James Bond is back… On the book shelf. This week, I dig into the third of Ian Fleming’s novels about secret agent 007, license to kill and reveled in the rapid fire pace of the story while being surprised at how confined the story is, while still allowing the plan at the heart of the…
Star Trek: Prime Directive (1990) – Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
The Human Adventure continues on my book shelf this week as I delve into another Trek novel. This one is written by the Reeves-Stevens who would later move onto writing for the Enterprise series. Set during The Original Series and the original five year mission, the story opens after a very dramatic event, and we…
Shogun (1980) – Disc 4
We come to the conclusion of James Clavell’s epic Japanese tale this week (it was definitely quicker to get through the miniseries than the novel – course I was fourteen at the time) as I delve into the fourth disc of the DVD set which has the fifth and final episode. Adapted by Eric Bercovici,…
Star Trek: Enterprise (2003) – Dawn, and Stigma
Captain’s log: date unknown Roxann Dawson directs this Trip (Connor Trinneer) episode written by John Shiban. Originally airing on 8 January, 2003 this episode riffs on the science fiction classic, Enemy Mine. Of course, it’s also been done previously in Trek, most notably in The Next Generation episodes, Darmok and The Enemy. And they were…
True Grit (1969) – Henry Hathaway
Ten Bad Dates With De Niro brings me a classic western on their list of titles that bring movie tears to the eye. John Wayne delivers an Oscar winning turn as Rooster Cogburn in Henry Hathaway’s cinematic adaptation of Charles Portis’ novel. I won’t lie, I came to the Coen Brothers version of the story…
At the Circus (1939) – Edward Buzzell
The comedic section of the chapter on Monstrous Apes in the fantastic DK Canada book, Monsters in the Movies, brings me a Marx Brothers classic which I had never seen, and consequently as delighted to settle in for. Groucho, Harpo, and Chico lend their hysterical aid to the owner of a circus, Jeff Wilson (Kenny…
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2012) – Bound For Rescue, A Necessary Bond, and Secret Weapons
“When we rescue others, we rescue ourselves.” Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein) and the Jedi Younglings have all sorts of trouble to handle in Bound For Rescue. Written by Christian Taylor this episode debuted on 17 November, 2012 and continues the Youngling story arc that began with their journey to Ilum to find kyber crystals for…
The Day of the Dolphin (1973) – Mike Nichols
The next title to be featured on the list of ten films that made me cry from the Ten Bad Dates With De Niro book is this Mike Nichols film from the early seventies. I won’t say that it made me cry by the ending was sad, poignant and necessary. George C. Scott headlines as…
Star Trek: Enterprise (2002) – Precious Cargo, and The Catwalk
Captain’s log: 12 September, 2152 David A. Goodman pens the teleplay for this episode from a story by Rick Berman and Brannon Braga. It originally aired on 11 December, 2002. Trip (Connor Trinneer) is at the centre of the story when the Enterprise comes to the aid of a pair of aliens and their mysterious…
Shogun (1980) – Disc 3
I dive into disc three of the DVD release of Shogun this week which marries the conclusion of the third episode, originally broadcast on 17 September, 1980, and the fourth episode, which aired on 18 September, 1980. James Clavell’s novel, adapted by Eric Bercovici continues to explore feudal Japan through the transplanted Blackthorne (Richard Chamberlain)…
Redemption Ark (2002) -Alastair Reynolds
I return to the universe of Alastair Reynold’s space opera this week, with a story that ties directly into Revelation Space, though it also ties into the expanded universe as glimpsed in Chasm City. The Inhibitors are back, they are an ancient mechanical race that prunes back intelligent life, stopping them when they venture too…
Star Trek: Doctor’s Orders (1990) – Diane Duane
Doctor McCoy has to take over the center seat in the next Pocket Books Star Trek novel I dug into, Doctor’s Orders. Set during the original five year mission, the Enterprise has come to a remote planet known by the nickname, Flyspeck. There the crew learn of three different sentient species sharing the beautiful and…
