Marvel's Agents of Shield Season 4 Review| Chamorros Watchin TV

Hafa Adai! Welcome to Chamorro Cinema, I'm Island Boy Manuel and it is upon us...FALL TELEVISION! And you know what that means...I'm going to be breaking down all the good? Bad? And more than a little of both (and getting very little sleep).

Marvel's Agents of Shield Review Episode 1 (The Ghost)

Here it is ladies and gentleman the moment we've all been waiting for since the rights were given back to Marvel, the introduction of Ghost Rider to the MCU. Marvel quickly (masterfully) incorporated Punisher in a big way into Daredevil on Netflix. So I was cautiously excited to see how they handled Ghostrider. Unlike most of my geeky brethren I am very nervous about incorporating the supernatural into the relatively sci-fi based MCU. I'm worried about it becoming a device to let the writers lazily explain thing away as magic or demonic.

That said I am digging the time jump. I know that this show does its best work when the ensemble is well...assembled. However, the splitting up of the team makes sense, and it's fun to see them in their new roles. Without giving too much away, Daisy is still a vigilante, Fitz and Simmons are still together and super adorable, May is kicking ass and teaching others to do so, and Mack and Coulson are partners. There is also a new director that is more anal than the ending of Kingsman.  

Ghost Rider is played by Gabriel Luna and he does a tremendous job as Robbie Reyes the 4th incarnation of the spirit of vengeance...don't worry if you've never heard of Robbie that's why God invented Wikipedia. His version of Ghost Rider drives a muscle car and didn't last very long. The key to his character is that he is the fast and the furious version, he illegally street races cars for money, he has a sick brother that he cares for...and he kills a lot of baddies. 

The action starts out big and bombastic then the center of the episode is all setup and catching up on the characters. The slow parts are interwoven with the Rider violently interrogating a member of the Aryan Brotherhood to break up the monotony. Mostly the characters have a one on one scene with one of other main characters. Mack and Coulson, Mack and Yo-Yo, Fitz and Holden, Fitz and Simmons, Simmons and May, Yo-Yo and Daisy, Daisy and Robbie...all these scenes stands out and it's a true testament of how well this cast works together in any configuration. 

The story has plenty of nuggets that help setup future episodes. Holden and Fitz further work on the Aida (life model decoy) that was teased in the last season finale, Mack and Coulson stumble on a supernatural weapon that makes people bonkers and seems to be tied to the upcoming Dr. Strange. Ghost Rider is not explained at all which was nice but I know it'll have to handled eventually... so how they explain demons with Sam and Dean Winchester showing up is any ones guess.

It was a stronger premiere than last season by far, and I'm excited to see where this ride takes us.

The Exorcist (TV Series) Review | Chamorros Watchin TV

Hafa Adai! Welcome to Chamorro Cinema, I'm Island Boy Manuel and it is upon us...FALL TELEVISION! And you know what that means...I'm going to be breaking down all the good? Bad? And more than a little of both (and getting very little sleep).

Today's review is the premiere episode of The Exorcist on FOX.

Antonio Banderas v. Alphonso Herrera

The episode starts out with a young Antonio Banderes...wait that's not El Mariachi? Huh could've fooled me...They not only look the same but the accent and the smoldering sensuality that punctuates the delivery of every line, makes me think this guy is doing his best to be the next flash in the pan "it guy" that eventually voices a cartoon cat.

That doesn't mean that he isn't really good in this role. I believed him as Father Tomas Ortega. He comes across as a nice guy, who wants to do his best as a priest, but also has some of the baggage of dealing with his pride and ambitions. Think Joseph Fiennes in American Horror Story, but more layered. The premiere does a great job setting him up as the altruistic hero while adding depth and conflict. This is masterfully handled slowly through character interaction and small scenes that build up our understanding of Tomas and his struggles.

Ben Daniels as Father Merrick...I mean Marcus

I wish the same could be said about our introduction to his counter-part, Father Marcus Keane, played by House of Cards Alum Ben Daniels. He is set up right away as the bad-ass. He is practically introduced like on of those retired secret agents in an action/thriller.  Tell me if this setup doesn't sound familiar...He is literally sitting on a rooftop, in a slum. When another person is dispatched from his bosses to tell him he needs to come back. He tells him he can't return until he finishes his business here. They argue in veiled threats, then the Marcus scares the other priest away with a gun. It could fit easily into any Rambo/Bourne/XXX/Bond movie out there.

