Uxi

yeah. I wasn't even really a videophile, much less an audiophile, when I got my HDTV. Truthfully, I was happy with every aspect of the HTiB except for the lack of inputs (i was out of optical ports since it had 2 optical and 1 coaxial). Then I started hunted and decided HDMI would complement the Denon nicely, was already at AVS and wanted a Level 6 (per the "future proof receiver" thread they have in the amp/receiver section, did a bit more research and had decided on the Denon 3806. Then if I'm spending that much (~$800 street), why not give myself a bit more since I have the money and won't need to rebuy anytime soon... The original plan was to keep the HTiB speakers ( ) ... My ear had been growing more discriminating anyay... so I wanted speakers worthy of the receiver. Home theater stuff is worse than crack, particularly once you get into high definition and can begin to appreciate the differences in subtleties...

I've spending way too much time at places like AVSForum, Home Theater Forum, etc. This crap is more expensive than crack, though. It all started by buying that damned glorious 60" SXRD. Then I had to replace the HTIB with something worthy. Now i'm looking at floorstanding towers that are $1000 each and compared to some of the setups out there, that's piss in the ocean. Before you get baller gear like that, though, you need to get a room that's acoustically prepared, etc with a couple rows of stadium seats, ISF, HAA guys for professional calibration... I'm thinking of going back into guns since they're cheaper. I coulda bought a completely tricked out TRP or Kimber for what I spent on a receiver...

Forgot about this thread. Spending too much time at AVSForum. Ah yeah. Then Zartan killed the black guy, but regretted in and began immitating him while tutoring Billy IIRC.

There are a whole bunch of arcs from teh comics they could adapt. I would love to see the Pit, General Austin, and Commando Snake Eyes in the first movie, but keeping Snake Eyes as a secondary, though important main character, not as the star (saving that for later sequels). Maybe some adaptation of the whole Cobra as a Terrorist organization infiltrating "Springfield" with the Joes created to oppose them. Stormshadow would similarly be a secondary supporting villain. I could see sequel(s) having Cobra Island be the new plot for Cobra and introducing Zartan and the Dreadnoks, and starting the whole Storm Shadow/Snake-Eyes/Zartan/Hard Master/Soft Master arc.

No offense, but it doesn't sound like these people know what they're talking about then. Lossless codecs like TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio should be bit for bit identical to the studio master, just like PCM. Therefore, neither should sound any ndifferent. That said, Dolby openly admits they do things like Dialog Normalization, which does affect things... some purists hate it, some don't mind it (I'm neutral on it, as long as I have the ability to toggle it. Dialog Norm is one of those things you usually can't escape, though.... The lossless codecs should be just as good, by the numbers and perception, but we already know PCM is what the studios start with before the home video transfer. The only downside to PCM is the the bitrate and space taken up on disc are significantly higher, but this isn't as much an issue with Blu-ray (particularly with 50GB dual layer discs). I'm running 7.1 myself. While it's not the most expensive setup, it's nothing to sneer at ($2k Denon AVR-4306 and about $1k in speakers) on an Audyssey callibrated setup. I'm contemplating HSA calibration, but i'll probably do a full bore dedicated theater (front projector, 10-12foot screen, etc) first.

Now that I got the YF-19 with FP and Booster, I really want a YF-21 with FP and Booster. I'd definitely buy the Ghost, too.

Yeah, I like the main emblems to be tamp... the UN Spacy on the side of the nose, on the wings, etc. Numbers and names I like to do myself / customize, since I rarely feel brave enough to risk a couple hundred on a full blown paint job.

Went ahead and got it. Gunpod looks straight when it's on in fighter, but seems pretty chincy connector. I'd have preferred something not quite anime accurate since it seemed a PITA to get the darned thing in there and then the codpiece seems to interfere with the LOS from the weapon. Stupid anime magic. Anyhow, not too thrilled with the FP, either and the loss of locking/stability you get in fighter mode by detaching the legs for these magnet deals. The fold booster is certainly beefy. Gotta get some batteries, of course... Now bring on the 21!

Not so sure... the Blu-ray of 300 has been steadily selling over 2:1, and approaching 3 to 1 against the HDDVD, as well. TrueHD is in no-way "vastly superior" to PCM. Hint: all mixed sound tracks START as PCM masters, from which they are converted to lossless or lossy compression depending on the format, medium, and the capacity and bandwdith remaining. IOW, at best, TrueHD is a "zipped" version of PCM while PCM is the studio master itself. Then you have things like Dialog Normalization, which Dolby implements as part of TrueHD...

Got "Ninja" Snake Eyes v2 carded, as well as Storm Shadow. As big a fan of Snake Eyes Commando as I am, Snake Eyes v2 is the ultimate fig. I was a bit surprised they didn't include the backpack, though the sword itself slides nicely in between the bandoleer and his back, they should have at least included a "notched clip" on the back of the bandoleer for the sword to slide into. The sword handle itself is a bit too long and the classic shape with blade blade would have been better, as well, but those are my only nitpicks. Storm Shadow is a pretty good rendition of the Storm Shadow v2 original, though I'm a bit puzzled at their using wrist bands for this one (to hide the wrist articulation perhaps?) and consequently moving the Arashikage tatoo/glyph from the wrist to the forearm.weapon selection is pretty cool, too, as was tying the sheaths/quiver to the ropes.

