day. It’s easy listening, and it’s easy to get into your head.

Mother Blues

Worst Track
There honestly isn’t a single bad thing on here. Every song is great, the band seems to be at the top of their game, and the production value is good too. The only complaint I could give was that the selection of music is a little scrapped together, but even then I can’t really complain. It was 7-ish years since their last release, so they might have had a little bit of rust on the joints.

Other
This is the first time that I can’t link an album in a review. You can find a few songs from Collage on youtube, but this looks like the only time you can find this release on Amazon or one of the many music streaming sites. Sorry.

Overall Impression & Rating
Collage is certainly a fun collection of songs. It definitely comes across as scrapped together, but Ratt wasn’t really trying to release something grandiose. The band was trying to release a statement, and that was the fact that they were still around despite Hair Metal not being in the public eye anymore. Whether you’re a longtime Ratt fan that’s never picked this up, or somebody that has an interest in the band, Collage is definitely something to consider.

Collage gets a 9.5 out of 10 objectively, but a 10 out of 10 due to the fun factor.

So that was my look at Ratt’s 1997 comeback, Collage. A fun collection of songs, and unlike my first review this month, is definitely worth your time. There’s plenty more of Compilation Month to come, so come back at the end of the month for a......unique conclusion. See you them!

Wrestlemania 35 Review

Man, people haven’t been looking to this year’s Wrestlemania, haven’t they fellow Otaku & Metalheads.

To be honest, I’ve been dreading this year’s show alongside most people. 34 from last year wasn’t necessarily a bad show, but in hindsight it was a rather boring show that had some end results that didn’t quite make sense. This year’s buildup, however, has been abysmal! I don’t know what’s up WWE’s ass, but outside of maybe 2 to 5 matches, the “Road To Wrestlemania” seems like a dirt path that hasn’t been paved yet. With the show now a few days behind us, is it the flaming 5-car pileup a lot of people have been suspecting it would be? Well, let’s take a look at my review of the show (As well as Raw. Skipping Smackdown this year, cause....yeah, you’ll see.), and see if there are any bodies within the wreckage. Fingers crossed.

(No Pre-Show section this year. Due to.....issues, I wasn’t able to watch it in time. I saw a little bit, but not enough to include it in the review)

Main Card
Brock Lesnar vs Seth Rollins (Universal Title Match)
Prediction: Seth Rollins
Actual Winner: Seth Rollins
- The show starts off with perhaps one of the most bizarre opening matches in recent memory. Paul Heyman comes storming down to the ring, furious that Brock wasn’t going on last. He goes on further, saying that if they wouldn’t go on last, him & Brock would leave. Instead, they had this match first, with Brock entering the ring first, and Seth second. Before the bell actually tung, Brock proceeds to maul Seth outside the ring, and it’s a pretty typical Lesnar-style mauling. Eventually, Seth manages to get into the ring, and Brock executes his typical “UFC meets WWE” style of wrestling, while Seth can barely fight back. Eventually, he does get some energy back, and manages to get a low blow on Lesnar (The referee gets knocked out in the scuffle, but another comes in not long after). Eventually, Seth manages to pin Brock for the win. Just a weird way to start things off, and a quick one as well.....but a satisfying conclusion at the same time.

AJ Styles vs Randy Orton
Prediction: ?
Actual Winner: AJ Styles
- I didn’t have a prediction for this match. The buildup to this wasn’t half bad, and it was one of those rare times where it seemed like either side could win, and the crowd would probably enjoy it.
- AJ heads to the ring first, followed by Orton. Things start off with some grappling, during which Orton goes for an RKO but fails. From there both guys trade control of the match: first it’s AJ after he jumps out of the ring onto Orton, then Randy has it for a while (Throws AJ around, then gets him back in the ring, and grapples him), then Styles manages to get out of the grapple. Weirdly enough, it looked like Orton’s left knee was hurt somehow, but whether it was fake or not I’m not sure. AJ manages to get a Calf Crusher in, but ends up letting go because Randy grabbed the bottom rope. Styles goes for the pin, but Orton kicks out & gets some offense in. After a superplex, both wrestlers were weakened, but Orton tried to get the pin. Randy gets some energy back into his system, starting with a DDT, and then a RKO, but AJ kicks out of that & lands a jumpkick. Orton tries again, and actually lands the move, but Styles kicks out. Orton tries to get AJ onto the ropes for a 3rd RKO, but once again AJ slips out of it. The two make it outside the ring, then Styles lands 2 phenominal forearm, with the 2nd one inside the ring for the win. A good fight overall!

The Usos vs The Bar vs Shinsuke & Rusev vs Ricochet & Alister Black (Fatal 4-Way Tag Championship)
Prediction: ?
Actual Winner: The Usos
- I was so confused by this match. Kinda like AJ & Orton, all of the teams here deserved the tag titles in some capacity. What left me scratching my head was just how random everything seemed in the ring. It came across like a Tornado Tag Team match, but without the normal tornado tag rules.
- Usos are first. The Bar was second. Shinsuke & Rusev were 3rd, and Lana followed her husband out (Seemed kinda cute). Ricochet & Alister Black were last, and Black’s entrance was awesome as always. Jay Uso & Black were first to square off, but Shaemus tags in to get some offense. Rusev comes in for a bit, but then he tagged his partner Shinsuke into the match. Ricochet & Nakamura fight, then Cesaro gets Nakamura out. Shaemus joins his partner in beating up Ricochet, and Cesaro keeps him in a hold. Jimmy Uso breaks it up, and then Alister comes in & almost gets the win, but Nakamura breaks it up. He gets tagged in & attacks Black, but get Rusev back in and almost pins Ricochet (Who got tagged in beforehard), but Ricochet kicks out. Cesaro gets Rusev out, then Shaemus & Cesaro & Usos get involved, then Rusev & Shinsuke get involved, and the match turns into a giant cluster. Alister takes Shinsuke out, then Ricochet almost gets pin but the other teams come back in to break it up, turning things into a cluster again. The Usos fight back once again, and manage to keep the titles in the end.

