The Saint Reborn (The Saint 2017) and Sonic Mania Video Game News

You know the DMV is a great place to do some deep thinking. I mean you’re stuck there for hours on end waiting for your number to be called so it’s perfect for sitting back in those awkward chairs and thinking about life. I can’t believe I actually have had to go to the DMV twice this year, not for anything bad of course but yeah twice. While at the DMV I came up with some new story ideas that actually revolve around the DMV and driving in general so yeah that’ll be interesting.

Guess that was kind of an unorthodox introduction to today’s blog but yeah the DMV is pretty fun to visit. (Not)

Completely switching topics, yesterday I watched a movie that I didn’t actually know was actually made, The Saint. This will probably chime a familiar tune inside your heads. The Saint started off as a massive book series created by Leslie Charteris but soon turned into one of TV’s classic shows. The books were popular enough but when ITV began airing a certain show it became a pop culture hit. 

The Saint was a mystery spy thriller show that told the story of Simon Templar a Robin Hood-esque and master thief of a  man who stole from criminals, though he kept the money. Simon Templar was played by a little known actor known as Roger Moore. You know, Sir Roger Moore. The late Sir Roger Moore is a worldwide favorite James Bond but the Saint was just as an iconic role if not more iconic then Bond. Roger Moore was already a well known actor at the time but the Saint really was a huge step in his career and probably got him the role as James Bond a few years later. Anyway Simon Templar because of the work he did had the tendency to end up on the cop’s bad side but his heart was in the right place, also he broke the fourth wall quite a bit.

A lot of the Episodes of the show earlier on were based on stories written by Charteris but had original storylines implemented in later seasons, more so when the series transitioned from Black and White to color. I vaguely remember watching the show through reruns, I have seen it quite a bit but it’s been a long time.

A revival of the show aired from 1978 to 1979 following the original show’s end in 1969. Instead of Roger Moore however Ian Ogilvy played the role of The Saint. Apparently this show has had many variations including other movies such as a load of B-list movies made in the 1930s and 40s and a 1997 film which apparently differed a lot from the original source material.

This new Saint movie released July of this year as a direct to digital download/TV movie/Netflix movie although originally it was going to be a new TV series starring the same actors. This was apparently announced back in 2012 which I remember hearing about and produced in 2013 but sat in limbo for the longest time. In November of 2015 some reshoots were added to the pilot and rekeyed into this very movie. Really this would have made a pretty awesome new series, Adam Rayner plays a good Simon Templar. (Actually he kind of reminds me of a young Roger Moore in a way.)

This wasn’t just a remake of an old storyline it seems the storyline was original but still keeping the same Saint feel. This movie dove into The Saint’s family the Templars and a little into his childhood, which was pretty awesome. The best part of this movie by far is the appearances of not one but two previous Saint Actors. Sir Roger Moore and Ian Ogilvy both play roles in this movie, with both of them actually playing villains, which was a funny twist. This is sadly Roger Moore’s last movie appearance but it feels almost right with the movie being The Saint.

Eliza Dushku plays Patricia Holm, Simon’s kickbutt friend and partner in the movie. She was actually pretty prominent in the early novels but was never adapted for Roger Moore’s TV series so it’s cool to see her finally get an adaption aside from the B-List RKO Radio movies from the 40s.

Overall I really enjoyed this version of The Saint it’s a thrilling movie that brings back The Saint feel that hasn’t been seen since the 70s. It’s an awesome send off to the great Roger Moore and while it seems unlikely I would like to see more from Adam Rayner, perhaps if this movie becomes popular enough? This movie is available to watch on Netflix as of now but you can also purchase it via iTunes below!

Today’s Wednesday which is usually the day I look through news from the past week and compile it into this one blog. For starters let’s dive into some Video Game news!

Do you like speed? Going fast? Blue Hedgehogs? Nostalgia? Well then get ready because Sonic Mania is now launched worldwide for pretty much every console imaginable. 

