The Problem with Daisy Jones & the Six

Stories, at their core, are about relationships. A story needs characters who want something and characters who interact in meaningful ways. The mini-series “Daisy Jones & the Six” lacks both of these critical elements. Based upon the book of the same name, “Daisy Jones & the Six” follows the path of rockers Billy Dunn and Daisy Jones as they’re thrust […]

The Problem with the Multiverse

The latest craze in Science Fiction and Fantasy is the multiverse. We’re seeing it in multiple franchises: Stranger Things, The Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Trek, and some major films like “Us.” The big idea is that each decision or alternative that exists creates alternate universes. So, there are infinitely many alternate universes (the Multiverse) and one can “cross over” from […]

The Problem with Firestarter (2022)

Dreaming We’re introduced to Adam and Sydney Lemmon. They’ve just returned home from the hospital with their newborn daughter Charlene (Charlie). Sydney no sooner lays Charlie down to rest and the bassinet bursts into flames. Not to worry, though. It’s just Adam’s nightmare. Well, both a nightmare and a flashback memory. This confusing scene is just the beginning of problems […]

The Problem with the Mandalorian

Not a Star Wars Fan from the Beginning I’m not a fan of the Star Wars movies. The original 1977 Star Wars (now known as Stars Wars: Episode 4 “A New Hope”) was a disappointment for me. Don’t get me wrong – it was a milestone in moviemaking history. The complexity of the film, the special effects, the marketing, Lucas’ […]

Shadow in the Cloud

Chloe Grace Moretz portrays Maude Garrett, a young woman in World War II who has a secret courier mission: she has a package that must be delivered aboard the B-17 bomber “The Fool’s Errand.” The men on board treat her dismissively and confine her to the below-belly gun while one of them promises to take care of the package. No […]

The King’s English in America

Is Spelling Important? I think of Mom literally every time I use spell check. All through her life she was embarrassed by her spelling. She even suffered bullying and ridicule because of it. Until the day she died, she found it difficult to write a letter for fear that she’d humiliate herself through a misspelling. Lately, I’ve realized how bad […]

The Queen’s Gambit – Ep 1: Openings

SPOILERS AHEAD My daughter Amber recommended The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix) to me because she knows I loved the period piece “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and am a chess nut. Good call on her part. After watching Episode One “Openings” I thought I might write a series of reviews of the show discussing its use of story devices and comparing it […]

Star Trek First Frontier – Review

One of the groups of fan fiction filmmakers has released their feature Star Trek film “First Frontier.” It took five years to produce and violates many of Viacom/CBS’s guidelines for a fan-fic-film: 1: It’s 70 minutes long (the limit is 30 minutes)2: They built their own set3: They use professional actors4: They use non-CBS props and costumes Some of the […]

Agile Writer Adenike Lucas Publishes “Birthright”!

  Congratulations to our own Adenike (Brandi) Lucas for her publication of “Birthright”!     Lucas let me know back in May and with everything going on, it slipped my attention to send out a notice.   Check it out on Amazon:   https://www.amazon.com/dp/0989522334/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_SjOxFb7K4G49Z   Meet Medallion. The great niece to Mary; a distinguished woman with a vast family fortune. […]