Film Review: Spider-Man Swings Through Each New Day

~ Peter Kanelis ~ Leave a comment

Spider-Man: Brand New Day may have helped breathe some new life into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Destin Daniel Cretton is the director of this latest installment of the Spider-Man film franchise, which was written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommars.

Tom Holland has made a welcome return to the role. Zendaya and Jacob Batalon return as MJ Watson and Ned Leeds. Jon Bernthal joins this one as Frank Castle AKA known as the Punisher. Sadie Sink and Tramell Tillman are the latest addition to the Marvel franchise. Florence Pugh reprises her role as the new Black Widow. Mark Ruffalo is of course back as Bruce Banner, who does indeed make an impressive transformation into the Incredible Hulk.

Peter Parker’s friends and whole world have forgotten him after a spell was cast by Dr. Strange in the previous Spider-Man film. He has gone on a constant campaign of crime-fighting four years with an empathetic detective as his only ally. A new enemy has emerged, and this one can take over people psychically. He faces another old enemy in the shape of the Scorpion. Peter also finds that his body seems to be mutating further as a result of the radioactive spider’s DNA being mixed with his. Spider-Man is on the verge of becoming more powerful, but he is not sure he will be able to handle the responsibility and keep himself from his darker impulses.

Holland has once again proven that his casting as Peter Parker is an excellent choice. He brings the right amount of humor and depth to the role. Zendeya and Batalon are also great scene partners as well.

Marvel films are known for crossovers, but the addition of some of the other characters such as the Hulk and the Punisher in this one are actually handled quite well. Many times, these additions can feel a little tacked on and unnecessary, however the writers made it work. I must confess it was great to see the Hulk once again return to his more savage persona.

The film has some unexpected layers as secrets are uncovered.

Now, this film does deviate a bit from established lore from the comic books; however, the writing here is solid enough for me to not get too distracted by that.

The visual effects are quite compelling. The fight scenes were executed well.

There were a few times where Spider-Man’s quips and antics were a little too cartoonish, but that wasn’t enough to rob me of any enjoyment of the experience.

Marvel films have been rather spotty of late, but this one delivered the goods. Hopefully, Holland has a bit more gas in the tank when it comes to this character. I also hope that the producers don’t get too weird in future installments.

Doctor Who Audio Review: A Kraken, The Master, And A Ravenous Sea

~ Peter Kanelis ~ Leave a comment

The Companion Chronicles: The Legacy of Time provides a pair of Doctor Who audio dramas featuring the First and Second Doctors as related by some atypical companions for these incarnations. This set is a spinoff of the celebratory boxset The Legacy of Time which was commemorating Big Finish Productions being able to produce Doctor Who content for twenty years. Nicholas Briggs has returned to the director’s chair, which will certainly almost guarantee more than one thing to enjoy.

Stephen Noonan returns to the mic as his version of the First Doctor doing a fairly decent impression of the late William Hartnell. Michael Troughton takes on the role originated by his father, Patrick, as the Second Doctor. There is even another Doctor who appears, but I will avoid spoiling that one.

The first episode is written by Barbara Hambly and is entitled The Kraken of Hagwell. The cast includes Jon Culshaw narrating this tale as the stalwart Brigadier Lethrbridge-Stewart. He also takes on the role of the Master, who was initially portrayed by the late Roger Delgado. Genevieve Gaunt is also lending her vocal talents.

A village has been decimated by a sea monster, and the Brigadier encounters an earlier version of the Doctor than the ones he has known before. The Master is also on the scene to try to harness this creature for his own malevolent purposes. The Doctor has been misplaced from his time stream and is not sure how he seems to have slipped into his own future working with UNIT.

Hambly has a long history in the science fiction and mystery genres, and it’s kind of a coup that Big Finish was able to get a submission from her.

I found her contribution to be pretty good, but I wouldn’t call it a stand-out. The performances are fine. Noonan has gotten better in his impression of Hartnell. Culshaw’s talent and enthusiasm really holds the thing together.

I liked it well enough, but I doubt I will consider all that memorable.

