Stargate: Atlantis (2007) – Miller’s Crossing, and This Mortal Coil

Kate Hewlett returns to Stargate” Atlantis in Miller’s Crossing. Written by Martin Gero, this episode was first broadcast on 30 November, 2007. McKay (David Hewlett) returns to Earth with Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) and Ronon (Jason Momoa), when his sister, Jeannie (Kate Hewlett) is kidnapped. Her computer was being monitored and it’s all about getting McKay…

Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025) – James Cameron

Fire and Ash is an experiential popcorn movie. It needs to be seen on the biggest screen possible, and while 3D has some detractors, it is used beautifully in this film. This is a movie-going experience. Having said that, I miss James Cameron’s early work, Aliens, The Abyss, The Terminator, and T2, even True Lies….

Smallville (2002) – Redux, and Lineage

Redux first aired on 29 October, 2002 and was written by Russel Friend and Garrett Lerner. There’s lots going on in this episode! It seems a number of Smallville High students are aging rapidly. What’s causing that? And if Clark (Tom Welling) didn’t have his hands full with that, there’s more trouble at the school….

The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) – Matt Shakman

Marvel brings their first family into the MCU with The Fantastic Four: First Steps. It’s charming, and has some solid casting, but it never really has the impact that this iconic team deserves. And that may be due to superhero fatigue. Marvel and Disney have upped the audience of dosage of superheroes that everything feels…

Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025) – Gareth Edwards

It’s lost some of its magic. There is too much green screen and visual effects, and almost no practical work when it comes to the dinosaurs, and it’s glaringly obvious. There’s no majesty when we see the dinosaurs now, because they don’t look real anymore. You can tell they are all done by VFX artists….

Predator: Badlands (2025) – Dan Trachtenberg

I loved Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey. It was amazing. It took an IP that continues to endure and intrigue and shake it up in a new way. So when I heard he was cranking out another one, I was ready to see what he did next. Predator: Badlands ends up being a middle-of-the-road entry, one that…

Bring Her Back (2025) – Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou

That’s two for two for the Philippous as far as I’m concerned. I was delightfully impressed with how much I enjoyed Talk to Me. And as soon as I discovered they had another film out there, it shot right to the top of my viewing list. And Bring Her Back, it’s an experience. It’s unnerving,…

Stargate: Atlantis (2006) – Common Ground, and McKay and Mrs. Miller

Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) has his hands full in Common Ground. Written by Ken Cuperus, this episode was first broadcast on 25 August, 2006. Sheppard is not only captured by the Genii and Kolya (Robert Davi), but finds himself imprisoned alongside a Wraith (Christopher Heyerdahl). Capturing Sheppard is only the first step in Kolya’s plans. Ladon…

Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994) – Peter Segal

Not half as clever as the previous films, Naked Gun 33 1/3 is Leslie Nielsen’s final turn as Police Squad!’s Frank Drebin. Now retired and living with Jane (Priscilla Presley), Frank finds himself called out of retirement yo join his team one last time in an effort to stop a terrorist attack on the Academy…

TIFF 25: Kokuho dir. Lee-Sang Il

Kokuho is an epic tale, a decades-long story that takes us inside the world of kabuki, and features some outstanding performances. Kikuo (Ryo Yoshizawa) has always had a talent as an onnagata. These are the female characters in kanubi shows, all played by men. He’s taken in by Hanjiro Hanai (Ken Watanabe!!), who will serve…