Sonic Mania is looking to be a massive celebration of classic sonic and the Sonic 25^th Anniversary with a return to 16-bit Sega Genesis theme albeit updated. This game looks to be a great Sonic game with even the original artist and character designer Naoto Ohshima making a return to the franchise with some new artwork provided for the game as well as an awesome opening animation. You can buy Sonic Mania for $19.99 on the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PS4, Windows and Steam as a download but there’s also this incredible looking Sonic Mania Collector’s Edition available for every platform via Amazon. This comes with a Deluxe Collector’s Box, a 12” Statue of Sonic standing on a Sega Genesis and apparently the classic SEGA startup sound, a SEGA Cartridge Case with a Golden Ring, and a metallic collector’s card with the download key for the game. You can check this out below.

Here's a fun fact about Sonic Mania. Apparently the development crew consists of developers who actually started off making Sonic fangames! People such as Christian "Taxman" Whitehead, the director all came from a fangame background so it's crazy to see Sega take them on to make a legit Sonic game.

Got some news regarding GameStop! For starters the Nintendo Switch is now restocked across all GameStop retail stores and online so be sure to pick yourself up one if you haven’t yet and while you’re there don’t forget that the Salazzle Pokemon Sun and Moon event is currently ongoing as of today! Just ask for a code card and you should get one or two, I usually get given two.

I’ve never played Cave Story before, though I actually want to try it someday but this news looked pretty interesting. The studio behind Cave Studio Nicalis, Inc. (Who just released Cave Studio+ for the Nintendo Switch) released these images and gifs of a 3D model of the game’s protagonist.

Hey that's a new trick! pic.twitter.com/upXKxhPikr

— Nicalis, Inc. (@nicalis) August 14, 2017

Wonder what this is for? Perhaps this is for the Nintendo Switch version of Brawlout, which I had only just discovered and its pretty much Super Smash Brothers with Indie characters.  Maybe this is actually a preview for Smash 5? I mean it looks like it could be a Smash Bros model… Maybe that’s a little farfetched.

Finally with PAX West (Pretty sure this used to be called PAX Prime but I guess they changed the name to West.) happening in Seattle this September 1-4^th. Nintendo is happening holding a special panel on the 2^nd from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. Are they going to announce something? I will be keeping my eyes glued to the screen that day.

Switching to movie news it appears we’re able to experience a Leosception. Leonardo DiCarprio has just signed on to play none other than Leonardo Da Vinci in a brand new Biopic, I kid you not. Yes this is really happening I can’t believe it, it seems almost fate for Leonardo to play… Well Leonardo. This movie will be produced by Paramount Studios and based off a soon to be released book by Walter Isaacson about Da Vinci. Yeah the movie has already moved ahead before the book has even released but I guess Paramount figured that the adaptation of Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs book was a huge success so why not get a head start on the next book. I assume with the eagerness that Paramount is showing that this movie will be hitting theatres for next year’s Oscar season. I’ll discuss more as it’s announced.  Leonardo as Leonardo, that’ll definitely stick in the mind of movie goers.

Finally before I leave you guys today I have to bring you another FREE knitting pattern! Remember the Octopus pattern I featured a week or two ago? (It’s on this blog right here: ) Well as a continuation on my quest for knitted Octopuses I’ve come across yet another pattern, one a little more fun looking. This is the “knitted Preemie octopus” pattern by Anna Nat Howard.

Look how frilly it’s leg’s are this Octopus would make a perfect toy for Christmas in any Sea Life lover’s stockings. You’ll need 3.5mm needles for it’s body and 4mm for the tentacles. Yarn just seems to be DK of any color you want. Actually this is quite easy to knit from the looks of it and could even be a quick knit so be sure to check the pattern out here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/uwh1tmsv8j04zzx/Preemie%20octopus.pdf?dl=0. Check out more from Anna Nat Howard as well here: http://www.ravelry.com/designers/anna-nat-howard .

Once again be sure to vote for my talented photography of a sister during the "It's Amazing Out There" Photo contest by The Weather Channel. You can find her photo via this link: http://bit.ly/2u9B9yl if this doesn't work just search for "Butterfly and the Dandelion" you can vote everyday so go vote for my sister she deserves to win this!

My sister also has a new photography blog up at: http://ladyannavintage.blogspot.com/2017/08/from-rain-to-sunshine.html and the photographs are absolutely stunning. She took what was a dreary, rainy day into a beautiful moving set of photos so go check them out!

This was ZAK Entertainment

See you on Friday!

[Photo Credits: Leslie Charteris, ITV, NBC, SilverScreen Pictures, SEGA, Anna Nat Howard.]