27 Dec 16
Things aren't all that happy in Goblin Town (especially when "Goblin Town" is just the bivouac du jour as it's been for the past four years). See how the discontent gets managed in Urgill's Chapter 4 of TTWC3. This week's reviews remain a mystery (beyond two more volumes of Ranma, that is). I'll see if I can't get them out before New Year's, though. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 09:44:17
25 Dec 16
Merry Christmas, one and all. (And Happy Hannukah, too, since we're getting overlap this year.) You hear that? Why, it's the King of the Monsters come to spread holiday cheer to all the good little boys and good little girls in Tokyo Town. (The good little boys and good little girls in Tokyo Town may beg to disagree.) In light of last week's review of Rogue One, I thought it would be a good idea to post the previous film by director Gareth Edwards, 2014's Godzilla. After all, who doesn't love Godzilla? And to make a theme of it, I also have the 1954 original and the 1998 trainwreck that's a bad time for everyone. Sticking with the Christmas theme, the latter is more akin to a regifted fruitcake wrapped in old socks, and I think that's being generous (in keeping with the spirit of the season, of course). We've also got more Ranma 1/2 with Volume 33 and Volume 34. Look for more TTWC3 next week and a yet to be determined theme for reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 08:55:56
22 Dec 16
What's that? A cathouse isn't a house with cats in it? Who knew! Now you're gonna tell me that bunny ranch place in Nevada doesn't have rabbits. Well, setting aside such minor misunderstandings, we've got Chapter 1 of CeleKing1. It may not be the sort of fated encounter dreams are made of, but it gets our adventure started. We've still got some Tokyo-stomping reviews coming up, which I'll probably get out there sooner rather than later so I'm not fiddling with the site Christmas or Christmas Eve. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 22:36:53
20 Dec 16
With Ionathas and the Hawks around, a bunch of Goblins, Ogres and Trolls are no problem, but what happens when they're not around? You're about to see in Urgill's Chapter 3 of TTWC3. We've got more CeleKing1 and some Gojira coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 20:30:23
17 Dec 16
I think you all were abundantly aware this was coming. It's the big event of the weekend and I was one of the first in line. It's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. That takes care of the new release, but what was that special theme I was teasing? Well, since we've got a Star Wars side story out, I thought it'd be a good time to cover a few films that tried to cash in on the fame of the original. We've got the schlocky Starcrash, Disney's The Black Hole (before they decided it was more expedient and profitable to just buy Star Wars), and the Roger Corman wonder Battle Beyond the Stars. We also continue our coverage of Ranma 1/2 with Volume 31 and Volume 32. Just three more weeks to go there. Next week, there's more TTWC3 and CeleKing1, plus a look at the King of the Monsters. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 07:39:50
13 Dec 16
Ionathas' defense of his hometown of Maranthe really helped establish his credentials as both a warrior and a leader, but what did the battle look like from the other side? See for yourself in Urgill's Chapter 2 of TTWC3. Remember that there's no second story post this week, but maybe I'll get the reviews out sooner to make up for it. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 21:32:21
12 Dec 16
Well, this week's update is out quite a bit later than usual, which will teach me not to make a theme where I don't have the reviews written and ready beforehand. We've got Volume 1 and Volume 2 of Four Swords+ to start us off. I didn't have the adaptation of The Minish Cap reread yet, but we'll be putting an end to the Zelda manga reviews here for now. In exchange, in consideration of last week's special feature, I bring you the original source, the 1973 film version of Westworld. And let's not forget about Volume 29 and Volume 30 of Ranma 1/2, which is fast approaching the end. Coming up we've got more TTWC3, a review of a certain new release you could probably see a mile away plus a secret fun theme to fill out the review roster. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 11:15:49
09 Dec 16
We start a new adventure today with the prologue of The Celestial Kingdom - Volume 1: Daughter of Heaven. While it'll be some time before I pick up the sequels of EM and JJ, I'm going to be going straight through the CeleKing series, which means that barring any schedule slip, this marks the beginning of a three-year journey, so strap yourself in for that. I'll be publishing a chapter every other week, which means we're going to have some empty space in the off weeks until I get another story far enough along to launch it. And turning to events in the more recent future, we've got the end of our current batch of Zelda manga reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 06:22:02
06 Dec 16
Can love bloom on the battlefield? Well, we might get a little closer to the answer in Urgill's Chapter 1 of TTWC3. Look for the launch of CeleKing1 and more reviews in the days to come. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 19:58:27
05 Dec 16
We continue our coverage of Legend of Zelda manga with Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages and also have Volume 27 and Volume 28 of Ranma 1/2. Our special feature for the week is my review of Season 1 of HBO's Westworld. (Spoiler alert: It's really good.) Coming up, we've got more TTWC3, the debut of CeleKing1 and more Zelda and Ranma manga reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 06:03:08
03 Dec 16
Prompted by the rise of unsavory practices by Facebook and Twitter, I've decided to start an account with Gab. My handle is @PalidorMedia, the same as for Twitter. Perhaps if I was more strongly principled, I'd drop Facebook and Twitter entirely, but I'm going to hold on to the accounts for a while at least for the sake of my (admittedly few) followers. Now, you can't view a person's Gab feed externally yet and as the site's still in beta, there's a waitlist for joining. It just took three days for me to get in, though, so if you're interested and you want a social media platform with a bedrock commitment to free speech, give it some thought. For the time being, I'll be posting updates to both Twitter (which echoes to Facebook) and Gab. If I decide to suspend the site's Facebook and Twitter accounts, I'll be sure to let you know first. In other news, reviews are coming up tomorrow. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 18:17:38
02 Dec 16
I would say, "It's a nice day for a white nekowedding," but I already used that line when Julian and Liria got married in T3W. It'd be in poor taste to recycle it here (or would it kick off a running gag?). We have our last Space Arc short of the current series, "Wedding Bells Are Ringing", which takes the ending of Tico4 to its obvious conclusion. I may or may not write up a commentary post addressing the concerns some of you may have after reading it. Look for reviews coming up in a few days. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 05:06:18
29 Nov 16
We've got a new lead in the form of the Goblin princess Urgill. Will Goblin's find better luck with the Alliance compared with the Dominion? Well, if you've already read Garm's section, you already have a good idea of how things turn out, but let's see it from her perspective, starting with Urgill's prologue of TTWC3. Our last Space Arc short is coming up in a couple days with more manga reviews to follow plus a special TV review for a certain series whose finale airs Sunday evening. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 22:18:32
28 Nov 16
We're going to be doing all (or at least mostly all) manga reviews for the next few weeks. Our primary feature is my collection of Legend of Zelda manga. We pick up where we left off last week with Volume 1 and Volume 2 of Ocarina of Time and follow it with Majora's Mask. And never fear, Ranma fans, we've also got Volume 25 and Volume 26 for your reading pleasure. Next week, we start Urgill's section of TTWC3, have the last Space Arc short in the current lineup and review the manga adaptation of the Oracle games. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 01:58:08
24 Nov 16
Well, it's Thanksgiving, so let's talk turkey about buns in the oven with our latest Space Arc short: "Sister Surrogate". One more short and then we'll kick off CeleKing1. We've still got manga reviews coming up/ Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 23:31:05
23 Nov 16
Although Scipio's primary focus has been acting as a guiding hand for the rebellion, he was always aware that there was potentially a larger struggle going on. He gets to make a contribution to that larger struggle as we bid him farewell in Scipio's epilogue of TTWC3. We've got a Space Arc short and manga reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 01:32:45
21 Nov 16
