Richard's Animorphs Forum
Animorphs Section => Animorphs Forum Classic => Topic started by: poparena on September 15, 2009, 12:07:02 PM
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Hello everyone. My name is Pop Arena, and I have opinions. Don't we all? Yes, but mine are better then yours. One of the things I have a strong opinion on is Animorphs and how largely ignored it is by major science fiction fans (present company excluded, of course). While it was never a perfect series, it certiantly was a unique one, and deserves another, highly sarcastic look.
And so, Pop Arena presents the Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide!!!! on Youtube! Hopefully about once a week (though I can't promise anything with the way my work schedule is) I'll post a detailed look at an Animorphs book with a healthy dose of analysis and an extremly unhealthy dose of bad jokes.
(Last Update: Monday, May 9th, 2011)
My review of #19 The Departure:
Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDF0YS1sZiQ
Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=223ta4ZcNVs
Part Three
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05Jh-IebHss
---Current Reviews---
Introduction (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av1jVkcqXq0)
#1 The Invasion (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVYktEsUbDg), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc7iEwoDeCA))
#2 The Visitor (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qAAf7b0pu8), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwJNvpHuEYc))
#3 The Encounter (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCVB-eD5XNk), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apIkxCN4_pI))
#4 The Message (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rQBcXqxqZo))
#5 The Predator (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etw_14uioms), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7IA9U4YWb8))
#6 The Capture (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svWOmpYAnCY), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvQ6qVPTKHQ))
#7 The Stranger (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svWOmpYAnCY), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jezgtXjcCi8)
Megamorphs #1 The Andalite's Gift (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1eVJ4T3Nsg), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0T7HWCkEcY))
#8 The Alien (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9PNp5rhfC8), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-GTCUQ3SNU))
#9 The Secret (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MtJ-kkVHvM), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHMgBcyCENc)
#10 The Android (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajSV-X6vba4), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdGSVLHFqrc))
#11 The Forgotten (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHl_q3fgkfg), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkemuAcqB0E))
#12 The Reaction (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvmTuJ98QWk), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riFnfZgUJZg))
The Andalite Chronicles (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-y9QeD0bOQ), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfcB9W-yHmA), Part Three (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OweS0Dxm-D4), Part Four (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybt5tRCZeb8), Part Five (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8miA-CGelg))
#13 The Change (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixxs6bIVYtQ), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXZGSClXRwQ))
#14 The Unknown (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwqEWRTtZCk), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3gSBiWYtl0))
#15 The Escape (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tJ6YcGXDZk), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8bprGHegYM))
#16 The Warning (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB-UT3RrRxY), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q9yjZDL3-c))
#17 The Underground (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j--uHpDD328), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47whqJI6oaU))
#18 The Decision (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LmbiOL6Ygo), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IemfDOkfCs))
Megamorphs #2 In the Time of Dinosaurs (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMXvUqqjNT8), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jtYgNR6IV8), Part Three (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeHHGBFHNO4), Part Four (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_YwatjWs9g), Part Five (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3SghGvxZ88), Part Six (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLb7Pz5bFMM), Part Seven (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvtKIVhVtps))
#19 The Departure (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDF0YS1sZiQ), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=223ta4ZcNVs), Part Three (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05Jh-IebHss))
#20 The Discovery (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EacfGBkWFTc), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-Tl_a2ojcU))
#21 The Threat (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZozk7itW6A), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgqGcDT80AA))
#22 The Solution (Part One (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-GHNy413Kc), Part Two (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn0P5QVi4Ug))
The Post David Trilogy Followup (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bhd1yIZ7N8)
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Thoughts and feedback are welcome.
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just started watching it...
..and i like it already.
technically 64 books, but the alternamorphs series hardly count :P
and i agree that some were 'downright awful'. :)
i really enjoyed the video, can't wait for the next one!
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Just watched it! it's hilarious. can't wait to see more
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Awesome! Glad you joined, and glad you're doing this!
You, my good sir, rock. And I may need to quote you sometime soon.
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My near-twenty minute review of Animorphs #1: The Invasion is now up:
Part One:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVYktEsUbDg
Part Two:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc7iEwoDeCA
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Oh super book, I was afraid to look XD
what song is that?
Do you play MTG?
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It's the theme song to a Christian anime called "Superbook" which I used to watch all the time as a kid. I wish I could've included the entire thing, it's pretty rocking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2CScfyw4Jk
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Lol awesome, it sounded familiar to me. Do you play MTG?
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I did for about a year, but couldn't afford to keep it up.
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I saw a card in your video, I'm super into it these days. Awesome review by the way, I cant wait for the next one.
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That was so awesome! I can't wait to hear more.
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I laughed hard enough to scare my cats. ;D This was epic.
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By the way, LOVE the reading voice. I cracked up. It was like "Is Batman reading to me out of Animorphs? Does Batman read Animorphs?"
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love it.
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Great job, can't wait to hear more
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Saw your 'intro' video, that was great! It's like you're giving a voice to what many of us think about the books, a couple of years after the series was finished. A time in which we can finally analyse the series without going into transports of delight as we did as kids ;)
Those that I still go into when I read Ax-narrated books.. *koff
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My review of Animorphs #2: The Visitor:
Part One:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qAAf7b0pu8
Part Two:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwJNvpHuEYc
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Awesome job, I really enjoy these.
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nice to see it on hirac (http://www.hiracdelest.com/blog/?p=61).
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Love the latest review!
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who were the guys at the beginning of video 2?
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Love the latest review!
:ditto:
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who were the guys at the beginning of video 2?
Wow, never thought I'd see the day when Jay and Silent Bob were obscure to anyone.
THANKS FOR THE COMMENTS!!! ;D
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I recognized them but couldn't remember their names..
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who were the guys at the beginning of video 2?
Oh Em Gee, seriously goom? Go pick up Mallrats or Clerks asap. :P
I've liked both reviews so far. It's great stuff. Keep 'em coming :)
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who were the guys at the beginning of video 2?
wow Goom. ive never even seen clerks and i know who they are
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My review of Animorphs #3: The Encounter:
Part One:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCVB-eD5XNk
Part Two:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apIkxCN4_pI
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The new one was great! ;D
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Oh God, the new one made me laugh SO hard.
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Hey guys, sorry I'm so late in getting the next review up. It's a long story, and you don't want to hear it anyway. I will have the next review up sometime Wednesday morning. PROMISE!
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we'll be waiting eagerly! :bow:
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My review of Animorphs #4: The Message:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rQBcXqxqZo
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Great new part! Love it! ;D
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moar?
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My review of Animorphs #5: The Predator:
Part One:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etw_14uioms
Part Two:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7IA9U4YWb8
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Loved the new review! These things are awesome! ;D
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very pro.
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My review of Animorphs #6: The Capture:
Part One:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svWOmpYAnCY
Part Two:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvQ6qVPTKHQ
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Listening now. These are very entertaining ^_^ I love the sarcasm and the analysis. I think I found something to listen to before class :)
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The new review is great! ;D
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.44 magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world.
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can't wait to see more!
you're fantastic with these, pop.
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Sorry things have slowed down, holidays slow everything down. I hope to get the next review up soon.
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Can't wait! These things are awesome.
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Okay, these things are amazing. XD If only youtube wouldn't take twice as long to load them as it takes to listen to them. :(
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Ok, so here's my story: I was about 75% finished with the first version of this review when my complete suddenly crashed. After almost two weeks of trying to stitch my computer back together, I finally gave up. I had money saved to buy a new computer anyway, so I bought a new fancy machine with lots of power, and whats more, new video editing software, so you'll see some changes in style from the earlier videos. Also, I'll experimenting with other projects as well.
So, FINALLY, my review of Animorphs #7: The Stranger:
Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h9yqNBVvsQ
Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jezgtXjcCi8
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Just watched the new review. Loved it! Keep up the awesome work.
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My Christmas present for you RAFians: An early review!
My review of Megamorphs #1 The Andalite's Gift:
Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1eVJ4T3Nsg
Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0T7HWCkEcY
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:D:D:D:D:D awesome! two! in a row?
*sets up email notification*
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Yey! :D Awesome!
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The new one was awesome!
LOL! Big lipped alligator moment!
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I didn't get that joke but something tells me I'd be laughing if I did
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I just noticed these a couple days ago and watched them all.
They really made my day. Brutally honest, witty and funny.
I give them a 10/10.
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Blue, you need to go watch Nostalgia Critic and Nostalgia Chick. Go to Nostalgia Chick and watch the Ferngully review, that's where it pops up.
www.thatguywiththeg lasses.com
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Actually, the Ferngully review is under Nostalgia Critic, not Nostalgia Chick. Here's the direct link:
http://www.thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/thatguywiththeglasses/nostalgia-critic/4191-ferngully
This new software makes editing video a lot easier, so expect a lot more video clips in the reviews.
Oh, and I got my first hate mail!
Your a ****ing ****. I've had enough of listening to? your bull**** opinions on the greatest series of all time. Long Live KA and Michael Grant.
Douchebag
My first right of passage as an online critic!
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Really? Ok, thanks for the correction there. Had a 50/50 chance of getting it. lol
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yeah I just listened to all of them. you are very good.
*looks at clock* hmm 1:00 AM yeah I'm going to bed now.
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how often do you come out with these? Any kind of schedule that I can look forward to? These are really good and I think you might be the only person on earth reviewing The Animorphs books right now.
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how often do you come out with these? Any kind of schedule that I can look forward to? These are really good and I think you might be the only person on earth reviewing The Animorphs books right now.
Sadly, the odd flux of my personal life keep me from setting a schedule. If I could, I'd do one of these every week, but sometimes with work and family, that just isn't possible.
However, I GOT ANOTHER ONE FOR YOU NOW!!!
My review of Animorphs #8: The Alien:
Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9PNp5rhfC8
Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-GTCUQ3SNU
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Awesome! That was great. The cookie monster clip made me laugh.
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how often do you come out with these? Any kind of schedule that I can look forward to? These are really good and I think you might be the only person on earth reviewing The Animorphs books right now.
Sadly, the odd flux of my personal life keep me from setting a schedule. If I could, I'd do one of these every week, but sometimes with work and family, that just isn't possible.
However, I GOT ANOTHER ONE FOR YOU NOW!!!
My review of Animorphs #8: The Alien:
Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9PNp5rhfC8
Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-GTCUQ3SNU
hurahh it made my day
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My review of Animorphs #9 The Secret
Part One:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MtJ-kkVHvM
Part Two:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHMgBcyCENc
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Haha, I've only gotten through 27 seconds of #9 and already love it. :P Good job.
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:] loved the review
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And +1 for the Lumberjack Song. :P
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Another great review! I enjoy listening to these. ;D
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Dude, these things really brighten my day when they go up. I'm so glad that they are coming more often now! I enjoy the other stuff that you put up too. :)
I just wanted to say something here, since I rarely comment on the vids... Despite loving them, I can never think of anything to say D:
Just know that you're doing a GREAT job!
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Can we get more? :P
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Sorry about the delay, guys. Here's my review of Animorphs #10 The Android!
Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajSV-X6vba4
Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdGSVLHFqrc
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awesome stuff! :D
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I think I love you. Marry me?
:P No but seriously... awesome! :thumbsup:
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random gunnerkrigg ftw.
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Loved the new review! These are awesome.
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Dont forget about this poparena!
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Pop Arena, I started listening to your reviews the other day. I'd just like to let you know that I signed up for a YouTube account for the sole purpose of giving 5 stars to all of your reviews I had heard so far. You're awesome! ;D
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Sorry guys, work is kicking my ass among other things. Thanks for the kind words, I hope to get the next one up soon!
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Sorry guys, work is kicking my ass among other things. Thanks for the kind words, I hope to get the next one up soon!
Aw... well theyre awesome its the only reason I asked for moar. I realized youre probably busy :]
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Sorry guys, work is kicking my ass among other things. Thanks for the kind words, I hope to get the next one up soon!
Aw... well theyre awesome its the only reason I asked for moar. I realized youre probably busy :]
I agree with Esplin. Although I don't comment all the time, but perhaps I should.
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I look forward to the next one! Take your time, they're worth the wait.
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Should be done by Tuesday...
Post Merged: March 09, 2010, 08:06:11 AM
As I promised, my review of Animorphs #11 The Forgotten.
Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHl_q3fgkfg
Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkemuAcqB0E
Also, if I could be allowed to plug something that's not Animorphs-related, I'm currently in a mock feud with my friend Victor, known on Youtube as JunkyardBreadfruit. Really, this is just an excuse to cross-pollinate our subscribers. He's got a really fun channel, and if you like what you see, subscribe.
http://www.youtube.com/user/JunkyardBreadfruit
There. Plug over.
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Nice job! I enjoy listening to these.
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=)
i do enjoy listening to these a LOT. even when i don't agree 25% of the time, haha. xD
and i have to add: i can't read 'poparena' without thinking 'macarena'. >____> just sayin'. it could be a new dance phenomenon.
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hey pop thanks for this. they're really funny and I love the Garth punt on 4.
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I listened ages ago, another awesome one
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Just thought I'd give you guys an update to show I haven't forgotten about you. I've been as busy with work as usual, but I'm currently working on a rather large unrelated project that's taking up all my spare time. That should be finished by the end of the month, and I should hopefully get back in the OABG in full swing in April. :)
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*waits* :]
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^^; i don't know how relevant this is.... but as i work on my own stories (all half-assed, the way they are), i keep imagining what poparena would say about them in a review. it, honest-to-god, completely changes the way i write.
i can't do any foreshadowing without "i hear a song coming on..." popping into my head. LMAO.
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Hey. Funny videos.
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My review of Animorphs #12 The Reaction
Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvmTuJ98QWk
Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riFnfZgUJZg
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Another awesome review. :thumbsup:
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Great job on the new review!
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I've been waiting for this lol.
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oh man I want #13 so bad especially since I didn't have a Nostalgia Critic this week.
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Awsome review for number 12 :D Thanks for all the videos!
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I'm a few days away from finishing the Andalite Chronicles review. Hope you like my voice, because it's going to be looooooong. ;D
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I'm a few days away from finishing the Andalite Chronicles review. Hope you like my voice, because it's going to be looooooong. ;D
Well, if it's hilarious throughout, as is the norm, I'll be that much more appreciative.
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I agree with Think. :) Yey long review!
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I can't wait ^^ Usually even the two part reviews aren't long enough for me, so it should be nice. Get it out soon!
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I'm a few days away from finishing the Andalite Chronicles review. Hope you like my voice, because it's going to be looooooong. ;D
please let it come soon.
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hahaha.... sounds like we have some OABG junkies suffering withdrawal symptoms out here.....
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I wanna hear the andalite chronicles its my fave animorphs book
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Just saw the first two parts of Andalite Chronicles! Lovin it so far! Can't wait for the rest.
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Oh sweet some of it is up!?
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Yeah, I subscribed to pop's channel on youtube.
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Awesome! Ima check it when i get home
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Phew.
My epic five-part review of The Andalite Chronicles:
Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-y9QeD0bOQ
Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfcB9W-yHmA
Part Three
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OweS0Dxm-D4
Part Four
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybt5tRCZeb8
Part Five
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8miA-CGelg
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i was watching part 2 last night
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Just heard the rest of the parts! It was great!
