Wolfathon

Random TV Season Review - The Irregulars (Season 1)

2021-03-30T13:00:00.061+01:00

I'm not really sure how many adaptations of Sherlock Holmes there have been. But I can definitely say that its almost certainly the second most adapted British thing with the first no doubt being A Christmas Carol. So we have this adaptation where for what may be the very first time, Holmes and Watson (and most associated characters) are supporting characters instead of taking centre stage. This got me interested in this new Netflix series because I've always seen the pair leading the charge in most adaptations that I have seen and/or played. So let's take a look dear reader:

The series is about a group of teenagers who live on the streets of London. Calling themselves the Irregulars and led by the headstrong, fierce and protective Bea (played by Thaddea Graham), they get hired by John Watson (played by Royce Pierreson) to solve a series of paranormal cases that get increasingly bigger and bigger over time. Even though Sherlock Holmes (played by Henry Lloyd-Hughes) takes the credit for their work, the team gain a new member in the form of prince Leopold (played by Harrison Osterfield) who despite his heritage, willingly joins the team and provides resources and knowledge while taking a liking to Bea.

I like this adaptation. It actually does something different that no other Sherlock Holmes adaptation has ever done which is making them not the main focus. Which in a way, makes this one stand out. At only eight episodes long in this first of hopefully many seasons, it's pretty regular, but with something quite special about it's charming cast. Some episodes are better than others, but it's good fun with an element of horror and mystery. 8/10

Movie Review - Zach Snyder's Justice League

2021-03-29T13:00:00.123+01:00

Normally I don't review extended or alternate versions of already released films, but today I'm making an exception. Since the release of Justice League back in 2017, fans have been wanting for a long time to see the film as Zach Snyder originally visioned. This is because the version of the film we saw in 2017 lacked a lot of what was promised in the trailers. This of course was due to Zach Snyder's departure during production due to the sudden loss of his daughter (of which this version of the film pays tribute to) and Joss Whedon being brought onboard to finish the work Snyder hadn't finished. But ultimately he changed too much (some out of his own accord and others at the urging of Warner Bros. and DC) and the film we were promised, ended up being a fan service Avengers like film disguised as a DCEU film with too many problems to count. The DCEU has always struggled to compete with the MCU due to changes in direction and not enough consistency. So lots of questions to answer with this version of the 2017 film so let's take a look and see if it was worth all that effort in the end:

What you'll notice as the film goes on is that its separated into parts which is likely due to the original plan for its release being a miniseries. But ultimately it was a film. The story is near to being the same as the original film, but extended and expanded upon. For those that need a refresher, the being known as Darkseid (played by Ray Porter) attempts to conquer the Earth thousands of years ago with powerful objects known as the Mother Boxes. A combined effort to take him on saw the Amazons, Atlanteans, the Old Gods, humanity and a Green Lantern battle him formally as seperate armies before becoming one unified force against him. After the battle, Darkseid fled while the boxes were left behind. One was given to the Amazons, another to humanity and the last one to the Atlanteans where each one would attempt to protect and hide the boxes in case Darkseid or any one of his allies ever return. Following the death of Superman (reprised by Henry Cavill), his death triggers the reactivation of the Boxes and so Darkseid sends Steppenwolf to Earth to claim them so that Darkseid can finally turn Earth to look like Apokolips with the Boxes as it's the one planet he has yet to conquer. The Amazons send a desperate message to Wonder Woman (reprised by Gal Gadot) who in turn warns Batman (reprised by Ben Affleck) and the pair work on forming a team of super beings to tackle the impending threat and possibly reawaken the hero that is the biggest threat to Darkseid.

There is plenty I really like about this film. Had it been the version we saw in 2017, perhaps the DCEU would've been a worthy contender at long last to the MCU. Is it better than the 2017 film? Yes. Does it fix all the problems? Most but not all. Does it deliver what was promised all those years ago? Yes and then some. Is it the greatest superhero film of all time as people have made out? No, not by a long shot. It is a long film, but the fighting is more epic than the first time around, the visuals are stunning and while I do like Danny Elfman as a composer, Junkie XL's score fits better in this film. Some of the actors that didn't appear in the original cut, do appear here, and we even get a surprise superhero appearance which wraps up a character's development (a character who played an important role in the first two DCEU films). Plus the time travelling Barry Allen (once again played by Ezra Miller) thing is finally given some closure. I guess overall, it proves to the higher ups that they should take more risks and actually stick to the route they intend rather than change it too much, rush it and make it all a big confusing mess of a cinematic universe. So yeah a much better film than what we saw the first time round and also more epic too. The fans finally got their wish, but it came too late due to what had happened between 2017 and now with the actors and filmmakers. 8/10

Random Video Game Review - Metal Gear Rising: Revengance

2021-03-25T13:00:00.095+00:00

So much like with the Final Fantasy games, the Metal Gear games are also a series that I have struggled to figure out how to review them. In comparison, it's not an anthology series, but most of the games have a different character that goes by the name "Snake" with similar facial features and everything. So my decision there is to just review the games I have played and should they be part of a series featuring the same "Snake", then I'll review them as a series provided that I can access them somehow. So today we're looking at perhaps the only game not to feature someone called "Snake" and also the game set at the furthest point in the series timeline. It's a game that many people enjoyed playing, but will unlikely to have a sequel due to a fallout between Konami and Kojima Productions which has put the series overall at a halt (probably because the latter wants to go independent while the former feels as if they would be nothing without them). So let's take a look:

Set in an alternative 2018 (the game actually came out in 2013), the katana wielding cyborg known as Radien (voiced by Quinton Flynn who has voiced him since Sons of Liberty) is providing a security detail to the prime minister of an unnamed African country. But they are ambushed by rouge PMC Desperado which prompts Raiden to starting destroying the enemy forces. But his attempts come at a cost when the leader who is also a cyborg called Sundowner (voiced by Crispin Freeman) kidnaps the prime minister citing that there is a need for war. Later on Raiden gets some much-needed upgrades and goes on a revenge spree to find Sundowner and his forces and take them out. But he remains unaware of a much greater threat coming from the US Government. So while the main series focuses on stealth, Metal Gear Rising (which I hope will be more than just the one game) is more action orientated with a focus on hack and slash gameplay. While the katana is Raiden's primary weapon of choice, he isn't restricted to that as you can also use guns, grenades and other weapons as you play (as well as objects such as the iconic cardboard box). As you play, there will be some quick time events and moments when time slows down, and you can hack and slash away as you see fit. Most things in the game can be cut by the katana, but not everything. Also, as is often used in these kinds of games, some fighting moves can bring with them a lot of different combos and the ability to counterattack which certainly does help. Of course there are also ways where Raiden can ambush the enemies rather than attack head on, but that's up to the player. Also, very important is to use the visor to figure out your plan of action. And later on in the game, Raiden gains an ally which will help in various situations.

