Doctor Who (Matt Smith) – The Big Bang and, A Christmas Carol

The fifth series of the relaunched Doctor Who comes to a close this week with The Big Bang. Penned by Steven Moffat, this episode is the conclusion of the season long arc featuring the cracks in space-time as well the resolution of the Pandorica cliffhanger from last week. The episode first aired on 26 June,…

Time Bandits (1981) – Terry Gilliam

Back in 1981 or 1982, on a free Super Channel or First Choice weekend I received my first introduction to the cinematic stylings of Terry Gilliam with Time Bandits. An odd, decidedly British science fiction adventure film, it is also one of the recommendations (following T2) as I return to the Action genre of the…

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) – Vonda N. McIntyre

This week’s Book Shelf brings me to the movie adaptation of Star Trek IV, as I continue to enjoy, discover new stories and revisit old ones with the Pocket Book novels. Working from the film’s original script, McIntyre expands on the film’s story, as well as tying it more strongly into her own stories and…

Doctor Who (David Tennant) – The Family of Blood, and Blink

The story started last week in Human Nature comes to a conclusion this week in The Family of Blood, and sees the Doctor (Tennant) making some difficult choices, and sacrificing a chance at love and a life of quiet happiness. Based on his novel, Human Nature, which featured the Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy), Paul Cornell…

The Twilight Zone (1961) – Back There, The Whole Truth and The Invaders

Paramount Pictures makes sure that you know the signpost is up ahead as they continue shepherding me through The Complete Series on blu-ray. Up first this week is Back There. With an airdate of 13 January, 1961, this episode was penned by Rod Serling.  The story follows Russell Johnson’s (back for another tour) Pete Corrigan….