Gavin

[font="Tahoma"][size="2"]*Holds totem gingerly* Excellent movie, some great twists and turns throughout the whole thing (though sadly I'd figured out the near ending a while before it actually got to that point). Very Nolan, not quite as intriguing as Memento though I put that down to Di Caprio coming off with his usual wooden performance in a role which required a much, much more emotive actor. Most of the other performances were great (I was hoping to see more of Michael Caine), Tom Hardy's witty British mannerisms probably netting him the favourite performance although Joseph Gordon-Lovett's straight-man performance a great contrast to work him off. Ending was a tad predictable although the fact it's left undisclosed does leave one feeling a bit better (I'm convinced it would stay spinning). Perhaps the only thing about the movie I can't understand, and the one spoiler I will give is why [spoiler]the "dream machine" is connected to a person's arm veins rather than their brain/spinal-cord/other CNS/PNS route.[/spoiler][/size][/font]

[font="Tahoma"][size="2"][b]Mecha-sized drills[/b] - Whether from Mazinger, Getter Robo, Gurren Lagann, GaoGaiGar or Megas XLR a gigantic mounted drill weapon always looks awesome. Bonus points in that a combat drill would be a prime weapon to punch/chew through enemy armour with little resistance.[/size][/font]

[font="Tahoma"][size="2"]That was actually one of the huge annoyances for me about the whole Fake Karakura arc in that we only got to see three previously unrevealed bankai out of I think about fifteen or sixteen possibles and worst (big spoiler here, read at own peril) [spoiler]Yamamoto dies without ever using his[/spoiler]. Given how powerful the Espada were supposed to be it never made sense the Shinigami wouldn't come straight out with bankai, except for those captains who are expected to job because they always use their bankai. [/size][/font]

[quote name='Stephanie' date='04 August 2010 - 06:33 AM' timestamp='1280900025' post='698748'] I really want to know why you think that gathering Gavin's help will stop me from stealing Lilt? The employees of Wal*Mart and Gavin are still under Basement Cat. Goes something like this, I believe: Basement Cat - Ceiling Cat Banister Cat Gavin, Overlord of Wal*Mart Chibi, employee of Wal*Mart Ostrich CaNz CaNz, did you ever think to ask the ostrich what HE wanted? So inconsiderate. [/quote] [font="Tahoma"][size="2"]While chibi gathers up the ashes of the five employees my unholy rage caused to spontaneously combust for being within thirty feet I shall calmly correct your misconception: As Overlord of Wal*Mart the sheer number of souls corrupted into my possession means I do not, in any way, serve that infernal flea-bitten mog who cheats regularly at our Thursday night poker club with Bill Gates, Satan and Pope Benedict. Now if you'll excuse me I must use subliminal messages to force the lowly dregs to purchase yet most consumables they do not require at low low prices while plotting the downfall of Scientology for being even more eviller than Skeletor. Also please do not capitalise chibi's name, I do not want her to believe her position within Wal*Mart is any less likely to result in gruesome death than any other faceless, nameless minion.[/size][/font]

[font="Tahoma"][size="2"]Excellent, having seen Inception last night I was looking for an excuse to get back to the cinema in the next two weeks, 80s homage action movie ahoy![/size][/font]

[font="Tahoma"][size="2"]I believe that day's holidays I had in limbo shall be reserved for the ninth along with a comfy sofa, a good book and a nice pot of tea.[/size][/font]

[quote name='Allamorph' date='04 August 2010 - 03:56 PM' timestamp='1280933766' post='698777'] [FONT=Calibri][color="#8b0000"]kuja[/color], is that you? And why are you posting in blue, anyway?[/FONT] [/quote] [font="Tahoma"][size="2"]Hush, it's bad luck to even invoke that name here lest his local JAG office deliver their long awaited legal action against us. Besides the use of capitalisation and punctuation clearly indicates this could not be kuja.[/size][/font]

