Growing Up Internet - My Memories

My daughters are at an age where the internet is becoming a thing. Now, it's always been a thing as they are ‘Digital Natives’ rather than a ‘Digital Nomad’ like me, using it to watch their shows and get Alexa to carry out their whims, but they are having to use it for their studies now and so we've had to set out rules and boundaries. The fact is that the internet will continue to have an increasingly significant role in their lives has prompted me to reflect on my own experiences with its emergence. Unlike them, I grew up in an era when the internet was still finding its footing…

Gaming writer Leigh Alexander's Breathing Machine: A Memoir of Computers beautifully captured the experience of growing up alongside the nascent internet, a journey that resonated deeply with me as someone in my early forties. Her memoir evoked a powerful nostalgia for a time when technology felt both exhilarating and profoundly complex. The descriptions of connecting with people in chat rooms, receiving early emails and navigating forgotten search engines paint a familiar picture for those who witnessed the internet's inception. The distinct visual and auditory cues of that era—the blurry images on CRT monitors, the crackle of internal speakers and the mechanical sounds of floppy disks and hard drives—created an almost tangible atmosphere, as if a ‘ghost in the machine’ truly existed.

My own first introduction to the internet occurred around 1996, in Year 10, when a friend insisted I create a Hotmail account. Despite my initial lack of understanding, I created an account that I still use today and am not too embarrassed by. In those early days, the internet felt like a place of boundless magic, potential and authenticity and an unfettered, democratic space brimming with hope.

One of the most significant aspects of growing up with the internet was the ability to find communities. These online spaces were formative, allowing individuals to connect with like-minded people, whether actively participating in comments, chat sections and bulletin boards or simply observing. The shared passion for a particular topic transcended the level of engagement. There was a prevailing belief that the internet could eradicate ignorance by providing widespread access to information, ushering in an era of euphoria where empathy and understanding would flourish globally. Sadly, that optimistic theory seems to have faded, much like Lycos, Geocities, Ask Jeeves and AltaVista.

I recall an instance where I attended a weekend university taster program at the London School of Economics (LSE), which offered access to fast internet and printers. I spent hours of my Saturdays engrossed in downloading and printing greyscale images from Mysterious Cities of Gold, Evangelion and Battle Angel Alita, a few of my greatest passions at the time. The sheer volume of information available online was astonishing. I would stay well into the afternoon, thoroughly enjoying myself while listening to Jean Michel Jarre on my portable CD player. Yes, I was a very hipster teen with my finger on the pulse!

I found my old CD player man-bag whilst tidying up my stuff from the loft…good times!

Growing up with the internet also meant encountering unexpected content, which, in some ways, accelerated maturity. In the late 1990s, it was surprisingly easy to stumble upon inappropriate material accidentally. Even seemingly innocuous searches, like for images of ‘milk’ could lead to unexpected results. A tangential link could quickly expose you to the most grotesque or peculiar content. This experience brought to mind the slow, line-by-line loading of images on my old Amstrad CPC 464 as, back then, images would load row by row over several seconds. I became quite adept at quickly clicking back from an image before it became offensive, almost like a digital game of whack-a-mole.

My involvement in the Gold List, a Mysterious Cities of Gold mailing list, was how I first acquired copied VHS tapes of the entire series. I was ecstatic, paying £50 at the time for six NTSC VHS tapes from America. Later, when a friend downloaded the unofficial soundtrack for me via BearShare, I was convinced of the internet's magical nature. This led me down a nostalgic rabbit hole, where I downloaded old series I had long wanted to watch but were unavailable for purchase—a time well before the widespread release of goldrush content on DVD.

During my university years, the internet also exposed me to a different kind of content: conspiracy theories. I delved into Erich von Däniken's theories about aliens creating the pyramids, which led me to Graham Hancock's pseudoscientific ideas about ancient civilizations being more advanced due to alien intervention or Atlantean knowledge. This, in turn, introduced me to David Icke's theories about a cabal of globalists and bankers ruling the world, secret societies like the Illuminati controlling people, and inter-dimensional shapeshifting aliens feeding on blood and preparing Earth for harvesting. I won't deny that I felt as though I had stepped ‘through the looking glass,’ and it genuinely scared me; I began seeing covert agents and spies everywhere. However, a friend from UEL chatted to me, told me to give my head a wobble, whilst another introduced me to the music of Björk and then I had an epiphany: Really? Bloomin’ lizards! Yes, while there is no doubt that powerful individuals and groups (lobbyists) undoubtedly exist(ed), succumbing to fear and paranoia was not the answer, especially with regards to blood-drinking, shape-shifting, inter-dimensional space lizards (for those who don’t know, this is an actual Icke theory). No, we had Y2K and the Mayan year of 2012 to worry about.

Now I know that living life and challenging real oppressors, rather than fictional reptilian creatures or fleeting cult of personality groups, is what truly matters. That and cat videos. Lots and lots of cat videos!

Despite being virtual spaces, the internet facilitates genuine human connections and relationships. These online communities have served as crucial support networks for many, particularly during events like the pandemic and I am confident they will continue to do so in the face of whatever the future holds for us.

LINK- Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK: My One True Gaming Constant in My Life- Nintendo

LINK: The Offworld Collection- Book Review

LINK- The Future Starts Here: An Optimistic Guide to What Comes Next- Book Review

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)

LINK- An English Geek in Saudi

Hammer House of Horror- Cult TV Series Review

I have been a film aficionado for a long time. My father brought me up on classics like David Lean's adaptations of Oliver Twist and Great Expectations as well as the various black and white classic comedies of Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy. However I became interested in cult TV series and films whilst attending university. Our campus was media-centered and as a result it had a huge catalogue of videos to rent, free of charge. I ploughed through many often taking the maximum 8 out at a time and consumed them voraciously. As a result I believe that I am quite literate in films and TV but the series that really attracts me are the more offbeat curios.

I've explained my love for old creepy films here before and it is in this vein that I wanted to explore Hammer House of Horror, the 13 episode anthology series which was shown on ITV in the early 80s. I had never seen the series before so thought I'd dive in. What intrigued me was how the 50 minute short films were shot in the style of the times rather than the usual Hammer fare that had been famed over the previous couple of decades. The provinciality of it all recalls Minder or the kitchen sink melodrama Play for the Day rather than glamourous Dracula, Twins of Evil or the more desperately lustier affairs that precipitated the studio going into receivership.

The series was the idea of Roy Skeggs and he wanted to create a grittier, more realistic (and cheaper) horror that blended slice of life with the supernatural or eerie, a modern gothic if you will. Local problems for local people. The result is an interesting time capsule that captures the fashion, sensibilities, technology and dour mood of the time. By doing away with the 'genre crap' that Hammer had helped to create and codify, it prevents the series from being the usual campfire stories or folklore and turns it more into urban legends or friends of friend tales- a much more horrifying prospect as there were definite social messaging contained upon it's release in the early 80s.

The series tweaks the 'tenets of genre' to create something all together more interesting. Anyways, here are my thoughts on the individual episodes:

Witching Time
On a dark and stormy night, whilst home alone, married man David finds a beautiful woman in his barn claiming to a witch from the 17th century. Thinking her a kooky eccentric, he humours her before locking her in a room and calling for a doctor.
Upon arriving, the witch disappears and the doctor thinks David is overworked and hallucinating. He gives him some stronger pills but the witch comes back and starts to wreak havok upon him and his returning wife. Things quickly go downhill as we don't know if David is self-sabotaging or if there actually is a witch who has a hold of him.

This is an interesting episode as it is quite meta in that David is the sound mixer for horror films and he is being haunted himself. The slow deterioration of his mental health as the witch takes hold is interesting to see. It's a pretty solid episode and had me intrigued throughout.