The Miz vs Shane McMahon (Falls Count Anywhere)
Prediction: The Miz
Actual Winner: Shane Mcmahon
- Now here was a match that had some pretty decent buildup. For months, The Miz & Shame McMahon had been together as a team, and their chemistry worked really well. Due to them losing the tag titles a month or two ago, Shane turned on Miz, and leading up to Wrestlemania things were building up between the former teammates. Miz got a lot of sympathy, and became quite the babyface (Something that hasn’t been done in a while). Then, just a week or two before the big day, the fight between the two became a Falls Count Anywhere match.....and it was damn good!
- Shane was the first to the ring, and in a disappointing twist, the Mean Street Posse didn’t come out with him. The Miz was second to the ring, and the crowd was behind him 100 percent. Shane’s first action was the mess with Miz’s Dad, and this distracted the Hollywood A-Lister. In a move that became a meme almost overnight, Miz’s father comes into the ring, and strikes a fighting pose so weak, it was fantastic. He & Shane traded a few blows, but ultimately fails. Miz makes it back in the ring to save his pop (Basically got him out of the ring), and to proceed to go all out on Shane. When they make their way into the crowd, it actually gets kind of violent. Miz manages to go for 3 pins, and each time Shane kicks out, yet he never lost control. Shane does get a little bit of offense back, and tries to leave Miz behind by climbing up some rigging. Miz follows, and once he’s cornered Shane begins to play the sympathy card pretty hard. Miz doesn’t buy it, and then grabs his opponent for a flip off the rigging......and Shane wins.....by a technicality....I think.......WHAT!!??

Boss & Hug Connection vs Nia & Tamina vs The Iconics vs Natalya & Beth Phoenix (Fatal 4-Way Women’s Tag Championship)
Prediction: Boss & Hug Connection
Actual Winner: The Iconics
- Honestly, I’m not gonna type much here. Kinda like the 4-way from earlier, this came across like a cluster. Whereas I enjoyed the men’s match, this one was just meh. Even the notes I have don’t inspire me enough to write things down here in detail. To give it a little bit of credit, Beth Phoenix was pretty good. She didn’t come across as rusty in any way, and if they brought her back to Raw or Smackdown, she might be a good draw for a program with somebody. Sadly, we got perhaps the worst tag team in the Iconics winning the match by literarily stealing the pin. Easily the worst match of the night.

Kofi Kingston vs Daniel Bryan (WWE Title Match)
Prediction: Kofi Kingston
Actual Winner: Kofi Kingston
- There were definitely a few “Feel Good” moments on this show, but I think this one might be the best out of them all. Though this came about completely by accident, not to mention because of pressure from the fans, it still would up getting just about everybody to smile. Both men were fantastic in the ring, with Daniel Bryan playing up his "Psycho Vegan/Humanitarian" really well (Even though I think he works better as a face), and Kofi coming across as highly reminiscent as Bryan from 5 years ago. Another thing I liked was that the rest of the New Day & Eric Rowan didn't interfere for their respective side, keeping things pretty personal between the two. All thoughout the match, everybody in the arena was completely on Kofi's side (There might have been a few that weren't), and any time that Bryan got offense in, the boos were loud. There are definitely some matches throughout the night that had a nice ending, but this one was easily the best!

Rey Mysterio vs Samoa Joe (U.S. Championship Match)
Prediction: Rey Mysterio
Actual Winner: Samoa Joe
- The shortest match of the night, and the worst match of the night. It’s kind of sad, as I was looking forward to a “David vs Goliath” style of fight. Boy oh boy, did that optimism drain away quick! Rey is the first to come out, and his moment was nice, and Joe came out second. Joe managed to get in some offense pretty early, but not long after Rey goes for a 619. It fails, and almost immediately he got put into the Cocina Clutch, & fell right asleep, with Samoa Joe as the winner. Now, due to Rey ankle issue, I can see why they would go for something quick......but it didn’t have to be a single minute!

Drew McIntyre vs Roman Reigns
Prediction: Roman Reigns
Actual Winner: Roman Reigns
- I think this match is the first time in years where people were actively in Roman Reigns’s corner. Given that he beat his Leukemia into remission, it would probably make someone into a monster if they booed a cancer survivor. Him announcing in October last year that he had the disease basically gave him a medically induced babyface turn.....but I digress.
- Drew comes out first, and he’s got the NYC police bagpile band playing along with his theme. Reigns is next, and for what seemed like a flashback to the middle of this decade, the crowd was actually behind him. In fact the cheering from the audience last for quite a bit. In anycase, the two men had an intense staredown, only to trade a barrage of punches, kicks, and throws a few seconds afterwards. Drew actually goes for a pin in the early moment, only for Reigns to kick out. Drew keeps control of the match for a bit, but Roman gets a little time in. Reigns gets a hold put on him, but manages to stand up and get out of it. Roman misses a move (Forgot what it was), and Drew gets right back on him for some punches, and a suplex onto the floor. Staying in control for a little more, he goes for a second pin, only for Roman to kick out. Reigns gets a tiny bit of offense in, only for Drew to flip him onto the mat shortly afterwards. Feeling tired at this point, Reigns looks beat, but after some taunting from the Scottish Psychopath, he basically taps into his inner Incredible Hulk, and just gets an immediate boost of energy. Reigns wins the match by landing a brutal spear on Drew, and pinning him without any resistance. Definitely a feel good moment of the night!

Batista vs Triple H (No Holds Barred)
Prediction: Batista
Actual Winner: Triple H
- Right away, the buildup to this match was terrible. For starters, they made Batista the heel for no reason! He’s come off of many successful movies, especially both of the Guardians of the Galaxy flicks. Everything he did came across as weak, with the exception of him beating up Ric Flair, which was kinda scary to be honest. Triple H didn’t look that much better, but at least he had the home advantage. Then it comes to their entrances: Batista got some quasi-Hollywood escort, while Triple H got a dorky Mad Max intro on a post-apocalyptic dune buggy (Which looked kinda awesome). From there.....well, I’m not sure.
- The match itself wasn’t terrible. Due to the weak buildup, a lot of it was underwhelming, but it wasn’t bad. There was a lot of physicality from both men, and some of the spots weren’t half bad (The spot where Batista’s nose ring got pulled out looked brutal). What ultimately made me go “Meh” was when Flair showed up to give Triple H a hand (Despite not being in any of H’s promos building up the match), and the fact that Hunter won the man, when Batista said this was basically his last ever time in the ring. Absolutely frustrating!

