Movie Review: The Buddy Holly Story

Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper all together on stage.

Movie Review: The Buddy Holly Story (1978) directed by Steve Rash We first meet Buddy Holly (Gary Busey) and his bandmates Jesse (Don Stroud) and Ray Bob (Charles Martin Smith) at a roller rink in Lubbock, Texas. They’re just out of high school and doing okay on a local level. But Buddy has a new sound… Continue reading Movie Review: The Buddy Holly Story

Manga Review: Mao Vols. 21 & 22

Manga Review: Mao Vols. 21 & 22 by Rumiko Takahashi Note: This review will contain spoilers for previous volumes. If you’re new to the series, please consider reading older reviews on this blog. Quick recap: Nanoka Kiba lost her parents in a suspicious accident when she was young. Years later, she learns that the site… Continue reading Manga Review: Mao Vols. 21 & 22

Book Review: Falcon

Cover by Kirk Reinert.

Book Review: Falcon by Emma Bull Dominic “Niki” Emrys Ieuan Glyndwr is a prince of Cymru, a backwater planet primarily settled by people of Welsh descent who’d finally won their freedom from the English. He and his brilliant geneticist mother Morwenna have been on a long summer break from the press of palace affairs and… Continue reading Book Review: Falcon

Movie Review: Larceny in Her Heart

Mike and Tim confer about a late night visitor.

Movie Review: Larceny in Her Heart (1946) directed by Sam Newfield Noted private detective Michael Shayne (Hugh Beaumont) and his adoring if sarcastic secretary Phyllis “Phil” Hamilton (Cheryl Walker) are five minutes away from starting a two-week vacation visiting her aunt in Niagra. Naturally, that’s when a wealthy would-be client walks through the door. Burton Stallings… Continue reading Movie Review: Larceny in Her Heart

Movie Review: Ghostbusters 2

Winston and Ray put on brave faces in front of the children.

Movie Review: Ghostbusters 2 (1989) directed by Ivan Reitman It has been five years since the Ghostbusters saved New York City, and by extension the world, from the threat of Gozer the Gozerian. Due to the massive destruction caused by their struggle, the team was sued by multiple government agencies for the damage. At the same… Continue reading Movie Review: Ghostbusters 2

Book Review: Strange Scottish Stories

Book Review: Strange Scottish Stories by William Owen Like many another country, Scotland has a bloody history of dark deeds done and tales of the supernatural to be told during long cold winter nights. This 1981 anthology features some of those stories as retold and illustrated by William Owen. Most of the stories are from… Continue reading Book Review: Strange Scottish Stories

Movie Review: Ghostbusters (1984)

Winston checks out his new workplace.

Movie Review: Ghostbusters (1984) directed by Ivan Reitman The parapsychology department at Columbia University in New York City is small, consisting of three men. They are Dr. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Dr. Raymond Stantz (Dan Ackroyd) and Dr. Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis). While the other two are serious and dedicated paranormal researchers, Dr. Venkman as head… Continue reading Movie Review: Ghostbusters (1984)

TV Review: Judge Dee Mysteries

Judge Dee and his bailiffs go undercover for an investigation.

TV Review: Judge Dee Mysteries According to historical records, Judge Dee is based on a real-life person, Di Renjie (630-704), a magistrate and court official of the Tang Dynasty who was well regarded for his ability to resolve difficult cases and many wise actions in governance. In the Ming Dynasty of the 18th Century, a… Continue reading TV Review: Judge Dee Mysteries

Manga Review: Case Closed, Vols. 89 & 90

Manga Review: Case Closed, Vols. 89 & 90 by Gosho Aoyama Quick recap: Shinichi Kudou (Jimmy Kudo in the dub) is a genius teen detective who is shrunk into a preteen by an experimental poison administered by agents of the Black Organization. (So called because they all wear black.) Taking the psuedonym Conan Edogawa, Shinichi… Continue reading Manga Review: Case Closed, Vols. 89 & 90

Magazine Review: The Drift Fall 2023

Cover by Ivy Sanders Schneider, inspired by Adolph Dehn's cover for "The Liberator" December 1921 issue.

Magazine Review: The Drift Fall 2023 edited by Kiara Barrow and Rebecca Panovka This one’s a relatively new literary magazine, having started during the pandemic. The editorial slant appears to be socialist and class-conscious. Let’s see what this issue has to offer us. The opening editorial is on “Corrupt Organizations”, talking about the use and… Continue reading Magazine Review: The Drift Fall 2023