I have a limited at best knowledge of One Piece.

I have seen the odd episode and have played one of the games, but I have never actually properly gotten into the show. I mean with over 1000 episodes, it is a pretty intimidating show to even look at picking up.

I figured the latest movie might be a great way to sample this beloved series, and I was kinda right.

One Piece Film: Red has the Straw Hat Crew headed to a pop concert. Uta is a pop star famous on the internet, and this is her first live show ever. Crowds come en masse, but there is more to this place than meets the eye. She tells the crowd she can make whatever they need appear, so people can stay forever.

People oddly cheer, despite that sounding clearly sinister.

Our hero Luffy is at the show and realises that Uta is a childhood friend of his, and she is the daughter of Shanks.

Some other pirates decide to try capturing her when they realise her parentage and she captures them with some musical power. Then the whole facade slowly disappears and we see there are all kinds of messed up goings on here.

If you are new to the series, then you can definitely follow this.

The movie uses just enough exposition throughout to keep you following. Me, for example, totally forgot who Shanks was. A quick explainer that Luffy got his hat from him and he’s a boss pirate, and I was along for the ride. There are a lot of references in the movie for longtime fans, which I figured out as people gasped and laughed around me for seemingly no reason. But this didn’t detract from the experience as a newbie.

The movie does drag quite a bit in the middle, it really felt like a solid 20 minutes could have been cut to tighten up the pace a bit.

Even some of the fans near me were checking their watches. As I walked out I definitely heard others echo my thought that it was great but long. The basic animation throughout the movie was fine, like better than anime but not as amazing  as some of the anime movies I have seen.

It does ramp the animation up hard near the end with some truly crazy sequences. These scenes looked incredible on the screen and justifies buying the cinema ticket.

On the whole I really enjoyed One Piece Film: Red. Sure it could have been condensed a little, but it does cover a bunch of different story lines and weaves them together well. If you are new to the franchise then some brief exposition will pull you along for the journey offering just enough for the length of the movie.

If you are a long time fan, then based on the reaction of the crowd I think you will have a great time too.

The post One Piece Film – Red (Madman – 2022) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Apple has announced thier iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus RED Special Edition, the new generation of iPhone in a stunning red finish.

Both phones sport a beautiful glass enclosure, now in red, with a matching aluminium band and a sleek black front. The special edition RED iPhone will be available to order online in select countries and regions tomorrow and in stores beginning Friday, 13th of April 2018.

Apple also introduced a new RED iPhone X Leather Folio. Crafted from specially tanned and finished European leather for a luxurious look and feel, the new folio joins other RED devices and accessories available for customers to purchase.

A portion of proceeds for all RED purchases go directly to Global Fund HIV / AIDS grants that provide testing, counselling, treatment and prevention programs with a specific focus on eliminating transmission of the virus from mothers to their babies. Since partnering with (RED) in 2006, Apple has donated more than USD$160 million to the Global Fund, serving as the organisation’s largest corporate donor.

“This special edition RED iPhone features a stunning red and black colour combination and also offers customers the opportunity to make an impact in fighting the spread of HIV and AIDS,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of Product Marketing. “iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus improve on everything we love about iPhone, including Retina HD displays that are more beautiful than ever, the most powerful and smartest chip ever in a smartphone with the A11 Bionic and more advanced cameras for unbelievable photos and videos. We are proud to support (RED) with this bold new iPhone and hope customers think it is as special as we do.”

“Today’s announcement is further evidence of Apple’s leadership in and commitment to the AIDS fight since the beginning of (RED) in 2006,” said Deborah Dugan, (RED)’s CEO. “The more than USD$160 million Apple has donated in the last 11 years today equates to more than 800 million days of lifesaving ARV medication that prevents the transmission of HIV from mothers to their babies. We’re honoured that Apple has dedicated its resources to our purpose, and can’t wait to see customers bring our mission to life through the purchase of iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus RED Special Edition.”

iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are a new generation of iPhone featuring a glass and aluminium design made with the most durable glass ever in a smartphone, Retina HD display, A11 Bionic chip and are designed for the ultimate augmented reality experience. The world’s most popular camera is even better and wireless charging brings a powerful capability to iPhone. iPhone 8 Plus features dual 12-megapixel cameras and introduces Portrait mode with Portrait Lighting, bringing dramatic studio lighting effects to iPhone, allowing customers to capture stunning portraits with a shallow depth of field effect in five different lighting styles.

The post Red iPhone 8 & iPhone 8 Plus SE Announced appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Apple today announced to us at StG the release of iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus RED Special Edition in a vibrant red aluminium finish, in recognition of more than 10 years of partnership between Apple and (RED). This gives customers an unprecedented way to contribute to the Global Fund and bring the world a step closer to an AIDS-free generation. The special edition (PRODUCT)RED iPhone will be available to order online worldwide beginning Saturday, 25th of March 2017.

“Since we began working with (RED) 10 years ago, our customers have made a significant impact in fighting the spread of AIDS through the purchase of our products, from the original iPod nano (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition all the way to today’s lineup of Beats products and accessories for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “The introduction of this special edition iPhone in a gorgeous red finish is our biggest (PRODUCT)RED offering to date in celebration of our partnership with (RED), and we can’t wait to get it into customers’ hands.”

“Apple is the world’s largest corporate donor to the Global Fund, contributing more than US$130 million as part of its partnership with (RED),” said Deborah Dugan, (RED)’s CEO. “Combining the global reach of the world’s most loved smartphone with our efforts to provide access to life-saving ARV medication in sub-Saharan Africa, customers now have a remarkable opportunity to make a difference and contribute to the Global Fund through the purchase of this new beautiful (PRODUCT)RED iPhone.”

iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are the best, most advanced iPhones ever, packed with unique innovations that improve all the ways iPhone is used every day. Both phones feature the most popular camera in the world with advanced camera systems that shoot incredible photos and videos day or night, more power and performance with the best battery life ever in an iPhone, immersive stereo speakers and a wide colour system from camera to display, all in a water and dust resistant design.

iPhone comes with iOS 10, which brings more expressive and animated ways to communicate in Messages, new ways to use Siri with your favourite apps, beautifully redesigned Maps, Photos, Apple Music, and the Home app, which lets you simply and securely set up, manage and control your HomeKit accessories all in one place.

(RED)’s critical work provides access to life-saving HIV/AIDS programs in sub-Saharan Africa, which is home to more than two thirds of the world’s HIV-positive population. One hundred percent of all money raised by (RED) goes directly to Global Fund HIV/AIDS grants that provide testing, counselling, treatment and prevention programs with a specific focus on eliminating transmission of the virus from mums to their babies. Since it was founded in 2006, (RED) has generated more than US$465 million for the Global Fund, with more than US$130 million from Apple alone.

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The post Apple Introduces iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 Plus RED Special Edition appeared first on Shane the Gamer.