Again though, this does not discount his portrayal of the guilt ridden and world weary Father Marcus. Ben Daniels delivers a tremendous performance, albeit mostly in flash backs. The issues I have with the character is just how on the nose he is. Also if they were going to pattern the priests after Kerras and Merrick, why make the Kerras character so different but make the Merrick character so similar? Heck even the names are similar. 


The supporting cast is made up of Alan Ruck and Geena Davis as Henry and Angela, the parents of two teenagers, played by Brianne Howey as Kat and Hannah Kasulka as Casey. This is the family the exorcists need to help.

The daughters and Henry aren't given much to do in the premiere but Davis does her best to portray the matriarch, Angela in the way only her non-expressive face can. The issue I have with the family is that throughout the episode I couldn't place why they thought a demon was afflicting them. A few scratching noises and a moody teenager sounds more like mice and puberty than ancient evil.

The show doesn't really address this either, whereas in the first movie Kerras started off skeptical, this show has Tomas jumping on the belief train with both feet.

The rest of the episode deals mostly with Tomas searching for Marcus and Marcus in flashbacks performing an exorcism in Mexico. The Marcus scenes are horrific and tense. The Tomas scenes are more psychological and dramatic. The episode ends without the priests teaming up and that's okay because I'm enjoying the slow burn of it all.

The Verdict

The visuals are stylish, the acting is great and the show was creepy enough for my wife to ask me if I was sure this was on network television. So much of this show works, but there are a few places where it's budget betrays it particularly in on CG Crow that looks straight out of a PS3 game. If you are a fan of 70's moody and slow paced horror films this show is definitely worth a watch.

Thanks for reading!

Peace!

Follow Island Boy Manuel on Twitter, Watch the ChamorSHOW on YouTube, Purchase Merchandise on our official store here.

Tenfly Glow in the Dark Dual USB Wall Charger

Hafa Adai! USB Wall Chargers...nuff said...but wait this one glows! Tonight on Chamorros Reviewing Tech, Island Boy Manuel is checking out Tenfly's cool looking charger. Is it good? Bad? Maybe a little of both? Find out in this installment of Chamorros Reviewing Tech.

The product arrived in a small square plastic box with a paper inserts lining the outside. The product was bagged and placed inside, so long story short not much to say there. The product is painted with a matte white paint that has a cracked texture allowing the blue plastic body and LED lights to shine through. The cracks definitely add texture to the surface but that makes me think that the paint might easily scrape off if your fingernails get into the cracks. The USB ports on the face are 3 amp and feature some sort of intelligent charging that can go down from 3 amps to 2 amps to 1 amp depending on what you have plugged in.

The lights are cool, not to the touch though, as it does get plenty hot. Even though the unit boast over-temp protection I was amazed at just how hot it gets. This is only evident when the device is charging something. The unit seems to do exactly what they set out to. I didn't have any issues and it charged as fast as the one that was included with my LG G5. So what can I say it does what it says, and if you're willing to shell out $19.99 for a wall charger because you wanna ride the lighting and feel like Zoom from The Flash it'll be money well spent.

**  Island Boy Manuel received this item at a discounted rate for his honest and unbiased review. **

Fifine USB Wireless Microphone with Sound Card Review | Chamorros Reviewing Tech

Hafa Adai! Another day another tech review...hey there party peeps it's me Island Boy Manuel, bringing you the deets on the Fifine USB Wireless Microphone with Sound Card. So is it good? Bad? Maybe a little of both? Let's find out in this edition of Chamorros Reviewing Tech.

Unboxing and Setup

The Mic arrived in that pretty, white box emblazoned with that black Fifine Technology that I've mentioned in previous reviews. It looks sharp and modern and I really like the aesthetic. The product is protected by foam and bagged. All the included accessories (two double A batteries, a USB receiver, and an Auxiliary cable) are kept below a cardboard divider.

Admittedly I was underwhelmed by the look of this mic. The steel mesh looks like a flat painted chrome, the only branding is a generic text wrap at the base of the mesh that simply says UHF Professional Microphone. The switch has a textured slider that has good tactile feedback and makes a solid clicking noise so you can be sure you have it in the correct position. I also don't understand why the bottom is bright blue...if I had to venture a guess it'd be that the body style is generic so that they can use it when manufacturing standard XLR wired mics or wired USB mics and they just change out the guts and plug the hole with blue plastic.

The USB receiver is plastic with a small green LED and a 3.5mm port for the auxiliary cable, and unfortunately it seems a tad too light to elicit any sort of ooo or awww factor. The Auxiliary Cable has a good length to it and fits snug. The batteries are generic AA styles and they fit into the compartment well. I got roughly three solid hours of use before they needed replacing.

