ramblesandmumblesofanerd

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Rambling Reviews: Bumblebee [Spoiler-ish]

So, Bumblebee. The last time I talked about any Transformers movie was when I reviewed The Last Knight. To make a long story short, that film absolutely sucked. This had been a trend in the recent Transformers live action film, each new film seemed to be worst than the last in spite of any choices meant to spice up the film franchise. They felt too big, too rushed, too stupid, too...well, just too much. So, when a prequel for Bumblebee, a character whose presence has overshadowed Optimus Prime, was announced, you couldn’t blame me when I groaned. Then I noticed something: Michael Bay was not directing this film. Then the trailers came out and the characters had new forms reminiscent of the classic cartoon series. My interest was piqued, and would continue to be stimulated by everyone praising the film upon its release. So, is a prequel about a voiceless Autobot who turns into a Volkswagen Beetle really that great? Well, let’s find out.

The plot of this film is mercifully simple: Cybertron has fallen into chaos due to a civil war between the destructive Decepticons and the heroic renegade Autobots. Optimus Prime orders an evacuation of the planet, scattering his troops to random locations while assigning Bumblebee, known as B-127 on his homeworld, to head for Earth and establish a safe haven for his fellow troops. Bumblebee arrives only to discover the Decepticons have followed him and want the location of his Autobot brethren. So, the Autobot scout hides in the form of a Volkswagon, but gets discovered by a teenage girl named Charlie. Now, Bumblebee must protect her while she protects him from being discovered by Transformer and human threats alike.

The characters are definitely much more tolerable in this film. In previous live action Transformers films, their personalities were somewhat jaded, tired and angry even during the more comedic bits. In this film, while no character is always upbeat and positive all the time, their other emotions are not drowned by angst and anger. The human characters have significantly improved, which is funny to say considering this is the first time these characters have been used in these films. Charlie, while a teenager with obligatory teenage problems, is a go-getter who wants to be independent from her family. Unlike Sam Witwickey or Cade Yeager, she has skills which she fully utilizes within the plot of the film, and she feels like an active part of the film rather than something that gets in the way of what we all want: giant robots punching each other. That’s not to say all the characters are like this, as we have the obligatory parent(s) who know nothing about the robot in the garage and an obvious soon-to-be-boyfriend who kinda comes outta nowhere and sicks around for the remainder of the film. And then there’s John Cena. Yeah, his character has another name, but it’s just John Cena in a military uniform. He’s a serviceable character who gives a decent performance as the human villain who just doesn’t understand these aliens and how some are actually good.

Meanwhile, there’s the robots. Bumblebee, in spite of lack of voice, is actually quite a treat. He’s cute and round and full of innocence and good vibes. He’s a curious alien in a new world trying to adapt to it’s laws and people. However, he’s no coward on the battlefield, and certainly knows how to handle himself in a battle even against an enemy much bigger and more powerful than him. Meanwhile, the Decepticons Shatter and Dropkick are a great if not serviceable bad guy duo. Unlike previous films, these Decepticons have personalities beyond “RAWR!”. They are cunninng, snarky, sly, blunt, and, above all, deceptive. There are also bits on Cybertron, as seen in the trailers, which I love immensely because they feature more robots like Optimus Prime, Shockwave and Soundwave with wonderfully designed new bodies and exceptional voice acting from veterans like Peter Cullen (who sounds like he’s actually having fun for once) and newcomers like Jon Bailey (aka the Epic Voice Guy).

One more thing I must make a note about is the action. In previous Transformers films, the action was the most anticipated thing until everyone collectively realized those scenes were terribly written and shot. Prior to Bumblebee, ever action scene consisted of swirling metal masses, explosions, incoherent screaming and confusion. No one knew who was fighting or who was wining the fight, mainly because the movie would focus on the humans rather than the actual fight. In Bumblebee, however, you can clearly see the robots and how the fight is going even when the scene cuts to other events going on in the same area like the humans trying to turn the tide. Since Bumblebee is bright yellow and most of the Decepticons are darker colors, you can tell who is fighting who and who is winning, even if sometimes things seem to blur a little bit (though that’s probably just me).

All in all, I would say this film, while not exactly stellar, is a vast improvement over the steadily rising howling five headed monstrosity that is the Transformers film franchise. It’s honestly great to see this kind of movie even if it came a little bit late to the party. But, hey, with a decent plot reminiscent of Iron Giant, lovable robots, relatable human characters, and decent action scenes, better late than never.

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Doctor Who: The Woman Who Fell To Earth Review [Spoiler-ish]

So...luck number 13 finally makes her debut. For those not in the know, Doctor Who has gone through one of its many changes, this one more extreme than the last. Not only has the titular character “The Doctor/Doctor Who” regenerated from the form of Peter Capaldi to the unexpected choice of Jodie Whitaker, but the lead writer for the series, Stephen Moffat, also stepped down to be replaced by Chris Chibnall. Many were both excited and concerned. Excited because of the change to what has essentially been the norm for quite a long time, concern due to how experimental the changes seemed. In the end, though, was there really anything to worry about? Let’s find out.

First off, the plot. Before The Doctor falls to Earth (because, why yes, that title is quite literal), the Earth is invaded by two creatures. One is made of wires and electricity, the other is armored and can kill humans with a single touch. They are unlike anything The Doctor has ever seen, and can cause immense damage to the human race if left unchecked. So, with a new body and mind which are slowly rebuilding itself after a regeneration, The Doctor must save the Earth from these unknown foes with the help of four new human friends.

Yes, yes, I know. Very run of the mill upon first glance. However, when one actually sees the events of this episode, there’s actually quite a bit to appreciate. Firstly, the new aliens. With Chibnall declaring that classic monsters like Daleks and Cybermen will not have a place in this series (which is admittedly for the best, in my opinion), it’s such a breath of fresh air to see a new alien species, especially after the last few seasons of Doctor Who essentially being a big Easter Egg hunt for old school fans. Sure, these aliens are not exactly the most creative or interesting, but the writers and designers obviously had a little bit of fun, especially with "Tim Shaw”, the Predator-esque alien who takes the teeth from his human victims and sticks them to his face like disgusting hunting trophies. That genuinely creeped me out upon first viewing and still does, telling me that this show hasn’t lost its darker edge from early seasons.

