Season Four of Family Ties gets to a shakey start with a pretty terrible made-for-TV movie that sees the Keaton family jetting across the ocean to England. Taking the family out of their sit-com environment where they can deliver messages, and important themes, and delve into ethical situations and putting them in a slapstick version…
Tag: vacation
Burnt Offerings (1976) – Dan Curtis
The 1976 creepy house tale of Burnt Offerings didn’t engage me as much as the novel did. It has a fairly solid cast, but honestly, it didn’t quite have the eeriness that seemed to permeate the book. The film features Oliver Reed, Karen Black, Bette Davis, Burgess Meredith and the always-menacing Anthony James. The Rolf…
Batman (1966) – The Devil’s Fingers, and The Dead Ringers
Liberace?! Yup, Liberace. The renowned pianist and entertainer shows up as this story’s villain, Harry, as well as the villain’s entertainer twin brother, Chandell, who is being blackmailed by Harry. A series of musical crimes are striking Gotham City in this two-part story which was written by Lorenzo Semple Jr. The first part, The Devil’s…
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) – Jon Watts
If Homecoming was a celebration welcoming viewers back to the world of Spider-Man, Far From Home is a journey of discovery for Peter/Spider-Man (Tom Holland giving another stellar portrayal of the beloved character) as he confronts the expectations the world has for him as well as his own. So better way to find yourself than…
Hill Street Blues (1982) – Invasion of the Third World Body Snatchers, and Trial by Fury
Season two of Hill Street Blues came to a close on 13 May, 1982 with Invasion of the Third World Body Snatchers which was written by Steven Bochco, Anthony Yerkovich, Jeffrey Lewis and Michael Wagner. Renko (Charles Haid) is left reeling upon learning his father has died, but matters are complicated when the vehicle the…
Mission: Impossible (1970) – The Crane, and Death Squad
The IMF swings back into action again this week, with yet another mission to save an Eastern Bloc country from itself, and restore it to its prior democratic state but working to turn the current leaders against one another, and reinstate a pro-democracy guerilla leader who is sentenced to be executed. Written by Ken Pettus,…
M*A*S*H (1978) – They Call the Wind Korea, Major Ego, and Baby, It’s Cold Outside
Ken Levine and David Isaacs pen They Call the Wind Korea, which first aired on 30 October, 1978, and sees Charles (David Ogden Stiers) getting ready to leave the 4077 on his first vacation (in Tokyo no less) since he arrived. Unfortunately there’s a major storm coming in, and he can’t get a chopper out….
The Man With The Golden Gun (1974) – Guy Hamilton
Roger Moore’s sophomore effort as Ian Fleming’s British Secret Service agent, James Bond, 007 is a a bit of a mixed bag. Moore’s iteration of the character is still trying to find it’s groove, and its style, sometimes descending into camp, while still celebrating what makes a Bond film work – action sequences, dazzling locations,…
Star Trek: Enterprise (2002) – Two Days and Two Nights, and Shockwave
Captain’s log: 18 February, 2152 Micheal Dorn directs this episode that was written by Chris Black from a story by Rick Berman and Brannon Braga. It debuted on 15 May, 2002, and sees the crew of the Enterprise finally arrive at Risa. We follow a couple of stories for those who get shore leave, Trip…
Star Trek: Enterprise (2002) – Fallen Hero, and Desert Crossing
Captain’s log: 9 February, 2152 Supposedly on their way to Risa, the pleasure planet, the Enterprise gets a different mission that keeps shore leave a couple of episodes away. Written by Alan Cross from a story by Rick Berman, Brannon Braga, and Chris Black, this episode first aired on 8 May, 2002. Archer (Scott Bakula)…