Kurt Angle vs Baron Corbin
Prediction: Kurt Angle
Actual Winner: Baron Corbin
- Right away things seemed screwey about this match, for the simple fact that John Cena wasn’t picked for this match. Angle & Cena had numerous bouts over the years, and it was their first encounter that birthed the term “Ruthless Aggression”, not to mention the subsequent era in WWE at that point in time. Secondly, the reasoning behind Kurt picking seemed odd, as it related to both of their terms as GM of Raw. Given the rumors swirling around Kurt & where he was going after he retired from active competition....people should have lowered their expectations.
- Anyways, Corbin goes down to the ring first, and there’s nothing that separates his entrance or attire here than on any other night on Raw. Angle is next, and the fans went nuts. He goes for the offense once the match starts, but Corbin is unusually slippery, and gets some attacks in. Kurt gets creative in avoiding the blows, and gets in a suplex in the process. Goes for a pin, but Corbin kicks out. Angle goes back in for an ankle lock, but Corbin gets out. Then Corbin goes for a Deep 6 and goes for the pin, but Kurt barely kicks out of the move. Angle goes for an Angle Slam, but doesn’t get the pin. Then he tries another ankle lock, and gets thrown into the turnbuckle for his troubles. Luckily, he recovers in time to get some suplex on Corbin, but fails in giving his opponent a moonsault. This gives Baron the window he needed to win the match.....barf! Luckily, Angle is given a moment in the ring to speak with the fans before he left, so there was that.

Bobby Lashley vs Finn Balor (Intercontinental Championship)
Prediction: Finn Balor
Actual Winner: Finn Balor
- Usually when a match is place within the deadspot of Wrestlemania, that means it’s one they wanted to get out of the way earlier in the show, but couldn’t because of timing. In regards to this match, not much was being built up, and thus kind of deserves being here. That said....it was actually okay! Not amazing. Just okay.
- Lashey & Lio Rush come down to the ring first, and may I ask.....what the hell is with the contacts Lashley is wearing!? It makes him look like a bald Michael Jackson werewolf. Luckily, Balor’s entrance wasn’t dumb, as we haven’t seen the demon in what seems like ages. Finn immediately goes for the offense, but Bobby turns things around for himself quick and gets the Demon to the floor, but his infernal foe gets some attacks in. He’s then met with a spear outside the ring, and when the two get back inside the squared circle, he gets another spear, and almost gets pinned. Luckily he kicks out, and delivers Lashley a coup de grace for the win. Again, nothing amazing before the main event, but it wasn’t boring either.

Becky Lynch vs Ronda Rousey vs Charlotte Flair (Winner Takes All Women’s Championship)
Prediction: Becky Lynch
Actual Winner: Becky Lynch
- Two things. On the one hand, the right woman won the match. The story leading up to this match had been going on since late last year. All thanks to an accidental punch, Becky Lynch has been getting stronger and stronger, not to mention more competent on the microphone, and more credible as a wrestler in WWE (Despite having some accolades outside of the company). If The Man didn’t win this fight, it would mean that the buildup was all meant for nothing, and it would show to the crowd & those watching at home that it never mattered. Luckily, the right choice was made, and Becky won!
- On the other hand.....this match had so many problems! For starters, this should have been between Ronda & Becky only. Charlotte added a bit of randomness to things, but at the same time she really didn’t provide anything of note, and her winning the title from Asuka (Who seems like an abuse victim in the company at this point) felt cheap. On top of that, this bout came across as incredibly rehearsed. For the first ever Women’s main event at a Wrestlemania, it should have come across as incredibly organic. Instead, it was stiff, full of botches, and not quite as energetic as people thought it was going to me. Anthony “Missionary” Thomas of the Wrestling Soup podcast said it on their WM35 review episode (Which you can listen to here) that a Women’s match will never headline any future Wrestlemania ever again, and pins the blame all on this bout. While I would like to think otherwise, I reluctantly agree with the points he’s made.

Overall Impression & Rating
Wrestlemania 35 was shockingly good. It had some big issues, and the end result for some of the matches could be questionable, but it’s amazing at how much fun things were. Maybe the overall spectacle wasn’t a 5-car pileup, but perhaps a 2-car instead. A considerable improvement over last year’s show, and once I most certainly recommend.

Wrestlemania 35 gets a 7.2 to 7.5 out of 10.

Raw Review
Hour 1: (Missing 1st half-hour)
- We have Baron Corbin coming out, gloating about his victory over Kurt Angle, and the crowd was almost as mad at him as they were at Roman Reigns back in 2017. Ironically, Angle comes out, and the crowd is right behind him. He wishes Corbin luck in his future endeavors, but grimly says “Bad Luck”, and give him an Angle Slam, then proceeded to put him in an ankle lock. This was short lived, as Lars Sullivan (Who was supposed to show up months ago) comes out, and proceeds to turn the olympian into ground beef, slamming him onto the mat, then landing a pretty brutal dive. Makes Kurt’s leaving active wrestling look pathetic!
- After this spectacle of stupidity, we got another one in the form of Alexa Bliss vs Bailey. This must have lasted maybe a little over 3 minutes, and it almost seemed like Bailey was being punished for something stupid, as it was a clean pin on the part of Alexa. Again, Bailey must have pissed somebody off in the back. It can be the only reason why she was decimated so quickly.