The Thirteenth Reunion
When a new dieting clinic seems to be getting astonishing results, a roving reporter goes undercover to investigate the secret of their success. She sees a tough love affair where people are insulted into 'thinking themselves thin'. She bonds with a fellow 'fatty' but when he unexpectedly dies after a road accident her suspicions are raised as this seems to be happening quite regularly.

This episode goes some places and what I initially thought of as some body harvesting scam definitely ends up something much more sinister and weird. The tension is cranked up all the way through and the ending is not what I expected at all.

Rude Awakening
When an estate agent is given a property to put up for sale, he visits it but gets more than he bargained for when the manor is a state of ruin. What follows is a weird mystery about a recurring nightmare and whether the agent is losing his mind or maybe his subconscious is suffering from guilt from the murder of his wife.

Denholm Elliot shines as a cocky cockney everyman estate agent who ends up getting himself caught up in a bit of a mess when visiting the property. He plays it well, sliming it up with his young secretary in various states of fantasy attire as he tries to work out what is going on. The ending is typically dark and catches you off guard as dreams and reality merge.

Growing Pains
A young boy dies after trying some of the growth formula that his research scientist father is using on rabbits to end world hunger. A short while later, the parents adopt an orphan who has a rabbit toy and an interesting personality. When visions of the dead son appear and the pet dog starts to behave strangely, the parents question their sanity.

This is a quirky episode as the boy who eats the medicine is dopey. I mean, who goes into their father's scientific lab and scoffs strange liquids and powders from a random jar on a shelf? The boy is about 10 years old so should definitely know better. Anyways, the replacement boy plays a slightly creepy role well and the setup is intriguing. The story goes place you would not think it would go and that keeps you on your toes.

The House That Bled to Death
When a young couple and their daughter move into a house, little do they suspect that their house was the scene of a gruesome murder some years ago. As they try to bed in, unsettling things seem to be happening around them... almost as if the house wanted revenge.

This is a solid episode with lots of shocks and scares as the tension slowly escalates. The blood flows generously but, once again, the episode goes to a different place.

Charlie Boy
When a friend dies, a photographer and his friends get a chance to rifle through his things and take souvenirs home. When the photographer takes an African fetish doll, known for being used in witchcraft, people start to die. Will he make it in time before his wife and he succumb to its dark power.

This is a great episode about the power we give objects. Is it the fetish or is it the paranoia and coincidence of it all? This episode is great and it was wonderful to see the young familiar face of Angela Bruce as the wife of the photographer. The relationship between the interracial couple was loving and they treated each other like equals which was surprisingly more sensitive than what I have been used to from shows from that era. Fair play to the show for doing that.

The Silent Scream
When a habitual petty thief is released after two years inside, he finds a job at a local petshop run by Peter Cushing. When tasked with feeding the trained exotic animals he keeps at the back whilst he's away, the thief tries to open a safe and is caged. Will his wife help him get out or will the thief be trained to curb his thieving ways.

Cushing is excellent in his role as a mad scientist who looks at creating a prison without walls. He is seemingly sane and his idea has merit in principle but at what cost to civil liberties and freedom?

Children of the Full Moon
After their car careens out of control, a young couple find themselves out in the sticks in the late afternoon. They find refuge in a creepy old country house in the care of an old lady and loads of orphan children. As the night draws in, the sound of wolves can be heard and the children start to act strangely. Whatever can it all mean?

This is a great episode with Diane Dors camping it up as the old lady of the creepy manor house. This is considered one of classics of the series and is so highly regarded due to the gothic feel of the mansion, creepy woods and quite good makeup work.

The Carpathian Eagle
When a series of men are murdered, with their hearts ripped out, an old legend seems to be bubbling to the surface. A police officer and a murder-mystery author try to get to the bottom of the serial killers crimes on this short thriller.

The central conceit of this episode is great as it plays out like a crime procuderal but has the obvious supernatural elements, much like Kolchak: The Night Stalker. This episode was a firm favourite of mine as there is a great central mystery.

Guardian of the Abyss
When an antique dealer comes across a scrying glass his world is turned upside down as satanists and an escaped sacrificial victim cross his path. When his scrying glass- which may have been Dr Dee's original one- is stolen, he goes on a hunt to find it and save the glamourous sacrifice at the same time.

It's an intriguing episode as the poor guy just wants to flip the item to get some moolah but he's caught up in a demonic mess involving Enochian, Choronzon and Aleister Crowley. Fascinating stuff with a dramatic and powerful ending.

Visitor from the Grave
When a rapist is killed by his prospective victim, his body is concealed to hide the crime. However, as she struggles to reconcile her life  with the crime she slowly starts to unravel as she sees the face of the rapist in her everyday life. Maybe a Swami from India can help, for a high fee of course.

This is a slow burn episode as the action happens right at the beginning and it's all about the trauma and unravelling as the victim goes all swiveleyed and anxious. This episode is not very sensitive at all but it isn't as egregious as much other media from the time- the portrayal of a woman who has gone through a traumatic experience isn't very sensitively handled whilst the brown face of the Swami is pretty racist but this was par of the course for the time and should be considered through those optics. Thank gosh things have moved on somewhat and we live in more enlightened times.

The Two Faces of Evil
When a family on a country drive pick up a hitchhiker during a storm it doesn't go well as he attacks the family. Waking up in a hospital the family try to get back to normal but life is forever changed. The question is: has the hitchhiker gone for good?

This is an excellent episode as the sense of  claustrophobia is achieved through tight and unusually low camera angles. It disorients you as you watch the episode and even the staff at the hospital look sinister from that angle. It's quite an achievement on such a low budget. The concept of a doppelganger is intriguingly covered in this episode and the chase at the end suitably dramatic.

The Mark of Satan
When a novice who works in a morgue is accidently pricked with the bloody neddle of a corpse who claimed to have been protecting his soul through self-drill applied trepanning, he undergoes an interesting transformation. He starts seeing patterns everywhere and is worried that there is a conspiracy against him.

I liked this episode as the number 9 is a recurring motif and occurs frequently throughout. I wonder if the creators of Inside Number 9 were inspired by this particular episode as they do cite this series as a foundational text within their ouvre.

Overall, I really enjoyed this anthology series. I can see how it has influenced many shows including Inside Number 9, Black Mirror, The League of Gentlemen and The Mighty Boosh. It's a quirky series that looks at the evil that lurks beneath the normal veneer of polite (and not so polite) society.

The series can be pretty bleak and I think a lot of it is to do with the way it represents an empire in decline. Britain held much of the world in its grasp for hundreds of years and the stripping away of this worried much of society. This anxiety brought fears of class, eugenics and 'replacement theory' to the fore- maybe that's why so many of the shows of the time are to do with class, a structure that very much exists in Britain but many will deny whilst claiming that we live in a meritocracy. Looking at the sorry state of current politics puts paid to this veneer as vestiges of this illusion are removed-as  it was in the 80s when this show was create and aired.

The cultural vandalism, misappropriation and bastardising of certain principles, values and societal narratives are things that happen all the time. One only has to look at social media with its 'the way things were' photographs of yesteryear to see the guise of nostalgia wrapped in right wing anemoia. Read the comments to see the vitriol spewing forth. This show looks at the worries and concerns from the time and amplifies them through the lens of horror.

Boneyard Arcade Brings Back the Memories

Arcades have changed a lot over time and, even though they are not as prevalent as they once were, there has been a steady rise in small centres where you pay an admission fee and get the machines on free play or a contactless pay system on the machines. Whatever model these arcades use, it's fine with me to be able to play original and refurbished machines which give the feel and create the atmosphere of the arcades of my youth.

Living in London, these arcades or barcades were easy enough to find but here, in the South West, the only machines I would find would be the odd ones here and there or ticket redemption spitting machines. The piers and coastal arcades around here would have the occasional arcade machine but that would be the more modern machines with the occasional Guitar Hero machine thrown in.