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Wow, that was really long, but I enjoyed it. I can't wait to hear what you have to say about #13.
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This is awesome! :)
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that was great. I disagree with you about the mortrons being bad and the fake universe being bad, but whatever opinions are what they are. The spaceship eating asteroids was stupid though. Also I wish you didn't gloss over Elfangor's first fight where he goes freaking nuts on the Hork Bajir, but still this was great.
Also the talking trees was totally a reference to the Ents of Lord of the Rings.
anyway yeah cant wait for #13.
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me either ! i liked number 13 so lets see what he says...
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On the subject of "glossing over things," I feel it important that, even though I'm technically giving away the story, that people who read the books after watching my videos (and there have been a few) are still surprised by the details. If I don't need it for the overall thesis of the review, I'll tend to make it vague.
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good point, its just that it was one of my favorite moments is all which of course makes me :'(. Still though I get it.
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Good news, I'm gonna have a lot more free time to do the Opinionated Guides! ;D
Bad news, it's because I'm losing my job. :(
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Good news, I'm gonna have a lot more free time to do the Opinionated Guides! ;D
Bad bews, it's because I'm losing my job. :(
Oh my!!!!! Well for entertainment purposes thats great but otherwise that sucks :(
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Aw, Pop, I'm sorry to hear that (the latter portion, of course). Good luck in your job search.
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Damn man, sorry about the job.
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D: Agh, I'm sorry to hear that.
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That stinks about the job. I hope you find something else.
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Poor Pop. *gives him a job as Sealie's bodyguard whenever I'm not around*
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Huh, well this is a weird situation. I am still losing my job, but they're keeping me on until they hire some new people in different positions. So, um, I guess I'm still busy? Maybe? *shrug*
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that sucks dude. I hope you manage to turn around and get a new job relatively quick.
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Wow, has it been a whole month?
My review of Animorphs #13 The Change
Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixxs6bIVYtQ
Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXZGSClXRwQ
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Wow. These things make my day.
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very nice, very nice
[spoiler] the part where you described the Hork Bajir ripping its head open scared the hell out of me though :P[/spoiler]
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hurrah I have been checking this forum almost every day for this
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I just finished watching the reviews up to #5. They're absolutely great!
The humor is great & the analysis is solid (although I have to disagree with parts of it). +1 for you!
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great review brah :]
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Just listened to the most recent review! Good stuff! I enjoy listening to these.
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I just spent my ENTIRE day listening to these. Literally. I woke up around 11 and started with number one. It is now 8:16pm and I just finished.
Absolutely love them. Epic win. :) Love the Super Book theme, mostly because I know you got it from B. :P
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You just listened :P
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My review of Animorphs #14 The Unknown
Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwqEWRTtZCk
Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3gSBiWYtl0
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Just listened. Great job yet again!
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Nice job Pop. This whole time I thought the whole Andalite toilet thing was from the show :P
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I liked your review of #14 and of toy story 3 :D Awesome stuff
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You are my new favorite. *hugs Pop* XD Besides Dave. *ahem* These are fantastic.
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Man, I've fallen behind. I really have to catch up on these.
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My review of Animorphs #15 The Escape
Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tJ6YcGXDZk
Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8bprGHegYM
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YESSS! cant wait to listen when i get home
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Lulz you and that ONE car wash
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this is a great review!
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Amazing as always. That shark bit was hilarious. +1!
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Argh! I gotta catch up!
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I think we need moarrrrr :P
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Pop Arena, after watching these, i have to say that you are brilliant. i haven't laughed this hard in ages. Can't wait to see your next one!
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Dude, top stuff on your personal reviews on the books. It's refreshing to hear critical cynicism while the kid in you still respects the series. Good laughs! ;D
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Sorry this is taking so long, I'm having serious computer issues, but I've managed enough band-aids and duct tape to get it working well enough to put up the next review!
My review of Animorphs #16 - The Warning:
Part One:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB-UT3RrRxY
Part Two:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q9yjZDL3-c
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Two things:
Great review. Go vikings!
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Fist-pump for the shoutout to RAF!
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YES! YOU GAVE US A SHOUTOUT! THANKS POP!
Also..
"Hey, KA, was Barnes and Noble where you learned that Sharks can't jump?"
LMAO You are awesome
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:woot: thanks for the shoutout pop.
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My review of Animorphs #17 - The Underground:
Part One:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j--uHpDD328
Part Two:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47whqJI6oaU
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I agree with the followup. Even as a kid, the fact that chemical warfare was played so lightly kind of bothered me, and later finding out that the oatmeal thing could have been entirely skipped as it was never revisited bothered me even more.
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Good review. Loved that you brought up the bit of Andalites eating all the time bit. It's too bad that the chemical was sooo silly when the theme itself was really quite strong. And yeah it should have had some impacts in later books, but perhaps the idea of oatmeal was too silly to continually bring up so they ignored it.
can't wait for #18 since I love that book so much.
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Just watched the review on The Secret and it was nicely done, however, you got one thing wrong... they TRIED to tell Visser Three TOMATO JUICE gets rid of skunk smell but V3 in stereotypical bad guy fashion refuses the advice and gets stuck bathing in grape juice and now the Controllers are too afraid to tell him. Other than that, I agree with everything. Good job!
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It's been a while, hasn't it? If you've been hanging around my Youtube channel, you probably know I was working on a seperate non-Animorphs project that was taking up all my time. I'm still not done, but I figured you guys have waited long enough, sooooo...
My review of Animorphs #18 - The Decision:
Part One:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LmbiOL6Ygo
Part Two:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IemfDOkfCs
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Brilliantly done. Can't wait for the Megamorphs 2 review.
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yet another one of these done. Great work.
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(comes bursting onto the forum)
I just read your review of #18. I liked it, very good! Glad to see you keep the "busting-Rachel-over-stopping-a-RAPIST" joke going.
And I agree: WHY didn't they just think Alloran morphed it BEFORE he was infested? Hell, I thought that when I was around their age, so why can't the ANIMORPHS think about it?
And I agree: Cassie DID NOT ask Rachel's permission. AT ALL. Cassie... SHUT UP.
Continuity boner lol
And I thought it was pronounced AX-IM-IL-EE.
Anyway, good review! More please!
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I liked the reviews. I never really noticed, but not only did Cassie not ask permission, but she lied and said she did later. Of course Cassie is known for being a hypocrite.
In book 15 I notice you didn't go over the part of Rachel consoling Marco. It's probably the first time Rachel and Marco have a nice moment together, and it goes along with her goal of saving families tht have been effected by the Yeerks.
I'm looking forward to the Book 19 review, and what you think about Karen just being ignored by the Yeerks after she's freed. Of course there are also other memorable moments in the book as well.
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i saw these(thanks lousy ipad YouTube search) while doing homework i was laughing so hard that my mom told me to turn it off! :P
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Well, it's finally here, the review I've been dreading since I started this project. This is my feature-length review of Megamorphs #2 In the Time of Dinosaurs:
Part One:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMXvUqqjNT8
Part Two:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jtYgNR6IV8
Part Three:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeHHGBFHNO4
Part Four:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_YwatjWs9g
Part Five:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3SghGvxZ88
Part Six:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLb7Pz5bFMM
Part Seven:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvtKIVhVtps
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Holy crap, that looks like a lot of ranting! Can't wait to listen! :)
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I didn't click the links yet, but even if every one of those is 10 minutes + each, I will indeed sit here for the next hour and a half and go straight through them.
EDIT #1: Do you have a link to a higher resolution of that poster? I'd really like it.
EDIT #2: Wow. That was really substantial. To play devil's advocate, you could sort of justify Tobias' actions by assuming he truly believed that you couldn't change the timeline by going into the past, and would doom everyone if he didn't make the choices he did. Sort of how Darth Vader is evil but honestly thought he was being the good person. It may be selfish to damn everything on the planet for the reason to "normalize" the timeline, but then again, to go off what Marco says, it's all about survival.
Still, it's been established the present can be changed by modifying the past. So wow. Genocide.
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Seven parts? Daaang. Top of my to-do list for tomorrow, for sure!
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I still come on RAF just to check this thread
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I still come on RAF just to check this thread
Yeah, at the rate of one review a month or so, it will be a few more years before this is complete. So I'll be around at least that long, I hope poparena is too.
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Alas, it may be a while before I get to enjoy it. Wish me luck and a brand new laptop.
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To play devil's advocate, you could sort of justify Tobias' actions by assuming he truly believed that you couldn't change the timeline by going into the past, and would doom everyone if he didn't make the choices he did. Sort of how Darth Vader is evil but honestly thought he was being the good person. It may be selfish to damn everything on the planet for the reason to "normalize" the timeline, but then again, to go off what Marco says, it's all about survival.
It's not that the idea of Tobias doing this is totally irredeemable from a storytelling standpoint, it's the fact that this should be the biggest weight on Tobias' shoulders through out the entire series, and when he learns first-hand that you can change the timeline in things like Megamorphs #3, he should have a moment of realization of just what he did. But that never happens, it's never brought up again. Tobias is more mournful and depressed over killing a goddamn RABBIT than he is an entire innocent alien race.
Yeah, at the rate of one review a month or so, it will be a few more years before this is complete. So I'll be around at least that long, I hope poparena is too.
Barring computer failure, getting kidnapped by Somali pirates or armageddon, I have no intentions to quit this project until it's completed.
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Watched all 7 parts. You are the funniest man alive!
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Yay, I love it, even though I wish the book had been better...dinosaurs plus Animorphs? It was supposed to have been my pre-teen heaven!
I'm glad my little spiel was able to help!
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I only recently got into watching these reviews and have literally just caught up. I now officially love these videos and I'm looking forward to seeing more.
Despite the fact that you raised some valid points about problems with Megamorphs#2 (and did so in quite a hilarious manner) I'm afraid I still really like that book. What can I say? I'm a sucker for dinosaurs and time travel. :P
Oh, and it was a surprise to see you in the latest review Tara, nice work. :)
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these are great. If the first two I have listened to are any indication of how the rest are I can't wait.
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My review of #19 The Departure:
Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDF0YS1sZiQ
Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=223ta4ZcNVs
Part Three
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05Jh-IebHss
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You can rest assured I will watch this!
As soon as my stupid computer will accept the YouTube homepage address.... >:(
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Ahh, this makes my day. I check this thread almost daily, so I'm frequently disappointed when there's not an update, but when there is one, it totally makes up for it. I'm also excited because it's book 19, one of my favorites, and because the David trilogy is coming up...
Thanks for the update and I hope you keep making these!
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Ever thought of moving your stuff over to blip.tv?
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Awesome review! :XD:
This is seriously the best thing about animorphs. Better then ebooks, better then the reprint.
Having someone seriously dissect the series highlighting its flaws, awesomness, themes and etc is much more beneficial to fans then anything I've experienced so far. Props to you. Keep it up. :]
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cant wait for your review of the David trilogy. Its cool you are going to upload them all at once.
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cant wait for your review of the David trilogy. Its cool you are going to upload them all at once.
Ditto. :D
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Ok, it's time for the mega four day event that is the David Trilogy. Gonna post a review a day for the next three days, so stay tuned.
My review of Animorphs #20 The Discovery:
Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EacfGBkWFTc
Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-Tl_a2ojcU
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My review of Animorphs #21 The Threat:
Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZozk7itW6A
Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgqGcDT80AA
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You....are.....AMAZ ING
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This is so mega awesome. I can't wait for the follow up.
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My review of Animorphs #22 The Solution:
Part One:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-GHNy413Kc
Part Two:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn0P5QVi4Ug
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YAAAAY
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This is the best thing since sliced bread. For realy.
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The Post David Trilogy Followup (with special announcement at the end!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bhd1yIZ7N8
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Oh yay! You're doing the TV show now!
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I can't wait for the TV show :D. Basically I've seen all your videos so more is better.
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Just started watching these. They're hillarious! I also love how, even though you are critical of the series as a reviewer should be, you aren't subscribing to the "Negative reviews are funnier so I'll ignore everything positive" that's in a lot of critical reviews nowadays. So, kudos!
EDIT: So... part five of your Andalite Chronicles review is blocked. :( This makes me sad.
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Just started watching these. They're hillarious! I also love how, even though you are critical of the series as a reviewer should be, you aren't subscribing to the "Negative reviews are funnier so I'll ignore everything positive" that's in a lot of critical reviews nowadays. So, kudos!
EDIT: So... part five of your Andalite Chronicles review is blocked. :( This makes me sad.
why is it blocked?
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"This video contains content from EMI, who has blocked it in your country on copyright grounds."
My country being Canada.
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Yeah, a lot of people are having that problem. I'm going to repost that video soon.
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kk, i liked that part.
what is EMI?
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Ok, I posted a new version of part five of the Andalite Chronicles review. It's exactly the same, minus the end credit music.
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - The Andalite Chronicles (5/5) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJgBqBz2E3A#)
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By the way, the new forum format has turned this thread into a horrible mess of Youtube videos and I hate it. :(
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What do you mean?
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The whole "when you post the URL of a Youtube video, it instead embeddes the video" thing. It makes my index post look awful.
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Yay, I get to see it! :D Out of curiosity, what song was originally at the end?
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I've finally caught up on all of these! Excellent work, and I look forward to more.
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I watched all of these over the last week or so, and they were very entertaining. I agreed with most of your assessments, and there was only one book that I significantly disagree on. Keep up the great work. I can't wait to see more!
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about how often are they coming out now with the episode review?
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So, for the record, because I can get them done so much faster than the book reviews, I plan to bust out four episode reviews between each OABG. So, now you have a countdown. :)
My four part review of The Hork-Bajir Chronicles:
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - The Hork-Bajir Chronicles (1/4) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbjO2goTzVI#)
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - The Hork-Bajir Chronicles (2/4) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjfmdeTL6eU#)
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - The Hork-Bajir Chronicles (3/4) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i2W1Xv-q6Y#)
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - The Hork-Bajir Chronicles (4/4) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NA1_hBXtJA#)
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Awesome review! Can't wait for more. :]
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Ditto! These are hilarious
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My review of Animorphs #23 The Pretender:
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #23 The Pretender (1/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ_8C_9JMnM#)
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #23 The Pretender (2/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-9pYuJbliM#)
Plus a side discussion on the relationship between Tobias and Elfangor:
On Tobias and Elfangor (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmgsiL6javQ#)
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Part One
Good catch with the pic of someone signing a will and testament beginning with the letters "E" and "L". And double points for the Occupy Wallstreet reference. Personally I wish several birds of prey would take care of the ones in Boston.
Another interesting point came to mind when you mentioned the slip up of "Cassie in Harrier morph". I don't remember if you mentioned this in your Encounter review, the first Tobias book, but there's another slip up as they are falling out of the truck ship. Marco morphs and eagle instead of an osprey.
The sad thing is that was back when Applegate was the sole writer.
One thought occurs to me at the end of part one and it never occurred to me when I read this book. There's a tourist trap with a Hork-Bajir toddler near the airport. Granted the area around most US airports tend to be pretty sparse, but I have to wonder at the density of the human race in general if not one newspaper got ahold of that story.
[spoiler]Even Visser Three couldn't have controlled the circumstances that well.[/spoiler]
Part Two
Love the cameo bit. It reminds me of one of Spoony's more recent reviews with Film Brain's cameos.
