Summer life just seems to keep getting jammed together, and there’s always something that has to fall by the wayside. Between trips to Minnesota for a friend’s film release, his son’s wedding, and his daughter’s graduation, and me working on (finally) getting my FROST HARROW(tm) books out in modern print editions, there just wasn’t enough time for everything in August. And what got pushed to the back of the line was keeping up to date on the July reviews. If you’ve been with me a while, you’re probably not surprised; this has happened before. But I’ve caught up just in time to have this set of reviews not slip into September. Yay!
So, this month (July 2026), we had only one of those Minnesota trips, plus the World Cup (which was fun), plus Shark Week to deal with amid trying to do my usual amount of movie & TV watching and reviews of the same. I’ve include the Shark Week daily summaries (most days contain 3 shows), only counted each day once for the totals, and left the individual reviews for a separate post. (Which I promise to get out before next year!) I also dived into the MythBusters Shark Specials, in prep for Shark Week, and because I discovered that some of them were difficult to view online in their original, uncut versions — which is the way you want to see them if you care about that show and sharks as much as I do — I even picked up some DVDs to complete that obsession. And because I was offered a deal on the set, I also started to tackle the Transformers series of films, and while they’re not great, they’re not as bad as I remembered/feared. All that and the Street Fighter series, too! Let’s go!
* – This film is not good. Avoid it unless you tolerate dreck well.
** – A flawed film. You may enjoy it if you like this genre or the folks in it.
*** – A good solid film. If you like this genre, you’ll probably like this film.
**** – A superior film within its genre. Thoroughly enjoyable.
***** – An outstanding film on many levels. A great example of its genre.
Note that some shows I’ve given a parenthetical star rating, usually adding (occasionally subtracting) stars, depending on how your amusement may differ from mine. I’ve explained the meaning in the reviews themselves. Mostly.
Invisible Agent (1942) **** Frank “Raymond” Griffin (John Hall) is a descendant of the original Invisible Man and has the secret of his formula, but doesn’t want to use it. When Nazi agents try to force him to give it up, he escapes and joins the US military to bring the fight back to Germany as an Invisible Agent. There he meets a beautiful woman (Ilona Massey) who seems to be on his side but is also working with the Nazis. Who is she a double agent for? He’s als dogged by a clever Nazi official (Cedric Hardwick) working with a Japanese spy (Peter Lorre in yellowface). The special effects in this flick are far advance from those in the original Invisible Man, the cast is great, and it’s a whole lot of suspenseful spy fun. One of the best in the Invisible Man series.
Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On (Harry O pilot – 1973) ***(*) Harry O. (David Janssen) has become a private detective since leaving the police force because he was shot and a bullet remains lodged near his spine. So imagine his shock when he finds a man in his house, Harlan Garrison (Martin Sheen), the man who shot him but now wants to hire him. Garrison’s partner in the robbery where Harry got shot is just out of jail and looking for payback. There’s also a girlfriend mixed up in this robber and drugs, Garrison tries to force money on Harry, but our downbeat hero won’t take it, and there are plenty of twists and turns before the resolution. I liked it, and if you don’t mind bleak, give it that extra star. Janssen is great, as usual, but I can see why the network wanted another pilot before agreeing to pick up this show.
MythBusters Jaws Special (2005 – Ep.45 aka Special 7) **** The designation of this episode of MythBusters varies wildly. I’ve seen it listed as 3-17 on YouTube, and I’ve seen a truncated version as as part of the 2003/4 season. But you really want to see the 90-minute version, because that’s the one that includes all the myths which include: will punching a shark drive it off, can a shark pull barrels under, can it ram a hole in a boat, and can you make a scuba tank blow up by shooting it, along with a few others I’m maybe forgetting. This is also the show where the Jamie, Adam, and Kari went to the Bahamas (without Tori and Grant), and Kari wore a bikini part of the time. Yeah, the science is great, but so is Kari in a bikini.
Muscle Beach Party (1964) **(*) It’s Frankie Avalon & Annette Funicello and their surfer friends versus a group of muscle beach bodybuilders led by Don Rickles and his mysterious boss for control of the beach. And of course, Frankie and Annette have trouble with their relationship because of other beautiful bodies on the beach. It’s all pretty rote and far from the most interesting entry in the series. However, it does have a surprise appearance from Peter Lorre, Dick Dale and the Del-Tones (sadly eschewing his surf guitar song) to perform songs that Beach Boy Brian Wilson helped write, and a great segment with Little Stevie Wonder. For all of those things (despite Dick not playing), I’ll give this flick an extra star. Otherwise, the beach bodies are more interesting than the story.
