reviews
A Guide Through the Stream: Part One, Rockumentaries
It’s time to kick out the jams…but not too loud, these Rock Stars are getting old.
In this review things are going to be done a little differently. Instead of doing one review today, there will be three. This part of a new series I’ll be writing where I review a handful of movies or tv shows from a certain genre that are available on Netflix. A “what to watch” guide on somewhat new releases. Sorry to all those who subscribe to Hulu or Amazon Prime the titles I’m going to review and focus on are Netflix exclusives. However, there will be some material that is not and I’ll be sure to mention that.
So for this first installment I would like to christen this series maiden voyage with one of my favorite film genres, Rockumentaries. I’ve been hooked on the HBO show Vinyl (which you’ll probably be seeing an article on later) and I’ve wanted nothing more than to dive into the world of classic rock n’ roll. Turns out, within the last couple of months Netflix has released several documentaries following musicians. As the music lover I am, I had to watch all of them.
Keith Richards: Under the influence
I was excited for this, if you’re in a mood for classic rock what’s better than a documentary following the iconic guitarist of the Rolling Stones? If you want to hear crazy, drug-induced stories of the Stones glory days, don’t watch this. If you want to hear the story behind Keith Richards new album, don’t watch this. If you want to hear about the behind the scenes story of the man that inspired Captain Jack Sparrow (true fact), DON’T WATCH THIS!
To me, a good documentary is supposed to tell the viewer something. Whether that’s a call to action or story about a person that hasn’t been told before. The only thing I could gather from this film is that it’s trying to convince the viewer that Keith Richards is not a rock guitarist from England but is actually a black, blues guitarist. I’ll make sure to keep this documentary in mind when the argument of Keith Richards race comes up.
This rockumentary focuses almost entirely on Keith’s influences, like Muddy Waters. They talk about how the Rolling Stones played with Howlin’ Wolf, all the time Keith spent in Jamaica, and there’s a bit where he meets up with Robert Johnson and they play a game of pool. This is movie made for musicians and Rolling Stones über-fans and it’s sub-par at best. The reason I say it’s aimed towards musicians is because it does show Richards creative process in the studio which is cool and it’s why I’m not completely trashing this. It also is nice to see where a musicians influence comes from, I just didn’t need an hour and half movie about it. If you want the crazy stories you’d expect from a Keith Richards documentary you’ll just have to settle with his autobiography.
The Other One: The Long Strange Trip of Bob Weir
This film follows the life of guitarist and co-founder of the iconic psychedelic band The Grateful Dead. If you’ve never listened, or only modestly listened to the Grateful Dead and are interested in what was going behind the scenes this is a good choice. It has a smooth progression through all of Mr. Weir’s career while still talking about his childhood and personal life. It’s pretty cookie cutter as far a documentaries go.
The one thing that bothered me as soon as I finished watching this was the title. The Other One, the premise behind this film is to talk about a critical member of the Grateful Dead who was completely overshadowed by the great Jerry Garcia. The problem is this film spends a pretty decent amount of time talking about Jerry Garcia. It seems as though the filmmakers would have had easier job focusing on the Grateful Dead as a whole band instead of just one member.
The film seems to glaze lightly over everything that has happened in his life and avoids delving too deep into any one facet which could be more interesting for the viewer (kind of like this article). It’s quantity over quality (again, like this article). I wanted to hear more about Bob hanging out with Neal Cassady, one of the biggest leaders in the psychedelic movement. I wanted to hear more behind the scenes stories about the Dead. The film missed out on those so they could talk about Bob Weirs personal life, his marriage, and his family life, which are all somewhat boring. I understand that those last points are there build a better picture of the man the film is focused on. Well this picture is a still-life of a bowl of fruit with a clown car on fire in the background; I get that you want me to see the bowl of fruit but I’d rather focus on the burning car.
