Saban's Power Rangers (2017 film)

Power Rangers

Now, if you're one of the 90's kids, you are familiar with the TV show Power Rangers. It's a group of high school kids; namely Jason, Billy, Zack, Kimberly, and Trini, who later morphed into superheroes fighting against monstrous foes summoned by the evil villain you are familiar with. Since then, it has been grown into a franchise with numerous installments from the past and present and most of them are inspired by Japanese super sentai shows you and your parents are familiar with. As a reward of the Ranger franchise's success, the one that started it all has been reborn as a movie. 

In this movie, a group of normal high-school kids you know by now are living in an average life in a quiet town of Angel Grove until something extraordinary happened to these kids. They've unknowingly gained superpowers and they became the chosen ones who can save the world from an imminent alien threat as the Power Rangers.

We are starting to like the new outfits from the original Rangers that begin the craze, especially the Yellow and the Pink Ranger if you may, because based on their appearances, not only they retain the classic taste from the original TV show you know and loved back in the 90's but toughness is best sums it up and as for the cool robots that make up for the awesome Megazord, there's no other word for it, it's utterly brilliant.

But let's not get too awed by the awesomeness the reborn Power Rangers possess by their looks because behind their shining armors comes with chinks and that involves the storyline because by telling about their normal lives, it just feels...above average. The rivalry, the romance, the school life, especially the bit that I don't want to tell it to the kids, it kinda reflects on today's kids and that kinda spoils the intense action it possess. In fact, it's getting as real as...real life and that's kinda sad.

Despite the storyline too real and too average for veteran fans and newcomers alike, this new Power Rangers movie is all about the past and the present coming together as one and it feels like a history lesson all mashed up with titanium that is harder to break on the outside. It maybe a great family movie but some parts of it aren't what you called family-oriented. More like teen-oriented if you may asked but the harder this film gets, the better it will be and it's good to have the classic Rangers we all familiar with reborn for the new century.

My rating: 3.6 out of 5.

Let's Do The News! (March 27, 2017)

- PNP Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa responded to the allegations of Vice President Leni Robredo that the number of drug suspects killed has reached the 7,000 mark, According to Dela Rosa, based on the data of the PNP, there are only 6,000 reported killings in the country since July of 2016; and 20 percent were related to illegal drugs.

- President Rodrigo Duterte cannot do anything if his allies in Congress will go ahead with the impeachment case against VP Robredo. According to Senate president Koko Pimentel, he understands the position of House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez that he can’t disregard an impeachment complaint if it has basis.

- The Malacanang Palace revealed the results of the Pulse Asia Survey regarding the ongoing war on drugs. Survey shows that 82% of the residents of Metro Manila feels it’s safe to roam the streets due to the government’s campaign.

- As the media labeled the Thai city of Pattaya as “Sin City” and “The World’s Sex Capital”, the junta launched a “Happy Zone” at the weekend to improve the image of a city notorious for sex tourism.

- Eight people are feared dead on Monday after an avalanche hit a group of high school students and teachers climbing in Central Japan. The avalanche occurred on Monday morning near a ski slope in Nasu, 160 km (100 miles) north of Tokyo, where 52 high school students and 11 teachers were climbing, a local government official said.

- The US State of California despises US President Donald Trump's rollback on emission regulations and moves forward with the state's own emission rules.

- Ride-sharing company Uber pauses their self-driving efforts following an autonomous car involved in an accident in Tempe, Arizona.

- Daisuke Sato, the creator of the High School of the Dead manga series passed away at the age of 52.

TTFN!!!

2017 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup - Auto Club 400

In the recent NASCAR Monster Energy Cup action at the Auto Club Speedway, California, the heated close combat between the finest drivers in this intense oval track action has one word to describe this sheer action; incredible.

From an early disaster caused by Brad Keselowski's spinout from his car, to a massive pileup at the early hours of the race, and pit road problems for the seven-time champ Jimmie Johnson, no NASCAR would ever be complete without the collateral damage as expected on most NASCAR races but behind all the early hour collateral damage, Kyle Larson nicked 1st place in this chaotic Californian weekend while Keselowski, despite his car damaged after a spinout, managed to get through second place, and Clint Boyer made his podium finish on 3rd place.

As the month ends, time to check out the standings and as of the end of the race, Kyle Larson's leading with 243 points followed by Chase Elliott in 244 points and Martin Truex Jr. in 205 points.

