That long-awaited/feared Amazon-made show based on Tolkien’s stories is finally out and I have watched the first two episodes and let me tell you that I am surprised by how much I dig it. Understand, I absolutely love The Lord of The Rings —in both book and movie form—, I tackled The Silmarillion shortly after… Continue reading What The Hell Is Canon, Anyway?
Author: Joshua Tong
Ad Breaks
I don’t like watching movies on tv. I know, I know, this sounds like it’s the start of some elitist rant about how movies are better in their original form and have to be enjoyed at 23.976fps with a precise refresh rate and color profile. And that, well, that’s more-or-less true, but I’m also a… Continue reading Ad Breaks
Predator/Prey
As I alluded to next week, Prey is an excellent movie. Set in the early 1700s, it follows a group of Comanche warriors as they fight back against the alien Predator. It very much keeps with the spirit of the original Predator, in that it’s more of a thriller movie than an action movie wherein… Continue reading Predator/Prey
Another Vacation
Yeah, this is another out-of-office blogpost. Because in this third calendar year of the pandemic you start making up for missed family visits and other such trips. So some responsibilities fall by the wayside and there won’t be a proper essay today. But there’ll be one next week, and it’ll probably be on Prey. Because… Continue reading Another Vacation
Return to Koholint
I know I said I was gonna dive back into (and finish!) Breath of The Wild, but I still haven’t finished Link’s Awakening, on account of the fact that I don’t play on the Switch too often (I never thought I’d say this, but I miss community by the New York subway). All said it’s… Continue reading Return to Koholint
Play As A Cat
Stray is a game with a very simple conceit: You play as a cat. The game’s delightful; I’ve only scratched the surface and can’t wait to really dive into it and see what awaits me. In the meantime, the surface is lovely. As a cat you explore the ruins of a city, solving puzzles by… Continue reading Play As A Cat
Vacationing
I’ve been on vacation this week, and rather than writing a half-baked essay on a solid idea, so barely a month after the last time, I’m doing another one of those What Have I Been Doing Lately. Is it a cop-out? Maybe. But it’s my blog and I can do whatever I want. Movie TV:… Continue reading Vacationing
Back To The Wild
I never finished Breath of The Wild. I know, that feels heretical to say. It’s an excellent game, one that I've enjoyed tremendously and even wrote about on this blog a bunch. And yet, I never fought Ganon, beat the game, and found out how it ended. There is something of a reason for it.… Continue reading Back To The Wild
Too Much
If one’s good, two’s probably great. That’s the general idea of more is better and a particularly notable line from The Social Network. But that doesn’t really work past a certain point, as our current shared existence in this late-stage capitalism hellscape makes all too clear. Too much of a good thing isn’t always great, and that translates… Continue reading Too Much
Okay, But Is It Good?
As I play through Fallout 4 I’m plagued by a nagging question. It’s not "where is my son?", the question the game’s story wants you to ask (I’ve thoroughly lost the plot), instead I’m left asking myself "Is this game any good?" And I’m not so sure it is. The gameplay is perfectly fine, though… Continue reading Okay, But Is It Good?
Essays, Not Rants! 