Green Phoenix - The Silmarillion Review

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

The literary legacy of J.R.R. Tolkien has become legendary and an inspiration for almost all modern fantasy. But before either of these stories, Tolkien had a dream.

A desire to craft a mythology for Great Britain which didn't rely upon French influence (like the Arthurian legends did). To that end, from 1917 until his death in 1973, Tolkien slowly crafted a series of mythological stories that would, in time, be combined with The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings to craft a single cohesive legendarium.

Though many of these stories would never be released into canon (eventually being compiled into the Unfinished Tales), Tolkien's son Christopher began the painstaking process of compiling and editing the largest and most cohesive stories into a single genesis story.

This would become The Silmarillion.

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Castle Woodwarf (Steam) - PC game review

Red Diamond back again with another game review. This game is actually a former flash game now free to play steam that I wanted to review after already covering its' sequel Castle Woodwarf 2. Probably the wrong way to check out a series, regardless, click "read more" for my review.

Kamen Rider BLACK! Episode 16 - My Friend! Go Beyond the Sea! Summary/Review

Kotaro's mission to save his brother continues.  As does my mission to cover all of this season of Kamen Rider.  (Click on "Read More" to read the full article.)

Green Phoenix - Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Review

Following the massive success that was the original Star Wars (later retitled as Episode 4: A New Hope), George Lucas found himself swamped in cash and ready to deliver a powerful new addition to his Star Wars mythology.

Teaming up with director Irvin Kerschner (who would later direct films like Never Say Never Again and RoboCop 2) to deliver a film was hopefully superior to the original film in every way.

Kershner had a tall order to fill in not only surpassing the original which was already being considered a classic and the start of the blockbuster era of American cinema, but also had to build up elements which would have to be paid off in the already planned third and "final" film in the Star Wars trilogy.

And Kershner succeeded in just about every way.

Up next in the examination of the Star Wars franchise by going in Machete Order, the film widely considered to be the greatest film in the Star Wars saga.

Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back.

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Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger Ep. 1: The Space Pirates Appear - Summary/Review

Red Diamond here with a different take on a season. The famous pirate season, one I actually have fond memories of watching when it was new and decided to re-visit it in hopes of feeling some of that goodness again. Was that just warm fuzzy nostalgia and this season is actually terrible? Click "read more" and we shall find out.

Yeah, This is Modded: Buwico 2 in 1 Metal Aluminum Thumbstick Grip Sticks (used for an Xbox One S controller) Review

Need some cheap thumbsticks for your Xbox One Controller? Read my review to see if these are worth your cold hard cash!

Dorke and Ymp (PC, Steam) Review.

Sometimes a game gets cancelled.  Whether it's for the right or wrong reasons, it sends our minds going crazy with thoughts of what could've been.  You also have your zombie games that get dug up, finished, and released to the public.  This is one of those games.  This is Dorke and Ymp, a game that was supposed to have come out for the SNES back in the day.  Should it have stayed in its grave? Find out in this exciting review of Dorke and Ymp for the PC.  (Click on "Read More" to read the full review.)

Green Phoenix - Building Better Backstories I

Welcome to Building Better Backstories.

The premise behind this series of editorials will be amending or transforming the backstories behind famous fictional characters, events, or organizations to fix issues that I see with them. This could be something as complex as a complete rewrite of a backstory, to a simple retexturing of the overall lesson.

Today's Subject? Batman

My aim with this series is for you to join me in considering why fiction utilizes certain backstories and how those stories and the changes we make can have a fundamental impact on the overall "feel" of the character, event, or organization in question.

And for our first post in this series, let's take a look at one of the most famous superheroes, with one of the most well-known backstories of all time.

He is "The World's Greatest Detective (in the DC Universe)", He is Vengeance, He is the Night:

Bruce Wayne, otherwise known as Batman.

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Uchuu Keiji Gavan Episode 15 Review: Very Important Sacrifice In...The Makuu City!

In honor of the 26,000th anniversary Beast Empire was founded, Don Horror decides the perfect gift to celebrate the event is a sacrifice. Not just any would do. It needs to be someone special, like perhaps Gavan. Will the Makuu finally get off their butts and actually try to kill Gavan this time? Click 'read more' to find out (Answer is likely no.)

