Rick And Morty: The Complete Seasons 1 - 4... Reviewed!

 Shout out to WB for providing a copy of this product for the review. My opinions are my own.

Rick And Morty is a show about... a seldomly sober scientist (Rick) and his awkward grandson, Morty. I think what grabbed my attention about this show initially (which some of you may agree), is the fact that it gave me this... Back To The Future'ish vibe. 

If Back To The Future had a cousin packed with dark humor, booze, aliens, simulations... within simulations... of simulations that make you believe they're truly the only real simulation so you don't speculate anything + other insane adventures, you'd get... Rick and Morty. Run-on sentence for the win!

Before I jump in... I just want to give props to the team, because they've released complete seasons in collections. The complete seasons 1 - 3, have now be followed by the complete seasons 1 - 4 (no season left behind!). Anyway... let's dive into a small unboxing!

Story: In Rick and Morty... you follow the dysfunctional duo on their intergalactic misadventures through the multi-verse. Even when they weren't somewhere in space, it felt that way... like when Morty was sent into the body of a guy dressed like Santa, that old grandpa/scientist/drunkard Rick had on life support. Rick didn't have the guy on life support for the sake of helping him, he used the guy's body as an amusement park... which didn't work out that well. It's action-packed, to say the least.

What grounds this show for me is the fact that they have a home to go back to, and... normalizes it (as much as it can be normalized). How did Rick end up in the house with Morty and the family? Well, Rick Sanchez actually popped up on his daughter's doorstep after 20 years or so. Which was welcomed by Beth, but clearly it was a major... WTF for her hubby, Jerry.

He pops up after 20 years, he's clearly a sociopath... who can't keep a bottle of booze out of his hand + he transformed their garage into a lab, and there are children in the home (Morty and Summer). Clearly, the show is titled Rick and Morty, so he often has his grandson as the plus one on these death-defying adventures. If it were real life, I'd be concerned, but... it's not. It's just a crazy ride from one episode to the next with situational comedy added in here and there (which the comedy can hit differently from one person to the next).

Believe it or not there is substance in there (i.e. Close Rick-Counters of the Rick Kind), and certain situations actually come with consequences (i.e. Rick's Potion #9). Wubba Lubba Dub Dub!

What I noticed early on and appreciate about the show is that the other family members got their fair share of... shine. They weren't just in the background, and... this continued from season 1 to four. I wasn't hating at all, but I was curious if the show was going to lose steam after season 1 and... it didn't go down. You even had episodes that continued where season 1 progress left off (Ricksy Business to Total Rickall), I like that even if it wasn't a consistent thing for the season... it still gave me confidence that it was moving forward... somewhere.

Outside of Season 2 holding it's own, we also saw some character growth in there... especially Rick. I won't say that Morty didn't grow, because Rick would say that he's begun growing a pair. That's bound to happen tagging along with someone who can cause you to attend your own funeral.

Season 3 didn't slow things up, it starts off with Rick's here, Rick's there, Rick's every flippingwhere... after that hook in Season 2! They also ventured back to something that occurred in season 1, which helped Morty and the ever evolving badass... Summer get access to Rick's portal gun. They didn't start off light in S3S1, I've watched that episode like 4 or 5 times.

I don't want to drop a spoiler on you, but... I'm glad that Jerry ended up getting his own space. Jerry can be annoying sometimes, but he is basically the chopped liver of Rick and Morty (kind of like Meg from Family Guy). It was good to see him get some sort of break from the rag fest, and it goes back to Rick... because he really jacked up any resemblance to a normal relationship. Beth chose daddy because she didn't want him out of her life again, which didn't mean that he had to be... but I was thinking about the same thing occurring with their children. Regardless, I'm glad he has his own space. I won't dish on Season 3 in full, but... The Rickchurian Mortydate was comical and brought things back down to earth (on the home front) as the hook going into season 4.

I give the team props, because they've been going hard... season after season with Tyson style uppercuts in the season openers. Season 4's opener was no different, I like the Akira concept and Rick actually tried to talk some sense into Morty. Yes... that Rick. 

