Notice, how in my last column, on several occasions I said “largest post-Soviet budget…”? This is because the amount of money the Soviets put into the arts, especially motion pictures. The 1968 Soviet adaptation of War and Peace cost one hundred million 1968 dollars; around seven hundred million 2009 dollars. The sheer amount of manpower they could muster for a film is utterly staggering, making some of the battle scenes, still to this day, the most majestic caught on film.
This resulted in a lot of highly experimental films and to a greater extent, animation, most of which are something to behold. Naturally, film makes fantastic
propaganda. Naturally, that rings just as true today as ever, and the Soviets are no great exception there. The sheer scope of it, however, puts them in a league of their own!
Among some gems:
What Hitler Wants
Pioneers Violin
White Army, Black Baron
Silver Hoof
Download the MP3, here.
It’s the first “official” episode of ANIPAC. In a nutshell, expect us (not always in the same episode) to discuss:
* Retro gaming/movies
* Anime
* Tales from Asia
* “Classic” AnimePacific Clips
* Miscellaneous Geekery
Shootin’ The Breeze
We discuss the history that contributed in the eventual creation of ANIPAC as well as a slight backstory into how me and Alex met.
How to gauge a douchebag:
It’s easy, if you drive this car, then you are a douchebag! Well, more specifically a slightly bigger, bulkier version of this car that in fact, negates the benefits of actually having a cubed shape car and exists solely for the purpose of being, “cool”.
Quickpost this image to Myspace, Digg, Facebook, and others!
Classic Anime-Pacific Clip: Harbin Zoo
Toilet humour at it’s best!
Harbin Zoo; where you can walk, talk, sing with the animals.
Freebie of the Day: Head Over Heels
An unforgettable gaming experience from my Commodore 64 days, has now been faithfully remade and freely downloadable from the fine fellows at retrospec!
Download it here.
The Commodore 64 version that I played:
Game Studies has a fascinating analysis , here.
Alexander’s Cornucopia of Geekery:
Blasto: The game on the BILL COSBY APPROVED (Y’See!) Texas Instruments Machine
A fantastic link, here.
The Living Room of the future; yesterday!
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In the future, mankind finally transcends the superficial anxiety of worrying about people seeing your crotch outline. The scourge of camel-toe anxiety is officially vanquished.
Check out more fantastic stuff at Paleo Future.
We also discuss our impressions of the far away, year 2000. Check out the opener for Beyond 2000 which is about 25 seconds into the video.
It’s a wrap!
We’ll be back; we don’t know when; but we’ll be back!
As someone who spent hours playing “Adventure” on my Texas Instruments “TI-99″, this post brought back a wave of memories. Ah, the 80’s.
Guitar Hero as a late 70’s early 80’s style text adventure.
Dane, I think our blog needs a “nostalgia” category.