[font="Tahoma"][size="2"]Trolled yet again, should've seen it coming I suppose.[/size][/font]

[font="Tahoma"][size="2"]I think the thing about the Vizards is that like the Espada, and Arrancar in general they'd been hyped up to be effectively the next level of power in Bleach and yet when it came down to it they were no more effective really than the current generation of Shinigami captains. Using their masks against Gillians when they should've been kept to be used against Aizen or their respective Espada opponents was silly, if indeed the time limit does apply, which I hope it doesn't because then training Ichigo to hold on to his mask for ages would seem like shooting for something none of them bar Mashiro could do (which apparently was nineteen hours straight which would make three minutes look like a joke). I think the thing about them saying they're not Shinigami any more and that they hate Soul Society while still using their powers is understandable, they hate the system and they want nothing to do with those who still serve it but their zanpakutou are theirs, as are their powers which means there isn't any reason for them to stop using them. Most of the time they just seem to use their unreleased swords and masks anyway. [/size][/font]

[font="Tahoma"][size="2"]Certainly we should hear a bit more about what Oboro has been doing since he disappeared so many chapters ago. I would also be very surprised if he has any trouble against the other Scourge member, though that's only because Oboro seems ridiculously close to being broken as a character given how powerful he has demonstrated himself to be.[/size][/font]

[font="Tahoma"][size="2"]It was in the last real world segment before this one, apparently Ageha and co changed the structure of W.I.S.E. quite a bit with their actions.[/size][/font]

[quote name='Beretta' date='01 August 2010 - 07:57 PM' timestamp='1280689069' post='698471']Orochimaru and Pein =D[/quote] [font="Tahoma"][size="2"]Meh, I'd have rathered it'd been Naruto seeing as I cared even less for those two, Pain turned out to be such a waste as a villain. [/size][/font]

[quote name='Heaven's Cloud' date='01 August 2010 - 06:50 PM' timestamp='1280685051' post='698456'] [color=indigo]This has long been the thorn in my side when it comes to Bleach. Take Ichigo for example. When he first wields his bankai its main attribute is that it makes him quick enough to easily evade Byakuya's attacks. However, as the series progresses, it seems like this attribute of Ichigo's bankai is lost, replaced by the "getsuga tenshou (sp)" move that he favors. Really, it is inconsistencies like this that drive me crazy. [/color] [/quote] [font="Tahoma"][size="2"] This I would have to agree with, Ichigo going from one of the fastest combatants in all Soul Society to "meh you're OK but not great" in the space of a single arc without any justifiable reason really got on my nerves although it's a big second to the Arrancar in general turning out to be waaaaaay, less powerful than they were originally stated as being, same with the Vizard really (3 minute rule was a complete asspull).[/size][/font]

[font="Tahoma"][size="2"]As much as I didn't care for the Gaiden segment showing Naruto's ultimate origins I'm actually very pleased with that way Kishi managed to pull it off. Minato comes across every bit as badass as expected while still being an extremely likeable character and Kushina is by far and away the best female character the manga has or will likely ever have. I am a bit shocked at the revelation Minato actually could've used a different seal and lived afterwards but his reasoning made sense. Still think the Third and Jiraiya deserve to have their asses kicked for what they allowed happen to Naruto afterwards. Least we get to see B again who never fails to bring a smile to my face.[/size][/font]

[font="Tahoma"][size="2"]Personally I couldn't give a damn about fodder characters like Tatsuki, Keigo and co running around avoiding being WTF-pwned by Aizen's reiatsu alone now that Kubo has apparently completely dropped the idea that Urahara was training them and my fan-theory about Kanonji turned out to be wrong, takes up page-space every week better devoted to Ichigo finally finishing his [strike]Super Saiyan 2[/strike] Final Getsuga training and seeing more of exactly why Isshin is there in the first place. [/size][/font]