This week we look at my two other big time wasters: Shoujo to Dragon and Cinderella Girls. We continue our coverage of the Ranma 1/2 manga with Volume 23 and Volume 24 and also start covering the Legend of Zelda manga with the adaptation of A Link to the Past. I think we'll do more Zelda manga next week. On the story front, look for the end of Scipio's section of TTWC3 and our next Space Arc short. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 03:23:43
17 Nov 16
You remember Sean "Kodiak" McCormick? How about his marital troubles? Well, we'll see how well he can patch things up in "Homecoming King". Look for reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 08:03:02
15 Nov 16
How do you bring bitter enemies to the bargaining table? That's the old archmage's challenge in Scipio's Chapter 5 of TTWC3. Luckily for him, half the job is already done, but he's still got the more difficult task. We've got a Space Arc short and reviews still coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 19:46:49
14 Nov 16
Don your fedoras and take out your bullwhips, ladies and gentlemen. It's time for Indiana Jones. We've got the entire trilogy here: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. What's that? Kingdom of the Crystal Skull? I'm pretty sure I'd remember something that sounded that ridiculous. (Okay, seriously though, I thought it was a mixed bag and don't want to revisit it.) We're also resuming our coverage of the Ranma 1/2 manga with Volume 21 and Volume 22. Coming up, we've got more TTWC3, the first of three post-Tico4 shorts and a couple mobile game reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 04:42:55
10 Nov 16
We continue our Space Arc shorts with a side story during the events of Tico4. I bring you "Last Stand". We've still got reviews coming up, so get your fedora and bullwhip ready. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 19:39:51
08 Nov 16
Well, I went out and did my civic duty, for whatever it was worth, and I trust my eligible countrymen have done or will be doing likewise. (We are, after all, competing with the Undead Alliance and other such formidable voting blocs.) While we wait to see how the circus proceeds into its next act, you can see a little of the aftermath of Medusa's downfall in Scipio's Chapter 4 of TTWC3. Given my treatment of the main cast, it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect a rather tragic denouement, but I was surprisingly merciful for a change. We've got another Space Arc short coming up and I'm thinking about bringing everyone's favorite adventurer archaeologist to the stage for this week's reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 21:55:20
07 Nov 16
All Saints Day is behind us and we take a look at religious horror with The Prophecy series. We've got 1995's The Prophecy, followed by The Prophecy II, The Prophecy 3: The Ascent, and the DTV sequels The Prophecy: Uprising and The Prophecy: Forsaken. We also mix things up with a recent release, Dreamworks' Trolls. Looking ahead, there's more TTWC3, another Space Arc short, and some yet to be determined reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 03:57:46
03 Nov 16
The Seven Deadly Sins were a mean bunch, but what were they like before they turned pirate? Take a look at the darker side of the Union military in "Dancing with the Devil". Next week we'll take a different look at the seizure of the Iberia. In the meantime, look for reviews of the greatest cinematic portrayal of the Archangel Gabriel in history. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 17:42:16
01 Nov 16
As you well know, the Alliance's big play for Kalonis didn't turn out so well. Of course, Rowland's not the type to give up that easily, though he may opt to bide his time for a while. What actually happened when the bad news came in? Find out in Scipio's Chapter 3 of TTWC3. We've got five Space Arc shorts before the next novel launches. I'm going to be releasing the stories in chronological order, so the first one will be "Dancing with the Devil", which introduces us to the Seven Deadly Sins before they went rogue. Also be on the lookout for celestial shenanigans later in the week. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 06:53:11
31 Oct 16
Happy Reformation Day, one and all (though I admit Catholics in the audience may not be quite so in the spirit of the day). Hm, what's that? October 31st is something else too? Huh...
Ha ha ha. Consider that the 'trick' portion of our Halloween festivities, and now for the treat. We've got reviews of the original trilogy of George Romero Zombie films: 1968's Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, and Day of the Dead. We've also got the garbage remake of Day of the Dead from 2008, Night of the Comet and World War Z to round out the zombie fun. We've got more TTWC3 coming up, a Space Arc short and reviews for a series about some angry angels. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 00:19:21
28 Oct 16
Here's that follow-up I was promising. I've put together the remaining appendices, which show the ranks of the Byrandian military and the Palatinian ranks as well as the teaser for the sequel, Junker Jorg 2: The Miravel World War. I may update these appendices at some point to include the insignia, much as I did for the Tico series. We've still got more reviews to cap off the October scariness. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 07:15:37
27 Oct 16
I'm running late, so this is going to have to be an abbreviated treatment. Doesn't seem quite fair as a send-off, but I have a follow-up post coming up later. We've got the epilogue of JJ, along with the character glossary and a map of Miravel. I need a little more time to get the other two appendices put together and when I post them, I'll also be providing a teaser for the sequel. Zombie reviews on the horizon as well. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 17:58:00
25 Oct 16
What was Old Scipio up to during the capture of Castle Notos? Well, find out in Scipio's Chapter 2 of TTWC3. The end of JJ is next, followed by the dead walking the earth. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 17:49:54
23 Oct 16
We take a trip to the backwoods this week in an exploration of hillbilly horror. We've got the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Hills Have Eyes, the sequel of the remake The Hills Have Eyes II, Pumpkinhead, Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings, and though it's more of a drama than horror, it's sure to have given a few people nightmares: Deliverance. And to invert things a bit, we've also got Tucker and Dale vs. Evil. Coming up, look for more TTWC3, the finale of JJ and the original trilogy from the King of Zombies (plus their remakes). Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 22:45:17
20 Oct 16
The mascot can't believe it's over already, but we've got the epilogue of EM today. There's also a character glossary and a map of Altamira. You can debate whether or not my hastily drawn map intended for internal use only is better or worse than the MS Paint maps I have for the Tellus Arc stories. One day I may commission an artist to do proper, professional looking maps for my stories, but that's a task for another day. And in case you're already starting to feel lonely for Giger and the gang, I've got news for you. The adventure isn't over yet. Check out the teasers for Everyday Magic 2: The Sleepers Awake and Everday Magic 3: Hell from the Heavens. Production probably won't start until after I'm done with the CeleKing series, but if inspiration happens to strike, you know how that goes. We've still got some hillbilly horror to come. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 16:50:07
18 Oct 16
Do you by any chance recall King Solon's decree that anyone possessing magical ability, whether a native of Zephyr or Notos, was to be conscripted into the invasion force? Well, guess what that means for our resident archmage in Scipio's Chapter 1 of TTWC3. Next up is the finale of EM and later on, I hear the ominous sound of banjos strumming. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 16:37:42
16 Oct 16
It's spooky time with the Poltergeist series. We've got the original Poltergeist, Poltergeist II: The Other Side, Poltergeist III, and the 2015 remake. And to round out our selection, I've also got the Japanese horror anthology Kwaidan. Coming up in the week, we have more TTWC3, we finish EM, and we got to the backwoods for some hillbilly horror. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 21:58:59
13 Oct 16
Our adventure comes to a close at last with Chapter 26 of JJ. We've still got the epilogue, of course, but this is it for Root and company for now. It's been quite a ride, hasn't it? Reviews coming up in a couple days. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 17:38:57
12 Oct 16
So here I am, doing my evening biking and thinking to myself, "Am I forgetting something?" How about updating the bloody site? Oh, yes, that. It seems appropriate that I'd have a senior moment leading into the debut of our latest lead. Here's Scipio's prologue of TTWC3. The Promethean Alliance is painted in shades of moral grey, but Old Scipio is the lightest grey of the bunch, to the point I'm almost tempted to call him the token good teammate as I would for Orguz in TTWC2. Hopefully you'll enjoy his efforts to keep the revolution civilized. Look for more JJ and some spooky reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 05:31:32
