Echo Royale - Steam Review

Ready to take a trip into sadness? Let’s explore depression as if it were a dark cave in Virginia that we could visit for the afternoon. Don’t stay too long, or you won’t be able to get out. (Also bring sandwiches and toilet paper.) Readers, I bring you the budget title Echo Royale.

Green Phoenix - The Lion King (1994) Review

In 1988, during a promotional tour for Oliver and Company in Europe, a meeting was held between Jeffrey Katzenberg, Roy E. Disney, and Peter Schneider to discuss future projects for The Walt Disney Studios.

Among the projects discussed was a desire by the three to create an animated film set in Africa. The project was handed over to the vice-president of creative affiars, Charlie Fink, who developed the project further. Katzenberg would later add his elements, creating a coming of age story and some elements that he would later credit to his own life.

In 1991, the film, tentatively called King of the Jungle, was put into production, though many animators and directors wanted to work on Pocahontas (which was considered the more prestigious and likely to be successful of the two) instead, with The Lion King representing the lesser of the two projects.

In spite of that; by 1994, King of the Jungle, now renamed The Lion King was released to critical and financial acclaim and has since gone down in history as among Disney's greatest animated films. With a "live-action" adaptation of the film expected for later this year, I felt it only fair to take a look at this legendary picture to see if it still holds up.

***

Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot: Episode 02 - Nucleon, The Magic Globe

After a humiliating defeat at the hands of Johnny Sokko and his flying robot, the Gargoyle Gang will stop at nothing to get that machine back in their possession. Unable to fight the robot directly, they stoop to a new low by planning to terrorize a town and ambush Johnny during the chaos. Will Gargoyle be able to get away with such a devious plot? Click 'Read More' to find out!

Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger en Film - Summary/Review

It's movie time! This 29 minute film was one half of a double feature along with Kamen Rider Build: Be The One. Continuity wise, this film takes place before episode 26. Also, historically, these half hour films from double features have not been great stand alone films. Will this movie continue that bad tradition? Click "read more" and let's find out.

Headliner: NoviNews Review (PC)

       

 The news isn't always printed in black and white, Headliner. Hit "Read more" for my full review.

Attack of the Random Singles! - OWC #4

In this edition of Obsessions With Cardboard, there's no mystery, no suspense, no education value. Nope.  For you see, in this edition of OWC, I'm just showing off single cards that I have bought off the internet with my pocket money.  What kind of cards did I frivolously spend my money on? Click on "Read More" to find out. C'MON! DO IT! DO IT NOW!

Red Prime Shard: Surge Soda pop (Amazon) - Review

Anyone remember when the Coca-Cola drink: Surge was available in the 90s and for a while in the early 2000s?  It had a very 90s logo that came off as graffiti and hand painted, and it was delicious.  It was one of my favorite drinks in the 90s.  The commercials were weird with single can or bottle of Surge being set up as a prize, someone yells “SURGE” and then we see people race and compete for the drink, and it was advertised as a fully loaded citrus soda with carbos with the tagline being “Feed The Rush” and using signs of extreme sports to really make it an EXTREME drink for a 90s audience.  Honestly, I think a whole fridge or cooler of Surge would make more sense for these if we were to “Feed The Rush.”  About a year later, the logo changed to a more digital one that would clearly be made in a computer and for the most part, I think that one would work for a more mainstream audience, but there was a special charm about the original, and it seems Coca-Cola thought so as well since they used the old logo for the revival.  The drink was made as a competitor to Pepsi’s Mountain Dew and originally created with the codename MDK (Mountain Dew Killer), and for a while, it had a following, but then was eventually discontinued in 2003.  So with the revival version released, I wanted to try it again, but didn’t get the chance until recently.

Green Phoenix - Disney's Dark Age

Imperial March playing in the background

Between their ownership of Pixar Animation, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the entirety of Star Wars, the Walt Disney Company has become a nigh unstoppable juggernaut of the entertainment industry. Disney has become successful off of decades of successful branding and marketing their most popular entertainment properties until they have become staples of our childhoods.

And when one takes a look at the greater portion of these properties, a pattern emerges. The majority of them belong to a specific period of incredibly high-performing and critically lauded animated films released between 1989 and 1999, more popularly known as in cinematic history circles as the "Disney Renaissance".

But what about the period before the Renaissance? What was the state of Disney animation in the decades following the death of their founder, when the Nine Old Men began to pass and new talents rose and fell to eventually define my generation's childhood?

