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Jurassic Park Review: A Hauntingly Gorgeous Masterpiece That Still Roars

August 3, 2025 The Demented Ferrets Leave a comment

Hey all, it’s Kern here, coming at you with another classic movie review. It’s been a long time since I’ve done one of these, but I suppose it’s better to write one now than never. I chose Jurassic Park because it’s such a beloved 90’s classic and the franchise is still ongoing. I’m not quite sure how I feel about the “World” era of the Jurassic Park plot line, but it is what it is, I suppose.

Why Jurassic Park Is Still a Masterpiece (And Always Will Be)

Let’s get this out of the way before we do anything else. Yes, yes and more YES! Jurassic Park (1993) isn’t just a “good” movie. It’s a legendary one, flat out. Whether you’re a die-hard film buff, the average movie goer, or someone who gets hyped over perfect storytelling in games or film, Jurassic Park just hits differently. It did back in the day, and it still does now.

On a rainy afternoon with nothing better to do I recently re-watched this Steven Spielberg classic… and you know what? Yeah, I so often forget how good this movie is. Let’s call Jurassic Park what it really is; cinematic lightning in a bottle.

The movie is partially a science fiction with dashes of philosophy for good measure. It’s also part thriller, part jungle adventure, and all heart. The story isn’t just about dinosaurs. Honestly, I’d say it’s way more about the awe of discovery, the terror of nature, forced imbalance, and the hubris of mankind. Jurassic Park is just the raw beauty of film making done right… but, let’s dive into why that is.

The Plot in a Nutshell

Do I really need to do this? I highly doubt it, so get ready for a rapid fire acknowledgement about the plot. If you’re somehow new to this prehistoric party, here’s a quick summary of the Jurassic Park story:

It all starts with a hunk of amber, and a dead mosquito inside, right along with a blood sucking lawyer complaining about legal disputes. It seems a billionaire with more money than common sense, John Hammond, uses cloning technology to bring dinosaurs back to life and opens a theme park on a remote island. He invites a team of experts including paleontologists Dr. Alan Grant, Dr. Ellie Sattler, and the smart-ass chaotician Dr. Ian Malcolm to tour the park before it opens.

Of course, as one might expect when you decide to play God; things go horribly wrong. The park, a mix of zoo and amusement park, with the issues of both, fails critically on several levels. Exactly what you assume happens, happens. Yeah, everything goes to hell in a hand-bag..

The reasons why are numerous. For Hammond to have “spared no expense” it seems as though a few key bits of infrastructure isn’t up to the task. At the start, this only shows as safety rails that don’t stay in place, but the cracks show quickly. Security systems fail, dinosaurs escape, and what starts as a scientific marvel turns into a full-blown thriller bent escape from the island.

Cinematography That Stuns: Jurassic Park Is a Visual Masterclass

The cinematography is still really good despite the age of the film. The movie is hauntingly gorgeous. Cinematographer Dean Cundey (the same guy who did Apollo 13 Back to the Future), and director Spielberg delivered shot after shot of pure visual poetry.

From the first reveal of the Brachiosaurus and that upward camera pan? Yeah, that’s a moment of film history right there. Another standout moment; The rain-soaked T. Rex let out his first roar on screen. Still terrifying. Still a masterclass in tension and lighting. A mix of practical effects, puppets and CGI were used. Some of the puppets STILL look better in the original movie than the new CGI ones do in later films.

Plus, I mean… Raptors in the kitchen, anyone? That entire sequence is pretty famous. Why shouldn’t it be? The reflections in the metal, how the shadows move, how tension melds with the tapping of raptor toes and the communication between the creatures themselves. Every frame feels carefully crafted to sell the illusion that this world is real. You’re not just watching dinosaurs running amok, you’re witnessing them acting exactly as they would in the wild…

At least, that’s what Hammond wants visitors of the park to believe. The cold hard truth is that we’re not watching dinosaurs, we’re watching abominations of science roam free. It’s at this time I should mention, this movie is based on the book of the same name; Jurassic Park, written by Michael Crichton. The book was much darker than the film, but the general themes are the same more or less.

Acting That Grounds the Chaos

One of the most underrated aspects of this film is the stellar acting. Yes, the dinosaurs steal the spotlight (they should), but the raw human performances are what make you care. The kids actually do a good job acting alongside their much more seasoned and experienced adult counterparts. We’re just going to bullet point the most important characters but, uh, here it goes:

Sam Neill (Dr. Alan Grant): His gruff-but-lovable energy anchors the emotional journey.
Laura Dern (Dr. Ellie Sattler): Smart, capable, and not afraid to get her hands dirty. She owns every scene she’s in.
Jeff Goldblum (Dr. Ian Malcolm): The perfect mix of swagger, sarcasm, and “I told you so” vibes.
Richard Attenborough (John Hammond): A dreamer with good intentions and blind optimism. So tragically believable.

There are more than these major players in the movie, like the lawyer that famously gets eaten off of a toilet by good ole Rexy, but I wouldn’t say they’re as compelling to watch. That being said though, that’s being said in contract to the acting and characters above… nobody gave a bad performance.

Even the kids pull their weight surprisingly. The characters of Lex and Tim are believable and sympathetic. They’re also capable, as shown by the kitchen scene to be resourceful, without feeling as though they retained “plot armor” simply for being kids. they do act their respective ages, but they’re not overly annoying. They’re not the sort of kids to complain unless there is something worth complaining about, like oh… say; falling from a tree in a mangled car or getting electrocuted? The character of Tim is a real trooper in this movie, and there’s no denying it.

John Williams’ Score: A Symphony of Awe and Dread

What’s a Spielberg film without a legendary John Williams soundtrack? These two have worked together on a lot of films; Jaws, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Schindler’s List… I could go on and on. Anyway it goes without saying. The Jurassic Park theme is instantly iconic—majestic, sweeping, and full of childlike wonder. If you hear this thing, you know exactly what it is.

Over time, the deeper you go into the film, the more the music shifts into eerie tension and dread. From soaring melodies during dino reveals to those near-silent moments during suspense scenes, the soundtrack guides your emotions like a roller coaster and it doesn’t let go.

