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science fiction

Star Trek: Picard Finally Gives Answers in “Broken Pieces”

Star Trek Picard Broken Pieces
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The overarching conspiracy cracks open on an episode that sets up the finale.

Andrew Bloom Posted on March 12, 2020March 12, 2020

“Mission to Mars” 20 Years Later

Mission to Mars
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Brian De Palma’s bizarro, big-budget blastoff is rocky, but it remains an effectively fun entry in the director’s filmography.

Peter Sobczynski Posted on March 10, 2020March 9, 2020

“Star Trek: Picard” Forges New Bonds From Old Ones on “Nepenthe”

Star Trek Picard Nepenthe
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An interstitial episode finally bridges Picard and Soji’s stories, thanks to the welcome return of some old friends.

Andrew Bloom Posted on March 5, 2020March 4, 2020

“Star Trek: Picard” Uses a Blunt Instrument to Open “The Impossible Box”

Star Trek Picard Impossible Box
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A sea of good ideas gets drowned in cliche as Picard and Soji face the truth.

Andrew Bloom Posted on February 28, 2020February 28, 2020

Doctor Who: “Ascension of the Cybermen” Sets Up a High-Stakes Finale

Doctor Who Ascension of the Cybermen
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Season 12 ramps up the tension with a thrilling hour that threatens lore-shattering conclusions next week.

Clint Worthington Posted on February 23, 2020February 23, 2020

“Star Trek Picard” Tries to Roll Sevens in “Stardust City Rag”

Star Trek Picard Episode 5 Stardust City Rag
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Seven of Nine slings guns and runs a heist in an episode that’s tonally all over the map.

Andrew Bloom Posted on February 20, 2020February 20, 2020

Doctor Who: “The Haunting of Villa Diodati” Gets Cyber-Spooky

Doctor Who Haunting of Villa Diodati
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A low-key historical ghost story turns into some lore-building terror for the Doctor. Okay, so the Oscars, a […]

Clint Worthington Posted on February 16, 2020February 16, 2020

Review: Shaun the Sheep Flocks To Shear Sci-Fi Fun With “Farmageddon”

Shaun the Sheep Movie Farmageddon
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Aardman is back with another charming children’s romp in the Shaun the Sheep series.

Douglas Laman Posted on February 15, 2020February 16, 2020

Star Trek Picard Episode 4: “Absolute Candor” Mines Its Hero’s Regrets

Star Trek Picard Episode 4
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The show finally finds its groove with a detour, an abandoned boy, and a lost cause.

Andrew Bloom Posted on February 13, 2020February 13, 2020

Star Trek Picard: “The End Is the Beginning” Stumbles to Gather Its Crew

Star Trek Picard Episode 3 The End is the Beginning
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Synthetic threats and synthetic relationships pepper Picard’s “gather the team” episode.

Andrew Bloom Posted on February 6, 2020February 6, 2020

Doctor Who: “Praxeus” Makes For Serviceable Space Filler

Doctor Who Praxeus
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Season 12 continues its upward trajectory with a perfectly-fine adventure with a few interesting supporting players.

Clint Worthington Posted on February 2, 2020February 2, 2020

Sundance 2020: “Possessor” Is a Grab Bag of Sci-Fi Clichés

Possessor
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Brandon Cronenberg’s second feature is a po-faced collection of genre tropes that wastes its cast and a modest sense of style.

Matt Cipolla Posted on January 26, 2020July 16, 2020

“Star Trek: Picard” Goes Fine, But Not Boldly

Star Trek Picard
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Patrick Stewart returns to his iconic role in a new Star Trek series in desperate need of a shakedown cruise.

Andrew Bloom Posted on January 23, 2020January 22, 2020

Criterion Corner: “Antonio Gaudi” “Three Fantastic Journeys by Karel Zeman”

Criterion: Antonio Gaudi / Karel Zeman
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A re-release of an architecture doc and a thrilling box set of Karel Zeman’s imaginative special effects work number among Criterion’s offerings this month.

Clint Worthington Posted on January 20, 2020May 19, 2020

“Nikola Tesla’s Night of Terror” Puts “Doctor Who” Back on Track

Doctor Who Nikola Tesla
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Spurned inventors and a chilling villain make for one of the most coherent, moving episodes of Whittaker’s tenure.

Clint Worthington Posted on January 19, 2020January 19, 2020

In Space, No One Can Hear You Ask for a Refund on “Avenue 5”

Avenue 5
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Armando Iannucci’s followup to Veep takes on the vagaries of corporate culture in deep space.

Marshall Estes Posted on January 16, 2020January 16, 2020

Doctor Who: “Orphan 55” Brings Out the Dregs of the Show

Doctor Who Orphan 55
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The latest episode tries to be a corridor-chasing lark and a climate change allegory and fails mightily at both.

Clint Worthington Posted on January 12, 2020January 12, 2020

“Underwater” Is a Deep-Sea Dive Into Mediocrity

Underwater
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Kristen Stewart battles a sinking sealab and aquatic beasties in this drab, but workable deep-sea thriller.

Sean Price Posted on January 9, 2020January 9, 2020

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