You go from sitting back in your seat wondering what the show's about in the first season... but then you sit up a few episodes in. You slide to the edge of your seat in season 2, falling on the floor in season 3, before you end up on a pillow on the floor in season 4... possibly wondering if your family judges you for watching such a crazy show. Rick literally fights a freaking God in a particular episode in season 4... acting as the stepdad of a civilization (which also showcased more of that unspoken tug of war between Rick & Jerry where the family often sides with Rick... just because).

That's not even the final episode of Season 4, but I won't even speak on the finale that gears you up for the latest season. It's just a weird crazy partially sexy good show... where family is still the centerpiece, even if you're unsure if they're clones of the originals, versions from other universes, or even... bots.

Since the creators don't limit themselves to what makes sense, sci fi could keep this show chugging for quite some time. I just hope the team knows how to take their bow whenever that time comes.

Visuals: Visuals are delivered in full 1080p HD video. The characters have sort of a plain look to them that reminds me of a really clean... doodle (that's the first thing that came to mind). This art style works for the show and doesn't put the show in a plain category at all, there is a lot going on here with crap-tons of eye catching visuals. Lazers, beautifully animated explosions, creepy looking aliens, and other visual effects.

The show intro is a perfect mesh of the art you can expect on the show... and once you get your hands on Rick And Morty: The Complete Seasons 1 - 4, you will notice how the intro is tweaked to reflect the new season.

Speaking of visuals... here's some Rick and Morty vs. Genocider love directed by Takashi Sano.

Audio + Extras: The audio is... solid and interesting. You definitely get the sci-fi vibe and these cool sound effects that sound sweet with the Blu-Ray 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio.

Before you check out the extras... check out this Rick & Morty X Run The Jewels love. Hit It!

Extras include:

Season 1:

Commentaries for Every Episode

Animatics for Every Spisode

Behind the Scenes

Deleted Scenes

Season 2:

Commentaries for Every Episode

Animatics for Every Episode

Deleted Animatic Sketches

Rick and Morty Season 2 Premier Party Featuring Chaos Chaos

Season 3:
Commentaries for Every Episode
Animatics for Every Episode
"Inside the Episode" for Every Episode
Exclusive "Inside the Recording Booth"
Origins of Rick and Morty Part 1 & 2

Season 4:
A Day at Rick and Morty: Inside Season 4
"Inside the Episode" for Every Episode
Creating Snake Jazz
Directing Rick and Morty
Samurai and Shogun
Prop Process
Character Creation
Animation Challenges

As you this is a pure fanfest... and I usually see content stuffed in collections when teams want you to get more than a small dose of the extras they have to offer. I'll continue my thoughts on this in the price category because... (hmmm) let's just get to the price.

Price: Pricewise... Rick And Morty: The Complete Seasons 1 - 4 comes in at an SRP of $79.99 SRP on DVD and $89.99 SRP on Blu-Ray (add $10 on that for Canada). The single season DVD and Blu-Ray + Digital Copy are similar in price... so I can't say that it's overpriced, but if you want to save... grab it here. The total runtime of Rick and Morty action is over 900 minutes plus the poster!

Rick and Morty: The Complete Seasons 1 - 4 is a damn good time, and the extras feel like the backstage pass that includes a trip to the studio. So if you're a fan of the show, you have more than enough extras to indulge in.

Story 5

Visuals 5

Audio 5

Price 5

5 out of 5 Cool Points

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Victor and Valentino: Folk Art Foes... Reviewed!

 Before I jump into this review... shout out to WB for supplying a copy of the DVD for this review.

Story: I wasn't sure what to expect when it came to this show... but it's interesting. Victor and Valentino: Folk Art Foes... is about two half-brothers who are usually at odds about something. Victor is definitely the mischievous one of the pair, while Valentino is more so sunny and kind. The folk art comes into play by way of different mythical encounters they have around the city of Monte Macabre.

