Reviews, fiction, commentary, and speculation from the one and only MadCapMunchkin!
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
What If...Mace Windu survived his fight with Palpatine? (Part 9)
Last time, Mace dueled the Second Sister on Lotho Minor in order to save Channett Jade and her unborn child, who she very promptly afterward gave birth to - a daughter by the name of Mara. Meanwhile, Kadann arrived on Nur to bring the Inquisitorius an ultimatum - cede their power to the Empire, Emperor or no Emperor, or be destroyed. Giving them a very generous one week to decide, Kadann left. On Coruscant, the Imperial Senate has been dissolved in all but name and the Senators sent home. Tarkin, however, decides to focus on the conspiring Senators Bail Organa and Mon Mothma, sensing trouble for the already fragmented Empire...
Sunday, December 27, 2020
MadCap's Reel Thoughts - "Beastmaster II: Through the Portal of Time" (1991)
...so in spite of my attempts to hide from my producers, I have been dragged out and patiently reminded of the fact that I have a contract to fulfill. I swear, when I started Sword and Sorcery 2020 with Krull, I was all "Oh, what a gas! Oh, this will be fun! I won't live to regret this!". I was correct, I almost didn't.
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
What If...Mace Windu survived his fight with Palpatine? (Part 8)
Last time, Mace managed to survive a battle with Boba Fett and escape. Following Tarful's lead, he found his way to Kento and Mallie Marek and their infant son Garek, adding more ranks to the remnant of the Jedi Order. After getting them to a safe place, Mace was granted a vision of the son of Anakin and Padmé with a strange redheaded woman, fighting side by side as Jedi Knights. The Pathfinder started off to the planet of Lotho Minor, renowned around the galaxy as a planet of junk. What will the crew find there? And who is watching them?
Let's get into it.
Monday, December 21, 2020
From MadCap's Couch - "Doctor Who: Voyage of the Damned"
By that same token, by the time this review comes out, maybe he'll have been sacked and an actual showrunner will be put in place by the BBC, so let's cross our fingers, huh?
...as long as I'm wishing, I'd like to skip this episode, please?
...
...fine.
Sunday, December 20, 2020
MadCap's Reel Thoughts - 100th Review!!!!
The time has finally come. I started this review series a long, long time ago with WarGames waaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in 2013! It's been quite a ride, hasn't it? From Mortal Kombat: Annhilation to a werewolf-killing FDR in a rocket-powered wheelchair to a galaxy far, far away and beyond! And yes. I know that this film technically doesn't fit the theme we've been going with for Sword and Sorcery 2020, but it's the 100th review and I felt like treating myself. There are no swords to be found in this movie, but we do have a dragon (sort of), laser lights, and kung fu. It is a tale of love, a tale of triumph, and a brilliant merchandising opportunity for one of its producers.
It's time, at last, to acknowledge who is the Master. No, not that one.
It's time for...The Last Dragon.
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
MadCap's Table Top Tales - Vampire: The Masquerade Companion (New Clans and Rules for V5!)
Well, it's been a while since we were here, hasn't it? Last time, I was trying to make a Mary Sue concept work in D&D. This time, however, I'm happy to say I'm here for something far more passionate and pure - corporate shilling!
Monday, December 14, 2020
From MadCap's Couch - "Supernatural: Something Wicked"
Monday, December 7, 2020
From MadCap's Couch - "Supernatural: Hell House"
So you're saying, if I do this, I get pie? |
Oh, goody! Another ghost episode! Because we haven't had nearly enough of those in this season.
And that's just four of them.
Sunday, December 6, 2020
MadCap's Reel Thoughts - "Dragonslayer" (1981)
Hello there again, my readers! I'm not going to lie to you and say that after last week's epic that looking at something else is akin to having enjoyed an epic meal in Valhalla only to be stuck with my next meal being an underwhelming Slurpee from the local 7-11. That's the problem with seeing a film like Excalibur - you can only ever see it for the first time once and, while you can always watch it again, it isn't quite the same ever again.
That isn't a commentary on the quality of Dragonslayer, by the way. There are few films that I could name that I genuinely love that don't match the epic scale and grandeur that Excalibur brings to the table. However, I've already pimped out a link to my previous review, so there's really need to go on about that any further. What's Dragonslayer all about?
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
What If...Mace Windu survived his fight with Palpatine? (Part 7)
Anyone knows the artist, let me know! |
When we last left the epic of “What If Mace Windu survived his fight with Palpatine?”, Mace and the crew of the Pathfinder arrived on Kashyyyk to answer the call of Tarful, who sought to liberate Wookiees from an Imperial labor camp. Thanks to the extra help of the Jedi Master and his crew, they succeeded. However, it appears that Mace did not come to Kashyyyk without a tagalong. A familiar Mandalorian warrior made himself known, Boba Fett has come to avenge his father’s death at Mace’s hands. We resume our look into another looking glass as the fight begins…
Monday, November 30, 2020
From MadCap's Couch - "Supernatural: Shadow"
"Do you have a moment to talk about our lord and savior, Bob Stromberg?" |
So, our episode about shadows (after a modest recap) begins with a young woman in Chicago. Going down the street, she begins to hear whispers and something in the shadows seems to be stretching out towards her. She barely gets into her apartment, locks the door, and arms her security system.