Boneyard Arcade in Exeter is different though. Run by two brothers with a love for gaming, it features original and refurbed machines. Importantly though, it contains many vintage and classic arcade and pinball machines including:
Tempest
Galaga
Centipede
Asteroids
Sega Rally
Ms. Pacman
Star Wars: Arcade
DDR
and various Mame enabled compilation machines.

I went with my daughters for the first time for my birthday and we had a blast. The atmosphere was family friendly (we did go at 2pm though) and the noise was a nostalgic rush of memories. The £5 contactless card for 20 credits system worked well and, with nearly all the games costing 1 credit, actually incredibly reasonably priced.

With £10 of credit to hand we played most of the machines but our favourites were Star Wars Arcade, Asteroids, Galaga and Tempest.

I've still got about 18 credits left on my card so will definitely visit again. I think this is going to become a part of my bi-monthly comic shop, videogame shopping and arcades routine. Boy, that kinda takes me back to my youth in Barking with the library, Cash Convertors and Rodney's comic shop trinity.

LINK- Vintage Arcade Machines in the Wild

LINK- The Golden Voyage of Sinbad- Cult Movie Review

LINK- The 7th Voyage of Sinbad- Cult Movie Review

LINK- Into the Unknown Exhibition Shines Bright at the Barbican

LINK- Ray Harryhausen: Titan of Cinema Virtual Exhibition Experience- Review

LINK- Children of the Stones: Cult TV Series Review

LINK- Tom’s Midnight Garden: Cult TV Review

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)

LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East

Goosebumps- Retro Series Review

For many people of my ages (early 40s if you must know) Goosebumps was their first entry point into horror. I never really got into the book series in the early 90s myself, preferring fantasy and sci-fi at the time of its initial popularity. I watched a few episodes of Are You Afraid of the Dark? at the time and watched the entirely of series a few years ago, which I have reviewed here. So, when many people were saying that Goosebumps was well worth a watch too, I dived in and watched the award winning TV series over a few months. With the darkness and cold night setting in, I thought the time was right to catch up with R. L. Stine and share with you the 13 best episodes, in my humble opinion of course.

The entire TV series was spread over 4 seasons and contained 74 episodes. The episodes were a veritable smorgasbord of horror tropes including classics like ghosts, vampires and werewolfs to more offbeat but no less terrifying creatures including ventriloquist dummies. The most interesting thing to note is that no matter the episode the power of the storytelling and creepy atmosphere made them all worthwhile watching, which is particularly impressive when you consider each episode had a tiny budget. Strict age rating restrictions meant economy of design and smart editing left much to the imagination and often what you imagine is worse than what is shown, as H. P. Lovecraft so often used to startling effect.

I have selected my favourite 13 episodes which are the ones I'd recommend you watch. All the episodes are PG rated so are scary without being gory  or too violent.

Welcome to the Dead House
A family move to Dark Falls as a house comes on the market that seems too good to pass up. The town is quiet and eerie, having never been the same since the chemical plant accident that occured 3 years prior.

This is a proper B-movie zombie horde double episode as the family uncover the secrets of the house and are surrounded by the town who are looking to feed. The atmosphere created is surprisingly intense, creating a gloomy and suspenseful mood that would be right at home in a Stephen King movie.

Welcome to the Dead House has a B-movie zombie horde feel to it… but in the best possible way.

Night of the Living Dummy 2
When a young girl is given a ventriloquist's dummy little does she know it is the incorrigible Slappy, a malevolent besuited insult and roasting figure that breaks up families wherever he goes. In this case he does small level stuff that gets his owner, Amy the middle child of three, in trouble. Her family turn against her and they think she might need some therapy or a psychologist. Will she be able to prove that Slappy is to blame in time?
Slappy's design is on point here and he is suitably evil but in a strictly U way. The story is quite basic but is quintessential Goosebumps. He became the kind of totem for the series and it's easy to see why on the strength of this solid episode.

Slappy is kind of the talisman of the show. He is probably its most recognised character.

Deep Trouble
A brother and sister are staying with their scientist uncle for the Summer holidays. They explore his basement and see that he is creating experiments that turn animals giant. An enlarged sea creature is on the loose and could pose a problem.
This is an effective tale as halfway through this 2 parter they end up stranded on an island with the creature stalking them nearby. It's like an old school Sinbad movie with oversized creatures, such as lizards and crabs, for tweens. The Green screen is obviously cheaply done but it gets the tone across effectively enough.

The practical effects looks cheesy now but in the 90s they were plenty effective.

Say Cheese and Die
After stealing a camera from an eccentric scientist, a young boy learns that it takes a picture of the future, showing death and tragedy.
It's an interesting concept about knowing the future in the Final Destination style. The curse is all too real and so it must be given back before something worse happens.
The camera obscura, the camera that sees the hidden world is a great idea and I quite enjoyed this story ad it wasn't too horrory.

This episode is quite quirky but fun.

The Werewolf of Fever Swamp
A family move into a home near a swamp but something is disturbing their dear. Legends of a werewolf abound but the scientist parents dont think it's real.
The atmosphere created for the swamp is excellent as it feels eerie and isolated. Also, I'm glad that with the limited budget they had, they only showed the werewolf in bits and pieces. This stops the whole 'the special effects are so naff' syndrome that so many tween horror films and series had back in the day.

The special effects are kept to a minimum and the moody atmosphere of the dark woodlands creates the requisite tension required.

Ghost Beach
A couple of kids spend their summer with their uncle and Aunt near the beach. Along the way they meet a couple of kids who tell them the legend of the pilgrim ghost who lives in a nearby cave.
The story is a simple one of 'who to trust' but is effective with a surprise twist at the end.

The twist is a novel one.

The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight
A couple of city kids go to the countryside to stay with their grandparents. At night, the young boy says he can see the scarecrows move but how have they come alive?
This is a genuinely spooky tween horror episode as the scene with the scarecrows trying to come in during the thunderstorm is suitably creepy. Cornfield are a staple of horror and rightly so as you can get disoriented and discombobulated.

The lighting really adds to this story and this scene is particularly spooky.

Stay Out of the Basement
When a botanist is made redundant, he holes up in his basement and carries out weird experiments. The children are intrigued as to what he does and venture down to find out. It doesn't go well.
This is a great episode as it creates a mood, from the autumnal leaves falling in the wind on the opening scene to the emerald green hue of the basement, it all adds tension to a surprisingly powerful ending. The actor who plays the dad, Judah Katz, gives a very creepy performance and is the MVP of this episode.

Judah Katz is excellent in his role as the slightly sinister Doctor.

A Night in Terror Tower
A couple of kids visit London and travel to a tower where princes and political prisoners were kept and tortured. They experience a time slips and travel back and forward in time to medieval times.
For show that was aimed at kids, this episode quite unsettling. The scene at the beginning when the boy is being warned off by a ghost at the top of the tower creates a sense of foreboding that is quite palpable even now. The scenes of the tour guide discussing the many contraptions of pain in his plummy English accent is suitably creepy but it's the mood, which reminds me of the old Madame Tussaud's Chamber of Horrors exhibition, which truly sends a shiver down the spine. The scene in the execution chamber is beautifully lit and the whole thing looks to be a higher production value. This is definitely one the best Goosebumps episodes in its entire run and my favourite with wobbly wobbly, timey wimey stuff in it.

This is my favourite Goosebumps episode as it is quite complex and compelling.

Be Careful What You Wish For
When a young girl who finds it hard to fit in is given three wishes for helping a stranger, she has a typical monkey paws situation where all her wishes backfire.
The episode is interesting as it looks at that old classic of being careful what you wish for. It's all pretty light hearted but does get sinister.

A typical monkey’s paw tale but for the U genration.

The Haunted Mask
A young girl with self-esteem issues picks a scary mask to wear for Halloween but it doesn't come off as easily ad it goes on.
This is an excellent episode as the actress Kathryn Long really sells the role of Carly Beth. The story is quite emotional too as it pulls the whole 'be true to yourself as be proud to be you' shtick. This is a bona-fide classic and rightly so.