One thing about Visser Three is that he has the biggest case of tunnel vision of any Yeerk in the Empire. So it's not a stretch to me that he saw Ket Halpak and didn't remember leaving her to die in The Change. When you figure that between then and the Pretender he had to deal with yet another encounter from Visser One, on top of what we'll later learn was his bid to manipulate the Council of Thirteen into executing her.
Now if Elfangor was seen at the site, it might make him think twice. But I could see him overlooking details like which Hork-Bajir died when. Heck, it's entirely possible he can't remember one Hork-Bajir from another that isn't one of his personal elite.
Speaking of Elfangor, this is an interesting point to make about why Visser Three set up such an elaborate ruse to capture Tobias. Think about it. Visser Three killed Elfangor. He promised to hunt down and infest Visser Three's family. What greater honor and glory for a Yeerk hellbent on pissing on his enemy's grave than to either infest or devour Elfangor's only living son.
Or better yet, to capture Tobias and use him to route and infest Elfangor's remaining family which would include Ax of course. Alas, Visser Three's tunnel vision kicks in yet again.
Elfangor and Tobias Analysis
2018 is a realstic deadline I think. God won't strike you down until you've finished reviewing all of the books, so it helps to have a goal. Oh and wash your own socks.
Small mistake: Tobias is Ax's nephew not his uncle. (I played it back twice to make sure I heard it right before making the point)
I remember reading each book after this and hoping someone would make more than a passing mention of it. I mean, Elfangor was a pretty central focus point in the first ten books and then you find out that the kid you saved from the toilet was the son of the guy that gave you the ability to morph to a tiger? Not a thought? Really.
The other bare mention besides the Illusion was Ax after meeting Lauren. He mentioned she was a strong woman and that he understood why Elfangor loved her. But it's not like he makes any effort to be near the wife of his brother or anything.
You mention how in Megamorphs 3 no one ages when they get near the Time Matrix. Now, I'm not defending Megamorphs 3 or trying to influence how you write the review in anyway. But I would like to offer up this speculation based on the events of The Andalite Chronicles.
In The Andalite Chronicles, the Time Matrix was acting up after Visser Three, Elfangor and Lauren each had a hand in creating that mosaic world. And we all ready saw that the hybrid of three different planets was all ready screwed up because of three different (possibly four if Alloran was also struggling with Visser Three at the time) people trying to operate it. In Megamorphs 3 only Visser Four was using it. Then only Cassie. So it's possible what happened in The Andalite Chronicles with Lauren aging was a result of the Time Matrix having a Windows Vista moment.
That's the only thing I wanted to add to that.
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So, when is the next update, poparena?
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Oh, next update will be the Helmacrons, won't it? This'll be entertaining. (I actually like the first Helmacron book, but I do see why a lot of people dislike it)
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Merry Christmas, everyone! Here's my review of #24 The Suspicion:
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #24 The Suspicion (1/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW14veC-KJg#)
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #24 The Suspicion (2/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhTrzRemgFY#)
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Awesome videos :]
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WANT MOOOOAR
(I'm one of those fans that hate the Helmacrons. HAAAAATE.)
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I...never wanna hear your Helmacron voice....ever again
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I get creeped out when I watch your videos because I feel like you're reading my mind.
Except you're smarter than me because you pick up on things I miss.
Awesome series.
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I actually liked his helmacron voice. It made me think of a much more effeminate Dalek.
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I...never wanna hear your Helmacron voice....ever again
lol, agreed. It's very irritating. Much like like the Helmacrons actually, so at least you captured their essence well. :P
Nice review as always, glad you didn't just dismiss it completely despite being a Helmacron book. I have to agree that it is far superior to their second appearance (not like that says much).
Congrats on winning Best RAFproject by the way, well deserved. :)
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I've gotta say, every time I see the cover for Visser my heard does somersaults and I think that maybe somehow you've jumped ahead to review it.
*hangs head*
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Ohhh Myitt. Desperate to see how he talks about the most political and entirely Yeerk-centric book. ;)
It was one of my personal favorites too. :D
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My review of #25 The Extreme:
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #25 The Extreme (1/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTkfgk5QlSI#)
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #25 The Extreme (2/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faZB1ur-vsk#)
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Hrms, this book also begs the question, if they Yeerks were scientifically talented enough to clone the venber, why couldn't they just clone themselves some host bodies so they didn't have to keep taking over planets and getting themselves all chopped up by different races?
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Awesome review :D
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Great review. I almost couldn't believe it when I first found out #25 was ghost written, it's a solid book. Admittedly I'm biased towards liking Marco books, but I still really enjoyed this one. If all the ghost written books had been as well written as this one, I doubt many people would've realised. Same goes for the following book #26, one of my favourites.
I suspect Visser Three's torture device collection is just an added attempt at intimidation on his part, although this is made rather redundant considering his reputation for impatiently decapitating anyone who even slightly annoys him.
I actually forgot the part where it specifically says that the Venber are not carbon-based (I believe they are thought to be hydrogen-based), but I'm pretty sure that makes a cross breed with humans completely impossible.
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Another point, I really liked Cassie in this book. When I read it I thought "yay! She's waking up a little!" It's really too bad that the trend in the overall series made this bit seem more like a character misrepresentation than character development. :(
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I was going to say maybe they don't have mass cloning facilities and are too tied up by the fight they have with the Andalites (and Vissers wasting resources on things like free-will draining magic potions) to develop one . . . but then I realised they could try to get a start at least. It'll get them more precious Hork-Bajir hosts, though I suppose V3 would want to keep his Andalite monopoly.
^Same. I kept getting the feeling, even on my first reading, that a few of them are trying to pull Cassie in a more interesting direction. But all of them had a slightly different angle in mind and some just seemed to not bother and make her even more ridiculous. Since the latter fits quite well with previous books, the overall trend made her look like her personality was time-travelling or something. XD
Also, I find your MM2 rants hilarious. :)
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First off, it's great seeing a new review. And I do appreciate your dedication to the project knowing full well that you're in job search mode. I liked your intro to this one which heralded the coming of the ghostwritten era as it told me a lot of things I didn't know about a writer I admired.
When I first got this book, something else came into my life. It was the year my mother got me a Nintendo 64 for my birthday. And the day I brought this book home I had also finally purchased my own copy of Golden Eye. I played that game well into the wee hours of the morning but I didn't want to go to sleep without finishing The Extreme.
The first snow level of 007, the one just outside the actual bunker itself with all of the snow and the trees, etc, was stuck in my head the entire time as I was reading this book. I kept visualizing the Venber as the Russian guards who approached and shot at me with their AK47's.
Anyway, I wanted to say a couple of things in defense of the story itself. The first one was of Visser Three's collection.
The collection of torture items really doesn't surprise me all that much. In Salem, Mass there used to be a store called Life and Death that was essentially death memorobillia. Embalming tools, coffin nails, fake vials of fromhaldehyde, etc. That shop lasted for a quite a while so obviously someone was buying the stuff.
And we've all ready seen from the Applegate written books that Visser Three is a guy who collects things he can use to harm others. Most specifically are the animals he kept as pets in Andalte Chronicles and the Veleek respectively. As a Yeerk grub he obsessed over the ability to control a new host and just the small taste of an Andalite and everything such a host had to offer occupied his thougts so much that he became the very first Andalite Controller, basically starting his collection with the tail blade and the morphing power itself.
As for Derek's belief that the Animorphs were spirits and your comments about people believing in such things in the 90's, I remind you that I live not far from Salem. This is a place that is known world wide for it's annual month long Psychic Fair every October and this has been going strong since 1950.
There have been and still are quite a few people who would see an Animorph and jump to the conclusions that Derek came to. It's one of the reasons why I think the Yeerks would have been smart to branch out from simply using The Sharing and exploit other religions for purposes of infestation.
Anyway, thanks again for the review.
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Yeah I don't think the animal spirits thing is ridiculously farfetched. If you saw someone morphing (without any knowledge of Animorphs) you'd be thinking animal spirits, aliens, or freaky hallucinations. Most people's first thought would not be normal teenagers using advanced alien biotechnology to turn into seals and polar bears.
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I don't think the animal spirits thing is far fetched, but I think trusting a human they found so close to a Yeerk facility is. A smart Yeerk would have played the "oh yeah...you must be animal spirits" angle then ran straight to the Yeerks and told them it was humans and saved their facility.
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I guess I shouldn't have been so flippant and expounded on my issues with this in the video. It really isn't so much that Derek believes in animal spirits as it how incredibly casual he is about it. Derek sees a seal turn into a guy and treats with same awe and wonder as someone casually reading the morning paper. I mean, imagine your a Christian, and a guy shows up out of the blue who can walk on water, heal the sick with a mere touch and feed a thousand people with one loaf of bread. Would your reaction be "Oh, neat, Jesus" or "HOLY **** IT'S JESUS"?
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Ha ha, fair point. Perhaps people are just more chilled out in the Arctic... no pun intended...
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My review of #26 The Attack:
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #26 The Attack (1/4) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oov4meVK5QQ#)
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #26 The Attack (2/4) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9sm5zJ89_g#)
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #26 The Attack (3/4) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvWDEfn1Fr8#)
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #26 The Attack (4/4) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN7aniPl_e0#)
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Had to upload a new version of Part Four. Youtube is giving me a lot of crap for some reason, I had to both cut some stuff and remove all the music. :(
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Awesome review. Keep up the great work! These reviews are one of the main reasons I visit this site.
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Loved this review and the book itself. I hate picking favourites in general, but #26 is almost definitely my favourite outside of the Chronicles books. Hell after your analysis of the themes and conflicts, I think I somehow like it even more now, since (as always) you manage to point out little details I'd never thought of before.
Pretty much the only complaint I have about this book is the fact that Cassie and Jake'd relationship doesn't seem to progress much after this book, possibly due to the ghostwriters. I mean do Jake and Cassie even kiss again after this book? The later books mostly give the impression that Tobias and Rachel have a stronger relationship, and he's only able to be in human form for 2 hours at a time.
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Great review, I do wish the rest of the books could live up to this one.
But I never did get how Cassie didn't like Lion King...I loved it when I saw it. :XD:
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Great review and book. Ditto on what Mike said.
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If there was ever a point where I agreed one hundred percent with everyone it's that the Attack is one of the best of the regular run of Animorphs. At that time I didn't know about the ghostwriter era. But knowing this is one of the last books KA wrote before they took over suddenly makes me all the more appreciative for the respect she showed her fans.
In the beginning of the review you said that no one had heard from Crayak since The Capture. And this is true in the actual storyline. However, on the published letters section of the Animorphs website, almost every other letter that KA responded to was a request for when the Big Red Eye was going to pop up. Applegate often commented that readers seemed obsessed with the concept since she mentioned it in Six, and at the time, she had no idea what to do with it. This was before The Stranger and I don't think she had fully developed the idea of the Ellemist as a regular player or what his nature would be. In The Andalite Chronicles, it's implied that the Andalites believed Ellemists were an entire species and not one being.
So The Crayak was very much KA Applegate's gift to the fans. It was a response to the thousands of inquiries as to what the creature at the end of The Capture was, whom Applegate referred to as The Big Red Eye. And to know that she gave us this gift in such a well crafted and thoughtful manner is a testament to the fact that however much she may jokingly downplay her readers devotion, she really was grateful and respectful to us.
Thank you for continuing to do these reviews with the effort and respect that you always put into them. You're like Applegate in that you do show appreciation to your fans by continuing to give us this small break from the pressing reality of our own lives, all the while juggling the challenges in your own life.
Words will never be enough to show gratitiude, so I can only hope that one day I can buy you a drink to make up for what words can't say. Because nothing says thank you like booze. ;)
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Well said Sean. I was also unaware of the ghostwriters until after the series had ended, but it's really cool knowing that one of the most widely considered favourite books was also one of the last to not involve the ghostwriters. It just seems right somehow.
I know that the first time I read #26 one of the things I loved was the Animorphs facing such a deadly threat that had nothing to do with the Yeerks. Especially since it was the infamous Howlers that wiped out the Pemalites. When I had to do a book review presentation for school and chose #26, I had to read out a short passage and I picked the part where Jake provides the first vivid description of a Howler. Even before they see one in action, you can tell they mean business.
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My review of #27 The Exposed:
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #27 The Exposed (1/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auXpYRR7dKE#)
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #27 The Exposed (2/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hROhVHpf7ls#)
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Awesome review, I really liked the mini-bio on the ghost writer. (Whether they did good or bad with their books aside, I think they ghost writers deserve more credit than they receive for the books they write.)
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Hey guys, if any of you are musically inclined, I need an another Superbook theme. You can win... well, not much, really.
Superbook Remix Contest (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4PA6YoB_8E#)
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If there was ever a point I agreed with most, it's that setting up the series of coincidences as a plot of the Crayak/Drode was a bad precedent. That never gets more obvious than in many of the discussions here on the forum, where someone cites the Ellemist or Crayak as an alternative to actually explaining how a certain plot element in the series came to be. It's sort of like how George Lucas falls back on "The Force" whenever something in the Star Wars movies doesn't make any kind of sense, even in the context of the story.
Bonus on the bio for the ghostwriter. As always it's a testament to how well researched these reviews are and it makes me eager to learn more about the other ghostwriters as well.
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I'm not very musical unfortunately, but best of luck with the side project, whatever it might be. Excellent review as always, I honestly hadn't put much thought into the ghost writers so that extra info was a nice bonus. Can't think of anything else to add, aside for the comments I already posted on Youtube.
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Presenting, the Reprinted Animorphs Book Guide - #1 The Invasion!
http://blip.tv/pop-arena/reprinted-animorphs-book-guide-1-the-invasion-6202850 (http://blip.tv/pop-arena/reprinted-animorphs-book-guide-1-the-invasion-6202850)
In honor of the reprinting of K.A. Applegate's awesome series "Animorphs," I will be remaking some of my older reviews, now with better audio, better video, over ten minutes of additional material AND no Batman voice!
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Haven't read the reprints so it was nice seeing a review mentioning the small changes made. I couldn't agree more about it being a series very specific to the 90s. The first thing new readers will notice is the lack of mobile phones and social networking. If Animorphs had been set today, their secret would have been exposed in 5 minutes, probably by one of them Tweeting about it. I made the mistake in my own fanfic series of trying to introduce modern technology to the Animorphs series before realising how stupid the idea was.
The info burst Tobias receives from Elfangor has always been one of the most underrated enigmas in the series. Not only is it never referred to again, it's never even mentioned that such a burst of telepathic information is possible for Andalites. It's a shame because it could have been used for a lot of plot exposition, such as the Kandrona and even the fact that Elfangor was Tobias' father. Tobias having "visions" as his brain processed the information Elfangor gave him could have been a very interesting aspect of the series.
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(Completely off topic) +1 for the Emerald Dream picture, I tell everyone trying to drag me back into WoW that I'll come back when the Emerald Dream is open for players. ^_^ (I never did find the hack to get into it before the WoWmods patched it. :()
I really liked the revamped review (I'll have to go back and see the original one.) I like the thoughts on Tobias, they're very realistic and plausible.
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My review of #28 The Experiment:
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #28 The Experiment (1/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV556GJigJ0#)
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #28 The Experiment (2/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-QZLbik7n8#)
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Favorite part of this review: When you fired Jake and Cassie. I think the invasion would have been over ages ago if certain readers had been allowed to replace certain characters.
