Hoodwinked (2005, Mystery Fantasy CG Animation) – 5/10 movie review

Cast / crew Director: Cory Edwards Co-Director: Tony Leech Co-Director: Todd Edwards Producer: Maurice Kanbar Producer: Sue Bea Montgomery Producer: Preston Stutzman Producer: David K. Lovegren Writer (Story): Todd Edwards Writer (Story): Cory Edwards Writer (Screenplay): Cory Edwards Writer (Screenplay): Todd Edwards Writer (Screenplay): Tony Leech Editor: Tony Leech Composer (Original Songs): Todd Edwards Anne Hathaway: Red Glenn Close: Granny James Belushi: The Woodsman Patrick Warburton: The Wolf Anthony Anderson: Detective Bill Stork David Ogden Stiers: Nicky Flippers Xzibit: Chief Girzzly Chazz Palminteri: Woolworth Andy Dick: Boingo Cory Edwards: Twitchy Benjy Gaither: Japeth the Goat Preston Stutzman: Timmy Tony Leech: Glen Todd Edwards: Sandwich Man Cory Edwards: Walla Group Todd Edwards: Walla Group Lead Animator Red: Mylene L. Santos Lead Animator The Wolf: Terence P. Roldan Lead Animator Granny: Oliver P. Helis Lead Animator The Woodsman: Eduardo C. Handog Lead Animator Nicky Flippers: Jean Paul Y. Gonzales Lead Animator Twitchy: Laurento Jovito H. Fua Lead Animator Boingo: Numeriano T. Agustin

Hoodwinked (2005) As the police investigate The Wolf breaking and entering Granny’s house and trying to eat Red Riding Hood, it turns out that something bigger is going on, something that involves a mysterious bandit stealing all the goodie recipes in the forest. 5/10 There’s just enough entertainment to pass the time in this CG animated Rashomon-inspired fairy tale. Patrick Warburton’s Wolf is fun (just like he was in The Emperor’s New Groove), the songs are fine but everything else is ordinary and the animation is oddly, and one suspects, deliberately, stilted. The design of lead character Red is strangely unappealing and she spends most of the movie looking miserable, comatose and irritated even when she’s singing happy songs. Classified U by BBFC. Universal: Suitable for All.

T.J. Hooker 1.05 The Witness (1982) – 6/10 police action drama TV review

Cast / crew William Shatner: T.J. Hooker Adrian Zmed: Officer Vince Romano April Clough: Officer Victoria Taylor Richard Herd: Captain Sheridan Lisa Hartman: Alison Baker Jonathan Banks: Danny Scott Michael O’Hare: Cal Jastrow Robert Hogan: Neil Stoner Michael Pataki: Nick Supervising Producer: Rick Husky Producer: Jeffrey Hayes Writer (Series’ Creator): Rick Husky Writer: Gerald Sanford Director: Cliff Bole

T.J. Hooker 1.05 Witness, The (1982) Hooker and Romano respond to a murder committed during a robbery but a witness to the crime proves unresponsive. 6/10 Plenty of action, Shatner being a hero and endlessly leaping off stuff onto bad guys (“the nose knows, junior”), a bit of humour and the lovely Lisa Hartman in shorts: what more could one want? Special mention for the scene in the opening car chase where you can see the camera crew filming the action as Hooker and the pursuee enter the storm drain. If you missed it, don’t worry, the producers would use the same footage several times during the next five years. This T.J. Hooker episode contains gun violence, strong threat. Classified 12 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 12 years and over. Links Previous episode: Hooker’s War Next episode: Second Chance T.J. Hooker

Dynasty Warriors 5: Empires (2006, Tactical Action, 360) – 7/10 game review

Cast / crew Director: Yoshihiro Kishimoto Director: Jun Takato

Dynasty Warriors 5: Empires (2006) 7/10 While featuring simple graphics with a terribly short draw-distance, Dynasty Warriors 5: Empires redeems itself with charm and surprisingly fun gameplay. Playing on Normal or higher requires tactical thought to be combined with the button-mashing combat and makes victories agreeably satisfying. A lack of any in-game instructions hides the mechanisms for equipping weapons, mounts (you can ride a horse or an elephant) and items but once discovered, it supplies a whole new dimension and confidence in the game. This game contains violence. Classified 12+ by PEGI. The game is only suitable for persons who have reached the age of 12 or over. Classified Violence by PEGI. Game contains depictions of violence.

