Today, I'm reviewing a film called Croaked: Frog Monster from Hell! Oh ok, it's really called Rana: Legend of Shadow Lake, but with an alternate title such as Croaked: Frog Monster from Hell, you know that I'm gonna call it that always!
Rana was made by notorius filmmaker Bill Rebana, who's output consisted of stuff like Monster A-Go-Go, the horror movie starring Tiny Tim, and other various borefests, from what I've heard all over the interwebs. The film was distributed by sleaze-flick company Troma, and head Lloyd Kaufman considers this to be one of the five worst films Troma ever put out. If you've seen some of their output, then that statement should scare you. It didn't scare me though. Why? Because I've seen some of the most boring horror films ever made-I have a thick skin.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Monday, December 30, 2013
Why I Love Horror... and Always Will
I used to define myself as a contemporary YA writer. I always have and always will love stories about young people growing up and facing whatever life has to throw at them, both realistic and fictional (but mostly realistic). I like to read and write stories with the thought in mind of 'Wow, this could happen to me.' Of course, even the most realistic YA stories can seem exaggerated because, well, they usually are.
However, over the past month, I've decided to take a leap and start writing about one of my other passions: horror. I've grown up reading horror stories, watching horror movies, and generally loving the genre, but somehow it never dawned on me to actually have a go at writing ituntil now.
However, over the past month, I've decided to take a leap and start writing about one of my other passions: horror. I've grown up reading horror stories, watching horror movies, and generally loving the genre, but somehow it never dawned on me to actually have a go at writing ituntil now.
Sunday, December 29, 2013
BLOG -- My "Christmas" Wishlist
Now this is more of a fun entry for me -- I don't expect anybody reading this to buy me anything. Some of the stuff is kinda rare, so... no. Maybe this would give some of you a better idea of what sort of things I like (besides the usual video games and anime, though there is some of that). Even though I call this a Christmas Wishlist, it isn't good for just Christmas; it's good for any gift-giving occasion! ;)
With that said, here it is:
With that said, here it is:
Onto 2014... (Part 3)
Let's see if I can continue writing this mini series lol! Either that or I might finish my Trinity Blood post(s) next. Before I start, however, I suddenly realised that certain East Asian nation below managed to stoke my inner fiery muse.
Note-That was like 2-4 days ago lol!
Note-That was like 2-4 days ago lol!
Man Made Boy by Jon Skovron Blog Tour Guest Post
Welcome to the MAN MADE BOY blog tour! I'm in the middle of reading this, and so far, it's lots of monsterly fun.
What's it about?
What's it about?
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Anime Secret Santa 2013: Crime and Family
As with , I took part in Reverse Thieves' project this Christmas! If you don't already know, it's when a bunch of anibloggers secretly gift each other three anime recommendations (obviously with the 'Santa' kept secret), with the stipulation that recipients have to watch at least one of them and post up a review.
Last year worked out pretty well for me, as I ended up enjoying two out of the three gifted to me a great deal. This year I received Michiko to Hatchin, Gankutsuou and HeatGuy J. I actually already had Gankutsuou downloaded with plans to watch at some point, and had heard of Michiko to Hatchin already (having passed it up for some reason or another when I was indirectly recommended it a couple of years back), but HeatGuy J was a complete mystery to me. A pretty good spread of familiarity if you ask me, and ideal considering I was going to be watching all three of them, much like last year.
Last year worked out pretty well for me, as I ended up enjoying two out of the three gifted to me a great deal. This year I received Michiko to Hatchin, Gankutsuou and HeatGuy J. I actually already had Gankutsuou downloaded with plans to watch at some point, and had heard of Michiko to Hatchin already (having passed it up for some reason or another when I was indirectly recommended it a couple of years back), but HeatGuy J was a complete mystery to me. A pretty good spread of familiarity if you ask me, and ideal considering I was going to be watching all three of them, much like last year.
Monday, December 23, 2013
Episode Spotlight: "Tourist Attraction" (12/23/1963)
"TOURIST ATTRACTION"Season 1, Episode 13Originally aired 12/23/1963
After the disappointingly monster-free The Outer Limits followed up with an attempted return to form with an episode featuring a gloriously grotesque and wonderfully-realized creature. It didn't come from the Black Lagoon, exactly, but it may as well have.
After the disappointingly monster-free The Outer Limits followed up with an attempted return to form with an episode featuring a gloriously grotesque and wonderfully-realized creature. It didn't come from the Black Lagoon, exactly, but it may as well have.