For many fans, this is the best episode.

The Haunted Mask 2
A year after the events of The Haunted Mask, the possessed mask returns and takes over the shopkeeper. Now, seeking revenge a new mask of a creepy old man takes over a frenemy of Carly Beth.
This is quite an unnerving episode as the young cast do a great job of elevating the material. Kathryn Long is excellent once again and the ending is quite dramatic. A worthy follow-up to an all timer Goosebumps.

This is a solid follow up to the fan favourite.

One Day at Horrorland
When a family on a road trip are lost they come across Horrorland, a spooktacular theme park. Yet, the resident are not what they seem and the family get involved in a quirky quiz show before being left on a real cliffhanger.
The idea behind this, a theme park full of monsters, is great but the special effects are very low budget so it is a harder sell. However, the makeup and set design are on point and really sell the story of a family desperate to escape from a surreal nightmare.

This is an offbeat episode but the make-up is on point.

Overall, all these episodes are great and I'd definitely recommend them but they often follow the same premise: a family with a couple of teenagers move into a too good to be true house in the sticks. The neighbours are weird and the area is rundown but the parents got the house cheap because the previous tenant mysteriously vanished...so swings and roundabouts. Oh, and there's a creepy creature somewhere nearby but it's probably just a legend. This is tween horror 101 and is proper by the books but it doesn't mean it's enjoyable... it was a gateway to more exciting and subversive horror for many readers and watchers of the series later in life. For those looking for the same kind of vibe but in the more current age with a wider story variety I'd recommend Creeped Out.

LINK- The 13 Best ‘Are You Afraid of the Dark’ Episodes

LINK- The Secret Garden (BBC 1975 Review)

LINK- Children of the Stones Review

LINK- Dead of Night: Cult TV Review

LINK- The Stone Tapes: Cult TV Review

LINK- Tom’s Midnight Garden: Cult TV Review

LINK- Children of the Dogstar: Cult TV Series Review

Kolchak: The Night Stangler- Cult Movie Review

A while back, I watched the 20 episode television series of Kolchak, after having had the DVD collection for years. I had heard it mentioned often when The X Files was at its peak. I thought the series was excellent and could understand why it had achieved cult status over the past 50 or so years; it had a late night pulpy horror charm. I’d also watched the first movie and found that the production values were high in this slower paced affair. The tightness of the film made it watchable and exciting, even with the dated makeup effects.

It was with some excitement that I watched the follow up movie, Kolchak: The Night Strangler. It follows our intrepid investigator as he is down in his luck in Seattle a year after the incidence in Las Vegas. A chance meeting with his old editor Tony Vincenzo places him on a path to track down a serial strangler in Seattle. Every 21 years, a sequence of murders occurs within the same few blocks and so Kolchak seeks the killer who has possibly discovered the elixir of life.

Like its predecessor, the show is well produced with great cinematography highlighting the cityscape of Seattle. The story is intriguing and Kolchak (Darren McGavin) has lots of fun interactions with the office staff as he is trying to save the case. The old Seattle catacombs are an excellent location for this mystery and lends the whole film that 70s griminess.

It Was The Time of the Seasons/Series

Back in the day, before satellite telly and streaming services, there were only 4 channels on British television; BBC 1, BBC 2, ITV and Channel 4. There were films available on VHS for rental and this was important as films often took a few years to reach terrestrial TV. You'd know films would be arriving soon on the channel as they'd advertise the blooming heck out of it, often several months before it would be shown. The sense of collective excitement was palpable in the playground when a big movie had been shown the previous night and everyone would role play or act out their favourite scenes from the movie. A hugely formative film was The Goonies as, when that was shown on telly on a school night, it was all anyone would talk about the next day. The showings of these formative movies were few and far between though and so we'd savour these shining moments between repeats of old variety shows and stuffy documentaries.

However, there were magical times when someone at the channels would clock on that by running special seasons of themed movies or shows they'd have a repeat viewership.

As a child of the 80s, there'd always be the Summer block of cartoons with The Raccoons, Mysterious Cities of Gold, Belle and Sebastian and Around the World in 80 Days with Willie Fogg. These were halcyon days when the Summer seemed to stretch on forever and there seemed to be a world of endless possibilities, after the 4 hours of early morning cartoons, of course!

However, away from the 6 weeks holiday animation bliss, the most memorable staple of my childhood would be the Bond Season. For most of my childhood, without fail, ITV would show the movies in a weekly run on Wednesday evenings. Other seasons would be the Carry On films on ITV, The Laurel and Hardy seasons on BBC 2, the Ray Harryhausen collection on BBC1 and the swords and sandals epics of Ben Hur, The 10 Commandments, The Greatest Story Ever Told on Channel 4 around Easter time. Then, in the mid-90s, the manga and anime season on late night Channel 4 really upped the ante on edgy late night entertainment. With the prevalence of Sky TV I remember late night Bravo having an amazing season of Hammer Horror in the late 90s/ early 2000s with classics like The Witch Finder General, Masque of the Red Death and other classic Vincent Price, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee films showing.

I have a lot of affection for this time as it was very formative for me. It introduced a lot of new actors, films and genres that I had never experienced before and broadened my horizons on what entertainment could mean. This was very much the epitome of appointment television as VHS recorders were a fickle and arcane piece of technology, one where I could watch films just fine but getting it to record at a scheduled time was a matter of luck. In this day of convenience and streaming, there is something to be said for the collective watching at an appointed time for media, something that only really exists in the world of sport. Don’t get me wrong, we have been going through a golden age of television and I wouldn’t want to go back to past televisual practices but it’s interesting to see the evolution of television, films and how there is channel drift.

LINK- Stonehenge Exhibition at the British Museum Website

LINK- The Moomins 80's Soundtrack Vinyl Review

LINK- Inspector Gadget Retro Soundtrack Review

LINK- Ulysses 31 Retro Soundtrack Review

LINK- The Mysterious Cities of Gold Retro Soundtrack Review

LINK- The Stone Tapes (BBC)- Cult TV Review

LINK- Twin Peaks Retrospective

LINK- Twin Peaks: The Return Series Review

LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK- The Future Starts Here: An Optimistic Guide to What Comes Next- Book Review

LINK: Let’s All Create a ‘New Normal’.

New Dogtanian Movie Trailer Drops!

Being a kid in the 80’s, there were certain shows you couldn’t miss as they were either long serials, perennial summer favourites shown during the holidays or were on constant loop- there was The Mysterious Cities of Gold (my favourite), Ulysses 31, Around the World With Willy Fogg, Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors and also… Dogtanian!

With one of the most catchy theme tunes in animation history, Dogtanian followed a young pup as he sought to become a musketeer. There were 2 series and a movie made and the property had remained dormant… until now! A new CGI movie of Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds will be release in cinemas on 25th June 2021 and I must admit, my interest is piqued. Now don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t look that great but I do like to support retro revivals so distributors know that there is a market for these old properties. We’ll see how the film pans out but with a budget of $10 million, I’d say it stands a chance.

New He-Man Trailer Revealed

The new trailer for the He-man Netflix revival, Masters of the Universe: Revival, has just released and I am cautiously optimistic. Over the past few years, we have had excellent reboots and revivals of She-Ra and Carmen Sandiego so I am very pleased that He-Man is getting a chance to shine with a new coat of paint and a makeover. I loved the show in the 80s but it was nothing more than a glorified toy commercial, however this revival really has a chance to revitalise the charming but janky animation of old. The series remains true to the character designs and world from that series but hopefully will have a deeper and more fufilling story arc with Head Writer Keven Smith (of Clerks, Dogma, Chasing Amy fame) at the helm. The show drops on 23rd July so here’s hoping it good!

Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors- Soundtrack Review

A warm fuzzy feeling fills my heart whenever I watch television shows and cartoons from my childhood. However, there are only a few that quicken my heart and make me yearn for simpler times, well, t least simpler as a kid and those include Ulysses 31, The Mysterious Cities of Gold, Inspector Gadget, Dogtanian, Around the World With Willy Fogg and… Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors.

Thundering across the stars,
To save the universe from the Monster Minds!
Jayce searches for his father,
To unite the magic root,
And lead his Lightning League to
Victory over the changing form of Sawboss!
Wheeled Warriors explode into battle!
Lightning Strikes!

With these words Jayce and his Lightning League battled the Monster Minds and Saw Boss for 65 episodes. Produced by the hilariously named (at least I thought at the time) DIC studios and overseen by Jean Chalopin (of Mysterious Cities of Gold, Ulysses 31, Inspector Gadget and tonnes of other formative cartoons from the 80s) the show was grand and cheesy operatic drama and a big part of this was due to the epic music, created by Shuki Levy.

The soundtrack for the series has never been released… until now. Tele 80 crowdfunded the soundtrack and I backed it. After a seemingly long wait (it wasn’t that long actually but it seemed that way due to anticipation and slight Covid delays) I finally received my vinyl and CD.

I first came across the show when it was first shown in the mid 80s on Channel 4 but I saw it in my formative years again in the early 90s on Channel 4, where it was shown at weekends. I remember thinking how cool and ahead of it's time the animation was and how moody, mature and rocky the synthesizer soundtrack was.

Since getting the soundtrack I've listened to the album a few times now and the majority of the themes I remember are all here, however the soundtrack isn’t as ingrained into my mind as much as The Mysterious Cities of Gold, Ulysses 31 or Inspector Gadget are.

I'm not going to go through every single track here as that would be long and incredibly tedious for you to read so I'll pick out the highlights.

The album starts with the French opening credits. It has the instrumentation that we all know and love but with the French vocals. The track is okay but holds no real nostalgia for me, that'd be track 21, the English vocal track that played over the opening of the show, but this is the extended cut. Track 23 is the instrumentation of the opening credits, whilst track 22 has the ending vocals (‘Keep On Rolling’) and track 24 has the instrumentation of that, so you can get your hair rock on!

Now onto the back ground music (BGM):

Track 2 (The Fight of the Light Force) - starts off all mystical and woozily dreamlike but quickly the synthy beat, violin and jazz flute kick in and it's a veritable smorgasbord of pure 80s euphoria.

Track 4 (The Cunning of the Monster Minds) - lots of oboe and unsettling string picking make this a suitably creepy piece.

Track 6 (A Hope) - a light, chilled piece which wouldn't be out of place in a romance scene from some forgettable 80s movie.

Track 7 (The Fight Against the Monster Minds) - a consistent drum beat which is followed by a fluttering flute before a jazzy brass section comes in to add some uptempo jam before a crescendo of strings swells and hits.

Track 10 (All Together) - a relaxing piece which is sort of like a redux of track 9.

Track 11 (Moments of Clairvoyance) - breezy and airy sounding with a gentle wind chimey sound.

Track 12 (An Unknown World) - creepy and unsettling as a quick rhythmic mood sets in with heavy synthesiser sounds wend their way in and out. This track wouldn't be out of place in a John Carpenter film as it fits his ouvre.

Track 13 (Mysteries of the Universe) - upbeat funk with wailing guitar and jazzy brassy freestyling.

Track 18 (Imminent Danger) - sounds like an end of level boss from a PS1 game which is no bad thing. Heavy drums and waning guitar give way to moody rhythmic guitar.

Track 19 (Musical Bridges)- This track is a collection of 5 to 10 second bridged that are dramatic and concluded fight or action sequences. They are dramatic and bombastic, ending with a flourish.

Overall, there are plenty of tracks here for Jayce fans but the track that I most miss due to its omission is the darkly sinister driving imperial march sounding one that is reminiscent of St. Elmo's Fire/ La Passage Secret from the MCOG soundtrack. It was the track used when a discovery was made and is one of the most spine tingling tracks from the show and the Jayce equivalent, which shares a lot of the same DNA, is missing too. I’ll link it below so you can have a listen to both tracks.

Murrain- Cult TV Review

It's no secret that I’m a big fan of Nigel Kneale, writer of such works as ‘Quatermass’, ‘The Stone Tapes’ and ‘Beasts’ (a series I am currently watching). I've been working my way through his works over the past several years and it was whilst falling down the YouTube rabbit hole I discovered an hour long short film called ‘Murrain’, which he wrote for ITV when he had a falling out with the BBC over something (what, I don’t know).

It’s a lesser known Kneale work and formed part of the 'Against the Crowd' series which were short anthology collections that were all the rage in the 70 and early 80s after the success of the ‘Play For the Day’ and ‘Armchair Theatre’ series. The anthology is not well regarded as it was pretty lacklustre apparently but this is one of the standout pieces.

The story is quite simple, a vet visits a small town which is blighted by a mysterious disease that is killing their livestock. The locals blame old lady Clemson who lives in a ramshackle cottage, accusing her of being a witch. The rational ‘man of science’ vet visits the old lady and sees that she is living in terrible conditions and endeavours to help her. However, when the mob get angry they attack the cottage with dreadful results.

The production is very cheap and there is very little cinematographic flair on show, it is all very bread and butter but then it's a simple story where special effects don’t matter as they are not needed- the story is king. Over the course of the hour, I had a sense of dread in the pit of my stomach as I feared for the old lady and thought it wasn’t going to end well. The conclusion is ambiguous but that's all part of the charm that’ll have you thinking about the story long after the viewing. Director John Cooper does a great job creating an effective atmosphere with obviously limited resources, there is an unsettling claustrophobic, insular feeling to proceedings.

The actors themselves are solid with no-one I recognise apart from M from James Bond (Bernard Lee) who has a key role as the landed gentry leading the witch hunt, whilst Una Brandon-Jones (someone I’m unfamiliar with but who is quite well known apparently) is riveting as the accused witch.

Murrain is no ‘Quatermass’ or ‘Stone Tapes’ but for a short 60 minute films with a tiny budget it is simple, effective and worth your time.

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power- Season 5 Review

Over the past 2 years we've had 4 amazing seasons of She-Ra and the the Princesses of Power and now we finally have the concluding season. So does the finale stick the landing and the rebooted She-Ra series become one of the finest animated series  of recent times?

She-Ra started off with usual Heroes Journey fare but then very quickly escalated and grew into something much more epic, featuring time travel, alternate dimensions and pocket universes; heady stuff indeed.

At the end of season 4, Hordak had signalled Horde Prime and Etheria had been revealed to the Empire, losing the protection the previous She-Ra (Mara) had provided it by placing it in a pocket dimension. The sword was broken and Adora's ability to call on She-Ra was lost.

This season the princesses face all out war as Horde Prime looks to leach the powerful magic from the Heart of Etheria for himself, and achieve God-hood by destroying the universe and making everyone left in his image. With the majority of the rebels overwhelmed by the Prime clones, the remaining faction undertake guerrilla warfare, freeing small areas one at a time, whilst battling their friends who are under Prime control from microchips in the neck.

One of the shows biggest strengths is the attention it gives its characters, it has always allowed them a chance to develop arcs that are subtle and true and this holds in this concluding season too. Mermista, Scorpia and Perfuma all get a chance to shine as they undergo their own trials but the biggest character development is with Entrapta. She learns to appreciate and understand her friends as well as continuing her love of tech. She has some of the funniest and most touching moments and is MVP as she has to find a hack to prize the brainwashing microchips off of her friends and most of Etheria.

Married couple, Netossa and Spinarella are heavily featured as they join the rebellion too but their powers are given more credence and their true power is shown in all its might as they fight against each other as the Horde chip has control over one partner. It's all quite heavy stuff but dealt with the usual confidence and honesty that has made this show so popular amongst the LGBTQ+ community and those looking for wider representation in media.

