8/30/2016

What's In The Box? episode 13: August Dino Drac Funpack

According to the Dinosaur Dracula calendar, we may already in full Halloween Countdown mode but I'm still stuck in summer here, covered in a skin-stinging sunburn. But luckily Dino Drac is helping me get over my summertime blues in the form of the latest Funpack. Unlike most subscription boxes, and even past Funpacks, this one isn't entirely themed per se, but it does try to fuse summer with Halloween (Summoween?)to help get those spooky spirits up.

So does the August Funpack hold up to this promise? See for yourself.


Need a closer view of each of the items? Well, hold onto your horses, killer. I'm getting there.
"Pop Rocks and Kool-Aid" is my new 90s-alt-rock cover band name.
And here we have Blaze...And Lazer...and Blazer...
Every picture I took of the cards came out like garbage.
This is the least garbage one.
I had no energy to take more.
I'm serious about the stickers thing. Leave a comment and tell me what I should do.
I need to set up a play scene with all the tiny toys I  get from Dino Drac.
Panini sticker books were my absolute FAVORITE as a kid.
I look forward to the ugly poster each month.
Like the Funpack? Sign up to start getting it! It's only $25 shipped for a boxful for nostalgia and memories. Plus you'll be helping to keep the Dino Drac website in business so it's a win/win for everyone.

Also, if you dug the video, you can check out some of the past What's In the Box? offerings over on the YouTube channel. And make sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on what I have in store for the future!

I'm on the other social media as well! Head over to Twitter and Instagram and hit that little "Follow" button to be inundated with nonsensical ramblings and odd pictures of Mac Tonight. And if you like the Facebook thing, you can "like" the page there, too!

8/25/2016

What's In The Box? episode 12: Marvel Collector Corps "Spider-Man"

OK, so it does look like I've been slacking on the What's In The Box? videos lately and while that may be true, I have a really good reason for it. Now, it is a fact that I've had a stack of boxes (is 3 a stack?) since Thursday of last week, however, I haven't had time to record any unboxings because this past weekend was devoted to The Sexy Armpit and the filming of the Halloween Special 2016 (look for it in early October!). So with that consuming the entirety of the weekend, I had to eke out a little time to even record anything.Which, surprisingly, I was able to do.

In my kitchen.

So take a gander at the latest Marvel Collector Corps box, which focused 100% on Spider-Man, who just happens to be my all-time favorite super hero! (This is my second "MCC" box featured on What's In The Box. Head here if you want to see "Women of Power".)


Don't worry. I haven't forgotten you non-video watching lurkers. I have pics just for you!



Love this action Spidey.
I like the style of Fabrications but just can't find it in myself to start collecting them.
Not a shirt. That's all that matters.
And there you have it. Quick video, quick post. If you like the Marvel Collector Corps box and want to get it for yourself, head over to their site and sign up. Also, if you liked the video, make sure you subscribe to the YouTube channel so you don't miss out on future unboxings. You can also follow me on Twitter and Instagram for all the latest from Caution: Idiot At Play! (Oh, there's a Facebook, too, if that's your thing.)

8/09/2016

What's In The Box? episode 11: Big Damn Heroes

As I'm sure you recall, I'm all about the Loot Crate Firefly Cargo Crate, one of which I unboxed in my first ever What's In The Box? video. And I'm extraordinarily happy with the second box, themed "Big Damn Heroes" and focusing on the ever-lovely-and-exceptional-badass Zoe. (What I'm not happy with, however, is how long this video took to edit and post, so sorry about that.)

Take a gander at all the cool stuff it included.


And I'm sure you know by now that I'm not gonna leave you without a quick recap of each of the items so here's me sticking to my theme.
The box is worth it for the Mini-Masters alone.
The pin and the sticker. Both awesome.
I love small vinyl toys.
T-shirt. Nothing to add, really.

An easily produced item but cool nonetheless.
I'm not sure why they needed to call it a "Challenge Coin". Like I couldn't tell it wasn't legal currency.
Can't wait to try the recipe for "Wife Soup".
Saved the best for last. +1 to my notebook collection.

Fan of Firefly? Like what you saw here? Then get the Cargo Crate for yourself! Head over to Loot Crate and sign up. It's only $40 every two months and if you sign up with that link, you get $5 off your first crate. Not too shabby, huh?

Thanks again for watching What's In The Box?. Make sure you subscribe to the YouTube channel to get all the latest WitB? videos and follow me on all of the major (and not so major) social media outlets like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Catch ya next time!

8/07/2016

Movie Review: Suicide Squad

Despite the popularity of the MCU, being a fan of comic book and super hero movies can be rough at times; for every Captain America: The Winter Soldier, there's a Fantastic Four or Sin City: A Dame To Kill For. And even the first few films in the DC Cinematic Universe were shaky, with the less that broad accepting of Man of Steel and damn near universal panning of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Which is why I was looking forward to Suicide Squad, the latest offering in the DCCU.