Anime Mondays #42
Dude there are some weird things people search for that lead to my blog.Seriously.They're not even on my page.Please stop.You know which search terms you are.Anyway, I've been ridiculously sick all week, which leads to copious amounts of marathoning fueled by cold medicine.You have been warned.
All images are from , and there are spoilers up to the episodes listed!
All images are from , and there are spoilers up to the episodes listed!
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Son of Celluloid's Top Ten Ghoultide Tunes (A Special Shitmas Post from Nathan Hamilton)
Ah, it's Christmas time again.The season of gifts, pretty twinkling lights, goodwill towards men, and godawful music!Don't look at me like that.You know we're all thinking it.There's only so much Time Life Classics and Mannheim Steamroller a fright fan can take.If I hear All I Want For Christmas Is You or anything about Grandma and reindeer one more damn time we're gonna have a Christmassacre on our hands.So, I'm here to save the musical holiday spirit for all of us demented horror freaks.What follows is a bloody alternative to Bing and Burl.The Son of Celluloid has collected 10 Noel nightmares that will both celebrate the spirit of the season and scratch your itch for the macabre (no pun intended).So, waddaya say we trade our chestnuts for chainsaws and sing some slaying songs tonight!
1. CHRISTOPHER LEE - LITTLE DRUMMER BOY
1. CHRISTOPHER LEE - LITTLE DRUMMER BOY
Friday, December 20, 2013
The Most Frustrating Things People Say To Someone With a Mood Disorder
It's no secret that there's a huge stigma surrounding mental health. I've blogged before about the , and even some of the positives I've gleaned from mine, but I thought I'd address some of the other statements and negativity we get dealt with on a regular basis, just for being ourselves.
* "YOU'RE WAY TOO EMOTIONAL. "I've actually been admonished for "being a baby" for tears that people didn't understand. Yes, I'm probably more emotional than a lot of people. But I'm not a baby. I'm not weak. I'm not spoiled. I have a big heart. I feel things greatly, deeply. It means if you were in trouble, I'd feel it so greatly I'd move mountains to help you.It means I also feel joy and excitement greatly too.Is that such a bad thing?
* "YOU'RE WAY TOO EMOTIONAL. "I've actually been admonished for "being a baby" for tears that people didn't understand. Yes, I'm probably more emotional than a lot of people. But I'm not a baby. I'm not weak. I'm not spoiled. I have a big heart. I feel things greatly, deeply. It means if you were in trouble, I'd feel it so greatly I'd move mountains to help you.It means I also feel joy and excitement greatly too.Is that such a bad thing?
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail
RONAN DALY SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON BLACK LAGOON: ROBERTA'S BLOOD TRAIL, THE FIVE-EPISODE THIRD INSTALMENT OF THE BLACK LAGOON ANIME SERIES, BASED ON REI HIROE'S MANGA OF THE SAME NAME.
Set in the mid-'90s, Black Lagoon follows the exploits of Lagoon Company, a team of mercenaries and pirates operating throughout Southeast Asia. The real-world locations and relatively contemporary setting for the series set the scene for what can be considered a 'more realistic' anime series - at least insofar as there is a lack of magic, monsters or superhuman abilities. However, action scenes still tend to be over the top and may feel slightly more at home in a world where characters could also slice mountains with their eyes or run on water. Nevertheless, the show remains grounded in its realistic premise, making few other concessions to the fantastic.
Set in the mid-'90s, Black Lagoon follows the exploits of Lagoon Company, a team of mercenaries and pirates operating throughout Southeast Asia. The real-world locations and relatively contemporary setting for the series set the scene for what can be considered a 'more realistic' anime series - at least insofar as there is a lack of magic, monsters or superhuman abilities. However, action scenes still tend to be over the top and may feel slightly more at home in a world where characters could also slice mountains with their eyes or run on water. Nevertheless, the show remains grounded in its realistic premise, making few other concessions to the fantastic.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Winter 2014 Anime Preview
Hey all, it's season preview time again - doesn't time fly!?Anyway this upcoming Winter season is surprisingly decent looking, which is a good thing since it's cold and I don't want to go outside.These days it feels like the quality shows are being more evenly spread out over the year, rather than being clustered into the Spring & Autumn seasons - those seasons are still bigger, but Summer & Winter are definitely much more packed now than they were in the past.Hopefully the trend continues!
Right on to the preview then~!
Right on to the preview then~!
