Writer and Podcaster
May 10, 2016
Podcast, Uncategorized Bad movie, CCR, hugh, JRD, Lon Chaney Jr., Movie Review, Opopinax, Podcasts, Rich The T T, The Indestructable Man Leave a comment
Join the Chrononauts as they dissect 1956’s “The Indestructible Man.” Now with more cellular structure!
Click HERE to listen!
This podcast was originally posted at Skinner.FM on May 4, 2016. Click the link to see the poster and a streaming version of the film.
Chrononaut Cinema Reviews is presented by http://skinner.fm and Way of the Buffalo, and is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License.
May 2, 2016
Hugh Likes Fiction, Uncategorized England, Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, HLF, Hugh Likes Fiction, Zen Cho Leave a comment
Sorcerer to the Crown
Written by Zen Cho
Narrated by Jenny Sterlin
Published by Recorded Books
At the height of the Napoleonic Wars, Zacharias Whythe is the Sorcerer Royal, head of the Society of Unnatural Philosophers and possibly the greatest sorcerer in England. But Zacharias is also a freed slave, and his adopted father, the previous Sorcerer Royal, died under mysterious circumstances with his familiar nowhere to be found. And if his situation weren’t precarious enough, magic is drying up in England. If he doesn’t solve the situation soon, his enemies in the society will have everything they need to literally take his head.
But the solution to his problems might lay in the hands of two extraordinary women. Prunella Gentleman is a half-Indian orphaned girl with untapped magical potential and a mysterious inheritance. Mak Genggang is a Malaysian witch of immense talent with a temper to match, who might save English magic, if she doesn’t declare war on it first.
With a colorful cast of fashionable faerie-folk, scheming society girls and treacherous wizards, this debut novel is an outstanding romp. It addresses the realities of race and gender in early nineteenth century England in ways that other fantasy romances like Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell shy away from. And it remains clever, fun, and surprising at every turn. I particularly enjoyed her interpretation of the Faerie peerage. But my favorite character has to be Mak Genggang by a country mile. A sassy, no-nonsense witch, she stomps through the novel like a force of nature that reminded me of the witches from the Hayao Miyazaki version of “Howl’s Moving Castle.” She’s fantastic, and I hope she makes a reappearance in later novels.
I listened to this book via Audible, and the audiobook was narrated by Jenny Sterlin, who does a great job with the material. Her reading is lively and her characters are strongly delivered without being overacted. It is an excellent way to experience the story.
Sorcerer to the Crown is the first part in a trilogy, but ends quite satisfyingly, and I give it a hearty recommendation for anyone looking for a historical fantasy novel that’s a bit less vanilla. You can find the audiobook on Audible, and the print version is available from Amazon or your local book store.
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April 27, 2016
Hugh Likes Podcasts, Uncategorized British Podcasts, Comics, HLP, Hugh Likes Podcasts, Journey Into Misery, Reveiw Leave a comment
Journey Into Misery
Hosted by Helena Hart and Keiran Shiach
JIMPodcast.com
Comics continuity can really suck. With the wrong writer, it can be a confounding mess that ruins favorite characters, and even in the best hands, it creates a barrier of entry for new readers. But as media becomes more and more serialized, continuity becomes more and more omnipresent in entertainment.
Fortunately, The Journey Into Misery podcast is here to help. Each episode, Keiran Shiach introduces a new character, event, or creator run of superhero comics to his cohost and partner Helena Hart. In the wrong hands, this could come off as a dour, mans-plainy mess, hence the title, but the pair make every show a delight.
First of all the chemistry between the pair is immediately evident. They each bring something to the podcast that makes it more than the sum of its parts. Keiran’s breakneck descriptions are lightning-fast but still easy to follow. He’s both patient and skilled at explaining some of the weirdest bits of DC and Marvel continuity. And Helena’s enthusiasm and interest are infectious, elevating even the worst of comics concepts. The pair has covered all sorts of topics from Batman: Knightfall and The Spider-Man Clone Sage to Runaways and Final Crisis. They even did a delightful April Fools Day episode where they turned the tables and Helena explained the plot of one of her favorite bits of pop culture, Les Miserables.
Catching up on comics continuity can be a joyless, gate-keeping slog, but with podcasts like Journey Into Misery, you can still enjoy the ride. Visit JIMPodcast.com or subscribe in your preferred podcatcher.