Speaking of aliens, let’s talk about Jodie Whitaker. Honestly, I don’t see what some people were so worried about. Jodie has done an absolutely wonderful job simultaneously maintaining The Doctor’s character while making her own version. She’s kind, practical, sharp and straight forward. All of this makes for what promises to be a very competent version of The Doctor. Heck, this Doctor made her own sonic screwdriver (which has actually been done before), which explains why it’s design stands out from the norm. I’m certainly hopeful that Jodie’s Doctor will continue to impress me in future episode.

As for the side characters, I will say that it is certainly too early for me to say if I one hundred percent like them. However, if I had to go by first impressions, I certainly do like them and how they each have their own personal struggles. Ryan Sinclair (Tosin Cole) has dyspraxia which causes him to be clumsy. Normally something like this would be used for comedy, but this episode takes this disease very seriously, and show what a strain it can be on those suffering from it. Luckily he has his grandmother Grace (Sharon D. Clarke) and her second husband Graham (Bradley Walsh) to help him out, even if he tends to lash out in anger after one too many botched attempts. There’s also a female cop who is looking for something more challenging than parking disputes by the name of Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill), who sadly seemed to blend into the background in spite of some initial attempts at maintaining control over the many situations she finds herself in. 

I will say, these characters would have seemed quite bland had it not been for one thing; this episode takes it’s time to introduce the soon to be companions, and I’m glad it did. We all know The Doctor and who/what he...or rather, she, is and we all know that she has recently regenerated, so we don’t need to get bogged down by another explanation of who/what he/she is. It’s much like how Rose Tyler was introduced all those years ago when Doctor Who was revived, only with less Disney Princess syndrome. So, honestly, this was a pretty decent first impression.

So, all in all, this is a decent start to the new Doctor Who series, and I’m very excited to see where the series goes from here. I loved Jodie Whitaker’s Doctor, I enjoyed the companions and look forward to seeing them develop after the events of this episode, I even found some thrill in seeing a new alien species after years of recycling classic monsters for the sake of getting people to say “Oh yeah, these guys again”. Not to mention, certain plot developments are definitely going to make for some interesting plot/character development which I am actually excited to see progress. I’m not saying this is the best episode (mostly because this is the only episode), but it is a great way to start this season. Hopefully, future episodes will not disappoint. In the meantime, never stop rambling. TM

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Rambling Reviews - Batman Ninja [Spoilers]

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Update on current project.

So, good news bad news. Good news: Batman Ninja Review completed! Bad News: Copyright Strike because reasons. Putting my neck on the line and filing a dispute because I'm sick of my REVIEWS being flagged all the time. Wish me luck, folks!

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Rambling Reviews: Marvel’s Infinity War [SPOILER FREE]

How do I begin a review of Marvel’s Infinity War? Well, I might as well start with how we got  to this point within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ever since the first Avengers movie from 2012 and the end cut-scene that came with it, people have been wondering just how the legendary villain Thanos will fit into the ever expanding story. There have been hints, whispers and outright explicit details with each passing film, but now it has all come to  a head. The question now is was Infinity War a good film? Let’s find out.

Let me list my pros for the film first. Obviously, I’m thrilled to see most of these characters again, but I was even more excited to see how they would interact with one another, as some of these characters would be meeting each other for the first time. The Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor, Captain America and his renegades, Doctor Strange, Spiderman and Iron Man all coming together to defeat a common threat with a bit of quirky banter here and there.

Also, there is world-building galore here. You will see old places and new places that all have a part to play in this movie, some with easter eggs which act as the cherry on top of the lore sundae.

And, of course, there is Thanos. Played by Josh Brolin, this two-eyed no horned fighting purple people beater is probably the best villain of the MCU. Say what you will about Loki, Ultron or any of the villains from the standalone films, most of them have lacked the gravitas to earn the title “Best Villain”. Thanos, however, has that gravitas and more. His character goes through development rather than just dumping him into the story and saying “He’s bad because reasons”. The intensity of the performance brought by Brolin makes you fear yet be intrigued by him. Even without the iconic armor he normally sports in his comic book origins, he is a formidable villain who, oddly enough, felt very human and relatable to a point.

Now, the cons. Even great films like this will have flaws, and there are a few that might put some people off the movie. Firstly, there are quite a few characters that felt under utilized, and that is, in part, due to the sheer number of characters there are in this film.  Heck, some don’t even make an appearance and will probably come into play in Part 2 (because of course there was going to be a Part 2). Sure, Stark, Parker and Rogers get a chance to be in the spotlight, but other characters felt like they were simply window dressing, which is somewhat disappointing depending on who you like in the MCU.

Another thing I noticed in this film was that when it comes to action it is difficult to see who is fighting who and how the fight is going. This film goes above and beyond to make the characters fight harder and faster than before, but that might actually be more of a detriment to the film than a plus. I don’t know if it’s because I saw the film in standard format rather than IMAX 3D OMG WTF SMELL-O-VISION, or if I was simply unable to follow the flow of the action, but it just got to a point that whenever people began flipping around in the air like two birds that had just crashed into one another mid-flight that I began getting annoyed.

Finally, there is of course the part where I have to say “you need to watch the other films to understand certain bits of Infinity War”. Thankfully, minus Thor: Ragnarok and Black Panther (Yes, I know. Shame on me), I’m more or less caught up with the MCU as a whole. However, if you have barely made a dent into the MCU, you will definitely be lost and not understand what an impact certain scenes have on those who understand the general lore.

Now, this final bit is neither a pro nor a con. It is also quite possibly the closest I will get to spoiling a movie within a spoiler free review. I will try to keep what I’m about to say very vague, but at the same time I wish to make a point. This will probably be the most devisive MCU film for a while. The directions this film goes in order to create a memorable story will certainly cause emotions to stir within even the most hardened of movie goers. You will either love Infinity War for what it does or hate it.

With that, I must say that Infinity War is a pretty fantastic movie and probably the best MCU movie of the year (so far). Most of the top-tier characters were in top form, the villain was absolutely amazing and actually understandable in comparison to his predecessors, and the universe feels a lot bigger yet more connected. Yes, some characters don’t get a chance to shine more than others, and the fight scenes can be a bit confusing to follow, but so long as you’re up to date with the general story prior to Infinity War, you’ll still have a great time with this film. I highly recommend giving Infinity War a chance! In the meantime, never stop rambling. TM

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Rambling Reviews: ReBoot (...and ReBoot The Guardian Code) [SPOILERS]

With the arrival of Netflix's ReBoot: The Guardian Code, RaMoaN takes a look at one of the most beloved cartoons of the mid 90's and tries to understand what has made it's sequel series so hated. Join us as we take a look back at ReBoot!