Next race is at Martinsville Speedway on the 2nd of April.

F1 2017 - Australian GP

The 2017 Formula 1 season has officially begun and Melbourne has became a madhouse of power and struggle for new and returning F1 teams.

Despite Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton taking advantage of his pole position after qualifiers, it seems that Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel galloped his way for the first win of the season, leaving the Brit to second place while his new teammate Valtteri Bottas to third place.

Easier said than done, there are disasters wreak havoc on the hapless drivers. McLaren-Honda's Fernando Alonso, Red Bull Daniel Ricciardo, and seven others were one of them, mechanical problems by most.

The next race is at Shanghai, China, on the 9th of April.

Top Gear S24E04

It's the biggest Top Gear race to date because in the fourth episode of BBC's Top Gear, it's verdict day because it's the show's debut of the latest Bugatti hypercar, the Chiron.

To honor the Chiron's TV debut, Chris Harris tries it out on the Middle East and then sets off to an epic race against Matt LeBlanc in various modes of transport; land, air, sea, four wheels, and lastly, two wheels.

Meanwhile, Rory Reid plays Car Pac-Man with the brand new Renault Twingo GT while being chased by other hatchbacks. Then, Tinie Tempah is the episode's Star In A Reasonably Fast Car.

Land Rover Discovery V

After so many years, the new Land Rover Discovery is now in the open and with prices start at 43,495 Pounds, the new model is more affordable to own than the Range Rover. It's more practical as well because it's got seven seats fit for the family and surprisingly, better looking than the old Disco. So, what's it all about this new Disco?

2017 Land Rover Discovery

This should not to be mistaken with the smaller Discovery Sport, in case you got lost in British directions, because THAT is the new Discovery and by the looks of it, it's starting to gain some improvement compared to the previous, lackluster, Disco. Gone are the squarish looks and now looks more Range Rover-ish because from every angle, it looks very promising and very rewarding.

2017 Land Rover Discovery interior

While the exterior looks very masculine and very brave for a luxury off-roader, the interior is so much more than working nine to five. Although the Discovery is basically a family hauler for the weekends, this is basically fit for "Right, Honourable Gentlemen" from the Parliament and can be well fit to be part of a convoy made possible by those "Right, Honourable Gentlemen" while going through let's say the MI6, the MI5, Buckingham Palace, Downing Street, and so on. Think about this, when there's a rear-seat entertainment system on it, anyone sitting on the second row can feel as occupied as being inside of a Mercedes S-Class and eventually, it is as luxurious as a Range Rover with a price so reasonable enough to be called a cut-priced Range Rover. But unlike the Range Rover, save it for the RR Sport, the new Disco can seat up to seven people, be it family, friends, or those "Right, Honourable Gentlemen" from British politics, and when folded, there's more room for some stuff on the great outdoors, especially a trip to grandma's house, or stuff you bought from your recent thrift shop trip.

Need to say that since this is a seven-seater and when one of your family has kids, expect the sweet spots you want to sit at to be ruined by those dreadful child seats and pop goes the third row, unless if someone is generous enough to let you seat in the front, which beats struggling to accommodate the third-row seat if you may.

Having learned something from the Jaguar F-PACE, the new Discovery provides owners the Activity Key that can wear it on their wrist and can open without needing the key fob. It even comes with a special feature that can open the tailgate with the lift of your foot. That's science to you.

2017 Land Rover Discovery

The new Land Rover Discovery can be powered with a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines. It can either be the 2.0 Sd4 Ingenium diesel engine, 3.0L TD6 diesel, or the more powerful 3.0L Si6 petrol engine. All of these engines are mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox and it's not just the choice of engines is what I like about most, it's the all-aluminum platform that impresses the most because it's surprisingly 480kg lighter than the old Disco. Tough as well. And because this is lighter than the old Disco, the way it drives is pretty much like a Jaguar XF by a longshot.

Of course, being a luxury offroader, the Discovery is never complete without the very clever Terrain Response II which can adapt through any road condition no matter how good and bad it is with the utmost of its capabilities. Once more, it even comes with Wade Sensing technology which uses sensors that can notify drivers when water levels are near the 900mm maximum wading depth.

