Star Trek: The Hijacked Planet (1973)

Arnold Drake’s second story for Gold Key’s Star Trek comic came in issue 18, The Hijacked Planet which was on comic spinners for May of 1973. Alberto Giolitti and Giovanni Ticci continue to supply the art, while George Wilson delivers another cover painting. The comic mentions that we are in the 23rd century, and that…

TIFF 25: Rental Family dir. Hikari

The Brenaissance continues as Brendan Fraser turns in another fantastic performance, one that leans into his abilities to be both comedic, and deliver great gravitas, often in the same scene. Fraser stars as Phillip, a struggling American actor living in Japan. When he gets a gig as ‘Sad American’ at a funeral, it opens a…

Farscape (2003) – Terra Firma, and Twice Shy

Is Crichton (Ben Browder) actually home? Is this Earth? Everything says yes, and Moya and the rest start to relax a little, enjoying their time on Terra Firma. This episode was written by Richard Manning, and first aired on 6 January, 2003. But is Crichton’s presence on Earth, not to mention those of his friends,…

Northern Exposure (1995) – Mi Casa, Su Casa, and Horns

Marilyn (Elaine Miles) comes to visit Joel (Rob Morrow), well not really, so he’s a little bothered by the fact that she didn’t. She’s there for a community event, not to see how Joel is getting by. As they spend time together, Joel finds himself trying to convince her that he’s changed. Mi Casa, Su…

Man on Fire (2004) – Tony Scott

I love Tony Scott films; the saturated colours, the moving cameras, the tight pacing, the visual shorthand he used in his storytelling style. I don’t think I ever met a Tony Scott film I didn’t like. Sure I like some more than others, but all of them have his indelible print on them. Man on…

Starman (1986) – Fatal Flaw, and Blue Lights

Paul (Robert Hays) and Scott (Christopher Daniel Barnes) are still on the hunt for Jenny Hayden in Fatal Flaw and end up helping a female pilot, Jessica (Patricia McPherson) and her father, Conrad (Kenneth Tobey). Written by Mike Gray and John Mason, this episode was first broadcast on 3 October, 1986. After an incident at…

Star Trek: Picard (2022) – Hide and Seek, and Farewell

The penultimate episode of season two has some solid action beats, and some nice emotional arcs, and reminds us that these characters are flawed and human, and that is why we relate to them. There’s also a nice line that explains the appearance of Picard’s (Patrick Stewart) mother in The Next Generation episode Where No…

TIFF ’23: The Holdovers

Director Alexander Payne reunites with his Sideways star, Paul Giamatti in this earnest and laugh-out-loud dramedy that takes us back to the winter of 1970 and Barton, a boy’s prep school where Paul Hunham (Giamatti) teaches Ancient Civilizations and often finds himself clashing with not only his fellow teachers but his students as well, particularly…

Fringe (2009) – Unleashed, and Bad Dreams

Someone has taken one of Walter’s (John Noble) failed ideas, and perfected it, creating a hybrid animal that can deliver its eggs through a horrible sting, if it doesn’t kill you first. Unleashed was written by Zack Whedon and J.R. Orci. It first aired on 14 April, 2009. A group of animal activists make a…