Themes That Hit Harder Than Ever

Oh sure, dinosaurs eating people, high speed chase scenes, moments of baited breath and stealth, Jurassic Park has it all. Even though this is a popcorn blockbuster, the themes of Jurassic Park are shockingly deep. The main focus is primarily about respecting one’s place in the universe. It’s about human arrogance vs. nature’s unpredictability.

Hubris is the ultimate downfall of the park. Those who decided to use a lack of scientific ethics when designing it suffer the worst. The danger of playing God is woven through the film, with stern warnings from the resident chaotician, not that anyone listens. The least of the issues, although certainly problematic in its own right is the downright levels of corporate greed overriding common sense and caution.

Perhaps the most iconic Ian Malcolm one-liner depicts all of the above themes the best. “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.”

Ultimately the scene around the table is perhaps the one most fundamental to the entire movie, and if you haven’t seen at least that one movie clip, you should. It’s an interesting moral debate if little else, and it leaves a lot of interesting points to ponder. In a way the scene is more topical today than it ever was way back in the 90’s.

Is Jurassic Park Still Worth Watching in 2025? YES.

If you’re wondering, “Does Jurassic Park still hold up in 2025?” The answer is a T. rex-sized YES. Here’s why… you’re not going to find another Jurassic Park story quite like it. It’s plenty dark while balancing action and adventure. It’s also a fairly intelligent film. The scientific and moral dilemmas aren’t just surface level. That said, if that’s the part of the movie you love the most you should probably read or listen to the original book too to get the full experience of the philosophical debate.

I don’t think it’s too over-the-top to say that Jurassic Park defined a generation with lunch boxes, clothes, hats and toys. Children and adults alike loved this movie, and it’s certainly a huge part of media history.

This isn’t a children’s movie, but families flocked to it all the same, myself included. When I saw this movie, I was five and this movie was most certainly not for a five years old… but, I loved dinosaurs, my other families were going to see it anyway. My father took me with them to see it too. I think that’s a pretty common story surrounding Jurassic Park and just how many people loved it.

So yeah, this movie is certainly worth a watch. I can’t imagine why anyone wouldn’t give it a try if they like the general premise.

On that note, I love the movie so much that I made a fan song for it, and I hope you’ll enjoy it.

This has been Kern from The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at it’s finest and level grinds are par for the course. Don’t forget to check out our YouTube channel, like and subscribe! We’re on Twitch too, if you like gaming content.

What’s your favorite scene in Jurassic Park? Let me know in the comments!

Jurassic Park Review: A Hauntingly Gorgeous Masterpiece That Still Roars

Hey all, it’s Kern here, coming at you with another classic movie review. It’s been a long time since I’ve done one of these, but I suppose it’s better to write one now than never. I chose Jurassic Park because it’s such a beloved 90’s classic and the franchise is still ongoing. I’m not quite…

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Game Reviews

Survival, Terror, and the North Sea: Still Wakes the Deep (Quick Review)!

July 11, 2025 The Demented Ferrets Leave a comment

Hey everyone, It’s Kern here…. you know, last year was packed with standout horror titles, and I didn’t really get around to reviewing them the way I hoped for. It’s time I got around to it now; Still Wakes the Deep makes a haunting impression with its claustrophobic tension, atmospheric design, and a chilling dive into psychological horror. This thing won a lot of awards too, which you can see for yourself:

The game was developed by The Chinese Room, the same studio behind narrative-driven games (walking simulators as some call them), like Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture and Dear Esther. Because they’re easy to play, they’re very accessible for novice gamers looking for a good story. You can find both of those games on Steam. For those of us who want some heavier gameplay, though Still Wakes the Deep is a solid choice.

As far as Still Wakes the Deep is concerned, the game is a slow-burning nightmare set against the brutal backdrop of the North Sea in the 1970s. You play as Cameron “Caz” McLeary, who happens to be an electrician working aboard a massive oil drilling platform. After everything goes right to hell in a handbag (as things tend to in horror games), the rig is damaged and everything rapidly descends into chaos. To make matters worse, monstrous entities begin to appear, stalking the creaking metal corridors. So, yeah, you’re screwed!

There’s no way off the rig, no help coming, and nowhere to hide for long. So what do you do? Run, hide, and keep away from the big baddies, that’s what! Still Wakes the Deep foregoes combat entirely. It’s all about survival. You spend time sneaking past unseen horrors, solving environmental puzzles, and navigating the collapsing rig under relentless storms. The first-person perspective heightens the immersion, placing you firmly in the hot seat as Caz, come hell and high water. That’s right, you get both! If you don’t like deep water horror, this is NOT the game for you.

For fans of story-driven horror set on open water and oil rigs, Still Wakes the Deep is a must-play experience. It’s not about cheap jump scares…. nah, instead, it delivers a slow, dread-filled experience that lingers long after the credits roll.

Kresh even made a fan song about it, so take a listen, if you want to! Just keep in mind, spoilers are layered within the song, obviously!

Well, that’s all for now everyone. This has been Kern of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest and level grinds are par for the course.

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Movie Reviews

Looking for a classic space flick? Have you seen Sunshine?

November 2, 2022 drephuz Leave a comment

DISCLAIMER: Sunshine (2007) includes scenes depicting self harm! Please be aware of that if you watch this film.

Personally, I’m a huge sucker for space movies, and an especially huge fan of suspending disbelief for the sake of a terrifying and beautiful space adventure. If you like space thrillers and have not seen the 2007 masterpiece that is Sunshine, then let me share with you the spoiler free journey of the Icarus II and its crew.

Sunshine was released in 2007, written by Alex Garland and Directed by Danny Boyle, and has a respectable 7.2/10 IMDB rating. The story starts 50 years in the future where the fate of Earth is dependent on reigniting our dying sun with a massive stellar bomb. The ship featured in the film, the Icarus II, is manned by the second crew that has been sent on this mission after losing contact with the original ship, the Icarus I.

