Star Trek: Picard (2023) – Dominion, and Surrender

Things are getting intense as we race towards the series finale. Dominion ups the stakes again. Written by Jane Maggs, it debuted on 30 March, 2023. Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Crusher (Gates McFadden) learn some shocking truths about these new Changelings (augmented and developed by Starfleet under Project Proteus), especially Vadic (Amanda Plummer) as they…

Family Ties (1985) – Family Ties Vacation

Season Four of Family Ties gets to a shakey start with a pretty terrible made-for-TV movie that sees the Keaton family jetting across the ocean to England. Taking the family out of their sit-com environment where they can deliver messages, and important themes, and delve into ethical situations and putting them in a slapstick version…

TIFF ’23: Concrete Utopia

Concrete Utopia from South Korea has its North American premiere here at TIFF, and this one is definitely a must-see. While arguably a little heavy-handed in its messaging, the film is a captivating two-hour exploration of the human condition, our faults, and our hopes. An apocalyptic event has struck Seoul, and it seems the only…

The Punisher (1989) – Mark Goldblatt

The same year that Micheal Keaton donned the cowl and became the iconic Batman for a generation, Dolph Lundgren brought Marvel’s dark antihero, Frank Castle, to life in the low-budget adaptation of The Punisher. If I say ugh will that be enough? Lundgren has never been known for his thespian abilities, and in a role…

Broadcast News (1987) – James L. Brooks

Holly Hunter is a treasure and she sparked in Broadcast News. She shines so wholly that she almost eclipses her co-stars Albert Brooks and William Hurt. James L. Brooks wrote and directed this Oscar-nominated film (seven of them, including best picture, actress, actor, supporting actor and didn’t take home one) that lets a love triangle…

“Crocodile” Dundee Trilogy Blu-Ray Review

I remember when “Crocodile” Dundee first hit theatres, I remember seeing it at the American base in Bermuda while we were living there in the 80s. But things really took off for me and Mick Dundee (Paul Hogan) when it hit video. It was the first VHS cassette I ever bought (on a family trip…

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2009) – Niels Arden Oplev

Back in 2009 it seemed everyone was reading and talking about the late Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy. I read each one voraciously, absorbing each and every detail and loving the dark, thrilling world he created, and the fantastic character of Lisbeth Salander, a brave and powerful heroine with a sense of justice and her own…

Star Trek: Enterprise (2004) – Damage, and The Forgotten

Captain’s log: date unknown Captain Archer (Scott Bakula) is still held by the Xindi in the next season three episode, Damage. Written by Phyllis String, the episode first premiered on 21 April, 2004. With the Enterprise reeling from its near destruction by the Xindi attack, and a neighbouring ship requesting help, T’Pol (Jolene Blalock), in…