BLACK LAGOON ROBERTA'S BLOOD TRAIL OVA
BLACK LAGOON ROBERTA'S BLOOD TRAIL OVA
RELEASED BY: Manga Entertainment
RATING: 18
RELEASED BY: Manga Entertainment
RATING: 18
10 Days of Anime Christmas
Ok. So originally this was going to bethe little buster refrain 9 and 10 review butit's really hard to review it and not mention spoilers and i do not want to spoil those two episodes because those are key episode in the series epically episode 10. I might hold of doing a review till the whole series is finished. All i have to say is Kengo i feel ya man.
This is the 10 Days of Anime Christmas!
This is the 10 Days of Anime Christmas!
A Colorful Subject
For a long time now, the newest Disney film "Frozen" (which is an outstandingly brilliant animated movie, BTW) has created controversy over it's main cast pictured above. Namely that the four human characters are all very, very white. Social Justice Warriors of all kind all cried out "White privilege! Racial discrimination! No representation for People Of Color!" Of course, it's been pointed out that this is fairy tale based on a Danish story by Hans Christen Anderson, set in a Scandinavian area where the people there are typically...well, white. Now that the movie has come out and proven to be a phenomenal success both critically and domestically, the SJWs of course cannot stand to see the thing they'd hated on for so long doing so well: as if racism and white supremacy was being rewarded. So now they continue their claims of racism by pointing out that the people at the start of the film are clearly based on the Sami culture, the Sami being non-white folks. And yet they, particularly Kristoff (the guy next to the reindeer), are white in the movie. They claimed this was misrepresenting the Sami or outright stealing their culture to give to white characters. Now I would counter this claim with - people, Arendelle is a fictional kingdom. These people are not the Sami, even if their culture was loosely inspired by them. The fact is, Disney chose to make them look white. They didn't need to be, but they are. So I say we just let them look white and enjoy the damn movie.
Now this brings me to a bigger issue - while I don't get all the mass hysterical clamoring for "POC (People Of Color) representation" in things, I don't get the overuse of POC as a positive term, and I've begun to think "The Princess And The Frog" might have spoiled some people when it comes to race representation in Disney movies....I am fine with people of different races, ethnicity, cultures, and skin color than me, I loathe racism, I love diversity, and I am all for representation of many different kinds of people as possible if it can be done in a work. BUT really, a big rule about characters and characterization in stories that I believe in is that at the end of the day...we shouldn't give a crap about race. If racism and race issues are big themes in a story, then it's okay to really address the subject. But if not, then the focus should remain purely on the character's character. On what's inside this character, not outside. On who they are, not what they are and what race they belong to. A truly good character transcends race and gender and is just a strong character, period. That's why I find all the riot over "POC representation" in some story to be silly. Would there be a problem with changing Kristoff from white to dark skinned? Not at all.But the big question is: what about his actual character would that fix? What would changing his race do for his story and characterization and role in the plot? Absolutely nothing. And that's the point I'm trying to make. If he's a good enough character, it's not damaging that he be made not white, but at the same time it's equally not damaging that he IS white. The audience's focus should still be on the characters words and actions that come from who he is inside. That's how you can identify a solid character.
Need elaboration? Then let me discuss characters with whom it don't matter if they're black or white:
Now this brings me to a bigger issue - while I don't get all the mass hysterical clamoring for "POC (People Of Color) representation" in things, I don't get the overuse of POC as a positive term, and I've begun to think "The Princess And The Frog" might have spoiled some people when it comes to race representation in Disney movies....I am fine with people of different races, ethnicity, cultures, and skin color than me, I loathe racism, I love diversity, and I am all for representation of many different kinds of people as possible if it can be done in a work. BUT really, a big rule about characters and characterization in stories that I believe in is that at the end of the day...we shouldn't give a crap about race. If racism and race issues are big themes in a story, then it's okay to really address the subject. But if not, then the focus should remain purely on the character's character. On what's inside this character, not outside. On who they are, not what they are and what race they belong to. A truly good character transcends race and gender and is just a strong character, period. That's why I find all the riot over "POC representation" in some story to be silly. Would there be a problem with changing Kristoff from white to dark skinned? Not at all.But the big question is: what about his actual character would that fix? What would changing his race do for his story and characterization and role in the plot? Absolutely nothing. And that's the point I'm trying to make. If he's a good enough character, it's not damaging that he be made not white, but at the same time it's equally not damaging that he IS white. The audience's focus should still be on the characters words and actions that come from who he is inside. That's how you can identify a solid character.
Need elaboration? Then let me discuss characters with whom it don't matter if they're black or white:
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