The crew dynamics are established very clearly and very early on. Considering the setting, where the weight of the world relies on the success of a crew and a theoretical attempt to create a star within a star, emotional tensions are high right out of the gate. Every character is established early on; all relationships are spelled out clearly, and all within the first half hour of the film. Then, without missing a beat, the first true bit of thriller action begins.

As a self-proclaimed space nerd, I was already captivated from the opening sequence explaining the above abstract of the film. However, as the movie progressed, I was being further caught off guard by the eerie and realistic representation of living and working in such a remote and isolated space station. Each new mission objective the Icarus’ crew would begin would inevitably have me clenching and gritting teeth in anticipation of what might happen next. Then, when I would finally feel like the crew was out of the thick of it all, the writer and director would throw another wrench in their gears. Typically, this had me saying things like “Oh, come on, now… that’s just … not even fair!”

Finally, I feel that the most powerful aspect of this remarkable film is the spiritual representation of space and stars that guides this thriller on a journey much darker than the vast emptiness of space. Sunshine puts a huge focus on the most terrifying aspect of space travel, the human mind. There are reasons why billions have been invested into research for testing and managing psychological symptoms of isolation in space travel, and this film touches on flip sides of that theme. On one hand, you have the frantic, primal, selfish and oftentimes doomsday-oriented mindset that can arise from isolation and panic. While on the other hand, you have the calm, loving, selfless, and self-sacrificing mindset that can be the guiding light for the greater good.

With that said, I highly encourage anyone who likes space films and thrillers to take the time and watch this. Starring some big names like, Chris Evans, Cillian Murphy, and Hiroyuki Sanada, you are sure to be in for a treat! It is a fascinating story, and if you give this film a chance, you will have a wonderful addition to your list of favorites, but that’s just like… my opinion, man.

This has been a blurb by Drephuz of the Demented Ferrets, a Twitch streamer, a drone pilot, and an all around tech nerd. You can catch him on Twitch playing games and mostly being inappropriate. Stop on by!

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Anime, anime reviews, Uncategorized

Anime Review: Another

November 1, 2022 Frost the Ferret Leave a comment

Hello all, to our little corner of the internet! I’m Frost, and today I want to talk to you about one of my favorite anime of all time. And since it’s the season, it seemed appropriate.

Of course, spoiler warnings apply.

The anime Another is one of the best examples of what makes Japanese horror so unique that I have ever watched. It’s gory and bloody, but not in the ‘Have a pile of body parts’ way that a lot of American horror is. It has a plot, it has interesting characters, and it makes you think. It was produced in 2012 by P. A. Works based on the novels by Yukito Ayatsuji, and for a ten year old anime, I think it still makes an incredible showing.

The story is good, if you ask me. Twenty-six years ago, there was a girl in class 3-3 that was the kind, popular person that everyone was attached to. You know the type, the one that the entire class just seems to gravitate around, the one that becomes the very heart and soul of the class? Yes, that one. Her name was Misaki.

Then… She died. The class started to go through the classic stages of dealing with grief, but they got stuck on denial. One day, one of them pointed at her empty desk and said “She isn’t dead, she is right there.” Then the other members of the class started to do it, as well. Even the teacher became part of this. It went so far that at their graduation, the principal included Misaki’s chair at the ceremony. It was even in the final class photo.

The thing is, there were no empty chairs in the picture.

Ever since then, this particular class, class 3-3, has been cursed. The door has been opened, and they have been brought closer to death. Every year, there is an extra desk in the class, one that no one knows of. And the person who sits in that desk is no longer alive.

How does that work, you wonder? Wouldn’t they know who the extra was, who was the other?

Wouldn’t the fact that there was Another stick out like a sore thumb?

That is where the next part comes in. For the entirety of the school year, no one knows. Their memories have been altered. Everyone just knows that everyone in their class should be there. They remember each other, no one stands out. Every list of names, every photo, conforms to this new reality. This new perception.

No one knows who the extra person is. They can suspect, they can wonder, but the exact person is unknown.

They have tried many things over the years to counteract this curse, to stop the cycle of deaths from starting, but the one that they have settled on is to decide before the school year who the Other is. Who to treat like they don’t exist, so that there is the correct number of students in the class. The person who they ignore to make the numbers right. The one they will exclude to balance the books.

Then, an outsider gets thrown into the mix. A transfer student who doesn’t know the rules, who missed all the planning sessions. Who doesn’t have a clue about the hell that is about to be unleashed. Someone who had reasons to not be present, to have to change schools the way he did.

He interacts with the class, and one girl in particular. Misaki Mei, who the rest of the class treats like she doesn’t exist. Like they can’t see her.

Things go downhill fast from there. The preparations have been upset, and the curtain rises on their little drama. The cycle begins, and the curse shows no mercy.

What makes it even worse, is the fact that as you start to get to know the characters, you start to get connected to them. You begin to learn who some of them are, as people, before tragic things begin to happen. It is one of the things that I have always found impactful about the Japanese style of horror. They are not shy about letting you get to know the characters before they do awful things to them. It is definitely the style I prefer over the bloody slasher flicks of American cinema. It makes the impact more meaningful, and the dread more visceral when you have some level of emotional attachment on the line.

I would recommend Another for anyone who is a fan of the Japanese’s unique take on horror. The fans of Final Destination, the Sixth Sense and other deeper horror series. The visuals are very strong, and disturbing, even if they are starting to show their age. They are used like a scalpel, to cut straight to the heart of the situation. To show just how sudden death can be, how unexpected… How inevitable. The use of foretelling and symbolism really drive things home, and make re-watching it an interesting experience.

There is a reason this has stuck at the top of my list with all the others that have come out before and since it. There might be shows that look better, or that have a different approach to telling their stories, but few have ever really made the kind of impact that Another has on me.

So, I hope you watch it, and see if you can figure out who is…

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Game Reviews, Gaming, Uncategorized

Should I get into Elite: Dangerous in 2022? Yes! Here is why…

October 26, 2022 drephuz Leave a comment

Elite: Dangerous is the modern installment in a series of renown space simulation games from Frontier Developments. If you have ever wanted to experience what it would be like to make a living hopping from star to star in the Milky Way galaxy, this is the game for you.