As this is the cold open of a Supernatural episode, you can imagine this does little to help her.
Sunday, November 29, 2020
MadCap's Reel Thoughts - "Excalibur" (1981)
A magic sword, a king rising to his throne, and a wizard back on his bullshit.
Honestly, isn't that just the quintessential Sword and Sorcery flick right there?
Monday, November 23, 2020
From MadCap's Couch - "Supernatural: The Benders"
Sunday, November 22, 2020
MadCap's Reel Thoughts - "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" (2003)
Okay, c'mon. What else do I have to say about this film that hasn't already been said in the seventeen years since it was released? This was the second highest grossing film of all time until James Cameron decided to crap out Avatar and push Titanic into the spot, it was nominated for eleven Academy Awards and won all of them and the culmination of an epic trilogy that is only matched by the likes of the original Star Wars trilogy in terms of its following and mythos.
The actors involved are at the top of their game, Peter Jackson's directing is as sterling as ever, and the Howard Shore score is so epic in every single scene that he rivals John Williams in terms of memorable music that resonates even now. It's literally the perfect storm of everything, maximum potential finally realized.
And it's good.
It's damn damn damn good!
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
What If. . .Mace Windu survived his fight with Palpatine? (Part 6)
Last time, we ended on a sour note as Mace Windu failed to save some padawans that had been in hiding on Coruscant in the weeks since Order 66. A traitor among them, spurred on by promises of a mysterious man named Cronal, had betrayed them and they had all paid the price for his treachery with their lives. However, the Pathfinder continues to fly and there is some hope left that other Jedi can be saved…if only just a little hope. . .
Monday, November 16, 2020
From MadCap's Couch - "Supernatural: Nightmare"
"My god, Dean! There's, something, on the wing! Some, thing!" |
Okay, so I realize my segue from last week might be a little misleading. No, this episode is not the time that Supernatural will have a take on A Nightmare on Elm Street.
. . .that's in a few seasons.
This episode, however, ties deeper in with Sam's burgeoning psychic abilities as we learn that he has a lot more in common with a psychic they find than just being able to bend spoons with his mind.
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
What If...Mace Windu survived his fight with Palpatine? (Part 5)
Image credit to @BrianRebellion on Twitter |
Last time, the four remaining Jedi spearheaded a bold campaign into the heart of Palpatine’s regime and Anakin seemingly fulfilled his destined by destroying the last of the Sith. However, the Emperor had planned for that eventuality and the footage of his “murder” was broadcast across the Holonet to the four corners of the galaxy.
More pressing, Palpatine had been tracking Anakin and knew that the four had come from the Polis Massa research facility and had sent out a Star Destroyer to attack it. With Bail, Padmé, and the twins in the line of fire, the Jedi managed to escape from Coruscant. Will they reach Polis Massa in time? Let’s have a look.
Monday, November 9, 2020
From MadCap's Couch - "Supernatural: Route 666"
Sunday, November 8, 2020
MadCap's Reel Thoughts - "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" (2002)
"Who now has the strength to stand against the armies of Isengard and Mordor?"
The Fellowship of the Ring was a monster hit for New Line Cinema and Peter Jackson. However, there were two movies left to go once the credits for Fellowship stopped rolling. Would The Two Towers be as much of a cinematic landmark as Fellowship was?
Well, no. It was even more so.
Thursday, November 5, 2020
MadCap's Game Reviews - "I Wanna Be The Guy"
Ah, the joys of the early 2000's. Back in the time when sites like Newgrounds or Kongregate ruled the internet with a wide variety of movies and games created in that long remembered and beloved program Adobe Flash animation. I actually got the chance to play around with Flash in high school. My hat goes off to those men and women who used this thing to create some fantastic animation and games. . .but I took an entire course on that in school and I still could not tell you how to work that thing.
Monday, November 2, 2020
Sunday, November 1, 2020
MadCap's Reel Thoughts - "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" (2001)
Well, this is one I was going to wait to tackle until later. . .and then Horror Month came up, which I know you're just as sad as I am that that's over. . .and I realized that keeping Sword and Sorcery 2020 going into 2021 would be just a wee bit silly what with brand dilution.
Isn't working in entertainment just magical, kids?
