Crichton opens a smart puzzle box in ‘Sphere’ (1987)
Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): Unlike most Crichton novels, “Sphere” is a puzzle box. On your first read, you don’t know what it’s about.
Science Fiction
Crichton opens a smart puzzle box in ‘Sphere’ (1987)
‘Slither’ (2006) a fun small-town infestation romp
Frightening Friday (Movie review): “Slither” isn’t scary, but it is disgusting. Yet the gross-out imagery is so cartoonish that it’s more funny than gross.
Whedon dreams up Victorian superheroes in ‘The Nevers’
First episode impressions (TV review): This is HBO, so there’s more nudity and violence than we’re used to, but “The Nevers” is recognizably Whedonian.
‘Sleeper’ (1973) a sleep-inducing sci-fi parody
Woody Wednesday (Movie review): The science fiction parody “Sleeper” has its moments, but they are too spread out.
‘Dark Skies’ (2013) makes aliens scary again
Frightening Friday (Movie review): This Keri Russell starrer isn’t wildly original. But it’s a fun, grimmer answer to films like “E.T.”
Crichton’s ‘Congo’ (1980) illustrates nature’s power
Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): “Congo” is less focused than his other thrillers, but it’s a sneaky man-versus-nature novel.
‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ a monster-mash blast
Movie review: It can’t be denied that it’s an entertaining spectacle when Godzilla and Kong go mano-a-mano. But other aspects are less impressive.
Crichton warns of mind control in ‘Terminal Man’ (1972)
Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): Mind-control via computers never became a thing. But that only makes “The Terminal Man” more fascinating.
Wilson’s ‘Andromeda Evolution’ (2019) a strong sequel
Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): Daniel H. Wilson’s sequel to “The Andromeda Strain” is a neat way to satiate fans’ hunger for more Crichton stories.
Snyder’s ‘Justice League’ beefs up Steppenwolf, DCEU
Movie review: The Whedon and Snyder versions are polar opposites. The most notable metric is that the original is 2 hours long and this one is 4 hours.