The Ricochet Reviewer: Books, Movies, and Comics

  by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson Conflict among the Emperor Corrino, businessman Josef Venport, and zealot Manfred Torondo comes to a head in this exciting conclusion to the Schools of Dune prequel trilogy.  "The Navigators of Dune" (German) The Emperor is trying to fend off the crusade of Torondo and his anti-technology Butlerians, which threatens to topple his rule.   "Navigators of Dune" (Polish) Josef Venport, the galactic shipping magnate whose company is deeply involved with the creation of the unearthly Navigators, wants to work with the Emperor, but his maneuvering to destroy the Butlerian movement reveals his strength, which triggers the Emperor’s fear of a potential rival.  "The Navigators of Dune" (French) Central to all of this is the planet Arrakis, whose spice production has become ever more essential to travel among the stars.  "Dune Navigators" (Serbian) By the end of this trilogy, the three major institutions that shape t

Director: Jonathan Demme Writer: Ron Nyswaner Stars: Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Jason Robards, Mary Steenburgen, Antonio Banderas, Joanne Woodward, Roberta Maxwell, Buzz Kilman   An attorney at a large law firm (Tom Hanks) is fired under fraudulent circumstances when his colleagues suspect--correctly--that he suffers from AIDS.  Unable to retain more prestigious representation, he turns to a homophobic ambulance chaser (Denzel Washington) to present his case.  As the first big Hollywood production to deal with AIDS and homosexuality, it can be forgiven for relying on courtroom intrigue instead of placing faith in the very real drama of a terminal disease.  This may have been necessary to get the film past executives who might have been wary of the public's tolerance and the reception they would grant such material.  To the credit of director Jonathan Demme and screenwriter Ron Nyswaner, the dramatic balance shifts away from legal shenanigans as the film progresses, leaving us wi

Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo Writers: Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely, based on the Marvel comics by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby Stars: Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Redford, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Maximiliano Hernandez Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and a band of allies (Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, and Anthony Mackie) go up against SHIELD itself because of an alarmingly authoritarian protocol that is about to go online.   This may be the best movie that Marvel Studios has made, produced during the Golden Age of the MCU by the Russo brothers, who would go on to helm three more fine Marvel projects in succession.  In addition to great action, this film pays homage to spy films and 70s-style paranoid thrillers.  Robert Redford is on hand to provide some genre credibility as SHIELD bigwig Alexander Pierce, who has some ideas about how the power of an organization like SHIELD should be wielded.  While o

A ranking of all the horror films that have been reviewed on this blog. 144   Jonah Hex (2010) https://thericochetreviewer.blogspot.com/2023/10/jonah-hex-2010.html 143 Beyond the Black Rainbow (2010) https://thericochetreviewer.blogspot.com/2024/10/beyond-black-rainbow-2010.html 142 Night of the Demons (1988) https://thericochetreviewer.blogspot.com/2020/10/night-of-demons-1988.html 141 House on Haunted Hill (1959) https://thericochetreviewer.blogspot.com/2024/10/house-on-haunted-hill-1959.html 140 The Last Exorcism Part II (2013) https://thericochetreviewer.blogspot.com/2021/09/the-last-exorcism-part-ii-2013.html 139 Monsturd (2003) https://thericochetreviewer.blogspot.com/2020/09/monsturd-2003.html 138 Hannibal (2001)  https://thericochetreviewer.blogspot.com/2023/10/hannibal-2001.html 137 The Gift (2000) https://thericochetreviewer.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-gift-2000.html 136 Infection (2004) https://thericochetreviewer.blogspot.com/2022/10/infection-aka-kansen-2004.html 135 Female V