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Yes, Those Were Words: Episode 2 - Colin Baker & Doctor Who

New episode of Yes, Those Were Words! This time we'll be talking about the Colin Baker stories, and all of the behind the scenes shenanigans that might have contributed to Colin being crowned "Worst Doctor".

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Rambling Reviews - Ralph Bakshi’s Wizards

A new review for the new year featuring magic, technology, fairies, Nazis and more. Join me and @justthefangirl for a film straight from the mind of Ralph Bakshi!

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A Christmas Carol Ramble

We do something a little different from the norm, as we talk about one of the most beloved Christmas stories; A Christmas Carol!

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Rambling Reviews - Batman and Harley Quinn

One of the latest animated movies from DC, this time featuring the classic Batman cartoon and the classic Batman character, Harley Quinn. Will it hold up, or will it drive RaMoaN to madness?

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Rambling Reviews: Star Wars - The Last Jedi (Spoiler Free)

So...where do I begin with this film. First and foremost, let me just state that this film is by no means terrible. Remember last year when people complained about how The Force Awakens was exactly like A New Hope? You won’t need to worry about that. What you will need to worry about in this film is the direction in which this film chooses to go. It’s an adventure that will leave you emotionally hollow for all the right reasons.

Let’s go over the plot first. After the events of the last film, The First Order is no holding back. The find the Resistance base and immediately begin to rain hell upon them. Even when Princess Leia Organa (played by the late, great Carrie Fisher), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and Finn (John Boyega) think they have escaped, Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) and Kylo Ren’s (Adam Driver) army are still hot on their trail. Meanwhile, Rey (Dasiy Ridley) finally meets the legendary Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and begs him to either return to fight The First Order or train her in the ways of the Force. Will The First Order have their revenge and achieve victory, or will the last Jedi come back for one last battle?

Firstly, the characters. Everyone brings their A-game into this movie, especially Mark Hamill. Much like Yoda and Obi Wan before him, Luke has been through the proverbial wringer and has thus become a tired old man with a bit of a sarcastic side. His relationship with Rey is fantastic, ranging from a teacher/student style to a father/daughter style. Daisy and Mark work off one another so well in this film, much like Carrie Fisher and Osscar Issac. Meanwhile, there is Adam Driver’s performance as Kylo Ren. Kylo has evolved so much since The Force Awakens. No more mask, no more theatrics, just pure anger accented by the scar he earned at the end of the previous film. However, there’s also a hint at a softer side to the young man as he and Rey’s relationship goes in an unexpected direction (no, nothing in the realm of romance, before anyone asks).

Speaking of unexpected directions, let’s get down to business and talk about the plot. This is probably one of the few times a film has challenged me and made me wonder “Where is this story going?” Just when you think the film will go in one direction, the writing will pull the rug out from under you and then put that same rug on top of you as you lie on the floor trying to mentally catch up. To somewhat paraphrase YouTube movie reviewer JermeyJahns, there are some moments in this film that can be quite divisive. You will either like these moments and find them fascinating, or you will hate these moments and rant about how Star Wars is ruined forever. Where do I stand? In the middle, as always. On the one hand, I can somewhat understand what the writers and director were going for, but on the other I fell somewhat like quoting Han Solo in The Force Awakens; “That’s not how the Force works!” There’s also a C Plot that somewhat makes the film feel much longer than it should, dragging the film down like dead weight. It just felt somewhat like a distraction from the real movie. Like that 20 minute Olaf “short�� from Disney’s Coco. All I can say it, this is a film that requires a second viewing to properly judge it.

Also, as with the other recent entry into the Star Wars cinematic universe, The Last Jedi looks beautiful. Everything just looks so fantastic, especially in space. There is a moment with the Resistance in space where the film left me in awe about how much time and effort is put into these movies. I won’t say which moment, but once you see this film you will know exactly what I am talking about.

So, in the end, do I recommend this film? Obviously, yes I do, but not as a rabid Star Wars fan who needs his fix every December. I recommend this film because of it’s challenging nature. It does things so differently than what you would expect from your usual Star Wars film that you can’t help but wonder where the franchise will go from here. Yeah, there are some elements of the plot that make you want to look at your watch, but the overall style and performance certainly makes up for it so long as you are willing to go into this film with an open mind. 

In the meantime, never stop rambling, TM

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Rambling Reviews: EQG - The Epilogue

Welcome to the TL;DR version of this series of reviews. In this video, I summarize my opinions on the Equestria Girls videos, the franchise in general, and it’s sudden canonicity to the actual television show.

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Rambling Reviews: EQG - Legend of Everfree

New review for RaMoaN! And, yeah, I don’t think I’m going to do the text versions from now on. Tell me what you folks think here on tumblr or on the RaMoaN YouTube page!

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Heyo, just thought I’d share the first of what I assume will be many versions of an official RaMoaN card, which will be passed out at all conventions I will visit in the near future. The first design is basic, showing the essentials; the name of the blog, the abbreviation, the three places you can find me (so far) and the briefest glimpse into my universe. What do you guys think? Yay or nay?

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Rambling Reviews - My Little Pony The Movie (Spoiler Free)

Text Version

We take a break from talking about one portion of the MLP franchise to discuss another, more recent addition to the ever expanding roster of stories. Yes, seven years after the franchise was revived much to the delight of many fans both young and old, Hasbro decided to make an actual, cinematic film which does not include the iconic characters being sent into the human world. Many people, including myself, have been anxious about this film since it’s announcement, both for good and bad reasons. The good being that it would be a film featuring our favorite cast with a new animation program which had a much higher quality than the one from the television show; the bad being that most children’s animated films these days seem to have had a massive drop in quality, with very few exceptions. Seriously, the trailers prior to the film are just a montage of what is wrong with modern day children's films. Does My Little Pony The Movie fall into the same traps, or will the same staff who made the television series make a worthwhile film?

Well, first and foremost, the animation is phenomenal with the new ToonBoom Animation program truly giving the film a cinematic touch. The movement of the characters feels less restricted and more fluid, allowing them to have a broader range of emotions rather than instantaneously switching their demeanor on the fly. The same goes for the scenery as well. There’s more depth, color and variety to the world in this film, especially with how the story takes the characters out of their home and places them in unique environments never seen before on the show. The animation truly conveys how unique and new these new portions of the world are.

