It is very likely that in the past couple of years, you have heard people say that the telephone is the least important aspect of their mobile phone. We even make jokes about it, saying things like, “Oh, and it also makes phone calls!” We complain that our mobile plans are too heavy on the phone minutes, and too light on the high-speed data. It is as if we think that life would be so much better if the plain old telephone service would just hurry up and die.
Every Tuesday, I review the newest Blu-ray releases and let you know whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping, along with a breakdown of the included extras. If you see something you like, click on the cover art to purchase the Blu-ray from Amazon, and be sure to share each week’s column on Facebook and Twitter with your friends.
WHAT: In the wake of Thomas and Martha Wayne’s murders, idealistic Gotham City police detective James Gordon (Ben McKenzie) makes a vow to young Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz) to capture his parents’ killer, all while dealing with corruption within the police department and Gotham’s burgeoning criminal underworld.
WHY: Bruno Heller’s “Rome” is one of the most underrated TV series of the past decade, so when it was announced that he was producing a crime drama centered around a young James Gordon in pre-Batman Gotham City, that’s pretty much all it took to get me onboard. Unfortunately, despite Heller’s insistence that “Gotham” isn’t about Batman, the numerous villains that pop up throughout the first season suggests otherwise, turning the series into something quite different than even Heller himself probably intended. The allure of exploring the various origin stories of Batman’s rogues’ gallery (arguably the best in all of comics) was undoubtedly too enticing to pass up, so it should come as no surprise that the villains are the stars of the show. Robin Lord Taylor and Jada Pinkett Smith are the obvious standouts as Penguin and new creation Fish Mooney, respectively, while Carmen Bicondova delivers a star-making turn as young Selina Kyle. Ben McKenzie also fares well as Gordon, as does Donal Logue as his morally corrupt partner, but their characters often suffer due to some really shoddy writing. And that’s the biggest problem with “Gotham” – it’s an incredibly mixed bag that succeeds as often as it fails. For every great episode, there are two more that fall flat, and although the show starts to find its groove in the latter half, that inconsistency prevents Season One from being anything more than a mildly enjoyable experiment that still needs to iron out a few wrinkles if it ever hopes to make the most of its potential.
EXTRAS: In addition to a behind-the-scenes look at the development of the series, there are three additional featurettes on the show’s production design, Penguin’s story arc and making the pilot episode, as well as footage from DC Comics Night at Comic-Con 2014, character profiles, deleted scenes and a gag reel.
FINAL VERDICT: RENT
Monday is Labor Day, a holiday with its roots in the American labor movement. I could go on about that, unreconstructed Bernie Sanders supportin’ liberal that I am, but you’re here for a drink, not to peruse my pontificatin’.
Anyhow, all this droppin’ of the letter G is brought to you by the good people at Hornitos. They’re the ones who persuaded me to use the final portions in my stash of Hornitos Plata to make something they call Workin’ Hard. It’s a very nice drink that includes an ingredient I’m learning to love which is not only new to me in a cocktail, it’s new to me completely. If, on the other hand, you’re more hip to the electrolytes than myself, this might just be the drink you’ve already been waiting for.
Workin’ Hard
2 ounces Hornitos Plata Tequila
2 ounces coconut water
1 ounce fresh lime juice
1/2 ounce agave nectar
3 dashes Angostura bitters
Lime peel (garnish)
Combine the ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously and strain into a Tom Collins/Highball or a double rocks glass over fresh ice. Add the lime peel. Appreciate the fact that, yes, you have to squeeze a couple of limes for this one but, as workin’ hard goes, it’s not really that much work.
****
The first time I made a Workin’ Hard, I forgot to add the bitters. It actually wasn’t bad without it, just a bit simple and mildly disappointing. With bitters on later attempts, it was a nicely balanced and very complete beverage. Not perfect, perhaps. Depending on the brand of coconut water you use and your mood, I suppose, it might be a bit on the tart side, but lots of people like that.
For me, however, the really important revelation was coconut water, a product I’d never before sampled. Lightly sweet and thirst quenching in a way that’s a little bit like Gatorade but a lot less gross, there’s got to be more cocktail mileage in this stuff.
And if you’re thinking that this is post is slightly shorter than usual and finding it ironic considering the name of the drink is Workin’ Hard, then all I can say is you don’t know how hard I’ve actually been workin’ in real life lately. I’ve got my reasons. Also, there is a companion drink from Hornitos I haven’t tried called, of course, Hardly Workin’. Will that be my penance?
And now for a ingredient-appropriate musical interlude featuring the stylings of Harry Nilsson, literally aping Ernie Kovacs.
No one wants their car to be part of a big recall, but it happens now and then. Whether it’s just one part of the entire vehicle, or multiple systems, a technical service bulletin for manufacturing defects can be scary – especially if your kids ride in the vehicle with you. Here’s what you should do if you get that dreaded letter from the manufacturer.
Types Of Recalls
There are many types of recalls. Most of them are for minor things. For example, a bolt on a non-critical part might be lose or missing. Or, there may be a problem with the seat or a trunk latch. Usually, these problems do not prevent you from using the vehicle and it’s safe to drive it until you can take it into a shop to get it repaired.
Just like the Marvel Universe was a natural fit to headline last year’s edition of Disney’s “toys-to-life” video game franchise, it was a forgone conclusion that the “Star Wars” universe would play a key role in “Disney Infinity 3.0,” especially with the new film coming out later this year. But while George Lucas’ space adventure saga is undoubtedly the main draw, there’s a lot to love about the latest installment, which makes some big strides towards improving the game’s all-around experience, as well as its future potential.
“Star Wars” is sort of like the cinematic version of The Beatles – everyone likes it, but we all have our favorite movie/album and character/band member. Thankfully, that hasn’t gone unnoticed by the team at Disney Interactive. Though it’s a little strange that the original trilogy isn’t featured in the game’s official Starter Pack – instead, you get prequel characters Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano along with the “Twilight of the Republic” Play Set – Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia will be getting their own playable adventure (“Rise Against the Empire”) at the end of September. In addition to those four characters, you can purchase other figures individually, including fan favorites like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Darth Maul, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Darth Vader, Boba Fett and most of the “Star Wars Rebels” crew, all of which are compatible with any “Star Wars”-themed Play Set.
Those with a PS4 or PS3 don’t even have to wait to play “Rise Against the Empire” thanks to an exclusive Saga Bundle that includes both Play Sets and an advanced copy of the Boba Fett figure, but if you’re in the Xbox One or Wii U camp, don’t fret, because “Twilight of the Republic” is still loads of fun. In fact, it’s a marked improvement upon the Avengers Play Set from “Disney Infinity 2.0,” with more exciting gameplay and improved combat mechanics, that basically operates like a greatest hits of locations and characters from the prequels and “Clone Wars” animated series.
One of the biggest complaints about previous iterations of the Toy Box was that, despite trumpeting all of the great things you can do with the software, it was incredibly confusing to use. Version 3.0 fixes most of those issues by including a central hub with specialized guides that help you along the way, as well as introduces some new tools, like farming crops that give your sidekicks abilities; a Path Creator that can be used to build theme park rides, parades and more; and a Toy Dispenser that provides instant access to toys you would otherwise have to unlock through gameplay. Additionally, there’s a new online matchmaking system located inside Flynn’s Arcade, as well as an in-game access point at the famous El Capitan Theatre for uploading and downloading customized Toy Boxes.
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