Shortly before Top Gun hit theatres, another jet fighter movie took to the skies, this time it was the F-16 Eagle, in the military fantasy, Iron Eagle. I say fantasy, because this film pretty much embodies every young boy’s dream of being a hero, of going against impossible odds, and proving to his father that…
Tag: hero
Brokenclaw (1990) – John Gardner
James Bond is back in action this week in John Gardner’s tenth 007 book, and probably my least favourite of the series at the moment. This one took me too long to get into, and then I felt not a lot really happened in the story to begin with until the climax. Bond is in…
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension (1984) – W.D. Richter
For many people Peter Weller will always be RoboCop. For me, Weller will always be the super-cool Buckaroo Banzai, the neurosurgeon, rock star, comic book hero who fights Red Lectroids from Planet Ten with help from his back-up band (of fellow awesomely named scientists) The Hong Kong Cavaliers, as well as his fan club, the…
Millennium (1996) – 5-2-2-6-6-6, and Kingdom Come
Writers James Wong and Glen Morgan pit Frank Black (Lance Henriksen) and the Millennium Group against a serial bomber in 5-2-2-6-6-6 (which entered into a phone pad spells K-A-B-O-O-M), which first aired on 22 November, 1996. Raymond Dees (Joe Chrest) is a bomber, there is sexual transference involved, as well as the desire to be…
Big Trouble in Little China (1986) – John Carpenter
I love rolling out with Jack Burton (Kurt Russell) and the Pork Chop Express. From the moment I saw this Carpenter film on the big screen, I knew I would love this movie for the rest of my life. And I’ve yet to be proven wrong on that count. There was a time when I…
Star Trek: Enterprise (2004/2005) – Kir’Shara, and Daedalus
Captain’s log: date unknown Mike Sussman finishes off the Syrrannite arc this week with Kir’Shara which originally aired on 3 December, 2004. Archer (Scott Bakula), T’Pol (Jolene Blalock) and T’Pau (Kara Zediker) work to deliver the Kir’Shara a Vulcan artefact that contains all the writings of the philosopher, Surak, who cited peace and the beauty…
The Chronicles of Prydain: The Book of Three (1964) – Lloyd Alexander
Using Welsh myth and legend as a basis, Lloyd Alexander wrote a series of novels under the umbrella heading, The Chronicles of Prydain. Aimed at younger readers, this was a collection of stories that were never really on my radar as a kid. By the point I was of an age to think about reading…
Be More Wonder Woman (2020) – Cheryl Rickman
Hope and courage. They can sometimes be found in the most unlikely of places. Who would have dreamed that a character created ninety years ago would still be such a powerful presence in the realm of pop culture and perhaps the most recognisable Amazon ever? And who, in this time of great upheaval as the…
The Light Fantastic (1986) – Terry Pratchett
I ventured back to Discworld this week, as I dove into the second tale written by Terry Pratchett. This one picks up moments after the ending of the book and sees our somewhat hero, the questionable wizard, Rincewind, plunging over the edge of the world, which in case you weren’t aware, is a disc on…
Goliath and the Dragon (1960) – Vitorrio Cottafavi
I move to Italy for the next film in DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies book as I explore the chapter on Dragons & Dinosaurs. Dubbed in English to reach the North American audience, this Italian sword and sandal (and sorcery) ‘epic’ follows Goliath (Mark Forest) who has his hands full as we join him…
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2010) – R2 Come Home, Lethal Trackdown, and Corruption
“Adversity is friendship’s truest test.” R2 Come Home first aired on 24 April, 2010. It was written by Eoghan Mahoney and continues the Boba Fett (Daniel Logan) arc introduced in the previous episode. Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter) and Mace Windu (Terrence Carson) are off to rescue the crew of a downed Republic Cruiser (caused by…
Miami Vice (1989) – Miracle Man, and Leap of Faith
The penultimate entry in my rewatch of Miami Vice brings two of the four ‘lost’ episodes which were broadcast after the series finale, Freefall, but should have been part of the original run. Miracle Man sees vigilantism come to the streets of Miami in the form of a costumed would be hero. Written by Rob…