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I love that your brought up the whole Moses and religion thing. I mean come one, even someone who doesn't care about religion or history would surely still have at least one question about something the Chee probably witnessed during their practically immortal lives. They've essentially seen humans develop since the dawn of civilisation and have perfect memories. I know people who would trade vital organs just to spend an afternoon chatting with one of them.
I suppose it is a little odd that Ax is suddenly questioning the ethics of animal treatment by humans. I could possibly understand him being appalled at the thought of eating meat (which he isn't, he orders a burger at the end of this book) but medical testing? Without getting into a very lengthy debate on the subject (I did my specialist project on the pros and cons of animal testing), I will concede that testing for medical reasons is a necessary evil. Even if Andalites evolved beyond it, they must have done medical testing on in the past, either on themselves or on other species native to their planet. Unfortunately Ax never hints to whether nor not this is the case. In fact the treatment of animals in general on the Andallite homeworld is basically never mentioned again in the entire series.
The main thing that I've never liked about this book is the fact you brought up at the end of the review: nothing actually happened. The Animorphs accomplished nothing, at least in terms of affecting the Yeerks, aside from covering Visser Three in animal waste (again). There are some funny moments and I don't mind that they tried to bring the issue of animal testing to a younger audience (although it was done rather badly) but overall I'm not a fan of this book either.
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There are some books I like just because of the Battle morph fights. This is one of those books
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Yet another great review. Keep them coming!
However, despite the many flaws in the animorphs' plans in this book, they did have a valid reason for morphing steers instead of flying up the noses of the non-morphed steers:
[spoiler](http://cache2.artprintimages.com/lrg/40/4038/EW5LF00Z.jpg)
Cattle can and do often stick their tongues up their own noses. It could be very dangerous to be a fly in there.[/spoiler]
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All the more reason to get in very deep!
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While I'm personally not opposed to the ideals the author tried to 'champion,' it was so poorly written that it did more to hurt the cause than help it, and KAA (her right, since it was her bookline) completely undermined it with the last chapter.
I think I know where the Author was going with Ax's line of thought about the animals, if you read the Andalite Chronicles, Elfangor himself was squeamish about the idea of eating meat and did call humans 'barbarians,' though that was more in reference to medical practices. It's not a huge stretch of the imagination to say that all Andalites would have the same views. But if you studied Ax's character and Andalite culture at large, it's just plain out of character for Ax to have those kind of thoughts (he was more of a 'when in Rome' kind of person). And Elfangor himself was mentally/morally on the fringe of Andalite society, at least for the military, there's no real way to claim that his opinions would be that of Andalite society.
While I think KAA definitely had the right to add her own ending, her statement kind of rubbed me the wrong way. I think she is definitely a morally conscious person, and she is masterful at writing her own cause in her series. But people saying things like "I'll care about W when XYZ happens," kind of strike me as a little closed minded. I think humans have enough braincells to care about more than two or three causes, even if they dedicate their time and efforts to another. People who work to put themselves out of a job deserve respect, no matter what they are doing as long as their means aren't nefarious. I'm not going to walk up to a person in a soup kitchen and go "I'll care about what you do once all the homeless puppies are saved" or say "Mother Teresa sucked at life because people are cutting down the rainforest!" I really don't think she meant it that way, but I think it's safe to say that KAA has demonstrated a lack of tact in some communications, which is really unfortunate given her amazing skill.
Overall, I liked the book, for obvious reasons (a large part of it being an Ax book, and when you're favorite character has half as many books you can't be too picky,) but I agree it didn't fit the standards of the series...and didn't even fit the series at all. If the author wanted to keep her job, she should have wrote a Cassie book. It kind of makes me wonder how the whole ghost writer 'job' works, if KAA put out what she wanted written on some secret website or if she sent out an ad or something, or just accepted manuscripts and said "okay it'll do lets print this."
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It kind of makes me wonder how the whole ghost writer 'job' works, if KAA put out what she wanted written on some secret website or if she sent out an ad or something, or just accepted manuscripts and said "okay it'll do lets print this."
The ghostwriters were likely all ready on Scholastic's payroll. It's just like how writers of movie and TV tie-in novels are either connected to the show, or all ready working for the publishing house that licensed them.
As for KAA's part, during the run of the series she mentioned in response to a fan how she recieved galley copies of the books before they went to print. So she probably had a chance to read and comment or correct on each one before it went to stores.
As for her comment vs. the ghostwriter's message, unfortunately, it's self defeating to get on a soapbox about anything. It's like the people who cry foul over corporate America while eating lunch at a McDonalds and wearing name brand clothing. Or the people who think that rich people should foot the bill for everyone else when they themselves won't even try to find a job.
In the end, if you're so up in arms about something it's actions that speak louder than words. Now, if KAA volunteers in a hospital, or helps to raise money to research childhood illness in a way that doesn't involve putting her unwanted pennies in a "This kid is sick" charity bucket at the convenience store then power to her.
This in no way means that I have no respect for her or her views. I just agree that her comment does seem a little self righteous.
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Saying things like, “I kind of think that I’ll start worrying about the treatment of cows more once there are no more political prisoners, no more children dying of curable diseases, and no more fanatics blowing themselves up to murder civilians.” Would be fair enough if it came from someone who was actually spending a fair amount of effort to end those things but coming from your average person it just comes off as smug, sanctimonious, crap.
Your average person isn’t doing anything to stop the spread of aids in Africa or to stop suicide bombers or to free political prisoners. Maybe you give some money to organizations that do, but that’s a tiny effort in the face of gigantic problems. If you think that there might be something wrong with the way we treat the animals we eat or that the very idea of eating animals might be morally suspect, you could, with a relatively small amount of effort, greatly reduce the amount of meat you eat or stop entirely.
Now that being said, I’m not a vegetarian so feel free to call me a hypocrite but saying you’ll care about an issue that you can actually do something about only after other issues that you really can’t do much about are solved, is a dumb argument and a pathetic attempt at moral justification.
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We all make up our own excuses for the things we do or don't do. I could go on for ages about how meat is an important part of our diet, humans are naturally omnivores, me cutting out meat won't make a difference, and I'm so picky with vegetables that I would be an incredibly unhealthy vegetarian. Those things are all true, but honestly I just enjoy meat too much to give it up.
One of the problems of the modern world is that there are too many problems to focus on, and we know about a lot of them due to modern media. It's impossible to help with all the world's problems, but I think it is our moral duty to help where we can on at least one issue we feel passionately about. Saying "I'll care about X when Y stops happening" is a little harsh and hypocritical, but it's not wrong. If you devoted all your time and money towards helping the homeless in your area, you are going to prioritise them over homesless people in a place you've been to. That's just the way our minds work.
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We all make up our own excuses for the things we do or don't do. I could go on for ages about how meat is an important part of our diet, humans are naturally omnivores, me cutting out meat won't make a difference, and I'm so picky with vegetables that I would be an incredibly unhealthy vegetarian. Those things are all true, but honestly I just enjoy meat too much to give it up.
I don't really have a problem with any of that. See the difference here is that you're explicitly not trying to make a moral justification for your choice of eating meat. Some of the points you raise are decent arguments for the eating of meat and are far better then the one made by KAA. But you are saying that they are inconsequential to your choice and that your reason for not giving up meat is that you enjoy it too much. In our society that's all the reason you need.
The problem I have is that when a person says, “I might care about eating cows if there weren't so many humans suffering.” Is that they are trying to make a moral justification for their choice to eat meat by saying that worse things are happening. That isn't a good argument and it isn't moral.
The point is that the argument KAA makes has within it the tacit admission that there is probably something morally questionable about eating meat yet says it's okay because there are worse moral ills in the world. It's like saying there is probably something wrong with the fact that I stole three hundred dollars but we don't need to worry about it because Bernie Madoff ran a ponzi scheme that stole tens of billions of dollars.
One of the problems of the modern world is that there are too many problems to focus on, and we know about a lot of them due to modern media. It's impossible to help with all the world's problems, but I think it is our moral duty to help where we can on at least one issue we feel passionately about. Saying "I'll care about X when Y stops happening" is a little harsh and hypocritical, but it's not wrong. If you devoted all your time and money towards helping the homeless in your area, you are going to prioritise them over homesless people in a place you've been to. That's just the way our minds work.
Remember I did concede that it would be fair enough for a person to say “I'll care about X when Y stops happening” if they actually worked to stop Y from happening.
If someone said, “I might care about the homeless in the next county but we have homeless people here” yet did nothing to help the homeless in their county, it wouldn't be a good moral argument for not helping the homeless in the next county and it couldn't be called anything but wrong.
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I agree with pretty much what everyone said. Animal Rights and or Welfare issues are really tricky, because not only do you have to account for basic biology of humans, its delving a lot into the moral "unknowns" of animal psychology and, I hate to say emotions because that's the kind of language that makes people not take the cause seriously, but that's basically it.
Her whole response just kind of, in my mind, just pointed out that she isn't the best with "PR" of her fans. That's not to say that everyone should be a master mediator or anything, but it feels more like she is doing her best by trying to smooth out the anger in her fan base while still being "forceful" with her own beliefs. It might work for some fans, but for people who are thoroughly invested in the Animal Rights movement, or perhaps even people who payed any sort of "dues" in humanitarian causes, it's a huge slap in the face. (Though, very few people have at that age, and there's nothing wrong with that.) I guess KAA didn't want her series turned into propaganda, which is fair enough, its HER series.
I might be a little more sensitive just because I have put some (not as much as I should, but some) foot-work and volunteer hours into homeless animal rescue, and one of the really common arguments we come up against is "you're wasting time and money because you should be helping people" or "why don't you care about people this much, are you a psycho or something?" But overall, I agree with Phoenix, whether its environmental factors or just mental differences, different causes ARE going to mean more to you, and your time is best spent doing something you're passionate about instead of something that doesn't make you quite as happy.
But on the other hand though, I don't think the ghost-writer presented her case very well either. It was basically a book written by and for vegetarian-activists. No one else is going to care about the message because Ax musing "Gee, do chimps have citizenship" or "I wonder why humans hunt harmless animals" or Cassie going on a crusade (again...for the billionth time) doesn't have any sort of impact beyond being a little bit amusing or just plain annoying.
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Reprinted Animorphs Book Guide - #2 The Visitor
http://blip.tv/pop-arena/reprinted-animorphs-book-guide-2-the-visitor-6255749 (http://blip.tv/pop-arena/reprinted-animorphs-book-guide-2-the-visitor-6255749)
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Nice review, I will have to check out the reprints at some point, although it doesn't seem like they've changed much.
I'm not defending Jake and the others being hypocrites for yelling at Rachel defending herself, but I would say the reason they got so mad at her is because it's one of the only occasions where an Animorphs screw up involved seeing a witness actually seeing them morphing. The idiots with guns at the start can tell whoever they want, if the Yeerks find out it doesn't prove Andalite bandit involvement. Rachel morphing in public could have been witnessed by anyone, including a controller who would realise that the bandits are humans (Chapman turned up only moments later after all). The Animorphs do some dumb stuff throughout the series, but there aren't many close calls that would openly expose them as human like that. Having said that, Rachel had every right to defend herself and given the situation she didn't have many other options.
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Rachel morphing in public could have been witnessed by anyone, including a controller who would realise that the bandits are humans (Chapman turned up only moments later after all).
One thing about that though is that the Animorphs have morphed pretty dang close to where they could be spotted by controllers. In this very book, Jake morphs from flea, to human, to tiger in the space of a few minutes. Rachel can see this from her position in the cage which is in the Blade Ship when all of this occurs.
So if she could see it, you know just a dozen or so controllers had to have witnessed it and were just too scared to bring it to Visser Three's attention. Although you could just as easily write it off as a KASU, it's still a reason to cut Rachel some slack over scaring off a potential rapist.
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I'm not saying she couldn't have handled the situation differently, but the fact that Jake would get his head in a vice over that, and not, say, Cassie morphing a rat in school to cheat on a science project is off-putting.
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My review of #29 The Sickness:
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #29 The Sickness (1/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjJzspd6tyI#)
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #29 The Sickness (2/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzbCbnX6a9Q#)
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Yet another great review. Keep them coming!
EDIT: Thought of something else. I don't know why Erik couldn't restrain Ax (or why the animorphs couldn't tie him down with ropes), but it doesn't surprise me at all that he could sit by and watch Ax die. After all, the chee give the animorphs information all the time that they know will result in the deaths of many. They work with the yeerks as controllers too, which isn't exactly the most life-friendly environment.
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The only thing that makes me sad is that about this is that I have to wait a long time for your review of #30.
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Nice review and a cool book overall. I also enjoyed seeing a sequel to a previous storyline and some of Ax's delerious comments are rather amusing. I don't hate Cassie as many seem to, but I agree that this is one of the few genuinely awesome books from her POV. As for the inconsistencies with Erek's programming, wait until you review #32. ::)
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My main issue with Cassie in this book was her moral inconsistency. In 19 she essentially risked the life of the entire world for a stranger, yet when it comes to one of the most valuable team members, she tells Erek to let him die because it's too risky to have her dad try to save him. I don't even know how it would be, the kids knew he wasn't a controller (they have done spy missions on people to figure out if they were controllers or not several times, I'm sure their parents were included.) It just kind of makes you go "so...who's team are you on anyway..." If she was scared for her parents and reflected on that...then at least it would be a character "flaw" or trait vs. some weird border-line traitorous state of mind.
Though I do agree, I think a lot of Cassie's "stupidness" and inconsistency can be chalked up to the fact that none of the ghost writers kept her character consistent. I think Rachel's character suffered in that way too, but with Rachel being more popular it isn't noticed as much.
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Eels song - The Mighty Boosh - BBC comedy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AckvdGbk4w#ws)
this song is slightly relevant to #29
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My review of Megamorphs #3 Elfangor's Secret:
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - Megamorphs #3 Elfangor's Secret (1/3) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snPxP2CRBQw#)
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - Megamorphs #3 Elfangor's Secret (2/3) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaLmOdXBBX8#)
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - Megamorphs #3 Elfangor's Secret (3/3) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aumr2UXXbuM#)
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Really liked the review!
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Loved the review, especially the beginning when you played along with the alternate timeline, very funny.
I was around 12 when I first read this book so some of it went over my head, but I liked it and still do partly because I love anything with time travel. Being British I didn't know enough American history to know about the crossing of the Delaware at that age, but I pretty much knew the rest of the events. I can understand not knowing about Agincourt, but I was very surprised that the Animorphs weren't familiar with Trafalgar (which you pronounced wrong by the way). I have since been told that most Americans aren't too familiar with English history, but not knowing about how we beat Napoleon just seems odd to me. I suppose it's just a case of it being something that we grow up knowing about and you guys don't. You guys have heard of Napoleon right? :P
Watching this has also reminded me that I would love to read a (or write my own) time traveller's guide...
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Yes, yes, we've heard of Napoleon, but you're not wrong, history education in public schools in the states is about 80% American history and 20% everything else, so things like specific battles tended to get skimmed over. The vast majority of my world history education came during the college years.
My inability to pronounce words correctly is my biggest handicap in these endeavours. I have enough trouble with normal words like "escape" and "chasm."