[font="Tahoma"][size="2"]I knew you couldn't stay away. Uranus's (*insert childish snort*) role in the fight seems to have finished for now, it's going to be interesting to see what Caprico and Junas are capable of doing, given the latter should still be quite injured and woohoo to Shiner showing up again, should be the rematch between him and Hiryuu we've been waiting for. Hopefully not going to be too long before we see Ageha and crew in tow too. Also, I called it.[/size][/font]

[font="Tahoma"][size="2"]James covered pretty much how I was going to respond, albeit considerably more eloquently, I can't and won't defend the ideology that has sprung up in the last few years regarding Nigerian asylum seekers in Western Europe because it does lead to honest, law-abiding individuals who are here to earn a living being treated with contempt and distrust because of the actions of their countrymen. Hell as an Irish person I'm more than well aware of the stereotypes my own people were forced to deal with when the mass emigration from Ireland began after the Famine and would be justifiably perturbed if someone was to treat me with wariness or distrust due to the fact some Irish people commit criminal acts abroad.[/size][/font]

[font="Tahoma"][size="2"]Having been to Spain several times I must admit I'm rather surprised at your experience there as I've never once heard any sincere racist ideology spoken by the people I've encountered, that said not I've never attended a Spanish football match so perhaps that's why I've never heard it. I'd actually have expected something like that in France but not Spain. The French are pretty well known for their superior attitude towards pretty much everyone but directed more specifically at their North African descended members of society so that doesn't surprise me in the least, though the bottle-throwing did shock me. Honestly I'm amazed sometimes given all the strife at all levels in society that goes on in France the country is able to continue working. I will say that the fear of influence by Islamic extremists is common on the continent, and to a lesser degree across Europe as a whole and one of the reasons why people are quite divided on the idea of Turkey being allowed into the E.U. in addition to the human rights issues they've been confronted with. Regarding the told to be careful around Nigerian cabbies, there's a two-fold reason there, one is the perception of fraud, particularly identity-theft, perpetuated by Nigerian asylum seekers which you read about in the newspapers or hear on the news not infrequently and the second is that they have a tendency to overcharge patrons and can become quite unpleasant if confronted in this regard. [/size][/font]

[font="Tahoma"][size="2"]As with James I'm a non-American so my viewpoints are based only on extrapolation from illegal immigration over here. I do also agree with him that people tend to be too quick to drag the word "racism" into debates that involve immigration. At the moment in Ireland any, and I do mean any, attempt to discuss even the idea of changing immigration laws in regard to asylum seekers or illegal immigrants will result in the individual in question being instantly derided as a racist by special interest groups to the extent that even though there is a wide agreement that with our economy only barely crawling out of the toilet and hard government cuts in every department from education to social welfare the topic will never be discussed for fear of looking racist. I find it truly disappointing that this fear prevents necessary debate which has benefits to both sides of the argument. That said I can certainly see the potential for abuse in singling out individuals who may be completely innocent simply because a police officer has the law on their side to justify it. I don't know if I'd go as far to say "if one person should have to carry proof of their citizenship then everyone should" but if that would be the only way to combat abuses then perhaps that's what would have to occur.[/size][/font] [quote name='Heaven's Cloud' date='30 July 2010 - 04:57 AM' timestamp='1280462234' post='698263'] [color=indigo]Growing up I sure thought the US was full of them. However, after doing quite a bit of international travelling, I have realized that we have our fair share of bigots, but damn, some of these so called progressive European countries trump us one hundred times over. [/color][/quote] [font="Tahoma"][size="2"] I'm semi-curious HC what countries in particular you're referring to ? I'm not going to deny there are racist elements in Europe but it's been my experience that every country has these undesirables in roughly the same measure.[/size][/font]

[font="Tahoma"][size="2"]Chalking up nine years of membership here in September, though I did stalk V2 whenever TheO went down for a while. I tend to be a bit OCD as far as my PMs go, so sadly the only ones I've kept are those from people when I joined OB's staff and some relating to this years Nifty Fifty. Usually seeing an old face will set me off on a nostalgia binge (as seeing your name did Piro) though I tend to avoid looking at my early posts out of sheer shame at their contents, although every once in a while I do break that rule as a sort of shameful pleasure just to see how much things have changed over the years, and yet stay relatively the same. Still chat with those oldies who I'm still in contact with whenever I see them on AIM/MSN.[/size][/font]