E:D gives you the opportunity to take on many different roles as a space commander, including bounty hunting, trading, mining, exploration, and even xeno-hunting (aliens). Many space enthusiasts alike have flocked to the E:D universe over the years to find their place among the stars.

With Frontier Developments’ latest expansion to the E:D universe, Odyssey, commanders have been given the wonderous opportunity to hop out of their ship at any space port or landable planet and explore on foot! While this expansion has received mixed reviews, it has opened an amazing experience including exobiology, ground combat, and space port exploration.

Commanders in Elite: Dangerous can participate in several different combat environments depending on what kind of trouble they put themselves into. Earlier on, one may find themselves scanning for criminals, picking off pirates and bounties near the navigation beacon of a nearby star. Experienced combat veterans will often find themselves participating in conflict zones to help turn the tides of battle for the faction of their choice. Finally, the bravest and most talented of these commanders can choose to go against the threat of the alleged alien menace, the Thargoids.

As a Trader in the E:D universe, you can go about making credits in a variety of ways. A commander can take a contract from a nearby spaceport and simply deliver some goods from one star system to the other. Sometimes those goods may not be legal in the destination system, requiring the commander to avoid being scanned upon arrival. Commanders may also take advantage of buying and selling commodities from space ports at a profit using the in-game economy system for supply and demand. Finally, if you want some real action in the trade aspect of E:D, you might be interested in getting into mining. Not only can trade commanders make credits mining the surfaces of asteroids, but some of these hunks of rock can be strategically detonated for high priced commodities during core mining operations.

What’s the best part about a space simulation game? Exploring the stars, of course! With over 400-billion star systems generated in the Elite: Dangerous’ Milky Way galaxy, there are hundreds of different types of environments, and practically infinite different configurations of solar systems that can be discovered by each commander in the E:D universe. First time discoveries are recorded and shared with all other commanders in the galaxy, and with only an astonishing 0.05% of the simulated galaxy discovered at the beginning of 2022, there is no doubt that any commander can find themselves a place to put their name among the stars.

Finally, the Elite: Dangerous universe includes what is called the “Background Simulation” (BGS). All player activity as commanders affects the BGS in a sense where the community, or sometimes even a single commander, can shape the fate of a single star system or cluster. Community Events are announced often regarding major events in the E:D universe, and things have recently gotten very interesting… why not take a look?

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Anime, anime reviews, Uncategorized

Anime Review: Ya Boy Kongming!

October 20, 2022 Frost the Ferret Leave a comment

Welcome to our little corner of the Internet! l’m Frost, and I would like to talk to you about a series that I really enjoyed, time after time I have watched it. With it getting an English language dub, I figured that this is a good time to talk about it with others.

And of course, the usual warning of potential spoilers applies.

The series I am talking about is one that, I will be honest, I skipped at first. The premise was ambitious and sounded odd, and I was not sure if it would stick the landing. Then I heard the opening song, and it’s a real banger of a song. After that, I checked out the actual opening animation, and I was intrigued.

The first episode had me hooked, and now here I am, a fan of Ya Boy Kongming! It’s a newer series, produced in 2022 by P. A. Works.

Where to start? Well, let’s start with the music, since that was what initially pulled me in. The soundtrack is amazing, with most of the songs being performed by Kuroneko and Laezel. I will admit, I am not usually a fan of this style of music, but the vocals combined with the series’ top notch animation and great characterizations drew me in. I am kind of obsessed over Dreamer. It is one of my favorite songs from an anime of all time.

I would say it even beat out Flare and Dark Seeks Light.

Now, what about the story?

It is an unusual story, which is why I skipped it at first. Kongming was one of the greatest tacticians from the Three Kingdoms area, and he met his end in 234 AD. Now, in the series he is reborn as a younger version of himself in modern day Japan.

In Shibuya. On Halloween.

Needless to say, he thinks he has been sent to Hell. Understandable, considering.

He ends up at a club, where he meets the other leading character. A singer trying to make the jump into being a true professional. A young woman named Eiko, who works in the club and sings from time to time. Her performance moves him, and I will say it caught my attention as well. Kuroneko did just an amazing job.

It is a story that really touched me. It is a comedy, yes. However, one that has shades of redemption, personal growth, and questions of morality. What will you do to make it big? What will you sacrifice? What means the most to you, your integrity or fame? And how far will you go, to make amends for the mistakes you made in the past?

The writers did an amazing job on bringing this to light in ways that are very relatable.

Another factor I really enjoyed was watching the titular character deploy what were some of the most ruthless and innovative military strategies of all time… To advance the career of a young woman that he found a worthy person to serve under.

The supporting cast is another shining part of the story. None of them are really throwaways, except for the true bit characters. Even some of the supporting characters get their own time to shine, their own chance to confront their fears, their regrets, and rise above them.

And let’s face it, everyone loves the Three-kingdoms nerd that is the owner of the club. I really liked the fact that they show much more to him than JUST the gag trope. He is a vital part of the story, from making sure that things are done, to giving Kongming help behind the scenes. He even was the reason for Eiko to not just still be around, but to have decided to pursue what became her dream.

Okay, now I’m going to talk a bit about the bones of the show, as it were.

The animation style fits very well. The attention to little details, like how Kongming walks in his robes, the use of his fan, and the little bounce that Eiko does before she performs really are great uses of animation to tell the story, and to set the characters. Some of the insert animations that are used, especially during the rap battle, are just awesome. I loved how they used it to portray the battle between two forces. It really made it seem even more epic than it already was (and as someone who honestly doesn’t really like ‘modern’ rap, seeing the older style of free-form rap was very nice.)

The backgrounds and scenery are very nicely done, and truly make you feel like you are immersed in their world. No matter how good the characters look, if you don’t have a good setting for them, they lose the impact. The night time views of Shibuya are amazing, and the scene where they are atop the tower and looking down on the city? Perfection.