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Fair enough, I just thought you'd misread the word. I still mispronounce some Animorphs related words.
To be fair, we aren't taught a lot of specifics of American history. The stuff we covered at my school was mostly major long term things like Vietnam War, Wall Street crash and your involvement in World War One and Two, rather than specific battles or events. We have so much more history as a country so we don't have time to fit in learning much about your civil war for example, or most of your presidents. We do pick up bits and pieces from TV, books, films, etc.
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I have to say that this review was truly spot on, as was all of your analysis of the previous installments. Way back when I was just a kid and I saw the first Animorphs books lining the shelves I thought, someone at the Censor Board must have been sleeping on the job. My first clue was that a woman was credited as the author and I think we can pretty much agree that the only thing a woman should be writing is a grocery list.
But I kept on reading so I could build my case. I did earn my POE at the incredibly young age of fourteen by being the first person to launch a complaint against the highly subversive work of Joss Whedon entitled Buffy the Vampire Slayer. And as it was my life long ambition to be director of the local Censor Board, I felt bringing these war criminals to justice would be my ticket. Alas, someone else got to the punch before I did.
However I have long since made my way into the highly influential position of Censor Board Director and after routing out a few sabateurs in our midst it has come to my attention that a few positions have opened up in the Mail Inspection Wing. Shoudl you ever need a job, consider this my recommend- FLASH -
Uh... that was wierd. So, as I was saying, great review as always.
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My review of #30 The Reunion:
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #30 The Reunion (1/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGhG27kYxRU#)
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #30 The Reunion (2/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60gA9PdhKMs#)
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I've got that Hives album. <3
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First, epic burn on Jake's choice to hold Marco back as well as on Cassie's BS. I always likened Cassie holding back Jake to Jake's dream of chasing down Tom in Book 6: The Capture, but it's been so long since I've read The Reunion that I forgot about Jake holding Marco back.
Whenever it comes to things like how Visser One got video footage of a free Hork-Bajir colony and somehow didn't know what it was, it's hard to accept that it was in fact a glaring error in an otherwise well written story. Just like fans try to come up with an explanation as to why there are five different James Bonds and why he always seems to be in his late thirties, early forties, I quickly search for the explanation that makes the error fit. As soon as I tried to come up with a plausible theory I got sidetracked by something else. If Visser One had control a ship with a loyal crew and constant contact with it, why is she slumming it on Earth with portable Kandronas and Harry Potter's magic tent?
Alas I have to admit that it was a glaring error and that trying to cover it up is only going to expose even bigger ones. Like covering a major headwound with a bandage and overlooking the tire iron that's buried inside. I'm a hopeless fanboy who tries to make the mistakes make sense using what's available at the time, but I'm not so hopeless that I won't call a spade a spade.
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My review of #31 The Conspiracy:
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #31 The Conspiracy (1/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8lWdEx3i0M#)
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #31 The Conspiracy (2/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmuD09vpNsk#)
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I always kind of assumed that there was one big pool and then lots of smaller ones. But Grandpa G's is out in the middle of nowhere, so unless he was a controller (I'm guessing not), there wouldn't really be a need for access to a Yeerk pool out there. Few people, decent amount of space between everyone... yeah.
That was my only real thought here. XD Good review as always.
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My review of #32 The Separation:
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #32 The Separation (1/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-MROU0G7VU#)
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #32 The Separation (2/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztXP15BBwhg#)
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Nice work narrating the Nice and Mean Rachel voices. I almost forgot how annoying and ditzy Nice Rachel was until I heard your impression of her. I'd rather have Mean Rachel tear my head off than have a conversation with Nice Rachel! And yes I agree that the nice side of her was completely out of character. The only time the word airhead has been mentioned in the series is when the other Animorphs point out that Rachel isn't one, contrary to her looks.
Keeping both Rachels with the Chee and sending her usual Chee replacement home would have made sense, but it's not like the Chee could have stopped Mean Rachel from leaving anyway. At the very least they could have had the Chee (or one of the other Animorphs) secretly keeping tabs on them both.
I like your suggestion for how Nice Rachel should have been done, it would have been a much better (and far less irritating) reflection of her character, and it's backed up by events in previous books. Less ditzy and more over achiever would have made a lot more sense. I also would have liked for one Rachel to show affection for Tobias and another for Marco. Megamorphs #4 proves that part of her likes him that way and this would have been an ideal way of showing it in the main series without compromising her relationship with Tobias. I know there's the part where she admits Marco is cute and funny, but then it's never brought up again. They could have expanded on that.
I also enjoyed your theory regarding Rachel's personality post #32. I always put her increased aggression down to stress from the war, but yours is an intruging thought.
As for Erek electrocuting them, that's a rather unfortunate KASU.
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As for Erek electrocuting them, that's a rather unfortunate KASU.
Especially if it didn't work and just killed both Rachels. I could see Erek trying to perform some kind of Chee suicide for going against his programming like that XD
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That's an interesting thought. I wonder if the Chee are capable of suicide? Or harming other Chee for that matter. I don't believe it's ever specifically said that violence against other Chee is possible or not.
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I thought the Chee were not capable of violence of any kind. I don't know if they were ever specific about that or not.
I never though of Erik shocking both Rachels as a violent act. I can see how one would think of it as violent but I think he was trying to help not hurt. Maybe this gets around the programming?
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The intent doesn't matter, the fact is that it caused them physical harm and therefore Erek should have been incapable of doing it.
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The intent doesn't matter, the fact is that it caused them physical harm and therefore Erek should have been incapable of doing it.
On the otherhand, he had the ability to willingly choose to rewrite his programming once he knew of the Pemalite crystal's location. That in and of itself was an action resulting in the harm of several beings. Then there's the way he can manipulate the Animorphs into doing his fighting for them on the planet of the Iskoort.
So we know there's gray area around what the Chee can and can't do in regards to causing physical harm.
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Well the act of altering his programming itself doesn't cause any harm, neither does manipulating people, so it's more like a loophole in his software or something. On the other hand, right at the end of the series they blackmail Erek by threatening to have Chapman killed if he doesn't help them, and that worked.
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Well the act of altering his programming itself doesn't cause any harm, neither does manipulating people, so it's more like a loophole in his software or something. On the other hand, right at the end of the series they blackmail Erek by threatening to have Chapman killed if he doesn't help them, and that worked.
Hmmmm you know how Erek's choices in the end resulted in the death of Rachel, didn't he know that she was on the blade ship and that draining the dracon beams could result in her injury/death (sort of the same as he know if he didn't do what the Animorphs said they would kill chapman) HOW DOES HIS PROGRAMMING WORK.
It's like Chee-ception.
I feel like KA owes us a manual.
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My review of Animorphs #33 The Illusion:
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #33 The Illusion (1/3) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kTGNmsJ8WI#ws)
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #33 The Illusion (2/3) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSXePqsuYb4#ws)
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #33 The Illusion (3/3) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4R1EvKfLJA#ws)
Blip version coming soon.
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"Ever since David shoved a body down an elevator shaft..." For some reason, I really loved that line :P
Great review of what may just be my favourite book--though, I haven't officially decided, since I haven't gone through an appropriate reread of the series. At the most, I can definitely say it's in my top five.
Kudos, Pop. And, for what it's worth, I do watch some of your other videos. I enjoyed the few episodes you did of Alex Mac, and look forward to more.
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It's this book and Megamorphs 4 that I become phsyically ill over when I even consider trying to read them again. That's not hyperbole and it's not because I felt they were bad books. It's all because of what Tobias goes through in each book.
At the end of the day, the reason Tobias was always my favorite character was because I identified with him; bullied, poor family life, and maybe only one or two people who actually gave a crap about me. Then I think of all of these kids in the news who comitted suicide because of bullying and I think that at least I had a way to escape from it that those kids didn't have, and seeing someone else in that kind of pain makes me feel sick and dirty that I'm powerless to stop it.
For that reason, I can't bring myself to read any of the books where Tobias is savagely bullied or mistreated. The fact that I was able to get through it once was bad enough and even when you glossed over some of those parts, I still felt the pang of nausea.
None of this is your fault of course, or the fault of the writers. I'm not placing blame or saying it shouldn't have been written like that. In my mind, if a story gives a reader that kind of reaction, it's only because it was well written enough to hit the emotional tones just right. I'm just emotionally scarred like that to where I can't even see a fictional character going through those things and not feel that way.
Great review as always.
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Blip Version: http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-33-the-illusion-6602959 (http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-33-the-illusion-6602959)
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Can't believe I only just noticed this! I'm sure you get sick of people asking for more Animorphs reviews, but they really are very interesting and entertaining. Great review as always, and I can't wait to see you make fun of Cassie being possessed by an Andalite ghost! ;D
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My review of #34 The Prophecy:
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #34 The Prophecy (1/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHjxNM1s_fM#ws)
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #34 The Prophecy (2/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TAbbxJvJfI#ws)
Blip version coming soon.
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Blip version:
http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-34-the-prophecy-6618899 (http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-34-the-prophecy-6618899)
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Let's see if you guys actually notice this time. :XD:
My review of #35 The Proposal
Part One:
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #35 The Proposal (1/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sugaNtgzX8#ws)
Part Two:
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - #35 The Proposal (2/2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiZHKbbAZgM#ws)
or you can watch it all in one piece on Blip:
http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-35-the-proposal-6691921 (http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-35-the-proposal-6691921)
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I noticed! I just didn't have anything to add! :P
...I felt the need to post this before actually pressing play. XD
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Marco's "little problem" was another one of those, "KA pleases the fans" moments. So for those keeping track:
Female Andalite: Aldrea
New Animorph David
Big Red Eye: Crayak
Animorphs mixing morphs
All things that fan after fan kept requesting in the letters until KA must been happy with the amount of allowance and baby-sitting money rolling in and said, "Sure, here you go guys"
It might have worked a little better if they had tried to make it more grounded, like with Rachel's allergic reaction. Because we all have animals we're allergic too and there's a kind of body horror associated with the idea of what animals we could have that reaction with. As crappy as book 12 was, it introduced a new eggshell to walk on.
Can't wait to see your review on Visser.
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I've been checking back regularly since July to see if a new episode had been posted, so I am glad to see you are still cranking them out. Keep up the great work!
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My review of Visser. Watch it in one piece on Blip:
http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-visser-6714326 (http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-visser-6714326)
or watch it in three parts below:
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - Visser (1/3) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slAIyn7vAkg#ws)
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - Visser (2/3) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joDLoUtoanw#ws)
Opinionated Animorphs Book Guide - Visser (3/3) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzevu_uwXE4#ws)
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Wow, what a review! No wonder it took 3 videos, there's clearly a lot to explore in this book, a lot of which I missed my first time reading it as a kid. Fascinating theory regarding the Yeerks, and it's actually backed up by other books in the series. #6 for example, when the Yeerk dying in Jake's head leaves behind the "essence" and memories of its previous hosts. Not only this your theory make sense with what we know of the Yeerks as a species, but it explains a lot about their behaviour and suggests a realistic explanation for Esplin 9466's radical change of character from the Hork-Bajir Chronicles to the present day.
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Once again, a great review.
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Don't apologize for doing a long review. You knocked this one out of the park. :)
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poparena, I want to thank you so much for going to all the trouble of doing this. Your reviews are wildly entertaining. I'm also really glad you stopped doing the Batman voice. ;D
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My review of Animorphs #36 The Mutation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZVL0c0nW_c (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZVL0c0nW_c)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzvFpRbvU-Y (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzvFpRbvU-Y)
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It's one of the things about putting any kind of thought into a story like this. Like how you tried to posit a scenario for the Nartec getting ships from all over the world to their tiny little base, it was a great idea, but when it comes right down to it it's only to show that you should have been the one to write the book.
Some of the ghostwriters probably just did the best with what they could do. And I'll be looking to see if I can find any of Frenzic's (sp?) stuff later on.
Have a productive hiatus. I hope it doesn't claim you forever and that you come back fresh and recharged. (I know hiatus is not the same as vacation. I just generally find the results to be the same.)
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Thanks for doing these reviews, poparena! I've been listening for a while and am obviously subscribed to you on facebook but just wanted to let you know here that I really enjoy these reviews. Good luck on your hiatus, I hope things get better for you soon.
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My review of Animorphs #37 The Weakness:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h03W9X3xIxU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h03W9X3xIxU)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFFjAIi0_3w (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFFjAIi0_3w)
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Great to have you back.
I suppose it wasn't false advertising when they called this book "The Weakness", given that it wasn't the best of the Rachel books, but I agree that there were a lot of good points. It does make me wonder why the Council would trust Visser Three's word that he had nothing to do with the Inspector's death.
I mean, here's a guy who was caught in an attempt to blatantly manipulate the council. And suddenly they've received news that the controller who was about to become one of the ruling members of the Yeerk Empire was dead after being sent to oversee Visser Three's operation. We know the council isn't that stupid so what was stopping them from sending more inspectors?
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Glad to see you back! :) I was pretty sad when I heard you were on hiatus.
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I introduced Dino to these Opinionated Guides last week, so after watching some of the older videos I noticed I'd missed a couple of new ones. Great reviews as always, I think we've all been eagerly waiting for you to tear The Mutation apart for a long time now, lol. Glad to see you back from hiatus by the way. :)
Obviously #36 has a lot of flaws, but I'd completely forgotten about that nonsense with Jake implying the Orca's mind carried over into the morph. I could have accepted that kind of thing from Cassie, since she has a history of worrying about morphing intelligent creatures, but as you said it's been well established that such a thing isn't true. If it did happen, it would have made every instance of morphing a human, Hork-Bajir or even a Yeerk incredibly awkward.
#37 The Weakness has always been one of my least favourites, especially among Rachel books. I agree that the plot itself had a lot of potential, but for me it's completely ruined by the blatant screw up of Rachel's character. The talk of hubris at the start and self-analysis/doubt at the end sounded like her, but the rest is just bloody awful. I just can't get past the rapid emotional gear change from "don't get too ****y" to "I AM AWESOME AND CAN DO NO WRONG!" It's ridiculous and completely out of character for a Rachel narrated book.
Aside from the more obviously emotional Rachel at the tail end of the series, I always found it interesting that most of Rachel's recklessness and bravado is exaggerated when seen from the perspective of the other Animorphs. It's only books narrated by her that we get to see her hidden insecurities. A major chunk of this book totally ignores that and portrays her as the violent adrenaline junkie the other Animorphs see her as. On the other hand, the vast contradiction between psycho and cry baby certainly supports your theory from #32 Poparena.
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My review of #38 The Arrival
Blip Version:
http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-38-the-arrival-6919498 (http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-38-the-arrival-6919498)
Youtube Version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEuxwpO_c_U (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEuxwpO_c_U)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbONFWof-zY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbONFWof-zY)
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Kinda wish I found these sooner. I thoroughly enjoy them, as you tend to point out some things that I never stopped to consider before, Poparena. Like the whole Separation thing, and probably more that my currently-sluggish mind won't allow me to recall.
I've been watching them from YouTube, but some parts (like the second half of The Sickness and the first part of the Hork-Bajir Chronicles) I couldn't because I watch on my Knidle Fire, and it says "The content owner has not made this video available on mobile". And I don't have a PC to watch 'em on. So, I just had to skip 'em, though I really didn't want to. But thanks for bring this to us, speaking as an Animorph fan.
