Purchases of the Week - June 9, 2012

I managed to have a little bit of spare change so I decided to work on our blu-ray collection. Nate advised me that I need to replace instead of adding onto our blu-rays. Even though there are ton of recently lowered movies we don't have yet, I have decided to take his advice and do some replacing.

So I grabbed a handful of DVDs and just waited out the prices until they fell to our level of cheapness.

Don't Be A Menace In South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood - In order to fully appreciate this movie, you have to have watched all the movies it was spoofing. I have not, but I still find the parts I do understand funny. Nate has I think, seen all the movies so he has a deeper understanding of this movie than I do. 

Face/Off - Two over-acting actors in one movie equals not a bad movie. I don't care for John Travolta honestly. I don't seek out his movies. My feelings for him are prior to the recent accusations that have been plaguing him lately. I just don't find him interesting. Nicolas Cage on the other hand is a very interesting actor and I enjoy watching him. Except for Ghost Rider. My tolerance was at it's limit for that one. 

 
Hustle & Flow - I have issues with drama movies. I get caught up into it too much and I always feel drained after watching one. Albeit, this is a really good movie though so I watched it completely. Terrence Howard plays a charismatic character with a dream. I still believe he would have made a better War Machine in Iron Man 2. 

Dragon Ball Z Kai #7 & #8 - Apparently #8 ends the series. I have read that they wont even go to the Majin Buu Saga. Which sucks. With all these different sets of Dragon Ball out I still have yet to finish watching the whole series. It's just hard to set aside the time to do so considering how lengthy this series is. 

 
Forrest Gump - Is a modern classic. I didn't want the special edition of the set. I just wanted the regular edition. Like Shawshank Redemption I tend to watch this movie if it's on TV.
Twister - Is by all means not a "deep" movie. It's fun to watch though. This movie falls under the category of mindless entertainment. 

 
Maverick - Ahhh Mel Gibson at his most charming. This was before the world found out he was a bitter, violent and terribly unhappy man. I love this movie. Everything works so well together. I miss this version of Mel Gibson but then again, he may have never existed at all. 

 
Unbreakable - Yes, most of M. Knight's Shalashaska, as Nate and I call him, most of his movies are caca. But not this one. I like this one a lot. It worked well with his style, you know, "With a twist!" type of shit. Alas, I don't plan on getting anymore from this director. Except maybe Lady in the Water. Nate said it was not bad and he liked it. I have yet to see it.

That's about it for purchases of the week. Trying to watch out for deals and maybe upgrade our couch to improve our living room. But that will be after SDCC. So I am officially on savings lock down until after July.

Purchases of the Week - June 2, 2012

I didn't realize how caca our internet was until Nate and I tried to play Borderlands together today. I don't know why we are having such an issue now but I think Nate's Xbox doesn't connect as well wirelessly as mine did and he gets disconnected all the time.

I did a speed test and we came up with pathetic numbers: 3.20 mbps download and a sad 0.67 mbps upload. It's not even meeting the standard speed my internet connection is supposed to allow for.

I guess this was fast ten years ago. But with today's wireless gadgets and streaming services galore, this speed is now outdated. So I cracked open my SDCC fund and bought new gear. I told my husband I want this project completed in June. He has concurred.

Oh yeah, we got married two weeks ago and had our first official husband and wife argument today. He said I "rage quitted" because we couldn't play together. I said, "No I didn't!" We then proceeded to argue about upgrading our internet and why we haven't done so. I huffed it up and went to our room.

Half hour later as I stomped to the kitchen, he was making his toasted peanut butter and strawberry jelly sammiches. He offered me one. Fight over.

The twelve years Nate and I have been together, 90% of our fights are like this. Minor quibbles. That's a source of pride for us compared to other marriages we've seen. But I digress.

Motorola SB6121 SURFboard DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem - Time Warner offers four tiers in their internet service. Standard, which we are on, Turbo, Extreme and Ultimate. In order to take full advantage of their upper level services you need a modem that has DOCSIS 3.0 capabilities. They don't provide the modem to their customers. Which is dumb. But it works out. If you buy your own modem you get rid of that stupid rental fee. This one has good reviews and is on their recommended list. I am hoping for a painless install but nothing ever goes easy with these things. So we'll see when I get the modem. 

HALO Liv-a-Littles - It's like crack to my cats. Well to Nodame and Pickles. They literally bat the container in my hand and meow plaintively when they want some. I give this to them sparingly or sprinkled crushed on their food. Dhani and Marley Fat don't care for it. 

