Merzbow

It's probably far too late and they'd all just laugh at us now but joining BRICS would be a legit thing I want to do, I'd always said we should have bowed down to Emperor Xi the moment we left the EU instead of whatever US deals that don't do shit.

Didn't he recently qualify for some big tournament and turned it down to continue with WWE stuff? The scumbag fucked himself over.

I'm on a decent run this month already, three more starting with May from 2002 and I can see why it's become a cult classic over the past few years, a truly weird bit of horror that bombed both critically and financially at the time. As quirky and off-beat as it tries to be it's actually a pretty well done bit about loneliness and foretells the "femcel" trope that's found it's way into current internet culture. Also, Anna Farris as a constantly horny lesbian.. probably why Ebert was the only person to rate it full marks.

Oh boy, a return to the infamous Oldboy for the first time since watching the original DVD when it was released.. now that all the hype and the furor over that twist is long dead I actually found myself enjoying it more than I thought I would. It's a film that soured in my mind over time but now I'd have it right next to Sympathy in the trilogy, I think it could be worth a re-visit for a few.

Fuck A.I. art in films, no matter the size and budget but I did really enjoy my bootleg copy of Late Night With the Devil as it hits that analogue fetish of mine just right, 4:3 and looking just like it came out of the era it's set in. Surprisingly funny and captures Satanic Panic just right, also no doubt inspired by the "lost media" craze going on today.

Revival is back this year at Wolverhampton Racecourse, seems like they're going all out after some quieter years. I'll probably head down for the Saturday and spend far too long on the arcades.

Quote

REVIVAL: Game Not Over 2024 is the latest upcoming show from Revival Retro Events, featuring the very best in dedicated retro video gaming exhibits and unrivalled gaming atmosphere! Returning to REVIVAL's roots at Dunstall Park Racecourse in Wolverhampton where the events began over a decade ago, 2024's event will bring back many of the favourite exhibits, traders and features of past events, with hundreds of playable systems and interactive attractions that will entertain any old school gamer, families, children and casual gamers alike, including

• Over 100 playable retro consoles and computers
• A superb FREE PLAY classic arcade with video and pinball machines
• Special guest talks from industry names and developers
• On-stage tournaments, competitions and prizes
• New dedicated special interest zones including Amiga, Vectrex, rare consoles and collector focuses
• Large screen multiplayer experiences and system link-ups
• A large selection of traders offering various retro collectables
• Reasonably priced, fully licensed bar and food court serving hot and cold food
• Accessible venue near M6 with reasonable on-site parking
• Choice of nearby hotels with direct rail and bus links to the venue

As well as all the best retro gaming attractions, REVIVAL: Game Not Over will focus heavily on the habits and hobbies of the collectors who make up the Revival Retro Events team. Chief amongst these are the rare and obscure systems from gaming history that even seasoned gamers will likely never have had opportunity to play on, or never even heard of outside of magazine coverage, as featured in lead organiser Craig Turner's recently released titular book, which can be ordered along with your tickets and get signed at the event! Whether it be to pop along and have a quick arcade thrash, bring the family for a fun-filled day out, or grab your friends to enjoy a whole weekend of friendly competition, be sure to buy your tickets NOW and make sure any gamers you know don't miss out!

It's looking like Sadiq Khan is steamrolling through to victory, the way it's going he'll have an even bigger lead than last time.

You'd almost have to think there are links in Mexico, I do remember hearing of two indie guys being killed a year or two back but my knowledge of that area is seriously limited.

I've heard nothing but love for Gary over the years.

32 minutes ago, air_raid said:

And yes, Yakuza. There was always a rumour that “Mr G1” Masahiro Chono was a safe bet in certain big matches because he was their favourite wrestler.

Shame they never came to the US to sort out Easy E for not booking him properly.

36 minutes ago, Carbomb said:

Yeh, it was actually the revelation of Yak involvement that put paid to PRIDE - otherwise, they might have continued being the bigger MMA promotion and the UFC might have gone under.

