The Last King Podcast

This week we review the Netflix anthology series Love Death and Robots and also the new video game from From Software, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

From the minds of David Fincher and Tim Miller, comes Love Death and Robots. An anthology series, spanning 18 episodes, showcasing the latest in cutting edge aniimation and storytelling. Inspired by such groundbreaking collections as The Animatrix and Heavy Metal, will the series push the boundaries of animation or storytelling? Or is it all just style over substance?

And in video games, we have the latest offering from the team that fave us Bloodborne and the Dark Souls trilogy. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice sees the developer veer away from the familiar and strike out with a brand new IP. The trademark punishing difficulty and high skill requirements are still intact, but how does Sekiro stack up against the other games from the legendary studio?

March 31st marks the 20th anniversary of the groundbreaking sci-fi action film, The Matrix. So in this retrospective episode, we pay tribute to the landmark film, and the impact it had on culture.

We dive into the cast, the action and the special effects. Also, also bring up the various sources of inspiration from Hong Kong cinema's contributions of Kung-Fu films and John Woo's bullet ballets to Japanese Anime, and the philosophical writings of Baudrillard.

We also ramble about the follow-ups, namely the Animatrix and the following sequels. We analyse the possible reasons why the sequels were so disappointing and give our ideas on where the franchise could go today.

This week we review the video game Devil May Cry 5 and the film Captain Marvel.

First up, it's the fifth entry into the long-running franchise from Capcom, arriving almost a decade after the last one. Devil May Cry 5 reunites Nero and Dante, as well as new protagonist V, as they battle a demon invasion. Series veterans have been waiting for a new sequel, and we discuss where this stacks up among the other games.

Next, we review Captain Marvel, starring Brie Larson as the titular superheroine. This film's stirred up much controversy, mostly due to some choice words from the actress in interviews. Though despite that, does the film succeed in creating a launching platform for one of Marvel comic's lesser-known characters, like with Guardians of the Galaxy, or will it succumb to the Marvel formula?

This week we review the videogames Dead or Alive 6 and Resident Evil 2 Remake, and Eccentric Tom brings up Happy Death Day 2 U.

First up is the sixth instalment in the bouncy 3d-fighter series from Koei Tecmo. Dead or Alive 6 promises more competitive gameplay while retaining the aesthetics that keep fans coming back,

It's our yearly Oscar party at the Last King, where we talk about everything that went down at this year's Academy Awards. From stunt nominations to deserved wins - and the underserved ones as well.

We give our thoughts on the marquee categories and the apparent snubs as well. Listen Now.

It's an all videogames episode again. First up we discuss the EVO Japan which took place recently. From the rise of new Tekken superstar Arslan Ash to the controversial jiggles of Dead or Alive. We also talk about the state of fighting games in eSports and its relevance today.

Next, we return to Hope County, Montana in the brand new expansion, Far Cry: New Dawn. It's a narrative sequel to Far Cry 5, which is a first for the series. Usually, a game expansion takes on a life of their own, but fans can now explore the postmortem after the nuclear event of Far Cry 5. Is it more of the same or does it do enough to warrant it's price?

And in our featured segment, we review Bioware's latest offering, Anthem. A looter shooter that has been drawing comparisons to Destiny, and some ire for performance issues during it's early access. With the pedigree of Bioware on the line, does Anthem retain the legacy of the studio? Or have they not learnt from the lesson of Mass Effect: Andromeda?

Kingdom Hearts 3 has finally arrived on the PlayStation 4, after nearly 14 years since Kingdom Hearts 2, which came out during the PlayStation 2 era. It's been a long time coming for the game with fans eagerly awaiting with high expectations. With the buzz and anticipation surrounding the game, we ask if it was worth the wait.

Then, in movie reviews, we have two animated features. First, the Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, starring Chriss Pratt and Elizabeth Banks. And How to Train Your Dragon Part 3, the third entry in the beloved series based on the book of the same name.

This week we review 'Alita: Battle Angel' the new film from acclaimed producer James Cameron and director Robert Rodriguez. Based on the classic manga "Gunmm" a.k.a "Battle Angel Alita".

It tells the story of Alita, an amnesiac female cyborg found by Dr Dyson Ido in the scrapheap. Dyson manages to revive her, and rebuild her a new body. Alita soon discovers that she's a practitioner of the legendary martial art Panzer Kunst, although she does not recall anything else. Alita uses her Panzer Kunst to first become a mercenary Hunter-Warrior, killing cyborg criminals in the Scrapyard, and then as a player in the brutal sport of Motorball.

With several western film adaptations of manga failing to garner financial or critical acclaim, Will Alita succeed where many others haven't, or do we need to stop trying to adapt manga to film?

First, we wrap up the January with a review and the year’s first retrospective. Specifically, we look back at the ‘Eastrail 177 trilogy’, containing the films Unbreakable, Split and the recently released Glass. From the mind of M. Night Shyamalan whose works have been nothing short of polarising.

We start with Unbreakable, a film following closely on the heels of the director’s breakout hit The Sixth Sense. At release, it received mixed reviews from critics ranging from negative to moderate. Recently, the movie gained a cult following, with many fans calling it the director’s best work.

Then we talk about Split featuring a spectacular performance from lead James McAvoy. He plays Kevin Wendell Crumb, a serial killer who has multiple personality disorder. Split released in 2016 received very positive reviews, earning $160 million off a $20million budget.

Finally, we cap off the episode with our review of Glass the recently released final chapter to the trilogy, It brings back all the characters from the previous films with the addition of Dr Ellie Staple, played by Sarah Paulson. The film though critically panned succeeded financially, making double it’s budget in its opening weekend.

This week we discuss our favourite anime shows for 2018. First, we look at the first part of "Attack on Titan" season 3. The show's first season was an unexpected success and what followed was a disappointing second season. Will the third season do enough to win back fans, or will it continue to delay the inevitable?

Then, we discuss "A Place Further than the Universe", a coming of age story about four teenage girls set in Antarctica. The series has been garnering critical acclaim and even made the New York Times list of best international shows of the year.

Then we look at "Violet Evergarden", based on the award-winning light novel of the same name. The story follows Violet, an ex-soldier reintegrating back into society after the war. And her journey to find meaning after serving as a soldier.

And finally, we review "High Score Girl" a romantic comedy set during the Japanese arcade scene in the 90s. It revolves around underachiever Haruo and his passion for video games. His world is turned upside down when he meets Akira, a mysterious girl with superior gaming skills. Invigorated by the challenge, he makes her a rival. But the rivalry develops into something else entirely, when he discovers that Akira has to leave Japan for America.