Many critics and fans have considered calling this game the best Metal Gear game of the seventh generation of gaming. Me on the other hand (having played this properly long after that generation came to an end), I call this a pretty good hack and slash game that combines elements typically seen in those games with what the Metal Gear series has been known for to give us a Metal Gear game unlike any many would have played before. It's great for anger management, has a fun element to it, and I'd say it's better than the Devil May Cry reboot which was released the same year (though that game had a bit more colour in comparison). 9/10

Random TV Season Review - Pacific Rim: The Black (Season 1)

2021-03-23T13:00:00.060+00:00

Pacific Rim remains to this day as one of my all-time favourite films even though I admit now that it's not entirely perfect. What I found interesting about it was that Guillermo del Toro had no idea that so many giant robot vs kaiju franchises such as Neon Genesis Evangelion existed when he made it and that he unintentionally created a homage to many of them. Since the first film, a sequel which wasn't quite as good was made, and now we have an anime series which I guess is the first time a franchise embraces what it's unintentionally paying tribute to. I suspect this will be an interesting series should it have more than one season so let's take a look:

So the Kaiju that arrived from the Pacific Rim manage to overrun the continent of Australia. The giant Jaeger robots are made to fight back, but ultimately fail and thus Australia is abandoned with only isolated pockets of survivors left. The parents of Taylor (voiced by Calum Worthy) and Hayley Travis (voiced by Gideon Adlon) left their children behind to help fight the Kaiju with the promise of one day returning. But as five years go by, Hayley accepts that they may not come back while Taylor is still hopeful which puts the pair at odds while they stay at a self-sustaining community that had been built in the desert. Hayley later stumbles across an abandoned Jaeger called Atlas Destroyer and together with Taylor, they venture out to find their parents while dealing with Kaiju and other survivors who want the Jaeger for their own purposes.

I'm not really that keen on anime that has its animation go a bit slow. But sometimes with these 3D anime shows, it's OK as its balanced out with faster action packed moments. The show is a worthy entry in the franchise which gives us some great characters, lots of action and some funny tongue in cheek moments too (something that both films lacked a fair bit of aside from the two scientists). Hoping for another series. 9/10

Random Movie Review - Ghost

2021-03-22T13:00:00.068+00:00

Otherwise known as that film with the iconic pottery scene that we would later see parodied or paid tribute to in many other projects. This is normally a film I tend to avoid. The ones that as most romantic films go, are cheesy, cringe worthy and just don't work for me. But with Ghost, it's got a bit more than what is considered normal in these kinds of films. Yes there is a ghost so at least you get what you paid for. So let's see if this film still holds up today:

A banker called Sam (played by the late Patrick Swayze) and his partner Molly (played by Demi Moore) who is a potter, find themselves an apartment to live in Manhattan. They manage to renovate and move into the place with help from Sam's friend and co-worker Carl (played by Tony Goldwyn). Sam confides in Carl his discovery of unusually high amounts of money in bank accounts and goes about investigating it. But on one night, a mugger (played by the late Rick Aviles) attacks both Sam and Molly and manages to kill Sam. Sam becomes a ghost who doesn't go to either heaven or hell most likely due to some unfinished business. With his new form, he attempts to get revenge on the mugger while also finding a way to communicate to Molly which leads him into forming an uneasy alliance with a fortune-teller (played by Whoopi Goldberg) who is somehow able to hear and communicate with him.

You know films with iconic scenes are of course going to be remembered for those scenes. But does that mean the film is great? Well it depends on what people like myself think of it and I think it's OK. Whoopi Goldberg acts like she always does and is always a delight to see. The other actors act well too. But it is a film that has that kind of villain who is just a plain a**hole and isn't liked by the audience at all (even those who love villains anyway) and I tend to not like those kinds of villains personally either. But overall, a decent film that's definitely got the romance part down well (even if it's a bit chessy and cringy) and gives us a ghost and a new perspective of how we watch the world around us. 7/10

Random Old and New Video Game Review - Mafia (2002 and 2020)

2021-03-18T13:00:00.083+00:00

It's been a long time since I last played a Mafia game, and I've now finally had the chance to play through the first game as well as its remake. After the development of Mafia III, 2K announced that the team who worked on that game would start making a new original game. But stressed that they wouldn't forget the Mafia series. Years later and the trilogy arrives on next gen consoles and gets some visual updates on PC. The newly released trilogy was an attempt to remake the first game (from the ground up with extended scenes, visual improvements and a new voice cast), remaster the second game (basically the same game, but with updated visuals and a disclaimer that reflects on the way the world is these days) and update the third game (further visual improvements more than anything else). All of that plus all DLC and additional content included. Surely this means that the games can now be enjoyed in the definitive versions that they are now. Well some problems here and there, but overall you get what you pay for and if you happen to have Mafia II and Mafia III in your PC library, they get automatically updated to the new versions (or in my case, I get two slightly different versions of the second game). So let's take a look at the first game in its original form and in the remake:

2002

Both versions of the game have the same story of the rise and fall of one Tommy Angelo. Once a taxi driver before joining the Salieri crime family out of a need for revenge against those that trashed his cab. You're in the world of Lost Heaven in a 1930s setting where you have driving sections and third person sections which involve some shooting. Some detailed interiors here and there and a weather cycle (one of the first of its kind at the time) is there too. There are tons of cars to find and drive, but all are based on 1920s and 1930s looking cars. Like with the other games, Tommy can get caught by the police when committing crimes so make sure to move it to avoid them catching you (and also obey the speed limit too). One thing I will say about this game is that much of what you see and be able to do here is now used in many more games than back when this one came out. I guess you could say it was quite an influential game. What I personally like is how serious the game is when you compare it to the less serious Grand Theft Auto games which are very similar in many ways. It was a big game at the time and having played it years after release in a world that now sees this as the standard for most big games, it still holds up reasonably well even if people prefer to play the remake. 9/10

2020

The remake is essentially the same game. But lots of visual upgrades, story expansion and the ability to use motorbikes in addition to cars, makes this remake good. We can also explore Lost Heaven at our leisure this time around, and it's still as big as ever. If there was ever a game that deserved a remake, it was Mafia. It's a good remake that brings the game to the current generation while expanding upon elements which should always be the main point of a remake. To build upon the good stuff, improve upon the problems that the original had, and you may get something quite special. 9/10

The remake for me is the true version of the game. Sure it's not perfect and is nothing like the original, but it's called the definitive edition for a reason and I believe that the reason is so that the developers can let you play the game in its absolute best form. The original is great to, but if you're wanting the extended cut, the remake is the way to go.