Thursday, October 29, 2020
Monday, October 26, 2020
From MadCap's Couch - "Supernatural: Scarecrow"
Sunday, October 25, 2020
MadCap's Reel Thoughts - "Halloween: H20" (1998)
Thanks, Rob Zombie!
Thursday, October 22, 2020
Monday, October 19, 2020
From MadCap's Couch - "Supernatural: Asylum"
I was going to make a "Welcome to Sanitarium" joke, but this episode just had to use a different word for it. Figures.
So, so far in Supernatural we've had a vengeful ghost, a Wendigo, a vengeful ghost, a demon, a vengeful ghost, a skinwalker, a vengeful ghost, a Native American bug curse, and not one but two ghosts...you might think that the Supernatural writers are on a bit of a kick involving ghosts. Don't worry, though, because this one is a very original idea...a story about vengeful ghosts!
What a refreshing change of concept!
Sunday, October 18, 2020
Thursday, October 15, 2020
MadCap's Game Reviews - "Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge"
Castlevania II is...well, I was gonna say much better, but...it's not. I mean, it is...but...well, you'll see.
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
MadCap Fixes Movies - "Friday the 13th: A New Beginning"
So...let's hit the rewind button and start (hopefully) trying to make this into something more workable.
Monday, October 12, 2020
From MadCap's Couch - "Supernatural: Home"
...no, not my home. Sam and Dean's.
I can't go home again. Not after the incident...
Sunday, October 11, 2020
MadCap's Reel Thoughts - "Friday the 13th: A New Beginning" (1985)
Which is a real problem, but the Ghostbusters got themselves into that lawsuit and-oh, sorry, that's the wrong notes...
Here we are - this film was panned by both fans and critics. Critics because... well, it was the 1980's and this is a slasher film. By the fans because of a slightly more simple fact: Jason Voorhees isn't the killer.
Spoiler alert.
Thursday, October 8, 2020
MadCap's Game Reviews - "Castlevania The Adventure"
Box art looks cool. That's about it. |
Out of the several that the Castlevania series has, this is one of them.
This is Castlevania The Adventure!
Yes, I know what the box says and I know what the "official title" says. I don't care, this is how the game presents it, so this is what I'm going with. Deal with it.
Monday, October 5, 2020
From MadCap's Couch - "Supernatural: Bugs"
"Put the lotion in the basket!" |
Twitter poll time. What TV series should I review for #HorrorMonth2020?— MadCapMunchkin (@MadCapMunchkin) August 22, 2020
Nevertheless, with the lion's share of the votes, it looks like I'll be heading back into Supernatural for Horror Month 2020. At the very least, I can take comfort in the fact that this is still Season 1 when the show was good.
...so, let's take a look at what is considered by many to be the worst episode of Season 1!
...no, not the one with the racist semi-truck. That comes later.
Sunday, October 4, 2020
MadCap's Reel Thoughts - "A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child" (1989)
...what? You were expecting something else? Nightmare on Elm Street was a series that was running out of steam by it's third (and far superior to this) entry. There was no new ground to cover that wouldn't be utterly ridiculous. The only way this could work is if Wes Craven came back to the franchise with a unique story about Freddy coming into the real world and Heather Langenkamp having to take him on one last time to put the series behind her.
Alas, such things only exist in the world of dreams. I imagine it would underperform at the box office anyway the universe is a cruel place to new and innovative ideas. Oh, well...
Thursday, October 1, 2020
MadCap's Game Reviews - "Super Castlevania IV"
Don't react angrily too quick, it's also my personal favorite besides Symphony of the Night, the first Castlevania game I ever reviewed back into 2012. Y'know, when I knew nothing about editing!
Amazing how times haven't changed, huh?
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
What If...Mace Windu survived his fight with Palpatine? (Part 4)
Sunday, September 27, 2020
MadCap's Reel Thoughts - "Scooby-Doo! and Kiss: Rock and Roll Mystery"
Now I know what you're thinking.
Yes, this is a Scooby-Doo movie. Yes, it involves KISS. Also, yes, this is technically a "mystery" film given the set up. This film also involves mysticism, an alternative universe that holds a great evil within it that is trying to get out and take over the world, and an order of warriors who fight against him.
Sure, they may not have swords, but they do have axes!
Thursday, September 24, 2020
MadCap's Game Reviews - "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
What If...Mace Windu survived his fight with Palpatine? (Part 3)
We return to Mustafar, the duel already in progress.
Friday, September 18, 2020
MadCap's Fiction Corner - "Minos Mayhem, Chapter 12"
“You can fly this, I take it?” She asked as they finally got onboard.
“I can fly anything.” Calen replied. “I did say I was going to be a TIE pilot before, wasn’t I?”
“You probably did mention that before, yes.” Niyasa said, absentmindedly.
“How’d you think I could do that if I weren’t good?” Calen asked. “Those things are basically a seat strapped to an engine. Without shields.”
