Top Five Helicopters

Helicopters are pretty cool, I don't think too many would dispute that. I doubt many people have actually been in one unless you're in the police or military, or perhaps if you're unlucky enough to have had an accident in a remote location or been attacked by a bear or escaped convict or something. Or maybe if you work for a tour company, or perhaps if you're a reporter in a big city. Or maybe if you're really rich and use one as your general runabout. But even if one of these scenarios is true, you've probably still only been in a boring chopper. Which examples are the least boring, I hear you ask? Well, here are five pretty stonking twirlers I thought of:

5. Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion

This is the only entry on this list I hadn't heard of prior to looking into the subject, but I was immediately intrigued by its unusual appearance and large size. The latter is down to the fact that it was designed as a heavy lift helicopter, and in that capacity it is unmatched, at least in the US military. The most powerful version - the King Stallion - can lift over 16 tonnes! There are loads of versions of it but I think the mean-looking example pictured (which is actually a German one) is the best looking one. Not that that should really be a defining factor in this type of 'best' list but there you are. Unlike all the other helos on this list, the Sea Stallion hasn't been featured too heavily in movies - not surprising really since it's a cargo/troop carrier rather than an attack chopper - but it was featured in The Jackal and one of those crap Transformers movies. That's unlikely to change now, too, since it was retired just over a decade ago, but this workhouse certainly left its mark in the real world.

Puzzle Games #24

Skweek a.k.a. Slider (1988)
By: Loriceils Genre: Puzzle Players: 1 Difficulty: Medium-Hard
Featured Version: Atari ST First Day Score: 40,710
Also Available For: PC Engine, Game Gear, Amiga, Amstrad CPC

I'm not sure why but I've long been intrigued by gonks. I've had many fine examples adorn my shelves or desks over the years, but I think when I played this game at my good friend Luke's house so many years ago it was the first time I had actually controlled the actions of one of the fuzzballs. The gonk in question fittingly stars in a puzzle game. I'm not sure why it's fitting, it just seems right. This rightness also extends to his name. I'm not sure I could've come up with a better name for a yellow gonk who waddles around tiled stages in a puzzle game if I tried. He's actually an alien, you may not be surprised to hear, from a place called Skweezland which has apparently been overrun by the minions of some flange called Pitark who has, for some reason, turned the lush pink countryside of Skweezland blue.

Film Round-Up #41

I don't think any regular readers here need reminding of my fondness for things of the 80s. Admittedly, my main focus in that area is normally games, but we must never forget the wonder that was 80s cinema. I saw many fine examples at the time, I've seen some others long after that glorious decade ended, and there are even some well known titles I've never seen. In the first of what will probably be several posts on the subject, here's a look at five (hopefully) great examples:

WarGames (1983)

I only seem to recall watching this one with my dad when I was pretty young but I thought I remembered it. It turns out that was only partly true but one thing's for sure - it must've been one of the first films based around computery stuff. Matthew Broderick stars as nerdy Seattle student David Lightman who hacks into what he believes is a videogame company only to set in motion a 'war game' simulation by accident. This wouldn't be so bad but the simulation is being run by WOPR, the NORAD computer which was actually the one David hacked into, and it makes the US military think the Soviets are really attacking! I thought I remembered there being more time spent in front of computer screens with David and the WOPR contraption trying to outwit each other but he spends most of his time sneaking around NORAD or running around with Jennifer (Ally Sheedy) trying to save the day. My poor memory doesn't make it a bad film though, and despite the obviously-outdated technology, perhaps even because of it, I really enjoyed seeing this one again... 8/10