Avatar (2009, James Cameron Science Fiction Action Adventure) – 9/10 movie review

Cast / crew Writer: James Cameron Director: James Cameron Producer: James Cameron Producer: Jon Landau Editor: James Cameron Senior Visual Effects Supervisor: Joe Letteri Animation Supervisor: Richard Baneham Animation Supervisor: Andrew R. Jones Sam Worthington: Jake Sully Zoë Saldana: Neytiri Stephen Lang: Colonel Miles Quaritch Michelle Rodriguez: Trudy Chacon Giovanni Ribisi: Parker Selfridge Joel David Moore: Norm Spellman CCH Pounder: Moat Wes Studi: Eytukan Laz Alonso: Tsu’tey Sigourney Weaver: Grace Producer Weta: Eileen Moran

Avatar (2009) Bad news: Jake Sully, your brother is dead. Good news: Jake Sully, a paraplegic ex-marine, you can take his place in a remarkable program on alien planet Pandora where your mind will be used to control a fully-functioning nine-foot-tall super-athletic alien body. Your mission is to gain the trust of the natives and convince them to move out of their home so that humans can mine the valuable material buried deep underneath. 9/10 This is an impressive action adventure that has a decidedly old-fashioned feel to it while presenting totally incredible technical feats completely invisibly but whose greatness emerges because it is more than the sum of its parts. It’s old-fashioned in that it sticks to tried-and-true, or predictable, story and character beats, isn’t ‘dark,’ isn’t excessively violent and has superb action sequences which have shape and definition and in which you can tell who’s doing what to whom, why and how well it’s going. The technical accomplishment is remarkable. Cameron presents a fictitious world created out of thin air that is completely convincing. You cannot believe it isn’t real; it does not exist outside of a New Zealand PC. Ultimately, however, Avatar is a great film because it is more than the sum of its parts, i.e., despite faults, it, like Titanic before it, works emotionally. This movie contains a single sexual swear word, mild swear words and gun violence, giant arrow violence and sexuality. Classified 12A by BBFC. Persons under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

T.J. Hooker 3.03 Chinatown (1983, Police Action Drama) – 6/10 TV review

Cast / crew William Shatner: T.J. Hooker Adrian Zmed: Officer Vince Romano Heather Locklear: Officer Stacy Sheridan James Darren: Jim Corrigan Writer (Series’ Creator): Rick Husky James Shigeta: Chow Duc Khan Patricia Thomson: Nancy Ling Khan Peter Brown: Lt. Drummer Benson Fong: Lee Chan Supervising Producer: Rick Husky Producer: Jeffrey Hayes Writer: Simon Muntner Writer: Jack V. Fogarty Director: Don Chaffey

T.J. Hooker 3.03 Chinatown (1983) When Hooker gets involved in weapons smuggling in Chinatown it brings back memories from his first days as a beat officer. 6/10 Great fun with Shatner on top form as he finds out he may have a daughter. Richard Herd replacement Peter Brown (as Lt. Drummer) is dreadfully irritating but Adrian Zmed has a fun scene at Hooker’s motel room. Heather Locklear provokes unintentional laughter as she leaps into action scenes after they’re over and points her gun worthlessly though the blame lies with the producers. James Darren makes you wonder how he got the job as he has no charisma and no camaraderie with the other principle cast. James Shigeta is a decent baddie with his wonderfully smooth voice and even has a bat-cave. This T.J. Hooker episode contains violence. Links Previous episode: Carnal Express Next episode: The Cheerleader Murder