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My review of #39 The Hidden:
Blip Version:
http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-39-the-hidden-6994079 (http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-39-the-hidden-6994079)
Youtube Version:
Part One
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4_IiyCtvGQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4_IiyCtvGQ)
Part Two
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaPFbkpurBU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaPFbkpurBU)
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That opening bit was hilarious. I actually tried to remember the opening paragraphs, which was probably what my brain needed at this early in the morning.
I agree that this wasn't the worst book of the series by a long shot.
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My review of #40 The Other:
Blip Version:
http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-40-the-other-7019425 (http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-40-the-other-7019425)
Youtube Version:
Part One:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWGWDsKwEXM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWGWDsKwEXM)
Part Two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUQPRecBP3c (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUQPRecBP3c)
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Once upon a time you guys liked this stuff
Anyway, here's my five-year anniversary video. Yes, it has been five years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7ULgJ9Z7AE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7ULgJ9Z7AE)
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I don't think I've actually been able to watch the last one just 'cause my internet at home's been ****. :\
Also holy cow five years. o.o
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Once upon a time you guys liked this stuff
Anyway, here's my five-year anniversary video. Yes, it has been five years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7ULgJ9Z7AE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7ULgJ9Z7AE)
I came to the forums today because you reminded me it existed.
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Woo things working long enough to actually load something. Mostly. XD
But I wanted to say that I still really love these reviews. I think I can attribute half my headcanon to you. Or there have been books I've been really anxious for you to review because I want to know your thoughts on x thing and... yep. I know RAF isn't as active as it used to be, but I saw someone comment on the video about advertising on tumblr and I second that. The Animorphs tumblr community is very active. Someone's plugged you at least once on my dash, so they're definitely there, too.
Also your mention of the livejournal community made me weirdly happy, because they're how I found my way to RAF in the first place. So. Random factoid. Also I have no idea if I posted this in here before, I feel like I have, but I actually still own a VHS tape of Super Book. Thank you for replacing awkward childhood memories of Bible programs with an association with an awesome review series? And in general. But the first one seems less weird and feelsy so I lead with that.
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My review of Alternamorphs #1 and #2. Be sure to have annotations on!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U64HdnQLHg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U64HdnQLHg)
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I am ridiculously proud of myself for getting through all of those. XD Also that was cool. And I actually caught myself saying "aww, I missed the batman voice." Not like "you should do that again" but like when you're watching a special episode of a show you really like and the bring back that one character that you kind of forgot about, but still feel like it's kind of nice to see again? ...The example that's coming to mind is Minkus from Boy Meets World. Welp.
I forgot what I was actually going to say here, but I really barely remember Alternamorphs. I still have the books sitting with the rest of the series, but I honestly haven't opened either of them since I finished them 15ish years ago, which I don't think is true of any of the other books.
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My review of Megamorphs #4 Back to Before
Blip Version:
http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-megamorphs-4-back-to-before-1-2-7103822 (http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-megamorphs-4-back-to-before-1-2-7103822)
Youtube Version Part One:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp0CsOCtCBQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp0CsOCtCBQ)
Youtube Version Part Two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bQ3MaYY-p0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bQ3MaYY-p0)
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I just realized how long it's been since I read Megamorphs #4.
I do remember that "Not My Problem" was probably my favorite episode of the TV show. How many series can say they did the It's a Wonderful Life schtick twice? Unintentionally?
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My review of #41 The Familiar
Blip Version:
http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-41-the-familiar-7118992 (http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-41-the-familiar-7118992)
Youtube Version Part One:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUw0DzuTrXA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUw0DzuTrXA)
Youtube Version Part Two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEuLVttVTIg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEuLVttVTIg)
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I think I have a soft spot for this book purely because of fanficton. Which I'm pretty sure has completely mucked up my memory of the actual book, since I think I remember the cliffnotes version of events. I didn't expect my fanfic to be more sensical than the original.
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Um, can we move this thread to the main Animorphs forum? Because nobody besides Stephquiem (thanks!) seems to be reading this thread.
In any case, my review of #42 The Journey.
Blip Version:
http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-42-the-journey-7150330 (http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-42-the-journey-7150330)
Youtube Version Part One:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQGz0X6DOUM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQGz0X6DOUM)
Youtube Version Part Two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztya1SbloOs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztya1SbloOs)
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I kind of love your fanfic-y ideas. Also dear Lord, this book was worse than I remember it to be. O.o Nostalgia goggles and not reading it since I was 11 are a terrible mix.
(Also PM a mod maybe to have it moved?)
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Finally caught up on your last bunch of reviews, almost forgot how much I love these. :) Since I've just moved the topic to this board (it wasn't getting enough attention in RAF Projects) I would highly recommend these videos to any Animorphs fans reading this post who haven't watched them already. They are incredibly insightful as well as hilarious.
I agree with Steph about your potential fanfic ideas, I would definitely read them! Also regarding your five year anniversary video, best of luck with the book you're working on. I look forward to reading it when you're finished.
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I want to rewatch this whole thing now. also hOLYSHI POPARENA IS ON RAF HOW DID I MISS THIS THE WHOLE TIME
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Yeah I love this series. That's why I moved it here, as it was going largely unnoticed in the Projects board.
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My review of #42 The Test.
Blip Version:
http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-43-the-test-7185168 (http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-43-the-test-7185168)
Youtube Version, Part One:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goR0j_bbMxc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goR0j_bbMxc)
Youtube Version, Part Two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1XMpEUEuu4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1XMpEUEuu4)
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I feel like my feelings on #43 fairly positive, but I also mostly remember random things. Though now this book makes me sad because Borders no longer exists.
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I must be seriously overdue for a re-read of the series, because apparently I totally forgot that #43 started with Tobias doing the heroic save a lost kid thing. I agree they should've had more moments like that in the series. I guess the main reason they don't typically do stuff like that is because it's likely to get noticed by the Yeerks.
Seeing Tobias actually react to being in a woman's body would have been interesting, although to be fair most teenage boys would react in a way not appropriate for the target audience. :P They should definitely have covered how he felt about specifically morphing Taylor though. Can you imagine how you would feel if you looked in the mirror and saw the face of the person who nearly tortured you to death? That would seriously mess with your head.
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This book was a bit of an oddball for me. I tend to really, really like Tobias-narrated books, but this is probably my least favorite of the bunch. Not that it's outright bad, and I really tried to like it the way I liked his other books, but there were quite a few flaws that needed to be ironed out before this one hit the shelves. I feel that Taylor's character had changed a lot more than she really should have in the time between the events of book 33 and this one, and there was a lot of promise when Tobias was shown morphing a Taxxon on the cover, which turned out to be not all that interesting. To get to my main point, though, this book should have been a huge moment for Tobias, since he's finally coming face-to-face with the Controller who had literally kept him in a room for over two hours and nearly killed him, but he really comes out of this book unchanged in the end. Let's take a look at all the previous Tobias books; #3 has him coming to terms with his new role in nature and in the Animorphs' group dynamic, #13 has him regain his morphing power, in #23 he realizes that Elfangor is his father and has a ton of the delicious trauma that I love so much, and of course, #33 is the book where he's tortured for hours on end, has a near-death experience, and is obviously horribly shaken up by all of this. But with this book, he walks away essentially the same as he came in, which for a character that so rarely gets a chance to narrate a book, is really disappointing. Really, that's how I see this book as a whole, as a massive missed opportunity.
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My review of #44 The Unexpected
Blip Version:
http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-44-the-unexpected-7198025 (http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-44-the-unexpected-7198025)
Youtube Version, Part One:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQXnc6t_brQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQXnc6t_brQ)
Part Two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7H4f6cPOMQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7H4f6cPOMQ)
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"Patreon: Give me your money." :waves:
Why are some of these so much worse than I remember. I'm kind of glad you're moving on to the final arc, because at least I've read those books recently enough to remember them clearly. XD
Also, I thought this was relevant: According to my calendar, it's Western Australia Day.
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This book . . . dear God, I never saw any point to it, and you just made it even worse for me :P . Kidding, kidding, this book was always awful and borderline racist and there's no way to possibly make it any worse.
Also, as someone who's been watching your reviews since late 2011 (holy **** has it really been that long), I find it kinda crazy that you're reaching the final story arc. Seems like just a couple months ago you were cracking jokes about the Animorphs' town having only one car wash.
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I have to admit, I'd love to have read a book showing Cassie navigating her way through the Australian outback and acquiring a bunch of badass morphs. Also I'm now really hoping there is a fanfic out there somewhere about what happened to those two marines, lol.
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Australia has a reputation of being the deadliest continent in the world. It's a shame Cassie didn't grab somethign worthwhile.
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While the depiction of Australia as all wild outback offends me a little, it's probably justified by that being the /middle/ of Australia. Not much goes on at the middle, I can confirm from geography class. FYI, the south-east is just as city and filled with normal people as USA or whatever. Most of the girls in my class go bat**** at the mere SUGGESTION that there could be a spider in the room. not very badass hey?
Also, yes steph it was Western Aus day. but the rest of aus got queen'sbirthday!longweekend on the 8th so it all balances out.
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Most of the girls in my class go bat**** at the mere SUGGESTION that there could be a spider in the room. not very badass hey?
I love it when that happens heehee.
Also, I agree with all of that other stuff you said. The people who think there are kangas in our backyard are just idiots.
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My review of #45 The Revelation.
Blip Version
http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-45-the-revelation-7207404 (http://blip.tv/pop-arena/opinionated-animorphs-book-guide-45-the-revelation-7207404)
Youtube, Part One
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzWvMH9TW0k (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzWvMH9TW0k)
Youtube, Part Two
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT6lqHPqJjo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT6lqHPqJjo)
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I have so many feelings. Also everything about this review makes me happy.
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Yayyyyyyyy! A new one's up. These always make my day :)
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Very fun book and a fantastic review as always. I also ship Rachel/Marco :P Sorry Tobias, you're great but Marco and Rachel have much better chemistry in my opinion.
I remember being so excited reading this book! I got #45 onwards (right up to #54) all at once for Christmas one year and spent half the day reading, lol. It's obviously a huge turning point in the series and I'm glad Marco was narrating it. He's always been my favourite character.
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My review of #46 The Deception
Blip is shutting down, so Youtube only from this point forward.
Part One
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRoeBPzCwuU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRoeBPzCwuU)
Part Two
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmTHQF7FwDM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmTHQF7FwDM)
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Wow, that's like the shortest length of time between OABG reviews! Are you gonna push the rest of the final arch that quickly?
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Barring any major real life events, yeah, I intend to have the series done AT LEAST by November, maybe even October.
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You know, considering this is the shortest book in the series, I'm surprised how much padding there is. O.o
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I kinda like this book, despite all the filler. I feel like it could/should have been longer though. Isn't 37 the shortest book?
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37 is a good 11 pages longer than 46.
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It's been a couple years since I've read this book and I don't remember much, but from what I do remember and from what you said in the review, it was boooooring. The character stuff from Ax didn't become important until the very last few books (and even then, it wasn't as good as his stuff in book 52), and there was a ridiculous amount of padding. That long, ridiculously drawn-out passage where Jake is going over the specs of the airplane is proof enough of this.
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Glad to see another review so soon, and nice touch with the Pogs 90s nostalgia. :P
There are a couple of good moments in this book, mostly the beginning scene contacting the Andalites and the end scene with Ax threatening to drop the nuke. Aside from that, I sadly have to agree that the book as a whole isn't well written, and definitely becomes more forgettable because of it. The action scenes could have been great if they weren't so disorientating.
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So I've FINALLY managed to sit down and start listening to these. And I made it through all of them in like a week. They're very entertaining, and endlessly nostalgic. Poparena, I also find your speculative theories and little fanfic-y suggestions, many of which aren't things I've thought about before, to be fascinating. You've got me realizing just how badly I need to do a reread of the series.
Anyway, I guess I'm trying to say you've made a new fan ^_^
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I told you Poparena's videos are awesome :) And yes I also feel like I'm way overdue for a series re-read.
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I should probably continue to watch this. When will you do the Ellimist Chronicles? I love that book, even if your subs don't!
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Happy Birthday Poparena! Best of luck with all your videos/projects in the future.
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My review of the Ellimist Chronicles
Part One
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0q2avVZUrI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0q2avVZUrI)
Part Two
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSDoLxYifxI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSDoLxYifxI)
Part Three
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mfxNWiXFGg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mfxNWiXFGg)
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That rapping in the beginning just killed me. It's official, you're the Phresh Prince of Animorphs. Phresh Prince of SoCal? Screw it, my cleverness is failing me today.
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Might this ever be available as a .mp3?
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With poparena's permission, I could probably throw together some mp3s.
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Sure. Glad people liked it. Wasn't really going for technical excellence though. :P
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Awesome. I'll get on cobbling together some mp3s tonight (provided I don't get distracted by a butterfly or something).
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OHHHHH YES!
I'll finally be able to listen to these at work and laugh awkwardly in the worst possible situations!
(Yep. I have a job. It involves cleaning up bird crap, killing mealy bugs, and trying not to kill fish.)
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Wow, sounds like a lot of fun! [/sarcasm]
Anyway, I'm going to have to apologize, but while ripping the videos, I realized there is no way I can possibly convert the Alternamorphs review into an mp3. Sorry, but there is no ****ing way that I am going to be able to get a completely nonlinear review like that to flow as a single file.
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Warning: unpopular opinion
I actually liked the Ellimist Chronicles.Although I agree that the other Chronicles were better, this one is awesome in its own way.
As Ifi said in its review:
Ifi: Of all the xenofiction I've ever read, this is the most xenoficticious
Source (http://cinnamonbunzuh.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/the-ellimist-chronicles.html)
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I feel like I enjoy recurring jokes entirely too much.
I remember that this was the only Animorphs books I didn't finish when I first got it? I think I got most of the way through it and stopped, and then picked it back up again after the series was over, because I was missing new Animorphs and HEY there was a bit I hadn't read yet!
Also, crappy framing or no, I distinctly remember the fandom losing its **** over the revelation that someone was going to die. That was a thing that happened. Or at the very least Animorphs Weekly Newsletter (which I subscribed to) had a discussion about it that people wrote in to. Most of my friends who were into Animorphs had dropped off somewhere in the 30s, so this was my only exposure to the fandom on an interactive level. :P
I don't really dislike this book. It just falls under "I wish more could have been done with it."
Edit: Oh hey AWN's (http://aninews.tripod.com/awn/past.html) site still exists. Good job, tripod.
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Regarding Part 1 of the review: I've never gone from serious goosebumps to laughing so fast in my life! Nice work with the Fresh Prince parody. Also I really enjoyed your suggestion of how the Ellimist could have told his story, would have been a lot more fun.
I was never a big fan of this book either. Again not like I dislike it, but so much more could have been done with it. Not to mention certain parts were a bit confusing, especially way back when I first read it.
I was never that interested in the idea of a Taxxon Chronicles, we got given a bunch of their background in the Andalite Chronicles. The Chee Chronicles would have been amazing though. You could show their home being invaded, looking for a new home, finding Earth and infusing the Pemalites essence into wolves, and some of the Chee's history on Earth and events they might have influenced. I never even considered an Anati Chronicles, but that would have been interesting too.