Random TV Show Review - Star Trek: The Next Generation (Seasons 1-7)

2021-03-16T13:00:00.249+00:00

You know lots of people say that out of all the media that is to do with Star Trek, this is among the best of it. The Next Generation is one show that most in my generation would've been bought up with, and it also became quite an influential one too. So influential that it helped the BBC figure out the way forward for Doctor Who and inspired many sci-fi writers with their own works. It's largely a continuation of the original series, but as the name implies, it has a new generation using the Enterprise. But still with the mission to explore new life and civilizations while boldly going where no one has gone before. It was also one of the last things that franchise creator Gene Roddenberry helped create before his passing. So let's once again boldly go to that galaxy and see what's up:

Season 1

So the Enterprise in this series is known as Enterprise-D, and its captain is Jean-Luc Picard (played by the great Sir Patrick Stewart). Before setting off on its mission, the crew face against a being called Q (played by John de Lancie) who is best described as a trickster sort of being who puts the crew on trail for crimes against humanity. After that, they go on various adventures including time travel in the holodeck, new aliens becoming hostile and of course some new characters to enjoy watching regularly with some bearing similarities to the original crew. Like with most new shows and in this case shows that are set in an already established franchise, the reviews were not great. Honestly though the only thing that really bothered me about this first series is the costumes. They just didn't feel like the uniforms of a crew in a starship (which would of course change over time to something that looked more appealing). Other than that, I enjoyed what I saw here and hope the rest of the series is enjoyable too. 8/10

Season 2

This season saw a couple of changes in casting. Dr. Beverly Crusher (played by Gates McFadden) was replaced for this season by someone else, but would return in the following seasons due to high demand from fans. We also see Whoopi Goldberg joining the cast as the Enterprise bartender Guinan. Highlights from this season include Lt. Commander Data (played by Brent Spiner) taking on a Sherlock Holmes persona, First Officer Will Riker (played by Jonathan Frakes) being part of an exchange program between the Federation and the Klingon Empire and the crew face the Borg for the first time. Although it is the shortest season there is, it does feel strange not having Gates McFadden around given how popular her character is. Though having said that, much of what happens in this season in the way of character development becomes a permanent fixture for the rest of the show and into the films that would follow. That I think is good because like I said, most of us would've grown up with this series more than the original if you were a millennial like me. 8/10

Season 3

Along with the re-establishment of Beverly Crusher, we also meet a lot of other characters in this season who would go on to appear in multiple other forms of media in the franchise. The writing team also had some changes, and we also say goodbye (for now) to Wesley Crusher (played by Wil Wheaton) who goes on to enrol in Starfleet Academy in this season. And the uniforms feel more like the uniforms of a crew this time around which is great. Apart from Wesley, other highlights include Lt. Geordi La Forge (played by LeVar Burton) finding himself attracted to a holographic engineer and forming an alliance with a Romulan, Lt. Worf (played by Michael Dorn) trying to prove his father's innocence, Lt. Reginald Barclay (played by Dwight Schultz) developing an unhealthy addiction to the holodeck and Picard gets kidnapped by the Borg. This season is a strong one as it brings in some much-needed changes and additions to cast and crew. The writing is really good, the acting is great, and it goes on to some deep subject matters such as addictions, knowing the fine line between what you are supposed to do and what is the right thing to do and that help can come in all shapes and sizes if you look. Yeah, really enjoyed this one 9/10

Season 4

This season had a lot of ongoing storylines throughout which is a change from having largely single stories per episode except for the multi-part ones. In this season, Worf faces a challenge that threatens his family honour, and we get to meet his son, a plot against the Federation is afoot with the Duras-Romulans, transporter cheif Miles O'Brien (played by Colm Meaney) get married and has further character development in which we see his past and find out his full name, and we get a couple of family focused episodes too. Season 4 isn't a bad season by any means. It's got perhaps the most character development out of all the seasons here, but nice that we get those reoccurring themes and storylines that go on throughout the whole season instead of just one episode as it was before. A decent season this one is. 8/10

Season 5

This season is notable as the one that was made around the time when franchise creator Gene Roddenberry passed away. Because of this, a two part episode was dedicated to him which features the return of Spock (reprised by the late Leonard Nimoy) now an ambassador who Data shares similarities with. Picard also has a number of memorable moments this season which include helping children when the Enterprise loses power as well as the just mentioned meeting of Spock (Patrick Stewart also directed an episode for this season too). Other highlights include a resolve to the Klingon Civil War, Wesley returning where he tries to get the crew to escape the addiction of a virtual mind-bending game, Counsellor Deanna Troi (played by Marina Sirtis) facing a few challenges that makes her a stronger character and Data faces his supposed destiny. This season is pretty good. Lots going on, plenty more character development (especially with Picard) and some good storylines too. What's not to like. 9/10

Season 6

In this season, we learn just how long Guinan has known Picard. Picard and Troi go on separate yet risky espionage missions away from the Enterprise, Q returns once again and helps Picard (instead of mocking him) with his personal development as a person, Riker faces an accidental transporter-copy of himself and battles with his sanity and Scotty (reprised by the late James Doohan) makes a return along with some other reoccurring characters. I think this time around, more development was made on other characters besides Picard which I guess makes up for his significant development in the previous season. It's another great season overall with nearly everyone getting some kind of development and plenty of fan service too. 9/10

Season 7

In the show's final season, family history becomes the main focus in a number of episodes including one where Data realizes that his "mother" is still alive and another where Geordi attempts to save his own mother, but must come to terms with his loss. Worf meets a future version of his son, Picard time jumps to three different points in time in one final challenge left by Q and one episode sees the crew experience devolution. It is in every way, the perfect ending to the show. It gives us what is arguably one of the most intense yet breathtaking endings to a show and wraps up on the development of its main characters. Of course, it wouldn't be the last we would see of this Enterprise crew as most would later appear in feature films and of course some other shows that were being shown and/or being developed at the time. 9/10

You know, this could very well be seen as being among the best that Star Trek can offer with its shows. Like I said, it was this show that helped pave the way for how most other sci-fi shows after it would go moving forward (especially Doctor Who). It's a great series that has emotions, laughs, fun and lots of action packed moments in a galaxy that continues to boldly go where no one has gone before. 9/10

Random Movie Series Review - The Mask

2021-03-15T13:00:00.101+00:00

Long before Deadpool came around, there was The Mask. An entity living inside a mask which upon worn by anyone, takes over them to become wacky, over the top and fun but also dangerous. Because of this, the entity has the unique status of being both the protagonist and antagonist depending on the person or animal wearing it. I haven't read the comics that the films are based on, but I have watched the original animated series which just so happened to be part of a group of animated shows based on Jim Carrey films (the other two being based on Ace Ventura and Dumb and Dumber with the possibility of there being other shows too). Then years went by, and I eventually ended up watching the films. Now as it is with most Jim Carrey films, he appears in one film but not any other film. It's because of this that any attempt to continue a film series that he was in, almost always ends up being doomed. Of course, he has done some sequels to his own films, but sometimes even he isn't enough to save them. So we have two films to look at here so let's get to it:

