Sunday, March 30, 2014

Street Fighter Assassin's Fist Mike Moh (Ryu) FB fan Q& A

Here's the first SFAF FB fan Q7A with Actor Mike Moh who plays Ryu.

Predator 2: My thoughts on how it could've been Epic

I'm gonna write this down before my ass forgets it, because I think this epiphany I just had is actually rather good.
We all know Predator 2 was not the sequel we deserved and Danny Glover was probably not the best choice for the star and don't get me started on Gary Busey. The movie wasn't terrible like AVP2 but I think it could've been better, and here's how I would've done it!
1997 Afghanistan
Dutch (Schwarzenegger) is deployed with a new team to support a PMC put down an "insurgency" during the Afghan civil war.
Dutch's team reaches the the perimeter of the village at dawn but there's is no activity. The team enters the village and performs a sweep and clear, they come across bodies of skinned soldiers, Dutch appears unaffected as he tells one of his team to call in the situation and another to cut down the bodies, Dutch rips the dog tag off the bodies and scans through them briefly then mutters these are not the men we're looking for. Just then something rushes across the shadows of the building, Dutch silently signals to his team and they move in the direction of the movement, they move some debris and the thing quickly scurries further back under the debris covered floor, one soldier reaches down and grabs a little Arab girls wrist and pulls her up. She is famished and filthy but they decide to keep her so she doesn't go alert the local militia.

This environment keeps with the urban jungle theme from P2 and keeps the hinted at theory of "especially hot summers bring the chubacabra"
The story follows the same basic plot as the original as Dutch's team finds the village then proceeds further towards the war torn city in an effort to renevous with the PMC's. Same basic events take place as Dutch's team is hunted down one by one as the Predator kills them. Dutch adapts quickly to the Predator's attacks which would be expected since he's had previous experience against the alien.
Now this is where the payoff comes in! This isn't actually a straight up Predator sequel....
The final confrontation between Dutch and the predator takes place in the city during the battle between the PMC's and the local insurgency so while these two duke it out there's also a fierce fire fight going on between these other two parties. Dutch uses environmental traps set by the insurgents for the PMC's to battle the apparently technologically superior Alien, and just like the original  the ugly motherfucker drops the mask gives Dutch and ass whooping and corners Dutch, in a last ditch effort Dutch detonates some c-4 near an oil tanker but this time ol Preds was prepared and fires up a shield to protect him from the explosion then shit gets real and proceeds to kick the ever living shit out of Dutch finishing him off with a shot him that throws him 20 feet into another oil tanker truck then blows it up with a blast from it's shoulder canon.
The Predator roars out a deafing warcry and retracts his claws. The PMC's and insurgents turn their attention to the Predator but the Predator begins to rip them apart till only a few PMC's remain. As they fire they're last few rounds from their hand guns the Alien unsheathes his claws as he walks towards the with the flaming remains of the oil tanker behind it....suddenly the flaming debris shudders and shifts as the metallic exo skeleton of a T-800 cyberdyne systems model 101 emerges from the wreckage! The Predator continues towards the remaining PMC's when it's suddenly hit from behind from a grenade shot from and M-16, the Predator slowly gets up and scans the direction the shot came from but detects no heat signature...as the Terminator walk right by it walking determined towards the PMC's as the T-800 passes the Predator it scans the remaining PMC's and one target registers as Ryan Brewster..Kate Brewsters older brother and future first lieutenant in the future resistance under John Connor.
Meanwhile the Predator regains his mask and begins scanning the area thru multiple filters until it finally detects the Terminator! The Terminator shoots the PMC's and reaches down and lifts Ryan by the throat off the ground. As Brewster writhes gasping  for air face to face with the Terminator two glowing claws rip thru the abdomen of the Terminator, sparks shoots out as the Terminator drops Ryan Brewster and struggles to break free from the Predator. Brewster crawls away as the two fight, the each inflicting heavy damage to the the other. After the smoke settles Terminator stands over the mortally wounded Predator with it's metal foot crushing the control panel on the Predators wrist the Predator manages to say something in it's native tongue and chuckles as neon green blood spews from it's mouth, the Terminator scans for and appropriate response and suddenly multiple spears penetrate the Terminators endo skeleton and in a flash the Terminator's head drops to the ground and the light in it's optics fades out as multiple predators uncloak around the Dying Predator and Terminators headless torso.
They gather up they're fallen comrade and board the ship that's uncloaked behind them, as they walk back towards the ship the Terminators head is seen in the foreground laying in the sand as a Predators hand picks it up.
In the distance a battered and bruised Brewster see's the ship depart Earths atmosphere as a military chopper lands nearby and a man in desert camo walks thru the smoke towards Brewster and offers a hand simply saying "Come with me if you want to live..."

