Thursday 30 September 2021

Rob's Movie Night Roundup - R (Riverworld)

At the beginning of the year, my wife and I decided that we'd like to watch more movies. There are 52 weeks in a year, 2 of us, and 26 letters in the alphabet. What better way to choose some movies than to go alphabetically? The only rule: Where possible, it should be a movie that one or more of us had never seen before. Oh, and ideally it should be part of one of the copious online streaming services we're already subscribed to, because why bother paying for a rental when we're not short of options?

Incidentally, if anyone from the big online streaming service providers is reading this (your Notfluxes or your Prims, for example), please make it easier to search for/sort movies alphabetically. Thanks.

Also, fair warning: There may well be movies that appear on this list that you'll find hard to believe I haven't seen before. It happens.

Previous letters are here: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P

Q R S T U V W X Y Z

RIVERWORLD
Director: Kari Skogland
Stars: Brad Johnson, Karen Holness, Emily Lloyd

Synopsis via IMDB: Hale, an American astronaut, dies and is reincarnated with other persons who have lived throughout all of human history and end up on a mysterious planet called 'Riverworld'.

You know, watching this movie a number of thoughts passed through my head. It was a strange sensation, but I endured. Thanks for asking. Some of my thoughts:

  • This feels like a TV movie
  • Where the fuck did the caveman come from?! (This one legitimately made me go back ten seconds to be sure)
  • The alien feels like it should be a bigger deal in the story
  • How did all these characters learn to fight so well?
  • This feels like a TV movie to set up a franchise

I found Riverworld relatively enjoyable on the whole, the above thoughts notwithstanding. It's a really intriguing premise (which I hear can be credited to the author of the source material, a series of novels by Philip José Farmer), and the cast and crew do their best with what they've been given to work with. There are some really enjoyable visual shots of the scenic shooting locations. However, this movie is not without its issues.

I found that though the overall premise was intriguing, this adaptation doesn't do the best job of laying out the story beats (hence the caveman rewind, and musings about the alien). Also, this may have just been the version I watched, but the visuals looked...juddery. I have no other word for it. I was reminded of the joke from Garth Marenghi's Darkplace: "Every scene without dialogue was considered for slow-motion", except imagine the premise extended to every single shot of the film, but in a way that doesn't appear stylistic. I can't think of another way to explain it.

I wasn't that taken with the ending, either. All felt a bit weak. It makes sense in context, but as a movie goes you want something a bit more definitive than what you get. Go in with managed expectations on this one and you'll come out of it alright.


After The Quick and the Dead, the next movie was always going to have a hard time. Riverworld, for what it is, didn't feel like the worst film I've ever seen. However, from reading online, two things stood out: There's a more recent TV series that might be worth checking out instead, and the books are apparently incredible in comparison. Really depends on your preferences, I guess, but don't expect to see this one anywhere near the top of the list if I ever rate this.

Did you enjoy the roundup? Let me know! If you have thoughts on the movies chosen and their respective writeups above, you know where to find me. Maybe you don't, but there are buttons everywhere to make that happen. Comments, Twitter, you name it. Moreover, if you want to make use of this movie night format, bearing in mind you're a few weeks in and might have to double up to get up to speed, feel free to do the same - I'd love to know what you chose too!

Rob Wade


Rob Wade blogs about stuff he likes. Whether it's video games or geek media for Emotionally14 or writing about speculative theories for future films on Talk Star Wars, the focus has always been on the stuff that brings the most pleasure to his life within media.

Rob is the editor of Emotionally14, and showrunner of the E14 podcasts "The Crazy Train", "The E14 Gamecast" and "Talk Star Wars", as well as the host and guest of a number of pieces on E14's Youtube channel over the years.


Wednesday 29 September 2021

Fire When Ready - Episode 59 - Star Wars: Armada - Clone Wars Starter Fleet Battle

This time on Fire When Ready, the boys are testing out the starter fleets for the new Clone Wars forces in Star Wars: Armada, as well as showing special guest Kyle Mullings how the game works in general. Lasers, explosions and more ensue.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @firewhenreadyuk

If you like the look of this game, or even if you're just in the market for a few new bits for your existing set, why not check out our Amazon Affiliate store to do so?




Thursday 23 September 2021

The Nerd Room Episode #288 | BATMAN DAY, STAR WARS: VISIONS, DISNEY+ DAY

The following presentation is Emotionally14 Endorsed. We didn't make it ourselves, but the people that did are fantastic and we think that you'll like it!


Join the TNR crew to discuss the biggest news from the world of NERD, including; Batman Day celebrations, Star Wars: Visions final thoughts, the slate of content announced for Disney+ Day, and much more!