Speaking of the story, unfortunately, that is rather hit and miss depending on your perspective. The story is not exactly the most compelling or original, following a lot of tropes from other children’s films. I won’t spoil it here for the sake of those who actually wish to experience the film blind, but believe me when I say that we have seen stories like this before. The pacing doesn’t necessarily help at times. While I’m not exactly as alert as others when seeing this film, I will admit upon reflection that it does tend to speed up at a somewhat jarring rate at times in order to keep the story fresh and alive in the minds of children. Just when you want more time to be devoted to establishing the world and it’s people, the plot suddenly lurches forward in order to change locations and introduce more characters for the main heroines to befriend.

Moving on to the characters, I will admit I had a lot of fun with this roster of characters both old and new. The main cast were as enjoyable as they have always been on the television show, and the new cast were certainly just as colorful. The one drawback is that the backstories and motivations of the secondary cast are, unfortunately, rather lukewarm in the film. This may be in part due to the rather manic plot and how it tends to race by certain segments, but there is a way to bypass this. Prior to the film’s release there was a four issue comic book series which dedicated itself to establishing who these characters were prior to the events in the film. The main cast are not even seen, save for their obligatory appearance on the covers, allowing most of the new characters the time they sorely needed in the film.  

Also, since this is of course a children’s film, there are plenty of songs. Thankfully, these songs are rather catchy and fun in spite of their lack of originality. My personal favorite has to be the obligatory villain song, sung by Emily Blunt, who plays the role of Tempest Shadow. The blend of animation, instrumentals and Blunt’s vocals make for a memorable song that has been stuck in my head ever since I first heard it. Other songs, such as those sung by Taye Diggs (Capper), Zoe Saldana (Captain Celaeno) and Kristen Chenoweth (Princess Skystar) were all pretty entertaining as well and certainly make purchasing the soundtrack a necessity for fans of the film both young and old.

So, in the end, is My Little Pony The Movie worth the cinematic experience? Personally, I would have to respond with a resounding yes. The animation is truly glorious to see on the silver screen, making full use of the ToonBoom program. The songs are catchy and will certainly not annoy parents who bring their kids to the film. And the characters are, more or less, quite a joy to see. I will admit however, that the pacing and storytelling could be somewhat of an issue for those who have a more acute sense of what makes a film work. However, one must keep this in mind: My Little Pony is for children. It always has been, in spite of how much the franchise now resonates with adults. So, of course, the pacing of a cinematic film isn’t exactly going to be perfect and the story may not be entirely original. But, what this film lacks in pacing it makes up for in style. If you are a parent and your child wants to see this film, feel free to oblige. If you are a fan of the series, check it out and make your own opinion. My Little Pony The Movie is a fun, if flawed, film anyone can enjoy.

In the meantime, never stop rambling,

[ramblesandmumblesofanerd]

Rambling Reviews: EQG - Friendship Games

After gushing about Rainbow Rocks, we return to talk about the Equestria Girls series once again. As I said in the previous review, I found the second film to have a higher quality than the original. The villains were both intimidating and fun, the songs were catchy and Sunset Shimmer went from being the villain I hated to the hero I can actually begin to like. The only weak point was the HuMain 5, who did nothing but bicker and whine until the finale where they inevitably banded together to beat the bad guys in what I have labeled the best climax of the series. So, of course, another sequel was inevitable, especially after the cliffhanger with a human version of Twilight Sparkle investigating the weird events occurring at Canterlot High School. And now the time has come to look at that sequel, known as Friendship Games. Will this film be even better than the last, or will it fail to live up to the high expectations Rainbow Rocks established? Well, as Tom Hardy once said: “Let the games begin.”

We begin once more in the human world, where Sunset Shimmer is running to Canterlot High on an early morning while sporting a new outfit. Her and the HuMain 5 meet up at the front of the school, where Rainbow Dash has brought them all together for an emergency like no other...she needs a spare guitar string.

DUN-DUN-DUUUUUN

*sigh* We’re not even five minutes into this film, and already Rainbow Dash is making an effort to get on my nerves. She sent an emergency group text to everyone in the hopes that one of them had a spare guitar string so she can perform for some fans from the Battle of the Bands. If she starts singing a reprise of Awesome As I Want To Be, I’m out of here!

Mercifully, that doesn’t happen. Instead, while the others go inside to see Rainbow’s performance, Sunset sits on the front steps to write in her magical journal from the last film. And no sooner does she write out a message to Twilight Sparkle in Equestria then a girl in a hoodie arrives by bus to investigate the mirror with her PKE Meter. Yeah, it probably has some other techno-babble name, but look at it. It’s the PKE Meter from Ghostbusters. Way to take a page from Suburban Commando, guys. But, before Sunset can discover who the girl is, she jumps onto another bus, which conveniently made a stop just minutes after the original bus dropped her off. Seriously, what is the bus schedule like in this town? And, of course, while Sunset asks who the girl was, it’s revealed that the girl was the human Twilight Sparkle, more commonly referred to as “Sci-Twi” due to her prowess in science. This is proven by her immediately dismantling her PKE Meter and using the technology inside to make a new device that totally doesn’t look like a compact mirror at all. The people who whine about these films being thinly veiled commercials will never know, Hasbro! After a half ominous half energetic title sequence, we get some backstory about what the Friendship Games are and who Canterlot High will be competing against this year, Crystal Prep’s Shadowbolts (no doubt a not so subtle reference to the Shadowbolts from Season 1 Episode 2 of the TV show). The HuMain 5 groan about how Crystal Prep has always beaten them every year, but Sunset initially scoffs at how silly the rivalry is. And just like that, Sunny has earned some brownie points from me.

Well, at least Rainbow Dash isn’t singing about how awesome she is and how she’s gonna win the Friendship Games. She instead sings about how everyone is awesome and how they’re going to win the Friendship Games. Honestly, though, this song is pretty good in spite of it’s “yay school pride” vibe. It’s a peppy, energetic song that gets everyone in the room amped up in spite of their initial melancholy. They even make a reference to Sunset’s she-demon form. Nice of them to remind Sunset about the lowest point in her life again.

But things take a strange turn as Rainbow Dash’s powers start to appear in spite of her not playing her guitar (notice how I avoid using the phrase “pony-up”). After feeding Rainbows ego for a split second, Sunset gives probably the most fitting line to describe Equestria Girls as a whole:

“It just seems so random.”