Glen or Glenda (1953) **(*) The notorious low-budget director Ed Wood talked a producer into letting him make this movie under the title “I changed my sex,” in order to cash in on the recent sensation of a sex-change operation. Instead, Wood made and stars in a more personal film about being a transvestite, and how such people are pulled in multiple directions, and they’re not all gay, or sissies, or other such myths. Mix in with that the pop-psychology of such things at the time (many completely discredited since), plus sequences of a devil like Bela Lugosi controlling the lives of some of the unfortunate characters and intoning, “Pull the string!” (in his usual Hungarian accent). It’s very strange and trippy, and by no mans great filmmaking. Yet, the fact that Wood is so connected to the subject mater makes it somehow compelling. Give it an extra star if you like Ed Wood craziness.
Death in Paradise (S15) **** DI Mervin Wilson returns in a new series of Caribbean murder mysteries with his usual mix of competent and comic-relief cops and characters. Also returning is Commissioner Selwyn, who’d been forced out of his job in the previous series, but is now fighting back and helping out the crew where he can. Recurring plot elements include Mervin’s troubles with his shady, newfound brother and Selwyn’s battle against local authorities. Stories include a man falling to his death from a government office roof, a poisoning of a cast member in a Shakespeare play, and a death apparently caused by the mythical sea monster the Lusca. Good quality, as usual.
Ray Harryhausen Chronicles, The (1998) **** This is a documentary about the all-time great stop motion animator ray Harryhausen and does a good job covering his life and career. Though I’ve seen this doc elsewhere, I bought the DVD because it also contains the complete footage of Harryhausen’s unrealized Creation project, a tale including dinosaurs and a missing link — and possibly a monster from Jupiter. I’m not sure those pieces of film are included in total anywhere else — at least not edited into a rough story chronology. Must-have for fans of Harryhausen’s dinosaur work.
Kronos (1957) ***(*) Scientists must battle to save the planet as a giant space machine robs Earth of all its energy. This late 1950s SF flick is a twist on the formula for two reasons: one, it doesn’t actually have any alien invaders — or at least we don’t ever see any aliens — and two, the machine is a very simple, boxy contraption made of simple geometric shapes. While that design may bother some people, and the SPFX aren’t super exciting, it now makes the film look somewhat less dated. It’s hard for squares, spheres, and cylinders to go out of style. So, if you can accept the low-budget nature of the outing, you can definitely have some fun here. As I write this review, there’s a super restoration from Film Masters that you can stream on YouTube. I’ll probably grab it it/when they put it on physical media, too. If you like 50s SF, give it that extra star.
Fountain of Youth (2025) **** John Krasinski (The Office, Jack Ryan) and Natalie Portman are Luke and Charlotte Purdue, siblings who have inherited a love of art and archeology from their late father. But Charlotte has turned that into a respectable career, while Luke operates on the edge of the law, and maybe sometimes topples off that edge on the wrong side. In this Guy Ritchie-directed action adventure flick, the two get wrapped up in a stolen painting caper that leads to a search for the Fountain of Youth. If it sounds like a combination of an Indiana Jones adventure and National Treasure, that’s true. If you can overlook a plot hole or two, it’s an enjoyable romp, even if some of the twists and turns are pretty predictable. I particularly liked the sequence in the raised sunken ship. It seems ripe for a sequel, and if that materializes, I’ll happily watch it.
MythBusters Shark Week Special 2 (6-9 2008) ***** The first MythBusters Shark Week/Jaws special was good, but this one (the second) is even better, tackling more myths and having the entire crew — including Tori & Grant — doing experiments in the Bahamas, not just Jamie, Adam, and Kari (as in the previous special). Tori & Grant test whether playing dead (not splashing) will keep you safe in shark infested waters. (It pretty much does — see the show or the Internet for other results.) The team also tests whether eye gouging a shark might save you; whether sharks are attracted to lights or to the splashing and scents of dogs; whether magnets or chili peppers will repel sharks, and if the flapping of a fish is enough to draw sharks. What makes this the most fun of the specials is the involvement of the entire crew, some exotic locations, and the potential danger of working with live sharks. Though Kari does appear in a swimsuit this time, it’s sadly not the bikini of the previous special. There’s plenty of beefcake for those interested in such things, too. One of the best MythBusters shows ever.
Transformers (#1 – 2007) *** An alien menace, the Decepticons, comes to take over Earth. Fortunately, the Autobots have come to protect us. They do so by contacting a teenager Sam (Shia LeBeouf) and his girlfriend, Mikaela (Megan Fox), via Bumblebee, a flashy non-verbal robot who can turn into a yellow and black sports car. The two (and Bee) get mixed up in various nail-bitting action as Decepticon leader Megatron and Autobot chief Optimus Prime carry on their ages-old rivalry at various spots on our planet, including Hoover Dam. Director Michael Bay doesn’t know the meaning of the word “restraint” when it comes to action or special FX, so it all becomes a blurry rollercoaster ride. But it’s still entertaining, if you don’t want anything deep.
