From the animated motion picture masters that created the critically acclaimed “Toy Story,” “Finding Nemo” and “Cars” comes the anticipated prequel to the 2001 movie “Monsters Inc.” Yet with Pixar’s last two movies (“Cars 2” and “Brave”) receiving mixed to sup-par reviews online expectations for the movie were mixed.

Hoping to regain their popularity, Pixar brings us “Monsters University.” Will this prequel to one the best-received children’s movie be enough to bring Pixar back into the competitive mix or will it turn out to be its frightening end?

When six-year-old monster Michael “Mike” Wazowski is inspired to become a “scarier” (a monster that terrifies children and harvests their scream’s in order to provide power to their world) he works hard and eleven years later is finally accepted into the “scarring program” at Monsters University.

However do to his trifling figure and not frightening appearance Mike is looked down upon and severely criticized by his fellow scare student James “Sulley” Sullivan. As a result an unprofessional rivalry develops that carries over into their classes and ultimately gets them both removed from the program.

Setting aside their differences Mike and Sulley team up with an underdog group of monsters and make a wager with the college dean. If the group can win the scare games (an elimination series of challenges meant to verify which team of monsters are the most petrifying on campus) they will be permitted back into the scare program.

However if they lose the team will be kicked out of Monsters University permanently.

Before we can move onto the review of “Monsters University” we need to address Pixar’s introductory mini feature “The Blue Umbrella.” Like with most of Pixar’s films they always include a 5-10 minute presentation that sets a comedic mood tells an interesting short story and showcases their computer generated visual effects.

Unfortunately “The Blue Umbrella” only does one of these. Visually, it’s attractive. You can see the rain drops splatter and run as they hit the sides of windows and fall to the ground. The people seem lifelike and the details of the building are spot on. Yet even with all these incredible graphics the story doesn’t work for a children’s film.

It’s essentially a chance encounter love story that doesn’t move beyond the basic of plot levels. Overall, it’s mind numbing. Pixar is capable of creating great mini movies that appeal to children. The old man playing chess with himself or even the blue birds on the telephone line were great and humorous productions that children could laugh at.

You can make the argument that it was aimed more for the parents that were lugged to the movie but as an adult I still found it uninteresting and pointless which diminished my disposition going into the main picture. If the main attraction was anything like its mini flop I was in for a elongated couple of hours.

Luckily for me, my newly developed pessimistic attitude was put at ease within the first minute of “Monsters University.” From the opening scene to the credit filled cameo tie-ins I was laughing my butt off.

It’s basically an underdog college intramural sport team movie, only for monsters. Yet it’s identifiable from a college student’s perspective. From professors to sororities and from books to parties, it showcases the full exciting college experience.

The graphics were wonderful. They have such an assortment of monsters that no two look remotely comparable. The college was cool looking and it even produced a fun and energetic atmosphere for this fairy-tale created campus.

It’s difficult to judge acting in this movie because it’s all animated but the voice-over actors did an exceptional job. This movie has an amazing cast consisting of Billy Crystal (Mike) John Goodman (Sully) John Ratzenberger (Abominable Snowman) and Steve Buscemi ( Randy) to name a few. Most of the key animated characters have noticeably different personalities as well.

Overall I would say this movie was on par with the “Toy Story Series” and was every bit as original as “Monsters Inc.” It’s something that both parents and kids can appreciate despite its substandard mini feature substandard mini feature. Overall I would happily pat Pixar on the back and give “Monsters University” a 5/5.

Movies about massive mechanical robots and towering monsters are no stranger to the Japanese cinema but is rarely scene on the American big screens (excluding foreign movie remakes and toy adaptations such as “Transformers”).

In what is probably one of the first original concepts that attempts to fuse the manga themed mechs and behemoths with the American science fiction genre, legendary horror and science fiction writer/producer Guillermo del Toro brings us the machine verses monster mash up movie “Pacific Rim.”

Does this combination successfully bridge the two polar cinema styles or does it produce a movie that is too rusty to enjoy.

When Earth is invaded by skyscraper sized monstrosities (nicknamed the Kiaju) the world sets aside their differences in order to endure the threat. Constructing colossal robotic machines (nicknamed the Jaegers) each steered by two military operative’s mankind stars to win the war against the imposing menace.

However when politics judge the Jaegers to be an ineffective way of combating the beasts due to massive civilian casualties resulting from their brawls with the Kiaju and the fact that the machines are only as good as their operators the program is given notice.

