The Woman in Black (1989)
They say that “absence makes the heart grow fonder”. Well until recently the 1989 UK television adaptation of Susan Hill’s ghost story, The Woman in Black has been conspicuously unavailable. There was a limited VHS release exclusive to the store WHSmith in 1990. This was followed by a Region 1 DVD release in 2000 which was a relatively small pressing of the media. Since then rights issues have dogged this TV movie, turning it into a genre classic among horror fans, which has often been discussed in hushed tones by those who saw the original TV broadcast and were left traumatised by “that scene”. However, Network Distribution have finally released a remastered Blu-ray (and DVD), complete with commentary from such luminaries as Mark Gatiss, Kim Newman and Andy Nyman (who appears in this adaptation). It can be viewed in a reframed 16:9 widescreen format or in its original 4:3 aspect ratio.
Slayground (1983)
There have been several movie adaptations of the books of Jonathan Stark (AKA Donald E. Westlake) featuring his career criminal lead character, Parker. Sadly not all of them have fared well, either critically or at the box office. Many have deviated from the source material, often just using mere aspects of the original plot as the basis of their screenplay. Perhaps the most successful of these has been Point Blank (1967), directed by John Boorman and starring Lee Marvin. Slayground sadly follows the pattern set by previous adaptations. It changes several character names and takes two main elements from the source text and uses them as a premise. Specifically, a robbery that goes wrong which results in an accidental death and a climactic shootout in an out of season fairground. Due to the financing of the film, half of the story takes place in the US and the other in the UK. Much of the cast are British, resulting in a curious and at first glance somewhat incongruous film.
Hard Drives and Data Migration
I recently bought three new drives. A 2TB external hard disk drive, a 1TB solid state drive and a 4TB internal hard disk drive. I got all three from Amazon for £250, which was a good price. The external 2.5 inch 2TB HDD is attached to the Blu-ray player in the lounge. This is used for the storage of TV shows and movies. The other two drives are upgrades for my PC. The 1TB SSD replaces an older 240GB model. This is mainly reserved for the operating system and programs such as Microsoft Office. The larger 4TB HDD is for game installations and data storage such as music and photos. All drives are branded names such as Western Digital, Crucial and Toshiba and were chosen because of their performance specifications and capacity. It’s all a far cry from the 120MB HDD that came with my first desktop PC in the middle nineties.
White Noise (2005)
Successful writer Anna Rivers (Chandra West) goes missing prior to the launch of her new book. Shortly after, her car is found abandoned by the roadside and her body is discovered in the harbour. The Police conclude that there's been a tragic accident. Her husband, architect Jonathan Rivers (Michael Keaton), is devastated by her loss. When he is approached by Raymond Price (Ian McNeice), who claims he has recorded messages from Anna through electronic voice phenomena (EVP), Jonathan is both sceptical and angry. However, his curiosity eventually gets the better of him and he meets with Raymond and quickly becomes immersed in EVP phenomenon. As Jonathan experiments with EVP recording he begins to discern messages from the dead. However, it soon becomes apparent that these communications are of a precognitive nature and that there are more sinister forces at work.
The McPherson Tape (1989)
In many ways the story behind The McPherson Tape is a lot more interesting than the film itself. This early found footage movie from 1989, was shot on home video on a virtually non-existent budget. The director Dean Alioto eventually found a distributor but on the eve of the movie’s home video release, the warehouse burned down and allegedly destroyed the master tape and all the promotional artwork. Yet this was not the end of the story. It was common practice in the eighties for small distributors to send advance copies to local independent video stores. Hence The McPherson Tape found its way into the pirate video ecosystem. It then migrated to the UFO community where it was circulated as being a video of a legitimate alien abduction. Dean found himself in the unusual position of having to debunk his own work. Three decades later due to the intriguing tale associated with The McPherson Tape, it has been remastered from the newly rediscovered 3/4" tape and re-released.
Star Trek Online: Beginners Guide Part 2 - Careers, Factions and Species
Welcome to the second part of my Star Trek Online: Beginners Guide. I thought it may be useful to write a series of posts, offering practical information for those who are just starting out in STO. Nothing fancy or in any way definitive. Just a few basic tips that may help orientate the new player. I’ve been playing STO since its launch in 2010 and this MMO has seen a lot of changes. The game features a lot of systems and mechanics that are not always immediately intuitive to grasp. So I’ll be doing my best to cover a selection of these in each post and try to provide a broad overview. Like a lot of advice, it can be subjective. Ultimately it comes down to each player how they wish to play. In this instalment, I shall be writing about career paths, factions and races.
Caring for the Elderly Part 13
The funeral service for my late Father was held today. As ever I would like to collate my thoughts and present them here in the hope that I may be able to assist someone else who is currently dealing with a bereavement. Funerals can be challenging at any time but are further complicated at the moment due to the various restrictions imposed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is still scope to give a loved one a fitting send off. You just have to be a little more creative about it and try to be understanding of the current regulations regarding social gatherings. Despite my concerns today’s service at our local Borough crematorium went well, if such a term is appropriate. I feel that my Father was honoured appropriately and that his family and friends were able to pay their respects and celebrate his life in a manner that he would approve of.