Fight Club - A great movie! First time I saw it, I was confused but I enjoyed it. Sometimes, movies like these are hard for me to watch so I don't watch it often. But since this is one of Nate's favorites I got it for him.

Prince of Persia - We had high hopes for this movie. We did. Once again, Hollywood disappoints. But not so badly. Nate and I enjoy playing Prince of Persia games. Sure they threw in the game elements here but I don't know. Maybe we were expecting too much.

Purchases of the Week - 04/22/2012

I got a few more blu-rays and items for our fur kids. Lots of sales lately that we've been taking advantage of as well.

Conan the Barbarian - Classic Arnold. " To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women." 

Dead Space: Aftermath - Horribly executed. The graphics should be considered an embarrassment to the digital movie community. It looked like they found their talent from the desperate digital amateur artists pool in youtube. I am just very disappointed in how this was produced. The first Dead Space was good. Anyways I liked the converging stores to make a whole and it's always nice to know what happened afterwards. Only a true Dead Space fan should buy this and buy it cheap. Like I did.
50 First Dates - Is a charming movie. I like Drew Barrymore. Concept is unlikely, like a sugar coated version of Memento with rainbows and unicorns. It works for me. 

The Fifth Element - Classic campy sc-fi. Leeloo Dallas multipass! Chicken gooooood! I could go on on. 

 
Bridget Jones's Diary - Sure she makes that siopao face expressions but if you can get past her muddy British accent there's a cute story here. 

 
The Scorpion King - I like to think this is the movie that made The Rock a movie star. He makes a great action star. I wish he would return to doing such films again. Not really feeling the Disneyfied Dwayne Johnson. 

Four Brothers - I like Mark Walhberg. Even though he has a habit of putting both feet in his mouth sometimes. He's a much better actor than a singer that's for sure.

 

Liv-a-Littles Chicken - I am running out of this already so I re-supplied. I like to add it to their meals so that they'll finish their food entirely. Nodame and Pickles love this the most.

 
Petmate Top Loading Carrier - This carrier is Marley's. Their last vet visit was traumatic for them and us. They fought going into the traditional carrier we had. Nodame actually clawed me in his displeasure at being put into one of these. Marley and Dhani can deal with this design. I already am eyeing another top loading one for Nodame. 

Ugroom Rubber Brush - My cats love to be scratched and petted. The traditional brushes I have for them don't have the massaging option and de-shedding capabilities this one has. I can also use it during bath time for them so the shampoo will go deep.

Oatmeal Dog and Cat Shampoo - Yeah. That's a gallon size. When you have four cats that are bathed monthly, you quickly run out of shampoo if it's in a regular shampoo bottle. I got the Oatmeal one as my cats don't really have fleas and I suspect Nodame has sensitive skin. The oatmeal always did a wonderful job with P-Chan. I expect the same results for the cats. 

 
Gallon Dispensing Pump - I'm going to be attaching that sucker on the gallon. That's about it. Oh. Nate got his suit and I got two choices for shoes for our wedding. =)

Purchases of the Week - 04/15/2012

Damn, it's been that long since I did one. I have been purchasing quite a bit lately but I decided to once again re-start with blu-ray purchases.

First off, our Sony blu-ray player was having issues. We were getting the error "Unable to play disc." It was very frustrating as we thought we had defective discs. Six of our movies were coming up this way. We ended up returning some of our movies but then a week later, Sony released a software update and all was well again. Ugh.

So I am back to scouring the net for cheap blu-ray! Here's this week's loot.

 

 

Nacho Libre - I had to return, then buy then return and finally buy it back now that the software issue has been fixed. 

Shaun of the Dead - I have only seen the end of this movie. Even with what little I saw I was laughing. I can't really say much because I still need to see it. 

The Frighteners - I love this movie. I've been patiently waiting for it to come to blu-ray. It has a lot of the charm of his Back to the Future performance but as a burnt out version. I can't tell you how many times Nate and I have quoted, "My body is road map of pain." 

 
The Fly - I have seen this movie in bits and pieces. I've also heard that bits and pieces tend to be "collected" in this movie. I've been warned not to watch after eating. I have always wanted to watch it but I suspect every time this is shown on TV it might be edited.

Elizabeth - I've seen this movie and I liked it. I love historical/period movies. I love Cate Blanchett. A snow queen best admired from afar.

