We finish beating the pirates and have a talk with the swordsman we rescued.
Read moreLet’s Play Tactics Ogre PSP: Ep. 147 – Rematch II
Let’s Play Tactics Ogre PSP: Ep 146 – Rematch I
After a whole bunch of grinding, we head out to take on the pirates again.
Read moreSpring 2022 Anime: Season 2-s
Outside of the shows that carried over from the Winter Season (like Requiem of the Rose King), there were a couple earlier series that I reviewed that are getting second seasons, that I feel like giving some quick thoughts on – partly to cover for time on the blog (because, again, work wrapping up) and partly because honestly, I haven’t done much with the “As They Air” thing for ongoing series before and this might be worth doing for the long term. So, here are the two Season 2-s of anime I watched from earlier seasons that I’m checking out in the spring.
Read moreA Wrinkle In Time: Film Review
Back when I was in grade school, I read Madeline L’Engle’s A Wrinkle In Time for the first time. I found myself drawn not only to the character of Meg – the main viewpoint character of the novel – but also, as an autistic kid, I latched onto the character of Charles Wallace as well. That and the visuals the book evoked in my imagination made me hungry for an adaptation. Indeed, one of the first stage plays I went to in a theater (and in downtown Portland no less – on a field trip) was an adaptation of the book. While I enjoyed the play, its minimalist presentation had a mixed response from me.
When I learned Ava DuVernay was doing an adaptation of the book, I very much wanted to see it in theaters – and then life happened, in ways that ultimately meant I missed its fairly short theatrical run. However, the trailers looked promising, and I did want to see it at home – and they also made me think that DuVernay would be great for the New Gods movie she was slated to direct – before that was canceled. Well, now after a significant delay, I have finally watched the movie on streaming, and have my thoughts.
Read moreSpy X Family: Quick Thoughts
Unfortunately, with my current work wrapping up, this has played hell with keeping things caught up on my daily blog posts – so I’m having to grab some ideas more or less off of the cuff. In this case – with my regular anime viewing, I’ve gotten about 3 episodes into one of this new season’s most popular shows – Spy X Family, and I figure it’s worth breaking from my usual tendencies to give my thoughts on the first 3 episodes of the show.
Read moreQuick Thoughts On Two of James Beard’s Books
It’s been a bit since I talked about cookbooks – and I have a couple of quick passing thoughts on a couple of James Beard’s cookbooks that I want to post now… since I fell behind and didn’t get anything scheduled for today (wrapping up my current position at work has been very crazy).
Read moreNintendo Power Retrospectives: Part 123
Things are finally picking up, with 4 games this issue!
Read moreForza And Chill: Ep. 6 – Cleans Up Nicely
I finish the racing series, and check out my new Aston Martin.
Read moreForza And Chill: Ep. 5 – I Have A Lambo?
I start a seasonal race sequence.
Read moreSplinter of the Mind’s Eye: Comic Review
It’s time to take a look at the Dark Horse Comic adaptation of Splinter of the Mind’s Eye. As I’ve previously reviewed the novel, I’ll be eschewing my regular format, and instead, I’ll be giving my thoughts on the adaptation.
Read moreThe Black Fleet Crisis: Tyrant’s Test – Book Review
It’s time to rip the adhesive bandage off of this terrible novel trilogy.
Read moreForza And Chill: Ep. 4 – Count’s ‘Vette
I tune-up my Corvette and take it for a race.
Read moreForza And Chill: Ep. 3 – Made Of Jets
I take on the last of the Showcase Events in the game, where I race a fighter jet.
Read moreBreaking Down The Knightfall Saga: Knightquest – The Crusade Part 1
We start AzBat’s run as Batman, after defeating Bane – as we introduce the new incarnation of the Trigger Twins.
Read moreForza And Chill: Ep. 2 – Dude, Where’s My Car?
I go looking for a Barn Find… in the dark.
Read moreForza And Chill: Ep. 1 – Scottish Vacation
While I deal with this little grind-wall in Tactics Ogre, I’m shifting gears with my streams (har har), for some driving in Scotland in Forza Horizon 4.
Read moreWotakoi: Love is Hard For Otaku – Anime Review
Wotakoi is a remarkably chill slice-of-life rom-com anime. It’s just a fairly drama light series, which focuses on two otaku couples who share a workplace, and have mutual friends, just spending time together. It makes for a nice, refreshing bowl of vanilla bean ice cream in anime form.
Read moreNo Time To Die: Film Review
When it was determined that, no really, No Time To Die was going to be Daniel Craig’s last outing as James Bond, we then had the question of just how his Bond was going to go out. Most of the previous Bonds to date ended at the status quo at the end of their last outing – each film having an ending like all the rest of the bond movies. However, Craig’s bond films, however, have generally never quite been like any of the other Bonds. Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace were films setting up the start of Bond’s career, and Skyfall and Spectre were very much about changing up the status quo (changing of the guard for M and the re-introduction of SPECTRE, respectively). So, there was a real question here of whether Craig’s departure would be about continuing the plot thread with a new actor picking up the baton from the last, or doing a mostly fresh-start of the continuity, as was done with Casino Royale.
Read moreFast & Furious: Film Review
Fast & Furious is an attempt to course-correct after Tokyo Drift didn’t do as well as planned, moving the focus from “Street Racing Movie with crime elements” to “Crime movie with street racing elements” and bringing the characters of Dom & Brian back to center stage. Unfortunately, the film does this by cribbing from 2 Fast 2 Furious heavily.
Read moreLet’s Play Tactics Ogre PSP: Ep. 145 – Underleveled
We take on the one sidequest we have to do now, before we advance the plot, and learn we’re underleveled.
Read moreBook Review: Demon City Shinjuku
I’ve finally read the novel version of Demon City Shinjuku, after having previously reviewed the anime, and have some thoughts comparing the book to the movie.
Read moreLet’s Play Tactics Ogre PSP: Ep. 144 – Divine Blade
We finally find out why Lanselot Hamilton and company are here.
Read moreMy Dress-Up Darling: Anime Review
I’m a sucker for an anime that has an element of instruction and education to its premise, and as someone who also appreciates cosplay, but who does not cosplay himself, I’m interested in the craft behind it. So going into the Winter 2022 season, I’d already suspected that My Dress-Up Darling would be my jam on that front. What I wasn’t expecting was to get a tremendously sweet love story along the way.
Read moreBoogiepop Phantom: Anime Review
Boogiepop Phantom was an anime that came out in 2000 that very much served as a counterpoint to Serial Experiments Lain in the eyes of American anime fans. Both works are dark psychological suspense works containing conspiracies and supernatural elements. Both works are heavy on suspense, and depict their high school-aged protagonists dealing with a heavy weight of intense personal dread, psychological pressure, and often with that trauma based on the burdens of society and how they play on their peers.
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