The Flash Pilot Episode 2014

Spoiler Alert: Read at your own risk

STAR Labs has created a particle accelerator similar to CERN's large hadron collider. According to Barry Allen, CSI for Keystone City, this will allow mankind to increase their knowledge from a small dot to a huge circle. But because of an unknown reason, the particle accelerator explodes, creating meta humans all across the city. (Similar to the way Smallville's meteor shower caused many people to become part of the Wall of Wierd). The explosion also places Barry Allen in a coma.

But the people at STAR Labs help him out, and after 9 months, he wakes up and discovers he has super speed. There are times when everything else around him appears to be moving very slow, but a scientist explains that he is actually the one moving very fast.

The show goes on with Barry Allen testing his speed limits, fighting a villain (one of the meta humans) who can create a tornado, and eventually, saving the city from disaster.

After almost two decades, the Flash has his own TV Series once again. (At least I hope he does, cause you never know with the rate producers are pulling the plug on shows these days.) Grant Gustin stars as the Flash and Stephen Amel, the Arrow, even shows up on the show to provide some mentoring. (Actually, Flash runs all the way to Starling City)

Tom Cavanaugh, star of the TV show Ed, might be this show's villain. Barry Allen seems to recall a streaking red and yellow blur during his childhood which caused the death of his mother. Flash fans know that Barry Allen eventually becomes part of the speed force which grants Barry Allen his powers via the lightning that strikes him. So one theory is that, the speed force was the blur, perhaps trying to bestow powers on Barry at such an early age.

But the show also gives a glimpse of the red and yellow blur having a head similar to the Flash, but with a yellow color. That reminds me of Dr. Zoom, the "evil Flash". Before Dr. Zoom became evil, he used to be a Flash fan. He idolized the Flash so much that he wanted to become like him. And since he was from the future, where it is easier to recreate the same conditions that granted the Flash powers, he modifies his genetic make up so that he also gains super speed, then travels back in time only to discover that Barry Allen kills him as Dr. Zoom, the only villain the Flash is ever forced to kill. This turns him into the evil villain he eventually becomes. (Timeline paradox fans will probably enjoy this). And the show ends with Tom Cavanaugh standing up from his wheelchair, and looking at a newspaper article in the future where the Flash has disappeared. So I'm guessing that Tom is still Dr. Zoom before he becomes evil and he has traveled back in time to find out what happened to the Flash.

CW, please don't mess this TV Series up. I hope that this show will be able to reach 3 seasons at least. Smallville explored a lot of Superman lore, and I expect this series to do the same for the Flash - discovering the different things he can do with super speed - vibration through solid objects, multiplication (ala multiple man), time travel, etc. - team ups with Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Batman, Superman - and hopefully, we also get to see the other Flashes and Kid Flashes (Wally West, Impulse, etc.)

With so many DC projects in the pipeline (Gotham seems interesting, too), comic book fans are in for a treat this year.

The San Antonio Spurs are the 2014 NBA Champions

Congratulations to the San Antonio Spurs who won the 2014 NBA Championship against the Maimi Heat. The Spurs won game 5  and closed out the series at 4-1, where they only lost during game 2. Since that game, the Spurs have never looked back.

It is interesting to note that while Miami was focused on its Big Three, the Spurs win is attributed not to their individual players, but to their performance as a team composed of players from different countries all over the world.

Another surprising aspect of this series is that the players of the Spurs - Duncan, Ginobilli, and Parker - were written off as old and aging by most of the world's basketball fans, including myself. But they proved their critics wrong. And the Spurs coaching staff did well to surround the Spurs core with good supporting players that can complement them.

Patty Mills performance is worth mentioning too. There was a stint in the game where he shot several three pointers and scored 14 points in a span of 9 minutes. This player was once the leading scorer for the Australian team. The boost he gave the Spurs when Tony Parker was struggling with his scoring during the 1st half allowed the Spurs to build up a big lead from which the Miami Heat could no longer recover from.

Kawhi Leonard was awarded the Finals MVP. He was asked why he got the award when the Spurs had a big three. But instead of focusing on his strengths and what he did for his team, he humbly thanked his family and God for the victory.

Street Fighter Assassin's Fist Movie

Warning: Possible spoilers

Was able to watch the Street Fighter Assassin's Fist movie last night. This movie will start off the planned Street Fighter TV series. This movie tells how Ryu and Ken meet for the first time, and how they end up being trained by their master, Gouken.

The movie also explores the story of Gouken and his brother Goki. Goki, eventually will become Akuma, who I believe will be the final enemy in the series.

The actor who plays Ken really did a good job. He should have maintained the long hair instead of cutting it off in the end. He was way more bad ass looking sporting the pony tail.

Too bad the actor playing Ryu reminds me of Cho in the Mentalist. I don't know if this was the reason why I couldn't believe in his Ryu portrayal. But I guess Ken will be the main hero in this series, preventing Ryu from embracing the dark side.

I wish they could have found a Gouken who looked like the character in Street Fighter IV for Playstation 3. If they could get Akuma right, they should have gotten Gouken right. (Unless Gouken will undergo some kind of transformation that will allow him to look like the video game version).

I hope the TV series will show the duo encountering a street fighter character every episode. Can't wait for Ryu and Ken to fight Guile, Chun-li, E. Honda, Blanka, Zangief, Vega, Balrog, Sagat, and M. Bison. There are plenty of Street Fighter character histories to explore. Each episode of the series could probably do that. And with new characters like Gen, Rose, Cammy, Sakura, T. Hawk, and many more, this series should last for 3 seasons at least, assuming they explore one character per season, and each season lasts about 10 episodes.

I'm still wondering if Gen was the old man who gave Ryu to Gouken.

Props to the Mega Man bit, reminding us of Street Fighter's relationship with CAPCOM. Also to Ken's pissed off comment about Dan, being the first student of Gouken. Wonder if we will see him in the series, and whether or not he will be as funny as his video game persona.

If the visual artists can do a great job with the hadoken animation, they can also work on Ken's flaming shoryuken.

Really excited about this series and hope it doesn't disappoint the Street Fighter fans worldwide.

   

Paramore That's What You Get Guitar Chords

After watching Jenna Irene and Paramore on the latest season of American Idol, I've been listening to a lot of Paramore songs lately. Here's a song I've enjoyed, especially after listening to Paramore's acoustic version. Hope you enjoy it.

Paramore - That's What You Get

Standard Tuning

Intro / Stanza Pattern
G# - G# - Bb - Cm (Repeat)
Eb Ebsus Eb (transition to chorus)

Chorus
G# - Eb - Cm - Bb
G# - Eb - Bb (Bbsus Bb)
Cm - Bb - Cm - Bb
G# - Eb - Bb - Bb

Repeat Intro - Stanza - Chorus