Fan Fiction Reviews: The Cough.

Type of fanfic: My little pony, dark, horror, epidemic, gory, short.

Story: Equestria is suffering from an epidemic. Nearly everypony is either dead or become zombie like. Twilight and her friends have boarded themselves inside a house and are trying to wait until the epidemic is over. That is until somepony coughed. Realising that one of them has the illness, they start to quickly turn on each other. That is until Fluttershy admits to be the one who coughed. And in order to save everypony present, Rainbow Dash is instructed to kill her. Which she sadly does so. With one of their friends now dead, the remaining five try and continue with their survival. Only to hear another cough...

My thoughts: This is the very first MLP fan fiction that I have read (apart from the infamous Cupcakes but this one I've read all the way through). It is set in one dark room with the only light being generated by Twilight's magic. The fact that what ever the illness is turns ponies into zombies isn't said in the story but you get the feeling that that is what is going on outside. The ending is one of those endings that is great and that it makes you think. Did Fluttershy develop the illness and had passed it on to somepony else? Or was she lying to protect one of their friends?... This fanfic has a sequel and a prequel. Both of which I recommend checking out.

My score: Four stars.

Film Review: Outbreak

Release date: March 10th 1995.

Story: A white headed capuchin monkey is captured in the jungles of Africa and is smuggled into the USA. But is released into the countryside after failing to be sold on the black market. But what everyone doesn't know is that the monkey is a carrier of a very deadly virus which is deadlier then the plague and is easier to catch then the common cold. Soon it is a race against time to both quarantine a town which is infected with the deadly virus and to find the monkey before all of the USA is infected. Will they be able to save the day? Watch the movie and find out.

My thoughts: If you need a film to explain the saying "Coughs and sneezes, spread diseases", then this is the film for you. The effects are good and the scenes of people being effected by this is slightly disturbing. The characters are great as well. Dustin Hoffman is great as the hero, Morgan Freeman is great as Hoffman's boss who had a previous experience with the illness, and Donald Sutherland is great as the villain who refuses to use anything else apart from the 'use a nuke to solve everything' method. Fun fact the monkey in the movie also starred in Friends as Marcel (Ross's pet monkey) and the film is also based on the nonfiction book The Hot Zone. This is a great movie with a lot of suspense and action and is a good addition to any Disaster movie collection.

My score: Four stars.

Film Reivew: The Core.

Release date: March 28th 2003.

Story: The Earth's core suddenly stops spinning. Causing huge catastrophises on the surface. Realising that the planet is in great danger, a team of scientists create a train/drill machine to take them to the planet's core in order to jump start it before it's too late.

My thoughts: This is an ok film. There are some things in the film that real scientists could question but the action is good. But what I didn't like about the film is that it never gives us a reason why the core has stopped spinning. In the trailers, they said that a top secret device created by the government that can causes earthquakes to rouge nations was the cause of it. But in the movie, the only time this device was brought up was when they were looking for a second option if they've run out of time. But it is an ok movie and I can recommend it for some people.

My score: Two stars.  

Film Review: Reign of Fire

Release date: July 12th 2002.

Story: After accidentally awakening a group of hibernating dragons under the streets of London, mankind is nearly whipped out and the dragons are now the dominant species. Now in 2020, a small group of survivors try and survive in the dragon ruled world. Until one day a group of American dragon slayers arrive with the intent of slaying the alpha male dragon. But the two groups of humans have a hard time getting along. Will they be able to get along with each other and help save mankind? Watch the movie and find out.

My thoughts: This is a ok film. The dragons look great yet the characters are a bit hit and miss for my taste. But it's cool to see Christian Bale (before his Batman years) and Matthew McConaughey's characters butting heads. If you are a fan of post apocalyptic films then I would recommend this.

My score: Three stars.

Gaming Reviews: Fallout 76.

Release date: November 14th 2018.

Type of game: Role-playing, open world, online multiplayer.

Story: Years after nuclear war had nearly destroyed the whole world, a handful of people managed to survive in specially built bunkers deep underground. You play as one of these people who goes outside in order to repopulate and rebuild. So you venture out into the world where you encounter ghouls, super mutants, and the other things that are associated with the Fallout series.