I, Monster (1971)
I, Monster is a low budget Amicus production and a cunning retelling of Robert Louis Stevenson’s “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”. Due to copyright reasons, these names are not used in the film and are replaced with new characters, Marlowe and Blake respectively. However, despite the modest budget and the aforementioned legal issues, this is a very faithful adaptation of the original gothic novella. Milton Subotsky’s screenplay incorporates all the essential elements of the source text which is both a boon and a bane. A boon because it really does capture the essence of Stevenson’s concept, which has been drastically misrepresented by previous adaptations. And a bane in so far that the original novella is a little too insubstantial to sustain a feature film. Even at a modest 75 minutes running time I, Monster feels somewhat “thin”.
A Month in Gaming
September has been a difficult month. A family crisis and subsequent bereavement meant that gaming got pushed down the daily agenda. However, after the various chores and duties were done I did need some downtime and means to relax. Hence I did play some games in a limited fashion. Nothing fancy, just stuff like Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout and Gang Beasts, which are light-hearted and undemanding. I also took the time to log on to The Lord of the Rings Online test server and check out the preview of the forthcoming “mini-expansion”. Not only was this informative but it provided material for a blog post. But overall I didn’t really achieve anything substantial with my gaming throughout September. Gaming was relegated to being just a convenient diversion from the immediate problems I’ve been facing but as such, it did fulfil that role well.
COVID-19 Pandemic 2020 Part 6
When I last wrote about the COVID-19 Pandemic in May, the UK was just beginning to see an easing of lockdown restrictions. As a lot of people surmised, the government was trying to do too much, too soon and without the appropriate logistical support. Hence the last five months have been a litany of political disasters, all of which have contributed to the UK having the highest COVID-19 related deaths in all of Europe. Furthermore, the government's failure to provide PPE, make available a universally accessible testing service and implement an effective national tracing service, has highlighted their lack of talent and overall incompetence. Every week another “dead cat” is thrown on to the altar of politics in an attempt to divert the attention of 24 hour rolling news away from their utter ineptitude. Hence on top of the COVID-19 Pandemic, we’ve seen the spectre of both BREXIT and the “migrant crisis” re-emerge.
The Return of the Mystery Blogger Award
“The Mystery Blogger Award is an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging, and they do it with so much love and passion”. Okoto Enigma
The Rules:
Ensure the award logo is used in your post.
List the rules.
Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
Mention the original creator of the award and provide a link to their site.
Tell your readers 3 things about yourself.
You have to nominate 10 – 20 people.
Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog.
Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice.
Share a link to your best post(s).
Nintendo Switch: The Best Console I Haven’t Bought
I recently wrote about the allure of console gaming and how exclusive titles can often be a big incentive to buy one. However, I’ve been a PC gamer for 25 years now and find that the biggest stumbling block regarding consoles is using the dual thumbsticks on the controller. I can cope with one but having to use two simultaneously is just not something I can do in a coordinated fashion. Hence I won’t be buying a Xbox of Playstation anytime soon. The Nintendo Switch is another matter altogether. This platform is unique in several ways. I like the immediacy of a handheld gaming option and of course Nintendo has the benefit of the Mario franchise. Many of the games for the Switch are more “benign”, lacking the inherent violence and destruction of other platforms' flagship titles. Like Nintendo itself, the Switch exists in its own specific niche.
LOTRO: Bullroarer Update 28 Preview #1
I spent several hours last night exploring the preview of Update 28: War of the Three Peaks on the Bullroarer test server. I usually take a look at all new content for The Lord of the Rings Online in advance, as it always makes for an interesting blog post. However, this preview has proven a little more controversial than usual, as Update 28 is not going to be free (as all prior updates have been). Standing Stone Games announced recently that it is to be sold as a “mini expansion”, which caused a stir among the LOTRO community. Hence my excursion on the public test server was not just to ascertain the scope of the new zone but to ascertain whether there was sufficient content and value to justify being sold as a “mini expansion”. Sadly, from what I have seen, I do not believe that to be the case.
Star Trek Online: Buying Reputation
It would appear that Standing Stone Games isn’t the only MMORPG developer making controversial business decisions at present. Cryptic announced yesterday that they were introducing a means to purchase reputation tiers in Star Trek Online. A move that was met with much virtual eye rolling over on the games unofficial subreddit and more angry comments on the Massively Overpowered website about “pay to win”. The main issue isn’t the adding of this particular mechanic to the game. STO is no stranger to adding services that allow you to bypass “the grind” by spending money. Monetisation has been built into the game since it went F2P in spring 2012. The primary objection to this rep buyout system is the price which is about £20. Furthermore this only buys reputation up to Tier 5. Tier 6 still has to be earned and it’s a particularly arduous chore. There are also 13 reputation factions to complete.