Chalk up another brownie point for Ms. Shimmer.

Anyways, in order to keep up appearance, Vice-Principal Luna assigns Sunset Shimmer with the task of keeping the HuMain 5’s magic under control, but that is easier said than done. Sunny already feels the stress of not knowing how the magic works due to it’s sudden evolution, and writes a worried message to the Equestrian Twilight hoping for a reply soon.

Meanwhile, at the sparkliest of Preparatory Schools, Sci-Twi sings an obligatory Disney Princess song while on her way to the principal’s office. This is probably one of the few songs I’m not overly interested in, but it does help reinforce that this Twilight is socially awkward and intelligent. So intelligent, in fact, that she feels that sticking around at Crystal Prep would only be a hinderance, which is why she has sent the principal an application for an independant study program. Speaking of the principal, Ms. Cinch here asks Sci-Twi to participate in the Friendship Games in order to basically show off her most gifted student like a prized pony...and yes, I realized that I just made a terrible joke. When Sci-Twi shows reluctance, Cinch basically extorts her by saying if Sci-Twi fails to participate and win the games, he application to the independant study program will be denied. Sci-Twi begrudgingly agrees which gives way to the movie introducing the most obnoxious if not underdeveloped characters I’ve seen in these films; The Shadowbolts. There’s Sour Sweet, who is essentially Two-Face, Indigo Zap, a loud, over competitive girl, Sunny Flare who...does nothing, Sugar Coat who is so blunt you could use her as a bludgeoning weapon, and Lemon Zest, who gets a brownie point for her taste in music.

As the Showdowbolts get off their bus at Canterlot High, Sci-Twi picks up a signal from inside and sets off to find the source...kinda like Yami Bakura and his Millennium Ring. Inevitably, every student inside mistakes her for the Equestrian Twilight, even Flash Sentry, who I swear has become the lost puppy looking for his master ever since Rainbow Rocks. Look how dejected the guy is whenever Sci-Twi brushes him aside, he looks so crushed. Even Derpy Hooves...oh, sorry, Ditzy Do...what?! That’s wrong too? Well, what am I supposed to call her?

...I hate PC Parents.

Anyways, after Derpy makes an obligatory cameo to cheer Flash up, Sci-Twi converges on the location of the magic, which is just Rarity gushing about all the pointless clothes she made for the Games. No sooner does she say making clothes makes her feel alive then her magic springs up only for Sci-Twi’s device to steal it. Not realizing what Sci-Twi has done or that she is not the Equestrian Princess, the HuMain 5, Sunset and even Principal Celestia greet her like everyone else has only for Cinch to drag her away minutes later. And then the first film rears it’s ugly head for a brief moment like a phantom as Pinkie becomes a Deus Ex Machina device in order to explain what the audience already knows about Sci-Twi, to which Principal Celestia gives the best response.

“...Nevermind.”

While the HuMain 5 wonder about Sci-Twi, Sunset tries to use the mirror to Equestria, only for Sci-Twi’s Millennium Compact Mirror to steal her magic through the portal. Before Sunset can confront her, Sci-Twi leaves with her classmates, leaving Sunset to investigate the mirror. To her sheer horror, she realizes that the portal (which is now supposed to be open all the time) is dead. Nothing can get in, nothing can get out. Including Princess Twilight.

So, realizing she has to take matters into her own hands, Sunset goes to confront Twilight who is still using her device to locate more magic. Before she can get any information, however, the Shadowbolts intervene, but Pinkie manages to snag Sci-Twi and have her help in livening up the dull party in the gymnasium. As Pinkie’s tactics work, she starts to show her powers like the others, and the device goes nuts again, not devouring the magic but also ripping open the very fabric of the universe until Sci-Twi snaps it shut. What was that quote from Sunset again? “It just seems so random.”

Ahh, I’m going to get so much use out of that line now.

Principal Cinch immediately kills the party and pretty much reiterates that she will be the lukewarm bad guy for the movie, basically saying that “Canterlot sucks and Crystal Prep rules. Nany-nany-boo-boo, stick your head in doo doo.” Ok, she didn’t say that specifically, but she might as well have.

What follows is a montage of events with the song AcaDeca paying over. It’s actually a fun segment with both of the teams talking smack to one another as the events unfold. We even get cute moments like Flash Sentry and Bon Bon somehow failing to make a cake and instead making...Sprinkled Bread? Speaking of cake, check out the Mona Lisa cake that was of course made by Pinkie. Don’t ask how she did it, it’s Pinkie Pie. Logic does not comply. So, the two teams compete in the Academic Decathlon segment of the Friendship Games until Sunset and Sci-Twi are the last two standing, each representing their schools. Of course. And while Sunset fails to score the point, the HuMain 5 and their classmates congratulate her for getting so far because friendship.

After she wins the AcaDeca, Sci-Twi meets Fluttershy, who shows off all of her animal friends while Twilight gives her dog Spike some air. Oh, I forgot to mention him, didn’t I? Yeah, up until this point, Spike’s presence in the film has been pretty lukewarm. Why do I say “up until this point”? Because after Sci-Twi, once again, steals more magic and rips more holes in the universe, Spike somehow gains the ability to talk.

“It just seems so random.”

In either case, after more extorting from Cinch, the HuMain 5 discover what the friendship games has in store next: a tricross rally, with archery, roller skating and motocross. Yes, motocross. In high school. Before anyone starts freaking out, I actually did the research; this is an actual thing, especially back in the 70’s-80’s. It’s not exactly common due to how expensive it is, but it is a thing nonetheless. A very overkill sort of thing. And guess who shares my opinion?

Ahh, Sunset. One more brownie point for the bacon hair.

So, the rally begins with the always bipolar Sour Sweet berating Sci-Twi for being an unathletic wuss. Gee, it’s almost like she wasn’t supposed to be in this competition. One could say that she is being forced to participate. Regardless, Applejack helps her out, but reveals her pony powers in the process. You know the drill by now, the machine goes haywire, sucks in the magic and more portals open up, only this time something comes out. Straight out of a hentai, a giant plant monster starts to attack the girls during the motocross segment, forcing Rainbow to show off her powers again and help whoever the monster captures. This catches Cinch’s attention, and she covertly watches what unfolds next.