Twitter | Facebook | YouTube

Be sure to check out more from the Star Wars Commonwealth and follow Talk Star Wars, Tumbling Saber, Generation X-Wing, Rogue Squadron Podcast, San Diego Sabers Radio Podcast, and Sandcrawler Podcast!


The Nerd Room

A Star Wars, Marvel, & DC Podcast
A weekly podcast bringing you the latest Star Wars, Marvel, and DC news and reviews!

iTunes

Podbean

Stitcher

Youtube


Wednesday 22 September 2021

Fire When Ready - Episode 58 - Star Wars: Legion Unboxing - Lando, Anakin, Maul, Kallus

Ian and Brad have got their hands on some of the recent Commander and Operative releases for Star Wars: Legion. Are they going to be worth the credits, or are they going to need to go home and rethink their life?

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @firewhenreadyuk

If you like the look of this game, or even if you're just in the market for a few new bits for your existing set, why not check out our Amazon Affiliate store to do so?




Tuesday 21 September 2021

TumblingSaber Podcast - Revealed and Reviled

The following presentation is Emotionally14 Endorsed. We didn't make it ourselves, but the people that did are fantastic and we think that you'll like it!


This week on the podcast, we take a look at a report from The Book of Boba Fett, then discuss why Disney+ seemingly trumps the movies when it comes to big pop culture moments.

We're glad to be in your ears and would love to hear from you! Send an email with your thoughts and questions to tumblingsaber@gmail.com, or find us in our closed TumblingSaber Facebook group. We'd love to see you there.

If Twitter is your thing, you can find me, Cory, and Carlos there as well!

Thanks for listening to the podcast! See you next week!


TumblingSaber Podcast
A Star Wars Podcast

Fandom rises, and a podcast to meet it! TumblingSaber is a Star Wars podcast by fans, for fans! We talk films, TV, comics, novels, toys, and much more!

iTunes

Patreon

Stitcher

Youtube

Spotify


Friday 17 September 2021

TumblingSaber Podcast - Repainted and Remade

The following presentation is Emotionally14 Endorsed. We didn't make it ourselves, but the people that did are fantastic and we think that you'll like it!


In this week's podcast, we return from a week off to discuss the latest Black Series and Vintage Collection reveals from Hasbro. We also take a look at the news that Aspyr is remaking the legendary Knights of the Old Republic video game for consoles and PC. We kick around our thoughts, and if it's a signal of something larger coming for this story and its characters.

We're glad to be in your ears and would love to hear from you! Send an email with your thoughts and questions to tumblingsaber@gmail.com, or find us in our closed TumblingSaber Facebook group. We'd love to see you there.

If Twitter is your thing, you can find me, Cory, and Carlos there as well!

Thanks for listening to the podcast! See you next week!


TumblingSaber Podcast
A Star Wars Podcast

Fandom rises, and a podcast to meet it! TumblingSaber is a Star Wars podcast by fans, for fans! We talk films, TV, comics, novels, toys, and much more!

iTunes

Patreon

Stitcher

Youtube

Spotify


Bring on the Bad Guys - Episode 33 - DC Universe Miniatures Game - Superman vs Doomsday

It's time to play one of our favourites: Knight Model's DC Universe Miniatures Game! Lex Luthor has awakened Doomsday, who is running amok in downtown Metropolis. Only Superman, The Last Son of Krypton, can stand in its way.

Of course, this is Bring on the Bad Guys, so this titanic tussle also features Batman sleeping on a park bench, Flash kicking an unconscious pensioner in the neck, and...y'know...Cthulhu.

Featuring special guest, Robbie Munn!

Follow the show on Instagram @bringonthebadguys and Facebook @BringBadGuys


Thursday 16 September 2021

The Nerd Room Episode #287 | HAWKEYE TRAILER, PENGUIN ON HBOMAX, MARVEL GAMING

The following presentation is Emotionally14 Endorsed. We didn't make it ourselves, but the people that did are fantastic and we think that you'll like it!


Join the TNR crew to discuss the first Hawkeye trailer, a possible Penguin show on HBOMax, Peacemaker first look, Marvel gaming, and much more!


Twitter | Facebook | YouTube

Be sure to check out more from the Star Wars Commonwealth and follow Talk Star Wars, Tumbling Saber, Generation X-Wing, Rogue Squadron Podcast, San Diego Sabers Radio Podcast, and Sandcrawler Podcast!


The Nerd Room

A Star Wars, Marvel, & DC Podcast
A weekly podcast bringing you the latest Star Wars, Marvel, and DC news and reviews!

iTunes

Podbean

Stitcher

Youtube


Rob's Movie Night Roundup - Q (The Quick And The Dead)

At the beginning of the year, my wife and I decided that we'd like to watch more movies. There are 52 weeks in a year, 2 of us, and 26 letters in the alphabet. What better way to choose some movies than to go alphabetically? The only rule: Where possible, it should be a movie that one or more of us had never seen before. Oh, and ideally it should be part of one of the copious online streaming services we're already subscribed to, because why bother paying for a rental when we're not short of options?

