‘Congo’ (1995) taps into old-fashioned adventure
Michael Crichton Monday (Movie review): It falls short of the novel, but this adaptation succeeds as a rollicking – if corny – old-fashioned adventure.
Science Fiction
‘Congo’ (1995) taps into old-fashioned adventure
‘Reminiscence’ unspools noir plot against cli-fi backdrop
Movie review: The waterlogged future is gorgeous to look at, but the plot is rather standard for a film that seems to promise so much more.
‘Runaway’ (1984) offers future paths-not-taken
Michael Crichton Monday (Movie review): This is a standard cop actioner, but it’s fun to see what future tech devices Crichton predicts.
‘Cloud Atlas’ (2012) has epic rebellious streak
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): The Wachowski sisters and Tom Tykwer invigoratingly tell of rebellions big and small in six time periods.
‘Roswell, New Mexico’ Season 3 shows wear and tear
First episode impressions (TV review): The series started with promise a couple years back. But it has never lived up to its potential, and “Hands” is a new low.
‘Jupiter Ascending’ (2015) is Wachowskis’ masterpiece
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): This space fantasy is a visual feast with great action and world-building and a surprisingly on-point Mila Kunis.
Harbour, Pugh steal the show from ‘Black Widow’
Movie review: Maybe it’s not worth the overlong wait, but “Black Widow” is pretty great thanks to Florence Pugh and David Harbour.
‘Timeline’ (1999) exists much more in past than future
Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): This is more of a historical novel than an SF novel. Fans of the medieval era will love the attention to detail.
‘The Happening’ (2008) an accidental pandemic parable
A Week of Night (Movie review): “The Happening” is on no one’s list of the best Shyamalan films, but it does achieve more value through a pandemic lens.
Shyamalan’s ‘Signs’ (2002) is crafty family horror
A Week of Night (Movie review): Writer-director M. Night Shyamalan again displays his knack for turning simple ideas into big scares.