The sound and music are honestly spot on. They pretty much have to be in this kind of show, but let’s all admit, we have seen many musical shows where the music… Really didn’t stand up to what it should. The composition, pacing, and in-world use of insert songs was great. It made me very eager for them to release the full soundtrack, not just the televised versions of the songs. The ease that they used multiple styles and genres of music was masterful. Honestly, I now have an appreciation for several styles of music that were never on my radar before.

I would highly recommend this series, in any format, for anyone that is a fan of great music, characters that you really feel for without the need to cry, and just some of the best feelings I have gotten out of a show this season. Oh, and for Three-Kingdom nerds, of course. I am hoping that they will announce another season, but I will definitely be reading this series just in case.

I hope that you give this series a shot, and don’t forget to dream big.

And don’t get lost in the Stone Sentinel Maze!

This has been Frost from The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest, and level grinds are par for the course, and we’ll see you next time!

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Game Reviews, Let's Talk Games

Void Bastards is Plain Stupid Fun

August 30, 2022 The Demented Ferrets Leave a comment

The game is is also very rage-inducing… hey everyone, it’s Kern here. Time to talk about 2019’s pinnacle of assholian game design: Void Bastards.

Be warned this post is riddled with swears, because of course it is…

Here’s the thing. Void Bastards is an absolutely no-shits-given, entirely unrepentant first-person shooter. The developer boasts warnings on their steam page about the fact that the game includes cartoon violence, gore and strong language…

You know what? The game does do that, it does that a lot. Frankly the game is absolutely bombastic at times, and I loved every second of it.

Look, you’re not going to get intelligent satire or thought-provoking, higher-minded concepts. You’re going to get exploding Kittybots and Void Whales that will ruin your day if you have no torpedoes. That’s what you’re going to get. If you don’t like that you can have cameras named Peepers that’ll also make your life hell.

Catch the drift here?

The proof is in the name, Void Bastards is everything it promises itself to be. It’s one bastard of a game, and you’re going to die a lot. If you’re not getting your ass handed to you, you’re either a master at the game, or you’ve lucked out…

The game has a cartoon-like style. It’s almost as if the imagery was ripped right out of a comic book. The game doesn’t take itself too seriously, as other first-person-shooters tend to do. Rather it banks upon a good time and idiocy. When you’re out of torpedoes and the whales have eaten you, that is part of the fun and the rage.

Even the weapon names are downright awesome, but downright idiotic. When you get your hands on the good old clusterflack you can have yourself a good time making a clusterfuck of the enemies.

If you want a flat out stupid, but absolutely fun and bombastic gameplay there are only a few games I can point to. Fewer still come along as ones that I can highly praise. This is one of them. In my personal opinion Void Bastards is good for one thing, and one thing only; being irritatingly fun and not giving a rats ass about anything else.

The developer Blue Manchu really hit it out of the park with this one. It’s a great game all things considered.

A lot of people questioned if the game was actually decently re-playable when the game came out. I think we need to look at the reasons why you’d want to replay the game. To me it’s fairly simple. When I want to turn my brain off and enjoy a truly clean yet goofy aesthetic, I play the game. If you haven’t played it, and you like stupidly fun games, maybe you should.

anime reviews, Uncategorized

Anime Review: ACCA 13

August 29, 2022 The Demented Ferrets Leave a comment

Hey everyone, it’s Kernook here, coming at you with another anime review. I’m going to be trying a new review format today. If you like the way this one is laid out, please let me know. I’m trying to improve upon my standard formula, and want to know your opinion. Today, I’ll be reviewing ACCA 13.

Anime: ACCA 13
Genres: Drama, politics, thriller, economics
Episodes: 12 and an OVA
Target Demographic: Seinen (18–30 year old audience)
Studio: Madhouse
- Director: Shingo Natsume
Other Media: Yes.
- Manga written by Natsume Ono: ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept
- Manga written by Natsume Ono: ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept. P.S.

Setting:

The anime takes place in Dowa, a kingdom subdivided into 13 states. Each one acts under their own autonomy and influence. To help facilitate the governance of this kingdom, an organization known as ACCA helps to maintain peace.

Quick Look:

I neither love nor hate this series, but I do think it stands as a solid viewing experience for the genre and themes the anime presents. If you need something else to watch between your typical seasonal line-up, ACCA 13 is a decent choice. What it lacks in heart pounding action sequences, it more than makes up for that, offering mind-games and political intrigue.

The anime is a technical marvel, made a spectacle for the small and intricate details embedded into every fiber of the series. Instead of large bombastic moments, this anime offers you a much more down-to-earth narrative and satisfying character development.

If you’re looking for something thoughtful to sink your teeth into, you’ll like this anime. If you want action, suspense, and mindlessness, look elsewhere… this is not a shoot-em-up, and victories don’t come at the hand of overpowered lead characters with more ego than good sense.

Mind you, ACCA 13 is a very high-brow anime, suffused with socioeconomic issues, cultural questions, politics and policy at every turn. This is not what I call a “popcorn anime”. You’ll get the most out of the series if you’re willing to take your time and savor the episodes slowly. I do not suggest trying to binge-watch it.

In-Depth Review:

The main protagonist is Jean the “cigarette peddler”, as he’s so often called. This guy always seems to get into trouble despite his best efforts. It’s not usually his fault, either. He tries his best to keep a low profile, going about his day without getting mixed up in problems that he shouldn’t. It’s just that his best laid plans don’t always work the way he might like. For him, another headache is just another day of work.

As the deputy chief of the “territory inspection division”, a subbranch of ACCA, he has his work cut out for him. As the story begins, all he really wants to do is finish the state inspections he’s been saddled with and find a suitable replacement to take his job. He’s tired of the workday grind, and nearly ambivalent about his daily tasks.

All he wants to do is take a quiet position somewhere else, literally almost anywhere else. He’s done with all of the hassle that his position demands of him. Unfortunately, there are murmurs circling around reguarding a coup d’etat, and once again Jean is dragged into countless details he never even wanted to be bothered with in the first place.

