The Man With The Golden Gun (1974) – Guy Hamilton

Roger Moore’s sophomore effort as Ian Fleming’s British Secret Service agent, James Bond, 007 is a a bit of a mixed bag. Moore’s iteration of the character is still trying to find it’s groove, and its style, sometimes descending into camp, while still celebrating what makes a Bond film work – action sequences, dazzling locations,…

Star Trek: Enterprise (2002) – The Seventh, and The Communicator

Captain’s log: date unknown Brannon Braga and Rick Berman pen the first episode up this week. Debuting on 6 November, 2002, this Arher (Scott Bakula)/T’Pol (Jolene Blalock) story that ends up being a bit of a thriller. The pair engage in the pursuit of a Vulcan fugitive, Menos (Bruce Davidson), who one eluded capture by…

Shogun (1980) – Disc 2

The epic mini-series adaptation of James Clavell’s novel (he also served as one of the show’s producers), Shogun continues this week, as I dive into disc two, which includes episode two and parts of episode three which originally aired on the 16th and 17th September, 1980, following the airing of the three hour premiere on…

Star Trek: The Pandora Principle (1990) – Carolyn Clowes

This week’s Star Trek book from Pocket Books was a story that I didn’t realize I needed. It’s set between the events of The Motion Picture and The Wrath of Khan during the second five year mission. We learn the backstory for Spock’s protégé Saavik, and how she was saved from a planet known as…

Live and Let Die (1954) – Ian Fleming

Ian Fleming’s second James Bond book finds its way to my book shelf this week as I delve into the character’s literary history as well as all the 007 films I haven’t covered for the blog. It’s an enjoyable novel, although it is steeped in way too much racist language and descriptions as Bond goes…

Star Trek: Enterprise (2002) – A Night in Sickbay, and Marauders

Captain’s log:  date unknown Rick Berman and Brannon Braga pen this Archer (Scott Bakula)/Phlox (John Billingsley) story that first aired on 16 October, 2002. When Archer’s beagle, Porthos, picks up a virus on an alien planet, the poor pup, and his captain, spend the night in sickbay, tended to by Phlox. Archer worries over his…

Never Give A Sucker An Even Break (1941) – Edward F. Cline

DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies continues to make a monkey out of me with their chapter on monstrous apes as it doles out another comedic entry. That being said, I’m not a W.C. Fields fan. His character is always the same, and is extremely unlikable as far as I’m concerned. He’s an alcoholic, and…

A Beautiful Mind (2001) – Ron Howard

The four time Oscar winning film, A Beautiful Mind, is the next film mentioned on the Ten Films It’s Painful To Like in Ten Bad Dates With De Niro. Now, with five Oscars under its belt, it can’t be that painful to like, yes it rather simplifies mental illness, but conveys it wonderfully on screen. It…