In a last ditch effort to end the war and save humanity four re-commissioned Jaegers are sent to Hong Kong to prepare a final assault against the Kiaju. Outnumbered and with time competing against them will the Jaegers prevent the apocalypse or will the invading populations rule the Earth?

In most instances a movie is only as good as its plot and uniquely acted characters. There is an exception to this rule however and that is the popcorn flick. Popcorn flicks are mindless movies that have sup-par acting and skin deep plots but excel in other aspects.

“Pacific Rim” falls under this category. The plot is not overly imaginative, the characters are card board cut outs that are either overly or under acted, and the movie is about 20 minutes too long.

Yet “Pacific Rim” still shines as a fun 3-D experience. Even with its flawed major movie components the action, the unique science behind the mechanical operation of the Jaegers, and visual aesthetics are polished to perfection.

Without spoiling major key plot devices the reason that each Jaeger requires two operators is explained really early in the film and the science behind is somewhat solid. It’s believable although it doesn’t make it a smart movie just a conceivable one.

The action and visual effects are out of this world. From the opening to closing moments of the film you can’t help but notice the scale of these massive monsters and machines. Brightly painted metal robots slamming neon blood colored monsters with spear like tails and dragon wings into the sides of massive city structures and buildings was breathtaking.

The mechanics of the Jaegers were also impressive. These weren’t fast moving machines. The punches looked like they came of monster slow speed but packed a huge wallop.

One of the gripes I did have with the Jaegers though was probably caused by the script writers. The robots were equipped with massive amounts of weaponry consisting of swords laser cannons and rotating buzz saws but they opted for the use of their fists rather than the their more destructive equipment.

The Kaiju were also impressive visual accomplishment. Although the reason several of them look similar is explained towards the end of the movie there was just enough difference between the giant beasts to recognize and enjoy.

As far as acting goes the movie doesn’t enlist many major stars. While a few well-known actors such as Idres Elba (“Thor” and “The Losers”) and Charlie Day (“Horrible Bosses”) play key side-roles the rest of the cast are generally new to the big screen. Although Ron Perlman (“Hell Boy”) makes a short but important appearance.

This leaves the audience identifying more with the side characters rather than the lead ones.

The reason this works is because the sub-stories are important to the overall plot. On the action front you got the limited acting experienced heroes and on the science front the star performers.

The lead roles are played by Rinko Kikuchi and Charlie Hunnam, both whom have only been in a hand-full of films. By no means are they bad actors but they didn’t deliver outstanding or even noticeably good performances. They play their roles fine but you don’t walk out of the movie and remember their characters. What you do remember is the Jaeger they pilot.

Arguably the Jaegers are the true stars of the show. Like I mentioned earlier it’s a popcorn flick. You’re not going to the theater to witness Heath Ledgers “Joker” performance. You’re there to see huge entities through down and lay waste to massive cities.

Overall I enjoyed “Pacific Rim.” Its fun enough to mindless enjoy when the action gets going and comically holds your attention during the side stories. With superb visual effects and plenty of action I can would give the movie 4/5 stars.

This Sunday, June 30, at the Mile High Football Stadium in Denver 77 bands will rock ‘n’ roll across 10 different stages for a spectacular one day stop in Colorado. photo courtesy of officialwarped.tumblr.com.

Denver Colorado. Are you ready for the “best day of your life?” Well if you’re into rock and roll, can stand the heat and want to experience a wide assortment of new and popular bands then you may be in for a special delight.

This Sunday  June 30, at the Mile High Football Stadium in Denver 77 bands will rock ‘n’ roll across 10 different stages for a spectacular one day stop in Colorado. That’s right, the Vans 2013 Warped Tour is finally here marking its 19^th annual musical touring experience.

The party starts at 11 a.m. and continues throughout the entire day. Each band gets to demonstration their musical gifts for 30 minutes save for main event performers who conclude the show with hour long presentations. The music is mainly rock and pop/rock but there are a few contemporary bands thrown into the mix.

Besides bringing together the largest collection of bands for a single concert, Vans Warped Tour also conveys several unique features to the table. One of which is new talent and first time performers.

Although to thin out the quantity of new timers, the non-veteran bands are usually required to earn their spots among their other well-known piers. One band in particular is dubbed the “BBQ” and is required to provide food for the rest of the bands and musical crew.

While that might seem like a high price to pay to play it can pay off for new bands who otherwise wouldn’t get a chance to perform. Other first time bands performers are required to work with the set up crews and break down crews.

The performing bands often set up their own booths after their 30 minute and of fame interact with their hardcore and newly won over fans. This ranges from selling one of a kind band merchandise to signing autographs.

