Star Trek: The Next Generation (1993) – Descent Part II, and Liaisons

Captain’s log: stardate 47025.4 Rene Echevarria pens the final season’s opener that first aired on 20 September, 1993. Brent Spiner pulls double duty as both Data and Lore, as Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart), Geordi (LeVar Burton) and Troi (Marina Sirtis) try to escape from the Brothers Soong who have assumed control of a cadre of…

Marvel’s Black Panther (2018): Blu-Ray Review

Marvel’s introduction of the iconic Black Panther comes home on blu-ray and DVD today from Walt Disney Pictures, and it is a welcome addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and your home entertainment shelf. The film follows T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) as he assumes the mantle of King of Wakanda, and works to preserve his nation’s…

Ugetsu (1953) – Kenji Mizoguchi

The next title recommended by the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book for my screening of Ran, is this brilliant film that follows the fortunes of two peasant families during a civil war. Operating a kiln, and making wares, Genjuro (Masayuki Mori) sees a chance to get rich with the selling of his…

Ran (1985) – Akira Kurosawa

I return to the War section of the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book, and settle in for Ran, Kurosawa’s epic opus. Taking its inspiration from Shakespeare’s King Lear, the film is a visual masterpiece delving into tragedy, drama and action. It is also one of the top recommendations on the What Else…

Rashomon (1950) – Akira Kurosawa

The next big title in DK Canada’s The Movie Book is the Kurosawa classic Rashomon. Serving as a commentary on the nature of man, the film tells a story of murder, rape, and truths. Set against the backdrop of a gutted out and tumble down temple, a trio of characters come together to ruminate a…

Persepolis Rising (2017) – James S.A. Corey

The seventh volume in the brilliant, and highly enjoyable science fiction series, The Expanse, finally finds its way to the Book Shelf this week, and it was so worth the wait. I love this series so much, and this book, Persepolis Rising does two things that haven’t really happened in the series before: there’s a…