Village of the Giants (1965 – Sven) **(*) We’re headed toward the Hippy Era and the Summer of Love, so it shouldn’t be too surprising what the film starts with a wandering band of shaggy teenagers (led by a young Beau Bridges) coming to a straight-laced, isolate town when their car breaks down. There, they encounter the locals, including Mike (Tommy Kirk) and the kid Genius (Ronny Howard), who has invented a food that causes livestock to grow. The teens manage to eat some of the food, and then, as giants, become rulers of the town. The comedy in this SF-comedy is pretty goofy, though it does have some moments. The 1960s teen bodies are attractive, and the special effects about what you’d expect from director/FX man, Bert I. Gordon (Mr. BIG). If you’re a fan of BIG or beach movie-type nostalgia, give it that extra star.
Street Fighter, The (1974) **** Sonny Chiba Tsurugi Takima (Terry Suguri in the US) is a mercenary “street fighter” in modern Japan, hired to break a convicted murderer, Tateki, out of prison. Terry uses his martial skills to make Tateki appear dead/mortally wounded. and then steals the “body” when and free him when Tateki leaves the prison. But the siblings who hired Terry can’t pay what’s owed. In the fracas that follows, the brother dies and Terry sells (!) the sister to redeem the debt. The Yakuza (Japanese Mafia) tries to hire Terry to kidnap the daughter of a Hong Kong Mafia leader, but her refuses. Now our anti-hero is trapped between the criminal organizations and has Tateki on his trail, too. All this makes for a violent an exciting watch, if you can stand the ugly and sleazy stuff. This is the film that made Sony Chiba a star, and two more follow.
Return of the Street Fighter (1974) **** Sonny Chiba is back as Terry Suguri (Tsurugi Takima), a little more on the side of the angels this time, as he helps an honest karate gym (which he had a duel in during the last film) against a new, popular gym that’s being used by the yakuza as a front for smuggling and other criminal activities. Plenty of flashback to the first film, and even the unexpected return of a villain from that flick that we thought was dead. Not quite as good as the first, but still, violent fun.
Street Fighter’s Last Revenge, The (1974) *** Sonny Chiba is back again as Terry Suguri (Tsurugi Takima), this time gangsters short his payment after he helps extricate a man from a labor riot. In revenge, Terry takes a cassette tape that everyone seems to want, which turns out to be half of a synthetic heroine formula. The yakuza is out after him, now, and hires a seemingly super-powered Mexican martial artist to help. Battles and betrayals (and a bit of sex) follow with a young and handsome, but totally crooked, district attorney, as the final adversary. While TCM showed the first 2 films in widescreen with Japanese language, this was only in 4/3 (pan & scan) with dubbing, which doesn’t come off as well. Apparently, this was the US cut, and the Japanese cut is very different. I hope to see and review it someday, as this is the last of the Street Fighter movies — except for the Sister Streetfighter spin-offs.
Transformers – Revenge of the Fallen (#2 – 2009) *** Sam (Shia LeBeouf) goes to college and is anxious to lead a normal life (and leave his collaboration with the Autobots behind), though his girlfriend, Mikaela (extra foxy Megan Fox), is still working back home. But the Decepticons are rebuilding Megatron and also The Fallen, original Decepticons who wanted to drain the energy from tars for their evil purposes. Naturally, Sam and Mikaela nearly break up because of a Decepticon pretending to be a coed (Isabel Lucas) before re-teaming with Bumblebee and the other Autobots to fight the menace. It’s all pretty much by the action-movie book, right up to the climax near/on the Great Pyramid in Egypt. Amusing rollercoaster ride.
Transformers – Dark of the Moon (#3 – 2011) *** Naturally, there were ancient Transformers on Earth’s moon, and one “dead” one may hold the key to the Decepticons’ newest attempt to take over the Earth. Sam (Shia LeBeouf) has a new girlfriend, way out of his league (because Megan fox Left the series), and has to worry about losing her to her rich boss — who just might be a little shady. The Autobots revive an ancient warrior of their race, Sentinel (voiced by Leonard Nimoy) who they hope will help them head off the Decepticon and Megatron’s latest schemes. Of course, things don’t work out as hoped, and a good chunk of Chicago is destroyed in the ensuing battle. Again, a rollercoaster ride, but director Michael Bay has never met an action scene he thought might be too long. I saw this with my son on the Big Screen, but didn’t remember it at all until they started destroying Chicago.
Beyond Paradise (S4) ***** DI Humphry Goodman and his restauranteur wife Martha are back for another season in their seaside town in england. This one starts with their houseboat drifting loose, necessitating them finding a place to stay on land, while Humphry and his four-person department (including him) continue to solve mysterious crimes and murders. Aside from the housing problem, one of the detective’s’ daughters wants to leave home, another may have a fake internet girlfriend, and Humphry’s annoying boss is both making play for the DI’s mother-in-law but also insists that someone be fired to cut department costs. And of course, there are mysteries, too, in this 6-episode series, including the death of a novelist that mimics his latest book, a tidy burgler, a murder mid Morris dance, a mermaid, a menacing Green Man, and a stolen treasure map at a pirate festival. All in all, the best season of this series yet.