Monday, March 24, 2014

Street Fighter Assassin's Fist

Here's the first image of Joey Ansah in full makeup as Akuma just before completely being engulfed by the Satsui No Hado.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

My copy of FFX/X-2 HD remaster Collectors Edition


I'm not one who goes for the special/collectors editions often but when I heard about the collectors Edition of the FFX/X-2 HD remaster I really wanted it. On March 18 I received my Collectors Edition of Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD remaster and she's a beaut! The games come on a single BD in a hardcover book with a nice protective sleeve.
On the inside cover are 5 beautiful lithographs and the track listing of soundtrack for both games which comes on the second BD.
The book is prefaced with a note from producer Yoshinori Kitase and is followed by gorgeous art from both games with notes from Toshitaka Matsuda! I'm really looking forward to revisiting Spira and playing X-2 for the first time...and getting the Platinum Trophy's....Now I just need to get a new PS3!
This is a worthy addition to any fan of the Final Fantasy franchise.











Friday, March 14, 2014

Street Fighter Trailer Comparisons

For the last four years I've been following Joey and Christian's journey to SFAF and have been hyping it up to my friends. After the movies starring Van Dam and Kristin Kreuk it's understandable why my friends are skeptical. As much as I tried I couldn't seem to convince them so I made a little wager that if they were impressed by the trailer they would get the honor of writing a review of the series here on Free Swim.
So how do we judge the quality of today's teaser trailer??? Do we compare it to such gems as The Crippled masters and the Mortal Kombat live action movie???? We could...but why not compare apples to apples!
So here are the trailers for Street Fighter: The Movie, Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li and Street Fighter Assassin's Fist.... You be the Judge!

Street Fighter: The Movie (1994)



Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li (2009)



 Street Fighter Assassin's Fist. (2014)

Street Fighter Assassin's Fist First Teaser Trailer

HERE IT IS!!!!
The first teaser trailer for Street Fighter Assassin's Fist!
I am Ansatsuken willing!

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster NA launch trailer: The Summoners Journey

The North American launch trailer for Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD remaster hit yesterday. Six days left till the game hit US shelves, and I just got notified that my preorder for the Collectors Edition has been placed on back order due to supplies.
Before shipping and tax the Collectors Edition via the SE store was $79.00, I just saw it on E-Bay for..........$135.00!
Final-Fantasy-X-X-2-HD-Remaster-Limited-Collectors-Edition
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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

The Walking Dead S4E13 Alone

Dam Daryl just can't catch a break! It's as if anyone who Daryl befriends dies...Merle, Sophia, baby Judith (as far as he knows), now Beth! Ah the symbolism as Daryl collapses in the middle of an intersection....
As mentioned I haven't read the graphic novels but I can't believe I'm the only one seeing the warning signs, black birds circling above, broken arrows, resting in a funeral home, IN A CASKET!!
If Daryl dies I'll be PISSED! The man gets trapped in a basement in a funeral home and manages to sneak through their legs and escape!
The confrontation at the end of the episode did note leave me with a very warm and fuzzy feeling...Daryl meets Joe who evicted Rick two episodes prior.
I feel like the entire group is within shouting range of each other and just don't realize it.
Oh yeah we also got to see what Bobby was doing prior to meeting our rag tag fellowship....ok so moving on, Maggie leaves Sasha And Bobby, then Bobby leaves Sasha to find Maggie and Terminus but Sasha finds Maggie sleeping with a bunch of Walkers then the two catch up with Bobby....I'm so relieved, I have to tell ya I was on the back of my seat.
PLEASE KILL BOBBY STOOKEY....I'd rather have undead T-Dog than this dude.
Next week Tyresse and Lizzie play I spy until undead Sir Topemhat shows up. Check out the moobs

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Friday, March 7, 2014

Street Fighter Assassin's Fist Making of Video Documentary












Street Fighter is a world re known video game franchise that has spawned 4 proper sequels and many spin off series; SFA1-3, as well as cross over series MVC, CVS, TVC, SFXT.
The characters are instantly recognizable
 as demonstrated by the image on the left...I guarantee most of you reading this will instantly match up the characters.
Over the years Capcom has created a back story for the original 8 World Warriors to varying degrees, the most detailed being the story of  Ryu, Ken, their master Gouken who teaches them the Ansatsuken martial art and the power of Hado, Gouki...Gouken's brother and their master Goutetsu.
If you're a fan of the franchise you have most likely read the multiple manga (Ryu Final being one) and Udon comics which have explored this fascinating multi generational story.

If you're just someone who knows Street Fighter is a video games about people who fight and throw fireballs and that there are two live action movies based on the video game than you have been done a serious disservice!
I've been of the opinion that there is absolutely no point in anime/manga, cartoons/video games to live action. Anime to live action is just stupid....they're of the same medium and there are things that can't be accomplished in live action without a heavy dose of CG....which kinda brings you back to the source material. And we all know how well video games translate to the silver screen....
RIP Raul Julia
The 94 live action Street Fighter movie starring Jean Claude Van Dam was atrocious! It was so bad fans of the game's were mailed refunds....fortunately that same year we got the immensely superior Street Fighter II the animated  movie!
This full length feature film absolutely captured the spirit of the game and was well written well directed and was beautifully illustrated and animated.














