This one started out solidly enough, but by the time it ended, I was wondering how it spawned a number of sequels. The last fifteen minutes of the film, the real found footage part of the story, is shoddy at best. The story follows a series of talking heads, as they attempt to delve into…
Firefly (2002) – The Train Job, and Bushwhacked
The Train Job was the first episode of Firefly to be aired, because Fox didn’t want to start with the pilot, Serenity, they wanted something that had more action. So the script had to be reworked quickly to not only introduce the characters anew, but have solid action beats. It launched the series on 20…
Get Smart (1969) – To Sire With Love: Part 1, Part 2, and Shock It to Me
The King of Caronia, a dead ringer for Maxwell Smart (Don Adams), except for the moustache (which Max is required to add), is in Washington, and is staying with the Smarts. Wackiness ensues for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that 99 (Barbara Felon) can’t tell them apart. Written by Arne…
The Hitchcock Hotel (2024) – Stephanie Wrobel
A group of friends who haven’t seen one another since university are invited to an old friend’s renovated hotel, a tiny house that looks somewhat like the Bates Motel. In fact, the whole thing, book and hotel, is an homage to Hitchcock. There are secrets and reveals as the story plays out through its three…
Firefly (2002) – Serenity
Yes, Joss Whedon is problematic. But damn, I loved Firefly. Yes, he created it, but like Buffy and Angel, he’s not the only one who brought it to life. So with all that Nathan Fillion and the cast have done of late to bring about a continuation, in an animated format, I’ve decided to dig…
Strange Harvest (2024) – Stuart Ortiz
So this found footage film, slipped by me. But when I came across it on streaming, I figured I would dig in. Once again, the phrase found footage doesn’t help to sell this one. It’s actually designed, production-wise to look like a well-made true crime documentary. The details to make it feel like a doc…
Extreme Prejudice (1987) – Walter Hill
I remember seeing the art for this movie on a vhs copy while I was working in video stores. It never appealed to me. I should have read the pedigree. Directed by Walter Hill, a score by Jerry Goldsmith, a story created in part by John Milius, produced by Mario Kassar and Andrew Vajna, and…
Smallville (2004) – Forsaken, and Covenant
Forsaken is the penultimate episode of season three, which means there will be lots of things being set up for the season finale. Written by Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson, it first aired on 12 May, 2004. Lana (Kristin Kreuk) is getting ready to leave for Paris, an Clark (Tom Welling) is having a tough…
Star Trek: #3 Errand of War (1984)
The third issue of DC Comics’ Star Trek series was on spinners for April 1984 and continued the story begun in issue one. Once again it featured a cover by George Perez, Tom Sutton on pencils, Ricardo Villagran on inks, and Mike W. Barr writing the story… Errand of War. This was the first DC…
Lake Mungo (2008) – Joel Anderson
I’ve wanted to see Lake Mungo for awhile. When I first heard about this found footage style film, I was immediately intrigued. And honestly, it’s not so much found footage. It’s put together like a documentary, and there’s no real shaky cam. And it’s by turns haunting, surprising, and with a hefty emotional impact. In…
The Mind Reels 