The Mask

Stanley Ipkiss (played by Carrey) is what back in the 90s was known as being a loser of sorts. Not having many friends and often ridiculed by his co-workers. But on one fateful day, he comes across a mask which once put on, gives him a superhero-like persona. With this newfound item, he soon starts to make life better for himself and actually find a means to keep living. But his antics soon attract the attention of a local mafia who one of its members, intends to use the mask to overthrow the Don as it were. It's a fun film that further demonstrates how well live action films can do the slapstick humor you would typically see in a Looney Tunes cartoon and this one has no cartoons at all. The jokes are great, the cartoon antics are good and even the villains despite being a bit too safe for my liking, are interesting too. One of Carrey's best films for sure, even if it does have a couple of misfires here and there (but only a couple). 9/10

Son of the Mask

After the success the first film had, a sequel was long in the works. Competitions were held for people to star in the next film, and it had a lot going for it. But boy did it suck so bad. This time around, our wannabe hero is aspiring animator Tim Avery (played by Jamie Kennedy) who comes across the mask when his dog Otis picks it up from a nearby river. Tim is being reluctant in becoming a dad, but putting on a mask seems to make his life that little bit better. But forces from Norse mythology also want the mask for some reason, so Tim has his hands full. This film went way over the top with it's CGI and visual effects and also spent too much time on wide angle shots. With the first film it works because the jokes and goofiness are done without the need for close up shots. Here, its done too much and the film pays the price for it. I'd say its more scary than funny and just doesn't work well as a sequel. If you make a sequel to a Jim Carrey film, you need him back. The film may actually be funny if he returned. 3/10

I am hopeful that we get more things to do with The Mask in the future because it is worth your time even though most of us are more used to Deadpool these days who can be compared favourably to The Mask (or Big Head as he is known in the comics). Give the first one a watch, but don't waste your time on the second unless you intend to scare people with how unintentionally scary it is. 7/10

Random Video Game Review - Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince

2021-03-11T13:00:00.044+00:00

It's been a long time since I last tapped into the world of Trine. But here we are with the long awaited fourth instalment as it continues to be that one series about co-operative play with a choice of characters each with one goal in mind and all with different but usable abilities to help. It's been a best-selling series since its inception and continues to be that case with the fourth game. So let's take a look:

Our three heroes from the previous games, return and are sent on a quest to retrieve a prince who suffers from dark dreams that manifest into real monsters. With the monsters posing a real threat to their world with darkness following them, the heroes' mission is a desperate one indeed. If you know the series by now, you know how it works. You and a few others can play as any one of the heroes in side scrolling levels that includes a bit of puzzle solving and combat. There's also a skill tree (don't think I really need to explain what that is) and a great variety of levels that look and feel great.

Lots of fans were left a bit disappointed with the misfire in the third game. So I guess in a way it's nice to see this game be a welcome return to what made the series great in the first place albeit playing it a bit safe. Some technical issues and lackluster puzzle solving here and there makes this game still good but not as good as what came before. It also perfectly demonstrates how co-operative play should work. Involving everyone and not leaving anyone behind in the process. 8/10

Random TV Season Review - WandaVision (Season 1)

2021-03-09T13:00:00.089+00:00

After a year's absence, Marvel Studios is back and finally begins Phase 4. Each phase has seemed to bring something new to the table with Phase 1 re-introducing the concept of a cinematic universe and how to do it right. Then with Phase 2, we saw a few supporting characters from the films get their own TV shows and Netflix beginning their own set of shows all set in the same universe as a means to fill in the gaps left between film releases. Phase 3 had Marvel Studios working with other studios besides their parent company Disney (Universal and Paramount don't count as they only distributed the films when Marvel Studios was independent before Disney bought them) as well as changing the visual style for a few films and re-introduce the concept of the film ending in defeat. And now with Phase 4, we get Marvel Studios working on all productions both on TV and in film (a separate company called Marvel Television were responsible for the TV shows up to this point and both would ignore each other which led to several continuity errors) with the intention of having the characters that were unlikely to have their own films, have their own series instead. Phase 4 is also expected to explore the multiverse and dip into the horror genre here and there. Originally this phase was to begin with Black Widow, but a reshuffling of releases (which isn't uncommon for most major entertainment companies) has the phase begin with a little show called WandaVision. It's unlike anything we have seen in this massive universe so far so let's get to it:

Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, Wanda (reprised by Elizabeth Olsen) is living her "perfect" life with Vision (reprised by Paul Bettany) who has mysteriously been resurrected after having been killed pre-snap by Thanos years prior. The world they live in ends up being a frequent decade changing sitcom with "cast members" and everything. But not everything is as it seems when outside forces and a few familiar faces attempt to enter this world to find out why it exists and how to bring an end to it.

You know while the MCU has always had some rules in place for filmmakers and show runners to follow, I like it when they decide to bend the rules. Now of course much of this show is set within the little world that was created, but the outside of it feels much like how the MCU is. Still I find it interesting how each episode (well most, but not all) is either a homage or parody of a hit sitcom from various decades. Some being more obvious than others (for me, I definitely saw one that looked like Malcolm in the Middle and another like Modern Family). All good fun if not a bit disturbing and I liked it. Probably won't get a show like this again from Marvel due to how it played out, but here's to always hoping. 9/10

Random Movie Review - Down with Love

2021-03-08T13:00:00.062+00:00

You know thinking about it now, I should've saved this for Valentine's Day. Oh, well. Now I've seen a lot of films that star Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor. Some are great, but then there are a few that are not quite as good. In a week where I'll be reviewing two things that have at least something to do with sitcoms or comedy in general, this film finds itself being a homage to the no sex comedies of the 60s while also featuring elements and themes from some of the more recent ones (well up to the film's release year of course). The big question is does it work and that's what I intend to find out today in a film that stars Bridget Jones herself and young Obi-Wan Kenobi himself. Let's take a look:

Set in 1962, we are in New York where aspiring author Barbara Novak (played by Zellweger) sets out to present a book about how women should be free from the world of love and replace things like men with chocolate (yes it's as sexist as it sounds). But the place she presents it to just so happens to be run by men and unsurprisingly, they reject her book. But somehow she attempts to make contact with a guy who may be able to help her out, leading into a series of bizarre yet funny events revolving around her book and the reactions people had to it.

