The Visitation

In an attempt to get Tegan back to her own time, the TARDIS accidentally ends up in 17th century England. Due to a plague ravaging the area, the locals are particularly inhospitable to the Doctor and his companions. With the help of an actor turned highwayman, the Doctor and his friends are able to take refuge in a nearby barn. It's there that the Doctor discovers a piece of jewelry made from polygrite, a material not native to Earth. When the investigation moves to the manor house, our intrepid time travelers come face to face with an android dressed as the Grim Reaper. And that's when things really start to go sideways. I had a particularly good time with The Visitation. It's a bit of a throwback to the pseudohistorical stories of the show's past. The Fifth Doctor really seems to be coming into his own here and we're starting to see his personality get fleshed out. The Terileptils, the big bad of the story, look great (for the most part, their coloring doesn't quite work under natural light) and their plans are both diabolical and coherent. Also, I really liked Richard Mace, the highwayman, who has plenty of good lines and good moments. Finally, it's worth noting here that the Doctor's sonic screwdriver got destroyed in this serial and was not seen again until the Doctor Who TV Movie in 1996.

 

Rating: I feel as though you've just killed an old friend%

Road House

Dalton, a professional bouncer, is hired to run security at a struggling bar outside of Kansas City called the Double Deuce. As Dalton begins to clean up the place, he runs afoul of Brad Wesley, a cartoonishly evil man who runs roughshod over the town and its residents. As Dalton begins to grow fond of his new home and his new friends, not to mention a certain blonde doctor, the pressure and intimidation from Brad Wesley continues to escalate until the two men are forced into a final confrontation that decides the ultimate fate of the community. Is Road House over the top? Yes. Is Road House a little trashy? Yes. Are those two of it's core strengths? You betcha. Road House is a braindead movie that is also a lot of fun. It's well paced with a great soundtrack. And even though it's nearly two hours long, you'd never know it. 

Rating: 79%

(Image from Wikipedia)

Wet Hot American Summer

It's the end of the Summer and everyone at Camp Firewood has a full day ahead of them. There's swimming, waterskiing, rafting, arts and crafts, capture the flag, marriage counseling, premarital sex and redirecting falling chunks of Skylab. Not to mention the big talent show. It's a lot to cram into one day. Wet Hot American Summer is a cult comedy through and through. You either love it or you hate it. Personally, I love it. It's an absurdist tribute to and parody of Summer camp comedies. The cast is incredible, with Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Molly Shannon, Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Christopher Meloni, H. Jon Benjamin, Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper, Kevin Sussman, Judah Friedlander and several members of The State. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go fondle my sweaters. 

Rating: 73%

(Image from Wikipedia)