T.J. Hooker 3.02 Carnal Express (1983, Police Action Drama) – 5/10 TV review

Cast / crew William Shatner: T.J. Hooker Adrian Zmed: Officer Vince Romano Heather Locklear: Officer Stacy Sheridan James Darren: Jim Corrigan Writer (Series’ Creator): Rick Husky Richard Lynch: Virgil Dobbs Peter Brown: Lt. Drummer Trisha Noble: Lorraine Daggett Supervising Producer: Rick Husky Producer: Jeffrey Hayes Writer: Joe Viola Director: Sigmund Neufeld, Jr.

T.J. Hooker 3.02 Carnal Express (1983) Hooker gets involved in a white slavery case but Stacey decides to go undercover as an exotic dancer to speed up the investigation. 5/10 While giving Heather Locklear more to do and less to wear may sound like the recipe for a great episode, she, like bland co-stars Adrian Zmed and James Darren, does not have the charisma or talent to carry the weight of the show. Richard Lynch is a quality bad guy at any time though and there’s still plenty of dirtbags for Hooker to chastise including a joyous epithet spat at Lynch. Also, Hooker on white slavery: "When they’re taken off my streets, like Bonnie, that’s different, and I’m damn well gonna put a stop to it." You know, if we ever cross T.J. Hooker and Valentino Rossi we should appoint him king of the world. This T.J. Hooker episode contains gun violence. Links Previous episode: The Return Next episode: Chinatown

House M.D. 6.09 Wilson (2009, Black Comedy Medical Drama) – 7/10 TV review

Cast / crew Hugh Laurie: Dr. Gregory House Lisa Edelstein: Dr. Lisa Cuddy Omar Epps: Dr. Eric Foreman Robert Sean Leonard: Dr. James Wilson Jesse Spencer: Dr. Robert Chase Creator: David Shore Peter Jacobson: Dr. Chris Taub Olivia Wilde: Thirteen Joshua Malina: Tucker Katherine LaNasa: Melissa Marnette Patterson: Ashley Christina Vidal: Sandy Willie C. Carpenter: Del Producer: Marcy G. Kaplan Producer: Sara Hess Supervising Producer: David Foster Executive Producer: Hugh Laurie Executive Producer: David Shore Writer: David Foster Director: Lesli Linka Glatter

House M.D. 6.09 Wilson (2009) Wilson treats a friend (pooh-poohed by House) and former patient, Tucker, who suddenly develops paralysis of his arm. House bets it’s a return of cancer but Wilson insists it’s not. 7/10 Generally, all Wilson episodes are cool and this is no exception. The committed change of focus was refreshing as the episode was very much Wilson with House riding in and out on various patients. There was a moment where the balance of House’s personality looked to be tipped into selfish horrid (the series’ biggest danger) but it produces a welcome pay-off. This also raises an intriguing dilemma for a doctor when the power to help somebody will cost them personally, will or should they pay that price? This House M.D. episode contains unpleasant scenes. Links Previous episode: Ignorance is Bliss Next episode: The Down Low

The Mentalist 2.09 A Price Above Rubies (2009, Light Crime Drama) – 6/10 TV review

Cast / crew Creator: Bruno Heller Simon Baker: Patrick Jane Robin Tunney: Teresa Lisbon Tim Kang: Kendall Cho Owain Yeoman: Wayne Rigsby Amanda Righetti: Grace Van Pelt Michael Benyaer: Clinic Director Callard Harris: Tomas Doverton Jonell Kennedy: Coroner Pat David Monahan: George Doverton David Warshofsky: Donald Culpepper Dey Young: Esther Doverton Supervising Producer: Eoghan Mahony Producer: Charlie Goldstein Writer: Eoghan Mahony Director: Charles Beeson Executive Producer: Bruno Heller