The complex, maybe even toxic, relationship between Catra and Adora is explored as we gain more insight into Catra's motivations. We get to understand her abandonment and attachment issues and whilst not entirely sympathetic, we do start to understand why Catra is the way she is. The CatDora relationship comes to the fore, especially at the 2 part conclusion as they race to the Heart of Etheria against Horde Prime.

Horde Prime is the archtypal supervillian, his motivation is pure power. He is a malevolent gentleman, inviting Catra and Glimmer to dinner whilst serving her food and delicacies from long destroyed worlds. He seeks to rid the universe of emotions, which he sees as a weakness. He cannot be reasoned with and as he has been in power for so long and has succeeded in spreading the Horde Empire far and wide, doesn't need to explain his ideology except for the further acquisition of power.

With the players on both sides set, the various story threads all weave together to a stunning conclusion that will satisfy fans whilst raising the possibility of a movie or one off special. I won't spoil anything here but I felt extremely satisfied with how the series ended, honouring all the character arcs and motivations yet feeling like a real journey.

This season is well written with shades of dark and light incredibly well plotted with never a moment wasted. It doesn't lose its central message that friendship is awesome but can be hard work, whilst delivering gripping and emotional scenes, episode after episode.

I have loved this show and would recommend it for anyone with a passion for animation but also anyone who appreciates well rounded characters and tightly scripted stories.

LINK- MCOG Soundtrack on Vinyl Review

LINK- What Comics Have Taught Me

LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK- Ulysses 31 Retro Soundtrack Review

LINK- An English Geek in Saudi Arabia

LINK- Gravity Falls Complete Series Review

LINK- Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated Complete Series 1 Review

LINK- Nintendo: My One Constant in My Gaming Life

Katana Zero- Video Games As Art

Katana Zero is a super stylish pixel art hack and slash platformer. The game casts you as a bathrobe wearing modern day samurai who is given targets by his handler but the drugs that give you time manipulation powers may have side-effects that may be unravelling your mind… quelle suprise! It’s all gritty, dark stuff and the gameplay can often be brutal but with the thumping electro-pop music and almost instantaneous chance to try again, it is well worth the 7 to 8 hours of play. Check out screenshots from my play through!

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Season 4- Complete Series Review

Fans of this blog will know that I have a deep affection for She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. What many thought would be a bright and breezy reboot of the classic 80s Filmation series quickly established itself as a complex character-driven animation with an over-arching storyline that added much more nuance and lore than the original series ever had.

Season 3 of She-Ra changed the status quo of the entire series as it got all 'parallel universes and 'inter-dimensional portals' on us. So how does season 4 carry on the momentum established in the excellent previous seasons?

Catra finds herself even more isolated as the series continues.

Catra finds herself even more isolated as the series continues.

Well, at the finale of the last season we found out that Hordak's plan was to open a portal to bring Horde Prime and the intergalactic Horde army to Etheria. Adora finally gained some insight as to who she really was and where she came from, and Catra went full heel and sustained some cool but temporary evil looking scars to show how bad ass she really had become. It all reached a dizzying crescendo that culminated in the ultimate sacrifice from a figure that would change the structure of the Princesses Alliance forever and have grave implications for the Best Friends Squad moving forward.

The new series kicks off as Glimmer has her coronation as Queen of Bright Moon. As she ascends the throne and has to deal with diplomatic concerns, Bow and Adora take the lead on missions. The excursions meet with initial success until a shape shifter, Double Trouble, enters the fold and adds some espionage into the unfolding drama. They tap into the growing hostility between Glimmer and Adora and light the fuse to the powder keg, and we see the group splinter in spectacular fashion.

Meanwhile, Catra bonds with Double Trouble, falls out with Scorpia and realises that victory is not all its cracked up to be as she and Hordak take over most of Etheria.

What this season does is look at the military industrial complex in more detail, specifically the many levels of bureaucracy that underpin it- heady stuff for a 'tween cartoon'. Glimmer struggles with the duties required from being a Queen, co-ordinating the campaign whilst sending her friends and colleagues out into the thick of battle whilst struggling with the guilt that mounting casualties unsuccessful campaigns rack up. Catra struggles with gaining resources to take the Horde war machine forward whilst Hordak struggles to move forward with creating the ultimate weapon without his colleague and potential love interest, Entrapta.

The series has a few standout episodes, including number 7, where Hermista (one of my fave characters) gets her moment to shine as she leads the bottle episode where they try to figure out who the mole in the Alliance is, it's very stirring stuff with just the right amount of humour thrown in to add levity to proceedings. In another episode Light Hope glitches and whilst she is rebooting does some strange stuff, much to Adora's annoyance and our mirth. In another standout episode, the relationship between inept Horde soldier Kyle and his comrades is examined as the concept of family is looked at, they come across as sympathetic minions in a greater geo-political situation rather than faceless goons.

What I really enjoy about She-Ra is that the storyline is intriguing but the strong characterisation and the journey that each character goes through endears them to you, you become invested, be they hero or villain. There are definite shades of grey; Hordak seeks acceptance from his superior, Catra has attachment issues, Entrapta finds it hard to make friends, Scorpia is in a toxic relationship with Catra and Kyle wants to be lived and respected

The varying story threads all weave together wonderfully reaching an exciting and intergalactic climax as a deus ex machina is pulled and the status quo is shifted yet again. All in all, it all adds up to another great season that is building to a final battle between Etheria and the Horde Prime Empire.

LINK- She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Complete Season 1 Review

LINK- She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Complete Season 2 Review

LINK- She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Complete Season 3 Review

LINK- Disenchantment- Complete Series 1 Review

LINK- Gravity Falls Complete Series Review

LINK- Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated Complete Series 1 Review

LINK- Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated Series 2 Review

LINK- Ms Marvel Can Change the World

The Joy of Now

We live in amazing technological times where many things can be done instantly at a touch of a button... ordering anything online (food, goods, medicines), online banking, research (Googling it bro), dating (insert the myriad of dating sites here) and watching movies and shows. It makes me think back to simpler times, when I'd load up my monochrome Amstrad CPC 464 and watch the tape deck counter slowly crawl forward before a game (hopefully) loaded.

This old pic of me is sorta connected to the concept of time and nostalgia.

Maybe in these times when everyone wants everything now there's something to be said for days of yore where we enjoyed the games more because we had had to wait. The anticipation was maybe half the joy; watching the loading screen slowly appearing and bathing the bedroom in a green glow while that annoying screeching noise reverberated all around.

No doubt these idle thoughts seem like an old man wishing for a past bathed in the cathode ray tube glow of nostalgia, but recently I bought a new game for the PS4 and had to wait quite a while for the system to update and download a patch and it had me reflecting back to my youth.... The waiting sucked, it did then and it does now! In these busy times who can wait for a hefty day 1 patch to download? I’ve got box sets to get through, digital friends to chat to so I can ignore real pals, tonnes of images of my mates food to appreciate... In my youth there wasn't much to do and the pace of life was slower so sitting, waiting for a crappy port of Double Dragon to load for 20 minutes was fine, but now.... yeeesh it's painful! I could watch an episode of Carmen Sandiego in that time!

I think there is much to be said of slowing down and smelling the roses and that Bueller quote but really, life has so many more options now and waiting is boring. Now making time for yourself, being present and mindfulness are another matter, but we'll save that for another time.

Just to note- this was an off the cuff devil’s advocate piece. My thought are a lot more nuanced than stated*

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Complete Season 3 Review

The first two She-Ra and the Princesses of Power series have been a bright and generally breezy reboot of the classic 80s Filmation series, but boy does season 3 crank things up a little. There are three main through-lines over the course of this season; Hordak's plan, which is suitably nefarious, involves portals and the Horde army travelling through space and time to take over Etheria; Adora and her Best Friend Squad deepen their bonds on a journey through the Crimson Waste to find more First Ones technology and learn what happened to Mara, the previous She-Ra, and Catra and Scorpia become closer as they search for the tech in the Crimson Wastes too. The three storylines converge in dramatic fashion and, from episode 5, get pretty heady.