“Confidence is good. Overconfidence can be a weakness, but point withdrawn.” The Mrlssi held up her claws as if washing them of the whole thing. Calen took his spot at one of the two pilot seats, checking the interface.
Thursday, September 17, 2020
MadCap's Game Reviews - "Pajama Sam: No Need To Hide When It's Dark Outside"
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
What If...Mace Windu survived his fight with Palpatine? (Part 2)
On the reverse end of things, the fortunes of the whole Jedi Order had gone sour with Order 66. Escaping from Coruscant, Mace found himself visited by the Force Ghost of none other than Qui-Gon Jinn. Qui-Gon told Mace of coordinates to travel to, so that he might meet up with his fellow Jedi Masters Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda and perhaps undo the damage done by the revealed Dark Lord of the Sith and his new apprentice, the former Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker.
Also, to give you terms of the time scale...this is about the point in the movie where Senator Bail Organa has linked up with Yoda and they are currently heading toward the ship carrying Obi-Wan Kenobi from Utapau, just to let you know what's happening at roughly the same time.
Picking up right where we left off, the ship that Mace had booked passage aboard in exchange for work was being pursued by a Republic...now Imperial...Star Destroyer, demanding that they prepare to be boarded and searched for a suspected Jedi refugee.
MadCap's Trailer Reactions - The Mandalorian (Season 2)
This is the way.
I didn't actually do a review of The Mandalorian's first season, I did make a few qualifying statements as to the quality of the final product - which I found to be pretty damn good. It is proof that Star Wars can still be good even after Rian Johnson had diarrhea all over it and JJ Abrams came by to wipe up the mess with a terrible retcon that made no sense. Also a terrible film that made no sense, but that's neither here nor there.
We're here to talk about something good. Namely a series that was good both because of and in spite of it's setting and is now rightfully getting a second season.
Sunday, September 13, 2020
MadCap's Mod Mondays - "The Bat of Skyrim"
"No! No! You are not my father! I am not a disgrace! I am vengeance! I am the night! I! Am! BATMAN!"
...and now, so can you!
Thursday, September 10, 2020
MadCap's Game Reviews - "The Sims 4 - Star Wars: Journey to Batuu"
...
...so, anyway, here's Journey to Batuu.
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
What If...Mace Windu survived his fight with Palpatine? (Part 1)
Maybe? But then the question becomes where is he by the time of Return of the Jedi? I cannot imagine that Mace would not have been heavily involved in the Rebel Alliance. https://t.co/NGlTCOPGu1— MadCapMunchkin (@MadCapMunchkin) August 28, 2020
After I tweeted that I thought to myself, "Well, the series is called What If, not The Doctor Who Grand Funk Railroad Experiment." Besides, What If is an idea with so much potential around it that it really shouldn't be stuck to just one fandom or even one part of one fandom. Thus, I have decided to pull out the golden goose that Disney slit the throat of and had no idea that you couldn't do that and still expect it to do anything - Star Wars.
Also, yes, I'm aware that I've gone on record as saying that I'm not really a fan of the Mace Windu character. However, I know a lot of people are and I have a feeling I can make this work within the confines of the Star Wars mythos.
So, let's do some set up.
Sunday, September 6, 2020
MadCap's Reel Thoughts - "Red Sonja" (1985)
This still isn't the worst film in Sword and Sorcery 2020, but it is damn near close.
Dungeons & Dragons was bad.
Highlander II? Baaaaaaad.
Deathstalker was a war crime never to be matched. If The Last Jedi didn't exist, it would be the worst film I've ever seen.This isn't a statement I make lightly, I guarantee you.
So...no, Red Sonja isn't the worst movie on this list, but it is definitely bad. Multiple and terrible varieties of bad. In concept, it's not a bad idea. I mean, Conan managed to work and Red Sonja is a Robert E. Howard creation...sort of.
You see, Red Sonja was a character created by Roy Thomas, Jr. and Barry Windsor-Smith while they were working at Marvel Comics. Rather than being a heroine of the Hyborian Age, Red Sonja's two composite characters - Red Sonya of Rogatino and Dark Agnes de Chastillion - were both from stories set in the 16th century. Because of this...this movie is technically a COMIC BOOK MOVIE.
Oh. Oh, the joy!
Thursday, September 3, 2020
MadCap's Game Reviews - "Lithium City"
Tuesday, September 1, 2020
What If...Ian and Barbara never investigated Susan Foreman? (FINALE)
Let's wrap up this what if scenario!
Monday, August 31, 2020
From MadCap's Couch - "Star Trek: Voyager" (7 Worst Episodes)
This is...the 7 worst episodes (by season).
Like with DS9, there are no runners up (expect for Season 6, but I'll get to that). This list was significantly easier to compile than the Best list.