Mentalist, The 2.09 Price Above Rubies, A (2009) When a jewellery store robbery ends up with the manager shot, Jane states that the victim must be the prime suspect because he used to be a tennis pro. 6/10 Hypnotism isn’t really a useful interrogation technique. If it was, there’d be no need for torture. Elsewhere, this is an entirely ordinary episode but that means it’s quite entertaining, inoffensive and highly watchable. Favourite line was Jane’s response to "he’s not my uncle": "Sorry, the man having sex with your aunt, then." This Mentalist, The episode contains mild adult dialogue and gun violence, unpleasant scenes. Links Previous episode: His Red Right Hand Next episode: Throwing Fire

T.J. Hooker 2.07 The Survival Syndrome (1982, Police Action Drama) – 6/10 TV review

Cast / crew William Shatner: T.J. Hooker Adrian Zmed: Officer Vince Romano Heather Locklear: Officer Stacy Sheridan Richard Herd: Captain Sheridan Robert Fields: Lawson Chris Mulkey: Thomas Mark Soper: David Harmon Supervising Producer: Rick Husky Producer: Jeffrey Hayes Writer (Series’ Creator): Rick Husky Writer: Dallas Barnes Writer: Joanne Barnes Director: Charles Picerni

T.J. Hooker 2.07 Survival Syndrome, The (1982) After Romano is shot in the head by car thieves (fortunately, it just misses his hair), Hooker comes under close personal scrutiny from the media when he is filmed apparently shooting the unarmed teenage criminal who was shouting “Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!”. Hooker and Captain Sheridan know that it was the thief’s accomplice that shot him but until the bullet can be delicately removed from the teenager’s spine, they will have no proof. 6/10 Fast-moving (there are three plot strands) and entertaining but too much strain is placed on Adrian Zmed’s acting ability. Still, we get a great scene where Hooker sorts out Romano’s posttraumatic stress disorder (here called survival syndrome) by wrestling with him (obviously, the best way to sort out any anxiety disorder) and there’s a welcome car chase in the middle. You don’t get many car chases in cop shows nowadays and I miss them. This T.J. Hooker episode contains gun violence. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance. Links Previous: Terror at the Academy Next: Deadly Ambition

The Music Box (1932, Comedy Short) – 10/10 movie review

Cast / crew Producer (Presents credit): Hal Roach Stan Laurel: Oliver Hardy: Director: James Parrott Writer (Dialogue): H.M. Walker

Music Box, The (1932) "Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy decided to re-organize and re-supervise their entire financial structure – So they took the $3.80 and went into business." Their transfer company gets the job to deliver a piano… to 1127 Walnut Avenue, a house at the top of an enormous flight of stairs. 10/10 At the end of the day, despite other illustrious highlights in their career, this is the one that Laurel and Hardy’ll be remembered for. This is Oscar-winning haplessness from cinema’s finest double act where the slapstick is frequently painfully hilarious but which also contains a couple of beautiful verbal gags (SPOILER particularly "He kicked you?" "Yes, Officer, right in the middle of my daily duties.") and one completely non-signposted gem of a gag (SPOILER Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy have finally, after a whole morning of struggle, got the piano to the top of the stairs when the postman wanders up. "You didn’t need to do that. You see that road there, you just follow it around up to the door." Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy feel extremely stupid – "Why didn’t we think of that?" – and so take the piano back down all the stairs in order to bring it up via the road!). Classified U by BBFC. Universal: Suitable for All.

T.J. Hooker 2.06 Terror at the Academy (1982, Police Action Drama) – 5/10 TV review

Cast / crew William Shatner: T.J. Hooker Adrian Zmed: Officer Vince Romano Heather Locklear: Officer Stacy Sheridan Richard Herd: Captain Sheridan Kristoffer Tabori: Jeff Turner Doran Clark: Carol Bennett Melody Anderson: Kate Nichols Supervising Producer: Rick Husky Producer: Jeffrey Hayes Writer (Series’ Creator): Rick Husky Writer (Screenplay): Jack V. Fogarty Writer (Story): Jack V. Fogarty Writer (Story): Rick Husky Director: Phil Bondelli