Also I'm totally on board with a well done Animorphs/Doctor Who crossover 8)
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Wow, sounds like a lot of fun! [/sarcasm]
Anyway, I'm going to have to apologize, but while ripping the videos, I realized there is no way I can possibly convert the Alternamorphs review into an mp3. Sorry, but there is no ****ing way that I am going to be able to get a completely nonlinear review like that to flow as a single file.
Don't worry about it.
Ellimist Chronicles was okay, but I never found it that interesting. The origin story was cool, but a bit random.
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UPDATE: No pressure, but how much time do you think is left before you [gh] put up the reviews as mp3s?
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I've been working on it. I've converted up to and including book 9 so far, but I probably won't upload anything until I get to TAC (hopefully by the time I go to bed tonight). The main reason it's taking so long is because I've been kind of remastering the crappy audio of the earlier episodes and doing some other minor editing.
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GH has become Poparena's Saffa. ;)
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Prepare to be murdered by him for capitalizing the g and h.
How is he like Saffa?
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Not really. That's how I refer to him in "Memoirs". And my sig.
And he's like Saffa in the way that he's making those mp3 things for this like how Saffa makes PDF files for all the "Memoirs" books.
Anyway, I dunno if I had already said it, but thoroughly enjoyable review, poparena.
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I might have mentioned somewhere before that Cloak and only Cloak has the privilege to capitalize my name. Mainly because I was too lazy to correct him the first time it happened.
Anyway, finished with converting book 10.
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AC is right after 12 in Poparena's reviews, right?
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Yep. Gonna plow through that and post what I have done.
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Here's everything up to The Andalite Chronicles. I had to upload to MediaFire since the size of the ZIP folder everything is stored in is about 20 times what RAF would let me upload as an attachment :P . If there are any problems, let me know and I'll try to sort them out.
Download link, ****es (http://www.mediafire.com/download/v4moz8vrtcdga71/OABG_mp3_Pack_1.zip)
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Eh, I'll probably go back and correct it sometime. Not right now, though.
Also, the *ed out profanity in the text for the download link is probably because you have the swear filter turned on. ;)
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That must be it, it's not censored out for me, lol. Thanks for doing the MP3 files guitarhero, I'll have to download them later.
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No problem :)
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Just finished listening to Intro, 1, 2, and 3. I love it!
"but THERE IS A HORK-BAJIR TWO FEET AWAY FROM YOU!!" <- paraphrased
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Well, I've been meaning to work on some more mp3 files for this, but, if you've been following my personal thread, you'd see why I really haven't been feeling like working on it. I have tomorrow off, though, and I promise that I'll get a few more of these done.
Anyway, I'll probably use the Chronicles books as benchmarks for when I should upload the files. Is that cool with everyone?
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Cool with me!
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Thanks for the MP3s gh, I'll need them when the inevitable fall of the google empire happens
Also, that rap at the beginning of your review was just...[spoiler](http://2.media.collegehumor.cvcdn.com/47/91/ca4603f24f95ba8b48bdad170d062691-just-a-man-laughing-with-his-minions.jpg) [/spoiler]
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My review of #47 The Resistance
Part One:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e64k2OwkvrU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e64k2OwkvrU)
Part Two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31g6Cn2pRdQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31g6Cn2pRdQ)
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Honestly, I found this review a bit more nit-picky than usual. Then again, it's probably hard to get much material out of a book that has to rush its two different plots so much that it doesn't really have any time to breathe. I'm really not sure why Michael Grant felt the need to crowbar his Civil War story into an Animorphs book, since it really was a stretch and a half to make the two fit together. Both stories ended up suffering heavily due to having to be compressed into about half a book each, and either one would have been pretty decent had they taken up the entire book.
Also, next set of mp3s is almost done. Just worked through the David Trilogy, so now all I have to do is convert the Hork-Bajir Chronicles. Probably tomorrow? I dunno.
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Honestly, I found this review a bit more nit-picky than usual. Then again, it's probably hard to get much material out of a book that has to rush its two different plots so much that it doesn't really have any time to breathe. I'm really not sure why Michael Grant felt the need to crowbar his Civil War story into an Animorphs book, since it really was a stretch and a half to make the two fit together. Both stories ended up suffering heavily due to having to be compressed into about half a book each, and either one would have been pretty decent had they taken up the entire book.
Also, next set of mp3s is almost done. Just worked through the David Trilogy, so now all I have to do is convert the Hork-Bajir Chronicles. Probably tomorrow? I dunno.
The Civil War story was odd. I actually skipped it, so I don't even remember it half the time.
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Yeeeaah this book could have been better if more had been done with the premise, but I feel like it still wouldn't have great even then? Not enough time to develop anything.
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Oh my god... hahaha how could someone mess up on that quote/song that FitzHenry and his men sang. :Facepalms:
How could you compare the struggles of an oppressed minority to star trek fans
I have no idea why, but you saying that caused me to laugh really hard :rofl2:
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I always thought it was dumb how they just briefly mention in passing that they can morph clothes now, like it's no big deal. Hell I think I almost missed it the first time I read this book. They can't just throw that in without any explanation or Marco making jokes about how they no longer have to wear spandex.
Honestly it never even occurred to me that the Hork-Bajir were meant to represent the runaway slaves. I always assumed that they meant for the campers to be in their place, since plot-wise that makes the most sense. Jake initially refuses their help just like his ancestor refused the help of the escaped slaves to begin with. It does seem like it's trying too hard to make the stories connect. I'm sure the Civil War diary entries are great if you're into that kind of thing, but for the most part I just found them boring and a waste of time that could have been spent on better things. Like explaining how they can suddenly morph clothes damn it.
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There's a very good reason TVTropes links to that video in the tearjerker section of the Animorphs page. And that's because it's ****ing incredible.
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I don't usually swear, so when I do, it means something
Holy ****.
oooooooooh YeerkSalad popped his bad boy cherry. Next thing we know, he'll talking back to his teachers and holding hands with girls!!!! (Sooooooo scandalous)
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Pshh, no way you can be more hardcore than me, the guy who has never been on a date, never done drugs, and has held a job for almost a year now.
In all actuality, I do identify as a hardcore punk.
Anyway, next batch of mp3s coming maybe tonight. I'll try to finish them after dinner.
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Pack 2 is up. Sorry it took so long to convert these, but real life and laziness got in the way.
Download Link (http://www.mediafire.com/download/8rku4mca4dfxhdv/OABG+mp3+Pack+2.zip)
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OHHH YEAHHH!
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Honestly, I found this review a bit more nit-picky than usual. Then again, it's probably hard to get much material out of a book that has to rush its two different plots so much that it doesn't really have any time to breathe. I'm really not sure why Michael Grant felt the need to crowbar his Civil War story into an Animorphs book, since it really was a stretch and a half to make the two fit together. Both stories ended up suffering heavily due to having to be compressed into about half a book each, and either one would have been pretty decent had they taken up the entire book.
Also, next set of mp3s is almost done. Just worked through the David Trilogy, so now all I have to do is convert the Hork-Bajir Chronicles. Probably tomorrow? I dunno.
The Civil War story was odd. I actually skipped it, so I don't even remember it half the time.
On my first read, I skipped it too. I never really enjoyed reading Civil War stories --fictional or nonfictional. Maybe I bit too finicky with what I read. *indifferent shrug*
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I'm starting to like Marco a lot more as I hear these reviews and reflect on the books I've read. I found him to be a good character, but I didn't find him nearly as interesting as I do now.
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re: YeerkSalad: I have a friend who apparently has never sworn, not even said "stupid" or "shut up". She has been homeschooled since grade 4 and isn't allowed to have social networks, though, so I'm pretty sure it's just an outlier.
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Unbelievable!
I'm saying this as in "wow," not as in "you're lying."
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OHHH YEAHHH!
That OHH YEAHHH was pretty hardcore. I assume you were killing baby whales while you were saying that.
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...possibly.
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My review of #48 The Return
Part One
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpqvrjdVCoQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpqvrjdVCoQ)
Part Two
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5efly9ttDf4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5efly9ttDf4)
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Hmmm. . . . That Death Battle bit. Did you plan on releasing this on the same day that a new Death Battle was released? ;)
Anyway, another excellent and entertaining review, per usual.
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It's weird, I've always really liked this book, but allot of people rag on this book because it's weirdddd. I'm glad that someone agrees with me, I loved all the bizarre dream in a dream in a dream stuff. I actually feel like this kinda fits in the final arc, mostly because it seems like the most trippy experimental stuff (41, 46, 42, TEC, and even 44 to a lesser extent) came in the final arc and last batch of forty.
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I have to admit, I was never a fan of this book. It's a great idea in theory (David returning and Crayak tempting Rachel both needed to happen) but I never liked how it was put into practice. The confusing dream/reality distortion isn't really my kind of thing, much like how I didn't enjoy #41.
Having said that, the final scene is amazing and I quite like that they didn't reveal David's fate. I like to think that Rachel did actually kill David, but as an act of mercy not revenge. He was pleading for his life and she wanted to be the "good guy." As twisted as it sounds, killing him was probably the kindest thing to do at that point.
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I do really love the end. I tend to agree with Mike on what happened, too. Iiii otherwise don't remember what I thought about this book at all.
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I have to admit, I was never a fan of this book. It's a great idea in theory (David returning and Crayak tempting Rachel both needed to happen) but I never liked how it was put into practice. The confusing dream/reality distortion isn't really my kind of thing, much like how I didn't enjoy #41.
Having said that, the final scene is amazing and I quite like that they didn't reveal David's fate. I like to think that Rachel did actually kill David, but as an act of mercy not revenge. He was pleading for his life and she wanted to be the "good guy." As twisted as it sounds, killing him was probably the kindest thing to do at that point.
My thoughts exactly.
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My review of #49 The Diversion
Part One:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI5vt8_P2To (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI5vt8_P2To)
Part Two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwITlLEEVus (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwITlLEEVus)
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I've always really liked this book for a few reasons. First off, it has two of the funniest moments in the whole series; Rachel's mom threatening a bear with a spice rack and Ax the juvenile delinquent. It's also a huge, fist-pump moment for Tobias, and despite the bittersweet-ness of the whole thing with Loren, it's probably the best thing that's happened for Tobias, really. I have to argue that the issues you pointed out didn't really hurt the book at all because they didn't really affect the plot or pacing; they were mostly minor oversights (then again, judging by your 9/10 rating, I'd guess you felt the same way).
Also, the mp3s are coming along sometime. I've been kind of busy/injured lately, and I either haven't had time to convert them or just didn't feel like it. Sorry.
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I don't know why -- but I found that Ax-unable-to-unlearn-Flash joke so hilarious that I had to give you a +1, poparena, just for that alone.
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****, I forgot to mention how much I loved that joke. :P Yeah, this is one of the funniest reviews from you that I can think of. Awesome work :D
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I love this book a lot for a lot of reasons, but one of those is kind of random: it's literally the only time I've ever seen full-blown amnesia described in fiction? Loren didn't just forget who she was, she had to relearn how to function, period. Considering how often that trope shows up, that's not really explored much. At all.
because it's not sexy, let's be real, that's why
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Brilliant and very entertaining review of one of my favourite books in the series. Serious drama and major changes to the status quo, but also the best comedy scene ever with Ax the Delinquent :XD:
I love this book a lot for a lot of reasons, but one of those is kind of random: it's literally the only time I've ever seen full-blown amnesia described in fiction? Loren didn't just forget who she was, she had to relearn how to function, period. Considering how often that trope shows up, that's not really explored much. At all. because it's not sexy, let's be real, that's why
I agree. I don't think I've ever seen amnesia that in-depth described in any fiction before. Sure they forget their name, favourite film and who they're married to, but Loren forgets what teeth are and how to brush them. Can't get much more serious memory loss than that.
As mentioned in the review, I was also very annoyed that Loren never really shows up again or has any role whatsoever after this book. She's a great character, one of the reasons I love Andalite Chronicles and I'm glad she came back, but they should have either found a use for her in the final arc or killed her off. I'm not a fan of loose ends.
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I laughed when you were reading the part when Tobias was eating the burger. Me thinks a little McDonald's fetish came out in that. I also definitely the best/funniest of the final arch books :) (I also really liked 48)
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What happened to your font size?
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I typed that on Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/Animorphs/comments/3onqmf/opinionated_animorphs_book_guide_49_the_diversion/) and I reposted it here :P
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THIS IS SO EPIC ERMAHGERSH (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuugyqzqYdM&list=PLY12G7iTHW7JR4khFRrO92GuZq2nDP8V1&index=19)
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THIS IS SO EPIC ERMAHGERSH (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuugyqzqYdM&list=PLY12G7iTHW7JR4khFRrO92GuZq2nDP8V1&index=19)
Whhhhhhhat does that have to do with anything?
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Oops. Meant to put that in TRT.
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Yes, yes it is epic.
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My review of #50 The Ultimate is now up. Oh my god, guys, I'm so close to done with this!
Part One:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFghlb7bqaE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFghlb7bqaE)
Part Two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da3nKJer9lE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da3nKJer9lE)
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Wow! You're close.
How's it going with the mp3 files, by the way, gh? I assume you're too busy, but just curious...
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Just been too busy with work and music. Honestly, I kinda forgot about them. I'll probably work on them when I get home from work.
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My review of #50 The Ultimate is now up. Oh my god, guys, I'm so close to done with this!
(http://rs895.pbsrc.com/albums/ac159/GIFsforhire/Sad-Crying/meangirls.gif~c200)
When your done with the normal book reviews, will you do like a top 10/bottom 10 video?
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I remember reading this book and being genuinely uncomfortable reading about Jake because of personal reasons. But also liking it despite thinking it needed a trigger warning. <.< Yep. Also I love James a lot and the fact that we see so little of him makes me angry sometimes. XD
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50 was both awesome and horrible. I read 51-54 all on the same day, so they're kind of blurred together; I'm excited to be able to separate them a bit more.
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My review of #51 The Absolute.
Part One:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO4mMewH6x8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO4mMewH6x8)
Part Two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3_t_xDOu88 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3_t_xDOu88)
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So close to the end of the OABG, soooo sad :'( :'(
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This book seems to be a lot worse than I remember it. I don't remember the pacing problems, but it's been a couple years since I've read it, so I'll probably notice once I get around to re-reading it. The governor not having a name has always annoyed me, though. I feel that the book's focus on comedy wouldn't have been so much of a problem if it came a little earlier in the final arc and if other books (notably #48) were more integral to the plot. But being less than 5 books until the finale, it's pretty inexcusable.
Also, it just hit me how close you are to the end. Only 3 more books, damn. I've been a loyal watcher since late 2011 (4 years? Holy ****), and it's gonna be kinda empty without having any new OABG videos after this year. Obviously, I'm gonna stay subscribed and watch all of your stuff, but the Animorphs stuff has sort of been the flagship of the whole Poparena brand, so to speak. Kind of saddens me, especially since I've been able to work with you on the Animorphs Abridged finale, but I'm definitely looking forward to the last few reviews! :D
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This is gotta be one of your funniest reviews in a while
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I seriously need to catch up on these. I'll try not to nag gh too much, but could you get some more mp3 files rolling out? I'm thinking about just watching/listening to the youtube videos.