The Allure of Console Gaming
The last console that I got genuinely excited about and subsequently purchased was the Sega Dreamcast. That was back in 1999 when it became available for European customers. Prior to this I had owned the NES, SNES and Sega Mega Drive (as the Genesis was known outside of the NA). I upgraded the latter with the SEGA CD and 32X addons. But I never got round to buying a Sony Playstation. However, a good friend of mine had one, so between us we had access to all the latest games across multiple systems. Therefore I can say wholeheartedly that console gaming was my platform of choice throughout the mid eighties up to the late nineties. Furthermore, due to my age (I was born in 1967), I wasn’t a child during my 15 year period of console gaming. I was employed and had an income, so could keep up with the latest releases and indulge in “novelty” peripherals such as the light gun for the SNES or the “maracas” for the Dreamcast.
Caring for the Elderly Part 12
Long-term care can often end with a bereavement; which is a complex subject in itself. I will not be discussing grief in this post, as that is an immensely personal and subjective experience that we deal with in our own way. Instead, I would like to talk about the administrative and logistical problems that arise after someone has died and use my own recent experiences as an example. My Father died on Wednesday 16th September. He had a series of strokes in 2016 which left him disabled. Over the last four years his level of health has slowly deteriorated and his quality of life has subsequently diminished. This year saw a noticeable change not only in his well being but overall attitude. His stoical outlook finally faded and he lost all interest in life. He fell ill in mid August with Sepsis and then developed a lung infection. When I saw him last on Friday 4th September he told me he was tired and wanted “an end to it all”. Six days later he asked the Senior Doctor on the ward to stop treatment, which wasn’t working anyway. He died a week later on Wednesday 16th September. He was 91.
Everything is a Moral Minefield
Chris AKA Wolfyeyes wrote a very succinct and honest post yesterday about an issue that many gamers may have encountered of late. How you can feel morally conflicted about indirectly supporting awful people and ethically bankrupt institutions, such as Ubisoft or Take two Interactive, when you buy specific video games. Chris says he faces “a standoff between my social beliefs and my desire to support the rank-and-file devs caught in the eye of the storm”. He goes on to explore the notion of “hate the artist, not the art” and concludes that the debate is not as binary as that. He concludes his post in the hope that the weight of negative exposure that has come about may force problematic game developers and publishers to change their corporate culture. However it is impossible to completely divorces one’s conscience from reality so the price of playing certain games is a sense of ongoing discomfort.
Shopping for Clothes
I am a 52 year old man, who has unofficially retired and therefore no longer has to commute, work in an office or interact with clients. I am also in a long term, stable relationship. I don’t have to worry about having to dress to impress, cutting a dash or maintaining a professional appearance. Nor do I put any particular stock in fashion. I view clothes as mainly functional, tempered with a degree of style. Comfort is by far the biggest deciding factor, along with durability. I don’t overly worry about my age, so I don't feel the need to dress especially “young”. My day to day clothes consist of t-shirts, jeans and trainers/sneakers. If it’s cold I put on a fleece. If I need to “look smart” I wear a shirt. If it’s jacket weather I wear a hooded top or something casual. Hence it will come as no surprise that my wardrobe is not at the cutting edge of fashion. However, I don’t look like a hobo either, to quote my granddaughters. It’s all a far cry from my parents' generation when clothes were far more formal and each age group seemed to have an unofficial uniform.
LOTRO: Update 28 “Mini Expansion”
Content updates are usually free for the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online. In recent years developer Standing Stone Games have maintained a fairly consistent release schedule. This has usually meant 2 to 3 free updates per year that add new zones, PVE content and instances. There has then been a full expansion every two years that has to be bought. These are usually available in 3 different versions which range from the base game to an ultimate edition. There is a major expansion currently in development for release in 2021. This will focus on the war between Dwarves and the Orcs of Mount Gundabad. However, it was announced on Friday during a Developer Livestream that Update 28: The War of the Three Peaks, which is due in November, has been rebranded as a mini expansion and is not going to be free but instead chargeable.
Quickscoping
Developers do like to gate access to the best gear and equipment in video games. Often there will be an achievement or deed required to unlock the object that you desire. Now I have no objection to this concept in principle. It’s just that every now and then, the criteria required to access an item is beyond my abilities. Take Call of Duty Modern Warfare/Warzone. Infinity Ward recently added the Rytec AMR to the game. It is a semi-automatic sniper rifle that can use thermite and explosive rounds. It has a significantly higher rate-of-fire than the HDR and AX-5, and performs better at range than the Dragunov. I’ve been itching to get my hands on this weapon for a while. However, to unlock it, you have to complete the following achievement. "Get 2 quickscope kills using sniper or marksman rifles in 15 different matches". For me this is effectively one of the labours of Hercules.