The last of the Untouchbales

Greetings, the last of the Untouchables is written by Oscar Fraley and Paul Robsky. It follows the true story of the team that tackled Capone syndicate during the Prohibition era in Chicago and who came to be known as the Untouchables. The story begins in 1929, shadowing mainly one member of the group, Paul Robsky and to a lesser extent his colleague, Joe Leeson. The other members of the team are also mentioned during the novel but their roles aren’t emphasised very much. 

It is a short book but one I really enjoyed. At the start I wasn’t sure if I would like it but when Paul joins the Prohibition department and starts shutting down breweries, the novel becomes much more entertaining.  I find it interesting that the majority of the team refused to take bribes or respond to threats by the Mafia, and the fact that many of them stuck to their moral codes, earning the title the Untouchables.  Particularly as Capone had a lot of influence through bribery and violence, meaning very few have the courage to stand up for themselves.

The 1987 film the Untouchables has very little in connection with the events that actually occurred as revealed by the novel. For instance, the heroes are a team made up of about eleven men and there are only four in the movie, based on the real individuals. However the general story remains the same, particularly the ending. Overall I would encourage you to read this if you are into the Mafia genre or are interested in this period of history. The thirteenth chapter of Unforgotten Rivalry is up in Warehouse 17. 

Plot= 8/10

Characters=9/10

Wording=-8/10

Overall=9/10

Quote of the day

I don't blend in at a family picnic. 

Batman

Batman Forever

Dragon Age: Origins: Awakening

Greetings, Dragon Age: Origins: Awakening is the expansion pack to another classic from Bioware, Dragon Age game. It follows the events, as well as the player’s previous choices from the original game, and it gives the player the opportunity to continue the hero’s storyline or start a new one from a different land. I chose to fight as my first character, Falc, who has since defeating the Blight and the Archdemon alongside his team, managed to become the Commander of the Grey Warden’s.  

 Despite victory, the villains known as Darkspawn split into two large war bands and still remain a large threat to the citizens of Ferelden. At the start of the game, Falc and a young recruit find the headquarters of the Grey Warden under attack by the Darkspawn. Upon fighting their way to the top of the fort, while encountering some new and old friends, the Grey Warden Commander comes across an enemy that can speak. This is distressing as none of the Darkspawn have seemed able to speak beforehand and creates a new, strange twist to the plot. 

As always Bioware has created great characters and locations, if fewer of them, but also brought back some of the old comrades. However it should be noted that there is a lot less time to understand and like the characters as the game is considerably shorter than the predecessor. Despite this they are still fantastic allies who develop with the main character’s influence, during the plot. There are also a number of Key decisions to make which could have brilliant or disastrous consequences, which adds to the thrill or fear factor, in which makes it a brilliant game. It has more than earned the title of Super Duper 100% the best and I encourage you, to buy it. The twelfth chapter of the Unforgotten Rivalry is up in Warehouse 17.

Plot=10/10

Characters=10/10

Graphics=10/10

Overall=10/10

Quote of the day

Now Fry, it's been a few years since medical school, so remind me. Disemboweling in your species: fatal or non-fatal?

Dr. Zoidberg 

Futurama  

Star Wars Imperial Commando 501st

Greetings, Imperial Commando 501st is the last novel in the Republic Commando series that was written by Karen Traviss and was inspired by the video game Star Wars: Republic Commando. I have reviewed the previous four beforehand, with the first adventure, Hard Contact being the original book to have been reviewed on my blog. 501st is the fifth novel which leaves a few untied ends due to the sixth one being cancelled over a possible sequel to the video game.

It has a large cast of interesting characters, most of whom are clones of the infamous bounty hunter, Jango Fett. This plot is set after the Clone Wars and Order 66 which initiated the Great Purge of the Jedi. It follows the story of various clones who deserted from the army and others that are not clones but become family or close friends throughout the events of the novels. The other side shadows two clones soldiers, employed under the Galactic Empire called Niner and Darman who are related to the deserters but decided to stay in the armed forces, partially due to the fact that Niner was severally injured before they could be evacuated to a safe zone.

A large part of the series is dedicated to the idea that the clone’s genes were accelerated to become of the age to be perfect soldiers as quickly as possible. This mean s that they will age faster than a normal individual, hence the clan who deserted, especially their adopted father Kal Skarita who had trained them, hunt down a genetic solution to prevent the rapid ageing.  To make matters worse, some members of the family have become bounties form the Empire, that is situated in the remote planet of Mandalore in which they are hiding in. It is also revealed that the Emperor has a deadly virus which can wipe out all life on a single planet, making survival complex for those fighting against him.

Niner recovers from his incident and is back with Darman hunting down any of the remaining Jedi who escaped Order 66.  These are only some of the main threads that exist throughout the complicated novels with much more factors in it. It plays mainly on survival, the bonds of family and coping with the loss of important people. I certainly enjoyed the series but it would not be suitable for everyone as the reader would already need to know important areas in the Star Wars universe and it could be quite slow at times. All in all, I really enjoyed it and would have liked to have seen how the fate of an individual at the end of the video game, who’s ultimate destiny is unknown, as well as how it was going to finish properly.  The eleventh chapter of Unforgotten Rivalry is up in Warehouse 17.

