Starman (1987) – Starscape: Part 2, and The Test

The television series is on its last two episodes. In one sequence we learn that the events of the movie, in this version, were supposed to take place in 1972, explaining how Scott (Christopher Daniel Barnes) can be fourteen a couple of years after the events in the movies (which were definitely set in the…

Quiz Lady (2023) – Jessica Yu

Awkwafina and Sandra Oh play sisters in the very enjoyable, Quiz Lady, which I missed at TIFF but was delighted to check out when it hit streaming platforms. Anne (Awkwafina) is quiet, set in her routines, and has some mental health issues that keep her confined to her job, and her couch, where she and…

Odds On (1966) – Michael Crichton

While Michael Crichton was in med school he wrote a series of novels under the pseudonym John Lange, and that seemed like a good place to start if I was going to explore Crichton’s writing, revisit some I knew (like Sphere the other week) and discover some new favorites. Odds On is a crime thriller…

The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) – Frank Oz

Growing up, and even now, my love for the Muppets has never faltered, and while I treasure my memories of The Muppet Show, The Muppet Movie, and The Great Muppet Caper, I have no real recall of The Muppets Take Manhattan. I saw it only once, when it came to home video, and I don’t…

The Equalizer (1987) – Coal Black Soul, and First Light

Apparently, neither the writers nor McCall (Edward Woodward) learned everything from last week’s episode, which featured an affair of the heart. Robert McCall has found himself in a new romance. He’s seeing Dr. Stephanie Davis (Patricia Kalember), a woman he saved from a peeping tom. The crux of the episode, Coal Black Soul, which was…

The Equalizer (1986) – Prelude, and Nocturne

The second season opener of The Equalizer brings up some personal and professional history for Robert McCall (Edward Woodward). Prelude was written by Carleton Eastlake and launched the season on 8 October, 1986. McCall discovers that his son, Scott (William Zabka) is in town after the latest school term has started because he’s been ousted…

The Rocketeer (1991) – Joe Johnston

Special effects wizard Joe Johnston’s second directorial effort is probably my favourite, as there is just something about The Rocketeer that I love. The style? Art deco is a fave. The score? James Horner! The cast? Bill Campbell, Jennifer Connelly (who I have crushed on FOREVER), Timothy Dalton, Alan Arkin, Paul Sorvino. The source material?…

Chuck (2008) – Versus the Cougars, and Versus Tom Sawyer

When Chuck (Zachary Levi) flashes on someone from Sarah’s (Yvonne Strahovski) past who recognises her that Sarah does her best to avoid, the pair find themselves heading off to her high school reunion to investigate in Chuck Versus the Cougars. Written by Ali Adler this episode first debuted on 20 October, 2008. Chuck flashes on…

Doctor Who (Peter Capaldi) – Deep Breath, and Into the Dalek

Deep Breath is Capaldi’s first adventure as the Time Lord known as the Doctor. It was written by Steven Moffat and debuted on 23 August, 2014. Suffering from post-regenerative trauma, the Doctor and Clara (Jenna Coleman) find themselves in Victorian London facing off against a giant tyrannosaur. Soon, Madame Vastra (Neve McIntosh), Jenny (Catrin Stewart)…