Hour 2:
- Becky Lynch, fresh off her botched win, comes out to wild cheers from the crowd. She talks about how she was feeling, and thanking the crowd for sticking with her for as long as they did. She leaves the ring with a still positive crowd, when the “Southern Bell” Lacy Evans, comes down, and at first it seems like a cool encounter.....then Lacy lands a blow to her, and the two women proceed to fight. So the woman who walks down to the ring for the past few months, and has done nothing of note, is the first to try & take the titles......WHY!?
- We get a glimpse of Seth Rollins in the back, being interviewed by somebody new. He talks about why he accepted the challenge from Kofi Kingston (More on this in a moment), and speaks about some other stuff I can’t recall.
- Up next was a match between Ricochet & Alister Black vs Bobby Roode & Chad Gable. Alister’s entrance was a little screwed up, as his normal gimmick was not working, and crawled up from the floor instead. It was a good match for what it was, and they won. Afterwards, Roode & Gable proceeded to ambush them, showing off the potential for a heel turn. Might be interesting sometime down the road.
- We get a quick segment with Elias in the back, complaining about Cena coming out and ruining the concert he was going to host (A pretty cool moment from this past Sunday, as John Cena came back as his “Doctor of Thuganomics” character from last decade, and he brought his rap game. Huge wave of nostalgia if you ask me). He then said he was gonna come out a little later to sing, but I’ll get to that in a bit.
- Next up was Dean Ambrose vs Lashley, but it wasn’t really a match. For a guy that gave a good amount of time to WWE, this was a giant slap to the face. Lashley started out with a cheap heat move of creeping on Dean’s wife, and proceeded to basically have control the entire time. Things mercifully ended when Dean was slammed through the announce table. One third of the Shield’s exit everybody!

Hour 3:
- Hour 3 starts off (Technically in Hour 2's end) with a surprise return from Sami Zayn, and he asks for a match. Out comes Finn Balor (Minus the demon getup), and the two have a bout for the Intercontinental Title. It’s not half bad, with Finn managed to pin Sami for the win. Afterwards, Sami basically has a bitch fit, and seems to go back into his heel role he embraced nearly a year before. Barf!
- We get that Elias concert, and it was actually a rap similar to how Cena performed the night before. After saying the words dead man, we get a surprise appearance from the Undertaker, and it was easily the best spot of the night. Undertaker looked pretty good, as he was losing weight & getting back into shape. Again, the best spot of the night!
- Now it comes to the final match of the night. Seth Rollins vs Kofi Kingston for a winner takes all match (Announced in the half hour I missed). We never got this bout technically, as the two did face off....only for The Bar to screw things up, and then things turned into a tag team match. So as not to completely screw the fans, Kofi & Seth did get the win for a feel good moment. A weak one, but it was a feel good spot.

Overall Impression & Rating
Man......Raw was hot garbage! After the surprisingly good Wrestlemania this past Sunday, the Monday night afterwards felt like the exact opposite. There was little effort in essentially everything, and what little good there was felt like faint motes of light in the deepest darkness. Those motes keep this Monday Night Raw at the average point, but only just.

Raw gets 5 a out of 10, and that’s being kind.

And that was my review of Wrestlemania 35, not to mention Monday Night Raw. Again, 35 managed to surpass a lot of people’s expectation and ended up being a lot of fun. Raw, on the other hand, ended up being the biggest bait-and-switch dumpster fire after a Wrestlemania in a long time. Hell, I was gonna review Smackdown, but given how Raw played out, not to mention hearing how pathetic Tuesday was, I can only assume it was just as bad. Well, with this out of the way, Compilation Month 2.0 marches on, and in just a few days I got a review of a release that’s considerably more pleasing to the ears than what I started April out with. See you soon!



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If you want to see what I thought of last year’s Wrestlemania, check out the link below:

Wrestlemania 34 Review

Also, check out the video below on why we never really got the real “Winner Takes All” match. Absolutely infuriating!

WWE Raw April, 8 2019 Full Show Review & Results: RAW AFTER WRESTLEMANIA 35 WAS COMPLETE GARBAGE

Food For Thought/Thought For Food No. 13: #ChangeTheChannel (1 Year Later)

I remember it like it was yesterday: In November of 2011 I was invited over by a then brand new friend's place to hang out for the weekend (He ended up being one of my best friends of all time), and we did a bunch of fun stuff. Ate food that probably shortened out lifespan, played games, and watched a movie or two. However, it was watching my first ever episode of the Nostalgia Critic that somehow stuck in my head from that day. Now I had known about AVGN for a few years by this point, but I never heard of the man I would later learn to be Doug Walker, nor did I ever hear of the group of reviewers he was with, Channel Awesome. I tore through all of NC's videos, found myself baffled by the bad comics reviewed by Linkara, laughed at the absurdity of Spoony, and overall enjoyed the content the site provided. But then, something happened......

Doug Walker offed the Nostalgia Critic in 2012, only to bring him back after a few months due to the show that replaced him (Demo Reel) sucking so bad. However, his return seemed to bring a wave of.....something. Whatever this something was, it made all of the content creators I watched feel.....not as good. Everybody seemed to be trying a little more harder than they had too, and things didn't feel quite as free-spirited as they did when I first started watching (Maybe even before). It got worse as rumors started coming out about some behind the scenes stuff, and people began leaving. It was a trickle at first, then it became a flood. Eventually, it seemed as if Channel Awesome became the most desolate of internet deserts.

Why am I talking about this? Well, today marks the 1-year anniversary of the release of the Change The Channel google document, not to mention the briefly popular Change The Channel hashtag. It was a lot to absorb back in 2018, and still is kind of a shock to be honest. In the time since then, not a single positive thing has happened. The apology they issued was condescending & horrendous, their fact refuting post about the google doc was filled with holes, and due to a mixup of info (Accidental or Purposeful, you be the judge), Channel Awesome outed a rapist no-one saw coming (Still shocks me to this day)! By staying silent and doing nothing, the site somehow managed to avoid doing anything, got off scott-free, and are somehow still around!

Like it says in the meme at the start of this, you either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain. Although, I wonder at this point of Channel Awesome was the villain all along, and nobody noticed until it was too late. Makes me sad, and a part of me kind of regrets liking the once awesome bastion of internet creators. Wish it doesn't though. Luckily I'm here, and I'll do the best I can to provide quality reviews & posts, so see you about mid next week with my annual Wrestlemania (Raw & Smackdown) review. Until then, if the channel sucks.....you might want to think about changing it.

