Adam Wallace
Bio
I put up pieces here when I can, mainly about games and movies. I'm also writing movies, writing a children's book & hosting the gaming channel "Cool Media" on YouTube! Enjoy & find me on Twitter!
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Stories (140/0)
- Top Story - June 2018
'Cobra Kai': No Mercy After 34 Years
Hello, and welcome back to Second Chances. Now, normally this column is about giving another shot to a piece of pop culture that was maligned or forgotten the first time around. However, this time, it's the subject itself that is taking a second chance. That is a big trend lately with reboots and unexpected sequels to nostalgic favorites popping up all over the place. A lot of them revolve around new generations of characters as shown with movies like Creed which has Rocky Balboa training a new boxer and TV shows like Fuller House which largely recycles the premise of its parent series. While the nostalgic reboots have mostly ranged from "fun but pointless" to "annoying and pointless," the biggest, most pleasant surprise came not from the theaters or TV but from the mostly ignored YouTube Red subscription service. Cobra Kai kicks the Karate Kid franchise back into the spotlight and was one of the best binge-watching experiences I had in a long time.
By Adam Wallace6 years ago in Geeks
The Joy of Creation
Hello, and welcome back to Silver Linings, where I shine a light on the maligned, forgotten, and ignored. It seems like the vast majority of games were designed with the Michael Bay mindset of blowing up everything you see. The biggest franchises like Call of Duty and Battlefield and even lesser ones like Ace Combat and Gears of War revolve almost entirely around destroying everything in sight. It seems almost like violence is the order of the day when it comes to games.
By Adam Wallace6 years ago in Gamers
Rising from the Ashes: My Favorite Former CA Producers
Hello, and welcome back to Silver Linings where I shine a spotlight on the maligned, forgotten, and overshadowed. Like a lot of people, I'd been actively paying attention to the collapse of Channel Awesome. I wasn't happy to see the source of much of my entertainment for the past ten years go down in flames. However, any business that would do even a third of the things reported in the "Not So Awesome" Google document really should not be around.
By Adam Wallace6 years ago in Geeks
Play Ball?: The Sad State of Sports Games
As one can surmise from my years' worth of writing on the subject, I am a devout gamer. Much like my taste in movies and music, I can find something to like in absolutely every game genre. Even though I love getting wrapped up in an engrossing story or getting thrown into an open world that goes off in every direction, sometimes I just want the simple pleasure that comes from sports competition. Having completed writing my third year's worth of reviews for the "Defunct Games Golf Club" (to be posted beginning this spring), I couldn't help but look at the state of sports video games now compared to the past and be upset.
By Adam Wallace6 years ago in Gamers
Silver Linings Playlist: John Barry
Hello, and welcome back to Silver Linings where I honor the maligned, forgotten, and ignored. There are many elements to movies that largely tend to be ignored by the average viewer and only noticed by film students, professional critics, or total geeks. How many people do you know that would pay attention to the editing, for example? One of those elements that fade into the background for the average movie-watcher is the film's score. I consider that tragic since, when done right, the background music can be just as important as the actors onscreen. The right melodies can establish the setting, create the mood, and even tug at the audience's heartstrings. A great composer can make a great film a masterpiece and can even buoy a lame film. After all, John Williams' "Dual of the Fates" was one of the saving graces of The Phantom Menace.
By Adam Wallace6 years ago in Beat
Awesome Saturn Exclusives: Import Shooters
Hello, and welcome back to Silver Linings where I find the best of the maligned and forgotten. It's been a while, but I'm returning to the much maligned Sega Saturn to spotlight some great exclusive games. I've already outlined some awesome platformers and RPGs that make investing in Sega's fifth-generation console a good move. However, there is an aspect to the Saturn that I'm surprised doesn't get more attention from gamers. That aspect is the fact that the Saturn is one of the most import-friendly consoles of the era.
By Adam Wallace6 years ago in Gamers
Lucky Bamboo: Super Szechuan in Music City
Hello, and welcome to Local Flavors, where I spotlight some great places to eat in Nashville and the surrounding area. I'm not talking national chains here; these are the hole-in-the-wall places favored by the locals and adventurous visitors to the area.
By Adam Wallace6 years ago in Feast