T.J. Hooker 2.06 Terror at the Academy (1982) A Vietnam veteran with a grudge against the police decides to target the Police Academy to both satisfy his thirst for revenge and his need for money. He has a better chance of succeeding than most because he is also a trainee policeman. 5/10 Gleefully naff but still fun. This is how you make cheesy Eighties cop shows. You mingle nutty Vietnam veteran vengeance with the quest for a frog costume, Shatner tells the maggot he’s disgracing the honour of all the non-nutty veterans and everyone goes home happy. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance. Links Previous episode: Big Foot Next episode: The Survival Syndrome

T.J. Hooker 3.01 The Return (1983, Police Action Drama) – 4/10 TV review

Cast / crew William Shatner: T.J. Hooker Adrian Zmed: Officer Vince Romano Heather Locklear: Officer Stacy Sheridan James Darren: Jim Corrigan Writer (Series’ Creator): Rick Husky William Lucking: Jack Clayton Laurie Prange: Elma Ford Prentiss James Sutorius: Freddie Hamilton Troas Hayes: Marine Jahan: Evelyn West Richard Herd: Captain Dennis Sheridan Supervising Producer: Rick Husky Producer: Jeffrey Hayes Writer: Mark Rodgers Director: Sigmund Neufeld, Jr.

T.J. Hooker 3.01 Return, The (1983) Five years after his detective partner was killed during an armed bank robbery, Hooker realises that the man responsible has returned (a one-handed man would you believe) and vows to get him while he can. 4/10 Mighty silly episode that takes itself way too seriously, though the chase sequences are helped no end by some energetic music. This T.J. Hooker episode contains gun violence. Links Previous episode: Lady in Blue Next episode: Carnal Express

T.J. Hooker: 2.22 Lady in Blue (1983, Police Action Drama) – 4/10 TV review

Cast / crew William Shatner: T.J. Hooker Adrian Zmed: Officer Vince Romano Heather Locklear: Officer Stacy Sheridan Richard Herd: Captain Sheridan James Darren: Jim Corrigan Anne-Marie Martin: Officer Karen Hall Leo Rossi: Tate Justin Lord: Roger Newman: Percy Rodrigues: Jason Supervising Producer: Rick Husky Producer: Jeffrey Hayes Writer (Series’ Creator): Rick Husky Writer: Rick Husky Director: William Shatner

T.J. Hooker 2.22 Lady in Blue (1983) When Hooker’s gung-ho method of policing is imitated by a new female recruit, she is shot and badly injured (she loses a leg). Hooker blames himself and determines to get the maggots responsible. 4/10 Despite Shatner delivering a whole stack of "maggot" and "scum" speeches (a good thing), this is a horribly dated and rather unbalanced episode. Star Shatner can probably only blame himself: he directed this one. This T.J. Hooker episode contains violence. Classified 12 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 12 years and over. Links Previous episode: Payday Pirates Next episode: The Return

Outlander (2008, Period Science Fiction Monster Action Movie) – 6/10 movie review

Cast / crew Director: Howard McCain Writer: Dirk Blackman Writer: Howard McCain Producer: Chris Roberts Producer: John Schimmel Jim Caviezel: Kainan Sophia Myles: Freya Jack Huston: Wulfric Cliff Saunders: Boromir Ron Perlman: Gunnar John Hurt: Rothgar Executive Producer: Dirk Blackman

Outlander (2008) Norway, 709: Astronaut Kainan crashes onto Earth but amid the wreckage of his ship is a monster that sees the nearby Viking villages are breakfast, lunch and dinner. 6/10 Definition of a good man: confess to planet-wide genocide and bring an unstoppable monster to a village but feel a bit bad about it. This man will also make an ideal husband and king. Typically idiotic Hollywood writing aside, this is a better-than-expected period sci-fi monster movie with decent effects and action. It’s also one of the few movies featuring Vikings that isn’t unwatchable. This movie contains sexual swear words and strong violence, some graphic violence, unpleasant and gory scenes. Classified 15 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over.