Incidentally, if anyone from the big online streaming service providers is reading this (your Notfluxes or your Prims, for example), please make it easier to search for/sort movies alphabetically. Thanks.

Also, fair warning: There may well be movies that appear on this list that you'll find hard to believe I haven't seen before. It happens.

Previous letters are here: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P

Q R S T U V W X Y Z

THE QUICK AND THE DEAD
Director: Sam Raimi
Stars: Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe

Synopsis via IMDB: A female gunfighter returns to a frontier town where a dueling tournament is being held, which she enters in an effort to avenge her father's death.

I don't know that my eyebrows have ever raised more than the introduction to this movie, as the cast was appearing on the screen. What an absolute all-star cast this movie has! In addition to the cracking leads listed above, this movie has Leonardo DiCaprio, Keith David, Tobin Bell *and* Lance Henriksen just to name a few! When a movie boasts star power of this magnitude, it's hard to go wrong! I mean, Childs from The Thing, Bishop from Aliens and *Jigsaw*?! I do not understand how you can go wrong.

Happily, in case you thought I was setting this one up for a fall, this movie does not go wrong for me at all! I was enthralled from minute one, and the film kept me entertained the whole way through. I really can't fault it. The cast do their job exceptionally, with standout performances including Leonardo as a young brash gunslinger just trying to prove himself. The movie was stylish, the music was top-notch and didn't suffer from any pacing issues. In fact I was surprised at one point to pause the film to find that we were left with only twenty minutes to go, as the movie had flown by in the best possible way.

I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up being my favourite movie when this is all said and done. Loved it.


Though Q only allowed for one movie, this one will 100% end up in the upper echelons of the movies I've seen. Absolutely excellent.

I've found myself reflecting a lot recently on the fact that I'm not currently on course to hit the 52 movies I was hoping for. Assuming I manage 2 per letter for the remainder (not by any means guaranteed as the world opens up and plans become more numerous), I'm currently looking at 49 out of 52 (I'm currently at 31 out of a possible 34). I'm not sure what I want to do about that (if anything), and I'd be interested for your thoughts via the usual channels. Ideas I've considered so far include:

  • Slot some additional films into the gaps (any letter)
  • Slot films from the missed letters (currently N, P and Q) over the remainder of the year
  • Slot one additional film in and aim for an even 50
  • Stop overthinking it and just enjoy some bloody films - let the numbers be what they are (I might not hit 2 per letter again anyway, so who knows whether any of these ideas will even matter?)

Anyway, did you enjoy the roundup? Let me know! If you have thoughts on the movies chosen and their respective writeups above, you know where to find me. Maybe you don't, but there are buttons everywhere to make that happen. Comments, Twitter, you name it. Moreover, if you want to make use of this movie night format, bearing in mind you're a few weeks in and might have to double up to get up to speed, feel free to do the same - I'd love to know what you chose too!

Rob Wade


Rob Wade blogs about stuff he likes. Whether it's video games or geek media for Emotionally14 or writing about speculative theories for future films on Talk Star Wars, the focus has always been on the stuff that brings the most pleasure to his life within media.

Rob is the editor of Emotionally14, and showrunner of the E14 podcasts "The Crazy Train", "The E14 Gamecast" and "Talk Star Wars", as well as the host and guest of a number of pieces on E14's Youtube channel over the years.


Tuesday 14 September 2021

Bring on the Bad Guys - Episode 32 - Marvel: Crisis Protocol Reviews

Brad and Ian unbox, rate and review some recent releases for Marvel: Crisis Protocol including Hawkeye, Angela, Gamora and Corvus Glaive!

Follow the show on Instagram @bringonthebadguys and Facebook @BringBadGuys


Monday 6 September 2021

Bring on the Bad Guys - Episode 31 - The Long Halloween: Part Two Review

Ian, Brad and Dave are joined by special guest Blake Harmer to watch and review the second half of The Long Halloween, the latest DC animated movie.

Follow the show on Instagram @bringonthebadguys and Facebook @BringBadGuys


Friday 3 September 2021

Fire When Ready - Episode 57 - Star Wars: Legion - Full Gameplay - Clone Wars

A sabotage mission turns into a deadly fight to the finish as General Kenobi and Senator Amidala fall foul of a trap set by General Grievous and Count Dooku. Droidekas set up a blockade, Clone Troopers lock horns with Clankers, and Obi-Wan claims the high ground.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @firewhenreadyuk

If you like the look of this game, or even if you're just in the market for a few new bits for your existing set, why not check out our Amazon Affiliate store to do so?