Go-go Shocker Rangers!

So, I was perusing Hobby Link Japan, one of my favorite websites for Gundam models and other Japanese collectibles. Annnd I came across this figure, from the newest Japanese incarnation of Power Rangers (known as Super Sentai in Japan). The picture that displays with the figure reveals something rather shocking:

Did you spot it?

Hint: he's giving The Shocker. With his fingers. That's why I said "shocking". Up there, before I posted the picture. Alluding to-

Anyway, the series is apparently pirate-themed. And I like how Wikipedia says, "...and as the 35th anniversary series, the protagonists have access to the powers of the previous 34 Super Sentai teams." Like...fucking, of course they do. Why wouldn't they? All 35th incarnations of things do. 


Power Rangers plus pirates is a gold mine waiting to be unearthed. Just gonna put this out there, though, I would totally watch a Power Rangers porn parody where they could only defeat villains with liberal application of The Shocker.

Hustler! You heard it here first.

MEN OF DESTINY: Addendum

So, as a sort-of-continuation of my post on Gundam themes, I'd like to note that in researching it, I somehow got  ZZ Gundam's "Anime Ja Nai" stuck permanently in my head. I'd like to call it an honorable mention, but I don't think that's quite correct. Anyway, here it is:

YA DUN GOUFED

In keeping with my Giant-Sized Gundam post today, here's a wonderful retelling of the Jessi Slaughter saga, as only Gundam can do it.

For information on the meme/video that inspired it, please consult Know Your Meme. Just be careful NOT TO GET BACKTRACED

MEN OF DESTINY: The Top 8 Gundam Themes

Because Gundam is fucking tits and so is its music.

If you've never seen any of the Gundam series, it's one of the most influential in the history of anime (and science fiction in general). It's essentially the Star Trek of Japan, and like Star Trek, most of the plots are the same. They go like this: a guy who's way too young... or inexperienced... or from space...accidentally or reluctantly becomes the pilot of a unique robot death machine, and starts turning the tide during an allegory for World War II.

Nazi's? Never...never heard of 'em. Why?

It's always been one of my favorite universes for its richness, scope, and diversity. Further, the franchise has consistently thrilled me with knock-down, drag-out giant robot action while also fleshing out the moral complexities of war. In particular, the original series in 1979 showed how there really are no "good guys" or "bad guys" in war, except at the top. The rest are grunts, just tryin' to get by.

Of course, all that philosophy is set amid giant fucking robots beating each other into scrap, and that juxtaposition is part of what makes Gundam series awesome. The other part is the KICK-ASS theme music. And it is to those that I devote this post, counting down from 8 to 1 my favorite theme songs from the Gundam universe. LET'S DO IT.

I'm sorry. You can stop now. It's over.

This is the coolest thing that will ever happen:

If you're a movie fan and don't follow the Behind the Scenes Pic of the Day on Aint It Cool News, you are doing yourself a tremendous disservice. But even worse than that, you would have missed what may be the most badass image ever captured by a mortal.

Lemme break it down.

Ya gotcher filming of Yojimbo in the background. Yojimbo is the movie that A Fistful of Dollars remade. It involves a samurai with medicine-balls for testicles strolling into town and single-handedly destroying two criminal empires by playing them off each other like the most magnificent bastard alive.

Now, that samurai is played by the immortal Toshiro Mifune. Chances are, if you've heard of only ONE Japanese actor, it was him. And there's good reason: not only is he very talented as an actor, but his characters are simply some of the pimpingest badasses ever to be filmed. In that way, he's a lot like Clint Eastwood, who played the analogue of Mifune's Yojimbo character in the "Man With No Name" trilogy.

 And they both have squinty eyes. Wait, OH GOD NO HOW DO I DELETE-

So you've got an iconic badass, an iconic movie. But that's not what makes this the raddest pic in the universe. No, Mifune couldn't be photographed doing something normal, like farting, or reading the script. Nope. They filmed him behind the wheel of his MG. Top down. In samurai garb.

Normally, that'd be enough to seal the deal. But what's on his dash? A mother-fucking shit-kicking SAMURAI SWORD.

Know what's on my dash? Dust.

And the best part? The look on his face looks like he's going to 7-11. Like he's off to kill a thousand men, but is totally bored at the prospect. He hangs up the phone and says to the director, "Shit. Well...I'll be back." And just tosses his sword on the dash like it's his fucking Blackberry.

Christ...this fucking guy, man.