Comedy in general is known to be funny and can often lead into silly things that would eventually be of some importance later down the line. Zellweger and McGregor are not a good match here which may be intentional considering it's a homage and pokes fun and the good and bad things about 60s no sex comedies. But it has some funny moments and even musical moments too. Probably not a film I would want to see again, but it set out what it intended to do and did a decent job of it at least. 7/10

Random Video Game Review - Phantom Doctrine

2021-03-04T13:00:00.071+00:00

You know with all these things I'm reviewing to do with espionage, I kind of wonder if it's more to do with filling up the empty void that should have had the release of No Time to Die. Yeah, Covid has definitely taken its toll on a lot of things and many great things that were due to come out last year were delayed. But here's hoping that there is light at the end of the tunnel, but don't count on it with games like these. Most spy games and films tend to be bleak, yet action packed and sometimes funny (when it's done right of course) and this game is no exception. It's a turn based game which is something I tend to play a fair bit of and with a sequel on the way, there seems to be no better time to talk about it than now. So let's grab our gear and find out things we shouldn't before the authorities find out:

Set in an alternative 1983 during the Cold War, brainwashing is the big thing alongside a global conspiracy that is dominating the world. Players take on the role of a user-created operative who formerly worked for either the CIA, the KGB or Mossad. He or she leads a secret organization which take on a lot of undercover missions which eventually leads them into a global conspiracy that they must attempt to stop. Initially players have to complete the game as it is, but upon completion of the campaign, you can then play the extended cut version which goes further behind the scenes. Players have a hideout which is pretty much self-explanatory on what you can do within if you've played other games that have hideouts in them. You have access to a network where you can send operatives out to carry out missions or do some scouting. Then there is the investigation board which can reveal new missions and basically let you piece all sorts of different things together to further the story. Most missions play out as turn based, but in a similar manner to the Hitman games where its infiltration at first, but combat coming in if triggered by the player or an enemy detecting suspicious activity. Unlike most turn based games, this one rules out the roll of a die which gives players the chance to use their characters to get out of tricky situations if any were to arise. All your agents are subject to levelling up their abilities if the player chooses to do so.

With procedurally generated things to give each player a different but unique experience each time they play the game, this is probably one of the more polished games in the genre that it's in. You can definitely feel the heat and tension of the situations presented to you and while it is complex, one thing is made clear; the developers did their research and did well on that front. It's not going to be an easy game for people to play, but one that definitely makes you feel like an agent and this may tie us over enough while we wait for the eventual release of the next Bond film. 9/10

Random TV Show Review - Star Trek: Discovery (Seasons 1-3)

2021-03-02T13:00:00.122+00:00

We return you now to the galaxy where boldly going where no one has gone before, is basically overall the whole point of the franchise. But you know doing that is good. Gives lots of show runners and filmmakers plenty to work with. Now Discovery may be a more recent series, but it is that one Star Trek show that actually feels more like a big budget multi-part film than an actual Netflix original series (which is what it is here in the UK). It's also a prequel to the original series to begin with (set 10 years prior) before moving onto being at the other side of the main timeline (900 years after The Original Series). Not only that, but like most shows these days in an ever-changing world, it embraces equality and features a few familiar faces to those who watch The Walking Dead and any one of the Harry Potter films. So let's see how this one plays out:

Season 1

The series focuses on the adventures of the titular U.S.S. Discovery spaceship and one of its crew members called Michael Burnham (played by The Walking Dead's Sonequa Martin-Green) who often gets in trouble, but always with good reason. The first two seasons are also set during the war between the Federation and the Klingons long before when the latter joins the former. The first series is split into two parts with the first focusing on Burnham's demotion and later on prison sentence with the second part focusing on the perils of the Mirror Universe. Like I said in the introduction, this show feels like a multi-part film more than a series which could be due to the visual effects which look great and make most space battles pretty epic. Lots of fans will need to adjust to the changes, but from what I have seen, this series is shaping up to be great. Even though there is a lot of ground to cover. 9/10

Season 2

The second series (told in one part this time) sees the Discovery go out to investigate seven mysterious signals. They come into contact with the U.S.S. Enterprise and a couple of familiar faces including Christopher Pike (played this time by Anson Mount) and Spock (played this time by Ethan Peck), the latter of which is Burnham's adoptive brother. All leading to a point where the ship must travel to the future with the series finale being a direct tie in to the very first episode of The Original Series. I give this series some credit for making every effort to be connected to the rest of the timeline which is certainly felt by me and most fans I'm sure. It clears up a lot of issues that the franchise has had for so many years while offering its own fresh new take on the lore. Definitely a series for the fans that does a lot of fan service while trying to be its own thing in the process. 9/10

Season 3

Following the previous series, Discovery is successful in reaching the future (and therefore the other side of the timeline) in order to prevent an AI from destroying all life. There they discover that an event called "The Burn" has caused a lot of Starfleet ships to be destroyed and the result of which has left the galaxy ungoverned by the United Federation of Planets. Much of the series sees Burnham trying to find Discovery (as there is a little gap between their respective arrivals in the future) and find a means to restore Starfleet and the Federation to their former ways all while finding love and restoring one's memories in the process. This series does well in carving its own path instead of being weighed down from the baggage that the canon has. It explores a future that may look bleak at first, but with a bit of hope, things can return to the way they were. But not without difficulty. 9/10

It may be a more recent series and be one with diversity, but it's a great series. It shows that Star Trek hasn't lost its touch just yet and that there are plenty still yet to see in a galaxy full of wacky yet wonderful things. It was the show that started a new generation of shows for the franchise and I look forward to watching more of Discovery as well as the new shows, but not before visiting some old ones first. 9/10

Random Movie Series Review - The NeverEnding Story

2021-03-01T13:00:00.178+00:00

I'm not the first and almost certainly not the last to say this, but with a title like that I would've expected the film to be never ending. But all good and bad things (more the former than the latter most of the time) must come to an end, and we did get two sequels which kind of extends the run time for a total of about 279 minutes (in other words, slightly beyond the length of the extended version of Return of the King). Though while the second one is worth watching as it does adapt the parts of the book that the first one missed, the third one was an original story and boy was it bad. One of my cousins got me into this and I got to say, I found some enjoyment in it out of loads of fantasy films that I have seen. So let's see if it's still holds up and look at the sequels too, while we're at it:

The NeverEnding Story

Set some time in the 80s, ten-year-old Bastian Bux (played by Barret Oliver) is a troubled boy who is often bullied at school and lives with his widowed yet loving father. One day when escaping bullies, he takes refuge in a bookstore where he meets the bookseller Carl Conrad Coreander (played by Thomas Hill). Curious about a book he is reading, Bastian asks about this book which the bookseller warns is not a safe read. With his curiosity at an all-time high, Bastian secretly takes the book (though not before leaving a note that he would return it) and hides in the school attic where he reads it. What he reads is a fantasy story in which a world is soon to be devoured by a being called "The Nothing" and that a hero is needed to save that world (but not the hero you might be thinking of). This film is a typical 80s film in almost every way. The theme while a sweet tune in its own right, is very much an 80s theme. The scenes we have set in our world look very much like the 80s would look. But then again, it was also released in the 80s so all of that was to be expected. But what about the fantasy world you may ask. Well it's clear that the filmmakers took some inspiration from Jim Henson's work with Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal and of course The Muppets in making the fantasy creatures look and feel real without the use of CGI, and it works. It's been out for years now and to me, it still holds up well as a good fantasy film with emotion, magic, action and a lot of surprise twists and turns along the way. 8/10