Audio Test

The Mic actually has a great sound to it. I belted out everything from Broadway to Five finger death punch, from One Direction to Chase Rice and all the Audio rang clear with very little plosives or shifting in volume. The mic does pick up a lot breath noise but little to no ambient noise. I was very happy with the result.

The Verdict

I am very happy with my purchase of the Fifine wireless mic. I'm deducting a point for the generic look but it works well and that's what matters. Check it out for yourself here: https://goo.gl/1QoO4L                   

Vansky® Gooseneck Car Phone Holder with Dual USB charging ports | Chamorros Reviewing Tech

Hafa Adai! Welcome back to Chamorro Cinema for our next installment of Chamorros Reviewing Tech. Today I your comaNERD and Chief Island Boy Manuel is reviewing a Vansky® Goose neck Car Phone Holder that we received in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. So was it good? Bad? Maybe a little of both? Find out in this episode of Chamorros Reviewing Tech!

Unboxing and Setup

I received the item in the mail in a simple manila colored box with a cardboard divider inside. The packaging was so unassuming that I was a little concerned about what might be inside...however, all of those fears were quelled when I pulled out the product and found it to be a pretty good quality device. 

Setup is simple enough, the charger and goose neck are pre-assembled and has a ball joint at the top that fits into a compression connector on the back of the holder. Simply unscrew the compression nut and insert the ball joint and tighten. Voila your ready to conquer the road!

It also comes with a micro-USB to USB charging cable, so you will need your own C-type or Lightning Cable for newer smart phones. 

Quality and Build

The  holder is made of a charcoal grey colored Poly-carbonate with lime green rubberized grips at the base and top for holding your phone tight. The holder is adjustable from 3.5 to 6.3 inches so it is able to fit a variety of phones, I tested an LG G4, a Galaxy S6 and a Galaxy Note 4 and all fit with no issues.  

The goose neck is pretty flexible and relatively long. This came in handy when connecting it to both my 2013 Subaru Impreza and my Dodge Journey as both have recessed charging ports on the console. I had to do a bit of finagling to get it to sit in the port and not block an of the dashboard controls.

The charger itself boasts dual 5v/2a ports. I found that they worked well but were significantly slower at charging when both ports were in use. My wife and I took an hour long drive to the Mall of America on Saturday and noticed that while on the drive there both our LG G4's charged 20% in roughly 32 minutes. on the drive home when only one of the phones was charging it jumped to 80% charged in the same amount of time. 

There are multiple rubber boots on the charger as well that make it look alien at first but in truth go a long way to making and maintaining good connectivity to the cars charging port. Many of the other chargers I have feature smooth plastic bodies that over time need to be twisted or pushed on in order to work. Time will tell if these boots help to eliminate the problem.

The Verdict

It's hard not score this product a solid 4 out of 5. It's a simple product that does exactly what it says it will do. The asthetics are pleasing the quality is there and save for a slower charge when both ports are used and having to make adjustments so it doesn't block my dashboard it certainly delivered.

Pick one up for yourself and read other reviews at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016HL1MCK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

   

Edge of Winter Review | Chamorros Watchin Movies

Hafa Adai! It's little ol' Island Boy Manuel again with another movie review. Tonight I watched Edge of Winter starring Spiderman and Rick Flagg (or at least the actors playing them). So was it good? Bad? Maybe a little of both? Let's bust out the winter jackets and the stocking caps and settle in for Edge of Winter, Directed by Rob Conelly and starring Joel Kinnaman and Tom Holland.

Ever watch a movie that goes from painstakingly slow to WTF just happened territory at breakneck speed? That's the feeling I had watching Edge of Winter. The film is insanely slow to start...it seems to be on the cusp of that slow burn that establishes mood and attaches us to the characters but it never quite makes it. Don't get me wrong the actors do a fine job with the material but the film does little to endear them to us.

We ought to root on some level for a father pushed beyond his limits, but Kinnaman is hardly likeable as Elliot. He spends the bulk of the movie in a strange sort of confused daze, one minute he is masterfully crying and acting like a real father then out of nowhere he flips out and is a violent psycho. The turn isn't handled in a realistic way the film simply asks us to concede that he's crazy now.

