reviews
I Can’t Believe It Was Admiral Akbar the Whole Time!
A Spoiler Free Review of Star Wars the Force Awakens. It’s not a trap.
When Disney acquired the rights to the Star Wars franchise there were a lot of moans and groans from die hard fans. Memes and gifs popped up all over the internet with Disney’ Princesses and Jar Jar Bink-like characters ruining the seventh film, but then those groaners remembered that Disney produced the first Pirates of the Caribbean. That wasn’t so bad. Then they remembered Disney also owns Marvel, and the first Avengers was pretty great. Maybe Disney could actually pull this off, I mean it couldn’t be worse than I, II, and III. Well, Disney did pull it off, and the first Star Wars in the new trilogy is good, great even. This reviewer is a bit concerned as to where it will go in the second and third installments, but The Force Awaken soars high, shooting across the night sky into a galaxy far, far away.
When I first heard that Star Wars Seven, Eight, and Nine were going to be produced, I was reminded of a story my father told me when I was a young Padawan. He said that the die hard fans of his generation were told Lucas would never produce the last part of the Star Wars saga. He told me the force was still not in balance and that the prophesy was incomplete. He spoke in whispers that Luke would fall to the dark side like his father before him, and that his child would be the one to stop him. Some of my father’s predictions were correct, as in the fact that Lucas is not making the last part of the saga, Disney is—which could mean there will be many more trilogies to come—but as far as his other predictions, those you will have to see for yourself.
As for me, in my post-graduate pessimism, I was not excited for the new films. “How bourgeoisie,” I could hear myself saying over my own ego, but the truth is, as soon as I saw the first trailer I was captured; hook, line, and sinker. The feels abounded, and I knew I had to see the Millennium Falcon fly again. It only got worse as time went by. I caught myself humming at 
the theme in the doctor’s office, at the grocery store, and even writing reviews. I mean, we’re talking about Star Wars. These aren’t films, they’re cultural artifacts, and the culture around these films has only grown, exponentially. You can’t go anywhere without seeing something Star Wars, and every other advertisement on television has been promoting this thing. Any film that breaks the internet is going to do well, and Star Wars did just that. Even walking into the theater I was bombarded with lightsabers, storm troopers, Jedi knights, and wookies. It was an exciting time to be alive.
So, onto the review. J.J. Abrams (that, “don’t get cocky kid” director) saved himself from being christened “Jar Jar Abrams,” and he did it without using lens flares. As soon as the Lucasfilm title appeared, cheers could be heard from adults who sounded like little kids, and before the film ended I heard audible laughs, “whoa”s, and a solemn, “You have to be *&$^ing kidding me.” Anytime a film can force an audience to vocalize, I’m excited. It turns the film into theater, and it makes me feel like we are all sharing in something wonderful, together. I may or may not have been the audible “whoa.” When the infamous title sequence scrolled into infinity I was shaking with excitement. The story takes off much like a New Hope and never stops.
I think The Force Awakens structure is both one of its greatest assets and one of its greatest weaknesses. It feels like A New Hope. This is a wonderful change of pace from Episodes I, II, and III, but it doesn’t give us much in terms of new. For me, this was Disney playing it safe, but safe is better than bad, and the movie is good, so, congratulations; however, there are so many homages to IV, it sometimes felt like we should just be watching IV.
The film starts off on a desert world with seemingly unimportant characters who end up becoming the heroes the galaxy needs, very A New Hope. We meet characters who give sage advice through visions and prophetic words, very A New Hope. There is an insurmountable threat that some x-wing fighters easily fight against, very A New Hope. And there is a whole lot of the dark side winning without a lot of consequence, very A New Hope. What I mean to say is that this is Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey in action. It’s one of the reasons Star Wars is so universally loved. It’s the story of a hero rising and/or falling, and Abrams keeps this tradition alive. He even includes a map and a key; thank you, Tolkien.
Unfortunately, at first glance, the story is saturated with luck. Key characters show up and the precise moment they’re needed, heroes escape impossible situations by mere happenstance, and characters survive the impossible just because they need to. I was upset by these cheap plot devices, these deus ex machina solutions, until I remembered, this is a galaxy run by the force. Let’s just say it really has awoken, and it’s coming back with a vengeance. The light side will be seen again.
What The Force Awakens provides is 2.5 hours of fun, entertainment, and feels. There were moments I was laughing, moments I was cringing, and moments I was nearly crying. Even leaving the theater I was left with an emptiness that followed me well into the night (but this was a good emptiness—a show hole—a need for the next film). I didn’t realize how much I loved Star Wars until I was watching Star Wars.
Do be warned, however, there are a few things about the new movie that weren’t spectacular. The score is forgettable, some of the jokes are bit cliché, and minor characters aren’t very interesting, but these are small annoyances. The old tunes showcased throughout the film made my heart quicken, but the new ones are blasé. The same can be said of the new Sith Lord. Let me specify, not the new Darth Vader-looking character, the new Sith Lord. Adam Driver is amazing, giving the heartfelt performance we all prayed Haden Christenson could have attempted.
John Boyega (Finn) and Daisy Ridley (Rey) are also a breath of fresh air. Rey is believable at every turn, making us believe she is the strong female character we desperately need (right up there with the laser pistol wielding Leia), and Finn is funny by circumstance in a world often overladen with melodrama. Even BB-8, the R2-D2 replacement is hilarious. I thought I would hate him, but that shows what I know; he has become one of my favorite new characters. But if you don’t care about the new characters, don’t worry there are plenty of old and you’re going to get your fill of Han Solo.
Even the film critic in me was pleasantly surprised. Abrams created powerful symbolism and mise en scene, and without giving too much away, when the darkside is rising, the light dies. All in all, this film was a success. Go see Star Wars.
But before you do, let me offer a few things to look for. The name of this film is the Force Awakens, really think about who the force awakens, it’s not who you think it is. Also, watch R2-D2 like a hawk, something’s going to happen that feels like a coincidence; it’s not. Lastly, and this isn’t a spoiler, I promise, listen for Obi-Wan Kenobi and Master Yoda, just listen closely. If you’re scared that The Force Awakens is going to ruin your childhood, put that fear away. This movie is everything we hoped for. While you will leave wanting more, you’ll probably just end up going back to see it again. It’s overwhelming, and if you aren’t looking carefully, you’re going to miss something important. This movie is art, an act of love, and there are enough Easter eggs to keep viewers coming back over and over again. Now, go to the theater, and may the force be with you.
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.
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