Murderer’s Row (Matt Helm 2 – 1966) *** Matt Helm’s spy organization (ICE – Yikes! – Intelligence Counter Espionage) is being targeted by an evil spy organization (BIG O), with agents dying left and right. When Matt’s huge bathtub explodes, he is presumed dead, but actually is now undercover to root out the bad guys, elt me Karl Malden, who have a Death Ray they’re planning to use to conquer the US — and the world. Natch. Matt picks up Suzie (Ann-Margaret) in France, when he’s wrongly accused of killing her friend. Eventually, they are captured and end up on the bad guys’ island via hovercraft, and we get a pretty standard spy blow-out finale from there, with the usual Helm light-hearted touches. Amusing.
Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch (S6) *** Mysteries and treasure hunts always intrigue me, but I checked out of this series ages ago. After a friend told me this might be better, and I learned that the ranch was now in the hands of more experienced treasure hunters, I decided to check it out again. And what do you know, I like the new cast much better than the old, and they even find some actual gold in an old Mormon mine, that might have once been an Aztec treasure stash. (Which could explain the Mormons’ sudden wealth in the area — easier to find gold and pretend to mine it — and also might explain where a lot of the Aztec gold went: melted down.) But the current hunters hope there remain undiscovered caches of Aztec treasure still to be found. Unless the original obnoxious cast returns, I’ll probably tune in for another season.
Swamp Thing (1982 – Sven Squad) *** Alec Holland (Ray Wise later from Twin Peaks) is a scientist working in the swamps with his sister, Linda, on a plant growth formula. But evil spies working for Anton Arcane, a rich maniac played by Louis Jourdan, kill Linda and cause a lab accident spills experimental formula on Alec. He runs into the swamp, burning, and dives into the water, apparently dead. As Arcane’s men destroy the lab, they also chase massacre survivor Alice Cable (Adrienne Barbeau). She’s about to be killed when she’s rescued by a man-like Swamp Thing, who we soon discover is a mutated Alec. From there, they’re pursued by Arcane and his men, caught, and eventually battle a mutated Arcane. Based on the classic comic book, this Wes Craven-directed flick is good, but suffers from low budget woes, especially in the Arcane mutant costume. We do get a topless Barbeau in the uncut version, though.
Grantchester (S11 – Final Season) ***** The final season of Grantchester provides plenty of fun mysteries, with a murder at a drive-in movie, a victim in possession of Alphy’s bible, a murder on a train and in the bishop’s house, and a hostage situation at Cathy and Mrs. C’s clothing shop, among other things. But it’s the characters we love here, and we’ve got Alphy struggling with the discovery of his birth mother and a crisis of faith, Geordie being offered a promotion that would take him away from Grantchester, Larry and Miss Scott trying to keep their relationship secret, and Leonard and Daniel trying to reform a young delinquent whose father is dying. Naturally, there are plenty of twists and turns, and it all comes to a really satisfying conclusion for the whole series. A shame to end Grantchester when Alphy’s tenure as vicar is the best the series has ever been, but it’s also nice to go out on top.
Vera 4-4 Death of a Family Man ***** A corpse is found in the water below a bridge with his shoes tied together and his knuckles bruised. It seems that the victim is a devoted family man and respected businessman, but Vera soon discovers things are far more complex. For one thing, the man’s son had killed a young boy in a hit and run accident, for another he was secretly working with law enforcement. Even more perplexing is that he seems to have been living a secret another life with another family. Of course, Vera’s tenacity and inquisitive mind are more than up to unravelling this tangled murder.
Deep Impact (1998) **** An asteroid is coming toward Earth that will certainly cause terrible catastrophes if not diverted. Though world governments first deny what’s going on, soon people band together to send a space mission to try to blow the sucker off course. Back on Earth, we follow the career of a social-climbing reporter (Tia Leoni) who stumbles onto the story and breaks it to the world, and the young astronomer (Elijah Wood) who marries, his young girlfriend so that she will be taken into an underground shelter with him. When these plans go awry, our protagonists must make tough decisions lending emotion to the action finale. I didn’t care for this when it came out, but now I appreciate it because this is a disaster movie where people act reasonably, rather than running around like headless chickens. Mostly, it works, though Tia Lioni’s performance seems a bit flat for me. Still, a lot better than remembered, and more thoughtful film than Armageddon.
Are Sharks Attracted to Red (2003 – MythBusters) **** This DVD offering includes the original double-length MythBusters Jaws Special as well as a number of shark mini-myths, that I think maybe appeared online. The main show tests: Can piano wire catch a shark? Can a shark pull 3 flotation barrels underwater and hold them there? Can a shark ram through a boat or shark cage? Will punching a shark in the right place make it back off? And will a scuba tank explode if you shoot it? (Retested in a later show, too.) Being the first MythBusters Shark Week special, they really put a lot into this one, including Kari Byron in a bikini (not to be missed), but it’s tricky to find the entire show online, and impossible to find it in HD. (It may not have been shot in HD.) But this DVD is a really good presentation and includes those extra myths, too — though I don’t remember them testing whether sharks like red, unless it was part of a wider color test in a mini-myth.