What Happened? Miss Simone
This rockumentary follows jazz singer and pianist Nina Simone (jazzumentary?). I knew absolutely nothing about her when I started this film and I was shocked at what I saw. Shocked, might not be the right word, I was ashamed with myself for not knowing about this woman sooner. She was on the road to being the first black woman classical pianist and regretfully gave it up to become a jazz musician. She was a strong fighter in the civil rights movement who demonstrated along side such figures as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Langston Hughes. She also suffered from severe mood swings and an abusive relationship with her manager/husband Clifton Henderson. This was such an amazing story to tell, that spent just enough time on each subject without the viewer feeling rushed. This film includes rare or never before heard footage that has been archived throughout her life. I feel like knowing as little as I did about her I wasn’t able to fully enjoy and appreciate this documentary as much as a fan would.
The only critic I have is that the storytelling itself seemed somewhat slow at times. To me the intensity of her story might have been better conveyed with the help of narrator instead of just relying on interviews from Nina Simone.
If you are a fan of music you’ll enjoy this. If you could give a damn about music still watch this. This film is not so much about the music as is it the story of a tortured soul struggling with fame and life while still trying to make a difference. This also would be something good to watch by the end of this month before the biopic film Nina starring Zoe Saldana (which looks amazing) comes out.
AuKing Mini Projector Key Details
The Auking is a 1080p Mini Projector with built-in speakers that is compatible with Smartphones and laptops.* (Notice the asterisk) The ports are HDMI, USB, VGA, AV, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It’s $99.99, but you can usually catch it on sale for cheaper.
This projector is pretty popular online. There are tons of glowing reviews for it on Amazon, but I’m assuming if you’re reading this, you care about what I think. And what I think is that this projector is kinda bad.
Also, keep in mind I believe that this projector is being sold on amazon with different branding and shells, but essentially, they’re all the same projector.
These are just some I’ve found.
ALVAR 8000 Lumens Mini Portable Projector
TMY Projector 7500
Projector with WiFi, 2022 Upgrade 8500L
Mini Projector, Aokang 7500 Lumens HD Portable Projector
These all pretty much the same projector with different housing and branding
It is most certainly not for everyone, and it’s not for everyone who loves projectors. The projector has some issues with only a few positives.
Android smartphones are compatible, but only certain Androids, which they don’t tell you before purchasing.
List of Phones compatible with the projector
I’m guessing it’s “compatible” with all iPhones, but oddly enough, they don’t mention it. But I think it’s a safe bet to say that it is. Because saying the Aukling is compatible with smart devices and mac books is technically true, and it’s somewhat misleading.
It has no built-in features to make it compatible with other devices, just an HDMI input. This, combined with poor image and audio quality, means you’d be better off saving your money and buying something a little more expensive.
AuKing Mini Projector Full Break Down
The Auking has an HDMI port, which means it’s compatible with any device that can output through HDMI. But unfortunately, it doesn’t have any ports or software that would intrinsically allow smartphones to project video.
To get your iPhone or Android phone to connect to the projector, you have to do it through HDMI. So, you’ll need a USB-C to HDMI adapter for android and Mac Book or a lightning port to HDMI if you’re using an iPhone. The instructions also recommend a wireless dongle so you can connect your laptop or smart device via BlueTooth (more on that later)
Now here’s the thing, the projector only comes with a regular HDMI cord, so you would have to buy the other cords separately. They don’t mention that before you buy it, so it feels very misleading. Regarding the wireless adapter they recommend, you must connect to it via Bluetooth. Unfortunately, most streaming services have copyright features that won’t allow you to stream content via BlueTooth.
You could connect a chrome cast, Apple TV, or a Roku and mirror or cast your phone to that, but if you don’t have those devices on hand, you’re out of luck.
This means the easiest way to use this device would be with your windows laptop unless you have one of the cords they recommend.
But how does it perform once you get it set up and running? It’s ok.
We have to set our expectations for this price range. The project shows saturated color palettes well but struggles with darker colors.
Darker scenes come out looking grainy and blurry.
While brighter colors look ok.
But all things considered, the video quality will be worse than whatever you have connected to the HDMI. To its credit, however, the projector is bright enough to watch it outside with minimal light pollution.
The audio can be pretty loud, but loud doesn’t necessarily mean good. It does sound like it comes from out of a tin can, but it’s clear enough to hear what’s going on in a movie, so you don’t have to only rely on headphones.