Storywise... this show doesn't really have a timeline, it just presents one situation after another. I haven't really been able to identify anything on the lines of progression, but episode 6 did reveal that Vic & Val don't live with their grandmother long term. The boys are only staying with their blind Grandmother Chata, for the summer (who is actually based on the creator's grandmother). I'm not sure if that's going to translate into an endless summer... or the dysfunctional duo going home for a change of pace, but either route could work as long as they keep the action rolling out.

The initial episode included a piece of folk art found among many others in Chata's basement. Victor was actually the one who stumbled across the tomb-like room, and one thing led to another where the mythical monster got out... which forced Vic & Val to put their differences aside in order to take down the antagonist of that particular episode.

Although it was interesting, I'm glad that concept wasn't reused to no end. You have a variety of approaches taken to keep things fresh (and kept me locked in). Speaking of episodes, they're short yet sweet at almost 12 minutes each... which I didn't mind. My only drawback was that some episodes feel like they were wrapped up quicker than they could truly be appreciated.

Speaking of appreciated, it was good to see some situational comedy tucked in there too, even if I can't pinpoint anything memorable... I can't frown on the extra topping. It was like sour cream on my tacos, giving my viewing experience a little extra... something. I would say there was a missed opportunity to really lay in on the comedic value but... it's rated TV-Y7, so it has the right amount of comedy for the target age group (it would be a different story if it were an... Adult Swim joint).

Visuals: Victor and Valentino: Folk Art Foes... has some cool Mexican folk art throughout the show (duh of the day) which really stood out to me when it comes to the baddies. Vic & Val has a pop of fashion that reminds me of designs south of the border, but the duo themselves don't really grab my attention. Victor somewhat does, but he looks like he could be the average bully or the bully's sidekick in another show. I'm not saying he can't look the way he looks... just doesn't grab my attention. Valentino looks even more basic, but I think I've seen so many Cartoon Network-related shows that I've begun to notice a pattern with the art styles of some shows. The reason why I shrug this off... is because the show isn't bad and they are who they are (aka it is what it is).

There was a missed opportunity here though, look at the beautiful concept art. This would've caught my eye a heck of a lot more. I saw this and was like... OMG... WHYYYYYY didn't they stick with this art style?  Valentino could've had brown hair, and Victor could've kept the gap, but just look at this art. It's awesome stuff.

Audio:  In terms of the audio... there was some most appreciated effort there. You can hear it in the build-up of the suspense when the mythical monsters emerge (i.e. The Collector), the mariachi music sounds authentic, and some of the SFX appears to have some effort injected in there also.

Price: Pricewise... Victor and Valentino: Folk Art Foes comes in at $9.99. That's $10 less than what I'd price it. This is definitely priced to sell, and it comes packed with 18 episodes that your kids can appreciate. If you want to give your kids a change of pace by adding some Mexican flare to their media library, this is one to consider.

Story 3

Visuals 3

Audio 5

Price 5

4 out of 5 Cool Points

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Mask Up Mondays: Muse Dash - Pancake is Love

Once I get through the easy mode of Muse Dash, I'm cranking up the difficulty setting.

Have a great Monday... and may it extend to the rest of the week. Mask up, keep the drama at a minimum, and game on! If you want more information on how to increase the good vibes in your life, check out the latest episode of the Blu + You Podcast below!

 

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Leveling Up: How to Master the Game of Life... Reviewed!

Before I get started, shout out to Page Two Books for supplying a review copy of Leveling Up!

The Read: Leveling Up isn't a book you're expected to sit down and just... read. This book is all about using your love of gaming in order to help you apply that passion to your life in the real world.

By the way, Eric Siu is a well-known World of Warcraft + Everquest champion who's doing his thing in business. In this book he opened up on how he started off as a major slacker with no idea of what his future would hold. All he knew is that he had a love for gaming and he put his all into it before realizing that he could use that hunger... elsewhere. 

Today, he has a weekly podcast also called Leveling Up, a podcast called Marketing School, marketing... agency, a company called ClickFlow, and he's also an author (duh of the day). He has some other things tucked in there to keep him busy also, but... if it's true that he started off as a slacker (teetering on the line of flunking out of school) before taking this path... Eric leveled up in a big way.

