Mini Movie Reviews: Mother Russia

Today's theme is the land you really don't wanna invade during the winter months featuring films by Alexander Sokurov, David Lean, Franklin J. Schaffner, Igor Maslennikov, Michael Apted, Andrei Tarkovsky, and Vladimir Moty.

Nicholas Brendon Passes Away at 54

Nicholas Brendon, who played Xander on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has passed away at the age of 54 from natural causes.

The Pitt: 4:00 P.M.

“Here’s her leg.”

Hey, it’s not every day that you get to just hold a woman’s severed leg.

Outlander: Prophecies

This had better not be foreshadowing.

Invincible: Atom Eve Special

“I’m wearing a mask. I’m using a fake name. I’m apparently a government-designed super weapon. I’ll be fine.”

In this special episode, we take a break from Invincible’s epic journey to explore the backstory of Atom Eve. Which I was pleased to see was just as well-done as any episode of the main series.

Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett (Discworld 31)

“You take a bunch of people who don't seem any different from you and me, but when you add them all together you get this sort of huge raving maniac with national borders and an anthem.”

For the thirty-first book of the Disc, we visit the ultra-conservative country of Borogravia and its incessant state of war with its neighbors for spurious reasons.

Fallout: The Wrangler

“Now I’ll admit, I am in an altered mental state, but I think we should just shoot these monsters in the face. And frankly, whatever we do, we need to do it quickly, ‘cause I am very much out of drugs.”

I’m not a big fan of the limited episode format that so many modern prestige TV shows have adopted over the last decade or so. With that in mind, I do appreciate that a show as expansive as this packs as much as it can into those eight episodes.

Resident Alien: Prisoners

Ben: Does that dummy look like me?
Kate: What?
Ben: I mean, did it – did it always? Did you – did you do something to it?
Kate: No. Came like that. OK? It's not you. And I'm going to get her back, all right? I've been training. I'm ready for anything. If and when they take me again, they are getting killer Kate.

Episode description: “Harry must escape an outer space prison to stop a dangerous threat in town.”

NewsFlash: Buffy Reboot is Toast

Sarah Michelle Gellar has posted on her Instagram account that Hulu has nixed the Buffy reboot. And with the perfect bit of wit, she followed up with "I promise if the apocalypse actually comes, you can still beep me."

And of course, there was the requisite "It could still happen." But we know that doesn't usually happen.

The Pitt: 3:00 P.M.

“What does it say?”
“Replace toner. We live in hell.”

That is because printers and fax machines can smell fear and stress and choose those moments to throw a fit. They’re intelligent like that.

Outlander: Soul of a Rebel

"We wanted to come home."

A lot of exposition. A lot of set-up for our final season. Standard for Outlander.

Heated Rivalry: I'll Believe in Anything

“How about you tell me everything that is on your mind, but in Russian?”

This episode made me emotionally compromised. There’s really no other way to describe it. Also, this review is even longer than the last one. Get snacks!