The Martian (2015)

 Based on the Andy Weir novel, in this movie we have to once again save Matt Damon. Damon stars as Mark Watney, part of a crew sent to try to colonize Mars. When a sandstorm kicks up, his group leaves him behind, believing him to be dead. It is then a rush to attempt to get him home. One of the greatest moments in the movie is when Sean Bean, who plays Mitch Henderson, has to explain what the Council of Elrond is. This is so funny is that Bean also played Borimor in the Lord of the Rings and was at the Council of Elrond! He got to be on the Council twice!

The Fantastic Voyage (1966)

 

When a Russian scientist gets wounded when the Americans try to bring him over to our side a crew and their ship is miniaturized to enter the body and heal the brain trauma. Actually has great special effects for this day and age as they navigate the body. 

Jedi: Fallen Order

 

Ok, let’s be honest here. I’ve never actually played this game. I don’t own a playstation and really don’t intend to get one any time soon. I have seen a friend play a few minutes though and this game is gorgeous! And I liked the main character Cal Kestis. If I were to get a playstation I would totally buy this game just so I can run around and be a Jedi. As far as I understand, you are a former Jedi Padwan named Cal who gets outed to the Empire when you use the Force to save your friend Prauf. You are then recruited by a former Jedi Knight Cere Junda who is attempting to rebuild the Order. I also liked that it was an original story and not just rehashing the movies. I remember when the sequel came out (and yes there is a sequel called Jedi: Survivor) I got really excited that there might be new Star Wars movie about characters I wasn’t familiar with. When I figured out it was a game, I was so bummed. 

User Unfriendly by Vivian Vande Velde

 

This book takes place in the same universe as Heir Apparent but is about a completely new cast of characters. Like in the other book Arvin and his friends are playing in a fantastical virtual reality game where they are the characters they invented. But when Arvin’s mother, who is also playing, starts to get deathly ill, they will need all their wits to beat the game and return to the real world to save her. This I would say straddles the line between fantasy and science fiction. On the one hand, our characters are playing a extremely advanced virtual reality game. On the other hand they are playing a fantasy game. Vande Velde always does a great job. 

Brothers in Arms by LuthienTauriel

 

Another one of mine. As I have mentioned in previous posts about my own work I have limited the access to my fanfic. I had too many con artists writing to me saying “I drew you this picture, now you owe me money.” I monitor all comments now and only registered users can read my work. Anyway, this is a Star Wars Rebels fanfic. The epilogue of Rebels informs us that Zeb brought Kallus to Lira San, the Lasat home world. This is that story. I had fun writing it because their friendship is one of my favorite relationships in the series. 

https://archiveofourown.org/works/57530905/chapters/146377864

The Herculoids (1967-1968)

 

In this cartoon, King Zandor with his group of crazy looking creatures including some that just look like giant blobs must keep their world safe from aliens from other galaxies. This was one of those shows that I wouldn’t seek out but would always watch when it popped up on Boomarang. It’s enjoyable. 

Across the Spiderverse (2023)

 

The sequel to Into the Spiderverse. This finds Miles Morales once again teaming up with Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker and a whole new host of Spidermans to stop a villain that was created in the previous movie. It’s a fun movie even if it ended on a major cliffhanger that has yet to be resolved and I found Spiderman Miguel to be extremely annoying. I did enjoy the reference to Spiderman: No Way Home though as another multidimensional Spiderman movie. 

Green Lantern (2011)

 

I don’t think this movie deserves all the hate it gets. Is it good? Not really. Is the CGI horrible? Yes. But hey, Ryan, it got you out of the romcoms and you met your current wife on set. Anyway, the movie follows Hal Jordan, a pilot, who is chosen to be the next Green Lantern. It has a few fun references to other franchises when he is trying to access his lantern. It’s a stupid superhero movie and I still kind of like it. 

The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1987)

 

Jane Watson is bankrupt. She has to sell her English country estate belonging to John Watson (yes, that John Watson). When she goes in, she finds a cryogenic chamber containing one Sherlock Holmes who had come down with Bubonic Plague when he received a booby trapped gift. After curing Holmes, they both go back to America. Jane and Holmes are then pulled into a modern mystery greatly resembling the classic Conan Doyle story “The Sign of the Four.” It is really a decent modern Holmes story. 

Rogue One (2016)

 

Taking place shortly before the events of A New Hope, Rogue One is about the people trying to get the plans for the Death Star safely into the Rebellion’s hands. There are no Jedi, although Chirrut Imwe is a sort of Force wielder. What I loved about this movie is that it was all new characters. Yes Darth Vader makes an appearance and so does an AI Moff Tarkin. Bail Organa does make an appearance. And a bad AI Princess Leia. But for the most part the main characters are people completely new to the franchise. So you don’t know how their story is going to end. And it’s refreshing. 

Rodan (1956)

 

When a mining company digs far down into the earth, they awaken Rodan a giant pterodactyl like creature capable of flying at supersonic speeds. Part of the Toho Godzilla series. It’s stupid, but still fun!

Only a Tranq by ValmureEld

A little one shot where Claire is freaking out because Owen was shot with a raptor tranquilizer in Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom. It’s short and it’s fun.

 https://archiveofourown.org/works/15019187

 

The Undiscovered Country (1991)

 

In this movie, Kirk and McCoy are accused of killing a Klingon High Chancellor and sentenced to life imprisonment on a prison planet. The crew of the Enterprise, not believing that their captain would do such a thing despite his issues with the klingons, set off to rescue them and thwart a conspiracy to end hostilities with the klingons. One of the better original Star Trek movies.

The Hunger Games (2012)

 

A pretty faithful adaptation of the book and one of the best survival movies I’ve seen in a while. Let’s be honest here I’m not the biggest fan of dystopia media. In fact I wasn’t that crazy about the other books/movies in this series which is why they won’t be talked about here. But I like this first book/movie. I guess because there is a little bit of survival wrapped in it. A thought about whether or not Katniss is going to survive the Hunger Games. It’s as enjoyable as any of these kind of movies can be.