After Rainbow Dash deals with the monster while Sunset wins the motocross segment, thus tying the score with Crystal Prep. Sunset doesn’t give a care about the score though, as she snaps Sci-Twi’s Millennium Compact Mirror shut and basically snaps at her. All throughout this film, Sunset has been trying to contain and understand this magic, and then Sci-Twi tampers with things she doesn’t understand to the point where people almost got hurt or worse. This is the straw on the camel’s back for Sunset, and she lashes out against Sci-Twi, almost to the point where you feel like the original Sunset starts to leak out. So, after Sunset gives her a tongue lashing, Sci-Twi leaves and the wheels in Cinch’s head start to turn.

And then, Principal Celestia talks to Cinch and has probably the best idea in this entire film; cancel the games and call it a tie between the schools. Cinch, being a sensible adult responsible for the well being of the children attending her school, accepts the terms of this deal, and they all lived happily ever...oh, who am I kidding, of course Cinch refuses to take such a deal, as it would “tarnish her reputation”.

Thus, the students meet up for the final event, but Cinch pulls Sci-Twi aside to propose a crazy idea: Unleash The Magic. Yes, through a song, Cinch and the Shadowbolts tell Sci-Twi to fight fire with fire and use the magic that she has collected against the Wondercolts. Sci-Twi, having been abused by Cinch, her classmates and Sunset, gives into peer pressure and opens her device.

What follows is that climax I teased in the last review.

Twilight goes through what looks like a terrifying transformation, reaching out to whoever can listen to her pleas for help before being enveloped and corrupted by the raw magic. Much like Sunset She-Demon, Twilight becomes drunk on power and becomes...Midnight Sparkle.

*crickets chirp* Don’t look at me, I didn’t name her.

Midnight then proceeds to rip holes in the fabric of reality while cackling like a madwoman while Sunset, the HuMain 5 and even the Shadowbolts try to save the students who fall through the cracks. Sunset tries to snap Midnight out of her madness, but it’s no good. So, Sunset grabs the discarded compact mirror in order to absorb more magic from her friends in order to become… Seraph Shimmer. *more crickets chirp* Ok, that time I did name her. After Seraphim seals the cracks, the two demigods proceed to have a Dragonball style showdown, which Seraph inevitably wins when Spike momentarily distracts Midnight with those big puppy dog eyes. But, victory isn’t immediate, as Seraph doesn’t straight up blast Midnight. Rather, for a brief moment, she and Midnight are sealed into a white void where Seraph tries once more to convince Midnight that there is a different way to learn about magic, a way that is far less lonely than the path she travels now. Sci-Twi takes Sunset’s hand, and the two revert to their human forms, the crisis now averted.

Cinch, who hid after causing this in the first place, demands that Canterlot High must forfeit the Friendship Games for their use of magic or she will contact the school board. Everyone, even her own students and staff, call her out on her lies and blatant disregard for student safety, but invite her to tell the school board all about the magical flying girls, the portals to different dimensions and the talking dog. Cinch, having finally been backed into a corner, silently walks away and has never been seen since.

So, it’s time for the obligatory wrap-up, with both teams winning the Friendship Games...somehow, and Sci-Twi wanting to transfer to Canterlot High rather than go through with her independent study application. Sunset and the HuMain 5 wholeheartedly accept Sci-Twi as a new friend...just when the mirror portal decides to work again. Yup, the Equestrian Twilight finally makes an appearance at the last thirty seconds of the film right before the credits to basically give a reason as to why the portal died besides Sci-Twi stealing magic, and it’s a funny if not cute thirty seconds.

And with that, Friendship Games comes to a close with a cute slideshow. So,how was this film? Well, obviously it’s quite a good film, and in some ways I suppose it is better than Rainbow Rocks, but I feel like Friendship Games cannot surpass it’s predecessor. Now, like I said, it is a good film. The songs are all catchy, some of the characters are written a lot better than before, the climax was certainly just as epic if not more so than before and the film was very entertaining overall. There’s even this self-aware air about Friendship Games, as if the writers knew what the adult fanbase was upset about and decided to throw them a bone for their troubles. But, there are just certain aspects of the film that keep me from liking it more than I actually do.

For starters, let’s talk about the magic. I’m sure you folks are wondering how the magic works in this world, and even if you’re not I’m gonna tell you. According to Sunset Shimmer, at the end of the film, the magic now works only when the HuMain 5 show their Elemental nature (i.e. Applejack being honest, Pinkie Pie spreading cheer, etc.). To quote Sunset, “it seems so random” after we clearly established in Rainbow Rocks that the magic works with instruments. Then again, in the original film the girls didn’t do anything and yet they were able to do that deus ex machina attack. This may sound like a nitpick, and I will admit it kinda is, but I’m just asking for some consistency in these films.

Also, let’s talk about the Shadowbolts. These ladies were probably the least threatening “villains” since Sunset, forcing Cinch to carry to weight and being the driving force of evil and even that doesn’t work all the time. I don’t know, maybe I just prefer it when the villains are Equestrian creatures masquerading as humans who know more about magic than Sunset and the Equestrian Twilight, but sometimes changes are necessary in order to keep things interesting, otherwise these films would be a tad formulaic in its structure.

Although, maybe it was a tad late for the structure in the first place, as the plot line of Twilight stealing the magic became a tad repetitive. She tracks magic down, encounters a member of the HuMain 5, they show an attribute of themselves that reveals their magic, Sci-Twi steals it and causes weird things to happen, rinse and repeat.

Look, I’m not saying Friendship Games is bad. I’m honestly grasping at straws trying to find things to genuinely complain about rather than just sounding very nitpicky. If anything, I appreciate that this film took the risk of introducing an all human cast, minus Sunset Shimmer  and Spike, of course, and have the villains be humans rather than an obligatory Equestrian villain. Also, cutting Sunset off from the portal was honestly a nice touch, allowing Sunset to prove that she could handle this situation without Princess Twilight using the power of Deus Ex Machina to save the day from her human counterpart. But for some reason, I cannot like this film more than Rainbow Rocks. Maybe it’s because of the lack of character the Shadowbolts are given, maybe it’s the inconsistencies in the overall plot across the films, maybe it’s the repetitive structure of the story, I don’t know.

What I do know is this; Friendship Games is another great entry in the Equestria Girls series, and I would watch it again if I wanted to, in spite of my love-hate relationship with the film. It may not be as personally gratifying as Rainbow Rocks, but it is certainly is an improvement over the first film. I know that is not saying much, but it’s the best I can say for this film. In any case, that’s three films down, one more to go.

