Many forums have this figured Id add one here. I find it best to summarize , recommend , but avoid spoilers (unless we have spoiler tags)

Godzilla - 6/10
I was really excited to see this. Im a huge fan of moves like Cloverfield and Pacific Rim. Im an AV junkie so any opportunity to test the limits of an Imax theater is welcome. After reading about the directors vision , and knowing Bryan Cranston was in it I was sold. I went to see it in IMAX during the weekday with only a few people in the theater. Cranston was great as I expected. The camera work was superb and everything was just gorgeous to look at. However the first 1/3rd of the movie and last act were filled with mediocrity. Without giving anything away the real reveal and battles really dont take place until the end.  While it is in fact riddled with destruction the middle of the movie is basically non important and you never get a sense of impending doom or importance. While technically a better film its action and story telling fails to match the over the top amazing fights in Pacific Rim , or instill any of the impending doom or fear that both Cloverfield and Pacific Rim did. If you go see it I highly recommend seeing at your IMAX/RPX or equivalent theater. And if you have to pee in the middle..go ahead.


XMEN: Days of Future Past - 9/10

I make no secret of my fanboydom. I love the XMEN franchise , I love the mutant storylines more than any other marvel aspects. When I first saw the teaser trailer my jaw dropped. I just couldnt wait. Then slowly but surely images started leaking , and some awful follow up trailers came out and my anticipation was gone. Just about every style decision made I was against. Future sentinels were NOT like Nimrod , Quicksilver looks like a total goofball , and past sentinels werent the least bit menacing. Why is wolverine and not Kitty Pride going back ugh makes no sense...so blah....

Boy was I wrong on all counts. Singer for all the bashing he took leading up to this finally delivered the perfect mutant XMEN movie. A perfect explanation why future sentinels looked that way  , an absolutely jaw dropping sequence with Quicksilver , and a masterful set of explanations to almost every possible loose end without ever having a "let me stop and explain like your 5" moment. Everything just works and is fluid. Acting on everyones part was top grade. James Mcavoy was just fantastic. Every XMEN movie to this point had some glaring flaw or terrible performance. Not here. Even the intolerable version of Storm by Halle Berry was great. Im not an expert enough to explain why , but XMen movies are always shot and look gritter than the rest of the Marvel movies. This one is no different but it works in a way that hasnt since the first XMEN.

My only faults are sentinels never talk or announce anything ominous (a hall mark of them) , and the xmen franchise has failed again to give me a signature soundtrack or theme music.

*VERY MINOR SPOILER*
Seeing one of my favorite mutants get absolutely obliterated twice in dramatic fashion made my 8 year old self sad but current self laugh out loud.

Whats up guys. So this is my build in a large nutshell.

THE FORM....
Frame: IP-056 Cant find my notes but was IIRC 1480-1530 grams with paint. 21" QR rear.
Paint was 80 took them an extra 7 days,total shipping time from order to door was around 17 days. (400+80 paint+80shipping)
Fork: Marzocchi Corsa SL ($275)
Headset: XMIs "FSA" headset ($25)
Stem: Ravx Tempo 70mm
Handlebars: XMI Carbon 700mm ($40)
Rear Shifter: SLX 660 ($29)
Rear Derailleur: SLX M663 (not sure if its long cage or short) ($40)


DRIVETRAIN and spinning stuff.
Brakes: Started with BB7s  but rotor rub became an ongoing issue along with difficulty with initial cabling setup. Currently Shimano Deore 596 ($120 w rotors). Was impatient in hindsight should have waited for XT deal as others mentioned.
Rotors: 160MM RT-56 rotors
Crankset and Bottom Bracket: Shimano M670 triple converted to single chain ring ($99)
Chain: Shimano XT HG94 ($35)
Cassette: SLX HG-81 ($40)
Pedals: Deity Compounds ($45)
Wheels: Initially Sun Ringle Black Flag , Currently XMI Carbon wheelset with Novatec hubs. ($239)
Tires:WTB Nano ($40e)

Comfy-Makers and glam
Seatpost: Thompson Masterpiece setback ($70 on EB)
Seat: WTB Speed V
Grips: ESI Extra chunky
Post clamp: Generic from Amazon.
Cables: Jagwire white braided for RD , Silver braided Hydraulic Hoses. ($60)
Weight: 24.1 pounds with pedals , and non weenie tubes.


Like others I had headset issues , even after shimming. Ordered Cane Creeks. We'll see how that goes. I went with the "Niner" look for initial painy as they are IMHO the best looking frames around.  Im still not done with Frame decaling. I have a few PhotoShop renders I cant decide on. So not sure if plastidip ,airbrush or vinyls will be how I finish up the frame.
I went into this build with more of a "every piece handpicked and installed by me" "best bang for the buck" mentality more than an all out weight weenie approach. It took me over a month to accumulate all the parts waiting for good deals , lucking out on CL , and some long shipping times. It took me another few weeks to get everything dialed in right as I only had "basic" bike knowledge at that point. Ive learned ALOT which was most of the reason why I endeavored.

All in all putting this thing together is as much fun as Ive had with any project since my first PC build a decade ago...or tricking out my BMX as a kid. NYC is full of fixies ,and rusted trackbikes so having something completely out of the ordinary is great. Ive lost count how many times people look and say "how can you ride such a heavy thing"...then have them lift it and realize its as light as their road bike. No one has any idea what brand it is , or where I got it from.    This bike is WAY above my skill set on trails but I love MTBs so F it. Not sure what I have to add to the knowledge base but Ill answer any questions.



Frame arrival


Year later first day swapping out brake lines and about to put on decals.


Super tempted to speed up and splash the birds.


First light trail ride of '14




BMX/Skate park practicing track stands , stairs , and getting used to brakes.