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?

MadCap's Fiction Corner - "Seattle By Night: Encroachment, Part 2"

"I have to admit, I wasn't expecting that."

"Grace, it isn't-"

"The Wolf of Vancouver, sweet on a Kine."

"Please don't call me that." The Gangrel shot the Toreador an irritated look as they sat together in the latter's car driving off into the city.

"The look on your face when she walked out." Grace was chuckling. "If it weren't for that heart being dead, I could have sworn I heard it flutter."

"That's not. . .not what it is." Ben said. "At all."

From MadCap's Couch - "Supernatural: The Benders"

[record scratch] Yep, that's me. You're probably wondering how I got here...

Hey, black comedy Rednecks, am I right?!

That is black comedy that uses Rednecks, not black Rednecks that are comedic. I imagine I'd end up on a watchlist for that sort of behavior in this day and age.

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!

MadCap's Fiction Corner - "Seattle By Night: Encroachment, Part 1"

1996

He had taken off from the place at speeds that would have confounded a mortal. He hadn't even realized when he'd crossed the border until he saw different street signs. Finally, he'd come to America. . .not exactly what he'd had in mind for how he would get there, but just the same. Hearing the oncoming car, he ducked into the bushes, quietly shushing the little bundle he held close to his arms as it began to wail once more. There was little he could do to quiet it, however. He tucked it close to him and headed down the way, but didn't get more than three steps before. . .

"Well, hello there." The man's voice caught his attention, he froze on the spot without turning. "Now what is the Wolf of Vancouver doing so far, far away from home?"

"I don't know what you-"

"How many winters?" The younger man's face contorted in confusion.

"What?" He asked.

The older man repeated his question.

"I don't. . .understand what you're asking." Benjamin Grayson said, turning to see the man. He looked to be an older man, maybe sixty or so by appearance. His skin was pale, his eyes a deep green that had become dull and listless in life. A crop of black-gray hair shot out from his head.

"That's good. . .that's the beginning of knowledge, young wolf."  The old man grinned, approaching him.

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. . .

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.

MadCap's Fiction Corner - "Seattle By Night: Here There Be Monsters, Part 4"

The four Kindred stared at the man holding the severed head.

"Why the fu-?" Grace started.

"YOU BROKE RULE SIX, ASSHOLE!" Sybil shouted.

"Your rules, daughter of Malkav. Not mine." The man in the priest's cassock sneered at her. "I have no interest in your Camarilla. I am serving something better."

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.

From MadCap's Couch - "Supernatural: Route 666"

"I heaaaar you knockin', but you can't come in!"

By Rob Benedict's fetching beard, I don't wanna do this one.

This is an episode that, like Bugs, is literally so bad that the show jokes about how bad it is later on. This episode is basically Christine...if the car were racist and the movie sucked.

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.

MadCap's Fiction Corner - "Seattle By Night: Here There Be Monsters, Part 3"

"What's Vicissitude?"

"You don't mean a-"

"I'd say the culprits otherwise are slim to none."

"What's Vicissitude?"

"The man with the four faces. He laughs."

"WHAT'S Vicissitude?" The other three vampires were suddenly drawn toward the diminutive redhead, who stared at the trio with an icy glance, her arms crossed over her chest.

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.

What If...Luke had joined Vader at Cloud City? (Part 1)

Yep! It's another What If! This is one that's been thrown back and forth by Star Wars fans since 1980, I'm sure. We all know it by now, the iconic scene where Darth Vader defeats Luke Skywalker at Cloud City. Cutting off the young man's hand, him dangling over a bottomless pit, Luke was brought to his lowest point and then hit with the ultimate truth. Five little words that completely shattered the would-be Jedi's entire world view and the main reason he had engaged Darth Vader in combat in the first place: "No, I am your father."

Defiant to the last, Luke refused this with howls of rage and sorrow and was given a choice. Vader offered him a place at his side, that together they could destroy the Emperor and bring order to the galaxy. Choosing death rather than falling to the Dark Side, Luke let go of his anchor and fell down into that pit...

That, however, is but one way this scenario could have played out. In another world, another time, Luke took the hand that was offered to him. In this What If, we're going to look into that world and try to answer the question: What If...Luke had joined Vader at Cloud City?"

From MadCap's Couch - "Supernatural: Faith"

Halloween is over, but the spooky continues! Let's dig into Faith.

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?