Created in 1995 by SideOneDummy Record deal partner Keven Lyman the tour initially was preformed alongside extreme sporting events such as bmxing and skateboarding. It gained so much popularity that in 1998 it split from the sporting scene and became an international event.

Currently Warped Tour does gigs across the globe sporting shows in Japan, Canada and Australia.

Vans Warped Tour is also known for being economically friendly and reportedly has switched to using biofuels during their travels. The shows are almost always preformed outside reducing the amount of energy needed for the event.

Along with the many bands ready to rock out this weekend is the Boulder Colorado originated band called 3OH3! With its original rap/pop combo style of music the band has had hit records and became extremely popular on 99.9 and Pueblo’s own 96.1.

Other bands heading our way this weekend are Memphis May Fire, Manchild, The Summer Set, Five Knives, Itch, Goldhouse, Upon A Burning Body and While She Sleeps.

Using this year’s slogan of “The best day of your life” the Denver’s 2013 Warped Tour concert might actually deliver on their promise with its unique atmosphere and band interactions. As Kiss would say get ready music lovers to “rock and roll all night and party” for this one day only spectacular musical festivity.

With temperatures breaching the low 90s, it’s safe to say that summer is just around the corner. Photo courtesy of http://salinapost.com

With temperatures breaching the low 90s, it’s safe to say that summer is just around the corner. Yet with a relatively warm winter and remembrance of the fires that devastated the communities just north of Colorado Springs, Colo., last year, it’s important for Coloradoans to be prepared for another long, hot and fire plagued summer.

One of the most accessible ways to help prepare yourself in case you become involved in a fire-related emergency situation is by becoming families with one of the simplest effect fire prevention tool around: the fire extinguisher.

Fire extinguishers are an invaluable piece of fire protection when it comes to small house or confined spaced fires. They are quicker and easier to deploy than a water hose and are generally readily available for use in most public offices.

Surprisingly, not all fire extinguishers are meant to put out the same types of fire and using the wrong one could potentially make the situation worse. In order to prevent this from causing civilian harm, fire extinguishers have been separated for specific use to combat the five different fire class types. These fires class types are class A, B, C, D and K.

Class A fires involve any type of ordinary combustible materials such as wood, plastic, rubber or textiles. The materials involved in a Class A fire spread quickly through radiant heat and can consume a typical household bedroom in under a minute.

Class A fire extinguishers are designed to reduce the temperature of the ignited fuel source so that it cools down below its ignition point. Water pump extinguishers (extinguishers that use only water) and aqueous film forming extinguishers (water and chemical mix that create a film over the burnable material) are most commonly used to put out these types of fires.

Class B fires involve combustible liquids and gases such as diesel, oil, gasoline and paint products. Fires often burn at a hotter temperature due to the materials having a higher flammable range (the range between the lowest and highest heat temperatures required to
ignite a substance) and can require hazmat suits in order to shut off the gas supply.

Carbon monoxide based fire extinguishers are best used to put out Class B fires. The carbon monoxide smothers the fire, which cuts off the oxygen required for it to continue to burn. However, pressurized carbon monoxide have a limited range and can be disrupted by wind, requiring the user to get close to the fire in order for the extinguisher to be effective.

Class C fires are created by electrical energy and involve computer, appliance or other electrical equipment fires.  Unlike the other fire classes, Class C fires are not caused by a fuel-based ignition. Rather, they are caused by malfunctions in a product’s wiring or the overheating of lubricants.

Along with carbon monoxide fire extinguishers, dry chemical extinguishers can be used to put out electrical-related fires. These extinguishers are commonly filled with potassium chloride and potassium bicarbonate, and are used to coat and break the chain reaction caused by the electrical malfunction that started the fire.

Class D fires are fires involving combustible metal materials. These fires are usually found in industrial areas and are extremely hazardous. The dust created from the burning of the metal materials can result in powerful explosions given enough temperature and fuel source.  They can also produce extremely toxic smoke and vapors.

Not to be confused with dry chemical, Class D fires can only be put out with dry powder fire extinguishers in combination with either another chemical based on the burning metal type or by shoveling gravel onto the metal itself.

Class K fires are essentially kitchen-related fires involving oils and grease. They require extinguishing agents that are specially designed to snuff (suffocate) the ingredients involved.

Class K fire extinguishers use a process called saponification to put out their fires. Saponification uses a wet chemical that turns into an oxygen excluding foam when used.