Ruthless People (1986) **** Danny DeVito is a fashion tycoon who built his empire with money from his wife, Bette Midler. But he’s sick to death of her and plotting to kill her. When he comes home to do it, he discovers that she’s been kidnapped by aggrieved but bumbling kidnappers (Judge Reinhold & Helen Slater). DeVito and his mistress (who’s also plotting against him), would love to NOT pay the ransom, and have his wife die in captivity. But the kidnappers are too nice, and soon the shrewish wife decides she likes them better than her husband. This is a very funny movie with a lot of talent (Bill Pullman is a hoot) and a favorite of my daughter. May become repeat viewing for my wife and me, too.
One Piece (S2) **** The live-action crew of the Going Merry — Luffy, Nami, and the rest — are back for another series of wild adventures. This time, they’ve set course for the Grand Line, a part of the ocean you have to sail over a mountain to get to. There, they run into a ship-eating whale, a cabal of villains known by numbers as well as names, a princess looking to save her kingdom, and a cigar-smoking pirate hunter with a woman samurai helper, among others. Oh, did I forget to mention dinosaurs, giants, a witch and… Well, you get the idea. I didn’t find this season quite as compelling as the first, but it was still a lot of fun with great production values. I just wish episodes would come out more often!
Darkest Hour, The (2011) *** A group of teenagers are on vacation in Russia (well before the war with Ukraine) when the earth is invading by energy-eating invisible aliens. Even worse, if one of the aliens gets hold of you, you disintegrate. Naturally, our protagonists do a lot of running and hiding until they meet some more experience folks who can help them figure out how to both avoid and battle the menace. This film is like a slasher flick in how ruthlessly it treats the characters, partly because the disintegrations are a big part of the fun here. When we finally do see the aliens, they’re unique and kinda cool, but mostly this is a pretty by-the-books SF actioner. I enjoyed it, though.
Dreadful, The (2026) **(*) In medieval times, a woman (Marcia Gay Harden) and her daughter-in-law (Sophie Turner) are living in crushing poverty, ignored by both the wealthy and the church, while Harden’s son/Turner’s husband is off during the war. Constantly hungry, Turner starts to see/imagine they are being stalked by a black knight. Desperate & angry, Harden starts stealing, first from the dead, and soon from living wounded knights, whom she kills. Turner soon reluctantly falls in with her, while at the same time, being courted by a roguish ex-knight (Kit Harrington), who saw her husband die. If you think this is a medieval remake of Onibaba, you’re right. But if you’re expecting anything on equal footing with that samurai-era masterpiece… You’ve got another think coming. This flick’s modern take on the oppression of these women is never completely developed, and only fans of the actors can give it that third star.
MythBusters vs. Jaws (2015) *** I’m reviewing all the MythBusters shark shows in the runup to shark week this year. This episode is only an hour long, including commercials, and by now the Build Team (Tory, Kari, & Grant) are off the series because of budget cuts. Still, Jamie and Adam to well re-testing the exploding scuba tank myth to cover fan objections. They also test things that might repel sharks, including orca calls and numerous scents including the smell of dead shark. Good stuff, as usual, but I miss the Build Team.
Lost Zeppelin, The (1929) *** This early sound era film tells of a tip to the Antarctic by a zeppelin filled with scientists and adventurers. Among the crew are two men caught in a romantic triangle; one is the woman’s stalwart husband, the other ner new lover. She intends to divorce, but that can’t happen while both the other parties are in the frozen wastes. There, they encounter numerous perils, and of course, at some point, must depend on each other or die. When an airplane can only rescue one man, the husband — leader of the expedition — insists the other man be sent home. I won’t reveal the ending, but it’s not a bad film for its time. And adventures featuring an airship always amuse me.
Phantom of the Rue Morgue (1954) *** This newer version of Murders in the Rue Morgue is in color and features Karl Malden as Dr. Marais (the Bela Lugosi part in the classic Universal film). Mysterious deaths in Paris bring in famous detective Dupin (the first literary detective, from the original Poe story) to help the police and solve the crimes. The trail eventually leads to Marais and his experiments with an ape, but not before one victim gets mysteriously stuffed up a chimney. (A favorite cringe scene of mine in the adaptations that include it.) Made in color, this film is good but lacks the creepy, sleezy atmosphere of the Lugosi film.
