Science Fiction

Darth Vader #9

/ / Comics

Darth Vader‘s fight for his life on Mustafar continues in Darth Vader #9 as the Dark Lord of the Sith stays one-step ahead of Ochi who has been joined by an army of killer droids who mistakenly believe Vader’s parts are what give the Sith his power (and hope to steal a bit of that for themselves).

Despite his makeshift limbs, Vader proves more than enough for his adversaries. Armed with his lightsaber and new purpose, the arc makes yet another tie to The Rise of Skywalker with the introduction of a Sith wayfinder and Vader’s discovery of the existence of the Emperor‘s secret facility on Exegol.

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Palm Springs

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Palm Springs
  • IMDb: link

“It’s one of those infinite time loop situations that you might have heard about.”

Palm Springs movie reviewPalm Springs would fit perfectly in in a triple-feature nestled snuggly between Groundhog Day and Edge of Tomorrow. When we meet Nyles (Andy Samberg), through the eyes of bridesmaid Sarah (Cristin Milioti), he’s already stuck in a time loop around the events of the wedding of Sarah’s sister Tala (Camila Mendes). A flirtatious night between the pair leads to Sarah accidentally becoming trapped in the loop as well (although her circumstances are a bit more complicated than simply being a guest at the wedding).

Director Max Barbakow and writer Andy Siara team-up to deliver an incredibly smart, engaging, and charming film centered around the two leads (and to a lesser extent J.K. Simmons as the only other person aware of the loop). Time is rebooted once they fall asleep, lose consciousness, or die. Unable to break free of the loop, Nyles and Sarah struggle to find meaning in a meaningless existence where one day literally is the same as the next. Although it doesn’t break new ground with the concept, Palm Springs knows how to make the most out of each day and delivers the best comedy of 2020.

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Star Trek: Discovery – The Sanctuary

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Star Trek: Discovery – The Sanctuary
  • wiki: link

Star Trek: Discovery - The Sanctuary television review

“The Sanctuary” introduces Michael (Sonequa Martin-Green) to Book‘s (David Ajala) home world of Kwejian which is under attack by Osyraa (Janet Kidder) and the Emerald Chain because of Book’s role in the events from the previous episode. The takeaways from the encounter are that the Emerald Chain is a lot less impressive in action than in rumors (its flagship is beaten by the limited firepower of Book’s courier vessel) and that Ryn (Noah Averbach-Katz) may prove to be a valuable ally for Discovery and the Federation. The disappointment of the Emerald Chain is a reminder to the underwhelming reality of Voyager’s journey through the Delta Quadrant giving us new races such as the Kazon. Going where no one has gone before sounds great… until you need to fill it with interesting aliens.

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Possessor

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Possessor
  • IMDb: link

Possessor Blu-ray reviewWriter/director Brandon Cronenberg‘s Possessor is a gory techno-thriller set in a world not unlike our own where a company has devised a method to enter a person’s mind and take control of their body. Rather than use the technology for good, it sells it for profit by making assassins out of anyone they can get their hands on. Andrea Riseborough stars as agent Tasya Vos, although mostly we see other actors playing the bodies she has been given control. As the film opens we can already begin to see the effect of the body swapping on Tasya both in detachment to her real life and during her job which foreshadows larger problems to come.

Possessor is at times a brutal film, and Cronenberg never shies away from gore (even going so far to hold scenes longer than necessary to illicit a response from his audience). Jennifer Jason Leigh also stars as Tasya’s handler, whose team scrambles when something goes wrong with the latest assignment leaving her agent trapped in another body.

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Star Trek: Discovery – Unification III

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Star Trek: Discovery – Unification III
  • wiki: link

Star Trek: Discovery - Unification III television review

With Michael (Sonequa Martin-Green) in search of answers about the Burn, “Unification III” picks up the thread from Star Trek: The Next Generation of a unified Vulcan and Romulan. Discovery travels on a diplomatic mission to Ni’Var where hopes of her connection to Spock may grease the wheels to having the former Federation members release valuable scientific data. When their hosts aren’t obliged to share, Michael invokes the T’Kal-in-ket and must prove her case in front of a panel, although she is unprepared for who their hosts send to be her advocate – Gabrielle Burnham (Sonja Sohn).

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