Barely "super" and not necessarily "heroes", the Suicide Squad focuses on a team of bad guys slapped together by a covert government organization in order to provide protection against over-powered threats while offering the most deniability should events turn south. The movie boasts major star power and fan-favorite characters like Harley Quinn (hell, even Batman makes an appearance). But does that mean the movie is any good? (Warning: slight spoilers ahead.)

Whether it's good or not, this poster is goddamn perfect.
Shockingly, one of my favorite parts of Suicide Squad was Will Smith's Deadshot. Since I don't know much about the character (besides what I've seen on Arrow), I really wasn't all that interested in him, but being that they cast Smith in the role I figured he'd be an important part of the film. As the movie progressed Deadshot became the emotional center of the team; grounding Harley and making her see reason, pushing Diablo (Jay Hernandez) to his limits and getting him into the fray. But I loved the way he and Rick Flagg (Joel Kinnaman) played off of each other. They each oozed a distrust of the other but there was a mutual respect just beneath the surface. Two sides of the same coin, almost. I liked how their relationship unfolded throughout the film and really hope to have a Deadshot/Rick Flagg buddy movie at some point in the future.

You can practically hear "I'm too old for this shit".
Viola Davis was wonderful as Amanda Waller. Cold, calculating and unflinching, Davis had a great screen presence and held her own. I really can't say enough good things about her and the gravitas she brought to the role.

She gives no fucks, especially about my opinion.
Jared Leto was a great Joker. Instead of trying to ape the performances of Jack Nicholson or Heath Ledger, he clearly went in his own direction, taking the vision that David Ayers had for the character and putting his own spin on it. However, I can understand it fans of other versions of the character may not like this one. Instead of the over-the-top criminal mastermind that the Joker is portrayed as in the comics, Leto's Joker is more like a twisted mob boss. A godfather of sorts. But there were times that he didn't feel like the Joker but more like a silver-teethed Scarface. They did manage to work in a few Joker-esque flourishes, though, like dressing his henchmen up in weird costumes (and kudos for the cheap Batman mask on that one dude) and the baby clothes laid out on the floor with the collection of knives was creepy as hell.
Double kudos to the homage to this Alex Ross painting.
The worst part about Joker was that he seemed to be shoehorned in. His story wasn't tied to the Squad's; he was the subplot happening congruently to the main story. His plot made a ton of sense, though, given his connection to Harley Quinn. However, most of his scenes slowed the movie down. It became jarring, especially when you wanted to see what happens to the Squad next. That said, I cannot wait to see Leto's Joker in his next outing. Fingers crossed for a Joker/Harley film.

I would have loved a "Mad Love" movie but that's not likely.
It wasn't just the Joker that slowed the movie down. Most of the character's stories are told in flashbacks, especially in the beginning when Amanda Waller introduced the team. After the action kicked in, however, they held to this trope and the pacing suffered because of it. When Katana (Karen Fukuhara) was introduced, we saw a quick scene of her past, giving us a glimpse at her fighting skill. Even later, Flagg took a moment to expound on Katana and what she can do, which seemed like a more logical place to put her flashback. Also, Harley stopped in the middle of the movie to think back on a pivotal moment for her and the Joker, however, this scene didn't add any emotional weight to their relationship or further reveal her character; it was just there.

Good actress. Good character. Majorly underutilized.
And yes, we are going to talk about Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn. It was fantastic. She managed to balance the crazy with the heart, giving Harley the depth that the character needs. The film expands on her origin a bit; she's still Harleen Quinzel, a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum who falls in love with the Joker, but they push it slightly. Again, it was a logical choice that helps to cement the change for the audience so it shouldn't be too hard to swallow by hardcore fans. But going back to Robbie's portrayal, she seems to channel Arleen Sorkin in the way she handles the character. Robbie gives Harley a harsh accent, something akin to the stereotypical New Jersey accent, which makes sense considering Suicide Squad confirms that Gotham is in NJ (represent, son!).She gets the crazy down pat, oozing psychosis from her eyes, but she can also be compassionate. Harley Quinn was one of the biggest, fan-favorite characters in the movie and it's good to see that at least Margot Robbie legitimized that favoritism.


Audiences were concerned about Suicide Squad with the news it had gone back to reshoots a few months before its release. Word was the studios wanted to enhance the levity after critics panned Batman vs Superman for its bleakness. That was probably a wise decision and one that paid off. The movie had quite a few funny bits, quick one-liners that drew some chuckles. But these reshoots are probably the reason the film stumbled in pats. There was a sense on incongruity between scenes and even though it was fairly easy to get back on track, the film suffered slightly for it.