Long-time contributor Simon Guerrier serves up a decent enough tale with the Second Doctor, as portrayed by Michael Troughton, who is channeling his father. The Heartless Sea has the Doctor team up with Naomi Cross and Harry Sullivan, played by Eleanor Crooks and Christopher Naylor. Naylor is playing a role that originally was played by the late Ian Marter.

Harry and Naomi arrive at Warehouse 9 in order to investigate some apparent haunting when they encounter the Doctor who has suddenly appeared it out of nowhere. The Doctor is in his second incarnation. When they enter the warehouse, they find there is some giant invisible spirit and a portal that takes them to an alien sea that is alive and hungry.

This story is told from Naomi’s perspective, and Crooks does deliver a compelling performance. The story has some imagery that is a little difficult top picture in the imagination at times, but one of the advantages of audio dramas is that the imagination can often provide a better visual than cinema.

Troughton’s impression of his father has gotten a bit better, but I prefer Frazer Hines’ performance as the Second Doctor. Still, Troughton hits the mark close enough so that I can still enjoy a good Second Doctor story.

Overall, the episodes didn’t quite hit the level of anything spectacular, but the concept of these earlier Doctors meeting companions and trusted friends from their future is charming. It’s not something that needs to be repeated too much, but I can appreciate the intent to freshen things up a bit while still indulging the fans. I am just glad that Big Finish has chosen to represent the earlier eras of the series and found a way to do that while honoring the legacies of Hartnell and Patrick Troughton.

There are a couple of good twists that link this set with the initial The Legacy of Time release, and the performances and post-production efforts help lift this a bit above a mediocre listening experience.

It’s a fun diversion, and I will probably find some more enjoyment once I go through it again sometime in the not too distant future.

Film Review: Nothing Like A Nice Hike At Gunpoint

~ Peter Kanelis ~ Leave a comment

The Long Walk is a dystopian thriller film that was adapted from an early Stephen King novel. Since I have not read the novel, I am uncertain as to its faithfulness to the source material, but it’s a pretty good movie. The screenplay was written by J.T. Mollner with Francis Lawrence as director.

The film’s cast includes Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Ben Wang, Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill.

This film takes place in some alternate history where the United States has gone through some kind of civil war in the twentieth century. There is now an annual event called “The Long Walk” in which young men from every state gather to participate in a long walk for as long as they can in order to win a large cash prize and any wish granted they desire. It’s a Stephen King story, so there is a rather gruesome catch. The lads are escorted by the military, and if they fall below walking 3 miles per hour, they are executed after three warnings. Along the way, there is a mixture of some competitiveness and camaraderie. Of course, the other catch is that there can only be one left still standing in order to reap the rewards.

It’s a pretty good movie in spite of most of it taking place on a very long stretch of road. It’s a tough movie to watch because of the ruthlessness depicted at times. Complicated and shifting relationships are king of a staple in a Stephen King story.

Those who have read the book may disagree, and I can sympathize since I also usually prefer the written version in most adaptations like this.

The performances were all quite solid, although Hamill does kind of come off as a little cheesy at times as this blustering Major. I will say that he has had worse performances, so he does not really ruin the film.

It’s a somewhat extraordinary plot in some ways. Honestly, it seems like a pointless endeavor concocted by the government, but it does a provide an interesting vehicle for the banter between the characters.

There are some moments that pull on the heartstrings, and I was actually saddened at some of the deaths. There are some pretty compelling twists as well.

This may not be the best of Stephen King adaptation, but it should hold up as at least being interesting and worthy of atj least one viewing.

Audiobook Review: Poison In The Ink

~ Peter Kanelis ~ Leave a comment

The Skin Collector is a thriller written by the prolific and popular Jeffery Deaver and features the quadriplegic criminalist, Lincoln Rhyme. The audiobook is read by Edoardo Ballerini.