II: The Next Chapter

So the second film. A film that wasn't very well-received, but did adapt parts of the second half of the book to give us a new story but trying to keep it all familiar. Following the first film, Bastion (this time played by Jonathan Brandis) has a fear of heights which dashes his dreams of joining his school's swimming club. He returns to the bookstore where he revisits the book from the first film and somehow manages to get summoned into Fantasia (the world of the book). There he learns of a new threat called "The Emptiness" which has been created by an evil sorceress called Xayide (played by Clarissa Burt) who wants to seize control of the world. It's up to Bastion to stop her from fulfilling her plans, even though he remains unaware that beings close to him may not be as they seem. While not as good as the first film, the second is still worth a watch as it does adapt elements of the second half of the book. It's still not perfect, but you get some of the beloved characters from the last film returning, and it does a decent job of what it's trying to achieve. Honestly if it really was based on the second half of the book, they should've just done that instead of using elements because it just didn't work. But then again, there is a third film which by comparison makes this film less bad than it already was to begin with. 6/10

III: Escape from/Return to Fantasia

The only film not to be based on the book and probably should have never been made in the first place. Years have gone by and Bastion (this time played by Jason James Richter) has started high school, but not before moving to a new neighbourhood. Like before, he is troubled and being bullied at school. But in a surprise twist, he discovers the book once again and escapes to Fantasia while the bullies use the book to bring chaos into the world which eventually makes Bastion and his allies be scattered in the real world. And so it's a race to return to Fantasia and stop the bullies before it's too late. The wise and wonderful puppetry characters from the previous films have been turned into utter jokes in this film. Clearly indicating that continuing the franchise beyond the book it came from is a path towards doom. But what I find most annoying of all in this film is Jack Black being unfunny. Yep, you read that right. This film is so bad that Jack Black who is otherwise very funny, is just wasted in this film. That and all the great characters from the previous two films are unnecessarily reworked for the worse. Nothing else to say about this film. Just don't bother. 2/10

Some film franchises do great all the way through. Some do well with a few misfires here and there. And then you get the ones that just don't work. This film series should have only been one film or two if the second one was based on the second half and not used just elements. The first one will always be a classic and the second one is worth a watch too if you are a die hard fan and just want to see how the second half could have played out. But as for the third, it can rot in hell for all I care. Just don't bother with it. It was a series that had great potential, but it just didn't work beyond the first film. 6/10

Monthly Update - March 2021

2021-02-28T13:00:00.024+00:00

March is upon us and no doubt everyone will be doing a retrospective of Covid as March was the month when everywhere had to lockdown for a while. Plans changed, mixed emotions were all around and it was a scary time for everyone. For me though, it came about just after a difficult time for me so going through it alone made things even more difficult.

But despite that, there is hope and hopefully a way out of this mess with vaccines being rolled out among other things.

So on my blog, I will continue with random posts for a while longer. As Disney+ now features more adult orientated content thanks to the inclusion of Star (which you could say is our version of Hulu which we don't get here in the UK), I might be able to find even more things to review on there.

And that's your lot. Stay safe, obey the rules where you are, and we will get through this together just like we have done this time last year.

Random Video Game Review - Devil Daggers

2021-02-25T13:00:00.052+00:00

I've played many games where countless enemies come after you, and it's all about survival of the fittest. This game is like that too. Made by an indie developer, went through Steam Greenlight and is now on all known computers, but not game consoles. It's also on sale at the moment, so I thought to give it a go and see what happens. It's a tough one, but given the nature of it, that was bound to be expected. So let's do this:

So to begin with, this is a first-person shooter. Like I said, the goal is to defeat an onslaught of enemies and survive for as long as possible. You get thrown into an area cloaked in darkness and with all enemies, there are different types that all behave differently. As you may have guessed, the primary weapon is a dagger which the player character throws at enemies from their hands. Each enemy has red crystals inside which once collected, can be used for upgrades such as jumping, moving faster and throwing more than one dagger at any given time. The character dies upon falling off the edge of the platform or in close contact with an enemy. And because this is pure gold for YouTubers, there is a leaderboard and a timer that keeps count of how long your playthrough is. Most games like this expect you to stay where you are and move when you can. This game on the other hand, expects you to keep moving as the safe space slowly shrinks.

This game kind of plays homage in a way to games released in the 90s that were also shooters such as Doom and Quake. It's a good but challenging game with lots of potential to be a big hit on YouTube (though as it's been out for a while, it probably was a hit for a time). It's not easy to play a game where most of what you are doing is in almost complete darkness, but that just adds to the challenge I guess. 8/10

Random TV Serial Review - Doctor Who: The Macra Terror (Season 4, Serial 7)

2021-02-23T13:00:00.095+00:00

It's been a long time since I last reviewed individual episodes of a show (excluding one off specials of course), but with Doctor Who, you can kind of get away with reviewing each story. I mean apart from the revival where every story is self-contained (unless split into two or more parts), the classic series is different. You see every story was split into parts and most of those stories in their entirety were each released on home media as opposed to having a complete season released that would've had all the stories together. A bit complicated I know, but there is probably a good reason for this. I mean some were released as a compilation and others did in fact make it into a complete season boxset. Of course most of them have been released on DVD, but there is something quite special about having anything to do with Doctor Who on Blu-Ray. Of course the quality is better, but you also get some additional bonus features that you would otherwise not get on DVD. It's also great for those missing stories where parts have been recovered because it lets the BBC re-create the story in a new medium such as radio and animation. In the case of The Macra Terror, the entire story was re-created with animation in the place of what would've been the filmed portions to go with the surviving audio and that's what we will be reviewing today. The Macra are perhaps not the most well known of the Doctor's adversaries, but anyone who has watched or read the adventures of the Tenth and Twelfth Doctors who have heard of them at least once. So let's take a look:

In this story, the Doctor (voiced by the late Patrick Troughton) alongside companions Ben (voiced by the late Michael Craze), Polly (voiced by Anneke Wills) and Jamie (voiced by Frazer Hines) visit a human colony in what looks like the future and off Earth. At first, the place appears to be a truly happy place until they learn of how the colony's so-called "Controller" (voiced by the late Denis Goacher) uses ways to get people to do as "he" sees fit. It's up to The Doctor and company to figure out what's going on and free the people from the terror that lurks within.

The first time I saw the Macra in the Tenth Doctor episode "Gridlock", I didn't think much of them. But this classic serial shows how dangerous they are even if they have had fewer appearances than the more well known and equally terrifying Daleks, Cybermen, Weeping Angels and so on. I don't agree with manipulation personally and this serial shows the consequences of that. It's also not the first Second Doctor story that I have seen, but it is a good one. However, if you plan to buy the animated version, make sure to keep the sound down as it can get quite loud in places. 8/10

Random Movie Review - Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

2021-02-22T13:00:00.051+00:00

Most of you may not know this film all that well among Stanley Kubrick's work, but if your pop culture knowledge is good, this film will have a scene that you may know about. Yes this is that film with the scene where a man is quite literally riding a bomb like one of those bronco rides. It's one of Kubrick's best films even though most of his films can be controversial and need you to be in the right frame of mind to appreciate what it is. This is one of his easier to enjoy films as there is lots happening in the short run time that the film has (94 minutes to be exact). So let's see what its about:

Loosely based on the book Red Alert, we meet an Air Force general called Jack D. Ripper (played by the late Sterling Hayden) who commands the Burpelson Air Force base of which most of its planes (largely bombers) are currently airborne and two hours away from their designated targets. Jack has the base put on alert as the patrolling aircraft commence an attack flight on the USSR (the main target). Soon enough however, his superiors declare him insane when the Pentagon reveals that no attack order has been declared and a few people try to prevent a nuclear war against the Soviet Union.