Tom Holland and Percy Hynes-White seem to be a perfect example of one actor phoning it in while the other is giving it his all. Holland is simply doing his job, say the lines and emote a little (daydream about the upcoming Marvel paycheck), while Percy is giving his all to deliver powerful emotions. Unfortunately, Tom Hollands character, Bradley, is annoyingly prudish. Throwing hissyfits and glaring. Hynes-White is a pro at crying on cue...which he does alot...alot alot, but his character caleb is fairly one dimensional and neither one has much of an arc.

There are two ancillary characters that show up at the end of the second act that speak french for some reason...and don't serve any purpose except to add two more scenes of Kinnaman freaking out because bang he's psycho now.

All in all I can't recommend Edge of Winter. I think Joel Kinnaman and Percy Hynes-White deliver tremendous performances but are left with bad material to work with...it's like getting a famous designer to make your wedding dress but they need to use construction paper.

Anyway, let me mknow what you thought of Edge of Winter...or as I like to call it before they were stars (slumming it in canada edition).

Reacting to Lightbringer Seranos Overwatch Strategy Video | Chamorros Wa...

Review of the AYL Bluetooth Headphones AX8 V4.1

 Hafa Adai! Today Island Boy Manuel Reviews the AX-8 Wireless Earbuds by AYL. Are they good? Bad? Maybe a little of both? Check it out in episode two of Chamorros Reviewing Tech.

Unboxing and Setup

The box I received from AYL was an unassuming cardboard in its natural brown color with a logo foil stamped in red. A very simple package that made me wonder if the product inside was an  electronic device or some sort of new fangled granola with sprouts from world market. I was elated to discover it was the former. There was not a lot of packaging around the headphones to mess with but they came with multiple tips and grips, a micro USB for charging and a nice faux leather bag for carrying everything.

    

    

Construction and Design

It's got a basic setup, two earbuds with ear grips and an in line controller. The AX8 is no exception to this setup bit it is a pretty version. It has a matte black finish and chrome accents, punctuated by a simple AYL logo printed on each bud. It's a very simple yet dynamic visual and as a visual person it was something I enjoyed.

The inline controller feels solid, it has good tactile feedback. It has the basic buttons (volume + and volume -, separated by a large multi-function button) and each of the buttons is given enough space to breathe so no hitting the wrong button. However the only major gripe I have with the construction is in the placement of the controller. It sits approximately 3.5 inches from the right ear bud...so it's dangling in mid air and each time I went to adjust the volume I yanked it out of my ear.

The USB is flat (so it has a lower chance of getting shorts yay!) and fits nice, but it's tiny. I'm not entirely sure how to charge these without them dangling on the wall or from a USB port on my computer.

Sound

The sound quality is what I'd expect from a bargain brand bluetooth ear bud. Its not Bose but not gas station brand quality either. They have really good bass and nothing sounds tin-ny. No real complaints here.

The Verdict

Bottom line is that you can't go wrong with these headphones. For roughly $30 you get an above average sound,`Phenomenal battery life and solidly constructed headphones. My one gripe is in the placement of the inline controller but it's not insurmountable. I highly recommend you check them out at http://amzn.to/2bcXKjt

** Editors note: Island Boy Manuel did receive this product free from AYL for Review. It is the expressed policy of Chamorro Cinema to be 100% honest in every review regardless of sponsorship. The fact that the product is free does not in any way impact out review.

  

Spawn of Loki Death of Master Chief Reaction | Chamorros Watching You Tube

Behind the scenes of Chamorros Watching YOU...tube 090416

Jungle Book 2016 Movie Review | Chamorros Watchin Movies

Hafa Adai and Welcome to Chamorro Cinema! I'm Island Boy Manuel and I have just spent the last two nights of my life watching Disney's live action Jungle Book remake. Was it good? Bad? Maybe a little of both? Let's sit down by the fire and curl up with a good (jungle) book and take a look at the latest cash grab...I mean movie.

I want to start off by saying I am not a Jungle Book purist, but I am a fan of the book and I don't feel that any adaptation has been THE ONE yet. That said I loved this movie! It was fun, the world was vibrant and lush and it felt alive and ancient, the voice acting was phenomenal, Neel Sethi did a great job as Mowgli (Even if he did shout his lines worse than Dora and Diego combined), and I loved the edginess they added to the film.

But this is the internet and I am a critic so it can't be all sunshine and rainbows. The few things that don't work are Scarlett Johansson's Kaa and Giancarlo Esposito's Akela. Both of these characters feel underdeveloped. Also the message of the film is muddled.