Mad Genius, The (1931) *** John Barrymore plays Tsarakov, a disabled puppeteer who dreams of dancing ballet. Because he can’t, he takes a boy, Fedor, under his wing, and trains his protege from childhood to be the greatest ballet dancer ever. Soon, Fedor is just want Tsarakov wanted him to be, and his obsessive mentor will let nothing stand in their way. That includes Nana, who Fedor falls in love with. When they run off together, Tsarakov will stop at nothing to get his student back. If this sounds llike Svengali in the ballet with a male “victim,” that’s pretty much it. An entertaining pre-code film, but never really rises beyond that premise.
Supergirl (2026) ****(*) Supergirl is on a birthday binge under a red sun (where she has no superpowers), when she encounters a girl with a sword whose parents have been killed by bandits. The girl wants vengeance, and though Supergirl tries to discourage her, the heroine gets swept up in the quest when the same bad guy poisons Krypto. Now Superman’s cousin must get the antidote from the guy before Krypto, or anyone else, dies. I really like the grungy, hardcore version of Supergirl (based on a comic series, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow). There’s tons of action, some good twists and turns, and we even get a few Superman cameos. For me, it was end-to-end fun, and compared to the 1980s version, easily earns that extra 5th star.
Toy Story 5 (2026) **** Toy owner Bonnie is growing up, but only a little. All the kids around her, though, have been completely swept up in the “screen age.” They no longer play with toys, but only with electronic devices like Lilypad. Bonnie is miserable, and Jessie the cowgirl sheriff and the other toys are determined to cheer her up and find her a friend worth playing with. They even summon Woody from helping the discarded toys, as he was at the last movie. Buzz Lightyear is still around, still infatuated with Jessie, but unable to express his feelings. Plus, a whole squad of new Buzzes, with build-in screens & gizmos, washes ashore nearby. It’s all good fun and beautifully executed, and there are some good twists, but the toys vs. screens story is pretty on the nose/simplistic. Still superior.
Odyssey, The (2026) ***** Christopher Nolan leaned heavily on practical FX when creating his version of the ancient Greek tale of The Odyssey. Matt Damon is terrific as Odysseus, real-life newlyweds Tom Holland and Zendaya rock as Odysseus’ son Telemachus and the great wanderer’s muse Aphrodite. The whole thing is very convincing in transporting us to a firelit world where gods and monsters might just be real. If you missed the 3000-year-old storyline, after masterminding the Greek’s victory in their ten-year war with the Trojans (via a little thing called the Trojan Horse), Odysseus and his ships are blown off course, beset my monsters, a sorceress, and other obstacles, and it takes him ten more years to get home — only to discover that his palace has been overrun with louts who want to marry his wife. (Because Odysseus is presumed dead.) It’s a great adaptation of one of the best stories of all time (and a personal favorite) by and amazing cast. It’ll be tough to top this one for Best Picture of 2026.
Night Stalker, The (1972 – Sven) ****(*) Darrin McGavin portrays Carl Kolchak, a Las Vegas reporter who becomes convinced that a recent spate of deaths were caused by… a vampire. Naturally, the local authorities and even his boss, Tony Vincenzo, don’t believe a word of it. Though in the case of the local police, they don’t want to believe, because the vampire’s crimes are making them look like fools. Shot in a gritty realistic style in Las Vegas, the film seems plausible (and now has some “look how small Vegas is” nostalgia, too). This is a great TV movie, perhaps the best of all time, and led to a sequel and a spin-off TV series that remains beloved even today. I watched this on Svengoolie, and though I love Sven, the constant bits and interruptions don’t help the creepy atmosphere. If you can see it uncut without commercials, give it that precious 5th star.
Vera 5-1 Changing Tides ***** At first, a fire in a holiday rental caravan (trailer) camp seems like it might be an accident related to a local bachelor-type rowdy party. But when a body is discovered in the ruins, and Vera discovers the woman had been locked in, it’s clearly murder. The victim is the sister of the camp owner, and she was seen partying with young people in the camp the night before, including her niece’s boyfriend. No one was supposed to be in that camper that night, so why was the dead woman there? Family secrets and possible drug dealing include the clues for Vera and her new DS, Aiden Healy to sort out.
Shark Week 2026 Sunday **** With the intro comedy show being better than last year’s, Shark Week 2026 gets off to a better start, and the two good shows to follow really help. I almost gave …Red, White, & Breach a 5-shark (star) review, but I need to leave some room for shows later in the week, and it didn’t really reach any scientific conclusion. Invasion… was also good, but just tagging different great whites in different waters and finding a possible pupping ground. That’s interesting and a very good start, but I hope to see more breeds of sharks as we move through the week. Good start!
Shark Week 2026 Monday **** A very strong 2nd night of Shark Week 2026, with two 4-shark/star shows and the first 5-shark show of the year. If you read Monster Shark on a Nude Beach, when it was on Kindle Vella, you know that I’ve a fondness for makos — so that may have colored my review somewhat. (Don’t worry, the book will be out in standard print and e-book format soon.) But it was nice to have only one white shark show tonight, and that one with a slightly different angle than the usual Air Jaws approach. Add that to 2 shows about other species, with more than a few extra types of sharks thrown in, and it was a very good night. Let’s hope the rest of the week lives up to this standard. A solid 4-sharks for Monday 2026.