House M.D. 6.08 Ignorance is Bliss (2009, Black Comedy Medical Drama) – 8/10 TV review

Cast / crew Hugh Laurie: Dr. Gregory House Lisa Edelstein: Dr. Lisa Cuddy Omar Epps: Dr. Eric Foreman Robert Sean Leonard: Dr. James Wilson Jesse Spencer: Dr. Robert Chase Creator: David Shore Peter Jacobson: Dr. Chris Taub Olivia Wilde: Thirteen Michael Weston: Lucas Douglas Esteban Powell: James Sidas Vicki Davis: Dara Sidas Jennifer Crystal Foley: Rachel Taub Producer: Marcy G. Kaplan Producer: Sara Hess Executive Producer: Hugh Laurie Executive Producer: David Shore Writer: David Hoselton Director: Greg Yaitanes

House M.D. 6.08 Ignorance is Bliss (2009) Patient-of-the-week is a genius now living a happy life of deliveryman obscurity. Our own genius-in-residence decides that it is time for Cuddy and Lucas to break up. 8/10 There’s lots of quality, but fun, machinations this week as House tries to break up Lucas and Cuddy (though Taub and Chase have their moments as well) and, as a bonus, the medical mysteries are also clearly enough presented with the final solution being pretty cool while raising an interesting side issue as a genius medically makes himself more stupid so as to be content with a normal life with his wife. (It reminds me of the classic line from James Stewart in Harvey: " ‘In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant.’ Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant.") Oh, and we even get some clinic duty. This House M.D. episode contains mild unpleasant medical scenes. Links Previous episode: Teamwork Next episode: Wilson

T.J. Hooker 2.21 Payday Pirates (1983, Police Drama) – 6/10 TV review

Cast / crew William Shatner: T.J. Hooker Adrian Zmed: Officer Vince Romano Heather Locklear: Officer Stacy Sheridan Richard Herd: Captain Sheridan James Darren: Officer Jim Corrigan Jean Leclerc: Jake Hendricks Supervising Producer: Rick Husky Producer: Jeffrey Hayes Writer (Series’ Creator): Rick Husky Writer: Paul B. Margolis Director: Sigmund Neufeld, Jr.

T.J. Hooker 2.21 Payday Pirates (1983) An armed robbery ends up with Fran getting hit on the head and suffering extensive damage to her optical nerve. As Fran struggles to keep her sight, Hooker struggles to reign in his rage as he relentlessly pursues the maggot responsible. Meanwhile, he assigns Stacy to in-the-field training with no-nonsense cop-with-a-past (of course, what other type of cop is there?) Jim Corrigan. 6/10 A guilty pleasure not to be taken too seriously and enjoyed with a silly grin on your face as Hooker deals with the maggots and scum that might render his wife blind. "If God’s gonna help somebody, it’s not likely to be you, friend." As usual for season two, there are is also a generous amount of good action with two car chases, a Hooker versus stock car showdown and Stacy executing a side-handle baton throw to take down a crook. New cast member James Darren tries to look annoyed with Heather Locklear but fails. This T.J. Hooker episode contains violence. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance. Links Previous episode: The Hostages Next episode: Lady in Blue

T.J. Hooker 2.20 The Hostages (1983) – 7/10 police action drama TV review

Cast / crew William Shatner: T.J. Hooker Adrian Zmed: Officer Vince Romano Heather Locklear: Officer Stacy Sheridan Richard Herd: Captain Sheridan Jonathan Banks: Freddy Baker Lance LeGault: Lt. Decker Edward Walsh: Henry Baker Supervising Producer: Rick Husky Producer: Jeffrey Hayes Writer (Series’ Creator): Rick Husky Writer: Robert Earll Director: Cliff Bole Executive Producer: Aaron Spelling Executive Producer: Leonard Goldberg