OK maybe it is a little difficult to know what's happening given the short run time and lots going on. But for a film made by Kubrick who is known as the guy that wants perfection in his films, this film is alright. Difficult to know what's happening most of the time, but it's very clear that it is a film about nuclear war and that this kind of war is not for the faint-hearted. It's funny, over-the-top and probably gives out the wrong message towards the end. If you thought Michael Bay's explosions were bad, well those are nothing compared to what this film has. 8/10

Random Video Game Review - Imperator: Rome

2021-02-18T13:00:00.052+00:00

It has always been debatable whether I should include spin-offs in series reviews. I guess if the game, film or TV show in question is very different to where it came from originally (not just in title alone), then I could probably get away with reviewing those games separately. This was the case with the Devil May Cry series which itself was originally going to be part of the Resident Evil series. But too many changes and feelings resulted in it becoming its own franchise. Another good example is the Deadpool films which are considered spin-offs from the X-Men film series. Some of the X-Men do appear in the films, but overall it's tone and what the two films set out to do are very different when compared to the other films. The Wolverine films can also be considered spin-offs, but I normally include those in an X-Men series review because much of what is seen in those films ties into other films like with The Wolverine tying into X-Men: Days of Future Past. All of those examples have nothing to do with this game however which is more of a successor than a spin-off to the game it came from. In this case, I tend to review it alone because a successor is normally built around the same concept, but has little to do with the game it's a successor to. So let's have a play:

The game's setting is during the establishment of the Roman Empire and also the Wars of the Diadochi among a few others set before, during and after those particular periods. The map you get is huge and has over 7,000 cities. Like with other games made by Paradox, all the nations in the game are playable. It is a strategy game first and foremost and much of what players can do include managing characters and handling diverse populations. And of course handling the activities that must be done to achieve victory in the few battles that are depicted in the game.

This game is OK at best. It plays well and has a lot of things to keep gamers busy much like most of Paradox's games. But I will say that these sorts of games are not usually my cup of tea. I tend to be more for games you get to play on consoles, but PC games do have so much more than what you get on consoles which is possibly a reason why most people tend to stick to PC even with the consoles now being closer to being like a PC. But anyway, a good game overall. 7/10

Random TV Season Review - Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 7)

2021-02-16T13:00:00.060+00:00

I guess you could say it's an end of an era for Marvel Television. They did a lot of shows set in the MCU and most were looking forward to the connections they have to the film part of it. But then things got a bit screwy and both the show runners and filmmakers ignored each other and connections were ceased. Finally, after a reshuffle, Marvel Studios took control of the TV side of things, and now we have shows featuring characters previously seen on the big screen. That's basically how most Marvel TV shows prior to Phase 4 played out. I remember when this show first aired. Lots were looking forward to a show that would fill up the gap between film releases, but in the end it did its own thing with only a few connections to the films, and it had mixed results. But here we are with its final season so let's see if the ending was worth it:

Throughout most of this final season, the gang time travel to various years that seemingly serve as key points in SHIELD's history. They do this to catch beings called the Chronicoms as well as to tie up any loose ends such as Mack (reprised by Henry Simmons) finding out what happened to his parents, Simmons (reprised by Elizabeth Henstridge) learning about a chip inside her that may lead to the location of a man she once loved and an LMD version of Coulson (reprised by Clark Gregg) becomes part of the gang, but maintains an advisory role over being in charge.

I do like it when shows decide to time travel and make their title sequence relate to the period they are in (something of which Doctor Who misses a trick in a lot). As for the series, it does well to tie up all loose ends and giving us a fitting end to what has been a decent series which may have hit a few rocks here and there along the way. I guess its also good that the show decided to let loose a bit without the worry of trying to establish things for another season. Seven seasons is a good number to end with and regardless of where its set in the MCU (if we can even consider it as such these days), its still a decent show worth watching if you need that Marvel fix. 9/10

Random Movie Review - A Whisker Away

2021-02-15T13:00:00.085+00:00

Another film affected by Covid and the first anime that I have reviewed in a while too. But unlike most Covid affected films which were delayed, this film was delayed by only a few weeks which is normally an indication that the studio want people to see it sooner than later and had found a way to do so. So that's means that unlike most film studios, the studio were OK with it being shown digitally (though a limited run at the cinema in Japan occured months later). So now we come to the latest anime film to be released on Netflix, and it may be no Studio Ghibli film, but it certainly has some of that studio's influence. So let's take a look:

The film is about a schoolgirl called Miyo (voiced in the English dub by Cherami Leigh) who is quite eccentric and over the top. She has been unhappy due to not getting along with her stepmother and making repeatedly failed attempts at flirting with her crush Kento (voiced by Johnny Yong Bosch in the English dub). One day she receives a mysterious Noh mask which lets her become a cat. As a cat, she learns that while Kento doesn't love her as a human, he does when she is a cat though unaware that Miyo is in fact the cat. As days go by with more things making her unhappy, she soon learns that maybe being a cat isn't such a bad thing. Though remaining unaware that the being that sold her the mask may have bigger plans in mind.

The film is alright for the most part. It feels like a Studio Ghibli film even if its not with the animation, the magic and the cats. Although it is a sweet and cute little film with charm, it can get quite cheesy if you find the plot to be something you've seen many times before. Interesting how it explores the possibility of being another animal if being a human doesn't work out which can relate to a few of us for sure. I guess the moral here is to embrace and accept who you are and not what others want you to be. So yeah a good anime film overall that's at least worth one watch if nothing else. 7/10

Random Video Game Review - Not Tonight

2021-02-11T13:00:00.053+00:00

Most of us are now pretty fed up with Brexit. The referendum divided the country as a result of a lack of information about it at the time and for what has felt like an eternity, it's become perhaps the only thing the UK government wanted to focus on with everything else pushed to the side. Then last year, a little thing called the coronavirus became the new Brexit just as the UK left the EU with talks of a deal still being in the books. Me saying it became the new Brexit is more about the news and press making a big deal about it which of course it is. So unsurprisingly with these political things, a game was made that was released the day of Brexit and gives us a disturbing look at what our future post-Covid could look like at least from the perspective of those who came from another country before living in the UK. So let's see how this plays out:

In the game, you play as a bouncer of foreign descent in a UK like place called Albion. Your job is to play the role by checking people's IDs and catching them out if the IDs are for example fake, expired, not on the guest list or the person is underage. As the player must be able to gain money in order to stay in the country, they can take bribes at the cost of a reduced social credit score. However, it remains important to keep money coming in and the score up in order to stay in the country. Between shifts, the player returns to their flat where they can buy things, pay outstanding rent or interact with people living in the establishment.

