Space, the final frontier… Star Trek has been a part of my life for a long time, wait until you see the posts that are coming up next Wednesday if you don’t believe me! The iconic series has transcended geekdom and become a mainstream touchstone, even those who have never seen the show are aware…
An American in Paris (1951) – Vincente Minnelli
Gene Kelly singing and dancing to the music of George and Ira Gershwin, sounds perfect and entertaining. And this Best Picture winner is definitely entertaining, and my next recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book for my screening of Singin’ in the Rain. I feel bad, because I know this…
Quantum Leap (1990) – Pool Hall Blues and Leaping in Without a Net
Sam (Scott Bakula) ends up shooting some stick in this week’s episode to save a young woman’s bar. Pool Hall Blues was penned by Randy Holland and originally aired on 14 March 1990. It’s 4 September, 1954 and Sam has leaped into Charlie “Black Magic” Walters, who, we learn, taught Al (Dean Stockwell) in…
Monsters in the Movies – 100 Years of Cinematic Nightmares (2011) – John Landis
How much do I love this book? Let me tell you! This gorgeous, coffee table book, available from DK Canada, penned and compiled by director John Landis (who directed my favourite werewolf movie of all time, An American Werewolf in London, though I was introduced to him through the Thriller video first) has created a…
Star Trek: The Final Reflection (1984) – John M. Ford
As non-canon Trek novels go, this one proves to be very interesting. I didn’t love it, and I didn’t hate it. Our characters, Kirk, Spock, McCoy, only serve to bookend the tale, one that has become very popular for establishing Klingon society, before it was more fully explored in The Next Generation. There is much…
Superman: The Animated Series (1996) -The Last Son of Krypton Parts I, II and III
It’s time now to turn to the other titan of the DC universe as I dive into Superman: The Animated Series. Launching on 6 September, 1996, the series started with a three part story that retold the classic story of Kal-El’s (Tim Daly) arrival on Earth after the destruction of Krypton, and growing int…
Futureworld (1976) – Richard T. Heffron
This sequel to Westworld is the next stop on the Sci-Fi Chronicles book. It sees Yul Brynner returning, ever so briefly, and in the oddest way possible, as the Gunslinger, while two reporters, Chuck (Peter Fonda) and Tracy (Blythe Danner)investigate the strange theme park, Futureworld, after another reporter is killed while trying to get…
The Stepford Wives (2004) – Frank Oz
Sigh. You’d think that a film boasting the likes of Frank Oz behind the camera, and Nicole Kidman, Christopher Walken, Bette Midler, Jon Lovitz, Glenn Close and Matthew Broderick in front would constitute a better film. But you can tell just by the casting that the film is slipping away from the dark conformist…
Doctor Who (Colin Baker) – The Mark of the Rani
The Master (Anthony Ainley) returns to menace the Doctor (Baker) this week in The Mark of the Rani. This one was written by Pip and Jane Baker, and aired in two parts from 2 to 9 February, 1985. The Doctor and Peri (Nicola Bryant) arrive in 19th century England in the small village of…
Anchors Aweigh (1945) – George Sidney
Frank Sinatra joins Gene Kelly in this recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of Singin’ in the Rain. The two crooners star as naval officers Clarence Doolittle (Sinatra) and Joseph Brady (Kelly). They arrive in Los Angeles, having been decorated for their service on a four…
The Mind Reels 