This was the aftermath of my New Year’s Eve experience.

Juggling Rock Band with social interaction (i.e Slipping on spilled beer, watching my friend get hit in the face with a cake, etc.), the living room was covered in a barrage of confetti cannons, turning things into a miniature re-enactment of Times Square in New York. Despite it being blurry, this picture really sums it up. God I miss having a beanbag of my own.

But then of course, the best part was afterwards when I heard that my mother was spending New Year’s alone due to my father having to go into work and I embarked on a journey to try and bus it home (T’was free to ride that night). Sadly, it ended with me getting stranded and nearly frostbitten, my mom going to bed before I got there and a reminder that a certain friend of mine freaking rocks.

….Okay, enough personal bits. Let’s make up for lost time and start the year off right with a brand spanking new Friday ACE!

-To begin with a bang, once again (apologies :P) here are the first promos for Kamen Rider Kiva and Engine Sentai Go-Onger!

Sure Kiva looks good but here’s the announced staff:

Main director: Ryuta Tasaki (main director of Agito, Ryuki, Faiz, The Next)
Main writer: Toshiki Inoue (main writer of Jetman, Changerion, Agito, Faiz; replacement Hibiki writer)
Action director: Michihiro Takeda (main action director of Liveman ~ Jetman; Dairanger ~ Kakuranger; Megaranger ~ Abaranger)

….IT’LL BE FAIZ WITH VAMPIRES >_<!!!!

–The interwebz hath been abuzz about the new Ultra Series movie to hit screens next year, Decisive Battle! The Super 8 Ultra Brothers.

After a mega list of cast members and rumors (All covered in Episode 49 of R5 Central), we’ve finally gotten some solid (possible) plot details via HJU.

Mebius, the Dandy 4 and Heisei-era trilogy [characters] appear together in next year’s movie “Decisive Battle! Super Ultra 8 Brothers” (tentative title).
The opponents are the monster army corps commanded by Hipporito-Seijin.
Because the monster Gorudorasu is appearing, thanks to him it seems as though the Showa and Heisei-era [kaiju] will appear together.

NOTE: the “Dandy 4” are Man, Seven, Jack and Ace

The plot does add up after the recently leaked pics of the cast party and a picture of one of the actresses next to what is sure to be the Hipporito-Seijin suit. Really looking forward to this.

At the same time, director Takeshi Yagi just started his own blog. It’s worth checking out.

-I finally got a Wii for Christmas (!!!!!!!) and now I find myself shopping for accessories, avoiding those peripherals that will only just take up space and/or make me look like an ass in the process. However, I’m tempted to actually buy this just for novelty: the 8-In-1 Dragon Wii Peripheral Set.

Okay, let me get this straight. 7 Weapon add-ons for your Wiimote in one box, one of which being a giant axe, and a mysterious 8th Weapon (which may or may not be your imagination)? Sold.

-News has finally come up concerning the Grindhouse R2 DVD release this March. Why am I even mentioning this? It’s because they’re getting SIX DISC DVD RELEASE!

Here’s the tech specs:

Disc 1: Death Proof (Extended Film)
-English DTS, English DD, Japanese dub
-Japanese subtitles
-Japanese Theatrical/TV trailers
-Staff/Cast Profiles (Text)
-What is Grindhouse? (Text)

Disc 2: Planet Terror (Extended Film)
-English DTS, English DD, Japanese dub
-Japanese Subtitles
-Rodriguez commentary
-International/Japanese trailers
-Staff/Cast Profiles (Text)
-What is Grindhouse? (Text)

Disc 3: Death Proof bonus materials
-Special Message to Japan from Tarantino
-Staff and Cast interviews on Death Proof
-Stunts on Wheels: The Legendary Drivers of Death Proof (20:39)
-Introducing Zoë Bell (8:59)
-Kurt Russell as Stuntman Mike (9:34)
-Finding Quentin’s Gals (21:14)
-The Uncut Version of “Baby, It’s You” Performed by Mary Elizabeth Winstead (1:48)
-The Guys of Death Proof (8:16)
-Quentin’s Greatest Collaborator: Editor Sally Menke (4:38)
-Double Dare Trailer (2:36)

Disc 4: Planet Terror bonus materials
-10-Minute Film School (11:52)
-The Badass Babes of Planet Terror (11:50)
-The Guys of Planet Terror (16:32)
-Casting Rebel (05:34)
-Sickos, Bullets and Explosions: The Stuns of Planet Terror (13:18)
-The Friend, The Doctor and The Real Estate Agent (6:42)

Disc 5: Grindhouse (191 minute theatrical cut)
-English DD, Japanese dub
-Japanese subtitles

Disc 6: Japanese Exclusive Grindhouse bonus disc (106 minutes)
-Grindhouse – US Trailer
-2006 San Diego Comicon
-Tarantino Interview (About the homages in Death Proof, About Planet Terror, Use of Music, Possible Sequel to Death Proof)
-Staff/Cast comments
-The Directors of the Fake Trailers
-Coments on past Grindhouse Films
-Making Of Planet Terror

….That does it. I’m making my iMac Region 2 and buying the damned set.

–Speaking of DVD releases, March 11th will be dark day this year. Tis the day that the 2004 Devilman movie will be released on R1 DVD.

Anybody I know who buys this movie and still enjoys it shall be banished to the Cornfield for the remainder of their days. Seriously, what the hell….

–I have found the greatest Japanese TV Drama ever. Pro Golfer Reiko

If anybody can find me episodes of this series, for the love of all that is sacred in this world, let me know.

–TEAM Nekokan, best known for their hit “Airman Ga Taosenai” (lit. I Can’t Beat Air Man), has struck again with yet another original Megaman/Rockman based musical hit: “Clear Made Wa Nemuranai” (lit. I Won’t Sleep Until I Clear [This Stage])

The single made its debut at the recently passed Comiket 73. (This of course sucks because I had two friends at said event and had I known, I would have asked one of them to track this down for me -_-). While on the subject though, here’s another one of their originals, “Sylpheed”:

And for an encore, a re-arranged English version of “I Can’t Beat Airman”:

If you like what you hear, go buy both the singles for the original version of “Airman Ga Taosenai” and “Koitsu Wa Honto Ni Kyourouku Suru Ki Ga Aru No Ka?” (lit. Are They Really Assisting Me?) on the US iTunes Music Store. Click the links and support these guys.

–To promote the forthcoming Haruhi Suzumiya video game, Akibahara based video game and doujinshi shop Messe Sanoh placed this life sized Haruhi figure outside their shop.

In other news, the world’s first ever 100 Fanboy Pileup occurred shortly after this shop opened…

And now for some newsbits to go out on:
–Libraries Are Getting Desperate: “Read And Get A Wii” (Kotaku)
–Aika R-16 DVDs: Buy Them For The Panties, Keep It For The Fan Service (ANN)
–Takashi Miike Retrospective In LA (Twitch)
–Mazinger Z Gets Into Politics (ANN)

That’s it for the final Friday ACE of 2007 and the first Friday ACE of 2008. And now, Godzilla taking a leak: