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RəX Regent (349 KP) rated The Black Pirate (1926) in Movies
Feb 18, 2019
Two-tone Techncolor milestone
Two Tone Technicolor in all its glory! This is it. The first widely distributed Technicolor movie back before we even had sound. This was hardly the first foray into colour, in fact colour almost goes as far back as film itself, as does sound, but it was not until the mid-1920’s that breakthroughs in both mediums would bring them into mainstream.
Sound would take first, with Technicolor taking just a little longer, mainly due to the technical issues of using it both in front and behind the camera. But as time went on, these issues were gradually dealt with with the rest is cinema history.
So, having gotten the technical bit out of the way, on to the Douglas Fairbanks Jr. blockbuster. And that is precisely want this was. A by-the-numbers acrobatic action movie by the undisputed star of the day, Fairbanks.
The plot follows a Duke (Fairbanks) whose ship is attacked and destroyed by a Pirates. He is the soul survivor and vows revenge. He soon finds himself in the company of the very pirates he is looking for and infiltrates their crew by being the best god-damn pirate there ever was!
He meets a princess (Billie Dove) and saves the day, gets the girl and the evil pirates are dispatched. All, amidst lots of colourful blood, to emphasise the Technicolor I suppose and slides down a few sails with his dagger along the way.
The performances are typical for a Hollywoodland movie of the day, but besides the outstanding physicality of Douglas, I would not say that there was anything particularly noteworthy about the acting, let alone the production on the whole. Having said that, the tone and cliche’s which this film has brought to the genre as whole are legendary and there is that foray into colour of course.
This were it all began folks…
The DVD
Unfortunately my copy was just the cheap R-0 version, whcih was clearly (ironically) taken from a old VHS recording. The colour is vivid but wrong. Greens have replaced blacks and the overall print quality was poor but watchable. I have seen bit s of the KINO HD Blu-ray edition and this looks great.
It also has the original score by Mortimer Wilson, something whcih this bargain basement DVD does not. The music supplied is okay; a mix of classical pieces on a loop but none this is cued and rarely suits the scenes let alone the action on screen. Further proof that there never was such a thing as silent cinema, just no synchronised sound.
For the real experience, get the Blu-ray, though it is very expensive at the moment, but if you just want to see what all the fuss is about, this DVD is quite watchable, at least as an entry version.
Me, I am after the upgrade!
Sound would take first, with Technicolor taking just a little longer, mainly due to the technical issues of using it both in front and behind the camera. But as time went on, these issues were gradually dealt with with the rest is cinema history.
So, having gotten the technical bit out of the way, on to the Douglas Fairbanks Jr. blockbuster. And that is precisely want this was. A by-the-numbers acrobatic action movie by the undisputed star of the day, Fairbanks.
The plot follows a Duke (Fairbanks) whose ship is attacked and destroyed by a Pirates. He is the soul survivor and vows revenge. He soon finds himself in the company of the very pirates he is looking for and infiltrates their crew by being the best god-damn pirate there ever was!
He meets a princess (Billie Dove) and saves the day, gets the girl and the evil pirates are dispatched. All, amidst lots of colourful blood, to emphasise the Technicolor I suppose and slides down a few sails with his dagger along the way.
The performances are typical for a Hollywoodland movie of the day, but besides the outstanding physicality of Douglas, I would not say that there was anything particularly noteworthy about the acting, let alone the production on the whole. Having said that, the tone and cliche’s which this film has brought to the genre as whole are legendary and there is that foray into colour of course.
This were it all began folks…
The DVD
Unfortunately my copy was just the cheap R-0 version, whcih was clearly (ironically) taken from a old VHS recording. The colour is vivid but wrong. Greens have replaced blacks and the overall print quality was poor but watchable. I have seen bit s of the KINO HD Blu-ray edition and this looks great.
It also has the original score by Mortimer Wilson, something whcih this bargain basement DVD does not. The music supplied is okay; a mix of classical pieces on a loop but none this is cued and rarely suits the scenes let alone the action on screen. Further proof that there never was such a thing as silent cinema, just no synchronised sound.
For the real experience, get the Blu-ray, though it is very expensive at the moment, but if you just want to see what all the fuss is about, this DVD is quite watchable, at least as an entry version.
Me, I am after the upgrade!
Lee KM Pallatina (951 KP) rated Hidden Agenda in Video Games
Jan 17, 2020
An unfortunate let down
Hidden agenda is a story about detective marney (katie Cassidy) who 5 years after capturing and arresting the infamous serial killer "the trapper killer" is thrown after the announcement that she may have arrested the wrong man...who is on death row with only 48 hours left...she has to be sure.
This game genuinely looked like a hit, with its dark, gritty tone, detective based story & quick time scenarios but was quickly derailed due to only being able to play by downloading a companion app and using a portable device (providing your device was able too - fyi old fire tabs don't 😕)
Once you have it, you will be prompted to add you name & choose a colour? As you can have friends join in too, but still need to if it's just you?
The story is incredibly short, even shorter if you make a wrong choice or are too slow to move your device pointer to a specific moving target, which from a I can assure you, can become rather infuriating.
Answering a phone call or video call WILL disrupt your game and you will be sent back to start all over.....Including adding your name and colour again.
Aside from that- great casting, great story, great graphics and this would make and absolutely fantastic live action movie.
This game genuinely looked like a hit, with its dark, gritty tone, detective based story & quick time scenarios but was quickly derailed due to only being able to play by downloading a companion app and using a portable device (providing your device was able too - fyi old fire tabs don't 😕)
Once you have it, you will be prompted to add you name & choose a colour? As you can have friends join in too, but still need to if it's just you?
The story is incredibly short, even shorter if you make a wrong choice or are too slow to move your device pointer to a specific moving target, which from a I can assure you, can become rather infuriating.
Answering a phone call or video call WILL disrupt your game and you will be sent back to start all over.....Including adding your name and colour again.
Aside from that- great casting, great story, great graphics and this would make and absolutely fantastic live action movie.
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The Good Immigrant
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Pumpka (57 KP) rated Splendor in Tabletop Games
Aug 19, 2019 (Updated Aug 19, 2019)
Tactile components (2 more)
Easy to teach and learn
Strategic
Quite lightweight (1 more)
Huge box for small components
Gem of a game!
Spelndor is a brilliant game, tactical, logical, 15 points to win. Simple. The prices feel like heavy poker chips and it’s super satisfying to play with them, it’s an easy game to teach making it very family friendly.
Essentially the gameplay goes as so;
You can take one of three actions on your turn.
Collect resources, either two of the same colour gem if there are 5 or more on the stack, or three of different coloured gems.
Buy cards which give you points, a permanent recourse or even BOTH!
Or reserve a card for later, this can be a face up card or one random from a deck. This can be purchased by you later for it’s usual cost, AND for reserving a card you get a gold chip, which can be spent as if it’s any colour gem.
Lastly- there are some nobles at the top of the play area, if you have the gems on cards they would like, they come to “see” your collection and you gain 3 extra points at the end of your turn.
First to 15 points wins 😊
Great simple fun, I’d reccomend playing with people of a similar ability to begin with, and all of the components can easily fit in a small deck box which can make it a great travel game.
Essentially the gameplay goes as so;
You can take one of three actions on your turn.
Collect resources, either two of the same colour gem if there are 5 or more on the stack, or three of different coloured gems.
Buy cards which give you points, a permanent recourse or even BOTH!
Or reserve a card for later, this can be a face up card or one random from a deck. This can be purchased by you later for it’s usual cost, AND for reserving a card you get a gold chip, which can be spent as if it’s any colour gem.
Lastly- there are some nobles at the top of the play area, if you have the gems on cards they would like, they come to “see” your collection and you gain 3 extra points at the end of your turn.
First to 15 points wins 😊
Great simple fun, I’d reccomend playing with people of a similar ability to begin with, and all of the components can easily fit in a small deck box which can make it a great travel game.
Pocoyo Art
Art & Design, Education and Games
App
Pocoyo Art is an educational app for kids that encourage the creativity through a fun activity. By...