Kingsley Amis writing as Robert Markham pens his only 007 novel following the death of James Bond creator, Ian Fleming. What he delivers us is a fairly standard adventure for the literary Bond, always smaller in scale when compared to the secret agent’s big screen adventures, that seems to be a little cruder in its…
Author: TD Rideout
The X-Files (1993) – Pilot, and Deep Throat
10 September, 1993. Man, that feels like a long time ago, despite the fact that my mind tells me that the 80s were only a couple of years ago. Weird. Sounds like an x-file. Much like my watching of Star Trek, tons has been written by other fans and critics about Chris Carter’s creation, so…
Pretty in Pink (1986) – Blu-Ray Review
The 80s classic, Pretty in Pink, written by the voice of a generation, John Hughes, finally comes to blu-ray this week from Paramount Pictures. Molly Ringwald, Andrew McCarthy, Jon Cryer, Harry Dean Stanton, Annie Potts, and James Spader star in this iconic film that resonated with everyone who saw it. Andie (Ringwald) is from the…
Roman Holiday (1953) – Blu-Ray Review
For the first time ever, the Audrey Hepburn/Gregory Peck classic, Roman Holiday, from 1953, is being released to blu-ray by Paramount Pictures. It feels look overdue, but this absolutely delightful film proves that good things come to those who wait. Filmed completely on location in Rome, the film, Hepburn’s first made her a star, and…
Backdraft (1991) – Ron Howard
Wow do I love this movie! Every time I put it on to watch, I find myself wanting to restart it almost the moment it is finished to watch it again. This is a fantastic effort from Ron Howard, and features a brilliant cast led by Kurt Russell. Set in Chicago, we are introduced to…
Family Plot (1976) – Alfred Hitchcock
Bruce Dern, Karen Black, William Devane, Ed Lauter and Barbara Harris star in Alfred Hitchcock’s Family Plot. And while not one of the director’s best, there are some fun moments and ideas in the film. The story follows two separate couples, both who work in shades of grey. Bruce Dern is George a taxi driver…
Star Wars: Rebels (2016) – The Forgotten Droid, The Mystery of Chopper Base, and Twilight of the Apprentice Part I & II
This week we close out the second season of Star Wars: Rebels, racing towards a season finale that will change everything. Things get underway, however, with the rather diverting and entertaining Copper-centric episode, The Forgotten Droid. Written by Matt Michnovetz this episode first debuted on 16 March, 2016, and follows the droid, C1-10P or Chopper…
Frenzy (1972) – Alfred Hitchcock
I slipped into another Alfred Hitchcock film I hadn’t seen today. Frenzy, from 1972. I knew next to nothing about it but was delighted to see both Jean Marsh and Bernard Cribbins in supporting roles. Set in England, this is a bit of a thriller with some dark humour thrown in for good measure. Based…
Star Trek: Short Treks (2019) – Q&A, The Trouble with Edward, Ask Not, Ephraim and Dot, and The Girl Who Made the Stars
Captain’s log: 2254 Micheal Chabon pens the first Short Trek of the second season. This short traps Number One (Rebecca Romijn) and Spock (Ethan Peck) in a turbolift, shortly after the young science officer has joined the Enterprise crew – his first day in fact. Trapped together, the two slowly get to know one another….
Chuck (2010) – Versus the Tic Tac, and Versus the Final Exam
Casey (Adam Baldwin) lands himself in some trouble this week, in Chuck (Zachary Levi) Versus the Tic Tac. Written by Rafe Judkins and Lauren LeFranc, this story first aired on 15 March, 2010. When Casey helps our a former commander, Col. James Keller (Robert Patrick) Casey finds himself jailed for treason. While on a mission…
John Landis Presents Haunted Houses: Classic Stories of Doors That Should Never Be Opened (2020)
It seems fall is here, and as the leaves start to turn, one can’t help but turn one’s thoughts to Halloween and ghost stories. It seems while I was working through John Landis’ Monsters in the Movies, he turned around and released a collection of classic haunted house stories now available from DK Canada. Landis…
Star Trek: Shell Game (1993) – Melissa Crandall
It took me a little longer to get into this one than I would have liked, but once I was into it, I really enjoyed this, the next novel in the Pocket Books series of Star Trek novels. Set after the events of The Motion Picture, but far enough along in the timeline to have…
