Sunday, May 22, 2022

Dragonball Movie 2 - Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle (1987)

 

Is that Danhausen in the background?

Hopefully this movie has more reason to exist than the first one did. While the first one ran alongside (and retold) the beginning of the show, this one runs alongside the arc where Gokou and Kuririn start training with Master Roshi. It's sort of a retelling but also takes things off in a different direction. I don't understand these retellings. At least by DBZ they'd start getting it right by having the movies tell completely different stories alongside certain eras of the show, without stressing over the continuity of it all. That still has issues, but at least it isn't redundant.

Friday, May 20, 2022

Dragonball Movie 1 - Curse of the Blood Rubies (1986)

 

I've covered all of the DBZ movies, so it's time to plumb the depths of OG Dragonball and the four movies that lurk within. I have no idea what to expect from any of these, as I've never seen them before.

This first one is also known as Legend of Shenron and was released the same year as the first season of the Dragonball anime (1986). It's a bit interesting because it serves as a replacement for the Pilaf Saga (the first ten episodes or so), only substituting a new villain where Pilaf was. What's the point of this? I'm not sure. But it exists, and chronologically it could well be considered the beginning of the whole series. Things get REALLY weird with the four Dragonball movies, as the first 3 are retellings of different parts of the first half of the Dragonball show. Then the fourth is a RE-retelling of a bunch of stuff from the show, including a large amount of Movie 1. ...I don't get it. Well, for now, let's check out the first one.

Friday, May 13, 2022

Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride, Part 9 - Finale


Do you like Huey Lewis and The News? Their early work was a little too new wave for my tastes, but when Sports came out in 1983, I think they really came into their own commercially and artistically. The whole album has a clear, crisp sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the songs a big boost. He's been compared to Elvis Costello, but I think Huey has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor. In 1987, Huey released Fore, their most accomplished album. I think their undisputed masterpiece is "Hip to be Square", a song so catchy, most people probably don't listen to the lyrics. But they should, because it's not just about the pleasures of conformity and the importance of trends, it's also a statement about the band itself.

Monday, May 9, 2022

Saturday, May 7, 2022

Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride, Part 7 - A Dream of Spring

 

We last left DQV with Gazpacho a petrified lawn ornament / bird dropping target practice. Much time has passed, and winter has finally ended.

Thursday, May 5, 2022

Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride, Part 6 - The Long Kon

 

This snow town is pretty. Too bad there aren't more places like this in the game. Debora is recovered from her odd weak spell, so we're off to Gotha. The homeland of our main character, Gotha is where he'll be crowned king. Also, it's almost Cinco de Mayo, and we need to prepare for Sancho's Daughter's Quinceanera. Finally, good things are happening for our heroes!

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Pt 3 - The End

 

This is it: The endgame of what is ostensibly Shiver Star from Kirby 64 only fully realized as an entire game. As we waltz into this very Souls-like castle vista, what menaces await?

Sunday, May 1, 2022