09 Oct 16
IT'S ALIVE! IT'S ALIIIIIVE! Yes, we give Dracula some company with 1931's Frankenstein and follow it with its sequel The Bride of Frankenstein. Then we have a selection of Hammer films: The Curse of Frankenstein, Frankenstein Created Woman and Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed. And if all that is too scary for you, we've got Young Frankenstein. Look for the start of Scipio's section of TTWC3, the penultimate chapter of JJ and some reviews that'll make you say "They're heeere." Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 22:53:06
07 Oct 16
Well, we've beaten the big bad, thrown off the more or less well-intentioned extremists, and saved all our friends, so I guess we can all go home and enjoy a nice barbecue. Hm? What's that? We're forgetting Giger's primary character motivation, the very reason the plot got kicked off in the first place? Oh, dear. That won't do at all. Good thing the story's not over yet, right? As you can see, the mascot is doing her bit to form half the magic circle for the big event in Chapter 26 of EM. (Just don't tell her that's not how magic circles work in the story.) And now we just have the epilogue to go and we'll be done. Look for that in two weeks. In the meantime, look for a bucketful of reviews involving a certain green-skinned, bolt-headed, lumbering lummox. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 05:56:50
04 Oct 16
It's here, the day the Dwarves have been waiting for is here at long last. Will their hopes be cruelly betrayed at the last minute? Find out in Garm's epilogue of TTWC3. And with that we bid Garm farewell and look forward to the adventures of the archmage Scipio next week. In the meantime, we've got more EM and reviews of some films about a certain German baron and his creation. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 17:27:56
02 Oct 16
Ancient Egypt takes revenge on the interlopers from the modern age in Universal's 1932 The Mummy and the 1959 Hammer remake. Now, you think I'd continue with the Brendan Fraser films, but I haven't rewatched those recently. Instead I give you the (very) tangentially related Ghosts of Mars, which put a fine dent in John Carpenter's career. And because we're a little short on movies, we have reviews of Volume 19 and Volume 20 of the Ranma 1/2 manga. The manga reviews will be put on hiatus for the next few weeks due to the larger volume of movie reviews for the Halloween special. Look for the end of Garm's section of TTWC3, more EM and reviews of another famous shambling corpse. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 22:58:07
29 Sep 16
「この紋所が目に入らぬか！？」The mascot is stunned and amazed at the big turn of events in Chapter 25 of JJ. We're almost done. Seems like just yesterday we met Root on that outcropping watching that jeep section pop Abominations in Old Berenice. Well, no time to get all mushy about it. We've got terrors from the Nile coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 17:27:41
27 Sep 16
Alright, I admit to giving you the ol' bait and switch last time, but this time we really are going to see the Dwarves wreak some havoc in Garm's Chapter 5 of TTWC3. Next week we'll be bidding him farewell, so enjoy our time with the Dwarf lord while it lasts. Look forward to seeing how Root handles his new mission in a couple days and we'll be kicking off our Halloween horror reviews with a certain menace from Ancient Egypt. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 17:13:10
25 Sep 16
With me being a fantasy author an all, it should come as little surprise that I like a good fantasy story. And as a child of the 80s, I have a particular fondness for that decade, so 80s fantasy is a great combination. I've got a selection of three films for you. Conveniently, my opinion of each film goes up in alphabetical order. We have the science fantasy Krull, Tim Curry as the Devil in Legend, and a movie I can't recommend enough, The Dark Crystal, courtesy of the Jim Henson Workshop. We've also got more Ranma with Volume 17 and Volume 18 of the manga. Speaking of manga, I've just put out an order for Volumes 17-20 of Attack on Titan, so look for reviews of those around New Year's. Rather closer on the horizon, there's more TTWC3 and JJ and we'll be starting our Halloween movie reviews with some walking dead (but not The Walking Dead funnily enough). Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 06:34:25
22 Sep 16
The mascot is backed into a corner. Can anyone save her? Young Yugo finds himself in a similar predicament in Chapter 25 of EM. In just four more weeks, we'll be done. Excited? Well, tide yourself over by looking forward to the upcoming reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 17:36:00
20 Sep 16
You've seen their feuds, their engineering feats, their backroom deals, but now it's time to see how the Dwarves wage war in Garm's Chapter 4 of TTWC3. (Or maybe I have a subversion in store for you. ^_^ ) Just two more weeks and we'll be done with Garm. Before that, though, there's more EM and a selection of reviews of 80s fantasy films on the immediate horizon. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 15:53:54
18 Sep 16
Although I was thinking about saving this for a time travel-themed week, the recent Van Damme theme takes precedence, so I give you Timecop, and follow it with Universal Soldier, and the start of darkness, Universal Soldier: The Return. No word on when/if I get to the other two film sequels and the made-for-TV movie for that series. We also continue our coverage of the Ranma 1/2 manga with Volume 15 and Volume 16. More TTWC3 and EM plus reviews of a yet to be determined theme. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 22:37:56
16 Sep 16
You may be wondering where we go after the big showdown between Root and Faustman in the previous chapter. Well, wonder no more. The answer is waiting for you in Chapter 24 of JJ. It's hard to believe we're about to be finished with both EM and JJ. Just six more weeks and their runs will wrap. As a reminder, we'll be having four Space Arc shorts in November and then I'll start the run of CeleKing1. If you've been following the blog, you know I've been stalling out on "The Case of the Spotted Leopard", so I may just have one story besides TTWC3 running similar to how it was once the Tico series finally started getting regular updates. We'll have to see. In the meantime, look for our last round of Van Damme reviews for the time being. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 06:09:12
13 Sep 16
No one was expecting the Army of Light to curb-stomp Xorgoth's flight of Dragons (especially not Xorgoth himself), but how did that legion of fanatics pull it off. Well, they had some help and that's what brings us to Garm's Chapter 3 of TTWC3. This series is about nothing if not strange bedfellows. Look for more JJ and JCVD in the coming days. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 05:43:11
12 Sep 16
For lack of any more compelling inspiration, we've got more Jean-Claude Van Damme. We had a double dose of JCVD with Double Impact and we do it again with Replicant and you don't have to worry about me quadrupling the Van Damme Factor because the evil twin is already dead in Maximum Risk. Then we have perhaps my favorite Van Damme movie, Hard Target. And let's not forget Ranma. We've got Volume 13 and Volume 14 this week. Look for more TTWC3 and JJ plus even more Van Damme because I can't seem to stop. (Well, this will be it for now because I only have three more Van Damme movies reviewed thus far.) Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 04:23:02
08 Sep 16
In spite of her frequent vociferous protests, the mascot doesn't look all that dissatisfied with our relocation here, now does she? Well, that look of contentment is hardly universal, as we see in the big showdown in Chapter 24 of EM. You may find the big reveal of the main villain to come out of left field. Well, let's just say that Giger plays his cards close to the chest. Reviews coming up later. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 03:40:18
06 Sep 16
The title for this week's chapter makes it sound like it's going to be a bloody tale. While there's no shortage of blood in this series, the 'dismemberment' in the title is more figurative. Still, you can enjoy the ingenuity of the Dwarves in Garm's Chapter 2 of TTWC3. And coming up, if you thought the Grimalkin fight was big, wait until you see the big bad behind it all in this week's chapter of EM. Also, more reviews, likely films involving a certain bendy Belgian. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 02:09:42
05 Sep 16
It's a double dose of Jean-Claude Van Damme in Double Impact. I was actually going to couple this with a review of Replicant to double the double dose, but I think that'd be too much for you. (And not at all that I forgot until I was almost done editing the update.) Instead we've got a single dose of JCVD in Bloodsport. There's also more Ranma with Volume 11, and Volume 12 of the manga. And because it's been murdering my productivity so much lately, I've decided to go ahead and review Granblue Fantasy. Look for more TTWC3 and EM coming up and maybe some more JCVD movies unless I get a better idea. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 04:39:06
01 Sep 16