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Right below are some great video that speak about #ChangeTheChannel. The 1st is a fantastic documentary about the site's rather (In hindsight) sordid history, a morbid birthday of the hashtag, and a quick video about how maybe we should move on because nothing will get changed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL3hOA0XgPc&t=444s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX-HKiM7bAQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_lt35NyLYc

(Updated on May 16th 2019, 7:41 PM Eastern Standard Time) 

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If you're curious about the google doc & all of the sordid details within, check out the link below:

Change The Channel (Google Doc)

Album Review: Type-O Negative's The Best Of Type-O Negative

Hello fellow Otaku & Metalheads, and welcome......to the return of Compilation Month!

That right, we’re returning to the world of metal compilations. This was easily one of the weirdest mini festivals I’ve done for the blog, but it’s one that was simultaneously a lot of fun! It’s always challenging finding information about a collection of songs put together, and while some might be easier than others, the amount of work it takes to locate the info can be a little hard. Again, through the hard work, finding the info is fun in and of itself.

Sadly, we’re starting things off with one of the worst metal compilations every produced. Ironically, the compilation of the band in question wasn’t needed at all, as they already had one out beforehand. Sadly, corporate greed interfered, and what we got was.....something. So, get on your best funeral clothes, weep, and read my review for......The Best Of Type-O Negative. Let’s.....begin.

Background
Type-O Negative, despite their return with Life Is Killing Me in 2003, weren’t the top band for Roadrunner Records anymore. With bands like Slipknot & Soulfly on the payroll, their position within the company wasn’t quite as impressive as it once was. To further issues between the band & Roadrunner, Pete Steele described the situation as a noose around his neck. With tensions rising, the band decided to jump ship to SPV records in hopes of being treated better. Just as they left, Roadrunner decided to release the unsanctioned compilation, The Best Of Type-O Negative.

Released on September the 12th, 2006, The Best Of Type-O Negative came out alongside other unsanctioned compilations of Sepultura, Fear Factory, and Ill Niño. There’s not that much else: finding other pieces of information are difficult at best, and I’ve only found one review of any note (Read here). Said review goes against what my opinion on it is, but I’ll let you judge things for yourself.

Basic Description
A slap to the face.

It’s not often that a metal album makes me shiver. Even before I managed to buy this, I heard stories & saw comments about how bad & unnecessary The Best Of Type-O Negative was. At first I somewhat dismissed all of it, as I chalked it up to hardcore fans blowing things out of proportion. Then as time went on, said stories & comments seemed to stick around a little harder, so I didn’t blow them off as much. Finally, I managed to get a copy back in November of 2015 due to an impulse.....and yeah, this is bad! This is perhaps one of the most cynical, soulless, cheap cashgrabs a record company has ever pulled! As I saw it in Pete Steele’s biography book, The Best Of Type-O Negative wasn’t made for the fans.....it was made for people who’ve never heard of the band. The tragic thing is, the songs that were picked for this.......were great! Christian Woman, My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend, right up to Life Is Killing Me......Roadrunner picked a fantastic group of tunes! However, because of their greed, every moment of music on this compilation (With the exception of one song) is tainted.

Best Track
Like I said way back in 2015 in my overview on the band, Highway Star is the only good song on this compilation. Originally off of the Nascar compilation Crank It Up (Which I might actually pick up if I can find it), this is the only other CD you can find it on, and it’s a shame it wasn’t on Life Is Killing Me from 2003. This is one of those covers that doesn’t follow the original form of the song, but somehow manages to stay true to it’s spirit. Right after hearing the revving of an engine, it goes right into a nice guitar & track beat that’s pretty damn fast for later-era Type-O Negative, and things feel like it might drive off the end of a cliff. Highway Star is easily the biggest highlight of this collection of songs, and should be the only reason to buy this release.

Highway Star

Outside of the music, the only other good thing about The Best Of Type-O Negative would be how ordered the track listing is. Outside of some exclusions (More of that below), listening through it feels like a natural progression of the band’s career. It starts at the beginning, and ends at what would ultimately be the band’s end at Roadrummer. This is the one thing that sets itself above The Least Worst Of......barely.

Worst Track
Oh boy. Where to begin!

For starters, the songs (For the most part) aren’t the original version. Instead, they’re the edited for radio/music video editions. That in theory isn’t bad, but The Least Worst Of already did something like this! Not only that, the track listing on the back of the album doesn’t display the fact that they’re the edited versions. Secondly, Roadrunner completely excluded tracks from The Origin Of The Feces and the bands original compilation from 2000. I can sort of understand why tracks from The Least Worst Of wouldn’t be on here, but Type-O’s 1992 release? Sure, it’s a fake live album, but it’s still a step in the band’s career!

But the biggest issue isn’t with the music per se, but with the fact that Roadrunner released this. Since they were leaving, I can understand why they couldn’t stop the company for putting it out. However, the fact that Roadrunner put it out when they were going to another company is an act of greed & cowardice of the highest degree! The fact that you put this out when you already got a compilation from Type-O Negative shows that maybe you just wanted them to be a cashcow from the beginning, and were just waiting for the right time to do so!

For a more minor bad thing, even the album cover isn't new, as it was originally the cover used for the band's Love You To Death single. Really!!??

Other
If for whatever reason you want to listen to this, click on the link below.

The Best Of Type-O Negative

Overall Impression & Rating
The Best Of Type-O Negative is an example of a record company trying to make a quick buck off of a band that garnered them fame & money, and it shows. Released without their permission, hastily put together, and excluding material in the process. What little good can be found on here does not wash away how awful everything else, and I’m furious that this was released! It really is just a shallow compilation of music, and I’m shocking that I willingly purchased. My advice: only acquire this if you’re a die hard Type-O Negative fan!

Highway Star, on it’s own merit, is easily a 10 out of 10. As for a collection of music? I’m giving it a 2 out of 10. Easily the worst album I’ve reviewed so far!

So that ends the start of Compilation Month. It’s a shame that I began April on a bad note, but I promise you that things will definitely get better in a few weeks. In the meantime, be sure to realize that not everything that’s called the best.....isn’t the best.


***
If you want to see a good Type-O Negative compilation, check out the link below:

The Least Worst Of (Review)

Food For Thought/Thought For Food No. 12: The 2nd Nail In The Coffin (R.I.P. Heroes Of The Storm Class System)

(Please listen to this as you read: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_M5h0U3dng)

I want to show you all a number.

