Space, the final frontier… My travels with the Enterprise this week take place during the original five year mission as the Federation starship is invited to take place in a race sponsored by a newly discovered species who is to join the United Federation of Planets. But while the ships are gathering there is another…
Author: TD Rideout
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark (2018) – Michelle McNamara
Halfway through the HBO docu-series, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, I knew I had to read the source material, and learn more. Written by Michelle McNamara, a brilliant true crime writer, who passed before the book could be published, or the book’s subject caught, sentenced and jailed. As captivating as the series was, the…
The X-Files (1995) – Irresistible, and Die Hand Die Verletzt
Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Mulder (David Duchovny) find themselves investigating a death fetishist who elevates his obsession to kidnapping and murder with the introduction of Donnie Pfaster (Nick Chinlund) in Irresistible. Written by series creator, Chris Carter, the show demonstrates how the human monster can be the most terrifying, though in a moment of fear,…
It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) – 4K Review
It’s hard to believe that the holiday season of 2020 is right around the corner. Soon, television screens will be alight with familiar and nostalgic images that dwell on the premise of good cheer, and peace to all, and a solid cup of eggnog. There are a few musts for me over the holiday seasons,…
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014) – Alejandro G. Inarritu
Micheal Keaton shines in Alejandro Innarritu’s Birdman. He brings a level to his performance that you know is based on personal experience, and delivers an Oscar-nominated virtuoso performance as Riggan Thompson, an actor who walked away from a billion dollar superhero franchise and is now worried about his relevance while being haunted by his past….
Blue Thunder (1983) – John Badham
I remember seeing Blue Thunder when it was released on home video. Or perhaps it was on a free weekend of Super Channel or First Choice. I remember enjoying it as a kid, loved the helicopter, the nude girl doing yoga, Roy Scheider, and the helicopter. It’s been decades since I watched it, and I…
Star Wars: Rebels (2017) – In the Name of the Rebellion: Part 2, The Occupation, and Flight of the Defender
When we left Ezra (Taylor Gray), Sabine (Tiya Sircar) and Chopper (Dave Filoni) last week, Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker) had just rescued them from a mission into Imperial space. A good episode, but the follow-up was amazing! In the Name of the Rebellion: Part 2 was written by Matt Michnovetz. Forst airing on 23 October,…
Child’s Play (1988) – Tom Holland
For kids of the 80s is there a more terrifying killer doll than Chucky as seen in director Tom Holland’s 1988 film? It’s been awhile since I’d seen this one, so when it popped up in DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies I was excited to see how it stood the test of time. Long…
The X-Files (1994/1995) – Excelsis Dei, and Aubrey
Excelsis Dei by Paul Brown plunges agents Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) into the still incredibly relevant exploration of a long term care facilities, and how those who live there are treated… done, of course, with The X-Files twist. This episode first aired on 16 December, 1994. It seems a nurse, Michelle Charters…
Chuck (2010) – Versus Phase Three, and Versus the Leftovers
Chuck (Zachary Levi) is still being held by The Belgian aka Adelbert De Smet (Richard Chamberlain) in Chuck Versus Phase Three. Written by Kristin Newman it first aired on 22 November, 2010. While Chuck is stuck in a variety of nightmares including ones that sees Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) leaving him over and over again, Sarah…
What To Watch When (2020) – Christian Blauvelt, Laura Buller, Andrew Frisicano, Stacey Grant, Mark Morris, Eddie Robson, Maggie Serota, Drew Toal, Matthew Turner, and Laurie Ulster
The latest book from DK Canada has already found pride of place in my collection. Right next to my television. In a compendium that should prove as essential to the digital age, as TV Guide was to the cable era, What to Watch When should meet the requirements of helping you work on your bingeing…
Star Wars: Dark Force Rising (1992) – Timothy Zahn
In 1992, Timothy Zahn took us back into the slowly expanding universe of Star Wars with the second book in his Thrawn cycle, following on the heels of the previous year’s Heir to the Empire. Continuing the story that is set five years after The Return of the Jedi, the heroes of the rebellion are…
