Captain’s log: stardate 44001.4 How do you follow up a cliffhanger like the one that closed the third season of The Next Generation? Riker (Jonathan Frakes) is firing on the Borg, intent on destroying them, even if it costs the life of the abducted, and ‘enhanced’ Picard (Patrick Stewart) now known as Locutus. Michael Piller…
Tag: 1990
Goodfellas (1990) – Martin Scorsese
Goodfellas is the final recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of The Godfather. Here’s the thing, the gangster genre has never been my favourite, or even high on my list of films I enjoy. But, I remember reading the original non-fiction book written by Nicholas Pileggi back…
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1990) – Sarek, and Menage a Troi
Captain’s log: stardate 43917.4 Airing on 14 May, 1990, Star Trek: The Next Generation began formal relations with the Original Series when it debuted the episode Sarek. Written by Peter S. Beagle based on an unpublished story by Marc Cushman and Jake Jacobs. Sarek (Mark Lenard returning to the role) at the age of 202,…
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1990) – Hollow Pursuits, and The Most Toys
Captain’s log: stardate 43801.4 First airing on 30 April, 1990, this episode, written by Sally Caves introduced fan favourite Reginald Barclay (Dwight Schultz) to the Trek Universe. Barclay is smart, but shy, suffers from some anxieties, and releases them through escapes to the holodeck. In fact, he slips away every chance he gets, as, within…
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1990) – Captain’s Holiday, and Tin Man
Captain’s log: stardate 43745.2 Captain’s Holiday is a Picard (Patrick Stewart) story, that lets our captain be a bit of a an action hero. Originally airing on 2 April, 1990, this episode, written by Ira Steven Behr finds Jean-Luc Picard taking a bit of a holiday on Risa, the pleasure planet after some tough negotiations….
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1990) – Sins of the Father, and Allegiance
Captain’s log: stardate 43685.2 Sins of the Father marked the beginning of Ronald D. Moore being the go-to guy for Klingon stories, as he pens this one alongside W. Reed Moran, from a story by Drew Deighan. Commander Kurn (Tony Todd) arrives aboard the Enterprise as part of an officer exchange program, similar to the…
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1990) – Yesterday’s Enterprise, and The Offspring
Captain’s log: stardate 43625.2 Yesterday’s Enterprise penned by Ira Steven Behr, Richard Manning, Hans Beimler and Ronald D. Moore from a story by Trent Christopher Ganino and Eric A. Stillwell became an instant classic when it aired on 19 February, 1990. A spatial-temporal rift causes changes in the 24th century when it spits out the…
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1990) – Deja Q, and A Matter of Perspective
Captain’s log: stardate 43539.1 It’s time for the seemingly annual season visit with that omnipotent rogue, Q (John de Lancie). Written by Richard Danus, the episode debuted on 5 February, 1990. Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the crew of the Enterprise are trying to save the people of Brial IV. It seems their moon has become…
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1990) – The Hunted, and The High Ground
Captain’s log: stardate 43489.2 Airing on 8 January, 1990, this episode featured the first appearance of James Cromwell in the Trek universe. Here he plays Prime Minister Nayrok in an episode written by Robin Bernheim. An escaped prisoner, Danar (Jeff McCarthy) gives Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the Enterprise a run for its money after he…
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1989/1990) – The Vengeance Factor, and The Defector
Captain’s log: stardate 43421.9 The Vengeance Factor, a Riker (Jobathan Frakes) episode first aired on 20 November, 1989. The Enterprise is transporting Sovereign Marouk (Nancy Parsons) to a meeting with an offshoot tribe of her planet’s inhabitants, known as Gatherers. Picard (Patrick Stewart) is hosting peace talks between the troubled sides, and is hoping that…
Home Alone (1990 ) – Chris Columbus
I return to the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book and venture back into the family genre. And despite the fact that it’s May, it’s apparently time for a Christmas movie. I’m a little bit divided on this one. It has so much working for it. It’s written and produced by John Hughes,…
Back to the Future: Part III (1990) – Robert Zemeckis
My last stop in the Sci-Fi Chronicles book is the final trip with Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) and Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) in Back to the Future: Part III. From the film’s opening credits you know this will be a different adventure, the triumphant theme by Alan Silvestri gives way to a stirring romantic…