2017 Land Rover Discovery

So, thoughts about the new Discovery? While this is basically cheaper than the Range Rover, it's surprisingly luxurious on the inside, more versatile, more rugged, more technologically advanced, and above all, it's a proper Land Rover that you can take it anywhere and it's not afraid to be playing rough under the weather. I am very glad that this is a step forward from the previous, yet disappointing Disco from the past, and this is going to be a game-changer for Land Rover as this offroader will definitely set the new standards for daily drivers and offroaders alike so job well done, Land Rover.

Photo: Jaguar Land Rover

Forza Horizon 3: Race More

There is an unusual sportscar I got in Forza Horizon 3 and because this car is very unusual in the eyes of many, one clue pointing out to this mysteriously new sportscar is...well, let's just say that it's Indian.

So, I wonder what is this Indian sportscar everyone's talking about?



This Indian sportscar in question is none other than the brand-new TAMO RaceMo, India's newest sportscar made by TATA Motors, one of the largest car companies in India and the one that controls over Jaguar Land Rover, in case if you're into automotive history here.



The TAMO Racemo is simple to explain; it made a world premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show and as part of a collaboration with Microsoft and Turn 10 Studios, players got their hands on the Racemo free of charge by obtaining it from the message center. As Tata's entry to the sportscar market, the Racemo is a mid-engined rear-wheel drive two-seater that is smaller than today's Mazda Roadster ND while drawing inspiration from European sportscars. It's powered by a 1.2L turbocharged three-cylinder Revotron engine that produces 188HP of power while coupled with a 6-speed AT and thanks to its extensive use of composite and aluminum construction components, its power-to-weight ratio is beyond a shadow of a doubt. Exclusivity aside, it will be limited to 250 vehicles.



I got to say that while this is very exclusive for a very small sportscar, I started to think that I have underestimated the Indians when it comes to their economic status and I admired their tenacity to work and compete with developed countries from Europe, Asia, and the Americas. For a sportscar like the Racemo, this pint-sized cub can really outsmart against the world's best and it can slip out by surprise, knowing that a car made by Indians are not to be taken very seriously in a game of cat and mouse. I agree that while this is not the most powerful sportscar ever made, its small size car is worth a while in a war of Davids and Goliaths where size matters when it comes to becoming slippery through the bends. This is what makes the Racemo special because this car was made to "race more".



Speaking of "race more", let's make it special by booking one with a race against well-known sportscars but sadly, the only one available for booking is the Maroondah Reservoir Trail and it's packed with dirt no sportscar ever survived but on a lighter note, this is going to be like the hero of The Jungle Book. Racemo, do your thing!



Not exactly like The Jungle Book but this Indian sportscar has the heart of the world-class performer and I think it got what it takes to take on the established ones on the road because while this car is made by the Indians, the Racemo is a serious performer in the world of sportscar and it's something that should not be underestimated.

2017 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup - Camping World 500

Last Sunday's Camping World 500 race on the 2017 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup season held in Phoenix, Arizona, has been one heck of a risky gamble for the racers gunning for the top spot in the hot Arizonian weather they've faced, not to mention classic NASCAR moments that swoon the spectators.

From Kenseth's crash to Logano's blown tire disaster, this race is a history maker for Ryan Newman and his #31 Chevrolet as this race marks his first-ever victory in his career. Kyle Larson placed 2nd and Busch's in 3rd place, respectively.

The next race is at the Auto Club Speedway this Sunday, the 26th of March, for the Auto Club 400.

Bubble Gang - March 24, 2017 #BGGraduationNa

In the March 24, 2017 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Sunog gags

- Never underestimate...this guy.

- Expect some more surprises for the birthday boy...

- Interview with a mind reader

- Things a mother would do to her kids everyday...

- Bubble Gang does Koko Krunch All in One by spoofing this commercial as SOCO KRUNCH ALL IN ONE. May Gatas Na!

- Cracking the safe

- More news for moms in Balitang Ina!

- Free sample?

- The King has a way to choose a woman...

- Basa-Basa Pik!

Let's Do The News! (March 24, 2017)

- The Department of Health started screening inmates for HIV-AIDS. The screening began at the Quezon City Jail wherein a number of prisoners have already tested positive of HIV. According to Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial, the agency will have a complete list of detainees with HIV once the examinations end this March.

- President Rodrigo Duterte has no plans to release political prisoners in the resumption of peace talks with the communists on April in The Netherlands. The President stressed that the freed prisoners months ago are enough.

