p800207 Reviews

Gargoyle's Quest II (1992 Video Game)

Great sequel to the original Game Boy version

[12 April 2006]

Released a couple of years after the success of the original Gargoyle's Quest on the Game Boy, Gargoyle's Quest II boasts some great level-design and great music. As one of the later generation games for the NES GQ II is a very good and well designed game. You star as Firebrand to save the Demon's realm from total domination of the evil Demon king. You travel through the vastness of the realm collecting items and gaining in strength before you can challenge the demon king. Followed by Demon's Crest (1994) on the SNES, which is still today a masterpiece for the SNES.

Total rating: 7/10

Gyromite (1985 Video Game)

Gyromite Gives Great Gameplay!

[11 April 2006]

Gyromite was released back in 1985. Together with Stackup they were the only games especially designed for the legendary NES robot R.O.B. (which stands for Robotic Operation Buddy). R.O.B. wasn't a success, due to very slow arm movements and a lack of games. Gyromite however remains a cute little game, more than 20 years later. With the first NEScontroller you control the scientist who has to find dynamite hidden in his laboratory. If you don't succeed his laboratory will be blown up. On his way the scientist (who looks remarkably like Dr. Wily!) encounters some foes, one touch with these creatures is lethal. To make things worse your path to find the dynamite is blocked. This is where R.O.B. shows up. R.O.B. will help (using controller 2) you be lifting poles so you can continue your way. The game boasts 40 levels in A mode and some more levels B mode. Using R.O.B. can be quite annoying since he is extremely slow, seeing him work is quite nice to see though. I recommend playing it with a friend. You'll find a lot of fun that way, since squashing your friend is without a doubt very funny!

Overall rating: 7/10

Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors II (1988 Video Game)

Malkil returns

[11 April 2006]

After the success of the original Wizards & Warriors which was released in 1987, Rare/Acclaim released a sequel within a year. Although some elements remained the same in this game, the game overall is a let-down compared to it's superb predecessor. Malkil survived the attack of Kuros and now returns. He has gained control of the four natural elements and pits them against Kuros. It is up to you as Kuros to defy the four elements of nature, earth, wind, fire and water and defeat Malkil once again. Use your weapons and familiars well, you'll need them! This game has a great finale on top of the mountain. You'll need all your skills to defeat four bosses at the same time! Although not as great as its predecessor it still is a great game and has some very nice music. Followed by Wizards & Warriors III, Silversword (1991)

Final rating: 7/10

Coronation of the Emperor Nicholas the Second (1896)

Last Tsar of Russia

[8/10 · 20 April 2005]

This is a small film of the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II, which took place in 1894. Nicholas who would eventually be the last Tsar of Russia. In 1917, while in captivity he named his brother the new Tsar of Russia: Michael II, but he declined. He was the successor of his father who died in 1894 and was related to most of the royals of Europe. As with most of the films of the late nineteenth century the quality is sometimes poor. But nevertheless it was a momentous occasion to be filmed. More films of Nicholas II and his family still exist today. Hopefully most of these 'ancient' films will be released on DVD someday.

M.H. Pope Leo in a Chair (1898)

First Pope on film

[8/10 · 20 April 2005]

A small fragment of film (silent and black and white) about the Pope. Pope Leo was the very first Pope to be recorded on film. There are many more scenes of the Pope from the same era. The quality of the film is sometimes very poor. Much events from this era were filmed, the coronation of Queen Wilhelmina (1898) and of Tsar Nicholas II (1894). Filming was a new medium at the time and luckily people in the late nineteenth century knew that events like these were worth filming. I would like to see these films being released on a DVD, who knows this might happen in the future (moreover since the election of a new Pope: Benedict XVI).

Gangs of New York (2002)

Comedy?

[1/10 · 25 January 2003]

I saw this movie yesterday in a local cinema, and it was appalling. I still don`t know what Scorsese was trying to pull of with this movie? It`s absolutely about nothing at all. The story is very bad and the overall acting is so so. Many elements in the movie weren`t scary or horrific but very funny.

SPOILER!!!

When Bill The Butcher is being stabbed to dead, you can see blood squirting right into DiCaprio`s face. During this scene the entire audience was laughing! Come on! Is this movie supposed to be comedy or drama?



My friends and I all agree, it was the worst movie we`ve seen in cinemas for the last 8 years.

