Sunday, December 4, 2022

Pokemon Around the World: Paldea Edition Part 1

Hi, everybody! With every new generation of Pokemon comes another batch to distribute to the real world. Like Galar three years ago, we’ll start with the Starter Pokemon.

First up are the Grass-Type felines Sprigatito, Floragato, and Meowscarada. Sprigatito and Floragato are pure Grass, while Meowscarada is Grass/Dark like Cacturne. I distributed these cool cats (no joke intended) to Eurpe and Asia, which is where their real-world counterparts, lynx cats, live.

Next up are the Fire-Type reptiles Fuecoco, Crocalor, and Skeledirge. Fuecoco and Crocalor are pure Fire, while Skeledirge is Fire/Ghost like Chandelure. I distributed Fuecoco and its evolutions to Brazil, where they stalk the jungle floor looking for prey such as Munna.

Rounding up the trio are the Water-Type ducks Quaxly, Quaxwell, and Quaquaval. Quaxly and Quaxwell are pure Water, while Quaquaval is Water/Fighting like Poliwrath. I distributed the Quaxly line to India, as I feel these Pokemon are actually closer to peacocks than waterfowl.

Next up are the Normal-Type pigs Lechonk and Oinkologne. Lechonk looks amazing, but Oinkologne just looks a little bland. You could’ve given them tusks like Emboar or Piloswine, but here, it looks more like a Fakemon (fan-made Pokemon). Anyway, much like Spoink and Grumpig, I made these Pokemon domesticated, where they live on farms.

Next up are the Bug-Type arachnids Tarountula and Spidops. While they don’t have venom like Ariados or the ability to control water like Araquanid, these Pokemon can make strong webs. Like real spiders, I distributed Tarountula and Spidops all over the world.

Next up is Nymble and Lokix. Nymble is pure Bug, while Lokix has the exciting new Type combo Bug/Dark. I distributed these Pokemon to Africa, where they’re a major pest for farmers.

Here are the Electric-Type rodents Pawmi, Pawmo, and Pawmot. Pawmi is pure Electric, while Pawmo and Pawmot are Electric/Fighting, making it a real threat for Pokemon like Sharpedo, Omastar, and Bibarel. I distributed the Pawmi line to the Pyrenees mountains, which stretch across the borders of France and Spain.

These guys are Smoliv, Dolliv, and Arboliva, all of whom are Normal/Grass like Deerling and Sawsbuck. The olive on Smoliv’s head is bitter, so it’s better to find your own food that isn’t part of a Pokemon. Anyway, I distributed the Smoliv line to Persia, Turkey, Egypt, and Greece.

Wooper returns for Paldea, but is now Poison/Ground instead of Water/Ground. Instead of evolving into a Regional variant of Quagsire, Paldean Wooper evolves into a new Pokemon called Clodsire, which many fans think look like Wooper’s early design.

Anyway, I distributed Paldean Wooper and Clodsire to the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco.

Next up are the Normal-Type mice Taundemaus and Maushold. What makes these new rodents special is their new move Population Bomb, in which the user attacks up to ten times per turn. Much like regular mice, I distributed Tandemaus and Maushold to every country in the world.

These are Fidough and Dachsbun, the first of a trio of two-stage canines. These Pokemon look like something you’d find in the kitchen, and they’re helpful with farmers and chefs alike. Fidough (the yellow one) and Dachsbun (the red one) are domesticated, though they originally came from France.

After 16 years, there’s finally another parrot Pokemon with Squawkabilly. Much like Flabebe, these feathered friends come in a variety of colors. Anyway, I distributed Squawkabilly to Australia, as I believe these Pokemon are closest to the budgerigar, a relative of the parakeet.

Next up are Nacli, Naclstack, and Garganacl, all of whom are pure Rock like Sudowoodo and Lycanroc. Nacli looks like a Mario power-up, while Naclstack and Garganacl look like they came out of Minecraft. Anyway, I distributed these guys to salt mines all over the world.

Mankey and Primeape return for Paldea, and after leveling up while knowing Rage Fist, Primeape evolves into Annihilape. This hairy primate is Fighting/Ghost like Marshadow, and is able to shatter opponents to their cores. Anyway, I distributed Annihilape to Africa alongside Mankey and Primeape.

Next up are the Fire-Type soldiers Charcadet, Armarouge, and Ceruledge. Charcadet evolves into either Armarouge or Ceruledge, depending on the type of armor it's given. I made these Pokemon domesticated, but they originally came from Europe.

Next up are the Electric-Type amphibians Tadbulb and Bellibolt. Apparently, Bellibolt’s eyeballs are actually organs for discharging its electricity. I distributed this and Tadbulb to South American rainforests and swamps.

Next up are the Electric-Type waterbirds Wattrel and Kilowattrel. Both these Pokemon are Electric/Flying like Emolga, and they live near beaches in Paldea. I distributed these Pokemon to Brazil, as Kilowattrel is based on the frigatebird, which attracts mates by inflating its chest.

You call this a Pokemon? I’ve seen Fakemon with better designs than this! Anyway, this is Dudunsparce, the evolved form of Dunsparce. This Pokemon digs into the ground to make its nest, which can be as far as six miles below the Earth’s surface. Because of how ridiculous Dudunsparce is, I decided to ban it.

Girafarig returns for the first time in over a decade, and this time, it has a new evolution named Farigiraf. Just like Girafarig, Farigiraf is Normal/Psychic, and is also insanely smart. Just like Girafarig, this Pokemon lives in Africa.