Can a former Legionnaire and a shapeshifting scout stand any chance against the deadliest sniper of the Second League War? Find out in Chapter 23 of JJ. However it turns out, we still have more to come. Speaking of more to come, look for reviews in the next couple days. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 21:12:10
30 Aug 16
It's not quite When Harry Met Sally, but Rowland is about to pick up one of his favorite allies in Garm's Chapter 1 of TTWC3. We've got the thrilling sniper duel between Root and Faustman coming up in JJ and some manner of reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 19:03:17
29 Aug 16
We kick things off with recent release Kubo and the Two Strings, which isn't getting half the love it deserves at the box office. I didn't know what other movies to post, but because I happened to notice it playing on TV, I'll go ahead and post my reviews of RED and RED 2. And because I recently finished a new playthrough of the game, I've got Metroid Fusion, which is currently the chronological end of the series. We also continue to go forward with the Ranma 1/2 manga with Volume 9 and Volume 10. We've got more TTWC3 and JJ on the horizon and reviews that have yet to determined. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 01:53:22
26 Aug 16
I'd considered saving this little nightmare image for Halloween, but given the subject matter of this week's chapter, I figured now was appropriate. Now, you may have been thinking that Margot and the girls haven't contributed that much to the overall stories. You might call them extraneous characters and the chapters focusing on them to be padding. Well, if that's the case (and even if it's not), the payoff is right here in Chapter 23 of EM. Will this satisfy all skeptics? Probably not, but I'm pretty pleased with it. In two weeks, we'll be meeting the mastermind behind it all, so look forward to that. We've still got reviews coming up too. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 06:33:30
23 Aug 16
If you asked me, I'd definitely say I prefer Elves to Dwarves, but I try to give the mountain folk their due in my stories. The Dwarves (or Nanoi in the parlance of the region) have mostly been on the periphery so far, but now you can see things from their perspective starting with Garm's prologue of TTWC3. We've got more EM and a review medley coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 21:24:44
20 Aug 16
A while back I subjected myself to the cinematic horror that is Batman & Robin. Well, if I'd waited, I could've seen it with the other three movies of the first film series. Not that I think I could've survived two Schumacher Bat-films in close succession... Anyway, we start out with 1989's excellent Batman, followed by the more mixed bag Batman Returns, and the start of darkness, Batman Forever. Ugh... The latter was painful. Not as painful as Batman & Robin, but the pain from that has mostly dulled by now. Anyway, speaking of pain, we've got the debut of frickin' Happousai in Volume 7 and Volume 8 of the Ranma 1/2 manga. Look for us to start Garm's section of TTWC3 next week and for the sierra to really hit the fan in EM. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 20:25:01
19 Aug 16
It's a bit late, but here's Chapter 22 of JJ. I've had a busy day, to say the least. Well, we've got a big showdown in two weeks, so be looking for that. And coming in the next couple days, those Bat-reviews I've been promising. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 04:45:09
16 Aug 16
The Traitor Prince has had quite a run, but today we bid him a fond farewell (fond in that we're happy to see him go) in Carpos' epilogue of TTWC3. His Character Spotlight post on the blog will be following shortly. Look for more JJ and Bat-reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 18:16:37
15 Aug 16
It's time for more monkey madness starting with Tim Burton's remake of Planet of the Apes, and because that didn't stick, the franchise got rebooted again with Rise of the Planet of the Apes and its sequel, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. We also have Volume 5 and Volume 6 of the Ranma 1/2 manga. From here, we'll be wrapping up Carpos' section of TTWC3 and follow it with more JJ and some Bat-reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 02:43:18
11 Aug 16
A lot of people are going to be enjoying the view behind bars if Inspector Andress gets his way. Good thing there's nothing like a coven of amateur witches about to demonstrate their fledgling powers in a very public venue, right? See what the plan is in Chapter 22 of EM. Things are about to get dire. Look for monkey madness reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 18:55:54
09 Aug 16
Because Carpos is such a swell guy, good things are bound to be coming his way, right? The critical reader might reply, "Given what a malevolent god you are over the worlds you create, I wouldn't put it past you to give a scumbag like Carpos his every heart's desire." I am a rather cruel deity, aren't I? Well, you'll have to see for yourself in Carpos' Chapter 5 of TTWC3. Look for more EM plus Marky Mark and the Monkey Bunch. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 19:20:07
08 Aug 16
I've decided to make up for lost time a bit by giving you a double dose for the debut of my reviews of the Ranma 1/2 manga with Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3, and Volume 4. And as a bit of a change of pace, I have a review of the autobiography of WWII veteran and Silver Star recipient Birney T Havey, Never Left the Battlefield. We've got more TTWC3 and EM coming up plus reviews of the first three entries in the new Planet of the Apes series. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 02:46:34
05 Aug 16
These eyes have seen things... You'll find and even more world-weary soul in Chapter 21 of JJ. Some form of reviews are in the offing as well. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 04:53:26
04 Aug 16
I've made it back from my business trip and after some recovery time, I can now bring you Carpos' Chapter 4 of TTWC3. In a few hours, I'll follow this with the latest chapter of JJ. Still not decided on what I'm going to do for reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 22:47:32
01 Aug 16
Are you hungry? Well then, whet your appetite for horrible child murder with the Hunger Games tetralogy: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay, Part 1, and because we have to split the last book in a series into two movies to milk the ticket sales, Mockingjay, Part 2. And just to stoke the fire, we also have the pioneer in child murder melee with Battle Royale. My reviews of the Ranma 1/2 have been pushed back to next time. Speaking of delays, due to my business trip over the next few days, this week's chapter of TTWC3 will be posted Thursday along with the continuation of JJ. Besides Ranma, I have yet to determine what else will show up in the reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 09:40:03
28 Jul 16
Now that I'm back from the wilds, the mascot is holding down my suitcase so her wayward father doesn't go off again. (Nobody tell her about my business trip next week.) Meanwhile, we've got girls getting into trouble in Chapter 21 of EM. Surely nothing can go wrong. Remember to whet your appetite for the coming reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 20:45:54
26 Jul 16
You may remember Duke Cronos walking into a big bloody mess in the throne room during the First Battle of Maximilion back in TTWC1. Ever wonder how it got that way? Well, you're about to find out in Carpos' Chapter 3 of TTWC3. Look for more EM and some hungry reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 07:15:01
I apologize for all the delays, but at long last, here it is: the conclusion (as of now) of my coverage of the Yotsuba&1 manga. We've got reviews of the remainder of my collection. Without further ado, here's Volume 7, Volume 8, Volume 9, Volume 10, Volume 11, and Volume 12. I'll be following this post with the next chapter of TTWC3 shortly and later in the week I'll have more EM and begin my coverage of the Ranma 1/2 manga plus some films that'll make you ask yourself, "Do I feel hungry?" Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 03:33:43
22 Jul 16
Our gang has taken quite the beating over the course of the story, but now it's their turn to strike back in Chapter 20 of JJ. In other news, I'm happy to announce that I've gotten those much-delayed Yotsuba&! reviews written, so you can be looking for that in the next two or three days. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 04:35:32
20 Jul 16
I know, I know, you're wondering where those Yostuba&! reviews are. I still haven't written three of them. Things have been rather hectic out here in the wilds. And I'm running behind on this week's stuff as well. It'd be tempting to let things lapse, but I'm going to try to correct the course. So, without further ado, let's get on with the show. The conquest of Hebertos was a cakewalk, so it should be easy to claim a city that's already strongly leaning toward the rebels, right? Well, find out in Carpos' Chapter 2 of TTWC3. I've got more JJ coming up and we'll be making up for those absent reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 00:31:15