I applaud that because even though I love love love gaming, I can't dump every waking moment in a game... and neither can you or life would fall apart elsewhere. This is why a certain episode of the Blu + You Podcast was done last year (check it out below... after the review). 

Leveling Up, replaces chapters with levels to keep you in a gamer's state of mind. There are a total of 15 levels for you to take on, unlocking one after another + a bonus if you pay attention. The book is laid out in an easy-to-read format that starts off with a bang... brought to you by Howard Marks, the founder of... Activision.

Smart way to open things up, but outside of the opening fireworks... I'm going to let you know whether Eric Siu's book is actually practical or not.

The Flow: Each level of the book is structured around a certain topic, like level 1's "Newbie Struggles", where Eric opens up about himself and his struggles as a noob. He talks about challenges in education, food, love, competition, his parents, and so on. What I appreciate about this... is the fact that it takes him from a potential pedestal that the reader may place him on and brings Eric down to the level the reader may be on. This helps with the journey because he's been there and done that at each level.

Outside of Level 1, you have the following levels:

Level 2: Your Mission

Level 3: Mindset

Level 4: Get Reading

Level 5: Routines

Level 6: Apprentice Mentality

Level 7: Grit

Level 8: Alchemy

Level 9: Teamwork

Level 10: Medications

Level 11: Focus

Level 12: Endurance

Level 13: Thievery

Level 14: Repetition

Level 15: Playing the Game of Life

+ Acknowledgments & the... Tomb of Knowledge

This book flows well. Even if a quest doesn't feel like the next step following a previous quest, the flow is smooth and it feels like the levels are building blocks as you prepare for... Level 15.

The Practicality: Like other levels, you wrap level 1 up with a... quest. It helps you begin a healthy habit when it comes to something other than gaming. It doesn't just leave it there, it gives you a quest deadline also. Level 1's quest has a 1 week deadline, which helps to get the ball rolling and dishes out a dose of time management in a sense (because you're made aware of the clock... if you take the book seriously). 

This quest can be accomplished with ease, even for the people who don't believe in themselves.

You aren't just feeling around in the dark with the quests either, you're given examples of what to do in order to get the job done via the quest challenges.

Tip: Use a digital and/or paper calendar. I'd even go as far as recommending that you set up a day-by-day reminder in order to make sure that you don't forget the commitment you made to your quest.

Speaking of feeling around in the dark, don't feel overwhelmed when it comes to this book. Eric asks you questions and explains those questions to help you come out of your shell as far as recognizing your purpose... even if it you don't think its possible. You may find that you're trying to pour more into an answer than you need to... because you were made aware of something that you can take the reigns of.

You're going to get that positive talk that a good friend would give in a certain level... in order to put you up on game. You know the friend that knows your potential, but you may not listen to them because... they may be in your position? He takes that and goes into greater detail while challenges you to write down things like strengths and weaknesses to create something you can use as an annual upgrade checklist (to an extent). It's interesting, and... I think it's practical (for real for real) if you aren't stubborn.

There are some levels in there that will present more of a challenge than others, like the Dive Deep quest... but it gives you the breakdown. You just have to be willing to keep chugging along with it and rely on your calendar (in my opinion) because it will be like an assistant reminding you to make it do what it do... in the name of your quest.

I presented as much as I could without giving up the guy's book in greater detail, and it's safe to say that... you will level up if you apply this book and take it seriously. Don't skip levels to avoid doing something (even the arguments and counter-arguments) because it has its benefits.

So if you're questioning where your life is going, this type of book could help you get a clearer perspective. Parents could even get a book like this for teens because if they're knocking on the door of adulthood, it doesn't hurt to prepare.

The Price: Pricewise... Leveling Up: How to Master the Game of Life, comes in at $19.99... which is a solid price for this self-help book. It's practical, and you can get the ball rolling immediately. You aren't just learning the ropes of getting your life together on a small scale, Eric is actually breaking down some highly useful information that those of you with business aspirations can use from the ground floor to that climb to management and... even owner.

The Read 5

The Flow 5

The Practicality 5

The Price 5

5 out of 5 Cool Points

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