Knowing which type of fire extinguishers that are at your disposal and what type of fires you can put out with them is critical. Using a Class A fire extinguisher while trying to put out a fire that started from an overheated computer could potentially electrocute the user not to mention make the computer unsalvageable.

Each fire extinguisher should be marked with a sticker (if not several) indicating what type of fire they can successfully be used for by indicating the fire class (A-D, K) and through an illustrated  pictograph of the combustible materials.

Another thing about fire extinguishers that users should be aware of is that they only have about a minutes worth of use before they run empty. That means the user should know how to operate them efficiently to put out a fire before it has a chance to run out of hand.

A simple way to remember how to operate an extinguisher is by using the P.A.S.S. method (pull, aim, squeeze, sweep).

First, the operator needs to pull the pin that prevents the lever on the top of the extinguisher from becoming live. Once the pin is pulled, aim the nozzle of the hose at the fuel source of the fire, not the flame.

Once you squeeze down on the lever make sure you sweep the hose back and forth across the entire fuel source. If you don’t sweep the burning material and just attack it one area at a time you risk the extinguishing agent running out before the fire can be controlled.

Knowing your enemy is half the battle and uncontrolled fires are generally unforgiving to those who are not properly prepared to protect their property or themselves.

Is the return to Starfleet in “Star Trek: Into Darkness” worth it, or is does the movie mark the franchise’s final frontier?Photo courtesy of http://www.hdwallpapers.in

In 2009, J.J. Abrams introduced us to the re-imagined world of “Star Trek,” full of epic space battles, high tech gadgetry and green women.

Now, nearly four years later, Abrams gives us that sequel in “Star Trek: Into Darkness,” but is the return to Starfleet worth it, or is does the movie mark the franchise’s final frontier?

Chris Pine reprises his role as James T. Kirk, the rule-breaking and overconfident captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise. When Kirk disobeys his prime objective by exposing his ship’s presence in an attempt to save both the lives of a primitive alien race and the life of his First Officer Spock (Zachary Quinto) he is reprimanded for his actions and stripped of his rank.

However, when the head of Starfleet Command and personal mentor Adm. Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood) are killed by rouge Starfleet agent John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch) Kirk and crew are tasked with hunting down the terrorist before war breaks out between the aggressive Klingon Empire and the Federation.

Like Abrams’ first Star Trek film, the events of “Star Trek: Into Darkness” takes place before the start of the original television series. Unlike Abrams’ first Star Trek film, “Star Trek: Into Darkness” does not attempt to go where no man has gone before and fails to live up to the originality of it prequel.

Where the movie fails to break out of darkness is in its attempt to appeal to the franchises hardcore fans rather than the average moviegoer. At several points it seemed like the director tried to force dialogue that represented the old perception of its characters rather than moving along with their rebooted personas.

Dr. Lenard McCoy’s (Karl Urban) line “Damn it man I’m a Doctor, not a torpedo expert,” nearly stopped the pace of the movie at a critical point, and it took several moments to reestablish its flow.

Similarly, there are too many big characters in the movie, and trying to give them all quick larger-than-life personified screen time crammed into a two-hour time slot became a cluster.

Tension between Spock and Communication Officer Lt. Nyota Uhura (Zoe Saldana) is supposed to be a sub-plot of the movie, but because the later only has a few big moment scenes the emotional bond between the two characters doesn’t fully establish itself.

The plot of the movie was also constantly changing. As soon as Kirk and his crew finished one mission, a new directive would pop up and propel the movie into a different direction. This gave it more of a TV series feeling than that of a blockbuster hit.

The movie isn’t a complete shipwreck however. The 3D visuals are incredible, and I found myself subconsciously ducking from rouge laser beams that seemingly grazed just above my head.

Some of the alien make-ups were creatively reimagined, and the interior of the U.S.S. Enterprise looked futuristic yet realistic. The reimagined city of London was also visually appealing although some of the computer-generated graphics was noticeable during the movies climatic finale.

The chemistry between Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto was also remarkably strong. Playing completely opposite characters, the comical banter between the two often ended in laughter from the audience. Benedict Cumberbatch’s role as the serious and unstoppable villain of the movie was also well acted, and several times I found myself sympathizing with his character’s motive.

Even with its forced fan-based moments and overcrowded cast that ultimately prevent “Star Trek: Into Darkness” from breaking the same ground that its predecessor did, I still enjoyed the movie. True hard-core fans might get more out of it than the casual moviegoer, but it has enough action and visual appeal to entertain both for a few hours. I would give it three out of five stars.