This series has a laser focussed storyline but the true area of development is character as we delve further into all our invested parties.
A surprising addition to this is that we learn about Hordak's motivations, and even though he is the big bad in this series, it is hard not to feel a little sympathy for him. Special mention must be made of the cool artistic style to present Hordak's back story, all art deco edgy stuff, similar in style if not colour palette of Batman: The Animated Series. This episode, episode 2, also sees his friendship (maybe romance?) with Entrapta grow. What could have been a 2-dimensional bad guy, becomes more intriguing and the storyline goes to some pretty heady places, not Pulp Fiction level dark but for a 7+ kids show... pretty noir. Alternate realities, the darkest timeline and time and space being all wobbly wobbly feature in this series and actually play a huge part in the finale.

Fans of this blog will already know how much I like this series but this series ups the ante and delivers powerful, tour de force storytelling whilst remaining humorous and true to the characters it has developed. I've said it twice before, but I will say it again: miss this show at your peril.

She-Ra Season 3 Airing This Friday

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power on Netflix is a modern reimagining of the classic ’80s Filmation series. She-Ra is a part of the He-Man universe and so holds a place in many fans’ hearts, and as expected this led to many debates about the redesign of the characters. Some arguments seemed to be reasonable, like some complaining about the more cartoony super deformed art style, or the redesign of She-Ra herself, but some seemed purposely argumentative and toxic like why was there a wider LGBTQ and minority ethnic representation on the show and why She-Ra herself was less 'feminine'.

I personally thought that She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Season 1 was an excellent 13 part animated series with a lot of heart. I knew that it would not please all fans of the 80s show but as a father 2 young daughters I liked the strong female lead, the characterisation of the entire cast and the well told Heroes Journey tale.

I thought that the second series continued well from where the last series ended with She-Ra still being trained by Lighthope and making slow progress. The Princess Alliance was holding strong against the continuous daily onslaught of Horde robots. At only 7 episodes the second series was light on storyline but it really focused on the characters and the world of Etherea. Along the way it tackles some heavy topics like toxic friendships, ageism and bureaucracy through the lens of animation.

So, it is with bated breath that my daughter and I have been waiting for the third series to drop and with the trailer dropping this week, it seems like the wait isn’t going to be so long! I am ecstatic and super excited to see where writer Noelle Stevenson et al. take us next.

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Season 2- Complete Series Review

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power on Netflix is a modern reimagining of the classic ’80s Filmation series. She-Ra is a part of the He-Man universe and so holds a place in many fans’ hearts, and as expected this led to many debates about the redesign of the characters. Some arguments seemed to be reasonable, like some complaining about the more cartoony super deformed art style, or the redesign of She-Ra herself, but some seemed purposely argumentative and toxic like why was there a wider LGBTQ and minority ethnic representation on the show and why She-Ra herself was less 'feminine'.

I personally thought that She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Season 1 was an excellent 13 part animated series with a lot of heart. I knew that it would not please all fans of the 80s show but as a father 2 young daughters I liked the strong female lead, the characterisation of the entire cast and the well told Heroes Journey tale.

Well, this second series continues from where the last series ended with She-Ra still being trained by Lighthope and making slow progress. The Princess Alliance is holding strong against the continuous daily onslaught of Horde robots.

The story works from there as the Princesses start getting used to being friends as well as allies. Meanwhile, Catra is making good progress as Horde Captain by taking over many of the kingdoms but becomes increasingly disillusioned by the paperwork, red tape and slow bureaucratic busywork of it all. Hordak, meanwhile, is busy with his portal machine, looking for an intergalactic endgame. So, from this briefest of overviews you can see that there's a lot going on.

At only 7 episodes this series is light on storyline but it really focuses on the characters and the world of Etherea. Along the way it tackles some heavy topics like toxic friendships, ageism and bureaucracy through the lens of animation. The episode focusing on Shadow Weaver is excellent and offers us a look into her past, showing her descent from the light side. The MVP of this series however is Scorpia, the wannabe bestie/ lover of Catra. We see her try to get Catra to open up to the possibility of friendship and maybe more but to little success. Don't get disheartened though, it's not all edge lord stuff, there's plenty of fun and the D&D episode, 'Roll With It' shows that the writers are on a winning streak with this series.

I'm glad that this series exists, one with strong characters that aren't afraid to work together to challenge the status quo.

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power- Complete Series Review

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power on Netflix is a modern reimagining of the classic ’80s Filmation series. She-Ra is a part of the He-Man universe and so holds a place in many fans’ hearts, and as expected this has led to many debates about the redesign of the characters. Some arguments seem to be reasonable, like some complaining about the more cartoony super deformed art style, or the redesign of She-Ra herself, but some seem purposely argumentative and toxic like why there is a wider LGBTQ and minority ethnic representation on the show and why She-Ra herself is less 'feminine' .
So, away from the Twitter frenzy what is the show like?

The character redesigns have led to many online discussions, unfortunately not all have been healthy. She-Ra and the Princesses of Power ©Netflix, NBC

Well, I did like the design of the '80s show but the new art style is great too. I am a big fan of Noelle Stevenson (the creator and lead writer of the show), who has created the amazing Nimona and Lumberjanes graphic novels, and her art style feels modern and stylised like Steven Universe. I don't understand why this seems to be an issue when many cartoons have been drawn in a more simplistic style compared to what they were years ago, after all, Phineas and Ferb, Adventure Time, The Amazing World of Gumball and Over the Garden Wall are all brilliant but less detailed and 'realistic' when compared to '80s fare such as He-Man, TMNT, The Mysterious Cities of Gold, MASK or GI Joe. However, what is inarguable and beyond dispute is that the storylines, dialogue and characterisation in the new She-Ra show is much better than in its predecessor. In a medium which has been hegemonic in portraying white characters and often sexualised females, the recent wave of real world representations in cartoons is exciting and the fact that it is backed up by engaging stories not just meant to sell toys is brilliant.

The story itself is classic hero fare: Adora is a cadet in the Fright Zone and a part of the Horde, who are trying to wipe out the 'evil' Princesses. However, after a joy riding accident in the Whispering Woods with her friend Catra, Adora finds the Sword of Power and has visions of She-Ra and the First Ones.
Adora is captured by Princess Glimmer of Bright Moon and Bow and realises that the Horde are evil and that the Princesses aren't a guerilla force but actually just peaceful rulers of their respective lands. Over the course of a few episodes Adora transforms and aims to unite the Princess Alliance that once fought the Horde but ultimately failed and fell apart.

So, as I stated before, the usual Hero's Journey fare. But what really helps set this apart from many shows of its peers is the snappy dialogue and characterisation. From episode 10 of onwards the show goes deep into lore and it is genuinely exciting to see the battle between Adora/ She-ra and Catra as they realise that they want different things in life yet their paths are inextricably and destructively linked.

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power is an excellent 13 part animated series with a lot of heart. It may not please all previous fans of the show but as a father of a 3 3/4 year old daughter I can honestly say that it is wonderful to have a show that has a strong female lead that isn't wearing questionable clothing or revealing too much skin. The Heroes Journey is a universal tale and in She-Ra it is a tale told well.

