The first pair of episodes up this week have some similarities, especially when aired back to back, and I have to wonder if that was intentional, or just the way the series was made. Edwina was written by Hal Dresner and first debuted on 24 December, 1972. The story centres on a calamity-centric Edwina (Arlene…
The Conjuring 2 (2016) – James Wan
The second film in the Conjuring series once again focuses on a case investigated by Ed and Lorraine Warren (portrayed in the film by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) and unlike the Annabelle stories, these films lean towards the smarter, filled with a well-crafted story, and some legitimate jump scares and actual terror. The film…
The X-Files (1996) – Teso dos Bichos, and Hell Money
This entry in The X-Files is a bit of a tough one because we have two less than stellar episodes, back to back. First up is Teso dos Bichos (which has a slang meaning that caught some interest), and is one of stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson’s least favourite episodes. Written by John Shiban,…
Chuck (2011) – Versus the Zoom, and Versus the Bearded Bandit
Mark Hamill makes a welcome appearance as does Ethan Phillips in the fifth and final season premiere of Chuck. Written by one of series creators Chris Fedak and Nicholas Wootton, it debuted on 28 October, 2011. Chuck (Zachary Levi) and the team, Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski), Casey (Adam Baldwin), and Morgan (Joshua Gomez) – the new…
Star Wars: Mission From Mount Yoda (1993) – Paul Davids and Hollace Davids
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… The original Expanded Universe ventured into the realm of young reader stories with a six volume series following Ken, known as a jedi prince, though to date, he hasn’t shown any real knowledge of the Force. In this tale, another environmentally themed story, Han Solo,…
No Deals, Mr. Bond (1987) – John Gardner
James Bond is back in this week’s book shelf, as I continue my adventures with 007, and John Gardner’s sixth novel chronicling the missions of the British secret agent. This time, Bond’s adventure takes him from England into Ireland and then to the Far East with a tension-filled ending set in China. M assigns 007…
The X-Files (1996) – Apocrypha, and Pusher
Series creator Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz continue the mythology arc story they began in Piper Maru with Apocrypha, which first aired on 16 February, 1996. While Scully (Gillian Anderson) runs down leads on the man who killed her sister, something that has caused AD Skinner (Mitch Pileggi) to end up in the hospital with…
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) – Jay Roach
It’s odd that this one ends up in DK Books’ Monsters in the Movies, but it comes in under the mechanical menaces section of the book because of the dangerous fembots that menace the titular hero. Mike Myers not only stars in this send up of spy films, but he also wrote it, paying homage…
Tobor the Great (1954) – Lee Sholem
DK Publishing brings me another mechanical menace from its highly enjoyable Monsters in the Movies book. This time around, he’s not so much a menace as he is menace. Very much a product of its time, the 50s, this film, dramatically set in the future of the day after tomorrow, it’s a charming, if not…
M*A*S*H (1972) – I Hate a Mystery, Germ Warfare, Dear Dad
Hawkeye (Alan Alda) plays detective after he’s apparently framed for a rash of thefts across the camp in I Hate a Mystery. Written by Hal Dresner, and first airing on 26 November, 1972, the story is rather light-hearted, though there is a real issue at heart behind the crimes. Knick knacks from all over the…
The Conjuring (2013) – James Wan
I’m going to be honest, the first time I saw The Conjuring, I was disappointed, I didn’t really get into it, and felt that it relied a little too heavily on it’s jump scares (always seemingly accompanied by a musical sting). Still, a while ago I gave it a rewatch, and really enjoyed it the…
The X-Files (1996) – Grotesque, and Piper Maru
Howard Gordon delivers a script for Grotesque, a monster of the week episode, that won the series an Emmy for cinematography, and gives us a moody piece that first aired on 2 February, 1996. Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) are requested by Skinner (Mitch Pileggi) to help the head of the Behavioural Unit,…