14 Jun 16
Just look at those charming eyes. What's going on in her head, I wonder. Hopefully not the same thing Priscilla's thinking about or things are going to get all kinds of awkward. She opts to take advantage of Giger's emotional vulnerability in Chapter 20 of EM. We're getting set up for the home stretch. In the meantime, look for reviews in a couple days. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 20:57:01
13 Jul 16
The Traitor Prince cements his title and crosses the point of no return in Carpos' Chapter 1 of TTWC3. Look for EM and reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 02:42:15
10 Jul 16
Now that we're out of the water, I've got those X-Men reviews I mentioned a couple weeks back. To round out our selection (minus Apocalypse), we've got X-Men, X-Men 2, X-Men: The Last Stand, and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Unfortunately, those of you looking forward to a resumption of my Yotsuba&! coverage are going to be disappointed. My time allotment doesn't work the same out here in the wilds, so I haven't had the chance to catch up on writing my backlog. (I've prioritized what writing time I have toward story content, as I should.) My goal is to make it up to you by reviewing all six remaining volumes in my collection next week. Also be looking for more TTWC3 and EM. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 07:10:08
07 Jul 16
The Junker Jorg crew would probably welcome an expedition to the subtropics right about now, but, alas, it's not to be. There's a different plan being cooked up for them in Chapter 19 of JJ. Reviews are coming up in the next couple days. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 18:19:58
06 Jul 16
We've met our new lead character before. We saw him tormenting his sister back in TTWC1, but now you can see things from the Traitor Prince's perspective in Carpos' prologue of TTWC3. He's not a very likable sort, but you may find his trials and travails to be interesting. More JJ and X-Men reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 00:16:08
04 Jul 16
Just when you thought it was safe to get back into the water, Palidor Media brings you reviews of Jaws, Jaws II, Jaws III, and Jaws: The Revenge. Shark Week may be over, but we've got the great grandpappy of the killer shark subgenre. I don't have any Yotsuba&! for you this week either. I even went to the trouble of bringing the tankoubon I have to review to the wilds with me, but I'm in a bit of a time crunch. I'll try to be sure to resume coverage next week along with those X-Men reviews. We've also got more TTWC3 and JJ coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 19:37:56
01 Jul 16
Scoring some face time with the girl you've been stalking for thirteen years is bound to go really well. Everything's going to be just great. Right? Well, see for yourself how it turns out in Chapter 19 of EM. In other news, remember to stay out of the water for the reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 05:30:35
28 Jun 16
I won't deny a partiality to my Elvish characters, so it's with a heavy heart that we bid farewell in Simona's epilogue of TTWC3. Next week we start things up with the notorious Traitor Prince of Zephyr, Carpos, basically Viserys Targaryen before I even knew who Viserys Targaryen was. Yeah, he's a real jackwagon. Look forward to that. We've got more EM in the offing and a slight change of plans. I forgot this was Shark Week, so instead of the X-Men movies, I'll be doing the Jaws series instead. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 21:21:41
27 Jun 16
A family movie outing managed to solve the question of what theme I was going to use this week. We take a trip under the waves with new release Finding Dory and its predecessor Finding Nemo. Coincidentally, earlier I had the opportunity to rewatch a live-action outing by writer/director Andrew Stanton (the same guy behind the week's other two films), the ill-fated John Carter of Mars. In lieu of continuing our coverage of Yotsuba&! this week, I've got two TV series that wrapped their latest seasons: Season 6 of Game of Thrones and Season 7 of Archer. We'll be wrapping up Simona's section of TTWC3 this week and accompany it with more EM. For reviews, look for me to round out the X-Men films (minus the latest entry). Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 07:15:38
24 Jun 16
A life behind bars might be one of the better outcomes of Chapter 18 of JJ. Hope you like courtroom drama. I've also come up with a theme for this week's reviews. Here's a hint: Just keep swimming. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 21:32:03
21 Jun 16
As Rowland's star continue to rise, protecting him becomes more of a pain in Simona's Chapter 5 of TTWC3. One more chapter to go and we'll be bidding her farewell. We've got more JJ coming up and still to be determined reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 23:04:14
20 Jun 16
The tagline is "Whoever wins, we lose," but I don't think anyone wins in the disappointing duology of Alien vs. Predator and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. *sigh* So it goes. Tangentially related to the week's feature, we also have Ridley Scott's big hit from last year, The Martian, which goes a long way toward rehabilitating Scott's image in my eyes. And because I made the joke about The Martian being a remake of Robinson Crusoe on Mars, here's the "scientifically authentic" Robinson Crusoe on Mars. We've also got more Yotsuba&! with Volume 5 and Volume 6. There's more TTWC3 and JJ next week and a theme for reviews that's yet to be determined. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 06:36:17
17 Jun 16
The mascot looks mighty peaceable there. Totally unprepared for THE SPANISH INQUISITION! the Witch-hunters. Let's just hope Giger has a plan in Chapter 18 of EM. And don't forget to be on the lookout for reviews coming up. Whoever wins, we lose. Boy, do we lose... Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 06:39:52
14 Jun 16
Well, a song and a dance got her into the capital, so why should the city most loyal to Zephyr be any different? If you've already read TTWC1, then you know how this turns out, but see what it looks like from the other side in Simona's Chapter 4 of TTWC3. We've got more EM coming up plus reviews of the duology that has fans calling canon discontinuity. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 23:09:42
13 Jun 16
On account of my necessary postponment of the AVP reviews, we have something else for you. We have the inaptly named Cyborg Cop, Cyborg Cop II and Cyborg Cop III. We also have Volume 3 and Volume 4 of Yotsuba&!. Next week we move forward with TTWC3 and EM and we'll be getting to those AVP reviews I promised last week. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 01:41:49
10 Jun 16
It's time to roll out and kick some more Pally tail in Chapter 17 of JJ. Look for reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 08:22:45
08 Jun 16
Now we see how the front door gets kicked in with Simona's Chapter 3 of TTWC3. We've got more JJ coming up, but we've hit a snag with the reviews. Due to atmospheric conditions, my recording of AVP was botched and the next opportunity won't come until next week. As such, I'm moving the AVP reviews to next week and you'll get to enjoy the Cyborg Cop trilogy this week. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 00:13:52
06 Jun 16
The Species franchise is fairly middling, but now I'm going to shovel some schlock on your plate. Get ready for it. We've got Replikator, Death Squad, The Gene Generation, and Garm Wars: The Last Druid. I watched these films either hoping for some promise or at least for them to be entertainingly bad. I was disappointed on both counts. Garm Wars has some neatness to it, but it isn't well-executed. And now we're going to turn things around with a virtually flawless slice of life series by the mangaka who brought us Azumanga Daioh. It's time for Yotsuba&!, starting with Volume 1 and Volume 2. I've got twelve of the currently available thirteen tankoubon, so I'll be going through that over the next several weeks and then follow it with Ranma 1/2. We'll be continuing TTWC3 and JJ and so that I suffer for your amusement, I'm going to be reviewing both AVP films. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 03:31:41
02 Jun 16
Beware of old teachers bearing gifts in Chapter 17 of EM. It's not that bad, actually, but Giger acts like it's the end of the world whenever Mordekai shows up. In other news, look for reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 23:25:33
31 May 16
Simona may be a good spy, but she doesn't have much appreciation for realpolitik and she brings up her disagreements with Rowland in Simona's Chapter 2 of TTWC3. We've still got more EM and reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 06:14:36
30 May 16
After covering the Predator franchise last week, I'm taking a bit of a step down, but I'm sure this week's franchise has its fans. We've got Species, Species III and Species III. "What about Species: The Awakening?" you ask? Well, I wasn't able to get my hands on that one, but from what I've seen it's even worse than Species III with even less of a tangible connection to the original film. Moving on, we conclude our coverage of the Eva manga with Volume 13 and Volume 14. While the Species franchise is rather middling fare, I'm going to sock you with some real garbage scifi next week and offset it by starting to review the Yotsuba&! manga. We'll also be having more TTWC3 and EM. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 04:12:41
