Movie Review: Papillon (1973)

Papillon is introduced to his new solitary quarters.

Movie Review: Papillon (1973) directed by Franklin J. Schaffner Henri Charrière (Steve McQueen), nicknamed “Papillon” after the butterfly tattoo on his chest, is convicted of a crime he did not commit and sentenced to imprisonment in the penal colony of French Guiana often referred to as “Devil’s Island.” On the ship taking the convicts there, he… Continue reading Movie Review: Papillon (1973)

Anime Review: Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai (2020)

From left: Gome-chan, Dai, Popp and Maam.

Anime Review: Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai (2020) Years ago, the dark lord Hadlar was defeated by the Hero’s party, and was thought dead. This means little to young Dai, a human boy brought up by monsters on peaceful Dermline Island. He is friends with all the monsters, and loves his Grampa Brass, even… Continue reading Anime Review: Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai (2020)

Anime Review: Marvel Anime: Wolverine

Logan battles Omega Red.

Anime Review: Marvel Anime: Wolverine Logan, the man codenamed “Wolverine”, has lived a long time. Part of it, of course, is his mutant healing factor, but years of combat training, and a skeleton made of super-hard adamantium help too. And then there’s the sharp adamantium claws that pop out of his forearms. These days, his… Continue reading Anime Review: Marvel Anime: Wolverine

Movie Review: The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958)

An early appearance by a cyclops, whose legs were deliberately made that way so people wouldn't think it was a man in a costume.

Movie Review: The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) directed by Nathan H. Juran In a time when Baghdad was the city of cities, when the world was full of wonders, the adventurous merchant and ship captain Sinbad (Kerwin Mathews) has captured the heart of Princess Parisa (Kathryn Grant) of Chandra. On the voyage home to Baghdad… Continue reading Movie Review: The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958)

Manga Review: Apollo’s Song

Manga Review: Apollo’s Song by Osamu Tezuka Shogo Chikaishi is an unhappy young man. He has no idea who his birth father was, and his mother supported them by inviting a string of horny men to her bed. She had little love to spare for her child, who often got in the way of getting… Continue reading Manga Review: Apollo’s Song

Book Review: The Pocket Book of Adventure Stories

Book Review: The Pocket Book of Adventure Stories edited by Philip Van Doren Stern In his introduction, the editor talks about the thrill of adventure stories, how often they are churned out as cheap entertainment, and that he has selected twelve really good ones for the reader. This 1945 book was designed to be easily… Continue reading Book Review: The Pocket Book of Adventure Stories

Movie Review: Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla

Sammy with a gorilla that he's just figured out isn't Duke.

Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla dir. William Beaudine Crooner Duke Mitchell (himself) and comedian Sammy Petrillo (himself) are on their way to a USO performance in Guam when they get lost on their way to the restroom and walk off the airplane. Good thing they were wearing parachutes! The pair land on the tropical… Continue reading Movie Review: Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla

Movie Review: I Walked With a Zombie

Betsy meets her patient.

Movie Review: I Walked With a Zombie (1943) directed by Jacques Tourneur It’s a particularly cold and snowy winter in Ottawa, so recently graduated Canadian nurse Betsy Connell (Frances Dee) is quite willing to be hired for private nursing duty to take place on the island of San Sebastian in the West Indies. On the ship… Continue reading Movie Review: I Walked With a Zombie

Anime Review: Super Crooks

Most of the gang.

Anime Review: Super Crooks Johnny Bolt used to be, well, not a “sweet” kid, exactly, but one with at least a little idealism. Comic books based on the Utopian and other superheroes gave him hope that there could be a better life. One night he discovers that he has electrical powers (his mother never has… Continue reading Anime Review: Super Crooks

Movie Review: Wonder Woman (2009)

Diana stands tall.

Movie Review: Wonder Woman (2009) directed by Lauren Montgomery Diana has always lived on Themyscira. Her mother Hippolyta, it is said, made her from clay infused with godly power, making Diana the only child (now grown) of this Amazon society. The Amazons live on the isolated island both to protect themselves from the male-dominated outside world…and… Continue reading Movie Review: Wonder Woman (2009)