In the meantime, never stop rambling, TM

[ramblesandmumblesofanerd]

Rambling Review: EQG - Rainbow Rocks

When we last discussed Equestria Girls, I came to the conclusion that, in spite of the numerous moments of sheer blandness and ridiculousness, the film itself was essentially harmless. The “villain”, if you could even call her that, did not impress me, the plot was uninspired in spite of the addition of MLP elements, and the structure was a complete mess from my personal perspective. So, imagine my surprise when a sequel was announced in 2014.  And by surprise, I mean revived agitation. Don’t get me wrong, while I now see that a sequel was inevitable, I was less open minded to the concept at the time. But, casual fans and critics alike all say that Rainbow Rocks is a vast improvement over it’s predecessor to this day. Are these claims true, or is the sequel just as nonsensical as the original film? Well, let’s jump through the mirror again and take a look.

We begin in the human world this time, as we see three obviously evil magical girls are feeding off a green fog surrounding a bunch of arguing teenagers. They talk about how the “food” has been quite insubstantial in recent years until the climax from the last movie explodes in the distance. The leader with a hairstyle fluffier than the fluffiest of unicorn plushies marvels at the light-show, and tells her sisters that their time has come. Equestrian magic has appeared in the human world, and they shall us it to make it’s denizens adore them. Cut to about maybe a month or so after the Fall Formal, where everyone is giving Sunset Shimmer the stink-eye after what she did. This is actually important for two reasons:

1. Consequences. I commented in the last film that leaving Sunset in the human world rather than have Princess Celestia punish her was not the right thing to do because it gave Sunset a “Get Out Of Jail Free” card. In this film, that point is rendered moot because nobody trusts Sunset, not believing for a moment that her days as a tyrant are over. And why should they? They were all used and abused by Sunset in various ways prior to the end of Equestria Girls, indirectly or otherwise. Which gives way to…

2. Regret. Sunset actually feels bad for what she did, and this time it feels more believable. There’s nothing like an entire school turned against you to make you feel cast out. Every time the subject of the Fall Formal and Sunset’s transformation is brought up, she becomes depressed or agitated about it. She wants to put the incident behind her and prove that she is better.

Which is why she has agreed to show some new transfer students around the school before someone tells them about her past. But, surprise, surprise, the transfer students are three familiar girls in tacky clothing. Sunny shows them around and mentions a school-wide musical fundraiser, which certainly gets the attention of the girls who start to act noticeably weird when Sunset asks about their matching necklaces.

Huh, obvious baddies who don’t want people to touch their bling. Are we sure Evil Sunset didn’t somehow multiply?

In all seriousness, the Dazzlings are a breath of fresh air to me, as they actually are given a little bit of character in comparison to Sunset’s one note “gimmie the crown” shtick. I especially love the Megatron/Starscream-esque relationship from Adagio Dazzle and Aria Blaze with a little bit of Sonata Dusk making memes in the background. And then things get even better after they sing their first song, “Battle of the Bands”. The three sisters saunter into the cafeteria and pretty much undo what Twilight did in the previous film and begin to divide the students. The Dazzlings manipulate everyone but Sunset and the HuMain 5 into fighting one another and turning the musical fundraiser into...well, a Battle of the Bands. And as the students argue, the girls feed off that familiar green fog again as our heroines watch in confusion.

Sunset, showing some more brains than in the previous film, comes to the immediate conclusion that the three girls obviously have dark magic on their side, and the gang goes to tell Principal Celestia in order to kick them out. But, unfortunately, Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna are weaker than their Alicorn alternatives, and are already under the thrall of the Dazzlings, leaving the girls at a lost until Sunset remembers about a journal she had brought from Equestria years ago. The journal apparently acts as a primitive form of text messaging, allowing Sunset to send a message across the dimensions by writing a message in her book which will appear in another back in Equestria. By sheer luck, Twilight is already in possession of the magical, glowing, vibrating second journal which receives Sunset’s message, and she not only determines that the Dazzlings are Sirens banished from Equestria by the Dumbledore/Gandalf/Merlin of Pony Lore, Starswirl the Bearded, but she also Macgyvers a way to open the portal between the two worlds early using the journal’s magic.

So, Twilight and Spike return to the human world, leaving the others behind to avoid the confusion that would come from having two of everyone running around. Everyone back in the human world is excited to see Twilight come back, even Sunset, who offers to help Twilight up after a rocky entry. This brief moment is important. The way Twilight initially hesitates shows that even she rightfully doesn’t trust Sunset yet. It, again, shows that all is not forgiven like we thought back in the previous film’s finale.

So, by now you're probably asking “why is Twilight even here?”. Well, since Principal Celestia is basically a puppet, the HuMain 5 believe the only way to deal with the Dazzlings now is to blast them back to the stone age with the same Deus Ex Machina attack from the Fall Formal. But, since this film isn’t supposed to be thirty minutes long, this plan backfires, not only making Twilight and the HuMain 5 look like fools, but also expose their resistance to the Dazzlings’ mind-control. While Adagio theorizes that these girls could be the source of the Equestrian magic she had witnessed long ago, the girls retreat to make a new plan at Pinkie’s house during a slumber party.

So Plan C goes something like this: have Twilight write a “counter-spell song”, play it during the Battle of the Bands and defeat the Dazzlings. Why would this work? Well, because the HuMain 5’s magical powers seem to pop up whenever they play their instruments for a band Rainbow Dash and her friends started for the fundraiser. What a coincidence. Actually, while we’re here, can we discuss how the human version of Rainbow Dash acts throughout this film? While the pony version has been known to be quite egotistical and self-absorbed at times, this version multiplies these attributes to the point of being abrasive. Constantly calling the band “hers”, cheating at video games, not wanting to back down as lead vocalist when the others volunteer Twilight in order to pull off the counter-spell, even ignoring Fluttershy when she wants the band to try playing a song she wrote herself. I know technically the human one is not the same character as the pony one, but Rainbow Dash is just so unlikable in this film.