27 May 16
The mascot is hiding out from the Palatinians who have taken the ship, but Root isn't content stay put. It's time for action in Chapter 16 of JJ. This is a long one, so strap yourself in. Reviews will follow in a couple days. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 03:04:58
24 May 16
It's time for some spycraft in Simona's Chapter 1 of TTWC3. Look for more JJ and reviews in the days to come. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 23:19:02
23 May 16
*creepy rattling sound* It's time for the hunt. This week we cover the Predator franchise with reviews of Predator, Predator 2 and Predators. Also, we enter End of Eva territory in our reviews of Volume 11 and Volume 12 of the Eva manga. Looking ahead, we've got more TTWC3 and JJ next week, plus reviews for a much less satisfactory scifi franchise. Hint: There will be tentacles. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 01:07:47
20 May 16
Inspector Andress has called in a ringer, a notorious hero-killer our gang can't possibly escape. Yes, the name of this dark savior is Molly Pepper. No, not really, but this shot of the junior mascot does seem fit for a dramatic entrance. Readers already know the actual identity of the new villain and now it's time to see him make his first appearance in Chapter 16 of EM. Reviews coming up next. Remember, if it bleeds, we can kill it. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 23:50:37
17 May 16
Now that we're done with Rowland, we move on to his girl Friday, the best Dark Elf spy/assassin/exotic dancer you can ask for. We start her story in Simona's prologue of TTWC3. We've got more EM and Predator reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 19:15:53
16 May 16
This week we have a pair of films and their remakes: 1957's 3:10 to Yuma and its 2007 remake, and Cape Fear and its 1991 remake by Martin Scorsese. We also have the recently released Captain America: Civil War and Volume 9 and Volume 10 of the Evangelion manga. Look forward to more TTWC3 and EM coming up, plus reviews from one of the great scifi creature franchises. A clue? If it bleeds, we can kill it. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 07:11:10
12 May 16
You may find yourself rooting for the Palatinians today in Chapter 15 of JJ. It's what happens when the fascist thugs on your own side are worse than the enemy. I'm thinking about covering a trio of films and their remakes this week, so look for that. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 21:24:17
10 May 16
The new Lord Protector of Notos looks to the future in Rowland's epilogue of TTWC3. And that'll do it for Rowland. One section down, seven to go. Look for more JJ and review coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 10:32:09
09 May 16
I've got three direct-to-video animated adventures of the World's Greatest Detective for you this week: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1, The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2, and Under the Red Hood. Also, because I apparently hate myself, I also have a review of the infamously terrible Batman & Robin. We also have more Eva with Volume 7 and Volume 8 of the manga. Coming up, we'll wrap Rowland's section of TTWC3 and have more JJ. Haven't decided on a theme for reviews yet, but you can at least be sure of more of the Eva manga. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 06:48:13
06 May 16
Ningen or neko, the Japanese have an affection for hardwood floors. You might be wondering how this is relevant, but you'll just have to find out for yourself in Chapter 15 of EM. Things are about to get worse for Giger in company. While that thought has you on the edge of your seat, look for some Bat-reviews and more Eva. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 08:40:53
03 May 16
You can see the vision for a new Notos in Rowland's Chapter 5 of TTWC3. More EM and reviews to follow. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 10:04:11
01 May 16
Let's hope nobody forgot the annual observation of International Ayame Jellybean Day. Everyone, tip your hats and raise your glasses to the best thing to come out of Japan since anime. Here's to many more years of her fuzzy antics.
Posted by: James
UTC 23:26:36
This week we reunite with our good friends Nick and Nora Charles to round out the remainder of the Thin Man series: Another Thin Man, Shadow of the Thin Man, The Thin Man Goes Home, and Song of the Thin Man. Our coverage of the NGE manga continues with Volume 5 and Volume 6. Next week we'll have more TTWC3 and EM and reviews of some animated outings of the Caped Crusader. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 04:29:18
28 Apr 16
Look at her. So complacent. Complacency is vulnerability, as we see (sort of) in Chapter 14 of JJ. Rough time ahead for the JJ crew. Review are coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 22:09:27
26 Apr 16
Things seem to be looking up in Notos, but it's time for a change in Rowland's Chapter 4 of TTWC3. Keep your eye on the horizon for more JJ and reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 06:55:40
25 Apr 16
This week we've got a bit of a melange for you. From the winter 2016 season we have the second season of GATE and ERASED. We also have Volume 3 and Volume 4 of the Neon Genesis Evangelion manga and the book Wretched Writing. I haven't decided on a theme, if any, for next week, but expect more of the Eva manga at least. I'll continue to post two volumes a week until I round out the series. Once that's done, I'll start up Yotsuba&!. Other than that, look for more TTWC3 and JJ. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 00:15:31
21 Apr 16
When approached by the cops, playing dead isn't an option. Well, I suppose you could try, but it's not likely to do you any good. Fortunately, Margot Leider doesn't try to follow the junior mascot's example in Chapter 14 of EM. Look for reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 01:49:51
19 Apr 16
You're probably wondering how Medusa's expedition to Notos turned out. Well, find out for yourself in Rowland's Chapter 3 of TTWC3. We've got more EM and reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 09:08:02
18 Apr 16
We conclude our series of Biblical epics with a selection of extracanonical films. Most prominent among these is the legendary Ben-Hur, but we can't forget its earlier rendering, 1925's Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. We also have the Anthony Quinn vehicle Barabbas and Paul Newman's embarrassing (for him) film debut, The Silver Chalice. We also have Volume 2 of the Neon Genesis Evangelion manga. As I don't plan to start plumbing the depths of Veggie Tales films, we're going to be shifting our focus next week with an eclectic mix to include a couple selections from last season's anime lineup, more of the Eva manga, and a book review. On the story front, look for more TTWC3 and EM. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 01:44:04
15 Apr 16
I don't have a thematic tie-in for this week's pic. Just enjoy the mascot. Also, we've got Chapter 13 of JJ. We've got reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 19:18:09
12 Apr 16
The rebellion makes its big score in Rowland's Chapter 2 of TTWC3. Look for more JJ and reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 09:23:38
11 Apr 16
Last week we covered some selected adaptations of stories from the Old Testament and now we move on to the New Testament. We start with our good friend Cecil B DeMille's 1927 The King of Kings, followed by 1961's similarly titled King of Kings, the somewhat notorious The Greatest Story Ever Told, and the very notorious The Passion of the Christ (with a review that might spark some controversy itself). I would've liked to have a review of The Last Temptation of Christ as well for another controversial take on the subject matter, but it doesn't air too often, so maybe I can catch it again sometime in the future. Outside the theme of the week, I've updated my review of The Force Awakens in light of its recent DVD release and I'm kicking off reviews of the Neon Genesis Evangelion manga, starting with Volume 1. We'll be ending our theme week with some NT-based extracanonical stories next week and there'll be more TTWC3 and JJ as well. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 03:14:25
07 Apr 16
Once upon a time, the mascot was a sprightly young girl with spots on her head and a song in her heart. I bring this up because we're taking a look into the past in Chapter 13 of EM. And speaking of the past, the upcoming batch of reviews will be covering some major events from 2000 years ago. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 16:47:49
05 Apr 16
The revolution begins with Rowland's Chapter 1 of TTWC3. This is but the first of many blows to the occupation. Look for more EM and reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 17:04:45
04 Apr 16
