In three years, the venerable Pacific Northwest’s home convention Norwescon will be half a century old, and we attendees likewise fifty years older. Is it worth it? Dang right, it is! Steve describes what goes on there (except for programming. He missed all that stuff.)
Horror movie The Monkey’s gore is occasionally inventive, but seldom funny. Which is odd, because it advertises as a horror movie but tries to be a funny horror movie. Save your money and watch on TV.
The Electric Zone, based on Simon Stålenhag’s paintings, looks as if it would really rock as a science-fiction movie. But visuals aren’t everything; a film needs involving characters and plotlines, and this one is woefully lacking. Enjoy the visuals and turn off the sound.
Terry Pratchett turned the world of fantasy on its head with the Discworld. Several live-action (and a few animated) shorts have been made out the Discworld; here’s a bit about them all and where to see them.
It got bad reviews and didn’t spark a series of sequels, but I maintain “Superman Returns” (2006) with Brandon Routh was a pretty decent Superman movie. It just got a bad rap. What do YOU think?
James Coburn had a long TV and movie career, but his first starring role in a movie was as Derek Flint, superspy, in the 1960s. Who is or was Derek Flint? Read and find out, young padawan!
For his last column of 2024, Steve takes a look at a science fiction “invasion” movie from 1998, directed by Robert Rodriguez, noted for working with Quentin Tarantino and for his “Mexico Trilogy” with Antonio Banderas, among other things. See how he does with this particular movie.
The book More Than Human is over 70 years old. In it, Theodore “Ted” Sturgeon posits that a superhuman “Homo gestaltus” can supersede us ordinary people. Is it possible? Steve remains skeptical, but the book’s a winner!
This week, Steve talks about the present Superman TV show and what it means to him personally. What does he think about it? What do YOU think about it?
Steve’s new Halloween column this month tries to do teeny-tiny reviews of 27 movies. Let us know if he succeeds or falls flat on his face.
Well, it’s October again, so movie reviews should probably include something scary, so Steve reviews the very first actual movie version of Stephen King’s ’Salem’s Lot. Boo!
For my 400th column for Amazing Stories® Online, I review two new movies. Well, the movies are new, but nothing in them is, really. One is recommended, one not. I’ll let you decide which is which and whether you agree.
A “family-friendly” movie that really is! These days, even Disney movies have to be screened before you let your kids watch them, but this movie seems to be actually suitable for all ages. It’s cute, well-acted, and brings out that childlike imagination even in grownups.
The Blue Rose (2023) attempts to walk the fine line between tribute and imitation, but almost falls into parody. It’s a movie that Steve can’t really recommend to anyone.
Rumour has it that they’re going to make either a new Destroyer movie or a new TV series. No, this isn’t about ships or a Marvel MCU thing. It’s about “Remo Williams,” who is the avatar of Shiva, The Destroyer. Still have no clue? Read on…
There was a TV series The Avengers in the 1960s before Marvel decided to team up its superheroes. Most of us—especially young men—who grew up in the ‘60s remember Diana Rigg’s character Mrs. Peel very fondly. And overall, the series was better than much semi-genre TV of the era in my opinion. Have you seen it? What do you think?
Many, if not most, SF fans who are readers would really like to see a movie made from his works that adhered to Heinlein’s story and didn’t take great leaps away from his ideas to someone else’s, as in the Paul Verhoeven Starship Troopers. I think Predestination is one that Heinlein would have liked. Do you agree?
This week I review two films, both dealing with arthropods, namely arachnids. (Well, one’s an arachnid, the other appears to be). Both movies include jump scares, and both are pretty darned good, if somewhat predictable. If you like that kind of film, these two are for you!
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is, you will forgive the expression, kind of a stiff. (Frozen stiff.) I didn’t find the movie particularly funny or scary, though Patton Oswalt was pretty good. I didn’t really care for any of the characters. Watch it when it’s free streaming and save some bucks.
Can’t say too much about Abigail (spoilers), but the 14-year-old girl in the titular role is extremely good. The movie has a twist that’s revealed fairly early, but I can’t reveal it in the excerpt. I enjoyed it, and the effects are pretty “effective.”
Today’s the launch of not only Robert J. Sawyer’s brand-new terrific science fiction book The Downloaded, but also his 16-stop cross-Canada promotional tour. Check the column to see if he’s coming to a city near you!
A new book, by Canadian writer Scott Overton, is a near-future thriller about first contact (maybe), telepathy, deep-sea habitats, and all sorts of really cool stuff. I think Steve likes it! Read this!
It’s been a bit over 40 years since L. Ron Hubbard began the institution Writers of the Future to “pay forward” his success in writing science fiction. In that time, well over 800 writers (and illustrators!) have won awards, most going on to major careers in the field. This week, Steve reviews the 40th volume in the series. And finds it excellent!
Today Steve checks out Sebastien de Castell’s “Crucible of Chaos” and finds it a good read. He says it flows quite well and features an unlikely protagonist. He also dips into a couple of A. Merritt’s juicy books from the ‘20s and ‘30s.
Steve reviews the fourth volume in Edward Willett’s anthology of stories from writers he’s interviewed. It’s a very good volume, and one well worth reading.
Steve retro-reviews possible cult classic John Dies at the End, because it showed up on his satellite system several times this week, and he missed it when it first came out. Did he like it? (Will you?) Read the column for a possible answer.
There was initially a lot of discussion around this movie when it came out, but that has died down. From a fan’s perspective, is it worth watching? Depends. Read it and find out.
For his last column of 2023, Steve revisits (and revises) one he posted nine years ago. Is it still relevant? You decide.
It is supposed that Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the fifth Indiana Jones movie, will be the last one Harrison Ford will star in. But it’s possible that it will not be. It’s almost certain that there will be more Indy movies, but who will star in them? Only Lucasfilm knows!
The name Hayao Miyazaki is almost synonymous in many people’s minds with Japanese anime because of the many high-quality films that he and his Studio Ghibli have put out over the last few decades. (There is lots more anime than they have produced, but it’s not all as exemplary as theirs.) Revisiting some of his best films is always a rewarding experience, especially Spirited Away, for me.
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