[GashaponR] Sailor Venus (star wand) [S.M.Wands Gashapon Can Set 2]

[MyFigureCollection][Figure.FM]

This review is way over due! I actually posted about buying this wand about 3 weeks ago with every intention to post up a review, but due to life I just never got the chance to sit down long enough to write up my opinions. Sorry for this and I hope the wait wasn't too much. To make up for it I'm not only going to be giving away a spare I have of this wand (I was given a spare due to a shipping flaw where 4 of the same wand were sent) but I'll also be trying to find a few other goodies to be given away. In order to win this wand read the details at the bottom of this post, as for the other goodies I'll be posting that give away up on a different post before June is over.

I've always been a big fan of Sailor Venus. She's just in my opinion the perfect scout. I don't think this opinion of mine is clouded by the fact that Venus is my ruling planet based on my birth day, but because Minako herself is just a well balanced yet believable character. She was doing the whole scout thing on her own before any of the others including Sailor Moon herself was discovered, has a fantastic personality, a really good head on her shoulders, can be a "background leader", doesn't have to be part of a team but does a good job of being part, and best of all just looks so pretty! I can see why the other scouts as well as Luna thought she was suppose to be Princess Serenity in Earth form.

~~~Packaging~~~

The wand arrives in a "can" of sorts that opens in half to reveal a 6 pocket pouch that contains the various pieces for the wand. The creates a do it yourself type of assembly which makes the wand feel like it is your own because you had to take the time to piece it together. It was very easy to put together! The can also comes with an insert that shows the other wands in the series (2 for Sailor Moon and one for Sailor Jupiter). At the bottom of the insert is also directions on how to assemble the wand. I'll go a little more into this in a bit.

 Here's a comparison shot of the wand by the can. 

The can itself is a matte pink, where as the first set

was a more shiny pink. I actually like this matte

version more.

~~~Assembly~~~

Assembling the wand can be done in pretty much any order you want but I started with the fake nail polish which is made with a plastic bottle and sand. You can't really take off the top... I actually ended up breaking it a bit because I was curious but it still looks good on display. The star is a ring you place over the nail polish cap.

 

The wand itself is just two pieces, which is nice because it makes this piece of merch look more professional than something that had to be painted. It snaps together nicely and can just as easily be taken apart for storage 

~~~Various Pics & Thoughts~~~

 As you can see from the far right image I cracked the nailpolish top on one side when trying to see if it would open >.> terrible idea. If you end up buying this or winning the one I'm giving away please do not attempt to take the top off. Also as you can see the ring has an interesting back that is screwed on. The ring only fits my pinky and has that cheap play jewlery feel to it so I personally will just be keeping it on the wand for display. Other than that the material for the wand is really nice and feels wonderful in hand. While the nail polish does not snap on the top piece it does stay in place pretty well even when moving the wand side to side. I'm not too sure if it is anime accurate size, but it looks really nice in person and if I had a transformation wand in real life this would be a good size.

Overall I am really happy with this item. I got it for a nice price at Robo Gato which is a local anime/ Gundam shop I've been going to for many years now. If you're looking for new Sailor Moon merch defiantly check that place out. He's almost always current with releases and takes deposits if you'd like to reserve items so they don't sell out on you (this has happened to me several times but he has been able to get re-releases so if something does sell out on you don't hesitate to ask if the shop is able to get more). This is mainly if you live in El Paso or Las Cruces though >.<

Now I bet you've either read this review or skipped to the end wanting to win your very own Sailor Venus star transformation wand. Welcome either way to the rules ;P

1) Be sure to like R//W[G] on Facebook

2) Post a comment about why you love Sailor Venus 

3) also include your email in the comment so that I may contact you if you Won!

4) Share this blog entry or the post about it on Facebook for bonus points

I'll be posting the winner on my Facebook page around the end of June and I will email you if you won. I'll also handle the cost of shipping if it's not someone local to me who wins. I may even throw in a surprise goodie for the winner. Best of luck <3 br="">

V-Day 2K13// Warm Bodies [Review]// Nana To Kaoru

Image copyright AkiaTomiyo (r//w[g])

Well nettaversers, it's that time of year where you either have a loved/liked one to call a "valentine" or you complain about how the holiday is usuless and you just want it to be SAD (singles awareness day).... or you're one of the neutral parties who could care less either way. Anywhosills, Happy V-day to you regardless. In order to add some R//W[G] to this "holiday" I've decided to do a few things with this post. The first one being a mini-review of Warm Bodies that I got to see yesterday with my Valentine despite an incident that almost ruined my perfectly planned day. Second is a manga feature of Nana to Kaoru.

Image copyright Summit Entertainment

Theater Release Date: Feb 1st, 2013

Run Time: 1hr 38min

Type: Young Adult Novel Adaptation

Synopsis: After R (a highly unusual zombie) saves Julie from an attack, the two form a relationship that sets in motion a sequence of events that might transform the entire lifeless world.

I was really looking forward to this film despite my not liking this whole zombie surge that has been around lately. Summit Entertainment has been making strides in the movie industry lately. With the Twilight Saga being over, I was wondering if they'd try and branch out to broader audiences. It seemed like they were trying to do so with Red Ridding Hood but that movie was aimed much at the same audience. While Warm Bodies is based on a young adult novel, the content it much darker and much goreier at points... but does that add any broader appeal?

Yes and no. While zombies have next to nothing to do with teenage romance, in this movie romance plays a bit part in causing a change to those who were once %100 human. The source material for this series was a YA novel, and those tend to have to have romance in them. Rarely is there none.

The film contained some really nice comedic moments, my favorite being later on in the film which would be spoilers so I will not really go into them. The zombie effects may not have been on par with the Walking Dead, but the bonies weren't all that great... seems like Summit still has budget troubles. Hehe. Also the music was interesting...

Overall, if you're a fan of stuff like Twilight, Red Riding Hood, The Hunger Games- basically if you don't mind cheesy teen romances but with a mix of zombies; go ahead and check this out. Otherwise wait until you can rent it for little over a dollar (or even go to the $1 movies instead) because this movie really limits its audience.

Review rating:

***.5

((different take on the whole zombie genre, but there is not much here for real zombie enthusiasts and those looking for more than a teen romance))

 

Image copyright Ryuta Amazume

I really wish this manga would come out in English. I could give so many less cares about it being an S&M manga because while that is a main focus this is not the violent or looked down upon S&M... you know what, check out this Weekly Manga Recap from thatguywiththeglasses.com (I never new the same website that had Nostalgia Critic covered manga as well till I was browsing the site last week) it really explained how I feel about the series.

Type: Japanese Manga

Genre(s): comedy, romance, ecchi, seinin, school

# of Chapters: 87+

Synopsis: 

Kaoru is a 17-year-old virgin who has an S&M fetish. He has always dreamt about an SM relationship with his childhood friend Nana, who is looked upon as perfect and is always the target of boys' eyes. Their relationship has somewhat deteriorated through the years, due to them hanging out with different people and because Kaoru is not taking his education too seriously. One day though, Kaoru's mother gives some of his S&M toys to Nana for safekeeping. Nana finds the leather one-piece that Kaoru bought and tries it on but accidentally locks herself in it and doesn't have the key! Kaoru frees her of the one-piece, but then Nana realizes she may like Kaoru's hobby more than she thought. Subsequently, the two of them start engaging in so-called "breathers". These breathers are intended to relieve Nana of stress that originates from her attempts at keeping her grades and name perfect.