A week has passed since Easter and in the spirit of the season, our theme for the next few weeks is Biblically-themed films. We start things off with a selection based on the Old Testament, with John Huston's The Bible: In the Beginning..., the 1923 version of The Ten Commandments, its more well-known 1956 remake starring Charlton Heston, and two films about Kings of Israel and the women in their lives: David and Bathsheba and Solomon and Sheba. Next week we'll be moving on to the New Testament as the source for our reviews and besides that, we'll be continuing TTWC3 and EM. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 10:06:36
31 Mar 16
Neko down! Neko down! Request immediate casevac! Yes, well, something dire like that might be happening in Chapter 12 of JJ. We've got a look at the OT old school coming up in a couple days. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 17:16:30
29 Mar 16
TTWC2 has done it's thing and now it's time to kick off The Trident War Chronicles - Volume III: The Book of Notos. Technically, the introduction has been up for a while now, but today we get into the story proper with Rowland's prologue. You've gotten a glimpse of the character back in TTWC1 and he's cast a long shadow over the goings-on in Notos. Now you get to see him in action first-hand. The Promethean Alliance has a diverse crop of leads, so I think you'll have fun with this. And once you're done with today's offering, you have more JJ and reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 06:34:25
27 Mar 16
We close out our Chinese themed month with three animated films: Kung Fu Panda, Kung Fu Panda 2, and Mulan, and two films that are live-action but nevertheless cartoony: Shanghai Noon and Big Trouble in Little China. On an unrelated note, we also have the new release Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Next week we kick off TTWC3, continue JJ and—in light of Easter—will start a month of Biblically-themed films. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 08:55:58
24 Mar 16
As we reach the midpoint of the story, there a major pivot taking place in Chapter 12 of EM. And while I leave you hanging, you can entertain yourself with the next batch of reviews coming up in a couple days. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 10:01:36
22 Mar 16
The time has finally come. We bring the tenth novel on the site to a close with Medusa's epilogue of TTWC2. We also have the afterword and assorted appendices as well. We'll be kicking off TTWC3 next week, so look forward to that. In the meantime, there's more EM and conclusion of our China-themed reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 05:07:05
20 Mar 16
If you found last week's selection to be a little uncomfortable, maybe this week will turn things around a bit. We cover a range of recent Chinese history from the post-Qing warlord period in The Bitter Tea of General Yen, the rise of the Kuomintang in The Sand Pebbles, the Japanese invasion in The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, and the rise of Communism in Satan Never Sleeps. We then hop across the pond for the modern Chinese-American gangland experience in The Corruptor. Next week we wrap TTWC2, have more EM and look at some animated (and just plain cartoony) Chinese-themed films. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 06:42:59
17 Mar 16
The mascot is in the box. Root can relate to the feeling in Chapter 11 of JJ. In other news, more reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 02:06:56
15 Mar 16
The Gorgon goes on the offensive in Medusa's Chapter 5 of TTWC2. The end draws ever closer. Next week we'll wind things down and we can switch from the evil crowd to the slightly less evil crowd. More JJ and reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 04:23:49
14 Mar 16
Well, last week we looked at movies about China from China. Now we look at films about China from Hollywood that a lot of people will find offensive. That means yellowface, stilted dialog and uncomfortable situations. We start with that embodiment of the Yellow Peril: Dr. Fu Manchu, as portrayed by Boris Karloff in The Mask of Fu Manchu and by Christopher Lee in The Face of Fu Manchu. Compare and contrast with ace detective Charlie Chan in Dangerous Money. We've got the Walter Huston/Katharine Hepburn vehicle Dragon Seed and Boris Karloff again in West of Shanghai. We'll continue with TTWC2 and JJ and some better Hollywood treatments of China and the Chinese. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 01:52:35
10 Mar 16
If you're lying, the nose knows. Young Margot Leider faces the hard questions in Chapter 11 of EM. Reviews will follow in a couple days. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 18:01:56
08 Mar 16
The days at sea are over and the Gorgon and her gang take to the shore in Medusa's Chapter 4 of TTWC2. Just two more weeks and we'll be wrapping things up. More EM to come and early treatments of China by Hollywood. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 07:43:11
06 Mar 16
This month's theme is China in film. We start with four films from the Middle Kingdom itself. Two feature Jet Li: Hero and Fearless, and two feature Chow Yun-fat: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Curse of the Golden Flower. Going off theme, we've got another new release, Disney's latest feature, Zootopia. Look for more TTWC2 and EM next week and a look at some slightly awkward Hollywood treatments of China. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 02:55:23
03 Mar 16
There's a conflict brewing in the mascot ranks and in Chapter 10 of JJ. Look for some Chinese movie reviews and a certain new release. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 06:21:12
01 Mar 16
The Gorgon gets her marching orders in Medusa's Chapter 3 of TTWC2. Look for more JJ and the start of a new themed month. The theme? None other than the Middle Kingdom. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 05:44:55
28 Feb 16
We bring our blaxploitation month to a close with some odds and ends. First is a 90s reunion of such blaxploitation heavyweights as Fred Williamson, Jim Brown, and Pam Grier in Original Ganstas. Over twenty years before that, the same director did Bone, and speaking of Fred Williamson, we have Soda Cracker, which he starred and directed. We also have Action Jackson starring Carl Weathers and 1992's Deep Cover, starring Laurence Fishburne and directed by Bill Duke. Look for more TTWC2 and JJ next week and reviews with a theme yet to be determined. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 05:37:05
25 Feb 16
Sir Michael Caine wants to assure you that there is no bee in the room. Giger similarly tries to get Gally to deny her lying eyes in Chapter 10 of EM. Look for reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 17:52:46
23 Feb 16
Arachne is busy basking in the afterglow of the blessed (cursed?) event that is her dokidoki birth scene in Medusa's Chapter 2 of TTWC2. For those of you who didn't want to see said dokidoki birth scene, you're welcome. For those who did, well, that's what fanfic is for. Look for more EM and reviews later in the week. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 05:55:18
21 Feb 16
This week we tip our hats to the Queen of Blaxploitation and her Captain of the Guard. We've got Pam Grier in Coffy, Foxy Brown, and Friday Foster and Tamara Dobson in Cleopatra Jones and its HK mashup sequel Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold. We've got more TTWC2 and EM coming up plus a set of post-blaxploitation reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 06:18:15
18 Feb 16
Happily, the mascot hasn't required much medical attention outside of her annual checkups, except for this particular episode. Root hasn't undergone the same treatment, but he still gets a taste of Royal Navy medicine in Chapter 9 of JJ. We've still got reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 21:44:57
16 Feb 16
The fearsome Gorgon has a new job in Medusa's Chapter 1 of TTWC2. More JJ and reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 07:36:33
14 Feb 16
We dipped our toes in proto-blaxploitation and now we get the real deal. I know you're expecting Shaft, but I haven't seen it lately, so instead we go with the junior Gordon Parks' Super Fly and Three the Hard Way. We also have my favorite blaxploitation film, Blacula counterbalanced by the terrible yet amusing Abar, the First Black Superman. Switching gears a bit, we have a new release, the highly anticipated Deadpool. We have more TTWC2 and JJ coming up next week plus more blaxploitation reviews featuring some ladies who can kick some serious tail. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 08:31:53
11 Feb 16
You see that? Someone's trying to smuggle a mascot in a backpack. This is just the sort of contraband the intrepid Inspector Andress is going to root out in Chapter 9 of EM. Reviews'll be up in the next couple days. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 08:34:06
09 Feb 16
Xorgoth is busy taking a nap, so we move on to our next scaly lead with Medusa's prologue of TTWC2. Once we're done with her, we'll be done with the book. As I noted in the anniversary post, that's slated to happen around the end of March. For this week, though, look for more EM and some blaxploitation reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 17:51:01