My thoughts: This game is a let down. Apart from the various glitches and mishaps the game has (there is a three hour video on Youtube all about the various mishaps the game has), the adverts show huge groups of players teaming up to explore the world and rebuild civilisation. Yet when you play, all of the players are scattered all over the map and on rare occasions do you bump into other players. Also I know that you can't pause an online game but there are times when you just need to recheck your stuff on your pip-boy or what ever it is called, you still get attacked. And more annoyingly your weapons brake and you have to mend them (which is also a problem when you are in the middle of a battle and you are open to attacks when you have to stop and select a new weapon or health items. And there is no point of running to cover because the enemies follow you and keep up the attack) which is in the previous games (apart from Fallout 4). Also some of the weapons and items you collect cannot be used until you reach a higher level. So if you are a fan of Fallout games then you can play this if you want but I wouldn't recommend it. Although there might be a update with new material that might improve the game.

Things that I want in a future update or DLC: Perhaps something where we can explore a pre-war world (something I want for every Fallout game) and perhaps one where you can play as a Super mutant or something.

My score: Two stars.

Film Review: 2012

Release date: November 13th 2009.

Story: A divorced limo driver tries to protect his family from a geological disaster and get them to safety before it is too late.

My thoughts: This film was based on the 2012 phenomenon (which states that on the 21st of December 2012, a new era will begin. With some others thinking that this means the end of the world) that was written on a 5,126 year long Ancient Mesoamerican long count calendar. And we do get to see a lot of major disasters in the film. Including Los Angeles being struck by an mega-earthquake, the super volcano in Yellowstone national park erupting, Las Vegas collapsing into the ground, Hawaii being consumed with molten lava, the Vatican being destroyed, and then mega tsunamis consuming the world. But as you've already know, the world didn't end like in the movie. This was from the same film maker who brought us Independence Day, the 1998 Godzilla, and The day after tomorrow. If you like disaster movies then give this a watch.

My score: Two stars.

Film Review: The Poseidon Adventure (2005).

Release date: 2005 (TV movie).

Story: A two episode tv remake of the Poseidon Adventure.

My thoughts: This tv movie came out just a year before the 2006 version. But this time the ship doesn't get capsized by a rogue wave but by a terrorist bomb. Everything else is basically the same really.

My score: Three stars.

Film Review: Poseidon

Release date: May 6th 2006 (Tribeca film festival release). May 12th 2006 (US release).

Story: A modern remake of the Poseidon Adventure. A cruise ship is capsized by a giant tidal wave and a handful of survivors have to make their way upwards to the bottom of the ship in order to escape.

My thoughts: This is a good remake. It basically does the same things like the original but changes some things. Like in the original we just see the people in the ballroom as the ship capsizes. But in this we see how everywhere on ship is effected. It is a basic remake and if you like remakes then check it out.

My score: Three stars.

Film Review: The Towering Inferno

Release date: December 14th 1974.

Story: During the opening of the Glass Tower (a.k.a the worlds tallest building), a tiny electric spark suddenly causes a raging inferno which traps the guests on the top floors. This then leads to a race against time to stop the fire from consuming the whole building and to rescue the trapped people before it is too late.

My thoughts: Following the success of The Poseidon Adventure, Irwin Allen produced this movie for both Twentieth Century Fox and Warner Brothers. Both studios had required the rights to two novels which both involves a building getting set on fire (The Glass Inferno and The Tower) and Allen (who thought that the two movies would cannibalize each other) propose that the two studios join forces and make one movie. This movie stars big name actors (like the Poseidon Adventure) like Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, and Fred Astaire. This film is also a must see for any Disaster film fan.

My score: Five stars.

Film Review: The Poseidon Adventure.

Release date: December 12th 1972.

Story: While sailing from New York to Athens during the early hours on New Years Day, The S.S Poseidon is struck by a 90 foot tidal wave... and capsizes. As the ship slowly begins to sink, a small group of survivors make their way upwards to the bottom of the ship in order to escape. Will they be able to get out alive? Watch the movie to find out.

My thoughts: This was released during the golden age of Disaster movies that were released during the 1970's. This movie was directed by Irwin Allen (Who was better known for creating well known television shows like Lost in Space, Voyage to the bottom of the sea, The Time Tunnel, and Planet of the Giants) and was based off of a novel by Paul Gallico. This movie was a massive success and lead the way for more amazing disaster movies like The Towering Inferno, The Swarm, Rollercoaster, Earthquake, and Avalanche. This is a great movie that will leave you on the edge of your seat and I would recommend it for any Disaster film fans.

My score: Five stars.