By and large, this is your typical cloak and dagger sort of anime. Think big crime and spy syndicates, wrapped up nicely in a political thriller coat of paint. Anime like ACCA 13 can be hard to find, and I think that stands as a very good reason why the hype for this anime was so all-consuming when it was first released.

This is a Madhouse production. You can see that within every detail of the animation. None of the anime feels low quality, and everything looks absolutely gorgeous. With openings and endings that remind me of Burst Angel and Psycho-Pass, there’s just a lot to like here. The entire series carries a sort of European flair, represented in the backdrops surrounding the characters. Meanwhile, the character designs themselves remain striking and distinctive amidst their eye-catching environment.

The sound design and music remains pleasing to the ear, and often fitting for the scenes they’re playing beneath. That being said, I wouldn’t say that the entire soundtrack is memorable, only that it’s entirely serviceable. Really, that’s all we need, so that’s just fine. As long as it remains consistently solid across the series, and it does, that’s all I truly care about.

While the overall tone of ACCA 13 lacks the heart pounding action I might expect, it favors a subdued narrative experience. Honestly, this series doesn’t feel like an anime at all.

For that reason, I’d highly suggest it to anyone looking for a show to offer to a non-anime fan. It’s a lot like Bartender and Space Brothers. You could show it to a complete anime novice, and they probably wouldn’t hate the show based upon the fact it’s animation alone.

There’s a pervasive natural quality to the characters and their actions. A true grounded focus relies upon even the small details. That grounded focus helps to uplift the sometimes dry moments that crop up from time to time. The show would be lost without it.

From the way smoke wafts from around the characters, to the way some characters act, there’s a fully realized weight to the physics in the show. Some of them even stumble on occasion, or fidget where they stand in casual little ways… all of this adds context to the wider show.

I’d go so far as to say almost everything in this series comes from a casual lens. The voice acting is often delivered with a relaxed bent to it, using matter-of-fact bluntness to cut through thematic hypocrisy and droll diatribes like a knife through warm butter.

Characters don’t make obscene noises, cry out, or even raise their voice idiotically in the entire series. So many characters, Jean included, just don’t give a rats ass about propriety beyond a certain point. There’s a near fatalistic overtone and resigned undertone that continually seeps into the entire series. That’s what makes ACCA 13 so interesting to watch, and why many believe it to be so damn good.

I’ll say this, ACCA 13 is best enjoyed by anime fans who crave attention to detail. Nine times out of ten, I found myself much more interested in what the characters themselves were doing, rather than the wider story. That’s due to how wonderful the animation is.

Then again, it all seems natural, these don’t feel like anime characters. They feel like real breathing people. Even at mealtime, something we see in anime all the time, these scenes feel exactly as it should. The characters simply grab a meal, with absolutely no pretense to get in the way.

The real-world feel of the series drifts all the way down to socioeconomic questions. The values and cultures within each of the 13 separate states are distinctive enough to feel believable, same as the issues plaguing them. Sometimes there is no “right” answer, only a “less horrible” answer. Altruism is not closely at hand in the series, even when some of the characters would like it to be.

That being said, you’re free to draw your own conclusions. This isn’t an anime that focuses too heavily on the concept of moral high-ground. Jean typically spits in the fact of that, anyway. He just isn’t the type of character to smack the viewer over the head with any particular message one way or the other… then again, the wider ethos provided by Jean is a simple one.

A good drink in hand, a friend by his side, and a cigarette hanging out of his mouth is his ideal of a “happy place”. Anything beyond that, and he’s going to wonder why he should be brought to care beyond simple surface level concern… and that’s not to say he enjoys watching the world burn around him. Only that he’d rather not mess around with problems that don’t directly concern him.

He can’t simply fix the entire would, after all, why try?

There’s an honesty here, all the way through to the end, and it’s never unbelievable. It never gets taken to the climatic expected conclusion. Rather the subdued anime gives us a subdued ending, no blood spilled, no hands unrelentingly left dirty, all of it handled tactfully. Perfectionism has no place. It’s overrated entirely to everyone viewers have connected with, and these characters go on with their lives displaying that.

All in all, ACCA 13 is by far and away one of the most interesting series I’ve ever seen when it comes to displaying characters upon the screen, cramming them together just to see what they do within the political sphere.

I don’t love it, I don’t hate it. The series has its flaws. It’s witty in many places, but dry wit doesn’t always make for the most compelling story. The characters and stellar animation were the main reasons I enjoyed it. Then again, I meant what I said above.

It’s a solid decision for anyone who wants thoughtful maturity layered within the anime they watch. These characters are adults, they think and act like adults, treating the wider world with the required gravitas when they need to.

This has been Kernook of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest and level grinds are par for the course. I’ll see you next time.

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Movie Reviews, Uncategorized

Movie Review: The Dark Knight

August 15, 2022 The Demented Ferrets 1 Comment

Hey everyone it’s Kernook here, coming at you with a review of the Christopher Nolan movie The Dark Knight. Over all this 2008 film is a powerhouse in several different ways. In my opinion, it isn’t your typical “super hero” movie, and in fact tends to be far from it.

The Dark Knight is a movie worth thinking about as the credits roll.

One day, I may do a strict and firm analysis of this masterclass movie. The narrative alone is almost perfect to do strictly that, but sadly, today isn’t that day. This is just a simple review.

If you can’t tell by now, yes I do happen to like it. The film is mired in tragedy though. I’m alright with that. When a film hits so hard without being too complex there’s just a lot to like about it.

About the only thing I don’t like about it, and mind you this is just a minor pet peeve, is that some of the choices when it comes to lighting really can make Batman look kind of stupid. That’s not the fault of the actor, and really I can’t even blame the costume.

It literally is the lighting and shot composition, and nothing else, but I do feel the need to point that out. Depending on the lighting during a few very serious scenes, it can be hard to take those scenes seriously because Batman’s costume doesn’t mesh well with that particular shot composition, and it ends up making him look a little goofy… the image below is a great example.

