Shadows of the Dark Crystal (2016) – J.M. Lee

I remember being delighted the first time I saw The Dark Crystal in 1982, I even had a movie calendar from Burger King (for 1983) that had one of its months dedicated to the Jim Henson creation. The world (I didn’t know at the time that it was called Thra) appealed to me, and despite…

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1997) -For the Uniform, and In Purgatory’s Shadow

Station log: stardate 50485.2 Peter Allen Fields pens this episode that first screened on 3 February, 1997. When Eddington (Kenneth Marshall) resurfaces, Captain Sisko (Avery Brooks) sets off in dogged pursuit of his former security officer, not only for the uniform, but for the perceived humiliation he suffered at being out maneuvered by the Maquis…

Star Trek: Voyager (1995) – Cathexis, and Faces

Captain’s log: stardate 48734.2 Brannon Braga comes up with the teleplay for this story by Braga and Joe Menosky. It first aired on 1 May, 1995. A strange nebula renders Chakotay (Robert Beltran) brain-dead, and also lets something else take over the minds of the crew. And no matter how many times the ship tries…

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1994) – The Maquis: Part II, and The Wire

Station log: stardate unknown Last week’s cliffhanger revelation about Cal Hudon (Bernie Casey) impacts Sisko (Avery Brooks) this week as The Maquis: Part II comes to a conclusion. Written by Ira Steven Behr from a story by Rick Berman, Micheal Piller, Jeri Taylor and Behr, the episode continues to lay foundation work for the next…

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1994) – Blood Oath, and The Maquis: Part I

Station log: stardate unknown Blood Oath sees the return of some familiar Klingon names (and the actors who brought them to life) in this episode that was penned by Peter Allan Fields. It first screened on 27 March, 1994. Kor (John Colicos), Kang (Michael Ansara) and Koloth (William Campbell) all arrive on Deep Space Nine…

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) – The Nagus, and Vortex

Station log: stardate unknown Ira Steven Behr pens the teleplay from a story by David Livingston which finds Quark (Armin Shimerman) getting into some trouble when the Ferengi Grand Nagus, Zek (Wallace Shawn) arrives on the station. This episode first aired on 21 March, 1993. In a fun bit, O’Brien (Colm Meaney) is overseeing the…

A Wrinkle in Time (2018) – Ava DuVernay

Disney’s adaptation of Madeline L’Engle’s classic young adult novel is a mixed bag at best. The story’ ideas aren’t realised on the screen very well, but there is some nice talk about quantum physics, physics, and science as spiritualism throughout the film that I really enjoyed. Director DuVernay, best known for her documentary work, in…