T.J. Hooker 2.20 Hostages, The (1983) After foiling an armed robbery, shooting and injuring one (“not nearly bad enough”) and arresting another with another two getting away, Hooker discovers that they are all members of the same family. Trying to locate the two missing robbers, it quickly becomes clear that they are going to try and break their injured father out of hospital… where Hooker’s ex-wife Fran works and Stacey has gone to visit a critically ill child (of course). 7/10 Snappy classic Hooker action with Shatner demonstrating yet again that he is a true TV hero (and Adrian Zmed, though very pretty, is not). The casting is good as Jonathan Banks does what he does best (be a maggot) and Lance LeGault also does his thing (hard-headed arrogance). The writing isn’t too good with the requirement that Hooker always be right leaving the aforementioned Lance LeGault as his usual bad good guy but there are some nice action moments to make up for it (especially Hooker vaulting a hospital gurney) and the laudable tension is momentarily relieved by the world’s slowest elevator. There’s also a really nice epilogue where Hooker gets a hug from the little girl he saved. This T.J. Hooker episode contains adult dialogue and violence. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance. Links Previous episode: Requiem for a Cop Next episode: Payday Pirates T.J. Hooker Screened by Slimm

T.J. Hooker 2.19 Requiem for a Cop (1983, Police Drama) – 6/10 TV review

Cast / crew William Shatner: T.J. Hooker Adrian Zmed: Officer Vince Romano Heather Locklear: Officer Stacy Sheridan Richard Herd: Captain Sheridan Don Gordon: Frank D’Costa Dey Young: Linda Silver Supervising Producer: Rick Husky Producer: Jeffrey Hayes Writer (Series’ Creator): Rick Husky Writer: Gerald Sanford Director: Don Chaffey

T.J. Hooker 2.19 Requiem for a Cop (1983) When a derelict building is targeted by an arsonist it doesn’t appear to be much more than mindless vandalism. But the presence of squatters and the subsequent murder of the private investigator looking into the arson (known to Hooker, of course, he was his first police partner!), indicates something more is behind them. 6/10 Yet another one of Hooker’s friends and ex-partners gets into hot water, then gets killed, while Shatner delivers a splendid "He was a COP" speech and "We have enough litter on the beach without scumballs like you" line. Hurrah! Also look out for an early appearance by future NYPD Blue / CSI Miami star David Caruso as a bomber. In the ‘Hooker’s-amazing-at-everything’ category, he also reveals an uncanny betting ability beating another of Romano’s wacky gadgets at predicting a horse race. This T.J. Hooker episode contains unpleasant scenes. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance. Links Previous episode: Raw Deal Next episode: The Hostages

Xbox 360 vs PS3 Head-to-Head Face Off: Round 23

Every so often, Eurogamer run a series of technical comparison reviews for games released on both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

This is the latest update to the full list.

•   Dragon Age: Origins
•   FIFA 10 
•   Guitar Hero 5
•   PES 2010: Pro Evolution Soccer 2010
•   The Beatles: Rock Band

House M.D. 6.07 Teamwork (2009, Medical Black Comedy Drama) – 4/10 TV review

Cast / crew Hugh Laurie: Dr. Gregory House Lisa Edelstein: Dr. Lisa Cuddy Omar Epps: Dr. Eric Foreman Robert Sean Leonard: Dr. James Wilson Jennifer Morrison: Dr. Allison Cameron Jesse Spencer: Dr. Robert Chase Creator: David Shore Peter Jacobson: Dr. Chris Taub Olivia Wilde: Thirteen Michael Weston: Lucas Douglas Jolene Blalock: Lexa Troy Garity: Hank Hardwick Producer: Marcy G. Kaplan Producer: Sara Hess Co-Executive Producer: Eli Attie Executive Producer: Hugh Laurie Executive Producer: David Shore Writer: Eli Attie Director: David Straiton