One of the key scenes that poses a problem is the interrogation scene. There’s just a moment or two that can really snap you out of the immersive experience because the light overhead becomes a distraction instead of “mood setter”. Instead of helping to make Batman look intimidating, he looks like… well… stupid.

Aside from tiny nit-picks of that nature, where vast improvements could have been made with very little effort (say the light flickers whenever he bashes on the table, for example) this movie really is something to praise.

The acting performances, direction, writing, and wider universe has a nice beefy story to tell. It isn’t convoluted, either. This film, might be what some would call a “comic-book movie”, but it surely doesn’t feel like one.

It goes deeper, and becomes far more emotionally complex than most.

The Dark Knight is not a bog-standard tale of good against evil. It isn’t just a mindless action flick, either. Batman is the “good guy”, yeah sure he is. The Joker is “bad guy”, yeah once again, sure he is.

That’s about where the similarities stop. The film enjoys twisting inward on a grittier “soul-searching” kind of quest. The Joker is more than a villain here. He’s still a madman, but the film digs into that, and studies the reasons why.

Thematically, the movie centers around two distinct dynamics; moral ethos and the fragility of the mind itself. Heath Ledger, plays the Joker and he does a phenomenal job. Honestly, it’s one of the last films he played a key role in.

As a quick moment of reflection, on January 22 of 2008, Heath Ledger passed away. Therefore, in my mind, The Dark Knight is probably one of the most iconic roles he ever played… you might be asking yourself why?

Well, his passing heavily impacted the promotion of the movie. I’m sure I’m not the only one who went to see the film at the time, just to see him in an acting role one last time… and really, movies like these aren’t ones I typically go and see on the big screen. I was glad I did, though.

On a slightly different note, Christian Bale plays the role of Batman. He’s alright, I’ve got no complaints. He lands a solid on screen performance and plays his role well. Would I say he knocks it out of the park? Not entirely, but he does just fine for what the story needs him to do.

That’s honestly the key to what makes this movie so amazing. It would have been all too easy to give Batman more power and leeway, because he is the “hero”. Christian Bale toned that sort of iconic ideology down in very distinct ways, adding a layer of complexity. This does two things.

First it makes our beloved Joker a much larger threat over all. Secondly, it makes Batman more compelling by pure default. When I say I’d like to do a strict and firm analysis of this movie one day, that’s because Batman and Joker have such an interesting and unique power struggle in this movie. Our titular hero doesn’t take too much of the limelight, only making a spectacle of himself when he absolutely needs to.

That’s exactly what Batman should do, and it’s exactly what he does in this movie.

Special effects, bombastic moments, super hero and villain aside, this is a story about humanity. Both dramatic and heart-felt, there’s just an emotional journey here. The story truly feels sophisticated, or at the very least, it feels earnest.

It doesn’t get too far up it’s own ass, unless of course that particular moment is meant to be viewed that way.

We’ve got the Joker here, for goodness sake, could we really expect otherwise? He’s nothing if not acerbic on a good day, never mind when he starts concocting the worst of his evil plots.

I do like that beneath all of the emotional grit, that there is a satirical bent to some of the scenes. It isn’t flashy, or “in your face”. It just happens to be there. You either take it, or you leave it…

You know, a lot of the film feels that way. Monotone moments and daily grinds clash against ciaos and unsound minds. That juxtaposition is what forces you as a viewer to pay attention to the tiny details. The movie doesn’t seem to care if we like what we see, and in this case I truly respect that kind of flippant nature.

The Dark Knight has a simple plot resting over the far more emotional complications. The Joker is attempting to humiliate Batman and expose his secret identity. That’s it… really… it is that simple. The joker strives to make a point, and Batman has to deal with it.

That’s why I’m not going to focus on the plot here, the plot isn’t the point. The characters are the point, the world building is the point, the players and pieces involved on the strategic chess board… that’s the point. The plot is just the simple overlay over the top of all that, tying these details together.

Any die-hard Batman fan can tell you, that’s always the logic used between Batman and Joker in any iteration of the series. Here that ethos is displayed in one line, both in the trailer, and in the movie. It is so keenly displayed as a core ethos of the film that it deserves mention here.

“You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”

Over all the film is good, and it’s worth a watch. I’ve given it a lot of praise, but I should offer one last tiny thing I noticed. As enamored as I was the first time I saw it in theaters, I hadn’t picked up the movie to watch a second time until writing this review.

I have no idea why I didn’t feel the need to see it again, only that I felt satisfied seeing it the first time. I can completely recall a firm and deep contentment when I exited out of that theater in 2008.

With that in mind, I have to admit, I wasn’t quite as enamored with the film a second time around. It felt lesser, in a way, on a second viewing. I almost as though it wasn’t meant to be watched a second time. I believe that’s just a personal stance I take mind you.

I think the movie loses a fair bit of impact on a second viewing in a way others just wouldn’t. I don’t really want to watch it a third time either. That’s okay though. I think I got everything from the experience that I wanted the first time.

This second viewing all these years later didn’t have to matter so much. I wouldn’t call it a collector’s movie. It doesn’t belong on my shelf to watch over-and-over again. Frankly, I don’t want it to, and I certainly don’t need to unless I’m going to analyze it.

My point is, give it a watch on a streaming service before you just go out and buy it. One viewing may be enough for you, just like it was enough for me.

This has been Kernook of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest and level grinds are par for the course. I’ll see you next time.

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RWBY, RWBY Ice Queendom, Uncategorized

RWBY Ice Queendom Episode 1 Review

August 2, 2022 The Demented Ferrets 1 Comment

Hey everyone, it’s Kernook here, finally ready to begin reviewing the RWBY Ice Queendom series properly. In all honesty, it was off to a shaky start when the first three episodes released as promotional hype.

You can read all about my RWBY Ice Queendom first impressions here. That’s just a broad look at the first three episodes, mind you. For now let’s dive into the actual and proper review, shall we?

To begin, I want to say that the first episode is as rushed as it could possibly be. I don’t think anyone should go into this anime as their first experience with RWBY. It isn’t exactly what I would call a strong start for those unfamiliar with the main series.