Next up are the Dark-Type canines Maschiff and Mabostiff. Even though they may look scary, these Pokemon are actually really friendly. Maschiff and Mabosstiff are domesticated, but they originally came from Russia.

The mushroom-like Pokemon is Shroodle, while the monkey-like Pokemon is Grafaiai. Both of them are Poison/Normal and have a passion for painting. I distributed Shroodle and Grafaiai to Madagascar, where lemurs and shrews can be found.

Tauros returns for Paldea, but is now either pure Fighting, Fighting/Fire, or Fighting/Water, depending on its breed. Like regular Tauros, Paldean Tauros is domesticated, though it originally came from Spain.

Next up are Bramblin and Brambleghast, Ghost/Grass-Type tumbleweeds that inhabit Paldea’s deserts. Bramblin has a unique method of evolving: Leave it outside its Poke Ball, and let it roll with you for at least a thousand steps. I distributed both these Pokemon to North and South American deserts.

As well as Tentacool and Tentacruel returning, there are also two Grass/Ground-Type lookalikes: Toedscool and Toedscruel. While they look like cnidarians, these Pokemon are actually fungi like Shiinotic and Amoonguss. I distributed Toedscool and Toedscruel to East Asia, where their real-life counterparts, the tree jellyfish, live.

Next is Klawf, a Rock-Type crustacean that inhabits deserts. Klawf is one of seven Titan Pokemon, larger (except for one) Pokemon that guard special herbs. I decided to distribute these massive decapods to deserts in North and South America.

Next up is Capsakid and Scovillain, which are based on peppers. Capsakid is pure Grass, while Scovillain is the exciting new Type combo Grass/Fire. I decided to distribute these Pokemon to Mexico, where they grow peppers.

To be continued in Part 2.

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Movie Review: Strange World

Movie Review: Strange World                                                                                                  11-23-22

Strange World tells the story of a farmer named Searcher Clade, whose dad was a famous explorer. Searcher, along with his wife Miridian and their son Ethan, grow and sell a powerful plant called Pando, which can be converted into a convenient power source. One day, they’re recruited by Callisto, who tells them that the Pando is in danger. The family goes on an adventure deep underground, inhabited by creatures that look like something from right underneath a microscope. Here, they meet Searcher’s dad Jaeger, who focuses more on exploring far-off places. When Ethan meets his grandad, Searcher’s afraid that he might want to grow up to be more like Jaeger.

Much like this year’s Lightyear, Strange World obviously doesn’t have the most engaging story, but it has amazing world building, a good score from Henry Jackman, and a surprisingly affective sidekick with Splat.
Searcher examining Splat.
There’s also a surprising about of representation that Disney decades earlier would consider taboo, such as an interracial couple, a main character who’s openly gay, a father who basically abandons his son, and a character with a missing appendage who isn’t a villain. In this case, the Clade’s family dog Legend has a missing front leg.
If I were to complain about one thing, I feel that Searcher could’ve been a bit more likable. To put it simply, he spends a good portion of the movie fighting with Jaeger, similar to how Kenai in Brother Bear doesn’t really loosen up until the film’s third act.
"You gave me a Mercedes for my birthday?"
In conclusion, it’s obviously not the best film WDAS has to offer, but if you’re looking for family fun outside your own home, Strange World will be quite a ride. It’s also much better than Disney’s last attempt at an animated sci-fi film, Chicken Little.
Rating: 3.4 stars out of 5

Sunday, November 20, 2022

Movie Review: Disenchanted

Movie Review: Disenchanted                                                                              11-20-22

In the sequel to the beloved fairytale spoof Enchanted, Giselle and Robert move to Monroeville with now teenage stepdaughter Morgan and baby daughter Sofia. Feeling that Morgan isn’t happy with her new life, Giselle uses a wishing wand given from King Edward and Queen Nancy to wish for a fairytale life. However, you know the old saying: Be careful what you wish for. Now it’s up to Morgan to reverse the wish before Giselle turns into an evil stepmother.
First, I must start with this: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH GISELLE?! Yes, in the original film, Giselle was a fish out of water who tried to find the positive side to everything, but she also learned how to adapt to the real world. Heck, she managed to defeat her bad guy! In Disenchanted, however, Giselle is changed back to a ditzy girl who does more harm than help.
Giselle about to use the magic wand.
And remember Morgan, Robert’s adorable daughter from the first film who immediately loves Giselle as if she was her own mother? Well, forget all that, as she’s now the cynical teen who wants to move back to New York. I’m aware that teenagers can be moody, but did you have to turn her into a 🐩 in the same fashion as Alex Russo from Wizards of Waverley Place? I know this may seem a bit unfair to compare the two, but look at Paddington 2! That film managed to have Judy and Jonathan aged up without having them turned into jerks.
The jokes in Disenchanted also aren’t as funny as they were in the first film. Remember how well the first Enchanted did with poking fun at fairytales while also embracing the genre? Well, that’s tossed aside for humor you’d expect from Animaniacs and Shrek.
If there is one thing I liked about Disenchanted, the costume designs are amazing, both for Monroeville and Monrolasia. Other than that, it feels like it’s trying to recapture lightning in a bottle only to get struck by it.
In conclusion, stick with the original Enchanted, as well as another Disney+ exclusive film from this year, Chip n Dale: Rescue Rangers. If you want to know what I thought of that film, I’ll review it in January.
Rating: 2.6 stars out of 5.