Billy Madison - Nate's always singing the song and every time it pops up on TV, he will watch. So this is for him.

 
Basic Instinct - I do like this movie. Sharon Stone played a psychopathic sex fiend perfectly. I am not gonna lie. I did squint and pause the film when she crossed her legs. LOL 

Alien vs Predator - A concept that would have ruled. The first film was OK. I liked it. The film following it sucked so much donkey balls. I had to quell my anger and sit through Requiem on Netflix. Time I cannot get back. But at least I didn't turn it off like Collateral Damage. Which is the first time I stopped watching a movie halfway.

 
Harry Potter 2: Chamber of Secrets (Ultimate Edition) - Why am I buying these instead of the conveniently packed 8 movie edition? The Ultimate Editions are loaded with a ton of extras. I am aware of the planned special collector's edition packed as a trunk but I am hearing rumblings that it's not as comprehensive as these Ultimate Editions. Since we love Harry Potter, I prefer to get these versions instead. I have the first one and these are not cheap. This one happened to be 44% off and met my requirement for cheapness.

That's it for now. We're still trying to replace our DVDs but that's a slow process as the DVD movies we have are still at unacceptable pricing in their blu-ray versions. But glacial patience always wins out.

Purchases of the Week - 02/01/2012

 

Eraser - I wouldn't say classic Arnold with this one. Standard Arnold is more like it. It's not unbearable like Collateral Damage. That movie is fucked up plot-wise, but this one is enjoyable. 

Coming to America - Nate quotes this movie a lot and I don't blame him. It is funny. I haven't sat through the whole movie but I do distinctly remember a whole family with jheri curls and a moist couch. 

 
Nacho Libre - I cannot believe this was out of print and ridiculously priced. So when I saw it available again at Amazon for $8.99 I pounced on it. I love this movie! Stretchy pants and corn! 

Amadeus - Classic movie. Not historically accurate but enjoyable drama. The music is amazing.

That's it for now. A lot of movies I have been wanting to replace are dropping slowly in price. We're at 197 in blu-rays and counting!

Purchases of the Week - June 26, 2011

Dragon Ball Z Kai: Part Five - I've been taking advantage of the pre-order pricing at Amazon. Lately, a lot of the DBZ Kai blu-rays have been $18 or less and I have been swooping in and grabbing some when they dip that low. 

Soul Eater: Meister Collection 1 & 2 - I love this anime and it's extremely popular. I didn't expect it to ever dip down to $20 but it dipped enough for me to purchase. This is one of the last anime I was actively pursuing the fansub. 

 
Shawshank Redemption - A classic film, plain and simple. Nate and I often watch it when it pops up on TV. 

Dragon Ball Z Kai: Part Four - I am now current with all the DBZ Kai releases. I just need to sit down and watch it. It's been a busy month though...

Purchases of the Week - June 12, 2011

Dragon Ball Z Kai: Part Two - Finally, after waiting approximately six months, the price went down to my liking and I snatched it up quick. I have part 3 already but could not watch it before getting my hands on this one. I am actually enjoying this series much more than the original version. Less filler crap. 

 
From Dusk till Dawn - I had to get another movie so my order qualifies for free shipping so I picked this one. George Clooney was gritty and rough around the edges with this character. Not as sophisticated as he is now. Plus Selma Hayek was mad sexy in this film. I like voluptuous women. Nate and I agree that too thin women look bony, unattractive and hungry. Very much like underfed zombies.

I got several pre-orders lined up but until they ship I wont be talking about it. That's about it media-wise. Toy buying I did pick up an several pieces. The latest being an M1 Matango. I think Nate also bought some anime DVDs from rightsuf.com. I forget what they were but I'll have him blog about those.

Purchases of the Week - April 10 - 24, 2011

I've been so preoccupied with the living room that I haven't blogged about other purchases that happened during the week. So here's a summary.

Waste-less Bags Variety Pack (6) - I was dissatisfied with the recyclable bags that are being offered at stores and I needed something that could hold a lot and be stylish to boot. When these arrived at the house, I wanted to return them because they were plastic. I thought they were fabric. I gave them a try though and was surprised at the strength and capacity of these bags. One bag can hold four 2 litre sodas. So I changed my mind and kept the set. We get a lot of compliments and questions about the bags when people see them. 