This time, Rhyme and his partner, Amelia Sachs, have a couple of investigations going. While Rhyme is somewhat morose over the death of a very worthy and dangerous adversary, another killer is on the loose. This particular unsub likes to tattoo his victims with a good dose of poison mixed into the ink. There seems to be a connection to another killer known as the Bone Collector, the case that brought Rhyme and Sachs together. As Rhyme and his team dig a little deeper, there seems to be a more complicated motive than just some depraved lunatic getting his kicks. In fact, a more lethal conspiracy seems to be in the making, and Rhyme and Sachs find that this killer may have infiltrated their haven and targeting those clostest to them.

Ballerini does a decent job presenting this story, but it’s not a plot that I found all that memorable. There were too many callbacks to previous cases. I confess that I have not read many books in this series, so I was a little handicapped when it came to recalling or understanding everything that led to this particular novel.

Deaver seems to be a little overly fond of providing somewhat outlandish monikers to his killers. Rhyme starts off this one reflecting over his mental duels with someone known as the Watchmaker, who had recently been reported deceased.

Anyway, Rhyme is just brilliant and curmudgeonly enough to stay interesting overall. Deavber had some pretty good and macabre twists. He is another writer where I can understand why he is such a following, but I doubt that I will be a consistent fan. I may not return to his works in a hurry, but I will likely find my way back to his catalog eventually.

Film Review: Another Wish Gone Wrong

~ Peter Kanelis ~ Leave a comment

Obsession is a pretty compelling horror film written and directed by Curry Barker about a lonely young man in love with a pretty friend. When he makes a wish for some returned affection, he of course gets much more than he bargained for. Michael Johnston, Inde Navarette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, and Andy Richter are included in this cast.

A guy known as Bear is in love with Nikki, who just sees him as a good friend. He gets his hand on a novelty toy called a One Wish Willow. He makes a wish that Nikki returns his love, not realizing that the damn thing actually works. Nikki suddenly starts acting more desperate in expressing her newfound affection. Nikki becomes more erratic and unhinged while in the grip of this strange curse, and Bea’s options of undoing his wish are quickly dwindling away leaving only one way out of this increasingly terrifying predicament.

This is simply one of the best horror films I have seen in a while. Navarette’s performance is riveting and as creepy as intended. The plot idea is certainly a bit overused, but Barker makes good use of it. He chose the right cast to bring this vision to the screen.

There are a few drawbacks. I am not that much of a prude when it comes to profanity, but much of what was exhibited in this film did come off as rather lazy and gratuitous. There are also a couple of scenes that seem too bizarre and gruesome even for this film.

. Overall, the film is still pretty good and manages to show some creativity. The performances are still solid, especially Inde Navarette’s.

Anyway, this film will likely be rightfully considered one of the better releases of 2026, and horror fans should find some enjoyment out of this without too much reservation. It did encourage me to keep an eye out for Curry Barker’s next project.

Film Review: Some Goodbyes Do Not Come Quick Enough

~ Peter Kanelis ~ Leave a comment

The Long Goodbye is a detective film featuring Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe, and this version was less than impressive. It was released in 1973 under the direction of Robert Altman. Leigh Brackett adapted the screenplay from the original Chandler novel. Elliot Gould stars as the iconic L.A. private eye. Other cast members include Nina van Pallandt, Sterling Hayden, Mark Rydell, David Arkin, and Henry Gibson. There is an unexpected and uncredited appearance by Arnold Schwarzenegger as a henchman.

Marlowe gets a visit from an old friend who he ends up giving a ride to Mexio. Upon his return, he is greeted by police officers who arrest him as a possible accomplice to a murder. The friend who visited him seems to have killed his wife. News is sent that the friend committed suicide. Once Marlowe is released, he is then hired to find a wayward husband who is rather eccentric in the vein of Ernest Hemingway. Marlowe then is also having to contend with some gangsters that the dead friend had apparently swindled. Marlowe finds that little is how it seems.

Gould is a fine actor, but I struggled with his interpretation of Marlowe. He does not come across as tough as I had seen Marlowe presented before. There are a lot of times where characters talk over each other which makes it hard to follow. There is a very long introduction in which Marlowe just goes grocery shopping for his cat. I found this film to be a bit boring, which is disappointing to say about a Philip Marlowe movie.

The ending was pretty good, but it took too long for me to really care about the resolution.