You see, we knew going into Ice Queendom that the first two episodes would rehash a lot of plot elements from Volume 1. My god, did it ever do that… but I’m going to be honest here. It is super fast, and it’s not for a non-fan to try to absorb.

No newbie can hope to truly understand the depth of what is actually going on without having seen Volume 1 of the original show first… so if you’re going to watch Ice Queendom, awesome!

Just… uh… watch Volume 1 first too, okay? I promise if you did feel a little lost, don’t be too concerned… even I felt a little lost, but we could have a diamond in the rough here, so let’s not be too hasty.

That said, we did get some pretty stellar moments, and we got some clunky ones. Spoilers ahead, be warned…

If they were going to re-hash volume one, they should have done it from scratch. Enough is changed in this iteration to argue a complete and total overhaul. Here’s the thing, the first volume of RWBY is only two hours long. That means they could have rehashed all of what they needed to do in six episodes (no I’m not joking). They should have done that.

Take for example the Weiss battle from the RWBY White Trailer and compare that fight to this one. The battle is cleaner in Ice Queendom for sure, but it lacks some of the emotional character development we get from the Weiss Trailer and her introduction song. Also, the battle feels just a little rushed and choppy. Thanks to the break-away scenes with Blake and Adam running around doing a separate fight entirely, the combat feels very segmented.

Winter’s inclusion so early in Ice Queendom is a welcome addition, but it is just a little jarring without context… Winter wasn’t in the RWBY White Trailer and didn’t make an appearance until a later volume. The same is true for all the Schnee family.

It is very nice that some of these plot points were touched on in the first episode, but why not slow down and really contextualize it? I don’t understand the need to rush, and that is a bit annoying.

I do like this fight, though, and I think Studio Shaft had the best of intentions. It was merely that those intentions fell a little flat. The same is effectively true for a great deal of the first episode during the re-hash scenes. They’re a bit cobbled together, demanding you have some concept of the show to start with, and not particularly caring to slow down if you don’t.

That said, there is a highlight moment every now and then when Ice Queendom extrapolates where the original RWBY series never does. For example, at least Taiyang isn’t strangely absentee this time around, which is something I’ve brought up in my character analysis of him. His lack of development in the original series really paints him in a really bad light.

It’s nice to see him as the father we knew he could be, and not the complete jerk-ass father that the original series implies him to be. Again, super nice gem here. Whoever had the mind to add this in and push it through should get a standing ovation.

Taiyang’s scenes with Yang, and later Ozpin, really help to flesh out what Volume 1 failed to really cover earnestly.

However, a few good narrative calls doesn’t help the show when the rest of it can be somewhat crammed together at such a break-neck pace. There’s little room to breathe.

This may sound harsh, but I’m not trying to rip on the show here.

I’m just pointing out that there are some really good choices when the creators choose to take the time to flesh things out. When they do, it’s amazing. When they choose not to take that time, it’s obvious. In some ways that’s very annoying to me as a fan.

Ice Queendom is “canon adjacent” or so they call it. That means some canon remains the same, and some become different… when you do this, you need to be clear about what changes and how it changes.

You can’t be vague about this. Many of us aren’t coming into the series with fresh eyes. We’re coming in as fans from the original show. We have preconceived notions and biases that needed to be challenged under these new ideologies.

In any case when the fights are this clean, they’re pretty good. If you just want action with no combat choreography or subtext, this will do you just fine. It feels fun and it’s entertaining, that’s for sure.

Once again though, welcome to my biases at play here. I’m a huge fan of the original show, there is a lot to live up to here in terms of combat. This show has big shoes to fill and I’m not entirely sure that it could have hoped to live up to the original fight scenes.

If you want actual choreography that sticks with you and hits home, this just won’t hold a candle to a lot of the battles in Volume 1. Sorry, but for me it holds true. If you don’t mind losing some of the charm of choreography and just want a good brawl, this will do just fine as it is though… it’s serviceable.

In losing some of the charm in the fights, we do lose a little something in the characters too. That is the main issue here.

All of the characters feel watered down and distilled in ways that just pull me out of the experience. Yang especially feels so watered down I don’t even recognize her as Yang anymore. We just don’t have the time with her to really get a sense of who she is, what she wants, or how she feels as an aspiring huntress.

There is no combat at the bar scene to really amp up her temperament, or showcase some of her poor decision making. To highlight my point look at these two comparison photos.

Let’s be real honest here guys, which one best represents the Yang that’s adventuresome, ready to throw down in a fight? Yang is a complicated, deep character. She spends all of volume one trying to get Ruby to go out and make friends, find her own way, get on her own team, and become a huntress. That’s not the Yang I see portrayed in Ice Queendom even slightly… she doesn’t get enough screen time to get that portrayal.

Now, that’s not to say I expect Yang to be the same… or any character for that matter. At this point in time, I just don’t know who she even is as a character. I’m a huge RWBY fan. I should have a very firm idea of who Yang is, but she’s not really anything at the moment.

I want to know who these girls are in this iteration of the show, and the show itself doesn’t seem to want us to know.

It’s like that with all of the characters to one degree or another, even Weiss… considering Weiss is supposed to be the focal point, that’s a problem here. I’m only using Yang as just the most notable problem with this in the first episode… and I know it will be a problem with JNPR in episodes two and three because I’ve already seen those episodes.

You can’t scream canon adjacent in one breath, and fail to really take the time to flesh out these characters in the earliest episodes. I just don’t think that’s the best way to endear fans to a series that we’re not coming in completely blind on.

So my final thoughts on RWBY Ice Queendom are simple. Let’s wait and see. It might be a trash fire, it might get really good. As of right now, there’s just no way to tell. There are enough tidbits to make me feel like we’re going to get something good, and enough red flags to have me concerned. Either way, I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Another take on episode 1 can be found here, reviewed by DoubleSama. I’m not entirely sure that they have seen the original RWBY series, but I do think their take adequately describes some of the confusion a person might feel if they are going into RWBY Ice Queendom entirely blind, or rusty on the wider show. That’s why it might be worth it to give it a look.