Midwinter (1989) by Mike Singleton is a massive game in every sense of the word. For its time, it was incredibly ambitious, blending first-person action, strategy, and RPG elements into a pretty unique package.
It was definitely not a "load up and play" game - the learning curve was extremely steep (it took me ages to figure it out).
In the story, a meteorite impact has triggered a new ice age, leaving a vast 160,000-square-mile frozen island. You begin as Captain John Stark, a police officer tasked with building a guerrilla resistance against the invading forces of General Masters.
You can recruit up to 32 unique characters, each with their own personality, skills (such as marksmanship or mechanics), backstories, and relationships.
The game also features a detailed body-part injury system, along with hunger and exhaustion mechanics… and remember, if you think that's sounds a bit "meh, so?", this was released in 1989!
It was widely praised at the time for its enormous open world, vector-based 3D graphics, and mix of genres. Many consider it one of the first true open-world games, and being quite ahead of its time.
William Daniels is 99!
Blind Date is ridiculous, but in '87, I loved both Bruce Willis and Kim Basinger (for very different reasons), so I let it slide. Killer support, Kim’s a dream, and Blake Edwards’ slapstick slaps. It's a fun “what if Die Hard never happened?” alt-universe.
Mel Brooks reminisces how Alfred Hitchcock reacted after seeing the premiere of 'High Anxiety' (1977):
"'High Anxiety' (1977) premiered on December 25, 1977. At that premiere screening, Hitch sat right next to me. I had my own high anxiety awaiting his re- action. He didn’t laugh. He just sat and he watched. He only broke up once. When the birds let go and plastered me with their droppings, then I could see his shoulders shaking. When the film was over, he got up and walked out. He didn’t say he liked the picture. He didn’t say he hated the picture. He didn’t say anything. He just left.
I was devastated. And really worried. Not long after, when I came into the office, there on my desk was a huge box covered with silver paper and red ribbon. I tore the paper open and underneath was an impressive wooden case with a label that read: CHATEAU HAUT BRION 1961. I opened it to see six big, beautiful magnums of Chateau Haut Brion 1961. A priceless gift of one of the finest wines ever made.
There was a note:
"My dear Mel,
What a splendid entertainment, one that should give you no anxieties of any kind.
I thank you most humbly for your dedication and I offer you further thanks on behalf of the Golden Gate Bridge.
With kindest regards and again my warmest congratulations.
--- Hitch"
Needless to say, all my worries disappeared. If there was one person in the world I really wanted to like the picture, it was Alfred Hitchcock, and god bless him, he did. And as a thrilling bonus, I could now refer to him as “Hitch.”
Hitch knew something not everyone knew—that I had become a devotee of fine wines and had a wine cellar featuring some really classic vintages. I don’t know a lot, but I do know a lot about wine. (I’m not bragging. It’s just a fact.)
('All About Me - My remarkable life in Show Business", Mel Brooks, 2021)
Remembering comedic legend 🇨🇦 Leslie Nielsen, who passed away 15 years ago today, November 28, 2010, at age 84.
With more than 100 films to his name, Nielsen soared to box office glory in Airplane! (1980) and became unforgettable as the accident‑prone detective Frank Drebin in The Naked Gun franchise. And yes, whatever you do, don’t call him Shirley.