A Final Review For Class

Hey, guys what’s going on.  So, I have to do a review about this class I’m taking (or have taken depending on when you read this).  It’s for my Fundamentals of Digital Online Media class, or FDOM for short.  This class is the whole reason on why I even started this blog.  This blog started out as an assignment covering any topic that choose, and I chose to blog about action movies that gravitated towards asian cinema.  Now, of course, I didn’t always blog about asian cinema, for instance I did a blog about the 3 Ninjas (you should check that out by the way).  Anyways, this blog wasn’t the only thing that we did in that class.

This class is the reason why I also became more involved in social media.  I created a Twitter account, which I don’t always keep up with, but I do check up on it from time to time.  I also created an Instagram because of this class, in which I also don’t keep up with as much as I should, but I do my best.  This class opened me up to those applications.  I never really found them appealing, up until I started using them.  Now, I get it.  I see the appeal for the use of those apps.  I can see, how using these apps could help me for future use in whatever career path I choose to take.

All-in-all, this class has really benefited me.  It’s opened me up to what’s out there, as-far-as technology for communication goes.  This class has taught me on how to utilize this technology, that everyone has, to connect with people, and do great things.  Honestly, if you’re going to college I would recommend this class to anyone whether or not you’re going to school for a Mass Communications degree or not.  In todays world this class pretty much applies to everyone.

Video Project

Ok, so what’s up guys.  I have to post a video for a class I’m taking on this blog.  So here’s the gist of the concept of the video I made.  Awhile back ago I made a glide cam (which for those who don’t know what a glide cam or steadi cam is click here) and I made a video testing it out to see  how smooth it was.  I like it.  It cost me less than $30 to make.  If you ask me, if you’re in a pinch for money, this option sure beats spending over 100’s to 1000’s of dollars in order to buy one.  So without further adieu… the video:

The Pie

Ok, so over the weekend I decided to do something different.  I made a pumpkin pie.  What does it have to do with the usual content that my blog usually consist of?.. it doesn’t.  It has nothing to do with what I usually write about, but hey this is America  and if I feel about writing about pumpkin pies then gosh-darn I will write about pumpkin pies! Anyways, here are some pics of me doing it.

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I wouldn’t have been able to create this wonderful master piece if it weren’t for Leah Hatcher.  Another thing that I’m doing differently with this blog that it’s a joint blog.  So, she and I have teamed up to pretty much blog about the something.  But her blog is more about this kind of stuff.  She actually blogs about food and movies; it’s called Foodies At the Movies.  Click the link and checkout her site out.  She has gone into more detail with the pie; like actually giving you a recipe and stuff.  She titled the blog Pre-Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie  So, again check and it and subscribe to her blog you won’t regret it.

2 is a company, but 3 is… NINJAS!

So, over the weekend I watched the third installment of the 3 Ninjas franchise, 3Ninjas: Knuckle Up.

I didn’t remember to much of this movie from my childhood.  In fact, I don’t even think that I had ever seen this one before.  I remember the first one, 3 Ninjas; the second one (properly titled), 3 Ninjas: Kickback; and the fourth one, 3 Ninjas High Noon at Mega Mountain.

   

 

I do remember as a kid that the fourth movie was going to be a cool movie, but then I watch it.  I had high hopes for it because it had Hulk Hogan and Ernest P. Worrell (Jim Varney).

But let it be known that Jim Varney didn’t play his well known character Ernest for this film.  He played a guy called Lothar Zogg.

Yeah, I don’t really know how to feel about it, either.  Anyways, back to the third 3 Ninjas this movie places our 3 favorite assassins of the night in a town that has corrupt law enforcement, a bad mayor, and an evil business man who owns the whole town; and he is turning it into a giant landfill.  Also, lets not forget that the majority of the townspeople are Native Americans, and they are losing their land to an evil white guy.  This movie may be a metaphor America’s dark history, but with ninjas thrown into the mix.

The Boys playing ninjas and indians.

To keep a long story short don’t feel bad if you’ve never seen this movie.  It’s on Netflix, but save yourself the time and watch something else.  I will say it does have it moments.  Also, one of the bad guys in this movie is Patrick Kilpatrick.  He was also a the main villain in a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie call Death Warrant. 

3 Ninjas: Knuckle Up

Death Warrant

So now I’ll leave you with the trailer for 3 Ninjas: Knuckle Up

Swinging Blind

Today’s review is over The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi.

Zatoichi is a fictional character spanning over decades of film and television series: 26 original films not including 3 remakes/spin-offs, and a television series, which ran for 4 season (totaling 100 episodes).

But I’ll be focusing on Zatoichi, the 2003 remake.  The film was directed, written by and stared Takeshi Kitano.  The film was premiered at the 2003 Venice Film Festival, which won the Silver Lion Best Director Award.  Honestly, I can see why.  This movie is freaking awesome.  The movie received a freshness rating of 86% on rottentomatoes.com, which if you ask me I think the critics on Rotten Tomatoes are a tad-bit more critical on movies than I am.  So, it’s good to see that those guys and myself can both appreciate the brilliance of this film.  I will say that this film is quite the trip.  It has the drama , comedy,and even a dancing scene.