Given the cast of this size, though, not everyone is going to be given much screen time, notably Killer Croc and Captain Boomerang. Croc made a good fit for the team; a part of Batman's Rogue's Gallery, he is one of the highest profile characters in the film. Even the casting of Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (of Oz and Lost fame) only further legitimized it. But while he did play an important part to the plot, his role on-screen was limited to heavily-synthesized one-liners in a bad Louisiana accent. That said, I would love to see him return in a future Batman movie where he can really stretch his muscles, both literally and figuratively.

He looked cool, too.
And Captain Boomerang... I'm a fan of Jai Courtney despite most people's opinions of him. And he did a great job with the part. But unfortunately Courtney wasn't given much to work with. Boomerang seemed to be the loose cannon on a team of loose cannons so he didn't really stick out all that well. He played well within the confines of the team and helped to move the plot along, but the character could have been removed without much detriment to the main story. Most likely Suicide Squad was only used as a vehicle to introduce the character to modern audiences so he can pop up in a future film (a theory supported by the character's flashback).


Finally, the main villain. Unsurprisingly, the "villain" of the story turns out to be a character that's linked to the Squad. (PS, here's where the spoilers come up.) The Enchantress, an millennia-old mystical being played by Cara Delevingne, turns on humanity for no longer worshiping her and summons her brother to help destroy them. It's a logical twist given the history of the character and it offers a true threat for a team that's composed of a guy who can't miss whatever he's shooting at, a human crocodile and a dude that can make and control fire. The only problem with the antagonist is that there's very little depth. They manage to create an emotional attachment through Rick Flagg and his love for June Moone and that's all well and good. But at the end of it, the climax was just another ho-hum action sequence filled with slow motion and CGI. It was a little bit of a let down even though it managed to stay true to the plot.

But Cara Delevingne did great with the part.
In fact, the most disappointing part of the movie wasn't even the movie itself. It was the lack of free giveaway posters at the AMC Theater I went to. As you probably know. AMC was giving away posters to people who bought a ticket to the IMAX 3D showings. I went to a 10:30 AM show on Saturday morning, basically right in the middle of the opening weekend, and they had no posters left. Usually they keep those freebie giveaways under lock and key; they had stacks of the tattoos for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles well into the following week and I still had to ask to get them. But by Saturday, they were all out of the Suicide Squad posters. Which leads me to believe that either the movie did that good in the one location (which is not very likely) or that the employees just left the posters on the counter and patrons took stacks of them to flip on eBay (more likely). Either way, I'm both disappointed and annoyed that I could get a Harley Quinn poster.

I'm still annoyed the next day.
Was Suicide Squad a perfect movie? Nope. But was it a great movie? Hell, I'm gonna say "nope" here, too. But it was a fun movie full of vibrant characters, tight action sequence and spot-on humor. The characterization alone makes the film worthwhile and not to mention to doors it will open up to future installments. I don't think it deserved the overly harsh criticism it's been getting, nor do I think that a petition to shut down Rotten Tomatoes was necessary. The movie stands by its own merits and is probably the best movie in the DC Cinematic Universe so far.

8/03/2016

What's In The Box? Episode The Big "One Oh": The Bam Box - Galactic

Holy crapbot, have I really done ten episodes of What's In The Box? That blows my mind since I never seem to stick with anything long enough to become accomplished (as evidenced by the huge gaps of time that this blog goes without updates). So having done ten episodes in two months is just astounding.

Anyhoo, today's entry is our second Bam Box being featured on WItB (all courtesy of The Nerdy Pumpkin's subscription). The theme for July was "Galactic" and featured a bunch of keen outer space-themed goodies like... Well, how about you watch the video and take a look for yourself?


Oh, are you one of those "I don't watch videos, just give me the pictures" type? Ugh, fine. Here they are...

Part of me is content with Rocket while part of me wishes I got Groot.
Not entirely sure what I'll do with these... (They're nicely made, though.)
An odd addition, I will say. But at least it's not another fucking t-shirt.

Alien: Resurrection is still not as bad as AvP: Requiem.
I honestly thought this was a bookend and they forgot the second one.

Check out more of Logan Pack's art on his Instagram. (He's damn good.)
Don't forget that signing up for The Bam Box gives you access to their trading community, which allows you to trade any item that's not to your liking with other subscribers, saving you the hassle of trying to eBay anything or the waste of throwing it out.

And now I need your help. Being on episode 10 makes me realize that this channel could go stale real quick if I don't switch it up so I'm looking for suggestions for new subscription boxes to try. If you know of any that you think I might like, let me know. You can comment below or hit me up on various social media outlets like Twitter, Instagram, or even god awful Facebook. If you have an affiliate link, feel free to drop that, too. I won't guarantee that I'll sign up for every box recommended to me or that yours will be the affiliate link that I use, but if I can help one of my readers make a little bit of money, I'll be happy to do so.

Thanks again for watching and keep it close for more What's In The Box?!
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