1 out of 10

The Scorpion King (2002)

mediocre

[1/10 · 30 November 2002]

I just saw Scorpion King on DVD and it disappointed me very much. The story was too weak and the action was not much better than a regular Power Rangers episode. The movies 'The Mummy' and 'The Mummy returns' weren`t great either but this movie is full over stereotype characters. It wasn`t really hard for me to predict the movie`s ending after 15 minutes. All the characters a silly, especially Philos, which is a waste of Bernhard Hill`s talents. I`m still very pleased I didn`t paid $ 7 or $ 8 dollars to see this movie in theaters.

Let`s hope there won`t be a sequel to this.

Mega Man 2 (1988 Video Game)

Mega Man 2 is the best 8-bit game ever.

[10/10 · 29 December 2001]

Mega Man 2 for the NES is one of the best 8-bit games ever released! When I was ten (1990) I bought the first Mega Man game there ever was. This game was very addictive and made me an instant Mega Man fan. Before 1990 had ended I read a preview of MM2. I couldn't believe my eyes! A sequel was being made of my favorite game! As soon as it was released (early 1991) I bought a copy of it, and played it. I never stopped playing it. MM2 boasts some brilliant music! Most tunes are world famous now, and every Mega Man fan can hum these tunes. Especially Dr. Wily's Castle tune, which seems to be the best Mega Man tune ever! The graphics MM2 shows are of extreme high quality. It puts a lot of 16-bit games and even some 32-bit and 64-bit games to shame! The graphics are very clear and the use of colours in the background is very detailed and a pleasure to look at.

In total there are eight levels to conquer before you can fight the master mind Dr. Wily. In the first Mega Man game Dr. Wily reprogrammed six of his peaceful robots to conquer the world. In total seven were made, but the protagonist of both games, Mega Man managed to escape the clutches of the evil Wily. It is now Mega Man's duty to defeat Wily for a second time and destroy his new eight robotic minions. Each robot has its own stage and Mega Man has to beat go through the entire stage to battle a robot master. Once a robot master is defeated Mega Man can use the power of its defeated opponent to battle other robots.

Although it sounds all rather easy, it's not. Try to pass Heatman's schasm of fire or pass Quickman's deadly laser beams! This game will get you hooked instantly. Not only by its outstanding graphical and musical quality, but by its playability as well! Controlling Mega Man is a piece of cake, within no time you can make him run, jump and shoot! All in all a must have for every NES owner, but I guess every NES owner already has this game in his collection!

Frankenstein's Aunt (1987)

Brilliant series

[10/10 · 17 December 2001]

During Christmas 1990 this series was aired in Holland. I was ten at the time and I had just bought myself a video game system with a Castlevania game. I really loved that game! To those who know what characters play in Castlevania it should come as no surprise that I love this series as well!

The story is set in Transylvania, where a scientist has created a human being consisting of human parts. People of a nearby town raid the castle and baron scientist is forced to flee, leaving his castle and it's residents behind. Since his creation is as dumb as can be, the castle residents try to educate Albert, as he's known to friends. Their primary goal is to make Albert as human and as loving as possible. Although the series was recorded in Chechoslowakia it is entirely in English (at least, the version I saw). The actors playing the parts have done an excellent job! Viveca Lindfors is cast as the Baron's aunt. The Baron's name is actually Henry Frankenstein, so Viveca Lindfors is "Frankenstein's Aunt". As soon as she arrives at the castle she runs the place. She tries to make every castle resident as ordinary as possible. As for those residents, what could you expect in an Transylvanian castle? Ferdy Mayne plays Count Dracula (resemble his Count Krolock in "The Fearless Vampire Killers" (1967)!) in an brilliant and stylish way and Eddie Constatine plays Alois, the Lake creature. Other minor castle residents include the Phantom Lady, the Fire creature, Igor the manservant and of course a werewolf. Frightened of what has happened in the castle (and probably more of ignorance) some of the townspeople try to find out what DID happen. Most of the townspeople are actually totally unaware of the castle's secrets. Except the local blacksmid and pharmacy lady, they are extremely hostile to the castle's residents, and not without reason. The blacksmid wants, after he found out about the truth about Albert, to abduct Albert and claim this creation his. He would be acclaimed world wide for it! The pharmacy lady sees her daughter falling in love with Albert, whom she calls 'this monster!' She tries to keep her daughter away from Albert and his friends and rather see her daughter getting married with the burgomasters son.

I could give an entire excerpt of this series, but it is best that you watch it yourself. The filming locations are gorgeous. The acting is of a very high level. The special are pretty good. The music will be in your head the rest of your life. And most of all... this series has emotion! That's something you don't see very often. On the one hand this series is very funny and entertaining, but on the other hand you sometimes can't hold up your tears!

So if you ever, ever get a chance to see this series, don't hesitate, watch it! It's the best series there practically is!