ENDGAME (1983) – More Weirdness at the End of the World with yet another Italian imitation of The Road Warrior. These Spaghetti-pocalypse movies were to the 80s what Spaghetti Westerns were to the 60s and 70s.
Directed by the legendary Joe D’Amato under one of his rolodex-full of aliases, Endgame is one of the most watchable of these cheapjack end of the world exercises. It’s not good, mind you, just watchable.
D’Amato wasn’t the only one operating under an assumed name in this movie. Laura Gemser, cult sexploitation starlet, stars under the name Moira Chen. She portrays Lilith, a telepathic mutant leader. In Endgame‘s 2025 setting, World War Three has come and gone and mutants are feared and persecuted because of their paranormal powers.
Though there are scattered portions of Post-Apocalypse America where mutants are accepted and other scattered portions where mutants rule, in the big cities mutants are hunted down and killed on sight.
Lilith works like a figurative Mutant Called Moses (with apologies to Harriet Tubman) and has been heroically smuggling mutants out of the cities, Underground Railroad style.
Her cover was blown recently and she needs to get herself and one last gathering of mutant fugitives out of New York City, to the west and safety. Among those mutants is Tommy, a little boy with so much power that Lilith has been telepathically suppressing it. Unchecked, Tommy could level whole neighborhoods.
The film’s male lead is Ron Shannon, played by Al Cliver aka Pierluigi Conti, fresh off my favorite BAD Post-Apocalypse movie, 2020 Texas Gladiators in 1982. Ron Shannon is your regulation world-weary, burned-out warrior, highly skilled at armed and unarmed combat. Continue reading
DAY THREE, GAME ONE – One of the 1 seeds – the NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SHARKS (“or something” as Nicolas Cage would say) – took on their Region’s 5th seeded UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA TIGERS. By Halftime the Sharks were up on the Tigers 41-31 and for the rest of the game NSU kept their opponents at roughly that same distance. The final tally was Sharks 89 West Alabama 80. THIRTY-TWO points from Mark Matthews led Nova Southeastern. 
DAY THREE, GAME TWO – The 2nd seeded AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY JAGUARS faced the 3 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT AIKEN PACERS. The Pacers were leading 37-28 at the break but the Jaguars roared back to force Overtime with an 84-84 tie. In the extra session Augusta University won it 93-89. Tyvez Monroe led the Jaguars with 21 points. 
DAY THREE, GAME THREE – This game pitted another 1 seed – the QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE ROYALS – against the 4th seeded CATAWBA COLLEGE INDIANS. The Royals had compiled a 44-35 advantage by the midpoint but then had to hold on tight for a 96-93 victory. Daniel Carr put up THIRTY-THREE points to lead Queens University of Charlotte. 
WHITE, PRIVILEGED ONE-PERCENTER DEMOCRAT NANCY PELOSI AND EVERY OTHER MEMBER OF CONGRESS WHO HINDERS BORDER SECURITY IS AN ACCOMPLICE TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE CRIMES. YES, HYPOCRITES, PRETEND YOU CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN NEW ZEALAND WHILE IGNORING ATROCITIES PERPETRATED HERE BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
Journalist and strong female role model Kelli Ballard courageously continues to compile as comprehensive as possible a breakdown of the additional crimes committed by people in the country illegally. 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top seeded CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS faced the 2 seeds – the ROBERTS WESLEYAN COLLEGE REDHAWKS – for the title in the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association). The opening Half was a defensive epic which ended with the teams tied up at 26-26. After the break the Yellow Jackets mustered a bit of separation from the Redhawks for a 64-58 victory. Conner TenHove’s 14 points led Cedarville U. * THE YELLOW JACKETS ARE NCCAA CHAMPIONS * 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The last two teams standing in this Tournament were the 2 seeds – the HERKIMER COLLEGE GENERALS – and the 5th seeded ROCK VALLEY COLLEGE GOLDEN EAGLES. An Upset seemed to be in the offing as the Golden Eagles led 37-31 at Halftime. From there the Generals came from behind to win the game by a comfortable 72-60. Herkimer College ends the season with one lone loss. * THE GENERALS ARE CHAMPIONS OF NJCAA DIVISION THREE * 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The SWARTHMORE COLLEGE GARNET clashed with the CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY CAPTAINS as D3’s Final Four action commenced. The Garnet led the Captains by a Lucky 7 points, 36-29, come Halftime and then maintained that advantage for a 70-63 triumph. Cam Wiley put up 23 points to lead Swarthmore College. 
SECOND SEMIFINAL – This game pitted the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT OSHKOSH TITANS against the WHEATON (IL) COLLEGE THUNDER. By the midpoint the Titans were on top of the Thunder by a score of 46-41. From there UW-Oshkosh went on to win it by a Centennial Club-level 104-85. The victors were led by Jack Flynn’s Double Double of 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Balladeer’s Blog takes a look at the turning point story for Adam Warlock, a Marvel Comics character … and therefore probably destined to become a pop culture demi-god like almost every other Marvel figure thrown at the screen. (He was already an Easter Egg in their Cinematic Universe)
Here at Balladeer’s Blog I often spell out the many ways that the increasing fascism of the American Left drove away me and so many others. In addition I frequently feature similar testimonials from people who feel the same way. 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The 2 seeds – the ROBERTS WESLEYAN COLLEGE REDHAWKS – took the court against the 3rd seeded HANNIBAL-LAGRANGE UNIVERSITY TROJANS. The Redhawks found themselves chasing the Trojans at Halftime as they faced a 35-22 deficit. After the break Roberts Wesleyan College mounted a massive comeback, winning the game 63-61 led by 19 points from Peyton McLaurin. 
Balladeer’s Blog’s original reviews of The Top Five Harry Flashman Novels were such a hit I followed it up with bonus reviews of what I consider the 6th through 10th novels. It may be a few weeks until I finish any of my reviews of the remaining books in the series so here’s quick links to the 6th – 10th place selections. 
SIXTH PLACE
SEVENTH PLACE 
EIGHTH PLACE 
Balladeer's Blog 