MadCap's Reel Thoughts - "The Lord of the Rings" (1978)

So, accidentally spelled his name "Ralph Bakashi" last week. Whoops!

So, anyway. Ralph Bakshi is a director who is known primarily for his work in animation. He's notable for, among other things, directing the first X-rated animated film ever made (by MPAA standards, anyway), producing the original Mighty Mouse series, and well...this movie.

Needless to say, we have a very eclectic individual on our hands, folks.

MadCap's Game Reviews - "The Hobbit"

Finally! Getting to something I've really looked forward to reviewing! The Hobbit!



...no, not the Peter Jackson one. That comes lat-hang on a sec. This seems really familiar.

From MadCap's Couch - "Doctor Who: The Family of Blood"

"Foolish Doctor! I have not yet begun to HAAAAAAM!!!"

Last time, John Smith was battling the forces of Insane Troll Logic. Martha Jones was held at gunpoint as was Joan Redfern and it seemed like there was no way out.

...so, naturally, there is a way out, because two-parter.

MadCap's Reel Thoughts - "The Hobbit" (1977)

Finally! Getting to something I've really looked forward to reviewing! The Hobbit!

...no, not the Peter Jackson one. That comes later. Much, much later.

From MadCap's Couch - "Doctor Who: Human Nature"

I'll go ahead and say it here, Human Nature and The Family of Blood is a good two-parter and likely one of the better pair of episodes from the Tennant era. It's certainly a hell of a lot better than Daleks in Manhattan and Evolution of the Daleks were. However, it's not perfect...and most of that has to do with the Arc of the Series.

Again, I know this seems like a bit of a stretch for a complaint, but just bear with me here.

MadCap's Reel Thoughts - "Conan the Destroyer" (1984)

I set myself up for this. Really, I did. I've got no one to blame but myself for it.

There was so much potential set up from the first movie. You had Arnold Schwarzenegger in one of his two defining roles as an actor (the other being the Terminator from...well, Terminator) and a dark-edged fantasy world that managed to be dark without getting into the gritty grimdark we would see later on. It was clearly very adult-oriented and wasn't afraid push the boundaries of what was acceptable in 1980's cinema, even if it seems absolutely quaint by the standards of Hollywood today.

...by the way, did anyone ever give that Thulsa Doom minion his jar of jam back?

MadCap's Game Reviews - "Pac-Man"

The year of the 40th anniversary of one of gaming's most prominent and well-remembered franchises (and one day after it's original Japanese release date)? A video game that is definitively remembered as a hallmark of 1980's culture? An incredibly addictive maze chase game that not only effectively created the genre, but has catchy music and attention-grabbing use of color in its designs?

A game that spawned one of the worst songs ever written?

Well, you knew I'd have to look at it, didn't you?