I thought Mark Rydell kind of stood out as the ruthless Augustine. He was one of those charming psychos that could react violently with startling suddenness.

I am not exactly sure how Altman stayed to the source material, but it sure felt like a lot of liberties were taken. I sure didn’t find Gould’s depiction of Philip Marlowe to be all that familiar. Obviously, he is no Humphrey Bogart.

Anyway, the film fell a little below average as a viewing experience. There are worse movies out there, but this particular adaptation is not something where I would call a must-see.

Book Review: Even Doctors Can Hear Confessions

~ Peter Kanelis ~ Leave a comment

Confessions of a Yakuza is a compelling memoir of one of the last traditional members of the Yakuza, a Japanese version of the Mafia, written by Junichi Saga. John Bester is the one who penned the translation into English.

Saga apparently was a doctor treating Ijichi Eiji, who had been a leader in the criminal syndicate known as the Yakuza. Eiji decides to reveal his life story to this doctor, who apparently decided to record the account and write it up for publication.

The story moves along quite well and provides some insight into some aspects of Japanese culture in the early twentieth century through the end of the Second World War. Eiji gives his account from a turbulent childhood through his rise to be one of the bosses in the criminal organization, and it is laid out quite plainly.

Saga is not too bad when it comes to bringing the reader to the “present day” scenes. It was prudent to give a reminder of how these confessions unfolded and who was recording these reminiscences.

I think much of the credit is due to John Bester’s translation which opened the window for those not terribly familiar with Japanese culture.

Sometimes the exposition can seem to slow things a little, but it wasn’t too egregious. Although there are many works that detail criminal organizations, this one did feel like a unique reading experience in many ways.

Saga seems to be a pretty efficient storyteller, and I would have likely found the company of Eiji to be absolutely fascinating as well.

A friend finds this to be a good campfire read, and I think I know what he means. It was a good recommendation that I am more than pleased to pass on.

Next up, I have decided to check into Cate Quinn’s The Clinic.

Book Review: The Great War Brings A Great Detective Out Of Retirement

~ Peter Kanelis ~ Leave a comment

Sherlock Holmes and the Telegram of War by Nicholas Meyer may not be the best of the pastiche novels featuring the most renowned fictional detective, but there is still some enjoyment to be discovered as a reading experience.

Dr. John Watson is quite a bit older, but he is able to still use his medical skills to care for the soldiers wounded in the First World War. His old friend, Sherlock Holmes, suddenly appears looking as if he was on the wrong end of a fight and explains that he is about to undertake a rather important mission on behalf of the British government. A telegram has been sent to Mexico, and the two elderly adventurers are still able to track it down, but it will take a lengthy trip to the United States during wartime where German U-boats prowl the seas, and an assassin apparently has them in their sights. It may be their most important case, and they are not young anymore, but it is often still a mistake to count out the tenacity and ingenuity of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.

Meyer is unquestionably a talented writer, but I had some trouble staying all that interested in the plot because it does not entirely feel like something Arthur Conan Doyle would actually delve into in spite of the views presented in the review excerpts. Some of the photos of the real historical figures encountered by Holmes and Watson and Meyer’s enthusiastic depictions of the research he has obviously done sometimes gets a littl distracting from the plot.

I did find the Watson’s reflections and doubts about his ability to continue living in this manner at his age to be a bit more interesting than the actual plot. There are some concerns that Holmes’ deductive abilities have waned as well, but they still press on.

Meyer does explore some aspects of the First World War that do not seem widely known. Watson’s narration is still interesting enough when he reveals thoughts and fears that appear rarely in previous exploits. Meyer is good at keeping such well-known characters recognizable. Although I doubt that Doyle would have had such a convoluted plot, the characters still appear consistent with how he would have written them.

I still consider Meyer to be one of the better writers who have contributed to the Sherlock Holmes literature not written by the original creator. This particular novel didn’t have as many highlights as I would have preferred, but it was still a worthwhile read.

I think it’s time to make a slight variance in my usual reading indulgences. I will gain some insight into the Japanese underworld with Junichi Saga’s Confessions of a Yakuza.