LINK- Disenchantment- Complete Series 1 Review

LINK- Gravity Falls Complete Series Review

LINK- Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated Complete Series 1 Review

LINK- Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated Series 2 Review

LINK- Ms Marvel Can Change the World

LINK- 13th Doctor Revealed

LINK- She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Season 2 Review

Scooby Doo on Zombie Island- Classic Animation Review

1969s ‘Scooby Doo! Where Are You?’ is a television animation milestone. Many children around the world watched the Hannah Barbara show over the years, mostly through syndication, and as a result it had constantly gained new generations of fans. It's impact on pop culture was vast too, from its oft-quoted, "I would have got away with it too, if it wasn't for you pesky kids" to "It's old man xyz" to popularising the chasing through different doors sequence, you know the one; the chaser is pursuing the chasee(s) as they enter through one door only to emerge from a different or opposite door.

The show was hot stuff and it was doing well but over the years it lost its lustre and when ‘A Pup Named Scooby Doo’, released in 1991, was not well received it looked like the end of Scooby Doo. Due to the popularity and relative cheapness of shows like ‘Power Rangers’, ‘Saved By the Bell’ and its live action ilk there was a lull in television animation in the mid to late 90s and Scooby Doo looked like it was going to join the limbo of syndicated satellite cartoon show for all posterity.

However, in 1998 the straight to VHS Scooby Doo on Zombie Island animated movie released and helped to revive the series, winning over a whole new legion of fans and reviving interest in the characters that has continued to this day.

Zombie Island is a bona-fide great story for our Mystery Incorporated team. Shaggy, Scooby, Fred, Velma, and Daphne reunite after a short time apart to investigate a bayou island said to be haunted by the ghost of the pirate Morgan Moonscar. However, the five find not only a deeper mystery on the island, but their first encounter with a genuine, deadly supernatural threat.

The film is beautifully animated with an anime art style, the characters remain true to their origin form but have been finessed to look slicker and cooler than the Hannah Barbara cheaper animation. The background art is stunning and adds to the creepy bayou atmosphere. The ghosts, zombies and cat creatures are all creepy and genuinely a bit unsettling, I'm not sure my 3 3/4 year old daughter would be able to handle the scares... and there are scares aplenty in this film.

The voice cast are excellent throughout and there is subtlety in their performances, it does keep you guessing as to who the true villain is, and unlike all other previous Scooby Doo episodes, there are REAL supernatural elements which is a real game changer in their animated world. The poptastic soundtrack is also pretty awesome and adds some levity to proceedings.

I love that Scooby Doo never really goes away, much like Alvin and the Chipmunks, every generation has their own Scooby that they love. I recently watched the entire 52 part Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated and loved it, calling it one of the best animated shows I’d ever seen, and I love that each person has their own opinion about the best Scooby Doo! Check this movie out though, it’s awesome!

LINK- Mysterious Cities of Gold Complete Series 3 Review

LINK- Hilda Complete Series Review

LINK- Disenchantment- Complete Series 1 Review

LINK- Gravity Falls Complete Series Review

LINK- Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated Complete Series 1 Review

LINK- Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated Series 2 Review

The Best of Popol Vuh for Werner Herzog- Retro Soundtrack Review

There are many prog rock groups who are fondly remembered but one that I think are underappreciated or overlooked are Popol Vuh. Popol Vuh soundtracked many of Werner Herzog’s movies and formed an integral part of the experience, without which the films would seem incomplete or lacking. I recently purchased the Best of Popul Vuh Werner Herzog Soundtrack and this is my review of said album but first some context of how I discovered this band.

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I first experienced Popol Vuh when I rented out Aguirre: Wrath of God from my university library. The opening scene, of an expeditionary caravan travelling through the misty mountains of the Andes to find El Dorado was set to the haunting mesmerising score and seared itself into my soul and I knew then that I was watching something special. As the film continued and I saw the true madness of Aguirre's journey into the heart of darkness (Joseph Conrad style), the visuals and music mixed into a heady cocktail and enveloped me.

The whole Aguirre score reminded me of probably my most formative media experience, that from my favourite children's television programme, The Mysterious Cities of Gold. Aguirre and MCOG shared much in common as both were set amongst the time of the Inca and Conquistadors but it was more than that, the Moog synthesiser combined with ethnographic religious voices from both the TV show and Aguirre echo a move away from stereotypical panpipes and woodwind interpretations of the 'other' and instead seemed more mysterious and spiritual. Aguirre's soundtrack tapped into my love of the acclaimed MCOG soundtrack by Haim Saban and Shuki Levy. I had to find out more about Popol Vuh, which in the mid 90s was quite difficult as the internet barely existed.

So, after Aguirre I rented out Fitzcarraldo, the tale of another explorer who ventures once again into a Conradian heart of darkness to set up a rubber plantation and build an opera house to bring culture to the 'savages.' To achieve this he persuades many local tribesmen to drag a steamboat over the rainforest and hills to a river many miles away.

The music was once again magnificent but was in direct contrast to the actions portrayed on screen of the enigmatic but deeply reprehensible characters, played with deranged, barely controlled, ferocity by Herzog regular Klaus Kinski. These deeply flawed protagonists are on a self-destructive journey but believe they are on the path to greatness.
Popul Vuh's music doesn't celebrate the protagonists but rather the cultures they are trying to subjugate and control. Aguirre is an imperialist conqueror looking for gold and glory, Fitzcarraldo an arrogant man who wants to achieve fame and repute amongst the  ultra elite and Francisco Manoel da Silva, from the film Cobra Verde, wants to build a kingdom upon the slavery of the people he initially befriends.

The working relationship between Herzog and and Popol Vuh, led by his longtime friend Florian Fricke, was a very fruitful one with XX soundtracks scored. This is many hours of music  but the best of Popol Vuh features 14 tracks which are as follows:

  1. Wehe Khoorazin
  2. Im Garten der Gemeinschaft
  3. Der Tod des Banditen
  4. Agape, Agape
  5. Gemeinsam aßen sie das Brot
  6. Gemeinsam tranken sie den Wein
  7. Als lebten die Engel auf Erden
  8. Eine andere Welt
  9. Höre, der du wagst
  10. Brüder des Schattens - Söhne des Lichts
  11. Engel der Luft
  12. Wir Wissen von der Not
  13. Take the Tention High
  14. Lacrime di Re

This 14 track playlist just seems too short to truly showcase the importance that Popol Vuh had in bringing Herzog’s vision and more importantly ethno-religious soul to something as seemingly mechanical and soulless like the synthesiser but it offers an appetising amuse-bouche for those willing to dip their toes into a kind of prog rock that flourished before the decadence of 20 minute keyboard solos. Fricke was a spiritual man and this comes through in his music.

The sublime Lacrime De Ri from the opening of Aguirre sounds like an otherworldly choir of angels before it opens up into ethno-religious percussive rhythms. The visuals of a hopeful group emerging from the misty mountains is one of cinemas greatest openings and the music brings a sense of spirituality into the mix with an angelic choir created by the melotron.

Popol Vuh's soundtrack for Nosferatu The Vampyre, is phenomenal but a particular standout is Brüder des Schattens - Söhne des Licht, which plays at several key points during the movie bit most memorably at the beginning which opens with the mummified remains of the victims of an 1833 cholera epidemic. I have never forgotten the simple yet haunting two-note choral motif, it plays in my dreams and haunts my nightmares.

Wehe Khorazin is a profound, powerful, and deeply moving piece in its simplicity and it touches the deepest part of my soul. It starts off with an almost angry booming Gregorian-like chant and then gets prog rocky with sitars and a more calming repetitive chant.

Ein Andere Welt is a hypnotic ambient drone that calms and soothes, recalling Jean Michel Jarre's stunning Waiting for Cousteau.

Höre, der du wagst is an interesting piece as gentle piano wends in with synthesiser and sitar sounds to create a soft melodic piece which is relaxing.

Der Todd Der Banditen is a harmonious sonorous song similar to many devotional chants I've heard. It's touching and deeply resonates with me as it seems to be ascending to heaven, like when people say Om and it comes from deep within the body, this has that effect.

The whole package is stunning and even though there are many more amazing tracks missing, these 14 are all mesmerising and well worth a listen.