I haven't kept up for many years now but did the same thing happen to DREAM? I recall RIZIN started from the ashes of both so it's now three big companies with some of the same guys running them.

I'd imagine it's tough to get anything done without them muscling their way in at some point, especially if you're in need of money.

46 minutes ago, The Reverend said:

I know of the Yakuza being fans in Japan, and may be even having some involvement.

You'd be lucky to find a promotion that didn't have Yakuza involvement, MMA too. A lot of it would be them forcing local stores to buy up blocks of tickets that would then be "given away" to customers etc.

The former owner of FMW took his own life to pay them back with his life insurance but even then the surviving family were having to pay them after.

I begrudgingly voted Labour but the local candidate actually seems sound and is a bit of a student of Zarah Sultana, her first time standing and had the local youths behind her. How long before she's kicked out the party?

Ethan Page joining WWE isn't a bad shout, I could see him with LA Knight as a super over tag team.

I just saw that Wrestle Carnival have closed up so that's another Britwres gone, they seemed to have found a home here in Coventry over the past year or so.

1. Nationalise Wetherspoons, no buying it, just nailing Tim to a wall and taking all his properties.

Yeah the Lynch Dune is perfectly decent if you know the story going in to it, you fill in the gaps yourself but at the time I think many went in thinking it'd be Star Wars. I actually think it still looks amazing today, gorgeous set designs.

I watched eXistenZ and I kinda loved it even if it is goofy as all hell, David Cronenberg had surely never ever played a videogame before yet has such a disdain for them? Making a games console that looks like a set of tits that plugs in to a vagina in your back was some inspired design...

Baise-Moi is truly an awfully made film, one of the earlier New French Extremity flicks that'd I'd somehow never seen before yet I came away from it loving it for what it is, just the edgiest female power fantasy and unlike much I'd ever seen before. Accidentally timed the watch so close to Love Lies Bleeding but there are definite comparisons.

1 minute ago, DavidB6937 said:

Let's hope so. I thought the crowd were a bit shit last night.

I only caught the closing segment but yeah it was dead quiet, even if the hard cam side was empty I'd expect more sound for Kenny turning up.

So which tired old lies are we expecting here?

The best indie match of all time was covered by this lad, he doesn't even usually do videos on wrestling.

The best moment of his career..

Yeah, they can price high for retro stuff but generally I see them just under the eBay norm. Don't bother with anything Gameboy related from them though, unless they've actually started to look for bootlegs yet.

Echoing the love for the amazing write-ups there, now watch some journo at the Guardian steal them.

Back when I bought Dark Souls of the back of a Teletext review I never thought anything with that DNA would be high up on lists like these with so much love for it.

I caught Caitlin Cronenberg's directorial debut Humane today and eh.. it's a mostly ok thriller but with some pretty poor acting and dialogue. It beats you over the head with it's messaging without letting it feel organic, too. You could argue Brandon does that too but at least his films so far have been impossibly stylish and truly fucking weird.

I also rewatched Hard Candy which is still tense as hell even while knowing all the turns it takes, Elliot Page is just outstanding here. Catching it on Blu-ray really shows how good the digital colour grading was there, it did a lot of things for the first time ever and still looks better than many current films in that regard.

1 hour ago, NeverYield said:

2KW that's a blast from the past 

The risk of injury there is through the roof but it can't be denied for a mob of friends in a New York playground there is some serious talent in there and the bumps they took were very good. 

I'm sure some of that lot ended up in the Indies 

Aren't Santana and Ortiz from there?

I haven't watched many films this month but I'm going to catch up at the last second, started with Love Lies Bleeding today which I've wanted to see since the first cast shots were shown. Grimey as all hell, even the tender moments between the two girls had a layer of grease over it and the mullets were out of this world. Full of style and edge and came with the most banging soundtrack including a bit of Suicide and Throbbing Gristle, it wont win any major awards but I had fun with it. Ed Harris plays the big baddy to perfection once again but this time he's sporting the best balding long hair ever put on to film, Hulk Hogan ain't got shit on him.