[quote name='The Tentacle' date='29 July 2010 - 11:22 PM' timestamp='1280442146' post='698233'][b]Alucard vs. Vampire Hunter D vs. Abel Nightroad[/b] - The original vampire pitted against not only his own halfbreed son but also a Crusnik, the natural predator of vampires in a triple threat deathmatch of epic proportions. [/quote] [font="Tahoma"][size="2"]No idea who the third character is but a match-up between D and Alucard would be rather interesting, although I'm curious whether or not D could deflect Alucard's shots to get into close quarters and then there's the case of whether or not he could draw out enough of his vampire powers to match Al when he releases his limits. Definitely an interesting potential fight though. Anyway I'll throw in a few. [b]Lelouch Vi Britannia [Code Geass] vs Aizen Sousuke [BLEACH][/b] - Some special circumstances on this one, this is a battle of minds rather than a straight up fight given Lelouch would last all of half a nanosecond against Bleach's big bad. Both combatants dropped in two neighbouring equal countries and required to use all their wit and power to first take over said nation and then use their newly acquired armies to destroy the other. [b]Zaraki Kenpachi [BLEACH] vs Alexander Anderson [Hellsing][/b] - The13th Division Captain has just cut up a bunch of vampires the Paladin had been tasked with exterminating, clearly unhappy about the turn of events he crosses blades with the Demon of the 80th District. [b]Guts [Berserk] vs Ophelia [Claymore][/b] - The Hundred Man Slayer vs The Blood-Soaked Warrior, Guts' has access to his Berserker armour and Ophelia would likely Awaken during the battle.[/size][/font]

[font="Tahoma"][size="2"]Like Elk I'd always thought the "only in theatres" line meant you wouldn't see a home-entertainment release, if it's actually to tell people not to bother looking for a DVD release yet then my estimation of humanity has been lowered once again.[/size][/font]

[font="Tahoma"][size="2"]Honestly I think this is one of the few situations where it's not a complete asspull for Aizen to be able to predict another person's actions with a good degree of accuracy. Gin has been his subordinate for over a hundred years now, since he was just a boy and has been moulding him all those years into the person he is now so it does make sense after all that time that Aizen would be able to anticipate that Gin would be plotting his own eventual takeover as Aizen himself had been doing for decades. [/size][/font]

[font="Tahoma"][size="2"]You really could see Gin betraying Aizen from a million miles away really, I'm actually surprised it's taken him this long to plunge the proverbial knife into his master's back (or heart in this case), Aizen being unsuprised actually makes sense given he himself has been betraying everyone around him for centuries so expecting someone like Gin who's quite similar to him in mentality to stay perfectly loyal would've been a major blunder on his part. As for the change in Gin's bankai, I don't know about it really, I guess he's just learned from Aizen's mistake to never let people realise his power before it's too late for them to do anything about it, that is of course if his poison actually works on Aizen, which it might not. I imagine next weeks chapter should wrap up some of the questions left by this one.[/size][/font]

[quote name='Beretta' date='29 July 2010 - 04:25 AM' timestamp='1280373921' post='698191']Honestly, I probably wouldn't mind that hideous look as much if it remained consistent. Either stay ugly or stay great. I hate the flip flop stuff. [/quote] [font="Tahoma"][size="2"]If I remember correctly there are several different art teams for Naruto generally and then special ones, or a special art director are brought in for certain big plot moments like VotE or Naruto vs Pain to mix things up a little. As for Bleach, yeah, plot on that can generally be summed up as "Super-powered teenager saves trapped female love-interest"...makes me wonder if Tatsuki is the new one, I mean we know already she does kinda dig him.[/size][/font]