Plot=9/10

Characters=10/10

Wording=9/10

Overall=9/10

Quote of the day

God save the Queen!

Sniper

Team Fortress 2

Ben there, Dan that!

Greetings, Ben there, Dan that! is a point and click puzzle adventure by a company that was called Zombie Cow studios at the time. The player takes control of the character Ben in order to use objects to advance through the levels, which can be difficult at times, especially later on. His comrade Ben offers his services of flipping light switches and providing humour, although at the expense of being capable of doing much else. The game is in the style of a cartoon and often acts as such in its humour.

The plot is quite strange to say the least, the start of the proper story starts with Ben and Dan attempting to fix their television with a coat hanger as an antenna. They are teleported to an alien ship when hit by a lightning bolt, hence the two have to find the way home through various dimensions using certain materials to solve problems to progress. While they are stuck in the space ship, aliens come to London and news of their arrival spreads throughout the world. Through certain scenes it is revealed they are behind the transportation of Ben and Dan in order to complete their plan which is revealed near the end.

This game is quite fun and original with many strange areas to explore. The characters are interesting and sometimes their aid or downfall is necessary to accomplish the mission. It has a sequel named Time Gentlemen, Please, which I am looking forward to. I would encourage anyone to buy this if they were looking for a puzzle game. The tenth chapter of Unforgotten Rivalry is up in Warehouse 17.

Plot=8/10

Characters=8/10

Graphics=7/10

Overall=8/10

Quote of the day

My dear Frodo, Hobbits really are amazing creatures. You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month and yet, after a hundred years, they can still surprise you.

Gandalf the Grey

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Little Big Man

Greetings, Little Big Man is a film made in 1970 with Dustin Hoffman and earns the reward Super duper fantastic 100% the best. It is set in the Wild West, centring around the main character Jack Crabb, who develops throughout the plot with his many experiences and stages of life.  The movie has many themes running through it including comedic and tragic scenes which together make it a highly enjoyable experience. Dustin Hoffman acts excellently during the film, capturing Jack’s personality completely.

The storyline begins with Jack and his sister at a young age being the only survivors of an Indian attack on their convoy, they are found by a passing tribesman who brings them to his camp. During the night Crabb’s sister manages to escape leaving the main individual by himself but it is soon revealed that tribe members do not intend to hurt the young boy and so Jack spends several years in their presence. At one point he is fighting the Americans as an Indian but is eventually captured and revealed to be white. Hence he is brought back into the civilised world and begins a new life, meeting interesting characters who continue to reappear though the plot.

One of the aspects I like about the film is that not all the Indians are seen as villains like the majority of Western entertainment but are viewed rather positively. On the other hand the Americans are portrayed as sinisterly motivated and without remorse. This is definitely a movie to keep an eye out for. The ninth chapter of Unforgotten Rivalry is up in Warehouse 17.

Plot=10/10

Characters=10/10

Special effects= 10/10

Overall=10/10

Quote of the day

Do you have any...complimentary fresh garlic?

Sam

Sam and Max: Season one

Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven

Greetings, Mafia: The city of Lost Heaven is a third person shooter game which begins in 1933, about the syndicates who illegal controlled parts of society through different methods.  The storyline begins with a taxi driver who is down on his luck called Tommy Angelo being unfortunately caught up in the middle of a fight between to two families. The player will experience the game through the taxi drivers’ point of view. Two members who are later revealed to be named Sam and Paulie force Tommy at gunpoint to drive them away from the fight, therefore lose their attackers.

Once the rivals are left behind, the two mobsters in their gratitude tell Angelo to receive a reward at Salieri’s bar the next day. He agrees to meet the Don the following day, due to his performance in the getaway and he is offered a position within the family. With the thought of riches beyond his dreams he accepts and becomes a member of the organisation. One of the most interesting aspects about the game is Tommy’s struggle against the life of the mobsters, his emotions become increasingly emphasised throughout the game. This makes him one of the most human characters in the story line because he makes mistakes and realises that the lifestyle is wrong.  

The controls are a little difficult to handle at the start but it becomes more fluid and easy going eventually, it is a reasonably long game so there is plenty of time to get used to it. It is heavily based around transporting from one place to another and has some old music to add to the atmosphere while driving. Graphics are dated now but were probably a high standard in their day. Overall this is definitely a game to buy, with an interesting setting as well as, a group of entertaining characters.  The eighth chapter of Unforgotten Rivalry is up in Warehouse 17.

Plot=8/10

Characters=9/10

Graphics=7/10

Overall=9/10

Quote of the day

It's an ambigram. It's the same image forward and backward. Now, that's common for a symbol like Yin and Yang or the swastika, but that's a word. That Illuminati ambigramatic symbol has been considered a myth for 400 years. Supposedly, in the 16th Century, some artist created it as a tribute to Galileo's love of symmetry. It was only going to be revealed when the Illuminati had amassed enough power to resurface and carry out their final goal.

Robert Langdon

Angels and Demons