The following year we got Street Fighter II V
 an animated TV series that attempted to give a little back story to Ryu and Ken prior to the events of Street Fighter II as they travel around the world to become better fighters after getting their asses handed to them by Guile. The series took some liberties and by the final episode the series had veered so off course I glad it was over. It paled in comparison to the SFII animated movie.










In 1999 the Street Fighter Alpha animated movie came out which  gave us a better look at the Satsui no Hado and we glimpsed the beginnings of the story that would continue to be tweeked thru the years to what we will finally get to see in Street Fighter Assassin's Fist this year!
The alpha movie was enjoyable, it was well animated I liked the character design, and the Chun Li fan service was all over the place! Seeing Ryu confront Akuma was cool. I wasn't crazy about the Dr. Sadler final fight nor the Shun character.








As mentioned the story of the Satsui no Hado  was a work in progress for many years and in 2005 we got the most definitive back story regarding Gouken, Gouki/Akuma, Goutetsu, Ryu, Ken and the power of the Satsui no Hado with Street Fighter Alpha Generations.
Generations shows Gouki prior to him embracing the Satsui no Hado , his confrontation with his master Goutetsu and how he and his brother Gouken choose two very different paths of the Ansatsuken martial art.
Generations also hints at something very interesting regarding one of Gouken's students bloodline...which I hope Joey Ansah and Christian Howard elaborate on, all I will say is Sayaka and Gouki.....



                                                                                                                                                                                                               
February 17, 2009....ten days after Street Fighter IV launched Hollywood strikes again this time with a focus on my favorite character in the series Chun Li. There was nothing legendary about this movie in fact I would have to say thanks to the cringe inducing scenes with Chris Klein this movie was even worse than the Van Dam movie....at least that movie was funny..."For me it was Tuesday".
A million fans cried out in unison and were suddenly silenced....but from the darkness a flicker of hope shined....










In 2010 Joey Ansah and Christian Howard created the fan film Street Fighter Legacy and published it on YouTube...fans around the world rejoiced hope was not lost and momentum grew as more and more people saw this short fan made film.






In SDCC 2012 Joey and Christian Announce plans for Street Fighter Assassin's fist has been green lit by Capcom.
In 2013 Joey and Christian announce the project's kick starter drive. Later that year they announce they have reached their goal from and the kick starter campaign is closed.
Throughout 2013 cast announcements on the SFAF YT are posted and the Assassin's Fist FB page gets updated on a nearly weekly basis with set pics.
And today the first trailer for Street Fighter Assassin's Fist hits!!!
      








Thursday, March 6, 2014

Watch Dogs Story Trailer

Check out the latest story trailer for Ubisoft's Watch Dogs! Gotta love the sexual inuendo's "I got in and out"..."crooked cops, prostitution"..."this is huge"....
Otherwise the game looks great!

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

USFIV version select trailer

So the latest update to Ultra has given players the option to choose what version of a character they want to play with....
I'm not to keen on this idea as that essentially quadruples the match up's players need to know! Obviously we're gonna see a resurgence of Vanilla Sagat and AE Yun, and the freakin trailer even kinda acknowledges this!
Personally I've played every version of SFIV and through it all stuck with my main but this feels like they're appeasing all the gamers that bitched and moaned for buffs and nerfs since 2008! This is gonna be a mess in my opinion.
Now not only can people counter pick characters they can counter pick versions...


Monday, March 3, 2014

The Walking Dead S4E12 Still Recap

This week Daryl and Beth do their best trunk monkey impressions. 
And Daryl's new code name is Snake Eater!

Unlike last weeks episode that focused on Michonne, Carl and Rick vs Walkers and bed intruders, last nights episode had a heavy focus on Beth and Daryl and where they are mentally and emotionally and where they came from. 
I really enjoyed watching these two polar opposites find some (un)common ground to create the oddest couple next to Tyresse, Carol, and Lizzie.
The acting in this episode was superb, Norman Reedus was absolutely phenomenal! I believed this was a man struggling with some serious demons and also having to find the emotional strength to protect someone he had absolutely nothing in common with.
Emily Kinney FINALLY got a chance to show the world Beth can be so much more than a red shirt, Beth began showing real survival skills....she is paired with the most likely to be the last man standing and she actually says that to him in this episode which seems to be the popular opinion...

I really liked the scene where they burn down the "house" they were hiding in at the end! It had the same emotional ooomph as the scene in Forest Gump when Jenny returns to the house of her childhood and begins throwing rocks at the house....so far of all the characters who've found reasons to continue to fight to live Daryl's was the most profound!
Excellent episode!
Tune in next week when Maggie, Sasha and Bobby roll the fattest J and get high as a kite but them damn walkers crash the party!