Despite its small size, the Auking’s fans can be pretty loud when it’s on. (Imagine starting up your first-gen PS4 and trying to play Cyberpunk).
This projector isn’t for everyone. I wouldn’t recommend it to most people. However, if you’re a person who wants a bigger screen, you can buy a cheap 22′ monitor and connect you your phone or laptop to it, and the image quality would be better.
Verdict
In most cases, I suggest you save money and get something more expensive, like the ANKER Nebula capsule.
If you find yourself in a situation where you need a projector immediately, this will be ok. For instance, a backyard BBQ where it’s more about the people you’re around than what you’re watching or a party where you want to keep the kids distracted while the adults use the TV (shame on you).
Other than that, it’s worth saving your money.
FAQ
How do I connect my phone to my mini AuKing projector?
Through USB-C to HDMI cord or lighting to HDMI cord
Does AuKing projector support Bluetooth?
Rest in peace, watermelon.
The latest episodes in ‘Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid’ were very interesting to watch.
One was definitely a fanservice episode, and heck, even the producers know that! Episode 7’s title contains the phrase ‘The Fanservice Episode, Obviously’, so that cracked me up.
Episode 7 focuses on the elements of anime that will appeal to any nerd out there. By that, of course I mean bathing suits and comic conventions! Cue the beach episode!
Tohru and company decide to go swimming for the day. Kanna’s adorable as always, while Lucoa doesn’t realize just how sexual she is toward a small boy.
Like, really? You think wearing a very sexy swimsuit in front of a lot of kids on a beach is okay? And why do you insist on torturing Shouta with your breasts? It’s obvious that he’s tempted, but stop trying to seduce small children.
Of course, they’re dragons, so hilarious antics ensue. Tohru and Kanna get carried away in a swimming race, making water splash up everywhere. Also, a crab and watermelon are murdered. RIP.
However, one aspect that I thought was a nice touch was the backstory we got for Tohru. It wasn’t much, but Tohru and Kobayashi have a deep and meaningful conversation about their family’s lives, as well as how humans and dragons are different from one another. Fanservice episodes usually focus on that alone, but fortunately that’s not the case here.
The second half of Episode 7 focuses on Comiket. Tohru and Kobayashi help Takiya run a booth, and we learn that Fafnir is also participating by attempting to sell powerful curses. Wow, didn’t see thaaaaat coming at all.
Tohru notices otherworldly creatures in their true forms at Comiket, as they reveal that this is a great way to show their true forms. With Kobayashi’s permission, Tohru exposes her wings and tail, appearing to others as if she’s cosplaying as, well, a dragon maid.
Episode 7 was very nice because there were many heartfelt and adorable moments.
Meanwhile, Episode 8 FINALLY introduced the dragon that I keep on mentioning in my reviews. Her name’s Elma, a dragon who is a rival of Tohru’s. Elma accuses Tohru of disrupting the human’s ways and tries to force her to return to the dragon world. This doesn’t succeed, however, as Tohru sends her to an open field and leaves her there.
Unable to get back home, Elma stays in the human world and begins working at Kobayashi’s company. Kobayashi teaches Elma how to use computers and technology so that she can keep her job. Of course, this prompts Tohru to become jealous, smelling the scent of another dragon off Kobayashi like a dog does with a human. I won’t reveal how the episode ends, but it ends in a positive manner for Tohru.
Overall, I really loved these two episodes because they made me feel warm and fuzzy. They appealed to the emotional senses through a heartfelt conversation between Kobayashi and Tohru. Elma is also an innocent sweetheart who only wants to bring harmony to the human and dragon worlds. And I can’t wait to see more of her in the upcoming episodes.
I feel like in these two episodes alone, we learned so much about Tohru and her feelings for Kobayashi. She really wants to understand the human world and will do anything to stay with Kobayashi.
I’ll up my rating to a 4.7. These episodes were both fun, and we finally got the new dragon! Bless.
Notice: Undefined variable: user_ID in /hermes/bosnacweb04/bosnacweb04au/b1979/dom.bigorangedesign/wp_site_1589834241/wp-content/themes/zox-news/comments.php on line 49
You must be logged in to post a comment Login