It is a mixture of genres that is brilliantly put together.  I recommend seeing this, so go out there and watch it if you haven’t already.

The App

This is something a little different from my usual post.  I recently created an app.  I realize that some of the movie that I blog about maybe a little obscure to the average viewer, I have designed an app that would help you in view such works of art without having to spend a dime.  Now, I know you maybe thinking “isn’t that pirating ChoW?”  Well, it probably is, but I don’t know what to tell you.  I had an idea for an app, so I ran with it.  So deal.

I’m calling it “Search Mondo.”  Now without further adieu, the revealing of the app idea.

Here we have the home page.   The user will at this point have two options.  The user can use the search option, in which he/she already knows what they will be wanting to watch and can easily just type the tittle of the movie into the search field, so the app can find a free viewing of the movie for the user.  Or, the user can use the Ask Mondo button.

If the user chooses this option he/she will find themselves on this page.  Now the idea behind the “Ask Mondo” button works kind of like the “Ask Max” that Netflix has.  If the user isn’t sure on what they want to watch they can ask Mondo.  Mondo will then help you find what you’re in the mood for.  With Mondo, he will give you four options to choose from: Genre, Year, Actor, Director.  Using these options helps filter your search to help you find something to watch.

I think it’s a pretty cool ideal.  Leave a comment and tell me what you think.

Versus

So it has been awhile since my last post.  None the less, it time to get on to “ChoW’s weekend movie pick.”  This weekend my fellow reader you should check out this masterpiece.

(link to trailer)

This gem is a roundhouse kick to face of pure cinematic awesomeness.  The film was originally intended to be sequel to ‘s film Down to Hell, but the script for Versus ended up becoming something of it own film.

This movie has every genre that you would want.

Zombies

gore

Sword fighting

And much much more.

There was talk for a possible American remake back in 2008, but it fell through and there was never any talk about it sense.  This is an excellent popcorn movie for the weekend.  When asked in an interview about why director Ryuhei Kitamura, he said :

It was my first feature film and maybe it was going to be my last. I risked everything, so there was a possibility that I could never do it again. Then why not do everything I like and use everything that influenced me? I just put everything I loved into the movie. – See more at: http://www.midnighteye.com/interviews/ryuhei-kitamura/#sthash.3qm6LQF8.dpuf

If you don’t see this movie then you’re not living life.

Top 5 fights

Ok, I’m starting off my first review with a Top 5.  With this top 5 I’ll be focusing on fight scenes from the east.  Ok, here we go.

5. Flash Point

Ok, Starting off this list is from my man, Donnie Yen.  This nugget of gold of a fight scene comes from Flash Point, a good ol’ fashion cop movie. All the fight scenes are quite outstanding.  Word of advice… don’t throw kids in front of Donnie Yen.

4. I Saw The Devil

This movie is nothing but badass.  What do you think happens when you kill someone close to a special forces cop?  Watch I Saw the Devil, and you will see first hand how far into the dark side someone will go in order to seek vengeance.

3. The Man From Nowhere

The Man From Nowhere is a straight up damn good movie.  Hailing from South Korea, this movie is a tale about a man who has lost it all, but finds a friend in a most unusual time in his life.  When his friend gets kidnapped he goes on a non-stop rampage to find and rescue her.  The Story reminds me of  Leon: The Professional.

2.Oldboy

Probably, my favorite movie from acclaimed director Chan-wook Park.  And in my own opinion the best revenge film ever conceived.  It is the second movie in his vengeance trilogy.  If you’ve seen the American remake do yourself a favor and watch the original and find a new appreciation for this movie.

1.Ip Man

Finally, the number 1 fight scene.  My boy Donnie Yen is back yet again for another fight to seal his place in the number 1 spot.  Ip Man, is a heroing tale of Chinese man who stood his ground against the Japanese during the Second Sin0-Japenese War.  Just watch this scene and you will know what I mean by standing his ground.

In the Beginning

 

What’s up guys.  So here it is the first post to karatebangbang.  So to sum up what this blog is about I really don’t know yet.  Maybe it’s about cinema, maybe it’s about asian cinema, or maybe it’s about karate movies in general.  I just don’t know I came up with the title because I thought it sounded cool.  What I will tell you is that it will have something to do with movies.  Yeah, that’s it movies.  I’ll be posting about movies, what I thought about the movie (you know like a review from an amateur’s perspective), maybe up coming movies, and/or other things about movies I just want to talk about.  Like a top ten or something.   Well see how things will turnout organically as we adventure further along with blogging thing.  But for now just sit back and enjoy this music video.  It has nothing to do with movie, but I guarantee that it’ll get stuck in your head, and that you just may like it.