House M.D. 6.07 Teamwork (2009) Patient-of-the-week is a porn star who collapses on the job. House gets his medical licence back but loses most of his team when Chase and Cameron announce they are going to leave. 4/10 House’s games this week feel extremely unconvincing as the writers settle things down for the remainder of the season. The patient-of-the-week is also given short thrift as House, apparently, knows what’s wrong with him early on but withholds the true diagnosis and treatment to tempt Taub and Thirteen back into the fold. The problem comes in that House’s games feel cruel and misleading as opposed to cunning and revealing. Cameron’s exit from the show is extraordinarily unconvincing but I have commented before that I don’t think the writers like Jennifer Morrison as her character has frequently borne the brunt of major character inconsistencies and half-hearted writing. This House M.D. episode contains adult dialogue and unpleasant scenes and inferred sex scenes. Links Previous episode: Known Unknowns Next episode: Ignorance is Bliss

T.J. Hooker 2.05 Big Foot (1982, Crime Drama) – 6/10 TV review

Cast / crew William Shatner: T.J. Hooker Adrian Zmed: Officer Vince Romano Heather Locklear: Officer Stacy Sheridan Richard Herd: Captain Sheridan Robin Dearden: Mkichelle Forrest James O’Sullivan: Sergeant Wayne Conrad George McDaniel: Donnie Pendleton Ray Girardin: Hatfield Supervising Producer: Rick Husky Producer: Jeffrey Hayes Writer (Series’ Creator): Rick Husky Writer: Dallas Barnes Writer: Joanne Barnes Director: Cliff Bole

T.J. Hooker 2.05 Big Foot (1982) A large rapist is at large, the only thing the police know is that the guy has big feet but then a jogger is attacked and Hooker and Romano interrupt him in the act. 6/10 T.J. Hooker always kept the victims in focus and his empathy for them and vehement disgust at the perpetrators gave the show it’s surprisingly uncommon and strong core. But it was always wrapped up in a fun package that allows the audience to also empathise with the victims and cheer along as Hooker delivers justice. This week he tackles a rapist, false confessions and Romano’s insistence that he isn’t getting enough fibre in his diet. Shatner gets to deliver another one of his wonderful ‘moral outrage’ speeches. "I’m not going to kill you, animal. There’s only one way to keep your kind of scum off the streets: a proper trial. That way everyone will know what you are." Hurrah! This T.J. Hooker episode contains adult dialogue and violence. Classified 12 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 12 years and over. Links Previous episode: Blind Justice Next episode: Terror at the Academy

T.J. Hooker 2.04 Blind Justice (1982, Crime Drama) – 6/10 TV review

Cast / crew William Shatner: T.J. Hooker Adrian Zmed: Officer Vince Romano Richard Herd: Captain Sheridan Marcy Lafferty: Anne Perry Darrell Fetty: Bobby Joe Nash Tony Burton: Luther Beach Boys, The: Supervising Producer: Rick Husky Producer: Jeffrey Hayes Writer (Series’ Creator): Rick Husky Writer (Screenplay): Joe Viola Writer (Screenplay): Stephen Downing Writer (Story): Joe Viola Writer (Story): Stephen Downing Writer (Story): Walter Dallenbach Director: Don Chaffey

T.J. Hooker 2.04 Blind Justice (1982) When a blind woman is present at an armed robbery but claims that she can tell Hooker nothing, his gut tells him that she knows more. Meanwhile, Romano’s trying to get tickets for the sold-out Beach Boys concert. 6/10 A cheerful, but perhaps guilty, pleasure. Special mention for Shatner talking about ‘listening to his gut’ and when you have a gut like Shatner was developing, you’ve got to listen to it! Elsewhere, there is some decent action (I always appreciate the fact that the car chases aren’t perfect), some good blind acting from then-Shatner’s-wife Marcy Lafferty and a sequence reminiscent of classic Audrey Hepburn thriller Wait Until Dark. As the cherry on top, Hooker’s past is also revealed to contain surfing buddyness with the Beach Boys. Is he the perfect man? This T.J. Hooker episode contains violence. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance. Links Previous episode: The Empty Gun Next episode: Big Foot