6810 

That's the number of games I've played within Heroes of the Storm since I got invited to the beta back in March of 2015. It's certainly an impressive amount, so here's a set of number as to how often I played certain classes.

Warrior: 1864
Assassin: 2268
Support: 1368
Specialist: 1206
Multiclass (Added in November of 2016): 104

Why am I bringing this all up? As of earlier today, this system that the base has known & played alongside for nearly 4 years is gone. Gone is this simple classification of character roles, and instead we now have something that is more reminiscent of games like League of Legends or Smite. Games that HotS wasn't trying to be. This marks the 2nd nail in the coffin of a game I enjoy very much, and the chances of it surviving 2019 have become that much bleaker. Much as I have an issue with e-sports, I can't deny that it most definitely helped keep the game afloat, and helped spread the popularity of this once unique MOBA.

So, join me now in mourning. Join me in the remembrance of a group of valiant warriors, who once waged war within the Nexus. Join me in bringing back fond memories of a time where a once glorious game company actually cared about it's product & fanbase, and didn't bend over to anyone.

Warrior:
Anub’arak (Melee)
Artanis (Melee)*
Arthas (Melee)
Blaze (Ranged)*
Chen (Melee)
Cho (Melee)*
Dehaka (Melee)*
Diablo (Melee)
D.Va (Ranged)*
E.T.C. (Melee)*
Garrosh (Melee)*
Imperius (Melee)*
Johanna (Melee)
Leoric (Melee)*
Mal’Ganis (Melee)*
Muradin (Melee)
Rexxar (Ranged)*
Sonya (Melee)
Stitches (Melee)
Tyrael (Melee)
Yrel (Melee)*
Zarya (Ranged) *

Assassin:
Alarak (Melee)*
The Butcher (Melee)*
Cassia (Ranged)*
Chromie (Ranged)
Falstad (Ranged)
Gall (Ranged)*
Genji (Ranged)
Greymane (Ranged)
Gul’dan (Ranged)*
Hanzo (Ranged)*
Illidan (Ranged)
Jaina (Ranged)*
Junkrat (Ranged)*
Kael’thas (Ranged)
Kel’thuzad (Ranged)*
Kerrigan (Melee)
Li-Ming (Ranged)*
Lunara (Ranged)*
Maiev (Melee)
Malthael (Melee)*
Mephisto (Ranged)*
Nova (Ranged)
Orphea (Ranged)*
Ragnaros (Melee)*
Raynor (Ranged)*
Samuro (Melee)
Thrall (Melee)
Tracer (Ranged)*
Tychus (Ranged)*
Valeera (Melee)
Valla (Ranged)
Zeratul (Melee)
Zul’jin (Ranged)*

Support:
Alexstrasza (Ranged)*
Ana (Ranged)*
Auriel (Ranged)*
Brightwing (Ranged)
Deckard Cain (Melee)
Kharazim (Melee)*
Li Li (Ranged)*
Lt. Morales (Ranged)
Lúcio (Ranged)*
Malfurion (Ranged)
Rehgar (Ranged)
Stukov (Melee)*
Tassadar (Ranged)
Tyrande (Ranged)
Uther (Melee)
Whitemane (Ranged)*

Specialist:
Abathur (Melee)
Azmodan (Ranged)
Gazlowe (Melee)*
Medivh (Ranged)*
Murky (Melee)
Nazeebo (Ranged)
Probius (Ranged)*
Sgt. Hammer (Ranged)*
Sylvanus (Ranged)
The Lost Vikings (Melee)*
Xul (Melee)*
Zagara (Ranged)*

Multiclass:
Varian (Melee Warrior/Assassin)(Still mad they didn't put anyone else in this category)*

Sorry for putting up such a depressing post, but given the changes that have occurred, I felt it was necessary. Rest assured that I'll give you my impressions on the "new" class system, but it'll have to wait for a few weeks as I mess with it. In the meantime April isn't that far away, and that means the return of Compilation Month. See you then!



*
The characters I loved under the old system. Gonna miss every one of them.

Album Review: Metallica's Ride The Lightning

Hi fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Today marks a pretty important birthday in Heavy Metal history. Well, sort of. I’m actually celebrating a few months early, as it would coincide with something I got planned for the summer. Regardless, today’s review is a pretty big one, as one of Metallica’s classics turns 35 years old here in 2019. An iconic album that helped to further one of the Big 4 of American Thrash, and one that’s still talked about fondly to this day. So take a seat, be sure that the electricity is alright in your house, and enjoy my review for Ride The Lightning! Let’s begin.

Background
Taken from Wikipedia:

“Metallica released their debut album, Kill 'Em All, on the independent label Megaforce Records on July 25, 1983. The album helped to establish thrash metal, a heavy metal subgenre defined by its brisk riffs and intense percussion. After finishing its promotional tour, Metallica began composing new material, and from September, began performing the songs that were to make up Ride the Lightning at concerts. Because the band had little money, its members often ate one meal a day and stayed at fans' homes while playing at clubs across the United States. An incident occurred when part of Metallica's gear was stolen in Boston, and Anthrax lent Metallica some of its equipment to complete the remaining dates. When not gigging, the band stayed in a rented house in El Cerrito, California, called the Metallica Mansion. Frontman James Hetfield felt uneasy about performing double duty on vocals and rhythm guitar, so the band offered the job to Armored Saint singer John Bush, who turned down the offer because Armored Saint was doing well at the time. Hetfield gradually built confidence as lead vocalist and kept his original role. Metallica started recording on February 20, 1984 at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark. The album was produced by Flemming Rasmussen, the founder of Sweet Silence Studios. Drummer Lars Ulrich chose Rasmussen, because he liked his work on Rainbow's Difficult to Cure (1981), and was keen to record in Europe. Rasmussen, who had not heard of Metallica, agreed to work on the album, even though his studio employees questioned the band's talent. Rasmussen listened to Metallica's tapes before the members arrived and thought the band had great potential. Metallica rehearsed the album's material at Mercyful Fate's practice room in Copenhagen.