10 Ways Youtubers Get Away With Stealing Videos

Well, this is an unusual topic for this website. However, being an advocate of watching YouTube and amateur uploader of content, video theft is something I have seen personally on more than a rare occasion and it bothers me. So, in order to help bring awareness, I've decided to count down 10 ways I have seen YouTubers steal videos. My one regret sadly, is that I will have to give examples. While I loath the idea of giving any type of promotion to stolen content, it is necessary to prove my point, but I will keep it at a minimum. I'll say this now, it is not an innocent "tribute" to someone once you hit the monetize button. That being said, click "read more" for the full list.

Yeah, This is Modded: Bionik Quickshot grips for Xbox One controllers Review (used in an Xbox One S controller)

Need a grip and a better trigger stopper on your Xbox One controller? Read my review and find out if you should nab these grips!

Alien Rampage (PC, Steam) Review.

Previously in the Kaiser Sensei Piko Parade Saga, I reviewed Hostage: Rescue Mission.  You can read what I had to say about that in my review. (Link found in article.)  Now we shift into the realm of bloody sci-fi action with another review of a retro game released by Piko Interactive.  This is Alien Rampage.  (Click on "Read More" to read the full review.)

Red Prime Shard: Dora and the Lost City of Gold - Review

So I watched two special double length episodes of Dora the Explorer before going to see the movie Dora and the Lost City of Gold, and I was going to see this movie regardless of the reception since I found it absolutely absurd that Nickelodeon wanted to replicate the videos that CollageHumor made with Ariel Winter that made fun of the idea of a more mature live action Dora the Explorer movie being made.  I was going to see it anyway and I know I would like it ironically just because of those CollageHumor videos and also AOK’s Dora the Grown Up videos, but what I was NOT expecting was the movie to get GOOD REVIEWS and even more so, it’s CERTIFIED FRESH on Rotten Tomatoes!  So I went into this movie even more unexpectedly due to it. (Click "Read More" for the full review.)

Green Phoenix - Star Wars: A New Hope Review

It's Star Wars.

I don't think I need to go into too much detail as to the cultural and historical significance behind the first episode in this cinematic saga. It is the first true blockbuster and the film which, along with Jaws, helped to create the modern summer movie season.

After last week's editorial on the Machete Order, I thought it would be fun to examine all of the films in the Order from a critical standpoint. I will be skipping every other week (with the occasional literary suggestion or editorial) and will also have to give myself some time in October for the "Halloween" review season.

So let's start our Star Wars run with the first film in the Machete Order, Episode 4: A New Hope.

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VR Troopers Episode 12 Review - No One's Friend

It seems like every episode of VR Troopers is an incursion into insanity. SOMEHOW, Carl Ziktor figures out how to mind control anyone who makes contact with a special Skug. His first victims of this scheme are J.B. and Kaitlin. How are they going to botch this episode? The world will never know...until you watch it or at least read the summary.

Battle Fever J Ep. 1: Assault!! Run to the Ballpark - Summary/Review

Time to look at the 3rd Super Sentai that was at one point considered the first. At first glance, these are the ugliest costumes I've seen in any of these shows, but grow on you. It is dance themed team with each ranger representing a different country. With that in mind, let's take a look at this 1979 episode.

Fenris Talks About: Five Detectives in Video Games

In today's article, we look at some of gaming's interesting and unique long arms of the law. Get your trenchcoat and cigarettes.

16 Classic Games That Are Coming To Steam. RETRO! REMAKE! REMASTER!

There's a lot on Steam.  Sadly, a lot of the good stuff is buried underneath all of the cheap cash grab games.  There's also a lot of good stuff coming soon to Steam.  This list will cover some of those said upcoming releases.  What's even better is that all of this stuff is retro gaming related.  Here are 16 classic games that are coming to Steam.  Think of reading this list as watching an old gaming VHS full of trailers and a cheesy voiceover. Those are what inspired me to write this list afterall.

Note: Release dates are based on what's written on their Steam pages.  Also, I have included remasters and remakes, not just straight up ports of old games.  (Click on "Read More" to read the full article.)

Hostage: Rescue Mission (PC/Steam) Review

From the secret files of the Emerald Ranger Police comes a review of an old school police game from 1989.  This is Hostage: Rescue Mission.  (Click on "Read More" to read the full review.)

Nimbatus: The Space Drone Constructor (Steam)

 

Did you ever watch that show where people build robots and have them fight each other? Today’s game “Nimbatus: The Space Drone Constructor” is like a single player version of that show …. “IN SPACE!”