So is the YF-19 with FP and FoldBooster a good buy? I have an IOU gift that I'm owed and am thinking of cashing in. More specific, I want a YF-19. Is there a good 2nd edition sans FP/Booster with all the fixes? Or is the QC on the bundle better? Or is it the same old (revision?) of the original release?

YF-19 looks cool.

One detail that I really like for some reason, especially on Snake-Eyes and Duke, is the lacing on their boots. Makes me want to put on my old pre-MARPAT jungle boots.

There is a demo of Gundam: Dynasty Warriors on PSN. Pretty fun and I'm considering the game, even though I'm not much interested in Gundam.

Republic.

I still swear by my Criterion version and will probably continue to until they ever come out with a Blu-ray version.

Nice. Stalker seems to look a bit too Middle Eastern, rather than black.... Buzzer, Beach Head, Cobra Trooper, Zartan, Red Ninja, Firefly all look great. Mixed about Serptentor (he really needs the cowl). I only wanted to buy a few of these 25th anniversary figures, but this is looking hard! If I bothered getting Shipwreck, he'd go in the same fairy bin as Gung Ho. I intend to skip him.

Another nitpick about Duke... I don't even mind that his rolled sleeves are prohibited full 90degree movement... but I'm most irritated that they picked the most obscene, low QC, spot for his wrist articulation. It looks like a major hack job and that articulation would have been better put up at where the arm meets the sleeve itself (and if they had thought about it, they could have rolled it down one more notch and killed two birds with one stone). Are there any pics or anything on this new Blade Destro? The gold headed pimp version has been a bit appealing, for some reason, lately...

Don't forget to order your five free Blu-rays.

Eh, I never much cared for PiP on either my HDDVDs (Miami Vice, MI3) or my Blu-rays (Crank, Descent), and am not interested in the technical aspects of making a movie on blue/green screen anyway (the specials from teh Star Wars prequels and 300 webisodes gave me all the fix on that I'll ever need), so gladly chose the Blu-ray of 300 for the PCM track alone, which admittedly is a fault of the Xbox 360, as even the Elite can only put out 2Ch PCM over HDMI, and my older premium can only do 2CH PCM or DVD legacy audio via optical, and my PS3 has 8CH PCM via HDMI. It's the exact same VC1 encode, which is a bit sad, since it might have been able to be tweaked up some for Blu-ray's significantly higher video bitrate, though given the (intentionally added) grain, it might not have been noticible. My first high def double dip will probably be the new Director's Cut of Troy. I have the current HDDVD, but will probably get the new version on Blu-ray. One, to compare the two and three, enjoy the superior audio out of the PS3.

Yeah Blade Destro sounds right up my alley. I'd just as soon as we don't get Voltar if he's gonna be a lavender clad type, but sure hope we get the Iron Grenadier, as well. I was going over them all again, and Snake Eyes and Roadblock easily remain my favorites. Snake Eyes is just too damned cool and excellent in every regard. Can't think of any changes I'd make to Commando Snake-eyes. One thing making me raise my eyeball about Roadblock is that his off-hand is apparently meant to cradle the receiver of the M2. Unfortunately, where he has his hand is right where the ejection port is for the shells. I like Scarlett but she's a bit... cartoony, while the others all have a bit more realism... except maybe Gung-Ho, who has me as a Sergeant of Marines professionally embarrasses since he just screams Village People. I would have liked to see his cammies digitized and the appropriate cover (boonie or field) put on. Speaking of cover, WTF is that emblem on his cover... sure don't look like an EGA. and give him a decent M16A2 or M16A4 (would be best with the digi thing). And if he must keep that stache, make it regulation. So... ahem... back to Scarlett. I think the extra 1911 lookalike is for her, but neither she nor Roadblock have a holster. A more... tactical, looking outfit, if not a shred of uniformity amongst the GI Joe team would be nice, but I guess they are trying to emulate the comic.

Got the Joe pack today from Target. Snake Eyes and Roadblock are easily my favorites. Roadblock makes me miss the Ma Deuce on my Abrams more than anything, as it's gorgeously in scale. Too bad they couldn't have given it the combo colors like they did Snake eyes knife. I like the ammo belt and pack, too, as well as the helmet. Mostly that they actually used a sculpt and made Roadblock a big bad mofo. Weren't there supposedly legal issues around the Roadblock character or something like that? Anyways, Snake Eyes commando is great. I passed on the more traditional Snake Eyes visor with timber at Frank & Sons, today, but hopefully I'll catch it at retail. F&S had both the white wolf and dark wolf variants, as well as leopard print Destro and gold headed Destro. My favorite Destro today (that doesn't look like a 70s bare chested goon or the leopard print pimp is the Iron Grenadier gold-head Destro. Hopefully we get a 25th anniversary that does that character justice, so I can buy it with a straight face. ). They need to do a 5 pack of 5 Cobra troopers and 1 Cobra officer, though.

Right, for starting from scratch. I'm talking about making essentially decorations for an already safety rated helmet.

I would love one, but would want it for practical (motorcycle) use. I'm a bit surprised no Japanese company has done one. No to derail the thread, has anyone tried to do a kit-conversion on an existing snell helmet... maybe a dirt bike helmet with plastic visor, etc? That way, we get a Macross looking helmet and the Macross accouterments to go with it? I would certainly love to give GeneralMayhem some of my money to meet that end...

That totally brought me back to the original comic. The Hard Master was the blind black guy right? And the Soft Master was the guy we only saw in flashbacks?