08 Feb 16
We tip our hat to Black History month with a look at blaxploitation and we start off with the proto-blaxploitation film They Call Me MISTER Tibbs!, sequel to In the Heat of the Night. Before we go any deeper into the subgenre, we're going to give a little more time to inimitable Sidney Poitier with reviews of The Defiant Ones, the 1961 version of A Raisin in the Sun, and one of Poitier's directorial outings, Stir Crazy. And because I'm taking a hiatus from gaming, I wanted to go ahead and post my review of Fire Emblem Fates ahead of its NA release. I haven't beaten any of the three scenarios yet, but I've put nearly 400 hours into the game, so it's safe to say I have sufficient experience to post an informed review, but if my experience with the endings change anything, I'll be sure to amend the review later. Also bear in mind that as I've played the Japanese version, I can only partially account for changes NA players can expect, based on some cursory research. Also, I just beat Gen'ei Ibunroku #FE and wanted to share it with you. We'll be starting up Medusa's section of TTWC2 and have more EM plus a selection of blaxploitation film reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 04:44:04
05 Feb 16
Well, there's a charming set of eyes. There may be something similar in Chapter 8 of JJ. Look for Oscar winner Sidney Poitier in the next couple days. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 08:14:51
02 Feb 16
Well, things are looking pretty grim for the King of Dragons, but things are going to look up for him before we send him off, right? Well, I think you know how most character get sent off in this series, but look for yourself in Xorgoth's epilogue of TTWC2. Look for more JJ coming up and Sidney Poitier reviews after that. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 08:19:31
31 Jan 16
It's more fun than a barrel full a' monkeys, it's The Planet of the Apes, and because we want to pack the barrel, I've got all the sequels too: Beneath the Planet of the Apes, Escape from the Planet of the Apes, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, and Battle for the Planet of the Apes. I don't have any of the remakes at the moment. They may show up at a later date. And for an unexpected change of pace, I have the first new release of the year for the site, Kung Fu Panda 3, which turned out quite a bit better than what the trailers led me to believe. With February coming up, I've decided to take a somewhat tongue-in-cheek approach to Black History Month by featuring a selection of blaxploitation films. Leading up to that, though, we're going to class it up a bit with Sidney Poitier, who stars in one of the prototypical films of the subgenre. On the story front, we've bid farewell to Xorgoth in TTWC2 and have more JJ coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 05:10:37
28 Jan 16
The mascot is looking rather welcoming today. It's time to get some answers on the mysterious Witch Crystals in Chapter 8 of EM. We've still got reviews coming up, so look for that. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 22:16:53
27 Jan 16
Happy anniversary, Palidor Media! It's hard to believe, but I've been at this for nine years now. Sorry I don't have an illustration to commemorate the occasion, but Kazuya's been busy lately. Not to worry, though. I'm still going to lay out what you can expect for the year. I realize some of my past predictions have fallen wildly short of the mark, but I should manage to meet the goals I'm about to lay out.
TTWC2 will continue until the latter part of March and I'll be starting up TTWC3 immediately thereafter. I already have enough of a lead to last me until August, so you shouldn't have to worry about any delays. EM and JJ will wrap around the end of October and I intend to revisit our Tico friends with some shorts in November, then start up CeleKing1 and another story that has yet to be determined. Reviews will continue at the regular pace. I plan on being a bit on the tacky side in February, but no other events are planned at the moment.
Looking more in the short term, there's more EM coming up and a simian salvo of reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 08:46:46
26 Jan 16
Do you all remember Corona's scrap with Xorgoth back in TTWC1? Well, we're going to take a look at that from the other side in Xorgoth's Chapter 5 of TTWC2. Next week will be the end for him. Before that, though, we've got the next chapter of EM and some monkey madness in the reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 06:52:42
25 Jan 16
As I've said before, there's no theme for this week's batch of reviews. The movies are two that I just saw in the past week and one that happened to be on the other day: The Man Who Fell to Earth, Mad Max: Fury Road and The Incredibles. We also have the TV miniseries Childhood's End and Metroid: Zero Mission. If you like themed weeks, never fear, because next time we're gonna go ape. Also look for more TTWC2 and EM. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 02:48:45
22 Jan 16
We left Root hanging last time, so we'd better check up on him in Chapter 7 of JJ. We've still got reviews coming up. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 04:29:02
20 Jan 16
Things get ugly for the Dragons in Xorgoth's Chapter 4 of TTWC2. We just have two more chapters with the King of Dragons and we'll be moving on to the final lead. More JJ and assorted reviews to come. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 05:09:55
17 Jan 16
This week we feature a selection of the films of that virtuoso of stop-motion animation, Ray Harryhausen. We start with his uncredited feature debut in the original Mighty Joe Young and go on to include the two Kerwin Mathews vehicles The 7th Voyage of Sinbad and The Three Worlds of Gulliver, then get to see his cool dinosaurs in One Million Years BC and The Valley of Gwangi. Now, the thing about these films is that outside of Harryhausen's work, there's not much else to recommend about them. Mysterious Island is a notable exception. Lastly, we close with his magnum opus Jason and the Argonauts. I'd like to have Clash of the Titans as well, but there are more than enough films left in Harryhausen's filmography for me to do another one of these posts at a later date. Look for more TTWC2 next week, along with more JJ and what'll likely be an unsorted batch of reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 02:32:24
15 Jan 16
I'm rather pleased with myself for the punny title of Chapter 7 of EM. Feel free to roll your eyes, gentle reader. This chapter opens up the B plot of the story. Look for Harryhausen features coming up soon. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 01:41:04
12 Jan 16
The Dragons get a bit of a break in Xorgoth's Chapter 3 of TTWC2, but you never get a break from Dragon politics. Look for more EM and a Harryhausen-themed batch of reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 18:06:14
11 Jan 16
The first season of Ash vs. Evil Dead recently wrapped, so I'm posting my review of it and the three films that preceded it: The Evil Dead, Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness. The 2013 remake would've rounded out the package, but all I found recently was an edited for TV version and I prefer to see my movies uncut, especially for review purposes. Going off the Evil Dead theme, I have Season 2 of Log Horizon and the first season of Maria Holic. Not sure what theme I'll go with next, but in the meantime, look for more TTWC2 and EM. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 07:51:05
08 Jan 16
When venturing out into wint'ry wastes, beware the wild snow bunnies. They've been known to lurk at higher altitudes. Root and company wish all they had to worry about was snow bunnies in Chapter 6 of JJ. Look to take down some Deadites and the miserable second season of Log Horizon soon. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 02:31:21
05 Jan 16
The Dragons are busy spreading fire and mayhem in Xorgoth's Chapter 2 of TTWC2. Look for more JJ and Deadite-busting reviews. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 18:21:42
04 Jan 16
This week we're looking at three major films in sci-fi from the '50s. From 1951, we have The Day the Earth Stood Still and The Thing from Another World and from 1958, we have The Fly. All three of these films have had high-profile remakes. Two of them are very good, among the best in sci-fi horror, John Carpenter's The Thing and David Cronenberg's The Fly. The other is complete garbage, the '08 remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still. In other news, look for more TTWC2 and JJ and some reviews that may involve the dead that some would call evil. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 02:39:28
02 Jan 16
Meow Mix asks for her by name. She's the most interesting cat in the world. "I don't always surf the web, but when I do, I prefer Palidor Media." The mascot has that kinda look going for her in the picture. Well, it's a new year and we keep on going forward with Chapter 6 of EM. This is later than usual, but in the meantime I've managed to settle on a theme for this week's reviews. I'm going to take three significant scifi films from the 50s and their remakes, so look forward to that. Stay tuned.
Posted by: James
UTC 04:39:49