Case of the Black Parrot, The (1941) *** An antique collector and his adult niece are on a cruse back to the US from Europe. The older man is plaased that he’s obtained a forged chest of drawers, because it was made by a master craftsman: the Black Parrot. He believes that the forger’s work will one day be almost as valuable as the original works. Imagine his surprise, though, when it turns out he has the far-more-valuable original piece. And he’s not the onl one who wants it. A woman believes it contains some stolen letters belonging to her, and it may be involved in another crime, too. fSoon, people start turning up dead, and the niece and her fiancé have to sort it all out. This film started out really well, but ended up just being another B-picture mystery. Still, I enjoyed it and would watch it again.
Shark Week 2026 Tuesday ***** 2026 Shark Week improves with every night. In fact, the first 2 shows were so cool that they made the 3rd one less interesting by comparison. I couldn’t pick a winner between Jurassic Shark (great multiple shark content) and Jaws vs. Orca (some long-overdue orca science; where’s Whale Week?), and Chum Island had some cool ideas and excitement, too. My only complaint about tonight’s shows is that the CGI FX have gotten so good that it’s becoming difficult to tell the animated sequences from the real ones. In Jurassic Shark, this wasn’t much of a problem, but Jaws vs. Orca had some very realistic portrayals of things we (during the show) found out have never been observed. I wish Discovery would label anything that isn’t real footage as “recreations” or “simulations.” Still, 2 out of 3 great shows drag the nightly average (rounded to the nearest number) to another 2026 high point.
Mortal Kombat II (2026) *** The otherworldly realm where the godly types, who give Mortal Kombat’s heroes some of their powers, live is under siege by bad godly types. Naturally, this means war… no wait, not war… Mortal Kombat! Yes, it’s time for good and evil warriors from across the dimensions to gather and battle to the death to determine the fate of the universe. We have some folks returning from last time — Sonya Blade, Liu Kang, Cole Young, etc. — and Earth hero & film star Johnny Cage (Karl Urban). Naturally, there are betrayals, side-switching, and of course plenty of gory combats. It’s all pretty by the book, but if you like the book (or the games), you’ll probably dig this. It’s not as good as the previous one, but I’ll watch Karl Urban in almost anything.
Supergirl (1984) ** Superman’s cousin Kara Zor-El is living in Argo city, a floating chunk of Krypton in a void/space somewhere. But when it’s power source, the Omegahedron is lost, Kara goes to Earth to recover it. There, she assumes a human identity so that she can work in secret as Supergirl. But the Omegahedron has been found but a power-hungry would-be witch (Faye Dunaway). Soon, her evil schemes to win a man she wants run afoul of Supergirl, who he’s fallen for and vice versa. Lots of overlong set pieces ensue. Peter O’Toole as Kara’s mentor is the best thing in this flick, and he’s not in it much. Every part of it is too long, the problems challenges are just what you’d expect from a 1980s “girlie” movie. Basically, the producers decided the action in Supergirl had to be “softer” than that in Superman, and that’s the problem. Plus, they apparently nobody ever yelled “cut” on any scene. It’s not exciting. It’s not funny. And it’s sexist, though it’s trying not to be — I guess. Only the fact that production values are good and Peter O’Toole being in it save this flick from being 1 star.
Man from Atlantis 3, The – Killer Spores **(*) When he helps his scientist friends recover a lost space capsule, title character Mark Harris (Patrick Duffy) is infected by alien spores that sometimes control his personality and seem to give him limited telepathy. Unknown to anyone, the pores have escaped the lab’s containment and are now all over and are forcing people into bouts of erratic behavior. Mark nearly fries in the desert trying to escape them, but after a cleansing ordeal, seems to be immune to the control, unlike his lab partners. With his usual allies incapacitated, Mark must find a way to stop the spores from taking over Earth. These TV movies are slow by modern standards, but if you like old TV SF or the series, give it an extra star.
Shark Week 2026 Wednesday ***** This was my most anticipated day of the 2026 Shark Week, and it did not disappoint. Aside from failing to point out a scientific error in the Expedition X show (sharks are NOT attracted to human blood, so you can’t chum the water with your own blood), the shows tonight were end-to-end entertaining and excellent. Especially, of course, Alien Sharks, a series that so far as I remember has been a 5-shark/star experience every year it’s been on. Despite the ding I gave Expedition X, tonight averages out to another 5-star/shark rating, making two nights in a row for this year. Good job! And if you have to watch only one night this year, this would be the night to pick. At least so far.
