Sylvester Stallone stars, directs and writes (alongside Dave Callaham) in The Expendables, and he brings along a brilliant ensemble cast of classic action heroes, wrestlers and actors. Padding out a fairly simple story with some explosive set pieces this is just a mostly brainless action flick that serves as homage to the action films that…
Tag: cia
Licence to Kill (1989) – John Gardner
James Bond returns this week in John Gardner’s adaptation of the 1989 film, Licence to Kill. This is probably the most disjointed of his novels as he tries to marry his version of the literary 007 to the big screen version, and it doesn’t always work. In fact, throughout the book Bond thinks he must…
A Good Day To Die Hard (2013) – John Moore
Bruce Willis returns for a fifth time as New York cop John McClane in an instalment which I desperately hope isn’t the final one in the series because it’s so abysmally bad and you don’t want a series like this to go out on a bad note. Directed by John Moore (who’s past films didn’t…
Chuck (2011) – Versus the Santa Suit, and Versus the Baby
The Omen Virus has been released, someone is breaking out of prison, and Ellie (Sarah Lancaster) is trying to throw together a perfect Xmas party and celebration for Baby Clara’s first Christmas in Chuck Versus the Santa Suit, which was written by Amanda Kate Shuman and first aired on 23 December, 2011. We learn pretty…
M*A*S*H (1973) – The Longjohn Flap, The Army-Navy Game, and Sticky Wicket
Alan Alda pens the first episode up this week, The Longjohn Flap, which first aired on 18 February, 1973. This one is just a hilarious romp as the ravages of a cold winter hint the 4077th. Everyone is freezing. Everyone that is except for Hawkeye (Alda) who is snug and comfy in his longjohns (seen…
Chuck (2011) – Versus the Hack Off, and Versus the Curse
Zachary Levi directs this episode of Chuck, which was written by Craig DiGregorio and Alex Katsnelson. It debuted on 9 December, 2011. Both Casey (Adam Baldwin) and Lester (Vik Sahay) are in prison for their individual crimes, though Lester has the place more wired (literally) than Casey who has to deal with some problems. Meanwhile,…
Chuck (2011) – Versus the Zoom, and Versus the Bearded Bandit
Mark Hamill makes a welcome appearance as does Ethan Phillips in the fifth and final season premiere of Chuck. Written by one of series creators Chris Fedak and Nicholas Wootton, it debuted on 28 October, 2011. Chuck (Zachary Levi) and the team, Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski), Casey (Adam Baldwin), and Morgan (Joshua Gomez) – the new…
Chuck (2011) – Versus the Last Details, and Versus the Cliffhanger
With the penultimate episode of the season, the stakes get raised, and the arc for the season starts to wrap up, which means not only are Chuck (Zachary Levi) and Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) dealing with their rehearsal dinner, but the return of Vivian Volkoff (Lauren Cohan) with a terrifying new weapon, and finding Chuck and…
Chuck (2011) – Versus the Muuurder, and Versus the Family Volkoff
Chuck (Zachary Levi) has to put on his detective hat in Chuck Versus the Muuurder. Written by Alex Katsnelson and Kristin Newman, this episode first debuted on 21 March, 2011. Chuck is in charge of recruiting a new candidate for the Intersect program, but when one of them ends up dead in castle, the underground…
For Special Services (1982) – John Gardner
John Gardner’s second 007 novel, updating Ian Fleming’s James Bond for the 1980s, is on the book shelf this week, and delivers the crisp, solid, sex and violence filled thrill ride we’ve come to expect from England’s top spy. This story, set largely in America, sees the return of Bond’s old nemesis, SPECTRE, with the…
James Bond and Moonraker (1979) – Christopher Wood
Christopher Wood brings us the novelisation of his screenplay for 007’s adventure in Moonraker, here titles James Bond and Moonraker so as not to be confused with the original Ian Fleming tale. Once again, Wood makes efforts to find a happy balance between the literary version of the spy and his silver screen incarnation. And…
Chuck (2010) – Versus the Subway, and Versus the Ring: Part II
Chuck’s (Zachary Levi) world starts to fall apart in this very emotional episode that serves as the penultimate story of the third season. Written by Ali Adler and Phil Klemmer from a story by Matthew Miller, Chuck Versus the Subway debuted on 24 May, 2010. Shaw (Brandon Routh) is back, and he has an intersect…