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Only three more books left? It'll be disappointing when these come to an end. . . . And I mean that in the sincerest way.
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Here's a link to that AniMORphs XREEEEEEEEME Poparena was talking about: http://web.archive.org/web/20011212051134/http://www.scholastic.com/ANIMORPHS/xtreme/index.htm (http://web.archive.org/web/20011212051134/http://www.scholastic.com/ANIMORPHS/xtreme/index.htm)
http://web.archive.org/web/20010804113046/http://www.scholastic.com/ANIMORPHS/xtreme/ask.htm (http://web.archive.org/web/20010804113046/http://www.scholastic.com/ANIMORPHS/xtreme/ask.htm)
http://web.archive.org/web/20010413163703/http://www.scholastic.com/animorphs/bk53.htm (http://web.archive.org/web/20010413163703/http://www.scholastic.com/animorphs/bk53.htm)
I loves me some way back machine
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we all loves it
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My review of #52 The Sacrifice is up!
Part One
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAFfwEkp7ps (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAFfwEkp7ps)
Part Two
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-frwW8LQ0g (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-frwW8LQ0g)
Only two more books to go, guys! Aaaaaah!
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Loved that review. The part where Jake was telling the story so far was goddamn hilarious. I have to say that I don't remember this book quite as well as a lot of the others, but the opening and closing scenes never left me. For some reason, they were just so earthshaking to me, and I really can't tell why. As a side note, I'd just like to say that I'm really pumped to see how the Dealin' Dan Hawke saga ends.
I seriously need to catch up on these. I'll try not to nag gh too much, but could you get some more mp3 files rolling out? I'm thinking about just watching/listening to the youtube videos.
Yeah . . . yeah, I wouldn't count on that anytime soon. Sorry I didn't say anything, but between work, my three billion other projects, and my own laziness, I really don't have the time or ambition to do the MP3s. Sorry.
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I seriously need to catch up on these. I'll try not to nag gh too much, but could you get some more mp3 files rolling out? I'm thinking about just watching/listening to the youtube videos.
You can use this to download youtube vids into mp4s or mp3s :)
http://www.clipconverter.cc/ (http://www.clipconverter.cc/)
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I just realized something: I work at a place with an internet connection. I have a smartphone. *facepalm*
[spoiler=ew]I accidentally wrote "fapalm" at first.[/spoiler]
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How come get the feeling Dealin' Dan Hawke will be the polar bear at the end of series, somehow?
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I think this is actually my favorite Ax book.I like it a lot. <.< Also the review, as usual.
My favorite thing about this book, though, is that the last time I went back to read the beginning they brought up the idea of blowing the Yeerk Pool up, and it's a thing they actually did. idk, I like that, story-wise.
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Finally caught up on the most recent two episodes, great work as always. Nice opening song choices by the way. Thanks to years of Supernatural, I can't help but imagine the intro song for the #54 video as being Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas 8)
I can't recall exactly when I found out about the involvement of the ghost writers, but it was definitely after I finished reading the series, a few years after I think. I won't deny I was disappointed when I found out, but it does explain the vastly different tone in some books and why some characters aren't always consistent with their development *coughCassiecough* It may also partially explain why Rachel is often portrayed as more reckless and aggressive when she's not the one narrating the book.
Looking forward to seeing the last two reviews, even though I don't want this project to end. I really want to watch the Dealin' Dan Hawke videos, but I'm not sure I can afford a regular donation. I'm not very familiar with how Patreon works.
Oh, and that highlight reel of Jake telling the Animorphs story to the National Guard? Funniest thing I watched in ages! :XD:
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I really want to watch the Dealin' Dan Hawke videos, but I'm not sure I can afford a regular donation.
If it makes you feel better, I haven't gotten around to making them yet. Video stuff kind of complicated and weird last year.
(Next Animorphs video up in a few days!)
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Fair enough. I'm going to look into your Patreon anyway and see if I can afford to donate a little. I really enjoy your work :)
Just curious, do you actually work in retail? Because I can definitely relate to the "Because I don't want to work in retail anymore!" joke. I'd love to be able to make money doing something that isn't soul destroying.
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poparena, do you still plan to review fan fiction?
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Y'know, although I originally planned to go through each of these reviews one by one, I think I'll listen to 54 right when comes out.
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I'm watching the review for #53 right now. Because I'm special. :D
...More like despite being a patron for ages, I'm finally actually making use of early access. <.< Whoops. Better late than never.
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Just curious, do you actually work in retail? Because I can definitely relate to the "Because I don't want to work in retail anymore!" joke. I'd love to be able to make money doing something that isn't soul destroying.
I do work in retail, have since the beginning of this project. Hey kids, if you're thinking about going to college, don't. Your degree don't mean a thing.
poparena, do you still plan to review fan fiction?
That's still in the works. I'm aiming for a three-part video on fandom and fan-fiction, maybe for a summer release.
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Well...
never mind, not gon' argue. I have a long time before I'm able to go to college, but right now I'm under the impression that I'll be going for a Bachelor's in some sort of programming-related field.
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Ugh, still wishing I had the money to be a Patron. I meant to start donating back when you announced Patreon . . . I need to get my **** together before you finish OABG. ;)
I do work in retail, have since the beginning of this project. Hey kids, if you're thinking about going to college, don't. Your degree don't mean a thing.
u tel em gerg. i droped out of colage aftur won sumestur and im the smrtst person hear
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gerg is bae
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My review of #53 The Answer is up!
Part One
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlXuDWjqlCU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlXuDWjqlCU)
Part Two
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUPbD2-EiHc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUPbD2-EiHc)
Only one more to go!
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Damn, I still can't believe this is so close to being finished. I know I've been saying that with every review lately, but still. . . .
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OOOOOOOOOH MUH GOD ONE MORE LEFT AAAAAAAH
Greg, you should totally do a top 10/bottom 10 animorphs after your review of 54
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Great work as always, can't believe we're so close to the end!
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Hey guys, could you do me a favor and fill out this survey? Trying to get some rough demographic data for the final video.
http://goo.gl/forms/3SdHqCNdQI (http://goo.gl/forms/3SdHqCNdQI)
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Done. The last question was hard, having to choose between Everworld and Gone. Everworld had more of an impact with me and encouraged my interest in mythology, but I voted Gone because I personally believe it is a better written series.
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I never finished Gone. I didn't like how the characters talked.
(Says the guy who's reading The Knife of Never Letting Go...)
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Poparena, I have a strong feeling you won't like my answer to the "Favorite Megamorphs" question . . .
I never finished Gone. I didn't like how the characters talked.
I wasn't aware of a certain way they 'talked'?
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I just didn't like all the 'dude' and 'bro' stuff.
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I just didn't like all the 'dude' and 'bro' stuff.
Well it is set in California and one of the main characters is a surfer. Isn't that how they all talk? :P
Poparena, I have a strong feeling you won't like my answer to the "Favorite Megamorphs" question . . .
Ha ha, I was thinking the same thing Dino!
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I just did it :) I had to look up what genderqueer meant
Poparena, I have a strong feeling you won't like my answer to the "Favorite Megamorphs" question . . .
Ha ha, I was thinking the same thing Dino!
lol I actually also like MM2, MM4 is my favorite though.
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I just didn't like all the 'dude' and 'bro' stuff.
Well it is set in California and one of the main characters is a surfer. Isn't that how they all talk? :P
We do tend to overuse "dude" quite a bit here. I personally use it as my most common interjection and pronoun, so much so that it's pretty much gender-neutral in my head. I have yet to hear "bro" being used unironically, though.
I liked MM3 the best. Not really sure why, it was just a good one-off episode.
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I think I might be the only New Yorker that says the word "dude" at all. :P
Personally, I like MM4 the best. 3 was good, but I prefer the slightly more lighthearted nature of 4.
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Lighthearted? That was the one where everyone died brutally in a Job-esque scenario, and the character dynamics we'd grown to love had no reason to exist so everyone was driven apart as a natural consequence before aliens attacked and vaporized a ton of innocent people.
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All that is true, but you're forgetting one thing. Ax eats Oreos, and that automatically makes this book comedy gold.
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MM3 had too much action and not enough plot for me. Then again, I s'pose 4 had a lot too...
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You've ALL clearly forgotten the part in MM2 where they MORPH DINOSAURS. That tops everything.
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I'm with Dino on this one. But the question is: did they morph predator dinosaurs or scavengers? ;)
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Rachel and Tobias might have morphed scavengers. I can only assume that is what you were referring to.
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You've ALL clearly forgotten the part in MM2 where they MORPH DINOSAURS. That tops everything.
Yeah. But they only morphed two types of dinosaurs. If I went back in time, I'd be acquiring every thing I see.
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And don't forget, they didn't get to keep the morphs
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Rachel and Tobias might have morphed scavengers. I can only assume that is what you were referring to.
Are you sure the others didn't morph scavengers? :P
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Yeah. But they only morphed two types of dinosaurs. If I went back in time, I'd be acquiring every thing I see.
Oh heck definitely. But, keep in mind, the Animorphs had a pretty good track record of not acquiring every thing they see, which let's face it is really what any sensible person with morphing abilities should do all the time everywhere. :P
And don't forget, they didn't get to keep the morphs
What, and just deus-ex-machina the crap out of the entire rest of the series? I, for one, am glad they didn't do that. :P
Are you sure the others didn't morph scavengers? :P
Oh, wait, you mean when they morphed dolphins? Nah, I'm pretty sure dolphins are predators, but I understand the confusion. Common mistake. ;)
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Well guys, this is it.
My review of #54 The Beginning.
Part One:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9LR4DMwEQM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9LR4DMwEQM)
Part Two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ME5GI8UWus (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ME5GI8UWus)
Part Three:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds6wEUJwPbc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds6wEUJwPbc)
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I'm not caught up, but I have to listen.
UPDATE: NOPE I HAVE TO CATCH UP SORRY BUT I JUST CAN'T YET
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OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH MAI GOD
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Holy ****. What a sendoff to a great series, I gotta say. There's really nothing I can add to your analysis of this book, since you pretty much covered all the bases that I can think of. The character vignettes were a great addition, too. I'll admit, I almost cried a little bit when this ended. No more checking my email to see a new OABG is up. No more waiting to see your insight on this series that I love so much. No more waiting for you to say that Cassie is a moron or tell us that Visser Three is always there. It's a little heartbreaking, but personally, I don't think that you could have ended it any better.
Greg, I'd just like to say, thank you for making the OABG. It may not seem like much, but the book and episode guides inspired me to make my own Animorphs parody series (and for that matter, I know I've said it multiple times, but I seriously cannot thank you enough for guest starring in it), and every time I saw a new episode, if just made my ****ing day. You're seriously the man.
May I now demorph?
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You got me in the feels with this review. I'm listening to part one right now :'(
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Holy Hell, I can't believe this is over.
I can just barely recall watching the intro video in September of 2009, having read about 5-10 Animorphs books and in great need of "enlightenment" as an ignorant 11 year old.
Thank you, poparena, for your contributions to this strange fandom and for increasing our understanding of the universe. I will certainly keep an eye out on your future projects.
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Well, talk about a deafening note of finality. An excellent review, per usual. What I love about this series is the new aspects that you saw that I never seemed to notice or realize during my reads of the series, and, yes, that's quite a bit.
So, what's next for you, Poparena?
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So, what's next for you, Poparena?
He said he was gonna do an Everworld review after this (as seen at the end of the review)
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Did he? I must have forgotten.
I'll be the first to admit that I don't have the best memory in the world.
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Did he? I must have forgotten.
I'll be the first to admit that I don't have the best memory in the world.
It was shown during the credits
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Oh, I never stay for credits. Of any video, not just OABG.
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I'm re-watching. Did he ever end up doing Alternamorphs? I saw the five minute video where he gives the audience an option, but as far as I can tell he didn't...
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I'm re-watching. Did he ever end up doing Alternamorphs? I saw the five minute video where he gives the audience an option, but as far as I can tell he didn't...
That was the joke, I assumed.
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He did. All the links to the other videos are in annotations, which don't work on mobile devices
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Yeah, the Alternamorphs video requires viewing in a browser with annotations on.
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I figured it out. I'm reminded why I don't like game books :p
Edit: Poparena, did you ever do that video about the Animorphs fanfics?
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Everybody keeps asking me about the fanfic video! :P That thing's been downgraded from a "yes, it's going to happen" to a "maybe." I'm thinking about doing an Animorphs every year in June, covering some of the ancillary stuff (the toys, board games, other weirdness), and the fanfic video could probably be part of that.
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For some reason the first part of the Ultimate (and first part of the Beginning, which is bizarre, since I had no issue watching it before) are "blocked" from my device (iphone and iPad). Is there any way I can watch them?
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A computer.
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That would be great, except I don't have one of those.
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Holy ****. What a sendoff to a great series, I gotta say. There's really nothing I can add to your analysis of this book, since you pretty much covered all the bases that I can think of. The character vignettes were a great addition, too. I'll admit, I almost cried a little bit when this ended. No more checking my email to see a new OABG is up. No more waiting to see your insight on this series that I love so much. No more waiting for you to say that Cassie is a moron or tell us that Visser Three is always there. It's a little heartbreaking, but personally, I don't think that you could have ended it any better.
Greg, I'd just like to say, thank you for making the OABG. It may not seem like much, but the book and episode guides inspired me to make my own Animorphs parody series (and for that matter, I know I've said it multiple times, but I seriously cannot thank you enough for guest starring in it), and every time I saw a new episode, if just made my ****ing day. You're seriously the man.
I know I'm late to the party but I'd like to second all of this. Especially the parts in bold. I'm honestly more saddened by the end of this series than I was about the actual series.
So thanks, Greg. For reigniting my love for Animorphs right when I was starting to lose interest.
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So, I joined this forum years ago but don't think I really posted. But, I'm back!
I figured I would post here since a big part of why I'm back is the OABG. To be fair, the This Is Rad episode is what brought it all back for me. But I stumbled upon this series again shortly after starting my re read of the series. It was super convenient that the reviews ended right as I finished my re read.
Oddly enough I actually watched the first 8 or so reviews were ones I watch years ago, but then forgot about since that was all Greg had done at that point. And I kind of moved on.
Anyway, I'll add on my thanks and appreciation to Greg. These were all incredibly entertaining and so refreshing to hear "new" thoughts on a series from my childhood. Although, the whole genicide thing got obnoxious, everything else I was always on the same page with Greg. Absolutely loved it.
I give his series a 10/10.
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Ok so this really funny thing happened.
I was on the tram with a friend, it was pretty empty, and we were talking about something and my friend stuffed up her sentence and said superbook by accident, so naturally I start singing the theme song. Then this 30ish woman starts singing along and my friend is just laughing her head off. When we get to our stop I, walking out the door and the lady gives me a high five so thanks poparena I made a new friend today.
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Did Einstein give you $100?
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??
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It was a joke suggesting that you were lying (https://www.reddit.com/r/thathappened). I do believe you, but I saw the opportunity for crappy humor and took it.
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Well, Animorphs is over, but I'm hardly done with K.A. Applegate.
THE EVERWORLD BOOK GUIDE IS HERE! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB-XS0qkSr8)
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The opening credits look so cool! But wow, 40 minutes long.
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I need to read this series... yeah, cool intro.
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Does anyone know where I can download all of the books?