World Without End (1956) *** In this colorful, widescreen SciFi flick, a flight to Mars goes badly wrong, and the crew aboard ends up on Earth instead — the Earth of the future. Naturally, there are savage humans/mutants who have survived a holocaust on the surface of the world, and a more civilized human race living in tunnels below the surface. And of course, the underground dwellers have having troubles of their own, with their population falling as well as the usual human failings and jealousies. But the visitors from the past adapt, even though one crew member has a wife and kids back in the past. And that’s what makes this film different than a lot of similar ones: the willingness of the crew to move on. Of course, we get other expected tropes, and a giant spider, too. Fun.
Shark Week 2026 Thursday *** The titles of this year’s Thursday Shark Week shows had me worried that they might be high on sensation and low on science, and I was right. Not that I mind a show that just entertains, which is why all the shows tonight ran into the 3-shark/star (good/entertaining) rating. None were heinous, though the first didn’t say what we could do better to not get bit, the second pretended it was a science study for most of it — when it was only a tricks show — and the third was just a stunt. But all of them had some worthwhile footage of sharks, and none of them propagated the myth that all sharks are killers. I’m glad we’re beyond that now, apparently. My wife asked if I was being too easy on this bunch, but since they didn’t spread bad myths and were entertaining, I’m comfortable rating them, and the whole day, as a 3.
Hand of Night, The (1968) ***(*) Paul Carver (William Sylvester) is an Englishman trying to escape his past by going to Morocco (Northern Africa). But misfortune seems to follow him, and rather than getting an expected job, he ends up relying on the hospitality of a local archeologist and his widowed daughter-in-law, Chantal (Diane Clare). The Paul begins seeing a mysterious woman, Marisa (Aliza Gur), who seems to lead a mysterious cult of the night. Fascinated, Paul is lured into Marisa’s dreamlike world of the undead, while Chantal tries to bring him back to the land of the living. Vinegar Syndrome’s new blu-ray of this flick looks great and includes their usual good production and extras. I’d never even heard of the film, though it also goes by the lurid name Beast of Morocco. It’s not up to Hammer quality, but for me, finding an unknown and sincerely produced film like this is worth an extra star.
Shark Week 2026 Friday **** After Thursday’s shows, I wasn’t expecting a lot from Friday 2026’s Shark Week. Much to my surprise, the first 2 shows ended up being really good. The first did more interesting testing on white sharks than yesterday’s “training,” and the second did some interesting exploration in the Atlantic with aggressive makos — though the atomic connection of the title turned out to be a bust. But I figured that was just to sell the show. I expected the shark addiction show to be silly; the promos promised as much, so that did what it promised, though that doesn’t mean it had a lot of science. The focus on people instead of sharks means it dragged the night’s average down to a 4 instead of a 5 average rating, but I’m okay with that. One more night to go!
Seventh Curse, The (1986) ***(*) The adventurous Dr. Yuen (Siu-Ho Chin) is cursed with a weird blood curse after he saves a woman from being sacrificed. Though the curse is abated for a year, it is reactivated when the cult finds him after he helps the police in a hostage situation. There, reporter Tsai-Hung (Maggie Cheung) decides to follow him on his adventures. Yuen will die if he doesn’t find a cure before the seventh cursed boil bursts from his body, so he returns to Thailand to seek a cure. There, he and Tsai-Hung must battle the cult which controls weird blood-ghosts and other monsters. The whole is a crazy mix of kung fu action, Indiana Jones, gory horror, and monster FX. The Vinegar Syndrome blu-ray set is uncut (with 2 versions of the movie) and includes The Witch from Nepal and generous extras. It looks great, but the gory scenes may mix of genres not be for everyone. Chow Yun Fat is in the framing sequence and a few other scenes, but is not a major character.
Witch from Nepal, The (1986) **(*) An accident in Nepal leaves Joe Wong (Chow Yun Fat) with a broken leg that may have to be amputated. While in a Hong Kong hospital, he becomes fascinated with the woman in the room next door, Sheila (Emily Chu). It turns out she’s a witch, who helps him activate powers he’s inherited when her clan was destroyed by an evil warrior-demon (Dick Wai). As he learns his powers, Joe becomes torn between love for Sheila and his girlfriend Ida (Kit Ying Lam). A fairly standard Hong Kong romantasy follows, punctuated by occasional action sequences, and some supernatural horror action later in the film. If you like that kind of thing or are a big Chow Yun Fat fan, give it an extra star. Vinegar Syndrome’s blu-ray looks great and also includes The Seventh Curse.
And that’s it for July 2026! The monthly total is 53 films, series, and notable shorts (same as last month) bringing our 2026 Total to 317. We’ll have to wait to see how the totals for the rest of the year turn out.
NEXT MONTH: I’ve been so busy working that I’ve still got a lot of reviewing to catch up on! But we do get a new Christopher R. Mihm film, The Wandering Creatures and Other Tales (his first anthology), and a new Spider-Man film, and a new Reviver (#3). So, stay tuned for August 2026!
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