The Ruminative Reviewer

From the cult classic Star Trek franchise comes a new series, Star Trek: Discovery. Adventure, science fiction, action and drama, all rolled into one, this television series is fun and engaging. Dive into the worlds of Vulcans, Klingons and others and witness the adventures of the USS Discovery that boldly goes where no man has gone before. Unlike the earlier series that followed Christopher Pike and Spock aboard the USS Enterprise, this television show follows Michael Burnham aboard the USS Discovery. Burnham, played by Sonequa Martin-Green, is a force to be reckoned with. Sonequa Martin-Green delivers an excellent performance as a highly intelligent and brave Starfleet Officer who puts everything on the line to beat the enemy and has to face the consequences of her actions. Michelle Yeoh, who plays Philippa Georgiou, is lovable as always and Jason Isaacs, who plays Captain Lorca, is every inch the authoritative Captain. The story is full of thrilling adventure, on-your-t...

Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters is the first animated Godzilla movie. The 2014 Godzilla film, starring Elizabeth Olsen, was so mind-numbingly boring that I had decided I wanted nothing more to do with the franchise. Morbid curiosity and a soft spot for anime made me watch Planet of the Monsters and I am glad I did. Not only did it erase the trauma of the 2014 failure, it restored my fragile faith in the awesomeness of the ginormous reptilian monster. Planet of the Monsters is the first installment in a trilogy by Kōbun Shizuno and Hiroyuki Seshita. It is a post-apocalyptic film about humanity’s fight for survival and planetary dominance. An entertaining movie that draws you in and enthralls until the end. There are great action sequences that will keep you hooked and enough science fiction talk to tickle the nerdy bone. The animation is good and the voice-over, well delivered. However, what is most impressive is Godzilla. I felt awe-tinged fear at the sight of the dark coloss...

This dystopian television series is one of a kind. There are elements characteristic to the genre- the conventional system replaced by a new tyrannical one; a tightly controlled society that longs for the old ways; restrictions on freedom of any kind; a few brave souls risking their lives and more to end the autocracy. This is a story of the quiet voice of dissent, which grows in strength and power, fuelled by the unquenchable spark of humanity within. America is an ultra-orthodox, totalitarian society where male chauvinism is at its worst and religion has been perverted to serve the interests of those in power. Fertility rates have decreased to an alarming level, threatening the very existence of humankind. The story is told from Offred’s perspective, a woman whose only value lies in her ability to bear children. It is a story of subjugation, despair, loss and courage. In this dystopian narration, the evil is not capitalism, socialism, alien invasion or the outbreak of a pand...