Tag: Opinion

VIDEO GAME FILM ADAPTATIONS: A CRITICAL ANALYSISVIDEO GAME FILM ADAPTATIONS: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Kevin Mathews 3:00 pm
Video Game Film Adaptations

Is the tide turning in favour of video game film adaptations? The recent success of The Super Mario Bros. movie where despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, has grossed $377 million worldwide, offers evidence of this. The movie has been setting several box office records, including the biggest worldwide opening weekend for an animated film and domestic debut for a film based on a video game.

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SEVEN REASONS WHY FRANCHISE FATIGUE IS REAL!SEVEN REASONS WHY FRANCHISE FATIGUE IS REAL!

Kevin Mathews 4:10 pm
Franchise Fatigue

COVID-19 global pandemic had a mixed impact on the entertainment industry. On the one hand, cinemas were adversely affected by lockdowns and the like while the popularity of streaming platforms sky-rocketed. Both aspects of the industry have been skewered either positively or negatively as the case might be. What is clear is that post-pandemic, there is a sense that franchise fatigue is becoming a reality amongst fans. Let’s explore the reasons why this is the case right now.

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AI ART: BOON OR BANE?AI ART: BOON OR BANE?

Kevin Mathews 10:51 am
AI Art: Boon or Bane?

Artistic expression has always been an important aspect of human culture and creativity, but with the advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, the boundaries of what we consider to be art are being redefined. AI art generators like DALL-E 2 and Midjourney are examples of this trend, where machines are used to create art, removing the need for human artists. While these AI art generators have their pros and cons, it’s worth noting that the debate surrounding their use is similar to the one that surrounded electronic music production when it first became popular.

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ERASING TOLKIEN: AN OPINIONERASING TOLKIEN: AN OPINION

Kevin Mathews 10:59 am
Erasing Tolkien (borrowed from the Gamer)

Erasing Tolkien? What’s that about? Well, the showrunners and actors of Amazon Prime Video’s Rings of Power series have declared that their series is a version of Tolkien’s work that reflects modernity – “To be part of creating accessibility for generations to come. For new generations this is their version of Tolkien, this is what my daughter will see of Tolkien’s works.” That is a direct quote from actress Sophia Nomvete, who plays Disa, the wife of Dwarf king Durin.

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RELIGION AND ANXIETYRELIGION AND ANXIETY

Kevin Mathews 11:00 am
Religion and Anxiety

A caveat before I share this opinion about Religion and Anxiety. This is based on my own experience and is not intended to denigrate anybody’s religious beliefs. However, if you are triggered and offended by my personal sharing, then perhaps you need to reflect on your own religious experiences rather than lash out irrationally in anger. If you can take this opinion in that spirit, please read on – if not, then please stop right now and move on…

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OBSESSIVE PROBLEM SOLVING (COPING WITH ANXIETY)OBSESSIVE PROBLEM SOLVING (COPING WITH ANXIETY)

Kevin Mathews 9:35 am
Obsessive problem solving

In my last post on coping with anxiety, I discussed how self-awareness (both internal and external) was a vital starting point for anyone who wants to manage the anxiety disorders in their lives. This is a good time to begin to look at individual symptoms that need to be tackled in order to successfully deal with anxiety. So, let’s look at Obsessive Problem Solving.

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STOP CHASING RAINBOWSSTOP CHASING RAINBOWS

Kevin Mathews 9:03 am

People are encouraged to have dreams – to be chasing rainbows. Inherent in this is the pressure to be our best selves but not as defined by ourselves but by external parties. Unfortunately, this pursuit of the presently unattained – whether it be of a career, romantic partner etc – is the root of expectations and desires, which will invariably lead to disappointment and despair!

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UNDERSTANDING MUSIC GENRES – THE BASICSUNDERSTANDING MUSIC GENRES – THE BASICS

Kevin Mathews 11:38 am

UNDERSTANDING MUSIC GENRES – THE BASICS is an opinion piece. Nothing more, nothing less.

Why understand music genres?

Music continues to be a major player in modern life and impacts all spheres of social and cultural influence – from politics to business to entertainment and so on. Even though the value received by music artists has been marginalised by record labels, publishers and more recently, tech companies – the value added by music artists remains vitally important.

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