After a brief moment to both address how Sunset and Twilight are not so different after all and to have a shout-out to all the Maud Pie fans, the gang return to the Battle of the Bands after a less than successful rehearsal which mostly consisted of bickering more than music. The Rainbooms flub their first outing through the obvious sabotage from Snips and Snails, but they somehow get to move along with the other competitors who won Round One. That doesn’t mean everyone is happy about the competition however, as even Flash Sentry starts spewing insults at the girl he once crushed on thanks to the Dazzling’s magic. Speaking of, Sunset tries to talk her Equestrian foes down, but the Sirens know of her past endeavors and turn the tables before they take the stage.

After another great, if not more blunt song, called Under Our Spell, we see that the Rainbooms are actually making progress in spite of the constant internal drama and the sabotage from their premiere. More on that in a bit, as another great song pops up...only to end right away. This song sung by Trixie, Tricks Up My Sleeve, is actually quite a good song, and I wish we could have heard the whole thing in the film if only just for one lyric. So, just for you guys, allow me to play this one lyric. LadyTenkage, this one’s for you~

And this is what happens when online friends subscribe to me on YouTube: inside jokes with a dash of schadenfreude. Oh...I’m so gonna get murdered for that when we next meet face to face.

Anyways, after more of Rainbow Dash feeding her ego by singing a song about how awesome she is (which I cannot stand), the girls start to show their pony powers, but Sunset intervenes before the Dazzling can feed off them. She and the Rainbooms are booed for this, but the Dazzlings use their ever-growing power to manipulate Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna into allowing the girls to advance to the final round, much to Trixie’s rage. But, again, the Dazzlings stroke Trixie’s ego and plant the idea to trap the Rainbooms as an act of revenge, which she does. This prompts the HuMain 5 to, once again, bicker and unintentionally feed the Dazzlings their magic as the Sirens perform on stage above them.

This is where Sunset finally shows some backbone and tells her new friends to stop arguing and instead focus on actually solving what is causing the conflicts, otherwise the counter-spell Twilight has been trying to make this whole time will never work and the Dazzlings will win. So, of course the Rainbooms reconcile, of course Spike rescues them with the one background character who isn’t under the Dazzlings’ control, and of course they go to face their enemies in eye-gouging-ly colorful outfits.

And now, for the best climax in Equestria Girls history...until the next one.

Okay, first the Dazzlings go through their own pony transformation complete with ears, fin-wings red eyes, and astral-projections of themselves in their pure Equestrian forms. Then, the Rainbooms show up with Vinyl Scratch who somehow owns a transforming car.

Transformers! Hasbro doesn’t care.

Next comes an all out rock battle, with guitars blaring, vocalists giving it their all, Sirens screaming red versions of Danny Phantom’s ghostly wail, and the Rainbooms needing Sunset to help win the fight. And, with a toss of her jacket, she does. She starts to sing alongside the people who have stood alongside her through thick and thin throughout this movie, and she goes under the standard pony-fication, leading up to the most awesome thing I have seen in all of Equestria Girls. Period.

Through the power of friendship and music, the Rainbooms summon a giant, rainbow maned alicorn who blasts the Dazzlings and shatters their gems, which reduces them to being ordinary humans, all while epic music plays in the background.

Where was this in movie one!? This epic finale which shows how much power these characters have when they actually have a sense of unity is so much better than “lol, you can’t hurt us because friendship”. And the fact that it took the help of Sunset to summon what I shall now call the Alicorn God of Rock not only shows how much power these girls truly have, but it also begins a new chapter for Sunset’s redemption. Moments like this actually grab my attention, more so than the obligatory easter eggs and using even more stale high school movie plots.

Back to the film, the Dazzlings run off the presumably starve in an alley while the Rainbooms send Twilight on her way home. Twilight makes an obligatory speech about how this is “goodbye ‘til next time”, but a little cliffhanger begs to differ, as we’re finally shown that Twilight and Spike indeed have counterparts in the human world, and the human Twilight has set her eyes on Canterlot High’s magical mischief.

And with that, Rainbow Rocks ends with a nice credits montage of Canterlot High’s students starting to truly accept Sunset Shimmer as one of them. So, what did I think of Rainbow Rocks in comparison to it’s predecessor? Well, on the whole, I have to say that Rainbow Rocks obviously excels where Equestria Girls fails. It actually dedicates time to establishing characters and their traits rather than copy and paste typical high school stereotypes for the sake of filling in the blanks. For example, Sunset Shimmer, a character I despised for being a bland villain, actually makes an attempt to be a better person in spite of the insurmountable odds placed against her. And good Lord, the Sirens! Compared to Sunset Shimmer, these ladies were fantastic villains. Unlike the she-demon, they actually had presence and were a constant threat both on and off screen, making it feel like there was more at stake than just popularity. And the music! Unlike most of the songs from the original film, Rainbow Rocks succeeded in...well, rocking! The Dazzling’s songs, Tricks Up My Sleeves, even The Rainbooms’ songs (so long as we ignore the ego-stroking “Awesome As I Want To Be”) were all incredible, and I would listen to them all again if given the chance.

However, like the original film, there are also some notable faults in Rainbow Rocks. The HuMain 5 were easily the weakest part of the film, their constant arguing became a tad grating in spite of it’s necessity to the plot. Which reminds me, the award for most annoying character of this film goes to Rainbow Dash, whose entire routine in this film consists of her stroking her ego to the point of climaxing. While I’m not expecting her to be as restrained as her pony counterpart, I expect at least some form of control from her even if she is a teenager.  Also, some of the plot elements, such as how the magic that has suddenly appeared in the human world works, is not explained as much as an intellectual audience would like.

“Who cares” RD? Well, I care. The audience cares. Everyone cares! Which is why one of the shorts made before the next film focuses on Sunset actually trying to explain the magic in a logical, scientific way...with less than satisfying results.

And, yes, much like I stated in in previous review, this film uses more high school movie tropes: The Battle of the Bands. But, unlike Equestria Girls, there’s something that actually allows the film to stand on it’s own. Maybe it’s the Dazzlings manipulating the students and staff like puppets, maybe it’s the Equestrian magic, maybe because it was an actual Battle of the Bands, or maybe it was that incredible ending that I love so much. All in all, Rainbow Rocks was actually fun to watch in comparison to Equestria Girls. I’m glad I watched it, and I think I would actually watch it again should the urge take me over. Is it perfect? No. But I can forgive Rainbow Rocks for it’s flaws because I feel like it actually made an effort to have a higher quality than Equestria Girls. It actually feels like a competent story that I can enjoy over and over again. 

All I can really say is Rainbow Rocks rocks.

In the meantime, never stop rambling. TM