Tag: Retrospective

Full Moon Horror: Puppet Master Updates, Spin-Offs and What’s Next?

This Full Moon horror guide covers every Puppet Master film, spin-off, and crossover in chronological order. Since the recent Noir releases aren’t new, they fit in the same continuity. Discover the essential entries and the complete watching order to experience the franchise from start to finish.

full moon horror moviesFull Moon Features isn’t currently producing a new mainline entry in its iconic full moon horror doll franchise. Instead, the studio has shifted its attention to re-releasing some of their classics in a “silent film” format. Well, there’s sound, otherwise how else can one hear those screams? With the Noir format, four films are being revisited, and it works very well for the Axis storyline, just to give it some grit.

While other fans are waiting for a continuation of the solo spin-offs featuring fan-favorite puppets, thankfully this IP isn’t fully resting.  Furnace: Leech Woman (announced in March 2023) may  be stalled; although disappointing, hopefully all six of Toulan’s puppets will get their due. Currently, Blade: The Iron Cross and Doktor Death makes up the puppet brigade.

Until new films arrive, it’s the perfect time to explore the Puppet Master series in full. One of the franchise’s most interesting storylines is the Sutekh arc. First mentioned in Puppet Master 4: The Demon, Sutekh’s essence wreaks havoc in The Final Chapter via a mystical totem. These films also introduce the elixir of life, a mysterious substance stolen long ago by the Mad Arab from a temple dedicated to this chaos god, later sought by André Toulon.

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Before TRON Ares and Beyond: A Complete Guide with 6 Must-Read Features

Step back into the neon world of TRON before TRON Ares arrives. From classic films to iconic games and key news, this guide covers everything fans need to know. Get ready to relive the Grid and all the highlights that made the franchise legendary.

Before TRON Ares, There Was TRONBefore TRON Ares arrives, it’s worth remembering how this franchise first lit up the silver screen in 1982. The neon-soaked world of the Grid has long been a playground for dreamers, gamers, and tech-heads. Whether you came for the lightcycle battles, the philosophical undertones, or the Daft Punk beats, TRON has left a lasting mark on pop culture.

Here at Otakunoculture, we’ve been chasing that beam of light for years—from deep dives into the films, to retro gaming retrospectives, to speculation on where the series is headed next. Think of this article as your personal I/O Tower for all things TRON.

The Films & Reviews

Tron Original Movie Poster

The Games

TRON 2.0 Videogame Xbox

News & Features

Keep Your Identity Disc Spinning Before TRON Ares

We’ll keep updating this hub as The Grid evolves — whether that means new games, park news, or the long-awaited arrival of TRON Ares. Before that next chapter begins, there’s plenty of history to revisit, from classic arcade battles to the philosophical sparks that made this franchise unique. If you’ve got your own theories or TRON trivia to share, drop them in the comments on any of these articles.

After all… the Game Grid is always more fun with players. In the future, we have more to discuss.

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A Quick Retrospective on Philip J. Cook, Filmmaker-at-large!

One thing that’s for certain is that everyone in one of Philip J. Cook’s film projects are passionate about what they do and are invested from start to end!

Phillip J Cook at WorkThe big difference between one of Philip J. Cook‘s early films, like Despiser, to a recent one, namely Ghost Planet, is in how well he can blend in the special effects. He uses a blue/green screen for most of his wide angle shots, and these days, they’re in those closeups too! With modern-age computer technology, he can truly create those exotic worlds, and while his skills as a storyteller haven’t changed much, what makes his films unique is that he will micromanage. That is, he’s an auteur.

Although most of his tales are populated with characters in familiar roles, I can’t fault him for his choices after watching more than these two works. He wants to make his works accessible. What I’m recognising from Despiser reminds me of Buckaroo Banzai and I had to check out the bonus features first before attempting to watch the film. They’re quite good at getting me primed at what to expect instead of tuning it out.

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Disney’s TRON Celebrates 40 Years! So Where is Flynn Hiding Now?

Disney’s TRON is celebrating 40 years! So what can we expect from this franchise now?

TRON Original Movie PosterOn July 9, Disney’s TRON turns 40! Yes, the granddaddy of cyberpunk cinema is officially middle-aged—but still running at lightcycle speed. It’s not just the neon aesthetic or arcade-era charm that keeps fans hooked. At its heart, TRON asks a big, tantalizing question: could the digital world be truly alive? Pair that with a rebellion inside The Grid—avatars fighting to break free from an oppressive overlord—and you’ve got a premise that still feels fresh in an age of AI headlines.

Remember—this was before the Internet! Back then, “crossing into another system” meant hacking one machine at a time. No cloud. No Google. No “Did you try turning it off and on again?” This idea of breaching walled-off systems to reach a bigger world would go on to inspire everything from Mainframe’s Reboot to The Matrix. And yes, we see you, MCP—still making HAL 9000 look polite. If you want to know which real arcade games inspired these digital duels, check out Remembering TRON the Movie, LEGO News & On Reboot.

We’ve only had two movies, but the first set the tone. Flynn (Jeff Bridges) gets zapped into The Grid, discovers programs aren’t just code—they’ve got personalities, beliefs, even souls. Writer/director Steven Lisberger planted more philosophy than some viewers realized, especially in this exchange between Dr. Walter Gibbs and Ed Dillinger:

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On Fan Expo Vancouver; Is 2017 shaping to be like 2016? A Retrospective

Fan Expo Vancouver

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

On November 9-11, Fan Expo Vancouver (FEV) 2017 is looking almost exactly like 2016, but with a slightly different guest lineup from CW’s group of superhero shows. For fans wanting an event to meet their favourite television heroes, this fact is good. The latest crop of guest announcements includes Grant Gustin, Stephen Amell, David Ramsey, Neal McDonough, Paul Blackthorne and Caity Lotz.

For others craving diversity year after year, there’s always Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC) in March. Given the distance, to travel there is easy. The expense is not. I usually attend both. For FEV, I’ll be there because of The Fonz! Yes, I love Henry Winkler and all he’s done in the entertainment industry.

As for what’s in store for this upcoming event, I offer my look back at last year’s show. This article was first printed in Absolute Underground Magazine:

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R.I.P. The Mummy (1999-2008) Retrospective

the_mummyBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Before Stephen Sommers version of The Mummy gets fully buried in the wake of the upcoming 2017 film next month, I have to fondly recall the elements that I enjoyed from this past iteration. The 1999 film was heavily inspired by the pulps. Although its star, Rick O’Connell (played by Brendan Fraser) would gladly let his son Alex keep the world at peace, I do not think a consortium existed to help develop the continuity needed for the spin-off material.

If that was the case, I imagine the character of Anubis would play an important role throughout the entire saga instead of being a background character for the first two movies. He is the god of death, and before Osiris landed in the Underworld and succeeded to the role, was in control of many a person’s fate should anyone die within his domain, the land of Egypt.

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