Tag: Ponty Praises

Ponty Praises: The Fly (1986)

The Portly Politico52 Comments

Truly the 1980s were a golden age in many ways—a great economy, a confident Western civilization, and tons of great movies.  Even remakes from the era felt like totally fresh intellectual properties, with screenwriters taking advantage of improved technology to breathe new narrative life into older stories.  But it was also the peak of practical effects, as CGI had not quite reached the point of plausibility (and digital effects from the late 1980s now look quaint and dated).

I would argue, too, that the 1980s represented a golden age for body horror.  Who can forget the grotesque transformation scene in An American Werewolf in London (1981), or the stomach-churning effects in The Thing (1982)?

So it was with 1986’s The Fly, a film that combined the narrative abilities and amazing musical scores so endemic to the 1980s with the most horrifying body horror the decade could muster.  The combination of these elements—combined with great performances from the cast—put The Fly into the national consciousness, all while scaring the living taters out of us.

With that, here is Ponty’s buzzing review of The Fly (1986):

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Ponty Praises: Disco Elysium

The Portly Politico50 Comments

Disco Elysium is quite possibly the best video game I have ever played.  It is certainly the most unique.  I knew it was something special after only an hour of playing it, and while I have not started a new game since finishing it—“beating” is probably not the right word for Disco Elysium—it is a game that could reveal fresh layers through dozens, perhaps hundreds, of playthroughs, even if it only consists of one “main quest,” as it were.

I’ve never played a game that more accurately reflects the way my own mind is structured, and the way that I think about and dwell upon certain inane details.  I don’t have a “Thought Cabinet,” per se, but the notion of fixating upon and ruminating about an idea to the point that it worms its way into your psyche feels true to my experience.  As dear old Ponty will point out, the game has a way of seeping into your mind and, therefore, your life outside of the game.

I don’t want to give too much away, as Ponty delivers a brilliant and detailed review, so I’ll turn the controller over to him.

With that, here is Ponty’s review of Disco Elysium:

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Monday Morning Movie Review: Ponty Praises Donnie Darko (2001)

The Portly Politico6 Comments

After much cajoling, dear old Ponty has delivered his magnum opus—the long-anticipated review of 2001’s moody, depression-inducing Donnie Darko.

I’ve gotsta hand it to old Pontifex Maximus:  he sure knows how to write a review.  Even yours portly—who, as readers know well, is never wrong in his reasoned, intelligent assessments—is regarding his position after reading Ponty’s review.  I may even give DD a second (or is it third or fourth, at this point?) chance.

I won’t spoil anything, but Ponty explains filters out the mud and the grey and brings some light to this otherwise dismal film.

With that, here is Ponty’s review of 2001’s Donnie Darko:

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Ponty Praises: Ghost of Tsushima (2020)

The Portly Politico8 Comments

Yours portly has been giving Ponty a bit of ribbing about writing his rebuttal to my Caldecott Award-winning review of Donnie Darko (1999).  Please know, dear readers (and dear Ponty) that it’s all a spot of fun; I know Ponty is a busy man.

Indeed, he’s been busy replaying 2020’s Ghost of Tsushima, a samurai action-adventure epic.  Just reading through his review, I was blown away by two things:  how realistic the trees in the game look (you’ll see what I mean below) and the love and dedication with which Ponty approaches his reviews.  Game journalism might be rigged in the mainstream publications, but not here at The Portly Politico.  With Ponty’s in-depth analysis, you’re getting the best video game reviewing and analysis of our time.

That might sound like hyperbole, but TPP is blessed to host some great writers.  Ponty’s video game and film reviews always deliver.  In this case, I’m eager to pick up and try Ghost of Tsushima myself… but I don’t have a PS4 or PS5!  Here’s hoping for a port to the Nintendo Switch or the PC.

In the meantime, I can live vicariously through Ponty’s thirteenth-century samurai escapades—and so can you!

With that, here is Ponty’s review of 2020’s Ghost of Tsushima:

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