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April 26, 2016
Hugh Likes Anime, Uncategorized anime, Gundam, HLA, Hugh Likes Anime, Mecha, review, War never changes Leave a comment
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans
Bandai/Sunrise
Streamed via Crunchy Roll
With science fiction credentials that date back just as far as “Star Wars,” the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise has gone through its ups and downs across every conceivable kind of media. From anime and manga, to literally hundreds of games, to more toys and models than even the most hard-core collector could hope to assume. These offerings have varied wildly in tone, from the shocking, gritty depictions of war in the original Mobile Suit Gundam, to the “Street Fighter”-Inspired G Gundam, to the downright kid-friendly SD Gundam.
As the 40th anniversary of the franchise approaches, Bandai’s latest offering, “Iron-Blooded Orphans,” may be the most shocking and adult iteration of the series to date. Nearly all of the Gundam series’ protagonists are in their teens or early twenties, but IBO certainly goes the farthest with a harrowing depiction of the child soldiers.
Set on a terraformed and colonized Mars, the series takes place about three hundred years after a catastrophic war that depleted Earth’s resources. When teenage heiress Kudelia Aina Bernstein begins calling for Martian independence, she becomes a target of Gjallarhorn, Earth’s theoretically independent peacekeeping force. She turns to paramilitary army CGS, and their unit of indentured child soldiers for protection. After reviving one of the long-lost Gundam Frames, the children stage an uprising and form their own company, agreeing to take Bernstein to Earth, the one place where her voice can produce results. As they travel, she begins to really learn how desperate the lives of these ‘human debris’ children really are, and grows close to Gundam Barbatos’ laconic pilot, Mika.
While Gundam has not shied away from serious issues before, this is probably the most consistantly dark and serious entry in the series, but it does an excellent job, for the most part, in addressing the themes of the show. The character and mech designs are well drawn, and the plot, for all its darkness, is engrossing. Season one recently finished and can be found streaming on the Crunchy Roll streaming service.
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April 24, 2016
Podcast, Uncategorized CCR, Commentary Track, hugh, Jade Blue Afterglow, JRD, Opopinax, Podcast, Rich The T T, The Depths of Human Suffering, The X-Files, VR Leave a comment
The Chrononauts provide commentary for season 7 X-Files episode “First Person Shooter,” which is a thing that happened, somehow. Blood-lust to the Max!
Click HERE to listen!
This podcast was published at Skinner.FM on April 20, 2016.
Chrononaut Cinema Reviews is presented by http://skinner.fm and Way of the Buffalo, and is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License.
April 22, 2016
Hugh Likes Video Games, Uncategorized Broforce, HLV, Hugh Likes Video Games, Indie Game, Playstation, review Leave a comment
Broforce
Free Lives/Digital Devolver
Steam & PS4
Broforce is a fun and frantic action game that combines the military run-and-gun platforming of games like Contra and Metal Slug with the try-and-fail puzzle gameplay of Super Meat Boy. An over the top sendup of 80’s and 90’s action movie cliches, it provides steep challenge but the amount of variety, and the speed with which hte game resets after you lose a life make for an addictive combination. This is a game that I often started intending to play only a few rounds, only to find that several hours had passed without realizing.
The player controls a small army of ‘bros,’ each of which is a parody of a recognizable 80’s or 90’s action move hero, with part of their name replaced with ‘bro,’ such as “Commandbro’ and “Brogeiver.” Each has some kind of projectile, a melee attack, and some kind of special ability. The goal is to navigate levels filled with Terrorists, Satan (yes actual Satan,) and Xenomorph-like aliens. Players can free caged prisoners to get extra lives, but each time they do their player character changes to a new Bro, who plays slightly differently. So if you are playing with a character you really like, rescues present a neat little risk/reward. The goal is to reach the end of the level, which is sometimes difficult because just about every bit of 2D pixelated ground is destructible, meaning you can easily blow up ladders and bridges you need by firing wildly, which the game encourages with the hoard of enemies you’re up against. You are rewarded with blasting guitar riffs and flashing red white and blue lights on the PS4 controller as your Bro flies to safety hanging from a helicopter, as you do.
Broforce is so commuted to its bro-tastic, jingoistic stance that, much like Paul Verhoevens “Starship Troopers,” I’m only mostly sure it’s a parody. The general who gives you command briefings says things like “I’m pretty sure this is a country.” and “Explode them with Freedom!” And there is a dedicated button which makes your little pixelated character flex. There is also a local and online multiplayer function, so you can play this game solo, or with your own bros.
