Sometimes, bad is bad. And this stop with the Sci-Fi Chronicles Book demonstrates how bad. There is absolutely nothing redeeming about this film, and it’s a wonder that any of those involved walked away with the semblance of a career. Based on L. Ron Hubbard’s titanic novel, the film stars John Travolta, Forest Whitaker, and…
Tag: planet
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984) -Hayao Miyazaki
The next stop in the Sci-Fi Chronicles book is a long overdue check-in with Miyazaki, the famed writer/director who has envisioned so many incredible tales. This time around, it’s Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. I didn’t have access to a subtitled version, so I went with the English dubbed (subtitle is ALWAYS the…
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) – Gareth Edwards
Rogue One is The Dirty Dozen of Star Wars films, it succeeds beyond all expectation, introducing new characters, fleshing out events we know had to happen, but had only imagined until now. Gareth Edwards directs a fantastic cast including Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Donnie Yen, Ben Mendelsohn, Mads Mikkelsen, Forest Whitaker and Alan Tudyk…
Alien Nation (1988) – Graham Baker
Before District 9, Earth took in the Newcomers, and as they attempted to fit into our society, despite racism, prejudice, and simple confusion in customs, a pair of cops, one human, one newcomer, try to work together. This one is the next stop in the Sci-Fi Chronicles as I spend some more time with James…
Star Trek: The Original Series (1966/1967) – Shore Leave and The Galileo Seven
Captain’s Log: Stardate 3025.3 Shore Leave, written by Theodore Strugeon aired on 29 December, 1966, and was the first episode that showed me that sometimes Trek could take itself less seriously, wait until I discovered The Trouble with Tribbles (!), while also exploring the characters. This is an episode, much like the Naked Time, which…
Star Trek: The Tears of the Singers (1984) – Melinda Snodgrass
Before she was tapped to join the writers of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Melinda Snodgrass penned this non-canon classic Trek novel, that is one of the best ones I’ve rad to date. There is an ecological element to the tale, music, and alien life plays a major part, and not only are Kirk, Spock…
Doctor Who (Colin Baker) – The Mysterious Planet
Season 23 gets underway this week with the season long story, Trial of a Time Lord. The first instalment, The Mysterious Planet, was written by Robert Holmes and aired from 6 to 27 September, 1986. The stories reverted back to twenty-five minute long episodes, and found the Doctor (Baker) being uncontrollably summoned to present themselves…
Star Trek: The Original Series (1966) -The Enemy Within and Mudd’s Women
Captain’s Log: Stardate 1672.1 “I’m Captain Kirk!” A story by Richard Matheson, which didn’t mean much to me as a kid, but now, of course, I know exactly what that means for a story, and The Enemy Within is that. Having an original airdate of 6 October, 1966, this superficially simple story is a bit…
Doctor Who (Colin Baker) – Revelation of the Daleks
Season 22 comes to a close this week with the return of the Doctor’s most hated enemies, the Daleks. Eric Saward wrote this two-parter that ran from 23 to 30 March, 1985. The Doctor and Peri (Nicola Bryant) are about to stumble into a trap! They’re travelling to the planet Necros to visit a medical…
TIFF Bell Lightbox Trek, Trek, Trek!!
Last night was a simply amazing night at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. The first of the Trek Talks happened with Lt. Col. Jeremy Hansen sharing his thoughts, experiences, and how Star Trek has shaped the work we do in outer space, on the ISS, and may influence our future explorations with An Astronaut’s Voyage to…
