Digging into the third book of The Demon Cycle by Peter V. Brett has been long overdue, but it was very much worth the wait. After the climactic conclusion of the previous instalment, not to mention some of the revelations, the characters are left in some strange places. The novel picks up shortly after the…
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1992) – The Masterpiece Society, and Conundrum
Captain’s log: stardate 45470.1 Michael Piller and Adam Belanoff pen the teleplay from a story by Belanoff and James Kahn. It first debuted on 10 February, 1992. This story deals with the themes of genetic manipulation, and the treatment of those with ‘disabilities’ including breeding them out. The Enterprise discovers a remote human colony when…
South Park: The Complete Eighth Season
Almost nothing is sacred as South Park unleashes its eighth season on blu-ray from Paramount Pictures. Over the course of fourteen episodes, we get another look at the unique Colorado mountain town and the characters who populate it. From a bloody and satanic Christmas episode to a commentary on violence as well as animes, the…
Treasure Island (1950) – Byron Haskin
Disney’s tale on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale of pirates and high adventure is the first recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl for the action genre. Disney branched away from animated shorts and films with this,…
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) – Gore Verbinski
Who would have thought that Disney could turn one of their oldest theme park attractions into a tentpole franchise back in 2003? Sure the series has floundered, and perhaps overstayed its welcome since, but that first film, directed ably by Verbinski, with a definitive score by Klaus Badelt, and featuring an A-list cast delighted audiences…
Doctor Who (Matt Smith) – Journey to the Center of the TARDIS, and The Crimson Horror
The Doctor (Smith) almost loses Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) when he tries to smooth things out between her and the TARDIS. Written by Stephen Thompson, Journey to the Center of the TARDIS first aired on 27 April, 2013. In his attempt, the Time Lord decides to show his Companion how to fly the TARDIS, but in…
Play It Again, Sam (1972) – Herbert Ross
I’ve never been a fan of Woody Allen, so I was reticent to settle in to watch Herbert Ross’ adaptation of Allen’s own play, which he also penned the screenplay for, and stars in. Still, it is the next title on the What Else to Watch list in DK Canada’s The Movie Book following its…
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1992) – Hero Worship, and Violations
Captain’s log: stardate 45397.3 Airing on 27 January, 1992, this Data (Brent Spiner) episode is a little dull. And once again, it feels like the series could have done something really good if they hadn’t played it safe. Written by Joe Menosky from a story by Hilary Bader, the episode sees the Enterprise responding to…
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones (1992/1996) – My First Adventure
I remember when I first heard about The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles coming along in the early 90s. I was excited by what I heard about it, it would tell the story of Indy’s youth, both as a child and a teen as it played out against the backdrop of the early 20th century and…
Cycle of the Werewolf (1983) – Stephen King
Reading like a cross between Our Town and The Wolfman, Stephen King’s too short novella, Cycle of the Werewolf is on the Book Shelf this week. Serving as the basis of the 1985 film, Silver Bullet, Werewolf reads as a not fleshed out enough short story. That’s not to say it doesn’t work. It does….
The Mind Reels 