- Due to opposition, the Congress vote for US President Donald Trump's new healthcare act, which will repeal most of Obamacare, has been delayed.

- Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro will withdraw troops from the border after his soldiers set up camp in Colombia, according to his counterpart, Colombian leader Juan Manuel Santos. Santos, speaking on television, said the incursion of about 70 Venezuelan soldiers into the Colombian border province of Arauca was “totally unacceptable.”

- In case you missed it, Staples Center displayed a statue made in honor of the LA Lakers legend Shaquille O'Neal.

- Tuner TechArt modified a 911 Turbo for a 720HP GTstreetR capable of reaching 60mph in 2.7 seconds.

- Actress Marian Rivera is ranked 2nd place in the list of sexiest woman in Asia, ahead of China's Huang Bingbing and behind India's Deepika Padukone.

TTFN!!!

Let's Do The News! (March 23, 2017)

- Vice President Leni Robredo says that impeachment cases filed against her and President Rodrigo Duterte are just plain nuisances and it distracts the government from doing its job.

- The Committee on Justice and Human Rights approved the proposal that prohibits motorcycles without plates from roaming the streets. Under the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, motorcycles without license plates are not allowed on any street in the country on any given day. The bill was authored by Senator Tito Sotto, and Sen. Richard Gordon.

- A leak of mercury prompted Manila Science High School suspend classes following a teacher rushed to the hospital following the accident in the school's laboratory warehouse.

- British police made several arrests in a raid somewhere in Birmingham following yesterday's attack near the parliament. Five people were killed and about 40 injured when a car ploughed into pedestrians and a suspected Islamist-inspired attacker stabbed a police officer close to the British parliament.

- Shi'ite aid convoys linked to paramilitary groups have begun making regular deliveries to Mosul districts recaptured from Islamic State, bringing much-needed relief but also fears that their backers are encroaching into the mostly Sunni city.

- McLaren released a sketch for their upcoming hybrid three-seater hypercar, which claims to be its fastest ever road car

- The first trailer of the Netflix Original Movie, Death Note, based on the cult classic manga franchise, is now appeared. It stars Nat Wolff as Light Turner and Keith Stanfield as L, among many others. It will be available on Netflix this August 25th. CLICK HERE.

- Celebrity couple Melai Cantiveros and Jason Francisco are proud of their new home in Mindoro.

- A certain report told that a DZRH program hosted by Mocha Uson might get cancelled following harsh attacks against Vice President Robredo.

TTFN!!!

Let's Do The News! (March 22, 2017)

- The Duterte administration promised to enforce the fact that the Scarborough Shoal and all the other disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea are part of the country's territory. During a press conference in Bangkok, Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo assured the public that the government is still committed in a peaceful and diplomatic resolution of the disputed territories.

- CALABARZON tops "Project Double Barrel Reloaded" among the regional police offices nationwide. According to a PNP Operations Center report, a total of 2,802 have been arrested in their Anti-Drug Police Operations, 569 of these were recorded in CALABARZON based in Camp Vicente Lim, Canlubang in Laguna.

- Foreign ministers meet in Washington on Wednesday to agree on the next steps to defeat Islamic State, the first such gathering of the U.S-led military coalition since the election of President Donald Trump in November.

- Meanwhile, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives will vote on President Trump's revised Affordable Health Care Act, now called Trumpcare, on Thursday, Most feared that the new bill will kick 24 million people off of Obamacare, which will send their insurance premiums on a drastic rise.

- Cannabis entrepreneurs expressed hopes in Switzerland where business has suddenly taken off in recent months, six years after the country legalized low-potency “marijuana-light.”

- Former Spice Girl Mel B filed for divorce from her husband after nearly a decade of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. 

- Apple unveiled the newer version of the iPad with a brighter screen and other improvements. It's now available to order from Friday and with a $329 starting price that is the lowest ever for a full-sized tablet from Apple. The smaller iPod SE model will be available in 32 and 128 gigabyte (GB) versions, replacing the 16 GB and 64 GB models.

- With Ruby Kurosawa added, looks like the first-years of the Love Live Sunshine Nendoroid range is complete, leaving now to the third-years. Anyway, it's now available to order starting at 3,241 Yen plus tax and shipping and arrives this September.

Nendoroid Ruby Kurosawa

TTFN!!!