Before entering the studio, Metallica collected ideas on "riff tape" recordings of various jam sessions. Hetfield and Ulrich went through the tapes and selected the strongest riffs to assemble into songs. Instruments were recorded separately, with Hetfield playing only rhythm guitar. Rasmussen, with the support of drum roadie Flemming Larsen, taught the basics of timing and beat duration to Ulrich, who had a tendency to increase speed and had little knowledge of rhythm theory. Drums were recorded in an empty warehouse at the back of the studio, which was not soundproof, and caused reverberation.Although four tracks were already arranged, the band members were not used to creating songs in the studio, as they had not done so for Kill 'Em All. "For Whom the Bell Tolls", "Trapped Under Ice" and "Escape" were written from scratch in Copenhagen, and the band put finishing touches on "Fight Fire with Fire", "Ride the Lightning", "Creeping Death", and "The Call of Ktulu", which were already performed live. Lead guitarist Kirk Hammett took the album's name from a passage in Stephen King's novel The Stand. The cover art, displaying an electric chair in the midst of lightning bolts, was conceived before recording began. Metallica initially had sound problems, because its gear was stolen three weeks before the band arrived in Copenhagen. The band members slept in the studio by day as they could not afford a hotel and recorded by night, because the studio was booked by other artists during the daytime. Because the group was looking for a major label deal, several A&R representatives from different labels visited the studio. At first, it seemed that Metallica was going to sign with Bronze Records, but the deal fell through, because Bronze executive Gerry Bron did not appreciate the work done at Sweet Silence Studios, and wanted the US edition to be remixed by engineer Eddie Kramer, and even considered re-recording the album in another studio. Metallica was put off by Bron's failure to share the band's artistic vision and decided to look for another label for the US release, in spite of the fact that Bronze had already advertised Metallica as one of their bands.

Metallica had to record quickly because of European shows scheduled 29 days after it entered the studio. Recording finished on March 14, and Megaforce released the album on July 27. Although the original album budget was $20,000, the final expense was above $30,000. Metallica's European label Music for Nations paid the studio costs because Megaforce owner Jon Zazula could not afford them. Metallica was unhappy with the lack of promotion by Megaforce, and decided to part ways with Zazula. Major label Elektra Records employee Michael Alago noticed Metallica at The Stone gig in San Francisco, and invited Elektra's chairman and the head of promotion to see the August show in New York. The performance at Roseland Ballroom, with Anthrax and Metallica opening for Raven, pleased the Elektra staff, and the band was offered a contract the following morning. On September 12, Metallica signed with Elektra, who re-released the album on November 19. Cliff Burnstein and Peter Mensch of Q Prime were concurrently appointed as the band's new managers. Ride the Lightning was the last Metallica album to feature co-writing contributions from former lead guitarist Dave Mustaine, who received credit on the title track and the instrumental "The Call of Ktulu". The album also represented the first time Hammett was given writing credits.

Ride the Lightning received positive response from music critics, who saw it as a more ambitious effort than its predecessor. Metallica promoted the album on the Bang That Head That Doesn't Bang European tour in late 1984, and on its North American leg in the first half of 1985. The band performed at major music festivals such as Monsters of Rock and Day on the Green later that year. Two months after its release, Elektra Records signed Metallica to a multi-year deal and reissued the album. Ride the Lightning peaked at number 100 on the Billboard 200 with no radio exposure. Although 75,000 copies were initially pressed for the American market, the album sold half a million by November 1987. It was certified 6× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2012 for shipping six million copies in the United States. Many rock publications have ranked Ride the Lightning on their best album lists, saying it had a lasting impact on the genre.”

Basic Description
Controlled Chaos.

Kill Em All, while an outright classic album & a great way to start a career, might be a bit overwhelming for some. It’s incredibly raw, primal, and exceptionally fast most of the time. For some metalheads, this might actually be a turnoff. Whether the band was doing this because of this or due to their own advancement, Metallica put a leash on themselves to pull them back. They never lost their creativity however, and there’s still plenty of headbanging, horn-raising, & moshing all around. At the same time, Ride The Lightning is a smoother, more polished output when compared to the incredibly speedy first release. Even if you do like faster Thrash Metal, Ride The Lightning is plenty of fun despite the slightly slower speed. Definitely an album to seek out!

Best Track
Like I stated in my Metallica overview from a while ago, Fade To Black is the best song on the album. Though it feels like the longest track on the record (That actual honor goes to Call Of Ktulu, which runs for nearly 9 minutes), it never actually outstays it’s welcome. For a majority of it’s running time, it’s a slow & somber tune, and really tugs at the heartstrings. James Hetfield really pours his heart out with his vocalwork, and even when things becomes a little more faster paced in the second half, he’s still very emotional. Though it’s a universal rule that thrash bands aren’t supposed to do ballads, Fade To Black is one of the few exceptions to the rule.

Fade To Black

A good second place song would have to go to the more radio friendly Escape. Metallica for a long time weren’t fond of the track, as (According to stories, at least) they were pressured by the record company to make a tune that would be easily spread out over the radio & easily sellable. While I can understand a more established band not liking a song because of how commercial it can be, for a newer band any amount of exposure should be embraced rather that avoided. In the case of Escape, it’s not quite as bad as some might think. It definitely has some easier beats & rhythms to get hooked to, but it still has a raw attitude of their early days, so it’s not a hundred percent commercially accessible. Definitely one to not avoid. 

Escape

Worst Track
I genuinely can’t think of a single bad song off of Ride The Lightning. The entire package from beginning to end is a wonderful treat to listen to. It all really boils down to songs I like more, and songs I like less. If you wanted to be exceptionally picky, you might call out the more streamlined pacing of the album. Personally, I liked the fact that Metallica was still nice & heavy yet reigning themselves in a little more, but if you loved the blistering speed found on Kill Em All, you might be taken aback by how things run on this album.

Other
If you’re curious about listening to this album, then click on the link below:

Ride The Lightning

Overall Impression & Rating
Ride The Lightning was a refinement upon what Metallica created with their first release. Every song is still headbang inducing in some way, but the band smoothed out many of the rough edges Kill Em All had, and in the process made an album that was heavier, thrashier, & more refined than what their first record was. In the (nearly) 3 and a half decades since it’s release, it still retains it’s title of “Classic” for a reason, and you should listen to it if you haven’t.

Ride The Lightning gets a 10 out of 10. It deserves that score for a reason!