 
Purse Size Deluxe Coupon Organizer - A better alternative to stuffing coupons in my purse. Nate and I use coupons but not to the extreme stupidity as seen in Extreme Couponing. Some of the shit those people buy don't make any practical sense at all. 

 
Knocked Up - All around funny movie. I know people can't stand Katherine Heigle but she was good in this one. Bill Hader's short appearance as Brent was awesome. "You look like Jabba the Hutt dying." 

40 Year Old Virgin - A lot of things we loved about the movie. Man O' Lantern, a bag of sand, it's all about passion and public colonoscopy. The whole movie is a lot of laughs and cringe worthy moments.

Collapsible Clothing Rack: Commercial Grade - This is what started the whole purchasing of the week idea. We had a messed up cheap-o rack that had missing wheels. It was also lopsided and was standing upright only because it was so twisted that gravity didn't know whether to pull it down or up. We like to hang dry our clothes this way to prevent shrinkage in the dryer. I can't tell you enough about how awesome this new one is. If you have one of those cheap, plastic ones, invest in a steel commercial grade clothing rack. This will last us forever.

 

Kickboxer - Jean Claude Van Damme dancing. Not as awesome as his dance sequence in Breakin' but the "dancing" alone is reason in enough to make this a must buy. 

 
Land of the Lost - I honestly haven't seen this movie at all. The only reason I bought it is because it dipped down to under $10 and it has Danny McBride and Will Ferrell. I know it's been widely panned but it can't be that bad right? 

The Relic - A surprisingly good monster movie with actors that are not so familiar. I enjoyed the premise of it and despite some predictable elements to the plot, it is still a great movie for those lazy weekends.

Amazon Basics High Speed HDMI Cables - Since we don't have a receiver yet we needed some cables for the TV set up. These work just as well as the ridiculously over-priced Monster Cables.

Hunter x Hunter DVD Vol. 01 - I know right? A DVD set. But this is one of a few series' that I loved. More than Naruto or Bleach. I really didn't realize that companies have to re-buy a license to upgrade anime from DVD to BD. Some series' may never get a chance to see a blu-ray upgrade. HxH may be one of them. Which is a shame since it is a great series. 

XBOX 12 Month Gold Membership - I actually didn't have to get one. As a new XBOX owner, there was a deal that they offered when I plugged in my new system. I got my membership online for $39.99. I didn't pay full price for this card either but my next year's renewal is taken care of since I just saved the card. 

 
Borderlands Game of the Year Edition - I wanted a game Nate and I can play together. I just had to get this version that had all the downloadable content. We play at night when we have a couple of hours to spare. 

Plants vs Zombies - Highly addictive plus the disc comes with two other games that are just as bad.
Viva Pinata - Cute strategy game. Reminds me of Harvest Moon and Pokemon combined. Very simplistic and aimed more at children. I still like it though.

Corpse Bride - I like stop motion animation. I love the gray and blue colors and it's by Tim Burton whose movies I have always liked. 

 
Sherlock Holmes - I remember when Robert Downey Jr.'s life was a circus of drugs and embarrassing arrests but this man has the talent to be an amazing actor as much as to be self-destructive and he has truly raised himself out of the gutter and prevailed. Which is why I think Lindsay Lohan who has had so many second chances will never have the respect and acknowledgement that Robert Downey Jr. has achieved. She'll be recognized for her notoriety only and not for her artistic talent because she has none. Anyways, Jude Law kicked ass in this movie too. Very enjoyable movie and finally dipped down to affordable. Still waiting on Iron Man to drop in price. 

Clash of the Titans - Yeah I know. General consensus of this movie is that it is caca BUT it has Mads Mikelsen who is not only a sexy fiend but a bad ass all around. Sam Worthington isn't hard on the eyes either, he makes a great action hero but I find myself hoping he'll be more than just an action hero. He's got a lot of intensity without the prima donna attitude. Here's hoping he picks better movies in the future. 

Austin Powers Collection - All three movies in slim pack packaging. I hate slim pack cases. They suck. But the set dipped down to under $18 and I swooped in to get it. I can't believe it's been 14 years since the first movie came out. How time flies. It feels dated but still a lot goofy fun!

That's the lot of it I think for April. I did try Amazon Prime for a month but it didn't seem worth it. Not everything will ship in two days and I like having the option of cancelling an order especially if the price dips down. I could not do it with Prime as stuff is set to ship ASAP. So back to the old, long wait for stuff to arrive at the house.