Incarnate

I first saw Descendants of the Sun about five years ago, and "Always" did an amazing job of carrying the emotional weight early on in the show. As is almost always the case, even great songs aren't used for the duration, and there are a lot of moments that miss its presence. Somehow it managed to slip from my mind until recently, when I heard it in another drama ("Touch Your Heart"). I was suddenly seized with a desire to bring the poignant emotions I experienced from this great piece of music to the narrative beats it was absent from. Some of the earlier scenes did feature it, but I wanted to tell an abbreviated version of the story and needed those early scenes to help bookend it. This is a tribute to a song that made a significant impact on me, and a show that was, for the most part, a satisfying and engaging experience.

In a very empty courtroom, a one-sided case is brought forward to take a deeper look at characters and plot of The Super Mario Bros. Movie. On the surface, the film seems to have done its job as a light, fun romp into the Mushroom Kingdom. But did it have the potential to be something more? Did it truly fall prey to Xoteism? Take a gander to find out!

Witness seasoned veteran Brave Cariad parlay her Elder Scrolls Legends expertise into Skyrim. Marvel at her unique style of navigation as she explores the roots of a cherished CCG!

Discussing the quirks, strategies, struggles, and triumphs of crafting a story while in the process of writing a novel.

Discussing the quirks, strategies, struggles, and triumphs of crafting a story while in the process of writing a novel.

Discussing the quirks, strategies, struggles, and triumphs of crafting a story while in the process of writing a novel.

Discussing the quirks, strategies, struggles, and triumphs of crafting a story while in the process of writing a novel.

I discovered "My Hero Academia" recently--during a time when heroism is mostly being mocked and perverted by western "heroes". When the ostensibly noble, powerful, and humble character of All Might was introduced, I expected him to be a flat laughingstock, loser, or a corrupt, morally-bankrupt counterfeit. I cannot tell you how refreshing and wonderful it was to be wrong. The main story is not about All Might, but he has a very crucial and satisfying arc at the beginning of the series (as well as a great role in the story afterwards). I wanted to give him a video tribute, but I needed to find the right song. MHA has some great music, but trying to string it together for 3+ minutes would be challenging (and take more time than I had to spend on this project). I've been a fan of John Cooper and Skillet since college, and fortunately the band has a song that fits the beats and tone perfectly. If you haven't checked out MHA or Skillet yet, I highly recommend both. (Link to "Awake": https://www.amazon.com/Awake-Skillet/dp/B002FZL94Y) Enjoy!

The saga begins! As I began planning my "cases" regarding the Prequels and DSW, I realized it'd be a good idea to present evidence for being a fan without making a drawn out video about my entire history with the franchise. And what better way than to discuss a seldom (if ever) mentioned omission in the Blu Ray version of Empire Strikes Back. All in good fun!

I shoot from the hip and the heart in this unpolished rambling reflection on the 2022 film, Terror on the Prairie. My initial approach to the review had to be scrapped after I watched it. I avoided going into too much detail about the film to keep it unspoiled for those who are interested in taking a gander.

A brief exploration of how the Prequels altered Vader's legacy, and how the context of some dialogue from the OT was made almost comical as a result.

A rough re-edit of a project done many, many years ago ( first video on this channel, formerly titled, "Busted"). At ~9 minutes I knew it was too long when the editor gave it to me, but I didn't think I could trim it down. Tonight I figured I'd challenge myself and milk a little usefulness out of this debacle. Not perfect, but half the length and a look that is closer to what I was going for at the time, so I'll call it a win. Ramping up for a video I plan to do in the next few weeks about this very subject...

Looking at the power words actually have, how we take control....and about half a dozen tangents along the way.

YouTube's removal of "Dislike" visibility didn't protect me. I feel betrayed. And sad. …It’s almost as if hiding video “Dislikes” wasn’t intended to help the average YTer at all… Love ya, Rumble!

The story of how two people found their sole mates, as told by their missteps...and a few pairs of shoes.

A reflection on the character of Boba Fett as he was portrayed in the original trilogy, and how his mythos was added to through the EU novels. If the current portrayal of the bounty hunter isn't resonating with you, this may whet your appetite for some classic tales.

...everything is a sheath!

A random discussion I ended up having with a faux Jordan Peterson (me). Certainly not as engaging as the real thing, but a lot of fun to explore. Sometimes something gets stuck in yer brain and you just need to get it out.

One of my favorite pieces of music from The Mandalorian is 'Nurse & Protect' by Ludwig Goransson (who did the full soundtrack), and I thought it was underused. Mando's fight scene during the prison break episode was visually impressive--one of his best displays of prowess--but it lacked energy. Several episodes later, when I heard N&P during IG-88's laudable assault, I knew I had to see how well the music paired with the earlier scene. I only did a few tweaks to the footage and the music--the timing was almost a natural fit.

A theory that tries to explain the incessant, pointless fighting on Social Media, and how a focus on validation and victimhood exacerbates the situation.

There is a loud cry for more "strong" characters in media, and it would seem that the cry has been heard. But is it being answered effectively? This is a simple theory about what actually makes characters (and people) "strong", and the various ways strength can be demonstrated for--and communicated to--an audience. Thanks for watching!

This is for those of us who were drawn into the Tekkaman story by the US adaptation (Teknoman), loved the theme music, and owe our memories of animated awesomeness almost completely to nostalgia. This is my attempt to finesse all the elements that got me hooked on the show and present an abbreviated version of the Dagger Arc that matches my nostalgic recollections. A fantastic story tragically fraught with drastic variations in production quality, Tekkaman Blade is at the top of my list for a series I'd love to make a live-action trilogy out of. This project wouldn't have been possible without the amazing cover of the Teknoman theme by breadhenge here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbcZwZtZliQ You can download the song here: https://breadhenge.bandcamp.com/track/teknoman-tekkaman-blade (This is a sister video to the first TBN Edition. I loved breadhenge's music, so I wanted it to be the star of that video; this is just a slight mixing tweak to give the SFX more prominence and allow it to feel more like a scene than a montage.) Thanks for watching!

A quick re-edit to more clearly show that what appeared to be the equivalent of an epic "Drop the Mic" (or "Toss the Saber") moment in the Star Wars saga didn't turn out so great. RotJ was my introduction to SW, and the last 40 minutes in particular are what made me a fan of the franchise. Still...34 jaded years later, I find the juxtaposition amusing. "Do not underestimate the power of the Emperor...or suffer your father's fate, you will." --Yoda

Goofy sketch created just to give me something to test out the new (at the time) DSLR and shotgun mic. Learned about crossing the axis the hard way; had to flip half the shots in post. Good times...

The trailer for a 29-minute RomCom shot in RVA a few years ago. Fun collaboration with talented folks...and many lessons learned.