So that was my review for Metallica’s 2nd ever album. Again I know it’s a little early to celebrate it’s 35th birthday, but with what I got planned for this Summer, I needed to get it done early. Regardless, I hope you had a lot of fun reading this, and I’ll see you all in a few short weeks for the return......of Compilation Month!

HMO Classics: SiN the Movie Review

Well this is a weird one, fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

I’ve actually reviewed today’s OVA twice: Once all the way back in 2014 on here (The review can be accessed from here), and the other on my original blog back in the distant mists of 2012. I had forgotten about my original version of the review, but HMO Classics will conjure up the strangest & most archaic of posts I once published, so it seemed appropriate to bring back this oddity. Without further delay, here’s my very first look at the SiN OVA tie-in. To anyone who ever watched the OVA.....I’m so sorry.

“Well guys, it's finally happened. I have finally reviewed something that I can't unsee. No, it's not a creepy hentai, which is ironic, considering that most hentai is creepy. No, I just watched a show in which everything that you think doesn't get screwed up on a mainstream anime does get screwed up: predictable story, mostly bland characters, half-ass voice acting, poor 3d animation shown along the 2d animation, and a host of other things that I refuse to type down unless I go bash my head against a brick wall. The abomination in question is SiN the Movie, so lets step into this cesspool of animation.

Released on VHS & DVD in 2000 in Japan, and in the U.S. by ADV Films (R.I.P.), SiN the Movie is loosely based on the game of the same name that came out around that time (October 31, 1998 to be more specific). Usually at this point, I explain the basis of the story, but I can't. Most of the time a release from ADV Films (R.I.P.) tends to have a good story, or a wacky story that somewhat makes sense, but this is one of the few titles that I've watched from the company that doesn't have a good story at all. Right below is the list of how the story in this movie plays out:

1) A funeral tended to by the main character that involves a character that received little screen time.
2) A dark, seedy meeting between the main character and a side character that has some obscure connection to him. Also, one of the main characters that joins in later is spying on the 1st main character in a effort to trying and bring him down for killing the insignificant character that died at the beginning.
3) A mysterious character (in this case a little girl) reappears (don't ask) to add some mystery and move the rest of the story.

Actually, I'm not going to type the list anymore. To put it bluntly, SiN the Movie's first problem is that not only is the story predictable, it is somehow confusing as hell. The story bounces all over the place, and you have little time to react and pay attention. Even if you do pay attention, you'll still be confused by the placement of things.

If that doesn't make you feel some kind of pain, let it be known that just about every single character that appears on screen is about as entertaining as standing in a line at the the DMV. It doesn't help the fact that the voice acting sucks (I'll get to that a little later), but even if the voice acting didn't suck, the character's just don't have much put into them. Their personalities are flat, and they simply aren't likable. There is only one character (the main villain) that has personality & depth, but even then it's just a sliver of each, and any interest in the villain quickly disappears.

So, we've got the crap story out of the way, and the characters are not worth the time. Next up is the voice acting, and let me tell you, it's amazing...not! I've definitely watch my fair share of dubbed animes. Most of them had great dubbing, and a few had okay dubbing. This is perhaps the first show in my entire life that has the worst dubbing. It's not bad because of the translation, cause I think they got that right. It's bad because there is simply no emotion in the words spoken. Basically, they voices are like themselves: flat & un-enjoyable. It also doesn't help the fact that when the characters try to sound serious, it just feels fake and cheesy. Once again, the main villain has some strength behind her voice, but then again it's only a sliver.

Lastly, the thing that I'm willing to put down about SiN the Movie's flaws is it's mix of 2d & 3d. At numerous points throughout the show, 3d effects are used to display building, computer screens, etc. Now, the idea sounds good in theory, but it ultimately fails completely. The 3d animations look like they were from the late 80s & early 90s, not from the late 90s where 3d animation is starting to look good and improve. This is perhaps the only negative that I'm willing to forgive, but even then I'm not going to be forgiving. If you're looking for an anime that mixes 2d & 3d, then go for Blue Submarine No. 6. Trust me on this.

By this point, you're wondering if there's anything good about SiN the Movie. I'm mean, I've been pretty brutal and honest about this show. You're thinking "How can there be any good in this!?" Well, surprisingly, there are some good things about SiN the Movie.

For starters, the show matches the game. Loosely, but it matches. It's dark, gritty, despair inducing, and is perhaps one of the most blood soaked things I've ever seen. The game is pretty gory, but the show somehow kicks the violence button up a notch. The show's blood content puts it up there with shows like Ninja Scroll and Higurashi, and I don't think it'll ever be dethroned.

Secondly, SiN the Movie lasts for one hour. If you've taken in the bad things I've said here, then you'll be glad to know about how long this lasts. Even if this show didn't suck, a one-hour movie is always good to watch on a slow afternoon or evening.

Finally, if you want to subject yourself to this mess, there are plenty of copies on Amazon. I bought a used copy of the Collector's Edition for $6.99 (The Collector's Edition comes with a soundtrack of the show, a card, and a few extra features), but there's the original 2000 release, the Collector's Edition release in 2001, and a re-release in 2009. I should point out that new copies of the 2000 release go for just one cent. That's right people, all you need to pay for this is a single penny! Even the used copies start out at one cent. That should prove to you that SiN the Movie was a psychotically poor excuse for a show. However, new copies of the Collector's Edition (there are 7 in total on Amazon as I'm typing this) start at a little over 12 dollars, while used copies (8 in total as of right now) start at close to 6 dollars. The 2009 re-release (there's 14 right now), on the other hand starts at $3.69 new, and used copies start at 3 dollars. If you for some reason are a masochist, and enjoy inflicting pain on yourself, then I suggest you pick this up.

SiN the Movie gets a 3 out of 10. The story is predictable and is hard to pay attention to, the characters are practically unlikeable, the voice acting is horrible, and the 2d/3d mix is just awful, but it loosely matches with the game, lasts just for an hour, and is plentiful and cheap.

See you next, when I will fortunately review a good series. Until then, stay Otaku!


*
If you interested in SiN the game (which is far better than the movie), then take a look at the link below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sin_%28video_game%29”