Space: 1999 (1976) – A Matter of Balance, and The Beta Cloud

Pip and Jane Baker pen the first episode up this week, as Moonbase Alpha deals with young crushes, Tony’s (Tony Anholt) desire to perfect a drinkable beer, and a strange planet whose surviving aliens are incorporeal beings who are using a young Alphan botanist, Shermeen (Lynne Frederick) as a conduit which may result in the…

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1992) – Schisms, and True Q

Captain’s log: stardate 46154.2 Airing on 19 October, 1992, this one has always been a favourite, and is a bit creepy. Written by Brannon Braga from a story by Jean Louise Matthias and Ronald Wilkerson. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) is suffering from insomnia, but he soon learns he is not the only one, and the crew…

Bosom Buddies: The Complete Series

Back in 1980, Tom Hanks was an up and coming actor with a decidedly comedic bent. In fact, he seemed to be perfectly cast alongside Peter Scolari as advertising executive Kip Wilson. Alongside Scolari’s Henry Desmond, the pair work as a creative team, and are best friends. But when their apartment is destroyed, the only…

Gremlins (1984) – Joe Dante

Practical effects, matte paintings and a dark, playful sense of humour… They just don’t make them like the used to. I was delighted when I returned to the Family section of the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book that Joe Dante’s horror comedy Christmas movie (it’s set at Christmas therefore it IS a…

Finding Nemo (2003) – Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich

Finding Nemo, the final recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of The Lion King was the Pixar film that cemented my love for them. Yes, I totally enjoy Toy Story 1 & 2 as well as A Bug’s Life, but Finding Nemo made my affection for Pixar…

Toronto After Dark 2016: As the Gods Will – Takashi Miike

Things got nigh on bizarre this evening at Toronto After Dark, as it continues to entertain at the Scotiabank Theatre here in Toronto. It was Japanese cinema night, and sadly, thanks to work constraints, I was only able to make one screening today, but what a screening! If you aren’t familiar with Miike’s work, it’s…

Super 8 (2011) – J.J. Abrams

  Spielberg takes on the Executive Producer role in J.J. Abrams 80s-filled nostalgia thrill ride which is the next stop on the journey through the Sci-Fi Chronicles book. Having Stranger Things to compare it to isn’t necessarily fair, they get to tell their story over a season, Abrams and company only had a two hour…

Quantum Leap (1989) – The Color of Truth and Camikazi Kid

  Sam (Scott Bakula) has more time-travelling adventures this week, when he leaps into a black man in the south in The Color of Truth. Written by Deborah Pratt, this award winning episode aired on 3 May, 1989. It’s 8 August, 1955, and Sam has leapt into Jesse, the chauffer for Miz Melny Trafford (Susan…