The fourth book in Ben Aaronovitch’s River of London series opens up the world again, even further than the previous novel, as we join Peter Grant, Lesley, Nightingale as they continue their hunt for the Faceless Man, dealing with the Gods and Godesses of the rivers, and the mysteries that begin to spring up with…
The X-Files (2000) – Signs & Wonders, and Sein und Zeit
Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) head to Tenessee to investigate a strange death (countless snake bites though none were found at the scene) in Signs & Wonders. Written by Jeffrey Bell, this episode first debuted on 23 January, 2000. As the story plays out, it almost feels like a companion piece to the…
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) – Alfonso Cuaron
Despite the box office success of the previous two Harry Potter films, the franchise really comes into its own with a change of directors, the masteful Alfonso Cuaron settles into the chair taking over from Chris Columbus who moved into a producer’s role for this entry. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint return for…
Enemy Mine (1985) – Wolfgang Petersen
Enemy Mine, from director Wolfgang Petersen and starring Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett Jr., looks like a 50s era sci-fi film (particularly the model work and space suits) but it’s message of prejudice, hate, and race war, is as relevant today (and arguably more so) than it was when it was made. Feeling like a…
M*A*S*H (1977) – Fallen Idol, Last Laugh, and War of Nerves
Alan Alda writes and directs a pair of episodes this week, with the first being Fallen Idol. Having an original airdate of 27 September, 1977, the story focuses on the friendship between Radar (Gary Burghoff) and Hawkeye (Alda). And although it’s been hinted at that Radar has in fact had some intimate moments with nurses…
The Color Out of Space (2010) – Huan Vu
H.P. Lovecraft, despite his racist tendencies that pop up in his writings, was a master of unnerving cosmic horror, and in 2010, Huan Vu adapted the classic novella, The Color Out of Space into a moody and ominous thriller. A German made film whose only problem lays in some of its special effects, but more…
The X-Files (2000) – Orison, and The Amazing Maleeni
The possibly demonic, and definitely evil, Donnie Pfaster (Nick Chinlund), last seen in Irresistible, returns in Orison. Written by Chip Johannessen who had served as showrunner for Millennium’s final season, this episode debuted on 9 January, 2000. Pfaster, serving life in prison, somehow seems to magically walk out of a maximum security instituion, and Mulder…
Mission: Impossible (1968) – The Bargain, and The Freeze
The IMF team take on organized crime, and a dictator, in The Bargain. Written by Robert E. Thompson, and having an original airdate of 15 December, 1968, Phelps (Peter Graves), Rollin (Martin Landau), Cinnamon (Barbara Bain), Barney (Greg Morris), and Willy (Peter Lupus) go undercover to stop a deal arising between a dictator looking to…
The Hardy Boys: The Secret of the Old Mill (1927/1962) – Franklin W. Dixon
Frank and Joe Hardy are back in their third adventure, The Secret of the Old Mill, and their friends Chet and Tony are along for the ride! It’s summer break, Chet is trying to get a job to flame the passions of his new hobby, science, and he wants to work at Elekton, a new…
A Gathering of Shadows (2016) – V.E. Schwab
The second installment in V.E. Schwab’s Shades of Magic trilogy transports me easily, and enjoyably back to Red London, as well as fiving us glimpses of White and Grey Londons, but before you pick it up, a little warning… this is book two of a trilogy, you have to know that this one is going…
The Mind Reels 