One thing I did pick up when playing this game is that it is like Papers Please which is a very similar game, but about travel security. Comparisons aside, this game is good but a bit disturbing given it's intended purpose on giving us a glimpse at a dreary future which the pixelated graphics present really well. No one truly knows what will happen to the UK going forward. It's a scary time for most, but also a hopeful time that may be in our favour. Especially as the world is now much different than it was before Covid and social injustice became a big deal. 8/10

TV Season Review - A Discovery of Witches (Season 2)

2021-02-09T13:00:00.056+00:00

You know during these challenging times, most of us forget that TV and film productions due for release are ones that had been completed either years or months or even weeks prior to release. Most of the time is used for filming, writing, post-production, editing and other things to make sure the production is on track for release. But some companies want something made so bad that they want it released on time regardless of the state that it is in and those things have gone on to become huge fails largely on the studio's part. Now we have the long awaited second season to one of Sky's most popular shows in recent times and while the ideas are nothing new, it's always nice to see a fresh take on all things magic, witches and the like. So let's see what happens in this second season (all episodes are available on both Sky On Demand and Now TV if you'd rather not wait till the next one every week on Sky One):

Diana (reprised by Teresa Palmer) and Matthew (reprised by Matthew Goode) arrive in 1590 on All Hallows Eve in London. Which is slightly off course from where they were heading, but nevertheless, they set out in an attempt to have Diana master her powers while evading all possible threats, human or otherwise. They make some new friends and enemies and even meet some ancestors along the way.

This second series is pretty good. Nice to see a new change of scenery and no episode is without action packed moments and a few moments of magic. Character development is also a big thing this time around and its an overall decent series. Some things could've been done better, but we are meant to have a third season on the horizon soon so let's see how that plays out. 7/10

Random Movie Review - 2010: The Year We Made Contact

2021-02-08T13:00:00.066+00:00

2001: A Space Odyssey is a strange yet brilliant film. It came out at a time when things set in space were at a very minimal rate. There was no Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, Mass Effect or even Alien and Predator. There was Star Trek which had been on TV at the time, but it hadn't become as huge as it is today. We owe a lot to that film because without it, none of those franchises would've existed. The Stanley Kubrick film basically helped make the sci-fi and space opera genres popular. But not many of us know about its sequel. Because the first film is based on a book which ended up being a series of books. So I guess 2010: The Year We Made Contact is an attempt at continuing the story. It may not have had an impact like its predecessor, but it should still be a good watch. So let's get to it:

Nine years have passed since Discovery One failed in its mission which resulted in all but one astronaut killed with the one in question David Bowman (reprised by Keir Dullea) being missing in action. The United States and the Soviet Union then decide to make a joint effort in figuring out what truly happened and what became of HAL 9000 (reprised by the late Douglas Rain). The joint effort sees the Soviet Union using one of their ships with a team comprised of both Soviet and American people, among them is Discovery designer Walter Curnow (played by John Lithgow) and the creator of HAL 9000, Dr. Chandra (played by Bob Balaban). Upon arrival near where Discovery is, strange readings come up and the crew set out to find out the truth about what really went down even if someone long believed to have gone missing makes a surprise appearance.

Kubrick may be controversial and great at what he does with his films. But for a sequel not directed by him, this is alright. It does lack some elements that made the first one great, but it's well acted, keeps us guessing and while its now dated due to it now being 2021 (or later if you're reading this in the future), it's not a bad sequel. 7/10

Random Video Game Review - Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales

2021-02-04T13:00:00.146+00:00

So before we get on to reviewing this game, I like to pay tribute to a man who became a hero of sorts during the pandemic. Captain Sir Tom Moore who made headlines a few times last year as a man who turned 100, did several laps in his garden to raise money for the NHS (which later ended up being a whole lot more than his target), did a charity single with Michael Ball and got a knighthood for all he did. Truly an inspiration to many people and a hero that rightfully earned his medals and that knighthood. He left a lasting impression and his charity work plus everything else he has done will not be in vain. Rest in Peace.

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and they don't all have superpowers or things that would make them super in a way. But heroes are needed now more than ever in the fight against not just a deadly virus, but also in politics, racial injustice and where there is a lack of diversity among people. Marvel recognize this of course and have made efforts in the past few years to create superheroes that are more relatable to a world where you just cannot make fun of these kinds of people anymore and find ways to show them off to the masses. Now with the newfound popularity that Miles Morales got in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Insomniac decided to make their next Spider-Man game about him which they did hint towards in one of the few endings from their last game. The last game was considered one of the greatest superhero games of all time next to the Batman: Arkham games so let's see if this Miles Morales is up to the task of being the web slinger himself. So let's get to it:

Set about one year after the first game and its respective DLC content, Miles Morales (reprised by Nadji Jeter who originally voiced him in the 2017 animated series) has become a capable Spider-Man under the mentorship of Peter Parker (reprised by Yuri Lowenthal), the original Spider-Man. After dealing with the Rhino (reprised by Fred Tatasciore), Peter announces that he is going on a two-week work trip as a photographer and leaves New York in the capable hands of Miles, but not before leaving him a few things to help him become his own Spider-Man. All goes well until Miles finds himself in a middle of a war between Roxxon Energy Corporation and a high tech criminal army that call themselves the Underground all while his mum is running for a seat in the City Council. A lot to take in if he wants to be his own Spider-Man. If you played the first game, much of what was there is used in this game too. You get the same open world as before, but with New York covered in snow due to it being set in winter (which seems appropriate as the game was released towards the end of last year) and of course you play as a different Spider-Man this time around. What's also the same is the abilities that Miles has at his disposal with the addition of new ones such as the Venom Blast which is a punch that uses bio-electricity which can be helpful during fights and puzzle solving. Like with in the film, this Miles Morales can also turn invisible which helps during those parts where you are sneaking around and trying not to raise suspicion from the enemy. Like in the first game, all abilities and gadgets acquired can be upgraded over time as the player levels up. Fast travel is here which helps get Miles around the big city (a feature that was absent in the first game). Side missions can now be accessed and tracked through the use of an in-game app. Like with Peter Parker in the previous game, Miles has his own set of unlockable costumes with most coming from his previous appearances outside the game along with some original ones with each one having its own set of attributes. And then there are some moments when Miles goes into civilian mode.

Some could say that this game is a copy and paste of the first game in terms of gameplay, the look and feel among other things. I quite like this game. It's like the first, but with some improvements and new features and it's a great way to introduce people to the PS5. Never have I seen a console game be able to give people graphical options which tells me that consoles are now even more closer to being like a PC than ever before. The story may be a bit short, but you get plenty of moments in between to do side missions, crimes in progress and even find collectibles like a cache crate or time capsules. So in other words, there is no shortage of things to do in the game and for replayability sake, this can be a good thing. But overall, it's a good game that brings the best of the first and offers some new things all while showing off what the PS5 is capable of (by the way, this review is for the PS5 version). 9/10