Kaa is only there to provide flashback exposition. In the books Kaa is all over the place assisting Mowgli and friends (and trying to eat him) Heck even the Jason Scott Lee version had him as a fearsome foe, in this she appears gives some exposition and then fight Baloo off screen. Seems like a waste of an A-list actress.

Akela, likewise doesn't have a lot of screen time. In the books he is Mowgli's great defender, Shere Kahn needs a whole pack of young wolves to try to depose him and his connection to Mowgli is so strong that when he eventually dies it is the driving force for Mowgli to leave the jungle for good. In the film he isn't given enough interactions with Mowgli to form a strong connection,and thus the audience as an extension of Mowgli, we miss out on what could've been a strong paternal character.

Lastly the message of the film seems to warn of the dangers of man's use of fire and the animals fear of it's destructive power...but like in the 1967 version it is used and the destruction is kinda glossed over and there is no consequence to Mowgli for using it.  I feel like his use of the Red Flower is the final litchpin in seperating him from his jungle brethren and transitioning him to humanity...but in this it is a means to an end and really nothing is learned from it. Also there is one throw away line by Lupita Nyong'o's Raksha that seems to hint at Shere Khan breaking the law of the jungle by Killing for pleasure but this is not really fleshed out.

The bottom line is this is a fun movie with lots of heart. The CGI is incredible, the actors are amazing, and the world is teeming with life. It's not a perfect adaptation but it's a helluva tale to spin.

Thanks for reading. Be sure to leave me a comment telling me what you thought of the film. As always you can follow me on twitter @manuelmendiola and be sure to subscribe to Chamorro Cinema on YouTube! Check back often for all your NERDTASTIC NEWS WITH AN ISLAND VIEW!

Review of Fifine PC Microphone (F-F1M) Tech Review

PC Microphone Fifine 3.5mm Plug Recording Microphone Built In Reverb chip for Computer-Recording/Singing/Podcast-K028

Hafa Adai! Welcome to Chamorro Cinema, I'm your neighborhood Friendly Island Boy Manuel here to review the Fifine Technology PC Microphone. I was sent this microphone free of charge to review, but as with anything we review on Chamorro Cinema this will be an unbiased HONEST review.

Unboxing and Setup:

The product ships in a beautiful, simple white box with a simple black logo. Inside we have an instruction manual that has been translated to English with varying degrees of success. The microphone itself is protected by foam and the cord and USB adapter are individually wrapped in a separate compartment. Everything looks like it was packaged with care and the modern look of the packaging makes it seem like this mic is worth far more than the $40 dollars you dropped on Amazon to get it. Setup is easy the only part that might confuse people is needing to remove a cap on the clip in order to thread it onto the tripod. The XLR connector snaps into the base of the microphone then you simple hook the USB connector to a port on your computer and the little remaining plug goes into your microphone jack (IF YOU HAVE A COMBINED HEADPHONE/AUDIO INPUT JACK ON YOUR DEVICE YOU WILL NEED TO USE THE INCLUDED USB SPLITTER ADAPTER)

Construction/Feel:

The design of this microphone is very neat and clean. It has a sexy matte black finish with golden steel mesh on top. The  mic is made of an aluminum alloy and the whole thing just feels heavy, so I'm sure there are lots of do-dads and afew do-hickeys are featured under it's "Hood". The two dials on the mic control the volume and the echo and they take a little more oomf to turn. the damper is the same cheap foam dampers everyone uses but it works so...you know...if ain't broke, don't fix it. The adapter is a bit bulky so if you only have two USB Ports on your computer, and they are side by side good luck plugging in both. I had a tough time on my laptop but I ended up plugging it in to my cell phone charger. It is a little strange that it uses an XLR connector but it only works with the small jack and USB... but such are all of life's little mysteries.

 Quality:

I ran a few sound tests and to be honest it was pretty impressive. My one gripe is the dials aren't gradual enough it seems like the volume when adjusting between 25% and 75% is the same level all throughout then it goes straight to full volume; and the Echo control works really well but the echoes go from no echo to a lot of echo to fast. The whole device is rather sturdy and well built. The stand does occasionally droop and the lack of any adjustment to height takes away a point from me.

The Verdict:

This mic is deceptively priced. The quality of sound and the well built construction make the mic worth more than it's $30 price point. I strongly recommend this mic for novice podcasters and vocalists. As a Youtuber myself I look forward to using this mic to bring you more NERDTASTIC NEWS WITH AN ISLAND VIEW!

Thanks for reading and if you liked this review be sure to check back regularly for more Tech Reviews, Nerd Culture Discussions and Movie News.

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