Broforce is a downloadable video game from Steam and Playstation network.
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April 17, 2016
Podcast, Uncategorized CCR, Chrononaut Cinema Reviews, hugh, JRD, Long Chaney Sr, Opopinax, Podcasts, review, Rich The T T, Silent Film, The Hunchback of Notre Dame Leave a comment
The Chrononaut Cinema Reviews crew tackles 1923’s silent adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel. Come for the pretty goats, stay for the pointy hats.
Click HERE to listen!
This podcast was originally posted at Skinner.FM on April 10, 2016.
Chrononaut Cinema Reviews is presented by http://skinner.fm and Way of the Buffalo, and is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License.
April 14, 2016
Hugh Likes Video Games, Uncategorized 3DS, Game Boy, HLV, Hugh Likes Video Games, Nintendo, Pokemon Leave a comment
Pokemon Red Version
Nintendo
Nintendo 3DS/Game Boy
2016 is Pokemon’s 20th anniversary. As such, Nintendo is pulling out all the stops for a year full of new games, giveaways, and other special events. One of the first is a rerelease of the original gameboy Pokemon titles as downloads for the 3DS.
I played the original Pokemon Yellow as a teenager when it was originally released, admiring the rather deep strategic RPG gameplay beneath the cartoonish aesthetic. This new version retains the style and the feel of the original on 3DS. Like other Virtual Console releases, this is a pixel-perfect rendition, and the game looks great on the New 3DS XL screen. Unlike other game boy rereleases, Pokemon retains its multiplayer capabilities. Players can trade monsters and fight with their friends using local wireless in place of the Game Boy link cable. This system is limited to players in the same room, and is functionally identical to its 90’s link-cable counterpart.
Pokemon is an early and easily the most popular entry in the ‘collectable monster’ sub-genre of RPGs. Players take the role of a boy traveling across a large island to collect and raise Pokemon, monstrous animals that can be trained to fight. Along the way, they assist a scientist working to classify the creatures, constantly foil a criminal organization, and battle all comers in hopes of being the best there ever was.
The strategic aspect of the game is basically a more complicated version of rock papers scissors. Each monster has an elemental type, and its attacks are weaker or stronger against other types. Fire is strong against Grass and weak against Water, for example. Player raise their monsters with a fairly simple leveling system, but can teach certain moves to their team members to give them an advantage. The game strikes a nice balance of being simple enough for a child to learn with deeper enough strategy for more experienced players.
Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow are currently available for 3DS from the Nintendo eshop. While they don’t boast the dazzling 3D graphics of more recent entries, they are sure to delight nostalgic fans.
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April 13, 2016
Hugh Likes Comics, Uncategorized D'israeli, HLC, Hugh Likes Comics, Ordinary, review, Rob Williams, Titan Comics Leave a comment
Ordinary
Written by Rob Williams
Drawn by D’Israeli
Published by Titan Comics
What would the world be like if everyone had super powers? If anyone could do anything, what would you do? At what point does the extraordinary become commonplace? “Ordinary” is the story of what happens when everyone in the world wakes up to discover they have superhuman abilities. Everyone, except perennial loser Michael Fisher.
Written by Rob Williams, the story is a wonderful little gem. WIlliams does a great job of reducing a vast high-concept down to the smallest, most discrete story possible, and tells it with poignancy and humor.
D’Israeli’s art is a real standout in this comic. His art captures the chaos and grandeur of the story, while filling the background with an astounding variety of super-powers, both wondrous and wacky. This isn’t your stock Big-2 super-powered world, and D’israeli really nails that home.
“Ordinary” is a thoughtful little graphic novel that is by turns funny, awe-inspiring, and heart-breaking. If you’re looking for something with superheroes that falls outside the usual punch-outs, this is for you. I received my copy as a part of a package from Comic Bento, a curated graphic novel delivery service. You can also find it on Comixology or in your local comics shop.
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Hugh J. O'Donnell 
Podcast: Mob Movie Night: Ghostbusters
May 4, 2016
hughjodonnell Podcast, Uncategorized Commentary Track, Ghostbusters, Podcasts, The Flash Mob Leave a comment
Join the Flash Mob in a commentary track for 80’s classic “Ghostbusters!”
Click HERE to listen!
This podcast was originally published on May 2, 2016 at Skinner.FM.
This show is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License.