The One True Geekology

Ever since a very young age I’ve been obsessed with War of the Worlds. I was aware of and enjoyed the campy 50’s analogy of nuclear war but it wasn’t until I watched a school performance of Jeff Wayne’s seminal adaption (complete with Tripod paintings attached to wheeled netball nets and Martians emerging from silver sprayed wheelie bins with tinfoil) that it really piqued my adolescent imagination. It was an ambitious production for a state secondary school to attempt but I remember vividly going home with my head spinning. The thought of an Anglo-centric invasion, in Edwardian England, both filled me with excitement and tantalising terror.

It took barely a single episode for The Dragon Prince to capture my heart. I found the characters to be lovable and the plot gripping – and right from episode one you are drawn into a world of adventure, mystery and a little sorrow. The creators plan on having the show run for seven seasons, Netflix permitting, and so far they show no sign of slowing down. You could say that the scripts are writing themselves.

Let me start by saying, this isn’t going to be a ‘we need sequels of XYZ’ article, or a list of old games that need remaking. Despite the fact I would love to see a DC Supervillains 2, and possibly a Marvel Supervillains or DC Superheroes game, and the fact that LEGO Lord of the Rings needs to be remade in a better way. I want to address the untapped movie/TV franchises that would make amazing LEGO games.

If you haven’t played it, go and buy it now. I was rather disappointed by my last two LEGO game purchases. I found Marvel Superheroes 2 to be convoluted and dull, while LEGO Incredibles was burdened by long, un-skippable cutscenes that made you feel like you were just watching the movies over and over again. Even so, I remained cautiously optimistic when I saw LEGO DC Super Villains.

Equality; the state of being equal, especially in status, rights or opportunities. It can be hard to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Every individual has their own set of struggles as we try to do the best we can with our lives. As we get older, more struggles and obstacles become apparent after the ones we manage to overcome—but not everyone was put at the same starting position. Some were given a head start; they were born with a little extra status or wealth and while the security of their future is not guaranteed, if they play their cards right that head start will lead them on a path to success. Others were put at the back of the pack, unable to obtain the same opportunities as others merely through the circumstances of their birth. Perhaps their hard work will pay off later in life, perhaps they’ll get lucky, or maybe they’ll get left behind in the dust. We don’t know what the future holds for every individual, but surely we should be doing all that we can to ensure that everyone gets a fair shot in the beginning?

Every year or so an article flies out from the dusty presses; cinema is a dying medium. How much truth is there to this? Well, perhaps there is some underlying truth, but not for the reasons that are making the headlines.