Book Review: Strike In Parliament

~ Peter Kanelis ~ Leave a comment

Lethal White is the rather lengthy, convoluted fourth novel featuring Cormoran Strike by Robert Galbraith, who is really J.K. Rowling. It is still quite good, but some of the more personal dynamics between Strike and his partner, Robin Ellacott, tends to grab my interest more than the actual murder mystery.

It has been a year since Robin has entered what appears to be a troubled marriage. She has been elevated to partner in Strike’s detective agency. Strike has been gaining some notoriety due his involvement in some high-profile murders occurring in London. He is also the illegitimate son of a popular rock star. He also lost a leg when he served king and country in the military. Needless to say, he is a guy with a colorful past.

Well, this caper starts off with a very troubled young man bursting into Strike’s office and claiming to have witnessed a strangulation when he was a child. When he and Robin start to take a look at this claim, a minister in Parliament shows up and hires the agency to assist in a blackmail situation which sends Robin undercover, much to the frustration of her new husband.

Anyway, a connection between the aforementioned strange visit and this minister’s problem becomes apparent. Once again, Strike and Robin have to risk their lives as they also navigate the complications in their friendship.

Galbraith is unquestionably a talented, interesting writer on the whole, but this novel felt a little more dense than necessary at times. Strike and Robin’s banter certainly helps one navigate this unwieldy plot.

Robin’s situation with her husband feels a bit cliche at times, but it was still interesting. There is an obvious “will they or won’t they” vibe going on between Strike and Robin, which is a little trite but still engaging.

As I work my way through the series, I doubt Lethal White will rank as a favorite, but it’s still worth the time. Galbraith still manages to be compelling enough to keep me returning to the series.

As usual, I will get the next installment a few books down the road. For now, it is time to revisit the living room of 221B Baker Street as Nicholas Meyer unveils the story of Sherlock Holmes and the Telegram From Hell.

Film Review: Even A Pawn Can Take Down A King

~ Peter Kanelis ~ Leave a comment

Young Washington is a pretty well-put together film depicting the early failures and successes of the first President of the United States with William Franklyn-Miller in the lead role as George Washington. Jon Erwin sits in the director’s seat of this film which he co-wrote alongside Tom Provost and Diederik Hoogstraten.

Other familiar talents such as Kelsey Grammar, Andy Serkis, Mary-Louise Parker, and Ben Kingsley are part of well-chosen cast.

Much the film delves a bit into Washington’s childhood and reveals that his father died when he was quite young. Washington had an older half-brother who took charge of his education and was apparently an important inspiration to the boy. Of course, older brother Lawrence teaches George the rules governing the game of chess. Washington initially wanted to serve in the British Army but was denied because of his colonial roots. He was given a position in the Virginia Militia where he started making a name for himself. The film then starts to hone on the French and Indian Wars, and Washington’s experiences there, including a rather humbling loss. It takes the love and wisdom of George’s mother to reignite that spark of inspiration that propels him to build on the purpose that will eventually help form a nation from the ground up.

It’s not the greatest historical film I have seen, but it holds up quite nicely and is certainly one of the better projects to hit the screens this year. Franklyn-Miller does a decent job portraying a very young George Washington, although I don’t know there is anything that unique about his performance.

The film seems to not stray too far from historical record, although I am sure there were some flights of fancies utilized.

It was also a pretty straight-forward film in a lot of ways without a lot of strange surprises thrown in for effect. It was a little odd to see Washington portrayed at such a young age during a period of his life that doesn’t seem to have much of lore that most have come to associate with him.

The film is certainly intended to celebrate who would become the United States’ first president, but it also brings out his human frailty and reminds the audience what he had to overcome to be seen as one of the Founding Fathers.

The set design and wardrobe seemed well crafted.

There are times that the film likely exaggerates the accomplishments a bit, but it’s nothing too outrageous. The film does have moments where it could have used a quicker pace, but it’s no worse than many other releases in that regard.

The film still delivers a good time, and I did actually feel like that I learned something new about a period in Washington’s life that is likely overlooked in the schools.

As I write this, I am thinking I should add a more comprehensive biography of the man to the reading queue.