Megaman NT Warrior MegaBuster Battle
Every year, the parental advocacy group World Against Toys Causing Harm (or WATCH) publishes its list of the top 10 toys most likely to, as they put it, "cause childhood injuries or even death."
I was shocked, then, to find the totally tubular (yet peace-promoting!) Megaman NT Warrior MegaBuster Battle Weapon among those toys the group highlights as being 2004's biggest offenders.
Sure, a pointy plastic sword armband that can, with some adjustment, shoot foam missles might not exactly seem like a pacifist's dream at first glance, but I think the MegaBuster will ultimately save more lives than it takes.
Bullies at school stealing Junior's field trip money? They'll cower in fear at the sight of the MegaBuster's awesomeness.
Roommate letting those dishes pile up in the sink? Brandish that sword and re-assert your authority.
Persistent co-workers asking to play with your MegaBuster sword while you're trying to write about it? A little projectile action will keep them at bay.
Like a trusted friend, it's always going to be there when you need it; not to harm, but simply to remind everyone with regular arms that, when you have a plastic sword attached to your limb, no matter the argument, you win.
-- Reviewed by Paul Thompson
Nirvana: 'With The Lights Out'
More than 10 years after Nirvana recorded its last album of entirely new material, many of the group's fans have grown up, left home and are actually trying to do something with their lives.
Fortunately, this holiday season finally sees the release of a multi-disc box set of previously unreleased or otherwise difficult-to-find selections spanning the group's career.
What better way to remind your favorite Generation X-er of his or her slacker roots than with a sloppy but still moving early version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit?"
In all seriousness, though, the idea of every elusive B-side recording and formerly unheard live track from this notoriously bootlegged group should make any grunge fan drool.
Solo acoustic demos of songs like "Sliver" and "All Apologies" featuring nothing more than singer Kurt Cobain and his guitar are enough to make us hope that these aren't the last recordings to be found.
-- Reviewed by Paul Weinstein
'Napoleon Dynamite' DVD
Most college-aged moviegoers have heard about this one. If they've seen it, they either love it or hate it. If they haven't, they deserve the chance to see it. In any case, this holiday season provides us all with a chance to own it.
Perhaps watching Napoleon and his wacky antics again is all it would take to win over some of the non-believers, for the secret to realizing the brilliance of this film is to stop thinking about it so hard.
Yes, it has no plot of significance, and yes, its characters simply don't make that much sense; but that's why watching it is such a treat.
For the fans, the DVD edition features commentary, an original short film titled Peluca also starring leading man Jon Heder and deleted scenes, though it is difficult to imagine what possibly could have been cut from this already odd movie. Gosh!
-- Reviewed by Paul Weinstein
Britney Spears
A Christmas tip for all of you obsessive people out there: 'Tis the season to enhance your collection. And since you aren't the one forking over the money, why not go all out?
I happen to be obsessed with Britney Spears, to the dismay of many friends and family members. So it just makes sense that I am asking Santa for her new perfume, CD and calendar.
I got my first whiff of Curious just last week. And no, it doesn't smell like sex, cigarettes or skanks.
Brit says: "It's an exhilarating white floral accented with Lousiana magnolia and wrapped in the sensuality of vanilla-infused musk." My mom says: "I guess it's not that bad." I say: It's hot.
I am just praying my free sample bottle will last until Christmas Day.
As for Britney Spears Greatest Hits: My Prerogative, I already own it. I just want another one to add to my collection (or shrine, whatever).
And all I have to say about the 2005 Britney Spears calendar is this: For the past 10 years, I have received a ballerina calendar under my Christmas tree. No obsession has broken the tradition--until now.
This year, and all through 2005, things are going to be different--and a lot hotter.
-- Reviewed by Katy Lindenmuth
Digital Camera
Who wants a boring five-megapixels in a digital camera when you can have 16.7? Well, if you've got $8,000 to drop, meet the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II. This digital SLR camera with a mouthful of a name is matched with a boatload of features that most consumers would never make use of, but dream about anyway.
-- Reviewed by Jason Cox
Plasma TV
Are your Halo 2 deathmatches just not cutting it on your puny 45-inch big screen? Well, why don't you give it a shot on NEC's PX61XM2 -- a 61-inch plasma TV of epic proportions, including price. Retailing at about $14,000, this NEC bad boy is one of the biggest of its kind in screen size but not volume: plug this baby in anywhere, because it's less than five inches deep.
-- Reviewed by Jason Cox
Headphones
I'm a total audiophile but hate those giant headphones that make me look like I'm listening for enemy vessels on a submarine. Enter the Ultimate Ears UE-10 Pro. These tiny ear bud headphones will cost you more than two iPods, but sacrificing some of your college tuition may well be worth it. Each bud has three speakers in it -- two woofers and a tweeter -- and to top it off, you can get these things specially molded to fit in your ear and no one else's.
-- Reviewed by Jason Cox
Coffee machine
But beyond the senses of sight and sound is perhaps the most under-appreciated -- taste. Java fiends, meet your match. The Miele Coffee System CVA615 is the penultimate caffeine-making experience. Bigger than most microwaves, the CVA615 grinds, heats, froths and a dozen other things that I don't even understand. It goes for around $2,000 but, for all intents and purposes, will put a Starbucks in your kitchen.
-- Reviewed by Jason Cox
