Nowadays, we can
Make friends from across the world.
We are not alone,
Aliens from the
Void of cyberspace reaching
For a connection.
Love and friendship are
Boundless, now more than ever.
Just find the right link.
Author: Fitzpatrix
“Certain Flaws in This Film”
Last known photograph.
Why don’t you leave us alone?
Silence is golden.
Thank you, El Paso
and Harold P. Warren for
Torgo’s haunting dirge.
Ordered crazy bread.
Baked right in a vacant lot.
They always do that.
Annual Resolution
Last week of the year
To resolve personal goals.
No need to worry.
Resolutions change
Because life is about change.
It’s all natural.
Last day of the year
Means fresh starts. No need for stress.
There’s always next year.
“No one’s journey is easy. It’s how they handle it that makes people unique.”
The sound of justice.
Grim purpose, a gentle soul.
The voice of the Knight.
Thank you for the inspiration, Kevin Conroy.
“My girl, this peace is what all true warriors strive for”: Game of Hyrule (2006)
The first season of House of the Dragon, the highly popular prequel to HBO’s acclaimed fantasy drama Game of Thrones, has concluded and earned a great deal of praise for its fully realized performances and in-depth storytelling. As a relative neophyte to the world established by George R. R. Martin in his landmark book series, A Song of Ice and Fire, I was very impressed with the series once I was able to sort out the various factions and character relationships so I can follow the labyrinthine plot. Of course, the sweet dragon action and intense swordfights are just icing on the dark and violent cake.
Of course, as I’ve often observed and discussed on the blog, the popularity of a given franchise paves the way for a series of fan-made tributes. During the 8-year run of the series, numerous homages and parodies taking place in the world of Westeros were created. Today, let’s take a look at 2016’s Game of Hyrule, a short film written and directed by Kial Natale that presents the setting of the highly influential Legend of Zelda video game series through the edgy lens of Game of Thrones. Highlights include a chilling interpretation of the Happy Mask Salesman from Majora’s Mask, a rousing appearance by King Harkinian from the infamous Zelda games on the Philips CD-i and some skilled cinematography and costume work.
Hope you enjoy this unconventional Halloween post!
“A ghost that drinks blood”: The Hunt for Gollum (2009)
At the time of this writing, the sixth episode of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, the latest installment of Amazon Studios’ prequel series based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic fantasy novels, has been uploaded to Prime Video (I’ll reserve my judgment of the first season once it finishes). Even with the bad faith arguments from certain observers regarding the more diverse casting and emphasis on female characters, the show has revived mainstream interest in the Middle-earth saga and introduced newcomers to the more obscure parts of Tolkien’s Legendarium in the same way that Peter Jackson’s film adaptations did, which brings me to today’s post. Today’s subject is The Hunt for Gollum, a 2009 LOTR fan-film by British director Chris Bouchard that was influenced by Jackson’s take on Middle-earth and made on a budget of only £3,000. Despite their limited resources, Bouchard and his crew crafted a short that felt like a natural extension of the Jackson films, with immersive visual effects, creative cinematography and intense action scenes. This might be one of the most outstanding examples of fan-created media I have ever seen.
Hope you enjoy it and happy belated Hobbit Day!
“I was very blessed in always knowing what I wanted to do, and by the grace of God, I’ve been able to succeed in my chosen career.”
“The show created for you”
This Saturday, I’ll be in attendance at the 2022 edition of the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo, best known as C2E2! I’ve been going to this convention since it started in 2010 and every trip to C2E2 has deepened my understanding of different fandoms and given me a chance of interact with both talented enthusiasts from around the world and the luminaries of the comic book industry, including Chris Claremont (Uncanny X-Men), Jill Thompson (Scary Godmother), Mark Waid (Kingdom Come) and the late, great Neal Adams (Batman). On top of all that, I’ve always had a lot of fun at the con.
If you’re in the Chicagoland area and you have an interest in attending C2E2, take some of my advice if you want to have a good time:
- Have a plan for what you want to check out. There’s a lot to do at C2E2, which can be incredibly overwhelming for a newcomer…or even a veteran congoer like me. Make sure there are panels, exhibits and vendors that you know you want to see so you’re not wandering around the show floor waiting for something to happen.
- Budget your money wisely. You don’t have to break the bank in order to have a good time at this convention.
- Most importantly, stay safe and healthy! Make sure to pack a lunch and water to stay energized and hydrated and keep the C2E2 health and safety policy in mind.
I hope to see you there!
Image source: t.ly/a9sl
“This gets better every time we see it”: For Love of the Film (2005)
The sixth and final part of the latest Disney+ Star Wars series, Obi-Wan Kenobi featuring Ewan McGregor reprising his role as the title character and direction by Deborah Chow (The High Cost of Living), streamed last week and was met with a mostly positive reception if you ignore the racist dweebs who are throwing a tantrum just because a black actress, Moses Ingram, was given a prominent role in a Star Wars production. Incidentally, Ingram, who portrays a Force-using Jedi hunter named Reva, gives a very different performance compared to a lot of other villains in the franchise. In a nice change of pace from the icy, understated calculation of Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin and the operatic rage of Emperor Palpatine and Kylo Ren, Ingram approaches Reva as someone who is desperate to achieve a higher status within the Imperial structure even though she doesn’t truly believe in her mission. Reva comes off like someone who’s trying very hard to be threatening solely because her job calls her to be a menace but her heart isn’t in it. Ingram consistently and effectively sells this characterization and it pays off very well in the final part of the series.
Despite the griping from the racist trolls, Ingram’s performance has received a lot of praise from the majority of Star Wars fans, which goes to show you the importance of positive voices in any fan community. The Star Wars fandom has a lot of toxicity problems to address but I’m confident that those issues will always be dealt with in various ways, whether it’s through charity, discussion spaces or creative endeavors. The subject of today’s post is For Love of the Film, a 2005 short film directed by the current head of Marvel Studios security Barry Curtis and the winner of the 2005 George Lucas Selects Award at that year’s Star Wars Celebration. I’ve chosen this short because it reminds me of how diverse the fandom truly is, especially now. People of various races, genders and ages have always loved the series and no amount of gatekeeping can change that. The Star Wars fandom is not perfect but there will always be bright spots that make it all worthwhile.
Credit: Barry Curtis
“A struggle as old as time itself”: Star Wars: The Lesser Evil
Contrary to what some trolls might lead you to believe, the Star Wars franchise is stronger than ever. This past weekend, the fan gathering known as Star Wars Celebration took place in Anaheim, CA, where fans of the Galaxy Far, Far Away attended various panels about upcoming Lucasfilm projects (including a look at a new series based on the cult fantasy Willow), behind-the-scenes retrospectives, a 20th anniversary celebration of the second installment in the prequel trilogy, Attack of the Clones, and a screening of the first 2 parts of the new Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+. Of course, for most fans, the main draw of Celebration is getting a chance to meet fan-favorite Star Wars actors and creators and connect with fellow enthusiasts in a variety of ways. Speaking from experience, the 2019 Celebration in Chicago was one of the best conventions I’ve ever attended when it came to making new connections with passionate and innovative fans.
In Celebrations past, the Official Star Wars Fan Film Awards were the biggest showcase of the creativity of Star Wars fans. At Celebration 2015, which also took place in Anaheim, the contest winners were screened before the attendees. Today, I’d like to showcase the winner of 2015’s Filmmaker Select Award, Star Wars: The Lesser Evil, directed by Andrew Kin and Sy Cody White.
Credit: Iron Horse Cinema
Fitzpatrix 