***

Fast Cast Episode 6: Art & Animation - Ft. Loco-Laranja

The artist once known as T-McBee is now Loco-Laranja and has joined me to discuss the world of art among other random things.

ps. I apologize for the airplanes, there wasn't much I could do about that.

Follow Loco-Laranja 

Instagram

Tumblr

webtoons

Castle Woodwarf 2 (Steam) - Review

Red Diamond here again with another indie game review. What we have this time is a casual, yet intense, strategy game developed by Domo Games and published by Sedoc LLC. Castle Woodwarf 2. Interestingly, what we have this time is a sequel to a free flash game by Armor Games that has found itself released on Steam. What does this Dwarf & Dragon title hold? Click "read more" and let's take a look.

Fenris Talks About: Five Things You Didn't Know About Xbox Avatars

Ever wanted to know random trivia about Xbox Avatars? You've come to the right place. 

Hit "Read More" for more information!

Witch Thief (Nintendo Switch) Review.

YAY! It's time for a review of a shmup game, a 3D shmup game at that.  That's all that I need to say to get your attention.  This is Witch Thief for the Nintendo Switch.  (Click on "Read More" to read the full review.)

Green Phoenix - Dune (1984) Review

 

Based on the best-selling novel by Frank Herbert, Dune has been widely regarded by many as the one book that would be impossible to effectively adapt into film. Published in 1965, Dune became an instant best-seller and a staple of the science fiction genre; which meant that efforts to adapt it into cinema began almost instantly.

The first serious attempt to adapt Dune began in 1973, when a consortium of French filmmakers and producers hired on Alejandro Jodorowsky. Despite a great deal of enthusiasm and a star-studded cast, the story quickly ballooned into a 10-14 hour epic and the funding quickly dried up.

The next attempt occured in 1976, when Dino De Laurentiis bought the film rights from the consortium. He began looking for directors, with considerations given to Ridley Scott (who thought to hire on H.R. Giger and split the book into two films) before finally settling on David Lynch, whose vision was eventually manipulated to such a degree that he would later deny the film entirely.

***

Out of the Park Baseball 20 (Steam) - Review

Ever have that fish out of water feeling? Well, that is me since I am not a huge baseball fan. With that in mind, does this game have anything to offer someone outside the baseball fandom? Also, how does it hold up to the other 19 installments? Click "read more" and let's take a look.

News: Desmond "Etika" Amofah Has Passed Away

May he rest in peace.

Revenge of the Unbroken Bonds! - OWC #3

On the first edition of Obsessions With Cardboard, I opened up some Unbroken Bonds Pokémon cards (among other stuff).  It's a very good set but sadly I didn't really get any of the super hard to get stuff.  Maybe this will change in this edition of OWC because I have more Unbroken Bonds to open.  This is also an opening that's a bit more special than opening a standard pack.  What I've got to show today is the Unbroken Bonds Build and Battle deck.  What's inside? Click on "Read More" to find out.

Green Phoenix: Gray Tide in the East - Book Review

August 1914: On the eve of the German invasion of Belgium, Kaiser Wilhelm II receives a telegram promising British neutrality in Germany’s war with France if Belgium is left be. Over the objections of German High Command, Wilhelm send the German armies preparing for a Belgian invasion east to deal with Russian forces.

With Germany focusing on the east and British forces never joining the war, how will the world in this alternate Great War fair when the Gray Tide finally settles?

Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot: Episode 01 - Dracolon, The Great Sea Monster

What would normally be a routine trip across the sea turns into a frightening ride for Johnny Sokko. Attacked by a giant sea monster known as Dracolon, Johnny barely escapes death only to find himself washed ashore onto the heart of evil itself: The Gargoyle Gang. As a survivor of happenstance, will Johnny be able to return home in one piece?

Find out in this action-packed thriller of colossal proportions.

Kaitou Sentai Lupinranger VS Keisatsu Sentai Patranger Number 33: We're The Kid Phantom Thief Club - Summary/Review

Beware of child actors! It is the 33rd episode of this cops and robbers season putting us nearly 2/3 of the way through this season. Let's keep that momentum going by clicking "read more" for this episodes review.

Monster Puzzle (Nintendo Switch) Review.

Hush little monster, don't you cry.  Emerald Rangers has a new Nintendo Switch game review from Retrokai.  Now will this game be a hit, or will it be a little shhh.  The only way to find that out, click on "Read More" to feed this trout...  Yeah, I couldn't find anything else better to rhyme with "out".  I guess that I could've said scout, but I like the idea of being a fish better.  (Click on "Read More" to read the full article.)